I Want to Play a Game.

A.N: Yo, yo! Back again! This is getting fun. -gleeful giggling- I shouldn't be having fun. I shouldn't. But uh...oh well? So. Looking into the few hours between the time Fuji woke up, to sunrise, to about noon-ish...you'll get why. I like this set up. it gives me excuses to write long ass chapters. -heartheart- Seriously. I had to force myself to make the last chapter short, because I didn't want to put too much of the detail in and make the second and third night's not as fun. Which reminds me...due to the lack of smut in this chapter...extra smut and torture in the next two chapters -heart-

Disclaimer: I'M KONOMI TAKESHI! ...No I'm not. -sighs-...LET ME DREAM DAMN IT -WAILS-

First Morning

Tezuka had to tighten his grip exceptionally around the tensai to keep him still. He'd begun thrashing once more, his screams muffled against a pillow he'd managed to get a hold of in the few seconds he'd been released. Tezuka had learned quickly that letting go was a bad idea. He had before, trying to get a look at Fuji and make sure he wasn't actually bleeding anywhere, and all the blood really was his own. It had resulted in the tensai having another fit, and almost moved to clawing at his eyes, which the captain found best to keep from happening. Fuji was strong in his own way, Tezuka knew that, especially when threatened or in a position he didn't like. That strength was deadly. Luckily, he'd only managed to leave a few scratches on his face, before he had latched tightly to a pillow, keeping his face buried deep in it. Once recollecting the shaking body in his arms, Tezuka finalized not letting go no matter what until the boy calmed down enough to stop screaming every five or so minutes. Whatever the nightmare had been had scared him bad. To the point he was still partially there. He tried talking to him, whispering sweet nothings and loves to him, only managing to calm him for a few seconds before he would again begin screaming. Little of it made sense-the sentences were incomplete, butchered in a way. He would start to say something, then start on something else, failing to realize that he wasn't making any sense.

All the same, he tried again. His arms were beginning to throb; dried blood and slowly healing wounds stretched each time the smaller body struggled, and he wasn't keen on the scent coming from the two. Blood wasn't something he was use to waking up to, though, from Fuji's reactions, or lack thereof, to the blood, he assumed the tensai was. That, or he was still too panicked to realize there was indeed blood all over both, as well as his bed, and the wall the bed was against.

"Syuu..."

"No!" Fuji clutched tighter at the pillow; once more trying to squirm away. Tezuka held him tight, trying not to hold any tighter than needed. The tensai wasn't making it easy, however. Every time the grip tightened, the screams and sobs came harder before he would calm down and seem to give up, just to do so again some time later.

"Syuu, listen to me." He kept his voice gentle, kissing at the tangled mass of hair as he continued the soft whispers, "You're awake now. I promise, whatever it was, isn't going to get you now. Look, the sun's going to come up soon." He slowly began loosening his grip, "I'm going to open the curtains and blinds. Do. Not. Move." He emphasized each word, and recieved a whimper. He released the small body slowly, settling it into the bed, so he curled immediately into a fetal position, the claw like nails digging deep into the pillow. Tezuka could tell there was another fit coming, and set about to do as he'd said in a hurry. Almost immediately, he had the body back in his arms, once again rocking him and stroking his hair reassuringly.

"Calm down."

"Not real. Metal...pulsing pain...gomen, Mitsu..." He broke with another sob, as he started rocking himself when Tezuka stilled. He was starting to lose his voice; his throat raw from the excessively heavy sobs and the equally heavy screaming. He could still see it clearly. Fuji had thought the rings had been the only torture descending on his boyfriend...the dream was still playing in his head, continuing where it left off. A new machine came from the ceiling. Fuji hadn't noticed until it was too late, and Tezuka hadn't noticed at all. Mechanical arms fell from the darkness, looming over the unsuspecting, tormented captain. They only rested a moment, and just as Fuji had looked up, and ripped the other open from the back with two hands, while a third and fourth pried and ripped at organs from the back. Thinking about it only caused the tensai to again begin screaming, until his voice had indeed gone, and he was left wordless and craddling himself in his boyfriend's arms, trying desperately to believe that the nightmare was over and he really was in his own room, in Tezuka's arms, screaming over nothing but a bad dream.

When the sun did finally start to come up, he chanced peeking from behind the pillow. His eyes remained glued on the window until the sun had completely flooded his room before he slowly, lowered the pillow and loosened his grip. Tezuka took it as a good sign and untensed somewhat, but kept at a position he could easily grab the tensai again if needed. Fuji stood, carefully, and opened the window, groping for a blanket somewhere behind him at the cold wind that came through. It had rained all night, leaving crisp, clear morning skies with a baby blue hue and soft golden rays of light. Tezuka carefully draped a sheet around the smaller, then his arms, "Better?"

All he recieved was a numb nod. Fuji kept his eyes on the outside, looking for anything out of place. Anything he shouldn't have expected to see...but found nothing, much to his delight. He let out a slow, relieved sigh and sank to the floor on his knees, clutching the sheets tight around his body. It was over. For those few hours of light, it was over. He vaguely felt Tezuka's arms wrap back around him, and leaned back, shaking. He knew he'd had the nightmares before, but usually wouldn't remember them when he woke up...and was usually alone in the dreams. That was the first time he'd had someone else with him, from what he could recall, and he suspected that the sole fact it had been Tezuka was why he remembered. It felt familiar...he couldn't think why it felt familiar, but it did. Something else, instead came to mind. Not a memory, but indeed a reminder. He jumped up immediately, ignoring the blood rush and the odd look he was gaining from Tezuka and ran from the room. He only paused to pull on a robe. Tezuka could only sigh, pull on his own robe and run after. It was easy to find Fuji; all he had to do was listen. The tensai had begun running around the house, throwing things from each room, and muttering incoherently.

"...Syuusuke...what are you looking for?"

"Phone...nee-san...she...she called...phone...DAMN IT!" The tensai finally cracked, falling to his knees, his fists almost denting the floor when he punched it. His body began shaking with reknewed sobs as he began rocking once more. Tezuka edged towards him slowly, until he saw the hands raise and immediately grabbed him, holding his wrists tightly.

"Syuusuke, listen--"

"No!" He continued trying for his eyes anyways, though his boyfriend held tight to his arms, "She called...she knows I'm not at your house, oh God she's going to be furious..." He wailed louder, struggling harder and harder, until he suddenly stopped. Tezuka gave him a worried look, but the tensai hushed him before he could ask, "Shh...shh, shh...there..." He jumped up, breaking free from the grip of the confused captain and ran back towards his sister's room. Faintly, Tezuka could hear a ringing and followed as well, finding the tensai tearing the room apart until he found the ringing black phone.

"Nee-san--"

"Syuusuke! What the Hell are you doing home?! Damn it, get out of there, right now!" Tezuka was standing in the hall, but could still hear the yelling loud and clear, and just as clearly, the brother whimpering.

"I didn't know...I...it's been...forever since it happened..." He was fighting back sobs, rocking once more on his sister's bed. One hand clutched the phone, the other shook as he fought not to claw at his face once more, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...it's worse...oh God, nee-san please...please come home...I'm scared...please come home."

Tezuka slid into the room quietly, encircling his arms around the small body and lowering the hand trying to claw. Faintly he could hear Yumiko had calmed down, her worry overriding her anger easily.

"Syuusuke, what happened? What do you mean worse? They can't be worse, you never remember them!"

"I remember...I-I..." The phone fell as the dream returned at the mere thought of it. Immediately Tezuka grabbed his wrists before he could even consider clawing at his face and shushed him, rocking him gently. It effectively calmed him, at least enough to where his boyfriend could hold him with one arm, and pick the phone up in his free hand.

"Yumiko-san."

The other line went quiet, and Tezuka seriously considered the possiblity that she had hung up and was coming home. Her voice returned before he hung up though.

"Tezuka-san..." Her voice was tight, and the captain frowned. Fuji had been convinced that his sister had called his house...and his parents would have pointed out that he hadn't been there. Her voice brought him back from the question, and he forced himself to focus, "What are you doing there? And Syuusuke? ...What happened?"

"My parents asked us not to sleepover at my house this weekend." He answered the first part curtly, finding that if she had indeed called his house, she would have known that, and if she was calling her own house, then she would have had to have called his first. The second part however... "I can't say I know what happened, and before you ask, I'm not going to pry him for answers." He vaguely felt the small body in his grip relax, and heard a soft 'thank you' come from him. Yumiko, however, wasn't pleased with the answer at all.

"Why not? I have a right to know--"

"Not at his expense you don't." Tezuka cut in sharply, fighting back the urge to raise his voice, trying to keep it level, "He's been awake...since whatever it was happened. That's almost four and a half hours. I have spent...every second...of those hours...trying to get him to calm down." He was hissing at this point to keep his voice steady, "I will not risk him having another fit because you want to know what happened. You think I don't? He's been apologizing between fits the entire time, of course I want to know, but not. At. His. Expense. Are we clear on that?"

In his arm, Fuji was whimpering, starting to squirm, and Tezuka knew he probably shouldn't have brought the facts up to his sister, but if it would keep her quiet, it was alright...he hadn't said anything exact after all. He leaned down, gently kissing the back of the smaller's head and craddled him once more as he waited for an answer. Yumiko's voice came back, and he figured she, too, was trying desperately not to lose her temper.

"Unfortunately...I won't be able to make it home before Sunday night. So far, Okaa-san and Otou-san don't know you two aren't at your house, Tezuka-san, and Yuuta's spending the weekend at St. Rudolph, because I'm fairly sure he thinks the same they do. Just make sure Syuusuke calls Yuuta at least once this afternoon...on his cellphone. Otherwise, he's probably going to call your house same as I did." She went quiet a moment then added in a low hiss, "You need to get out of the house. I don't care where you go, but get out. For whatever reason, the attacks don't happen at your house, and since you two can't get there, you need to find somewhere else."

"Aa...if that's all?"

"It is. I'll be calling on his phone tomorrow to check on him. Don't you dare take it from him." She hung up without waiting for an answer, as Tezuka was fairly sure he heard her parents in the background. He hit the call button to end, and allowed the phone to fall back to the bed, chancing to look down at his boyfriend. Fuji was rocking once more, hands clenched tightly at the bed sheets in an attempt not to claw at his body, for which Tezuka was excessively thankful for. He sighed a bit, and pulled the tensai to his lap, kissing gently at his neck and shoulder, once more whispering soothing words.

Fuji whimpered softly, though he did relax. He knew his sister wasn't pleased, and was probably going to have a right fit when she did get back...but he would worry about that later. For now he was worried about Tezuka, and trying to explain what happened. He wasn't going to ask...he wasn't...

"How long?" ...He was. Not entirely the question Fuji had been expecting, but a question none-the-less.

"How long...?" His voice was low, his throat still raw and sore. He coughed, rubbing tenderly at the area and looking up pitifully, tugging just as pitifully at his boyfriend's robe collar. Tezuka stared a moment, before a slight smile cracked and he nodded an understanding. He lifted Fuji carefully and carried him down to the kitchen. Once he'd set him in a chair, he moved about to make tea.

Fuji gripped the sides of the chair, watching quietly. The entire time, he thought of how to answer the question. He couldn't, in all honesty, think of how long ago the nightmares had started. Had he always had them? Or were they just melding into the times when nightmares had been innocent, child reactions? He couldn't remember...and could only think of two people who would know, besides his parents. If he asked Yumiko, she would probably lose her temper...he couldn't ask his parents, they thought he was at Tezuka's. ...That left...

"Saeki."

Tezuka stopped in the middle of pouring tea and looked over, curiously, "...Saeki?"

Fuji nodded, answering quietly in an attempt to keep his throat from screaming at him, "He's the only other person that would know. I...I can't remember."

Tezuka nodded a bit, and set the cup down carefully. He fought back a small laugh when Fuji took the cup, as happily as a child would, and began sipping at it. He wanted to ask more...that hadn't been a lie. He was curious, perhaps not to the extent Yumiko was, as she seemed to have a vague idea of what was going on...he, however, didn't. It had to have been quite a while, he deduced, as he started fitting the odd glares he got from the older sister to the times she picked her brother up. He use to think it was because she knew they were together, but he seriously doubted that after the first few weekends. She hadn't minded them going out, she'd said so right before Yuuta consented...given that her consent had been more of an 'if you hurt my brother...' threat type of consent. He vaguely became aware that Fuji was talking to him, and cast a side glance.

"Hm?"

"...I was saying we could probably go see him." A ghost of Fuji's normal smile was playing across his face, "It would serve as a pleasent distraction, and keep us out of the house. If not, we can go abuse Atobe--"

"Saeki's fine." Tezuka cut in, refraining a twitch. Fuji's idea of playful abuse usually ended unpleasently, both for Tezuka and Atobe, or whoever the tensai decided to target from Hyoutei that day. He heard a giggle and shot a glare, though he gave in with a sigh, "I'll go start the shower."

Fuji pouted at the retreating back and quickly finished his tea, before bounding after him in a puppy-like manner. He curled around Tezuka's arm, nuzzling up to him, "Are you sure you don't want to bloody Atobe? Just a little bit?"

"Syuusuke." Again, he recieved a giggle, while the tensai gathered towels, and left Tezuka to start the water.

Fuji was humming to himself, trying to keep the happy thoughts in his mind. While he would much rather beat Oshitari, or Atobe, into the courts, he was equally content with bothering his friend. It wouldn't be fair for another team to suffer just because he lost his temper...not that he particularly cared about many people on the rival teams, but he did know that rumors spread quicker that way, and Atobe had a nasty habit of reaping vengeance. Neither of which he wanted at the moment, especially if he wanted to keep it from Yuuta.

With a soft sigh, he slid out of his robe, and into the running shower behind his boyfriend, arms encircling the other's waist, and cheek nuzzling the muscled back. He purred gently, hands running up to caress his boyfriend's chest, while he licked gently at the shoulder blades, "Neh, neh, Mitsu. Wash me? Pleeeease?" He needed all of the distraction he could get, and then some, as he remembered that their together time had been significantly reduced, first by going to see Tezuka's family, and now by going to see Saeki. He pouted, and nipped lightly at the other's shoulder, whining for attention. Even if it wasn't sex, he wanted the attention.

Tezuka gave in, casting an odd look over his shoulder at the tensai. Fuji worried him sometimes. Especially when he could so easily switch from panic to wanting attention...though the captain couldn't really blame him. He wanted the distraction just as much, but he still worried. He could hardly get Fuji to calm down for five minutes earlier, and wasn't entirely sure this was the best idea.

"Syuusuke..."

Fuji frowned. Tezuka only used his full name to either get his attention, or when something was bothering him. He especially didn't like the concerned tone, and clung tighter, burying his face against his boyfriend's shoulder.

"Please...I need the distraction. I don't want to freak Saeki out. ...Anymore than I have to. He's going to freak out enough when he hears I actually remembered a dream...please, Mitsu?" When he didn't receive an answer, Fuji frowned, and shifted to where he could move under Tezuka's arm and latch around his chest, starring up in accusation, "Mitsu..."

Tezuka looked back down, his face void of emotion as he searched for an answer. Finally, he gave in, "I don't want you hurt, Syuusuke...look at yourself. If you'd managed to get to your eyes, chances are you'd be in surgery about now."

"What about you--"

"I don't care about what you did to me. They're bruises, and the worst of the cuts are already healing. I don't care." He hugged the smaller tightly, kissing his head and letting the water wash over them, "I just don't want you to have another fit." Outwardly, Tezuka tried to keep up a calm demeanor...on the inside though, he gave an involuntary shudder. Just thinking something was bad enough to scare his tensai into random fits of violence... He then recalled that Fuji had mentioned something about being dead...while he did suspect that something to that degree would shake the other up a bit, he was also sure it wouldn't cause him to practically seizure.

"So long as I can't think about what happened, I won't." Frail hands cupped Tezuka's face, forcing him to look back into the blue eyes and come back from his thoughts, "Make me forget. Even if it is just temporary, make me forget those things ever happened...even for just a few hours."

When he didn't receive an answer, the tensai sighed, and gave in with a slight pout, "I'll behave...now pleeeeeease?" He reached behind him for the loofah and used it to paw at Tezuka repeatedly until the captain finally gave in and took the fluffy wash object and began lathering body wash into it. Fuji really did worry him, but if it meant keeping him calm, Tezuka would do just about anything.

Repressing a sigh, he guided the loofah over the smaller body, paying careful attention to Fuji the entire time. There were certain places he knew were ticklish on his tensai, and would often pay special attention to those places as he was washing him. Every time the fluffy object ran over a spot, Fuji would squirm about for a few seconds, and when the loofah failed to leave the area alone, he would turn and nip at Tezuka's arm to make it move. Needless to say, Tezuka was quite amused with the discovery. Almost as amused as when he'd learn Fuji was extra sensative to cold. A slight chuckle escaped before he could catch himself, and Fuji looked up, over his shoulder.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing."

"...Seriously, what?" Fuji turned, arms crossed in a rather childish manner, complete with a pout.

"Honest, nothing." Tezuka gave a slight smile, leaning down to kiss his tensai lightly on the forehead, "Just thinking."

Fuji glared up at him, defying pout still in place as he turned. Tezuka recognized the behaviour as his tensai's way of telling him to stop stalling and resume the pampering. Something the captain listened to, merely to keep his boyfriend calm. He considered a quick round of sex...but knowing Fuji that would turn into an afternoon of marathon sex, in which case they would again be trapped in his house. And Yumiko would be very, very upset. ...Though Tezuka thought that was quite an understatement.

The shower, thankfully, went uneventful. Fuji dressed down in a pair of knee length blue jean shorts and a cream coloured sweater that fell just a few inches past his waist, and the sleeves partially covered his hands. After some complaining on his part, he finally got Tezuka to at least wear jeans and a t-shirt, in comparison to the windbreaker outfit he'd originally tried to put on. There was no way Fuji was going to let his boyfriend wear something that would provoke a tennis match when he wanted to relax. He just hoped Saeki was in a decently good mood to listen...and wouldn't take the news out on Tezuka. It wasn't as though the captain was at fault for the nightmares...though Fuji guessed his friend could probably find a way to pin it on his captain, but he still prayed it didn't come down to that.

Post A/N: ...so. That took longer than I wanted to update. kinda rushed the ending. -sighs- been having a shitty couple of weeks...and i'm sick as hell right now. Anyways...uuh...to answer a few of the reviews...

yamatoforever: Answers will come in due time my faithful reader -heart-...As to the "pet" that Yuuta brought home...XD That was an inserted joke between me and a friend. Fuji doesn't like Mizuki...and instead of coming up with something humorous to title him, we call him "the pet". So, basically, Fuji's just taking a stab at Mizuki's pride while he's not there.

yoshikochan: ...XD I swear. Everytime I read your review I feel so bad...because honestly...that wasn't the worst I can do. The nightmares are going to get much worse. But yes. We can all rest assured that Tezuka will never leave Fuji. bwehehehehehe.

Fair warning: Next chapter does contain graphic smut. ...So does the chapter after it. You have been warned.