Chapter Eight: Back to the Past

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Author's Note: Again sorry for taking so long! Haha, I bet I'm going to be writing this every chapter or something. But here it is! Oh, and before anything, I'm sorry I'm such a bad writer, but I'm trying and that's what counts right? On with the story!

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Smoke circled the tiny office where two familiar figures were sitting opposite each other. A man casually leaned back on his chair, a cigar on the tip his fingers. A woman edged across the table eager to make this arrangement to her convenience.

"Give me a number Gisella." The man said impatiently.

"It would be better if you would offer the number first Monsieur," she replied cautiously.

Duke Gautier smirked, an amused expression appearing on his face.

"I have no worries about the price Gisella; it's the quality that pulls her value down."

"You've tested her capabilities before Monsieur, and I promise you she will be more than willing."

"That part is fine, but I wasn't talking about that kind of value."

"You mean because she is an orphan?"

"She has no social standings."

"Ah," started Gisella, unsure of how to get out of that fact. "She can play her part well Gautier –

"A marriage is a legal binding agreement for life, her value decreases over time like any other object."

"There are ways to get around that Monsieur of which you would know," replied a flustered Gisella, she had lost the upper hand of the conversation.

Gautier contemplated her words; that woman was smart.

"You have a sum in mind Gisella, what is it?"

She had wanted to haggle the price, but he had made sure that it would now be impossible to get it any higher. Pausing she considered her options.

"Five grand for the girl," she stated watching his calm expression.

"Done," he replied. Taking out a long booklet he hastily filled out the amount and signed it to give to Gisella. "When should I be expecting her?"

"This evening."

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Sakura kicked a pebble lying in the middle of the empty street, stepping back onto the pavement when she heard the distinct clatter of horses leading a veiled carriage.

Scowling at the vehicle when it went past, dampening her mood, she continued her way.

"Hey Sakura!" came a cheery voice from across the road, Tomoyo ran over to greet her friend.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah fine, you heading back?" she asked as Sakura nodded. "I haven't seen Anna yet, what happened?"

"We decided to separate; maybe she took another way back."

Sakura turned looking at the café's and shops on the side of the street, restaurants filled with the city's upper class, clothes she knew she would never be able to afford.

"Why would you throw it all away?" whispered Sakura.

"W-What?" replied Tomoyo, startled at the question.

"Living in comfort, fine dining, servants to attend you're every need."

Tomoyo managed a weak smile. "It isn't all that, you get tired of the structures. Imagine doing that every day of your life, knowing –

"You're preaching to the wrong crowd," cut in Sakura. It was all fine for them to say that, she probably meant it too, but it wasn't the same.

"So this is better is it?" continued Sakura, after an awkward length of silence.

Tomoyo laughed. "Like you wouldn't believe," she replied, "So what's your story?"

"I'm a princess on the run," said Sakura convincingly.

"No really?"

"What you don't believe me?"

"If that's your story," replied Tomoyo, trying to stifle a grin as both girls burst into laughter. A snobbish voice that was eerily familiar broke them apart.

"My, if it isn't my dear old friends!"

Both heads turned to see a porcelain Meilin leaning out of a carriage window that had stopped along the cobbled street.

"You're looking well Crimson," said Sakura, her voice oozing with honey.

"I wish I could say the same Sakura, Gisella still getting her money's worth from the rest of you girls?"

"Oh she's doing fine, I'll tell her you said hi," she replied as politely as she could, before grabbing Tomoyo's wrist and pulling her along to get away from the carriage.

Seeing this, Meilin unlocked the carriage door stepping onto the pavement as she ran awkwardly in her high heels towards the girls.

"Wait!" she screamed.

"What?" snapped Sakura, turning around to face Meilin, "You're drawing attention to yourself." Meilin may have looked the lady, but she still wasn't one.

"Just…" she started, "Just… oh never mind, forget I bothered," she concluded hastily, pulling her flowing dress behind her to get back into the carriage.

Tomoyo and Sakura stood watching the driver pull up the horses and head off past them.

"What was all that about?" asked Tomoyo.

"I don't know," replied Sakura stiffly, "She probably wanted to flaunt how well off she was, not like we don't know already."

Tomoyo paused, she hadn't known Meilin long but she knew that there was something else she had wanted to say. "Come on, let's head back," she suggested, pushing the thought away.

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Sakura entered Madame Gisella's to be met with anxious whisperings, eyes glancing in her direction when they thought she had looked the other way.

"You feeling popular all of a sudden?" she whispered nervously towards the girl next to her.

"Sakura! You're finally back!" boomed a familiar voice, its strength resonating throughout the foyer entrance. "Shoo, off with the rest of you!" ordered Gisella, as the girls scattered off in groups through various doors.

"What are you still standing here for girl? I told you to go," said Gisella, her eyes narrowing towards the ebony-haired girl beside Sakura.

Tomoyo flinched. "Sorry," she quickly apologized, before leaving Sakura alone with the woman.

"Something you wanted Gisella?"

"No, not really… actually, now that you mention it…I had a very special visitor earlier this evening."

"Really?" replied Sakura a hint of sarcasm in her tone that Gisella missed.

"Actually yes," Gisella paused, as though she was thinking about something. "You remember our good friend Duke Gautier don't you?"

It was more of a statement than a question.

"Well, I've got good news. Seeing as he was so fond of you, he's decided to marry you. Aren't you lucky Sakura?"

Sakura had just taken a seat, when Gisella broke the news to her. Immediately standing back up, she stared at Gisella.

"You're expected this evening, so you should pack whatever belongings you have. A carriage is expected to arrive soon," continued Gisella, turning around briskly not before Sakura caught her arm.

"Excuse me?" replied Gisella in a stuck-up voice.

"How could you?"

"How could I what Sakura?"

"You sold me to him didn't you? I know you're not making enough without Meilin. How much Gisella? How much did you get for me?" screamed Sakura.

"What made you think such a thing? He wanted to marry you and I gave him my permission."

"As if!" she snapped. "I'm not going so you may as well be giving him his money back."

Gisella paused a moment to consider her actions.

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice Sakura." She had thought it might have come to this, Sakura fighting against going, so she had taken the liberty of taking some of the Duke's guards to help her persuade the girl.

Sakura paled when she saw the carriage run up towards the pavement in front of their entrance. A few men entered the foyer.

"Why does he want me with me? I have nothing," she screamed, not noticing a few heads peering out of the side-doors.

"Get lost, or you'll be working double time," ordered Gisella, locking the doors. "And you clean up Sakura's room and bring her belongings to me." She yelled at a skinny looking girl who abruptly went off.

Sakura seeing her chance, started to break towards the door with no idea of where she was going. She just wanted to get out.

Several broad men blocked her way; too late to slow down she crashed into them falling down towards the floor.

"Put her into the carriage," came a cold voice. The girl who had been ordered to bring down Sakura's belongings arrived, cautiously giving them to Gisella before running back up the stairs.

"No! Let go of me!" screamed Sakura, kicking them when they tried to get a grip on her. "Gisella, please."

Gisella watched the girl she had brought up being secured into the carriage, before walking up towards the window and tossing in the small package.

"Five grand Sakura," she whispered. "Make me proud."

Sakura watched Gisella motion towards the driver to leave, whilst she sat inside the carriage helpless.

Five grand…

What was the Duke playing at; she wasn't worth half that much. She knew Gisella was right; this was the best opportunity any of them would ever get. A secure future, a comfortable life, a one in a million chance.

Flinging the man's grip off her, she sat quietly telling him she would co-operate.

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A soft breeze rustled through an almost empty room where one lone figure was busy on the phone.

"Please Syaoran? I miss you so much already."

His eyes flickered towards his unmade bed. "I haven't finished here yet Aimee. You know I can't."

He could hear her sigh on the other end.

"It's not like they can't get someone else to do it. Get what's his name to do it, finish the job. It's not like training soldiers is all that important Syaoran."

She was right; they could've gotten anyone else to train lousy soldiers.

"You mean the Major?"

"It doesn't matter, as long as you're back here. I mean it's not like you actually want to be there?"

Syaoran smirked at the girl's bluntness; the sooner he got back the sooner they would be married.

"You're right," he replied into the speaker. He's already served his term, and didn't need to stay here any longer. All he needed was to get signed off, what was he waiting for?

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Author's Note: A shorter chapter I know, but still okay? Lots of you asked if Aimee was a gold digger, and I suppose…as she does want his money but there's also more to her character than that. Personally I think Aimee is very stereotyped, yes and that's also my fault but I'm trying not to make her so much so.

Oh! And I'm really truly sorry to Kawaii Kitty-chan. I used the name Aimee, because I thought it sounded really nice, not because of any bad reason. Your review meant a lot to me. Thanks!

Thank you all so much for reviewing the last chapter! Means the world to me, I really appreciate it.