The Thought That Counts

By: Liz

Pairing: Inui/Shinji

Fandom: Prince of Tennis

Theme: #11. gardenia

Disclaimer: Disclaimer on part 1

Rating: PG-13 (mainly for a few naughty thoughts)

Inui wasn't confused often, but when he did get confused, it was in a major way. Of course, he had never found himself so far out of his league before, either.

It wasn't a hard task, really. He was a gentleman, and a gentleman was supposed to do nice things for the person he was dating. However, all the rules he had come across—and there were many; Inui was nothing if not thorough in his research—had covered dating between a boy and a girl. There was very little that he could find about relationships between boy and boy. Well, nothing that didn't make him furious at stereotyping or make him become suddenly flooded with naughty thoughts involving him, Shinji, handcuffs, and leather.

So, back to the basics it was. Which left Inui in his current predicament. Confused and with no idea on how to tackle his problem.

Inui took a deep breath. All right, break it down. You want to do something nice for Shinji. But you haven't been dating him for long enough to have an intimate knowledge of his likes and dislikes. So go with what you know, and start there.

Feeling a little better with the beginnings of a plan in his head, Inui grabbed his notebook and started making a list, writing down everything he knew for sure about Shinji.

All right…he's in 8th grade at Fudomine. Primarily a singles player. Preferred doubles partner is Kamio Akira. Inui took a moment to control the sudden surge of jealously that rose within him at that. He has some sort of friendly war going on with Echizen over grip tape. Another wave of jealously as Inui thought about some alternate uses for the tape. He then took a moment to scribble down a note to himself about hentai doujinshi not being the best research material for romance. Favorite subject is history and/or physics. He likes music, genre unknown. Favorite food…probably not pizza anymore, if it ever was.

Inui stared at his list, a little disgusted with himself. "That's all I have? That can't be right…." A quick search through his computer files proved him wrong, though. "Well…." Inui looked back at his list again.

I'm definitely not touching the grip tape. Music…no, I'm not sure what he likes or has already. I really don't want to get him something associated with school, either. What does that leave?

Inui stared at his list for a little longer, as if hoping the answer to his dilemma would magically appear on the page before him. Finally, accepting that no easy answer was going to come to him, he stood, grabbed his wallet, and left his room. "I give up. Flowers and candy it is."

Buying the candy was the easy part. Reasoning that everyone loves chocolate, Inui went with an assortment that hopefully had something that Shinji would like. It was the flowers that were throwing Inui so badly. Standing in the florist's shop looking like a lost soul, Inui toyed with just sticking with the chocolate and forgetting the flowers altogether.

Before he could act on his idea and run, a woman in an apron emblazoned with the shop's logo cornered him. "Can I help you? You look a little confused."

"I…maybe." Inui adjusted his glasses. "I don't know what I'm looking for, really."

She looked down at the bag Inui was already holding, and smiled. "Trying to impress the girlfriend, are you? Birthday or anniversary?"

"Neither, actually." Inui thought about correcting her assumption, then decided it would be easier and less stressful not to. "We've just started dating, but I really like…her." In the back of his head, Inui prayed to whatever higher power that was listening that Shinji would never hear about this conversation.

"How sweet!" The saleswoman grinned. "It's so rare to find a nice boy like you nowadays. I'd be happy to help you." She looked around her shop. "Roses are always a good option. Can't go wrong with the classics."

Inui thought about it for a moment. "Too cliché. I want something…different."

The woman smiled. "You're definitely trying to make an impression, then. Let's see…." She looked around again. "Tulips?"

Inui looked at them, considering. "I don't know…she doesn't seem like the tulip type of person…."

"We'll find something for you." She rummaged in the cooler for a minute. "Daisies?"

Inui almost had to laugh. Considering the direction that his thoughts had been going of late, he figured the flower of innocence might not be the best choice. "No…."

The saleswoman paused in her search. "Tell me about your girlfriend. What's she like? Maybe we can match based on personality."

"She's, ummm…." Not a she, for one. "Different," Inui finally settled on. "Not like all the other girls." Well, that much is true. "She's…beautiful. Exotic, almost, like she can't be defined, or even held to one form." Inui blushed a little.

"One of those, hmmm." The saleswoman smiled. "I think I have something for you. Wait here." She disappeared into the cooler, then emerged a minute later with a bucket of white flowers. "Gardenia," she explained. "A lovely odor, a compliment to anything and anyone." She grinned. "And they mean 'you're lovely,' you know."

Inui grinned. "It's perfect. I'll take them."

He emerged from the florist's several minutes later with bouquet in hand, looking at his watch. "I'm going to be…late?" Groaning, Inui quickened his pace, heading towards his and Shinji's usual meeting place.

When Inui entered the park, he immediately caught sight of Shinji and had to smile. Shinji was sprawled out on a bench, eyes closed and face tilted towards the sun, a small smile on his lips. I wish I had a camera right now…wait, I do.

Taking out his phone and snapping a picture of the scene in front of him, Inui gave in to his evil side. Creeping up behind Shinji quietly, Inui set down his packages, covered Shinji's eyes, and whispered in his ear, "Guess who?"

Shinji jumped a little, then relaxed back into the bench. "I've been waiting for you, Kippei."

"What?!" Dropping his hands, Inui darted around to face Shinji. "You…there's someone else?" He tried his best to keep the hurt off his face.

Shinji shook his head and laughed. "There's no one else. I knew it was you Sadaharu. But if you're going to sneak up on me and try to scare me, then you deserve a taste of your own medicine, I think. It's only fair."

After processing that for a moment, Inui had to laugh, too. "Fine, I'll give you that. But please, Shinji, don't call out someone else's name again?"

Shinji blushed a little. "I promise, yours will be the only one to cross my lips when I'm with you. Unless we're talking about or with other people. Then I may have to use their names. It would be very rude of me not to, don't you think?"

Inui found himself almost hypnotized by Shinji's voice, and therefore wasn't following what it was actually saying. "Ummmm…no?"

Shinji sighed. "At least everyone else is honest with me when they haven't been listening."

Inui was instantly contrite. "I'm sorry…I just really like your voice."

Shinji blushed again. "Well, if that's the reason, it's all right, then."

"I…got you something…." Inui silently cursed himself for has abnormal shyness. This is not me, this is not me! What's happening? He shook it off though and focused on Shinji.

"You did? Sadaharu…you didn't have to, you know that, right?" Shinji looked down and twisted his shirt in his hands.

"I know." Strangely enough, Shinji's obvious discomfort was making Inui feel more confident and secure. "I wanted to, though. Close your eyes, please?"

"You're not going to try and scare me again, are you?" Smiling, Shinji did as he was asked, though. "Eyes closed, and I promise that I won't peek. What now?"

"Inui stood and grabbed what he had bought. "First, this." He laid the box of chocolate on Shinji's lap.

"First?" Shinji blinked and looked down, then smiled when he read the box lid. "This looks delicious. Thank you, Sadaharu."

"Close your eyes again, please?"

Shinji laughed, but did as he was asked.

"I know this is going to seem cliché no matter what I do, but…." Inui laid the gardenia bouquet on top of the chocolates. "They made me think of you."

Shinji opened his eyes and his jaw dropped a little. "Sadaharu…they're beautiful…how did they make you think of me? I'm not beautiful or anything like that. I'm just me." He rubbed his nose, which was suddenly itchy, and hoped that he wasn't going to do anything silly like cry.

"I think you are beautiful. You are one of the most aesthetically pleasing individuals that I have ever had the pleasure of being with." Inui reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind Shinji's ear.

"Flatterer." Trying not to blush, Shinji picked up the flowers. "They smell, lovely, though…." Lifting them to his face, Shinji inhaled the scent…and sneezed.

Inui looked at him. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. A petal must've tickled my nose or something." Shinji tried again to smell them, but a coughing fit interrupted him. "Sadaharu?"

"Yes?" Inui was trying his best to hide his concern. Was Shinji sick, and hadn't told him before?

"I…suddenly I don't feel so good…." A sneezing fit interrupted Shinji and he dropped the flowers next to him. "Really not good…." He doubled over in a coughing fit, still sneezing.

Inui jumped up and pressed a hand to Shinji's forehead. "No fever…are you sure you weren't sick before?"

"No." Shinji's voice was horse, and his breathing was becoming labored. "Was feeling fine until just now…." He started coughing again.

Inui heard a distinct wheeze rattling in Shinji's lungs and he made the connection instantly. "Oh, no…come on, Shinji…." Grabbing onto Shinji, Inui hauled him up off the bench and several feet away into cleaner air. "Just stay there, all right?" Not waiting for an answer, Inui took off for the pavilion, leaving Shinji to sneeze and wonder just what had gotten into Inui.

A few minutes later, Inui came back with a bottle of water and some wet paper towels. "Feeling any better, Shinji."

"Some…." His voice was still hoarse but, Inui noted with relief, his breathing was a lot less labored. "What happened there?"

Kneeling beside Shinji, Inui used the paper towels to sponge off Shinji's face and hands. "Judging by the severity of the symptoms, the sudden onset, the timing, and the fact that your condition dramatically improved once your environment changed, I would say there is a 97 percent chance that you were allergic to the gardenias."

"Allergic?" Shinji shook his head. "I've never been allergic to anything before." He didn't fight Inui's ministrations, though, liking both Inui's touch and the fact that his eyes were feeling cooler and less painful.

"There's a first time for everything, Shinji. Have you ever been around gardenias before?"

Shinji thought for a minute, then shook his head. "Not unless you count pictures."

"Photographs do not contain allergens. The actual blossoms do, I'm afraid." Inui sighed. "I'm sorry. I wanted to do something nice for you, not try to kill you."

"Sadaharu…it was nice," Shinji assured him. "It was very sweet, and you had no idea that would happen. I'm not going to hold that against you at all." He smiled. "Thank you, Sadaharu."

Inui smiled a little in return. "You're welcome…you're not allergic to chocolate, are you?"

"Believe me, I'm not."

"Then they should still be safe, at least." Inui stood. "Wait here. I'll grab those and walk you home. You should probably shower and change, just to be sure you're fully decontaminated."

"Sadaharu, they're flowers, not radioactive waste." Shinji laughed as Inui used a stick to nudge the flowers aside before he grabbed the chocolate and joined Shinji again.

"I didn't want to contaminate either of us further." Putting his hand on Shinji's shoulder, Inui steered him out of the park and in the direction of his house. "You're all right now, though?"

"My throat is scratchy, and I'm a bit stuffy, but I'll live." Shinji shook his head. "I'll get cleaned up and lay down for a bit once I get home, all right?"

"You better…should I tuck you in?" Inui grinned as he looked down at Shinji.

Shinji laughed. "I wouldn't mind, Sadaharu, but my mother might wonder what's going on. Better not, then." He sounded a little disappointed, though, and Inui was glad to hear it.

The conversation turned to lighter subjects, and before long, they were outside Shinji's house. "I really am sorry, Shinji."

"Sadaharu…stop apologizing. There's no reason for it." Reaching up, Shinji pulled Inui down a little and kissed him firmly. "My feelings haven't changed, I don't hate you, and I'm flattered that you thought to get me anything at all…." Pulling back quickly, Shinji sneezed again. "Sorry."

"If I can't be sorry, you can't, either." He handed Shinji the chocolate box. "Now, go get cleaned up. Call you tonight?" Inui tried not to sound too pathetic.

"Yes, dear." Shinji laughed, and then smiled. "Of course. I'll be waiting to hear from you." He blew Inui a kiss, then headed inside.

Inui walked home, almost in a daze. At least I didn't screw up too badly…he appreciated the thought and the gifts. That's more than enough for me. He looked down at his shirt. I should shower as well. I had those flowers longer…maybe burn my clothes, too….

Once he was home, though, Inui made a stop at his desk and looked down at his Shinji list. "Well, I said I wanted to know more about Shinji…I did manage that much, I suppose."

After thinking about it for a minute, Inui picked up his pen and scribbled down an addition to the list. Highly allergic to gardenias. Never again.

--The End--