CHAPTER ONE
Shusuke ambled into the Fuji household. He was drenched in sweat. His eyes were closed and a smile played around the corners of his mouth. Today's tennis practice had been rigorous but a lot of fun none the less. He had played a practice game against Tezuka Buchou. Naturally, he had lost but he was still pleased with how he conducted himself on the court. It was tough to hold your own against Tezuka.
Shusuke heard his sister, Yumiko, hollering from her room. He chuckled. It was their first day of summer break and his little brother, Yuta, would be coming home from St. Rudolph that night. He did not know how this day could get any better.
"SHUSUKE!" Yumiko's voice rang through the hall. "Shusuke, Yuta's home!" Shusuke set down his summer reading (he had nothing else better to do) and made his way to the front door. Yumiko was hugging Yuta and talking quickly. "Oh Yuta, we missed you so much! Mom thinks you should come home to visit more often to visit us." She spotted Shusuke through the corner of her eye. "We feel the same way don't we Shusuke?" Shusuke shut his eyes and grinned. "Yeah, we do." He stepped forward grinning from ear to ear. "Welcome back little brother." He tried to give Yuta a hug, but he ducked out of the way. "Don't call me little brother!" He turned to address their sister. "I'm going to my room."
About two hours later, Mrs. Fuji entered her home. "Kids, I picked up dinner! Her daughter came dashing in. "Mom, Yuta's home!" Mrs. Fuji smiled as her two sons strolled into the kitchen. Shusuke smiling pleasantly and Yuta looking moody and bad tempered. "There's my baby boy! Come over here Yuta. Let me get a good look at you." Yuta grumbled. "Mom I'm not a baby…" Never the less, he approached her. "My goodness, you must have grown a foot this year!" She began to unpack the dinner. ""You know, I've been telling your brother and sister how I think you should come home more often to visit us." Shusuke and Yumiko exchanged looks and both burst into silent giggles. "Yuta shifted from one foot to the other. "I know, I know…" He mumbled without looking at his mom. She smiled warmly at her youngest child. "Since it's your first day of summer break I picked up all of your favorites. "Shusuke," She pulled a to-go box from her sack. "I got you some wasabi rolls." Shusuke grinned contentedly. "Thanks mom." Yuta scowled and mumbled. "You freak…"
In ten minutes, the whole family had received their dinner and was eating in silence. After a while, Yuta snapped. He stood up and looked Shusuke in the face for the first time that night. "Play me a game of tennis!" Shusuke flashed a smile. "I would most certainly love to play a game of tennis with you." Their mother rolled her eyes and shook her head. "It's always tennis, tennis, tennis, with you boys. You both just had practice, its Yuta's first day back, and you're still focused on tennis." She sighed. "Aw well, everyone needs a passion I guess." Shusuke smiled at his mother. "Its okay mom, I've actually been looking forward to playing him." "You boys can go, but be back before the sun sets." They raced for the door to get their bags. "Hey! Did you two hear what I just said?!" All she heard was a mad scuffling. "Yeah, mom! Be back before sunset! Seeya!" The front door slammed shut.
The Fuji brothers started out to the tennis courts in silence. After a while Shusuke spoke up. "How's your arm doing Yuta?" Yuta snapped at him. "Fine, Why!?" Shusuke shut his eyes without smiling. That On-The-Rise shot could really damage it." "Well, I'm not a little kid anymore! You don't have to rescue me! I can take care of myself!" Shusuke continued to walk with his eyes shut. "I'm sorry. I get worried bout you. I just don't want to see you get hurt." Yuta scowled furiously at him. "Why would you care?!" "Because you're my little brother and I love you." The silence that fallowed was the most awkward either of them had ever encountered. This was saying something, considering the number of them that Shusuke had caused. Yuta's eye twitched. "You are one big creep! You know that?! I love you!? Guys don't say that to each other! It's just too weird!" Shusuke sighed. It isn't wrong for me to love you. We're family. Has it been so long that you've forgotten?" The two spent the rest of the walk in silence.
As soon as they reached the courts, Yuta grabbed a tennis ball. "I'll serve!" Shusuke's face broke into a broad grin. "Well, aren't we anxious?" He giggled. "Fine by me, you serve first." The arranged themselves on opposite sides of the court. Yuta bounced the ball on the ground. "Don't hold back! Give me all you've got!" Shusuke smiled playfully without opening his eyes. "The same goes for you baby brother."
Yuta knelt on the ground, struggling to breathe. He had only won one game against Shusuke. Throughout their games, Shusuke had never stopped smiling. Shusuke left his side of the court and knelt next to Yuta. "You've improved so much Yuta. I'm very proud of you." Yuta struggled to catch his breath. "I- hate-you!" He spluttered. Shusuke's grin faded from his face. "Now Yuta, you and I both know that isn't true." Yuta punched the ground and cried out. "Argh! I will not lose to you again! I won't! I refuse to!" Shusuke shook his head. "Come on, let's go home."
In the blink of an eye, summer had come and gone. It was already September and Yuta had to go back to St. Rudolph. Both his mother and sister bid him farewell at the door with many tears but not Shusuke. He placed his hands on Yuta's shoulders. "I'll see you at the next tournament little brother." Yuta's face became tight as if he were concentrating hard on something. "Y-yeah…" As he began to walk away, Yuta could no longer stand it. Tears began to cascade down his cheeks and dribble from his chin. He didn't even know why.
Now that Shusuke was back in school, tennis practices has become longer and harder. To all of their horror, except Shusuke's, Inui had announced that he had concocted brand new serums. Overall, the regulars were getting along very well. Some of them, you might say, where getting along too well, the best way to explain this statement was the incident with the golden pair.
One afternoon, before practice, Echizen Ryoma was buying a soda. He heard bumping and panting behind the machine. Naturally, he went to investigate. Oishi Shuichiro and Kikumaru Eiji were kissing furiously. Eiji's hand was Up Oishi's shirt and Ryoma could tell there were tongs involved. He turned and fled to the tennis courts without the soda he had just paid for.
Shusuke sat on the bench content and relaxed. Practice had just started. Tezuka Buchou walked up and stared at Shusuke down his nose. "Get up Fuji. I'll give you extra laps if you keep up this lazy attitude." Shusuke stood and smiled at him with closed eyes. "Whatever my Buchou wants my Buchou gets." Shusuke said flirtatiously. Tezuka rolled his eyes. "Everybody, thirty laps! Then warm up!" Eiji winked. "I'm already armed up!" Oishi scratched the back of his head embarrassedly. "Ha-ha… me too. Oh and Ryoma, You forgot your soda. I put it on the bench." The look on Echizen's face was priceless.
The days flew by and before the Seigaku regulars knew it, it was December. They had one last match before the break. Their opponents were Fudomine and St. Rudolph. Two days before the match, Shusuke came to practice feeling excited. He was going to see his brother in a couple of days. However, during laps, his mood took a turn for the worst. "Shusuke, hey, Shusuke!" Kikumaru Eiji ran up to him. "Can I ask you something?" "Sure." "Is it true that Yuta isn't playing in the big match on Saturday?" Shusuke's eyes snapped open. "Where did you hear that?!" Eiji looked shocked. "Oh! I'm sorry Shusuke! I just thought you might- Hey Wait!" Shusuke had run ahead and was now in front with Tezuka Buchou. He channeled all of his anxiety and frustration into running as fast as he could. None of the Seigaku starts had ever seen him this fired up.
When Shusuke got home after practice, he went strait for the phone. He didn't even bother to shower. He picked it up and dialed the St. Rudolph dorm number. The phone rang once, twice, and then… "Hello?" It was Mizuki. "I want to speak with my brother." Mizuki chuckled. "Well, good evening to you too, Fuji Shusuke. Yuta doesn't want to talk to you." Shusuke blinked. "Yes he does. I know he does. Put him on the phone." Beep. The dial tone sounded. Shusuke hung up and dialed the number once more. This time it was answered immediately. "Look Fuji, he isn't going to talk to you so I suggest you-" Another voice sounded through to telephone. "Did you say Fuji? Who's on the phone?" The voices over the phone were muffled as if Mizuki had placed his hand over the receiver. "Nobody important Yuta." His voice sounded stiff and uncomfortable. "Is it my brother?" Shusuke was shocked. Yuta never wanted to speak to him and even when he did, Yuta never admitted it. "No." Mizuki lied between his teeth. "Mizuki, I may only have one good arm, but I sure as hell can get that phone away from you." Shusuke heard an evil chuckle. "Whatever, Just don't come crying to me later you big baby" "I AM NOT A BIG BABY!" "That's not what you said last night." Shusuke figured that Mizuki was just being a creep as usual. He heard a scuffling. "Yo..." Shusuke shut his eyes and grinned broadly. "I knew you wanted to talk to me." Yuta grumbled. "The reason I called is that I heard, indirectly, that you are not able to play on Saturday. It bothers me that you didn't call us. Why can't you play?" There was an awkward silence then Yuta mumbled grudgingly. "I messed up my arm…" "What did you say? I didn't catch that." "I SAID I MESSED UP MY GODDAMN ARM! JESUS CRIST!" Shusuke frowned without opening his eyes. "Why didn't you call? We're family, you know I'm here for you and always have been." Yuta just mad an indistinct noise. "Kids!" Mrs. Fuji called. "Dinner!" Shusuke paused. "Would you like to speak to mom and sis?" "No…" Shusuke placed his hand over the receiver. "You guys start without me! I'm on the phone!" "Who could be so important that you miss eating?!" Shusuke grinned wickedly. "My girlfriend!" A stream of curses streamed from the telephone. Shusuke giggled. "I think she fell for it. By the way, Yuta, would you like to come home for dinner after the match on Saturday? Mom and sis would love to see you. "No thanks…" "Oh, oh well then. Take care of yourself." Yuta scoffed. "I can handle myself. I've told you before, I can take it." "See you on Saturday. I love you Yuta." "I'm hanging up now." Beep.
Before they knew it, it was Saturday. When the Seishun team entered, they received many stares from the apposing freshmen. As they took their seats, Shusuke spotted Yuta on the other side of the courts. He was sitting on the bleachers, scowling and slouching. His left arm was bound up in a cast and tied to him in a sling. Shusuke smiled sadly and shut his eyes. He raised a hand and waved at his little brother. Yuta fidgeted uncomfortably and pretended not to see him.
The first match, number two doubles, was about to start. "Inui Kaido to serve!" The umpire shouted. Shusuke sat and watched. It was true that they were an amazing team but, they didn't turn him on like Buchou did when he played. Kaido, as usual was attracting a lot of attention. The crowd roared "Seishun fight! Seishun fight!" Shusuke gave a cursory glance to where Yuta sat. He had gone, probably to get a soda.
Yuta yawned as he made the unnecessarily long walk to the men's room. Seishun was indeed a spectacular team. He longed to have a turn at each of their players. He opened the door. The men's room comprised of a solitary toilet and sink. Yuta unzipped his pants. Suddenly, from behind, the door slammed and the lock clicked. He whirled around. Mizuki blocked his way from getting out, twirling a lock of hair around his finger. "Mizuki, What?!" "Good afternoon Yuta." Mizuki edged forward, slowly, like a snake who had just bitten and animal and was taking it's time, knowing it that it would die at any moment. "Mizuki, what are you doing?!" Before he knew it, Yuta was pinned against the wall. He tried desperately to fight back but his lame arm wouldn't allow it. "Stop!" Mizuki's hand was inching up his shirt. "I mean it! Stop!" In a blink, he was on the floor with Mizuki on top of him. Yuta screamed but it was swallowed up by a kiss. "For old time's sake…" Yuta's eyes welled up with tears. "No!"
"Number one doubles, Kikumaru Oishi to serve!" The freshmen in the stands cheered. "Yahoo! Go golden pair!" Shusuke began to giggle. Echizen's eye was twitching. Shusuke was up next in number two doubles. He approached Ryoma Grinning from ear to ear. "Hey Echizen, would you like to warm up with me?" This had the desired affect. Remembering the golden pair and how Eiji had "Already warmed up." He stared with bug eyes at Shusuke. Shusuke broke into uncontrollable giggles. "Not that kind of warm up. I meant tennis." Ryoma sighed and retrieved his racket from its bag. "Sounds cool to me." He answered, relieved that it wasn't that kind of warm up. Shusuke checked to see if Yuta was back yet. He wasn't.
Shusuke stepped onto the court, eyes wide open, pumped and ready to go. Ryoma had given him an exciting warm up. Neither of them had let up until it was time for his match. He approached the net and shook hands with Akira. "Game set! Kamio to serve." Akira bounced the ball. "I'm fellin' the rhythm…" The corner of Shusuke's mouth twitched into a smirk and spoke in a low voice. "Two can play at that game."
Shusuke stepped off of the court to cheers from the Seigaku team. He had won the match against Kamio Akira, but not without difficulty. Akira was a skilled player. Shusuke made a point of telling him. Everyone was now waiting anxiously for the number one singles game, Tezuka against Mizuki. They approached the net and shook hands. The Seishun Freshmen cheered. "Yeah, go Buchou!" Tezuke ignored them. "Number one singles, Tezuke to serve!"
At the end of the tournament, Seigaku ranked number one. Fudomine fallowed close behind and Rudolph had lost miserably. Everyone on the Rudolph team agreed that if Yuta had played, things would be different though, none of them knew where he had gone. Most of them assumed he was going home with his brother. Shusuke consoled himself by saying that Yuta was probably with his own team but, he still felt a little uneasy.
Shusuke got home late after a party at Taka's Sushi. He yawned. It was time for him to get some well earned sleep. He changed into his blue pajamas with white clouds and was asleep as soon as he hit the bed.
Shusuke awoke unexpectedly in the middle of the night. Rubbing one of his cat-like eyes, he reached for his bedside table and checked the time. It was 1:00 AM. He wondered why he had awoken so suddenly then, the reason became apparent to him. There was a loud wrapping on the front door. Shusuke slipped on his pink bunny slippers and ran to the door. Shusuke swung the door open wide. It was bitterly cold outside. At first, Shusuke didn't see anyone then, he looked down. Yuta was crouching on his knees on the front step. He was wearing no pants and was covered in scratches and bruises. His cast and bandage were gone, leaving his arm hanging at an awkward angle. Shusuke knelt down and Yuta burst into uncontrolled tears. He grabbed Shusuke's sleeve with his good arm. Shusuke embraced him and held him close. "It's okay now baby brother, I'm here." Yuta tried to speak but all he could do was blubber. "H-h-he r-raped m-me!" "You don't have to say anything, I understand." "I-I-I'm s-sorry!" Shusuke rubbed his back. "You don't have to apologize for anything. Family always forgives each other." Shusuke swung Yuta's good arm around his shoulders. "It's freezing out there. Let's get you inside." It was difficult for Yuta to stand. He winced in pain with every step and he was sobbing so hard that he couldn't walk strait. Shusuke led Yuta into his room and sat him down on his bed. "I'm going to get you the first aid kit so that we can take care of you. I promise I'll be right back." "Sh-Shusuke…" Shusuke turned back around. This was the first time Yuta had called him by name in two years. "I-I'm s-so s-s-sorry! I've b-been so distant w-with y-you and y-you've alw-ways been so g-good to m-me! A-a-and n-now I-I know wh-why! I l-love you t-too! H–how else d-do I s-say it?" Shusuke closed his eyes. Who are you and what have you done with Yuta…?" Yuta sobbed even harder. "H-how c-c-can I pr-prove it t-to y-you?! Wh-what d-do I d-do?!" "Sleep with me." "Wh-what?!" Shusuke grinned "I was only joking. Welcome home my little brother."
END CHAPTER ONE
