Hello! It's been a while. I know I have been lagging with my updates these past few months. I don't know but I can't return to the time when I can always update. I want to write at every chance I can get but I think even time is not allowing me to do that. Anyway, I did a special break just for this two-part chapter of this fic. I think you knew the reason why. I hope you like it. :)

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

His Birthday, Her Birthday

Chapter One: Just when he realized his feelings on his 16th Birthday, he had so many ridiculous rivals and he couldn't even beat them, especially they weren't even real.

Yo.

How should I introduce myself? Ah, right. Echizen Ryoma here. Or should I do western style?

Ryoma Echizen here.

It didn't matter. I guessed you all knew about me considering that you were totally at one hundred and sixty-eight words reading this story of mine. You got it right, I am counting the numbers. It was all about me and...

I wouldn't go on with the details yet. Or at least, I hoped. I wasn't the talkative type but since I am sharing my own point of view, I thought it would be okay. Not much of 'quotation marks', I hoped. I was not that kind of observant outside tennis but things seemed starting to change. I'd met her, yes, her. The girl in that very train station that day. I didn't remember her much since like I said, I was into tennis. She would go and see the whole tennis team practice and would cheer for us for tournaments. She would approach me and congratulate me whenever I won my game. When did I lose a match anyway? Having the same get up most of the time, I've grown used of her presence because of her constant support of our team.

"I am already reading the second book of the sequel!"

Her voice boomed from the corner of my locker and I sighed. She was still talking about it. Wondering what I was talking about?

"Really? I told you he would come back!"

"Yeah, but the book is telling the other side of the story. It's okay since it's him," Her expression changed when she thought of that certain character, "Percy's back in the story!"

There was your answer. Ever since her friend, Osakada, introduced her to different kinds of books when we entered high school, she started being a bookworm or something. She liked reading during our middle school years but she never paid much attention like this before. Now she was kind of interested of some demigod who could control water or something. Not that I knew about it, she kept talking about him.

I looked at the corner from where I was standing and she was there with her best friend.

This girl, Sakuno Ryuzaki was visibly a bookworm now.

I closed my locker and made myself noticeable for them. Osakada felt my presence first.

"Ohayou, Ryoma-sama!" The girl greeted me.

"Chissu..."

"O-Ohayou, Ryoma-kun." Ryuzaki's face was flushed when she greeted me. Some gesture never changed. I nodded at her and looked at the both of them. Then, that was the time I noticed the book that Ryuzaki was holding to her arms.

"The Son of Neptune," I read the title allowed, "You are reading that." It wasn't really a question but it made her frown a little.

"Hai," She replied, hugging the book tighter and it made me feel a bit annoyed at the simple gesture she was doing, "It's a good read."

"Better than Shadowhunters?" I asked.

"That's a different book, Ryoma-sama," Osakada butted in, "This includes Greek and Roman gods. The book you were referring to was about half-angels and half humans."

"Aren't you talking about stupid and moron?" I asked again and it was a bit weird I remembered the term, although it was funny.

"You mean Strigoi and Moroi," Ryuzaki corrected. Okay, I was stand corrected, "And that's another book."

"You are clueless when it comes to book," Osakada crossed her arms in front of her and shook her head at the same time, "Totally clueless."

"I don't read." I only answered as I tucked my hands in my pockets. I could see that Ryuzaki was about to say something when an arm locked me from behind.

"Echizen! It's early and you are already flirting," His voice made me a bit irritated not only he was locking me with his grip but also the tease he was saying, "with these cute ladies."

"Momo-chan-senpai, you know that we are not!" Osakada humbly said though it was noticeable from her expression that she liked her description senpai addressed them.

I looked away and found something to watch.

"Doushita no, Ryoma-kun?" Her worried voice made me look back at them. I pried senpai's hand, fortunately he removed it from me.

"Betsuni."

"Don't be like that, Echizen," Momo-senpai said and then asked the girls afterwards, "What are you guys talking about anyway?"

"We are talking about this book," Ryuzaki showed him the book, "I am currently reading this book."

"Hey, isn't that the story you told me the last time?"

"Yes, you are right, senpai!" Osakada answered for her friend, "This story is getting good so far."

"I remembered Percy has a half-brother cyclops," Momo-senpai beemed and it also made me look at the girls' reaction. Maybe I was just hearing things and senpai was making that up. Percy, if I remembered it correctly, was a human. Okay, half god-half human as these girls said before. But to have a cyclops as a half-brother...

"That's right," Ryuzaki confirmed much to my dismay, "His name is Tyson."

Great. A person had a half-brother in a presence of a cyclops.

"That reminds me," Senpai looked at me and remembered something, "You also have a half-brother in America, right?"

Double great. Now these people would compare my poor older half-brother to a cyclops. "The last thing I checked, he wasn't a cyclops."

"Don't be like that, Echizen,"

"Said that twice already."

I was about to leave them when Momo-senpai grabbed me from my collar neck and pulled me closer. "Are you PMS-ing or something? Why are you so grumpy?"

"Am I what?" I frowned at the word he was talking about. What in the world PMS-ing meant anyway?

"Just because your birthday is the other day, you would snob everyone here?"

"Sou ka!" Osakada clapped her hands making me twitch in the process. Somehow I didn't like what was going to happen next. "Ryoma-sama's birthday is on the Christmas eve!"

"Thank you." I said and looked at Momo-senpai, "Can you let me go now?"

"Ryoma-kun!" I turned around and for once, I thought that my heart skipped a beat. The girl leaned closer to me as if she was not aware how close she was to me, "We must celebrate your birthday. It only comes once a year."

I never had the chance the observe her face before but now, I found her... cute. I found my voice afterwards and slowly nodded to her, "Whatever." I sort of had that as an answer and I had the feeling she understood me. Then her eyes suddenly became wide. Her face turned red and moved away from my face. I tried hiding my smirk as she looked away. She only realized what she had done a few minutes ago.

"Yosh! Now it's settled! We will celebrate Christmas as well as Echizen's 16th birthday!"

It was crap. I couldn't believe I let my guard down because of her proximity and now everyone was going to celebrate my birthday.

xxx

The conversation yesterday spread through the tennis team and it was reached to sensei's ears. I would've guessed who spread the wonderful news. And now, they couldn't stop thinking of my birthday and take note, it was going to be tomorrow.

"We should celebrate your birthday on a hill." Ryuzaki-sensei suggested.

"With fireworks." Fuji'senpai added.

"And lots of food." Horio concluded.

"Saa, Taka-san will be responsible for the food," The Fuji-senpai said looking at the powerhouse player who was scratching his head, "Then after midnight. We will celebrate Christmas with our families."

"Sounds good," I said lazily, "But it's not new year so do you need fireworks and why celebrate on a hill?"

"Because it's fun to have fireworks, ochibi," Eiji-senpai inserted looking excitedly at me, "The hill is the closest to everyone's home."

"We can reach our places in no time." Oishi added as if he was thinking more, "I won't object in that but what about the preparations. Echizen's birthday is tomorrow."

I looked at everyone's face and it was funny how problematic they appeared. It wasn't a big deal. I was about to tell them that they did not need to celebrate my birthday when Osakada saved them... somehow.

"Don't worry about the cakes," She said making us to look at her. Then she grabbed Ryuzaki's arm and pulled closer to her, "Sakuno and I will make some for the guys. It will be a piece of cake for us, right Sakuno?"

"H-hai..." She agreed although I could see that she had not got a choice but to do it. I wonder if she really wanted to do it.

Or prefer to read all day long... which somehow irritated me.

"It's settled then," Sumire announced calling everyone's attention, We'll meet here tomorrow at five."

Everyone agreed and they didn't even ask for my confirmation. I sighed. I couldn't understand adults. Once they made a decision like that, they wouldn't listen to you. I might as well go with them, well, yeah, go with it.

xxx

The day passed by really fast. It was already afternoon. Sensei cancelled the practice that afternoon. Really, was my birthday that important and they postponed the practice that day? Well, I wouldn't skip my own practice and I was on my way to the court.

And then I saw her.

She was sitting under a cherry tree. From where I was standing, I could see every detail of her figure. Her hair was following the direction of the wind. Her eyes and lips were smiling. She was naturally... natural.

If it wasn't her reading another book.

She was in her another world I guessed. She didn't even sense me approaching her. I had the chance to glance at whatever she was reading. And there it was, I saw the magic word once again.

"Percy Jackson.again? Huh?" I announced which she flinched when she heare my voice. I intended to do that to her.

"Ryoma-kun," She called, "I am about to finish this book."

"Hn." I nodded. And that was good news for me. For some reason it did.

She grabbed something from her bag that I wasn't aware when she showed it to me, " I can finally start the third book soon."

Or not.

I frowned at the book, "Another book?" I hoped even though the title of the third book seemed to be telling me otherwise.

"No, it's still the same." Sakuno said as she touched the cover of the third book. Her smile was extended to her eyes, "They are so close of meeting each other. Percy and Annabeth."

"Are they far away to each other?" I decided to lean on the trunk of tree and humor her for a while.

"Yeah. It is hard for them to be separated. To be demigods. They have to follow prophecies and such."

I really wanted to follow her words but she seemed to be in her world of her own. "They are demon gods? Is that the word I've heard before?"

"N-no! Demigods." She corrected as she looked at me. I finally got her attention, "They are called half-bloods."

"Half?" I asked curiously, "What's the other half then?"

"Mou! Ryoma-kun, they are half- human, Half-God. That's what describes their identity."

"Is such identity even real?"

"This is only a fiction story, Ryoma-kun," She told me as she hugged the book. I flinched when she did that. I hoped she didn't notice that I did, "I can only admire him from his heroic deeds."

Great. Now I have someone to think as a rival, even though he didn't exist. Wait, rival? What was I thinking? Looking at the girl, I only realized that I was noticing her these days. Before, she was trying to get my attention, if I was correct about that. But now, I was trying to get her attention. I hoped I was not too late of doing that.

How to get her attention? That, I was still planning to know. It was still hard for her to talk to me, without inserting someone in our conversation. She couldn't stop talking about demigods and their prophecies and so on and so forth.

I knew these things for now but for the next minutes, believe me, I would forget them again.

"Ryuzaki." I called cutting her from talking.

"H-hai..." She answered. Good thing that she didn't appear upset when I stopped her.

"Just do not be late tomorrow." I started walking away from her, leaving her sitting under the tree. She was still thinking what I was talking about and I could hear her react when she finally realized it.

At least I was able to get her attention even just for a short time.

xxx

I woke up early with Oyaji's annoying voice. He woke me up technically by simply barging into my room without welcoming himself.

"Rise and shine! Seishounen! Get off your butt of the sheet and start living your special day." Nanjiroh started and sat on the bed, "Don't miss a day.!"

"Get off, oyaji," I said pushing his back away from my bed. I covered my face with the blanket and turned away from him, "It's too early to bug me."

Oyaji yanked the blanket, much to my irritation. I crouched as he continued making a commotion in my room. Take note. In my room.

"It's your birthday and everyone is preparing something for you." Oyaji reminded me. As if I did not know about that.

"Thanks pop, can I go back to sleep." I said preparing myself to lie down again but Oyaji pushed me away from the bed.

"Go and multiply, you big son of mine."

I did go out from my room, not missing to change clothes real fast and retorted to my father, "Baka oyaji. Just get out of here when I am gone."

xxx

I stiffled a yawn as I walked down the street. It was really early and I didn't know what Oyaji was planning. How could a father kick his son out of his house? It was so absurb. Not like I was complaining or something. Good thing I wore something neat.

Because it would be disappointing if an auburn haired-pigtailed girl saw me in something inappropriate. And that girl would happen to be sitting on a bench in the park where I was entering.

For some reason, my heart skipped a beat when I saw her there. Her expression was genuine. Even her eyes were smiling. I had the same feeling that I saw this scene before. Like when she was reading a book.

My eyebrows almost met each other when I remembered that. It was impossible for me to forget because I was actually feeling deja vu at this moment. I just realized that my feet were automatically moving to her location and it was disappointing that she hadn't notice my presence yet. I was just standing behind her as I moved to that spot.

How could this girl let her guard down like that? I almost frowned when I saw the book that she was currently reading.

"How come you let anyone approach you without any warning?" I suddenly said not taking it anymore, "You are too absorb at reading his story."

"Ryoma-kun!" Her voice sounded surprised. I did that on purpose. She blushed as she closed the book, "I-I was just getting into the story. Percy is so persistant of-"

"Letting your guard down." I finished. If I didn't, I would never get the end of it.

"No, silly. It's not I totally let my guard down."

"He is making you that way." I couldn't help it. Percy Jackson wasn't real, not in my world at least.

"Ryoma-kun, what do you mean?"

"What do you mean I mean?" I asked back.

"Percy isn't real." Ryuzaki said not that I didn't know it.

"He's a demon god-"

"Demigod."

"That's what I said."

"I just want to read books."

I sighed. I had been aware that she was. Well, she was doing it all the time. I was sometimes upset when she was not cheering for me anymore... not that I would admit it.

"Will you do me a favor and don't read, just for today."

"E?"She frowned when I said that. I gave her that look she would understand. She blushed much to my amusement but that didn't last long when she started to talk;

"But promise me that you will not make fun of the books that I read."

It was my time to frown at her, "When did I make fun of them?"

"Mou, Ryoma-kun, just swear to me." She almost hid the book to her face.

I gave her a long look before I replied to her, "Alright, I swear... on the river styx."

Ryuzaki was a bit shocked when I said that but she smiled after that, "Otanjoubi Omedetou, Ryoma-kun."

"Domo." I nodded at her. We stayed like that for a short while before I looked up and called her attention. "Don't you have something to do?"

"Like what?" She looked at me wondering what I was talking about. Then she realized what it was, "Ah right, Tomo-chan and I will meet later. Maybe after lunch."

"Sou ka," I nodded then I walked away from her, "Later then."

"W-where are you going?"

I looked to my shoulder saw her standing up. Her book was hugging to her. Sometimes, it wondered me on how it felt like to hug her like that. My eyes suddenly widened when I thought that. A lot of things happened recently and I was getting silly of thinking ridiculously like that. Brushing that thought, I answered her hanging question;

"To kill time."

xxx

I did kill some time and it went really fast. The last thing I realized, it was already time for my birthday celebration. Everyone was really present on the hill, even my parents and cousin were there but I forced them out after they finished their dinner. Kaa-san was fine with that but my stupid oyaji was a pain in the butt. Kaa-san and Nanako-san took drastic measures before they finally convinced him to leave.

It was the whole team left and a few girls. They were still having a hard time. They gave me gifts and we also exchanged gift for Christmas. The highlight was of course the cake Ryuzaki and Osakada made for me. Of course, I got the big portion for the cake since I was the celebrant but it didn't escape Inui-senpai's game and Fuji-senpai's tactics to win it.

I was on my last piece of my cake when Fuji-senpai approached me. He just sat beside me and drank his own drink.

"You are having fun Echizen, I can see it in your eyes."

"How can you see that?" Which meant naturally. For some reason, senpai's eyes were closed all the time. It would take all the genuises to understand that. Unfortunately, only him could understand that.

"Saa, you should know that to yourself." This time, he opened his eyes and stared at a certain person. I followed his vision and my own eyes spotted a braided-pigtailrd girl, talking to buchou and sensei. She was laughing with them and I wondered what they were talking about. I was still observing them when Fuji-senpai approached me and whispered something in my ear.

Which caught me offhanded for I blushed as I looked away, "What are you saying?" I hoped no one saw me. It took a few seconds before I regained the normal me and looked at senpai, "Why would I do that?"

"Why not?" Senpai said as if it was the easiest thing to do, "That is actually a wonderful gift you can ask for."

"I am not asking for a gift." I said looking back at them, at her. Senpai was making fun of me but I didn't care anymore. I tried not to be transparent hoping I was doing a good job about it.

"Think about it. You'll have until midnight," Senpai reminded me, "If you change your mind, just visit that small shrine and walk to the back of it."

Senpai left me after that and the party continued non-stop. I had to admit that I enjoyed myself for the party. I was not even aware that it was thirty minutes left before Christmas.

My birthday was almost over. I almost sighed for that. Not really realizing it, I found myself standing in front of the shrine. The shrine wasn't that big but it was neat and interesting to watch. I stood straight and prayed silently.

Then I made a wish.

I was about to leave the shrine when I heard voices not far from me.

"But he doesn't want her to do the task alone. She is about to face her biggest fear." I was pretty sure that it was Ryuzaki who was talking.

"I like the feeling where he is in the merge of stopping her or going with her. But if he does, no one knows what the prophecy will bring them."

Biggest fear? Prophecy? What the heck are they talking about? I walked to the place where I could hear their voices. I was pretty sure that it was Osakada she was talking with.

"It is different than Shadowhunters. They face their fears together. Annabeth has to face her fears alone."

Upon hearing that, I innstantly knew what they were talking about. That irritated me. She gave me her words but she was doing the opposite. Normally, I would feel irritated and ignore her for a few minutes to calm myself but now, it seemed not to be working anymore.

I thought I found the real reason why.

Osakada walked away from her, telling her that she would get something for them to drink. Now, she left her alone there. Ryuzaku did not bring books as she promised but it really annoyed me when they were still talking about him.

Behind my back.

"Percy Jackson again." I couldn't help it but I voiced it out showing myself to her. She was surprised and looked at me, "You broke your promise me."

"W-what?" She stood up as she looked at me again. Confusion was registered to her face, "R-Ryoma-kun, what are you talking about?"

I didn't answer her instead, I walked away and went to a corner. To my expectations, she followed me, asking for clarification.

"I don't get you? Promise? When did I break it?"

I stopped walking and inserted my hands in my pockets, "You said that you would never bring him up today."

"E?"

"You did still."

She didn't say anything afterwards. I was not looking at her for she was facing my back. The night was really dark and the wind was really cold. I was actually thinking that it was time for a warm hug but I thought otherwise.

"I promised that I would not read today, I did not the promise that I would not bring him up today."

"It's still the same."

"N-no it's not!"

"It is." I turned around and saw her flustered. I didn't know if it was because of the weather or because of something else, "You keep talking about what you have read so far."

"It's different than reading a book."

"Not when you are telling me what's in the book."

"Mou! Ryoma-kun, I did not break my promise!"

"Yeah, you did not."

"Then, why are you-" She stopped when she realized what I was doing. Her face flushed even more, "You are making fun of me again... and the books I read."

"I am not." I denied. It was really nice to tease her like that. I had come to realize that I was really into teasing her and I would find it interesting.

"You told me about breaking my promise but it was you who broke yours."

"I did not."

"You did!" She pouted and walked closer to me, "You swore to me too."

"I did swear," I said and shrugged at her, " but I am not a god or a demigod."

"W-what!" Her eyes widened when she realized the meaning of my words. She must not have expected that I would know a tiny detail such as that.

My promise was actually a void. Two laughs for me.

"You really are so unfair!" She blushed and looked away. I knew that she was not mad at me when she said that. I could hear her murmuring some sort of complain but it was fine.

I found her cute that way.

My thoughts stopped for a short while. How many times did I say or thought that she was cute? Aside today, I lost count of it. Now that I am officially sixteen, I should know why am I thinking that way. The hints were transparent. I got irritated when she talked about other guys, real or not. That would explain it and I would make it clear to her.

"You are giving him a special attention when it is supposed to be for me."

"E?" She looked at me and I step closer to her. Before she could take a step backward, I grabbed her shoulders and made her stare in my eyes.

"I demand that attention tonight."

Ryuzaki blushed and was left speechless. She tried looking for a safe escape which was her wrong move when she looked up. Her eyes widened when she recognized what was above us.

I couldn't help a smirk as I bent down and whispered, "No explanations needed, right?" I made it clear and I hoped she understood. I kissed her near on her cheek, near to her lips for a few seconds. Time seemed to stop for the both of us but I wouldn't mind it. I slowly moved away from her when the bell from the shrine rang.

It was Christmas.

"Merry Christmas." I greeted her. She blushed really hard and she couldn't speak due to shock. I would never admit it but I actually enjoyed this moment. This was actually rare. She was able to nod and blinked for several times. I turned around and wave a hand, "ja ne."

It felt nice to discover something new. A smile was formed to my lips as I realized that. I came to a conclusion that it was enough for now.

Besides, I did not want to rush her.

Done! How was this? This was my first time using Ryoma's own POV. I kinda include my favorite book here. I am PJO fan by the way. I chose sixteen for his birthday when he realized his feelings for her because it was the same age when 'Percabeth' became a couple.

Tell me your thoughts guys... onegai... I was not certain of this fic somehow but I did my best to make this fic better. I hope you like it. Thank you very much.

Credits to Rick Riordan's wwonderful novels. The names are in Itallic. Please make more... :3

As you could notice, the title explained it. So, see you next year... :)

Next Chapter: Her Birthday, His Birthday

Happy Birthday, Echizen Ryoma!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Minna-san!

~ MitsukiJunko ~