Disclaimer: As usual, Ruroken remain's Watsuke-sama's property... not mine.

And just so you know... this one ISN'T a time travel fic. It's an AU. That's all. A simple "What if Kenshin remained Battousai. What if he never met Tomoe at all?"

Enjoy.

Burning Bridges

Prologue

Over one hundred-fifty years ago in Japan, there was a great revolution known as Bakumatsu. The country was torn apart while political battles, both verbal and physical, raged as clan fought clan. Assassinations were commonplace, and the streets flowed crimson with blood. As is always the case, history was written by the victors. And it is this history that tells us of the great men who fought to preserve what they believed to be justice. The the Bukafu, the Shinsengumi, the Choshu and Satsuma leaders... the brave men who fought and bled and died for their country... their stories are known, told and retold.

Then there are the hitokiri. The shadow assassins. The dark secrets of the governments, both new and old. Their stories were never told. Their histories, never written. They are said to have disappeared into the shadows that bred them. Or they returned to normal life. They died anonymously.

They were erased.

According to official record, Shishio Makoto died in battle. According to official record, hitokiri Battousai never even existed.

According to the people of Kyoto, official records lie.

And don't worry... the chapters get longer...

Dewa mata!