Title: When the Tango Ends
Pairing: Sanada Genichirou/Atobe Keigo, Past Sanada Genichirou/Yukimura Seiichi
Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Happy Ending, Tango Towards Destruction, Episode: s06e149 Tango Towards Destruction
Summary: Continuous Tannhäuser Serve. Tango Towards Destruction. The winning doubles match turns rivals into something more. When the game is over, Atobe can only watch as Sanada walks away. But it's not the end; not by a long shot.
A/N: Episodes 147-149 (Junior Invitational Team vs. American West Coast Team Arc)
BETA: TheSupernova
Chapter 1: I Danced with You
Atobe didn't have an opinion on whether he played singles or doubles in the Junior Invitational Tournament. He needed to be good at both, in any case; Atobe wanted to win no matter the situation. What he hadn't expected was being paired with Sanada in doubles 1. Going first was the best way to kick off this tournament; team Japan's strength was not be underestimated. No matter the cost, Atobe would make sure they won this game and Sanada was the ideal teammate, one on par with his skills and experience. So in all, Atobe didn't particularly have a problem with the outcome.
Tango Towards Destruction had been the ultimate culmination of the power and teamwork two of the nation's top-class tennis players could produce. The American team never stood a chance. Team Atobe had won (like that was ever in doubt).
The last game of the match had given Atobe a taste of what he had always yearned for: Sanada's trust and the ability to reach beyond Sanada's impenetrable cold exterior. Atobe could never seem to get past their rivalry. Atobe envied Yukimura, one of the few (if only) men Sanada let past his defenses. As far as dating went, Yukimura was also Sanada's ex, and Atobe wasn't entirely sure he stood a chance.
Out on the courts, Atobe had felt his anxiety melt away as Sanada asked him to dance during the fated twelfth game, with the beautiful music of the Tango replacing the atmosphere surrounding them. For a few minutes, nothing except Sanada and the rhythm of the game, the combination plays between the tennis ball and their opponents, existed. A beautiful Tango played to the rhythm of a two on two rally.
When they won 7-5, the music stopped. And Atobe could only watch as Sanada turned his back and walked away.