A/N: This is a bit AU in the fact that Tezuka never goes to Germany, not to mention that some of the backgrounds and family situations of the characters are completely made up by me.

They are older in this story than in the manga/anime, but they are still in the same school. Just pretend Ryoma was really 15 when he entered Seigaku, ok? That puts Fuji at age 18 and Tezuka at age 17 in this story.

YES Fuji is older than Tezuka, by almost a year. Deal with it.

I think I heard someone say the typical Japanese school year starts in February. Sorry if that's wrong, but that's the way this story is written. The prologue takes place early March, so the school year has just started.

There is an OC in this story, but I PROMISE she will disappear after a few chapters. She's NOT a Mary-Sue. She's kind of important to the plot though.

Disclaimer: Deliriun does not own Tennis no Ohjisama, Konomi Takeshi-san does. Deliriun owns a Mizuki-plushie which she punishes daily with voodoo-pins.

Once you get to the story, text in italics will be either thoughts or simple emphasis. I think you'll be able to tell which is which.

I have no beta, so don't kill me because my spelling/grammar is weird.

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Prologue

Tezuka seemed like a cold person to those who didn't know him, but Fuji did know him. Tezuka hid behind his cold mask because he felt it was expected of him and, in a way, as a measure to protect himself. The first time Fuji talked to Tezuka he had seen this, because it was so similar to the way he himself behaved. Over the years Fuji and Tezuka had formed an odd sort of friendship. It was in no way close and cuddly like the one Eiji shared with Oishi, nor was it based on grudging respect, like the one of Kaidoh and Inui. It was a friendship of never spoken words. They never studied together, as neither of them needed any help in academics anyway. They didn't go out for ice-cream together, like Oishi and Eiji and they didn't train together, like Inui and Kaidoh. They hardly ever spoke during the day, and during practice all they did was stand next to each other, sometimes exchanging comments on the form of the people training. They were complete opposites and yet so very much the same. After practice Fuji would at times wait for Tezuka, usually for no reason, after which they would walk together home in silence. They would say goodbye with soft nods to one another, and know without speaking that the other would be at school the next day to continue their quiet friendship. Tezuka would reproach Fuji for his lack of commitment to anything, and Fuji would tease Tezuka in his ever sadistic ways, but they didn't really need words because they both knew each other better than they really should. And yet…

"You're not going to say anything?" His voice was soft, questioning. Tezuka stared at him, whatever emotions he may be feeling hidden behind that ever flawless mask he always wore. Fuji sighed and put on his own mask, the counter to Tezuka's stoic one, his fake smile.

"Maa Tezuka, one would think a confession of love would at least render you speechless… Oh wait a minute…" he joked.

"If that was all you had to say, Fuji." Tezuka stood from his earlier seated position on the locker-room bench and turned towards the door. Fuji opened his eyes in shock.

"You don't believe me, is that it? You think I'm playing some trick on you?"

Tezuka didn't answer.

"Tezuka…"

"Fuji, I suggest you stop," Tezuka didn't turn to face him, but rather spoke to the door. "This will be uncomfortable enough as it is."

"Uncomfortable…? I just want you to know how I feel. If you don't return my feelings just tell me so. I'll back off, you know I will." Fuji's smile was back on, as brilliant and fake as ever. Tezuka didn't move for a minute, then seemed to come to a decision.

"Fuji, I won't believe what you just told me because in the years I've known you, the times when you have been serious about something can be counted on one hand. This is another of your schemes in hope of gaining something which you will later use for blackmail or something similar, and I will not stand for it this time. Find yourself another victim, preferably someone outside Seigaku." He walked to the door and opened it. He hesitated for a brief moment then stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

Fuji stood staring at the door, not quite believing what had just happened. He felt… Empty. Tezuka was the one who understood him better than anyone else, with the exception of Yuuta and possibly Yumiko. He acted cold, but Fuji could always see through that. This time though, Tezuka hadn't just been cold. He had been cruel. And Tezuka was never cruel. Fuji suddenly noticed his hands were shaking.

Am I really so despicable? Maybe I'm wrong about my feelings. Maybe he's right. Maybe I'm really only looking to embarrass him. Or maybe I've misunderstood something in all of this. I thought I loved him but I could be wrong. I could be wrong. Couldn't I? Can't I? Please, I don't want this now. This hurts. Tezuka thinking something like that about me hurts. He knows me so well though, he would be right about something like this. He would be right. I really am despicable.

Fuji didn't know how he had ended up on his knees on the floor, but he didn't really care either. His entire body was shaking now. He felt something wet on his face, but he refused to think he was crying. He smiled. As long as he smiled everything would be alright. It was a lesson he had learned as a child. Smiling would make it all better. Smiling was his daily comfort.

He vaguely heard his cellphone give off a beep. He unsteadily made his way to his feet and over to his bag, fishing out the phone. It was just a message from a girl he had gotten to know some weeks earlier, called Kyosumi Takako. She wasn't really a friend, or girlfriend for that matter, they had just gone out for some innocent (though Fuji had a lot of fun teasing her by making it not-so-innocent) dancing a few times. She had a cute blush. Fuji looked over the message. She wondered if he was free tonight. Seemed she had a fight with her family. Fuji stared straight ahead with dead eyes. Thoughts were running through his head at an alarming speed, but then again that was not unusual. The thought that finally stuck however, was.

Fuji slowly clicked through his address book, finding Takako's number. He pressed dial.

"Moshi, Takako-san? Maa, I'm fine, I just had something stuck in my throat. I'm free tonight. No that's alright, we can meet at the park as usual. I figured we'd do something else this time though. Well my family isn't home, but would you like to see my house?"

I really am despicable, aren't I?

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A/N (again!): Flames will be given to Howl to power his moving castle. He'll be happy, but I won't, I hate that damn castle! (I like Howl though, err…)

Review please!