AN: Hello, all:D My first new update of the New Year! I hope you all like it. Very late Christmas present for Cyn-chan, and theme 11 (childhood) for the eljay comm, 15hugs.

Lessons

Strawberry'd

01/12/06

"You want me to teach you how to skate?" Ryuuzaki Sakuno said in disbelief. "You? The prince of tennis and of all sports?"

Ryoma looked away for a second. "…Yeah."

"A-are you sure?" Sakuno, age 17, five month girlfriend of Echizen Ryoma, also age 17, looked skeptical. She had done some skating her childhood, even entered a few competitions here and there. Although it had been a while since she competed, she still went out with a few girlfriends and skated for an afternoon.

"Yeah. Will you?" Ryoma was now just a little impatient. He simply wanted a yes or a no. She didn't have to be the one who would teach him, although he preferred it that way.

"Of course, but… why so sudden?" Sakuno's first impression of Ryoma, other than that he was cute and knew how to play tennis extremely well, was that we was a person who never tried anything out for himself. Besides tennis, of course.

Sakuno was certain she saw just the slightest wince for her boyfriend. "Kikumaru-senpai said that I couldn't skate." Ryoma said. Sakuno's second impression of the tall boy in front of her had been this: Ryoma hated to lose. Once he had been introduced to a sport, he would do everything in his power to become the best. He hated to be shown as weak.

"Ah," Sakuno let the subject drop.

A few days later, Ryoma and Sakuno arrived at the ice rink. "Wow," Sakuno exclaimed as she peered around the rink. "It's as if no one's here!"

Ryoma shrugged. "Guess today's not one of those days you go skating." Along with the favorable weather and brand new, highly anticipated movie that just came out yesterday, the ice rink was positively deserted.

Sakuno swiftly laced her skates and tested them out. "It's been a while since I've skated." She smiled wistfully at the rink. Ryoma caught that look.

"Go. I'll catch up." Sakuno glanced uncertainly at him. Wasn't she supposed to teach him? He made a shooing motion with his hands and bent to tie his other skate.

Sakuno stepped onto the ice and pushed off with one foot. She glided easily and elegantly, weaving around the few people that were there. She lapped the rink once and made her way back to Ryoma, her cheeks flushed and a shy smile on her lips. "Ready?" The answer she received was a nod.

Together, the two stepped onto the ice, Ryoma's hand firmly gripped in hers. One step, another… Ryoma wobbly walked around the rink.

"Now push off with one foot and glide." Sakuno instructed, showing him with her own skates. Ryoma was doing well, gliding slowly, awkwardly. The pig-tailed girl (yes, she hasn't lost those long braids yet) grasped his hands in her mitten-encased ones and pulled him along, skating backwards.

"I can do it." He said, not needing her support. He glided along the ice, gaining speed as Sakuno skated beside him. He stumbled a bit, a hint of a smile on his tan face, and grabbed his girlfriend in panic. Sakuno gave a little shriek as they both fell down, Sakuno almost in Ryoma's lap.

"R-Ryoma-kun!" She chastised. "Don't go so fast or you'll fall again!" Ryoma said nothing, but pulled her, skates and all, closer to him.

"But fast is the only way to go," He told her, a light smirk ghosting on his lips. Sakuno tore her eyes away from his, two bright pink spots on her cheeks.

Ryoma stood up and then helped her up as well, wrapping an arm around her waist as they started to skate again. This time, more slowly.

Two racing kids zoomed past them, not very courteously. Sakuno tried to get out of the way and they fell again. Ryoma fell on his behind and Sakuno on her knees, face pressed into Ryoma's chest.

Now, Ryoma was dense when it came to a lot of things, but he knew good opportunity when he saw one. Sakuno attempted to get up at this point, but Ryoma didn't let her. He scooped the slender girl in his arms and dropped her in his lap, pressing his face into her hair.

"Ryoma-kun…?" Sakuno said, a red blush marring her clear complexion. "People are staring."

"Let them stare." After a few moments, however, Ryoma stood up and helped the flustered girl up as well.

"C'mon," He said grinning. "I'll race you." He took off, pumping his legs along the ice, careful not to fall and wary of sharp turns.

After a split second of stunned silence, Sakuno chased after him, skating quickly and expertly. "R-Ryoma-kun! Come back!"

Around and around they went, circling the large rink many times. Sakuno was surprised at how much Ryoma had improved, but then again, he was Ryoma.

Later that evening, Sakuno kneeled on a square mat at the Echizen household, pouring a cop of steaming tea for Echizen-san, Ryoma's father.

"So I heard you kids went skating today?" Nanjirou commented, sipping his tea and then scowling at his burnt tongue. Ryoma had excused himself to change.

"Yes, he learns things so fast!" Sakuno knew better; she merely wrapped her hands around the mug, not daring to drink the scalding liquid just yet.

"What, skating?" Nanjirou looked confused. "Ryoma's been skating ever since he was five!"

Again, we all know our dear Ryoma was as dense as can be, but even he could distinguish Sakuno's cry of indignation as a sign not to re-enter the room just yet.

And that's it! I hope you liked it, all--! It's ooc and it's.. a little weird. I wrote it before I went to bed (BY HAND) and then typed it up during lunch when I was bored o.o;; -has got no life- :D Review please!