Chapter 7
Fuji slowly opened his eyes and stared up at the wooden ceiling.
"Fuji."
He turned his head to the side at the deep, firm voice, seeing the brown-haired bespectacled boy sitting in a chair with arms crossed, watching him intently.
"Ne, Tezuka," he muttered with half-closed lids. "I guess that drink was a variation of Aozu."
Tezuka frowned, reaching a hand out towards Fuji's head and lightly sweeping the delicate strands of hazelnut bangs away from his forehead.
Fuji sighed deeply at the gentle touch in those long callous fingers, his heart fluttering at the sight of soft tenderness rarely displayed in those serious, brown eyes.
"Tezuka," he breathed tiredly. "Come closer, I want to tell you something."
Tezuka blinked blankly, and got up from his chair to lean over closer towards the boy's face to hear what he had to say. Suddenly, two hands flew out and grabbed him, pulling his head down swiftly until his lips crashed into soft, pink ones. Tezuka's eyes flew wide open as he felt the hands tighten its hold on his neck and lips aggressively suck and lick with pure, raw passion. Tezuka pushed his hand against the bed and tried to pry his face away, but the tensai only intensified the kiss. The taller boy felt like he himself was about to get carried away by the hot and steamy mixture of saliva between their mouths as he scrambled with his hands until finally successfully pushing himself away from the tensai.
"Fuji!" he gasped for air as the tensai only stared back up at him with an innocent and content smile, hands still around his neck.
"You carried me back here, didn't you?" the tensai beamed brightly. "I wanted to thank you for it."
"That was unnecessary," Tezuka blushed, avoiding Fuji's eyes.
Fuji chuckled at his reaction and the crooked glasses on his nose. "Ne, Tezuka?"
"What is it, Fuji?"
"I love you."
Tezuka felt the blood rush to his ears. "F-Fuji! We are at a cabin with everyone else. This is highly inappropriate."
Fuji pouted. "Boo, you're no fun." And then, blue eyes gleaming with mischief once more, he tugged on the taller boy's neck towards him again, wanting to devour those now swollen red lips.
This time, Tezuka prepared himself, and lifted up a hand to cover Fuji's mouth, effectively pushing the side of the tensai's face against the pillow.
"F-Fuji!" he gritted through his teeth as the tensai with even more determination try to pull the rigid boy closer to him, inch by inch.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
The two boys froze, blinking at each other before quickly pulling apart at the sound of the door opening.
"Is Fuji all right?" Saeki asked as he walked into the room.
"Aa," Tezuka responded, straightening his glasses as he shot Fuji a warning look.
Fuji sat up in bed and smiled. "I'm all right now, Saeki."
"Tezuka, one of your teammates, Inui, said he had something to ask you. He wanted me to come get you."
Tezuka nodded. "I'll go downstairs right now." He turned to the tensai and added, "Fuji, take your time recovering." Although really, he was telling his teammate to behave.
Tezuka walked out of the room and down the stairs, arriving in the lounge where the regulars were all chattering loudly amongst themselves.
"Tell that data collector of yours no more penalty drinks during this training camp!" Bane demanded to Oishi. "Thanks to him, our captain is still in the bathroom getting the drink out of his system!"
"I want more water," Momoshiro whined as he curled on the floor, stomach still sick.
Echizen tipped his hat down as he sat on the couch and stared at his senpai. "Mada mada dane." And then, he felt an empty water bottle thrown at the side of his head. "Itai!"
"Get me some water, Echizen!" Momoshiro scolded, irritated.
Tezuka walked past the commotion and straight to the tall, data collector.
"Inui."
"Yes, Tezuka," Inui smiled, jotting down some information in his data book as he observed half of the room filled with regulars still recovering from the drink.
"You have something to ask me about?"
Inui paused. "What do you mean?"
Tezuka blinked. "Saeki told me you had something to ask me about."
The data collector adjusted his glasses. "I don't remember saying that, although, I do want to go over with you my observations on the team's performance today."
Tezuka paused.
"Tezuka?" Inui repeated.
"We'll discuss the team's performance after dinner." Tezuka swiftly turned back around, leaving Inui standing there in puzzlement.
As the Seigaku captain disappeared from the room, Saeki pulled up the chair towards the bed and sat down.
"Your teammate comes up with the scariest drinks."
"Ah, soka," Fuji laughed. "But, saa, I usually enjoy those drinks. Unfortunately, Aozu or any variation of it isn't fit for my taste."
"Really," Saeki gave a bemused smile. He reached out his hand and ran his fingers down Fuji's hazelnut strands.
Fuji paused as he felt the large hand gently grace his locks.
"You're always such a risk taker," Saeki watched him with kind eyes. "That's one of your charming traits."
Fuji felt his limbs temporarily paralyze. He blinked blankly as Saeki's elegant hand continued to stroke his hair. There was something unusual in those dark green eyes, and for some reason, it sent his heart slightly running. And then, the hand slid down the strands nearing his cheek.
"Saeki."
The two boys turned around at the sound of the deep voice, with the silvery white-haired player pulling his hand back from the tensai's hair.
"I think your team requires you downstairs in the lounge."
"Ah, soka," Saeki smiled casually, raising an eyebrow as he got up from his seat. He walked over to the door and paused right in front of Tezuka, looking up at deep brown eyes that only glared back with the usual seriousness and coldness. "Dinner should be ready soon," Saeki added, gazing steadily at the boy before walking out the door.
Tezuka watched from the corner of his eye the Rokkaku vice-captain disappear before turning his attention back to Fuji, who happened to be frowning and staring at the door in some sort of silent reverie.
"Fuji."
The tensai shook and looked at the serious bespectacled boy. He quickly put on his smile. "Yes, Tezuka?"
Tezuka blinked at the smoothed strands of hair.
"Heh, Saeki seems to like making my hair neat," Fuji smiled, clearly reading Tezuka's questioning expression.
Tezuka narrowed his eyes. He approached the bed and reached out his hand towards the silky strands, pausing at the touch.
Fuji frowned before smiling amusingly. "Ne, you want to smooth my hair too?" Suddenly, he felt two large hands run through his hair roughly, rummaging the locks into a messy mop. "T-Tezuka, what are you doing?!" Fuji cried out in surprise with large eyes, trying to steady himself in bed.
Tezuka's fingers roamed wildly in various directions through the hazelnut tresses, grasping the locks within his palm before pausing. He glanced down at blue eyes blinking up at him in wonder.
Fuji felt his heart pounding hard against his chest at those strong, warm calloused hands against his scalp as something caught in his lungs. And then, Tezuka began smoothing out the strands, hands softly patting down the threads of hair before letting go at the tips and taking a step back.
"Get up. We are eating dinner," Tezuka ordered, turning around to leave the room.
Fuji blinked, still flustered by this extremely odd action from the stoic boy. He then reached up to play with his bangs, remembering the large rough hands touching his head that nearly took his breath away.
Dinner at the large dining table was filled with hearty laughter and excited conversations as both teams immersed themselves in various topics and discussions. There was hotpot as well as sushi that Takashi had prepared and left in the fridge from earlier that day.
"Inui, please do not give them anymore of your drinks. I don't want to be held responsible for the other school," Ryuzaki emphasized.
Inui pouted, hand still holding a pitcher of an orangey liquid that he is ready to pour into everyone's empty cups.
"Ne, Tezuka, the food is good, isn't it?" Fuji smiled at the boy sitting next to him.
"Aa," Tezuka replied, staring down at the freshly cooked meat sitting on top of his bowl of rice. He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and opened his mouth when he paused, chopsticks and meat hovering in midair. A hand was sliding towards his inner thigh before giving a tight squeeze. Tezuka nearly flinched before narrowing his eyes and glaring at the tensai. "Fuji," he stressed warningly.
Fuji only smiled back innocently. And then, Tezuka felt the hand move up higher on his thigh beneath the table, rubbing horizontally around a sensitive area. Tezuka took a deep breath, trying hard to steady his chest as he felt a ticklish sensation rising at the sensual touch, much to his chagrin. His fingers curled tightly around the wooden chopsticks as the not so innocent caresses continued. Now extremely annoyed that he was being molested at the dinner table in front of not only his own teammates but the other school's as well, he opened his mouth to scold the tensai.
"Fuji."
Tezuka blinked along with the shorter boy, and both turned their heads towards the white silvery-haired boy smiling friendly at them from across the table.
"Have you fully recovered from the drink?"
"Hn, I have," Fuji smiled.
Tezuka sighed in relief for the distraction as Fuji released his thigh.
"You really are a risk taker," Saeki beamed.
Fuji grinned at the comment.
"Saa, it's been a long time since we've known each other," Saeki stared deeply into clear blue orbs.
"Yes, it has," Fuji nodded.
"I do miss the old time. Too bad you moved away." He traced those smooth, plump, pink lips with his dark green eyes.
"We were such troublemakers."
"Yes, we were," Saeki leaned in on his hand as he admired Fuji's perfect features. "I do wish we can go back to those times. It was just me, you, and Yuuta."
Fuji frowned before chuckling. "We did hang out together a lot."
"Yes, we did," Saeki gave a steady smile as he gazed at the tensai, taking in the sight of the smooth bare neck uncovered by the T-shirt the tensai was wearing.
He wanted to mark that neck.
"Fuji."
Saeki shook unnoticeably at the sudden deep voice.
"Yes, Tezuka?" Fuji smiled at the bespectacled boy.
"You should not be eating that much wasabi. You're just recovering from Inui's drink."
"Heh, soka," Fuji laughed. He stared lovingly into those deep, brown serious eyes. "Do you care about me that much?" Fuji asked with hidden innuendo, his hand read to grab another roll of wasabi sushi.
"I'm the captain. The team's health is also my responsibility," Tezuka answered simply.
Fuji chuckled. "Soka."
Saeki's dark green eyes darkened at the Seigaku captain glancing down at the tensai.
So cold.
So serious.
Yet, something softened in those bold, deep brown eyes as they looked at the tensai.
Saeki's mouth curved into a slight, unpleasant smile.
He really hates that man.
After dinner, both teams scattered about the lounge and dinning area, chatting excitedly about their upcoming matches as well as other miscellaneous matters while avoiding Inui's persistent offers to pour them their drinks.
"Fuji."
Fuji turned around from finishing his conversation with Kikumaru as his childhood friend approached him.
"Yes, Saeki."
"Let's go over there where we can hear each other better."
Fuji nodded and followed the taller boy to a corner next to the fireplace, farther away from the rest of their teammates' loud conversations.
"Are you having a good time?"
"Hm, thanks for inviting me and my team," Fuji smiled. He was clearly enjoying the training camp. The cabin was nice, and the lounge was spacious enough to fit both teams comfortably. In addition, the snacks covering the coffee table in the middle of the room were delicious, although he would have preferred his spicy chilly cheese crackers that Momoshiro was so fond of (or so he sadistically thought).
"The Rokkaku team is always happy to have a chance to play with the famous Seigaku. I hope that everyone else on your team is enjoying their time here as much as you."
"I'm sure they are," Fuji grinned.
"Saa, that's good," Saeki smiled casually. "You seem…pretty close with your captain." His dark green eyes caught a slight change in that smiling face before him.
"Heh, yes, we're close," Fuji chuckled.
"Good friends?"
Fuji laughed. "Well, I guess you can say that."
Saeki frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Heh. I mean, yes, we are good friends."
"Soka," Saeki smiled in relief. He reached out his hand and touched the sleek strands of hazelnut hair. "You shouldn't have moved away."
Fuji opened his eyes, surprised by the words.
"I…really missed you," Saeki said in a lower tone, fingering the soft tips before running his fingers slowly through the side of Fuji's hair, letting delicate locks naturally slide into the palm of his hand.
Fuji's mouth fell slightly ajar, at a lost for words. He shuddered as he felt unfamiliar fingers brush up against his ear intimately. Green eyes stared intently at him. Confused, Fuji frowned and started to get a little nervous. And then, the hand slowly drifted down to his cheek.
"Fuji."
Both boys snapped their heads towards the voice of the tall, Seigaku captain approaching them.
"Ah, Tezuka," Fuji smiled.
Saeki had already released his hand, still feeling the lingering touch of Fuji's soft cheek as he gave the captain a collected smile and nodded. "Tezuka."
"Saeki was asking if everyone was enjoying the party," Fuji explained.
"Aa," was Tezuka's only response as he glanced at the silvery white-haired vice-captain.
"Although, this party does remind me of the time when we put chilly powder in the punch ball during our grade school graduation party," Saeki chuckled.
Fuji laughed heartily. "Hai, the party was also at a cabin similar to this. Except, we don't have a teacher here to scold us. Just our coaches."
"Fuji and I go back a long time," Saeki added, turning to Tezuka. "A really long time," he flashed an engaging smile.
"So I've heard," Tezuka responded.
"It's a pity that Fuji had to move away. Otherwise, he would've been with the rest of us in Rokkaku."
"Aa."
Dark green steady eyes stared back at deep, brown serious ones. "Out of everyone, I guess I should say that I've known Fuji the longest."
"Aa." Tezuka scarcely replied.
Saeki observed those stern, icy features that didn't show even the smallest, miniscule movement. His lips curved into slight amusement at the unwavering gaze.
"I do hope to see Fuji more often to renew our friendship."
"Aa." Tezuka repeated.
"Maybe I should also scout Fuji to our team," Saeki spoke casually.
"That is not possible, for Fuji lives near Seigaku."
"Ah, but, perhaps he would like to come rejoin the old Rokkaku crew in Chiba?" Saeki nodded at Fuji, who only blinked blankly at this whole conversation that seemed slightly off.
"Fuji will not be doing that."
"And why wouldn't he?" Saeki raised an eyebrow. "Fuji grew up there. I'm sure he misses Chiba. Do you know Fuji well enough to know what decision he'll make?." He took a step forward. "I believe I understand him quite well. After all, I'm his childhood friend."
"And I'm his captain."
Tezuka placed his hand on Fuji's shoulder.
Fuji blinked some more, completely puzzled as he felt the grip tighten.
"Fuji's a valuable player to the Seigaku team and is already well versed with the members. We will not be giving up a player like him nor anyone else." Tezuka stated firmly.
"I see," Saeki gave a steady smile at those intimidating eyes. "But Fuji can adapt easily to a change of environment. I'm sure he'll get along well at Rokkaku."
"Fuji belongs to Seigaku."
Saeki smiled amusingly at the Seigaku captain, watching those unshakable brown eyes intently as though challenging them.
There was slight tension in the air as neither boy moved, the glare from the fireplace illuminating the sides of their faces against the shadows.
"Oi, what are you guys doing there by yourselves? Come have some of these cookies that Oji guy brought!" Momoshiro called out to them from across the room, stuffing a handful of sugar cookies into his mouth.
"Stop hogging all the snacks!" Kaidoh scolded.
"Wha dus it mattur to u?" Momoshiro mumbled through mouthfuls.
"Stop hogging it!"
"You want a fight, Viper?" Momoshiro swallowed the cookies, glaring at the bandana clad boy.
"Momoshiro, Kaidoh. 20 laps around the cabin!"
"EH?"
As the two second years grumbled and began stepping out the front door to run, Saeki flashed his usual laid-back, charming smile. "Anyway, I was joking. I know very well how much Seigaku needs Fuji, and how much Fuji likes Seigaku."
Fuji chuckled. "If you talk anymore about scouting me, I think Eiji will have your head."
"Ah, that acrobatic boy?" Saeki reflected, arching his eyebrows with a smile.
"What are you guys doing just talking? Quickly come join us to finish these snacks!" Takashi called out joyfully to the crew.
"Let's go eat some," Fuji suggested.
"Aa," Tezuka gave his usual stoic response.
"You guys go on ahead, I had my fair share of cookies Oji made," Saeki calmly grinned.
The two Seigaku players nodded and walked across the room to the table of cookies Momoshiro had recommended.
Saeki continued to watch the hazelnut-haired boy smiling freely at everyone around him while chatting away. And then, lips curving into something indiscernible, his eyes darken.
Fuji is mine.
