Disclaimer: I own only the plot and the coming up with the name Cat Pair which I hold loose claim to (if these two have a real pairing name, please tell me) Though I wish I owned either Eiji or Ryoma, or both. /smirk/

... mean pov change

Okay, because I haven't finished watching the anime yet, I've decided to make this story take place while they are high schoolers. I didn't do this yesterday because it was almost midnight when I wrote it.

Chpt.2 – Oh, My, Gosh…Shoes!

They were shiny.

They could breath

They had to belong to Eiji no matter what.

One problem – They were expensive.

Kikumaru Eiji looked sadly into his wallet, his lips pouting slightly. His eyes drifted down at his feet which where clad in the most remarkable perfect tennis shoes (A/N: always wondered why they were called tennis shoes) he'd ever tried on. They were white with blue and red striped and matched perfectly with his Seigaku Sr. High regular's jersey which he had just picked up. But, he was thirty yen short, just thirty yen.

"Can't you make the price lower, just a little," he begged, but the store owner said no, bringing down all hopes the acrobat had of having this pair of shoes. He'd have to find something lese seeing as his old shoes stated to come apart after his race with Momoshiro the day before. Which he'd one, Eiji would like to add.

"Can you show me some more shoes that are in my price range," asked the now gloomy tennis player.

"No need," came a familiar voice and the red head immediately perked up.

"Ochibi-chan!"

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

He still couldn't believe what he'd done. Echizen Ryoma had just bought his senpai shoes. Shoes of all first gifts to give to the one he liked. And yes, Ryoma did think he liked Eiji-senpai, maybe.

It started when he'd came back from America deciding he wanted to try out playing tennis for the Seigaku Sr. High since there'd been so many 'fun' matches in middle school. So, he concluded that the high school division should be even better.

Immediately, almost, he was put with the regulars, and amazingly, all the old regulars were there as well with Tezuka as the captain once again. And Ryoma was glad everything seemed almost the same as before he'd left Japan, except, when Eiji-senpai called him Ochibi, his heart began to race, and when he and Momoshiro congratulated him after every win it was only the acrobat's touch that burned his skin.

Ryoma wasn't so naïve as to not notice these signs, but shoes as a gift of affection was just pathetic. (Like saying, just go stomp on my heart, ne?) He cursed himself inwardly while walking calmly beside his senpai as they exited the store.

"Arigatou, Ochibi-chan," Eiji-senpai said clutching the new shoes to his chest as if they were his most prized procession. "I'll treasure them forever."

Ryoma stopped at that statement hesitating for a second before retorting with a "Mada Mada Dane," letting a shadow cast across his face and continuing on his way.

Then, the older boy began dancing around singing a song that went something like

"Shoes, shoes

Nya, new shoes

Bought for me by

Ochibi-chan, too."

His Ochibi-chan, eh, thought Ryoma, but quickly tucked the idea away. He was only teasing after all.

Ryoma stopped.

Or was he?

"Oye, Ochibi, hurry or I'll leave you."

Echizen started to walk again, calmly, thought his heart was beating a million miles a minute. What a silly senpai.

If I misspell any names or Japanese words, please tell me.

The quality of the story depends on the number of reviews. I will only keep on writing as long as you keep reviewing. Flaming is welcome, as is criticism, and I take requests .

Please review

--Zee