It's getting busy here at college but I thought I would treat you with a new chapter. Enjoy.
XDrAnDomPeRsoNXD - Thank you, I love your reviews. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin
Chapter Ten:
Kaoru paced around the main room. "Where could they be? I hope they're not in any danger."
Yahiko was in the cornor, hands crossed, upset that he couldn't go.
Iwao sat near the door, staring up at the cloudy sky. /Lina's definately in the area. Her weapons may have been copied but that poison; she's the only one who knows how to make it. I don't understand though, why would she be here and in her alias?/
Before Kenshin could stop it, Phoenix and Kogoro were gone from the vacinity. Now he worked on finishing off Kogoro's men. "Sano we have to stop those two as soon as possible."
Sano punched three men at once sending them flying. "I know Kenshin, there's just so many of them. They keep coming."
"There must be an opening." Kenshin gritted his teeth.
Kogoro stopped on the far side of the town, near the river.
Phoenix dropped down, still feeling the after effects.
"You know, I would have really enjoyed that rematch between The Battousai and yourself Phoenix." He sighed sadly slowly pulling his katana out. "But I don't mind taking you out myself." He charged for the attack. "Either way will serve my purpose in the end."
"What?" She jumped, blocking him as he followed after her.
"I knew it after I saw your meeting. There was no way you were going to kill the Battousai." He sliced his katana sideways ripping her tunic. "Just like her you'd rather look the other way when it comes to this Imperialist than serve your Shogunate faithfully."
His swings were vemonous but to Phoenix there was a sadness in his voice.
He grinned. It was small but she left an opening. He grapped a dagger from his boot sleeve, throwing it in her direction.
Phoenix saw the slight glimmer of the dagger in time for it miss her chest but cut her arm. She dropped to the ground, holding the wound tightly.
"Good. Now lets make this more interesting."
She backed off but he kept up with her. /Who is this guy? He's keeping up with my speed./ She narrowed her eyes. /No, he's not keeping up, I'm slowing down. On top of Flight of the Phoenix, he managed to injure me./
"It should be working about now." He whispered in her ear. "I wanted to do this in Kyoto, but Tokyo will do." He went for her weak point, cutting her thigh instead as she jumped out of the way. She stumbled, falling to one knee. "How honorable." He rose his blade, slicing furiously. She continued to move out of the way but then he dealt the would to her side. Phoenix slammed into the wall, calling out in pain. "You were such an immaculant fighter once. It's a shame to see it end like this." He knelt. "Master Masanori would be disappointed in you, dear Hinageshi."
"Who are you?" Phoenix asked slowly as her vision blurred. It was all she remembered.
//She rushed down the hall. The shoes she forgot to take off, flew behind her, laying separate as she left them behind. She swung the doors to the training hall open. "Master?"
He stood and turned toward her. "Hinageshi? What are you doing here?"
With tears in her eyes she stumbled to him and wrapped her arms around him. "Oh Master, tell me it isn't so. You can't be leaving. You can't leave me here, alone."
His eyes softened. "Now, now Hinageshi." He patted her on the head. "The Imperialist have treked on our territory. Lord Yukishiro wants his best out there."
She sniffled. "But it's him that's come with them."
"Hinageshi," Master placed his hands on her shoulders, "go pick up a sword."
For a moment she stood. With his encouragement she slowly walked over to the weapons. With a shaky hand she chose a katana with a two edged blade near the top; one of her recent favorites. Turning back to him she took her stance. Staring at her Master pulled his twin katanas from their hilts on his back. He nodded and they charged each other. For most of the fight he blocked while she attacked; only when he saw an opening did he come at her. When they finished he had a small rip on his sleeve. Hinageshi had a cut on her cheek.
Master smiled. "You've graduated up again."
She bowed. "Thank you Master."
"It's time you begin calling me Masanori."
Her eyes widened a bit. "Master...Masanori?"
"And it's time that I give you a name."
She scurried over to where he sat. "But I have a name."
"A code name. You can't just go out and be Hinageshi. No, then the enemy will know who you are." He handed her a cup of warm tea. "Two years ago you were weak but with much potential. Now you've grown in all needed areas. Your battle stance leaves nothing to chance." He took a sip. "Dear Hinageshi, you have died and been born again, for this I will give you the name of Phoenix."//
Kenshin and Sano were having trouble as there seemed no end to the group. It wasn't until their attention was directed toward the government building that the men disappeared.
"I don't like the sound of that." Sano commented, punching his opponent. "Hey, where'd the others go?"
Kenshin place his sword back in it's hilt. "It seems they've retreated."
Off in the distance a cloud of smoke rose high, annoucing a fire in the vacinity.
"Should we go see what's happening?"
Kenshin nodded. "But I'm also concerned for Phoenix."
Sano smirked. "I'll go check the commotion and you go find Phoenix and that other guy."
"Be careful." Kenshin said as he followed the way Phoenix's fight went.
"You too." Sano called back.
Several drops of rain jolted Phoenix from her unconscious state. The pain was numbing, boiling through her veins, but she felt cold. Slowly she opened her eyes, they were blurred. It was the best she could do though and Kogoro was gone. She tried to search for her katanas. Unfortunately since sky was layered with clouds the only light she had were from the occasional light-post. Feeling cool metal she went along the blade until she grabbed the hilt. One of the twin blades. Griminacing she moved on her good side, pulling a hilt from her back using it to help her up. Blood dripped in a quick pool on the ground by her knee. Her whole body shook. She managed to stand only to take a few steps before blacking out.
"Phoenix!"