Some of you might have seen this a long, long time ago - but if you didn't its because it was only up for about three days or so. There are a few things you should know about these next hundred chapters. Its a journey - not just of the characters, but of myself as well. This was my first foray into the world of relationship fanfiction and it took a bit to get used to. I can't say that I'm proud of the first couple of these, since I was still trying to figure out how I was going to write it. However I can guarentee that it gets better as it goes on - as all of these were written over a period of a little more than over a year. I never did finish this challenge (I was about twenty fics away, and then Senior year started) - but I thought I might as well share it with the community. If you really are interested in reading this all at once, you can visit my livejournal which should be under webpage on my profile. There might be some OOC here and there, at least in the beginning, but its just something I was working out.

Try and stick with me?

Anyway, I hope you enjoy and enjoy the journey!

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis and am only playing around with these characters. No profit, just pure entertainment.

theme # 21 - friends

Best friends forever.

It sounded cheesy and overly sentimental. Something he might have said in elementary school - something he probably did say or at least think at one point during their relationship.

But that was exactly the first thought he had when Tezuka had called him three nights ago and told Oishi he would be moving into Fuji's apartment permanently. It wasn't the fact that he was moving out after only three weeks of dating - that was to be expected if Fuji was involved, now Tezuka had no way to escape Fuji's 'activities' - but it was the thing he had added after that.

"I found you a new roommate." Tezuka added. "The student I had been tutoring - Hiyoshi Wakashi - he went to Hyoutei."

"What? Tezuka, that is ridiculous - I don't even know - ." Oishi tried to explain, confused at both the suggestion and how out of character Tezuka seemed to be.

"Oishi, you and I both know you won't be able to afford the apartment alone until you graduate." Tezuka's voice was stern, never having gotten over using his 'buchou voice.' "He is a good student and like you will probably be at class most of the time. Besides, it isn't like you haven't met."

"Tezuka I would hardly call being on opposite sides of the court, meeting." Oishi's voice was high and somewhat distressed. He started to pace, feeling completely uncomfortable with what was happening. "Its nice of you to try and help me, but I honestly can't - ."

"Oishi."

Silence passed for a moment.

"Will I at least meet him before he moves in?" Oishi closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He was definitely going to have a headache by time this was over.

"Tuesday at five, the Cafe near the Department store."

"You really thought about this didn't you." Oishi leaned against the wall, eyes still closed. "You didn't have to."

"Hn." Tezuka paused, only to continue."It would be irresponsible of me to leave you to fend for yourself right now."

Oishi cracked a small grin, that was a very Tezuka type of answer. It basically translated into 'I'm worried and don't trust you to take care of yourself without me.'. So Tezuka needed to send in a spy to make sure Oishi didn't waste away on instant Ramen, potato chips and coffee.

"Alright. Let me think about it." He began to hang up, then added politely. "Thank you."

Oishi did understand why Tezuka did it. Oishi was still in college and though he worked, it wasn't really enough to pay for the apartment by himself and still buy the essentials. Not to mention Oishi became an absolute mess without someone around. When Tezuka had been there the apartment had been spotless, but three days and it was already starting to look like a 10 year olds room. Clothes, books, tons of papers and even CDs were laying on the floor.

And when Tezuka had sent him food shopping he'd been horrified - not really, but he did make Oishi go back with a full list of the only foods he was allowed to buy - to find that Oishi lived mostly on junk foods, water and coffee.

"There is a difference between selfless and self-destructive."

That was what Tezuka had told him. So I shouldn't be so shocked. Oishi sighed as he shrugged on a jacket and grabbed his keys. Checking to make sure all the lights were off and his cellphone was in his pocket he went toward the door. No matter how strange it was to say Tezuka was his best friend, and he would be able to get over himself and do this one thing for him.

Since a lot of this is done, I should update pretty regularily, along with the other things I'm working on.

Love, Tabis