XDrAnDomPeRsoNXD - thank you for the review. It means a great deal to know that someone is reading this. I'm glad you are enjoying it. I got the idea a while back after watching Rurouni Kenshin: Samurai X - Trust and Betrayal. I hope this story keeps mostly in line with the movie plot as well as formulates a plot of its own.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Nine

The rain began to fall again as night continued on. Phoenix placed the mask over her face. Kogoro would no less have someone follow her but she had to take that chance. She stood on the balcony rail. Her violet eyes glared out into the distance. "So much for peace Iwao." She jumped, vanishing in the night.

Iwao stared up at the ceiling. Several moments ago he felt the dojo become surrounded. It was the same presence that he had felt just before the village was attacked. Making a scene would only cause alarm and casualties. He wasn't healed enough to fight, leaving Kenshin and Sagara to do it alone. Of course he was sure that the two of them had no problems in dealing with the intruders.

He stood and limped out into the hallway when he heard voices coming from the main room.

"Are there a lot of them Kenshin?" Kaoru was worried.

"It seems we're completely surrounded."

Yahiko looked at Kaoru then at Kenshin. "But by who and why?

Iwao slid open the door. "I'm afraid this is our fault."

Sanosuke crossed his arms. "I knew he knew something."

He sat. "This is the same feeling from before, when the village was attacked. These men came from no where and they disappeared just the same. It was such a quick attack that our lives were left in ruin."

"Who were they?"

"I wish I knew." Iwao sighed. "They were dressed like soldiers but I know of no soldier with skills that they shown."

"Does it have anything to do with your wife being sent here?

"I wish I knew that as well." He lowered his eyes. "You'll have to understand, Lina acts first and tells later."

Phoenix stood on a roof two blocks from where the men surrounded a dojo. /Perfect, what I didn't want./ She pulled a small hard case from inside her tunic. The powder inside was a pink-red. Lowered the face mask she blew on it and with the wind in her favor the powdered reached the enemy. One by one she sensed them fall.

"Lord Kogoro, is that a poison she just emitted in the air?"

Kogoro gritted his teeth. "A new technique."

"Should I call for the others to come from camp?"

"No it's fine. In fact this is probably for the better." His demeaner changed. "I had Shadow replicate those shirukens from the robbery. He should be putting them to good use soon."

"Perfect my lord."

Kenshin, Sano, and Yahiko rushed out into the road to find the surrounders unconscious. Sano whistled. "Woah."

"Who could have taken them out so quickly?" Yahiko touched one of the men.

Kenshin's eyes were narrow as he searched the area.

Kaoru and Iwao stood just behind the front door. He noticed the smell in the air. Something was going on and it wasn't good. A whirling sound sped closer. "Kaoru, get down." Iwao pushed her back, catching one shiruken with his good hand. Several more clung to the door.

"Miss Kaoru." Kenshin hurried to her side.

She blinked as he helped her up. "I'm alright Kenshin. Thank you Iwao."

He nodded before looking down the street to where they came from. The shiruken he held belonged to Phoenix. /But why?/

Phoenix froze, the scream of a woman echoed in the night. Her first thought was that she could be a victim of Kogoro. Her second was that she was the victim of her poison. Hurrying she scanned the roads and houses. Finally she jumped into the road and moved on. Several shiruken flew past her. None hinting as her being the target. She stopped knowing immediately that a trap lay ahead. /You were always a smart man, Kogoro./

Two men came into her view. It was the Battousai accompanied by a taller guy. "I'm guessing these are yours?" The taller one threw the shiruken at her.

Without flinching she caught them with one hand. A glance told her that they were copies, very good replicas. "The originals are." She flung them into a near by tree. "Those aren't." Her voice was muffled from the mask.

"Those men, did you take them out?"

"Me? How do you figure. I'm one person."

"How'd you do it?" This time it was Kenshin speaking.

She stared at him. Her eyes glazed over once and an aura surrounded her. The men got up and vanished into the night.

Sano backed up some. "Uh Kenshin?"

Kenshin watched. He had seen this once before, long ago. "Flight of the Phoenix."

"Come again?"

When the aura disappeared she swayed a bit. The wall of a house held her up. "That was too much." She held her head. "I shouldn't have used that on the Embassy earlier."

Sano clentched his fists. "Are you the one who's been attacking the government?"

"Those men weren't slain by my blade." She straightened. "Besides why should you care what happens to a few Imperialists, Sanosuke Sagara?"

"How do you know me?"

"I heard a lucky few remained from the Sekihoutai."

Kenshin stepped forward. "So what will you do now? Have you not come to claim my life?"

She turned away from them. "No, I came for an entirely different reason tonight."

Quietly the breeze rustled through the area bringing along unwelcomed company.

"My, my. What do we have here?" He glared down at them. "Phoenix my pet that was quite a surprise you pulled. I didn't know you had such persuavsive tricks. You will eventually return my men to me, correct?"

"Katsura." She narrowed her eyes at him. "This isn't a game Kogoro."

"No?" He smirked. "Isn't that what politics is all about?"

"Katsura Kogoro?" Kenshin glanced up at the man. He wasn't the Kogoro he remembered him to be.

"I should have known you'd pulled something like this." Phoenix reached for her twins katanas. Their blades shimmering off a light post near by.

"Come now, I give no offense Phoenix. But when you have two enemies together, how can you say no to that?" He made a sign with his hands and immediately the three were surrounded.

Phoenix growled. There were too many for her to use her powder again. "Kenshin, Sanosuke, forgive me but if you don't mind I leave these men to you." She appeared on the roof, pointing one of her blades at Kogoro. "This ends and when I win I want you to tell me who you really are."