A/N: Chapter 2/5 , less angsty (more lengthy) than the first one. Enjoy :)
The Final Countdown
Day 4, Memories.
His doorbell rang.
Tezuka hastily dressed himself and ran for the door. He had just finished showering and cursed inwardly, wondering who it possibly could be to have guts to visit him so early. Contrary to popular beliefs, the ever-so-responsible boy could be very moody in the early morning, mostly before having breakfast.
He opened the door unwillingly…and then it stroked him. A small figure was standing at his doorstep, smiling casually at him. "Fuji" Tezuka greeted him.
"Good morning, Tezuka" the boy beamed. "I figured you'd be awake at this hour" he joked, and helped himself inside.
"You're early" the taller boy simply said, not sure if he was supposed to be happy or mad.
Fuji simply smiled back -just like he forever did-, and for a brief moment Tezuka was sure he saw a sorrowful edge to the smile.
Right, he reminded himself. Today was day four. In not so long, the small boy would be leaving for good… but somehow, Tezuka couldn't bring himself to imagine the tensai disappearing forever and he felt guilty for not even feeling sadness...for now, that is. His damned mind subconsciously refused to register any information concerning Fuji's… departure.
Shaking his head, Tezuka discarded all negative thoughts away; what matters the most right now was that Fuji enjoyed himself to the fullest. It was his promise, and he was resolved to keep it.
Tezuka mentally warned himself to never let his guard down, for the prodigy wasn't easy to please. –And the last word the stoic boy would use to describe himself would be 'pleasing'.
"What do you want to do today?" Fuji asked him cheerfully.
Tezuka seriously wondered how the brunet could bring himself to smile when he clearly knew he had not long to live, but restrained from asking. Instead, he truthfully answered that he didn't plan anything for the day.
"Then shall we just eat breakfast together for the time being? I'll cook of course" the small boy offered.
Tezuka flinched. He recalled the last time he ate Fuji's cooking –it was 6 years ago, during a camp trip- that was supposedly made especially for him, he had his nose on fire for the rest of the day. The former buchou wondered how the heck Fuji hid a fairly large amount of wasabi in his sunny-side-up… Then again, it was the tensai Fuji Syuusuke we are talking about, what can he not do?
Fuji smirked. It seems like his cooking skills have left a strong impression on Tezuka… and he was flattered the stoic boy still remembered the 'incident'. And now, he was one step closer to getting what he wanted.
"Please," Fuji pleaded, "I promise it will be eatable this time. Besides," he hesitated slightly before continuing in a softer tone, "…it might be the last time you have to eat it anyways. I'll be leaving you alone in a short while."
"Don't say such things" Tezuka harshly hissed, pained at the sight of a sad Fuji. He opened his mouth to add something else but soon found out he had nothing to say.
Fuji smiled at Tezuka's concern. "Is that a yes?" He tried not to sound too triumphant.
The bespectacled man sighed. Will he ever be able to say no to the pleading voice of this prodigy? "I'll be changing in my room" it was his own way of expressing defeat.
Fuji threw him a dazzling smile. "Thank you! I promise I won't let you down."
Resisting a sudden urge to embrace the over-excited boy in front of him, Tezuka simply nodded and headed upstairs. For some unknown reason, the enthusiasm Fuji emits was getting to him and he already forgot why his old friend was here in the first place.
oOOooOOo
Tezuka eyed the food. If he was surprised the pancakes and eggs looked normal, he definitely didn't show it. He stared a while longer before bringing the tiniest piece of his sunny-side-up to his mouth and chewed, waiting for the end of the world.
"So…?" Fuji asked intently. "I hope it meets your standards because it took me more than I could handle to not put any hot sauce in your meal" he teased.
Tezuka blinked. Apparently, he was still alive…
It was only then did he realize Fuji was leaning over the table, watching him a little too intently.
"It's…quite good" he finally managed to speak. His voice was his old monotone one, but his eyes betrayed him and clearly showed disbelief.
Fuji chuckled wholeheartedly –such a pleasant sound, Tezuka surprised himself thinking. "I can cook well when I feel like it" the genius admitted.
"Aah, it seems so."
"Of course! How else do you think I can hide wasabi in your eggs?"
Putting it that way, it makes quite some sense, the taller boy thought.
The rest of the meal proceeded in a comfortable silence.
oOOooOOo
"What now?" Tezuka asked. It was nearly eight when they finished eating and clearing the tables.
"I'm not sure… I suppose we should go out?"
"Where to?"
"Hmm… surprise me." Fuji giggled at Tezuka's lost expression. The former made a mental note to always be the one escorting if he ever went out with that clueless idiot.
But then again, he probably never will. A bitter smile formed up his lips at the idea of Tezuka having a loving wife and a happy family running after him. Well, as long as Tezuka was happy, Fuji couldn't care less whether he was the source of it or not.
Tezuka stood up and headed for the door. Curious, Fuji followed him and together they walked in silence until they reached a nearby park.
"Close your eyes" the ex captain commanded using his all-mighty tone.
"Eh?" Fuji was caught off guard but he did as he was told and let darkness fill his vision.
And then a warm hand covered his, gently pulling him forward. An electrical shock ran through him at the sudden physical contact. Fuji was about to protest but finally decided against it. Instead, he gave Tezuka's hand a light squeeze and pulled himself closer.
Tezuka was glad Fuji had his eyes closed, for he felt an abrupt rush of blood spread through his cheeks. He wasn't uneasy; it was the unknown feeling of pleasure that filled him that embarrassed him deeply. It was almost impossible how Fuji's small hand fitted perfectly in his large ones and he was enjoying his friend's presence more than what he considered reasonable.
They both silently wished the moment could last longer, both knowing it was beyond stubborn to think that way. It was only reluctantly that Tezuka let go of Fuji's small hand when they arrived at destination.
"Open your eyes, Fuji, we're here."
Slowly, the tensai uncovered his rarely seen blue orbs and contemplated their surrounding. A sincere smile traced up his lips and tears were threatening to fall.
Before him was his once-upon battlefield and above them danced a million sakura petals. A soft wind picked up, sending those infinite pink dancers swirling in harmony before landing soundlessly on the cold earth. Fuji inhaled deeply and the sharp scent of a freshly cut grass filled his lungs. Everything was too familiar.
The smaller boy glanced up at Tezuka, who also seemed to be caught in the moment. Both of them stared straight, looking at nothing in particular, just enjoying the silent presence of the other.
Fuji was, as usual, the one who spoke first. "This is where we first met, eight years ago" he tried to keep his voice even, free from all the sentiments flowing inside him.
"Ahh" was all answer Tezuka provided, and it was enough.
"It brings back memories…" Fuji purposely left the sentence hanging. He detached his cerulean orbs from the scenery and landed them on his friend. They flew open as he saw Tezuka smile.
"It does."
oOOooOOo
For how long did they stand there unmoving will forever remain a mystery. It could be an instant as much as a whole day. It didn't matter, either way. At that precise moment, both of them were brought back on that day where sakura petals filled the air, where everything else disappeared into the background, where only they existed for the sake of the other. It almost felt like a dream, so surreal yet so warming. Tezuka could still hear a young Fuji's voice call out his name, and how right it felt right then and there.
'Tezuka-kun.'
Said boy turned to find a short honey-haired youth standing in front of him, arms behind his back. He recognized him at once.
"Ehh… you were… Fuji-kun right? Do you need something?"
"I thought I'd help you" the smaller freshman smiled and ran to get a broom.
"Stop! This is my punishment. If you help me you'll get scolded too…"
"It's all right. If you get scolded, then lets all get scolded."
Glancing at Fuji, Tezuka only realized how much gentleness this boy had brought him. Contemplating him now, the taller boy realized just how much he had grown. His once girlish looks were now replaced by beautiful, almost angelic features –quite the irony, he thought and felt a smile creep up his face.
That was when he caught a single droplet of tear sliding down Fuji's cheek.
Only then did Tezuka remember why they were here in the first place. He wanted to smack himself hard on the figure for forgetting something so important and blamed everything on Fuji's deceiving smile. How could he possibly forget Fuji was going to leave him in three days?!
"Fuji…" he called softly, as if afraid to startle him.
"You don't know how much I will miss all this." Fuji said sadly, his eternal smile plastered on his face.
That's when something inside Tezuka snapped. The image of his every memory he shared with Fuji shattered in a million pieces. Every smile, every tear, every touch, all crumbled down, gone. Just as the tensai will, soon.
He swallowed down his pride and once again gripped Fuji's hand inside his. When the latter threw him an half embarrassed and half confused look, he just stared down. It was his own way of showing he didn't want to let go of his precious past and it didn't matter whether Fuji understood it or not. He definitely wasn't going to explain if the latter asked though.
And Tezuka was grateful his friend did understand for he did not ask any questions and simply walked along side him. Oh how he was glad they had their valuable unspoken relationship… how lovely it was simply Fuji who was with him.
A small knot formed in Tezuka's stomach. Will he be enjoying himself as much if it was someone else? Will he actually devote so much effort if it was, for exemple, Echizen who came running to him? Not daring to look at Fuji for fear his face was heat up, he simply walked in front, towards nowhere precisely. 'Day dreaming wasn't of his liking' he once said, and now he really wished it were as easy to do as he made it sound.
oOOooOOo
"Where are we going?" Fuji finally dared to ask after a good twenty minutes of walking.
He waited and when no answer satisfied his curiosity he concluded it was either because Tezuka wanted to surprise him or he had no idea where he was heading himself and Fuji decided the last one was more probable. A sigh and then a mocking giggle resounded. The truth was that the stoic boy was embarrassed holding the tensai's hand in public. How Tezuka-like, the smaller man thought. But then again, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be able to hold The Tezuka Kunimitsu's hand in front of everyone to see and a simple 'embarrassment' wasn't a good enough reason for him to let go.
Fuji thought he could die with no regret now. Quite a harsh thing to think at such a moment, he laughed sheepishly. Whatever, he already received beyond what he could ever wish for anyway.
And then, a little too soon, Tezuka retrieved his hand from Fuji's who masked his discontentment with a questioned smile.
"We have to do a little bit of mountain climbing" the taller boy informed.
Fuji blinked. Browsing his surrounding, he found himself in what seemed a small…wood. And yet he was sure they were downtown a minute ago…
"I found this place last winter" Tezuka explained the unvoiced question. "I thought we could come climbing here since it isn't too far from my house."
"This hill is quite…abrupt." Fuji acknowledged. "I'll admit it's my first time climbing something so irregular, so I might be inexperienced."
"I'll guide you."
"You always do, Tezuka" another melancholic smile and then in a more delicate tone, "you always did and always will. Even when I will be gone." The last part was a mere whisper.
"Don't say irrational things." Tezuka knew he wasn't to hear the final sentence.
A regretful smile apologized and they started ascending the mountain.
oOOooOOo
"Ah!" Fuji slid down a few centimeters, sending small rocks rolling down the cliff before coming to a halt.
"Fuji?" Tezuka immediately looked back, not even bothering to hide his sudden distress. He relaxed when a little laugh reached him.
"Don't worry buchou. I just let my guard down for a second" the honey-haired youth teased.
"Aah. Please bear it for a while longer. We are almost there."
Fuji nodded and Tezuka was too hurrying to notice how hard Fuji was trying to breathe.
oOOooOOo
When they finally arrived on top, Fuji freely collapsed on the ground trying to catch his breath. Apparently Tezuka had forgotten he was nearing his deathbed and so he simply nodded in defeat when the latter gave him his you-haven't-been-working-out glance.
Tezuka settled beside him and he quickly sat up, looking at the crimson colored sky in awe. (Fuji was too caught up with looking at where he set foot to notice how late it was.)
In front of them was the most beautiful sunset they have ever seen. The scenery in itself was nothing near extravagant and we could even describe the landscape as plain. But the simple fact it was Tezuka and Fuji together made the present moment a magical one.
The tired boy's breathing finally became even and he could now inhale the sweet scent of wild flowers. He bothered himself in watching the celestial star majestically set to prepare the world for another big day.
And slowly the silent night drained mother earth from its colors. The shining stars one by one claimed their original place on the never ending dark sky. A chilly breeze ran through Tezuka's hair and he decided it should be time to head back.
Thud.
The taller boy turned his head to see his friend lying unconscious on his shoulder…asleep.
"Nn… I'm glad… zuka…" Fuji mumbled.
Tezuka sighed. A little longer then.
--To be continued--