Disclaimer: POT and HXH don't and will never belong to me.
Chapter 17: Second chance at love
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After Tachibana left to answer to a phone call, Fuji was left alone with Tezuka. This was his last chance, last chance to change both his and Tezuka's destinies. Or the last chance to hold hope…
"Saa…Kuni-chan…"
At the endearment, Tezuka's head shot up and his sight collided with Fuji's intense blue ones.
"How do you like the food, are they to your liking…Kuni-chan?"
"Hai…" came the dry and cool reply.
Fuji wasn't discouraged. Suddenly he realized that he had nothing to lose. And Tezuka was like this, it was his usual way, always trying to act nonchalant.
But that was before he met you and fell in love with you, you made him smile, you taught him to laugh…and then you pushed him back to that same dark abyss you helped pulled him out from.
"Neh, Kuni-chan…what would you like for desert? Wasabe ice cream…?"
If Fuji looked close enough, he would see the sweat drop on Tezuka's head.
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He called me Kuni-chan…just like before… is that a hint, can I take it as a hint?
Looking into the serious blue eyes of his lost love Tezuka couldn't find any reason to doubt Fuji anymore. Praying that he was right, he reached slowly across the table and clasped Fuji's hand. Finding it cold and clammy, Tezuka allowed a brief smile to grace his otherwise stern face.
"I like green tea if you please…Syuu…"
For a moment, Tezuka thought he had mistaken Fuji's words and actions, his heart pounded so hard and his breaths came in short puffs.
"Arigatoo…Kuni-chan…"
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She knew something had happened the moment she took her seat. The tension between them disappeared, in its place…there was a gentle hum of happiness, so warm she wanted to scream and tear it apart.
She didn't miss the fact their hands were linked until she came in. Neither did she miss the fact that they had only eyes for one another. But she knew that she must bid her time. Soon, before their new-found love could solidify, she would tear them apart, they would tear them apart.
She won't allow Fuji to get near to Tezuka again, Fuji only knew how to hurt him, slowly, and surely he will kill Tezuka. And Ann couldn't allow it, no, Tezuka needed her; only her…her alone was enough, isn't it?
She would love to have Tezuka drive her home, not that he asked, but she had something more important to attend to, so she had to leave first. All she had to do was to plan and then wait, soon, she would make her move and Tezuka would be hers.
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After paying for the meal both barely touched, they left. Their way to the car park was punctured by Ann's abrupt leaving in her own car.
As Fuji reached to open his car's door, a hand covered his. Feeling his heart throbbing painfully at the familiar warmth of Tezuka's hand, he lowered his head, tears were brimming in his eyes, and he didn't dare to look up. He was afraid, still fearful of letting Tezuka see his power over him.
Slowly, Tezuka turned him around, with such tenderness it made Fuji ached; he cupped his chin and made him look up. What he saw made his knees weak, if Tezuka hadn't been supporting him, he would have fall to the ground.
Love, shining so clearly and surely, tenderness so soft and undemanding, both combined to become a dangerous but potent potion.
"Aishiteru, Fuji Syuusuke…"
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That word had always been in Tezuka's heart, sleeping with all the memories of Fuji. It was reminding Tezuka of its existence every moment for the past five years. Reminding him every moment with poignant images of Fuji, never letting him free, his love had always tried to waken.
Until now, he hadn't consciously allowed his mind to think of the past they shared or the happiness they had and the love they were once proud of. Yet because of their pasts, because they weren't ready to face what their parents had done, they both chose to run.
He still wasn't sure if he could face the mess their parents had created with their selfishness and irresponsibility. But one thing he was very sure of, after so long, after five years of living in the shadow of the past, he had enough. He would now learn to stand firm and fight for his love.
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Even after swearing to beg and cheat and fight for Tezuka, Fuji was still cowardly trying to wait for Tezuka to make the first move. Thinking of that, he cringed. He was a coward, forever living off Tezuka's presence.
Straightening his shoulders, he looked straight into Tezuka's eyes. He was ready to learn to fight.
"Let's go to your house, Kuni-chan…I want to see where you have lived all this years. I want to see what I have missed out due to my foolishness."
Tears again filled his cerulean eyes.
Tezuka had pressed his forehead against his; a small affectionate smile was curving his lips. He could feel the warmth flowing from Tezuka to himself. He had missed the feeling of being needed, the pain he had been feeling for the past five years had dissipated at Tezuka's acceptance.
"Hai…" came Tezuka's soft reply.
Slipping his hand into Tezuka's bigger one, he gave it a playful tug, earning himself a raised brow. But he laughed it off and enjoyed the feeling of Tezuka's hand tightening around his, as if he were afraid that Fuji would slip away.
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They reached Tezuka's apartment after a twenty-minute drive. During the entire journey in Tezuka's car, their fingers remained entwined. Both were unwilling to let go, they have wasted so much time running from one another, running from their love, they didn't want to waste anymore time separate.
Fuji wasn't surprised at the expensive penthouse Tezuka owned, he had read all about his success in the business world. Neither was he surprised at the clean and neat apartment. What he was surprised at was the moment the lift opened and Tezuka extracted the card-key from the elevator's reader; a cat walked up to him and purred happily.
Bending down to the cat which was rubbing itself against Fuji, Tezuka picked it up with practiced ease. Raising amused eyes to Tezuka, Fuji smiled and reached out to pat the sleek ginger-brown cat.
"Demo…Kikumaru gave it to me, he thought I would need some company after you…"
Something tugged at Fuji's heart painfully at Tezuka's mention of his leaving. But he reminded himself that he would now make amends and make sure Tezuka would never again doubt him.
Forcing another smile onto his face, Fuji turned to look around his apartment. Walking swiftly to the hearth he looked at the small decorations which adorn the empty fireplace. It wasn't unusual for family to decorate empty hearth during warmer seasons, but somehow he couldn't imagine Tezuka doing that.
"Saa…Kuni-chan, who did that?"
"Ann-chan…she said my house looked empty and it would remind me of your absence…" again Tezuka drifted off.
This time Fuji couldn't stop his tears from falling.
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Tezuka didn't know what possessed him to keep reminding Fuji of his abandonment. Perhaps deep in his heart he still hadn't forget about the pain and the bewilderment he had felt when Fuji left him, now he was taking revenge.
Shaking himself mentally, he reminded himself that he had wanted Fuji back, now he must be mature enough to forgive and accept all their past mistakes.
When he saw Fuji lowered his head, he knew that he had hurt the person he most desperately wanted to love. Berating himself inwardly, he shifted closer towards Fuji. Standing so close to him, he smelt the smell that is uniquely Fuji's. Waiting for Fuji to look up at him, he let himself enjoy the moment of closeness.
Finally, with a little sniffing, Fuji looked up. Tezuka felt like the worst person when he saw the tears.
Not giving Fuji a chance to say anything, he placed his lips on Fuji's.
So soft, so sweet, just like before…I want to stay like this forever, where our hearts are finally beating uniformly, resounding each other's love, waiting for the echo of mutual respect and listening for the chime of future.
Slowly, Tezuka deepened the kiss. He didn't want to frighten Fuji, all he wanted was to protect and love this beautiful creature that had set his heart on fire and his gut to trembles.
"Syuu…Syuu…Aishiteru…don't ever leave me again…whatever comes our way, let's fight it together…just let us not part again…" Tezuka's lips never moved from Fuji's, just as his heart never had.
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Author's note: Tezuka and Fuji are finally together, but for how long, how long before someone tries to break them apart, for good…well…stay tuned…minna-san!