Chapter 1- Normal Life.

"Sakura Kinomoto!" screeched a middle aged woman as she stalked into the Library. A young woman -no more than 18-19 looked up from a giant book to stare at her curiously.

"Yes Mama?" she asked in a voice that seemed to tinkle like glass bells. Soft and fragile the voice still seemed to be heard all over the room, commanding everyone to listen to it. A lot like it's owner.

"Lord Mariage's son just called to express his outrage to us." She ground out through clenched teeth. Sakura flinched at this. Uh-oh..."You wouldn't happen to know anything about this now would you?"

Slowly sitting up, Sakura marked her page and set the book down. She looked up at her mother her jade eyes flashing slightly in knowing before she nodded her head.

Mama growled in anger. "Sakura how many times are you going to do this to me? Is it so hard for you to just be pleasant to people of our status? All I asked of you was this simple favor but you can't even do that! How will you be able to lead our Clan if you cannot even control your anger around a simple lord!"

Sakura just sighed. She had heard all of this before many, many times. It wasn't that she tried to be rude but what's she supposed to do! The guy tried to feel her up! She told her mother so when she stopped for breath.

"You could've just removed his hand and leave his company instead of giving him a black eye and bruised ribs.!" Was her mother's answer. Sakura sighed yet again. She knew it was hopeless to get her mother to see straight but she had had to try. Looking up again at her mother to see if she was finished she swept a piece of her honey brown hair away from her face to see her mother looking down at her with now soft eyes. She tilted her head in confusion her jade eyes questioning this sudden silence.

"Oh Sakura..."Mama sighed sitting down next to her daughter on the lazy boy couch. "I'm sorry for ranting at you again. It's just..." she trailed off not knowing how to continue.

"It's just that I'm not like your other daughters? That I would rather fight then flirt?" Sakura filled in for her. Mama looked at her with sad eyes before nodding her head. Sakura sighed. "Mama," she took one of her hands in both of her own shifting so that she was facing her mother. "For the past 4 years you have tried to get me to like make-up and clothes more than swords and magic. But it-will-not-happen." She emphasized the last words s if to try and puncture her Mother's barrier. "I will never be like Mei and Lei or Ayame. And I refuse to try and change myself to become like them. I am happy the way I am Why can't you be too?" Tears of anger and sadness fought to roll down her smooth pale cheeks but she refused to give in to them.

"I don't want you to change Sakura. I just want to know you'll be able to handle all the problems that include nobility without resorting to violence." Mama also had tears in her eyes. This only helped to make Sakura angrier.

"And what have I been doing since I turned 16?" she whispered in controlled anger. Mama blinked. She knew Sakura was just holding onto her temper. Sakura always gave off a dangerous aura but when she was mad it was like walking death. "I have dealt with rude and condescending politicians, simpering nobles and snotty royalty and never once did I lose my cool. But that is not what you remember is it? You remember me throwing a prince in the lake for trying to rape me, for knocking a noble unconscious after he tried to feel me up and now for ruining a noble's pride by beating him up after he stuck his hand up my dress! I will not tolerate it. I will protect myself from everybody! Royalty included! And if I must put up with that to become head of this Clan I don't want it. Give it to Mei if you want. She'll be good at it." Sakura was now standing up and looming over Mama. Her stance and features shouted out how angry she was but it was the anger in her now golden eyes that made people freeze in fear. With all that said and done Sakura stalked off out of the Library and out the front doors.

Mama let out a relieved sigh once Sakura was gone. She had forgotten how terrifying it was to be at the end of her anger. Tears began to well up in Mama's eyes as she thought about what had conspired between her and her youngest daughter. She knew that what Sakura said was true but she had just wanted her to fit in and not have to listen to the other courtiers say how ill-fitting a heir she was. Now she realized it was she that was scared of that happening not her daughter. Sakura made it very clear that she didn't give a rat's ass about what anybody thought of her.

'tomorrow is her 19th birthday' Mama thought with wide eyes. 'nineteen years since the creatures brought me their most precious gift...'

It was around midnight when a loud knock came at the door startling Mama -or Leana as she was called back then- out of her book and making her upset her cup of tea that had been perched precariously on her knee. Cautiously Leana went to the door and peered out the peep hole in the center. She blinked and looked out again. Nothing. Did she imagine the knock? She was sure she heard it. Even more carefully she opened the door a crack while sliding her dagger out of it's sheath. Still nothing. Opening the door all the way she stepped outside peering into the darkness. Her eyes widened slightly before narrowing to slits. She could sense them right on the edge of her senses.

"Who ever you are show yourself or face my wrath." She threatened. She knew some magic and was not afraid to use it.

Just then she felt a cool breeze blow her cloak slightly and then the door of her house slammed shut, with her on the outside! Whirling around she was able to catch the door closing fully and heard the lock slip into place. She glared at it as if the door itself was at fault.

"Here I am Leana. I wouldn't dare risk your wrath for anything." A deep masculine voice mocked from the street entrance. Yet again Leana whirled to face the voice and found herself staring at a rather old if still handsome man in rich dark robes of royal-blue.

"Who are you?" Leana demanded glaring at the stranger who had spoiled her evening. "What do you want?" She acted more bravely then she thought was possible with all the fear roiling around in her gut. The man had a power about him that spoke loudly of how dangerous he could be.

His mocking air and smile seemed to vanish at the question and suddenly he was as serious as stone and just as hard. "I am here to offer you our most precious treasure for you to guard and look after until she is needed again."

Leana's expression went from being guarded and suspicious to confused and a little wary. "She?"

The man smiled once again though this time it was hinted with sadness and he nodded. "Yes. She..."

Leana smiled back at the memory thinking about how Clow and his accomplice Nakuru had explained to her about how Sakura had come to be. Leana knew she was not any ordinary girl but she had hoped that if she acted like one, Clow and Nakuru would not want to take her back again. She knew now that that was a fools hope. Sakura was who she was and what she was. And it was time Sakura knew as well. Soon she would be needed again by Clow and Leana would prepare her as much as possible. 'She may not be my blood nor my husbands but she is my daughter.' With that thought Leana got up from the couch Sakura had just recently vacated and started to search for her hurt and lonely daughter.