A/N : Chapter 14 at last! 14? It has been a long time… Well, thank you so much for reading the last, moreover to you who have left review! ^^ If you find this chapter is getting more and more angsty, please forgive me. This is due to the development in the anime, which is rather disappointing for me,… -_- Still, I hope you'll enjoy this as much as the previous! ^^

A/N 2 : For you who ask my permission to use my fic (sorry, I forget your name), please send me another e-mail or at least give me yours here. I accidentally erased your address _ Really, really sorry…

Replies:

Koneko-chan : This is also the way I think he is. I'm glad there is someone who thinks that way too ^^

anon : I guess people will develop somehow ^^ Anyway, thanks for pointing it out, really made me happy… I hope my writing's quality isn't declining in this chapter!

Yami no Tenshi : Perhaps I made Fuji too pervert here ^_^* Can't help that, I'm really really bad _  I know I wrote angst, even I nearly cried when I was writing that part… And I still made stupid mistakes! It's one more chapter left, I hope you can cope with me until then ^^

n3th3r^v^l@nd : Please tell me I spelled your name right ^^ And I can't say I'm fast enough, but at least this one is faster compared to the last ^.^

StrAwbErRyfAnSz : Okay, I'm so guilty for making lots of people cried… ^0^

Shiroi Kunisaki : Commit suicide!? Geez, I have a really great burden to carry… ^_^* Now I have updated it, so don't commit suicide! Phew… You really made my writing go faster and faster, you know ^^

mi^mi : Glad if my fic could help you to release the piling up stress ^^ Oh yeah, tests and exams are always tiring, I know that. I hope you can do it well!

sakura-sleep : Bad SIB… I made my readers cried… Well, that's my intention however ^^ *runs and hides* By the way *peeks* I do love bitchy Fuji! Thanks for the great review! It's highly appreciated!

LadyDeath : Good guessing ^^ I think Tezuka's decision certainly will shock Fuji… But that's the risk for letting him go. Geez, I'm so confused with my own fic…

Mica-chan : I'm happy that my reader actually think this fic is improving ^_^ Thanks!

Chibi-y4kuza : No, they are my properties *runs from lawyers, smack by drop shot and hakugei* Okay… *sigh* I still don't own them… Yeah, I don't want this to happen either but I think it's worth for the ending ^^ By the way, this is SOON, right?

DISCLAIMER : Not mine, I swear -_- These cool guys belong to someone else…

WARNING : m/m pairings (lots of hints, mind you that), more confusing plot, and this chapter hasn't been beta-ed (my dearest beta is on vacation) so please forgive any mistake I made ^^

Words in italic are for thoughts; whose thought I think you can guess it.

Chapter 14 : Camouflaged Me

"Echizen! You can get that ball!" the furious voice of Momoshiro Takeshi gave more bustles to the already too hot and festive match. His younger double partner gave him a piercing glance.

"But it went inside YOUR court, Momo-senpai," he retorted stubbornly, eyes were still hid behind the peak of his everlasting cap.

Momoshiro waved his hand in protracted anger and yelled, "But we are playing double now, for God's sakes! We should be cooperating somehow, even with that unforgivable egoistic imperious personality which is inevitably yours! Just for this moment, on this court, right now, right here!"

The youngest member of the team felt like his head was boiling all over, "You were the one who ordered me to guard my own court half and that ball landed on your part! And if I recall it right, Momo-senpai, you were also the one who drew this line!" As he blurted those words, the red racket was pointed to the visible line which dividing their court. The brown eyes were glaring at the taller guy wolf-likely. At the other side of the court, their opponents, an immoderately tall guy with glasses and his eternal double partner were only watching the breeding quarrel.

"There they go again," Ryuzaki Sumire sighed audibly over her former charges childlike behaviour. "I wonder how Konomi-sensei deals with you guys," she turned to the standing coldly team captain. And he is still an ice king…

The regular of Seigaku High School tennis club had a gathering every once a month to practice under the coaching of Ryuzaki-sensei, as a sort of agreement between them to keep in touch with her. Beside, no one objected an extra training since all of them were tennis-freaks. Like their previous meetings, it was held at the district tennis court, on Sunday morning.

Her comment was enough to arouse Tezuka as he stepped forward and scolded loudly, "If you have no better intention to stay inside the court, I believe you will enjoy a running outside of it! Momoshiro! Echizen! Run thirty laps now!"

The reprimand was appeared to be efficacious as the sentenced regulars immediately ended their words spitting and began to take their laps, although they were not in their school. Still, the two were muttering curses to each other during their punishment to save their detained dispute until they were no longer under their cruel leader's range of law.

"Oishi, Kikumaru! Get into the court and resume their game!" Tezuka released a further instruction, which went for the amusedly sitting golden pair. Kikumaru promptly jumped down from his perching place with a loud 'hoi hoi' as his partner mutely took his racket, nonetheless still discerning fondly at his pitiful underclassmen.

"It has been three years and they haven't changed even the slightest," the impetuous acrobatic player made a remark, eliciting a small laugh from the raven-haired guy.

"I guess old habit die hard," Oishi commented on their current situation. His eyes could still catch the moving of Momoshiro's lips, which seemed to be involved in a deeper verbal quarrel with their freshman. "In spite of the astonishing increase of his height, Echizen hardly gains any personality maturation."

"Same goes for them," Kikumaru murmured in a lower tone, directed to his partner only, "as dumb as ever…"

This time, the taller guy had to disagree his friend's statement. Perfectly knowing that Kikumaru was talking about the calamity pounding their beloved leader, the vice-captain found himself sided with his best friend since he was ten years old, despite the fact that impartiality had always been one of his best asset before. From his point of view, the fault fell for the prodigy only. The idea of Tezuka was being misused by a hypocrite tensai filled his mind with vengeance as he vowed to stop Fuji from resulting worse decay on their captain.

"See?" his partner's demanding voice brought Oishi up to the surface, "his eyes begin to search for Fuji again! He has done so for the last ten minutes and do you still think it's possible for him to not realize that explicit thing he's doing?"

"Perhaps," the vice-captain mumbled an answer as his eyes followed the mobility of the deep brown pools which Tezuka's. He flinched slightly when his gaze fell upon a happily chatting couple, sitting remotely from the others. As soon as he recognized them, Oishi darted his sight to the impassive face of his leader. However, a flickering flame, which discernible from the glowering orbs crumbled all hypothetical conclusions he had that Tezuka was uninfluenced by the ill-starred occurrence.

It may be easier for you if you are not in love with him. The thought crossed Oishi's mind as a cheerful laugh could be heard from the corner where Fuji sat comfortably in the company of Kawamura. The sound seethed him and he swore the prodigy would achieve what he deserved. Of all the people that you can fall in love with, Tezuka…

"Are we going to begin or not?" the even tone Inui used diverted his attention to his three other companions. The vice-captain forced a smile and took his position, a signal that he was ready.

The fierce match itself was a blur to the Seigaku's prodigy, not that he was paying an extreme heed to what his friend said however. To squeeze his feeling into the trough of his heart had already consumed as much effort as he possessed. Being a sensitive guy also brought him an added complication since it became to be impossible for him to neglect the painful look Tezuka's had nor the full of hatred one his vice-captain's gave.

Unconsciously, Fuji embraced himself tightly as his ears caught some words that Kawamura was babbling. "-the most stupid thing I've ever done! Just imagine the consequence it would bring for our team! Thankfully-"

Yes, thankfully Fuji had a habit to close his eyes since he knew he could no longer maintain the composure in his sight devices. Everyone could easily spot the chaotic soul within the owner by only looking into them. And why the hell he won't stop staring at me like that!? I am not even his boyfriend anymore!

"-am I right? I think everything will be okay if I do so!" the tiresome chattering suddenly halted and the tensai knew, Taka-san was waiting for a response.

"Well, I don't see a better way to solve it, so I guess you have chosen the best," the prodigy smiled sweetly, creating a blush on the tanned skin of his friend.  And to cover his lack of information of the previous subject Kawamura was talking, he convincingly added, "You have proved yourself to be a fine leader, Taka-san! It was not an easy decision to make." And the stout guy went more and more scarlet.

"I-I'm glad I did it," he stuttered a gratitude for the praise. Fuji propped his chin up as his companion resumed the one-sided chat with narrating another tale. The prodigy exhaled inaudibly. Another advantages of not showing his eyes was the guy sitting in front of him couldn't even tell whether he was listening or merely daydreaming.

Or maybe it is not that helpful, the tortured guy thought grimly. The side effect of shutting his sight off was there was an escalation of his sixth sense acuity and that made him able to acknowledge his surroundings without necessarily seeing it. And he is still looking at me…

"-couldn't even remember! If anything went amiss-" Beside him, Fuji tried his best to eliminate his instinct as the pressure he felt began to be an unbearable weigh. If only his captain wasn't the one who gave that stare, it might not be so infatuating. He didn't have to feel like living an inferno.

"-who knows what could happen-" Cut that staring off! "-I certainly didn't have-" Why are you looking at me like that!? "-may occur during those difficult times. But I believe-" You are bestowed two useful eyes… "-then everything suddenly seemed clear-" …clearly not only to look at me! "-still feel the thrill, you know-" In the name of all Holy Spirits… "-how can I explain it to you? Someone has to-" …of every saints and prophets… "-even if I think I'm lucky-" …just stop…shit! Fuck off with your staring, Tezuka! "-then I still have the obligation to find-" Oh God, please help me… "-anyone who is smart enough will realize-" God…I can't stand this…

"Stop it!" the prodigy hissed miserably. The sluice gate was over flooded and with a moan, Fuji bent his lean body, burying his face in pain. He was grateful enough for not yelling and making a commotion until he heard Kawamura's worried voice loudly saying, "Fuji! Are you alright!?"

Like his unfortunate prognosis had come true, thundering sound of footsteps trotted to the place where he sat. Soon, he was flocked by his teammates, all had an anxious expression on their faces. He could hear a lot of 'what happens!?" and "are you okay!?", nonetheless all of his interests were poured to the fingers holding his shoulders steadily. And Fuji somehow knew the least one he wanted to see was kneeling in front of him.

Shit, shit, shit! Why all of these should happen to me…?

He could hear them. Ryuzaki-sensei, Eiji, Kaidou-kun, Momoshiro-kun, Echizen, all of them. And also him. The tight grip weakened as the warm fingers moved gently to his cheeks, soothing him in a way. And barely audible that Fuji was unconvinced he really heard it, the deep rich voice spoke his name. At the same time, Tezuka's hand brought his face up compulsively. As much as he wanted to restrain, the prodigy had no strength left to do so.

Their eyes met and the tensai almost lost his control again. The brown eyes devoured him, drowning him in the warm waves they bore. All he craved to do was throwing himself into the inviting embrace and he merely had to shift forward a little to materialize his wish. Instead, Fuji gritted his teeth and continued on gazing defiantly.

If there was anything that could put his sanity to the limit, it was this. Of all the hard work he had to expend in order to crucify his inflating desire, his leader easily demolished the outcome only by a simple hug. All of a sudden there were arms encircling his shuddering body and he was brought down from the bench where he sat. There, in the warm welcoming embrace, held by the one he loved, the prodigy totally shattered.

Tezuka was flabbergasted when the guy in his arms returned his perilous step unexpectedly, by clinging to him in a helpless grip. The tremble worsened and he could hear Fuji's equally quivering voice wheezing several indecipherable phrases consisting 'God' and 'stop'. Tenderly stroking the chestnut locks, he whispered soothing words and ultimately the prodigy went still.

The authorized leader made a wave to dismiss his fellow teammates, knowing he alone was the one who able to calm Fuji down. As the absolute command was implemented, the crowd slowly dispersed. Still, he felt the need to gave Kawamura a penetrating look or the power guy wouldn't move an inch from his place. He also received an approving nod from their coach as she dragged Kawamura away.

Reverting his attention back to the subject of his thought, Tezuka called softly, "Fuji, it's fine now. They have gone."

Fuji shifted his head a bit as the response, so he could see the man who was holding him. Another anxiety bred within Tezuka as he gazed into the azure pools. The loving eyes showed affections, contentment, broken hopes, but most of all, regrets. Subsequently, the rosy lips parted and the tensai whispered, "I'm sorry if I make this harder for us."

"Baka," the tone his captain used subtracted the real harshness of the simple word. Tezuka closed his eyes as Fuji buried his face deeper into the broad shoulder. Despite the thick fabric of his jersey, the stoic leader could feel his prodigy was smiling.

Are you really that happy to be here with me like this?

Because I love your presence more than anything.

"I'm okay now," suddenly Fuji backed away, releasing himself from the comforting hold. He returned to his sitting place, a smile was restored to the calm countenance. Tezuka merely sighed for he was used to the numerous changes of behaviour.

"I've done something stupid, haven't I?" the exhilaration had appeared in his voice. Nevertheless, the captain still heard a detectable shake which failed to be covered, ruining his previous impression. A disbelieved expression coloured his face together with a self-refutation. 

I make you live in misery, don't I?

Only because of my presence.

Fuji was still smiling.

*   *   *

"It turns out rather well, after all," Kikumaru appraised his teammate condition after the alarming incident. "He has smiled again! Making us worried like that…"

"Maybe the virus has been transferred," the youngest regular made a comment as his keen eyes observed the flow of the match between Fuji and Oishi with their captain as the referee, "Looks like Oishi-senpai doesn't have the immunity. What happen to him, playing awfully like that?" He 'ouch'-ed when the Moon Volley landed horribly far from the proper spot.

"Hell, you're right," the acrobatic player frowned at his friend's weird attitude. "It's so unlike Oishi to play such a poor game. Fuji is not one to be taken lightly as an opponent and of course he knows it." He gave a pleading look to Inui, wishing Mr. I-Know-All could present a good reason since he clearly had no idea.

As expected, Inui flipped his green book open, turning the pages over and over. He stopped at a particular page and began his speech, "Oishi Shuichirou, current vice-captain of Seigaku's tennis club. The idiosyncrasy in his usually composed demeanor has been visible since Fuji's impromptu absence last week, and has gradually increased in a steady pace until the last recent development, which takes place on this very day, Sunday, August 24th. His oddities are subsumed under several parts, among them are his deepening interest for Tezuka and," he took a glance at the prodigy of the team, "the fact that he is now, holding a grudge against Fuji."

"He-what!?" Momoshiro unconsciously yelled as he heard the incredulous statement. "It's impossible! They are best friends, Oishi-senpai and Fuji-senpai!"

"It was also what I believe," Inui defended his judgment, "but data will not lie, not in cases like this."

"This is ridiculous," Kikumaru carelessly stroke himself to the hard wooden bench, disconsolate over the lack of knowledge upon his best friend's situation, "why me, his double's pair of all people, hasn't heard a thing about this? And why Fuji, who supposed to be his good friend!?"

"I'm afraid I haven't discovered the answer yet," the former manager answered evenly, "but due to the recent development which I mentioned, it may be somehow connected," he glanced around as to reassure someone was not in the range to hear his upcoming sentence, "to the relationship of Tezuka and Fuji."

"There is definitely something between them," Momoshiro scratched his chin absent-mindedly, "and something is different about it, don't you think? They have become pretty weird too."

"I have noticed it also but yet to find the cause. Presumably their relationship is going for the worse," Inui gave his hypothesis.

"No," suddenly a harsh voice interfered the aimless conversation, "they are in fine fettle."

"And how do you come to know it, Kaidou?" his double partner asked suspiciously as the other team members were astonished by the usually silent guy's statement.

"Because I know," was the only reply he said.

"Unhelpful answer," Inui stated with a sigh, dissatisfied. Nevertheless, he fished out his pen and began to write, "So, in Kaidou's opinion, there was nothing wrong in Tezuka and Fuji's relationship."

Kikumaru jumped from the bench so he stood up once again, "So, there is no one who can explain this to me?"

The disarrayed dialogue practically halted when they heard their captain's voice, announcing the end of the current match, "Game, Fuji! 6-0!"

The team members quickly gathered around their beloved couch when she summoned them with an unpleasant look on her old face. She incessantly glared at Oishi who seemed very much oblivious to the jeopardy looming over him.

"I want all of you to listen carefully!" Ryuzaki-sensei started fiercely, "After seeing this practice, I realize that I was wrong to condemn you as high school students who should be able to separate emotion from duty! Come on, wake up! You are seventeen years old guys, for goodness sake! If there is any problem among you, settle it! And try not to bring it to the court!" Subsequently, she narrowed her eyes, "Don't humiliate me."

None of the regular had the audacity to move, let alone answer her terrifying wrath, since she was rarely mad at them. They were waiting for the next scolding when unexpectedly she sighed, a sign that she was also troubled.

"You have grown up," she said in a more subdued tone, "all of you have. And you have made me so proud for this team is the only one, in my whole career, who can give Seigaku the national title. But what happens to the solid team? I hope you want to contemplate my words, for your own good."

"Thank you, Sensei," Tezuka took the lead and bowed to their former coach, as the rest of the team huffed in relief. It was replied by a warm smile from her.

The gratifying moment was devastated by a high-pitched voice of a girl heard from behind the fence as the figure of Morita Saki appeared from nowhere. "Shuusuke-kun! Have you finished?"

Fuji smiled sweetly as a greeting at her emergence, a genuine loving smile in most of his peers' opinions. "In a minute," he answered in an equal loudness. Satisfied by the short but clear reply, his fiancée gave a return smile and once again, vanished from their sight in a so unladylike way.

"Your girlfriend?" Ryuzaki-sensei guessed the importance of the new stranger to the prodigy.

Fuji, who was about to put his racket into the tennis bag, stopped his hand in mid-air as he heard the delicate question. Albeit the urge to unfold the truth inscribed on his heart, he eventually said the otherwise. "Yes."

Ryuzaki-sensei could have some fun only by watching the various reactions made by the other team members to the simple answer. Momoshiro gawked, while Echizen was only eyeing the tensai suspiciously. Kawamura looked thunderstruck by the shocking news. Inui, as she had guessed, immediately opened his everlasting book and began to write as his partner's eyes bulged in disbelief. The red-haired acrobatic player, who seemed familiar with the newly discovered fact, merely sighed and gave Fuji a sympathetic look. Nevertheless, her attention mostly rested on the vice-captain of the team, who had a loathing look in his eyes, and Tezuka. The latter didn't even bother to glance at the prodigy as he walked away from the party. The former coach became more and more anxious that the little dissension was not an easy one to be mended.

What's actually happening here?

Her train of thoughts was cut by Fuji's soft voice, "Should we change now, then?" She gave him an apprehensive look then nodded as an approval.

Oishi followed his friends flowing into the changing room. Despite the rather commodious but crowded place, his eyes had never left the prodigy even for a second. He waited patiently to implement his plan as one by one, his fellow friends left the room. Inwardly, the vice-captain prayed to the deities above that Fuji would be the last one who took his leave.

His wish crumbled into pieces when suddenly his cell phone rang. Rashly, he took it out from his bag and answered, "Hai, Oishi's here!"

"Shu! This is Nee-san!" the voice of his older sister answered.

"What is it?"

"I'm here at the district sport club. Can you meet me around the basketball court? Dad and Mom will be out for the night and so do I. You will need the key to enter the house, right?"

"But…" he glanced across the room, to two other figures that were left in the room. However deep his will to avenge his best friend, being left outside and waiting until his sister got home seemed to be a more unappealing prospect. Damn. I'm not gonna make it today! "Fine, fine! I'll see you there!"

Fuji watched as the vice-captain chose to leave and literally felt relieved. However the next second he preferred the angry Oishi when he realized he was alone with the captain of the team.

As expected, the tall silent guy didn't try to start any talk; instead he busily packed his things and completely pretended the prodigy wasn't there. Fuji winced inwardly, nonetheless he was grateful. As he had finished all that need to be done, he chose to walk out. Unfortunately, the tensai failed to notice a puddle of water on his way, and before he knew it, his feet had already slipped.

Instead of suffering a painful humiliating land on his ass, the prodigy felt a pair of arms caught his waist and his slender body was reversed that he ended on top of his captain. The sudden chain of events dumbfounded him as he lost his ability to speak for a moment and merely stared at the too-close brown warmth.

"I don't know what will happen if I'm nowhere to save you from these frequent accidents. Don't you think twice a day is enough?" surprisingly Tezuka initiated the dialogue first, "maybe you'll lose your head somewhere next."

Fuji laughed uneasily, trying to ignore his pounding wildly heart. "I am such a damsel in distress, right? Well, thank you again, Tezuka."

The taller guy was about to reply when the door unfortunately opened and revealed the shocked figure of Oishi Shuichiroh, clearly getting a complete misinterpretation of the position they were having. The prodigy quickly moved aside and gained his composure back in no time as the man beneath him did more or less the same. The vice-captain gave Fuji a cold look before turning to his captain, who didn't feel the necessity to explain the incident, and notified, "Ryuzaki-sensei wished to see you, Tezuka. She is in the cafeteria."

The quiet leader nodded as a thank you and left without any word. Meanwhile Oishi who was burned with fury, felt he was ready to explode. What does he think he's doing!? He had announced that Saki was his girlfriend and just now, he tried to seduce Tezuka again!?

"Having fun, weren't you?" no one could imagine that such a cruel mocking tone was actually coming from behind the lips of the mother of Seigaku. "Want to destroy him further? It was your bad luck that I suddenly interrupted, wasn't it?"

To his annoyance, the prodigy didn't bother to say anything on his defense and merely smiled. If it was possible, Oishi felt his wrath rose even higher. "Why are you smiling, you shameless bitch! Don't you know what you're doing make him suffer!?"

As it was an easy thing to do, Fuji kept his smile in place, remained to be incombustible. "I think you are misunderstanding this situation, Oishi," he replied calmly.

The vice-leader -who was unusually insensitive for not noticing that the prodigy had his hands shaking even so slightly- was ultimately blinded by his excessive wrath and -unaware what he was doing- gave the prodigy a hard fistful hit. As the result, Fuji lost his balance and fell smack on the floor.

All of a sudden, the door was once again pushed open. "Oishi~! I have been look-"

Kikumaru froze behind the threshold, staring at the scene where his partner seemed to have done some violation toward his best friend. His naturally fast reflect helped him to react the second after.

"What the hell are you doing!?" the acrobatic player yelled as he rushed to the prodigy whose smile was stripped on the reddening face. He knelt beside the pitiful guy, worriedly examining the injury. Despite the bruise which eventually would turn into black tomorrow, Fuji didn't seem to suffer other physical wound. Still, he got mad to his double pair.

"When Inui told me that you hated Fuji, I didn't believe it," his flaming eyes were piercing Oishi, "but now I don't know what I should believe!" With that, he helped his friend to stand up and both of them left the pitiful vice-captain alone.

What have I done? Oishi stared at his hand as his mind kept chanting that question profusely.

*   *   *

Tezuka looked around the cafeteria to find his coach was sitting comfortably behind one of the table. She waved at him as he made his way through.

When eventually her charge stood in front of her, Ryuzaki-sensei gave him a sign to sit. In front of her, there was a map which seemed vaguely familiar to the captain. But instead of digging his memory, he gave his full attention to the sensei who looked both enthusiastic and worried at the same time.

"Do you still remember the offer which had been given to you three years ago, the one who asked you to resume your study and tennis in USA?" she asked tentatively. Straightaway, Tezuka knew where he had seen a kind of map before. He nodded as an answer.

"The same school gives you the same offer now," she shoved the white map forward while her eyes were taking note of the impassive leader's reaction. "Please think about this carefully, Tezuka. You have to pursue your dreams, right? And you will finish the school not in a long time."

Tezuka stared thoughtfully at the promising paper of admission. It was true that he had contemplated about his future for a while, but still the face of a certain guy handicapped him in making the decision.

He lives in misery only because of my presence.

He sighed.

"I'll submit."

TBC!!

Tezuka's going to USA? Next chapter. I'm tearing them up? Next chapter! ^^ I thought I've said there was one chapter left, but… why did I create another problems!? My dearest Golden Pair… T.T I made everyone so hotheaded *sighs* Well, if I can finish this in one chapter, I will. Thanks for reading! Please give me reviews and comments!