Notes: My biggest thanks to all who kindly read & reviewed this fic. ^_^ I'm really grateful. In return, I made this chapter extra long and 'interesting'. XD Nyahahahahahaha~ *getz dragged away by the others*
P.S. Be notified that the relationships between characters may not happen in the actual manga/anime. It's all purely fictitious and created in my mind.
Act 5: An Obscene Approach (Tezuka's unexpected resentment)
The next morning was greeted with a subtle amount of clouds and a warm glowing sun above the bright azure sky. Birds, namely sparrows and such, flew high across it, chirping soundly, in search for the morning's meal.
Fuji sat at the doorstep and unhurriedly tied his shoelaces, thinking of the match he was going to have with the rival's team. I'll try my best to win today, he thought with a smile. Losing is a different story.
"Syusuke-kun, take care of yourself at the campus, hon," his mother reminded as she walked up behind him, brushing back a loose strand of brown hair out of her eyes.
"I will, Mother. Keep an eye on little brother while I'm away. Make sure he doesn't get nosey. He often tends to do that."
Mrs. Fuji nodded. "Of course."
After tying the last shoestring, the young man stood up and waved goodbye to his mother. "Ja ne, kaa-san."
His mother merely gave him a small affectionate smile, although her visage looked vaguely troubled. "Don't be too long."
"Don't worry about it. I'll be back soon after the match is finished."
"I sincerely hope so."
Fuji let out a light laugh and said, "I'll be going now."
"Un. Good luck with the tennis match, hon."
"Thanks." That said, he ran off with his racket, leaving his mother to watch him go.
~ ~ ~
"Campus, campus." Tezuka muttered under his breath as he took his time walking towards it. "This is all Fuji's fault. Making me get up in the early hours of the morning and preparing myself for this damned thing." He shoved the thought away and silently made his way to his destination.
~ ~ ~
The Hyotei team was standing near the tennis court in the campus when something caught Munehiro Kabaji's attention.
"Yo, there he is," With a remote expression, Kabaji jerked his thumb warily towards a certain charming young male with chestnut brown hair walking up to the group of guys.
"That's the Fuji guy, isn't it?" Keigo Atobe regarded him sideways with rapt interest as the Seigaku member approached them with an engaging smile.
"Hi. I'm Syusuke Fuji."
"We know," a blazing red-haired guy, whom Fuji recognized as Gakuto Muhaki, replied icily. But the blatant coldness in Mukahi's tone didn't seem to offend Fuji in the least. "So, er, where are your so-called friends?"
"Tezuka's not coming. I don't know about the rest."
Atobe raised a perfect brow at that. "You came alone?"
"From what I recall. We can still begin the match, can't we?"
"Yeah. Suppose so." Oshitari shrugged. "We are sooo gonna beat your ass out of the tennis court this time, Fu-ji."
Fuji simply smiled and instinctively tightened his grip around his racket. "We'll see about that, Oshitari-san."
"Personally, I don't think that'll happen too soon," came a low voice from a distance. All of them abruptly turned to see who it was.
Kaidou was walking silently towards them from the direction of the campus' entrance gates, a measured expression downing his features.
"Well, well, isn't it Mr. Kaoru Kaidou. Also known as the 'Viper' or The Bad-Tempered-Guy." Atobe said aloud, his voice dripping with heavy sarcasm.
Kaidou seethed at the other man's remark. "You watch that mouth of yours, Atobe, or I'll-"
"What'cha gonna do, Kaidou baby? Whip my ass with that racket of yours? Go ahead and see if you can aim at it properly."
Kaidou glared at him and was about to give the captain of the Hyotei team a piece of his mind when Fuji held him back.
"Back off, Fuji. Let me pulverize this little hell of a-"
"Kaidou-san, get a grip on yourself. Let's not start a fight here," Fuji advised him.
"Yeah, Kaidou. Go train yourself until you're more worthy of being my enemy." Atobe laughed mockingly. "That'll be the day."
"Why you-!"
"Kaidou-san!"
Kaidou bit back the curse that threatened to come out at Fuji's warning tone, and tried to control his temper. "…Fine. I'll let this jerk go this once. But if he pisses me off again, I swear I'll kick his ass back to his hometown."
Atobe struggled to suppress the peals of laughter, which had rose to his throat and nearly choked him, but he managed to refrain from doing so. Amusing guy, I must say, thought Atobe with a secret smile.
~ ~ ~
Fuji had offered to watch Atobe play tennis with Kabaji for the first few hours or so, and unexpectedly inquired to Kaidou as they stood outside the court, "So, how are things with Inui?"
In an instant, the very core of Kaidou's heart went cold with fear. Fuji knows!? …No way… There's no fucking way Inui could've told him…or is there? Don't stammer, Kaidou. Do anything but stammer… "I…uh…okay, I guess." What the hell do you mean by 'okay', you dumb idiot!? a tiny voice at the back of his mind yelled. Will you speak something coherent for once!? "Shut up," he muttered in reply, annoyed.
"Hm…" Fuji nodded understandingly. "I see. I just wondered…you know, how things are going since he's been helping you in improving your skills in tennis and all…" Fuji flashed him a smile, obviously unaware of Kaidou's discomfort. "Besides, you two are the second doubles pair we have."
Kaidou managed out a weak laugh. Inwardly, he sighed in massive relief. He doesn't know… Thank heavens. I thought I was gonna die right there if he ever knew about…Kaidou stopped himself from thinking any more and concentrated on the game between Atobe and Kabaji presented before him. Just how long am I supposed to take all this!? he thought desperately.
~ ~ ~
"Four and four!" Ryo Shishido announced, after the first round of the match between Fuji and Atobe.
"You're pretty tough…Fuji. That's your name, right?" Atobe shot him an amused glance.
"Aa." Fuji answered, heaving slightly. "You're surprisingly good yourself, Atobe-san."
"It's your turn."
Fuji flung the tennis ball up into the air and hit at it as soon as it came down. It flew towards Atobe at an alarming rate but before the ball had a chance to land onto the ground, he thrust out his hand and caught it.
What?? Fuji blinked at the other man in bewilderment. Why is he…
Atobe gave him a sidelong smile. "…I lost." And he released his grip on the ball, letting it fall with a soundless thud on the ground.
"Second round! Fuji!" Shishido exclaimed, indicating that Fuji had won.
"What the hell does Keigo think he's doing!?!?" Mukahi cried out, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"I dunno. Ask him." Kabaji replied nonchalantly. That game was boring to him anyway. He only disliked Fuji.
"I… What happened?" Fuji asked, when he had his voice chords working again.
"You won. I lost. End of the game." Atobe rested his tennis racket over his shoulder and Fuji could only watch as he sauntered out of the court as if nothing happened.
"Atobe-san! Wait!" Fuji called, running over to him. "You can't just end the game like that! It'll be unfair-"
"You're too good for me, Fuji." Atobe whipped his head around to face him and their gazes locked fleetingly. For a brief moment Atobe felt as if he was spellbound, drowning in the pools of the orbs of Fuji's eyes.
"Aw, man~ Now what're they doing!?" moaned Mukahi, as he watched the pair from a distance, still depressed with Atobe's action in the previous match.
Kabaji shrugged. "Like I know. Ask them."
"Will ya quit saying that!?" Mukahi snapped irritably. "It's startin' to get on my nerves!"
Kabaji merely rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
"…Atobe-san?"
Atobe seemed to snap out of it at the sound of Fuji's puzzled voice and quickly turned away from him, walking off without another word.
What was that all about? Fuji wondered, confused at the other man's act.
~ ~ ~
Kaidou, who was soaking a towel at the tap to wipe himself, promptly turned when he heard footsteps behind him and was utterly dumbstruck when he saw Inui standing there. "I-INUI!?"
"Hush." Inui covered his mouth with his hand to muffle Kaidou's words. "You don't have to tell the whole world I'm here."
"Mmph!" Kaidou unattached the spectacled man's hand from his mouth and blurted out, "Just what the HELL are YOU doing-"
"I thought I might have a game with one of the Hyotei members, but it seems Atobe is out of it." Inui told him.
"Out of what?" Kaidou inquired, mainly out of curiosity.
Inui shrugged. "Out of something. Anyway, good thing I found you here. I knew you always liked water."
Kaidou went red. "T-That doesn't mean anything!"
"Of course it doesn't. Shall we go to the cafeteria for some drinks, hm?"
Before Kaidou could even voice out a response, Inui had dragged him into the cafeteria.
~ ~ ~
After taking a shower in the shower room, Fuji dressed in the clothes he had brought from home.
"Going home so soon?"
Startled a bit, Fuji whirled around, and his eyes settled upon Keigo Atobe, who was leaning against the wall with a slight smirk. Evidently, he had been waiting outside as Fuji had his shower.
"Oh, Atobe-san. It's you." Fuji exhaled audibly. "You surprised me for a second there."
"Is that so?" Atobe advanced towards him, backing him against a wall without further warnings.
"Atobe-san…? What-"
"Fuji…" The single word slipped from Atobe like melted sugar as he breathed against the smaller man's neck, bringing his lips closer to the smooth skin there.
"A-Atobe…san… Th-This is inappropriate…" Fuji lifted his hands to push the other man away, but Atobe's quick moves won over. He caught them and held them back to the wall.
"Fuji… From the first moment I set my eyes on you, I'd fallen for you… I've never met anyone as beautiful as you." Atobe raised his head to gaze at him. "I'm in hell of a desire for you, Fuji."
Fuji couldn't believe what he was hearing. No… No no no no! he thought in alarm, his throat going dry. This isn't happening… This should not be happening…Shutting his eyes tightly, he willed for Atobe to stop. To stop doing this to him.
It was when he felt the man unzip his pants did Fuji react. He began to thrash against Atobe. "Please stop this, Atobe-san! This is immoral!"
"Get your hands off of him!" A new voice was heard, deep and threatening, from the door of the shower room.
Atobe stopped in an instant and turned to see the intruder. He felt as if the whole earth was falling on top of him as his eyes widened implausibly. "T-Tezuka..!"
* * *