Rating: T, might actually not change.
Disclaimer: I do not own POT or any of it's characters.
A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews, they made me soo happy! T_T
Updated earlier because updating all my stories in one day would look too meshed up. XD

Ah, and before anything...this is something that has been bugging me: Please do not PM me condemning me for making Tezuka and Fuji gay. I mean seriously, I at least give a fair warning in my summaries, if you still choose to read my stories, then that is your problem. And if it makes you feel any better, they are only gay for each other. ^_~

On to the story~ Italics = flashback.

Red

From the first time he had seen the other boy, he had always thought Fuji was a very beautiful person. He knew it was strange to have such feelings towards another boy, but that was how he genuinely felt; he couldn't help it. He had always pondered on this revelation. Had he confessed this to someone else they would be quick to judge him and conclude that he was strange for thinking that way. But he didn't care what others thought of him.

It was that simple.

He couldn't explain it. How could he? He couldn't describe him in just one word like "refined." He knew it was more that. But he was aware of one thing:

Fuji was different.

They first met during their first year and since then the smaller boy made it his duty - so to say - to know where Tezuka was and with whom. So it came to no surprise to him when Fuji one day confronted him about his shoulder injury. He didn't lie to him; he couldn't.

Fuji had seen right through him. He had seen what he tried to hide from others for months. Even their captain knew nothing about it, but what surprised him the most was the hurt look in Fuji's eyes.

An expression he had never before seen on the tensai. Anger mixed with hurt.

'Tell Buchou." The smaller boy said hesitantly.

"No."

Tezuka would have rather died than do that. He had always preferred things to be fair and square, trying to live life and play tennis in a way that wouldn't bring him shame. Confessing the truth to the captain would resolve in nothing but the team taking it easy on him...having that kind of unwanted 'help' would be nothing more than a disgrace to him.

"Fine, then I'll tell him."

"Don't mention one word about this to Buchou," he said in a firm voice.

Fuji shrugged his shoulders in exasperation. "You're always so stubborn..."

"Stubborn...?" he echoed.

"You have a one track mind, Tezuka," the smaller boy sighed, "but fine, I won't say a word."

He let a small sigh in relief, "Thank you, Fuji." Though he hadn't known the tensai any more than he knew his other teammates, he knew Fuji was trustworthy

It had been a year since then. Tezuka was now vice captain of the tennis club, while Fuji was a promising regular on the team. Some things hadn't changed about Fuji; he was rarely serious when playing a game, and he still wore a smile while on the courts. They both knew Tezuka wasn't as easily fooled as the others.

It didn't take long for the bespectacled boy to learn how to read Fuji. That mask was just a barrier built to keep others from getting too close to him. And Fuji, it seemed, had learned that Tezuka grew tired of the mask and simply dropped it when they were togeth--

THUMP.

"Tezuka! Take Fuji to the infirmary!"

"Hai, buchou." In a moment of carelessness he had missed sight of Fuji being struck down by one of Taka's overwhelming smashes on the opposite side of the courts. Walking towards the smaller boy he caught sight of a nervous - and close to tears - Taka repeatedly apologizing to Fuji. The latter tried to brush it off and reassure Taka that he was okay, but Tezuka knew better, he could sense the tensai wincing in pain. He unknowingly stared down at the tensai's swollen ankle. It looked bad.

And then he saw it. Fuji's hand was covered with blood, most likely resulting from the impact and Taka's smash.

Without so much a word he pulled the tensai to his feet, sliding the latter's right arm around his neck.

"Get back to work!" He hollered at the - suddenly growing - crowd.

"Tezuka....I can walk on my own, thank you..."

Not paying mind to the other boy's word, Tezuka continued walking towards the school infirmary, ignoring the gawking eyes.

Inside the infirmary, the two boys were completely silent. Or rather, they wanted to talk, but couldn't find the words. Fuji did not make any effort to talk to him, or even glance at him; he just kept still while Tezuka wrapped up his injured ankle.

"Um...Tezuka..."

"Yes?" he asked, surprised Fuji had suddenly decided to speak.

"Thank you for your help."

He noticed the smile on the tensai's face. It was genuine, a real smile. He couldn't help but smile back. Staring at the tensai he realized how Fuji's long, chestnut colored hair seemed so smooth and silky. His fingers were almost itching to caress it.

He sucked in a breath as Fuji's face came even closer to his own. He could smell the younger boy's cologne. But wait, no, it wasn't cologne, it was something more natural, something he couldn't identify completely but knew was the tensai's own unique scent, a scent that reminded him of apples.

Fuji was still so close, his eyes were like dim but still-glimmering blue diamonds. And they were only distanced by a few inches.

"We should go back..." Fuji whispered. Tezuka felt his warm breath against his ear, sending shivers up his spine.

"Yeah..."

He didn't want to think about how fast his heart was beating at that moment, or how Fuji had suddenly avoided eye contact with him.

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Shameless advertising...

Buchou's Handbook: A fic I'm working on celebrating Tezu and Atobe's b-day which is coming up soon, yay~!

Preview- Buchou's Handbook:

1. You know your tensai is plotting something, something big. What do you do to reprimand him?

A. Make him run 100 laps around the courts until the furthest thing from his mind is plotting anything against you, your team, or in a worst case scenario another team?

B. Kiss him senseless, until the only thing on his mind is you?

"Ne...Tezuka..." Fuji gasped for air "should we be doing this in the club house?" he asked smirking.

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I swear it's not crack! Okay, maybe a tiny tiny bit...^_^

Reviews are always loved~! :3 Cookie to whoever guesses the red here! (kinda obvious though, ne?) :3