Title: Timing
Date: May 19, 2014

Thank you so much for all the reviews! I'm honestly overwhelmed by the amount of nice messages and encouragement this story has recently been receiving. It's super motivating and right now it's the only thing that's pushing me to update. Thank you all so much!

Fuji Shusuke
Chapter 9

After everything that's happened between them, Fuji Shusuke would have never expected being friends again with Kikumaru Eiji. Yet in time they've managed to mend their relationship to the point where it almost felt like how it used to, before the awkward apologies, harsh arguments, false accusations and months of hidden harassment. Because it almost felt like they were the best of friends, without a secret or thought between them… almost.

They were very much like a broken vase. Because what was once broken can never truly be repaired. And their friendship had once shattered to an irreparable degree… it was only a miracle that they had managed to repair it this far. It wasn't perfect, but Kikumaru Eiji had always been that irreplaceable friend. Someone he could always talk to, even if they stopped being friends.

So as he sat across the table from the redhead, the smile on his face couldn't have been more genuine as he raised his glass and cheered, "Congratulations on your graduation!"

"Thanks Shu-chan!" Eiji's smile was just as sincere, "I'm a year late, but it's still an accomplishment!"

Oshitari Yuushi sighed, "I don't know how I feel about it… I kind of liked bragging to everyone that I was dating a high schooler."

"All context aside, you sound more and more like a pedophile with each passing day." He noted with an even wider grin.

"With Atobe out of the country, I thought I'd be free from all this verbal abuse." The navy haired man rolled his eyes.

"Well, you guessed wrong." He laughed.

"Hum… This slice of Rosu beef looks about ready." Oshitari changed the subject, focusing his attention on the small grill in the centre of the table before turning towards the redhead, "Say: Ah!"

"Ah!" Eiji sounded, "… Ouch! That's hot!"

"Oh." The navy haired man quickly retracted the chopsticks he was holding out, "Let me just blow on it for a bit… Okay! That should be ready. Say: Ah!"

"Ah!" The redhead's smile was impossibly wide, "That's delicious!"

And he remembered his shock from when his best friend from middle school and his rather close friend from high school announced that they were dating. Admittedly, they were completely each other's types. The one thing missing from Eiji's relationship with their former Seigaku vice-captain was Oishi's unwillingness to show the slightest bit of affection in public. Oshitari on the other hand had always proved himself as a loving, passionate boyfriend. It was just a shame that Mukahi never appreciated it, which led to their years of on and off again dating. And of course, Oshitari always had a thing for redheads… so something was bound to happen eventually. Fuji just never expected it to happen so soon.

And he couldn't have been happier for the pair.

Because both Eiji and Oshitari had been hurt and betrayed in the past. It almost seemed like fate that they were able to find each other and from there develop something truly wonderful. Because both Eiji and Oshitari were broken puzzle pieces that managed to fit all too well together, and they were stronger than ever. And it seemed like as today became yesterday, the love they would share tomorrow would be grow even stronger.

Then on the other hand was his relationship with Kawamura Takashi.

Dating the brawny brunet felt good for the most part. Kawamura had always been more than amazing to him. He was the perfect boyfriend. And dating the sushi chef brought back so many feelings. Because with Kawamura by his side, he remembered the good old days. He remembered their years spent on the same tennis club. The joys of playing with each other and the pain of watching their teammates fall on court. Those fond memories that couldn't help but resurface in his head… He remembered his once unbreakable friendship with Eiji, Oishi's reassurance, Inui's voice of reason, Kaidoh's bashfulness despite the scary face, Momoshiro's goofy antics, even Echizen's straightforwardness and never ending desire for self-improvement… then there was Tezuka Kunimitsu. Because those were the best years of his life…

But even though his relationship with Kawamura was perfect on paper… it didn't feel right.

Something felt off…

They didn't quite fit the way Eiji and Oshitari did.

And with Kawamura's family restaurant not doing so well these past few weeks, the flaws in their relationship became all the more apparent.

"I thought you said Kawamura was coming." Oshitari arched a brow.

"He's working." He offered a slight tilt to his lips, as he threw more slices of beef onto the grill.

"But it's Yakiniku! I can't believe he turned down Yakiniku!" Eiji cried.

"Huh…" The navy haired man hummed, "I guess the restaurant's still having a tough time."

"It's really taking its toll on him." He confessed, focusing his attention on the rapidly cooking meat.

"That restaurant has always been important to him." Eiji remembered.

"Yea." A faint smile found its way onto his lips, "He would give his life for that restaurant."

"I'm going to be honest: I'm not at all close or friends with your boyfriend, but for your sake I hope his restaurant recovers." Oshitari was offering him a reassuring smile, "Besides, he seems like a strong and dedicated guy. I'm sure he'll manage this small setback just fine."

"Thanks." And he couldn't help but feel the slightest bit optimistic.

Because it was just as Oshitari said: Kawamura Takashi was always so strong and tough… There wasn't anyone more resilient than him. Kawamura will be able to get through this no doubt. He'll be just fine.

It almost felt like his heart would beat out of his chest.

And even though his legs were complaining and his breaths were coming out as harsh gasps, he couldn't slow down. There was no way he could stop to catch his breath. He didn't have the time or luxury to take a second more… And admittedly, taking the elevator may have been faster but he just couldn't stand the waiting. He needed to do something… anything. And he continued to run up the stairwell, ignoring the tight squeezing in his chest as he struggle to breathe, the sound of his own heartbeat thumping loudly in his ears. And down the hallway he could spot the pair…

"Fuji-kun."

"Fuji-kun, you're finally here." A tearstained face met his sights.

And the reality of the situation hit him like a tonne of bricks.

He wanted to collapse to the ground.

He wanted to cry.

He wanted to do anything but be here… but he needed to be strong.

And he found his voice, "W-What happened?"

"We… We found him in the bathroom over the sink… and…" The aging woman broke down into sobs.

Her husband continued for her, "It was that damn health inspector visit… And it was bullshit… all those people complaining about food poisoning. There was no proof… I didn't know Takashi was suffering this much. He always showed us this strong face."

"And your friend… Atobe-kun." Kawamura's mother looked up from her husband's chest.

He frowned, "… Keigo?"

"Y-Yes…" She cried, "Atobe-kun is such a caring gentleman. We're so lucky Takashi made his acquaintance. He offered us the money… He even recommended a good chef to hire. We spoke to the chef too. He has an amazing resume and he was willing to train Takashi too. I-I don't understand why Takashi would… Why he would…"

"He woke up." Kawamura's father pulled his wife into his arms once more, "… but he won't speak to us. Maybe… Maybe he'll talk to you."

And he prayed that that would be the case. And he pushed all thoughts of Atobe Keigo to the back of his mind, despite the feeling of foreboding screaming at him in his curiosity of why Atobe had never once mentioned any of this. They spoke on the phone every single day… there was plenty of opportunity to say the least bit. But there were more pressing matters, as he pushed open a sterile white door and closed it shut behind him.

And he could hear his heart break.

Because in this impossibly pristine white room, the red seeping out from those tightly bound bandages stood out all the more. And he didn't want to believe it… Because the Kawamura Takashi he knew has always been so silently strong. He was that young burly boy at the Kantou Regionals all those years ago, fighting in that long match until his hands bled. The tawny haired man had more fight and more will than anyone he knew. There was no way this man strapped to bags of intravenous drips, hooked up to all those machines and struggling for life was Kawamura Takashi. Because there was no way Kawamura Takashi would even think of ending his own life.

He took a tentative step forward, "… Taka-san?"

And those dull lifeless eyes turned towards him.

All traces of the strong boy he knew had disappeared, "Please Taka-san… please tell me… why?"

The blank look covering that usually jolly face remained detached and impassive, "… I failed them."

He frowned, "Failed who?"

"My parents." A cutting smile fell over a thin face, "They trusted me with their biggest achievement and I let it fail."

He shook his head, "They don't think of you like that. You're not a failure. This was just bad luck… a setback. Don't worry… I hear Keigo found someone to help and-"

"I can't accept help from that guy." Kawamura snorted. And he knew Kawamura was never a fan of Atobe Keigo, as it remained the one unspoken blight on their relationship. Because any mention of the dark haired man had always led to never-ending arguments. But he always assured the burly man that Atobe was only a dear friend and more like family. There was no way he could simply turn his back on the man who saved him all those years ago and had since been his closest and most precious friend. Yet Kawamura had his own thoughts, which he was entitled to of course…

"Then we'll think of something." He changed the subject, "I'll call Sara-san… She knows some prominent restaurateurs… If I ask, I know she'll be willing to help. I usually have lunch with her every Saturday… So this weekend maybe-"

"His mother?" Kawamura arched a brow, "Even if you can think of anyone without some relation to him, it should have been me. It's my restaurant. It's my family's legacy… And I'm not good enough."

"Yes you are." He firmly took another step forward, "You're more than good. You're strong, you're devoted and you've worked so hard."

"Still… I'm not enough." Kawamura confirmed.

"… Stop saying that." He could feel his words choke up in his throat.

"And I'm not good enough for you too."

"W-What are you saying?" He wanted to laugh had this situation not been so serious.

"I've never been good enough for you."

"I think I decide if you're good enough for me or not." He retaliated.

Then those lifeless eyes turned on him, "I can't even kill myself right."

And there was nothing else he could say.

Fuji Shusuke could hear as each painful second on the clock hand moved, the loud ticking echoing in his ears and coinciding with his own frantic heartbeats. And he sat in the middle of the living room, the cool leather numbing against the palms of his hands as he ran his fingers back and forth in a poor attempt to calm down. And he would have never thought the anticipation of having him walk through the front door could ever be this unnerving.

And he could hear the sounds of elevator doors sliding open.

Those distinctively paced footsteps tapping against the hardwood.

"At least turn the lights on." That familiar overbearing voice meeting his ears, "You nearly gave me a heart attack."

And he turned towards the dark haired man and those equally dark slate grey eyes. And as he stared into those swirling multitudes of greys, lost in those smallest flecks of nebulous cerulean he realized something… and he couldn't believe he never noticed it before. Because Atobe Keigo's eyes had never once reflected anything other than the image of his own azure ones. It was like looking into a mirror… a cold one-way mirror with no one standing on the other side.

… It was terrifying.

"Oshitari told me what happened by the way." Atobe casually dropped his luggage by the entrance before disappearing into the kitchen.

… It should have been terrifying.

The dark haired man emerged after what felt like an eternity with a water bottle at hand, leisurely taking a seat next to him, "I never would have taken Kawamura to be the cutting type… Although, he is a sushi chef."

"Keigo." He called out.

And that smirk completely disappeared from that handsome face, "Ah… Sorry. That was a bit too soon, wasn't it?"

"How come you never mentioned anything?" He asked.

And despite the growing smile playing on Atobe's lips, those glaucous grey eyes couldn't have been more callous.

"Mentioned what?"

"The bailout… The new chef that you recommended to help the restaurant. We talk on the phone every single day… Why didn't you say anything to me?" He elaborated, despite the painful tightening in the pit of his stomach. That terrible ominous feeling creeping through every inch of his body.

And that positively sharp smirk returned, "… Does it matter?"

"It does to me." He retorted.

"Well… He's your boyfriend. So naturally, I had to help him out if-"

"You never liked him." He realized, "You never liked Taka-san."

And Atobe chuckled, "What does that matter?"

"I dated him because you suggested it." He confessed.

Atobe feigned a look of surprise, "I thought it was because you liked him."

"You pushed me to date him." He recalled, "Why would you go through all that trouble if you don't even like him. Why even help him?"

"Shu…"

And he recognized that familiar softness to that usually forceful voice. It was a special tone of voice Atobe used for him alone. And he noticed the perfectly spoken sentiments laced into his sentences… It was too perfect, too calculated to be in any way genuine. And he couldn't believe that he never noticed it before.

"… You sound like a crazy person."

And those numbingly cold hands took a hold of his own, twisting their fingers together in unbreakable weaves and tangles.

"Tell me the truth." He dreaded those words the moment they fell off his tongue.

"Why should I?" That grip against his fingers was tightening.

"You will tell me the truth." He ordered.

"… Or else?" That smirk was unnerving.

And he never did have any real leverage against the dark haired man. So he begged, "Please."

And that smirk softened, as that painfully tight grip loosened.

And it occurred to him.

Atobe Keigo always treated everyone around him like dirt. Even his friends (if they could even be considered friends) were treated like replaceable scum below trash. Everyone… Everyone except him. And he never questioned why Atobe has always been more than nice to him. He always assumed that it was out of pity or sorts. Because Atobe had seen him at his most vulnerable moments. And Atobe had saved him. Atobe sent all his problems away… Atobe removed him from a miserable life and brought him here, to this large penthouse that remains filled with precious joyous memories. Since Atobe came into his life, every day had been blissful and too good to be true.

It was too good to be true.

Because he realized something else… Before he knew it, he was trapped. His world had somehow come to revolve around everything that was Atobe Keigo. He didn't have friends who weren't connected in some way to Atobe. Heck, even Eiji's dating Oshitari. He needed Atobe Keigo. And it was getting harder to breathe…

"Please…" He begged in between gasps, "Why are you doing this to me?"

"I'm only protecting you." Atobe replied in that same constricting tone.

He was suffocating.

"And about Kawamura… you're right." Atobe admitted indifferently, "I didn't like him. But he had his uses. And truth be told, he was beginning to overstay his welcome. So I did some things. Besides a little pocket change and a better chef seemed like a nice going away present… don't you agree?"

And he could feel himself drawn towards a larger torso, as Atobe's arms wrapped around him. Coiling ever so slowly, drowning him in the lulling scent of soothing lavenders, cedar and tobacco. And he reactively closed his eyes, as those arms tightened and held him all the more closer.

It should have been suffocating.

And it was scary. Or should have been.

He should have felt terrified but…

… He raised his arms up, and held Atobe Keigo all the more dear.

To be continued.

Note: So fujiyuki you totally called it a few chapters back. Atobe's totally pulling strings and he pretty much shows his true colours in this chapter (which was a complete bitch to write. I probably rewrote this chapter more times then I rewrote any other chapter). Well, I hope this answers some questions.

Please tell me what you all think!

Thanks again for reading!