Okay I was supposed to update yesterday but I was making my term paper about voodoo witchcraft and it scared the hell outta me reading those horror documents about the victims, alone at night… honestly… I don't think I can sleep early for the next few days.
Disclaimer:
I don't own POT~~
Chapter 3: I'm suffocating
10:00 pm
The hand of his wrist watch tells him that it's late and high time for students to sleep or just stay in their houses, but Tezuka as a vocalist is anything but normal so here is he now in the rooftop of some building waiting for their turn to perform on stage for the 3rd time tonight.
Strum, strum
Today, was a bitter sweet day. It was the day when he finally decided to step away from the sidelines only to be shoved back to it with a foot dangling dangerously at the edge.
"Ryoma!" the sound of Momoshiro's voice shouting that name, hisname triggered that unhealthy clenching in his heart.
"I'm fine Momo-sempai" he smiled though the pain is evident in his face, but because he didn't want to worry him anymore than needed he smiled.
"When I hear your voice it sounds so pretty nice"
He was also there!
ALSO? Tezuka smirked. It's the first time in 3 years that he ever felt that he wanted to protest yet, it was accompanied by an also? also... also... also... the word makes his, an existence that can be easily forgotten...
"Heh" it's ironic, that the only times he can smile is when he's wallowing in pain.
But it can't be helped; afterall he was just an extra, someone that can be easily put at the sidelines...
"and here I thought he respected me..."
Tezuka Kunimitsu is Echizen Ryoma's captain, his rival and role model... in tennis.
The only thing he cared to show as something that he loves is the only thing that connects him to the one he secretly loves.
Tennis is the only connection he has with Echizen, the only reason why Echizen even knows him. He isn't even sure if he is happy with that. He laid his guitar on his lap and slump further on the wall. He looked up and stared up the starless night sky. The flashing light from an airplane caught his attention, flicking, flickering…. In his mind he repeats the tale of their nonexistent love story…
"Damn, buchou is still really good" Echizen commented after Tezuka beat him in a game of 7-6, despite the choice of words anyone who has known Echizen would notice the fun underlying the rude words. Since middle school after Tezuka finally reacquired the pinnacle of hard work they became rivals who beat and win against each other. Echizen even asks Tezuka advicese specially after he became the captain during his 3rd year in middle school.
"Echizen, during a smash you're putting too much strength on your grip making it lose its power" Tezuka commented
"Usu" he answered, this has been the flow of their conversation for three years nothing personal and all about tennis but Tezuka like it either way, because only during practice and tennis can he have Echizen's undivided attention. If anyone would just bother looking they'll notice how Tezuka's eyes would soften every time he talks with the freshman.
"Ryoma!" Momoshiro shouted from the other end of the court, immediately piquing the freshman's attention.
"Buchou" He nodded before casually walking towards Momoshiro, he might seem indifferent but Tezuka knew better, the way the freshman's head immediately snapped towards Momoshiro with just one call, how he immediately gave his full attention to him, Tezuka knew better than to raise his hope.
Twinge
He said that he's fine watching, that he's satisfied staying at the sideline and support him. But, Tezuka knows that he's lying to himself, this continuous ache and clenching in his heart is proof enough of his pain and dissatisfaction. But, seeing his happy face… seeing that love whenever he looked at Momoshiro Tezuka couldn't-
"Crash!"
Before his thought turn for the worse he heard a loud crash coming from his sides
"The pole collapsed!"
"Someone got injured!"
"It's Echizen"
"!" Immediately Tezuka ran towards Echizen who is sitting on the ground with a foot under a light pole.
"Echizen!" Tezuka kneeled next to Echizen "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly while waiting for the other club members to push the pole off.
"My ankle…" Echizen muttered as he gently cradled his left leg pain marring his normally impassive face.
"Don't worry I'll help you" he said worriedly
"It's up!" the second years called when they had pulled the pole off, immediately Tezuka positioned his hands over Echizen in a bridal style, the only thought running in his head is to immediately take the freshman to the nurse's office and to alleviate the pain.
"Where's Takeshi?" Echizen asked in a pained voice almost panting.
"….twinge" he stopped… and looked dumb-founded at the freshman Takeshi?…
"Where's Takeshi?" he asked again. This time Tezuka got over his shock and opened his mouth to answer.
"Ryoma!" when Momoshiro appeared beside him and scooped Echizen without a second thought.
"Are you okay Ryoma?" Momoshiro asked panic evident in his voice
"I'm fine Momo-senpai" Ryoma put a hand over Momoshiro's face and smiled "it's just a sprain" and then Momoshiro run as fast as he could to the Nurse's office.
Who would have thought that Echizen would call Momoshiro's first name at that time? Tezuka stood up from his kneeling position 'I was so close' he clenched his fist and shut his eyes tight while taking deep breathes before opening it and stared longingly at their backs… again…
"It looks like Echizen wouldn't be able to participate in our next match" Fuji said, Tezuka didn't notice when Fuji first stood beside him or how long he's been there his mind still in a mess… match…
"I hope it didn't crack his bone or it might affect his tennis" Fuji continued
"Yes" he answered stiffly not really aware in what he's agreeing all he knows is they're talking about tennis… tennis…
Gasp
'I can't breathe'
"Tezuka?" Fuji asked worriedly when he heard him gasp, for a brief moment he thought he saw pain in Tezuka's face but it immediately disappeared replaced by a… taunting look?
"It's nothing" Inside, Tezuka mentally chuckled, who would thought that he THE Tezuka Kunimitsu would suffocate with the thought of tennis? Truly, ironic.
twinge
Rooftop
"Would you look at me? I am frustrated
I am sick and tired of things I love to do he sang bitterly
Would you look at me now? He opened his eyes looking pleadingly at nowhere, in his mind he can see Echizen with his back turned to him and eyes looking lovingly at Momoshiro
I'm so tired of hearing this 'you're so great' *gasp*
But I don't if it's true"
strumming
Would you smile at me when I'm suffocating?
When I hear your voice it sound so pretty nice 'Takeshi' Tezuka defiantly shook his head
Would you talk to me again? I am so tired of seeing thing
'it's okay'… but I don't know if it's you-"
Gently the sound of his strumming fainted, he can't think of a continuation for the next part. As far as the song is going the pieces of the lyrics are slowly coming together, but somehow it leaves a very heavy healing in his chest. The feeling is like that of being drowned in a dark body of water, black… heavy… and suffocating.
"Kunimitsu?" A gentle voice called from his side, he didn't even notice the door opening.
"Miyabi-san?" he looked up at the green eyed man a little surprised ,who just nodded as a greeting, no one aside from him goes to the rooftop before a performance.
"Another part of the song?" Tezuka nodded stiffly, Miyabi noticed the question in his kouhai's eyes but decided to ignore it instead he gave him a gentle smile before moving towards the railings, cigarette box and lighter at hand.
"Want some?" he offered to Tezuka who politely declined, not like he was expecting Tezuka to accept his offer he just thought that the teenager looked like he needed to puff out some steam.
"Kuni how long has it been?" he asked as he leaned on the railing his eyes focused on the artificial lights of the city
"What?"
"Don't play dumb with me Kuni, you look like a mess" he didn't even look at Tezuka as he puff some smoke but his tone screamed I'm not joking so you better answer now or I'll beat you to a pulp
Tezuka not wanting to incur the wrath of his normally impassive sempai mumbled "3 years" , it won't hurt to answer him after all Miyabi-san might just be curious but he didn't expect what his sempai said next
"Haven't you had enough?" Miyabi had always told him how to stupid and clumsy he is when it comes to love but he'd always encouraged him, this is the first time Miyabi or anyone for that matter asked him that question. Like… like they're trying to make him stop.
Strums guitar
"I am rusticated…"
"Stop singing and answer me" Miyabi scolded him, green eyes finally staring or more like glaring at him.
He stared back and searched Miyabi's eyes, for something, for anything but aside from irritation and concern he didn't see other emotions, and he sighed in defeat before smiling melancholically, his eyes now fixed at the starless sky.
"It's okay…twinge… breathe… breathe… As long as he is happy" he mentally congratulated himself for not letting his voice break.
"Kuni this is-"
"Ku-ni-mi-tsu~!" *glomp*, sometimes he really love Haru's timing though his hugs are always bone crushing atleast he always arrives during the times he didn't want to talk anymore… like now.
"I saw someone wearing the same jersey as you walking around!" Haru said, piquing a bit of Tezuka's interest, his captain instincts kicking in
"This late? What did he look like?"
"hmm… black hair.."
"black hair?" Echizen?
"Yeah and tall… maybe as tall as Gon" Haru continued making Tezuka sighed in relief if he's as tall as Gon then his is sure that it is Inui. He is already used with Inui's nightly rendezvous, knowing him he must be stalking someone or looking for something to add as ingredient to his Inui juice. Thinking about the green juice sends goose bumps in his body, even he is not fond of that awful juice.
"Don't worry he's just doing some research" he answered before standing up and walking towards the door, if he stayed any longer there's a chance that Miyabi would interrogate him again.
"Let's go back" he said, with the two immediately following after him.
"research? But he was with someone… research partner? But in a different uniform?…oh well Kunimitsu said not to worry so I guess it's fine" Haru shrugged and pranced towards Tezuka.
"KUNIMITSU~"
Omake!
"Tezuka?" Fuji asked worriedly when he heard him gasp, for a brief moment he thought he saw pain in Tezuka's face but it immediately disappeared replaced by a… taunting look?
"It's nothing" Tezuka answered back to his unreadable expression.
"Okay, aren't you going to check on Echizen?" he knows it's not okay but he can't pry too much if Tezuka says it's nothing, it means that he'll have to wait until Tezuka tells him what the nothing really meant.
"No, I can't leave the club" Tezuka said as he started walking back towards the court leaving Fuji looking worriedly at the back of his captain and friend. He've known Tezuka for almost 6 years now and he must say that he has become an expert in reading Tezuka's expression-or the lack of it-. And based on his observation for the fast few mos. Or maybe longer he's not really sure when it started but from time to time, Tezuka would have that pained look on his face while he clutch on the shirt above his chest. At first Fuji thought that it's some kind of illness but dismiss his thought when he didn't notice any change in Tezuka's tennis. So he observed and finally got a lead or two for the cause of his normally stoic captain's pain, he isn't exactly sure what caused is but he knows who… its Echizen.
Tezuka would always have that pained look whenever Echizen is near and this past few days it seems like the pain is becoming more frequent.
"Is he in love with Echizen?" that thought had continuously bugged his mind but he always end up dismissing it, not like he's insulting his friend nor does he find it totally impossible but he can't imagine Tezuka falling in love, for the 6 years they've been together not once had he seen Tezuka harbor any romantic feelings for anyone, he is even convinced that the man is asexual, but the way he look at Echizen says something else. Though he is trying his best to hide it, Fuji can see it, he is almost sure because that was same way he was looking at his lover before. Just one more piece, if he can just obtain one more piece then he will become sure of his suspicions.
And that piece came to him in the most unexpected form of an underground concert ticket for an up and coming indie band.
Owari!
To those who commented and PM me their suggestions about the name of the band thank you guys~ I kinda liked 2 of them but I'm still open for suggestions... about their genre I'm not really sure if I want it to be rock more like alternative? like coldplay or something
Response corner:
PurpleScorpion:Thank you for your suggestions! I really liked them and is it really that weird? hahaha honestly I've never read a MomoXRyo story but I just thought that it would fit the story... XD and I'm glad you're liking the interaction between tham thank you!
haruharurun HELLO! wow I'm surprised to see you here! I'm sorry if I seem to be neglecting for better or for worse. yup, my first bl thank you!
shadowhawk Haha thanks to you I realized that Fuji should have figured it out thank you! yeah and I agree with you about Ryoma being a spoiled brat! hahaha and really thanks for the long review make me want to write longer chapters! and yea I also like Tezuka's clothes it makes him more hawt~~~
akai chibi seme hahha thank you for your comment! aww yeah Tezuak TT-TT ! XD
So here is my update! I'm planning to make this the regular update for the story twice a week thanks to you my reviewers! and because you're all awesome here's a sneak peak of the next chapter:
Fuji finally discovered the last piece of the puzzle, and he is planning to do his best to make Tezuka come out of his shell afterall 'something this interesting shouldn't be kept a secret'. AND it's the cultural festival!
wait what, Buchou is singing?