Author's Notes: Hi peeps! Sorry for the delay, though I know this is not one of my highest rated stories

(you could change that ya know!). Please do not point out how historical inaccurate this is, because I'm so

painfully aware of it myself. You try doing the research and then you can complain. I should, and I mean

might, be getting the sequel to The Emperor and I out by the end of August, but I'm so busy. Not much

more to say. As always, CCS no belong to me, belong to CLAMP, so read, enjoy, and know I'm too lazy to

make up my own characters! (Plus I love CCS!). -Anrui

Sakura watched him secretly from a distance and touched her mouth lightly. Gathering her courage, she stepped forward slowly, only the soft crunch of the hay beneath her boots betraying her. He turned to her, and she stopped, gazing at him solemnly. "I…I," Sakura bit her lip and looked down, "I do not know what to say to you."

"Say nothing," his voice was flat, "There is nothing to say."

"How can you say that?" she asked distraught, "I have only known you for yet a day, and already I feel as if… as if my heart would break without you."

Li moved towards her and brought her head up with a finger, "You know as well as I do that this wouldn't be good for either of us. It is but yet a day. Give it another and then another after that. Make sure that you'd be willing to lose everything you have before you speak to me like that. If given the chance I would take you, and in that case it's best not to offer…" He kissed her, more lightly than before, and then turned to go back to his work.

Sakura stared after him dazed. She couldn't help but stand there silent as what he said sunk in. Her father would never forgive her the love of someone from the lower class. There were, too, stories of people who ruin each other, not for love, but for want of something they couldn't have. But she felt so instinctively drawn to him…

Shaking her head, she took up a brush and gently stroked Claire's snow white fur. "I suppose… I suppose I need know you if such a decision were to be reached… if I were to give up my days unto pondering. I wish that I might sleep again and fear that I might not."

"Fine then. What do you wish to know?" Li asked, not even glancing up.

"What of your family?"

"My mother went to live with her brother when my father was put into prison. My uncle was a cruel man, and I took his abuse until I couldn't bear it anymore. I packed up, left, and ended up in the streets of the city. My poverty, though, is not that uncommon," he finally met her eyes, "I've seen many things in the streets of Paris that are unfit to tell a lady."

She shuddered but asked innocently, "Are there that many in such straits?"

Li sighed, "Yes."

Sakura's hand paused its brushing. "How is it?" she whispered, "That I could have so much, when there are so many with none? I would that the money was spread out equally, so that I should not have more than I deserve as I do now." She put her head in her hands, covering her face, "I've said too much. Father would have me for such words." Li went over and held her tightly as she fought the tears in her eyes, "I am no better off than they are. I shall be sold to some old man with enough money and spend my time unable to do anything but sit in a chair wasting my life away. Is there any more misery in being poor than that?"

"You do not know of poverty. Of being hungry for days and then when you finally get something to eat it is not even fit for dogs. You've not seen the little children working so that their parents can simply get by and the people that would lick wine out of the gutter if they found it there. I had always thought it was better to be rich, but I guess that's not always the case," He played with one of the strands of hair framing her face, "If I could make it better I would."

Trying to be brave, she answered, "I would that I could make things better for you." Sakura's eyes were soft as she looked up and laid a hand on his cheek, "More than anything."

"Sakura," her father called from outside, "You need to come in. We have a visitor."

She pulled reluctantly away from Li, "Coming Papa!"

Aiden was waiting at the door for her, "Why were you not in the house? You're a lady, not a mouse to hide in the barn."

"I was just settling in a new servant," Sakura told him quietly, "It is nothing much."

Aiden took her hand, "Sakura, do not be angry for the way I have acted with you. You are my daughter, and I love you, but I simply can't abide by the behavior you've been exhibiting lately."

Sakura yanked her hand away from him and turned back to the house, "I understand, Papa." Her voice was cold, and she left him standing there as she entered the foyer. Sakura kept her features unnaturally calm as she glided down the hallway. It was a far cry from the woman she had been a minute ago, whose composure was lost upon her tumultuous heart. She was again a noble woman, "Genevieve, fetch me the new dress I got last week at the market. I need to prepare before I am presented to guest."

The maid, who had been on her way to hang the laundry to dry, stopped and curtsied to her mistress, "As you wish, Mademoiselle."

Sakura listened to the door shut as her father entered, and she smiled as a gleam came into her eyes, "Never mind that, Genevieve. I shall go in like this."

"But… but Mademoiselle!" the maid stuttered, "Your father shall throw a fit!"

"Let him," she brushed a piece of hay off her skirt, "It is nothing I have not seen before."

In the room where her mother was waiting for her, Sakura spotted a young, silver-haired man. Natasha stood as her daughter entered, a disappointed look crossing her face at her appearance, and then said softly, "This is Julian Star, a friend of your father's."

Sakura gazed upon this man for a moment. "I am really pleased to meet your acquaintance," Julian said with the tints of another accent in his voice. She smiled, liking the man despite herself.

"Julian trades with the Americas," Natasha explained. Her fan darted to and fro in front of her face, "His father was a respectable member of the clergy before he passed away."

"Did you hear of the Bastille being stormed the night before?" Julian inquired, "It was heard to be quite messy. Many fear it is a true start to the Revolution that has been afoot."

Natasha laughed uneasily, "That is all such rubbish, and besides, we women really don't mess with those matters."

"It is a pity," Sakura interrupted, turning to face Julian, "That the present system can not be abolished without bloodshed…" Natasha turned pale and drooped down to her chair. At that moment, Aiden stepped in pausing all conversation.

Aiden put his hands behind his back, "So what, pray, have I missed since my absence."

Julian scanned the room and then rested his eyes on some far off point, "Your daughter was just expressing her wish for no violence."

"Why act so coy then? It is a natural tendency…"

Natasha stood up, "She also has expressed her support of a revolution."

Aiden gave his daughter a cold glance, "I see…" He stepped over and took her roughly by the arm, "If you would please excuse me, Monsieur Star, I request a moment to speak with my child."

Julian jumped to his feet, "I meant the girl no trouble!"

Aiden shook his head, "It is not you who brings her trouble. She finds enough of it on her own." With that he pulled Sakura roughly into the hall. She feel upon the floor, supported by only her hands. "Why are you so set upon disobeying me!?!" His voice echoed across the hall.

"I only speak of the truth…" she stopped as he threw a vase to the ground just beyond her.

"Would you stop it with your truths, Sakura? Are you God to know such things as truth? You are but a young lady, and just what do you think that you know of the world? Have you seen anything beyond this city, beyond this country? Do you think that the bourgeoisie could keep you safe from the cruel hands of the British without the upper class? Or do you harbor the opinion that the peasants could?"

"The Americans were not rich, and yet they won their independence," Sakura defended.

"Not many wars turn towards the favor of the under-advantaged. The country of France was set up for the people's good before they started demanding bread and all that sort. It is not our fault that they cannot take care of themselves. Yet look what is happening around us with all these councils… it will all lead to naught. Your precious revolution, Sakura, would take everything we have! Can you not forget it for that?" Aiden appeared almost exhausted now, and his voice was almost pleading.

Sakura lifted herself from the floor with as much dignity as she could muster, "And what is my life for freedom?"

Aiden remained silent and did not bother to look at her as he made his way back to their guest. She stared after him, wondering why that hurt more than all his harsh words.

-----

Sakura walked out again in the dimming light of dusk and entered the stables once again, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders to protect her from the cold. Li walked out to meet her, his features half hidden by the thick shadows. She fell against him weeping, "Why does everything hurt so much?"

He remained silent, placing a arm firmly around her. When Sakura looked up into his eyes he whispered, "I don't know."

She stood up on the tips of her toes and kissed him softly, feeling him loosen up. "I love you, Li, I love you. It wouldn't matter if I were poor or the whole world were to fall on my head, I love you," Sakura professed as they parted, "I would give up everything for you. Compared to you it is nothing at all…"

He put a finger to her mouth, "Do not talk of love when all you feel is pain. I am not leaving until you tell me. I will wait, and then someday, when I believe that you have made your decision on not just one moment, but the careful contemplation of many, then I will let you have me completely. I have not felt for anyone in my whole life the way I feel for you. Despite the short time I've known you, I care for you to much to do anything that might harm you. Sakura, you say what you feel, but I think that your life and your parents aren't as bad as you think."

She stepped back, "Do you think then that I am just a silly girl?"

"I did not say that."

"Then what did you mean? Are all decisions to be thoughts about over and over until none of it makes any sense any more? What if I want now, instead of tomorrow or the day after that? Would you deny me the days that I could have with you because you think that it would protect me?" Sakura shook her head as he came closer, "I know I shouldn't get close to you! But it doesn't matter, I am! I wonder if I ever wasn't! I'd give up anything for you! Anything! Even the money or the servants or the elaborate dresses…" She paused for a moment as wiped the tears from her eyes, "Even the Revolution that has been so long in coming. I would give up the welfare of all of France for you."

Li remained silent for a moment and asked softly, "What are the dangers of such a love that can overtake a person this easily?"

The question caught her off-guard, and she calmed down enough to answer, "No more than the fear of loosing it."

He pulled her close and delicately brushed her lips before taking her mouth in a rough kiss. When she finally pulled away to get her breath, he told her, "It's not something you loose." Then Li left her standing on the street as he walked towards the house.