Chapter Three: Difficult Times

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Author's Note: Yay! I finished the next chapter. Read on.

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"Around the block, 20 more laps." commanded Syaoran, as the rest of his regiment groaned.

"Sir, please we're exhausted and it's really hot today," said one of the men bravely. Many of the other soldiers were sprawled across the ground, trying to feel the cool earth underneath them.

"When you're fighting the enemy, and they're shooting at you. No one will give a damn how tired you are or what the weather is like. Now Run!"

Syaoran watched as his new regiment limped their way around the field. Pathetic, they wouldn't last two minutes in the battlefield.

"Stop! 5 minutes. Then we'll start again." He said when they came around the corner, as most of them collapsed onto the ground from exhaustion. Why did they join the army, if they couldn't handle the conditions? They probably wanted the shiny medals and the uniform.

Syaoran smirked; he would make them work for it.

"Colonel, telephone call for you," one of the majors he brought along with him said, carrying with him a phone that had been extended.

"Thank you Major," he saluted, taking the phone as he walked inside his private tent. "Hello, Colonel Syaoran speaking."

"Syaoran? Are you alright?" came a female voice on the other end. It was Aimee.

"I'm fine Aimee. The weather's horrible." He said, as a giggle erupted on the other end.

"Are you sure you can't come back soon?"

"If I could, I would. You know how much I love you."

"I wish you were here, telling me that."

"So do I." he commented, a sigh escaping from Aimee's lips. "What are you doing now?"

"Thinking about you."

Syaoran smirked.

"So are you doing anything at the moment?" she continued.

"Nothing more interesting than talking to you." Said Syaoran, looking out the gap of the door as the major walked in.

"Sir, 5 minutes is up."

"Do you have to go now Syaoran?" came Aimee's worried voice.

"No." he replied to the phone, as he turned towards the major. "Tell them they can have the rest of the afternoon off."

The major looked surprised but nodded anyway; the Colonel was in a good mood today and he wouldn't argue with that.

A few moments later the major came back knocking; Syaoran covered the mouthpiece of the telephone before gesturing for him to continue.

"The men would like permission to visit the local sea-side town."

"Granted." Said Syaoran, before turning away with the phone.

"Will you be joining us Colonel?"

"I'm engaged Major."

"S-Sorry, not my place sir." He said before saluting him and marching off with the rest of the soldiers to the town.

Syaoran almost wanted to laugh. Going to the town was just an excuse to get drunk and to try and get lucky with one of the locals; he used to be part of that scene.

But now was different, he had responsibilities that he needed to fulfill.

"Syaoran are you still there?" a soft voice broke him out of his trance.

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A tall woman with piercing brown eyes and dyed platinum hair sat in her office strumming her hard wooden desk with her neatly manicured fingers. The smell of designer perfume filled the room, as a thin wisp of smoke entered.

"Madame Gisella." The hooded figure acknowledged, as he took a seat opposite her. Taking off his hat, he offered her a cigarette in which she refused. "To business then."

She nodded, walking over to the door to lock it behind her. Turning around she put on a record to drown out their conversation.

"Being cautious today are we?" the man laughed.

"The walls have ears Monsieur and I'd rather this information doesn't go out beyond this building." She whispered, careful to keep her voice low against the music of Roxanne.

"I understand, now what was it that you wanted to talk about Madame?"

"Gisella." She corrected.

"Gisella." He repeated after her, a sly smile forming on his lips.

"You are aware of our situation no?"

"Ahhh," the man across from her leaned back as she leant towards him. "About that again Gisella? Where did all the money I gave you last time go?"

"No, not about that Monsieur, we are doing fine. But you have noticed we have competition?"

"Oh yes, that little place down the street, Esmeralda's was it?"

"Some of our clientele have stopped coming, I have been given knowledge that they have switched."

The man in front of her stopped smoking on his cigar, looking up at her a serious look came into his eerily black eyes.

"Then I suggest you find a way to pick up sales Gisella."

"I've cut another girl this week."

"I suggest you cut more, some of your girls aren't making enough." He replied coolly.

"My girls are working as hard as they can Monsieur Gautier."

"Then make sure they work harder, two or even three times a night if they have to."

"I'll see what I can do, sir." She replied giving him a haughty look. A few years ago, she had found herself in debt, and he had been the only one to offer her enough money to pay off her charges. If it wasn't for him, Madame Gisella's Young Girls would have ages ago shut down.

"I've checked out the competition already Gisella."

"Have you?" she appeared surprised, but then she remembered that not many people knew that Madame Gisella's needed financial support to keep it afloat.

Almost nobody knew that Duke Gautier was associated with the establishment, and it was for the good of both of them. If the officials ever found out that a commissioned officer were linked with this illegal institution it would spell disaster for all of them.

"Don't question my authority." He snapped.

The Duke was a tall man, with dark eyes and even darker hair that twisted and curled in every known direction. Gisella had known him since he was a little boy, and although he had grown with age, his personality was still the same. His serious attitude that had been enforced through the tough time he had had in fighting in the wars.

"What did you find?" she replied, equal in authority.

"You've got serious competition." He concluded.

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Sakura stood outside of Madame Gisella's office with Tomoyo, waiting for her to finish. Once before she had accidentally interrupted Gisella while she was in the middle of a phone call, she had her turn of punishment then. Fair to say she had learnt her lesson.

Standing aside when the door opened, she watched as a tall man dressed in a long black overcoat stepped out. She saw him eyeing her as he turned, followed by the appearance of Madame Gisella who looked at her suspiciously.

"What do you want?" snapped Gisella; she was in a foul mood.

"Tomoyo needs new clothes, she doesn't have anything appropriate," said Sakura. Most of Tomoyo's clothes were way to high and upper for this place, too valuable to be put into this mess.

"You're point? Let her borrow some of yours."

Sakura ignored her comment.

"We wanted to go out shopping at some of the stores, to see what outfits we could put together."

"You realize you're working tonight Sakura." The way she said it was more of a statement than a question as Sakura nodded. "So you want to take the night off?"

"Yes." She replied firmly, oblivious to the shaking girl behind her.

"Your choice, I'm cutting another girl at the end of the week. I hope it won't be you," said Gisella, before re-entering her office and closing the door behind her.

"Was that a yes?" asked Tomoyo.

"Yeah, don't worry. She won't cut you so soon." Replied Sakura, as they trailed back to their room to get their bags for the night out. She slipped on a demure pale blue dress as Tomoyo followed suit, grabbing their purses and valuables, they quietly slipped out of the building through the backdoor, feeling the cold night air rush into their lungs.

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"Come on, just try it on!"

Sakura had tried her best to convince her friend to try on various garments, but Tomoyo had flatly refused each time. Damn that girl was modest.

"I couldn't wear something like that Sakura. Just no."

"Don't worry, you'll look gorgeous. Trust me." Hanging onto the loose piece of clothing, she gestured for the shop-attendant to come over and give her opinion. "What do you think?"

The girl surveyed the clothing and the dark-haired girl for a moment before abruptly nodding her head. "It will definitely work. You'll have his eyes stuck on you."

"Thank you," said Sakura, as the attendant walked back towards the cashier.

"She's paid to say that you know," whispered Tomoyo, as Sakura laughed.

"But she's right. Come on, this is your size isn't it?" she asked as Tomoyo nodded. "Fine, I'll get it for you anyway and you can try it on later," she said, walking towards the cashier. Paying for the item, both girls walked out of the store.

Down the road, bright lights illuminated the sign inscribed with Gisella's name. Outside there were some men they hadn't been in line early enough, they were waiting their turn in case they were lucky enough to find a free girl.

"Not tonight," whispered Sakura to herself, eyeing their uniform.

So the new army division had arrived.

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Author's Note: Sorry, not SS yet. But next chapter I promise. Anyway, can you guys please review? Maybe because it's the holidays and everyone is away or something I don't know… I was rereading reviews for "Cherry Falls" and I miss you guys so much! Please tell me what you think and review? Should I scrap this story? Review!