Chapter One
The stars looked so close it was as if she could reach out and touch them. The dark haired girl stood there gazing up. Her hand stretched out and she grabbed a handful of sky. She stayed that way for a moment, closing her eyes as a cool breeze passed.
“What…What are you doing?” A voice caught her attention. Her eyes snapped open as she suddenly realized what she must have looked like to people passing by. Turning towards the young man, she smiled, her face burning red. He shook his head as she approached.
“Sorry Sanada, I… I was waiting here and got bored so I was day dreaming and the stars are so pretty and…” she rambled on, looking down and twirling her hair with a finger nervously.
“Just come on…” He sighed reaching out for her. Looking up she smiled at him, her hazel eyes shining as she took his hand. He felt his heart skip a beat as her fingers touched his. Why did he feel this way? He shouldn’t. He couldn’t…But he did. He had promised to take care of her, and he would see to that promise, even if it meant his own feelings going unanswered.
The pair walked hand and hand. She pointed out things in windows and he would nod, listening to her ramble on about her day. She was 19, two years older then him. Her university wasn’t far from his school, so when her afternoon classes were over she would go and wait for him to finish his tennis practice, so they could walk home together. They weren’t a couple, she just happened to live with him.
Three years back her parents and one brother were killed in a car accident. Since her eldest brother had just gone off to his first year of university in America she had been sent to the home of her grandparents. But just 13 months after she had began living with them her grandfather became deathly ill. To reduce stress on her grandmother, opted to live with her father’s closest friend, who happened to be Sanada Genichiro’s father.
The two had known each other since they were young and got along so well they were often mistaken for siblings. He hadn’t seen her in a few years and on the day she moved in it was as if he had been in a dream. She had grown, and was so much different from the child he had known. She was taller now, her hair much longer and her figure had blossomed into a woman’s. She was still a tad chubby but the curves of her breast and body topped off with her lovely face made her as beautiful as any model. His team mates teased him relentlessly when she had moved in, but accepted her as if she were family and often took her along on their outings.
Though she loved hanging out with the boys she didn’t attend that many matches, as studying was her first priority. When she had moved in with him it was her senior year of high school and at a new school she felt pressured to do well. The last thing on her mind was letting down the people she cared for. Her first year of university came up after that, and she felt even more pressure to do well. Though she had began to calm down and slack a little off of now she was in her second year of university, the idea of attending his matches still scared her. She was also a bit shy around new people, especially boys and it didn’t help that she was so naive. When she had attended matches other players often saw her so close to Sanada and assumed she was his girl. When they found out she wasn’t things only escalated. She would get teased, or worse, hit on, and though most of the comments flew over her head, it was something that angered the normally quiet player.
But Sanada himself found it hard to blame the guys, she was different then most of girls around, which is what drew most of them to her. While visiting the USA a year before the accident with her brother scouting schools she fell in love with a music and style trend she had seen there. It was what the kids she had met called “Emo” or “indie”. She had adopted the styles and on her return began to grow out her dark hair, letting her long bangs fall over her right eye, and she had traded in her tortoise shell glasses for thick black oval frames. She often listened to American bands, picking up English as she learned the words and meanings. She had even gotten Sanada into a few of the American bands, though in the beginning it had just been his attempt to get closer to her.
And now, 18 months later it was the same as it had been the day she moved in: he was a brother to her, and he was in love. And he hated himself for harboring these feelings he knew she would never return.
+ + + + + +
“What are you thinking about” Her voice snapped Sanada out of his thoughts. He turned to see her looking up at him, her eyes just showing over the brim of her glasses, a small smile on her face.
“I was thinking about the day you came to live with me.” He spoke calmly, looking away so she couldn’t see the tint of red on his cheeks.
“I think about that day a lot too.” She spoke softly as she ran her fingers through her hair, her black bracelets falling down her arm revealing a star tattoo on her right wrist. “’Cause that was the day I got my life back, Sanada. You and your family, you saved me.” She smiled and turned back towards him squeezing his hand.
THUMP
Sanada turned towards her, his face burning. She felt his eyes on her and turned back towards him, with a warm smile she let go of his hand and wrapped her arm around his, enjoying his warmth.
THUMP
Sanada felt his heart pounding. ‘She’s is so beautiful…but as a sister to me I cannot think of her any other way.’ He turned his head away, hiding his face under the brim of his hat. “I’m glad you’re here too. I like having a sister” He winced as the last word left his mouth. Especially when he stole a look at her and saw her smiling. ‘That’s all I am to you’, he thought, turning back to the road ahead of him.
+ + + + + +
“Are you going to Sanada’s game on Saturday?”
“Hai.
“What team’s he up against this time?”
“Hyotei”
“Hmmmm….”
brushed her hair with her fingers as she and fellow student Higurahi Hitomi walked down the street towards the Sanada residents. Hitomi had been ’s best friend since grammar school and had seen her friend through the good and bad. A graduate of Seigaku middle school and an ex of Tezuka she knew very well the type of boys on the Hyotei tennis team.
“What’s bothering you?” asked noticing her friend’s unusual silence.
“Well, if the same boys from middle school are on the Hyotei high school team then I think Sanada has his work cut out for him.” She said as they approached the park.
“Middle school?” asked. Hitomi smiled at her, could just be so slow sometimes, despite her close to perfect academic record, it was a wonder how she could be so smart yet so spacey. She was a grade A air head when it came to some things.
“Hai. When I was in 3rd year of middle school I went to watch the tennis matches….I mean, hello, boys. But anyway, I remember the Hyotei team very well. There was this one kid, he was a 1st year I think. Man, was he an ass. They’re all like that ; rich, smart, and full of themselves. They thought they could like have any girl, just because they were rich. Ugh, I hate idiots like that!” She sighed as they moved along the path remembering the kid’s attitude.
“But anyway, enough of their foul attitudes… They were really good. Like, really good. They still are. Arrogant jerks.” She hissed turning to .
“What’s wrong?” Hitomi noticed the look on her friends face. She knew like the back of her hand.
“It’s just… I mean… I’m nervous. These guys – are they that tough? I don’t want him to lose! And I don’t want anyone starting trouble, he sometimes loses his temper and I… I…” she stuttered, her mind racing with possible scenarios, her eyes swirling. She stopped and shook her head.
“Um… Seriously, it’ll be ok. Remember, Sanada and the guys were like champions in middle school, and their high school careers have been going well too. I’m sure it’s fine…forget what I said.” Hitomi sweat dropped looking at her friend. ‘Man, she’s such an idiot sometimes, getting all worked up over nothing.’ Hitomi smiled reaching out she patted ’s shoulder
“Yes but…” nervously tapped her fingers together, looking down as they walked.
“It’s Sanada for cryin’ out loud!!! He’ll be fine, stop worrying. You get yourself so worked up over nothing! And then you wonder why you freak out and make people worry!” Hitomi said pushing ’s shoulder. nodded smiling as Hitomi took her arm.
“C’mon! Let’s get going before we miss them!” Hitomi smiled pulling along.
‘Yes, Sanada can handle it. I need to stop getting all worried and worked up. He’ll be fine! He’s a power house!’ thought as the girls took off towards school.
+ + + + + +
“Well, well! My two favorite girls have arrived!” Niou smiled as he walked over to the chain linked fence that separated the court from the seating area.
“Quit the flattering, Niou-kun, I already told you, one date was more then enough.” Hitomi smiled, sticking out her tongue as she put down her book bag. They had gone out on one date, and after that she said no to every other advance he had made. Convinced he was a pervert, she wouldn’t even speak of the date to … Though she probably wouldn’t get it anyway…
“Oh so cruel” he said in a mocking tone. Turning towards his smirk returned to his face. She was an easy target, cute and naive. Almost any sex joke just went over her head and she would agree to almost anything… The perfect horny teenage boy target. Plus, teasing her always got a rise out of Sanada.
“-chan, she’s being so mean to me! I’m just trying to be her friend… Can’t you make her stop?” Niou pouted giving her his saddest look.
smiled at him. “Sorry Niou-kun, I told her how nice you are but he keeps saying no. I don’t know what else to tell you.”
“Well, how about you make me feel better?” he smirked raising one eye brow.
“Nani? How can I do that?”
“Well all you have to do is go for a little ride in my car with me. You’d like it, such a nice smooth ride, soft seat.. I’ll teach you to drive stick, what’d ya say?” He smiled as he watched her take in everything he said. Then she grinned “I didn’t know you had a car! I’d love for you to teach me to drive stick!” she smiled as she clasped her hands together. ‘Bingo’, Niou thought to himself.
“BAKA!” Hitomi smacked the girl on her head and then turned toward Niou, eyes blazing white
“Stop doing that to her! My god, you know she’s a blank slate!”
“Hey!” sniffled rubbing her head, “I’m not stupid, I want to drive Niou-kun’s stick! What’s wrong with that?” Niou turned around laughing hysterically and Hitomi sighed rubbing her forehead, veins popping out all over. She hated how he got her so riled up.
“What’s the ruckus?” Sanada asked as he walked over to the three, Marui Bunta at his side.
“Hitomi hit me!!!” sniffled rubbing her head. Sanada sighed, ‘what now’, he thought.
“It’s her own damn fault.” The other girl said as she sat back down and reopened her math book.
stuck out her tongue and then turned to Sanada. “I just want Niou-kun to let me drive his stick. What’s so wrong with that?” As she sat there pouting Niou suddenly felt a presence behind him.
“Laps. Now. Just… Run.” Sanada managed to spit out. Niou chuckled as he took off. ‘Too easy’, he thought, ‘man I love it!’
“Are you ready for your match tomorrow Marui-kun?” asked as she opened her bag reaching for her books with one hand while the other still tended to the lump on her head.
“I told you, call me Bunta-kun.” He smiled at her, “And don’t worry. We’ve beaten them before. We can do it again. Atobe and his lackeys should be worrying about us.” he finished by popping a large green bubble and winking at her.
“Atobe?” asked as she lifted a binder to her lap. Why was that name familiar to her? She must have heard Sanada mention him before.
“Hai. He’s the captain of their team. He was in middle school too…He’s good, and so is his team. But we’re ready for them.” The redhead then turned to Sanada, “I’m heading out, doctors appointment in 20. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Sanada nodded to him and watched as he walked across the court, stopping for a moment to say goodbye to Yukimaru and then laugh at Niou who was still running laps.
“Are you coming to the game?” Sanada asked , the brim of his cap lowered, hiding his eyes from view.
“Hai! I wouldn’t miss it for the world! I missed so many of your games last year with school, I want to make it up to you this year!!! And Hitomi will be there too!” She chimed.
“Who, what, wait? Where will I be?” Hitomi asked looking up from her book.
“At the game, remember? You and Rin said you’d come with me. We were talking about it on the way over here!” said crossing her arms. She hated when Hatomi didn’t listen to her.
“Oh yeah. Sorry, when I start my math homework I’m like…woo hoo, lost in the world of numbers,” she smiled, waving her hands in the air, “but you’d better remind Rin. You know how she is, she sees a pretty boy and wanders off for days. Better call to make sure she’s still around.”
Hitomi looked back down at her book. nodded and dialed Rin’s cell. Sanada watched her for a minute and then realized Hitomi was watching him watch , a cat-like smirk painted on her face. He turned and went back to the court but not before he heard her snicker. He felt her eyes burning into his back the entire time.
“, what do you think of Sanada-kun?” Hitomi looked at her friend and couldn’t help but smile at the lost look her friend gave her back.
“What do you mean?” She stared at Hitomi until a voice appeared on the other end of the phone “Oh, hold on, Hitomi. No, not you, Rin. Rin, are you there? Yeah. Ok. Are you coming to the game tomorrow? What do you mean ‘what game’?! Sanada’s remember? Does anyone listen to me?! Yeah. Sure. Yeah she is. Alright, have fun.” she closed her phone and then turned back to Hitomi
“So Rin’s coming? She have a date or something tonight?”
“Huh? What? Wait, what did you mean about Sanada?” was so confused she couldn’t handle two questions at once.
“Well you told her to have fun, I’m assuming that means she has a date.” Hitomi sighed as she turned back to her homework
“Yes, she does. That same guy…Mira-what’s his name”
“Miratsu. Miratsu Akira.” Hitomi said as she scribbled some numbers onto loose leaf. She turned to , “So..Sanada-kun. What do you think about him?”
“Umm…I’m confused. Do you mean as a person? Oh wait, do you like him Hitomi!? Oh great! He needs a girl friend, and you’d be so cute together!” squealed as thoughts of her friends dating filled her mind.
“Uh, no. A big no there. I’m just wondering cause like, you live with him and stuff. And he’s a good-looking guy so, you know. I was wondering if anything was going on. That’s all.”
“WHAT?! No! Hitomi, what? You know he’s like a brother to me. Ew!!! You’re insane!” laughed turning to get her binder off the bench beside her while Hitomi smiled looking at Sanada on the court. ‘You may see him as a brother, but does he see it the same way’, she thought as she watched him play.
+ + + + + +
smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. She was never really into her appearance, but thought she actually looked cute, for once. She had straightened her long dark hair and took her long bangs and put them to the right side of her face with a sparkly star clip. Her lucky sparkly star clip. Since Rin had given it to her she had come to believe it was a lucky charm. She wore it on the day of her University exams and had passed with flying colors, and when she wore it to the mall she found had 2200 yen*!!!
She took a final spin in front of her mirror, admiring her outfit. She was wearing a pink and black plaid pleated skirt, knee high black boots, and a white shirt with a sparkly Bob Marley on the front, a souvenir sent from her brother in the USA. She checked her make up one last time before grabbing her bag and camera and heading to her front door.
She met up with Hitomi in front of the café and Rin arrived shortly after. As they walked towards the train station Rin began dishing all about her date the night before.
“Honda Rin! You tramp!” Hitomi laughed as Rin began to giggle. however turned beet red. She never understood how they could talk about these kind of things in public.
“Can we not discuss this…Out here?” She was blushing and looking down.
“Common ! It’s just girl talk!” Rin snapped out looking at her friend.
“Of course! He’s soooo cute! And besides, if the guys nice and pays for stuff I usually do it on the second date!” Rin smiled at her blue eyes sparkling.
“Still…she has a point. Going from guy to guy, that’s so... Not good.” Hitomi said shaking her head, “Seriously, you need a boy diet. You’re going to get yourself in trouble you know. Like, weren’t you with some other guy last week? Yuushi or Yuki or something?”
“It was Yukimaru Hiro, for your information. And it wasn’t last week. It was like 3 weeks ago. And he was a jerk face anyway.” She smiled, flipping back her ebony hair and grinning as she noticed passing guys staring at her body.
“How is he better?’ Hitomi asked as they reached the platform, half dreading the answer.
“Well for one thing….” Rin turned her back to as she began spilling the juicy details leaving her standing there cut off from the conversation.
As she continued kept quiet, thinking to herself. She knew that she could be an air head at times, especially when it came to boys, but there were a few things she did know, though it wasn’t much. Most people treated her like a baby. But it hurt the most when it was her own friends, but she understood while they treated her like that.
Even though she was 19 she had never had a boyfriend. She had never even gone past kissing. In jr. high school she hung out with this one guy a few times, but it was nothing special to him. She was too shy and he lost interest, and so did most guys. Those that did try were often scared off by Hitomi or one of ’s brothers. She was never mad at them for trying to protect her, but she wished they would talk to her about things. She was curious, though she was afraid to admit it. She wanted to be able to participate in all the conversations they had, not just the non-guy ones. It made her feel stupid sometimes, when people told sex jokes and she would sit there blank-faced.
As the train rolled up the three girls hopping in and stood in the middle. Rin fixed her hair and adjusted her tube top smiling when she noticed a man turn red when she looked at him. Hitomi shook her head turning away. She noticed ’s sad face and rubbed her friend’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong, hun?”
“I..um..it’s nothing really. I’m fine” She smiled at them and then looked down, “I was just thinking about the match today. I hope the guys do well, it’s the first game of the new school year and I want him to win each one!”
“I just want to see boys running around all sweaty,” Rin said with an evil smile on her face. Hitomi sweat dropped and shook her head.
“Can you at least not flirt until the game is over? We’re here to cheer remember? Not pick up guys. And besides, what about what’s his name?” Rin pouted and then shrugged.
“Sure thing! Go team…or whatever.” She smiled batting her eyelashes
“You don’t say that at a tennis match…Baka.”
“Well how am I supposed to know? I’ve never been to a game.. Er match!”
“Look, will you just…” smiled as her friends bickered. It would seem strange to others, but she knew that if those two were quiet there was a problem. For them, fighting was good.
+ + + + + +
The match was more exciting then Rin had thought it would be and laughed seeing her friends cheering on Sanada’s team mates. Hitomi smiled as she saw the look on ’s face as Sanada went onto the court. Sanada had replaced a hole left in ’s heart and Hitomi would be forever grateful…but she had to find a way to get it into ’s head that he saw her as something else. To Hitomi, they were perfect for each other.
In the end, Hyoutei was the victor. sighed shaking her head, “It should have been us.”
“Eh, they’ll deal. Common’ lets go cheer em up!” Hitomi hoped to her feet and took ’s hand. Rin sighed stretching as she stood. Turning towards her friends she followed them off the bleachers and towards the locker room.
“…Do you have any idea where we are?” Hitomi made a face as the girls stood in front of a large building.
“I’ve never been here before, I’m not sure if they have a guest locker room…or where the guys would be. This school is just too big.” She pouted turning her head left and then again to the right as her friends sweat dropped behind her.
“Yeah it’s big. It goes all the way to university. One great big school of rich jerks.” She mumbled.
“Lets jut go in here.” shrugged, “I mean, it has to lead us somewhere. Right?”
“Famous last words.” Rin muttered following her friends as opened the door. The girls headed down the hall until they came too another door. Behind that was a nice room, complete with animal print couches, a television and lounge chairs.
“Sign me up for THIS school!” Rin smiled hoping on the couch. She lay down hands behind her head, “You guys HAVE to try this, its soooo soft!”
“No, this
isn’t right. I..I have a bad feeling. We um…we need to leave.”
muttered.
With a bit of protest from Rin the girls left the room and were entering the
hall way when they came face to face with a group of boys. But not just any
boys. The boys of the Hyoutei tennis team. There was an awkward moment of
silence until a tall handsome boy wearing glasses opened his mouth.
“Atobe, did you order entertainment?” He smiled, looking the three up and down. Hitomi glared daggers at him while Rin crossed her arms.
“No, but I’m going to thank whoever did.” A handsome young man with an air about him said. He was looking up and down. ‘A little thick, but nice overall appearance. Cute outfit, definitely different. Yes, I like her look,’ he thought.
“Stop staring at my legs, weirdo!” Rin snapped at the bespectacled boy while Hitomi eyed the young man with the blue cap. ‘Is he looking at my chest? No. Wait! He looked again! That bastard!’ she raised a fist and was about to start screaming when Atobe spoke up.
“Ore-sama has decided.” The boy with the beauty mark spoke up, pointing at the girls, “You will go out with me.” He smiled running his fingers back through his hair. Everyone around him stopped. The boys turned towards their buchou with confusion while Rin and Hitomi just looked at each other.
“Um..who are you talking too?” Rin asked tilting her head.
“Don’t worry, it isn’t you.” The boy hissed looking at her. Rin’s eyes burned red and fists clenched at her side but he looked past her and instead turned to the one person everyone had been ignoring.
“What’s your name?” He asked calmly extending a hand towards who was standing off to the side a panicked look on her face.
“Who?! Me? I’m..um..I’m…. .” As she stuttered out her words his teammates turned and looked at her for the first time. She wasn’t a bad find, but she was far from what their captain normally went for. He was normally seen with a super thin, brand-name-wearing-rich-pretty-girl at his arm. Girl’s that swooned over him and followed him like he was their messiah. But this girl was different. Very different. She was a thicker in build, dressed very differently, and seemed slightly scared of the oh so amazing Ore-sama. She was definitely cute but still not the type of girl Atobe normally went for.
“Well then -chan, today’s your lucky day. You get to go on a date with me.” He reached for her hand but she took a step back.
“I..I don’t even know who you are.” Her words made the boy’s cocky smirk turn into a confused stare. She didn’t know who he was?! Where was she from? What planet did she live on?
“Doesn’t matter you’ll find out.” Atobe said softly shaking his head. He reached forward and grabbed her left wrist. Normally when he took a girl’s wrist she would come to him and stand beside him, fawning. But did something no one had ever dreamed a girl would do to the great Atobe.
snapped her hand back and then slapped him as hard as she could across the face. The sound made several of his teammates jump while Rin and Hitomi let out a gasp.
“I…I um, don’t know who you are but I’m not like that. You can’t just decide to take me!” She yelled at him and then, realizing what she had said and done, took a step back lowering her head and covering her mouth with one hand. ‘What was that!? I’m not like that! OmMyGosh!!!! I just hit some random guy.’ Her thoughts raced as her friends stared.
“Wow,” Hitomi mumbled while Rin taking in what had just happened, and the fact that they were outnumbered, realized it was probably time to leave. Grabbing both friends by the wrist she smiled at the group of shocked boys who were still staring at their captain, who happened to still standing with his head to the side where it had been snapped too during the slap.
“Time to go!” she squeaked and then took off running dragging her friends off. “Holy crap that was close! , what on earth got into you?! And why am I wearing these shoes!?” Rin puffed as they ran down the hallway and out in the open air.
“I’m not sure. He...he scared me. It was a reaction I guess. I think? Oh no!” She shook her head still embarrassed by what she did.
“Well whatever it was I’m pretty sure it was the first time anything like that ever happened to him. Did you see the look on his face!?” Rin mused as the girl reached the courts and broke down to a walk.
“Wow…I mean . I never knew you had that in you. It was…different to say the least.” Hitomi coughed, leaning over to catch her breath.
“I feel bad. I should go apologize or something. I..I feel terrible.” She shook her head and then turned to leave when Rin grabbed her arm.
“IIE! He was the wrong one here , not you. He deserved that. Now let’s find Sanada.” She began to walk with at her side, “And let us never speak of this again.” She added with a smirk
“W...why?” was confused now more then ever.
“You’re kidding right?” Hitomi mused, “If he ever found out he’d kill that Atobe guy, I ….hey wait. Wasn’t he the one they said was the captain?” ’s eyes widened, ‘Yes. They did say that name’ she thought to herself, ‘But how could a captain of such a good team of players be like that?’ She knew they were supposed to be rich snobs…but he was just plain scary, not to mention disrespectful.
“Eek!!! I hit their captain! Sanada would be so mad at me if he found out what I did!” squeaked, her eyes widened as her hands went to her cheeks. Her friends just stared at her wondering why she hadn’t yet been prescribed some form of medication.
“If . ‘If’ the magic word there, now lets get going.” Rin said poking her friends nose
“You mean…lie to Sanada?” asked feeling a little uneasy.
“Hai, now lets go.” Hitomi mumbled as she put her arm around , “We have some cheering up to do.”
~~~
Kashii
Edited by Elenniel