Chapter 2

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~*Flashback To Previous Chapter*~

Sonomi handed the money to Fujitaka, when Sakura was able to stand; she lifted her beaten up face, and gazed murderously at every one of them including Fujitaka. When she finally say something she said "you'd be sorry. You'll all be sorry for ever treating me this way, I'll get my revenge, when the victories are mine, I'll laugh while watching you people suffer!" She took the money from Fujitaka, and throw it high up in the air, while it's falling down, she said " one day, I'll be back, and get my revenge. (Looking at Fujitaka) I'll never accept your money, EVER again, you hurt me, and you break the only connection we had as a family. You're not my father, I don't ever want to see you again!!!! With that, Sakura run out of the mansion, and into the rain, taking her beaten up body and use her determination to get home, the only place she'll felt warm and comfort, because there's the only person, who's waiting for her to come back to her. She'll care for her, love her, and do anything for her. That only person is her wonderful mother Nadeshiko.

~*End Of Flashback*~

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First Meeting And A Little Misunderstanding

While Sakura was running out of the Kinomoto residence, it was still raining very hard, everyone in the Kinomoto residence was still shocked at Sakura's speech. Tomoyo watching the whole scenes displayed before her eyes, she felt really bad for Sakura, and this feeling only children whose been thorough these would understand. So, she decided she's going to help them, after all, aunt Nadeshiko have taken care of her, when her own mother was busy. She quietly slipped away from her family, and went up stair, she took everything that are worth of money, collected them in a bag, and ready to give to them, without her mother knowing.

Back To Where Sakura Is...

When Sakura run out of the Kinomoto residence, a wave of anger, hatred, disappointment and pain went through her, her body ached, and her heart broke. Her father was cruel enough to beat her up with the horse rope he had always carried when he goes for battles. Sakura was so deep in her thought, she didn't noticed a young man riding a bike was heading towards her, and so she collapse to the cold, wet and solid ground.

~Sakura's POV~

I was engaged in my thought I didn't noticed a bike was heading towards me. When I finally realized, it was too late, the bike is only a short distance away from me. The person whose riding the bike saw me too late, due to the pouring rain, the person quickly turned the back to his left/my right. But the person was not quickly enough, so the bike's tire wheel scraped my legs a bit, so I lost my balance and falls hard on the cold, wet and solid ground. Just when I thought I was already wet enough as it is. The person quickly put down his bike, and headed toward me, I barely saw his face, but figure it was a young man my age, he kneeled a bit, so he's in my level, and he carefully help me up, and asked me.....

~Syaoran's POV~

I was on my way back home, but it was pouring rain outside, I was soaked inside out. So, when I was near the Kinomoto residence, meaning I'm close to getting home, I hurried up a bit, but I didn't see a girl in front of me, and I was heading towards her direction. When I'm able to see I quickly turned the bike to the left, but the girl still got hit, and fell to the ground. I was worried, I hope I didn't hit her too hard, and prayed that she's okay. So, I quickly put my bike on the side, and carefully help the girl up, not knowing where I have hit her. Seeing, she had scratches everywhere, and a lot of bruises, her face are bleeding under the skin; I panicked, knowing that the bike didn't cause these. I know that it might not be appropriate to ask, but I asked anyway, seeing her condition "Miss, you're hurt everywhere, are you okay? I'm sorry I wasn't looking, I'll bring you to the hospital."

~End of POVs~

"It's okay, you didn't hit me. Just leave me be." Sakura wobbly stand up and fell again. "Seeing you like this, I couldn't bare to leave you here, did you had any accident?" Sakura looked down at herself, she really is a mess. Mom would be worried, I can't let her see me like this, maybe this stranger could help me, thought Sakura. "You don't need to take me to the hospital, just could you help me find a place where I can rest for a little while?"

"Hmm....my place is near, I can help you tended your wounds, why don't you come with me?" Seeing the look on her face, he quickly added "don't worry, I'm not a bad guy, I'm just worried about your condition". She finally asked me " you don't even know me, why do you bother helping me?" Syaoran answer "because your hurt, and I need to help you, it's not right to leave a girl with bruises everywhere in this kind of weather. If you come with me and let me help you tend your wounds, your family wouldn't be so worry about you."

~Sakura's POV~

I was shocked to hear those words coming from a stranger, when my own family beats me up, well technically my family, but now, it'll be ex-family, I never wanted to have any connections towards those "people". I managed a small smile for him, "thank you, my mom is still waiting for me, I can't let her see me like this, she'll get a heart attack. Okay, I'll come to your house, it couldn't be worse than the weather". He smiled caringly at me, I can't help even in this condition, so I blushed a bit, my heart told me that I can trust this kind-hearted stranger. So, he help me get on to his bike, lent me his rain jacket and hat and take me to a small apartment building, I keep following not wanting to get lost, the place is 10x bigger than where mom and I live. Soon, we are only the fourth floors, stopped at room #436. He unlocked the door, and invited me in; the place is pretty clean for a male that lived with his friend that's what he told me. All and all, the place gives a very comfy and warm feeling, although it's very masculin, but what do you expect for a place that's filled with 2 boys. While I was deep in thought, I bump into a punching bag, he leads me to a room, and give me some clothes to change, and goes outside, before he go, I said "Thank you, ermm...". He smiled and said in return "my name is Syaoran Li, miss." "Ah, Thank you Mr.Li." "You're welcome Miss, you go change, I'll wait outside, and if you need anything just called me." I nodded, he left, so I take a look at the room, its very clean, organized and green. I take it, Mr. Li must really like green, and the shirt he lends me to change is green, his bed sheets, curtain, and pillowcases they're all green. I quickly took the shirt and put it on, but my clothes is still underneath, I let my shoulder length auburn hair down, so it could get dried.

~Syaoran's POV~

Now, I was waiting outside for the girl. That's right, I still didn't get her name and how come she's in such a bad condition, I guess I'll just asked her after she comes out. I was so deep in thought, I didn't notice that the girl came out, but when the sound of door clicked, it brought me back to reality.

~End Of The POVs~

After close the door, Sakura turn and see Syaoran looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to say something, but seeing as she's so quiet, he started the conversation first. "How come you didn't change?" Sakura replied "I only need a shirt to keep me warm, I'll change when I get home. Do you have any hair dryer?" Sakura asked. (For people whose a bit confused, the timeline is 1950, so they do have hair dryer! Only its being poorly made. ^.^U)

"Yes, I have that; I'll get it for you right now." Said Syaoran. A moment later, Syaoran came back with an old-fashioned metal-made hair dryer, he plug the plug in, and put it on the desk. Sakura picked up the desk while Sakura was busy fixing a cup of warm tea for her. She started it, then there's electricity, and a sudden "BOOM" startled Sakura very much, seeing this, Syaoran gently grabbed the dryer from Sakura, and carefully put it on the desk, to prevent the electricity goes out. "We had left this dryer here a long time, not really using it, since we're all boys we just use towel to dry ourselves up." Was Syaoran's explanation, hearing this Sakura nodded and seated herself on the couch, and drink the cup of tea Syaoran made for her, she relaxed a bit, but she's still hurting inside out. Syaoran seeing her relaxed expression, decided to ask her about her bruises, "why don't you tell me how did you get your bruises? Did you get robbed? Did someone hit you really badly? Do you still remember the person who hit you? You want to go to the police station? What's your name? And the question goes on, until Sakura couldn't take Syaoran's interrogation anymore, seeing as she's already not feeling well. So she said

"what do you want from me? A personal interrogation? I don't need you or the polices' help." Sensing the frustration, Syaoran decided to drop the questioning about her bruises, instead he asks "how come you're in front of the Kinomoto residence? Usually, thieves or robbers won't go there, seeing as the light in the residence is always so bright. And the people inside the house are really nice, they would.. will to help you out." Stated Syaoran. Sakura hearing what Syaoran said, face paled, then a sudden anger and realization hit her, and she said "you know the Kinomotos, are you one of their friends?

Hearing the hostile tone Sakura use, Syaoran confusedly answer, "Oh, I'm not very familiar with the owner, but his son Touya and I are best friends."

"Friends, FRIENDS?!?! How can I be so stupid, there's hints flashing, and I'm oblivious to it, thinking it really is a mere stranger wanting to help me!" The more Sakura thought about it, the angrier she gets. She turns to Syaoran. "Now, I know you didn't just passing by, you were actually going to visit them right? I should have known, I should have KNOWN. I need to go now, I don't want to have anything to do with people that are friends with the Kinomotos." Replied Sakura with clenched fists. "Here's your shirt, and I don't want to have anything to do with you." Seeing Sakura was about to go, Syaoran tried to grab Sakura, to prevent her from leaving, since it was still raining outside. But Sakura had already made it to the door, when she open it, a navy blue haired guy wearing glasses, fell to the floor. She was surprised, but quickly snapped out of it, when she heard the nevy blue haired guy call Syaoran's name, and looked at him.

~Eriol's POV~

It was pouring outside; I had just gotten into the apartment building me and Syaoran my room mate shared. It's neither too big nor too small, just the right size for 2 single guys. By the time I got in front of the door, I was searching for my key, when a heard some girl talking, so being the curious me, I push my ear to the door, and try to understand what the girl are saying. I was having a big grin on my face, since when is the perfectionist Syaoran had a girlfriend, I was determined to ask him about that later. I was so deep in thought, I didn't noticed the door getting unlocked, and when I finally coming back to my sense, the door already opened wide, I was too surprised to reacted or prevent myself from hitting the ground, so I fell to the ground, I instinctively checked my camera, thank god its fine, or else I'll just commit suicide, without this camera the boss is sure going to kill me. "Syaoran Li, are you trying to kill me, without this camera I'll get fired!" I get up very quick when I saw the hint that he kept giving me, I turned around, and I see the girl had shoulder-length auburn hair and emerald green eyes, but they seem dull. Her face is clearly showing surprise and anger, I wonder why. I introduced myself to her anyway, "Hi, my name is Eriol Hiiragizawa, nice to meet you." But she didn't introduce herself, instead she push me away, and headed toward the stair.

~End Of The POV~

Syaoran was about to go after her, when Eriol stopped him, and asking him questions like "Syaoran Li! Where did you find a girlfriend like that? How did you met her? Why is she having tear streaked face? How come she's wet and her hair is messy? Did you do something to her? And all the more questions from the oh-so-curious Eriol. Syaoran was annoyed that, Eriol stopped him from chasing the girl he bump to in the rain, he hope he could meet her again, and next time, he'll ask her, but before that he had to blame Eriol first. "You don't understand Eriol, I met her in the rain she was cover with bruises, she might have great news for us to report. I wanted to find out what happened to her, so I take her here to dried herself, but for some unknown reason (Yhi: dense Syaoran) she suddenly turned really angry and was ready to leave. But your surprised *dropped by* stopped her, you could have help me instead of stopping me letting her go and throwing million questions into my head!" finished Syaoran. Eriol with a sheepish looked, and said an apologies, then he spotted the hair dryer, and while picking it up commented "Syaoran your such a great buddy, knowing I'll be wet from head to toe, you ready a hair dryer for me!" Before Syaoran could stop Eriol, he had already turned it on, and because his hair contain too much static, it spiked up straight, a caused a really funny site. Syaoran, who watched the whole thing, wanted to laugh out loud, but don't want to hurt Eriol's feeling, his hair is already a mess. "That'll be a get back, for him to lose my great news source." Thought Syaoran grinning widely. Somewhere in his mind, it told him that the girl he met is definitely unusual, without Syaoran noticing Sakura was always unconsciously appeared in his mind.

Well, sorry for the late updated! I was so happy, that people reviewed!!!! THANK YOU TO ANYONE WHO REVIEWED, YOU HAD JUST MADE MY DAYS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. Anyway, hope you like this chapter and keep up with the reviewing!!! (*Wink*) ^.~!!!