Okay, so…the prologue is really short. This chapter is too…hell…they all probably will be.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Rurouni Kenshin. I DO own Ikari Shinri ((Original Character)) and Shin'en ((Also Original Character))

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"So…you want me to catch a murderer??"

"Uh…well…" the police chief fidgeted nervously. "Serial killer actually…but…yes…"

"Serial killer, huh? Sounds pretty fun. You can count me in." Sanosuke said, already imagining how fun the fight would be. Kenshin, however, pondered the question a bit more.

"How many victims?"

Again, the police chief fidgeted nervously. "Twenty-four…"

At this, Sano shot out of his daydream. "HOW many??"

"…Twenty-four…"

"HOW are they still loose?? They HAVE to have made a mistake somewhere by now!!"

"I don't know. This is the first murder in our jurisdiction…but Miss Ikari Shinri, over here, has been following them for awhile, and she's the one you guys will be helping…"

Kenshin looked at the girl. She didn't look too old, and definitely wasn't out of the ordinary. She had long black hair, and green eyes. She was currently dressed in a simple police officer's uniform, and had her hair tied back in ponytail.

"Do you even know anything about this serial killer??"

"Well…their name is Shin'en." Ikari answered.

"How would you know this, but not have them in jail??"

"We don't know who they are, exactly. We only know their name from the 'calling card' they leave behind, and they most likely don't use their real name."

"Calling card?"

"Yes…" Ikari took out a picture. "Shin'en writes his name in his victim's blood. If look closely, you can see that the name is actually made up of a note…but it is unreadable. The writing was smudged beyond readability. " Kenshin looked at the picture. The man in it was obviously dead, with his throat torn out, and the writing was scrawled around the body, making the whole thing seem like a sacrifice, or a warning. He shuddered and gave the picture back.

Sano looked at Ikari, seemingly for the first time. "You mean we're actually going to work with a girl??" Ikari seemed to take offense at this.

"Not if you act like that. Then you'll be sitting here bored." She said, her voice cold and vicious.

"Geez…sorry…" Sano said, unconvinced that Ikari was really going to be of much help.

Ikari rolled her eyes. "I must be on my way. I believe you can take care of the rest of this, sir." They watched her leave.

"So, Himura, will you help? We really do need it…"

"Yes…I will…"