Kaoru Koganei
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Kaoru Koganei Age:
13
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In the beginning of the series, Kaoru was a member of the Uruha Junior Team (This team doesn't fight in the Dark Martial Combat as they are probably viewed as 'too young'), a section of Kurei's assassin group. He was an orphan and Kurei, who recognized his talent, raised him and treated him like a brother. Due to Kaoru's amazing ability to solve puzzles extremely quickly, Kurei gave him the Adamantium Blade, a psychic device which takes a usual person quite some time to master. However, Kaoru is already able to use this device to its full advantage. Kaoru represents the element of metal (although the Japanese Kanji written literally translates as "gold").
Kaoru is more or less your typical boy, very mischievous and yet the picture of angelic goodness when he wants to be. ^_^ After a while, though, when Kaoru helps to kidnap Yanagi, he starts having doubts about his involvement with Kurei. So far, he had always looked up to Kurei as an older brother, so when Kurei promised that he wouldn't hurt Yanagi, Kaoru believed him. Unfortunately, Kurei broke his promise and subsequently, Kaoru's heart as well. Kurei was no longer the the kind, caring older brother he had come to love, and thus Kaoru said goodbye to the Uruha and left to help out the Hokage.
Kaoru is just so cute and funny! I just love it when he makes those funny faces of his, especially the one which goes like this: ^_^. Although at first you think he's a brat who tries to weasel his way out of things, (Remember the crying scene with Tokiya? LOL) you'll soon learn that underneath this mischievous exterior, deep down he is just as vulnerable as anybody else. Poor Kaoru was horrified to find out that Kurei was not what he seemed to be, and this left a very deep impression on him. I suppose secretly, he knows that the kind Kurei he knows is still there, (After that sad flashback with Neon, don't we all? *sniff*) and hopes that he'll come to his senses and no longer be a puppet for Kouran Mori. The reason why Kaoru left Uruha was because he didn't want any harm to come to Yanagi, and was shocked when Kurei tortured her. This shows that he has a kind heart, doesn't it? ^_^ So despite the fact that Kaoru may seem to be annoying and foolhardy sometimes, he's just one of those who would do anything to protect the people he cares for, even though it may cost him his life.
Interesting Facts:
1) Kaoru becomes extremely good friends with Saicho in the manga... they are best friends, I think.
2) Saicho taught Kaoru how to fold paper cranes.
3) The manga Kaoru has actually been in Uruha longer than the anime Kaoru. (I know someone from the FoR mailing lists pointed this out... was it Natsumi? Not sure.) In the manga, it is shown that when Kaoru first meets Kurei, Kurei doesn't have his scar yet. However, the anime Kaoru first sees Kurei with his usual scar and red robe.
4)In the manga, Kaoru tried to commit suicide, since he was an orphan and felt that no one loved him. He stole a knife and cut his wrist, but Kurei, who happened to come across him, slapped him across the face! Shocked, Kaoru could only look at Kurei with a hand to his red cheek. Kurei then used a pink cloth to bind up Kaoru's cut wrist, then told him to come with him, and that he could join the Uruha and be like a little brother to Kurei. This is manga Kaoru's first meeting with Kurei.