Sevn's note:
Hello minna… this is my second Tenipuri fic. The story goes with Tezuryo (my favorite!!!) and Tezufuji-Momoryo. Confuse??? Same here…;P I can't judge what category this story is. There's a bit romance, some mild angst… well… can't decide… Just read it then…
Special note for Midd…
Hey!!! The Tenipuri songs you borrowed me is really great! I listen to it almost everyday. Some of my favourite… the ometto samba with its OH MY GOD! ^_^ then… the song Ryoma sang about Karupin, hehehe… cute… then the song after it… if I am not mistaken it titled White Line or whatever… I like it no matter how… then Fuji's song with Ryoma's sleeping sound in it… funny yet calming!! Then Kaidoh's song… I just wanna be a naughty boy, naughty boy!! *LOL* Sankyu… Love you a lot!!!
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Chapter 1
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Tezuka is with Fuji. Almost the whole Seigaku Tennis Club knows this, especially the regulars and the people who always stick together with them. No one has any objections and they both make such a great couple. Everyone adores them, as the greatest member of the regulars and as a great pair in their life, in order to support at each other. Since they seems to understand at each other perfectly.
Their relationship started not in a very long time. Till the time this story is written, they've reached their 3rd month. They went pass it clearly, no considered obstacles, and of course with all the supports from the other members, their second family.
But no one, even perhaps Fuji himself, recognize the best secret Tezuka keeps until that time. It's been quite a long time since the first time Tezuka decided to keep this as a secret and swore he will tell no one. His cold behavior helps a lot during his efforts to hide whatever it is from anyone, including the regular members. And he tighten his swear since the day he accepted Fuji as his partner, best friend and lover for the first time in his life. That he will never let anyone knows he is in love with the special freshmen from Seigaku Tennis Club, Echizen Ryoma.
He had built this feeling since the day he met Ryoma and realized his buried potential. From that time, he had started thinking about the younger boy, thinking about how to dig Ryoma's hidden talent and make him as the pillar of Seigaku Tennis Club. His concern and mind he poured to Ryoma, slowly but surely turn to a deep affection. And till finally Tezuka realized his feeling, he had been too much drown inside and found himself unable of release himself from it.
He could only look at his special person from a far. Trying as hard he could to banish every sweet things he thought about Ryoma and concentrating in a fake mask of considering Ryoma's talent in front of the others. At least, he succeeded. And his mask became much more firm along with Ryoma's cold and who-cares-about-other-people behavior. His mind keeps telling him how much impossible for such a person like Ryoma to put his concern about such a feeling, especially when it comes from him.
So, the day when Fuji asked to be his partner came without no one realizing about Tezuka's real feeling. And Tezuka realized, his mind has been covered by just Ryoma and let it be dumb from others' fondness. Along with time, he felt another affection towards Fuji grew within his heart and for the first time he felt other's pure care towards him. He loves Fuji. But still… his heart persuades him to think about his feeling towards Ryoma. A shame, he still couldn't forget the younger boy.
But he managed to defeat every problem in his life, including this one. Together with the flow of time, Fuji began to replaces Ryoma's place in Tezuka's heart, to replaces Tezuka's mind and defeat every thought about Ryoma that was there the whole time before. But not long, until the time a turning point came against him.
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The practice ended finally and the regular members flown away from the tennis court to the changing room and lastly left the school area. Not as usual, Fuji is not with them. He had a permission to skip that day's practice even though he went to the class before to stay at home since his little brother, Yuuta, rarely visit his family. So, Tezuka walked alone to the gate of the school with his racket bag over his shoulder. It's been quite a time he didn't enjoy such a silence after the practice since he usually went home with Fuji.
His mind told him about what date was that day and about what he had planned with Fuji. It was the precise date of his 3rd month with Fuji and they had planned to have a dinner outside the house tonight. Tezuka found he is looking forward for it and about to accelerate his steps before he realized another step is adjusting him.
Ryoma, wearing his school uniform without his usual cap, was what Tezuka found when he looked aside to the source of the steps' voices. When he reached the equal line with Tezuka, he slowed down so his steps are evenly same with the older boy. He said nothing while he looked at Tezuka's eyes, like a mute permission to walk along with him.
It was quite a shock for Tezuka when he found out Ryoma beside him. It's like a complete impossible thing will done by an Echizen Ryoma. Well, not when he is with other cheerful members like Momo or Eiji, but with him, Tezuka Kunimitsu alone, this feels strange.
Tezuka quickly prevent his mind from thinking too much further about the purpose Ryoma has for approaching him. He kept his curiosity at the limit of a mere reason to find someone to walk home with and not letting his mind to ask about why would Ryoma choose him instead of the other members that had left before. Though it might sound strange and irrational, this is the only thing Tezuka could order his mind.
"Gambatte." Suddenly, Ryoma's voice heard, taking Tezuka back from his thought.
"For?" Tezuka quickly responded, not fully recovered from his mind before.
"You'll face the final exam soon, right?" Ryoma answered. "Good luck."
Tezuka silenced for a few second before saying his grate towards him. "Thank you."
They walked a few meters away in silence again. With their footsteps and the sound of the wind as the company. The way they took is empty. The sky is dark. Darker that it supposes to be for a 4 p.m. Covered with huge blackened cloud, hung severely on the sky, like ready to fall down in any second.
"It's going to rain." Ryoma commented after he looked at the sky. "Heavily." He added, as convincing as if he has work for weather prognosis for a long time.
"Let's go quick." Tezuka said. Not wanting to let both of them wet by the rain.
But the sky seems to know Tezuka's mind and doesn't want to miss the chance to pour the water upon them. Right after Tezuka finished his words, the sky screamed with a thunder and then huge raindrops started to fell madly.
"Hayaku!" Tezuka said, running a step ahead across the raindrops that began to blur their vision.
Ryoma followed Tezuka's running steps from behind silently. Even though if he wants to say something at the captain, surely he won't hear it. Despite the average gap between them, the heavy rain gave enough sounds to fill their ears.
They are running together with Tezuka on the lead. Wordlessly for quite a time until Tezuka stopped in front of a closed shop for a shelter to them from the rain. Ryoma quickly joined him without saying anything. Just as before, they stood side by side in no sound, not making too much movement and just looking across the rain. Waiting it to stop.
Until the count of time went after 5 minutes, Ryoma looked up to Tezuka. His movement somehow looked clear for Tezuka to recognize and almost at the same time he looked towards Ryoma.
Their eyes met once again and the familiar shot Tezuka always felt when he saw Ryoma long time ago overcame him again. Ryoma looked very gorgeous without his cap. His hair is wet and fell in front if his face, nearly hiding his eyes. And with all his clothes wet, lingered right on his body, Tezuka could see the true shape of Ryoma's posture that was always hidden behind his shirt. He's small but shows the impression of agile.
"Buchou…" Ryoma called, his lips pursed into a smile. "Actually… I love you." And Tezuka suddenly realized that was the most genuine smile Ryoma ever gave. "But I don't mean anything by saying this. I know you are with Fuji-sempai. But… I just want you to know. That's all."
And without Tezuka even had a chance to think, Ryoma had left him, running across the heavy rain and vanished, swallowed by the intense of the raindrops.
Tezuka's little mind spoke silently. 'So long, Ryoma is falling in love with you. You both are great actors to hide it this perfectly.' And suddenly, Tezuka felt his head went heavy just in one side.
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Tezuka flew his sight all around the restaurant to look for Fuji's presence. His wristwatch showed the time of 8 o'clock p.m. and it's the precise time he promised for their dinner. As he expected, Fuji had already took a place and waited for him to come. As Fuji always to comes earlier than anybody else.
Fuji's first reaction when his eyes met with Tezuka's is smile and waved his hand. Tezuka walked from his spot in front of the entrance to the seats Fuji picked for them both. He reached the table and took his seat in front of Fuji.
"As expected from buchou. Never comes late." Fuji teased.
"Not like you who like to come much more earlier than the exact time." Tezuka replied. He took the menu from the butler and examined it for a moment. "What do you want to order?"
"Wasabi sushi." Fuji answered with his usual smile.
"Should have known." Tezuka responded. "One wasabi sushi and one salad please. A cup of hot tea and…" Tezuka looked up to Fuji, waiting for the other boy to continue his words.
"One hot chocolate please." Fuji followed.
The butler wrote what they ordered in a piece of paper he got quickly. "Anything else?" He then asked friendly, trying to persuade them to try some special menu.
"That's all. We'll order again later." Fuji answered and the butler left them alone. He then turned back to Tezuka who seems a bit unfocused. "Something in your mind?" Fuji asked, as if he can read Tezuka's mind.
"Oh… no." Tezuka answered, smoothly hiding his feeling as usual. His expression went back into normal, convincing his statement.
Fuji decided not to ask any further about it and quickly changed the topic. "So, how's the practice today?"
"Good. Everyone's working hard." Tezuka answered. He felt
a slight uneasy feeling again as the words 'today's practice' Fuji had just
said reminded him to what Ryoma said before. "How's Yuuta?" He changed the
topic.
"He's really good. It's been a while since his last visit so my parents seemed really happy." Fuij explained. "He is working hard in Tennis too. He told me he practiced a lot under Mizuki's train."
The butler came, holding a tray with a cup of hot tea and a mug of hot chocolate on it. He put the tray on the table, carefully moved the cup and the mug from the tray to the table. "Please." He said while he bowed and left the table once again.
Fuji took a sip of his chocolate and continued. "Yuuta asked about your presence. I just answered you have a practice."
Tezuka took a sip of his hot tea while listening to Fuji's words and couldn't help to felt uneasy again. Is it only his imagination that everything seems to have connection with the word 'practice'? If only his face wasn't covered by the cup he held in front, Fuji might have a proper look of change in Tezuka's expression.
"And, he asked about Echizen too." Fuji suddenly added.
This time, Tezuka didn't have time to hide his surprise. He coughed hard at the very moment, causing a bit of the tea splashed out from the edge of the cup. "Really?" Quickly he put the cup back on the table and acted as if the thing he had done was just a normal thing everyone could do.
"Yeah." Fuji said. A slight of disbelieve shot from his voice. "He really wants to play Echizen again."
Their conversation cut again by the presence of the butler, holding another tray with two wide plates on it. One with sushis arranged neatly on it and another one filled with vegetable salad. He served it just as he served the beverages and left in nearly the same way except the words he said changed into "enjoy your meals."
They started to eat their meals in silent. And though this kind of silence usually occurs between them, this is the first time Fuji sensed something bothering him by Tezuka's behavior. As if this kind of silence is not the usual silence Tezuka always does.
"Fuji…" Tezuka suddenly initiated another conversation. "I went home with Echizen after the practice." And Tezuka's mind asked him silently what his true purpose on saying those words is.
"Really? Speaking about Echizen… I heard this morning Momo confessed his feeling towards Echizen. Well, you know Momo always adored him."
It feels like another thunder shock for Tezuka. He hadn't fully recovered from the surprise he received from Ryoma's confession, and what had just Fuji said seems to add much more voltages of the previous shock. What were those really mean?
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TBC
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Sevn's notes:
It suppose not to be a story with chapters… I've planned this to be a one-shot!!! But I think it will be a bit too long for a one-shot, so I think it will be great if I divided it into chapters. Perhaps… 2 chapters are enough.
Hmm… so what do you think? Confusing? Stupid? Waste of space? Too much forced? Strange? Or… is it good? Review me, kay!? Onegaishimasu!!!