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Kingdom Hearts: Dark Dawn	By : RotSeele Category: Kingdom Hearts > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 3168 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
- 18
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Nineteen - Tsenacommacah/Jamestown

Kaoru followed Thomas through the forest, picking their way through the trees toward Jamestown. Kaoru was tense, eyes flickering this way and that. He could sense the Heartless out there in the deeper forest. They were pockets of darkness, spots of hunger and mindlessness, slowly writhing toward the warmth of hearts. They weren’t moving fast - Kaoru was certain they could outrun them if the Heartless decided to attack - but they certainly were moving. He just couldn’t tell if the Heartless were moving toward or away from the pair and Jamestown. He was honestly surprised that the Heartless weren’t being used as a weapon. They were just simply there, shadows moving here and there, attacking only if someone got too close. Judging from what Thomas had said about Ratcliffe, Kaoru was sure that the governor of Jamestown had blamed the attacks on Pocahontas’ people rather than explaining what had actually happened. Ratcliffe was selfish, greedy, and would do anything to get what he wanted. Which explained quite a bit about what was going on with John Smith. If the man had been an outspoken enemy of Ratcliffe, and the people followed him, then Ratcliffe would do what he could to get John on his side.
Which meant that, if they wanted to have a fighting chance, they needed to save John and stop the war.
They reached the break in the trees where there was only open ground between them and the defensive wall of Jamestown. Thomas and Kaoru crouched, studying the town. Thomas raised his arm and pointed then, toward the edge of the defensive wall closest to the water. “There’s a small bit of the wall that can pull away there. I think John had it made so he could sneak out and visit Pocahontas.”
Kaoru nodded. “That’s how you got out?”
“Yes.”
“Hopefully we can get back in the same way.”
Thomas looked nervous, but his jaw was set in a determined clench. “If Ratcliffe hasn’t blocked it off.”
“I doubt it. He probably has other things to deal with right now.” Kaoru started to rise so he could start rushing through the open space and reach the wall before anyone saw, but Thomas grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down. Kaoru gave him an confused look.
“There. Look.” Thomas pointed toward the road and the main gate of the town. Kaoru looked, startled to see a group of armed men gathering before the main entrance. With them was a large man on a larger horse, a saber in one hand pointing forward. He was shouting, and the men around him lifted long-barreled guns into the air and roared in agreement. Then, they started marching off, disappearing into the dark forest.
Only the man on the white horse remained behind, watching the group of men go. Then he abruptly turned his horse and rode back into Jamestown.
“That was Ratcliffe.” Thomas whispered.
Kaoru frowned as he watched those gates close behind the white horse. “Did you see your friend?”
Thomas shook his head. “I don’t understand why he didn’t go with those men.”
“Maybe because he has a different plan in mind.” Kaoru rose again and counted to ten before he ran across the open ground, hitting the wall of the town and pressing close to it. No alarm was raised. A second later, Thomas joined him, looking fearful and panicked.
“A different plan?” Thomas whispered.
Kaoru nodded. “He didn’t go with the men. They’re either scouts or they’re being sent as a distraction.”
“I don’t understand. He has to know that the Indians are waiting for such a sign.”
Kaoru frowned, studying Thomas for a minute. He didn’t like the thought that the red-headed man’s words elicited in his mind. It meant Rinally was in more danger than they originally thought she would be, and if he didn’t get his part done in time, he could lose her. She was a powerful witch, but neither of them had really been in a true combat situation against other human beings. With Heartless they didn’t need to hold back because the Heartless weren’t actually alive, so to speak. But with people there would always be that minute second of hesitation, and that hesitation that could get someone killed.
“Let’s hurry.” he whispered at last.
The two slipped along the wall to the hidden door Thomas had described. Thomas slid his fingers along the wood grain and sought out the little hidden latch. He unhooked it and pulled the door open, allowing Kaoru to slip inside first. Kaoru looked around Jamestown, crouched as he was in the alley. The houses were all made of thick logs with wood shingled roofs, and the streets were simply churned dirt. Woodsmoke filled the air as did the smell of the ocean. Thomas crouched beside him after closing the hidden door, then gestured for Kaoru to follow him. They used back alleys to avoid people and hurry across the town to a large house near to the harbor and very nearly in the center of town. Kaoru studied the building, frowning.
“That’s the Governor’s House.” Thomas said softly. “Ratcliffe lives there.”
“I don’t see his horse.” Kaoru observed. He glanced around the open square that was filled with only a few people, mostly women in huge dresses and a few sailors who likely belonged to the huge ship in the harbor, but didn’t see or hear the sounds of a horse. Or Ratcliffe, who was certainly a loud man in and of himself. “I don’t think he’s there.”
“He has to be.”
“I don’t think so. If he sent a scouting party ahead, then he has to be with the main body of his army. So they’re either still here in town, or they’re somewhere else. Is there any other way out of Jamestown?”
Thomas shook his head. “Just the harbor and the main gate.”
We only saw a small scouting party leave by the main gate, and there’s definitely no way Ratcliffe would be able to get a ship up a river without someone seeing it... Kaoru frowned deeply, reaching up to grip his headphones as if the old battered piece would give him an answer of what to do. What would Sora do right now? You know your best friend is in danger right now, but you have to save someone else’s best friend. So what would you do, Sora?
“Thomas,” Kaoru said, turning to face him, “the first thing we need to do is find John. If we can save him, then maybe he can tell us where Ratcliffe has gone. If there’s no other way out of town, then he’s already got his main attack force set up somewhere, and he came back here to get something.”
“Do you think he might have come to get John?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Which will make my job all the harder. Kaoru started to rise. “We might as well start looking. Since we’re at the Governor’s House, we can check and see if John’s there.”
“And if he’s not?”
Kaoru let out a long sigh. “If he’s not, then we search the town and hope we get lucky.”
Thomas caught Kaoru’s shoulder before he could move out into the square and dart across to the large manor. “We can split up here.”
Kaoru looked at him confused. “What?”
Thomas’ voice shook a little bit but he had a brave expression on. “We can split up. I’ll search the town. You can search the house. If John’s in the house, then you can do whatever it is you need to do. If I find him, I can come back and get you.”
Kaoru thought the idea was foolish, especially since the last time Thomas had gone looking for John on his own he’d gotten hurt, but they didn’t exactly have the luxury of time. So the younger boy nodded, agreeing. “Just don’t let anyone see you. For all we know, Ratcliffe thinks you’re dead in the woods.”
Thomas smiled, though it was weak. “Don’t worry about me. I may not be good at a lot of things, but I know when to keep my head down.” He squeezed Kaoru’s shoulder, then hurried back down the alley, turning a corner and disappearing from sight.
Kaoru sucked in a deep, lung-expanding breath and released it slowly. He had a bad feeling about all of this, but he couldn’t exactly just run off on a feeling. He needed to trust Rin to protect Pocahontas and her people, just as Rin needed to trust that he would be able to save John Smith and the settlers. He glanced around the square again, watching how people were turning toward one side of the square. Something was coming, far enough away to catch their attention but still somewhat out of sight. Since their backs were turned now to him, Kaoru used the opportunity to dart across the square to the Governor’s House. He slipped around the back and then peered around the corner.
Ratcliffe, astride his white horse, led a parade of men holding guns toward the square. There were more men behind him than there had been in the scouting party, but Kaoru couldn’t tell if any of the men were John Smith. None seemed to be following Ratcliffe against his will, and none seemed to have a blank expression on his face, which Kaoru would expect if he was being controlled by something. Ratcliffe circled his horse around the square, coming to a halt with his back to the Governor’s House. The men formed ranks before him, and the onlookers drew closer to hear what the man was going to say. Kaoru used the opportunity to find a way into the house. He didn’t have much time.
So Ratcliffe didn’t leave through a secret door. He didn’t have his main army sitting in the woods, waiting somewhere. They were here in Jamestown the entire time. Which means Rin’s still safe for now, and it means John’s still here, too.
He hoped John was in the Governor’s House, otherwise he was breaking in for nothing. He summoned Guardian and pressed the edge of it gently against the doorknob on the back door. There was a soft click as his Keyblade unlocked the mechanism, and the door swung open silently. Kaoru dismissed Guardian and eased into the house, gently closing the door behind him.
The house was quiet, but he could hear the muffled voice of Ratcliffe stirring his army against Pocahontas’ people. There were answering roars to whatever he was saying. It was enough to make Kaoru shiver. He couldn’t imagine such hate finding a home in people’s hearts, such blind anger that could drive someone to do something irrevocably damaging, not just to strangers but to one’s own life as well. Kaoru forced himself to start moving, knowing he was wasting precious seconds by crouching around listening to what Ratcliffe was demagoguing about. The first floor was empty, filled with a sitting room, a dining room, a kitchen, a pantry, a front foyer, and a staircase. Kaoru also found a door that led down into a dark cellar, and decided to go down rather than to search upstairs first.
He summoned Guardian before he headed down the stairs into the cellar. He crept down the stairs, trying to be as quiet as possible. It was a short stair case, but still one he couldn’t jump down and land safely. His eyes adjusted to the murky darkness quickly enough, and he started searching for something, anything, out of the ordinary.
“Who’s there?”
Kaoru froze at the sound of the hoarse voice whispering out of the darkness. Chains rattled and a form materialized out of the shadows. A tall blonde man stared down a Kaoru with a confused, exhausted look on his face. His blue eyes looked sunken in, with dark circles beneath them. There were bruises on his face, some old and almost healed, some fresh. His lower lip had been split and blood had dried on his chin. Chains were wrapped around his wrists, chafing his skin until it was red and raw, though he had enough length to stand and move around. His clothes were dirty and torn.
The man looked surprised at seeing Kaoru, even more surprised at seeing Guardian. “Who are you?”
Kaoru didn’t dismiss Guardian, but he straightened and made sure to keep his Keyblade in a non-threatening position. “I’m Kaoru. Are you... are you John Smith?”
The man’s blue eyes widened. “How do you know my name?”
“Thomas and Pocahontas asked me to find you. To save you.”
John let out a hoarse chuckle that sounded relieved. “Thomas is alive?” He shook his head, tears glimmering in his eyes. “Leave it to those two to find the most unusual way to perform a rescue.” He raised his hands. “Get me out of here, then. We have to stop Ratcliffe from attacking the Indians.”
“I need to ask you something first.” Kaoru said, keeping his voice steady. “Did Ratcliffe ever give you a black rod, maybe only a few inches long? Did he try to use it on you?”
John’s eyes darkened. He lifted his left arm, and displayed a ragged slice in his bicep that looked in terrible need of healing. “I didn’t know what was happening at first. I could see and hear everything that was going on, but I couldn’t think. I couldn’t do anything. It was like my body belonged to someone else. Ratcliffe used me to stir up the men, blaming wild animal attacks on Pocahontas’ people. But when he ordered me to kill Thomas, I...” John stopped and swallowed hard. “I couldn’t. Ratcliffe chained me up down here after that, and ripped that damned rod out of me. Said I was going to die anyway, so it didn’t matter how.”
“I can’t heal you.” Kaoru said quietly. “But I have a friend who can. If I get you out of here, do you think you can make it to Pocahontas’ village?”
Despite the shadows and sunken look to them, his eyes burned with fire. “Even if it kills me, I’ll stop Ratcliffe. I won’t let Pocahontas get hurt because of something I did, even if I didn’t have much of a choice in it.”
Kaoru nodded and raised Guardian. “Thomas is here in town, too, looking for you. We’ll have to find him before we leave.”
John’s face became stony, but he raised his arms and presented the manacles to Kaoru. Kaoru took a deep breath and willed Guardian to unlock the chains from around John’s wrists. They popped open with a little noise, then clattered heavily to the ground. John rubbed his wrists, looking at Guardian appreciatively. Kaoru dismissed his Keyblade, giving the man an unsure but game smile. Then he turned to head up the stairs and lead John out of the cellar.
As he set one foot upon the stairs, he realized that it had been too easy. It had been too easy to find John, too easy to free him. In his recent experience with Gaston, it had taken almost all of his strength to get that black rod out of Gaston, and yet Ratcliffe had been able to simply cut it out. That didn’t make any sense. It also didn’t make any sense that Ratcliffe would go through all the trouble to turn John to his side and because of one instant of defiance, gave up on his original plan.
His muscles tensed without Kaoru knowing why, and he threw himself up the stairs, clambering into the room beyond just as a club made of a piece of timber slammed into the place where he had been seconds before. John Smith drew the club back and grinned widely at Kaoru, the black bruises under his eyes resolving themselves into a thick smear that began to take over his entire face. Kaoru scrambled to his feet and backed away from the monster that John was becoming, jumping when John landed in the room with him and let out a roar that sounded bestial. Outside, Kaoru could hear the voices of people, asking what was going on.
Then the front door to the Governor’s House slammed open, and Ratcliffe filled the doorway. From where he stood, he had a good view of John and Kaoru, and a wide grin split Ratcliffe’s face. He stepped into the house and shut the door behind him with obscene gentleness.
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Kingdom Hearts: Dark Dawn