A/N: Slight of Ritsu's birthday flashback! The main point is Mio's meeting with Ritsu's parents, so...let's keep it in line...since last 21st August was Ritsu's birthday, I made slight of her birthday in this chappy! Next chapter will be the first meeting of Mio and Ritsu's parents! Gyahahaa! XD

BETA worked by Hephaestus1923

"Stay"

"The best birthday present ever is you." -Anonymous

Chapter 4: Happy Birthday!

"GAAAH!" The brown-haired girl takes another deep breath. Recently, she has nothing to do. Everything's just too boring because the fact is, she can't go out of her prison. Heh, prison. She chuckles at her own thoughts. She just called her own fancy apartment a prison with her in it as the prisoner. "Yeah right, I'm a prisoner of my own crime." She mutters.

A sigh escapes from the other girl's lips in the same room. "Don't you have anything better to do? Any activities at all? I mean, it's not like you really have nothing to do in your apartment, Ritsu."

"Like what, Mio? You even forbid me to touch my lappy, iPhone and all of those documents..." Ritsu starts to pouts her mouth in a cute manner.

"Day-offs means that you are not supposed to use anything related to work, Ritsu. Although you can, but it's not good for you right now." The black-haired girl rolls her eyes without even bothering herself to divert her eyes from her pile of homework. "Besides, you have those games you can always play with~ I mean, it's getting pretty dusty there."

"Well, it will be no fun if I play all by myself... Why don't you play with me?" In seconds, her eyes gleam with sparks and lots of hope.

"No." Still, it wouldn't make the mature girl get distracted, even if it is something such as playing games. "Don't you see I'm working on my assignments?"

"Put that aside for a while! Geez, here I am putting aside my all my work for you and you keep working on those fucking assignments~"

TWACK! Ritsu earns a bump on her head, knowing that she really got on Mio's nerve for cursing like that. "Don't curse, Ritsu! I really hate it." Mio turns around, back to her- Ritsu's laptop and groans softly.

"Alright, sorry..." Ritsu mutters while massaging her poor head. Not long, she lays herself on the bed without Mio noticing it. She puts one of her arms on her forehead. "I'll take a lil' nap." Ritsu whispers to herself, afterwards sighing deeply.

Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes and drifts off to her dreamland.

Ritsu's Flashback POV

"Morning, Ritsu~" I sleepily opened my eyes to find a beautiful angel lying on top of me.

I chuckled, "Where am I? Heaven?" The angel laughed a little at my joke, she planted a light kiss on my cheek afterwards.

Gosh, I really am in heaven, huh? "What's with you, saying cliché stuff like that in the morning?"

"What's with you, being so hot in the morning?" She didn't talk back at that. Slowly, she stood up from my huge-sized bed and walked towards the little bathroom. Something made me frown, "…What time is it now- What? Nine forty-five? I'm so la-"

"You're not going to work today." She said, her voice coming from inside the bathroom. I kept on frowning as she walked out of the bathroom and sat on the bed, next to me. "Why don't you just get dressed and we could go."

"Where to?" I tilted my head in confusion. Why shouldn't I go to work? Why isn't she mad at me for waking up so late? Why can I notice something odd is going on?

"Soon you'll know, just get dressed now." With that, she walked away and took a shower.

Just what is wrong with her this morning? What is wrong with me? Did I do something good that it made her act so nice to me? Last night, I got home at two thirty am! Maybe she's in a good mood, so that it made her act so… different to me. Not that I mind it, but it's quite weird.

I did what she had asked me to, though I can't help but keep on thinking. She said I'm not goin' to work today. How'd she know? Today is not even a weekend or a holiday. It's not like today is a special- Something clicked in my mind.

"…My birthday…" I whispered to myself. Great, just great… How old am I now? Am I too old to even remember my own birthday?

"Ritsu, are you going to take more time in there?" Mio called me out, I quickly snapped out of my thoughts and put on my t-shirt and short pants. Putting the towel on my neck, I walked out of the bathroom to see Mio standing there—fully dressed casually—with a frown. "Seriously, what are you doing in there, Ritsu?"

"Taking a shower? Uh... Lemme get my shirt and jeans, kay? Be right back!" With that, I dashed to the bedroom and chose some casual clothes to wear. In seconds, I finished dressing myself and walked back to the living room, where I found Mio sitting on the couch, reading something. I plopped myself next to her and grinned, "So, where are you going to take me, Mio?~" I still can't believe she realized that today is my birthday!

I kept grinning, feeling so excited. "Library." I was stunned at her simple, yet unbelievable answer. "I need to borrow some books for my assignments. Since you agreed that you'll have a holiday today, I wonder if you could accompany me there." Exactly when did I agree that I'll have a holiday today? I mean, I do not even remember my own birthday this morning!

Gosh, my hopes are too high… We've been together for just almost one and a half month. We even rarely talk these days. "Alright, I'll take you there." I sighed in defeat, well… maybe I'll tell her about it later.

Maybe…just maybe.

End of Ritsu's Flashback POV

"Anyways, why don't you tell me more about your parents, Ritsu?" The black-haired girl gets not reply. She frowns and, when Ritsu isn't saying anything, she finally turns her head to the brunette. "Rit- Oh, she's asleep…"

Ritsu shrugs, "-take…ou…er…" She mumbles some incoherent words, which is making the black-haired girl frown and chuckle.

"Well, I better be finishing these assignments soon and… well… off to-" Ritsu's cell rings all of a sudden. Mio holds out her hand to the bed-side table and grabs Ritsu's cell. Mio takes a glance at the caller, it says Private number. "…Another Private Number… Maybe it's Ritsu's mother again," And she finally presses the green button on the cell.

"Ritsu," A man's voice could be heard on the other line. Mio panics. She really had no idea what to say. Before she could give any reply, or could even think of one, panic is already clouding her brain, "-this is your dad calling. Finally you picked up the phone…"

Her eyes go wide in shock. Ritsu's father? T-this is…W-what- I… Mio keeps silent. She knows she really shouldn't pick up the call, but she just did. Note to self, never pick any more calls coming from Ritsu's cell phone.

"Hello? Ritsu, are you there?" The man says once again. Mio is about to wake Ritsu up, but then she thinks that it wouldn't be a good idea. "Ritsu, will you say som-" The phone call suddenly ends.

Mio did nothing, but slowly take the cell from her ear and check what's wrong with the cell. She could only sigh in relief when she looks at the cell, and it was dead, the black screen staring back at her. If it keeps going on, if Mio talked on the phone with Ritsu's father, if Ritsu's father found out about Mio before she could even explain the things… Maybe, Mio could be the one and only unwanted daughter-in-law of Ritsu's father.

"I… I really should tell Ritsu…" Mio shakes her head slowly, deciding to continue on her assignments. She groans, "Gosh, just how many assignments should I finish? Ugh…"

Mio turns her head to the sleeping brunette. Hearing the usual soft snores from the other girl makes her giggle a little. She runs her right-hand to Ritsu's head, taking off the yellow thing that is attached on the brunette's head. Mio smirks. "…Much better." the shy girl mutters, while she keeps staring at Ritsu's sleeping face.

Ritsu's Flashback POV

Great, she really has no idea that today is my birthday. "…Damn library…" I cursed softly while I wait for Mio on one of the chairs in the middle of the library. This place is so damn boring! No one makes any noise, it's kinda killin' me! GAH! I need to do something go-

"Ritsu?" A voice called me out, when I was about to step out from the library. I turned around, gasping as I found this girl behind me. "What a coincidence."

There, I saw a familiar girl with glasses. "N-Nodoka! Aha-ha-ha… Yeah, such a coincidence, huh?" I laughed nervously, scratching the back of my neck as I tried to think.

"Anyways, it's rare seeing you around here. So where's Mio?"

"Lookin' for some books… Literature section, I guess~" I glanced at my watch, realizing that it is taking Mio thirty-five minutes to look for whatever books she is going to use.

Nodoka shot me a rather questioning look. "Well, Happy Birthday, Ritsu." I blinked three times, then finally I snapped out of it.

"Uh… Yeah, thanks. Really, thank you so much" I diverted my eyes, knowing that even Nodoka- the one who rarely meet me- remembered my birthday.

"Sorry I didn't get you any present for now, but I heard that you're throwing a party tonight." A party? When did I even throw such news to my friends? "So maybe I'll come and bring the present along."

"It's fine, 'cause…y'know… I'm not really expecting any presents or gifts… I'm more than happy if you could come to- uh… tonight's part…."

Nodoka laughed as if I just said something silly, "You? Tainaka Ritsu not expecting any presents on her birthday? What's wrong? You always look for cakes, presents and some silly games at your birthday."

Not this birthday though. Today I just wanted Mio to at least remember that today is a special day for me. "Well, lack of business? But again, thanks. I kinda glad you remember what today is, y'know~"

She looked at me quite worriedly, but when she was about to say anything else- "Nodoka-chan, are you done yet?"

"Ah yeah, wait a sec-" Nodoka turned back to me and smiled, "I guess I'll see you at tonight's party, Ritsu. See you there." I nodded. She then dashed to her friend.

I took quite a deep breath. I sighed. "It's Manabe Nodoka, isn't it?" Mio suddenly popped right behind me with a few books in her arms. "Did she just talk with you, Ritsu?"

"Huh? Well, yeah. I just happened to talk to her, and uh… she's- uh… Never mind. So are you finished yet?" I scratched the back of my neck, getting all nervous. I was about to ask her that Nodoka told me that I am holding a Birthday Party tonight. I just can't remember when I said such news to others. Then again, if I really told her: 'Nodoka said I am throwing a Birthday Party today and I can't remember when I told them', it's no use. She might not even have any idea that today is actually my birthday.

"Ritsu?" I shook my head a bit. I looked up at Mio who is now frowning at me. Her eyes are showing me that worried look "Is something wrong?"

Again, I shook my head, in denial. "No no no! Of course not, just spacin' out~ ha-ha... Can we go now? I feel kinda starving~" She nodded and went to the book keeper. I quickly walked and waited for Mio outside of the library.

The rest of the day went out pretty good, but Mio still had no single idea about what today is. I asked her about the time I told her that I'm going to have a holiday today, and she said "You said it two days ago." Then, she asked if I am having an early memory lost or something. I quickly brushed it off, and said that it's because of the lack of working these past few weeks.

I glanced at my hand watch, it's close to six pm and I just remembered that Nodoka said I am throwing a Birthday Party at my apartment tonight! When I was about to grab Mio's hand and ask her to go back, I stopped.

How should I say it to Mio? If we just barged inside my apartment, then there are lots of people in there and giving me gifts and singing a Happy Birthday, Mio would surely be surprised. Then she would blame herself for not remembering my Birthday while we're already together for almost two months. GAH! Stupid, why did I ever throw such party? What did I plan on my birthday?

Wha- "Ritsu, let's go back now. It's getting dark." Mio looked up and pulled me towards the car.

I only nodded, and opened the passenger's front-door and then got myself inside the car as well. I didn't start the machine immediately, because something just get into my mind that I can't stop thinking about it.

"Seriously, are you sick or something? You keep spacing out and getting all sweaty like this," Mio ran her hand to my face. She was using a small towel to wipe off some sweat. Gosh, I didn't even realize that I've been sweating pretty badly. So what? I'm so damn nervous right now!

I started the car's machine, "S-sorry, I'm fine…Let's going now." Then we drove straight to my apartment. What should I say to her? Should I just say, 'Mio today is my birthday.' Geez, that's so bold and flat. Should I say it a bit dramatically? 'Mio, how could you forget my birthday today!~' GAH! That's even more horrible if it comes from me. Maybe I should say it a bit serious, 'Do you even realize that today is actually my birthday?' No, there's no way I could say it to her that seriously. Fact says, I can't act seriously serious if it's with Akiyama Mio.

About fifteen minutes, we both arrived at my apartment. Some of my guards said there are a few of my friends coming with presents, saying that they're gonna have a party that I am holding tonight. Mio didn't hear it though and I kinda felt suspicious because my guards acted as if it's a surprise for Mio. I mean, today is my birthday! Why is the surprise for her?

Oh well, I've had enough surprises for today anyways, starting this morning, then afternoon and now, evening. Awkwardly surprising… Well, one way or another, I gotta tell her (it rhymes!) and of course, I'm gonna start it with some random questions. "So Mio, are you having fun?"

"Yeah, of course. We do not often go somewhere together, spending time and do some things together, since you're very busy and all. But today was worth it, really."

Worth it… I repeated mentally. I really can't bring myself to actually ask her about my birthday today. Sighihng deeply, I pulled out my card and slide it quickly, the door automatically opened, but before that-

"Ritsu-" Before I could respond to her, I already felt a pair of lips onto mine. She started it quite forcefully, but then she slowed her movements and I returned it as gently as I could. Truthfully, I'm totally confused at this. After a good five minutes of that sudden hot session, Mio panted softly and put her arms around my neck. "Otanjoubi Omedetou ne, Ritsu…"

I was stunned, mouth gaping, eyes blinking. "You… you actually remember?"

"How rude, why wouldn't I?" Mio pushed my apartment door and it opened quite widely.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TAINAKA RITSU/RICCHAN!~" I thought I wouldn't feel so surprised, but really… it felt different. It made my eyes somehow teary. GAH! I can't cry here! NOT NOW! NOT IN FRONT OF THEM! I took a deep breath then put on my trademark grin, and finally walked inside, the grin on my face.

Everyone started to say Happy Birthday, and they also gave me their gifts. What made me surprised was that some of these people were my old classmates from High School. To be honest, there are too many people. I can't even recognize any of those people. Sawa-chan was there, making sure that these kids/girls/boys keep in line, since a few of them ordered some alcoholic drinks. I also had my private guards in front of my apartment door, in case some people interrupt the party.

I got pretty drunk, my head hurts like hell… Last thing I remembered was that Sawa-chan excused herself to go home, bringing Mugi along with her. It's quite weird, because after they left...there were only Mio and I in the living room, sitting on the couch- not to mention Mio that recently looks half-drunk or was it just my imagination? Because after that...everything went pitch black.

"Ri…su… Rits…u… Ritsu… Ritsu?" Still sleepy, I opened my eyes, rubbing it slowly. When I'm about to raise my head, the pain stopped me. "You better be staying down. It's probably the effect of the amount of alcohol you drank," I shot her a questioning look. There is no thing I could remember, only party and Mio who- Oh yeah, party… Last night- "Sorry to wake you up this early."

I grabbed my cell on the table, gasping as I realized it's not even four am yet. "Wow… Did you…clean up the mess?" I raised an eyebrow, not confusingly but amusingly.

"Well, it's so messy and dirty. I just couldn't stand it, so… I cleaned everything up and…"

I didn't put down my raised eyebrow. I smirked afterwards. "-and you woke me up?" I chuckled, "Anyways… Thanks-"

"Please, don't thank me yet. I… I woke you up, because I wanted to give you this," Mio handed me a medium sized box, wrapped nicely in my favorite color. "It's up to you if you want to open it." She finished.

I wasted no time to unwrap it, being a bit careful. After the last part was unwrapped, I was stunned. "T-this… How…" Inside the box were all the collections of my favorite band, 'The Who'. Along with their little plushies, t-shirts and some other merchandise that was beyond possibility that people could ever collect it, even in five years. What's more is that… "How did you know I l-like this b-band?"

"Well, you know how Mugi act and you can say… most of it was from Mugi's help. She told me you like 'The Who' and said to me you're…a drummer in your band. Called, Hokago Tea Time-"

"-HTT for short," I cut her, then Mio didn't continue it furthermore as I pulled one more thing inside the box. "What is this?"

It's a small box, red in color and it looks pretty fancy. "Actually, it was- Well, just open it."

I did what she told me to. So, I opened it slowly, and again Mio had surprised me, for the third time now. "Necklace? You bought me a necklace?" It's kinda weird seeing Mio be the one who buys me such thing. I mean, usually the tomboy one will buy it instead, especially that I'm working and I earn my own money. Oh well, seeing her as the guy in the relationship wouldn't be too bad either.

"I have one for myself too." Mio pulled out her necklace from underneath her t-shirt. "Mugi did mention to me that I should probably give you something that…I dunno… something that would make you remember me. She suggested me to buy a ring, but it's too… too weird for me to give you a ring. I mean, it will make me look like I'm going to propose or something…"

I tried not to laugh, but failed. "Hahahaha! Yeah, you're right. Thanks and uh… I love this and…" I pulled myself up, and leaned in to her lips. "…and I love you more…"

We kissed, again… and again… and again… and I just dunno how and why we ended up on the bed. I teased her like usual, she got all flustered and we started our little wrestling match on the bed, and as always, I won. Mio was under me. I put both hands on either side of her and our faces were just inches away from each other, both of us panting hardly.

Mio pulled herself up, kissing me once again with a lot of care. "…Happy Birthday, Ritsu…" She whispered seductively in my ear, and it just made me feel excited.

"Thanks and…" I smirked, knowing that I just can't go back to sleep. "…You have one more gift for me, hm?"

She giggled at my question, "What? You're going to take your last present now? How impatient~"

"I don't want to waste my best birthday gift ever."

End of Ritsu's Flashback POV

Two hours had passed and Ritsu hasn't woken up yet. Mio finally finished all her assignments. She realizes that both of them need to get ready for tonight's Family Dinner with Ritsu's parents. She shakes Ritsu's body, "Hey, wake up! We need to get ready, Ritsu! Ritsu, please, wake up now! RITSU!"

Ritsu gets startled, jumped in surprised and- THUMP! She falls from the bed. "Oww… My butt hurts… Damn…" She curses softly as she rubs her sleepy eyes and yawns.

"S-sorry, Ritsu! I didn't mean it! Really! I was just- you see-"

"That's fine…" Ritsu mumbles, getting up slowly. She sits on the bed once again, yawning once, twice. Note to self, don't ever sleep close to the edge of the bed. After that, she sighs in a bit of annoyance.

However, the shy girl seems to be worried, feeling guilty for making Ritsu fall from the bed. Well, she did make her fall indirectly. "A-are you okay? Does it h-hurt?"

"I'm fine. I just have a really good dream and… it was about to get to the best part until I hear you screaming my name then- BAM! It all ended."

"I- I'm really sorry… It's just… We really need to get ready now." Mio lowers her head, feeling pretty embarrassed. "Your mother said we need to get there early, so I don't want to disappoint her by coming late. Moreover, tonight's dinner is special, it's a Family Dinner with your parents, and I thought it would be the appropriate thing to do. Especially, we're dating and all."

Ritsu sighs once more, "Yeah, they need to know. Well, of course Mom already knows about you, but actually… the real problem is my dad."

Name: Tainaka Satomi
Gender: Female
Age: 41
Born in: 4th January, 1970
Relatives: Tainaka Ritsu (Daughter), Akiyama Mio (Soon-daughter-in-law), Tainaka Satoshi (Son) & Tainaka Ryuuji (Husband)
Applying as: -
Facts: Back then, Satomi's sister was actually a lesbian and so did she.

A/N: Kyaaaa!~ I'm evilishly stupid!~ This is a late birthday gift for ya, Ritsu! A little flashback to your first birthday party with Mio! XD

Hint(s):

1. Ritsu and Mio did have sex on Ritsu's birthday. (Obviously~) However, it doesn't count as the second time they had sex.
2. Mio did plan a Birthday Party and Surprise that day. She just acted innocently.
3. The necklace was a letter; both had their names' inicials on it. R for Mio and M for Ritsu.