When April Meets September


ACT 1

Sanada grimaced. He couldn't think of anything good to stop his cousin from possibly killing one of the regulars. He is actually growing tired of being a pouncing bag for , instead of Nioh who's the cause of her frequent visits in his house...toppling it upside down. He had no certain idea of what to do to stop the con-artist from crossing his cousin whenever Nioh has the chance and oppurtunity to do so...and also to stop from breaking Nioh's every bone.

So, when did it start?

Three months ago.

When he, of all people, accidentally forgot his Japanese Literature notebook in 's house when he payed her a visit once. Too unusual right? Especially with someone like Sanada Genichirou. The everfocused fukubuchou of Rikkai's Tennis Club, junior division. Not very typical of him.

So, what is he going to do about it?

Ask Yanagi. Or Yagyuu. Anyone. Just to stop Nioh. And along with it.

Because whatever he do with Nioh, Nioh wouldn't just listen. And so is . She would just shrug him off with that puppy eyes of hers. He hates it.

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Three months before. is one happy senior high student. Well not until that day when she met Nioh Masaharu, the con-artist. Everything changes. Its not like her to loose her temper within thirty seconds and that she refuses to believe that she actually lost her control everytime she discovers another childish prank from Nioh.

Worst, he would just act oh-so-innocent whenever she storms right into his room. With his face blank. With that annoying smirk.

wants to break every bone in his body. Or wish the earth would just open up and graciously swallow him alive. Anything, just to stop her from thouroughly cursing him to no end.

Because the more she tries to cook up ways to counter that prankster's crazy ideas, the more she can't stop thinking of him. With that, she started to think of him, exactly a month ago.

Now one question troubles her. Is he doing this immature things to make her think of him always?

No, that's not possible. I am nothing but an entertainment for him. Just someone who amuses him. Simple as that.

If that's so, then why is she constantly thinking of him? Why is it that her heart constantly pounds heavily whenever he is around, hearing his voice or his name? Is it possible for April to meet or yet, to marry September?

She shakes her head in disagreement. Of course, she doesn't believe in the saying age doesn't matter. Young men tends to find older women comfort for them, someone they would run to whenever they are hurt. Someone who'll try to understand them. And why isn't she a believer? Because she wants the other way around. Or so she forced herself to believe to.

Definitely, April can never meet and definitely can't marry September. And that case also applies to the both of them. Right?

' -kun, zoning in cloud nine again?'

Her head jerked up, seeing Nioh 's face leaning on the table infront of her. She let out a sigh and buries her face on her folded arms. The other girl smirks and took the empty seat infront of her.

'Go away, . I am not in the mood to talk or anything. And on the tone of your voice, I'm encouraging you to zip it.'

responded with a giggle. twitches and lifted her face up.

'What's so funny?'

'Guess Masaharu had done something to happily ruin your day, ne?'

'Nope, unfortunately. And speaking of that devil brother of yours, do forgive me if I happen to kill him one of this day, .'

'Its my pleasure since I can't do that myself, I'll let you do the killings for me. You know it is a mortal sin to kill one's kindred.'

accidentally rolled her eyes in disbelief. only smiles seeing another unusual sight on her friend's face.

'When will you stop being a grouch ? You had been like that ever since Miya---'

She raised a hand, deliberately cutting off.

'Please. Don't you even think of finishing that. That has nothing to do with my mood right now. Its just your brother is confusing me that I---'

Oops. What did I just say?

She cut herself abruptly seeing the grin on 's face. She didn't intend to say that, it just slip right out of her lips. glared at , only to make more amused.

'Sigh, anyways, how is it going with Seiichi?'

Luckily, sighs dreamily, thinking of the very handsome young captain. gave out a sigh of relief for the success of changing the topic. It makes her slightly grinning knowing that even though Yukimura is three years their junior, he and still pursue a romantic relationship. Not minding about the age gap between them. And maybe because believes that April can always meet September. Much in 's disdain.

'We are doing fine, he always make sure that he do all the worrying ever since he recovered. I tell you, I feel so loved.'

'Yeah, you don't have to tell me. It is very obvious.'

shifts her gaze to the classroom door where Sanada is standing patiently, waiting for her to notice. She excused herself and approached him quietly. But in her outmost disbelief, the very object of her unknown growing affections and confusions is standing just a couple of pace away from her cousin. And if looks could kill, the name Nioh Masaharu will be nothing but pure history. then appeared from behind and waved a hand to her brother and to the rest as well.

'I am sorry to interrupt you nee-san, but may I borrow some of your time?'

Her glowering was cut off when Sanada's ever so formal way of asking something tingled her ears. Sometimes, even Sanada frustrates her.

'Genichirou, you don't have to be so formal as if I am the crown princess or something.'

'But...'

'The next time you do that, I'll pounce you right we you are standing...is that understood?'

She said firmly, poking a finger into his chest. The strict fukubuchou lowered the rim of his cap and nods. Nioh noticed it and grins. If annoying Sanada is one of his profound hobbies, then this moment is one perfect piece to add in his collection of ideas of how to annoy Sanada.

'And what is that walking bamboo shaft doing here? Entourage? Oh, hello Akaya-kun...Bun-chan. Where's Renji, Hiroshi and Jackal? And where's Seiichi this time?'

Nioh unintentionally raised an eyebrow on her. Bamboo shaft? Him, Nioh Masaharu, a bamboo shaft? He was about to retort when he saw the glare on Sanada's eyes. Instead, he pursed his lips tightly like a clam and just watch her talk to the others. Its lunch break so its okay to slack off for a while.

How did he knew her? Ah, yes. It was in the tennis court.

Three months ago. Sanada was busy scolding him in an early Thursday morning.

Just when he thought the fukubuchou will blew his head off, she came. In time to save him from his impending execution.

Then something caught his attention. Her eyes. Golden and soft. So soft that even the angry Sanada stops and soften a bit.

And what happened next? Nothing. For he could not make his self move. Or his eyes gaze elsewhere.

Why is that so? Easy. Because he was caught in a trance. A spell made by . The very same who is now his partner on verbal arguments and insults. Who could always come up as an equal to his tricky and mischievous attitude. Who can always cook up ways of annoying him instead.

But what is his reputation for if he couldn't even handle a girl?

'And your not thinking of how to handle me, brat? Because right now, I am telling you, you can't.'

stopped short after noticing him staring at her and pulled him out of his abstracted musing. It doesn't surprise him if she read his thoughts. She always do the annihilation whenever it is possible. But he loves it. It just shows that she has spirit. And that very spirit challenges him greatly. She can go head to head against him. And he loves it more.

'Bet on it -midget.'

'Yeah right brat. Just a reminder. The score is now 2-0. So better hurry up so you could at least keep up with me.'

'Then better keep an eye on your lead, midget. I don't intend to give away the lead too long...I'm a selfish person, for your information.'

'Yeah, I know that. Don't have to remind me as if I were a child.'

A boyish smirk suddenly registered across her beautiful face. Kirihara let out a sigh, knowing the meaning of that. It is not good to mess up with a girl. Especially if that girl happens to be Sanada Genichirou's first degree cousin. So better stay on her good side at all time.

'Anou, -senpai...'

'What about Akaya-kun?'

Her eyes softly gazes at him, making Kirihara blush like a tomato. Marui pouts at the scene, jealous of the affection 's giving to his kohai. Jackal, who shortly arrived with the rest, manages only to chuckle seeing his doubles partner pouting like a ten years old kid. While Yagyuu push his glass up while observing Nioh frowning, seeing how his sea-weed headed junior enjoys the attention he is getting from .

'Can I borrow some English novels for my English project?'

'Sure. After tennis practice then?'

'I'll walk you home.'

'Sure. No problem.'

Kirihira vigorously nods and huggles her tightly. She smiles back as sweetly as she can, for she knew that the same honeyed up curving of her lips produces an interesting irritation on Nioh's face. It somewhat gives her a pleasure seeing him a bit jealous.

'Oh, I almost forgot. What is it you want Genichirou?'

She asked suddenly. Sanada politely pulled her a bit away from the others so that they can converse in private. Her face suddenly aglow with tints of pink as Sanada said something to make her flush like that. A smile, very rare, shines on her face. A slight scowl gently lifts from Nioh's face.

'So I guess the score is now 3-0 Nioh.'

Marui teases after seeing the trickster's face. Nioh's face is contorted in annoyance. Kirihira and Marui chuckles, knowing well enough that they hit a nerve.

'You wish Marui. The day isn't over yet, so don't count on it.'

'Yeah, yeah Nioh-senpai. And don't count on it either.'

The young regular countered. Of course, he will count on it. No one, not even a girl could intimidate him. Not , especially. Kirihara slung an arm on his shoulder and traced the direction Nioh's eyes are darting to. A whistle suddenly broke his reverie. He payed a glance on his right seeing Kirihara grinning like an idiot.

'There is an 67.4% that the score will raise to 3-0 Masaharu. So save her the nutcase because the percentage of you winning the score is less than 10%.'

Nioh glared at Yanagi with a silent "thanks, you're helping". Yanagi ignored his glaring, making him frown even more. It is not really good to involve them in any situation he's in to. Instead of helping, they mostly screw him up. So its better to ask for help when its really needed. More like if it is really an emergency.

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Later after practice, Kirihara is busy tossing his things inside his bag while is patiently waiting outside the court. Of course while waiting, Nioh and are busy having the pleasure of their afternoon catfights which the others referred to as lover's quarrel. All they could do is just watch them from where they are standing and do nothing.

'And what is a midget like you doing in here?'

'Well as if it will likely affect you brat.'

'It doesn't actually, how about you? Does it affect you?'

'Will you stop that?'

'So it means I'm having an effect on you ne?'

's face flushed a bit. Nioh take it as a yes and smirks that made her blush a bit more. Damn it Nioh! Could you please at least stop doing that or I'll might end up kissing yo--- she stiffened at the thought. Why on earth would she think of such thing? She shakes her head furiously while gathering her good wits.

'Oh, does that blush mean yes?'

She glares straight into Nioh who has this old, familiar teasing note in his voice. Her cheeks betrays her as it displays a more intense pink.

'So I guess the score raises up to 2-1, ne midget? Told you, I don't intend to give the lead for too long. I am a very sel-fish person.'

'In. Your. Dreams. Brat.'

Her every words emphasized on every poke of her finger into his chest. Nioh, on impulse, caught her fingers and brushes his lips across them and he found that it was suddenly hard to breathe. She didn't withdrew her hand since she is very surprised of what he just did. The touch of his lips on her fingers hitches her breath.

'Ready to go, -senpai?'

A laughing voice inquired softly, breaking into whatever they had been doing. began to extract her hand from his hold and felt an unfamiliar trembling in his strong, yet thin fingers, as he reluctantly released her. She met Nioh's green eyes, which were resting considerably on her face.

'If you'll excuse me...brat, I need to go. Still, I lead the score so better luck next time. Make sure by that time then, you'll show me how selfish you really are.'

Nioh looked down briefly on his hand and then back up to . The same lopsided grin appears on his handsome face that she almost tremble.

'Until then, my Lady Luck.'

He said softly and smiled at her. Her lips unconciously moved into a slight frown hearing Nioh's fetishes for nicknames, with something very sweet behind it. Their eyes meet again, and then she's gone with Kirihara.

Nioh stood for a moment, allowing his eyes to follow her disappearing figure. You will be the death of me, . He said softly as thoroughly vanished from his sight.

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Nioh just finished his round of pestering Yanagi for the rest of the week. Asking things, more like information about Sanada's cousin. Like what she wants, where she often goes on Saturdays or what she prefers to eat. Of course, it wouldn't be Yanagi if he doesn't have any data about her. So he gives some useful hints. Although he considered it not important for Nioh to give a damn if the trickster himself had made a declaration that is just amusing him.

'She is not an entertainment for you to be amused about Masaharu. If ever Genichirou hears you, you know that he'll be very angry.'

'And since when did Sanada became so affectionate about others?'

The dataman drew out an exasperated sigh and open his bag for his notes. Of course Sanada is. Nioh is just not good to realize that its the vice captain's cousin they are talking about. He flips the pages of his notes and looked casually at Nioh.

'You know the answer, besides, she hates you.'

'She hates me because I'm taller than her.'

'Stop being so childish Nioh-senpai. You know that's not her reason. You had been pestering her for like eternity. So isn't it obvious?'

Kirihara popping from behind the door after knocking softly with Yagyuu, Jackal and Marui. He is about to say something back when Yukimura and Sanada appeared a minute shortly. He unbuttoned his school blouse, took it off and slid his jersey on.

Its been three months and surprisingly, he hadn't bother to make a single decent move...aside from brushing his lips against her soft fingers, if you could call that decent. Now there's a question he always ask to his self. Where do he stand to her?

Nioh slams the door of his locker and picked up his racket from the bench. For six months, he kept his feelings on check. And now, he is quite confused of what to do about it. He shakes his head to realize that even a Nioh Masaharu could get this confuse over a girl. Karma is quickly taking its toll on him. Luck is absent. And destiny isn't helping either.

'Masaharu, you should know that its not wise to play tricks on -san. Even though she is three inches shorter than you doesn't mean you could scare the hell out of her.'

He tilted his head to the right to see Yagyuu walking beside him. Its a common rite for Yagyuu to reprimand him a bit about his prankish behavior towards those stubborn girls he happened to lay an eye on.

'She asks for it. She's so stubborn.'

'She didn't ask for it, you gave it to her without warning. Besides, what did you see on her anyways? She is three years our senior.'

'What did you see on her Yagyuu?'

The bespectacled gentleman paused and rub a finger on his jaw. Nioh is very much aware of the others special affections for . Affections beyond friendship. Minus Sanada and Yukimura. Maybe Yukimura too, only he should not admit it since the captain is dating his older sister.

'A girl and a woman who deserves to be protected, Masaharu.'

Now its Nioh's turn to be confused. Yagyuu dismissed his glarings and walks ahead towards the court. And Nioh was once again left alone thinking by himself. These bothers him. The affections. The attentions. The masculine attentions. Those stupid, annoying head turning attentions she pulls from other male species aside from him.

Nioh stopped on his tracks when he saw with some of her clubmates passing by on the other side of the wire fence. Just adjacent to the tennis court he is heading to. Stunning, attractive and seductive as always. She never fails to amaze him. But those same amazing traits also kills him deep inside, everytime he surpress the urge to hold her in his arms or even kiss her even if its just a light kiss. The extra effort he puts his self into just to resist the temptation of sweeping her off her feet.

But why is he hesitating?

shook the question off her mind as she tries her best to keep up with the conversation she and her clubmates are engaging. She saw Nioh on the other side of the fence, eyes on her. Staring. He is like as he was when she first laid eyes on him. Beautiful, alluring and enticing as he was before. She denied herself the truth of wanting her fingers running through his hair. The feeling of his arms around her. The feel of his soft lips against her own. The warmness of his breath against her skin. The feel of his voice whispering softly on her ears. But...

Her face flush at that very thought that just crossed her mind. Are those thoughts the result of Nioh's teasings? Is he really doing it on purpose? Or he is seeing her just another entertainment everytime he's bored?

She let out a sigh and rub a hand on her forehead. She hates to admit it but, the brat is corrupting her system. That in everyday God had created, he always make sure that he is noticed. One way or the other.

The question here is, where does she stand to him?

'Hey midget.'

Her grip on the phone tightens after hearing Nioh's silky baritone voice on the other line. Her heart wanted to leap out of her chest. Her cheeks flaming. All those thoughts before came rushing into her mind.

'I can tell that I really have an effect to you.'

Don't rub it in!

'W-where did you get my number brat? And what do you want?'

Snickers and chuckles echoes on the background, which she recognize are from Kirihara and Marui. She twitches and decides to deal with them later after this very surprising call.

'Nervous? You're stuttering. Besides, you know where did I get your very elusive phone number.'

She rolled her eyes remembering that Yanagi is this brat's team mate. That Yanagi is always generous about his precious datas whatever the reason is.

'Are you going to tell me what do you want? Because if you won't, I'll cut this off since you're wasting my time!'

snapped. She didn't intended to sound rude since the anger is more directed to herself than to Nioh. And knowing the con-artist, it pleases him, rather than intimidating him everytime he embarrasses whether it is on private or in public.

'Hai. Okay. Chill down, I won't let my woman wear that frown tomorrow as if I'm the grim reaper and your worst nightmare.'

'What the?! I am not anyone's woman! And not certainly yours!'

The softness of his laughter tingles her ear. She couldn't control herself from blushing. Fluttering sensations on her stomach and worst, the loud thud on her chest, causing her tongue and mind to twist into endless knots. Just the very same feeling when she experienced her first love. She clenches her fist, quickly dissolving all the romantic inclinations she is indulging herself for the moment. She just realized that she is contradicting herself. Though it feels good inside.

'Meet me at the park tomorrow at eight in the morning.'

'And what made you think that I'll go, especially with you?'

'Of course you will. Cause if you don't, I'll get you there myself. Dress you up myself and drag you out myself.'

'Do you have a death wish?'

'If getting you on a date, yes. So I'll see you tomorrow. Dress to be comfortable and to please. I don't want my woman to look shabby and uncomfortable to be around.'

Then the line became busy. This is part of what she expected right? sighs, knowing that in every expectations there's a side effect waiting.

'Is it really wise to do this Nioh-senpai? You might not make it alive.'

Kirihara jestingly puts, knowing full well that Nioh is isn't exactly on 's list of favorite person. But aside from that, Kirihara is also jealous because he couldn't ask her out just like what the trickster did. Nioh only shugs his shoulder and taps the phone on his hand. The score is now a tie.

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Late at night.

'Sorry to keep you at this time of the night Genichirou.'

Sanada only responds with a firm shake of his head. quietly rests her head on his shoulder while they are seated on a bench near her car. She has been quiet, like thoroughly enjoying the peace of mind she's getting after stepping out from world she just came from. He softly brush a hand on her hair.

'How's the performance Nee-san?'

'It went as always. People are enjoying the night while we try our best to play every songs they request. We're lucky since our alternate band is as good as the last one. The only headache there is that we have to stay a little bit long than the usual...then the others...'

He quietly listens as she finish her sentences. He is somewhat worried about her since she always tends to overdo herself from school, playing in the band and sports. And everytime he tries to remind her, she will just smile at him and whisper "no worries". Which makes him worry more. Sensing his deep thoughts, glanced up to his face.

'I am okay, if that's what you're thinking. No---'

'...worries, I know.'

He abruptly cut her off. snuggles his arm tight and smiles. She is happy because he cares. She is happy because they finally found time to spend together. She is happy because aside from his mother and her aunt, she is the second woman in his life that owns half of his attention, let alone tennis.

'Anything to do tomorrow?'

He could hear the sigh that escapes her lips. She stood up from the bench and faced him with a wry smile.

'Unfortunately, yes. Your god of tricks ask me out on a date, leaving me with no choice. I decided to go so that I could slit his throat myself.'

Sanada couldn't help but to smile. , too absorbed with her situation, didn't realize the dawning of a smile on her cousin's handsome face. Honestly, with some persuasions, well more like of a threat from Yukimura and Yanagi, he gave Nioh a little push. It is a good idea though, since he will benefit from it. But he feels quite apprehensive since it is Nioh whom his cousin will go out with.

'And the reason why I asked you to come to see me play is because I want to know what do you think of me, going out with that brat. You're blessing of course.'

She looked up to him with those puppy eyes he hates to see. He let out a sigh. With those eyes, he knows he couldn't say no. Even though he really wanted to.

'You have it, even though you don't ask for it. Since you are okay with it then everything will be just fine itoko.'

He pulled her to him and locked her in an embrace. Sometimes, those who always protects are the one who needs more protection from falling apart. always gives her best to protect those she loves, leaving herself susceptible from everything. She did fall, once. Quite a time ago. And if Nioh cause the second falling apart, Sanada will make sure that Nioh would not live the light of another day.

'Yeah, hope so. So let's go home?'

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|end of act 1.0|
//© 02.12.07 by kitayuki rei|