A/N: OMG, I'm not dead! Can you believe it? We're getting closer to the end now and tensions are rising. Atobe's POV does show up a few times in this chapter, but it is necessary for the story. Well, thanks for everyone's reviews and please read on. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Prince of Tennis anime/manga.
Chapter 9
Fuji,
I want you to be happy, but at the same time I want to be happy as well. That's why I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry, but I'm breaking up with you.
Goodbye,
Ryoma
Fuji had stood staring at that simple letter for who knows how long until Eiji had interrupted him.
By the end of the week he was still staring at that letter, but this time there was no one to interrupt him. He was all alone as he sat in a tree in his backyard. No one was home to bother him or bug him about going to school. He hadn't gone to school since Wednesday and it was Saturday now. Yuuta, his brother, kept him up to date on anything important that happened. He just couldn't go back yet. He just couldn't see them together, he'd die or rip someone's head off. His mind flew back to the conversation he'd had with Ryoma Wednesday night on the phone.
Flashback
"Hello, Fuji," Ryoma's voice said exasperatedly.
"Ryo, why?" Fuji asked painfully.
"You've been calling me all night only to ask that," Ryoma said disbelievingly, "You know why."
"No, I don't. Please tell me, I'll fix it and then we can be together again," Fuji practically begged.
"Don't do this to me Fuji," Ryoma said softly.
"Do what? Try to get my boyfriend, who I love, back!" Fuji almost yelled.
"I don't believe that," Ryoma whispered, "don't believe that you truly loved me as much as you said you did."
"I did, no I do love you. Please, just please, Ryo-baby," Fuji pleaded softly.
"No. I'm sorry Fuji, but I've got to move on. I already promised Tezuka a date and I plan to go through with it. Goodbye, Fuji," Ryoma answered and then hung up.
Fuji's room was silent for a minute before the boy fell to his knees and screamed.
'Why, why, why,' was all his brain kept repeating.
He was unaware as his brother and sister ran in to see what was the matter. He barely heard or acknowledged their attempts to find out what was wrong. He didn't know he was muttering the same three words over and over as his siblings held him close.
"He left me. He left me. He left me…."
End flashback
Tezuka, why Tezuka? Was this God's revenge for the thoughts he used to have about Tezuka. Tezuka was suppose to be his secret crush that he had given up to stay with Ryoma and now the two of them are together. It had to be punishment from a higher power. What had he done wrong? Where had he messed up?
Fuji sighed, he already missed Ryoma so much. Just knowing that Roma was no longer his made him feel like he had lost a limb. Besides that, so much for his Sanada, Atobe, and Tezuka plan. Now it was just the Sanada and Atobe plan, but he didn't even feel like plotting right now.
He liked to believe he was a strong person who could get through anything. He'd like to say he hadn't even contemplated suicide, but that would be a lie. He had contemplated it, but for now he had no will to do it. Sure he was miserable and lonely, but that was no reason to end his life. Once that thought had been taken car of, Fuji had locked it away, hopefully, it would never see sunlight again.
His phone rang and Fuji quickly pulled it up to see who was calling; in his heart he knew who he was hoping was calling. Seeing the screen, he sighed. It was Yukimura again. Well, he had put his friend off too much already. Sighing again, he answered the phone.
"Hello," Fuji said in a monotone voice.
"Fuji? Thank God! I'm so glad you picked up. I was afraid you had killed yourself or something," Yuki relieved voice babbled and Fuji felt horrible.
"I'm sorry 'Mura. It's just…" Fuji broke off dejectedly.
"No worries, I understand completely," Yukimura stated, "I was just worried."
"Thanks," Fuji said, but he didn't know why.
"You're welcome, Fuji. Remember, I do care, okay?" Yukimura reminded him.
"Okay," Fuji answered solemnly.
"So what happened. All I know is that Echizen broke up with you and that he and Tezuka are an item now. My question is why?" Yukimura asked.
"I've been asking myself that for days," Fuji said after a pause, "He acts like I wronged him, but I haven't done anything that could have hurt him. I know we've fought before, but this has never happened and I don't know what to do."
Fuji leaned back in his tree and put his phone on speaker, its not like anyone was around to hear and his hand was cramping. He set the phone next to him on the branch and stretched out. Unknown to Fuji a certain purple headed diva crawled into some bushes in his yard to spy on him and to see how miserable Fuji was.
"First off, breathe, Fuji. Second off, maybe its time for you to move on," Yukimura said, not knowing of the growing look of horror on Fuji's face at the thought, "How about Sanada? I know we were trying to get Atobe, Sanada, and Tezuka together, but since Tezuka's out of the picture, why don't you give Sanada a chance. I think with time, you two could really come to like each other."
The hidden figure in the bushed had to cover his gasp of shock. Why hadn't he thought about this when he had pulled Fuji and Ryoma apart? Plus had Fuji really been trying to get he and Sanada together? Atobe had to muffle a groan. His habit of jumping to conclusions had really messed up his chances with Sanada and maybe this time he deserved it.
"No way!" Fuji answered, unaware of the mental struggle his uninvited guest was having.
"Why not?" Yukimura asked indignantly, "Sanada's a great guy."
"No offense, Yukimura, but I couldn't do that," Fuji said, "Don't you know that Atobe really likes Sanada and I'm pretty sure Sanada likes him back, even though he has a little thing for Tezuka."
"Well, okay, but it's too bad. I would have loved to have seen two of my most favorite people together," Yukimura said with a pout.
Fuji laughed and the two of them spent some time talking about school and other such trivialities. Meanwhile Atobe snuck out of the yard and as soon as he was a few blocks away from the Fuji household he dialed Sanada's number. Fuji intrigued him and he wanted to know more, why had he let his hatred and jealousy blind him?
Back at the Fuji house, Fuji had finally said his goodbyes to his friend and hung up. He felt a lot better now. He spent another minute contemplating before he finally jumped down from his tree. Heading into the kitchen he decided to make himself something to eat. As he was cleaning some rice the doorbell rang.
Annoyed, he quickly put the food down and washed his hands. The doorbell rang again as he left the kitchen and Fuji rolled his eyes. People were so impatient these days. He finally reached the door and opened it. He was surprised to see who was on the other side.
"Atobe, Sanada?" he asked, confused.
"Hello, Fuji. Can we come in to talk?" Atobe requested graciously.
"I guess," Fuji answered and stood aside so the other two boys could enter.
He lead the to of them to the kitchen where he began to go back to what he was doing. Atobe came in and took a seat at the table, while Sanada stood by the door awkwardly.
"So what can I do for you guys?" Fuji asked as he worked.
"It's more of what we can do for you, Fuji," Atobe said.
"What do you mean?" Fuji asked as he walked to the fridge to get some milk.
"We want to take you out on a date," Sanada said from the doorway.
"Excuse me!" Fuji's voice almost squeaked in shock, his hand frozen halfway to the milk container, "What are you saying?"
"It's true, Fuji," Atobe answered, "today I asked Sanada out and he told me he wasn't sure. He said he liked me, but he said he also held affection for you and Tezuka. Now I may not really like Tezuka, but I must admit I find you intriguing and would love a date. So Sanada and I agreed to go on a date if you came along as well."
"Is this true, Sanada?" Fuji asked.
"Yes, it is," Sanada said with a nod.
Fuji was silent and unmoving for a bit before he grabbed the milk and closed the fridge. Walking back to the counter, he could feel two pairs of eyes watching him and waiting for an answer. Should he do it? Why not? It's not as if he had anything to loose, no h had already lost his most important think. He set the milk down and then turned around.
"Fine, I'll go," Fuji said and the other two boys sighed in relief.
"Great! I'll handle all the arrangements, okay? What do you guys like to eat?" Atobe asked excitedly.
"Anywhere is fine," Fuji said.
"I agree," Sanada stated.
"Oh, alright then. When shall we go on our date?" Atobe asked with a raised eyebrow," Does tomorrow sound acceptable?"
Both Sanada and Fuji nodded in answer. After a few more minutes of talking, Sanada and then Atobe took their leave. As soon as they were gone, Fuji put his face in his hands. What was he doing?
The next day Fuji woke up early and prepared for his day. He unconsciously spent extra time cleaning and getting dressed. By the time he was dressed and had eaten breakfast a knock came on the door. He had went to answer it because only Yuuta was home and the other boy wasn't up yet.
"Hello, Atobe," Fuji said, "Where's Sanada?"
"We still have to pick him up, are you read to go?" Atobe asked.
"Almost," Fuji grabbed his phone and wallet quickly and left a note for Yuuta before going back to the door, "Okay, I'm ready."
"Alright, let's go then," Atobe led him to a Toyota Century limo parked on the road outside the house.
Fuji practically gaped at the car. These cars were beyond expensive, just how rich was the Atobe family?
"I didn't want us to attract too much attention so my father suggested I use the Century instead of the Rolls-Royce or the Maybach I got for my birthday. I so wanted to take you in my new Maybach 62 Landaulet, but I figured it would be too noticeable," Atobe said, stunning Fuji speechless.
As Atobe instructed his driver to go to Sanada's house Fuji quickly tried to remember the price tag on a Landaulet. It was like over $1.35 million US dollars. Whoa, that was like 129,059,997.940 Yen. Hey, people didn't call him a genius for laughs. Anyway, they finally picked up Sanada and began their date officially.
Later as darkness fell and he was back home in his room, Fuji came clean with himself. He had really enjoyed his date today. Before, he had found Atobe's arrogance annoying, but by the end of the date he had been mentally calling Atobe cute. Even Sanada, in all his quietness grew on him. The boy was unbelievably thoughtful and kind, if a bit rough around the edges. He could see himself with them then ten years from now, the way that before, he had only seen Ryoma.
Ryoma, he had barely thought about the boy all day. Was his love perhaps fading? No, he still remembered everything about Ryoma and oh, how he missed him. He really hoped Ryoma was happy with Tezuka and that the stoic boy was treating him like a prince. Just then a knock came on his door.
"Come in," he called from his bed.
The door opened and Yuuta walked in. The younger boy stared at him for a minute before holding up a disk.
"I have it," Yuuta said and Fuji leapt up from the bed to grab it.
"Thank-you so much, Yuuta," Fuji said hugging him.
"Your welcome, Syuusuke, but I thought you were trying to let go of him," Yuuta mumbled into his older brother's shoulder.
"I was Yuuta, but I'm not sure I truly can yet. Anyway, I promised I would watch him, so I shall," Fuji said.
Yuuta sighed as his older brother went to the TV and pooped the DVD in. Seconds later the disk began and the TV monitor showed last night music performance that Yuuta taped. Yuuta sat down next to his brother and the two watched in silence until Ryoma's solo began.
"I miss him," Fuji whispered, like the words were a closely guarded secret.
"I know, Syuu, I know," was all Yuuta said as he pulled his unnaturally vulnerable brother closer, "I know."
The two brother stayed like that until the DVD ended and they headed back to their rooms alone. Later that night though, when Yuuta felt someone crawl into his bed, he didn't protest. He just held the figure close.
A/N: Wow, this was one of my longer chapters. See, everything is starting to come together isn't it. Never fear, Atobe will fess up soon as well and then our boys can get to the good stuff. The fluff and the smex!
Sorry for the lateness, the real world has been holding me hostage…
P.S. I'm not sure is the Yen conversion is correct. If someone could let me know if it's wrong I'd be very grateful.
-Kin
