Hi, I'm back. don't own CCS OR CC so don't rub it in. quick and easy, on with the chapter…

Sakura's life is tangled and broken. The Ghost returns to her every night and she can't escape his clutches.

Along comes a stranger, handsome, cool, he is Sakura's only way out. While Sakura chases the Shadows of her Past, Syaoran Li is determined to chase her.

A Father. A daughter. A stranger. And unspoken secrets.

It all began one night when I was nearly seven years old. The torture that ruined my life. I curled up in my bed and went to sleep. I don't know how long I lay there, but suddenly I was awake. It was dark and the house was quiet but there was a noise at hand. Feet were pacing slowly out side my door. I made a small squeaking cry, but it wasn't loud enough to draw any attention or wake any of my family up. Eventually, the footsteps left, but the memory of them sent chills down my spine the next morning as I leapt out of bed and ran into Julian's room.

"There were footsteps outside my room last night." I told him, curling up in his embrace. But my brother shook his head and reassured me that no one could get in. The next night I was happier, and fell asleep with ease. But I woke suddenly, just like the night before. The footsteps were louder somehow as they paced back and forth. I curled up in my bed, terrified to move, breathe, to call out. I wanted to shout, but I was terrified. Slowly, the door opened. The Ghost trespassed into my dreams, made a draught on the pillow. Then it drew away. With my eyes open, the Ghost that had visited my sleep still in the room, I called for my family, but only a whisper escaped me. The place by my bed became empty again and the quiet seeped back. I was young and terrified. I must have done something naughty, I thought, to have a ghost come to me at night. I tried to be good, but the Ghost never went away. I wanted to scream and cry out to my family, but this was my punishment, mom must have sent it to punish me for killing her.

And when it had gone, had at last taken away its cold and dribbling fingers, I sat with my knees drawn up to my chest and my night gown pulled over my feet, rocking back and forth.

I did speak up once to the Ghost, one night when for the first time it spoke. It had called me 'My Precious,' and used Father's voice. I was outraged. The Ghost was stealing my Father's identity. And so, mustering up all the courage I had, I whispered,

"I'll tell."   

"What shall you tell?" the Ghost asked, its breath close to my ear.

"I'll tell how you come with fingers and lips. I shall tell that you are very bad because you pretend to be Father."

"And whom shall you tell?" the voice breathed against my cheek. I shuddered but boldly replied,

"I shall tell Julian and Touya and Tomoyo and Father. I shall tell whoever will listen."

I did try once; I did try to stop it. Once, so long ago.

The Ghost had stroked me, running his icy fingers over my young body as it answered,

"You must not tell, this is our secret. If you break it, you will pay the penalty. I have many in store. Perhaps one day I will show you. Then you will never be tempted to disclose this secret so special to us."

I had never spoken out again, too afraid, too young.

The next morning, Wednesday morning, I was sat out in the fields on the snow. My knees drawn up to my chest, I buried my face in my arms and cried. I was old enough now, old enough to stop it. I should have cried out, but I couldn't. It had happened all over again the night before and I hadn't had the courage to stop it. My childhood fears still acted heavily on what I did when the Ghost returned to my bed. Only now I knew who he was. The purple rings around Father's eyes every morning after the Ghost had appeared, his voice, and his touch. I had realised when I was ten, the year Syaoran had left. But still I hadn't been able to defy him. As the years wore on, I knew he knew that I knew, but that didn't stop him. All the years and the best I could do to rebel was have a shower. And cut myself. I sickened myself, not having the will to stand up to him. But every time I tried my words stuck in my throat and there was nothing I could say.

As my tears lessened I took out a small blade from my pocket and drew small lined on my arms. The blood seeped out as I made the cuts, my hands shaking, and my eyes wild with hatred. I was dirt. There was bad blood inside of me. The cutting helped me get rid of it, drain it away. Blood stained the pure snow as I watched it drip down my arm. The blade had been put away. Why couldn't I escape? Get away from him? But I knew he would find me again, they all would. No one would understand why I ran away, and I couldn't tell them. No one knew the real Aiden Avalon like I did. To everyone else, he was the university professor, the kindest man in the world, devoted to his family. If only they knew how devoted.

Wiping my tears I stood up from my seat in the snow and turned back towards home. It was lunchtime. As I climbed the path I saw a silver car drive away and Meilin leaning on the doorframe, waving. Her eyes were dreamy and I knew that yet another of her admirers had come. Ignoring her I slipped through the door.

"You'll never guess who's been here?!" Meilin squealed as she followed me in. Again, I ignored her. She'd tell us anyway, even if we said no. Tomoyo looked up from her sewing and raised an eyebrow.

"Who?" she asked, good-naturedly. Meilin looked so happy that I was sure she was going to die and go to heaven right before our eyes. Touya and Julian were setting the table and rolling their eyes at each other as Eriol sat in a chair with the evil smirk he always wore. I settled down on the window seat, away from everyone else and watched the snow fall.

"Syaoran Li!" she replied, spinning around and collapsing on the sofa. I stiffened. He'd seen my scars and cuts. What if he'd told them? But as Meilin began to talk about how cute he was and that he'd got a silver jaguar, but still had a job at the shop because he wasn't 'too snobby', I knew that if he had, I would have been centre of attention. I didn't want that, I wanted to be on my own. When Meilin had finished and sighed like she was on cloud nine, Julian leant against the fireplace and smiled at her.

"What did he come for?"

That stumped Meilin, and if I ever laughed then I would have just then by the look on her face. I knew that look. He had come to see someone else. Too bad Tomoyo had already got a boyfriend, which must have been why he left so early. But, to my surprise, Meilin turned her fiery gaze to me. Uh oh.

"He came to see Sakura." She told everyone bitterly. I blinked at them all in bewilderment than felt my heart beat faster. No, no, no, this was not good. Father came in then, carrying a bowl of potatoes.

"What's going on?" he asked, watching us all. I shuddered. That voice, it was the voice of my nightmares. Thankfully, his eyes never stopped at me.

"It seems a boy has got a crush on our little squirt." Touya smirked. I curled up into a tighter ball as I watched Father turn his gaze as well to me. No one could see his eyes, but I could. They held anger and jealousy and hatred. I swallowed the fear down and looked away, trying to lessen my trembling.

Night had fallen heavily on Tomoeda and all the lights had gone out. I had my knees tight against my chest and the covers wrapped tightly around me. I was shaking, my eyes wide with fear and hate and disgust. I wished Syaoran had never come; he had made my life a whole lot worse. The Ghost had been angry that I had attracted a boy, jealousy over powering him. Everything had been harsher, rougher. He had hit me, squeezed me, but still I hadn't cried out. The first light of dawn was creeping through the window and I slipped out of bed and dived into the shower, scrubbing myself and wincing as I came over the many bruises he had given me. I'd had bruises before, and when people noticed Father had told them that I was clumsy and fell. They didn't ask any more. Why doubt the word of Aiden Avalon? The kind man who would never hurt a fly, never lied or cheated? I closed my eyes and leant against the shower wall, my tears mingling with the hot water. I couldn't go on like this, I had to get away. It didn't matter if they brought me back, I couldn't care anymore, and if they did bring me back it would be in a coffin. Leaping out of the shower I pulled some clothes on and stuffed some more in a rucksack. In an instant I was out of the door and running. The snow had melted slightly, and so it was easy to move. I didn't care where I was going, just as long as it ended my torment. I sped off the path and straight into the road. I was greeted by the terrifying squeal of brakes.

Oh no…poor Sakura. Got depressed yet? Keep reading, you will by the end. Anyway, review, review. I really want to know what my readers think of my work! So pppppplllllllllleeeaaaaassssseeeee review!

Mini_Deamon@btopenworld.com

Thankyou, I'll look forward to reading them! And I'll reply!

Sakura_Free_Spirit