Hye guys! I hope you like this. Second to the last part of the fic.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis and never will.

Chapter 11: Two Turtle Doves

Chapter Summary: She refused to believe what was happening but deep in her heart, she really was.

'On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves...'

My heart just would not stop from beating so fast. It wasn't normal anymore and I was beginning to worry whether that was still healthy or not.

Ryoma-kun was being different, a good different.

But I was not sure if I was ready to accept it. I didn't want to hold on to something and rely to nothing in the end. I would trust him but for he was always true to his words.

There was a reason why I blushed everytime he was near me.

There was a reason why my heart beat so fast when he stared at me.

There was a reason why I became still whenever he touched or whispered something unexpected to me.

...because I had admired Ryoma-kun for a long time.

I stood in front of my mirror as I observed my appearance that morning. I was wearing a wool coat, thick enough to protect me from the cold. Underneath my coat, there was a fine blue dress hoping to be seen completely later. The snow was amazingly thick today, no wonder Obaa-chan ordered me to wear a coat. She wouldn't take no for an answer. I was also blushing at this moment.

The invitation of Ryoma-kun asking me out was the reason why.

He had confirm it. Today was going to be a date. No wonder I couldn't stop blushing ever since.

I looked around and spotted the wall clock silently ticking from the white cement just above the headboard of my bed.

It was almost ten in the morning.

I mentally panicked when I realized the time. I dashed out of my room and into the living room where my grandmother was resting. I smiled at her as she noticed me approaching the front door.

"I am going, Obaa-chan." My hand found the doorknob and twisted it to open.

"Alright, do be careful, okay?" She turned her head from where she was sitting and smiled at me.

"Hai! I will!" Then the door was closed.

xxx

My breath was out the moment I reached the train station. My hands were resting on my knees to bring back the air into my lungs. It was such a silly thing to run on a snowy weather and also while wearing thick clothes at the same time.

Ryoma-kun was already waiting for me and casually standing near the ticket booth. He looked at me before looking at the clock above us.

"One minute late but that's a record." He reminded me.

"I made it at least!" I replied the moment I got my voice back.

"One minute is still one minute." He insisted.

"Mou!" I pouted.

He turned around without saying anything but I saw the smirk he was wearing on his face.

Ryoma-kun really loved teasing me.

"Aren't you coming or what?"

I blinked twice when I heard his voice. He turned to his shoulder when he saw I wasn't moving. Nodding my head, I silently followed him inside the train. The cabin wasn't crowded so I was able to sit. Ryoma-kun sat beside me. I mustered the courage to look at him and asked;

"Where are we going?"

"It's a secret."

"Not even a hint?" I pleaded when he shook his head no.

"You have to wait until we get there." He leaned on his seat and slouched a little.

I remained silent the whole ride until we reached our destination.

We actually didn't leave the metropolitan area. We just went to a different location of Tokyo.

Our first stop was actually the snowy part of Cherry Blossom gardens. I knew that this place was totally beautiful during spring, during the viewing of Cherry Blossom trees. But right now, it was all white. The snow somehow made the place unique.

"This is such a winter wonderland..." I whispered to myself as I looked around.

"I'll bring you here the next time Cherry Blossom grows."

His words made me surprise. I looked at him and stared into his eyes, "You mean..."

"We will go back here," His eyes found mine, "...in spring." He looked at me intensely and I couldn't help but blush.

My heart was working its part once again. Right at this moment, Ryoma-kun promised that we would come back here.

He would come back so we could visit this place again. I would see him again after this. I fould myself smiling at him;

"I would love that, Ryoma-kun."

A snow flake fell between us. And then another one. We both looked up and saw the flakes slowly falling one by one to the ground. Ryoma-kun surprised me once again when he reached out and grabbed for my hand. We were both wearing gloves but I could feel the warmth through his gloved one to mine. I looked at him and saw him tipping the brim of his hat.

He was never this expressive, let alone holding a hand.

A girl's hand.

"Ikou." He muttured as he pulled us for a walk.

We did walk for a couple of minutes and viewed the frozen Cherry trees around us. There were few people doing the same thing. Ryoma-kun didn't seem to mind them. He would if he knew them.

Maybe that was the reason why he grabbed my hand unhesitatingly.

We left the garden and went to a fancy restaurant afterwards. The snow continued to fall as I looked outside.

"What do you want to eat?"

My vision turned to him when he asked. I looked at the menu without even looking at them. I bit my lower lip and looked at him, "W-whatever you will order, I guess."

I could almost see him raising his eyebrow but thought the better of it. He nodded and looked at the menu. Minutes later, he began ordering for us.

I remained silent while we were waiting for the food to arrive. I could sense that he was staring at me but somehow, I couldn't stare back at him.

Things changed ever since I gave him a present on Christmas Eve. On his birthday. Did I change for the past three years?

Of course I did.

People would physically. It was the personality of an individual that I hope that was not going to change for worse. I was trying my best to be me and I truly hope that Ryoma-kun would see me.

A song was suddenly played from the entire dining area. My face lit up when I recognized what it was.

"12 days of Christmas." I smiled as I listened to one of my favorite Christmas songs.

Ryoma-kun nodded as he too listened to the song.

"There are meanings behind those numbers but I forgot some of them," I whispered still listening and understanding them, "I'll look for them some time."

Ryoma-kun seemed to be saying something but he was interrupted when the food arrived. My eyes widened when I saw what he ordered for us.

He ordered two chicken karaage and tonkatsu for the both of us. I also had my own share of each where I could have eaten just one of them.

"What's wrong?" I looked up when he asked that.

"Is... Isn't this... a lot?"

He blinked twice before he replied, "But I ordered more."

"E?"

He nodded grabbing his own chopsticks, "Banana split."

My eyes widened at his words, "S-seriously?"

"And chocolate chip cookies." He said casually as he took the first bite of his food.

I thought that my jaw literally dropped. My expression made him chuckle and looked at me amusingly.

"Relax, I am only kidding," He finally said biting another one, "You can give me the rest if you can't eat them all."

"You bet I will." I murmured as I pouted a little. I started digging in as well. We continued eating in silence. I was able to finish tonkatsu but not the karaage so I gave it to him shyly. Even though he said that, I felt awkward of giving my leftover to him.

Despite him having a big stomach he was.

We left the restaurant as soon as he paid for our food which he strongly insisted to do.

"Guys always pay for their food on dates." He reminded me and I couldn't help but blush really hard.

I still couldn't believe that this was actually a date.

We continued walking until we tired ourselves. He had the best unwinding place in mind. He brought me to Shinjuku Gyoen National garden. The place was relaxing. The snow had finally stopped snowing. I had the instinct that the volume of snow would decrease for the couple of days from now. And it would be a great news for everyone.

We went to the bridge and faced the lake in front of us. As I looked around, I saw nothing but snow filling the bushes and trees.

The place was awfully beautiful whatever season it'd represent. They had a unique beauty in their own way. Today was no exception.

"I am leaving tomorrow morning." He suddenly blurted out.

My eyes looked down and stared at the cold lake. I gripped my hands on the bar of the bridge, "I know..." I actually forgotten about it but he made me remember. It was a way to ruin a moment like that, "I am used of having around you. I guess it is hard to adjust after you leave."

"I won't be long," He said and looked at me smirking in the process, "You won't even miss me shortly."

"I--I hardly doubt that!" I defended myself pouting in the corner. Then, his words made me realize something.

The fortune slip.

Miss him this time, you'll miss him forever.

The meaning Ryoma-kun said was totally different from the meaning I knew.

I looked at him and stared at his amber eyes. I saw something different in his eyes on me that weren't there before. At least for once.

Fondness.

My heart was beating really loud in my chest. Before I could stop myself, I shared my thoughts with him;

"I don't want you to go." I bit my lower lip as I looked down. It was selfish of me to tell him that but I was actually scared of losing him. Not that I...

"Sakuno..."

My face flushed at the sound of my name. This was the second time he called me that. I flinched when he grabbed my hand and placed something in it. My eyes went from his eyes to my palm.

There were two turtle dove figures in my palm.

I looked up at him once again and gave him an unheard question which he understood for he took one of them and showed it to me.

"Do you know the meaning of turtle doves?" He asked me.

I tried remembering the meaning of them. It was vague but not clear.

"It has something to do with sacrifices?"

"That's what the song means," He said still holding it, "I am talking about a different one."

I frowned at him this time. I never had any idea what he was talking about. Seeing my expression, he shrugged his shoulders and looked at the turtle dove he was holding.

"Turtle doves are a symbol of friendship and love. Keep one, and give the other to a very special person," He looked at me before he hid the one he was holding in his pocket. He smiled a little as he continued gesturing the one that I had in my palm, "As long as each of you have your turtle dove, you will be friends forever."

I was rendered speechless when he explained that. I looked at the dove that was in my palm. Covering it with my hand, I realized what I was to him. I was special to him at least. It was something that I could hold on to once he left.

Yeah, I could hold on to it.

"No, I am not aiming for friendship."

Surprised by his words, I immediately looked up at him as if he really read my mind just now. I was probably showing my unanswered question to my face. Ryoma-kun walked closer to me and did something unexpected.

He place a hand to my cheek and kissed the other at the same time.

I was shocked. My breath hitched. My heart drummed the loudest and my eyes widened when he did that. He moved away a little and smirked a little as well.

"I am aiming for the other one."

My face was really red and I still couldn't find my voice at that time.

"I'll come back," He said looking straight into my eyes, "for sure this time."

"Ryoma-kun..."

He grabbed my hand and gripped it tightly, "When you are ready, I'll make sure to get a better aim."

My eyes widened when he said that. I looked down when I couldn't take his stare anymore. I lot did happen and I didn't mind wanting for more. I was
about to tell him when he stopped me by raising a finger in front of me.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me tomorrow," He told me making me blink twice, "before I leave."

I didn't know why he wanted to wait for tomorrow but I guess I could too. I silently nodded for understanding. We both looked in front of us and stared at the lake once again. True, I'd miss him once he left. But one thing would change.

I would never miss him forever.

Done! How was this chapter? I got the turtle doves meaning from the comedy movie called Home Alone 2. Anyone remembers the movie?

I do not own the movie or the meaning.

One more chapter and I am done.

See you tomorrow!