Chapter 4

Eiji left the new lovers less than an hour later. He was so excited he felt like he couldn't contain himself for much longer and was eager to tell his partner everything he had seen and heard. Luckily, Oishi's volunteer shift was almost done and Eiji would have him all to himself for the day. As Kikumaru walked to the hospital, all sorts of playful ideas bombarded his mind, which got him to smile repeatedly. When he reached the entrance, he impatiently watched the persons exiting. After what seemed like forever, he saw a well-manicured dark brown head emerge.

"Oishi," he shouted, as he ran up and almost collided with his friend. "Guess what's going on with Fuji!"

True to his nature, Oishi's face clouded with worry. "Fuji didn't get very sick last night and have to go to the hospital, did he? I could have visited him if I knew he was here."

"No, no, Oishi, it's nothing like that. Fuji's not sick. I just left him," the redhead said breathlessly. "And you'll never guess where I found him and what he was wearing!"

The dark haired boy sighed in relief, yet stared blankly at his friend for a moment. He then realized Eiji wore a huge grin and that his eyes twinkled. "It must be something very interesting you caught him doing. You look like you're ready to burst! Let's go over there, so we can talk in private," he said indicating an area away from the entrance.

Eiji nodded and bounced over to an unoccupied bench. When Oishi was finally seated, the redhead blurted out the whole morning's scenario, from the learning that Fuji stayed over at Tezuka's, to Fuji opening the door only in his boxers, to watching them kiss, and to hearing both of them acknowledge they were a couple and weren't going to hide the fact that they liked each other.

Oishi's eyes widened as the story progressed and he found himself grinning as well. "I thought there was more to Fuji's remark," he said.

"Nya. What remark?" asked the redhead.

"Yesterday's. Remember when we asked Fuji if he wanted us to help him home and he said that Tezuka already offered and that 'turn about is fair play'. It seemed innocent at the time, since Fuji helped our buchou on Monday, but it was the way he said it that was…different. I can't believe I hadn't noticed anything all week," Oishi explained as his voice trailed off. He began staring off into space, as if he was reviewing the week in his head.

The reverie was short-lived, however, for he was interrupted by Eiji, who grabbed his hands and exclaimed, "But isn't this so great? Our other best friends are together. Now we can double date!"

Oishi's obsidian eyes refocused onto Eiji's brown ones. He lifted a hand and stroked his friend's left cheek gently. "Well, yeah, I think it'd be lots of fun for all of us to go out together. But…they still might want to keep their relationship low key. We're different. We were doubles partners before we were lovers. Tezuka is the team captain. Someone might accuse him of playing favorites if they knew."

Eiji jumped up with a huff. "He'd never do that! And Fuji wouldn't let him, either!" As he calmed down, he said, " Don't worry so much, Oishi. It'll be okay. And, besides, they're so cute together!"

The fukubuchou chuckled at the last comment and then stood and gave his partner a sweet kiss. "Well, then, I'll try to be their buffer if anyone says anything. But you can't go and spread the news, no matter how wonderful we think it is. It's up to them to let people know." Eiji nodded in understanding and Oishi gave him another kiss. "Okay then, what would you like to do for the rest of the day?" he asked.

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After Eiji left, the two cleaned up from lunch and lounged on the futon to decide on the rest of the day's activities.

"So…how long do you think it'll take before the whole team knows?" drawled Fuji, as he lazily rolled over to look into deep, brown eyes.

With a soft groan, Tezuka replied, "He's been gone how long? Maybe one more hour since it's the week-end and the team isn't all in one place. But I'll deal with it."

Fuji snickered, "Sure. You'll just make everyone run laps. It's your answer to all disobedience."

"Hmph," retorted the buchou with a furrowed brow and pursed lips. "It's not my only answer, just one of the good ones. It makes everyone behave, doesn't it?"

"Don't look so serious. I was just teasing," soothed the tensai, as he ran his fingers through his friend's sandy-colored hair. "I think the running of laps for misbehaving can be, uh, a great motivator for most of the team members. Many deserve that type of discipline." Then leaning in closer until his lips brushed up against a sensitive ear, he whispered in a husky voice, "But if I get out of line, I'll need you to give me a very, special kind of punishment." He smiled when he heard a slight sputter and then gave the ear a probing lick and blew gently into it. When it elicited the reaction he hoped for, he kissed a trail down his buchou's neck, while one hand carressed his lover's defined chest.

"Syuusuke," moaned Tezuka softly.

"Hmm?" Fuji replied without hesitating his progression.

"What have I gotten myself involved with?"

Fuji lifted his head and looked innocently at Tezuka. He replied with a gleam in his eye, "Mitsu, whatever do you mean? We've already discussed my shining qualities. True, I may have some 'equipment' in my room at home, but it's not a very big box, so there's no reason to be nervous. Besides, I don't have any of the toys with me today. And I'll ease you gently into that fascinating world. Don't worry. It'll be quite enjoyable for both of us, eventually."

As he saw Tezuka's eyes getting wider and wider, Fuji couldn't hold his laughter in check anymore. It burst forth, making him roll off and onto his back. "Oh, Mitsu. I'm sorry. I couldn't help that one. I wish I had my camera. You're expression was priceless!"

"I still wouldn't put it past you to know all about that stuff," remarked the sandy haired male.

"Maybe," cooed the tensai as he moved onto his side and began tracing the outline of his partner's face with a finger. "Would you want to learn about it together, though?"

Tezuka rolled Fuji onto his back and stared deeply into his brilliant blue eyes. "Perhaps later. We might have some...issues to deal with with our relationship once we get back to school. I don't need to have marks and bruises in interesting places right now, thank you. Besides, you're enough of an adventure as it is," he said with a smirk. He next leaned down and gave his partner a slow, passionate kiss, and then, much more.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Let me call Fuji and ask if they want to go to the movies with us," said Eiji later that afternoon. "Then you can see that they don't care if people know." The energetic regular got out his cellphone and pressed the number. "Nya, Fuji. Oishi and I are going to the movies tonight and we want you guys to come with us. Can you?...It starts at 7...I really want you to come. Oishi's worried about you two. So, I need you and the buchou to tell him everything will be good and you can handle it...Okay, we'll meet you outside the theater at 6:30. Ja"

Putting the phone away, Eiji smiled at his friend. "Yay! They're gonna come with us. Now you and Tezuka can talk everything over. I'm gonna interrogate Fuji and find out as many juicy details as I can!"

Oishi laughed at his partner's expression, but was glad he'd have a chance to talk with Tezuka before Monday. He loved Eiji's optimism, he really did, yet worrying was a part of him and he needed to hear from the source that everything would be alright. "That's great," he said. "Until then, do you wanna ride back over to the pet store and then see what your mom's cooking for dinner?"

"Yeah! Let's go!" Eiji enthusiastically replied.

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"It sounds like Oishi's worrying has kept Eiji from announcing us to the world. After being out in public with them tonight, though, all bets are off again."

"So it would seem," answered Tezuka. "What movie are we seeing anyway?"

"No clue. He said it starts at 7 and we're supposed to meet them at 6:30. However, if we don't like it, we can always just make out. That'll give the public first-hand evidence and more ammo for Eiji for Monday!" joked Fuji.

Tezuka rolled his eyes. "What time is it now?"

"A liitle after four," replied the tensai. "I'm going to have to go home for clothes. I only have my uniform and tennis gear, since we came straight here from practice yesterday. And we can have dinner at my house, as well as let the family know where I'll be the rest of the week-end."

"Here, right?" Fuji nodded. "Well, I better change then, too. I think a shower first, though," the buchou remarked. With a slight twinkle in his eyes, he continued, "Care to join me?"

"What a ridiculous question," laughed the tensai. "We just can't take too long. We have friends dying to question us!"

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