Chapter 3

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~*Flashback To Previous Chapter*~

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. But 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.

~*End Of Flashback*~

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An Interview At Moonlight Shanghai

After leaving Syaoran Li's apartement, Sakura quickly ran home using all her energy. When she's finally home, not wanting to worry her mother, since she's been very sick lately, and Sakura doesn't want her to worry about her. She quickly grabbed a towel, wanting to head to her room, but her mother Nadeshiko came out. Seeing Sakura home, she was relieved, since its pouring outside, she wouldn't want her daughter to catch a cold, but when she saw that Sakura's clothes was all ragged, she's worried. She asked in a feared and worried tone, "Sakura, how come your clothes are all wrinkled and ragged? Why are you using towel to cover your face? Are you hurt? Let me see!" Hearing this Sakura panicked, she replied in a shaking tone "Don't worry mom, I'm al-rigg-ht, I'm just ti-rrred, I'll go to my room now."

Before Sakura got any further, Nadeshiko grabbed Sakura's arm lightly, and turned Sakura, so she was facing her, and pulled her towel away from her face. What she saw, was what scared her, she could have fainted, but she managed to said Sakura "oh my god, you've been beat up." By now, Sakura was already teary and replied "mom, I hate them! I hate them!". "Them? Whose them?" "They are the Kinomoto family, whose living in the large mansion!" "Who hit you?" Sakura hesitated, but replied "the Black Panther." "Your father? He did this to you? What did he hit you with?" Nadeshiko's heart felt like someone had use a hammer to shattered into million pieces that can't be restored. Sakura said "he used that never leave his side's horse wipe!" Hearing this, Nadeshiko couldn't help but felt a huge amount of bitterness inside her, she hugged Sakura tightly, and both of them break down crying for awhile. After that, they both calm down, Nadeshiko silently glance outside the window, to see the rain drops dripping down and softly fell to the ground, and created a puddle. Sakura sensing her mother's silence suddenly said "don't worry mom, without him we can survive. I'll go find a job starting tomorrow, after all I'm 19 years old, and I do have a high school diploma."

Sakura said with a small smile, then Nadeshiko turned to her and said "but I thought that you always wants to get into that music university." Hearing that Sakura's eyes turned sad with disappointment, she also turned to the window and replied in a soft voice "university? She sighed deeply that'll probably happened in my next life." Nadeshiko looked sadly at her only daughter, the night were raining hard, and it reflect the mood Sakura and Nadeshiko are feeling.

Sakura quickly get dress and trying her best to hide the bruises around her body, and goes out hoping to find a job that could support her mother and her. With all the interviews Sakura gone to, none of them will accept her, neither she's too young or she's inexperienced. It's the same routine for the next few days, wake up, dressed, and out to find a job. Sakura was getting impatient, for her mother and her don't have much money left, and they still own the owner's rent money for the apartment. Since its afternoon, Sakura can only go find her best friend and ask for her help, for if she still can't get any money, they'll be forced to get kicked out and starve to death. Think about letting her mother living on the street pained her, she had to get some money. She started heading toward The University of Art, when she's there, she quickly find the classroom her best friend was in. Apparently, they were doing sketching, so she softly knocked on the window to try and get her attention, she didn't get her attention, but the boy that's close to the window. She did a gesture signally for him to called her friend for her. He nodded "hey Yaqi, your best friend is here." The girl name Yaqi quickly turned to face the window and it immediately brighten with delight, Sakura made a hand gesture for them to talk outside, she nodded.

When they're outside, Yaqi squealed with delight, and hugged Sakura, but soon calm down and said in a pretend-to-be-mad tone "Sakura, I missed you so much, you never came to visit me anymore. It's been a long time since a last saw you!" Sakura giggled lightly and said "Yaqi, you never change! Whenever you sees me, putting all the blame toward me. If you miss me, then why didn't you come and visit me?" Yaqi suddenly turns dramatic and said "It's really not my choice, you had no idea how hard and strict the teachers are to us!" She whined a little playfully, hoping Sakura will buy it. With no such luck, Sakura sees right through it, and said "I don't think so, it's probably more on the colorful side!" And holding the creamed colored fabric with different colors paint on it. With a big sigh, Yaqi said "I can't help it, whenever we had to do a work, it'll always get dirty." They laughed for awhile, until Sakura suddenly quiet down, and Yaqi ask "What's wrong? Something bothering you? *A bit thoughtful* Oh, I know, you must be in love!" Sakura giggled a bit and replied "Such good thing don't happened on me!" Sakura quickly pulled Yaqi to the bush, make sure no one is watching, she said "Yaqi, do you any money with you?"

She pulled out a few coin. "A few, why?" Yaqi ask with confusion. "Can I borrow them?" "Did something happened?"

Sakura pulled her long sleeve up, and show Yaqi her elbow, a big strip of dark purple bruise was on it. "This is my great father's master piece, a few days ago, I go there to get the monthly money, but I didn't get one cent, instead I get back with a beaten up body, the bruises is everywhere, the face had some too, but it disappeared already. I tried to get a job after the bruises on my face healed, but wherever I go to get a interview, they don't accept me, and now my mother and I are in short of money, we couldn't be able to stand it any long-...," before Sakura can finish, Yaqi said "wait here, I'll get people to donate some money." So, she run off to every classroom, leaving Sakura waiting anxiously at the bush area. Half an hour later, Yaqi return, "here's a few dollars, use it for emergencies, the students don't carry much money with them, I'll tried to get some more for you, when I get home." Sakura looked at Yaqi gratefully, and soon, both girl departed.

Tomoyo

Tomoyo was sitting on her bed hugging her dog "happy". In her mind, flashback to the event with her father and Sakura, it's been a few days since Sakura's announcement towards her family. Tomoyo knows that Sakura were having a huge problem with surviving, since they don't have much money left, and a idea suddenly light up in Tomoyo's head. She quickly find her treasure box, inside it contained all her allowance and her jewelry. So far, she had $20 in total, she quickly put them in her handbag, and find a new pair of shoes, wrap it up, and put it in her bag also, and left to take the next bus that are passing the area where Sakura and her Aunt Nadeshiko lived.

A Few Minutes Later

Tomoyo got off the bus, and started walking towards Sakura's apartment. When she stand in front of the door, she gently knock on it, a voice called out hold on, and in a second the door opened and revealed Tomoyo's Aunt Nadeshiko appeared in front of her. A minute later, Tomoyo sat down, while Nadeshiko prepare a cup of tea for her, Tomoyo thanked her, and pulled out the money she ready for them and handed to her. Nadeshiko looked at the money with confusion, and turned her questioning glance to Tomoyo. Tomoyo softly smiled and replied "I know that you and Sakura had trouble survive without some money, so I collect my allowance and give them to you." Nadeshiko smiled and replied "I can't accept the money, Sakura won't like it, beside what about you?" "you needn't worry about me. I always use dad's money, and this is dad's money too, it's still his responsibility to take care of you and Sakura." "Yes, but-..., No, buts, its settle just don't tell Sakura ok. And here, this shoes, I only wear it twice, so its still new, gives this to Sakura, if she's going to interview for jobs the least I can help her with is give her a proper and comfortable shoes she can wear." Tomoyo continued "Beside, her shoes already had a big hole, just don't let Sakura know that it was me who gave it to you, ok?" "Oh, and Aunt Nadeshiko, please convince Sakura to not argued with dad, to tell you the truth, that night Sakura had really broke dad's heart by saying all those harsh words at her, its really partially her fault also-...", Tomoyo was stopped mid-sentence by Sakura.

Sakura's POV

I was on my way back from Yaqi's university, I got $3 dollors from her, (A/N: Just to let you know, back then the stuff is really cheap, so there $3 could compare with the present $50 or so...I think or maybe more) I was about to call out that "I'm home", but I heard Tomoyo's voice, so I press my ear against the door and listen. "And here, this shoes, I only wear it twice, so its still new, gives this to Sakura, if she's going to interview for jobs the least I can help her with is give her a proper and comfortable shoes she can wear." Tomoyo continued "Beside, her shoes already had a big hole, just don't let Sakura know that it was me who gave it to you, ok?" "Oh, and Aunt Nadeshiko, please convince Sakura to not argued with dad, to tell you the truth, that night Sakura had really broke dad's heart by saying all those harsh words at him, its really partially her fault also-..."after hearing that I just can't control my anger any longer, I burst into their moment, I went up straight to her, by looking at her face I can tell I surprised her, anyway, I went up to her and said "take your stuff and leave my home, I don't want your fake pities!" Then, I hold up the shoes, "what? Give me your old shoes that you don't like! Let me tell you something, I don't want your garbages, this is not a garbage dump, why don't you go back to your comfy big room and stay there! Look at my home and think about your mansion, look at my mom and think about your mom, look at me and think of you. I used to be just like you, but my life ruined when your family kicked us out. And now, you came here to give me your garbage. Take you stuff, your kindness, and your everything and leave. I don't want anything from you or the Kinomotos. There's nothing you and your family can do to change my mind, now LEAVE!!!!!"

End Of Sakura's POV

After Sakura's speech, Tomoyo felt shame, and quickly gather the shoes and money then left. Nadeshiko was speechless, and felt so bad for what Sakura had said to Tomoyo, but she knew her daughter take pride to say what she think is right. She knows that its because when she got beaten no one, not one person helped her that's why she hate all of them. Unable to take the sudden event that just occurred, she sit down on the couch. Sakura seeing this, ask "mom are you alright?" Nadeshiko replied "Sakura, what you've said to Tomoyo earlier was way too harsh, after all she is your sister!" "I know mom, but right at this moment I just couldn't brought myself up to forgive Tomoyo, maybe one day, when dad will finally clear his mind, and looked around, and finding out the truth, I'll forgive them, and I'll apologize to Tomoyo then, but now it isn't the time, I'm sorry." "It's okay, Sakura. I understand, but give your father some time, and maybe one day you two will get a long!" With that said, Sakura and Nadeshiko shared a hug, and prepare for dinner.

The Next Day

Sakura was visiting Moonlight Shanghai Enterprise Corporation, thinking she might be able to get a secretarial job there. When she got there, she thought that the title for the building was different than the title that's printed in the newspaper. But she still go inside, what she saw was what shocked her the most. In front of her was a huge stage, a woman dress in a skimpy red strapless dress was singing in the front. With dancers that dress in a very, VERY short skirt dancing around their assigned chair. She called out, hopefully to ask the manager what is this place. "Is Manager Wu here? I'm here to interview." "Then a man slowly walked up to her, and said in a rather rude tone "why are you doing in her?"

"I'm here to interview."

"Interview? Go to the backroom office, stupid doorman, can't even do his job properly."

When he was able to take Sakura away, she ask:

"Excuse me! But are you really looking for someone to do the paper work?"

"Don't you understand, we're looking for a dancer for this dancing place" (A/N: kind of like what we now called club.)

"Oh, in that case, I'll leave then." While Sakura left, she murmured under her breath "I'm being a kinomoto, I came here to become a dancer what a joke." Just then, a man called her "did you get your resume? Let me have a look." So, Sakura walked to his side, before handing her resume to the man around 50 or so, she said "I only do, paper work." then hand it to him. The man look at it, and said "humm...Sakura Kinomoto, only 19?" he looked at her questioningly. Sakura nodded her head, this time the performer and the singer stopped to see their boss's reaction. Instead, he said to the singer " Rose, don't stop, continue the performance." The woman known as Rose nodded, and start the performance once again. While she's singing, Sakura looked on with great interest, and softly said to herself "I can sing better than her." And the man heard her, and said "What did you say?" Sakura replied proudly "I said I can sing better than her! But I won't sing in places like this." The man obviously stunned said "I don't believe you, in this time around kids will only say but wont do." Seeing Sakura hesitated he continued "this is not a school reunion party, this is a grand stage providing entertainment for the riches, what you say is always better than how you sing!" Hearing this, Sakura went straight up the stage, went across it, get a stand microphone. While she's doing all this, the man tell the people on the stage to stopped and let Sakura do whatever she want. After Sakura got the microphone she went to the orchestra and ask "can you please play Jambalaya", with that she went to the center of the stage, and before the music, she announce " humm...this is an old song, I changed the lyric to sing for fun." With that the music flared up and she sang: (A/N: the title for this song is different, its called "Little Nemesis", AND the song DOESN'T BELONG to ME!!!!)

Little nemesis, what are you doing, like a fool.

I ask you question, why is that, you don't answer.

You said, that you love me, is it true or false.

State it clearly, say it understandingly, don't act like a fool.

big eyes, looking at me, keep blinking.

Anger me, turn away, why not go home.

Little nemesis, stopped me, now he's talking.

Yelling at the sky, yelling at the ground, yelling at the nemesis.

Missing you, longing you, my heart is confusing me.

Thousand words, many words, but my voice is stuck in my throat.

Who knows, when I looked at you, all I know about how to do is acting like a fool.

When the song end, Sakura walked towards the man, and he comment "Your voice is very clear." Sakura smiled and replied "clear or not, if you don't want a secretary, I'm leaving then." But Manager Wu stopped her and said "wait a minute, Miss Kinomoto, we could offer you to sing here for a month, the salary $20 for now, what do you think?" "I'm sorry, I can't work in here, if my mom knows about it, she won't be happy. I admit that I'm in need of money right now, but working in here is not right for me." Finally the man started his introduction " Miss Kinomoto, I'm Hoji Qing, I welcome you to come back if you have changed your mind. The salary, we could always discuss about it, if your interested." Sakura smiled again and replied "thank you Mr.Qing, but my mom wouldn't let me work in here, I'm sorry, I'll leave now." Sakura take her handbag, and thank the person holding it for her and left. Manager Wu was about to chase after her, but Mr.Qing stopped him, and said "she'll be back!"

Well, do you like it? I'm sorry for not updating a new chapter for a long time, but I've been very busy these few days, hope this chapter is long enough for you to enjoy! Once again, Thank You to everyone that had review my last chapter. Your reviews means a lot to me, and encourage me to write this fic as often as I can, and hoping to post it up soon. Thank you all, and don't forget to review this chapter also!!! I'll try to update soon! ^.~