Title: A Walk in the Rain
Author: Darth Claire
Beta: Ickybicky

Pairing: Momo/Ryo
Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Not mine. Momo/Ryo ficlet. Written to prove to Ickybicky that I CAN write fics that don't turn into epic stories:P As always, reviews are greatly appreciated.

"Look they're announcing the players for the next match!" Eiji said, staring at the large board that held the score of the US Japan Goodwill games.

"Kevin Smith and…" Eiji paused as the next name came up.

"Kirihara Akaya." Fuji finished. Neither one of them said anything to the freshman standing with them. What would they say?

"I'm going to buy some Juice." Ryoma said in a strained voice, pulling his cap down over his eyes. He walked off alone.

In the stands the reaction was equally disappointed.

"Kirihara." Inui said, scribbling in his journal. Momo stood up and climbed over his friends to get to the isle.

"I'm going to buy a drink." He said.

"Fsshh. I bet he's buying Ponta." Kaidoh said cryptically.

Momo ran to the locker room but Ryoma was not there. He went to the all the nearby drink machines and the cafeteria, but the freshman was nowhere to be found. He wondered if he should really be looking for Ryoma. Maybe the arrogant little brat wanted to be alone. But Momo couldn't shake the feeling that Ryoma needed him right now. Trying to think where his friend could possibly be, he unconsciously looked out the window in the direction of the practice courts.

"It's raining. Would he…" Momo thought for a minute before running out the door.

"Ryoma!" He called. Momo ran as fast as he could without falling on the wet pavement. Finally he caught sight of a short figure in the jacket of the Japanese team.

"Ryoma!" He said, running to catch up. Ryoma didn't run away, but he didn't stop either. Momo grasped one of the freshman's shoulders and turned him around. He couldn't tell in the rain, but it looked like his friend might be crying. Wordlessly, Momo pulled Ryoma to him, surprised to feel the tennis prodigy's arms wrap around his waist.

"Yeah, I know." He whispered laying a hand on Ryoma's hat covered head.

"You think I'm a brat for sulking like this, don't you?' Ryoma said in a shaky voice. Momo hugged Ryoma closer to him.

"No," Momo reassured the smaller boy. "This game was really important to you. You have every right to be disappointed. Kirihara would be out here doing the same thing if you were playing. You worked hard to get here, of course you feel frustrated."

Momo dislodged himself from Ryoma's hug to bend down and kiss the sobbing freshman.

"Besides, I still love you even when you are being a brat."

"I love you too Momo-chan." Ryoma said with a choked voice. He wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's neck and pulled him into a longer kiss. Right now more than ever he was grateful for those strong arms wrapped around him. He was happy to be in Momo's embrace, the only place where he felt he didn't have to be the best, where he didn't have to think about Tezuka, or Fuji, or his father, or Kevin Smith, or even tennis. He just had to be there with Momo's lips to his.

"They're so sweet together, Fujiko." Eiji said quietly. "Should we wait a bit longer before we tell them?"

Fuji grinned contentedly and they stood there watching as Momo and Ryoma held one another tightly in the warm summer rain.

The End