This is my first story… I hope you like it.
Warning: OT5!!
Disclaimer: I could wish but it still wouldn't happen. So no. I don't own Prince of tennis.
The streets were busy with life, the people weaving trough like ants. It was never quiet, everything Made noise – and quite loud too. Cars were zooming and honking, busnissman talking stoicly to their phones, friends chatting animatly to eachother, music blaring for the doors of stores. Everything was going its usual course in the busy city of Tokyo… and it was slowly driving me crazy!
All these persons walking here, how the hell did they manage to not stumble over the other. My pride was severely injured for tripping every five seconds or so. And more so; why the beep was no one deaf. My ears were halve exploding at just a few weeks of living in this city – I guess you get immune to it after living there for some time.To go to the point without my mumbling complains: How could some one – any one – live here. I didn't understand and there was no way I would want to. The only thing I wanted was to escape this living hell hole and go home to my sweet little village far, far away from here.
Okay, to be fair, the Netherlands – my home – was not at all that quiet or sweet (though it was little) but it was certainly more tolerable to me than this mumbo jumbo city. I loved my country dearly and wouldn't have to grow up anywhere else – wow, now I really sound mushy.
To explain to you who the I in this story is, I'll introduce myself. I am Syusuke Fuji – or Fuji Syusuke in the Japanese manner – and I'm a tensai or genius. I know that the name sounds Japanese, and , in case some of you are wondering… it is! My father is part Japanese and my mother Dutch. I have two siblings, my older sister Yumiko and my younger brother Yuuta. I love everyone in my family dearly, so you better not speak a negative word about one of them, or I'll release my tensai wrath! Oh yea, I may have to mention that I'm gay, as you might notice further on.
Well to continue my incredibly sad story, I should tell that if it was not for the good pay I would never in my life willingly live here. A few weeks ago I got a offer from a friend here in New York for a job.
I'm a photographer – which is, to the less educated under us, a person who shoots lots and lots of photos of random things – and was currently unemployed, or you could say fired. It's not that I'm not good at my job – I'm excellent if you must know – but I hate orders and like to do things in my own time at my own pace, and well, how to say this, they don't appreciate that if you work at a million dollar trading compagny that loses A lot of money if I fail to be pleasant or even on time at a deal breaker. So as I said I got fired because I snapped at some bitch – how the fuck was I supposed to know that she was the favorite mistress of the boss – and they kicked me out. To be fair I kind of understand, it was the last straw.
After a few weeks of sulking and bitching to my boyfriend about how unfair it was, I got a call from my aformentioned friend. He (as in Kikumaru Eiji ) went to the same college as knew me and my potential – that was his word, not mine. He wanted to recommend me to some compagny a friend of his owned that prepared rich bastards for their photoshoots. I didn't even know something like that excisted.
At first I wasn't that enthusiastic because of the location – aformentioned hell hole – but after some persuading of boyfriend Dinant I decided to go. I admit, hearing the number of cash I would get helped to make the decision – hey, I'm Dutch, or at least for three-quarter.
Dinant would ask of his boss to be transferred to the main brach of his work in Tokyo, and if all was well he woul follow me after a few months to Japan. It is lucky that we would would be going here since this is a candyshop for a lawyer with all those lawsuits – yes, he is a lawyer. I've sure caught a big fish in the boysriend departement.
Everything would already be taken care of. Eiji would hire a two-bedroom appartement – even though me and Dinant haven't slept apart for almost three years – in the middle of Tokyo! He told me it was for a reasonable price and I would be able to go really cheap with the cab to work. I don't think he understands that walking would be much an much cheaper. Oh yes, the joys of legs people, don't forget they excist to you bring you further without endangering your wallet and weight. Three weeks after the phone-call I found myself looking out over my beloved Holland, trying to ingrave every different patch of land while tuning out the annoying stewardess.
After landing on the airport my new agency known as International Photos – how lame is that! – gave me a week of getting used to my surroundings and began training me for my work. I had to stand at the side and observe while my colleages trained and helped the moneybags called employers. I came to the conclusion that it was nice work, you got to know other persons and the money was certainly not ugly. The only downfall of it was that you had to be at the back and call of your master so to speak.
But I had completed the harsh and very difficult (cough cough) training and could start to work.
The real start of my story began with my running like a crazed woman - I'm a man, goddammit - down the pedestrial lane, my flaying arms hitting men in my haste, biting my underlip ever so often, an annoying habit I picked up from Dinant when he was nervous. This was the day I would meet my client, the person I would be stuck with for at least a month… And I was late.
I overslept this morning – It had to be this morning didn't it. I threw my buzzer out of the window the morning before in sleepy annoyance – I had the worst morning temper. I just threw on the clothes that were nearest, brushed my teeth and combed my hair briefly before I flew out the door. To make lateness worse, my neighbour Akagawa-san was walking her dog, Shelby – I do hate that name! - who has a affinity for me and began to hump my leg.
The joy…
As gently and fast as I could I peeled him of me, which was hard since he clung to me like a leech.
Uh, Bad thoughts.
So now I was running as fast as I could without getting under car wheels or stamping human feet – it's a dangerous world out there! I gritted my teeth at another attempt to grab my ass and kept running.
Finally I reached Hatchimits (a fancy Japanese restaurant) with terrifying speed and burst through the double doors. I was already wandering to my table in the back when the waiter came to take my jacket. I mumbled something polite and skipped over to my table where, thank god, was no one sitting. I lowered myself into the cusiony seet to relax, smile as always and feign discontentment when the guy showed up. I was already cracking myself up when the voice was heard.
' So you have managed to find time to come.'
'…'
…There is no god…
I heard some rustling by my side as he sat down beside me and turned myself towards him to make up a less embarressing story for my lateness. And stopped dead.
Beside me sat the most handsomest man I have ever seen. His hair was silvery-grey and incredibly shiney, his eyes were black with a sheen of grey and a flawless pale skin. I couldn't see how tall he was but I suspected him more than twenty centimetres taller than me, with broad shoulders and, as I already heard, a silky voice. The business suit he was wearing was definetly made by some fancy designer and hugged his figure nicely.
All I could do was stare at him with my mouth wide open, probably doing a fair imitation of a goldfish. I completely blanked out. He just looked at me with amusement an a bit exasparation. He was quite used to these reactions I could tell. I shook myself awake with some mental slaps and screams and recovered just enough to keep smiling apologize for being late.
' Its alright. It's not often that Ore-sama' - Seriously?! Ore-sama! – 'has to wait for some other. But next time please be punctual.' He examined me with haughty look that just screamed Stuck-up Ass. I let it slide for this time because I knew I looked sloppy. I was wearing an oversized sweater that was wrinkled all over and jogging pants. The strings of my shoes were still loose and my hair was in a messy bun.
To say it shortly; I looked completely out of place beside his impeccable perfection.
I was still wondering about his amazing everything while he ordered sake for us both. Quickly I intercepted the waiter and ordered tea for myself. I am very very bad at holding alcohol. After halve a bottle of breezer I completely flipped. It was a most disastorous night and I had the worst headache in the morning. I never drank alcohol! Period!
He just looked at me quizzely and started, 'Well for introductions, I am Atobe Keigo, owner of Atobe Corporations.' The last part was unnecessary, everyone knows the name Atobe Keigo! He is some hotshot heir who is CEO of billion dollar hotel-chain of five stars. He was said to be one of the greatest charmers of the century, though his superiority air to me made me wonder. 'But you can call me Keigo-sama.'
…Jeez. Thanks…
Trying very hard to keep my smile from crumbling I introduced myself. 'My name is Fuji Syusuke, and I'm twentyfive years old. I just moved here from the Netherlands to prepare other people like yourself for photoshoots.'
' I know.' He interrupted me before I could ramble more about my life.
I was understandbly confused by his confession. 'What do you mean you know? Did the agency tell you all this?'
Atobe smiled a arrogant smile that at the same time made want to turn in a puddle of goo and punch his perfect face. 'Your agency only gave me your name. I did some private research on you. Very nice boyfriend by the way.' He complimented coolly.
I almost choked on my tea. 'You spoke with Dinant?' I splutterd ' Why? Why would you do that?' and more importantly: why has Dinant not told me Rich Asshole has called him.
He had the nerve to smirk! 'I needed to see what you were like. And don't worry; I heard some very good and loving stuff about you… Though now I met you, I think I disagree with what he said.'
I completely saw red. The nerve of this man! I only saw him for five minutes, even less, and he already judged me! Stupid bastard! Trying to calm down I smiled charmingly – I hoped – and asked him what he wanted to know.
Atobe leant backwards in his seat and slurped some of his sake – jeez, he even makes drinking elegant. 'You are going to teach me - and some others who are unfortunatly delayed - Dutch.' It was an order – I had to bite my tongue to refrain from saying Yes Sir!
'I think you are misunderstanding something. I need to prep you for photoshoots, as you might have known if you listened to the man you spoke to.'
He frowned, definetly not liking being corrected. 'No, You are going to teach me Dutch. Your told me – and your Dinant did – that you're from Holland, and who is better to teach me than someone who comes from the actual country.'
I frowned right back at him. 'I'm not a teacher. If you want to learn the language, go to an actual teacher 'cause I'm not.' He was only looking down at me with a strange smile that just screamed 'I always get what I want'. I only got frustrated by this but just held my tongue from cursing in his face and smiled back.
'I know you're not a legimate teacher but I still want you to do it. I have done some research after tutors but after looking it over you're my best option. The other tutors all had an horrible accent that I don't wish to copy and they are all old and ugly.' Even though he was being stupid I couldn't help but be flattered. The fluttering feeling from before came back at the thought that he found me attractive. He continued 'You're not at all that beautiful either but at least you're younger than them.' The butterflies died a sudden death.
'I am so very sorry to disappoint but as I already told you, I am NO teacher!' I slurped my tea down to quill the raising urge to scream. He just looked more amused at my antics and gently drank his sake. 'And what you give as reason is just plain stupid. To choose someone for their looks – or, in my case, the age! I mean, are you that mindless…'
I wanted to continue, I really really did, but the facial expression Atobe gave me was just plain frightening. His handsome face looked dumbfounded and flabbergasted about the fact that someone as low as me would raise objections to someone as mighty as he, – Get off your high horse pall! - but above that he looked furious! He took a few staggering breaths to remain reserved. Obviously that hadn't worked since he bit the next sentence out. 'You are going to teach me because one: I paid for your service, two: I can get you fired if you don't,' ( insert angry glare ) 'and three: I said so.'
I glowered at him from under my lashes. I believed the second statement, he had enough money and influence to get me even exiled out of Japan. 'I just don't understand. Why are you hanging so hard onto the idea of me teaching you. I'll tell you, I'm a bossy instructer, I get impatient and angry when you don't get it, and I'll frustrate you with the loads of homework I'm gonna give you. You will run away before a week is over.'
'So you'll do it.'
'No!'
Oh… the killing intent.
We sat there for maybe fifteen minutes – and boy, were they akward! – without looking at eachother the sushi came and went down our throats. All was still silent and uncomfortable. I decided with my typical pigheaded stubborness that he was going to speak first. I spoke the last word so now it was his turn. When we stayed tight-lipped and in my case, smiling, for another fifteen minutes. I began to think about what I was gonna do. I could just get up and go, but Dolt here beside me would complain to my firm and I would surly get fired. On the other hand, bossing over Atobe would surely be fun like hell. There is no way I would not enjoy that. The mental image that came with the idea made me smile wickedly.
I would soo enjoy that!
I heard a soft cough from my left and saw Atobe glancing at me. 'I believe I hadn't told you about the extra bucks you earn by doing this.' He leaned over to my ear and whispered – it was completely unnecessary but it gave me an exiting feeling of secrecy. The words I heard tumbled a few through my head before I finally grasped the meaning of them.
'…WHAT!'
Atobe just grinned his snobbish grin and leaned in expectantly. 'Well?' I blushed unwillingly at the too small distance between his face and mine. I wanted to decline, even though the closeness of his face kept distracting me – he was doing it on purpose, I swear! – but the images of him shrinking with fear for my wrath just still lingered in my mind.
The moment I said that accursed word was forever ingrained in my mind.
'Deal!'
He was smirking with triumph while I was still trying to clear my mind from dollar signs and exquisite illustrations.
So it all began. A small word changed my whole life. It made me at the same time the luckiest man and the most unfortunate. I began a hardest journey I have ever made.
'But you're going to buy the books.'