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

The Sun had greeted Sanada and Yukari late in the morning. The stern vice-captain opened his eyes slowly and he saw a familiar face close to him.

It was Yukari, who was still sleeping soundly by his side. Sanada moved his eyes around to see that his arms had been holding on to Yukari's hips, and his face was only an inch away from her. Yes, he decided last night that there was nothing wrong with sleeping next to his fiancée in one bed, and since the floor was too cold for him, Sanada sneaked up to his bed.

Holding Yukari while he was unconscious of it was not in his plans, though. He felt his head cringe as he carefully removed his hands from the girl's hips. Her hair was fluttering on his cheeks and her breath meekly touched his bare neck. He can't deny to himself that it felt good to touch her skin, for it was so soft, but he knows how to hold himself back. "This is not becoming of me."

After a few minutes, it finally dawned on Sanada that there was school today. Not only for him, but for Yukari, too! He gritted his teeth in anger and blamed his lost of self-discipline for what happened. He stood up on his bed, letting go of the girl beside him and went out of the room. This woke Yukari up.

"Hmm.." she searched for the clock, and found it standing on the coffee table. "Seven in the morning.." she thought absentmindedly. "Wait. Seven in the morning!?"

That's when the clumsy female hurriedly fixed herself up and made the bed before leaving the bedroom. Yukari was surprised to see that her uniform for Rikkaidai had already been there (she even thought that her parents were really plotting about this engagement that they had her new uniform prepared ahead of time), but there was no remaining time to ponder about it. Especially at this very minute.

"Remember, when we're at school, forget that we know each other," he commanded her icily.

"Yes," she nodded.

Sanada doesn't like this idea. The idea of letting Yukari enter Rikkaidai. Is it really necessary to send them to same schools? He was totally certain his head was catching up on another migraine. His obnoxious teammates wouldn't really help either, so this morning, Sanada was less enthusiastic to attend practice.

He glanced over at Yukari, who was walking up behind him. Her eyes continued to look on the ground, her head perpetually lowered like a poor slave. Was she angry to him because of what happened last night? Did she resent him? Sanada realized that he was not thinking the "Sanada" way anymore, so he shrugged off all his thoughts and raised his head up and high, like the noble, stoic emperor we know, walking his way to Rikkai.

Sanada noticed the shimmering Sun up above, together with the white patches on the sky also known as the clouds. The cicadas were chirping peacefully like nothing happened yesterday. Rain fell madly the day before this morning, actually. He had lots of things to do today and the tennis regulars need to be trained to the fullest for the nationals. Even though it was clearly seen that their third win at the Nationals is at the palm of their hands, they shouldn't be overly careless. The-

THUMP.

Sanada felt something bumped into his back. He turned around and saw Yukari. He frowned at her, "What's the problem?"

Yukari looked at him with an apologetic look, "I'm sorry, Sanada-kun. I didn't see you stopped walking and I kept on moving forward so I.. uh, bumped into you." once again, she stated in her mind.

Sanada blinked. He stopped walking?

He gave her the look of doubt. Yukari started to feel chilly. She tried to think of a way to divert his attention. They're not going to fight up just because he stopped walking!

"Uh.. Sanada-kun, I think we are late," she smiled sheepishly at him.

Oh no.

Thank goodness Sanada had a skill for stealth. He was not sure what other people who saw him on the street thought of him, though. Running madly with a girl he carried in a kidnapper-like style, tch. He was starting to disappoint his family and destroy their reputation.

When they were just a step away from the school's gate, Sanada reminded Yukari: "Do not forget what I said, or something you don't like might happen," his stern face was in place.

"Yes, Sanada-kun," yay for making my life more miserable, she thought.

As the couple entered the gate, they both parted ways and went to their respective classes. Yukari felt as if she was entering a new dimension since Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku Chuu (way too long for a school name, Yukari noted) looked entirely different from her former school. Aside from that, she's officially lost!

Yukari looked everywhere and frantically searched for her classroom. "It wasn't my fault anyway! It's my first day here and I don't even know that I'll be transferring to this school at first place!"

"3-B, 3-B, 3-B... WHERE IS THAT ROOM!?" Yukari ran from here to there like a crazy nut case on the hallway.

Sanada opened the door and was relieved to see that their teacher was not there yet. Yukimura and Yanagi were already in their respective seats, though.

"Just in time, Genichirou," the data master greeted him as Sanada went to sit on his chair. "Konamura-sensei will soon be here approximately after 2.43 minutes."

"Good morning, Sanada. Has something happened?" Their captain would never fail to give him a teasing smile every single day.

"Hn."

"There is 34 percent chance that Genichirou woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Yanagi nodded.

"Much more accurate if you say I woke up beside a person who is wrong to be on my bed this morning." Sanada thought.

"Your prediction seems fairly accurate, Yanagi, as we see the emperor forgetting to wear his neck tie today," Yukimura's smile grew wider.

Sanada looked at his uniform. Oh dear, why a model student like him forget the uniform code!? Sanada realized how beautiful and smooth his desk was that morning, and how rightful it is for him to slam his head on it.

By the end of classes, everything went well for Yukari. Fortunately, this "Yagyuu Hiroshi" helped her find her room and she was thankful for a gentleman like him. The sad part is that when Yukari entered the room, their teacher arrived way too earlier than her.

She was all by herself. Not that they're afraid of her or something, but no one would approach. "Heh, still the same here. I'm the 'Shadow' of the class."

As Yukari took a glance outside the window, she noticed some tennis courts within the school grounds. "I want to see Sanada-san there!" she felt excitement rushing to her nerves. Yukari knew that Sanada was part of Rikkai's tennis club due to the huge tennis bag she saw him carry.

As she was about to leave her seat, she remembered about what Sanada said to her.

"Remember, when we're at school, forget that we know each other."

"Maybe I should be away from him when we're at school then. Aw, no fun!" she glowered. She just wants to see him practice, yet she restrained herself from doing so.

She looked back outside the window, and decided for herself that she should just wait for Sanada after he's done with his tennis practice.

"The accuracy training is over. Move over to the tennis courts and have your practice matches with your designated partners!" Sanada announced. If ever one of them slacks off, then they may need an awakening slap by himself!

"Hai!"

The emperor continued to stand there, amidst the heat of the tangerine Sun, observing everyone from the regulars to the other tennis members. Yes, all of them must be in order and this is also a good way of distracting himself from all those events in their house.

Not to mention his fiancée (he dubbed her as his "nightmare"), was in the same school as him. Sanada let out an exasperated sigh. This did not pass through Yukimura's eyes without any notice. He approached the vice captain and asked, "Is there something wrong, Sanada?"

"There is, there is! In our house! Oh, if only I could tell you what kind of miserable events fate has endowed upon me for the last twenty four hours," Sanada screamed inside his mind, but of course, he wouldn't say that aloud. Especially in front of the regulars. "I'm fine, Don't worry." he replied.

"Hmm.. but your face contradicts your statement. You look.. disturbed." Yukimura told him. "Would you like to play a match against me, so that we'll be able to do something worthwhile during practice?" he smiled.

Sanada nodded.

"Let me just get my tennis racket first."

While doing so, Sanada's eyes absentmindedly glanced at the cerulean sky, then at the school building. Everyone has already left their... wait, who's that girl on the window!?

Sanada frowned. So she was looking at them... or only at him?

"Sanada?" Oops, he was taking so long just to get his racket.

Sanada walked in and with the tennis racket in his hands, said: "Let's play."

"Fufufu, this is going to be interesting."

"Game and match won by Sanada, 7-6!"

Yukimura and Sanada's match lasted the whole afternoon, as the two fiercely played against one another. Sanada gained an upper hand with the incredibly swift return, blazing with utter speed.

"Congratulations, Sanada. It's your first win," Yukimura smiled.

"Hn," Sanada just hid his eyes under his cap.

"I guess that's it for today," Yukimura gave Sanada "the look" and the latter nodded.

"Everyone! Gather up!"

All of the tennis club members and regulars stood up together in front of the two.

"Keep on practicing and improving your skills," Yukimura said. "As for the regulars, you should not let yourselves be injured for the upcoming tournaments. Follow the menu Sanada has provided. That's all; tennis practice is dismissed!"

"Yes, buchou!" everyone replied in unison.

"That was a very boring practice, puri!" Niou stretched out his arms in mid air as he yawned. He was the first one to finish packing up things in the tennis club.

"How come it was boring, then?" Marui, with underlying annoyance on his tone of voice, asked.

"I played with you, that's why. You were so boring, piyo!" Niou snickered.

"Mind repeating that again, you good-for-nothing trickster!?" Marui gritted his teeth, anger fuming in his eyes.

"Oi, oi! Stop fighting, you two!" Yagyuu was stopping the two from yet another bickering.

Once again, the smirking petenshi had a winning victory against the irate ball of fat.

"Let's go home, buchou! I'm hungry!" Akaya winced.

Yukimura pat his head and smiled. "Wait a little more, Kirihara. Jackal will offer you his sandwich, for now. Ne, Jackal?

Jackal froze. He knew what will happen when doesn't surrender his beloved sandwich to the captain. How come he knows what he's bringing one everyday!?

"Y-Yes, Yukimura-buchou."

Akaya happily ate the sandwich like a little kid while Jackal was sulking in one corner. When everyone was done, they left the clubroom and Sanada locked the door.

When they were out of the school, Sanada suddenly saw a familiar person that stood by the gate of the school. Could it be?

"Sanada-kun! Ah- oops!" Yukari was about to approach Sanada when she saw Yukimura and the others with him. "This isn't a good time.."

She lowered her head and went to the opposite direction where Sanada and his teammates were heading to.

"I guess this isn't the best time to walk together with him," she thought, feeling lonely for the first time. "I just want to walk with him on our way home. Heck, even walk behind him. I just want to know him more. I just.. oh well, I am just nothing, anyway. I am just Yukari, for God's sake! That marriage plan shouldn't be there at the first place! I hate it! I hate it!"

Yukari was apparently too busy pondering about her thoughts that she didn't mind where her feet would bring her to. When she was finally out of her reveries, she found out that she was.. lost. Hopelessly lost.

The young lady gaped at the surroundings before her. Where in Kanagawa is she!?

Yukari looked around to know where she is, but to no avail. She was with Sanada this morning and he was the one who knows where his home is, not her! "It's my fault, anyway. I didn't even look around when we were walking to school that's why I don't remember a thing!"

She was caught in a crowd of people, lost and alone. Yukari sighed and continued to think. Where should she start, by the way? It's a vast city that stood before her!

"Wait, wait! I should walk around, too. Being stuck in here will do nothing great for me."

Yukari traipsed around the place, the sparkling city lights reflecting on her bright eyes. She has never seen so many lights her whole life, and was awed by the majestic view. Forgetting the situation where she's caught in, she walked on dreamily, gazing at the lights that blend beautifully with the misty blue sky. The hues that met together fascinated her; Yukari was beaming widely at the sky. It was such a beautiful night, yet there was no one by her side except the frosty air that cuddled her chilly hands.

"Hey missy, want company?"

A huge hand rapidly grabbed Yukari's right arm as she turned around to see the person. Her eyes widened.

The pervert gave a smug smile at her, "Ooh, your arms are cold. Shall we warm up?"

Yukari bit her lips in rage as she tried to escape the man, but to no avail.

"A fighter, eh? I like that," the man teased her.

"Ugh! Let go!" now, both of Yukari's arms were held by the pervert. "Let go, you ugly looking geezer!"

"What!?" Yukari felt scared when the man glared at him with eyes that can kill. "Why you!?"

He let go of her other arm as he clenched his fist to punch her. "That's no good for you, missy!"

Yukari closed her eyes.

BOOOOSH!

After a few seconds passed, Yukari wondered why she didn't feel any sensation of hurt when she was about to be punched by a pervert. Opening her eyes, she saw the man lying on the floor, his face all smacked up. Beside him was a tennis ball.

"A.. tennis ball!?" Yukari thought.

"Don't you dare hurt her." Yukari heard a recognizable voice said. That voice belongs to..

"Sanada...kun?" Yukari turned around and saw him, holding a tennis racket.

He glared at her and dragged Yukari by her arm. "Let's go home," he brusquely said.

Yukari knew he was angry and pissed off at her. Nevertheless, she was thankful that he saved him.

Sanada and Yukari (who was still dragged by her arm) were now midway towards the former's home.

"You know you're hopeless. You shouldn't defend yourself." He told her coldly.

"I-I'm sorry, Sanada-kun. I.. was used to defending myself without any help."

He paused. "Hn.."

After silence had ceased to exist between them, Sanada heard somebody sniffing.

Sanada looked at Yukari and was surprised to see her crying. His grip on her arm weakened.

Yukari, her eyes full of tears, looked at Sanada. "Ano.. Sanada-kun, thank you very much."

"Why are you crying?" Sanada asked as he looked away from her.

"Oh!" Yukari wiped her eyes while smiling. "I'm sorry.. I was just happy, very happy... that you saved me. This was the first time in my life someone else had helped me get out of trouble. I.. I want to thank you Sanada-kun.. that you came there. I know you only saved me because you felt obliged to, but I'm still glad you did. I'm grateful... Thank you again, Sanada-kun."

Sanada's felt his heart beating faster, his eyes unable to look at her. "She... always defended herself without any help? Maybe it was because of that she did not ask for any help when she knew there was no hope for her."

"You," Sanada told Yukari, his eyes finally meeting hers, "Don't always act as if you can do it all by yourself." he frowned at her, but Yukari felt no anger from his stare. Still crying, she smiled sweetly at him. "Y-yes.. thank you, Sanada-kun."

Sanada hid again his eyes under his cap as Yukari giggled at him. He held her arm once again, more tightly this time. "This girl is hopeless when she's all by herself. She needs.. me." he thought.

"Ano.. Sanada-kun, I can walk, you know, hehe.." Yukari cracked a nervous smile at Sanada.

The emperor smirked secretly as he continued dragging her more swiftly, this time. "If you only knew how my parents would be angry at me that I went home this late. If you only knew.. that you refrained me from going anywhere but to where you are."

A/N: Again, this chapter was not written the way I wanted it to be, so I fail. I am dearly sorry, readers! I was developing ideas for chapters four to five in my mind that I left chapter three on its own, unfortunately. Stay tuned for the next chapter! Thank you also for the reviews. Please keep them coming so that I'll have the motivation to work on this. I didn't even have time to proofread this. I apologize. -_-')

Thank you for reading.