Author's Note: Hi everyone! Hope you had a great beginning for 2011. I had a great plot for this new pairing and just had to share it here. Don't worry about Second Chance or Beauty and Her Beast. I'll be posting up the new chapters soon. In the mean time, enjoy this piece of writing that's from my heart.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from The Prince of Tennis except for those characters not found in the POT manga/anime.
All information was gleaned from princeoftennis(.)wikia(.)com. Beware of characters showing signs of being out of character.
"First Love" = speech
'First Love' = thoughts
First Love = past events/thoughts
Please Read and Review! I welcome constructive criticisms.
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FIRST LOVE
CHAPTER 1
June 16th. Wednesday: Tokyo
The tall lean muscled man entered his apartment with a relieved sigh and dropped his computer bag into a worn leather armchair. With one hand loosening his tie, he strode through the sparse living room into a well-equipped kitchen to grab a can of beer from the fridge.
After he had gulped down his drink, he disposed the can into a recycling bin and went over to his phone. He pressed the button to check his answering machine and went into his bedroom to change.
"Beep! Message one!"
"Sanada-san, I just want to remind you we're meeting up with the guys this Saturday. Oh, and the guys formerly from Seigaku will be joining us as well. Ja matane!"
The man smirked as he changed into a pair of hip-hugging short and a T-shirt.
"Beep! Message two!"
"Genichiro, our presentation at the Atobe International Corporation for Friday morning has been confirmed. I've emailed the details to you. See you tomorrow!"
The man snorted as he grabbed his computer bag, sat down and unpacked his laptop and documents.
"Beep! Message three!"
"Genichiro!" A female said his name and Sanada Genichiro froze, "your grandfather requested your presence at Sunday evening dinner. He also insists you bring your…cough!…girlfriend so please come on time. See you and take care, my son."
"Beep! No more messages!"
Sanada Genichiro leaned back into his armchair with a weary groan. He had the feeling something bad is going to happen that Sunday evening.
BBBB-Background Begins-BBBB
10 years has passed since Rikkaidai lose their 3rd. year winning streak to Seigaku in tennis. Back then, life was so much easier when Sanada Genichiro was in middle school. There he could play tennis with his best skills, govern the tennis club strictly with his best buds and face worthy tennis rivals. Then he entered Rikkai High School and spent another three years with the same people, in the same club, facing the same rivals. He worked extra hard to enter Tokyo University along with Yukimura Seiichi and Yanagi Renji . After four years, he finally graduated. He and Yukimura Seiichi were hired immediately by a top law firm t for they were part of the top 5% of all law graduates. For the past 3 years, Genichiro had worked hard and together with Seiichi, they were made Associates in their firm.
Genichiro knew his family was proud of him. His grandfather, Sanada Genemon was a man of few words and he wasn't happy to find out his younger grandson isn't helping his older brother in the family business, running a legendary kendo school. But lately his grandfather had mellowed down. On the other hand, his father, Sanada Genihiro and his aniki (older brother) Sanada Genifudo had encouraged him to pursue his dream as did his mother, Sanada Emiko, his sister-in-law, Masako (Genifudo's wife) and his 6-year-old nephew, Sanada Sasuke. His family had attended his graduation from Tokyo-U and had taken lots of photos. Every now and then, whenever he went home to have dinner with his family, he would find his family boasting about him to their friends.
Life was definitely getting better for him. Well, maybe except for being in a relationship.
BBBB-Background Ends-BBBB
'Bring my girlfriend, indeed.' Genichiro sighed again.
His trouble began about a year ago. During a family dinner, his grandfather had startled him by asking him when he's planning to get married. Now, he's a healthy young man and had had one or two relationships in high school as well as in university but there wasn't anyone special.
He made a mistake by trying to placate his grandfather with a generic reply. Unintentionally, the 81-year-old Sanada Genemon who's hard of hearing heard his reply wrongly. Now he thought his younger grandson was dating someone. Ever since then, he's been asking after Genichiro's "girlfriend". It didn't help that his parents and his brother jokingly went along with the deception as well.
A song and the vibration from his mobile pulled him out of his musing.
"Moshi-moshi!"
"Otouto, you are in trouble!"
"Aniki, what's the meaning of this?"
"Ojiisan is asking about your girlfriend again, ha-ha-ha!"
"You know that he misunderstood what I've said, aniki."
"I know but telling him the truth might hurt him more, Otouto. He's so looking forward to meeting your girlfriend."
"What should I do, aniki? You know I'm not seeing anyone at the moment."
"I have no idea but you have to come up with something by Sunday evening."
"What? I thought you're going to help me."
"Owari, Otouto but you are on your own, neh! Ja, see you on Sunday."
Genichiro sourly turn off his mobile and stared off into space. He had no idea what to do. Who could he ask for help? Suddenly, a light bulb lighted up in his mind.
'Maybe Seiichi could help!"
June 18th. Friday: ATOBE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
"Ore-sama is thoroughly impressed by your facts and figures. You have done an excellent work." Atobe Keigo, the diva CEO of the Atobe International Corporation commented after Sanada Genichiro and his partner Yukimura Seiichi had sat down. They had just finished their marketing presentation about their law firm.
When they heard Atobe was looking for a law firm specializing in international business law to represent them in a few projects, Genichiro and Seiichi immediately used their contacts to secure an appointment with their former tennis rival.
"The retainers' agreement will be drawn up by Ore-sama's people. Your firm is just what this company needs."
"Thank you for your consideration, Atobe-san." Seiichi thanked him with a bow. Genichiro followed.
"Your reputation for being hard-working, meticulous and thorough in your work precedes the both of you. Ore-sama is sure this company is in good hands."
Genichiro and Seiichi shared a knowing look. Atobe Keigo wasn't anybody's fool. He must have researched them, their firm and their work before meeting them.
"Arigato, Atobe-san."
"We'll be working closely soon so call Ore-sama Keigo. By the way, do you guys still play tennis?"
"Ah, yes, we do, Keigo-san. We regularly meet up with our old team every Saturday at the Tokyo Bay Sports Club." Genichiro informed him.
"Splendid! Perhaps Ore-sama could arrange a friendly match sometime. My old teams also meet up every week to play tennis." Keigo suggested gaily.
"That sounds good, Keigo-san." Seiichi nodded, "We could arrange the details later."
After a few minutes of small talk, Atobe Keigo excused himself to attend another meeting.
Genichiro and Seiichi congratulated each other a high-5 and started to pack their computer bags.
"Genichiro, do you know you have this constant worrying look since Thursday morning? Daijobu?" Seiichi knew his friend well enough to be concerned.
"I'm in a tight spot, Seiichi. Can we talk over lunch?"
"Sure"
Half an hour later, Sanada Genichiro unloaded his burden and then a jaw-slackened Yukimura Seiichi broke into soundless mirth.
"It's not funny, Seiichi." Genichiro fumed in embarrassment.
"Ha-ha-ha! It is funny from my angle." Seiichi wiped away some tears from his eyes, "Your grandfather thought you're dating a girl and expected you to bring her over for dinner, right? So find a girl."
"You know I'm not seeing anyone. Besides, we work in the same office, Seiichi and you know what those girls in our office are like." Genichiro shivered with fear, "I have no intention of asking one of them to pretend to be my girlfriend."
Seiichi grimaced, "I agree with you there. They are more vicious and ambitious than our previous fan girls."
"I agree. Pretend dating would turn into a real one in their eyes. What should I do, Seiichi?"
"Too bad I'm the only child. If I had a sister, maybe she could help you."
"Well since you don't have one, let's think of something else."
"Ah hah!" Seiichi snapped his finger.
"What?"
"I know just the girl that might be perfect for you."
"Seiichi, who are you talking about?"
"Don't worry, Genichiro. Leave everything to me."
"But…"
"I'll bring her to our Saturday tennis games and let you two meet."
"Umm okay but can you tell me more about her."
"Nope. You'll find out on Saturday." Seiichi said with determination.
Genichiro tried again and again to get more information about the mystery girl but his friend won't budge. At the end of the day, he gave up and waited for Saturday.
June 19th. Saturday: TOKYO BAY SPORTS CLUB
"Why are you inviting me to your club, Seiichi-niisan?"
"Because I wanted to."
"Moh, that's not a proper answer."
"Well, I want to introduce someone to you."
The girl blushed and stammered out, "I don't..ne..need a boyfriend, Seiichi-niisan. I'm not…not good…a..around strangers."
Seiichi grinned with a secret motive, "I'm not introducing him to you as a boyfriend, silly girl. He needs your help."
"My help?"
"We're here."
Seiichi led his friend toward a row of tennis courts where a bunch of young men were playing tennis.
No one paid attention to them as they made their way to the last tennis court where Sanada Genichiro and Renji Yanagi were playing against Tezuka Kunimitsu and Inui Sadaharu.
"Seigaku?" The girl gasped with recognition.
"Inui and Yanagi arranged this get-together thinking all of us could have fun playing tennis together."
"I see."
They waited and watched Genichiro's match with interest until all the matches had ended.
"Eh? Why are you here, nyah?" Kikumaru Eiji blinked his cat eyes in surprise.
"It's been a long time. Are you well?" Oishi nodded in greeting.
"You look so different, very different indeed." Momoshiro Takeshi scratched his chin and turned to his tennis partner, "Isn't that right, Mamushi?"
"I agree, Fsshh" Kaidoh Kaoru agreed and gave Momoshitor a glare, "and you porcupine head stop calling me that Mamushi name!"
"Porcupine head?" Momoshiro snorted and nearly clashed heads with Kaidoh when Tezuka and Inui stepped between them to greet the familiar looking girl.
Inui pushed up his glasses to say, "It's been 4 years, 7 months and 13 days since we've seen you at Ryuzaki's funeral."
Tezuka gave the girl a gentle smile, "It's good to see you again, Sakuno-chan."
Ryuzaki Sakuno, practically a young woman at the age of 23, returned their greetings with a bow and a smile, "Sempai-tachi, oshashiburi-desu!"
"Why are you here, Sakuno-chan?" Tezuka asked curiously while they were surrounded by his former tennis club regulars.
"Seiichi-niisan invited me."
"Niisan?" Everyone exclaimed and turned their eyes toward the feminine looking man standing not far away talking to his own former tennis club regulars.
"Hai. He's my cousin."
"But we thought you don't have any relative besides your grandmother?" Inui said with some doubt.
"Well after Obaasan passed away, I found out I had an aunt, an uncle and a cousin living in the same city. Seiichi-niisan's mother was my father's sister. Ojisan and Obasan invited me to stay with them after Obaasan passed away."
"I see." Everyone nodded and moved to other topics of conversation.
A short distance away, Yukimura Seiichi greeted his friends, "Sorry that we came a bit late."
"We?" Everyone's eyes turned to the auburn haired woman surrounded by the Seigaku men.
"Who's the young woman, Yukimura-san?" Kirihara Akaya asked bluntly.
"She's my cousin."
"You never told us you have a cousin, Seiichi." Renji commented and made a mental note to jot down this information later.
"Well, my parents and I only found out about her more than 4 years ago and she had lived with us ever since."
"Are you two dating, Yukimura-san." Jackal Kuwahara asked with Marui Bunta chuckling at the blush on Seiichi's cheeks.
"I would consider that incest, guys. She's like an imouto to me."
"Can she handle some tricks?" Nio Masharu asked with his glinting eyes trained on Sakuno.
"Stop being childish, Nio. We're not in school anymore." Yagyu Hiroshi warned his friend.
"So are you playing today, Seiichi?" Sanada Genichiro who had kept silent since he had seen Seiichi and the girl, asked harshly.
Everyone turned to stare at him except for Seiichi who gave him a knowing look.
"Yes, I think I will. In the mean time, Genichiro, I leave Sakuno-chan in your capable hands while I go and change." Seiichi waved and quickly left for the locker rooms leaving a speechless Genichiro behind.
The others shrugged at the weird interaction and went to find opponents from the Seigaku group for the next matches.
Sweat that has nothing to do with the hours he spent playing tennis began to form on Genichiro's forehead.
'Ryuzaki Sakuno is here.'
'The girl who had been haunting him since high school is here.'
'The girl who had stolen his first kiss is here.'
His eyes caught the expressive brown eyes of Sakuno and he was lost in them. He was pleased to see that Sakuno had blushed and looked away.
'She was flustered by my presence too. She must be remembering THAT incident.'
Sakuno felt her heart almost jumped out of her chest when her eyes saw the tall manly figure standing alone looking at her.
'Sanada Genichiro is here.'
'The boy who had been haunting her since high school is here.'
'The boy who had stolen her first kiss is here.'
Her eyes caught the dark eyes of Sanada Genichiro and she was pulled into them. She was pleased to see that he had looked away with tainted cheeks.
'He was flustered by my presence too. He must be remembering THAT incident.'
'What am I supposed to do now?' Both Sakuno and Genichiro thought with increasing nervousness.
TO BE CONTINUED!
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