I lied. XD I'm writing a sequel sooner than I thought. So I hope you like how this goes. I'm certainly looking forward to it.
This is dedicated to Tacuma, who supplied me with many, many ideas. Thank you!
I don't own Prince of Tennis or any of the characters.
This can't be happening. That was the only thing that was running through Fuji's mind. It was just a few weeks after graduation when the subject of college came up. Tezuka was going to become a cop, and eventually, a detective. Fuji was happy. Proud, even. And he definitely found it to be a turn on. And when Tezuka's father asked him what he planned on doing, he replied with, "I suppose I'll do something with photography. It's something I love to do and I'm not bad at it, either." Tezuka's father found that interesting, but he didn't seem to disapprove. Fuji was fairly relieved.
But later that night, after they finished a match of tennis, they sprawled back on the courts, breathing heavily. Tezuka won, again. No surprise there. It was dark, and the stars were out. Fuji reached over and took Tezuka's hand, intertwining their fingers.
"You know," He said softly, turning his head to look at his boyfriend. "This reminds me of that time on your birthday. Up in the mountains."
"There were more stars, then." Tezuka said quietly. He rolled over on his side and kissed Fuji lightly. "I love you."
Fuji smiled a little. "I love you, too."
After a while, the regained their legs and stood up, going to go grab a drink of water and put their rackets away.
"'Mitsu..." Fuji looked at Tezuka hesitantly. "We can't avoid the subject forever."
Tezuka casted his eyes downward for a second before looking up again. "I suppose we can't."
Fuji took a deep breath. "All of us... We're all going different ways. Jirou wants to become a Kindergarten teacher, God knows why... Keigo's taking over his father's company, Seiichi is going on to be a pro tennis player, and Genichirou's going to be his personal trainer. They're going to get to stay together. Seiichi and Genichirou are going to get to stay together, and Jirou and Keigo are going to get to stay together. But us... I was accepted into one of the best photography schools in the country, and you're going to a college all the way on the other coast. What are we going to do?"
Tezuka took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Syusuke. I have no clue. Neither of us are good at long distance."
"I can't stand it." Fuji whispered. "But, 'Mitsu... We'll just have to make sacrifices. I'll give up going to that university and go that college the next town over. And you can go to that other college that accepted you. Then we won't be as far away. We'll be able to see each other on weekends and such. We can make it work."
Tezuka looked off across the courts, rubbing the back of his neck. "Syusuke... That other college... the one on the coast... It's an amazing college. It offers so much more than the other one. And you deserve to go to a top notch photography school. You're just that good."
Fuji looked confused for a moment. "Tezuka... Are you... Are you serious? Tell me, Kunimitsu, what's more important to you? Me, or your career?"
Tezuka looked back at Fuji, eyes pained. He opened his mouth to say something, but let it fall closed again. Several long minutes passed, and Fuji felt his heart breaking in his chest. "Tezuka, if it takes this long for you to decide, then... I guess we just need to go our separate ways."
"No, Syusuke-" Tezuka was cut off by Fuji's lips. The kiss was long, slow, and sweet. Longing. And it said everything. Goodbye.
Fuji pulled back. His eyes were wet with tears. "I love you." He whispered. Then he turned and picked up his tennis bag. He left the courts, letting the gate creak shut behind him. He walked home alone, in the dark, and cried when he realized Tezuka hadn't tried to stop him from leaving.
Once he got home, he clung to Yumiko and cried some more. She held him close and stroked his hair until he eventually cried himself to sleep. She didn't get the whole story out of him, but she got the gist of what happened. She carried him to bed, something she hadn't done in a long, long time (and something she was honestly surprised she could still do. Fuji was lighter than she thought he was).
The next morning, when he woke up, he checked his phone. Zero messages. Zero voice mail. And then he crumpled on his bedroom floor and cried some more.
Poor Fuji. D: I feel bad for Tezuka, too, though. Sigh... Anyway. Read and review, guys? :3 Please? The more reviews I get, the more chapters you get. :D