A Prince of Tennis fanfic.
SanaYuki pairing.

Rating: T - for suggesting shonen ai pairing and also violence

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi.

Author's note: This is rather quite for an update of the next chapter I hope you are enjoying this fanfic. There is nothing fluffy yet (besides from maybe Sanada looking at Yukimura too much) but there soon will be. Please be patient. I hope you will keep reading this, thank you. And, PLEASE review!

And I suggest reading this in 3/4 or 1/2 because the paragraphs look ridiculous on the full screen.


Chapter.2 – Ranking Tournament

The second time I met Yukimura was at the orientation of junior high. I never thought I would see Yukimura there. Somehow, even though I couldn't see him, I could sense his presence. He appeared in front of me just as we were proceding into the hall. "Sanada-kun! I can't believe we're in the same school!" I remembered him smiling brightly and waving. I waved back with embarrassment.

He took the seat next to me. "Ne, Sanada-kun, are you trying out for the tennis team? This school has a really good team!" He said, oblivious to the curious glances that were glaring at him. It was probably because he looked... so out-of-place, so different and in a way, so divine. It seemed strange to use divine, but at the same time, felt so right.

"Um... yea." I replied, mystified by Yukimura's friendliness. We had only met each other once, yet he was speaking to me like I was an old friend. Didn't he have anyone to talk to? Didn't he have anyone from his elementary school? Or was he like me, not taking a particular liking to anyone from his elementary school?

"I do have people to talk to." Yukimura suddenly said, as if reading my mind. "I just want to talk to you, that's all." He smiled again. I blushed slightly. This boy was so strange. But his charisma was irresistable. Perhaps that was why eventually he had such a big fan base.

That afternoon, both of us went to sign up for the try-outs to be on the regular team. Sophomores and seniors stared at us queerly, as if we were doing something strange. I looked down towards the ground and walked carefully to avoid the sharp stares. But Yukimura strode towards the sign-up area confidently, head held high and eyes looking directly forward. I swallowed. How could a person be so calm under the gaze of so many senpai-tachi?

"Yukimura Seiichi. First year." He said to the senior sitting behind the sign-up desk. The senior nodded and wrote down his name. I could hear other senpai-tachi gasp as they heard first year. I bit my lip slightly. If the regular team was as good as it sounded, perhaps, like my match with Yukimura, I would get crushed.

I felt a nudge and woke from my thoughts. Yukimura was looking pointedly at the senior in charge of the sign-ups. "Ah... Sanada." I stammered. "Sanada Genichirou, first year." With that, more gasps followed.

"You two can stand over there with that junior." The senior pointed towards a boy standing at the far end of the court, tying his shoelaces. Yukimura nodded, then pulling me along with him, we walked towards the boy.

"Yanagi Renji. Nice to meet you, Yukimura-kun and Sanada-kun." The boy introduced himself. "First year as well."

A look of surprised crossed Yukimura's calm face for a moment. But it vanished quickly. "Nice to meet you." He returned the greeting with a smile. Yukimura seemed confident and cheerful all the time. Was there really nothing that worried him? How could he be so certain of himself all the time?

We were told that our try-outs would be in 30 minutes and that we were to pick up balls while we wait. Obedient to our senpai-tachi, we three began to pick up balls while senpai-tachi began their matches. It was a tiring process, with the balls were landing in all directions. Senpai-tachi yelled at us for more balls and gritting my teeth in annoyance, I quickly ran to pick up more balls for senpai-tachi. Suddenly, a ball landed in the basket from nowhere. Then, another came. Tennis balls were flying towards the basket and filling it. I looked behind me and saw Yukimura picking up balls with his racquet then hitting them towards the basket. "Is this enough, senpai?" Yukimura asked with an eyebrow raised. He was so cocky.

Yanagi smiled and began following Yukimura's example and hitting the balls into the basket. I picked up a few balls and lobbed them into the basket as well. "Oi, first years, stop showing off." One of the senpai-tachi shouted. Yukimura laughed and shrugged, since there were no more balls anyway. We did some stretches before we were called up by the captain of the team.

He put all three of us in matches, on court A, B and C separately. By this time, I had noticed that there was quite a considerable amount of spectators. "What's with all these people?" I muttered under my breath.

"Fans." Yukimura replied, tugging on the strings of his racquet gently. "Everyone in the tennis team has quite some fans. Apparently all of them have a fan-club and the captain has more than half the junior high in his club." He smiled, before wiping it off, changing it into a serious one as he stepped onto the court. "Maybe one day I will have fans as well." He joked. Little did he know that he would eventually.

"Let us be remembered as the first years who made it into the school team." Yukimura joked. "Good luck." I nodded and took a deep breathe, stepping onto the court, facing my first opponent.

Fifteen minutes later, as I lobbed towards the baseline, scoring my consecutive fifth game, I heard a soft chuckle behind me and turned around. Yukimura was sitting behind me, without any signs that he had played a game of tennis. He was watching my game with amusement and interest and smiled when he saw me staring at him. I quickly turned away and served. Three minutes later, I won the set 6-0.

"Congratulations." Yukimura said, then turned to Yanagi, who had just finished his game as well. "Congratulations as well. You two still have three opponents to go." He informed us, listing our opponents

"What about you?" I asked him.

"I've finished all four games." He grinned while he spoke, even though his tone was dead serious. "The captain had only let me play against non-regulars. Too weak. They all forfeited within minutes. It just wasn't fun." He sighed at that. Yanagi smiled. But I frowned. What was with Yukimura and his decimating style of tennis?

It was another three hours until I finished my matches. All the matches I've had so far were easier than I had anticipated and as Yukimura had previously commented, they were too weak. But on the other hand, I haven't played against any of the regulars yet. Yanagi had finished his matches without a single loss, as Yukimura and I did. However, even though I was glad that we had won all our matches, I felt uneasy under the hostile gazes of our senpai-tachi. To them, only second and third years should be allowed to be in the ranking tournaments. First years had no place among them.

"Yukimura!" The captain shouted. "You'll be playing against Shibuya for your spot on the regular team." Yukimura's face lit up instantly at that and sprinted across to Court D, where his match would be held. "Sanada, you're playing against Tashiro and Yanagi, you'll be playing against Mizuki. If you two win in your matches, you'll be on the regular team." The captain informed us. We nodded with excitement and anticipation. This was our chance to get on the regular team.

I entered the court, gripping my racquet firmly. I nodded curtly to Tashiro-senpai as a sign of respect. "Please teach me well." I said before I walked to the baseline. I got into the ready position and concentrated. I must not lose.

The match was much more intense than the ones I had before. As rumoured, the regulars of the Rikkai Dai Fuzoku's tennis team were excellent players. Neither of us were backing down, each taking our service games. We entered tiebreak and I could feel my breath becoming shallow. I must not lose here, I thought to myself. I must get on the team. But suddenly, when it was my turn to serve in the tiebreak, there was a commotion on Court D, where Yukimura was playing.

I looked towards that direction briefly and was shocked when I saw a crowd surrounding the wavy haired boy. I noticed that the people surrounding Yukimura were all first years, and by the look of it, congratulating him. I turned towards the scoreboard. 6-0. Yukimura had won yet again. Turning back to my own match, I concentrated deeply and held my racquet firmer. I must not lose. Or else, how am I supposed to win against Yukimura if I can't even get into the regular team?

My stamina recovered alongside my will. At 27-26 in my favour, Tashiro-senpai hit an unforced error and the victory was declared to be mine. I walked over to Court D after shaking hands with senpai. I was careful not to go too close to the crowd that was still surrounding Yukimura. The reason for my distance was perhaps I did not want to seem to be a pest to Yukimura. Yukimura had so many people around him anyway and to him, I was just another classmate. I stood away, observing Yukimura, looking at him as he thanked everyone who was congratulating him. I smiled slightly, it must be rare for a first year to decimate a regular third year.

"Yukimura-kun sure is popular." Yanagi appeared next to me, sipping from his water bottle. "But it's half expected anyway, isn't it? Especially when he has the skills and looks to go together." Yanagi laughed when I turned to him darkly. "Not that you don't have the looks."

I laughed at that too, but abruptly stopped when Yukimura slithered out of the crowd to join us. "Congratulations." I said, slightly envious of his score. He smiled, then nodding, he congratulated us as well. We were now, unofficially, regulars of the school team. My heart thumped against my ribcage like a trapped bird as I took it in. It just seemed unbelievable. At that moment, I believed that everything was going to be right. Everything seemed perfect.

As I walked over to the captain along with Yukimura and Yanagi, I could feel murderous stares stabbing my back. But I ignored them, my victory which has granted me a spot on the regular team was too good for anything to make me feel down. The captain announced the results and I stepped out of the crowd and stood next to the captain as my name was called out.

With the captain and vice-captain included, there were two more third years. Then there was one second year and us three, first years. I bit my lips to suppress a grin which would have spread across my face. However, even though I was happy, I felt slightly uneasy with the hostile aura which Tashiro-senpai was emitting. He was angry that he got kicked off the regular team by a first year. He had been humiliated, and he blamed his humiliation on me.

He hated me. His eyes focused on me with hatred that could burn. The moment my eyes connected with his, my heart froze. Because everything about him spelled revenge.


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