The way Royals court.

Echizen kept his eyes opened but snuggled deeper into the comfortable warmth that engulfed him.

He felt fingers petting his head.

Is this how it feels, Karupin? He purred.

Chuckles forced him to sober. His eyes snapped open and he pushed himself up. Speed didn't do him justice so he grimaced and grunted, grasping his head. "God damn it, ow," he mumbled.

"Aw..."

The blankets rose and engulfed him once more, pulling him down. He didn't resist, even if he could. It was too comfortable.

"Your first hangover."

His eyes blinked open. Huh?

He tried to turn, but comfort wouldn't let him. "Stop moving so much, you'll make it worse."

He settled.

They stayed like that.

"Time?"

"M'duno."

Echizen's eyes closed once more.

"But your team probably declared you missing two hours ago."

Echizen laughed. "Ow..."

Atobe smiled.

They kept lazing in bed for a while longer until they were more awake.

"We should get up."

"Mmhm."

"Everyone's waiting."

"Ok."

"It's your birthday."

"Good."

Atobe paused. "You're such a brat."

"Mmmhm."

"I know how to wake you."

Atobe's hand covered Echizen's chest, where his heart was, and started rubbing circles.

Slowly, Echizen felt his senses wake against his will. He scowled.

"I hate you."

"No you don't," Atobe said, placing a kiss on his head before leaving the bed.

Echizen curled under the covers, clutching them close. "You're so mean."

"Only children say 'mean'."

"Whatever. You're mean."

Atobe snickered as he made his way to the bathroom.

Echizen slowly ended up sitting up on the bed by the time Atobe came back out.

"How about you go wash and change and we'll have a nice breakfast in the terrace?"

"What about everyone else?"

"What about everyone else?"

Echizen snorted. "Fine." He picked himself up. "Damn, my head hurts."

"Here. Take these," Atobe said, fishing out a small bottle. He removed two pills and held them out. "They'll make the headache go away."

Echizen looked at them.

Atobe waved them around.

Echizen made a face and took them, also accepting the glass of water Atobe poured him.

After gulping down the pills, Echizen made his way to his room that he originally shared with Fuji, no less. He opened the door slowly and walked in.

"Well, well... about time!" Fuji's voice rang.

Echizen grimaced. "Fuji-senpai."

"Where were you last night, Echizen-kun?"

"Sleeping," Echizen said, quickly making his way into the bathroom.

"Ah... is that so?"

Echizen closed the door. Why-oh-why did we have to be roommates? Damn you Momo-senpai. Hm... Shower. He discarded his clothes and stepped into the shower. Last night... was nice. He smiled.

Fifteen minutes later, he was dressed and drying his hair with a towel. Fuji wasn't in the room anymore, so he was at ease. As soon as his hair was dry enough, he tossed the towel to the bed. Eh... I forgot how to get there... He frowned. Well... we'll see.

On his way back to Atobe's room, stood in the middle of the floor and looked around. Uh... Damn it! He scowled.

"Is there something you need, sir?"

He turned and brightened. It's the butler from yesterday! "Where is Atobe's room?"

"Ah, it's the door to your right," he replied, smiling.

Echizen looked to his right. How can I miss a door that big? He went to it and knocked.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

Atobe smirked.

"What?"

"What would you do if there was a mistletoe on your head?"

"Huh?" Echizen looked above his head and around. "There isn't mistletoe on my head."

"I didn't say there was any. I merely asked what you would do."

Echizen blinked. "Uh... I don't know."

"You're supposed to kiss the first person who finds you."

"Oh." Echizen looked up above Atobe's head. "You don't have one either."

"No, I don't," Atobe replied, grinning wickedly, pulling his hand from behind him and revealing a mistletoe leaf before placing it on Echizen's head. "But you do."

Echizen deadpanned.

"Thusly..."

"That's not a real word."

"Shut up," were Atobe's last words as he sealed Echizen's lips. When he pulled back, their eyes slowly opened and met. "So good..." Atobe whispered before placing a small kiss on slightly parted panting lips. "Taste so good," he whispered, running his tongue on the sensitive lips, emitting a gasp from them.

"I bet they do."

They jumped apart.

"I'm sorry, I must have gotten lost. Where's the pool?"

"Downstairs..." Atobe replied, feeling gray at the expression.

"Ah, thanks."

As he left, Echizen's brow twitched. "Fuji-senpai..."

Atobe pulled Echizen into the room towards the terrace where a table was set with delicious-looking picks. Echizen pulled the leaf off his head and placed it on the table.

"Here, you'll like this."

Atobe poured some hot chocolate into Echizen's cup.

As they ate breakfast, birds chirped around them, some stood at the terrace rail and bounced around before flying away.

"Your place is amazing, Kei."

Kei? Atobe smiled. "Stand up, slowly," he said, standing.

Echizen blinked but followed suit.

Atobe approached him and walked around, hugging him from behind.

Echizen blinked.

"I want you to meet a couple of my friends."

Slowly, Atobe turned them around. He held Echizen as he tensed and stepped back into him, gasping.

"Shh... it's ok," he whispered, but Echizen kept pushing back. "They won't bite." His arms tightened around him when Echizen turned and hid his tightly closed lids in Atobe's neck. "They won't bite you, Ryoma. Look."

Echizen opened his eyes and saw Atobe petting one of them on his head while holding him with the other arm. He held Echizen's hand but let it go at resistance.

"Put your hand over mine."

Echizen put his hand over Atobe's, curiosity and awe getting the best out of him, and watched as his hand lowered, with Atobe's, to the very white fur. As Atobe's hand started petting the head, Echizen found his hand slowly settling on the fur too. "Soft..." was the first thing he could say.

Atobe smiled. "This is Ki. He's extremely playful."

As if on cue, Ki pawed at Atobe's knee playfully before running around them.

Echizen gasped and returned under Atobe' s chin, making him chuckle once more.

"And this one there is Omoi. She's just... wonderful."

Echizen looked at the other wolf, sitting near the terrace door, watching them while swishing her tail. "Omoi," Echizen echoed.

"Yes. Omoi."

"You named them?" Echizen said, looking up.

Atobe nodded at him.

"Nice names," Echizen said, resting his head against Atobe's collarbone once more.

"You do know I'm not your portable pillow, right?"

"Hm. But wouldn't it be nice if you were?"

Echizen cried out when he felt the wolf paw at his leg gently and tried to run away – into Atobe.

A bark from the other one made him freeze.

Atobe held him tighter. "Don't be scared," he said. "Look, they're just sitting there."

Echizen slowly turned his head and saw the two wolves sitting, one of them elegantly looking at at him with beautiful, almost omniscient, dark eyes as the other hung his tongue out, as if waiting for something to pop out of their heads and play 'catch' with him. He lowered himself on the ground then sat back up, still looking at them hopefully.

Echizen blinked. "That one's a nut, isn't he?"

Atobe smiled. "I think he likes you."

"Well, what's not to like about me?"

"I'm leaving you," Atobe said, moving away.

Echizen clung to him, crying out in protest.

"You're very cute, Ryoma."

"Shut up."

The Omoi put her hand on the Ki's head, stopping his movement. Echizen giggled. Atobe blinked at the new sound. Ki rolled over and started pawing at Omoi's paw. She ignored him and sat up again. Echizen laughed.

"I like Omoi."

"She's a brat. Just like you."

"I'm not a brat!"

"Of course not."

Echizen scowled and put his hand on Atobe's head.

Atobe's brow rose. "Woof?"

Echizen's lips slowly parted in a smile before he pulled Atobe's head down.

"Well, well."

They jumped apart and turned to the terrace's entrance.

Oshitari stood there, his legs being nudged by both wolves. He leaned down and hugged them, petting their fur.

"How are you, sweet, overgrown fur-balls?" he cooed before leaning back. Omoi placed her paw in his hand. He shook it. "Good to see you too, lady," he said, bowing.

Echizen smiled, amused.

"So that's where you've been hiding? You do know your team's launching a search party for you."

Echizen frowned.

Oshitari removed the bag that hung from his wrist and approached them. "Happy birthday, Echizen," he said, holding it out.

Echizen looked at it, surprised.

"Gifts are for accepting, brat."

He scowled at Oshitari before taking the bag.

"You're welcome."

"How did you know?"

"Are you kidding? Atobe planned this and made us buy gifts since last week."

Echizen looked up. "Really?"

"It might be pure coincidence."

Echizen made a face before fishing a box from inside the bag. He put the bag on the chair and carefully undid the wrapper.

"Atobe, you dog," Oshitari mumbled, out of Echizen's earshot.

"Woof."

Oshitari snorted.

"It's an iPod Nano with a Prada case..."

They turned to Echizen. He turned to them.

"Do you know how much those cost?!"

"I should know – I bought them," Oshitari laughed.

"But... you don't give people you don't know expensive stuff!"

"Fool."

Echizen gasped silently.

"If Atobe thinks you're special enough to have a gathering, gifts and a match with, you have to be someone already special, and anyone special to Atobe is special to us."

Echizen blinked and blushed slightly.

"That's enough, Yuushi. Those blushes are mine."

"I uh... I uh... Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm guessing you gave him your gift last night," Oshitari grinned.

Echizen's blush intensified.

"No."

"No?" Oshitari echoed, looking at Atobe.

"No."

"Oh... oh! Tonight then?"

Echizen blushed.

"Yuushi, get out."

Oshitari laughed. "See that, Omoi? He's kicking me out!"

Omoi barked, swishing her tail as she approached Oshitari and nuzzled his hand.

"Indeed," he said, petting her head.

"Brats – all of you," Atobe drawled.

"Echizen, you might want to go check in with Tezuka."

Echizen nodded. He stiffly made his way in.

"He's so scared of them," Oshitari said, sitting on one knee and petting the fluff out of Omoi and Ki. "I bet I do that more than anyone else."

"Why do you think they like you, dork?"

Oshitari's laugh was the last thing Echizen could hear as he ran the rest of the way out of the room, the bag dangling in his hand.

"Echizen!"

He froze. "Kaidoh-senpai, what is it?"

"Good morning."

"Oh... good morning!" he said before running past.

"Oi, Echizen!"

He stopped again and turned. "Yes?"

Kaidoh held out a wrapped box. "Happy birthday."

Echizen blinked. How did he know?

Kaidoh waited patiently till Echizen accepted the gift.

"Thank you, senpai."

Kaidoh blushed slightly and nodded. "Tezuka-buchou is looking for you."

"Ah. I'll go look for him now. Thank you, Kaidoh-senpai!"

"ECHIZEN-KUN!!!!"

Echizen cringed.

"WAH!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ECHIZEN-KUN!!!!!!"

That's not Eiji-senpai's voice.

He was completely glomped.

"Uhm... thanks... Who are you?"

The person laughed.

Echizen blinked.

"Isn't he so funny? Wah! I'm making you my new stuffy!!"

"Jiro!" Atobe's voice came. "Behave."

"Aw, but he's so squishy, Atobe!"

Atobe's arms snaked around his waist, forcing another blush to creep up his cheeks. "But he's my stuffy," he said, "and I don't share."

Echizen's hand unconsciously came to Atobe's.

It was like Jiro had sobered. He smiled. "Well, Echizen-kun, I want to wish you a very happy birthday."

Echizen blinked, confused at the sudden change in personality. "Thank you."

"I did buy you a gift, I just didn't expect to meet you here!"

"That's ok..."

"Well then, I'll be going!"

With that, Jiro was gone as fast as he appeared.

Echizen kept blinking.

Atobe's eyes fell to the box Echizen was holding besides the bag. "Ah, I see someone else found you before I did."

"I thought you were talking with Oshitari."

"Nah, he just came to piss me off a little."

"Oh?"

Atobe lead them further down the hall. "Oh look, mistletoe!"

"Where?" Echizen said, looking around.

Atobe pulled it out of his pocket and put it on Echizen's head. "Here."

"Hyoutei are a bunch of overpriced nuts, aren't they?"

"Ah-ah. My greatness demands my mistletoe kiss."

Any words that were trying to leave Echizen's mouth were muffled by Atobe's.

Atobe grinned as they parted. "You were saying?"

Someone cleared their throat.

They turned to the side.

"Bu...bu... bu... buchou!"

"Well, that certainly solves the 'where were you last night, Echizen?' mystery," Fuji chuckled.

Echizen's mind was in a frenzy, looking for something to say.

"You still have lots more to work on!" he hastily said and pulled Atobe away from his sleeve while he and the other two exchanged confused looks.

By the time everyone sat on the large table for dinner, every single person present knew about Atobe and Echizen. Everything also went great, until Eiji cried, "but... it doesn't make any sense! You're both walking fine!!"

That was Echizen choked on water that started going into wrong places in his body. He coughed and pulled up a napkin. Tezuka rubbed his back as Atobe rose.

"Eiji!" Oishi exclaimed.

"But... Oishi!"

Oishi covered his eyes and sat as Atobe fussed over Echizen while everyone else calmed.

"But... why wouldn't they be walking fine?" Ootori asked, looking for someone to answer.

Shishido glanced at him then at Oshitari's laughing eyes before glaring. He leaned over and starting whispering in Ootori's ear. When he was done, he sat up.

"...So?"

Shishido looked at him again before exhaling and leaning over once more. As he spoke, Ootori's face grew redder.

"Shishido-san!!"

"You asked for it," he mumbled, hiding his laughter at Ootori's expression.

"Something tells me you just scarred the poor boy for life, senpai." Hiyoshi said.

"He asked for it," Shishido repeated.

"Everyone," Atobe said, forcing everyone's attention to him. "Echizen would like to say something to you."

Their eyes went to Echizen. "Uhm... thank you all for the wishes and many of you for the presents. I didn't expect anything since no one knew it was my birthday anyway."

"Atobe made us," Hiyoshi accused.

"Uhm... thank you anyway. Another thing is... Keigo thinks it's funny to toss mistletoe on my head, so don't be surprised if you happen to see his little games. If you are, then you still have lots more to work on."

There was silence for some time.

"Aren't you going to seal it with a kiss, Echizen-kun?" Fuji said.

Echizen scowled. "I'm not going to kiss you, Fuji-senpai."

Laughter filled the dining room for the rest of the evening.

Yes, a large cake was rolled in after dinner. Yes, Echizen was surprised. Yes, he got more presents, and yes, everyone did laugh then Atobe removed some whip cream with his finger and wiped it on Echizen's nose. Yes, it was indeed very heart-warming when Atobe sealed it with a kiss.

Atobe closed the door, leaning his back against it as Echizen stepped further into the room before turning.

"So... now what."

"Now," Atobe said, turning down the lights and approaching him, "my turn," he continued putting his silk scarf around Echizen's neck and pulling him in for a kiss.

Echizen gasped, his posture completely changing.

"Don't worry," Atobe whispered, "nothing you don't want to do."

"I..."

Atobe turned him around. That was when he noticed that there were petals scattered everywhere, and the smell of the room was of freshness. Atobe lead him to the bed where a box sat on a small bed of petals.

"Kei, if that's a box of condoms, I'm so leaving."

Atobe grunted. "God, you know how to spoil a mood, don't you?" he said, letting to.

Echizen's hands kept holding his around him. "I was just joking." He reached to the box and undid the ribbon. His fingers fumbled with it before one of its sides finally opened up.

"Oh... that's nice," he said, holding the hand chain higher.

Atobe helped Echizen link it around his right wrist before placing a kiss on his right temple and tossing the box to the couch behind them as Echizen turned in his arms to face him.

"Kei... thanks."

Atobe smiled. "Awe at my prowess."

"That's it, bye."

Atobe laughed, pulling Echizen back to him. "My prowess owns the world."

Echizen scowled.

"And you know my prowess belongs to you."

Echizen snorted.

"Happy birthday, Ryoma."

He smiled. "Thank you, Kei."

"Please stop calling me by the wolf's name or I'll bring him in and you can kiss him instead."

"Kei, not Ki. You still have lots more to work on."

They laughed.

"Yes, just a minute, aunt Yuutai," Oshitari said as he ran up the stairs to give Atobe his phone that he forgot in the game room, with his mother on the line, but paused at the door to a cry just before his knuckles found the door. Maybe not, he decided. "I'm sorry aunt Yuutai, I think he's showering. Can I ask him to call you back later?" he said, walking away from the door and back down the stairs. "Yes, I'll tell him not to forget his phone again, don't worry."