Kenshin: Oro...
Kaoru: *pats Kaoru clone*
Kaoru-kuron: *cries*
Cloud: Awww...now, now, Kaoru clone...
Kaoru: ^^;;
Kenshin: O_Ox
Onna: For crying out loud...!
Liv: *swallows Kenshin-bug*
Kenshin: Oro?!
**********
"Miss Kaoru," Elmyra called. "Your ride to Rocket Town is here."
"Hai," Kaoru squeezed Marlene's hand. "I'll tell your Papa what a good girl you are."
"Can't I come with you, Miss Kaoru?"
Kaoru shook her head. "Gomen nasai, but your Papa did tell you to stay here. You be a good girl and do what Papa says, okay?"
Marlene nodded, smiling brightly. "Tell Papa I miss him."
"I will," Kaoru nodded as she climbed onto the truck. "Ja ne!" she called as soon as the engine started.
"Bye!" Marlene cried, waving one chubby arm.
Kenshin dropped a few more logs into the fire to keep them warm throughout the night. He could already hear Sano and Yahiko's snores from their tent, Kaoru sleeping in hers.
Still keeping an eye on her tent, he leaned against a tree, settling himself for sleep.
But his thoughts kept him awake.
Sephiroth-san seemed suspicious of Zack-san, he thought. Not that I blame him. His ki is also very strange. So evil, and yet I sense a trace of good.
He heard a faint sound to his right, and he opened his eyes to see through his red hair.
A young woman was walking in the night, her black hair blowing in some unfelt wind. She's not friendly, he thought, violet eyes narrowing unseen behind the red curtain. Her ki... pure evil...
Another slight movement caught his eye, and Kaoru emerged from her tent, approaching the woman. They weren't too far away, his senses alert to anything.
"Is everything going according to plan?" the woman hissed, blue eyes glinting evilly.
Kaoru bowed. "Yes, Lord Jenova. No one suspects a thing."
"Good," she murmured, eliciting an evil laugh. "This is the second night... I'll have the boy by the third. In the meantime, make sure that the scarred man thinks you're his beloved. Knowing her, she'll be trying to get back to Rocket Town to find him and warn him about our plans."
"And the others?"
"Zack will take care of them, then I will have the Cetra girl..."
"Yes, Lord Jenova."
Both figures then retreated, Kaoru returning to her tent. Soon, the woman disappeared as well. Kenshin lifted his head, his amber eyes showing his anger and panic.
Rocket Town... Kaoru... will you find us in time?
And how will I tell Kuraudo-san?
"They're not here!" Kaoru cried early the next morning, panicking. "They're gone!"
"Miss...!" the truck driver said, calling her. "I can get you to wherever they're headed, but you have to find out first."
"H-Hai..." Kaoru nodded, looking around for anything to tell her where they are. She then heard whispers of the women in the town.
"That man with the blonde hair and huge sword, I heard they were going to the Promise Land."
"Promise Land? Aren't only Cetras allowed to go there?"
"As a matter of fact, I heard that they had a Cetra girl with them. You know, the flower seller in Midgar."
"And that man with the red hair and cross scar?"
The woman shrugged. "They split up and are headed for the Northern Crater, near the Promise Land. I don't why they are doing this..."
Kaoru ran back to the truck. "Ojiisan!!!"
"Yes, miss?"
"Please take me to the Northern Crater!"
**********
Jap Terms:
1. Ojiisan - grandfather; used by young people speaking to strangers older than they are