Memory Two
Eiji didn't jump on the bed excitedly and do flips off of it like he usually would. He didn't grin and tell Oishi to sleep well and they'd make breakfast in the morning. He was just as worried as Fuji was. Something was wrong, majorly wrong.
"He promised him!" he hissed as he changed into some nightclothes. Eiji had a tendency to stretch the word 'promise' only because to him the word was important, something that shouldn't be broke without reason.
"I know. Maybe his flight has been delayed because of the snow," explained Oishi.
Eiji made a face sitting on the edge of the bed. Oishi was trying to sound optimistic and was trying to make excuses for Tezuka like he always did. But that wasn't going to work, not now.
"He could've at least picked up his phone or called Fuji and told him. You do realize that Fuji is going to stay there all night waiting for him," pointed out Eiji.
Oishi sighed.
"Fuji's is an adult, we can't force him to not wait. He invited everyone but he did that so Tezuka would come back. Do you know how many times Fuji has pleaded Tezuka to come visit him? I've called Tezuka and he says it's just a busy schedule but you and I both know it's just because he knows Fuji is hurt that he didn't even look back at the day of highschool graduation. He went straight to Okinawa the day after the graduation ceremony, and didn't call or say goodbye to any of us," he said.
Why Tezuka went to Okinawa or why he went away for good and never visited anyone face to face ever again befuddled all of the Seigaku Regulars. Nobody had the answer except Tezuka, and Tezuka was keeping quiet about it. Oishi knew that Fuji was hurt the most out of the separation. Tezuka and Fuji were almost more than close, everyone considered them as best friends, but only people who knew Fuji and Tezuka well knew that it was headed for more. At least until Tezuka left Japan completely after his trip to Okinawa leaving Fuji even more hurt than we was... Of course Fuji didn't know where he was until he left Japan. When Tezuka sent him the message on his cell to Fuji. And told him not to look for him. And when Fuji tried to call back the number was out of service. Tezuka had changed his phone number and if anything got himself a new cell phone while he was at it.
"I know that. It's obvious those two have feelings for eachother, but Tezuka likes denying that fact and Fuji is too scared to say anything to him or to us at that matter. I mean we had to threaten it out of him," explained Eiji.
Oishi nodded in agreement to that. Fuji loved to hide things. He loved hiding trinkets, pictures, keys, and most of all his feelings. Oishi and Eiji were good enough friends to see through Fuji and know that he was in love. They made Fuji admit it right after Tezuka left. They would've gotten out of him even if they had to tie him up and ask Inui to make some Aozu and force-feed it to Fuji. And as for Tezuka, he was as hardheaded as a damn hammerhead. He denied his emotions for a long time. Oishi didn't get it out of him but knew well enough to know that Fuji and Tezuka were close and eventually would've gotten around to something sooner or later if Tezuka hadn't left. Tezuka knew what was going to happen and pushed away hard enough to leave and never look back.
"When Tezuka arrives; I say we give them a huge push," stated Eiji.
"Now Eiji we shouldn't start meddling in other people's affairs," shot out Oishi.
Eiji made a little annoyed noise.
"Shuichiro this is Tezuka and Fuji we're talking about, they won't admit anything to eachother without a good kick up the-" he began.
Oishi's cell phone was ringing, which cut off the rest of what he was about to say. Oishi looked at the ID, his eyes darkened at the name on whose name was on the glowing screen.
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Kaidoh started on his homework and Inui sat down watching him quietly. He stared at him for a very long time. Kaidoh hadn't changed in appearance really, but his personality was different, as though it was forced. Inui had hoped it wouldn't be like that, but hoping was like wishing on a star and telling the wish to everyone in the whole world.
"I'm taking it you don't play tennis anymore," Inui said.
"I do, but my studies have been keeping me busy. I still follow the menu you gave me when you left. I didn't follow it today since you were going to be here though," replied Kaidoh.
"So you're taking journalism. Why?" asked Inui getting to the point already. Inui knew that this wasn't something Kaidoh would usually do and decided to see what was going on.
Kaidoh looked at him for a second and then looked at the ground. The reason was to track Inui down eventually. Journalism meant traveling without a problem and Inui was bound to be known for something sooner or later so Kaidoh decided that if this was how he was going to get near his senpai again; then he'd have to be successful.
"A leaf out of your book senpai," he lied.
His eyes looked hurt and he hesitated before he replied. Yes Inui had suspected right. Kaidoh was doing this out of force. This wasn't really what he wanted. Then why did he do this? Kaidoh definitely looked hurt and Inui was hurt too by Kaidoh forcing himself to be something he wasn't. This wasn't the Kaidoh he knew back in Junior High and Highschool. The one who was determined to be the best he could be at tennis and anything else.
"Kaidoh, you're not happy with it though. Why didn't you make a title in tennis like I thought you would? I was hoping to see you in the tournament this coming year, when I didn't hear your name…" Inui's voice trailed off.
"There was no use after you left, you weren't by my side so there was no reason to continue. It wasn't the same," replied Kaidoh his fist clenched at his sides.
Inui yanked the smaller boy towards him so that he was facing him.
"Look at me Kaidoh," he demanded.
Kaidoh refused to look at him. His head was bowed down is defiance. His senpai wasn't going to make him weak. He wasn't going to cry dammit. He wasn't going to feel weak and ashamed!
"Kaoru, look at me right now," repeated Inui.
Kaidoh eventually gave in, looking at Inui; knowing it was easier this way. He fought back the tears in his eyes. He wasn't going to cry. It was weak.
"Do you hate me for going to Europe?" Inui asked. There was a long silence after that. Kaidoh deep down felt hurt because of it, but no, he didn't hate his senpai. Inui had talked about going to Europe for years now and Kaidoh knew that Inui would've eventually left. But Kaidoh didn't think it would be that soon. It was month after graduation that he had gotten the offer, so he took it and left. And had told Kaidoh that he was leaving only the day before he was to leave Japan. That's all Kaidoh was angry about, but that was about it.
"N-no senpai, I was very happy for you. It was your dream to go into a research field in Europe somewhere," replied Kaidoh.
"I wanted to take you with me, but I didn't know at the time. I would've…but I wasn't sure what you wanted to do Kaidoh. We can continue. You can give this up and I'll get you back to the top again. I can get you out of this," said Inui.
He regretted leaving now. Kaidoh was all torn up and broken. Inui was determined to fix this though. You could glue pieces of glass together like you could someone else's emotions, their soul, their memories, their personality, and most of all and maybe their heart. And he was willing to be patient and get each piece back in the right place.
"Senpai," breathed out Kaidoh his dark eyes going wide at Inui's offer. He felt warm all the sudden and surprised. His senpai wasn't mad, he was willing to help him and start over.
"It'll only take a little while. I'll stay here with you or we can go to London together. I don't care. I can get you a title in tennis. I won't let you fall again," said Inui.
"But what about-" began Kaidoh.
"Shut up and stop thinking about me and think about you from this moment on Kaidoh. I don't care about me at this point," snapped Inui releasing his kohai from his grasp.
He turned around to write a new training schedule when Kaidoh hugged him.
"Thank you so much senpai!" he blurted out quickly. He felt stupid but couldn't help but feel drunk with happiness. This usually wasn't him but he was happy. Very happy.
Inui smiled at Kaidoh's outburst…that didn't happen often with him. It meant he was grateful and it pleased Inui to know that he was willing to start over.
"You're welcome. Now forget about that homework. Sleep," he said.
Kaidoh then released Inui blushing realizing what he just did.
"Fsssshu…sorry," he muttered.
Inui ruffled Kaidoh's hair, which wasn't covered by a bandanna at the time.
"It's okay," he said, grabbing his notebook and sitting down on the bed planning to turn things around.
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Oishi picked up the phone glancing over at Eiji once before pushing the glowing blue talk button on the phone.
"Moshi Moshi?" he answered.
"Oishi, it's me," said a deep and yet stern voice.
"Tezuka…where are you?" asked Oishi. He was mad. Mad that Tezuka had kept Fuji waiting for so long. Mad that he had left in the first place.
"Outside the house. I just arrived, but nobody seems to be answering the door, could you open it for me?" asked Tezuka.
Eiji flipped off the bed and landed on the floor at hearing Tezuka's name said by Oishi and raced down to the living room to wake Fuji up.
"I'll be down in a second," said Oishi hanging up and then followed the same path that his friend took just seconds ago.
Eiji was downstairs and Fuji was quietly murmuring something to Eiji.
Oishi opened the door to find Tezuka Kunimitsu in front of him. He looked tired, very tired. His dark brown hair was more wind blown than usual and he noticed snow was falling heavily outside. His eyes looked tired from lack of sleep, his glasses couldn't hide that at all. He had a couple bags, which included his tennis bag and others around his arms as well. As soon as Fuji glanced back to see whom Oishi had opened the door to he gasped. Eiji quickly moved out of the way and Fuji stumbled to the floor his azure blue eyes wide in surprise.
"Tezuka," he whispered. He threw his arms around the buchou crying uncontrollably. He did come! Fuji even though half awake felt as though a whole sack of bricks had been lifted off of his shoulders. Here was Tezuka, in his arms accepting the embrace given to him.
Oishi smiled softly. Fuji deserved this, hell even Tezuka deserved this no matter what he had done. He hoped things would work out between those two during this. There was a light tug on the sleeve of Oishi's shirt and his eyes darted toward the red head beside him.
"Nya, come on Oishi. Let's leave those two alone," whispered Eiji, hauling Oishi back upstairs. Both had gone unnoticed.
"Tezuka…Tezuka…" whispered Fuji. He held on a little longer; it felt warm despite the rush of cold air from outside.
Tezuka pulled the tensai away from him…
"It's cold," he said not knowing what to say to the boy who was seconds away from throwing his arms around him again. But Fuji refrained from doing so know it was freezing outside.
Fuji led him inside and carried his stuff to their room. It was still dark and there were two beds set up. One for him and one for Tezuka. Many photos surrounded the room all of them taken by Fuji if anything. There was a slight hum of the computer running on the oak desk as well. There was a couple mini fountains running in the background from near the shelves and desk.
"I'm sharing with you?" asked Tezuka.
Fuji nodded silently.
"Come downstairs. Eat," he said grabbing Tezuka's hand leading him into the kitchen downstairs. Fuji started making some hot chocolate and started cooking some rice.
"Don't do too much," said Tezuka watching Fuji clean the rice.
Fuji smiled.
"It's no problem," he replied.
Tezuka was surprised. He thought Fuji would yell at him…for most likely everything from beginning to end. The tensai looked a wreck, he must have been staying up all night waiting for him to come over. Despite that Fuji looked the same, just a pretty as the day when he left. Fuji was one of those males that could be either a very good looking boy or easily mistaken as a girl from a distance if you didn't know better.
A few minutes later food was set out on the table for Tezuka. Steamed rice and hot chocolate. Both didn't go well but Tezuka couldn't care less, he hadn't eaten all day. He hadn't ate on the plane that had been delayed but two hours in Kyoto due to some precautions or something. From there he went to the Tokyo Airport and then got himself a cab. It had started to snow halfway on the way to Fuji's and traffic in the main part of the city was hell. On the streets and sidewalk.
"You didn't make anything for yourself?" asked Tezuka looking at Fuji who sat across from him at the table.
Fuji shook his head silently and watched Tezuka pick up the wooden chopsticks and start eating, taking small bites.
"Thank you," he said.
"You're welcome."
"I'm sorry for everything I've put you through," blurted out Tezuka. And now he was starting to feel guilty...wonderful.
Fuji just smiled.
"It's okay, you're here now. That's all that matters," he said.
Tezuka looked down at the table but didn't say anything. He felt guilty; extremely guilty for everything he did. But he had reasons. Many reasons. But didn't know how to explain them to anyone yet.
"After you eat, go to bed. You look tired," said Fuji heading up to his and Tezuka's room. That's all Fuji was able to do or say to keep himself from either crying or hugging Tezuka again.
(A/N: Okay everyone must be saying to their selves, what is this author thinking? I know I left off at a very bad place making this seem like the end of the fic, but to actually sum everything up…THIS FIC ISN'T OVER! It's 80 pages long (still working on it)so it's far from over. Anyway I guess everyone is happy Tezuka's back. I've made him seem so cruel! Don't worry there is a lot in store for our buchou and tensai….Not to mention everyone else. .. Okay peeps, I'm signing off until next chapter!)