XDrAnDomPeRsoNXD - Wow you're quick with the review(s). I'm glad that you're enjoying the story. As for Phoenix's family, I don't want to give anything away, but that will come up in a later chapter when Kaoru and her are talking. Say maybe the next chapter or two or three. Both Phoenix's past and present will clear itself and hopefully everything will become a pretty bow-tie. However that also means that Phoenix will become closer to finding out who Katsura Kogoro really is...and eventually the ending of this story. Hopefully though that is still a littles ways off.

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Fourteen

Shinta stared into the room. He was breathing heavy from running throughout the dojo. His hand gripped the door. The futon was made up in the corner and the room was cleaned. "She...she's gone?"

Iwao came behind him and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "I'm sorry Shinta, she must have known she, we, were in danger with her here."

"It doesn't matter!" Shinta jerked away and stumbled into the room. "That man said, he said that she was an enemy to the government. Someone has to protect her."

"Your mom, she's a strong person, that she is." Kenshin smiled.

"Hello?" Megumi voice reached them. "I found more medicine."

Kaoru met her at the door. "Megumi that's wonderful. But Lina isn't here."

"What? She shouldn't be moving with injuries like those. Where'd she go?"

Sano sighed. "It seems she sensed danger and took off."

"Well if what Saito said is true then isn't she just proving that she attacked those buildings."

"Yahiko." Kaoru hit him. "Don't say such things."

Kenshin joined them. "Phoenix, Lina rather, did not attack those buildings recklessly. If in fact she did, it was not her blade that killed those officers."

"Can you be sure about that Kenshin? I mean we are talking about a highly skilled assassin. She's as much a legend as you are." He glanced down the hall where he could hear Shinta. "But can we be sure that she's changed her ways, like you?"

Phoenix found shelter under a bridge. Leaning against the foundation she rested. Her wounds burned but it was what she had to do. Luckily the weather still hadn't cleared so there weren't many people out on the streets.

Water dripped from boards. Phoenix couldn't help but lift her hand to feel them come through the gaps.

//"Hinageshi what are you doing? You'll catch your death sitting in the rain like that."

She turned her hair sprinkling more raindrops around. "Master?"

He brought her in and began drying her off.

"Are you made at me too?" She gazed off to the side.

He looked at her. "What are you talking about?" He continued to dry her off, noticing the bruises and scars.

"Lord Yukishiro seemed angry at Lady Tomoe when she brought me with her to live here. That was only a few days ago and since then I haven't seen her."

"Turn around." He placed the towel over her head. "You needn't worry about Lady Tomoe. She requested that you be in my care, and for the moment that's the best option." He sighed. "I know it doesn't seem like it now but your safe here." He stood. "I realize you're still adjusting to this place but you'll see, it's good for you to be here and not out and alone on the streets."//

/He was right. I would have died if I stayed on my own any further./ Phoenix closed her eyes. She was feeling weary. /You taught me everything you knew, Master Masanori. You even...you even allowed me to surpassed you. So why, why did I lose again? And to someone, to him. It just doesn't add up. I know he's not the real Katsura Kogoro, yet I don't know who.../ She fell asleep

Iwao sighed. Shinta refused to talk with any of them. Lila looked between the two. "Shinta?" But he shrugged her off.

Megumi entered the hall. "Iwao, I'd like to check your bandages."

He followed her to another room, leaving Shinta to brood and Lila clinging to his side. He followed suit of sitting down. For a while they were quiet.

"They're tough kids, aren't they?" Megumi unwrapped some bandages.

He chuckled. "More then I thought. Lina's never really been strict with them, allowing them to do as they see fit." He sighed. "I guess that's why Shinta's so distraught over her disappearing when they were in the same house."

"You think he loves her more?"

"I grew up among lots of people, surrounded, smothered you could say, with moral philosophy and such. Being born into the Heiwa group and during those turbulent times; those people become your cusion, a safe guard against the dark of war. Now that I think about it I guess I'm just trying to do the same thing with Shinta and Lila that I couldn't do for Lina." He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go off topic like that."

She put medicine on his healing wounds and covered them back up. "No, it's fine. I asked the question." She went to get up but stopped at his words.

"Deep down I think he realizes that Lina's is a mystery to him. And for one reason or another he's become so fixated on burying that feeling. He's only seven but his smart. And Lila, she's five, but dispite that I've noticed her sensing her brother's feelings." He realized that Megumi was finished. "Oh I'm sorry. I started going off again."