Alright, so I know for a fact that several are all dying to see how this story would end up, and on how I'll play along with the complex situations of the characters.

However,…we'll have to reserve that for the succeeding chapters. (I'm actually working on finishing this and Tip of a Pen before February)

As of now, let's stay content on what these complications can bring to our beloved princes. There are times when things like these are needed….

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Prince of Tennis

Yukimura finished off his morning jogging routine earlier than usual. He fell asleep earlier last evening which left him unable to do his assignments due for the day.

He took a quick bath and got his pen and notebook. 30 minutes is all the time he's got if he wants to be on the train on time. Missing classes is one thing he couldn't afford to happen now that finals is coming up.

"Seiichi? You have a phone call!" called his mom from downstairs.

"Coming!" he answered.

He rushed down their living room and picked up the phone.

This better be important. Otherwise, whoever was calling shall really be up for some disasters later on. Yukimura inwardly grinned. He fancies the thought that people still has this almost divine respect and fear towards him. Only a few could do that. Tezuka, for example, was definitely among them.

"Yes?"

"Yuki…"

Great. Yukimura thought with a frown when Sanada's voice echoed from the other line. Of all the days his vice-captain could think of pestering his morning, why does it have to be today? Sanada surely is looking for something worse than just plain suspension of his duties on the entire tennis team.

Two days ago, Yukimura completely defeated him in an utterly one-sided game, and ever since Sanada's suspension has been implemented, Yukimura had to admit that his worst days were also becoming apparent.

And whose fault was it? Entirely Sanada's. Never will he blame himself for such occurrences. Even if Tezuka did point out some things he needs to change in order to bring a sort of order on the team without resorting to fear, Yukimura completely ignored it. Tezuka was a co-captain and his lover, but it didn't give the latter any control or right to intervene with how he chooses to handle his team.

"What?" he snapped.

"Yuki..Renji called me..he was asking if we could..I mean…the suspension..I know it's been hard for you lately, and I was thinking if we could-"

"No. You'll serve your suspension until next week. That's final."

"But.."

"No buts. Now I'll hang up. I'm off to school."

"Yuki, wait let's-"

And Yukimura slammed the phone hard. He turned around and saw his mother looking at him in question. He shrugged and gave off one of those smiles. Not now.

Fuji intentionally went at school earlier and opted to start his morning practice earlier than the usual to avoid Tezuka's interrogation. He was in no mood to discuss things which concerns about Sanada. He did nothing wrong, and he had no plans of explaining himself just to appease his captain's sick curiosity.

Yet what he planned to be a perfect morning practice turned bitter when he opened their club room and saw Tezuka who was just preparing as well for his obvious plan of advance morning practice. If Tezuka ever suspected him of having the same intention, he did not show it. Both of them were apparently surprised by each others' presence.

"Sorry..I didn't mean-"

"Go ahead and change. I'll wait for you outside." Tezuka commanded and walked past his teammate.

Fuji sighed in resignation and went on changing. Perhaps early morning practice is really a bad idea after all.

Three rounds of sprint around the tennis courts, and Fuji felt like his lungs are going to give in any time soon.

Was it really 'that' long since he ran some laps?

"It's one thing I never wanted to point out, but you're utterly falling behind, Fuji." Tezuka commented as they settled at one of the benches.

The Seigaku tennis genius didn't mind to respond to the comment. He knew Tezuka was right. No need to add more guilt and shame to what he's currently feeling.

"I'll see you later." Tezuka dismissed, turning on his heels and heading inside the club room to change.

"Tezuka…wait.." Fuji called.

Tezuka looked back at his defeated form, but remained silent, allowing Fuji to organize what he was supposed to say.

"Can't you…can't you really love me?" he blurted despite knowing how his captain would resent him afterwards for raising such an irrelevant question.

The frown on Tezuka's forehead confirmed Fuji's thoughts. He heard their captain sigh as he adjusted his glasses.

"Yukimura and I are going out."

…and with that awkward silence that followed, Tezuka left.

2 weeks later….

Sanada couldn't remember how he ended up locked inside the chemistry laboratory. The last thing he remembered was when Yukimura asked his help in getting something for their lab experiment. So as to how he was left alone in that cold, solitary, place remained a question.

He reached for his phone from his right pocket, and felt alarmed when he couldn't grasp it with his hands. Sanada always had it with him ever since his mom forced him to have one; apparently for emergency purposes. He reached for his other pocket. Still no signs.

He looked around the room, hoping that he incidentally dropped it off.

Nothing.

He lost his phone.

While Sanada battled on how he should get out of the laboratory without resorting to breaking its front door, Yukimura sat comfortable on his seat on the adjacent classroom, scrutinizing each text messages on Sanada's phone.

From the total of 42 messages stored in his inbox, 37 were from the person Yukimura resented. Such was his resentment that he couldn't get a hold of his own curiosity and read the messages.

1st:

'I'm going home early. Wanna drop by?'

2nd:

'Great! I'll see you on the station.'

3rd:

'No. Not really. Yumiko's out. Company matters.'

4th:

'Sure….I also think we need to start where we left off last time.'

Yukimura read three more messages before finally deleting all messages on Sanada's inbox. Fuji could wait for how long he wants, but Sanada's definitely not coming. It was Fuji's fault why Sanada isn't performing at his fullest potential during practices, and he needs to pay for it. This is just the start.

Truth be told, the only reason why Yukimura feels so angry on the tennis tensai was because he was robbing off Sanada's previous full attention away from him. Ever since Fuji and Sanada began whatever connection they now had, Sanada seemed to be less and less attentive to his captain's needs. Ever since they started to have this special bond between them, Sanada has been sort of distant to him than before.

Sanada had always been by Yukimura's side. And a Fuji Syusuke couldn't be the reason for the two of them to set aside their own bond.

An hour after, Yukimura decided to unlock the doors of the laboratory. Sanada was inside, leaning on a corner and was currently engaged in deep thought.

"I really didn't realize that I locked you up, Sanada. Sorry." Yukimura said, not sounding a bit apologetic.

Sanada opted to say something, but frowned when he saw his phone on Yukimura's hand.

"….and you left this on the club room..I thought you might need this.." the captain added.

Sanada looked at him before 'grabbing' his phone from the other's hand. Yukimura smirked in amusement.

"Don't do this again." Sanada said, which sounded more like a warning rather than a command.

Yukimura shook his head.

"I'll do what I need to do to keep you at bay. And you don't need to know to what extent I'm willing to go to make sure you stay here. Right beside me." Yukimura retorted with that confident smile.

He tapped Sanada's shoulder and walked away.

Sanada dialed Fuji's number.

"Fuji…"

"..Hi…." came the other's response.

Suddenly, the only thing that mattered to Sanada was how to explain himself to Fuji. He practically didn't like the fact that he failed to keep his promise to the other guy.

"I'm sorry…something happened…I didn't know how, but…I'm sorry."

A soft sigh came from the other line and Sanada mentally knocked his head off for being such an idiot. He should have known how Yukimura would react when he knew about them.

"Where are you?" Fuji asked.

"….still at school.."

"Well…..I'm still here at the station as well so if you want, we can still go home together."

Sanada gaped. Does it mean Fuji waited for him?

"…Fuji….you could just have gone home…I mean…"

"You said we'll go home together. I believe you."

Sanada shut his eyes and massaged his temples.

"I'll be there in ten minutes. Hang on."

"Sure."

Sanada turned off his phone and half-ran his way out of their campus. No matter how he respected Yukimura, what he did today was a complete intrusion to his private life. Even if he trusted the other for a very long time, he wasn't sure by then if he could ever trust him some more.

Tezuka walked silently to the train station.

Yukimura couldn't go home with him. He said he had to attend a meeting with the student council, and he might be going home really late. Tezuka understood. It's not like he hadn't experienced one himself as well. Being a captain of a club surely requires a lot of your time.

He was about to board the train when he saw Fuji's figure few feet away. Judging from how Fuji kept on checking his phone, the captain knew he was waiting for someone, and though it was definitely none of his business, Tezuka felt like he had to know who that someone was.

He need not to wait for long when he spotted Sanada at a far end corner. Fuji looked at the other guy's direction and waved a hand. Sanada nodded.

Tezuka frowned at the sight. He knew they've spent a week together, but he never was able to verify if they went over more than that. And again, whatever was the real deal between the two, it was clearly none of his business.

Yet there he was, finding himself boarding on the same train as the two did, and strategically settling on a spot where he could clearly see the two without them noticing his presence.

While Tezuka was occupied on 'spying' the two, Sanada reached out for Fuji's hand.

"I'm really sorry."

Fuji smiled. "No worries. I'm used to waiting. I'm doing that for a matter of what…..2, 3 years? Not sure." he said.

Sanada frowned. He knew what Fuji meant. It wasn't new to him that Fuji had this special affection to Tezuka and that the latter was completely unattentive, if not oblivious, to that same feeling. Sanada couldn't blame Tezuka as well. It was Yukimura whom he harbor special feelings for, and that was one thing that remains so hard to change.

The two of them stayed silent for a while, fingers interwined in a tight hold, not letting each other go.

The train was slowly becoming crowded, and Sanada had to remind himself to pull Fuji closer so as to avoid other passengers who cared less on whoever they bumped into upon their entry. Fuji smiled when Sanada did.

Thankfully, they manage to get off the train safe and 'untouched'. Fuji sighed when he breathed the fresh air outside. The trip home has always been a stress inducer.

"Are you sure I can stay?" Sanada asked, unsure of Fuji's invitation as he examined the house in front of him.

"Of course. Well..the last time was kind of a disaster, but…that's the point, we'll make it right this time."

Sanada nodded, though he couldn't hide the unsure look on his face.

Fuji smiled. "C'mon."

But before he could unlock the gate, he felt Sanada's strong grip on his arm. He looked back.

"There's something you need to know before you let me in."

Fuji nodded. "Sure…What is it?"

Sanada cleared his throat to hide his discomfort. It's either he says it now or never.

"I feel something….for you."

This time, the Rikkaidai vice-captain knew he completely had Fuji's attention judging from the way he looked at him.

"…I don't know what or how…. All I know is I want to see you. Always."

Fuji nodded as if he knew it all along. "You're in love with me, aren't you?"

Sanada opened his mouth to say something, but found himself unable to say anything. It was as if Fuji had just told him a very obvious fact that he only seemed to recognize at the moment. He felt stupid by mere standing in front of the other guy.

"I-I'm sorry.'

That, made Fuji laugh. "You're sorry? For what?" he asked amused.

Sanada blushed.

Fuji went closer and gave him a short lingering kiss on the lips. So unexpected that Sanada had no time to process what had happened. Before he could say something more, Fuji had placed a finger on his lips.

"You're a good man Sanada….." he started as he traced Sanada's lips with his finger. "…and that's exactly why you shouldn't fall for me." he added.

Sanada grabbed his wrist and looked at him hard.

"Why?"

"Because Syusuke Fuji is a selfish, jealous, unreasonable, and genius. That's not somebody whom one can handle well."

"Try me." Sanada challenged as he leaned down closer so that his face was only centimeters away from the other guy.

Fuji responded by closing the distance between them and clashing their lips together. After what seemed like an eternity that drowned them both in pure lust and desire, Fuji pulled away.

"We're sexually attracted to each other. That's it. Don't mistake our simple trysts to something else."

When Sanada didn't respond, Fuji went on unlocking the front gate.

"Fuji.."

The tennis genius sighed and looked back. He eventually wished he didn't for he was welcomed by Sanada's strong arms which automatically wrapped around him, pulling him closer to a hug. Fuji made no resistance and instead leaned closer to the warmth body in front of him.

"Go out with me." Sanada whispered against his hair.

"I don't know."

"You don't have to. Just say yes, and we'll make everything right."

Fuji slightly pulled away and looked at Sanada straight on the face. He couldn't believe the mighty emperor of Rikkaidai was saying all of these things.

"You're persistent." he commented, this time with an amused smile gracing his lips. "Alright. Let's do it. I also want to know how this would turn out."

He held Sanada's hand and pulled him inside his house.

Well, he did promise himself that he would move on, didn't he?

Few blocks away from Fuji's house, Tezuka stood still at the sight of Sanada and Fuji going in together.

He adjusted his glasses and eased his fists, realizing that he had been clinching them tight for a while now.

Fuji's personal engagements were surely out of his business as captain.

Yet why does he feel responsible?

And what the hell was with this feeling of irritation he feels?

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Alright! So there you go! Sanada and Fuji's finally together!

As to what would happen to these guys, we'll know it on the succeeding chapters!

Stay tuned!

Good luck!