The Right Time Chapter 4, a prince of tennis fanfic

A/N: Second to last chapter. These are always fun, aren't they, when you know that everything will be concluded in the next update. Hopefully.

If you spot a possible plot hole, please tell me. I'd hate to leave a glaring mistake in this.

Tezuka sighed as he saw the youngest member of his team slumbering under a tree. It was still lunch hour, but that would end soon, and if Echizen wanted to stay on the tennis team, he would need to keep his grades at least at an acceptable level. And that wasn't going to be very easy if he was going to be late for his classes because he was napping under a tree.

He was about to go and wake Echizen when he saw a figure standing near the boy, the face shadowed by the tree. It could have been anyone that stood there, watching the boy sleep, but Tezuka knew it was Fuji. No one else would have just stood there, silently watching. They would have woken the boy with a loud shout, or nudged him with their foot. Fuji just watched.

When Tezuka saw Fuji lean on the tree trunk he left for his own class. Fuji would wake the boy eventually, and make sure he would not miss class.

No matter what he knew was right for everyone, Tezuka also knew Fuji wouldn't follow his advice. He would not wait until they graduated, were safely into their new lives. There was a built in need with Fuji to try and muck things up. He couldn't help it. If there was a chance to create innocent havoc, Fuji would take it.

This time the chaos wouldn't be so innocent, but he doubted that would matter to Fuji. He might alienate people, create dispute among the team, but all that wouldn't matter. Fuji wasn't going to let Echizen go easily. He wasn't going to let Echizen go at all, simple as that.

Tezuka knew all this. And still he hoped Fuji would do nothing.

Ryoma opened his eyes and blinked. The sunlight that filtered through the leaves of the tree wasn't as bright as the one that had shone to his eyes earlier at class that morning, and when he lifted his hand, he saw that the light had given his skin a slight green tint.

"So you're finally awake, Ryoma-kun," Fuji's gentle voice startled Ryoma. He hadn't expected anyone to be there. Usually when he woke in someone's presence they were either screaming at him, or shaking him.

"Don't creep up on people, Fuji-sempai," he muttered, not bothering to get up from his comfortable position on the grass. He heard some noise from his right side and after feeling a presence by him, and hearing his voice from closer, knew Fuji had sat down.

"I wasn't creeping up on you. You just slept so soundly you did not hear me stomping here," the words were light, but the tone of voice was strangely serious. It made Ryoma wonder what was different, but he did not bother to turn his head so he could see Fuji's face and find out.

"What time is it?" Ryoma asked and closed his eyes.

"We still have some time before class," he heard Fuji answer.

"Good," Ryoma mumbled and yawned. Just before he fell back to the world of dreams, he felt a light touch on his forehead, as if a leaf had fallen from the tree to caress his skin.

Fuji watched Ryoma's breathing slow down as the boy fell asleep. He trailed the boy's forehead with his finger, smiling when the lines evened out as reality no longer demanded the boy's attention.

He was beautiful. Fuji had always known that, but hadn't dared to think it, put the thought in to words. Even though he had long known it, the truth had scared him. It still did.

Fuji's finger travelled from the forehead, to the side of the boy's nose, to his cheeks and stopped by the boy's lips. His finger trembled, as he touched the lips. They were so soft, silky. He wanted to feel them against his own lips, have Ryoma's breath in his mouth, the taste of his skin on his tongue.

Shocked by his own thoughts Fuji withdrew his hand, held it close to his chest and stared at Ryoma's sleeping figure. What would happen if the boy would wake, Fuji's fingers caressing his lips, touching his face in a way no other boy should. Would Ryoma growl out in disgust, hit him? Would it be loathing Fuji would see in those eyes from then on? They would never go back, that he knew. Fuji already knew he could never go back, but there was still a chance to salvage what he had with Ryoma, their friendship.

The boy swallowed in his sleep, his tongue moistening his lips, making them glisten in the sun. He turned to his side, his nose brushing against Fuji's thigh, and the hot breath that came from between his parted lips warmed Fuji's skin even through the thick fabric of his uniform pants. Ryoma's right hand came up and with fingers fisted it landed on his thigh, teasingly close to his crotch. Fuji heaved in a deep breath, grabbed hold of the grass, his fingers burying in to the dirt. He kept his eyes closed for the first time since seeing Ryoma that morning, and wished he wouldn't want so much just to stay here.

When Ryoma shifted, Fuji opened his eyes again and forced himself to relax. His hand returned to Ryoma's face, as if of its own will. He cupped Ryoma's chin, letting his thumb brush against the lips. Fuji bent down, his face hovering over Ryoma. Only a few inches and he would be kissing the boy. His first kiss with Ryoma and the boy would never know.

Sighing Fuji placed a gentle kiss on the forehead and sat up. He tangled his fingers in the boy's hair and rested his head against the tree trunk, soon falling asleep. Ryoma would miss his class, and so would he. Fuji would get a scolding, not only from his teacher but from Tezuka and Eiji. Ryoma too, Fuji mused, but couldn't bring himself to care.

"Fuji, you idiot," Tezuka muttered as he saw the two boys sleeping under a tree.

When Fuji had not appeared in class Tezuka had guessed what had happened. He had successfully faked a headache to the teacher and with out even attempting to pretend he was heading towards the nurse's office came straight to where he had seen Fuji with Echizen earlier that day.

It was an endearing sight, really. Echizen curled up, his head resting against Fuji's thigh; hand on the older boy's lap, Fuji's hand resting on top of the younger one's head. It would bring a boy and his little brother in to the mind of most people. Tezuka was not most people. He knew better.

Not too gently Tezuka took hold of Fuji's shoulder and shook him. He soon found himself in the gaze of Fuji's dazed eyes. The fair-haired boy blinked and once truly awake, his eyes flew wide open, in shock of seeing Tezuka's stern face so close to his own. "You idiot," Tezuka scolded him with a stern voice. "Do you know that anyone could have seen you?"

"I…" Fuji glanced down on his lap and Tezuka saw his face soften immediately at the sight of Echizen. "I couldn't help it," he said, a smile on his lips.

"Get up," Tezuka ordered.

Fuji was going to argue but one glance at Tezuka's furious face and he knew it wasn't worth it. Gently he placed Ryoma's head on the grass and his smile grew even fonder, if it was possible, when Ryoma made a complaining noise in his sleep, protesting to the loss of his pillow.

Standing now, Fuji was still shorter than Tezuka, but he had always refused to feel threatened by the difference in their physique. He returned Tezuka's furious glare with his own.

"How hard would it really be, letting him finish school in peace, let everyone enjoy this last year together?" Tezuka asked, pleading Fuji to see it from his point of view.

"The first year we were together was the last year together, Tezuka," Fuji told him. "Taka-san is no longer here, hasn't been for years. Kaidoh and Momo made their own bonds during their year alone, away from us, Kikumaru and Oishi are always together, and Inui is-" Too busy mooning over you to concentrate on anything else, Fuji was about to say before he caught himself. It wouldn't do anyone any good telling Tezuka about Inui's crush. "Inui is Inui and you are too busy with your studies to keep your whole focus on the tennis club."

"So is that what this is all about? You feel left out and decide screwing with Echizen's head would be a nice distraction. Have someone who'll be there for you, like a little pet?" Tezuka spat the words out, not even thinking about them. The bitterness in Fuji's voice had made him think it and he feared it was true. Of course he was busy with his studies, it was their final year in high school and it was to be expected things would change over the years. They couldn't remain the same forever.

"No!" Fuji yelled. "You know me better than that Tezuka, or at least I thought you did. My feelings … I think I might…" Fuji glanced back at the sleeping boy and all the anger that had been evident in his face dissolved. "I don't know what they are, but I am not playing," he finally settled on whispering.

"Fuji," Tezuka breathed his name surprisingly gently. He took hold of his friends arm, "Come with me. I'll say I found you in the nurse's office after you'd been taken there because you fainted."

"Fainted? Can't you think of anything a bit more… manlier?"

"Would you rather have diarrhoea?"

When he was sure both were gone, Ryoma opened his eyes. He didn't know what to think of the conversation he'd just heard, wasn't all that sure he understood any of it, except it had something to do with him. He'd woken to hear Tezuka yelling about Fuji making someone his pet and heard Fuji heatedly decline it. Fuji had also said something about his feelings, which was just plain weird.

Ryoma took out his cell phone to look at the time and forgot all about the conversation when he realized he'd missed nearly his whole class. Why hadn't Fuji-sempai woken him?

"Where were you Echizen?" Horio demanded to know when they were heading for the club after school.

Ryoma shrugged, not answering Horio. He stopped when they turned a corner and the courts came in to view. Fuji and Tezuka were standing together, discussing something. It wasn't an unusual sight, Fuji and Tezuka together. But it was unusual that it bothered Ryoma. Suddenly seeing the two of them together angered him, made him irritated.

They weren't dating, that's what Fuji had said. Still, it wasn't hard to imagine it and easy to understand how Kikumaru-sempai and everyone had so easily accepted it as the truth. There was ease in the way those two communicated, the kind that was sometimes present between the Golden Pair. They were so natural with each other, as if they belonged together.

Ryoma scowled and quickly went to change. He didn't want to look at those two anymore.

Practice was over and Fuji was putting his uniform jacket back on when Ryoma came inside the locker room, still wearing his tennis clothes. It was just the two of them now. Strange, how that seemed to occur more often these days.

Ryoma paused by the doorway when he saw Fuji and stared at him like Inui sometimes did, when he was trying to gather his data. Fuji felt uncomfortable under that stare, did not enjoy the feeling of being dissected and thought through. He had never liked it when Inui attempted to gather his data, but he could always dismiss Inui easily and make sure he gathered nothing useful. When Ryoma did the same it felt different. Fuji knew that he wasn't as good at hiding his emotions as he had thought himself to be and if Ryoma were to find out like this, with out Fuji getting a chance to speak to him, explain things-

"Fuji-sempai," Ryoma finally spoke.

"Yes Ryoma-kun?" Fuji asked.

"Why are you always with Buchou?" the question was asked in a sour voice and it took Fuji by surprise. He turned to stare at Ryoma, wide eyed, hopeful.

"Does it bother you?" he asked in a soft voice, not taking his eyes off the boy's face, attempting to see under the brim of his cap. "Ryoma? Does it bother you when I'm with Tezuka?" He took a step towards the boy and when close enough, took off his cap. The boy did not resist and Fuji could finally see his eyes.

"Fuji!" Tezuka snapped from the open door and they both turned to look at him. "I need to speak with you. Now!"

Ryoma took back his cap from Fuji's hand and when their fingers brushed Fuji felt a shock go through him. He locked eyes with the boy, to see if he had felt it too. The brown eyes were wide and bewildered. Fuji couldn't help but smile at the boy and nearly leaned in when Ryoma responded with a smile of his own.

"Fuji!" Tezuka yelled again, making Fuji jump.

"Better go Fuji-sempai, Buchou's calling you," Ryoma placed his cap back on his head, went to his locker and slammed its door open.

Fuji was about to say something, but Tezuka yanked him out of the locker room, behind the club room and pushed him against the wall, not releasing his hold on Fuji's arm. Fuji shoved Tezuka's hand off him, knocking Tezuka's glasses off accidentally. Eyes narrowed, Tezuka pushed Fuji against the wall again and prepared himself for a fight.

When Fuji's back slammed against the wall he hit his head and slid to the ground, hands pressed to the back of his head. The sharp pain he felt did not prevent him from yelling, "Why did you have to interrupt? You saw it! He was-"

"He's still a kid!" Tezuka bent down to retrieve his glasses and placedthem back on his nose. "What ever he might be feeling, he's still a kid, they're a kid's feelings." Tezuka grouched down in front of him, not letting Fuji look away from his eyes. "He's not a grown up. Handling things like this isn't something he needs to do at a time like this in his life. Why can't you just let him be a kid, Fuji?"

Fuji pulled his knee up, supported his elbow against it and leaned his forehead against his palm. He took in a deep breath, looking away from Tezuka. "I guess I'm just selfish," he finally answered in a hushed voice.

"You are a good friend, Fuji. The best I have ever had. But you'd make a lousy boyfriend," Tezuka told him. "Still, all that said, I know you probably won't listen to reason, so at least listen to this warning: You mess Echizen and I'll forget years of friendship. He isn't important just to you."

Fuji shot Tezuka a sharp glare. "What do you mean? I'm not going to let you have him," he hissed.

"I don't want him," Tezuka said, making Fuji blink. "Just because someone is important to me, doesn't mean I want to fuck them."

"Jeesh, I never knew you could be so crude Tezuka," Fuji grimaced when grinning made his head ache.

"Come on, we should get to the nurse. Hopefully she's still there," Tezuka offered his hand to him.

"What are we going to tell her when she asks how I hit my head?"

"I saved you from some bullies."

"Why is it that every time you make up a cover story, I end up sounding like a damsel in distress?" There was slight pause before Fuji added, "And if you say 'You look like a girl,' the nurse won't be asking just about my bruises."

"I wasn't going to say that," Tezuka said. "I was going to say, 'Your fragile frame makes you believable as a victim'."

"You're basically saying I look like a girl."

"Well it is the truth."