wingless crimson presents
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Title: What Hurts the Most
Category: Prince of Tennis/Tennis no Oujisama (belongs to Konomi)
Type: Set Canon time (Sort of)
Genres: Romance/Drama
Rating: T
Summary: feat. Tezuka Kunimitsu x Fuji Syusuke When Tezuka gets a girlfriend, Fuji wonders whether or not he has waited too long.
N.O.T.E.S.
I'm unable to stay away from writing Atobe x Fuji, so here's to them ). This chapter was really fun, please have a good read!
-wingless (02-17-07)
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II
Playing Fake
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Why a number he had never worked up the courage to call was speed dial five on his cell phone, Fuji would never know. His father's phone was one, Yuuta's two, Yumiko's three, Tezuka's four, Atobe Keigo's…five.
Of course, now that he thought about it, Fuji supposed it made sense, he had never called Tezuka's phone either. Never needed to, at school, genius or not, he always managed to say a word too many in Tezuka's presence.
Atobe, I don't know why I'm calling you but…
"Hello?"
Fuji sighed and lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. "…Hello, is this Atobe?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then something like a snort, "No, it's Kabaji speaking, actually. Who's this?"
"…Atobe, it's um, Fuji," Fuji suddenly wished that he hadn't called, "From Seigaku. You gave me your number a few months ago…" He trailed off.
"…When I said I liked you, yes. I gave you my number, Fuji from Seigaku." If anything, Atobe sounded supremely amused. "I've been wondering if you would ever call."
"…Still mad at me, Atobe?" If Atobe was, Fuji realized he wasn't going to be too surprised, he only rejected Atobe's proposal in front of the whole Hyotei tennis club.
"No, not so much. I've got Jiroh now, remember?" Atobe's smirk could clearly be heard. "…But to think you would call me…why did you call me? Could it be that the Great Wall himself has rejected your feelings, after all this time?"
"How poetic of you." Fuji couldn't quite muster a laugh. "Don't call Tezuka a wall. Just because he was a wall to you doesn't mean he's always a wall."
"I suppose he is a softie in front of you. Shall I call him a statue instead then? A damn good-looking one, at that?" Atobe tried again.
Fuji bit his lip and said nothing.
"…Fuji?"
"I didn't tell him anything." Fuji closed his eyes, feeling the back of his eyes grow hot, "He rejected me anyway…I don't even know why I'm calling you."
"How can he--" Atobe cut off abruptly, "…Who is it? If you say that freshman brat, I'll die of laughter."
"How drastic. No, unfortunately, you can't die yet." Fuji reached for a nearby blanket, "I don't think Echizen swings that way, besides, I would have killed myself already, if it was him."
"How drastic of you." Atobe said wryly, "…Who is it then?"
"…Some girl, captain of the debate club, or so I've been informed." Fuji hoped his voice was calm. "Her name is Kazuki Yuya, and from my sources, she is an accomplished girl."
"…More accomplished than the genius himself? You seem to speak very highly of her." A pause, "…And how do you know Tezuka swings that way? You don't seem the type to delude yourself."
"Don't mock me, Atobe, I'm not in the mood." Fuji almost snapped, but not quite, he had no strength left. "…Anyone can swing that way, if I try hard enough. Including you, I might add."
"Moi?" There was a sort of choking noise at the other end. "…For your information, it is Ore-sama's original philosophy that beauty can be found in anyone, regardless of gender. What do you have to do with it?"
"…I made you like me, didn't I?" Fuji asked. "As fond of one night stands as you may be, I wasn't just that whimsical to you, was I?"
It was Atobe's turn to be silent, after a long break, he said, "…Do you want me back?"
"I want Tezuka back, Atobe." Fuji shot back, perhaps a bit too sharply.
"You've never had him." Atobe said calmly. "I'm sure there are times where you came close, Fuji, but you can't have everything. This is coming from me, so you've better believe it."
Fuji laughed then, but it was bitter laugh, "Of course, if the Great Narcissist himself succumbs to such a fate, then I suppose I better. Sometimes I wish I did want you. Things would be so much simpler…things would be, I don't know, not so screwed up, maybe."
"Of course I have to succumb to it." Atobe scoffed, "But it's nice to know your alter ego would most definitely be in love with me."
Fuji thought about snapping at him, but he just sighed. "It's all my fault too…I told him to tell the person that he liked how he felt. That he wouldn't regret it…I really thought it was me." He wiped a hand across his eyes, not at all surprised that the back of his hand was damp. "I'm such an idiot."
"Maybe it was you." Atobe offered blandly. "But he's a wall, so he finds it easier to show emotion towards individuals less complex than you. He doesn't know how to tell you. So maybe he's dating another person to get your attention."
"Like you with Jiroh?"
"Sort of, it worked, didn't it? You called me."
"Tezuka wouldn't do that to me." Fuji sat up again, indignant, "He is nowhere as egotistic and rude as you are. He wouldn't do that." He wiped his eyes again, his hand was damper the second time. "I'm so fucked."
"Fuji, can I come over?"
Fuji let out a long breath he wasn't aware of holding, "Yes...please."
"Atobe." Fuji stared down at his giant bowl of mollusks, with an expression of delicate distaste. "…I'm already miserable; having an upset stomach to top it off would be just grand."
Atobe raised an eyebrow, "Mollusk stew is very good, the trademark of this oyster saloon. Try it."
"This is not making me feel any better." Fuji picked up his fork and twiddled it between his fingers. "Does Jiroh know about this?"
"Yeah, I told him." Atobe said noncommittally. "He was all right with it."
"What did you tell him?"
"That you were depressed and needed cheering up. Something that only a person of my standing could administer." Atobe paused to take a sip of mineral water. "That's true enough, isn't it?"
"Poor Jiroh."
Atobe picked up a mollusk with his own fork and inserted it most inconspicuously into his mouth, "Don't worry; he was half asleep when I told him."
"What a caring boyfriend you are." Fuji shook his head. "…Does Hyotei have a debate club?"
"…Yes, of course it does." Atobe eyed him strangely, "Why?"
"Is the captain of the debate club a girl?"
Atobe's eyes widened in understanding, he dropped his fork, "Yes, it is, you twisted, perverted bastard. Don't do what I'm thinking you're about to do. That's just sick."
"I have to." Fuji didn't meet his gaze. "This is Tezuka's game, he is playing fake with me. So I have to play along. What is she like?"
Atobe made a face. "I still think that's disgusting. And you know, Ore-sama doesn't think that often."
"Answer me."
"I don't know her well." Atobe sighed in defeat, "But…from what sources tell me, Asahi Kira is a senior, and a self-declared nerd of sorts. And she is…shall I say, most fortunately single? On your part at least."
"…Does she look like a nerd though? Tezuka's girlfriend models." Fuji pressed him. "I can't have mine looking like a freak."
Atobe's features paused, and they finally settled uneasily on an expression of mild disbelief. "...Tezuka's girlfriend models? And…Fuji, what just came out of your mouth only succeeded in further disgusting me."
"Forgive me." But Fuji was sure that he didn't sound the least bit sorry. "But is she?"
"Oshitari has complimented her on her legs on occasion. That should be enough for you." Atobe smirked, though it had a strange edge to it.
"Oshitari is a pervert and a copycat." Fuji made a face.
"At the moment, I think you're more of a pervert than him." The smirk slid promptly off the carefully constructed visage, convincing Fuji that Atobe meant what he said.
"I don't have choice. I will play fake if it makes him happy. I'll do anything to make Tezuka happy." Fuji stared down at the silken tablecloth. "But, Atobe, you will help me right?"
"Tell you what, tomorrow, after tennis practice, Jiroh and I and you and Asahi will go on a double date. I'll even announce it in Tezuka's face myself. But that really doesn't stop me from feeling revolted" Atobe said.
"Just for that, I'll try a mollusk for you." Fuji was at last able to smile again, although it was painful beyond anything.
"Ne, Eiji, I know it's my turn to supervise the freshmen, but could you do me a favor and watch them today?" Fuji kept his voice soft, since he knew the more confidential he made the matter seem, the more inclined Kikumaru Eiji would be to tell people.
"Sure, nya." Eiji said, "Why? Are you going somewhere?"
"Well…" Fuji dragged out the word carefully, "I have a date. Right after practice. With Atobe and Jiroh."
"You have a date with Atobe and Jiroh? Like…a threesome??" But then again, Eiji could be a bit too enthusiastic, even though Fuji had to admit, the sentence came out wrong. But it worked; everyone was staring at them now, Tezuka included.
"Shh, Eiji, not so loud." Fuji admonished him half-heartedly, "No, not a threesome, my girlfriend's going to be there too." The words tasted like acid on his tongue, how he managed to smile while saying it, he would never know.
"What?? You have a girlfriend too?" Eiji looked like Christmas had come early, "First Tezuka and now you…and you're dating someone from Hyotei?"
"You know, Kikumaru, you needn't look so surprised, there was a 75 percent chance of that happening. Didn't I already tell you that?" Inui sounded amused. When Inui sounded amused, many quaked.
"You did? Well, I forgot, sorry." Kikumaru gave a lopsided grin.
Kazuki Yuya made her now ritualistic descent to Tezuka's side. Fuji watched her carefully out of the corner of his eye. Beautiful girl, Tezuka Kunimitsu's girlfriend. He hated her more than ever.
"Hey, Tezuka." With leaden steps, Fuji approached the pair.
"Yes?" Tezuka looked at him. Kazuki did too. But Fuji made it a point to not look at her.
"See? I told you. Telling someone, isn't that painful." Fuji said, "I told someone too. And now we both have girlfriends that are both captains of the debate club. Life's good again." A lie. And by the look in Tezuka's eyes, the captain knew it too.
"Fuji-san! Come on!" A girl ran up to him, breaking the tangible apprehension between genius and wall. "Atobe's waiting for us, he's going to get pissed if we don't come soon."
Asahi Kira. Fuji's girlfriend. A girl he had never met until now. It was a tear-worthy thought, Fuji looked at Tezuka again.
See what I've become?
But obviously Atobe had done some groundwork, because she was acting as if she knew him. Fuji mustered a faint smile. "…Oh, okay. Come on then." He took her hand, and the first thing that came to mind was that their hands didn't fit.
"Nya, Fuji, your girlfriend's pretty too! And now I want one!" Eiji crossed his arms and gave a childish pout.
Asahi smiled a vague smile.
"You will, Eiji, just give it some time." Fuji said, laughing, because if he didn't, he was sure he was going to start tearing up, "Well then, Tezuka…"
Tezuka took Kazuki's hand, mirroring Fuji's own movement. He almost smiled, though Fuji was sure no one else could tell. And his eyes told a different story. "…Have fun."
Fuji's smile slipped, but he turned away before Tezuka could see. Playing fake was more painful than he thought.
"I trust you two have met." Atobe was at the wheel, "But in case you haven't, allow me. Asahi, this is Fuji, and vice versa." He turned to poke the sleeping Jiroh, "Fuji's here, don't you want to say hello?"
"Hi, Fuji." Jiroh rubbed his eyes, "I'm really sleepy right now. Atobe said he'd take us out for ice cream."
Jiroh always made him laugh, but today, Fuji couldn't muster a single chuckle. "Atobe, don't act like this is a game."
"But it is." Atobe returned airily, "You said so yourself yesterday."
Fuji sighed, and turned to the girl, who was gazing intently at him, "…So, um." The whole situation was suddenly awkward, "I suppose…thank you for earlier. You're probably not used to dating strangers…" He trailed off.
"You're not either." Asahi said calmly.
"…No, I guess I'm not." Fuji shook his head. "I'm usually not so terrible, Asahi. But I won't ask you to believe that. Because I'm still all around a terrible person."
"…Well, that's great way to start a date, Fuji." Atobe smirked as he pulled away from the curb, "Telling your girlfriend that you're a terrible person. No wonder Tezuka's scared of you."
"Shut up, Atobe. Tezuka knows I'm a terrible person." Fuji said.
Asahi touched his arm, "…Fuji-san, if you really were my boyfriend, and you cared about me, I couldn't care less if you really considered yourself a terrible person."
"But you're not. And I shouldn't be doing this." Fuji turned to the window.
Asahi dropped her hand, "But you are. Because you care about this Tezuka person. You are willing to do anything for him, even pretend something so extreme." She smiled, "I envy you for that, Fuji-san."
"Atobe, I'm miserable and I hate you." Fuji watched his house come slowly into view. "I hate you so much right now."
The car rolled to a gentle halt. Atobe didn't look at him, "You're a hard person to make happy, Fuji."
"Tezuka would make me happy."
"It is not in Ore-sama's power to gift-wrap Tezuka and give it to you for Christmas." Atobe laughed, "I wish I could, but I can't. Why do you hate me?"
"Because you told her everything! And now Asahi thinks I'm this lovesick pathetic…person. Why did you tell her everything?"
"I don't know. I just did. It just worked out that way. It was much easier to do things if she knew." Atobe didn't sound angry, just ever so slightly forlorn if Fuji listened hard enough, "She doesn't think you're pathetic, she envied you for wanting to go the extra mile for Tezuka." He smirked, "I know you're a sadist, but this is a bit overboard."
Fuji opened his mouth and then closed it again, he ran a finger along the windowpane. "I shouldn't snap at you. You're going the extra mile for me too." He smiled, "But you're happy with Jiroh, I can tell."
"I am." Atobe agreed, "Because he actually makes some sense to me…you don't make sense at all. I get tired." He started up the car once more, "…Good night."
Fuji stepped out of the car and waved until Atobe disappeared around the corner.
