Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Card Captor Sakura. I do own the storyline and other characters not really related to the original manga and anime. Names of people I've kinda added are purely fictional so any character that may resemble a real person is completely coincidental.

A/N: Ok guys here's the thing, I'm in a major writer's block right now in my other fan fictions so I'm simply using this to pass the time and hopefully the writer's block will pass too. I'm not really sure about this fiction but if it clicks, then maybe I'll think twice about continuing and stuff like that. Reviews are badly needed.

Chapter 1 A New Beginning

A girl came running through the thick of the night. Tears stained her porcelain skin. Blood flowed from her numerous wounds. She was frail and weak but ran for her life. She was determined to get away from her pursuers, from her life. At the back of her mind, she welcomed death as if it were such a dear, eluding friend. If she were to die, she wanted it to be quick, no more pain, no more suffering. Barefoot she ran through the forest, not knowing where she was headed as long as she fled. She didn't care where her bleeding, blistered feet were taking her so long as she became far, far away from where she came from.

She could hear the clamoring of metal against metal. She knew it was her pursuers' swords going against their armors. They were bridging the gap in between them. She frantically looked around to find possible escape routes but it was dark and the trees were blocking the luminous moon. Reluctant and fearful, she turned around and saw that they were indeed closing in. They were experienced hunters after all. What could a frail girl like her do against well-built men? She could hear the slashing away of branches to catch up. Their hisses and vulgar voices were getting louder. Goosebumps were running up and down her spine. She knew what those men wanted to do to her when they caught up. The mere thought gave shivers all over her body.

Exhausted and lacking in nourishment for days, not to mention being slightly drugged, she didn't notice the thick root embossed from the hard, sharp forest ground. She tripped and fell on her face. Her body didn't want to move anymore but with sheer will, she got up and staggered. She was bleeding more now. Her vision started to falter but fear was greater. She ordered her feet to run. She kept moving forward as fast as she could but then her heart skipped a beat when she realized she was trapped.

She found herself at a cliff. There was nothing below but the fast current of a river with jagged rocks and perhaps more. Her mind told her to turn back quick but she knew that they were right there. There was no other way out. Her mind raced. Her body pumped with adrenalin. She turned around and as she did five men came into the clearing. They had smirks on their faces. In their eyes, she saw nothing but satisfaction that they had cornered their prey. She knew like some animal, they wanted to ravage her. It made her sick to her stomach.

She backed up step by step into the cliff. Death was better that being enslaved to those animals. Death was sweeter than the bitterness of reality.

"May God have mercy on your souls! If not, hell awaits you!" She screamed at them as she leaped backwards and let herself fall.

For the first time in a long time, she felt free and fearless. She smiled at the thought that it was now over.

Her pursuers couldn't do anything but stare down the cliff. They started to turn, retrace their route to get back to their campsite. They were quite disappointed because the girl, they thought, was a waste.

But as they moved, they suddenly felt weak and unable to move. They felt paralyzed. It was creeping, spreading throughout their body. Soon, they struggled to breathe but couldn't. They suffered a slow, painful death from poison the girl had slipped in their drinks and food so that she could escape. She hadn't thought if she gave too much or too little as long as it bought her time to flee. It worked but perhaps it was too late, maybe not for her companions who were subjected to give pleasure to those men and hadn't had the courage to flee.

XxXxXx

An elderly woman tenderly wiped the face of the young maiden lying in bed. She had been badly injured. But her injuries could never hide her beauty. The old woman and her husband had taken her in a week ago. She hadn't regained consciousness. She had just changed the bandages on the young girl. Somehow she seemed familiar to her. Her heart goes out to the young girl like she was family. Her blood was telling her that she was a part of her blood.

"My dear, is it alright for me to come in now?" Her husband asked from the door. He was carrying some fresh sheets for the girl's bed.

"Yes. Yes, of course. I've just finished tending to her wounds." She answered as she got up from the bed and fixed the medicine she had used as well as threw the old bandages.

Her husband came to her side. "How is she doing?" The old woman gave an exasperated breath and looked at the young girl's face.

"Her wounds are healing nicely but then…even medicines cannot heal all wounds."

Her husband looked at her and then at the young woman. He understood what his wife meant. Perhaps the girl's spirit had been badly bruised that she has lost her will to live. It saddened him. He knew of his wife's feelings for the girl as he felt it too. Something inside just told them that she was no stranger.

But at the moment, it didn't matter. All that mattered was for her to regain consciousness. She must choose this. They cannot do it for her. The man laid a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Have faith, my dear. If this is God's plan for her, we cannot intercede. Like you said, there are just some things medicine can never heal." His wife returned a smile. He then whispered, "You have always been a great doctor. She will be fine." The old woman nodded. The two quietly left the room to let the girl rest.

More days passed and it seemed that there were no changes on the sleeping girl aside from the fact that some of her wounds had already, if not completely healed. It was a beautiful Saturday morning. A perfect day. The sky was clear. There were no horses galloping fast outside, no cars either not that cars usually went that far from the center of the city with the war going on, no hint that the war still continued to rage. The people were content with the pseudo-peace they were experiencing. They hurried to do what they would normally do without the war. The children were even allowed to play outside to enjoy the day. Pleasant exchanges were given among neighbors.

The old woman entered the room. It was still dark as the curtains were still not drawn. She smiled and laid the vase filled with flowers she was carrying by the bed. She then made her way to the window and drew the curtains, letting in the beautiful sun to enter the room. She then opened the window, allowing the morning breeze to seep into the depths of the room. "Good morning, my dear." She said to the sleeping girl. "It is a wonderful day today. I wish you can see it. I'm sure it will lighten your spirit too." She said as she made her way to the girl's side.

She smiled at the sleeping girl while checking her vital signs. They were steady and seemed to be stronger. That was a good sign, she thought. Then, she looked at the young woman again. For the weeks that she had looked after the girl, it was almost like she was a mother waiting for her daughter to wake up. She couldn't understand why she still wasn't waking up? Her vitals suggested that she was strong and she was getting better. Perhaps her husband was right. She had to make the choice to live herself.

But then, she thought she saw the girl move her fingers. She looked again. She was right. The girl had started to move her fingers. Pretty soon, she began to stir. The elderly woman was ecstatic. The girl soon opened her eyes. She was blinded slightly by the sunlight coming from the window. She used her hand to shield her eyes. That was when she noticed that there was an IV line inserted in her hand.

The old lady then spoke. She looked at her. "How are you feeling my dear?" It seemed that the young woman had lost her words for a while. That was to be expected from a person coming from a coma. "It's ok. Just nod your head to answer yes and close your eyes to say no. ok?" The young woman nodded.

"Are you feeling any pain?" The doctor asked. The young woman simply closed her eyes slowly.

"Do you remember what happened to you?" Another blink.

The old woman smiled back at her. She then explained, "My name is Dr. Li Pei Pei but you may call me Oba-san. My husband and I found you by the river near our home. We brought you back two weeks ago. Now don't worry. You are doing fine. Everything seems to be in order now." Pei Pei then smiled at the young girl once more. She could sense that there was still fear and uncertainty in her judging from her eyes.

"I will leave you for a while, to let you rest. I will come back soon. Ok?" The girl nodded. The girl looked around at her surroundings. She felt fear and uncertainty creep within her body. She was alive? She hadn't expected that. She was prepared to die and welcomed it with open arms. If her captors knew that she was there, who knows what they might do to the good lady doctor and her husband who took her in? Who knows that misery and peril they would bring to the town itself? Tears started forming an soon were covering her eyes. That was when she started to feel the pain. It seemed that some of her more superficial wounds had healed but she still had other deep wounds that were just healing.

In about an hour or so, the young woman fell asleep from crying. When she woke up again, judging by the sun outside, she could tell that it was noon. She tried to get up but due to her fractured leg, it was almost impossible. She sat in her room when a knock came. She didn't know if she was to get it or answer. Then the door opened. The old woman from before came in bringing a tray of food for her, followed by her husband bringing a small table.

"Ah, you're up. That's good." Pei Pei said.

The old man then sat the table in front of her and smiled. "We were really worried. It's so good that you are finally awake." He said.

The girl smiled as she tried to get up and help Pei Pei with the tray. "No it's ok. Your leg isn't fully healed yet so take it easy my dear." Pei Pei said as she saw the girl's gesture.

"Thank you, Oba-san." The girl replied which made the elderly couple smile.

When all was settled, Pei Pei introduced her husband. "My dear, this is my husband, Li Fei Xi."

"You may call me Ojii-san, my dear." The girl smiled as she finished her soup.

"It's very nice to meet you, Ojii-san. I cannot thank you both enough for nursing me like this. My name is Sakura." The girl said.

(to be continued…)

This is like my third Card Captor Sakura fan fiction I think. I know how this story will end already but I'm still in the process of writing it all down. Also, it's like a trial storyline of mine because I know the major details that will happen but I still am thinking of the details. If you like the storyline, please do review.

Michiko