Syaoran was heading across the main hall towards the palace doors, however they were slammed in his face. So, I'm confined to the castle huh? He thought bitterly to himself as he turned to his right and walked towards the castle gardens. He didn't know what he could do; Sakura was being locked up for crimes she didn't commit and he couldn't do anything. He had to see her! But how was he going to be able to slip away without anyone noticing? He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and pulled it out-it was a text from Fai.

Fai: Where are you two? And why isn't Sakura answering her phone?

Syaoran: Come with Chii to the castle-I can't explain through text.

He replied quickly, pacing back and forth around the garden in distress. Was Sakura ok? Was she scared? How was she being treated? All of these questions continued to run through his mind until Chii and Fai arrived.

"You look really distressed." Fai commented as he approached the prince.

"Where's Sakura?" Chii asked, looking around. Syaoran sat down on one of the benches and buried his face in his hands for a moment.

"She's in the dungeons." He replied after a few moments of silence.

Chii couldn't believe it. "Why?!" both she and Fai asked at the same time.

"My parents say that it's because she's placed me in too much danger and for being with me while I'm in an 'apparent' engagement. But that's not the real reason at all! I don't know what to do anymore!" he sighed in frustration.

"When was she placed in the dungeons?" Chii asked.

"Last night. I couldn't do anything to save her…" Syaoran trailed off, his fingers running over the silver chain link bracelet that Sakura had bought for him the year before.

"Is there really nothing we can do?" the princess asked.

"This is absurd-surely they can't do this?" Fai said.

"Unfortunately, my mother and father have changed a lot in the past fourteen months…they aren't the people I used to know." Syaoran replied sadly.

"Is she allowed any visitors?" Chii asked.

"Not that I know of-well, Tiffany and my parents are doing everything in their power to keep me from going anywhere near the dungeons." Syaoran muttered unhappily.

"Maybe she'll be released…" Chii murmured hopefully.

"I can only hope that she is." Syaoran said-but something inside was screaming out at him. Why?

"I know-I'll go and see Sakura while Fai keeps you company, and then when I get back we'll distract Tiffany and your parents so that you can go see her!" Chii beamed.

"Will that work?" Syaoran asked.

"We'll make it work." Fai replied.

Sakura was sitting by the bars having a casual conversation with the two guards. They were teaching her their languages since she had nothing better to do, and she was even getting along with all the inmates that were being held on the same floor as her.

"You guys are awesome." Sakura grinned-they'd been trying to keep her spirits up all day, and it was working. "I didn't think that guards were supposed to be nice to prisoners, you know?" she laughed.

"Well milady, according to what you've told us and your personality, we figure you're telling the truth." The Irish guard, Brady, spoke. Cameron, the Scottish guard, nodded in agreement.

"Gee, if only the King and Queen would actually take into account Syaoran's happiness…" Sakura muttered.

Footsteps sounded down the corridor and the guards stood up. "I'd like to see Sakura." It was Chii's voice.

"Chii!?" Sakura said her friend's name happily, glad to see her. The guards let the princess pass to see Sakura; Chii smiled as soon as she saw that Sakura was alright.

"Sakura-are you alright?!" Chii exclaimed, gripping the bars.

"I'm fine-but what about Syaoran?" Sakura asked quickly.

"He's not doing so good in the sense that he's very stressed about you." Chii murmured.

"Oh…I see…Do you know why I'm in here?" Sakura asked, changing topics. She wished she could see Syaoran, if only for a few minutes.

"Well apparently the reasoning is that you've placed Syaoran in danger several times and have been keeping up an affair with Syaoran while he's 'engaged'." Chii rolled her eyes upon reaching the last word of her sentence.

"I don't understand…I've never placed him in danger…" Sakura was shocked.

"Exactly. He suspects that it's something else, and is trying to do everything he can to find out the real reason." Chii said.

"Listen, Syaoran will be coming to see you hopefully soon; you won't have much time together, but you can at least talk if only for a few minutes." Chii whispered.

"Is there something keeping him from coming to see me?" Sakura asked feeling alarmed.

"Tiffany and his parents-but don't worry; Fai and I will distract them." Chii replied, looking up to see if anyone was coming.

"I'll be waiting." Sakura smiled.

"I must go-but I'll make sure to come and see you tomorrow, I promise!" Chii smiled at her friend before getting up and leaving.

"You have some great friends, miss." Cameron said.

"I know…" Sakura smiled softly. "Hey, teach me more of your languages guys." She grinned.

"Alright then." Brady laughed.

Syaoran looked up as he heard footsteps, disappointed to find that it was Tiffany that was heading towards him. "Syaoran dear, your mother would like to see you." Tiffany said.

"Don't call me that." He growled.

"But we are engaged; I can't call my own fiancé by common nicknames?" she asked.

"You are not my fiancé." He hissed, walking past her and down the corridor.

He entered the lounge where his mother was sitting, gazing into the fire. "You called?" he asked bitterly. The queen's attention was snapped from her thoughts and to her son who was standing in the middle of the room.

"Take a seat." She said softly, gesturing towards the seat opposite her. Syaoran didn't move. His mother sighed and returned to gazing into the flames.

"Sakura, I think her name was, wrote your father and I a letter." She said.

"I know. Can't say I'm surprised though." He said icily.

"She was begging for us to stop putting you through so much pain." The queen murmured.

"So? Is the real reason you threw her in the dungeons because she wrote you a letter explaining how things actually are?" he asked.

"No. We've already told you the reason." His mother answered.

"So, why have you called me here, exactly?" Syaoran asked irritably.

"…Nothing, I just wanted to make sure you were ok." She replied. She was clearly keeping something from him.

"Well I'm not ok, just so you know." He spat, leaving the room before his mother could say anything else.

As he was walking back towards his room, Chii and Fai came rushing over to him. "We have Tiffany distracted, so go to Sakura now!" Chii said in a hushed voice.

"Thank you." Syaoran murmured before taking off down the hall and making his way to the dungeons where Sakura was waiting.

When he got there, Sakura was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. The guards looked up as he approached and barred his way. "Is it possible for me to see Sakura?" he asked. The two guards looked at each other.

"We've been given orders not to let you see her, but just this once-be quick." Brady said, lowering his arm. Cameron did the same. Upon seeing Sakura, he was flooded with relief. She was alright! Her face lit up when she saw him, and though there were bars in the way it didn't stop them from holding each other's hands.

"Are you alright?" She asked, her voice filled with worry.

"I'm fine, what about you?" he replied softly.

"Why are they doing this to us?" she asked, tears filling her eyes.

"That's what I'd like to know darling, I really do…" He whispered.

"Syaoran, what's wrong?" Sakura asked.

"…I'm sorry; I can't do anything to help you right at this moment." He whispered. "I know Syaoran, I know. But please, don't beat yourself up about it-it will only make me worry more!" she said.

"I promise I'll find a way for us to be together." He said.

"I know you will; you always keep your promises, no matter how small it may be." Sakura smiled.

"I won't be able to see you constantly unlike Chii, so I'll write to you. I love you." He said, leaning his head against the bars. She placed her hand against his cheek and gave him her warm smile.

"I love you too, and if I can I'll write you back." She said.

"Take care of yourself, alright?" he said.

"You too." She answered. He took her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles, "I'll see you again, I promise." He whispered.

"I'll be waiting." She whispered back, feeling a tear slip down her cheek. He didn't let go for a few extra seconds, not wanting to leave her, but he had to. He let go of her hands, gently kissing one again before taking his leave.

"Syaoran…" she whispered his name, slowly descending to her knees and sitting with her back against the cold brick wall of the cell and looking to the darkening sky that was visible through the small window.

No one dared to say anything in fear of hurting her feelings-listening to her crying had made everyone feel sad, even the guards.

It had been about two weeks since Sakura had been imprisoned, and she had become quite fluent in a few different languages that had been taught to her by both the guards and a couple of inmates. She had also discovered that some of the guys were able to play different instruments and that one of them was originally part of an acappella group, and instead of using actual instruments, he used his voice instead. Even though she hated being stuck behind bars, she still tried her best to smile.

"So, since we all have different talents, what's yours?" One of the other prisoners-Jake-asked.

Sakura smiled, "I'm a singer." She replied.

"Oh really? For a band?" Brady asked.

"Sort of; I work at a club and part of my job is to sing songs. Syaoran always listened…" Sakura said softly.

"Why don't you sing something?" Cameron suggested.

"Yeah-we're interested to hear your voice." One of the other prisoners said from further down.

"Umm, I wouldn't know what to sing…" she said, a blush creeping across her face.

"Anything." Brady replied.

"Hmm, alright-but if you don't like it then tell me to stop." Sakura said, thinking of a song she could sing. She automatically thought of one by Evanescence, and took in a deep breath.

Perfect by nature.
Icons of self-indulgence.
Just what we all need
More lies about a world that…

…Never was and never will be
Have you no shame? Don't you see me?
You know you've got everybody fooled.

She didn't really know why she had chosen that particular song to sing, but it had just popped into her head. It seemed to fit her situation in a strange way…

Look, here she comes now.
Bow down and stare in wonder
Oh, how we love you.
No flaws when you're pretending

But now I know she…

…Never was and never will be
You don't know how you've betrayed me
And somehow you've got everybody fooled

Without the mask, where will you hide?
Can't find yourself lost in your lie.

I know the truth now
I know who you are
And I don't love you anymore

It never was and never will be
You're not real and you can't save me
Somehow now you're everybody's fool.

"That was amazing!" they all exclaimed.

"Uh…thanks?" she half laughed.

"You should sing more often." Brady said.

"Are you sure?" Sakura asked.

"Yes-we need to hear a good voice every now and then." Jake said.

"Well…alright…" she laughed.

Syaoran sat on the window ledge of his room, staring out at the tower that Sakura was being held in. He was holding the letter that he had written for Sakura, waiting for Chii to come and collect it. The silver bracelet around his wrist was never removed-not once.

"Sakura…" he whispered her name, wishing to see her again. But he was under such close supervision by his parents and Tiffany that he could barely slip away from them, and they were keeping him busy. Busy with work and meetings and other things that he didn't want to have anything to do with because he was so angry.

There was a knock at his door. "It's me." It was Chii.

"Come in." He said quietly.

Chii entered his room. "Do you have the letter?" she asked.

"Yeah, here." Syaoran said, handing Chii the letter. Chii was the one way they kept in touch with each other without his parents noticing, and even though he got to see her handwriting and read what she had to tell him about those she had gotten to know, it didn't change the heart wrenching fact that he wasn't able to see her and hold her.

"You really need to get some sleep." Chii murmured.

"Well I can't when that girl is always sleeping in my bed." He muttered.

"She's really making it difficult for you, isn't she?" Chii rolled her eyes.

"Sadly." He replied.

"I'm going to go see her now; I'll be back soon with her letter. Try not to get yourself into too much trouble." Chii laughed.

"But it's so fun." He said sarcastically as he faked a smile.

"Seriously, don't do anything to hurt yourself. I'm worried about you." Chii said softly.

Syaoran smiled, "I'll be fine. I'm more worried about Sakura though; she hasn't been able to take her medication since she was thrown in that cell…" he murmured.

"We will find a way for you to see each other again. I promise." The princess smiled, and then disappeared quickly out the door.

Both of the guards stepped to the side to allow Chii through to see Sakura. She couldn't see Sakura often in case she got caught, but whenever she did she always had a letter with her from Syaoran and something for Sakura to write him back with.

"How is he!?" Sakura asked immediately. She was worried about Syaoran, worried about his parents and Tiffany.

"Everything he has to say is in this letter. I have a pen so that you can write back to him as always." Chii said, handing her the heavy envelope.

Sakura took it, her hands shaking as she untied the red string and opened the envelope; inside was Syaoran's letter and his gold ring. It was the ring that he wore almost constantly apart from the chains he wore on his clothing; it had his family's crest on it, and if they found out he had lost it he would certainly be in deep trouble. It was practically his identification.

My dearest Sakura,

Inside the envelope I've enclosed my ring; I want you to look after it for me as I know that you know how important it is to me. I also want you to know that there is never a point in time that I'm not thinking about you; I can only hope that you are alright and you aren't suffering too much. I miss you so much…I feel so empty without you by my side…

My parents insist that I forget about you, but they should know by now that I'll never give up on being with you. You're my whole life, and I'll do anything to save you from this nightmare. But…I haven't been able to find a way to help you yet. I promise I won't give up though. Please, don't give up on me yet, hang in there.

Please don't worry about me; Fai and Chii have been helping me just as much as they've been helping you. Fai's been annoying the crap out of me since you aren't around and he can't see you. He said he's been getting so bored without you around-I must say that I have to agree with him. It just isn't as fun anymore. I can't say that I've been getting much sleep though…I promise I'll only ever be faithful to you, no one else. No one can take your place. And I want you to know that.

Remember; don't stress too much. Everything will be fine. I love you, and I promise that I'll come and see you as soon as possible. Take care, my love.

Love Syaoran.

She smiled as she read the letter, his cursive writing a dead giveaway that he was the one who had written the letter as well as the red thread and gold ring. She took the locket from around her neck and held it in her hand while she wrote her reply.

"Apparently Fai's been annoying the crap out of Syaoran." Sakura giggled as she wrote.

"It's been pretty amusing actually; he's been calling Syaoran just to watch him freak out when his phone rings." Chii laughed.

"Oh that is mean." Sakura burst out with laughter.

"I know, but it's so funny!" Chii giggled.

"I miss him…" Sakura murmured still with a small smile on her face.

"He misses you, too." The princess said.

"I know…" she whispered. She finished off her letter and folded it up, placing it back into the envelope with her locket. "Here." Sakura smiled, handing the envelope to Chii.

"I'll make sure it gets to him as always." Chii smiled.

"Thank you so much for doing this." Sakura said.

"You and Syaoran are two of my closest friends; how can I not help you at such a delicate point in time?" the princess smiled.

"You're the best." Sakura said.

Syaoran had his headphones in listening to music, ignoring everything that was happening around him. All he did all day was talk to Fai and Chii whenever they were around or stare out his window to where Sakura was being held. Their birthday was coming up soon, and he had decided that he would definitely visit her no matter what. Tiffany entered the room and waited for him to acknowledge her presence, which he didn't.

"Syaoran." She said his name in attempt to grab his attention. Instead, he turned his music up louder. "Syaoran." She said his name again, only this time a little louder.

He pretended not to hear her. "Your parents wish to speak to you." She said.

"They always want to speak to me. What is it about this time?" He said as he opened Facebook up on his phone.

"That girl." Tiffany replied with a hint of jealousy. He immediately stood up and walked out of his room.

Hushed voices came from inside the study, so Syaoran stopped to listen. "Can I not get you to change your minds!?" It was Yuui, and he sounded incredibly pissed off.

"We're sorry; we know how special she is to you, but for what she has done-'

"Sakura has done nothing wrong!" Yuui cut across the King's sentence. "And she certainly doesn't deserve to be sentenced to death!" He hissed.

"We know this is hard for you to take in since you were the one who raised her, but the date has been set." The king said softly.

Syaoran couldn't believe it. Sakura was to be executed!

"You know what? We've been friends since high school, and I've always been able to agree with your decisions. But as soon as your son began going out with Sakura, your decisions just haven't made any sense. I can't believe you aren't thinking about the possible repercussions this could possibly have!" Yuui hissed. Just before Yuui could get an answer out of his friend, Syaoran slammed open the door.

"So now you've sentenced her to death?!" He asked angrily.

The queen looked away in shame and his father avoided eye contact.

"You two really want to make my life hell for me, don't you?" Syaoran was biting back tears. "Well, you've succeeded. Congratulations." His voice was shaking, and his parents said nothing. He turned and left, heading straight for the gardens where he knew he'd be able to get some peace. It was a good thing that Chii knew where to find him, because as soon as she saw him he broke down.