Fallen Angel
oOo
Disclaimer: me no richie; therefore, PoT me no ownie. (Konomi-sensei, please adopt me!!!)
Excuse me if the happenings aren't consistent with the ones in the anime, well, this IS a fanfic…
Pairing: Tezuka – Fuji. Gyaaaaaaah, beautiful people. I'll keep this as mild as possible. And chaste, if I can.
Warning: OOCness… and spoilers. Cliché.
a/n: nya, here comes the melodrama!!! It's mush and melodrama and just a sprinkle of humor from this point forward. I warned you, ok? I heart you all for reading and reviewing. I'm just so proud of this fic…
-sigh- I suddenly want some Pocky, the strawberry flavored one… anyway, I hope I could finish this by the Kaidoh's birthday – fushuu – Kaidoh is kawaii when he is pouting, nyahaha.
And, uhm, I changed my mind about the sequel… it's rather bland and too far into the future so I'm writing a new sequel… which I don't know when I'll be able to post since I'm going to die from june-october (start of school again in this country). And I'll see if I can upload the ouranish PoT fanfic.
Answers to reviews… are at the end because I might give out some spoilers for this chappie.
oOo
Chapter Nine
"Nya, I wonder if Fujiko-chan is ok?" said Eiji thoughtfully, pouting his lips as he looked over Oishi's shoulder. The two, along with the rest of the team, were waiting for the white door to open.
"I didn't know he was sick," said Inui whose forehead was wrinkled.
"Mm, yes," agreed Oishi who was gripping his hands worriedly. "If we knew, we wouldn't have put him on the lineup…"
Eiji inclined his head in thought. "But Fujiko-chan did seem rather pale lately," he said gloomily.
"Mn –"
Whatever Ryoma had to say was interrupted as the door finally opened. Ryuzaki-sensei exited followed by an even colder looking buchou.
"Is Fuji all right?" Oishi was the first to ask.
"We can't tell yet," said Ryuzaki-sensei in a low voice. Lines of worry had formed all over her face. She turned to Tezuka and instructed, "Go and see that Fuji is fine. I'll call his parents." She took off, making the call on her mobile phone.
"Can we see Fujiko-chan, too?" asked Eiji, with round and pleading eyes.
"Ahh, we want to see if he's all right," said Kawamura meekly.
Looking quite tensed, Tezuka nodded. Without a word, he led his teammates to Fuji's room where the rest filed in, gathering around the patient's bed.
Tezuka watched as the tensai smiled at his teammates. Standing against the whitewashed walls, Tezuka detached himself from everyone. He cupped his face with his right hands and rubbed his temples.
"Mn, Fujiko… are you all right now?" asked Eiji childishly.
"Hai," said Fuji in his usual cheerful air.
"GREATO!!!" said kawamura waving around his racket enthusiastically.
Fuji laughed. "Aren't you supposed to be feasting?" he asked.
Rubbing his nape, Momoshiro grinned sheepishly. "Well, we were worried about you, senpai."
"There's no need to worry," said Fuji, still smiling. "I'll be fine, go on with the victory party."
Arching his brows, Tezuka looked up and fixed his gaze upon the ever smiling face.
"But – " Inui was beginning to object when the buchou cut in.
"Go ahead," said Tezuka in a low, pointed manner. "Fuji will also be needing his rest. I'll stay here."
"Tezuka – " Oishi stopped upon seeing Tezuka's even cooler disposition. "Yes, we'll go." He led the others through the door and promised Fuji some spare wasabi sushi.
"Ne, Tezuka, why didn't you go with them?" asked Fuji. His face was still a mask of his smile.
Trying hard not to scowl, Tezuka walked over to the chair next to Fuji's bed. He stared at the tensai in silence as the latter waited for the answer.
Tezuka soon sighed. He hadn't any inkling on how to break the bad news…
"What did the doctor say?" asked Fuji in an inquiring manner.
Cold beads of sweat started to form on Tezuka's forehead. The buchou sighed and wondered how Fuji always tried to make things seem easier. He looked up. "You, well – " he stopped to clear his thoughts as he was beginning to become inarticulate. He sighed again. "The doctor said that your white blood cell count is abnormally high."
"Oh," said Fuji tonelessly and yet he was still smiling.
Tezuka felt suddenly queasy inside but tried not to show his discomfort. "Fuji, they think you might have –"
"Leukemia," said Fuji directly. "I have leukemia."
For one second, Tezuka thought he saw Fuji's eyes flash with sadness. But before his head could register the suspicion, Tezuka saw the tensai's smile again.
"Mn," said Fuji, pouting his lips in childish frustration. "I thought I'd reach the five-year mark."
Quite uncomfortably, Tezuka eyed Fuji questioningly.
"I had leukemia three years ago," started Fuji, trying but failing to hide his moroseness. "But I went through remission. That was around the time we transferred here in Tokyo to get closer to the big city where all modern treatment would be within reach." He rubbed his chin with his fingers thoughtfully.
In order to calm himself, Tezuka shut his eyes. He wondered whether or not he liked Fuji's reaction. He figured that he could probably deal better with a normal frantic reaction rather than a seemingly nonchalant attitude.
"It's good though that we won the Nationals, ne, Tezuka?" asked Fuji gleefully.
Then, Tezuka's eyes widened as he met Fuji's gaze. Something awful just clicked in his mind. All those times that Fuji trained with him, when the tensai was pushing himself too far…
"Syusuke?"
Tezuka turned to see Fuji Yoshiko enter with Fuji's siblings. The buchou rose and stepped back to allow the family some privacy. Quietly, he crept out of the room and waited, sinking himself deep in thought.
"Tezuka." Yumiko just exited Fuji's room and stood in front of Tezuka. "Thank you for looking after Syusuke."
The buchou was unable to answer outright. He wanted to do something more. Then, his brain came to a resolution. "Yumiko-san?" he said in an uncharacteristic dubious tone. To the woman's surprise, Tezuka bowed. "May I please be allowed to look after Fuji? I know it would be an intrusion to your family. But I feel like I owe something to Fuji. He was helping me win the Nationals and – "
"We can talk to okaasan," said Yumiko who was wearing an affable smile. "And stand up, Tezuka…"
oOo
"Yuuta?"
Fuji's eyes went round for a split second as he realized that his brother wasn't the one who opened the door. Instead, the brown-haired buchou of Seigaku paced the room toward the patient's bed.
"Kawamura made some wasabi sushi for you," said Tezuka, handing over a box of the sushi. "Eat it if you have the appetite."
Fuji took the box from his friend and began popping the sushi into his mouth with much relish. "Shouldn't you be home at this time?"
"I'm – " Tezuka paused and tried to find the right words. "I'll be the one to look after you at night."
For a fleeting moment, Fuji thought that his heart missed a beat. He smiled. "But you're from school and you're tired – "
"Have you taken your medicine?" asked Tezuka, acting as though he hadn't heard the tensai.
He looked up at Tezuka and knew that the latter wouldn't hear much of his disapproval. He smiled. "Thank you, then. And, hai, I've taken the medicine." He set aside his empty box of sushi and added, "I don't like it, though."
"Why?" asked Tezuka as he was sure that Fuji fidgeted at the mention of medication.
"Because they cause too much pain."
Tezuka tore his eyes away and pointed his attention on the billowing curtains. Seeing Fuji twitch like that and admit pain was quite foreign to him. The buchou felt partly abashed and partly glad that the tensai was sharing a very private side to him, particularly the side that wasn't eternally smiling, and the side that was saddened and agonized by other people.
"And revolting," added Fuji, fixing back his smile.
Folding his arms across his chest, Tezuka averted his gaze to the azure-eyed boy. "We'll all be here," he said.
"Do they know?" asked Fuji thoughtfully.
"Yes," said Tezuka truthfully. "Ryuzaki-sensei told them as soon as it was confirmed. They'll be here tomorrow to visit."
Laughing gently, Fuji said, "I'll have to expect a lot of noise tomorrow." He covered his mouth and yawned.
"Sleep," Tezuka bossily.
"Saa… it's just the effect of the medicine," said Fuji uncaringly. All the same, he smiled at the buchou and dropped his head to the pillow.
Watching Fuji's chest rise in short, shallow breathing, Tezuka felt his heart squeeze. In the past few days, he knew that the tensai was in pain, but the stubborn blue-eyed boy endured it all. And the buchou felt guilty. He had been the one with Fuji most of the time and he never really paid attention. Shutting his eyes, he swore never to be fooled by the Cheshire smile again.
oOo
Supporting himself with an elbow, Fuji sat up looking rather shaken. The joint pains have begun and bruises were showing up everywhere. Fuji wondered when the reverse peristalsis would start. Of all things, he hated it – the vomiting. It rendered him strength less.
"Good morning," said a singsong voice as Fuji opened his eyes fully.
Smiling, Fuji turned to his sister who was fixing flowers on a vase. "Good morning," he said weakly. He looked around and frowned slightly. "Where's – "
"Tezuka?" said Yumiko, finishing her brother's sentence. "He's gone to school. He said he'll be back at around seven with the rest of your friends." She hummed to herself as she gave the flowers a last pat and turned to the younger Fuji. "I know that he's handsome and all, but you shouldn't get too attached to him, ne, Syusuke?"
"Why did you allow him to look after me?" asked Fuji, his smile was faltering a bit. "That's too much of a – "
Yumiko shrugged and flashed a brilliant smile. "He asked for it," she said casually. "Begged for it, actually."
The tensai couldn't believe what he just heard. "Begged?"
"I think he was feeling guilty because you helped him win the finals even when he knew you were not yourself," explained Yumiko. A faint smile was playing across her lips. "He wants to repay your kindness, apparently."
"But you should have told him that it's not at all necessary," said Fuji, looking rather alarmed. "Besides, I didn't realize that I was having a relapse. If I did I – "
"You still would've helped him," said Yumiko knowingly. She turned around to pass a tray of breakfast to her younger brother and continued. "You would still have practiced with him, wouldn't you?"
Fuji stared at the food and replied, "Yes. It was a dream – to finally win the finals. And – "
"You love him," said Yumiko conversationally. "Syusuke, Tezuka begged to take care of you. Don't lie and tell me that you don't like the idea. Treat it as a blessing, ne, Syusuke? Besides, don't you like Tezuka to fret and bustle over you?"
The tensai's usually pale cheeks turned pink. "Neesan, he will be bothered."
Patting Fuji's head, Yumiko said, "Just stay quiet and let him take care of you. Don't block him out. By the way," she narrowed her eyes intriguingly, "did you tell him?"
"Tell him what?"
"Mm," started Yumiko, "Don't play the fool with me… did you tell him that you love him?"
Idly stirring his morning soup, Fuji said in a mellow voice. "Yes, I did."
The smile in Yumiko's face contained surprise and joy. "Really?" she almost squealed excitedly. "And now he's taking care of you? Have you…" she lowered her voice, "come to an understanding?"
Still not taking a spoon out of his soup, Fuji shook his head. "He told me that he is still to understand what love is…"
Affectionately, Yumiko smiled at her brother. "And yet he is here taking care of you…"
"Because he is Tezuka."
"Maybe because he is your angel, ne, Syusuke?" asked Yumiko, meeting Fuji's eyes.
"My angel?" asked Fuji, looking quite baffled.
"Hai," affirmed Yumiko. "And he'll know that he will love you when the right time comes," she added softly, smiling warmly at her brother.
"Did the cards say so, neesan?" asked Fuji, smiling amusedly.
"Iie," said Yumiko. "I don't need cards to know that much."
oOo
a/n: did that just sound familiar? I mentioned things earlier things like Fuji is paler than usual and the times when he was feeling dizzy, having a headache… they're not there just because he was going crazy over Tezuka. Half of the reason was his leukemia. Then, I chose leukemia because I know it, runs in our family (and/or aplastic anemia) –sweatdrop – I've seen the effects of the medication and the disease itself, so I can use it for this fic… Fine, sorry, cliché, but I loooove cliché. Don't you? Only, this isn't much cliché since this is BL… I assure you, though, it's not life threatening in Fuji's case… you'll understand next chappie… I promise. :3
here are my answers to your reviews (I'm so happy that there was such a lot :3 but phew to answering them)…
Lady Hikari-Yami-nya, yeah… but no more cliffy… and thanks for reviewing!
Nightswift- nya, me want some wasabi ice cream and sakura ice cream… darn, why do I live in the Philippines??? and, yes, I loved the green tea ice cream. But you're probably right about the bias thing… when I told my friends that the green tea ice cream was soooo good, they all stared at me since I was the only one they knew who enjoyed tea so much. Anyway, thanks for reviewing.
Miji-Chuu – yeah, poor Fuji…and so lurve Tezuka in the upcoming chappies…
alchemistgrl09- here, nya, I know, I'm cruel… I'm a bit sadistic, you know? Fwahaha.
Chrono Breaker – I double updated because I couldn't help myself… xp oh, and, yes, TeFulove is a fundamental principle… :3
wasabi ice cream – there is? Hmm, wanna taste wasabi ice cream… yum, yum. :3
maldita08 – leukemia isn't life threatening anymore, right? Well, unless you're in the Philippines… but my uncle survived leukemia and he had his treatment here… I don't like the life threatening angle… I'm using the disease for something else. Like State of Self Actualization: Level Four – Pinnacle of True Love. Haha.:3
Shia Nosake – yeah, then you might choose to kill yourself… then, again, you might overcome your fear… dunno. Hehe, thanks for reviewing.
Thelcraftylsadisticlsleepyl – I really like green tea ice cream, yum. Hmm, it is a cancer fic, but not life threatening since they're in Japan… I haven't read a cancer fic on TeFu yet, weird, since leukemia is supposed to be cliché, right? And I'm such a cliché lover… I've read plenty of amnesia fics, though.
Sali Mwana – woot. :3 much thanks to that… yeah, I like cliffhangers as chapter enders, very useful.
White Sherry – nya, I know I'm evil… but I don't think I'll have anymore cliffhangers. –sad-
Ai-Kusabana- well, Fuji is pale? isn't he and I used that to give him leukemia. And yukimura did have such a weird neurological syndrome, only I don't get why he wasn't operated in the brain during his surgery… nya, me want some wasabi popcorn, too… especially when I watch the threes (you know, spiderman 3, shrek 3, pirates of the Caribbean 3) and maybe lovely bones or OotP… ok, so I'm rambling. Thanks for reviewing… :3
CelicaChick – how about an especially caring buchou? More on that next chappie:3
