XDrAnDomPeRsoNXD - I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. Yes it was kind of short but I figured that I haven't updated in a while and so decided to. Hopefully this chapter is a bit longer.

Enjoy

Happy Holidays

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Nineteen

Kaoru smiled as the children played in the yard. "It's not often that you find siblings so well behave as the four there."

Lina and her had been working all morning, now they were taking a small break. "Yes, I must agree." She was sitting, her left arm draped over her lifted left knee. "I had siblings once, before the terror of war." She looked at her children. "I try to remind them that they have only each other, and bring them up in a way that they can come to love and respect one another."

"Hm, that's good teaching." Kaoru nodded. "Have you seen your siblings since the end of the war?"

She glanced away, turning her head toward the left, looking up at the sky between the twine of the branches. "No, I haven't."

Kaoru softened her eyes. "But it's nice that you remember them."

"I suppose." She watched as Lila and Shinta smiled and laughed. "You have a wonderful place here, Miss Kaoru."

Shinta came up to them. "Miss Kaoru." He smiled to her. "Mama, won't you come and enjoy the day with us?"

Lina smiled back. "All right Shinta." She took his hand and they walked over to the other three.

"Mama." Lila held up her arms. Lina picked her up and swung her around.

"Swing me."

"Yeah, swing me."

Kenshin walked up behind Sano who was watching the girls and children. "Do you still not trust her."

"Not really, especially since we're being watched."

Kenshin's eyes narrowed. "Yes, I've noticed that too. No doubt she's realized it also.

"Lord Kogoro, forgive me for interupting."

Kogoro turned to face one of his messengers. "What is it?"

"It seems that there will be more interference."

"Oh?" His brow rose. "From who?"

"It's come to our attention that the government, specifically the Miburo, are now on the look-out for Phoenix."

"No surprise there." Kogoro smirked. "That's to be expected."

The messenger nodded. "However, it appears that the Miburo may take Phoenix before the given day."

A larger smile crept across his face. "Is that so?" He looked back out the window. "This may turn in my favor even better then I hoped."

Lina was walking around when she noticed Kenshin doing laundry. Sitting down on the back porch she watched him a while. Kenshin remained silent; even as the white plum perfume invaded his mind. He was close to saying something when Lina spoke. "What a strange scene." She gazed up.

Kenshin stretched a sheet after ringing it out of water. He stood, shaking the sheet. He shielded his eyes from the sun as he gazed up at the sky also.

She stood. "Well I'm helping with dinner so I better go and start." She walked away.

"Lina."

She paused, not turning around. "I know, I noticed a spy also. However tonight's visitor will take care of that."

Kenshin watched after her as she turned the corner. He wondered what she meant by tonight's visitor and hoped it wasn't who he was thinking.

//Hinageshi sat watching Tomoe as she dressed for the evening. "You're so beautiful Lady Tomoe."

Tomoe smiled. "You're just as beautiful." Hinageshi blushed. Tomoe proceeded to open her make-up box. Hinageshi pulled out a small vile from her kimono and held it out to the older woman. She turned. "Hinageshi what's this?"

"A...a gift, my lady, for taking such good care of me this past year and a half."

Tomoe took it and fingered the trinket.

"The merchant I bought it from said it was a new fragrance, whatever that meant." Hinageshi smiled. "It's called White Plums."

Tomoe lifted the lid off the small bottle. The sweet smell traveled through the room. "Hm, what a lovely smell." She recapped the bottle. "Thank you Hinageshi, it was very nice of you to think of such a thing." She hugged the child.

"I'm sure Akira will like it just as much, lady Tomoe." Hinageshi was hugged tighter.//

After dinner and after Shinta and Lila were put to bed, Lina quietly left the dojo and walked out onto the street. "I thank you for allowing me a last moment with my family."

Saito came from the shadows.

"I suppose if you had it your way I would already be dead." She glanced at him. "But your superiors have questions that only I can answer, correct?"

"Believe me." He mumbled. "One wrong move and I won't hesitate to eliminate you; answers or not." He walked off. Lina shook her head and followed.

Iwao stood on the dojo's front porch.

"Are you going to allow her to go like that?" Kaoru looked worried. "I mean she just got back."

"There's nothing I can do for her, Miss Kaoru, but wait for her to return." He sighed. "Though I wish I could remove all the burdens that plague her heart." He whispered.

This chapter ended up being small as well. However I didn't want to start something new that would lead to an extremely long chapter. So just be prepared for the next one.