Disclaimer- I don't own CCS, so plz don't sue me I'm a very broke teenager!

Ok ppl, now this beginning part could get a bit confusing so read very very carefully…

Long ago, in Feudal China lived a kind and gentle Lord who cared deeply for his people. But all that changed when he married his deceased wife's sister, Yelan. Yelan began as a kind woman, and had it not been for her caretaker Una, she would've remained as such. When Una found out that Lord Li had been in love with a woman who was now pregnant, she assumed the worst and locked her and the unborn child in a tower where she couldn't reach Li. The woman's name was Nioni, and the soon-to-be-born child's name was Syaoran…

Prologue

13 year-old Syaoran sat worriedly, in a chair beside his mother's bed. The gargoyle-woman, Una, had just left, and had appeared happy with the fact that his mother was lying on her deathbed. Syaoran took his mother's hand and held it gently. The kind-looking woman smiled up at her son. "Syaoran," she croaked. "Please, go find Lord Li, if I'm not mistaken Una left the door unlocked."

He looked through the bedroom door and towards the other door that led outside the tower where they had been kept for the past 13 years, and sure enough it was left unlocked, probably forgotten while she was in her rare joyful state. He returned his amber gaze to his mother, "No mother, I'm not going to leave you."

In truth he was desperately afraid that if he left her side for just one moment, that she would spend her last breath, and die alone. He didn't want that. He loved his mother with all his heart. Nioni smiled weakly, "Please, Syaoran, I just want to see him one last time."

Syaoran looked at his mother's pleading gaze and gave in. "Alright mother, but you have to promise to hang on until I get back."

"I promise." He was about to leave when he heard her call. "Wait! Look inside the dresser drawer, bottom one, underneath all the clothes, yes, now take that note to him, he'll know what it means."

Syaoran nodded, the folded paper clutched in his hands, and left, reluctantly. He stepped through the tower door and ran down the steps as fast as he could making his way to the kitchens in the manor. It was very rare that Una forgot to lock the door, but when she did, Syaoran took advantage of it, and wandered the beautiful grounds. He remembered when the head cook had found him unkempt and 'nothin' but skin n' bones.'

After that, whenever Una forgot to lock the door, he would head straight for the kitchens, where Kaho, would feed him until she was satisfied, then she would give him extra to take to his mother. Which Syaoran was grateful for. Una only fed them twice a day and it was a steady diet of water and bread, with the occasional lean meat. It was no wonder that his mother was sick.

He finally reached the kitchens and asked a maid where he could find Kaho. She directed him to other side of the kitchen and he rushed over to where the beautiful cook stood. When she recognized him her eyes widened, "So Una forgot again did she?"

Syaoran was breathing hard, "Kaho, I have to find Lord Li, it's my mother she's very sick and wants to see him."

Kaho nodded thoughtfully, "Alright, I'll have him there in a jiffy, is there any particular reason why she wants him there?"

Syaoran shrugged his shoulders, "You're guess is as good as mine, but she said to give this note to him and that he'd know what it meant." He held out the note to her.

Kaho took it, looked at it suspiciously then nodded and rushed out the kitchen door. Syaoran figured that Kaho would show the Lord the way, so he rushed back to the tower to be with his mother.

He dashed across the gardens and towards the tower, not taking the time to enjoy the blooming Sakura trees like he usually did.

When he reached her bedroom he ran over and knelt beside her bed and took her hand in his. "I had Kaho give him the note mother, he should be here soon."

"Good. Thank you son." She barely managed to get out.

No sooner had she spoken those words when the tower door flew open and a very angry Lord stepped through. When he spotted Nioni, his face softened to that of concern. Nioni looked to Syaoran, "Son, leave us alone for a while please."

Syaoran nodded not taking his eyes off of Li.

He left the room and shut the door, but left it open enough so he could hear what they were saying.

"Nioni…I can't believe that after all this time, you were this close to me. It was Una wasn't it, that conniving—"

He was cut off by a hacking cough, Syaoran repressed the urge to run to his mother's side. "Xiao-hu please. I don't have much time left."

"Why would that woman do this?"

"She-thinks, that-Syaoran-is-your son."

"What?" now Syaoran was listening even harder.

"That's impossible," he continued, "We've never—"

"I know. But Una isn't convinced. Xiao-hu, please, I'm begging you, please take care of Syaoran, keep him away from that awful woman."

There was a slight pause, "I promise."

There was a contented sigh on the other side of the door, "Xiao-hu, I do love you."

"I know, I love you too, I only wish that things could have been different."

"So do I." Came the weak reply. "You must go now, before Una and Lady Yelan become suspicious."

Syaoran could sense the Lord's hesitation. "Alright. I will take care of your son Nioni, I give you my word."

"I know."

"Good-bye my love."

"Until we meet again Xiao-hu."

Syaoran heard footsteps and he raced to the other side of the room. He looked up at Lord Xiao-hu, who was now looking very distraught. Xiao-hu looked towards Syaoran, "Stay with your mother I'll return soon, although I have a feeling that when I do, she will no longer be here."

Syaoran nodded sadly, "So I am not your son, my lord?"

Xiao-hu looked towards the teen with sad eyes, "No, I'm afraid not my boy, although I wish my own son were half the man you are."

He watched Lord Xiao-hu exit, an awkwardness appearing in his gait.

Half an hour later, Syaoran sat up in bed. The squeak from the opening door was what had awoken him. The door to his own bedroom opened and he saw Lord Xiao-hu peek his head in, "May I come in?"

Syaoran nodded while getting out of bed, not realizing he didn't have a shirt on.. "Yes of course my lord."

Xiao-hu walked in carrying a large brown chest under his right arm, and looking very fidgety. "When did she pass?" he asked.

"Just after you left, my lord."

He nodded, then stopped when his gaze fell on the birthmark on Syaoran's left shoulder. His eyes widened. Syaoran followed his gaze and looked back up at Xiao-hu questioningly. "Is something wrong my lord?"

Xiao-hu snapped out of his trace, and shook his head, "No," he looked down at the floor suddenly thoughtful. "Una…" he whispered.

Syaoran was confused, "My lord?"

Xiao-hu looked back at Syaoran, and held out the chest. "Take this. There is more than enough in there for you to live out your life in comfort."

Syaoran took the chest and the key proffered, and nearly buckled from its weight, "But my lord—"

Xiao-hu held up his hand silencing any further protests. "Your mother asked me to keep you safe and away from Una, and that's exactly what I intend to do. Inside that chest, you'll find a map, it leads to a cottage in the woods. It's supposed to belong the Lord of the Li manor's mistress, but I have had no use for it. Neither Yelan nor Una knows where it is. You will be perfectly safe there. There is also a town about five miles north of it, where you can purchase food, clothes, whatever you may need there. But whatever you do lad, do not tell anyone of what you have witnessed tonight, Una has her spies everywhere."

Syaoran nodded in understanding. "I must go now." Xiao-hu placed a hand on Syaoran's bare shoulder, "Take care, and stay safe. I'll have your mother's body given a proper burial." He straightened and turned around. " Now, I have to go have a talk with my wife's so called 'caretaker.'"

And with that he left, it seemed, in a hurry. Syaoran looked at the chest in his hands and set it down on his bed. He used the key to open it and gasped when he saw what it contained, he nearly passed out. Inside were gems and precious metals of all kinds. Lord Xiao-hu had extremely undervalued what was contained. He had never seen so many jewels in his entire life! With less than half of what this chest contained he could live out his life in complete luxary. What he was supposed to do with the rest of it, Syoaran had no idea.

Quickly, he packed his clothes and what few personal belongings he had and wrapped them in a large piece of cloth he had retrieved from the tiny dresser he and his mother had shared. A pang of pain washed over him as he remembered his mother.

Pushing it out of his mind, he picked up the chest and the bundle and was about to leave when he realized he had left something behind. He dropped everything and ran to his mother's bedroom where her body lay lifeless and completely still.

On her dresser was a ring that she said her first love had given her, she had taken it off that night and instructed to give it to the woman he would someday marry. The band itself was silver and had tiny diamonds circling the front, and two sapphire stones set on either side of an emerald. Judging from its look Lord Li had probably given it to her.

He slipped it on his pinky finger, seeing as how that was the only one it fit, and placed a kiss on his mother's now cold forehead. "I'll make you proud mother I promise."

And with that he picked up the chest and his bundle and fled into the night.

An hour later, Syaoran was too far away to hear the ear-splitting masculine scream coming from the Li Manor…

A/n and that's my prologue! I hope it wasn't too confusing. If you have any questions just post them in ur review! Next chapter will have sakura in it! I can't believe I'm starting a new story when school is starting up again in two days…o well!