Disclaimer: I don't own The Prince of Tennis.
Author: abc thanks for your review. I will try and update as often as I can. I am so happy that you like this story! The next words are for everyone else, this chapter is short because I had to split it into two chapters so the next one will come as soon as I finish proof reading it. Cheers!
Chapter Nine: Meeting the Rikkai Regulars (Part Five)
Yanagi was having a wonderful day. His mind was filled with happy little angels of data singing and blowing horns. All that new data to be noted down and recorded. Oh, the joy of tennis and being in the tennis club with all these interesting people from whom he could collect data from.
He noted down everything at a ferocious rate; from Bunta, Jackal and Akaya's stupid looks down to Niou's clenched fists and slightly narrowed eyes.
He was so ecstatic that his brain was even more active than usual, though no one would notice his strange mood because he was excellent at keeping a poker face. He had hoped that Akaya would provide him with new data but this was too good to be true.
Who would have guessed that Yukimura Seiichi, the reserved, gentle but aloof Yukimura Seiichi, would have the potential to be a sweetheart, a heart-throb, no, a prince of love!
Yanagi finished that last bit and realized that he might have been a bit too flowery in his language, most unlike his usual self. Second thought told him that it was not every day that you get so much interesting data so he was entitled to his little fit of weirdness.
He looked up from his musings and saw that Sanada had gently put Sakuno's foot back on the ground with his jacket under it so it would not get scratched by the rough ground.
Yukimura, not realizing he had caused such excitement for his friends, released Sakuno's hand, patted her on the knee and stood up. He then told Yagyuu to check Sakuno's bandages to see if they were still in place. Akaya heard and inwardly groaned, "So they did notice the bunny stand up…"
Sanada mumbled to Bunta and Jackal to stay with Sakuno and Yagyuu while he had a 'talk' with the cocky Junior Ace. Then he took hold of Akaya's ear, pulled and twisted; his strength enabling him to dislodge Akaya from the bench and he dragged the younger boy after him.
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Yukimura did not do anything to stop him. He may be gentle but he had a strict sense of honor and honor told him that Akaya, who should have been watching over Sakuno, allowed her to be in danger of worsening her injury. Thus he must be punished for his lapse.
Yanagi, on the other hand, was alarmed that after Sanada was through with him, Akaya would no longer be able to tell him anything.
He hurried to catch up with the annoyed Emperor and the yelping Junior Ace, hoping to rescue Akaya before Sanada started whatever it was that he was about to do.
Certainly, Yanagi also thought that Akaya should be punished because data-collecting-maniac that he was, he did not want to harm the little girl. However he thought that the punishing could wait but Akaya's memory could not.
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He reached them just as Sanada was dragging Akaya around to the back of the changing rooms. Yanagi noticed absentmindedly that at this distance and with the wind blowing the other way, it was unlikely that Sakuno would be able to hear any sound that Akaya made.
Then it hit him, the revelation that the others' behavior around Sakuno was unconsciously rubbing off on Sanada! Normally, Sanada would just yell at Akaya in front of everyone or would have directly given him a sharp slap on the face. It had happened before even in formal matches in front of other schools.
This time, he was actually taking care to drag Akaya away out of hearing distance, just so that Sakuno would not be distressed. Yanagi was truly surprised now but he pushed this bit of new data to the back of his mind because he needed to rescue Akaya first.
He caught hold of Sanada's hand just as it was about to descend onto Akaya's cheek. Yanagi shook his head and whispered in Sanada's ears, "Let me handle this, Genichirou."
With those words, he released Sanada's hand with both Sanada and Akaya looking at him in surprise.
In all these years, he had never interfered with Sanada's ways of discipline. Therefore Sanada, angry though he was, stepped back and said, "I'll go see if the girl is alright."
Yanagi nodded at him and when Sanada disappeared round the corner, he turned to Akaya, who was looking at him warily. Yanagi said dryly, "I told you to talk to her so she would forget about her injuries. It seemed you succeeded too well; she actually stood up."
Akaya just glared at him in his insolent way. Yanagi ignored him and continued, "I want to know what it was that you said to Ryuzaki to cause her to 'literally' forget her injuries and stand up in such a hurry."
Akaya thought for a moment, then decided that it would be in his best interests to answer, "I was asking her why'd she cry back then and said that buchou was upset because he thought that he made her cry. The bunny… Sakuno got upset and said she wasn't crying because of buchou but because she was worried about Niou-senpai and Bunta-senpai. I said it looked more like buchou made her cry to the rest of us and she wanted to explain to buchou and stood up so suddenly that I couldn't catch her. I didn't know she would be so silly that she would forget about her ankle. If I'd know, I would've kept my mouth shut, honest."
Yanagi believed him because he knew Akaya was too proud to lie, so he nodded slowly. "I believe you and I'll talk to Genichirou and Seiichi for you. However, you will have to do something for Ryuzaki, whether she wants you to or not. Otherwise, no matter what I say, Genichirou will insist on giving you special training and Seiichi will agree."
Akaya looked relieved and not so sullen. He could not believe that he was let off so lightly.
He did not smirk his usual smirk as he answered, "Sure, even if senpai hadn't said anything, I'd still take care of her." Inwardly he thought to himself, "She's my bunny after all."
Yanagi was pleased; he got some new data, he had an excuse to let Akaya off because after Akaya's explanation, he felt that the situation was more an accident than anything really to do with Akaya's lapse. Moreover, he was now feeling slightly guilty about the fact that he had a part in letting Akaya near Ryuzaki.
If not, he would not have cared less if Sanada had really thrashed Akaya. It was not as if he had never been thrashed anyway, usually by Yukimura, Sanada or Yanagi himself during a practice match.