17 comments/ 52734 views/ 30 favorites I Will Love You Forever Pt. 2 Ch. 01 By: kalamazoo707 By the end of August 1945, the Potsdam Conference ends, the Soviet Union declares war on Japan, Indonesia declares independence from Japan- General order No. 1 (the surrender of Japan was prepared by the Joint Chief of Staff of the U.S. military forces) was approved by the President of the United States, Emperor Hirohito announces Japan's surrender and General MacArthur takes command of the Japanese government in Tokyo. ******* August 6, 1945: Enola Gay drops "Little Boy" the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. An estimated 80,000 people were initially killed. By the end of the year that total would rise to between 90-140, 000 due to injury and radiation. Of the city's buildings, 69% were completely destroyed while another 7% were damaged. August 9, 1945: Bockscar drops the second atomic bomb "Fat Man" on Nagasaki. The initial death count was 73,884 which included 2,000 Korean forced workers, 8 POWs as well as 74,909 injured and several hundred thousand diseased and dying due to the fallout and illnesses caused by radiation. August 15, 1945: Emperor Hirohito announces the "unconditional" surrender of Japan August 16, 1945: Emperor Hirohito orders Japanese forces to cease fire. ******** Kenji and Patricia were making plans for school when they heard the news about Hiroshima, the news rendered them speechless. "Papa!" Niko called running up to them totally unaware of the somber mood. "Please Niko, not now." Kenji said softly. Niko immediately stopped, his papa never turned him away when he needed something and even when he didn't. And then he saw that his papa was crying and so was his mama and he knew that they weren't happy tears. He didn't know what to do so he did what his mama and papa did for him whenever he was sad. He tugged at Kenji's sleeve until he had his attention. "Niko, pl...." "I love you papa." Kenji picked Niko up and sat him in his lap and hugged him. "I love you too." he said and kissed his head. Niko climbed from Kenji's lap and went to Patricia and told her that he loved her too. Patricia bent down and hugged him, her tears wetting his head. "I love you too baby." Niko hugged Patricia back and for the rest of his life he would never forget that day only because he could never, ever remember seeing his parents in so much pain and sorrow. "Go check on your sister." Kenji said as he tousled Niko's hair. As soon as Niko was gone, Kenji took Patricia into his arms and they cried over the loss of life. Both of them prayed that it would be over, that Japan would finally see sense and surrender and if there was one such bomb, there was another. ******** Nick held Hana as she cried; she had friends and family in Hiroshima and had no way of knowing if they had survived the bombing or not. "So many dead!" she cried, "many of them did not want this war but had to follow the emperor!" "I know baby." Nick said as he cradled her. He didn't know what to do for her except to stay with her. He called his office and said that he would be out for the week. ********* Hiroshi and Dai were horrified when they received the news. Hiroshi cursed Emperor Hirohito for not surrendering, sooner. "He could have stopped this!" he exclaimed as he paced their small but neat living room, "He has murdered his own people!" Dai said nothing as Hiroshi ranted and raved; she agreed with him and was glad that his rage wasn't against this country. She was aware as he was that Hirohito had been approached with terms of surrender and had turned it down. They could only hope that he would now accept. ******** Mitch was physically ill when he heard about the bombing. He begged with tears streaming down his face to call Nagasaki to check on his family but his request fell on deaf ears. He begged every agent who came to his cell until his voice was hoarse. It wasn't until later in the day that he got a sympathetic ear. "I can't let you talk to them but I'll call for you." the agent said. "Thank you! Thank you!" Mitch repeated over and over. "But I want something in exchange." "Anything!" Mitch replied not caring that he might be asked to betray what he considered to be his country. "Who were your contacts here and I don't mean the peons." Mitch began spilling names as the agent wrote them down. "Is that all of them?" the agent asked when Mitch stopped talking. "Yes, now will you call my family?" "One more question, why isn't Nick Alexander's name on this list?" "Wh...what? Nick? He wasn't part of it, I set him up." Mitch replied confused. "You're sure about that?" the agent asked. "I've already given a written statement saying as much, now will you make that call?" The agent wrote the number down, Mitch had been his last chance to get something on Nick but a deal was a deal and he would make the call. "What do you want me to tell them?" Howard Gibbs asked. Mitch gave Howard a list of requests and then asked that Howard come back with any messages. "We'll see." Howard said walking away from the cell silently cursing. ******* Abby and Ralph was as stunned as everyone else about the bombing. "Maybe it's over." Abby said quietly and hoped that it was so. ******* Lawrence and his friends smoked a cigarette in honor of the "Enola Gay" the plane that had dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. "About fuckin' time!" one of them said. "Watch your language." Lawrence said firmly. "Sorry boss, I got a little excited." the offender said apologetically. "We're all excited." Lawrence said with a smile, "Now if we could only do the same with the rest of the impure races all would be well." The statement was greeted with a round of applause and cheers to which Lawrence took a bow and then smiled. He had also received some good news from his attorney. If he behaved himself, he would be out in three years instead of four. Of course he hadn't told his friends that as most of them were going to be in for much longer than three years and there was no point in upsetting the apple cart so to speak. He had already singled out who would take his place, a man named Carl Tucker. Lawrence chose him because Carl was a college graduate and he had good leadership skills. The closer the time of his parole came the more responsibility he would give to Carl so that by the time he left, Carl would be able to run things. When the time was right he would give Carl an address to give to the men as they were released, they were to stay there and wait for further orders. The first thing that he would do when he was released would be to set up base and then head for sunny California. Doc would be taken care of soon but he still needed him for the moment and the prosecuting attorney had already left the state and was headed for California or so he had been told. Then there was Sally his supposedly loving wife.... "Hey Lawrence!" a voice called, "How about a game of horseshoes?" "Sure!" Lawrence called back, he would think about her another time. ******* Everyone walked around in a fog still trying to get over the shock of the bombing when on August 9 a second bomb was dropped this time on Nagasaki. Once again everyone went into stunned disbelief. Patricia and Nick were in the same boat in that they didn't know what to say or how to console Hana and Kenji other than to be there for them. "What is wrong with the world that there is such hate and destruction?" Kenji asked crying as Patricia held him. "I wish that I had an answer for you but I don't." she replied as she hugged him tighter. For the rest of the month there was little talk about anything else but the bombings. Kenji saw the pictures and wept every time appalled by the damage and suffering that the bombs had caused. "Kirei, these people who survived will suffer." he said sadly "We may not know the full effects of the radiation on the earth and in those affected with the radiation for years." Patricia was thinking the same thing that he was, "What about the unborn babies?" she asked. "I do not know Kirei." he replied softly, "But I do not think that anyone thought about the full ramifications of using such a weapon." Patricia agreed with him and told him so, "And I am so glad that you're here with us." she added. It had gotten to the point as with the war where neither Kenji nor Patricia could stand to hear about the mounting casualties from the bombings and they could no longer look at the pictures. For Kenji it wasn't just about the suffering, he was afraid that he would see the face of a friend or relative. It was the same for Hana. ******** Mitch sobbed when he heard about the second bombing. He had no idea if the agent had reached his family or not and for all he knew his wife and son could be ashes blown to parts unknown. Mitch felt a sense of despair so powerful that he forgot his vow to live and to return to Japan. "What Japan?" he sobbed into his hands. "They got out." Howard said to the sobbing man who hadn't heard him come in. "I talked to them and told them to get as far away from the city as they could." Howard said, "They were leaving as we spoke." Mitch let out a sob of relief. "Thank you." "You're welcome.... And you owe me." Howard said as he walked away. Mitch had no intentions of paying up, he didn't know what the agent wanted from him but he suspected that it had something to do with Nick. Whatever it was, he wanted absolutely no part of it, he had done enough damage to a man that he had considered a friend and he would do no more. ******** By the end of December 1945, the Japanese armies in Burma surrender, Hong Kong is liberated, the Imperial Japanese Army surrenders to Filipino and American forces in the Northern Philippines, the Japanese instrument of Surrender is signed on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, 1,400 French Paratroopers are freed from Japanese interment camps around Saigon by the British. The French soldiers go on a rampage killing innocent civilians which included children. The non fraternization directive preventing US troops to speaking to German citizens with the exception of small children was rescinded; the prohibition against marriage between GIs and Austrian women was rescinded and later would include German women as well. Black soldiers would be restricted until 1948 when the restriction again interracial marriage was rescinded and the United States prohibition against food shipments to Germany is lifted however, packages to individuals would remain prohibited until June 1946. ******** The war was over. ******* Everyone was trying to go back to living a normal life, Kenji and Patricia had both started school with Patricia taking two classes and Kenji taking a full load plus extra classes to get ahead. Both of them were extremely nervous but Patricia more so than Kenji as she hadn't been in a formal school setting since middle school. The plan was that Kenji would drive them to school and when Patricia was done with her classes she would wait for him in the library and he would join her for lunch. Patricia shook with excitement as she packed their lunches and made sure to have her pencils and notebook ready to go. Kenji stopped her and gave her a hug, "You are going to be fine." he whispered as he kissed her. Patricia was nervous for another reason. They had never been away from Niko and Marie for this long, at least not frequently with the last time being months before. She wasn't worried that they wouldn't be cared for, it was what Paul told her was separation anxiety. "It's going to be good for all of you." he told her. Patricia wasn't really convinced but if she was going to go to school she had to leave the children. If Kenji was nervous about it he didn't show it instead trying to settle Patricia's nerves. Today her parents would be watching Niko and Marie. "Now be good for gramma and grampa." she said hugging them. "Yes mama." Niko replied holding Marie's hand. Kenji knelt down in front of Niko, "mind your manners and look after your sister, your mama and I must go for awhile but we will be back." Niko shook his head but suddenly he was afraid. He had rarely been away from his parents for so long and like then he was afraid that he wouldn't see them again. He fought back tears as he watched Kenji stand up and look down at him, he waited for the admonishment not to cry but it didn't come. "Niko, come with me." Kenji said holding his hand out. Niko let go of Marie's hand and took Kenji's who then led him to the library, sat down and lifted Niko into his lap. By now tears were running down Niko's plump cheeks. Kenji wiped the tears away and gave Niko a hug. "Are you frightened that we will not come back?" he asked. "Niko shook his head yes which under normal circumstances wasn't permitted but in his fear and anxiety he had already done it more than once. Kenji understood and didn't correct him. "Your mama and I love both you and your sister very much but sometimes we will have to leave, do you understand?" "No papa." Niko replied and laid his head on Kenji's chest. He and Patricia had talked with Niko over the course of several days about their going to school and they thought that he understood but apparently now that time was here and real, he was afraid. Kenji was glad that he had allowed plenty time before they had to leave. He kissed the top of Niko's head and held him for a moment before speaking. "Your mama and I want to give you and your sister all of the things that you need and for us to do that we must go to school as you will someday." Kenji explained, "I will learn how to be a doctor and so will your mama, do you think that you can help us by helping to care for your sister?" "Yes papa." Niko said sniffling. "Thank you Niko." Kenji said kissing the boy again, "You also know that we love you and Marie and that we would never leave you on purpose." "Yes papa." Niko threw his arms around Kenji's neck and kissed his cheek. He was still afraid; Kenji could feel his little body trembling against his. Kenji reached for his wallet and took out the handkerchief that Patricia had given him for his twenty-first birthday. "Your mama made this for me long before you were born." Kenji said, "It is very special to me and I would ask that you keep it safe for me until we come home." Niko took the handkerchief and held it tightly in his hand. "We must go now but we will see you in time for dinner." Niko nodded his head and hugged Kenji again holding the Handkerchief tightly in his fist. Patricia stood in the doorway holding Marie and crying. She loved how gentle and patient Kenji was with her and their children but she understood Niko's anxiety and went to him. She handed Marie to Kenji and took Niko into her arms and hugged him tight. "We'll be back, I promise." she whispered in his ear. Ten minutes later they were in the car and headed for their first day of classes. Kenji found a parking spot that was located between the two buildings that housed the library and where their classes would be. They sat in the car for a few minutes holding hands. "Those buildings are our future." he said softly as he stroked her knuckles, "are you ready Kirei?" Patricia swallowed hard, "I... I think so." she replied. Kenji got out of the car and then helped Patricia out before grabbing their bags and heading toward the building. Kenji walked Patricia to her class which would last two hours and then went to his own which would last just as long. They would have a free hour between classes to talk or study before the next class which ran for an hour and then lunch. Kenji's day wouldn't be complete until four which gave Patricia time to get ahead on her school work so that she could take care of Niko and Marie so Kenji could study. Both of them were aware of the looks that they generated but they ignored them. Kenji walked Patricia to her classroom, gave her and encouraging smile as he handed her the bag containing her books and their lunch. Since they were early, Patricia had her choice of seats and chose one in the front of the classroom, sat down and waited. She didn't turn around when she heard the first noisy students come in nor did she turn around when they went silent when they noticed her. She braced herself for a comment but it never came because the instructor walked in. He gave Patricia a look that she couldn't decipher and went back to setting up for class. All was going well for the most part until he did roll call. When he got to her name it was obvious that he was looking for a Japanese woman who had taken an American first name. "Patricia Takeeda!" He called out and looked around the room. Patricia bristled but raised her hand, "But the pronunciation is Takayda and not Takeeda." she said politely. The instructor looked at her with a reddened face, his displeasure at being corrected clear. "Well Miss. Takeeda..." Patricia didn't correct him, this man was going to cause her grief if she wasn't careful. When he said her last name he said it like he was daring her to object to his pronunciation. Patricia took a deep breath and reminded herself to look at the big picture and that this was only one person. When the roll call was finished, the instructor- Dr. Hathaway went over what was expected of them as students. "Under no circumstances will there be any extensions or excuses for why the work isn't done! Is that clear?" he asked looking directly at Patricia who met his gaze with one of her own until he looked away and began teaching the class. ******* Kenji sat toward the back of the class room because of his height. As he waited for class to begin he thought about Patricia, Niko and Marie. This was for them, so that he could care for them as a husband and father should but it was for him too, after so much pain and heart ache with some joy mixed in, his goal was within reach. Like Patricia he didn't turn around when the other students started to stream in, unlike the student's in Patricia's class, these ones were quite vocal. "Look at that!" someone said, "They bomb our country, kill our people and then they get to come to school here." Kenji ignored the comment and didn't even turn to see who had spoken. "Doesn't seem right does it?" the speaker asked as he approached Kenji. "You speakee English?" he asked. Kenji looked up at the speaker, he was about as tall as Kenji but broader across the chest. His blue eyes were filled with hatred and disgust as they met Kenji's calm, soft brown ones. "Did you hear me Jap?" he asked, "Do you speakee English?" "I happen to speak very good English." Kenji replied meeting the other student's gaze, "Do you wish to say something to me?" "Andrew leave him alone." another student said. Kenji's eyes never left Andrew's face which angered Andrew even more. He had been expecting Kenji to act subservient and afraid. "Everyone take your seats!" said a voice that Kenji recognized. Paul. Their eyes met for just a second before Paul looked away. "My name is Dr. Paul Mynt and I will be your instructor this semester. This is the basic surgery class where you will learn sterile technique and to perform simple procedures. At the end of the semester you must pass every single procedure without fail or you will have to repeat the class. When I call your name please raise your hand. And so it began. Kenji listened to each name but the only one that really interested him was the name of the student who tried to insult him earlier. "Kenjiro Takeda." Paul called out and then nodded when Kenji raised his hand. "I guess the Jap does speakee English." Andrew said loud enough for Kenji to hear. Paul heard it too but didn't say anything, the jackass who made the comment wouldn't be the first nor would he be the last to make comments and Kenji needed to figure out how he was going to handle comments and jackasses like Andrew Kelley. As far as Paul could see, Kenji hadn't reacted in anyway but kept looking forward but Paul knew that Kenji was very much alert and aware that Andrew Kelley was going to be trouble. I Will Love You Forever Pt. 2 Ch. 01 The class went by quickly much to Kenji's relief, he was anxious to see how Patricia was after her first class. He rushed out of the class room and headed to the library to see if she was there yet. ****** The class let out a few minutes early but before Patricia could get away, Dr. Hathaway told her to stay put. Patricia felt anxiety rise as the instructor approached her. "I don't know how you managed to get into this class but let me tell you something right now; I meant it when I said no exceptions...." "I don't want and need special treatment from you or anyone else!" Patricia snapped glaring at the instructor. "Glad to hear it because frankly, I don't think that you'll pass without special consideration..." "Why is that?" Patricia asked, "Is it because I'm black or because my last name is Japanese? And don't say neither because if you do you'd be lying." The instructor's eyes narrowed but he backed away; the battle was over for now. ******** Kenji was waiting in front of the library when Patricia got there. He could see from the set of her shoulders that she was angry. He met her halfway and took a good look at her face, she was very angry and he wondered what had happened. "Come Kirei, we have an hour before our next class." he said talking her bag of books from her and leading her to a quiet corner. "What happened?" he asked. As Patricia told him about the instructor she began to calm down, she missed the smile that Kenji was trying hard to keep hidden. The instructor didn't know what he had done, he had issued a challenge to Patricia and she was going to make him eat his words but on the other hand, she needed to be cautioned. "I know that he angered you and I know that you will set out to prove him wrong but Kirei choose your battles carefully. We have a long way to go before we are done with this place." Mindless that they were being looked at, Patricia laid her head on Kenji's shoulder. "I know but the deliberate mispronunciation of our name and then to imply that I'm not smart enough to pass his class! The nerve...." Patricia stopped talking because Kenji was laughing and trying not to. "What is so funny?" she asked. "You." Kenji replied, "You Kirei are a classic over achiever, your instructors are going to have quite a time with you." "Oh and I suppose you're not an over achiever Mr. read every medical journal I can get my hands on." She teased back. "Touché" Kenji replied still laughing. "But seriously Kirei, be careful. So what if they mispronounce our name, we know what it is and therefore it doesn't matter." They sat for a few more minutes before they had to go to class an English class for Patricia and an advanced anatomy and physiology class for Kenji. He had really hoped to be done with Andrew Kelley but he soon found out that they would have most of their classes together. Kenji determined to stay out of the other student's path it would only lead to trouble if he didn't. Kenji noticed a student sitting in the back alone who cringed when Andrew walked by. Andrew, he realized was a bully who took great pleasure in the fear of others and the student sitting in the back was very afraid of him and Kenji wondered why. The class passed quickly and without incident. Andrew seemed to have forgotten about Kenji but Kenji knew better. Andrew at the moment was occupied with the student in the corner. "So Jew boy." Andrew was saying as Kenji passed by. He stopped, and as much as he wanted to keep going he couldn't. He asked himself where he would be if he hadn't stopped to help Patricia a few years ago- "in a loveless marriage." He reminded himself. "Excuse me but why are you harassing him?" Kenji asked quietly much to the surprise of Andrew, his friends and the harassed student. "I don't see where that's any of your business Jap." Andrew replied turning to look at Kenji. "It becomes my concern when there are four of you and one of him." Kenji replied knowing that he had just made an enemy for life. The harassed student tried to speak, "I... it's alright, really." "You heard him, he's fine so get your yellow ass out of here and go find your black girlfriend." Andrew said and turned back to the student. "I will not leave him alone with you, he comes with me." Kenji said. Andrew's eyes narrowed in hate and anger. "Do you know who I am? Who my father is?" "No, I do not know who you or your father is." Kenji replied, "But I know a bully when I see one and that it what you are." Andrew's friends looked at Kenji in astonishment. No one ever talked Andrew like that especially since his father was some big time war hero who lost a leg to the Japs. "My father was in the war and lost his leg to one of you yellow bastards!" Andrew hissed. "And what is your issue with him? He is not Japanese." Kenji asked. The question seemed to incense Andrew even more; he turned and swung at Kenji who calmly stepped back out of reach. "Is there a problem?" A stern voice from the back of the room asked. Kenji waited for Andrew to accuse him of starting an argument, if he did it would be his word against Andrew and his friends, and the harassed student would be too afraid to speak. "No problem!" Andrew said with a fake smile plastered on his face, "No problem at all." he repeated as he and his friends left the classroom after giving Kenji smiles that promised that they weren't finished. Kenji looked at the student who wouldn't return his gaze. "My name is Kenjiro Takeda; may I ask your name?" "Joel Steinberg." he replied softly. "Why do you allow them to treat you that way?" Kenji asked. When Joel didn't answer Kenji took it upon himself to ask him to join him and Patricia for lunch. "No thank you, I wouldn't want to intrude but thank you for helping me." Kenji watched as Joel gathered his things and left the class room. ******** Patricia's second class was much better than the first while she got a few funny looks especially when the instructor called her name but that was as far as it went. The instructor acted as if he didn't notice that she was black or that her last name wasn't American, he just wanted to be sure that everyone understood what was expected of them. "Alright, we have forty-five minutes left and what I want is an essay on whatever you want to write about, go ahead and get started." Patricia didn't know what to write about and then wrote about one of the happiest moments in her life, the day that Kenji helped her up after she was knocked to the ground. Once she started writing, the words flowed and then she realized that she had never told Kenji what she thought that day or the days afterwards when he would walk up to her and say hello before rushing off. She finished the last sentence just as the class was over. She handed the paper in with not a little apprehension and then shook it off. She gathered her things and quickly went outside to see Kenji talking to another student but when he saw her, he smiled. "Kirei come meet Joel Steinberg, he is in class with me and I have asked him to join us for lunch." Kenji said putting an arm around Patricia, "Joel, this is my wife Patricia." Joel looked from Patricia to Kenji and swallowed hard. He had heard rumors about a Japanese man that was married to a black woman but he hadn't believed it. It turned out to be true and the Japanese man turned out to the one who wasn't afraid to stand up for him. "Hello." Joel said shyly, "It's nice to meet you." "You too, why don't we find somewhere to have lunch?" Patricia asked looking around until she spotted an empty patch of grass. "I should go." Joel said with uncertainty in his voice. "Please we have more than enough for the three of us." Kenji said noting how thin Joel was. "Yes, please stay and have some lunch." Patricia said. By the end of the hour Joel had new friends and didn't feel so afraid, the fact that they were other than white made no difference. ******** Finally the day was over, Kenji held Patricia's hand as they walked to their car to head home. Throughout the day both of them thought about Niko and Marie and wondered how they did on their first day without either of them being around. Kenji was also anxious to get home so that he could hug and kiss Niko and Marie; he really had missed them as he was sure Patricia had. "How was your last class?" Patricia asked, her hand resting on Kenji's thigh. "I have enjoyed all of my classes." he replied and then debated whether he should tell her about Andrew Kelley and then decided to. In all of their time together he had never kept anything from her and he wasn't going to start now, it was more important than ever that they not keep things from each other. Patricia listened without interrupting about Kenji's run in with Andrew and the bullying of Joel. "You could have walked away." she said knowing that he couldn't and wouldn't have even if he had thought about doing it. "Yes but what if I had walked away that day you were pushed to the ground?" he asked, "I would not have met you and I would be in a loveless marriage, so no, I could not have walked away." "I knew that." Patricia said stroking his thigh. "But you have to be careful around this Andrew Kelley and I'm sure that there are more like him." she added as she remembered the stories of torture and starvation that the men held in Japanese POW camps were telling. "It appears that both of us have started our careers with adversity." Kenji replied. ********* William met Nick in his office to give him a piece of news. "It looks like Lawrence Goodman is going to be out in three years." he said. "Fuck William!" Nick exclaimed. "I know and understand but there's nothing that we can do about it." William replied. "He's coming back here." Nick said with a certainty, "and I told him that I would kill him if he did." "Whoa!" William interrupted. "You're not talking about just walking up and......." "Of course not! But if he comes anywhere near my family, I will kill him." Nick said. When William hesitated Nick knew that there was more. "What else?" he asked. "He's coming after Sally too." "How do you know this?" Nick asked. "We have someone working on the inside." "You what? You sent an agent into..... Are you nuts?" Nick shouted, "Do you have any idea of what'll happen if they find out that they have a spy in their midst?" "He volunteered." William replied. "And that makes it right?" "He was the best way of keeping an eye on Lawrence, this group that he's forming is far more radical than the traditional Klan and he bears watching." William replied. "How are you retrieving the information?" "His attorney makes a visit ever couple of weeks." William replied, "If he wants out all he has to do is say get me out of here. It's a statement made quite frequently to visiting attorneys." "Why did this guy volunteer? What's in it for him?" Nick asked. "I don't know, I've never met him," William confessed. Nick didn't like it but let it go, "Does Sally know?" he asked. William was renting a room from Sally and it wasn't long before he found himself attracted to her but had never said anything, after all, he was the man who prosecuted her husband whom she was still married to. If she harbored any ill will toward him, she hid it well and if she was attracted to him, she hid that fact as well. "No I haven't told her yet." He replied. "Don't you think that she should know?" Nick asked. "Yes but not now, Lawrence is still in prison and all it would do right now is frighten her." "I see your point but what if he escapes? He's escaped before and with the help of government agents." Nick said. "He's in a maximum security prison....." "In the south where you yourself said that most of the people see him as a martyr," Nick interrupted, "all I'm saying is that it's a possibility." "He only has three years; if he escapes and get's caught he'll serve more time." William said. "You're forgetting something." Nick said, "He's on his own turf and he has friends that can and will hide him as well as help him get back here to follow through on his plans. And even if he doesn't escape, he'll have the means to get here. All I'm saying is that we have to be ready for anything." "What are you proposing?" William asked. "My friend Charles is a target as well, I'll stay in touch with him so we can get a heads up but Will, I would tell Sally sooner rather than later." ******** "Mama! Papa!" Niko yelled as soon as Patricia and Kenji were through the door. He didn't give them a chance to put their bags down as he hugged them around their legs. Kenji dropped the bags and picked him up, "we missed you too." he said kissing Niko's cheek. "Here papa." Niko said holding out the handkerchief that Kenji given him that morning. "Thank you for keeping it safe for me." Kenji said taking the handkerchief from him and handing him over to Patricia while he went in search of Marie. "How was it?" Hattie asked excitedly as she handed Marie to Kenji. "It was.... Wonderful!" Kenji beamed as he hugged and kissed Marie. "And Patricia?" "Ask her but I believe that you will get the same answer." Kenji replied, "Thank you for staying with the children today." "Tain't no problem! John taught Niko how to play catch today; he took to it like a fish to water." Hattie said, "Wore John out though." "I suppose it would." Kenji said, "Niko is a very busy little boy." Patricia came into the living room trailed by Niko and her father who had just woken from a nap. "How was it?" Hattie asked, "Did they treat you right?" "It was wonderful!" Patricia said repeating Kenji's sentiment. John and Hattie stayed for dinner and cleaned up so that Patricia and Kenji could spend time with the children. During the course of the evening everyone called inquiring how the first day of classes went to which they all got the same response, "Wonderful!" Hattie had already given both Niko and Marie their baths and they were already dressed for bed which left brushing their teeth. Kenji and Patricia found that they missed the bedtime routine of giving baths and decided that from now on unless they were going to be late to continue the routine themselves. Once Niko and Marie were in bed, Kenji and Patricia took time for themselves before they settled in to study. It had been a long day for the both of them and not being able to touch whenever the want or need arose had been an adjustment. Kenji held Patricia tight and kissed her, it felt as if it had been hours since he last kissed her and he felt himself harden with need. He pushed the need away, if they gave in they would fall asleep and they both had work to do for school. Regretfully Kenji released Patricia and stepped back. "Study first and then we make love." he told her as he ran a finger over the healed scar that she had gotten from Vernon Monroe. "Is that a promise?" Patricia asked looking up at him. "Oh yes Kirei." Kenji said softly, "that is a promise." Patricia didn't have as much to do as Kenji and was finished long before he was. "Kirei go to bed." Kenji urged, "I still have quite a bit of reading to do." "I'll go get changed and come back." She replied kissing him as she passed by. Kenji looked at his assignment, he had no more than another hour of reading which meant that he would be done by ten, early enough to make love before going to sleep. He turned his attention back to his reading hoping that more of the material was review and was pleased to see that it was. By the time Patricia made it back downstairs Kenji was putting his books away. "You're done?" she asked. "Yes kirei most of it was review, it seems that my reading all of those medical journals has paid off." "So you're ready for bed?" Patricia teased her brown eyes sparkling. "I am and not to sleep." Kenji replied smiling at her. The sparkle in her eyes that he had loved so much was back, she still clung to him tightly when they slept and became apprehensive when he left the house without her but she was much better. So was he for that matter, his relationship with his father had improved dramatically and in some ways it was much better than before the whole issue with Patricia. Even Niko had begun to warm toward his "gram papa" as he called him. As Kenji climbed the stairs he was reminded that not only could they not neglect the children but that they couldn't neglect each other either. Given what their schedules were going to be like it would be easy to do and it would take conscious effort to make sure that it didn't happen. As he undressed he looked over at Patricia, in his mind she still looked like the young eighteen year old girl that he saw when he first arrived , he suspected that no matter how old they got he would see her in that light. He knew by the way that she chewed her lower lip that she had something to say. "What is it Kirei?" he asked as he slid into the bed next to her. "We had to write an essay today." she said as she sat part of the way up so that Kenji could put an arm around her. "And what did you write about?" Kenji asked. "You." she replied. "Me?" Kenji asked surprised. "Yes you, who else would I write about?" she asked lightly slapping his chest." Anyway, as I was writing it I realized that a lot of what I wrote about I never told you." "Such as?" "That day that you helped me my life changed for the better even if I didn't know it." she said, "and the times that you would come up to me and say hello before hurrying off... I think that I was falling for you then but anyway the gist of my essay was this, if I had to do it again just to be here with you I would do it in a heartbeat. I love you Dr. Kenjiro Takeda." "I love you too Kirei." Kenji replied, "I was thinking a few moments ago that when I look at you I see that young girl that I saw when I got off of the ship. Do you remember that day? Who knew that we would be together?" Kenji turned the bedside lamp back on. "What are you doing?" Patricia asked. "I want to see you as I love you." he replied just as he kissed her. Patricia turned on her side to face him trapping his erection between them. Every time they made love she said a silent thank you to Paul for getting them the diaphragm, since then Kenji had ordered extra ones just in case. Knowing that they couldn't get pregnant unless they chose to was very freeing in more way than one. Patricia knew that the last pregnancy scared Kenji even though he never said anything, it scared her too. She never said anything because it would be a few years before they could even begin thinking about having another baby. When the time came they would have to talk about it but for now... Patricia moaned when Kenji kissed her neck and pressed closer into him, she felt his cock dig into her soft belly. She loved the feel and smell of him and knew that she always would as she knew that she would always love him. She giggled when Kenji flipped her on her back and then gasped as he slammed into her. She wrapped her legs around him and crossed her ankles in an attempt to hold him to her. Kenji supported his weight on his arms as he looked down at Patricia who was looking back at him, her eyes shone with a combination of love, trust and mischievousness that Kenji wished that he could have taken a picture of. All too soon he felt his orgasm begin and Patricia's started soon after. She came with her face pressed into his chest and arms wrapped tightly around his waist. Afterwards they slept soundly wrapped in each other arms not waking until they heard Niko crying out. "Mama! Papa!" he sobbed. Kenji shot off of the bed grabbing his slacks as he went and rushed into the room with Patricia following close behind. I Will Love You Forever Pt. 2 Ch. 01 "Papa look!" Niko said and pointed at the window. Kenji looked at the window and saw nothing but didn't tell Niko that. "Tell me what you see." Kenji said calmly as he sat on Niko's bed while Patricia checked on Marie who had managed to stay asleep. "There's something against the window!" he cried. "Alright, let me go check." Kenji said as he hugged Niko. Just as he got to the window, he saw what Niko saw, it was a small insect of some kind going back and forth across the window but because of the light it looked huge. "Come Niko; let me show you what you are frightened of." Niko didn't move. His eyes were as big as saucers as he watched the insect scurry across the window. "Come, I will not let anything hurt you." Kenji said and held out his hand. Niko slowly got off of his bed and made his way to Kenji. Kenji took Niko's hand in his and waited until the insect crossed the window again. "It is nothing but an insect doing its early morning work." "It's so big!" Kenji knelt down beside Niko. "No, it is really quite small, it is only because of the way the light hits it that it looks so large." A few minutes later Niko was tucked back into bed considerably calmer. "He's never been afraid like that before." Patricia said getting back into bed. "It really was not the insect that he was afraid of." Kenji replied, "He was afraid that we would not go to him, this is going to be a difficult week for him until he adjusts." "I guess it's a good thing that I only have classes twice a week then isn't it?" Patricia replied yawning. "The device?" "In its container after being cleaned" Patricia replied. "That is a shame." Kenji replied nuzzling her neck making her laugh. "I believe that it was you who taught me that there's more than one way to make love." Patricia said as she reached down to take his cock into her hand and began to stroke. ********** Andrew Kelley got home in time to make dinner for his father. His mother as still at work at the diner and would be home for a couple of hours yet. "What do you want to eat pop?" Andrew called out from the kitchen, "we've got left over casserole from yesterday or I can make you a sandwich." He waited for a reply and when none came he made the decision to make sandwiches. His father wouldn't care, since he came back from the war he didn't care about anything but focused on the loss of the leg that he lost fighting the Japanese. The outgoing man who had left for the war with confidence that he would be home in now time was nowhere to be seen, that part of him had been lost along with the leg in Japan. Because of that Andrew hated all Japanese whether they were born here or not and as far as he was concerned they all needed to be shipped back and another bomb or two dropped on them. When he saw the Japanese man and then the Jew in class, he saw red. The idea that he had to go through school with them was almost unbearable and then the Jap had a black girlfriend too? "Unfuckingbelievable!" he grumbled. "What in the hell is this country coming to?" he asked himself as he put the ham and cheese sandwiches on a plate and poured each of them a glass of milk. Harlan Kelly barely acknowledged Andrew when he set up the TV tray in front of him and set his meal in front of him. Andrew felt another stab of hatred and anger at the Japanese, his father would never be the same and it was because of them. Kenji's face appeared in Andrew's mind incensing him even further and driving him to a decision, the Jap and his black woman had to go. He didn't think too much of Joel but at least he was white and an easy mark. He didn't know how he was going to get rid of the Jap and his woman but he was going to get rid of them. Once he made his decision, he calmed down, ate his sandwich and cleared away the dishes. "I'm going to go study pop." Andrew said as he picked up his bag. If Harlan heard him he didn't respond. He was staring off into space rubbing the knee of his missing leg. ******* The first week of classes flew by with Niko gradually getting used to Kenji and Patricia being gone, by the end of the week he was back to sleeping all night without calling out for them. Kenji continued to leave the handkerchief with Niko even when Patricia was home. "You should see him." Patricia told Kenji one day, "He never lets it out of his sight." "That's good, he is learning responsibility." Kenji replied, "I missed you." he added. "I missed you too." Patricia replied. The truth was she was almost in tears not more than five minutes after he left. The feeling lessoned when Abby and Ralph stopped by for coffee. "How are things?" Abby asked. "Wonderful and scary." Patricia replied as she poured hot water into Abby's tea cup. "You've handled scary before." Ralph told her, "You can handle this." "I know but it's hard to believe that we're in school and in four years Kenji will be graduating!" "It'll go fast." Abby assured her. ********* Finally it was Friday, Patricia waited by the door for Kenji after she kissed Marie and Niko goodbye. Kenji handed his handkerchief to Niko with a smile. "You make me proud by the way that you care for my handkerchief. " Kenji told him. "Thank you papa." Niko said with a bow. "Thank you and you are very welcome." Kenji replied returning the bow, "mind aunt Abby and Uncle Ralph." he admonished as he bent down to kiss Niko and then Marie. "Bye papa and mama" Niko said holding on to Marie's hand. "Bye babies, we'll see you for supper." Patricia replied. Niko wasn't the only one adjusting. *********** Dr. Hathaway called roll and again mispronounced her last name as he looked at her and dared her to say something. He gave her a confused look and then scowled when she raised her hand and smiled sweetly at him. "Put your books away!" he said looking at Patricia, "surprise quiz." Again he looked at Patricia as if he expected her to complain along with the rest of the class. Instead she nodded at him and gave him a slight smile. "As you finish the quiz bring it to me and I will grade it immediately. If there is another student here, stay in your seat until that student is finished." He passed out the quizzes giving Patricia hers last. "You have ten minutes." Patricia quickly read through the quiz and then started at the beginning. She knew that she was being witched but ignored it. She heard a chair scrape to the left of her and then a disappointed moan from whoever had gone up first. By her estimation she had two minutes left during which she double checked her answers and went up front quiz in hand. "Well Miss Takeeda, how do you think you did?" Dr. Hathaway asked. "I think that I passed if that's what you're asking." Patricia replied. "No one has passed yet." he snipped. Patricia didn't reply but waited for the paper to be graded. She watched as Dr. Hathaway scowled with every plus mark he made with his pen. "Pass!" he growled and then threw her paper on top of the pile that was rapidly growing. "What did I get?" Patricia asked. "I said you passed!" "I heard you but what was my score?" Patricia asked, "I want to mark it down in my notebook." "100% now go back to your seat!" Patricia resisted the urge to jump up and down and made her way back to her seat. She couldn't wait to see Kenji to tell him that she had passed her first college surprise quiz. ********* Kenji had a sense of disquiet. Andrew Kelly had barely spoken to him all week, the feeling that he was up to no good grew as the day wore on. Kenji hoped that Patricia stayed put and waited for him as he told her to, he just didn't trust Kelley. "Kirei I just do not trust him so please wait for me in front of your class room." "What do you think he's going to do?" she asked. "I don't know Kirei but he has barely acknowledged me all week and that concerns me." The first class passed without a problem, Kenji met Patricia and she chattered happily about passing her first quiz. "I knew that you would do well." Kenji told her proudly. The hour break passed quickly and they were back in class. ******** "A few days ago I had each of you write an essay on whatever you wanted." Dr. Bell said as he perched on his desk. "There was a reason for that exercise and that was to see where you were as far as being able to write a coherent paper. Of the fifty of you, twenty-five had a decent command of the English language, of the twenty-five 15 of you wrote an adequate essay and what I mean by that was, while it was grammatically correct, it was as boring as hell. The remaining ten wrote essays that were both grammatically correct with some minor grammatical errors but the subject matter was interesting. There is one essay that stood out because it was written from a very personal experience. I wish that I could read it to you but I haven't asked the permission of the author to do so......." Patricia wondered where she fell on the grid, she took great pains with her grammar and what she wrote about wouldn't have interested anyone ....... "Mrs. Takeda?" Patricia jumped at the sound of her name being called. "I'm sorry, what?" "I was asking permission to read your essay to the class." Dr. Bell said giving her a curious look. "I, if you want." Patricia replied shyly not at all sure that she wanted her private thoughts read out loud but then she did write it as an essay. "Thank you." Dr. Bell said and turned his attention to the essay. As he read it, Patricia could almost visualize that day that seemed so long ago but not really. "While this wasn't the thrilling have you on the edge of your seat essay, it held one's attention and it was for the most part grammatically correct. Well done Mrs. Takeda" Patricia felt herself blush at the compliment and murmured a "thank you." Her college career had started on the right foot academically. ********* Kenji, Joel and Patricia had lunch together after their class with Patricia packing extra food for them, Joel was far too thin as far as she was concerned and she always made him take the left over's home through Kenji even if she wasn't there. "How was your second class Kirei?" Kenji asked. When Patricia finished telling them about her essay being read, Kenji smiled at her. If they had been at home he would have kissed her but a smile would have to do for now. "May I ask a question?" Joel asked. He waited until he had their consent before asking. "I thought her name was Patricia, but you call her Kirei so what is her name?" "My name is Patricia." she replied, "Kirei is what Kenji started calling me a while back." "Kirei is Japanese for beautiful." Kenji replied, "Because that is what she is." Joel blushed and quickly changed the subject as he wondered if he would ever find someone. After lunch Kenji walked Patricia to the library. "I will come for you after my class is over." Kenji said. ****** As soon as he walked into the class room the hairs on the nape of Kenji's neck prickled. He looked around to see Andrew and his friends staring at him and Joel cowering in his seat. He glanced at his seat and then around it, suddenly he understood the game. He smiled and sat down without giving Andrew another thought, this man and his friends didn't frighten him. Since it was Friday, class was out early. Andrew and his friends left without saying a word to either Kenji or Joel. The feeling of unease grew as Kenji listened to the men leave the room completely bypassing Joel. He found out why a few minutes later. Kenji walked back to Joel and spoke to him, when Joel didn't respond the feeling of unease grew. "Joel?" Kenji called. Joel looked up at him, his face wet with tears. It was then that Kenji noticed that Joel was holding his left hand in his lap. "What did they do to you?" Kenji asked. "I'm alright...." "What did they do to your hand?" Kenji asked as he sat his books down. "N...nothing, it's fine." Joel stammered. Finally Joel relented and showed Kenji his hand. "Joel, it is broken!" Kenji exclaimed. Kenji realized that it had to have happened in the fifteen minutes that he spent alone with Patricia after lunch and Joel had sat through class suffering in silence. "Wait here." Kenji said, "I will go get Patricia and then we will go to someone who can help." "No! They said that they'd break my other hand if I told anyone." "Joel, you cannot continue to let them do this to you!" Kenji said, "It will not stop unless you stand up to them." Joel turned away, he knew that Kenji was right but being tormented was a part of his life just as breathing was. "Wait here." Kenji repeated and went to get Patricia. ********* Patricia was intent in her reading and didn't know that Kenji was there until he tapped her shoulder making her yelp. "I am sorry Kirei but we must take Joel to Paul." "Is is sick?" she asked concerned. "He has been hurt, now come, he is waiting for us." When they got to the classroom Joel was staring off into space, the fingers of his left hand double the normal size. Patricia gasped when she saw Joel's hand. Kenji gathered his and Joel's things and helped Joel stand up. Together the three of them went in search of Paul. ******* Paul was well aware of Andrew Kelly and his friends. He made a point of finding out about him when he heard the comment that he made in class. Andrew, he found out wasn't happy about anything but when his father came back minus a leg he played it to the hilt acting as if he was he one that lost a limb. The problem as Paul saw it was that Andrew was allowed to be a bully and that it was only a matter of time before he and Kenji bumped heads. "Paul!" Kenji called out, "we need help!" Paul walked toward the group meeting them halfway. "Kenji? What happened?" A few minutes later Paul was examining Joel's hand. "Who did this to you son?" he asked. "I..... I don't know." Joel replied crying out as Paul moved a finger. "Son, all of the fingers on this hand are broken and you don't know who did it?" Joel turned away and didn't answer. Paul wrapped Joel's hand and tried to get information from him. He had his suspicions but unless Joel said something there was nothing that he could do. Once again he asked Joel who hurt him and once again Joel didn't reply. "Alright, I'm done here." Paul said with a sigh. "Where do you live?" Kenji asked, "We will take you home." "I can walk." Joel said as he got down from the table. "I insist, allow us to take you home." Kenji said. Reluctantly Joel agreed. ********* The three of them left the skills lab and headed to the car not aware that they were being watched by Andrew Kelley. Patricia saw the car first, "Kenji look at the car." Kenji stopped walking and looked at the car. The car was covered with racial slurs painted in white that were mostly aimed at Kenji. "Who would....." and then he stopped, he knew exactly who would do such a thing. Andrew Kelley and he had help. "Kirei wait here with Joel." Kenji said as he approached the car. "Kenji..." "Wait there." Kenji repeated as he began to make a wide birth around the car checking the tires. When he got to the back of the car he saw the broken window. The car was drivable like that but it was the tires that he was concerned about. He walked around the car again and knelt at each tire to make sure that no air was escaping, only when he did this three times was he satisfied and let Joel and Patricia into the car. He looked around hoping to get a glimpse of Andrew Kelley. He knew that he was watching them to see their reactions; he would have been surprised if he wasn't. One thing was clear, a confrontation between him and Andre Kelly was going to happen no matter how hard he tried to avoid it. He could only hope that when it happened, that it would be a day when Patricia was at home. ******* Andrew watched Kenji's reaction with interest. He watched as instead of becoming angry, Kenji calmly assessed the damage to the car before letting his woman and the Jew in. "This is going to be interesting." Andrew thought to himself as he watched them drive away.