"Service Mizuki!" said Yuuta. He had to be hoping. He was some how wishing for a miracle that his boyfriend would win against his older brother.
Mizuki served and Fuji returned the ball with an incredible force. Mizuki lunged for the ball not caring weather he got dirty or not. This was to get Yuuta and Yuuta was worth anything. He was almost priceless and Mizuki knew it'd be hard to let him go. Who ever would let him go that is.
"Game Fuji 1-0" said Yuuta his voice trembling.
Fuji and Mizuki changed courts. The game was quiet except for the ball being hit with all force and might. That and the younger Fuji's refereeing. Mizuki was trying. Yuuta could see it. He was placing all his effort into this game. Fuji served so hard when the game was "15-30" that the racket completely escaped Mizuki's grip when he tried to return the ball.
Mizuki cursed as they changed courts again. Syusuke Fuji was better. And stronger. Had Tezuka helped him with his game? Then again Mizuki heard rumors that Tezuka after highschool graduation left for Okinawa and never came back to visit anyone ever again. Mizuki had known it for a fact because of what Yuuta would say. Yuuta would say his brother was empty now. His smiles were empty, he'd sleep for most of the day, and barely eat. His tennis game was so weak that even Yuuta could beat him. Mizuki had wondered if Tezuka returning re-lit the tensai's fire.
"Game Mizuki. 1-1."
Yuuta felt his heart leap. It was tied and maybe his brother would win but Mizuki won a set. That was a good sign. Yuuta wondered what happened to his brother. His game was better. A lot better. Better than better. Tezuka had returned. And that is why his aniki was so let down after graduation. And now that the buchou had returned, Syusuke was back and better than ever.
"Game Fuji 2-1."
Yuuta knew he loved Mizuki. They had loved eachother in highschool deeply. First it had been the master and follower situation. The senpai and kouhai relation, where you'd do what you were told and not complain or question about it. Mizuki had gotten to be more caring though even if a little bit arrogant and prissy. God yes prissy. Maybe it was the fact that Mizuki had two older sisters. That left him to be the youngest and only boy. Yuuta had already known a long time ago that Mizuki was homosexual. You could tell by looking at him. He had a love for pure whites and purples. He kept a collection lip-glosses and make-up and used most of it. And he always loved to dress up and used a curl iron to curl his hair and even played with his raven black hair as well. From a far you'd mistake him for a girl. And then you'd be stunned to know that Mizuki was a male.
"Game Fuji 3-1."
In highschool it had been different. Mizuki was still the senpai and the manager matter of fact. Yuuta was still the kouhai. But one day out of the blue Mizuki gave some of the weirdest orders to him during a training session they were having alone together. And Yuuta had followed them not realizing what he was doing until it was completely too late. Mizuki ordered him to sit down beside him at first. Sit close and face him. Yuuta smiled remembering what Mizuki had said, "Sit close and straight. And face your senpai! Look at me."
"Game Fuji 4-1."
Yuuta obeyed each and every order. Slightly confused, but he was taught not to ask questions. Yuuta at first thought it was something to do with tennis. Because every order Mizuki gave out to him was usually about tennis. Mizuki then ordered him to close his eyes. Yuuta then had to ask why and Mizuki had snapped at him not to ask questions and obey his senpai. And so Yuuta did. He closed his eyes wondering what the hell was going on.
"Game Mizuki 4-2."
Mizuki had then kissed him. Yuuta had no idea if it was the fact that Mizuki's lip-gloss tasted nice or if it was just that Mizuki was a great kisser, but Yuuta had became obsessed with the boy. And Mizuki would be a tease saying that Yuuta had to earn his kisses. So everyday at practice, Yuuta played hard. And when he played well Mizuki would kiss him slow and long. And Yuuta would enjoy every moment of it.
"Game Fuji 5-2."
He didn't know what he was obsessed with at first. He had experimented. Yuuta knew what lip-gloss Mizuki used and had bought some, and smeared some on his own lips one day licking is lips. It wasn't the same. The lip-gloss had nothing to do with those kisses. Yuuta smiled remembering how he had did it after practice, right before Mizuki met him in his dorm to give him the well earned kiss. Mizuki had caught him when he kissed him. Mizuki dug in Yuuta's pants pocket to find the lip-gloss. Mizuki smirked and teased him saying he tasted the gloss on his lips that he was curious as a puppy, that if he wanted more than one kiss he'd have to work hard in school too and not just tennis.
"Game Mizuki 5-3."
So Yuuta worked hard. Very hard. He went into the top ten lists at school when test scores were released in the hallways and usually worked himself exhausted. But it was worth every kiss Mizuki would give him. Shoot Mizuki would even make lunch for him. They'd both eat together under a tree where nobody ever ate because it was too dark and shady. But to Yuuta it was perfect place. Mizuki would give Yuuta his lunch and kiss him quickly and then go on to explain his training menu. Yuuta one time did very well on a test and remembered when Mizuki fed him his lunch with chopsticks and his mouth. That was one of the best times Yuuta could remember when Mizuki and him played their little game of 'give and receive'. But Yuuta hungered for more and until one day he fainted during tennis practice because he played so hard for Mizuki. Sort of like how Mizuki was playing with his aniki at the moment. Yuuta's entire body had just shut down that day.
"Game Mizuki 5-4," said Yuuta happily.
Mizuki had taken care of him that day. For being so girly, Yuuta was in awe when he team members told him that Mizuki had carried him all the way to his dorm. And Yuuta was on the third floor with stairs. Yuuta apologized to his senpai for not working hard enough and slacking off, and most of all for making Mizuki carry him to his room. He has apologized during lunch.
And Mizuki hit him hard in the face. And told him that he worked too hard. And then he asked, "Was I really worth all that?" And Yuuta replied laughing yes of course. That Mizuki was like a drug. A very addicting one. And then Yuuta didn't know what happened afterward or what he had said in that sentence but Mizuki had tears in his eyes and kissed him. Mizuki kissed him for a very very long time. And Yuuta enjoyed it. And then Yuuta figured out that Mizuki was addicting only because he knew right then and there that he had fallen in love. He said that Mizuki after practice on the same day and Mizuki smiled and kissed him saying that he felt the same way. And Yuuta and Mizuki realized that they loved eachother deeply. Mizuki said to Yuuta that he never had to work hard for kisses again. Kisses were free. And Yuuta smiled and said that the idea of kisses being free sounded nice. So he kissed Mizuki again. And then joked around saying how his aniki wasn't going to like this. Nope, Syusuke wasn't going to like this one bit. And so they never told the older Fuji. Until today. Asking for Syusuke Fuji's acceptance to their relationship knowing that Yuuta's parents wouldn't like it. Yuuta at least wanted to know that his siblings would hold him up and be there for him.
"Game Mizuki 5-5."
Everyone was excited. Mizuki had caught up. He was sweating despite it being winter and he looked exhausted. This set would settle everything. And as soon as Mizuki served Fuji got the ball past him. Fuji's eyes were full of sadistic glee. That glee that tended to piss Yuuta and Mizuki and Syusuke Fuji's other opponents off. Mizuki had then got it past Fuji.
Ryoma smirked seeing the strings on the racket stretch.
"Mada Mada Da ne Fuji-senpai, you're not playing seriously."
Tezuka glanced at him and then saw it. The last serve would determine everything as soon as Mizuki served, the ball that Fuji was about to return went through the racket. Yuuta's eyes widened. Everyone was in absolute shock except Tezuka, Inui, and Ryoma who had saw through it all. Fuji smiled calmly.
"It seems like the strings broke…eto…," said Fuji as if trying to remember the name.
"It's Mizuki," replied Mizuki.
"Game set and match Mizuki 5-6!" exclaimed Yuuta happily. He was so happy that he pounced on Mizuki hugging him tightly.
The older brother watched his younger one grasp hold of Mizuki. Mizuki yelped, saying that he was sweaty and that Yuuta shouldn't touch him.
"Mizuki, Yuuta; you have my acceptance to this. Mizuki you better take care of Yuuta or else. If you make him cry expect me at your door," said Fuji.
Mizuki smiled.
"Thank you so much," he said.
Yuuta nodded.
"Aniki, you're the best," he said happily.
Fuji smiled at Tezuka who closed his eyes and opened them, a faint smile that only Fuji noticed, played across his lips. He mouthed to Fuji 'You did the right thing.'
"Now everyone, considering that it absolutely cold out here; how about we all go inside and make dinner. Mizuki and Yuuta are you willing to maybe help and stay to eat?" suggested Fuji as it began to snow again.
"Yes please," said Yuuta helping his boyfriend off the ground.
They all went inside. A had properly had a conversation. Tezuka had talked to Mizuki for a while and then fully admitted to him in private that Fuji jinxed his own racket. Tezuka hadn't even thought about checking Fuji's. Fuji had lost on purpose because his younger brother's happiness meant to world to him. The tennis game was a test to see how loyal Mizuki was to Yuuta. And Mizuki had passed with flying colors.
"I'm surprised that racket held up for a whole game," commented Inui still taking data.
Fuji smiled as he started making rice balls.
"Yes, I had to get some angles going for myself on that," he said.
Ryoma placed his hat on again and leaned against the backrest of the chair.
"Fuji-senpai plays a lot harder than that," he said.
Mizuki then came in and helped prepare dinner with Eiji, Fuji, Yuuta, and Oishi. Dinner went a lot faster that way. There were squabbles though between Fuji and Mizuki on how to cook such and such.
"You don't put butter on the bread when it's not cooked yet!" hissed Mizuki.
"It melts and gives it flavor!" protested Fuji.
Yuuta rolled his eyes shoving the bread in the oven and pushing the two away from it. Oishi and Eiji laughed at the sight and continued to work on their meal.
"Things are really starting to turn out right. First Tezuka and Fuji and now Mizuki and Fuji are working things out between eachother," whispered Eiji.
Oishi nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I'm happy for them all. Except I do suspect that Fuji and Mizuki will the relatives in the family reunion that start the food fights," he said.
Eiji sniggered at the comment and continued to work on the food.
Mizuki was happy to say that dinner turned out well. He was served regular tea instead of over sugared and his food this time wasn't jinxed with wasabi. And Fuji actually remembered to address him by his name too. Mizuki enjoyed talking to everyone else as well. Inui was a interesting person even though the way of taking data and their results were completely different. Oishi and Eiji were very nice and Mizuki planned to keep in contact with them. Ryoma Echizen was as arrogant as ever but Momoshiro was there to keep him in line. Kaidoh was silent for most of the meal. Tezuka was honest and suspected that they'd be talking a lot in the near future thanks to what Mizuki suspected was the relationship between Tezuka and Fuji.
Mizuki had insisted that Yuuta eat. Yuuta would pick and poke. And then Mizuki ended up feeding him, knowing that Yuuta enjoyed it. Fuji just smiled. Yuuta was in Mizuki's hands now. And there was nothing Fuji could do about it. He thought about what might happen in the future as both Yuuta and Mizuki left thanking him both for the meal and his blessings to them. Fuji replied that it was no problem that he was honored. That Mizuki just better take care of Yuuta. And Mizuki swore he would. Fuji shut the door preparing himself for whatever might lie ahead in the near future.
(A/N: Some of you were really smart and figured it out already. XD >> But then again I bet some of you saw it coming. That one scene is also in 'Anything for You' the whole working hard for kisses thing. >> Except it's more long term than that. Just because you got that part doesn't mean you shouldn't read the prequel. > Mizuki isn't exactly perfect in 'Anything for You' and believe it or not he can bend and break easily. So there's more to the storyline than just that so I hope you guys don't ignore the sequel because that part is given away. It's more detialed in the fic and things happen inbetween so...yeah... Anyway, thank you all for your reviews. They please me sooooo much. -gives each and every reviewer Pocky and chocolate- Until next chapter!)