December 25, 2008

Subzero

AU, TezukaFuji. Fuji looked at Tezuka sadly, "Smile, even if it's a sad smile, because the only thing sadder than a sad smile is the sadness of not knowing how to smile."

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. I wish I did, but alas, I do not.

-

Subzero

Six Degrees

-

A violent tremor ran through Tezuka as he shook, chilled to the very core from the cold temperature, and the even colder rain that pounded Fuji's car as they drove along the high way.

The heater was on full blast, and every chance he got, Tezuka curled his fingers into the cradle of his arms in a feeble attempt to bring some warmth back into them.

Rain water dripped from his sopping hair and clothes, forming a puddle where Tezuka sat.

After Tezuka shuddered again from the cold, he turned to look at Fuji. The boy's bangs drooped over his eyes, and he was perfectly still, like a porcelean statue. He appeared to be watching the road, for his head was angled upwards and towards the window. Tezuka would have thought Fuji to be asleep, if he didn't see the trembles that also assaulted Fuji, and a small bit of the boy's cerulean eyes peeking out from his hair.

"Tezuka." Fuji suddenly said in a soft voice.

Tezuka gave a start. "Yes?" he replied, realizing that his voice was unusually gentle.

"The light is green."

Then, as if on cue, the car behind Tezuka honked obnoxiously. Tezuka fixed the driver of the other car with a cold glare through the rear view mirror and stepped on the gas pedal, no doubt sending a wave of water into the other car--inadvertantly, of course.

When Tezuka looked back at Fuji again, the boy was silent once more.

Finally, Tezuka looked back to the road again and turned on the left blinker to go into the apartment complex. The sign was shrouded by the thick veil of rain, but he knew where he was going. He always did.

"We're going to your apartment. At this rate, both of us are liable to catch hypothermia." Tezuka said.

Fuji nodded his head morosely.

"..." Tezuka paused, considering the implications of his words carefully before continuing, "Would you mind it if I stayed the night?"

This managed to elicit a response. Fuji looked up, startled. Tezuka knew he was asking why, even though he couldn't see the boy's eyes.

"The driving conditions are too hazardous on the roads, the radio said there would be a lightning storm later on, and...I don't have a mode of transportation." Tezuka finished, steering the car into a ramp that led underground.

Fuji looked at his feet, "Oh, that's right. I'm sorry. We left your car back at the company parking lot. I didn't realize that it would cause such problems."

Almost at once, Tezuka felt incredibly guilty. He hadn't intended it to be like that. Tezuka had merely used that choice of words in order to slyly disguise his want to look over Fuji for the night, seeing as how he was in such an instable state.

"It isn't a problem." Tezuka assured him while turning Fuji's car into an open parking space in the garage. "You don't have to apologize."

Fuji put on a brave smile, "Saa, I suppose you're right. I'm sorry."

Tezuka gave Fuji another look as he repeated himself. "You don't have to apologize."

Tezuka opened the door and stepped out of the car, shuddering from the cold while in his sopping clothes. Fuji let himself out from the passenger's side, silent tremors ran through his body, and by the set of his jaw, Tezuka guessed Fuji was clenching his teeth to keep them from chattering.

"Let's get inside, quickly." Tezuka said. Fuji nodded and began moving in the direction of the elevator.

When he and Fuji stepped into the elevator, Fuji reached over and pressed a button. The boy's pale hand then went to the buttons on his shirt and began to undo them, one by one. Almost nervously, Tezuka stared at Fuji. "What are you doing?"

Fuji was quiet for a moment, and then turned to Tezuka with confused look on his face. "Our clothes are trapping the heat from our bodies. It is better to just take them off to prevent hypothermia."

Tezuka silently watched Fuji as he continued to unbotton his shirt. He forced himself to look away when Fuji peeled the shirt off of his body. Tezuka felt his cheeks heat up.

"What's wrong, Tezuka?" Fuji asked.

Tezuka continued to look away. He frowned and swallowed before replying. He hated sounding like a whiny child, "Couldn't you have waited until we got to your apartment? Someone might see you."

The thought of it made Tezuka unnecessarily tense.

Fuji just smiled calmly. For a moment, Tezuka thought that Fuji was back to normal. "I think for the moment, I'd like to be more worried about my health, rather than what my apartment neighbors think of me." Fuji said, folding the shirt into a neat square. "Why don't you do the same thing?"

More flush invaded Tezuka's face at the idea of being with Fuji in an enclosed space, half-naked both embarassed and appealed to him.

Quickly, Tezuka shook his head. "I can wait."

Tezuka waited silently, feeling Fuji's gaze on him, making him feel dangerously self-conscious.

"...If you're sure." Fuji finally said after a while.

Tezuka withheld a thankful sigh. He and Fuji continued to shiver in the elevator as it ascended. The only difference between him shivering and Fuji's shivering, was that Fuji looked more like he was going to fall over with every shudder his body gave off. Despite that, Tezuka could feel the heat that Fuji's body was radiating. It made his head fuzzy and his mind almost delirious.

The elevator jerked to a halt, and Fuji fell to the side with a startled gasp.

Instinctively, he held out his arms, and Fuji fell into them.

The first thought that came into Tezuka's mind was how Fuji managed to fit surprisingly well into his arms. The second thought was that Fuji still smelled like raspberries. And then how Fuji's slick, pale skin was holding onto Tezuka's arms for support.

Tezuka's cheeks flamed up and he almost pushed Fuji away.

Fuji felt the tenseness in Tezuka's figure and looked up at him, concerned.

"Tezuka? What's wrong?"

Fuji was leaning in towards Tezuka's face. He tried leaning away from the boy's alluring scent and confused expression.

"Are you sick, or--"

The doors slid open.

Tezuka froze and almost wished he would die.

A family of fourstood there, openly shocked at what they saw. The woman screeched and shielded the eyes of her oblivious children. The man looked as though he were about to be sick, judging by the unhealthy, green tint coloring his skin. The children continuously asked their parents what the two men in the elevator were doing as they were led away.

Fuji stared out of the elevator. "Hm. I wonder what that was." He mused silently.

Tezuka was about to request that Fuji let go of him when he realized that Fuji was being absolutely serious. The boy honestly had no idea why the family had reacted the way they did. Which meant he also did not know why Tezuka became red-faced around him and lost most of his coherent thought.

The elevator stopped once more, and the doors slid open.

"We're here, Tezuka." Fuji announced, smiling. He walked out of the elevator, making no sound as he went.

Tezuka turned his eyes to the wet puddle Fuji was leaving behind in order to avoid staring at Fuji and what was remaining of his soaked clothing.

As he followed Fuji through the narrow halls of the apartment, Tezuka felt cold and self-conscious. The wetness of his clothes made it uncomfortable to walk, and every time he took a step, Tezuka's shoes would squeak loudly, as opposed to Fuji's where the boy made virtually no sound at all.

-

The moment Tezuka crossed into the threshold that was Fuji's home, Fuji tossed a fluffy, white towel at him.

"Here," the boy said. "Dry yourself off and get out of those clothes before you catch hypothermia."

Tezuka began rubbing the towel in his hair slowly, working out if Fuji meant just his shirt or...everything.

"Tezuka, are you really all right? You aren't being yourself." Fuji said. A pair of cerulean eyes appeared in Tezuka's vision. Tezuka felt his heart nearly jump out of his chest. He took in a deep breath. "Fuji, what are you doing?"

"I'm checking your temperature, Tezuka. If you aren't feeling well, you should say something." Fuji chastised, as he leaned in.

Fuji's forehead was warm as it pressed against Tezuka's. His breath was sweet as it wafted over Tezuka's nose. His presence was overwhelming.

Tezuka closed his eyes and forced himself to breathe deeply.

Then--

Ding-dong

The sudden noise broke the silence between Fuji and Tezuka. Fuji backed away from Tezuka and approached the door, calling over his shoulder, "You don't feel like you have a fever, but you should rest, just in case."

Tezuka found himself agreeing with Fuji as his head spun, and he took in deep gasps of air to steady himself.

The voices of Fuji and someone else at the door were quiet. Tezuka heard the exchange of thank you's, and the sound of fading footsteps.

Shortly after the door shut, Fuji sauntered back, holding a letter in his hand. The look on tense Fuji's face was enough of a cause for concern, but Tezuka refrained. The day had been long and tiring for the both of them. Pestering Fuji into telling him something he had no wish to would not make the situation better.

Nevertheless, Tezuka's curiosity could not be extinguished.

"Sorry about that," Fuji apologized, forcing a smile back onto his face, and casually tossing the letter onto the table.

Tezuka looked away from the discarded letter hesitantly. "It's fine." He replied. His eyes strayed to the letter once more. There was an old saying his grandfather used to tell him. 'Curiosity killed the cat, Kunimitsu...'

Fuji took hold of Tezuka's hand. "Saa, let's go, Tezuka." He urged, pulling at Tezuka's hand like an overly eager child would.

Tezuka stood there in confusion. "Where are we going?"

Fuji chuckled. "To take a bath."

....

"What?"

-

"Tezuka, is everything all right in there?"

Hot water pounded Tezuka's back and hair. His eyes were shut, as he had the tendency to get headaches when he didn't wear his glasses.

He felt awkward and oddly self-conscious as he called back over the dull roar of the shower, "Ah."

"Are you sure? You looked very pale when you were going in." Fuji replied.

"I'm fine." Tezuka said, struggling to keep his voice constant.

Tezuka was sliding the bar of soap from hand to hand.

"I'll leave some clothes for you outside the door."

"...Would they fit?" Tezuka asked, as he looked down at his tall frame, as opposed to Fuji's smaller one.

Fuji laughed, and Tezuka could see in his mind's eye how Fuji's shoulders would shake, and his eyes would sparkle as he laughed. The soft laughter outside the bathroom door made it almost real.

"They're Yuuta's. He comes over to stay, sometimes."

Tezuka almost let out a sigh of relief. He wouldn't have to use Fuji's clothes, just like how he was using Fuji's soap now. The soap Fuji used to...

Tezuka's trail of thought sputtered and died. He dropped the soap with numb hands.

The soap that Fuji used to rub all over his body.

-

Tezuka was still rubbing his hair dry as he left the bathroom, a cloud of steam chasing after him.

He wondered if Fuji would allow him the day off tomorrow. Today had been one of the strangest, most tiring days of his life, of that, Tezuka was certain.

He had met the eldest of the Fuji siblings, learned of Fuji's past from the youngest of the siblings, and he had seen the real Fuji. Now, he was preparing to go to sleep somewhere in Fuji's vast apartment; he would find out where as soon as the apartment's owner was located.

The apartment, however, was silent. "Fuji, where are you?"

Tezuka waited a moment, but when no response came to greet him, he began to feel worried. Naturally, the chances of something happening to Fuji in his own apartment were slim, but with Fuji, he wasn't sure.

Carefully, Tezuka descended down the stairs, feeling oddly exposed in the T-shirt and shorts Fuji had given him to borrow.

"Fuj--" He began to call again, but stopped. There was no point to, for he had found Fuji, curled into an upright ball on the couch, looking almost pathetic. The boy was quiet. Tezuka assumed he was asleep; not that he blamed him. The events of the day had been tiring, both emotionally and physically.

Without thinking, Tezuka came over to Fuji, and tentatively reached a hand out to him.

He reminded himself that he would have a very hard time indeed of explaining himself if Fuji were to open his eyes, then and there.

But the boy didn't stir. Tezuka permitted himself a brief sigh before reaching forward again and running a few of his fingers through Fuji's hair. The honey-colored strands were soft and silky to the touch, and they felt good against Tezuka's long fingers.

After a moment, Tezuka stopped and sat down next to Fuji's silently sleeping form.

The tiny shift in movement on the couch was enough to throw off Fuji's posture. His head landed on Tezuka's shoulder, and one of his hands was in Tezuka's lap.

Tezuka wondered if Fuji would be all right, sleeping like that, or if he would get a kink in his neck from the awkward head angle. Tezuka's first thought was to adjust the boy's head into a more comfortable position, but he froze when Fuji's hand twitched.

Tezuka waited, silently, tensely for a moment until Fuji snuggled further into the warmth of Tezuka's shoulder, and his hand grew still once more. A tiny smile took the place of the solemn expression that had been dominating it before.

And Tezuka found he liked that smile of Fuji's better. It seemed more true, more genuine.

The infectious smile on Fuji's face made its way to Tezuka's, and he allowed it. Fuji was asleep, and there was no harm in one smile.

So he smiled, and took one of Fuji's hands, and threaded his fingers through Fuji's, letting himself believe--if only for tonight--that this would be all right. For now though, since it was all right, it would also be all right for him to not want Fuji to leave.

He wanted him to stay here, like this, with him. For no other reason than the fact that Tezuka was in love, and he knew he was in far too deep to fall out of it now.

Tezuka closed his eyes, and breathed in deeply, the scent of Fuji. The scent that made his heart flutter, even as he succumbed to sleep.

With that, the clock was the only sound in the room for the better part of an hour.

Fuji and Tezuka's sleeping breaths were heard very faintly.

And then, Fuji opened his eyes.

His blue eyes were trained in on his hand, interlaced with Tezuka's.

He frowned a little.

Fuji's cold hand felt comfortable and warm in Tezuka's. Tezuka's knuckles were a little rough, but strangely enough, Fuji had expected it to be like that. What he hadn't expected to feel was when Tezuka had been touching his hair. He never imagined Tezuka's hands would be so gentle.

Fuji closed his eyes and concentrated on the warmth that was Tezuka. When he had fallen over onto Tezuka, Fuji had been silently wondering if Tezuka would move him. Fuji had then considered getting up, but decided against it when he found Tezuka wasn't moving.

Yuuta had always called him a real prodigy, yet completely oblivious.

He had always thought that a little preposterous. Not because Fuji was a supposed prodigy, but because he saw things that other people didn't.

Obviously, Tezuka hadn't moved him because he didn't want to wake Fuji up. Despite all appearances, Fuji liked to see Tezuka as a good person, even if he didn't quite like to show it. It was for that reason that Tezuka had also been opposed to moving Fuji.

Fuji smiled triumphantly. He wasn't oblivious.

'Aniki, you're smart, but sometimes you just miss things that show you the real someone.'

Fuji frowned a little at Yuuta's voice.

Of course not.

It was completely and totally illogical. At this point, Fuji assumed Yuuta would keep insisting that Tezuka-san, his co-worker, was in love.

Fuji had been toying with this idea for a while until he finally brushed it off. Tezuka, in love? With him?

Illogical.

Tezuka had no reason to do so.

'Aniki, stop being stubborn and see the facts.'

Fuji shook his head as he snuggled in further to Tezuka's shoulder.

No, Yuuta. I'm not being stubborn.

'Don't lie to yourself, Aniki.'

I'm not lying, Yuuta. I'm not.

Fuji closed his eyes.

Illogical. It was completely illogical for Tezuka to love him, after such a short time.

Just like it was illogical that Fuji was also falling in love.

Fuji in love?

Ridiculous.

'Don't lie, Aniki. Don't lie.'

-

(A/N:) That was the end of chapter six. So at this point, Tezuka is obviously in love with Fuji. Also at this point, Fuji is falling in love as well (just in case you didn't get that, what with the whole schpeal about Yuuta's words of wisdom). Next chapter comes out next month, sometime in January, hopefully, providing finals don't get in the way. Thank you for reading this latest segment in the story. Next chapter will be more from Fuji's point of view, but still in the third person. Finally, you get a bit of insight on Fuji's side of it, as opposed to Tezuka's side. Also, I changed the summary a little. Please tell me what you think.

Happy Early New Years!

Merry Christmas as well (and Hanukkah)! Merry Christmas to you all, and to all a good night!

Thanks again for reading.

Please review!

Sincerely,

-PurificationArrow