Cracks of the whip filled the air as master lashed out upon Sakura in his drunken state. Sakura bit her lips through gritted teeth, tried to restrain herself from giving her Master a flying kick. " Crack! Crack! " The whip lashed out just for a last 2 heart- rending times. With this, Master collasped into an armchair, one that Sakura' s acts had brought enough money to furnish his house with. Sakura scrambled off the floor and to her newly- furnished room. " No. " Sakura thought suddenly. " No. "

I will not tolerate anymore of this from Master. No. My future is in my and my hands only. I have tolerated this for the past 7 years! How can anyone, who works her butt off be treated like a piece of garbage? I am not an " IT " someone can just kick around. " Why? Why must heaven treat me like this. You should treat all of us in just the same way! This is plain discrimination... Why? A tear, harbouring pain and sorrow trickled down the contour of her cheeks as Sakura her heart out.

Sakura had obeyed Master for too long. She was tired, too tired. She could not tolerate it any longer! She had experienced more than any 12 year old had. She deserved a life, a normal, happy life like anyone else did. Why should she suffer? Why was she one of the only ones that had to work at such a young age? Why could she only envy the other children at having the comfort of studying, eating candy and playing carefreely like the others?

A thought struck her. " I will run away. I will NOT obey anymore of his orders. No more. " This thought echoed in her mind. A clenched fist slammed onto the table, as she carefully planned her escape.

The next day, after her training in the early morning

Sakura had been busy all night, planning her freedom. " I can smell it ! " She knew that Master woke up very early, even though he had drunk a lot the previous night. She would run away this very day, after her usual act. As usual, she bowed her head to greet Master, careful not to show that she was happy that she would be escaping. Master looked up, surveyed her like he did everyday, before gruffing out something incomprehensible. Sakura ran out, smiling broadly when she was out of sight. Closing his newspaper, Master smirked evilly, before mounting his horse to buy some " new accessories " .

After a hearty round of applause

Master appeared just as Sakura was about to slip off into the crowd. He felt aware of the huge sum that he was about to get after making a little " trade ". Sakura glanced up, clearly startled by the appearance of Master. She let out a small sigh and gazed at the floor, downcast.

Flashback

" Hello, " a deep voice growled. " Do you happen to be the owner of this wonderous act of Sakura? " the man asked. He was donned in a hooded cloak. Master glanced sideways at himself, berfore giving a smirk and saying with sarcasm dripping, " Well it looks to me that someone is in love... Get a life, you' ll never be able to afford her. " He turned back to his glass of beer and took a swig. The man spoke up again, " What if I offer you this? " and handed Master two cards. One was a business card, the other... Master's eyes wdened. " Do I have a deal? " the masked man spoke up. Master nodded, still in shock at the name of the man...and the price he had offered. " I will have her tomorrow. " were the last words he said, befroe he swept outside. Outside, he saw the man swung himself onto his horse and he rode away.

End of Flashback

" I can' t let you run away, can I ? " Master whispered harshly. Sakura eyes widened in shock as she snapped her head up. Master stood up, cracked his whip, before announcing, " Tomorrow will be Sakura 's last act! Everyone come support her last act! " The crowd, which were busy throwing coins, erupted into cheers, as they could see their Sakura for one last time. They had grown attached to her over the years and would definately be there.

Sakura thought to herself, " Last act? What did he mean by that? " She was interrupted when some older guys whistled at her hour- glass figure and her delicate, tanned, face. " Don' t tell me Master' s selling me to a brothel ! " she proclaimed in her mind in shock. She grasped her body and ran away from the taunting whistles to the place she called home, for the last day. It looked like her plan for running away had failed miserably... " Where would I be sold to next? "