Hello everyone! Welcome to Captive Bride. I hope you enjoy it!

Sakura stared out the window of the carriage as it trundled along the road to the capital. The scenery hadn't been very interesting during her long ride; trees and fields had passed by outside with the occasional field of flowers. Thunder rumbled overhead.

It wasn't a particularly pleasant day, with the constant flashes of lightning and crashing of thunder. It hadn't rained yet, but Sakura suspected it would later, judging from the heavy black clouds filling the sky. A flash of lightning lit up the sky for a brief instant, but Sakura remained unperturbed as she stared out at the mountains, until houses and other buildings came into view. Not many people were out and about in the city streets, but those who were watched the carriage pass by curiously. She watched a couple of kids run down a street, chasing each other, and she spotted some soldiers entering a brothel. She smiled bitterly, a little envious of their carefree lives. How ignorant they were about what their beloved Royal family was really like.

She turned her emerald eyes and could see the castle up ahead, meaning it was only a matter of minutes until they would arrive. She sighed softly and looked down at her left wrist-there sat a golden chain link bracelet with an ID plate and number. She was one of the most powerful magicians alive, and as such, a threat to society-or so the elders had said. The bracelet let everyone around her know she was one of those few people-she was completely and totally isolated from people, something the royal family had made sure of. She had been slapped with the piece of jewellery after her most recent escape attempt. Unfortunately, however, she couldn't remove it herself. A spell had been cast on it that stopped her from being able to. She was being punished for her gift when she had done nothing wrong.

Everyone who displayed a certain level of power underwent specific tests and careful observation, all of which was incredibly exhausting and difficult to handle. Even after countless times of proving she wasn't a threat, of trying to prove she could be trusted, the elders, for whatever reason, had still decided she was too dangerous to be left alone.

Therefore, she would be assigned a "guard" under the guise that she needed protecting, when really they were there to protect any bystanders who might come into contact with her and to stop her from any more escape attempts. In twelve months' time she would undergo more tests and examinations. If they still felt she was a threat, she would be executed on the spot.

"My Lady, we've arrived."

Sakura snapped away from her reverie and looked up. They had come to a stop outside the large castle doors. She shivered against the cold and cursed not having brought her cloak with her.

She stepped out of the carriage and her dress fell around her figure. She wore a creme silk brocade dress with delicate lace embellishments along the neckline and hems. The dress had belonged to her late mother, who had passed away not long after she'd been born.

And despite belonging to a noble family, despite having done nothing wrong, she was still being treated as a criminal.

Sakura glanced around-she was surrounded by beautiful flowers and green lawns. A few tall trees stood throughout the grounds, each blossoming beautiful white flowers. She looked up as two soldiers clad in armour approached, distracting her from the beautiful scenery.

"Lady Kinomoto?" the man on the right asked.

She could not see his face due to it being covered with a helmet, but she guessed from his build and height that he was probably in his late twenties.

"Yes, that is me." She confirmed.

"Come this way, please."

The two soldiers turned, and Sakura followed behind as she was escorted inside. They walked up a long staircase and down the long halls until they came to a stop at two large doors. Sakura could only assume this was the throne room, where she would meet her so called "guard". The soldiers knocked twice, and after a moment, the heavy doors pulled open on their own, likely with the use of magic.

Sakura took in a deep breath and then released it before following the soldiers inside. It was completely empty inside asides from the man standing up at the front, whom Sakura assumed to be the general. He was a tall, heavily built man with a sharp jaw and cold, ice blue eyes. His dark hair was slowly turning grey, adding to the threatening presence he held. She lifted her eyes to the second floor, where she felt all eyes watching her. A small, bitter smirk appeared on her pretty pink lips for a moment, unsurprised that there were indeed bystanders.

"Step forward." The general ordered.

Sakura kept her head held high as she did as instructed.

"Lady Sakura Kinomoto-you have been called here today to meet your assigned guard. Do you have any questions?"

"No." Sakura replied gently, her soft voice ringing through the large hall.

The general watched her for a moment before continuing to read from the roll of parchment in his hands. She couldn't read his expression, but she assumed it was either one of distaste or one of curiosity.

"During the next twelve months, you will be protected from any who may try to harm you. At the end of this period, you will be subjected to a number of tests here at the castle to determine whether you shall live or be executed." He continued, though this wasn't news to Sakura.

"Step forward." The general spoke to someone standing behind the throne.

Out stepped a tall man with dark messy chocolate coloured hair and fiery amber eyes. His jaw was square, his skin lightly tanned and his build muscular, though not bulky. Sakura guessed he was about her age, maybe a year or two older as she took in his features. She noticed that he too seemed to be taking in her appearance as his eyes drifted over her body and face. She felt her cheeks warm and shifted her eyes away from him in an attempt to ignore his curious gaze. Sakura had a good guess as to who this man was, but she waited until the general spoke their name.

"This is your protector, Syaoran Li."

She had guessed right. Sakura smiled sweetly. "Begging your pardon, General, but why would the heir to the throne be assigned to be my guard?" she asked. "If I'm so dangerous, would it not be better to keep the heir out of harm's way?"

She was met with silence. The Li clan were the family who governed the country, holding absolute power. The man standing at the top of the steps was the heir to the throne-the heir to all that power-the power that decided her ultimate fate.

The prince smiled, sticking his hands in his pockets as he slowly descended the stairs.

"I'm flattered you're so concerned for my wellbeing, my lady, however I don't believe someone in your position should be asking such questions." He spoke, and then came to a stop in front of her. "It's an honour to meet you."

He took her hand in his and gently kissed her fingertips. Sakura felt her cheeks turn a darker shade of pink as his amber eyes burned into her emerald eyes.

"Likewise, your grace." She managed to reply.

She was struggling to understand the entirety of her situation-she had honestly believed that all she needed to know was that it was life or death, but apparently there was more to it. He allowed her hand to fall back to her side before straightening his back.

The general cleared his throat. "As of today, Syaoran Li will be living with you until you are summoned in one year from now for your examinations."

He rolled up the parchment, having ended the speech. "Do you have any questions?"

Sakura was overflowing with questions. None of this made any sense! What person in their right mind would place their own heir in danger?! The only possible reason she could think of was either, one: she was not a threat and there was ulterior motive, or two: he was so powerful that he could completely overrule her, no matter the circumstances. She decided it was more than likely the latter, as there really was no other reason. Besides-he was the heir, so he had to be pretty powerful.

"No." She answered.

"Very well. You will be escorted back to your carriage; preparations have already been made for luggage." The general replied. "You are dismissed."

Sakura curtsied, "It was a pleasure being here. Thank you." She spoke the opposite of what she wanted to say.

She made brief eye contact with Syaoran before turning and following the same two soldiers from the hall in silence. She wasn't sure what he saw in his gaze-was it amusement? The thought only further infuriated her. This wasn't a game.

She was escorted straight outside, just as she had expected would happen. After all, they wouldn't want to keep her in the castle for any longer than necessary given the "threat" she posed. Sakura came to a stop outside the carriage. Indeed, preparations certainly had been made for his luggage. Sakura sighed heavily. She had a feeling that this was going to be a very long year.

"What's that heavy sigh for?"

She jumped, startled by his voice and turned to find Syaoran standing beside her.

"I didn't hear you approach." She murmured.

He raised his brow. "Probably because you were too busy being too self-absorbed to notice."

Sakura's mouth twitched. She would not let her emotions get the better of her while she was still within castle grounds.

"My apologies for my ignorance." She replied stonily.

"We're ready to leave when you are, my lady, your grace." The coachmen spoke.

Syaoran nodded to him and gestured to the carriage, "After you, my lady."

Irritated and angry, Sakura stepped inside and sat down on the soft, velvet cushioned seats, and Syaoran followed. He pulled the door shut as he sat down, and a few moments later, they began to move.

Once they were well away from the castle, Syaoran lifted his legs up onto the couch and laid his head back on the soft cushions.

Sakura frowned. "What are you doing?"

He cracked open one amber eye to look at her frowning face. "I'm going to sleep. So, would you mind shutting up? Oh, and you should try smiling-you'd be more appealing to look at."

He didn't miss the hurt expression on her face which she tried to hide.

"I'll try not to make any noise." She replied softly.

Syaoran had been expecting a witty retort, which was not what he got at all.

"Thanks." He grunted and closed his eyes.

Sakura continued staring out the window as the carriage trundled along the path, while Syaoran slept peacefully. Truthfully, she wanted to slap him across the face. It was taking all her energy to ignore the sleeping man and get her emotions under control. She had never expected the heir to the throne to be so rude and disrespectful.

'The only thing he has going for him is his insanely good looks.' She thought to herself bitterly.

Part of her was relieved. If his behaviour was truly that disgusting, it would definitely make it easier to hate him.

...

The manor where Sakura was being held against her will was large and surrounded by vibrant flowers and greenery. Syaoran stepped out of the carriage and whistled, impressed.

"Pretty impressive place you have." He said as he lifted her down and set her feet on the ground.

"Thank you." Sakura replied coldly, refusing to look at him, still fuming from his last insult.

She started her walk up the stairs to the front doors, which gracefully drew open as they sensed her approach. Syaoran followed behind her, observing his surroundings carefully.

"As expected, there's no one here." He spoke casually.

She came to a stop, immediately grabbing his attention and interest. He noticed her clenching her fists, her knuckles turning white.

"...No, there isn't." She replied through gritted teeth. After a moment, she continued forwards and started climbing the staircase.

After a short walk, Syaoran came to a stop as Sakura turned to him. They were standing in front of a door.

"You can use this room-everything should be prepared for you." She explained as she turned to leave.

"Hold it." He ordered.

Sakura blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

Syaoran crossed his arms across his chest. "As your guard, I need to be close to you, even at night." He spoke firmly. "Where is your room?"

Sakura felt her face heat up. "What? That's ridiculous!" she shouted.

He gave her a sharp glare and she flinched. "I'm your guard. I'll do as I see fit, and I can't keep you safe from threats if I'm not with you." He spoke coldly. "I also have to make sure you don't try anything funny, like trying to sneak away again."

Sakura held eye contact with him for a long moment, silently debating whether or not she should retort. In the end, she decided it wasn't worth it and sighed.

"Very well. This way, if you'd please." She spoke through her teeth and turned to walk further down the hallway.

She hated the very notion of sharing a room with him, let alone living with him. Yet, it had been so long since she'd been able to have any real contact with anyone.

'Why the heir?' she thought irritably as she turned the corner, 'Why him?'

She came to a stop at a door and gently turned the knob, pushing it open. She stepped inside and allowed Syaoran through into the bedroom.

A set of large glass window doors led out to a veranda. Covering the windows were creme lace curtains. Sakura's furniture was carved from mahogany, and her creme bedspread was made up of silk sheets and feathered pillows with the finest blankets. A golden chandelier hanged from the ceiling with crystal sconces.

"It's a nice room." Syaoran murmured. "I'll start setting things up. It will take a while."

Sakura frowned. "Set things up?"

He stared at her for a long minute.

"Yes. For your "security"." Syaoran explained with a slight hint of sarcasm. "I'm going to familiarise myself with the mansion. Don't wander off."

"If you need me, I'll be in the living room on the first floor." She muttered, and then left the room.

Once she had left, Syaoran sighed in frustration. This woman was going to be really frustrating to guard. Shaking his head, he looked around searching for the places that would provide an easy access point to the bedroom. His first priority was Sakura's security. He had been taught various techniques and tactics to keep enemies at bay since he was a young child. He was also going to be implementing spells that would keep Sakura from leaving the premises. After all, he couldn't have his prisoner escaping from under his nose.

He decided to ensure the bedroom's security first before looking at the rest of the manor-he already knew the house wasn't truly Sakura's home, but rather a copy that had been made to help her feel more at home. That's how it was with all the candidates.

Walking over to the windows, he opened them and stepped out onto the veranda. It gave him a full view of the garden below. He smiled to himself and removed a small stone from his pocket-it was a pale blue colour and the shape of a pebble. Tapping it once, it brought up a map of the entire area. It was a useful little item he carried with him everywhere. By channelling a small amount of energy throughout the area, he could map it out using the device. It showed him all the vulnerable areas that needed his attention, making it easier for him to assess what needed to be done.

He placed a barrier around the veranda that would only activate if Sakura tried to escape. It would be a rather rude shock for her the next time she tried to escape. His next job was to put up a barrier around the property-again, it would be one that would stop only Sakura.

He made his way outside and glanced around briefly, taking in his surroundings. He headed towards the north first until he reached the edge of the property. There, he pulled a knife out of his pocket and carved a small symbol into the bark of one of the trees. Once he was done, he headed for the east to repeat the same action, followed up by the south and west.

At the western site, he placed his palm over the symbol, focusing his magic into it to connect the for areas, forming a barrier. Satisfied, he headed back towards the house to start setting traps for any possible enemies, sealing off any potential escape routes Sakura might try to use in the process.

He was just about finished when he felt one of his traps activate, surprising him.

'Well,' he thought, 'that was quick.'

...

Having left her obnoxious guard to set up whatever he needed to do, Sakura seated herself in front of the fireplace which came to life in her presence. She heard the rumbling of thunder outside which did little to soothe her fury.

It was true that nobody else lived in the house. Ever since she had been separated from her friends, family-all of the people she loved dearly-not once had she come into contact with another person. Of course, the Li clan had organised servants to take care of bringing necessities to the manor, but she never ever encountered or spoke with them. She was starting to grow weary of not having any contact with anyone, of not being allowed to roam freely on her own. It wasn't fair.

She wanted to talk to her best friend Tomoyo again, to laugh and gossip with her like they used to. She wanted to see her father, who would teach her about history and crafts. And of course, she wanted to hear Touya, her only brother, tease her again even though it was annoying and she hated it.

Bitterly, she wondered about what would happen to her if she did pass the examinations. Would she be allowed to go back to her old life again, or would she be further chained down, like some kind of disobedient animal?

She realised with a jolt that with Syaoran busy, she could attempt another escape. She had been told the bracelet would prevent her, but she hadn't tried to yet. She had been too preoccupied with the news that she was getting a guard to try and attempt it. Standing, she left the lounge and cautiously walked through the house. She spotted Syaoran outside, so she made for the front door and opened it. She couldn't feel or sense any kind of magic barrier, meaning he probably didn't think to set up anything at the front door. As soon as she took one step outside, she yelped as she felt something tight and painful bind her body. She looked down to find ropes of lightning were what bound her limbs, tightening and becoming more painful the more she struggled.

At the same time, the gold bracelet glowed and sent a jolt of magic through her body, making her scream. It felt like her bones and organs were being squeezed and shredded to pieces inside her. She heaved for air, her lungs not cooperating and sending her into a state of panic.

"I didn't think you were stupid enough to try and escape so soon."

She looked up, gritting her teeth against the immense pain her body was in. She glared at her guard who wore an expression of amusement. He walked forward until he stood a few steps in front of her. "That bracelet you're wearing cuts off your ability to use magic as well as sense it. And every time you try to escape, it will send a jolt of magic through your body, attacking your nerves and pain receptors."

For a moment, Sakura wondered if she had just heard disgust in his voice as he spoke about the object on her wrist. Syaoran smiled grimly as he reached out and pulled her back inside by her arm. He released the binding spell on her and she collapsed on the floor. Sakura coughed violently and heaved for air. Her head throbbed, and she felt like she was going to be sick.

Syaoran waited for her to recover, watching as she lay there on the floor. She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his, glaring at him with hatred in her emerald orbs. However, Syaoran didn't return the same feeling as she had expected. He looked almost...apologetic. It felt so bizarre that she assumed she was just seeing things. To her further surprise, he reached down and pulled her to her feet with ease.

"You should rest for a while." He said.

Sakura walked past him, stumbling a little, and slowly made her way towards the stairs. Pain still radiated throughout her body making it harder for her to climb the stairs, but slowly she managed it. It was a relief when she finally reached the top of the stairs where Syaoran was waiting for her. He held out a hand to her.

"Would you like some help?"

She smacked his hand away, glaring at him furiously. "I'd rather die than receive help from you!"

Syaoran's expression remained neutral. If he was angry, he didn't show it. If he was upset, he didn't show it. Sakura didn't know what he was feeling, and she really didn't care. Instead he stood there patiently, waiting for her to start moving again.

Saving my long notes for the end lmao. Anyway, I don't remember what sparked this particular idea, but it came to me in about...June? July? I can't remember. It was a while ago. I know where I want this story to go, I have the entire plot marked out, but not all of the chapters are written just yet. Let me know what you think of chapter one! I'm excited to hear your thoughts.

I can't promise when I'll next update, but I'm hoping (hoping, doesn't mean it'll happen, I story hop A LOT) I'll be able to get one chapter up at the very least, every fortnight. (Two weeks).

Thanks! Please drop by a review. Constructive criticism is always allowed.