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"Maybe he's still in the forest?" Kai offered, but stopped suddenly as Kaori grabbed his arm.

Kaori had lurched forward and grabbed his arm, next jerking him to his feet as she stood as well. Kei was cradled in her free arm to avoid furthering his injury. Kaori looked up at her brother, red eyes narrowed slightly, and then glance around at everyone else. "I-I'm sorry! I've just remembered something I have to do! An-and, I need Kai's help," she cried in a rather distressed tone. She quickly began walking away, practically dragging Kai with her.

"What the hell are you doing?" Kai hissed, leaning down to speak in her ear.

Kaori shivered in response but didn't slow her pace as she growled back. "You and I both know you didn't stand a chance against that last guy with the fire attacks, so you're of no help. And I came here in an attempt to avoid fatal fights but it seems there's definitely an intent to kill here. I do not want to get further invovled unless I'm absolutely needed."

Kai stared at her, taken by surprise by her words. After a moment spent trying to find a sturdy arguement and failing, he frowned almost guiltily and looked away. "...fine."

Kaori nodded, satisfied, as she hurried away. She still clung to Kai's arm as the pair left the playground completely. It was true she felt guilty and rather cowardly as well, but she'd force herself to ingore those thoughts to insure her own survival. Despite this, she hoped the others wouldn't hate her for it as she chewed her lip nervously just before disappearing entirely from their line of sight.

Confused did not even begin to describe how Evelyn felt at that moment. in less than half an hour she has almost befriended some students, met another cybernetic, found out people were being killed and had one almost-aquaintance run away.

"I don't understand. What is going on here?" The question was directed at no one in particular, but an answer would have been nice. It would have calmed her nerves, at the very least. Suddenly a she felt the ground tremble and burst of light came from behind, from the courtyard. She watched the the power flames stretch towards the darkening sky, with nothing short of terror in her eyes. the energy radiating from the source was disrupting her vision. But it was the shock of such a display of raw, unchecked power struck a familiar chord within Evelyn's core.

"W-what is that?" she choked out.

Kaori spoke normally now, ignoring the fact she may look crazy talking to no one. "Um.. I want to tell Gordon what that guy told me to tell him. Then maybe there's a chance he'll keep his word and leave me and Kai out of it." Her fists clenched as she listened to herself speak as the feeling of guilt rushed back upon her. She shook her head slightly and continued on, petting Kei absently as if that would relieve her. She saw Gordon, Julia, and Evleyn ahead and hurried towards them. "G-Gordon," she started, averting her eyes nervously. "That Mergex guy told me to... give you a message."

"He attacked, using the same fire powers as his brother did..." Kaori murmured, still studying the ground.. "But he didn't manage to injure anyone. He also told me to tell you this: 'This world and yours are doomed'. Sounds like a pretty lame threat to me..." she mumbled and backed up a step. "But I can't get invovled, I just can't. I-I'm worried about someone and if I fight, then he'll be dragged in too. So, I'm sorry, I really am. Please forgive me..." Kaori clasped her hands together in front of herself and bowed her head, both eyes clamped shut. She forced herself not to cry again. Now that she'd admitted it straight to Gordon, her guilt was worse than ever.

Kaori's ear twitched faintly as she listened to his words, but kept still in her bowed position. She tensed out of instict as his hand touched her shoulder, but relaxed as she realized he wasn't going to cause any harm. "I... I truely am sorry," she whimpered, looking up at him slowly. "I just.. can't." Tears were in her eyes now, but she somehow managed to keep them from falling. Before one could slip down her cheek, she gently clapsed Gordon's hand in hers. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'll help if you really do need it." Then she turned and ran before he could see her cry. She hated it. It made her feel weak and once people saw she was, she always was attacked shortly after. It was a pattern that seemed to follow wherever she went.

Kaori covered her face as she ran, trusting her senses to guide her and keep her from running into anything. She felt ten million times worse than she had before actually admitting it to Gordon, and she had thought it couldn't get any worse. She kept moving forward, pausing as she realized the sun was no longer shining down on her. Slowly, she uncovered her face and saw she was in a small building. It had no stairs so she assumed it was just one floor. There was also no furniture. Sniffling, she retreated to the darkest corner of the room and curled up there, pulling her knees to her chest with her arm and burrying her face in them as she finally let the tears come out. Twice in one day she'd cried, after almost twelve years of holding it in. Kei settled at her side, snuggling into her side in an attempt to comfort her, but failed completely.

Kaori's breath caught in her throat as she sensed him entering, realizing from his scent. She didn't reply as she listened, but attempted to choke back her sobs. Crying was a weakness. Despite Sai's earlier words, she still felt that to be true. She couldn't change her ways in an hour, or even a day. She'd grown for nearly twleve years believing that to be true. Ever since those people had entered her home and... Her whole body shuddered as she pushed the memories aside and wrapped her arms tighter about herself.

She didn't want Gordon to think she was ignoring him so she tried to speak, but her voice was just a pathetic whimper. "Th-thank you," she said faintly. "I'm sorry... A-and he doesn't know about it. I don't want him to know! I-it's Kai. Did you see how defenseless he was? Mergex threatened to go after him. I-I'm scared for him.. But I'm sorry for you. I really am. I know you won't hate me but... but I can't help feeling bad." She burried her face futher into her legs, totally ignoring the dragon that was biting at her jacket. "Where is Sai...?" she whimpered, almost silently.

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