Here is the prologue of my first TeniPuri fic. Beware of yaoi, strong language and sexual references.

Other than that, enjoy!!

And, of course, a thousand thanks to Jewel for betaing!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tezuka, Echizen or PoT...sigh

The air was hot and damp, gliding over his skin like a lover's steamy breath. Sweaty faces and flaccid silhouette were surrounding him, swallowing him in their heavy mass. Tokyo at night wasn't the same as it was in the daylight, but even when the sun was down, a flow of people were taking hold of the city. The high-class business men had withdrawn with the sun, leaving the streets to partying teenagers, alcoholics and whores.

Tezuka felt a drop of sweat trail down his back. He had taken a shower before leaving the apartment, but he felt as sticky as he would have at the end of a tennis match. Rays of light from a neon sign created misshapen patterns on his face, reflecting on his glasses. He took an hesitant glance at a dark window on his right and looked up to make sure of the name of the place; "The Loan" - and, pushing open the door, resisted the urge to turn back right away.

Filthy, that was the word that crossed his mind immediately. The walls, greasy, were an odd green-gray shade, though it was difficult to tell with the poor lighting. A few ratty tables were dumped on the middle of the floor. The air smelled of sweat mingled with alcohol, and Tezuka had to remind himself to breathe. Along the walls, on wiped out couches, teenagers and older men were lazing. Some of them were kissing. Boys, teenagers... If Tezuka hadn't been Tezuka, he would have cursed in amazement. If Tezuka hadn't been Tezuka, he would have ran out. But Tezuka, being Tezuka, walked calmly to the bar, face expressionless.

Atobe.

The silver haired boy turned slowly to face him, interrupting his own flirting with the barman. "Oh, Tezuka. Never thought you would come."

Sights and whispers lingered in the air, and Tezuka didn't dare look at anyone else other than his friend. "I wouldn't have if I had known," came the cold reply.

A graceful and slightly drunk smile formed on Atobe's lips. "And that is why I didn't tell you."

The barman slid one drink to Atobe, and another in front of the empty barstool next to him, eyes sharp behind his glasses.

"Thank you, Oshitari-kun," Atobe purred.

Oshitari bowed and left to serve other clients.

Tezuka got straight to the point. "Why did you want to see me, Atobe?"

The man took one long sip from his glass and turned to Tezuka again, eyes glistening in the feeble light. "Have a seat, Tezuka."

Tezuka obliged, but didn't make any attempt to touch his drink. The unclean glass remained untouched, and even the disturbing noises in the background didn't convince him to escape into the bliss of alcohol.

Tezuka felt Atobe's satisfied gaze on him. Tezuka refused to give in that easily.

"Again, Atobe, what I am here for?"

"Loosen up a bit, Tezuka." Atobe's secretive and yet provocative smile was back into place. "I made you come here to show you something. You see, there is more to life than university and tennis."

If Tezuka was taken aback, he didn't show it. So when Atobe left the barstool and made his way to the back of the room, Tezuka followed.

The boy was spread nonchalantly onto an isolated couch. What surrounded him didn't seem to interest him, because his eyes were closed and infinite boredom was written all over his face. Dark locks were falling over his eyelids, but they didn't seem to bother him. Hands firmly shoved in the pockets of his black jeans and chin resting on his chest, the teen still exhaled an odd kind of uneasiness. Maybe it was in the sternness of his lips, maybe in the subtle frown of his brows.

"Oi, Echizen."

The teenager cracked an eye open, enough to let a golden glint slip through it. When he recognized Atobe, his eyelids lift slowly and resignation blurred his steady look for an instant. His tired glare went to Tezuka.

"Alright. Tell the other customer that I can't take him tonight." He stood up with lazy and yet graceful movements, a daring smirk forming on his lips.

Back to business mode.

Tezuka was sure he was misinterpreting this whole comedy. With nothing more than a twitch of his brows, he turned to Atobe. He couldn't have!

But Atobe was smiling the smile, the smile that Tezuka knew too well; the one that said, Yes, this is a setup, now be amazed by my admirable genius! And the insufferable bastard seemed pretty damn proud about it.

"Have fun. My treat."

No way.

"No." And with that characteristically simple response, Tezuka was making his way out, back onto the melting streets, his damp shirt sticking to his back, ignoring the disgruntled, hissed 'Che' Echizen made as he left, the sound burning into his memory and lingering in his mind.

And it was just another night in Tokyo...another lonely night.

End Prologue