Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis or any of the characters. I don't own any franchises, songs, video games, ect mentioned either (like Facebook, song lyrics, and DDR).
If you notice any spelling, grammar, plot errors please let me know. I will fix them as soon as I can. Reviews are always nice, like the chocolate syrup on top of a banana sundae, but aren't necessary.
.-.
At school I run off with Kiyomi and she fills me in with the latest gossip. Apparently Jackal Kuwahara, the half-Brazilian tennis player, and Fujita Tsukiko, the tallest female in history, are dating. They've had chemistry together for some time now and Tsukiko, one of my best friends, constantly talked about how attractive Jackal is. I'm glad they're together. "Oh my gosh we should all go out on a triple date!" Kiyomi squeals as we wait for homeroom to start so she run back to her homeroom for school. I smile and agree but I plan on putting the triple (or even a double) date off for as long as I can. Sanada's still rather awkward about our relationship. Last Thrusday someone asked him if we had kissed yet, Sanada got flustered, shouted "Tarundoru!" and ran off.
.-.
Practice rolls around far too soon. Jogging around the courts I feel my body warm up. Then it's practice time. We're practicing doubles again. We want at least one alternative pair in case something happens. Buchou is suppositious since just a week before the Kanto Tournament I got injured and wasn't in top shape for the first round of the tournament. Kiyomi wasn't impressed when we weren't paired together, we've vowed to always play doubles together. Still it's a good idea. Kiyomi is paired with Imai Hoshi, the spunky, black haired, second-year, and I'm paired with Tsukiko. Tsukiko is incredibly tall, taller than me and I'm 5'8", she had long brown hair in a pony tail and brown eyes and is quite fun to be around.
Imai and Kiyomi have a better combination mainly because they've played doubles together longer. They were going to be the substitute doubles incase I couldn't play in the first round. Still Tsukiko and I tried our best to find a combination that worked for us. We found when she stays at the baseline and I take the net we do much better. Our game ends 6-4, Kiyomi-Imai won.
"I only want to play doubles with you." Kiyomi pouted as we shuffle to the locker room. I have to tell her we need to be prepared for anything but Kiyomi just pouts some more. After a fast shower we head outside together, Tuesdays have become our girl's day. And it's my day to choose where we'll be going.
"Arcade." I tell Kiyomi. Tsukiko and Imai are suddenly our best friends, clinging to our arms as we head out.
"Where ya going?" The redheaded, self-proclaimed genius, Marui Bunta asked before popping a bubble.
"Arcade, come with." Kiyomi holds out her hand to Marui who loops their arms and we head out. Jackal and Kirihara follow after us, when we reach the school gate I find Yanagi and Sanada talking about something, probably tennis.
"Yanagi-Senpai!" Kirihara races forward and hugs Yanagi's arm tightly. Since Kirihara and I have decided not to date each other he's become more and more childish, clinging to others, pouting, and even crying. I think it's both adorably cute and annoying. "Senpai! Come to the arcade with us! Please?"
"I have to study Akaya." Yanagi tells him, patting the boy on the head who starts pouting. "Ask Genichiro." Kirihara turns his large green eyes to Sanada who stares back at him like Kirihara has three heads.
"Don't be stupid Kirihara." Marui rolled his eyes before popping another bubble with his apple flavored gum. "We all known Fukubuchou is electronically retarded."
"Tarundoru!" Sanada yells before slapping the back of Marui's head. "Thirty laps tomorrow!" Marui rubs the back of his head and glares.
"Kokawa!" Kirihara stares at me with his wide eyes, "Make Fukubuchou go with us… pleeaaaasseee." He whines.
"What makes you think I can make him do anything?" I ask.
"Because you're dating him." Kirihara states.
"Sanada can make his own decisions you know."
"So he's not whipped… yet." Marui snickers and Sanada's slaps him again.
"Bye Sanada, Yanagi." I say dragging Kirihara off to the arcade. Once we're at the arcade Kiyomi and I head straight for the DDR game where we set to work defeating any and all scores higher than ours. We hop and jump and dance the day away. Finally Jackal and Tsukiko tell us it's time to head home like good, responsible senpais. Our day always seems to go by too fast. I say goodbye to my friends and head home alone. I suppose I could take a bus but I feel like walking.
The sky is turning a pale orange color. It's hot, sweat rolls down my back as I walk. It's almost winter, I'm so ready for snow and cold. Maybe for my birthday I can bring my friends home. That would be so much fun.
.-.
It's Wednesday and I'm currently watching Sanada practice his kendo. I bite my lip to keep from commenting on how attractive he looks in his hakama. That would just embarrass the both of us to no end. Twisting Sanada's black cap around in my hands I watch him for another second before I go back to my geography homework.
"Ha!" Shink. Thunk. I glance up at Sanada who turns around and looks at me. A blush blossoms across my face and I look away. "Is something wrong Kokawa?"
"N-nothing." I murmur.
"Don't lie to me." Sanada says sternly.
"It's nothing." I tell him as I peer up at him through my bangs. He huffs and goes back to his kendo. I shake my head to clear it and start on my homework. This is our usual routine, I go to his house once a week (if not more) and I sit and watch him practice kendo while doing homework. Sanada's only been over to my house twice since we've started dating, mainly because the first time it was just us and Josh and then Josh "left to go get some milk" for almost two hours. We both decided it was too awkward to go over to my house if Mom isn't around.
"Supper's ready you two." Haruko, Sanada's wonderful mother, peeps her head into the dojo. Sanada tells me to go ahead while he goes off to change. I've become a second daughter to the Sanadas so I have no problem wandering around their house and eating their food. I settle into my usual spot at the table. Genemon, Sanada's grandfather smiles wide at me and asks me how my day was. While we talk Genjirou and Haruko sit down across from me. Genjirou, Sanada's dad, is a lot like his son only he shows a little more emotion.
"Where is that son of mine?" Genjirou asks as he stares at the lovely meal Haruko made for us.
"Who cares, it means I get his wonderful girlfriend all to myself for a little longer." Genemon teases me. His teases work and I blush deeply and look away.
"Sanada was changing." I mumble.
"You still call him by his family name?" Genemon asks, "Tsk, tsk."
Of course I do, Sanada calls me by family name, besides it'd be weird to call him by his first name… Genichiro…Genichiro… Hm it sounds nice though.
"Ah! Gen-Chan!" Haruko smiles over my shoulder. I will not be calling Sanada that.
"Sorry everyone." Sanada bows and settles beside me. "I had to sharpen my katana."
"Couldn't that have waited until after supper?" Genjirou asks.
"No." Sanada and Genemon say together. Genemon teaches kendo, something that amuses me to no end.
Genjirou huffs in defeat and supper starts. It's pleasant everyone chit chats about the latest news, not that I listen to the news. Sanada speaks shortly about school and tennis and avoids all questions on our relationship. I'm invited into the conversation but usually I just sit back, I like watching how the Sanadas interact with one another.
After supper Sanada and I wash the dishes. My mind goes back to a time when Kirihara washed the dishes together and our hands touched… that was the night he kissed me. I giggle and Sanada glances at me before leaving me alone. The warm, soapy water feels nice on my hands as I scrub dishes with a little washcloth. Suddenly Sanada's hand grabs a hold of mine and I jump. "Sorry." Sanada removes my hand.
I bump my hip with Sanada's. "Don't be sorry, you just jumped me is all. I'm still getting used to the fact you hold hands with me."
"That makes no sense. I hold hands with you all the time."
"That's not what I meant genius." I roll my eyes and Sanada smacks his elbow into the back of my head lightly. "What I meant is you taking my hand. If I do remember correctly I was the one who had to grab your hand the first time…. And you didn't even want this relationship."
"That was only because I feared this would get in the way of tennis." Sanada says gruffly.
"And has it?" I ask as I start to rinse the dishes.
"No." Sanada says surely. And I'm trying so hard not to lose it and break down crying over every little thing. Sanada doesn't need that stress and I'm just being stupid half the time. I hand dishes to Sanada to dry and we work silently. When I hand him the last plate he sets it aside and grabs my hand, holding it tightly. My heart stops and I can't help myself from sighing. I really do adore this guy. "Do you want to head home now or later?" Sanada asks, his free hand drying the last dish.
"Ah… do… do you want me to stay longer?" I ask.
"I would, so long as you don't have homework or a certain time you need to be home."
"Then I'll stay." I release Sanada's hand, "You know I have no curfew."
"And homework?" Sanada asks putting the last dish away before we head back to his room.
"I did all my homework." I say honestly, even if I didn't I wouldn't pass up a chance to sit with Sanada and watch a game show for anything. Sanada's bed is fluffy and comfortable when I hop onto it. The TV clicks on and Sanada settles beside me, much more rigidly than I did. How the two of us managed to fall for each other is beyond me sometimes. "Relax." I rub his shoulder gently only making him more tense so I drop my hand, defeated.
"S-sorry Kokawa." Sanada stutters.
"What?" I ask.
"I… I don't mean to be so tense around you…" He's got his head down and his annoying black cap is covering his face.
Pulling the hat off his head I give him a reassuring smile, "It's ok. We're both new to this." I set his hat on my head and lean back against the wall and watch the TV show. Sanada's so cute when he gets awkward but it only makes me feel more awkward. I always pictured he'd be the confident one in a relationship… suppose I was wrong, maybe as time goes on he'll be more comfortable like when we hold hands. Just as I think that Sanada takes my hand. I squeeze his hand and set my head against his shoulder.
We sit like that for some time, commenting idly on the TV show. When Sanada finally moves to tell me it's time for me to head home my shoulder is asleep and prickly in pain. I sit up stiffly and wiggle off the bed. Sanada hands me my backpack and we head outside together. It's just turning dark now but I don't live far from Sanada's. We walk side by side, holding hands, not saying anything. It's just like old times (can a few months be referred to as old times?) only we're holding hands.
"Sanada."
"Aa?"
"What are you going to do with your life?"
"Teach kendo like my grandfather."
I can't stop myself as I burst out laughing. All I can picture is Sanada standing in front of a few little boys with his stern face yelling "TARUNDORU!" at them. It's a sad but funny picture. "Sorry Sanada… you'd make a great teacher." And I snort.
Sanada puffs up his chest and acts as if I never spoke. I giggle the rest of the way to my house. Sanada leads me up to the door and turns as if he's running away. "Sanada." I whine making him turn around. When he peer at me from under his hat I hold out my arms, silently asking for a hug. For a second Sanada looks like he's just going to turn and leave before he jogs up beside me, squeezing me incredibly tight and letting me go in a second. It's a quick hug but a hug none the less. "See you tomorrow." I tell him.
"Aa." And just like that he's gone leaving a warm, spicy, musky scent behind. At first every time I smelled that smell I'd get embarrassed because it's a cologne my mother bought him for his birthday, now it's just become a part of who he is. I think even he's grown to like the smell of it too. Or maybe it's the fact I stuff my face in his chest and just smell him for long periods of time occasional, no that can't be it, Sanada's too shy and get's embarrassed when I do that…. Unless… unless he secretly likes it. Yes that's it! Sanada likes it when I obviously smell him.
.-.
A/N: Hey everybody, I just wanted to warn you don't expect updates as often as ALT (Average Life of a Teenager). I had an incredible head start while writing ALT and not so much with this one… I'll update at least once a week… I'm hoping to update once every three days or so. Just warning you all.
