Melting a prodigy's heart

A/N: I do not own Prince of Tennis.

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Last time:

"Tezuka, we are a team; and teammates look out for one another. We're staying with you."

Tezuka looking at him and Oishi smiled back at him. Tezuka turned his gaze to Eiji; Eiji smiled as well and said "Hoi Hoi!" Turning to Fuji who smiled at him this time with his eyes closed, Kawamura gave his a thumbs up, Inui pushed his glasses up his nose and said " Ie Data." While a smile tugged at his lips. Kaidoh nodded and gave a hiss. Momoshiro gave a punch in the air and said "Yeah!" and lastly Echizen tipped his cap and said his famous catchphrase "Mada Mada Dane"

Tezuka nodded, and then turned his thoughts back to Yumi. Barely ten minutes later, a voice drew him away from his thoughts and back to the hospital hallway.

"Saa, Tezuka how did you meet Yumi-chan?" asked a curious Tensai.

Tezuka looked at Fuji before answered the question and telling his teammates about his girlfriend.

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Chapter 5:

The first thing that she noticed was the stark white ceiling and the bright artificial light.

Yumi had to blink several times in order to allow her eyes to adjust to the light. Once she could see, he noticed something else. There was a warm weight resting on her left arm and part of her stomach. It wasn't an uncomfortable weight, it was a comforting one. Looking down she immediately recognized the person that was using her unintentionally for a pillow, and holding onto her hand like it was a lifeline.

Brown unruly hair, slight frown on his forehead, thin wire glasses, and a Seigaku team jacket.

Tezuka was asleep; half slumped in a plastic chair, and half leaning on her bed.

Smiling, Yumi lifted her free hand and gently brushed some strands of his hair out his eyes. Tezuka stirred but didn't wake. Yumi was content with just watching him peacefully. She wondered what time it was, how long had it been since she had gone in for her operation.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the door to her room opening.

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Fuji opened the door to Yumi's hospital room, balancing two cups of coffee. One for him and one for Tezuka. It had been 3 days since the operation and Yumi had yet to wake up. Thankfully, the doctor had said that this was completely normal. Tezuka refused to leave her side; as a result the members of the Seigaku team were all taking turn in keeping him company.

As he put the coffees down on a table in the room, he turned to wake slumbering Tezuka, only to have his eyes shoot open and a sincere smile for on his face.

"Ohayo Fuji-san." Said Yumi gently to Tezuka's team mate.

"Yumi-chan. You're awake. How are you feeling?" asked Fuji, forgetting completely about his coffee and Tezuka, as he made his way over to seat next to the unoccupied side of Yumi's bed.

"I feel fine, a bit woozy, but fine. How long has it been since my operation?"

"You've been unconscious for 3 days, but apparently that's normal."

"3 Days!!!" echoed a shocked Yumi. Her gaze strayed back to Tezuka.

"He hasn't left your side since you had your operation. He cares about you a lot." Stated Fuji.

"Really?" asked Yum as her heart swelled with love for Tezuka.

Fuji was reassured when he saw the love in her eyes. She clearly loved Tezuka and much as he loved her.

"Let's wake him up shall we?" said Fuji as he stood and walked around the bed to come to a stop right next to his still asleep captain.

"Let him sleep he looks peaceful." Said Yumi.

"Sorry, if he finds out you woke up and I didn't wake him up, will have me running laps for the next year, maybe longer…"

"He wouldn't" said a sceptical Yumi.

"He would. Trust me." Stated Fuji.

That said Fuji leant down so that his mouth was barely inches from Tezuka's ear. Taking a deep breath, Fuji went about waking up Tezuka.

"TEZUKA !!!!!"

Tezuka jolted awake, and shot up from his seat, glasses askew, and eyes wide.

Straightening his glasses he turned to the person who had yelled.

"FUJI….." he growled out, annoyed at being woken up so roughly.

Fuji merely smiled at him and pointed at something behind him. Tezuka glanced behind him before turning her gaze back to Fuji.

Fuji watched amused as he waited for Tezuka's brain to catch up with what he had actually seen behind him.

Sure enough, Tezuka did a double take. His eyes went wide before he spun around so fast that Fuji was sure he would get whiplash.

Tezuka spun round eyes wide in shock and disbelief. His brown eyes stared into a pair of green eyes that he knew only too well.

"Yumi…."

"Good morning Kunimitsu."

Tezuka didn't answer. He moved forward and Yumi found herself in his arms, with him pressing into the crook of her shoulder and neck.

Yumi hugged him back . They were hugging each other as if would kill each other to let go.

Neither noticed Fuji slip out the door.

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Fuji closed the door gently behind him, giving the two some privacy. Turning around he almost walked into Oishi who had come to switch places with him.

"Morning Fuji. How's Tezuka." Asked Oishi.

"She's awake." Said Fuji.

"What?!!"

"Yumi-chan is awake."

Oishi gasped in surprise, before smiling.

"Let's leave them alone then. Come one we need to tell the others." Said Oishi as he turned to leave.

Fuji started to follow, but spared a last glance to the closed door where his best friend was.

'I'm glad you're happy Tezuka' he thought as he followed Oishi.

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3 Months later…..

Fuji checked his watch and frowned at the time he read on it. Looking at Oishi who shrugged his shoulders indicating he too didn't know what was keeping them.

"Maybe they changed their mind…" said Oishi

"I doubt it.." answered Fuji.

Before Oishi could answer their resident Diva burst into the conversation unannounced, and loudly…

"Where is Tezuka? He is supposed to be here. How dare he be late for Ore-sama's party!" exclaimed Atobe.

"Monkey-King! You're loud!" stated Echizen who was nearby.

"Don't call me that you brat!!!" Atobe's attention drawn to the insolent freshman.

"Echizen, Atobe… please don't start another one of your arguments." Said a weary Oishi, knowing that they would anyway.

It was the last week of summer vacation. Because of that fact Atobe was using it as an excuse to throw a black tie party for a few tennis teams. All members of Hyoutei, Rikkaidai, Fudomine, St. Rudolph, Yamabuki, and Seigaku were invited.

Everyone had arrived except one person….. The captain of Seigaku. Tezuka.

"If he doesn't turn up in 5 minutes, I'm gonna go look for him." Stated an irritated Fuji.

Oishi turned his attention away from Atobe and Echizen's verbal battle to answer Fuji but stopped halfway and gaped at the two who had just walked into the room.

The room quickly fell into silence, as everyone started at the newcomers.

Dressed in a black tuxedo, like everyone else in the room, standing in the doorway was Tezuka Kunimitsu.

But what everyone was looking at was his companion. A brunette with dazzling emerald eyes who was standing at Tezuka's side, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist.

Yumi was a vision. The green silk halter neck, opened back, dress she wore hung to her like a second skin and the flared at the hips. Her hair was curled and tumbling down her back and through the slit up the leg of the dress you could see the stiletto sandals she was wearing.

The silence was broken typically by Eiji, who bounded over to the couple yelling "YUMI-CHAN!!!!" before glomping her.

"Guess that's why they're late" stated Fuji with a chuckle.

"Yeah. I'm surprised he actually agreed to her wearing that…" commented Oishi next to him.

"THAT'S YUMI!!!!!! The girl from the hospital." Exclaimed a shocked Atobe.

"Yeah, she's buchou's girlfriend, and good at tennis." Stated Echizen

Yukimura who was listening in with interest asked "How do you know that?"

"Since she was discharged from hospital, she and Tezuka have been joined at the hip. So she's been at our practices and joins in." answered Oishi.

"More like Tezuka won't let her out of his sight." Said Fuji with a chuckle.

"He loves her a lot. Doesn't he?" said Sanada while observing the couple.

"Yeah he does." Answered Fuji a sincere smile on his face.

"Well let's not just stand here! Let's go say hello." Announced Atobe before flouncing off in direction of the couple, with the others following more sedately.

Fuji smiled to himself as he watched his best friend show his smile freely to everyone around him.

'Well Tezuka…It seems like someone finally melted your heart and taught you to love. I wish you all the happiness in the world.' He thought before joining the others.

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A/N: It's finished. Hope you enjoyed this story. Please review. Ciao