A/N: And so before Christmas ends, I want to give you all a present by updating this one!

Merry Christmas all! :)


Operation: Make That Blue Haired Girl Fall in Love!

Chapter 2


"Mother…" Sanada Genichirou called as he spotted his mother, raising his eyebrow slightly while looking back and forth from his mother to the lady occupying his mind last night, Yukimura Shiomi. He couldn't help but look at her from head to toe. She was so beautiful in her white knee-length Greek style dress. It emphasized her curves and her beauty. Somehow, it complimented the color of her hair and eyes. He noticed that Yukimura looked a bit shocked upon seeing him approach his mother. Did they know each other beforehand?

"There you are, Genichirou!" His mother exclaimed happily, breaking him from his thoughts. "By the way, Gen, this is Yukimura Shiomi." She introduced.

"Sanada-san, Sanada-kun and I knew each other. We met last night." Yukimura lightly explained which earned them an unlikely squeal from his mother. "Is it true, Gen?"

He nodded before answering, "Yes, mother."

"But how?" His mother turned to Yukimura to answer the question.

"It just so happen that Sanada-kun's best friend, Tezuka-kun, is dating my cousin. So last night, I was at my cousin's house and they invited me to come with them at their bar." She explained patiently which earned another squeal from his mother. Really, his mother was hurting his eardrums. It was unbecoming of her to squeal every time Yukimura would say something to his mother's liking.

"Is that true, Gen? Kunimitsu-kun has a girlfriend already? Oh my! And Keigo-kun is getting married soon! What a joyful day!" She beamed happily but after a second later, her face dropped as she turned to him.

"I'm so disappointed in you, Gen, while your best friends are already settling down, you don't even bother to find a nice girl to marry. You're always busy with work and that tennis/kendo/calligraphy practice of yours."

Sanada looked incredulously on his mother. Really, he'll get some reprimanding here, of all places? And not to mention, in front of Yukimura too? He took a deep breath to control his growing anger.

Patience, Genichirou. Patience.

"Mother, now is not the time for this." He tried to revamp the subject but it was rather ineffective.

"This is a serious topic, Genichirou! If I don't push you to find a nice girl, you'll die a virgin!"

Sanada turned beet red at his mother's statement. Why, oh why did his sex life have to be discussed now? He was just here to fetch his mother. He then heard a chuckle coming from Yukimura, her eyes twinkling in amusement. Both Sanadas turned to look at her, snapping out of their thoughts.

"Well, I guess, I should be going now, Sanada-san, Sanada-kun. It was nice meeting you, Sanada-san." She bowed on her mother then turned to him, "It's nice seeing you again, Sanada-kun. By the way, thank you for taking me home last night. I'm sorry I fell asleep." She smiled apologetically.

"It's no problem, Yukimura." He replied lightly. Yukimura was about to leave when his mother spoke. "Shiomi-chan, would you mind joining us for dinner sometimes?"

Sanada, on the other hand, coughed lightly to gain his mother's attention. "Mother, we should not bother Yukimura."

"Non-sense, Gen. I would love to have her as a guest and I'll have to ask her for gardening secrets." She said as she beamed at Yukimura upon mentioning the gardening thing.

"It's fine, Sanada-kun." She then turned to his mother, "I'll accept your invitation soon, Sanada-san. Thank you."

His mother clasped her hands in anticipation. "Really? Thank you, Shiomi-chan! Then, is this weekend good for you? Saturday?"

Sanada rolled his eyes in slight annoyance. Really, his mother was acting like a child. He didn't want to impose on Yukimura anymore. Knowing his mother, she must have bothered Yukimura for the whole duration of the exhibit. Yukimura, on the other hand, paused as bit, as if thinking about the invitation.

"I'm not really sure, Sanada-san. My parents are away on a business trip for two weeks and it is just my brother and I in our house. Though we've got some helpers, Akaya doesn't really want to eat alone."

Such a brat, that Akaya. Sanada pondered. He knew Akaya's sister complex because he often saw Marui and Niou making fun of Akaya before.

"You can bring your brother along! I'm sure Gen won't mind, right?" His mother turned to him, gaining for his approval.

"It doesn't matter. I know Akaya from before. He was in the tennis club that I handled back in middle school."

"Akaya?" His mother blinked in confusion before a thought rang through her mind, making her eyes clearer with resolve. "Wait, Gen, is he the cute child with curly hair?" He nodded as his mother beamed in anticipation again.

"What a coincidence! He was a frequent visitor before in our house to train in our dojo for their tennis along with the rest of Gen's team. And it's been a while since I saw him. So, it's settled then, Shiomi-chan?" She looked at Yukimura hopefully.

Yukimura, who was watching both of them, had kept that serene smile of hers. "Yes. This Saturday then."

"Gen will pick you up at 5 pm in your house. How about it?"

"No need, Sanada-san. I'm sure Akaya knows your house. We'll just go there."

His mother nodded happily, making the conversation over.

Finally. He sighed in relief. His mother was too much to handle for him. He gave Yukimura an apologetic look in which she returned with a slight shake of her head and a sweet smile.

She really looks beautiful when she smiles. He pondered. But somehow, he knew that that smile was a bit off. He could read people. He had somehow known when a person was happy or not. He couldn't drive from his mind away the scene when she was crying in her sleep. She seemed to be in deep pain that she was trying to break free.

"Gen," His mother called, breaking him from his thoughts about the beautiful enigma called Yukimura Shiomi. "..I'll just go at the rest room, then we'll leave, okay? See you this Saturday, Shiomi-chan!" He nodded politely and in an instant, his mother's retreating back was seen next.

"You have a kind and warm mother, Sanada-kun." Yukimura commented.

"Yes. But she gets on my nerve sometimes. She's a bit…eccentric." She chuckled as she nodded. "I see. Even Akaya is on the same term with Mom."

"By the way, are you sure about the dinner? My mother seems to impose on you too much."

She should her head. "No, it's fine. I enjoy your mother's company."

"I see."

Silence.

Somehow, Sanada didn't know how to lengthen their conversation. He was a quiet person and usually didn't talk like Tezuka. It was usually Atobe who did all the talking. He was never good with people except with his family, best friends and teammates. With Yukimura, it just got worse. When he first saw her, he got the impression that she was also a quiet type like him. He wanted to ask about last night but then again, he just knew her and he didn't have the right to pry on her personal life. But he really wanted to strike another conversation again with her as to avoid the awkwardness he was feeling right now. Deciding to put the silence away, he started up a conversation. When someone called Yukimura. He knew that voice somewhere and it was strangely familiar. Since the voice was coming from behind them, both of them turned to the said person calling Yukimura.

"Shiomi-chan." Niou Masaharu called with that signature smirk of his much to Sanada's chagrin. But other than that, he was utterly surprise to see Niou in an ikebana exhibit when he knew that it wasn't his thing. Unless….

He took a glance at Yukimura who seemed surprise at first upon seeing Niou but smiled serenely afterwards after recovering from the surprise.

"Niou-kun? What are you doing here?" She asked, bewildered.

Niou stuffed his hands inside his pockets before replying, "I'm here to invite you for lunch."

Lunch? Sanada's eyebrow rose, his suspicion was growing stronger. He didn't know that Yukimura and Niou were that close.

"Yo, Sanada. Didn't know I'd meet you here." Niou turned to him finally after being ignored for a couple of minutes.

"Niou. Long time no see. I'm just here to fetch my mother." He responded flatly.

"Puri. How are you? Haven't seen you in a while. Are you still single?" Niou sarcastically said while smirking his signature smirk before he added, "I can arrange a group date for you if you want."

Feeling his patience thinning, Sanada replied. "No, thank you, I have more important things to do."

Niou just shrugged before turning to Yukimura again, "So, are you free, Shiomi-chan? I went to your house but your maid said that you're here now."

Yukimura was about to reply when his mother came back and was again, he was ignored since his mother saw Niou and the two started engaging in a conversation.

"What are you doing here, Niou-kun?" His mother asked happily.

Niou scratched his head before speaking, "Ah, about that, I'm here to invite Shiomi-chan for lunch."

His mother frowned lightly, "Are you two together?" She asked both of them.

Yukimura coughed before she chuckled nervously. "No, Sanada-san. Niou-kun is a fri-"

"I'm courting her." Niou cut of whatever would be Yukimura's answer. She shot him a pointed look before nodding at his mother which made his mother squeal lightly.

"Oh, I leave you two now. Gen and I will take our leave. Bye. See you on Saturday, Shiomi-chan." His mother finally bid goodbye and walked away poised.

He nodded at Niou in which he returned with the same stoic nod following by a slight bow towards Yukimura, which she returned with a small smile. As the mother and son tandem left Yukimura and Niou, his mother then turned to him and whispered playfully.

"Looks like you've got some competition with your friend, Gen."

Sanada chose not to comment and just decided to walk whilst his mother continued chattering away about the exhibit. But deep inside him, he had this unsettling feeling upon hearing Niou's declaration of courting Yukimura.


-o-

"So, Shiomi-chan, now that Sanada is gone, would you go out with me?" He smiled playfully which earned a sweet smile from Yukimura. She couldn't help but feel happy being with Niou despite his mysterious appeal. His effort in courting her since the day her fiancé died was also topnotch.

Niou tried to court her before but it was too late; she was already in love with Yamada Kei though at that time, they were still not together. And aside from her family, it was Niou who was at her side while she was coping up with her fiancé's death. And for that, she really appreciated his efforts.

But the problem was, Akaya didn't like Niou for her. It was for the sole reason that everyone knew; Niou was a playboy in middle school and in high school but it only got worse when he learned that she was in love with another man. That was, according to Bunta, who was Niou's best friend and partner in crime.

And in reality, the reason why she wasn't ready for a relationship yet was because she was still in the process of moving on. And it's just three months since everything had happened and she was thankful that Niou was quite understanding with that most of the time. But sometimes, he was getting impatient too. Just like any other guys.

It wouldn't hurt her to have lunch with Niou and Akaya was out taking his master's degree in university with the insistence of their parents since they were too worried to hand Akaya their advertising business yet because of his carelessness and recklessness.

Finally deciding to herself, she nodded which earned a grin from Niou.

"Shall we go then, princess?" He held out his hand to her which she gladly accepted as he dragged her outside where his blue car was parked.

As soon as she was inside the car, she suddenly felt tired. She removed her killer stilettos and massaged her feet gently. She must admit; it was fun hanging out with Sanada-san despite of dragging her everywhere she wanted.

And then there was also Sanada-kun. She was very surprised to see him there and was more shocked upon learning that the hyperactive lady was his mother.

A small smile tugged on her lips upon remembering Sanada.

This is such an interesting day. She mused to herself.


A/N: And I just made Niou a love rival. :P I've been shipping Niou and Yukimura sooooooo hard ever since I heard their duet song.

And you know the drill. :D