A/n: Julie is back with another chappie! Thanks to all the very nice ppl who took the time and review for me! very appreciated mans!! I hope you like this chap, please tell me if I should do any changes or anything ks?? Read and ReVieW!!

Enjoy z chap!! Oo

Disclaimer: we all noe I clearly don't own CCS, I'm just saying I don't own Fruits Basket either. This is for ppl who noe wah I'm talking about if they read on...

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Chapter 4 : Frequent Rocket Ships

The stars above twinkled as the brother and sister quietly walked home from the Li Mansion. It was very late now considering with Touya's arrival had they stayed longer. Yelan had said to the two that they will always be welcome to come back anytime.

After having to be the centre of attention within the Li sisters, Touya wasn't sure if would be returning anytime soon. Sakura on the other hand wouldn't mind visiting the Li family again. She would very much like to learn more of Syaoran and his family. Sakura wondered where his father was as she was sure there had to be a reason for his absence. No one in the Li family mentioned it though.

Sakura looked at her older brother and imagined what he was thinking about because Touya's lips were slightly curved upwards. This was unusual.

"What's on your mind?" Sakura asked Touya. She didn't bother hiding the grin she was wearing.

Touya just blinked because he didn't know how to react to her question. Was his little sister implying to him that she though that he, Touya was thinking about a girl?

'She's right isn't she?' Touya cursed his conscience but it just retaliated back with another comment. 'So you're saying that Akizuki Nakuru ain't a girl? Boy you have a messed brain!'

"Nothing in particular...!" Touya finally stuttered out.

Sakura didn't buy it with the suspicious silence that followed her question. There was doubt written all over her face as she rolled her eyes at her brother.

"Whatever! I'll find out sooner or later Touya!" Sakura hardly finished her sentence when she was lifted off the ground and into Touya's arms. He smirked when his little sister began to struggle inside Touya's strong hold. He was careful to not pressure his hold on Sakura's wounds.

"Touya! I'm too old for this! Let me down!"

"Nah! You can never be too old for the rocket ship!"

With that he spun around with Sakura in his arms numerous times. He didn't allow her down till the two arrived home. Once Touya did, he couldn't resist saying what he did.

"Whoa squirt! Did you put on some weight? Poor Syaoran for having to carry you home! If you were heavy for me, you must have weighed a ton for him!"

He earned a hard stomp on his left foot for his loud mouth.

::::::::::Li Mansion::::::::::

"Sakura seems like a nice girl. What do you think Xiao Lang?"

Syaoran looked into his mother's eyes. Did he just see her eyes twinkle? He merely nodded to the question and continued with his dinner.

Fanren, sitting across from him, had been observing her little brother's behaviour throughout the whole afternoon when Sakura was here. He was usually the silent type but somehow it was different this time; the look in his eye when Syaoran brought the unconscious form of Sakura inside the house and the way he would look away from Sakura's gaze. It was as if Syaoran didn't know what to make sense of from looking in her emerald eyes. This wasn't her little brother.

"She's so adorable as well!" Sheifa exclaimed.

"Ooo did you see her brother's eyes? They're to die for!"

"Oh I know what you mean! What a hunk!"

"I hope they come over again soon! I wouldn't mind having my hands on Sakura's brother again!"

"Oh Fei-Mei! You make as if that wasn't obvious!"

"Syaoran do you like Sakura?"

This question abruptly silenced the three girls' tittering and made Yelan's eyes to fall on her son again.

Fanren directed her eyes deeply into Syaoran who was in the middle of lifting his loaded chopsticks to his mouth.

"No." Syaoran simply answered.

As calm as he appeared to his family, really Syaoran's mind was racing. At the mention of Sakura's name in the type of question his sister had just asked him made him think.

'Wait! Why am I giving second thoughts to such a silly question?' Syaoran blinked hard before putting his attention back to finishing his meal.

Fanren seemed satisfied with the answer Syaoran had given her. She knew her brother well, her being his closest sibling, Fanren knew he wouldn't admit his feelings so easily. Fanren was able to see the uneasiness in his eyes after he replied to her question.

She knew she wasn't the only one who had learned that Syaoran's behaviour tonight was indeed different.

- - - - - - - - -

After excusing himself from dinner, Syaoran went outside to spend some time with his best friend.

The question Fanren had recently asked him was very well stuck onto his mind. This was all too new for him. Syaoran has never had to question his feelings; he was always in control on what he was thinking. He continues to stroke Shigure while he wondered deeper into his thoughts.

Syaoran looked at the stars above trying to look for the answer to his actions. 'What's happening to me?'

He was too young to know just yet that what he was feeling inside truly meant.

:::::::::::::::::The Next Day:::::::::::::::::::

The next day at school was just like any other school day there was. The spring skies remain blue with the company of some clouds and students were crowded in friendship groups during recess break.

Syaoran seemed to be more exclusive today and Sakura noticed this. She still had the strong feeling on wanting to have more knowledge about the Li family, especially Syaoran. Sakura didn't know what it was that drawn her lines towards him bolder. Maybe her point of view towards Syaoran has changed after seeing a whole new side to him when he was with his dog. Kindness and caring was evident in his eyes as he comforted the dog that was in shock. His voice was gentle as he spoke and hummed to calm Shigure. It still touched Sakura to remember the moving scene.

Sakura's bandaged knees caused quite a ruckus as she arrived late once again to school. Mr Terada allowed her off the hook after taking a look for himself of the wounds Sakura carried.

"So what's the story behind your boo boos? Might I add are very heavily bandaged considering you said that they were only scratches." Tomoyo grinned.

She and Eriol were once again sitting next to each other like they do every break. Sakura wondered whether if there was anything going on between the two neighbours. Since Tomoyo hasn't mention anything, she didn't ask her friend but Meilin told Sakura that it was bound to happen soon.

"It was my dad! He saw my scratches and immediately wrapped more bandages then it needed! Anyways I was walking home till I accidentally tripped over something which turned out to be Syaoran's dog..." As Sakura continued with her account with Syaoran, she didn't feel his eyes staring into her emerald ones that were looking at the interest Tomoyo.

Syaoran's cheeks tinted a bit when she mentioned the part of the afternoon where he had to piggy back her to the Li Mansion. He quickly looked away to avoid anyone seeing his pink face. 'What was wrong with him? Li Syaoran doesn't blush!' hereminded himself. He took interest into the skies above to shun any further new emotions he has been experiencing a lot recently.

Even though Syaoran thought he was quick enough to hide his flushed face, he wasn't quick enough for one particular person, his cousin.

Meilin while under the gaze of Sakura, who continued with her story, took notice of the lack of attention Syaoran was giving.

'Dear cousin, you'll never know what hit you when you've finally fallen in love...' (A/n: Meilin is sure mature for her age eh?)

"Syaoran has sisters? Are they nice?" Tomoyo clearly still well intrigued by the story.

"Sure are and they were all real pretty! Especially with the real nice dresses they were wearing, they were gorgeous!" Sakura followed up with telling Tomoyo each of the Li sisters' names and what they looked like and so on. At the mention of dresses, Tomoyo showered her with questions on what kind of dresses they were.

Tomoyo besides her passion for video technology, she has also been known for her love to design her own clothes. Being only the age of nine, she surprised her family and friends with such beautiful dresses that she herself have designed and made into reality.

"You and your dresses Tomoyo!" Meilin rolled her eyes but she wore a smirk indicating to her offended friend that she was only joking.

"Dresses? Tomoyo?" Eriol questioned beside her.

Tomoyo still hasn't gotten over her face becoming a red tomato each time Eriol would say her name. "ummmm...yeah...dresses..." was all Tomoyo was able to murmur out.

"Eriol you should see the dresses that Tomoyo herself has designed! They're the most beautiful things you've have seen!" Meilin jumped in to help.

"Yes they really are! Why don't you show Eriol sometime Tomoyo?" Sakura asked. She knew that Tomoyo knew that they were doing this on purpose so Eriol and she are able to spend some more quality time together. Tomoyo just blushed more in response.

"I would love to see them! Maybe this afternoon? I'm free." Eriol looked at her face and smiled gently. His caring grey amethyst eyes twinkled as Tomoyo nodded.

Meilin and Sakura give a high five to one another under the table after another successful deed they've done for Tomoyo.

"You know Touya was acting pretty strange last night. Usually he's always in a bad mood but lately, it's different." Sakura pondered out loud for her friends. "He had somehow the energy to rocket ship me home..."

Her friends gave her a blank look.

"Rocket ship?" Eriol asked curiously. Sakura just nodded as if what she had just said was a completely normal thing to do. She went on to explain how it's weird to sometimes to see her older brother just smiling for no actual reason.

Meilin and Tomoyo both knew Touya well so indeed this was very strange behaviour.

"Maybe he has met someone new?" Meilin doubtfully said.

"He couldn't have. What Kaho did to him isn't easy to get over especially since if they've been going out since primary school. It's way too early..." Tomoyo sadly replied.

"Tomoyo, that's when you're wrong..." Eriol spoke up, even though he didn't have a clue who Touya was to his friends. "...love controls its own destiny whether it is too early or even too late; therefore it controls the person that carries that rare emotion too."

What Eriol had just said made everyone think even Syaoran, who somehow shortly join after reclaiming his non-flushed face.

Sakura gave it a deep thought after having to hear what Eriol had said. She still wasn't sure about what to think of her brother.

'Who has changed Touya then?'

::::::::::::Tomoeda High School::::::::::::::

It's funny how things work because Nakuru was thinking the exact same thing on what was the cause of Touya's new attitude.

She recalls back to the times before she and Touya had formed a friendship, earlier this year when Nakuru had first moved to Tomoeda and began schooling within the Tomoeda High School.

She remembered always seeing Touya with a great smile on his face. Even when times that were gloomy within class time, you would always hear Touya lightening the mood with his humour. Everybody loved him, even Nakuru for his great personality till a few months ago.

Nakuru from a distance noticed the change in his smile as he greeted his friends. His eyes usually carried warmth has now become cold brown sorrow. She wasn't the only one who sensed Touya's change.

She had seen the way Yukito would try and cheer up his friend whatever the problem was. It didn't affect Touya with the state he was in though. He soon became distance to the people around him and gave off a cold shoulder to life. It seemed like Touya had given up on hope; like it didn't bother him that he was failing chemistry or starving himself during breaks.

Life is a ride and it appeared like it was over for Touya with the way he carried himself, but this was just a couple of weeks ago. Things have changed again but this time for the better.

Now that Nakuru had been friends with Touya for nearly a month now, she hadn't failed to recognise the smile that caused everyone to love him return to his face. His eyes were warming up as the days continued to come and Nakuru was even lucky to hear him laugh again. It was like Touya's spirit within has woken up once more to over come the dreary soul he previously held.

Even though Nakuru didn't understand the way Touya would look at her sometimes or the way he would always be there when she needed him, she didn't question this. Instead she wanted to know what the reason of Touya's change of attitude was.

'Did something happen to him or was it 'someone' that happened to him?' Nakuru's cheeks went hot after taking in her recent thought. She stopped chewing her ham sandwich and stared straight ahead, oblivious to the world that surrounded her.

"...was it me...?" she whispered out.

"What's on your mind Nakuru baby?"

Nakuru's thoughts were interrupted and she all of a sudden felt strong hands take a hold of her shoulders and was beginning to massage it. She recognised that voice and the moment she did, her gentle facial features turned into a scowl.

"Get your icky hands off of me and get lost Akito!" Nakuru literally growled to the being standing behind her. Akito's hands remained rubbing her shoulders. (A/n: I'm sorry for using the name Akito! I thought the name suited him quite well...)

"Now now Nakuru lets not be rude. I just asked you a simple question yet you still haven't answered... Why are you so tense? It's just me, Akito Shimoda." He spoke into her ear in a soft voice that sent nervous shivers down her spine. Akito smirked at her discomfort and continued to massage her with his hands.

"What part of GET LOST don't you understand?!!"

Nakuru showing no mercy at all slapped his hands painfully away. He unexpectedly squealed out in agony for his hands while Nakuru chuckled. Akito quickly composed himself so that he still stood as a strong figure. Nakuru just rolled her eyes and ignored him by continuing with her lunch and reading her book. She still felt his presence standing behind her.

"Why are you doing this to me Nakuru? I never did anything wron-"

"Nothing wrong huh? NOTHING WRONG?" Nakuru finally burst out but still not facing the figure she despised most. "You call cheating with someone else nothing wrong?! I guess you also call breaking my heart nothing wrong too...!" she quietly finished for her eyes were about to give in to the tears she has worked so hard to hold back till now.

"Nakuru please! It was a mistake, I know and I'm sorry for it...I missed you..."

"OH Just GO and mess up another girl's life Shimoda! I hate you...!"

Nakuru didn't realise that she was standing now having to drop her book and her lunch onto the concrete floor below. She didn't realise nor understand the reason why she was shaking so much. She didn't want to think about the painful memories that have been haunting her for the last couple of months. All she wanted now was to fade away on the spot to get her out of this dramatic situation.

"Don't be like this Nakuru baby! You know I still love you..."

"Bull Shimoda!" Nakuru wanted to scream but somehow restrained herself from giving attention towards her and Akito. "That is a bunch of crap and you know it! It's not going to work so just give up and pul-LEASE give me some peace...you've already caused me enough grief...so GET LOST!"

It was a strong possibility that her eyes will become weak and tear up in front of her ex-boyfriend but she didn't want that. Nakuru wanted to stay strong and give off the impression that she didn't need him anymore, which was true of course.

Akito watched Nakuru's body maintain its uncontrollable trembling. She was going to collapse sooner or later Akito smirked mentally.

"But Nakuru...-" Akito started but was cut short by somebody else.

"She said get lost buddy so do it!"

Nakuru looked to her left side to see the voice belonged to Touya. He walked up towards the ex-couple and stood between them. His usually tall figure now seemed several feet higher than ever before as he looked down at Akito.

Touya at first surprised Akito but having such a big ego, he didn't show it.

"Don't tell me what to do and don't call me buddy, Kinomoto!" Akito hissed. After giving Touya a very sharp glare that could kill, he slumped off leaving the two friends behind.

Touya turned around and saw that Nakuru was still facing the other way but she was oddly very quiet after just exploding to Akito. He didn't know what to do now that Akito was gone so he just stood there facing Nakuru's back waiting for her to react to anything. But she didn't.

Nakuru remained standing there not knowing what to feel, or to say to her friend who had just spared her more pain. Several minutes have passed as she continued to look down at her damaged sandwich and her open book that she dropped before.

The lunch bell rang throughout the court yard and students everywhere have soon gathered themselves off to attend their afternoon classes. Nakuru didn't budge. She didn't care that her legs were growing tired of standing nor did she care that she'll be tardy for her classes.

Out of the blue Nakuru felt strong arms being wrapped around her present fragile body. It was Touya and she was thankful for the warmth that he was giving off for she had gone all cold inside. She didn't even realise she was still shaking until it subsided.

"It's going to be okay Nakuru...things will work out...don't you worry..." Touya's voice comforted her for her well being.

It was then that the tears Nakuru was trying so hard to keep back trailed down her delicate cheeks. She couldn't hold it in anymore.

Touya just held her tighter as she continued to cry into his white uniform shirt and blue tie.

Somehow seeing Nakuru crying like this reminded him of Kaho and right then did he comprehend that it has been a long time since he had thought about her, a couple of weeks as a matter of fact. Thinking about her now didn't cause as much pain as it did seeing Nakuru crying presently. Touya wondered why and settled that maybe because he and Nakuru had become very close friends over the last couple of weeks and seeing her now affects him deeply. It wasn't a time to pity himself over his loss love.

He might have a point about being close friends with Nakuru but Touya was deliberately leaving out a reason why it was the deal. Touya didn't even give it a second thought that maybe he was slowly moving on from Kaho which is why he wasn't in as much pain thinking about her.

He hasn't yet discovered that this reason was much closer to his heart than the other one he convinced his oneself.

Touya broke free from his thoughts when he heard Nakuru murmur his name quietly.

He loosened his grip around her body so that he was able to see her face, which looked up to him. Something struck his insides when he saw that her face was stained with tears trailing down her cheeks and her lively brown eyes now mixed into a shade of pink. Touya ignored his reaction and softly wiped her fresh tears away before speaking.

"Are you okay now Nakuru?"

Nakuru nodded while lost into his dark brown eyes but abruptly looked away. "...Thanks for being here Touya, I'm really grateful to have a friend like you..."

"That's cool man, no worries. Akito is a sure jerk off anyways so don't you worry about him. I'll always be here to be your shining knight in armour!" Touya grinned.

Nakuru chuckled to his little joke. She didn't know what made her do it but she went onto her tippy toes and gave him a small peck on the cheek. Nakuru soon regretted it afterwards after seeing her friend blushing a little which caused her to blush too.

"...ah...sorry..." She mumbled after removing herself out of his loose embrace.

It took a while for Touya to answer after receiving the small affection from Nakuru but he quickly composed himself before it became awkward.

"...uh...its okay... Now we better get off to Maths class before Ms. Hanada has our butts in detention!"

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Navy blue eyes watched from the shadows at the two people power walking in the opposite direction. The wind under the veranda silently played with his short mauve hair. He had both of his hands clenched into tight fists as he followed to watch Kinomoto making Nakuru laugh again.

It irked him so much that Kinomoto crash into his and Nakuru's conversation.

If only Kinomoto didn't come for just a few more minutes, Akito knew that Nakuru was bound to break down and cry soon enough.

If only Kinomoto didn't turn up at all so it would be Akito's arms Nakuru would be in crying her eyes out. Not Kinomoto's arms.

If only Kinomoto didn't become Nakuru's friend in the first place, she wouldn't have given him the affection afterwards. It would have been Akito that received the small kiss.

Thinking about him made Akito want to punch somebody, mainly Kinomoto, so he vented his anger out onto the rough walls of the school building. Consequently this made him bleed quite badly but he didn't care. All he cared about was to get Nakuru back and nothing was going to stop him.

'You watch out Kinomoto...the day will come when you wish you have never messed with Akito Shimoda...!'

:::::::::::::Kinomoto Residence::::::::::::::::

"I'm home!"

Sakura poked her head out of the dining room which was down the hallway from the front door. She smiled at her brother as he approached her and he strangely returned the smile. Sakura quickly returned to the kitchen to resume her cooking the mince meat for the pasta sauce.

"So what's for dinner squirt?" Touya asked after setting his school bag down onto one of the chairs of the dining table. He walked over to his little sister who was wearing one of the family aprons which was pink and had a frilly border. Touya tends to avoid having to wear that certain apron.

"Spaghetti Bolognaise!" Sakura answered without taking her eyes off of the nearly cooked meat.

"Mmmmm... pasta...second most favourite food of mine..."

"What's the first?"

"Steak of course!" Touya exclaimed.

Sakura looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. Touya was practically drooling over the thought of steak. He was in that weird state again.

"...right...!" was all she could say while Touya pulled a face at her.

"You know it's pretty late...what kept you at school?" Sakura was still eager to find out the reason explaining Touya's strange behaviour.

Touya without thinking answered.

"Oh well me and Nakuru got stuck after school in detention because of the meanie Ms Hanada. We just came twenty minutes late! Jeebers...!" He quickly silenced himself.

'Great Touya! Nice one telling your little sister Nakuru's name! Now we're in for it!'

Sakura smirked slightly which very much made Touya fell uneasy and she knew it. Her emerald eyes twinkling as she continued to mix the pasta sauce into the mince meat.

"Who's Nakuru eh Touya?" said Sakura in a very sly voice. Amused Sakura may seem she still wanted answers from her older brother. Something told him that he wasn't able to sneak his way out this time.

"One of my friends..."

"Oh really? So would she be the girl you've been thinking about lately? Hmmm?"

Again in the last 24 hours, Sakura found herself off the stool she was standing on and in Touya's arms before she was able to finish her interrogation.

"Seriously Touya, again?! Let me down! My spaghetti!!" Her cries were ignored by her older brother as he began spinning her around and around countless times.

All this time he was thinking about the little kiss that Nakuru gave him. As much as he knows on the outside, the small affection meant nothing to him. It was just a friendly peck on the cheek. Still it had Touya thinking about it ever since it actually happened.

"You know Touya giving me all these rocket ship rides, which I might add that I'm too old for, won't make me forget!" Sakura squealed out still situated in Touya's arms.

All he did was chuckle in return still not letting her down.

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A/n: Well there you go! The 4th chap! How did it go? Enjoy? Love?....hate? TT I would really like to hear ur opinion if you review me!! Any suggestions would really be appreciated! Thanks you guys!!!

ThankUs for RevieWers!!

Viky: Thanks for your review! Very kind of you to take some time to do so! ThankS!!

Jedibubbles: ThankS again for review man!!! did you notice I used the name Akito? ...wah a stupid question, of course you would have if you read this chap! Stupid Julie! Seriously! --"well I hope you don't mind me using another name from Fruits Basket, its just that I thought the name really suited this character! TT Review ks?? And tell me! Thanks again!!

azuremiko: ah...Ji man...ThaNks For Ur REVIEW!!! :) x 10000 hehehe. I hope I did enough TxN this time!!! some ppl are so demanding! Hehe just jk jk. Notice the spaghetti bolognaise bit? Funny how I mentioned it through one of my emails recently eh? Hehee...u probably don't remember so no worries man! ThanKs man!!!

Kiet: Hey Thanks Kiet man!! TT u thinks I'm a good writer, ur such a nice person!!

Thanks again you guys!!! Such nice ppl!!! Hope you guys review again when you get the chance!! Hey Viky and Jedibubbles, you wanna become friends? Give me ur emails ks? This goes the same for any other nice ppl out there who are going to review my story!! I wanna be friends with my reviewers!! Haha I hope I'm not scaring you...much! Hehe ks now I'll shutup...

HaPPY Days People!!! And keep on smiling too!

S2 Julie