PROLOGUE

I am a sweet, shy, petite girl at her verge of sweet sixteen…well I thought I was until I met him. Before, almost everyone likes me because of my youthful and carefree nature. But when I entered this dreadful nightmare, I learned that being young at heart is not the kind of attitude you need to fit in. Most of the times, you have to think way older than your age; act like you've been into multiple experiences and speak like you eat dictionaries for fun. At my present circumstances, 'trial and error method' is not an option.

Solemn Wishes

By: Tammi Super Girl

CHAPTER ONE: The Undesired Marriage

Sakura Kinomoto's POV (age 16)

What am I doing here? I should get out of this… right away. My head starts to get cloudy as I recall the past incidents.

Flashback

"Mother..! No!" I vociferated. I know it's not nice or even proper for me to shout that loud at my parent.

"You just have to get through this Sakura. All of us are supporting you…" She replied to me. If you ask me, I don't find that soothing or even helping.

"I said I don't want to do it! Don't push me into it, please..!" I argued. I don't want to do the stupidest mistake I'll probably ever make.

I cringed when my father touched my mother's right shoulder and told her, "Let me talk to her." And then he approached me and bent down. "Sakura…" he began. "You are old enough." Old enough for what? I ask my self. I'm only sixteen, please! "I am an Archeology Professor, your brother is doing a part time job at an average fast food… And your mother…she's a great model, we all know that, but her 'time' has long ended."

End of flashback

I shook my head in disbelief. Why me? How could my family betray me like this? It's like they sold me to a business tycoon to get… … …

Flashback

I dislike it when I start to feel bad about my own family and the fact that I can't do anything to help them. I get their point. Touya, who has been my overprotective brother ever since I was four, even him, has agreed to my parents' decision. It's only me who does not want to comply.

They are making me marry the son of a rich family to sustain our living…their living! Once I marry the guy, I will be out of this house…Out of this poor humble home.'

End of flashback

It appallingly looks like a long red carpet to walk on. I am now walking on a pair of white stiletto shoes, a bouquet at hand, a beautiful white gown to embrace my figure and a thin silky white veil to cover my face.

I am about to marry an almost total stranger- Syaoran Li.

All I am thinking now is my family. This is for my family. I have to put my self together. It's such an honor to be wedded with the heir of The Great Li Clan. I have to be optimistic.

Even so… I deserve to be pitied. I may get a big hunk of cash after this. I may have the finest cars in the country. I may get ultimate shopping sprees. I may become damn wealthy with just a blink..! But I am pitied. I pity my self. Who wants to have a life with someone you totally do not love. I am not pleased with money. That's my problem.

All I wanted to know was 'why me?' Of all girls in the continent, why me? I am Japanese and he is Chinese. I came all the way from Japan just to attend this stupid wedding of mine. Haah… Well… All I know is this… Syaoran Li's grandfather fancies our family even if we are poor. He made an official contract to my family that if the heir doesn't have someone to marry at the age of seventeen, Fujitaka's daughter will be wedded to him. It may be a wonder why they want their heir to be wedded in such a young age. Don't ask me, it's their thing.

So… My life was prearranged without my consent. Therefore I am pitied. No big sum of money can ever give me the freedom I need.

"Do you, Kinomoto Sakura, take, Li Syaoran, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part?" I never thought I'd get to the end of isle this fast.

This is probably the first time we meet. "I do." I uttered almost hesitantly.

I gulped and looked at the taller man in front of me. He has chocolate colored hair, amber eyes, aquiline nose, and well-manly-shaped lips. All of these his face holds but so sad to add that he doesn't look so happy in our wedding day.

"I do." I also heard him say.

Uh oh… I think I can guess what is next. "You may kiss the bride." I tightly closed my eyes for a second with nervousness. He, then, lifted my veil and he immediately saw my features. I got eager for his reaction upon finally meeting his bride. I wanted to know how he felt. I might have a chance with the saying 'love at first sight.'

In a matter of seconds, I felt his strong lips crashed into mine. I gaped to his face after getting my first kiss.

There was no identifiable facial sentiment. It was his indication of rejection.

What a pity. I somehow hoped for a kind husband; if not for love, at least for good companionship. But I guess it's too good to be true. I'm having a hunch that I just got married to an unkind man.

I've been stuck here frozen that I failed to hear the guests clapping with joy for the new husband and wife. I looked around, hoping to get comfort in any way possible. I turned to my man but it seems that he had already left and disappeared in the crowd.

What have I got my self into?

All I'm hoping for is that all these sacrifices are worth it.

Author's Notes: Hi, I am Tammi Super Girl, pleasant to meet you reader. Please drop off a review after reading the first chapter. I'll need it for inspirations. Thank you.

Syaoran Li's POV (age 17)

The reception had ended and I went straight here…to 'West Wind Café'. It is one of the most renowned coffee shops in the country. I know it isn't apt for me to just go off after a wedding…my wedding. Mother and the elders surely won't like what I just did. But I want to lay off the 'suitable righteous heir' act for a while. And besides, I don't want anything to do with her anyways.

'You may kiss the bride' Grr, that sickened me. A kiss is just a kiss. It doesn't have any meaning even if it happened on my wedding day.

"I knew you'd be here." Eriol, my long time friend, walked in. I nodded at him as he sits at the beige couch in front of the circular coffee table. "It's not nice to leave your bride after the wedding."

"What do you KNOW?" I snappily exclaimed to him. And I just called him friend..!

He smirked at me, not taking my temper seriously. "I do know because I saw her in an awkward situation after you left."

"So what? She doesn't know me as much as I don't know her. She can eat all the food in the reception and put in a weight like a big whale. Who cares?" I said what I said. Who CARES?

Eriol shook his head in skepticism. "I just feel sorry for her, that's all." I negatively looked away at that.

Sundown is at its hurry and I just drove away from the Café. In a matter of minutes, I arrived at our home. I entered the humongous gates and drove all the way to the front door. Our valet approached my car and asked for the keys. I stepped out and gave it to him.

Hmm… The butler must be off somewhere… I turned the front door's knob and entered the house.

"Good evening young master Li, welcome home." The maids bowed to me. I nodded at them and went up the staircase. I am assigned to a new bedroom, thus my old bedroom being terminated.

"Room 205, this must be it." I whispered to my self as I gently push the white door. It's a whole new room with two separate beds. Separate, that's nice. As I close the door behind me, I noticed a shorter female busy with her luggage.

"Ehem..!" I muttered loud enough for her to hear. She quickly stood and faced me. I know who she is, we met this morning. "What are you doing?" I asked her bossily.

"I w-was j-just-"

"Just WHAT?" I cut her off. Don't speak so slow girly!

"I was just fixing my clothes to be put in the closet…" She answered nervously. I am intimidating, am I not?

I sighed in discontent. I don't want to share a room with her! I want her out! Sorry for me to say that it is none of my power to send her out of the bedroom. I can kick her out literally though. I didn't take a step; I stood still and examined her. "Try not to get in my way..!" I simply told her.

She stopped at her business and turned to me, "What? I'm y-your…"

"I know what you are. You are Kinomoto! You heard me, try not to get in my way." I stated and walked over to my bed. I looked at her again in despise. Grandfather chose this girl because he admired their family's beauty. What beauty is he exactly thinking? WHAT? I see none here!

I hate my life! Why do I have to spend the rest of my mornings with…with this! I hate it!

Sakura's POV

So much for my first night at the Li's…Not a bit of me is thinking about 'honeymoon'. But he gotta be at least a bit nice though. 'Try not to get in my way.' What the heck? What's that supposed to mean? Of course I'll be in his way..! He has to take care of me. It is his duty as my lawfully wedded husband..! I don't want this marriage as much as he dislikes it.

I don't need him, that's for sure. All I need is a map of the mansion then I'll be fine. Damn, their house is so big! I think I can spend a whole year just wandering around the place..!

Anyways, it is bedtime and the light has turned off. The place is filled with pitch black. There are still small amounts of light though- the moon outside the window is the room's only source of light.

With all these, I'm beginning to get homesick already. I miss my Dad leaving me with a night light so I could sleep well during the night. But here, I am on a separate bed (which is good) from the other person, who cares for me zero percent, in the room.

It is supposed to be a nice first night in a plush bedroom, but I just can't seem to enjoy it.

END OF CHAPTER

Author's Notes: Was it short? Remember a review is what remains an author motivated. When she gets a review, she recognizes how much her work is being cherished, and would feel more obligated to go on.