Hi, Guys! I'm back. I'm giving you the first update of this series for this year. Hope you'll like it.

Chapter 9 : Knowing you more (Part 3)

"You're beautiful!"

These are the words that Eriol shouted. Tomoyo always get praised for the way she dresses which makes her look sophisticated. But that was the first time that she heard an ordinary person like him would tell her how beautiful she was, not because of what she wears, or how she looks when her make-up is on, but because she's just simple. "You look beautiful just the way you are." He continues.

Tomoyo had suddenly approached him. Eriol was a bit nervous because his shout was too loud, that people around them heard him. But she took his hands and smiled. "You're the first person who told me that. Thank you.", she said.

Eriol got surprised. "R... really?" he asked.

Tomoyo replied - "Yes, you are. Why, are you surprised?"

"Sort of... As in... No one had told you how beautiful you are?"

Tomoyo laughed. "Well, it's not like they think I'm not pretty. Most people think that always look perfect whenever I attend social gatherings. They always praise me for my dresses and make-up. others think that i'm pretty because I am rich. But you are the only one who told me that I'm beautiful I'm simple. To be honest with you, I really don't want to have a posh living. I'm no different with any other person because I don't have a perfect life, but I live happily because of people around me. So, thank you for telling me that. I appreciate it. Then, she stands beside him and grabbed his arm. "Your father and Sakura must be waiting for us, and I'm quite hungry now. Let's go home for dinner!"

They walked their way back home. Eriol was so conscious that people were looking at them, but Tomoyo didn't care at all. With the glow on her eyes, and her sweet smile, she expressed her happiness being together with him for the whole day.

After they had dinner, it's time to go home. Eriol brought Tomoyo and Syaoran outside, where their car was parked. Before they left, Tomoyo gave something to Eriol. it was a huge paper bag, and inside was a cookie jar filled with chocolate chip cookies. "I've had a hard time thinking about the present that I will give you. But I'm giving this to you because you're sweet."

"You shouldn't have bothered buying something for me." He said. "It's not my birthday..."

But Tomoyo inisists. "Why? Does a person buys a gift for someone just because it's their birthday? Just take it. You let us in to your home, and we want to thank you for that." Then, she looked at her watch. It's a quarter to nine. "Oh, it's getting late. We'll go now. I'll meet you at the office, and don't be late."

Eriol smiled. "I've never been late..."

"I know. I'm just reminding you. Okay then, bye-bye now!" she said. She opened the car's door, while Eriol goes back inside the house. But just as he about to step onto the stairs, Tomoyo called him. "I forgot something." She said. Eriol turned around, as he sees Tomoyo approaching him. All of a sudden,something unexpected happened.

Tomoyo gave Eriol a kiss on his right cheek.

"It's a good night kiss." she said. "See you tomorrow!" She went back inside the car. Eriol was stunned, as he sees the car leaving. He touched his right cheek. He still felt her soft lips dampening it.

"She... kissed me..." he said to himself.

Tomoyo and Eriol were on their way back to her house. Syaoran was a bit confused on what he saw. "Hey, Tomoyo, be honest with me." he said.

- "To be honest on what?" she asked.

"About Eriol."

- "And what about him?"

"Do you have feelings for him?"

- "Huh? What do you mean?

"You know what I mean, Tomoyo. Like special feelings for him..."

- "I don't get it, I'm sorry."

"Do you like him?"

- "What?"

"I'm asking you if you like him..."

- 'Well, yeah. I like him as a person. He's gentle, sweet, kind and so considerate of others. Who would not like that person?"

"Are you sure? You don't like him because you love him now?"

Tomoyo was shocked. "What are you talking about?!" Then, she remembers what she did to Eriol. "Oh, I see! About that kiss, it was just a friendly kiss, nothing else!"

Syaoran doubted her. "Seriously?"

- "Of course, it's nothing! I sometimes kiss you on your cheeks each time you bring me home. So don't tell me we're more that friends because of that? Oh wait... could it be..."

"Could it be what?"

Tomoyo gave him a weird look. "You're jealous."

"No, I'm not!" Syaoran shouted.

"Jeez, you are! See, you're getting offended..." She said. Syaoran went silent, but Tomoyo kept on teasing him. Finally, he got annoyed. "Just stop teasing me!" he shouted. "I can't focus, can't you see I'm driving?"

Tomoyo smirked. "I'm just joking." She told him.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She picked it up from her handbag and answered it. Her mood changed from the time she heard the person from the other line talking. "I'm so sorry to hear that..." she said. "Where are you now?..." She got her pen and a small notepad and wrote something. "Okay, we'll go there immediately. I'll also tell our colleagues about this." She thanked the person on the other line, and she hung up. She then asked Syaoran to bring him to the location she had written down. "Hey, Syaoran, do you know a shortcut to Seibo Hospital?"

"Yes, I know, why? ... And by the way, who's that?" A curious Syaoran asked.

- "It's Yuji's sister." She answered. "She told me that their father, Mr. Urehara, has died."

"Really?! That was surprising! The last time we checked him, he was still in good condition, and that was about two weeks ago. Why all of a sudden?"

- "He suffered from Dementia since February of last year, and he was given six months to live. But I'm also surprised since the doctors told us that he's doing well with his therapy. It's been two weeks and I've been very bussy. It is a shame that I failed to visitt him. Anyways, let's go there. Also, I want you to contact our board members about this. We'll be having a special meeting tomorrow."

"Copy. " Syaoran drove as fast as he could to the hospital where Yuji's Father's remains were placed.

Yuji and his mother were at the chapel of the hospital. They are waiting for Mr. Urehara's remains to be brought inside. The two are just looking at the chapel's cross. Both of them don't know what to feel as they were still shocked about the sudden death of their father.

"I'm so sorry, my son." His mother told him. "I really don't want this to happen. I knew the truth from the start, but I never told you and Yuri about this because I don't want our familly to break apart."

Yuji replied with a shaking voice. "I understand, ma. I understand that we were still young that time that's why you hid the truth. I understand that you want to keep our family complete. I understand all of those. But I don't understand why, of all those these years, why now, mom? Why now that father is already dead? It willl be easier for us to accept the truth if you already told us."

His mother replied."I was afraid that you will stay away from your father if that's the case...I'm so sorry..."

"No, mom... We are your parents. You and father taught us to be kind to other people, so there's no reason for us to reject you because of that. We'll be happy to accept it, because we know we have a brother." Yuji explained.

Her mother asked him. "So, what will be your plans?"

Yuji sincerely answered. "I know father wants to find him and apologize for leaving him. We also have to apologize because he didn't get the life he deserves. Mom... We have to find him. We have to find brother now. Whether he's dead or still living, we have to find him, mom."

His mother held his hands and swered to him that she will help him. "If that's the only way to pay all of my sins, then, yes... We'll find him. I swear, my son, we'll find him."

Montclaire06, I won't reveal it as of yet. But stay tuned for more updates. Thanks for your feedback , as always.

Guys, thank you for your continued support. The last month of 2013 has been the most productive for me because this fic had reached more than 1,400 views from 423 visitors who read the story from the very beginning. I am looking forward for a stronger year this 2014.

That's it for today! Have yourselves a blessed new year, everyone!