Ok I decided to get this rolling asap…sooooo heres to my first chapter I hope u like it!

Chapter 1

Sakura awoke with the morning dawn, as usual. The sunlight streamed in through the many holes in the tiny room's walls. Sakura sat up, yawned, and proceeded towards the smoldering fireplace. Her gaze went down towards the dress she was wearing. It was torn and bloody from the battle she had put up against Cedric the night before. She shivered at the memories it brought back.

Hastily she took it off and threw it into the fireplace and lit the fire. She watched as one of her three dresses that she had left, went up in flames. She looked towards the small chair in her room, where the other two lay. She picked the cleanest one, which was covered in soot and ashes, and put it on. She put her hair up in a scarf as she usually did, and made sure there were no stray pieces, before exiting her room.

She bounded down the stairs, wanting to get a head start on her chores today, so she could avoid Cedric and Una as much as possible. It was her job in the mornings to start all the fires in the public rooms, so she began with the dining hall, where the Li family always ate their meals.

After she had finished stoking the fires in the other rooms, she ran down to the kitchens and grabbed a broom. She was about to head back out before she stumbled into the head cook, Kaho. "Now, Sakura, what do you think you're doing?"

Sakura rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "Uh…my morning chores Kaho."

Kaho shook her finger at her, "Without eating your breakfast first. Sakura…you know how I feel about that. Now come one let's get some food into your skinny little body." She told her while grabbing her free hand and dragging her towards the food area.

She motioned her to sit on a stool while she rummaged around to find something. "Ah, there we are. Freshly baked, and made just for a hungry maid on her way to do her chores."

She handed Sakura a warm loaf of bread. She looked down at it then back up at Kaho, "Oh, thank you Kaho-chan, I haven't had fresh bread in the longest time!"

Kaho put on a mischievous grin and winked, "I know why do you think I saved some for you." She began to shoo off Sakura, "Now go before Una catches you. You know how that old gargoyle likes to make surprise inspections."

Sakura nodded gratefully and took a bite out of her bread while quickly making her getaway. She rushed to a small, secluded corner where Sakura usually ate, although it was never this early. She chomped on her bread while trying to savor the taste. She knew Kaho, couldn't do this all the time, it would begin to look suspicious. A loaf of bread missing once in a while was one thing, it was bound to happen, but all the time? Kaho couldn't afford to, with Una watching her every move.

She started to think that if her great-uncle were here, none of this would've happened in the first place. Then shook it off, her uncle was gone. Cedric was lord of this manor now, no matter how much she despised him.

She remembered how handsome she had thought Cedric to be and how charming, and he had even liked her when she was reduced to being a scullery maid. Or at least she thought he had. He had charmed his way into her heart. Giving her gifts, and flowers, and stealing a few kisses. Sakura had thought she was in love. Until last night that is. He had come to the tiny hole she called a bedroom, as usual, but something was different about him. He brought no flowers, and Sakura had thought it odd, because he always brought her something.

His playful smile had turned into an evil smirk in a matter of seconds and he shut and locked the door. Sakura had heard stories from the other maids and knew enough to know what was about to happen. She had run to the door and tried to unlock it, but he was too strong. He had taken her. He had taken away the only thing she had left. Now she had nothing. Nothing to call her own. Even the clothes she wore belonged to the Li's.

She sighed, trying to forget all of it. She tried to forget how stupid she had been, in thinking that someone like Cedric could've been in love with someone like her. He had just wanted a good time. Well she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cower. She would show him, she wasn't someone to be toyed with.

She sighed again, getting up and started doing her other chores, which included sweeping the floors in every public room, and scrubbing down the hallways, and of course her favorite job in the world…emptying the chamber pots.

She had finally finished everything late in the afternoon and went to her safe haven. The kitchens. Everyone there knew her, and smiled as she passed. She returned the smiles, feeling as though she were putting on a façade. She shook herself mentally and headed to where she thought she had seen Kaho.

She found her cooking with Zhen, Lord Xiao-hu Li's first wife's daughter. (confusing isn't it?) Zhen had a disability that made her slower than others. (autism for those who haven't a clue what I'm talking about, but remember they don't know what it's called back then!) Ever since Lord Xiao-hu had passed, Zhen had been exploited by the Li family. As a result, the servants had taken her in.

She came up to Zhen, "Hello Zhen. How are you this morning?"

Zhen didn't look up from the picture she was drawing, "Sakura likes to pick flowers."

Sakura laughed and patted Zhen on the head. Zhen never said hi, but acknowledged that the person was there by giving them some attribute and picking flowers is the one that Zhen had given her.

Sakura turned to Kaho, who looked at her strangely. "Sakura, is something wrong?"

Sakura put on her smile and shook her head, "Of course not! What gave you that idea?"

Kaho shook her head, "I don't know something seems, different about you. You look more happy than usual, and that always means that something's wrong."

Sakura tilted her head, she hated the way Kaho could read her like a book, "Gomen Kaho, I don't know what you're talking about."

Kaho shook a wood spoon at her, "Well, I'm here if you need to talk ok?"

Sakura's smile brightened, "I know!"

Kaho looked down at Sakura's hands. "There's some balm behind the cupboard, put some on before you go back to your chores, and you better do it, or I'll hold you down and do it for you."

Sakura laughed uneasily and hid her hands inside her apron. It was a tactic that Una had always used. She used to whip the palms of her hands, she always said that it was a reminder that she was no longer a lady, but a lowly scullery maid.

Sakura reached for the jar that held the balm and took out a very small amount. If Una found out that she was using it, who knew what would happen. After she had finished rubbing it in, Una decided to make an entrance.

The gray-haired woman eyed everyone suspiciously, and when she spotted Sakura, her strict face became even harder. She approached Sakura, "Well well well, if it isn't the little maid, and what are you doing here?"

Sakura was about to answer when Kaho stepped in and curtsied, "I asked her here, she was merely helping me with dinner."

Una eyed Kaho suspiciously then turned to Zhen. "What are you doing here?" she asked her venomously.

"Nanny watches Zhen." Zhen said without looking up, still drawing on the paper.

Una growled, then grabbed the girl by the ear, making her shriek. "It's time for your nap Zhen."

Zhen complied still shaking from the attack. Sakura wanted nothing more than to rip off Una's head, but she knew it wouldn't solve anything. Una was Zhen's 'nanny,' although she was more of a torturer than a nanny.

Sakura sighed as she watched Zhen leave with Una. She felt for the girl. Even though she was slow-minded, she was a wonderful artist and had a very caring heart. She was also very aware of everyone's feelings. She knew when something was wrong, and Sakura had always found companionship with her. She loved to read books, and surprisingly she understood them, quite well actually. If it hadn't been for her slow wit, she would've made an excellent scholar.

Looking at the sun, and seeing that she had another two hours before she had to begin work again, she made her way to her uncle's study. Once there she closed the door, and made sure no one else was there. She smiled to herself, finding that she was alone at last. She made her way over to the bookshelf searching for one book in particular. She found it shoved behind all the others, forgotten. Her smile widened when she touched it. It was the only thing she had left of her uncle, and she doubted anyone else even knew of its existence.

She opened it and turned to a random page. She smiled when she saw that it was the entry from the day she had arrived.

March 6, 1529

Well, my grand-niece arrived today, and what a charming young girl she is. She reminds me so much of her mother it pains me to see her. Poor child, lost her mother and father all in one year. But I am glad she is here. I only worry that Yelan and Una will see her as a threat. But enough of that. She is a joy! She runs wild in the gardens and insists upon tearing up the new dresses she just received. The servants adore her already. Especially my head cook Mizuki, she's convinced that the girl is too skinny for her own good…

Sakura laughed at the memories that brought back, then she turned a few pages and stopped when she found a very familiar entry.

Sakura just about gave me a stroke today. She ran away from her personal maid, while walking through the forests. I assembled a search party immediately, but we had to turn back because of the storm. I was pacing like a madman in front of my study's fire for nearly an hour, when my manservant Eriol, rushed into my room to tell me that she was back, and currently being inspected by the surgeon.

When I reached her I wanted nothing more than to give her a good scolding, but when I looked into those emerald eyes, I just couldn't. She told me that she thought she had seen a cat and went to look for it. Leave it to my Sakura to go looking for a troubled animal. When I asked her how she had gotten back, she said that a boy helped her. An amber-eyed boy. I had no idea what she meant, of course the surgeon just said it was a hallucination, but I honestly don't know how else she could've gotten back with the storm being as bad as it was. O well, I guess I'll just have to be thankful that she came back unharmed.

Sakura remembered that day very well. She had been scared out of her mind. The thunder and lightning had been clashing all around her, and she had been rooted to the spot underneath a tree. She had cried her eyes out, when suddenly someone appeared above her, she had screamed but calmed when the boy hugged her. For some reason she had felt safe and secure in his embrace. She didn't know why, but she had. All she remembered after that was being lifted up and carried, listening to the soothing voice of a young boy, and looking up into a pair of beautiful amber eyes.

The next thing she knew she was in bed being examined by a very scary doctor, but she hadn't had the energy to pull away from him, so she let him do his poking and prodding, while thinking about the amber-eyed boy who had saved her.

She sighed, looking out the window and realized that she only had half-an-hour before she had to return to her duties. She got up and replaced the book exactly the way she had found it. She turned and walked out the door, and was about to shut it when she was suddenly grabbed from behind, a large warm hand pressing over her mouth.

She was shoved violent towards a wall. "Don't scream." Came the hissing breath. She'd know that voice anywhere. It was Cedric. She was about to bite his hand off when he let go. She turned around to face him. He was smiling maliciously. "So did you enjoy last night?"

Sakura turned red from anger. "Don't. you. Dare. Mock me. You took away the only thing I had left!"

"You belong to me Sakura. You've never owned anything."

"If Uncle Xiao-hu were here…"

He angrily waved her off. "Don't you dare speak about my father. He never saw you for what you really are. He spent all his time with you once you came. He never even gave a second glance towards me. It was all about you. Well, now, I've proven what you really are. A slave and nothing more."

"You may have taken my body Cedric, but you will never have me."

"Really?" he said his malicious smile growing by the second. "We'll see about that. No one would want you now. You're nothing but used property."

Sakura felt tears growing hot in her eyes, but she refused to let him see her cry. "You're wrong Cedric." And with that she ran as fast as she could towards the gardens.

She ran hard and fast, until coming into contact with a Sakura tree. She hugged it and let the tears come freely. Slowly she sank down to the ground, still clinging onto the tree as if it were a lifeline.

She finally decided to look up. She saw a whole bunch of servants and a few gardeners looking at her strangely, but none dared to approach her. Sakura desperately wanted to be alone, but she couldn't return to the study, Cedric still might be there. She looked off into the distance and saw an old-rustic looking tower. She doubted highly that anyone else would be there, so she took off towards the tower. As she was running Sakura realized that the tower was farther than she had first thought, it was at least ¾ of a mile, probably more.

She was panting when she finally reached it. With all her chores, Sakura had had no time to do any exercising, the chores were tiring enough. So, she was seriously out of shape. She reached out towards the golden handle, brushed a few vines and cobwebs away, and pulled. It didn't budge. At first she thought it was locked, but she tried again. This time she pulled with all her strength and finally the door opened.

She stepped into the dark room, 'perfect.' She thought to herself. She made her way towards a comfy-looking chair, and didn't even bother to brush it off before she sat down.

She continued on her crying spree once she had found a comfortable position. She couldn't believe she had been so stupid. She never should've gotten involved with Cedric in the first place. She had nowhere else to go. She was stuck here in this hell-hole for the rest of her born existence, which meant she was also stuck with Cedric.

She silently prayed that he would contract some fatal illness and die a horrible painful death. She had never hated anyone so earnestly, not even Una, although she came in a close second.

Suddenly she heard a door creak open. "Who are you?" a very deep masculine voice asked.

The first thought that flew into her mind was, 'Cedric! Oh I have to get out of here.' She stood up quickly and ran towards the door, but the man caught her around the waist before she could leave and turned her around in his arms.

Sakura cursed herself and tried to push away, as she looked up into the man's face and saw a pair of amber eyes staring down at her.

A/n and I'm going to end it there…its my mom's 46th bday today, soooo we're going to medieval times! And we're leaving in a half an hour and I need to eat some lunch, cuz its gonna be a long drive…anywayz, I think ill update tomorrow if I can…I might be busy doing some crappy ap projects though….mumbles incoherent mormon curse words…and for those of you who don't know what mormon curse words are…they're nicer versions of regular curse words like, ginger-snap, that ones for u char…and crap, dang-it, fudge, donkeybutt, very unusual words…but they're my words!