An Autumn's Dream (Aki no Yume)

About the Story

Basically, this is a Golden Pair and tensai of Seishun Gakuen centric. The other members of the team are also in the fic, but Oishi, Eiji, and Fuji will be in the spotlight. A drop of lemon essence and a bit of cotton-candy fluff here and there. Do not read if you don't like slash . Please give my first fanfic constructive criticisms. Arigatou gozaimasu.

PS: I own only Fuji. No wait... FUJI ISN'T MINE TOO?! That can't be... TTTT Okay. I own only Akiko, my made-up character.

Chapter One

((Fuji))

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuujiko-chan! Nya haha!"

I hear the voice again. The grating voice I utterly detest. I see myself covering my ears, and running away into the pits of my filthy black heart to escape from that voice. But alas, my brain and body does not co-ordinate well. My mouth opens, and I greet him with a smile.

"Ohaiyo, Ei... Eh?"

He has vanished! Perplexed, I scanned the vacinity for a dash of maroon-red. I see nothing, but the crazy fangirls trying to hide from me. My mind wanders, thinking of how irritating they are, chasing after me throughtout the day and pretending that they are not. Heh, pretence. These people are so shallow; they pretend too much. Why try to be someone you aren't? But if doing this is equivalent to being shallow, then I definitely am the shallowest being of them all... For I am not who, or what, I appear to be.

THUD. The one I had been looking for landed right behind me.

"Nya hya hya hya! Fujiko-chaaaaaaaaan! What are you thinking about, Fuuuuuji?"

His mouth pouted. I was mesmerised by his every movement, right down to a twitch of his muscle. So this is how he seduces Oishi...

"Heh, gomen Eiji. I was far away,"

Eiji waggled his finger at me, and in mock anger he said,"You'd normally find me! I was up in the tree! Why didn't you see me?"

"Gomen, gomen!" I grinned. See what I mean by me being nothing but a pretence? I could talk, and even smile, at my enemy!

"Shinpai shinaide!"

He wrapped his arm around me and we walked into the school grounds. Inside, I winced at his touch, and writhed as if my skin had been burnt by acid. But the outer me? My mask is securely put on, and my smile is so convincing that my love rival doesn't question me.

((Oishi))

I see the both of them heading down the hall. My face lightens up at the sight of Eiji. And of course, Fuji too... Then for no reason, I reddened. Trying to keep my distance from the both of them, I ran all the way to my classroom, thinking about my cowardice as I do so. Why do I hide from them? Why do I run? Why...? I am in a dilemma, I need someone to talk to... Why? Why? Why??? They call me the mother of the club, because of my never-ending worries. I feel hurt by this as they have misinterpreted my concern for the tennis club members for unwanted worry... Back to the topic. I see no need for myself to hide, especially from my close companions. But, my legs have a life of their own. Unlike the rest of my anatomy that obey the command of the brain, my limbs are the law themselves. I have been avoiding them for a few days already. However, this only happens when they are together. Seeing them smiling and laughing happily with each other somehow irritates me. This is so discomforting that I have chosen to run away for them instead. I am alright being with Eiji, or Fuji, alone though... I enjoy their company, but heard of the saying 'Two's a crowd, and three's a party.'? Ah! Why am I thinking like this? It sounds as if we are couples... I feel my face warm up once again. Why, oh why, do I hide from them?

The end of the day is signified by a ring of the rusty school bells. The sliding doors open, and the noise level increases by several decibels. Tennis practice would be on as usual after school. A weary Oishi shuffles along the corridors, preoccupied with his worries.

((Eiji))

I stretched and yawned loudly. "Today is a boring day, ne... Oro?" I hear footsteps from outside of the classroom. Sticking my head out of the door, I saw an oval-shaped head with glossy black hair covering only the top part. My mouth widened into a huge smile, and I tiptoed hurriedly to catch up with my confidante.

"OISHI"

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

Clutching my sides as I doubled up with laughter, I saw my doubles partner thumping his chest. When I ran out of breath and my laughter subsided, Oishi gave me a stern look.

"You scared me, Eiji!"

I know that Oishi isn't mad with me. He would never be, no matter what I do to him.

"All right, Oishi! To apologise, I would treat you to a bowl of ramen after tennis practise!"

I predicted what Oishi would say, and my prediction was right.

"No, Eiji.. That wouldn't be nece-"

"That is absolutely necessary! Besides, we've not had ramen together for such a long time already!"

Oishi's mouth parted slightly in preperation for a protest, but in the end he relented, nodding in agreement. He's such a big softie, he gives in to people so easily...

"Well... Are you going for tennis practice, Eiji?"

"Ah... Hai Oishi! Wait for me, I'll get my stuff!"

"Mochiron desu."

You see what I mean by Oishi being a pushover? He does not resist, or put up a fight. In the classroom, I packed my books at a deliberate slow rate. I must have taken too long, because I see a shadow of Oishi's disquiet countenance at the door. Oishi was true to his word, he hadn't left without me. I laughed sheepishly.

"Eh.. Sorry Oishi! You must have waited for me for a long time!"

"Iie, it's alright Eiji!"

"Nyaaaa!! Oishi-kun is so kind! He doesn't get angry at Eiji!"

Light pink infiltrated Oishi's tanned face.

"N.. No, it's nothing!"

Summoning my strength, I jumped towards Oishi's sturdy shoulders. I snuggled closer, but stopped when Oishi tensed up. I am puzzled. Oishi has never tensed up when I hugged him in the past. Has something happened? To cover up my mistake of jumping onto him, I said the first thing which came to my mind.

"Oishi, you're as cuddly as my teddy bear!"

"Nani?!" His face flamed up.

This was another mistake I made. What's wrong with me today?! "Oh.. Nothing, nothing! Le'ts go! Heh heh heh."

We walked to the tennis court in silence. Sometimes I'd glance at him, admiring his features. Once, he saw me looking, and the corners of his lips curved upwards. I enjoy every moment I spend with him. Oishi is the greatest friend anyone can have.

After-school tennis practice dragged on till late in the afternoon. The setting sun tinted the sky with varying shades of pink and orange. A gluttonish sempai and his junior, who shared similar traits, had already departed, hoping to make it in time for a very last burger. Everyone else who were still in the locker room were guffawing at the side-splitting antics of a red-head. Even the usually strict buchou had a hard time keeping a straight face on. Eiji certainly loved the attention. But in the middle of an act, Eiji stopped and froze in his current position.

"Oishi! I've forgotten that I'm supposed to treat you to ramen today!"

This had been so anticlimatic that everyone in the room made sounds of annoyance.

"Eh heh heh heh heh... Um. Oishi, let's go!"

"Hai Eiji,"

"Ja ne, minna-san!"

Inside the local eatery, Oishi and Eiji were enjoying a bowl of piping-hot ramen. Outside, it was raining heavily. The calm weather that preceded the evening's cloudburst was a stark contrast to the raging storm.

"Oishi, the ramen's ooishi, ne?"

Eiji chortled at his own joke. Oishi, when pronounced the wrong way, sounds exactly like the Nihongo term for "delicious". This was a playful stab at Oishi's name, and Eiji, although not finding it exactly very funny, laughed all the same. Just then, the doorbell tinkled.

Author's notes: This is the second of the two fanfictions I've submitted to , and hopefully a successful one. My previous fanfic was a disaster (sort of?) and I've also changed my pen name. I'd appreciate it if you took some time to review my fic. This is, after all, every author's dream... grins Hrm the characters may seem a little OOC, but who I really wanted to portray is their inner selves, to show that the anime shows only the characters' 'surface' and nothing deeper than that. So, this fic is more of how the Seigaku regulars really feel, than how they'd normally speak. Anyway, thanks for bearing with me. I hope you enjoy the fic! And remember, please please please review! Sankyuu!