Life Beneath the Sakura Tree

by GSandM

Sakuno’s grandmother has died and she is living with the Sanada’s. Coming to Rikkaidai was her first mistake, getting involved with the regulars was her second. SanaSaku, SanaYuki, YukiKiri, KiriSaku, PlatinumPair. On Haitus.

4. Petal Four

♥Rikkai, Rikkaidai, Rikkai Dai, Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku, 私立立海大附属中学校! Call them what ever you want, but this is a story about them and for them.

---

Ah, yay we're here with Petal Four of this story. Wow. Sorry we updated kind of late this time, school work, you know? But on the bright side here is another petal for all of you guys! We thank you so much for the reviews! This story has actually reached the 1000 hits mark! Yay, thank you so much. It's nice to know people actually read this fic and enjoy it. We know the real drama hasn't begun, and childhood secrets... well, you'll see the rest. Hah. Oh and we've been asked on our personalities. Well... Sakura is a brick. Sakura: ... and Hanabi is a narcissist. Hanabi: Excuse me!? Please just enjoy the story! Remember, three different perspectives! Hanabi: And I am not a narcissist! Sakura: Sure...

Rating: T

Gene: Romance, Drama

Starring: The Rikkaidai Regulars, and Ryuuzaki Sakuno

Pairings: Kirihara x Yukimura x Sanada x Sakuno, with Platinum Pair on the side

Summary: Sakuno's grandma has died and she is living with the Sanada's. Coming to Rikkai was her first mistake, getting involved with the regulars was her second.

Warning (s): None in this chapter.

---

A/N: Well people have been wondering about the other people in Prince of Tennis, and well, next petal it was originally supposed to be in the view points of Ryoma and Tomoko. But, for The Magical Whatever we will also add Kirihara's viewpoint. Hope you enjoy this petal.

Life Beneath the Sakura Tree

Petal Four

Begin.

Today I felt like a complete idiot. Dumbfounded, actually. In all my life something like this had never happened. Now that I think back, as I'm sitting on the dojo floor anxiously awaiting the guilt to resurface, if I had kept my damn mouth shut, this wouldn't be happening.

It's ironic, really, because I seldom said anything whatsoever. And this time, if I had not driven him over his limits with my stupid words, I wouldn't be here right now. I wouldn't have to feel the chills down my spine from those scaring words. If only I had paid a little more attention...

If only I had understood him better.

If only.

Thinking back... it was during sixth period that I felt something was wrong. No, I knew something was wrong. I couldn't explain it, exactly, but I knew something had happened. Never in my life had I felt like this. Then again there were a lot of weird things I have been feeling these past few days. What annoyed me the most was that it wasn't one of those feelings you could just shake off, like I usually did. Also, that wasn't the only thing bothering me. Yukimura was now acting strange whenever I was within a 1-meter radius of him. This was not something I could just let slide, either. I wanted to clear everything up with him sixth period...

...only to have him not show.

Apparently Yanagi had no idea where he went either. Now, not only was I—for no good reason—worrying about Ryuuzaki, but Yukimura too. Luckily enough, Yanagi hadn't been sitting anywhere near me, therefore he could not see the trails of frustration in my features. He'd be asking what was wrong or furiously scribbling data down into his notebook. Unfortunately, Niou was behind me 'accidentally' throwing papers at the back of my head every five minutes.

Mental note, make him run 50 laps at practice today.

My seat beside the window had done me some good, actually. (For the first time this school year.) I studied the scenery of the school. It wasn't anything extraordinary like Hyotei, but it was something that would keep my mind off these weird emotions.

The teacher's ramblings were going through one ear and out the other. I knew that I'd probably do poorly on the next test, but I just couldn't focus. And that fact itself was annoying me to no end. I could always focus. That was a given fact. A fact of life. I could concentrate on absolutely anything. It had always been like that and it will always be. I would make sure of that.

My mind drifted off, slowly and not much at first, then I became completely immune to Niou's childish behavior. Before I knew it, the teacher's words were entirely blocked out. I stared out the window, lifelessly, thinking of everything, of nothing. The thoughts just came to me. At first, to my irritation, they were about Ryuuzaki, and then they switched to Yukimura...

Suddenly, I felt a lengthy wooden ruler being banged on against my desk. I jerked back, in utter surprise. Afterwards, I heard a horrendously loud laughter erupt from behind me. Honestly, Niou would be paying for this through lap running later today.

The teacher looked truly peeved. "Can you repeat what I just said, Genichirou-kun?"

Now that was utterly humiliating. "No, sorry."

The teacher just gave me a look of disgust and muttered something about letting it slide and to make sure to pay attention. I nodded, dumbfounded. The class remained silent, with the exception of Niou. The teacher returned to whatever it was, and by this time I took a quick glimpse at Yanagi, only to have to meet his piercing gaze. Great, now I'd have to escape from him too.

This was not my day.

If only I had known it would get worse.

Returning my gaze to the widened window, I saw a small yellow ribbon gracefully falling to the floor. I immediately recognized it as Ryuuzaki's. I shuddered. I could feel my nerves starting to get the better of me. Since when did I even care for her? I stopped my train of thought immediately. I had never thought this much. I continued to ignore myself, which was much easier said than done, as I found out.

Finally, I thought. The end of classes, time for practice. In other words, taking out all my frustration on the courts. I kind of pitied the poor freshman I'd be playing today. But only kind of. I started to wonder whether or not Yukimura would show up. He was the buchou, so of course he would show up. That's what buchou's did. Show up to practice, train the team and further more.

In most schools you would also have a coach, but Rikkai Dai wasn't 'most schools'.

I trudged out the classroom, forcing myself out and into the hallways. Today was Thursday, meaning extra long practice. I would have to tell Ryuuzaki that. I didn't know why I couldn't just leave her. But I just couldn't, and that was that. I made my way to her classroom, 1B, and stood outside waiting for the unknowing girl. Students piled out, noisily chatting amongst each other. Girls were giggling in my direction, but I just ignored them like I always did.

I waited and waited, leaning my strong body against the doorframe. Time was ticking. I had to get to practice. Finally, I gave up and barged in the classroom, not many students were in there now.

Actually they were mainly girls, as I noticed. Three of them were circling around Ryuuzaki's desk, saying something inaudible to my ears. They walked off soon enough, waving back to the girl as she gave a shy and unsure wave in return. Her friends, was my first thought.

Why else would you wave at someone?

Ryuuzaki had just noticed my presence when I called her name, "Ah! Sanada-san! G-Good afternoon." She replied meekly, looking at her floral yellow bag, which was on the floor, unwanted. I wondered why, silently.

"Look..." I began, scratching the back of my neck. For reasons unknown, I, Sanada Genichirou, was nervous. "Practice time is going to double today. The library will be closed by then, so come to practice today. Sit on the bench and read, or something..." I wasn't a very direct person. "I can't let you walk home alone. You barley know your way around school. Practice will end in 3 hours."

Very anti-social, actually.

Luckily for me Ryuuzaki seemed to understand and nodded eagerly. "R-Really, Sanada-san? I... I mean can I really watch you practice? The team won't get mad, would they? I-I don't want my pretense to be a disturbance..." She stood up timidly looking up at me. I grabbed her bag off the floor before she could reach it. I just wanted to hurry to practice. The fukubuchou was never late. Strangely, her bag was ten times heavier than normal. She blushed anxiously, and quickly snatched her bag away from me.

"Sorry Sanada-san!" She grunted as she lifted it over her tiny shoulders. "I-I can carry this!" She, as quickly as she grabbed the bag, jerked on her jacket but I by that time had already seen what she was wearing. "Really, Sanada-san it's not heavy!" It was then that I couldn't believe I hadn't even noticed she wasn't wearing a skirt. Instead she was wearing shorts, although too big to be her own.

Not only that, but they were those of the Rikkai Dai Tennis Regulars.

Before she had thrown on her jacket I saw a hint of a mustard yellow t-shirt. What the hell? I didn't want to question her and seem too interested. But at the same time I wanted to know more than anything. She was wearing a regular's shirt from the tennis team. I wave of emotion swam through me. I was angry, and frustrated. What right did Ryuuzaki have to wear that? Maybe I was just saying that to hide the fact that I was actually... jealous.

Jealous of what! I questioned myself.

Never before in my 14 years of life have I ever been jealous. It was a new emotion, something I had never felt so it was naturally harder trying to hide it than other emotions. It didn't seem to daunt Ryuuzaki though. She continued walking obliviously on ahead. Ryuuzaki seemed quieter than usual, and was having a harder time keeping up with my pace. I figured her bag was weighing her down. But every time I reached out to take it away from her and carry it, she would look away and mindlessly start babbling.

The usual hateful glares were sent Ryuuzaki's way as we walked down the long corridors. She seemed to have grown accustom to them. Or ignoring them. I was a clearly blunt person and maybe that is why Ryuuzaki didn't look fazed by my next question.

"Ryuuzaki?"

We continued walking.

"H-Hai?"

"Where's your uniform?"

She stopped dead in her tracks. She fiddled with the hem of her jacket and looked uneasy. Ryuuzaki's gaze hadn't once come my way. Instead she slowly started walking ahead, as if she hadn't even heard my question. That was my snapping point. I reached my arm out and caught her wrist. I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to know. And I wanted to know now. Ryuuzaki froze. She looked shocked by the suddenness of this all.

As slow as ever, Ryuuzaki tried to wiggle herself free of my grasp. She hadn't tried hard; instead it was half-heartedly, like she had already given up. She must have because she had turned to face me. Her over-sized orbs were fixed on my cool gray ones. Her bangs were lowered so I couldn't clearly see her eyes. No, I couldn't see them at all.

"Let go, Sanada-san."

There wasn't a hint of joking ness in her voice. It scared me a little, or caught me off guard. I was taken aback, in short. I let go of her, wordlessly. Ryuuzaki was ashamed; I could tell by the way she hung her head. I walked on, my pace quickening on purpose this time. Ryuuzaki was trailing far behind me, but I wasn't scolding her like I usually would. She wasn't rambling away.

None of us dared to breathe on our way to practice.

If there was a turning point to my day today, it would be, hands down, tennis practice. Sitting in the dojo floor, I tried to pinpoint the exact moment everything fell apart. It wasn't my fault, really. Sure if I had said nothing, but really, Ryuuzaki and Yukimura were already on fire today. I just unexpectedly fanned the flames. I didn't mean to. Of course not. It just happened. And I knew there was no rewinding. There was no erasing the damage that had already been done.

That much I knew.

What I didn't was what I said. It wasn't something I didn't normally say. Honestly, I was no different today than I was any other day. But that didn't explain the whole team looking at me like I was some sort of outsider. Me. Their fukubuchou. Maybe it was because of Yukimura. It wasn't normal for Yukimura to raise his voice at all. Not to anyone, much less myself. Maybe that's why... Yukimura wasn't a violent person, not at all. I lay my head back on the tatami mats, rethinking the prior events.

I instructed Ryuuzaki to take a seat at the bench. She nodded, not even looking at me anymore. She sat and opened up her bag, as I saw from the corner of my eyes while heading towards the change room. Sighing, she started on her homework, mumbling something along the lines of 'gambatte'. I took off my cap and ran my cool fingertips across my hair. Today was definitely not my day.

"Oi! Fukubuchou, you brought Sakuno with you?" Niou grinned, draping himself across my shoulders. I roughly, and patiently, pushed him off. "Sanada, you sly dog, you!" He laughed wickedly while slapping my back. I growled. Usually people would back off, but this was Niou after all. I found myself thinking why the hell Niou was calling Ryuuzaki, Sakuno. And without any honorifics too... Quietly, I banished the thought.

Kirihara came running after, yelling a thousand different excuses as to why he was late. He stopped when he saw Ryuuzaki sitting at the bench, incoherently whimpering to herself. It was obvious, even to the blind, that she needed help. Kirihara slowly crept up behind Ryuuzaki, while I quietly watched from afar. I am not spying! I convinced myself. And I was not! I just happened to be standing a safe distance as to where I couldn't be seen, but I could hear the exchange of words perfectly.

"Iiiiee!" Ryuuzaki leapt out clinging herself to the closest person. It just happened to be Kirihara. He blushed at the contact and if possible, he turned redder than Ryuuzaki. She stumbled away, muttering unneeded apologies. Kirihara just scratched the back of his head, embarrassed and said something like, 'Sorry it was my fault'. I did not want to believe it but it annoyed me. How could Kirihara be so carefree around her? Didn't his heart be a thousand times a minute just by her presence?

Or was that just me?

"Looks like Genichirou is daydreaming." Yanagi's voice. I turned around casually, not giving Yanagi the satisfaction of catching me off my guard. And there he was, fully dressed and ready. For practice, or ruining my life? "Would you happen to have an idea of where Akaya may be?" He looked past me, trying to catch a glimpse of what I had been staring at, distracting me to the point where he could sneak up on me.

In response I did something Ryuuzaki would do by not looking Yanagi in the eyes. The humiliation was enough already, but for him to see what I was actually staring at. "Hmm. Interesting. Could it be that you've been spying, Genichirou?" He raised me one of his neatly trimmed eyebrows. He trailed off by taking out his notebook and scribbling some notes. "This is some good data..."

I scoffed and walked off. I think Yanagi was satisfied with my answer though, because he was lowly chuckling to himself. How annoying. I returned to the courts, now fully changed. I did a quick once-over. Yukimura wasn't here. What...? That slowly processed into my brain. "Yukimura's not here?" I asked Yanagi, my back to him. I didn't want him to have too much satisfaction by seeing my faintly colored face.

If I had turned around then, I think I would have seen Yanagi nod his head. "I haven't seen him in class either. You probably haven't noticed though Genichirou, with your mind being to occupied all the time now." He said quietly, almost to himself.

I didn't know whether to be offended, or not to. How could I not notice the absence of one of my best friends? I know that I was a naturally cold and quiet person, especially on the outside, but that didn't mean that I didn't worry about them at least a little on the inside. I clenched my hands into a fist, an action that was not taken for granted by Yanagi. He got the message, and walked out of the room swiftly. He walked towards the exit, but before doing so, Yanagi turned around. Even though his eyes were closed, I could tell his mind wasn't in the room.

He sighed, and as if forgetting my presence, he whispered,

"You may not have even cared, had you noticed, Genichirou."

My heart nearly stopped beating. Not noticed? Not cared? More than anything, I wanted to punch something. It wasn't an urge that I've usually gotten, but that didn't help calm my growing anger down. Yanagi thought that I hadn't even noticed Yukimura's absence? While in class I was racking my mind, trying to think of all the places he could be, Yanagi tells me that I haven't cared. Just what right does he have... I took a deep breath and exhaled.

This was Yanagi.

He was just being a good friend to Yukimura...

...wherever he was.

I wondered if Yukimura would tell me where he was if I asked. Had this been a week ago, I would know the answer already. He probably would of told me if he was going anywhere else in the first place. But why was I suddenly having doubts? Yukimura would, of course, tell me where he was. Then why couldn't I get enough courage to ask him? Was it because I was afraid of the answer?

Or was I afraid that he'd reject answering the question?

In a second, Yukimura himself came jogging around the corner. Speak of the Devil. "Sorry, sensei held me up." He said, as if that explained everything. It was a blind lie; I could see from Yanagi's reaction that he thought so too. As well as the rest of the team. But they all chose to remain silent. Just like that, they had accepted Yukimura's lie. Normally, it wasn't any of business. I would have asked him in private later because I didn't want to ruin my reputation. But this was different. I couldn't care less for my reputation right now.

Just as I was about to comment on anything, Ryuuzaki came marching timidly from the bench and lightly bowing her head to Yukimura. "A-Arigatou gozimasu, Yukimura-senpai... for, e-eto this afternoon."

For the second time today, I stood there, absolutely dumbfounded. Thank you for this afternoon? Just what was Ryuuzaki thanking Yukimura for? Was that where Yukimura was? Did they...like each other? Since when did Ryuuzaki call Yukimura, Yukimura-senpai instead of Yukimura-san? Why was my day so frustrating today? A million questions ran through my mind. What made me even more frustrated was that I knew the answer to none of them.

Yukimura just laughed it off. "Don't worry, Sakuno-kun. It was nothing you have to thank me for." He ruffled her hair in a friendly manner. "Anyone would of done that. So, don't thank me, okay?" Yukimura sounded very brotherly.

I saw Yanagi taking notes, while Kirihara was sulking. Niou looked very pleased, while Yagyuu and Jackal remained expressionless. I wanted dearly to know what was going on, but my face was kept as hard as a stone and my body stiff.

Ryuuzaki retreated to the bench, picked up her bag with some difficulties and continued on with her paper work. The team gathered around Yukimura and I, awaiting instructions. "I assume you've already run laps, so I want the regulars in courts A and B, and the non-regulars in courts C and D. First Years can start with the drills." Yukimura commanded while everyone else nodded and set to.

"Ne, Genichirou would you like to play a game against me?" Yukimura asked kindly, from behind me. He startled me, like many people were doing nowadays. He had not noticed, though. I nodded numbly, Yanagi's words ringing in my ears.

You may not have even cared. . .

Had you noticed. . .

I blinked, and missed Yukimura's serve. He aced the serve, and seemed a little worried that he did so. It wasn't on purpose, it wasn't intentional, it was just that I had seen what Yukimura had been wearing. His school uniform... A few answers came to me, but so much more questions had also arisen.

"Yukimura." I started, grabbing the tennis ball and bouncing it with my left hand.

Yukimura seemed puzzled, "Yes, Genichirou?"

I took a deep breath. It was now or never. Although, I wished it were never. "Where were you, you had Yanagi worried." Why had I said that? He had me worried, as well but I just couldn't bring myself up to add that in. I was about to shut my mouth, when I saw Yukimura's face.

I could have sworn I saw his cheerful smile falter.

校

Suddenly, everything went quiet.

The only sound was the tennis ball whistling in my direction. I saw it coming, but I was too stunned to move a muscle. I don't remember much of that exact moment, but I do remember Ryuuzaki screaming out my name. Had Yukimura thrown a tennis ball at me? I cleared my head of the thought. It was impossible. Even I knew some things in this world were impossible, some things you could never achieve, unlike what teachers told you when you were little. And Yukimura throwing a tennis ball in my direction before I was prepared was impossible.

Dreams do come true if we make them. . .

When I became fully aware of my surroundings, the first thing I saw was Ryuuzaki hovering above me, asking if I was all right. It was then that I had become aware that I was on the ground for some reason. "Sanada-san! Daijoubu?!" Ryuuzaki was in a state of panic. "T-This is all my fault, if I just hadn't some t-to practice... and... and..."

No one said anything. The silence was pregnant. It was only a matter of time, really, what with the way that the paralyzing silence of the courts was weighing down on all of us. Of course, it wasn't completely silent...

There was the occasional sound of a team member's nervous footsteps, and maybe the hypnotizing clang of rackets that were tapped against the hard cement. And there would be Ryuuzaki, who seemed to be hyperventilating. But all those tiny things couldn't possibly mask the overwhelming silence that loomed in the air above our heads like a four-ton anvil, ready to fall.

Yanagi was the first to speak, his voice hoarse and unbelievable, I could see he was mentally calculating where his data had failed him, "Genichirou... are... you alright?" Even Niou or Marui were making any smart-alecky remarks.

There was this strange light in Yukimura's eyes; a silver gleam that looked like it could have melted silver into wax, if it had focused itself onto anything in particular. But the buchou was just staring off into space, and nothing was melting, and I was just praying that the anvil would drop already, because I was sure that the silence was going to crush all of us in a matter of time anyway.

I didn't want to be there for even one second longer.

No movement was made, Ryuuzaki seemed to have stopped breathing all together and Kirihara just shut his eyes tightly, possibly praying that this would all just be over with, just like the rest of us. And then, slowly, Yukimura looked on ahead, like he was going to start making his way off the courts.

I wasn't sure why, but suddenly, I was afraid. I was afraid that Yukimura would actually walk away from me, and that somehow, if I let him, he would never really come back. It was a stupid feeling, of course I knew that, one of those crazy things that I would have completely ignored if it had only been a couple days earlier, but now...

Now, I couldn't ignore it. And so I did something incredibly stupid.

I yelled at Yukimura.

I accused him of lying.

I knew that I was just taking out my anger, my frustration on him, and I shouldn't have. But I did. The buchou turned towards me, and there was an ugly spark in those navy blue eyes... I just knew that he was going to do something to me, that he wouldn't stop this time that everything really would fall apart... It would fall and there would be nothing left... Had I been anyone else, I would of shut my eyes and waited for the worse.

But I was Sanada Genichirou, so I just stood there.

"S-Sanada-san..." Ryuuzaki was the only one who dared to speak. I found it slightly amusing how she could gain courage in such situations. All eyes were on Ryuuzaki now. "S-S-Sanada-san! You... you shouldn't yell at Yukimura-senpai! You... you just don't understand, Sanada-san." She whispered timidly. "Eto... I know it's not my place to interfere—" She stood now, looking determined. Ryuuzaki held her hands out in a defensive stance, as if I were going to attack Yukimura.

"I know that it's not my place to interfere, but you don't understand Yukimura-senpai..."

That four-ton anvil fell.

I didn't understand Yukimura? I didn't care? I didn't notice? Why was it that suddenly everyone was against me? I wanted to scream. I wanted to so dearly scream, to punch, to kick something, someone. But I was Sanada Genichirou, damn it! I had my pride, after all.

I was a little hurt, but the fact that I didn't show it just made me look even more careless. I gripped my racket, my gaze never leaving the floor once. Why should I be the one to get blamed, after all it wasn't me who started this.

Why was this happening to me?

Yukimura had kept his distance from me for the rest of the day. We hadn't even finished our game, which had barley started. Ryuuzaki said nothing for the duration of the period, while the rest of the team was too scared to comment on anything whatsoever.

They acted like hollow shells, doing what they were told; making sure this didn't affect their skills, staring on ahead and being wise with their choice of words. Normally, I would find it a relief to have everyone act like this, but this... this was just downright disturbing. A fake calmness built at the expense of other people's happiness. I glanced around at the regulars. On court A, it was a doubles match against our two doubles pair, while on court B it was a match between Yanagi and Kirihara. This just left me, Yukimura and Ryuuzaki—who was too absorbed in homework to note this.

What had she meant when she said I didn't understand Yukimura? Of course I understood him, Yanagi too. The three of us were friends since our days in elementary school, why wouldn't we understand each other? Our friendship was golden. Or at least, I would of liked to think so. In the past week it seemed to be proving otherwise. But why now of all days? I had so many questions, but answers were very rare.

Yukimura signaled all the members to come in, and that it was time to leave already. I must of been to caught up in my own matters that I had not even noticed that time flew by so fast. Truthfully, I was a little frightened of Yukimura now. That picture burned into my mind, that ugly spark in his eyes still hadn't left.

I looked around for Ryuuzaki, who was missing. "Damn it." I cursed under my breath. Now I'd have to look for her, and I just wanted to go home and pretend this never happened. I wanted to completely forget about this. These horrible guilty feelings I was feeling, the way Ryuuzaki stood up for Yukimura... I just wanted to forget it all. But no matter how much you want to forget something, I don't think you can completely forget.

No matter what other people told you.

That, I knew.

To add to matters, I couldn't see Kirihara or Marui anywhere. What if they ran off with Ryuuzaki, who would just be naïve enough to agree? I growled; I've never felt this angry in my life. Walking with my tennis bag hung lightly over my shoulders, I turned the corner to see Ryuuzaki. Thank God, now I can go home.

"Ryuuzaki!" I called out.

My feet suddenly felt wobbly, like they were going to collapse from beneath me. That bad feeling re-surfaced. "Ryuuzaki!" Before I knew it I was running. Everything happened so fast. Too fast. There was Kirihara, with the petite girl cradled in his arms, Marui not trailing far behind.

I wanted answers.

And I wanted them now.

"Sanada-fukubuchou! Look what they did!" Was the only reply from Kirihara. I already knew what he meant. I took Ryuuzaki from him in my arms and walked off without a word. Neither Marui nor Kirihara questioned me.

Arriving home, I sat down on the porch of our house. That sounded weird to me... The porch of our house. Ryuuzaki had fallen asleep in my arms. While we were walking home, Ryuuzaki kept crying softly, making me angry, just from feeling the girl's sorrow.

But then she turned silent, and when I looked at her, she was fast asleep in my arms, curled up like a small baby. She whimpered every now and then, but when I held tighter on her, she hushed and kept on with her sleep.

I lifted Ryuuzaki's uniform sleeve and looked sadly at her arm. Ryuuzaki must of had an abusive life at school. It made me angry, that I just found out. It was obvious. Then why couldn't I see it? Yes, today had been the worse day of my life.

If only I knew tomorrow would get much, much worse.

Sanada, Genichirou

真田弦一郎

I lay down, hands behind my head, supporting my head. I was on the rooftop of the school and it was last period. I knew that I was skipping class, but if I had to, to not see Genichirou's face, I would. It hurt to look at him now, something that was disgraceful. We were friends since when we first met, at age 9. It was ironic how we met at a tennis court, but I remembered that day clearly.

Dreams do come true, Sana-san, if we make them . . .

I wasn't the one who said that, that day, but why had I suddenly remembered it? I didn't even know who had; it was such a blur, that day. Dreams do come true, eh? I laughed at the simple thought. Dreams were strange things, something your subconscious created when you were unconscious. Did dreams really come true? I was beginning to distrust that saying, no matter how much I wanted it to be true. Dreams were only subjective experience of imaginary images, words, and thoughts during sleep.

Dreams didn't come true.

At least not for me.

Sighing, I wanted to recollect my thoughts. I would have to accept the fact that Genichirou liked Sakuno-san, and judging by her reactions, she liked him back, too. Then again, how could someone not like Genichirou? But maybe it was just me. I was love sick, and I wasn't enjoying it.

I let my eyes close, slowly drifting off, watching the scenery as it began to water. Or was that my eyes beginning to water? I quickly bolted off the ground and into a sitting position, quickly wiping away stray tears that escaped on their own, without permission. My stomach was filled with an ominous feeling, a feeling of despair. When I walked, it was as if I was carrying unwanted weight on my shoulders, and no matter how hard I tried to rid of it, it would stay. The more I struggled, the heavier it became.

The door to the rooftop slowly opened, and a pair of blurry hazel eyes made their way through the doorway. The figure was a petite feminine one, but I immediately recognized it as Sakuno-san's. I stood up rather sheepishly, hoping to get out of here before she saw me. Regrettably, Sakuno-san spotted me, but quickly made her way over to the other side. She was hiding something, and now I was inquisitive.

"Sakuno-san?" I called out slowly, hoping she wouldn't hear me. It was stupid, I know, to call someone and then want them to turn away. "Sakuno-san, what are you doing up here?" I questioned, now sure that it was her.

"Yukimura-san?!"

She seemed surprised by presence and gasped, bringing her hands to her mouth. Her face suddenly paled and looked like she wanted to have the ground swallow her up completely, a feeling I could relate to. Sakuno-san hesitantly regained composure and gave a tiny nod, mentally telling me she acknowledged my being there. She gave me a timid bow, letting down her extensive chocolate colored hair in the process.

Overall, Sakuno-san was a polite young girl, shy and a tad uncoordinated. I was in awe that Genichirou would fall in love with her. The two were nothing alike. They were 'contradictory', a word we learned in English class. It meant they were opposites, they had nothing in common.

Then again, opposites did attract, as learned in Science class. Sakuno-san was short, and very withdrawn. Genichirou was tall for his age, and although he wasn't social, he wasn't as withdrawn, restricted, as Sakuno-san. It amazed me how they could get along, what sort of conversation did they have? I shoved any notions away, focusing on what I had in front of me.

A soaked Sakuno Ryuuzaki.

She tried to hide it, but it didn't work too well. "Yukimura-san, what are you doing here? It's class time, I mean." Sakuno-san blurted, before realizing what she had said. "S-Sorry, it isn't any of my business." Scratching the back of her neck awkwardly, she sat down unhurriedly, gradually taking her time before I noticed her state of wetness. It was too bad that I've already seen it. I had a keen eye for these sorts of things. At first, it was just a hunch that Sakuno-san got picked on, but now it was definite.

But I couldn't do anything about it, and if the others found out, it would make no difference. We were just by-standers, uneventfully watching one child get picked on, as long as it wasn't ourselves. For her own sake, I hoped Genichirou didn't find out. It wasn't because I wanted Sakuno-san to get picked on; it was because if Genichirou found out, it would get out of hand. But that itself, was inevitable.

"You're wet, Sakuno-san." I stated, pleasantly pointing to her soaked Phys-Ed attire. She slumped down in turn, self-consciously looking at herself. The one thing I wanted to know was how she and Genichirou even came to be friends. It was obvious that it wasn't by them. That was just impossible. Sakuno-san would be too scared to approach him and Genichirou was just anti-social.

I looked at her again; she didn't seem to notice my intense stare as she wiped off the imagery dust on her shorts. I was revolting. I couldn't help it, here was the girl who stole the man I loved. What made it worse was the fact that she was so innocent and oblivious that she probably hadn't even noticed the effects she had on everyone. I could tell that even Akaya was interested.

She was nothing special, really. Sakuno-san was as ordinary as they came. Right height, if not slightly shorter, cute but not attractive, well-mannered, and civil. She was the ideal 'ordinary girl'. However, that didn't explain why you couldn't take your eyes off her. She gravitated people towards her. Her awkwardness and shyness made you interested, wanting more. The way she never answered things confidently, always stuttering a reply, caring for the other person's feeling more than her own. For those reasons alone, you could easily love her. Perhaps this is the kind of person Genichirou loved.

The caring kind, far from how I was like.

"Eto, Yukimura-san, why are you up here?" Sakuno-san asked apprehensively. "It's last period... everyone's in class." She turned her gaze distantly towards the sky, where I had been staring earlier, sighing sadly. "The sky's really a bad shade of sapphire today... a dark midnight colour, almost scary looking." She chuckled calmly to herself, like she was convincing herself she was all right, that everything would be fine as long as she smiled and laughed. As long as she put up a facade of friendliness, no one would be able to penetrate her inner self; she would forever be protected by her lies. I was the same.

I grabbed hold of her wrist, like I've seen Genichirou do enough times, surprised by the size. Or the lack of size. "Sakuno-san," I said, stealing her full attention. "I know that you think everything will be fine if you ignore it, if you ignore the people who are trying so desperately to help you. It won't, Sakuno-san, I know, trust me. You have to sometimes take advantage of the wonderful people you have around you, they're only trying to make it easier on you..." I trailed off, not knowing exactly what I was implying. It just felt so good to let the weight off, little by little that I hadn't even noticed what I was saying.

Sakuno-san stiffened, "Y-Yukimura-san..."

"A lot of people are worried about you, you know." Her tiny hand burned under my equally warm one. "Genichirou especially..." The words burned on my tongue, a tingly sensation that didn't feel so bad the second time round.

Sakuno-san quickly shook her head, laughing ironically. "Iie, there's no way Sanada-san can ever be worried about me, Yukimura-san!" She usually struggled with her choice of words, but now they came out so fluently that it was uncanny, unexpected. "He has so much to do that he hardly gives me a second glance."

Blushing lightly, she recalled. "And you don't have to call me Sakuno-san, Yukimura-san, I'd prefer if you'd call me something else, eto... Sakuno-san sounds weird." She mumbled. "Demo if you want to call me Sakuno-san, I don't mind!"

I smiled gently, somehow being around the subtle girl calmed down my nerves. "No, I'll call you Sakuno-kun, if you don't mind, that is." I told her warmly. I let go of her wrist when I realized that I had been holding it for quite a while now. It was such a neutral feeling, between a brotherly act and an act of pure instinct. She nodded and asked if she could call me Yukimura-senpai instead, I agreed wholeheartedly, and then asked why she was wet and if she was cold.

She shivered in response, trying to deny. I lent her my Rikkai Dai tennis uniform, she rejected it politely.

"Sakuno-kun." I picked my words carefully, as to not upset the delicate balance we had. One wrong word and everything would fall apart, fall apart and there would be nothing left but the shards of that memory. Sakuno-kun stared at me, showing her focus. As for what I said next, I had no idea why I had even said it. "Sakuno-kun, do you love Genichirou, because I do."

Time itself seemed to slow down and come to a complete halt. Sakuno-kun remained frozen, not expecting the question. Perhaps she was running away from the question itself. I know I have for some time now. She didn't stutter for a response, actually she didn't even respond. But I knew already, her silence was enough of an answer. She looked nervous and said with an undertone that she was going to go change.

Eventually she knew there was nothing more she could do, and walked off to the washroom on the 2nd floor. I knew she would return, so I waited until then, sort of hoping she wouldn't show up and leave me alone with my thoughts. I wasn't a friendly person; really, it was just an act put on in front of my peers, my classmates, my friends. Myself.

The gentle, kind, giving Seiichi didn't really exist, he was a fragment of my imagination brought to life.

A complete and utter lie.

I was a complete and utter lie.

"Yukimura-senpai!" Sakuno-kun shouted as she ran towards me. I didn't know what I found more amusing; the fact that the uniform nearly fit her, or the odd surprise that even Sakuno-kun could be loud if she wanted to. "Yukimura-senpai, arigatou gozaimasu, really. Eto... I-I'm going to head back to class now, if you don't mind, anyway." She fiddled with the set of clothes uncomfortably.

I nodded and waved her off, "Genichirou would get suspicious if you weren't in class, ne?"

"Arigatou, Yukimura-senpai... I owe you a favor..." Sakuno-kun added one last time before running off, nearly colliding with the door in her own haste. She was uncoordinated; she was too quiet, too polite. She was too good to be true. May she be 'ordinary', but still. She seemed fake, but at the same time she gave off the feeling of reality. I couldn't even being to understand the simpleminded Sakuno-kun.

The two of us were alike in many ways, but opposites in others. It seemed that the Sakuno-kun I saw today was the real Sakuno-kun, the one who came out only rarely. As for me, from years of digging my own hole to hide in, deep within myself, I was afraid the real Yukimura Seiichi was gone.

Hiding somewhere too deep to dig up.

Somewhere unreachable.

校

I groaned lightly, as I noticed it was time to go to tennis practice and I didn't have my proper uniform. I would get questioned, and I'd have to pretend that I was held up by the teacher. Genichirou and Renji would notice, I'm sure, Niou was also in that class but I'd get away with it on his behalf. If only the rest of the team could be like Niou and just accept everything and anything.

But life wasn't that easy.

I didn't mind telling Renji where I was, but I felt like I just couldn't tell Genichirou. Would he be mad at me for spending time with Sakuno-kun? For pouring my heart out to her? Before this, Sakuno-kun and I had not talked much and it was easier to try and hate her. But now that we've actually, to say, bonded, it looked impossible. Sakuno-kun was impossible to hate. Every last part of her. Mainly, I saw her as a little sister and nothing more, but it was funny how such a strong sibling-like relationship could form in mere minutes. I could see why Genichirou and Akaya were so hopelessly in love with her, well at least Genichirou.

My footsteps were placid as I walked down the corridors. I received the usual kind looks from my peers, and the worried faces of teachers. As Renji had once told me, everyone 'loved me' in Rikkai Dai. What Renji didn't know is that everyone 'loved' the fake Seiichi. Everyone loved my facade. That was something that was not in Renji's precious data. I wouldn't tell him either.

I made a promise to myself, such a long time ago, that I would never show any other emotion than happiness. If I were scared, I'd keep it to myself. If I wanted to cry, I would hold it back. Bottling up all these emotions, living in fear of the day they would unwind themselves. Of course, I'd still be me, but at the same time, not me. But as long as everyone else was satisfied with this, this mask, then I would go on living like that.

Living the lie that was my life.

Making my way to the tennis courts, I was pleased to see Genichirou had taken charge and was sending the team to run laps. I came as soon as they were finishing up, giving a small wave in the direction of Renji, who seemed distracted. From years of being around him, Genichirou too, I could tell whether or not he was hiding something. His eyes may have been closed but his features gave him away. Always.

People said that a person's eyes were the gateway into that person's soul. Was that why Renji kept his eyes closed? As I gazed at the tall slightly tanned figure a fair distance away from me, my thoughts switching from Renji to Genichirou. It angered me how my mind could so easily wander to Genichirou, like it was normal. It wasn't normal for a guy to like another guy, was it? Even though Hiroshi and Masuharu had gotten together, it still gave me bad feeling. But I couldn't hide it forever. I was sure when, if, my parents found out all hell would break loose.

What would they think of their 'perfect' son then?

It wouldn't be something nice, not at all. I figured it would be worse in Genichirou's case. His parents were strict, maybe not his mother, but his grandfather, definitely. I didn't see his father around much, so I wasn't very sure about him.

Halting to a stop, I called in the team members in my best authorize voice. They all obeyed, they usually did anyway, and formed a perfect circle around Genichirou and I. I gave them the training schedule, and they nodded, heading off to do whatever it was they needed to do. From the corner of my eye, I noted Sakuno-kun sitting nearly on the bench near the change rooms. Instead of questioning anything, I let it slide. There was no point in bringing up something trivial. Genichirou probably invited her, I knew, but I didn't want to hear it. It was like if I heard it from his lips, my bottled feelings would surface.

The anger, the hurt, the despair I felt would all turn into negative energy channel towards him. I kept my mind off that and watched as Akaya was calling Sakuno-kun during his game with Renji, asking her to watch him serve, like a child would ask their mother the first time they did something incredible. Maybe with Sakuno-kun watching him serve, it was something incredible being done for the first time. For Akaya, anyway.

"Ne, Genichirou?" I asked as I came up from behind him. "Would like to play a game against me?" He didn't look surprised, almost like he had expected me to say something like that. I hated myself for things like this. I skipped last period to stay away from him, but he, like Sakuno-kun, gravitated people towards him. The more I thought of that, the more they seemed perfect for each other. They balanced each other out. And the more I thought of it that way, the more it angered me.

I served the ball, over hand. It was a simple serve that even a first year could return, but that didn't explain why Genichirou missed it. It was like he blinked and completely forgot the game. I gave him a concerned look, hoping he didn't notice that I was playing in my school uniform. The rest of the team might have noticed, but they said nothing. I was expecting at least Genichirou and Renji to comment on something.

Maybe I was expecting too much?

"Yukimura." Genichirou sighed, grabbing the tennis ball and bouncing.

"Yes, Genichirou?"

"Where were you, you had Yanagi worried."

I had Renji worried? Did I really mean that less to Genichirou that he wouldn't give a second thought as to where I was? Then, something happened that I promised myself that should never happen. My face fell, I tried to fake a smile, I tried hard, but it just wouldn't work. What was worse was that, grabbing the tennis ball closest to me, in one fluent movement, I swished the ball across the court, in Genichirou's direction.

The feelings I've been bottling up for so long had finally come out.

Yukimura, Seiichi

幸村精市

I awoke with a yawn, pondering on what had happened. Oh yeah, those bullies came back during practice and asked me why I had been watching the regulars practice. I remember Kirihara-san was there, and another blur... Oh no! What if they told Sanada-san!? That thought frightened me, and I bolted out of my bed. Wait, my bed? How on Earth had I gotten here? Unless Sanada-san carried me...

A while ago I was sitting peacefully, a little nervously, on the bench. Simply waiting for Sanada-san to finish practice was a much harder task than I thought. My dumb eyes kept wandering to Sanada-san; of course I wasn't doing that on purpose. Before I knew it, I was making my way over to Sanada-san, who had fallen. Unpleasant chills were sent down my spine, Yukimura-sempai wouldn't possible hit his own friends, purposely. It must have been an accident.

During practice, I fiddled with the Rikkai Dai tennis uniform Yukimura-sempai gave me. Waiting was nerve racking. I kept constant guard over my shoulders, knowing that those girls would come back any minute now. But I had to be strong. If not for me, than for Auntie, who thought I was fitting in just fine at Rikkai Dai. I had to keep on my cheerful facade. But those girls... it just wasn't fair.

Why should I be penalized for something I didn't ask for?

I never asked for Obaa-chan to pass away.

I never asked to live with Auntie.

I never asked to fall in love so carelessly with Sanada-san.

Thinking of that gave me knots in my stomach. I had acted so rudely towards him all day and he still carried me home. I wasn't sure of that, but at the same time it could only of been Sanada-san. No one else knew I was living here. Sighing, I lifted the sleeve of my uniform, to see the damage the bullies had done to me, only to see it nicely wrapped up. Sanada-san... I felt my eyes tearing up.

"Hey, are you awake?" A heard the gruff voice from the other side of the door. Slipping out of my bed, I tiptoed to the doorknob and then opened it, taking as much time as possible. I wanted to delay the angry reaction on Sanada-san's face. I knew I'd just cry like the baby I promised myself I wasn't, if I did.

Sanada-san stood there, with anything but an angry face. Actually, if I didn't know him any better I would of thought that he looked somewhat concerned. I laughed at the consideration that Sanada-san would be worried over me. I mean, I'd understand if it were Yukimura-sempai, but...

Sanada-san caught my head before I could object and felt my forehead, saying something about not having a fever. I blushed uncontrollably. I hated this feeling that surrounded me whenever Sanada-san was around.

The fact that I knew I shouldn't feel it at all was even worse. I wasn't allowed to like Sanada-san as anything more than a friend. To me, Sanada-san was off-limits. Yukimura-senpai even told me so. Not directly, but I wasn't dumb enough to not catch his drift. He had even told me that he was in love with him, something I wouldn't be able to admit in a thousand years. Maybe not even then. Yukimura-senpai and Sanada-san had been friends for a much longer period than I knew Sanada-san; Yukimura-senpai already had a head start.

Then why couldn't I just give up?

I whimpered lightly. I was not in love with Sanada-san. I didn't even know why I was talking like I was, because I wasn't. No. Definitely not. There is absolutely no way, Sakuno. I told myself, for whatever good that would do. He had Yukimura-senpai, a much better person than I'd ever be. Sanada-san simply shrugged and left my room, but not before suspiciously eyeing my desk. My desk full of homework.

My desk full of my classmate's homework.

I wondered why he hadn't brought up anything. Not that it would be good for me if he did. Perhaps he was just being helpful, carefully choosing not to question the matter. But I was sure he knew what really happened to me. Even so, they would easily wait until he was gone before they struck again, it made no difference whether he knew or not. It was simply something he couldn't do anything about.

He should simply of let the matter drop. I sighed again, clicked my backpack shut, and carried it out. My back ached from carrying heavy amounts of homework daily. I was quite happy that it was Thursday though. Friday was no homework day, and that meant no heavy backpacks tomorrow. I stood up, sat at my desk, and started doing my classmates' homework. The homework was easy, but doing 20 of the same papers repeatedly was making it hard.

Finally, I had finished and retreated downstairs to eat supper. Sanada-san was already there, and so was Auntie and Sanada-san's grandfather, who I rarely seen. Sanada-san's father wasn't here, but then again I'm sure I've never seen him yet. Sanada-san simply told me that he worked a lot and that he was hardly home. I could tell that he didn't want to dwell on the matter, so I never asked him about it.

"Good evening." I bowed to Auntie, who waved it off merrily and pointed to the seat next to her. Auntie was always in a good mood, as I've come to see. I didn't mind it though, it made me feel welcomed. But sometimes, only sometimes, it made me feel bad. I wasn't even her own daughter. She didn't have one, Sanada-san told me. She had always wanted a daughter, so I was just a convince for her. It made me feel like a gift. Wrapped up, given here, given there. Taking this, taking that.

I wasn't too fond of gifts.

Asides that, Sanada-san's grandfather didn't look too pleased to see me, while Sanada-san himself just mumbled a small greeting. I sat down shyly while the dinner table started up with talks about the most random of subjects. I hadn't said much, and Auntie let it slide, like I was a transparent piece of cloth, easily showing emotion. The emotion that I didn't want anyone to ask.

I didn't like it that my face showed how I was feeling so easily. If I were sad, anyone could tell. If I were happy, I wouldn't be able to control it. It was the way I was. But that didn't mean I liked it. It made me feel sensitive. In Seigaku, my classmates, save Tomo-chan, treated me like a porcelain doll. As if I would break by the gentlest touch. They would be careful around me, both what they said and did.

Not Rikkai Dai.

At first, I thought I would love that, that everyone would treat me as equally as they treated themselves. Rikkai Dai, as I found out, didn't treat each other's equally. Everything was built on status. The better your status, the more popularity you gained. Who you hung around with determined your worth. I've only heard about these types of schools, or read them in novels, but never had I expected to actually attend one. It wasn't nice.

Perhaps if I had never met Sanada-san things would be different. But for some reason, I doubted that. Tomo-chan used to tell me that I drew attention to others, not that I'd acknowledged that. I found it hard to believe because, well, I didn't think myself as the type of person who could ever 'draw attention' to anyone. I was shy, I was clumsy and far from athletic or smart. I didn't talk often, only when spoken to. I didn't participate in class and had a much harder time trying to sort out my feelings and getting them through. I didn't stand up for myself, I got picked on, I was pathetic. I was weak. All in all, I knew that I could never grab anyone's attention, much less Sanada-san's.

Tomo-chan's mind must have been elsewhere when she told me that. I thought, sadly. It must have, there was no other explanation. What I felt for Sanada-san was no better than what I used to feel for Ryoma-kun. Admiration. I admired their outlook, their strength and the ability to voice their own opinions freely, without giving a second though as to what the other people thought. It was useless to even think of it, I knew, but I couldn't help it.

As soon as I returned to my room there was a soft knock. I was stunned; it didn't seem like Sanada-san's type of knock. He usually knocked curtly, impatiently waiting, but this time it was placid, waiting tolerantly.

"Come in Sanada-san, it's open." My voice sounded miserable, even to my own ears. There was no movement on the other side of the door. "E-Eto, is that you Sanada-san because I... I ano, just assumed b-b-because..." I trailed off, not quite knowing what I was trying to say. Why couldn't I just say what I wanted to? Even Yukimura-senpai didn't have a hard time with that, and he told me we were alike. I was starting to doubt it.

Sanada-san made his way into my room, looking like he was regretting coming here in the first place. He held out a piece of paper that I instantly recognized. It was my student council application. Apparently one of the girls thought it would be funny if they signed me up without my acknowledgement. And if I didn't go along, well, then I didn't even want to know what they'd do.

"Student council?" Sanada-san asked monotonously. I just nodded. "I didn't think you'd want to be a part of it, unless someone else did this." He was already on to me, if he didn't know already.

I shook my head. I didn't know why, either. What was the point of denying it all now? "They made me. I-I didn't ask for this, it... it just sort of happened." I whispered, hoping he couldn't hear the sadness in my voice. Student council wasn't something anyone should be ashamed of, it was just the fact that I was scared, what, having to represent roughly 100 first years. It was not my kind of job.

And the others knew that.

"It happened without your knowledge."

"Hai..." Disgraced, I bobbed my head up and down in a hypnotizing matter. Quickly, though, I changed the subject. "But! Don't worry, Sanada-san, I'm sure it will all blow over eventually." It was a blind lie. This was one of those things that would never blow over, but I didn't want Sanada-san to waste his time concerning himself over me. No one should have to do that. "And anyway—"

Sanada-san cut me off, "Where did you get that tennis uniform today?"

"Eto…" I was hoping he'd forget about that, but apparently he didn't. How was I supposed to explain that Yukimura-senpai was the one who gave it to me after he told me he had affections towards Sanada-san? I, being the chicken that I am, didn't reply. I didn't think talking about Yukimura-senpai would do any good right now. He and Sanada-san, judging from the reaction of the others, had a fight. I wasn't honestly sure, but I had a feeling.

Sanada-san sighed and ran his fingers through his thick black-navy hair. "I figured it was Yukimura, anyway forget I said anything."

"D-Demo! No matter how much you want to forget something, I don't think you can completely forget anything, Sanada-san." I blurted without a second thought. I quickly covered my mouth. Where had that come from? I remembered someone tell me that before, long ago. I couldn't even remember whom, but thinking now, they were right. "Ah—never mind Sanada-san! I... I got to go!" I dashed past Sanada-san without a second thought or glance.

I questioned these feelings, something I had never felt before. It was like... like I needed Sanada-san. And that wasn't allowed. I was the kind of person who obeyed rules and did as they were told. And I was told to stay away from Sanada-san. Sometimes indirectly, and other times directly. I shut the door to my room; once I was sure Sanada-san had left. I brought my knees to my chest. I wasn't allowed to love Sanada-san. Everyone was against me. I let my tears flow endlessly as I buried my head in my knees. Never before had I wanted something.

Until now.

I dearly wanted Sanada-san.

And it was scary.

校

Saturday's afternoon sunlight was awash in beautiful streaks of amber, gold, and muted white that spread across the landscape like strokes of a paintbrush, coloring the plentiful trees that had already been consistently growing their leaves in anticipation of an early spring.

I hummed to myself a nameless melody as I stared out the window, my small hands working swiftly over a sopping wet dish held beneath the tap. Auntie was out, as usual, and it was only Sanada-san and I.

I had finished serving lunch a while ago, Sanada-san said I shouldn't be the one cooking, as usual, but I refused. I lost myself in the breathtaking scenery for a few moments before realizing that the dish was washed squeaky-clean, and I placed it on a rack to dry, cramming it in the last space between all of the other dishes that had been used for lunch.

"Mou." I sighed.

I was falling a little behind. Lunch had been served at least two hours ago, and I had struggled to get the laundry done before even tackling the clean up from the meal. Auntie went out with some friends who just came into the country, from Korea, I think, while Sanada-san's grandfather was gone before I had even realized. I didn't even know where Sanada-san's father was. He hadn't been around for as long as I could remember.

Now with Auntie's request to go into town and pick up a pack of drawing pencils for her friend from the local art store and the practically empty cupboards and refrigerator, I doubted I would get any of my own schoolwork done today.

Truthfully, I was beginning to feel worn out. I was trying my best to hide the fact from everyone, but I wasn't sure they were completely buying into my reassuring smiles. It's not like they were oblivious.

But this isn't anymore than I can handle. It will definitely get better soon!

A couple of loud bangs sounded as the door in the next room slid open violently. I could hear Sanada-san's voice muttering softly to himself a string of unintelligible words, and I smiled weakly. He must be frustrated today... I turned my head and called out clearly towards the doorway separating the two rooms, "Are you hungry, Sanada-san? There's leftovers in the fridge, if you want."

"No." Sanada-san replied, sounding unnaturally emotionless in response to my innocent question. A couple of pounding footsteps came closer until Sanada-san's lean body fit into the frame of the doorway, falling heavily against the side as dark curious eyes landed on my face. "What are you doing?"

"Cleaning up," I replied in a chipper voice, smiling at Sanada-san as I reached for the tie of my apron, Auntie said I needed one of those too, tugging it apart with my fingers until the knot was loose. I ducked as I brought the upper loop over my head, flipping my braided pig-tailed hair over my shoulder in the process. I carefully folded the wet apron and stared down at the work of my hands as I asked my next question, hoping for a positive response. "Do you want to go to the store with me?" I blushed for asking, I knew Sanada-san would refuse, I didn't know why I bothered.

Nowadays, I didn't know why I bothered with a lot of things.

"Store?" Sanada-san demanded, narrowing his eyes at me. "I was going to get some new tennis equipment..." He threw in as an afterthought. He turned his piercing gaze back to me. Slowly, he nodded. "No one better see us."

I giggled at his answer, thinking that he was always quick to assume the worst about things. But he had agreed, and that was a shock. "You don't have to if you don't want to! I just thought you might want to spend some time out of the house and go into town for awhile." I placed the apron on the little space near the sink that was reserved for the dishtowels and other such items and clasped my hands in front of me as I watched the taller boy slump forward.

"What do you have to go into town for?" he asked, locks of the darkest navy falling forward into his eyes that were impatiently swiped away with long fingers. His mouth set into a pursed line that matched his generally bristly tone of voice, eyes still guarded.

I smiled, "Ano. Auntie needs some art supplies for her friend. Drawing pencils. She asked me to go to the art shop and pick some up for her, if I didn't mind." I answered, my bright hazel eyes locked on Sanada-san's face.

"Oh." And that was all he said. "She still shouldn't have asked you." He muttered, grabbing a light jacket from the coat rack.

"It's okay, I'm going into town anyway to get groceries," I interjected with a wide smile, bringing myself closer to the door and grabbing my own pink jacket. "Auntie simply wanted to know if I would make another stop for her. It's fine. Really, Sanada-san!"

Sanada-san was silent, but to me it seemed his inner rage was receding. I took a deep breath and softened my smile, somehow realizing that it was actually completely genuine. Just seeing and talking with Sanada-san had melted most of my stress and weariness away. I paused, but Sanada-san remained unspeaking. "Hurry, up. I'll meet you outside." And with that, he shut the door after him. "Don't get lost on your way." Was he teasing me?

"Mou, Sanada-san." But thank you.

For everything.

Sigh.

"Aren't you cold?"

The two of us were walking down a small dirt path on the outskirts of town, our shoes making shallow impressions in the soft earth as we pressed forward. The ground's supple properties held a direct correlation to the amount of travelers that tread over it, namely, the people who lived in the Sanada household and its visitors were the only ones to ever take it as a road into town.

To the average pedestrian looking out from the village's vantage point, the grove of trees from which we emerged would have appeared as ordinary as any other. Despite the expansive reach of the Sanada property, it was invisible to the many people who lived within miles of its borders.

"That feeling of seclusion. . . doesn't it bother you sometimes, Sanada-san?"

"Not after you get used to it. The quiet becomes normal, and it gets startling to be back where everything is so busy and loud. You miss the solitude then."

Sanada-san had snarled the earlier question from between clenched teeth that clacked together from the invasive chills running through his body. I guess that explained why Sanada-san enjoyed his quiet. It was the way he was raised, in the depths of his home, isolated from most of the other people.

The action of walking had begun pumping his blood and bringing more warmth to his cold interior, but he was still uncomfortable being outside and couldn't wait to enter the town and get into a shop, I'm sure. Maybe he was more sensitive to the cold than I was. Although, that hardly seemed possible.

The cold and I didn't mix too well.

I smiled at Sanada-san's inquiry, shaking my head and glancing sideways at him with a slight curiosity dancing inside my deep hazel depths. I was dressed simply in a pair of thick brown pants and a loose shirt covered with a light parka, under my thick pink jacket. "I'm not really cold at all. A-Anyways winters almost over and it'll technically be spring soon, Sanada-san. E-Eto, you're—" I noticed his unsuccessfully hidden tremors and frowned. "You're freezing."

"No, its—" Sanada-san steeled himself, clenching his stomach in order to regain some control of his randomly firing nerves. He sighed with frustration, realizing that it was going to be impossible to keep the truth from me with any lie. That made me feel terrible, I lied a lot, and of course it was only to protect him, but nonetheless. "I hate winter." He admitted, with many difficulties. I guess even Sanada-san hated non-tennis related things. "But spring's worse." He sighed for the umpteenth time.

I was taken aback. "S-Spring? But everyone loves spring, Sanada-san!" I said with slight reproach, and without realizing, I reached out and took Sanada-san's hand within my own, my slender fingers closing around his.

His grip was cold and firm but gentle, fragile. I felt a paradox that I couldn't even begin to comprehend, as a flood of emotions began within me, coming so fast that they rose along with some kind of acidic fluid from my stomach. I recognized the butterflies, but still, a more overt sensation of comfort kept my body's 'fight-or-flight' responses in check. Surprisingly, Sanada-san returned the hold. For whatever reason, Sanada-san was full of surprises today.

And shamefully, I was enjoying them.

The rest of the walk to a small local grocery store was mostly in silence, like always, though it was the comfortable and familiar kind and not a reflection of a relationship fractured by insurmountable differences.

"Do you have a list?" Sanada-san asked as I extracted my hand from his after we had entered the store, digging around in the deep pockets of my loose pants. I nodded happily as I brought out a thin sheet of paper, gazing intently at the neatly printed items I had listed on its surface. After a few seconds of standing next to me awkwardly, Sanada-san grabbed a cart from nearby and snatched the list from me, causing the paper to crease in his clenched fist.

"Come on, let's just do down the aisles and pick stuff out."

I nodded and followed Sanada-san as he began to push the cart, leaning his arms heavily upon it as they made their way down the first aisle. He kept his face stony and glared at a few vendors who tried to offer us discounted goods and place unwanted things in the shopping cart. The scene just made my smile widen.

Luckily, I was quick to brush them off politely after Sanada-san had barreled past them. I stopped in front of the bakery counter and called for Sanada-san to slow down. "I need to pick up some bread. Do you want to pick out something for yourself?" I asked.

"..." Sanada-san said nothing, allowing his eyes to rove over the various baked confections and finding that they lingered on some delicious-looking dumpling. He looked at other breads and desserts but found nothing that made his stomach grumble. "I don't like sweets." He settled with his answer as I just gave him a funny look. I had no idea how any could hate sweets and spring. Then again, this was Sanada-san and Sanada-san was different.

But a good type of different, unlike me.

"Really?" I asked, not surprised.

"Yes." Sanada-san replied, taking the cart and turning it slowly, keeping his pace sluggish enough to accommodate me as I pored over my list. He steered it down the next aisle, thoughts going nowhere as he looked at the products lining the shelves.

I hadn't really eaten a thing since breakfast, but I couldn't force myself to think that I was actually hungry. I was worried about the paper due in school that I hadn't even started thinking about. Well, I had thought about it, before having to do nearly 30 other papers.

I went down my list, folding the paper down with each item that they put into the cart. I continued to urge Sanada-san to pick out things for himself, pointing at the candy and suggesting we each get something. He simply declined each time I asked, being careful to keep his voice and face neutral to avoid having me think that he was mad at me. Of course he wasn't, and if he were he wouldn't show it so freely.

We waited in the massive line up, Sanada-san making sure no one we knew saw us. If they did, there would be a lot of questions to answer. Also, I did not want to ruin Sanada-san's reputation. I was aware that he took great pride in it, therefore I didn't want to do anything to soil it. The two of us bagged the groceries without any hesitation and Sanada-san paid the money.

As we walked out, Sanada-san grabbed all 3 of the bags. "Mou, I can carry something." I offered, turning to the taller boy and holding out my hand so that he could pass one of the bags to me and lessen his load. He rigidly refused, lifting one of his encumbered arms to push mine away.

"I got it," he said.

I didn't fully believe him, but I knew when to quit. Sanada-san was a lot of things, but his stubborn streak was pretty spectacular sometimes. I took a few moments to study him, sunlight filtering in from behind his head forming an ethereal halo around his profile and giving him an illusion of transparency. He could have been a ghost, or a guardian angel that had come to the Earth plane for a couple of stolen moments in order to help me, I mused silently.

He certainly fit the bill of such an angel, even though he tried to hide his generous tendencies with a cloak of general disdain and prickly hostility. Though his rougher emotions were probably true when directed at his teammates, I knew that he didn't exactly feel that way towards me anymore. Or at least, most of the time.

The two of us continued down the busy streets of Japan. I had never been to this side of town much because I had never left areas near Seigaku and in the past week of my arrival, I had barley left the house asides attending school and occasionally watching Sanada-san practice tennis in the street courts. This experience was new to me, and I was overjoyed. To be in town with Sanada-san was like a dream come true, to me at least.

Sanada-san gave me a sideways glace. "The tennis shops are down there." He merely stated. I hesitantly nodded, not quite catching his drift. "A lot of people from other schools will be there. Rikkai Dai is no exception." Oh. Students from Rikkai Dai would be there and seeing us together was not good. "We'll come back another day."

"But... but I know how much you wanted to go and, and..." I hadn't a clue what I was trying to say. I wanted Sanada-san to go, because, well, he put up with my groceries and me. He even accompanied me to buy Auntie's supplies; he deserved to go check out whatever tennis equipment he wanted. "Sanada-san you have to go, you put up with me all day, so it's only fair."

What happened next was a complete and utter coincidence.

"Sakuno-chan!?" I looked ahead to see Kirihara-san, Niou-san, Marui-san, Jackal-san, Yagyuu-san, Yanagi-san, and Yukimura-senpai walking on the other side of the street. It was Kirihara-san who spotted us. More like me. Sanada-san looked like it was the end of the world. Well, at least he was showing some sort of emotion, but that was the only bright side to this situation. "Sakuno-chan is that you!?" Kirihara-san waved frantically at us, Jackal-san tried to calm him down, and we received many looks by the people passing by.

"Well, what's this? Fukubuchou on a date?" Niou-san teased, wrapping an arm around Yagyuu-san, who seemed oblivious to what was going on. "I never thought I'd see the day! Right, Hiroshi?"

"..." Yagyuu-san said nothing.

Niou-san continued his thunderous laugh. "And with Sakuno, no less! I always thought he had a thing for Mura-buchou!" I winced. Niou-san had no idea what he was saying, and was too ignorant to observe the damage he was causing without even knowing it. Some subjects were best left untouched. This was one of those subjects. But Niou-san couldn't tell.

I didn't mean to think that, that Niou-san was an 'ignorant' person, but it seemed so. He was just so carefree. I envied that part of him, not giving a care in the world for anything else. Although, that did have its downfalls. He couldn't see what was simply in front of him. That or he was choosing to ignore it, like Yanagi-san.

"We are not on a date, Niou. I was simply showing Ryuuzaki around." Sanada-san grumped and looked like he was ready to grab my wrists and walk off, before grasping the fact that he was still carrying the bags.

Marui grinned suspiciously. "That doesn't explain why you were shopping together!"

"Marui!"

"Fukubuchou and Sakuno-chan sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N—"

"Shut up Marui! 50 laps on Monday!"

I tried to comply. "S-S-S-Sanada-san!" I desperately clung on to his jacket, hoping to save Marui-san from Sanada-san's wrath. Yukimura-senpai had been very quiet throughout the whole meeting. Maybe he was still mad at Sanada-san? "Don't, you wanted to go visit the tennis shop, remember?" I asked, anticipating the moment where everything would fall apart. I didn't want the same tension to loom above us like it had a couple days back. It was intimidating. Bloodcurdling, even.

"Why don't we all go somewhere?" Kirihara-san suggested. "Like the bowling alley, wasn't that where we were heading, Mura-buchou?" He smiled a smile that was too big for his face. Kirihara-san looked back at me, incase I didn't want to go. It wasn't that I didn't want to; it was that I didn't know whether or not Sanada-san wanted to go. "Or is Sakuno-chan going somewhere with fukubuchou?" His face dropped. It wounded me to see it; Kirihara-san's face did not go with a frown. Maybe it was because he was always smiling that I got too used to it with that same appearance.

I looked at Sanada-san who remained as still as a stone. "Ano, can we go, Sanada-san? I've always wanted to try bowling." I tried to persuade him. I wondered why. I was sure it was because I didn't want to let Kirihara-san down, even though I had my own work to complete. I wondered when Kirihara-san became such an important part in my life. It was so gradually that I hadn't even noticed. Maybe I was no better than Niou-san when it came to these sorts of things.

"Fine." Was the authoritarian reply from Sanada-san.

I looked up at him with my eyes twice as big. "R... Really?!" To say I was very happy would be an understatement. "Arigatou gozimasu, Sanada-san!" I beamed, and my hands, without permission, wrapped themselves around his waist. He stiffened at the contact, and I pulled away, embarrassed. The rest of the team, minus Yanagi-san, Kirihara-san and Yukimura-senpai laughed.

The 9 of us went to the bowling alley, like we said and formed teams of 3. I was with Kirihara-san and Niou-san. Sanada-san was with Jackal-san and Yagyuu-san, while Yukimura-senpai was with Yanagi-san and Marui-san. So far, Yukimura-sempai's team was in the lead, followed closely by Sanada-san's team. Our team was lagging behind my more than a few points. And I was certain Kirihara-san was just missing on purpose to build my self-esteem.

Finally it had come down to the final points, Yukimura-senpai's team had 207, Sanada-san's had 201 and our team had 198. We needed a strike to win the game. Sadly, I was the last one up and Niou-san just hit all the pins except the two on the opposite sides of each other. I knew it had a technical name, but I wasn't a bowling expert, so I didn't know. All eyes were on me. I just knew I'd screw up.

Kirihara-san cheered me on, much to my embarrassment. "You can do it, Sakuno-chan!"

"We lost." Niou-san moaned, throwing his hands in defeat.

I guess it was within good reason. I picked up the lightest ball, which happened to be a 5-pound, and slipped my fingers neatly into the holes. I could feel Sanada-san's intense stare arched on my back. I could feel the aura Yukimura-senpai was giving off. I could hear Marui-san hastily chewing away on his gum. And absolutely anyone could hear Kirihara-san's encouraging words. "Eto, here I go—" Unfortunately the bowling lines were very slippery, as I found out.

"Ryuuzaki!"

"Eeek!" I shrieked as the bowling ball slipped out of my hands and made its way evenly down the long lane. As Sanada-san helped pick me up off the floor, we all watched the bowling ball travel in such speed that it could be compared to that of a snail's. What amazed me the most was that it actually not only hit one pin, but both. Knocking them slowly to the floor to be swept up again, for the next player's game.

Kirihara-san's eyes looked like they were about to fall out of their socket while the rest of us were speechless, even me. This was my first pin knocked down in the entire game. I gasped, my hands covering my mouth. Yanagi-san was jotting something down, while saying, "That certainly was not in my data."

Kirihara-san was the first to react and Niou-san jumped off his chair, screaming with joy. Marui-san just sulked at Niou-san's insults, while Kirihara-san picked me up, twirling me in endless circles while I laughed along. This was honestly the most fun I had in ages. Even Sanada-san patted my head, followed by Yukimura-senpai's congratulations.

"We won!" Niou shrieked.

"Yeah, because of Sakuno-chan!" Marui retorted.

Yanagi-san nodded and I giggled. "Actually, Masuharu, Bunta is right. It was Sakuno-san who saved you." Niou-san just went to sulk and now it was Marui-san poking fun at him. "You managed to surprise me yet again, Sakuno-san." Although I could hear a hint of iciness in his voice, this was defiantly the most fun I had in a long time.

Afterwards, we all grabbed lunch at a local restaurant, only to have it turned into a food fight, with Sanada-san yelling all the way through. Even Yukimura-senpai looked embarrassed, but then again that could have been another emotion.

As we walked back, Sanada-san wasn't the only one carrying the bags, actually Kirihara-san volunteered to carry one while Niou-san got in trouble and had to carry the other. Sanada-san and Yukimura-senpai were walking side-by-side in such perfect synchronization that that cloud of silent anticipation returned, but only for a few seconds before Kirihara-san started to chat up a storm.

"Ryuuzaki." I heard in the near distance, as well as a, "Sakuno-chan!" Wondering what in the world was going on I did a full 360 turn, my long braids swimming across the vast sea that was the air. My heart came to an abrupt stop. My eyes must have been playing cruel tricks on me. There was no way this could be happening. "T-There's no way..." I whispered hoarsely, my words caught up in my throat. My eyes started to water uncontrollably. "R-Ryoma-kun..."

Suddenly, the heaven I was in a second ago, was unreachable.

Ryuuzaki, Sakuno

竜崎桜乃

---

Wow, this chapter was ridiculously long. Sorry for the late update, we truly apologize. But when we were about to finish off the last bits of the story, we tried to log in and got a response that went like this; "We are currently experiencing heavier than expected traffic and are unable to fulfill your request at this time. Please come back later. Thank you." How annoying, eh? We just really hope you continue reviewing! Thank you all. You are our inspiration.

Upcoming Petal: Tempers flare, arguments and feelings are brought out into the open, and Sakuno confesses her feelings, but not to whom you think! Yukimura reminisces while Sanada is downright annoyed. Ryoma or Tomoko are not very pleased with Sakuno's new life and ask her... to run away with them? Will she accept? The drama really heats up, next petal!

(1) Sanada's view: 'Arigatou gozamaisu' means thank you very much. Yukimura called Sakuno, Sakuno-kun, an honorific usually used by males. We kind of played around with the honorifics there, heh, sorry.

(2) Yukimura's view: Yukimura now calls Sakuno, Sakuno-kun, showing that they've become closer, friends, if you'd call it.

(3) Sakuno's view: They were playing 10-pin bowling, so 198 plus 10 would be 208 and their team won by one. 'Mou' is the Japanese equivalent to 'geez'.

Anyway, KiriharaAkaya, well we hoped you liked this petal too! On.E.Gai-chan, you reviewed 2 times but we think it was a mistake. But thank you! Hropkey, lol we have a friend like that, we hope this chapter was long enough for you. tessaeharrison, okay thank you for the warning, but we hope you still read. The Magical Whatever, the next petal will contain Kirihara's view for you, okay? Ahotep, ah we had exams too. Sigh, that's why it took so long. We hope you repaired your brain so you can read this fic! Arihdni, well Sanada and the others found out, so until next time! We thank you by the way! Gwynhafra, sorry this wasn't so constant! Hope you'll forgive us, we had exams. Curse it all! whitelilies, sorry for any and all mistakes, we hope this petal was better! phoe2k, wow thank you, thank you, thank you so much! We really hoped you liked this petal too. SanaHunny, this chapter is by far the longest. Sigh, so much work, but it's worth it. Thank you. Ad, for you in this chapter, we did not overlap scenes, we hope you liked this one, review, okay? Thank you! uranaishii, wow thank you very much. We really don't write very well! Sakura: Please don't flatter Hanabi, she'll get a bigger head than she already has. Hanabi: What!? sesshomaruobsessed, we've decided after this we'll make a AtoSaku fic, (romance/tragedy) for you, and it was inspired by you too! Lol. We hope you read it, whenever it comes out. miracleflame-alchemist147, we thank you here's another petal for you! S-Note, thank you for taking your time to review! Kirihara Aka-chan, another petal, pour toi. (For you.)

—S&H—

Signing out.

Prince of Tennis © Takeshi Konomi