Author's Note: Finally updating this one but it was a little short for my liking.. but I'm kinda busy with work this week.. even on Sunday I tried finishing my work.. so.. here is what I had tried squashing my brain out for the moment... I'm sorry if there's grammatical error and so on...

Chapter 12: We Need Her Help

"I've called them all," Sakura said as she sat beside Syaoran who was watching some kids' programs with Hikari. Hikari did a little dance like the instructor on the TV was doing. She even sang with them while Syaoran watched her with a chuckle.

"What did you say to them?" Syaoran asked. Sakura shook her head at Hikari.

"I said we're going to have a dinner party tomorrow," Sakura answered.

"They didn't find anything weird?" Syaoran asked for more information.

"Xiao Lu Oji-san seemed a bit off. He asked why we're having another party so soon but didn't have the time to wait for my answer. Something urgent came up," Sakura answered as Syaoran nodded his head. He knew Xiao Lu could sense anything that seems wrong.

"He would be happy to have his beloved daughter back. I'm so happy just thinking about it," Sakura smiled and put her hands around Syaoran's waist. Her face was put on his chest as she inhaled his usual cinnamon smell. She loved his smell. It reminded her of her childhood. There was a forest where she usually goes with Touya when she was younger. They would play hide-and-seek and she would always hide behind the same old cinnamon tree. She always felt safe, hiding under that particular tree. It was so big that she felt that it was meant to protect her.

"Syaoran, if Mei Xi Ne-Chan is alive, doesn't that make Jimmy Wang still alive too?" Sakura suddenly asked while Syaoran frowned, suddenly realized what Sakura just told him might be true.

"I don't really know about that but I'll ask Mother. She knows all about that curse Mei Xi and her mother had," Syaoran said and made a note in his mind to call his mother afterwards.

- Fast Forward to Dinner –

"What happened? You don't usually make abrupt dinner like this. Not that I mind though," Eiji asked bluntly when they arrived at Syaoran's house. Sakura just smiled and hugged them hello.

"You'll find out soon. Come in first, Uncle Xiao Lu, Yukito and Me.. Hana aren't here yet. The others had already made themselves home as usual," Sakura said as Eiji and Mei Xin with Yuki sleeping soundlessly in her arms.

"She's a bit tired. She kept running around the park today. I'd never thought she would have so much energy. I can't even keep up with her," Mei Xin explained why Yuki was sleeping. The little girl usually was going about at this hour. Sakura smiled and nodded in understanding. Hikari was just like that at Yuki's age. Well, on the bright side, Mei Xin won't be bothered when she heard the news. Not that Yuki was a bother, it just that it would better for her to be calmed when she received the news. Yuki was a very bright little girl. She would always feel what her mother was feeling.

"It's okay. She just got her feet. That's normal," Sakura said as she ushered Mei Xin into the house. Eiji had already went in to meet Vince and was introduced to Alex.

"Hana, you're here. Eh, you had a baby? Illegitimate baby?" Alex asked without thinking as Eiji slapped his head unconsciously. Naomi was dumbfounded that Eiji would slapped her husband. They just met just then. Mei Xin was speechless for a moment.

"Hey, she's my wife. Yuki is my daughter. And she's not Hana," Eiji defended angrily. Even if he just met the man just then, his hands moved before he could think. Alex rubbed the back of his head with a frown on his face. That was definitely hurt. Eiji seemed friendly when Vince introduced him. But he turned defensive when he said something insulting to the lady with baby. He thought she was Hana. Of course he thought that. He never see Hana and Mei Xin together. He just came into the group when he came back from France with Vince. Eiji and Mei Xin did not come to the welcoming party since Eiji was out-station and Mei Xin went back to Hong Kong with her father, Sachi and Yuki.

"Then, sorry? I thought you were Hana. Since she isn't married, I thought your baby… well, sorry for the rude comment. I just slipped," Alex smiled nervously at Eiji who was still glaring at him. He walked up to Mei Xin and apologized again. Vince just looked at the awkward situation Alex had to go through.

"I'm Mei Xin. Sorry about my husband. He's just a little overprotective when it comes to our daughter," Mei Xin knew he did not intend to make a rude remark. He seemed nice to her, just a little loose on his mouth. Eiji was frowning at Mei Xin when she apologized when it wasn't her fault.

"Knowing he's an acquaintance of Touya, I know how overprotective he could be," Alex chuckled and kissed Yuki's cheek and mumbled a sorry to the little girl, "Sorry, little one."

"I second that," Tomoyo raised her right hand into the air with a smile on her face.

"I heard that!" Touya's voice was heard from the room across the living room. Tomoyo giggled as Alex closed his ears as soon as he heard Touya's voice. The others just chuckled at their funny antics. Hikari was dragging Touya into the room to play with her. Sachi did not arrive yet. She was staying with Xiao Lu for the night. He was her adopted grandfather anyway. She loved spending time with him. Ryuki would arrive later with Yukito and Aimi. So, she had to settle for her uncle. He loved her unconditionally, so when she showed her puppy eyes, she knew he could not refuse. Though her uncle did seem a little distracted that day. He kept on looking at the door every time he heard the chime.

"Uncle Touya, you're no fun today. I don't want to play with you. Make Sachi ne-chan and Ryuki come faster. I want to play with them. Yuki is asleep and I'm alone. Uncle Touya is no good," she sulked a bit as Touya sighed deeply. Hikari hated it when she heard the adults sigh. She somehow felt like it was her fault.

"I'm sorry, Hikari. It's not your fault. Sachi and Ryuki will arrive soon. I'm waiting for Aunt Mei Xi. I'm a little anxious," Touya explained to his niece. He knew Hikari was angry with him for not giving the attention she wanted. Sakura and Syaoran were busy in the kitchen as they waited for the guest of honor to make her appearance. He tried to contact her but they were all unanswered which made him more anxious.

She beamed and whispered into Touya's ear, "Aunt Hana is Aunt Mei Xi, right? I heard Okaa-san talking to Otou-san about her. I'm happy for you, Uncle Touya but I'm a little jealous. If Aunt Mei Xi here, you would have less time playing with me." Her smile disappeared as she thought about Touya and Mei Xi. Touya smiled at Hikari's thought and could not help but hugged the little girl.

"I would never neglect you, little princess. I'll make time for you like always," Touya said as Hikari buried her face into his chest with her little hands clutching his shirt, wrinkling it a bit.

"Promise?" Hikari looked up at him with her beautiful eyes. Touya smiled and nodded his head, "Pinkie promise."

"I don't want a pinkie promise. Make an adult's promise with me," Hikari jumped off Touya and ran out of the room. Touya was a little confused with his niece but snorted at her when she came back with a paper and pen with her.

"Uncle, write a contact here," Hikari shoved the paper and pen in front of him.

"A contract, not a contact," Touya said as Hikari nodded her head.

"It sounds the same. Hurry, write it and then you sign your name. You have to keep the promise or I'll sue you, Uncle Touya," Hikari said with her serious face. Touya tried to stifle his smile and wrote the contract as she wanted. She was distracting him from his worry. Hikari signed her name sloppily with a crayon as Touya signed his signature beside hers.

"Yeay! I'll show Okaa-san," she ran out of the room again and leaved him again in the play room. He shook his head and walked out the room when he heard the door chimed again.

Hikari was pestering Sakura with her contract when she looked at the door and saw Touya already at it. She listened to Hikari and nodded her head as she looked at the contract her daughter showed her, "Yup, it's valid." Hikari then pestered her father to see her contract with a proud smile plastered on her face. Syaoran laughed at the contract and patted her head, "Let's put it in the safe. We don't want Uncle Touya to try to retract the contract."

"Otou-san, what is retract?" Hikari asked as her father used a big word for her.

Syaoran scratched his head, trying to make it easy for his little girl but had no time to explain when Hikari looked at the door that Touya went to open. She ran, leaving her father with her contract and screamed, "Sachi ne-chan! Ryuki!"

Sachi and Ryuki beamed at the little girl as she dragged them into the play room just like she had dragged her uncle into playing along with her. Xiao Lu, Yukito and Aimi arrived at the same time. Xiao Lu then came in and looked for Fujitaka as Aimi and Yukito still at the door with Touya walking with them into the house, "Is she here?" Aimi asked as Touya shook his head.

"She's still not here. I tried calling but they were all unanswered. She usually answers her phone after a few times. I'm a little worried," Touya said.

"Maybe she was busy. Let's just wait. Mei Xin's here?" Aimi asked, trying to distract the worried man from his constant worry. Touya nodded his head and stopped talking about the awaited lady in question.

"I think we're all here," Eiji's voice was heard from the living room but Sakura quickly came into the room and denied Eiji's remark, "No, Me.. Hana is still not here."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, I didn't notice," Eiji said and smiled sheepishly. Mei Xin was in the guest room, putting Yuki on the bed and stayed there until the dinner was ready.

The bell chimed again and everyone looked at the door, knowing who had finally arrived. Touya walked passed everyone before they could do anything and opened the door abruptly. He smiled and sighed with relief, "You're here." He stated the fact as Mei Xi nodded her head.

"Sorry, I didn't answer your calls. My phone was… I was busy," Mei Xi said but Touya knew something must had happened but said nothing. He knew how Mei Xi hated confrontation especially in public.

"Hana, you're here. We were just talking about you," Eiji smiled with warm at Mei Xi.

"You didn't know what I had to go through with your absence," Alex said with a hurt look on his face. Naomi and Sheifa shook their heads at the dramatic look he had on his face.

"I don't think sympathy is needed if it's you. You must have deserved it," Mei Xi said as Alex and Eiji looked at her, speechless. Hana usually smiled and chuckled at Alex's attempts of joking. Eiji was a little speechless because Hana never said anything sarcastically. Sheifa stifled her smirk as Naomi and Vince looked at her as if she was abducted by aliens.

Touya could not help but smirked at the remark she had made. That was so her. No doubt about it. She didn't always show her emotions but when she spoke, it usually left people speechless, just like what she was doing to Alex. The usual chatterbox was finally quietened down. Xiao Lu and Fujitaka looked at her without saying anything but Fujitaka seemed to know something. Xiao Lu had sensed something but said nothing. He was not going to give false hope to her daughter and granddaughter.

"I think I have an explanation to start with. Eiji, bring Mei Xin here. Touya, Sachi," Mei Xi ordered Eiji as he did what he was told. He somehow felt something was familiar with her behavior. Touya knew she wanted Sachi with them when she looked at him. He went into the play room and asked Sachi to come out. Hikari whined a bit but let her go when Ryuki said to do so. She sulked but stayed silent. If she showed tantrums, she knew Ryuki would do something mean to her.

Sakura and Syaoran stood beside her as Sakura patted her shoulder to encourage her. Everyone was looking at her with bated breath. The tension was high and the look she had on her face did not help either. Her usually cheerful and warm smile was not there. She had a serious look on her face.

"Dad," Mei Xi looked at Xiao Lu and then turned to Mei Xin who was suddenly weak on her knees when she called her name, "Mei Xin," and then she looked at Sachi who was looking at her with a confused look, "Sachi, I'm Mei Xi."

The room was completely in unexplainable silence. No one dare to say anything. Everyone who had already known her identity did not know how to penetrate the silence that had wrapped the room when Alex suddenly break the silence, "Erm, who is that?" Naomi pinched Alex's arm, scolding him silently.

Everyone turned their eyes on him except Xiao Lu and Mei Xin. They were still trying to accept the fact that just came out of her mouth as Sachi stayed silent.

"This isn't a dream, right?" Mei Xin asked as Eiji rubbed her back.

"It's not a dream. If it's a dream, that idiot won't be in it," Eiji said and glared at Alex, who was rubbing his aching arm. He was never good with silence and always tried to break it as soon as he felt the awkwardness.

Eriol came forth and all eyes were on him, "I'll explain it for her. I know you're confused but it's not her fault. We need her help."

"We?" they all said in unison. Eriol nodded his head.

Author's Note: 4 pages only... ergh... hating myself... evil2 job... not allowing me finishing this story... sorry cliff hanger... had to leave it there... huhu... TT_TT