Chapter One: A Simple Mistake

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Author's Note: I'm back! Hopefully, I'll stick around, but that all depends on you guys. Lol. Anyway, here's the new story and I hope its okay. If it's crap I'll scrap it, but if you guys are okay with it I'll continue. Yeah?

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A dark gloomy fog settled over the sea-side city, as wooden shutters were slammed shut. No words were spoken as neighbours eyed each other suspiciously before abruptly disappearing into their own barricaded houses. Young children ran back home to hide from the circling mist surrounding their frozen city, that once knew warm, vibrant colours from a time long past.

A lone desolate figure staggered from the empty streets to hidden alleyways to finally reach a tightly bolted door. A brass plate hung high with once inviting words inscribed in black letters now scratched too faintly but still barely recognizable.

'Madame Gisella's Young Girls.'

His distorted breaths came harder and heavier, as he struggled to gather up all his strength to knock against the hard wooden door, the shallow noise echoing throughout the room inside of which he prayed would not be empty.

Leaning against the cold bricks against the door, he strained all his muscles to try and keep upright, holding a precious small bundle wrapped in pink tightly against his chest to keep the bundle warm with what little life he had left in him.

"What do you want?" came a high pitched call, as the door was opened by a young girl with golden blonde hair, large ringlets bouncing up and down. She was dressed in what seemed to be a thin nightgown, despite the cold chill entering from the open door. "

"M-Madame, Madame Gisella. Please I need to talk to her." replied the man, his voice coming out in a raspy tone as though he was being choked.

"I'm Madame Gisella" the young girl snapped back at him. "What do you want!" she continued, not in the mood for strangers.

"My girl, my baby girl…" he gasped, "P-Please take her."

Gisella watched horrified as the tall man began shoving a small bundle towards her, desperate to see her hold the little baby in her arms before he collapsed against the walls outside.

"Wait, what are you doing? You can't leave me with her." screamed Gisella, as she bent down on her knees beside him. Trying her best to ignore the dirty puddle beside her, she started shaking the man to bring him back to consciousness. "Wake up! Dammit, what do you think you're doing?"

The sound of a baby's cry erupted down the empty alley as the fog swirled round and round enveloping the both of them. Its sound woke the tired man one last time as he muttered his final words, oblivious to a horrified Gisella.

"Sakura, her name's Sakura. Orphanage. Tell her I'm sorry. Orphanage." He muttered under his breath, before taking once last look at his daughter he passed out on the cold, hard stone of the road.

"Orphanage? What are you on about? This isn't an orphanage you mad man. Wake up dammit; I don't want your little girl." said Giselle, alone in the night. Getting up with the small bundle in her arm, she rocked it back and forth to try and get it to stop crying. Taking a look at the forlorn figure on the ground she kicked it angrily in contempt, before making her way back inside with the precious bundle.

What the hell was she going to do with the girl, an orphan with no relatives left in this pitiful world that her father had to dump her with the worst kind of person?

Sakura… A small grin crept onto her face as she thought about all the possibilities.

It was time to get back to business.

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Around 20 Years Later…

A young girl with bright green eyes and honey brown hair stared at her sorry reflection in front of a broken mirror as she applied white foundation onto her already pale skin.

"Sakura! It's my turn!"

Another girl with mahogany hair and eyes to match yelled towards the young girl, as she pushed her way towards the broken mirror. Sighing with unbelievable acceptance, she continued her routine without the mirror.

Looking around the crowded room that was draped with old frames of legendary women that had once lived, she smiled watching the young girls around her frantically run around the room, struggling to roll up their stockings or apply their makeup without being accidentally hit by another panic-stricken girl.

"I'm never going to get this right! Which side is uneven?" The younger girl looked up towards Sakura, impatiently waiting for her answer.

"The left eye" said Sakura, "Here let me try and fix it. " Taking the pencil from the girl, she quickly traced once over to even it out.

"Thanks" the younger girl said, abruptly turning away to add finishing touches for the night.

"Girls, 10 minutes till opening time"

A distinct voice arose against all the girlish screaming, as all the set of eyes turned to face a woman in her early 30's with platinum blonde hair set in large curls. Madame Gisella.

Since the depression had finished over twenty years ago, Madame Gisella had seen it that her family business had re-opened. It had returned the frozen city to the glamour and lights that it had once known. She was now the owner of Madame Gisella's Young Girls, an institution dedicated to educating young girls in the art, a social refuge for the lonely and unbelievably wealthy.

There were around fifteen girls around her, most around her age, some younger. Sakura had grown up with them, it was pitiful, but this was the closest thing to a family she had.

"She's turned the lights on," a girl with dark locks that fell below her waist announced, as several others ran towards the barred window to check out the guests for the night."

"Tell me McArthur isn't back tonight," said an older girl away from the window side as she turned to look. The site of the older man waiting patiently outside the doors of the establishment caused her to cringe.

"Haha, he doesn't look so bad you know?" another girl from the window-side remarked.

"You should try sleeping with him then," the older girl snapped.

"Least you got a regular." Said Sakura, making her way towards the window, as a few of the younger girls backed away to let her pass. "No one,"

"Tough, you have to work the charm tonight Saku," the older girl jeered, as a few others laughed along with her.

"Easy, sparkling Sapphire," Sakura mocked in turn, as she watched the older girl burn right red. Sapphire was the name given to her by her clientele because of the colour of her eyes.

"Watch it; I heard Gisella's considering cuts."

The whole room turned quiet, they all knew what cuts meant. One of them wasn't bringing in enough money and would be kicked out into the streets by the end of the week. Here they were all homeless, as much as they all hated the profession they were in, it gave them a home, food guaranteed every night and most of all, perhaps a distorted mockery of a family.

The awkward silence continued, unbroken as they all continued their finishing touches, clearing the dressing room in case any of them needed it later.

"I heard there's a new army division coming in next week," a timid voice spoke up, aware of the eyes burning towards her.

"That'll be too late," one of them replied.

"Nothing could've been done anyway" said Sakura, as they all nodded in mutual agreement.

"Come on girls, let's enjoy the night,"

Some of them laughed at the irony of it all. Descending the circular stairs leading downstairs where all the "guests" would be waiting, Sakura took a glance towards the large dressing room assigned towards the star of the show. A young girl, with a deceptive character, lay perfectly still as Madame Gisella applied her foundation onto her delicate features.

The girl hidden beneath the tones of blush and mascara was the most popular girl at the establishment. Every night men would try to outbid each other, soaring to outrageously high sums, to spend one night with a divine angel.

Glaringly bright lights started to shine brighter as they descended the steep staircase. Sakura smiled as she spotted a young man in the corner, looking out of place. Modest or obviously blatant, they all wanted the same thing.

Giving him a sweetly seductive smile, she watched as his reserved nature washed away. A look formed in her eyes, one that she knew all too well.

"Cold isn't it?"

'Y-Yeah." He stammered.

Lust.

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Elsewhere…

"Come in,"

A young amber-eyed man dressed a military uniform decked out with countless badges that distinguished his position above many that were older than him knocked on the large wooden door that led to the office of one of the army's retired senior officers.

He entered, confidently striding towards a man he respected.

"Colonel Li, please take a seat."

Syaoran shook hands with the large framed man in front of him, as the both sat down separated by a desk piled with papers that needed signing.

"What brings you to see me today?"

"I'm here to ask your permission sir."

A heavy breeze swept across the room as the moustache tips from the man sitting across from him curled.

"Permission Colonel?"

"I would like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage sir," said Syaoran, mechanically standing up as he retained the salutation position.

He didn't move from this position as the taller man circled around him, twice. He kept his eyes focused on the inanimate object in front of him, loyal to his duties.

"Relax Colonel. Continue." said the Former Lieutenant General Astley, as he returned to his seat.

Syaoran put his arm down, as he sat back down into the chair. He had been going out with the former Lieutenant's daughter for the past 2 years; they had both developed strong feelings for each other on first sight and had over the years developed a relationship.

He remembered the first time he had met Aimee, at the Army's celebratory ball to celebrate their victory over the Islanders. She had held many eyes in the room, all captivated by her beauty including him, but by some chance she had only noticed him.

Her sweet nature and beautiful smile had held him entranced still to this day.

"I would like to ask her to marry me sir, and would like to ask your permission to proceed." He repeated, not willing to elaborate on his feelings.

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"Message Colonel Li!" a young boy dressed in worker's clothes, hurried to reach the Colonel as he spotted him exiting the former Lieutenant General Astley's office.

Nearly tripping on his second-hand overall pants, he quickly regained his balance straightening up to hand his superior the drenched brown package. Saluting him, he quickly bowed and rushed off.

Syaoran looked at the wet envelope in front of him. Cautiously he ripped it open to spill out its content, a single letter branded with the royal signature. A letter from the Current General approved by the King, it was an order issuing for his transfer.

His meeting with Aimee's father had been positive. Lieutenant General Astley had agreed, and had given his full consent and blessings for the both of them. Syaoran knew he would have done so anyway, the Li family was an influential one, much more powerful than the Astley's. It would benefit the both of them, for Aimee the wealth he could offer and for him a suitable wife.

But the transfer.

It was a direct order from the General of the Army, indirectly from the King to transfer him to an undisclosed remote location to train new soldiers, accompanied by one other commissioned officer.

"Sir!" said Syaoran, as he saw the Brigadier General, coming towards him.

"Colonel Li." He confirmed, before disappearing into the Astley's office.

The Brigadier General was an old man; rumours were that he would be retiring soon. That meant that one of the Colonels would be promoted to the spot, he knew all the other Colonels and it was obvious that he was overqualified for the job.

What game was the Brigadier playing at, having the General send him to do a fool's errand?

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Author's Note: Yes… well. I was rereading Cherry Falls (argh), and I noticed my style has changed. Anyway, the story will get better! I've planned around 26 + chapters, but I haven't finished writing it yet, depending on you guys. Nothing's happened in this chapter I know, but there are loads of twist and turns to come! Review, and tell me what you think please!