Shattering Rainbow
Hi! AH!! I'm so sorry! My life is really busy now... but I'm still writing!
Happy reading!
+Review Responses+
Kakashi-fan:Thanks for reviewing! Yup... Kenji is probably going to stay with Kaoru... I'm not too sure... that's what I'm writing in this chapter! You'll see! ^^
Imalefty: I'm so glad the last chapter has surpassed your expectations. But I'm not that good of a writer. I hope this chapter is just as well written as my other chapters. Thanks for reading! ^^
Starian Princess: I had to kill Kenshin off... it wouldn't be a Saitou/Kaoru pairing is Kenshin was still around now would it? ~.^ Thanks for reviewing! Enjoy! ^^
MissBehavin: As always, thanks for reviewing. I hope you like this chapter. Happy reading! ^^
AbsolutelyNoSoliciting: Here another update. I hope you enjoy! *Please don't shoot me!* (j/k) ^^
Khaos_Angel: Aww... I'm so glad you liked this story! Thanks for reviewing! ^^
Rose1216: Thanks for reading! I'm glad you like the story! ^^
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Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death?
-Plato, Dialogues, Phaedo (427 BC - 347 BC)
Tears are sometimes an inappropriate response to death. When a life has been lived completely honestly, completely successfully, or just completely, the correct response to death's perfect punctuation mark is a smile.
-Julie Burchill
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"Hello?" Kenji's voice crakced with emotion.
"Kenji, I'm sorry." The low dark voice on the other side spoke.
Kenji felt his world spin, and stop. He felt lost, alone in the world, unwanted, left drifting in a place a nothing, "Un-unc-cle Sa-Sai-t-t-tou..." He stammered, "It--"
"True." The tall lawyer heaved a sigh. Sensing the boy's panic an shock, he spoke quickly, "I'll be there in five. Don't go anywhere. And don't do anything stupid." He added as a final thought.
Kenji hung the phone up and collasped onto the couch. His parents... gone...
***
Saitou slammed the brakes down hard, nearly plowing into a black sportscar that was parked in the alley way of the Himura home.
He fumbled for the keys to the house; Kenji was probably 'out of it'. After shoving ten different keys into the lock, one finally fit and Saitou clamored into the house.
He searched around for the light switch. It wasn't completly dark, but dim enough for Saitou to trip on something while reaching for the switch.
Kenji groaned as light flashed into his eyes, "Agh..." He blinked several time before realizing peircing golden eyes above him, "GAH!" His head flew up smaking Saitou right in the nose.
The other man gripped his nose, growling at the teen. "What? Never see me before?"
"No." Kenji replied cheekily, "That's so scary..."
"Hn." Saitou scrunched his nose a few times in irritation.
"Uncle... I had the weirdest dream... I was watching the news, right... and Kaoru was the anchor.. and she said..."
"It wasn't a dream kiddo." Saitou flipped his lighter, watching the flame burn. He closed it with a click, and reopened it.
It was the only sound in the quiet room.
Kenji sank back into the coach. Uncle Saitou was bluffing... he had to be. Soon his parents would appear, laughing at the joke they played. He would be annoyed at them; but they would be home. It was all a joke.
But Uncle Saitou wasn't laughing.
Kenji whimpered, "What will become of me?"
Saitou raked his hands through his dark hair, "I'll check with office tomorrow. Now how about some dinner?"
***
Kaoru pushed her way out of the building; it was so suffocating in there.
Everyone was saying, "Oh I'm so sorry." Pft! What did they know about her?
"Miss Kaoru... your driver is here."
One of the perks of being the Dusk News anchor, her own driver. She was glad she wasn't driving home; her mind was elsewhere now.
"Name's Akira Miss Kaoru. Let's get you home. Must be a tough night." He closed the door after Kaoru stepped in.
You have no idea, she thought.
***
The smell was delightful in the house. Kaoru slipped off her jacket and warily walked in. "Kenji?" She asked softly. Poor kid, losing both his parents in a fire.
"Here." Came a cold voice.
Kaoru was wiping her tears away, stiffened at the sound of that voice; wasn't that...
"Saitou Hajime, Mrs. Kaoru... we met at the wedding."
Kaoru nodded as she surveyed the dining room. "Oh...right."
Kenji was stuffing his face. Kaoru noticed his eyes were red and swollen. She remembered she wasn't the only one with problems and grief... he had lost both his parents. Saitou motioned for Kaoru to eat.
She tiredly plopped into her seat and began to eat. She gave a weak smile, "What take-out is this? It's very good."
Saitou snorted, "I made it."
"YOU CAN COOK?" Kaoru was surprised.
Saitou rolled his eyes, "And I heard you can't." He snapped.
Dinner resumed in silence. Kaoru finally spoke, "What now?" Her voice was depressing. She broke down into tears, sobs racking her small frame.
"I'll make arrangements... for the funeral... and other things. Kenji will stay here for now... until I can located Tomoe's sister."
"You must be kidding me." Kaoru looked up through her tears, "I'm NOT taking care of that brat!"
"HEY-" Kenji's protest wa cut short.
"Mrs. Kaoru." Saitou barked. This was just beginning to get on his nerves. He rubbed his temples in fustration. Kaoru looked up, tears still streaming.
Saitou shot her a glare. He didn't care if she was crying or not; it simply was not the time for useless arguements. He rubbed his temples again, "We're all going through some tough times. Bear with it. That's all I ask for. I'll handle the rest."
His voice was icy, but Kenji could feel his uncle's pain from his words. Saitou was hurting; he just wasn't about to show it.
Kaoru was stunned. She watched as Saitou grab his coat and storm out of the house.
Kenji regarded Kaoru with cool eyes, "I'm not a kid. I don't need you." He sneered. With that, he pushed back his chair roughly. Kaoru winced at the sound. Kenji walked to his room and slammed the door.
***
Kaoru was alone... entirly alone. She laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling. For a day she had her pot of gold... her rainbow of joy. She only had a piece before it was all taken away.
WHY was life so cruel to her?Why must she endure this torture?
She waited for Kenshin almost three years... and when she finally got him... he was only hers for a day.
She picked up the photo of her and Kenshin by a lake.
They were so happy. She ran her hands over his smiling face.
How happy had she been...
***
"Come on! Go home! You look dead."
"I'm not." Saitou retorted.
Okita Souji rolled his eyes, "Not yet you mean."
"Go home Okita. It's like two in the morning!"
Okita grabbed Saitou wrist, "Which is excatly why you're going home. It's two in the morning."
Saitou jerked his hand away, "I need to get Himura's papers in order." There was some mumbling complaining about Himura this or Himura that.
"There's still tomorrow.. well... I mean.... later today." Okita commented.
Saitou picked up the paperweight that was sitting on his desk. He tossed it up and down, smirking, "I wonder if this will go through your head."
Okita rolled his eyes; Saitou was just threatening him, but now Okita could take the hint that Saitou wanted to be alone. Perhaps it was better for Saitou to face his demons alone. Okita reached for his bag, "Bye." He yelled as he hurried home.
Saitou let the smirk fall from his face. It was like he aged ten years in a minute. The eyes were dull yellow, dark rings around them. The eyes screamed for relief. Saitou rubbed them; he had no intention of resting.
His mind pounded for rest but he worked on. The tapping of the keys and the shifting of papers were heard in the office by the night watchman who shook his head in wonder.
***
"Wake up Sleeping Beauty!"
Saitou jerked up from his chair, "I was just resting my eyes!"
Okita rolled his eyes, "Take the day off man!"
"I'm sure the stack of papers made a great pillow!" Someone who was pssing by hollared out. There were chortles following the comment.
Saitou ran his hands over the edge of his letter opener. Okita eyed the katana shaped steel item cautiously. Saitou wasn't in a very good mood now, judging by the twisted looks on his face.
"Coffee Mr. Saitou, Okita." A young woman appeared at the door. She handed Okita a cup, placing Saitou's cup on his desk. Saitou narrowed his eyes on the mug. The secretary tapped her nails, wondering if her boss was going to say anything to her. He didn't move.
The woman took this chance to pull Okita towards her, "So Okita..."
Okita groaned inwardly, why were so many of the women of the firm insist on talking to him?
"It's Mr. Souji." He replied firmly.
The woman shot him a hurt look, "Well Mr. Souji..." Her tone grew seductive. She placed a hand on his shoulder, running it up and down. Okita merely looked at Saitou, , his eyes pleading for help.
Saitou mumbled something incoherent at his secretary. The woman frowned, "Excuse me sir?"
Saitou was not in the mood to play games, "You're fired." He barked.
"Sir this is total-"
"If you MUST know Arata Eto... I've had enough of you 'throwing' yourself at the men of this firm. Many of them have complained to me about your behavior. Many have also told me thier wives are not too fond of you, including yours Okita." Saitou pointed to the door, "Out you go Miss Eto. Have a nice day now."
The woman flew into a rage, shrieking, her hair wild around her face. She reached for something to vent her anger on and snatched up the letter opener. Frantically, she gripped the letter opener close to Saitou's neck. "I'll kill you!"
Saitou rolled his eyes; he always had to hire the crazy ones. He nodded his approval at Okita.
Okita twisted her wrist, sending the letter opener clattering on the desk. It spun in a circle, throwing beams of light all around the room. Okita swore he saw a tortured look in Saitou's eyes. The woman twisted out of his grip and bent to pick the little katana up. A larger pair of hands closed over it first.
Miss Eto looked up to see blaring golden eyes, "Get out." The voice hissed. This time she complied.
Saitou took a deep breath as he sat back in his chair. "I always get the crazy ones."
Okita smiled, "So what's this about my wife? Does that mean I can..."
"You still can not marry my niece." Saitou shifted through his papers.
"But you-"
"Out."
Okita sighed, defeated. He turned to leave.
"Find me a new secretary too... preferably one not totally insane... I know that hard these days."
Okita grinned, "Sure... no problem..."
***
Kenji walked into the school yard, head low. His bright red hair hid his face.
"Hey Kenji!" Yahiko Myoujin waved his friend over, "How'd you been holding up?"
"Okay." Kenji muttered.
"So you're going to be with your step-mom?" Tsubame Sanjou asked. She was Yahiko's girlfriend.
"As of right now." Kenji replied impassive.
"Oh..." Tsubame fell silent.
Enji Mishima soon joined, having been dropped off by his older brother, "You okay Kenji?"
"Just peachy." Kenji remarked.
"Hi Kenji!" Another voice said quickly. "How are you?" Uki Higashidani asked. She was very concerned.
Kenji glared at her, "FINE! WILL EVERYONE JUST STOP ASKING!?"
For the remainder of the day Kenji was stone cold and silent. No one spoke to him, not knowing what to say to a boy who had lost both his parents.
Tsubame found Uki in the bathroom sobbing her eyes out; apparently Kenji blowing up in her face had hurt the poor girl.
For a day, Kenji, one of the most popular guys in the school isoluted himself from the rest of the school and everyone left him alone. Everyone seemed to know of his grief, but no one understood it.
Kenji threw his bookbag into his room. He did not notice Saitou sitting in the living room with Kaoru, going over different papers. Kenji grabbed an apple from the refrigerator and hurried out. He need space to think.
Saitou excused himself. Kaoru watched him leave after her step-son. She reached for her cell phone and dialed. A few short words were exchanged.
***
Kenji rushed along the busy streets. He needed so time away from.. people... happy people...
Saitou glimsped red hair; Kenji's. He followed down an alley.
Akira inched the car forward, "Miss?"
Kaoru watched as her step-son and lawyer headed down the alley. The car had been following the pair for serveral blocks. Kaoru got out, since the car was too large to get through the alleyway, "I'll call again."
Akira nodded and drove off. Kaoru looked around, seemingly losing sight of the two men. She saw Saitou's head weaving in and out of the crowd and quickened her step.
***
Kenji breathed a sigh of relief. He was sitting under a shaded tree in the park. He like to come here and think; with no one around him.
He knew he had been a nasty person that morning; the way he spoke to Uki. He couldn't help it; no one was going through the same thing he was!
There was a gnawing hole in him, eating his heart away from its depth. He had always looked to his parents for support, both of them. To have they taken away was like his carefully built foundation was crumbling. Every breath he took hurt, knowing they would never take another. Every tear was worthless; it wouldn't bring them back.
"Kenji."
Kenji knew the voice, "Uncle." He opened his eyes. He was suprised to find his stiff uncle sitting crosslegged on the ground next to him.
"Nice view from here." Saitou said calmly. He unconsciously flipped his lighter. He had stopped smoking, bit now his habit was flipping the blue lighter.
(A/N: Has anyone seen in Digimon Tamers (Season 3) that sunglasses guy, Yamaki or something, is always flipping a silver lighter? That's were the idea came from.)
"Go away." Kenji replied. There was no response. Kenji repeated, louder, "GO away." He was getting annoyed, who did Uncle Saitou think he was? He didn't know the pains of the boy. "GO AWAY!" Kenji vented.
There was still no movement from the taller man. Kenji turned around in anger, but his anger disffused once he saw Saitou's eyes.
Kenji looked away in distress. Maybe he wasn't the only one suffering. Uncle Saitou had lost a friend, one whose friendship spanned about three decades.
"Funeral is this Sunday." Saitou's voice was devoid of emotion.
Kenji sat there, ripping grass and tossing them into the wind. "What am I suppose to do there?"
Saitou leaned his head back to gaze at the bright blue sky, "Say good bye."
***
Kaoru could see the two sitting under a tree. She decieded not to disturb them.
She glanced at her watch; it was nearly five. Perhaps she would go to work early. Work would take her mind off her heartache.
She could feel all the sypathetic eyes on her as soon as she walked in. "Married on Sunday, widow on Monday." People whispered to one another.
She could also see the skeptics. Many had accused her as a 'gold-digger', seeing she professionally annouced her husband's death on air.
She was hurt; did true love not exsist today?
***
Saitou and Kenji made it in time to watch Dusk News. "Who's better, her or Emma Kido?" Kenji asked.
Saitou frowned, "Mrs. Kido was a lot better than Mrs. Himura in her younger years. Your step-mother is a little too impassive. Mrs. Kido communicated to her veiwers and was friendly and interesting to watch. Mrs. Himura is too stringent."
"Yeah... she's too tense." Kenji noted.
They watched in silence for a few minutes.
"How do you think she's holding up?"
"Bet she's crying inside. She was only married for a day." Saitou replied. He felt sorry for Mrs. Himura; her marriage to Kenshin lasted a day and ended tragically.
***
Sunday was a sunny bright day. Everything seemed joyous. Birds were chirping, flowers were opening, welcoming the breeze. The wind froliced with tree leaves. Everything was blissful except the occupants of the small funeral home.
There were two closes caskets, Kenshin and Tomoe. They were to be lain side by side. Kenji shook what seemed like an endless amount of hands.
Kaoru had collasped half an hour into the ceremony. She was escorted out.
The service was soporific. Kenji dozed off a few times, only to be awaken by pious Kaoru who had returned.
***
The guest filed down the stairs to the cemetery. There were two grey headstones. Women became to cry into white tissue. Men were whispering among themselves.
Kenji watched in solemn eyes as the caskets were lowered. He looked to his uncle, stupefied to see one lone tear fall from the tawny eyes. His face though, remained inexpressive.
His eyes roamed to Okita, another family friend. Okita's arm was around a lady Kenji had once seen in Saitou's family portrait: his neice.
They finally came to rest on his step-mother. She stepped forwrad and placed a white rose on his mother's casket. She leaned over his father's, planting a kiss and the flower on top.
He walked over and placed a white lily on his mother's. His traced his hand over her name. Coming to his father's, the feeling of resentment and anger filled him. It was soon dissipated, knowing his father was never coming home. He turned around, and fled. He couldn't do it; not here.
He ran and ran, heart pumping, eyes wild. His hand still held the lily for his father's casket. He halted under the tree.
Saitou's firm steps stopped close to the teen. Kenji glanced at his uncle. The man looked old. For the first time Saitou looked tired and caustic.
The tree was overlooking a small poud with a flowing river. Kenji leaned over it. Saitou watched the teen drop the white lily, letting the current take it away.
Kenji turned to his uncle, eyes glistening, "I'm saying good bye."
Saitou's eyes were fixed on the white lily, flowing away. His eyes closed for a lasting thought as his lips curled in a bittersweet smile.
Good bye... my brother.
Well... here's to another chapter. *cling* (Nah... it wasn't that great a chapter)
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.
Please do review! I'll try to get another chapter up before I go on vacation.
Have a nice day! ^.^