Author's Note: exams are over, and I can finally resume my love affair with the computer, and all things related to anime and manga again. Thus I am now updating, and going absolutely ballistic, glued to 'sugar and spice and everything nice' oops, that was power puff girls, haveta cut down on the tv intake, and increase the no. of hours I am actually watching something useful other than useless cartoons, that repeat themselves over and over again… something productive, like rurouni kenshin, and full moon wo sagashite, and tsubasa chronicles and d gray man….yeah…. rambles on about the wonders of anime and manga.

Discslaimer: ccs belongs to me… (Do you think CLAMP would give me its rights, if I sent a petition letter?) Fine, it doesn't… for now…

0Enjoy0

'Yes, but that was before you knew about them, soldier.' He replied evenly.

Looking at him incredulously, I could only wonder what kind of twisted and unreasonable man lay behind this beautiful face, and even then, this face was my object of hatred now. 'So, it was all a lie, then, I was never given a choice, it's either this or I….'

'well, to phrase it so crudely, yes, however I would like to remind you that the pay you will be receiving will be…beyond your imagination, let's take 500 gold pieces a month, for starters, as you move up, your pay, will naturally increase, that is of course, if you do survive the training.' He replied, still smiling.

Laughing bitterly, I said 'I don't care how high the pay is; I'm not staying here. No one tells me what to do. I came here to experience freedom, not to be stuck working as a random assassin. I didn't ask to be recruited.'

'That's too bad, but you are staying my dear new recruit, or should I say, kinomoto sakura, sister to Touya kinomoto.' He said smugly

Still glaring at him, I froze 'well, since you do know already, why should I stay here, I should just head off for home, and be a meek little lady then.' I replied sarcastically.

'Oh, well you see, there's just this little problem here, firstly women are not allowed into armies, as soldiers, and they are very strict about this rule, and if you may note this rule has never been violated. if they are found out, well, your dear brother Touya, will lose his job, and be dismissed in shame, in the view that he is unable to control his little sister, much less an entire army, which would seriously make everyone embarrassed, and of course be the talk of the army, for at least many months to come, or he might even be banished in worst case scenarios, so I suggest you just be a nice and obedient little girl, and join us, it's not that bad, really, that is, if you do survive the first month, sakura.'

I tilted my face down, so my bangs would cover my eyes, making it difficult for him to read my emotions, but that didn't really work, as bitterness, scorn, and hate laced my every word 'you really don't hesitate to manipulate, everyone, and I should suspect, even your allies, as long as it reaps some kind of benefit to you, isn't it right 3 rd commander, eriol Hiiragizawa.'

There was a pause for a moment, as his voice cut through the atmosphere, cold, biting, harsh, it had definitely changed from a mocking tone, to something colder, like a small ship coming up against a glacier, destined to lose, to sink, to die.(sounds like titanic… but titanic wasn't invented back then)

'Don't think you can understand me so well in our first meeting, little girl.' His voice was cold, and hard.

His eyes were flint hard, and I flinched, as I raised my eyes to his, I could only turn away, and lower my eyes, unable to meet the challenge written there.

I heard the rustling of his loose robes, as he stood up, and left the tent, pausing midway, as he whispered something to a maid. When I was certain that he had finally left, I collapsed onto the cushion I was sitting on, unable to hold back the overflowing emotions anymore, as I felt something hot pricking at the back of my eyes, I knew that I was about to cry, I forced them back down, yet a tear still escaped, but I wiped it away before it completed its course down my cheek.

How could something so simple turn so wrong, I had only wanted to get out of the safe haven that Touya had locked me in, how had I gotten myself into trouble so quickly, and this time, Touya was not able to save me, I knew that I would never get out of this place so easily, and as far as I could see the 'training' would not be pleasant at all.

I had read up enough to know, that an assassin, was a lifelong commitment, and they were sworn to do their master's bidding, until they were released by their master, or ran away by themselves, and became fugitives, there was no escape, for me this time around. I was totally screwed.

For the first time in my life, I felt truly alone, this sensation only overpowered my homesickness, and I felt myself going dangerously near the point of hysteric sobbing. With a will power, I never knew existed, I pulled myself together, and quashed all thoughts and regrets, trying to keep my composure.

Lifting my head up, I tried to scrutinize my surroundings clearly and calmly. But before I could do anything, the maid from before, bowed formally before me, and said 'this way please, miss.'

I could only stand up and follow her, still wondering what was to come after this.

'Miss, from now on, you will stay in these quarters,' she said, stopping in front of an ordinary brown tent.

She continued, 'My name is midori, and I'll be protecting you and escorting you personally to each training session. Your basic needs will be provided for here; I will inform you of all mealtimes, you will wake up at six every morning, and sleep at eleven every night, your training starts tomorrow, If you have anything else , or further queries, please approach me.'

Saying thus, she sat outside of my tent, as I entered it, 'so, she'll be protecting me, more like guarding me, and making sure I don't make a run for it at night, it'll be quite useless anyway, seeing the security around here. ', I thought silently.

The tent was simple, and private, with a matress at one corner, and some foldable drawers and a table with cushions at another. I turned around, slightly surprised, as another maid carried my luggage in. I had almost forgotten about it. The maid bowed slightly, and left.

I opened a bag, and started to pack my things away in the drawers. But as I was unpacking, a piece of small paper parchment fell out, looking at it curiously, I wondered how it had gotten there, as I picked it up, and read it.

It was written in touya's untidy, impatient scrawl.

Take care kaiijuu, don't get caught. Tell me, if you're bullied, I'll beat up that bastard for you.

Touya.

It was just so typically Touya, looking out for me at every juncture of my life, feeding my suitors with death threats on a daily basis, playing pranks together with his little sister at stuffy boring meetings, bailing me out whenever I got myself into another of my messes, it was a wonder he was not already sick of me.

The tone was also so different from that which he had used on me in the last few days; it now seemed so far away, like it happened to another girl in another life. Touya's note, just reminded me so strongly of home, and all that I had lost.

I now knew that behind that seemingly cold and unfeeling mask was a brother who was worried, and anxious for his rash and hot-headed sister.

I felt the tears that I had tried to ignore, and repress, now come pouring out in a flood, washing me away in its intensity, it started, with soft muffled sniveling, I didn't want anyone to know that I was just a scared, lonely girl inside, who still needed her brother's constant encouragements, and shoulder to cry on, and I let my tears become loud racking sobs.

I put the piece of paper down gently as I was smearing the ink and the words grabbing a pillow, and cried long and hard. It seemed like an eternity, before sleep finally claimed me, and I drifted off into a thankfully quiet uneventful sleep.

Author's note: WHOOPEE chapter 5 is done and over, and everyone is happy, right? Wrong. Cos, I haven't been updating recently, and candy is bugging me to do it, and since she has just updated, I am finally feeling the guilt attacks, and am thus updating. Besides, so much has happened, and I am still worrying over whether I should evacuate my locker today or on the last day of school, cos it's falling apart with the amount of books squished in it. But, who cares, as long as I have my precious sweets and marshmallows, and computer, bed and tv. Suteki da ne? (isn't it beautiful?), to have life's most rewarding and entertaining things all concised into a house.

sniffs I'm just sooo touched

Finally

Many thanks to all who reviewed

arigato gozimasu!