Disclaimer’s first: No. Not mine. Only the plot IS mine.

Summary: Being trapped in a Ferris wheel isn’t that bad at all… see how it made its way for their midnight kiss.

Prompts: Collecting memories in a rainbow pot, Give me something to look forward to, Ryoma’s birthday. Prompts are given to us in I: U by xMeme from the 31days community.

The Midnight Kiss

by astraldrop11

Originally submitted on: 01.01.08

xXx

December 19; 6:30 am

It was one fine wintry morning when Sakuno walked amidst the path of their street heading herself off to school. It was now midwinter, a few days starting from now and it would be Ryoma’s birthday. She was in deep thinking on what to do and what to give when she suddenly bumped into something…

Or someone.

“Gomenasai!” Sakuno bowed a few times, not noticing that the one she bumped up with was the one she was just thinking earlier.

“Oi Ryuuzaki. Ohayou,” Ryoma said with his cool, nonchalant voice.

“R-Ryoma-kun? Ohayou gozaimasu!” Sakuno bowed her head again. “Anou… R-Ryoma-kun, why so early today?” her face now flushed with deep rich red in color.

“Tezuka-buchou told me to do so.” The Cheshire cat-eyed boy replied diminutively.

“I-It must be something important, ne?”

The cat-eyed boy didn’t respond, but Sakuno took it as a ‘yes’. Silence means yes, right?

“Anou… Ryoma-kun, ca-ca-canIjustwalkwithyou?” she asked, stuttering poorly.

“Just get going,” he said while lowering his white Fila cap. “H-Hai!” and at that point, another batch of deep rich red in color was evident on her cheeks. Very evident, I say.

Then they walked together. Stillness filled the scene, enough to hear the gentle wind whip. A nice and almost perfect weather, indeed.

--

After a long, quite walk, just a few meters away from the school gate, Sakuno broke the silence. “R-Ryoma-kun,” she stammered. Her hands were now wet, her knees trembled. She gained all her courage just to ask the question that was bugging her moments ago. She let out a sigh… saying again his name, “R-Ryoma-kun… anou… you got plans for your birthday?” And she swallowed her breath.

“Oi, Echizen!” a voice came from behind. Momoshiro appeared like a sprout, riding with his bicycle. Momoshiro mouthed, “Walking Sakuno-chan from their house to school?” his smile was now up to his ears, “Young love. Oh, young love, young love! It must be young love! It’s so nice to be young!” after Momoshiro teased them, he rode passed them, with his big laughter, clearly can be heard.

Sakuno’s face was now tinted with different shades of crimson. Ryoma lowered his cap, not trying to admit that he, the Tennis Prince also blushed slightly. Slightly. “Baka, Momo-sempai.” said Ryoma with his stumpy voice, enough to be heard by Sakuno who giggled with the boy’s childish acts.

“Mou, Ryoma-kun. Y-You haven’t answered my question yet,” stated the timid lass, trying to brought up the subject again.

Upon hearing those words from her, as if she was demanding him, Ryoma stopped (of course Sakuno also stopped). An evil smirk was noticeable on his face. Then he leaned forward… no, not on Sakuno’s lips but to hear ear instead. “Shouldn’t you the one planning for it?” then he ran towards the school gate, leaving Sakuno dumbfounded, blushing madly.

Then, it finally sunk upon her.

Wha-? Is he making fun of me? Was that real? Me? Planning for his birthday? Am I just imagining it or what? she thought as she slapped her face. Literally.

“Mou…” her lip pouted, “that hurts.”

Hmmm…that must be real, she thought while caressing the reddened slap mark on her face. Ouch. That slap must be really hard. Then, again, a genuine smile was formed on her lips.

“Saku-chaaaan!” someone called out loud.

Without glancing back, she whispered, “Tomo-chan…”

Just then, she felt a sudden pull on her right sleeve. Sakuno’s genuine smile caused by what had happened earlier doesn’t seem to leave her lips. Obviously, Tomoka also noticed it.

“Ne, Saku-chan, what’s with your smile today?” Tomoka asked curiously with a mischievous beam.

And so the two started to walk.

“Oh my, Saku-chan! Did something happen between you and Ryoma-sama?!” Tomoka placed her hands in her O-shaped mouth as if she wasn’t able to believe, even though Sakuno hadn’t said a word yet. Of course, Tomoka felt excited by the sudden thought of her best friend making or having an affair with Ryoma. Just that thought made her go wild.

“Anou, Tomo-chan” Sakuno finally said something, “You’re thinking too much. We just walked together moments ago, then -”

“Then what? Tell me! Tell me!” said Tomoka feeling excited as ever. Almost all of the students along the corridor where the two pals stood where sending Tomoka deathly glares for being such a loudmouth. But, Tomoka never really cared at all.

“Uhm… he did asked me to plan for his birthday. But, I don’t really think he’s serious. Ne, Tomo-chan, what -” Sakuno paused, taken aback by the person who had just passed by them. Tomoka was shouting that someone’s name like it’s her last time to do so. The aforesaid was now out from the scene, but he did left something. The two had found a piece of paper on where they stood. A paper. A piece of small paper which led Sakuno to bent down a little.

After reading, Sakuno felt like bursting from happiness, while the young woman beside her peeked on what’s written on the paper, and after reading so, she’s now performing the Kikumaru Eiji style. She’s doing Kikumaru Eiji’s move when playing tennis. She’s wagging herself like hell.

Someone passed by them. Yes. Someone. And this someone dropped a piece of paper, and he dropped it intentionally to answer the shy girl’s confusion. And what’s in the note was…

STUPID. I AM SERIOUS.

Written all in capitalized letters, Tomoka was grinning and crazy like hell, while our shy Sakuno was silently celebrating the delight she has inside her.

Ryuuzaki Residence; 6:30pm

Sakuno was in her room, reminiscing the sweet little nothing she had with her Tennis Prince. A wind had brought a squint of Tomoka’s lively spirit inside Sakuno’s room. She’s smiling way too much, blushing intensely, and turning and rolling and tossing on her bed vigorously.

She searched the leaflet that was given to her a few days ago. She found it crumpled in her drawer, the yellow-colored crumpled leaflet. Bit by bit, she smoothened up the paper with care, she flattened it on her desktop hoping that she might have some idea for Ryoma’s birthday plan.

And the yellow-colored paper, as if talking, had brought smile on Sakuno’s features. It was said that the People’s Park would soon be open. It’d open exactly the day before Ryoma’s birthday. Good. But how on earth was she going to ask her Tennis Prince out? That was another problem. She sighed.

Will he go out on the park with me? I guess he’d prefer to go at a tennis court and play tennis than to go out in a crowded place, she thought.

“Park. Birthday. Ryoma-kun…” another sigh escaped through her rose-colored lips.

And she fell asleep.

--

The next daylight, Sakuno was awakened by a fresh, chilly, calm breeze that traveled through her body senses. Everyone could tell that today might possibly rain due to the fact that the fervent rays of the golden sun hadn’t invaded yet the whole city of Tokyo.

Sakuno took a peek on her alarm clock. It read 6:45 am! She’s now late for school. Just good. She might not be able to catch for her first subject. And being late meant cleaning the faculty room for a day or two. Jeez. She should be working fast now, or else…

She stood up straight and rushed her way to their bathroom, ate her breakfast, did her hair which caused her to be really late for school, and then… voila! She’s now heading for school!

--

When Sakuno entered the gates of Seishun Gakuen, an O-shaped was accented on her lips. There were no students loitering around the school premises, no chitchats and chatters were heard along the hallway. All she could hear was her breath, the thud of her heart and her inner self who’s saying how witless she was for not remembering that today was the start of their Holiday vacation.

“Listen class, tomorrow’s the start of our Holiday vacation. Sorry to say that we will not be conducting a party for this year for some important matters that was also agreed by your other teachers in First year levels. Remember, no conducting of your own parties, okay? I hope I made that clear. So, you may leave the classroom now. Merry Christmas and a happy new year in advance!”

Different facial expressions were seen - some were happy and jovial, while others are sad and in grief. You could hear chatters and blabbers in each of the four corners of the classroom. Talking of how excited they were for Christmas, saying Christmas greetings as they bade their goodbyes.

Sakuno’s head dropped in disappointment. “Oh, Sakuno! There’re no classes today. How could you forget that?” she said, very much for herself.

Sakuno strolled inside the campus to find herself a comfortable and relaxing place to sit on, maybe she just wanted to rest first for a while before heading back to their house… or maybe she was in search for a cocky and stoic individual, even if she knew it was impossible at this moment to see that someone.

But…

She eyed a bench near a Soda Machine, she let a sigh escaped. “At least I could rest for a little.” and planted her oh-so sweet smile on her features. Just when she was about to sit, she heard a sound… a familiar sound.

Plok.

“Tennis…”

Plok.

She followed where the familiar sound was. Seemed like her feet was leading her to her happiness.

Plok.

She paused. She gaped. She was shocked.

“Why’re you here? You’re disturbing me.” uttered the Tennis Prince, practicing still, not bothering to look behind.

But she was still in the state of being shocked.

Five seconds had passed… ten seconds… fifteen seconds.

“Ah! Anou, R-Ryoma-kun, gomen. Anou… I was looking for a bench then heard a sound. Uhm… and -”

“Stop. Let’s go.” with that, Ryoma held Sakuno’s wrist. The grayish bank of clouds was telling him that it probably would drizzle some time later. And if she’d get cold, it might ruin their date, he thought. Oh, was he thinking about their date? Whoa. His perverted oyaji might be celebrating right as of this moment, together with his nearly father-like brother, Ryoga.

“Ehh? Ryoma-kun? Where are w-we going?” said Sakuno with her oh-so-clueless aura.

“I’ll walk you home,” said Ryoma, “…it might rain” he elucidated in brief.

“Anou, y-you can practice tennis now. I can walk by myself. Y-Yeah, really.”

“We will walk here up to your home together. Get it? Now, stop talking.” said the Cheshire cat-eyed boy. Ryoma was still in grip of Sakuno’s wrist, which later on slid to Sakuno’s soft hand.

Sakuno’s features were now flushed with crimson followed by a slight shiver, tickling each and every spine and nerves of her body. Ryoma glanced at the girl beside him out of the corner of his eyes, and then, he smirked at her sudden redness. He just loved to see our dear Ryuzaki Sakuno falling for him head-over-heels, her heart and knees melting like of marshmallows just by the power of his intent look.

Minutes passed and they finally reached Sakuno’s house.

“Anou, Ryoma-kun, thanks for walking me home today. Arigatou. Ja!” Sakuno said, as she acted on opening their gates.

“Wait.” said the Tennis Prince, plain and flat.

“Ryoma-kun?”

“My birthday. I told you to plan.”

“Ah! I was - uhm…”

“I’m only free on the 23rd. We’ll have some family gatherings on the 24th. So, what now?”

“Anou, I’m planning to go to… uhm… Peo-”

Baka, he thought.

“You don’t have plans, do you?”

“Iie. I’m planning f-for us to go at Peo-”

“23rd. 5pm. People’s Park. Don’t be late. Bye.” with that, he exited.

Sakuno blushed as she watched the vanishing figure of her Tennis Prince. “Mou… I was about to say People’s Park…”

--

December 23; The Big Day

Days passed like lazy fluid. It’s now the 23rd of December. And December 23 meant People’s Park, 5pm, the day before Ryoma’s birthday, Ryoma and their date.

“Oh! I don’t have a dress yet!” she shrieked. “I should’ve prepared my things yesterday.”

She opened her wardrobe and searched for a nice dress that would suit on the weather. While looking on her wardrobe, with a clueless expression on her face, she found a box covered with a pink silk with a white ribbon. There’s also a small card taped on it, and it said:

Merry Christmas, Sakuno.

Obaa-chan

Sakuno hurried her way downstairs and gave her obaa-chan a big hug. “Thank you so much, obaa-chan!”

“I know you’ll like it, my dear. Now, wear it. It’s almost five, Ryoma will be here any minute now.”

“H-Hai!”

The dress was pale pink in color, had ribbons and flowers for details. A spaghetti-strapped, knee-length dress which suited her one-inched sandals. And her hair wasn’t in braids now, her wavy auburn hair had almost reached her waist which was just cascading on her back. Her hair was neatly fine by a wafer-thin, white head band with a small pink flower on the right side of the band. Simple and sweet Sakuno.

5pm sharp.

Ding dong. Ding dong.

For once, her heart stopped to throb, her body stiffened from her crouching position, and her eyes like the whopping size of a saucer. Ryoma-kun!

--

Ryoma was waiting for her downstairs, having a little chitchat with his coach. Minutes later and Sakuno finally went down.

“K-Konnichiwa, Ryoma-kun! Sorry for making you wait. Anou, obaa-chan, can we g-go now?” said Sakuno half nervous and half excited.

“Yes, my dear. And Ryoma, please take good care of my little angel here, will you?” said the Sumire, wiggling her brows.

“Hn.” assured Ryoma.

--

As they walked, Sakuno was having a hard time catching up the pace of her Tennis Prince. Ryoma noticed it and he, being the gentleman he believed he was, he immediately slowed down his pace.

When they reached the park, they played several games, walked there and sat here, stillness gone and conversations took place, bought ice creams, and won prizes.

“It’s already 8pm. Aren’t you hungry? We can eat now if you want.” offered Ryoma who was pointing at a burger station just beside the park.

“I would love to, Ryoma-kun.” replied Sakuno with a shy smile.

--

After they ate, they went back to the park and sat there for awhile. They were having so much fun that they didn’t even notice that their hands were perfectly locked with each other. Sakuno stood up from where she sat, which led Ryoma to look up at her with his golden orbs fixed with hers.

She was pointing at the Ferris wheel ride across them.

“Anou… Ryoma-kun, I want to try out that ride.” pleased Sakuno who’s still pointing her index on the said ride and nudging Ryoma’s hand at the same time.

Of all Ryoma hated the most, Sakuno was using her puppy-like eyes to make Ryoma agree.

“Sure,” Ryoma said.

She won and he lost.

--

“Ryoma-kun! Let’s get out of here! It’s so creepy up here! We might fall! Ryoma-kun!” screamed Sakuno, now scared of where they were, up and away from the land. Sakuno’s left hand was covering her eyes, while her other was interlocked with Ryoma’s wrist.

“Hey, you’re gripping my wrist too tight. We have a nice view up here. Open your eyes for you to see.” Ryoma said while looking outside the window of the Ferris wheel compartment, sightseeing the colorful lights of the busy Tokyo at night.

After the third time the Ferris wheel reeled, they heard a sound… an annoying and screeching sound.

Eeeeeeeeecckk. Eeeeeck. Eeeck.

Sakuno’s eyes shut open. Now, her hands were now in tight grip with Ryoma’s wrist.

“Ryoma-kun! It stopped! W-Why?! Is there something wrong? What’s happening?” Sakuno panicked.

“Loosen up. Relax.” Ryoma replied with voice full of concern, but still not obvious on his face, “Nothing will happen. Get it?” he continued and smiled.

He smiled… for her.

“H-Hai. Domou arigatou, Ryoma-kun.” she forced a smile and heaved a sigh.

“Betsuni.”

--

One hour had passed and nothing still happened. They were still up there; while the operators of the ride were trying their very best to resolve the part of the machine that was damaged.

Meanwhile, the twosome up the Ferris wheel compartment was staring at the night sky. You can picture out perfectly that the two were happy, though Sakuno still couldn’t let her mind be at peace. The night sky was filled with shining, shimmering, glimmering, twinkly stars and the beam of the moon lightened every busy street of Japan.

They were sitting next to each other, in which the compartment wobbled a little. Sakuno’s back rested on Ryoma’s chest, her right hand rested on Ryoma’s left thigh, and her other hand was on her lap. Ryoma’s hands were girdled on Sakuno’s petite waist. It was the very first time of this day she felt secured. So much secured for she was next to the guy who had captured her heart ever since the day they met.

Sakuno was looking outside the Ferris wheel window, seeing the colorful street lights, glancing at the stars each in a while. While our young tennis prodigy wasn’t looking at the same direction Sakuno’s orbs were seeing, for he was looking at the girl beside him, the girl he never thought of to fall in love with, the girl he least expected to fall in love with… for he was looking at Sakuno, the girl who had his heart entirely and wholly… his heart which he thought was just for tennis and tennis only.

Seemed like the gentle, chilly wind was with them, Ryoma tightened his embrace on Sakuno, which led Sakuno to look at Ryoma. So now, they were there, trapped in a Ferris wheel Sakuno forced Ryoma to try… their lips just a hundred leaves of notebook apart from each other. They were so near to the temptation of kissing each other, if one of them would just move an inch forward and they will devour each others lips.

Move in a little closer.

Desire…

Temptation…

Just when they decided to gave in to their temptation… just when they decided to set aside the boundaries between them… just when their lips were fifty leaves of notebook apart from each other… the Ferris wheel moved. The Ferris wheel moved.

It moved.

“Worry no more, guys! The Ferris wheel machine’s now in control!” yelled the ride operator.

The two teenagers who were about to overwhelm each others lips were flushed with deep shades of crimson. Ryoma instantly changed his gaze from Sakuno to the street lights, while Sakuno just fixed her stares on the compartment’s floor.

They were finally in the real world. The Ferris wheel operator kept on saying of how sorry they were, while the twosome and the other riders just nodded for understanding.

Ryoma looked at his wrist watch, it read 11: 35pm.

Twenty-five minutes before their midnight kiss. Gulp.

“It’s getting late now. Let’s go home.” said Ryoma, “To your home, I mean. Your obaa-chan might be worried by now.”

“H-Hai!” replied Sakuno meekly.

--

Instead of riding a bus to head for Sakuno’s house, they decided to walk, for the buses were rarely seen on the streets, and if they’d see one, the bus was either full or will now go straight for garage. And hell, long walk meant more time together.

Along with the now-dark-and-gloomy streets of Tokyo, which the only light that passed through the way was a streetlight post in every corner of the street, Ryoma took Sakuno’s hand for he already knew that Sakuno was afraid of dark places, and if he’d not be holding Sakuno’s hand, that might probably lead to any further accidents due to Sakuno’s inborn clumsiness.

Time check; 11: 55 pm.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

So near to their midnight kiss.

At last, they’re now at Sakuno’s house. Ryoma let go of Sakuno’s hand, while Sakuno bowed a few times to say her thank you on her Tennis Prince for such a memorable day, while Ryoma just gave her a little smile as his respond. At least he smiled, even for just a little.

They stood outside Sakuno’s gate for a few minutes without uttering any word.

11: 58pm.

Thuds faster.

“Anou… Ryoma-kun, it’s getting late. Oyasumi! Thanks again for this day. I enjoyed it!” Sakuno blushed and planted a sweet smile on her lips, and bowed her head once again.

11: 59 pm.

One minute to go before the 24th of December, and a minute to go before their midnight kiss.

“Uhm… Ryoma-kun. I guess it’s already 24th, anou, happy birthday!” with that, Sakuno stepped forward and planted a soft kiss on Ryoma’s cheek. “Oyasumi again, Ryoma-kun. Happy birthday.”

Sakuno was about to enter their gates when Ryoma held her hand. By the sudden action Ryoma had made, Sakuno’s eyes were like of saucers, again.

11: 59 pm and 30 seconds.

Breathtaking moment. Crucial point.

Ryoma stepped closer to Sakuno, put his left hand on Sakuno’s waist and the other was caressing Sakuno’s face down to her nape.

12:00 midnight.

Now’s the time. Now’s the momentous moment…

He checked his watch.

“Twelve o’clock. Where’s my gift?” Ryoma’s golden orbs were staring fervently with Sakuno’s russet eyes. “I want it now.”

She knew it. She knew what he was talking about.

Sakuno encircled her arms on Ryoma’s neck. And now, the boundaries were set aside… they gave each other the pleasure they long awaited. Their lips now caressing each other passionately… overpoweringly… fervidly. Ryoma engulfed Sakuno’s lips, while Sakuno just let Ryoma to do his stuff.

I didn’t know I want her this much.

Oh, so he wants me this badly, ne? Mada mada dane, Ryoma-kun.

But, just when their kiss was about to reach its highest peak…

Sakuno broke up.

WHY?!

“If we go on, that’s too much for my gift to you. That’s so unfair Ryoma-kun, you know.” said Sakuno as she giggled.

Ryoma smirked and leaned forward to Sakuno’s ear, “Mada mada dane, Ryuzaki. I’ll get revenge on your birthday.”

.

FIN

.

Author’s pointless verbiage: Kyaa! Finally done in typing this. Banzai! Ei, minna, was it boring? On what level? Very? Sigh. Gomen. Anyway, I was about to post this fic yesterday (12.31.07), but, eventually, my internet connection screwed up. So, I waited until December 31st midnight but nothing still happened on my connection. Anyhow, please feel free to point out any grammatical and structural errors, including the wrong typos and the small letters that should be capitalized, and the like. I’d appreciate that, really. I just reread this once because I’m lacking time to do so, so sorry, if in any case that this fic nauseates, sickens and disgusts you. I’d be very grateful to receive reviews, any kind will do, may it be a flame, blaze, flicker or whatever. Reviews boosts up my mood and your reviews will help a lot for me to get better in writing fanfics, too. So please, review, review! Happy new year, minna!

People’s Park is also a newly-opened park here in my place. So another disclaimer for whoever named that park.

--

Edited: July 26, 2008. The tenses still sucked, the characters were still OOC. I know.

--

astraldrop11