The Date: The Beginnings of an Intimate Relationship

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis!

A/N: Hey, sakuraigo3838 here. How was the fanfic? I enjoy the fact that people are reading despite the pairing. :D Here's the next chapter: enjoy!

Thursday, six in the evening

Dan waited nervously near the Rose Gardens in a smart black suit. What was Munehiro Kabaji like? Was he handsome and friendly? Was he cold and distant, or ugly with beavers' teeth? Dan couldn't stand beavers. Or people who slouched, for that matter. At this thought Dan stood straighter than ever. He would never be caught slouching!

His heart pounded in his chest like hammers on an anvil. What if it were really a date-rape, like Akutsu-senpai had said? What if Kabaji-kun didn't show up? No, he couldn't think of such things…

At that moment a large teenage boy of about fourteen in a formal wear arrived on the scene. Dan noted that he had dull eyes and was slouching. Slouching! Surely this couldn't be his date! But the boy was approaching him! Dan forced himself to stand his ground. He peered up nervously at the boy, who opened his mouth to speak.

"I'm looking for a Dan Taichi. I have a date with her…"

"Th-that's me…I'm Dan Taichi…" Dan smiled on the outside but inwardly he felt like vomiting. He was dumping this guy as soon as the date was over!

"Usu. I'm Munehiro Kabaji," the boy said. It was obvious that the gravity of the situation had not sunk in yet. "I'm your date."

In the bushes nearby

Akutsu watched Dan intensely, then cursed as he scratched his leg on a thorn. Oh, why had he come out all this way to make sure the idiot was okay?

Date-rape, date-rape…the senpai reminded himself. If Dan's date tried to make any moves on the innocent fool he would be knocked out like a light. And he wouldn't know what hit him, either. But men weren't sick!

Akutsu suddenly thought about how he'd felt when he saw Dan in his spandex spaghetti top and shorts and gulped. Okay, so that had been an overstatement.

At that moment a huge boy of about his age lumbered slowly across to Dan. The senpai's eyes widened. Wasn't that Munehiro Kabaji of the famous Hyotei Gakuen tennis team? And what was he doing here? Why was he dressed in formal wear, too? Could it be…?

Akutsu jumped as he suddenly heard a loud voice. "Oy, don't breathe so loud!"

"But Atobe, it wasn't me, it was Jirou…he's snoring again!"

"I don't care, just silence him!"

Akutsu gaped at the Hyotei team crouching before him.

"What are you doing here?"

"We'd like to ask you the same question, Akutsu Jin of Yamabuki Junior High," Oshitari pushed his glasses up his nose. "We've come to supervise our friend. He's on his-" the tensai was muffled by Hiyoshi.

"He's just going to a concert," Atobe said casually. "We're just making sure he doesn't lose his way."

"Don't mess with me," Akutsu snapped. "And tell me the truth."

Oshitari broke free of Hiyoshi's grasp. "He's on his first date!"

"…Oh. With whom?" Stay calm, stay calm…

"A lovely, charming lady by the name of Dan Taichi," Atobe announced proudly. Akutsu grinned. It was time to shock this arrogant git.

"Hate to break it to you, but Dan's a boy. He also attends Yamabuki Junior High and follows me around all the time, so I'd know."

There was a pause in which the Monkey King began to breathe heavily.

"Excuse me," Atobe said, then turned on his whole team. Each and every member looked as surprised as he. "Who gave Kabaji a BOY for a date? Ore-sama is angry. Ore-sama is very angry."

"Um…Shishido-senpai…I think you clicked on the wrong profile…" Choutaro whispered rather loudly.

"Clicked on the wrong profile? We have to stop Kabaji before it's too late!" Atobe sighed pitifully. "How could you take advantage of Ore-sama's trust? The Great One's trust?!"

"It's not that hard to take advantage of," Shishido muttered.

"I'll let you fight it out," Akutsu said, turning around to look for Dan. But the twelve year old had disappeared. It was the senpai's turn to lose his cool.

"Okay smart-ass, where'd Dan go? He was here only a few seconds ago!" Jin growled, lifting Gakuto by the collar.

The small tennis player shrugged, grinning. "You shouldn't be so pissed-it's bad for the health."

"That's just Gakuto's way of saying 'I don't know'," Oshitari sighed. "Atobe, we should be finding Kabaji-kun, too."

"Yes, you're quite right. We must be going. Nice meeting you," Atobe smiled his most charming smile at Akutsu before barking at his team. "Move out!"

"Oh no, I'm coming with you," Akutsu growled. "I can't let Dan be…huh, whatever. Don't mind me-I'll just be in the background." It would not be a good image for him if word got around that Akutsu Jin was caught worrying about a boy two years younger than he.

"Whatever you say," Shishido humphed as he followed his team into the Rose Gardens.

With Dan and Kabaji

The Rose Gardens Café was very cheerful. The lighting was bright and there was the usual hum of people talking. The food was also top-notch. But Dan Taichi was too busy staring at his date.

Who would have thought that one day he'd be having a date with a teenage boy who possessed all the qualities he hated? Dan shivered for the millionth time as Munehiro Kabaji's dull frog eyes stared at him. Dan's eyes darted to a clock on a nearby wall. 6:30 only! How long was this torture going to last? Dan opened his mouth to start a conversation.

"So…have you been here often desu?"

"Usu."

"Do you like the food here desu?"

"Usu."

"What movie are we going to watch desu?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

Dan stopped. Trying to start a conversation was useless; this guy's answers were brief. He'd probably get an E if he tried to do a school comprehension.

With AtobeAkutsu and the Hyotei team

"Ooh, Kabaji-kun looks so cool, sipping his coffee and staring at that boy with those eyes of his!" Jirou squealed enthusiastically.

"Yes, aren't they getting on just great," Shishido replied sarcastically. "Why do we have to supervise the cow anyways? He knows his way around just fine," he added the last sentence quickly as the Great One sent a glare his way.

"You have forgotten our other purpose-to break the date up as soon as possible," Atobe said coldly. "But luckily you have Ore-sama around."

"But we can't just barge in, that'd be awkward!" Choutaro protested. "How do we break them up?"

"I've thought of that already," Atobe wagged his finger knowingly. "We wait till they've finished dinner, then some of us drive them down into a dark, narrow alley while the rest of us pretend we're robbers."

"How the hell is that supposed to work? It's so far-fetched!" Akutsu spat. "And I'm not hearing a word of Dan's being hurt!"

"Of course we don't hurt the boy. We 'abduct' him and knock Kabaji out."

"But Cow-eyes is strong, isn't he? You should know!"

"This is where Shishido comes in. All he has to do is bind Kabaji-kun up and leave him there. Then we come back later and pretend we just found him there." At this Shishido glared at his captain. "You and you dirty work…why have I suddenly become your personal slave?"

"Shishido-senpai, maybe it's because you're fast and capable of doing things we can't do," Choutaro said. This seemed to appease Shishido, and so he sat down again.

"What I ridiculous plan! I don't think it'll work. Count me out," Akutsu snorted. Really, what were these idiots thinking? Atobe raised an eyebrow, amused.

"So you're not going to help Dan-kun? You saw the grimace on his face."

Akutsu froze in his hiding place. The Hyotei captain smiled smugly. He saw that he had hit the nail on the head.

"…Fine, I'll do it," Akutsu said finally. "But I don't think this is going to work."

"Do you have any better ideas?" Atobe glared.

"No."

"The Great One is known for his creative ideas," Atobe smiled evilly. "Choutaro, Oshitari, Gakuto and Jirou, you lure Kabaji and Dan into the narrow alley just behind the kitchens. Akutsu-san, Shishido, Hiyoshi and I will knock Kabaji-kun out and Akutsu can take Dan back home. Any questions?"

"Don't order me around! I'm just doing what I have to do, and that's all there is to it!" Akutsu retorted.

"Whatever," Gakuto humphed. "Let's get into our positions; Narcissus is getting impatient." 'Narcissus' was obviously the captain of the Hyotei team. Akutsu gritted his teeth.

"I said, don't order me around!"

"Whatever."

With dinner finished, Dan Taichi found himself being led out of the restaurant by Kabaji, hand in hand. Naturally, people sent funny looks their way. Dan couldn't think of anything to say; for once he was not glad that he did not resemble his date.

"Did you like dinner desu? It was good, no desu?"

"Usu."

"You haven't seen Mr. and Mrs. Smith desu?"

"Usu."

"So we can enjoy the movie together, desu?"

"Usu."

Dan gulped hard. He couldn't take this torture anymore. He had to break the date up. To break any previous ties formed over the internet.

"Ano, Kabaji-kun-" Dan started, but he was immediately lifted by his senior, and before he knew it, Kabaji was running.

"What are you doing desu?!" Dan screamed, but his voice was drowned by the sounds of other people shouting. Maybe this was a case of date-rape, like Akutsu-senpai had said!

At that moment the twelve-year old boy was set down on his feet. He looked around warily. He seemed to be in a dark and narrow alley. He squinted through the darkness at his date. Kabaji looked calm on the whole, but wait…was there a flicker of concern in his eyes?

"Stay and wait," was all the fourteen year old said before turning to face the only exit to the main street. Dan gasped-several large, masked men were standing at the exit, blocking the way!

"Give us your money and we'll let you go safely," one of the men growled. Dan supposed this to be the leader. "And only if you promise not to tell about us. Otherwise we'll kill you."

Dan sobbed. What were they to do now, stuck in an alley with robbers blocking the only exit and their lives on the line? Kabaji was so stupid-how could he have run into a narrow, dark alleyway? This guy seriously needed more brains.

Kabaji, however, was not cowed (don't mind the pun). He slowly advanced towards the threatening men, fists raised. Even then, how could he beat so many people?

"Kabaji-kun, don't desu! It's dangerous desu! We can avoid fighting, can't we desu?" Dan pleaded, knowing his efforts were in vain.

"Usu…but they won't leave us," Kabaji grumbled, and he suddenly punched the first man in the stomach, making him fall on the ground, coughing. Dan watched in amazement as his date then began to knock the remaining men out. The scene was so intense that nobody saw a certain white-haired, well-built robber creep up behind the unsuspecting twelve-year old.

"Give the money, or the kid gets it!" Akutsu yelled loudly, making Kabaji turn. The white-haired tennis player glanced at his accomplices. Shishido, Atobe, Hiyoshi, Choutaro, Gakuto and Oshitari were all on the ground, rolling around in pain (Jirou was sleeping nearby). But no matter what the cost, he had to get Dan out of this mess. Hadn't he told the others that this plan wouldn't work?

There was a pause which seemed to last forever, in which Dan felt his heart hammering against his chest. This guy was obviously dangerous. But there was something about him that seemed familiar…

"You wouldn't dare," came a cold voice. Dan was surprised to see Kabaji glaring at his attacker. Glaring! At least now he knew that cows could glare.

Almost at once, the fourteen year old disappeared and reappeared at Akutsu's side. Kabaji punched hard and kicked his enemy in the stomach. Akutsu went down with almost no effort on the former's part.

I guess I shouldn't have yelled…Akutsu thought before passing out.

Dan looked, amazed, at the robbers passed out at his feet. He then looked at his date, who wasn't even panting. Good gods, how fast was he?

There was a small silence. Dan finally broke the ice.

"We should report these people to the police desu."

"No."

The twelve-year old stared at his date, surprised by the blunt objection. "But these men are bad people desu!"

"Friends," Kabaji corrected, uncovering the mask of the man who had held Dan. It was Akutsu. Dan was aghast. How could Akutsu have done this to him?

"W-what about the others, desu? Are they friends too, desu?"

"Usu." One by one, Kabaji uncovered each mask, revealing a member of his tennis team each time. "Ore-sama went easy on them."

Ore-sama? Now that seemed more like the person Dan had looked forward to meeting on the internet. Maybe Kabaji wasn't so bad at all. He even seemed to be standing straighter, and a gentle warmth shone in his eyes. Dan was stunned by the drastic change.

"Th-thanks for…ano…'saving' me just then desu. I-I really ap-appreciate it desu," Dan stuttered. Everything that had happened tonight seemed to overwhelm him. Perhaps by now they had missed the movie, but he didn't care. He only had eyes for the hero standing in front of him.

"Usu." Kabaji said. "We're probably late for movie, so we should hurry." He held out his hand. "Unless you don't want to-"

"No, let's go, desu. I'd really like to see Mr. and Mrs. Smith desu," Dan smiled and took his date's hand. "Let's hurry, desu."

"Usu."

Dan and Kabaji walked off, hand in hand.

At that moment Atobe sat up, groaning. He held his hand to his stomach, cursing and glaring at all the other members of his team. "Kabaji-kun, how dare you oppose Ore-sama's wishes? How dare you call yourself by my name!" he then heard some more moaning next to him.

"Ugh…what a mess," Hiyoshi groaned. I don't think I'll be able to move properly anymore…"

"That's just wrong," Shishido spat. "How can Kabaji fall for a boy? Once he turns eighteen, he'll be vanned! Going out with a twelve-year old kid is just gross!"

"Oh dear, Akutsu-kun's passed out," Atobe sighed most pitifully, running dirty fingers through his hair. "And Ore-sama's clothes are very dirty. He then addressed Shishido's statement. "Yes, I think we shall have to stop the two from falling in love with each other…before it's too late."

With Dan and Kabaji

Dan sat in the movie theatre with all sorts of thoughts running through his mind. Kabaji-kun was so strong and good. He somehow knew that although his date acted dumb, he was actually kind, smart and caring on the inside. Dan sighed and leant his head on Kabaji's shoulder.

And so the beginnings of a relationship were formed.

A/N: Sort of sappy, I'm afraid it'll get a bit sappier as the story goes along (hey, I can't avoid it, can I?). Thanks for reading. Please review!