UPDATE TIME! So I FINALLY pushed myself to write this chapter and FINISH it. ehehehe… a cookee for me XD Oh and because I don't mention it anywhere, the beginning is set in a little tea shop (I would have said bubble tea shop but… I don't know if PoT characters would go for it XD) And YES I did notice there's a lot of 'he' and 'him' in this chapter. I'll apologize before hand for the confusion it might cause.

I don't own PoT. Like DUH.

People shouldn't dwell on the past. It's enough to try your best in all that you're doing now.

-1 Liter of Tears

"…so because you wanted to disrupt a peaceful meeting between two brothers, you decided to tag along. Is that right Misume-san?"

Mizuki had long since lost his temper and was now struggling to maintain the last bits of his dignity.

"It's Mizuki…" he said through gritted teeth. Yuuta gulped. This was beyond his abilities now. Only a god could stop what was taking place.

"Ah… sou? I usually remember important things." Sapphire eyes observed the curly haired teen with obvious distaste, making the situation all the more dangerous.

Yuuta watched as the usually pale manager of St. Rudolph's team turned a deep crimson and started to tremble with anger. It wouldn't have surprised Yuuta if his senpai slumped over dead because of a popped artery.

"Um… anyways… you called me here to talk about something Aniki?"

Immediately, Fuji's face regained its cheery smile and blue eyes disappeared under ivory lids.

"Yes that's right. And I was trying to tell Mifuki-san here that it's a private matter between family." Yet again, Fuji's less than comfortable look rested on Mizuki. However, this time, Yuuta thought he saw Mizuki tremble. In fear? Maybe. There were few things in the world that did not live in fear of his brother. Or excitement? Because… he wants to recruit him? Yuuta shook his head. He must be crazy.

"Well, that aside," Mizuki said, attempting to recover, "how would you like to join St. Rudolph's team?"

It was all Yuuta could do to hold the juice down his throat. Nevertheless, he still choked. Coughing, he confronted his manager.

"Wh-what?! Mizuki-san, you can't be serious!"

His finger curling his hair, Mizuki's expression showed genuine surprise.

"Why ever not Yuuta-kun?" He leaned in closer, lest the prodigy across the table hear them. "This is the perfect opportunity for St. Rudolph to rise once again! Though there isn't a lot of time left, we can still strive to get some kind of ranking. Besides, your brother is wholly available; he quit his team!"

"Whatever you have in mind, the answer will always be no."

Both tennis players from St. Rudolph stared at Fuji, each with different things in mind. Fuji, though his eyes were not fully open, gave them something that seemed like a disapproving glare.

Sitting up straighter, Yuuta stared into his juice. Of course he wanted his school to be good. That was the whole point of going to another school! To go to a school where he could make a name, make it greater than his brother made Seigaku. But there was a relief in knowing that his brother wouldn't leave Seigaku either. Swirling the liquid, he wondered if it was the attention he craved for.

"If it's the gossip you're worried about, we can take care of that. We can say it's because you love your brother so much that you changed school for him. How's that?"

Fuji said nothing, only glaring imaginary holes into Mizuki's head. Shifting uncomfortably, Mizuki cleared his throat.

"Well I guess I'll go straight to the point than. I know you quit Seigaku's tennis team. Quite a loss for them. I'm sure they'll regret letting you go. And really, what's stopping you from coming over to our team? You'll be with Yuuta too. Isn't that nice? I know he doesn't go home often."

The prodigy strained to keep his mouth in a straight line; he wanted to open his mouth and let out all the fury inside him. How dare he? He couldn't possibly know the circumstances. He wanted to pull on the curly greasy hair until it came off.

"I'm afraid I can't do that to my friends. And I'm sure you don't want me on the team either-"

"Not want you on the team?! You know you're not something that can be taken for granted! I don't care why you quit the team; I just want you on ours. Right Yuuta?"

Caught in the middle, Yuuta squirmed in his seat. "Uh… well… we actually came here… because Aniki had something to tell me… so…"

Mizuki sighed with exasperation. His 'assistant' was of no help at all. Didn't he want St. Rudolph to have some kind of name? Even for less than a year? Biting his nail out of habit, he entered the battle with a certain tensai's stubbornness again.

"Look if it's your friends, I'm sure they'll understand. They're your friends. Friends are there to understand. Everything's fine. The way is set out for your smooth transition."

Setting down his cup gently, Fuji gave Mizuki his 'look'. Yuuta knew what it was. It was the look that said 'I'll beat you down flat onto the ground with as much pain as possible while I look at you with satisfaction'. He had seen it before when his brother defended him from bullies and during the Rikkaidai match. Yuuta shuddered.

"Yuuta, why don't you wait outside? We can go home to talk. I'll say goodbye to Mizuki-san here."

Mizuki had managed to pick up on the threat himself; he backed away as far as possible in his seat without even taking the satisfaction of having Fuji finally remember his name. Though he truly wanted to help Mizuki out of the mess he made, Yuuta didn't think he had the guts to stand up to his brother's rage. Nodding hastily, Yuuta nearly jumped out of seat to wait outside, taking the bill with him.

"Now… Mizuki…" The prodigy's eyes glinted dangerously in the sun. Slowly, he put his hands down on the wooden table, letting them rest in front of him.

"I don't think I've been clear with you before…"

-----------

After saying goodbye to a rather jumpy Mizuki, Yuuta took the bus home with his brother.

All traces of anger before had disappeared from Fuji's cheerful face other than the content smirk in place of the usual light smile. He had murmured that 'Mifume-san' wouldn't bother them for a while. Yuuta didn't dare ask what had been said to Mizuki. He would probably find out anyway when he visited the traumatized manager in the dorms.

So what had his brother wanted to talk about anyway? He rolled a few topics in his brain, though none of them seemed to have the importance that his brother seemed to place on it now. It could just be that he wanted him home more. His brother was the type of person who would take something as trivial as that into a big event that could decide the fate of the world.

Yuuta glanced at his brother. He was humming quietly under his breath while smiling at nothing in particular. Something that was typical of Fuji. But the way his finger sometimes paused while tapping to a beat: not normal. It wasn't from the rocking of the bus that stopped it and it wasn't his brother either. There was just something so abnormal about it. It didn't fit with his brother. It lacked rhythm. Tap tap pause tap tap tap tap pause tap pause tap.

"Mah, what's wrong Yuuta?"

"Aniki…" Yuuta frowned in concern, "are you okay?"

For a while, Fuji did not answer, his face frozen in a smile. He looked down at his rhythm-less fingers than looked up. He cocked his head slightly.

"Of course I'm alright."

"Oh."

"Thank you for being concerned Yuuta."

Feeling himself blushing, Yuuta turned away quickly. "Don't say those things in public Aniki. It's weird." His comment was replied by a quiet chuckle and a 'sorry' that didn't sound all that sorry.

As soon as the bus stopped the two Fuji brothers got off to walk a little ways to their house. When the door opened though, it was clear no one was home. The house was completely still except for the gentle whirring of the air conditioner. Walking past the kitchen, Yuuta caught sight of a note tacked onto the fridge. He didn't need to read it; it was a note most likely saying where his parents had gone off to now. He couldn't help it that his mom was in love with life and his dad was in love with his mom.

"Nee-san didn't leave us pie this time. Mah, better luck next time."

Syuusuke plopped himself onto the couch next to the coffee table, inviting Yuuta to join him. Silently Yuuta sat across from him in the arm chair. He soon wished he chose a more comfortable spot as his brother's eyes opened fully, taking in all that was around him.

"So now it's just us two."

Yuuta nodded, not sure where this conversation was going.

"First of all, I want to apologize. It's not that I don't want to be with you. It's just that I can't betray my friends. So I'm sorry."

Yuuta blinked. The conversation with Mizuki was far from his mind now. He laughed awkwardly: really, his brother could make things so eerie.

"That's okay. It's not like I was expecting you to agree."

"Sou?"

"Yeah."

Though it was most likely a redundant answer, Yuuta had long since learned to answer every single question his brother asked. If he didn't, he would be bombarded with more.

"Now we can move on," Fuji said. He treated it like a lesson he was giving to his little brother, speaking like a teacher would. Yuuta prepared himself. Something was coming.

"Yuuta, you know I'm going to the rehabilitation center. What do you think I was doing there?"

"… What? What you were doing there?"

The younger of the two brothers paused. What had he been doing there? He hadn't bothered to think about it recently. He didn't know what his brother did in his spare time. A job? Volunteering? He didn't know. And truthfully, he had no real desire to know.

"I'm not sure…"

"I was going for rehabilitation. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."

Rehabilitation? Actual rehabilitation? Yuuta gawked at his brother. He hadn't noticed any injury on him other than the cut he had gotten at the Junior Selection Camp. But that had looked minor, nothing that would affect his playing. Unless…

"Did it get infected Aniki? Why didn't you tell me? Did you tell your teammates?"

"Infected?" Fuji cocked his head once again. Then he burst out laughing, filling the house with the pleasant noise. "No no, not the cut. It healed a long time ago. This is something different."

"What is it than?"

Syuusuke remained silent. Yuuta frowned, quickly becoming flustered.

"What? Is it bad? Is that why you quit the tennis team?"

He held his breath as his brother nodded his head. The sapphire eyes did not pierce him so much anymore. It just pained him because they looked so sad.

"What's going on Aniki? Are you sick?"

"I am sick." Blue eyes never left his face that neither smiled nor cried. "I have spinocerebellar atrophy."

Yuuta's look darkened, this time with suspicion. "What is that?" At that moment it had no meaning to him. It was anti-climatic: he secretly expected his brother to come up with something more spectacular. Any moment… any moment now… his brother would immediately brighten up, say it's all a joke, and offer something to eat.

"It's a chronological disease. I begin losing function of muscles until I can't move or speak. They don't have a cure for it yet."

(Yuuta POV)

It was all wrong. He shouldn't have… it was supposed to be a joke! Some kind of joke that was for his own amusement but not mean spirited. It… it's the worst joke ever.

"You're kidding me right?"

His lips didn't pull up at the corners into a smile. He didn't laugh. His eyes looked too sad for a lie. And one day, he won't even be able to smile anymore…

"I'm sorry I lied Yuuta. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."

He never looked this sorry before. It wasn't right. I wasn't a good brother to him in the first place. So why should he be sorry? It's all wrong.

"It's a lie…"

He bit his lip, his eyes becoming more critical. "I'm really sorry Yuuta."

"Aniki…you… I can't believe it."

He's not going to stop bullies for me anymore. I didn't want him to. But what if…?

"Why…? I… Aniki…" I closed my eyes. It was better this way. I can't see than. I don't have to.

"I'm sorry." It was closer this time. Nearer to my face.

He's going to need someone else now. He's not going to be the supporter anymore.

I let out a breath. My neck gave away so that my head hung. Is it shame?

"Yuuta… I am sorry." I feel his breath on my face now. How close is he? He can still move?

"Why the hell are you apologizing? I mean…" But… why is he apologizing? I should be! Because I didn't care. It's stupid!

I felt the hands first. Cool hands that rested on my back. Then his arms around me to encircle my neck and shoulders. And a cheek resting against my cheek. A hug.

"I'm sorry Yuuta."

Just like old times…

I leaned forward to put my eyes on his shoulder. He shifted so I could lay better on his surprisingly broad shoulders. I left my arms where they were. This was our old hug. The hug we used to comfort each other. The hug we used when one of us were hurt. The hug we used when we were happy. The hug we used for the heck of it.

I'd forgotten.

"I'm sorry too."

"All right."

I don't know how long we stayed like that. If I looked back, I bet we looked stupid. But… it was worth it.

His hands, arms, and cheek disappeared. I opened my eyes. He was sitting on the floor in front of me, smiling once again. It was such a happy smile that I wondered if this all really was a joke.

"I'm going to go changed. My shoulder's wet. We can do something fun after ne?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He climbed up the stairs to his room silently.

His shoulder…?

I brushed my hands against my eyes. It was wet.

Tears.

YOSH! DONE! This time, I did manage to look it over so I hope it's better. For those of you who want to review, you know the drill XD And I forgot to mention last chapter but I want to congratulate summerdie on being the 150th reviewer! Yay! (haha I'm weird. I celebrate my 150th review but no my 100th XD) So I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Not sure if I captured the right fuji bros element XP –sigh- I can only hope. Thank you for reading!