Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is owned by no one except Takeshi Konomi-sensei. That's the absolute truth.

Author's Notes: My first Twoshot story! This is an AU TeFu story that took place in old-fashioned English villages with manors and gardens…I'm not that good in describing the precise picture of it all, so just imagine it. I do hope you'll see it. I really am not good with details! I've strained myself for not making this a multi-chaptered one because I have three stories to finish. Enjoy my dear readers! Oh do leave a review after! My 10th story here on FFnet!!!

Roses

By Lachrymosa13blue

1. Black roses

I looked up to see the dazzling last rays of sunshine slithering in between the leaves of my beloved ancient oak tree as I hurried towards the imposing grandeur of my mother's precious garden of roses.

I wanted her to see my newly improved artwork; I drew roses in it just like what she tends in her garden. She loves roses next to artworks. She hoped I could end up being an artist since she hadn't been bestowed such honor and was left to admire and express art through the roses that bloomed abundant in her garden. I was jubilant, ecstatic since she wanted to see me improve. I want my creation to end up in frames that lay imposing on her elegant bedside table.

'Mother! Mother!'

My young voice burst with excitement and glee, as I rounded around the wide tree, the parchment with my charcoal sketch waved around.

'Mother! I've finished my artwork! Here—"

My next words were drowned with screams I didn't know came from me. My knees sank to the ground. The artwork clutched tightly in my hand joined the air when my grip slackened and shook. Tears streamed down my face and I continued to scream, to stare blankly, and to sink defenseless.

Footsteps came behind me, and someone hugged me, blocking the view that shook my entire life until I was blank, void, unfeeling.

My mother lay with crimson red blood oozing artfully from her side, tainting the roses scattered around her with blood. She looked as if she was sleeping peacefully, her beautiful and caring face tainted with nothing but a ghost of smile. On her chest, she clutched roses.

Black roses tied with a velvety black ribbon.

Tezuka sat up straight from his sleep, sweating badly and panting for breath. He felt wetness in his blurry eyes and hesitantly brought up a hand to wipe his tears. Again and again he'd dream about the death of his mother, vivid images grew more detailed in every dream as if he was seeing it again.

He was only in a tender age of eight when that happened; and now, he was aged seventeen, young and tacit. Justice went unresolved until he was thirteen when they had finally caught who murdered his mother. It was a mad delinquent that prowled villages apart from theirs. Apparently, he had fancied his mother and stalked her for years without the knowledge of his mother and the family. Because of his insane way of thinking, he killed his mother in the end.

But since then, Tezuka never set foot on that garden. He shut his windows all the time that faced the garden and abstained from ever going there. But much to his dismay, his dreams frequently visited the garden, along with his dead mother laying on the grass surrounded with roses as if she were in a sleep slumber.

He got up and avoided his gaze again from the window that the maid opened again despite his constant reminder not to do so.

A knock came on the door and he stared haughtily at it and when it opened, his maid emerged with a motherly beam on her face.

"Good morning, Tezuka-kun! Breakfast is served."

"Maya-san, please close the window." Tezuka said with a sour tone that he used when his maid always fussed on opening the window on her own accord. He made his way to the door, passing Maya who was still smiling as she went over the window.

"I wonder why you don't want to open this one. Windows are, after all meant to be open with such a sunny day like this."

Since Maya entered their services about three years after the tragic death of his mother, she had no idea that he hated seeing the sight of the garden.

"I told you, just keep that window shut all the time and don't ask me questions." He said monotonously.

"Fine, you sound so old, Tezuka-kun! You're only seventeen!" She mock scolded, closing the curtains now. Tezuka glared at her and sauntered outside his room.

He surveyed the hall and the stairs that had once been emblazoned with his childish drawings and his mother's constant rose petals that littered around when she brings roses to his room along with theirs. But his father and grandfather turned a cold shoulder with everything that reminded them about his mother's death. The garden left unattended except by the monthly showering of rain and Maya's futile attempt to keep it all alive. No one dared to tell her the dreaded story that took place in that once-beautiful place.

After eating breakfast he proceeded to his father's study and took a couple of books with him and started reading. He rarely leaves the small manor, since people his age are still intimidated by their reputation. His family is the richest in their village, but little did the villagers know that they had taken a downfall after his mother had died. Tezuka, being the quiet and unsociable person that he is; preferred being away from people's sneering.

He sighed softly, and turned the page of the book he was holding. He almost dropped it when he saw a dried rose marking the page. He grimaced and took the rose and dropped it on the trash bin.

He hated roses.

---

Roses are beautiful. He had to admit, this is what drew him in having the same penchant as his mother before. Especially since he loved all the roses his mother spent her devoted leisure time in growing. It was perhaps, the most enchanting flower he'd ever laid his eyes on and gazing at it and putting it on paper is perhaps his favorite hobby.

Beauty became deception. Deception that many are drawn and would get pricked with thorns in the end. He hated that deception. Seeing blood staining beauty, he finally saw how mistaken he has been, having been swindled. And at the moment, he hated everything that has to do with roses.

A mere sight of it; he reeks with disgust.

---

Maya cornered her young master that afternoon, interrogating him about the garden.

"Tezuka-kun, can I ask what's with the garden being ignored by all of you?" She asked carefully in the middle of dusting frames in the study. Tezuka, absorbed with his reading, snapped the book shut. Maya almost dropped the frame in surprise.

"Don't ever ask me about that garden." He answered sternly. He opened his book again, pushing his glasses up his nose.

Maya continued her prying despite the coldness. "But Tezuka-kun, I think that garden is very beautiful. You see, it has been blooming a few weeks now. Are you the one doing that?"

Tezuka closed the book again this time, not in exasperation, but in startled surprise. "What do you mean?"

"The garden is being tended by someone, I guess. From the last time I saw it, it was all dried up and withered, but yesterday when I checked again, I was surprised to see buds everywhere."

Tezuka's eyes widened. Who on earth could be doing that? His family avoided the said garden, and he was positive none of them would have the guts to even step a foot in there, let alone slip a word about it. It was painful for them to remember everything again. A silent agreement fell when the tragedy happened, no one would speak about the garden. Yet no one has the heart to suggest it to be removed and have something be built over it.

"Are you positive it isn't you?" Tezuka said, his voice shaking slightly.

"No! I've been wanting to, but your father told me not to mind the garden. I asked him again and again, but I gave up when I saw the sullen face he tries to hide when I mention it." Maya shook her head and gazed questioningly at Tezuka. "Is something wrong with it?"

Tezuka gazed blankly for a moment and shook his head. "No, it's just that, we bowed to leave it alone. I was surprised hearing it's now growing back."

"Leave it alone? Tezuka-kun, you can't just erase it like that. You know, even when everything's withered when I first saw it, I could still feel and see the beauty it once possessed." She smiled and continued, "You should visit it sometime! It's turning beautiful again! Besides, your family owns it right?"

He nodded shortly and stood up. He replaced the book back to its place and left the maid. When he reached the door, he heard her speak again. "So, are you going to see it?"

He didn't look back but shook his head. "No, I'm going to my room."

---

His head ached as he tried to push the popping memories on his aside. Upon reaching his bedroom, he collapsed at the bed and ignored the pounding of his head. He despised the idea of seeing that place again.

When he opened his eyes and sat up straight he saw a piece of parchment protruding in one his books that Maya stacked in a corner. Curiosity possessed him, as he squatted and pulled it from the heap of books.

The dusty, yellowing parchment bore nothing but dust. But when he turned it over, he nearly gasped. It was a sketch of the very garden he'd avoided for years. Judging from the details and the way it was drawn, it wasn't his drawing. But nobody in the house could draw something like that. It was a bit faulty, not that excellent, yet it depicted everything that has to do with the garden.

He pondered on about the person who drew the sketch when his eyes traveled on the bottom of the parchment. A fading color of red blotted the small handwriting on it. He squinted at it. Neat scripted handwriting he recognized as none other than his mother startled him.

My dear Kunimitsu,

I've finally sketched our garden! It's not as good as yours, but I did promise you I'll draw for you. And here it is, my son. Don't laugh at your mother's drawing. The roses are in full bloom.

Your mother, Ayana.

Tezuka's hand shook. He dropped the sketch and felt tears stung his eyes. It was his mother's. And from the way the parchment looks, it must have been drawn by his mother the day she died. The red faded patches on the parchment's bottom must be her blood.

The door opened and Maya came in. "Tezuka-kun, your father's calling you! Tez—" She gasped as she saw her young master leaning on the wall next to his bed, staring with tears on his eyes, on the almost faded charcoal drawing of the garden.

"TEZUKA-KUN!"

---

He had given up sketching when that day happened too. Along with his liking for roses, he threw it away along with his skill for drawing. It was painful too, but all it reminded him was his mother and her smile, and he hated crying his tears out in everything that reminded him of his mother.

"Are you okay, Kunimitsu?" His father, who ran to his room when the maid shouted his name, was now sitting beside him on his bed, worried.

Tezuka nodded. He ceased crying a few moments ago, and now too mortified to face his father and his maid. His father, staring at the parchment left lying on the floor, felt the familiar wave of sadness washed over him again.

"It's mother's." Tezuka murmured quietly. His father patted him. "Kunimitsu, don't take it seriously, I'm sure your mother's happy now."

"She sketched that the day she died…I just got melancholic, father, that's all."

Maya bustled in, bringing a cup of tea for Tezuka. "You drink that, Kunimitsu. Maya, please take that parchment and—"

"No, father, I'll keep it. It's okay." His father stared at him at a moment, and smiled. He patted his back again and stood and left his son's room.

Tezuka sighed and took the cup of tea from Maya. The maid stood awkwardly at the door, her features tainted with anxiety.

"Maya-san, I'm sorry you have to see that."

Maya seemed to be surprised being addressed like this so she stammered at the doorway. "Tezuka-kun?!"

"It's just that, my mother owns that garden and ever since she died, I haven't laid a sight at it." Tezuka said staring at the half-empty cup. Maya's face softened and she said consolingly, "Tezuka-kun, it's okay. I'm sorry I've bugged you about it. She must have been a very great mother. It's evident that you miss her too much."

Surprisingly, Tezuka didn't grimace but instead he smiled sadly as he reached over the sketch.

"Yes, I suppose."

---

A few days after that incident, Tezuka decided to visit his mother's garden. He woke up with a nagging feeling urging him to have a glimpse of his mother's precious garden. He ate his breakfast with a little excitement that didn't manage to get pass his maid.

"Ah, Tezuka-kun, woke up feeling good huh?" Maya teased as she gathered up the plates he used. Tezuka scowled again, but was not in the mood to answer back when his maid chose to pick up with whatever mood he has.

He stood up and headed to his way outside.

"Tezuka-kun? You're going out?" Maya asked with surprise on her voice. Since Tezuka spends much of his time studying in his father's study, it is rare for him to go out for a breather.

"Yes, I think I need some air, Maya-san." He almost laughed at the expression the maid wore, but since he never does such act, he let the thought pass and he headed outside.

The garden was located at the back of the house, but when you step out of the threshold, you can see already see glimpses of it in the sides. The skies above almost beamed at the sight of him and the wind welcomed him with such joy.

He felt uneasy as he traced the path leading to the back of the house. The old and huge oak tree stood before his eyes, and he knew behind it he will see the garden he'd avoided for years. For a moment he stood there, eyes transfixed on the swaying leaves of the tree and for a moment, he remembered staring at it when he was running to his mother back then. He shuddered and pushed the memory aside, and heaved a breath and continued on.

Slow, sure steps he took as he touched the trunk of tree and closed his eyes. He took a step.

He opened his eyes, and gasped.

There on the greener patch of grass where shrubs of roses had bloomed, sat a young man about his age.

---

Never had Tezuka seen a more beautiful sight than this other than his mother admiring her favorite plants on a bright morning. The young man, brown-hair that reached his chin, which swayed with every gentle gust of wind and a sweet, peaceful smile adorning his lips, sat there with a rose on his hand.

He seemed not noticed another presence was standing a few feet away from him, completely unnerved and surprised. He was even humming to himself, as Tezuka could hear, and was still fondling the rose in his hand when Tezuka spoke.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"

The brown-haired, startled, dropped the rose he was holding and gaped, eyes open to Tezuka. Enticingly rare blue eyes captured his brown ones and he almost forgot how to breathe. He watched the latter stand up and brushed the back of his trousers with a faint flush on his face.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Soft and melodic voice that Tezuka hadn't expected played on his ears. He surveyed the other boy with piqued curiosity, which now stood with an awkward smile on his beautiful face. "Are you the owner of this garden?"

"It's my mother's." Tezuka answered sharply, advancing forward in his intimidating stance, but the boy didn't even bother to move an inch, stayed there smiling at him.

"Oh, I love this garden. I'm Fuji Syusuke by the way." The blue-eyed named Fuji extended his hand to Tezuka, who stared and shook it.

"I'm Tezuka Kunimitsu." He said, and upon his introduction, Fuji's face paled a little. "Something wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Tezuka-kun. I'll go now." He stammered, and dropped Tezuka's hand and excused himself.

But Tezuka haven't even interrogated him about his knowledge of the garden, "Wait! I haven't finished—"

Fuji turned his head, and Tezuka saw once again the blue eyes that captivated him a moment ago. "I'm really sorry." He looked abashed by something and then he disappeared behind the huge tree and out of sight.

Tezuka, confused with Fuji's peculiar actions, stood staring at the rose that fell near his feet. For a moment, he mistaken the rose as black ones like what his mother were clutching when she died, but it was in a vivid red color.

"What was that about?" Tezuka whispered to himself as he bent and retrieved the fallen rose.

---

Maya almost died in shock when she saw Tezuka went back from the garden clutching a rose on his hand. His grandfather, who arrived from the scene, gasped and almost dropped the teacup he was holding.

'Kunimitsu! What—what?!"

Tezuka stared at his grandfather, unaware of what he was holding. "What?"

It was Maya who pointed out what he missed. "You—you're holding a rose, Tezuka-kun!" Tezuka shifted his glance to his left hand and he almost forgot that he was holding the rose Fuji had left on the garden. He was in deep thinking to forget to drop it in there. He almost felt too rattled to return his grandfather's gaze.

"I—I forgot to leave it there."

"So you mean you actually went there, Kunimitsu?" said his grandfather, looking thunderstruck with the revelation. When his grandson nodded, he face blanched. "But why?"

"It sort of came to me, grandpa…so I went there. Don't worry about it." Tezuka made his to his room, ignoring his grandfather's questioning stare and Maya's utter look of disbelief.

He shut himself on his room, unable to take the image blue eyes away from his mind's eye. Who was Fuji Syusuke? Why is he on his mother's garden? And why had he picked up the rose Fuji was twiddling and brought it up with him?

It came to him that this is the first time after years of not wanting anything that could remind him of his mother's death land a sight or prod any of attention of his. And now he sat there, cradling a rose on his hand.

He needed to see that person again. He had more questions to ask. He needs to know why Fuji ran away from him when all he mentioned was his name. He wanted to know more.

He wanted to see Fuji again.

---

Apparently, his father heard about his bizarre actions the other day because when he went to breakfast the next morning, his father looked thoroughly bothered that matched the look of his grandfather. He ended up shutting his mouth the entire time and pretended to be oblivious of their looks.

The rose ended up underneath his pillow. When Maya discovered this, Tezuka managed to catch her in the act of staring at it with disbelief again.

"Tezuka-kun, what's with the rose?" She stammered, after being jolted out of her senses when Tezuka glared at her.

He dropped to his chair and watched as the maid swept the floor. "Maya-san, do you know who Fuji Syusuke is?"

Maya, who was now turning her attention to the trash bin, turned to stare at him. "Who?"

"Fuji Syusuke."

"I don't know. Why'd you ask?"

"I found him on the garden yesterday." Tezuka said, remembering the eyes that held him a few moments and that smile that irked him. He sure wants to meet that person again.

"Maybe he was the one tending the garden. It's not impossible." Maya gathered up all the trash and made her way to the door. "Is he the one who gave you that rose?" She smiled teasingly and Tezuka felt heat rushing to his face.

"No! He ran away before I could talk to him more."

Maya beamed and said, "You don't have to sound too disappointed, Tezuka-kun." before she left laughing at his expression.

---

Another surprise was Tezuka's willingness to leave the windows open when one morning Maya forgot to close it. Tezuka shrugged it off, and pretended as if he still hated staring outside of it, but when Maya left his room, he hurried to gaze out of it.

His mother loved sitting beside that very window when she would play with him or when it is raining and she can't go outside. His window captured the sight of her garden perfectly. He used to stare out of it too.

He idly wondered where Fuji is, or what made him run away that day. His eyes scanned the surrounding of the garden, noticing the roses blooming even more beautiful than he'd seen before.

It was then he noticed someone making his way on the garden.

"Fuji." He whispered under his breath.

Without thinking, he stood up and hurried out of his room. He met Maya at the hall, polishing the cabinets and she gazed at him with her eyebrows raised.

"Going somewhere, Tezuka-kun?"

Tezuka shrugged and said, "I'll be in the garden if someone asks." And he left before Maya could scold or interrogate him more.

He almost ran, but slowed himself down. He didn't like making the impression that he's desperate to see him or anything. He just doesn't want Fuji to disappear again. He dreaded the fact that the latter might run away with just a sight of him.

Tezuka paused for a while, hesitating on the tree and heaved a breath before appearing. Fuji's back was turned on him, sitting again on the very spot he first saw him. Carefully, he approached him without uttering a word. A few distances more and he saw him stiffen. And Fuji turned around and stood up abruptly.

"Fuji, wait."

Fuji gaped at him for a moment before nodding. "What is it, Tezuka-kun?"

"Just call me Tezuka, Fuji."

Tezuka spoke with a little demand as he could. It was as if Fuji would be likely to run away again from him if he could.

"I want to ask you something. Don't—don't be scared of me or anything." Tezuka said calmly, but Fuji merely smiled at his words.

"I'm not scared with you, Tezuka." He chuckled softly, a playful smile now on his lips and much confident.

"Then why did you run off the other day?"

Fuji sat down again and beckoned Tezuka to do so. A thought flashed to Tezuka's mind, it's as if Fuji owned the garden and not them.

"Ah, about that…I guess when I heard your name, I remembered the tragic death of your mother…and I realized I ended up in your household. I'm sorry for that."

"But why'd you have to run?" Tezuka said, sounding skeptical. Fuji chuckled again.

"Ashamed being caught by someone like you, I guess?" He teased, but laughed more when Tezuka glared at him. "Nah, I just sort of got confused and realized I've trodden on someone else's private place…I haven't realized that this is the garden which your mother had died."

Tezuka dropped his gaze upon the mention of his mother. It just came to him that they were sitting on the exact same spot his mother had laid in when she died.

"I'm sorry. That was tactless of me. I guess you don't want to remember it." Fuji said, now fingering a petal on his finger.

"She died here, on this very spot. I was only eight by then…I was the one who discovered her body." Fuji's close eyed gaze transfixed on his, and he swore if those eyes were open, he'd find it hard to breathe again. Oddly enough, he's pouring everything to a complete stranger, when he won't even tell it to a maid that had been in his family for years. "I've taken the blow seriously…I've been in denial for years. I haven't set foot in this garden since then. The day we first met, that's the only time I've dared to come here again."

"Really, wow, maybe that's why when I ended up here, everything's all withered!" Fuji said, tilting his head a bit, with contemplative look on his pretty face.

"So you're the one who revived this garden?"

Fuji nodded, grinning. "Yes. It was months before this place blossomed up again!"

"How'd you ended up here?" Tezuka asked, he almost forgot how much he wanted to ask that question to him.

Fuji laughed softly. "Ah, that one…I was running away from some bullies who'd beaten up my little brother. I've played a prank on them you see." He continued to chuckle, but then his expression darkened, a cunning smile on his lips, "They deserve it. Anyway," The dark expression was gone, and a smile replaced his features, "I hid here and discovered this magnificent place. And I've been here frequently. I decided to make this place alive again."

"You don't have to do that, Fuji." Tezuka stood up, and looked cold and stoic again.

Fuji gaped at him again. "Why is that? Look around you, don't you just love the beauty of this place?!" He too, stood up, looking disbelievingly at Tezuka.

"I don't want to remember this place anymore. My father and grandfather don't need any more reminders about mother. So just leave this place alone, please."

Fuji looked confused. One minute Tezuka was all friendly and talkative with him, the next he was all distant and cold.

"What's wrong, Tezuka? Did I say something that offended you?" Fuji took a step closer to him, eyes open, seeking for questions. Tezuka avoided his gaze and turned to leave.

"Tezuka—" Fuji's soft voice cracked with strain. He grabbed Tezuka's arm and the latter turned to him, his eyes suddenly blazing with denial, sadness and anger colliding together.

"I hate roses."

---

A/N: Roses and charcoal drawings! I love sketching roses, so it just occurred to me while re-reading another book to write something about it. I hope you liked it, told you; I'm no good with the details. I hope you'll watch out for the second and last part. The fluff and romance begins! (since there are those wanting me to write fluffy stuff) Thank you for reading!!! Please do review~ The Lapse of Oblivion's update is today too~