Dear readers... Thank you very much for following and favouriting this fiction. And sorry for keeping you waiting for so long. Had an exam in June that kept me busy followed by work at office throughout the month... From now on, I should be able to update much quicker...

Enjoy reading...

It was the new year eve everybody was waiting for. Touya was obviously the first one to get ready. All he had to do was wear a blue coloured T Shirt and a pair of jeans. He did not want an elaborate ethnic wear for the evening. His girlfriend never expected him to. He could just wear what he felt most comfortable in. He was waiting in the living room for the girls to get ready. He was not surprised to find his sister coming out first, neat and pretty. It was all his Tomoyo's doing. Her perfection reflected on his sister's attire and groomed hair. His chest swelled up in pride.

"Looking very beautiful, my Sakura" said Fujitaka fondly patting her head, making the girl blush. Touya's expression softened at the sight and he smiled.

*DING-DONG*

"Oh! That must be Syaoran!" said Sakura as she rushed to the door. Annoyed beyond words with the very thought of the Li boy's expected expression when he beheld his pretty sister, he made a move in order to beat his sister to the door.

*CLICK-SHUT*

The sound of door opening and shutting from upstairs immediately stopped the man and held him rooted to the ground. There came his girl, standing at the top of the stairs, clad in a blood red kimono with floral patterns of yellow and green all over. Her skin was glowing and flawless making his stomach to churn in frenzy. He felt blood rushing to his face as he drank in every inch of her divine figure. She has taken efforts to look more beautiful than how she normally does by wearing mild makeup accentuating her big amethyst eyes, soft and supple lips and smooth and fair skin. The best part was clearly her wavy hair tied up neatly in a long fishtail braid with small, white flowers tied along with them, adding beauty to the thick, long mass of mane. She probably spent most of her time on Sakura that she must have been left with no time for herself, hence the less elaborate hairstyle. But Touya felt that it suited her the best and he would not have had it in any other way. After all, his girlfriend has always been effortlessly beautiful.

"WOW! Tomoyo chan! You look gorgeous!" said a starry-eyed Sakura, while Li nodded with a smile.

As Tomoyo got down the stairs, Fujitaka who was stunned himself, said, "You look lovely, Daidouji". Then he went on with a chuckle, "Whose heart have you set out to steal….?"

As the girl blushed, Tomoyo's eyes involuntarily stole a mischievous glance at Touya. Touya froze. He quickly tore away his gaze from Tomoyo and looked at the others. They were not looking at him, rather they were all looking at Tomoyo. So, it was just an innocent remark by his father, without any hidden hint. He sure hoped so.

It was about time, so, both couples took leave from the eldest Kinomoto and left. Sakura and Syaoran were walking ahead while the other two were walking behind. They were deliberately slow so that they would not be heard. But they both were silent for no apparent reason. Touya knew he needed to comment on how she looked. Well, it is an unwritten law to appreciate your girlfriend's beauty whenever she is well-dressed especially in a kimono, is it not…? When Touya saw Sakura and Syaoran turning around a corner out of their sight, he grabbed Tomoyo's wrist and made her stop. Tomoyo gasped lightly and met her boyfriend in the eye.

"Let me tell you when I get the chance to" started Touya and said in his deep, husky tone, "You are beautiful beyond words….took my breathe away….I'm a lucky man"

Tomoyo was rendered speechless because Touya seldom expresses his feelings. Blood rushed to her cheeks, making her glow even brighter under the star-studded sky. Then slowly her painted, red lips stretched into a small smile of contentment. Her hand held his and he intertwined his fingers with hers. Touya shot a sweet smile in return as they resumed walking.

Little could he enjoy the moments with his girl, for once they reached their destination, the crowd's attention, especially the guys' was all over his girlfriend. He hated the way they openly gaped at her, their filthy mouth drooling like those of street dogs. He held her hand tighter and shot them all an angry look, a silent warning to stay away from his girl.

When the suspicious Syaoran turned around, Touya quickly pulled back his hand and hid it in his pockets, much to Tomoyo's disappointment. But she could empathize her boyfriend. Their relationship was to remain a secret at least up till she graduates from school, although they would rather not let the cat out of the bag for as long as Touya was ready for settling down.

It was only then Touya noticed Sakura merrily clinging to Syaoran's arm. He hated that, being the over-protective brother that he was. He was extremely suspicious of Syaoran's intentions, especially after he noticed how impressed he looked after seeing his cute sister. He made up his mind not to let them together alone. Tomoyo noted her boyfriend's silent deliberation, but chose to remain silent and help her friend out from her brother's crazy protectiveness.

Although Touya did his best to enjoy his time with Tomoyo, he kept his watchful eye on the relatively younger couple. On the other hand poor Tomoyo did her best to ease the mood of her man. She tried to deviate his attention from her best friend but was not very successful. The fireworks were as fantastic as every other year and for the brief moments all four enjoyed it. Syaoran was clearly smitten with Sakura. He grabbed her hand and they stealthily escaped the crowd. It was too late for Touya to find the younger couple gone, He panicked.

"Where's Sakura?! Did you see Sakura?!" he said to Tomoyo. Without waiting for an answer, he dashed his way out of the crowd and looked around. They were nowhere to be found. Without even looking back, he ran into the woods hoping to find and 'rescue' his sister from her 'perverse' boyfriend.

He was surround only by tall cedar trees. "Sakura!" a worried Touya called. But he did not get any answer.

"Touya!"

Touya turned around to face his girlfriend who was running towards him. She seemed to have followed his pursuit.

Holy Sh*t! Touya felt bad for abandoning her without a thought. As she closed the distance between them, he found her face flushed by the physical exercise, her chest heaving up and down out of breathe.

"Why did you come?" Sh*t! What am I saying?! Still Touya could not muster up a more polite thing to say.

"Why are you after Sakura?" She answered him with another question. It was the right thing to ask, Because, Touya did not have an answer decent enough to disclose to her.

"I…." he broke eye contact and turned, showing his back to her, "She has to go home…..We have to go home"

"But why? The festival isn't over yet!"

Touya swallowed convulsively, "It's late. She has to-"

"But she's on a date! Can't she spend the evening with her boyfriend just a wee bit longer?!"

"That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid!" Touya raised his voice as he turned around to face her.

"But why? What are you trying to avoid?!"

"…..", Touya bore his glare hard into his girl's confused eyes.

"Why are you trying to avoid the eventuality, Touya?! You do know that Sakura loves Syaoran! And Syaoran loves her all the more! What is wrong with them being together?!"

"You wouldn't understand, Daidouji. They're young. You all are!" Touya bit his tongue. He knew it was high time he kept his mouth shut, especially after seeing the shocked expression on his girlfriend's face. "It's too early for them to….to…for anything!" He fumbled, but Tomoyo completely understood what he meant.

Tomoyo didn't know what to say to that. She muttered, "But-but they're dating-"

"I'm dating too!" Touya said as he pointed his hands at himself, "But I've always kept myself at the safest distance from you. I never laid a hand on you-"

"Who stopped you, Touya?!" interrupted Tomoyo, her voice was musical but her tone showed him that she was hurt.

He sighed. He had to stop it now before this ended up in a huge fight. He licked his lips. He had no idea what to say to her. How was he going to make her understand…?!

She grabbed his hand and demanded in a teary tone, her eyes gathering up tears, "Did I stop you, Touya…? Or am I…. Am I just-"

Touya placed his forefinger on her lips and shook his head in denial. He did not let her complete the sentence for he knew too well what she was about to ask. It would tear him apart just to hear it out from her lips.

"It's not what you think" he said softly, as he wiped away her tears.

"It's just that you're very young"

"But you are too. Twenty four is not an 'old age'" she argued back.

Don't say it-"I'm an adult. But you're a child" Godammit! Why did I just say that?!

Tomoyo froze. She could not believe her ears. Was that how her boyfriend regarded her from the start….?!

"I'm a child" She stated disbelievingly. She broke away from his grip causing his heart to heave down.

"You see me as a child!" she exclaimed, as she started stepping away from him, her face pale in bewilderment.

"….." Touya felt tongue-tied. He knew she was hurt but he had no words to pacify her. What was he to say….?! Was he not honest with her…?

Tomoyo hung her head low, her bangs hiding her teary eyes from his view. "I should have known…." She muttered loud enough for his ears. Before he could react, Tomoyo turned around and ran away. She just left him. He hurt her. He hurt her very badly. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach. What he said has made their relationship questionable. It has made his intentions questionable. Her hurt was an obvious outcome and she had every right to be angry with him. The entire episode has made him question himself. What does he really want with Tomoyo…? With their relationship….? If he had thought that he were an adult while Tomoyo was a child, then why was he even dating her…? Was it merely because of the physical attraction….?!

He did not go after her. Because he was confused with himself. He would not be able to pacify her if he had not the clarify himself. He walked his way out of the woods only to find Sakura and Syaoran looking around in confusion. He wordlessly approached them.

"Oni-san! You're back! But where did you go?!" said a worried Sakura.

"You're number was not reachable" said Syaoran as he kept his mobile into his pocket.

"….." Touya chose to remain silent. He was in no mood to give any sort of explanation. But he had one question in mind. As if she read his mind, Sakura said, "Tomoyo-chan called. She said that her mom was worried and sent her drivers and bodyguards to pick her up"

*PING*

At the sound, Sakura took out her mobile and checked her inbox, "It's Tomoyo-chan. She's reached home it seems"

Touya didn't hear his phone pinging but he couldn't help checking his own phone for any notification of call or message from Tomoyo. None. She's clearly mad… thought he.

Touya was silent throughout their walk back home and even Sakura noticed the sudden shift in the mood of her brother. Syaoran left for his own home after leaving Sakura and Touya at their doorstep.

He couldn't wait to get to his room, which seemed forever to reach. He was thankful that his father only posted a generic enquiry to both on how the evening was and had Sakura answering for that.

He plopped on his bed and kept staring at his phone. Should he call her…? May be a text message…? But how was he going to explain….?

Touya cursed under his breathe as to how badly the evening ended. What was going to happen to both after this….?

Okay now that was quite a twist I've inserted there... Hope you liked it...

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