Leather Bound Book
Lost Futures
Kiyami: I know some people have been wondering about the first journal entry I showed in the beginning. I liked how the beginning of this chapter turned out. I'm content with this chapter. I've been thinking of this for the longest time. Sorry, Fuji!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Prince of Tennis. The usual.
Fuji hummed to the sorrowful song drifting out of his speakers. Even though Fuji's heart wrenched every time he heard this song, nothing could sadden Fuji on this day.
The day started out hot and humid and remained like that. Fuji was glad his car came with an air conditioner. He positioned his face to receive the full icy blast of cold air.
It was his first day off in weeks. He would have liked to meet with Tezuka, but knew how busy he was lately. He would have called Eiji to join him, but with the sudden heat wave a long list of customers wanted their dogs' fur cut.
So he came out here alone. Fuji didn't mind though because sometimes it was best to do this alone.
The spot where he wanted to be at came into view after making a long trip up the mountain. The endless swirling around the mountain tired Fuji. He was relieved to the see the spot he had picked.
The sleek blue car stopped by a group of trees. Fuji grabbed his digital camera and stepped out of his car. For several long moments he stood to take in the lovely smell of the place.
Birds sang merrily hoping to find their love somewhere in the trees. Bees buzzed around blooming wildflowers. Squirrels played silly games of chase with each other. They dashed back and forth on the ground and sometimes taking the game to dangerous stakes by playing on the branches.
The wind blew gently causing a soft rustling in the trees. The breeze cooled Fuji who was sweating from the heat. He sighed contently and turned the camera on. He would finally be able to finish his private project.
It was a project that sprouted from looking at a magazine filled with colorful images of the countryside. Fuji was so awed by the pictures that he wanted to make a photo album of the beautiful scenery.
Life was too wonderful not to be enjoyed.
Fuji snapped picture after picture. He continued to take pictures until his camera could take no more. When that happened he sat beneath an old oak tree and reviewed the pictures. He smiled at each photo.
Fuji ate lunch out there that he had made himself. Like always it was very spicy, but Fuji could handle it easily.
After his lonely meal he merely sat there. His blue eyes stared at the surroundings that were so different from the metal and concrete his eyes were accustomed to seeing.
"One day, Kunimitsu, I'm going to bring you out here." Fuji promised to himself. He smiled and closed his eyes. He felt rather sleepy from the lovely day. The warmth of the air, the sweet melodies of birds, and the comforting breeze lulled him to sleep.
Wet droplets splashed onto his face. It snapped Fuji out of his slumber. Dark clouds rumbled overhead. They were ominous signs of the heavy rain that would soon come.
Fuji gathered his belongings and went back into his car. He checked the time and discovered he would be late to the sports event he was supposed to be at with Momo.
The car roared into life and began its descent towards the bottom of the mountain.
Fuji could barely make out anything through the heavy rain. He hoped it would stop soon. Bright lights cut through the eerie darkness. Wipers shoved the thick droplets away from the windshield.
The car moved at a moderate pace. Fuji stepped on the gas pedal a little harder. He was going to be really late and probably miss most of the basketball game. His boss would surely demote him if he did. It was too important.
Water splashed in all directions. Fuji's car shook with the potholes everywhere. He sat hunched over the steering wheel with his eyes squinting to see what was coming.
Sighing he reached into his pocket and took out a small velvety case. He kissed it for good luck. A finger opened it to reveal a glimmering ring. Fuji smiled. The ring reassured Fuji. It was a wedding ring for Tezuka and even though he hadn't seen it yet, the ring made Fuji feel as though the former Seigaku captain was sitting there right next to him.
Suddenly his car shook. The slick ground forced the car to lose control. Fuji slammed on the brake to stop the movement, but it was too much. The front of the car smashed into the thick metal that was supposed to prevent cars from veering off course.
Fuji's eyes opened as he felt the car push past the metal protector. For a small moment he had the feeling of carefree joy that birds felt with their wings spread wide. The blue car flew before turning into a near vertical angle. It nose-dived towards the ground, which was a long way down.
Nature triumphed over the man made contraption as the car collided into a strong deciduous tree. The blue painted metal crushed even more and the windshield shattered. Then the car fell backwards and was further destroyed by the impact of hitting the ground.
It all happened so fast that Fuji couldn't scream. His mouth was opened wide, but no sound could be forced through his lips. The air bag offered no help. It deployed too late, the fault of the producers of the car. By the time it did inflate Fuji was dead.
He had died almost instantly when the car finally reached the ground. He was granted no special last words like in Hollywood movies for the forest creatures to hear. His body just jerked forward, the seatbelt restraining him, and died.
His limp hand still clutched the case of the wedding ring, but the ring was gone. It fell out during the descent towards the ground. Blood started to flow from Fuji's broken body. His head rested on the air bag like a pillow with his hair falling over his broken face. Blood began to drip from the edges of his eyes and the corner of his mouth. It gave the impression of him crying.
Crying that he would never put the lost wedding ring to use. That Tezuka would never wear it not knowing that it was meant for him.
Crying for his lost future.
There were many factors that played into Fuji's death. Fuji was just the unluckiest person for it could have happened to anyone.
For one the road sign that signaled a sudden sharp turn in the road was gone. A group of boys had taken the sign to hang in their room as a sign of their delinquency.
With the rain so hard Fuji couldn't make out much of the land before him. It was blurred by the torrent of water that ended fifteen minutes after Fuji's death. The clouds that so thickly covered the skies and the late time also gave Fuji a hard time in seeing what was ahead. The headlights could only cover a limited amount of distance.
If Fuji had waited a little longer to wake up he might have survived. Or if he woke up just thirty minutes before he might have been snapping pictures of sweaty basketball players.
His life could have been spared if his speed was not so high. If his he was going slower and being more careful he could have lived on to hear the wedding bells he sorely desired. If only he hadn't been rushing to get to the sports event or moving so quickly.
If the officials who supervised the road did their jobs he might have survived. If the metal had been replaced regularly then it might not have given way so easily. If the metal hadn't been so old and rusted then it might have put up more of a fight in preventing his car from going over the edge. If only the metal had been replaced every now and then like the laws decreed.
Or if the producers of the car he drove in were more careful in their design. If they hadn't been in such a rush to get money then Fuji's chance of survival might have been larger. If they only had placed some caring devotion to create the best car for every customer like they advertised.
The potholes played into it too. The holes littering the old road didn't make Fuji's drive down the mountain any easier.
If Fuji had delayed the day until tomorrow when it was bright and sunny he could have lived. If only he waited one more day when Tezuka was no longer busy and had a day off. If he had waited for Eiji to finish with the sudden rush of pet owners.
There were so many different outcomes. Fuji could have lived if only some things weren't overlooked. So many if's that could have spared the unfortunate end of a bright, young, and happy man.
If only it hadn't ended like this.
Mizuki, Yuuta, and Tezuka ran into the hospital. Yuuta talked to the woman and dashed off down one of the hallways. Mizuki and Tezuka followed. The blue suitcase was left behind in the car so they could run unburdened to see the status of Yumiko.
The nurses permitted Yuuta to move on since he was family. They ushered Mizuki and Tezuka into a waiting to worry for Yumiko.
"Mizuki-san." Tezuka offered a cup of coffee to the black haired man.
"Thank you, Tezuka-kun." He accepted the coffee. He blew on the surface of the liquid then sipped it hesitantly. The hot liquid burnt his tongue, but he didn't care much.
Mizuki was rather fond of Yumiko. She was a fan of his romance novels and often helped him when he got into writers' block. Together they gossiped and talked about everyday things. Anyway she was an endless source of stories about Fuji and Yuuta as little kids.
Tezuka sat down next to Mizuki. In his hand was a similar cup of coffee. It tasted bitter and wasn't a fresh pot. He put it down on the table because it seemed rather torturous to continue drinking.
Fuji probably wouldn't mind though. He had strange taste buds. He probably would have been able to stand the taste and possibly enjoy it to the fullest.
That was the type of person Fuji was. He enjoyed everything. He brought out the potential in things. Even though he was quite possibly the oddest man you could ever meet, besides Inui, he always could bring a smile to a person's face.
Except for Tezuka.
"Tezuka-kun?" Mizuki touched his shoulder lightly.
"Hm?" Tezuka looked towards Mizuki.
"Are you alright?" He looked concerned.
Yuuta's influence on Mizuki was evident. Mizuki had matured into a caring man since his St. Rudolph days. He was more considerate of other people and no longer did things just for himself. Maybe it was in the Fuji blood to unknowingly help the surrounding people.
"Yes, I am. Thank you for asking."
An awkward silence hung in the air. Mizuki grabbed one of the aging magazines off the table and started to flip through it. Tezuka sat there thinking. He would have to go see Atobe someday soon.
He pulled out the list and looked at it. Tezuka grabbed one of the pens off the tables. In one smooth motion he crossed out number ten. Mizuki looked up from his magazine to see the list.
"What's this?" Mizuki asked while taking the piece of paper from Tezuka's hand.
His eyes moved down the paper as he rapidly read through it. He handed it silently back to Tezuka while twitching. "I can't believe…Fuji-kun…Wrote my name wrong." Mizuki sniffed.
They sat together by the river. Their bags were placed in a pile next to them.
The sky darkened as sunset approached. Fuji smiled and rested his head on Tezuka's shoulder. He moved in closer while placing Tezuka's left hand into his own. His fingertip traced patterns on the callused palm. Tezuka flinched from the light tickling.
"Go ahead, Kunimitsu, laugh." Fuji said.
"Fuji." Tezuka replied warningly.
"I won't tell anyone if you laugh. I promise." Fuji looked up to Tezuka. "Please? I want to hear your laughter."
Tezuka shook his head pulled away from Fuji's gentle grasp. Fuji sighed softly. "Your arm's healed now. I feel selfish. I don't want your arm to be healed." Fuji admitted.
Tezuka looked at Fuji. Fuji stared at the sky, his eyes following the clouds' sluggish movements. "You'll go away won't you? You'll keep on playing tennis. Kunimitsu, you'll get so good that your name will be heard everywhere." Tezuka didn't know how to reply to this.
"I think I'm too greedy. I don't want you to become famous. Then the world will know you. Other people will want you and you won't be just mine anymore." He turned his gaze towards Tezuka. "When you become famous, you'll leave me behind won't you?"
"No, Fuji, I won't." Tezuka reassured softly.
"Are you sure? I may be good in tennis, but I doubt I'll make it. Only special players like you and Ryoma will make it. Anyway after high school we'll all be separated. Everyone will go his or her separate ways. Personally I don't want that day to come. I'm selfish…I don't want this year to end."
"I don't want this year to end either." Tezuka said while looking down at Fuji.
"Promise we'll stay in touch no matter how famous you get?" Fuji sat up.
"I'm not like Atobe." Tezuka muttered. He nodded since Fuji would never leave him alone if he didn't. "I promise."
Fuji placed his hands on Tezuka's shoulders. He leaned forward until their lips met. They stayed like that for several seconds before Tezuka pulled away. Fuji smiled lovingly.
"What was that for?" Tezuka asked while wiping his lips with the back of his hand.
"To seal the promise. It has to be something important if you want to remember it." Fuji explained. His smile widened. "That was my first kiss you know."
They looked at each other quietly.
"Remember our promise."
"Tezuka-kun! Wake up, Tezuka-kun!" Mizuki shook Tezuka.
Tezuka opened his eyes to see the dimly lit waiting room. He looked at Mizuki whose face showed distress. It had only been a dream. Only a mere memory transformed into a dream.
"Yuuta-chan just told me! Yumiko-chan just had her babies." Mizuki announced.
"Babies?" Tezuka noted the plural usage.
"Twins." Mizuki said.
"Are they alright?" Tezuka stood up.
Mizuki chewed on his thumbnail and shook his head. "They both have a fever. The boy's doing fine, but the girl's fever is really high. I don't think she'll make it through."
"How's Yumiko?"
"She's okay. Yuuta-chan told me that she's asleep. We can't see her now though. We have to wait." Mizuki sat down on his seat with a huff.
Tezuka looked up at the calendar across the room.
June seventeenth.
They waited a long time before they got the okay to go visit Yumiko.
Mizuki and Tezuka entered the hospital room. Yumiko smiled feebly from her spot. "You came." She commented softly.
"Of course we did, Yumiko-chan. Are you alright?" Mizuki pulled up a worn chair next to her bed. He grabbed her pale hands and squeezed them reassuringly.
"A little tired, but fine." Yumiko pulled on the white covers. She felt cold in this sterile environment.
"What are their names?" Mizuki asked.
"I was considering named the girl Umi. Fuji Umi, it's easy to say isn't it? It rhymes too." Yumiko looked at the ceiling. "I think I'll name my son Ryusuke. It sounds like Syusuke doesn't it? But Ryusuke reminds me a lot of Syusuke. He barely cried unlike Umi. He has blue eyes too." Yumiko looked at Tezuka. "I'm glad that I know so many nice people. They're going to grow up to be lovely children with people like you around."
"Yumiko-san?" A nurse knocked on the door before entering. "Ano, I have some news for you." The young nurse fidgeted with her sleeves.
"What is it? Umi? Ryusuke?" Yumiko sat up instantly, her eyes wide with fear.
"Your daughter…She didn't make it. She…died, but your son! Your son is alive and well." The nurse moved uncomfortably. She stared at the tiled floors being unable to stand the look in Yumiko's eyes.
Tears swelled in Yumiko's eyes. Mizuki and Yuuta got up to comfort the single mother. She wept quietly in her bed. Tezuka watched from his seat. This all seemed so unreal.
Another life lost?
Another lost future?
Kiyami: June seventeenth is also the birthday of another person related to the Prince of Tennis. I wonder if anyone knows who it is.