Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis © Takeshi Konomi
Author's Note: ...kyaaa...just felt like doing a "one-shot"(?) on tenipuri -- though I feel guilty rejecting my "CfL" and my upcoming project, "FaB". I'm not sure if I want to carry out this story into chapters, who knows though. I was angsting when I realized that there weren't many stories that contained FujiRyo angst with a bit of TezuFuji and MomoRyo. well if that isn't happening, I might as well write one for myself, ne? Support FujiRyo! Though I absolutely adore TezuFuji - nyahh-naahh, I feel guilty x3 mmm also, this story was inspired by anek. I read his/ (kyaa) her (?) story 'False Beginnings' and I was like, "I wanna read more of this kind!" But yeah…he/she opened my heart to FujiRyo love 3 so this story could be for anek-san, please tell me your gender x3;; I think you're a girl O.o;; anou sa I'll side on that, maybe I'm right, nyaa-haa 3
Couples: FujiRyo, slight TezuFuji and MomoRyo. One-sided SaekiFuji (sorry, couldn't help it).
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
In those Eyes
Part I, what do you see?
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
"Sempai."
"Hm?" He turned around, "Aa...Echizen." It was like he didn't recognize the voice of someone who called his name so many times in the past. As if, he was waiting for someone else to call his name...the name Fuji Syusuke. The third year student, prodigy of tennis; smiled at the younger boy. "Sad that I'm graduating and your not?"
Echizen's face remained unchanged, as he carefully looked at Fuji once more. "Hm. Maybe." He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away, as if he had enough of looking at his sempai for too long now. "Though, it might be nice to know that I'll become captain next semester." There it was -- Echizen's cocky smile that amused Fuji by far, since the day he first met the boy in his third year of junior high. The thought made Fuji smile in return, though the difference was more of a sincere, meaningful one.
"Don't get too confident," Fuji replied. "Then again, I may believe you will take the place of Tezuka."
"Aa…" Echizen shrugged, though the name of their captain made him shift uncomfortably. Fuji swore he caught a glimpse of something…sadness, he guessed, in Echizen's eyes. But it vanished as quickly as it came.
"Sempai…what are you planning to do, after you graduate?"
The similar words of which Echizen asked him, reminded the tensai of that day…when Tezuka had asked him the same thing. He still memorized their conversation, and Fuji just chuckled; repeating the same words he had told Tezuka. "I'm going to continue playing tennis." The answer was simple, yet it was…something of a second thought. He wasn't planning to go with this dream, until he had spoke with Tezuka probably a month or so back; when they had went with their final judgment. The day they cleared up everything about themselves, their bond, and their feelings.
"Hm…" Echizen smirked, "Good choice."
Is it really…?
"Hey! Fuji-kun, the graduation ceremony is about to begin!" A girl, ( probably someone from Fuji's class, Echizen noted ) hollered to the senior from the second floor of one of the high school buildings. She yelled loud enough to attract more attention needed, and Fuji just laughed sheepishly, responding back with a loud shout: "Hai, hai! I'll be right up!" The communication between them just made Echizen lower his head, cap shadowing his eyes as he felt embarrassed. Obviously some of the freshman's and second years were whispering, wondering what Fuji was up to down in the tennis court rather then being up with the rest of the senior classes. Though, when they saw Echizen, they erupted into more whispers.
"You attract a lot of attention, Fuji-sempai."
"Aa…I guess so." He began to start walking, stopping right beside the freshman with a glamorous smile. He patted Echizen on the back and tilted his head slightly, so he could see the corner of the infamous freshman's eye. He always loved Echizen's eyes, they were pretty. Serious, devoted, yet gentle…he couldn't help but envy those eyes. "Maa…I better start heading back. I'll see you sometime, and visit the others after graduation probably," the tensai exclaimed. "You--," his voice became stern, "better not stop playing tennis…unless you really don't want to." It ended, shortly right after he felt his sempai's hand withdraw from his shoulder. The warmth and pressure of his hand still lingered, and Echizen shrugged off the feeling; walking back to his own class. The words Fuji-sempai had said, was not his words at all…it was those words, he repeated from someone else.
-- -- -- -- --
"Yippie! We graduated, nyaahh Oishi!" Kikumaru beamed happily as he held his diploma up in the air. He was practically jumping with joy, and Oishi couldn't help but smile as well, enjoying of the event. They had made it, finally to the year in which they graduated from school. High school to be exact, though they had left some of their precious team members behind, the thought of moving onto the future excited them. It was time to make a choice, a dependent choice among all of them – in which chose what path they would take to carry on their lives. "Kyaa, let's go to the same college Oishi!" Kikumaru shouted, clinging to his best-friend…or someone much more.
Fuji couldn't help but grin at his friends, though the façade was easily ripped off as he made contact with Tezuka.
"I'm going to Germany…I'm going to attend a University there."
"Are you going to miss us, Tezuka?" Are you going to miss me…?
The stoic 'man', who had grown so much in the previous years, nodded with his yet serious face; no sad trace of emotion on his handsome features. He hadn't grown much, Fuji noted. The outer-appearance yet, yes, but inside…he was still the old Tezuka. The man he loved, a man in front of him which he could not reach. Fuji couldn't help but pity himself, he should be happy that Tezuka made a choice of finishing his studies in Germany. He could also be a pro tennis player there too…Tezuka had to live his life; it wasn't like he had a say in this. Masking his face with a grand smile, Fuji averted his attention to the others.
"Oi, I forgot!" Oishi stated with guilt, "you're going to Germany aren't you Tezuka? We'll have to hold a party for you!"
The ex-captain shook his head, "No, it's just going away. It'll be alright."
He was always like this, never wanting to attend social gatherings unless it related to tennis. Fuji never figured out an answer, why he chose to go to Germany than stay here and work his way up to being one of the best professional tennis players. His arm had healed, and he had improved much more that he could be an unofficial pro already. Why? Fuji wondered, but never had the courage to ask. He no longer had the will to ask Tezuka anything, or even talk to him. All he could do right now was act happy, and understand Tezuka's reasoning of leaving Japan – heading off to Germany.
"Aa…but we have to hold a party for you, bochou," Inui stated while pressing his rectangular spectacles up his nose. "That's the last thing we can do for you, before you depart."
Tezuka just remained silent, knowing that it was best to let them do whatever they wanted. He could never control these people, but he was glad that he was able to coach them, being the captain of the tennis club for three years in high school, immediately trying out for the spot when they had entered. He was an exceptional player, of course he got the position. And with him getting the obvious role, they also followed suit and the old team of Seigaku transformed into the new team of Sakurada. They had clinged to each other, followed each other, no matter how many years it was. Until today that is, today was the end. The day they departed…
"Ne, ne, we should gather up with the rest!" Eiji suggested, waving his hand which held the precious diploma. "I'm going to brag nyaahh, about graduating to Momo-chan and ochibi!"
The eyes of Echizen appeared in Fuji's mind, those eyes…He found it better to think of those eyes than think of Tezuka. He looked at Tezuka's eyes, and compared them to Echizen's. No…the younger boys eyes were more beautiful…no matter how you looked at it, it was more beautiful than Tezuka's…maybe it was the feeling in those eyes of Echizen that Fuji found them beautiful. Maybe, or maybe it was something else. The sadness in those eyes…confidence, encouraged eyes, rather than the cold, prideful forsaken eyes of their captain. Such difference in those two…wasn't there?
He would have to remember Tezuka's eyes though; that stare of his so he wouldn't forget. One day, he would need to remind himself that, it was those eyes that made him fall in love with the bochou. But it was also those eyes that killed those precious feelings.
-- -- -- -- --
"Ahhh…their graduating, it's not fair!" Momoshiro heaved a heavy sighed. "Not fair…not fair at all…now we're gonna be a lonely team, ne Echizen?"
"Probably," the boy stated while sipping a can of his favorite soda. Momoshiro grinned, as he grabbed the drink away from the slightly younger and yet still smaller boy. He was always drinking Ponta, no change at all within the years. More ever, he didn't change one bit. Echizen would always be Echizen, someone arrogant, always trying to keep a cool face and that know-it-all act, that attitude that made opponents lose their temper. No matter how you looked at it, he was Echizen Ryoma…someone who wasn't as easy to open up to someone else. Someone who wouldn't trust someone unless he was sure they deserved it. He didn't act like a kid, the second year noted with a sigh. It was no fun at all seeing Echizen the same these years.
"Eh," Echizen grunted as he snatched back his drink; while Momoshiro was still in his trance of thoughts. He hated when his sempai was like this, always thinking of something – or somebody else while they hung out. Echizen didn't mind being alone, nor did he mind being ignored. It was just…Momoshiro was different he guessed.
"Oi Echizen…do you think we'll ever see them again?"
He shrugged, not caring to answer.
"Hm…Echizen, you know…I meant what I said."
Echizen shrugged once more, though he had his eyes on his companion.
"I have a year left…and you have two…you know, I'll be here for you. Even if, their not." When Momoshiro said this, it had seemed like 'everyone' was part of the circle. Though, he didn't care less to correct the older boy's mistake. Although he wasn't that close to most of the team members, he knew that whatever happened – they would find out one way or another if there was anything troubling one of their friends. Even if one was on the other side of the planet, they would still get the news that something happened to them. That was how they were, even he couldn't avoid having a bond towards the team.
"I know, Momo-sempai." He said this, with a nod. He did know, even if most of the team members weren't going to be here anymore…there were still some left…holding onto the team spirit.
-- -- -- -- --
( Two years later… )
-- -- -- -- --
Fuji always loved cats, and he always welcomed stray ones…providing them and nurturing them until they were able to support themselves and live on. He just didn't know, on that rainy day, that he would accept a stray kitten which needing more care than any other.
"…Echizen," he spoke the boy's name with unexpected surprise.
There, standing in front of his door way was a damp teenager, who looked lost more than ever. He didn't dare look up at Fuji, but Fuji could tell that Echizen was in pain. He needed someone, but why did he end up at his doorstep? There wasn't time to think of this, as Fuji realized the condition Echizen was in. He moved aside to open the door wider, "Come in…Echizen, or you'll catch a cold."
There was no response, all he did was enter, wet bangs covering his eyes as he took slow, lifeless steps.
The brown-haired man grabbed a towel which was lying around on the couch. He didn't know how it ended there, but he was glad that he didn't need to leave Echizen's presence as he fetched the dry cloth. "Here Echizen," Fuji handed him the towel. "Dry yourself, you're clothes are wet too…Why didn't you at least shelter yourself with an umbrella?"
Still, there was no response.
"Echizen…"
He sighed, knowing that he would get nothing out of him. Fuji bent down next to the boy, and began to dry him himself; starting with the damp hair. "Really Echizen…being so careless to just wander around in the rain. How did you find out where I lived? We haven't talked in…" he felt Echizen turn his head to look at his sempai, "…over a year." Those eyes…he almost couldn't finish his sentence seeing those painful eyes. Why did Echizen show up at his doorstep? And why with that look? It reminded him of… No…don't think of him…Fuji shook his head, trying to clear the face of that man. Right now, Echizen was troubled and he needed to help him.
"What's wrong Echizen?"
"…Echizen…"
Fuji sighed, giving up. If he felt like telling him, he was sure that Echizen would tell him. He had a feeling though, it had something to do with Momoshiro.
"Ne, Echizen…take off your clothes. I'm going to dry them, you can wear mine for now."
Echizen obeyed, funny…he wouldn't talk, but he would listen.
Fuji got up to fetch the spare clothes, which was neatly folded on the kitchen table. "Maa, well good thing you caught me in the time of folding clothes…" He tried to lighten the atmosphere with a laugh, but he could feel that even that wasn't enough. "These may be big, but they'll fit," Fuji stated; handing over a t-shirt and shorts. He took the wet clothes from Echizen and walked to the bathroom, where the washer and dryer were located. He looked behind him, as he watched the depressed boy dress himself in Fuji's clothes. The shorts were a bit big, but they still were able to hang against his hips well, and the shirt seemed comfortable, although it some-what clinged to his wet skin. Surely (or more like for sure ), Echizen Ryoma was going to catch a cold.
I wonder how he knew where I lived…
Fuji thought of this while putting the clothes in the dryer. Could the others have notified him? No…only Eiji and Kawamura knew where he lived…and Inui as well ( he didn't know how Inui found out, but he was sure he had something to do with his data collecting, most likely anyways ). Well, how he knew didn't trouble Fuji. Why he came was what worried the man. There had to be a reason behind this, especially with those sad eyes…if only Echizen would say something. Those eyes reminded him of his own…that day Tezuka left. That pain, he knew he couldn't hide from. The façade he held couldn't control the immense pain that revealed in those midnight blue eyes of his; like how Echizen couldn't hide the pain he as showing…no matter what kind of expressionless face he played on.
"…Maa…" Fuji walked back in the room, "Are you hungry Echizen?"
"Fuji-sempai, I'm going to live with you."
The blunt, unexpected, surprising statement almost made Fuji stumble. Echizen was not requesting, nor asking; he wasn't demanding either – he just…said it like that.
Fuji grinned, "Oh?"
"Hai sempai."
Fuji knew that Echizen wouldn't give out the real reason for why he was here in the first place, but if he wanted to stay here – then he simply could. Fuji after all, wanted company and having Echizen here would be more fun. Had Echizen expected him to agree? It would've been troublesome if his apartment didn't have two rooms, gladly he did…but Echizen had never been at his apartment before, so if he had only one room…would Echizen still have told him that he would live here from now on? The thought only made him confused more, but Fuji pushed all the questions away. "Alright Echizen, though…there's one condition you'll have to agree to if you really want to live here."
A condition? Echizen smirked, "Hn…"
"You have to answer the questions I ask you."
"Eh?"
"Unless they are too personal to answer," he added.
He saw Echizen hesitate to answer, but nodded. It seemed like he really did want to live here…Well, more reason to uncover the truth behind all of this.
"Alright, why are you here?"
Echizen crossed his arms, "I can't be here?" he raised an eyebrow. Fuji watched in curiosity as Echizen continued with his façade, that weak, yet confident face he was putting up. Fuji could see it, even though Echizen was hiding it carefully; his eyes had a hint of what he really felt. The emotion earlier, which reflected through his eyes, had vanished, but he could see a small trace of it…even if it was disappearing quickly. "Tell me the truth, Ryoma." Fuji saying Echizen's first name triggered the barrier he put around himself.
I'm going to break that wall…
"He called me…"
"Called you?"
Echizen nodded, his eyes casting downward at the touchy subject. "Tachibana's sister…Ann-san…Momoshiro got her pregnant." The words came out slowly, the last part he had to cough it up. "He gave me reasons too…but…"
"You don't need to explain," Fuji interrupted. "Its okay…you can stay here as long as you like."
He had picked up a lost kitten, one that had suffered a huge blow. He wasn't sure when it was able to walk again, but he knew that right now…all he could do was help heal its wound. He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do, but he was a friend, and fellow ex-team member. He had to help this boy – this boy who was in need of support. Echizen wasn't the type to ask for help, nor was he the type to give in and show anything other than his arrogant, calm, or cool face. Right now, he was troubled, and he had showed up at his doorstep. That meant a lot to Fuji, and that was all it took for him to accept the injured kitten.
-- -- -- -- --
"Fuji-san, how long have you lived with Echizen-san?"
"My, is there anything going on between Echizen-san and you, Fuji-san?"
"Ah! There is a rumor going around that you and Echizen--,"
They shoved their way out of the reporter's tight circle. Fuji felt himself suffocate as all he could see was the same person over and over again. They people who held cameras, notebooks, pens, all to get some information out of the tensai. He groaned, and pushed his way out of the bind. Finally, he was able to escape them. Their questions didn't annoy him to an extreme, but he hated when others were so persistent (not that he wasn't). "Such a crowd," Fuji sighed, feeling guilty for leaving his agent and other fellow gentlemen's out there in the mob of reporters. But right now, he had no choice but to remain inside.
"Ryoma?"
No one answered his call, and so Fuji immediately interpreted that he was somewhere else than home.
Sparing a glance at the clock, he realized that it was rather early to be home right now; though his game at ended later than usual. Fuji just didn't expect the reporters to find out now that he was rooming with Echizen Ryoma; another famous professional tennis player of Japan, a.k.a rival of Fuji Syusuke. Did they really find it odd for two professional tennis players sharing the same apartment? Even though they were also rivals? Fuji grinned to himself, maybe that fact was odd.
"Saa…should I cook tonight?" Fuji wondered, tapping his index finger against his chin. "Or should we go out and eat?" Debating which was better, he stood idly at the kitchen; not even hearing the door opening once again.
"Fuji-sempai," Echizen acknowledged.
"Aa…what'd you like to eat tonight?"
The younger male shrugged, not really caring. "Anything that's edible." He wasn't very pleased with the fact that Fuji wanted to cook, well…it wasn't his cooking that Echizen didn't like…maybe it was his taste in cooking that scared him a bit. Especially when Echizen learned about Fuji's taste buds, and his taste in cuisines…Hot, spicy, anything in that category was considered Fuji's favorite. Something the exact opposite of Echizen's liking. "No wasabi either," he added.
Fuji's smile remained displayed on his face, though he made disappointing noises. "Maa, I guess I'll just have to listen to you."
"You can't cook tonight, though."
The fair-haired man tilted his head in wonder, "Why not?"
"Did you forget?" Echizen sighed, "Today's…" he paused while touching his hair in aggravation, "today's Momo-sempai's birthday…"
Fuji blinked, as if the information didn't absorb. Finally, his eyes opened. "Oh! Gomen, gomen…I forgot…" He trailed off as he looked at the discomfort teenager. "Ne, do you…want to go…?"
He would've expected a nod, but instead Echizen shrugged. "It's his birthday, it'll be rude not to go…and, everyone else is going so…I guess its more reason to attend…" His cold tone reasoned, "I'll go change, you should too; Fuji-sempai."
The short conversation made Fuji regret forgetting about one of his friend's birthday celebrations. It must've been hard on Echizen; then again…he coped with it well last year when they attended. But maybe, this year was a little bit more different; especially when this year they finally had a child. Momo-chan had announced this when he sent everyone an invitation to his baby's baby-shower. Of course though, Fuji didn't go, nor did Echizen. The raison d'être was well explained, the dark-haired boy just couldn't see the baby, and Fuji just couldn't stand seeing Echizen's sad face. Not that he could avoid not seeing it, but it was better being there for him…
Tonight…I wonder how tonight will be…
"Fuji-sempai, you're still persistent in making dinner?"
The sound of his voice, Fuji shook his head. "Iie, just…" he thought of a reason, "was feeling bad that I forgot Momo-chan's birthday."
"…I see."
"Well, I'll get dressed and we'll leave. Just give me a moment." Fuji kept his eyes away from Echizen, and walked pasted him. That's right, what would happen tonight? How would it end up as? He felt is shoulder brushed again the smaller boy, but continued to walk to his room. Just looking at Ryoma made him feel wary, not that he was tired of those empty pair of eyes. Just, it reminded him of him self...and it wasn't at all good.
-- -- -- -- --
"Nyan you guys made it!" A hyperactive Eiji cheered, his smile broadening as he saw the last two people walk in through the double doors. "Uwa! Ochibi actually grew taller!" He stated with awe, hands moving in the air to distinguish his height and the younger boy's in front of him. Oishi, standing beside Kikumaru chuckled, knowing that Eiji drank too much sake for his own good.
"Heh…you haven't grown at all," Echizen responded.
"Aww…it's because…nyaahh, I'm in that period of not growing for awhile!" The redhead defended himself, not wanting to admit that he had hit his final growth spurt a few months back. He clinged to Oishi, whining insanely while mumbling words like "Ochibi got meaner" and "he hasn't changed at all!" while the mother-like man sighed, nodding along with whatever his lover was saying. It wasn't good to upset Eiji anymore than this, knowing that he would continue whining more (that was, how Eiji was – being drunk and all).
He waved to both Fuji and Echizen, with a gentle smile on his face; excusing Eiji who was hugging his arm firmly. "It's good to see that both of you are well."
"Hai…and you two as well," Fuji patted Eiji's head as if he was small child, clinging to his mother. "He drank too much, ne?"
"Hai…Eiji wouldn't stop until Inui sneaked some of his Inui Juice in his fifth cup of sake, and that's when Eiji threw up…"
"I did not throw up!" Eiji disrupted, while his cheeks were flushing and his eyes narrowing, "I just spit it out 'cuz…I didn't like it, that's all!"
"Hai…hai…" Oishi sighed, then changing the topic. "So you guys came late, did anything happen?"
Echizen said nothing as he wandered his gaze elsewhere, while Fuji shook his head. "No, nothing really happened. It's just, I guess I forgot about the time…you know," he smiled again. "Well, hopefully we didn't miss anything. I didn't know that Momo would hold his party…here." When he ended with the word 'here', Oishi diverted his attention to glance around; nodding in agreement. The place where Momo held his party was on the tennis court of Seigaku Junior High school. "I wouldn't expect he'd throw his twentieth birthday here."
Oishi nodded, "But its nice coming back here…"
"Waiii…it is niiice…" Eiji interjected, slurring all his words.
"Eiji…you should lay down…"
"Iie! Nyaa, I'm having so much fun!"
"It's alright, this is a rare night," the tensai inquired, "so, where's the birthday boy?"
"Oh, Momo's somewhere…" Oishi glanced around, "I just saw him with Ann-san…"
Throughout the years, (Fuji noticed) that everyone in the Seigaku team had learned the name of 'Tachibana's sister'. Well some knew, while others didn't seem to care and remember; but after that incident with Momo getting suddenly married at nineteen, with 'Tachibana's sister', the name seemed to stuck in their heads. It was amazing though, how the result of Momo marrying could end up changing the Seigaku Regular's club. Especially with Momo, quitting tennis for his 'wife', and her, (not that it was anything selfish) but withdrew him from 'them', and the two caring for a baby. Yes, Fuji mused in his mind, a lot of things did happen when Momo married Tachibana's sister.
"Sou ka…" Fuji nodded understandably. "Ne Echizen, are you hungry?"
He waited for a few seconds, but the answer never came. Turning to look at his side, the black-haired boy had disappeared. "Aa…he left."
"Say…Fuji…is Echizen still okay, with what…happened?"
Oishi, he did live up to his reputation of being the mother of Seigaku. He cared too much for them.
"He's enduring it," Fuji stated. "Hopefully, little by little, he'll be able to get over it." He wasn't sure if what he said was right. He couldn't say something in the place of Echizen's well-being, even if they did live together. It had been two years after all, and a lot of things happened. Just because they lived together, didn't mean they understood each other. The thought made Fuji feel guilty, after all…didn't he take that lost kitten in, to care for him? All he could do was comfort him, lend him his shoulder and embrace him – telling him, hoping his words meant something; that 'everything was alright'. "But…I don't really know." His gaze fell, blue midnight eyes opened; tracing the sturdiness of the ground. "I hope, he can endure it…that is."
"I see…"
"Ne, Oishi something wrong with ochibi?" Eiji tilted his head in wonder.
"No…it's just…I'll tell you when you're not drunk."
"But I'm not drunk!" he argued.
Oishi gave up arguing with his drunkard friend, and pulled a smile. "I really hope, he'll be okay."
"Hai…"
-- -- -- -- --
"Momo-sempai."
Momoshiro turned around as he heard the familiar voice call him out. He forced a smile it seemed, "Echizen!"
"I…came."
"I'm glad. I haven't seen you in awhile."
His cap hung low, Echizen fidgeted with the objects in his short's pocket. He couldn't keep his cool in front of his senpai right now; it was hard maintaining his attitude already. Hoping to keep the conversation going, Echizen chose to ask a question. "How're you…and her?"
"We…we're doing great."
Great…
"I see." He searched his head for more words, then adding, "I'm glad."
Momo smiled, "It's nice…"
"Aa…"
Momo finally released the sigh. "Echizen…I, I…love her."
-- -- -- -- --
"Echizen… I like you."
The confession earned a pair of blinking eyes. What did he say?
Momo blushed, fumbling with his words. "Well…you…I like you, seriously."
The second year looked at his senpai awkwardly, and nodded; acknowledging the confession, but didn't say anything further. With that done, it frustrated the taller boy and he pulled the smaller one back with his stronger force. Eyes linked, Echizen felt as if he was being pressured. Pressured by those strong-willed eyes, and it made him smirk. "Heh."
"Heh! After my confession to you, you give me a 'heh'!"
"Mou…senpai."
"Nani?"
"Do you mean it?"
There was a long pause. Then, he grinned; "I do."
-- -- -- -- --
He kept his eyes on the road, but side glanced every now and then to see if his passenger was doing all right. Since they had departed the party (or probably even sooner than that), Echizen's mood had changed drastically. Not that he was happy at first, it just seemed like…he was more upset than usual. Fuji wanted to ask, but didn't dare pry into his business. It seemed really private, and he knew it had something to do with a certain tall married man.
"You didn't eat anything at the party. Do you want to go stop somewhere and eat?" Fuji suggested, car stopping by a red light.
"Wasabi sushi," he mumbled, though the answer was quite clear and fast.
"Hmm, sou ka… How about at Kawamura's sushi bar?" In the corner of his eyes, he saw Ryoma shrug, and he took that as a 'yes', so he turned a left. As he drove to their required destination, thoughts formed in the back of Fuji's head. Wasabi sushi? Didn't Echizen dislike wasabi? He'll figure out a safety plan to take the information out of Ryoma, sooner or later. Didn't they say keeping things in were bad? Well, for Echizen that is (other then that Fuji wanted to know what happened anyways).
It took approximately 10 or so minutes for them to reach their destination, and Fuji parked their car on the other side of the street. Echizen didn't say anything as he opened the car door, and went out. Fuji did the same, and they both walked inside the sushi bar Kawamura owned (or was passed down by his family). The browned-haired boy smiled as the ex-tennis player greeted them, swinging the cloth he was holding earlier over his shoulders.
"Fuji! Echizen!" He grinned (but Echizen had noted that Kawamura seemed to say Fuji's name more differently than his own). "You guys came here at a late time; did you guys have fun at Momo's birthday party?"
Fuji nodded, as they sat down at one of the empty tables. "Why didn't you come, Kawamura-kun?"
He blushed slightly as Fuji directed the question at him. "A-ano…just, today…my father had an important customer come by and I couldn't leave…" He stuttered shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Aa," Fuji smiled. "Well, we better order, ne?" He looked at Echizen, "What do you want to eat?"
"Anything…" he mumbled, avoiding seeing any of Kawamura's obvious affection toward the other man, which Fuji acted as if he didn't notice. Or maybe he was ignoring those affections, Echizen thought.
"Saa…you're making it difficult, Echizen," Fuji inquired. "Well,we'll leave it to you, Kawamura-kun." Kawamura gave him a confused look, and Fuji just chuckled. "I meant, just do any kind you like. Neither Echizen and I can really choose, so whichever you feel like making tonight, ne?"
"A-ah…hai," he blushed for misinterpreting Fuji's words. "Then, please wait." With that said; he retreated back behind the bar and started preparing the meal. As Kawamura disappeared, Fuji rested his hands on the table, eyeing the quiet boy in front of him.
"Ne, Echizen. You seem quiet, what's wrong?"
Echizen avoided making contact with Fuji's open eyes (or it was open before, until they entered the sushi bar). It was difficult to look at him, and he knew that with just one look, Fuji would be able to read out everything. That was how Fuji was, nothing ever changed. He was still the sadist that he was, always hiding under that façade. Echizen knew that he could never keep that up, if he didn't want to smile; he just didn't. It was better than hiding his true face, under that mask. It was pointless to tell Fuji that 'nothing happened', obviously something did. So there was only two ways to answer his question. One, the truth, or the second option, which was the usual 'doesn't say anything at all'. He knew though, if he was to say nothing, than Fuji would of course find out a way to get the information out of him. Wasn't it always like that?
"…Momo-senpai loves Tachibana's sister, doesn't he?"
The question was unexpected, but Fuji nodded truthfully. "Hai…"
Echizen grunted, "So that's how it goes."
Fuji smiled softly, knowing all too well that his words didn't show as much pain as the ache inside his heart. Then again, that was how he was then…and yet, sometimes now. It couldn't he helped, that was life. "Ne, Echizen-kun, I'm going to force you to drink sake if you give me that sad look."
This time, the other boy snickered. "And you, Fuji-senpai? I'll drown you in sake, because you always show that sad look."
Fuji sighed, not daring to remark back. Echizen knew him too well, even through that smiling fascia of his. The silence was broken when Kawamura announced the sushi was finished, placing their meal down on the table. Fuji thanked him, and grabbed a roll for himself. Taking a bite out of one of the rolls, he smiled. "This is delicious, Kawamura-kun. Ne, try some Echizen." The twenty-year old man insisted, offering him a plate of the sushi he just took a bite of.
Echizen took a bite, and smirked. "Unh…"
-- -- -- -- --
For the past two years, Echizen Ryoma had lived with Fuji Syusuke. It wasn't like living with him was difficult. More likely, he was better off living with Fuji than anyone else – after that day that is. But he wouldn't admit it to Fuji, although his instinct told him that Fuji already knew, somewhere in that head of his. Throughout these years, Ryoma could not understand one thing about Fuji, and that was that fact that Fuji was hiding. Always smiling that smile of his, but he knew better. That wasn't a smile of Fuji Syusuke – it never was. Why though? Did he always fake a smile?
Stop thinking about it…
Echizen grumbled, not wanting to continue his trance of thoughts any longer, it was no good; especially when he was thinking about Fuji. Why was he thinking about Fuji?
But thinking about Fuji only reminded him of the long-time question even he wanted to know: why did he wander to Fuji's house that night, two years ago? He didn't know why, but deep inside he was glad that he wandered here. Without Fuji, he knew that he wouldn't be able to face Momo since now. Nor without Fuji, was wouldn't be able to choose a future of being a professional tennis player. It was Fuji, it always ended up as Fuji.
Echizen sighed, this was ridiculous. Why was he thinking of Fuji again? He could imagine several other people thinking of Fuji Syusuke; example, Kawamura Takashi-senpai; the sushi-maker who now owned the Kawamura Sushi Bar, also an ex-tennis player from Sengoku Junior High School. He could tell that Kawamura-senpai liked Fuji-sempai for awhile now; maybe since his junior eyes (was it amazing?) Echizen shrugged, what was about Fuji that so many people fell into the palm of his hands? Even Tezuka fell in love with Fuji. Was it his sadistic ways? Was it that smile of his? Or his outer-appearance? "Heh…he does look like a girl."
Ryoma held up a tennis ball, which was scattered on the floor with several other tennis items and accessories. Fuji Syusuke, he was an interesting guy to think about.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tsuzuku
Author's Note: waiii sorry, this chapter was difficult to write x.x saa...it's just, after reading what--? over fifty FujiRyo fanfiction and five (sadly) doujinshi's, I'm craving for more, nyahh...sadly though, this is all I can write. prepare for a lot of angsty, jealousy, drama, but spiffy romance 3 unh? gomen ne if characters are OC-ishy. well, Fuji isn't really a sadist in this story, and Echizen seems more cold than usual; demo -- maybe it's more angsty than romance O.o; well, we'll see in the next chapter; ne? review, onegai 3
Disclaimer: In those Eyes © Nguyen Mimi