Kenshin: Oro... Onna-dono... *shakes Onna*
Onna: My kitchen... my food... my supplies... all gone... all eaten... destroyed... *cries*
Kenshin: Maa maa, Onna-dono...
Onna: *growls and brandishes mallet a la Tendo Akane from thin air* SANO, I'M GONNA KILL YOU FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *chases Sano waving mallet wildly*
Kenshin: Oroooooo!
Kaoru: *sighs* Onna and Liv don't own us RK people.
Aeris: Neither do they own us FF7 people.
Onna: SANOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo........!!!
Liv: XD *chases Sano as well*
Cloud: Should we help him out?
Tifa, Aeris and Kaoru: *glare*
Cloud: ^^;; Never mind...
**********
Kenshin wrapped the overcoat Cid and Vincent provided around him tightly, his breath coming out in little puffs of smoke. The cold snow stung his cheeks, his hands, and the Chocobo he was riding was none too happy about the current situation.
"Maa maa..." he whispered to the creature, gently smoothing its feathers. "We'll be stopping soon."
"Wark!" it cried, obviously trying to ignore its discomfort. He also noticed that it often turned its head to glare at Kaoru, and he didn't blame the Chocobo.
Because if it was the real Kaoru, the Chocobo would definitely love her in an instant. Animals have very sharp instincts.
And this Chocobo wasn't the only one shooting daggers at the clone.
"We'll stop here," Vincent said, jerking at the reins of his Chocobo. "Darkness is settling in, so we have to make camp."
"Hai de gozaru," Kenshin nodded as he jumped off the Chocobo, Kaoru following suit. Kenshin took it by the reins and led it to a nearby tree.
"Wark!" it cried as it rubbed its head affectionately on his shoulder. Kenshin chuckled and pulled out a handful of greens for it to feed on.
"You're suspecting her, aren't you?" he murmured softly as the Chocobo swallowed some of the food, his hand stroking its back. "I am too, but I want to find the real Kaoru first."
"Wark wark!" it cried as the other Chocobos approached to eat the greens. Kenshin pitched a nearby tent for their shelter, making sure there was an ample supply of food and water.
"I have a bad feeling about this..." Aeris murmured, wrapping her cloak around her tighter.
Tifa nodded, keeping her eyes ahead. They narrowed when they came to Zack's back. He seems very suspicious... he's supposed to be dead after all...
And if he was alive all this time, then why is it that he appeared only now?
"We'll camp here," Cloud said, tugging on the reins. "Set up your tents, then gather around the fire to talk about what we're going to do."
Everyone got off their respective Chocobos to follow his instructions, and Tifa did not miss the crestfallen look on his face when Aeris and Zack left to set up their tents, their laughter ringing in the air.
Aeris squealed with laughter as Zack threw a snowball at her, the coldness stinging her cheeks. Retaliating, she grabbed him by the scruff of his neck dropping snow down the back of his shirt. He shouted at the cold and jumped, trying to rid himself of the snow. Aeris thought he looked so hilarious she leaned against a tree and laughed delightedly, her green eyes sparkling.
Zack chuckled as he finally shook all the snow out. "Just like old times. Right, Aeris?"
Aeris nodded, smiling at him. "I missed you..."
"I missed you too, Pumpkin," he said as he leaned over to embrace her, her cheek pillowed against his chest.
She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of having Zack's arms around her again. But despite of her happiness with being reunited with Zack, one man's named tugged at the corner of her mind.
Cloud...
She thought no more when Zack's lips touched hers, not noticing the shock and sorrow that were in Cloud's blue eyes before he retreated into the shadows.
Kenshin looked up to the night sky, remembering the time he and Kaoru sat on the roof of Aoiya. The smile she gave him that night was one he would carry in his heart for the rest of his life. He longed to see that smile again, to hold her in his arms.
The clone one was trying all right, and if he didn't know better he could have been fooled to think she really was Kaoru.
But she wasn't.
What the? Kenshin looked up to see a small figure staggering in the distance. Yahiko! What in the world?
He got up to run after him. "Yahiko! Yahiko!"
His loud calls woke Sano and the others, but he paid no heed. He ran to the boy, shaking him. "Yahiko! What's wrong?"
Yahiko turned blank red eyes to Kenshin. "I... must... go... to..."
"Sh*t!" Cid cursed. "What the %#*&^ hell is wrong with him!?"
"Yahiko!" Sano called, Kaoru behind him.
"Don't bother..." a woman's voice hissed. "He belongs to me..."
Kenshin looked up. It was the woman from the night before.
"Elizabeth?" Sano asked incredulously. "What are you doing?! What is going on here?!"
She laughed as Yahiko finally reached her. "Elizabeth? I don't think so!"
Sano watched horrified as her skin broke open, revealing a hideous creature with tentacles, floating in the air.
"Jenova!" Vincent yelled. "Give us back the boy!"
I don't think so... it hissed. With this boy, I will rule Planet... and nothing will stop me!
"We'll stop you!" Kenshin snapped. "Release him or you'll pay dearly!"
Correction... YOU will pay dearly...
Kenshin felt a white flash of pain and he howled as he fell to the ground.
The clone...! he thought as he saw Kaoru run towards him, a dagger dripping with his blood held in her hand.
"Jou-chan! What are you doing?!"
"She's not Kaoru!" Kenshin yelled. "She's a clone!"
"A clone?!" Cait Sith yelped.
"So you figured me out..." she cackled. "Too bad. Looks like your woman didn't come on time."
And I no longer have any use for you...
Kenshin watched, eyes widening, as the clone burst into flames, her screams echoing in the air.
"Chikuso!!!" Sano cursed, running towards Jenova. "I'll get you for that!" He raised his fist to punch Jenova, who effortlessly avoided it.
Idiot... One of his tentacles struck Sano and sent him flying back before casting Confuse on the others, rendering them incapable of attacking him. I have what I want... and it will do you good to stay away from me... Its glowing eyes rested on Kenshin. And you will join me soon as well... It shimmered into the air and disappeared.
"Yahiko!!!"
The first thing that registered in Kaoru's mind was the pain at the back of her neck. Itai... where am I?
She shot up, her hands flying to her mouth. Kenshin...! She jumped out of bed and darted out the room, intending to begin her chase to the Northern Crater.
When she heard his unmistakable voice.
"Itai de gozaru..."
"Where's Aeris when you %#^*$ need her?!"
She ran down the stairs, to confirm for herself that he was there.
"Kenshin!"
"Kaoru...?" Kenshin's head snapped up, wondering if he was delirious. His violet eyes met hers, which were shining with unshed tears and happiness.
Am I seeing things?
"Jou-chan!" Sano cried.
"Sano...! Where's Yahiko?!" she moved closer until Cid placed his lance on her neck, eyes burning dangerously.
"What are you?"
"N-nani?"
"What are you?!!" he shouted. "Another clone to capture Kenshin?!!"
"Iie! I'm the real Kaoru!"
"That's what they all say!" he snarled before pressing the lance against her throat, drawing blood.
"You have to believe me...!" she choked out, her eyes trained on Kenshin.
Her ki... kind... compassionate... he smiled and rose to place a hand on Cid's arm.
"It's her..." he murmured, smiling tenderly at Kaoru. "It's really her."
"How the &!@#$ do you know that?"
"Her ki... I recognize it."
"Her what?!"
"Explanations will come later, Pilot-boy..." Sano muttered as he pulled the lance from Kaoru's neck. If Kenshin says it's her, there's no use questioning.
"Kenshin..." she whispered before falling into his arms, sobbing.
"Kaoru... I thought... I thought..." Kenshin buried his face in her raven hair, inhaling her scent. Gods...
He missed her so much, and now she's back in his arms.
Where she belonged.
He cupped her cheeks in his hands, brushing away the tears. "Aishiteru, Kaoru..."
"Aishiteru..." she sobbed before he brought his face down, his lips claiming hers.
Zack smiled evilly as he rose from his place beside Aeris' sleeping form, taking his sword in his hand.
Tonight... you will die, Cloud Strife...
**********
Jap Terms:
1. Chikuso- Damn it
Onna: *still bashing Sano*
Kenshin and Kaoru: *still kissing*