Chapter Six: An Enchanting Night

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Author's Note: As promised, here's the next chapter which is longer than usual to make up for last chapter. I really shouldn't be putting it up as I haven't finished Chapter Seven, but I keep my promises. Okay quickly, the duke is in his thirties and last chapter was not Sakura's first time.

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A young girl with flowing golden hair and piercing blue eyes sat outside on her balcony under the shade of an overhanging tree on a cool summer's day sipping her tea as a tall man that once had handsome features approached her.

"Father I'm glad you could make it."

"I would do anything for you Aimee, you know that." The man replied, as he took a seat opposite her.

"Tea?"

"No thank you," said the former Lieutenant General Astley as he took off his hat and overcoat waiting for the maid to come and collect his items.

"We haven't hired a maid yet. There's such a shortage these days," said Aimee as she placed her cup and saucer down. "He's got such a large house."

"You've moved in already?"

"I thought it would lessen the hassle for later. But no, I've just moved a few of my things in and decorated a bit."

"Good property," he commented, looking around at the wide fields surrounding the area, and the gardens with tall hedges that had been neatly trimmed into a maze like-shape.

"To think I will reside at this estate one day."

"You played your cards right my dear."

"Hmm," she murmured, a small line appearing on her flawless forehead. "It's taking so long. Why'd you have to transfer him to train the new soldiers anyway? You could've gotten any of the other Colonels to do it."

"I tried to prevent it Aimee, trust me I did, for both our interests. But the Brigadier General was determined that he was sent to do it."

"That old man?"

"He's retiring the end of the term. Word's out Li is one of the men he's considering for the promotion."

"It'll bring in more money won't it?" asked Aimee, a smile on her lips.

"That's my girl. I knew you would see it my way."

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"Ahhh, come on man. You need to spend a night away from that blasted phone already," said one of Syaoran's soldiers. They had been trying countless times to get him away from that phone by cutting it but he had just used their salary to go and get it fixed.

"Look they're fixing it; it'll be finished by tomorrow. Why not spend a night on the town?" another suggested, only to be met by the stern look of his commanding officer.

"What could we do to make you go out, just this one night?" another one pleaded mockingly. If they could just lighten his mood maybe he might not be so strict with them in training.

"You could all work harder so we could get out of here as soon as possible," said Syaoran, walking towards his tent.

"Yeah! That's an idea ain't it man?" the soldier exclaimed, nudging each other as they trailed behind him. "Deal!"

Syaoran shot him a skeptical glance freezing him in his tracks.

"Ahhh you're no fun man!" the other soldier called. "How about we promise to work extra hard tomorrow if we can go to town tonight?" he pleaded.

Syaoran turned to face his two best soldiers who stared at him trying to imitate puppy dog eyes.

"Fine," he retreated, grabbing his coat as he ignored the ecstatic cheers from around him. One night wouldn't hurt.

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"Girls, we're on in 10 minutes!" came the shrill voice of Madame Gisella, as girls cramped into the tiny dressing room struggled with their make-up.

"Coming!" a few of them called out as Tomoyo watched in the corner. Madame Gisella had given her permission to start later.

"Tomoyo, can you tie my back?" said Sakura, giving Tomoyo the loose threads as she turned around lifting her hair out of the way.

"I'm feeling sorry for the lucky guy tonight Saku, you're going to make him work for it?" said Sapphire when she saw what Tomoyo was doing.

Sakura just smiled at her, before she turned back.

"Finished!" yelled Tomoyo, trying to be heard across all the screams of frustration.

"Thanks," replied Sakura, checking her reflection in the broken mirror.

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Outside

Syaoran looked up at the glittering sign in front of him, where dozens of other men were lined up reading to see some sort of show.

The men from his regiment had insisted on arriving early, they had wanted to line up in front of the other building down the road but the line had already formed and so they had been the first to line up here.

"What sort of show is this anyway?" asked Syaoran, when he saw a few heads peering out of the window from the upper floors. Girls dolled up with heavy make-up and scantily dressed.

"One of the most amazing experiences you will ever have," one of his soldiers replied. They were all out of their uniform.

A few of the other men around them laughed.

"Look, someone's opening the doors."

All heads turned towards a beautiful woman whose firm face told otherwise. She carefully unlocked the door, opening it to address them.

"Gentlemen, Madame Gisella's is open for the night," she called out, before disappearing back inside.

Syaoran looked towards the other men who were eagerly filing indoors, his own soldiers pulling him in to try and avoid being trampled over.

Once inside he studied its interior, the walls were furnished with elaborate paintings and draping of royal red colours. It almost imitated a regal feel to the room.

Suddenly aware that no one was by his side, he turned to find his men in the arms of several women, finally realizing where he was. So this was where they had taken him, Madame Gisella's Young Girls.

Realization after realization hit him, as he finally recognized that he had been conned by his own men.

"One of the most amazing experiences you will ever have."

Grabbing his coat jacket off the hanger, he walked back towards the door to find it locked.

"Monsieur, where do you think you are going?" came the high-pitched voice of the woman who had opened the doors from before.

"Sorry, wrong building." He replied, "I need to get out."

Madame Gisella grinned, he didn't have the broad accent of a drunkard and by the look of his clothes he was loaded.

"I cannot open the door, there will be a riot."

Syaoran could hear the banging on the door from the men on the outside who had waited in line and were cut off.

"Fine, is there somewhere I can wait?"

Syaoran frowned when he saw where Gisella had pointed him towards. The sofa was already half taken by one of his men and another girl who seemed to be suffocating him.

Taking his jacket with him, he made to sit down as he checked the time, when suddenly he noticed a familiar set of emerald eyes.

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Sakura smiled seductively at the man in front of her. She could feel his eyes roaming her body and soon after she found his hands trying desperately to pry the knots out of her top.

Annoyed, he finally started biting at the loose material trying to break it free.

"Hey, stop it," she ordered moving away from him. There were some disgusting things she could take but biting was just out of the question.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught someone staring at her. It was the same person she had encountered with Duke Gautier the day before. All of a sudden she felt very self-conscious. Every move she made seemed unnatural, and her uneasiness seemed to take over her.

"Hey! I'm paying for you," the man in front of her yelled when he caught her staring at some stranger.

"Get lost," snapped Sakura walking away from him before he grabbed her wrist, pulling her back towards him. The sudden movements almost made her lose her balance as she tumbled backwards trying to steady herself.

"Let go of me!" Sakura whispered fiercely, trying to not attract attention. "You're hurting me damn it."

"I waited in line, and now I want my turn." The man snarled, tightening his grip as Sakura winced in pain.

"Gisella!" screamed Sakura, searching the room frantically the blonde-haired woman.

"What do you think you're –

The man didn't get any further as a strong fist came into contact with his cheek, making him let go.

"What the hell was that for!" the man scowled, bending down with his hands on his knees as he wiped the blood off his mouth.

"Stop it!" shrieked a girlish voice, as Gisella stalked into the room. A fight could ruin her business. "You, get out." She ordered, pointing towards the bleeding man on the ground. "Use the window or something."

Sakura stood unmoving at the same spot she had standing at before, embarrassed at the commotion she had created she brushed back a stray lock of her honey brown hair.

She finally noticed the Colonel's eyes were still on her, as though he was trying to place where he had seen her before. Sure she was wearing fine clothes then, as compared to now but she was still the same.

"Duke Gautier, governor's party." Sakura stated, as the man who had defended her nodded indifferently.

Madame Gisella observed the scene before her; there was a look in his eyes she was familiar with. It was faint, but it was definitely there. Curiosity.

"Both of you come," she drawled, motioning for them to follow as she led them up a pair of stairs.

Sakura smiled inwardly when she saw where Gisella was leading them, taking a shortcut side-turn while Syaoran followed Gisella straight.

Stopping in front of a door in the dimly lit corridor, Syaoran waited for an explanation.

"Thank you for protecting one of my most precious girls, monsieur. I saw that you were entranced, and so complimentary of Gisella's, her name is Sakura."

Syaoran entered the door that Gisella opened when it locked on him.

"Colonel." A voice came from out of the darkness. Several lights flickered on as Sakura lit the lamps.

"Let me out." He demanded, Sakura standing upright as she sensed anger in his tone.

"The night is complimentary of Gisella's Colonel," replied Sakura as she made her way towards him.

"I'm engaged –

"Sakura." She interrupted, "and what does it matter, your fiancée will never know."

"I thought you were engaged?" he replied coldly.

"Oh come on, I was his escort. And you knew we weren't so quit it," said Sakura, as he smirked at her brass behavior. He did know ever since he realized her fingers were empty.

"I made a promise."

"Oh come on, don't tell me you don't want me," continued Sakura, taking his hands she wrapped it around her waist, wrapping her own around his neck as she pressed against him, her tongue slipping into his mouth, teasing him to want more.

"I don't want you," said Syaoran, breaking the kiss.

God he was frustrating her, but she knew sooner or later she would break through. He was a man after all and they all wanted the same thing.

"Tell me that again," replied Sakura, pulling him towards the bed before he realized what she was doing.

Jumping onto him, she pushed herself against him harder. The kiss fiercer and more intense as unconsciously his rough hands strayed up her shirt, making contact with her warm flesh.

He knew this was wrong, but it had been so long. Aimee was determined to wait until they were married, and here he was. A beautiful girl ready to give herself to him and no one would ever know.

"Something wrong?" asked Sakura, when she saw his expression had appeared distant.

"No." said Syaoran, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss. They moved over her form, tasting as he picked her up and moved towards the bed, placing her down as gently as he could.

The world seemed motionless except for them, Syaoran's large form climbed over her as she struggled to take off his shirt.

"You're going to make me work for it are you?" smirked Syaoran, as he turned her over to work at the strings. Sakura smiled hearing Sapphire's words play out again.

"It ain't all free you know." Sakura smiled enticingly at him, running her hands over his warm body. Shivers ran through his great frame as he bent down hungrily kissing her all over.

"Please," Sakura moaned, his hands roaming all over her body sent jolting sensations throughout her form. If she was in a right frame of mind she would have found it ironic that the seducer would be the one seduced.

"Patience my dear," he heaved, trailing light kisses over her form, as her moans of ecstasy stood muffled against the howling night air.

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Tomoyo walked along the narrow corridor, making stops once in a while to open the curtains that had been shut from the night before. Since she hadn't started working yet Gisella had assigned her the job of doing checks every morning.

More than once she had caught one of her friends in an embarrassing situation but none of them had minded. Most seemed rather glad to be reminded, that time was up and their customer had to leave.

"Checks!" she called out into the hopefully empty room, opening the door with the assigned key when there was no answer.

In the middle of the room were two bodies sprawled across the bed sheets. One she recognized as her friend who was slowly regaining her senses.

"Sakura!" whispered Tomoyo urgently. Gisella had strict rules about customers staying for longer than their time and it would be Sakura who would be punished. "Wake up, come on it's sunny outside." She continued unsuccessfully, as Sakura closed her eyes still unaware.

Walking over to the windows, Tomoyo threw open the curtains letting the stream of light rush in.

"Cut it out already," groaned Sakura, turning to cover her face with a pillow.

The sudden movement woke Syaoran, who was at first confused at where he was and what he was doing there. He felt his legs intertwined with another's, a woman's body was beside him.

Sakura sat up straight when she felt a warm body beside her, someone's hands combing over her body. The first thing she saw was a panic-stricken Tomoyo who looked almost relieved when she saw her friend had awoken.

Tomoyo gestured for Sakura to cover herself up, a slight blush of embarrassment staining Sakura's cheeks when she finally realized as she grabbed the blanked to make do.

"Quick, Gisella's coming around to check after me. We have to go," said Tomoyo, handing Sakura her clothes which were scattered on the floor after she had carelessly thrown them aside last night.

"Are you going to…" asked Tomoyo, motioning towards the figure still on the bed as she tossed him his belongings.

Sakura seemed to be interested in something else, as she struggled to get on her top. Tomoyo thought she saw a glimpse of something shiny before it was hidden away again.

Sakura walked over to the bed where Syaoran was hastily putting back on his shirt.

"Time's up, you better get out of here," said Sakura, grabbing his shirt to pull him closer to her as she gave him a lingering kiss. Pulling away, she nodded towards the embarrassed girl in the corner as they both disappeared out the door.

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Author's Note: It wasn't that bad was it? I hope the length was okay to make up for last chapter. I'll really appreciate it if you review and tell me what you think!