How Buchou Found the Christmas Spirit

Chapter One: Old Rivalries

Author: The EllipsesBandit...

Disclaimer: Tenipuri and all problems/addictions resulting thereof are the sole fault of Konomi Takeshi and not me.

Rating: K+ for shounen-ai fluff

Pairings: TezFuji, Golden Pair (implied... but we all know about the Golden Pair)

Summary: An old rivalry sparks a holiday competition between Seigaku's two strongest players.


A/N: Hurray! I started something new! I was hoping to get an idea for the season and while my original idea of a shopping adventure ran away, I think I like this story better. For those of you keeping track, this is set the Christmas of second year. Read, enjoy (I hope), and review if you've got a second and feel like giving me some self-esteem for Chrsitmas.

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"Fuji, take it off of my head."

"But it looks so festive," the tensai protested. "And look. It lights up!" Fuji pressed a button on the battery pack in his hand causing the Christmas lights on the reindeer antlers to light up and blink in time to the tune of "Jingle Bell Rock."

Tezuka did not dignify the comment with a response. If he held perfectly still, the other people in the store might think he was a mannequin and ignore him.

After about twenty seconds under Tezuka's best glare, Fuji sighed and reached to remove the headband. He went about this process much more slowly than he had jamming the antlers onto his teammate. Now, Fuji lingered to make sure the cord didn't get tangled in Tezuka's glasses, letting his fingers trail through the buchou's hair. Fuji generally found excuses like this to get close to Tezuka at least once a day, though never more than twice. Tezuka noticed, but said nothing about it, as always.

"A little Christmas spirit probably wouldn't kill you," the shorter boy chided.

"One can never be too cautious. What are we here for?"

Placing the display antlers back on the shelf, Fuji consulted his list. "A string of running lights--multi-colored--, gold spray paint, and an extension cord."

Tezuka snatched a box of Christmas lights from the shelf next to the antlers, handing them to Fuji for approval. Ignoring Tezuka's discomfort, Fuji mumbled thoughts to himself. "He didn't tell me what length he needs. I believe this is for the windows, so perhaps I should get two shorter--"

Before Fuji had even finished his sentence, Tezuka grabbed two boxes of shorter light strings. "I'll go get the extension cord. What size?"
"Did you need to be somewhere, Tezuka?" Fuji asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're acting like you're in a hurry."

"It's just crowded in here," Tezuka muttered as two children waving over-sized candy canes barrelled past him. Also the shelf opposite them contained some very eerie singing snowmen. If he showed any sign of aversion to them right now, though, Fuji would undoubtedly purchase them and permanently mount them in the tennis clubroom.

"You probably think this is ridiculous," Fuji said, as the two began maneuvering towards a less crowded aisle.

"Yes."

Fuji smiled. "It's just been a few years since my father's had enough time off to properly celebrate. And after he heard about the contest this year, he got a little excited. Besides, it's only once a year. Doesn't your family decorate?"

"Not to this degree." This was Fuji's fourth mission to the store this week. Tezuka was fairly certain the Fuji's could host a laser light show with the amount of extension cords they'd purchased. Knowing his teammate's family, that might not be out of the question.

"Thank you for coming with me anyway," Fuji smiled, handing Tezuka two cans of weather resistent gold spray paint.

Tezuka shrugged as he was relegated to pack animal status yet again. He supposed he could have said no when Fuji invited him, but it wasn't so far out of his way. And if Fuji carried all of the eclectic supplies home by himself, he could strain his shoulder muscles which would hinder his tennis next season. Looking at it from that perspective, accompanying Fuji was his responsibilty as the tennis team's new captain.

His train of reasoning abruptly ended as Fuji's voice asked, "What did you think of those animatronic snowmen? I think the living room window could use some more embellishment."

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"I'm home," Tezuka announced, slipping off his shoes.

"Dinner, Kunimitsu," Tezuka's mother called. He went to help her set the table. "You were out for a while after school again," she remarked, handing him a stack of plates.

"I was helping Fuji with some errands."

She began spooning rice into bowls. "You should have brought him over. Fuji-kun's such a polite young man."

"He was busy," Tezuka said quickly. His mom liked Fuji far too much for his own comfort. "He's helping his father set up Christmas decorations."

"What a dutiful son." She bopped him lightly on the shoulder with the rice paddle. "You should ask your father if he wants to decorate this year. It'd give you two a chance to spend time together this vacation."

"What would?" Tezuka Kuniharu entered the room along with Tezuka's grandfather, the latter frowning disapprovingly at his son's loosened tie and unbuttoned shirt.

"The Fuji's are decorating their house for the holidays," Tezuka's mother said, bringing a bowl of curry to the center of the table. "It's been a few years since we've really decorated, hasn't it? It might make a nice weekend project for you boys."

Tezuka's father looked sideways. "Ayana, you know how my back gets climbing ladders...ow!" He shrank under the smack from the eldest member of the Tezuka family.

"Quit whining. I could string this whole house end to end and still have enough energy to catch any kids trying to steal the hat off the snowman again."

"Wonderful. It can be a family project then." Tezuka's mother beamed, causing all three men in the room to stare at her.

Kunimitsu sighed, knowing they'd already lost. Might as well enjoy the last meal they had without any broken limbs. "Itadakimasu."

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Tezuka expected the sudden unpacking of Christmas paraphernalia from the garage. He expected to give up the next weekend in favor of climbing slick roof tops and adhering strings of lights. He expected the frequent power outages as his father and grandfather attempted to connect seven electric devices into a single plug.

What he did not expect was his mother baking several trays of lemon bars and dragging him over to the Fuji's house Saturday morning.

"Reconnaissance, Kunimitsu," was all she told him when he asked. Tezuka had no idea what she meant and just followed the orders of carrying the baked goods.

Fuji was balanced precariously on a ladder next to a second story window when they arrived, his brother holding the bottom and looking bored. The younger Fuji noticed the visitors first.

"Aniki! Your--" he looked like he had several choice pet names for Tezuka at the moment, but one glare from the buchou silenced him, "-- friend is here!"

Fuji turned, several nails falling out of his mouth and onto his brother's head as he exclaimed, "Tezuka!" He scrambled down from his perch, ignoring Yuuta's shouts of annoyance. "Tezuka-san, how nice to see you again," he said quickly, the hood of his blue parka flipping up as he bowed. Yuuta muttered something about forgetting the amount of work to be done and stormed inside.

"The decorations look lovely, Fuji-kun," Tezuka's mother beamed. "Is your mother home? The cold weather makes me want to bake, and I just don't have enough mouths to feed at home. I thought perhaps your family might make use of these."

Fuji thanked her, inviting them both in with a quizzical look to Tezuka who could only shrug in response.

They stepped into the foyer, just in time for Fuji's mother to call, "Syuusuke, did your father find the wire clippers? If not I found an extra set in--" she stopped as she caught sight of her guests.

"Yoshiko-senpai, it's been too long since we've seen each other!"

"Senpai?" Fuji whispered to Tezuka who blinked in confusion.

Fuji's mother's look of shock quickly morphed into the calm smile her son had inherited. "Ayana-chan. Is that you?"

"I heard you had moved back to the neighborhood." Tezuka's mother was talking in the voice she used when his grandfather complained about her cooking. He instinctively took a step away, which caused him to bump into Fuji's shoulder. He managed not to jump away, though it probably wouldn't have mattered seeing as the tensai was busy watching the two women in wide-eyed fascination.

"A year and a half ago," Fuji's mother nodded.

"I can't believe it took me this long to say hello, especially with our sons becoming such good friends."

"Indeed. What a poor hostess, I am. Please come in. It won't take me long to get some tea ready." Tezuka recognized that tone as well. Fuji used that cordial tone while inviting people onto the courts for one of his vengeance matches.

"I'm afraid we can't stay too long today. I just came by to bring you a goodwill gift. All the work your family's doing for the competition must be making them hungry." She nudged Tezuka forward with the lemon bars, making him feel a little too like a human shield for his own comfort.

"How kind of you, though really it shouldn't take them too much longer. Back in Chiba, we won the neighborhood decorating contest four years in a row."

"Really? That's quite an impressive title, though I think you'll find the competition here is a little steeper."

The smile on Fuji's mother's face suddenly appeared more shark-like. "Just like old times, ne?"

"Indeed. Good luck, Yoshiko-senpai."

"To you as well. Syuusuke, come get the wire clippers for your father." Fuji looked like he wanted to protest, but thought better of it. Instead, he took the tray of lemon bars from Tezuka, hurriedly mouthing 'I'll call you later,' before darting into the kitchen.

Tezuka and his mother bowed and left, the boy waiting until they were two houses down from Fuji's before asking, "Kaa-san, you know Fuji's mother?"

"Of course. Did I never tell you we went to school together?"

"No."

"I must have forgotten." She breezed down the sidewalk as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened that day.

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The EllipsesBandit...'s Commentary

1. I will admit to most of this fic stemming from my holiday Tezuka and Fuji reindeer plushies. You know this is the second time I've but a buchou in antlers. And Yukimura already wears the reindeer suit in Tenipuri Family Christmas. Hmmm... oh Kippei!

2. Yes I know Tezuka and Fuji's mums are technically four years apart, but I'm altering it for the sake of plot device. Tezuka's mum is very smart and skipped a year. There.