"Laughing Matters"

-a Tennis no Oujisama fan-fiction by Calliope-

Chapter Four: Falling Away

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Message: Well, I had all but abandoned putting this story up at all. It's been done since the first day I posted, but - I got discouraged a bit. But hey, what cha gonna do. I havn't even looked these chapters over again since I first did them, so, chances are there's mistakes, but what's new? Oh well. So, without further ado - yet more of this madness... with still more to come.

Summery: Eiji has found himself torn, between his new best friend, and the one person who has always been their for him. Confused and feeling like he can't have both - overcome with guilt and wishing there was something he could do - Eiji has to find a way to sort things out before he loses them both!

Warnings: shounen-ai, language, etc. EijiXOishi, EijiXJirou

(Disclaimer: as much as I wish it wasn't true - none of these characters belong to me. TT sadness)

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"You sure it was ok to just leave?" Jirou asked Eiji as they meandered threw the park. The sun was starting to get low and a breeze had picked up, but they just wondered on aimlessly.

"Yeah, he's being an idiot anyway. Who does he think he is anyhow?" Eiji muttered angrily.

"He was just worried I guess, after all, you did skip practice. And to see me of all people! Heheh! Bet they think you're a traitor!"

"Hehehe! No doubt! It would figure!" he laughed, nodding in agreement.

Jirou was doing his best to suppressing his yawning but it was obvious that his chronic sleeping tendencies were getting the better of him.

"Tiered?" Eiji laughed at him, smiling at the way he was trying so hard to cover it up.

"Mmm, a little." he confessed, "I can't remember the last time I was awake this long!"

They both laughed, and Eiji suggested they call it a day, but Jirou declined and suggested they just go sit for a while till he got his energy back. Finding a comfortable spot under a tree, from which they had a clear view of the street tennis courts, the pair sat back, watching an in progress doubles match for a while.

"Sometimes I wish we didn't have to take tennis so seriously." Eiji sighed, as he hugged his knees.

"Yeah I know what you mean." Jirou nodded, "But if we didn't we wouldn't be where we are now, now would we?" he smiled.

"Hoy, yeah - that's true." Eiji smiled.

"We're just gonna keep on getting better too. I mean, you, me, both Hyotei and Seigaku, we're not at our full potential yet."

"Nope, I guess we aren't, are we." Eiji agreed. "There may not be any more times when we have to play each other the way we did the other day, but, if we all keep going the way we are, it'll be unavoidable that we'll all have to face each other again some day."

"Uh huh." Jirou nodded, yawning as he did so. His eyes were getting heavy, but he smiled still. "Hey, maybe even one day," he snickered tieredly, his voice trailing off a little, "after high school - you and me, could even be doubles partners some time."

"Hehehe," Eiji laughed at him, "yeah, maybe some day."

But he didn't know if he even heard him, as Jirou's head fell lightly onto Eiji's shoulder - his eyes closed and his breathing quiet and even. That uneasy feeling began to rise inside of him again, as his heart began beating a little faster. The cool breeze began to ruffles his hair and he pushed it back out of his eyes.

Eiji smiled to himself, as he looked down at the boy, sleeping soundly against his side; and he could feel Jirou's warm breath against his exposed collar bone where he had left his shirt partially unbuttoned.

He felt tingly all over, both calm and anxious at the same time. He wondered for a moment just how much he could really care about Jirou - his silly, excitable, new found soul-mate. After all, they hadn't met that long ago, but, still - they'd spent so much time together. The meshed like they'd known each other their entire lives, and they acted like it too. They were definitely friendly with one another, not quite like Eiji was with Oishi, but - somehow it never felt awkward to put their arm around each others shoulder, or sit extra close to one another on the bus. But, that was just the way people like them were, right?

So why did he feel like he did right now, if it was so normal to wanna be closer to someone who was just your friend. The sounds of excited cheering from the courts caught his attention and Eiji looked down to where play had now stopped. The winning doubles pair were jumping up and down, high-fiveing one another on their victory, while the losers consoled one another for their loss.

A second ago he was just imagining what it would be like to have Jirou as a doubles partner, but he'd forgot - he already had one. Or at least - he did. He was beginning to feel worse and worse about the stupid fight he'd just had with Oishi.

"Why don't you ever get mad at me?" he'd asked him. And now Eiji was sure he must be. Maybe this time, they really would quit being partners. After all - why would he forgive him for doing what he did? Eiji stomach was in knots, thinking about how he'd face Oishi tomorrow at school, and on the courts. It wasn't as if he could just pretend nothing happened.

Jirou began to stir again, and sat up, rubbing his eyes as he yawned.

"Ehh, sorry Eiji. I guess I fell asleep again." he laughed lightly.

"Don't worry bout it, I know what you're like." Eiji just laughed.

"Eiji?"

"Yeah, Jirou?"

"Do you, wonder ever - if, we really are doing something wrong?"

"What? By being friends?"

"Yeah." he nodded, his scruffy cut hair hanging in his face as he stared at the ground, "Even Atobe was giving me a hard time about it. And he usually never cares what I do."

"Eh, they're just jealous that we can get along and they can't!" Eiji laughed, not wanting to stress over the idea.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Jirou nodded with a smile. He began to snicker a little, and Eiji leaned out, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Eh? What's so funny?"

"Heh? Oh, nothing really."

"Oh come on, what?" Eiji prodded him.

"It's just," he started, turning to Eiji - who felt himself begging to blush ever so slightly when their eyes met, "at Hyotei, it was as if, I'd forgotten what it was like to really have fun with someone."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean, have you been there?" he laughed, "Most of em' are so dry and stuck-up. I can sleep threw anything! But, with you, Eiji -" he stopped slowly, his eyes wandering across Eiji's face.

"I think, I know what you mean..." Eiji half nodded, swallowing hard, and feeling as though his heart were beating in his throat.

"Uh huh, I figured you," he began to fall over his words, "you, of all people," their eyes met again, both with equal tension. Their bare forearms touching at their sides, and sending shivers threw both of them as they leaned closer to one another.

"Yeah - me... of all people..." Eiji just repeated him blindly, both losing themselves somewhere in oblivion, as their noses brushed they were so close.

"You'd understand... Kikumaru, Eiji -" Jirou nearly whispered now. Suddenly he grabbed Eiji's hand quickly in his own, stopping both their hearts, and startling Eiji to move - move, and press his lips firmly against the other boys before either of them could even regain their breath.

Sweet, and firm, and born of some sort of twisted mix of guilt, uncertainty, and intense need, the two boys kiss was quick but seemed to last an eternity. Eyes open widely, they both seemed to be in shock as they sat back and stared at one another - their lips tingling, and their hearts pounding harder then ever.

Eiji was the first to his feet, then Jirou - but it was the Hyotei Singles-2, who spoke first.

"I'd better go." he said weakly, smiling in spite of his flustered state, and bushing from ear to ear as he cast his eyes to the ground.

"Yeah - me too." Eiji nodded, unable to even keep himself from faltering over his words; his stomach too full of butterflies to let him think strait.

"I'll see you later, right?" Jirou asked quietly, as he began to turn his back to Eiji.

"For sure." Eiji told him certainly.

"For sure then." he nodded, smiling faintly back at him before running off.

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(To be continued)