[I forgot to put in a disclaimer before so I uploaded a new one, I even corrected some of the mistakes. Enjoy reading!!!]
Title: Snapshots
Author: Sano
Series: Prince of Tennis
Warnings: Yaoi and AU
Rating: PG to PG – 13
Disclaimers: Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi-sensei. I'm not making any profit out of this so please don't sue me, I only wish to ogle at Fuji Syusuke all day…that is if Tezuka doesn't kill me first.
Couples: FujiTezu and Golden pair for now
Note: Nanjaro hoi hoi!! Bounces up to the reader Doumo arigato for choosing to read this. Yare yare desu ne…it's been a while since I wrote a fic. I make crappy summaries so sorry for that too…Please bear with me if this fic doesn't match up to your expectations, I'm not very good with AU's but I'm trying my luck here. Please enjoy!
Snapshots
Prologue
The film indicator flashed zero and a soft whirring sound was heard as the film started to rewind. Tucking the camera into his bag, Fuji Syusuke stood up from his crouched position in front of the tennis court.
The sun beat down on his back as he made towards his car. The cheers of the crowd faded when he drove out of the parking lot. Running a hand through his hair, the light-haired man took out his cell phone and punched in a number.
After three rings, the booming voice of his best friend came in through the speaker, "It's me." his smile widening a little bit when Kikumaru Eiji greeted him with a slightly annoyed tone.
"Nya! Fuji, why aren't you here yet!!" The bouncing redhead complained. With a laugh, Fuji provided his alibi.
"Gomen, Eiji. But Inoue-san asked me to get the report in the All – Japan tournament since Momo was absent." Though Fuji was supposed to be flying to Okinawa for the summer, he didn't mind the extra work. Besides, Eiji and his boyfriend, Oishi, could use the time alone. He didn't want to be a third wheel.
Not that he would tell Eiji that, he wouldn't be able to bear it if his best friend became upset over his loneliness.
Fuji could almost see the pout on his cat-like friend's face. "Don't worry, Eiji. I already booked a night flight. I'll be there, I promise." He added quickly, knowing that it was what Eiji needed to hear.
A sigh came through the speaker, "Okay…but you better hurry!! Oishi is making blueberry cheesecake!" Eiji chirped happily.
His spirits lifted at his friend's excitement. "Looking forward to it." He waved at a couple of his nephews shopping with his sister, Yumiko-Neechan was pointing at his cell phone. Probably warning him not to talk while driving. "Tell Oishi to save me some."
"Mou, Fuji!" Another sigh, "Hai, hai. I'll tell Oishi. But you'll come ne?"
"Eh, I'll see you later."
"Ja ne nya!"
The cool water slid down his parched throat, mimicking the sweat trickling down his back. Placing down the bottle, he ran a towel through his dark hair. He took a deep breath and let the air out slowly, the adrenaline from his previous match already disappearing.
"Tezuka!" He turned his head towards his coach, Ryuzaki-sensei stopped in front of him with her usual smirk present on her face. Though she was in her 50's, the old woman was a professional. Having coached some of the best tennis players that ever walked the earth, such as those were Echizen Nanjiroh.
She crossed her arms over her chest, taking the stance of a trustworthy coach. "Once again, you've won." Twenty minutes ago she was worrying her butt off while watching Tezuka's match against Tachibana Kippei in the All – Japan finals. Kippei was one of the best players of Japan, he had beaten Tezuka last year, but for now it was Tezuka's win.
Ryuzaki-sensei was very happy for her student. Tezuka deserved this. Tennis was his thing. The young man was ambitious and dedicated to the sport; it was no wonder that he would be on top of the tennis world someday.
Ever since Tezuka had first held his father's tennis racket, the feeling of power and fulfillment came through the grip and flowed through him. He attended lessons, practiced everyday after school…he even had the calluses to prove it. Everyone had complimented him, seeing the raw talent, the hidden potential. He had worked incredibly hard to tap into that talent, and soon he had come to love Tennis. It was what he did, what he breathed.
"Thank you." Tezuka replied shortly. Winning the All – Japan tournament had always been his dream…and now that he'd done it, he felt victorious somewhat. There was something missing…he didn't know what it was, but there was something he needed in his life to make it complete.
Ryuzaki-sensei sighed, "Well, since you're a man of few words, I trust that you won't protest to this." Brandishing a plane ticket from her pocket, she handed it to Tezuka. The dark-haired man scrutinized the ticket, the destination was Okinawa, and the flight was tonight.
Handing back the ticket to his coach, he shook his head. "No, I won't go." He was grateful for Ryuzaki-sensei's concerns, but he had no interest in wasting his time in the country when he could be practicing tennis for the next tournament.
"You should go, Tezuka. A little vacation once in a while wouldn't kill you." She pressed; she'd be damned first before Tezuka would let go of this opportunity.
"No. I don't need a vacation."
With an exasperated sigh, Ryuzaki-sensei clapped her hands together. "Fine, but first, tell me, when have you last had a vacation?"
Tezuka was silent for a moment, his mind tracing back to his childhood days…there was that fishing trip he and his dad took when he was in junior high…the tennis camp in high school…
It was a good thing Tezuka was an honest man, Ryuzaki-sensei thought.
"Hah! So I was right! It's settled then, you'll go to the airport later. I've already booked a cabin where you could stay. And don't worry, there are tennis courts where you can play." The coach stated gleefully.
Tezuka pushed down the impulse to roll his eyes. Really, Ryuzaki-sensei could be really persuasive if she had to. He picked up his racquet and put it in his bag, zipped it up and stood before his coach with his arms crossed. "Fine. But this will be the first and last time that you will trick me into something like this." Normally other people would cringe at Tezuka's voice, but Ryuzaki-sensei was far too used to it. Sometimes she would be the one who would make the man cringe.
Giving him the ticket, the old woman smiled. "Then, have fun!"
"All passengers to Okinawa, please proceed to the departure area…"
The almost-robotic voice echoed throughout the local airport and Fuji stood up, taking his duffle bag, he walked towards the departure area. The female attendant smiled at him as he took out his ticket and passport for inspection. He smiled in return and proceeded to the plane that would take him to Okinawa.
Just as he was walking up the stairs of the plane, his phone rang. He quickly took it out and flipped it open. Immediately, Eiji's loud voice boomed in his ear.
"Nya, Fuji! What's taking you so long?!?!"
Fuji had to laugh in spite of himself at Eiji's cute ways. "I'm currently boarding the plane, Eiji. And don't call me okay? Cell phones should be off in the plane."
"Hmm…okay…be careful, Fuji. If the plane encounters an emergency, take the first parachute and jump off quickly, ne?" If it weren't for the serious tone in Eiji's statement, the light-haired man would've fallen off the stairs in laughter. But the sentiment was incredibly sweet and Fuji didn't want to hurt his best friend's feelings.
They said their goodbyes and Fuji turned off his cell phone. Luckily, he got a window seat. As he sat down, he looked around the other passengers' faces. Hmm…he wondered briefly who would be his seatmate. He then took out a book on photography and started to read.
He was so engrossed in the book that he hadn't noticed that his seatmate had arrived until the plane started to taxi. He put down his book and quickly buckled his seatbelt. Finally, he allowed himself to look at the person beside him. He blinked his blue eyes a few times to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
Tezuka Kunimitsu was sitting on the seat beside him. The Tezuka Kunimitsu, the Tezuka who had won in the tournament that he was covering earlier. Though he had taken some pictures of the stoic tennis player, this was the first time that he had seen the man this close.
And frankly, the image took his breath away.
It was a good thing that he was an expert at making poker faces, or else he would have appalled the man. Smiling warmly, he held out a hand for introductions. "Konnichiwa. My name is Fuji Syusuke."
Tezuka, meanwhile, was trying to deal with his own nervousness. When the person sitting beside him turned to face him, his stomach had suddenly turned over. He was sure that the person was a woman, but when the name was professed. It was definitely masculine.
Taking the smaller man's hand in his in a customary shake, he nodded. "Ah. Tezuka Kunimitsu." He stared at Fuji's face, was it possible for him to see with his eyes closed like that? He caught sight of the book lying on the other man's lap. For some reason it was an uncomfortable thought.
"Congratulations on winning the tournament. I watched your match earlier."
Fuji Syusuke, finally he recognized the name. Fuji Syusuke was one of the most famous writers for a tennis magazine in Japan. He always did features on professional players, Tezuka had the chance of reading a feature before, and he was a great writer. The photographs he took looked professional too.
Tezuka nodded in appreciation. "Doumo." As Ryuzaki-sensei said, he was a man of very few words. Besides, he wasn't in the mood for a conversation anyway. Though Fuji looked to be a descent man, what he wanted right now would be some rest.
"Sumimasen if I disturbed you. You should get some rest, ne?" The smaller man's smile was unfaltering. He took out a small throw pillow from the upper compartment and gave it to Tezuka.
Tezuka tentatively took the pillow and place it at the back of his head. He adjusted his seat and fell asleep instantly, definitely a first because he rarely slept in public places.
Fuji meanwhile snuck glances at the taller man. Really, every look always made him short of breath. Unable to resist, he took out his camera, and making sure that no one was looking, he turned off the flash and took a picture of the slumbering Tezuka.
Leaning back into his seat happily, he got back to his reading.
- I have no idea how far Okinawa is from Tokyo. Gomen if I made a mistake, I don't know much about Japan, only that they make anime! And sushi! And Godzilla!!
Doumo arigato for reading and please review!!!