One Year In Four
Disclaimer: I don't own Tezuka and Fuji. But they definitely own each other
Warnings: Gen at the moment, but this is good old shounen ai
Pairings: TeFu (I'm loyal and biased… they're the epitome of love)
a/n: edited chapter (19/9/07). Took down the replies to reviews. Sorry, but I just happened to have this random urgency to organize things. I still have a copy of my replies to reviews. I'll just have to click the 'reply' button on the Story Reviews Page, I suppose
oOo
Some people believe that without history, our lives amount to nothing. At some point, we'll have to choose: do we fall back to what we know, or do we step forward to something new? It's hard not to be haunted by our past. Our history is what shapes us, what guides us. Our history resurfaces time after time. So we have to remember, sometimes the most important history is the history we're making today.
oOo
OYIF calendar: February 8, 2008
Chapter One
Thumping his fingers impatiently against the armrest of a double-seated couch, Fuji eyed the door anxiously. The doorbell was surely taking a long time to ring, he thought sourly. He felt a tug at the hem of his sleeve and found himself facing Eiji's cheerful countenance. Immediately, Fuji stopped his drumming fingers and concealed any trace of agitation in his face. "Yes?" he asked, smiling.
Pouting slightly, Eiji put out a cordless phone. "A call for you…"
Thoughtfully, Fuji reached the phone.
"That's Ya-"
"Moshi moshi, Fuji Syusuke speaking."
"Syusuke," came a lighthearted voice.
The smile on Fuji's face was as bright as ever. "Reiji," he said shortly. "How are you?"
There was a chuckle from the other end of the line. "Still as handsome as ever… I called to tell you that my plane leaves in six hours…"
The blue orbs fluttered open. "Really?" asked Fuji happily. "I'll see you soon then, Reiji."
"You missed me, of course?" said the good-natured voice. "I've only been gone for a week."
Letting out a small laugh, Fuji said, "I missed you, yes…"
The person on the other line laughed as well. "Wasn't it Kikumaru who answered the phone?"
"Ahh," affirmed Fuji cheerfully. "I told you about a reunion, remember? That's the one that I've been planning for my birthday…"
"Oh, that," was the rather cold response. There was a short pause. "I'll see you soon, love."
"Ahh… soon," said Fuji, smiling as he hung up. Looking around him, he realized that Oishi, Eiji and himself were the only ones left in the living room. "Where are the others?"
Oishi smiled genially. "We just finished the movie and they're all upstairs now."
"Nya," called Eiji, raising brow. "Wasn't that Yanada?"
"Hn," said Fuji cheerily. "Are you going upstairs now?"
Frowning, Eiji peered at the blue-eyed man closely. "Is Yanada coming home?"
"Ahh," nodded Fuji. "Anyway, if you're going to bed- "
"Is he staying here as well?" asked Eiji curiously.
Furrowing his brows, Fuji shook his head. "No. He has his own home, remember? But he'll be dropping by occasionally. He can't stay anyway as long as you're all here."
"Ah!" said Eiji, beaming. "That's good."
"What?"
"Nothing!" said Eiji brightly. "Oishi… let's sleep now, ne? Goodnight, Fujiko!" He tugged at Oishi's arms and began dragging the latter upstairs.
Entertained by Eiji's childishness, Fuji chuckled. "Goodnight."
The clock across the room indicated eleven thirty. Fuji leaned his head against the back rest of the couch and smiled to himself. Yanada was coming back after a week-long stay in Australia. He curled his legs beneath him. Yes, he did miss Yanada very much. With his boyfriend around, everything was just so easy and comfortable. Fuji glanced at the clock again. Then, there was the reunion that he planned for his birthday. His friends were at his house except – lines formed in his forehead. What was taking so long?
The person whom he was waiting for was never tardy – until then, that was. And he promised to come. That person never broke a promise. Almost.
"You're coming to Japan, aren't you?" asked Fuji in a friendly voice. "Be here. We all want to hear your success story."
"My schedule is very tight," said the calm, detached voice.
Fuji unconsciously gripped the phone cord tightly. "We haven't seen you in years. And even Echizen will come.
" Fuji – "
"Sometimes, you have learn to take a break," cutting off rather rudely. "It'll be just us, the old team. I promise that there'll be no fans…" He laughed. "Inui and I will scare them away. Just three weeks, is that too much to ask?"
"Even in Japan – "
Fuji's smile faltered a little. "Tell Honda-san that she can come and visit you if she wants…" Then, he creased his brows as he thought he heard a sigh from the other end of the line. "Tezuka, I'll talk to your manager and – "
"No," was the toneless answer. "I'll come."
The smile on Fuji's lips broadened. "For three weeks?"
"Hai," was the quick response.
"Great," said Fuji thankfully. "We'll see you soon, then."
Fuji bolted up and stared at the door. Did he just hear the doorbell ring? Frowning, he waited. Then, there came a long buzzing noise. Putting on a normal smile, Fuji got to his feet and opened the door.
At first, there was silence, eerie and deafening as blue eyes met with bespectacled brown ones. But Fuji managed to make his smile bigger as he said, "You came."
The taller man nodded quietly. "I'm sorry, I'm late. The flight was –"
"Delayed?" said Fuji, filling the sentence in. "I'm glad that you're all right, then." He took the other man's coat and placed it on the hanger.
As he was ushered to the living room, Tezuka gazed around.
"They're all upstairs, sleeping," Fuji said, answering an unvoiced question. He smiled placidly. "I suppose you haven't eaten yet?"
"Ahh."
Fuji offered an affable smile. "I'll fix some ramen and tea." He ducked out of sight and entered the western-style kitchen.
oOo
In silence, Tezuka watched as Fuji hovered over the stove. Six years was a long time, but it didn't seem to have changed the feminine looks of Seigaku's resident tensai. In fact, Tezuka couldn't help but think, Fuji looked even more feminine now than he had years back. The cerulean-eyed man was even more slight and slender than when Tezuka had last seen Fuji. But what was amazing was how Fuji was able to retain that eternal smile…
Setting a steaming bowl of ramen on the counter and a cup of tea, Fuji sat across Tezuka. "You promised to stay for three weeks," said Fuji pointedly.
"Ahh," said Tezuka. "Is everyone here?"
Fuji shook his head. "Taka-san called this morning to tell us that his wife is laboring for their first child." He coaxed a sincere smile. "He called this afternoon to share that he now has a baby girl."
Tezuka gulped the ramen, rather wide-eyed. He felt himself surprised by the genuine smile.
"We can visit his wife in the hospital tomorrow," said Fuji cheerfully, while pouring some tea for himself. "It's great, isn't it? One of us now has a family…"
"How about the others?" asked Tezuka sedately.
"All present," said Fuji, smiling as he watched the other man. "You haven't heard from them, have you? Well, you know about Echizen. Inui is now a head researcher of a sports company… He also managed to convince Momo and Kaidoh to run their own tennis club and those two are now, surprisingly, doing well in the partnership. But they still do fight a lot… Eiji now owns a pet shop and Oishi is studying veterinary medicine. They live together, by the way…"
With sharp brown eyes, Tezuka looked up.
Patiently smiling, Fuji shook his head. "They're just living comfortably and efficiently. I mean, Eiji doesn't need to rush to an animal clinic if his animals got sick. It's good for business, too," he said in soft words. "How about you, Tezuka? What have you been doing in the past six years?"
Tezuka chewed down the last of the noodles and sipped from his tea, quite aware that azure eyes were upon him. "You already now," he said coldly.
Fuji lifted his head. "All I know is that you're a four-time Wimbledon champion and that you're a wonder to the world. Then… there's your celebrated relationship with Japanese fashion icon, Honda Megumi. Apart from that, I know nothing."
Steely amber eyes set upon the smaller man. "My life is now an open book." His brows twitched slightly as he drank his tea.
"Is it?" asked Fuji, smiling jovially. "All the things we know are the ones that you choose to tell. But I know for one that you don't like speaking much."
Frowning at Fuji's bright countenance, Tezuka went, "How about you? What have you been doing?"
Quite complacently, Fuji paused to think. "Hmm… I'm doing photography. I usually travel to take pictures on nature for an international science magazine."
Nodding, Tezuka finished his tea. Of course, he knew of Fuji's passion and talent. He admired it so much. He even had some copies of the magazine that Fuji was working for and he was glad that there was finally a fixed goal for the tensai…
"You're done," said Fuji as soon as Tezuka finished the tea. "I'll show you to our room."
Tezuka would have thanked the other man until he realized what Fuji had said. "Our room?" asked Tezuka tersely.
The smile that Fuji wore faltered a little. "Yes… we drew lots to see who was rooming with whom – except for Eiji and Oishi, who can't be separated." He arched a brow at Tezuka and smiled. He rose to lead the other man upstairs, presenting the latter with a vast space for a bed and a room. "The bed is king size." He eyed Tezuka inquisitively. "You may decide whether or not to share it."
The certainty in Tezuka's face wavered.
"I'll get a futon, then," said Fuji, seeing the strain on the other's forehead. He began to walk to the closet.
"No," called Tezuka firmly. "We can share."
If the resident tensai were surprised at all, he showed none of it. Instead, he smiled casually and said, "I'll take the side near the balcony. Would that be all right?"
Pressing his lips, feeling his head throb in tension, Tezuka nodded.
oOo
Was there ever a time when you fell in love with a person, but had to let go? When you thought you moved on, Lady Fate toys with you and makes you meet with that one person again. Other people, other loves may have come and gone through your life and yet you never forget the way that your heart used to leap or how your body used to tremble at the presence of that one person. Then, you realize that your love for him had always been there. That person is your constant. Simply put: he is your soul-mate, your one true love.
oOo
a/n: Hmm, do you remember the US vs. Japan Invitational Tournament? Right before Sengoku's game… there was a scene with Ryoma and Kevin… Then, Tezuka was walking and he stopped to watch. I was thinking that this scene is so going to be perfect if Fuji comes… then, Fuji came! Kyaaaaaaaah!!! So for me it's really official, Tezuka, Fuji and Ryoma make up one happy and very beautiful and very tennis-loving family. Hope you could review!