Author's Notes: I'll need my reviews to go up to 20 before I can upload my new chapters. ( Hee hee. I'm blackmailing... ) Oops...did u just see that?? Ehehe... -ducks stuff that comes flying- Anyway, just wanna let you know:

Syaoran and Tomoyo will be coming in quite late so... gives nervous laugh before RUNNING FOR MY LIFE!!!!!! ( Believe me now, Yu Han??? )

Chapter 3,

Knowing, confronting pain once again

Sakura lay uncomfortably on the straw bed, thinking of the horrible Fate set upon her by Father. Sighing, she got up and smoothed down her shirt. Walking out, Sakura ignored the pain that throbbed with every movement she made, for the wounds were still painful. She gazed at the night sky, still filled with stars, she could not help but think,

" Why? Why must Heaven treat me like this???? "

Flashback

" F- father? W-why did yo-you summon m-me?" Sakura asked, with all the respect she could muster. She was dripping wet in the rain and still could feel the merciless drops still falling on her body. She was not even given time to dry off, for she did not have extra clothes to change into... Looking into Father's gaze, Sakura raised her gaze to meet Father' s, she saw a glimpse of something flash dangerously in his eyes. Father's woman, on the other hand, had a gleam of triumph in her eyes. Father spoke once again, in the most commanding voice he had, " You, my dear, are going to be sold to a more...respectable place. It's for my...uh your sake! " hesitating in his speech. " Umi here will help you look presentable tomorrow in the morning. " he gestured toward his woman. She gave a sickeningly sweet smile and thus, Sakura was sent to her room, with a new set of clothes she was to be adorning for tomorrow. Placing her clothes in one corner, Sakura closed her eyes and let her mind wanderer off to what it would be like to be with her family once again...

End of Flashback

Sakura hastened her steps as she tiptoed out to the courtyard, trying not to wake anyone who were still in slumber land. Grasping her necklace, the one her parents had given not two days ago, Sakura kicked into the air, before giving punches, all the while thinking of her family. Afterall, she had to be in tip- top condition even though her martial arts may not be of use... Scaling the wall, Sakura deftly climbed onto the roof. As the cool wind swept, through the air, Sakura resolved that she would be the bubbly, optimistic self that she was before. Orange filled the sky as the sun rose across the horizon, Sakura threw back her hair and leapt off the roof, running back swiftly into the room, noiselessly. Creeping back into her bed, Sakura carefully hid her star necklace in her shoe, in fear that it would be stolen. The door creaked open as Umi sauntered in, seemingly confident of something. " O-ohayo Umi-san... I'm-I'm ready." Umi, clearly disstisfied with Sakura's bubblyness, pinched her hard on her arm, making a bruise. Yelping in pain, Sakura tried to fight back her tears and forced a smile. Umi forcefully yanked down Sakura's top at the shoulder and when she saw the marks left by Father's whip, she let out disgusted screech and ran out, so Sakura changed by herself and not even sparing the room a second glance, Sakura picked up her bundle and walked out, only to be met by an even fiercer looking man with a bag in one arm and a whip brandished in the other, the bag on the left, the whip in the right. Dragging Sakura by her collar, he scooped her up like a kitten and shook hands with Father. " She looks fine! " he managed gruffly, showing his ugly buck teeth. Handing Father a bag that jingled-jangled, Sakura was forcefully dragged away.

Riding a horse with the burly man, Sakura noticed that the war had started to cease and there was less bloodshed. Sakura smiled. " Well, that's something to be happy about... " Next, she suddenly snapped out of her reverie by someone forcefully shoving her onto the ground. " Ugh! " Sakura muttered, scanning her surroundings. Once again, she was in someplace new... Looking around, a bowl suddenly flew in front of her. In instinct, Sakura caught it. The man, clearly surprised, smiled in bemusement, a small evil smile.

Thus, Sakura was given training at this place, for a long time. The place, on the outside, looked friendly and cheery, and seemed to exude warmth and happiness, but inside, gloom and misery was present in every corner. Sakura, who had to clean it everyday for the man, hated each day spent in the house with growing despise. In about 4 months, where Sakura found out more and more dark secrets, the Li's overthrew the present Emperor on 13th July, the young prince's birthday. Back then, paper was already invented and there were newspapers. The country was in an uproar at first, but grew to accept the fact for the Li's assured everyone that they would have a better life. The Li's kept their word.

The burly man, who had been Sakura's ' Master' snorted out laughter. That's what Sakura had been forced to call him- ' Master' . " Slave! I'm going out for a drink! Mind the house and make sure it's clean before I get back, ya' hear?? " Sakura gave a curt nod before running off to do her errands. Whistling, ' Master' went galloping away on his horse to the nearest stall, which was approximately 3. 1 kilometres away, but ' Master' had a horse, which saved him the time.

Four hours later...

" YAHA! Completed! I'm soooo happy, I think I'll go train! " Sakura screamed, since there was no one at ' home' . Sakura didn' t know, well, maybe a little, that she was deceiving herself.

Running out into the courtyard, Sakura threw arm thrusts at the air and gave a hard kick toward a nearby tree. " Oops. Sorry, tree! " Sakura naively giggled. " Though, it would be nice if Master stopped drinking so much... " Letting a downcast sigh, Sakura shivered with fright at the thought of Master drinking wine, for when Master came back, he would beat Sakura up for no rhyme or reason, which frightened Sakura dearly.

The galloping of a horse's hoof broke the then pin- drop silence in the air. Master had returned. Sakura shuffled and bowed, deeply in front of Master. " Hoe? There's no alcohol smell... not even the slightest whiff! " Sakura intently smelled the air but just could not pick up that familiar smell that usually surrounded him. " Get up! " he commanded. Following this, Sakura was forced to do acrobatic stuff that involved climbing on chairs to catch bowls and perform stunts- to earn money. That was the main objective. Sakura still felt tremendously confused at the whole process and would even go for cleaning than this horrendous training. The pair trained for months and months for this and the cracking of the whip became a familiar sound to Sakura's ears. Doggedly, Sakura followed Master' s every command but still would get beaten at least once in a day.

In the blink of an eye, 2 years passed

Sakura's body slowly accustomed to the pain and she was able to bear quite a large amount of pain. Of course, punishment was also dealt and it usually occurred whenever Sakura broke a bowl. She would be forced to kneel on the shards of broken glass for 5 to 10 minutes, for she could not be hurt too badly- she needed to perform. Nevertheless, Sakura bore with the pain and kept on going. She still believed that miracles would happen. She still believed, with all her heart, that Fate would not be cruel and callous no more. Lying down on her bed, Sakura fell asleep. Tomorrow would be the day. The day that she would start performing on the streets.

The next day, at 6.55a.m

Dressed and neglected to be given breakfast, Sakura was in an acrobatic outfit, no different than a servants' uniform. She had been practising this routine for a long time now, since 2 years ago. " Time sure flew... I'm already 7 years old now... My birthday's round the corner now, in just a week's time, and then I'll truly be 7!!! "

Master, stacking up the chairs, went through with Sakura the routine that they practiced often. Crowds gathered round and cheered all the while giving Master coins- that he would be spending on wine- in a hat. Sakura sighed at the position she was in, on top of 15 stacked chairs. The wind carassed her face and it was chilly, but Sakura made no move to complain, for she knew she would get whipped if she did. Sighing, as Sakura did a final backflip atop all the chairs. The crowd cheered and hooted loudly. Sakura, from the top of the stairs, bowed, but she saw Master stalking off already, straddling his horse. Doing a triple forward flip as she landed with grace on the ground, keeping the chairs whilst the crowd dispersed. Unknown to her, to Sakura, someone was watching her with keen interest...

Author's Notes: Well, I hope you'll just read and review but remember, I' m a first timer, so go easy on me kay???