Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or any of the characters related to it. They all belong to Konomi Takeshi. Also, I do not own Fire Emblem or any of the elements from the series.

Rating: T for implied adult themes in certain chapters. K for the rest.

Prologue - Chapter 2 - Entrusted

"Prince Yukimura!" a guard yelled as he ran towards the edge of the garden where Seiichi and Sanada were having a cup of tea, sitting at a table.

"What is it?" Seiichi questioned with concern, setting his cup down on the saucer.

"Lord Yukimura! He just passed out by the front doors!"

Without hesitation, Seiichi took off running with Sanada hot at his heels towards the entrance of the castle, fear and alarm apparent on his face. When he arrived, he collapsed onto his knees when he saw his father's body sprawled across the cobblestones unconscious. Sanada arrived not a moment later and he also kneeled down to try to comfort Seiichi who was trying to shake his father awake while screaming his name.

"… Sei… Seiichi?"

"Father!"

"Ugh… why am I here?"

"You passed out! Is there something wrong?"

Lord Yukimura rubbed the back of his head gingerly and winced.

"I don't think so… I just feel a bit tired. I think I just need to get inside and lie down."

"Let me help you, my lord," Sanada offered as Lord Yukimura stood up slowly, placing one arm around the commander and the other around Sanada.

"Of course, thank you Genichirou…" he thanked kindly as they walked into the castle together.

"Father, please don't scare me like this again," Seiichi scolded as he led them inside towards the master bedroom.

"If I had a choice son, I wouldn't have. Don't worry - I'm sure that there is nothing wrong with me. Might just be fatigue," he reassured as he bent down to hug both of them before retiring.

"Pleasant dreams father."

"Have a good rest, my lord."

"The same to you, my beloved boys."

Things did not turn out for the better. At first, it looked like everything was fine because Lord Yukimura was back on his feet after a day and was doing his regular duties with his usual efficiency. He hadn't lost any of his strength when he sparred against Sanada to see how he was progressing. He still smiled fondly when he admired Seiichi's latest paintings or was shown the most recently bloomed flowers.

After a month, he found that he could not rise from his bed. The doctor said that he wasn't sure what condition Lord Yukimura had, but he advised bed rest and some elixirs to see if he would recover. Unfortunately, Lord Yukimura's health waned steadily by the day and a distraught Seiichi was often at his bedside, clutching his hand and crying silently as the lord slept. Sanada was hardly ever present - he was equally as upset, but he needed to deal with it on his own in the seclusion of his bedroom.

The day that they had been dreading came with dark, forbidding clouds looming over the castle and heavy rain crashing down on the castle walls. Lord Yukimura had been flickering between consciousness and unconsciousness, and this was the first time in a week that he was alert. His voice was weaker than ever and the warm twinkle that was always in his eyes was absent.

"Seiichi… listen to me."

"Father! You can't do this to me! Mother's already gone and I can't bear for you to be too!"

"I don't have much time left so I need to talk with you."

"DON'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT!" Seiichi screamed, brushing the hand away that had just stroked his cheek. "You're a Yukimura. You don't lose to anything… not even this!"

"Son, this kingdom will soon be yours," Lord Yukimura pressed on feebly, ignoring his son's lamentations. "And I know you will be a befitting ruler… perhaps better than me."

"Stop it father, stop it!"

"I give you my blessings and my love. Don't forget to take care of the garden. It holds so many good memories and I want you to never forget them. …And it was your mother's favorite thing to do."

"No father… don't leave me," Seiichi cried, throwing himself into his father's arms and letting his tear-stained face be buried in his chest.

"Genichirou."

"Yes, my lord?"

"You are to protect my son and the country as the commander of the army and as my son's loyal bodyguard."

"But what of the present commander?"

"It has been decided that my commander will be second in command and is primarily in charge of the military school so that you may dedicate your whole being to Seiichi."

"My lord, I swear to you that I will never fail in my duty," Sanada proclaimed as he took Lord Yukimura's hand and held them tenderly between both of his own. "Have no doubt about it."

"I have always loved you as my second son, Genichirou," Lord Yukimura stated gently as he looked into his dark brown eyes, a hint of the twinkle back in his own sapphire eyes. "You two have made my life something wonderful and complete and I am sad I have to depart…"

"No… father… I don't want you to go."

"Make… me… proud… Seiichi… Genichirou…" Lord Yukimura finished as the light finally faded from his eyes and he lay still with a small smile on his face. Sanada bowed his head and let the tears he had been surpassing flow freely as Seiichi howled deep into the chest of his deceased father. Part of him hoped that the raw power of his despair would somehow stir something in his father to open his eyes once again.

He was twelve. They were both twelve. Fate closed its cruel claws on these two young boys and left them wounded with scars that would never heal.

"Prince Yukimura," Sanada announced softly as he entered the dimly lit room, closing the door carefully.

"Sanada."

"Please excuse me for intruding," he apologized as he approached the lone figure who was facing away from him, looking out of the large window. "I just wanted to… see how you were doing…"

"Fine," Yukimura answered resignedly, avoiding Sanada's gaze when he ended up next to his side.

"You disappeared shortly after the funeral. I was worried."

"Why should you be?"

"Because I'm used to seeing the content, smiling Prince Yukimura or the sadistic, smirking Prince Yukimura. I didn't know what you would do in this state and I found it unsettling."

"I needed to be away from people," Yukimura replied. "I miss him so much already…"

"We all do, we all do."

"And hearing all of those people praising him and talking about all that he's ever done for his country… All of the condolences… It just made me miss him even more. I feel like I have a knife sticking in my chest and it just keeps getting twisted further and further..."

"Aren't you also feeling some pressure?" Sanada questioned as moved in front of Yukimura to block his view of the window. "Don't lie. I know you do."

"How can my country respect a ruler that is only twelve, Sanada?" Yukimura demanded suddenly, calm facade instantly replaced by stress coupled with pain. "How am I ever going to live up to my father when he is so revered? Both of my parents are gone when they shouldn't be and I am left behind alone!"

"Prince Yukimura!" Sanada exclaimed, startled by his loud outburst. "Calm down."

"I refuse!"

"Listen to me!" Sanada ordered threateningly and Yukimura glared back at him with a furious expression on his face. "… Excuse me, I did not mean to order you. I forgot my place."

"Just say it," Yukimura commanded, narrowing his eyes at him. He saw the wheels in Sanada's mind churning before Sanada reach out with his arms and pulled him into an embrace, catching him completely off-guard.

"My prince…" Sanada started softly. "Both of my parents are gone too. And I don't have any memory of them…"

"Nothing at all?"

"I've learned to deal with it over time. But I want to remind you are not alone. You have me by your side. Forever."

"What happens if you leave me like everyone else?"

"I won't. I have sworn to your father and to my myself that I will do everything in my power to protect and support you."

Yukimura felt overwhelmed. Hot tears were sliding down his face and he buried his face into Sanada's chest to avoid embarrassment and he noticed Sanada's arms tightened considerably around him.

"You may be only twelve, but you are far more mature and knowledgable than you give yourself credit for. You have immense talent and skill, but most important of all, you genuinely care for others and that will win you the hearts of your subjects easily."

"You really think I can do it?" Yukimura sniffed and Sanada laughed softly - the first time that Yukimura had heard him laugh since his father fell ill although the times before that were few and far between.

"Without a doubt."

Yukimura pulled out of his hold slowly with a tiny smile on his face, looking up into Sanada's eyes that were looking back with a warm gentleness. Then, unexpectedly, he felt his throat go dry and his breath get caught in his throat when he noticed his strong jawline, his slightly tan complexion, and the way that his nose was shaped. His heart fluttered when he noticed the curve of his lips and the soft rose color that looked so inviting. It was then that Yukimura realized that he was in love with Sanada, and judging by the way Sanada was peering at him, he was in love with him too.