Dear Readers…. I'm sorry I took so long to update this chapter. It was all because of Writer's block. Hope you like this.

The next morning, Touya received a mail from his boss on his upcoming project. His new project was in Tomoeda again and it would span for another nine to twelve months. He was not sure whether he had to be happy or sad about it. If things were normal between him and Tomoyo then, this would have been a news to celebrate upon. Speaking of which, how was he to fix the mess he has made in their relationship?!

It has been three days and Tomoyo got no phone call or message from her man, much to her disappointment. Keeping aside the dilemma she'd be in, in deciding on or against responding to them, the fact that he didn't seem to care enough only seemed to demonstrate how shallow his feelings were for her. It seemed that he was only proving that she was a replaceable entertainment for him. She was hurting so much. But she did not lose hope in him. She knew or more like, she hoped he'd get back to her someday.

As for Touya, he was suffering. Days passed and he only felt worse. He wanted to call and talk to her very badly but he had no idea how he was going to 'fix the mess' he made. He knew that she was a matured girl, beyond her age and that was what he liked about her the most. But he could not help feeling that she was but a mere child physically, if not in mind, whatever he meant by that.

The passage of two weeks only made things more awkward for Touya. It took him immense strength to stop himself from contacting her and one fine day, he gave up. There he was standing behind a tree waiting for Tomoyo to come out after the end of day at school. She did come out wearing that smile he missed seeing so much and much to his horror she was smiling at that Juno brat. His blood ran cold as he stood rooted to the ground that he failed to notice that Juno saw and recognized him.

Juno grabbed Tomoyo's hand and escorted her out of school. Touya hated the fact that she didn't shy away from his touch. He did not feel bad one bit for stalking them and he only found them entering Mcdonalds' for snacks. Touya felt a lump in his throat. The worst he had feared, had happened. The fact that Tomoyo was an adolescent was only proven by the sight in front of him. She, just as his deepest, darkest fear, was a mere adolescent child, looking for attention and love in the opposite sex. So, she went for the one who was willing to give it all to her without reservation. Otherwise, she would not have been able to move on so quickly after the 'break' in the relationship. He could not bear to see them eating, chitchatting and laughing merrily in the restaurant, he just left the next moment.

Another two weeks rolled by at a painful pace. Touya was dying everyday ever since he saw Tomoyo with that brat. His conscience knew that if only he tried, he'd get his girl back but he was not ready to make the move. He was not sure about her. And even if he tried patching up with her, he wouldn't be able to deal with her rejection. It could kill him.

Fujitaka did notice the sullen change in his son's behaviour over the past weeks. He did ask him about it a couple of times but Touya only denied it. He did not persist because, Touya would deal with his personal problems on his own. He always did. If he needed his dad's help, he would come. And he was right.

There was this evening, when the father and son sat together for tea. Touya saw his dad smiling as he slightly shifted his mom's photo frame in place. What surprised him was the twinkle in his dad's eyes when he saw the picture. He seemed as though he saw her in person. Silence prevailed for the first minute which was broken by the younger Kinomoto.

"Dad..."

"Hm…?", Fujitaka hummed.

"You dated someone much younger than you. How hard was it….?"

"Hmm…You do know how your mom and I first met…"

"Yes. Angel from the sky falling into your arms. Love at first sight. I remember" said Touya.

The humour in his statements made the elder Kinomoto smirk. "End of story" said he.

"Eh….?!" Touya didn't get his dad's hint.

"Son, we were in love. Period" said his dad as if that explained everything.

Noting the confusion in his son's expression, Fujitaka said, "The current generation fails to understand that true love is the root for a strong, long-standing relationship. The stronger the root, the better are the chances for the relationship to survive. As simple as that. Without something as basic as that, you guys are complicating a beautiful bond. I pity you all"

Touya was beginning to understand what his dad's point was.

"We both were in love with each other so much that the age gap didn't matter. I courted her till she completed high school. I proposed to her and we got married right after. We were very happy"

Touya nodded in agreement.

"Don't you miss mom…?" What a stupid question! Why did I even ask that?!

"Not as much as I used to during the initial years after she passed away"

Touya raised his brows in surprise.

"Because, I realized that she is only physically unavailable. But her spirit is always in and around us at our very home. I could feel her presence wherever I go, whatever I do…. I often speak to her in mind and I somehow know that she can hear me. I could feel what she feels for me and for my kids...I could feel her love every time I breath….I love her….yep!" said Fujitaka with a sigh, a bright smile plastered on his face.

Touya looked at his dad in amazement. His dad was a strong man for having dealt with the loss of his most precious possession and still smile so cheerfully. He had to learn a lesson or two from his dad.

Touya smiled back, "Thanks dad"

"You're always welcome, son"

"I love her" Touya heard himself say. Yes. It took him while to realize that he has fallen head over heels in love with the long-haired lass. It was Tuesday evening when he had to get ready for the music show at Sakura's high school. Tomoyo was to sing a solo song. The reminder of the girl made his lips stretch into a small smile. After a week-long deliberation, he decided to go to the event. Tomoyo made only a general invitation for Sakura's 'family' to attend, that too, when he was not at home. He felt that she intended the invitation specifically for him to come, although he had his own doubts that he was just imagining things. He mustered up the courage to see his girlfriend and her guy friend together at school. He can't keep shying away from the reality, he had to face it someday.

There he was sitting at the first row next to Sakura on one side and Fujitaka on the other. The curtains fell and there he saw the maiden in a purple, knee-length gown. Her long and thick lustrous hair was curled neatly for the occasion. There was this serenity in her face, grace in her gestures and poise in her conduct that kept reminding him of how he fell in love with her. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her fair, long neck. She was wearing the thin silver chain with stone-studded silver flower pendent which he gifted her when they were dating. She purposefully wore it just to throw a hint at him, and he could bet his life on that. His gaze shifted to her face, only to be caught in the eye by Tomoyo. Her eyes twinkled in mischief and his heart jumped at that. She broke the eye-contact and prepared herself to start her solo.

It was a 7-minute long, slow song. It was about a woman suffering alone, waiting for her warrior husband to return home after the war. Touya felt his heart melting and he kept falling in love with her time and again throughout her singing. He loved her so much that it hurt him deeply. He wanted to sweep her off her feet and take her away. He wanted to take her captive in his arms and not let her go even for an instant. Oh, how much had he pined for her!

Before he knew it, her performance was over, followed by a huge round of applause. And before the curtains fell, much to his horror, he found Juno grabbing her hand for congratulating her. His heart hit rock-bottom and his mind went numb at the sight. He did not want to know how he felt anymore. He couldn't stand the scene for another moment, he just got up and left without even telling anyone.

Sakura, Syaoran, Fujitaka and Sonomi were so ecstatic that they did not notice Touya's absence. They found Tomoyo in her artist's changing room near the backstage.

"You were fantastic, Tomoyo-chan!" said Sakura as she threw herself at her, making the singer giggle.

"You did great" said Sonomi.

"That was a splendid performance, Daidouji. You have a great voice and your music was flawless" Fujitaka showered praises on Tomoyo making her blush.

"That was awesome, Tomoyo-chan" said Syaoran.

Tomoyo's other classmates followed and it was raining praises on the girl.

When it was about time for them to leave, Tomoyo said, "Mom, I need to change, plus, I have to thank my class teachers for supporting me. Please let the car wait outside. I shall come home in an hour"

"Very well then, Tomoyo-chan. I'll be leaving now. Please call the driver once you start" said Sonomi before leaving. When everyone left, leaving her room to herself, Tomoyo shut the door and locked on the inside.

Tomoyo sighed out loud. "Everybody left. You can come out now" she said as she turned around to face the unexpected guest.

Upon hearing her assurance, Touya's head perked out from behind the cupboard. Having double checked with his own brown eyes, he came out of his hiding place.

"*WHEW* I had almost thought, I'd be caught!" he sighed.

"Pfft" Tomoyo suppressed a giggle.

"So where was I…? Oh yeah! I was about to apologize to you before I was rudely interrupted by our family…..and your classmates"

*GIGGLES* Tomoyo could not help the happy giggle this time, especially after hearing him saying about him apologizing to her.

"I'm ugh….Sorry…." Touya drew a deep breathe and started in a determined voice, "I don't see you as a child anymore. Nor do our age gap matter to me anymore. You're my equal. All I know is that you're very important to me….like mom, dad and Sakura….that you and I are meant to be…. That I love you….For who you are and for what you are…. This is the last straw, Tomoyo. I'm not letting you go. You're forever mine"

Tomoyo's eyes were welled up with tears. She could not believe her ears. Was she dreaming again?! Was it really her enigmatic Touya making such an honest confession?! And for the first time, he called her by her maiden name! She ran towards him and threw herself at him. Touya instantly took her in the tight embrace he had been constantly daydreaming to make every day.

"I knew this day would come! I was sure of it! I was waiting for you to get back to me, Touya! I missed you so much!" said Tomoyo tearfully.

"I missed you too" he muttered into her ear as he patted her hair.

"Then why didn't you call or even message me?!" she demanded.

"Eh….?! You surely wouldn't have responded to that" Touya countered.

Her boyfriend was right and she knew it. But she was persistent, "How would you know unless you try?"

Uh-Oh… Touya knew there was another fight brewing to ruin their happiness. He fixed his gaze on his girlfriend's face wearing that apprehensive expression. His lips stretched into a smile that made Tomoyo's heart skip a beat.

"I just do" he muttered gruffly as his hand held her jawline firmly. Tomoyo gasped as she felt her mouth closed by Touya's. Tomoyo's lips were as soft, full and sweet as he had imagined. He sucked her lips gently and was impressed with how well his girlfriend was able to return the favour, although inexperienced. Tomoyo felt strong arms wrapping around her thin frame, leaving no space for air between their bodies. Her head was spinning and her heart was thumping hard against her chest as was Touya's. Touya's lips were getting a lot less gentle than how they were when they started the lip-lock, enticing sweet moans from his partner's mouth. He was so much in love with the girl he was kissing and good Lord! The kiss was turning out way better than his wildest dreams! His mind was drowning in passion and his hands were beginning to refuse to stay put within the territory of decency any longer.

*THUD*

Two pairs of eyes snapped open only to realize that they both have moved to the door and slammed on it during their little adventure. They broke the kiss, breathing heavily against each other's faces.

Moments after catching the breathe they both deprived each other of, Touya reluctantly released his hold on her and stepped back looking into the glowing face of his girl, flushed with their 'exercise'.

"Our folks will be waiting. We're gonna be late" said he. Tomoyo smiled and nodded in agreement. Touya was the first to leave the room and join his dad and sister. He left the school driving the car home. After a few minutes, Tomoyo came out and boarded her car.

That was quite an eventful evening for the couple. It was that evening when they realized that they were never to part and were meant to be together forever. But then again, what about Tomoyo's mother….? How would she allow the relationship….? The couple was well aware of the danger they were in, for Sonomi would go to any extent, if it is about her beloved daughter. As much as her happy as she was being with Touya, she secretly harboured the fear for Touya's career and life. Surely Sonomi would not hurt a hair of her beloved cousin's children but then again, her resentment for Fujitaka and the fate that befell his bride could make her do the unthinkable.

How was it….? Please leave a review….