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Hey! Thank you for all those nice reviews : )

The Crystally Water: Um. Sorry bout Tomoya's mother's name. I'd tried to find out what it was but I'm hopeless! ' hehe. I'll just stick it as Maeko for now but trust me…ill put something about that in the plot. Sonomi it will be! As for the other questions – sit tight and you'll find out ; )

Seniya : Thank you very much. I hope you like chapter two!

Lonewolfside: Thanks! I'm truly touched : ) You're too kind!

The Mystic Warrior: Hope you like chapter two! And I hope I've really got you hooked too!

Darkmirth: I know! I could shoot that author. I think she's gone so it is okay! : ) -thumbs up- hehe thank you again! What a compliment : )

AQ: thank you for that luck! I need it! Damn! My exams are evil! I suppose I've failed my life! But hey, its okay! Fanfiction is my saviour! My results come out on my BIRTHDAY! lol I hope you like chapter two!

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I examined the big marble walls of this rather humungous house. The roof had strange serrations and the huge white pillars lined the entrance. What a house! In comparison to my village shack, this was a palace! Quickly glancing around I saw the other large houses in the neighbourhood. Some had brick red roofs and others had granite but all in all – they were all colossal! This one had engravings of vines intricately etched on with gold leaf and I struggled to see the top of the ceiling when I stepped through the large mahogany doors…

Sakura was taken back by such a huge house. She stumbled towards it and glanced back at Yului with wide eyes. He smiled kindly, seeing that she'd never seen such a building. He gently touched her shoulder to lead her on. Sakura looked at all the neat plants laid out in the garden either side of the pathway. It was all so organized and well looked after. Through the doors she opened her eyes in awe at the height of the house. There was a square hole above her and a small pool of water in front of her. Everywhere were paintings and engravings of various Gods and Goddesses she had heard of – brought to life. Sakura walked on, following Yului.

' Kano?' Yului inquired. ' Where will Sakura stay? And she must learn the lessons of slavemanship'

' She will stay in the slave quarters over there' Kano pointed to the left. There were small rooms with a simple bed and table accompanied by a chair. Sakura nodded. She understood that she was staying there.

Syaoran stepped through the doors and examined his familiar surroundings. His eyes fell on this new girl and he watched her with his amber eyes as she looked around, eyes up and blindly moving her feet.

' I dare say, your boy needs a hair cut' Kano laughed as he looked over. Syaoran glared back at him.

' Possibly. He won't even let his mother approach him with scissors' Yului sighed. Kano shook his head,

'Fiery spirited boy' Kano grinned.

Yului examined the sundial from a distance in the garden,

'I'd best be off. I'll come back another time. In a few days perhaps. Come Syaoran. You have much training to attend to'

They exchanged a Roman handshake with both hands – one on top of the other. Sakura tilted her head in curiosity at this.

Yului walked up to Sakura and ruffled her hair,

' Enjoy your stay here little one' And he walked off. Syaoran and Sakura gave each other a glance before he followed his father.

' So!' Kano clasped his hands together, rubbing them. ' Meet Zara!' Kano clapped his hands hard and a girl walked out from the kitchen. She had no smile on her face. Sakura looked at her stunning feather blonde hair with those grey eyes. She looked so exotic!

' Sakura' Sakura held both her hands out and Zara's eyes shifted onto her. Sakura blinked and lowered her hands seeing Zara's emotionless face.

' Now Zara. Be nice!'

Zara hissed at him and Kano struck her with the back of his hand.

' You act like an animal? You get treated like an animal!' Kano harshly whispered. Sakura stepped back, her green eyes shaking with tears. Zara looked at Sakura with a bruise gradually developing on her cheek. She offered her a smile that didn't spread to the rest of her face. It was only the lips that lifted up.

' You will tea-ch her how to co-ok Zara. Not only that, you will tea-ch her how to cle-an!' He accented every syllable. Zara didn't respond.

' Understood?' Kano raised his voice and Zara gave a nod. Sakura was petrified. Kano pointed to the kitchen and Zara walked over with a grace in her step. Sakura, seeing Kano's eyes, followed.

She walked through a bustling kitchen with another two slaves cooking away. The smells were different to her usual home cooking of spices but it was pleasant nevertheless. The heat was intoxicating and she couldn't stand heat. When she saw the fire under the stove, she froze and stumbled back. Her back pressed against the kitchen counter.

Lorna, an older slave glanced over,

' Hi! You're new I guess. Welcome. What is it?' Lorna's eyebrows furrowed. Lorna's darker partner replied,

' She fear fire!' And pointed over towards her. Lorna nodded,

' You're right. Poor child. She might have had a bad experience at the slave market. You know this kind of thing always happens these days. Well, whatever happens, she's got to get over it'

Lorna went over and wiped her hands on her apron. She then held her hand out,

' Come on' She whispered gently. Sakura couldn't hear, her eyes were fixed on the burning fire. Zara stepped over promptly and grabbed Sakura, shoving her roughly forward into the table top.

' Zara!' Lorna cried. 'Don't be so harsh on her!'

Zara grabbed Sakura's shoulder and pulled back a bowl of spices. She pointed at one of them and threw them in the boiling stove. Sakura begun to whimper softly, being so close to a burning flame. Zara looked at her with her dark gray eyes, reminding Sakura of a rising storm. Sakura nodded and repeated what Zara did. Zara promptly walked over to a carcass and Sakura's body froze. They were cannibals. They ate animals of the earth!! She strictly ate plants but this; this was a quagmire! She could see the stripes and..

Sakura cried out and ran out of the kitchen. Zara followed after her and grabbed Sakura by her hair. Sakura howled as Zara dragged her back in. She pointed to the carcass and Sakura furiously shook her head.

' Zara!' Lorna shouted urgently, ' Maybe she doesn't enjoy cooking! Try teaching her to clean'

This task proved to be much easier. Zara took a cloth and showed Sakura how to dust be wiping it gently across a surface. Sakura followed. Zara then showed her how to clean the floors. Sakura followed. The dusting. Sakura followed. Adding wood to the fireplace. Sakura followed. Cleaning items of clothing with ash. Sakura followed..

Sakura began to grow tired of following and wanted to relax – spend some time on her own perhaps. She didn't dare show this to Zara who followed her every move with shallow eyes. Zara pointed to the floor and walked off into the kitchen to continue her duties.

Sakura pulled the bowl of water and clothe towards her, setting about to clean the floor. It hurt her back and her hands as she scrubbed the floor mercilessly. Her hand continually traveling in circles on the floor, she softly hummed. It was her mother's lullaby that she played on the flute. How she loved it..

How she missed her mother. Tears began to brim but she couldn't abandon her task or else Zara would come after her. That was the last thing she wanted. On completing the hall, she felt glorious at her achievement. She stood with cloth in hand. Her arms ached but at least she'd completed a task. Zara walked in and nodded at the clean floor. The sun, beaming through the square hole in the ceiling glimmered across the fresh floor. Zara walked over and pointed to the floor in the dining room to the left…

I suppose it was heartless. But, every slave had to go through this ordeal. I remember the first pains in my arms and legs. It used to rip through my body at night and I used to cry, whispering urgently to my mother over and over again. She never came and day upon day I wished she would. I believed in my heart honestly that she would come and save me…

' She's done a stunning job on the floors!' Kano nodded. Maeko smiled. She recalled back to the days when she was a slave, Sonomi. That word felt so soft on her lips. Yet it held such degradation she couldn't bear to think of it. They called her Sonomi…they ordered Sonomi…

' Sakura. I suggest you go and change into your new clothes and relax for a few hours' Maeko glanced at her bruised limbs. 'You have worked hard'

Kano looked at his wife strangely. ' A break? When she does such a good job?'

Sakura blushed. Maeko nodded gravely. ' It is time she learnt more of the skills such as flower arrangement in the dining room. Before I teach her however, she must get clean and changed'

Kano laughed, ' What a status. You should feel lucky Sakura'

Maeko tilted her head, ' We ought to treat her well. Yului said she would be worth it' Maeko then abruptly walked off.

Sakura wandered around the house, examining all the walls and paintings. There was a strange one with a woman standing naked on a seashell. She touched the wall in her curiosity. Her hair was long and curly in all its lustrous glory. To the left of her was the archer. She equally looked noble with her tied back. Sakura tilted her head at the moon shining behind her. She walked over,

' Artemis. Selene. Luna'

Sakura turned around. A young girl her age was standing there, looking up at the paintings too. She looked so beautiful in a sapphire blue toga with intricate platinum clips on each shoulder. A soft ribbon was tied around her waist with her dark hair tumbling down in ringlets. In the light, it sparkled blue just like her sapphire eyes. Sakura blushed, turning away.

' Goddess of the moon. Hunting. Creatures. Childbirth. The glades and the evergreen forests.' The girl repeated softly but monotonously.

Sakura nodded. She vaguely got the meaning. ' Whats your name?' The girl continued.

' Sakura' Came a whispered reply. The girl walked to Sakura's side,

' I'm Tomoyo. Welcome here. You're my age?'

Sakura said slowly, 'I'm almost six'

' Same' Tomoyo smiled softly and Sakura instantly warmed at heart. Of all the people she feared in the house, she was the only person she could relate to.

' I get lonely here sometimes' Tomoyo continued. ' Have you ever been lonely?'

Sakura nodded, eyes closed. 'Very'

' You're mature' Tomoyo pointed out. 'Most slaves are so immature'

Sakura giggled gently. ' Thank you'

' You also have a strange accent. Where are you from?'

A pang instantly struck hard in her heart. 'I'm from a small village. Far away'

' That's interesting' Sakura could see she had been trained in the art of speech. She spoke so eloquently and held herself so proudly with her hands clasped in front of her.

' Tomoyo!' Maeko called. Tomoyo smiled at Sakura before walking off, gliding across the floor.

Sakura watched her leave with happier eyes, maybe life wouldn't be so bad after all.

Once upon inspecting the house, Sakura looked for other things.

I remember being impressed with the house. But I yearned for more. I wanted my own space. My bedroom was well, satisfactory I suppose but it wasn't enough to fulfill my desires of having my private space. I left the large house and entered the extremely well kept garden. In the distance I could hear the soft pulsing of water and the birds sung magnificently. My feet felt so warm on the grass. I strolled down the garden, looking at the large magnolia and blossom trees. Sakura, my name meant blossom. Strange..

I walked past these areas and a large vegetable area where they grew some of the strangest things I'd ever seen. There were also big trees growing big orange things. I came to learn these were oranges. Lovely. I found them sweet to eat but rather acidic on the tongue. I looked through some large bushes and my eyes grew wide. Here, there was a small patch of relatively bare soil. This plot was obviously unkempt. A smile broke across my face. Sure, I couldn't see my mother but nothing stopped me from practicing the arts she taught me. They were basic but it was a start. Maybe I could teach myself!

Sakura's eyes were shining gloriously as she rummaged the bare soil with her hands. If she could find some seeds, she could plant them and begin her own research into her area of earth power and healing. Her heart soared and she felt her mother there somehow. She removed some of the weeds with her small fingers before heading back into the house with thoroughly grubby hands.

' Sakura' She heard a call. Lorna.

Sakura ran towards her in the kitchen, being careful to avoid Zara. She stepped round boiling pots but thankfully, nothing was lit. There were no carcasses of meat. The place felt thoroughly warmer and less much of a butcher bar. Lorna tutted,

' Look at your hands! Go wash them on the sink. Now I want you to go and change and bring this tray of herbal tea to master Kano's office! It's upstairs on the right, down the corridor and on the left. You can't miss it. Just tell him there's a tray of canomile tea with lemon seasoning for him. ' Lorna smiled and indicated over to the tap. Sakura walked over and looked curiously at the tap. Lorna's dark friend, Rita, showed Sakura how to turn the tap on and off. Sakura grinned at this device. She turned it on and off a few times, proud at her new skill. Rita smiled.

Sakura walked to her bedroom, on the first left into the house. Her feet pattered on the cold marble floor. She curiously moved through the bead curtain, feeling the individual stones with her fingertips. She had seen these before. There, she found a pair of strange looking objects on the floor. She guessed these were supposed to slip on your feet. Sandals. She'd seen people wear these with a strange parting of toes at the front. She took off her rags and slipped on a hazel coloured toga. It was simple to assemble. It had two shoulder links made out of brass. Three holes – one large one for the head, two for the arms. The dress was long, it was just under her knees and you could wear it whatever way round you wished.

She left her bedroom and returned to the kitchen. She carefully picked up the tray that Lorna had thankfully lightened. Lorna called,

' Be careful!'

Sakura replied, ' I will'

She walked up the marble steps, trying to get accustomed to her new sandals. They felt so strange on her feet. She walked down the large corridor and came upon a wooden contraption. She cleared her throat,

' A tray!' She said. 'For you. Master Kano' Sakura said nervously. She heard footsteps and the wood slid away to the right. Sakura was taken back. Strange device this. A sliding blind door made out of pinewood.

' Oh thank you Sakura' He took the tray and walked in. Sakura, hungrily looked inside the room and her jaw dropped.

Never in my life had I seen so many papers in my life. Stacks and stacks, rows upon rows. I had to resist the urge to sprint in and dive into all that parchment. My eyes were obviously wide open and with my gawking jaw, Kano instinctively replied,

' Something wrong Sakura?'

I could instantly tell it was wrong for a slave to stare so I shook my head vigorously before running away. Kano shrugged whilst indulging himself in his canomile tea, nicely lined with a porcelain cup.

I gradually became accustomed to the many tasks within the household. I avoided the kitchen at all costs because the…well, fire and burning…creatures.. I couldn't stand it. Instead, I did most of the cleaning and dusting. I also arranged the flowers and it was said, I would eventually be given the privilege of walking to the market and buying goods for the kitchen. I snort. What a privilege.

Yului returned in a few days, without Syaoran much to my dismay. I sometimes used to wonder about him. Somewhere in my memory, he was there. But I could never quite put my finger on it. After a while, I put it away from my mind and continued with my chores. Yului's visits became less frequent and even though I asked about Syaoran's health, I would get the same reply 'He's fine. Doing well'. Yului could see me slotting into a normal lifestyle so within a few months. He almost stopped visiting all together. Maybe it was because he met Kano out in the drinking houses at night. Maybe it was because he had his hands full with Syaoran's training. I don't know. Nevertheless, life was becoming routine.

Although there was a minor problem I had. I had this bitter hunger for exploring that office. That library. My language had vastly improved and my village accent had largely disappeared apart from the frequent word. I hungered for knowledge n the area of my arts. I wanted to see but I didn't dare because the other slaves said it was strictly prohibited. Day on day I used to give him trays of tea and memorize in my mind a section of the office with its teeming parchment supply. I wanted a pen! I wanted a blank parchment! Or even better, I wanted a parchment with writing already on it.

One night, when Kano had left to the drinking house so I thought, I quietly sat up on my bed. It was rock solid and my back ached a little but that was nothing in comparison to my adrenaline and hunger. It was a bottomless pit of starvation in my mind. I swung my legs around silently and bare foot, slipped through the bead curtain as quietly as I could. I could hear the snoring of Lorna next door and this partially covered the sound of the beads twittering. It was the dead of night.

With my blood pounding in my ears, I swiftly traveled across the floor. I cannot tell how many times I doubted myself and wished to go back but I pushed myself further and further. I flew up the steps and with my back pressed against the wall, I tip toed down to the office entrance. My eyes were wide and I tried to keep my breathing as quiet as possible. My heart was beating hard against my rib cage and I feared someone may have heard it. My hand reached up and I touched the wood. Then my senses got over me and I returned back to bed.

This happened many a time. It became almost a ritual. It used to satisfy me temporarily but a few weeks later..

' Sakura. I'll be away for a few days discussing matters in the city. Attend the house floors and…'

I couldn't resist. I slipped into the office and my hands begun to tremble. He wouldn't be here and even so, even if he was here, he wouldn't notice a few volumes going missing. I stepped over and felt the silky touch of the parchment between my fingers. Eagerly, I took a large chunk for he would never know. I kept looking around in the shadows of the office to make sure no one had seen. The desk was a ghostly silhouette and the open window showed the numerous bright stars. Mother….

No time for that I thought. I took a large armload and left the office. I swiftly returned to my room and placed them under my bed with the cloth cover over, so they should not be seen. As soon as I had done that and stood back, marveling my accomplishment, the bead curtain shifted and I leapt out of my skin.

There stood Zara with an inquisitive look.

' I just wanted some water' I said softly. Zara growled and pushed me back onto the bed. I shook with fear, had she seen? Was she going to tell Maeko? Was she going to tell Kano? What would they do? Beat me? Sell me off?

But Zara just gave me a glance out of the corner of her eye and left. The beads rippled and rattled after her. I couldn't help but smile. I'd done it! I shivered with excitement and under the moonlight, with my back facing the bead curtain door, lest someone comes in – I began reading. Guess I'd chosen politics. There were large words in there and sentences I didn't understand but I set about as hard as I could to learn…

For months and months I did this. I hid the guilty look on my face as best as I could. I begun to befriend Tomoyo at the briefest of moments but Maeko kept her away from me as much as possible. Occasionally, when she wasn't looking, she'd pass me a small bit of parchment. I'd go away and read it intently. We used to discuss little matters, like the family and important events coming up, what our favourite colour was etc. She made my life all the more bearable because she was my only real human contact. Everyone else was a world apart and had a higher status mentally than me. Tomoyo and I were on equal footing in our likes and dislikes. Age might have played a factor but we shared common grounding on disliking pain. We both despised Zara. Zara used to brush Tomoyo's hair in the morning and ordered me around. We both understood why we both hated her.

I learnt to write thanks to her. I gradually developed my own handwriting.

Time passed and I was gradually passing through the parchments at the office. I'd read about poets, literature, history, geography, new inventions and politics! This was the world I lived in. Back at the village, we had none of this!

My little patch of garden that I visited as much as possible was still bare although I sometimes grew lavender for various things. I would have loved herbs of my own!

Birthday's passed. They weren't that special. I don't remember when I was born and even so, I don't remember celebrating my birthday either. I was born sometime during August, when flowers were in full bloom and warmth enveloped the lands.

There was the occasional banquet in which I had a special bath and I served foods, turning up my nose to extravagant meats such as peacocks – such beautiful creatures wasted..

One day …

Tomoyo shouted, 'Sakura! The door!'

' Hold a minute Tomoyo' Sakura called. She ran over to the door and opened it,

' Yes? How may I help you Sir?'

Sakura was stunned. 'Yului? Sir?'

He hadn't visited for so long. It had been years. And who was that behind him? None other than his son Syaoran. Sakura blushed instantly but collected herself and opened the door.

' Come in' She mumbled. Yului smiled,

' How beautiful and humble you have grown my dear. Is Kano in?'

At that very moment, Kano walked over roaring with laughter and they hugged, patting each other's backs.

'Long time no see my friend! How was that expedition in the San mountains?'

' It was most interesting. Syaoran learnt the martial arts and refined his kills there most infinitely!' Yului referred to his son.

' Glad to hear!' Kano smiled. He looked at Syaoran. ' How you have grown!'

' Thank you sir'

Sakura was stunned. His voice was lower than before. He had developed muscle from his expedition and he had obviously been tamed with a haircut. The boy before looked like a mere shadow in comparison to him now. His eyes were fiery and this daunted Sakura heavily. Sakura became self-conscious and put a hand over the branding on her arm. She'd grown accustomed to hate it because it instantly degraded her to everyone else.

Syaoran's eyes flickered over Sakura but he kept his sight straight. Sakura bowed her head before retreating and her nerves jittering.

Yului called,

' Wait Sakura! I need to talk to you for a moment. I would like to ask you if you would come to my villa for a while. You will learn the further arts of a slave'

Arts? What arts are there?! How to clean the floor with the back of your hand? Or Standing?

Sakura stopped dead. ' But Sir..'

Kano raised an eyebrow,

' We require her services here friend! I was not notified of this ' He stated.

' Ah but Kano, this is for the hm hm. You know who!' Yului winked.

' The Em..oh..why of course. That would be no problem' Kano laughed.

Sakura turned white. Her library! Tomoyo! Everything she loved here! Her garden!

' It will only be for a while. I assure you' Yului smiled….

' Oh God' Sakura shuddered. 'I have to live with Syaoran. Why am I unable to cope with this?'

Maybe it was because he had that edge of fire in his personality and appearance. He had an aura of something. Oh how wrong I was!!!!

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Yay! So Sakura and Syaoran finally meet. Hehe fireworks for next chapter!

Oh and to that email! This is like a small history. We shall dive into the main story of hero Syaoran and heroine Sakura saving things once the major tragedy happens ; ) Time will catch up and already is! Oh yes and naturally..Sakura and Syaoran will hate eachother at first : ) I mean, they both represent the opposite ideals ; ) opposites attract baby!! lol

Please review :D –insert cheesy pose here-

Love Lea xXx

p.s. Kero is being introduced. Is there anyone else anyone wishes me to add?