A Prince of Tennis fanfic.
Alpha Pair a.k.a. SanaYuki

Story: Milky Tea (Sequel to Sugary Coffee) - Chapter.8

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi.

Author's note: This will probably be March's last upload. For the next three weeks, I'm going to work until I die. Please continue to read this when I do upload the next chapter! Thanks for everyone's support so far! I hope you haven't forgotten what the story is about...

Please review!

8. Stinging Vodka

Yanagi sipped his latte and looked across the table. Opposite him, Japan's current most popular idol – Yukimura Seiichi – was sitting silently, a hand supporting the chin as he dropped sugar cubes into his steaming coffee. They had already been sitting for a quarter of an hour; what used to be a comfortable silence was now frighteningly awkward.

"Sei... Yukimura," Yanagi finally said when he finished his latte, "how are you lately?"

"Busy, I'm releasing a new album soon," Yukimura replied, his eyes seemingly avoiding Yanagi's. "You?"

"I'm fine." The strained conversation ended, but Yanagi decided that it was time Yukimura confronted his problems.

"Yukimura," Yanagi said, careful to retain the calmness in his voice, "Genichirou is sick. Really sick. I don't really know why the two of you aren't talking, but even if he's not your lover or friend anymore, for the sake of the past, you should at least visit him."

"Sick?" Yukimura raised an eyebrow in alarm.

"He's had pneumonia for weeks now." Yanagi was surprised to see the deep concern in Yukimura's eyes; perhaps his suspicion of Yukimura not acting how he wanted was correct.

Yukimura looked at Yanagi and his chest clutched tightly, pained at the thought of Sanada's sufferance. "I'll go..." he stood up abruptly and began to say before the memory of Koesaki's words suddenly hit him. He clenched his fists, took a deep breath and sat back down again, much to the surprise of Yanagi. "Renji," he said softly, as gently as possible, and Yanagi saw, for the first time in a long time, the Yukimura he used to know, "please take care of Sanada for me. I know he is weaker than he pretends to be... so, please, take care of him. It's beyond my control now."

With a wistful expression, Yukimura left a note on the table to pay for his untouched coffee. As Yukimura's footsteps faded away, Yanagi sighed hopelessly, drinking his tea and at a loss of what to do.

Yukimura arrived home and found Sanada lying on the couch, a wet towel on his forehead. Yukimura wanted to hold Sanada, to tell him how sorry he was and kiss him until he was well again; but the moment he stepped forward, he remembered the threat. I'll hurt him. Pretending that he did not notice Sanada's presence, he walked into the bedroom. Moments later, Sanada entered the room with a warm smile, obviously trying to hide his illness.

I love you, Sanada, Yukimura thought, his head throbbing painfully, but I can't be with you. Watching Sanada getting a cup of tea for him (not coffee, because honestly, Sanada thought Yukimura drank too much coffee for his own good already), Yukimura made a decision. A decision that he knew would hurt both of them, but one that he knew was necessary. I'm so sorry...

Sanada did not notice Yukimura's mixed emotions in his sickness and joy that Yukimura was finally home. They lay in bed and even though Yukimura turned his back towards Sanada, he did not push him away when Sanada circled his arms around his waist. Sanada slowly drifted off to sleep, temporarily forgetting the burning sensation in his lungs and throat. He knew he should probably stay away from Yukimura so he would not pass on his sickness, but his longing for Yukimura was overpowering and... he had the feeling that Yukimura was going to be out of his reach soon.

Yukimura's scream cut through the silence of the night. "DON'T LEAVE ME!" Yukimura screamed over and over again, silent tears streaming down his cheeks even though he was asleep. Sanada jolted awake and turned on the bedside lamp, alarmed when he saw that Yukimura's face was lined with cold sweat and tears.

"Seiichi!" Panic-stricken, Sanada shook Yukimura's shoulders roughly until Yukimura's eyes opened.

Yukimura stopped screaming, but his eyes were wild and lost. "I... I..."

"Shh..." Sanada pressed Yukimura closed to his chest, relieved that Yukimura was okay.

"Sorry," Yukimura mumbled, snuggling into Sanada's chest, "I had a nightmare."

Sanada stroked Yukimura's hair gently and wiped the sweat and tears away with his sleeve. "Do you want to tell me what it was about?" Sanada asked gently.

"I dreamed that you..." Yukimura began, but realisation of what he was doing struck him and he pushed Sanada away. "I'm fine. It's just a nightmare. I've had my fair share of those anyway. Turn off the light." And without another word, Yukimura lay onto the bed again, shutting his eyes tightly.

He would not allow his own feelings to let harm come to Sanada.

When Sanada woke up the next morning at 5am, Yukimura was already eating breakfast, watching the weather broadcast on television. "Are you okay?" Sanada asked prudently, wondering if Yukimura was still feeling the effects of his horrible nightmare.

"I'm fine," was Yukimura's monotonous answer.

Sanada nodded and made himself a piece of toast and a cup of warm tea.

Yukimura suddenly sat down beside Sanada and coolly said, "I need to talk to you."

Sanada turned to look at Yukimura in the eyes, but the hazel orbs turned away the moment their gazes connected. "I'll be moving to an apartment in Azabu."

"Do you need help to move the furniture?" Sanada offered, chewing on his toast slowly.

"No. Everything is ready for me. What I want to say is..." Yukimura hesitated a little, "is... that I won't be living with you anymore."

"I understand. I'll come visit you when you have time."

"No!" Yukimura shouted and stood up brashly, grabbing the leather jacket that was hanging from the chair. "You won't be visiting me. I'm breaking up with you."

"What..." Sanada did not know how to respond. His mind was blank except for the knowledge of pain that his heart was suffering. The words did not sink in immediately, but as they repeated in his mind over and over again, the pain felt as terrible as an open wound scrubbed with acid. He stared at Yukimura, eyes wide in shock.

"Goodbye," Yukimura said apathetically and marched out of the apartment, not looking back anymore. Sanada walked over to the window and tears welled in his eyes as he watched Yukimura's shiny, silver Maserati drive off into the distance.

Sanada's phone rang in signal of a message, but he did not pick it up. Instead, he went and had a hot shower. Crying non-stop, he kneeled on the bathroom tiles until the water ran icy cold. And even then, the tears continued to flow.

Yukimura pressed "send", tears stinging his eyes.

It's going to rain today. Don't forget to wear a jacket to uni.

He knew that lingering on his feelings would simply hurt both of them further, but his care for Sanada could not be ignored. After all, even though they were living in two different worlds, destined to be apart, Yukimura still loved Sanada with all his heart. Take care, Yukimura thought and wiped away the tears that rolled down his cheeks.

Yukimura tightened his grip on the steering wheel, rehearsing his speech for a press conference that will begin in four hours. This time... he would not be bound by his love for Sanada.

No, not anymore. He stepped on the accelerator and tears fell uncontrollably again.

Please review! Very divided chapter...

Note: Btw, for those who like Yukimura-singer fics (I LOVE them), I'm going to write an AU fic called "Backstage". I still need to finalise the plan and things like that... and it's not likely to be uploaded soon (haha... I'm sorry about my busy life), but keep an eye out for it! More details later...!