Hi! I am back with a one-shot fic. I'll take a break for my It All Started With a Bet fic and will present this Valentine fic for everyone. Happy Valentines Day to all of you. :)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis and never will.

Valentine Key

Summary: She thought that the day would never change just like the ordinary day. She was really wrong about that. Totally, differently wrong about that.

Students walked randomly on a typical day in school. They could be seen anywhere in the premises, break time or not. It was natural for them to chat while they walked.

For Ryuzaki Sakuno and Osakada Tomoka, it wasn't different for them.

They blended in with the other students walking on the corridor. They were carrying books to be brought in the library and just like any other students, they were gossiping something.

Something big would happen to their school in a few days time.

The Valentines Day.

Girls were so excited to give chocolates to the boys that they liked. Obligatory or not, it was quite a tradition for them to give boys chocolate during Valentines day. Tomoka was so excited for the event.

Only her excitement wasn't for her own.

"So have you thought of a unique design for Ryoma-sama's chocolate?" Tomoka asked casually like it was a natural thing to blurt out.

Sakuno blushed and gripped the books that she was holding real tight, "L-lower your voice, Tomo-chan. W-what is someone hears you?"

"So what if they hear me?" Tomoka said closing her eyes and felt proud of herself saying that, "As if they can do anything about it if you want to give him chocolates."

"But still…"

"Don't worry about them," Tomoka said elbowing her, "I'll handle them for you."

The auburn haired girl sweat dropped when she said that. Tomoka was her savior everytime there was something like that happened to her. Ryoma was famous to girls so it was only natural for them to hurt who would stand against them.

Being the closest girl to the team, they thought that Sakuno had the advantage of being near to the tennis prince. The others got jealous because they thought that she could get the upper hand. Ryoma was able to approach if they could give effort to it, not because of fangirling or something. If they could do that naturally, he would entertain them at least.

That was what Ryoma did when she approached him. It was just a normal conversation, though she would always do the conversing part.

It was fine for her that way as long as she could be with the prince for the short time.

Her reverie was cut where she and Tomoka heard a commotion. They followed the sound where they could hear it and saw some students were gathering on the announcement board.

"What's that?" Tomoka asked curiously.

"I don't know," Sakuno answered and looked at her best friend, "Let's go and see?"

"Come on." Tomoka replied and walked to the board without her waiting for her. Sakuno followed suit. They joined the horde of students who was staring on the announcement. They followed what they were reading and it didn't take a minute to understand what was being written there.

"Valentines Day…in Taiwanese… Way?" Tomoka read the title in a slow motion, "What the heck is happening here?"

Sakuno answered her of what she understood from the announcement, "It seems that… boys will be required to give something to the girls they like this time."

"It's the opposite," Tomoka was still shocked but recovered as fast as she looked at her and grabbed her to her shoulder, "What are we going to do now? We are not going to do the usual thing this year?"

"T-Tomo-chan…"

"I know!" Tomoka said standing straight and raised her hand in a tight fist, "I'll make Ryoma-sama give you chocolates or anything on Valentines day!"

"Tomo-chan!" It was her turn to reach for her shoulder, "T-that's not necessary."

"It is," Tomoka looked around before she pulled her to a corner, "You know that announcement. If a boy gives something to the girl he likes that girl is obligated to return the feelings twice the gift he gives to her the following month. That's your chance of making something for him."

"Mou, it's not always like that," Sakuno was blushing once again, "I—it's not like I cannot give him chocolates to him again… y-you know."

"But this is a rare chance," Tomoka insisted, "Boys will initiate the move this Valentines day. It's a challenge for them. You should get this chance of convincing him to give you something."

"I… I am not sure…" Looking down, her face was really red. Tomoka was giving her ideas that even her couldn't really believe it.

Tomoka shook her head as she tapped her shoulder, "Leave it to me then. Leave it to me."

Next Day:

The announcement spread so fast the entire school. Some boys complained about it but the girls insisted them to do their job or else they wouldn't be receiving anything next month. Boys could give gifts to girls but of course a special gift to someone he liked was an exceptional. It was like the normal Valentines day in Japan. The only difference was the boys would do it in Seigaku this year.

Ryoma was more than pissed that day. Girls were showing hints to him. They wanted his gifts or something for the Valentines day. Even her loudmouthed friend kept bugging him to give chocolates to her best friend. Sighing, he tried to avoid their gazes as he walked on his way to the court.

He couldn't believe that boys were required to do that kind of thing this year.

"Stupid announcement." He muttered to himself before he entered the court. The rest was already warming up but it didn't escape for his ears that they were also talking about the announcement.

"Is it mandatory to give gifts to girls this Valentines day?" Momo asked getting their attention.

"You won't be able to receive anything next month if you don't." Oishi looked at his kouhai as he helped Fuji doing the stretches.

"It's not like I won't be receiving any from the girls these days." Momo pouted who started stretching his legs

"It is going to be fun, nya!" Eiji commented who running on the spot, "We just exchanged roles this year so why not do it then?"

"But senpai, we are always at the receiving end," Momo protested, "At least we know who we are going to give presents because they are the one who give chocolates to us first."

"Saa, it's what Eiji said," Fuji said stretching up and looked at Momo, "We just exchanged roles. Why not we give those girls who give us chocolates on Valentines day?"

Oishi, Kawamura and Kaidoh blushed at the same time. Of all the members aside from Tezuka and Fuji, the three of them were also receiving lots of chocolates on Valentines day. They were having a hard time if they were also going to give presents to those girls who were giving those chocolates to them. He decided to join the others to warm up and saw their blushes.

"Ne, senpai-tachi, why are you blushing?" He couldn't help but ask them.

Momo reached out to him and locked him up to his shoulder, "You little—hey Echizen here received lots of chocolates last year."

"What about it?" He retorted as he tried to free himself from his grip, "And let go of me."

"Well," Kawamura started scratching his head as he was still blushing, "It's true. There are a lot of girls that we might give presents to."

"Taka-san, you don't have to give every girl in school. Just give presents to a girl that is special to you," Fuji said smiling in the process and looked at the other two, "That goes for the both of you."

Oishi looked at the tensai, "It seems that you have someone in mind, Fuji."

Still smiling, he nodded to them, "Yes, I have." Shocking everyone in the team, even Tezuka caught his attention. Kaidoh reacted the usual way.

"Who is she, senpai?" Momo asked finally releasing Ryoma from his grip.

"I am going to give something to Ryuzaki-chan."

Even his own amber eyes got his attention. Fuji was going to give something to the girl. He almost flinched when the tensai looked his way opening his eyes in the process.

"It's only an obligatory gift, Echizen," He said still smiling at him, "You can give her something special though, like a honmei.."

He looked at him for a long time before he closed his eyes and inserted his hands to his pocket, "What are you talking about?"

"That's right, I won't mind giving something to Ryuzaki-chan as well," Momo agreed deciding to tease Echizen, "She gave us chocolates last year anyway."

His ears perked up when he heard that. It was the truth that the girl gave all members of the team chocolates and he also received one from her. He didn't even remember if he did give something back to return the gratitude.

But why was he feeling different now?

"That's decided," Eiji said cutting his reverie, "Let's give something to Ryuzaki-chan on Valentines day!"

Everyone agreed much to his irritation. Why were they giving their presents to one girl? There were lots of girls out there… like… the loudmouthed best friend of the girl, the girls in the classes and so on and so forth.

Why Ryuzaki Sakuno?

"Come on, Echizen!" Momo suddenly grabbed him from the back, "Don't give us that look. We are not going to steal your girlfriend away from you."

"Who is my—"

"Momo's right," Eiji said joining in the crowd, "It's only obligatory. Nothing special okay." The others started to tease him and he couldn't even retort to their words. What was to say anyway? They wouldn't believe him and that was the reason why he was secretly pissed about it.

He was on the verge of snapping if it wasn't for their Captain to call their attention. Tezuka just miraculously saved his day. The training started but his mind was really occupied.

He needed to do something to get rid of the annoyance that he was feeling at that moment.

Later on:

The day passed normally for the teenagers that day… not without talking about the issue of Valentines Day. Sakuno was aware of it. The girls were looking at him even though he was not really paying attention to them. She could see from the look of his face, he was having a hard time keeping up a stoic face. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Ne, Echizen-kun, who are you going to give presents to this Valentines day?" She heard their classmates ask him. Some girls were actually surrounding him at that moment. She only looked down as she listened to their conversation wondering what he would answer to her.

"Hm, I wonder." Ryoma only said that.

"E~ no fair," The girls replied sweetly which she followed by a giggle, "Is it going to be a surprise?"

She was also curious about his answer. He was not answering it though. When the girls were insisting him to answer, she couldn't help but look at his side.

…Which the two of them looked at each other at the same time.

Both of them flinched at the same time although hers was noticeable than his. She looked away before the others would notice her.

"Where are you going Echizen-kun?" She heard the girl ask Ryoma. From the corner of her eyes, she could see him standing and walking to the exit door of the class.

"Ponta."

Tomoka tugged her to her side as Ryoma exited the classroom. The girls began fangirling after that they were wishing that they would receive something from the prince of tennis. Tomoka wanted to snap out at them but Sakuno pried her not to.

"They are dreaming so high," Tomoka almost shout if it wasn't for her, "Didn't they see how he looked at you when she asked the magic question?"

"Tomo-chan…" Sakuno frowned at her words, worried at the same time. Her worries wouldn't leave her and the beating of her heart wasn't going to calm down. Her best friend kept on ranting to herself but she wasn't listening anymore. What wondered her was their stare they had at the same time.

Just what was the meaning of that?

Three days later:

February 12. The fated day was approaching. Some boys were somehow prepared and even the boys in the tennis club except for him were ready.

He was on his way home right after their practice in the afternoon. He didn't want to be bombarded by the girls in the front of the gate just to nag him about the stupid gifts. It was his problems that he didn't know how to decline them.

All he knew was to escape from them and that what he was going to do.

"Echizen!"

He looked around him when he heard Momo's voice. With the screeching sound of his bike, he stopped in front of him.

"Want to grab something to eat on our way home?"

There was no question when it came to that but a wide smirk on his face as he gripped his duffel bag that was placed on his shoulder.

xxx

"Unfair ash hever," Momo said pouting in the process muttering an almost incomprehensible words if it wasn't for his intelligence quotient.

"What are you saying?" Of course, he was playing dump when it came to his senpai and leaned a little forward to him. Momo was driving his bike while chewing his burger while he was riding at the back of his bike, holding onto his senpai's shoulder as he was eating his piece.

Momo swallowed first before he replied, "You only got me pay for your burger, that's why?" He retorted before he took a bite on his burger with his one hand once again.

"You invited me senpai." He answered like it was the obvious thing to do.

"Well, yeah," His eyes were still on the road, "but that doesn't mean I am going to treat you… again."

"It's the same." He replied shortly.

"It's not," He contrasted and stopped in front of their temple, "We're here in your house."

Ryoma released himself from the bike as he finished his burger, "Sankyuu, senpai." He bowed at him a little.

"No need for," He said tapping his shoulder and then he remembered something, "Hey, have you got what to give to Ryuzaki-chan yet?"

His question took his by surprise. He hadn't expected that at all but he tried his best not to show it and shrugged afterwards, "I am not sure. I am not even sure if I am going to give someone a present either."

"What are you saying?" Momo said leaning a bit closer to him, "Give anything to her… something special. Haven't you thought what she really likes? Osakada-san has been giving you some hints about it."

He only gave him a useless shrug.

The dunk smasher pulled his hair out of frustration, "You are hopeless. I can't believe how oblivious you are, thinking that you are already thirteen."

"I am thirteen," He confirmed, "and you are only a year older than me."

"That's not the point," He said grabbing him to his shoulder, "Look, you better give something special to Ryuzaki-chan before someone does. It will be your lost if you don't act the initiative."

He only stared at him and was trying to observe what he had just said. What was just he talking about? Before he could ask him, Momo was already on his pedal and started moving it.

"Don't forget Ryuzaki-chan on Valentines day, got it!" He shouted loud enough for him to hear. He looked at his shoulder, waving a hand in the process.

Ryoma only looked at his senpai and shook his head. He was odd in some ways… crazy even but he was fine… maybe. He closed his eyes and inserted his hands to his pocket.

"Ryuzaki-chan? On Valentines day?"

He turned around only to see his father standing at the top part of the dais, smirking mockingly at him. With his traditionally monk clothes, his hands were inserting inside the fabric. Closing his eyes, he took steps to climb the stairs ignoring his father there.

"If you weren't my son, I would've known that you are lovesick."

That stopped him from climbing the stairs and looked at him incredulously, "What are you talking about?"

Nanjiroh grinned as he walked towards him. He draped his arm to his shoulder so that he could lean closer to his ear, "So are you having a hard time giving a present to the girl, seishounen?"

He frowned but he didn't deny it, "Let go of me."

"Just give her your love and tell her that you love her," He said ruffling his head, "That's the most special gift you can ever give to the girl you like."

Ryoma finally released himself from him and continued walking towards their house, "Thank you very much. That really helped me a lot."

Just as he took one step forward, Nanjiroh pulled his ear towards him so that he could be closer to him once again. He was about to retort once again when the former beat him to it, "Can't you take a joke? Anyway, that wasn't really a joke. If you have the guts to tell her—well, okay, if you want to give her something, why not try this."

He whispered something to his ear and it took seconds before he could register what he was talking about. Being his 'father's' son, he knew how that plan would take effect, at least for his age. A slight blush appeared to his face as Nanjiroh finished saying his words to him.

"There and it's up to you how you are going to deliver it to her," Nanjiroh grinned as he tapped his back really hard before he walked towards the bell, not missing to raise a rand, "Good luck, lover boy."

He stared at his father's retreating back as he recovered himself from that. Blinking his eyes for several times, he pinned his hat down first before he, too, walked towards the location of the house, smirking to himself;

"Stupid Oyaji."

Valentines Day:

Sakuno tried to remain calm that day. It was time for the boys to give their presents to the girls they liked. Sakuno wanted peace so she went to the tennis club where her grandmother was waiting for her.

"Ryuzaki-san!"

She turned around only to be welcomed by a present in front of her, "E?" Standing behind it was a boy that she wasn't really familiar with. The boy was uncharacteristically blushing and his eyes were elsewhere.

"H-Happy Valentines day!" The boy said as he jerked the present towards her. Sakuno was surprised but she was able to grab hold of the present. He ran away after that leaving a dazzled Sakuno to the ground. Blinking twice, she looked down at what she was holding.

That was the time she realized something, "Eeeh!"

Blush crept to her face. Someone just gave her a present. That couldn't be happening, could it? She wasn't popular unlike the boys from the team so it was impossible. Having that thought in her mind, she continued walking until she reached the court.

"There's Ryuzaki-chan!"

She looked up seeing the regulars walking towards her. Her eyes widened when she saw presents from their hands, "S-senpai-tachi… y-you don't mean—"

"Happy Valentines Day, Ryuzaki-chan!"

Her eyes widened as she hugged the present in front of her. She was also blushing as well. "A-ano… s-senpai-tachi—"

"Hey, is that from Ochibi?" Eiji said pointing the present that she was holding.

She looked down at it and immediately shook her head, "I-it came from a boy—"

"Ah, Ryuzaki-chan has a suitor!" Momo said before she could finish.

"I-ie, y-you got it all wrong!" She was still blushing as she tried to defend herself.

"I hope that Echizen still has a chance." Momo said as he gave her his present. Kawamura being the generous guy, placed all of the presents to a plastic and gave it to her.

Sakuno shyly placed the first present she ever received in the plastic, "A-arigatou Kawamura-senpai. Arigatou minna."

Fuji walked closer to her and gave her his present, "Gomen na, Ryuzaki-chan. It was my idea that they decided to give you a present. I originally intended to give you a present alone but I shared it to everyone."

"I-ie, that's okay," She smiled as she sweat dropped at the same time. Realizing one thing, the team did work together, act together. She accepted his gift as well, "Arigatou Fuji-senpai."

All of them gave her presents, much to her surprise. Even Tezuka had one. He just gave it to her naturally, earning teases from the rest of the group. She felt awkward because of the girl's stare from the fence but it couldn't be help.

It wasn't her fault and they had witnessed it.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw Tomoka also receiving gifts from some boys and even Horio barged in gave his to her. After some teases and nagging, Tomoka finally accepted it. She thought that it was all over. The rest was also shocked when they saw Kaidoh went to her location and jerked his gift to her.

Tomoka blushed as she quietly received the gift and thanked him afterwards. Without saying another word, the viper walked silently back to the team.

"So, mamushi has the girl that he likes after all." Momo teased.

"Urusai! Fssh!" Mamushi retorted. The others teased him but he only ended up quarreling with Momo alone.

"So, if the first present that you received wasn't from Ochibi, where is it then?" Eiji asked getting her attention.

She looked at the acrobatic player and blinked, "I-I haven't seen him senpai... I don't think he's going to give someone at all."

"Nah, he's going to give you something. Just wait for it," He patted her head as he looked around, "Now where is that boy?"

She also looked around but there was no sign of him. Her primary goal of visiting the court was to avoid a commotion like that. She hadn't reached the court but she also received one but what she surprised about was it was her senpai-tachi would be giving her presents on Valentines day. She didn't know if Ryoma would be giving her something or maybe a different girl today.

She wasn't really expecting that he would at all. It was him that she was talking about anyway.

After School:

The school was almost over and the surprises were not going to stop her at all. She received three more presents as she entered their classroom. She couldn't contain her blush all through the class. So this was the feeling of receiving something on Valentines day. Unlike on what they had been doing traditionally, the girls were likely to give chocolates to the boy they liked on Valentines day but it was different now. It was the boys who would do the role this time, only it wasn't about the chocolate but they would give anything aside from chocolates.

Ryoma remained calm during the class and acted natural just like before. He wasn't really going to give anything to the girls in their class. There was no really sign of it.

"Ryuzaki-san, please remain after class. I have some errand for you to do." The teacher said after their class. The students started to stand up and were about to go home.

Sakuno who heard their teacher nodded, "H-hai." They waited for the rest of the students to leave the class before the teacher spoke to her.

"Thank you for waiting," The teacher said as she prepared the papers on the table, "Could you check the number of these papers and confirm if they are fifty-two copies? You can give it to your grandmother afterwards since she is your math teacher," She gave it to her which she accepted, "I couldn't give it to her now."

"It's okay, sensei," She said as she bowed, "I am going home with Obaa-chan today so don't worry about it."

"Thank you Ryuzaki-chan," The teacher smiled and stood up, "I'll be going now. Be careful on your way home," She started to walk away but remembered something and looked back at her, "Be careful from the boys."

Sakuno was able to blush when her teacher said that, "S-sensei... not even you. Mou!" Her teacher laughed as she continued leaving the room. She sighed when she was completely alone. Looking at the papers, she gave herself some chuckle. At least she was able to avoid some boys if there were more to come.

Really, she wasn't that popular to begin with. Boys wouldn't pay that much attention to her. Shaking her head, she sat on a chair and started counting the number of papers. They were quizzes from the other class. It seemed that her grandmother would record the scores of those students from the papers. When she confirmed the number of the papers, she secured it to her bag and stood up.

Only to be stopped as she turned around to the exit.

He was there leaning on his back to the side of the door while tossing a tennis ball to his hand. His amber eyes were following the movements of the ball as he tossed it. His other was in his pocket.

"Took you long enough to finish that."

Blinking twice, she realized that she was staring at him and she knew how rude it was to stare at a person, "R-Ryoma-kun, w-why are you here?"

He didn't respond to her question. He stopped tossing the ball and inserted it to his pocket, "Considering his advice, it took me for a day to make a decision for it."

"E?" Blushing was creeping to her face as he moved from the side of the door and walked towards her. His amber eyes were now staring at her. Her heart followed as it was pounding really fast, "W-what is it?"

He continued staring at her for a few seconds before he raised his fist between them, "Here."

Sakuno looked at his balled fist in front of her. As of instinct, she placed her palm under it. She felt something cold touch the palm of her skin. Her eyes widened when she saw what he had placed to her palm.

It was a key, a golden metal key. The size was enough for her palm to hold. The handle was shaped of a heart and it had a loop that would connect it to the chain.

"It's for today."

Her blush intensified when she heard him. It took seconds before she realized that she hadn't said a word after that. She smiled as she enclosed the key with both of her hands, "A-arigatou, Ryoma-kun."

Without saying a word, Ryoma grabbed the key once again holding it to its chain. She held her breath when his hands touched the sides of her neck. She could feel the cold from the chain tingling to her skin. He was actually close to her as he was locking the chain from the back of her neck.

"A test."

"Eh?" Really, Ryoma was making her speechless. She didn't know how to respond to his one word or two. One thing was, the boy was awfully close when he spoke. The next thing he did make her totally speechless. His left hand touched her cheek as his lips touched the other.

Ryoma was kissing her on the cheek. His lips stayed there for a few seconds before he removed them. She could feel her heart beating really fast and she hoped that he wouldn't hear that. She thought that he was done but he wasn't distancing himself to her yet until he whispered something to her ear;

"You must unlock the giver's heart."

That was the time he moved away from her. A smirk was plastered to his face like he had done a great job. Seeing that he was giving them some distance that was the time she started to speak;

"A-ano… etto, Ryoma-kun—I,I—wha—" She couldn't get the words right. She was blushing, her heart was panicking and she was stuttering. Ryoma's sudden movements were totally a shock to her. Trying to figure out what to say, she didn't notice Ryoma's amusement as he started to walk away.

"Later then, Ryuzaki." He said as he raised his hand and exited the classroom.

Sakuno was left speechless once again. She wasn't expecting that at all. Not really aware of holding the key he wore to her, she stared at the area where the boy had just exited.

Ryoma could be surprising sometimes and he did succeed at surprising her on Valentines day.

How was this Valentine Fic? Random thoughts. I got the idea from the Valentine Key. Tell me your thoughts guys… I want to know… domo… :)

This event was based from Taiwan where boys give presents to girls on Valentines day while girls give something to the boys in return on White day.

Valentine Key – A charm used in the province of Padua, Italy. In the small chapel in the said province, small golden keys are given to children to ward off epilepsy.

It is a (gold) metal key named after Saint Valentine, the patron saint not only for love and marriage but also of epilepsy. The key is gifted as a romantic symbol and an invitation to "unlock to giver's heart".

Source: Wikipedia. I do not own anything. I just love sharing them. Capiche?

Guess what? There will be a sequel for this fic tee hee hee… see you on White Day. ^_^

Happy Valentines Day!
Aishiteru minna-san

~ MitsukiJunko ~