Where the Broken Heart Still Beats
Part: 16
By: Jean Lyons
I love my reviewers! You people are so nice!!! **gives reviewers cookies!** I love you all!!! ^_^
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The days following Katai's birthday were spent with everyone hurrying to and fro trying to prepare for the upcoming wedding.
Kenshin finally explained this to Kenji, who was now very excited. He loved Katai almost as much as his father did (In a different way, of course).
Neither Kenshin nor Katai had a very long guest list. Katai's consisted of mostly family, but there was also Pietro, his fiancée, and some of the children and their parents. Kenshin had a shorter list. He had Hiko Seijurou, Aoshi and Misao, a police officer from Kyoto called Saitou Hajime, his wife, Tokio, a doctor named Megumi, and even his friend Sanosuke Sagara came back from China for the wedding.
So there she was. Katai sat on the floor inside while Misao and Manatsu fussed over her hair and making sure her kimono wasn't wrinkled. Ryo knocked loudly.
"Come in, Ryo-san!" called Misao cheerfully.
"Could I have a moment?" asked Ryo.
"Of course, Ryo-san!" said Misao noting the anger on Ryo's face as she and Manatsu exited.
Ryo just stood there staring angrily at his feet.
"What are you thinking, Ryo?"
"I'm not sure. You just don't need me anymore."
"That's not true. I'll always need my big brother."
"Right... Tetsuya, maybe? Or Rei?"
"Ryo, just because I don't consult you for everything doesn't mean I don't need you anymore. You're my brother just like Tetsuya, Rei, Keiichi, Akitaka-"
"I get it. But you still act like you need Kenshin more than us."
"I do, though. You guys are great, really. Ryo, you raised me, but love- the kind of love I get from Kenshin - is something I can't get, nor do I want, from you."
"And you have to be married for that."
"Ryo, you know perfectly well that's not what I meant."
"Oh really? It's just that it sounds like you got sick of the other guy and you're moving on to the next idiot that'll have you. If you and Kenshin have a kid, will you kill that one too? You seem to have a habit of it."
"What's wrong with you?" Katai asked quietly, her eyes ready to overflow with the tears.
"Well, it's happened twice."
"Stop, please!" Katai was sobbing now.
Misao came back to tell them that everyone was waiting only for them. She had caught the last bit of conversation. She glared at Ryo and gave Katai a cloth with which to dry her eyes.
Katai stood biting her lip to hold back the tears during the ceremony. Kenshin stared worriedly at her. They spoke only hen they needed to, Katai never taking her eyes from the ground and Kenshin never taking his eyes from Katai. Misao glared daggers at Ryo the whole time while Ryo glared at his feet wondering how he could have said something so horrible, not to mention stupid.
At the end of the ceremony, everyone went to congratulate the couple and then inside to eat. While everyone was eating merrily, Ryo stood and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. Everyone fell silent and looked at him. "I cannot let my sister leave my house without apologizing for all I've done. I should have been more supportive from the beginning. Also, I should not have said what I did. I'll not say what I said, but suffice to say I'm very, profusely, sorry."
Now everyone has to make a speech...
Misao dragged Aoshi to his feet. "We've only known Katai for a few months, but we've Kenshin for long time. They're both great people and I cannot think of a cuter couple. Except, of course, me and my Aoshi." She and Aoshi started to sit down, but she remembered something. "Oh, and I can't wait to see what their kids look like!"
Each of Katai's brothers and other various male family members tried to sound very threatening when they made their speeches, saying that Kenshin would meet a very painful death if he hurt Katai. Manatsu made a very touching speech. She said that if Kenshin was to ever hurt Katai, his face would get up close and personal with her fingernails, if not Katai's sword.
Then, of course, Kenshin's people had their say. "Missy would have wanted him happy," said Sanosuke.
"He must be a great guy if she'd pick him over me," said Seijurou.
"I just want to congratulate them. I don't know enough about the girl to really say much, but she's pretty and if Kenshin loves her, that's all that counts." That was Saitou.
Everyone continued eating and being happy and they didn't notice Kenshin and Katai leaving in opposite directions. Even they didn't even notice the other leaving.
Katai was wandering off when she heard a familiar whispering. Her eyes grew wide in terror. He couldn't be here. Not today.
"Made ya jump, didn't I?"
Katai said nothing.
"I just wanted to let ya know that I'll be leaving ya alone from now on. Wanna know why?"
Katai didn't want to know.
"I'll tell ya why. A girl might not be brave enough to turn me in for what I do, but her husband might be. So now, I have to find another one. How about your dear sister? Or maybe that kid that's always following you?"
"I really will turn you in if you touch Manatsu or Rumi. Either that or I'll just kill you myself."
"Turn him in for what?" asked a deep voice from behind them. Saitou the police officer was there. They said nothing for awhile. "What has he done to you Katai?"
Katai looked down. She was saved from having to answer by Ryo, who explained everything to Saitou for her. There was nothing Saitou could do, being a Kyoto policeman and this was Tokyo. He just went inside, collected his wife and left to speak with the Tokyo police.
A little later...
Kenshin was sitting alone under a tree staring solemnly in the direction of the setting sun. Katai came up behind him. She next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Are you thinking about Kaoru?"
"Her and Tomoe and now you."
"I can imagine why. So, why are you looking all guilty? Do you regret marrying me now that it's done?"
"No. Of course not. Why?"
"Well the look on your face, for one."
"I can't help but wonder if this will end as my past two marriages did."
"I'll try my hardest not to die." She smiled.
"That's very reassuring, that it is." Kenshin laughed. He held Katai there for a long time. They both fell asleep, later joined by Kenji. The new little family.
***
Kenshin woke up the next morning, very, unusually, happy. He looked at his wife in his arms and his son in his lap. 'I've been wondering about the exact meaning of the word 'love.' I thought must be a verb. Something that we do. Or maybe a noun. Something we have. But it's a place. A place we fall. A place were the broken heart still beats.'
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END
Yes, this is the real and true end... Sort of. There will be a sequel... A very sad sequel, I must say. I'll start work on that soon... It'll take place 20 years later. Kenji is married now. ^_^ The story won't be about him, though... You'll just have to see.
I hadn't planned on ending it here, but I will. The stuff I'd planned for later will be smushed into flashbacks because those are moments they will spend a lot of time remembering. You never forget some stuff, I guess. Yes, Kenshin and Katai will eventually have kids and more people will die, but it's ok... It'll be good.
I love my reviewers! You people are so nice!!! **gives reviewers cookies!** I love you all!!! ^_^
************************************************************************
The days following Katai's birthday were spent with everyone hurrying to and fro trying to prepare for the upcoming wedding.
Kenshin finally explained this to Kenji, who was now very excited. He loved Katai almost as much as his father did (In a different way, of course).
Neither Kenshin nor Katai had a very long guest list. Katai's consisted of mostly family, but there was also Pietro, his fiancée, and some of the children and their parents. Kenshin had a shorter list. He had Hiko Seijurou, Aoshi and Misao, a police officer from Kyoto called Saitou Hajime, his wife, Tokio, a doctor named Megumi, and even his friend Sanosuke Sagara came back from China for the wedding.
So there she was. Katai sat on the floor inside while Misao and Manatsu fussed over her hair and making sure her kimono wasn't wrinkled. Ryo knocked loudly.
"Come in, Ryo-san!" called Misao cheerfully.
"Could I have a moment?" asked Ryo.
"Of course, Ryo-san!" said Misao noting the anger on Ryo's face as she and Manatsu exited.
Ryo just stood there staring angrily at his feet.
"What are you thinking, Ryo?"
"I'm not sure. You just don't need me anymore."
"That's not true. I'll always need my big brother."
"Right... Tetsuya, maybe? Or Rei?"
"Ryo, just because I don't consult you for everything doesn't mean I don't need you anymore. You're my brother just like Tetsuya, Rei, Keiichi, Akitaka-"
"I get it. But you still act like you need Kenshin more than us."
"I do, though. You guys are great, really. Ryo, you raised me, but love- the kind of love I get from Kenshin - is something I can't get, nor do I want, from you."
"And you have to be married for that."
"Ryo, you know perfectly well that's not what I meant."
"Oh really? It's just that it sounds like you got sick of the other guy and you're moving on to the next idiot that'll have you. If you and Kenshin have a kid, will you kill that one too? You seem to have a habit of it."
"What's wrong with you?" Katai asked quietly, her eyes ready to overflow with the tears.
"Well, it's happened twice."
"Stop, please!" Katai was sobbing now.
Misao came back to tell them that everyone was waiting only for them. She had caught the last bit of conversation. She glared at Ryo and gave Katai a cloth with which to dry her eyes.
Katai stood biting her lip to hold back the tears during the ceremony. Kenshin stared worriedly at her. They spoke only hen they needed to, Katai never taking her eyes from the ground and Kenshin never taking his eyes from Katai. Misao glared daggers at Ryo the whole time while Ryo glared at his feet wondering how he could have said something so horrible, not to mention stupid.
At the end of the ceremony, everyone went to congratulate the couple and then inside to eat. While everyone was eating merrily, Ryo stood and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. Everyone fell silent and looked at him. "I cannot let my sister leave my house without apologizing for all I've done. I should have been more supportive from the beginning. Also, I should not have said what I did. I'll not say what I said, but suffice to say I'm very, profusely, sorry."
Now everyone has to make a speech...
Misao dragged Aoshi to his feet. "We've only known Katai for a few months, but we've Kenshin for long time. They're both great people and I cannot think of a cuter couple. Except, of course, me and my Aoshi." She and Aoshi started to sit down, but she remembered something. "Oh, and I can't wait to see what their kids look like!"
Each of Katai's brothers and other various male family members tried to sound very threatening when they made their speeches, saying that Kenshin would meet a very painful death if he hurt Katai. Manatsu made a very touching speech. She said that if Kenshin was to ever hurt Katai, his face would get up close and personal with her fingernails, if not Katai's sword.
Then, of course, Kenshin's people had their say. "Missy would have wanted him happy," said Sanosuke.
"He must be a great guy if she'd pick him over me," said Seijurou.
"I just want to congratulate them. I don't know enough about the girl to really say much, but she's pretty and if Kenshin loves her, that's all that counts." That was Saitou.
Everyone continued eating and being happy and they didn't notice Kenshin and Katai leaving in opposite directions. Even they didn't even notice the other leaving.
Katai was wandering off when she heard a familiar whispering. Her eyes grew wide in terror. He couldn't be here. Not today.
"Made ya jump, didn't I?"
Katai said nothing.
"I just wanted to let ya know that I'll be leaving ya alone from now on. Wanna know why?"
Katai didn't want to know.
"I'll tell ya why. A girl might not be brave enough to turn me in for what I do, but her husband might be. So now, I have to find another one. How about your dear sister? Or maybe that kid that's always following you?"
"I really will turn you in if you touch Manatsu or Rumi. Either that or I'll just kill you myself."
"Turn him in for what?" asked a deep voice from behind them. Saitou the police officer was there. They said nothing for awhile. "What has he done to you Katai?"
Katai looked down. She was saved from having to answer by Ryo, who explained everything to Saitou for her. There was nothing Saitou could do, being a Kyoto policeman and this was Tokyo. He just went inside, collected his wife and left to speak with the Tokyo police.
A little later...
Kenshin was sitting alone under a tree staring solemnly in the direction of the setting sun. Katai came up behind him. She next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Are you thinking about Kaoru?"
"Her and Tomoe and now you."
"I can imagine why. So, why are you looking all guilty? Do you regret marrying me now that it's done?"
"No. Of course not. Why?"
"Well the look on your face, for one."
"I can't help but wonder if this will end as my past two marriages did."
"I'll try my hardest not to die." She smiled.
"That's very reassuring, that it is." Kenshin laughed. He held Katai there for a long time. They both fell asleep, later joined by Kenji. The new little family.
***
Kenshin woke up the next morning, very, unusually, happy. He looked at his wife in his arms and his son in his lap. 'I've been wondering about the exact meaning of the word 'love.' I thought must be a verb. Something that we do. Or maybe a noun. Something we have. But it's a place. A place we fall. A place were the broken heart still beats.'
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END
Yes, this is the real and true end... Sort of. There will be a sequel... A very sad sequel, I must say. I'll start work on that soon... It'll take place 20 years later. Kenji is married now. ^_^ The story won't be about him, though... You'll just have to see.
I hadn't planned on ending it here, but I will. The stuff I'd planned for later will be smushed into flashbacks because those are moments they will spend a lot of time remembering. You never forget some stuff, I guess. Yes, Kenshin and Katai will eventually have kids and more people will die, but it's ok... It'll be good.