Title: Heartbreak in Stages
Genre: Drama, Romance (of the mind-twisting sort)
Beta: pinksnow, chilibreath
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Dream Pair
Disclaimers: All Konomi-sensei's. Didn't make money off of this. Don't sue.
Summary: Their first kiss set up the stage for his first heart ache...
Author's Notes: The third "First Kiss" fic request that I finished. This one at the behest of sugarcakey! I hope you enjoy this one!!!
Other titles in the First Kiss series (The Affair, Daydreams) have also been uploaded here. Please leave a review!
First Kiss Series
Heartbreak in Stages
------------------------------------
It was magic. Amazing, life-changing…
It was everything he'd ever dreamed his first kiss would be.
------------------------------------
Soft.
Sweet.
Gentle.
What started out as a light puff of breath soon solidified in the form of yielding, pliable lips. It may look like it was nothing more than lips touching lips to onlookers, but they weren't in it to experience the soft sigh that escaped the other's lips. A sigh that he breathed in and reveled at.
Drawing away, bright amethyst eyes stared into astonished cerulean eyes. Bright amethyst eyes that were inviting… hopeful… pleading…
A hand to the cheek was placed for comfort, a gentle smile given to soften the blow, "Eiji…I can't. "
------------------------------------
A tremulous, falsely cheerful voice, "Of course you can! It's really easy, nya! Just say, 'I love you too, Eiji.'"
A regretful, bewildered shake of the head, "Why did you never say anything before?"
A sheepish, uncertain smile that begged for understanding, "I was being stupid. I was too busy being afraid, nya. I convinced myself that I wasn't running away, just taking time to gather my courage to tell you everything. I thought I had all the time in the world…"
A hint of understanding dawned on those usually impassive blue eyes before cold distance masked it.
A slightly panicked look entered expressive violet eyes. "But I realize now that I don't have that time. Please, Fujiko… Don't look at him. Look only at me. See me…"
'LOVE ME.'
------------------------------------
"There was a time, Eiji, when I would have been willing to give everything I had in exchange for those words…"A heartbreakingly sad smile that spoke of deep regret louder than the words that followed could express, "Demo, that time has just… passed."
Moving away from within his arms' reach, he was given one final sorrowful smile before he had to watch the other's retreating figure until it disappeared from view.
------------------------------------
In an instant, all the fight that was left within his weary soul vanished. He felt weak, his knees started to shake as though warning him that they cannot support him any longer. He turned back around to the way he came from and slumped onto the bench in the clubroom.
A pair of affectionate green eyes that could no longer remain a mere spectator hiding in the shadows, made itself known through a gentle hand to the shoulder. Encouraging words were given in the usual soft tone. "Why don't you go after him, Eiji? You love him, don't you? Fight for him!"
From the depths of his soul, a resigned whisper: "Mou ii. I won't fight for someone who won't fight for me."
------------------------------------
And then the tears fell… as silently as a heart breaks.
------------------------------------
owari
La Fuego
09/25/2007
Post Script: Mou ii could be translated in any number of ways. Most usually, it is taken to mean "That's enough" or "It's alright". In this case, I want it to mean more as "I've had enough"—but to say it straight out like that seems too harsh or intense. Since I can't find a more appropriate phrase, I just thought to keep mou ii as it is in the story and not try to translate it anymore.