It may seem like things are being rushed, don't worry. The good stuff is coming up.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kenshin woke early to the sounds of sparing in the dojo. He got up and shifted toward the room. He slid the door open a bit and peeked inside. Lina was in mid-air, coming down to strike Iwao with the Twin Blades. He blocked her with his own katana and dagger. Using the pressure from Iwao, Lina pushed up and tried to kick with her feet. Iwao ducked, also using the pressure, to slide away.

Lina spun on the ground, stopping to face Iwao. He glanced at her. "That's enough for now Lina. You need a break." He slipped the dagger in an ankle holder and his katana in its sheath. He walked over to her.

"Iwao, that isn't fair. I had you on the ropes and..." She sucked in a breath when he touched her side. "Iwao."

"Please Lina, don't argue." He kept his one hand on her wounded side and placed the other on her cheek. He touched her forehead with his own.

Kenshin felt that he shouldn't stay but something compelled him to.

"Are you still sure about what you've decided?" Iwao's voice was quiet.

Lina nodded. "It's my duty as a Yukishiro to end this for both his sake and ours."

"Eleven years," Iwao sighed. He stood straighter and took Lina's weapons. He turned. "I'll go clean these." He walked out a side door.

Lina stood there a moment before she glanced in Kenshin's way. A shiruken embedded itself eye level with Kenshin on the inside of the door. He jumped backward causing the door to slide open more. Lina smirked. "If I hadn't known any better, I'd say there was a mouse in here, hm?"

Kenshin shook his head fervently.

Lina smirked, unsheathing the Doubled Edge. Her eyes held a glint that Kenshin knew all to well. "You may as well join me? I'm sure it gets boring dealing with all those weaklings." He entered the training room gripping his own katana.

Iwao listened to the metal clash against each other. There was only so much he could do, as a husband and has a warrior.

(several hours later)

"It's so good to be back in Tokyo." Kogoro leaned on the bridge. His reflection glared back at him. The near full moon shimmer in the rippling water. Shadow appeared behind him.

"Lord Kogoro, everything is in place."

"Good. Listen to me closely Shadow. I want you to instagate. Let Phoenix know where to find me and then let her go. While I'm dealing with her I want you to keep the others occupied. I'm sure they'll be more than enough for you. But don't kill them. When the signal goes up you are to let them go."

"Signal my lord? But why let them go?"

Kogoro smiled. "You'll know the signal when you see it. And yes, let them go; allow them to rush to Phoenix's rescue. By the time they get here, it'll be far too late for any of them to do anything."

"I understand." Shadow walked off.

"One more thing. I want to thank you for sticking by my side for these past several years."

Shadow looked down at his feet. "It's been a pleasure, Lord Kogoro."

Lina was tapping her wounds when Kaoru knocked. "Lina?"

She hurriedly dressed. "Please come in."

"Dinner will be...ready soon." Kaoru gazed around. "Lina, all your stuff is packed away. Why?"

"Oh, well the children are out with Yahiko, so I thought I do some evening cleaning."

"I see." Kaoru was still hesitant. "Well I'll go finish it."

(dusk)

Kogoro sat on a boulder in the open field. The breeze blew lightly over the grass. He looked up at the sky. "The one time the weather is clear." He grinned. "I'll be waiting for you my dear, Hinageshi."

Iwao walked into the room and sighed. "I don't know why you feel you must fight alone."

Lina, finishing lacing her boots, let out a subtle chuckle. "Funny, someone else asked me the same thing." She slid her dagger in her left boot. "I'm not alone but I have people I want to protect. Everyone I loved has died because I was unable to protect them, no because I didn't have a clear vision of what I wanted to protect." She stood next to him and looked up into his navy blue eyes. "But I know now what it is that's been holding me back. I know now what I have to, need to, do, Iwao Eto."

He closed his eyes and lowered his head to hers, his hands lazily on her slim shoulders. "You're always running, so far ahead, that it's all I can do to keep from falling behind." He lightly squeezed her shoulders. "But some of us are just meant to watch from afar and welcome you back when you come home."

She moved closer to him. "I'll come back safe." She backed away and left the room.

"Li-na."

Lina narrowed her eyes. Kaoru came from the shadows. "Oh Kaoru, I didn't know anyone else was up."

"Li-na." Kaoru giggled.

"Kaoru are you okay?"

"Kill Phoenix." Her eyes were glazed over. Kaoru lifted her arms, a dagger shining from the candle Lina was carrying.

Lina gasped then she growled. "Damn that man." She shifted away from Kaoru's attack. "Forgive me Kaoru." She elbowed the younger woman in the gut. Kaoru's eyes widened then they closed. The dagger clinked against the wood floor. Lina laid Kaoru against the wall. She rubbed a balm on Kaoru's lips, an anti-Flight of the Phoenix.
The floor board creaked behind her. "Die!"

she jumped out of the way with Kaoru. Yahiko was grinning wildly. Iwao hurried down the hall and grabbed the boy from behind. "Looks like they've already moved."

"Let me go." Yahiko said evenly, without emotion.

The sheath of Kenshin sword appeared and hit Yahiko in the stomach. The boy went limp. Iwao lifted him up. "I agree. We have a visitor, that we do."

Lina put balm on Yahiko also. "It's Shadow. He's using some form of my Flight of the Phoenix."

"Is that possible?" Sanosuke asked from behind Kenshin.

Lina shrugged. "They had people in the Embassy working for them. So I guess it could be. Though this is a different form." She stood. "There, the balm is an anesthetic, they'll be fine after some sleep."

A laugh drew them outside. Shadow was standing on top of the entrance wall when the four walked out. "Well did you enjoy the introduction?" He's voice was mocking. "You've been giving Kogoro a hard time, he isn't pleased."

Lina smirked. "I'm sure Hell's giving Kogoro enough of a hard time without my help."

/So he is dead./ Kenshin thought.

Shadow sighed. "Well it was fun while it lasted."

"What do you want Shadow? Better yet, where is he?"

"You're so tempermental Phoenix." He jumped down. "He's waiting for you outside of town, just over the main bridge."

Lina took a step and stopped.

"What are you hesitating for?" Sanosuke cracked his fingers. "We can handle this guy."

Iwao cleared his throat. Lina gave a slight nod and disappeared in the dark.