DISCLAIMER: Konomi Takeshi owns Prince of Tennis and its characters. I don't.
NOTES: This fic is a sequel to Easier to Feel, please see my FF.net user profile for the link. It would be good if you read that first, but even if you don't, this fic should still make sense.
Same pairings apply. Some Shishido x Ohtori comes in kind of early, and there might be more later on, so keep in touch :)
As with Easier to Feel, the translations to some Japanese phrases come at the end. I won't bother to translate some words that I presume other anime buffs already know, but if I presumed wrong, please mail me. I'll fix it.
The title was inspired by the song "Harder to Breathe" by Maroon Five, a song a good friend uploaded for me. The same good friend who's helping me out with my Kansaiben right now. Arigato gozaimasu! :) Go give it a listen. It might help make some things in this fic make sense :)
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Harder to Breathe (Prologue: Summer)
by MorphailEffect
Mukahi knew that Oshitari was moving away for his second year in high school. That was what their three-day getaway had been for. Oshitari should have moved last year and started high school elsewhere, but his father needed time to secure operations in the area. That time was over, and there was no more cheating fate.
It should have been a warm departure. They should have said their goodbyes with fond words, kisses...it should have been good.
But it was close to midnight and Oshitari still had not returned.
It was their last night on vacation. Tomorrow at 11 AM, they would have to check out of the hotel they were staying in, and it irritated Mukahi to even consider Oshitari not being back in time for that. In his head Mukahi played with a number of scenarios...all involving that tall, dark-haired baka and, to his dismay, a certain person he had not even expected to see.
He tried to keep himself busy with exercise when the visions became too intense for him. "Intense"...it was a word that encapsulated the other person. He hated the word. They shouldn't have come here. There were other vacation spots, why on earth did Oshitari have to choose this one?
...Had he known that that person would be here...?
...No. He couldn't possibly.
They trusted each other. Or at least, Mukahi trusted Oshitari. Completely. And Oshitari knew it. He had to!
His text to Mukahi had even said dinner at hachinoya, mountain base. might be back late.
All that had come true so far, right?
...Shit.
When Mukahi became tired from the running and jumping around that he was actually not supposed to do, if he didn't want his limbs to hurt in the morning, he took his last shower for the day and spread himself out on the large bed, hoping to fall asleep.
He was finally getting drowsy when he heard a key turning in the lock. He didn't bother getting up. The door swung open, then softly clicked shut. Mukahi did not move from where he lay, facedown on the bed.
He simply felt Oshitari's hands on his hair, on his shoulders, on his back, stroking with just the right pressure that would make him turn, would make him look up at his lover and friend of over three years, melted with worry and hurt and affection.
"Sorry," Oshitari said. The slimy bastard was even smiling.
Mukahi removed Oshitari's spectacles. He linked his hands behind Oshitari's head and drew him down for a long, deep kiss. He tasted of cigarettes. They made love without incident, which comforted Mukahi more than he could express, and he ended up not caring much that his muscles were certainly going to ache when he woke up.
Then as they were falling asleep, Mukahi ventured asking, "What happened back there, Yuushi? With Tezuka?"
Oshitari moved the hand that had been resting on Mukahi's arm. He took a while to answer.
"...Nothing. Nothing important."
Mukahi asked no more questions. He let himself drift into a restless sleep.
(to be continued)