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

Story: Milky Tea (Sequel to Sugary Coffee) - Chapter.12

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi.

Author's note: Sorry that I haven't updated anything for AGES. I actually had this ready 3 weeks ago. And my beta sent it to me 2 weeks ago. But then, I completely forgot about it. Can't help it, I sleep for 2 hours a days now. Sigh. Well, enjoy. I hope you still remember where the story is up to… I'll start updating in 2 weeks (yay, I can start sleeping again). Until then, ja. (Haha... the reference to Grimm Brothers' fairytale... even though I wrote this weeks ago, coincidentally, I translated Cinderella into French just last week... it's certainly... gruesome. But they're brilliant. Better than Disney.)

12. Sparkling Champagne

Even the cacophony of rain could not drown the pain of having to choose.

Sanada knew he loved Yukimura dearly, so dearly that he would die for him; but to forgive was another matter. He remembered how Yukimura had forgiven him before and he remembered their love, but the uncertainty that was now ripping them apart... could that wound ever be mended and stitched?

There had never been a more painful decision. Being a decisive person, never in his life had he thought making decisions would be so painful.

It was either the Disney fairytale ending... or the Grimm Brother's.

Well, Sanada mused dryly, the Grimm Brother's fairytale endings are certainly more realistic.

Two rays of bright light suddenly blinded him when a car pulled up next to him. Sanada squinted and saw that it was a black Jaguar. Akaya. Sanada's thought was confirmed a moment later when Kirihara jumped out of the car with an umbrella. He looked frantic and was almost as wet as Sanada was, his curly hair now straight and plastered to his face.

"What is WRONG with you two?!" Kirihara groaned as he regarded Sanada.

Sanada did not reply. He had no answers anyway.

"Can you PLEASE just forgive him? He's about to turn insane!" Kirihara shouted, wondering if his words even registered in Sanada's mind. "He's going INSANE!"

"I did forgive him!" Sanada lifted his head and fired back. "I DID forgive him!" Now he was shouting as well.

"Oh really?" Kirihara's face was gloomy with annoyance. "Look at this then!"

Sanada took the phone Kirihara passed him and flipped it open. There was a text message. "It's from Yukimura-buchou's manager. Read it." Kirihara stared at Sanada, waiting for the reaction. Sanada sighed and read the brightly lit screen.

Kirihara-san, I'm Aizawa, Yukimura-san's manager. Sorry for the suddenness of this message, but I understand that you two are close friends and I thought you might be able to help me understand this message Yukimura-san had just sent me. The message is attached below.

Sanada lifted his head, his eyes questioning the meaning of this. Kirihara stared back, urging him to continue reading.

Aizawa-san,

Please arrange a press conference for me to announce my retirement.

This may be a shock, but please do not question my decision.

It is something I'm very certain of.

I had loved being an idol. But it had compromised things that are more important to me.

Even though quitting might not change anything now, I cannot continue.

I'm sorry, but I'm thankful for your guidance for the past years.

Seiichi.

Sanada passed the phone back to Kirihara. He did not understand what Yukimura wanted to achieve by giving up something that would guarantee him a bright future. He looked at Kirihara and asked, "What is he trying to do?"

"He's quitting as an idol."

"I know. But nothing will change because of that."

"He knows," Kirihara sighed heavily. Suddenly, his phone rang. It was a message. Kirihara frowned at the name of the sender. "Buchou...?"

Akaya, don't go to Sanada anymore. I know you're just trying to help. But I cannot find forgiveness, nor will I continue to seek it.

Kirihara scowled. "Now I'm definitely going to help," he muttered to himself, grinning. Turning back to Sanada, he said, "Will you at least give him a chance to explain?"

Sanada was silent.

"Buchou forgave you even when you haven't given him a proper explanation. Shouldn't you at least give him a chance to explain?" Kirihara tried his hardest to sound pervasive. "He never betrayed you, I swear!"

"How would you know?" Sanada asked apathetically.

"Exactly! How would you know that he actually betrayed you if you don't even give him a chance to explain?!" Kirihara shouted. He could barely find the right words to say, but in his heart, he knew he was doing the right thing. He knew he was doing something he needed to do. It was something that perhaps only he could do.

After a long moment of cold silence, Sanada finally said, "fine."

A relieved smile lit Kirihara's face and he ran a hand through his hair to push his hair back. Then, he opened the door to the passenger seat and let Sanada in. As Kirihara strapped on his seatbelt and stepped on the accelerator, he could not help but pray that everything would be all right.

Kirihara turned on the radio to drown out the cacophony of rain. A familiar song came on. It was Yukimura's Our Love no Owari.

The End of Our Love.

How ironic, Kirihara thought miserably as he turned on the screen wipers. At that moment, he really wished they were still in high school.

Beside him, a silent tear slid down Sanada's cheek as Yukimura's voice called out to him again and again.

Our Love no Owari...

Was this really the end?

Yukimura leaned back on the park bench, allowing the rain to drip off his hair. He wondered if Sanada remembered the time Atobe kissed him. Yukimura looked up at the dark, gloomy heavens. He closed his eyes and smiled sadly at the thought; if the pain then was hard to bear, the pain now was unbearable.

He opened his eyes slowly when he heard the quiet roar of an approaching car. He recognised the black Jaguar immediately and frowned.

"I told you not to interfere," Yukimura growled when Kirihara stepped out of the car. Kirihara cringed; he hated it when Yukimura spoke like that.

Kirihara licked his lips and chuckled nervously. "Isn't this just like the time after the nationals when you told us to leave you alone? Turns out that you were craving company."

"I wasn't craving company," Yukimura scoffed. He was about to add another comment when someone else stepped out of the car. Yukimura gave Kirihara an exasperated glare.

He bit his lips. "Sanada."

Kirihara smiled sheepishly before running back towards his car, picking up the umbrella Yukimura left on the ground on his way. "Bye!" He said as cheerfully as he could, giving Sanada a little shove towards Yukimura. "Don't stay in the rain for too long, baka-senpai-tachi!" With that, he quickly slid into the car and drove off.

Sanada sat down besides Yukimura. "Akaya said I should listen to your explanation," Sanada said quietly. "But let me first tell you that I saw you walking out of Koesaki's apartment," he added. The rain was now a drizzle.

"If you're suggesting that I slept with her, you're wrong," Yukimura retorted immediately. Then, looking into Sanada's eyes, he added softly, "The only person I've ever slept with is you."

Sanada look away. His cheeks were burning and he was thankful that the blush was not visible in the dark. He was embarrassed not only by what Yukimura had said, but also his doubt and desire. The man beside him was still the same he had loved.

After a sustained moment of silence, Sanada finally said, "Give me the explanation then."

Yukimura nodded and began quietly. "I started working on my new album at the same time the filming of my drama started. Filming took place any time, from early morning to past midnight. When I didn't have to film, I worked on my new album. For those few months, I was working from 6 in the morning to 4 in the morning. If I came home, I would have lost the 2 hours of sleep and so, I just decided to sleep at either the filming site or the studio."

"You could have just told me," Sanada said rigidly.

Yukimura bit his fingernail nervously. "I thought you would be annoyed that I put work and sleep before you..."

Sanada nodded, not revealing what he thought of the reason. "I wouldn't, but continue."

"Koesaki was in the drama," Yukimura said, a little hesitant, "she was fine at first. One day, she asked if I wanted to get a coffee. I said yes since I had to keep myself awake for the next 12 hours and anyway, I never thought much about her and she wasn't particularly bothersome. She was just another colleague. But after the drink, when we were in the car, she suddenly leaned in and kissed me. I shoved her away and told her to get out of the car, but she just looked at me and asked if she was pretty."

"For the next few weeks, she kept advancing on me. I kept considering telling you, but I didn't want you to worry. Then, after a month, she finally stopped bothering me. I thought she finally gave up, but instead, she told me that she would sleep with the director of my contract company to get rid of me. I wasn't confident enough to do anything about her and so I just let her spread the rumours about us being a couple."

"I can't remember the months that followed. I was in a bad mood all the time and I was helpless. I could barely smile for my fans and everyone began to wondering what was wrong with me. I was at her apartment because it was too risky to confront her in public. I was there the whole night, arguing with her and trying to get her to back off. She wouldn't and I left the next morning, which I presume was when you saw me."

Sanada nodded.

"Anyway, one day, I had enough. I denied our relationship at the press conference and immediately, she threatened me. She said... she said..." Yukimura swallowed. The thought of it was still unsettling.

"What?" Sanada demanded.

"She said she was going to kill you."

Sanada's expression tightened. "What do you mean?"

"She told me that she knew about my lover. And that she had means to harm my lover." Yukimura looked away from Sanada. "At the time, I thought she was referring to you. That was why I moved out to Azabu."

"And...?"

"In the end," Yukimura laughed dryly, "I found out that the lover she was referring to was actually Sayu."

Sanada's lips parted in surprised. "Sayu..."

"And well, I discovered that tonight. Then, Akaya told me that you were here... and after that... well, you know already." Yukimura lifted his head, stealing a glance at Sanada. He wondered what the man beside him was thinking.

"I see." There were no hints in his voice.

"So... will you forgive me then?" Yukimura asked anxiously.

Sanada turned to look at Yukimura, "What are you apologising for?"

"For... not telling you..." Yukimura was suddenly at a loss of words, scared to hear "no" from Sanada's mouth. For the first time in his life, he suddenly could not read Sanada; not having any idea what Sanada was thinking was a frightening prospect.

Sanada suddenly stood up. He looked up at the sky that was glowing with the approaching dawn. "The rain has stopped," he said gently.

Yukimura wondered what Sanada meant. He tilted his head upwards. And indeed, the rain had stopped.

Please review!

Hope you enjoyed it. Sanada finally heard the explanation! Will Yukimura finally find forgiveness...?