Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis and its characters belong to Konomi Takeshi-sensei.
"Step by Step, I'm gonna do things the way I like.
Case by Case, and I don't mind, even if that's the hard way,
Because even on those gray days, she laughs." - Step by Step, Ziggy
"Genichiroh, how are things there?"
"Everything's fine, dad." Sanada told his parents over phone. His parents and grandfather have been away for more than a week now, touring all over Japan. They decided to pay a visit to Sanada's older brother on their way.
"Great then! Same here. It seems that your brother has found the ideal place for his family."
"That's nice. Please tell him to take care of himself."
"Will do. Ehem," He heard his father cough. "Hokkaido is always cold around this time. It might turn out to be the same for the entire country soon. By the way, someone's on his way to visit you there…"
"Someone?"
"His father did not like that he suddenly left the house, but you know Sasuke. He always finds his way back."
"SASUKE-KUN!?" Sanada yelled. "Here!?" He didn't need another person in the house to cause him headache.
"Ah, don't you see how he's so fond of you? Hahaha," Sanada heard his father laugh. "He'll be arriving tonight or tomorrow there, I think. Please do look after him. Bye!"
As soon as the call ended, Sanada felt like banging his head to the nearest wall.
"You look pale, Sanada-kun." Yagyuu had this worried expression on his face.
Exasperated, Sanada crossed his arms. "My mental training is about to get tougher."
"Don't scream, or you'll be in real danger.."
Azume started to recognize that the voice belonged to a girl, who seems to be around her age. They removed their hands on her mouth and eyes. Azume could finally speak, but she remained cautious. "W-who are you…?
These three girls are wearing Rikkai uniforms, Azume thought. Do they really study here?
"Fufu," one of the girls chuckled. "You really haven't heard of us? Girls, I think we gotta show her who we are." The two girls went behind her, and they got into a fighting stance. Azume just stared at them, her fear slowly waning.
"WE ARE…" The girl in the middle pointed up in the air while the other two bowed down and pointed to opposite directions. "THE RIKKAIDAI MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS CLUB SECURITY ANGELS!"
"Is this a joke…?" There were dots on top of Azume's head.
"What are you talking about!?" One of them spoke, her voice filled with passion. "We ought to protect the Rikkai Middle School Tennis Club, the most popular tennis club there is all over the country, against rabid fangirls."
Azume was picking up the books on the floor as she replied with a deadpan tone. "And you think arresting girls who speak to them isn't rabid enough?"
"But you could be plotting something evil! So, answer our question, why are you talking with Yanagi-sama?!"
"Guys," Azume stared at them blankly. "I'm just helping him with his training meal recipes. Don't sweat it."
The three girls gave each other sharp looks and they crouched together, whispering to each other.
"She doesn't seem like a real threat to me," one of them said. The others nodded. "She doesn't look like a supermodel or an idol, so we're safe~! Afufufufu~" The three of them giggled at the back of Azume, who's just really irritated. "Can I go now? I really have to bring these books the faculty room," Azume said.
One of the girls put her hand on Azume's shoulder. "Azume-san! Thank you for the honest answer. We'll take note of your presence as a 'training acquaintance, danger level: D. I'm Mizashi Hiruko." Mizashi's sparkling eyes were met with Azume's blank expression.
"I'm Konako Miyuko." The girl on the right said. "Yasatama Nikaze, at Rikkai Lords' service!" The other one shouted.
"Thanks for letting me off the hook this time," Azume tried to feign fear. "Go focus on protecting your idols from fangirls…"
"GOTCHA!" Mizashi, Konako, and Yasatama replied in unison.
Azume smiled at them and went on her way. Phew, I guess my life is safe.. For now.
It was already late in the afternoon when Azume got home. As she entered the house, something scared her. It was so quiet in the house that she could hear the footsteps above… What's this now? Did those three girls follow me all the way here?
Azume grabbed the umbrella from her bag (No mercy this time, she told herself) as she cautiously went upstairs. She noticed that the person walks lightly yet rapidly, reminding her of an excited child.
Holding the umbrella tightly between her hands, Azume examined which of the rooms were the footsteps coming from. She licked her lips as she thought of whacking the intruder. "The door to the left," she whispered to herself.
Azume tiptoed carefully until she was next to the door. Her heartbeat was now matching the sound of the footsteps. Here I go…
The young girl reached for the doorknob and opened the door quickly. "GET HERE, YOU!"
"OJI-SAN...!" A young kid suddenly jumped on her, and they both fell on the floor.
"How's that, Oji-san!? I am now swift, just as the wind!" The kid beamed on her, but the smile on his lips fell as soon as he recognized that it was not Genichiroh Sanada whom he jumped on. "E-eh…?"
"I-it hurts…" Azume cracked one eye open, and it dawned on her that it was this kid who intruded the house. "EH?!" She cried.
The kid got up and pointed his finger at her. "I should be one asking you that, boobies-neechan!"
Azume was trying to get up, but she suddenly stopped when she heard what he called her. "B-b-boobies..!?"
The kid made made his hands move as if he were holding two huge balloons. "Yeah, because that's the first thing I noticed. Big boobies-neechan! BLEH! I bet you can't chase after me because of that!" The kid sprinted downstairs after teasing Azume.
"AREN'T YOU A BIT TOO YOUNG TO NOTICE SUCH THINGS!?" Azume put her hands over her chest. How can a six year-old kid make me feel so embarrassed about myself!? After a few seconds, her eyes twinkled, ready to chase the kid.
"COME HERE…!"
Sanada got home late because of the intensive training. Although it was already past dinnertime, he remained merciless, even on himself. It's still not enough, he thought.
As the vice-captain was walking to the door, he noticed that almost all the lights in their house were open. "What in the world…?"
"I COULD SMELL HIM.. HERE HE IS!" He heard someone yell from inside.
Before Sanada could even enter, the kid blasted the door open. "OJI-SAN! HISASHI BURI!*"
"Sasuke-kun!?" Sanada was shaken deep inside to see his nephew all of a sudden.
"Tee-hee," Sasuke leered at him. "So who is boobies-neechan..?"
"Boobies.. Neechan?" Sanada perspired at the back of his head.
"Oi…" An angered voice interrupted them.
Sanada looked behind Sasuke to see Azume, who seemed to have went through an intensive training as well, based on her unruly hair and tattered clothes. He clearly has no guess as to what just happened before he arrived at home.
"Sasuke-kun, is it.." Azume's vein was about to pop out of her head. "I guess you'd rather have our specialty tonight, huh? Steamed vegetables supreme…"
"Ahe, don't scare me like that, Boobies-neechan…" Sasuke groaned.
"Both of you.." Sanada was about to burst himself. "TARUNDORU..!"
"So, let me get this straight: Yukari Azume-neesan is your fiancée, huh?" Sasuke said as he was happily slurping away the soba noodles. "Aren't you a little too young for that?"
Both Azume and Sasuke temporarily made peace before Sanada lost his sanity. They were now at the table, eating the soba noodle soup that Azume just made.
"Of course, but if it's grandfather's will, I shall follow him." Sanada nodded with his eyes closed. Azume just remained silent while observing the two Sanadas interact with each other.
"How traditional." Sasuke remarked and turned his head to Azume. "How about you, boobies-neechan? Aren't you a little bothered that you're getting married to him?"
"A-ano, Sasuke-kun, I would like it if you prefer calling me by my name…" Azume held on to her chopsticks so tightly that she was about to crush them in suppressed rage. She managed to calm down and answer afterwards. "Same case as your Genichiroh-niisan. My parents wanted it, so I respect their choice."
Sasuke puffed his cheeks, and Azume found it cute that he was starting to behave more like his age. "I don't want to have problems like that, tch."
"Sasuke-kun, you're only six. I'm sure you don't have to worry about this anytime soon, neh?" Azume reassured him.
"What brings you here? And for the last time, would you use niisan on me?" Sanada asked Sasuke.
Sasuke rested his back against his chair. "I just miss Kanagawa and you, Genichiroh."
Sanada gritted his teeth. "Is that so? Are you looking forward to me training you this summer, then?"
"Not really, but I just want to annoy you! TEHE!"
"KIIIEEEEE* SASUKE-KUN!" Sanada slammed his hands on the table, to which Azume is not surprised anymore. She giggled at the sight of Sanada chasing Sasuke…
… and it somehow warmed her heart to know how close they are to each other. Seems like Sanada-kun is a good kind of uncle, she smiled as she told herself.
The Next Day…
This Saturday feels good to Sasuke. He was looking forward to bully his uncle by shouting into his sleeping face, but when he opened the door to his room, he was surprised to see Sanada all dressed up.
"Oji-san." He just looked up to older Sanada.
"Oh, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke's stare at him changed when he saw what Sanada was carrying on his shoulder. Tennis, again and again…
"Worthless uncle." Sasuke muttered as he kicked Sanada's knee (though it did not hurt at all) and ran to the yard. Sanada's eyes followed him, but he held tightly to his tennis bag. "Sorry, Sasuke-kun," his eyes lowered, but he headed for the door. After the Nationals, I'll make it up to you.
As soon as Azume woke up, she took a bath and changed clothes. "Time to make breakfast, too," she told herself while looking at the clock. She also noticed there was no trace of Sanada nor Sasuke. "Hmm, I wonder where those two are."
Opening the fridge, Azume observed that their stock of food is running out. "I should go to the store later to get more supplies."
She was about to boil water when a note on the fridge grabbed her attention. What is this?
Judging by the penmanship, the note was written by a kid. It reads: "I'm out. DON'T EVER LOOK FOR ME!" An angry face was scribbled next to it.
"Oh my, what happened to Sasuke-kun?" Azume put the note on the table and hurried upstairs to grab her bag. "Don't you go anywhere too far, Sasuke-kun!"
Sasuke kept on running to where his feet brought him. It was not until exhaustion took a toll on him that the kid decided to stop for a break. Looking around, his surroundings are not familiar to him anymore. He did know his way to Kanagawa all the way from his house, but this is a new area that he doesn't know at all.
"Hmp, this is oji-san's fault," Sasuke snorted. "I can just find my way back easily." He kicked a rock to his side, denying the fact that he's hopelessly lost.
After a few minutes, Sasuke thought that he's getting nowhere. He started to get worried for himself, too. He looked from left to right, but the names of the streets didn't make sense. Sasuke was starting to get teary-eyed when an old couple called out to him. "Oh, is there something wrong, kid?" The old woman asked.
Sasuke looked down and he started to cry. "I'm lost…"
The local playground. The park. The candy stores. The gaming centers. Still nowhere to be found.
Azume was huffing and panting on the sidewalk, still looking around for Sasuke. If something happens to you, Sasuke-kun, I'll never be able to forgive myself…
Wiping the sweat off her forehead, Azume continued running off to another building.
"Oh, look, the racket I ordered just arrived!" Marui exclaimed. "Lemme see, senpai!" Kirihara chased after him.
"Making sure that our tennis equipment matches up to abilities is a must," Yukimura declared. Sanada didn't expect that they would head out today to upgrade or maintain their equipment. I don't consider this a bad idea, Sanada thought. "Incredible foresight, Yukimura."
Yukimura and Yanagi nodded as they followed the rest of the team. Sanada was about to take a look at the latest trainers when the announcement flashed on the speakers made him tremble.
"PUBLIC INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENT: MISSING CHILD, SANADA SASUKE, AGE OF 6. PLEASE HEAD TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA IF YOU KNOW THIS PERSON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH."
Yanagi and Yukimura, the only ones who know about Sasuke, turned their head to Sanada. The others just went on, but Kirihara joked, "For a moment, I thought that kid was related to fukubuchou! Hahaha...that would be funny."
Sanada met Yukimura and Yanagi's stare with one expressing that he needs to attend to this problem quickly. Yukimura just nodded as Sanada rushed to the Customer Service Area.
CRAP! That's him!
Azume's weariness got washed away by relief upon hearing Sasuke's name. She ran as fast as she could to where the Customer Service is.
"Excuse me," Azume told the lady on the counter, "I'm here for Sanada Sasuke."
"A moment please-" The young lady was interrupted by Sasuke, who just jumped right on the table into Azume's arms. "Yukaaari-neesan!"
Sasuke buried his head on Azume's chest, sobbing. "I was so scared, dammit!"
"Sasuke-kun!" Azume hugged him back, rubbing the kid's hair. "You got me really worried there for a moment. It's incredibly lucky that I found you here."
The lady on the counter was eyeing them. "So, young lady. Obviously, he knows you. Aren't you a little too young to have a kid?"
"Ahm, ahehehe," Yukari smiled at the lady. "He's not my child. He's-"
"She is my uncle's girlfriend!" Sasuke shouted at the lady, but hearing him say that made Azume blush.
"Is that so…" The woman just went back to her and ignored them. "Your business is done here," she said.
Azume talked to Sasuke. "Do you want to come with me and shop for food, Sasuke-kun?"
"Hai, boobi-I mean, Yukari-neesan!"
They both smiled at each other, with Yukari wiping Sasuke's tears using her handkerchief.
Sanada didn't realize how fast they were from the customer service area that he was getting tired by the time he reached the place. D-damn..
He was about to approach the staff in the customer service area, but he stopped when he saw two familiar faces.
Azume..? Sasuke…?
"Hn." Seeing that things have been taken care of, Sanada adjusted his cap and went back to where his team is. There's no need to bother the two of them with my presence..
Both Sasuke and Azume were now sitting at the swing in the park, taking a rest from carrying grocery bags. Sasuke was happily eating ice cream when Azume asked: "So, who brought you to the department store?"
"An old man and woman. They said that a lot of kids get lost in the mall so that's the only place they know where they can bring me," Sasuke responded.
"That timing…" Azume said as she started swinging from her seat. "Tell me, Sasuke-kun, why did you disappear off to somewhere?"
Hearing that question turned Sasuke's expression into a sad, dismayed one. He looked the other way. "Tch…"
"I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun," Azume pat his back. "I hope you can trust me, though."
Sasuke slowly turned his head to her. "Well," he still refused to look at her when he said, "Uncle Genichiroh doesn't want to spend time with me."
Azume raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
"It's always him and tennis. Tennis from morning to night. Tennis here, tennis there. Tennis left and right!" Sasuke kicked the sand on the ground. "He's the only one in the family I can play with, and yet he acts that way. I hate him!"
For a few minutes, it was quiet. Azume understood the boy's feelings, but she also knew of the older Sanada's, even though they've only been together for a short period of time.
"Neh, Sasuke-kun," Azume began. "Do you have a dream?"
"Of course!" Sasuke said. "I want to be a doctor when I grow up."
"Okay, then. You wouldn't want anyone ruining that dream for you, yes?"
"Yes!"
"And you'd work hard for it, right?
"Yep. I'll be giving all my best."
"Okay, then. We're agreeing on those things, and that's good. But you see," Azume looked serious this time, "Genichiroh-niisan also has dreams, and he wants to work hard for them, too. It's just the same, right?
"But.." Sasuke pouted.
Azume gently put a hand on Sasuke's lips. "And there's a BIG, BIG EVENT COMING UP! Think of it as the day your doctor's skills will be put to the test. So, it's not that Genichiroh-niisan doesn't want to spend time with you - he's just really busy. You know what's more? I'm pretty sure he'll be more than ready to play with you once that event is over! So, how about you let this one slide and wait for your niisan?"
"Hmmmp." Sasuke grunted.
"Sasuke-kun…"
"Okay, fine!" Sasuke crossed his arms and made a face, "but if he does it again then I won't visit him anymore."
Azume laughed. "Silly Sasuke-kun, hahaha.."
Sasuke eyed her. "You're the one who's silly, keeping up with a man like that." Azume's laughter abruptly ended, and beads of sweat formed at the back of her head. "It's getting dark, Sasuke-kun. Wanna head home now and help me cook dinner?"
"Before that, I wanna ask you something."
"Hmm?"
"What do you love in Uncle Genichiroh, Yukari-neesan?"
Azume blinked. She's never thought about her feelings for him for a while now (despite the many moments that she felt something different around him, but that just might be out of fear or worry), but it's too complicated to tell those things to a kid. But yeah, I don't dislike Sanada-kun either…
"Neesan?" Sasuke raised one of his eyebrows, worried that Azume is this close to fainting. "Are you…spacing out?"
"OH!" Azume shook her head. "Hmm, Sasuke-kun. For a kid, you really gave me a hard question."
Sasuke giggled while rubbing his finger under his nose. "I'm so smart, aren't I?"
"Yeah," Azume stuck her tongue out.
"Hey, don't dodge the question!"
"Well, Sasuke-kun…" Azume looked at the darkening sky. "There are many good things about your Genichiroh-niisan that a lot of people would praise and even adore, but for the short time that we're together, something in him stuck with me: His passion and determination."
"Passion… and… Deter.. Mination?" Sasuke repeated.
"Yeah," Azume nodded. "I've seen him struggle and give up his free time for things that would make him a better person and fulfill his dreams. I myself would never have that kind of discipline, but well…" Azume turned to look at Sasuke and smiled, "…Genichiroh is really one-of-a-kind, isn't he?"
Sasuke was awed by Azume's smile for a moment, but smiled back, feeling comfortable with her. "That's good, then."
"Let's go home!"
After cooking dinner, Azume and Sasuke were now just sitting in front of the television when they heard the door open. Sasuke scurried to his uncle. "JISAN!" Azume heard him call.
Sanada was relieved to see that things seemed to have returned to normal. Even Sasuke was not mad at him anymore. "Good evening, Sasuke-kun. For the last time, it's niisan."
"Okaeri nasai*, Sanada-kun." Sanada saw Azume as she greeted him. "Dinner is ready."
Sanada nodded as he took something out of his bag. Sasuke's eyes widened with excitement. True to his expectations, Sanada handed him a bag of chocolates. "OMG, YOU'RE THE BEST!" Sasuke was jumping for joy while Azume watched on.
Sanada walked next to Azume and briefly whispered, "I know what happened."
That whisper made Azume tingle with nervousness, but when she turned to look at Sanada, he saw him handing her something. "E-eh?"
"Scarf," Sanada said. "I could hear you scramble for more blankets in the morning when you're cold. Better not do that again."
Oh my, I thought he knew that Sasuke was lost. Good thing I was wrong, Azume thought. She took the scarf from him and wore it around her. Uwaa...so warm. I didn't expect this at all...
Sanada saw Azume blush, but he somehow couldn't turn his eyes away from her. He felt his features soften while he was watching her.
"A-ano, Sanada-kun.."
When Azume looked at him, Sanada quickly turned his head to where the television is. "Thank you very much!" He heard her say.
"Don't mention it." Sanada's expression was concealed by turning his back on her.
"Oi, Sasuke-kun, it's already late. What are you doing outside?" Sanada just changed into his sleeping clothes when he saw that Sasuke was still in the backyard. He saw that Azume was washing the dishes, so the brat could have easily passed through.
"It's a peaceful, quiet night. It's only during these times that I hear the insects, ojisan."
"Hm, is that so?" Sanada didn't know Sasuke had a penchant for such things.
"I'll call you oniisan if you sing this again." Sasuke took out his MP3 player, and a song began to play."
"Chirping of the Insects*?" Sanada sat down.
"Yeah!" Sasuke replied. "Hurry, you're gonna miss the first few lines!"
Azume was wiping her hands dry when she heard someone singing from the yard. The lyrics and sound seemed like it was written for children, but the deep voice was strange. Still, he sang excellently.
The young girl took a peek from the back to see Sanada singing Mushi no Koe [Chirping of the Insects] with Sasuke. The latter was dancing and mimicking the flying movement of the insects while the older Sanada sang.
Hearing him sing, Azume put her hands on heart. Oh my… he actually sounds good. She felt the blood rushing to her head. That manly voice…
"Aa, omoshiroi, mushi no koe…" Sanada sang til the end, which received shouting and clapping from Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun, tone it down - it's late!"
"Niisan, that was great! Lend me your talent and I'll be a J-pop star someday, huh?"
Sanada just shook his head, and made Sasuke shriek with his answer: "Tarundoru!"
The next morning...
"You're already leaving?" Azume was surprised and saddened to hear as Sasuke stood on the doorstep. "Don't you want to stay for a while?" Azume felt attached to Sasuke even though they were together only for a day. She felt that he was a small brother she wished she had.
"Nah, I'm good. I think I annoyed niisan enough," Sasuke leered again at Sanada, standing behind Azume with a frown on his face. The older Sanada already knew that he was leaving, but the kid hasn't said a proper farewell to Azume yet.
"Yukari-neesan, arigatou!" Sasuke said.
"Take care, Sasuke-kun." Azume pat his head. "Please let us know if you got home safe."
"By the way," Sasuke's voice lowered, and he had this serious look on Azume. "Neesan, I'm glad."
"Eh?" Azume was confused.
"That smile you showed to me yesterday when I asked you what you loved in niisan… I remember how my mom smiles like that whenever I ask her why she loves dad so much."
Azume was taken aback. She managed to stand on her knees simply because she can sense Sanada coming to them. "Sasuke-kun!"
"What did Sasuke say?" Sanada's brows furrowed. Sasuke smiled at Azume. "Nothing, niisan. No worries."
"Sasuke-kun, I'll see you soon." Sanada told Sasuke. The kid nodded and started walking away when he suddenly turned back. He saw Sanada and Azume stand side by side, watching him as he was leaving. "Neh…"
"Hmm?" Both Sanada and Azume were curious as to what made Sasuke turn back.
"When are you guys gonna give me a cousin?"
Azume thought he her head would burst out from all the blood that rushed to head, while Sanada's scream was heard all over Kanagawa. It also signaled to Sasuke that he needs to run as fast as he can now:
"COME BACK HERE, YOU BRAT! KIEEEEE!"
-To be continued-
Author's Notes:
Hisashi buri - "It's been a long time"
Okaeri nasai - "Welcome home"
I don't know what "KIEEEE" means, but Kusunoki Taiten-san (Sanada's seiyuu) made Sanada known for this, so I'm just using it ^^
I'd like to thank alliehernandez, oresama no gekokujou you, saki0217, KiriharaAsuna, NanamiYatsumaki, uriel's tea time, Creme Tea, and the rest of the readers who have followed, reviewed, and listed my work as their favorite despite my 6-year absence (I don't know all your names yet, but hey, you can introduce yourself by leaving a review below :3 ).
Mushi no Koe (Chirping of the Insects) is a real song by Sanada, by the way. It's on YouTube! I suggest you listen to it. All I have to say is that Taiten-san really has a great voice :3 I also imagined that at some point, Sanada must have sung it to Sasuke just for fun. (For those who are wondering, Sasuke Sanada is a real character - he is Genichiroh's nephew.)
Next chapter… School festival! And you know all kinds of cliché shenanigans that occur in those events, but let's take it up a notch!