The white line of love

Author's Note: Chapter 3's up! Well as I had promise...this is a long chapter...hmm I don't plan to put the two lovebirds together yet...maybe next chapter? I'm trying to end this story by next chapter...because I can't bear to let Fuji suffer any longer...anyway here goes...

Disclaimer: I wish Fuji and Tezuka belongs to me...but sadly they don't...

Chapter Three: Waiting promise

The sound of the doorbell fills the hallway as a figure stumbles out of the bedroom. Cursing under his breath, Saeki rubs his eyes as he walks towards the front door. His eyes widen as he stares at his visitor who was completely drenched from the heavy rain that had began since evening.

"Fuji! Holy cow you should have at least get yourself an umbrella!" Saeki pulls his friend in as he closes the wooden door. Running into his room, he grabs a clean towel and places it into Fuji's hands which, by now, was rather cold. The vice-captain of Rokkaku senses something amiss as the prodigy quietly dries himself.

"Fuji... something... happened right?" The question came carefully. The blue eyed looks up at his best friend and flung himself onto the taller boy. The tears that had just dried up moments ago soon join the melody of the rain again. Saeki kept quiet as Fuji continues to cry his heart out, fully expecting the reason to the prodigy's pain.

"Saeki... Tezuka...told me that...he loves me. All these years... I have long for those words and yet when they came...I told him that we are not possible... Saeki... the truth is, I wanted to be with him... but I can't..." Saeki could feel his heart aching. For him to see Fuji in such a state, it has got to be the first time. The tensai he knew was always smiling and happy, not frail and weak, like now. Fuji would never cry in front of anybody, not even in front of his own family and friends. It makes Saeki wonder when was the last time he had seen a geuine smile from the prodigy since he had fallen in love with Seigaku's pillar of support, Tezuka Kunimitsu.

Fuji slowly pulls off from Saeki as he plops down onto the sofa. Sighing, Saeki reaches forward to retrieve the damp towel that is hanging around the blue eyed's neck. He paused when he notices something dangling from Fuji's right palm, which was clench into a fist. Effortlessly, he pulls the necklace from Fuji who by now was exhausted from crying.

"... You brought this at the sportswear shop?" Saeki ask, holding up the necklace before Fuji's face. He soon regrets his actions as sadness fills those blue eyes of his friend.

"...Tezuka...brought it and slip into my racket bag without me knowing...and I called him... that's when he told me he love me...But I said no, for the sake of Yuuta...I had to say no." Fuji said softly. Saeki feels like whacking the prodigy with his tennis racket. Sometimes he wondered if Fuji is existing in this world just because of his brother.

"Look Fuji... I know you care for your brother but this is not the way. Sometimes you just couldn't sacrifice your happiness just to make Yuuta happy and you know that he definitely won't appreciate that. Fuji... you just have to follow your heart and let nature takes its course." Fuji looks up and his blue eyes widen as Saeki wrap his arm around his neck. He felt a sudden coldness that mingles with those warm hands of Saeki.

"There... looks really nice on you..." The silvered haired grins as he pulls Fuji into his room and passes a mirror to the blue eyed. Staring at his own reflection, Fuji gently raises his hand to his neck and gently touches the pendant. He wonders if it's other pair is hanging on the slightly tan neck of a certain brown eyed.

"...What's this suppose to mean?" Fuji asked.

"It means... to follow your heart... you have been running away long enough and deep within you, you know how much you love him. The problem does not lie with Yuuta...it's you Fuji... you are running away. Your love for Tezuka scares you right? You are afraid of how others will react when they find out about your relationship with Tezuka... because it is not normal. And also you have never dated before thus you are not sure how it should go being the fact that both of you are guys. Admit it Fuji, Yuuta is just a barrier you use to put a distance between you and Tezuka isn't it?"

Fuji blinked. Is he really running away from his own feelings and using his brother as a barrier?

"Ne Saeki... perhaps you are right... maybe Yuuta is just an excuse that I use on myself to refrain my feelings from Tezuka... I'm not sure about how a relationship with a guy would go... you know like... dating and... and..." the prodigy paused as his pale cheeks turn into a slight blush of pink.

"And?" Saeki inquired as he takes a sip of water from his mug. All the talking is making him thirsty.

"...and...and...ki...kissing..." Saeki choked and a couple of coughing followed up.

"FUJI SYUSUKE!!! So that is what that has been worrying you? Ok...let's just put it this way... kissing is the same as you kiss a girl... oh right you never date before... well... erm... ok... kissing is...well...ahh never mind... I think Tezuka will be able to teach you that one day..." Saeki grins as Fuji's face turns bright red.

"Ne Fuji...it is getting kinda late...there's school tomorrow so you better go back and get a good sleep ok? And think about what I tell you." Saeki places his hand on Fuji's head and gently ruffle the smaller boy's hair. Sometimes the silvered haired felt that Fuji is just like a little brother to him. He didn't know why but he would always be there protecting the prodigy. Just like how Fuji would protect Yuuta, he would be there for the blue eyed, even without being asked. He finds it funny how he never feels the same way for Yuuta as he did for Fuji.

"Sorry to trouble you Saeki... guess I still need to give myself sometime to remove the barrier I created. Oyasumi." Fuji gave a weak smile and closes the door behind. He knew he needed a good sleep now, at least this is the only time where his heart would stop aching, where time stops in a world that only belongs to him and Tezuka. A world where he finds his courage to look at Tezuka in the eye and say, I love you.

(The next day)

Tezuka could feel himself losing his sanity any moment. It's just a matter of time. Fuji had been avoiding him since morning practice. And each time Tezuka tries to talk to him, the prodigy would repel from him as if both of them are positive magnets. It is as if he is transparent. He could feel his headaches arriving any moment. If he does not have an image to uphold, he would have pinned Fuji against the fences and dumped him with lots of whys. Why Fuji could still smile and pretend nothing had happen? Why did Fuji still choose his brother over him when he knew how his heart feels? Why?

"Ne Buchou... something bothering you?" the voice sent Tezuka back to his senses. It's Echizen Ryoma. The first year let out an evil smirk as he takes a few sips of Ponta. He knew that there is only one person who has the ability to make their captain daydream.

"...It's nothing. Go back to your practise before I make you run laps." Tezuka growled. He senses something amiss from that smirk on the first year's face.

"Fuji senpai just went to the tennis club room to get something. No one else is inside...I'll tell all the members that you want us to run laps to warm up." Ryoma gave Tezuka a cheeky wink as he pushes the captain out of the tennis court. Sighing, Tezuka walks towards the tennis clubroom. Sometimes he wondered if Ryoma would be so clear about such things when it concerns Sakuno. Taking a deep breath, Tezuka gently opens the door to the clubroom.

"Ah Eiji I'll be done in a second, just let me put on my necklace ok?" Fuji's voice came softly. Tezuka narrowed his eyes as he notice the object that was hanging around the prodigy's neck that seems all too similar to that on his own tanned neck.

"Fuji..." the prodigy let out a small gasp as a pair of hands hugs him from behind.

"Why are you avoiding me? Why is it that Yuuta is more important to you than I am? Why Fuji? Do you know what you've done to my heart? Can you hear it? It's no longer the sound of it beating, it's the sound of it shattering..." Tezuka whispered softly as he turns Fuji around and pulls the blue eyed close to his chest.

Fuji felt his vision blurring. And the next thing he knew, he felt tears on his checks, not just his, but Tezuka's as well.

"Te...Tezuka?" Fuji looks up and slowly reaches for his captain's face. He suddenly hates himself for causing his beloved so much pain. He hates himself for running away instead of following his true feelings. But most of all, he hates himself for using his brother as a barrier between Tezuka and himself.

"Gomene, I didn't realise I'm causing you to suffer so much...please...give me some time...to find the courage...to be selfish...and when that day arrives, I promise that I'll place you in the number one spot of my heart. A spot that is only reserve for you and nobody, not even Yuuta, could take that place." Fuji smiled brightly as he gently wipes away the tears that had fallen from those beautiful brown eyes.

"I'll wait Fuji...you can continue running but I'll always be chasing...until you decided to run...into my arms." Tezuka pulls the blue eyed closer and hugs him tightly.

"Ne Tezuka...for the time being...will you wear this for me? Saeki put in on for me yesterday...he told me to follow my heart…and when I do, I want you to put it on for me..."Fuji carefully removes the necklace around his neck and hook it onto Tezuka's.

"You better keep your promise or I'll make you run laps..." Tezuka mumbled as he planted a gentle kiss on the tensai's forehead. Fuji blushed, wondering if the current moment is a reality or just one of his usual dreams. And to see shades of pink on Tezuka's face is definitely a priceless sight, which, is only privilege to the prodigy.

Just then, the door flung open and the remaining regulars falls on top of each other. Fuji froze as he felt a dangerous aura around him. And what comes next, came more than the tensai predicted.

"1000 laps around the court. NOW!" Tezuka barked, showing no signs of mercy.

"Hai..." the Regulars quickly pick themselves up and run off to the courts. The prodigy giggled. He wonders if Tezuka will be that stoic when it comes to relationship. But then again, Tezuka had already proof that wrong. The captain of Seigaku has emotions after all.

"Ne Tezuka...when we get together...I'll not let you command me that easily...you better be prepared." Fuji whispered as he give Tezuka a quick peck on his left cheek and run off to join the other regulars. Dazed, Tezuka gently touches his left cheek. Letting out a soft smile, Tezuka walks out of the clubroom and headed towards the tennis courts. He knew Fuji needed some time, and he knew he'd wait, no matter how long it takes.

(Later in night, at the Tezukas' residence)

"Kunimitsu! You have a visitor!" Tezuka's mother called out.

"Hai..." Tezuka places his pen on his desk and quickly walks towards the main door. He wondered who would visit him at such a late hour. And when he saw who his visitor was, Tezuka narrowed his eyes.

"Tezuka san. Sorry to disturb at this hour." Yuuta apologised.

"It's ok. Let's go to my room to talk...I do not wish to wake my grandfather." Tezuka said as he invites Yuuta into his room.

"...Tezuka san...I heard about my brother and you...from Saeki san...are you serious about...your feelings towards aniki?" Yuuta ask as he looks at Tezuka with a pair of determined eyes. Just an hour ago, Saeki had went to St. Rudolph and told him everything about Fuji and Tezuka, and how he became the barrier between then two of them

"Yes...very much." Tezuka replied with no hesitation.

"...Then...onegai...please take good care of aniki!" Yuuta bow.

"Yuuta..."Tezuka is lost for words. He never knew Yuuta could be so caring towards Fuji.

"...I know how much my aniki loves you. Even thou Saeki san said he used me as a barrier to put a distance between the two of you, the fact is, he is really hurting inside. That baka... he is my aniki... so long as he is happy, I won't mind who he loves...even if it's a guy. Why does he always think so much for me when I'm just a brat who is jealous with my own brother's tennis skills?" Yuuta knelt down and started crying.

"The reason is simple...you already said he is your aniki right? And as an aniki, Fuji is protective towards you. You know... sometimes I am get green eye seeing how much Fuji cares for you..."Tezuka places his hands on Yuuta's shoulders and pat them gently.

"...Now I can finally understand why aniki loves you so much...I just came to confirm my doubts. I'll get going... Tezuka san...I'll hand my aniki to your care from now on. I will go and talk to anikilllso that the both of you can get together soon." Yuuta bid Tezuka goodbye and gives a polite bow before walking out of the main door. As the younger Fuji walks out of the Tezukas' residence, he knew that he just needs one last step to succeed in bringing happiness to his aniki and Tezuka.

TBC

/Wow...I'm finally done with this chapter...I have a long author's block for quite some time and since I'm working, I'm usually too tired to think of a proper plot. Anyway thanks for the review guys. It keeps me going. Sorry I didn't manage to put in golden pair thou, as it'll get too long... I might end this story in e next chapter... :P Anyway here's my reply to some reviews.

Ikyutakei: Thanks u SOOO much for reviewing my chappie and my sample as well heh…

Yuki-mono: Well yes Fujiko wore e necklace…and yes TEZUKAxFUJI ALL THE WAY!!!

Driftingwanderer: Well I'll be ending my story in e next chapter...I just wanna write a fic where Fuji won't look so desperate, I mean most fics I've seen seems to portray him that way and I dun really like that. He may be sadistic but then again he can also be a one man romanticist.../