Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Eight:

"Lord Kogoro it seems we have a problem."

"What might that be?"

"The kids you had us look for, we found them."

"So what's the problem; are they dead?"

"No sir, we found them with him."

"Him? They're with the Battousai?"

"Yes and it appears that Lord Eto has joined them."

"Oh, does Phoenix know about this new arrangement?"

"I'm not sure."

"I wonder." He smirked. "Find Phoenix immediately, I want to pay her a visit."

//"I won't have it Eto!" She screamed. "You can't keep me here like this.

"Listen to me Hinageshi, your wounds are severe. Yes they've healed some but if you go out there fighting again they'll open up. Then what? Do you plan on dying at your age?"

"How dare you! You don't know me. I am the only one who can protect those who are important. If I don't who will? Without me they will die and then what am I to do?"

"You are just a child, what can you do?"

"I am no child." She said calmly. "If I don't do what I am to do, it will come back to haunt the future."//

Iwao sat staring up at the sky. The rain stopped but the clouds were still overhead and thunder continued to rumble. "What you feared would happen, is slowly becoming a reality." He sighed. "I should have listened to you."

"Papa." Lila walked out, rubbing her eyes.

"Lila."

"Papa is Mama ok."

"Yes. I'm positive that your mother is fine."

"Do you think that those bad men took her?"

"The ones that attacked the village? I doubt it. You know how your mother is."

"You don't know where she's at either do you dad?"

"Oh Shinta I didn't know you were up too."

He sat down with them. "Mom was in town today. There was a robbery and she pinned the man to the wall of a shop. I know it was her, it had to be. No one else has those skills."

Iwao thought on it. "Well I better get you to back to bed, it's late."

//"No that's not the right form!" The instructor yelled. "Try it again Hinageshi."

"Yes master." She straightened her back. She held the wooden sword tighter.

"Now come at me with all you have."

She narrowed her eyes. "Aahhhhh."

The instructor hit her attack to the side. She fell. He sighed. "Take a break."

Hinageshi sat up. She had a bruised wrist but was all right.

"Hinageshi."

"Yes master?"

"Lord Yukishiro has kindly adopted you into his home, there is no way to pay the debt you owe him."

She looked down. "Yes master, I know. Lord Yukishiro is a very nice and important person."

"Indeed and if it wasn't for Lady Tomoe he wouldn't have considered you so."

"Lady Tomoe is very nice and important as well, as is the young lord, Enishi."

"Hinageshi let me ask you, what are we warriors to do with the people who are important?"

"We are to protect them master at any and all costs."

"Then you know what you must continue to do."

She nodded. "Yes master, I must get stronger."

"That's correct." He moved from the door to where the weapons were held along the wall. "Come here child." She scurried to his side. "You have learned a new lesson today and you are ready for this." He handed her a dagger.

She gawked at it. "It's so heavy master."

"Protecting those important in our lives is a heavy burden but one that we must take pride in because no one else can do it but us." He patted her head. "For now this will do in helping with your task. When you grow a bit I will give you the next lesson." He chuckled quietly. "Afterall we can't have you dragging around a katana, that would give away your location, now wouldn't it Hinageshi?"

She smiled. "Yes master it would."//

Phoenix opened her eyes. "A dream." She sat up. /What would you have me do master? Those who were important are gone and those who are important are better off with me gone. So what should I do?/ Two shadows found their way to her balcony. She reached for her katanas. "How many times must I say it? I don't appreciate being spied on Kogoro."

He and another walked in. "My my don't be so touchy. I only want to talk business with you Phoenix." He sat at the window. His assistant remained standing.

"You know people in the Embassy."

"I won't lie, I do."

"How many?"

"Enough to know what is going on without anyone noticing."

"How far up in the ranks do they go?"

"Lets see now, there are some guards and some of the staff as well." He shrugged. "Any higher and they want more money. You understand it's a business I run and not for the weak of heart nor the greedy." He glanced to his man and then back to her. "Are you satisfied now, Phoenix?"

Her eyes twitched. "I guess I'll have to be for now."

"Good, on to the next order of affairs. I'm aware you've been looking for your family while in town."

"Your point?"

"Don't get testy Phoenix. I just wanted to tell you that some of my men have found them."

Her eyes narrowed. /Does he know that I know? No he couldn't otherwise he wouldn't be telling me. However.../ "So you've been searching for them, that's kind of you Kogoro."

"My dear I had to do something to repay you for all you've been doing for me." He smirked. "Would you like to know where they are? I think you'll find it ironic actually." He wasted no time. "They're with him, the man you hate the most in the world; the Battousai."

"That is ironic."

"What will you do?"

/I knew it. He has me in a corner. I still have a job to perform and now he knows where the children are./

He stood. "You know what, why don't you think about it. We'll come back later." With that he and the man were gone.

She slammed her fist against the floor. /I have no time, I have to get them before he does./

Kogoro and his assistant watched from afar. "She's going to them. She'll try and get them away before we take them, before we kill all of them."

"Should we join the men?"

"We will, following her will get us there just as quickly."

"What about the Embassy?"

"Yes it's a shame all those people have to die." He began to walk away. "Did you retrieve those shiruken from the robber earlier?"

"Yes my lord."

"That's why you're one of the best." Kogoro chuckled. "Phoenix won't know what hit her."