Author's Note: This is my hit at a suspense/horror/romance, focusing around Natsuki Kuga. The first chapter is a bit boring, but it was just a build up, and will progress to be more intriguing as the story continues. It's centered in an alternative universe with ShizNat. Just a fair bit of warning, the story is suppose to be scary, therefore the scenes will be graphic.

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime, or it's characters.

Prologue

At the age of sixteen, Natsuki Kuga was a unique individual who preferred to be alone. Having been orphaned at the age of nine due to her mother's disappearance, and her father being put in prison for the murder of his wife, Natsuki had been adopted by her mother's aunt - Kruger Hitomi, who was the founder, and head of Kruger Corporation. At the age of forty-six, Natsuki's aunt was akin to Natsuki in appearances and personality, yet whereas Natsuki tended to be rebellious against any form of tradition or rule, Kruger, (as her aunt preferred to be called), was supportive of tradition, and welcomed it with open arms. While Natsuki had no idea how to play an instrument, Kruger was known a musical genius on the piano.

When Natsuki had first met her great-aunt, Natsuki found a strong kinship with the other woman, yet the two barely spoke a word to one another, yet when Natsuki cried in pain, the older woman was there to offer comfort. As time passed, Kruger soon enrolled Natsuki into school, and soon had discovered that Natsuki had a reoccurring tendency to cut class. When Kruger confronted Natsuki on her reasons for doing so, the youngest member of the family merely shrugged, and said in a cold tone, "I'm looking for okaasan."

Knowing better than to push the girl any further, Kruger merely nodded, and let the subject drop. She had no idea of what Natsuki was doing, yet she felt compelled to let the girl do as she wished, figuring it would bring the young girl some comfort. Although, Kruger occasionally continued to warn Natsuki about her skipping classes, informing the girl that the school would take action sooner or later against the girl. Natsuki had only casually shrugged at the warning, and said: "Let them do what they must."

It wasn't long before the school did just that; they expelled her, leaving her aunt to enrol her in a different learning facility. Although skipping wasn't the only reason for her being kicked out, it was due to her temper.

The headmistress had taunted Natsuki all throughout the lecture, and soon enough the young girl lost her temper, and began to throw things at the Headmistress, all the while uttering profanities, and curses towards the older woman. Kruger had been present at the meeting, and had listened to the taunts. She knew that Natsuki was a full-blooded Kuga, and could only take so much for her to explode, so it was no surprised that Kruger merely shrugged at the whole incident informing the headmistress, "You got what you deserved, although my niece will be corrected for her use of language."

Natsuki was indeed corrected for her language, as Kruger simply took away the young girl's TV, and told her she could have it back within a week's time. Natsuki merely shrugged and sent a weak smile towards her aunt. It didn't take long for Natsuki to become enrolled into another prestigious school. Due to her aunt's credibility, and fame, Natsuki Kuga was accepted into the prestigious Fuuka Academy by the Director.

Soon Natsuki had returned to skipping class, yet not as much as she use to. Her attention soon became wrapped up in school work, and her research. Her motivation came from the belief that her mother was out there somewhere, and alive. As soon as Natsuki graduated from Fuuka academy, she went off to Tokyo University seeking to major in business, and criminology, hoping to take up a profession as Kruger's assistant and part-time detective.

At the age of twenty-two Natsuki underwent police academy, and then was accepted as a member of the Fuuka Police department as a private investigator, specializing under homicide crimes. At the age of twenty-four, and after her sixth successful case Natsuki was promoted to Sergeant.

"Mistress," A timid inhuman which sound terribly scared as it spoke into the phone. "D-do you think it's wise to g-give Kuga-san this?"

"Yes, I think it was, Kikukawa-san." It was said with a similar inhuman voice, yet softer and more confident. "Does Suzushiro know?"

"N-no, Mistress" she replied with haste, and without thought, although terribly fearful. It was also not a lie. The voice on the other line released a soft laugh.

"Keep the secret, Kikukawa."

"Y-yes, Mistress" Yukino whispered timidly, listening as the line went dead. Holding a breathe and hanging up the phone, Yukino sat back, and watched as Natsuki Kuga made her way onto her own front lawn.

Yukino let out a breathe of air, as she kept herself hidden across the street from the Kuga residence. Within her mind, she couldn't help but think that someone should have mercy on the young detective, yet she knew she could not due to her being bound to her Mistress. "Gods help you," Yukino thought as she finally turned and left the area.

Natsuki was plain out dumbfounded. Who would place an unstamped package within her mailbox? Better yet, was it safe to open? There was no return address, nothing but the words of: 'open as soon as possible,' written on the top of the package. Her name was written off to the side, so Natsuki knew it was directed at her, and as soon as she shook the box, she heard nothing but something very light weight bouncing around within the package.

'It could be a prank from the boys...' Natsuki thought with a smirk, as she went to open the box, tearing away the plastic tape, and exposing the contents inside. Inside she found a VHS cassette, and became surprised as no words were written on it. Walking to the television set, Natsuki smirked wondering what kind of dirt they could've got on her. Thoughts of previous holiday parties, and celebrations came to mind, as Natsuki inserted the VHS into her VCR and sat down onto her couch.

"I hope they know what they've got themselves into," Natsuki mumbled as she fixed her eyes onto the TV before her, idly waiting for the video to start.

The TV revealed a black screen at first, before fixating on the scenery before them. A thick wooded area. The sounds of a woman sobbing were pretty loud, as the camera fixed onto the form of a female woman with long blue hair. Her face showed signs of obvious abuse as there was a cut just above the eye, while the other eye was darkened by a bruise. Her nose displayed dried blood, and her lip was swollen. The woman's hands were fixated over the sides of her head revealing her face to the camera."

'Keep yourself quiet, and everything will be alright," The man who was holding the camera said in a harsh voice, but the woman kept sobbing. "Did you hear me? Quit it, or you'll get more!"

Natsuki's throat went dry as she watched as her mother was kicked in the head. Her hands began to shake as tears welled up into her eyes and spill down across her cheek.

"Now won't you tell the camera what's going to happen, Saeko?" The man spoke in a hushed, yet cruel voice, while kicking the woman again.

"Leave me alone... haven't y-yo-arrgh!" The woman screamed as the man picked up something and hit the woman with it. "Y-you sick bastard."

The woman's voice was slurred and hoarse, signs that she had bit her tongue, and signs that she had been using her voice a lot. She continued to cry as the man started to become angered, and curse violently.

'Since the bitch won't answer, I'm going to torture her for the camera's sake. I hope you see this, boss. This is what your money bought you. By the way, no news on the kid yet. Kruger has been keeping her secluded from the rest of the world.'

The camera blurred as the man seemed to have settled the camera onto something, and then focused it towards Saeko. Soon enough the man stepped out of the bushes, and started to do exactly what he said. All the while the woman cried, and begged for the man to stop, but he didn't.

Natsuki held her face in her hands, and continued to watch, all the while weeping at the horrendous display. She could do nothing by cry as the TV finally flashed to a solid blue color, and the VCR ejected the cassette.

"Okaasan..." Natsuki cried, as she fell onto her side onto the couch, while sobbing, and cradling her head. 'Who would do this to her? Who would send me this? Okaasan, I'm sorry...'

Author's Footnote: The chapters each will be long, I hope, and descriptive. My thanks to Blackfang64 for betaing this for me. Please enjoy and review.