Summary: When he was four years old and friendless, Li Syaoran rescued and befriended a Dragon Prince. A year later, the prince had to leave him. Six years later, the prince returned to try to kill Syaoran. But Syaoran is determined to believe the prince still loved him. Is this true? Can the group save him from the prince, or whoever the prince works for?

The Dragon Prince

Prologue

The surface of the lake glimmered in the noon sun. He shook his head as a mosquito zoomed near his face. " Little buggers."

Beside him, the five-year-old child crouched, looking ahead. The wind ruffled his brown hair and his cotton shirt. The boy had not acknowledged him when he approached. The child exuded the air of anger and hurt—it made him pause, awkwardly, unsure of how to proceed.

" I'm sorry, Xiaolang."

The child did not answer. He sighed. He dropped down to the earth. " If I had a choice—"

The boy jerked to his feet in one abrupt motion. He swayed a little, dizzy, but determination coordinated his body as he turned away and began marching away from the bank.

" Xiaolang!" He hurriedly stood as well to rush after the child. Grabbing the thin shoulder, he turned him around. " Xiaolang, please!"

" You said you'd never leave me." The boy accused. His amber eyes glistened, staring right ahead instead of up at him, but the child did not allow tears to fall. He had never cried, not since his father died. " You said you'd always be there."

" I know."

The boy shrugged harshly out of his hold, still avoiding his eyes. He reached out and grabbed the boy again. " Xiaolang, you know this is not my fault."

" You shouldn't make promises you can't keep." The boy began moving again. He tightened his hold.

" Xiaolang." The prince pleaded, pained.

The boy finally looked at him. The wind blew at his hair again so the brown locks fell into his eyes. He was a beautiful child, with an even more beautiful heart. The sight of him, illuminated in the noon sun, was so painful. He knelt and pulled the child to him. The child did not struggle.

" I love you, Xiaolang." The prince said quietly. " You know I would never leave you."

" No." Conceded the boy, and he felt the small, thin arms wrap around his shoulders. " Will I never see you again?"

" You might." He replied quietly.

" Why?" He heard a faint sob catch in the other's throat. " Why do you have to go? Can't the Dragon King take care of everything?"

He let go and pushed the boy at arm's distance to look straight into his eyes. " Xiaolang, listen to me." He said gravely. " You will be fine. Do you hear me? You will be fine. You will make many friends in the future, and you will be alright. There will be people who truly love you, and you will become a great being."

Xiaolang blinked, looking vulnerable. " How?" He asked softly. " No one likes me now. I don't even know why."

The prince knew. It was because Xiaolang's magic was fairly unremarkable. In the Li clan, magic was valued above everything else. Upon realizing his lack of magical talent, the clan, including the boy's immediate family, had dismissed Xiaolang as unimportant.

" Work hard." The dragon prince urged. " I know you can do it. I have seen you do it. One day you will prove yourself. There is still time." He squeezed the small shoulders. " You are but five years old. There is plenty of time."

" How?" Asked the distraught boy. " How? You're leaving me."

" You don't need me." The prince insisted. " Xiaolang, I befriended you because of who you are. You are strong, smart, and brave." He touched the boy's cheek. " And you can become the greatest being on earth. Trust me. I know you. Don't I know you, hm?" He smiled, searching the boy's eyes. " I dare you to tell me I don't know you."

" You have too much faith in me."

" I have just enough."

" You're the only one who thinks so."

" That's because everyone else is retarded."

" But not even Mama thinks so." The boy bowed his head.

Oh, he could curse Li Yelan to hell. One day.

" Hey, Xiaolang, need I remind you that I am a god and your mother isn't?" The prince smiled. He poked the child on the nose. " What did you say? You think a mortal would know you better than a god?"

Ah ha! The boy smiled, just slightly, though he was still sad.

" You will be fine." The prince promised. " I know you can do it. You can do anything, and don't let anyone tell you different, alright?"

The boy nodded, clearly not as enthusiastic, but he could tell Xiaolang will be alright, nonetheless.

He pressed his forehead to the child's and closed his eyes.

" You won't forget me?" The child asked.

" Of course not." How could he? When a year ago, the boy had saved his life. He had been fighting the traitor, the nine-headed serpent, who had wanted to take over his father's kingdom. The child had watched from the side, unseen, as the Dragon Prince was beaten back and finally gravely injured. Other children would have remained hidden, but Xiaolang had rushed out, throwing a well-aimed sharp stone at the serpent, who, distracted, ran after the child. The boy had not started his martial arts training yet, and had fled, drawing the serpent away so that the prince could escape and come back with reinforcements. By that time the serpent was choking the very life out of the boy. Xiaolang nearly died to save him. The prince knew, then, that this boy was no ordinary human.

" I will never forget you." Said the Dragon Prince. " Ever."

He remained there with the boy, their foreheads touching. The closeness of the feeling was too precious to lose. The child, too, remained unmoving, unwilling to break the moment. When the sun sets, he will lose his friend, possibly forever.

" You will become a great man." The prince broke the contact at last. " Eat your vegetables."

The boy smiled a little. Ah, there it is again. Xiaolang looked wonderful when he smiled. He dug his knuckles a little into the boy's head. A full grin sprouted then.

" Come on, let's do something fun." He suggested. " We have a few hours. Let's go swimming."

Xiaolang did not object, though he could sense the dark melancholy settle over the child again. What he would give to keep that promise he made to the lonely boy, long ago. But some things simply cannot be helped.

Dragon and manchild spent the remaining daylight hours swimming in the lake and playing. With the dusk the prince walked Xiaolang back home to the gates of the Li property. The child, fearful of being unable to let go, headed inside without a farewell of any sort. The prince did not complain. He did not want to say goodbye.

Perhaps, by not saying goodbye, they would truly meet again.