Title : The Faithful Heart

Writer : Seishirou Hitsugaya

Pairing : TezukaFuji (Perfect Pair)

Genre : Romance

Warning: Shounen-ai fic which means boys love! Don't like, don't read!

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis

A/N : Special thanks for Tacuma-san, Ai-san, and my first beta-san, Tenshi-san!

Thank you for all your help. Without your help, this fic would not be on

Thank you so much! XD

This is my first fic and because it is a multi-chapter story, I hope you will review! I want to know if there are people who want me to continue. Thank you!

One more thing: This fic is set in Edo and Modern setting, so if there's a vending machine that shows up in the samurai period, don't get too confused. Just use your imagination, okay?

Enjoy!


CHAPTER 1: Victory & Massacre

The Tezuka was once a clan full of successful descendants. Almost all of the Tezukas were prospective leaders. Even though they each walked on different paths, they still remained prosperous. Not only were they respected because of their intelligence, but they are also well known for their wisdom. Many people believed that the Tezukas would continue to reign and dominate throughout the centuries. But that thought was quickly swept away by the flow of time.

The Tezuka clan was slaughtered by the enemy when the family leader, Tezuka Kunikazu went to war against another clan. Kunikazu didn't bring other family members to the war, because he believed in his ability and ordered the rest of his clan to protect the town. That was a mistake. The main purpose of the enemy was to lure Tezuka Kunikazu out of the town while a group of well-trained assassins killed the other members of Tezuka clan.

When Tezuka Kunikazu returned to town with his armies to deliver news of his success against the enemies, he found all the citizens lying in the main road. He checked the nearest body and was relieved to feel a pulse. He then went to check the other citizens. However, when he inspected other bodies, he saw that some people had been slaughtered. Strangely the ones who were killed were the ones Kunikazu knew as members of the Tezuka's clan. At this, Kunikazu and the troops hurried into the mansion. When they entered, no one greeted them but the steel blades of the assassins lying in wait for survivors. Upon seeing Kunikazu and the others, they immediately attacked. The battle did not last long, because even though Kunikazu and his soldiers were tired after the war, they won in terms of number. Kunikazu then realized that the goal was to erase the Tezuka clan, seeing as the townspeople were all unharmed and only people under the name of Tezuka were killed.

Kunikazu divided his soldiers into two groups and began searching through the mansion. Kunikazu and some of his confidants had just finished checking the just as they suddenly heard a confrontation in the hall where it was normally used as the training hall or meeting space. Kunikazu reached the spot just in time to see Ayana, his daughter-in-law being stabbed by the opposing forces. Kunikazu and his men wasted no time in eliminating the attackers.

Kunikazu stared down at Ayana. Based off her injuries, he knew that her breathing would weaken with every second passed. Ayana was a housewife, that's true, but she was also trained in martial arts. She had been trained to protect herself & her kid if the circumstances called for self-defense, but the number of the assassins wasn't one she could handle easily.

Kunikazu went to her and gripped her right hand while his stringers kneeled behind him, but still providing a distance for a private conversation between the two Tezukas.

"Ayana…."

"Fa..Father..." Her words were slow and staggering due to the intense pain she felt from her injuries.

"Save your breath." It sounded stern but there's a comforting tone there, one he only used for his family.

"No, Father. You mu.. must sa…ve Kunimi..tsu and Shuui..chirou."

"Where are they?" Kunikazu knew Shuuichirou as the orphan boy who acted as a playmate for Ayana's son, Kunimitsu.

"W..When they attacked, I told them to run a...way from the tea room se..cret passage.. I managed.. to hold some of the tro...ops off but two o…of them go..t away a..nd.." Just as she was about to continue her words, Kunikazu stopped her to.

"I understand. Toshiaki, Tadao! Go to the secret passage and go after them now!" Kunikazu spoke the command to two of his faithful servants, who nodded and quickly left the room to rescue the children. The rest remained with their leader.

"Father... You must... go now... I could...n't ..." Her words, in a tone full of sadness and despair, sank one by one into his brain.

"I'll stay here. Toshiaki and Tadao can handle them. Don't worry." He clutched her hand tighter to reassure her. As much as Kunikazu wanted to chase the men, his daughter-in-law was dying now. He should stay to show his gratitude and respect.

Ayana smiled. His father-in-law rarely showed concern to others. His face was still stern but Ayana knew better after years of living with Tezuka clan. She knew that the conditioning and discipline of the clan taught them not to show emotions, which were a sign of weakness. This was the clan founder, the first Tezuka clan leader, Tezuka Kunio's belief. However, her husband, Kuniharu, was the opposite of Kunikazu. Ayana smiled weakly at the thought of her husband. Her breathing became even shallower and more ragged. Her time was almost up. She took a deep breath. She needed it, she had to tell him. Now or never.

"Father..." Determination flowed through her words.

"Yes?"

"Please... Please raise Kunimitsu for me. I knew I couldn't do it anymore... Please raise him.. to become a good man... that could make.. the Tezuka clan proud. And father..." Her heart was beginning to weaken even more.

Kunikazu felt Ayana's life force began to fade through the hand that he held.

"… ..." The words couldn't be heard by other occupants of the room, but Kunikazu could hear the words clear since he was kneeling next to her.

Ayana moved her face a bit so that she could see his face fully. This time her smile was gentle. Her lips began to move but the sound was barely audible.

"…"

"I understand. I promise I'll tell him when the time comes."

Ayana looked at her father. She knew that her father-in-law wasn't someone to break his promise, but she still wanted to insure herself. She searched through his solemn eyes. When she saw what she wanted to, she let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you Father."

"Hn."

"Father, never let your guard down, ne?" Ayana put on a last cheerful smile.

At this Kunikazu smiled softly, although it couldn't be seen by his subordinates, Ayana could see it markedly. She smiled softly and stared at the ceiling. Last, she closed her eyes and drew her breath.

Slowly he put her hand down and stood from his place.

"…" Silence lasted for a few seconds before he finally spoke.

"Let's get them. And..." Kunikazu turned around, his face back to the usual stoic mask. However, everyone in the room could feel power and resolve emanating through his appearance."Let's not get careless."

"Yes, Sir!"


Hi, Sei here!

Please review this first chapter, because I want to know if there are people who are interested on reading the next few chapters. Since it's only the beginning, I wrote a shorter first chapter, but the next chapters will be longer because I love long stories, so review please!

*Gave the mike to Tenshi-san*

Hi everyone, I'm the beta, Asian Tensai Tenshi~ I have Perfect Pair fanfics too, so I'm going to make a shameful plug and ask people to possibly review my stories too? Although I have nothing quite as creative as this story… I'm more of the angsty, evil writer in which Tezuka and Fuji never get together… Well, please review this story!

SEI : Ah~! Tenshi-san, you're groveling yourself too much. You're a good author. There's no way you're not as creative as me. You're my senpai in this field, after all. Don't forget the 'Forgotten' fic. I want the next. ^ ^ People! Read that fic! It's good!

Don't forget to Review this fic, just click the 'Review this Chapter' down here.