AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hey everyone!! This chapter is loooooong :S actually I might cut off some of it. Give me a head start for the next one, its like double the usual length.

NOTE to reviewers, to my oh so kind ones, thank you very much for the ongoing support. And then to those that sent me hate messages just because I took too long to put this up. GEeez I'm sorry. But please, not hate messages?

DISCLAIMER: My daddy said that he'd buy the CLAMP license for me if it was for sale for less than $120 million for my birthday this year!!! But until then, no, I do not own CCS, nor its characters. But Hitomi, Yuki, Minami, Kimiko and unfortunately the bad hot man Hatoshi are all mine. I'll sell them to you if you want though!

Last chapter:

"How do you like that gorgeous? Yuki? I think that's cute, it would suit you,"

Then a shadow appeared over her, scaring her for a split second.

"Ying Fa"

She looked up and met the person's eyes for a second and smiled.

"Hey Sakura, I saw you out here by yourself, so I came down with a blanket for you. What were you thinking about? You didn't even notice me walking towards you,"

"Oh hello Kimiko. Nothing actually, I just named my rabbit though. What do you think? I called her Yuki,"

"A typical name that you would give," replied Kimiko lightly. Their relationship had grown stronger these past weeks, and finally, Kimiko is able to let go of the servant/mistress customs and lighten up more around Sakura.

Sakura stuck her tongue out childishly.

"Well, here's your blanket, and make sure you come back before sunset, or else, it will start getting really cold out here. I'll leave you alone for some more thinking now, I need to go back and talk to the Li sisters for a while. See you later Ying Fa,"

"Thanks Kimiko. See ya,"

And Kimiko left Sakura with Yuki and her blanket.

Unknowingly, Sakura started singing a little tune that she learnt when she was around five, it seemed to cure her homesickness a little.

'nihongo wa tanoshi,

obento wa oishi

ichi ni san shi go

sa – obenta yo'

She giggled for a while after that, patting Yuki softly. She thought about climbing the tree again, but thought otherwise after a few moments. Sakura continued to daydream at the trunk of the tree, and soon enough, she had fallen asleep.

…rip her right sleeve, and the hem of her dress. "Please… go away" whimpered Sakura, her body had been badly bruised being slammed into the tree many times due to her attempts to escape. Her fear had only fed the man's hunger for her… he felt more superior hearing her pleads.

He lifted her up, ready to take her to his rooms…

…"So she's called Sakura? Beautiful name… Just like her. Right angel? Oh, I think I should introduce myself. Prince Sukiteka Hatoshi, at your service… though I'd rather you be at mine,"

…

Sakura woke up with cold sweat on her forehead, herself, curled up into a tight ball on the floor and shaking. Damn Sukiteka Hatoshi. Scared the shits outta Sakura again, even when he was in a different kingdom.

"You alright?" asked a distant voice

Sakura looked up from her position slowly. She looked up to see her husband looking down at her with a puzzled expression on his face. Slowly, Sakura sat up, running her fingers through her hair and she stood up slowly to face Syaoran, leaning against the tree trunk for support. She straightened her dress and brushed off the small blades of grass stuck to her. As shaken up as Sakura was, she still managed a small curtsy towards Syaoran.

"I'm fine your highness," replied Sakura in a voice that betrayed what she said.

"No you're not," answered Syaoran, looking at her closely.

"Well if you knew already, why did you even ask?" said Sakura drily.

Syaoran paused for a second then shrugged.

"Sit down for a second, you're in no state to be standing –

"I told you, I'm fine. Excuse me –

"And I know you were lying, now sit down, this is a command,"

Sakura plopped herself on the floor obediently and glared at Syaoran.

"Why do I always have to use my authority to actually get my way around here?" sighed Syaoran sitting down in front of her and covering her slightly with the blanket.

Sakura flushed at the contact,

"You don't need to. Actually, you abuse your priviledge around here,"

"And why do you say that?"

"Through your actions," answered Sakura shortly.

Syaoran smirked, intrigued by how this maid knew anything about him at all. He could send her to be punished, or he could just play along and see. He decided to choose the latter,

"Do enlighten me,"

"Well if you asked nicely I would have sat down straight away –

"I only meant good,"

"And today at lunch, you acted like a totally arrogant and stuck up stereotypical prince,"

"Excuse me?"

Oops, Sakura sweatdropped slightly for her slip. Oh well, the damage is done, no point in covering up,

"You heard me,"

"You know, I could punish you greatly for saying what you just said,"

"And abuse your priviledge even more. Mmhmm,"

"Or I could just take this and never give it back to you," smirked Syaoran. Holding Yuki up by her ears to show Sakura his hostage.

"AH! Yuki! Hey, give me my Yuki back!!"

"This thing has a name?"

"Yes, Yuki. Now give me my rabbit back!" shouted Sakura, reaching for it. But Syaoran was quicker, he stood up and started to move away from her. Sakura had fully recovered from her nightmare state and was up and running after Syaoran for her pet.

"OI! Prince or not, give me back my rabbit Li! You're hurting it!"

Unconsciously, Sakura had started giggling why she was running after Syaoran. He was actually teasing her. News flash of the century! Syaoran was taller than Sakura though, so, as much as Sakura was jumping around like a rabbit to reach her pet, she was unsuccessful.

That was until she tripped on a twig and fell forward, managing to bring Syaoran down with her. Her on top of him.

Oomph

It seems as if, every time that Sakura falls, there's always something there to soften it. And twice in a row, it had been her husband.

Their eyes looked briefly. Hmm… Syaoran and Sakura were in a very comfortable – yet awkward to a bypasser – position. Syaoran's arm around Sakura's waist, and Sakura's hands on his chest. The golden moment lasted for just that – a moment.

Then Sakura noticed that Syaoran had finally let go of Yuki and she broke into a gorgeous smile, confusing Syaoran. Sakura scrambled off Syaoran quickly and ran off the catch her escaping rabbit. She took Yuki into her arms and patted it gently, watching Syaoran still sitting on the grass.

Sakura gave her a triumphant look and said,

"I got Yuki back. Ha! I won!" she said childishly, and stuck her tongue out at him, then turned back to give Yuki a kiss. This was when she noticed that, the sun had set and it was starting to get cold and was darkening. She shivered slightly from the evening chill, ran back to the tree trunk and gathered up the blanket, wrapping it around Yuki.

"Well I better go back before anyone starts to worry. I'll see you later Li," said Sakura, offering her hand to pull him off the floor

He took the hand and gave her a slight frown,

"Prince Li,"

"No, just Li. Don't you ever get tired of everyone calling you a prince? Seeing you're abusing your priviledge, I'm going to just call you Li," said Sakura innocently.

Surprisingly, Syaoran didn't say anything about that comment other than,

"Well your abusing yours as well. So we're equal I guess. For once in your life, you may be right. What's your name?"

"Right about you abusing your privilege or about you being sick of being called a prince all the time?"

"I'm warning you. What's your name maid?" asked Syaoran for the second, the royal blood showing again.

"Ying Fa, your highness," replied Sakura coldly with a slight curtsy, "Goodnight"

And she left him in the gardens.

Sometimes life is a strange thing… actually, for many people, most times life is a strange thing. Sakura, never really having any servant duties to follow had a lot of spare time at her hands. Syaoran, being a prince had his prince duties for the first half of the day and nothing after that.

During the day, Sakura spent her time in the kitchens talking to the cook, in the library reading, (with special permits from Queen Yelan for access to all areas), writing letters to her dearly missed friends and brother and embroidering on a small piece of silk for Yuki to sleep on.

Sure, Tomoyo and Meiling visited, but not too frequently in case too much attention was drawn to her. So, Sakura and Kimiko became great friends, sharing stories about the past, run-ins with siblings and just random little moments worth mentioning.

Also, ironically, Sakura ends up sitting by her sakura tree everyday to watch the sunset. And for the past week… Prince Syaoran has joined her. He claims to have nothing better to do…

"So Ying Fa, do you have any siblings?" asked Syaoran, striking up conversation with the unusually quiet girl.

"An older brother"

That shut him up for a little…

"Tell me about Minami"

Syaoran looked at her with narrowed eyes. Where did that come from?

"Why?"

"I just want to know what she is like, to have captured you like so"

Syaoran blinked

"And also I want to know why my mistress lost against her"

Syaoran blinked again, then finally finding his voice he said coldly,

"Your mistress was never in competition with her in the first place"

Sakura closed her eyes and leant against the sakura tree, letting the insult wash over her. She put a small smile on her face and turned to him,

"No she wasn't, you never let her, nor will you ever let her. So just tell me about Minami"

Syaoran brushed away the touch of guilt that hit him when he saw her sad eyes with that soft depressed smile.

"There's not much to tell. Other than the fact that she is beautiful, that I've grown up with her. She could always make me smile, and helped me over the bad times. She's modest and never flaunts what she has. And… I don't know, she just makes me feel comfortable, and she never treats me like a prince, just like an ordinary person, which is a real relief"

Sakura nodded

"She sounds like someone who deserves you" she said quietly, sadly and quietly.

Syaoran turned to her

"Well I better get going. Nice seeing you again"

"Will you be here tomorrow?" the question left Syaoran before he thought about it.

Sakura threw him a smile,

"Of course, see you later Li"

As time passed, Sakura and Syaoran developed a mutual understanding, something like a friendship nearly.

"How was your day today?"

"sigh prince duties… need I say more?"

Sakura laughed,

"It couldn't have been THAT bad"

"It was worse than THAT bad"

More laughter

"Fine then, tell me what happened"

"I just have a very annoying advisor. And a constant fan club everywhere I go even though those ladies all know that I'm married. And then there's the ever so irritating – "

"Eriol-san!"

Sakura looked up in delight to see one of her close friends now. She gave him a bright smile and stood up to walk over to him.

"My dear Ying Fa-san," Eriol said with a wink and a gentlemanly bow.

Sakura giggled, still oblivious to Syaoran's wide-eyed stare at the scene.

"Sir," Sakura replied sweetly, with a curtsy and a giggle.

Finally Sakura gave Eriol a hug after all the teasing formality.

THAT, made Syaoran gape.

"How are you?! I haven't seen you around for ages!" exclaimed Sakura, forgetting that she just left Syaoran at the tree

"I've been well, just fairly busy. Yourself?"

"I'm alright, a little bored, but surviving. What are you doing here?"

"Oh yes, that reminds me, I'm here for Syaoran"

"Li?" Sakura turned around, "Oops, of course, sorry Eriol, well I'll get going and let you two talk, I'll see you later and tell Tomoyo that I said 'hello'. See you later Li"

"You don't have to leave, I hope I did not interrupt anything," said Eriol evilly

Syaoran shot him a glare.

"Just stay here Ying Fa, I'll be back in a second"

Sakura shrugged,
"Hai… I mean… shi"

Syaoran and Eriol walked off,

"So what do you want?"

"Just to ask what you want me to do with a case that has reached us… it's caused a huge outbreak in the kingdom and now, its reached the court and I think something needs to be done" said Eriol seriously.

"What is it?"

"In a case of a divorce, a young girl has chosen to live with her stepmother rather than her own father. At first this was just a small case. However, many legal battles from both sides have caused a large debate and much of the kingdom is taking part in manipulation with both of the powerful families. It seems very odd, because the young girl had never liked her stepmother and was always close to her father…"

"I don't know. We can discuss it properly in court tomorrow then. I'll need to think about it for a bit"

"Fine then. I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, and do take care of Ying-Fa" Eriol smirked.

Syaoran looked at him suspiciously,

"What do you have to do with her?"

"Jealous?"

"No, idiot. Just curious. You're on first name terms."

"You call her Ying-Fa, just that you don't let her call you Syaoran, we could be on the same level if you let it happen."

"Whatever, just remember you have a wife"

Eriol chuckled,

"I'll see you later"

Then he turned to leave, not before turning again to Sakura in the distance and bowing to her with a dazzling smile. Sakura returned the smile and a curtsy.

Syaoran looked at the exchange oddly and shrugged it off. He didn't really care, he was just looking out for Tomoyo.

The next day, after his prince duties, Syaoran met Sakura under the tree again. Or at least he though that was going to happen. But for the first time in the past few months Sakura was not under that tree. Where was she?

'Probably caught up in her chores, she is a maid after all'

Syaoran sat down. He wasn't waiting for Sakura, he was just… resting against a tree that he liked that's all.

"Li!"

Syaoran's eyes shot open at that familiar voice. It was from a distant and he used his martial arts senses to hone in on where it came from.

Found her. On a balcony on the first floor.

"Li, come up here!!"

Foreign to orders, Syaoran looked at her sharply and gave her one of his infamous glares… that don't affect Sakura.

Sakura rolled her eyes.

Privileges as a prince…

"Privileges" was all she said.

Syaoran rolled his eyes this time…

'Not back to that again'

He got up and went up the stairs to meet her. In the kitchen it seemed.

"What on earth are you doing?!"

"Cooking!! Glad that you could join me. Now, the other maids and everyone are off on a break that I bribed them to go on and now the kitchen is mine! Hehehe" exclaimed Sakura excitedly.

"And what am I doing here?"

"Not abusing your privilege and in about five more minutes you are going to be taught the art of Japanese food"

Syaoran sweatdropped at her enthusiasm and idea of him cooking. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off.

"Yes you are a prince. But you can cook as well. So now, come here" she ordered.

Surprising to himself, he followed the order.

And within 20 or so minutes, the two of them were making traditional Japanese sushi with imported goods from Sakura's homeland.

"This is impossible!!" shouted a frustrated Syaoran, trying to roll his sushi.

"Have some patience Li-sama!! Do it slowly and tightly and it'd work. It's not that difficult"

Syaoran shot her a glare. Sakura stuck out her tongue at Syaoran and continued with her roll. A very mature pair they are…

After an hour and a half or so of sushi rolling, they decided it was enough to feed themselves and quite a few other people. So they cut the rolls up and set them nicely on a platter (and there was easy to distinguish which were Sakura's – the neat ones, and which were Syaoran's – the ones threatening to fall apart).

Just as they were about to taste their hard work Eriol came rushing in.

"Eriol-san! Try this sushi we made!"

Eriol looked at Sakura, at Syaoran and then at the sushi. After a few moments, he shook his head politely and said no.

"Syaoran, there's an emergency, many villagers have started a racket and young Hitomi's father has been attacked. We have authorities there trying to keep it under control. And – "

"We'll head over straight away, I want to see what's going on," said Syaoran in a serious, authorative tone.

"Would you like to come Ying-Fa? I know you haven't been out of here before and –"

"I don't think that would be appropriate Eriol, not in the middle of a mess like this, she –"

"That would be great Eriol. Let's go," said Sakura, also quite serious and with a finality in her tone. She challenged Syaoran with a look that said 'I'll be fine, I'm old enough to take care of myself'

Syaoran just muttered something and they left in a carriage after Syaoran changed into commoner's clothing. Just in case…

They arrived at the chaotic location and watched the scene unfold. Apparently what had happened was Hitomi's father was attacked by hit-men paid by his ex-wife. He was warned to stay away from Hitomi. A huge had gathered around looking on to what was happening.

A furious yet earnest looking man was standing shouting at a finely dressed lady, the lady look nasty and was ready to strike at any moment.

"Let go of my daughter, I will pay you anything you want"

"You are bankrupt now, there is nothing that you would offer that I'd want. Nothing is worth as much as the girl"

Sakura was specifically looking for the young girl (Eriol had told her what was going on on the way there). She could not find her. Eriol and Syaoran were drawn to the scene in front of them. Finally, she heard some distinct sniffing from behind her.

A pretty little girl huddled in a side street listening to all that was going on, she was crying… and she was scared.

Sakura slipped away, and followed the sound. Down the side street, she finally found the little girl curled up in a corner crying. Sakura knelt down and touched the girl lightly on the shoulder.

The little girl jumped, startled.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you"

"Wh- who are you? A-are y-you h-h-hear to take me away as well?" sniffed the poor child.

"Of course I'm not, my name is Ying-Fa. What's your name? What's the matter? Where are your parents?"

"My name is Hitomi. I don't have a mummy anymore… and I'm not allowed to have a daddy either"

"Why's that?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you, or else I would get into more trouble"

Sakura frowned, there was definitely something wrong here.

"Why don't you tell me what's wrong sweetie, and then I'll help you. I promise I won't get you into trouble"

"But you might get my daddy killed!!" cried the young girl.

"Nothing will happen to your daddy. I'm friends with lots of people that will keep him safe. Just tell me and let me help. Not saying anything might get your father into trouble as well"

Hitomi looked into Sakura's eyes. Sakura handed her a handkerchief to take care of the remaining tears.

"Well…"

"Where IS she?!"

"I don't know!! You must have taken her and hidden her!!"

"Don't be pathetic"

The two adults in the commotion had JUST noticed that the object of their argument had disappeared.

"She's right here"

Everyone turned their attention to Sakura. (AN: Soooo cliché but needed, sorry hun)

Syaoran and Eriol looked at her. Then looked behind themselves and noticed that she had disappeared.

Sakura flicked her eyes to their direction and gave them a small nod.

Eriol and Syaoran both saw a slight fire in her eyes, something very different to her usual gentle soft emerald colour. She looked sharp and in charge, slightly initimidating some might say. She shot a glare at the woman who was fighting with Hitomi's father before.

"Oh. Well come back then girl" ordered the woman in a sharp tone.

"No stepmother" Hitomi said softly.

"What did you say?" she shouted

Hitomi cowered behind Sakura. Sakura kept her arm round the little girl and gave her a soft reassuring glance.

"Let go of her now you brat of a servant. Do you know how much she is worth?!" shouted the woman

"Hitomi are you okay?" asked a soft voice near them. The father.

"I'm fine daddy. Are you alright?"

"Yes jellybean, I'm alright, don't worry about it"

Sakura bent down and whispered something mischievously into Hitomi's ear. They both shared a secret smile. But then Hitomi looked afraid. Sakura gave her a soft smile and whispered 'I promised remember?' Hitomi beamed and sprinted over to her father.

"Daddy!!"

Her father picked her up and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Hitomi tickled her father and he chuckled. Then groaned in pain as the wound from the attack in his stomach started hurting. Hitomi jumped onto the ground and whacked her father on the arm.

"Liar! You're not alright!"

Everyone laughed at the young child. She was gorgeous.

"Hitomi! Get back here now! You know what will happen if you don't! Remem – " started the stepmother.

"Actually, I think Hitomi would much rather stay with her father. So if you would Miss, please don't spoil such a cute moment"

"Who are you to talk? You're just a trashy servant"

"Trashy servant or not, I think I'd watch it if I were you… I mean, you wouldn't want me accidentally spilling all your intentions with young Hitomi to everyone would you?" Sakura said with a threatening edge.

"You wouldn't dare. Plus, I have no intentions. I just love her like my own and –"

"Oh really? So it wouldn't matter what I say then?"

"What do you want?" the woman hissed.

"You to leave them alone. And by alone I mean, don't touch either one of them, personally or not," Sakura warned.

The woman laughed.

Then suddenly she stopped, took a step forward and slapped Sakura across the face.

Every onlooking person gasped. Hitomi ran over to Sakura. Syaoran and Eriol fumed. They decided to enter the scene.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hey, hope that you all liked that chapter. Next chapter… let's say… enter Minami. Ouchies. The Hitomi scene actually wasn't planned. And yes, quite cliché, but it just happened, not my fault, blame my imagination.

Oh and please review, it would be really really appreciated.

But don't tell me that you hate me though.

Cheers

Sita xoxo

AUTHORS NOTES: OH SHIT I JUST DELETED EVERYTHING. Ok you don't understand how pissed off I am right now… I just deleted it all… the other half that I supposedly was going to use as a head start. Fuck.