Another short chapter but really heartfelt, especially at the end section.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Twenty-One

Since appearing at Megumi's several days ago, Lina has been unconscious. Iwao's been given permission to stay with her and Shinta and Lila have visited everyday with Miss Kaoru.

"I'm surprised Saito let her go." Sano commented.

"They were attacked. He knew what to do in the best of the moment." Kenshin said. "Besides with the bombing of government buildings, other things took priority."

Kaoru and the kids came from Megumi's and met the boys at the entrance. Shinta kept walking, Lila behind him.

"How is she?" Sano asked.

"No real change. Megumi said that that's expected though and that Lina's lucky."

Kenshin nodded. "If Saito had hesitated even for a minute, the posion on that arrow could have been fatal."

"This is getting out of hand." Yahiko joined in. "The newspapers have labled Lina a wanted person; not that she wasn't one to begin with, but it's worse now."

"It just doesn't seem fair." Kaoru walked, wanting to catch up to Shinta and Lila.

//Two children played together along rice fields, one boy, one girl. They ran after each other. The area was quiet and serene. They laughed and hurried back to their small hut. It was well before the Meiji Revolution but little did they know that on the horizon was something bigger then either of them could realize.//

Kogoro paced back and forth. Though the Embassy and several other government buildings were bombed, they weren't destroyed. On top of that the men he sent to kill Phoenix were either killed themselves or injuried.

"I'm sorry we failed, Lord Kogoro." Shadow bowed.

He growled. "They just don't know how to die."

"Please forgive me."

Kogoro slammed his fist against the wall. "I'll just have to do it myself. Get what men who are still alive and tell them to leave."

"To leave, sir?"

"Yes, I don't need or even what them anymore." He shuffled away to his room. "Useless, all useless."

Iwao was lighting candles in Lina's room when Shinta and Lila came in. "Papa." She hurried into his arms.

He turned and hugged her. "What are the two of you doing here at this hour?"

"I couldn't sleep Papa." Lila gazed up at him. He picked her up. Shinta sat by Lina. "Papa will you tell us a story."

"A story?"

"Umhm, the one mama likes."

Megumi, Kaoru, and Kenshin were walking down the hall to the room when they stopped and listened.

Iwao blinked. "That one huh? Well, I can try." He sat down and cleared his throat. "A long time ago there once lived a strong and fierce warrior. He was the greatest of greats. Much so that his name struck fear not only in his enemies but also his allies."

Megumi quietly slid open the door on a crack. They watched. Kaoru noticed how much the children listened intently.

"It was said that this warrior could slay a hundred men with one slash of his sword."

Shinta grabbed his mom's hand.

"However after years of fighting there was still something missing. So like the morning mist our brave warrior disappeared never to appear in battle again."

Lila smiled. "And what happened to him?"

"Well," Iwao rubbed the back of his head. "There have been many rumors. Some say that he died. Some say that he still lives."

"He's amazing, right mom?" Shinta whispered.

Iwao looked at him sadly. "I think that's all for tonight."

"But papa, you haven't gotten to the best part."

"Hm, the best part?"

Lila nodded. "Mama's favorite part, the sheath and the sword."

Kenshin's eyes widened just a bit. //"Kenshin, if you are the sword, then I am your sheath. We go together, just like that."//

"Oh yes, of course." He smiled. "A sword is a deadly weapon and swordmanship is a sort of art. However a crucial part of the sword is its sheath. Without it, the sword will cut even it's holder and one day rust. The warrior was a sword, swinging wildly around without any real purpose. But then he came across a woman who was less tameable then he." Lila yawned. "And thus this rumor ends, as our warrior slowly disappears from the minds of the people, living peacefully and normally with the person he loves."

Kenshin closed his eyes. He could see her dark hair flowing about her and she ran. He chased after her, never coming close to reaching her though. /Tomoe/