Yeah, I'm still alive. Just bogged down with so much work! I promise to try really hard to update more frequently from now on. Okay, on with the show!

Disclaimer: Don't own RK or DBZ. They belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki and Akira Toriyama, respectively.

Kaoru…the Saiyan??

Chapter 7: Tricks of the Trade

Kaoru watched Kenshin as he made breakfast. She was too nervous to talk to him after what happened the night before. She had poured her heart out to him and now she was embarrassed. I'll just pretend nothing happened and go about as I normally would. She took a deep breath and made her presence known.

"Good morning, Kenshin!"

Kenshin turned around and smiled brightly. "Good morning, Kaoru!"

Kaoru gave him a slight smile and began to help by chopping the vegetables. He gave her worried glances, but she didn't seem upset by anything that happened last night. I'll just pretend nothing happened. He was just as embarrassed as she was, possibly more so. He had not only allowed Battousai to escape, but he had hurt her feelings as well. Not a good night on his part. The flying with Kaoru deal however, he had enjoyed immensely.

Goku came into the kitchen from the yard where he had been doing some warm-up exercises. "Kaoru, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Goku. What do you need?"

"Well, we need to change your training schedule. Is that alright with you?"

"You guys are the teachers. Whatever you think is best." She shrugged her shoulders at Goku.

"Great! We need to teach you a few different techniques before you train with me. With the rate you've been learning at, you should be able to learn most of them within the course of the day." He smiled at her and went back outside to relay the news to Piccolo and Vegeta.

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"Okay, Kaoru. Just give it one more shot. You almost have it!" Piccolo stood on the ground with the rest of the Z Warriors and the Kenshin-gumi. Kaoru stood on the other side of the yard, trying to learn the Split Form Technique. She powered up again and tried, but it wasn't enough. "Kaoru, you aren't directing your energy to the two sides of your body. Split your energy in half, one half goes to your right side, one half goes to your left side and once that's done you should feel a pull and when you do, relax and let it happen." Piccolo gently scolded her.

"I'm trying, Piccolo!" She heaved a large sigh of frustration. "Why do I need to know this anyway? You said the two halves will only be half as strong as the whole, so what's the point?"

"Kaoru, I explained to you on your first day of training that sometimes the mind is more

important than brute force. The Split Form Technique allows you to buy some time or distract your opponent. It's a very useful technique and you need to learn it."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it." Kaoru got ready to try again and Bulma had to smile. She would have laughed if it wouldn't draw so much attention to her. Kaoru certainly had a lot of Vegeta's attitude, it was more contained than the Prince's, but it was still there.

Kaoru powered up again and then the ki divided in half and the Z Warriors felt two even ki instead of one. "Let it go, Kaoru!" Piccolo watched with anticipation and finally, two Kaorus stood before him.

Kaoru A looked at Kaoru B and they both started to grin madly. "We did it! We did it!"

Sano lost his fishbone and couldn't think of anything to say. Yahiko groaned loudly, "Oh, no! TWO busu!" He was amazed at her, but he'd be darned if he'd let it show. Megumi let her fox ears spring up and laughed naughtily. No one knew exactly what she was thinking, but the way she was looking between Kaoru and Kenshin everyone could guess what it was. And then the rurouni thought he was in Heaven. Two Kaorus? The world has grown brighter now.

Oh, shut up, Rurouni. Don't go sappy on me. The fun we could have with TWO of them!

BATTOUSAI NO HENTAI!

Kaoru looked over to the silence-stricken Kenshin. Somehow, when she was training she was infinitely braver than usual. Both Kaorus sauntered over to Kenshin and both put a finger under his chin and gently shut his mouth. She stepped back slightly and winked at him. "Don't go getting any ideas, Rurouni. I'm a respectable girl." With that she turned and walked back over to her teachers, leaving Kenshin with his mouth sagging again.

WOOHOO! See Rurouni?! GRR, Kaoru!

ORO! Don't growl at her, Battousai. She said she was a respectable girl and I won't let you do such things.

Too bad. All that Kaoru could have been a wonderful treat!

OROOROOROOROORO!

Future Trunks and Gohan, being normal teens when they were together, let out a whoop and called over to Kenshin. "Go, Pimp Daddy Kenshin!"

Kenshin blushed a bright red and turned to watch Kaoru's training again.

She was sparring with herself which Piccolo explained was another reason the Split Form was so important. She stopped and looked at Piccolo. "So how do I put myself back together?"

He calmly walked over and kicked one Kaoru in the back to send her flying into the other Kaoru. The two halves merged back into one and she stood up. "Oh."

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They all took a break for lunch and Kaoru looked over to Yahiko. "Oh, you leave for Yokohama today. After lunch, I'll help you pack and then off you go!"

Yahiko nearly lost a mouthful of rice. "Shouldn't you have bought me a ticket BEFORE I leave?!"

"Who said you were taking the train?"

Yahiko looked furious. "You expect me to walk all the way from here to Yokohama ALONE?!"

Kaoru smirked, having fun playing with him. Finally, Goku spoke up. "I'll be taking you."

Yahiko's eyes lit up and the child he was shone through. "I'll be flying?!"

Goku laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, you'll be hanging on and I'll be flying, but close enough."

Yahiko ran to pack his stuff and Kaoru smiled at his retreating form. "Kenshin, am I doing the right thing? I keep going back and forth. I mean, I feel as if I'm neglecting my responsibility as his teacher and caregiver, but on the other hand he's safer elsewhere."

"You are doing the right thing. His safety is most important. Besides, you said your uncle was a master of Kamiya Kasshin. So as long as you considered his training before sending him away, you didn't fail in that respect either." He gave Kaoru's hand a squeeze and the slight gesture made her feel better.

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Megumi gave Yahiko a slight bow. "Take care, Yahiko. See you in ten months."

Sano slapped him none too gently on the back. "Yeah, see ya Yahiko-CHAN!"

Yahiko growled, but resisted the urge to gnaw on his head. "See ya, Rooster Head."

Yahiko moved over to Kenshin and gave him a deep bow. "I see you as a father to me, Kenshin. Thank you for everything and I'll see you guys in ten months."

Kenshin felt a bit misty-eyed at Yahiko's statement and returned the bow. "Be good, Yahiko and train hard."

Yahiko nodded and turned to the already on the verge of tears Kaoru. He spoke quietly to her. "Hey, busu. It's not like I'll be gone forever."

"I know, Yahiko. I can't help it though. You're like a little brother to me and I'm really going to miss you. Behave for my uncle, okay? He won't let you call him names. Name calling will only earn you no dinner and one thousand practice swings each day for a week."

Yahiko smiled. "I'll be good. You beat this Nakago guy." He hugged Kaoru in a very un-Yahiko like display of affection. She knelt down and hugged him tighter and planted a kiss on his forehead.

"I love you like a brother, Yahiko. You stay safe and make sure you write if you need anything."

"Got it. And…" He began to mumble under his breath. "I love you like a sister."

Kaoru release him and he went over to Tsubame. "I'll be back in ten months. So, I guess I'll see ya later."

Tsubame gathered her courage and pecked him on the cheek. "Be careful, Yahiko."

The son of Tokyo Samurai turned a beet red and summoned his courage to return the affection. He pecked her on the cheek and ran back to Goku. "See you all later!"

He waved and then held on tight as Goku flew up into the air and took off.

The Kenshin-gumi still had their mouths gaping after witnessing the display of affection between the pre-teens. Sano recovered first. "Hey, Kenshin. You better hurry up with Jouchan or Tsubame and Yahiko will be married first."

Poor Sano. He never saw the bokken coming straight for his head or the…tea tray?!

**THWACK**

**CLANG**

They all turned with horrified faces at Tsubame, cheeks aflame with a scowl on her face.

She quickly covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh my! Sanosuke, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! You just embarrassed me and…oh I'm so sorry!" She ran out the gates toward the Akebeko.

Sano headed for the gate. "I guess I had it coming. Who woulda thought it would be Tsubame to let me have it?"

Megumi stepped up beside him. "I'll come with you. If you make her angry again you'll need someone to patch you up."

As they headed out you could hear their faint whispers. "Where did that tea tray come from anyway, Kitsune?"

"Probably the same place as Kaoru's bokken."

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Piccolo jumped right into Kaoru's next round of training. "It's time you learned the Solar Flare."

Kaoru stood on the other side of the yard and got ready to learn.

Piccolo lifted up into the sky. "Up here, Kaoru."

She flew up to meet him and the Kenshin-gumi looked on in wonder.

"To perform the Solar Flare, you must use your ki to magnify the sun's rays. This is a time buyer, much like the Split Form. It will temporarily blind your opponent so you may have time to catch your breath or make a getaway if you're losing."

Kaoru nodded and waited for him to continue. He gave her a few more pointers and floated back down to the ground. Chichi and Bulma handed out sunglasses to everyone.

Kenshin looked at them quizzically. "What are these for, Chichi-dono?"

"The Solar Flare is meant to blind an opponent temporarily. The sunglasses will save you from being one of its victims."

Kenshin donned his pair and the rest of the Kenshin-gumi and Z Warriors followed suit. Piccolo shouted up to Kaoru. "GO AHEAD AND TRY!"

She flashed a thumbs up sign and proceeded to increase her ki. She tried and it did indeed grow brighter, but not bright enough.

"MORE ENERGY! POWER UP MORE!"

She did so and tried again. This time the surrounding area was bathed in blinding light. She floated back down. "Better?"

Gohan looked at her in amazement. "Two tries?! That's all it took?! I was working on that for weeks!"

Vegeta snorted at him. "That's because you're a half-breed with a Third Class father. Kaoru is the princess and one of the Saiyan Elite."

"Vegeta, be nice. I will not have you picking on anybody in my house! Understood?"

Vegeta simply 'hmph'ed and turned his back to her.

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Kenshin sat on the porch watching Kaoru spar with herself. He was certainly glad Piccolo taught her that technique. Two Kaorus were a wonderful sight to behold. Everyone else had gone to bed except for Goku and Bulma who were discussing something inside. Kenshin heard Bulma head for her room and Goku stepped out onto the porch.

"Can I ask you something, Goku?"

"Sure, Kenshin."

"How do you and the other Saiyans see Kaoru fighting when no one else can?"

"You mean like the time she fought Piccolo?"

Kenshin nodded.

"Well, you first concentrate on their ki. Once you're concentrating on it, follow their movements in your mind. When you open your eyes, they should catch up to your mind."

Kenshin nodded slowly. "Thank you, Goku."

"Kenshin, I came out to let you know that I'll be going back to our world tomorrow with Bulma. She wants to pick up a few things and then we'll be back. Probably the day after tomorrow."

Kenshin nodded again and Goku stood. "Well, goodnight, Kenshin." He looked up in the air. "GOODNIGHT, KAORU!"

The yell distracted her and one half slammed into the other and they plummeted toward

the ground. She hit with a thud and turned an angry glare to Goku. "Goodnight, baka."

Goku turned with a slight smirk on his face. Yep. Definitely Vegeta's sister.

Kenshin was by Kaoru's side, helping her stand. "Are you alright, Kaoru?"

"I'm fine, Kenshin. Goku just startled me." She gave him a smile and turned to go inside. "I guess I should go to bed. Goodnight, Kenshin."

"Goodnight, Kaoru."

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Not much happened the next day. Kaoru sparred with Piccolo before breakfast, Gohan after breakfast and before lunch, and Trunks after lunch and before dinner. Kenshin and Sanosuke were amazed at her progress.

"I can't believe how fast Jouchan has become. It's almost like she's a whole different person."

Kenshin quickly agreed with the ex-gangster. "She has gotten much stronger. But, that's good. She only has ten more months to prepare for Nakago."

As she and Piccolo panted from their after dinner spar, Goku and Bulma reappeared in the yard. "Hello, everyone! We're back!" Bulma happily strode over to Kaoru.

"I thought you would be gone until tomorrow." Kaoru looked at Bulma and quirked up an eyebrow.

"We had planned on staying, but Goku still had enough energy to bring us back here. So, here we are! I went home to get you guys some presents from our world!" She happily began sorting through her bag of capsules.

A/N: I know this chapter is short and not much happened. I had to set up some stuff for the rest of the story. I could have put the gifts in this chapter as well, but then it would have been even longer before I updated. So, I decided to post what I had. I PROMISE that the next chapter will come in the next day or two. I have some time off so I WILL be writing. WEEHEE! Hope you liked! Please review and hugs and kisses to all who do! (Wow, I rhymed. Little things please me so.)