Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Blood dripped to the ground by Shadow's feet. He snarled. A Heiwa dagger was deep into his right shoulder. He fell to one knee. "Poison?"

Iwao gave a slight nod. "The Heiwa may have been a peacekeeping group but we also knew our way around the battle field. Or have you forgotten that?"

Sanosuke shook his head to get back his senses. "Do you know him Iwao?"

"I do. I wasn't sure at first, but after watching him, there's no mistaking it."

Shadow smirked. "Then you know that it's impossible that Master will return."

"Master?" Kenshin's eyes widened a bit.

"Yes, Hinageshi trained me for several months before she was sent to kill you Battousai. And I trained Enishi Yukishiro against his father's better judgement." He smirked. "So when you die and see Hinageshi, you can thank her for it."

"She only taught you the basics." Iwao growled. "She would never had..."

"She was a child following orders of a leader who should have perished well before he had." Shadow defended. "He didn't care who fought or died for him. We were all replaceable by the next fool."

"So you replaced Hinageshi, who replaced Masanori, is that it Shadow?"

"She left us. The only guidance we had after Masanori, and instead of her actually dying, she went to go and live a carefree life. How is that fair?"

"She didn't decide to live carefree." Iwao looked down. "She hasn't lived carefree as long as I've known her." He sheathed his katana. "Where are they Shadow?"

"I am not allowing any of you to get passed me." Shadow pulled the dagger out of his shoulder and prepared for another attack. /Not until I see the signal Kogoro, no Enishi, was talking about./

Lina breathed heavily. She was pinned to a tree by Enishi's sword, one that he had hidden until the moment of strike. She held the sword, trying weakly to release it and herself. Blood coursed over her hands.

"Look at what have you become Phoenix" Enishi said, his own wounds pouring blood on the rocks he sat on.

"He'll kill you," She swallowed. "If I don't."

Enishi chuckled. "You can't kill me, let alone move. And the same goes for him. He can't kill me. His past won't let him."

"Tomoe would be disappointed, Eni."

"No, Hinageshi, she'd glad that I've finally avenged her. Her soul can rest."

Lina shook her head, a new strength coming to her. "You're wrong. Tomoe gave herself to protect everyone. Had it not be for her love to Kenshin he would still be the same killer he was during the Revolution."

"Shut up! That isn't true." He charged after her. Lina ripped the sword from the tree and herself, blocking Enishi's attack.

"Your pain won't go away Enishi, even if you kill me, Kenshin, the country. Your pain will remain."

"Then I will kill until it goes away!" He barrelled his sword down on her. She jumped out of the way, tripping and falling. Her vile of powder fell from her pocket, the lid coming off. She quickly grabbed it. "I will start by killing you. Then I'll return to the dojo and kill everyone that is there. After that, it'll be this city and then the neighboring villages; like yours Hinageshi."

"I won't allow you to." She said through breaths.

He raised his katana. "You have no choice."

She blocked his attack with the Double Edge's sheath. Her eyes began to glow a redish-orange.

She smirked. "Well now Enishi, it seems what you've been wanting is finally here."

"What are you talking about?"

She closed her eyes and raised her arms. The aura spread out into the shape of a bird. When her eyes opened they were the color of red-orange amber. "The ultimate form of Phoenix."

Iwao stopped his attack and stared in the general direction of Lina and Enishi's fight. A light of orange illuminated the skyline. "No." He dropped his weapons.

"Iwao?" Kenshin glanced at him.

Shadow began to snicker. "It seems that my part has been fulfilled."

Iwao turned to Shadow. "That? Is that why you are keeping us here?" He shook his head. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Shadow smirked. "The real Phoenix has been released."

"She can't control herself in that state. Tokyo will burn."

"Hm," Shadow fell to his knees, his wounds spilling blood to the ground. "It's what he wanted."

"No." Iwao rushed passed him.

"What's going on?" Sanosuke questioned, walking over to Shadow. "Explain."

"Hinageshi was more than just an assasin. Lord Yukishiro made sure of that. She's a powerful weapon forged from chi." Shadow laughed. "Iwao is right to go after them. But he'll be too late. When he get there, there will be nothing left."

"Sano come on!" Kenshin hurried down the road toward the field.

Sanosuke rushed after Kenshin. "For a seriously injuried man, Iwao moves quickly."

"Kenshin." A voice echoed to him and when the smell of white plums reached Kenshin, he stopped.

Sano paused several feet ahead of him. "Kenshin?"

He shook his head. "It's nothing, lets get going."