Disclaimer: Oh, tragic life! Must I deny ownership of these beautiful boys? Such agony! These impressive young men belong only to Konomi Takeshi. (sigh)

Chapter Two: Whispers in the Dark

So I whisper in the dark, hoping you'll hear me…

Do you hear me?

"Breathe", Michelle Branch

I pride myself on always being in control. I am a neat freak, obsessive-compulsive, a perfectionist to the very extreme. Change, to me, unless triggered, is to be wary of. I have given up on being control on three things: first, the team's noise, second, my hair, and lastly…

Fuji Syuusuke.

Fuji has always been the wild card, the weight that tips the balance and might very well send me tumbling from whatever lofty ideal I cling to. But he gets points for persistence, for being stalwart in the face of refusal. Not to sound conceited, but I know he likes me.

I might even go so far as to say that he wants me. Even Kikumaru can no longer deny the fact, since he himself is witness to most of Fuji's physical, emotional, mental, and psychological taunts. And he isn't the only one. These days, the team has been giving me strange looks.

The kind of gaze you give to a man heading for the guillotine. I've seen Oishi try to step forward after one of Fuji's more blatant hints and my obvious brush-off, but I also catch Inui holding him back with a hand on his arm and a shake of his head. Inui, unlike most people think him to be, knows when to stop taking data. Sometimes, out of the corner of my eye, I catch Fuji as his mask slips for a split-second, showing that he's disappointed, that he wishes I could've at least responded in some little way.

But Fuji is unpredictable, and I cannot deny the fact that I fear him in ways I dare not admit to myself. We are as different as night and day, even subtracting the physical features. Every time that I am tempted to reach out and touch him, or to respond to his small signs, I stop myself, simply saying to myself that we are completely different, personality-wise, and that this could only end in pain. My pain would be at the most, bearable, but to cause pain to Fuji… that was a completely different matter.

I knew that one of these days, Fuji's control would break, and would test the mettle of my own armor. And when it came, one drizzly afternoon after club practice, he nearly sent me spiraling down after him.

He was sitting on the bench, near the window, changed into his uniform. I was standing in front of my locker, and I held my uniform top in my hands. From the corner of my eye, I saw him open his mouth, and I knew that the inevitable time had come.

"Hey, Tezuka." His voice was deceptively soft, almost like a song. I'd grunted in reply, though that doesn't seem very important right now.

"I love you."

My shoulders tensed as I buttoned up my uniform top. "Pardon me?"

"I love you." His tone was now a bit confused, and louder. What I said next was a betrayal, a necessary evil.

"No." And I thought that was the end of it. But then I felt his hand on my arm, holding me back. And I couldn't resist. I bent down and kissed him in one swift movement. He arched into me, and I could taste his longing and his love. He tasted like strawberries and cream, and it was like he was a drug and I was just another hopeless junkie who couldn't get enough. I pulled back, sighing in mixed pleasure and defeat, and I saw that he was crying. I reached out and brushed some of his tears away.

"I think your eyes will stay with me forever." I whispered, almost reverently, a worshipper to a god so far above him, untouchable. He pulled away from me, as if I had slapped him. He started to run, and I knew it was futile to chase after him. I finished buttoning up my uniform and hefted my bag onto my shoulder. I walked home.

Just as I closed the door behind me, it started to rain. I gazed outside at the solid sheet of water, and said a silent prayer for all those stuck in the rain. I took of my shoes and wandered into the kitchen, where my mother had left a casserole and a hastily-scribbled note.

Kunimitsu, (the note read), your father and I are catching the last flight to Kyushu. There is trouble at the office down there, your older brother needs help. Heat the casserole for ten minutes, at 350 °F. Your grandfather will be home late. I trust that you will be responsible and helpful in our absence. Love, Okaasan.

I ate dinner in silence. Washed the dishes in silence. Went up the stairs quietly. As I passed by the upstairs telephone, with the future of impending quiet upon me, it rang.

I jumped in surprise. I reached for the receiver and brought it slowly to my ear.

"Tezuka residence."

"Good evening," the speaker said, pleasantly. The voice was low, but recognizably female. "Is Tezuka Kunimitsu there?"

"Speaking. May I ask who's calling?"

"Fuji," My heart constricted. "Yumiko." And fell, in two seconds.

"Hai." I said uncomfortably.

"My younger brother, Syuusuke, will not be attending tennis practice for the next few days." She went on, businesslike and polite. I kept silent, although I was dying to ask the reason. I didn't have to ask though.

"He has been admitted to Tokyo General Hospital. He came down with pneumonia this afternoon." She paused, as if debating. When she spoke again, her voice was as gentle as Fuji's when he was plotting something particularly heinous. "You can come visit him, if you want. He's in room 234."

"Aa." I said softly. "Thank you."

Two days later, at Tokyo General Hospital, I was holding a bouquet of flowers. Behind me, Kikumaru was hugging a gigantic bear and was being quieted down by a patient Oishi. Kawamura was holding a tray of assorted sushi (half of which looked suspiciously like wasabi sushi) and Inui was holding his notebook and an evil-looking thermos in one hand and Kaidoh's collar with the other. Kaidoh, for his part, was looking uncomfortable, holding a large card signed and decorated by the "Fuji Syuusuke rabu-rabu club" (number of members, uncountable). Echizen was holding a rather large and flamboyant fruit basket, and he looked up at me expectantly.

"What are you waiting for, Buchou?" he said slyly. "Knock."

If I were that kind of person, I would have hit him. Instead, I did what he told me to. I rapped smartly on the door of room 234. It was opened by a pretty young woman whom I recognized from that time she picked Fuji up on the way to Echizen's house. "Yumiko-neesan!" Kikumaru greeted her, pushing his way to the front and I backed away, allowing the team to surge past me, bearing gifts. I made my way in quietly and shut the door behind me.

Fuji sat on the bed, looking pale and worn, but the smile was still on his face. "How nice of everyone to come." He commented softly. He accepted the gifts with a smile and some laughter. Yumiko took the flowers from me and slipped them into a dainty vase. She smiled at me and mouthed, "Water" as she quietly made her exit. Kikumaru was telling Fuji animatedly about something or the other that happened in their class, and all of the members were laughing at the acrobatics Kikumaru employed to make his story more entertaining.

A half-hour or so later, Momoshiro and Kikumaru were complaining of hunger, and Fuji told them of the newly-opened burger joint in the hospital cafeteria. Echizen remarked that it was nice of Kikumaru-senpai to treat, and Oishi said that if Fuji didn't mind…

"Go ahead," Fuji said, smiling happily. "Or else they'll get cranky." At that, Oishi quickly hustled the other members out.

Leaving me and Fuji. Alone.

Unexpectedly, the lights went out.

"Oh dear." Fuji said softly, looking out the window, where the rain was again pouring down in strong unforgiving sheets. "There must be a blackout. Don't worry. I'm sure the hospital's generators will kick in soon."

"Aa." I replied, not knowing what to say to that.

"Tezuka," I raised my eyes to his face, softly illuminated by the streetlight outside. "Do you hate me?" he said shakily. I shook my head, then remembered that he couldn't see me.

"No." I murmured softly. I took a few steps closer to the bed, until I was standing at the foot of it. There was a crash of thunder, then a flash of lightning, and then I saw his face, his teeth worrying his lower lip, his eyes open slightly, staring at me. I took a few more steps, until I was standing just beside the bed. I cupped his cheek gently, and he leaned into the touch, sighing. I watched him, transfixed. My mouth opened, and what came out was an accident, but an accident from the bottom of whatever heart I had.

"I love you." I whispered into the dark. I didn't think he heard me, and then I heard him laugh. He lifted his arms and swept them around me in a tight hug.

"I thought you'd never say so." He whispered back, his breath tickling my ear. The lights went on suddenly, blinding us both temporarily. I looked down at him, and he was smiling, happily, contentedly.

And I knew the wild card was in my hand.

Owari (Chapter Two)

A/N: Do you think their OOC? Do you think I should stop asking so many questions? Do you think I have ADD? Will you pray for the people who died in the tsunami? Do you know that the tsunami injured Jet Li? Did you watch Romeo Must Die? Did you like it? Are you smiling right now? Do you think I should continue this? Will you answer all my questions? Do you like strawberry ice cream? How about vanilla? Have you tasted bicycle-flavored ice cream and Mango sorbet?Are you allergic to kiwi jam? Are you related to the Prime Minister of Glompalapooza? Have you been to Hawaii? Don't you think my questions are a bit late? Will you read and run or will you stay and review?