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 [I think…]
Note: Thank you very much to all those who reviewed the 'Prologue', I really appreciate everything!! I'm very sorry for starting things a bit slow…I'm trying to give it more depth. But I promise more 'yaoi-ness' in the later chapters. I'm going to research about Okinawa so the story will be more realistic, and please forgive me if there are some mistakes. [Spelling, Grammar errors, etc.] Doumo Arigato and Please enjoy!!
Snapshots
Chapter I: To the Tennis courts we go, nya!
Tezuka Kunimitsu rarely slept so soundly, and he was determined to savor every moment of his peaceful slumber. But with a hand insistently tapping on his shoulder, he was bound to be irritated.
Reaching out a hand, he swiped at the annoying intruder, thinking it to be Ryuzaki-sensei waking him up for another day of vigorous training. But the intruder stopped him at mid-swipe and a very feminine voice spoke.
"We've arrived at Okinawa, Tezuka-san. I would like to leave you here but I don't think the flight attendant will be too happy at your intended sleeping quarters." The intruder said in an amused tone.
Tezuka instantly woke up, that voice was definitely not Ryuzaki-sensei's. He muffled a grunt as he rubbed at his sore neck, probably from sleeping in an uncomfortable position. He rubbed at his eyes and opened then. Coming face-to-face with Fuji Syusuke's smile, wondering how a person could hold a smile for so long. Apparently the light-haired man was a mystery.
Placing his spectacles on the bridge of his nose, he ran a hand through his hair in an attempt to get rid of his bed-head. "Sumimasen, Fuji-san. I thought you were Ryuzaki-sensei." He apologized. Praying silently that he wasn't blushing for his mistake.
Fuji waved his hand in the air nonchalantly. "That's okay, but it's a good thing you woke up, ne?" Tezuka nodded and after they gathered their belongings, they got off the plane. As soon as they arrived in the lobby though, they both saw a redheaded…thing, to Tezuka at least, bouncing towards them. He took a step back as the redhead latched itself onto Fuji's arm.
"You're here!!!" The joyful redhead shouted. Fuji was chuckling as he hugged his friend who was obviously ecstatic at Fuji's presence. A man with short hair and forest-green eyes walked up to the pair and smiled at Fuji.
"You made it. Eiji insisted that we come here to pick you up. But I told him that you were capable of finding the rest house on your own but you know how Eiji always gets what he wants." The dark-haired man detached the redhead from Fuji, and finally noticing Tezuka's presence, he smiled at him.
Fuji placed a hand on Tezuka's shoulder and turned the tennis player towards his friends. "This is Tezuka Kunimitsu, we met on the plane earlier. Tezuka, these are my friends, Oishi Syuichirou and Kikumaru Eiji." Oishi nodded and Eiji grinned at him.
"By the way, congratulations on winning the tournament, Tezuka-san." Oishi shook Tezuka's hand. "And that drop shot…as expected from Tezuka Kunimitsu." The stoic tennis player looked embarrassed at the praises being given to him.
Fuji chuckled, then patting Tezuka's arm in sympathy, "By the way, where are you staying? We could take you there." He offered, hoping that the tennis player would take it.
But unfortunately for him, Tezuka wasn't going to take it. "I think I'll just take a cab. I've bothered you enough already, and thank you for everything." He bowed solemnly at Fuji.
"Well…I guess I'll see you around Okinawa, Tezuka-san." Fuji said, vainly trying to mask his disappointment.
"Ah. I'll see you around. It was nice to meet you, Fuji-san."
Fuji forced a smile on his face, unable to believe how upset he was. "Believe me, Tezuka-san. The pleasure is all mine." Before Tezuka could ask what the other man meant by his statement, he left with Oishi and Eiji.
Fuji Syusuke…besides being a writer, the name struck a chord…but somehow, he can't remember where he heard the name before. He suddenly regretted his decision to refuse Fuji's offer, he would've probably gotten to know the smiling man a little better.
Shaking his head, Tezuka hailed a cab, he gave the driver the directions. He looked out the window, seeing the beautiful scenery of Okinawa before his eyes, he can't help but to hope in seeing Fuji Syusuke again.
Opening the car door, Fuji stepped out into the sunshine. He tilted his face upwards, enjoying the warm sunlight so early in the morning. Though he was a bit disappointed of Tezuka's rejection in his offer to let them drive him to his place, it was nice to finally be with his friends.
Eiji latched himself onto Fuji's arm, still talking endlessly about the happenings since he arrived in Okinawa. His best friend listened eagerly as they both walked up the wooden steps of the three-room rest house that Oishi had purchased last year.
After getting all of Fuji's stuff from the car, the three friends settled around the wood-paneled kitchen with some ice cream and the blueberry cheesecake that Oishi had baked yesterday.
They talked of recent events, how Fuji's photography was doing and the latest news on Eiji and Oishi's new restaurant. After Eiji's tale of how they decided to design the menu, the subject stirred towards Fuji's previous acquaintance with Tezuka Kunimitsu.
"Hm…I didn't know that you befriended strangers so easily, Fuji." Eiji commented, he scooped up a big spoonful of ice cream and stuffed it into his mouth.
"You know Fuji. Each new friend becomes his new target." Oishi smiled and cleaned Eiji's lips with a napkin with unsuppressed affection. He then picked up Eiji's bowl and refilled it from the ice cream box on the center of the table.
They talked about Tezuka's match then Oishi said that he and Eiji would leave Fuji some time alone so that he could settle in his room.
Opening the door to one of the guestrooms, Fuji walked in and closed the door behind him. The room was done in the same fashion as the rest of the house, with polished wooden floors and a large window across the bed. The windowsill was wide enough to be sat on, and Fuji thought that it would be his most favored place in the house.
After unpacking all of his clothes, he tidied up the room. Finally having the moment to rest, he picked up a pillow from the bed and opened the window to let the cool air inside. He settled onto the large windowsill and watched a cluster of Sakura trees that could be seen from the window, the pink blossoms flying in the wind.
Fuji sighed as the breeze stirred tendrils of his light-brown hair. As much as he loved his friends, he can't help but feel a bit jealous of their relationship. While he dated once in a while, both men and women, he was a bi after all, all those relationships were meaningless, just a means for passing the time. He hadn't yet felt the tenderness that Oishi and Eiji shared.
For a person like him who had lots of friends and a very close family, he still felt loneliness deep inside. It pains him to admit to himself that he was desperate for a person who would care for him, love him and take the emptiness away.
A Sakura blossom landed on the windowsill just beside his feet, and jolting him from his thoughts. Staring at it for a moment, then Fuji picked it up. Smiling happily, he let the blossom float from his hand, along with it a wish deep within his heart.
Tezuka stretched his arms over his head, his breathing in sync with his movements. As was his custom, he always jogged in the mornings wherever he was, and Okinawa wasn't an exception. The weather in Okinawa was pleasant, and he was glad for the good weather for his morning ritual. He almost smiled in thanks to Ryuzaki-sensei's persuasion, almost but not quite.
While the cab drove him to his cabin yesterday, Tezuka had the chance to see the places that he could go to in his vacation. Jogging towards the lake that the cab passed by yesterday, he inhaled the fresh air that the beautiful scenery offered.
He followed a trail that lead to a park that he had also seen the day before, the park was quiet and devoid of people, only the sounds of birds waking up early to feed their young disturbed the tranquility of the park.
When he had finally decided to go back home to his cabin, he passed by a couple of tennis courts. Checking to see when the courts open, he walked back home. Changing into proper tennis clothes, he walked back to the courts. He hadn't decided what to do yet; maybe he'd practice by himself then find someone to have a match against him.
When he arrived the only patrons he saw where part of a children's tennis club. He went to one of the practice courts. He didn't feel bad about not finding anyone to play a match with. He always practiced alone anyway.
He ignored the feeling of loneliness creeping up his throat and shook his head. Tezuka Kunimitsu shouldn't be bothered by such things…tennis was all he needed…
Unconsciously, an image of a young man with light-brown hair and a beautiful smile entered his mind. Muttering to himself sternly, he grabbed his racket from his tennis bag and got ready for his practice.
Eiji was literally bouncing with joy as he made his way to the tennis courts, his friend, Fuji, and his boyfriend, Oishi, walking behind him. As soon as they had eaten breakfast, he had persuaded the other two men to accompany him for a game of tennis. He always played with Oishi, but this was the first time that he'll be playing with Fuji in months. Working for a magazine always filled up Fuji's schedule so he never had the time to play tennis.
"For some reason I'm a bit excited." Fuji told both his friends. His mouth eased into a relaxed smile. His hand landed on the surface of his tennis bag and a feeling of euphoria came over him.
Oishi nodded and pointed to the jubilant Kikumaru in front of them, the redhead looked so happy that he was singing cute little 'Nya' noises. "And it looks like you're not the only one who's excited." His green eyes were sparkling as he stared at his beloved.
Fuji fought against the twinge of jealousy that pinched at him at his friends' happiness. He shook his head, telling himself that he was happy for them. He truly was happy.
They finally arrived in the courts and were lucky enough to get a court for themselves. It was approaching noon and the tennis courts were filling up.
After a half hour of playing tennis, Fuji offered to get some refreshments. As he was walking towards the vending machines, the sound of tennis balls hitting against concrete reached his ears. Letting curiosity get the better of him, he came upon one of the practice courts and his eyes opened in mild surprise.
Tezuka Kunimitsu was practicing alone, his shots efficient and powerful. He played as if he was in his own world, returning every shot perfectly. He stood there, content with just watching the pro-tennis player, he didn't want to disturb him anyway.
Catching the ball at the center of his racket, Tezuka took a look at his watch. He was surprised to see that he practiced much longer than he intended. Must be the fresh air, he thought. Zipping up his tennis bag, he swung it over his shoulder. When he looked up, he was shocked at the figure in front of him.
Once his presence was known, Fuji presented Tezuka a warm smile walked up to him. "Tezuka-san…I didn't expect to see you here." His eyes were probably playing tricks on him, but did he just see relief in those beautiful blue eyes? Tezuka didn't have the time to contemplate because the expression left as quickly as it came. He nodded back at Fuji. "I was just getting my daily exercise."
"If that was just a normal practice session for you…then I guess my tennis skills are in trouble." Fuji commented with a slightly sarcastic glint in his eyes.
"You play tennis?" Tezuka wanted to kick himself for such a stupid question. Of course he played, if he weren't, what was he doing here then? He was certain that the light-haired man wasn't there looking for him.
But then he welcomed his moment of stupidity when he had gotten a laugh out of Fuji. "Yes, I do play. As a matter of fact…I'm here with Oishi and Eiji. Would you like to stay with us for a while?" Though Tezuka was likely to decline the offer, the tennis player somehow couldn't refuse the smaller man's smile.
"Yes, I would like that." He answered almost automatically.
Fuji's delighted smile blinded him as the light-haired man led him to where his friends were. Tezuka was trying to regain his calm when a statement from Fuji almost had him blushing to the roots of his hair.
"Hm…A match with the All-Japan tournament champion…I'll certainly have fun playing with you, Tezuka-san." Swallowing nervously, Tezuka felt like a prey caught in the mouth of his predator.
- Somehow, I think there was too much Golden pair 'rabu – rabu' in it…but they're still cute anyway!!
- As I said before, I'm very sorry for the slowness. I'll make up for it in the later chapters!!
Doumo Arigato for reading and please review!!