Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Four (8 days later)

"We have an intruder!"

"Ring the bell!"

"It's her! It's Phoenix!"

"Hurry. Get the guns ready!"

Phoenix jumped from wall to wall, knocking down the guards. "Don't you know they don't work against me?" Her voice muffled by the mouth cover. She flipped off the wall, landing softly on the ground.

"Open fire!"

Phoenix dodged the bullets easily, targeting the cannons with her exploding shirukens.

"Oh no!"

"We need to get this fire put out!"

"Quickly go get water!"

"Where'd she go?"

The soldiers voices echoed in the night.

"What a spectacular show tonight, wouldn't you agree?" Kogoro appeared from the shadows.

Phoenix's maroon eyes narrowed. "It was a waste of time."

"I disagree, though I will admit I thought your last attack on the Imperial Government would have them running to the Battousai."

"The man slayer isn't fooled so quickly."

Kogoro shrugged. "I suppose your right." He watched as she replaced her katana and wrap a cloak around herself. "Where are you going?"

She paused only for a moment before walking away.

A shiver of pleasure traveled down his spine. "What a defiant woman."

"Look at that. Another government building was attack." An old man commented.

"This is horrible." A woman replied who was sitting next to him.

Sano turned as the group was walking. "Hey Missy, you better come on. Otherwise they'll be no food left for you."

Kaoru stopped listening to the conversation and caught up with the group before they entered Akebeko's.

Tae smile greeted them. "Hey everyone."

"Afternoon Ms. Tae." Kaoru smiled back.

The group got settled in their regular spot and ordered.

Sano leaned back. "So what were you listening to back there anyway Missy?"

"Apparently more government buildings have been attack. None have been destoried but it's still the same either way."

"Do they say why it's happening?" Kenshin questioned.

"From what I hear," Tae interupted. "someone is claiming that the government secretly burnt down a town because of the people who lived there."

Kaoru gasped. "That's horrible."

Yahiko shoved food in his mouth. "Who lived there?"

"Well I'm not sure." Tae thought a moment. "There's a rumor going around that groups who opposed the Imperialists during the war lived there."

"Were they violent?"

Tae shook her head. "I've had friends who've passed through that way to get here. They say that the people who lived there were nice, especially the children."

Kaoru's eyes soften. "Oh no. All those children."

A shy boy glanced in from the front door. He spotted Tae and hurried in. "Miss Tae." He bowed. "I'm sorry I'm late Miss Tae. Is there any back up work that I missed?"

She smiled. "Oh your not late at all Shinta. Go ahead in the back."

"Thank you Miss Tae." He bowed again and rushed to the kitchen.

"Hiring them young aren't you Tae." Sano joked.

"Not at all. But," She moved in toward them. "he's one of the only survivors of that town burning."

"How do you know that?"

She side glanced both ways. "Sometimes he comes in with his little sister. One night I accidently over heard him talking with her about it.

A small girl darted in from the streets.

"Hey come back here you brat!" A large merchant stomped in, chasing her.

"Lila?" Shinta walked out from the back and she ran behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"There you are brat." The man overbared them. "Give that back to me."

"What are you talking about?" Shinta defended.

"That brat stole an item off my table." He glared at the girl. "Give it back now."

Shinta turned to her. "Lila did you take something of his?"

She avoided his eyes, slighting holding out the item of interest.

Shinta's eyes widened. "But that's...father's." Quickly he faced the man again. "That's our father's! Where did you find it?"

"That's none of your business." The man grunted. "It's mine now so give it back."

"Please it's belonged to my father. Tell me, have you see him?"

"Ha. Your family is of no importance to me brat. Now give back that sword."

"No!" Shinta yelled. He covered Lila in protection from the man's suddened hand, raised to hit them. However no contact was made thanks to Kenshin and the hilt of his sword.

"That's enough, that it is."

//"Tomoe." A young Hinageshi sniffled.

Tomoe smiled at the child, holding out her hands. "What's the matter?"

She snuggled close to the slightly older woman. "I had a bad dream. Men were chasing me." Her maroon eyes stared up at brown ones. "Will they find me in here?"

Tomoe held her tighter. "No. No bad men will find you as long as I'm here." She saw a dark bruise on Hinageshi's wrist. "What's this?" She lifted her arm. "What happened?"

Hinageshi's face reddened. "I...I messed up my kendo stance."

"Did the instructor hit you for it?" Tomoe's voice rose.

Immediately she shook her head. "It was by accident, honestly Tomoe-sama."

"You don't have to study swordsmanship."

"But father says I must." Hinageshi looked away. "He says I have a duty to protect the family."//

"To protect the family." Lina sat high in a tree. She closed her eyes then lifted her head to look up at the cloudless sky. "I won't fail again, Tomoe."

Iwao stirred in his sleep.

"So you've finally woken."

"Hm?"

"You were found and brought here with major wounds." Megumi walked over to him. "You've been unconscious for several days now. How are you feeling."

"The best I could possibly be feeling, I suppose." He managed to crack a smile.

"Well you still need a lot of rest."

"But my wife." He struggled to sit up.

"Sir you have to stay down, to let the wounds heal."

His navy eyes stared at her. "My children. Do you know if my children made it out? Or if my wife has been found?"

"I'm sorry sir. I don't know anything about your wife or children." She helped him lay back down. "However I will help you find them once your better, ok?"

Iwao rested his eyes, giving in. He glanced out the small window after Megumi left. "Lina."