Prologue
The small, cloaked figure moved stealthily through the sleeping streets of Tomoeda, stopping momentarily to climb up trees and look through windows as if it were a common thief searching for something... or someone. It stopped for a moment under a cherry blossom tree and shifted something under its dark cape. Then it stared up at the tree and took a deep breath, as if admiring its radiant beauty in the moonlight.
It was then that Yukito first saw the cloaked figure. He knew he shouldn't have been up so late because he had a party to prepare for the next morning, but for some reason he couldn't sleep. And Yukito was glad he couldn't sleep, because if he had then he would have missed the figure standing outside. The figure's hood fell back, and the moon shone full onto the figure's face. A girl's face, pale as ivory and just as beautiful, long blue-black hair fanning out behind her in the wind. Yukito felt compelled to go outside and take a closer look at this strange, beautiful creature. He pulled on his coat and slippers and went out the door.
The girl stared up at the house next to the tree, soft pink petals falling about her. "Poor little Star sorceress," she said quietly to herself. "Poor little cherry blossom girl. You are innocent of everything that's happened... I wish I didn't have to do this to you." The girl sighed deeply and took out the package she had been hiding under her coat, the package that would likely seal the Star sorceress' fate. "But unfortunately I have my orders."
Yukito stopped as he watched the girl climb into the cherry blossom tree. That's Sakura's house!, he realized with a shock. He ran to the tree and waited for the girl to return. He saw a bit of black silk flying above him, and he gave it a yank. The girl shrieked and fell out of the tree, landing atop Yukito in a flurry of pink petals. "What were you doing up there?" Yukito demanded, taking hold of the girl's arm.
"Let me go!" The girl squirmed in Yukito's grasp. "Please, just let me go!"
"Tell me what you were doing up there!"
"This has nothing to do with you. Let me go!"
Their eyes met, and Yukito was taken aback by how beautiful this girl really was. Her skin was pale and shone like the moon, and an errant cherry blossom embedded itself in her ebony hair, striking as fireworks at midnight. Her mouth was small, lips pursed together in fright. Her large doe eyes were a deep, rich blue; the color of the sky at dusk, set with a million glittering stars. "Please," the girl whispered, "this has nothing to do with you. Just let me go and pretend we never met."
"How could I pretend I never met someone like you?" Yukito asked quietly, slowly letting go of the girl's arm and watching her disappear into the darkness.
"Reina," a voice said as small footsteps approached and the girl stepped into the darkened room. "You have returned."
Reina brushed the cherry blossom petals out of her hair and hung up her cloak. "Yes, Master Creator."
"Have you completed your duty?"
Reina sighed sadly. "Everything is going as planned, Master Creator."
"Excellent." The voice laughed evilly to itself in the semi-darkness, and Reina shivered. "The Star sorceress will be destroyed once and for all, and this time I may not even have to lift a finger."