Kenshin: Oro?! *covers ears*
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"Elmyra-san," Kaoru said as she rose to her feet. "I need to go to Rocket Town and find them. They're in grave danger!"
"How so?"
"It's hard to explain. I just need to get to Rocket Town!"
"But, dear, it's late. You need your rest. Go on and get some sleep, and we'll take you to Rocket Town tomorrow."
"Demo...!"
"But you HAVE to sleep!" Marlene exclaimed as she tugged on her kimono. "Want me to tell you a bedtime story? Papa always tells me one."
Kaoru sighed and decided to listen to them. "All right," she said, smiling as she headed for the bathroom.
Kenshin sat with his back against the wall, sleeping fitfully. His sword was leaning against his shoulder, ready to strike should any strange sounds reach his ear.
Squeak! he heard from within the room. It sounded like Kaoru had risen from her bed and walked out of the room. He stayed still, pretending to be asleep, feeling her kneel in front of him. He felt her push his hair from his face back roughly, and it was he could do not to wince from pain.
"Ahhh... Kenshin," she whispered in a voice that made his blood run cold. "You are just so easy to fool aren't you?"
Something isn't right with you, Kaoru... iya... you're not Kaoru... he thought, sensing a very different ki. Kaoru's was always gentle, and kind, a ki that could bring a smile to his face.
This one... he could feel it was sinister... almost evil...
"If you only knew what happened to your beloved," she continued. "You should've been there to see her pain. The way she cried out when Hojo stuck that needle into her and created me."
Kaoru... Kaoru... Iie...
"Well, he can't hurt her anymore... Your woman has escaped, probably to warn you about me... Well, it won't work. As long as you think I'm her, your woman's efforts are doomed to fail..."
He felt her rise and move back to the bed, the hairs on his neck rising. Kuraudo-san should know about this... Iie... I have to know what she's planning first... she could lead me to the real Kaoru...
But I should be on my guard for anything she says, could be leading us into a trap... I should try to get the team to do the opposite of what she suggests...
Kenshin's eyes turned amber behind his closed lids, thinking of the clone's words.
Hojo... I'll secure your place in hell...
"You look so much like my brother," Elizabeth smiled as she ruffled Yahiko's hair. "He would have been your age if he had lived."
Yahiko's eyes softened. "I'm sorry..."
"It's all right. I know he's in a better place," she said softly. "What's this?" She pulled out his bamboo sword.
"Oh! That's my shinai!" Yahiko said proudly. "I'm training under Busu."
"Busu?"
"Oh, you know," Sano said, clearly irked at the attention Elizabeth was giving Yahiko. "Kaoru. Jou-chan."
"You mean the girl with the ribbon?" she giggled.
"She's ugly, isn't she?" Yahiko grinned when she nodded. "You're really pretty."
Elizabeth blushed. "Thank you... Care to show me your moves?"
Yahiko nodded eagerly and went into his swings, Sano muttering in the background.
"Miss Kaoru!" Marlene cried as she opened the door to her room. "It's time to wake up!"
Kaoru opened her eyes, smiling as they fell on the bouncy young girl. "Ohayou, Marlene-chan."
The little girl giggled. "You talk funny."
"Marlene!" Elmyra cried, horrified at the comment.
Kaoru laughed. "Do I? Where I come from, everyone talks like this."
"Really?" Marlene giggled again as she tugged at a lock of Kaoru's hair. "I like you better when you talk funny."
Kaoru chuckled as she tickled Marlene's foot, eliciting delighted laughter. "Then you should meet my friends. You will like them."
Marlene's eyes sparkled excitedly. "Are they in Rocket Town?"
Kaoru nodded.
"Can I come?"
"No, Marlene, I'm afraid your Papa would want you to stay here," Elmyra said. "Miss Kaoru, a friend of mine will take you to Rocket Town, but it'll take him a day to get here. And it will take another day for you to reach Rocket Town."
"A day?!" Kaoru cried. "By then it will be too late!"
"We'd better keep moving," Cloud said, nodding towards Kenshin. "Now that we got Kaoru back, we should concentrate on beating Jenova."
Sephiroth nodded silently, still warily eyeing Zack.
"Splitting up would be a good idea," the clone Kaoru piped up. "We'll cover more ground that way."
"Makes sense," Cloud mused.
"I agree," Red XIII nodded. "I think that's a good idea."
Kenshin's eyes narrowed but he remained silent. He thought about speaking up against her idea, but his instincts told him to let her be for the meantime.
What was her plan? What did she want with them?
And where's the real Kaoru?
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Jap Terms:
1. Ohayou- Good morning