Author's Notes: I want to thank: lady maia

TeDDie BeaRZ

kimtarboi622

Sakura Stardreamer

dbzgtfan2004 for their reviews. You really gave me encouagement. Honest. So this chapter is dedicated to you. Alright??? Not only that, I'm sorry, but Tomoyo and Syaoran will be coming in the later chapters. Sorry for their late arrival.

Special Note to lady maia: I'm sorry I've made you confused but all I meant was the guards that served the country the Kinomotos lived in. The guards killed them because Fujitaka was really intelligent and he had served the Emperor before, so the Emperor thought that Fujitaka posed a threat...Thanks for your review. :)

Chapter 2

To regain trust in herself and to believe once again

Sakura found herself lost from the distance she had travelled from home. This was the first time Sakura had ever felt so lost, so unwanted. Unshed tears flowed in her heart but Sakura stood strong, as she had the will to live, for her parents and brother. Sleepily, Sakura glanced about, scrutinizing her surroundings. She was now in a completely different neighbourhood that deemed different from her own. This neighbourhood was run- down and in every house, the paint on the walls were chipping and peeling, like the bark of a tree. Sakura had had a sleepless night wandering and was now feeling run-down. As she dragged her feet to slog on on force herself to continue moving, her stomach gave a loud growl. Clutching her stomach, Sakura gave a soft whimper and her legs, feeling like jelly, gave way and she fell onto the ground, face- down. As Sakura got up, barely being able to open her eyes, she saw a bench that was reasonably unharmed by the war and trudged towards it.

Suddenly, something flew over her mouth. Sakura's eyes widened in shock before she felt her legs giving in once again and the world around her collapse into darkness.

" Uh... " Sakura opened her eyes wearily. Taking in her surroundings, Sakura's eyes flew open and she bolted up in shock. Sakura looked down, checking if her clothes were still on. Giving a sigh of relief, her clothes were still on. She was alone. Her bundle lay neatly by the corner of the room. The room in which Sakura was in was filthy and was very small. In it was a bed made out of straw, and on it was Sakura. "Where am I? It is awful here and I'm all alone... " Sakura thought aloud.

Out of the blue, the door burst open and strutting in came a man. He had a huge built, hairs on his chin which he did not bother to shave, a set square jaw and seemingly furrowed eyebrows. Dressed in a dull coloured shirt, he strode forward. In his hand was a light pink suit that Sakura recognised as a servants' uniform. Sakura's eyes widened in awareness. She had been kidnapped and sold here for a sum of money.The man then spoke up in a surly but hoarse voice with everything but kindness or friendlinesstinged in, " I'm your father now so you must be at my beck and call. Even though you are the young. Understood? " Sakura gaped and had a strong desire to fight back and argue, but judging the size of his arm muscles, which was huge, all she could do was to nod mutely.

Throwing the clothes roughly in her face, the man spat distastefully at Sakura, " Go get changed and come out when you are done. " He strode off and slammed the door on his way out. Sakura, picking up the clothes which had fallen on the floor, began changing into them. Hastening her actions, Sakura ran out, along a aisle and down to what seemed like the main hall.

Father sat menacingly in a chair, looking at his watch. Mildly surprised at Sakura for being early, he set out her duties, perhaps it was his way for getting back at her, and gave her cleaning duties, floor duties, dinner shift, washing duties and many more. As each item was verbally told to Sakura, Sakura felt like fainting. The list was endless!! Sakura, after receiving her orders, bowed before starting on her duties, ALONE.

As Sakura cleaned the floor, which was filthy, she dipped a cloth into the pail and arching her back, Sakura ran forward and back, cleaning. Although Sakura had done this before, she slipped and fell countless of times, earning herself bruises all over. Tears brimmed as she thought of happy times she had with her family, never having to work hard as she did now. The house was eerily quiet and soon, Sakura, assuring herself with happy thoughts that she would get out soon, completed the floor duty.

Moving on, to her other duties, she did everything well and first- class. By dinner, Sakura had already completed evertthing. Sakura was pleased and thought that she would not get on Father' s bad side, but was she wrong. Father came in, after inspecting the areas, seemed satisfied, but his face darkened at the mere sight of Sakura. Father held a grudge against Sakura, but Sakura did not know why. Sakura looked away, trying to avoid Father's fierce glare. After dinner, Sakura went to bed, all the while wondering what she had done wrong.

Coaxing herself to sleep, Sakura had yet to familiarise with the house. Counting the bruises on her body, Sakura cried, rocking herself gently to sleep.

The next morning, Sakura awoke, but at the door was Father. " I bet I'll get scolded... " Sakura thought bitterly. She got out of bed and rushed out, in front of Father, only to meet Father's fierce glare. Even though Sakura was only 5 years old, she understood things well. She was naive, yes, but she had a strong sense of understanding.

Father brandished a feather duster and commanded Sakura to stick out her hand. " THWACK! " the feather duster came down hard. Sakura felt a stinging pain on her palm. Sakura's reflex drew back Sakura's hand, but Sakura only ended up getting hit everywhere, even on her body and legs. Fresh blood oozed out of her open wounds and parts of her body were covered in bruises. Giving Sakura a hard kick, Father spat, " You work for me! When I say you get up at the crack of dawn, you get up at the crack of dawn! " Sakura remembered Father's words and fought back the biting pain. Her whole body was going numb from the pain.

" CRASH! BOOM! " Lightning flashed in forks while thunder clapped loudly. Ignoring this, Father glared daggers at Sakura. Sakura, feeling that she would die from that pain, could not help but let out a teardrop from her already teary eyes. That blew it. Father hated to see people cry as that would signify that he or she were weaklings. " OUT! " Father roared. " OUT INTO THE RAIN AND DON"T COME BACK UNTIL DINNER, FOOL!" he thundered.

Sakura, still hurt and battered from the beating, scampered out like a mouse, her blood staining the floor which she had previously cleaned. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Straightening his shirt, Father rushed to open the door. In came a rather young women, in a set of revealing clothes. Carassing Father's chin, she led him to the room.

Sakura didn't see what had happened as she was too busy sobbing all the tears she had held back for the past few days. She poured her heart out to the rain- what misery, pain, she was undergoing. Every drop that landed on Sakura hurt her dearly, for her blood flowed down as a river toward the sea. Each drop felt like a knife cutting through her. She had thought that Fate would be kind to her but she was wrong. Fate seemed to despise her, and go against her. Sakura shook her head, already afraid of what was to come next.

Sakura hugged herself in self-consolation, curling up into a ball. Telling herself it would be alright, and nothing would happen, Sakura deceived herself once again that everything would be alright. But this, was only the beginning of her misery...

Meanwhile, Father's woman, came out of the room, and saw Sakura. Realising that it was Sakura who kept the house so clean, for Father would never clean the house, she began scheming for Sakura to be sold away... Sakura would have to face more troubles then ever before...at the mere age of five...

Hope you've enjoyed it. R&R please!