Author's Notes:
Something I have been planning for quite a bit, to say the truth. I'm reluctant to start on it because chances of pulling this fic off nicely are very, very low. Too many issues and complications to deal with, not to mention Ochibi is reluctant to be in the middle of the sandwich. He likes things simple -__- Regardless, I hope that it turns out well for everyone! ^_^
If you guys would prefer it this way, you could think of this as an alternative to the (sorta) TezukaFujiRyoma triangle in 'Kieru na...' though, to say the truth-- this may come really close to that, but it isn't ^^;
Warning and Disclaimer:
Tenisu no Oujisama is copyrighted to Konomi Takeshi-sensei. I do no claim any rights to this, except for the horrible plot and the uninteresting dialogue. I'm sure Konomi-sensei won't be amused if he does stumble across this piece of work. Though I do think he should have an inkling of what's going on in the PoT fandom, with the flourishing doujinshi market in Japan. (And with the type of fanart he receives *tsk*) Spoilers for practically everything I have watched, which is up to episode 70+.
Edit:
Ahh! One minor problem Jen-chan pointed out ^^; Mou, I learned 'Ja ne' years back when I started coming online and it was written as 'Ja ane'. (I wrote it as 'Jaa ne' because 'Ja ane' looks weird. Like you're say goodbye to your older sister.) Somehow, I'm not quite sure what happened but 'Ja ne' is in this form now. Regardless! Yes, one minor glitch. I hope I didn't confuse anyone regarding this ^^;
Date Started: 050803
-----
Confessions
by
Jennifier D.
-----
To love, is to show the greatest courage of all.
-----
Prologue:
The two of them stood side by side outside the empty tennis courts observing the scenery before them-- one filled with shades of red and gold that indicated a season's end. There were no words between them, but there had never been a need for words before. Even though they had silence, they never felt the urge to fill up the silence with mindless chatter.
Both watched the leaves drifting slowly towards the ground almost serenely; the dried leaves were spiralling this way and that, an endless play of warm colours.
The fair-haired boy spoke up first. "Is it okay then...?"
"Nn."
Their second school term was ending. The dark-haired boy had barely been back in the country for a month and their final term examinations were drawing near faster than either of them realised. There were a lot of unsaid secrets between them, a lot of unfinished promises... and the constant and persistent existence of a challenge.
They were opponents from the day they met each other on this very court years back.
The passing time had done little to change that fact. Neither had the appearance of a young talent who could possibly advance beyond the both of them-- the brightly burning flame which crashed into their lives in an almost unforgiving manner. Although the both of them had face distractions in the past... strong rivals, good friends, worthy opponents that came along their way and somehow drew one's attention away from the other...
There had never been a distraction as big as Echizen Ryoma.
There was something between the both of them. This was one fact which neither could refute. But after the brat of their team appeared, that something began to pale in comparison to what each of them felt for the younger boy. There was a lot of potential there for either of them, but they never took hold of those chances properly.
They were still young.
There were still many years to go. Although the dark-haired one was out of the country for a period of time, the other never tried to get closer to Ryoma while he was gone. It was as if there was some... unsaid agreement between the both of them. An agreement which said that they would start on fair ground, at the same time together. And furthermore, the fair-haired one was waiting.
He would always be waiting for the other to return.
On the day the taller boy returned, everyone was joyous. Shouts of 'Okaeri!' and 'Otsukaresama!' were endless. Everyone had missed the team captain and all of them knew that they would never be complete without him. The fair-haired boy only stood by the side to watch the proceedings and smile at everyone, eyes closed, like what he usually did.
When they managed to have a moment alone together later, a simple 'Okaeri' summarised what he wanted to tell the other. The answered 'Tadaima' was heart warming, just like the brief look they shared, and what had remained unsaid between them.
"So..." The fair-haired boy spoke up again, smile faint. "You don't mind the fact that we're going to be rivals now, ne?"
A curt nod.
"We won't be able to turn back from this point onwards anymore."
Another nod. "Nn."
"Saa..."
There was a brief period of silence while they contemplated the scenery before them, then the taller boy finally spoke.
"Don't hold back against me, Fuji."
The smile widened, almost in understanding. "Ahh, of course."
"That'll be good."
The dark-haired boy closed his eyes and inhaled quietly, understanding for the first time why the other always kept his eyes closed.
He could hear the faint calls of the birds, the soft rustle of leaves being blown across the courts, and the quiet breathing of his companion. He could smell the season in the air; the faint mustiness that came with the fallen leaves, the crisp and cool smell of autumn and then... there was that faint, sweet fragrance which constantly accompanied the one beside him. He could taste the growing sharpness of the air on his tongue, and the faintest tinge of death. He could feel the approaching frost and the cool, dry wind which caressed his body so intimately.
"It's a beautiful time of the year, isn't it?"
The other's voice was soft. The dark-haired one opened his eyes again and gazed quietly at the courts which he had been playing on and overseeing for the past few years, heavy with memories.
"Ah."
There had always been something between them, but neither of them dared to reach forward and touch.
It wasn't because there were too many risks. There were very few risks, actually, because the both of them understood each other well. Perhaps, only too well. And that created apprehension. It created fear, created distance and created hesitance. There was too much to lose should anything go wrong and neither of them was prepared to be hurt.
That was why their attention switched readily to Ryoma when he appeared.
It was easier that way, for the both of them.
The younger boy wasn't a substitute though. He was important to them, all the same. He meant a lot to the both of them and neither wanted to let go of the younger boy. In fact, he was even more important than either of them was towards the other.
One saw a reflection of himself in Ryoma, and then something else. The other saw the reflection of another in Ryoma, and the potential to share what he never managed to share with another. With the younger boy's confident attitude, the both of them had gradually learned to trust themselves, and give things a chance too.
Therefore, the both of them chose to move on.
Now, they were back to facing each other again, as opponents. It wouldn't be easy for either, but both had came prepared. There would be a long route ahead, and nobody wanted to lose or back out in the middle of it.
The eventual outcome would depend on Ryoma, but that didn't mean either of them should stop trying meanwhile.
"Maa... it's getting late."
The dark-haired one glanced over briefly, reading the other's faint smile easily.
"Nn."
"Shall we go, then?
A quick nod, and the both of them started heading towards their school compounds in silent companionship.
Their winter break was coming up soon. After they returned from the brief holiday, the third year students would stop all club activities and concentrate on their promotional examinations. The two of them probably wouldn't meet again much for the rest of the school year, save for occasions where they might run into each other in the corridor or outside the courts. But it was known that all of the third year regulars were heading for the same senior high, and judging by their school records, all of them should be able to make it.
Anything which happened after that would be uncertain.
The two of them parted at the school gates-- a faint smile on one's lips, an expressionless look on the other's face.
"Ja ne, Tezuka."
"Ja ne."
The two of them never dared to reach forward and touch.
But it would be for different reasons now. They were rivals. Opponents in the game of love. Staring across the court at each other with Ryoma between them, there was no need for them to touch anymore.
And so they never did.
to be continued...
Date Completed: 100803
Date Revised: 200803