A long time ago when the country of Clow was still young , the ruler King Ashura who ruled with a blood thirsty and Iron Fist. His servants quivered in fear at his feet and non dared oppose him out of fear. Many who did disobey him were either forced into the front lines of their never ending battle with the other countries or beheaded on the spot and that was only if they were lucky. If he was even vaguely displeased by a servant he could and would on occasion use his fearsome magic to give them a fate worse than death.

Only one thing seemed to please him. A mere lowly magician whose beauty was unrivaled by any other boy or girl for that matter. His shoulder length hair was a soft , light blonde and his skin was pale and flawless. His eyes were as blue as the sky and his body was almost that of a woman with out the curves. A body that the king forbade anyone else from touching but him.

He had kidnapped the poor young boy from his home country in Celes while he was sleeping during one of Ashura's raids when the boy was only 15 now 5 years later the 20 year old magician was lowered to nothing more than a whore and Dancer for the kings pleasure. He had to do his magic in secret when the king wasn't around.

The boy whose name was Fai was broken inside and hated his life and what he had been reduced to.

Fortunately for Fai he had a secret lover one of the guards Kurogane a young man from Suwa a now extinct country thanks to Ashura. The last of his people Kurogane had no problem opposing Ashura even if only in secret.

However there secret was short lived when one of Ashura's most loyal advisors caught them in the act. Ashura was furious.

"For your crimes I have the worst most cruelest of punishments." Ashura vowed. "Fai since you cant seem to listen to orders I have a punishment most fitting," he laughed pointing already glowing finger at the cowering young beauty. "You are sentenced to eternity as a lowly genie till the day someone of pure heart wishes you to be other wise." he grinned maliciously as Fai whimpered and Kurogane growled. "And you Kurogane of Suwa a mere guard who dared touch my property! You shall be burdened with guarding said lamp but can not touch it or him ever!" he laughed at the irony of his words as the blue light surrounded the two.

500 years later

Syaoran grinned cunningly as he eyed the watermelon stand from above another stand. He nimbly jumped from there to the next and without the man noticeing stole a medium sized watermelon. It wasn't till the boy was already running a good distance that the man noticed. He cursed as he glared suspiciously around. He was duped again!

He finally stopped running when he hit a familiar ally where his brother Watanuki waited. "You know I could of done that." his brother grumbled as he took his half of the mellon. Syaoran frowned and shook his head.

"Watanuki you know that in your condition !" He reminded scoldingly.

Watanuki sputtered as his face heated up in anger and shame. "YOU MAKE SEEING SPIRTS SOUND LIKE ITS A BAD THING! ITS NOT MY FAULT THEY ALL WANT TO EAT ME! ITS NOT LIKE I AM HOLDING UP A FREAKING SIGN AND YELLING HEY COME AND GET A BITE! AND DONT GET MY STARTED ON MY DAMN HEALTH" Watanuki sputtered angrily as his brother sighed and tried to calm his frail brother down.

His brother was truly one of a horrible temper and was easily lead to have one of his little fits especially when it came to his ever persistent suitor a grandson of a exorcist and some what questionable religious background. The boy Doumaki none the less obviously cared for his brother and would visit them whenever he could.

Syaoran loved it when he visited because he usually brought food and medicine for his brother's to mention he complained about spirts less when the boy was around. He prayed to the gods that he could eventually get money to pay for his brothers dowry so that his brother could finally get married.

He knew that being a street rat and a thief he could only do so much for his brother who suffered from not only the 6th sense but also from the old Tuberculosis plague that hit their country 4 years ago. Normally this could have been fixed right away with the right medicine but it was expensive and they couldn't afford it back than so thanks to that it still lingered however thanks to Doumaki giving them medicine when he can even if it was his own spare money it was now becoming manageable. Not that he completely trusted the other guy. No far from it. Syaoran having lost his other brother syaoran to the plague just before Watanuki fell ill felt that he had to be extra protective and vigil around his last remaining family member. That protectiveness expanded naturally to all prospective husbands or wives..not that he foresaw him being with a woman to be honest.

Unfortunately thanks to his younger brothers natural talent to see and attract the undead he had more things to worry about than just his illness. For his brother's sake he spent every other night sneaking into the local monastery stealing wards and charms to try and help prevent any unwelcome guests from bothering his dear brother.

It was there that he met Doumaki. The young stoic man of twenty surprisingly didn't turn him in. He however was intrigued by the reason he wanted them.

Flashback

"Heh, Take as much as you need I wont tell a soul." the Exorcist shrugged.

"Whats the catch" Syaoran demanded suspitously.

"Nothing much just let me meet your brother and if he pleases me allow me to court him." Doumaki answered blankly.

I would object...but fortunately my brother's ill temper and Unique personality may ward him off. Syaoran thought shrewdly. "I will bring him over right now." Syaoran replied smirking inwardly.

10 minutes later he dragged his clueless brother into the temple where the young 19 year old waited patiently.

Doumaki was smitten by the first site even if his face didn't show it. "Can you cook?" He inquired blankly.

"yes?" Watanuki answered hesitantly not sure what was going on.

"Good now go make me a bento with

"What? Why should I? I am not making you squat!" Watanuki screamed flailing his arms. "GO MAKE YOUR OWN MEAL!"

Doumaki put his fingers in his ears and blocked out most of his rant as Syaoran managed to calm his younger brother down. "He is perfect." Doumaki said simply when watanuki calmed down.

End flashback

Syaoran sighed as he ate his melon while he made sure that his brother ate his piece. It's true his brother was a handful but he was his brother and he was going to take care of his brother for as long as he needed him.

Not far at the center of the city laid the pallace where King Touya was having a heated argument with his younger sister.

"Look Squirt I don't care what you want! You are getting married whether you like it or not!" The king growled as his younger sister huffed in annoyance. "Now either pick a suitor before I pick one for you!"

"Why does it matter to you if I get married or not? I am not ruler you are." Sakura countered.

"Look me and Yukito can't take care of you forever. Some day I may not be here which means you will have to step in to rule." Touya tried to reason.

"But I dont want to marry some old man." Sakura countered making a face.

"Than pick a young one!" Touya said exasperated as he threw his arms up in the air.

"I would if you sent one that was interesting and not a big meanie!"

"Whatever I don't care you got two weeks before I pick one for you!" Touya growled before he stormed off in search of his husband to help me relieve some of his stress.

Sakura couldn't believe that her big brother was going to be like that! She would show him. Later that night she snuck out when no one was looking.

The next day

Syaoran and his brother were on top of one of the stands eating a split peace of bread when he turned and saw what could only be the girl of his dreams. Her shoulder length brown hair seemed to glow and shimmer and her body was petite and curved in all the right places. Her clothes and stance made her stand out though. She could clearly tell that she didn't belong there.

"Syaoran are you listening to me?" Watanuki whined bringing Syaoran's attention back to focus.

"You werent were you?" he pouted. "What were you looking..." He trailed off when he too saw her. "Hey what is the princess doing here?" Watanuki asked curiously.

"The Princess?" Syaoran asked absentmindedly.

"Yea the princess. You know that brown haired clueless girl down there to left of the apple stand where the expensive white dress." Watanuki stated dryly.

"I am going to go talk to her." Syaoran said carelessly as he jumped down.

"What! You idiot you can't just go talk to her Baka!" He yelled incredulously.

Syaoran just waved his hands dismissively and started towards the girl who was now examining an apple.

"Um hi." Syaoran said when he reached her. She looked up and smiled.

"Oh real smooth Niisan." Watanuki muttered watching them.

"My name is Syaoran." he said introducing himself with a slight bow. "May I ask what the princess is doing so far away from the castle?

Sakura flushed upon hearing she was discovered. "Look...i...i am trying to get away from my brother for a bit...Please don't tell anyone." she pleaded.

"Your highness..No offense but next time you want to come out you should cover up just a little." Watanuki advised as he stepped up beside his brother still munching on his bread. Syaoran nodded agreeing.

"I know this is not up to your standards Hime but.." he said quietly as he handed her his own green cloak. She smiled gratefully as she donned the cloak and pulled the tattered hood over hear head effectively covering her face just enough.

Watanuki shook his head as he sighed. Of all the people to fall in love with it just had to be her..Figures. He felt a raindrop fall on his messy hair and looked up with a frown. "We better get home so we can get out of the rain. You might want to head back to your palace." He advised before he started to cough. Syaoran turned from his infatuation and began to coo and cuddle him as he hunched over gasping for breath.

"Oh my..is he ok?" Sakura asked as Syaoran easily picked up the smaller teen who was too skinny and frail for his own good.

"Yea..he just needs to rest." Syaoran murmered as he clutched the weezing and protesting boy close. "I really need to get home you can come if you want and stay till it stops raining. She nodded and followed them till they got to a old tall broken down stone building. (think the movie Aladdin) Sakura uneasily followed the other young man in till he reach a medium sized room on the top floor where only a big ragged cloth barely covered a open wall.

He set his brother on the far end as far away from the open wall as he could and covered him up with a torn up blanket. By now his brothers breathing had calmed down and he was resting comfortably.

"Um...your wall its not there." Sakura said worriedly. Syaoran smiled at her naïve concern.

"Its been like that for years. Its ok." he assured. "So..if you don't mind me asking what was it that got you so mad you left your comfortable home to come to our humble village?" He asked as he daringly sat beside her.

"My brother...is forcing me to marry." Sakura answered sadly.

"thats..thats awful." Syaoran replied ruefully.

"I have two weeks to find a suitor." Sakura groaned frustratedly. "How can I meet someone I like with in that short amount of time..and all the princes are soo..boring." She added leaning closer.

Syaoran blushed and leaned back away from her. "You ..don't say."

Sakura opened her mouth to respond when they heard the sound of many people coming. Reconizing it as the gaurds. He quickly woke up his slumbering brother and took his and the princess hand and hurried to the window. Sakura looked down frightened and let go of his hand and backed away.

"Do you trust me?" Syaoran asked reassuringly as he held out his hand to him once more. She held her hand to her face for a moment as he stared into his big brown eyes. Finally she took his hand and allowed him to hold her as he jumped out the window. A now fully awake Watanuki followed in suite and jumped as well.

"otouto go to Doumaki and wait for me." Syaoran said hurriedly when he sensed more coming.

"What about you?" Watanuki demanded.

"I will be fine. Just go." He ordered gently shoving him in the direction of the temple. With a glance back he listened and hurried towards the temple and away from the guards.

Syaoran than held tightly to the princess's hand as hurried into another direction. It wasn't long however before they found themselves surrounded. Sakura's eyes widened when the gaurds grabbed a struggling Syaoran.

"Release him!" Sakura ordered angrily as she threw her hood down." By order of the princess!" The gaurds stepped back surprised.

"Princess Sakura! What are you doing outside the castle! Your brother has been looking everywhere for you!" one of the gaurds gasped.

"That doesn't matter. Just release him."

"I am sorry but we can't these orders come from Reed. You will have to take it up with him." The head guard apologized with a bow as the others lead the still struggling boy away.

"Oh..I will." Sakura vowed.

Back at the castle The Kings Advisor laughed in his underground lair. "Soon Kyle the lamp will be ours." He vowed gleefully to a parrot who merely rolled his eyes. Someday he was going to get out of this cursed animal body and leave this crack.

Far off under the desert in a cave of wonders a lonely young red eyed man stared longingly at a lamp as his hand hovered above and ghosted the lamp. "My love." He murmured woefully.