AN: Wheee! Chapter 6! ^-^ I think I'm having too much fun writing this story. I need to write my other stories! Ack!

Warning: A little bit of foul language (like one or two words, no biggie) and Tasuki and Miaka kawaiiness! Yay! A little bit of sensuality, not much.

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A twelve year old Sakura laughed as she watched tv. Her feet were dangling carelessly over the arm of the couch. Her back was propped up with two pink and purple pillows that matched the sofa slip. A loud bang was heard from behind her and the front door swung open.

'Strange, Okaa-san isn't supposed to be back for another hour.' Sakura turned and gasped as a man barged into her house. She scrambled off the couch and ran to the corner, trembling. The man took another step in, breathing heavily into his ski mask. Sakura whimpered and shrank back. The man's intense gaze landed on her and Sakura shrieked in shock. He came barreling towards her, leaving her no means of escape.

"Okaa-san!" She screamed, crying as the man grabbed her roughly by the arm. She struggled against his grip, only causing more pain in her hand.

"Bitch." The man slapped her across the cheek. She stumbled out of his grasp and fell clumsily to the floor. The man got down on his knees and pulled her to him, roughly pressing his lips to hers. She punched and kicked, trying to break free. He only held her tighter. His hands roamed over her body and soon found their way up her skirt.

"Get away from my daughter!" A woman stepped into the house and the man pulled away from the young girl.

"Okaa-san!" Sakura clutched her ripped blouse to her chest and scrambled behind her mother.

"I already called the police and they're on their way." She warned, showing him the cell phone in her hand. He cursed under his breath and drew out a gun. Sakura whimpered and hugged her mom.

"Bitch. I'll kill you both right now!" He aimed the gun at Sakura and pulled the trigger.

"Sakura! Watch out!" Her mother pushed her out of the way. The bullet hit her in the chest.

"OKAA-SAN!!!" Sakura crawled over to her mom.

"You're next." The man aimed the gun at Sakura. She sat silently, waiting for her death blow.

"Freeze! Drop the gun!" An officer ran into the house, gun in hand. The robber made one attempt to shoot but the police officer knocked it out of his hands.

"Sa...kura?"

"Okaa-san!" Sakura grabbed her mother's hand. She opened her eyes and smiled.

"Silly Sakura. I told you to call the police if anything ever happened." She coughed.

"Okaa-san, gomen! I'll be careful next time! You'll see!"

"Sakura-chan, remember, I'll always be with you. Aishteru. Never give up...your dream." She winced, more blood pouring out of her wound.

"Okaa-san!" Sakura shook her head wildly.

"Sakura....will you please, play me a song?" Her mother smiled weakly. Sakura nodded and quickly ran into her room and appeared seconds later with her violin. Police officers had begun to enter the house now.

"We need an ambulance!" One yelled into a walkie-talkie. Sakura kneeled next to her mom.

"Which one, Okaa-san?" She sniffled.

"My favorite one. The one about the angel." She whispered. Sakura nodded and began to play. Her mother hummed along to the music.

"Hmmm hmm, hmm.....hmm...Sakura....?" She looked up at her daughter.

"H-hai?"

"I have to go now. I'll always be with you...Aish-ter-u, Sakura...chan...."

"Okaa-san!"

silence

"Okaa-san!?"

silence

"OKAA-SAN!!!"

"Come on, we need to get you out of here." A man gently took Sakura by the arm and pulled her away from her mother.

"Iie! Iie!!!" She tried to pull away, violin still in hand.

"IIE!!" She sobbed as they placed her in the back of a police car. She pressed her hands against the window and watched in horror as two men dressed in white carried away a stretcher with a body on it.

"What are you doing to her!? Stop it! Stop!!!" She pounded against the glass as the car began to pull away.

"Okaa-san!"

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"Okaa-san!" Sakura's eyes shot open and she sat up, panting.

"Sakura?"

"Iie! Iie!" Sakura held her hands to her head and began to rock back and forth.

"Sakura-chan! Calm down, no da. It was a dream!"

"A...d-dream?" She looked up uncertainly. Chichiri was the only one there with her, she noticed.

"Hai, you were calling out in your sleep, no da. What were you dreaming about?" He gently rubbed her back. Sakura collapsed into Chichiri's arms, surprising them both. Sobs wracked her body as she clung tightly to his shirt. Chichiri continued to rub her back and quietly assure her she was okay and it was all a dream. Her whole body trembled as she cried, the dream bringing back painful memories of her past which she had buried long ago.

"Sakura?"

By now Miaka and the six other seishi had appeared in the room. They watched the young girl and the monk with curiosity and worry. Miaka hesitantly approached the two and placed a hand on Sakura's back.

"Sakura? What's wrong?" Miaka gently pried as everyone watched. Sakura shook her head as she continued to cry.

"Can you guys leave for a minute? I want to talk to her." Miaka asked quietly. They nodded and left, except for the exception of Chichiri. He gently pulled her away from him and stood, heading towards the door.

"I'll call you when I'm done." Miaka assured the concerned seishi. He nodded and shut the door behind him, leaving the two girls alone. Sakura was curled into a ball, now crying silently.

"Sakura? What's wrong? We can't help you if you don't tell us." Miaka brushed back the hair that was stuck to Sakura's face. Small beads of sweat covered Sakura's body.

"I-I....." She couldn't bring herself to say it.

"You can trust me. I won't tell anyone else, I promise." Miaka soothed. Sakura looked up, her eyes uncertain and brimmed with fresh tears.

"I...want to tell you. I really do. But... It's too hard." Sakura admitted, ashamed of her childishness.

"This is eating you alive! It's not just now I've noticed it, but any time you speak of your violin! Please, I'm begging you, I want to help!" Miaka felt tears well up in her eyes. It hurt her to see her friend like this.

"Please don't cry, Miaka. I....Okay." Sakura lowered her eyes and took in a shaky breath before beginning.

"One day, this....man, broke into my house when I was young. My okaa-san wasn't home, so I was all alone. He found me.....and tried to take off my clothes." She took a deep breath before continuing.

"My okaa-san showed up before he could do much, and told him she already called the police. He took out a gun, and he...." She gulped and bit her bottom lip.

"....It was meant for me, It's all my fault! The bullet meant for me went straight through my okaa-san's chest!"

"Sakura!" Miaka had a hand to her mouth and her eyes were wide. Tears started flowing over them and onto her cheeks.

"That violin is the only thing I have left that reminds me of her. She gave it to me after she divorced my dad....." Sakura began to cry again as she wrapped her arms around her waist.

"You see this?" She asked suddenly, pulling out her arm. She lifted up the sleeve and showed Miaka the dimming scar.

"....Sakura! You-you....!?" Miaka was in shock. To think that this girl could have such a horrible past.

"...Hai. It seemed to be the only way at the time. But they found me." Sakura laid down on the bed and cried into her pillow.

"S-Sakura. I don't know.....I....."

"Leave."

"Nani?"

"Leave. I want to be alone." The words came out colder than she had meant. Miaka let out a choked sob and ran from the room.

"Gomen, Miaka."

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"Mi-chan?" Tasuki watched the Suzaku no Miko run down the hallway.

"Oi! Miaka! Wait up!" Tasuki ran after her, determined to find out what she was so upset about. Miaka collapsed in a clearing hidden by trees. Tasuki cautiously approached.

"Mi-chan?" He asked quietly. She either didn't hear him or showed no sign she knew he was there. He slowly walked in front of her and squatted.

"Miaka?"

She jumped and she looked up. Tears were still falling from her eyes. Tears of sorrow and confusion. Confused as to why Sakura had asked her to leave so coldly.

"W-what is it T-Tasuki?" Miaka sniffled as she looked into the fire seishi's eyes.

"Don't cry. I hate it when you do that." He used his thumb to wipe away some of her tears. Miaka hugged the seishi tightly and cried into his shoulder. He gently caressed her body to his as he whispered in her ear.

"Mi-chan, don't cry. What happened?" He slowly pulled back and kept his arms on her shoulders.

"Nothing." She muttered, wiping the remaining tears off her face.

"Two words for ya. B.S."

"Actually, you should say two letters." Miaka giggled lightly as she rubbed at her puffy eyes. Tasuki grinned, at least she wasn't crying.

"Now, tell me what happened." He asked seriously.

"I can't tell you everything. Sakura told me what was wrong....and then she just asked me to leave. But I guess I should have expected it, I mean, after all she had been through...." Miaka babbled, tucking some loose hair behind her ear.

"I'm sure she didn't mean it." Tasuki reasoned. Miaka nodded and stood. Tasuki did the same.

"I guess we should go back now." Miaka said quietly as she turned to go. Unfortunately, being the klutz she was trademarked to be, she tripped over a root. She shrieked out in surprise as she fell forward. She put her hands out in front of her and closed her eyes. Instead of meeting with the earth, she met with something soft. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up into a pair of bemused amber eyes.

"Baka." He chuckled as she blushed and pushed herself up.

"A-Arigatou." She stuttered, chewing on her bottom lip. Tasuki continued to stare. When Miaka felt his intense gaze, she looked up and gasped. He could feel her shallow breaths against his cheek and he fought back a groan. They were close. Tasuki slowly lowered his head, giving Miaka time to react. Miaka watched, shocked, as his lips came closer to hers. Before she had time to think, his lips came down onto hers in what at first was a seemingly innocent kiss. Both people let their eyes slide close as they savored the feelings it brought. Tasuki gently ran his tongue over her lips, coaxing her to open her mouth. She moaned and her lips parted, allowing Tasuki to explore her mouth. Her hands made their way to his hair and she hesitated before running them through it. Tasuki pulled her closer until her chest was against his. His hands lightly roamed up and down her back, causing Miaka to shudder. He gently nibbled on her bottom lip, causing gasps of pleasure to arise from Miaka's mouth.

"T-Tasuki...." Miaka whispered his name as he slowly began to trail kisses down her neck. Tasuki continued to plant kisses on her neck, savoring the sweetness of her skin.

"This is wrong." Tasuki reluctantly pulled back, surprised the words came from his mouth first and not Miaka's. Her eyes were still closed and she was panting. Somewhere during the kiss they had moved against a tree, one which Miaka was leaning against to support herself. Tasuki gently ran a finger over her swollen bottom lip, which caused Miaka to open her eyes. He slowly pulled back and they just stared unsure of what to do.

"...We should get back." Tasuki muttered. Miaka nodded and pushed herself off the tree now that her legs felt sturdier. She slowly followed Tasuki out of the clearing and back to the palace, neither saying a word.

"That bastard...." A man stepped out of the bushes, angrily gritting his teeth. Tasuki would pay.

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AN: Okay, who knows who the man in the shadows is!? ^-^ I had fun with this chapter. Anyway, I will write more, but first I should update the other stories. ^-^

~*Neoshipper*~