Letting go

by akiyume kye

Disclaimer: Until the day I become Takeshi Konomi, I will not own pot.

Pairings: TezuFuji

Chapter 8: Disturbance

After much squabbling and arguing, they finally decided to fill their stomachs at the fast food restaurant nearby.

Momoshiro was the first to rush in to order his usual: 5 double beef burgers, 3 milk shakes, 6 packets of large fries…the list went on.

The rest, however, were much quieter that day.
Their thoughts went back to a certain blue eyed tensai who was, perhaps, still struggling to complete his laps in school.

Kawamura had a look of utter sadness on his face.
He was disappointed that he couldn't even lend his good friend a helping hand, to run alongside him, to offer him words of encouragement as he ran.

Fuji had always been there for him.

He was the one who would pat the shy boy's back and say, "Gambatte ne, Taka-san."
He was the only one who bothered to care, who bothered to notice the things that were happening around him.

No one else would ask him how things were going about at home, or if his father was still on his case for putting aside taking over his trade for tennis.

Only Fuji did. Only Fuji cared.

The sensitive young tensai saw him.
He saw Kawamura as he was.

Others would look at him, but never into him.

Only Fuji would.

He felt important in the eyes of the prodigy.
He felt like a somebody, a person with emotions that mattered.

Yet he could only stand and watch as the tensai ran lap after lap, lap after lap.

He wasn't bright, but he could sense it.
Something is wrong with Fuji.

But the blue eyed boy wouldn't say anything, would he?
He was kind, too kind, to allow his woes to burden any other.

And even if he did want to say it, why would Fuji choose to confide in him?

In his heart, he felt that he was the least important member of the team, only needed in the battle of power, only seen when he won.
He was mostly placed as the reserve, one, who people will count on only if there were no others.

Sometimes, Kawamura wondered if anyone would notice if he had disappeared.
Fuji, perhaps, but no one else.

So why would Fuji want to pour out his troubles to a loser like him?
He may find Eiji, he may approach the motherly Oishi, but he would never come to him, Kawamura Takashi, a loser, a nobody.

Still, he wished he could do something for the boy. The boy who had done wonders in his life.

A thought struck him, and he thought of making the latter's favourite wasabe sushi for him.
Maybe I can pop over at his house to pass it to him tonight!

Glad that he had finally thought of something he could offer to the tensai, he rushed out of the burger shop, without saying "goodbye" and headed home to make the sushi.

No one will notice if I'm gone anyway…

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Silence continued to scream across the two young men as they walked side by side down the street.

Oishi couldn't think of anything to say, not that he actually tried.
His heart was heavy and troubled, and he couldn't stop thinking about the red head.

Go away!

I don't need your help!

Tears stung his eyes. He knew his actions had hurt Eiji.
He was sorry, but still, he didn't want to give up the newly blossomed relationship between Tezuka and him.

Not even for Eiji, no, he wouldn't.
He couldn't.

Eiji had to understand. He had to understand how long he had been waiting for this.
The chance to be with Tezuka. The chance to be loved by the buchou.

Do you know how long it has been, Eiji?
Do you know how long I've been waiting for this?
Why don't you understand? Why?

He longed for Eiji to understand, to accept it, but Oishi knew why it was hard for him.

It was because of that promise. The promise he had made to him.
And Oishi wished that he could take it all back.

"Tell me."

Oishi looked up at Tezuka with confused eyes. "Tell you what?"

Brown hazel eyes gazed down at him, as if reading his mind, his heart.
Oishi felt exposed. He felt like he was trapped in a cage, running round and round in circles, but never finding escape.

He felt intimidated, he was afraid.

There was something different about him, but Oishi couldn't put a finger to it.
The way he had kissed him, the way he now walked beside him…

There was something different.

Yet in his heart, he was content, knowing that the buchou felt for him, that he cared.

But still…

His thoughts went back to Eiji again.
He racked his brains but couldn't think of anything he could do except to remain quiet and let the other boy find him like he always would.

No more words were exchanged as the pair continued their walk home in awkward silence.

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She was getting worried.

Looking over at the clock for the twentieth time that day, she paced to and fro in the spacious living room of the Fuji household.

Fuji was supposed to be back an hour ago. They were supposed to visit Yuuta at his dorm together that day. It was meant as a birthday surprise for the youngest child, one, that Fuji had painfully planned for months.

Yet he wasn't here.

Yumiko was frustrated. Frustrated at her younger brother.

He had become more and more irresponsible lately, either conveniently forgetting to wash up the dinner plates or not even bothering to help her around in her daily chores.

She was getting impatient. His attitude was disturbing her.
And she was angry.

Tired from her work that day, she had expected Fuji to have, at the least, welcomed her home or made her a cup of warm tea.

But not only wasn't he home, she had also received a call from his school.

"Fuji-san, your brother did not attend his lessons for the whole day today. His has also not been handing in any of his assignments. Is something wrong with him?"

"Ahh.. he… he wasn't feeling well so I told him to rest at home for the day… as for his assignments, I don't know… maybe he forgot. He is a very responsible boy, sensei. He must have forgotten." Yumiko lied through her teeth.

"Hmm.. but Fuji-san, his coach tells me that he did go for tennis practice in the afternoon.," Fuji's sensei replied hesistantly.

"He did? Oh he must have been feeling much better by then. I'll have a talk with him later."

She felt like screaming, she felt like lashing out at her brother.
He was usually so sensible, and she wondered what had gotten into him.

Anger boiling over, she grabbed her purse and stormed out of the house, leaving for Yuuta's dorm without waiting any longer for the tensai.

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Ryoma watched as his senpai finished yet another burger.
He was positive that Momoshiro did not chew his food. He practically inhaled them.

"Cheh. This is boring," the youngest Regular complained.

Momo was too busy stuffing himself that he didn't hear the boy at all.

Rolling his eyes, Ryoma turned to face Inui, who was staring into his precious notebook, a frown forming on his face.

"Echizen," Inui started. "Did you notice that Eiji has been acting weird 99.8 percent of the time in the friendly match today? His acrobatic play which comes out 87.2 percent of the time only showed itself less than 25.6 percent in the match. Hmmm. Wait maybe it was 25.5 percent…"
He abandoned his conversation with Ryoma and began scribbling into his notebook again.

"Fshh. It's late. I'm leaving."

Kaidoh turned towards Inui, expecting him to follow, but the third year just continued with his calculations. Surprised at his slight disappointment, the snake like boy shook his head and took his leave.

Raising his eyebrow, Ryoma let out a sigh.
Why is everybody acting so weird today?

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"Fuji! Fujiiii!"

Strange, he thought. I'm sure Fuji was here just a while ago.
Peering back into the tennis club room, he saw Fuji's bag lying on the floor.

His bag is still here… Where could he be?

Stepping out of the room, he surveyed the courts.
There was no one in sight.

Eiji walked around the courts, thinking that maybe his best friend was deliberately hiding from him, or that he had lost something and he was searching for it.

He scanned the area.
Still no sign of Fuji.

Eiji continued to walk.
He turned round a corner, and then another.

The tears in his eyes were beginning to form again.

He felt so alone.
He felt that Fuji didn't care about him anymore.
He felt isolated in the cold cruel world he was in.

Nobody cares about me, he thought to himself sadly.

Eiji's vision was blurred by his tears, but he didn't bother to wipe them off.
He needed to let it out.
Controlling his emotions had become unbearable.

Walking on, he decided to call out for the tensai again. "Fuji! Fuji.. sniff…Fuji where are-"

The red head had tripped over something and fallen over, grazing his arm again.
Struggling to get up, he winced in pain, turned around and wondered what he had tripped over.

Eiji's stomach did a flip as a soft gasp escaped his throat.

-

It was Fuji.

To be continued…

AHHH! I know this chapter wasn't well written but… was it really that bad? sigh. Do review!

I promise I will tell you guys more of what happens to Fuji in the next chapter if you still want to know after this horrendous chapter. :( Sorry for dragging this for so long!

Ok, let's analyze the situation and see.

Fuji forgot to bring his medicine, Yumiko left the house without him… and worst of all, Fuji doesn't have his keys.
So when Eiji brings a dying Fuji home, he realizes that there is no Yumiko, no key, and that means… no medicine.
What will he do now? Is there any hope left for Fuji?

Anyway, saw some authors doing this so I thought I'd give it a go. Me on my "trying spree" again. :D

Fuji: (Knocks on the door)

Me: What?

Fuji: Can you hurry up and tell me if I'm gonna die or not?

Me: Don't know, don't care. Now go away and lemme sleep.

Ryoma: Ii yaada! I"m bored. Make me do something.

Me: It's my holiday, and I WANT MY SLEEP!

Eiji: Nyah! Why did you give me so many cuts? (whines in pain)

Me: (rolls eyes) Cheh. Go figure.

Oishi: AHH! Eiji is hurt? Evil author! What are you doing to him!

Me: (innocent look) Me? I ain't doin no nothin'.

Oishi: EIJIIIIIIII! Where are you? Do you need a plaster? A bandage? A doctor?

Eiji: KYE-CHAN! I am NOT talking to meanies like him.

Me: Okok fine. Oishi, shoo. Go away. Eiji's mad at you.

Oishi: As if i don't know.

Eiji: Then quit bugging me.

Me: Thought you didn't want to talk to him?

Eiji: Nyah! Kye-chan!

Me: (shrugs) What? You said so yourself.

Fuji: Is somebody ever going to tell me if I'm gonna die or not? (blue eyes flashing)

Oishi: Eiji don't be mad! I'm sorry!

Eiji: NOT TALKING!

Me: (sighs and looks at Ryoma) What doya think?

Ryoma: (tips his hat and looks away) Mada mada dane.

Suggestions will be greatly appreciated. :)