"Be respectful, but unforgiving," Yukimura told Renji as he prepared for his match against Obara. They decided it was best that Renji go first, then Sanada. Yukimura would take the final match, which was fine, considering Yukimura planned to destroy Obara Koji - completely.

"I am aware of the plan," Renji said in as close to exasperation as Yukimura had ever heard him.

"Is there a problem, Renji?" Yukimura slung an arm over Renji's shoulder and bent down, to all appearances cheerful and supportive. "This is not the time to be having insecurities. You promised me a win, now deliver." A pat to Renji's shoulder and Yukimura was off to stand with Marui. Marui needed grooming, but he would be excellent for Yukimura's team – Singles 3, or perhaps doubles if Renji decided he wanted a singles position. There was the matter of securing a partner for Marui, but Yukimura would worry about that next year. Now the important thing was to earn Marui's trust and respect, the last more so than the first.

"He gonna be okay?" Marui crooked a thumb toward Renji. Marui was perceptive when it came to people, which was rare. "He looks kinda nervous." Marui squinted. "Or like he's really afraid of something."

&-&

There was a 68 percent chance that Renji would lose. He chose not to share this statistic with anyone, particularly Yukimura, because, despite the odds, Renji was going to win. There was no choice, really. He won or he upset Yukimura. Renji was not willing to upset Yukimura.

As Obara stretched on the other side of the court, Renji tried to analyze his physical condition. Obara's lunges were lower than usual, which meant his flexibility was in good form. Net play, then, was not an option.

A hand fell on Renji's shoulder. "His wrist loses strength after he smashes. He will always smash a lob. Take advantage and use a heavy shot when you can." Sanada patted Yanagi's shoulder and returned to the circle of onlookers.

Renji frowned. He was not so weak that he needed to take advice from Sanada. Granted, Sanada's playing had improved in a very limited timeframe, but Sanada was still a kendo player turned tennis player and Renji'd been holding a racquet since he could count.

"Game time," Miyabashi called.

&-&

"Sanada, what do you think of the game so far?" Yukimura and Sanada were alone on Renji's half of the court. Marui, per instruction, was standing with the regulars, being a good lapdog and gathering information.

Sanada looked down at Yukimura but didn't say anything for a long moment. Instead, he studied the other boy intently. Finally, he said, "There is a good chance he will lose."

"Oh?" Yukimura stepped closer, shoulder to shoulder with Sanada.

"He is not playing seriously and his concentration is broken." Sanada pointed to the court. "His footwork is off. His steps are irregular and losing him ground. Obara's play style allows him to hit various points on the court and Renji's pace is too slow."

Yukimura crossed his arms in front of his chest to avoid looping his arm around Sanada's. "I see. How observant of you."

Sanada shrugged. "I am accustomed to watching the movement of others."

"That must be a handy skill. We'll have to discuss it once we're regulars, teach our team the finer points." Yukimura lifted a smile to Sanada before turning back to the game in progress. Sanada's perception would lend itself well to doubles. Sanada's attitude, however, would be counterproductive in a doubles setting. Sanada would remain Singles 2.

"It is a skill learned in kendo. After a year in our dojo's care, you will have mastered it if you are able."

Yukimura turned back to Sanada, not liking Sanada's superior tone in the least. "I can assure you that it is a skill I can and will master, Sanada, with or without your assistance."

"You are different here." Sanada turned to watch Yanagi score a point. Four games all. "I prefer you this way."

"Is that so?" Yukimura liked Sanada better when he was playing tennis, too. The stern mask melted into a fiery determination in whose heat Yukimura could bask for hours. "Perhaps after I play your thoughts will change." Yukimura gave in and slid his hand down Sanada's arm. "People are very different when they step onto the court, Sanada."

Sanada looked at Yukimura's hand but didn't stir to remove it. "I prefer you this way." He turned back to the match, allowing Yukimura's hand to stay.

&-&

Yanagi lost, 7-5. When he exited the courts, Yukimura was waiting. "You won the required three games. You're a regular now. You did well." Yukimura's tone was vacant and his eyes grazed over the top of Renji's head. "I admit to expecting a little more from you, but I'm sure you'll train, ne?" Yukimura's hand fell like lead on Renji's shoulder. His nails dug into the aching muscles.

"It will not happen again," Renji said. He'd say anything to get Yukimura away. All he really wanted right now was a water bottle and a quiet, dark place to nap. He'd never played so hard in his life and lost so horribly. It was an embarrassment.

"See that it doesn't." Yukimura lifted his hand. "Twenty minutes, then you're up, Sanada."

A shadow fell over Renji and a water bottle was pushed into his hands. "Thanks, Genichirou."

Sanada walked with Renji to a tree a few paces off the main walkway. "Come to the dojo on Saturday. We will correct your mistakes." Sanada handed Renji a towel and left, arms swinging to loosen them up for the match. Sanada would win. Renji had no doubts about that.

&-&

Yukimura's eyes never left Sanada. Every arch of the racquet, every curl of muscle, Yukimura wanted to take it all in. Memorize it. Store it for later use. He didn't care how Obara was playing. Obara played tennis like a trained baboon, dashing forward and back with no skill. Yukimura would destroy him.

"Game, Sanada, four games all!" The crowd gasped at the call, still not believing that Sanada could hold his own, even so late in the game.

"His backhand sucks," Marui said, popping his bubblegum. "That weird stance he's using is pretty powerful, but I don't think anyone else has the flexibility or the muscle to use it." Another pop.

"Is that so?" Yukimura drew his eyes away from Sanada with reluctance. "An interesting observation, Marui-kun."

Marui shrugged. "Call it like I see it. He's gonna win anyway. Obara's tiring out and Sanada hasn't used that move yet." Pop. "Hey Yukimura?"

"Yes?" Marui's gum was getting on Yukimura's nerves and, while Marui was often insightful, his ramblings were hampering Yukimura's ability to focus on the match.

"Just a quick word of advice." Marui spit his gum into a nearby bush and slid his hands into his uniform pockets.

"And what is that?"

Marui grinned and tapped the corner of his mouth. "Two things actually. First, don't drool when you watch him. Second, if you want everyone to follow you, you gotta act like you're someone worth following." Marui turned and skipped toward the other side of the courts, leaving Yukimura alone while he waited for Renji to return from a mandated beverage run. Sanada would be thirsty at the end of the match.

&-&

When the game was finally called in his favor, Sanada fell to the courts, his legs no longer willing to support him. He lay there, panting and staring up at the hazy sky until a shadow fell over him.

"Help him up, Renji." Yukimura stood over Sanada, arms crossed over his chest, warm-up jacket hanging loosely over his shoulders. "You won, Genichirou, but barely. I expect better next time." Yukimura crooked his finger and Renji helped Sanada up off the ground.

"Don't mind him, Genichirou. He's just nervous about the match. You played well." Renji's arms were still shaking from his own match.

"No," Sanada said, turning to see Yukimura begin his stretches. "He's right. It was horrible." Sanada gripped his racquet and shook off Renji's support.

Renji knocked Sanada across the back of the head with a bottled water. "You won, be grateful. We have half an hour until Yukimura's match. Obara needs time to recover. Go take a shower."

&-&

Renji speculated but had never come to a conclusion about Yukimura Seiichi's tennis. After Yukimura's first rally with Obara, Renji knew, without a doubt, that he never wanted to be on Yukimura's bad side. Yukimura, when serious, drove the ball hard and deep in cross-court shots that had you scrambling for every rally, every point. And, in the end, after you'd been lulled by the pattern, Yukimura hit a drop shot and, in your haste to retrieve it, you skinned open your arms or your chest or, in Obara's case, your face.

Yukimura smirked a little as he stood at the net, waiting for Obara to get up. "Fifteen-love," he said. His eyes were distant and hollow. His voice rang across the courts like a death bell.

"Impressive," Sanada said, sipping at a juice box. "A wider stance would've dropped the ball closer to the net, though."

Renji doubted Sanada even registered the blood sliding down Obara's face. "You have to leave something for the rest of the match, Genichirou. You can't play at full power from the start."

Sanada pulled the juice box from his lips and looked down at Renji. "Yukimura can."

&-&

Yukimura looked down at the blood spiders on the court. "We should clean the court before we continue, Obara-senpai. You could slip." Yukimura knew his voice was deeper than usual. His mother said he sounded scary when he was upset. He was hoping she was right. "You should clean your face up, too. If you sweat any more, it'll start to sting."

He could feel Sanada's eyes on him, like a blanket of nettles, stinging and questioning and digging. Sanada was probably memorizing every step to analyze later. If Yukimura didn't show what he'd gained from kendo practices, Sanada would work him harder during the weekend's practice, just as Yukimura planned to work Sanada harder at tennis practice because of his sloppy backhand. Yukimura almost wanted to miss a step, just to ensure their time together would be of maximum intensity.

"I'm fine," Obara gurgled, spitting out dirt. "The court's fine too. Your serve."

&-&

After Yukimura won the third game, none of the onlookers said anything. Obara's panting echoed in the air. "No more," he said, hand twitching around his racquet. The wounds from earlier were bleeding afresh after another dive to the cement. His arms were mangled and scratched. He'd fought valiantly, but couldn't take a point from the demon across the court.

"You must be tired from your earlier matches, senpai. We can continue tomorrow if you like."

The sun was already gone. Crickets chirped and cicadas sang as moths committed lamplight suicide.

"No more," Obara whispered, still on the ground.

Yukimura's shoulders relaxed, his grip on his racquet slackened. "If you say so, senpai. Let's get you to the clubhouse and clean you up." He pointed to a mass of Obara's supporters. "You three! Help him to the clubhouse. The rest of you, clean this court. It's disgusting. Sanada! Yanagi! Come with me!"

The court erupted in movement. Nets were struck and brooms and mops were brought out to clean the court of blood and dirt. Obara limped away, supported by two regulars. The third carried his bag.

"This is our court now," Yukimura said, taking in the practice grounds with a grand gesture. "I'm thinking we should play singles at the upcoming tournament, don't you think?"

"Agreed. I won't disgrace you," Renji said.

Yukimura patted Renji's cheek. "Good. What about you, Sanada?"

Sanada looked down and arched an eyebrow. "I thought the question was rhetorical."

"I'm always interested in what my fukubuchou has to say." Yukimura curled his arm around Sanada's.

"You aren't buchou yet." Sanada moved Yukimura's arm and stepped a few feet away.

Yukimura laughed. "You're so cute when you're being dense, Sanada. Perhaps Renji will explain it to you. I should go check on senpai to make sure his wounds aren't too severe. I also want to arrange our lockers. I like the ones near the door, don't you?" Yukimura walked off, still laughing.

"You let him call you cute," Renji said, offering Sanada another juice box. Neither boy had the urge to follow Yukimura into the regular's clubhouse yet. "I take it you are fond of him."

"Only when he plays tennis," Sanada said. "Otherwise he's annoying and a hindrance to my objectives."

Renji shook his head. "He's in charge now. You'd better get used to listening to him, Genichirou, or you'll be cut from the team."

The strongest man was always the leader at Rikkaidai, no matter his age. It was the reason Sanada had selected the school in the first place. "I am aware," he said.

"You do not have to continue with the tennis club if you do not wish to, Genichirou. The kendo club will gladly take you back, though it is unlikely that Yukimura would let the transition occur smoothly."

Sanada looked toward the clubhouse and frowned. "Let's go. I want a top locker. Yukimura will find me one at the bottom."

"To improve the flexibility of your waist, yes." Renji grinned and began to walk with Sanada toward the regular's clubhouse. "Why are you blushing, Sanada?"

Sanada cleared his throat and straightened his posture. "The flexibility of my waist is fine, Renji."

"I was teasing you, Genichirou."

"I was aware."