I'm so so so sorry! Domo sumimasen! *bows*

I had it way too busy with school and 'fake' exams to see how far we stand and to see how the real exams would be….but despite it being fake we still had to study for it…So yeah…not much time left then…

I hope I can update faster this time, but I'm doubting it. But no worries! It will get finished, I will keep on updating my stories! ^^

Enjoy reading this, I hope you do since I put all my scarce free time in it. XD even though I'm not completely satisfied with it. But well I'm a perfectionist…. I'm never completely satisfied ;p.

Sorry if there are a lot of mistakes in it.

Disclaimer: I do not own POT.

Persistence : chapter 10

TEZUKA'S POV

I woke up and tried to move but was stopped by a weight that lied on me. I turned my head to my left side and saw Fuji's sleeping face only inches away from mine. I then became aware of one of his arms that was over my waist and his left leg over mine. My heart immediately started beating faster as I felt half of his body lying against me.

His words from yesterday came back to my mind and I started wondering if I could tell him or if I should wait. Being so close to him made me want to touch and kiss him even more than I already did. But, even knowing that he loved me, I was still unsure of how he would react to my feelings. It wasn't because he felt the same that he would accept it. He had a lot of things going on, and I didn't think he would appreciate it if everything became even more complicated. Though, he did seem to appreciate me comforting him and he searched body contact himself. I held in a sigh as I thought about what I should do.

I decided to think about it later, it would only cause me a headache. I needed to go to the bathroom, so I slowly and softly pushed Fuji of off me and crawled out of the big sleeping bag. The exhausted boy stayed in his deep sleep with his breathing still on a regular pace.

I saw that no one else was awake yet and I silently made my way upstairs. I already changed out of my nightwear and put on some casual clothes, a dark jeans and a blue T-shirt. I then went downstairs again and saw an awake Oishi and Kaidoh. The two were speaking to each other in whispers and greeted me as I came in view. I nodded back to them and headed for the kitchen to make some coffee and tea. While I did that, everyone was slowly waking up. One by one went changing. After a while only Fuji was still peacefully asleep as the bags under his eyes had begun to disappear. The resting was obviously doing good for him so everyone tried to be as silent as they could. This way the tensai could keep sleeping.

We were all gathered in the kitchen around the table to eat breakfast. Kikumaru and I waited for Fuji to wake up so he wouldn't have to eat alone. Our attention was caught by some noises coming from the living room. We all looked to each other for a moment, not sure if Fuji was waking up or not. Until said boy made a whine like noise before calling my name. I immediately stood up from my seat and ignored all the looks I got.

I saw Fuji sitting up as his eyes searched for me, once he saw I came in, he immediately brightened as a smile formed on his lips.

"You slept well?" I asked him and he nodded before blushing and shyly, but very cutely, looking away, remembering that he slept in my arms.

"I….didn't bother you, right?" he asked concerned.

"No. I had no trouble sleeping. You want to eat breakfast first or get changed?"

"Uhm….I think I'm going to take a bath, if that's okay…?" he asked unsure.

"Hn, no problem. I'll be in the kitchen with the others, we'll be fine on our own."

"Thank you." He said as he pulled the sleeping bag off of him. I turned around walking back in the direction of the kitchen as I heard a thud and another whine from Fuji. I immediately turned around and looked to him in concern as he sat back on his behind, smiling awkwardly.

"What's wrong? Something happened?" I asked as I walked closer to him again.

"Saa…it seems that I don't really have any strength in my legs…ahaha…gomen…I'll be able to stand up in a moment…You go ahead, I'll be fine."

I looked to him for a second before bending down in front of him and grabbing his hand, putting it around my shoulder. Next I grabbed his waist with my other hand and pulled him up while saying: "Come on. I'll help you upstairs."

He smiled to me gratefully and thanked me as he leaned on me. We took two, three steps before I felt more weight lean on me as Fuji almost fell through his legs again. It seemed his body was really weak. It was probably from all the stress he had and the lack of sleep together with not enough food in his system.

I then acted against my nature and picked him up bridal style as Fuji yelled my name in surprise.

"Tezuka, what are you doing?" I heard Momoshiro ask from the kitchen door as I knew that everyone must be staring at the two of us.

"Bringing him upstairs." I merely replied and missed all the strange looks and the grins at the double meaning.

"I can walk!" Fuji said louder than necessary.

"You can barely take three steps. How are you going to take the stairs?"

Fuji shut up at my words, seeing the logic and let me carry him up those stairs. I went in the bathroom and put him down. He stayed standing on his own as I let the water start running into the bathtub. When I turned around Fuji had casually pulled of his shirt in front of me and only then realized that I was still here. He blushed red again but seemed okay with me being here since he didn't go back for the shirt or anything else to cover himself up with.

I looked to the bruise on his stomach and without realizing softly traced my fingers over it. I only came to my senses again when I felt him shiver and I immediately pulled back.

"Gomen, does it still hurt?" I asked trying not to make my awkwardness too obvious of what I just did.

"Iie, Your fingers were just…cold."

At his answer I looked up slightly surprised. I saw no fear in his eyes as I came closer to him and stopped only inches away from him.

"You're not scared?" I asked curiously.

He looked up to me, sapphire eyes open as he calmly answered: "No, you're not him. I trust you."

We looked each other in the eyes for a moment longer before I awkwardly coughed and looked away. I wasn't good with all these emotions and didn't really know how to react but it seemed Fuji liked my reaction. He softly laughed and smiled while cocking his head lightly to the side making him look very cute.

"Uhm…I'll go now…" I said as I opened the door again and was about to walk away. Fuji quickly called after me.

"Could you wait a bit more? I'm not sure if I can…get in the…tub…" My heart started to beat wildly at the thought of helping Fuji in the water, my mind made all kinds of ideas that I really shouldn't been thinking off.

"Sure." I answered as I closed the door again and stayed with my back to Fuji so he could undress. My heart at the same time wouldn't stop beating too fast.

"Can you help me?" I heard from behind me and cautiously turned around seeing Fuji in nothing left but a towel around his small waist. I gulped once as I nodded and came closer. I grabbed his arm as he put his other hand on my shoulder. He stepped over the side of the bathtub and let go of my shoulder. I quickly looked away, knowing he was going to pull off the towel and then sit down.

Once he would be in the water, I wouldn't be able to see a thing because of the soap. But knowing that at the exact same moment Fuji was completely naked right next to me, as I held on to his arm for keeping him steady, sent blood down to my crotch.

I heard a soft splash as I looked to the door with my head turned away from my teammate. This was followed by a soft voice saying: "You can let go of me now."

My hand left his body as I looked back to him. He was for the most part covered by the water and foam, all the way up to his chest. The bruise on his stomach was also covered by the water. Only the upper part of his chest was visible.

I kept staring at him for longer than necessary until Fuji asked me to grab the washcloth for him. I did as asked and bent through my knees to give it to him and our fingers softly brushed each other.

I was so happy with the fact that he trusted me this much. I mean, he was sitting naked in the water, right next to me a day after he got assaulted. But what I did then, could have made sure that all of that trust disappeared. My body started moving on its own, eyes locked to delicious looking lips. I moved closer to him, though at a slow pace.

"Tezuka…?" my mind registered the soft confused voice, and I should have stopped then, pulled back, told him an excuse. But it was already too late, my lips were too close to his. So two seconds after he said my name, my lips softly and gently landed on his.

It was a brief meeting of our lips, before I quickly pulled away and stammered an apologize.

"I'm sorry…I don't know why I did that….I mean…I shouldn't have done that…I'm so sorry…please don't be scared I won't do it again….I…" I didn't know how to explain this, how to make up to him. My mind was going crazy about what I did. Fuji might have stopped trusting me, be scared of me. I never had trouble speaking or saying what I needed to say, but at that moment the right words just didn't come out. I kept trying to apologize to him until Fuji stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Thank you." He said softly as he looked to me with his eyes again open. And what I saw in them surprised me. Rather what I didn't see. There was no trace of fear, nothing, he wasn't scared, nor angry nor sad. He seemed….happy.

"For what?" I cautiously asked him.

"For apologizing, for not doing anything more. I knew you weren't like them." He said still peacefully smiling.

And now I got confused so I asked: "Like who?" it was now Fuji's turn to look surprised and he seemed reluctant to answer.

"Like more than the half of the male population in school…like all those who want me,…who want my popularity…my body…" Fuji then seemed to finally pour out his feelings he had still kept inside after our previous talk on the bench outside. That had happened after he had seen the pictures that Ito ad taken of him.

I closely listened to all the things he still had to tell, about all the guys who had tried to make a move on him, had gotten mad, had acted like Ito. And then about me…

"Ito said that you were like everyone else….that you would only want me for my body, that you would only want to sleep with me…But…I don't want that….you're different…you had to be…because I like you….I really like you…so you can't be….like the others…you can't…" he kept repeating as tears rolled down his cheeks, but I couldn't help but feel happy since he told me all of this, and sort of confessed to me again.

I took him into a hug, not caring that my arms would get wet and tried to calm him down again. " I would never use you like that. Though I have to be honest and say that I do want you…But not only physical. Besides I would never do anything as long as you aren't ready." I whispered in his ear as his sobbing subsided and I listened to his breathing that was also slowing down.

Fuji then looked up to me with hopeful eyes: "you want me?"

I uncharacteristically laughed softly as I replied to him: "I did just kiss you. I'm sure you know I'm not someone who would just kiss his teammates out of nowhere."

He also laughed at that and I then added: "Do you even realize that this was the second time you indirectly confessed to me?"

Only then realizing that he had said that he liked me. A blush formed on his cheeks as he asked "sssecond?"

"You told me you loved me in your sleep last night." I amusedly explained and his blush just darkened.

"I….I didn't mean tha…" he started to talk himself out of it but before he could finish his sentence I pulled him close again and softly whispered in his ear, ignoring the blush that was also threatening to rise and the awkward words I was about to say: "I love you too."

Fuji immediately pulled away and looked me in the eyes with his own wide open. In reaction I just looked as calm as I could, despite the beating of my heart, to him, so he could see the honesty in my hazel orbs.

A moment later, a shy but sadistic smile came on his lips, how he combined those two characteristics were unknown to me, but it seemed to work for him.

"Then…can you kiss me again? Like you just did?"

I smiled to him as I leaned closer and thought that at least now I didn't have to worry about confessing or not anymore as our lips met for a second time. It was short, and again only our lips came in contact. But it was sweet, and all Fuji needed to be completely convinced.

After we parted Fuji had a soft and genuine smile on his lips, before it turned wider and he said: "Ne, I never knew Buchou could be this straight forward and mushy."

"Only with you." I said as I affectionately ruffled his hair.

At that moment Oishi came in and he stared quite surprised to the both of us. He saw me bending through my knees, hand on the smaller male's head as the latter sat naked in the bathtub right next to me.

"Uhm….sorry I should have knocked….I'll be going again….sorry…." He said stumbling as he turned around.

"It's okay, Oishi." Fuji then happily said as he seemed to find the whole situation very funny, while I was trying not to show my awkwardness. I stood up and let my hand leave Fuji's locks as Oishi once again turned around towards us.

"Uhm,…well I came to say that I have to come home from my parents and Kaidoh and Takashi as well. I think Eiji will come with me. I don't know what the other's will do. Is it okay if we leave?"

Me and Oishi pointed our attention to Fuji as he seemed to hesitate. I asked when his sister would be back and he told us that he didn't knew that. He then looked to me, all lost again, the playfulness of seconds ago gone.

He grabbed my hand and asked: "Will you stay,…until she gets back?"

I nodded and gripped his hand tighter: "My mother won't mind." He smiled gratefully to me and then replied to Oishi that it was okay if he and the others left. He would be okay.

XXX TIME LAPS XXX

In the end everyone left seeing that Fuji was indeed okay and after hearing that I would stay with him until Yumiko returned.

By now she had already returned home but she had asked me to stay for dinner, and if I was allowed from my parents, to stay here another night. I called my father and he had said that it was no problem.

So, here I was, on the couch watching another movie, a romantic comedy, with Yumiko on the one person's couch and Fuji in my arms on the love seat. His sister didn't seem to mind the two of us being so close to each other. By the look of her eyes and the occasional smiles she shot us, it seemed that she had already discovered that we were together.

Me and Fuji hadn't done anything more after the two kisses in the bathtub, and I didn't want to force him into doing anything more than he wanted. So for now I was absolutely content with him laying safely in my arms and in between my legs, my hand placed on his chest, over his heart with his hand on my hand.

"I think you two should go upstairs and to bed." Yumiko said as she noticed her already half asleep brother. "Don't worry I'll clean up." She added.

Fuji sleepily nodded and got up and headed to the stairs towards his room, with me following. I was nervous again, knowing that I was going to share the same bed with Fuji. It felt different from yesterday night when he slept in my arms, or just now on the couch. Though It wasn't really all that different, the place was all that had changed.

A bed just seemed so….intimate.

When the two of us were changed and after it being awkward, everything had settled down as he once again laid in my arms on his side with his face towards mine. I also laid on my side as Fuji came closer and brushed his lips over mine. I smiled and also leaned closer so our lips touched properly.

We shared more of those innocent but sweet kisses, until I softly and carefully let my tongue lick over his lips. He immediately backed away and looked down.

"I'm sorry!" I said not even a second after his reaction.

To my surprise he apologized in return, saying: " I should be sorry. I just…I'm not sure if I'm ready… I know you want to kiss properly, like that…but I'm not sure…."

"It's okay Syuusuke. I told you I won't do anything you're not comfortable with. You just have to tell me when I take it too far. I won't be mad."

"But you'll be disappointed…." He replied. It was true that I felt that way, even minor. But that was no reason to make him do something he didn't want to.

"I can wait. You're worth it." I told him in this cheesy way as I gave a kiss on his cheek and brought him closer again. He snuggled up to me after whispering a thank you.

"You're really mushy" He then said and then softly laughed again as I also smiled, happy that his doubt had disappeared.

Meanwhile the two of us were unaware of Ito being in the tree, looking to us through the slightly parted curtains.

Okay! Done! So I hope you liked this chapter. And a warning I think this story will only be one or two chapters longer. So the next one might be the end people! It depends on how much inspiration I get.

Please review! And I'll do my best to update as soon as I can.