Title: Return to the U.S. Open

Author: Enhael

Pairings: Thrill Pair (FujixRyoma)

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis and all its characters. If I did, I wouldn't have to play with them in fanfictions.

Warnings: OOC, Shonen-Ai

Summary: Fuji has become a proffessional photographer. When he's hired to cover the U.S. Open, he runs into a few familiar faces... Thrill Pair

A/N: My first fanfiction. Ever. Forgive my current n00b-ness and my cliché-ness. And extreme OOC-ness. I'll get better as time goes on. Hopefully.

Return to the U.S. Open

Part One: Beginning and Memories

Enhael

Echizen Ryoma. The last time Fuji Syusuke had heard that name was the year he had graduated from high school. The last time had actually spoken to the boy had been the day after Seigaku had won the Nationals.

His everlasting smile turned bitter at the memory.

"Echizen.... No, Ryoma." The honey-haired boy glanced nervously at his burgundy-haired best friend, giving him the thumbs-up and mouthing the words, you can do it!

"What is it, sempai? Practice is gonna start soon, so...."

"I...love you."

Fuji had taken his rejection hard. Ryoma's face had been blank, but Fuji could tell he wasn't really taking him seriously. Fuji had quickly stated that Ryoma didn't need to remember such a thing. He also made it sound like a joke. Later he got a huge lecture from Eiji, laps from Tezuka, and was stuck with Inui's continuous reminder that now there was a 100% chance Fuji wouldn't get the chance to confess again, but that didn't matter to him. As long as Ryoma didn't completely hate him, Fuji would be fine with him not knowing he felt something stronger than friendship for him. Of course, when he told Eiji this, the energetic boy had cracked up, saying something about sadists shouldn't joke. Fuji slyly hinted that he knew about his relationship with Oishi. That made Eiji shut up.

But Fuji hadn't had the heart to face Ryoma after his confession. Not only that, but when he accidentally ran into the boy, Ryoma always turned around and walked away. Fuji was crushed that the object of his affection would rather be late to class than face him for more than a second.

Needless to say, tennis practice in high school had been hell. Tezuka had somehow found out about the incident and took pity upon the tensai, but, naturally, he couldn't keep the two away from each other during tournaments. Fuji knew this was affecting him on the court, but didn't know how bad it was until he found he couldn't preform Swallow Return correctly.

And so, although he felt like a coward for doing so, Fuji quit tennis and took up photography.

His friends—mostly Eiji—bothered him about returning to the team ("Fujiko! We're not the same without you! Even Tezuka seems a bit off!"), but to no avail. Every time he played tennis, watched tennis, thought about tennis...he was reminded of one cap-wearing boy. Even Eiji eventually gave up.

After high school, Fuji went to an art college in America and graduated top of his class with a degree in photography. He knew he couldn't run away forever, but being an up-and-coming photographer was time-consuming. He was happy to find he didn't have many opportunities to dwell on the past.

Of course, that was before his boss came to him that day.

"Fuji."

Fuji looked up from reviewing the photographs he had taken for a wedding. He was surprised to see his boss standing before him, a small smile on her face. That smile screamed "I've got a good job for you, and you're going to take it no matter what!".

"Yes?" he smiled back. "Another job?"

"A request from one of those people in charge of the U.S. Open! He wants you to follow one of the players participating!"

"Golf or...tennis?" He sincerely hoped it wouldn't be the second. Anything having to do with tennis in the slightest reminded him of that one day.

"Tennis," she chirped. At his unusually crestfallen expression, she narrowed her fierce eyes. "Fuji Syusuke, I don't care if you have something against it. This is a good opportunity for both of us and you will take it."

"But why me? Can't Keith do it?" He was desperately searching for a way out.

"No." He winced at the sharp answer. "Apparently this person wants you and no one else."

"B-but, why?"

"He said something about someone important named Atobe Kego. I'm guessing this Atobe guy has some sort of influence over him."

"A-Atobe?"

Fuji's eyes flew open in surprise. He hadn't heard that name in almost four years. The last time he had heard from the diva, he had been bragging about taking over his family's company. If he was involved with this.... Well, Fuji wasn't sure what that meant, but he wasn't really willing to find out.

"Do you know the name?"

"Ah, yes. He's a former friend. He holds influences over a lot of people...." Then a thought struck him. If Atobe knew about Ryoma.... And Ryoma was.... "Who would I be covering, by the way?"

His boss checked a piece of paper.

"Ah, someone named Ryoma Echizen. Apparently he's Japanese, too, so that's probably why they wanted you.... Hey, are you alright? You look really pale."

"I...really don't want to do this...." His voice was faint.

She sighed.

"Too bad. Fuji, I hate threatening people, but either you do this or you're fired."

"Nani?"

"English, Fuji."

"A-are you serious?"

One look on her face told him she was. Deadly serious. He knew that look, too. He had never been on the receiving end of it, but it was dangerous. Very dangerous. This was her I'll-ruin-your-career-if-you-say-no look. The worst part was, she would actually do it.

And that was why Fuji Syusuke was waiting in the airport, camera at the ready, for the airplane that would return the love of his life to him.