Dislcaimer: This disclaimer states that all Prince of Tennis related things belong to Konomi, not Knis.
Sanada was stalling, trying desperately to think of what he could say to Yukimura as he paced back and forth in the hospital's 5th floor lobby. The nurses gave exasperated sighs in his direction, as if wondering when exactly Sanada would suck it up and go see his captain.
Sanada was dreading this. Yukimura's would be hurt and sad and upset and other bad things and Sanada knew he would feel guilty about it because it was all his fault damn it.
Slowly and one step at a time, Sanada began walking in the direction of Yukimura's room. The steps were so slow that it took quite a while to reach his destination. He stopped in front of the door with Yukimura's name on it, not being able to bring himself to open it. The nurses looked at him as they passed by, rolling their eyes or sighing at the sight of the tall and stern-looking teen being too cowardly to enter the room.
That was how Yukimura found his vice-captain; pacing anxiously in front of the room he was about to enter. Yukimura stood at a distance from Sanada, but the capped teen did not see him, nor did he even knock on the door. With a sigh, the bluenette approached until Sanada was able to see him coming in his direction.
"Sanada, how long were you planning on standing there exactly?" asked Yukimura, standing before the other boy with his hand on his hip.
Sanada's eyes went wide, realizing that Yukimura had not even been in his room all along.
"W-What are you doing here?" asked Sanada. Why was Yukimura walking in the hallway by himself? "Why don't you have a nurse supervising you? Are they slacking off or being too lazy to follow you?" Sanada's tone turned worrisome.
Yukimura sighed yet again, pushing forward and entering his hospital room. "I no longer need constant supervision, Sanada. I was simply coming back from the rehabilitation room. I can walk fine by myself, you know." he said.
"But it's not safe! What if you get a… a relapse or what if you start feeling too tired to move?" said Sanada.
"I'm not a child. I can take care of myself." Yukimura's tone was cold and distant, irate at being treated this way. "So why are you here, Sanada? Finally decided to show your face after a long absence?"
"Ah… I apologize for not visiting these last few days…" said Sanada in a small voice. He swallowed thickly. He was getting the feeling that Yukimura was not in a particularly good mood today.
"Oh, that's alright. I'm sure there were more important things for you to worry about." said Yukimura. "However, nurses are not very good tennis players at all. It really is a pity that I had to play tennis against a nurse after you broke your promise and failed to show up for a match like you promised me."
Sanada looked away. Right. He had promised to play tennis with Yukimura some more on the roof. It only worked to make him feel even worse about having avoided the bluenette.
The silence between them lingered until Yukimura broke it, sounding bored and uninterested.
"I'm being dispatched in a week." said Yukimura.
Sanada was surprised. He had expected Yukimura to be let out soon but… this early?
"That's… that's great, Yukimura. But why so soon?" he couldn't help but ask the question. Yukimura still looked like a fragile piece of glass in his eyes, not at all ready to face the world by himself.
"I'm not a helpless invalid anymore!" said Yukimura. "I am already walking fine by myself. In a few more days, I will be able to run and exercise as well. It's only fair that I be let out this early." Yukimura was refusing to sit down. He remained standing close to his window, as if proving to Sanada that he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself. "Actually, my recovery rate has drastically improved in the last few days. I believe I have to thank you for it, Sanada."
What? But Sanada hadn't even been there in the last few days. How could he have helped with anything? Sanada's expression was confused. "What do you mean, Yukimura?"
Yukimura exhaled loudly, long and exasperated, as if Sanada was being a hassle by asking questions. "Since you left me alone for three whole days, I was able to fully focus on my rehabilitation without worries of distractions or other nonsense." said Yukimura.
"Wha- Yukimura, why are you saying such things?" said Sanada, shocked to hear Yukimura say something like that. "I never hindered your recovery."
"It doesn't matter, really." Yukimura waved him off, his voice an icy chill. "I honestly don't even understand why you continue to visit me. It's not as if your presence is helpful at all. You could be spending that time actually practicing on that atrocious serve of yours."
Sanada remained still, feeling Yukimura's words leaving a stinging trail through him. Why was Yukimura saying such things? The bluenette had always been happy whenever he visited.
"Yukimura, look… I'm sorry if I somehow upset you with what happened last time but…"
"That had absolutely nothing to do with this." interrupted Yukimura. "I just don't think you are being productive at all, wasting both my time and yours. After your loss at the Regionals, I expected you to work harder. Perhaps you are simply not serious about winning the Nationals."
The vice-captain felt a steel-cold shiver run down his spine. "You… don't want me to visit?" said Sanada, his mind feeling almost numb from what he was hearing.
Yukimura shrugged, his face distant and completely indifferent. "I need to focus on my recovery. You're a bother and a distraction when I could be improving instead."
Sanada didn't understand. Yukimura had never acted this way towards him. Yukimura had shown contempt and sadistic mischief towards him in the past, but never had Yukimura looked upon him with such cold and bitter eyes. Was Yukimura this angry at being rejected? Saying he was a bother and that Yukimura did not want to see him… that was not right. Yukimura was supposed to be happy to see him show up. He was supposed to smile and always ask if Sanada could stay longer that day and then make illogical demands about playing tennis or bringing junk food in the hospital. Sanada knew his presence couldn't speed up Yukimura's recovery, but he had still been happy to visit and brighten the other teen's day.
Was this no longer the case? Had Sanada gone too far and made it painful for Yukimura to stand him?
Sanada swallowed thickly, looking at the ground, feeling empty and hurt.
"If that's what you want, Yukimura… then I won't visit anymore. If I'm a bother…" said Sanada.
Yukimura said nothing. His face showed not a single hint of remorse, not a drop of the usual happiness Sanada saw in those eyes. Yukimura's expression was hard and merciless. Sanada looked away, feeling a painful sting whenever he looked into Yukimura's eyes. Instead, his gaze found a crack in the white wall, the very same one he had made months ago. It seemed so far back, as if an entire lifetime had past since the time when Yukimura was just being admitted into the hospital and Sanada had gotten angry at the bluenette.
Was it all for nothing? Despite everything, was Yukimura going to go right back to hating him after all that had happened between them?
"Don't you have some paperwork for me to fill out?" Yukimura asked suddenly. "I trust you went to the meeting today, unless you broke your promise about that too."
Sanada blinked, coming back to the present. "I do." said Sanada.
Yukimura 'hmph'ed. "Honestly, you haven't even mentioned a single word about the meeting. Wasn't this the reason why you began visiting me in the first place? To keep me constantly informed about the team and decisions being made? Yet, I don't even know which team we are up against in the first round of the Nationals. You are being incompetent."
"Ah, sorry. Here, I'll tell you what happened." Sanada took his bag and began rummaging through it, taking out some papers he had been given at the meeting. He approached Yukimura, handing them over.
"Those papers are basic rules. I have some sheets for the team that they need to sign as well as their parent's consent." said Sanada, pointing to each paper in turn and talking casually as if Yukimura's words had not broken him only a minute ago. "Here is where we are supposed to write the team's order for the first round of the tournament. We should think it over a bit before filling it out."
Yukimura nodded, all-business as he read the sheets. He kept some for himself and then gave the rest to Sanada, telling him to make sure the team signs it on time or else they wouldn't be able to be admitted into the Nationals. Especially Akaya, Yukimura emphasized the youngest member because Akaya had nearly missed the deadline last year, having lost his paper in his messy room.
Sanada listened as attentively as he could, despite his mind not quite being there. Sanada then told the captain about how they were up against some school he had never even heard about. Yukimura merely reminded him to stay on guard and play at their best no matter which school they are going up against. Sanada knew that much since neither of them wanted a repeat of the Kanto tournament.
Their talk was short, not lasting long at all. Sanada could honestly say that he could not remember the last time he had visited Yukimura and strictly only talked about tennis or the Nationals.
When there was nothing more to say, Yukimura practically waved him off by turning and looking out the window as if ignoring his presence. Sanada felt rather unwelcomed. Perhaps a little bit of time will allow Yukimura to cool down and return to normal, thought Sanada, hoping that would be the case. He didn't like this icy captain, hurting him with every gaze and every word.
"I suppose I'll be going now." said Sanada. Yukimura did not, completely uninterested. "I'll come back tomorrow." he added briefly.
"I don't care." said Yukimura. "If you plan on showing up anyways, then don't get in my way. I'll be doing some intensive training from here on out until I'm dispatched. Make sure the team is training equally as hard for when I return."
"Yeah." was all Sanada said. He frantically hoped that the normal Yukimura would be back by tomorrow with the usual smile. Nonetheless, he did not want to stop visiting, especially not now that Yukimura's was acting this way. Yes, it may hurt, but Sanada thought it would hurt more if he stood on the side and let Yukimura pull away from him completely. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye."
Yukimura was unmoving, looking out at the grey sky through his window until he heard the door open and close, then Sanada's footsteps leaving.
The captain inhaled deeply and then let it go.
That had been hard, thought Yukimura. He bit his lip. It had been a little harder than he had imagined to act so isolated towards Sanada. But he had to do this. It was the only way he could know if he had any chance at all with Sanada. Even if it hurt, he had to stick to the plan.
Sanada's face popped back into Yukimura's mind. Yukimura had nearly cracked mid-way through, seeing Sanada's face show hurt and something akin to betrayal. Sanada had looked like a kicked puppy and was obviously feeling guilty about what he had done.
Yukimura wondered, what exactly was it that Sanada felt guilty about? Was it for not visiting or was it for not returning his feelings?
Nonetheless, Yukimura knew he couldn't be allowed to slack off now. He had to continue recovering, especially now that he would be back on the school courts in a week. He couldn't afford to rest too much and worry constantly about Sanada. He had confidence that his plan would definitely show him results.
Yukimura only hoped it would be the results he was hoping for.
Practice was cancelled today and in all honesty, Niou couldn't have been happier. Yes, he did want to train hard and regain their title in the Nationals. But that didn't mean he had volunteered to be Sanada's slave during practice. In a single practice, he ran the same amount of laps as he would normally run in a week.
He was in desperate need of a break so he was very thankful that practice was cancelled because the Nationals meeting was today. While Yanagi and Sanada got to go to a boring meeting, Niou would get to stay home and do whatever he wanted.
However, the staying home part proved to be not as exciting as he first thought so he ended up walking to Yagyuu's house around noon. No doubt the gentleman was studying and being the model student like always, meaning he needed Niou to show up and bring some fun into his afternoon.
Niou knocked on the front door of Yagyuu's house only to be greeted by the gentleman's mother. Niou gave his usual sly smile and entered the house, immediately storming up the stairs to Yagyuu's room. It didn't matter if he took off his shoes or if he was polite or not because Yagyuu's mother did not approve of him anyways. Especially not after an incident in which she had come home from work early and had walked in on Niou on top of Yagyuu while they were both practically naked and up to not-so-innocent acts.
Yeah, that probably had a lot to do with why she didn't like him.
Niou slammed open Yagyuu's door, announcing his arrival as loudly as possible.
"Yo Yeahgyuu!" he said, practically shouting it. Yagyuu was sitting at his desk and had winced when the door hit the wall.
"Could you be any louder? Honestly, I think people all the way in Australia heard you." said Yagyuu.
"Guess what?" said Niou, totally ignoring Yagyuu's comment.
"What? And make it fast. I'm trying to study for the history test on Monday."
Niou froze. "Oh shit, that's on Monday? Crap I haven't even studied yet."
"Yes. You can always ask Sanada-san to tutor you. His best subject is history and-"
"Yeah, no thank you. That is probably the worst idea I've heard in my whole life." interrupted Niou. He walked forward and grabbed the spare stool on the way. He sat on the edge of Yagyuu's desk, one elbow partially hiding Yagyuu's textbook. "You could tutor me instead. Private tutoring." Niou added, making it sound as dirty as possible.
The barest of smiles appeared on Yagyuu's face, but it was gone by the next second. "My mom's home." he whispered. "By the way, what were you about to say earlier?"
Niou paused for a second before remembering. "Oh yeah! I just heard last night from Yukimura himself. Captain's being dispatched in a week!"
"Oh? That's good to hear." said Yagyuu.
"Yup. I can see you are just about jumping around in excitement at the news." said Niou sarcastically. "Yagyuu, he's being dispatched!" He repeated it in case Yagyuu had not heard properly. "That's not just great. That's fucking fantastic news! It means we won't have to deal with the slave driver Sanada for too long."
"Sanada-kun being replaced by an equally-determined-to-win-the-Nationals Yukimura-san does not seem any better to me." said Yagyuu. He kept on turning back to his work, reading at his notes as if they were somehow more interesting.
Niou rose an eyebrow. "'Sup with you? You're acting depressive today." noted the trickster. Yagyuu was not the type to get excited, but never was he a downer. Shouldn't he be happy about this news?
Yagyuu glared harder at his notes. "Nothing's wrong."
"Hiroshi, didn't your mommy ever teach you that it's bad to lie? Do I need to spank you?"
Yagyuu put down his pen, looking exasperatingly at Niou. "I am glad that Yukimura-san is returning. It is good for the team by all means. But…" Yagyuu hesitated for a second before continuing. "It also means I will no longer be needed."
Oh. That's right. Yagyuu was put on the regulars because he was a replacement for a missing player. Now that Yukimura would be back, they would have enough players on the regulars without Yagyuu. The gentleman would be the backup player.
"Oh fuck, that's true." breathed Niou. "Crap. I totally forgot about that." he frowned, looking like he was in a dilemma, stuck between being happy that Yukimura would be returning and feeling upset that he would no longer he a team with Yagyuu.
"It was to be expected." said Yagyuu. "Afterall, I only just started playing tennis this year. The rest of you have been played for much longer. It's only fair I suppose."
"Yagyuu, are you trying to act humble or gentlemanly or some shit like that? 'Cause that's really not cool right now." said Niou.
Yagyuu sighed. "No, I suppose it isn't." he said. "Actually, I think it fucking sucks big time."
Niou looked at Yagyuu in surprise at what he had just heard.
"Holy shit!" exclaimed Niou. "You just swore!"
Yagyuu coughed, looking embarrassed. He was about to deny it, but decided otherwise. "It's no big deal. I can swear if I feel like it as well."
"Yeah, but it was so sudden. It's the first time I ever heard you swear. It was so cool, but awkward all at once." said Niou, gaping at him in awe. "Damn, I should've taped it. No one's gonna believe me now. Where's the video camera around when you need it?"
"Perhaps you are a bad influence on me afterall." said Yagyuu.
"And you only realize this now?" said Niou, grinning mischievously. "Really, Yagyuu? It took you this many months of harassment, pranks and pretending to be each other for you to realize that?"
A barely noticeable flush coated Yagyuu's cheeks. The gentleman leaned in quickly and stole a kiss from Niou's mouth.
"I admit, I think my liking for you may have clouded my judgement a bit. Although, bad influence or not, I don't really care at this point. I don't intend on leaving either way." whispered Yagyuu close to Niou's lips.
"Kiss me again." commanded Niou, slightly breathless. Yagyuu obeyed, pressing forward and kissing more firmly this time. Yagyuu pulled back before they got too heated up.
Niou deliberately licked his lips. Yagyuu had to remind himself that his mother was downstairs and still suspicious of them.
"Let's stop here for now, Masaharu. I think a more suitable place would be better in order to continue. Maybe after I've finished my studying, we can go somewhere else." said Yagyuu.
Niou grinned, loving the way Yagyuu whispered his first name when they became intimate. "Ah, I got it, Hiroshi. I know you gotta keep it PG-13 for the parental unit downstairs." he said. "But just say the word and I can chase my younger brother out of my house. My parents aren't there today so my home is wide open for the two of us."
Yagyuu stared at Niou, his glasses suddenly opaque, making it hard to see his eyes. Niou counted ten seconds before Yagyuu closed his notebook and stood up, shaking his head in disbelief at his own actions.
"Honestly, my grades will be suffering thanks to you." said Yagyuu, he held out his hand to Niou. "Shall we be going?"
Niou stood up as well and took the hand, delighted that Yagyuu was being so responsive to his advances today. "I promise that whether we are double partners in tennis or not will have absolutely no effect on you being my lover, Hiroshi. Don't worry too much about it, okay?"
Yagyuu gave him a gentle and rare smile. "I know, Masaharu. I'm not worried."
"Good."
Author's Rant:
I love writing Niou. He's so fun. I should find more excuses to include him in the story. Platinum Pair FTW!
Yes, finally Yukimura is going to leave the hospital. Gosh, he's been in there for so long so even I'm relieved.
Thank you to all you lovely reviewers who put up with Sanada's bullshit. You are all so patient with him.