Okay, here's the next installment of my story, as promised. Hope you all enjoy and review at the end.

Pairings: TezFuj, OishEiji, some other minors implied...

Warnings: Shonen-ai, yaoi, whatever you want to call two boys in love... If you don't like it, how the hell did you get this far in my story...?!? Also, some swearing... And, OOC (out of character-ness --- characters not acting how they usually do in the series)

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I just chucked out several hundred for my college textbooks this semester and I am now officially poor. sigh...

Anyways, without further babbling or other comments, the next chapter....

Chapter 7: Nowhere to Run

Fuji was tired. The entire day had been stressful, avoiding Tezuka and dealing with Eiji's complaints. Eiji wanted to play tennis again with the team, but Fuji thought it was too soon. He knew the team was intensely curious about the pair and wanted them to join.

But, as much as they wanted to, Fuji and Eiji couldn't. They knew it and to prevent the disappointment that the team would most likely feel, they had decided to avoid the team for a while and then play every once in a while, continuing to deny questions and issues that would reveal their secret.

So, now as Fuji stood by his locker at the end of the day, waiting for Eiji, he hoped that they could avoid the tennis boys for just a while longer.

Eiji soon arrived and after exchanging books, they both headed to the front gates of the school.

"Man, today was long." Eiji sighed. He, too, was disappointed. He wanted to play tennis and see Oishi today, maybe chat with him a bit, but they had had to avoid him and Tezuka all day.

"Yeah, I'm tired. I think I'm gonna take a nap when we get home."

Looking at his friend, Eiji saw how Fuji's face was a little pale and the exhausted lines on his face. This is stressful for both of us. Eiji thought. But, Fuji... he must have been thinking about this last night as well and not slept very much.

"That sounds good. I might take one myself. Once mom sees you, she'll insist I take one as well just in case... Sheesh."

Fuji smiled at his friend, knowing he wouldn't mind. Eiji loved taking cat-naps throughout the day, even in class, which got him into heaps of trouble.

"Well, as soon as we get off campus here, we'll be able to get home.. but, watch out for any team members. We don't want to be stopped today. We'll talk to them tomorrow." Fuji reminded him.

"Okay.."

They walked in silence for a bit, until Eiji suddenly grabbed Fuji's arm and dragged him behind the corner of a building. Pressing flat against the wall, he kept Fuji back while peering around the side.

"Damn... there goes Momo and ochibi."

"Let's go around and to the north gate, by the chemistry building."

"Yeah, let's go."

Turning, they walked quickly toward the other gate before they ran into someone.

"Sorry about that, we're in a hurry." Fuji said absentmindedly, brushing himself off and helping Eiji up.

"Fuji! Eiji! We've been looking for you!"

They snapped their heads up to see Kawamura staring at them.

"I just bet you have..." Fuji muttered, tugging Eiji's hand to the left. Speaking up, he said. "Well, it was nice seeing you... we gotta go, now."

With that, they ran off seeking another exit to the school.

"Wait!" Kawamura called after them.

Just then, Inui popped up by Kawamura and after relaying that he had found the two boys, Inui went off to tell the others.

Fuji and Eiji, meanwhile, were running past the tennis courts and to the last free exit to the school they could think of. They soon saw the exit, but stopped to catch their breath at the corner of a building.

"Damn..." Eiji panted. "We shouldn't... be... running. We need to get out of here."

Not hearing a response from Fuji, he turned to his friend and gasped at what he saw. Fuji was bent over, leaning against the wall as he panted for air. A slim hand was clutched at his chest and his face was pale and sweating.

"Fuji!" Eiji cried out. "Fuji, hold on!"

Quickly looking around, Eiji carefully maneuvered his friend to the ground and knelt by his side. Reaching into Fuji's bag, he pulled out his waterbottle and a cloth which he wetted and ran across Fuji's face. Next, he pulled out Fuji's inhaler and putting it in his hand, guided it to Fuji's mouth and helped him press it.

It was a few minutes later before Fuji had calmed down and was breathing easier. He was still pale and exhausted, but no longer scaring Eiji.

"Thanks... Eiji." Fuji whispered, resting his head against the building they were sitting by.

"It's okay, Fuji. Damn, you had me scared for a second there. I thought I might have to call someone." Settling down by his friend, Eiji tried to calm down.

Fuji leaned his head against Eiji's shoulder, resting, when he shot up again.

"What happened to the guys following us? Did they give up or something?"

"I don't know. I was too worried about keeping you alive to think about them." Eiji said wryly.

"Sorry... Thanks, though. I was just so tired today and then all that running from them." Fuji sighed. "I need a nice, long nap."

"As soon as we get home, I promise."

"Alright."

They sat for a few more moments before gathering their things once again and standing up. Fuji swayed dizzily a second or two, before Eiji caught his arm and steadied him.

"Are you gonna make it or should I call home?"

"No, I'll be fine. We don't need to call two days in a row. That will really worry our parents."

"Okay... but, if you faint or something, I'm calling all the emergency numbers we got." Eiji threatened.

"I'll be fine." Fuji said determinedly. "Let's get going."

..............

Tezuka and Oishi had been searching by the tennis courts when Inui found them and reported that Fuji and Eiji had been spotted heading toward the exit near the chemistry building. Moving quickly, they hoped to catch the elusive pair before they managed to escape the school.

This is getting ridiculous, Tezuka thought. I didn't think they would go to such lengths to avoid us. Damn! Why can't they just stop and talk to us?

Oishi was similarly irritated, but more concerned for what might be wrong with the pair of boys.

As they walked around the chemistry building, they spotted Fuji and Eiji walking slowly toward the school gate. Eiji seemed to be encouraging Fuji, who was moving more deliberately. Both were oblivious to their arrival, until Tezuka and Oishi were upon them.

"Here you two are!" Oishi cried.

They both jumped, knowing they were caught. Turning slowly, Fuji looked up at Tezuka.

What happened to him?! He looks absolutely exhausted. Tezuka frowned.Moving forward, he reached for Fuji's wrist. The pulse felt rather quick and Fuji's face was pale.

"Fuji! Are you alright?" Oishi asked, concerned. Looking toward Eiji, he noticed he was a bit pale as well, but not as ash-white as Fuji.

Eiji stepped closer to Fuji and removed Tezuka's hand from his friend. Tezuka glared at him to which Eiji glared back and said, "Excuse us, we need to get going."

"Eiji! What is this all about?"

"I'm sorry, Oishi. Now is not the time. As you can see, Fuji is rather tired and I need to get him home to rest."

"Can we help?"

Eiji pondered this a moment. "I'm not sure if that is a good idea."

"We'll be fine." Fuji spoke up.

"Is that so?" Tezuka asked, looking directly at Fuji. "You look like you're gonna collapse."

Glaring lightly, Fuji replied. "I'll be fine, damn it. Let's go, Eiji."

Fuji pulled his bag higher on his shoulder and quickly stalked off, but he tried to go too quickly and swayed faintly before Tezuka caught him.

"Right... you're real fine." Tezuka commented, worried and amused.

"Oh, shut up." Fuji said, halfheartedly. He was leaning against Tezuka now, not caring anymore. He was so tired.

"Fuji." Eiji called. "Let's just go home. They can come. You need help and I can't carry you if it comes to that and you don't want to call home, so this is the next best thing."

Tezuka raised an eyebrow at this, but remained silent as Fuji thought.

Finally sighing, Fuji nodded wearily before moving forward once again. Tezuka was right beside him supporting him with an arm around his waist.

Behind them, Oishi stared, completely surprised by this development and Tezuka's willingness to touch the smaller boy. Remembering Tezuka's denial of any feelings toward Fuji, Oishi smirked and shook his head in amusement. He heard Eiji giggle behind him and holding his hand in front of him, Oishi gestured for him to walk with him.

"Hehehe, they look good, don't they?" Eiji whispered to Oishi.

"Yeah, I knew Tezuka liked him."

"Really? Fuji does too." A mischievous sparkle appeared in Eiji's eyes as he turned to Oishi. "Let's help them along."

Turning to the other boy, Oishi smiled. "Of course. That is, if they don't get their act together. I think they are doing alright at the moment." He nodded his head toward the pair in front of them. Fuji was now leaning fully into Tezuka whose arm had tightened securely around Fuji's waist. He had also taken Fuji's bag and carried it with his own on his other shoulder.

"Yeah," Eiji sighed, wistfully.

Oishi looked askance at Eiji, admiring the red-head briefly before turning forward once again.

They group walked peacefully toward the boys' homes, following Eiji's directions as Fuji was barely awake, merely walking on instinct. Once they had reached their street, Eiji pointed out their homes.

"We live next door to each other, but let's go to Fuji's first and put him to bed. He needs to sleep."

"Alright."

Moving through the doorway and up the stairways, Tezuka carrying a half-asleep Fuji, they walked into his room and set him on his bed. Eiji took off Fuji's shows and laid a blanket over him and gestured the other's to leave, but not before Tezuka looked for one more moment down at Fuji and brushed a stray lock of hair from his angelic face.

After they were down the stairs once again and in the living room, Tezuka and Oishi turned toward Eiji.

"You will tell us what is going on." It was not a question. Eiji knew that after yesterday that they would not be able to keep things from the tennis team for long despite Fuji's plans of concealment and denial. Now, it seemed was the moment of truth. It was sooner than he had thought, but here it was.

"Yeah, I guess you deserve to know."

Settling down on the couches, Eiji sighed and began their story.

To be Continued

Next chapter, all will be revealed. The boys secret will be told and the two captains will have to decide how it might change their plans for Fuji and Eiji's tennis and their own relationships with the boys.

Please review. I will listen to all suggestions, though I might not actually follow them. I hope everyone is enjoying the story and I realize it has been kind of slow so I am trying to speed it up to a storyline of some sort. Let me know what you guys think as you are the ones reading this.

Thanks and I'll update soon – within 2 weeks hopefully. I have some ideas for the next chapter, but I might get side-tracked. But, I'll get started on it soon... Anyways, see ya all later!