Hey everyone! Thank you so much for your reviews. That chapter was probably the most liked… I'm glad you guys liked it. Most of you wondered what I meant in the end for the next chapter preview… well the only thing I can say is… nothing… LoL you got to find out.

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Review of Last chapter

And Sakura knew what she was denying all along.

She didn't belong here.

They weren't her family all along.

She belonged out there, outside.

She belonged where she had left the night before.

She was happiest with him.

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"Don't worry about it. I have an announcement." Syaoran told them, making their head rise. And denying the pain in his heart, and all the regret he knew he would suffer, he forced out an excited voice.

"Gwen and I, we're getting married next month. You guys are going to have a new mother." And for the first time since they've returned, utter shock filled their faces.

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Chapter 12: Confrontation


Gwen stared out the large window in the master room; the sunset lighted the skies in a beautiful shower of gold, pink, yellow and orange. She gazed at the golden band around her finger, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips again. Incrusted in diamonds, the ring glimmered in all its glory on her finger and underneath the lowering sun. Oh how long she had waited for this ring to be on her finger. Ever since she had first seen him when he was 9, he was destined to be hers. He, a 9 year old, whom had just lost his father, was enticingly handsome. With his messy chestnut hair and his blazing hazelnut eyes, he was one of the best creatures god had ever created.

And she, with her long golden mane, tinted cherry lips, glassy, crystal eyes and features of a model, she was automatically one of the chosen ones that would soon be wed to him. How she remembered his first visit to her in Japan, after his mother and him had visited that church…

Flash back

4-years old Gweneth was skipping down the hallway. In her tiny little skirt that flowed around her, she looked like an angel without wings. Today, her parents told her that one of their best friends was coming with her son. Never having a boy in the house, she was excited. Then, she head voices in the front door.

"Mother that was just a friend, why can't you just understand?" a nine year old boy complained to his mother.

"Xiao Lang, you know very well why. We just want to protect you." His mother replied him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You know how special you are."

"No!" the boy cried, ripping his mother's hand away from his shoulder, "You're wrong! You don't want me to have any friends. I'm not special. I'm different, I've been different all my life, and I don't want to be different any more!" and he rushed off, leaving his mother in tears. Gweneth stood watching, wondering how the boy dared to speak against his mother like that. His mother obviously cared about him a lot; her mom had always said she was special. What was so bad about that? Too caught up in her thinking, she didn't realize the boy had come in front of her until she had bumped into him.

"Oaf!" she squeaked, falling to the ground.

"Oh… I'm sorry." A lower voice said. She saw a hand extend and she grabbed it, pulling herself up.

"It's ok…" she said quietly, "hey… aren't you that… boy at the door?" she questioned, looking at him. The boy stayed silent. Being 4, Gweneth had the looks of a fully grown adult. Smooth complexion, beautiful eyes, with a beautiful face to match it. If she thought she was beautiful, then there would only be one word to describe the boy that was 5 years older than her, handsome.

True, she may only be a child, but being in a rich family, and heir to the Hilton fortune, she had attended many balls (though only in the child ballroom), but even still, she was the first little girl to have enter the dining room, and everyone had complemented her on how beautiful and cute she was, and that's the way she grew up. Adults praising her everyday of her life.


"Who are you?" Syaoran asked coldly. Ignoring his tone, Gweneth soon found her cheeks shaded in tints of red.

"I'm Gweneth Hilton. I live here." She said proudly. Syaoran didn't say anything, didn't say hi, didn't say sorry, didn't say how beautiful or cute she was, like all adults did. What he did do was shrug his shoulder, and left her standing alone, in the corridor.


End of Flash back


Even now she could remember every single detail, his cold face, his furious eyes, and his amazingly messy amber hair. Here she was now, 25 years later, in the Li Mansion, and she was going to be Mrs. Li Xiao Lang in just one month. As hard as she tried to convince herself that she was in this because of her parent's arrangement, she knew she was wrong. She had fallen for him, truly, really, fallen for the amber eyes stranger. She had fallen for his looks, his emotions, the way he hid them. She wouldn't care of he didn't have any money, and was just a normal person; she would marry him as soon as he asked. That's why she got so jealous whenever that Sakura woman approached him. The way he looked at her, never had he looked at her like that. To him, she was just another person, another stranger passing by. But Sakura, she was everything. She was his everything, and vice versa. She could tell. So she did the only thing she could think of to make Syaoran realize it was her that was meant to be. She separated the two, and it worked like a beauty. No sooner had she left, Syaoran had suggested to her-cold tone or not- that they were to be wedded a month later.

At first, she had been happy; her mood couldn't be faltered even by the slightest bit. But as time progressed, she could see the difference from the man that had asked her to engage to him, than the man that had told her yesterday their wedding was next month. There was no hint of happiness in his voice, his eyes. Instead, a cold void was placed in it; his tone was never gentle towards her anymore. She barely saw him around his own house. He would always shut himself in his office alone, and whenever she had tried to enter, she was rudely pushed out. She knew he was wasting away.

"Stupid Syaoran, can't you see that I love you? Why can't you just forget about her, it was so easy for you to forget about me when she was around." She whispered silently. She loved him so much it hurts. For once, ever since she had suitors lining up for her, she felt pain, the drift of pain that happens when you love someone so much you would do anything for them, anything.

"As long as you're happy, I'm happy. Even if you're happy without me." She declared. The sheet she had been grasping all along was released from her grip; it floated gently upon the carpeted floor. When it fell down to the floor, a single tear drop fell down on it, making the sheet of paper wet, smudging the first few words of the sheet.

"I, Gweneth Hilton, will cherish Li Xiao Lang with all my heart. For better or for worse, for health of sickness, through richer and poorer. We will be together, until death do us part."

Underneath it, the signature of the bride was missing. Her name from the paragraph was hastily scratched out; in its place was the following name:

Kinomoto Nadeshiko Sakura


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Sakura stood upon the hill, in front of the old oak tree where she had first met Syaoran. The wind caressed her hair as it gently swayed. For the first time since she was 5, it was freed from the hand band she usually kept it in, or from the barrette she used. Instead, a crown of dried up daisy laid upon her auburn head, its white, dried petals slowly falling off and drifting away with the wind. Her ginger fingers traced every ancient line on the tree, a tingle of her power occasional spreading out and seeped into the tree.

She felt as though she could feel the presence of Syaoran there. Her Syaoran the 9 year old boy that was shy when he had seen her. Silent tears rolled down her face as she thought back of the last time she had seen him. He was in a handsome tux, jet black that matched against his fiery amber eyes. How she loved those eyes. She didn't think there would be anyone else in the world that could possess those eyes the way he did. No one could have the grace, the courage, and the strength in those eyes the way he did, the light, the shimmer, the glow. It was then that she realized how deep she had truly fallen.

"And even if I can never be with you, you can always know you'll always have me, someone who cares for you. There will always be memories." Sakura whispered softly to the tree, as if just by doing so, Syaoran would be able to hear her. She gazed out into the world she no longer hid from. She looked back at the church she no longer belonged to. Sucking in a deep breath, she lifted her suitcase, her eyes trained ahead, steadily walking further, and further away from the shelter from her life.

"Always look forwards… never look back."

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The 10 children all stayed outside. Ever since their father had told them he was going to marry that… person, they could no longer stand to be in the same house as her. The only good thing was that Hitomi and Ying were both over at a friend's house for a sleep over party. Sora and Alex were at a soccer tournament, and the triplets were away on an over night field trip, leaving Carina, Xiao Chen and Alana.

Xiao Chen pounded his forehead against the base of his hand, his eyes shut tight. His amber hair, which resembled so much like his father, buried his eyes as it fell against his face. Carina stood across from him; her raven hair fell around her face, her red highlights slowly fading underneath the afternoon sun. Her amber eyes glistened in the sun, her pale face seemed to have reflected the sunlight.

Both siblings seemed to have been thinking the same thing: How could their father betray them like so. Can't he see how much they hated that woman, can't he tell that the only woman they need right now was the one that had left them?

Alana sat on the steps from the front of the house, watching her oldest brother and sister. Never had she heard such silence between them. Tension was thick you'd need a knife to cut through it. Both their eyes were covered by their fallen hair, but she knew they were anything but sleeping. She knew Carina hadn't been able to sleep since the night Father had told them about his decision. At night she could hear her get up and down, and move around her bed, unable to sleep. She knew by the end of the night, Carina would be staring at the opposite side of the wall in her room, blankly trying to accept the fact that the woman everyone hated so much was to be their mother.

Xiao Chen, he was never the same. He had given up his humorous self. His eyes had changed from the laughing brown, to a sense of seriousness. He was slowly resembling more and more of their Father. The two was hit the hardest, they were old enough to have had memories of their real mother, and even though they were not as stubborn as Alana, they just couldn't believe it that their father would betray them like so.

The only person, Alana knew, that could cure them was Sakura, and letter or no letter, the chances of her coming back to them was slim.

"'Lana? What are you doing here?" Syaoran said from behind her. Alana turned around, and smiled sadly.

"Hello Father." She said politely. Syaoran crouched down besides her, sitting next to her. "How come you're out here?" she asked. Syaoran shrugged,

"I guess I needed some fresh air. Being stuffed inside an office with 4 walls as your only company can be a bore." He said casually, careful not to stray onto dangerous territory. He gazed at the flowers that were carefully planted in his front yard. His face tugged at a smile, remembering how Sakura used to love those flowers. She would stand outside for hours on her knees, watering, re-soiling, and pulling out weeds. Countless times he had told her she had the power of earth for a reason, or that he offered to use his power to help water them, but every time she would reply with the same, stubborn answer.

"You know, the whole point of the element earth is the control of all plants. I don't understand why you can't just take care of it with one sweep of your hand." Syaoran said one sunny day. He was outside with Sakura, whom was wearing a white t-shirt underneath denim overalls. Her hair was tied into her normal pony tail and her face glistened with sweat.

"You just don't understand Syaoran," Sakura had replied in a breathless voice, "things come out much more beautiful when you put your heart into it, if you do every step yourself. If I do what you say, there's really no point in gardening, and where's the fun in that?"

He had to suppress a chuckle. She always had to do things the hard way. Do things yourself, or don't do it at all, that's what she always said to him. It seemed contagious because now, instead of having his employees do calls, he would personally call them himself, whether for something big or small. He placed his whole self into his work. He came out here, hoping to escape himself from thinking about her too much. But it seemed as though everytime he saw something, there would always be something that related to her. A couple of maids passed his sight as they bowed their head softly as they passed.

"You know your house is too dull." Sakura complained on day. "If it's not navy then it's white. It's very boring. It makes everything old."

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"I had to get them the dress Syaoran. Everything I see here is black and white." Sakura stated, shooting him an accusing glance.

It seems like where ever he went; there would be things that could remind him of her. Its like he can never forget her, she was forever embedded in his mind… and he wouldn't have it any other way.

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Sakura carried her bag up the familiar road. Soon a lake came into view. She couldn't help but smile at the memories it brought…

"Ack!" she screamed, feeling the cold water wash over her. Her head popped back up to the surface of the water, her head bobbing up and down, her lungs gasping for breath. Syaoran came up beside her.

"It is kind of cold isn't it?" he laughed, seeing her shiver…

Sakura bit back a laugh. How she had wanted to slap him right there and then for his idiocy. Even now it seemed so far away. Everything here, it brought back memories of him, it would all relate to him, and coming back would have to make her admit that he was no longer hers, that he belonged to another, and she would just have to deal.

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Alana stared at her father for a while, it seemed as though he had zoned out. A smile was tugging at his lips, what ever he was thinking; it must have been something about Gwen. She had never seen her father smile like this, so happy, so… blissful.

"Father, what are you thinking about?" Alana asked, the father and daughter unaware of the gate creaking open, the surprise and happy gasping of the other two siblings.

"I was thinking I use to have a friend, a really good friend. She always said I had a bad taste of fashion. She said the outfit I picked out for my employees were too…"

"…dull and boring, and I still stay by my statement." A voice completed for him filled with amusement.

Was she dreaming? Please tell her she wasn't. Alana squealed, launching herself at Sakura, into her embrace. The comfortable warmth she had used to feel from her mother radiated from Sakura now.

"You're back, you're really back!" Alana cried happily, hugging her tightly. Sakura soothed out her hair, brushing it gently,

"I'm back… really." Sakura assured. Syaoran continued to stare speechlessly. She hadn't changed a lot. She was still the same kind, gentle, beautiful person that had left a few weeks ago, a few weeks that felt like eternity. Alana beamed, looking down at her father seeing his eyes widened. She giggled,

"Father, it's rude to stare." She teased happily. Syaoran sent his daughter a brief smirk, standing up.

"Sakura." He said formally. Sakura nodded,

"Hello Syaoran. It's nice to see you again." She said softly. Syaoran held the urge to hug her, to run his finger down her silky auburn strands that were left untied.

"You came back." He stated. Sakura nodded. "But in your letter…" he didn't want to get too detailed on that subject.

"About that letter, I was upset. I was wondering, even if you are getting married- congratulations by the way- if I could have my job back. I understand if you would refuse but if you could…"

"By all means, you can have it back. I have a feeling I may be busy." Syaoran said quickly, making sure that the chance won't slip away. Sakura smiled gratefully.

"Thank you." She said softly.

"Miss Kinomoto!" a voice called from the front door. Gwen stood there. She couldn't believe it. Maybe it was destined that the one returning was the one that was meant to stay.

"Miss Hilton." Sakura greeted, "congratulations." Gwen smiled softly, somehow the malice and anger she had felt towards the auburn woman had vanished.

"Thank you. I'm very glad you came back. I could use someone with a good sense of style, remembering the dress you wore last time." Gwen commented. Sakura winced involuntarily, remembering the encounter nights prior.

"Yes, I would be honoured." Sakura said quietly, carefully leading away from the pained topic.

"Ahhem… well now that we've been all re-introduced, I remember I had come out to call you all for dinner." Syaoran stated smiling, somehow the sorrow he had felt was gone, instead was replaced with a warm feeling in his heart. The piece that was missing was slowly returning and in time, it would be mended seamlessly.

Dinner had never been so active. Happy that Sakura was now back, Hitomi, Ying, Sora, Alex, Kari, Tenchi and Yang were all back from their excursion to come home to celebrate. The children were all so glad they talked non stop, always asking Sakura why she left, why she wouldn't see them and why she didn't tell them. Sakura would just smile warmly, telling them that she had stuff to do in the church that she was back now and she won't be leaving. She had a feeling that neither herself nor Syaoran would like a reminder of the night before. After dinner, Tomoyo had shooed all of them out of the kitchen, telling them that if they even dare step foot in the kitchen she will scream so loudly they would never hear again. Even Syaoran could not defend himself up against an angry Tomoyo.

Standing on the balcony connected to the moon, he had a chance to fully appreciate the moonlight that shone upon his property and the lake. This time he saw how beautiful life really was, nature was amazing, the way how it could just turn something so simple like land, and make it into one of the best places in the world. The weeping willows swept their long branches against the floor, the rustle of fallen leaves filled his ears, and the soft, fresh smell of grass filled his nostrils. A solitary figure entered his sight, making the sight more beautiful for his liking. Sakura strolled down the steps, stopping to look up upon the glittering moon, like he had. Her whole small body was bathed in the silvery light of the moon; her smooth skin reflected the light back as if the world's stage lights focused on her.

"Xiao Lang?" a soft voice called from behind him. For a short moment, he thought the voice was Sakura's, so soft, so gentle. But as he turned around, he saw Gwen standing in front of him.

Gwen saw the excitement in his eyes falter into a sense of disappointment and let down. Though hear heart wrenched in pain, she forced out a smile, knowing that how she just called his name reminding him of Sakura.

"Do you need something Gwen?" he muttered, his face looking at the star filled skies again.

"Yes, I've got the contract here." Gwen said softly, her heart telling her it was the right thing to do; her mind telling her this was her last chance to change everything. This was the man she had wanted to be with. Ever since she was little, she had wanted a family, a family where she could have a husband and children to love, and the husband would love her back, as much as she loved him. But seeing the situation, she knew this would never happen. As much as she loved him, she knew he could never give up the feelings he had for Sakura. And she knew Sakura couldn't either.

Syaoran stayed silent, the contract he had given her was the paper that was going to seal his fate. Once he had signed it as well, there would be no turning back, Gwen would be his wife, and Sakura would only be his employee. Only… Gwen came up beside him.

"Nature is such a beautiful thing." Gwen said softly, her blue eyes gazing out as well, following the tiny figure. "It can turn the world's ugliest creature, and bathe it in its heavenly glow." Gwen looked at Syaoran, tears stinging her eyes knowing it would be the last time she could see him in his most tranquil state. "Xiao Lang… I believe in soul mates, don't you?" no answer, she continued, "I believe that each and every one of us in the world has a partner, the perfect one for them. We may get lost once in a while, but eventually we'll find them. Syaoran, the perfect woman is out there for you, in fact, she just downstairs, in front of you. If you truly love her, go after her. Don't hold back." Gwen whispered softly, taking his hand and placing the sheet of paper on it. Syaoran took a glance at it, she saw her name being crossed out, replaced by another.

"Gwen, what…" he asked shocked. He looked up at her, Gwen fought back her tears.

"Xiao Lang, you need someone who loves you for you, and you need someone whom you love with all your heart." Gwen told him, trying to keep her voice straight, "I, I need someone who needs me for… for my money… who makes me feel… useful. I'm not that person Xiao Lang." she lied between her teeth. With every word her heart beat painfully. Moving in, she brushed her lips against his cheeks, relishing the feel against her lips, remembering this exact seen in her mind. "I wish you happiness." She whispered, before walking away from him, tears rolling down her face, her head straight, she walked out proudly. Gweneth Hilton stood at the front door of the Li Mansion, then, with one last glance, she walked out of the lives of the Li Children and the Master.

Syaoran stood glazed for minutes, staring down at the sheet on his hand. Was it true then? He was truly in love. The roaring fire inside him whenever Sakura was near him, the warmth in his cheeks, the way her face looked, her amazing looks, charming personality… he ran out the door, and out into the open.

He needed to find her.

Sakura sat at the patio, gazing into the skies where the light of the moon lit it up to a dark midnight blue. She sighed, now that she had no where to go, she had chosen to stay here. She had chosen to accept herself, who she is, what she is. A glow of white fire came in front of her sight, formed in a heart shape, totally unprotected, without a home, a shelter. Perhaps it would always stay that way.

"Yes… a heart with no protection, no home, no love." She whispered. A barrier of pure water started to surround her fiery heart. The water didn't extinguish it, it didn't make it bigger, it didn't make it smaller, in fact, and it made it better. The pure white now shone with such radiance it could be a match for the moon.

"A heart with no protection won't last long. Especially one as fiery as that one." A voice said behind her, the person who had made the barrier. Sakura turned out, seeing Syaoran standing by the door frame, apparently out of breath from the messiness of his hair.

"Syaoran…?" Sakura called out. The moonlight filtered through the windows, lighting up the distance between them. Syaoran sucked in breath sharply, seeing the light shine on her pale complexion, her womanly curves, her perfect curves, her tiny body, her perfect face. She was an angel, an angel sent from hell, brought to bring him down with her. If it was so then he would go willingly, only to be with her. Hell and back, to the ends of the earth, and further.

Sakura had never seen such a handsome face; perfect posture, amazingly handsome face, chestnut hair that matched him like a puzzle, the fiery, determined amber eyes that caught her in its cage. The moonlight only made his eyes glow even more fiercely, like the glowing eyes of wolves, strong, beautiful, determined wolves. Syaoran decreased their distance away from one another, until he was directly in front of her; the only thing that separated them was the fiery heart Sakura had created trying to fiercely get out of the strong watery cage Syaoran had made.

"A protection that all ready has a duty is easily broken." Sakura returned his comment.

"A barrier that places all its energy, its soul into protecting that one single heart will never break, and will only increase in strength only to see it be safe every single day." Syaoran returned full of emotion. Sakura choked on her tears.

"But a heart that is all ready broken can never mend." She ended tearfully. She didn't want to see him, not when she was like this. Why, time and time again did he always do this to her? Why does he make her feel so special, like she was the world's most special person? Why can he make her float up to heaven when she was still alive, and experience feelings she loved so much, yet pushed away? Why?

Syaoran reached out, grabbed her arms and pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms protectively around her. He strokes her long, silky strands, his head resting on her shoulder.

"Why, Syaoran?" Sakura cried helplessly in his arms. "Why must you do this to me? Why can't you just let me remember you in peace?" Syaoran tightened his grip,

"Because I won't let you live on like this when I know I can make it better." Syaoran replied in full force. Sakura shook her head, pushing, trying to get out of his arms. Her fisted landed on his chest; she looked up with watery emerald eyes that made his throat tighten.

"You can't make it better. You're all ready engaged, and to be married. Yet you continue to come back as if everything is normal. Everything's changed, it's different, and you belong to another person now." Sakura said softly, looking down. Syaoran's anger started to boil.

"What do you mean? Why are you so stubborn?" Syaoran exclaimed angrily. Sakura looked up sharply from his exploding voice. Throwing caution to the wind, he lowered himself to her level, and in a split second his lips were on hers. Sakura gave a huge intake in breath, her eyes wide with shock. She knew she shouldn't be doing this, she knew he belonged to another. But she couldn't help but admit that this feeling felt natural, that it was supposed to happen. Syaoran nibbled slightly at her bottom lip, making her gasp, and sending out her involuntary invitation. Syaoran tongue slid into her mouth, his right hand rested on her head, slowly running his hand down the path of her hair, twisting the strands between her fingers, brushing past her neck sending shivers down her spine. His left hand was wrapped protectively around her waist, preventing her to move away.

She shivered, not from the coldness, but from the hotness he was making. She started kissing back at him, her small right hand lost in the messy jungle of his chestnut hair, left hand wrapped around his neck. Her body wreathed with pleasure at the tingles he sent down her body. Soon they parted as their lungs screamed for air. Sakura was breathless. She had never felt such sensations coursing through her system. She closed her eyes, searching for it in her body, trying to feel it. She placed her head against Syaoran's forehead, her arms never leaving his neck, his arms never left her waist.

"Whenever I get close to letting you go, you somehow pull me back again." She whispered to him, her heart beating wildly.

"Yea, I'm good like that." He joked, his hand playing with her hair. She breathed deeply, closing her eyes.

"Oh lord I don't think I can get out of this one." Sakura mumbled. Syaoran chuckled, drawing her closer.

"I don't think I want you to." He whispered into her ears, sending more shivers down. "I love you Sakura, I think I've always have." Sakura took a sharp intake. Her eyes opened, facing his amber ones. The emeralds he held so much love for filled with tears,

"I love you Xiao Lang. I Love you so much you have no idea how much it hurts." She whispered back, a few tears letting loose. Syaoran brought his hand to her cheeks, his thumbs gently wiping away the tears, kissing away the rest of it.

"Let me share it with you then." Syaoran whispered softly, pleading her with his eyes. Sakura shook her head,

"No Syaoran, its wrong. You're going to be married. The fact that we did what we just did already was wrong." Sakura told her regretfully.

"No, not anymore." He told her happily. He took the wedding contract and shredded it into pieces, Sakura's eyes followed as the pieces got blew away from the wind. Sakura looked at him, caught between happiness and shock. She decided that she would go with happiness. Squealing, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, hugging him. Syaoran returned it. Pulling her away, he lowered himself again, kissing her gently, before it was a show of frenzied, raw emotion. Now, it was gentle, like the caress of the wind.

"I love you Syaoran, don't ever leave me. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth if I have to." Sakura whispered through her tears once they parted, she felt his gentle kisses on the top of her head, his lips lingered there. Sakura closed her eyes peacefully,

"Never."
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A/N: Wow… it took me 12 chapters to get S+S together. Ha, Ha, I hope you liked it. A lot of S+S fluff here. I loved this chapter, totally made up for all the bad stuff I made happens, right? –He, he- Well I'll try to update fast after this one, please review!

Next Chapter: Sakura and Syaoran find a way to break out the news about them to the children, and an unexpected letter turns everything upside down.