Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis.
Warning: angst, yaoi, possible character death
Epiphany-------------------------------------
Wondering:
He wondered, wondered about many things.
But one of the primary subject that his mind continuously came back towards was; What, exactly, was love?
He never was quite sure of the answer. Was it the obsession-like faithfulness that all of the romance books that he read was? Or was it the 'joy of seeing someone happy' that he had read elsewhere?
He could never really be utterly sure.
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Asking:
Once he asked his captain, despite his many misgivings.
"Love?" Atobe raised an eyebrow, the only sign of surprise that he showed. But it was enough to show that he was astonished enough to show even that little amount of emotion. "Ore-sama would have thought that you would have been the expert on this subject, Yuushi. The romance books that you constantly read should have told you."
Oshitari didn't say a word, only raised an eyebrow to match his captain's.
Finally, Atobe tapped his slender fingertips together. "Love can be perceived in many different ways. There's familial love, romantic love… You are referring to romantic love, yes?"
After Oshitari's stiff nod, Atobe continued, a small, barely noticeable smirk on his face. "Ore-sama personally believes that romantic love is, perhaps, the most selfish of all emotions. It is the desire to see someone, to be happy to know that they are safe, and to feel extreme happiness, described by many to be 'euphoria' when the one you like likes you back. There is a bit more, the way it is also selfless, when it is to the point that you would do anything to make the person happy, and how your love for the person may smooth out any of his faults."
Atobe looked Yuushi in the eye. "Why, exactly, are you asking ore-sama about this particular subject?"
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Flying:
He had been playing doubles for as long as he could remember. He knew that once upon a time ago, he had played singles, but he had played doubles with Gakuto for so long, he couldn't really remember what it was like.
He glanced his doubles partner fondly as the redhead leapt up again, higher than what seemed to be possible, with his signature move, the Moon Sault.
Sometimes he wondered if the slight boy could fly.
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Anguish:
He felt empty, no, beyond empty, somehow, as he watched his pale, pale doubles partner sharply.
He watched the slow, gentle rise and fall of his chest, wondering if he'd ever wake up, seeing sharply the thin, pale pink lips, the sharp little nose, and long, eyelashes, striking against skin nearly white from blood loss.
And he mused, wondered, just when he had fallen in love with the quick-tempered redhead.
And then he wondered, his throat tightening, if Gakuto would ever wake up.
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I hoped everyone liked this. This is a one-shot, and will probably remain as such unless a lot of people review (hint, hint) and tell me they want me to continue.-