EDIT: Fixed line breaks, grammar, minor detail

A/N: I actually started this chapter a while ago...like back while I was writing chapter 6. I think there may have been a misunderstanding in my last note...I said that they had new moves...that doesn't mean I actually made up new moves for them...they just have new moves...but I have no idea what they are. The reason being that most of the moves in PoT seem to defy physics and frankly physics is one of my favorite subjects. And I'm a bit compulsive when I do things. If they're already invented then fine, I won't do anything, but I'm not going to make up something that i think is impossible. Whew...that was a long explanation...

~This is the Tezuka-centric chapter I was talking about way back when...I hope it's okay. Plus it's the longest thus far...

Thank you to my Reviewers, again: BlueEyedSadist, Miss Sammi Potter, lovefuji, Kals, HeAvEn DeStRoYeR, elusivemelody, WhiteEnsigma, cassie, lovemoonlight, Kawaii-Chibi-Neko-chan, myao0624, Jadeskye79

Disclaimer: As always...I no own..PoT...

~*~TEZUKA: After the Match~*~

Tezuka stood watching Fuji. His second confession had been even more of a surprise than his first. He anticipated trouble the first time and he got it. Everywhere he went the next day, people had whispered and pointed, much like the way they did when he first joined the tennis team and became a Starter soon after. If that weren't enough, after making sure the rumors had spread, Fuji stuck to him like glue. If Tezuka alone drew stares, Tezuka and Fuji made for one hell of a show for those gossipers.

Fuji had successfully disrupted his peace.

If that weren't bad enough, Fuji's first confession kept turning around in his head. Was it a real confession? It couldn't be. It was Fuji after all. Or maybe because it was Fuji the confession might just be the real thing? He never could figure out what Fuji was thinking, in real life or on the courts. Just what was Fuji planning by confessing like that? Was he even planning anything? Of course he was; it's Fuji.

Fuji had successfully infiltrated his thoughts.

Fuji's first confession made the boy some enemies. Or maybe just one, Kitagawa Haruto. But being Kitagawa's 'enemy' was more than what most could take. Fuji was not like most. He could take it. And take it he did…in a match, winning easily and without showing off any of his real skills. But his display ultimately showed the Captain the inert talent hidden inside. Now Satsuya demanded a match. A match between two that were rivals to the very end. A match that hasn't been played since their middle school days. With the outcome of that match, Tezuka knew, things were never going to be the same. And so they played. The game came to an end. Seven games to six. But it was expected.

Fuji had successfully embedded himself into Tezuka's life.

~*~TIEBREAK: 26-26~*~

Neither Tezuka nor Fuji had used any special moves during their tiebreak. Fuji made the move first.

Triple Counter: Hakuryuu. All five counters were out. Fuji broke Tezuka's serve. (26-27)

Tezuka returned the favor and broke Fuji's serve. (27-27)

Then Tezuka served a zero-shiki. (28-27)

Fuji retaliated. He was not going to let Tezuka win. (28-28)

Tezuka did not hit a zero-shiki. Fuji pounced. The ball landed on Tezuka's side of the court. (28-29)

One more point. Just one more point. Fuji served the ball. Tezuka moved in and returned the ball. A rally commences.

A breeze blew through the court.

Fuji felt it, deep, deep down. He moved. Hecatoncheires no Monban. Tezuka knew how to return it now. He hit. The ball hits the net and crosses over. But Fuji is there.

For an odd instant, spectators and Tezuka saw stars.

The gust of wind was still blowing. Fuji smiled at Tezuka.

Sixth Counter: Hoishi Hanabi. (28-30)

Just like the match with Niou.

Intermission:

A/N: Truth is...I debated a long time on whether it should end like this or not...I actually finished this part with the last chapter. I was going to post it together, but I hadn't decided if this was how I was going to end it. When I tried to make Tezuka win, the match lasted a lot longer because Fuji didn't back down. And even though Fuji wasn't part of his high school team, that doesn't mean he didn't train himself. And somewhere along the way, everyone forgot Fuji had six counters, not five. Plus I admit I'm biased.

Right, Back To the Show...

The two players moved closer on the court. The audience watched as the two shook hands, but neither let go. Fuji's lips move, but no one watching could hear what he said. Tezuka's eyes grew wide. What did Fuji say?

Somehow, Eiji knew what Fuji had said.

No one made a sound. The Tensai had beaten the Captain.

"He never loses to the same person twice." Inui scribbled in his notebook. He had, for the whole of the tiebreak, neglected his notebook. Now, he was writing down all he had seen. But what did Fuji say to Tezuka? Somehow, Inui also had an idea. He glanced at Eiji.

Eiji was looking at Tezuka.

~0x0x0~

Fuji's smile returned. He pulled his hand back from Tezuka's grasp. He turned and walked off the court. No one moved. He made his way to the club room undisturbed. No one was watching him except Yuuta, but Yuuta didn't go after him. Fuji was glad.

What did Fuji say to Tezuka? It didn't matter. Fuji let his smile slip when he was sure no one was watching. He won. Yes. But that was the extent of his plans. What else could he do? Hmm…

~*~TEZUKA: In Germany~*~

Four years ago, Tezuka left for Germany with no regrets. There, he trained. He practiced. He bettered himself and his tennis. He concentrated everything on tennis, taking no breaks. Tennis was his world.

They offered him a chance to become pro. It was a good opportunity, yes, but Tezuka was not that type of person. No. He had to finish school first, he knew. And so Tezuka looked in to colleges and universities in Germany, sure that he would stay in the country to finish school.

But something did not sit right with him.

~0x0x0~

In the four years he was away, Tezuka had managed to keep in touch with everyone. He wrote home regularly and called every two weeks as reassurance.

Inui would give him odd calls now and then about things that had nothing to do with anything, little facts and gossips he had somehow managed to get his hands on. There is a ninety-five percent chance something is going on between Oishi and Eiji. As much as they annoyed him sometimes, Inui's calls also sometimes contained important information. Fuji quit the tennis club at school.

Oishi would call regularly, almost as often as he called home, to ask about Tezuka's condition. He'd ask if Tezuka were okay, how Germany was, how Tezuka liked Germany, if he missed anything, if he wanted anything, and the list went on and on. It was a perfect display of Oishi''s 'motherly' instincts. From time to time, he would hear Eiji on the other line with Oishi. Whenever that happened, he was sure to have a quick two minute conversation with the energetic redhead after he yanked the phone out of Oishi's hands.

Kaidou also called once a month, after every ranking tournament to report to Tezuka the team's condition. Their conversations were generally short and only lasted until Momoshiro snatched the phone from Kaido to say a few words to their former captain.

Echizen made a few calls from America as well. The boy would talk about the opponents there or the tennis styles or the tennis club facilities. Their conversations never lasted longer than one minute, but it still meant something that the boy would call.

Even Atobe made a phone call or two…or three…or more. His calls were generally long and full of self praise. He'd talk for an hour about how well his condition was and how he was sure to win in a match. Atobe picked up those phone bills, of course.

(Kawamura didn't call, but he did write from time to time.)

But one person never called, never wrote. Fuji.

It would have been easy for Tezuka to just pick up a phone and call him or sit down and write a letter or email. But neither happened. Perhaps they couldn't be bothered to do something like that. Perhaps both were far too busy for such things. But they both knew that was not the truth. Instead Fuji and Tezuka both acted as if the other did not exist. Or maybe they just pretend it was so. Whatever the circumstance, Fuji never called or wrote and neither did Tezuka.

~*~TEZUKA: After the Match~*~

Tezuka never expected it. Once in front of the whole tennis club might be written off as a joke, but twice? Was the tensai serious?

"Tezuka, I love you. I've waited four years to tell you. I love you."

And like that, Fuji walked away. Fuji knew Tezuka needed to think. That was so like Fuji, though.

Tezuka watched as his old teammates congratulate the tensai. Yuuta stood to the side, somewhat uncomfortable with the affection and energy of the team.

"Let's go! Taka's treating us to sushi! Nya, but, Tezuka, you'll have to pay, hehe, since you lost." Eiji did not show much consideration for his former captain. Instead, he only displayed the joy from his friend's win.

Tezuka declined the invitation. There was much to think about. He needed time alone.

~*~TEZUKA: In Germany~*~

No matter what college or university he looked at, none had any appeal. It doesn't matter which school you go to, he told himself, but that wasn't true. It did matter. It mattered a lot more than he cared to admit. The problem was he didn't know why it mattered so much. While he stared at the colorful college brochures designed to tempt prospective students, he heard a distant phone ring. Taking another glance at the brochures, he stood and went over to the phone on his desk.

Inui.

Talking to Inui was probably the last thing Tezuka wanted at the moment, though, talking to Atobe would probably be worse. He picked up anyway.

"Inui."

"Tezuka. So you're trying to decide what college to go to huh? Will you be going to school in Germany? I'd say there's an eighty-five percent chance you're thinking about it. Oishi and Eiji are going to the same college. Still the Golden Pair after all these years. I think Fuji was going with them too, but he changed his mind at the last minute. Now Eiji is mad at him. Fuji most likely wanted to stay close to home. I think the school he said was Tokyo—University. Not that far really. I decided on going to…"

Tezuka tuned him out. Inui could go on and on.

"I have to go." Tezuka hung up. Tokyo—University. Something stirred in Tezuka.

~*~TEZUKA: In Japan, Seven Months Ago~*~

Rain fell in sheets that afternoon. Somehow, the rain was a comfort. Settling into his seat on the plane, Tezuka prepared for the fifteen hour flight. Fifteen hours if he were lucky. Sure enough, fifteen hours later and a plane change in Beijing, Tezuka was back in his homeland of Japan.

~0x0x0~

He supposed the fifteen percent Inui left out of his percentage during that phone call would account for Tezuka's present action. Why he was doing this, he really had no idea. It was just right. Like he was supposed to do this. Like a hand was guiding him this way. The paper work was all settled. He was going to this school now. The same school as Fuji. It just felt right, for whatever reason.

That day, he wondered around the school, getting himself accustomed to his surroundings. He spotted them then. The courts. The tennis courts. He was watching the players and couldn't help but feel at home. His true home. He could cross countries and continents and oceans far and wide, but in the end, his home was the courts and the sport his life had revolved around for the past number of years.

A man, the Captain he later learned, approached him. "Are you joining the tennis club? A freshman?"

"Yes." Tezuka looked down at the boy. He was overly cheerful but not nearly as energetic as Eiji.

"Wanna come and play with us? School hasn't started yet and we're one person short."

"I'm not—"

"It's okay. You can borrow Aki-chan's clothes. They'll fit you. Don't worry he brings like two sets to practice every day. Don't ask me why. He's the one carrying it anyway. And he'll lend you a racket too, if you want."

"No I have my own clothes and racket."

"Oh. Why didn't you say so? Now Aki's gonna kill me for telling you about him bring two sets to practice every day." The boy looked at him, "Don't tell anyone, okay. It'll be our secret. Come on, I'll show you to the club room."

"Should you be doing this? What will your captain say?"

"Huh? Oh, I didn't introduce myself did I? Kobayashi Satsuya. Fourth year, Starter. I'm the Captain of the tennis team. Here go change in there."

Somehow, on that day, Tezuka ended up playing with his future senpais. That was when Satsuya-Buchou decided to place Tezuka as the last Starter. A complete and total coincidence. Satsuya-Buchou demanded that he come to practice every day, and Tezuka found out that the Captain's personality did a ninety degrees change when he acted as Captain. He was less cheerful and more serious. He took the position seriously although it did not match his personality off the courts. A part of it, Tezuka supposed, had something to do with the strict Vice-Captain, 'Aki-chan'.

On one of those days, Tezuka saw for the first time in three years, Fuji. Fuji had just wandered over, not quite looking at the courts, but rather staring off into something no one but he could see. Then turned and walked away. Inui was right. Fuji was here.

That was the first and last time Tezuka saw Fuji. He found out from Eiji later that Fuji was abroad. Fuji left Japan when Tezuka came back. It seemed the two just kept missing each other.

A/N: This explains why Fuji first went to the courts, mentioned back in ch.2...well ch.1 since I combined them...This is NOT the end...there's one more chapter! I think...hopefully, one or two more, at most. Let's just say Tezuka lost because he forgot about Hoshi Hanabi...truth is, it took him by surprise. Plus the wind was a big help...

If you hate me because I made Tezuka lose...then I am very, very sorry.

Please tell me what you think...