A/n: wai minna! Thanks for all the reviews ^o^;; I'm really grateful that you guys are reading this fic^^

So here, chappy 2 XD

Disclaimer: *rolls eyes* yeah right, I own Fuji and I got him locked up in my closet... XD



Love Zone
By: anek

Chapter 2: His Decision



"Everyone! Thirty laps!" Tezuka bellowed across the court. A stream of complaints rose from the worn out members of Seigaku, but Tezuka didn't have a piece of sympathy to spare.

"But buchou! We're SOOOOOO tired!" Eiji whined, huffing overdramatically as if to emphasize his point. Oishi nodded in agreement. After all, they had just spent the entire afternoon practicing for another Regional match.

"Thirty laps," Tezuka repeated firmly in a tone that wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Ne, Tezuka. Everyone's pretty worn-out... maybe we should take it easy just a bit..." Fuji suggested, casually leaning against the wire fence, hands on pockets.

Tezuka frowned.

"The match is in two days. There is no time--"

"You need rest too, Tezuka," Fuji added as he reached up to brush off a stray leaf that landed on Tezuka's cap.

Fuji almost laughed at the alarm that briefly fleeted on Tezuka's features. Tezuka was always concerned that he would show his affections openly. Of course, Fuji had known that their relationship was not something one should display openly, yet he never took the effort to reassure Tezuka that he understood... no, teasing Tezuka was so much fun after all.

Tezuka cleared his throat.

"Fine, fifteen laps."

"Yatta!" an overjoyed Eiji bounced around the court, completely oblivious to the knowing glances of his teammates.

"So he only listens to his wife," Ryoma muttered under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Echizen! Thirty laps!" Tezuka growled.

"Hai hai hai, buchou," Ryoma shrugged with a smirk.

"Eh? But who's the wife, ochibi?" Eiji asked eagerly with genuine curiosity.

It wasn't just Echizen, Tezuka thought angrily. He didn't miss the curious, sometimes suspicious, glances that came their way either... and Fuji was not helping the situation. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if Fuji was enjoying his whole ordeal.

"Everyone, thirty laps!!!" Tezuka snarled before anyone could make any other sly remarks, his deep voice echoing through the now emptied field for classes have long since ended.

Tezuka heard Eiji giving a small yelp before scrambling to his feet and started running around the court. The others followed suit lesser enthusiasm, but exhaustion was starting to show on their faces.

That's right, he had every intention of working the Seigaku members till they drop to the ground. After all, he is the captain who makes all the rules. Too bad... he's currently not in a good mood.

Tezuka frowned slightly at his thoughts. He knew he was not acting fair at all... but he blamed all his frustrations on Fuji... after all... after that confrontation the other day...

He ran a slightly shaking hand through his hair-- certainly a rare thing for him to do... but ever since that day, there was never another thought on his mind that didn't involve a certain smiling tensai.

Tezuka was jolted from his thoughts when the Seigaku members ran past him. They had made it around the court already and he hadn't moved even an inch from where he stood before. Growling under his breath, Tezuka bent to pick up the racket that lay on his feet. He had probably dropped it at some point without knowing.

It was then when he caught the familiar scent, a whiff of vanilla and sweat that Tezuka knew too well. He jerked his head up, just in time to see Fuji running past him, always wearing the usual unperturbed smile... but Tezuka didn't miss the slight smirk behind that smile.

"Twenty-nine more laps to go," Fuji stated casually under his breath, but the afternoon wind seemed to have blown the words to where Tezuka stood unmoving.

"Ah," Tezuka agreed without much thought, although he doubted if Fuji had heard him for the other boy had ran quite a few yards farther.

The afternoon sun had begun settle and Tezuka thought briefly if he had been too harsh on his teammates... not to mention unreasonable in mixing his emotions with his duties as the Captain as well. On the tenth lap, he raised his hand for a halt, curtly explaining that they were done for the day.

The court was deserted faster than he thought, what with Eiji dragging Oishi and whining something about afternoon snack; Inui and Kaidoh seeming to have plans for extra practice; Echizen walking away whistling to himself without a care... and the rest just going about their own way... until it was only him... and Fuji left-- the one person he least wanted to be alone with.

Tezuka realized for the second time that he hadn't moved an inch from where he stood.

"Hmm... I always knew you have some compassion in you too, Tezuka."

"W-what are you talking about?" Tezuka snapped... almost disgusted with himself. He felt like a nervous schoolgirl about to confess her love for the school heartthrob. The image didn't bode well on Tezuka's thoughts so he hastily swung the racket on his shoulder and glared at the other boy.

Which was a mistake, as he realized too late.

Fuji stood gracefully, the remaining rays of the settling sun making his hair seemed glossier than it already was. The yellowish light making the sweat glow like gold on porcelain skin... an angel bathed in gold...

"I was talking about how you let us off with just ten laps..." Fuji answered in barely a whisper.

Tezuka didn't know how... but Fuji was there in front of him. Their bodies not touching... but close enough that Tezuka could feel Fuji's breath at the base of his throat.

"I see..." he answered absently.

He prided himself for being reasonable... composed... but all other thoughts fled, save for the desire to touch, the urge to engulf Fuji's mouth with his own... and claim this boy to himself.

Tezuka raised a hand to touch Fuji's face, his thumb gently stroking the other's pale cheeks.

"Tezuka..."

It was all Tezuka needed... the sound of Fuji's soft voice calling out his name ignited his desire until he thought he would burst with longing.

His fingers threaded though Fuji's soft hair, grasping the other boy's head to tilt it back. He captured Fuji's lips in a fierce kiss searing with need and want.

Tezuka knew he was hurting Fuji, his embrace tight enough to break someone that had been more fragile, his kiss harsh enough that he could feel the other boy's lips starting to get swollen... but Tezuka's reason had fled... replaced with a wanton passion far too long suppressed. Fuji didn't make a single sound of protest.

Perhaps it was him who had lowered Fuji to the ground... or perhaps it was Fuji who had pulled him down... but neither of them cared. He trailed kisses down Fuji's throat; tasting the salty sweat he had been keenly admiring just a few moments back.

Tezuka kneaded his knee between Fuji's thighs, earning him a surprised gasp of pleasure.

"You want me?"

Tezuka froze.

It wasn't a question... but a statement of the obvious.

Tezuka gritted his teeth. The right thing to do would be to pull back... back to reality where such sinful pleasure shouldn't exist... but the sight of Fuji under him, quivering with untamed want that rivaled his own... lips slightly swollen from the hungry kisses they shared... sensitive skin that called for his touch...

"Dammit Fuji... I want you... so much," Tezuka hissed, bending down to claim Fuji's lips once again...

"Who's there?"

It was like icy water being thrown to doze off his burning desire. Tezuka felt like his heart had stopped beating for good. It was almost completely dark but Tezuka could hear approaching steps of the school guard.

Tezuka moved just in time before the school guard's flashlight could catch them in a more than compromising position.

He scrambled and sat against the pole that held the net on the middle of the court. His breathing ragged, his face so pale that it almost made a stark contrast in the dark after-dusk.

His senses were all reeling, yet he didn't know half of what was going on. Somehow, Fuji had gotten to his feet and was talking calmly to the guard, saying something about practicing some new techniques. The guard smiled politely after excusing himself, completely unaware of the heavy tension that hung in the air.

"Tezuka..." Fuji began when the guard was out of their sight. He took a step forward, but stopped when Tezuka suddenly stood, not a trace left of the confused boy that he was just a moment ago.

The Captain of Seigaku was back on his feet.

"It's a good thing someone came," Tezuka declared after calmly smoothing out his crumpled jersey.

When Fuji stayed silent, Tezuka proceeded to pick up his duffel bag that he had left on the coach's bench.

"If we don't stop, it will always be like this Fuji. We would be forced to hide, and eventually, we'll get tired. We would only end up hurting and regretting."

"I see... you have a reputation to uphold, ne?"

Fuji was smiling, but Tezuka could almost feel the slight bitterness in Fuji's voice.

"Ah... so do you."

Tezuka heard Fuji sigh.

"I guess it can't be helped. We can still be friends, ne Buchou?"

Friends...

It was like a stake driven to his heart. Somehow... he had expected Fuji to protest... perhaps he wanted Fuji to protest.

Of course, friends, that was what he wanted... wasn't it? Yet... why did he feel so... empty...

Tezuka nodded quietly, not sure if Fuji could see him do so, dark as it was.

Once again, Tezuka stood rooted on the spot. He watched as Fuji gather his own duffel bag and start walking away. He stared at the other boy's receding back... hearing each of Fuji's departing footsteps.

His mind wandered back a few days ago when they had a confrontation in the washroom. The memory always brought him a slight tinge of embarrassment, a reminder of the fact that Fuji could so easily wrap him around those graceful fingers. He had told Fuji that it would never work between them... yet Fuji would always smile and end up winning each and every argument they've had.

But this time... it was different.

Fuji was walking away from him... and this time... Tezuka knew Fuji wasn't turning back...

And that's what he had always wanted...

...wasn't it?



a/n: Please review ^^

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