Disclaimer: I do not own PoT. Often times I wish I did, but I do not.
Warning: Slight OOCness, non yaoi
A/N: I would first like to thank all the reviewers! I realized I forgot to do that earlier. Especially, Accidental Enlightenment for her insights, xMitsuko and summer-loven for their support, and anyone else who I didn't mention!

So I think I got out of my writer's block since I have finished a basic outline of how I want the story to go. Of course, this is a VERY VERY rough outline, but at least I got my ideas down before they flew out of my brain, never to be seen again.

Ootori's outfit is based on what Date Koji wore as Ootori's informal clothes during the Dream Live 3 performance. As for Sairi's…some inspiration from yahoo avatars. What I do to get inspiration…::sighs::

I have graduation music stuck in my head. Pomp and Circumstance is the worst song ever! Especially when you have to play it over and over again for about 15 billion times because there's a million seniors graduating this year. I had to go through this and it was VERY VERY painful. But I did get to torture my section leader later on. Ah…fun times.

Anyway, here's the story:

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Ch. 3 Soft Rain

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Sairi checked her appearance in the mirror. She was wearing a short sleeve white blazer with a black tank top inside. Below that was a pair of denim jeans with a silver chain attached to the right side. Around her right wrist was a dark navy Fila wristband and around her neck was her usual heart-shaped key pendant with a sky blue gemstone set in the middle of it.

Ootori had given that necklace to her for her birthday last year. She had worn it ever since.

Perfect. She thought.

"Nee-chan! Kaa-san said you were going somewhere today." Daisuke stuck his head into her room.

Sairi observed her little brother or a little while, trying to determine the motive behind his statement. Daisuke could sometimes be a little angel and a little devil, at the same time. Judging by his tousled spiked brown hair and tired teal blue eyes, Daisuke had just gotten out of bed, and therefore could not have any demonic motives.

"Yes, Dai. I'm going somewhere." She replied.

Daisuke rubbed his eyes, "Can I come to?"

Sairi smirked, "You want to go shopping with me?"

This woke the younger boy up, "WHAT?! SHOPPING?! No way! Eww! That's gross! Who are you going shopping with?"

"Choutarou."

"Tori-nii-chan?" Daisuke often surprised her with strange nicknames.

"Yes, Dai-chan."

Daisuke rubbed his nose, indicating irritation, "Don't call me that! Is it a date?" Daisuke was more schizophrenic than usual.

"I don't know."

"How can you not know?" Daisuke threw himself onto her bed.

"Because I don't, Dai."

"Or you don't want to tell me. Nee-chan! Tell me!" Daisuke flopped up and down on the bed, and according to Sairi's perspective, looked like a fish washed up on the beach.

The doorbell rang. From the front of the house, Sairi heard her mom call, "It's for you, Sairi."

"Have to go, Dai—"

Daisuke wasn't about to let her go that easily, "Is it a date? Tell me tell me tell me!"

"Go brush your hair." She pushed him into the bathroom that she shared with him.

"Neeeeeeeeeeee-chan!" He called after her. Sairi quickly shut the door to the bathroom before making her way to the door.

Rummaging through the closet, she found a pair of grayish-brown Puma shoes with pink strips and quickly slipped them on.

Ootori was waiting at the doorway…wearing an almost identical outfit.

Sairi gawked at the fact that he too was wearing a white blazer (only it was a long-sleeved one, but he rolled up the sleeves) over a black shirt and denim jeans with a silver chain attached to them. His shoes were even brown.

If her mom saw this…

"Oh my god, you two look so cute together!" Sairi turned to see her mom admiring their almost identical outfits. "You're even wearing the same things!"

"Kaa-san!" She blushed.

Ootori's cheeks were tinted slightly red, "Umm…ari—"

Sairi covered his mouth, "There's no need to be polite. Well we'll be going, kaa-san! See you!" She closed the door on her mom.

---

"You're not very nice to your mom." Ootori commented once they had arrived at the designated shopping center.

Sairi simply smiled, "Of course I'm not." This prompted a "you should be nice to your elders" look from Ootori. Sairi simply smiled back, causing the silver-haired junior to blush.

"So are we going to stop shopping, or what?" Sairi asked, glancing at the numerous windows displaying various fashions.

It was Ootori's turn to smile this time. That comment was so like Sairi. She was always down to business.

"Come on, Choutarou!" Sairi grabbed his arm, tugging him into the nearest store. Ootori discovered he didn't really mind Sairi hugging his arm. If anything, he enjoyed it.

---

Several hours later, the two juniors decided to rest after towing around several bags. Sairi plopped herself very unceremoniously onto a nearby bench while Ootori laughed and sat down rather gracefully.

"You're a vicious shopper." Ootori commented.

Sairi simply laughed. The truth was the fact that their outfits were unintentionally coordinated prompted stares from many people. Sairi simply wanted to get away from them. They certainly were an odd couple. Sairi with her black hair and sky blue eyes and Ootori with his silver hair and chocolate brown eyes seemed to indicate they were polar opposites. However, their coordinated outfits conveyed similarities. In truth, they were a couple of blends and contrasts.

"Sairi?" Ootori was now standing, "Would you like some ice cream? There's a really good shop nearby."

"Sure." Sairi was about to get up before Ootori stopped her.

"I'll get it. It'll be my treat. You just wait here." A smile from Ootori assured her that no matter what she said, he wouldn't listen.

"Fine, Choutarou." She settled back into her seat watching the silver-haired junior walk away.

---

"Marui-senpai! Why did you have to drag me along with you?" Kirihara Akaya whined, following the pink-haired regular.

Marui simply blew a bubble, "Because I have shopping duty, and you're a kouhai. You should respect your senpai's wishes."

Kirihara just grumbled. He didn't want to be here, shopping for the tennis team. He wanted to be home, playing fighting games.

He scanned his eyes across the shopping center. It was the usual same boring scenery. Couples and parents with their children and were browsing around the shops. Several thoughts crossed his mind. They varied from disrupting couples during intimate moments to kidnapping the children just to watch their parents' reactions.

And then his eyes settled on a black-haired girl about his age on a nearby bench with various bags around her. Her sky blue eyes seemed to hold a playful impatience.

Cute…

"Hey, Akaya! Why'd you stop?" Marui gave the kouhai an impatient look before glancing at the object that had captivated Kirihara's attention. A mischievous smile graced his face, "Oh, so that's who you're looking at, Akaya."

Kirihara glared at his senpai, "It's none of your business."

"Do you even know who she is?" Marui already felt he had an edge over the kouhai.

Kirihara looked unusually eager, "You know her?"

"Personally, of course not." Marui watched as the hope in Kirihara's eyes disappeared, before adding, "But I've heard of her. She's a Hyotei regular on the girls' team. Her name's Li Sairi. From what I've heard, she's one of the best acrobatic players out there. Oh, she plays Doubles 1."

"Where did you find this all out?" Kirihara asked suspiciously.

"Tennis Pro Monthly. Honestly, Akaya, you should read that every so often."

Another boy approached Sairi. Kirihara's eyes narrowed as he identified the boy as Ootori Choutarou. Ootori handed Sairi an ice cream cone before sitting down next to her. The two seemed to be enjoying each other's company.

Marui sighed, "I guess that's too bad, Akaya. Seems like she's taken by Ootori-kun. Oh well." He grabbed the kouhai and dragged him off.

However, Kirihara's mind still swarming with thoughts about Li Sairi.

I don't care if she's going out with Ootori-kun or not. I want her to be mine.

---

"Thanks, Choutarou." Sairi smiled before accepting the cone he gave her.

Ootori sat down next to her as Sairi licked it. "It's so yummy…" Sairi turned towards Ootori, "You remembered I liked Irish Cream?"

"Of course." Ootori replied.

"It's not fair." Sairi then blurted out.

Ootori turned towards the girl, a surprised look on his face, "What isn't?"

"You treating me to this and all that. I had so much fun. I need to take you somewhere too." The girl's sky blue eyes were filled with enthusiasm, "How about we go to Tokyo Disneyland next weekend?"

Ootori smiled at her, "That's fine with me, Sairi."

The girl laughed before Ootori grabbed her wrist. The laugh turned into a gasp as Ootori took a lick of her ice cream. "W-What was that for?" Sairi stuttered.

"It was melting." Ootori grinned, revealing his mischievous side.

"Choutarou! You—"

"You want some of mine?" Ootori placed his cone in front of her face.

Sairi blushed, "W-What?"

"Well, it's the least I owe you, for taking a bite out of your ice cream and for inviting me to Tokyo Disneyland, right?"

"Ch-Choutarou…"

"Come on." He pushed it even closer. Sairi took a reluctant lick, which prompted a smile from Ootori. Sairi could feel herself turning into a tomato very quickly.

---

By the time Sairi had returned home, the sun was barely visible over the horizon. Ootori stood with her by her door as she once again rummaged for her keys.

This was the third time already.

"Thank you, Sairi."

Sairi turned around, "For what?"

"For coming out with me. Even though Nakasone-san is moving away."

Sairi smiled, "It was really no problem. Don't feel guilty about it. Furthermore, Kotone would have wanted me to go out with you."

It was Ootori's turn to smile. Slowly, he leaned down towards the girl. Sairi's eyes closed as he brought his face closer. Leaning against the door she could feel Ootori's lips drawing closer.

"Mou, is Sairi home yet?!" An impatient Daisuke opened the door, moving the one object that was keeping Sairi up.

Sairi fell, as a surprised Ootori caught her. Daisuke, on the other hand, was standing there with a bewildered look on her face.

"Eto…gomen nasai." Daisuke quickly ran into the house, his face bright red.

Sairi glared in the direction her brother ran, yelling, "You better be sorry!" while Ootori laughed. He then turned back to the girl.

"Well, I'll see you at school then, Sairi."

Sairi nodded before waving to Ootori and closing the door.

Now for killing that little pest of a brother of hers.

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A/N:

Ahh…this chapter went all right.

THIS IS THE FARTHEST I'VE EVER GONE IN A FANFIC BEFORE. Usually I quit by the 2nd chapter, but I actually have enough inspiration to get through this.

I need to play flute anyways. So, I guess I'll get to work on the 5th chapter ASAP. For now, I'll leave with one of my brain farts in the middle of chapter:
Half way through the chapter I couldn't find the quotation marks on the keyboard.

Side note: I'm leaving for my summer program on June 27th, so after that date posting shall be...let's say haphazard. I'm coming back on July 21st, and I'm hoping to have all the fanfic up by then. If not, I shall resume daily posting again on July 22st. Note that this fanfic will not exceed 20 chapters (because I really can't write that much).

W-B Chaos