I promised. I promised I'd rewrite this, and I am getting through it. I've copied the rest of my original story so I can reference it, but removed it since it was crappy writing. But, here's the rewrite of the prologue :) Enjoy, Tears x

Title: Beating Heart
Rating: M (later chapters, may change as they are rewritten)
Summary: She really wished things had worked out now. She really wished that her heart would beat once more. But it was too late ...
Full Summary: Having finally found closure on their illicit relationship, Sakura's heart is broken. At least, it's broken until things begin to turn on their head. Suddenly their relationship is not so forbidden, but it's too late ...

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Of all things that could get under the skin of the best policewoman in Tomoeda, Japan, it was car accidents that could so easily have been avoided. Especially ones that took so many lives. Anything else, Omaniwa Lira could deal with, as long as there was the reward of all rewards at the end: the culprit getting the justice they rightfully deserved.

But here … no justice was enough for this car crash. She watched, appalled, as the final victim was removed from her car, barely conscious and covered in her own blood. Tiny shards of glass remained embedded in her face and arms, and a large chunk of metal – slightly larger than a knife blade – was embedded by her knee. Cuts split the delicate fabric of her dress, exposing skin that had once been pale but was now coloured red with her blood.

Yakashi Mamoru, her latest protégé, appeared at her side, an equal look of distaste on his features. 'We have nine fatalities,' he said before she could answer. 'Four women and five men, from eighteen to sixty-two. Two people are wounded, one in critical condition with some nasty injuries. They're not sure if she'll make it. The second received minor wounds on his head and arms. He's over with the medics now. He was the one driving the car that caused the accident.'

Omaniwa nodded, watching as the women she'd watched be removed was gently placed on a stretcher. Her hands, as bruised and sore as they were – from where Omaniwa stood, she could swear at least two fingers were broken – curved protectively around her stomach.

Pregnant. Shit. Nothing like a car crash to start a pregnancy off. She frowned, and watched as the medics fussed over her, pressing bandages into her leg and the worst wounds on her torso. Her view was disrupted by Yakashi again, who sighed. 'Before you ask, no, the press haven't gotten a hold of any details. We have ten officers keeping them back.'

She nodded, glanced over her shoulder to where the mass were congregating. 'Keep them back until this is cleared up. Once we've got details and have spoken to the families, we'll release information.'

Yakashi nodded and scribbled something down in his notepad. 'Fancy interviewing the lad who caused it?'

'Do I ever?' She sighed, rolled her eyes. 'Let's get it over with.'

The pair moved together, passing by the stretcher of the only other survivor. Her eyelids flickered, allowing a brief flash of emerald green, and then she passed out. Omaniwa sucked in her breath in surprise; she knew this girl! Why, she was barely twenty five! She had an entire life to live!

And I picked today of all days to pull the biggest case in three years.