Disclaimer: I do NOT own Prince of Tennis, but I do own Moriyama Kimiko (the OC) in this story. Please respect that.
Now, do enjoy the first chapter of my newest creation, "The Empress!"
Regular POV
It was the beginning of a regular day. The sun was shining outside, the birds were chirping their usual birdsong…and somewhere in the middle of nowhere, a routine cloud of gloomy dismay hung over a young girl.
Kimiko twisted her neck to the left, staring determinedly out the classroom window in a vain attempt to ignore the obnoxiously high-pitched squeals of the girls fawning over the object of their affections: Sanada Genichirou, high school 3rd year, Rikkaidai Tennis Vice Captain, top grades in the history class…aka Kimiko's seatmate.
"Sanada-san! Please go out with me!"
"Oh my gosh Sanada-kun! You're so hot!"
Kimiko groaned in dismay at the fangirls' pathetic cries of their already obvious devotion. She glanced over at her classmate, and was greeted by an extremely disgruntled Sanada who could do nothing but sit like a stone in his seat, eyebrows furrowed. He looked at her, his eyes silently, yet stoically, entreating her to help him.
Help me get rid of these pests, his eyes desperately communicated to her.
The class president snorted out loud at this. One: they definitely would not leave, especially because the person trying to shoo them away was a GIRL; they'd just consider her another rival, and two: what happened to the strict fukubuchou on the tennis courts that gives everyone slaps and laps for losses and behavior issues?
She ignored Sanada, who continued to try to fend off the rabid fans, until finally, the bell rang.
Their history teacher walked in. Placing his books and teaching materials on the desk, he clapped his hands, saying "Everyone, get to your seats! Class is starting." A subtle chorus of groans filled the classroom, along with the sound of shuffling feet and screeching chairs.
The girls surrounding the stoic vice captain also unwillingly trudged back to their desks, which fortunately, for Sanada, were on the opposite side of the room. He breathed a sigh of relief under his breath; he thought they'd never go away.
Except now, there was something new on his agenda. Confront his merciless classmate.
Kimiko just didn't get it. Her eyes flickered over to the person on her right, who just happened to be Sanada.
What was it about this stoic, practically mute, and known-to-be-violent boy did people like? The younger boys looked up to him, all the girls squealed about him daily, the teachers adored him. Was she the only one who thought he was a completely socially inept idiot who didn't deserve all this attention?
Sure he didn't want the attention, as one could see. But it pissed her off to no end that he got all of it without having to even try, whereas she campaigned for months to have people recognize her as a competent class president. Where's the fairness in life?
Pausing for a second, she scoffed. Oh yeah, she almost forgot. There was none.
Huffing in frustration, she turned back towards the board, paying some absentminded attention to what the teacher was saying. History was her best subject, so it wasn't a big deal if she didn't listen wholeheartedly; she would just study some more tonight.
Finally, the bell. Sanada had been itching to talk to Kimiko the entire class, but being the good (and silent) student he was, he decided to not interrupt the teacher and confront her afterwards.
As the class picked up their possessions and were slowly filing out the door to go to lunch, he grabbed Kimiko tightly by the wrist to stop her from leaving.
She turned slightly, looking coolly downwards at their hands, and back up at him—her eyes said, "Take your hands off me right now."
He let go, not because of the threat in her eyes, but because he knew it was rude to keep his hand on hers when he had gotten her attention. At least, that's what he said to himself. Now, back to the issue at hand.
"Moriyama." He said simply, his eyes narrowed.
She knew exactly what he wanted to talk about, but feigned innocence. "What, Sanada?"
His eyebrows furrowed together. "You know what I'm talking about."
She raised an eyebrow, continuing her act.
Exasperated, Sanada pointed at their desk and said "There. Even though I'm your seatmate, you wouldn't shoo those pests away. Tarundoru!"
Kimiko scoffed again. "Those girls are your problems. You get rid of them yourself." She paused, "And by the way, that word doesn't work on me Sanada. I'm not your tennis team."
With that she spun on her heel and walked briskly out the door, leaving the usually stoic vice captain stunned. What is up with that girl? His eyes darkened. She's definitely on his top 10 hated people list.
The regulars usually met up outside the fenced tennis courts during lunch. A little late, Sanada strode quickly to where the rest of regulars had grouped together.
Yanagi and Yukimura immediately turned towards him. "Running a tad late, Genichirou." It wasn't a question, but a simple statement.
And he acknowledged that. "Aa," he grunted, "Something came up." And he would have left the issue at that, if it weren't for Yanagi.
Yanagi Renji: data specialist, 3rd year, and one of the three Rikkaidai Demons. Also one of Sanada's closest friends.
He raised an eyebrow, eyes still closed as usual. "Something, Genichirou?"
Oh boy. Sanada was not too happy about what he was sure was coming.
"50% something happened in class, 87.5% it happened in your history class just now, and 100% it's over something trivial."
Sanada grumbled, "If it's trivial, then why are you even bothering to mention it?"
Yanagi smiled. "Ii data. So who's done it this time, Genichirou?"
Sanada kept silent about it, and attempted to change the topic. "It's nothing important, so don't ask. Let's get started with practice." He began walking over to the tennis courts gate.
Yukimura spoke up this time. "Does it have to do with Kimiko-chan? She's your seatmate in history class, right?"
Sanada froze for a split second, and then kept walking. The two other demons noticed. Looking at each other with the ghost of a smile on their faces, they caught up to Sanada and began to pester him.
"Genichirou, what did Kimiko do to you?" Yukimura grinned.
"Nothing!" The stiff fukubuchou finally lost his temper. He was sick and tired of this. "That impudent childhood friend of yours…She is nothing to me!"
Unfortunately, the moment he said the forbidden word, "she," all of the regulars piled into the conversation, exclaiming loudly.
"Who? Who?" Akaya and Marui piped up excitedly. Consecutively, Jackal's interest was piqued and also asked what was going on.
Niou simply grinned and whistled, "Puri~" while Yagyuu desperately tried to calm all of them down. He nervously adjusted his glasses, saying, "Everyone, it's very rude to Sanada-kun. Leave him alone."
Sanada was grateful to Yagyuu for trying, although he didn't show it on his face. This tennis team was going to be the death of him.
Turning on the regulars, he yelled at the top of his lungs, "Everyone, get into your practices! Or 200 laps around the courts! Gossiping and talking is not allowed. TARUNDORU!" he bellowed out. Yukimura and Yanagi chuckled before walking to their own practice matches; this was definitely their fukubuchou.
Kimiko groaned again. Why, oh why, did they have to change seats today in math? Actually, that wasn't the problem. It was WHO she had to sit with now.
Yup, folks. Now she had two classes where she had to be seatmates with Sanada. Sighing in frustration again, the usually unaffected class president buried her head into her arms, wishing the ground would swallow her up—along with the idiot's stupid fangirls.
The teacher noticed. "Moriyama Kimiko-san, since you seem to be SO exasperated with my pace in teaching this class, I assume you understand how to do this problem already? Please come up and give us the answer."
Kimiko was horrified. Math was her worst subject, so the teacher hated her (is what she thinks).
She stood up and walked up to the board, looking at the problem. It wasn't that difficult, but if only she had looked at the examples last night a little more thoroughly…
She bit her lip, trying to remember how to do it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her teacher shaking his head, while she could hear the slight sniggers of the fangirls behind her.
"I guess she doesn't know how to do it."
"Wow, I didn't know the prez was stupid."
Kimiko was about to cry. She did know it! But it wasn't coming to her. She looked sideways at her teacher, who finally sighed and gave in. "All right, Moriyama-san. It's fine. Go back to your seat."
The girl was relieved, and stiffly shuffled back to her desk, trying to keep face.
The most annoying thing was what happened next. "Sanada-kun, please come up to answer it for your seatmate." Kimiko was internally horrified. "What?" she thought.
Sanada stood up, bowing slightly in acknowledgement, and went up to the board, finishing the problem in less than 10 seconds. His fangirls, who sat behind Kimiko and Sanada, sighed dreamily.
Kimiko's hand curled into a fist, her fingernails digging in so deep they almost cut her palm to the point of bleeding. She sat down, but her face was turned downwards, and when Sanada came back to sit, she didn't spare him a single glance. He had embarrassed her; she was sure she would not talk to him for the entire week.
As soon as the bell rang, she stood up to go, but this time, instead of being hindered by Sanada, the teacher called her and the boy to see him.
"Moriyama-san, Sanada-kun, please come see me right now."
Kimiko was puzzled. She looked at Sanada, who seemed just as confused—his eyes were narrowed almost into slits. She guessed it was the first time he was called to talk to a teacher after class. Speaking of which, same for her.
They approached the desk, at which the teacher told Sanada, "Actually, Sanada-kun, please do me a favor and stand over in the corner for a bit?" He nodded politely and backed up as far as possible.
Kimiko POV
Our sensei faced me. "Moriyama-san, I understand that you have your responsibilities as class president on the student council, but it is unforgivable for that to affect your grades in my class."
I opened my mouth, "Wha—"
He shoved a pile of papers in my open hands. "These are your tests and papers from this past month. Please explain."
I looked through them, then my eyes widened. A big fat red "C" "D" and "F" were on my last test, essay, and homework assignment. How could this be? I was studying…Then I realized that I had been focusing on everything BUT math for the past month or two.
By the time I get back from student council, it's so late, and then I push my math homework last, so sometimes I don't even finish…Oh god.
I could only helplessly look with puppy eyes at my teacher. He sighed again. "I thought so."
What was he going to do to me? Don't call my parents, I pleaded desperately.
He called Sanada over. "Sanada-kun, I'd like you to do me a favor." Oh no…I had a bad feeling about this.
Sanada POV
"Sanada-kun? I'd like to have you tutor Moriyama-san until I deem her grades as acceptable again."
I was not happy with this. To tutor that monkey of a girl? Her rudeness was already intolerable, but to let her own grades slip like this? She was class president for heaven's sake; she's the example for the school!
Looking over at her, I noticed her eyes were as big as saucers and her jaw had been dropped open. So she was surprised as well.
Well, there was nothing I could do about this. Math wasn't my favorite (history was), but the teacher asked, and Seiichi would kill me if I did otherwise, for his precious childhood friend. Honestly, how could he associate with this tomboy?
I tried to hold back a growl. "Yes, sensei," I grinded out of my clenched teeth.
He clapped his hands in approval. "Good! Well then," he turned to Moriyama, "I expect you two to get along and show me better grades within the next week!"
"NEXT WEEK?" the girl shrieked, shocking the teacher. Even I was surprised. I thought she was the cool and high and mighty-acting president. Who knew that there was this side of her? She kind of resembles Atobe in that sense…I shook my head clear of those thoughts, and then realized she had stuck her hand in front of me.
"Since sensei requires it," she said gruffly, "I'm in your hands. Yoroshiku, Sanada."
I took her offered sign of truce (not that we were warring in the first place). "Aa," I agreed, while our blasted teacher stood in the background, beaming.
Regular POV
The two walked out the school gates, then looked at each other.
"So when do you want to do this?" Kimiko asked apprehensively. She wasn't changing her opinion of Sanada any time soon. Not unless he shows her a better side of him.
Sanada put a hand on his head to calm his pounding headache. This was going to be a really weird next month. "When are you free?"
"I have the most time on Wednesday usually, but I also have student council meetings from 3-4 that day. That and the weekends." She paused. I suppose I should also respect his times as well. "You?" she asked stiffly.
Sanada thought about it. "Wednesdays work. I have tennis practice all the other days anyways."
He looked over at the girl, who was shuffling her feet in embarrassed frustration. "If something's on your mind, Moriyama, spit it out. I don't have all day." And he meant that literally—the sun was almost below the horizon.
She mumbled something.
"What?" Sanada said.
"I said, can we do it at your house?" the usually cool class president was almost begging him. "I don't want my parents to know or worry about me. I'll just tell them it's a studying session with friends."
Sanada snorted. Friends, huh. "All right," he grunted. He was going to have to explain this to his own family; he disapproved of lying, but the girl had her own problems to deal with. It wasn't his business.
Kimiko looked up at the taller boy, having regained her cool composure. "Well then, as tomorrow is Saturday, I'll see you tomorrow, at your house at 10, Sanada." And she stalked off towards home.
The fukubuchou had no clue whether he should be extremely amused or angry. Who did she think she was? Oh. Right, the class prez.
Then something hit him, how did she know where he lived? Thinking about it for a split second, he immediately dismissed the thought. She could ask around. If she didn't come, it wasn't his problem. With that, the stoic vice captain began heading home as well.
Anybody else besides the two cool middle-schoolers would have laughed at the sight. It was quite a spectacle, Rikkaidai's two stoniest students interacting and then walking away, still cold, towards each other. That was what Yukimura Seiichi thought as he grinned and stood up, walking away from the bush he had been crouching behind.
Saturday, 9:30 AM
Kimiko was at a loss. For all that she had said yesterday…she didn't know where that stupid Sanada's house was.
Grabbing her phone and speedily punching in a few numbers, she waited for the person on the other end of the line to pick up. "Come on, Seiichi, pick up already" she whispered to herself impatiently.
Finally, the captain picked up. "Kimi-chan?"
"Ah! Seiichi! Sorry for calling you this early in the morning." The young girl said apologetically.
"No, no. It's fine. On the other hand, what's wrong? You seem kind of…jumpy." Yukimura wanted details. And when the captain says he wants something, he gets it.
"Ah, well, you see..." Kimiko quickly explained what was going on.
"…" Yukimura was silent for a bit.
"…Seiichi?" Kimiko asked, wondering why he wouldn't say anything.
"…hahahaHAHAHA!" The captain's chuckles burst into laughter.
"Seiichi! No laughing!"
"Sorry, sorry. Isn't this the first time something like this has happened?"
"Yeah…I can't believe it had to be Sanada. He's so annoying."
"Oh? You seem displeased, Kimi-chan."
"Sorry, Seiichi. I know he's a friend of yours, but he really pisses me off! Like, he's totally silent, anti-social, and intimidating, yet everybody loves him! Sure, he's hot, but that doesn't mean he's a god!"
Yukimura grinned as he heard something resembling the girl slapping herself for what she just said. "OK, Seiichi, I did NOT just say that he's hot."
"No, of course you didn't." he grinned wider.
"Argh, I know you're smiling like a Cheshire cat over there, so I give up! But tell me, where does Sanada live? I have…oh shoot! 15 minutes to get there! Seiichi, where?" she shrieked into the phone. Yukimura had to hold the phone arm's length away to protect his eardrums. It was one thing to deaden someone's senses during a tennis match using tennis…another to completely destroy it for life just by using one's voice.
"OK, ok, I'll tell you. So you ride the train to…"
Regular POV ( Sanada's house)
**Ring ring**
A boy picked up the phone. "Sanada residence."
"Oh, Genichirou."
"Aa, Seiichi. Good morning."
"Yes, 'morning to you, too. I take it that Kimiko's not with you yet?"
Sanada's eyes narrowed. "How did you know about that?" He was referring to the entire tutor issue.
"She told me." The captain said simply.
Sanada knew better than to pry for details. He sighed, "Yes, and what about it?"
"…Be nice to her, will you?"
The stoic vice captain was surprised. "What brings this about?"
"She's kind of…finds it difficult when it comes to communicating with guys. So just be nice to her?"
Sanada thought, Aren't you a guy? But he replied, "We'll see."
Yukimura took that as a yes. "Thanks, Genichirou. Have fun," and hung up.
Sanada scoffed, As if this could be any fun. Right at that moment, the bell rang. Sanada glanced at the clock, 30 seconds before 10.
He let a smirk run onto his features. This girl was prompt. He considered what had happened, and came up with the conclusion that she was different…In a good way.
So maybe, just maybe, he could tolerate her for the next couple of months. He went to open the door, and was greeted by a rare sight: here the class president was, in casual clothes, bent slightly over with her hands on her knees, her breath coming in pants, and boasting some horrifically messy hair.
Oh yes, this girl was definitely not Sanada's definition of normal.
Please review! I know it's kind of rare to see this pairing, but I hope you liked it! I'm trying to keep Sanada in character, but it's hard….**pouts** So please continue to support me and give feedback! I appreciate every single one of you, so thank you in advance for everything!
Love you all! And please use alerts/favorites to continue to check up on this story! Thanks!
~Hime-chan
P.S. I am still working on all my other stories, so please read those too!