Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis was created by Konomi Takeshi. No profit is intended to be gained by this story.

AN: Written back in 2004, but posted for the first time. This fic is part of the Challenge: Accepted series, my response to Beriath's 'Strawberry'. If you enjoyed this, go and thank Beri for inspiring my muses!

Challenge: Strawberry

By Cinpii

It was during the time lull between periods, while the classroom was waiting for their next sensei to come in and begin the lesson, when Osakada Tomoka turned around from her desk and beckoned to her best friend.

"Mmm, Sakuno, you've got to try this, it's strawberry flavor!"

Curious, Ryuzaki Sakuno pushed her seat back and walked over. With a flourish, Tomoka withdrew two identical tubes of shiny lip gloss.

"One for both of us," her friend bubbled, twisting the cap off one of them to apply the shiny sweetness onto Sakuno's lips. Her hand stopped its path in midair when she saw how Sakuno hedged. The pigtailed girl's eyes had dropped, a telltale sign that she was uncomfortable.

Tomoka pursed her lips, confused. "Don't you want to look prettier for Ryoma-sama?" It had taken all three years of middle school and the first few months of high school to happen, but finally, the tennis prince had seen the light. Ryoma and Sakuno were going steady. Tomoka couldn't be prouder, and she was constantly devising ways to 'show her support'.

Sakuno looked dubiously at the procured offering. She bit her lip around her next words. "Ryoma-kun once said that he likes a natural face the most. So that means no make-up."

"Silly, all boys say that," Tomoka pooh-poohed. "And lip gloss isn't really make-up. See? It's clear."

"Ano..."

"It's my gift to you. You have to wear it."

"Demo..."

Eventually, the pigtailed girl caved. Tomoka was pushy and Sakuno stood no chance.

Off the courts, Echizen Ryoma wasn't a particularly observant person. Miracles happened every once in a while though, and on the walk home, he noticed the sun's rays glinting off his girlfriend's lips. It enhanced the soft, pink contours of her mouth, and he couldn't stop staring.

"Ryuzaki looks different today."

Sakuno blushed and looked down. "Ah, really?"

His mouth curved up slightly before he masked it; a giveaway that he was about to tease her. Sakuno, with her eyes down, failed to notice.

"Ah. It looks like Ryuzaki is wearing make-up."

She jerked her head up to deny it. Her hand waved in the air. "No, not make-up. Just a little bit of gloss. See," she pointed to her mouth.

"Heeh?" Ryoma gave a slight cock of his head. This only flustered her more.

"It was a gift and I couldn't turn it down. But, but I'll take it off if Ryoma-kun doesn't like it."

Sakuno's handkerchief was halfway out of her pocket before Ryoma wordlessly placed his hand over hers. She looked up in question, confusion written plainly in her delicate features. The tennis prodigy flashed a toothy grin that made her heart thump.

"Ano, Ryoma-kun?"

"Let me take it off for you." He leaned down, head tilting to the side to partake in his favorite hobby. Kissing Ryuzaki.

Sakuno's reddish brown eyes widened, then closed. Her tensed shoulders relaxed in Ryoma's familiar embrace. They separated after a moment, but his arms remained around her waist.

"Strawberry." Ryoma licked his lips. Sakuno blushed and dipped her head, hiding behind her bangs. Ryoma nuzzled a path towards her ear before whispering his next words.

"Strawberry tastes good, but Ryuzaki tastes better."

Her mouth opened in shock. Ryoma took advantage of the opportunity.

Fin