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Disclaimer: I don't, nor will I ever, own Prince of Tennis or any of it's characters. I also don't own any of the franchises or anything mentioned in this story, Mountain Dew, Facebook, Nintendo, ect.
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I'm restless that night. Thoughts of the stalker rule my brain and when I finally push that out of my head I worry about Sanada and his family and what they think of me. I toss and turn and try to tell myself they already like me, what's there to fuss about? Then Kirihara's image pops up in my head. My mind stops dead, Kirihara. I think I've decided it's best if we're friends. Not only can I not see us together anymore, even after the kiss, I tend to cry a lot and Kirihara got so panicked I wouldn't want to worry him with my pointless tears. And that leaves…
"And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom. I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger, I've never known the lovin' of a man. But it sure felt nice when he was holdin' my hand. There's a boy here in town says he'll love me forever. Whoever thought forever could be sever by the sharp knife of a short life, well I've had just enough time."
My phone tells me it's time to get up and I groan despite the fact I'm already mumbling the next few lines to the song. I crawl out of bed and take a quick shower to wake myself up before I get ready for the day. Early practice just needs to go die in a hole. My feet shuffle out the door where Sanada and Yanagi are waiting. My heart does a stupid little flip and I lower my head embarrassed. I just decided like 40 minutes ago who I liked and already the transformation of a real full on crush has appeared. Great. My body lags behind because I stayed up all night.
"Are you coming?" Sanada grumps.
"Augh." I grunt back.
Yanagi falls back to my side and prods my head gently. I swat at his hand and squeeze my eyes shut. "You have to take it easy at practice today, no strenuous activities. Has anything happened with the stalker?" I fill Yanagi in, he scribbles away in a notebook as I do. I close my eyes for a second thinking maybe my body can rejuvenate itself in a few second, only to stumble and fall against Sanada's back.
"Augh." I grunt again, "Why'd you stop?" I blink to regain my eyesight to find Sanada's stopped in front of our café. "Do you want me to be sick?" I mutter.
Sanada doesn't listen and he walks into the café with Yanagi at his side. I huff and follow them inside. My capped friend buys me a breakfast sandwich and a latte and we head out. "You're not practicing anyways." Sanada tells me when I glare at him for buying me a sugar-coma inducing drink so early in the morning. He's right of course, I need to wake up for school.
.-.
Practice sucks. Buchou won't let me do anything. Not even jog around the field. I have to sit like a lump on a bench and watch everyone else practice. Kiyomi looks completely lost without me by her side, we always practice together. Imai offers to be her stand in doubles partner. I think it's a good idea for us to learn how to play doubles with other people in case of an accident but still. I'm distant and dreary all through the day, my head hurts and Yanagi isn't around for me to ask him if I can take any medication. People keep asking me what I did to myself because I have a large bruise on the side of my head that no amount of makeup can conceal. Not to mention I'm completely exhausted from lack of sleep.
I had to stay after school to clean up the Geography room… I gave an uncharacteristically smart-ass remark to the teacher thanks to my exhaustion. Not like it makes a difference, I wouldn't be practicing anyways. The broom seems to do all the work itself as I sweep the floors. Once the room is tidied up I head out to get my street shoes. I open the door and a little note slips out. Instantly I crumple it and change my shoes. Halfway to the courts I decide to open the note. "Slut." I crumple the note, toss it into a garbage can, and walk off.
With Buchou's permission I go and watch the boy's practice. Yukimura and I sit on the hill together and watch. I keep my legs pulled to my chest and watch. Yukimura says nothing as we sit there. "Kokawa." He finally says.
"Mhm?" I murmur.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine." I say automatically despite the fact my head is screaming in pain.
"And about the stalker?"
"Scared."
"About Sanada?"
"Confused…. Wait what?" I stare at Yukimura with wide eyes, he smiles sweetly back at me. "What do you mean?"
"I'm curious." Yukimura shrugs and leans back on his hands. "Kirihara is quite smitten with you, that much is incredibly obvious. But Sanada's hard to read, you know that, he's so stoic." Yukimura sighs. "Lately there's been something off about him, I actually heard him laugh the other day. I'm pretty sure everyone in the locker room at the time crapped their pants they were so scared." I burst out laughing and Yukimura joins in.
"You're right though." I admit, "I heard him chuckle the other day too. But it's not because of me. I haven't done anything… we rarely talk and lately with Josh being around I haven't seen much of him."
"So, do you like him?"
I feel my face heat up. "Ah… I… I… yes." I stammer out. "But I don't know anymore! I've never known! I'm so confused Yukimura. I like Niou but we're just friends. I like Kirihara but he's just too sweet and innocent. And then there's Sanada… and I can't ever read him… I don't know what to think Yukimura."
"Talk to him." Yukimura says. "He doesn't know what to think either. The only way to find out is to talk to him right?" Yukimura giggles suddenly, "You two would make a cute couple."
"Yukimura! Don't say things like that." I blush and turn away but take his words to heart. Would we make a cute couple? Would we even make a couple? Oh dear, don't get ahead of myself. I don't even know what he thinks about me. "Oh God, I'm going to his house today." I thump my head against my knees and groan in pain.
"Have fun." Yukimura stands and blows his whistle, ending practice. Sheepishly I hide in the girl's locker room and find Kiyomi and Tsukiko talking.
"Guys…" I mutter walking up behind them gathering their attention. "I'm going over to Sanada's house today… and I think I like him."
"Aw!" Tsukiko and Kiyomi coo loudly. Tsukiko wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me close, "My baby is growing up!"
"I'm not a child." I complain pushing Tsukiko away from me.
"So what's the problem?" Kiyomi leans against the lockers, her arms folded.
"I don't know. I just feel really awkward." Curse me and my stupid crushes.
"Just be natural." Kiyomi shrugs. "You've been friends with this guy since you moved here."
"Yea, you're right." Of course she's right it's Kiyomi after all. I say goodbye and head outside. Sanada's waiting, looking as stoic as usual. Together we walk to the gate where Josh is waiting. "Hey, I'm going to Sanada's house." I tell my blond housemate.
"Huh?" Josh looks from Sanada to me and back again. "Why?"
"His parents invited me over, and I have some questions on my history homework." I lie about the last bit.
"Oh, alright, I guess I'll get take out. You're parents are working late again. Be home at a reasonable time… do you want a ride?"
"Nah, we'll walk." I say politely. When he drives away in my dad's black car (what is my dad driving?) I sigh and drop my shoulders. "Thanks for having me over Sanada-San… I don't know how to feel about Josh right now." Or you for that matter.
"Aa. You're welcome." Sanada says as he tips the brim of his hat down a little bit. My heart starts to hammer and my stomach twists uncomfortable. Stop doing that, it's just Sanada, he's my best friend.
"Hey, Sanada-San?"
"Aa?"
"When's your birthday?" I ask lamely.
"21st of May."
"Oh! That's right around the corner!" I gasp.
"Aa." Sanada says slowly. "And your birthday?"
"November 19th." I say proudly.
"Aa." Sanada says but my mind is elsewhere. His birthday is just around the corner. I have to do something! Right? Oh dear. What do I do?
The walk is quiet but I don't mind. Sanada just gives off an air of confidence, even the footsteps following us doesn't bother me as long as Sanada's beside me. That sounded weird, even to my love-sick self. I shake my head, Sanada glances at me, and I give him a meek smile in return. He huffs and walks a little faster to his house. I trail after him as he opens the door and steps inside. He leads me through the house to the kitchen where his mom is cooking.
"Ah… Hi." I say meekly.
She spins around and when she spots me she pulls me into a tight hug. She smells like a warm home. "Oh it's so good to see you Kokawa-Chan! How have you been? What's wrong with your head? Are you ok?" I assure her it's nothing. "You know you're welcome anytime."
"Kokawa-Chan is here?" Genemon's voice echoes through the house. I giggle as Genemon pulls me into a hug. He smells musky. "Good to see ya little lady. Wow that's quite the bruise there. You're ok right?."
"I'm fine. Thanks for having me over." I bow slightly.
"Anytime dear!" Genemon and Haruko say together. "Supper will be ready shortly." Haruko says as Sanada starts to walk down the hall silently. I trail after him and he leads me into the dojo.
"I'm going to practice." Sanada tells me before he vanishes again. I kneel on the wooden floor and awkwardly wait. Sanada shows up a minute later in traditional clothing with a sword at his hip. "You can do homework, just be quiet… please." Sanada says not looking at me. I can't work on homework, not yet, it's addicting to see him without his hat on and in traditional clothing. Sanada pulls out a straw bundle to practice with and I watch him unsheathe the sword and stand perfectly still for a moment. I hold my breath and as quick as I can blink the bundle is chopped in half with a little shink and an "Ha!". My eyes grow wide as saucers, Sanada is so fast! "You don't need to stare." Sanada mutters.
"Ah, sorry." I dig through my tennis bag for something to work on. Math, I have math homework. Trying to ignore the sound of Sanada practicing I focus on my homework.
"Ha!" Shink. Thunk. I glance up at Sanada and watch how flawlessly he moves.
"How do you do that?" I ask. He freezes midstep and I shrink back into the wall. When he looks at me instead of annoyance I see pride in his eyes. He motions for me to stand and I do. He presses the katana into my hands. I instantly push it back. "No, no, no. It's a bad idea to give me sharp objects."
"You cook." He deadpans. "You deal with sharp knives all the time."
"Well this is different." I push the katana back into his hands.
"It's not that difficult." Sanada insists, he grabs my hands with his and forces me to hold the katana. My heart hammers as Sanada moves my arms through the motion he wants. He stands behind me and pushes my feet into the correct position. I hope he can't hear my heart as he takes my arms and shows me how to move them again. Quick as lightning he places a new straw bundle thing in front of me and steps back. I stare at him. He nods his head towards the bundle and I shake my head.
"This is a stupid idea and you know it." I tell him before focusing back on the bundle.
"Think of it as a cucumber or something." I picture a cucumber but it doesn't help so I push that thought away and stare at the bundle. With a deep breath I ready myself and strike. The katana gets stuck halfway through and I let out a cry. Sanada laughs, honestly laughs, as I tug on the sword to free it. "Sanada!" I whine. He covers his mouth to hide his smile but I can see his eyes twinkle with amusement. "It's not funny!" I let go of the sword and pout. Sanada steps up and pulls it free and slices the thing in half in a second. I pout, "Showoff." Sanada gives me a smirk.
I sulk in my corner and watch Sanada. Inside I'm squealing with happiness, Sanada laughed and honestly smiled at me. He needs to smile more, his whole face lights up when he does. But that's a little idealistic isn't it?
Sanada's mom peeks her head into the dojo not long after and tells us dinner is ready. I trail after her since Sanada needs to change. Genemon pats the seat next to him with a wide grin. I return it and sit down before greeting Sanada's father who seems pleased I'm visiting. They really do like me here don't they? Sanada arrives a minute later and sits on my other side.
"I hope you like yakisoba." Sanada's mom smiles at me. I nod happily and dig in.
"I like this one." Genemon says boldly, "She's got a good appetite on her!" I stop eating. "Unlike Genichi's wife, Nagomi, she doesn't eat hardly at all." I stare at Sanada, a brother? That's married? What more don't I know about Sanada?
"Stop Genemon-Oji-san." Genjirou states, "You're scaring the poor girl."
Genemon slaps me on the back and grins, "Sorry dear. A good appetite is a good thing! Eat up, don't be shy." I let out an awkward laugh and continue to eat.
"Don't mind my father-in-law." Haruko says gently, "You eat as much or as little as you want Kokawa."
"Ah, thanks." I nod my head.
After supper Sanada brings me back to his room since they eat supper quite early. He sits on his bed and starts to read and I find a quiz show on his TV. "You can sit down on my bed, I know it's more comfortable than that chair." Sanada says idly as I answer a question correctly. For a second I debate over sitting on the chair, I agree and crawl onto the bed beside Sanada, he's right his bed is comfortable. It's poofy. I let myself relax as I answer stupid questions.
"Ready to go home?" Sanada asks when the show turns into one of those stupid obstacle course shows.
"Yea." I say without moving, I'm too intent on some former sumo player try and hop across lily pad like structures. Splash! He didn't make it. "You'd be good at that show." I point before sliding off the bed.
"I'd never join a show like that." Sanada scoffs and turns the TV off.
"I'm just saying." I shrug and follow him through the house so I can say goodbye to his parents. It's brisk outside and I shiver due to it. It's not supposed to be this cold, not any more, it's summer time.
"Cold?" Sanada asks as we head towards my house.
"No." I lie.
Warm encases me as Sanada drops his tennis jacket over my shoulders. I can't help myself from curling into it. It's so warm. I breath deeply and I can smell what I can only describe as Sanada, that musky, sort of sweaty, manly smell that follows Sanada everywhere. Yukimura usually smells like flowers. Yanagi smells like books. Niou smells like ginger most of the time and Kirihara smells like sugary foods. I wonder what I smell like, I hope it's something good. I'll ask Kiyomi later.
"Kokawa," Sanada says breaking me from my thoughts, "where are you going?"
"Huh?" I turn and realize I walked by my house. "Oh…" I blush, I was so lost in my thoughts. "Thanks for having me over Sanada-San."
"Anytime. Goodbye."
"Bye." I wait for him to disappear before I head inside. Josh was playing a violent video game and I just walk by him to my room. When I open my door I freeze, thump, my tennis bag slides off my shoulders as I stare at the mess before me. My window shattered, glass was everywhere. I notice a small rock with something tied around it. Who would do something like this? Defeated I go and get a broom and dust pan and start the delicate work of sweeping up all the glass shards. Once I get most of the glass up I get the vacuum and vacuum the floor. Only once my room is clean do I pick up the rock and look at the note.
"This is your last warning. Stay away from them."
I crumple the note. This is just getting ridiculous. I've had enough. I have more important things to worry about it. My attention turns to the open window I now have. With a sigh I saunter downstairs and scribble a note for my dad before sauntering back upstairs. One night won't kill anything. I'll just make sure I have enough blankets to keep warm. Who could be tormenting me so much? Who have I hurt lately? Besides Yamasaki, but I don't think it's her, she's been pretty quite lately. Who could it be?
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A/N: Yup, this is officially a Sanada/OC story. Enjoy. This story is almost finished but I have plans for a sequel and little side stories.