A/n: Hey, thanks to all of you for reading the first part! Thanks to all the people, who reviewed! Love you, guys! That was the support I needed! It means a lot to me. –bows-

So, this is the first chapter here! Please, read and review! Tell me what you think, even if you think it's bad. I will gladly accept any kind of opinion! Thank you! :D

Sorry about my poor language and mistakes! –bows-

I do not own Prince of Tennis! I prefer loving it! :D

Notes:

"direct speech"

'thoughts'

"phone talking"


Chapter 1.

He was listening to a popular song of Mia Koto, while looking at some photos of the singer and the tennis legend, that he was provided with. He had lots of friends everywhere. He was the Fuji Syusuke. The one and only.

And he was afraid to meet Tezuka Kunimitsu. How ironic.

Actually his tries to find Tezuka were fertile. He felt terrible, almost useless. Time changes people. But what exactly did time do to Tezuka? That's a question.

After two days of useless searching, Fuji gave up. Nobody knew how to contact to the tennis player, no phone numbers or address. And his appearance in public was so rare that to catch him was an impossible mission. It seemed like Tezuka destroyed everything that connected him to the world. That was strange, but not for Fuji. There was only one person in the whole world he admired and feared the most. Tezuka. And he knew him.

This thought was spinning in his head again and again. He could never win against him, because he didn't even want. And he feared him, because… why? He was afraid to lose that 'something' they had. And he lost it. Now he was afraid to look at those dark eyes and to hear that deep voice. He was afraid of silence and of words. Everything.

"Otou-san!" loud child's voice rang through his cabinet, pulling him out of his thoughts. Fuji snapped his head and looked at the little brown-haired girl. She was wearing pink dress that matched her new shoes. She was holding a big teddy bear. "Hajime-san bought me a new dress! Do you like it?" she smiled.

Syusuke gazed at her and nodded. It hurt so much to see her. She was the identical copy of her mother.

"Hikaru, your father is busy", rustling voice came from the hall. "Don't interrupt him, please".

"Mizuki", Fuji hissed through his teeth.

"Sorry", she bowed sadly and ran away, trying to be as quiet as a mouse.

Mizuki came into the room and locked the door behind himself. His raven hair was neatly cut, so he couldn't play with his long locks, but his hand couldn't forget the habit. He touched his forehead and cursed in disappointment.

Fuji's eyes softened under his long fringe. His light-brown hair had grown longer and it gave him a chance to cover any emotion his smiling mask couldn't take over.

"She's your daughter, try to pay more attention to her!" Mizuki wrinkled his nose, while coming closer to Fuji's desk.

"Don't teach me", the brunette said indifferently. "Make children for yourself first."

That was harsh and he knew it. But still he couldn't keep in mind that Mizuki was a part of his family. He didn't even know how it happened, but… it was a long story.

"You're as insulting as usual", Mizuki commented, acting patiently. Fuji felt a lump in his throat. Apologizing was not his line when it came to Mizuki, but he was angry at himself for losing his calm. He was angry at his wife, who died, he was angry at Yuuta for choosing a stupid girl who used him, he was angry at Yumiko for being late and… He was angry at Tezuka.

Fuji sighed tiredly. Thinking is not the best thing indeed.

"Oh, Mia Koto and…" Mizuki took one of photos from the desk and looked at it intently. "Tezuka?" he lifted his brow. And then he laughed the way only he could.

"Stop it, what a terrible habit!" Fuji grabbed the picture from his hand.

"According to you, all of my habits are terrible!" black-haired man chuckled. The next moment he started coughing. It seemed that this coughing wouldn't stop. Mizuki bent, holding his stomach with left hand and covering the mouth with his right.

Fuji stared at him as if he was charmed. And instantly his eyes flew open, as a thin spurt of blood ran down the other man's palm.

"Hajime!" he screamed and ran to him.

"Stay where you are!" Mizuki commanded, while trying to take over his breathing. "It's alright, I'm fine."

Fuji gazed at him blankly. There were times he hoped it wasn't happening. But…

"What's your problem?" Mizuki asked, while wiping his mouth. He was back to normal. "Tezuka?"

"How do you know?" the brown-haired man lowed his head and returned to the chair.

"You're obvious, haha!" he laughed again. Definitely this man had no idea when to stop. "Every time you hear his name you pale! Whatever happened between you two, it really influenced on you!"

Fuji closed his eyes and smiled. Whatever happened… He was a successful journalist and a family man, he had to overcome his tezuka weakness.

"He hasn't changed at all," Mizuki continued his monologue. "He's perfect even for me", he smirked. "You've got a good taste."

"Don't you have something more important to do than to waste your precious time on me, Mizuki-chan?" Fuji grinned sweetly, pretending not to hear the last said sentence. He should never be weak and confused next to this guy, that's for sure.

Mizuki sniffed and turned to the door, but before he exited he paused and whispered playfully.

"Oishi-kun might know where your beloved is", a vase with roses in it that stood on the table flew up into the air and reached for the door just in time it was closed.

Fuji cursed. He let his guard down. He let Mizuki be too close to him and find out some of his secrets. The only thought that warmed him at the moment was that this guy would die sooner or later, so they'd be even.

He shook his head at this thought and cursed once again. He didn't wish for death, it was wrong. After all, Mizuki cared for Yuuta and for Hikaru. And for him too.

Fuji confidently took his mobile phone and found Oishi's number.

--

Oishi picked up at the second time, apologizing for being busy with his patients. His voice was tired and he panted as if he had just come from the evening training.

"Nice to hear you, Oishi!" Fiji greeted him in a sing-a-song voice.

"Me too", the man breathed out.

"Oh, do I interrupt something important?" sad intonation.

"No, no, I'm so glad you called!"

"Really?" one of Fuji's brows raised.

"Yes! I mean, well, Inui told me that this year he's going to gather all of us! Even Tezuka and Echizen!" It seemed like Oishi smiled. "You have to come too!"

"Saa, who knows…" the brown-headed man sang lightly, his voice was still as feminine as ever.

"FUJI! YOU'RE COMING WITHOUT ANY 'BUTS' AND 'WHO KNOWS'!!" the voice on the other side of the line changed into a load shouting. And this shouting belonged to one and only Kikumaru Eiji. "TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER AND MIZUKI WITH YOU, AND DON'T EVEN…" something fell with a crack, and it felt like lots of elephants ran into the hospital Oishi worked in. Fuji smiled. This guy would never change and grow up, but it was the best he could do for this world.

"Eiji, stop it, please!" Oishi cried, so Fuji had to cover his hurt ear. "This girl is immobile! You can't drive on wheelchairs! It's not permitted!"

"YAY! MIKO LIKES IT, NYAAAA…" Eiji's voice started to fade in the noise. This noise reminded laughing. Well, Eiji was always surrounded with laughter and happiness. He worked as a home teacher and couch in school and it suited him well.

"Eiji…"

"Oishi, one thing before you disappear in the chaos!" Fuji pleaded hopefully.

"Sure, I'm sorry! I'll call you later to talk about the details. What is it you wanted?" Oishi was always helpful.

"Tezuka. Do you know how to contact him?" he did it. It was a challenge to say this name aloud.

"Yes, I'll send you his numb…" the connection broke down.

Fuji looked at his phone and blinked. So, Eiji made storm in the hospital again. No one can stop him, especially when it comes to children. 'Hikaru would like to meet him.' He thought smiling.

It took Oishi five minutes to send a message in which he printed something that made Fuji wince.

he's not cold-hearted.

Two hours later…

It was almost midnight. Dark skies looked down at the Earth as if trying to scare people. It was raining.

Fuji had been sitting in his armchair motionlessly for two hours since he'd got Tezuka's phone number. He was looking blankly at the wall, and Oishi's words were spinning inside his head. Why did he write it? Fuji didn't need these words, nobody needed. And still it hit him. Of course, he knew that Tezuka was actually a kind and caring person, but too responsible and determined. And he never thought that his ex-captain was cold-hearted. He was just… just perfect, and any perfection needed a protection. His stoic unreadable mask was his protection. But Fuji was a genius and he could read through the lines. That's why he cursed himself. He should never read Tezuka, and maybe, they would still be friends.

He shook his head suddenly. Tezuka never said they're not friends. He never said they're friends either, but… It didn't matter for someone like Fuji. And now what was he so afraid of?

Syusuke clenched his fist and dialed the number that was given to him. He decided that after the fifth beep he would disconnect and leave everything for tomorrow. Mornings are wiser than evenings. It was really late, though he didn't care at the moment.

One.

Two.

'He might be sleeping. He's such a health freak.' Fuji thought with a smile.

Three.

Four…

"Hello." The voice said on the other side. Fuji gulped. He wasn't ready yet. However the sound of the voice was so pleasurable. Probably, nothing changed. Yes, nothing changed for Fuji Syusuke, he was crazy about that guy and he had no idea why. "You may speak if you have courage to call me this late." Stern voice continued.

"Tezuka…" Fuji breathed out and coughed. He was so stupid for calling; he was more stupid for agreeing to take this interview in the first place. "Sorry."

"Fuji." That was a sentence. He recognized him easily. The brown-haired man sighed in defeat.

"I would never become wealthy," he laughed lightly, trying to take over his self-control.

"Why is that?" Tezuka asked indifferently.

"Saa, they say that if your old friend hasn't recognized you, then you'll be a wealthy man," Fuji chuckled.

"You're wealthy enough, but If you want I can pretend I don't know who you are." That was somehow strange to hear from ever so stoic person, but it made Fuji excited. It made him smile wider and feel how much he missed his captain.

"Just joking, don't be serious Tezuka," he said playfully.

"I'm not."

"What do you mean?" this conversation grew long and somehow meaningless.

"I'm not serious, Fuji." a sigh was heard from the other side, and then something fell, but didn't break. "Who would be serious at this hour, especially talking to you?"

"I'm hurt!" Fuji pouted, though it was a fake. He couldn't blame Tezuka. And he was so happy that they were on speaking terms, as if nothing had happened between them. "I'm sorry for being late, but I… Tezuka, can we meet?" That was such a rapid question, but if you're dealing with Tezuka you had to be straight.

There was a pause, and Fuji held his breath for a while, and then.

"Tomorrow at five, you know where." The reply followed by the silence.

"Thank you." Syusuke smiled sadly. He knew the place… how ironic. The park with Japanese style garden inside that Tezuka admired a lot. He showed it to Fuji after they had won the Nationals. They didn't want to part that night, because the excitement they felt was too high. And they were best friends that night.

"Good night." The other line died quickly.

"Yes, good night to you…" Fuji said into the emptiness.

--


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