Title: For the Last Time
Author: Diamondust
Characters: Tezuka/Fuji
Genre: Romance/Angst
Rating: PG
Summary: Unable to be together during their lifetime, Fuji now waited for his last chance to get a certainty from Tezuka
Warnings: Perfect Pair, slightly implied TezukaXOC and FujiXOC
Disclaimer: Characters owned by Takeshi Konomi.
Beta: a1y_puff

For The Last Time

Chapter 2

Fuji had never really loved tennis. He liked this game because it was fun and challenging. He didn't take it seriously when he won his first official as a child. He had never even thought of continuing his carrier in tennis either, but then he found out that Yuuta was fond of this game. Fuji had thought that it would be fun if he could play with his brother. That was why he decided to continue playing tennis. When he entered Seigaku, his teacher suggested him to apply in tennis club upon noticing Fuji's achievement in that sport thus far. Fuji had agreed then. Fuji never thought that his decision to apply would change his perception about human's relationships later.

"You are daydreaming, Fuji-san,"

That voice snapped Fuji back from his musings. Fuji smiled and apologized softly.

"Those must have been beautiful memories."

"Indeed," said Fuji sweetly. "Too beautiful, actually."

Especially the memories about him.

At the beginning, Fuji didn't expect anything when he entered the Seigaku tennis club. He had only thought of waiting for another year before he could play with his beloved brother in the club. His mind changed, though, from the first time his blue eyes met a pair of hazel ones behind a very elegance spectacles. Since the first time, Fuji knew that he was special. That boy was clever, diligent, and very responsible, yet stoic and reserved. His ability was far more superior to their seniors, but he had never shown it. The stoic youth had immediatly caught Fuji's interest. It had been in the middle of spring, between cherry blossom's petals which were falling slowly, a few days after their eyes met, Fuji greeted the stoic youth for the first time.

"Tezuka-kun…"

They were always together, their friends had once said.

At first, Fuji had just thought that Tezuka needed to have a friend, a close friend, perhaps. Being so reserved in such a young age was no fun at all. Tezuka had to realize that. That was why he decided to approach the stoic youth; he greeted him every morning and talked about random things to him at any possible chance. It was like a blessing when they become classmates in their second year. Naturally, they were getting closer. Soon, they had become close friends as Tezuka started to get used to Fuji's presence by his side. They had been attached to each other, completing each other, and built a very strong understanding between them. They had always been together, like a man and his shadow. Before they could realize, their understanding for each other had changed into needs and dependence. Their feeling had turned slowly into something forbidden

It was when they were about to walk home together after the final exams that everything was revealed. Fuji blamed it on their rather melancholic private conversation concerning graduation and separation. He cursed the damned teenage hormones which overwhelmed him as he couldn't bear the thought of separating from his best friend. In the corner of School yard, he could no longer control himself when his hands reached Tezuka's stoic face, and then cerulean eyes met hazel ones. There was silence after the confession. What he could remember after that was that their lips had finally locked and their tongues entangled with each other. No need for words to convey their true feelings toward each other. They were in a pure bliss until that thing called logic crashing in and smashed them hard to reality.

"We can't do this, Fuji."

"... I understand...."

"Maybe..," Tezuka paused for a while. "We need to wait."

Fuji let out a bitter chuckle. The infamous Seigaku's buchou still put his stoic face but Fuji could see the light within those hazel eyes were different. There were glints of uncertainty and doubts there. Fuji did not like awkwardness silence that enveloping them after.

"What for?"

"We need to see if these feelings hold true over time."

Fuji made another chuckle which sounded somewhat sweeter and lighter than before.

"Never count on erratic young love, ne, Tezuka?"

"Hn..."

Fuji's smile faltered as he fell silent. He could see the agonized look on Tezuka's face. The way he threw his gaze to the floor and how he drew a deep breath caused a tinge of pain somewhere in Fuji's chest.

"Is it because we're both male?" Fuji asked bitterly.

"We are still young."

Fuji sighed. "You know, I don't mind admitting I might be gay at such a young age."

"You are very open-minded."

"Tezuka, I love you." Fuji continued abruptly.

"Fuji, you are the best thing I've ever had."

"Does that mean you love me back?"

"…"

Fuji let out another sigh as no answer escaped from the other's lip.

"I see."

At least, you didn't resist the kiss. I'm glad you were the one who steal my first kiss. If time could slowly make things clear, then I wouldn't mind waiting.

"Did you find your love at school?"

Fuji snapped back to the present. His eyelids fluttering open. He looked at the guardians for a while before closing his eyes again. His smile was once again plastered on his face.

"I've found much love in my family and my friends. We cared for each other even years after our school days. We've managed to keep in touch and sent greeting to each other. Sometimes, we would have some reunions and visit each other. I was blessed to have them."

"Did you meet your spouse there?"

Fuji laughed lightly.

"I met my wife after I've settled with my job in my late twenties. She was a famous writer. We met for the first time in my photo exhibition. She was a pretty French lady, very kind and sweet with beautiful fingers. We got married three years after that." Fuji stopped for a while. "Maybe I should've thanked her more for everything that she had given to me. We've had nice memories and a happy family. She was a good wife and a perfect mother. I've always tried my best to make her happy, but I guess that would never be enough to pay for what she had done for me."

"Didn't you love her?"

"I...-"

Fuji was surprised he could not answer that question directly. It had always been easy for him to boast about how madly in love he was with his wife to everyone when he was alive. But now, he found that his tongue felt too numb to say those words.

Did I ever really love her?