Author Notes: I'm having some difficulty writing the next chapter for "Quadrille of War" (an Inuyasha fic), because I feel like I really don't have readers for that fic. It's a court fic crossed with a war fic, and I'm not sure if there is an audience for it. So, instead I decided to start another. No, this is not a one-shot. I know I've been throwing those out at my readers for months now, but the wait is over. It has been five and a half years since I last wrote a RK multi-chapter fic. I considered expanding one of my vignettes, but decided that there was story I really wanted to write. PLEASE bear with me. I know the concept may be very strange, but I'm really looking forward to writing this. This is the prologue and I really don't expect any reviews, but please keep an open mind.

Disclaimer: The Rurouni Kenshin world and all characters depicted are a creation of mangaka, Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Prologue

By Hoshi-ni-Onegai

The truck rumbled along in the cover of the night. The unassuming privatized delivery truck driver was on his usual route from the large city to the small sleepy town. He knew the journey like the back of his hand. Every curve and bump of the state route was engraved in his mind. After seven years with the company, he had spent the past three driving this particular route five nights a week.

The radio lazily droned out the musical styling of an old time folk singer and blended into the constant hum of the engine. The truck driver mumbled along with the lyrics. He was two hours into the three hour trip. He could probably have cut out about half an hour if he took the new interstate highway, but due to liability reasons and the age of his truck, the company forced him to the less frequented old road.

Most of his late night trip was spent alone. There were the occasional rowdy group of local teenagers that would race down the road, but otherwise it was abandoned. The driver figured that it would be like any other night, but he wouldn't have made that assumption if he was aware of the cargo he carried in his inconspicuous truck.

It began as suddenly as it ended. A cloaked figure rushed into the middle of the street. The driver slammed on his breaks. Sticking his head out the window he yelled at the figure, "What the hell do you think you're doing!"

The figure revealed a malicious smile as he raised a gun with a silencer. Two rapid fire shots and the driver barely knew what happened to him.

The man walked toward the truck and pulled the driver out and threw him on the road. "Just borrowing your truck."

With spurt of the engine, the truck continued its way down the road.

xXx

"We should use the crane."

The man paused from his movements for a moment then rolled his eyes. "We don't need it."

The two shipping boats swayed in the darkness of the ocean. The other man frowned, "This seems like an accident waiting to happen."

"Look, the two boats are anchored to each other. We're just moving the cargo from one to the other. Nothing is going to happen."

The other man sighed, "It's not my funeral if something does."

The two continued on with their task. They hefted a large white box that was suspiciously similar in size to a coffin. They maneuvered it over to the other boat and leaned it against the edge. The over confident man swung over to the other boat.

"Okay, now just lean it over."

As the other man did just as the other said, the box suddenly skated on the edge of the two boats.

"Oh shit!"

The men raced after the box frantically, but by the time they reached the back end, the box fell into the ocean with a heavy splash. Two pairs of eyes widened as the cargo sunk into the dark depth of the ocean. They stared at each other.

"Shishio's going to kill us."

"No. He's going to kill you. I told you. Your funeral."