The Greatest Gift
Disclaimer: Nope...
Author's Notes: Yay! I'm back. -cough- I still have cough but my fever is gone. Yay! -bounce- -bounce- I'm out of bed. Yay! Well, sorry for being absent for so long and thanks a lot to shaskia for filling in. Mwah! I love you! (as a friend)
Back to the story, there will be some oocness. I believe that my brain left my body when I was struggling with my cold. Seriously, I can't think straight. Anyway, hope you enjoy! Btw, I don't think I can reply to reviews. I have to go to my grandparent's house today. And I'm not sure if I can finish this by tomorrow.
-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Chapter Three
Fuji's Pov
"Did I ever bother with how he felt?" I asked myself.
Aira nodded and asked:
"Did you?"
I shook my head.
She sighed before again asking:
"Syusuke, how did James and Abby's relationship workout?"
I thought this is about me. For the first time, I felt somewhat vulnerable. Aira can thrill and excite me with her mind games but now, I absolutely have no idea what she's trying to say.
"What do they have to do with me?" I asked.
"Answer me." she commanded.
I blinked. Aira can be demanding but never like this.
"Well..." I started, looking straight into her eyes. "They always try to understand each other and do what will make the other happy." I finished.
Her eyes was devoid of everything but amusement. I was confused as to what caused it. Was it my answer?
"Exactly." she whispered softly.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"Syusuke, you said it yourself. You need to try to understand each other because you can never tell what the other is specifically thinking unless you ask." Aira replied.
I had enough of this! What is she implying?
"What are you trying to say?" I asked, opening my eyes.
She is neither startled nor afraid. My action did nothing to her. She sat as if nothing happened. Her black eyes were firm as they stared straight to mine. I felt naked at her gaze. She always had this effect on me whenever she's trying to make me understand something. I've known her for a year and I know, right now, she's contemplating whether or not to tell me.
She sighed again, smiled and said:
"Someday, you'll find out. I just hope that by that time, it isn't too late."
She left me in the rooftop to my thoughts. I hate it when she's being secretive. But I noticed that her smile showed somewhat a tinge of pain and was that disappointment?
-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Aira's Pov
I'm getting nowhere with this. How can two nearly perfect men be so dense? I was shocked at Syusuke. I never thought that he can be so clueless especially since he's usually the one who knows everything.
"Hello, Aira." Ryoma greeted from behind.
I turned around and smiled politely at him.
He smirked back at me and asked:
"Do you now know what the deal is with Syusuke-okaachan?"
I twitched and replied:
"I don't know why you called him Syusuke-okaachan but I guess that this has got something to do with Kunimitsu."
The smirk was gone and was replaced by a somewhat pained smile.
"You're right. Syusuke told me everything when he was in the Wimbledon. To be honest, I never thought that he'll tell me something so personal like this. He trusted me completely. I want to return that trust. I want to do something for him." he said.
I was speechless at that. Is this really the cocky and arrogant Ryoma Echizen we all knew about?
However, I am not the kind of person who'll easily be tricked. I could tell he wants something done and he wants it done fast.
"What do you want?" I asked coldly.
He looked at me straight in the eyes and firmly said:
"I want buchou and Syusuke together."
I was slightly taken aback by his bold request. I smirked at him and said:
"Are we in this together?"
Truth be said, I never imagined that I'll be working with Ryoma in this. I, however, think that this is a good thing. After all, I also never imagined that a person can be so dense and clueless.
"Of course." he replied with a smile and not his usual smirk.
-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Taka's Pov
Tezuka lied restless on his bed. I wonder what's going on. The others told me to keep him busy because they were going to discuss his birthday.
"Tezuka is something wrong?" I asked.
He shook his head absentmindedly. I may not be that close to him but I can see that something is going on.
I stood up from my chair and began to walk away. I don't think that Tezuka would leave anytime soon. I might as well join them.
I was about to go out when Tezuka asked:
"What is a goal?"
-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Aira's Pov
"Nya! Everyone, Tezuka's birthday is coming so I decided to have this meeting." Eiji announced.
"But Eiji-senpai, what if buchou walks in on us while we're having the meeting?" Momo asked.
"It's alright, nya! I asked Taka-san to keep Tezuka busy." Eiji replied.
"So then, what about his birthday?" Ryoma asked.
"We have decided, the 3rd years as well as Aira-chan, that we want to give Tezuka the perfect gift." Fuji answered.
I have always wondered how Syusuke can act like as if nothing is wrong. He always puts on that smiling facade that it's becoming annoying for someone who can read him.
"Excuse me but who is the closest person to Kunimitsu here?" I asked.
It was a good thing that Kunimitsu's birthday is coming. It wouldn't sound weird if I started asking random things about him.
"Fshuu...it's either Oishi-senpai or Fuji-senpai." Kaidoh answered.
"There's a thirty-four percent chance that Oishi is the closest to Tezuka, sixty-one percent that it is Fuji and the remaining five percent that it is someone else." Inui added.
So then, it is Syusuke who is the closest to Kunimitsu as I thought. I sighed. I never imagined this would be so hard.
"What will we give him?" Momo asked.
I smirked and replied:
"Whatever he wants."
All eyes looked at me.
"How do we know what he wants?" Oishi asked.
"Simple, we need to find out." I answered.
Inui, Ryoma and Eiji smirked at my answer. The others stared at me with shocked eyes.
"That's a great idea, Aira! We can send Fuji to find out." Eiji said happily(evilly?)
Oh, so he knows.
"Hey, why me?" Fuji asked.
"Syusuke, that's because you're the closest to buchou." Ryoma said.
"But still-" Fuji started.
I cut him of by saying:
"You know, there's no way Kunimitsu will tell us what he wants. You can just approach him innocently and then start asking random things since it's just like you. Besides, you might figure out what he wants."
"There's a eighty-seven percent chance that that will work." Inui said.
I guess this means that Inui and Eiji are on my, rather our side.
Syusuke sighed in defeat and muttered, before walking away:
"Fine. I'll do it."
-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Taka's Pov
Why did Tezuka ask me that? More importantly, how should I answer?
"Eh... A goal is...how do you put it..." I started, stuttering a bit.
Tezuka looked at me straight in the eyes; wordlessly telling me to continue.
I inhaled and said:
"It is something you want or is aiming for. A goal is something that you work hard for. In short, it is something you desire, consciously or unconsciously."
"What do you mean by the last three words?" he asked again.
Last three words, the consciously and unconsciously?
"Well, sometimes, you don't realize that you actually want something. You just tend to strive hard for it without understanding why." I replied.
He sighed and said:
"Can someone be your goal?"
I blinked in confusion.
"I guess so." I replied.
He nodded his thanks and I went out. I guess that it will be better to leave Tezuka to himself for a while.
-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Tezuka's Pov
I'm just more confused now. What is it I want? At this point, I know I want something but what exactly is it?
A cool breezed tousled my hair. Without realizing, I went to the rooftop.
My breath hitched at what I saw.
There, bathed in the moonlight lied Fuji Syusuke. His cerulean eyes reflecting the full moon. His sandy-brown hair shining in the gray rays of the moon. Simply put: He looks gorgeous.
Hold on, since when did I ever thought of him like that?
I think that he noticed me gawking at him and smiled at me.
I approached him.
"Tezuka, how can you tell that you like something?" he asked.
I don't know. That's my problem as well.
"I don't know." I replied truthfully.
He broke into a complete laugh.
Did I say something wrong?
I looked at him questioningly.
His blue gem-like eyes glinted amusement.
"Sorry Tezuka. It's just I never thought that you can be so...stern and straightforward. I dunno but it seemed somewhat hilarious especially that monotoned voice of yours." he said in between laughs.
I raised an eyebrow. This was just ridiculous. I and hilarious cannot appear in the same sentence unless contradicting. But still, I have to admit, his laughter was like music to my ears.
He finally stopped laughing and sighed deeply.
I wonder if I should confront him about the letter.
"Tezuka, don't you think that Aira-chan is interesting?" he asked.
"I guess so." I replied.
I have to admit that Aira is quite an interesting character. She seems to know everything.
"You know, she always tells me that the things I want the most are the things I can't understand." he started.
I was puzzled. How can you want something you don't understand?
"At first, I was confused. But as time passed, I somewhat understood what she's trying to say." he finished.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
He laughed again but softly this time.
"That's the strange thing. I understand but I don't know. Sometimes, I think it's better to understand than to know although I also believe that it is essential to know." he replied.
"What you're trying to say is that one cannot be at peace until he both knows and understands?" I asked.
"In a way, yes." he answered.
Fuji's cellphone then rang.
"Excuse me for a moment." he said before answering it.
I didn't know who he was talking to but he seemed to be enjoying the call. He was, after all, chuckling at whatever the other person on the other line is saying. I felt somewhat angry and envious. I should be the only one who can force that kind of reaction from my tensai. My tensai? That sounds so fitting and true.
Then, it hit me! I felt as though a bucket of ice cold water was poured to me. I finally realized what Aira was trying to tell me. I now know what my goal is. More importantly, I understand why.
Fuji Syusuke, you're my goal and nothing can change that.
Suddenly, from behind, Aira spoke:
"We often realize things when it is too late. In the end, we regret for not realizing it earlier. We can never change what had happened in the past but we can always make up for them in the present."
For the first time, I understand what she meant.
-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-o0o-
Author's Notes: Whoa. I think I should change the genre. I don't think I can write angst at my current condition (buried in homework, coughing like there's no tomorrow, pressure of the coming of exams which is on the tenth). This still has two chapters. Rawr. Do you think I can finish this? I hope I can. Nya! If I can resurface from homework, the chapter should be up by late tonight or very early tomorrow.