Hello, all you beautiful people! This is my first, ever story…so please be nice! Constructive criticism is always welcome, although the same can't be said for flames.

OK, the story will have some S/S although I may need some help regarding the fluffiness…

Definitely not an E/T (So very sorry to all E/T lovers out there)

It's an A/U fic, so some characters may be a bit OOC

Err…I think I have said it all really, so on with the disclaimer and story!

Disclaimer – I don't own CLAMP or its characters. But I do own this fic!

The Saviors of Xante

Xante, in the year 1754

1st Chapter

Sunlight streamed in through the dirty and smudged glass windows of the once grand palace of Xante. Moth eaten curtains fluttered in the breeze, and as the sun shone upon them, it was easy to see their long gone grandeur.

The palace was eerily silent; nobody had graced its halls for many years, following the attack by the enemy. All had fled, or worse been killed inside the very halls where they had once walked so cheerily and gaily once upon a time.

The palace radiated deep, never ending sorrow; the cracked tapestry and once fine designs, scars of pain to the lonely palace.

Although most of the palace was now bathed in the sunlight, the rays refused to reach one particular corridor. That was where the royal family had once resided.

The old corridor, with its frayed carpet, was the only holder of the royal blood that had been spilt that night by the enemy. Eager to gain rule of this prosperous kingdom, they had slain all of the royals.

Or so it was deemed by those that remained to tell the tale. It was impossible for them to conceive that anyone from the family could have escaped.

Each royal chamber seemed to tell its own sorry tale of the destruction that had been wrought upon the family. A massive blue chamber was now the permanent home to many skeletons, whose background and standing in life should have given them a more appropriate funeral.

However, no one had dared to return the bloody scene, and the enemy had not wanted the palace in itself.

Thus the palace stood there, and sometimes odd glimpses could be seen of what it had been like in its former glory.

Wreaked cottages surrounded the palace. Once the home of the servants and army of the royals, the emergence of the enemy had caused them to flee their homes, for fear lest they be burnt alive within their house.

Nobody was there to witness the tortured screams that came from the palace, or the sudden extinguishing of the royal chambers. Nobody knew how the royal family had been killed, or even who their enemy was.

Only a name whispered in the wind that was all they had to call the enemy. A name that brought shudders to the most experienced warriors, and sent a chill down the spine of those too young to remember much.

Children were forbidden to say that name, although many whispered it when alone. The Tristaie. In the ancient language of Xante, it literally meant "The ones who destroy it all."

Changes of scene – Some of the survivors of that night are now in another village, and talk amongst themselves.

Three old men and two old women could be seen murmuring to each other. Ever so often, one of them would break off and look up at the night sky, causing all others to do them same.

It seemed a ritual, as the delay was punctual, and seemed to be part of their discussion. Suddenly, a little girl with shiny black hair in two little pig tails bounced over to the elders.

"Grandfather!" she called in her sweet voice. Her arrival seemed to put the elders at ease, and the tension suddenly disappeared.

"What were you talking of, Grand father? Is it about…about…The Ghost Town again?" she inquired.

The old man silently nodded, and asked her whether she would like to hear what they were saying. At the little girl's obvious excitement, he smiled a little, and then pulled her down to sit next to him. Both simultaneously looked up expectantly at the old woman in front of them.

The old woman nodded once, before opening her eyes to reveal milky white eyes to the gathered audience.

"It was a long time ago…" she began in a croaky voice.

Flashback

"Your Highness. Congratulations. Your wife has just given birth to yet another baby boy, "said the Court Doctor monotonously.

Apparently he had known what the king's reaction would be, as the King asked, in an uncertain voice, "Anot…another one? Are you sure it's a boy? Please tell me you are joking?"

"Sorry Your Majesty but this is no joke. You shouldn't have promised your wife to try until the royal family received a little girl. Now you are going to have to try again, and for your sake, I hope it's a baby girl."

The King groaned, before opening his honest brown eyes, and walking towards his wife's chambers. Upon reaching there (it had been a rather long walk), the man peeped his head around.

"Honey!" cried a soft female voice. The man grinned and slowly walked up to the woman and little bundle lying on the bed.

"Come on Fujitaka, you know he won't bite," the woman said slyly, before depositing his new born son onto him.

"I know that Nadeshiko. It's just that I wonder exactly how many little boys we will have before we get a girl."

Upon seeing his wife's red face, he hurried to add, "NOT that I don't love them all or anything…its just that it can get a bit too much, having one little boys, not even counting the new addition."

The queen of Xante sighed, and looked sheepishly at her husband.

"Fuji…I know we already have a lot of children, but I really want to try one more time, to see if I can get a little girl. And I know that this time it will be a girl. I am sure of it honey."

The King sighed, and looked up straight into his wife's startling green eyes. Noticing the plea in them, the king just nodded resignedly, before murmuring, "I can't see you unhappy now could I?"

The room erupted with a squeal, which was soon cut short by the noisy wailing of the baby. "Oh thank you!" gushed Nadeshiko, before becoming completely absorbed in her duties as a mother.

End Flashback

The old woman chuckled, before looking upwards at the sky once more, a gesture followed by all except the little girl.

The old man whispered to his granddaughter to look up to. When questioned, he smiled sadly, and said, "To remember the glorious dead."

With that the old woman started again.

Flashback

King Fujitaka had an odd sense of déjà-vu, as a courtier rushed up to him, and hurriedly told him, "Your Majesty! Your wife has just given birth! It is…"

The King waited tensely, although he was almost certain that it was another boy.

"Oh your Majesty! It is….a girl!" cried the excited courtier, before bowing low and running off yet again.

Fujitaka just stood there for a few minutes in shock, before setting off at a run too.

Once inside his wife's chambers, he froze still. His wife had a tiny bundle pressed against her chest, her eyes filled with pure elation. As soon as she saw him, she let out a squeal, before beckoning him to come.

He tiptoed to his wife's side, who slowly gave him the bundle as if it were the most precious thing in the world. And in Fujitaka's eyes, as soon as he had seen his little baby girl, she was the most precious thing in the world.

A fuzz of brown hair that promised to become a gentle copper color framed a face with delicate features and clear white skin. Then the baby opened her eyes, causing Fujitaka to let out a gasp. Her eyes were of a clear green, so innocent and pure that it made him want to clutch his little daughter for ever.

Looking down again, he was surprised to note that her tiny fingers had curled around his finger, and that she had fallen fast asleep.

Again noting with awe her delicate beauty, he looked up with a happy smile towards his wife, who gave him one in return.

"What shall we call her?" he whispered.

"Sakura. The cherry blossom. Those blossoms reflect her beauty," she whispered softly, causing him to smile.

"Sakura Kinomoto. I love it."

Both smiled, before calling their little boys to see their new baby sister.

Both rushed into the room, the eldest, Touya, coming in first. He paused at the doorway, as though unsure, and then walked softly towards the tiny bundle that his mother held in her arms.

Glancing down, Touya's sharp black eyes suddenly softened, causing his parents to look on happily. To see their normally stern son looking so gently at his little sister made them very happy.

The next, Yukito, smiled gently at his baby sister, and held her soft, dimpled hand between his own, in awe of her fragility.

End Flashback

"…That was the happiest moment of the royal family's lives. They finally had a sense of purpose with the approach of the newest addition, Sakura Kinomoto, and all four doted over her. Those were the good times."

With that the old lady heaved a final sigh of sadness, and looked up into the stars again.

Her blind eyes seemed to pierce through the skies, although in reality she was lost in her memories.

With her sightless eyes turned upwards towards the sky, the old woman cried, for the loss of royalty, and for the death of her beloved homeland, Xante.

Finally! The first chapter is finished! I can't believe it was sooooooo long!

Now….press the little blue button and say something about this story…go on….I know you want to !