Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, Clamp does. But I do own this story.

Chapter Thirteen

"Beyond Expectations"

"You have got to be kidding me!" Erika exclaimed, exasperated.

Shoulders drooped, she frowned at her cell and threw it over to her bed before letting herself fall beside it.

She's been contacting every possible person she knew in the business for the last three days, heavily hinting and even sometimes openly asking if they have a job offer for Syaoran after he finishes his current project here in Japan.

"Honestly! How hard is it to get an acting job anyway? Hundreds of movies are made yearly and not one outside Japan is willing to take Syaoran?" she muttered to herself, still furious. So far, the only luck she had of getting Syaoran hired anytime soon is another project here in Japan, which is exactly what she's trying to avoid. She has to find another job for him outside the country before he gets offered another one here but most of those she had contacted are either too cheap to hire him, or find that he deserves to at least rest up first after so much box office hits he's had lately.

"Bravo! Yes, yes, yes! What a wonderful voice!"

Sakura blushed at the compliment but beamed up at the man all the same.

"Thank you Mr.-"

"Please my dear, I told you to just all me Genji," he reminded her with a wave of his hand.

"Didn't I tell you it was worth the trip back to Japan, Genji?" another man said as he came into the recording room Sakura was still situated in with a few people, who had played the instruments to the song, behind her.

With a wide and an almost excited look on his face, Genji nodded. "Indeed you did and I don't regret it one bit!" he announced before turning back to Sakura. "My dear, a few more songs and we'll be ready to release a whole album with your name embossed in large gold lettering in the front! I don't know why you've kept this talent of yours under wraps for so long."

Sakura smiled a little. "I've had more important matters to attend to," she explained vaguely yet honestly.

"Understandable of course," he said with a nod and a face that looked like her response actually explained it all.

"Now Sakura," said Mr. Hama, cutting in. "We'll just have one more take on that last song. And we'll be taking a video of you singing as well. You wouldn't know when video footage might come in handy in the future."

"Now, now, Denjiro," Genji said, looking over to the owner of the recording studio and his long time friend. "Do you really think that's necessary? I mean, it's too early for that, isn't it?" he asked, not really knowing much on the music industry himself.

"Who knows," Denjiro replied with a shrug before giving a nod at Sakura and the band before taking his leave with Genji following after him.

"Thank you Hiro-san," Syaoran said genuinely with a slight bow of his head.

"No, no, Li. Thank you! You've done a fabulous job lately. I'm beginning to think we're actually underpaying you! This movie might only be open to theaters nationwide for now but I'm sure it'll reach the sights of international viewers soon enough when they find out you're in it!" he said in a sure tone and a jolly laugh.

Syaoran grinned at him one last time before taking his leave.

"Mr. Li," a crew man greeted with a nod as he passed by.

He couldn't help the pleased look on his face as he took out his cell.

"Hello? What is it Syaoran?"

"Erika! Where are you? Did you leave without me?" he asked though not at all minding if she actually did.

"Yes, sorry. I wasn't feeling very good in the studio earlier. I'm back in the hotel. What's up? Are you done for the day?"

"Well, I just spoke to Hiro-san. And yes, I'm done! Not just for the day but all my scenes are shot and my character's wrapped up for the movie!"

"W-What?"

Syaoran's grin widened hearing his manager's startled voice.

"Surprised? I am too, but Hiro-san had one scene taken out due to time conflicts so I'm done! They're still shooting now but it's just the rest of the scenes needed of the supporting cast. He's pretty happy with the footage taken earlier and he says he's confident re-shoots aren't a possibility at this point," he informed her as he nodded at Joe before getting into the backseat of his car. "I wanted us to celebrate but since you're not feeling well, you better get some rest instead."

"Oh, but I'm fine now. I mean, I've been resting up and-"

"It's okay, really. I have somewhere to go for a while anyway. So, you rest up. I'll be back later. Just order what you want in room service for now," he said and without another word, closed his cell.

"Where to Syaoran?" Joe asked, looking at him through the rear-view mirror.

Syaoran considered him for awhile. No one but himself ever knew about his visits to Sakura's. But Joe did know about the twins already. So it wouldn't hurt to trust his bodyguard further. How would it hurt?

"Get into the freeway Joe, I'll give you precise directions from there," he instructed. "I have to get a couple of things first and then I have a few people to visit while I'm still here."

As he said that, it was only then that Syaoran fully understood the meaning to his words. He was done filming in Tokyo, he was done filming in Japan. He would have to leave as soon as possible if he gets another job offer. Of course he would have to come back for the movie premiere, but other than that, he can't stay if he does get another job in some other part of the world.

He has to tell the kids. He's been avoiding telling them for the past weeks when he found out filming was coming to an end. But now that it actually has finished, he has to tell them. He has to tell them he'll be leaving soon. And he has to tell them that he's their father.

Before that though, he has to speak to Sakura, which he hasn't done for the past four days. They have to talk it through together first before he can talk to the kids.

Syaoran unconsciously touched his lips with his index finger.

"Sakura," he said under his breath.

"Syaoran?"

His head snapped up to Joe who was still looking at him.

"Nothing," he muttered before settling into his seat.

"I told you I'm perfectly fine," Mei Hua told her mother, grinning.

Sakura beamed at her and nodded. "You know I worry too much."

"Indeed you do," Shizuki agreed as he swiveled lightly on his chair in his office. "Mei Hua's never been better in my opinion, and my colleagues agree as well."

They were back in the hospital, having just letting Mei Hua's doctors check her. It has been months since Mei Hua's last check-up that Sakura felt slightly uneasy. She was so used to having Mei Hua checked so often, that not going to the hospital seemed to unnerve her. Shizuki of course hadn't minded. It's been a while since he saw the family and his colleagues were only too keen in seeing Mei Hua and see for themselves that she indeed has gotten far better than she had ever been.

"Where are the boys anyway?"

"They insisted on exploring around outside. I have Mona watching them," she said, earning her an amused look from him. "Don't worry, I told them to stay within the ground floor only. I can't risk them meeting patients and catching something upstairs." This earned her another amused look from Shizuki. "Okay, I can't risk the patients meeting or even seeing them," she amended with a little laugh.

"Oh boys! I'm getting too old for this!" Mona said rather exasperatedly, bending herself down and settling her hands on her knees.

Xiao Tian and Xiao Hai stopped in their tracks a few meters in front of her, identical grins on their faces.

"Really, Mona…"

"…you can just sit over there."

They both pointed to the chairs not far from where they stood.

"We'll just go to the front counter…"

"…we want to talk to the nurses again."

Mona clicked her tongue at them. "You can't disturb the staff boys. They're working."

"We won't be disturbing them, honest!"

"We just want to see them doing their job."

Both held their breaths, watching their nanny consider this.

"Oh alright then," she agreed with a sigh. "I'll be sitting right here, so I'll be able to see your every move. Make sure not to make too much noise."

"Come in!" Shizuki called out.

Sakura and Mei Hua followed his gaze to his office door as a nurse poked her head inside.

"Excuse me Shizuki-san," the nurse said, bowing her head and looking apologetic. "I was wondering if I could have a word in private? It's rather…important."

Shizuki's brows furrowed at this.

"I suppose it's time for us to leave anyway, we took too much of your time as it is Shizuki," Sakura said, standing up from her seat.

"Oh no!" The three turned to the nurse at her exclamation. "It really won't take long."

Shizuki nodded at her then turned to Sakura and Mei Hua. "Excuse me for a while ladies. I'll be right back shortly."

The nurse nodded at Sakura and Mei Hua and waited for Shizuki to join her outside.

"What is it?" he asked in a low voice, closing the door shut behind him.

"It's Sakura-san's kids," she informed him quickly. "Xiao Tian and Xia Hai are in the Information Counter right now. They've been asking questions."

"What do you mean?" He couldn't find anything wrong with this so the look of worry on the nurse's face was somewhat surprising to him.

Lowering her voice even further, the nurse leaned in slightly. "They've been asking a lot of questions about their father."

Realization dawned on Shizuki at the mention of the supposedly lost parent. Besides himself and the team working on Mei Hua's case, a handful of other staff members in the hospital have become aware of the nature of Syaoran's position with the family, all of whom he had personally told to keep under wraps from anyone outside of the administration and especially from the triplets.

"I'll handle it," he said, scratching the back of his head as he made his way towards the front entrance of the hospital.

"Ready?" Joe asked, making Syaoran nod.

"The house isn't far from here," he said as he removed his cap and sunglasses which he had worn inside the mall. "Drive to the convenience store I went to buy ice cream by the studio those months ago. It's in a neighboring area."

"Boys?" Shizuki asked, looking at Xiao Tian and Xiao Hai curiously as both tried to communicate with the other through their eyes. It was clear at this point that something was occupying their minds.

They hadn't said anything but nodded to each other after a while before looking over at Shizuki. The three were seated inside an empty office of one of the doctors just beside Shizuki's which was where Sakura and Mei Hua were still waiting in.

"The nurse told me you've been asking a few things to the nurses over at the Information Counter up front," he started slowly, making them nod at this. "Any reason why you're doing so?"

"Shizuki," Xiao Tian started, looking serious. "Do you know where our father is?"

Shizuki was startled at this. He expected the boys to ask about their father but not as direct as this.

"Why do you ask?"

"We're just curious," Xiao Hai answered. "We've been wondering for a while. We want to ask someone other than our mom or Mona."

"We figured they might not tell us even if we try asking them."

"And what makes you think I would tell you?" he questioned them, amused.

The boys shrugged. "We're just hoping you would," they replied simultaneously.

"We heard someone talking," Xiao Tian started, before telling him everything he overheard from Erika. After he finished, Xiao Hai also told him about seeing Syaoran and Sakura kissing outside their house.

When they finished, Shizuki was even more amused.

"And after all that, you decided you want to know where your father is?"

They both nodded.

Shizuki considered this for a while. He didn't have the right to tell the boys anything. It was Sakura's right to tell them, or Syaoran's. They were both the parents after all. He wouldn't have minded telling the boys himself. He knew they could handle it. Mei Hua on the other hand, he wasn't so sure. Though, if she found out through the boys, maybe it would be okay. But the issue is still that he didn't have the right to tell them the truth himself.

"Shizuki?" the boys said, cutting off his mental deliberation whether to tell them or not.

"Sorry," he muttered with a sigh. "Look boys, I-"

"We know you know," Xiao Hai pointed out with a frown.

"Mom won't be angry with you if you told us. We want to know."

"We won't be angry with her if you're the one who tells us either."

"If you won't tell us, we'll just ask other nurses and doctors about it."

"We're sure someone would be willing to tell us."

This made it all the more harder for Shizuki. Should he tell them? Or should he not?

"How about this," he finally said, coming up with a decision. "I won't tell you," he started, making the boys frown and their shoulders sag. "But," they perked up at this. "I'll tell you something about your father. And it's up to you to figure it out or to finally ask your mother for answers. I don't want you going around the hospital asking the nurses for information. Okay?"

Xiao Tian and Xiao Hai didn't expect that but accepted with a nod.

With a deep sigh, Shizuki looked at them both critically.

"Your question about where your father is, is wrong. Your question should be, who your father is."

"You know who he is then?" Xiao Tian asked, excitedly.

Shizuki nodded.

"Who is he? What's his name?" Xiao Hai asked, perking up considerably.

"I told you I won't tell you anything of the sort, you have to ask your mother," he said with a shake of his head, earning him a frown.

"What can you tell us then?" they asked simultaneously.

"Well, I can tell you that I've met your father. He's a good man. I've met him a few times already in the past few months."

"You have?" they asked, getting more excited at the thought that their father might still be nearby.

Shizuki nodded. "Let me ask you something first though," he said, a sudden thought occurring to him. "What would you do if you find your father?"

"Try to get him and mom together again," they answered immediately without a second thought.

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

They both shrugged at this.

"We'll think of something…"

"…but first we have to find him."

"I see. Well, your father is closer than you think."

The boys looked thoughtful as he said this.

"Tell me," Shizuki interrupted yet again. "Back to what you told me about what you've heard and seen. How do you feel about Syaoran?" he asked gently. "There seems to be something going on between him and your mother," he hinted casually.

It was a while before they answered him.

"We don't know," Xiao Hai answered.

"We like him," Xiao Tian clarified immediately. "But…"

"But…" Xiao Hai echoed.

"But no one can ever replace your father?" Shizuki finished.

The boys nodded at this.

"We don't know how he feels about mom…"

"…and how mom feels about him."

"But our real father comes first," they concluded together.

"How would you feel about having him as your father?"

"We don't know," they replied in unison.

This worried Shizuki. That wasn't a reassuring answer. Syaoran was their father after all.

"But, he's a great guy isn't he? You like him?"

"We do."

"But then, he's different."

"He's a great guy…"

"…but we always saw him like…"

"…like you."

"A part of the family…"

"…but not a real parent."

Now Shizuki was positively alarmed.

"Look boys, Syaoran is a great person, a good man. He could be a good father too you know."

Xiao Tian and Xiao Hai looked at him with raised eyebrows, hearing the familiarity of the words he had just said.

"Shizuki…"

"…is Syaoran our father?"

"I wonder where Shizuki is," Sakura voiced out with a frown.

Mei Hua didn't answer; she didn't know where the doctor was either. Instead she continued playing with the pendulum that was resting in the front of Shizuki's desk.

Sakura checked her watch. It's been almost half an hour since he left. She didn't mind waiting of course, since she didn't have anything else to do for the day. She's already left her second job ever since Mei Hua's hospitalizations have decreased significantly as of late and since Syaoran contributions to the kids' needs like their clothes and then some.

Lately, all she's done is go to work as a coach, continuing with giving voice lessons. And other than that, she's now able to sing her own songs and actually have them recorded thanks to Denjiro and Genji.

Things have been so great lately, she can't help but feel like something wrong might happen soon. She's having no problem with money lately, she's starting to live out her dream as a real singer, Mei Hua's health was coming along great for the longest time so far now, and all the kids are happy.

Of course there was her problem with Syaoran.

Mei Hua turned to her mother and looked at her curiously.

"Mommy?" she asked, snapping Sakura out of her own thoughts that involved herself and Syaoran in a tight embrace.

"Y-Yes? What is it?"

"Are you okay? Your face is really red," she pointed out, still staring at her.

Sakura's hand flew to her cheeks that were indeed hot under her touch.

"I-It's nothing! It's just a bit hot in here, that's all," she said with a guilty smile.

Syaoran hadn't spoken to her ever since they shared that kiss four days ago. She thought it was bad enough that he spoke to her so coolly ever since their truce, but now with him not speaking to her at all, she felt even worse.

"W-What?" Shizuki asked, even more startled than he already was.

"Is Syaoran our father?" Xiao Hai repeated his brother's question.

"Why do you ask?" he asked, feeling uncomfortable now.

"Please just tell us the truth."

"Please?"

Sighing irritably, more to himself than anyone else for his own carelessness at his words, he walked towards the boys and knelt down in front of them.

Without another word, Shizuki sighed and nodded, looking down with remorse.

"We knew it!" Xiao Tian and Xiao Hai exclaimed, jumping to their feet again, wide grins on their faces.

Yet again, Shizuki was startled. He lost count of just how many times he's been caught in surprise ever since they entered the office.

"You knew? You knew Syaoran was your father?" he asked incredulously.

Both boys nodded eagerly.

"But just now, you-"

"Acting," Xiao Tian informed him rather smugly.

"We were trying to fool you so you could tell us," Xiao Hai added, just as smug as his brother.

Shizuki still looked startled, and not as convinced, mainly due to the fact that he can't accept that he's been fooled so completely by two 5 year olds. It seems that not only did they inherit their father's good looks, but his talent as well.

The boys led him over to the sofa and sat on either side of him.

"We already thought Syaoran might be our father when we first met him…"

"…because he looks so much like us."

"We thought that if our father was around, he might be like Syaoran."

"We wanted him around, and when we got to know him more…"

"…we noticed he isn't like us that much after all."

"He's like Mei Hua," they said in unison.

"When he's around us he's really fun…"

"…but we also watch him when he doesn't know it…"

"…and those times he's like Mei Hua."

"He's very serious except when we're around."

If the boys weren't five year olds, Shizuki would feel appalled at hearing this, but now, he just felt impressed.

"Then we noticed how Syaoran is with mom…"

"…and how mom is with Syaoran."

"They don't know it but we watch them when they're together too…"

"…and they look at each other differently."

"Like how those men who come and take mom away from home to go out at night with them…"

"Except mom looks at him like that too…

"…and we never saw mom look at anyone like that."

"Not even to you."

"So we thought that was also weird…"

"…since they just met."

"Then things started happening."

"Like what Erika said…"

"…when Mei Hua got really sick again…"

"…and how Syaoran's got really close to all of us lately…"

"…and then there was the time he and mom were kissing."

That said, the boys exhaled deeply and smiled even more broadly at him if it were possible. They seem to be really happy with the whole situation and really pleased with themselves too.

"You figured it out all on your own after all that has happened?" he asked rather faintly.

"Well, no, not really," Xiao Hai said, sheepishly.

"We had to ask Mona a lot of questions, like what 'suspecting' means," Xiao Tian said shrugging.

"And we had to ask the nurses at the front counter a lot of questions about mom and Mei Hua until we can ask about Syaoran."

"The nurse who called me said she didn't tell you anything," Shizuki said confidently.

"The other nice nurse there told us before you came."

"She said our father was kind enough to bring in all that stuff in for Mei Hua the last time we were here…"

"…and that she has never seen that many people crowd outside the hospital before."

"When she said that…"

"…we knew she meant Syaoran."

They grinned at him yet again.

Shizuki knew the boys were smart, but personally, he had never known them to be this smart. They were five years old! Very close to turning six, yes, but nonetheless, they were still five!

"I can't believe this," he muttered, in between disbelief and being impressed by their wit.

"We wanted to believe it's Syaoran from that start."

"But we wanted to hear it from someone we trust."

"We know mom won't tell us, and we don't even know if Mona knows."

"We didn't know if you knew too, so we tried to fool you now to see!"

"Then we knew you did when you said Syaoran is a good man."

Placing a hand over his eyes and waving his other at the boys, Shizuki didn't even bother saying a word. He knew he slipped when he said that part, but he never even expected they would catch him at it.

Xiao Tian and Xiao Hai didn't say a word more after that. Instead, they waited for him to recover first, and when he did, he sat them both, side by said with him kneeling down yet again in front of them.

"Boys," he started in serious tone. "Your mother and father know nothing of this. I told Sakura it was best if she told you. As for Syaoran, I don't know exactly how he plans to deal with all this. But your parents have gone through a lot in the past. I don't know what they plan to do exactly, but it would be nice if you don't force them into anything, okay?"

The boys didn't respond to this, instead only blinked back at him.

"I know you want your parents together, but promise me you won't try and force them back together. Okay?"

"But why?" they asked in unison, upset at having to make such a promise to him.

"Something happened to your parents in the past, it's better if they solve their problem by themselves. And then there's Mei Hua, does she know about any of this? Did you tell her what you know and…suspected?"

They both shook their head.

"I expect not," he replied more to himself than the boys, seeing as Mei Hua's health has been stable for a while now, meaning she hasn't experienced any major changes emotionally for many weeks now. "Promise me boys, that you won't tell her or your parents of what you have found out," he said, more precisely.

"But what if they have to know?"

"What if they need our help?"

Shizuki highly doubted both grownups needed the help of two five year old boys, but then again these kids were not to be underestimated. Their capabilities seem to surpass his own expectations every time.

"Very well, if you feel like they really need your help over their problem, then you may. But as much as possible, try to let them work out their problem on their own. Okay? Promise?"

"We promise," they agreed without hesitation now.

"And what about Mei Hua?"

"What will happen when she finds out?"

"I honestly don't know," Shizuki said with a hint of worry in his tone.

This didn't reassure Xiao Tian or Xiao Hai at all.

Author's Note:

Hey everyone! As is proven with this update, it means I have safely arrived at my destination. It wasn't an all too eventful trip but as long as I got here safely, I don't mind.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. More to come in the next few days! I shouldn't take too long to update unless it slips my mind again.

For now, Ja ne!

Raeny