Where the Broken Heart Still Beats
Part: 3
By: Jean Lyons
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Katai's siblings all were very helpful taking care of Rumi and Kenji. Every day in the afternoon, Katai would take Rumi and Kenji to meet the rest of the children as usual. She always had wonderful ideas for stories to tell and songs to sing. Normally they involved a Spanish boy. Of course the children had absolutely no idea where Spain was, so for all they knew, it was a magical fairy land. It was whatever Katai wanted it to be. Of course, not everything was made up. She really had been there. Her brothers had been seeking adventure, so for a year, they sought it in Spain while Katai was left with a nice Spanish family. While there, she had a bout of puppy love. There was a boy there that gave her a guitar and taught her a few songs. Including the one Kenshin first heard her sing. Now, though, she just improvised.
Anyway, near the beginning of a particularly farfetched story, Kenshin came back. He heard her talking to the children and didn't want to interrupt, so he sat on the ground with the children listened. He still never looked up. He stared down into his lap, his face disappearing behind his untidy hair. Unbeknownst to everyone else in the group, he managed a few weak smiles, even in this state of grief. At the end of the story, she got up and told the children to come with her, for it was time to take them all back to their parents. Kenshin followed quietly, not speaking to anyone. Finally, when the only children left were Kenji and Rumi, Katai turned to Kenshin and gave Kenji to him.
"Thank you."
"He was no trouble. He was a perfect little angel."
"Yes. I was sure he would be. Kaoru always says-"
He stopped abruptly. Apparently, he still wasn't used to the idea of her being gone.
"So," said Katai in an attempt to get off of the subject, "I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Yes? Where are you going?"
"I'm going to learn the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu."
"Oh yes? That is the style I use. Your teacher is Hiko Seijurou?"
"Yes."
"He was my teacher. He called me 'Baka Deshi.'"
"Why?"
"Because I was, I suppose."
"Hmm... People always choose the weirdest things to call others... I have this friend- well; really he isn't a friend... by any stretch of the imagination, but anyway... He calls me Kitty. He's the one who- oh, well, you don't know him..."
"Yes, but I suppose I can understand why. It does sound rather like Katai, that it does."
"Yeah well, I have to go. It's getting dark. My brothers will start to worry if I'm not there soon."
"They'll worry? Are they a bit overprotective?"
"Well, yes, but I think they have a right to be."
"I'll walk you home, if you'd like."
"Alright."
They walked on in silence for awhile, before Kenshin made an attempt at conversation.
"So, you did have the baby?"
Apparently this wasn't the right question, because Katai burst into tears right there. Between sobs, she explained that she had indeed had a little boy, but he'd died the day after he was born. "I didn't even want him at first, but then I saw him and he was the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen. Then the next day he was dead. So still and cold."
"At the risk of making you cry again," Kenshin began, once Katai calmed down, "Why wouldn't you have wanted him?"
As he'd expected, she let out an anguished sob and sank to her knees right there and sat with her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. He kneeled next to her and looked at her worriedly. What could have happened?
"What happened, Katai?"
No answer.
"Why won't you tell me?"
Still no answer.
"Katai, you need to go home. Come on." He pulled her to her feet and led her quietly home. She would tell him when she was ready.
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~*TBC*~
See how nice I am? I updated before I got any reviews... **pouts** Nobody loves me... Oh well, At least someone loves Kitty... Katai... Whatever... Even if he doesn't know it yet...
Anywho... I still would like some reviews. Please? Pwetty Pwease?
************************************************************************
Katai's siblings all were very helpful taking care of Rumi and Kenji. Every day in the afternoon, Katai would take Rumi and Kenji to meet the rest of the children as usual. She always had wonderful ideas for stories to tell and songs to sing. Normally they involved a Spanish boy. Of course the children had absolutely no idea where Spain was, so for all they knew, it was a magical fairy land. It was whatever Katai wanted it to be. Of course, not everything was made up. She really had been there. Her brothers had been seeking adventure, so for a year, they sought it in Spain while Katai was left with a nice Spanish family. While there, she had a bout of puppy love. There was a boy there that gave her a guitar and taught her a few songs. Including the one Kenshin first heard her sing. Now, though, she just improvised.
Anyway, near the beginning of a particularly farfetched story, Kenshin came back. He heard her talking to the children and didn't want to interrupt, so he sat on the ground with the children listened. He still never looked up. He stared down into his lap, his face disappearing behind his untidy hair. Unbeknownst to everyone else in the group, he managed a few weak smiles, even in this state of grief. At the end of the story, she got up and told the children to come with her, for it was time to take them all back to their parents. Kenshin followed quietly, not speaking to anyone. Finally, when the only children left were Kenji and Rumi, Katai turned to Kenshin and gave Kenji to him.
"Thank you."
"He was no trouble. He was a perfect little angel."
"Yes. I was sure he would be. Kaoru always says-"
He stopped abruptly. Apparently, he still wasn't used to the idea of her being gone.
"So," said Katai in an attempt to get off of the subject, "I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Yes? Where are you going?"
"I'm going to learn the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu."
"Oh yes? That is the style I use. Your teacher is Hiko Seijurou?"
"Yes."
"He was my teacher. He called me 'Baka Deshi.'"
"Why?"
"Because I was, I suppose."
"Hmm... People always choose the weirdest things to call others... I have this friend- well; really he isn't a friend... by any stretch of the imagination, but anyway... He calls me Kitty. He's the one who- oh, well, you don't know him..."
"Yes, but I suppose I can understand why. It does sound rather like Katai, that it does."
"Yeah well, I have to go. It's getting dark. My brothers will start to worry if I'm not there soon."
"They'll worry? Are they a bit overprotective?"
"Well, yes, but I think they have a right to be."
"I'll walk you home, if you'd like."
"Alright."
They walked on in silence for awhile, before Kenshin made an attempt at conversation.
"So, you did have the baby?"
Apparently this wasn't the right question, because Katai burst into tears right there. Between sobs, she explained that she had indeed had a little boy, but he'd died the day after he was born. "I didn't even want him at first, but then I saw him and he was the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen. Then the next day he was dead. So still and cold."
"At the risk of making you cry again," Kenshin began, once Katai calmed down, "Why wouldn't you have wanted him?"
As he'd expected, she let out an anguished sob and sank to her knees right there and sat with her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. He kneeled next to her and looked at her worriedly. What could have happened?
"What happened, Katai?"
No answer.
"Why won't you tell me?"
Still no answer.
"Katai, you need to go home. Come on." He pulled her to her feet and led her quietly home. She would tell him when she was ready.
************************************************************************
~*TBC*~
See how nice I am? I updated before I got any reviews... **pouts** Nobody loves me... Oh well, At least someone loves Kitty... Katai... Whatever... Even if he doesn't know it yet...
Anywho... I still would like some reviews. Please? Pwetty Pwease?