Memory Fifteen

Inui stripped Kaidoh of his shredded clothes and placed him in the bathtub. He wasn't up yet but Inui was hoping that the warmth water might wake him up, and even if he didn't he knew that Kaidoh wouldn't want to wake up dirty. Inui now noticed in light that Kaidoh had bruises on his ribs. They looked painful but Kaidoh would live. Despite the bruises and cuts that Kaidoh had on his body he still had a perfect form and Inui admired all of what was laid out before him. He was entranced.

Inui ran a warm wash cloth over Kaidoh's skin washing off the mud and blood caked on his skin. The wash cloth trailed down him arms and chest and then lower. Inui blushed and washed the lower parts of Kaidoh's body, which made the boy stir squirming.

"Kaidoh?" asked Inui hopefully. He quickly let his hands, which grasped the wash cloth pull away from Kaidoh.

"Inui-senpai?" asked Kaidoh opening his eyes.

"You're okay. I'm glad," said Inui smiling.

Kaidoh sat up in the water a little and winced a little. Everything hurt. Especially in between his legs.

"Sore?" asked Inui.

"Yes," replied Kaidoh.

Inui looked at him for a long while.

"Where?" he asked.

"Between the legs, ankles, and wrists," replied Kaidoh. And then Kaidoh realized where he was. In the bathtub completely naked in front of Inui-senpai who had previously been washing him down. Kaidoh blushed and looked away.

"They didn't-" began Inui.

Kaidoh shook his head.

"I grasped me too hard there. I don't think they placed themselves inside me though," he assured.

Inui sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness. You worried me a lot. I was the one who got your call," he said.

Kaidoh looked a little embarrassed at the fact that his senpai went to find him late and night; saved him, and brought him back here.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't sleep and had to train near the river to help me think straight. And then they came while I was checking the time on my phone and I tried calling you and they pressed the end button and threw the phone-! Oh shit my phone and racket!" he blurted out all at once.

"I have your phone. Your racket I left. I forgot it was there and if anything it got broke between all the stuff that happened while you were knocked out," explained Inui.

Kaidoh groaned and leaned back into the water. Inui blushed a little at how Kaidoh was laying completely vulnerable and tired in the water. He wanted to touch him so badly.

"Kaidoh you're going to have to let me wash your hair. That's the only thing I haven't gotten to yet," said Inui trying to shake such thoughts away.

"Why didn't you do that first?" asked Kaidoh blushing now realizing that Inui's hands had roamed all over him to wash his body.

"Because I didn't want to wake you. Now sit up a little," replied Inui.

Kaidoh allowed his senpai to wash his hair and actually liked it. It felt nice to his scalp and head as Inui massaged there a little making Kaidoh arch his neck back a little. And then realized he was being stupid and hissed.

Inui chuckled and told him to lean back in the water so the shampoo would get out of his hair Kaidoh did as he was told and as soon as Kaidoh was finished getting all the soap out of his hair, with much help from Inui he was pulled out of the bathtub. Kaidoh got dressed into some clothes Inui picked out of his bag. Which ended up being dark red shirt and some black jeans. And also brushed his teeth to get away the terrible taste of blood and the flavor of the guy who had placed his mouth on him.

Inui had quickly gotten himself a shower, got dressed, and returned to join Kaidoh who was sitting on the bed staring out the window.

"Let's go downstairs and I'll get us something to eat," said Inui helping Kaidoh up off the bed.

They both went downstairs and half way down the stairs Inui decided to carry Kaidoh bridal style, and Kaidoh loudly protested on the way downstairs. Everyone was downstairs in the kitchen chatting quietly. They were surprised to see Kaidoh up so soon and not to mention being carried by Inui.

"Ah the mamushi has awoken!" said Momo happily.

"Good morning how are you feeling?" asked Fuji who was preparing some Christmas breakfast. French toast, blueberry muffins, and pancakes.

"Fsshu I'm fine," replied Kaidoh as Inui placed him in a chair and then sat next to him.

"You cause so much trouble mamushi! We all had to save your ass!" said Momo.

"I didn't ask to be saved," muttered Kaidoh angrily.

"Oh but you needed to be saved," said Inui smiling.

Ryoma smirked.

"Inui-senpai was panicking and sent us all looking for you. Him and I ended up searching and we found you by the river. And then that gang was touching you all over. And then Inui-senpai without even thinking tackles the guy who was touching you at the time yanking him by the hair and sending him to the ground," he began dramatically.

Kaidoh's eyes went wide.

"That was stupid," he said.

Inui laughed.

"Yes it was because it was three against one until Ryoma tried fighting back too. They had got me by the throat."

"And then Tezuka and I appeared and Ryoma was caught. We were threatened if we moved they'd kill both Inui and Ryoma. And Ryoma had a knife to his throat so we had no idea what to do. Until Ryoma kicks the guy who was holding him in the sensitive area," called out Fuji busily flipping the pancakes.

"OH! Nobody told me that part of the story! Echizen you go! I always knew you had a kick-ass side!" exclaimed Momo.

Ryoma smirked and stuck his tongue out.

"I always had one. I thought you would've noticed by now.'

"And then Tezuka made a move and threw the blonde who had a hold of Inui into the river," said Fuji smiling.

Eiji's eyes went wide excitedly.

"WOW! Tezuka-buchou fought? Nya!"

Tezuka made a grunt and looked away.

"And then Eiji and I appeared and we called the police," pointed out Oishi.

"Yeah and did I mention Inui-senpai broke fingers?" asked Ryoma.

Kaidoh was now most definitely stunned. He had thought his senpai would be the type to avoid violence and give in but Kaidoh was obviously wrong. If Inui had broke fingers then he was dangerous.

"Hey, uh…Inui-senpai. If I ever did anything to piss you off I'm sorry," said Momo nervously.

"Hoi me too! Now back to the story! The police came and arrested the three people and then told us to just let you rest and get cleaned up that you were okay. All of us headed home and Inui re-dressed you and carried you to the car. And then we were home and Inui threatened us if anyone woke you up or disturbed you two we'd have to drink Inui Juice. And then he took you upstairs," said Eiji ending the story.

Fuji set the table and everyone looked hungrily at the food. Inui served Kaidoh who complained that he couldn't eat that much but Inui insisted that he ate every bite. And Kaidoh obeyed.

Everyone helped clean up the table or wash the dishes even though Fuji protested that Kaidoh should sit down and relax. Everyone decided they'd meet back up in an hour or two to open presents.

Ryoma had gotten himself a shower first and then shook the drops of water out of his hair as he got dressed. He picked out some black dress pants and Momo smiled watching him.

"Don't forget," he pointed out.

Ryoma smirked grabbing the white sweater and pulled it down over his head and body. Momo looked in awe at Ryoma.

"I'm taking it that I look nice?" he asked.

"You look cute," Momo replied happily.

Ryoma made a face at the word cute. Women often made that comment about him and he tended to dislike the word cute. Or adorable…or anything that a female would squeal over.

"Cute doesn't sound right though," said Ryoma.

"Fine then. How about molestable?" asked Momo.

"Momo!"

"Well you are!" exclaimed Momo innocently.

Ryoma sat next to him smiling evilly sliding himself onto his boyfriend's lap.

"Does that mean you want to make love to me?" he asked.

Momo thought about it. It sounded nice. Really really nice.

"May-be."

"Tonight?As a Christmas present?" asked Ryoma hopefully.

"You spoiled brat," said Momo smiling.

"Oishi what did you get me?" asked Eiji excitedly.

Oishi laughed at the hyper-active red head who was bouncing excitedly on the bed.

"You'll figure out in an hour or so," he said.

"Aww, Oishi you're no fun!" said Eiji pouting.

Oishi sat on his own bed as Eiji got out his iPod and started listening to some J-Pop.

"Listen with me Oishi?" asked Eiji scooting over on the bed. It was an offer to sit next to him and listen to music. Oishi and him often did that when they were cold or tired. Oishi nodded and slid into bed beside Eiji who gave him the left earpiece. The both rested their heads on one another listening to Chemistry's "Kimi Ga Iru" through one ear.

"Oishi maybe we should move the pet shop close to home. Here. Close to Fuji and Tezuka," suggested Eiji.

"Why so?" asked Oishi.

There was a silence as another song started up as the last of the lyrics to the song played out.

" Nagasaki isn't where we belong. This is our home and we can't avoid it. If Tezuka leaves then we can at least keep Fujiko company. If Tezuka stays then we can be close friends. We can be with everyone. Everyone is here Oishi," explained Eiji.

"You're right, everyone is here."

Eiji's blue eyes peered up at Oishi.

"So we'll do it?" he asked hopefully.

Oishi smiled tiredly.

"Yeah, let's. We're giving Hisoka a burden to handle with. He needs to get out more and not think about work or baby-sitting Rukia and Li… We can be here and live happy. And we'll be close our friends and families," he answered.

"Hoi Oishi, you'll never leave me will you?" asked Eiji.

Oishi shook his head no.

"Never Eiji. You'll be with me forever."

"That sounds nice too," Eiji said.

Fuji smiled taking the wrapped presents he had for Tezuka out of the bedroom closet.

"Hm?"

"Saa, Tezuka get yours out we're placing them under the Christmas tree," said Fuji.

Tezuka sighed taking only half of what he had for Fuji out of his suitcase and went downstairs, Fuji following behind him.

"Everyone! Grab you're presents and place them under the tree," called out Fuji from the hall.

Even from downstairs near the Christmas tree in the living room you could hear rustles and everyone moving. You could also hear Eiji excitedly yelling, "Hoi! Presents!"

Eventually everyone was downstairs (avoiding the mistletoe…well maybe except Ryoma and Momo who quickly kissed eachother) gathered around the tree. Fuji smiled.

"Let me get the cookies and we'll open them," he said making his way into the kitchen. More chocolate cookies and milk for everyone. He brought them into the living room and everyone helped themselves.

"Alright Eiji and Oishi you go first," suggested Fuji.

"Alright! Me search! Yes I found Oishi's!" exclaimed Eiji excitedly who had dug through some presents to find his.

Oishi had found Eiji's easily knowing that he had wrapped his gift in bright blue and red paper. Eiji and Oishi opened their gifts gasping.

"Shuichiro," breathed out Eiji.

"Eiji you-" began Oishi.

Both of them looked up at eachother and smiled.

They had both gotten eachother the same thing in different colors. Oishi had gotten the ring Eiji picked out that had green gems in it. Eiji got the ring with the sapphire stones in placed. Both had the same title on the same place. 'Golden Pair'.

"Are you two going to propose to eachother?" teased Fuji.

Eijiblushed a littleglancing back at Fuji and then looking back at Oishi.

"Oishi," he said.

"It's a beautiful gift," said Oishi.

"Yours is too. It was to make up for the one that got bent out of shape by the filter," replied Eiji.

Oishi placed the ring on his ring finger and Eiji did the same and shyly kissed Oishi on the mouth.

"Thank you," he whispered blushing.

Oishi smiled and both their fingers entwined eachother's.

"Echizen open mine," said Momo grinning as he placed a whole cookie in his mouth.

"Only if you open yours," replied Ryoma but he was already searching for his gift under the tree.

Momo also found several packages from the kid under the tree and wondered if he maybe had gotten just as spoilt as Echizen had been.

They opened their gifts together and Momo smiled.

"You got me a Namie Amuro CD! And Asian Kung Fu Generation! Echi-zen!" he exclaimed almost like a girl would with his name. The same long drawled out pronounced version. Ryoma couldn't help but flinch at itas he opened the silver paper that covered the box. He gasped as what was inside the box.

"Takeshi, you spoil me," breathed out Ryoma his eyes going wide at the earrings he got. Everyone gathered around Ryoma's gift wide-eyed.

"Hoi! Ochibi I didn't know you had your ears pierced!" called out Eiji.

Ryoma smirked as Momo opened up the manga and chocolate and gumdrops grinning. His violet eyes stared at Ryoma the whole time as he tucked his hair behind his ears to reveal silver hoops. He took them out to place the tiny diamond studs in.

"They suit you well," said Fuji his eyes opening to admire the diamonds.

"Yes Momoshiro has good taste," admitted Oishi as the others admired the earrings.

"Thank you," said Ryoma blushing at all the attention he was getting.

"Welcome, I like yours as well. You spoiled me too," said Momo grinning at all the new manga he got.

"Fsshu, I told him that too," said Kaidoh rolling his eyes.

"This is none of your business mamushi," snapped Momo glaring at him.

Kaidoh rolled his eyes.

"You're the one that brought it up you idiot. I just commented on it," he said.

"You got just as spoiled. Inui-senpai shouldn't have got anything for you but he did and he spent way too much for you. I don't know why he even goes through so much trouble," snapped Momo.

Kaidoh's eyes went wide and then he hissed again.

"With that said why don't you and Inui open your gifts next. Tezuka and I are willing to go last," said Fuji breaking up the argument.

It didn't take long for Kaidoh to find his gifts. He was surprised that he got two. He first thanked Inui who also thanked Kaidoh in return and opened the first box.

A coat. A really nice coat that was lightweight but soft and black.

"You'll be able to stay warm and maybe even train a little bit now with that," explained Inui who had opened the set of pens.

"Kaidoh, do you know how expensive this brand of pens are? I only had one set before…"

Now Kaidoh knew why everything he bought was so expensive. Kaidoh thought it was the notebook but now he fully knew it was the pens. He hissed and glared at Ryoma who took that as a thank you for helping. Kaidoh decided to not reply to his senpai's comment, not even knowing what to say, and decided to open his other gift. And he was in awe. A new racket, dark blue, perfect frame, strings tightened, and perfect grip. It must've been a fortune.

"I told you that you were spoilt," muttered Momo.

Ryoma smirked.

"That's a very expensive brand," he pointed out.

Fuji smiled and nodded. Kaidoh hissed and blushed.

"Inui-senpai…"

"Kaidoh, how am I ever going to be able to write data in this? It's too nice looking," said Inui flipping through the pages of the gold leafed notebook.

"Fsshu, you're not supposed to write data in it," he said.

"What am I supposed to write in it then?" asked Inui.

"Other things. That aren't data," said Kaidoh.

Hm what a challenge. Something couldn't be used for data. Inui smiled knowing Kaidoh well enough to know what he meant and thanked him again. Kaidoh did the same saying that Inui spent too much money on him.

"And that was to make up for the damaged racket from today," pointed out Inui.

Kaidoh hissed again and Fuji and Tezuka made a move to open the last presents under the tree. Fuji smiled as he found a CD that he had wanted that included the song 'Shiki No Uta' and a digital camera.

"Thank you," he said.

Tezuka also opened his presents too to find a photo album filled with pictures back from Seigaku. And he also found he had gotten another thick novel to read. One that he had been wanting for read for a while now. The book was by an author from America but reading English sometimes gave him a headache so he was going to wait until the book was translated into Japanese for him. And Fuji had gotten the book for him as soon as he found it at the bookstore. Tezuka had also oddly enough has another gift under the tree. Tezuka opened the box and his eyes widened.

"Eiji suggested it and I thought it would look nice," said Fuji.

A bracelet. It wasn't as extravagant as Echizen's earrings or the Golden Pair's matching rings, but it was all as well wonderful. It was a simple silver chain with only one gem in which ended up being an azure color. A very light blue.

"Syusuke," he whispered.

"Wear it," said Fuji and then he moved closer to Tezuka and whispered in his ear, "To think of me when you go off again."

Fuji held hold on Tezuka's left wrist and fastened the chain around it.

"I know you're not fond of jewelry, but this is something to keep us connected," he continued.

Tezuka sighed.

"We were always connected Syusuke, always."

Eiji smiled at the sight in front of him.

"They've really have worked things out. I'm happy for them they've completely regained their relationship. I don't think our buchou will have the heart to leave," he said.

"Hm, either way they'll call eachother," added Oishi.

Everyone told more stories over the little things. The things that they did when they were in school until it got late. Fuji took some pictures of everyone with the digital camera even taking some when people weren't even noticing. Fuji secretly smiled at those pictures knowing they'd be a precious part of his album. Ryoma and Momo went upstairs long before anyone else did and Eiji and Oishi did too saying if they were still downstairs that they'd check up on everyone else later. Kaidoh and Inui decided to go out for awhile, out to the park maybe to train. Tezuka and Fuji were the only ones now in the living room now and they both looked at eachother for a long while not even saying anything to eachother. It was already dark outside and the only lights on in the downstairs part of the house were the lit Christmas tree giving the room and a little bit of the kitchen a dim glow.

Fuji crawled over to Tezuka and hugged him for a long time breaking the silence by saying, "I love you."

"I love you too Syusuke. Don't ever forget it."

Fuji pulled away from the embrace and his azure eyes looked fire-lit at he looked into Tezuka's hazel eyes that hid a little bit of his emotions behind his frameless glasses.

Then the doorbell rang. Fuji smiled getting up off the floor and turned on the living room lights and opened the door to be greeted by Yumiko Fuji. She smiled and entered the house and said hello to Tezuka asking him how life was treating him. Fuji had given his older sister his Christmas presents he got for her and she thanked him. And also gave him her present which ended up being some lucky tarot cards.

"Syusuke, I won't be able to see you for New Years, so may I read your fortune right now?" asked Yumiko.

"That would be nice Nee-san," replied Fuji sitting down across from her.

"I can do Tezuka's as well," Yumiko offered.

"Yes, let's do Tezuka's as well," said Fuji smiling. Tezuka was about to protest but knew that he wouldn't be able to.

Yumiko grasped Syusuke's hand and she closed her eyes and got her mind clear. The older sister had always had a certain gift and it had been ESP. She was very accurate at fortune telling and often felt spiritual presence around her. Yumiko had often found it to be a curse and a blessing. Because whatever bad happened she couldn't control.

"You're going to have a very good year Syusuke. You'll be with ones you love. There will be much success. But there is a downside to the year as well. There's going to be some pressure placed on you and your brother some how. But it'll be something that you'll be able to handle. There's also going to be an attempt at suicide with one of your friends in the middle of the year. But it's up to you weather that person stays or goes. You'll also be bound by rivals. In all you'll have a bigger family than you've ever had before, even though you'll loose some."

Fuji's eyes widened. And the understood that he might be able to control some of what might go on. And now he knew that he'd have his friends and the ones he loved behind him all the way. The year had turned out better than the last couple ones where Yumiko had seen Tezuka leaving. The prediction for that year had been, 'Your year will be successful. You will pass many tests that fall before you, but there will be one test that you won't be able to be fully successful on.'

Fuji had now understood what the test had been and what the blessing had been. Tezuka. Tezuka leaving and Tezuka returning. The year coming up in just days seemed like a happy one though.

Yumiko the grasped Tezuka's hand and smiled.

"How interesting," she said.

(A/N:An extra long chapter for the extra sweet! If that makes sense... Anyway; I know it sounds like everyone got a piece of jewelry but it's hard to think of things. >> Fuji didn't get jewelry -snicker- Actually he had some more Christmas presents back in the bedroom. XD Actually it's the chocolate and stuff people but feel free to think what you want to think! Now I must warn you my Golden Pair is stuff is odd and it's hard to do because they're so friggin' cannon so when you see something happen to them and go 'wtf' don't say I didn't warn you. >> ANYWAY...the pen set Inui got... I imagine him to get the cheapest pens because he likes to save money so getting a set of pens that are 4.00 or more is alot. And it was a set might I add that had green, black, and blue ink. XD Which makes you sort of think there eh? So..okay next chapter we get Tezuka's fortune told; and not to mention there's a really sweet conversation between Syusuke and his beloved older sister Yumiko. And what you've all been waiting for, the INU/KAI! Okay that's all what's coming next chapter, next update shall be Wednesday so keep on looking for updates!)