Title: Craze

Pairing: Eiji/Oishi

Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis, its story, nor characters.

Chapter Two: Tuesday

It was morning already. Eiji could tell because a sudden flicker of light crept through the blinds and swayed above his eyes. With one hand he pulled the bed sheets up over his head and squinted his eyes shut. He wanted to continue sleeping.

He'd had a sleepless night. It seemed that even his dreams were plagued with erotic scenes which woke him up constantly. If it wasn't that, then the hot feeling in his groin was always there to give him discomfort. He vowed not to touch himself while thinking about Atobe, Gakuto or Oishi, the thought repulsed him; but slowly as the morning hours had come closer Eiji had finally given in. The hot sensation, the stiffness of his thighs and trembling, weak legs could not last forever. He didn't want it too.

It felt awkward to hold his member in his hand; and stroke it with his fingers. He'd heard from Fuji that boys usually start at a young age. Therefore they don't understand that it's masturbating until later on. Eiji felt a little self-conscious. He knew what it was, and why you did it.

'Almost all boys masturbate,' Fuji said.

'I don't!' Eiji retorted truthfully.

'Of course you don't Eiji,' Fuji replied; but there was a smile on his face to show he thought otherwise.

'Hoi! You don't believe me! Honest Fuji, I'm honest!'

Fuji leaned in close to him and whispered, 'I bet Tezuka masturbates.'

'The Buchou! No way! He's way too serious!'

'Do you think I masturbate?' Fuji then asked. His face was so close to Eiji's now that the Acrobatic Player could feel his breath on his cheek. Eiji had been too embarrassed to reply; and ended up giggling.

Eiji's breaths came quickly and sharply. His movements were steady and firm as his hand moved between his legs, stroking and pushing rhythmically. The other hand gripped the bed sheets until his knuckles were pale. How had he missed out on this; this erotic feeling which came from masturbating? Eiji decided that Fuji was probably right about Tezuka. He then wondered if Oishi touched himself as well. The thought made him shudder, and whimper at the same time

'Oishi…' Eiji said softly into his pillow. It felt uncomfortable to say his name out loud; yet the word was screaming inside his head. 'Oishi…' he said again.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Eiji madly bolted upright in bed; his one hand still down his pants. The alarm clock had startled him. He'd thought it had been his phone, or a signal warning that someone was coming into his room. He took his hand from his groin with a mechanical flinch; suddenly realizing what he'd been doing. He'd gotten carried away for a moment there; so very carried away.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The hot feeling in his groin was slowly subsiding. It had been so intense only a moment before. If Eiji had gone any further he might have come while silently breathing Oishi's name. He gripped his hair and shook his head. Of all things he didn't want something like that to happen.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

'I'm not gay! I'm not gay!' he said as cheerfully as he could. Then pushed back his bed covers, turned off the alarm clock, and began getting ready for school and early morning practice.

It looked like it was going to be a bright and sunny day. There was not a cloud in the sky, and a crisp, refreshing wind traveled through the air. It was hard for Eiji to feel down as he made his way to school.

When he finally arrived at Seigaku Fuji, Inui and Kaidoh were already at the courts doing some warm up exercises. He was glad Oishi wasn't there yet. It gave him some time to get himself together, and figure out how to appear normal. He knew he'd have some trouble with it.

'Hoi! Hoi!' he said waving. 'Good games yesterday!' He did a V with his two fingers.

'Thank you, Eiji' Fuji replied with a smile.

Kaidoh simply grunted; shot Inui a glance filled with venom, and then looked away. They had been paired together for Doubles against Hyoutei; and had lost after making a good comeback. Eiji laughed nervously.

'You look tired Eiji,' Fuji commented, staring at his face. 'Didn't you sleep well?'

'Ah – I was really pumped up after yesterday's games; that's all! I didn't go to sleep quickly.' Eiji lied while smiling brightly.

'I see.'

It was then that Oishi showed up for morning practice. Eiji watched as he entered the courts; placed his bag against the fence and waved at everybody. He was looking well, Eiji thought, he was looking, very, very, good. He blushed and turned away.

'Well, I'll do some warm ups now!' he said a little too loudly, failing to return the smile that Oishi gave him. Eiji desperately wanted to talk to him; and ask about his sore wrist, but he couldn't look Oishi in the eye without feeling his cheeks redden.

Everybody noticed that Eiji was avoiding Oishi.

Tezuka didn't show up for morning practice that day, and he wasn't in school either. Everyone knew the reason was because of his elbow though. He'd gone down during the match against Atobe; after it had seemingly appeared that his elbow had completely healed. The Seigaku team was worried, especially Oishi and Fuji, but presently there was nothing they could do about it, except become stronger in his absence.

Ryuuzaki-sensei came down during afternoon practice and instructed them.

'Well done in the first round,' she said, 'but it doesn't end there. Hyoutei was strong but there are schools much stronger; and now that we have injured Regulars we're going to have to train hard. Oishi,' she turned to the Vice Captain, 'don't do anything that will put strain on your wrist today. In fact, I'd prefer it if you sat out completely.'

'I'll be fine,' he replied.

Eiji suddenly perked up, 'I want to practice doubles with Momo-chan!' he said loudly. There was silence for a while.

'Eiji…' Fuji breathed; but he was cut off.

'I don't see the harm in that,' Ryuuzaki-sensei replied, failing to see the sudden tension in the air. 'Oishi, you understand that I don't want you to get injured any further.'

'Uh – yes,' he replied, nodding. He could only watch as Eiji walked onto the court with Momoshiro.

'Saa,' Echizen said casually, 'looks like Eiji really likes to play Doubles with Momo-sempai.'

Eiji heard the comment, and wondered if it had any meaning. He glanced momentarily at Oishi, to see an anxious expression on his face; but he didn't hold the gaze. He hated avoiding Oishi; he hated the painful and confused expression on his face whenever their eyes locked. All day he'd tried his hardest to seem normal around his Doubles Partner, but whenever his cheeks reddened and his thighs tightened he could do little else but quickly get away; claiming that he needed to go to the bathroom, or had something important to do.

Why did Oishi look so hurt just then? Eiji wondered. Echizen's comment seemed to affect him somehow. In Eiji's mind it almost insinuated that Eiji liked to play doubles with Momo because he liked him. Eiji shook his head. It couldn't be that. Why would Echizen insinuate homosexuality between Momo and himself? It was silly.

'But Oishi…' Eiji said softly to himself. The look on Oishi's face had been so concerning.

Eiji began to believe that Oishi was somehow in love with him. The thought made him short of breath, and his legs went weak.

In the evening the Seigaku team went back to the locker room to clean up and put away their gear. Eiji wanted to get home and away from Oishi as quickly as he could. His head had been spinning with erotic thoughts all day. He couldn't help himself; and he was becoming more and more stressed about it as well.

Oishi was silent beside him; changing his shoes and putting them in his locker. Eiji could smell the sweet scent of soap on his body mingled with sweat. It was a smell he was all too familiar with; but today it seemed to infatuate him. It reminded Eiji of pineapple. He wanted to press his face against Oishi's chest and breathe it in.

He blinked; shook his head, and reminded himself that it was bad to be gay. He quickly picked up his things, put his tennis racquet away, and said goodbye to everyone with one of the biggest smiles he had. He was the first one to leave that day.

'Eiji…' a feminine voice from behind caught his attention. Fuji was following him home. Eiji waited until the other boy had caught up. Eiji liked talking to Fuji; you could talk to him about anything and he would always smile and have something to say. 'You're not all right, are you Eiji?' Fuji asked. His eyes were fixed on the Acrobatic player.

Eiji felt embarrassed. He knew that you couldn't hide anything from Fuji.

'It's affecting your Tennis,' Fuji added.

'That's not true!' Eiji retorted, 'my tennis was different today because I was playing with Momo-chan! That's all.'

Fuji didn't believe him, and completely ignored Eiji's response. 'I think you should tell me what's wrong.'

They walked together in silence for a long time. Fuji didn't remove his gaze from Eiji once and he pretended not to notice. Eventually, the scrutiny began to make him nervous.

'Hey, Fuji…' Eiji began, 'I think… you do masturbate.'

'Huh?' Fuji seemed genuinely surprised by the comment. Then he smiled. 'I think you do as well, regardless of what you say.'

'What do you think about when you're doing it?' Eiji asked.

Fuji thought for a moment. 'Hmm… I guess I think about the person that I like.'

'What if you don't like anyone?'

Fuji thought again; this time a little longer, 'How about other people doing it?'

Eiji considered it for a minute. If he wasn't going to think about Oishi touching him erotically; then he wasn't going to think about Oishi masturbating either. 'I don't like that answer!' he said, 'Got any others?'

Fuji seemed to think the conversation had become ridiculous. 'Where are you going with all these questions?' he asked. 'It's unlike you, Eiji.'

'Aah… I don't know,' he replied. Eiji literally couldn't think of an answer. He didn't want to have to tell Fuji how he was feeling; even if the Genius could somehow help his situation. What would Fuji think if he knew Eiji was having erotic thoughts about Oishi? Come to think of it, Eiji didn't even know what Fuji's stance was on homosexuality. He might be repulsed by it just as much as other people were. He didn't want to lose Fuji as a friend and someone he could talk to. He decided not to say anything.

'Well I'm going this way,' Fuji said, pointing down a nearby street.

'But you live this way…

'I'm going to go see Tezuka.'

Eiji nodded; and they said their goodbyes. As he walked home, Eiji's mood slowly sank lower and lower. He felt that if he didn't do something soon, then he was going to make a very big mistake. He didn't want to be gay. He didn't want to have weird, sexual thoughts about Oishi. Oishi; who might like him as well.

Eiji put his head in his hands. His fingers were shaking. His legs were weak. He suddenly felt very dizzy. He felt psychologically drained from thinking about Oishi all day.

'Perhaps if I sit down for a moment…it'll pass… hehe,' he mumbled softly, leaning against a nearby fence. He failed to notice Fuji at the other end of the street, standing on the curb, watching his movements with unease.

'Eiji…'