What To Give


'What to give...what to give...'

Kikumaru chirped vibrantly, Wednesday morning. Valentines Day. This is their first, together. Even though he has to share her to the others on this very special occasion, he doesn't mind. Knowing that eventually, he'll still have most of her attention. Despite what their O'Chibi claims about owning half of her full attention.

'Eiji! -chan is already here! Don't make a nuisance of making her wait!'

Kikumaru kaa-san bellows downstairs. His heart instantly slams against his ribcage. Fortunately, the rest couldn't see him. Especially Fuji. He sweat drops, imagining what particular sadistic smile his bestfriend will possibly impose when he do see him right now. He quickly pick up his bag and brashly runs down the stair. His heart nearly jump out his chest when he saw , smiling at him. The ever popular yet mysterious Echizen ...giving him the smile he calls his own. His mother left them and disappeared towards the kitchen.

'Happy Valentines, Eiji.'

She graces his lips with a light but sweet damp of her own. He blushed furiously, trying to cling steadily to his sanity. let out a rare girly giggle and huggles Kikumaru to wake him up from his trance. She handed him her own made chocolates. He smiled and kissed her back.

'Likewise, . But...I have no---'

placed a finger against his lips and shakes her head.

'How about you give me some of your time alone? It's enough to be a valentines gift Eiji.'

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After school. tries her very best to be polite to every people(majority of them are boys...much to the disdain of the team) who bothers to give her flowers and chocolates, by simply throwing them a 'thank you' and a small smile. She heaves out a sigh everytime she shortens the impending long conversations the givers plans to engage with her.

'Hard to be popular, ne Echizen-buchou?'

It's her vice captain, . frowns, hearing the teasing tone in her voice. Its never been her choice to be like this. All she wished for is to spend the day with Kikumaru whenever possible. But that's not even close to possibility especially when you have eight other pair of eyes surrounding you, obviously scaring the wits of those other males who are trying to vye a little of her attention. Most of all, eight pairs of eyes who are always glaring at Kikumaru whenever he sneaked alone by himself.

'How about you , how's the day treating you?'

'I receive a teddy bear from Atobe, that's one. Then I also receive an invitation for the grand party at Hyoutei tonight.'

Her eyes involuntarily rolled after hearing the name of the sender.

'And you're going I presume.'

'You're not?'

'You can't make me. Besides, I am not a party goer, not if the organizer is Atobe himself.'

chuckles sensing the turmoil in 's voice. Atobe had been persistent on her buchou once. But knowing the scary leader of the girl's tennis club, she turned Atobe down so many times. The buchou is infuriated everytime she finds the Hyoutei emperor popping everywhere she goes. Fortunately for , Atobe eventually stopped and directed his attention to someone...only, it annoys her more that her own fukubuchou started to zone out since she started dating Atobe.

'He is not that bad Buchou.'

'He is only annoying. Now I'm wondering what do you see on that egoistic, arrogant Adonis.'

sarcastically sneers, darting her sharp eyes to . The girl just shrugs her shoulders. Then a grin flashes from out of nowhere making her snarl at what possibility that grin has.

'They are not going here...right?

is about to say something when Kikumaru's arms suddenly wraps around 's shoulders. Fuji, Inui and Momoshiro appeared from behind.

'Happy Valentines, -sempai. So, broken any bones yet?'

Momoshiro knows it is very unwise to crack a joke like that to a person like . But since he's confident that she wouldn't bother to break his bones for now because its indeed heart's day, well he has to work more harder to sharpen his insights. Because as his last word drop out of his mouth, 's glares are sharp enough to even tear him pieces to pieces. Fuji interrupts Momo's impending doom by taking the empty seat infront of her. The tensai faces her with his usual happy smile. While Momo was obviously relieved that his execution is not due until she could have the freetime to kill him thoroughly.

'Happy heart's day -chan. What do you wish for me to give to you?'

Some time alone with Eiji.

Instead of voicing it out, she simply shakes her head and smiles back. Fuji, being the tensai he is, guessed what's on her mind.
'It's alright with me -chan...'

She grimaced, realizing that Fuji had again read her thoughts. Fuji shifts his attention to leaving secretly dumbfounded. It always amazes her everytime Fuji reads her thoughts, anyones thoughts without even asking. Only, most of the ways he reads them has a sadistic aura attached to it. No wonder Tezuka twitches everytime the tensai smiles with the implication of 'I'm-setting-you-up' or 'I'm-going-to-torture-you' scheme.

'Want to have a walk outside?'

nods and enlaced her fingers to Kikumaru's. She has a poor romantic inclinations towards the ooposite gender. She's so sure about it since she consulted Inui's accurate datas. And now she's dating Kikumaru, it makes her oh-so-worry on what to give him that will make this particular day happy for him. He is always bouncy and full of life, opposed to her being somewhat elusive and a loner. He is always one of the crowd while she prefers to be alone with one or two of her close friends. They are different in many ways and it worries her that it will dull their blossoming relationship with each other.

'What's wrong ? Something's bothering you?'

She hand't noticed that he stopped until she heared his voice beside him.

'I think you should go now Eiji. Tezuka hates people who are very tardy.'

She let go of his hand and head to her own clubroom. But before she could even step further away, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back into his arm. She surpress a sigh. Kikumaru might not possess the sharp insight like Tezuka, Fuji or Atobe has. But it is so obvious that he is a very sensitive person, next to Oishi.

'If you won't tell me then let me do that for you. , you don't have to worry on how world's apart are our attitudes and personalities are. Opposite attracts, similar repels remember? You are always the worrier among the two of us, that's enough for me to know that you actually care. I don't see it as a pessimistic attitude. Simple gestures on your part are enough to let me know that I am what you are to me. Being with you is more fascinating than being with lots of people. Bear that in mind.'

And for the first time in their relationship, a tear freely fell from her brown, stormy eyes. Her shoulder shakes slightly as hiccups threatens to build in her chest. And even though it ain't funny, Kikumaru couldn't restrain his self from laughing. Her tear glistening eyes glares at him, only making him smile more while his fingers gently brushes it all away.

' ...'

'What? I am busy being dramatic here, don't interrupt me...'

'What about Hyoutei coming here?'

She eventually forgot that she was crying as a groan escaped her throat. Surely and no doubt Gakuto will react harshly if ever he sees Kikumaru. Then Atobe posing that perfect lifting of his eyebrow when he feels Tezuka's presence. Or Oshitari throw those annoying sarcastic remarks he has in his mouth when crossing their own tensai's path. All because of 's date. Atobe's grilfriend for heaven sake.

'Don't remind me.'

'But why? I thought you are in close terms with Shishido, Akutagawa and Ohtori?'

'Yes I am to those three...but what about the rest, minus Kabaji-kun? Atobe is annoying, Oshitari is as well with those rude comments and reaction of his...then there's his doubles partner Gakuto who has this distinct glint of murdering you. Vanity Eiji, vanity is what drives them to no end. No wonder Hyoutei is famous for it.'

'Its heart's day. Spare them.'

'Maybe I should. But only for today.'

Kikumaru embraced her tightly once again, laughing even more with her statement. No wonder, her own team sees her nothing but their own worst nightmare. Nothing else.

'What's funny? I am not even joking...'

He pushed her in arms length before burying his gaze deep into her eyes. Who would think that Seigaku's fierciest girl has a vulnerability well hidden behind her perfectly molded mask? Of course, only him and the rest of the team.

'You are a monster, my dear .'

Before reacting, she suddenly undergo sets of hiccups that paralyzed her ability to retaliate. Inui suddenly appeared behind them.

'Drink a glass of my concoction so that your hiccups will stop -chan.'

Kikumaru and glared at Inui. Knowing the bespectacled boy, his container never contains water or anything edible to drink. She had never tasted any of his evil experiments. And she has no intentions of doing so. Just by looking on their faces when they are forced to drink Inui's inventions, she could clearly tell that it is not safe to drink.

'Mou Inui! Don't you dare give that evil juice of yours. I'm warning you!'

Kikumaru growled defensively. Tezuka appeared before them with the rest of the team behind him. Kaidoh approached and handed a bottle of water, a real one.
Thanks...my...Kaoru-chan... She manages to say in a broken sentence. Kaidoh flushes immediately with Momoshiro smiling and having entertainment seeing their Kaidoh-chin's face undergo beet red color.

'Ohime-sama having hiccups?'

The others rests a death glare on Kikumaru. He swallow a lump on his throat and prepares his self for another frustrating explanation. Fuji's smiles has that 'you're-so-dead' sign on it, Tezuka's glare throwing him a thousand daggers, Oishi displaying his motherly but stern concern, Kawamura's sad expression says it all, Momoshiro giving him that annoying grin saying 'you-better-run-off-sempai', Kaidoh's viperish eyes nailed darkly right at him and Ryoma silently demanding an explanation.

'Hoi! Nyah~ its not what you're thinking!'

After only a record of ten seconds did Kikumaru ran for his life, for the nth time. Leaving , Inui, Fuji and Tezuka behind. She sigh knowing that the chase would then again take a bit more their time than practicing.

'So there goes my Valentine's date.'

She laughs, more to herself and faced Tezuka then apologized. He nodded and hands out a box of chocolate to her.

'Maa, i thought its the girl's duty to give box of chocolates every Valentines?'

Tezuka blushed, making her try her best not to burst out. Of course, it's a very rare oppurtunity to anyone to see the stoic boy's captain blush in such simple questions. She quietly says her thank you. Fuji handed his heart's day gift to her while watching the others chase Kikumaru around the court.

'Tezuka made it yesterday and almost burn my kitchen down. While Inui nearly blew the microwave oven with his newest concoction instead of helping us melt the chocolate we used. And you'll definitely bash us if ever you're there yourself. Its like my kitchen suddenly turned into a jungle.'

'...still thank you. I didn't imagine you'll even bother to take such effort is this trifle matter.'

'Anything for our ohime-sama. I just wish Inui and Tezuka stops planning of burning not only my kitchen but my house as well the next time they drop by.'

The male captain glares at Fuji who, just like always, ignores it and resume his own style of torturing. She sigh, realizing that she has to endure few more months to be able to pass this madness. Fuji leaned on her ear and whispers ' Don't ever think of what to give to any one of us... -chan. Your unyielding care and attention are more than enough to be a payment.' Then he kissed her cheek lightly.

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epilogue:

'+Zurui yo ne~ nyah~'

Kikumaru pouts when they finally reached her apartment door. She invited him inside and fixed something to drink. He smooths his aching legs after running away from his crazy team mates and from enduring Tezuka's fifty laps punishment.

'Eiji, its heart's day. Spare them.'

He slightly frowns hearing his own words thrown back at him.

'Nyah~ those bakas! They wouldn't even let me out of their sight for even just a second!'

She stifles herself as she pats his back. He gently grabs her hand and locks her in an embrace. He takes a seat on the floor, grabbing her on the waist, making her position somewhat awkward. They both blush but his grip didn't loosen a bit.

'Maah Eiji...I am not comfortable you know.'

finds herself sitting infront of him, her legs slightly parted and hugging his waist. Kikumaru brush his own awkwardness aside and brushes her nose with his. Pulling her a bit more to lessen the space between them. She blushes, winning a smile from him.

'Well I am ...'

His eyes stares at her half lidded eyes with so much love. Who would have guess that they'll end up together? She who is more like their buchou would fell to someone like him who knows nothing but to have fun and tease other in random?

'Time together, nice present , aside from the chocolates...sankyuu~'

His face lighted up. He switch his phone off just in case Inui used that irritating phone of his which has the location finder feature. And so that Fuji, his ever notorious bestfriend would cease on coming up evil plans on annoying him.

'+Do itashimashite...and thank you too for giving me time, Ei---'

Before she could finish saying his name, she was cut off with a kiss from him. Lost in her emotion, she wraps her arms around his neck and kisses back with a slight fierce. Kikumaru pulls her even more closer, his one hand supporting her back while the other is still in her waist. As they parted, he keeps on giving her baby kisses.

'You know what I love about your eyes?'

"What?'

She distractingly ask while receiving his baby kisses on her lips.

'They show me you when you are alone with me. Something that you don't actually show to others...not even to your Ryoma.'

Kikumaru smiles, burying his face on her neck.

'And I am rather pleased with Fuji's ans...itai!'

She glares down at him as he grins at her. He just bit her on the neck.

'Don't. Speak. Fuji. While. We're. Together. .'

He warns her, absolutely flat and without infliction. And that made her only to smile more than she used to.

'Its not healthy to be jealous of someone, especially if it has to be Fuji, Eiji. He is a friend. Your bestfriend. My friend. Why be jealous of him? Stop leaning to his sadistic schemes or you'll end up loosing your sanity in the process. And besides...'

leaned on his ears and said something that made him very surprised. She embraced him as she stifles a laugh. Its obvious that he didn't knew since his observation skills is not as sharps as hers.

'Honto ni? They are +dating?!'

'Hai. So stop that or you'll deliberately answer to Tezuka-buchou.'

'Inui knows?'

'Well, I think so. Since when a matter like that escapes Inui, hn? I highly doubt he has no observations about it.'

He embraced her tight, burying his face in her soft raven hair. He closed his eyes from restrained exhaustion from practicing to the endless chase he had been to with the others. Whatever they see on her eyes, he knows they meant well. What matters to him is that he sees love meant only for him.

What to give? Hmm, I guess I got more than I could wish for...one heart's day I know I'll never regret...



[ end ]



//© 01/17/07 by kitayuki rei



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zurui yo ne means its so unfair or its not fair

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do itashimashite means you're welcome

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tee-hee, i think you know whom Fuji is dating...since i think i gave the answer anyway XD i know its still too early to say this but happy heart's day minna-san!!! I wrote this january 17. and since i'll be leaving for malaysia on the 27th, I am taking the ten day span to write another DN and i might not greet you at all XD please, feel free to criticize. your opinions and suggestions matters a lot to me ^^ thanks again for mitsuiselphie for giving me the oppurtunity XD hai nyah~ domo!