I Promise You
by: Emerald Sapphirine
Summary: It had been set on that last day of school, that a certain Tezuka Kunimitsu and Fuji Syuusuke meet again exactly ten years after their graduation. It was a promise that will definitely be fulfilled, or so they thought. Is there still something that can possibly hinder this anticipated reunion, especially when destiny intervenes and makes its way?
A/N: Hello, this is my first POT fic. I hope you enjoy :)
Disclaimer: POT is not mine.
Part One: A Memory
One thing I like about photographs is that they make me vividly remember memories of the past
And I love to go back to those memories
…because life was simple back then
And because I find you there
For some reason, Fuji found it hard to concentrate on his work that day with that erratic mind of his. There on his desk lay scattered photographs overlapping each other as in a collage in which there were too many that hardly any part of each picture was seen.
True that keeping things presentable and orderly did not become his hobby even just once, but for his workplace to go this far disorganized and plain messy was really something else.
There were countless photographs, from the picture of the vibrant smile of an infant, to a dying old man's, from the huge mountains from a far distance to the calm and peaceful ocean and the setting of the sun, from the simplest and most ordinary things yet ignored to the greatest landmarks and institutional icons the world has ever known—pictures of ordinary days and the good old times bringing with them all sorts of stories to tell.
There Fuji recognized people from his past, some he possibly would never meet again, while some were from his current network of acquaintances and close friends, but majority of them he had never known, nor he had something to do with, but the task to photograph them. Nonetheless, he went through the hassle of browsing each one of them meticulously, just to find the one photograph he needed as of the moment.
He fixed his gaze on the unclear vision outside. He couldn't make up what was happening beyond that thick piece of glass that separated him from the rest of the world. What is it really that awaits me there anyway? He thought. He took a sip from the lukewarm coffee in his left hand. Today's going to be a long day, that's for sure.
He looked down at the one very treasured picture. It was the one taken when Oishi had invited the regulars to go mountain climbing to watch the sunrise up-close, before Tezuka left for Germany. Fuji smiled upon seeing it, how the picture he once treasured now faded in time, bringing the memories with it grow fainter and fainter. And somehow seeing a glimpse of his junior high days, though potent and nostalgic, gave him some happiness, indeed.
He stared specifically at himself, Tezuka right behind him and view of the blue sky from the mountaintop.
In that photo, they were so close to each other. Physically, they were just inches away. Yet back then, it seemed no matter how near he goes, the boy would always be as distant, so far away, with his mind on tennis, studies, responsibilities and of other more important subjects, which most likely didn't include him. He was the most extraordinary person. And, Fuji felt, whenever he was beside him, that he was the most ordinary guy.
Yet despite that, he kept looking back. He couldn't stop looking back. Because only in doing so, will he ever find him. The so far away captain, he has always dreamed of, and cherished.
Ne, thinking of you made my heart beat faster again, Tezuka, he thought to himself.
Today is the end of it. Now, he stands in the line between reality and reverie. And he knew only goodbye awaits all of his treasured fantasies.
For this is the day he will see Tezuka again…
Decided that he could do nothing more productive with that wandering mind, he picked up his bags and left the company grounds.
Outside, a dusk atmosphere that evokes a nostalgic aura greeted him. Slowly, he paced the marble pavements that would lead him to an olden meeting place. And as step by step his feet brought him there, little by little did the ambiance seem so familiar, bringing him to the clearest memory of his distant past.
Something was indeed familiar. The conglomerate of colors that give the sky its artful hue. The reflection of an unforgettable past seen in the visage of the clouds. Or even the smallest details like the cherry blossoms, the narrow pathway, the hushed place. They were all telling him something, pointing to a specific event in his childhood. He is almost positive he figured what it was. What it was that that powerful scenery was able to transcend. He looked up, and finally recognized that the sky that dusky afternoon was one he used to walk under in, a long time ago.
It was on the first crack of dawn, that he last found himself in Seishun Gakuen grounds, ten years back.
The school had been empty then, with no much people around and a quietude that was broken only by the faint footsteps from outside, the rustling of leaves, and the sound of the cold morning breezes.
It has come, a somber genius thought to himself as he looked at the budding cherry blossom trees beginning to bloom all around him.
Spring has arrived.
Fuji lifted his heavy feet off the ground and started to walk in uncertainty.
And so goes his junior high days, the wonderful days he held close to his heart, they have all withered away, rather faded into a memory, just like the winter that had sunk back to its slumber, only that they were never to live again.
Fuji stared at the ground blankly, oblivious of his surroundings, as he spent much time in every step he was taking.
Until he came to a halt, whether by instinct or by gut feeling. Slowly, he raised his head up to where his feet had brought him… a big and spacious tennis court. One tennis court, with countless memories made in it.
There he saw
Kaido's seriousness in his own rigid training…
Momo's aggressiveness and cheerful countenance to everyone…
Oishi's ever-worried, gentle and caring look…
Inui's always prying and vigilant eyes and high quality concoctions…
Echizen's cockiness and cuteness…
Eiji's cheerfulness and good sense of humor…
Kawamura's kindness and power behind his shy appearance…
… Tezuka's deep authoritative voice and his passion for tennis and for Seigaku
He looked around them and felt helpless against the images his mind endlessly sends to his eyes. All he could do was smile, to his inexistent teammates who have been part of each of his days for the past three years, until one by one they slowly disappeared from his view.
Surely, there would be no more hard training they have to endure, together, no more tennis matches to attend, watch and participate in as one team, no more celebrations at Kawamura's restaurant. That day was their last, even as regulars of the tennis club.
'There really is no escape…,' the tensai entertained the thought with a reluctant heart.
The cherry blossoms that have withered away—it's time for them to start blooming again.
This place where they all are now—they will say goodbye to this place pretty soon. And Fuji could do nothing about it.
But he knew that one day, they will all go back here, bringing with them dreams they have come far to reach. He will see them again for sure, when all's well and when they have become the person they wanted to be. And all he could do was to look forward to that day…even if… it will be such a long time to wait for.
Fuji looked around him; the beauty of nature that abounds in the place—they had always moved him. He looked at them with a smile, only to realize how he found peace in the things whose coming he actually dreaded. Ironic, isn't it?
'Spring has come again, but somehow… something has changed.'
But before he could continue his deep contemplation, Fuji heard sounds of approaching footsteps echo in the place and send his heart beating in a frenzied pace. Who else would possibly come to school in the wee hours of the morning and more so drop by the tennis courts?
Fuji waited for the sound of the footsteps to be at its loudest. Then in his own refined and feminine manner, he stood up and walked to the young captain's route.
"Mind if I walk with you, Tezuka buchou?" he asked politely with a bit of an enigmatic cadence, as he made his way beside the taller boy.
"Hn…" was his mere reply, with a growing silence emerging between them.
Tezuka had certain matters to be carefully thinking about, not to mention choosing the upcoming captain for the tennis club, doing the loads of remaining work for him as outgoing president of the student body, preparing for his valedictory address, and of course thinking about his plans after graduation which he hasn't even started to finalize.
So wasting not a second of his precious time, he indulged himself in his lengthy contemplation for the umpteenth time. He began with choosing the next captain for the Seigaku tennis club.
His mind austerely focused on the subject, little did Tezuka notice that for the first time he was with Fuji, he could think in peace.
Just when he came up with a decision did he realize that something was indeed not quite right. Rest assured, in the company of one like Fuji, he had never been this productive before. Then again, Tezuka's attention got divided between the more important matters concerning him and this unusually quiet tensai peacefully walking beside him.
He gazed at him from the corner of his eye with a skeptical look engraved on his face. He couldn't help but feel curious as to why the tensai was emanating such unusual silence. Truth be told, Fuji was never this quiet when he was with him. He would normally be the one to start the conversation, may it be about tennis, school or anything under the sun. Sometimes, he would try to squeeze out Tezuka's opinions on certain matters, make him do something he doesn't want, or whatever it is, he would always find something to talk about. Always. But today was rather… different. Tezuka thought as he continued to hold his gaze on the quiet tensai. He really wasn't saying anything, making Tezuka feel more uneasy about it. Add to it the atypical address he gave him earlier that still fueled his curiosity in some way.
So for the sake of breaking the silence that was getting into him, Tezuka finally said something.
"I…didn't expect to see you around this early"
That said, Tezuka gladly reverted to thinking about the more important matters that concerned him.
But to be thinking soberly in the presence of someone like Fuji Syuusuke seemed a truly impossible thing to do. Indeed, the tensai had already uttered a warm reply before Tezuka was even able to start thinking about something.
"Oh about that, my sister had to go to work early and I had nothing to do so I decided to come along. When I came, the place was quiet and peaceful. It's a good atmosphere to be thinking about things" Fuji said while remembering the last trains of thought he had on his mind before the captain came.
'So this is why you like going to school early. I wonder what kind of things you like to think about' he added, silently.
After a fleeting silence between them, Fuji let out an incredulous laughter.
"…Isn't the sky so nice?"
Tezuka's eyes widened.
"The sun finally conquered the darkness, eh?" he said in his calm pleasant voice, his undisturbed expression seemingly scrutinizing the gigantic stretch of empty space on his own. "Did you even notice that, Tezuka?"
No, he didn't.
Of course he didn't. Of the many things he is busy dealing with right now, he surely does not have the luxury of time to pay attention to trivial things like that.
Tezuka could never understand why one, specifically like Fuji, would take time musing about the littlest of things when he could be thinking about many more others that are sure worth his time.
Furthermore, he couldn't understand where Fuji was getting to.
"I bet you're glad it's morning. Are you excited for high school? Or for Germany? Whichever your future plan is…" Fuji asked with a rather pleasant smile as he finally turned his head towards the captain, as if looking at him, only that his eyes were still closed.
Tezuka hadn't finalized his plans yet, but he can say it will most likely be the latter one.
Fuji let out then another dubious laughter. "Won't you miss Seigaku? Won't you miss… us?" He asked curiously, even if he knew there was no need to expect for a reply.
'Would you ever miss me, Tezuka?'
"Uh..." Tezuka found nothing to say.
"Oh, but we will still have our reunions, Tezuka. Don't worry" Fuji said in a reassuring tone, and with a Tezuka-hated-smile.
"I plan to go to Germany after this." He declared, followed by a momentary pause. "I might be busy. But if schedules will allow me to come, then I will do my best to attend the reunion" Tezuka said, bluntly.
"Ten years right…" Fuji said, his tone now much to Tezuka's relief. "I see… I see. You'd be very busy then, won't you? But what if you can't come to the reunion?" Fuji asked with a tint of… worry? sadness? dismay? in his voice. Tezuka couldn't be sure which. But there was something in it… that made him yet uncomfortable again. There was something in his tone that made him feel bad about missing the reunion, that told him how badly he might regret it if he does.
Tezuka was at a loss for words. Come to think of it, he didn't pay much attention to it, really. But… should he? Especially now that they're graduating.
"Tezuka…" Fuji was serious now. And Tezuka was, too, as always.
"Hn…?"
"Wouldn't it be nice if we meet again after ten years?"
"Y-yeah" Tezuka almost jumped from his place after hearing his own voice. He couldn't believe it. Did he really just say that?
Fuji looked at him and gave him a genuine smile. Tezuka recognized it as the one Fuji had when he promised to have a match with him when they were yet first year's.
"Then let's do it" he said smiling even more, only that he was not holding Tezuka's hands anymore.
And somehow, the captain couldn't bear to disappoint the tensai again, especially with that beaming face of his, expecting an absolute yes from him.
He wasn't sure if his decision was right, or if it was what he wanted. But then he felt this quite irresistible urge within him to simply agree and say 'yes'.
"H-hai" Tezuka said with a sigh.
The bell rang, silencing the many students talking at the top of their voices. They were right in front of the campus then.
"Really?" Fuji said. "Aha! I was able to give you one more burden, Tezuka buchou" Fuji said in a happy teasing tone that rubbed into Tezuka's face how he fell for this another trap of the tensai's.
But there was no turning back. Tezuka had already agreed to it. Besides, Fuji burdening him was nothing so surprising. Tezuka just nodded and motioned to leave.
It was the start of the last day of school, after all. And he had countless jobs to do, in ways more than one.
Fuji was left alone in front of the school campus. Before he entered the campus for one last time, he looked down and after a while, looked up to the sky.
"He really likes you, doesn't he?" he said, eyes filled with regret.
"I hope I could be the sky for him too, someday…"
end of flashback
A/N: So, how was it? Please tell me what you think about it. :) Constructive Criticisms are welcomed.
reposted 10.17.2010
