A/N notes: I'm experiencing a hysterical breakdown with all the feedback you've given me through out the whole fic ::sends hugs&kisses to you all:: It's very supportive, thank you!!
I thought I'd clear one thing up once more; TezukaFuji is on-going through the whole fic and the other couples have their own chapters, sometimes are guest starring in other chapters as well, but Tezuka and Fuji in theory don't get a whole chapter to themselves…but they get a big part of the last one AND they have their moments in the chapters before that. ::sweatdrops:: I can't explain anything in a simple way, can I? Anyway; I don't own PoT only the fic.
Oh, and I do love Sanada as well, I just have a funny way of showing it ::heheh::
Chapter 12: Sanada x Yukimura
"Um, hello? Tezuka?" Fuji bit back a yawn. He had just woken up when his cell phone had started ringing.
"Not really…but don't hang up!!" the person who was calling him practically begged.
Fuji sat up between two sleeping boys. "A-ah. May I ask who I'm speaking with?"
"That is getting kind of old already, Fuji-kun. May I call you Syusuke?"
Fuji's eyes bulged open, realizing who it was. "No."
"I thought we could get together today, Syus-"
"On second thought I think I'm gonna hang up now anyway…" Fuji said, ignoring Mizuki's panicking on the other end.
"No, No, WAIT!! It's about Yuuta!!" The name of his brother stopped Fuji from closing his phone.
"Mizuki?" A sleepy voice came in the background and Fuji immediately recognized it to be his dear little brother's.
"What is my brother doing with you?" Fuji's voice was dead serious, causing Saeki to turn over. Fuji heard Mizuki talk something in a very fluffy tone to Yuuta about going back to sleep and the older boy apparently left the room. Fuji heard a door open and close.
"So, as I was saying I think we should arrange a date today to discuss something that has got to do with Yuuta."
"I'm not going on a date with you and we can discuss it now!"
"Okay, okay! Just meet me at your place in the afternoon at let's say 5 o'clock or so? I'll bring a box, Christmas paper, strings and everything else that is required for tonight with Yuuta."
"This has better not be what it sounds like." Fuji warned and he heard Mizuki giggle nervously on the other end.
"It's for his present! At 5 then! Ja!"
Fuji shut his cell phone annoyed. He knew exactly what he wanted to do with Mizuki and a box and some strings…Speaking of Christmas paper, he was almost out of it. And he hadn't bought the last Christmas presents either. He would have to make a shopping trip today before five then.
"Syusuke?" Saeki mumbled and he sat up next to the tensai. Niou muffled himself into Fuji's side, pulling the tensai down on the bed again.
"Who was it?" Niou then murmured. "Was it Yagyuu? Did I succeed in making him even more jealous now?"
"It was Mizuki from St Rudolph." Fuji said and Niou opened his eyes in time to see Saeki form the words 'uh-oh' on his lips. Niou grinned and pulled Saeki closer to them.
"He was at home…with my brother." Fuji's voice was serious, Saeki could tell, but then again so could Niou even if he was more of a newbie in their relationship, cough, friendship.
"Are you looking to hurt him?" Niou then asked and Fuji closed his blue eyes and relaxed.
"How do you wanna do it?" Saeki asked instead and Fuji ran fingers through his hair.
"I'm not gonna. I can't hurt him without hurting Yuuta."
"Except for in tennis." Niou pointed out and Saeki laughed.
"Yeah, Syusuke already did that!"
"Mmm, do share…" Niou murmured and ran circles with his finger on top of the shirt Fuji was wearing. (Yes, he was still wearing one!)
"Later…" Fuji smiled and got up from between two protesting boys. "First I've gotta take a shower. You guys kept me up almost all night with games like twister, spin the bottle and other confessions."
Confessions meaning schemes in their world…
"Want some company?" Niou joked.
Fuji chuckled as he took out some fresh clothes from his wardrobe. "I'll let you know. You can borrow some of my shirts if you want, and take a line for the shower." he added before disappearing into the bathroom.
Saeki and Niou let themselves drop back onto Fuji's bed, receiving such a rejecting answer from the tensai.
The two boys heard the water start running and after some time of just laying lazily on the bed, they slowly made their way to the wardrobe. Saeki held up a light green shirt in front of him and Niou had found one of Fuji's white school shirts.
"Um, it's not like people don't know I'm gay, but this would definitely make it obvious…" Saeki grinned, testing the shirt that he only got buttoned up halfway.
"Yeah, you think he has anything one size bigger that would fit either one of us?" Niou grinned and picked up another shirt, holding it in front of him.
Saeki went through Fuji's wardrobe. "I doubt it, if he hasn't got one of Tezuka's lying around in here somewhere…Oh, there's one!"
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
Tezuka checked his watch. It was a 12.30. Oishi could occasionally be late, but half an hour?! The captain sighed. He hadn't seen much of his best friend after the boy had started to date his golden pair partner and Tezuka himself had been so caught up with Fuji…
/Fuji./
Tezuka wondered what the other boy did right now. Or maybe he didn't want to know…
He hadn't seen the tensai after that day of practice when he had snapped. It would have hurt Tezuka's pride too much for the stoic boy to say, well, that he was sorry and how he had regretted his words the moment they had left his mouth.
Although Tezuka didn't really know what he was supposed to feel sorry about. It was Fuji's scheme he had ruined, but why did it feel to him like he had broken up with the tensai?
They were never together.
Okay, maybe they were according to everyone else…and maybe just a little according to Tezuka himself as well.
Tezuka sighed. These were exactly the thoughts that had driven him to call Fuji last night. Luckily he had gotten a hold on himself after the first signal and hung up. But it annoyed him a little that this way Fuji would never know that he had tried to call and say how good it had felt for him to be the 'boyfriend', although all the torment, and that Tezuka hadn't really known what he had had before he had destroyed it….except for the torment, which he also sort of missed.
Oh God, he was so out of the line of reason.
"Tezuka!" Oishi's voice came in the same sorry-that-I'm-late-and-hopefully-you-didn't-wait-too-long tone. Tezuka lifted his head to see two shapes come running his way, and he pushed his other thoughts aside.
Wait! Two?!
"Hoi! Hoi! Te-zu-ka!!"
NO!
What was Kikumaru doing there?! Didn't Oishi have the heart to leave his little boyfriend at home?
Eiji practically flew over to Tezuka and glomped him. Tezuka, who had stood still for an hour already since he was always half an hour early just like Fuji had said when pretending to be him, didn't really love the gesture or Eiji's weight pressing him down.
"We're going Christmas shopping today!!" Eiji smirked and Oishi shot Tezuka an apologetic smile. Tezuka sighed inside. That's what happens when your best friend starts dating! He no longer sticks up for your rights in the same way, oh no, now he schemes against them. Tezuka had of course added in a healthy drop of dramatization into those lines…
"I've already bought mine." Tezuka replied firmly and with a hint of grumpiness, doing his best to avoid having to go on this trip.
"So what did you get for Fuji?" Eiji asked him.
"…" That comment left Tezuka speechless. He wasn't even aware that he was required to get Fuji something. Did they still think of Fuji and him as…lovers?
Tezuka hated how much he was actually loving to have the opportunity back again to pretend to be with Fuji, but he would have to keep it to himself. The expressionless face would never give an, well, expression on the matter.
"I'm sure he's already got you something special. Are you just gonna say to him then that;…" Eiji cleared his throat and said in a deep tone. "Thank you, it wasn't necessary. I am sorry I don't have anything for you although you put your time and money into getting me something, and I still didn't although my super great friends tried to convince me to."
"…" Tezuka was getting tired of people doing mimicry of him all the time.
"But in fewer words, of course…And if you won't tell him, then I will." Eiji continued.
"…" Tezuka knew Eiji most likely would.
"Yosh! Let's go then!!" Eiji called out and grabbed both Tezuka and Oishi under the arm and pulled them along towards his favorite shopping spots.
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
/You should have realized by now how much I've wanted you too, Fuji…/
Fuji almost bumped into a couple of kids running his way. His instincts were the only thing taking him from his thoughts back to his surroundings and stopping him from walking over someone's children.
Fuji sighed as the kids just ran past him. Ever since Tezuka had called last night, well Fuji bet it wasn't even in Tezuka's intention to really call, Fuji hadn't been able to help the fact that he was spacing out.
His mind took him back to that time he was trapped in the locker room with Tezuka when the captain had almost ruined his scheme he had so carefully made out for the Golden Pair, to when Tezuka had seeked him out in school to confront him about what had happened in the locker room with Taka-san and checked his bruised wrists.
Not to mention how Tezuka had started to react whenever Fuji had been absent or talking with another guy. And how Tezuka had made Fuji run a hundred laps and then all the way back to his house also because the captain had been jealous, and then how Tezuka had taken Fuji's role upon himself in the locker room.
Fuji was quite shocked at how well Tezuka had been able to pull his role off. Did…did Tezuka see him through? Tezuka always knew when Fuji had found an interest in something new, when no one else including the data-collector of the team had the slightest clue.
/It is pretty obvious that you want it too…/
Fuji found it hard to even swallow as he entered a random store and picked up an object from a shelf. What would he get Tezuka for Christmas?
Fuji gave out another sigh, placing the object back down. What he owed him of course. He would get Tezuka a guy.
There were still parts of Fuji that believed that there couldn't be anything between Tezuka and himself, or atleast not become anything between them. It would be too…perfect. And it was only human if Tezuka had finally started to react to Fuji's torments the way Fuji had wanted him to.
Today Fuji would talk to the captain. He would let Tezuka have it his way. After all, today was Christmas Eve…
Fuji was just about to walk out of the store, when spotting a quite familiar looking guy buying a bouquet of flowers. If Fuji wasn't mistaking then that was Rikkaidai's vice-captain. Was the real captain still in the hospital?
"Hey." Fuji smiled at the boy, who shot him one look and then developed a frown similar to the one Tezuka always wore when suspecting trouble around Fuji.
"Hi." Sanada replied.
"I'm from Seigaku, and I just wanted to send some Christmas greetings Rikkaidai's way." Fuji then explained and Sanada gave a nod.
"Thank you. We wish the same to Seigaku." Sanada said and took the flowers.
"Are those for your captain?" Fuji asked and the other boy flinched a little. "Red roses look good on a time like this."
"A-ah, they're for Yukimura. He's still in the hospital." Sanada answered.
"So I've heard. I hope he'll recover soon."
"He will. He's doing better, but they will keep him in for a month atleast." Sanada said and Fuji shot him a comforting smile. "I was gonna bring him these to cheer him up, and so that he can have something to hold him company this evening."
Fuji frowned. "You mean he's gonna have to spend tonight alone?"
"I'm afraid so. The nurses won't let me…" Sanada explained but stopped. What was he doing? He knew Niou had started to hang out with this boy, and rumor was they were a lot alike as well. "My team has gone a lot more out of order ever since you visited."
Fuji just smiled wider and was glad to hear that the couples were doing alright. "Ah, but you don't have to have club practice with them during the holidays."
"No, but they keep calling me and meeting up with me outside school." Sanada said and Fuji chuckled. So the Rikkaidai team could not resist to get on their stoic vice-captain's nerves outside practice time either? Sounded familiar.
"They are only building up a team spirit by keeping contact outside school. That can't be bad." Fuji then replied and Sanada kept quiet. "Well, I already helped one depressed boy from Rikkaidai yesterday. Might as well tell me what's getting you so down, now when I've still got the scheme fresh in mind…My guess is on your captain."
Sanada slowly backed away, seeing the opening blue eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then maybe I should ask your team if they do…-" Fuji shrugged and was about to pick up his cell phone and call most likely Niou first.
"No." Sanada interrupted and Fuji placed the phone back inside of his bag, waiting for Sanada to continue.
Sanada sighed. "I just wish I could be there…Yukimura's gonna be alone the whole Christmas vacation."
"And you're dating him?" Fuji asked and a tiny shade of pink broke out on Sanada's face.
"No." he answered again.
"Hmm, I see." Fuji mumbled, not really believing that that was all there was to it. Honestly, Fuji had smelt suppressed feelings ever since he had laid his eyes upon the boy. "Have you asked the doctors if you could stay with him for some time?"
"I have, but they keep telling me I'm not allowed to."
"Hmm, well, I guess it couldn't hurt to ask them one more time."
Sanada shot Fuji a slightly terrified look not wanting to go anywhere near Yukimura with the tensai, but he had really no choice as Fuji had already trailed off towards the direction of the hospital.
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
"The same answer again." Sanada said as he came back to Fuji, who had from in between his squinted eyes watched the whole conversation between Sanada and a doctor. The doctor that Sanada had been talking to had been shooting Fuji looks every once in a while.
"Do you mind if I'd try?" Fuji asked and Sanada shook his head once, still doubting Fuji's presence and reason to be here.
Fuji made his way to that same doctor and started a conversation with him. From aside Sanada could see how Fuji was toying with his hair, keeping a very intimate stare and swaying his body a little, while all the time talking and listening carefully to the doctor.
Five minutes later Fuji returned happily back to Sanada with good news and a phone number. "The doctor said you can stay."
Sanada almost let the relief he felt inside show on his face. "Thank you so much. I really wanted to stay with him tonight, since he'd be all alone on Christmas Eve otherwise."
Fuji gave a smug smile. "Well, not just for tonight. You are welcome to share the room with him for the rest of the year, as long as he allows it and his health isn't at risk."
"I-…What?"
"Well that doctor there…" Fuji shot the doctor a seductive smile. "…said you could."
Sanada didn't know how Fuji had done it and he didn't really want to know either. He was just happy the matchmaker had.
"I don't know how to thank you." Sanada bowed politely and Fuji just smiled.
"Make sure Yukimura doesn't get lonely during Christmas time. That's all." Fuji then replied and Sanada gave a nod. Fuji turned to walk. "Oh, and wish him a merry Christmas from me." Fuji then added and received another nod before leaving the hospital.
Sanada turned around to head towards Yukimura's room instead. He looked in through the open door and saw Yukimura sit on the bed.
"May I come in?" he asked and Yukimura was surprised to see him.
"Of course, come in." the other boy answered and Sanada stopped by his bed. "These…are for you." the taller boy said almost in a mumble as he handed Yukimura the bouquet.
"Sanada, you shouldn't have gone through the trouble." Yukimura smiled as he accepted the gift.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing alright. Some days are better than others." Yukimura replied and placed the flowers on the table next to the bed. "How is the team? I miss them."
"They're fine…Although a little more unconcentrated ever since Fuji from Seigaku paid a visit at our school."
Yukimura chuckled. "Yeah, I heard from Yagyuu all about him. Yagyuu also said that Niou has been spending a lot more time with Fuji ever since."
"He has. Yagyuu is worried."
Yukimura just smiled. "Sanada, Yagyuu is jealous."
Sanada jerked at the amused look Yukimura gave him. Had the captain already heard about what Sanada had discovered in the locker room that faithful morning?
"Tell me they've finally stopped pretending to be any less than what they really are meant to be." Yukimura then said.
"Um, hai. I think Yagyuu and Niou are…involved."
"And Jackal and Marui?"
"I'm not sure, I think so too." The doubles pair had been enjoying a lot more cakes together nowadays…and come to think of it Sanada had never seen Jackal chew on so many bubble gums before either.
"And are Yanagi and Kirihara still together?"
"They're together?"
Yukimura chuckled at Sanada's confused look. The vice-captain sure didn't know a lot about the relationships between his teammates.
"They started dating just before I had to go into the hospital." Yukimura filled the taller boy in and Sanada gave a short 'oh'. "And what about you then? Do you still have a crush on me?"
"Yes, I-" Sanada started automatically to answer in the same way he had been answering before, when noticing what Yukimura had really asked and the captain shot him a warm smile.
"Thank God, I was afraid you would find someone else in the meantime when I was stuck here." Yukimura said and Sanada wanted to tell the captain that he could never, but decided not to reveal anything more.
"I should go home and get some spare clothes." the vice-captain answered instead and turned on his heels.
"For what? Are you going to go practicing?" Yukimura's quite surprised voice came behind him and Sanada realized he had totally forgot to tell Yukimura that he was able to stay with the captain, let alone had he also forgot to ask for Yukimura's permission to stay.
"I spoke with the doctors, or actually Fuji spoke with the doctors." Sanada informed. "I'm allowed to stay here for a couple of weeks…"
"But didn't they keep telling us that wasn't possible?" Yukimura asked confused.
"They did, but Fuji succeeded in talking them over." Sanada said and Yukimura let out another smile. "I can stay here till the end of the year…That is, if you want me to."
"Of course I do." Yukimura answered and Sanada felt relieved for the second time already that day.
"Then I'll just make a quick stop at my house and get some belongings. Is there anything you would like me to bring you in the meantime?" Sanada continued and Yukimura shook his head.
"Just another pillow, because I only have one." Yukimura replied and pushed a button that was sure to send a nurse to his room soon. "If they don't have a spare one here, that is."
"Don't I get a separate bed?" Sanada pointed out, and the same doctor that had talked to Fuji walked in together with a nurse.
"I was just gonna check on Yukimura, but did you say something about another bed?"
"Yes, I was just-"
"Syusuke never mentioned anything about a spare bed…" the man then interrupted. "Anyway, we are short on them so you will just have to share or come up with another solution. I'll check up on you later, Yukimura. I wasn't aware you had still had company although I should've guessed."
Yukimura gave a nod and the doctor left the room together with the nurse.
Sanada stared after them in shock. He should've known there would be a catch. It had been too perfect.
His thoughts were interrupted when Yukimura gave out a short chuckle and patted his bed. "Come on, Genichirou. You can sleep with me."
"Yukimura…"
"It's alright. I don't snore." Yukimura just smiled and Sanada then finally nodded.
Maybe it was even more perfect the way it was now, but obviously Sanada would never hiss a word in that direction.
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
It was hardly anyone that could catch the tensai wandering totally lost in his thoughts. But then again when the thoughts were about his dear younger brother and his not so dear purple rival (according to Mizuki), it wasn't so impossible anymore.
"Fuji." Tezuka's voice made it's way into his thoughts and Fuji lifted his head, gazing the other boy.
"Tezuka? What a surprise to see you." Fuji shone up and placed his eyes on the small plastic bags Tezuka was carrying.
"Not really, I was just heading home from...shopping." Tezuka said, seeing Fuji's confused stare. Hopefully the tensai hadn't noticed how glad Tezuka was to have run into him, since Tezuka had on purpose taken this route he knew Fuji always took.
"Eh? Tezuka shops?" Fuji gave a chuckle. "Well I'm heading towards the same direction. Wanna join me?" He received a nod and Tezuka fell in pace next to him.
"You're heading home?" Tezuka broke the silence, strangely enough.
"Yes, actually I'm on my way to put Mizuki in a box." Fuji answered, a smile still taking place on his lips. Tezuka gazed the boy quickly.
"Not the way I'm thinking, right?" the taller boy then doubtfully asked and Fuji turned an innocent smile his way.
"Tezuka, would I do that?" Yes, the tensai most certainly would, but Tezuka thought it was best not to encourage the sadist any further.
They were quiet for a while and Tezuka was starting to feel like everything was going back to normal, where normal meant that he was the rumored boyfriend of matchmaker/tensai Fuji Syusuke…but still the seme!
Tezuka gripped the plastic bag tighter. He wanted to say something to Fuji. Something that would make them 'date' again.
"Saa, it will be an interesting Christmas at our house this year." Fuji broke the silence before him this time.
Tezuka shrugged. "Without a doubt."
"Especially spending it alone with Yuuta and his new boyfriend."
"I heard you've been playing matchmaker." Tezuka said sarcastically, and it was Fuji's turn to shrug.
"Unintentionally at first, but everyone deserves to be with the one they care about at Christmas time, right?" Fuji then continued, getting another slightly doubtful nod. "Oh and that reminds me! Tezuka, who would you like for Christmas?"
Tezuka fell quiet. Had Fuji really thought it was over? If he could use that term. Tezuka debated whether or not just to tell the tensai the truth already.
Not receiving an answer the smaller boy continued. "You're the only regular I haven't asked…or well, paired."
"Except for yourself." Tezuka pointed out and Fuji suddenly lost his foothold, not expecting a reply like that one. Tezuka was quick to grab Fuji under his arm, and Fuji was even faster to find his way back onto his feet again and parted from Tezuka.
"I didn't know the streets were this slippery already." Fuji mumbled quickly.
"Must be someone special then." Tezuka continued on their previous subject and Fuji's mind drew a blank of all the possible things he could have said to avoid having to answer to that. Besides, nobody had ever come to ask him back.
"Would you be offended if I told you I wanted you?" Fuji then replied, Tezuka's face not making an expression to this.
Fuji turned his eyes back on the road. The taller boy could take this comment anyway he wanted, he could think that Fuji truly liked him or he could believe Fuji was just teasing him again.
Tezuka had detected the slightest hint of teasing in Fuji's tone, but even if it was so this was still the least bad kind of torture he had had to face today. Otherwise Fuji definitely scored an A in Tezuka torture, but somehow today felt different. Maybe Tezuka was getting immune…or maybe he just liked to hear Fuji say something like that.
Tezuka was just about to reply as Fuji took a stop and Tezuka recognized the Fuji's household. "Ja, I better go and meet my new brother-in-law then. Thanks for walking me home…and for catching me."
Tezuka blinked, not even realizing he had walked all this way. "Brother-in-law?" he asked instead, not wanting to show how he didn't have the faintest idea of how he had gotten there and so fast it had seemed, all his chances to confess had somehow just passed him by.
"Well, with my luck that's who Yuuta's gonna want to marry one day." Fuji pointed behind his back towards a boy sitting outside his door.
"And you're okay with it?" Tezuka asked, seeing Fuji visually give a jerk to this. Fuji hated Mizuki, Tezuka remembered. And they were also talking about a gay marriage here, something Tezuka didn't think he would ever be a part off, well maybe as a guest was all.
"As long as Yuuta's happy, I am just fine with it. But let's not rush to any conclusions." Fuji smiled, but his voice was still like in a warning.
As Tezuka didn't reply, Fuji just placed his usual smile back on that had faltered somewhat during their whole walk together.
"See you later then, and think about what I said. Even you shouldn't be alone tonight. It's not too late to call me later…I'll be the third wheel anyway, so I wouldn't mind giving them some space and finding you a certain someone."
"I understand. Merry Christmas." Tezuka gave a small bow and Fuji turned around to head towards his door and the waiting boy.
"You too. Merry Christmas." he replied over his shoulder with a true smile. He had tortured Tezuka enough for one holiday. Maybe it was time to give the captain something back, after all he might have been wrong about him and Tezuka. Tezuka also deserved to find that one perfect guy as his Christmas present from Fuji.
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A/N: sorry for this chapter being more on the angsty-side, but I promise things will be better in the next chapter!! After all this is not an angst story, it's pure humor and romance ;D