I've been a longtime fan of Prince of Tennis. And now I finally mustered up my courage to write a fanfiction about my lovely everlasting black angel smile Fuji Syusuke. There will be a lil surprise, and please be gentle, minna! My first time x'DD
This chapter was based on Episode 27 Karupin's Adventure, isn't Ryoma freaking adorable when it comes about his fluffy family Cat xDD
WARNING: un-beta
Chapter 01
Her name was Ellena Gratt.
She was frail and considered small amongst other athlete.
Yet, she is known as one of the best tennis player of all time.
I first saw her on the TV when I was still a five years child.
It was her final match on that year Grand Slam Wimbledon.
How she stood tall against an intimidating opponent.
How her short legs dashed against the wind.
How her tiny fingers gripped her racket so firm.
How she smashed the ball across the court like lightning.
It was the most breathtaking thrill I ever felt.
—and when she let out her joyful cry as the referee call upon her name as the winner.
How she smiled with sweat and puffing breath after she kissed the gold medal.
—it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw.
Such beauty I never found in my old house of art and tradition.
So bright, so sincere, so free… —a pure emotion.
Sadly, it was her first— and her last championship.
Ellena Gratt fiercely battled the cancer that has haunted her for 10 years—
Yet, she never back down from her opponents on the court or from the deadly disease inside her.
She died young at the age of 20.
But Ellena Gratt's legacy lives strong even today.
She was the one who has woken up the true self inside me…
—to break free.
Fuji Shuusuke buttoned his uniform shirt. His bedroom was still dark with curtain still closed. Ray of gentle morning sun light peeked through them. His small cacti stood before the window as if it was sleeping peacefully. Its flower still there beside the tiny pot.
Fuji walked to his window and gently opened the curtain. Letting the morning sun shine tenderly into his whole bedroom. He took a deep breath and sigh contently. His smile was as gentle as the morning sky behind the window.
"Such a nice weather."
"I see that trusting each other based on first impression is just as shallow as a layer of oil. It's like fireflies gathering in the summer, you can only dream it in the winter. These two lines of the poems describe how the poet sees a stranger—"
Fuji Shuusuke sat peacefully on his class chair. His chin rested on his palm, while his other palm holding an opened book. The female teacher in the front stood with the same book Fuji—and the whole students in the class hold and read. She spoke her voice gently but loud enough for all the student to heard.
Fuji's cerulean blue eyes are opened with a soft amused look. He stared outside the window beside him. A round fluffy Himalayan cat climbing the tree with its four paws. The cat stay still vertically before it turns its face to side and caught Fuji's eyes. He gave a smile to the kitty that was just stay still with no changing expression.
"Eiji." He whispered to the red head beside him.
"Hum?" Kikumaru turn to him with a questioned look.
"Have you ever seen a Himalayan spotted cat?"
Kikumaru raise an eyebrow confusedly, "Himalayan spotted cat? What's tha—"
"Next, Kikumaru-san. Please read." Said the teacher without knowing that she had caught him off guard.
"H-hai!" Kikumaru abruptly stood up from his chair and hold his book with nervous grip.
He was about to open his mouth before he realized that he had miss the last reading. Fortunately, and out of concern for he was the one who distracted Kikumaru, Fuji was quick to cover him with a whisper.
"Page 87, line 6…"
"Thanks, man~"
Fuji return Kikumaru's smile. He turn his face back to the window again as Kikumaru began reading the poem. The cat was no longer there. But Fuji's smiles still curved on his lips. It is such a nice weather.
"Of all the things, my sister used the last drop of my favorite toothpaste! I just hope it wasn't a sign of bad luck. I plan to buy those shoes today~"
"The one pair you saw on the magz yesterday?"
Kikumaru's endless whine still continues after lunch even until the tennis practice. Fuji smiled with his signature eyes closed-smile. But he seems not even the slightest bothered by his friend high pitched voice. He merely titled his head and sometimes chuckled amusedly. Both of them are ready in their proud blue Seigaku Reguler jersey with rackets on their hands while passing the net fence to the court.
Kikumaru's endless whine finally ended when they saw a tense Momoshiro talking to their coach complete with their bespectacled captain and vice-captain. The spiky black haired 2nd year junior bowed to them, and then join court. Kikumaru and Fuji walked closer to their coach with their eyes still on Momoshiro.
"Ryuuzaki-sensei, is something wrong with Momo-chan?"
"Oh no, it's about Echizen instead. He can't join today's practice because of a sudden family business. Good thing that we will finish early today. Now that we're on that topic, please take it easy for today's practice." She said while give the acrobatic player a pat on the shoulder.
"Ah, I see." Fuji said understandingly, still in his eyes closed smile.
The elder female couch nodded, "Tomorrow is the prefectural tournament after all. Don't push yourself but don't let your guard down."
Tezuka nodded, "Ah."
"That being said, can I have a spare with you Tezuka?" Fuji ask.
"Sure."
Kikumaru goes excited instantly and gloms on his double-partner's back like a cat on its master's shoulder, "Nyaa! Nyaa! How about doubles instead? Fujiko can pair up with Tezuka versus Oishi and me!"
Fuji chuckled, "Why not? It's an interesting idea. Tezuka?"
"Ah."
That instantly gathered all the attention of the whole Seigaku tennis court. Those who play and those who picking up ball couldn't help but momentarily stunned to take a sight of the four entered the same court.
Even Ryuuzaki-sensei smirk with excitement. The number 1 and number 2 paired up against the Golden Pair. Though they probably try to keep it low for tomorrow's Prefectural Tournament. It is indeed a rare sight to behold. It could be seen as Inui keep chuckling lowly with his hand busy scribbling his notebook as Tezuka launched the first serve.
It was fast to the very corner of Oishi's side court but Kikumari appear and return it with a 'hoi!'. Fuji was quick to return it back with the same ease. Then it was Oishi's return to hit the ball back. It goes fast and straight Fuji's shoulder. But Tezuka appear and give a high lob that struck the net but fell to the opposite court. Kikumari's acrobatic play managed to return it back again swiftly. The rally continued.
Everyone can't help but watch with holding breath. The four of them were playing with peaceful pace but the people who watching them were afraid to blink an eye. The first 30 seconds pass with none of them scoring. Then Golden Pair took the first score, but the top two players pair was quick to payback.
"Wait, is this what they call 'take it easy'? I forgot to take a breath!" Horio flinched.
"They're indeed being easy. They're merely warming up. But at the same time, they trying to dominate each other's pace. Well…" Inui closed his book with a smirk, "Ii data."
"By the way, it's rare for Kaidou-senpai to be late for practice." Said Kachiro who just realized someone in regular jersey was missing aside of Ryoma.
The data master hummed with eyes still on the match between Golden Pair and Tezuka-Fuji Pair. "Well, that's 20 laps around the court I guess…"
The trio can't help but flinch. But then Katsuo catch a sight of the said 2nd year student with bandana head in regular jersey entered the court. "Oh! There he is!"
Kaidou didn't respond to them. He walk passed them with both hands in the pocket pants. His face was hidden because his head sunk down. Horio-Katsuo-Kachiro trio flinch once more as they saw him with such unreadable look on his face. Strangely it was more frightening than his usual pissed off viper face.
Inui hummed, "He's in good mood today."
"YOU CAN TELL?!"
Fuji heard them and took a glance at Kaidou who calmly join the court where Momoshiro is. He is indeed in good mood. Kaido might not have a smile on his face, but his cheek flushed in content. Fuji smiled amusedly while managed to return a ball in time.
It is such a nice weather.
"You're in good mood today, Shusuke." Yumiko chuckled.
Shusuke merely smiled and averted his face back to the window. They were together in Yumiko's white sedan. Right after she picked him up when she catch a sight of Shusuke walked with his Tennis Club friends on the roadside.
The Himalayan Spotted Cat Shusuke saw this morning turned out to be Ryoma's missing cat. Shusuke wondered if the family business thing that could make the 4 years American Champion Echizen Ryouma skipped his tennis practice was this cat. Ryoma was still 12 years old after all and indeed the youngest among them. And Shusuke found that adorable.
"Today, a tanuki sneaked into our clubroom~" Shusuke said.
"Tanuki?"
Shusuke chuckled, "It turned out to be Echizen's family cat. Momoshiro-kun and the others are escorting the cat back to his home now."
Yumiko remembered when she spotted Shusuke and his friends on the roadside, one of them has a kitty stuffed inside his Gakuran blazer. "Ara, so it followed its master to his school? Kawaii~"
"Deshou~" he chuckled, he unlock his seat belt as they arrived in front of their house.
Shusuke stepped out from the car and opened the garage double door. Yumiko carefully drive the vehicle into the garage and park it there. Shusuke closed the garage door from inside and lock it. Yumiko stepped out from her car, taking two shopping bags with her.
"Ah, how about Kawamura sushi for dinner tonight?" she said as she locked the car.
"Wonderful, nee-san. I'll go make the call." Shusuke said as he search his phone on his pocket.
Yumiko chuckled and drag his arm toward the door to the inside house, "No, you go take a shower. I'll make the call. The usual wasabi sushi right?"
Shusuke chuckled, "Two set, please~"
Yumiko chuckled while pinch the younger cheek. She let go of Shusuke's hand and walk to the phone near the kitchen door. She saw Shusuke stepped up the stairs. Yumiko sigh with a smile. Tomorrow is the prefectural tournament, she thought. Her eyes gazing softly at a picture hanging near the phone. A picture of younger Yumiko in her high school sailor seifuku with little five years old Fuji Yuuta and a little girl slightly taller than Yuuta with blue eyes and long light brown hair.
Yumiko make the call and order two set of wasabi sushi and a set of avocado roll with unagi. Not to forget to give Kawamura Takashi a 'Good luck!' for tomorrow's match. Yumiko close the phone and stepped up the stairs. She humming contently while walk into her bedroom. Yumiko put the shopping bags on her bed and began taking out its contain.
Summer clothes; tropical hat, sunglasses, and a cute tank top. Last, from different shopping bag is a white soft cotton dress with cute small ribbon stitched on the V-neck collar. Yumiko smiled at the dress with excited look on her gentle eyes. She flipped the clothes and hurriedly out from her room. She made her way to the bathroom door quietly.
A siluet from the blurry glass door showed that Shusuke is just finished his quick shower and now dying his hair with a towel. Yumiko grin excitedly and wait for her moment.
"Peek-A-BOO!" she shout while opened the door in swift.
The young girl startled but simply turn around with towel covering her chest, she sigh with uncomfortable smile, "Nee-san, I told you not to do that anymore… you scared me for a sec."
Yumiko huffed with a slight pout, "You don't look like one at all— and it's absolutely not cute…"
The blue eyed girl chuckled while wrapping the towel around her body, "I'm finished, you can use the bathroom Nee-san."
"Ah, before that. Look what I found today!" she excitedly showed her the dress.
The blue eyes blinked at the white cotton dress that reach pass her kness with sleeve reach her elbows. She chuckled again with her eyes closed smiles, "Nee-san, I'm sorry.. But I—"
"Shuu-chan."
The soft call upon her real name made the younger girl stunned. Yumiko smiled gently and took a strand of soft damp hair of the younger girl and gently tucked it behind her ears. The blue eyed girl's oval shaped face fully revealed softly. The little girl on that picture has growth and bloom.
"We're inside the house. No one can see. And someone need to remind you of who you are, just once in a while~"
Shuu was silence for a moment. She lowered her blue eyes to the soft feminine cloth before her. She eventually let out a small smile with a little sigh. She took the dress from Yumiko's hand reluctantly.
"Just once in a while." Shuu repeated Yumiko's tone.
The taller girl chuckled and gave Shuu a peck on her wet cheek. "That's my little girl~"
Shuu wiped her cheek and just chuckled. Yumiko wink at her before she stepped to the bathroom and close the door. Shuu walk to her bedroom with hand holding the dress. She forgot when was the last time she wore that kind of clothes since this past year she find boy's clothes more comfortable. But she doesn't hate girl's clothes, and she found this dress cute. It was Yumiko's taste after all.
Shuu was about to open her bedroom door when she heard the phone downstairs ring, "I'll go get it." she said as she quickly stepped down the stairs.
"Sankyuuu~!" she heard Yumiko's voice.
Shuu saw the droplet waters from her legs stain the water and make a note to quickly clean them later. She pick up the phone as fast as her hand could.
"Moshi-moshi, Fuji desu." She answered calmly with Shusuke's voice.
"… Shuu."
Shuu snapped her blue eyes opened at the cold woman's voice. Her grip at the phone tightened. It took a moment before she finally found her voice back. Like a mere assistant ready to face her highest superior, she took a soft deep breath.
"Hello, Grandmother…"
"My, this is rare. I was expecting Yumiko to be my messenger again, like always." She mused.
Shuu didn't bite it, "It's been a while, Grandmother. I hope you are well." She said, and she didn't lie.
"Unfortunately, I am well. Just a little disappointed."
Shuu closed her eyes, knowing what's coming and sigh.
The elder woman across the line continued, "I gave you the chance to pursue what you fond of. And I expect a little respect— and discipline from you in return…"
"A chance with a condition, Grandma." She cut lowly.
Shuu regretted it later when she could feel her grandmother's smile through her silent, "See? One year in boy clothes has turned you into this... childish— unmannered teenagers."
Shuu choose silence as her response. She learned so many times. Words are never the choice if it's about her grandmother.
"I expect your presence tomorrow in the main house."
"I have a match tomorrow. It's the beginning of the prefectural tournament." Shuu said, there was a soft plea in her voice.
"Then come by evening, I'm sure they will be finished by noon right?"
Shuu choose silence once again. A look of desperation was hidden in her blue eyes. She eventually closed her eyes and released a breath, "Yes, grandmother."
"Then, I will see you tomorrow evening." the elder woman ended the conversation and close the line.
Shuu sigh and put the phone back. The determination was in her cerulean blue eyes, but there was also desperation hidden in them. Just when she thought everything was peaceful. Her grandmother throws her off guard.
Don't push yourself, but don't let your guard down.
Somehow she found her smile back after remembering that line. Shuu thought she might need to apologize to Ryuuzaki-sensei. She sneezed at the cold. That's when she just realized she was still in only towel wrapped around her.
-tbc-
I wonder if anyone surprised, but oh well, surprise!
It's genderbend Fuji, everyone~~ XDDDD
I got the main idea from W Juliet manga. But what inspired me to write this is WhiteGloves' lovely masterpiece; Atobe/Fuji King's Apple. I highly recommend you to read, you won't regret!
That being said, you can expect Tezuka-Atobe-Shiraishi/Fuji. Probably even harem Fuji (Well the manga was pretty much a harem stuffed with GOSHDARN HOTTT tennis players)
The pair is still undecided; I'm going to see how this turn out first.
Thank you so much for reading! Please review and criticize, because that's exactly what I need to know how I'm doing. But flame will be ignored.
Last but not least, I (really) need a beta reader