Three Words: I Love You

By Dyaoka

Disclaimer: I don't own the Prince of Tennis nor do I own the plot. ;) Guess which music video I stole this from.

Notes/Warnings: Written for Momo's birthday. I don't think I'm late...Oh yeah, shounen-ai! Beware! And truthfully, this isn't one of my best works. Why and how? The idea came to me at 12 o' clock in the morning...and I just started to write and write and write...till 5. Then I went to sleep and woke up again at 10. Only 5 hours of sleep! .

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Three Words: I Love You

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It had been quite a happy day for one Momoshiro Takeshi. Note the word HAD been. It HAD been a happy day.

He had woken up that morning feeling quite good and refreshed, though he didn't know why. He had kissed his still soundly-sleeping lover, Echizen Ryoma, on the cheek before getting out of bed and walking into the bathroom. It was his daily routine; get up, kiss Ryoma whether he's awake or not, shower, make breakfast. Momo had always woken up earlier than Ryoma and took the liberty of making breakfast daily for him and his younger lover. Oh, and let's not forget Karupin the cat.

The day had, in fact, didn't seem to start any different, with the exception of Ryoma actually waking up without anyone yelling at him. It was a miracle, Momo had teased the other about. Ryoma only scowled and let Momo kiss him on the cheek in apology.

Of course, when they got to work, that was when things started to fall apart. It went from good and happy to disastrous and unhappy.

Both Momo and Ryoma worked at a restaurant. It wasn't very large, but neither was it very small, but the tips were good and added to their paychecks; they overall had a nice sum to take home. Better than the teachers at least. At times, though, the restaurant was bustling with life and there were times when it was as dull as hell. Well, the day at the restaurant started off normally enough. Note the word 'started.'

The other waiters that were there at the time was Kikumaru Eiji and Inui Sadaharu. The rest had yet to show up, which was strange. Momo should have taken it as an ill omen, but instead, he dismissed it. The only other person that showed up later that day was Tezuka Kunimitsu and the rest had all called in sick.

An ill omen indeed.

Noon crept pass and every suddenly found themselves occupied. In the kitchen, the cooks were busy and outside, in the restaurant itself, all five waiters were busy. It seemed that business was doing well. And then came the afternoon, which was SUPPOSE to be the calmer hours. SUPPOSE to be.

In came a couple, a boy and a girl, when the restaurant was mostly empty and most waiters and cooks were eating their lunches. The two were smiling, if albeit a bit forced. Momo was the only other waiter beside Ryoma that was on duty at the time, led the couples to a window seat. He reappeared before the two to set down glasses of water for them. The couple were still staring at heach other, completely ignoring the world.

"Um...excuse me..." Momo started to say whilst holding onto the menu. Suddenly, they sprang to life. The boy grabbed the glass of water and splashed it into the girl's face. He set the glass down with a 'thud' and got up and left. The girl was still staring at his empty seat in shock.

"Miss! Are you alright?" Momo asked immediately. There was curious stares from the table where the waiters and cooks were at. Momo ignored them and fetched the girl a towel. But the results was less than expected.

"What did you do that for?!" the girl shrieked, tossing her own water at Momo. She set the empty glass down and glared up at the waiter.

Momo blinked, but never got to say anything. The girl had burst into tears and wrapped her arms around his waist, crying into his shirt. Wordlessly, Momo decided to use the towel for his own accord and wiped his dripping face. He sighed when he discovered his shirt was soaked through. He'd have to change when he got home...but that wasn't his foremost worry. It was how to get the girl off of him. He was no good at consoling people.

"Why?!" the girl sobbed into his shirt. Momo gulped, trying to find the right words to say to her to get her off of him.

"I don't know why he did what he did, but he was a jerk for doing so," Momo said, hoping that she would get off him. "No man would do what he just did." She looked up at him through her tears.

"Really?" she asked quietly, letting go of Momo. The waiter sighed in relief. The girl wiped her tears as Momo nodded. "Then tell me that you love me!"

Momo blinked yet again. "Excuse me, Miss, but-" He never got to finish his sentence.

"Say it!" the girl roared, looking positively murderous. "And my name is Tomoka, not 'Miss!'"

"But..." Momo found himself cowering from the girl's wrath. She was heartbroken, so it was only natural she needed some love and support...right? "But...I..." Tomoka glared. "I...I..." She started to tap her fingers on the table. "I...love...you..." Momo managed to grit out through his teeth, suddenly fully aware that Ryoma was watching.

Tomoka gave a happy squeal and hugged the waiter. "And from this day forward, when you see me again, don't forget to say those three words!"

"What?!" Momo exclaimed. "But...Mi-Tomoka! That's not-"

"I'll be back tomorrow. I seriously need to change. Don't forget!" With that said, the girl left. Momo closed his mouth, aware that he was starting to look like a fish. When he turned around again, he was met with an angry stare of one Echizen Ryoma.

"Ryoma, I can-" Momo started to say when he was suddenly doused in cold water. Again.

"Save it," was all Ryoma said before walking towards the back of the restaurant.

"Good going, Momo," Kikumaru said cynically. "Really good going."

"I know..." Momo moaned. "God, what happened? Argh...All I was trying to do was help her! How did it turn out like this?"

"Good will an lead to bad stuff, I guess," said Kawamura Takashi. He was one of the cooks and an old acquaintance of Momo's from the days of Junior High and High school.

That night, when Momo and Ryoma got back to their apartment, Ryoma headed straight for the bedroom and closed the door.

"Oi! Ryoma!" Momo called out, trying to open the bedroom door. But alas, it was locked. "Open up!" There was no answer. "Please?" Still no answer. "What did I do?"

"Think about it," came the muffled, but cold reply.

"Is this about that girl? Because if it is, I have to say that I don't like her! I don't even know her!"

"So if you knew her, you'd like her."

"No! I wouldn't!"

"Then why did you say it? Why did you say you love her?"

"What would you do if you were in my shoes? She looked like she was ready to maim someone! And I just happen to be there!" Momo sighed. "But seriously. I don't love her. There is only one person that I do love in the whole universe. And that's you, Ryoma."

The door opened slowly to reveal the small form of Echizen Ryoma.

"I love you," Momo said, reaching forward to grasp Ryoma's hands. "Only you." Momo lifted his lover's smaller hands and kissed them.

"I believe you," Ryoma said softly, slowly wrapping his arms around Momo and the two met in an intimate embrace.

However, the next day seemed to prove just as uneventful.

Tomoka showed up, just as promised. She took the seat by the window; the seat she sat on in the previous visit, and looked out the window. Momo, who had seen her come in, tried to hide, but Inui caught him by the scruff. "You got yourself into the mess, now get yourself out," the bespectacled waiter said. Sighing in resignation, Momo had no choice but to walk over to where the girl sat.

"Here's the menu, Miss," Momo said, placing a glass of water in front of her as well as the menu.

"It's Tomoka," the girl corrected. "And where are the three words? Hm?"

When Momo gave no sign that he was going to say anything, she snapped; "Well?! Are you going to say it or not?!"

"Tomoka, I-"

"Quit stalling and say it!" Tomoka said dangerously.

"I...I l-l-love...you..." Momo stuttered. TOmoka laughed and hugged him, just like she did yesterday.

"Alright then...I'll see the menu now," Tomoka trailed off as she opened the menu. "Hm...I'll have a garden salad, please!"

"Very well," Momo said bitterly, writing down the order and walking away. He felt like he wanted to die.

"You certainly did a very good job," Inui remarked sarcastically. Momo's only response to the other was a glare.

As the week passed, Tomoka seemed to show up every single day, to Momo's chagrin. Everyday, Momo had stuttered out the three most dreaded words of the world; I Love You. And everyday, Ryoma ignored him.

Ryoma, being the person that he was, wasn't jealous in the little bit. Of course. He's not jealous. He's just...uncomfortable with Tomoka's presence! Yes, that's it.

Ryoma glared at the girl that just walked in through the door. This time, Ryoma took the liberty of handing a glass of water to her. He nearly slammed it down onto the table, almost spilling the clear liquid in the glass. Tomoka glared up at Ryoma whilst Ryoma glared back. (a/n: Catfight! Ok...I'll leave now...)

However, Tomoka spotted Momo standing over at the side and waved him over. Ryoma rolled his eyes and walked off, though he distinctly heard Tomoka ask for coffee and the 'three words.' Well...if it was coffee that she wanted, fine.

Walking up to Inui, Ryoma tugged at the taller waiter's sleeve. Inui looked down at Ryoma and leaned down for Ryoma to whisper something into his ear. "Make the Inui Juice that looks like coffee for me."

Inui only raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask any questions and complied with the request, walking into the kitchen where several screams were heard. Inui was usually kept out of the kitchen for one purpose: he loved making specialty drinks that he's named the Inui Juices. And they killed more than help.

The golden eyed waiter felt a smirk appear on his face.

Inui appeared, moments later with a cup of what looked like coffee. Looked, being the key word. Ryoma knew better than to think it was coffee. Ryoma took it from Inui and muttered a small thanks before handing it to Momo, who was clueless. Momo took the drink and brought it over to the table that Tomoka sat at alone.

"Here you go," Momo said, setting the cup down. Tomoka took a sip of it and immediately spat it back out...right into Momo's face.

"What the hell was that?! Ew!" she exclaimed, grabbing a napkin and wiping her mouth daintily.

"...It's coffee," Momo said helplessly as he wiped his face with a towel that he kept with himself daily after the episode of splashing water.

Ryoma, who was watching the whole scene, snapped his fingers. "Damn..." he muttered. "She didn't die."

Fuji Syusuke, who had just recently recovered from a cold, chuckled. He, too, was observing the whole thing as was many of the other waiters.

"Ochibi's got some trouble," Kikumaru said from beside his best friend. "I wonder how this is going to turn out, nya."

"Eiji, we shouldn't interfer; this is Momo's problem," Oishi said, overhearing Kikumaru's comment. The red head only turned to his coworker with a bright smile. One could almost see the devil's horns on his head.

"Not planning anything!" Kikumaru exclaimed. Fuji snickered and Oishi sighed.

The second week passed without any more sabatoges from Ryoma. Well, drink sabatoges, that is. He had tried to glue Tomoka to her seat once, but instead, he accidentally glued his manager into the seat. The old man wasn't particularly happy after that episode.

"Hello!" Tomoka exclaimed, entering the restaurant on a Thursday. She seemed extremely cheerful as she took her regular seat next to the window.

Momo walked over to her glumly, menu in hand.

"The three words?" she asked expectantly.

"I...love...you..." Momo muttered bitterly. Tomoka hugged him tightly. 'This is the world's most frightening case of I Love You!' Momo thought despairingly. He felt like he wanted to crawl into a corner and die.

"What would I be having today...Hm..." Tomoka said as she looked through the menu. Suddenly, there was a push from behind Momo, shoving the waiter out of the way. When Momo turned around to face who it was, he found that it was Ryoma.

"I'll take the order," he muttered. "You go to the back and handle the deliveries."

"Che. How cold," Momo said, but nevertheless, complied.

However, the next day, when Tomoka appeared again, she requested for a different seat. Momo gladly led her away from the window and over to another seat. He, himself, was getting rather sick of seeing the window seat.

"You know, I'm cold," Tomoka said suddenly after Momo said the 'three words.'

"W-what? Do you want to move to a different seat?" Momo asked.

"No. Give me your sweater; that'll be warm enough for me," she said, pointing at the sweater Momo wore.

When Momo was about to protest, he was met with an expectant face of Tomoka. Momo sighed and gave her his work sweater. She quickly put it on and squealed. "It's warm! Thanks!"

Ryoma, who was setting up a nearby table, saw red. As if sensing something was wrong with the shortest waiter, Kikumaru and Fuji managed to wrestle Ryoma away from the scene with the help of Oishi and Inui, who were both stronger than the two of them.

"Nya, don't do anything rash, Ochibi!" Kikumaru pleaded. "She's a customer!"

"Echizen, please endure it!" Oishi exclaimed. "Momo is enduring it too! He doesn't like it, but he's enduring it!"

Fuji had no input while Inui was muttering something under his breath that sounded like 'ii data.' Kaido Kaoru, who had just appeared from the kitchens, only hissed. He didn't even need to know what was going on. He already guessed.

"This is stupid. Fsssh..." the snake-like waiter hissed. "He only likes you, so you don't have anything to worry about."

Ryoma turned to Kaido in surprise. Kaido rarely spoke to Ryoma. The snake-like waiter only hissed again and set out to deliver the food in his tray, scaring several innocent customers in the process.

Then, Saturday rolled by. It had been exactly three weeks since Tomoka had first showed up at the restaurant and Momo and Ryoma was on the tip of the iceberg.

In strolled Tomoka, with a happy smile. Momo, who had just been talking to Ryoma, looked over at the girl. Tomoka hadn't sat down, but rather, approached him.

"I just wanted to say that I'm ok now," she said. "Thanks for your help. I won't forget it." She leaned forward and kissed Momo on the lips. "Bye. Thanks again!" With that, she left.

When Momo looked over to Ryoma, the other was completely fuming. Grabbing the nearest object, which happened to be a glass of water, Ryoma splashed it all onto Momo before storming away.

From the corner of the restaurant, the rest of the waiters snickered. Well, except Tezuka and Kaido. Tezuka never snickers and Kaido only hissed.

"Momo!" Kikumaru exclaimed, tackling the younger waiter. "You screwed things up big time!"

"What? How was I suppose to know that she was going to do that?! Argh!" Momo yelled. "This isn't fair!"

"Whatever, nya. Just show up here tomorrow," Kikumaru said, poking at Momo.

"What? But...we're closed tomorrow..." Momo said, furrowing his brows.

"Just come. You'll see," Fuji said mysteriously.

"Fine..."

That night, Ryoma didn't speak at all to Momo, having opted to slam the bedroom door in his violet-eyed lover's face. Momo had tried to get Ryoma to open up the door, but the other didn't even respond.

The next morning came all too late, according to Momo. He had woken early and couldn't go back to sleep. He left the house around seven, to go back to work. However, when he got to the restaurant, he found that it was closed.

His shoulders slumped in defeat, Momo was about to walk back home when Kikumaru leap-frogged over him. Kikumaru certainly was a high jumper to be able to leap over Momo without him even bending down.

"You're here early, Momo!" the red head exclaimed cheerily. "We still haven't gotten everything set up yet, nya!"

"What?" Momo blinked.

"It's a little something for you and Echizen," Fuji said, appearing from the corner with tons of flowers. "Eiji and I organized the whole thing. Everyone else contributed what they could. Tezuka, Oishi, and Taka are picking some things up, then, they'll be bringing Echizen."

"Fsssh...I don't know how I got dragged into this..." Kaido scowled, appearing from nowhere. He was trailing tons of ribbons...and was that a cat following him? Momo blinked.

"Is that Karupin?" Momo questioned aloud. He hadn't seen the affectionate cat last night and had thought it was with Ryoma in the bedroom. Well...apparently he was wrong. Karupin immediately ran towards Momo, recognizing him. "Jeez...don't run away, you hear? Ryoma would have a fit if you did."

"We found him not far from here," Inui said, writing in a green notebook as he walked up to the group. "Ii data."

"What data?"

"Who knows," Fuji said as Kikumaru unlocked the restaurant door and everyone piled in. "Tezuka and them will be back around nine to help...Since you're here as well, Momo, you might as well help." Fuji smiled.

"Eh?"

Indeed, as nine o' clock rolled around, the other three showed up. The scene that they walked in to wasn't a pretty one. They've completely made a mess of the restaurant. Tezuka only sighed and commanded that everyone clean up and try to decorate the place, not tear it apart.

At noon, all the decorations were finished and Kikumaru had forced Momo into 'nicer looking clothes.' Tezuka, Oishi and Taka had left to get the only missing piece of the whole project: Echizen Ryoma.

"You just stay here and wait. Fsssh...in the meanwhile, I have things to do," Kaido said, getting up from one of the discarded chairs. The chairs had all been stacked on top of one another and lined up all around the room, especially around the windows, preventing anyone from looking in. The tables were placed onto the side as well, creating a wide, spacious room. Well, there was still several tables out as well as chairs.

"Haha...typical Kaido," Fuji commented. "Cards, anyone?"

They were on their tenth round of poker (Fuji was winning, next to Inui and Kikumaru. Momo was losing badly.) when Kikumaru's cell phone rang.

"Hoi?" the red head said as he answered his phone. He wasn't on it long, since an excited look crept onto his face. "Nya! Ochibi's here!" Inui cleared the table that had the cards.

"Ok, everything's set...Good luck, Momo!" Fuji said, taking back his cards from Inui and stuffing them into his pockets.

"What he said," Inui said, pointing to Fuji. "We'll be back later to clean up. Of course, we expect you and Echizen to help as well."

"Nya! And don't forget: NO SEX!" Kikumaru yelled loudly, causing Momo to redden.

"I-Wh-You..." Momo sputtered. The red head only cackled loudly before ushering the other out of the restaurant. Several moments passed and the door opened again. This time, Ryoma was the one that stepped in.

"Momo," Ryoma said when he laid eyes on his boyfriend. He was about to leave when Momo stopped him.

"Please. Ryoma, just listen to me. I'm really sorry," Momo begun. "I swear to you that I don't like her. I don't even mean what I say to her. Those are just empty words. But I mean what I say to you because I care about you. I love you."

"You've certainly said that enough," Ryoma remarked snidely. Momo grimaced.

"I know...and just...let me make it up to you. Please?" Momo asked. He knew that he wasn't winning and he'd probably wouldn't. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around the small form of his lover. "Ryoma, you mean a lot to me. I don't want to lose you."

"Alright..." he heard Ryoma mutter. "Alright."

.......

End

.......

WHEE!!! Crap...my butt hurts from sitting down so long on a wooden chair. Ouch. Well, I didn't really mean for it to end there, but...oh well! You know that they'll get together again, anyway. Haha. XD!!! MomoRyo is so cute! And the music video which I got the idea from is a Chinese music video. Haha. In the end, the couple splash each other with water one more time. It was so weird...but I liked it. ;) Guess which MV I got this from.

And yes, dedicated to Momo for his birthday. Did anyone know that my nickname use to be 'Momo?' XD!!! It was so embarrassing when one of my school mates called me that. My name gave me a lot of nicknames...Sorry if the author's notes are so long, but I must talk. I got 1-99 of PoT DVD!!! Haha...I got it for about $12 USD...which was about $1 per disk. =P Lucky me. Hehe. And someone challenged me, not so long ago, to write 30 fics for the tenipuri section...and all fics must be finished. I was like "...I ACCEPT! GREAT-O!!! I CAN DO IT!!!" Now, I'm like: "...crap." Yes. I'm pathetic. Now go review and give my ego a boost. XD!

7/23: Yes, uploaded on the 23...in JAPAN. So technically, I uploaded it on Momo's birthday in Japan. And what's up with all the SakuRyo stuff that's popping up? .