Where the Broken Heart Still Beats
Part: 2
Jean Lyons
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Katai walked up the street wondering vaguely why Kenshin been by in awhile. It had long since gotten dark, and Katai had given up on seeing him. Katai glanced down at the little girl walking by her side. 'Poor Rumi,' she thought. She took the child's hand and continued toward home, where her many older sibling were waiting for her. When she got home, she picked Rumi up and carried the tired child inside.
Her siblings greeted her warmly as always. They always waited for her to do anything. They didn't eat until she was home and didn't sleep when she wasn't there yet. She was the youngest, at 15, while her oldest brother, Ryo, was in his 30s.
As she walked through the door, Rumi in her arms, Ryo said, "Looks like you chose to keep one."
"This is Rumi. The one I told you about. Her mother found out what happened and completely abandoned her."
"How could someone do that to a five year old?" asked Katai's sister, Manatsu.
"I've been wondering that all day. Maybe her mother was just looking for an excuse. That's the only way I can understand that happening."
"Well what do you plan to do with her?" asked Ryo.
"Well she can't just live outside."
"Well, she can't very well live here either." Another of her brothers said. "With what do you plan to take care of her?"
"The money father left me. What else?"
"I thought you were saving that for something."
"Well, this is a bit more important. Perhaps I've changed my mind."
"Where do you plan to put her? There's a reason none of us has a room to ourselves. This house is a bit small for that."
"Well, I thought she could live in my room with Manatsu and me. I knew she wouldn't object."
As nobody had any more legitimate arguments, they all went to eat dinner, all throughout which, they questioned Rumi about everything. What she liked and didn't like, her favorite things, etc. The little girl grinned, having not had so many people care about her all at once.
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The next day, Katai was telling the children a story of a Spanish boy who captured the heart of a young girl with his love songs, when she saw Kenshin for the first time in a week or so. She stood up as she realized he was coming toward her. Kenji was toddling along beside him. What was he was carrying? Katai wondered. As he came closer, she realized it was Kaoru's dead body.
"I see I was correct in my assessment. I'm very sorry. Will you be alright?"
"I don't think so. I'm going to bury her now. I have a special place in mind, but it's too far for him to walk. He's only just learned. I wondered if you might keep him again. It's only a few days." Kenshin never looked up. He just stared at the body in his arms.
"Of course I'll keep him." She took Kenji by the hand and Kenshin walked away slowly. She led the small child over to the group and continued her story.
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"You really can't go making a habit out of this, Katai." Said Ryo when Katai walked through the door carrying Kenji, Rumi walking one step behind.
"This is Kenji and he'll only be here for a few days. His mother just died and his father left to bury her and left him with me. He'll be back soon."
"Good, because you're leaving as soon as he's gone."
"What?"
"You're going to learn how to use the katana father left you."
"Why?"
"Well, you know what happened better than the rest of us. It would be easier to avoid it happening again if you knew how to fight, wouldn't it?"
"I suppose. Who's my teacher?"
"Ever heard of Hiko Seijurou?"
"Isn't that that guy that taught the Battousai?"
"Yes."
"How do you intend to pay him?"
"With the money father left me."
"But that's yours!"
"But it's important that you learn."
"But-."
"No buts. Now go eat dinner."
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*~TBC~*
K, short chapter, I know, but they're going to be short until I get some reviews to boost my confidence. **pouts** Nobody loves me.
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Katai walked up the street wondering vaguely why Kenshin been by in awhile. It had long since gotten dark, and Katai had given up on seeing him. Katai glanced down at the little girl walking by her side. 'Poor Rumi,' she thought. She took the child's hand and continued toward home, where her many older sibling were waiting for her. When she got home, she picked Rumi up and carried the tired child inside.
Her siblings greeted her warmly as always. They always waited for her to do anything. They didn't eat until she was home and didn't sleep when she wasn't there yet. She was the youngest, at 15, while her oldest brother, Ryo, was in his 30s.
As she walked through the door, Rumi in her arms, Ryo said, "Looks like you chose to keep one."
"This is Rumi. The one I told you about. Her mother found out what happened and completely abandoned her."
"How could someone do that to a five year old?" asked Katai's sister, Manatsu.
"I've been wondering that all day. Maybe her mother was just looking for an excuse. That's the only way I can understand that happening."
"Well what do you plan to do with her?" asked Ryo.
"Well she can't just live outside."
"Well, she can't very well live here either." Another of her brothers said. "With what do you plan to take care of her?"
"The money father left me. What else?"
"I thought you were saving that for something."
"Well, this is a bit more important. Perhaps I've changed my mind."
"Where do you plan to put her? There's a reason none of us has a room to ourselves. This house is a bit small for that."
"Well, I thought she could live in my room with Manatsu and me. I knew she wouldn't object."
As nobody had any more legitimate arguments, they all went to eat dinner, all throughout which, they questioned Rumi about everything. What she liked and didn't like, her favorite things, etc. The little girl grinned, having not had so many people care about her all at once.
************************************************************************
The next day, Katai was telling the children a story of a Spanish boy who captured the heart of a young girl with his love songs, when she saw Kenshin for the first time in a week or so. She stood up as she realized he was coming toward her. Kenji was toddling along beside him. What was he was carrying? Katai wondered. As he came closer, she realized it was Kaoru's dead body.
"I see I was correct in my assessment. I'm very sorry. Will you be alright?"
"I don't think so. I'm going to bury her now. I have a special place in mind, but it's too far for him to walk. He's only just learned. I wondered if you might keep him again. It's only a few days." Kenshin never looked up. He just stared at the body in his arms.
"Of course I'll keep him." She took Kenji by the hand and Kenshin walked away slowly. She led the small child over to the group and continued her story.
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"You really can't go making a habit out of this, Katai." Said Ryo when Katai walked through the door carrying Kenji, Rumi walking one step behind.
"This is Kenji and he'll only be here for a few days. His mother just died and his father left to bury her and left him with me. He'll be back soon."
"Good, because you're leaving as soon as he's gone."
"What?"
"You're going to learn how to use the katana father left you."
"Why?"
"Well, you know what happened better than the rest of us. It would be easier to avoid it happening again if you knew how to fight, wouldn't it?"
"I suppose. Who's my teacher?"
"Ever heard of Hiko Seijurou?"
"Isn't that that guy that taught the Battousai?"
"Yes."
"How do you intend to pay him?"
"With the money father left me."
"But that's yours!"
"But it's important that you learn."
"But-."
"No buts. Now go eat dinner."
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*~TBC~*
K, short chapter, I know, but they're going to be short until I get some reviews to boost my confidence. **pouts** Nobody loves me.