For The One You Love

by Kirei Blossom

Syaoran and Sakura have always been best friends; and Sakura loves him dearly. But when Syaoran falls in love with someone else, what will it all lead to? Even with a 6-yr-old on a mission to get S&S together, will there ever be a happy end? (CHAPTER 6)

4. Count On Hina

Finally!  Here it is, everyone: the long long looooong awaited Chapter 4.  Apologies for taking the longest time ever.  Now, onto the story.

Disclaimer:  CLAMP characters are CLAMP characters.  And my characters are my characters.  Got it? ^~ 

For the One You Love

Chapter 4:  Count on Hina

~*~ Kirei Blossom

"I thought you two were going out today?" Ieran commented, fanning herself with an elaborately embroidered Chinese silk fan.

"We will." Syaoran answered. "Hina's in her room right now."

"Still? She's been in there for a long time now.  You know, I sometimes wonder what Suzuno talks to her about."

Syaoran shrugged.  "I don't know.  Probably just kid stuff."

~*~*~*~

"And I was glad, because I had two wonderful, wonderful friends."  The little spindles of the audio cassette slowly turned round and round in the tape player in Hina's room.  "Sakura always used to make me laugh.  And Syaoran… Syaoran…"  Still seated quietly in her chair, Hina listened closely, rapt with attention, as Suzuno's voice calmly continued.

"I kept telling myself that it wasn't right for me to be attracted to Syaoran this much.  Deep inside, a feeling kept nagging at me – that maybe Sakura and Syaoran's friendship was more than it appeared on the outside.  After all, they had known each other for years and years.  But the day he told me that he… loved me, all my doubts vanished.  I was so lucky."

"It was a week after this, when one day someone came up to Syaoran and asked him where Sakura was going, because he'd just seen her leaving campus with her luggage with her.  We followed her to the train station at once.  Syaoran tried to stop her, but she didn't listen to him.  Said her father wasn't well, so she was transferring to another university back home in Tomoeda.  Still, I think that.. it was a lie.  But one thing confused me.  I saw her crying, and she was hiding it from Syaoran.  And that made me think, what had happened? I've thought about it a lot, and I can still clearly remember her face from that day.  Hina-chan, I think I'm right in thinking that… Sakura loved Syaoran."

"En?" Hina blinked. 

"There's just no other explanation for it.  She had become so quiet and distant after me and Syaoran started going out.  Yes, just like Sakura-chan to do such a thing.  To leave so she wouldn't harm her best friend in any way when he was happy.  A part of me wanted to voice this out loud to Syaoran, to tell him the real reason, but something held me back.  Syaoran had said that he loved me, which meant that he didn't have any special feelings towards Sakura.  And so I kept quiet.  It was best for Sakura this way, I told myself.  Because being rejected outright by the one you love is harsh, and it could eat away at their friendship.  At least this way, Syaoran still considered her a friend.  So I let things be like they were.  And taking this step, was the biggest mistake I ever made."

"Syaoran was distraught after Sakura left.  She hadn't contacted him like she said she would, you see.  And that made him furious.  Then he made up his mind to ignore her too.  Baka.  But, his anger was only superficial.  After we finished university, Syaoran was supposed to go back to Hong Kong.  We were engaged to be married by then, and together we went to her house in Tomoeda.  'I can't leave without seeing her at least one more time.' Was what he said."

"Sakura wasn't there though.  We met her brother.  And no matter how much Syaoran persisted, he refused to tell us where she was.  After that, Syaoran searched for her himself, but it was of no use at all.  Turned out she never did transfer to the university in Tomoeda.  It was like Sakura had vanished into thin air.  Finally, we gave up and your papa and me moved to Hong Kong and married soon after."

There was a pause.  Hina leaned forward, her mouth opened slightly in surprise, eager to know more.  All these things that she was hearing for the first time..

"I was so happy after I was married.  It was like all my dreams had come true, getting such a nice, caring, perfect husband who loved me.  But something was missing from our relationship.  It wasn't that Syaoran didn't love me, it—.  You won't understand Hina, you're too young.  Think of it like this.  I was able to become your Papa's friend, but not his best friend.  That spot had already been reserved by someone else:  Sakura."

"He never saw her after that day at the train station, and because of that, he was hurt.  He allowed anger to flow inside of him towards her, almost thinking that he hates her.  But I know better.  At times, Syaoran talked of Sakura sometimes.  And just by listening to his words, the way he talked about her, I discovered something that made me regret what I had done."

"He loves her, Hina.  He really really loves her.  More than, so much more than he could ever be capable of loving me." At this point, Suzuno's voice, which had been so calm, broke slightly.  "What have I done?  I came between two people whose love was so strong towards one another, cemented by a friendship of thirteen years.  And that love was broken apart, by me."

A pause.  Hina sat there, stunned, not knowing what to think.

"But I still love Syaoran a lot, and that's why, I have to do this for the one I love.  Your Papa is such a wonderful person, Hina, I can't see him like this, hurting deep inside.  Knowing him, I know that he'll never go and search for Sakura again.  Even if I try and talk Syaoran into it, he wouldn't listen, he can be so stubborn at times.  And he doesn't even realize that he loves her this much.  Baka!  This is why Hina, I'm asking you a very important favor."

"Please.  Please find Sakura.  Find her and help Syaoran bring her to her rightful home.  Do this for your Papa, and for me.  You love him don't you? Your Papa."

"Of course." Hina whispered, feeling her eyes well up with tears for some reason. 

"Then do this for him, because right now, he isn't happy.  And he's lonely.  He needs Sakura, the person whom he stayed for thirteen long years together.  But, Hina-chan, I'm asking so much of you, and I know that you're so young.  I'm frightened that you might not be able to do this.  Because I don't know where Sakura is, or even if she still is in Japan or not."

"No mother!" Hina said to Suzuno's portrait, sitting on her desk.  "I'll do this.  I really will.  Don't worry, you can count on Hina."

The smiling face in the portrait looked back, almost as if it understood.  "This is difficult, Hina, but I have complete faith in you.  You don't have to do everything on your own.  There is one person who will help you, I'm sure.  I have enclosed a photograph of that person, and there's a name, address and telephone on the back.  She will definitely help you, and will certainly know where Sakura is.  Contact her first, okay? And be careful."

"Un."

"One thing though.  You mustn't let Syaoran know what you're doing.  This is our little secret, understand? If your Papa found out, things might not work out at all.  And that would be bad.  So you have to be extra, extra careful about that.  Got it?"

"Yes."

"Well then, I'll always be hoping and praying that you succeed, Hina-chan.  I know you'll really like Sakura, she's so nice.  Be good, all right? Take care of Papa, as you've been doing.  Good luck.  I love you."

There was a faint clicking sound, and then silence.

With a shaking finger, Hina pressed the stop button on the tape player and removed the cassette.  She simply sat there for a while, blinking at the cassette. 

"Oh!" She gave a sudden start, remembering.  Reaching for the envelope, she peeked inside.  She hadn't noticed it before.  The photograph.  Gingerly taking it out, Hina looked down at the person whom she had to contact first.

"Ah, pretty!" It was a picture of a beautiful young woman, with long dark hair flowing down her back in luscious curls.  "Pretty!  Who is she?" Hina flipped over the picture.  There was writing on the back. 

"Da.. um.." she struggled with the words.  "Dai..daidou- ji.  Daidouji.  Ta.. no, wait.  To. To-mo-yo.  Daidouji Tomoyo." Underneath that, was a telephone number and an address for someplace in, "To-mo-e-da." Hina's eyebrows shot up.  "I know that name.  Papa used to live in Tomoeda when he was in Japan.  So I have to contact Daidouji-san.  It's strange, but I think I've heard this name before somewhere.  Where was it?"

"Hina?" a voice called from outside.

"WAAH~! Papa's coming upstairs!" Hina fumbled for a moment, nearly dropping the cassette and photograph she had in her hand.  Trying to catch them, she tumbled off her chair.  Oh no!  She had to hide these before papa came inside.  Still hanging upside down from the chair, she hastily swept the envelope, picture and cassette under the table. 

There was a knock on the door, and the knob turned.  Syaoran entered, taking in Hina half-on, half-off the chair, her face poking under the table.  "Hina, what are you doing?"

She laughed.  "Oh nothing, nothing.  Haha, just looking for my shoes."

"They're downstairs.  Come on, let's go now."

"Go?" Hina straightened up.  "Where?"

"The amusement park, where else.  Don't you remember?"

"Oh right." She clapped her hands and giggled.  "I forgot, it's my birthday today."

Syaoran patted her head affectionately.  "I can't see how you could forget such a thing.  By the way, your hair's all messed up.  Come here." He picked up her brush, and knelt down to her height.  As he softly brushed her hair into place, Hina looked into his face, thinking about the things she had heard.  Was it true? She had never looked at her papa in that light before.  Was there really some mysterious person out there whom he loved? Mother said Papa wasn't happy.  That he was lonely.  At that moment, she was strongly reminded of the story he had told her a few days ago.  Somehow, the wolf reminded her of Papa.  The wolf had been all lonely too.  She had felt sad for the wolf. 

Syaoran placed a clip in her soft, short hair.  "There." He smiled at her.  She was looking back at him in a way he had never seen before.  "What is it?"

Suddenly, Hina threw her little arms around his neck and hugged him.

"Wha--?" He stroked her back.  "Hina?"

"Oh Papa." He heard her say.  "I'm sorry if I ever make you feel bad.  I try to be a good girl, really."

Holding her at arm's length, he looked at her carefully.  "What makes you say that? You're the best girl in the entire world."

"Really?"

"Really."

Hina smiled.  "I love you, Papa." 

"I know." He gently squeezed her nose.  "I love you too.  Well, come on bunny, let's go."

"Okay!

After Syaoran had walked out the door, just before she left the room, Hina picked up Suzuno's portrait in her hands.  "Don't worry, mother.  I promise I'll do my best."

~*~*~*~

Hina yawned, leaning into the seat in the back of the car on the way home.  It had been so much fun enjoying all the different rides!  "Hee, Papa, I can't believe you don't like roller coasters."

Chuckling, Syaoran looked at her in the reflection of the rear-view mirror.  "I've never liked them all that much."

"But they're fun." Sleepily, Hina closed her eyes, hugging the giant pink stuffed bunny rabbit Papa had won for her in a game of toss.  The setting sun cast its warm light on her face.  Still with her eyes closed, she murmured.  "Papa, can I come to Japan with you?"

"Hina, we've already talked about this, remember?"

"I know.  But, I want to come with you."

"We'll see."

"WOW~!  A Mokona plushie!" Hina squealed, after tearing away the paper off a present.  The party with her friends had been nice.  Sitting on the floor, she held up the black and blue shaded box, gazing at the cute little creature-toy inside through the clear plastic window.  "Thanks Auntie Shiefa.  Magic Knight Rayearth is one of my favorite anime." Struggling with the flap of the box, she finally managed to open it and slid Mokona out.  Touching the red ruby on it's forehead she giggled.  "Puu.  Pu Puu."

Everyone in the room laughed.  "Really!" Fuutie exclaimed.  "She loves stuffed toys so much, it's a miracle she hasn't turned into one herself, Syaoran."

"She is just like one, actually." Syaoran replied.

A little later, everyone had gone into the garden.  Everyone except Hina, who lay sprawled on her stomach filling in a new coloring book.  The clock's gentle ticking was the only sound she could hear.  Raising her head, she looked at the door.  "Everyone's outside." She placed the purple crayon back down and stretched, standing up.  A mischievous smile came over her face.  "Time for secret-magical-girl-Hina to do something."

Tiptoeing up to her room, she looked under the table and fished out the photograph from early that morning.  She stared at the phone number on the back.  "I should call Daidouji-san right now.  What am I going to say? Hm, it's a good thing Auntie Fanren lives in Japan and I know how to call long distance.  Let's see." She picked up her handphone.  "Um.. can I call long distance with this?" She tilted her head to the side.  "I think so, but.. maybe it would be better if I used the house phone."

So heading back downstairs, Hina approached the phone, placed near the foot of the stairs.  She eyed the door warily, cautiously looking around to check that she was indeed alone.  Then taking a deep breath, she picked up the receiver.

Carefully dialing the number, she placed the receiver to her ear.  One ring.  Two rings.  Then, a female voice.

"We're sorry.  This number is no longer in service.  Please hang up and try again."

"Wha-wha- WHAT?!" She slammed the receiver down, breathing hard.  "Maybe I didn't dial the right number."  So she tried again.  One ring, two rings..

"We're sorry.  This number is no longer in service.  Please hang up and try again."

"No, that can't be." Crushed, Hina hid her face in her hands.  The only way to contact Daidouji-san was lost.  "It's been a long time since Mother wrote that phone number.  Of course it must've changed by now.  The address too.  What do I do now?" One more time, even though she knew it wouldn't work, she dialed the number once more.

"We're sorry.  This number is no longer in service.  Please hang up and try again."

"I am trying again!" Hina cried desperately.  "Why are they saying 'try again' 'try again' when the number doesn't even exist?" Throwing the receiver back down, she sank into the couch.  She really felt like crying.  Staring at the photo of Daidouji-san's smiling face, a crystal tear fell onto it.  Hina asked.  "How do I contact you now?"

Suddenly, the door opened.  Nearly jumping out of her skin, Hina quickly hid the photograph behind her back.  It was Syaoran. 

"Hina, what are you doing sitting here all by yourself? Don't you want to play with your cousins?"

She shook her head. 

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Syaoran sat down beside her and placed an arm around her shoulders.  "You've been really quiet all day."

"I, don't feel well." She said.  It was the truth, after all.  She didn't feel well at the moment.  Tilting herself, she placed her head on Syaoran's lap.  It was okay, he wouldn't see the photograph, because she was sitting on it.  What was she to do now? Her papa would have told her what to do, but it was a secret.  He couldn't know.  There was no one else to ask help from.

Syaoran felt her forehead.  "You don't have a fever.  Does your head hurt?"

"No.  "

Syaoran stroked her hair for a few moments.  "Come on, I'll take you up to bed."

~*~*~*~

"I know that name." Hina tossed around in her sleep, in the middle of the night.  "Daidouji.  I know that name from somewhere.  Somewhere.  Where?" She was having a strange dream.  The sky blue teddy bear she always slept with was waving at her.  Then, it leapt off the bed and started skipping around the room.  And there was her new Mokona plushie.  It too was waving its short arms at her.  Then, together, Teddy and Mokona came and sat down in her lap, motionless.  In her dream, Hina touched their soft fur.  "Where've I heard that name before?"

~*~*~*~

Morning of the next day… Monday..

"Ara, what happened, Hina?" Ieran asked when Hina came downstairs next morning.  Her amber-colored eyes, exactly the same shade as Syaoran's were burning with determination. 

"I'm not going to let anything stop me.  I'll definitely find another way, no matter what it takes." Hina murmured. 

"Huh?" Her grandmama blinked, all confused.

"But anyway," Hina's eyes clouded over with fear.  "I think my toys are haunted.  I had strange dreams where they were alive and running all around my room." Her lower lip trembled.  "Grandmama~ It was scary. Huaa."  She looked around.  "En? Papa's gone already?"

"Yes, he had to get to work early today.  He has to get ready for Thursday."

"Right, Papa's going to Tokyo on Thursday." I have to find another way before Thursday.  And I need to convince Papa to take me along.

Later that day, Hina gulped, and peeked over the banister.  Good.  Grandmama was busy with her sewing.  Papa was at work.  Wei was in the kitchen.  No one was upstairs except her. 

As quietly as she could, Hina walked down the hall, and reached for the doorknob.  Slowly, turning it, she pushed it open.  Her Papa's room lay still and quiet, everything neat and tidy.  Hina tiptoed inside and shut the door, leaning against it.  She felt terrible, snooping like this.  But she had an idea.  She had to find another way.

Listening intently for any sound from outside, Hina felt her heart pounding from fright.  She wasn't supposed to be in here.  So she had to get this over with as soon as possible.  Walking into the middle of the room, she looked around.  She knew her papa had an old briefcase where he kept some of his old papers and things.  Maybe… maybe there would be something in there.

Bending down, she slid open the door to a cabinet in the corner.  No, it wasn't that drawer.  Where was it? Trying the bottommost one near the floor, she slid it open.  Yes!  With her small hands, she tried heaving it out.  The briefcase slid out easily and fell with a loud *clunk* onto the floor.

Hina jumped a foot into the air from the sound.  Waiting with bated breath, she listened for any noise from downstairs.  None.  "I feel so bad doing this.  If anyone caught me, I'll be in trouble" Her heart pounded so hard, her chest felt like bursting.  Trying to keep her hands from shaking, she opened the catch and raised the lid.  It was full of files, papers, and other documents.  "Ooooh, how do I know what I'm looking for?" She rifled through the papers.  "This is no good, I don't understand what all this stuff is."  Then, nearing the bottom of the contents, between a green folder and a manila envelope, she came upon something.

"Ah!" It was a little black address book.  Picking it up, Hina looked at it.  Stamped with gold lettering on the cool leather of the cover, was a date of some twelve years back.  "This.  This might be helpful." Plopping on the ground, she opened it to the first page, and nearly shrieked with delight.  There, in the first entry, written in pink ink was the name Kinomoto Sakura.  And underneath that, two telephone numbers: one for a handphone, and another a housephone.  And below that, was an address.  The last letter in the address had a large pink smudge on it, and then a wavy line leading away from it, as though someone had shook the person who had been writing.  Below that, in another bolder writing, and a different colored ink, green this time, someone else had written:

WHY are you ruining my new address book?!

The pink ink wrote under that:  I'm not ruining it, I'm adding my name in.

Green ink: This book is in alphabetical order.  Your name belongs on the page which has a big 'K' on it, not here.

Pink: I can write my name wherever I want to, Li Syaoran.

Green:  What makes you think that?

Pink: Because I'm your friend and that means I can do whatever I want to.  I'll write my name on every single page in this book, just so you remember it.

Green: If you do that, you can be sure of not getting any help in today's math homework.

Pink: Baka Syaoran.

Green: Silly Sakura.

Pink: I hate you.

Green: I don't.

Pink:  Fine, I won't write in here any more. But I'm not going to talk to you either.

Green:  Fine.  The teacher just asked you a question, by the way.  Didn't you hear?

Hina turned the page of the book.  There was no more after that.  "Huh? I wonder what happened after this?" The rest of the book was filled with names and addresses of people she had never heard of before, written in blue or black ink.  Well, what she was looking for, she had found.

Taking out her handphone from her pocket, she looked at Kinomoto Sakura's handphone number.  Dialing it in, she placed the phone to her ear.  What she heard nearly made her scream in frustration.

"We're sorry.  This number is no longer in service.  Please hang up and try again."

Disgusted, Hina pressed the cancel button.  "I'm getting tired of this message over and over, over and over.  It's always the same thing." There was one more number to try: the house phone.  Scrunching up her eyes, Hina clasped her hands together.  "Please, please please.  Not the same message again."

Dialing the second number, Hina waited.  One ring.  Two rings.  THREE RINGS! 

"Hello?" a male voice.  "Kinomoto Touya, speaking."

Hina's eyes widened.  It had worked! "Ah, h-hello.  May I speak to Kinomoto Sakura, please?"

"Sorry, she's not in town at the moment."

"Oh, c-can you give me her number then so I can call her?"

"Who is this?"

"Oh, I'm.. I'm.. I need to ask her something.  Wait, is she in Japan?"

The voice at the other end laughed softly.  "Last time I checked, she was.  Now, who are you?"

Looked like this person wasn't going to give her Sakura's number.  Hina quickly asked, "Can you give me Daidouji Tomoyo's number?"

"Tomoyo's? Why? WHO IS THIS?!"

Hina jumped at the loud noise.  "No one!  I'm… I'm.. a telemarketer.  Do you want a bank card?"

Click.

"Awww.. he hung up." Hina sighed.  "So, at least Sakura-san is still in Japan.  But she's not in Tomoeda.  En, that's all I could find out! Noo. Um.." she dialed the number once more.

"Hello?" the same person answered

"Hello, please, can you tell me where Sakura-san is, PLEASE!"

Click.

"Waaaaaaah~"

~*~*~*~

Walking down the hall, after putting everything back where she had found it, Hina shook her head.  Well, after all that time trying to snoop around, she didn't learn anything new.  She still didn't know how to contact Daidouji-san OR Sakura-san.  "I still know that I've heard Daidouji-san's name before though.  I can't remember where." 

Opening her door, she let herself in her room.  Her eyes fell on her two toys she had dreamed about.  Turning purple, Hina edged closer to the door.  "Ne, are you guys haunted?"

Her toys stared back at her, remaining just the same as ever.

"Hah, what am I thinking? Of course they're not." Hina picked up her new Mokona plushie.  She hadn't even cut off the tag that was tied to its ear.  "I should do that now." Taking out a little pair of scissors from her desk, she straightened the wire-string fastening it to the toy and snipped it clean in the middle.  "There, now Mokona officially belongs to Li Hinata. Ha.. AW!"

Not believing her eyes, Hina straightened the tag.  There.  Clearly written on the little piece of soft cardboard, was an emblem, she knew well.  And under that, a label reading "Daidouji Toys."

"WAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIII~!" Hina threw her arms in the air.  "I found it, I found it!  See, I knew I remembered the name.  Daidouji Toys.  I bet it's the same person.  It has to be.  Oh!" She scrambled to her feet, and opened her closet door.  "Where'd it go? The box Mokona came in? Here!" Dragging the box out into the light, Hina started looking at every corner of it.  "Here it is! Here! Right here." Pointing her little finger at a corner, she looked at the fine print writing.  "Daidouji Toys.  And an address… in Tokyo!  This is where I have to look for her.  She'll help me, Mother said she would.  Tokyo."

~*~*~*~

"Papa, you're home!" Hina threw her ball into the air, and ran towards the car that had just stopped in the driveway.

"Hey, bunny." Syaoran got out and gave his daughter a hug.  "Playing all by yourself? Where are your friends?"

"They just went back home.  Ne, Papa, can I ask you something." She tagged after him as he headed inside.

"Sure."

"Remember, last time.  You said "We'll see." When I asked you about Japan.  So, did you think about it again?"

"Yes."

"And?" Hina eagerly asked, watching him take his shoes off.

"You'll be bored, Hina.  Not this time."

"En?! No!  Papa, I want to come.  Really!"

Syaoran shook his head.

"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease…" Hina tried to make the cutest, most innocent face she could muster.  "Papa, please Papa."

Syaoran sweatdropped and turned around to look at her.  "What are you up to? You can't possibly want to see Japan that much."

"I do.  Hina really wants to see Japan. Ne, ne, so can I come?"

"No."

After dinner…

"Can I please please come with you?" Hina poked her head over the back of the couch while Syaoran was typing something up in his notebook computer. 

"No, Hina." Syaoran replied, his eyes still on the screen.

Hina sighed in exasperation.  "Papa, you don't understand.  I have to come."

"What do you mean, you 'have to come?'" Finally, looking back at her, Syaoran pulled her up over the couch's back and sat her on his lap.  "Hina, listen, I'll only be gone for a few days.  I'll be back before you know it, all right?"

"But.. I.."

"You heard what I said Hina.  I am not taking you to Japan with me.  Trust me, you will be bored, and nothing else.  Please, try to understand." When she heard him give a heavy sigh, she looked up at his face.  He looked really tired.  What was she doing? She was bothering him again, when she had promised to be a good girl.  Hina knew her father.  Once his mind was made up, and he said no, he meant no.  There was nothing else to it.  He wouldn't take her no matter what she did. 

Leaning against the wall near the kitchen door, Hina looked at the small sheet of paper in her hand.  It was the Daidouji Toy Company's address in Tokyo.  But… what was she to do now? Looking over at her father's back, she wondered.  He wouldn't take her with him.  But, Hina had promised Mother.  That she would do her best.  She had to go to Tokyo.  She had to find Sakura.  She just had to, or else Papa would always be lonely. 

But how could she do all this, if Papa wouldn't even take her with him?

Suddenly, from the nearby open window, a strong gust of wind blew, causing the paper in her hand to flutter away across the floor.  "Ah." Hina went after it.  "Hee, I think it's so funny when things just fly away like that.  It's like the paper wanted to play tag with me and was saying 'come get me.' Haha."

She picked up the paper, and put it safely in her pocket.  Then she gasped, and her eyes widened.  "Come get me..  'Come get me', Papa."

~*~*~*~

"Pssst… Wei.  Wei, over here." Hina peeked from behind the kitchen counter.  Mother had said 'secret' after all.  So she couldn't let anyone else know.  But she needed Wei's help.

Wei looked around surreptitiously, playing along.  He bent down to her height.  "What is it, young mistress?" He whispered.

"Wei, I.. need to go to Tokyo."

"Tokyo?"

"Un.  There's something I have to do.  But—"

"Syaoran-sama isn't taking you with him, right?"

Hina nodded.  "I don't know what to do, Wei.  I have this place I have to go to.  See?" She held out the piece of paper.  Wei took it.

"Daidouji Toys? You're not looking for Tomoyo-sama, by any chance, are you?"

"En? You know her?"

Wei nodded.  "Yes.  She used to be a friend of Syaoran-sama's when he was younger.  Tomoyo-sama's mother was the CEO of this company long ago, and it was located in Tomoeda.  But a few years ago after she retired, the company moved to Tokyo."

"You.. know all this stuff?" Hina blinked.  She went through all that trouble!  She could just have asked Wei.  So that was why the phone number wasn't working anymore.

"Why do you want to see her, Hina-sama?"

"Oh, Wei.. Daidouji-san knows someone, and I have to ask her where that someone is."

"I see.  Is that someone… Sakura-sama?"

Hina's mouth dropped open in surprise.  "Wei… you know all these things.  How?"

"I just guessed.  Your mother must've asked you to find Sakura, am I right?"

"..Yes.  That's why, I need to go to Tokyo." Hina's eyes brimmed with tears.  "Wei, will you help me?"

"Of course.  It's about time someone went and did something.  Dear, dear, I would indeed like to see Sakura-sama again.  She was always popping in and out to see Syaoran-sama.  He was quite fond of her too.  Pity, pity.  But I'll help you, young mistress.  What do you have in mind?"

"Well, since Papa isn't taking me with him, I have to… sort of.. you know, leave on my own.  Find Sakura-san before Thursday, and then ask Papa to come get me."

~*~*~*~

Next morning… Tuesday..

"See you in the evening, Hina." Syaoran kissed her on the forehead before heading out the door.  Hina almost winced.  She wasn't going to be there in the evening.  She and Wei had it all planned out.  He had got her airplane tickets to Tokyo that morning on the 11:00 o'clock flight.  Finally, he had allowed her to go on her own, giving her a number of warnings and advice on what and what not to do while she was alone in such a big city.  As Wei had said, Hina needed to find Tomoyo as soon as possible.  Once she found her, she would be safe. 

"Bye, bye, Papa." Hina merrily waved goodbye.  "Don't worry too much about me." She added to herself.

She went to her room after that, and started filling her backpack with clothes and other random stuff she would need.  When she thought she had packed everything, she looked around once more, checking to see if she had forgotten anything.  "Ah!" Her eyes fell on the portrait of Suzuno.  "Mother, you can come with me." She carefully picked up the silver picture-frame and placed it between her clothes.  Zipping her bag shut, she swung it over her shoulders.

"Wei, I'm ready." She whispered, scampering into the kitchen. 

"All right.  I persuaded your grandmother to go visit your Auntie Shiefa for a few hours.  So she won't notice you leaving."

Hina smiled gratefully.  "Wei, you're really the best!  Is it time yet, to drop me off at the airport?"

Wei checked the large grandfather clock.  "Aa.  Come on, we better get going."

Tagging behind Wei, Hina lingered for a while longer near the front door, looking back inside her house.  The next time she came back, she would either have succeeded, or failed.  She was slightly frightened by going out on her own.  After all, she was only a six-year old girl, and had never been away from home before, without her Papa, let alone go to another country all by herself.  But she had a lot of responsibility on her small shoulders.  Her mother was counting on Hina.  And her Papa's happiness depended on how she performed.  It was all up to her. 

 "Ittekimasu." She said softly to the quiet living room, before turning around and walking to the car where Wei was waiting.

~*~-----To Be Continued-----~*~

Oh, Hina-chan, you're so brave! ;_; Fight! Ganbatte!  Kirei-neechan's best wishes are with you, you cannot lose!

Haha, well, chapter 4 is over.  Took me long enough to write, I dare say.  But it was fun, no? The good parts will be coming up soon, I guarentee.  Just bear with me for a while longer. 

A few notes.  The stuffed toy Hina received for her birthday, Mokona.  In case you didn't know, it's a cute little mascot thingy in the "Magic Knights Rayearth" anime.  It's all white except for a red shining ruby on its forehead, and long rabbit like ears.  Its so cute, and really really soft like a marshmallow!  Its kinda funny, how the main character Hikaru keeps running after Mokona with a knife and fork, wanting to eat it. ^-^;  And all he says is 'Puu'.  (Well, not in the new CLAMP manga, Tsubasa.  It can speak.)  It's the cutest thing.

Ahem, I'm going off track.  Anyway, the word Hina said at the end:  Ittekimasu.  I'm assuming most of my readers have watched at least some subtitled anime in its pure Japanese language.  O_o; Am I right? Well, literally, that word means "I'm leaving, and I will return safely." And a character says it when they're leaving home for school, work, etc.  Like Sakura, in the anime, always says it to her father when she's leaving for school.  Usually, if someone says "Ittekimasu" you have to return the greeting with "Itterasshai" which literally means "Go and return safely."  But there was no one around to say that to Hina-chan! *sob*  Anyway, there's your little Japanese lesson of the day, just in case you didn't know ^~

So, what do you think?  Do you like this story so far? *stares with big big pleading eyes of innocence*  Poor Hina.  Syaoran never decided to take her along after all, so she has to go by herself.  That's harsh.  Will Hina be able to locate Tomoyo? Will she have new troubles when she gets to Tokyo? Where is Sakura? Find out: next chapter! *raises fist energetically*    

And don't forget to review!  I'm still toying around with the rest of the plot, and I still need to find a really suitable ending.  (I have about three endings thought out, and I'm not too happy with any of them. Sigh).

Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing so far, or sent me emails.  I love feedback.  As usual, if you want to be alerted of when I update, leave your email address out. 

See you next chapter!

Ja ne!

Kirei Blossom~*~

Email: goldenapple99@yahoo.com