Where the Broken Heart Still Beats
Part 7
By: Jean Lyons
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"Miss Katai, if I may be forward with you-" Kenshin began.
"Katai!" yelled one of Katai's brothers from the doorway of the house, "Ryo wants you to help him!"
"Hang on a minute! What were you saying, Kenshin?"
"Nothing. It was nothing. I just wanted to know if..."
"If what?"
"Nothing. I must go. I must put Kenji to bed soon, that I must."
"Alright... I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Bright and early."
"Bright and early. Go get some rest."
"Goodnight."
"Katai, are you coming?" called Ryo from the doorway.
"Yes, Ryo. Bye, Kenshin."
"Goodnight."
They stood there in an awkward silence. Kenji broke the silence. "Kenji bath!"
"I have to go give Kenji a bath before bed. Bye now."
"Bye."
Finally, Kenshin left and Katai went inside.
Weeks went by, and Katai continued her training with Kenshin, whom, she noticed, was a much more patient teacher than Hiko. Of course, he sometimes criticized her, but that was his job as her teacher. He was at least more polite about it, though. She was very talented, but she didn't look like she was fighting. For her it was more of a dance than anything. She got so much joy out of practicing. Kenshin couldn't help but just stand dumbly and stare sometimes.
"Let's stop for today."
"It's only been two hours."
"But I want to talk."
"Can't it wait until after I have my lesson?"
"No. I may lose my nerve again. If I may be very forward, I would like to ask if I may..." he looked down, "court you."
Katai's face lit up and she threw her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that... but yes. But you may have to ask Ryo. He's my guardian, you know. And my brothers are big people. I wouldn't want to be on their bad side."
"Should I ask now?"
"If you want. But every one of my brothers is home and I'm sure they'll all have something to say about it. You might wait until it's only Ryo."
"But if I do it now I won't lose my nerve."
*****************
"Are you sure, Katai?"
"Yes Ryo. Please, Ryo. Say yes."
"Alright," Ryo said to Kenshin, "but just know, if you hurt her, I'll rip out your bowels and feed them to my dog."
"If he hurts me, I'll rip out his bowels myself."
"Weird, though... He's the one that taught you to do it..."
"I'm Tetsuya," said a man from behind Kenshin, "Don't you dare hurt my baby sister."
A small group of seven men and a woman had formed behind Kenshin. Tetsuya included.
"Kenshin," began Katai, "These are my siblings." She pointed to them each in turn and told him their names. "That's my sister Manatsu, My brothers Rei, Akitaka, Keiichi, Morisato, Toshiyuki, Tamiya. You already know Tetsuya and Ryo. And that," she said pointing off to the side of the group, "is Sayoka. Tetsuya's wife." All of these had very intimidating looks. Fortunately, Kenshin was not as much a wuss as he looked.
"So we have your blessing, Mr. Yuy?" Kenshin said to Ryo.
"I guess. I just can't believe someone wants to court the baby already."
"I'll take good care of her."
"You had better."
With these wonderful words of reassurance, (Ryo was cracking his knuckles) Kenshin picked Kenji up off of Katai's lap and left with an "I'll see you tomorrow."
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~*TBC*~
Short, I know, but I've only got so much time. "Date" in next chapter. Stay tuned.
Much Love,
Jean ^_^
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"Miss Katai, if I may be forward with you-" Kenshin began.
"Katai!" yelled one of Katai's brothers from the doorway of the house, "Ryo wants you to help him!"
"Hang on a minute! What were you saying, Kenshin?"
"Nothing. It was nothing. I just wanted to know if..."
"If what?"
"Nothing. I must go. I must put Kenji to bed soon, that I must."
"Alright... I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Bright and early."
"Bright and early. Go get some rest."
"Goodnight."
"Katai, are you coming?" called Ryo from the doorway.
"Yes, Ryo. Bye, Kenshin."
"Goodnight."
They stood there in an awkward silence. Kenji broke the silence. "Kenji bath!"
"I have to go give Kenji a bath before bed. Bye now."
"Bye."
Finally, Kenshin left and Katai went inside.
Weeks went by, and Katai continued her training with Kenshin, whom, she noticed, was a much more patient teacher than Hiko. Of course, he sometimes criticized her, but that was his job as her teacher. He was at least more polite about it, though. She was very talented, but she didn't look like she was fighting. For her it was more of a dance than anything. She got so much joy out of practicing. Kenshin couldn't help but just stand dumbly and stare sometimes.
"Let's stop for today."
"It's only been two hours."
"But I want to talk."
"Can't it wait until after I have my lesson?"
"No. I may lose my nerve again. If I may be very forward, I would like to ask if I may..." he looked down, "court you."
Katai's face lit up and she threw her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that... but yes. But you may have to ask Ryo. He's my guardian, you know. And my brothers are big people. I wouldn't want to be on their bad side."
"Should I ask now?"
"If you want. But every one of my brothers is home and I'm sure they'll all have something to say about it. You might wait until it's only Ryo."
"But if I do it now I won't lose my nerve."
*****************
"Are you sure, Katai?"
"Yes Ryo. Please, Ryo. Say yes."
"Alright," Ryo said to Kenshin, "but just know, if you hurt her, I'll rip out your bowels and feed them to my dog."
"If he hurts me, I'll rip out his bowels myself."
"Weird, though... He's the one that taught you to do it..."
"I'm Tetsuya," said a man from behind Kenshin, "Don't you dare hurt my baby sister."
A small group of seven men and a woman had formed behind Kenshin. Tetsuya included.
"Kenshin," began Katai, "These are my siblings." She pointed to them each in turn and told him their names. "That's my sister Manatsu, My brothers Rei, Akitaka, Keiichi, Morisato, Toshiyuki, Tamiya. You already know Tetsuya and Ryo. And that," she said pointing off to the side of the group, "is Sayoka. Tetsuya's wife." All of these had very intimidating looks. Fortunately, Kenshin was not as much a wuss as he looked.
"So we have your blessing, Mr. Yuy?" Kenshin said to Ryo.
"I guess. I just can't believe someone wants to court the baby already."
"I'll take good care of her."
"You had better."
With these wonderful words of reassurance, (Ryo was cracking his knuckles) Kenshin picked Kenji up off of Katai's lap and left with an "I'll see you tomorrow."
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~*TBC*~
Short, I know, but I've only got so much time. "Date" in next chapter. Stay tuned.
Much Love,
Jean ^_^