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

"WHAT!?" Sanada and Azume blurted out. The former was too shocked that he lost his composure.

"Fufufufu! Don't worry, we'll be back soon," his father said. "We're just going to visit your Genryuuchi-niisan , that's why we're going to leave the two of you alone here for sometime."

Sanada glared at his parents, knowing that they had a plan being cooked in their minds. He would love to hit his head against the wall and lose consciousness right that damn minute. Of course, that isn't something Sanada Genichirou would normally do, so the poor vice-captain just left his parents, and locked up in his room. He really wanted to thank the person who discovered aspirin.

"Oh my, did our son had a bad day today?" Sanada's mother asked, pretending to be worried.

"Ah.. eh, I don't think so, Sanada-san.." Yukari said.

"We'll be leaving our son in your hands then! By the way, you can just call me 'okaa-san', okay?"

Sanada's mother was about to open the door when Yukari reached for her shoulder. "A-ano.. Okaa-san!" It didn't feel so natural calling her that way, but Azume didn't want to be disrespectful by rejecting her request.

"Huh?" Sanada's mother turned to her. Azume whispered into her ears. "Uh.. what is Genichirou-kun's favorite food?"

"Ah~! It's nameko mushroom miso soup.. why?" Sanada's mother asked, both of them now talking in a corner far from the emperor.

"I.. uh.. want to cook something for your son," Yukari fidgeted her fingers, a hue of red painted on her cheeks.

"That is good to hear! Everything you need is in the kitchen, dear. Take good care."

"Have a good trip!" Yukari waved to Sanada's parents as they left the house.

"Now..." Yukari thought to herself as she closed the door. "To the kitchen!"

Sanada couldn't concentrate on practicing calligraphy. Everything that happened today was terribly distracting him.

"A stroke to the left.. and.. urgh!" Sanada threw away the brush. He shook his head. "Why do they have to leave the two of us alone here!?" He glared at the innocent wall that stood in front of him. He crossed his arms and thought of something better to do. Homework? Kendo? Iaido? Tennis-

Sanada smelled something familiar to his senses. His face lightened up a bit as he remembered where that powerful scent comes from..

Sanada decided to go down and see what's in the kitchen. He opened the door and went downstairs, the aroma getting stronger little by little. As he entered the kitchen and saw what was on the table, his prediction was affirmative.

"Nameko.. mushroom miso soup?" He uttered.

The other person who was on the kitchen flailed. Sanada saw Yukari, who stood there and was preparing two plates for them. He could tell she was deeply startled by his presence. "Ano.. Sanada-kun?"

He glared at her. "Did you cook that?"

Yukari nodded, her hands trembling with nervousness. "Here comes the judge!" She thought.

"I'm a bit skeptical about this," Sanada stated in his mind. He had never tasted a nameko mushroom miso soup made by someone other than his mother in his entire life. This was something new..

"Sanada-kun..?"

"Hn," he came to sit with her on the table. Yukari gulped.

Sanada got himself a bowl of rice and the soup. He took a deep breath as he let a spoonful of soup into his mouth. He chewed the mushroom carefully, his tastebuds lounging on the warm soup.

Yukari was observing his reaction all along. She wasn't expecting any wild reaction or declaration of pure happiness from Sanada, but she hopes everything goes well. After his first try, Sanada's expression remained the same until he finished his meal . Sanada wiped his mouth as he neatly cleaned up his plate and bowl. He looked at the bowl then at Yukari.

"This.. tastes good."

A sweet smile was slowly drawn into Yukari's lips as she heard Sanada's statement. "T-thank you, Sanada-kun!"

Sanada stood up and left the kitchen without any word after that. Yukari, on the other hand, happily washed the dishes and was humming to herself.

"Ah, is that it? Okay, then. Bye."

Sanada was now gearing for the evening practice at Rikkaidai tennis club, after receiving the phone call from Yukimura. They must not slack off now that Nationals are a few weeks away!

Then, he heard it. The sound of glass falling and breaking on the floor.

"Tsk."

He went to the kitchen, only to see Yukari picking up the pieces of broken glass one by one.

"Hey, don't-"

"Owie!" It's too late to remind her.

Yukari's right index finger was now bleeding. She sighed and was about to look for the first-aid kit when she saw Sanada standing by the kitchen door. Her mouth gaped open.

Sanada, on the other hand, approached her and glared at the pieces of the glass that were scattered on the floor. "What is this?"

Yukari lowered her head and apologized, "I-I'm sorry, Sanada-kun! It was my fault. I was too careless and-"

"Too late." He stared austerely at Yukari.

"I'm sorry.." she continued to look down, blood continuously dripping from her finger.

Suddenly, Sanada took Yukari's hand and he let her bleeding finger in his mouth. Yukari froze. Her heart started to beat rapidly and heat started to rush on her face, painting her cheeks deep red. "Wha.. what is Sanada-kun doing!?"

Sanada's gaze was intensely fixed at Yukari's finger as his eyes were softly staring at it. He was holding her hand, too. Yukari was breathing heavily.. gasping for air. She looked right at his iridescent brown eyes. Oh, how a magnificent being he is! She was so far from him.

At last, Sanada finally let go of her and stood up. "Tarundoru. Don't ever pick up broken glass by hands." he ordered.

"Yes," Yukari replied, her voice crumbling.

"There's also a separate room for you upstairs. It's the door next to mine. I will be going out tonight, so take care of the house," the stoic vice-captain added.

Yukari nodded. Afterwards, Sanada went out. Yukari followed him until he was out of sight from the door. She sighed.

"Sanada-kun.. thank you.."

"Ugh...my head, it hurts," Sanada slowly opened his eyes. He remembered the dreadful tennis practice that lasted until midnight. He felt his muscles become sore and his head started to throb once again.

He looked beside his bed to find nothing but a bunch of pillows. Yukari slept on the other room, so he was all by himself. Sanada was half relieved... half sad? He shrugged it all off. "I'm thinking of random things again," he said to himself. "There's school and morning practice today.. I shouldn't slack off!"

He decided to eat breakfast first since his stomach was growling and he needed to replenish his energy. Sanada went to the kitchen and saw breakfast on the table. He smiled a bit, knowing it was Yukari who did it. Sanada looked around to spot the clumsy female, but she was nowhere in sight. He dismissed it as he sat on the dining table to have his meal done.

"Itadakimasu!"

After a few minutes, the Rikkai emperor finished eating breakfast and headed for the bathroom. He wasn't able to see Yukari this morning. Where is that girl?

"Never mind, I'll find her later."

Sanada grabbed his towel and started undressing when he entered the bathroom. He opened the shower curtain as he was starting to remove his pajama when...

"A.. Azume!?"

Oh no, Sanada's eyes were forever scarred. Hopelessly scarred. He saw Yukari in all her naked glory. So she was taking a shower all along...

Thank goodness he still had his pants on. He tried his best to fix his eyes on her and nowhere else. He was beginning to feel hot as his heartbeat started to go faster.

"Sa-Sanada.. kun!?" She blinked, unable to continue.

Before something more terrible happens (like being punched on the face), Sanada closed the shower curtain and hurriedly walked outside. He was horribly blushing.

"Hurry up with the shower!" was all that Sanada could say.

Trying to remove the previously unfortunate incident from his mind, Sanada put his blazer and cap on. This time he made sure his necktie is fixed!

Satisfied with his reflection on the mirror, the young man went downstairs and saw Yukari waiting for him. Sanada had such great power over concentration that he didn't jerk at the sight of her.

"Let's go," he said.

Yukari trailed after him, unable to look straight at his face. "Perhaps she was ashamed.." Sanada thought. Oh, you! Of course she was!

Yukari was also trying to get what happened this morning out of her mind. "This man in front of me.. saw.. my.. urgh!" she tilted her head to the side, erasing the terrible memories at the shower. "Oh, wait," Yukari thought. "Shouldn't I be remembering the directions to Rikkaidai?" She looked around, observing the surroundings. She did not notice that there was a post ahead. As she looked in front of her, she hit her head on the post. Pure clumsiness.

"Owie, owie!" Yukari poked her nose. Sanada looked back at her, "Tarundoru!"

"Eek!" Yukari shrieked. "I'm sorry!"

A/N: Was the ending too abrupt? Was it boring? I'm sorry, my dear readers! TT_TT) This is a cliffhanger, because I'm out of time and I want to.. do a cliffhanger! Fufufufu~ suggestions are loved.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the following reviewers/readers: Ansonozaki, Ahotep, EuliaGal, Jigokunooujo, Judge Claude Frollo, panda20, Harlett, xpanda-boox and Sokkergurl! Please keep on reading this fic! :DD *Gives cookies to the people mentioned*

What's on chapter 5: Someone's going to get a fever! A secret is going to be revealed!? Yukari gets a new friend! There are going to be unexpected visitors in the house.. what will happen to Sanada and Yukari? Next is entitled "Under the umbrella"!

Thank you for reading.