"God, forgive me, because I've sinned".

A girl dressed in a beautiful midnight-blue dress kneeled in the middle of a well-kept rose garden, facing a fountain, her eyes on the clear sky.

"Daughter, what are you doing?" a deep, emotionless manly voice disturbed the silent prayer's peace.

"Nothing, father." The girl got up gracefully and in a timid monition, walked toward her father. He stared at the auburn-haired emerald-green eyed girl stoically.

"I told you already, didn't I? All those nonsense about God that you've got into your head are useless." His voice was cold, and the young girl fought back a shiver. If she would show her fright, her condition would worsen. She was already in for a punishment.

"Forgive me, father." She lowered her head in a submissive gesture.

"The only God you'll ever need is me. is that clear?"

"Yes."

Then he slapped her. Hard. Causing her cheek to redden.

"You insolent ungrateful thing!" he did not shout. She did not respond. "Remember, you are my doll. An emotionless, mindless doll. I am the only one in your existence that matters. I am the only reason and mean you are able to maintain something close to Life. Without me, you are nothing. Meaningless thread-less thing!"

"I am a meaningless doll who will obey my father's-my Master's- wishes." She repeated the required respond she gave a hundreds and hundreds of times before.

"Good, my pet. Now, Sakura, you will go to your training with your brother for three hours, and then come so I give you your next role".

"As you command."

And so, the girl called Sakura disappeared.

Her so-called Master and father stood, unmoving, for a moment, checking the trails of her Magic. She barely left any track.

Good.

Sakura appeared at a dark windowless room. A strong smell of MagicCraft hit her nostrils, making her frown slightly before she maintained her mask of indifference.

"Sister," a familiar voice reached her ears. She turned, activating her Magic to enforce her sight, and stared at the tall, dark figure of her brother.

"Brother," she greeted. "Master commanded three hours."

Touya nodded, and in a swift move got into position. Meantime, Sakura took off her dress and dressed up quickly in a black tight shorts and loose shirt that were put waiting on a wooden chair- the only object in the otherwise empty round room. When finished, she got into her position as well.

An outsider might find the scene amusing; a dark-haired and dark-eyed, muscular man of 190 cm height stands ready to fight a slender girl of 165 cm.

That is, if the fight was a regular one. Which it wasn't; Touya's high face-to-face combat and swordsmanship skills were nicely matched by his sister's daggers and needles-using skills. And even though he was physically stronger than her by far, she was a MagicUser, Wielder of great power.

They began without any visible sign.

Touya's sword appeared as if out of nowhere, and he was aiming to his sister's side.

Sakura easily dodged; it was just a warm-up. Her brother still hasn't gone all out on her.

She summoned her twin daggers and aimed at her brother's vital points. He dodged and counter-attacked, his movements smooth and well-timed.

They continued their deadly dance for about an hour before Sakura decided it was time to throw some Magic in their fight.

She called upon her power- her only comfort in the thing called 'Existence'. She never called it 'Life', given she was taught from childhood she was not a living creature. She was an object, a doll dancing to her Master's wishes, a thing. And if her strings were ever cut- so would her ability to keep moving, and she will cease to be.

Her brother was the same, yet different. He was a possession of their Master just like her, but he was human being. Unlike her, he was of The Living Ones. A doll with a will of his own, he once joked. She did not laugh. Never. She did not know how.

Touya was familiar with her way of Wielding and MagicUsing, and so could hold his own against her, what with his ability to Sense Magic. He was what their Master called A Sensor- and a well trained one, at that. He could predict what kind of Magic his opponent was going to use most of the time, and even Deflect simple Magical attacks or Mask them.

Three hours flew by, and the two siblings came to a sudden stop as their inner clocks rang the end of the session.

"Have a quick shower then go. You know he doesn't like it when we come sweaty or dirty," Touya said, barely panting. "I will meet you there." And with that he turned to take a shower himself.

Sakura did as he said, and five minutes later appeared, clean and wet-haired, dressed in a simple green dress, outside of her father's office. She knocked and got in after receiving permission.

The room was organized and well-lightened. A big window was placed behind the expensive-looking mahogany desk on which the newest computer model stood with a chair behind it. A black phone was the only other thing- beside papers- on the desk. Shelves full of books and files completed the modest office.

"Father," Sakura said, "brother shall be here any moment now."

He did not answer nor did he move from his chair. His eyes were fixed on the computer screen.

Barely a minute later, Touya knocked on the door and came in after he was invited.

"In a few days, the Li family will host a party at their mansion," The seated man started. "Li Yelan is an acquaintance of mine as I had worked with her late husband, Li Xie-Lang, on occasions, and so I was invited." He wasn't looking at either of them as they listened quietly. "The family is a big shot at the business- and sometimes political- world. I need to keep my connections with them. I will be going to the party, and the two of you will come with me."

It wasn't a surprise, really. Sakura and Touya had escorted their Master on many different occasions in the past- be it a drug deal, business meetings or a party. After receiving the details (apparently, the party was held in honor of the family's heir's coming-of-age ceremony), the black-haired black-eyed man dismissed Touya.

He stared at Sakura for a moment before speaking. "You will seduce the young heir. That will be your main course. I need him to fall head-over-heel in love with you." She did not ask his reasons- he never said more than necessary- nor did she really care. She was used to his sometimes reasonless-looking orders. Be it spying, murdering or sleeping with someone, she will do whatever. Be it for revenge, power, influence, position or- sometimes- only for her Master's amusement, she and her brother will do whatever. It was not her pace to question his reasons.

"Come here, my beautiful doll." He ordered in a voice she knew all too well. His eyes were filled with lust as she did as ordered and sat on his lap. He caressed her porcelain-like smooth skin and turned her blank face to look up at him.

Her emerald-green eyed held nothing in them. She felt nothing. She was a doll, after all, acting to her Master's will.

"Remember, my Sakura. You are nothing without me. You need nothing nor none else. I'm the God of your world," his lips spread butterfly kisses on her cheek, her temple, her jaw.

He always did it before she was sent to seduce and sleep with another, as if to remind her who and what she was- to whom she belonged.

Whenever he did it, the person she once was would struggle for acknowledgment, would struggle to run. And as always, as he held himself above her, ready to enter her, she shrieked and cried and begged him to stop. And as always, he would laugh and hit her.

He liked it when she struggled. He was always a sadist, and hitting people who would not react gave him no satisfaction. The crying girl beneath him, on the other hand, was exactly the thing that turned him on.

He thrust into her, roughly, making her cry out in pain. He was never gentle, never waited for her to be ready. He kissed her, shutting her sweet, pained voice.

Smirking, he began to move. Faster and faster and stronger till he cam inside her.

Sakura was dazzled with pain. She never liked having sex- much less with her Master. At least most of the other people she could never remember all that clear, that she was ordered to sleep with, used to foreplay and so it wasn't as painful. But it wasn't all that enjoyable either. She had trained in the art of seducing and pleasuring just as she was trained in the art of killing. She knew how to make men crumble at her feet, begging for her touch. She knew how to make them cam over and over again and how to stop just before they reached their peak and work her sweet torture, preventing them their release.

But she never liked it.

Not one bit.

It was four days later that Sakura and Touya were to prepare for the ball- the party at the Li mansion. It was, apparently, a costume party, and fitting outfits were prepared for the two.

Sakura took a shower and started getting ready. If she was to seduce the young heir and make sure to leave a lasting impression, she had to be perfect.

She put on lacy, fancy lingerie and put on the red dress. The dress was open at the back and tied behind her neck. The front was square-shaped, showing off just enough of her cleavage to tease and arouse the imagination. She wore high heeled black shoes and her only jewels were a platinum chain with a simple black-silver lock the shape of a sakura petal- it was a gift her Master gave her- a symbol to remind her always she was his, and she was to wear it always except while training- and a pair of a simple black earrings. She made her long auburn hair up in a messy elegant bum, letting a few locks down. She wore no makeup, only using some mascara and black eyeliner.

Done, she thought, looking at her reflection in the mirror in her room. Her room was painted plain white, the only furniture her bed, a closet, a drawer and her mirror. She needn't nothing else.

Touya was feeling grouchy, but, as always, maintained his unreadable expression. Not that it was really necessary, given he was wearing a mask, but his Master somehow knew. He always knew. And so, the angry man had masked and denied his feeling in attempt to prevent the hatful man whom he and his sister were forced to refer to as 'father' or 'Master' from finding out his real thoughts. And those thoughts were very much rebellious and venomous.

He hated him! He hated what that man had done to him and, most of all- had done to his little sister! He would have given anything to just kill the sick bastard or at least run from him, but he could not.

Not as long as his sister's life were so tangled up in that man's that without him she would not be able to keep on living.

He had to somehow cut the messed up ties that held his sister's life. He had to get rid of the threads.

He was brought out of his dark and depressing thoughts by the very sister about whom he was thinking as she tapped his shoulder to get his attention.

"It's time", she said.

He nodded. Time for the show to begin. Their 'Master' was quite a fond of melodrama.

They entered the ball room. 20 minutes late, as planned.

Sakura clang to their Master's arm and Touya, whose main role was to watch out for any dangers and, if needed, to protect their 'father', walked on her other side.

As they made their way down the stairs, all eyes followed them.

Touya didn't blame them. After all, both his sister and he were taught how to either avoid or lure attention; their movements were graceful, their postures ones kings themselves would envy, and he was well aware they both appeared quite appealing to the opposite sexes. And, of course, their Master did not fell behind as he was the one to teach them.

Conversations continued slowly again, and the young man had no doubt what the new topic would be.

"Great, as always", the approval and satisfaction were clear in their Master's voice. "I will now introduce you to Yelan and her son. After that, walk around for a bit. Sakura, I want you to make sure the young Li boy will come to you himself", he whispered. They nodded slightly.

"Ah, Yelan! It is so good to see you again!" he called when they neared a well dressed, middle-aged woman. She turned to him and a small, cold smile appeared on her face.

"My, if it isn't Kinomoto-san!" she answered, a clear dislike in her voice.

"Oh, please, dear Yelan, call me Katsuri". She only bent her head slightly in respond. "I believe you have yet to meet my daughter and son," it was not a question. "This here is Touya, and that pretty one is Sakura," they both bowed slightly in respect when he introduced them.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Yelan-san. I must say, seeing a woman holding a position such as yours is always delightful and refreshing," Sakura said, getting into role.

"My, what a polite daughter you have, Katsuri," Yelan looked Sakura from head to toes.

"I am very proud of her."

"I'm sure," she said dryly. "And I believe you have yet to meet my son, too." She turned her head to look for her son and called him.

A young man, almost as tall as Touya, with chestnut hair and the most beautiful amber eyes walked toward them. He had his mask off, just like his mother and Katsuri, and wore a simple but elegant traditional Chinese black and green outfit. He walked with confidence and the siblings could clearly feel the power he radianced. He came to a stop in front of them and bowed slightly.

"This is my son, Xiao Lang, or Syaoran. Son, I want you to meet Kinomoto Katsuri and his children, Touya and Sakura," the two bowed again.

"My greetings in honor of your eighteen birthday, Li-san," Sakura said politely, her voice soft and alluring, almost bewitching. She stretched out her hand for him and he kissed it.

"Please, call me Syaoran," he answered, his eyes already unable to move from her figure.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all, indeed," Touya spoke for the first the time, his voice sounding slightly bored. "If you will excuse me," he bowed again and left. All according to the plan.

"Please, forgive my son. I have to admit, he did not really wanted to come," Katsuri said in pretended disapproval.

"It is understandable. Now, if you will excuse me too, I have other guests I need to talk to." And with that she left.

"Well than, I will leave you for now, too." Katsuri nodded to the young man and patted Sakura's hand affectionately before leaving.

"My, seems like I've been abandoned," Sakura whispered as if to herself.

Syaoran laughed at her expression. "If so, allow me to escort you for a while, Kinomoto-san. It would be such a loss for a young beautiful girl to walk around alone."

She smiled at him and took his offered hand. "Please, Syaoran-san, you may call me Sakura." She said softly.

"Well then, Sakura, you should drop the 'san' too. Honestly speaking, I was never one for the formalities." He admitted in a light tone.

Sakura glanced at him. The information her Master gave her was true. He was definitely handsome, and she hadn't doubted he had the ability to make his soundings to loosen up and open up to him. It was clear from the greetings people gave him he was quite popular and even admired- and the envious stares she got from the majority of the females present, he was also desirable. She couldn't blame them.

"I feel bad. I'm taking you from all of your guests", she said as he asked her to dance and they began making their way on the dancing floor.

"I could have said the same thing," he laughed, and she couldn't help but wonder at how easy a smile formed on his lips and how at ease and light his laugh sounded in her ears.

She was not used to hear such warmth in a male voice.

"The same?' she asked in fake innocence, and he laughed again. Sakura found herself looking for ways to make him laugh. It had a nice ring.

"Don't pretend you did not realize the influence you have over the male population of the ball!" he said in a mocking tone. "Whatsmore, I'm sure a powerful MagicUser such as you would easily Sense it."

She smiled as if he caught her. "My, I'm flattered. And, mister, you Wield some powerful Magic yourself," he grinned and shrugged.

"Admitting guilt," he said, pretending as if admitting a terrible crime.

They continue to exchange smart remarks as they danced, not paying attention to their soundings or to the flowing time.

Well, Sakura, being what and who she was, did mark the flowing hours, and she knew the ball was close to its end. It was time to make her move.

"Your agility is far greater than mine, Oh-High-and-Mighty," she mocked as she pretended to be wearied out, "would you care for a break and a drink?"

Instead of answering, Syaoran took her hand and led her to the long table where the drinks and some light food were placed.

They took a glass of wine each, and he walked her to the empty balcony. Sakura took of the mask covering her eyes and cheeks.

"What a beautiful night," she said quietly, and a sudden, unexplained sadness washed over her.

She did not understand it, though, but she was used to feel weird whenever she needed to play a role. I wish it was really me… and then she froze. Why did she think that? Why did she wish such thing?

"Sakura? Are you okay?" her target's voice was full of concern.

"Yes. Yes, everything is fine…" he looked at her, his brilliant eyes honest and open and breath-taking. And all of a sudden, she felt tainted. Dirty.

He reached for her, concern clear in his amber eyes, but she flinched and backed away.

She didn't want him to touch her! She didn't want to taint him!

"Sakura?"

She could feel it. The child inside her stirred, trying to break free. A familiar pressure in the back of her head was her only warning before tears began appearing in her cold, emotionless eyes.

She touched her wet cheek, almost surprised. Tears? Why? She was not in pain, she did not hurt… so what was this uncomfortable feeling in her chest? Why did breathing became such a hard task all of a sudden?

Why could she feel? How could a stranger awake such strong emotion from within her?

"No…" the words came out without her consent. "No… I'm a doll. Master's doll…"

Syaoran could feel Magic been used and tensed automatically, but the Magic seemed to have come from Sakura- and was used on her.

Why would she use her Magic like that? This feeling… it's a memory-controlling kind of Magic…

"Sakura! Stop it!" he called, uneasy feeling taking over his body. Whatever it was she was doing- it was bad. He has to stop her!

Sakura couldn't hear him. She caught her head in her hands. It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! Please make it stop! Please! Her Magic got out of control, and she was just aware enough to feel someone else's Magic interfering, blocking hers, preventing her from the relief her Magic suggested in the comforting darkness.

Syaoran called upon his own Magic and managed to stop Sakura's. But it was taking all of his will power and concentration. She indeed Wielded a strong power. But he had to hold on; else their Auras might clash and cause a Pandemonium resulting in the whole mansion suffering from the consequences.

"Sakura, listen to me!" he shouted, finally succeeding to catch her trembling body. "I don't know what this is all about, but you have to control your power!" why won't anyone come? We both radiant strong Auras… someone was supposed to notice…

Syaoran desperately tried to make the frightening girl to look at him, but she refused to open her shut eyes. She seemed to be in so much pain…

And so, he did the only thing he could think about.

He kissed her.

Well, this is the first fanfic I've ever posted…. It is done, actually. I just need to check it again…

Now I really hope people will read it. And review!

This fanfic might seem rush a bit, but honestly it was originally supposed to be a two-shots, but somehow ended up MUCH longer! Haha==]]]

Sorry for any mistakes; English isn't my native language