Mirror, Mirror

Summary: Fuji falls through a mirror one day and lands in a complete different world. Sometimes, while doing a favor for someone else, you realize that they're actually doing a favor for you.

Warnings: Shounen-ai

Pairings: Atobe x Fuji

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is not mine.

Sorry for the extra day's wait! I'm really sorry! But I'm glad that it's finally December! And it finally started snowing where I live! I'm more working on drawing, and I'm still working on a fanfiction that's for a fandom that's not Tenipuri, for once. But I will still upldate this one! Please read, review, and enjoy! Oh yeah, and we're nearing the end of the fiction!

Chapter 11: The Powers of Yukimura:

Fuji woke up in Atobe's bedroom, in Atobe's bed. The cold wind blew in from the window. It was still winter in this world, and it would be for quite a while. But Fuji was grateful for the cool air. After all, he had had quite a day yesterday. He tried to remember what he was doing, and then he recalled the orb, and the fact that he had found it. Now Atobe, Yukimura, and Kikumaru were full once again. Kikumaru would undoubtedly find out about Atobe and Yukimura, but Fuji doubted he would tell anyone. They'd all find out soon enough, anyway. The question was how soon.

Fuji pulled the thick blanket up to his chin and snuggled into Atobe's chest. Atobe, noticing that Fuji had stirred, tightened his hold on the smaller boy. He had actually been awake for quite a while, thinking about the same thing Fuji had. He was thinking about how he would tell the others about Yukimura and him. He knew they would understand, but he didn't like admitting his weaknesses, even if it was something he couldn't help. He knew it wouldn't be good to delay telling them the news, but he just couldn't bring himself to tell.

"You awake?" Fuji whispered, and Atobe nodded.

"For a while," he replied.

"Oh? And you stayed here?"

Atobe smiled. "It's warmer here."

Fuji shivered. "You guys should seriously think about putting curtains on the windows or something. I've already taken one of the spare blankets in the chest and hung it over the window and door in my room."

"My room is the only one without curtains. Oh, and your room, too, since it used to be Jiroh's. Jiroh is a very light sleeper, so we needed him to listen for trouble at night, and it wouldn't help if he had curtains over the windows or anything. I don't have curtains in my room because I don't mind the cold and I can always create fire. I forgot to mention that."

Fuji sighed and rolled onto his back. "Looks like I'll need to do some major exploring of this castle, then."

"We'll look around it once we're all reunited with our bodies. We'll have all the time in the world then."

Fuji nodded. "Right now, reuniting everyone comes first."

Atobe got out of the bed and draped his cloak over himself. No matter how tolerant he was of extreme temperatures, there was a limit. He stepped into Fuji's room and got the brunette's cloak for him.

"Is it always this cold in the winters for this country?" Fuji asked, stepping out of the bed himself.

Atobe nodded. "This isn't actually the coldest we've had here. The summers aren't very hot, either. We're just a cold region in general."

"Exact opposite of us," Fuji remarked. They were used to having these pointless conversations to pass the time as the two made the long journey to the kitchen and dining room. Most of the time, no one was up earlier than them, but today, Yukimura was waiting for them, sitting on a chair that was resting against the wall, hands resting on his knees, smiling pleasantly. Fuji froze. His eyes widened. "Ah…"

"It's okay, Fujiko," Yukimura said, using the name he had first referred to Fuji as. How foolish he had been back then for not noticing it. And Ryoma had? He laughed at the idea. The cool wind blew into the dining room window this time, rustling the leaves of the flowers that were always kept on the table. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier."

Fuji shook his head. "No, it's my mistake. I'm sorry for reading your father's journal. I really shouldn't have."

Yukimura chuckled. "You don't have to apologize for that. After all, he'syour father, too." He then tapped his chin lightly. "To think…I was flirting with my half brother when you first came here?"

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"Echizen!" Fuji called as he walked around the school gates to find the young tennis prodigy. He was currently in his own world, looking for the rest of the tennis players to send them to the mirror world. He decided to get the most difficult ones done first. How fun this would be. Time had not passed, so it was still the same day that he had asked Kikumaru to come with him and pushed him into the mirror.

The dark haired boy looked up and found Fuji waving to him. "What do you want?" he asked.

"I…uh…" Fuji hadn't really thought before doing this. The reason was that his lies always sounded more convincing when he was panicked. "I'd like to show you something." He doubted he could deceive Ryoma with a lie as vague as that one, but surprisingly, the younger boy followed him. "Echizen?"

Ryoma looked up at Fuji. "When he has that face on, Fuji-senpai isn't lying."

Huh? Fuji thought. Nevertheless, he led both of them to his house.

Fuji had taken the mirror from his bedroom into the foyer when he had found the orb, so that it was easier to access, and so that there were no confusions. After all, you don't really know what to think if Fuji was leading you to his bedroom. Fuji took the tennis ball from his pocket after he and Ryoma had walked into his house. He tossed it up lightly and took a deep but muted breath.

"Check this tennis ball out," Fuji said, tossing it to Ryoma, who caught it effortlessly.

"Is that all you wanted to show me?" Ryoma asked, examining the tennis ball closely.

"Sorry about this," Fuji said, changing the subject mysteriously. He gave Ryoma a light push, which was enough to send him into the mirror. In the confusion, the tennis ball fell out of Ryoma's hand and right back through the mirror. Fuji, picking it up, shrugged. It was less effort for him.

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"Tezuka," Fuji said with a serious expression on his face. Tezuka was the last person he was to fetch and get into the mirror world. He purposefully saved Tezuka for last, since he wanted to talk to the Tezuka he knew about something before he was morphed into the Tezuka who almost never spoke a word to him.

Tezuka glanced at Fuji and gave an acknowledging nod of his head. "What is it, Fuji?" They were both standing outside the school gates, right after school had ended. The day before was the day that Fuji had taken most of the people into the mirror world, and the only one left now was Tezuka. His speculations had been correct; Japan was major chaos at the loss of the teenage boys. But he wouldn't have to endure the guilt for much longer, Fuji thought, because as soon as Tezuka was once again in the mirror world, he was going to stay there forever, and shatter the mirror that connected him to this world. If he ever came back, the guilt of 'kidnapping' all the boys would be too much for him to bear. But first, Fuji had resolved to talk to the Tezuka he had known for a long time once more.

"Would you care walk home with me?" Fuji asked. For the last time…

Tezuka nodded. "Sure."

The two of them walked in silence for a while, just staring into the distance. The sun wasn't even close to setting, since it was summer in Japan, and the sun didn't set until much later. "Have you heard about everyone?" Fuji asked Tezuka. After all, the missing teenagers were what everyone was talking about these days.

Tezuka nodded. "Who wouldn't have?"

Fuji sighed and placed his hands behind his head. "So it started with Atobe and Yukimura, huh?" he said, not really meaning anything from the statement. It was more of a rhetorical question.

Tezuka nodded. "Do you have any ideas as to what might've happened to them?" he asked.

Fuji, as easily as a warm knife through butter, lied. "Unfortunately, no. I was just trying to make conversation," he admitted truthfully.

Tezuka nodded again. "Figures." Fuji laughed. "And you're lighthearted? With all these people missing? Your best friend?"

Fuji shook his head. "Of course not. But I figure that there's really nothing I can do about it. No one has the slightest idea as to where they are."

"Aren't you worried?"

"Yes, I'm very worried. But I don't really have much to say," Fuji said, looking down, trying to convince himself that he wasn't lying. It was difficult.

They walked in silence again. From the still air that hung around them, Fuji could tell that Tezuka knew he was lying but didn't want to push it any farther. The sun felt hot above them, and the school uniforms actually felt tight, even though they were as loose as could be. Fuji undid the first button on his absentmindedly.

"Have you even loved someone?" Tezuka suddenly asked Fuji.

Fuji merely turned to the taller boy and raised an eyebrow. "That's an interesting question, coming from you."

Tezuka said nothing.

"But I suppose I'd have to answer 'yes', then. I have loved someone, and I still do love them very much," Fuji stated and smiled. "I love you, Tezuka."

Tezuka looked at Fuji, a little bit of surprise evident on his face. "What?"

"I love many people, like our fellow Regulars, my family, people from different teams, and people from all around the world," Fuji explained. And people not from this world, he added in his mind. But you don't have to know that. If this was the last time he was going to talk to the Captain Tezuka that he knew, he might as well let it all out. But Fuji couldn't do that; it just wasn't in his nature. He didn't really open his heart to anyone. Come to think of it, it was kind of like how Atobe acted.

The two were now nearing Fuji's house. He could see it in the distance, white with a green lawn in the front and flowers lining the concrete sidewalk. There were a couple trees in the side and back yard, and the side yard was fenced in, much like many of the houses on his street. So, as the last time I talk to you, Fuji thought, I'd like to say goodbye. A single tear fell from Fuji's eye. May you open your heart and learn to speak to others more openly than me. That would make me happy.

Fuji opened the door to his house quietly. But I'd also like to say hello. He stepped into his house with Tezuka following right behind him. And welcome to the new world in which you will be living. And with a quick push, Tezuka toppled into the mirror, with Fuji stepping in after him with gracefulness.

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All of the princes turned around to look at the mirror simultaneously. It was interesting, since nothing was happening to the mirror, but they all had the same feeling: something was going to happen soon. Tezuka only looked at the mirror after everyone else, since he was the only one without a body right now. Atobe and Yukimura hadn't told anyone yet, and the rest of the princes had been too excited about getting bodies to notice that Fuji had never brought their bodies back into the mirror world. They had just assumed. Except for one prince, the youngest one.

The other day, Fuji had told them that Tezuka was the only one left. Ryoma had glanced at Fuji, Atobe, and Yukimura, but had said nothing. That night, while most of the princes were sleeping, and Ryoma was still awake on the roof, he had seen Fuji's light on. He floated down to Fuji's room and greeted him. Then, Fuji had been forced to tell it all, and Ryoma was the only one who knew now. The rest of the princes would probably figure out some time later, but Atobe and Yukimura wanted to delay the news until as late a possible.

Just then, Tezuka toppled into the mirror, and the mirror Tezuka was at his side in an instant, joining the two Tezukas immediately. Fuji stepped into the mirror right afterwards, only to be face to face with Tezuka, all one and whole again. He stared at Fuji for a moment, and Fuji just looked back innocently. Tezuka shifted awkwardly, and it was the first time Fuji had seen him like that. "Thanks," he said, much to everyone's surprise. "A lot."

Fuji smiled, and his face seemed to light up with happiness. "My pleasure." Tezuka then escaped out of the throne room and to his own room, probably.

The first prince to get a word in after that display was Saeki, who gasped. "Kunimitsu actually spoke to Fujiko!" he shouted, pointing at Fuji. "He actually spoke! To someone that's not in our family!"

Yukimura wagged a finger. "You seem to be forgetting something, Kojiroh," he said, bringing a certain photo out of his pocket.

"That's right!" Saeki said. "Fujiko—"

Fuji held up a hand. "I heard all about it," he said, walking up to Yukimura. "My dear brother." They then embraced each other warmly, and the other princes clapped, with the exception of Tezuka, of course. "I love you," Fuji said quietly to Yukimura, who could only nod back. Fuji pulled away. "I love all of you. You are all part of my family, and I'd like to say thank you, for bringing me here."

Oshitari tilted his head. "Bringing you here? Who said it was us that brought you here?"

Fuji smirked and looked at Yukimura. "I did. Isn't that right, dear brother?"

Yukimura sighed and smiled in defeat. "I suppose I'm found out, then."

All of the princes gathered around the brothers quickly and anxiously. "What are you talking about?" Atobe asked.

"Oh dear, even Keigo doesn't know about the extent of your powers?" Fuji said. "He's your closest friend."

"I had intended to keep it a secret. But I guess I'll let all of you figure it out."

Ryoma nodded. "I get it."

"As expected," Fuji said, but all of the other princes were still waiting. He walked out of the mob of royalty and started pacing around the room. "Tell me, princes, what is Seiichi's power?" he asked.

"To create anything that can reflect on the spot," Atobe answered immediately. "The prince of vanity."

"That's right," Fuji said. "And what noun do you think of when you think of the world 'reflect' or 'vanity'?"

"Mirror?" Yuuta said.

Fuji nodded. "Beautiful."

One by one, the princes began to figure it out. Their eyes widened like Fuji wouldn't believe, and some of their jaws dropped to the ground (metaphorically speaking). Fuji would've loved to have his camera at that moment. "Y-you don't mean…" Atobe started.

"Seiichi?" Jiroh said, staring at Yukimura. "Since when did you have such powers? I mean, I knew we could all do something in the other worlds, but you? Create a portal to the other world? How…?"

Yukimura smiled. "We can just say that I've been practicing." They continued to stare at their blue haired prince, until the lighthearted air disappeared when Yukimura suddenly flinched and clenched his hands into fists. His eyes squeezed shut, and Jiroh was at his side in an instant, with Atobe and Fuji standing not far away from them, Fuji holding on to Atobe's arm in surprise.

"Seiichi! Hey!" Jiroh said, supporting Yukimura's weight with his shoulder. "What's going on?"

Yukimura chuckled wryly. "I suppose the effect is starting to take place now."

Fuji let go of Atobe's arm immediately. "Effect?" he said, stalking up to Yukimura seriously. "What effect?"

"I knew that if I didn't create that portal, we'd never be full again. I knew you were in another world, so I created a portal to that world. But of course, I don't have that much mana. So to compensate, the mirror is sucking my mana away the longer it exists. And every time someone passes through it, the pulling gets stronger." Yukimura sighed. "I'd never expected it to have this kind of effect on me, though, until much later." He looked up at Fuji, now that he was leaned over. "Looks like you're going to have to go back to your world. That is, if you ever want to see all the people you left in that world ever again."

Fuji shook his head. "I can't do that! I can step in there and say my goodbyes, and I'll come back."

Atobe interrupted. "There is only time for one more pass through the mirror. If you pass through it twice, Seiichi is likely to lose his life. The mana depletion will be even faster the more you pass through it."

"I can't leave you," Fuji said, making eye contact with all of the princes, one by one. "You're my family. My real family."

"Fuji, you have to go back," Yukimura said. "We didn't want to cause trouble for you. I was originally intending just to have to fetch all of our bodies and then pass through it once more to return to your world. I made all the calculations, to know exactly how much mana I will have left once this was over with. Everything was going almost exactly as planned. You entered and left a couple times in the beginning, though, which I knew would skew my calculations. I might have less mana in the end, I thought to myself. But I didn't want to make you worry, so I said nothing about it, and just trained to obtain more mana. But apparently I wasn't keeping up with the depletion."

"You didn't want us to worry?! What kind of a valid reason is that?" Fuji shouted. "And my world?! What is my world now? Everything is in chaos because all of you are missing. This is the world that I was originally from. I can't leave it!"

"Fuji, this is better for you," Atobe said, surprisingly. "We don't want to separate you from the people you've been with all your life."

Fuji looked at Atobe with passionate eyes. "What are you saying?! I've been with all of you my entire life! Don't tell me that you don't want to separate me from the ones I love, because I love you guys! What will sending me back do for you? What good will come out of it?"

"We'll know you're safe," Atobe said, taking Fuji and leading him to the mirror. "Hurry, there's no time left!"

Fuji glanced at Yukimura, and then at all the other princes once more. Just then, Ryoma, the youngest prince, did something unexpected. "Just listen to what you guys are saying!" he said vehemently, not being able to take it anymore. "It's not making any sense at all!"

Atobe took his eyes off Fuji for a moment, but still gave him a push toward the mirror, sending Fuji flying into it. "Goodbye," Atobe said, turning back to Fuji.

But all of a sudden, instead of Fuji falling into the mirror once more, the mirror shattered as Fuji fell toward it, but all of the princes could see that he hadn't touched the mirror. What was going on? In an instant, Fuji dropped to his knees in front of the shattered mirror, looking at the ground. All of the princes were shocked.

Fuji brought his right hand down very slowly, to reveal his fingers that were tightly clenched to his flame dagger. The tip of it was chipped slightly, and the mirror shards were tinted red. Fuji dropped the dagger, facing away from the princes. "I…I can't go back. I can't leave you all," he said. "Even if I never see anyone I knew in my world again. I will never leave you."

This chapter was a little more sappy than usual, and I apologize if you don't like that. See you all next chapter! Please be courteous and review before you fave/alert. Thank you very much!