(Tennis no Oujisama no belong to us. Owned by Konomi Takeshi. Lucky bastard…)

Title: Jiroh's Valentine Gift

Author: Freedom Aozu

Pairing: Atobe / Jiroh

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As Jiroh walked beside Atobe, heading towards the local popular tennis shop that most junior high and high school students frequented, he tried hard not to laugh at the scowl that was on his boyfriend's face. "Come on Keigo, it's not like we going to get teeth pulled or something," he teased, shifting his tennis bag on his shoulder, moving it to a more comfortable position.

Atobe was dragging his feet, glaring at the door of the store in front of him. "Why do -I- have to get it? Couldn't you have just been nice to me and have gotten it for me? We could have just met at school later," he grumbled, hating that he was being dragged to the store to pick up some grip tape that he was in need of.

"I could have, but really Keigo, what's so terrible about doing something yourself for a change?" Jiroh asked as he opened the door to the shop and let Atobe go in first before following.

He looked back over his shoulder at his boyfriend. "It's just... beneath me. I've never done it before."

"I shop for myself all the time, does that mean I'm beneath you too?" Jiroh teased, poking the other's chest.

Atobe looked at him for a moment, a glint in his eyes. "I wish..." he murmured, to low to be heard. He then looked around. "Where is the tape at, Jiroh?"

"Over at the front, next to the registers," Jiroh said still smiling. "I'm going to stay here and look at rackets. I'm about due for a new one."

He nodded and headed off to find what he was here to get in the first place.

Fuji was over by the carrying bags, looking for a new one to replace the one that had gotten ripped just a day and a half ago.

"Mou! Look Fujiko! This is a nice one!" Eiji exclaimed, nearly jumping up and down as he grabbed the blue bag to show him. "It's the same blue as our uniforms!"

He sighed, watching Eiji bounce around in the isle. He knew this would be dragged out if he had come with Eiji, but the other boy had needed something as well, so he had agreed to go with him. "But, Eiji, it would then be like a lot of the other players bags in our school."

Jiroh tilted his head, hearing the familiar voice. Walking over two isles, he saw the Tensai and the bouncing acrobatic. "Fuji-kun!"

Fuji looked over and smiled. "Jiroh-kun, what a pleasant surprise to see you awake and talking to someone for a change."

"Oh very funny, Fuji-kun."

Eiji blinked at Fuji, surprised. "I didn't know you and Akutagawa-kun were friends, Fuji."

Fuji smiled at both of them, his eyes still seemingly closed. "I happened to run into Jiroh here a couple days ago. He was sleeping in the middle of the racket isle. So I woke him up, we got to talking, and then I gave him some advice."

Those words said, Fuji turned to Jiroh. "By the way, did the advice help?"

Jiroh nodded, looking happier than ever. "Hai! You were right Fuji-kun! He didn't push me away! In fact... he return them!" He hugged the tensai happily. "Thank you so much Fuji-kun!"

Eiji looked confused. Was he missing something?

Fuji grinned, hugging the boy in return. "Think of what I did for Oishi and you... and then put it with what he said," he murmured.

Atobe came up the isles, looking for his boyfriend. Yet when his gaze landed on Jiroh hugging Fuji and Fuji hugging him in return, he saw red. "Akutagawa, what is the meaning of this? Ore-sama is not amused and Ore-sama does -not- share!" he growled.

One lone eyebrow rose as Fuji looked over at Atobe. Obviously... the man DIDN'T know how to share.

Jiroh jumped back, startled. He had never seen the other so angry... and to top it off, Jiroh couldn't even REMEMBER the last time Atobe called him by his last name. He always said it was too long and it was a bother to say. "What are you talking about Keigo? Share what?"

Eiji hid behind Fuji, eyes wide. He remembered this... Oishi was like this once...

Fuji looked back at Eiji, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Ore-sama would not share his boyfriend with such a common person. Why were you hugging him!" he asked his voice raised, which was something he normally never did.

Fuji opened an eye at this. He had been called many things in his life... but never common.

"I-I was thanking him!" Jiroh stammered, stepping back slightly, starting to get frightened. He never saw this side of Atobe before... and he didn't like it.

Fuji noticed the action and instantly placed himself between Atobe and the other two. "I gave him some advice, Atobe-san, nothing more. It helped him greatly and he was simply saying thank you."

Atobe glared at the tensai, his eyes dark. "Since when does someone else's -boyfriend- go around and -hug- someone else in thanks?"

Fuji smirked. "Ask anyone who's normally a happy person. They'd say everyone."

Atobe's glare grew darker, focused on Fuji. "Ore-sama does not like you. You're being sarcastic to Ore-sama."

"Keigo, please..." Jiroh pleaded, tears hidden under his eyes. "Fuji-kun's just my friend."

Fuji snorted, a bit out of character. "Oh, and here I thought I was just being dumb so you could understand me. You are hurting Jiroh by acting like a big-headed moron."

Atobe's anger seemed to blow, his eyes darkening. "How dare you? No one insults Ore-sama and gets away with it. Ore-sama demands retribution."

Jiroh stepped in between the two, his hands and Atobe's shoulder. "Keigo, please stop!"

Atobe looked down at Jiroh, slightly calmed by the light touch on his shoulder, but his pride wouldn't let him back down. "He insulted Ore-sama. Some form of punishment must be dealt."

Eiji put a hand on Fuji's shoulder. "Nya... Fuji, calm down..." he said softly.

"Please, can't you just let it go Keigo?" Jiroh asked his boyfriend quietly. "That hug wasn't what you think..."

"I'm not upset," Fuji said, one eye open and watching the couple in front of him.

"It's not about the hug anymore. He insulted Ore-sama and thus must pay."

"Kuso! Why does it always have to be about your damn pride!" The sudden angry voice still everyone standing there.

"Ore-sama's pride is everything," he said, an automatic response.

Fuji's eyes both opened wide at Jiroh's raised voice. They became cold at Atobe's reply.

The tears that were threatening to break fell down Jiroh's cheeks. "I figured as much..." he whispered, "when your anger suddenly went from me hugging Fuji, thanking him for giving me the courage to tell you how I felt about you, to your wounded pride. Ore-sama isn't beneath anyone, so why should he care about anyone either?"

Fuji moved over to Jiroh, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Tomorrow, four o'clock, the local tennis court. Be there. We will settle your -wounded pride-" He then turned to Jiroh. "Come on... let's go some place else."

Atobe blinked, trying to figure out where things had gone so wrong. The most he could do was nod at Fuji's words.

Jiroh was crying opening now, unable to hold back his hurt anymore. Nodding, he allowed Fuji to lead him out of the store.

Eiji glared at Atobe, scowling angrily. "For someone as bright as you, you sure can be an idiot sometimes," he snapped. "How could you hurt the person that loves you the most!" With that said, Eiji turned on his heel and followed his friend out.

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Fuji led the tearful Jiroh to his home, one arm around his shoulder in a comforting manner. Once inside, he got him a seat and fixed some hot chocolate. Setting it down before him, Fuji gave him a soft smile. "Come now, don't cry. He's got a very ingrained way of thinking. I don't think he meant to hurt you."

"I-I know, I know that better than anyone, but it still hurts..." Jiroh sniffed, rubbing his red eyes on his school jacket.

Fuji got some tissues and held them out to him. "I know. It hurts when the man you love can't change his ways for you. But there is always a way to get him to realize those ways need to change."

Jiroh took the tissues and blew his nose. "What do you mean?" Jiroh asked, looking at the Tensai in confusion.

Fuji smiled softly. "He prides himself on his tennis ability among all else, correct?"

Jiroh nodded. "Yes... but what does that have to do with..." His eyes widened slightly, suddenly understanding.

He nodded. "I'm going to make him realize there is more to life than pride."

Jiroh was worried though. He knew pride meant everything to Atobe. What would happen if he didn't even have that?

Fuji sighed, leaning back in the chair he was in. "I won't take it from him, Jiroh. But if he can't see that love is more important than anything else, he can never love anyone completly."

Jiroh bit his lower lip, nodding. "H-Hai.." he hesitantly agreed. "What do you have planned, Fuji-kun?"

"A tennis match that would scare him straight. I won't hold back. And I will not allow him to score."

"And you're sure this will knock sense into him?"

Fuji smirked, looking at him. "Since has Atobe-san ever had a match that he could not score in?"

Fuji had a point about that. "I hope you're right about this Fuji-kun..." Jiroh said softly.

Fuji patted his hand. "Just be there for him after-ward. He will need help once he is beat like that. And I ask that you simply tell people that it was sheer luck and Atobe-san was just having a bad day. I don't like having people know I don't play at my best."

Jiroh laughed at that. Fuji Syusuke really was a amazing person… "Okay, you have a deal, Fuji-kun."

He smiled, holding out his hand. "I mean it, Jiroh. I play down my skill for a reason."

Jiroh put his hand in Fuji's and shook it. "I know, why do you think I want a rematch so badly? I want to see Fuji Syusuke's real power, because I KNOW I'll be amazed by it!"

He grinned. "Then watch me tomorrow. You will see some more of it." He smirked. "Well, you'll see a small portion of it."

Jiroh laughed happily, looking more like his usual self. "Sugoi! I can't wait!"

He nodded. "Good. Hungry? I need some food myself. Why don't you stay tonight, we can have a sleep over," he said with a smile.

"Sugoi, sugoi! Let me call my parents and see if it's okay!" Grabbing his cell phone out of his back, Jiroh went out of the room to call his parents.

Fuji nodded, watching the other leave. While he really wasn't as happy as he was acting, Fuji knew some small part of Jiroh was hoping tomorrow would make him happier. "Atobe-san, you will pay for making Jiroh cry. This I promise you. And tomorrow, I will be the cat, and you will become my mouse."

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Chapter completed February 5, 2006