Milestone

Pairing: Inui/Shinji

Fandom: Prince of Tennis

Theme: #5. "ano sa" ("hey, you know...")

Disclaimer in part 1.

Rating: PG-13, skirting the very edge of R

"Please?"

"I don't know…I might just be intruding…I don't want to do anything to spoil your day, you know. That wouldn't be fair of me, to do something that might cause you trouble just because it might be nice to be there."

"It would spoil it for me if you weren't there, you know."

Inui and Shinji were sitting on what had fast become "their" bench on the park, having a discussion about an event of extreme importance…namely, Inui's graduation. More specifically the appropriateness of Shinji attending said graduation. Inui was advocating it, while Shinji was not as sure.

It's a good thing that Seigaku and Fudomine aren't graduating on the same day, Inui thought ruefully as he tried to compose a compelling argument for Shinji. Otherwise I'd be losing to "Tachibana-san" in a heartbeat.

"I really don't know…." Shinji looked down at where he was twisting the hem of his uniform jacket between his fingers.

"Shinji." Inui's hands covered Shinji's, stilling them. "You want my graduation to be a happy affair, correct?"

"Of course I do, Sadaharu. You know that."

"And you are my boyfriend?"

"Unless you're seeing another one behind my back." Shinji didn't look at all happy at the thought.

"Nothing could make me happier than to have my boyfriend at the ceremony." Inui smiled at him. "I want you there. I may have some very good news after the ceremony, and you're the first one I want to be able to share it with."

"What about your parents, Sadaharu? Surely they'll want to be the first to know what interesting and good things may or may not be happening to their son…."

Shinji was close to cracking. Inui could see it, so he pressed his advantage, going in for match point. "Father won't even be in town. He's going to be in Okinawa somewhere. As for Mother," Inui sighed. "She might be there. Assuming of course that a project, or client, or phone call, or something else doesn't come up and make her forget all about it. Which I estimate a 74 percent chance of happening."

Shinji looked shocked beyond belief. "Your own parents won't be there? Oh, Sadaharu, why didn't you tell me to begin with? Of course I'll be there for you. That's very rude, not even taking the time to support your one son. What kind of parents would do such a thing? It just seems wrong…."

Inui let Shinji ramble while he took a moment to gloat internally. Knew that would do it. Game and match to Inui Sadaharu. Too bad I wasn't exaggerating, though. Coming back to himself, Inui gently laid a finger across Shinji's lips. "Shinji. It's all right. I'm used to it. I'll have you there, and that's what's important to me now."

"Just tell me the date and time, and I'll be there." Shinji nodded. He wasn't going to let anything stand in the way of Sadaharu's happiness on his graduation.

Shinji had to appreciate the way that Seigaku did a graduation, he found himself thinking two weeks later, seated in the middle of a crowd of spectators. Everything was organized wonderfully and tastefully arranged so as to achieve maximum comfort and view for both the graduates and guests.

He wasn't really paying attention to any of that at all, except on the most superficial of levels. All of Shinji's attention was focused on one dark-haired individual. And, even though seeing Inui's eyes would've been impossible through his glasses, let alone from this distance…he swore he could see Inui's eyes on him, could feel Inui looking right at him. Which was impossible. Shinji was just another face in the crowd, after all.

Shinji sat through the speeches, the addresses, the presentation of diplomas, all without his eyes ever leaving Inui. He was so happy for his boyfriend…but a little worried, too, and Shinji couldn't help but let his worries distract him a little as the crowd dispersed some, milling around waiting for their particular graduate to come out and find them.

He's going to high school, now. I'll still be in junior high…what if it becomes too troublesome for Sadaharu to have someone younger in his life? What if he goes far away, or…he's going to be mixing with new people; what if he meets someone he likes better, someone who's a better match for him….

Shinji was so lost in his speculations that he didn't see Inui watching him. He did, however, notice when Inui came up to Shinji and wrapped his arms around him. He jumped, startled. "Sadaharu!"

Inui smiled and nuzzled Shinji's neck discreetly, mindful of all the people around them. "You came." He was feeling inordinately happy about that simple fact.

"I told you I would." Shinji turned to smile up at him.

"I know you did. I was watching you, you know."

"So I wasn't hallucinating…I thought I felt you watching me, but I wasn't sure. But if you really were then I wasn't hallucinating at all, and that's a very good thing to know, because otherwise I might be going crazy, and I don't think I'd like to go crazy—"

"Shinji!" Inui cut into Shinji's ramble before he could get too deep into it. "Want to go to our spot? I want to share something with you."

"Is there anything you need to do here?"

"No." Inui shook his head. "I'm finished here, and the team had our party last night. It's just you and me now." He looked around. "Besides, I want to get out of this crowd. I don't like large amounts of people around me."

"Neither do I." Nodding, Shinji grabbed Inui's hand and began leading him out of the seemingly endless sea of humanity, not saying anything until they got clear of the school and were heading down the street. "Does this have to do with that good thing you hinted about awhile ago?"

"The very same."

"Tell me?"

"Not yet." Inui smiled. "There's a very certain way that I want to do this, and I won't be distracted or swayed from it."

"Fine. Have your secret." Shinji did his best to act like he was sulking.

"Trust me, Shinji," Inui said as they entered the part and made for their bench. "There is a 92 percent chance that you will be very happy with what I have to say."

"That certain of yourself, are you?" Shinji sat on their bench, pulling Inui down beside him. "Now. Talk."

"All right." Inui took a deep breath. "Remember that high school I was telling you about quite awhile ago? The one that specializes in sciences?"

Shinji nodded. "Yes, the one that would make you give up tennis. And didn't you say something else about it being a bit too expensive?"

"Well, that's not a problem anymore." Inui took an envelope out of his pocket and stared down at it. "I tested in the highest percentile on their entrance exam, and coupled with my grades, they were impressed enough to give me a scholarship. So…I've chosen my high school."

"Sadaharu, that's wonderful." Shinji smiled. "I'm sure you'll be happy there."

"I would say that the percentages highly favor that assessment, yes." Inui's whole face was lit up in his happiness. "I value my friends and teammates, of course, but there were many ways in which I just could not relate to them. Imagine being in an environment where everyone will understand you, where you don't have to worry about saying something that will make everyone look at you oddly." Inui leaned back some into the bench. "Meeting my new classmates will be very enjoyable, indeed." His smile turned into a grin. "And you know what else it means, too."

"…I see. It sounds like it will be wonderful for you." Shinji had to look away from Inui's beaming face. I was right…I knew it was coming…why did he think that I'd be happy to have him do this? Why is he so happy about it? Swallowing, Shinji forced himself to continue. "I…ummm, you know, you don't have to dance around what you want to say next, you know."

Inui looked at Shinji a little sheepishly. "Was it that obvious that I have more that I want to tell you?"

"To me, yes." Shinji pointedly did not look at Inui, instead staring out over the park. "I have enjoyed my time with you, Sadaharu. A lot. I'm grateful for it and you. There's no need to drag this out any longer, I guess."

"Shinji." Shinji didn't want to think too hard about the tone in Inui's voice. "It sounds almost like…you're breaking up with me?" No! He…he can't be….

"I should be sorry I beat you to it, I guess. But I'm not. I'm not good enough for you anymore now, I can understand that, but please give me the dignity of not having to be dumped on top of it all." Shinji blinked hard. I am not crying! "Let me have this much before you move on and up?"

"Shinji, I think you've come to the wrong conclusion…." Inui fell silent, though Shinji could hear Inui fumbling behind him. "Here." Grabbing Shinji's hand, Inui pressed something hard and round into it.

Shinji opened his hand slowly, and blinked. "A button…?" Turning, he inspected Inui's uniform jacket, and noticed a single button missing. The third one, the one that so many girls would kill to get from a boy…and it was resting in the palm of Shinji's hand. "Sadaharu…?"

"My high school is much closer to Fudomine than Seigaku is." Inui caught Shinji's chin and held it so that Shinji had to look at him. "By the time, I get out, your practice should be coming to an end…I figured that it would be nice to walk home together, or do things together, or…well, whatever you'd like."

Inui could feel himself blushing, but he pressed on, needing to make Shinji understand what he meant. "Because…well, ummm…hey, you know that I like you. A lot. Too much to want us to part ways just because I'm changing schools. And I thought that…that you liked me like that, too."

"I do, Sadaharu…." Shinji's eyes were fixed on Inui's face. "I thought that you wouldn't want me anymore..."

"Never." Inui smiled down at Shinji and folded his hand around the button. "Quite the opposite, actually. I'd like—I feel like a female, saying this—but I'd like to, well…go steady?" He drew in a shaky breath. "Would you like that, Shinji?"

Shinji just looked at Inui, then unable to speak for once, pushed himself up a little and captured Inui's lips in a deep kiss, almost draping himself over Inui as he pressed him back against the bench.

Inui's arms came up to steady Shinji, wrapping around his waist as Shinji's arms went around Inui's neck, holding him close as he pressed kiss after kiss on Inui's willing mouth. Inui, never one to not take advantage of an opportunity, began sliding his hands over Shinji while using his tongue to entice Shinji's into a slightly different dance than the one their bodies were engaged in.

Finally Shinji had to pull back, breathless and trembling a little. Inui gazed at Shinji, seeing the effect that their kissing, that b his /b kisses had had on Shinji, and he felt equal parts heat and pride shoot through him. "I…I take it that is a yes, then?" Inui noticed then just how breathless b he /b was, and it surprised him some.

"Of course it is." Shinji had to look away a little. "I…I like you too. A lot. And I want to stay with you. It would be…wrong, to end it now. I don't want it to end, and you don't, so it makes sense to…keep going."

It was hardly a declaration of love, but Inui found that he had never heard such wonderful words before in his life, not felt this incredibly happy.

And maybe one day…we can say it to each other….

--The End--