Author's Note:

Rurouni Kenshin doesn't belong to me. All lyrics I use don't belong to me.

This story is completely AU, set in present day Tokyo. I've taken liberties with ages, namingly most characters are older then they were in the series/manga. This is primarily a yaoi story focusing around Aoshi/Soujirou as a couple. This means Man X Man so if this grosses you out or you are a die hard A/M fan then get lost. Other pairings in this story will eventually, probably be Kenshin/Tomoe, Enishi/Kaoru and possibly Sano/Misao. Please enjoy and leave a comment if you wish.

I dedicate this to Midori who is great to talk to, a spiffy writer and loves Aoshi/Soujirou almost as much as me! Go read her writing now, she's amazing!

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Spilling From Reality Rancid

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~*~Prologue~*~

Let me nail you to the treason wall

Stab the night and day from your sight

And set the thought to flame

~*~ The Treason Wall – Dark Tranquility~*~

"Upon one condition."

The smile didn't waver from his face, despite the unease that swept over him. Her words were a chill. They hung in the air as thick as the while plum scent she wore. She was dangerous, this Yukishiro Tomoe, regardless of what her serene demeanour belied.

"Condition?" Beneath the table, hidden from her cool gaze, Seta Soujirou clenched icy fingers together. Beyond that one action, there were no other outwardly signs that the young man was troubled. "What sort of condition? This was not spoken of before. I have the money you requested and that is all."

From his pocket he pulled out a plain envelope and set it upon the table, before her. Within the envelope he had gathered twenty American hundred dollar bills, all gained by ill-gotten means. It hadn't been easy but for this, there had been no other choice.

With slender fingers, Tomoe pushed the envelope back towards him. "Keep it. Of money I've plenty. Rather, I wish something else of you. A task, it you would."

Soujirou didn't touch the money. "And if I won't?"

The gambit spun between them. One fine, black brow arched. Her eyes glittered in the dim light. "Then I shall part with you, taking with me all my means. We will not meet again and none such as I will you find. Perhaps you might be...confronted for lack of a better word, for squandering my time. Those in my keep are loyal to me. I cannot say what may or may not happen."

The flickering candlelight cast luminous shadows upon her cheekbones. She was beautiful in the night, pale and frost-touched. He had come far to meet her, across months and desire. He took the money and slid it back into his pocket. "What is your condition then?"

Her wine-colored lips curved slightly. Ivory fingertips skimmed at the lock of inky hair that splashed against her cheek; a gesture that called forth a very tall, very burly man from the side door. He addressed Tomoe as 'My Lady' and handed her a black folder before disappearing.

Tomoe let the folder slip from her fingers. It fell upon the polished surface of the glass table and looked as an ominous stain might. "Open it."

Soujirou obeyed, though loathing to do so. The folder was thick, filled with sheaves of information. In the left pocket, in front of what looked like a detailed itinerary, was a medium-sized glossy photo. The subject was a young man, with vibrant red hair, violet-hued eyes and a single scarred slash that marred most of his left cheek.

"Know him well," Tomoe spoke, her voice falling to a soft whisper. "Read of him and mark him. He is the one you are to kill."

Kill.

Still the smile would not leave his face, as it had not since that one night, long ago.

A rain painted night, hiding tears.

He closed the folder, uncaring if she caught glimpse his trembling fingers. He could not look upon the violet-eyed man. "Why are you asking me, when your others would do it gladly?"

She smiled a tiny smile, devoid of all warmth. "What I know of you pleases me. What I ask...it is not unknown to you. Stained hands will forever remain stained, whether from one life or ten."

She knew.

He breathed sharply, unable to find words to speak. This feeling...this rioting feeling...but he had no feelings, hadn't since...and she knew of it.

"This man is no different then those you once knew." The smile vanished from her face. Her eyes were hard and bitter. "He has killed my fiancé and for that he must atone. I will not allow him to go free."

And if he did indeed kill this scarred, red-haired man, how then would he atone? Killing a killer...but he was already a killer. It didn't matter, one more person. Tomoe knew that, as she seemed to know much and because of that, because of that night which no one knew of...

"You're asking too much of me," he finally said, as evenly as he could. "Mistakes of the past are not to be repeated. That I should kill one who has killed, that you would ask me, when it would not-"

"I haven't come here to discuss the nature of morality with you," Tomoe interrupted, her pitch-like eyes locking onto his. "A simple yes or no will do. However, before your choice is made, I would ask that you think of what you want from me. Think about what I know and what is in my power and then decide."

The enormous picture window beside them showed him his smiling reflection. He knew what he had to do, rather what he wanted to do. He looked again at her and she saw her answer.

"For me you will kill this one Himura Kenshin and in return I shall refer you to the elusive Oniwa Banshuu. Have we an agreement?"

Soujirou sealed their contract. "I agree."