A/N – "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome hitokiri?" Yet another look at the actions and decisions concerning the attack on Shishio. This was sparked by the beleaguered Shogunate general in sueb262's oneshot "The Newest Recruit", and of course by "Becket".

Also, please forgive the very poor formatting. I could not get the spacing to work properly.

Disclaimer – I have no rights to Ruroken. No money was made in the writing of this fic. Please don't sue.

White-wash

It was a time of great change and upheaval.

The war was over. The last of the Shogunate loyalists came forward, one by one, to pay homage to the new boy-Emperor. Behind the scenes, Meiji's advisors had begun the vast work that would see Japan take its place among the great nations of the world.

The Ishin Shishi and their allies, hidden for so long in the shadows, emerged into the new era washed clean of their terrorist past – the intimidation, the bombings, the assassinations, all forgiven by the Emperor's divine restoration.

Unfortunately, certain remnants of the Ishin Shishi's past refused to stay in the shadows where they belonged.

The discreet, whispered message brought Okubo to a small antechamber, where a ragged, blood-spattered captain knelt nervously. Okubo vaguely remembered the man – a penniless Satsuma samurai of more ambition than ability, quick to curry favour, eager to advance by any means possible.

"Okubo-sama," the samurai intoned, touching his head to the floor. "The hitokiri Shishio is dead."

For an instant, Okubo felt a great weight lift from his back. But then shadowed memories of half-drunken fury returned to him, of the night he had received Shishio's latest extortionate demands.

"We cornered him on the road, lord. He slew nearly one third of my company before we finally brought him to his knees." And then, misinterpreting Okubo's expression, the samurai hastened to reassure him. "There can be no mistake. We made sure of his death, lord – we set him alight, and then watched as he burned…"

Days passed with no more than a passing mention of Shishio Makoto's maddened, suicidal attack on Imperial troops. Okubo began to believe that the matter would be forgotten, until the day Katsura drew him aside after an interminable Council meeting.

They called for sake and refreshments, and for a while talked gently of unremarkable things – old allies, perhaps even friends, united in their vision of Japan. But Okubo knew Katsura of old, knew that his quiet, thoughtful manner hid a ruthless will of hammered steel.

"So," Katsura said, setting down his sake cup with a quiet 'click'. "Shishio Makoto finally succumbed to his madness, as we all feared."

"He simply could not adjust to the new era." Okubo shook his head gravely.

"He was certainly most outspoken."

Okubo kept his expression impassive, cursing Katsura's uncanny insight and widespread net of informants. He did not bother to fence. "I will not deny that Shishio's death is a benefit to me. However, I had no hand in it."

Katsura's eyes were dark. "And yet, one could say that – indirectly – you made your enmity for Shishio clear. Remarkably indiscreet, old friend."

Okubo's mouth tightened.

"I trust," Katsura went on in that same mild tone, "that if you harbour any such ill-will for other former hitokiri, you will keep it to yourself? One such death is a senseless tragedy. Two…" he trailed off.

The message was clear and pointed. Katsura had once been the most ruthless of all the Ishin commanders. During the bloodiest days of the shadow war, his selective assassinations had held Kyoto on the edge of terror for months on end; though hitokiri Battousai had vanished into the chaos and upheaval after Toba Fushimi, no one was – quite – sure that Katsura did not still control him.

One thing, however, was not in doubt. Battousai was off limits.

After a long moment, Katsura returned the conversation to safer waters. Okubo followed his lead, if not gratefully, then at least gracefully; he knew when to cut his losses and be thankful for his fellow advisor's silence.

Katsura had, after all, created hitokiri Shishio.

They were united in benefiting from his death.

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