Lalala we have come to chapter 3... Fuji's illness is revealed, as promised. Thanks for the reviews, i really realy love them! Can i have more, pretty please? Sankyuu!

Disclaimer: no no no i don't own the POT characters. yes yes yes Kunisuke belongs to me.

Oishi Speaks:

The boy sat on a bench under a tree, licking his ice cream, the raven-haired man sitting next to him. It was a cold day, but that didn't stop the boy from accepting the ice cream treat. Oishi was shifting around uneasily.

"Mm... Kunisuke, do you know about Tezuka and Fuji's... erm... history?"

"Hn. Otosan told me on the way here."

Oishi felt like a rock was lifted off his chest. He had been worrying too much, as usual.

"What do you think of Fuji?"

"Fuji-ojisan... He's... unusual. Not like what I thought he would be like when I first saw his photo."

Oishi smiled at the thought of Fuji's 'unusualness', how he used to create mischief during their Seigaku days, and the way he always teased Tezuka till the stoic man flushed with either embarrassment or fury.

"Ah... I understand what you mean. Everyone's bound to feel that way, I guess. It's just... Fuji. That's the way he is."

For a few moments, they sat in silence as the boy ate his ice cream. Then, the boy's curiosity got the better of him.

"Oishi-ojisan, what illness is Fuji-ojisan suffering from?"

"His liver and kidneys are badly damaged from prolonged excessive drinking."

"Can he recover?"

"Sadly, no. To put it in a pessimistic way, he's just waiting for death to befall. All the medication and treatments can only prolong his life for as much as one more year. But his condition isn't optimistic, you heard it just now. I'm afraid that he might not last through this month. The only miracle we can hope for is that a suitable donor appears and he can have a transplant. We have been searching for a donor since eight years ago, but no avail."

"Drinking, you said? Why did he?"

"He was too depressed by the breakup with Tezuka. He seemed all right at first. Everything seemed to be normal. We even met up for our usual tennis games every weekend. But slowly he started to drift away, and he didn't turn up as often. We thought that he was busy with work, so we didn't bother much. Who knows he drifted even further away from us, he didn't even attend our annual gatherings.

Then one night, about five years after their breakup, Eiji and I found him drinking in a bar where he and Tezuka used to frequent. He was quite drunk already, but he could still make out whom we were. When we asked the bartender for Fuji's bill, he told me not to worry about it because Fuji always clears his bills at the end of the week. This only meant that Fuji was a regular at that place. We found out from the bartender that Fuji visited that place at least twice a week, and he's been leading that kind of life for about three and a half years already.

When Eiji and I wanted to send him home, he refused to go home, so we brought him back to our apartment. By the time we got back, he was already half-sober. That's when we found out that he had picked up drinking one year after their breakup. He said that was the only way he could sleep in peace. At that time, we asked him, why after five years, he still couldn't get back on his feet. That was very unlike him, to be defeated for so long. I remember, he said, 'Trying to fall out of love with Kunimitsu is like trying to escape from quicksand. The harder you struggle, the faster you sink.' He had fought hard with his feelings, but it only left him more vulnerable to them. Eventually, he sought refuge in drinking. Actually he knew what it was doing to his body, but he'd rather go through physical pain than emotional torture.

The next day I forced him to go to the hospital for a health check. Results were far off my expectations. His liver and kidneys were already quite badly damaged. It was amazing how he could still manage his physically demanding job as an outdoor nature photographer. Eiji and I persuaded him to quit his job and move in with us. It took quite some time before he finally gave in. He was really persistent initially. It wasn't until we told him how worried Tezuka would have been if he continued, then he gave in. That only went to show how much Tezuka still meant in his life. He would still do anything for Tezuka. After he moved in, we gradually got him to stop drinking. It took nearly two years for him to totally kick his habit. All along, I kept Tezuka informed of how Fuji was doing, but I told him not to visit Fuji in worry that Fuji might get agitated and start drinking again. Fuji didn't know, but Tezuka was really very worried about him. If there was one night that I forgot to call him, he would call me, no matter how late it was, just to know if Fuji was doing fine. Tezuka still loved Fuji, a lot."

Oishi turned to face the boy. He had finished eating his ice cream and seemed to be deep in thought.

"Kunisuke? What are you thinking about?"

The boy replied calmly, but didn't turn to look at the man.

"Mm... I was just thinking about what you said Fuji-ojisan told you. The one about the quicksand. Okaasan must have fallen in love with Otosan. That's why she fell into depression after they divorced, and committed suicide later. Fuji-ojisan must have been really strong to keep going for so long before you and Eiji-ojisan found him."

"Perhaps... Seems like Tezuka is really a charming man... Will you grow up to be like him?"

The boy looked up at the green-eyed man in surprise. The man laughed.

"Just wondering, Kunisuke. Don't need to look so shocked. But it's possible you know... you have your father's looks. Not to mention that stoic face! Looking at you reminds me of our Seigaku days. You look so much like Tezuka."

The boy smiled, slightly, 'Tezuka-style'. The man looked at his watch and stood up.

"Saa... Let's go back. It's past lunchtime. I bet Tezuka hasn't eaten. Let's buy lunch for him, and ourselves."

Oishi bought some food from the cafeteria and they went back to the ward. The man opened the door, and closed it almost instantly, as if he suffered from some shock. The boy looked at him, puzzled. Oishi's cheeks were slightly tinged. He saw Tezuka and Fuji kissing in bed when he opened the door, that's why he closed it quickly. Apparently, Tezuka had realized that, as he opened the door a couple of seconds later. Oishi smiled at him awkwardly.

"Ah... Sumimasen. I should have knocked."

The boy was still puzzled. Tezuka stepped aside to allow the two of them to enter. Oishi then handed him the food he bought.

"Did you finish all your food today, Fuji?"

It was part of the doctor's job to make sure that his patients ate well. In this aspect, Fuji was a problem patient. He really disliked the food the hospital served and always didn't finish his meals. Only on certain days that they served something slightly spicy, then he would finish up. But today was an exception...

"Yes, sensei."

"Eh? Did they serve spicy dishes today?"

"No. It was plain old rice, boring tofu and beans, and tasteless steamed fish."

"And you ate everything?"

"Yes... because I had someone to feed me," Fuji smiled widely.

Six pairs of eyes looked at the older Tezuka. He nearly choked on his rice.

Oishi cleared his throat and mouthed to Fuji, "The boy."

Realization hit Fuji and he covered his mouth with his hands.

"Oops. I forgot. We have a young audience today."

so, after learning about Fuji's condition, perhaps you'd like to know more about the past. if that's the case, you gotta stay close and read the next chapter, Kikumaru Speaks: . it'll be uploaded tomorrow, promise. Ja!