Disclaimer: I dun own CCS

Wei walked towards the kitchen, with Fu by his side, anxiety cleared shown on his face.

One would never think that Master Li would personally ask for a servant, much less a girl…To think that that old Master used to find pretty and gentle servants to serve Master Li, hoping that he would be softened by them, but time and time again, it had only proven that he treats everyone with the same coldness…Especially those that had a motive for getting near him… those girls always end up running away with tears on their faces… Wei thought to himself. Moreover, Master Li never had another servant except for Fu since young… I hope everything would be alright.

"Fu, are you sure that Master Li wanted a new servant?" unable to stop his curiosity, Wei asked again.

"Yes" Fu replied.

"Then… Why Sakura? She's new and doesn't know the rules."

Smiling, Fu tried to cover his master's true motives. I can't go around saying that Master wanted her because she's related to Master Eriol can I…"The new ones are the best, you can teach them yourselves."

Wei looked at him, knowing very well that there's something Fu's not telling. "Fu, tell me the truth. This morning you came to find me regarding Sakura, is it because Master Li had seen her before? To be precise, seen her before with Master Eriol."

"I suppose I could never hide anything from you Wei. Yes, last night Master Li saw her talking to Master Eriol by the backyard."

So that's why. Nothing unexpected. It about Master Eriol again… Haiix… Once anything gets ended up in between Master Li and Master Eriol, nothing good's going to come out of it. Wei thought. He felt sorry for Sakura, but there's nothing he could do. After all, he knew how hard Master Li's life was before; he can't blame him for his cynical way of thinking. Being the son of a mistress outside the mansion, he was never welcomed by the people in the mansion. Although Master Eriol did not directly bully him, but... he never helped him either. Maybe that's the reason Master Li hates him so. He thinks that all of his misfortune is due to Master Eriol's presence.

As he was still in his mind, the two of them reached the kitchens.

"Sakura, can you come over for a minute there?" Wei shouted into the kitchens.

Hearing someone call her name, Sakura put down the work on her hands and walked outside the kitchen.

"Oh, its you, Wei. What's the matter?"

"Sakura lets me introduce you to someone here. This is Fu, Master Li's personal servant."

Master Li? "Oh hi!" Sakura greeted him, unable to grasp the reason he's here. Then, she turned her attention back to Wei.

"Sakura, from tomorrow onwards, both of you would be in charge of serving Master Li."

With these words out of Wei's mouth, sounds of gasp were heard from everyone in audible range.

"What are you talking about? Sakura's so young, she couldn't withstand his temper!"

"Yes, he is such a weird guy, not to mention he's also such a loner! No one could ever bear with him. Whoever is willing to get close to him is just digging his own grave"

In a few seconds, all the people on the kitchens started talking.

Fu couldn't decipher much of what they are talking about, but there's one sentence that he clearly hear. Willing to get close to him is just digging his own grave"? "Who said that I'm digging my own grave? I've being serving Master Li for so many years already, have I died yet? Don't you all dare scare Sakura like that!"

True, I haven't died yet, but its all thanks to my skill of observation. Knowing what to say at the right time, but still its all thanks to the devilish training beside Master Li.

"Oh... Sakura, don't you worry about anything, I think you'll only last a few days before being chase… No... Before being sent back to the kitchens. After all, you're here because of Master Eriol so he'll look out for you and do something if he knows that you've being taken by Master Li."

Unfortunately, to the ears of all those in the kitchens, his supposedly comforting word are more scary than any other.

"Alright, we should be on our way now. Sakura, Fu will take you from now on, and you'll be reporting to Master Li tomorrow."

"Wei…but … but…I… I only know how to cook... I don't know anything else!!" Oh no… I should have listened to Wei the first time he told me not to get close to any of the Masters… Now I'm dead meat!! I'm not clever or observant... Is this place going to be my grave...? Hoooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…

"Don't need to worry, you silly girl. The pay and the status of a personal servant are both much better than just being an assistant cook. As long as you pay attention, and learn from Fu, nothing's going to go wrong" Wei reassured Sakura, patting her shoulder at the same time.

"But... But I'm only here for a short period of time. I would need to go back to my original job eventually." Shaking her head, Sakura tried to think of another reason to decline.

"What? You still want to quit after all this?"

"I…I…"

"All right, don't think about leaving already okay? Here in the Li mansion, you can surely earn more than you do before." Although Wei doesn't know what Sakura used to do, but he presumed that the pay should be better in the Li mansion, after all, there are not many places with pay higher than them.

"But…"

"No more buts... It's decided." Without hearing Sakura finish her sentence, Wei pushed her toward Fu.

Soft tempered and obedient Sakura had no choice, but to swallow her words and walk away with Fu.

Syaoran's POV

"Hi, my name is Ling. Are you alone? Let's play together!" a little boy ran over to another boy with messy amber hair sitting at one corner by himself.

"…Can I?" the little boy replied, lifting up his head.

"Sure… My friends are all over there! Come…" Pulling the boy sitting on the ground up and towards where all the other children are, Ling ran in front of him.

Suddenly, a huge hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Ling, pulling him away "Don't play with him, he's a bad boy..." leaving the amber haired boy all alone again, in the darkness…

No...No... Why? Why am I all alone again...? I don't want to be alone…

Then, in the hazy mist, he saw adults, talking and whispering to each other...

That boy, I heard that his mother was a whore and seduced the lord of the big mansion down the road…

I heard that she's a fox spirit…seducing men then robbing them of their money…

He's an illegitimate son… nobody to teach him any manners… I don't know what he will grow up to become... better not let our children near him…

Cannot let children get near him… who knows what he is thinking…

"STOP IT!!!" covering his ears, the little boy screamed into the darkness… only to have the darkness consumes him yet again. Then, softly, gently he hard a soothing voice.

"Syaoran… don't be angry… syaoran…" a pale image of a woman appeared.

"Mo... Mother? They made you cry again... those bastards…"

"Syaoran! Where did you learn those words?"

"Sorr… Sorry mother… As long as you don't cry… mother... please... I am willing to do anything to stop your tears… I don't need friends... please… don't cry anymore…Please... I am sorry mother…"

"No syaoran... I should be the one saying sorry... sorry that you need to endure all of these because of me... sorry…"

"Mother…Mother? Mother!!!" the young boy shouted as her image faded away into the darkness.

In the darkness… he could no longer find the comforting image of his mother yet he searched endlessly for it. Just as he was about to give up, he saw a few figures coming into view.

"Are you Syaoran?" the figures asked.

"Ye..Yes..."

"Our master has orders to bring you into the mansion. Since your mother disappeared for so long, he feels that it in his responsibility to take care of you, even though you are only an illegitimate son of our Master." Saying these words, they reached out for the young boy's hands and dragged him forcefully away.

"My mother di...died? NO! You are just trying to separate us right? My mother promised never to leave me!! No!! Stop dragging me away... I don't want to go... Let me wait for my mother here! If she comes back, she doesn't know where to find me!! LET GO!!"

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

With himself drenched in cold sweat, Syaoran woke up from his deep slumber. Damned... that dream again... I thought it stopped after a year I got here... Yes... It stopped after I made my decision to take away everything that Eriol possessed. If he loved a woman, than I will take that woman from him. I will have my vengeance…

Getting up from his bed, Syaoran looked out of the window. It'll be dawn soon. I might as well get up and start my morning routine… Pushing away his deepest fears and memories, he walked out of his chambers towards the training room. I will become stronger… for I only have myself to depend on…

Sakura's POV

Walking towards the chambers of Li, Sakura gulped. I'm seeing Master Li for the first time. Don't be nervous… don't be nervous... She mentally chanted.

Finally, after walking with Fu by her side for a seemingly long time, they stopped.

"Master Li, Sakura has being brought here." Fu said.

Sakura lifted up her head, trying to get a glimpse of the Master but only ended up staring into his back. The cold and hard back of Li Syaoran. Then, he turned around. What met Sakura's eyes was a handsome young man with piercing amber eyes, seemingly able to see into your darkest thoughts and a head of unruly messy chestnut brown hair. Sakura could not help but stared into his face.

Syaoran looked at Sakura's stunned face and unconsciously looked into her eyes. Suddenly, something seemed to snap in him. The innocence in those eyes, the innocence he lost long ago. Chey… What am I thinking… Then he pressed his lips together into a tight line, clearly spelling out annoyance.

"You are called Sakura?" Syaoran asked, breaking the silence.

Suddenly being pulled out of her trance, Sakura immediately blushed a bright red. "Yes, I am." She replied, averting her eyes to look at the ground.

"Alright, you'll start your jobs tomorrow. Unless I call for you, never come into my room. Is that understood?"

"Yes."

Giving Sakura one more glance, Syaoran studied her features. A cute petite nose and full lips. Then, he can't help but notice her eyes again. Two bright emerald eyes with such depth and clarity. Well, she's actually quite cute herself. But, as compared to the other woman around Eriol, she is not even striking, so why would Eriol notice her? How did she come to know Eriol?

Feeling herself being stared at, Sakura started feeling uneasy. She is no breathtaking beauty or anything, and now that the person staring at her is her Master… She stared feeling even more out of place.

"How did you know Eriol?" Syaoran suddenly asked, sitting down on a chair.

"Hoe??" Not understanding what was being asked, Sakura could only stare at Syaoran without a clue.

"Don't let me repeat myself, how did you come to know Eriol?"

"Eriol? Master Eriol? I've only met him once at the backyard."

"Don't be ridiculous. If you don't know him, then why would he introduce you to work here?" Syaoran retorted, narrowing his eyes.

"No... No... Really… Aunt Sonomi asked me to work here. Maybe she knows Master Eriol." Sakura tried to explain herself, thinking if she could clear up this misunderstanding then she could go back to the kitchens safely.

"Oh?" Syaoran replied absentmindedly. Even though Eriol was always smiling and talking politely to everyone he met, he never one to really care about anyone from the bottom of his heart. It was only his brought up that makes him seem friendly, only a facade. It is impossible for him to be chatting so amiably with a girl whom he met for the first time; especially he is still holding her hand so tenderly. Impossible!

"Please believe me. I only met Master Eriol for one time. Please… It only a misunderstanding." seeing that the Master did not have much reaction, Sakura tried to impose her point again. Looking at the Master with her crystal clear emerald eyes, she hoped that he would see the truth.

"A misunderstanding? Who do you think you are? You are but a servant, a nobody, and not even pretty. Why would I do that?" Syaoran replied sarcastically.

Shocked to hear such words, Sakura suddenly realized her position in the Li mansion. A nobody… yes… only a toy to be toyed around by those in power. Well… everyone was destined to live different lives when they were born… Maybe my status is low and but a servant, I earn everything that I have by my hard work. And that is nothing to be ashamed of! But… Master Li… he… he seemed to have a hard life even in such a rich and glamorous place… living in a hostile environment since the tender age of ten is sure to be hard, especially without anyone to care for him. No wonder his heart is filled with so much bitterness and hatred…

Sakura had heard many stories of this Master Li ever since she came into this place. She never thought much of it at first, but… but when she saw him for the first time, she couldn't help but let an image of a little boy growing up in the midst of rejection, insults and humiliation from the adults surface in her mind. Then, this image would overlap with one of a little girl sitting alone on the streets with the same rejection, insults and humiliation thrown at her. So this is how he truly feels.

"If Master Li could understand, then I would have nothing to worry anymore."

Looking at the girl in front of him, Syaoran tried to mask the surprise trying to appear on his face. With such insults thrown right in the face like that, how could she remain so calm? If she were any other servant girl, she would already be running away, with tears pouring down her face. Maybe... Maybe this Sakura girl is not as simple or normal as she seems to be at first glance.

When Syaoran was still deep in thought, he suddenly heard footsteps nearing his chambers.