Where the Broken Heart Still Beats
Part: 10 (!)
By: Jean Lyons
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Katai woke to a black expanse of nothingness, and she couldn't breathe. Well, that's how it appeared until she pulled Kenshin's shirt off of her face. "Ryo?" she said, when she first saw her brother, "Why is this here?"
"You wouldn't let it go last night, so he left it. He said to tell you to keep it. If I were you, I'd wear it. It's in decent condition and it's smaller than yours, so it'll fit you better."
She took Ryo's advice and wore the shirt, which did indeed fit better. She got up and, like every morning, for her lesson with Kenshin. Kenshin couldn't help but smile at the sight of Katai. In his shirt, no less. He told Katai that she was in no condition to fight. She was disappointed, but agreed. They sat and talked for awhile before Kenshin remembered that he'd told Katai that she could have Kaoru's old clothes. Katai just seemed to be inheriting everything of Kaoru's, huh? Her husband, her clothes...
Kenshin went inside and emerged with a bundle of clothes, which he thrust into Katai's arms. "What you don't need, give to your sister."
"Thank you. Are you sure?"
"I am certain and you're very welcome, that you are."
"I'll take this home now. Then I have to go get the children. You're welcome to come, if you'd like."
"Actually I was hoping we could bring Misao along so she would know what to expect for her child."
"That'd be great. She seemed nice when I met her, and it's always nice to know the parents of the children. None of them really bother to talk to me much as long as their children survive the day."
"Let's go, then." He went inside and got Kenji and they left.
Their first stop was to Katai's house to drop off the clothes and get Rumi. Then they went to the Shinomoris to ask Misao to come along. Shockingly enough, Aoshi wanted to come too, as he hadn't much experience with small children except Kenji, whom he watched on a regular basis. They warned him that playing with children was all they'd do, but he insisted.
Many parents wanted their children at home that day, so all Katai had were Aya, Rakei and a small boy named Hojo.
"Rakei and Aya are 7 and 9 and Hojo is 3. Misao, Aoshi, pick a kid and go play." Hojo immediately latched on to Misao's leg and Aoshi took Rakei.
"Kenshin, do you want to take Aya or should I?"
"Actually, if you don't mind, I'd like Rumi today."
"Rumi, will you go with Kenshin?"
The little girl shook her head and clutched Katai's pants.
"Don't you like Kenshin?"
"Yes," said Rumi, in a very tiny voice.
"Then why won't you go?"
"Boys are yucky."
"Oh, Kenshin isn't yucky. He's different from the other boys."
"Come here." Whispered the little girl.
Katai knelt down next to the girl. Rumi produced a box from who-knows- where.
"What's that?"
"A present." Rumi whispered in Katai's ear.
"For who?" Katai whispered back.
"Kenshin."
"What is it?"
"A mirror."
"Why would Kenshin need a mirror?"
"So he can see how pretty he is."
Katai couldn't help but laugh. "When will you give it to him?"
"I'm scared."
"Do you want me to?"
The little girl nodded and gave her the box. Katai Stood up and handed the box to Kenshin. "This is from Rumi."
Kenshin looked confused, but opened it anyway. "Mirror?"
"She said she wants you to see how 'pretty' you are."
Kenshin bent down and hugged the little girl. "Thank you, Rumi."
"So," Katai began, "Misao, Hojo is a very curious kid, so prepare for a flood of questions, Aoshi, Rakei's just... Rakei. She asks a lot of questions too, and she's much more infuriating than Hojo. Kenshin, you know how shy Rumi is, so be careful. Everyone, go play."
Hojo immediately started a flood of questions, which Misao answered expertly for the most part. Aoshi, on the other hand, entertained Rakei with stories of the Revolution. Kenshin was immediately attacked by Rumi and Kenji and Katai was bombarded with questions about her 'boyfriend.'
Hojo looked at a very pregnant Misao and whispered dramatically, "I know what you've been doing."
She whispered back, "I bet you don't."
"Mommy said if you suck your thumb you get a baby in your belly."
"It doesn't work that way, Hojo."
"Then how do you get a baby?"
"Um... well... You'll have to ask your mommy about that."
Meanwhile, Aoshi was once more learning how infuriating little girls were. She was almost as bad as Misao had been!
"Mr. Shinomori, why did you hate Mr. Himura before?"
"I wanted to be the strongest and I wasn't. I thought if I could be the strongest, I could avenge the deaths of my friends."
"Why did you want to avenge them?"
"Because Shishio killed them."
"Who's that?"
"A killer that wants to take over Japan."
"Why?"
"Because he's power hungry."
"He wants food?"
"No. Power hunger is a different kind of hunger."
"What kind?"
"It can only be fed with power."
"Huh?"
"He wants to have power. He wants to rule Japan."
"Why?"
"You ask too many questions."
"I ask too many questions and that's why Mr. Shishio wants to rule Japan?"
"Yes, that's exactly why!" shouted Aoshi exasperatedly.
Meanwhile, as Katai watched Kenshin being attacked by tickling children, Aya was asking questions about her new 'boyfriend.'
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Yes."
"Why did you pick Mr. Himura?"
"He's the nicest man I've ever met outside my immediate family. That, and he's really cute."
"Mr. Shinomori is kind of nice looking."
"Mr. Shinomori is married."
"Mr. Himura was married."
"But not now."
"How come he's not married now?"
"His wife died."
Aya's eyes widened in shock. "How?"
"She was very sick. Kenshin wasn't himself for a very long time afterwards."
"If you marry Mr. Himura, will you be Kenji's mommy?"
"No. Kaoru will always be his mommy."
"How come you don't talk about her?"
"I didn't really know her."
"Didn't Mr. Himura tell you about her?"
"I didn't ask about her."
"What would Mr. Shinomori do if his wife died?"
"Don't talk like that."
"We both know that having a baby is risky for anyone. Look what happened to yours."
"Aya?"
"Yes?"
"Stop talking."
All the way home, Aya and Rakei whispered excitedly to one another. Apparently, each had a crush on Aoshi.
"Aoshi," Aya said in a sing-song voice, "Rakei likes you!"
Aoshi ignored her and Misao laughed. She knelt next to Rakei and pointed to Aoshi. "He's taken and he's mine. And these handy Kunai are willing to prove it." She showed Rakei the knives and the little girl ran away and cried. Don't mess with the pregnant girl's man! Misao stood and went to stand next to Aoshi.
"Misao, If I never invite you to come with me again, you'll understand, right?"
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~*TBC*~
This is my humor chapter... I think from now on it will be PG again.
My cage of dead people need some more people doesn't it? Who shall I kill? Hehehe... You'll never know... Well, not yet anyway...
**cries from the cage** No!!! It's too crowded in here!!
Kaoru: If it's that serial rapist guy, I'll never forgive you!
Jean: Maybe it's just a Katai thing... Maybe he won't want you.
Kaoru: Are you implying that there is something unattractive about me?
Jean: **scared of Kaoru and her bokken** N-no! it's just that... well... you're dead.
Kaoru: He will be, too, soon!
Jean: I thought you didn't want him anyway. And I thought things were going well between you and Mike.
Mike: Yeah! **kisses Kaoru**
Kaoru: **hits Mike with her bokken**
Mike: screams like a girl and runs away.**
Well, I should go before this goes too far. \
K, I luv ya, buh-bye!
Jean ^_^
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Katai woke to a black expanse of nothingness, and she couldn't breathe. Well, that's how it appeared until she pulled Kenshin's shirt off of her face. "Ryo?" she said, when she first saw her brother, "Why is this here?"
"You wouldn't let it go last night, so he left it. He said to tell you to keep it. If I were you, I'd wear it. It's in decent condition and it's smaller than yours, so it'll fit you better."
She took Ryo's advice and wore the shirt, which did indeed fit better. She got up and, like every morning, for her lesson with Kenshin. Kenshin couldn't help but smile at the sight of Katai. In his shirt, no less. He told Katai that she was in no condition to fight. She was disappointed, but agreed. They sat and talked for awhile before Kenshin remembered that he'd told Katai that she could have Kaoru's old clothes. Katai just seemed to be inheriting everything of Kaoru's, huh? Her husband, her clothes...
Kenshin went inside and emerged with a bundle of clothes, which he thrust into Katai's arms. "What you don't need, give to your sister."
"Thank you. Are you sure?"
"I am certain and you're very welcome, that you are."
"I'll take this home now. Then I have to go get the children. You're welcome to come, if you'd like."
"Actually I was hoping we could bring Misao along so she would know what to expect for her child."
"That'd be great. She seemed nice when I met her, and it's always nice to know the parents of the children. None of them really bother to talk to me much as long as their children survive the day."
"Let's go, then." He went inside and got Kenji and they left.
Their first stop was to Katai's house to drop off the clothes and get Rumi. Then they went to the Shinomoris to ask Misao to come along. Shockingly enough, Aoshi wanted to come too, as he hadn't much experience with small children except Kenji, whom he watched on a regular basis. They warned him that playing with children was all they'd do, but he insisted.
Many parents wanted their children at home that day, so all Katai had were Aya, Rakei and a small boy named Hojo.
"Rakei and Aya are 7 and 9 and Hojo is 3. Misao, Aoshi, pick a kid and go play." Hojo immediately latched on to Misao's leg and Aoshi took Rakei.
"Kenshin, do you want to take Aya or should I?"
"Actually, if you don't mind, I'd like Rumi today."
"Rumi, will you go with Kenshin?"
The little girl shook her head and clutched Katai's pants.
"Don't you like Kenshin?"
"Yes," said Rumi, in a very tiny voice.
"Then why won't you go?"
"Boys are yucky."
"Oh, Kenshin isn't yucky. He's different from the other boys."
"Come here." Whispered the little girl.
Katai knelt down next to the girl. Rumi produced a box from who-knows- where.
"What's that?"
"A present." Rumi whispered in Katai's ear.
"For who?" Katai whispered back.
"Kenshin."
"What is it?"
"A mirror."
"Why would Kenshin need a mirror?"
"So he can see how pretty he is."
Katai couldn't help but laugh. "When will you give it to him?"
"I'm scared."
"Do you want me to?"
The little girl nodded and gave her the box. Katai Stood up and handed the box to Kenshin. "This is from Rumi."
Kenshin looked confused, but opened it anyway. "Mirror?"
"She said she wants you to see how 'pretty' you are."
Kenshin bent down and hugged the little girl. "Thank you, Rumi."
"So," Katai began, "Misao, Hojo is a very curious kid, so prepare for a flood of questions, Aoshi, Rakei's just... Rakei. She asks a lot of questions too, and she's much more infuriating than Hojo. Kenshin, you know how shy Rumi is, so be careful. Everyone, go play."
Hojo immediately started a flood of questions, which Misao answered expertly for the most part. Aoshi, on the other hand, entertained Rakei with stories of the Revolution. Kenshin was immediately attacked by Rumi and Kenji and Katai was bombarded with questions about her 'boyfriend.'
Hojo looked at a very pregnant Misao and whispered dramatically, "I know what you've been doing."
She whispered back, "I bet you don't."
"Mommy said if you suck your thumb you get a baby in your belly."
"It doesn't work that way, Hojo."
"Then how do you get a baby?"
"Um... well... You'll have to ask your mommy about that."
Meanwhile, Aoshi was once more learning how infuriating little girls were. She was almost as bad as Misao had been!
"Mr. Shinomori, why did you hate Mr. Himura before?"
"I wanted to be the strongest and I wasn't. I thought if I could be the strongest, I could avenge the deaths of my friends."
"Why did you want to avenge them?"
"Because Shishio killed them."
"Who's that?"
"A killer that wants to take over Japan."
"Why?"
"Because he's power hungry."
"He wants food?"
"No. Power hunger is a different kind of hunger."
"What kind?"
"It can only be fed with power."
"Huh?"
"He wants to have power. He wants to rule Japan."
"Why?"
"You ask too many questions."
"I ask too many questions and that's why Mr. Shishio wants to rule Japan?"
"Yes, that's exactly why!" shouted Aoshi exasperatedly.
Meanwhile, as Katai watched Kenshin being attacked by tickling children, Aya was asking questions about her new 'boyfriend.'
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Yes."
"Why did you pick Mr. Himura?"
"He's the nicest man I've ever met outside my immediate family. That, and he's really cute."
"Mr. Shinomori is kind of nice looking."
"Mr. Shinomori is married."
"Mr. Himura was married."
"But not now."
"How come he's not married now?"
"His wife died."
Aya's eyes widened in shock. "How?"
"She was very sick. Kenshin wasn't himself for a very long time afterwards."
"If you marry Mr. Himura, will you be Kenji's mommy?"
"No. Kaoru will always be his mommy."
"How come you don't talk about her?"
"I didn't really know her."
"Didn't Mr. Himura tell you about her?"
"I didn't ask about her."
"What would Mr. Shinomori do if his wife died?"
"Don't talk like that."
"We both know that having a baby is risky for anyone. Look what happened to yours."
"Aya?"
"Yes?"
"Stop talking."
All the way home, Aya and Rakei whispered excitedly to one another. Apparently, each had a crush on Aoshi.
"Aoshi," Aya said in a sing-song voice, "Rakei likes you!"
Aoshi ignored her and Misao laughed. She knelt next to Rakei and pointed to Aoshi. "He's taken and he's mine. And these handy Kunai are willing to prove it." She showed Rakei the knives and the little girl ran away and cried. Don't mess with the pregnant girl's man! Misao stood and went to stand next to Aoshi.
"Misao, If I never invite you to come with me again, you'll understand, right?"
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~*TBC*~
This is my humor chapter... I think from now on it will be PG again.
My cage of dead people need some more people doesn't it? Who shall I kill? Hehehe... You'll never know... Well, not yet anyway...
**cries from the cage** No!!! It's too crowded in here!!
Kaoru: If it's that serial rapist guy, I'll never forgive you!
Jean: Maybe it's just a Katai thing... Maybe he won't want you.
Kaoru: Are you implying that there is something unattractive about me?
Jean: **scared of Kaoru and her bokken** N-no! it's just that... well... you're dead.
Kaoru: He will be, too, soon!
Jean: I thought you didn't want him anyway. And I thought things were going well between you and Mike.
Mike: Yeah! **kisses Kaoru**
Kaoru: **hits Mike with her bokken**
Mike: screams like a girl and runs away.**
Well, I should go before this goes too far. \
K, I luv ya, buh-bye!
Jean ^_^