Warning:
Lemons on later chapters.
If you are uncomfortable with yaoi (boy x boy), love scenes, and multiple sexual partners, or if you have a ship bias that you despise reading about the other ships, then better drop this one.
You've been warned.
Disclaimer. Gah, of course, this is a FAN FICTION so no, I don't own Prince of Tennis or any of the characters of the story. But if I did, I would be the one sleeping every night with Tezuka. LOL
Chapter 1: Someone from the Past
Tezuka enjoyed the quiet of the club room. Err, it wasn't really as quiet and peaceful as he wanted it to be. But at least he wasn't hearing anymore ear-piercing screams from almost the whole of Seigaku's female population. He swore the cries of their fans were deafening and he was grateful his ears were still working fine.
The number of spectators for today's practice was simply record-breaking, Inui confirmed earlier. Aside from the fact that Seigaku has recently brought home the national championship title for middle school tennis, it was Valentine's Day. And each and every girl in school (not to mention those from other schools) were dying to throw their homemade chocolates—if not themselves—on their favorite Seigaku regular. And as per record, again, courtesy of the tall data collector, 57.13% of the fans gathered around and outside the court are Tezuka's.
He remembered Oishi telling him how he was getting more and more popular by the moment. Such was complemented by the tensai who admitted the number of fans Tezuka had makes him jealous. But since Fuji always had his signature smile up on his face, Tezuka couldn't tell if he was only being sarcastic.
"32, 33, 34. Yosh! Oi, Echizen!" Momoshiro's grin was wide, his loud voice echoed inside the club room as he called for his favorite kouhai. "I've got a total of 34 chocolates today, how about you?"
"Eh?" The first year turned to his senpai with his cockiest smirk before answering, "37."
"EH?!" Momo's eyes widened in surprise.
"Probability of Echizen beating Momo in a popularity contest, 120%," Inui butted in.
"Mada mada dane." Thinking of the ramen he'll be getting for winning their bet, Echizen couldn't help but grin bigger. He took his bag and head off the door, his face beaming with victory. "Let's get going, Momo-senpai. You still have to treat me ramen."
Momoshiro scratched his head as he grumbled inaudible words at his nth defeat. He followed his kouhai out of the club room nonetheless.
"Eh? How about you Oishi? How many chocolates did you get today?" Kikumaru asked the egghead, making him blush in embarrassment.
"Eiji!" the vice captain answered. Fidgeting with the question, he wasn't able to properly button his uniform. The redhead laughed when he saw him, and he undid his buttons to fasten them at the right holes.
"We should also had a bet on who would get more chocolates-nya!" Kikumaru thought regretfully, his hands propped against the back of his neck. He was back in his school uniform and was only waiting for his doubles partner so they could walk home together.
"But I'm sure you both had a lot of chocolates, too," Kawamura chimed in, closing his locker.
"How about you, Taka-san?" asked Fuji.
One hand immediately flew at the back of the shy power player's neck. He had to bow his head a little to hide his now flushed face. "Ano…"
"Five chocolates in the morning, another five during lunch, and still more during afternoon practice. Kawamura should be hiding no less than 20 chocolates inside his bag right now. That is, if he hadn't eaten any of them," Inui answered, his glasses glistened as he read the data he wrote earlier on his nasty notebook.
"You didn't have to say that, Inui," Kawamura stated rather embarrassed.
Inui adjusted his glasses. "But there's no need to be shy about it. Even Kaidoh and I got some confessions today."
"Kaidoh did?" Fuji asked, smiling positively, especially when he saw Kaidoh himself blush a little.
"Were you stalking me, Inui-senpai?" Kaidoh hollered, not in any way denying what his senior said.
The discussion about chocolates went along and Tezuka could only sigh in silence. Why was everyone getting all worked up about chocolates? Even Echizen, during practice, suddenly lost focus when Kikumaru announced how the rookie received gifts from their sensei's granddaughter.
They shouldn't be thinking about chocolates! Their practice match with Shitenhouji will be happen day after tomorrow and they couldn't afford to get careless.
"Tezuka."
The ever-quiet buchou turned to his side when he heard Fuji's soft, almost feminine voice. For some reason, Fuji's tone sent goosebumps crawling up his neck.
"You're not leaving yet?"
Having that asked, Tezuka looked around and noticed that the rest of the regulars were starting to leave the club room. He and Fuji were they only ones left standing in front of the lockers, unmoving.
Fuji took a step towards the door. "It's getting late. We should get going."
"Aa." Tezuka picked up his bag up and followed the triple-counter genius out of the room.
"You really don't like Valentine's, do you?" Fuji asked all of a sudden. They were taking some time walking side by side each other. He was simply matching Fuji's pace, and for some strange reasons, it gives him the feel of lovers taking a walk in the park. Slow. Building a rather romantic momentum. What's stranger, the thought didn't make him cringe.
He looked at Fuji and found him smiling innocently yet again. He couldn't help but admit how adorable this side of Fuji was. Only, this Fuji was the same I'm-never-playing-serious-tennis-Fuji. Much to his disappointment. But maybe if the tensai played against Shiraishi again, he'd go all out, like what happened during the national semis.
"Aa," he admitted. His face lacked the expression Fuji needed as a hint to know the reason why.
"Inui said you didn't accept a single gift from your fans."
It took Tezuka some time to gather a response, thinking whether or not he should explain anything at the tensai. But he still did. "Aside from not liking sweets, accepting any gift would make them think I'm also accepting their feelings."
"Soka," Fuji commented, finally satisfied. "But what if I would be the one to give you chocolates?"
Tezuka stopped walking when Fuji did. He slipped his bag from his shoulder, unzipped it and retrieved something inside. The moment he brought out his hand, he was already holding a small box of homemade truffles.
"Don't worry, they aren't so sweet," the tensai assured him. Sure, they weren't all sweet. He had a hard time finding the perfect wasabi chocolate truffle recipe over the internet last night.
Despite the understanding of what Fuji meant, Tezuka took the box from the tensai's hand. They continued walking as he examined the elegant-looking silver box adorned with beautiful red ribbons.
"I didn't know you are giving away obligatory chocolates."
Fuji frowned. "But Tezuka, they weren't obligatory chocolates."
And again he stopped. His brows almost flinched. He wished Fuji would be able to read beyond his never-changing cold expression. He meant to ask him what on earth does he mean.
He took a step back when Fuji inched closer.
"Tezuka."
He swallowed the lump which seemed to suddenly appear in his throat. Such lump was preventing him from voicing his thoughts and questions.
"I am also your fan," Fuji admitted, purposefully brushing his warm breath against the taller man's chin. He was fighting back the urge to throw himself at his buchou, kiss him hard and savor the taste of his mouth like he would do to the remaining wasabi truffles back at their fridge.
He continued, "And since you received my chocolates, I'll be waiting for your answer next month. Though I am not very sure I can wait until White Day to get to your pants."
"Fuji," was all the stoic boy could gather. He was still dumbfounded by the sudden confession.
Finally, Fuji was able to press his body against Tezuka's. He immediately wrapped an arm around his waist, making sure he won't be able to run away when he started choking him with his searing kiss.
Fuji inched and inched closer. Everything went in slow motion in Tezuka's eyes and he wondered in amusement as to why he can't move his body away from his handsome attacker.
Just a little more and Fuji will be consuming the taller man's mouth. But before anything could happen, a hand flew to his shoulder, stopping him from going any nearer his beloved's slightly parted lips, thus wiping his not-so-innocent smirk away from his face.
"What do you think you're doing, ahn?"
"Atobe!" Fuji exclaimed in surprise as he looked back and brushed his shoulder away from the nuisance's annoying hand.
"Swift like the wind," said another familiar voice and before Fuji knew it, Tezuka was grabbed away from him.
"Sanada!"
Tezuka casually tugged his arm away from the Rikkai vice captain's grip. He adjusted his collar, his stoic mien unchanged despite the short ruckus. Had he wished the two didn't see anything that happened between him and Fuji, no one could be sure for his face was devoid of emotion. "What could the two of you be possibly doing here?"
"Not to notice the obvious, you must be going soft," Sanada replied in his deep, masculine voice.
Of course he was seeing the obvious, namely, the big box of dark chocolates in Sanada's hand, not to mention the gifts—a large bouquet of tulips, the most expensive brands of chocolates, and a big, fluffy teddy bear—carried by Atobe's servants who stood behind their master in quiet.
Tezuka slipped a finger inside the collar of his black jacket and tried to give his neck as much space as it needed. The situation only made him feel breathless. Thanks to the thought of two more people pushing themselves into him. How he wished he was only mistaken.
He turned to Atobe, and then to Sanada, not the least bit pleased with their silence. While it is true he didn't wish his female schoolmates to woo him, it didn't mean he wanted people—and those of the same gender as his—from other schools to do so.
"You didn't give Ore-sama that look to ask for an explanation, ahn?" the self-proclaimed King of Hyotei spoke. His aura reeks of material wealth, power and luxury. "But if you really want some, Ore-sama could give you one over dinner. Then Ore-sama will give you a Valentine date you will never forget."
Immovable like mountain were written in Sanada's face when he stood in between the two captains. "Dream on, Atobe. Tezuka is going with me."
"Said who?" Fuji finally broke his silence. His face had lost the smile he always had on. And his eyes were open, revealing fierce blue orbs. He was someone who mustn't be angered, yet Tezuka's guests didn't even flinch after seeing his warning look.
"Then should we decide it with janken?" Atobe kidded as he ran his fingers through the soft locks of his hair.
"Tennis," Fuji suggested, his eyes glistening with fire and determination. He lost to Tezuka, and Tezuka lost to both of them during the Kantou and the National Tournaments respectively. But if Tezuka himself would be the prize, he will never lose.
"Tennis or janken or even shogi, you are a hundred years early to challenge me," Sanada answered.
"Then tennis it is." Fuji smirked, anticipating victory even from two of the strongest middle schoolers in Japan. He led the two of them back to the tennis courts, stopping midway to turn back to Tezuka.
But he was now nowhere to be found.
"Where's Tezuka?"
Both Atobe and Sanada looked back and found only the former's maidservants following them. But no Tezuka.
Up until now, Tezuka didn't realize the biggest surprise of the day was yet to come. Yukimura himself was there, standing in front of him, looking him straight in the eyes, a grim line drawn across his thin lips. It had been quite a while since the last time he stood this near to this man. Almost within his reach.
He knew it was impossible but he hoped Yukimura also went there to convey his feelings for him. And he would gladly receive him with open arms.
Yukimura shifted his gaze to the subsiding commotion behind Tezuka. He frowned, displeased at the sight of Sanada walking farther away from him.
"Sanada was in a hurry after practice. I didn't think he would come here."
Yukimura failed to notice how Tezuka's brows twitched that very second. He needed not to ask. It was quite obvious now why Yukimura was there. Tezuka wasn't sure what has gotten into him but he grabbed the blunette by the arm and pulled him away.
"T-Tezuka!" Yukimura, though unsure why and where the bespectacled Seigaku captain was dragging him, let himself be dragged. He was somehow relieved that Tezuka was now out of Sanada's sight. Now that he was thinking about it, he wanted to laugh at how Tezuka easily managed to walk away from his vice captain, the Hyotei king, and the Seigaku tensai… without a single one of them noticing. "Don't you think it's rude to leave them like that? They seemed to be arguing because of you."
Tezuka suddenly halted, so did he.
"A match," Tezuka said without looking at him. Or letting his hand go. "There's a nearby court here. Let's have a match."
Yukimura blinked. Was Tezuka Kunimitsu really asking a match from him? He knew Tezuka since the day the stoic buchou defeated Sanada. And he won't deny the fact that, at least once, he wished to have played with him. But fate didn't allow it. Not even once.
Well, there was one time in the past when he challenged him on a match. But that was nothing but an embarrassing piece of the past now. Good thing no one knew about it.
Yukimura balled his fist, his other hand still entangled with Tezuka's left. He also wanted to have a match with him. Ever since that day. He wanted so, so much to defeat him. Crush him. Pulverize him. Without showing any mercy at all.
"Game Yukimura. Three games to love," Yukimura himself announced when Tezuka failed to send the ball to his side of the court. A smirk crept up his face.
More.
He wanted to play him more. Driving him to a corner wouldn't be enough to satisfy his craving of beating him to a pulp. He wanted him shut on the corner and never return again. He wanted to defeat him so bad he would stop playing tennis.
Yukimura watched as Tezuka changed his grip and opened and closed the palm of his left hand repeatedly, trying to feel his muscles. His smirk went wider. Tezuka must be suffering yips by now. No wonder he lost the last game without getting a single point.
They both started walking to change courts. It was now Tezuka's service game. Yukimura stood in the middle of his court, gripping his racket with both hands, ready to receive the ball anytime.
"There's something I want to tell you."
Yukimura almost lost his concentration when Tezuka spoke all of a sudden. He was still busy dribbling the tennis ball, never throwing him any look.
"During my rehabilitation in Kyuushu," Tezuka continued, finally tossing the ball up in the air. As he hit his serve to the other side, he said, "I've learned how to overcome yips."
"I'd like to see how true is that," Yukimura responded as he dashed to the net and receive the serve, his triumphant smile never leaving his lips… until the ball that dropped on his side of the court, instead of bouncing towards him, rolled back and touched the net. "Z-Zero shiki… serve?"
"Don't let your guard down," Tezuka said, his voice as monotone as ever.
Yukimura sneered in sarcasm. "You just scored a point, Tezuka. You are still three games behind."
But to the Rikkai captain's surprise, the game ended with Tezuka's overwhelming victory. He hadn't scored a single point after that zero shiki serve. And it irked him. How come? How come the Child of God lost such an unsightly battle?
"You were thinking of unnecessary things," Tezuka, who was standing proudly at his side of court, commented. Yukimura on the other hand was now on his knees, still in disbelief at his lost. "You will not win once you lose your focus."
"Nonsense." Yukimura gripped his racket tight. He slowly got back up. "Nonsense!" he screamed, his face red from anger and embarrassment. He ran up to Tezuka and grabbed his collar. "How long do you intend to take everything away from me?"
Tezuka's brows twitched in surprise. He was almost taken aback with what he was hearing.
"First, Sanada's attention. Then his heart. And now even my pride. What have I done to deserve all of this from you?"
Now all his guards were put down. Gone was the stoic and rid-of-emotion Tezuka now that Yukimura was crying helplessly in front of him. He choked as he watch the latter cry. His heart was broken to a million pieces. He hated to see him cry, and he hated himself for being the reason of his tears.
The blunette's hand went from his collar down the chest of his shirt, clutching it tight while sobbing and shivering in despair and disappointment.
"Sanada…" Yukimura continued, his soft and usually calm voice were still drowned in tears. "Of all people, why does it have to be Sanada? I was a fool to try to deceive myself. I knew it from the start… that Sanada has something for you. But I tried denying it. I told myself that he only wanted to have his revenge on you from that day. That's why I let him play you during the nationals. I was confident he has gotten so much stronger that he would defeat you, get over the past and finally forget about you. But he didn't. Rather, your match only made him realize how much he actually loves you."
Yukimura's grasp became tighter, crinkling the piece of Tezuka's shirt under his palms even more. He stopped speaking; his breaths were sharp and short, shaky too, so as his hands. Slowly, his fists loosened its grip on the Seigaku buchou's school uniform.
Tezuka was beyond his limit. Lost were his senses and self control that his body, yet again, moved on its own and he found himself cupping and lifting Yukimura's face. He kissed the skin under his left eye, sucking lightly and tasting the tears that streamed down the blue-haired captain's pale white flesh. He did the same thing under Yukimura's right eye.
"Te-Tezu—" Before the blunette could protest, Tezuka planted a soft kiss against his slightly parted lips.
The softness of his lips, the scent of his warm breath, and the taste of his tongue that had sneaked its way inside his mouth… nothing was new to Yukimura. And this familiar sensation only brought back memories he never wished to remember. It was that steamy night of sinful pleasures and regrettable mistake.
With Tezuka Kunimitsu himself.
Quite short for an opening chapter but I hoped it piqued your interests.
Nope, (spoiler alert) Tezuka won't end up with Yukimura. Darn, they don't even have a ship name to begin with! And you can see from my username who my bias is, haha.
On the next chapter, we will have a flash back on "that" steamy night. Not much of a lemon yet, so please don't expect.
Reviews are highly appreciated!
