Hello anybody reading this! Alright, I've completely given up on the week thing. Still, I can't post chapters as soon as I get them done… that would be insane… That would mean I post one almost everyday… I like having the next chapter already done when I post a new one. That way, if I hit a slump, the readers don't have to wait. If anyone has an idea of a system I can use for when to post chapters, please tell me!
Pinkfloweree- Yeppers, this has happened to Tezuka before. Thanks for your review!
YukimuraAme- To be honest, the idea of Inui having mind reading powers would scare me three-quarters of the way to death… Yeah… Not 'half', more… Still, I like hearing your opinion anyway! And more on the others is coming soon (Some in the chapter, actually), I just wanted to establish the TezukaxFuji base first, and now I can expand! Yay! Anyway… Thanks for reviewing!
Susaku- Okay, but don't wait too long, because it's already out! Just kidding! Thanks for the review!
Alaena Flame Dragonstar- Actually, I think my mom CAN erase memories; her own! Well, at this point I don't know if I'll explain the 'Trivial Pulse', as a word, so I might as well explain it here. It doesn't give anything away. You see, they call it 'Trivial', partly because it doesn't deem like much, when you feel it at first (Before it REALLY kicks in) but mostly because most of the guys effected are extremely sarcastic, so though it is a BIG deal, they call it 'Trivial'. Make sense? Anyway, thanks for the review!
T.I.B.E.-sway- - 'Yesh'? Shia doesn't know what that means… I hope it's not bad… Thanks for reviewing anyway!
Old Fiat- They're coming, they're coming! I promise!! Hahaha, thanks for your review!
KiriharaAkaya- Hahaha, yay, someone who doesn't mind! And I've noticed that in the English ones, that they pronounce his name a bit strangely… Sad… Still, be careful about hugging Te-- Kunimitsu, Fuji might try to hunt you down later and make you pay… And that would be bad… So, what I'm sayin' is, remember to lock your door tonight, just in case.
CelicaChick- Then wait no longer! On with the chapter! Thanks, as always, for reviewing!
Oh, ans P.S.: I'm upinf the rating a bit, mostly because of the chapter after this. If anyone dissagrees with my rating, please tell me! Enjoy the chapter!!!
Disclaimer- I do not own Prince of Tennis
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The down town air wasn't helping Fuji make his decision as he had thought it would. He wanted to tell Kunimitsu, if that was what he needed, but he didn't want to attack the buchou with a one-sided love. He sighed, and opened his eyes to see something that surprised him; Kunimitsu was just across the street. He held up a hand, ready to call out, but someone else approached the buchou before he could. He recognized the person as Ayame Seikaku. Fuji moved across the street anyway, hoping to overhear the conversation.
"Buchou!" Ayame greeted wit ha small bow. Kunimitsu nodded in response, he seemed to have quite a bit on his mind. "Uh… Hey, Buchou? I don't know if you're doing anything right now, but could I talk to you?" Kunimitsu regarded the other boy with a stoic expression.
"Sure," Kunimitsu said, leaving Fuji a bit perturbed. Since when did Kunimitsu give answers so quickly? Ayame looked delighted, and the too began to walk off towards the park. Fuji followed slowly behind, keeping out of sight, and treading as silently as few but a bird-kid can.
"Er, well…" Ayame rubbed the back of his head self-consciously when they had found a secluded enough place, "I know you'll just have to reject me, but… I kinda wanted to tell you how I feel any way… I've liked you for a long time, Buchou."
Kunimitsu looked at the other boy with blank eyes, then finally answered, "Gomen, I'm--"
"It's okay," Ayame waved a hand, he was starting to cry a bit, but he was smiling, "I know you're not gay, I just had to tell you."
"It's n--"
"I'll see you at practice, Buchou," Ayame said, then waved and hurried off as the tears really began to flow. Shusuke was a bit taken back. He had recognized a long time ago that Kunimitsu probably wasn't into guys, but to hear it… He felt his own tears come to his eyes, and was surprised to find them there. He lifted a hand up to feel the hot, salty tears, his blue eyes widening.
"What are these?" He asked himself quietly. Hadn't he expected this all along? Life wasn't a fairytale, where everyone ended up with the one that they loved. Hadn't Fuji already realized that? Yes, he had, but that didn't change the fact that it hurt. His feelings would certainly only be a burden at this point. So wrapped up in his thoughts, he didn't hear Kunimitsu coming towards him, coming around the tree he had been hiding behind, having heard his voice.
"Fuji-kun," He muttered, and Fuji looked up in surprise, then turned quickly, trying to hide his tears. "What's wrong?" Fuji took a step away, not turning back to the buchou, but forcing his voice to keep steady.
"It's nothing. It has nothing to do with you," Fuji lied.
"Choudai, Fuji-kun, don't lie to me," Kunimitsu said, "I can tell when you're lying."
'You can, can you?' Fuji thought to himself, and doubted it. It was a guilty conscience, surely, that made him say this. Kunimitsu thought he had been a burden the night before, and now blamed himself for Fuji's distress. "Yokeinaosewa."
"Yes, it is of my concern," Kunimitsu pressed, then saved himself by saying, "We're friends aren't we?"
"Yes, friends and nothing more," Fuji said, feeling another wave of tears threatening to overcome him. Kunimitsu was a bit taken back.
"What brings this up?" he asked, but Fuji was past the point of listening, blocking out everything to keep his emotions in check. "Fuji-kun…" He took a step towards the tensai, and reached out, touching his shoulder.
Fuji stopped trying to act as if nothing was wrong and ran. He ran until he was out of the park and closer to the outskirts, then forced his wings out and took off, flying high enough that no one below could see him. Then he flew back toward the home in the mountains.
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Momo was in fox form, running through the woods around the house, trying to clear his head. It was then that he heard the sobbing coming from near the creek. He changed course, and changed forms, approaching the person, whoever it was, on silent feet. He saw Fuji before the older boy saw him, and his eyes widened at the bizarre sight of the tensai, normally so sadistically happy, crying.
"Fuji-senpai…?" He said tentatively, his orange, bushy tail suddenly appearing again, "Are you hurt or something?"
"Or something," Fuji agreed, too exhausted to hide his emotions any more. Momo wouldn't tell anyone about this anyway, not if Fuji asked him to keep it a secret. They were quiet for a moment, "Momo, how did you tell Ryoma how you felt about him?"
"Well, I didn't really have to," Momo blushed, thinking of the younger boy fondly, "He read my mind, you know."
"Of course," Fuji said, sighing as he leaned back against a tree, sinking to the ground.
"Why? Are you thinking of confessing to someone?" Momo asked, interested, "There aren't many who would turn you down, Fuji-senpai. As long as they're not taken, I mean."
"They're not, but I fear my feelings will only be a burden," Fuji said, not sure why he was talking so seriously to Momo, of all people.
"Then maybe you should go for it," Momo said, "Just to see what happens. If your feelings aren't returned, then they can't be a burden. Or is there something else?"
"He's a guy," Fuji said, and Momo smiled.
"That didn't matter for me and Ryoma, or Oishi-senpai and Eiji-senpai," he said, "I still say you should go for it."
"He's got a lot going on already," Fuji said, "What if I'm just another distraction, and he can never look at me the same way again?"
"How could you be a distraction? He'd be sure to give you his full attention, so the other things would be the distractions," Momo said optimistically.
"There you are," The voice belonged to Ryoma, and the seventh grader approached the two older boys, acting as if he couldn't see Fuji's tears. "I've figured out how to single out a person's thoughts, and use that to locate them," he told Momo, who congratulated him. Then he turned to Fuji, "And you should just go ahead and confess to Tezuka-buchou; he needs you right now, and he won't turn you away." Fuji looked at the shorter boy with a look of mixed awe and surprise.
"A-arigatou," he said, and headed towards the house, hoping Kunimitsu was back. Momo frowned at the younger boy.
"I thought you said earlier that you couldn't read Tezuka-buchou's thoughts," he noted, "That there was some kind of interference." Ryoma smirked at his boyfriend childishly.
"You don't need to be psychic to tell those two are crazy about each other," Ryoma said, and Momo grinned back.
"I guess you're right," he said, leaning towards the younger boy, "Just about as crazy as I am about you." He sealed it with a kiss, and the two fell back into the grass by the creek.
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Oishi and Eiji were taking advantage of the little time they ever got without Ryuzaki breathing down their necks by laying together on the long, leather couch. When they had settled in, the point was to watch a TV movie, but, as always, the two boys had ended up making out instead.
Kunimitsu opened the door to the house and was headed through the foyer, past the entryway to the living room, when he caught sight of them. He didn't say a word and waited until they broke for air, when Oishi noticed him.
"Ah!" He blushed wildly, "Kunimitsu! Er…" Kunimitsu waved a hand. Why was he so worried about what he thought? It was Ryuzaki who always got on their case; Kunimitsu didn't care what they did off the tennis courts, so long as it didn't endanger them.
"Have you see Fuji-kun?" he asked, and both boys blinked.
"No," Eiji answered, "Why?"
"No reason," Kunimitsu growled without meaning to, "And Kikumaru-kun, your ears are sticking out. Yours too, Shuichiro." Eiji laughed as he covered his dog ears, Oishi hurrying to cover his own round, bear ears.
"You didn't know?" Eiji laughed, "Whenever your emotions are strong, then your 'extras', you tail or ear or wings or scales or whatever, will come out. Especially for love. Just touching the person you love can cause a reaction. We have to be careful at school, you know." Kunimitsu wondered why no one had bothered to tell him that. It certainly seemed important enough information.
"Arigatou," He said, "I'm going upstairs, then." Oishi and Eiji watched from he couch as he continued passed and up the stairs.
"Where were we… Teddy bear?" Eiji asked, and Oishi chuckled, then the two began kissing again.
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Fuji practically, or literally, it was hard to tell, flew in through the door. Eiji sighed, realizing they were about to be interrupted again
"Gomennasai" Fuji muttered absently, looking around.
"Tezuka-buchou was looking for you," Eiji informed him, his tail wagging. "He's gone upstairs now."
"Arigatou," Fuji said quickly, then swept up the stairs.
"Now-"
"Boys!" Ryuzaki yelled as she came in, a bag of groceries under her arm. Both boys tensed. "To your room!" Eiji grinned, and Ryuzaki saw what a mistake telling them that had been. "Nevermind, Shuichiro-kun, to your room! Eiji-kun, come with me to the kitchen. You're on dinner duty." Eiji moaned and Oishi gave his hand a squeeze as they stood up. Then Eiji gave him the puppy-eyes look, even more effective now that he actually had dog blood in him, and Oishi looked a bit distressed as he was forced to separate himself from him, watching the entire time he headed up the stairs.
"I'll see you tonight," Oishi whispered, quietly enough that only Eiji's super-sensitive dog ears could hear. Eiji hid a grin, and put his ears and tail away.