The End Of One Thing, The Start Of Something New

[Takashi]

Chapter 1

“Hey, wait up big bro.” Yelled Ryan, running to catch up with his big brother, Kenshin. Kenshin stopped and looked over his shoulder to see his little brother running after him.

“Kenshin, you know I can’t walk as fast as you.” Said Ryan

“Sorry lil bro, come on get on my back I’ll give you a piggy back ride.” Ryan jumped at this because he loved it when his big brother would let him hang out with him and the piggy back ride was an added bonus.

Meet Kenshin and Ryan Hemorea; Kenshin’s a normal 16 year old boy, though he has some problems seeing and doing physical things because of his Optic nerve atrophy and hydrocephalus, two diseases he’s been stuck with since birth. Ryan, his 7 year old brother, always looked up to Kenshin because he was always teased and picked on. Now, everyone gets teased once in a while, but Ryan got it most because he was also born with birth defects. Ryan was born with a condition called tiny kid disease which gave him the appearance, strength, and stamina of a 2 year old, and as if that wasn’t enough Ryan was also born with no control over his bladder or bowls which caused him to wear diapers, so you can see why he gets teased really badly, but his brother and friends never ceased to defend him.

“Where are we going big brother?” Ryan asked at Kenshin ran down the street with his little brother on his back.

“Don’t you remember lil bro; we’re going to go hang out with Kadis for the day.”
Ryan let out a squeal of joy because it wasn’t everyday that he got to hang out with two of his favorite people.

Kadis was Kenshin’s girlfriend, a 15 year old African American girl with long black hair and a smile that could light up even the darkest room.It was extremely apparent that Kenshin was deeply in love with her. Ryan loved her too but not in the same sense as his big brother. Because of Ryan’s birth defect he was also an infantilist, he loved to be treated like a baby and act like one too. Ryan kind of saw Kadis as a second mommy, as he put it, since she would always play with him and treated him as if he were her own child. They arrived at Kadis’s house and Kenshin let Ryan off of his back, as they both ran to the door.

“Can I ring the bell Kenshin, please?” Ryan said standing next to him sucking his thumb cutely.

“Sure lil bro” Kenshin smiled and picked his brother up so he could reach the door bell. Ryan rang the bell and within a few seconds Kadis was at the door, ready with a big hug for both of them.

“Hey Kadis, what up?” Kenshin said wrapped her arms around him.

“I’m doing well” said Kadis as she finished hugging him and bent down to pick up Ryan, kissing him on the nose.

“Hi mommy!” said Ryan as she hugged and kissed him, setting him back down so he was standing next to Kenshin.

“Hi sweetie” she said as she saw Ryan blush.

“So how are my two favorite men?

“Good” said the two brothers at the same time.

“So what’s the plan for today guys?

“I wanna watch Blue’s Clues!” Ryan yelled out in an excited tone.

“Nee-chan, remember your manners.” Kenshin said patting his brother’s head.

“Sowwy” he said in a babyish ton of voice. “May I pwease watch Blues Clues?” Kadis and Kenshin stood there smiling.

“Yes you can my Baby-chan.” Kadis replied.

Ryan smiled as he ran up and hugged her leg, then ran inside to the living room and plopped himself on the couch in front the TV, turning it onto Blue’s Clues just as it was starting. Kenshin and Kadis followed him and sat on the couch watching the show. They sat there for an hour watching TV until Ryan tired himself out, ready for a nap. Kenshin picked his little brother up, ready to carry him to bed. Kenshin walked to Kadis’s room and took Ryan’s shoes off, tucking him into bed, and saying goodnight, leaving the door cracked so they could hear when he woke up.
He walked back to the living room and sat down on the couch. They started talking and cuddling, doing so for what seemed to be an hour when they heard Ryan crying and calling their names. Jumping up, they went to Kadis’s room to see what the matter was. They saw Ryan sitting straight up in the bed, sobbing. Kenshin and Kadis both walked over and sat on the bed with looks of concern on there faces. Kenshin picked his little brother up and sat him on his knee, trying to calm him down.

“What's wrong, big guy?” Kenshin asked as Ryan laid his head on his brother’s shoulder.

“Bad dream, big brother.” Ryan sobbed.

“It’s ok, now we’re here and everything’s okay.”

“There now that’s better.” Kenshin said with a smile as Ryan lifted his head and smiled as Kenshin dried his eyes.

Ryan smiled and cuddled between his big brother and Kadis. Then Kenshin and Kadis both made a similar face at the same time. Ryan had wet and messed his diaper. Kenshin and Kadis each exchanged looks like a mental chess game to see who was going to change him. Unfortunately for Kenshin he lost and took off the backpack he had on over his shoulder, carrying both the bag and Ryan to the bathroom. He cleared away some of Kadis’s makeup off the counter, laid Ryan down, and opened up his bag.

Pulling out the baby powder, wipes and a fresh diaper, he took Ryan’s jeans off, and lifted up his shirt. Ryan laughed as Kenshin playfully blew into his small belly. Kenshin then took off Ryan’s dirty diaper, cleaned him up, and taped a new diaper on the small boy. Ryan smiled up at his big brother, thanking him for the change. Kenshin then put Ryan’s cloths back on and cleaned up the bathroom, returning Ryan back to Kadis’ room, and placed him on the bed.

“Hey I got an idea guys, why don’t we all go to the mall for a little while and see if we can find anything good. We can even go to that candy store.” Kenshin said with an eager look on his face.

Kadis and Ryan jumped at this idea and it was settled. Within 10 minutes they were out of the house and walking toward the mall with Ryan on Kenshin’s back.

“Hey Kadis, wanna race? Looser buys lunch.” Kenshin said with a smile.

“You’re on!” She said with an eager look in her eye.

They started running, both evenly matched. As the mall was nearing though, Kenshin gained speed, and took the win.

“Man Ken-chan you never let me win!” Said Kadis, crossing her arms in protest.

“It’s ok Kadis I’ll buy lunch.” Kenshin said with a smile as he kissed her on the forehead, making Ryan giggle. They went to the food court and each got their favorites; Kenshin getting a big tuna sandwich from Subway, Kadis getting a big bowl of ramen, and Ryan getting a big slice of pepperoni pizza. As they ate, Kadis and Kenshin talked about school and all of the boneheads that they deal with on a daily basis, which fascinated and yet bored Ryan to death.

After about 15 minutes or so of talking, everyone was done eating, Kenshin took Ryan to the bathroom to change him and within 10 minutes they were walking around the mall, Ryan on Kenshin’s back as usual. Looking at all the shops, they headed into Gamestop and Kenshin bought Smack down vs. Raw 2008, a wrestling game that he had been waiting to come out for months. As they left the store they started talking.

“Man I can’t wait to get home and play this.” Kenshin said with a big grin on his face.

“So what do you guys want to do now?” asked Kenshin.

“Can we go to the toy store big brother? Pweas?.”

“That ok with you, Kadis?”

“Yeah sure, let’s go.” Kadis said with a smile, and Ryan perked up.

They walked into the toy store and Ryan went nuts running in every direction; which just made Kenshin and Kadis smiles and started giggling. Then Ryan ran up to them with a Spiderman action figure.

“Will you buy this for me big bro? Pwease?”

“Sure” Kenshin said with a smile, as he purchased the toy; causing Ryan to hug his big brothers legs tightly in gratitude.
"Leaving the toy store, they headed over to 'Sweets from Heaven,' a near by candy shop, where they stocked up ad headed for the arcade. Time quickly flew, and they were soon on their way home."

"As they approached Kadis' door, they said their goodbyes. Kadis kissed Kenshin, saying goodnight. She then knelt down, giving Ryan a kiss on his forehead, as he blushed in approval.

"See you tomorrow, guys!" She said as she entered her home.

And with that, Kenshin picked his little brother up and balanced him on his shoulders as they walked into the nigh.

(Please don't post until Chapter 10 is uploaded.)

[Takashi]

Chapter 2

Kenshin awoke the next morning and went about his usual morning retchual of getting dressed and putting his hair back in a pony tail, and then walked to his little brothers room. He went over to Ryan’s crib and let down the bar and slowly rubbed his back intil his eyes opened.

“Hey big brother.” Ryan said sleepishly rubing his eyes and giving his brother a big smile.

“Hey lil bro, did you sleep well?”

“I was intil you woke me up.” Ryan said siting up and crossing his arms.

“Aw, I’m sorry lil bro I’m just doing what I do every morning.”

“That’s alright Kenny.” Said Ryan standing up in his crib and giving his brother a big hug.

Kenshin smled and huged his brother.

“Now lets get you changed and ready for the day.” Said Kenshin picking him up and walking over to the changing table. Kenshin proceded to lift up his brothers shirt and blow into his stumic which made Ryan laugh and wet himself even more. Kenshin smiled to and proceded to change him.

“Now that that’s done what do you want to wear today?”
Ryan pointed to a Transformers shirt and jeans.

“As you wish.” Kenshin said with a smile and dressed his little brother.
“Now I don’t know about you but I’m starving.”

“yeah, I am too.”
Kenshin and Ryan ran down the stairs to the kitchen were they found a fully prepared breakfast and a note which read:

Dear Kenshin and Ryan,
Your dad and I have to work today and we won’t be home intil later tonight, Kenshin your in charge, Be good and be responcable.
Love you both.
mom

Kenshin read the note to himself and then aloud to Ryan.
“Well looks like we’re on are own for today.” Kenshin said with a smile.

“Then lets eat.” Ryan said giggling.

There ate there breakfast, talking about random things and within 15 minutes they were done. They put the dishes in the sink and went into the living room. Kenshin turned on the tv so Ryan could watch all his Saturday morning cartoons and then Kenshin got on his computer and started playing a game of Go inline with one of his friends. After all of his shows were over he walked over to to Kenshin on the computer.

“What are you doing big Kenny?” Ryan asked with a puzzling look on his face.

“I’m playing Go.” said Kenshin as he was trying to break an atari.

“What’s Go?” Ryan asked with a puzzling look.

“It’s a board game invented by the Chinese about 4,000 years ago. I found this anime called Hikaru no Go about a year ago and thought the game looked interesting, so I started searching online to is if I could find out more about the game. I found what I was looking for when I stumbed on this site and started talking to people. They told me the ins and outs of the game and I got hooked.”

“Wow.” Ryan said with a gleam in his eyes. “Can you teach me how to play?”

Kenshin nodded and Ryan jumped into his lap.

“Ok lets get started. First of all Go is played on a boared of a few different sizes, you have the 5 x 5, 6 x 6, 9 x 9, 13 x 13, and 19 x 19. Do you understand?”

Ryan noded so Kenshin went back to explaining.

“Go is played between two people using stones, one person using black the other using white.”

“Ok this doesn’t seem that hard.” Smiled Ryan

“The object of the game is to capture your enemy’s stones and have the most teritory at the end of the game.”

Ok, so how do I capture enemy stones?”

“You have to seround them on all sides and then the stone is considered dead and the stone is yours.”

Kenshin started typing on the computer telling his friend that he was teaching his little brother how to play and asked him if they could play a teaching game, his friend agreed and they started the game going slow so Kenshin could show Ryan what to do and Ryan started getting it after a while. After about 20 minutes in the teaching game Kenshin had beat his friend and said good game.

“So you’ve seen how the game is played and you have a disent understanding of what to do, do you want to give it a try?”

“Yeah.” Ryan said really excited.

“Ok then.” Kenshin said smiling and then told his friend that his little brother wanted to try out a game and asked if that was ok, he agreed and they started playing.
After a few minutes Ryan lost the game and started sobbing into Kenshin’s sholder.
“I don’t get it big bro, I did everything right why didn’t I win?

“It’s ok lil bro, it’s true you lost but it’s ok you did better then I thought you would and it’s kinda good that you lost because you can learn from your mistakes.”

“Ok Kenny, I’m going to keep practising and maybe one day I’ll be able to beat you.” Ryan said as he stopped sobbing and looked at his brother with a big grin in his face.

“Good, I look forward to it.” Kenshin said with a smile and pated his brother on the head. Then Kenshin logged off the computer and looked at Ryan.

“So what do you want to do now?” but just then something hit him thought all of the exsitment Ryan had wet himself, so Kehsnin picked him up and took him took him to his room and changed him. After that it was 12:00 and they were both getting hungery.

“Oh man I’m starving, lets get something to eat.” Said Kenshin holding his stumic.

“Yeah, I’m hungery too.” Kenshin picked Ryan up and took him to the kitchen, sat him down and started maked griled cheese sanshiches

“So after we eat what do you feel like doing?” Said Kenshin.

“I wanta go to the park!” Said Ryan acting really hyper.

“Ok settle down.” Said Kenshin he put a sandwhich in frount of him. “We’ll go to the park but first you got to eat so you hav energy to play.”

Ryan noded and started eating, Kenshin sat down and did the same. After a few minutes they were down and they went to Ryan’s room to get a diaper bag ready with everything they would need like diapers, wipes, a few toys and some juice boxes.

“Ok looks like were ready, so lets get going.” Said Kenshin putting the bag over his sholder.

They went down to the kitchen and Kenshin wrote a note for there parents just in case there parents got home before they did and left it on the kitchen table, then walked out locking the door behind them.
They went in the garage to get Ryan’s carseat from there mom’s car and put it in Kenshin’s car, a used 2001 black Mustang his parents had given him for a birthday present on his 16th birthday. Kenshin straped Ryan into his carseat which he didn’t really like because he knew he was a big boy and didn’t need one.
“I’m sorry lil bro, but mom and dads orders, I know you’re a big boy but because your so small you still need to be in a carseat when we take you anywhere it’s just cause we love you and we want you to be safe.”

Ryan still didn’t like it and had a frown on his face but that all changed with Kenshin turned on the car and put in a Black Sabbith CD and turned it up real loud, but soft enough so it wouldn’t hear Ryan’s ears. Kenshin looked at Ryan as he backed the car out of the driveway and Ryan had a big smile on his face.

They drove for about 10 minutes and then pulled into the parking lot of Ryan’s favorite park and his eyes lit up with joy and he started squarming in his carseat. Kenshin parked the car and took Ryan out of his carseat and walked him to the jungal gym and let him run free, while Kenshin watched him from a near by bench.

Ryan ran around for an hour or so playing with all of the other kids and making new friends, but then some kids that looked to be about 12 came over to him and started teasiing him.
Kenshin watched as this was going one knowing that he needed to step in and stop this, but he also knew that Ryan needed to learn to fight his own battle becausse Kenshin wasn’t always going to be there to protect him.
The kids didn’t stop with teasing they started to beat him up and that was the last straw. Kenshin ran over and pulled the boys off of Ryan, through them to the ground and looked to see if Ryan was ok. He didn’t look to bad the only visable make was that his right cheek was a little swolen. Kenshin then walked over to the two boys.

“What the hell do you guys think your doing?” Kenshin yelled at them. “Picking on a little kid, that’s really low.”

“You think we care?” One of the boys said.

“We do it because it’s fun.” Said the other.

“Oh really you think it’s fun to pick on little kids?” Kenshin said cracking his kuckles. “Then why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”

Unforchanetly for these boyrs Kenshin was a foot taller then them and a lot stronger, but Kenshin went easy on them and gave them both a black eye.
“Don’t you ever let me catch you picking on him or anyone else again or it will be much worse next time.” Kenshin said stareing the boys down.

They noded and ran away. Kenshin then walked over to Ryan who was siting on the ground crying and was covered in dirt. Kenshin picked him up and brushed the dirt off of him and then hugged him and saw that he had wet and messed himself in fear when the boys here picking on him.

“Hey lil bro, I’m here, I’m here, it’s gonna be ok now.” Said kenshin as he held Ryan in his arms.
“I was so scared Kenny.” Sobbed Ryan as he barried his head into Kenshin’s sholder.
"I know Ryan, big brother is here and it’s alright I took care of them, maybe next time they’ll think next time they want to pick on a little kid, come on lets get you home.”

Kenshin held Ryan in his arms and grabed his diaper bag and walked back to the car. Kenshin put Ryan in his carseat and they drove home in silance.

When they got home Kenshin took Ryan out of his carseat and carryed him to the door were Kenshin unlocked it and carryed Ryan into the kitchen and sat him how at the table and went to the freezer and wraped some ice cubes in a wash rag and dabed Ryan’s cheek lightly to try and get the swelling to go down and it did after having that on after a few minutes.

Kenshin then put the ice in the sink and took Ryan to his room and layed him on the changing table and took off all this dirty clothes and changed his diaper and then dressed him in a sleeper.

“Now you wait right there and I’ll be back in a minute.” Kenshin said with a smile.

Kenshin came returned a few minutes later with a bottle of warm milk. He picked up Ryan and sat down in the rocking chair by his crib and cuddled him as he drank his milk and just rocked him slowly and when he was done kenshin took the bottle from him, layed him in his crib and handed him a stuffed aniamal and rubbed his fingures throught his hair.

“Night lil brother, sweet dreams.” Smiled Kenshin, and with that he closed the certions and turned on his night light and left the door a crack and then went to clean the kitchen. Once he was down with that kenshin layed down on the couch and fell asleep.

[Takashi]

Chapter 3
Kenshin was fast asleep on the couch but was then awoken by someone calling his name. Kenshin opened his eyes and after a few secants he relised that Ryan was calling him, so Kenshin got up from the couch and went into Ryan’s room and there he was standing up in his crib all full of energy.

“Hey lil bro.” Kenshin said as he walked over to Ryan and looked carefully at his cheek. It was still swollen but it went down a lot from when kenshin had put him to bed. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah a lot better.” Ryan said smiling.

“Good.” Kenshin said with a smile and lifted Ryan out of his crib, and taking to the changing table. Kenshin changed him and dressed him in a t-shirt and shorts and then lifted him up so he was sitting on the table.

“Kenny.”

“Yes” Said Kenshin with a puzzled look.

“Thanks for taking care of those bullies for me.” Ryan said with a big smile on his face hugging Kenshin.

“It’s no problem, I will always protect you, no body messes with my lil bro and gets away with it.” Kenshin said as he picked Ryan up and took him to the living room and sat down on the couch with Ryan on his lap.

“I feel so safe when I’m with you big bro, your always there for me.” Ryan said smiling.

“It’s no problem Ryan, there’s something I want you to know.”

Ryan game kenshin a puzzled look.

“No matter what happens I will always be here and I will always help you in anyway I can.”

Ryan smiled at that and just then they heard a car pull up in the drive way.

“What they can’t be home already?” Kenshin glanced over at the clock which read 7:30pm.

“Wow.” Kenshin said slightly stunned. “How long were we asleep?”

Their parents walked in the door and saw the two boys together and their mom just smiled knowing everything went ok. Ryan got off of kenshin’s knee and ran over to hug there mom and Kenshin did the same.

“So how did it go today.” she asked as she hugged the two boys.

“It was fine we just hung out all day.” said Kenshin

“Kenny took really good care of me mommy.” Ryan said with a big smile.

“That’s great, but what happened to your face?” she asked picking up Ryan and studying his cheek.

“Some bullies beat me up mommy."

“Bullies, what happened?”

“I took Ryan to the park today and he was having the time of his life, but then some kids came up and started teasing him. I watched this happen because Ryan needs to learn how to fight his own battles because I’m not always going to be there to defend him, but the next thing I know they stopped teasing and started punching him and that’s when I stepped in and took care of them.” Kenshin proclamed proudly.

“You did, how?” their father asked.

“Well I pulled them off of Ryan, checked to see he wasn’t bleeding or anything mayor and then I gave the two boys black eyes to teach them that you don’t pick on little kids and you certainly don’t pick on my little brother.”

“Well I’m not happy that you beat them up, but I am happy that you protected Ryan.” their mother said smiling.

"Well other then that what did you guys do today.?” their father asked.

“I taught Ryan how to play Go and we watched TV together, that’s really all that happened.” Said kenshin.

“Well that’s good.” Said mom

“Now come to the kitchen there’s something we need to talk about.” Said dad.

All of them walked into the kitchen and Ryan sat in Kenshin’s lap.

“We have good news and bad news for you boys, what do you want to hear first?” Said dad.

Kenshin and Ryan looked at each other for a minute.
“Good news.” Said Kenshin finally.

“The good news it that we are about to have a lot of extra money around.”

Ryan and kenshin looked at each other and smiled for a minute and then composed themselves.

“Ok so what’s the bad news?” asked Ryan.

“Your mom and I have to leave to go on a business trip that's going to last about a month.”

Kenshin and Ryan’s mouths dropped wide open and they looked at each other.
“A whole month, but why?” asked Kenshin.

“We don’t really know but they said that we will be doing business with some very big clients for the company."

Ryan just sat there with his eyes wide open and then ran to their mom crying. She picked him up and hugged him.

“You can’t go for a whole month mommy.” sobbed Ryan.

“Awww honey we don’t want to go, but we have to we’re the only ones that can take this trip and if we don’t go there’s a chance we could loose our jobs.” she said cuddling Ryan in her arms.

“So what’s going to happen to us?” Asked Kenshin.

“You two are going to stay here.” said dad

“Kenshin you will be in charge and take care of Ryan. Life will be just as it is now except we won’t be here.”

“I see and how am I going to pay for food and things like that?”

“With this.” dad went into his wallet and pulled out a credit card.

“You are to use this only as needed to play for things like food and gas, you got that?”

Kenshin nodded and took the card from his father.
“So how is this going to work exactly, Ryan gets out of school before I do.”

“Don’t worry about that, we’ve talked to your grandparents and they have agreed to pick up Ryan from school and then you can drive to their house when you get out and pick him up.”

“Ok, so I guess that leaves one question when is it going to happen? When are you leaving?” asked Kenshin half wanting them to go and half not.

'In 1 week.” their mom said still holding a sobbing Ryan in her arms.

“1 week!” Ryan said now crying harder

“Sweetie you need to be strong. Mommy and daddy will miss you very much, but it’s ok because you’ll have Kenshin to look after you.”

Ryan dried his eyes and looked over at Kenshin and smiled. Kenshin smiled back.
“It’ll be ok lil bro, I’ll look after you and we’ll have a lot of fun.”

This made Ryan jump off of his mom and run to Kenshin.
“Well I guess that’s it, I know you 2 will be ok and if anything happens just call your grandparents.” dad said now happy knowing Kenshin would do a good job of watching over Ryan.

This boys nodded and then Kenshin picked up Ryan and took him to his room. This was a real treat for Ryan because Kenshin never let him in his room. Kenshin sat on the bed and sat Ryan next to him.
“A whole month with out mom and dad wow, this is going to be great.”

Ryan was still a little sad that his parents would be gone for a month but he knew that Kenshin wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him and he smiled.
“Kenny can I ask you something?”

“Sure lil bro what’s on your mind?"

“I’m still kind of scared about mommy and daddy leaving for so long, can I sleep in you room tonight?”

“Sure you can, anything to make my lil bro feel better.”

“Thanks big brother.” Ryan said smiling.

“No problem now lets get ready for bed I can see you getting tired.”

Ryan nodded and Kenshin took Ryan back to his room and changed him and dressed him in a sleeper and told Ryan to grab a stuffed animal to sleep with as Kenshin wheeled Ryan’s crib into his room.

Once that was done Kenshin went to the kitchen and came back with a bottle of warm milk, he put Ryan in his crib and gave him the bottle and read him his favorite bedtime story Goodnight Moon but before kenshin could finish Ryan was fast asleep.

Kenshin took the bottle from him said goodnight then crawled into his bed and fell asleep.

[Takashi]

Chapter 4
The next few days went by and life was normal for the two brothers, but then came the day both boys have been dreading, the day that their parents had to leave for the month long trip. It was early in the morning when Kenshin and his parents woke up and met in the living room.

“I’ll go get Ryan and bring him down, he’s really going to miss you guys.”

Kenshin walked into Ryan’s room and then softly nudged his shoulder.
“Hey lil bro get up mom and dad will be leaving soon.”

Ryan’s eyes slowly opened and then looked over at Kenshin.
“Ah, big bro why did you wake me up?” said Ryan still half asleep and a little annoyed.

“Mom and dad are going to be leaving in a few minutes and I know you want to say goodbye.”

Ryan was fully awake now and Kenshin picked him up and took him to the living room and then set him down, he got up and ran to their mom and dad giving each of them a big hug.
“I don’t want you guys to leave.” Ryan sobbed into his mothers arms.

Mom sat Ryan in her lap and hugged him.
“We don’t want to go either but you need to be strong and you have your grandparents and Kenshin to look after you.”

This made Ryan stop and look at Kenshin that had sat down next to them.
“I’ll look after you lil bro, you can count on it.” Said Kenshin smiling
Ryan smiled to and crawled over to hug his brother.

“Well we need to get going and you two need to get ready for school.” Said their father.
The boys nodded and got up from the couch to help load up the car and then hugged there parents and wished them well.
“We will miss you, be good and be happy.” Said mom

They nodded and then stood by the front door waving as there parents drove off. Once they were out of sight kenshin closed the door and then turned to Ryan.
“Well now that that’s done we got to get ready.”

They then walked into Ryan’s room and got him changed and dressed for the day in a black t-shirt and blue jeans. Once that was done Kenshin took Ryan into the living room and turn the TV on and let Ryan watch Blue’s clues well kenshin went to his room.
Kenshin returned 20 minutes later dressed in black like always with his hair back in a ponytail wearing a black t-shirt, baggy cargo pants and wristbands.

“Ok lets get some breakfast, what are you hungry for?”

“Waffles" yelled Ryan excitedly

“You got it.” And within a few minutes Kenshin returned with a stack of waffles covered in syrup for the both of them and then changed the channel so they could watch Bleach as they ate.

When the show ended Kenshin looked over at the clock which read 6:30.
“Ok we better get going." he took the empty plates and put them in the sink and grabbed his and Ryan’s backpacks and tossed Ryan his then turned off the TV and grabbed his car keys.

“But were am I going to get on the bus? asked Ryan slightly puzzled.

“I made a deal with Rachel’s parents and you will be ridding the bus with her to school and then you will take the bus to her house in the afternoon and I will pick you up their."

Rachel was an 8 year old girl that Ryan had been friends with for a while now and Ryan had developed a crush on her a few weeks ago but was to embarrassed to admit it to her.

Ryan ran up to Kenshin
“Thank you so much Kenshin.” Ryan said with a big smile on his face.

Kenshin patted him on the head and they walked out the door and Kenshin reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys and locked the door and turned to walk to the car which Ryan was already there jumping up and down in existent. Kenshin unlocked the car and strapped Ryan into his car seat and then got in and they drove for about 5 minutes and then pulled into Rachel’s driveway and Kenshin let Ryan out of his car seat handed him his backpack and walked him to the door and rang the bell. Within a few seconds Rachel’s mom answered the door and greeted them with a smile.

“Alright now you be good and have fun at school, I’ll be here to pick you up at 3.” Said Kenshin as he kneeled down and gave his brother a hug.

“I will.” Ryan said with a big smile on his face.

Kenshin then got to his feet ruffed Ryan’s hair and then got back in the car and drove off he got to school and waited in there normal hang out spot for his friends to show up.

“Hey Ken-Chan” said Kadis as she gave him a hug and a kiss.

“Hey Kadis, how’s my Nee-Chan?”

“Good.” Said Kadis blushing a little bit.

“Hey Scheißen Sie Kopf.”

Kenshin and kadis turned to find Sandman walking toward them.

Josh a.k.a. Sandman was a tall, short-haired guy about 17 known for playing the tough guy act but everyone knew that he was a big softy at heart and just didn’t want to show it.

“Oh shut up baka.” said kadis and Kenshin at the same time.

“I see that you smoked this weekend.” said kenshin looking at Sandman seeing the tired weird look he always had after he smoked pot.

“You know that stuff is bad for you.”

All turned and saw jasmine walking toward them.
Jasmine a 15 year old native American girl that had the tendency to not act her age and instead act like a 5 yr old. She was very motherly, but also very immature and that’s what the group liked about her.

“Hey Kenshin, Kadis, Josh what’s up?” said Jasmine asked as she walked over and gave kenshin a hug like she did every morning which made Kadis give her one of her “let him go or I’ll kill you.” looks and Jasmine just smiled and let go.

“Nothing really just bored.” said Kenshin as he yawned.

”I see, now Josh are you going to tell me where you have the pot or and I going to have to make you?” said Jasmine with a stern look.

“Your going to have to make me.” Josh said smiling.

“Very well.” Jasmine turned around to compose herself for a minute and then turned around really fast and kick Josh square in the nuts which made him drop to the ground and clutch his crotch in pain.

“Now are you going to tell me?”

Josh nodded and reached into his pocket pulling out a case containing five joints in it and gave it to Jasmine.

“See how easy that was.” Said Jasmine with a smile on her face with Kenshin and Kadis laughing at what had just taken place.

Jasmine walked over to the trash can and throw it away.

“Damn” said Josh now getting to his feet.

“You got to admit she has a point Sandman, you really should really lay off the magic plants for a while.” said kenshin now sitting one a nearby table with Kadis sitting on his lap.

“Never!, I’m a pot head until I…”

Josh’s voice trilled off when he saw Jasmine getting ready for another kick.

“I’ll be good.” Said Josh finally

“Good.” Said Jasmine with a smile on her face as she went over and hugged him.

Just then the bell rang and is startled Jasmine causing her to yell into Josh’s ear.

“Dang already, oh well see you all at lunch.” Said Kenshin getting off the table and he started to grab his bag and walk off when he felt something tugging on his shirt. He turned around and Kadis was looking at him with puppy dog eyes.

“Forgetting something Ken-Chan?”

“Aww how could I forget?” Kenshin hugged and kissed Kadis and then gave her a smile.

“Now that’s better.” Kadis said with a smile on her face.

“I’ll miss you Kadis.”

“I’ll miss you too Ken-Chan.”

They kissed once more and then everyone walked to their classes. The day what really boring for kenshin the same routine:
1. Reading
2. American history
3. Computer systems and technology
4. Geometry
5. Lunch
6. Earth/Space Science
7. PC Support
And finally
8. English 3
After school he met Kadis by the bus ramp.

“What are you doing here, I got a car you know.”

“I know but I was wanting to talk with my friends on the bus.”

“I’m going to go pick up Ryan at his friends house.”

This made Kadis smile and blush a little bit.
“Ok you win.” Kadis said still smiling and kissing him on the cheek.

“Yay, he’ll be happy to see you.” Said Kenshin with a smile

They walked to Kenshin’s car and drove over to Rachel’s house. They got and walked to the door and rang the bell Rachel’s mom came to the door and greeted them with a smile.

"Hey Kenshin who's this?”

“This is my friend Kadis.” Said Kenshin with a grin.

Rachel and Ryan walked to the frount door to see what was going on and when Ryan saw it was Kenshin he ran over and gave him a big hug.

“Hey lil bro, look who I brought a lot with me.” Ryan turned to see Kadis and he squealed with delight.

“Hi sweetie.” Said Kadis with a smile and hugged Ryan and Kenshin in a big hug which made Ryan blush.

“You ready to go home?” asked Kenshin

“Not just yet.” Said Ryan as he looked over at Rachel

Kenshin got the message and let Ryan down and he went over and gave Rachel a big hug.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ryan said smiling.

Rachel gave him a little kiss on the cheek and made Ryan blush

“Ok big bro, I’m ready.” Said Ryan walking back to kenshin and Kadis smiling and still a little red.

They all said goodbye and then they walked to the car, Kenshin strapped Ryan in his car seat, and then they drove off in the direction of Kadis’s house.

[Takashi]

Chapter 5
They drove in silence on the way to Kadis’s house and within 10 minutes they were there. Kenshin popped the trunk and Kadis got out and grabbed her bag and then gave Kenshin a kiss.

“Now you two stay out of trouble ok?” she said with a smile.

“We will.” Said the two brothers in unison with Ryan fidgeting in has car seat.

“Aww does my little guy want his hugs and kisses?” said Kadis looking at Ryan with a smile. He nodded and she unbuckled his seat belt and picked him up and he wrapped his little arms around her neck as she held him in her arms for a few seconds and then gave him a kiss on the forehead and told him to be good and not to give Kenshin any trouble. He nodded once more and kissed her cheek and she buckled him back up and closed the door and waved good bye and Kenshin drove off toward there house.

On the way there Kenshin started talking.

“So did my little bro have a fun day at school?”

“Yeah, we started learning about the planets today.”

“Oh really what have you learned so far?” said Kenshin with a smile because he had been studying space and the planets ever since he was Ryan’s age.

“Just that there are 9 planets and that they all revolve around the sun.” he said with a spark in his eyes happy that his big brother wanted to know.

“Good, if there’s anything that you ever want to know about the planets just come to me and I’ll tell you. Did anything else happen today?”

“I got an owie at PE today because we were playing basketball and I tripped and cut my knee and the coach sent me to the nurse which was a good thing because I also needed a change too.”

“Ok I’ll take a look at it when we get home.

About 5 minutes later Kenshin pulled into the driveway of their two story home and parked his black 2001 Mustang and got out and walked to the other side and got Ryan out of his car seat and then grabbed their backpacks and walked into the house with Ryan close behind.

“Ok so come on to the kitchen and lets see that knee.”

Ryan nodded and Kenshin lead the way and Kenshin sat Ryan at the bar and looked at his knee which was alittle swollen and was red where it had been bleeding just a few hours before.

“You look ok, let me get the peroxide and that should help it a little bit.”

Kenshin walked to the bathroom and returned a few minutes later with a diaper bag containing a bottle of peroxide, band aids, cotton balls and diaper changing supplies. He took a cotton ball and dipped it in the peroxide and dapped it on Ryan’s knee causing Ryan to flinch from the sting but he toughened up and acted like it didn’t hurt. Kenshin took our a band aid and put it over Ryan’s knee and then ruffled his hair for being a good boy and not crying and then felt Ryan’s diaper and it was wet.

“Ok time for a change.” He said as he laid out the changing mat and Ryan jumped down from the bar stool and took off his shoes and pants and then laid down and let Kenshin change him and when he was done let Ryan put his pants back one and throw away the used diaper and packed up all of the changing supplies.

“Ok I have some history homework that needs to get done, do you have any homework tonight?”

“Nope.” Said Ryan with a smile. “I got all of it done in class.”

“But don’t you have a spelling test to study for?”

Ryan’s smile quickly turned sad. “Yeah but I need help studying.”

‘Ok go ahead and watch TV and I’ll help you study after dinner. Come get me if you need anything.” Said Kenshin grabbing his bag and taking out a notebook and an American History textbook and sat at the table and started working.

Ryan nodded and walked to the living room and turned on the TV and watched Sponge Bob until Kenshin came in an hour later and sat on the couth and Ryan cuddled up in his lap.

“Are you done big bro?”

“Yup, so what do you want for dinner?”

“Fried chicken!” he said with a big smile

“Ok wait right here and I’ll go get it started.”

Kenshin got up and walked back to the kitchen and took a bag of fried chicken stripes from the freezer and put them in the oven and then went to the fridge and pulsed out a root beer for himself and filled sippy cup full of juice for Ryan and then walked back to the couch and gave him and he took it with a smile and sat up in kenshin’s lap as the watch cartoons until they heard the oven timer go off and they walked to the kitchen and Kenshin turned off the oven and took the strips out of the oven and set them off the stove and fixed two plates of chicken strips with BBQ sauce on the side for Ryan and himself and set them on the table and helped Ryan into his booster seat and started eating.

During dinner they talked about random stuff and Ryan said how much he missed there parents and Kenshin reassured him that they would be back before he knew it and that made him smile.

After dinner was done Kenshin took the plates and put them in the dishwasher and then looked at Ryan.

“Ok study time go get your list for me and lets see what you have for this week.”

“Awww do I have to?”

“Do you want to fail the test?”

“No.” Ryan said with a grown and got his spelling list out of his backpack and brought it to Kenshin and they made flash cards and went over every word to make sure that Ryan understood them.

At about 8:30pm they decided to stop for the night and Kenshin gave Ryan a bath and put him in a fresh diaper and his favorite Blue’s Clues sleeper.

“Ok little guy do you think you can do big bro a favor?”

“What’s that big bro?”

“I want you to try and sleep in your own room tonight and if you get scared you can come sleep with me but I really want you to try to sleep in your room ok.”

“Ok big bro I’ll try.”

Kenshin smiled and told Ryan to go to his room and that he would be there in a minute to tuck him in. Ryan nodded and went to his room while Kenshin went down stairs and warmed up a bottle of milk for him and then walked back up to Ryan’s room and sat in the rocking chair slowly rocking Ryan as he drank his bottle and when he was finished Kenshin walked to Ryan’s crib with a sleepy Ryan in his arms and laid him in his crib and gave him his binkie and his Blue plushie and kissed his forehead and smiled.

“Sleep well little bro, I love you.”

He kissed his forehead once more and turned on Ryan’s night light and the baby monitor just in case Ryan woke up and then left the room leaving his door cracked a little.

He went back down stairs and turned on the TV to watch a little more before bed when the phone rang and he picked it up and answered it.

“Hello”

“Onii-kun can I come over?” said Kadis her voice somewhat shaken.

“I don’t know, I just put Ryan to bed and was about to go to bed.”

“Please I really need you right now.

“Ok come on over.”

They hung up and within 15 minutes a scared and shaken kadis knocked on the door and as soon as Kenshin opened the door she throw herself into his arms.

“What’s wrong Kadis?”

She looked up at him not with the eyes of a 15 yr old but with the eyes of a scared 5 yr old.

“Kensin, my parents are dead...”

[Takashi]

Chapter 6
Kenshin took her hand and led her over to the couch and sat down and looked at Kadis with confused eyes while trying to comfort her at the same time.

“What do you mean they’re dead?”

“Well my parents went out on a date tonight and I got a call from the cops about 25 minutes ago saying that they where hit by a drunk driver and killing instantly.”

‘We look on the bright side of this Nee-Chan atleast they went peacefully and without pain.”

“Yeah that’s good but what am I going to do my grandparents live three states away and I don’t want to go live with them because that would mean that I would have to leave you and that sweet bundle of joy you call a brother.”

“Don’t worry we will figure something out but it’s late and you need to get some sleep. You can sleep on the couch and I’ll try to think of something in the morning.”

Kadis gave him a smile for the first time since she had entered the house and they kissed and then Kenshin went to the closet and came back with a blanket and a pillow and let Kadis get comfortable and then he kissed her good night and gave her a smile to reinsure her that everything was going to work out and then walked upstairs and peeked into Ryan’s room to check on him. Seeing that he was ok Kenshin went to his room and got into bed and fell asleep.

Kenshin woke up early the next morning around 4:30am to make breakfast and to think of a plan for Kadis not to be sent away and after about 15 minutes it hit him.

“Mema and Poppy.” That’s all he could say to himself. He smiled and continued with breakfast and once it was finished he set it on the table and then went to go wake Kadis.

“Nee-Chan wake up.” He said in a soft voice softly running his hand through her hair and she awoke slowly and Kenshin could see it in her eyes, that gleam that he had seen the night before of a 5 yr old girl wanting her parents, wondering where they where.

“Onii-Kun? What am I doing here?”

“You came over last night.” Kenshin went on to tell her everything that went on the night before and when he was done she was in tears and sobbing into Kenshin’s sholder.

“It’s ok Nee-Chan, it’s all gonna be ok. I thought of a way that you could stay here but first breakfast is on the table go and get something to eat and I’ll be with you in a few minutes after I get the little guy woken up.”

Kadis dried her eyes still sad but was happy that Kenshin had thought of something that had a small chance of working and went to the kitchen to get breakfast.

Kenshin walked into Ryan’s room only to see him playing with his plushie in his crib waiting for him. Once he saw Kenshin enter the room he smiled and stood up putting his hands in the air so Kenshin could pick him up and as he did so Ryan smiled and gave him a hug.

“Morning big bro, did you sleep well.”

Kenshin nodded and gave him a smile as he laid Ryan on the changing table. Once he was done changing him he let Ryan pick out what he wanted to wear and then helped him get dressed and then walked with him down to the kitchen.

“Mommy?” said Ryan in a surprised voice. “What are you doing here?”

“Well I missed my baby and decided to come over for breakfast.” She said deciding it was best not for Ryan to know the true.

Ryan smiled and ran over to her and gave her a hug and Kadis picked him up and let him sit in her lap as they ate breakfast and talked until 5:45am.

“Ok little bro get your stuff ready for school I’m going to take you to Rachel’s early today so me and Kadis can hang out a little before school.”

“Ok big bro.” said Ryan as he jumped down from Kadis’s lap and went to the living room to get his stuff together.

Within 5 minutes everyone was ready and they were on the road and got to Rachel’s around 6:00am. Kadis took Ryan out of his car seat, grabbed his backpack and carried him to the front door and Kenshin rang the bell. With in a few seconds Rachel’s mom answered the door.

“Kenshin? Why are you here so early?”

He ignored her and gave Ryan a hug and told him to go inside. With a smile Ryan hugged him and Kadis and walked inside with his backpack. Once he was inside and out of earshot he began explaining.

“I’m sorry to drop him off so early but something horrible happened last night.”

“What happened? Is everything ok?” asked Rachel’s mom with a concerned look.

“Everything is fine now but Kadis’s parents were killed last night and had her sleep over at my place last night. I had to bring Ryan over early so Kadis could go to her place and get ready for school. I thought this would be easier then telling Ryan, he’s too young to be involved in something like this.”

Rachel’s mother nodded and have them both a hug.

“You’re a good man Kenshin, doing something like this when most people would have turned her away.”

He nodded and thanked her again and they got back into Kenshin’s car and drove to Kadis’s so she could get ready for school. As Kadis was getting dressed she started talking.

“So what’s this plan of yours Onii-Kun?”

“I’m going to talk to my grandparents and see if you can stay there for the rest of the month, then when my parents get back I will talk with them and see if they will let you stay with us.”

Kadis smiled and gave Kenshin a big hug.

“Thank you so much Onii-Kun, I just wish I could do something to repay you.”


“There’s no need your love is thanks enough.” He said with a smile and returning her hug. “Now come on we got to get going.”

She nodded and finished her make-up and grabbed her bag and they ran to the car and got to school just as the warning bell rang. They kissed and ran to their classes.

[Takashi]

Chapter 7
Kenshin and Kadis met in the student parking lot after school and greeted each other with a hug and a kiss and then got in the car and talked about how there days went on the way to go pick Ryan up at Rachel's.

"So did I miss anything good today?"

Kadis looked at Kenshin "not too much out of the ordinary...got a call from Jackson though"

"Your cousin? What did he want?" asked Kenshin looking at Kadis with a puzzled look for a second before returning his eyes to the road.

"you know, the norm" she said with a sigh "money for those ****ing arcades"
Kenshin smiled "Yup that's all those of us without girlfriends think about."

"Those of US" Kadis said while looking at Kenshin with a fake glare
"Well let’s face it, the guys that are to ugly or ocward to get a girl just go back to their boyhood dreams of being a world champion gamer." said Kenshin with a smile remembering how he wanted to break the world record for Donkey Kong.

Kadis laughed "I love you my goof"

Kenshin blushed and leaned over to kiss her but didn't see the red light ahead and crashed into a tanker truck knocking Kenshin and Kadis unconches and sitting limp in their seats Kenshin's head resting on the steering wheel.

Kenshin awoke a few hours later with bright lights in his eyes and machines beeping and buzzing all around him. He tried to more but looking around at all the equipment that was attached to him it was obtuse that he wasn't going to. "What the hell happened?"

A doctor walked in to Kenshin’s bedside with a clipboard. She looked at Kenshin "you're lucky to be here right now hun."

"Where am I what the hell happened?!" said Kenshin as he started to come to a little more.

The doctor smiled at Kenshin "its okay, you were in an accident...you're at the hospital"

'Accident? What accident?" he said now more confused.

"You ran a red light and smashed into an oil tanker"

"Great that answers that question." said Kenshin in a sarcastic tone and then something clicked. "KADIS! What is she?! And Ryan, is my little brother ok?"

The Doctor looked at Kenshin "Dont worry hun...your little brother is fine...the girl on the other hand..." she stopped

Tears started to form in Kenshin's eyes and softly said "Please, please God don't tell me she..."

"I’m so sorry Kenshin" she looked down and exited the room.

All Kenshin could do is put his hands in his face and cry. "It's all my fault." is all he could say to himself over and over, the words spinning in his mind and piercing his body like daggers.

Ryan waddled through the door to Kenshin’s room with a small oxygen tank on his back and a breathing mask on.

Kenshin heard the steps of someone entering the room and looked up from his hands and wipes his eyes and saw Ryan standing there next to his bed. "Oh my God, Ryan what happened to you?"

Ryan breathed deeply "I got a shock when thy told me about you and mommy."

"Oh no why did they have to tell you. That was the last thing I wanted to happen."

Ryan sobbed a little "its okay Kenny"

"No, it's not ok little bro. Kadis is dead because I was careless. Well at least she's with her parents now."

Ryan sobbed more "Mommy come back right?"

Kenshin shock his head "No, she's gone forever."

Ryan burst into tears "You don't know!" he screamed "YOU DON'T KNOW!"

"Yes I do little bro, she's gone and never coming back."

Ryan screamed at Kenshin

Kenshin sighed and put his head in his arms.

Ryan looked at Kenshin with a sad face "Is it my fault brother?" he asked in his normal soft babyish tone.

Kenshin looked at him trying to sound normal. "No not at all it's mine."

Ryan toddled to Kenshin "it's not your fault brother." he tried to smile to comfort Kenshin "The doctor said that the tanker should have gone"

Kenshin looked at Ryan and sighed. "I know but I should have been paying more attention to what was going on. Anyway there’s a couch over there.” Said Kenshin pointing to a couch against the wall. “Get some sleep we both need it.”

Ryan nodded and got off of Kenshin’s bed and walked to the couch and laid down.

The next couple of days where long and boring for the brothers as they lay there in the hospital trying to come up with stuff to do but for the most part Kenshin just sat there with Ryan in his lap listening as Kenshin read to him.

This followed by Ryan falling asleep in his lap and Kenshin falling asleep soon after and things continued like that for about a week and then the doctors said that Kenshin was well enough to go home but he would still need bed rest. Sandman showed up to take Kenshin and Ryan home and then they were alone.

[Takashi]

Chapter 8

After a week of rest Kenshin was back to his old self and finally the day came, the day of Kadis’s funeral. They got up early, had breakfast and then dressed in their best clothes. Once they were ready Kenshin led Ryan to the car and strapped him in and they were off.

They arrived at the funeral home in a matter of minutes and Kenshin took Ryan’s hand and walked into the home with the smell of chemicals and the feel of depression filled the room.

Kenshin walked to the casket with Ryan by his side as he took her hand in his for one last time he mumbled "I still love you." and then let go and lifted Ryan up to say goodbye to his second mommy and then carryed off a crying Ryan to the party and sat in a chair watching everyone have there fun trying to forget the horrible events when he was approached by a boy of what looked to be 17 with skin just a shade or two darker then his with short black hair.

He smiled at Kenshin and Ryan, his cheeks red and tear-stained "thank you for coming"

Kenshin stood up and shook the boy’s hand. "It's no trouble, she was the love of my life and now she's gone."

Jax looked Kenshin dead in the eye "So you are the love of my cousin, she has told me lots about you and your little brother, Master Hemorea"

Kenshin looked at Jax with a look of confuse and interest. "That name sounds formilar, I think I heard her talking about you before but I’m not sure."

Jax looked at Kenshin "my name is Jackson Lee Asant...but Jackson sounds like a bookworm name, so I go with Jax"

Kenshin smiled for the first time in weeks at Jax. "Yes I remember now. Don't you go to our school?"

Jax nodded "When I feel like it, yeah" he grinned "Well, if you'd excuse me...I have to set up for my song piece I promised id perform for her" he walked off to a small stage where a mic was awaiting him.

Jax picked up the microphone "My name is Jackson Lee Asant and I would like to thank you for attending this gathering of friends and family to farewell a friend, a sister, a daughter, a niece and one hell of a person, my cousin, Kadis. I remember the first time I met her, I was just six years old and we were at my mother’s funeral. Needless to say, before I met her, I didn’t think I could take another minute of meeting more people, but, when I met her, my life was turned around. My eyes lit up and ever since that day, she watched over me. She was like the elder sister I always wanted or the mother I never really knew. She walked up to me and said, in her sweet angelic tone “hey, I’m Kadis” so I replied with my name, after this, she lifted me up and held me close. I bawled into her shoulder for what must have seemed to her like an eternity and she pet my hair as if I was her own child. I really will miss her and I know that everyone here will too. Kadis, I know you’re gone and I know that, wherever you are, you will be watching over me and everyone else here with a smile. We love you, we’ll miss you and we’ll never ever forget you. As I have said for the past thirteen years “I wuv yew mommy”

Hasta Luego Kadis
Mire sobre nosotros con esa sonrisa angélica te quiero todos nosotros hacemos
Watch over us with that angelic smile, I love you, we all do." he stopped and looked at Kenshin and Ryan

They watched as Jax did he version of Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven and a tear ran down Kenshin's cheek as the song was sung so beautifully. A crying Ryan looked up at him for comfort "Kenny that's so sad." Kenshin held him close and smiled as more tears ran down his cheek. "I know but its sung so beautifully."

Jax finished up the song, equally, if not, more emotional then when he started “tears in heaven..."

Jax looked at the crowd "KADIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS!" he cried and ran out the door
Kenshin held Ryan as he ran out the door after to try and catch up with him.

Jax sat on the steps of the house, crying into his own folded arms.
Kenshin walked out with Ryan in his arms and sat down by Jax and sat Ryan in his lap. "You sing so beautifully"

Jax looked up at Kenshin "Thank you my friend" he reached his arm across Kenshin's shoulder and hugged close to him, hoping he wouldn't mind
Kenshin motioned for Ryan to get off his lap and did his best to hold Jax close and comfort him.

Jax looked at Ryan "I’m guessing you are the "son" she mentioned so much about?" he smiled as strongly as he could

Ryan smiled and nodded "She was my mommy."

"Would you mind if I hugged you too, Lil Mr?"

Ryan smiled and jumped into his arms. "Mommy may be gone but she left me a daddy." he said as he smiled and laid his head resting on Jax's chest.

Jax smiled a little more broadly this time "Any friends, or in this case, family of Kadis are family of mine" he cuddled Ryan and Kenshin close.

* * *

A few days pass and Kenshin and Ryan see Jax walking down the street in his black hat, visor backwards and his hands in his pockets kicking a can down the street.

Jax looked up and looked around "what the f---" he finally spotted Kenshin "oh hey Kenny boy"

Kenshin smiled and walked up to him and Ryan gave him a hug. "Hi daddy." said Ryan looking up at Jax with a big smile.

Jax laughed and held Ryan and spun him around "How’s my two favorite boys?"
"Same old stuff, what's been going on with you?"

Jax looked at Kenshin "well...ever since the day of Kadis' funeral I." he stopped “I don’t know what to do anymore...''

"It's ok Daddy, we here for you." said Ryan holding on to him.

"And I’m here for the both of you" he said, one arm holding Ryan, the other reaching out for Kenshin.

Kenshin smiled and accepted his hug. "Hey you wanna go do something?"

"What did you have in mind" he said, all the while staring into Kenshin’s blue eyes.

"Well Ryan and I were on our way to the mall."

"Oh hell, consider me there!"

Ryan's eyes got really big and then looked at Kenshin. "Kenny, Daddy said a bad word."

His eyes went little "I’m so sorry Ryan" he hugged him "Daddy gets a smack hand" he held his hand out to Kenshin.

Kenshin got really serious and slapped Jax's hand but in his mind he was laughing and happy that Jax was going along with the daddy thing.

Jax pretended to sniffle, he remembered that day at the funeral to force real tears "Owie!" he said in his most babyish voice

"Did Jax learn his lesson?" said Kenshin his face still serious.

Jax nodded and continued to sniffle alittle.

Kenshin smiled "Ok lets get to the mall. Wanna race?"

"That wouldn’t be fair...I’m running with little one in my arms"

"It's ok." Kenshin took Ryan and put him on his back. "Comfortable little guy?"

"Yeah let’s do this!" Ryan shouted.

"Loser shouts the winner lunch?"

"Your on!" said the brothers in unison.

"Then, LETS BATTLE" he got down in athletic starter position, his arm and leg muscle bulged

"Ryan, you start daddy and brother off, ok?"

"Ok 3, 2, 1, GO!" he yelled.

Jax got up and sprinted to the corner of the street jumping over rubbish bins that had fallen in his way.

"Oh yeah nice going little bro" Kenshin yelled as he ran to catch up with Jax.
Jax looked to have disappeared around the corner.

“Oh just great.” Kenshin pushed harder and harder and finally saw Jax in the distance.

Jax stopped and grabbed mail from a mail box.

"Now's our chance little bro" he yelled and sprinted ahead.

Jax held his hand up "YO WAIT A SEC!"

Kenshin ran up to him and then stopped. "What is it?"

Jax showed Ryan the front page of the mailer with Blues Clues stuff all over it on special "check it out oh son of mine"

Ryan took it in his small hands. "Blue! What's in it?"

Jax laughed "that’s the toy store mailer my boy"

Ryan ripped open the envelope and a big smile formed on his face.

Jax was jogging in place "lets head on over to the mall...you still have to shout us lunch" he said with a laugh as he jogged off.

Kenshin sprinted ahead of him and started to see the mall "Where gonna win!"

Jax jogged right up next to Kenshin "little do you know...there's a third gear to Jax" he said while still jogging right next to Kenshin and his brother.

"You wish, this race is ours daddy, come on Kenny." Ryan yelled.

Jax tripped up in the parking lot, a car headed straight for him.

"Oh no” Kenshin quickly set Ryan down in a safe spot and ran in front of the car and scooped Jax up and off to safety before the car could hit.

Jax looked at Kenshin as Kenshin laid him down and Ryan came running up. "Are you ok Daddy?"

Jax looked down at his bleeding knee "I’ll be fine" he said with a wince.

Kenshin took out a rag and a small bottle of rubbing alcohol from his pocket and went to work on Jax's knee and then put a band aid on it. "It's a good thing your so accident prone little bro or I would have never had this stuff with me."

He laughed "you won by forfeit, Kenshin"

Kenshin helped Jax up to his feet. "So what do you want to do about lunch?"

"I'll pay...it was part of the deal after all"

"It's not fair, look we'll split it."

"Please Kenshin, let me pay" he said with eyes that looked like Ryan’s when he didn’t get his way.

Kenshin looked into his eyes and his heart melted "O.. ok."

Jax limped towards the Mall entranceway.

Kenshin took Ryan's hand and walked in with Jax. "By the way Jax what's in that thing you gave Ryan?"

Jax coughed "toy store credit"

-.- "Just what we need more toys crowding up his room."
"Oh, not for his room"

"Well, okay, yes for his room but not over at your house"

Kenshin laughed a little "You've never seen his room."

Jax looked at Kenshin "and judging by that laugh, I don’t think I want to" he grinned.

"But seriously, I had a spare room at my dads pad for when you wanted me to baby sit."

"Thanks, so what do we wanna eat for lunch?" he said looking at his little brother and Jax.

"You two chose and I’ll pay" he said, shaking off the pain in his leg, he tripped and grabbed Kenshin’s shoulder, his lips touching Kenshin’s
Kenshin eyes went big and then slowly pulled away and helped Jax stabilize himself.

Jax went silent

"Go on, choose what you want"

"Pizza!" Ryan said jumping up and down.

Kenshin laughed "Easy nee-kun, well looks like we're having pizza."

"As you wish" he said, walking over to the pizza stand, not making eye contact with Kenshin.

Kenshin knew that look, it was the same look Kadis would give him whenever she wanted to be held and his smiled.

"Hey my man" he said as he approached the counter "I’ll give you 2 minutes to whip up 3 of your finest pizzas."

Kenshin laughed and then went and got a table with Ryan.

Jax looked at the pizzas then back at Ryan "Ryan, come to daddy."

Ryan got up and toddled over to him. "Yes daddy?"

Jax lifted Ryan up and showed him the pizza "do these look like something you'd pay 20 dollars for?"

Ryan nodded “Yup”

Jax set Ryan down "run on over to Kenny boy and tell him daddy needs his help."

“Ok Daddy” said Ryan and Kenshin walked up a minute later.

“You called."

"Can you grab these babe" he coughed "uhhh hun" he coughed again "dude"

Kenshin gave him a weird look but did as he was told.

Jax blushed and followed Kenshin back to the table

"Alright little bro, let's eat" said Kenshin placing a pizza in fount of him. "Just be careful it's hot."

"Ok big bro."

Jax just sat there looking at the other two eat.

Kenshin looked over at Jax." what's wrong? Aren’t you hungry?"
"Not anymore" he clutched his stomach.

"Alright we'll save yours." he said as he went back to eating.

Jax nodded "thanks Ken...and I’m sorry about the kiss"

"No problem man."

Kenshin and Ryan finished eating and put Jax's pizza in a take out box and then throw away their trash. "Alright now, shale we head for the toy store?"

"Yeah, yeah" said Ryan jumping up and down.

Jax laughed "calm your booty down oh diapered one"

"Yeah I wear diapers so what?" said Ryan sticking his tongue out at Jax.

Jax looked at Ryan "so let’s get up to the toy store and spend some of that credit, that’s what"

Ryan smiled and motioned for Jax to pick him up.

Jax walked over to Ryan "up we go then" he said, lifting Ryan to sit perched atop his masculine shoulders.

They walked to the toy store and Ryan ended up getting some action figures he had wanted and he let Kenshin use some so he could get God of War II. Ryan then looked at Jax. "You want something Daddy?"

"Its fine little one" he said with a smile "if I want something...your granddaddy" he pointed to the manager "will get it for me"

Ryan's eyes went big "Your daddy runs a toy store, aww man you’re lucky."

Jax covered Ryan’s mouth quickly "shhh little one...if word gets out about that, kids will hound me to hound him for discounts"

Ryan did a "zips lip” motion and smiled.

Jax smiled back and looked at Kenshin "you still buzzing over GOW2?"

"Yeah the first one was good and I need to catch up because GOW3 will be out soon."

"Riiiiiiiiiight...soon" he said with a wink.

Kenshin picked up Ryan and looked at Jax. "What you say we hit the arcade?"
"I say lets hit the arcade...but first"

Jax walked down an aisle with heaps of cap guns.

Kenshin followed “what are you looking for?”

Jax stopped at a Semi Automatic Machine Gun "Daddy wants this" Jax stood there, gun in hand, imitating the sounds of the gun.

Ryan got scared and hid behind Kenshin "Daddy stop."

He stopped and put the gun back and knelt down"

"I’m sorry Ryan...cmere"

Ryan slowly walked over to him.

Jax sadly looked at Ryan "I’m sorry boy-o"

Ryan hugged him "It ok daddy, I forgive you."

Jax hugged back, a single tear rolled down his cheek.

"Alright lets get out of here you can get your gun later."

Kenshin shrugged and lead the way out of the store and to the arcade we're they spent the next few hours playing games and then Kenshin saw Ryan start to get tired, and looked over at Jax. "I think we should go."

He nodded and held Ryan in his arms.

They walked out of the arcade and made their way to the mall exit when Kenshin spoke up. "Hey you wanna come spend the night over at our place, I know Ryan would love it and I could use some company my age."

Jax looked at Kenshin "it would be my honor and my privilege"

Kenshin giggled a little "So serious."

Jax smiled "sometimes you have to be."

They started the walk home talking about random stuff and then Kenshin made a face. "I think it's a good thing we're almost there."
Jax smiled and took in a big breath then his face went a little down "So do I"

They continued walking and reached Kenshin's house in after 5 minutes and then Kenshin unlocked the door and went inside followed by Jax carrying a sleeping Ryan.

[Takashi]

Chapter 9


Jax stood there holding Ryan.

"I can take him now, the little stinker needs a change." said Kenshin with a smile.

Jax smiled back "I have no problem changing him, after all, he DOES call me daddy...but, if you insist" he held Ryan out to Kenshin with a grin.

"Oh that's not fair." Kenshin joked "Please daddy needs his practice anyway."
"You insisted on changing him"

"Alright fine, well come watch at least, you might learn something." He said carrying Ryan to his room and laying him on the changing table.

Jax followed, staring at Kenshin’s butt all the way there.

Kenshin took off Ryan's shoes and pants and then looked over at Jax. "You ready for the spectacle that is my brother?"

Jax laughed "just change the poor boy, he’s really starting to reek"

Kenshin nodded and undid the tabs on Ryan's diaper and started to change him pausing at brief intervals to show Jax how to change him properly and then finished and then put Ryan in his crib and turned on the baby monitor and walked out with Jax to the living room.

Jax smiled "gotta admit...you're good"

"Thanks but don't get to happy because the next one's yours." Kenshin laughed with an evil smile after.

"You evil, evil little man" Jax laughed in return

Kenshin smiled at him and turned on the TV and handed Jax the remote. "See if you can find something good."

Jax just sat there flicking "cooking...cleaning" he flicked one last time and his eyes went huge "BLUES CLUES!"

Kenshin gave Jax a weird look and then laughed. "That's Ryan's favorite show."

Jax looked at Kenshin "Don’t tell me you're knocking Blue and Steve"

"You mean you actually enjoy watching this?" Kenshin question still confused.

"Hell yeah I do!" he said with a smile, bouncing on the couch once and then twice "this was mine and Kadis' thing man"

"Well I know she used to watch it with me and Ryan but that's because Ryan really liked it, I didn't think Kadis actually enjoyed it."

Jax laughed "There’s lots of things you do not know about Kadis" his look turned to a look of wonder "and you call her the love of your life?" he readjusted himself on the couch and there was a crinkling sound.

Kenshin looked at him “Did you hear that?”

Jax looked puzzled at Kenshin "what?" he moved again and the crinkles came back until he stopped moving once more.

“That! Right their, the crackling sound.”

Jax laughed "oh that...yeah...it’s my diaper" he said calmly

Now Kenshin was really looking stupid. "You, you wear diapers?"

"Yeah, they're comfy and good for someone like me who can sometimes be lazy"

Kenshin was intrigued now "I think I read of something like that. I think their called diaper lovers."

"Or" Jax started then lifted up his sleeve showing 3 letters and a number "DL4L" he smiled

Kenshin's eyes got big "Oh my God!"

“Please Ken...calm down" he said with the face of an almost scared 5 year old.

"What's with the little kid act?" he act now even more intrigued and confused.
"Yelling scares me Ken"

"Ok that's understandable, but dude you really looked liked a scared 5 yr old there for a sec."

"Like I said" he shrugged "yelling scares me"

"Ok, got anything else you'd like to share with the class?"

"Ummmmmmmm" he looked up at the ceiling then back at Kenshin "matter of fact...I do."

Kenshin turned off the TV and took Jax’s hand and sat on the floor cross legged in frount of him. “Tell me."

"She says that you will forever be with her...as long as she is forever with you" he started to cry.

Kenshin scooted over to Jax and hugged him. "Shhh it's ok."

He hugged back, not crying, but still whimpering like a child.

Kenshin really wanted to know why Jax was acting this way. "Is he still trying to handle the lose of Kadis or is there more?" he thought to himself as he continued to hold on to Jax.

"She also said..." he started but could not finish.

"Yes." Kenshin said in the calming voice he usually used on Ryan after he had a bad dream. "What is it?"

"That if you ever turn the TV off in the middle of Blue Clues again...Jax could whack you" he smiled, still visibly shaken over the loss of his cousin.

Kenshin smiled and turned the TV back on and went to go check on Ryan. As he entered his room he saw Ryan standing up in his crib and got a big smile on his face when Kenshin entered. "Kenny!"

"Hey little guy, ready to get up?"

"Yup, me all rested and really to play." Kenshin smiled and walked over and picked him up and check his diaper and he was clean and then carried Ryan down stairs and sat back with Jax like before.

Ryan looked over at Jax. "Why you here Daddy?"

"Whaaaaaat?" Jax said with a fake glare "you don’t want daddy staying?"

"Me no mean it like that, just why you here?"

"Because...Kenny invited me to stay the night"

"YAY!" Ryan yelled and then quieted down and looked at Kenshin. "Thanks Kenny." he said as he smiled up at his brother and crawled over to Jax and sat in his lap and started to watch Blue's Clue's.

Jax sat cuddling Ryan in his lap and watched Blues Clues just as, if not more intently then Ryan.

They watched TV for an hour and then Kenshin asked the two. "You guys getting hungry?"

Jax looked at Kenshin then lifted up his shirt, the rim of a diaper could be seen but Jax just pet his tummy "YEAH!"

Kenshin laughed and then noticed the diaper and hoped that Ryan wouldn't know but just as he was about to say something Ryan spoke up. "Daddy you wear diapers too?"

Jax just shrugged "Yup.”

"Cool." he said and smiled happy that he wasn't the only one.

"Alright little bro, Daddy and I are gonna go make dinner you just stay here and watch TV ok." Ryan nodded and got on the couch and started watching Dora the Explorer.

Jax walked over and nibble-kissed at Ryan’s ear "my good little boy-o." He got up and followed Kenshin into the kitchen.

Kenshin started getting things out to make tacos when Jax entered and he started talking "Well looks like you wearing a diaper turned out to be a good thing."

Jax just smiled "Gotta connect somehow"

Kenshin started cooking up the ground beef and handed Jax a knife so he could start cutting the vegetables.

Jax quickly put the knife on the bench and backed away slowly
Kenshin looked over at him. "You ok?"

Jax looked at Kenshin "me and knives don’t go well together...ask my father...um ex father...dead ex father..."

“Alright you want to switch and I deal with the big bad knife.” He said trying to make Jax laugh.

Jax nodded "Kenshin deal with the big bad knife and Jaxie deal with the beefy"
Kenshin looked at him. "Umm..."

Jax looked over at Kenshin "too much?"

"It's just hat I know your into diapers and Blue's clues but...don't tell me your into being like a little kid."

"Fine...I won’t..." he called for Ryan "Ryan"

Ryan came walking in a little mad that he was missing Dora. "Yes Daddy?"
Jax knelt down and whispered in Ryan’s ear "tell your brother that daddy likes acting little" he whispered

Ryan looked at him confused. "Why you like acting little Daddy?" he whispered back.

"Just tell your brother."

Ryan nodded. "Kenny Daddy likes acting little."

Jax grinned "you can go back to your little girlfriend now Ryan" he then looked up at Kenshin

Ryan giggled and walked back in the living room.

Kenshin looked at him. "There's still alot I need to learn about you."
Jax kept on grinning up at Kenshin.

Kenshin smiled and then started cutting the vegetables.

Jax looked at Kenshin "Ken...I have a question"

Kenshin looked up. “Shoot, but keep on that beef ok.”

Jax lowered the temp of the element "do you know why I told Ryan to come in here and tell you what I told him to tell you?"

"Nope, no idea."

Jax grinned "because you told ME not to tell you"

Kenshin laughed a little. "I don't have a problem with it, but seriously why do you?"

"I guess...that’s just my way of dealing with death" he shrugged

"That makes sense but what doesn't make since is why you kissed me and keep looking at my ass."

"Ummmmm" he looked around as if trying to look for answers.

Kenshin finished with the cutting and walked over to Jax, looked at the meat and seeing that it was done turned off the stove and then looked at him. “It’s ok you can tell me.”

He looked around more nervously when Kenshin stepped closer "well" he said, his voice cracking "maybe...just maybe! They’re hints"

"You’re in love with me aren’t you?" He said deciding to take the direct approach.

"I take it that's a yes." he said as he hugged Jax "But I just don't know, I like you and all but love."

Jax piped up through sobs "it’s just" he sobbed "you're the closest thing I have to my cousin now."

Kenshin held on to him and laid Jax's head on his shoulder and rubbed his back. "Shhh."

Jax just silently stood there hugging Kenshin and resting his head on Kens shoulder.

Kenshin let him rest for a few minutes and then spoke up in a soft whisper. “You ok now?”

Jax finally lifted his head and piped up "I know it seems a little far fetched...but won’t you please give me a chance?" Kenshin looked into Jax's eyes for a second like he was searching through his soul and then spoke. "Ok."

Jax jerked forward and hugged Kenshin "oh thank you Ken"
Kenshin smiled and accepted the hug. "No problem truth be told I think your whole baby act is cute.”
He looked at Kenshin "so you admit it now?" he grinned.

"What can I say you remind me of Ryan and I think it's cute. Now is my little one ready for dinner?"

"Two little ones" he said flatly

"Well I want you to act like this never happened so Ryan doesn't get any ideas and then we can talk more when he goes to bed ok."

"Yeah, alright" he held out his hand.

"What's that for?" he said looking at Jax’s extended hand.

"Just to get my mind off a kiss...so shake my hand"

"Oh ok." shook his hand and smiled. "Do me a favor and go get Ryan and I’ll get everything ready."

"Gotcha bud" he walked over to Ryan "hey Ryan.”

Ryan perked up as Jax entered the room. "Hi Daddy." he gave him a big smile.
Jax knelt down and held his arms out "cmere"

He got up and toddled over to him and gave him a big hug. "Is dinner ready?"
Jax sat there and hugged Ryan and stood up "yes, dinner is ready" he carried Ryan into the kitchen were Kenshin just finished setting up and sat him in his highchair.

"Hope you guys are hungry." He said as he made Ryan's plate with a few tacos.

Jax stood at the head of the table and bowed his head.

Kenshin finished making everyone's plates and then bowed his head and motioned Ryan to do the same.

Jax smiled and started talking in Maori "E te Atua, Whakapainga enei Kai, Hei oranga mo matou tinana, Amene"

Kenshin and Ryan both said amen and then Kenshin asked. "Jax mind a translation please."

Jax lifted his head "Sure, what it means is...Dear god, we thank you for this bounty we are about to receive, in your name we pray, Amen"

"Thanks now lets eat." he said as he bit into a taco.

Jax looked at the tacos and suddenly felt a bit ill.

Kenshin looked over and saw Jax not eating. "You alright?"

"Do you have any...energy bars or something?"

"I don't think so you sick?"

"I just don’t feel well..."

"Alright, how about you go lay on the couch and I make you some hot tea?"
Jax stood up and walked to the door but collapsed.

Kenshin rushed over "Jax, Jax are you ok?"

Jax opened his eyes but they had changed color to that of Kadis'.

Kenshin looked into his eyes in horror. "What the...?"

Jax’s mouth moved but it was Kadis' voice "Kenshin" it whispered so Ryan was out of earshot "we need to talk...carry me into the other room"

"He's alright Ryan, I'm gonna help him to the couch, you just enjoy your dinner."

"Alright big bro." he said as he went back to eating."

Kenshin lifted Jax up and carried him into the living room and carefully laid him on the couch.

Jax looked at Kenshin "I want you to do me a favor Mr."

"Anything, what is it?"

"I want you to take care of Jaxie, I love him, I protected him...I need you to do the same"

"No problem but are you ok with...you know him being in love with me? What if I fall for him?"

"If you fall for him...I'll know that you'll protect him"

Kenshin smiled "No matter what I will always remember you Kadis, I love you."
"I’ll check in with you Mr...I love you too"

"Just one question Kadis, what's heaven like?"

"I cannot describe it to you hun...you must wait and see"

Kenshin laughed a little and smiled "Goodbye my love."

"Not goodbye" she made Jax smile "just...smell ya later"

Kenshin smiled and hugged the body.

Jax passed out for a short while and came to when Kenshin hugged him, he hugged back "was I asleep for long?" he asked

"No, but are you feeling alright? Think you can handle food or should I make that tea?"

"Lets chow down dude, I’m starved"

He smiled and helped Jax up and they walked back to the kitchen to join Ryan.

"There you guys are, I’ve been done for 5 minutes." Ryan said as they ended the room and gave them his best pouty face.

"Then you should have got up and done your dishes" Jax said while stifling a laugh.

Ryan pouted more and stuck his tongue out at Jax.

"Alright easy you too." said Kenshin cutting in.

The brothers laughed seeing Jax eat like that and then Kenshin spoke up. "Alright well I’m stuffed so why don't you and I go watch some TV and let Jax finish. That sound good Ryan?" He nodded and held his hands up and as Kenshin lifted him up he felt that Ryan was wet. "Looks like someone needs a change." Kenshin said as he walked up the stairs to Ryan's room.

Kenshin returned a little while later with Ryan in his Blue's Clues sleeper all fresh and sat down and started watching Ben 10.

"Ken!" Jax yelped fromt he kitchen.

Kenshin walked into the kitchen over to Jax. "Yeah?"

Jax looked at all the empty plates where the tacos were "there’s no more left" he said while pouting and trying to hide his smile.

Kenshin got close and whispered. "So what does my baby want?"

"You" he kissed Kenshin when he got close "and chocolate milk in my sippy in my bag."

"Can you have a glass for now; I just don't want Ryan finding out."

Jax shrugged "Ry knows about my diaper."

"Good point, speaking of which I know you wear them but do you use them?"
"Only sometimes...don’t worry, you don’t need to change me"

"Well you can if you want, I already change Ryan. I don't mind doing it for you."

Jax smiled up at Kenshin and got down on his hands and knees and crawled out "vrrrrrrrrrrrr"

"Ok now that's a little to much."

Jax crawled around the corner and poked his head out to Kenshin "hehe I knew I could make you say that...Kadis told me to do it"

"Just bring me your cup." Kenshin said with a snicker.

Jax ran off "CUPPY! WHERE ARE YOU CUPPY!?" he said in a baby voice, occasionally giggling.

Ryan watched Jax as he entered the room and giggled at him. "You’re funny Daddy."

Jax looked at Ryan "and rawr to you too" he laughed and exited through the door on the other side of the room"

Kenshin pulled out the milk and waited for Jax to return with his cup.

Jax ran back past Ryan "and rawr again!" he said as he left through the door into the kitchen with his cup.

Kenshin patted his head as Jax handed him a yellow and blue sippy cup and started to make his chocolate milk.

Jax spent a few minutes respiking his hair to just the way he liked it "and two rawrs for you for touching it!" he grinned.

Kenshin stuck his tongue out at him and handed him his sippy cup.
"Does daddy get a thank you?"

"No?" he said with a laugh "Thank you daddy" he said in a babyish manner
He smiled and waked with Jax into the living room and sat with Ryan to watch TV.

Jax lifted Ryan up and laid down on the couch, putting Ryan in snuggle position and snuggling him and watched TV.

"Hold on a sec." Kenshin got up and ran to his room and grabbed a camera and then came back down and took a picture of Jax and Ryan. "You two are so cute.

Jax smiled "we are, aren't we?" he said, now laughing at his own narcissism.
Kenshin handed the camera to Jax and picked up Ryan. “Go on.”

Jax stood up and walked over and faced the couch "go on"

Kenshin carried Ryan over and got into a really cute snuggling position and waited for the picture to be taken.

*click* Went the camera as the picture was taken and Jax smiled at the brothers.

"That's gonna look really good."

"When I post it on my blog"

"Oh yeah? What's the caption gonna be?"

"Hmmmm" he said, going into a state of wonder.

Kenshin and Ryan started singing the Jeperty theme as they sat waiting for an answer.

"EUREKA! IVE GOT IT" he said, wincing at his own yelling and shaking his head quickly back and forth.

"Well what is it then?"

"All the family I need" he said with a smile.

Kenshin and Ryan smiled at Jax and motioned him over to sit with them so they could go back to watching TV.

Jax assumed his place beside Kenshin and Ryan.

After their show had ended Kenshin looked over at Jax. "What you feel like doing?"

Jax's eyes were closed and it looked like he was asleep.

Kenshin smiled and play nibbled his ear.

Jax laughed "Hey, quit it!"

Kenshin grinned. "I knew you weren't asleep."

"I was just resting my eyes dude" he looked at Ryan who was asleep on Kenshin "look at this" he whispered.

Kenshin looked over and softly whispered. "Aww that's so cute. Come on I want you to see this." He said as he got up and carefully picked up Ryan and started walking to the stairs as he motioned Jax to follow him.

Jax followed obediently when he was asked to do so.

Kenshin carried Ryan to his room and laid him in his crib and smiled giving Ryan his Blue plushie which he instinctively took and Kenshin kissed his forehead and looked at Jax.

Jax stepped forth and put his own Blue plushie by Ryan "sleep well my son." he said as he kissed Ryan’s forehead.

Kenshin smiled and put his arms around Jax's shoulder as they looked at how peaceful Ryan was sleeping.

"c’mon...lets get out of here before I feel the need to take it back"

Jax walked out against the calls of his favorite plushie.

Kenshin smiled and turned on the baby monitor and walked out with Jax and closed the door and walked back down stairs.

Jax looked around the house. "Oh my..."

What? What is it?" Kenshin asked with a confused look on his face.

Jax looked at a silver and gold Xbox on the ground "did Kadis bring this here?" he said with a confused look.

"Yeah it was an anniversary gift." Kenshin said smiling remembering how happy he was when she gave it to him on there 6 month anniversary.

Jax looked at Ken

"You alright?"

"That’s...second hand...you know that, right?"

"What do you mean?"

Jax lifted up the Xbox and showed that his name was inscribed on the bottom
"Oh my...I had no idea."

Jax smiled "its all good" he said

"Because I took good care of it." He said smiling.

Jax sat down on the floor next to the Xbox.

"How many games did it have when she brought it over?"

"Just one." He opened up a cabinet in the entertainment center and pulled out a copy of Smackdown vs. Raw 2008. "I have it for PS2 but Kadis thought I might want a copy with better graphics."

Jax laughed “That’s Kadis for ya.”

"So now I need to sell my PS2 and switch all its games for Xbox 360 ones."
"No sweat little man"

Jax pulled out a GH controller and GH2 and 3 and laid them by the Xbox and yawned "I need a change then I want sleep"

Kenshin walked over and grabbed what he needed and had Jax lay down and he changed him and then looked at him lying down in just a diaper. "You’re cute."

Jax smiled “Thanks Ken.”

Kenshin went into the bag once more and pulled out a dark blue sleeper and helped Jax into it and then told him. "Go ahead upstairs and go to my room I’ll be up in a minute."

Jax pouted "I’m gunna wait for daddy."

"Ok hold on." He got up and went to the kitchen and throw away Jax's diaper and then came back to the living room and took Jax's hand and led him up stairs to his room.

Jax reached back for his sippy but was jerked forward by Kenshin "muh muhhhhhhhh cuppy..."

Kenshin sat him on the bed. "Ok easy, stay here and daddy will go get it." he said and patted Jax's head and then went downstairs and returned shortly with Jax's sippy cup and gave it to him.

Jax smiled and kissed Kenshin "thanks again daddy."

"No problem little one." Kenshin let Jax finish his cup and then got into bed and motioned Jax in with him.

Jax scurried up the bed to Kenshin and got in with him "rawr to you mister" he said with a giggle.

Kenshin smiled and snuggled up with Jax and before long they were both asleep.

[Takashi]

Chapter 10

Jax woke up and slipped out of bed, walking over to a baby blue backpack and started packing A few minutes later Kenshin slowly opened his eyes and sat up and looked for Jax and relised he wasn't in bed and looked around the room and saw him packing. "What are you doing?"

"packing" he said slowly "i have to see her one last time"

"Your going to Kadis's grave?"

"I have to...it's what she'd want"

"Alright give me a few minutes and i'll go with you." he said as he got out of bed and streached and then walked over to his closet and started geting dressed.

"Its a journey I must make on my own, love."

"So what am I suposed to do?" he said looking over at Jax half dressed.

Jax turned to Kenshin "She told me to make the journey on my own...I want you to come with me though"

"Alright then now we're getting somewhere." said Kenshin as he finished getting dressed in black cargo pants and a black Death Note shirt with L and Light on it.
"You ready?”

"Yeah but what do I do about Ryan?"

"We'll drop him off with my dad."

Kenshin started laughing. "You sure that's a good idea?"

Jax laughed "my dads a toy store owner...your brother likes toys..." he grinned "I dont see no probs here."

"Alight but don't come crying to me when your dad goes bankruped."

"And dont come crying to ME when Ryan is too happy to notice us gone.
"
Kenshin grinned "Alright come on and help me get the little guy ready." he said walking out of the room towards Ryan's room.

Kenshin quitely walked in and went over to Ryan's crib and softly rubed his back intil he came to. "Little bro wake up."

Ryan's eyes slowly opened. "Why did you have to wake me up big bro?"

Jax walked up next to Kenshin and smiled at Ryan. "How would you like to spend some time with your grandfather?"

"Could I get some free toys?" he said purking up a bit.

"Of course" Jax said with a grin.

Ryan smiled and motioned for Kenshin to pick him up and he did so and carried him to the changing table. "Jax this ones all yours."
"Do I have to?"

"Come on I wanna see if you learned anything."

"Fine" said Jax as he walked over to Ryan and took his sleeper off .

Kenshin stood a few feet away just in case Jax needed his help.

Jax undid Ryan’s diaper and wiped him up.

Jax smiled down at Ryan "Does baby have any creams?"

Ryan shook his head.

Jax put a fresh diaper under Ryan and did the tabs up "There we go sonnyboy." he said before leaning down and kissing Ryan.

Ryan giggled and kissed him back and waited to be dressed.

Jax stepped back "He's all yours.”

Kenshin walked over and helped Ryan get dressed in a John Cena “Live fast, Fight hard shirt and some jeans and then picked him up.

"Ken, can I have the keys to the car?"

“Why would you want the keys, I was gonna drive.”

"Fine...I'll pop the trunk with a screwdriver" he said as he walked out.

Kenshin carried Ryan out to the car and sure enough there was Jax with a screwdriver in hand and the trunk was open. He buckled Ryan up in his car seat and walked over to Jax.
"So you can do it."

"I told you I would, and I did." he said with a cheeky grin, putting the bag in the trunk.

Kenshin smiled and got in the car. "Ok so where we going the mall or to your place?"

"My place." Jax said, assuming his position in the front passenger seat.

Kenshin started the car and backed out into the street and let Jax give him directions and they were off.

"LEFT, LEFT, LEFT NOW LEFT!"

"Alright take it easy." he said as he stuck his toungue to at Jax.

Jax grabbed Kenshin’s tongue and guided his head back towards the road "Watch the road."

A few minutes later they arived and Kenshin pulled into the driveway. Jax’s dad stood on the front doorstep in a tracksuit with a stroller in front of him

Kenshin looked over at Jax. "Why do you guys still have a stroller?"

"Cuz I rang him and told him he’d be looking after Ryan."

"Yeah I got that but did you guys just have that laying around?"

"Uhhhhhhhh...if i say yes will you quit asking questions?"

Kenshin nodded smiling.

"Then yes." Jax grinned.

Kenshin got out helped Ryan out of his car seat and walked with him up to Jax's dad. "He's all yours."

Ryan smiled and nodded. "Alright you have fun today little guy, just don't give him any trouble ok."

“Ok big bro no trouble for grandpa.”

Jax’s dad smiled and set Ryan in the stroller and strapped him in with straps that were patterned with Blues paw prints "Lets roll!" he said as he strolled Ryan down the street.

"We'd better roll too." Jax said to Kenshin.

"Right." He said as he got back in the car and drove to the cemitary were Kadis was burried.

Jax got out of the car and took off all his material possessions apart from his clothing

"Did she tell you to do this too?" Kenshin asked confused.

"well...not exactly."

"Well then what exactly are we doing here?"

"I'm here to see my cousin."

"Alright, lets do it. I haven't been here since the funeral, some boyfriend I am."

Jax put his wallet on the seat and shut the car door.

"Lead the way." Kenshin said with a smile.

Jax walked to the cemetery gates and closed his eyes.

Kenshin watched wondering what he was doing.
"I'll wait here, you see her first." said Jax as he stood by the gates.

"Very well." Kenshin walked up to the gates and quitely whispered something blessing the graves and then walked in to Kadis's.

Jax waited almost 15 minutes and then followed Kenshin inside.

Kenshin was on his knees in frount of the grave waiting for Jax.

Jax picked Kenshin up to his feet "I have brought a familiar to come say his final goodbyes K."

Kenshin put his hands in praying position and started. "Kadis i'm sorry for the accident, if I had been paying attention none of this would have happened, but some good did come of this. I met Jax and I will do as you requested and protect him with my life."

Jax knelt by Kenshin’s side. Kenshin watched him, waiting for what was next. Jax tried to talk but ended up turning and sprinting from the cemetery.Kenshin took one last look at the grave. "He really misses you Kadis, we will be with you...one day." Kenshin turned and ran to catch up with Jax. Jax now had a switch blade in hand, he ran out in the middle of the road and stopped a car with his deathly cold glare

Kenshin ran toward him. "What are you doing?!"

Jax turned his glare from the car to Kenshin "You back up!”

Kenshin stopped and backed up a few steps "What are you doing?"

Jax looked at Kenshin "I want to thank you." he said, moving from the road.

"For what?"

"You're the only one with enough balls to speak the truth."

"What do you mean?"

"I never knew it was YOU who did it." he paused.

"You mean no one ever told you?"

Jax nodded

"And you've been living in hell because of it."

Jax looked up at Kenshin and fell to his knees "Thank you Kenshin." he said, tears welling up in his eyes "Thank you for being the only one with enough heart to tell me the truth."
Kenshin knelt in front of the emotionally scarred Jax, tilting his head up and smiling at him while looking into his sad brown eyes, he lent forward a bit and softly touched his lips to Jax's.