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Chapter Twenty-Four

Kogoro walked through Kyoto. Shadow wasn't far behind him. "Such a lovely progressing village, full of pathetic fools. None of them realize what goes on behind them. It's almost funny."

A couple of kids were running through the streets and the front one slammed into Kogoro. The boy looked up. "I'm...I'm sorry sir."

Kogoro slowly knelt. He smiled and patted the boy on the head. "It's quite alright. You enjoy yourself now."

The boy nodded. "Thank you sir."

Kogoro sat up and watched them run off. "'Sir' huh? See I'm not a bad person, am I Shadow?"

"No my lord."

Kogoro snickered. "I want to go back to Tokyo tomorrow." He pushed foward through the crowd. "I think I've allowed enough time to pass for Phoenix to get in her last moments. I'll let you know what happens when we get there. In the mean time, did you get what I requested?"

"Yes." Shadow pulled out a small container. "It should be just as affected as Flight of the Phoenix."

"Just as affected? It better be more affected."

"Of course."

Kenshin was doing the wash when he heard metal scrapping. He stretched out the fabric he was washing and placed it behind him on the drying rack. He peeked around the corner to see where the noise was coming from. "Iwao?"

"Kenshin." Iwao worked with stone and water, sharpening weapons. Three swords laid at his feet. "Lina keeps her swords in the best shape I've seen anyone. Yet, I still feel that I should do something, you know."

Kem called out from nearby. Iwao didn't pause.

"Is that what the children were talking about?"

"Hm, they said something about Kem?"

Kenshin nodded. "When they first came here. They said that Kem saw to their safety during the raid of your village."

"I see. Kem belongs to Lina. He's like her guardian and watches over those she holds dear. He's been gone for a while. I think he came back with her when she returned to the dojo this morning." Iwao stopped. "Kenshin," He sighed and shook his head. "No nevermind." Iwao went back to sharpening Lina's swords.

Dr. Gensai stopped by earlier and so he was watching the children play in the yard.

"Hello Dr. Gensai."

"Oh hello Kenshin." He was sipping tea.

"Come on Shinta."

"Yeah come on."

"Okay okay." Shinta was holding Suzume on his back. Ayame was tugging his arm.

"Such sweet children those four are. Makes me miss my younger years."

Kenshin smiled. "That they are." He looked toward the dojo. "Do you know if Lina is in the kitchen still?"

Dr. Gensai thought on it a moment. "Yes I believe she still is."

Kenshin thanked him and went in. From the kitchen a melody was being hummed.

"Can I help you?"

Kenshin popped his head in. "I'm sorry, that I am. I didn't mean to intrude."

"It's fine."

"That's a nice sounding melody. Did you learn it in the Shogunate also?"

"No." She said, chopping away at the vegetables. "My mother use to sing it to my brother and me just before bed."

"You're mother?"

"Yes. It's one of the only things I remember of her."

"I see."

Lina put the vegetable in the pot to boil. She reached for the fresh fish and began to unscale it. "I know that you've been waiting patiently to ask me questions, important ones, that could also answer the questions you ask yourself."

Kenshin moved next to her and stirred the pot.

"I was born in a small village south-west of Kyoto. I had an older brother named Shinta, my real name is Lila. We were from a farming family, living the best we could with a three room shack our father built. When I was four, my brother and I were out playing when they came and attacked. Shinta and I hurried back to our home but we arrived too late. Our father was laying dead in the garden beside our house and our mother was being murdered in the house. Shinta tried to protect me but I saw them stab her multiple times. My screams grabbed their attention and ultimately ended our family forever. That's the last time I ever saw him.

Some months later I found myself wandering the streets of Kyoto. That's when I met Lady Tomoe Yukishiro. She welcomed me without bias and I knew that all I wanted was to be by her side until I died. But Lord Yukishiro saw more in me and so he sent me to Master Masanori for training. I didn't care though, they were my family now, even if they were only fill-ins. The only person who didn't appreciate me being there was Eni. He hated me so much because Tomeo cared for me just as much."

She stopped slicing the fish into strips. /That's it. The missing piece. He's been there the whole time. Playing all the cards./

"Lina?"

She shook her head. "I'm sorry. You wanted simple answers and I'm telling you my life story." She put the fish on the grill. "Enishi, he was such trouble. I'm sure you didn't get along with him either, did you?"

Kenshin's eyes widened.

"I'm guessing you didn't know Enishi very much. Of course knowing Kastura as I do he probably kept the boy away from Tomoe while you were with her in isolation." Her eyes lowered. "Katsura was playing both sides, which is why..." Her voice faltered. "Kenshin, you loved her didn't you? He told me that she was posing as your wife until the right time to kill you. But she loved you too in the end."

He noticed that her hands were shaking. "I did. I loved her because I had no one else to love."

"You shouldn't blame yourself for her death. I know in the end she loved you as much as she love Akira. That was Tomoe." She lowered her head. "Was she happy at least, in the end?"

He nodded. "She was smiling."

"That's good...to know." A tear escaped each of Lina's eyes. She forced out a laugh. "Ah, look at me." She slapped her hands to her checks. "I've got to get this finished."

Kenshin stepped back. "Thank you Lina. I'll go finish laundry." He turn and left.

"No, thank you, Kenshin." She said lowly.