Red Roses

Hello... well... here you are... a new chapter for Red Roses... well... it's not really much... just enjoyed writing... took me quite a while to write this... inspiration hadn't visited me until earlier... :)) :D heheheh... :D

This is the exact continuation of the previous chapter... it's better if you'll recap on the last scene of the previous chapter... hehehe... :D

I'm sorry if I had made the characters a little bit OC... I had to spicen up the chapter a little bit... :D hehehe... :D

Please read and review... :D hehehe... :D

Disclaimer: I just wanna say... PoT don't belong to me... not now... not ever... :D heheh... :D

Chapter 2: Ryoma's Birthday Surprise

Ryoma's driving relatively fast, or maybe it's just the rain making it look like they're moving really fast. Syusuke looked at the clock placed on the dashboard. It's still 3 in the afternoon and the sky's as dark as 6. "Echizen-kun, where are you taking me?" Syusuke asked with a smile.

"It's a secret." Ryoma smiled and stopped the car. He pulled a small piece of cloth from under his seat and threw it to Syusuke. "Put this on."

Syusuke gave Ryoma his sceptical look. "Um... Where?"

Ryoma grunted and told Syusuke to spin around, which he did cautiously. Ryoma then placed the piece of cloth on Syusuke's eyes to cover it. "Right there." He tightened the cloth even further until Syusuke complained about it.

"Sit down." Ryoma said as he assisted Syusuke to a comfortable position. He transferred his grip to the steering wheel. "You might want to fasten your seatbelt." With that said, the car accelerated to a staggering speed.

"Echizen-kun! Slow down! I don't want to be killed!" He didn't need to open his eyes to see that they are exciding the 100 kph limit. The behaviour of the car gave it away. Ryoma gave a soft chuckle. He has never seen Syusuke so scared and uneasy before. For him, Syusuke was always the strong-willed guy that shows no clue of being frightened or scared. But look at him now, shivering and sweating like a little boy who just watched a scary movie. It was such eye-worthy scenery. It's even rarer than that of the Halley's Comet's once-in-a-lifetime appearance.

"Ryoma! STOP THIS CAR THIS INSTANT!" He was thrown forward due to inertia of the break. He fixed his position in his seat and begun rubbing his head because of a small sore. "What a nice birthday gift you have for me." He said sarcastically while rubbing the sore once again.

"I told you to fasten your seatbelt, didn't I?" Ryoma said as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "We're here." Syusuke couldn't figure out what Ryoma had just said, well, until his door opened and a hand gently but firmly held his elbows and hand.

"Where're we going? And oh! It's not raining anymore!"

"Just you wait. We all have a surprise for you."

"We?! Just who is that we?!"

"Here, stand here." Syusuke commanded as he repositioned Syusuke to a more ideal angle to see his surprise. They're not in the city anymore; they're more on the country-side, since the soil is as soft as foam. The wind feels really good. Breathing in this area seems to be very soothing to the soul and relaxing to the entire system. This is such an ideal place to give a surprise to a stressed tensai like Syusuke.

"Ready, Fuji-senpai?" Ryoma asked Syusuke as he was about to pull the blindfold off of Syusuke's eyes. "On the count of three... THREE!" Ryoma pulled the blindfold away to reveal to Syusuke his big surprise.

Syusuke was stunned at the sight of Ryoma's surprise. A sweet smile carved itself on Syusuke's face. It was the sweetest smile that he only showed when he felt much loved by someone. His eyes opened and revealed a glamorous shade of blue. He has such beautiful eyes, sparkling on the sunlight, that no one could help but stare at those sapphire orbs. His smile was very contagious. Ryoma wasn't aware of it, but he was smiling sincerely, too.

The surprise was amazing. Everyone Syusuke knew, his classmates since elementary until college, all the teams he competed on tennis, all his family members, all that came into his life, everyone, filed and formed a very big 'Happy Birthday Syusuke!' on the green meadow below. Syusuke and Ryoma's overlooking everyone of them, since they parked on a hill beside the meadow. In Chorus, everyone shouted they're unified birthday greeting to Syusuke.

Syusuke was overwhelmed. People that touched his life was down there, everyone. Syusuke was crying silently, his tears glittered through the bright rays of the sun; his eyes sparkle with delight. A soft touch on his shoulder brought him back from his silent admiration. "Let's join them, Syusuke." Ryoma suggested with the sweet smile carved on his mouth.

Syusuke looked at Ryoma's topaz eyes. "Thank you, Ryoma." The smile on his face became brighter, so bright that it made Ryoma skip a heartbeat.

Syusuke was the first to head down. Ryoma followed him after a short moment of being in trance. The decent was smooth; a natural stair made of tree roots was set-up there. Everyone on the meadow dashed towards Syusuke like a stampede of wild animals on the savannah.

Later that evening

The party was a blast. Syusuke could never ask for anything else. Everything just seemed to be there. The catered dinner and chocolate fountain, the messages from friends and families, and the frequent singing and chanting of a birthday song for him, everything just can't be too good to be true. The party really wasn't boring on his part. He enjoyed the nostalgic feeling of meeting old faces and past acquaintances. It's what he enjoys the most in parties.

Ryoma walked up the stage and asked for everyone's attention. "Everyone, let's all welcome our birthday celebrant as he'll make a speech for everyone."

Syusuke was quite hesitant to make a speech; he always thought that it'd be too cheesy to speak in front. It took quite a long time to persuade him to make a speech.

"Konbanwa, everyone! I'm really speechless. I have so many things to thank, but I don't know where to start... Ok... Let me start by thanking everyone of you present here. You have made my birthday wish a reality. Words couldn't express how I feel now." He thanked some more of the people before his speech ended. The moment he stepped out of the stage, fireworks began to light up the sky, every colour begun to spread in every directions, every shape of explosion created every sound they could hear. 'Aaahhh' and 'Oooohh' could be heard through-out the meadow. Everyone was amazed at the dazzling light display up them. All eyes were directed on the kaleidoscope of colours dancing on the heaven.

After the aerial spectacle, Yuuta concluded the party with a message for his beloved younger brother and a farewell to everyone. One-by-one, the guests shook their hands to Syusuke as they say their farewells. The numbers quickly decelerated as the time progresses. By the time of Momoshiro's departure, there were only four people left on the venue, Syusuke, Ryoma, Yumiko, and her boyfriend.

"Syusuke, we will be going already." Yumiko glanced at her watch. "It's already 11:30 in the evening. Do you need a ride home?"

"That wouldn't be necessary," Ryoma butted-in. "I'll be responsible for Fuji-senpai."

Yumiko didn't say anything else, she trusted Ryoma to be responsible enough to bring Syusuke home safely. "Ok, Ryoma. To the two of you, sayounara!" The couple silently walked towards their ride, leaving Ryoma and Syusuke behind.

"So you are taking me home..." Syusuke said turning to Ryoma.

"That's what I said. So... shall we?"

"Ok." The two headed to Ryoma's car parked on the same spot on top of the hill.

"Ryoma, is something the matter?" Syusuke asked as he notices that Ryoma still hadn't started the engine even though they had finished fixing their seats.

"Syusuke. I want to tell you something." Ryoma said as he pushed his head to the steering wheels.

"Yes?" Syusuke smiled to make Ryoma more comfortable.

Ryoma paused for a while and said, "You have very beautiful eyes, Syusuke. I..." Ryoma didn't get to finish what he was saying because Syusuke interrupted him.

"Well, I like you, too." Syusuke smiled sweeter than he had smiled earlier.

So there you have it, folks! Chapter 2 fresh from the oven... hahahha... :D So... how'd you liked it?

I love this chapter... :)) :D hahah... :D well... compaired to the previous one... it's way better... :D hehehe... :D

Ok.. please review on this chapter... :D I might add some additional scenes if I get inspiration... and reviews is where I get my biggest inspiration... :D hehehe... :D