On the sixth day before my birthday, my partner gave to me…

Otori sighed as he watched the rest of his team get valentines presents. It's not that he wanted valentines presents; He rarely did. Valentines was a terrible day that made him always feel terrible about not only the fact that he had been born on the day that most guys hate, but also it was the day his mother had died giving birth to him. He didn't want to celebrate it like this… giving and receiving presents. His family, which consisted of his father, younger sister, and a few aunts and uncles, had long ago learnt not to give him presents on this day. The only time he'd accept presents was at the christian Christmas, and that was because his family were highly catholic… even if he wasn't himself.

"Oi! Choutarou! Stop daydreaming already!"

Otori jumped out of his haze as he watched his favourite sempai walk over to him, completely empty of presents and gifts, and he had to show off his shy smile.

"Hai, Shishido-san! Is practice starting yet?" he asked, and his sempai shrugged.

"As if we're going to get any practicing today. Girls are on patrol for Atobe and Oshitari, not to mention Jirou! I already leant him the use of my locker to help him store his gifts…" Shishido shook his head, as confused about the workings of a girl's mind as Otori was. Otori just gave Shishido one of his patented smiles, trying to hide the hurt that he felt.

"Perhaps Oshitari-sempai and Atobe-sempai like getting gifts?" he suggested, and Shishido practically growled as he sat down next to Otori.

"Your right on that one, anyway. They have this whole booth set up for each of them. I just know Gakuto's going to go over there any minute and tear down Oshitari's."

"Oh, I hope he doesn't," Otori said, looking over at where Gakuto was fuming. "Then again, Oshitari-sempai is Mukahi-sempai's boyfriend…" Otori couldn't help but blush at that statement, hoping that Shishido didn't notice him.

Shishido just shrugged his shoulders. "If Oshitari was going to be a good boyfriend then he wouldn't of set up the booth in the first place. Hell, if it was me…" he started, but then stopped, hanging his head as Otori turned to look at him.

"If it was you, Shishido-san?" he tried, trying to hide his own blush, and Shishido just shook his head.

"I refuse to celebrate this mundane holiday that was created by greeting card salesmen. Girls learnt in the past that any valentines gift I get I throw out. They stopped giving them to me…." All of a sudden, he pulled something square shaped out of his tennis bag, that was wrapped in Christmas wrapping.

"I know you don't accept birthday presents, Choutarou… so think of this as a late Christmas present…" He shook his head as he stood, not looking Otori in the eye. "Just open it. Read the note. I hope you like it…"

Otori watched as Shishido ran off back to where the other regulars were watching Atobe and Oshitari, before turning back to his present, and opening it carefully, only to reveal a picture, framed, of Otori and Shishido, who someone had obviously altered so that Otori had a moustache and Shishido was wearing a dress. Otori chuckled lightly at the picture, before seeing a white piece of paper sticking out of the edge, and pulled out the note before reading it.

'Every birthday should be celebrated. One day, this will be you, and you'll have a family who will want to celebrate it with you.

Always, your doubles partner,

Shishido Ryo

P.S The picture was Gakuto and Oshitari's doing… I am no one's wife.'

Otori couldn't help but laugh, and as he packed away the picture to put on his bedside table later, he couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, it'd be ok to celebrate his birthday with his family… both his blood one, and his tennis one.

Miss Ella: Ummm… this is one-sixth of a birthday fic for someone who didn't tell me it was her birthday in six days. It will have our six favourite combined pairings, starting with Silver Pair, and going down the list of what I would class as our six favourite… with a rather large one hopefully for her actual birthday. She didn't tell me it was her birthday, so I hope she's not mad at me for wanting to give her a present… it's not every day you turn 17.

Till tomorrow.