Hello guys! I tried my best to finish this chapter quickly so that you guys do not have to wait long for an update. Thank you so so much for all the reviews! It really did motivate me to keep writing! Please review and let me know what you guys think of this chapter kay :))
Chapter 21
Tezuka has been crashing in Fuji's apartment for the past two weeks. He had told Fuji that he had taken some time off work so that he could spend more time with the other man and Fuji had been beyond happy to hear that. The past few days had been pure bliss and it took Tezuka's mind off the fact that the life he had known up to now is gone.
"Mitsu…" Fuji came out of the shower with nothing but a towel draped around him. Tezuka gulped as he took in the scene. Although the two had engaged in intimate activities these past few days, his heart still felt funny every time he saw Fuji, especially when he is half naked. He felt like a teenager in love.
"It's your turn to take a shower, Mitsu. I will prepare breakfast while you shower." Fuji came and sat on Tezuka's lap and snuggled close to him. Tezuka sniffed Fuji's freshly washed hair that smelled like fresh apples and sunshine.
"You're not gonna join me then?" Tezuka kissed Fuji's neck. "I will get lonely in the shower without you, my dear." Tezuka pulled Fuji closer and trailed kisses along his jaw. He nuzzled his nose at the crook of Fuji's neck.
"Mitsu, I just showered. I'm not gonna shower again.." Fuji giggled.
"How about I get you dirty then, hmm? I can think of a few ways to get you dirty." Tezuka yanked Fuji's towel off his hips and settled him in a more comfortable position on his lap as Fuji wrapped his legs around Tezuka's waist.
Fuji loved how Tezuka can be gentle with him most of the day and then turn into someone else when they are making love and fooling around. He loved the way Tezuka's hands felt as they roamed across his body.
"Oh Mitsu.." Fuji moaned as he wrapped his legs tighter around Tezuka. Pressing their bodies even closer together.
They were interrupted by Fuji's ringing phone. "Let's just let that go to voicemail." Tezuka continued kissing Fuji.
Fuji disentangled his body from Tezuka. "I don't get many calls Mitsu. It might be important."
Tezuka sighed. "Fine, let me get that for you." Tezuka moved Fuji to the couch as he walked to the kitchen to get Fuji's phone.
"Here, it says Jirou." Tezuka handed the phone to Fuji. Fuji took the phone appreciatively.
"Hey, Jirou san, anything I can help you with ?" Fuji answered cheerfully.
"Oh, is that so?" Fuji turned his head towards Tezuka. "Sure, Jirou san, I can't wait to hear your happy news! I will see you soon." Fuji hung up the phone and turned to Tezuka. "Mitsu, my friend Jirou has some important news to share and she wants to meet up now."
Fuji giggled playfully before continuing. "I can't join you in the shower after all it seems."
"Sure love, you should go see your friend. Here, let me help you get dressed." Tezuka walked Fuji to his room and helped him into his clothes .
"Hey, I can take care of myself you know. I have been doing this alone for a long time." Fuji said, his voice firm, although there was a smile on his face.
Tezuka knew Fuji had his pride but he wanted to make life as easy as possible for Fuji. "Yes, I know how strong you are Syusuke, but I love taking care of you. Will you let me do that?" Tezuka kissed Fuji's forehead and ruffled his hair.
"Okay, okay, but be fast will you Mitsu." Fuji chuckled.
"Take care and call me if you need me to pick you up, okay." Tezuka kissed Fuji goodbye.
Tezuka hopped into the shower after Fuji left, only to be interrupted by the sound of the doorbell a few minutes later. Could Fuji have forgotten something, he thought to himself.
He was shocked to see Atobe standing on the other side of the door instead of Fuji. "Atobe. What are you doing here?"
"Is that how you treat your guest Tezuka? Geez, I know that you lack social skills but invite me in first at least." Atobe walked past Tezuka to help himself on the couch.
"Is it safe to sit here or has this couch been stained by cum that is invisible to my eyes?" Atobe smirked but sat down nevertheless. "Damn, I think this couch is broken."
"What do you want Atobe?" Tezuka crossed his arms, annoyance visible on his face.
Atobe crossed his legs elegantly. He scanned Tezuka up and down. "I see how you're enjoying this jobless life. Atta boy Tezuka."
"Do you want to talk about business, Atobe? I believe my father has already found a replacement to handle that company. You don't have to worry about our joined projects or whatever."
"Geez Tezuka, is that how you think of me? I don't want to talk about work , did it ever cross your mind that I have been worried sick about you and your future? We are fucking friends for fucks sake."
Tezuka sighed and he uncrossed his arms. "That girl Jirou, did you send her to take Syusuke away so that you can come here and bombard me with questions ?'
"Oh, Sherlock kun seems fond of playing detective now. Do you want to work for the police force now hn?" Atobe said sarcastically.
"Why are you mad Atobe?"
Atobe stood up abruptly. "You dare ask me that? Tezuka, I'm your fucking friend. Why didn't you tell me what happened?"
Tezuka sighed. "Atobe, I'm sorry, I know I should have told you. But I was shocked about everything myself and I needed time to think. Of course I would have informed you eventually."
"I think you've been doing more than thinking judging from all the wild activities that have been going on here." Atobe said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Tezuka knew his best friend was mad and consoling Atobe has never been his strong suit. "Stop exaggerating Atobe. What can I do to ease your anger?" Tezuka felt bad that Atobe had to find out from other sources instead of Tezuka telling him himself, but Tezuka had been busy thinking of everything that had happened and telling Atobe had completely slipped his mind.
"It's not me you should be worried about, dumbass! Do you think leaving the company behind and all the wealth that comes with it is the right thing to do? Can you really picture yourself living in this tiny apartment for the next ten years?" Atobe's eyes were wide as he tried to get the message across to his best friend.
"I did not leave anything behind, I was kicked out by my own blood." Tezuka replied, hurt evident in his voice.
Atobe sighed. "Well, you could have begged more couldn't you. Is leaving everything the wise thing to do? You may be a lot of things but I know you are not irrational Tezuka."
"They asked me to pick between them and Fuji. What do you expect me to do Atobe?" Tezuka ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
"Wow, what a romanticist you are, Tezuka. I certainly did not see this coming. Well, I guess you have been full of surprises these past few months. I did not foresee you falling for another man as well." Atobe stood up and moved closer to Tezuka as he laid a hand on Tezuka's shoulder to give it a gentle squeeze. "You can always come to me if you need any help, okay? Even if it seems irrational I will try my best to help you." A gentle expression came over Atobe's face as he sighed. He understood that Tezuka had no choice but to make this decision. "God, Tezuka, what will you ever do without me by your side hmm ? Look, I'm serious okay, don't hesitate to come to me for help."
Atobe's eyes darted to the ajar door as he sensed a movement from the corner of his eyes. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw a figure looming by the door. "Oh my, a little mouse by the door? You're a sneaky little thing aren't you."
Tezuka's head whipped towards the door and his mouth gaped in surprise as he saw Fuji standing there. "Sy-syusuke, what are you doing here?"
A wave of emotions passed through Fuji's face before he answered. "I left my wallet behind."
"Well, I guess this is my cue to leave." Atobe was surprised he did not notice someone was hearing in on their conversation earlier. He gathered his stuffs to leave before whispering in Tezuka's ears. "I did not expect him to hear our conversation, but i think it's about time you tell him, no?"
Atobe let himself out. "I will inform Jirou that you are busy. I'm sure she will understand." He said to Fuji before leaving.
The door closed behind them and silence hung in the air between them. Tezuka was the first to break the silence. "Syusuke.."
"What was that all about Mitsu?" Fuji clasped his hands together. There was an unreadable expression in his eyes and it scared Tezuka. This was not how he expected Fuji to find out about this.
"Syusuke, there are some things I have been keeping from you. I'm sorry, but I will tell you everything." Tezuka moved closer to Fuji and took his hands in his.
Fuji took his hands away and sat down on the couch. "Is it true that you left your family behind for me? Have you been lying to me all along?"
"Syusuke, I can explain. Please." Tezuka sat down by Fuji's legs and touched his knee.
Fuji took a deep breath and for a moment Tezuka saw the look of disappointment painted all over his face and it sent a deep pang to Tezuka's heart.
"Okay, tell me everything." Fuji closed his eyes and braced for the truth that Tezuka was about to tell him.
"When I first met you, I was mesmerized. I had never seen anyone more exquisite and you evoked feelings in me I never knew I had." Tezuka said softly. He had always known the moment would come where he would have to tell Fuji the truth but he had never prepared for it.
He licked his lips which had gotten dry before continuing. "I wanted to get to know you at the time and the last thing I needed was something that would make you pull away from me. So I did not reveal my true identity to you. I did not want my identity to drive a wedge between us. The truth is, I am the heir to Tezuka Industries, one of the largest corporations in the nation."
Fuji's eyes widened in surprise as he took in what Tezuka just said. He has heard of Tezuka Industries and he knows how big a corporation it is. Fuji was silent as he processed the information.
"When I saw you, I knew right away that you were the type who wanted to live a quiet, simple life and I was afraid if I revealed my true self you would shy away from me. I know now that it was wrong of me to assume so, but as we got closer the lie kept going and I guess I never found the right time to tell you the truth." Tezuka looked at Fuji to see how the other was taking the news. Seeing as how he was silent he continued speaking. "I'm sorry Syusuke..It was never my intention to lie to you. Please say you forgive me."
Tezuka took Fuji's hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Please, say something Syusuke."
Fuji let out a shaky breath. A part of him was relieved that whatever lie Tezuka had told him was actually for his own benefit, but another part was unsure if he was the right person to be by the side of someone like Tezuka. "You were right, I am someone who wants to lead a quiet, simple life, but that does not mean you should have lied. I do not like liars Kunimitsu."
"You're right, I should not have lied. But please say you forgive me, Syusuke." Tezuka pleaded.
Fuji realized at that moment that he has not been fully honest about his past with Tezuka as well. He decided he was not one to judge Tezuka and sighed. "I forgive you, Kunimitsu. Just promise me you will be honest with me from now on."
Tezuka realized he had been holding his breath and let out a sigh of relief as he heard what Fuji said. He knew he should come clean about how he has been disowned now. "I promise Syusuke, there will be no more lies between us now." He took a deep breath and caressed Fuji's hand. "There is something else you should know. I have been disowned by my family. They somehow found out about our relationship and they weren't happy about it. They made me choose between you or them, and of course I picked you." Tezuka looked at his lover. "I will always choose you, Syusuke.."
"Mitsu…" Fuji whispered, melancholy evident in his voice. Tezuka pulled Fuji down from the couch and embraced the latter in a tight hug. Fuji buried his face in Tezuka's chest, his mind a whirlpool of thoughts. Without realizing it, a single tear escaped his eye. The last thing he wanted was to break a family apart. Being estranged from his family, Fuji knew how tough and lonely it could be and he did not want to be the cause that would lead Tezuka to feel the same way.
Fuji pulled away from the embrace. "Mitsu, you can't leave your family for me." His voice broke at the end of the sentence and it pained Tezuka to see his lover that way.
"Syusuke, baby...please don't cry." Tezuka wiped his tears. "If losing you is the price of being with my family, then that is not a price I'm willing to pay. I don't ever want to lose you." Tezuka kissed the corner of Fuji's lips.
Fuji tried to hold back his tears as memories of his own family and his past came flooding back. He wondered if he should tell Tezuka about it. It was a topic he had avoided speaking of for many years and he decided maybe it was time to let Tezuka know about the pains of his past so that they can start a new life with no secrets.
"Mitsu.." Fuji faced Tezuka. "Actually, there are things I have not told you about my family and my past." Fuji's face filled with sadness as he reminisced about his past. "I ran away from home and I haven't seen my family in over ten years."