Disclaimer: Prince Of Tennis and its characters belong to Takeshi Konomi-sensei.

"Genichirou! What happened to you? Are you all right?! It's already six in the evening," the mother of Rikkaidai's vice-captain was so surprised to see her son dripping wet from the rain.

Sanada shrugged. "I'm fine, okaa-san." He entered their house and went upstairs. Before he could open the door, he heard his mother calling for his name once again.

"Genichirou! Come down here after you change your clothes, okay?"

"Yes," Sanada opened the door to his room and closed it to keep himself isolated for a few minutes.

This day was exhausting, disappointing and irritating for him. All he wanted is to find peace in himself by practicing Kendo.

After changing from his wet clothes to dry ones, Sanada went downstairs and saw his mother waiting for him. Sanada could sense that something is urgent. He followed after his mother to the living room and saw his father having a chat with an unexpected visitor, who happened to be his grandfather. Sanada was filled with utter shock, but he managed to retain his stoic expression.

"Why is he here?" he asked himself. Paying no heed to the questions that started to fill up his mind, he bowed to them. "Good afternoon."

"Genichirou, please sit." His grandfather told him.

He did what his grandfather told him to and he sat in front of them, with his mother right next to him. The tension in the living room was so dense that Genichirou could not breathe easily. For a moment, silence had invaded the room as the raindrops could be heard from outside. He's right - it has to be something of dire importance.

"Now," His father coughed. "Please listen to your grandfather."

The young man who paid attention to them intently nodded.

"Genichirou, we all know that by the rules of our family, you will be the next one inheriting the highest position of the clan after I pass away," His grandfather said, eyes looking at the stern heir before him. "Before leaving my place, I wanted to make sure that our family is in good hands, to which I wouldn't deny the fact that I'm certain about one thing: I made a good decision of choosing you, Genichirou, to be the descendant of my title. As the time passed, it also came to me that we should bring up your matrimonial issues to guarantee the progression of our bloodline and our noble reputation." His grandfather continued, "That being said, I decided to pick your future wife."

Upon hearing this, Genichirou's eyes widened. His grandfather was not surprised to see his grandson express such emotion; it was natural. "There, there, Genichirou. I know this is kind of shocking, but trust your grandfather's decision. It's for your own good."

Sweat trickled down Genichirou's face as he nearly gasped for air. Him... having.. a.. wife!? He had so many things he want to accomplish, he still wants to prove many-

"Genichirou, I would like to inform you that when I said about deciding on your wife, I did not say you will be marrying her immediately. For now, the two of you will have to stay unmarried for the time being. We are not rushing things here, grandson; this arranged marriage can wait."

Genichirou was able to remain calm after knowing that and asked, "To whom will I be married, grandfather?"

"To Yukari-san of the Azume clan," His grandfather responded.

"Azume clan?" Genichirou contemplated in his mind. He remembered that the said clan is not of aristocracy. Why would he be married to that Yukari?

"The Azume clan does not clearly belong to the upper class like us, but they have been responsible and admirable. They aren't noble, but they aren't like those of landed gentry who hide their soiled blunders and unacceptable faux pas under their golden masks. The Azume clan is a trustworthy clan, and that's why I'm confident they won't fail us-" Genichirou's father was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Ah, there they are," The old man beamed.

"Okaa-san, you're knocking too loudly!" Yukari scolded her mother.

"Relax, Yuuka! By the way, hold that cake or it will end up falling on the floor!"

"But this isn't that big to begin with..."

The door opened. Sanada's mother greeted them: "Azume-san! A pleasant evening to you."

Yukari and her parents bowed before them and with gave the woman a synchronized greeting, "Good evening too, Sanada-san."

"Please, come inside," Sanada's mother had politely invited them to enter the house as Yukari and her parents followed.

Yukari looked around the house when she went in. "Wow, fit for a noble family, eh?" She mumbled to herself while walking along the vast hallway. There were many rooms around in what seemingly looked like an endless hallway, and she observed that the Shoji doors were made of the highest quality. Yukari smirked inwardly and jokingly thought, "Heh, I guess this isn't a bad decision either..."

Yukari turned her head forward only to find out that they already arrived in the huge yet traditional living room of the rich clan. As they went in there, she observed the members of the Sanada family. A strict-looking grandfather, a serious father, and there's her future husband who is-

"EEH!?" Yukari suddenly yelped out. Thank goodness she still had the cake on her hands. Nevertheless, everyone else gave odd looks to Yukari, who lowered her head and felt ashamed of herself. "Way to go, baka Yukari," she murmured silently.

"What is it, Yukari-san?" Sanada's mother asked.

Yukari shook her head and said, "Sorry, Sanada-san; it was nothing." She helplessly makes a fool out of herself all the time.

To tell the truth, seeing Yukari there also made the Genichirou a bit startled. His body stiffened even more and his eyes glistened with a different kind of light. The ditzy girl who bumped into him this afternoon and the one who's gonna marry him soon... is just the same person!?

Genichirou could only sigh in exasperation. He rubbed his temples repeatedly after absorbing all the facts into his mind. "Yes, I think I'll be needing to practice Kendo more often than not," he thought.

After two painstaking hours passed (during that hour, both parties have talked about Yukari transferring to Rikkaidai, other negotiations and the like), Yukari's parents decided to leave for home.

"Thank you very much for this wondrous opportunity to meet you, Sanada-sama," her parents bowed to Genichirou's grandfather and shook hands with him. "We will not fail you, and we promise to return the trust that you gave to us."

Genichirou could see his grandfather's face painted in satisfaction. "It's clear, then - Genichirou and Yukari-san will be both married to each other soon."

"No, I don't want to hear that sentence again!" Genichirou screamed inside, while Yukari tried to hold herself from fainting.

"Yes, they will make a happy couple and make beautiful children for us," Sanada's father smiled. Genichirou really needed aspirin at that moment. Yukari definitely felt the urge to bang her head against the wall.

As they were about to leave, Sanada's mother notified them, "It's still raining heavily outside. Are you sure you want to leave now?"

"Now that you think about it," Yukari's father nodded.

"Saa, why don't you all stay in here for tonight? Feel free to use the guest rooms." An air of welcoming warmth passed through the Azume family.

"Oh, thank you! But we'll be fine," Yukari's father said, "except for Yuuka-chan here.."

Yukari gulped. She was detected what her parents were planning. "This is not good," she bit her lip.

"Yes," there was tone of mischief in her mother's voice, "Yuuka-chan, you can stay here for tonight. Isn't that all right, Sanada-sama?"

Sanada's parents happily nodded, "Of course, it's alright."

Yukari could feel her parents chuckling evilly behind her. They will pay for this one day, she thought.

"Okaa-san, I think I should go with-"

"AAAHH! MY FOOT! IT HURTS! YUKARI, GOODBYE!" Before she could even get up and hold them back, Yukari's father dragged his wife out and left their daughter in her husband would-be's residence.

Yukari turned her head to Sanada's parents and bowed before them, "I am sorry for what happened."

Sanada's mother gave a pat on Yukari's back, "Don't mind it, Yukari-san. Come in, you are welcome here, since you are my future daughter-in-law, right? Fufufu.."

"On a second thought," Yukari told herself, "My parents could be less insane than the ones here."

"Ne, since you'll be together soon, why don't you sleep in Genichirou's room tonight?"

"EEEH!?" The soon-to-be-couple shrieked in unison.

No, no, no, this couldn't be happening, Sanada thought. A girl in his room!? He wanted to say no, but his "obedient son" instincts came in as he nodded before he could refuse, he found himself with Yukari in a single room. His room, to be exact.

She just sat there like a newly-transported package box, all fragile and stiff. He was thankful that she was not annoying and loud, though. Nevertheless, she was weird. Was it her first time seeing a carpeted floor that she kept looking at it?

"Ehem," he coughed, and she suddenly lifted her head up, wiggling from her sitting position in fear. Yes, she should be scared.

"First of all, I would like to make it clear that there should be no body contact between the two of us tonight," Sanada told her in an authoritative tone. He does care about his virginity in any case.

Yukari just nodded. After that, Sanada handed her a very thick book which had "Rules for guests" on its cover. She blinked a few times at him. "You prepared this, Sanada-kun?"

"No." He said curtly.

"This is challenging," she thought. "Sanada-kun is a very reserved man. I should do my best to be a woman who can be his source of strength!" Yukari's eyes were shining with determination. The other person on the room, however, was too busy looking outside to notice. Sanada just wanted to end everything now. She wasn't his responsibility (...yet), but he feels restless.

"Sanada-kun," he heard her soft voice call out, reminding him of the sound cats make when they purr, "Could you explain the eleventh rule, please?" she timidly asked.

They were total opposites, he noted, and there's only one place he could see where his future leads to because of this: Hell.

"Give me that," he commanded her. Yukari followed and soon he explained to her the rules. All 123 rules to be exact.

Yukari would only nod during those 45 minutes of Sanada's explanation. She was grateful that there was no rule that said breathing is not allowed.

"I need to go somewhere else," Sanada said, carrying his kendo sword with him as he opened the door.

"Wait here."

Yukari gave her the look of agreement and after that, he left her alone in his room. Yukari opened the rule book again, trying to understand why such book exists in the first place. Her mind was floating around something else... then, he came into her mind. Genichirou Sanada.

Remembering his face and eyes, she shook her head and suppressed all her thoughts about him. She was not going to act like a sick fangirl, for her own sake.

"Why can't I stop thinking of him?"

It was already midnight and Yukari was still all by herself in the room. She was now wearing a sleeping yukata (Sanada's mother was kind enough to lend her one) and was on the cold floor, trying to fall into a peaceful slumber.

"Well, how could one sleep tight if they're in someone else's room, not to mention it's a room owned by your future spouse?"

Yukari looked outside and saw that the rain had ceased to fall. The clouds made way for the brilliant stars that shone endlessly that night. She smiled at them, and hoped for a shooting star to come.

She gazed at the velvet moon, its light bathing her in full white. There was nothing but the cold wind that brushed her long, violet hair as it went through her direction. Yukari froze with the sensation.

After a few minutes, a falling object passed by her eyes. "A shooting star!" she said.

She closed her palms together and made a wish... for someone.

After wishing, Yukari stood up and left the room to search for Sanada. His house is too huge for her that eventually, she got lost. Yukari frantically searched her way back to Sanada's room when sensed a familiar aura behind one of the doors near her.

Making sure she will not be caught red-handed, Yukari made an effort to walk silently as she approached the door and slowly sliding it open a bit.

A second after that, she was stunned.

An enchanting, handsome young man was practicing with a katana in the midst of the late night. She could not take her eyes off this magnificent being; she fell into his alluring spell. His deep brown eyes were shining more brightly than those stars that she had seen, with a commanding gaze that can put any soldier to shame. His clothes exposed his manly chest and well-toned muscles; his strong arms holding on to the sword with the least effort he had to make. He was dream that came into life, she thought. Yukari had never seen someone this perfect at kendo. He turned around as he slashed everything behind him in a precise lift of the sword. She realized that he was really too far from him, like comparing a soaring eagle with a flightless bird. He-

"What are you doing here?"

Yukari gasped upon hearing his voice. She was pondering deeply about him that she did not notice she was exposed. She sighed, lowered her head down.. and bowed. "I'm sorry." she weakly spoke, trembling with fear.

His eyes were menacing with anger, as fierce as the tiger's. She was the prey and he was the predator.

"Go back to the room, now! Don't ever do that, or I'll make you regret it. Leave!" His reprimanding voice stabbed through her heart.

Her feet wouldn't move. She was too frightened.

"Didn't you hear me?" she looked up to him, and she thought he was significantly different from what she had previously seen. She made a promise to herself to never make Sanada angry ever again.

Her eyes were streaming with tears as she left immediately, gathering the strength to rise and walk away. "Idiot!" She hid her face behind her hands and ran away. It was her fault, wasn't it? She should have listened, but no, she was taken away by the young man's greatness that she forgot she was nothing but a mere shadow to him.

"Girls.." Sanada shook his head.

He missed it again. For the fifth time.

Sanada held down his katana. His concentration was completely lost.

"Why can't I hit it right this time?"

Feeling that he had enough practice for that night, Sanada returned to his room. He felt that sleeping could only save his distracted mind.

He slowly opened the door to not awake everyone. Afterwards, he saw her.

She was already sleeping.. on the floor. Sanada approached his sleeping future wife and glanced at his bed. The bedsheets weren't wrinkled and the blankets were still folded neatly like what it looked like this morning, so that means she has not slept nor sat on his bed.

"There were no rules saying that it's not allowed to sleep on this bed," Sanada thought. He looked back at Yukari, staring at her face. She was curled up to herself and she had no blankets whatsoever, just sleeping on the floor. Light from the Sun suddenly crossed through her face and he noticed a single teardrop on her eyes that sparkled for second before it flowed down on her face. She was holding on to herself very tightly, arms clutched to her body. Yukari looked like a small child dozing off.

Sanada felt his heart being pinched while looking at her. Normally, this doesn't even break out his cold heart. "Perhaps I was too harsh?" his brows furrowed together. He felt guilty for the girl. She was too scared. This is a miserable beginning for both of them.

The emperor of Rikkaidai sighed as he resigned to all his thoughts and went to his bed. He wanted to take a long nap or his head will burst out of stress!

Sanada had been in his bed for two hours, but still failed to sleep. Feeling disturbed, he gave up on sleeping and stood up. He looked over at Yukari, who was still on the floor.

"For a guest like her.." he thought. "She doesn't deserve this."

He silently went near Yukari and carried her carefully in his arms, making sure that she doesn't wake up. She was a bit heavy, Sanada noted, but there were things heavier than her that he carried before, so he didn't mind it. Her body was so close to his, her breath touching his bare skin. Yes, and this was Sanada who said any body contact between him and Yukari must not be established. As he laid her down on his bed, he could hear her heartbeat beating harmonically with his and a gentle whisper from her dreams that flung to his ears. "I'm sorry..." he heard.

Sanada sighed, his eyes unable to look at her. He felt his cheeks turn red. No, Sanada would never blush, or rather, Sanada Genichirou can never be seen blushing in front of people, even those who are close to him.

"No, I should be the one saying sorry to you," he thought as he gazed sternly at her. He wasn't as cold as what they think he is! He knows that he should apologize if it was his fault.

Sanada wrapped her in a blanket before leaving the room.

A/N: I don't know what Sanada's residence really looks like (I have only seen the dojo), so let's just assume there is a staircase there. ^^;) I also apologize if this chapter sounded boring, but I promise I will make the next chapters better than this! I swear, writing this chapter was very, very, difficult.

Oh, and "Yuuka" is Yukari's nickname. I think "Yuuka" sounds better than "Yuka", ne?

Next on chapter 3: House transferring, more rules.. will Sanada and Yukari's relationship be developed? Or will another fight ensue?

Thank you for reading.