Disclaimer: Konomi-sensei owns them ;p

A/N: Chapter 9, hot from the press! Enjoy ;)

Pretentions, Disguises


"Alright, let's start the morning practices. It's time for warm-up, 20 laps around the court," Tezuka ordered. He stood at the entrance of the tennis courts, his arms folded in front of his chest, with coach Ryuuzaki.

"Hmm, Fuji's absent again. I wonder what's happened to him," Ryuuzaki thought loudly. She looked at Tezuka expectantly, hoping to see some reaction from him. Oishi told her that the last time he heard about the tensai was that Fuji was with Tezuka. After that, neither he nor anybody else heard from Fuji.

Tezuka nodded silently in agreement to what Ryuuzaki said. The old coach sighed and put her hand on Tezuka's shoulder. "I'll go back to arrange some things, so I'm leaving everything to you. Whatever it is that's wrong with Fuji, you, Tezuka, of all people, should know," she said. Tezuka didn't say anything, but continued to look after the running club members. "Hai, sensei," he replied.

The captain recalled last week's events – the last time he saw Fuji Syuusuke. It wasn't something that's really memorable, but he can't seem to get it out of his mind. Actually, he wanted the memory away, at the same time, he didn't. That time was the last time he'd seen Fuji. That time was the last time he'd seen Fuji smile. Even if it wasn't real.

Fuji's smile, Tezuka thought. He pinched the bridge of his nose and creased his forehead. Now wasn't the time to think of such things. Tezuka swept his eyes around the court once more. The regular members have just finished their laps and are gathered near the entrances with Tezuka. "It really is different with Fuji not here, ne?" Kikumaru took the words right out of Tezuka's thoughts.

"Yeah," Kawamura Takeshi agreed. "It feels…incomplete." Another blow to Tezuka. The captain unnoticeably closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He went stiff as he listened to his teammates' concerns.

"As if something's missing," Oishi said. He looked at Tezuka, his eyes inquiring. He noticed the tenseness of the captain and looked at him pointedly. Tezuka noticed and met his gaze, daring the vice-captain to ask his question. Oishi broke their gaze and opted to stare at the ground, his worry left unanswered.

"Just like your racket being taken away from you, huh? That kind of incomplete?" Momoshiro Takeshi looked at his extended arm, opening and closing his hand to stress his point. "It feels so…normal. Practices aren't just the same," he sighed.

"And so are the classes," Kikumaru added. "He's been skipping school for days and he isn't answering even my calls. Our teachers and classmates are worried about him too."

"Have you tried calling his sister?" Tezuka spoke for the first time. He directed the question to no one and looked at the courts as he did. Kikumaru nodded, but Tezuka didn't take notice. "She said Fuji's sick. But I don't believe it. It's not like Fuji to miss school this long, right?" the acrobat player asked.

"True," Tezuka nodded his assent. "Fuji wouldn't let that happen." Unless it wasn't physical injury, he added to his thoughts. "Alright, break time's over. Back to practice," Tezuka ordered.

"Fuji Syuusuke…" Tezuka whispered to himself. He recalled once more what transpired between him and Fuji. He recalled the words that Fuji told him.

"Tezuka, you…you helped me moved on from Saeki. Thank you very much."

I didn't Fuji. I didn't help you. You chose to move on from him. You just made me the reason, Tezuka thought, rebutting Fuji's statement in his mind.

"I love you, and you'll be the last person that I'll fall in love like this with, remember that."

No, Fuji. I won't be the last. I can't be the last. I'm not an expert on love, but I do know that there's no limit in the number of people you can love nor the amount of love you can give, Tezuka rebutted again. Why was he doing this again? Yeah, so that he'll have something to say when he sees the tensai again. So he can put logic back inside the tensai's brain.

He remembered what his brain told him when Fuji left. Rather, he remembered what his brain asked him.

Did something really change, ne, Kunimitsu or did you just realize something that you were afraid to admit?

What is it now, Kunimitsu? his thought asked him again. He thought of everything he could remember that had happened between him and Fuji ever since they met. The match, the plays, the practices. Fuji was always by his side. How could he not have felt what Fuji felt? How could he not see that?

Tezuka closed his eyes in defeat. He still couldn't answer his questions. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. All this, everything that's happening, it's confusing him. He didn't want to think of his feelings as love. It couldn't be that simple. No, it couldn't be. If it was, things shouldn't be like this.

Tezuka rested on a nearby bench, his right hand massaging his temples. A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Water, buchou?"

Tezuka opened his eyes and before him stood Fuji Syuusuke, with a water bottle in his hand. "I'm sorry for being late, I had some things to take care of," he smiled apologetically.

Tezuka nodded and ordered him to run laps as punishment. Fuji smiled and waved his dismissal. As the tensai started his laps, Tezuka felt uneasy.

Things aren't the same now but he will act as if it is, Tezuka thought.


A/N: I'll try to be as in-character as possible next time. Sorry about that *points to chapter above* honestly, I'm really, really, really, really, really having a hard time writing Tezuka. grr. please bear with me. haha :))

reviews, onegai? pretty please with cream and cherries on top? *bats eyelashes*