Summary: ShixNat. Natsuki becomes an assassin in order to one-day hunt down the one who murdered everyone that burning night. Both Natsuki and Shizuru work for different organizations. They unexpectedly meet at a corporation meet. Shizuru being, the bold one, tries to get to know Natsuki better. In normal life, Natsuki is a motorcycle racer and Shizuru is a famed tea master. Neither of them knew their role they played in each other's past, nor each others hidden identity as assassins. Events occur, truth is revealed...getting closer and closer to the burning night that Shizuru thought she would never have to remember again.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Mai-Hime or any of its characters, especially Natsuki and Shizuru (go cries in the corner). Ahem, so… on to the story, or rather the intro.
Prologue
Burning Night, Star-crossed Path
Flames soared up into the air, burned ever so brightly, the ruins of the research lab. Smoke covered the clear, night sky. The surrounding sakura trees wavered in the glow of the fire, turning their pink blossoms the colour of blood. The blood-red petals drifted about in the spring air, like spatters of blood, adding more to the gruesome sight of the burning ruin. Alarmed shouts could be heard in the distance, even further away, a wailing siren.
Out of the flame, a young girl, no older than 10 years of age, emerged. Walking slowly out from the blazing ruin, a shadow cast over her young face, making her crimson eyes stand out even more, fitting perfectly with the surrounding flame. She was covered in blood, splattered imprints on her clothes, face, and hands. Blood was dripping down the blade of the oversized guan dao that she was carrying. A flicker of the flame revealed her face to be expressionless, even with the raging fire behind her, and the blood scented air engulfing the night. She seemed to be immune to the terror and the gloom of death still left in the aftermath. But, without knowing why, a teardrop fell from her cold eyes, followed by another and another.
She was glad, glad that this night was finally over—she had completed what she had set out to do tonight and she no longer had anything to do with it anymore. But unknown to her, by committing the crimes she had tonight, she had predestined her path.
This night would come back to hunt her in the years to come. It is an unforgettable event that would not be forgotten by her and another certain person—the beginning of a crisscrossed fate.