iannetine: Thank you so much for reading! This chapter contains some scenes not suitable for children. Haha. It's the first of its kind that I wrote; please tell me if you like it!
For those who haven't read Unfolded Secrets yet, you can refer to chapter's 5, 6 and 7 if you feel like you don't understand the 'secret' mentioned in this chapter. Please do submit a review too!
I do not own Prince of Tennis
"Kunimitsu, tell me how much you love me."
Tezuka put his book down to look at the boy lying on his lap. Fuji was on his stomach, face pressed against Tezuka's, content just to be with him. They've been lying on the grass the whole morning. It's a wonder Fuji doesn't find him…boring.
"Tell me how you can't live without me. Tell me that you'd do anything for me. Tell me how lucky you are to have me. If you love me, tell me how much."
Tezuka went back to his reading again.
"You do love me, ne Kunimitsu?" Fuji asked, trying to make it sound playful. He closed his eyes and filled his lungs with Tezuka's scent. "Tell me how much."
At this rate he'll never finish his reading. "Once I've finished."
"Hurry up." Fuji ordered, making it sound like he was getting a bit impatient. He just wanted Tezuka to be sweet towards him, to say words of love, sweetly in his ears. Yes, Tezuka's gentle. Tezuka always spoke in a soft voice to him; he always looked at him with soft eyes. Tezuka is very gentle, romantic even, but he wasn't very sweet.
Fuji heaved a sigh. Tezuka? Sweet? Was that possible?
They've been together for sometime now, and still Tezuka isn't very open to him. He wished Tezuka would be more…aggressive. But if Tezuka still needed time to adjust, then he'll be willing to wait--
"Hurry up, or I won't come with you." –or he could hasten things up a bit. "Ever."
--oOo—
"Mamushi, where's the buchou?"
Kaidoh only shrugged at Momo's name calling. It felt weird as he was getting used to Momo's roughness. "Locker." he answered as he watched Momo hastily ran to the shed. Momo was particularly excited today.
"Buchou, I'm so glad to see you again!" Momoshiro said as soon as he opened the locker room's door.
"Eh?" Ryoma paused from buttoning his shirt. Didn't he just see him a while ago? Why would Momo be glad to see him again?
Seeing only Ryoma inside, Momo put up a frown. "Oh, it's only you." He said disappointedly. "I thought buchou was here."
Ryoma looked questioningly at him.
"Didn't you hear? Ryuzaki-sensei said Tezuka-buchou will be coming here today?" Momo said excitedly.
At that moment Kaidoh went inside.
"Mamushi, buchou's not in here!" Momo told Kaidoh annoyingly.
Ryoma rolled his eyes in that remark. Wasn't HE a buchou too? He adjusted his cap before leaving the two to fight with each other. So, Tezuka-buchou was coming? Tough luck. Practice has just ended; he wouldn't be able to show off how strong Seigaku is in his captaincy.
He was about to enter Ryuzaki-sensei's office, when Ryoma saw Fuji pass by in the small window in the office's door.
Fuji and Tezuka were inside. They were waiting for Ryuzaki-sensei to come back. Ryoma's eyes widened as Fuji's hands grabbed Tezuka's. The tensai smiled as he gently swayed Tezuka's arms.
"Can sensei know?" Fuji asked Tezuka. "Can I tell her?"
Ryoma spun around, hearing footsteps in the distance. Ryuzaki-sensei returned, Momo and Kaidoh trailing behind her.
"Oi, Ryoma." Ryuzaki-sensei greeted as she opened the door to her office. "Why don't we all go inside? Tezuka's already here."
"Fuji sempai!" Momo shouted, surprised to see the tensai again. Kaidoh gave Fuji a nod. Ryoma adjusted his cap in greeting.
"Momo, Kaidoh, Ryoma…we missed you." Fuji smiled brightly. Ryoma put his hands in his pockets. Could it only be his imagination? Or could that WE mean—
"Welcome back." Ryoma said something at last when Ryuzaki-sensei left the room again. "How are you two doing?" he asked slowly, stressing on the fourth word.
Fuji knew Tezuka would see what Ryoma was trying to do. He looked around. Momo and Kaidoh didn't seem to notice. "We're okay." he answered. "How about you three?"
Ryoma cheekily smiled as the tensai put an incredible amount of stress in the fourth word. "Great." he answered.
Everyone, except Tezuka, shifted in their seat. Momo and Kaidoh exchanged glances. The room suddenly became tense. The feeling was…weird. They we're all just sitting there, having a pleasant conversation, but there was something in the air that didn't feel…normal.
Without warning, Fuji leaned dangerously close to Tezuka. He didn't exactly whisper, but he said something so softly that only Tezuka could hear. Fuji had this smile…and Tezuka bit his lower lip.
Ryoma covered his eyes with his cap, Kaidoh looked down his shoes and Momo only stared in surprise. It went for just about five seconds, but that scene left a lasting impression on the three.
Kaidoh blushed as he found himself noticing every movement Fuji and Tezuka made ever since. He would notice how frequent Fuji touches Tezuka's shoulders. Or how long Fuji's hands would linger on Tezuka's knee. Or how Tezuka slightly smiles when Fuji was the one speaking. Kaidoh shook his head. Why does he notice small things like this so easily? He took a deep breath. This was something that only Inui-sempai could do.
Momo on the other hand, couldn't take his mind off of Tezuka and Fuji's conversations. Tezuka said things like 'Let's talk about it later' and 'When I come to your house again',
Fuji however, said things like 'Want to go there someday?' and 'Really? I'd love to'. Momo looked at Ryoma. It wasn't just only him, was it? He couldn't be imagining all this, could he?
Momo saw how unruffled Ryoma was. It didn't get his hopes up. Ryoma was an insensitive brat after all.
Ryuzaki-sensei returned from the principal's office, forms in her hand. Momo, Kaidoh and Ryoma promptly stood up and left the room to give the three some privacy after greeting Tezuka and Fuji goodbye.
Ryoma walked ahead, leaving the two standing a little longer outside the door.
"Kaidoh," Momo said, "did you...don't you think it's…" he felt a little embarrassed to ask as he thought he's the only one who's noticed.
Kaidoh was still in denial of what he saw that he didn't notice that Momo called him by his name.
"Echizen," Momo called out as Ryoma had walked a fair distance from them. "Was it just me or Tezuka-buchou and Fuji-sempai…"
"Eh?" Ryoma didn't even look back as he answered. "It's not just you-"
Ryoma didn't have any chance to continue as Momo and Kaidoh ran in front of him.
"Ryoma, you know something?" Kaidoh asked, desperate to calm himself down.
"What happened there, just now, what happened?" Momo asked, excited to get to the bottom of this.
"It's a secret." Ryoma answered cheekily.
Momo and Kaidoh looked at each other. To think about it, it's been a long time since they agreed with each other. In a flash, they caught Ryoma by the arm and dragged him inside an open classroom and sat him down for interrogation.
"Echizen…"
Ryoma inwardly snickered at how Momo was being so dramatic about all this.
"…you know, we're friends right?" he paused. "If you know something..."
"Yada. Fuji-sempai asked me not to." It's true. He knew about Fuji's secret love for Tezuka even before all this. But from the looks of things, this may not be the issue.
"You mean, you know about…Fuji-sempai?" Kaidoh asked Ryoma.
"Wait a minute, are you saying--" Momo paused in realization.
Silence.
Shoot. Ryoma was planning to use that secret as blackmail for future emergencies against the tensai but it seems like everyone knows about it already.
"I think it's open."
All three of them darted their eyes to the room's door. Fuji and Tezuka were outside. And they were about to enter.
They didn't know what came over them, but they all had the sudden urge to hide. All three ran inside the broom closet in an instant. Momo had closed it shut just when the doorknob turned.
"I missed these chairs, don't you?" Fuji asked as he closed the door.
"Ah." Tezuka answered before looking out the window.
Ryoma, feeling stupid about hiding, was about to open the door when Momo and Kaidoh stopped him. Before he could protest, the two managed to cover his mouth. He mumbled to complain but fell silent once again as Fuji started to talk again.
"Now that's everything's finished…can you tell me now?"
"Hn?"
"I won't wait anymore. Tell me now Kunimitsu. Tell me how much you love me."
Both Momo and Kaidoh also covered their mouths with their hands. They had meant to shout in disbelief but the situation couldn't allow it. Now they knew. Now they had proof.
Ryoma mumbled something that sounded like 'Let me go', but all he received was a shush and a daunting look in warning.
Tezuka paused. "I don't know how--"
"Try." Fuji smiled sweetly. "I love you-?" he said, signaling Tezuka to continue.
"-With all my heart…" Tezuka said hesitantly.
Fuji frowned at him.
Tezuka was crestfallen.
Fuji smiled, inwardly, happy that Tezuka answered. It must have been difficult for Tezuka to say that. "You can do better than that. Try again." he said. Actually he was already happy with that answer, but he wanted to hear more. "I love you--?"
Tezuka couldn't talk anymore. He couldn't even look at Fuji's blue eyes.
"What's wrong?" Fuji asked when Tezuka didn't answer. With his hand, he cupped Tezuka's chin, turning his head to face him directly.
Tezuka drowned in those blue eyes. He was thinking that maybe he couldn't make his Shusuke happy after all. Maybe he couldn't give what Fuji wanted. Maybe he didn't have what Fuji needed. He felt angry at himself. He was causing his Shusuke pain and deprivation. He cursed himself for being so…unfeeling.
Momo, Kaidoh and Ryoma jerked their heads away from the slits they were peering from. They held their breath at what happened next.
Fuji grabbed Tezuka's arms and wrapped it around his waist. "What are you so afraid of? You don't have to be afraid…"
"It doesn't have to be perfect…You don't have to be perfect…Don't be afraid…" Fuji wrapped his arms around Tezuka's neck.
"I want affection…I need affection…" Fuji said, ruffling Tezuka's hair. "I need words…and warmth…" he whispered at Tezuka's ear. "I need to be wooed…and touched…" He nibbled Tezuka's ear. "I want you to fulfill my needs…Is that too much to ask?"
It was a miracle that the three had managed to keep quiet. Kaidoh had his eyes closed. Momo clenched his teeth. Ryoma wanted to burst out of there already. Embarrassment was a blessing compared to this torture. But all three of them were frozen inside that small and dark space.
"Shusuke I-"
"I know you've been holding back…I can feel it…" Fuji stroked Tezuka's cheek. "Every time I touch you…" Fuji caressed Tezuka's neck, "Every time I kiss you…" he started to peck Tezuka's neck. "You pull away…"
"Mmm…" A moan escaped Tezuka's lips as Fuji continued to shower light kisses on his neck.
At this point, Kaidoh closed his eyes so tightly that tears were starting to form. Momo was sweating all over, feeling like he was about to faint. Ryoma was thinking of 'a happy place' in his head, trying to distract himself.
"Are you afraid to lose control of yourself?" Fuji lifted his head to look at Tezuka's eyes. "That must be it…you're afraid that you'd hurt me…but you won't hurt me, love." Fuji brushed his hand in Tezuka's face.
"So please…don't hold back anymore…Let me set you free…right here…right now…I'll give you release…Let me…"
Three pairs of eyes suddenly shot open as they heard the screeching of tables and chairs. There was a loud thud.
Kaidoh slumped back to farthest corner of the broom cupboard. Momo reached out a broom and held on for dear life. Ryoma was having difficulty breathing as Kaidoh and Momo still covered his mouth. Slowly, they peered outside to see what has happened.
They heaved a silent sigh in relief. Tezuka ONLY pinned Fuji to the wall. Fuji had this surprised face; he hadn't expected Tezuka to act this…roughly.
This time, Fuji went too far. He couldn't take it anymore; Tezuka's finally snapped.
"Don't-rush-me." Tezuka ordered seriously, looking intently at those blue eyes. "Behave." he commanded.
Fuji instantly nodded. Tezuka always has this subtle power over him that always manages to overwhelm him every time.
Fuji felt fear as Tezuka's eyes surveyed his face. With those blue eyes, Fuji smiled to him. Though he can manage to control Tezuka using guilt and manipulation, Tezuka still had power over him. It was…thrilling.
"Whatever you say." Fuji told him, bringing back that smiling face. Tezuka becomes vulnerable because of him. Tezuka was used to being in control of everything. He smiled to himself, knowing he was Tezuka's only weakness.
At that moment he decided that he'd give Tezuka control in this relationship. He didn't mind being passive to Tezuka's authority and succumbing to Tezuka's power. Besides, he didn't want to be the dominant one in this relationship anyway. He trusted Tezuka. He knew Tezuka wouldn't hurt him. He knew Tezuka could make him happy.
Kaidoh, Momo and Ryoma's heartbeats started to stabilize. They looked at each other in relief. They smiled and cheered silently. At last, their Tezuka-buchou had managed to… restrict…the tensai.
Tezuka quickly put his hands down, realizing his rashness. He never lost control before. He looked at Fuji, back still pressed against the wall. He cursed himself again as he saw how startled his Shusuke was.
This is exactly why he was holding back. His emotions tend to get out of control. He might hurt his Shusuke. And his wonderful Shusuke was made it more and more difficult to contain his emotions.
But, if he couldn't put his emotions into words, then he'd have to show it in a different way…
Slowly, softly, Tezuka pulled Fuji close to him, wrapping his arms around Fuji's waist the way Fuji had done earlier. "You won't let me finish," he scolded Fuji. "I was going to say…that I don't know how much I love you…I just…do."
Fuji opened his eyes in surprise. Tezuka didn't have to be perfect; he'll love him just the same anyway. But Tezuka was completely, utterly, excruciatingly perfect.
"From now on…" Tezuka's hands traveled up Fuji's back, gently pulling on his hair, tilting his head to the side, "I'll…" Tezuka pecked on his neck.
"…answer…" Tezuka's drove him back to the wall…
"…your…" He felt Tezuka's warm breath on his skin…
"…every…" -that one was going to leave a mark…
"…need."
"Ahhh…no Kunimitsu..." Fuji pleaded. "Not here…" he gasped "…not now…"
Kaidoh, Momo and Ryoma almost jumped in shock at those words. They quickly regained to their stealth mode. They couldn't afford to be seen now.
"Stop." Fuji forcefully untangled Tezuka from himself. "Do you love me?"
"No one but you." Tezuka answered, surprised of the sudden interruption.
"Then I have everything that I need."
Fuji couldn't believe he was the one pulling away this time. He felt himself blush as Tezuka stared at him.
"It's getting dark, take me home now." Fuji told Tezuka, fixing a smile yet again. He had to get away before he lost all self-control. He regretfully walked towards the door. Damn. He never knew Tezuka could be THAT sweet. "I'll just go to the bathroom. You can wait for me in the car."
Kaidoh, Momo and Ryoma were relieved once again when Fuji left the room.
Kaidoh never felt so exhausted his whole life. Training day and night pale in comparison to how nerve-wrecking the past few minutes were. Even if he ran for 100 kilometers, his heartbeat rate wouldn't reach this high.
Momo for the first time in his life has lost his voice. Not that he had nothing to say. He had wanted to scream for the longest time. Just shout to relieve himself of the anxiety.
Ryoma swore never to be nosy with anybody anymore. Especially to Tezuka and Fuji. He wanted out of that broom cupboard right away.
"Shush, buchou will hear us!" Momo said in a whisper.
"Baka, you stepped on my foot!" Kaidoh managed to say.
"Can-you-let-go-now?" Ryoma wrenched Momo's hand from his mouth. He got hit by a broom in the face. Momo and Kaidoh were fighting so silently in that small space. "I've had enough of this!"
"Echizen! No!" Kaidoh and Momo silently shouted as Ryoma pried open the door, sending the three of them to the ground, along with all the contents of the broom cupboard.
Tezuka was already outside the room, his hand still in the door knob, about to close the door, when he heard the commotion inside.
"Ahem." Tezuka looked at the three. He could almost laugh at the silly sight. But he didn't.
"Aaah!" Kaidoh shouted when he saw Tezuka enter the room again. Tezuka face had 'you're dead meat' written all over.
Ryoma tried to stand up right away, slightly discomfited that he let Tezuka see him on the floor. He wondered how many laps Tezuka would make them run around the equator.
Momo still had trouble finding his voice. He coughed, sending the dust in his hair to the air. 'I can explain…' he mouthed.
All three of them just stared at Tezuka. The boy was taking his time thinking about what happened. Using only logic, Tezuka figured what had happened and he arrived to a decision.
"Just don't tell Fuji." Tezuka finally said, releasing a weary sigh before darting back at them. "Clear?"
Kaidoh's neck might snap as he nodded furiously. Momo's eyes glittered in sheer relief. Ryoma adjusted his cap before answering "Hai."
Tezuka said nothing more and left the room.
It took a whole minute before they recovered from the sudden turn of events. They looked at each other, silently agreeing never to bring up what happened, let alone mention anything about it.
"I thought we were really done for." Momo told them as soon as he finished putting away the brooms.
"Fushuu…" Kaidoh hissed once they were out of the room.
The three walked blindly in the hallway, the recent events still fresh in their minds. Who would have thought Tezuka-buchou and Fuji-sempai were capable of…those? They shrugged in unison.
"Momo, Kaidoh, Ryoma, I thought you went home."
They paled at the sight of Fuji, blood draining from their faces. When they saw Fuji, they remembered how…fiery…the tensai was.
"Have you seen Tezuka?" Fuji smiled at them.
Kaidoh shook his head, Momo answered yes, and Ryoma pointed to the direction Tezuka went.
"Ah, we heard him pass by…" Momo added immediately.
Fuji paused. "I'll go then, nice seeing you again." he told them before waving goodbye.
The three stood there petrified, but still glad that at last everything was over. Not until…
"Oh, why don't you ride with us? Tezuka brought his car."
--oOo--
"Kunimistsu!" Fuji waved once Tezuka was in sight. "Let's drive them home."
"No, were fine, you don't really have to-" Momo held out his hand when he saw the look on Tezuka's face. He nudged Ryoma so hard that the boy lost his balance.
"We'll just walk sempai." Ryoma added, Kaidoh nodding furiously again.
"I can't let you walk." Fuji told them before turning to Tezuka. "Drive them? Even just to the bus stop?" Fuji asked Tezuka. "Ne?"
"Get in the car." Tezuka said, opening the door for Fuji before getting to the driver's seat.
"Let's go." Fuji motioned the three to get inside.
For the umpteenth time that day, the three found themselves looking at each other in uncertainty again.
"Why don't we continue what we were talking about in your house?" Fuji asked Tezuka. "I'm sure you're still…hungry."
It sounded innocent enough, but the three knew better. They were shrinking in their seats as they easily read between the lines.
"We can't. No one's at home." Tezuka answered, knowing that the three at the back knew very well what they were talking about.
"I can't leave you hanging after that. Why don't we go to my place then?"
"We can't. No one's at home at your place." Tezuka said glancing at the rear view mirror to look at the people at the back.
Fuji wasn't about to give up. "Then where?" he leaned towards Tezuka. "Right here…" he seductively whispered in his ear. "Right now…"
Tezuka hit the gas, sending the car speeding at the limit. Everyone held whatever they could as Tezuka swerved in lanes, easily avoiding the traffic. Tezuka's exceptional driving turned to reckless as he maneuvered the speeding car.
"What's the matter?" Fuji worriedly asked when they halted at the bus stop.
"Out. Now." Tezuka lividly directed at the rear view mirror.
Kaidoh scrabbled with the car door that he couldn't open. Momo scurried to help him, eager to get out. Ryoma was squashed between them. Ultimately, the door opened, sending the three of them to the ground once more.
They hastily stood up, fixing a smile and waving goodbye.
"This isn't good. Not good at all." Momo said through gritted teeth.
"Fushuu…" Kaidoh hissed.
"Mada mada dane."
-----------------
iannetine: Well, was it good? Please send a review and let me know what you think. I wanted it to be funny. I need some cheer right now, school's tough on me.
Kawamura and Inui are up next. It's a weird pair so I'm having trouble thinking about what to do with them. Any suggestions? Anything will do!
Thank you for reviewing!
