Chapter 22 is up and running. I apologize for the delay but life has been busy and I had a bit of writers block. There is at least one more chapter till the end so stay tuned. Many thanks and appreciation for reading, following and commenting on this story.

Mika sat in the chapel at the mission with her head bowed. She tried to pray but the words Ozunu, and assassin kept crowding her mind. Raizo, an assassin, someone who willfully took the lives of others with no mercy, with no conscience or remorse. Mika shook her head in frustration, this didn't make sense. This wasn't the Raizo she knew. She thought of the number of times he'd risked his life for her, of how efficiently he downed his opponents. Then she thought of his kindness and gentleness. Mika stood, thrusting her fingers in her hair as she paced back and forth. She was confused. She knew her research was sound and all the pieces fit. But she couldn't reconcile her research with the man she knew and loved. Mika heard a sound and turned to see Sister Olivia walking down the aisle towards her. What little control Mika had left shattered as tears traced down her face and a sob broke forth from her throat. Sister Olivia rushed to her and embraced her in her arms.

Daniel watched Raizo from Mika's kitchen as he worked at making tea. Raizo hadn't moved a muscle for the past hour. Daniel would have thought he was meditating except Raizo's eyes were wide open and staring unseeingly, Daniel knew because he'd walked in front of him several times with no response, not even a twitch from Raizo. Daniel found himself faced with two problems. One, Mika was gone, not missing, he knew where she was, the question was why did she leave? Daniel knew her well enough to know that whatever had caused her to leave was pretty serious and he was trying to give her the time she needed to work things through. Two, a non-responsive ninja was dangerous. Daniel had no idea what was going on with Raizo or inside that ninja mind of his.

Raizo sat locked in a world of his own. A ninja skill taught to enable the ninja to process and maneuver through pain. It stripped away all excesses and left only the essential functions of life available to the conscience. The ninja can then concentrate and manipulate essential physical functions to aid his need. The pain Raizo was feeling, however, was not physical but the response was the same. If Raizo had ever questioned if he had a heart, that question was now answered. Yes, he had a heart and it ached for Mika. The essential parts of Raizo's life began to come forward and it was loneliness, pain and fear. With Mika he was no longer alone. Mika erased and soothed his pain and with Mika he was fearless. She gave him strength. There was only on response, one command to this dilemma because it was essential to his survival and humanity. FIND HER!

"Mika, what's wrong?" Sister Olivia asked her softly as she watched Mika dry her tears. Mika looked at Sister Olivia and saw the concern in her eyes and debated whether or not she should tell her what she'd discovered about Raizo. She knew Sister Olivia adored Raizo and she didn't want to taint her opinion of him but she had to share this with someone and she desperately needed sound advise.

"Uhm…" Mika began as she cleared her throat and struggled with how best to approach the subject without giving Raizo away.

"Mika, I can tell this is hard for you so I know it must be extremely personal and very important to you as well. I'm here as a listening ear and as a friend, not to judge you or anyone else." Mika began nervously. "Wha…what do you do when you find out someone you love isn't who you think they are? When you find out there's a side to them you didn't know existed? That they've intentionally done potentially violent things?" Mika looked at Sister Olivia pleadingly and asked "What do you do?"

"Mika, real love isn't based on the romanticized tales that society has thrust upon us. Is there stars and music and floating on clouds? Yes, love can certainly make you feel that way but real love begins when all the fluff fades. When the stars stop shining, the music stops playing and the clouds turn gray. No one is perfect, we all make mistakes and we sometimes make the biggest mistakes when we're trying to do the most good. Mika, love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. The question that needs to be answered is whether or not what you feel is real love and whether or not the other person has real love for you. Do the both of you exemplify theses characteristics or are you just caught up in the fluff? Sister Olivia gave Mika a hug and said "I know you'll make the right decision."

Mika sat on the nearest pew and thought about what Sister Olivia said. Did she really love Raizo or was she caught up in the hero he'd proven himself to be? She thought about the first time she saw him. Absolute beauty in motion, but she'd done more than just see him. She'd felt him, it was as if her heart reached out to him. As if her heart knew he was in need of something he couldn't find and she had the answer. Love.
Raizo needed love and she was the vessel God had chosen to fill that need.

Mika sat quietly alone as she began to find peace within herself. She heard a sound and turned to see Raizo standing in the doorway of the chapel. The sun was setting and the sky had turned a magnificent burnt orange as the sun made its decent to make room for the moon that would light the earth in its absence. Mika gazed at Raizo, silhouetted by the colors of the setting sun and it seemed as if all of heaven surrounded him. Mika knew. She knew then with all of her heart that she loved this man and that nothing, no one. past nor present would ever change it. Such an overwhelming feeling of joy and peace filled her heart to the point she couldn't contain it, and she ran toward Raizo.

Raizo saw Mika as she turned to look at him. Not knowing what to expect he prepared himself for the worst. She'd left him and she had to have a reason for that. Raizo knew he had no future to offer her. Mika had become a part of him and living without her would be like living without a piece of himself, but he would do it, for her. So she could have peace, so she could be happy. So she could have all the wonderful things in life she deserved. His life was filled with uncertainty and danger and he could no longer expose her to that or continue to put her at risk. When Mika reached Raizo she suddenly stopped. She looked into the warm dark pool of his eyes. It was like being enveloped in an eternal warmth and she felt safe, she felt protected. She knew this was where she belonged. Mika realized then that Raizo displayed all the characteristics of love that Sister Olivia described.

Raizo looked into Mika's eyes and was momentarily stunned by the force of what he saw. Reflected in her eyes was all the love she felt for him. Raizo saw a love given and cemented in the depths of her heart. A love that could only have its origin in God, because only God could grant the gift of love he saw reflected in Mika's eyes. And it rocked him to his core, touched his soul, the force of it almost drove him to his knees. "Mika," Raizo said softly, lovingly as he reached out his hand to caress her cheek only to find it captured in her hands as she drew him near and placed his hand on her heart. "You have my heart Raizo. I'm sorry I left the way I did. Things became so overwhelming and so confusing. I…I needed to get away but I should have told you."

"Mika, its ok, I understand" Raizo said but found it hard to stay focused on his intended words. He could hear and feel the rhythmic beat of her heart and it was distracting. It was as if he were being pulled into her rhythm. Raizo had an urgent need to tell her the truth, to rid himself of this awful burden. His life, it seemed had been chosen for him. He lived in a constant atmosphere of pain but Mika and her love relieved it, lifted it from him. Mika stepped in closer placing her arms around his neck and drew him to her. The touch of her lips to his was sweet and soft and Raizo couldn't get enough. The more he tasted, the more he wanted and Mika gave of herself freely. Fire raced through their veins as the kiss intensified. It was the perfect combination of love and physical response to a need that ran deep in both of them. Raizo pulled away, overcome with emotion and need he cupped Mika's face in his hands and rested his forehead on hers. Breathing deeply as was she, trying to regain some sense of composure. Raizo took a deep breath and spoke. "Mika, I do love you and I want us to have a life together. I wanted us to get married, like the couples in the park but.."

"Yes Raizo, I'll marry you!"

"No!, Mika, I can't. You don't understand.."

"What is it I don't understand Raizo?" Mika asked softly. "Do you love me Raizo?" she asked.

"With all my heart." Raizo responded.

"Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?" Raizo's heart thundered in his chest, as he hesitated, yes, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her but he wouldn't be able to live with himself if anything happened to her because of him. He looked into her eyes prepared to tell her no, but he couldn't lie to her, not now, not ever.

"Yes" the word rushed out of him as if he'd been trying to hold it back and Raizo took a step back from her and looked her square in the eye "Mika, there are things about me you don't know, things that would change how you feel and think about me." Raizo began…

"No, Raizo, no." Mika said as she placed her finger over his lips to quiet him. "There is nothing about you Raizo that would ever change how I feel about you."

"But Mika you don't understand…"

"Yes, I do Raizo. I understand that you love me and I love you. I understand that in a world filled with people, and activities and agendas, we found each other. I understand Raizo, that we belong together."

Raizo wanted to deny her words but as he looked into her eyes he saw strength. Strength in what she believed they could be and strength that embraced him and pulled him in. "Yes, Mika, Yes. We'll get married."

The sun shone brightly through the stained glass windows of the chapel enveloping the couple who stood at the alter in a warm embrace. Mika looked up at Raizo lovingly and he down at her with tenderness and undying affection. Even before Brother Henry began to speak the words that would bind them together forever, Raizo pledged to love and protect the beautiful angel that stood before him with all that was in him till his dying breath. Daniel stood beside Raizo as his best man and Sister Olivia stood next to Mika as her maid of honor. Brother Henry stood before them, bible in hand to recite the words that would join them together as husband and wife. Mika had no doubt that she was doing the right thing. The love she felt for Raizo was limitless and filled her with wonder each day. Never had she met or expected to meet anyone with a heart as pure as Raizo's and she had no intentions of ever letting him go. She would love, support and protect him till her last breath.

"The bible states that man cannot live by bread alone. Neither is he created to be alone. When God created the universe he created first man and then woman. The two were created together and are meant to be together. Man and woman are created to be together through good times and bad, through happy times and sad, through sickness and health. Through pleasure and pain, through wealth and through squander. What God has joined together let no man put asunder. That is God's promise to man and woman, to husband and wife. So strong is the tie that binds you together that God has promised that as long as you honor each other, nothing on this earth can tear you apart or keep you from one another." Brother Henry then turned to Mika and said. "Mika I've known you for years and have seen the tenderness of your heart and the kindness that dwells within you. The fierce protectiveness you show to those you love and who are in need. Mika, do you take these same qualities and abilities and promise them to Raizo as your husband til death do you part?

"I do"

"Raizo, I have not known you as long but have seen the purity of your heart. I have seen the warrior in you that protects all that is his and I have seen the tenderness in your heart that spares no expense for those he cares for and loves. Do you Raizo, take these same qualities and abilities and promise them to Mika til death do you part?

"I do"

"With the authority invested by me through our heavenly father and with pleasure and well wishes, I pronounce you as husband and wife. Raizo you may kiss your bride and Mika you may kiss your husband."

The wedding atmosphere was joyous. All in attendance laughed, danced and sang their happiness for Mika and Raizo. The congratulations seemed to never end. And there was food. Every person with any culinary skill added their bounty to the pot resulting in dish upon dish and plenty of food for everyone. In the midst of the festive activities Daniel clinked his glass to get everyone's attention. "As the best man it is my duty to give a speech about the lovely couple Mr and Mrs….?" Daniel paused as he suddenly realized that he didn't know of a last name Raizo went by, that was gonna present a problem in the near future. "Uhm to Raizo and Mika. The words that immediately come to mind is Thank God! Everyone erupted into laughter as Daniel made his declaration with his hand over his heart and swiping his brow to demonstrate his relief. "I've seen these two drawn together like magnets and yet fight against it like the mixture of oil and water. However, true love my friends can not and will not be denied. Mika and Raizo I congratulate you and salute your union. Uh-hum excuse me " Daniel said as he touched a tissue to the corner of his eye and turned his head. Daniel turned slowly back to the crowd and said "Now let the Soul Train Line begin!" Everyone erupted once again in laughter with whoops and hollars as they formed the popular dance line and the first to go down the line, of course, was Daniel. Daniel did a copulation of every dance he knew with a high leap into the air landing with one knee and one hand on the floor in the classic matrix pose "Now people that's how its done!" That was all it took for the madness to begins. Hanz came down the line doing a very cool version of the Dougie as he moved rhythmically to the thump of the bass and the drums. Sister Olivia and Brother Henry did the bump down the line giving each other high fives as they exited the line. Raizo and Mika looked at each other with a knowing gleam in their eyes and they stiffened their bodies and headed down the line doing the robot. At the end of the line Mika made a swift, stiff robot shuffle towards Raizo, tilted her head to the side, then turned her back to him and executed a backward dip into his arms extending her leg in the air as he caught her. Laughter and cheers lifted into the air and filled the room in celebration.