One Year In Four
oOo
Disclaimer: me no richie therefore PoT me no ownie. Mou, I wish I could be adopted by Konomi-sensei or by the animators…
Warnings: yaoi, lemon… OOCness, presence of OCs…
Pairings: TeFu (I'm loyal and biased… they're the epitome of love) and a very, very minute implication of the GP
Summary: Fuji and Tezuka had a rift. They both think they moved on. Then comes Fuji's twenty-fourth birthday (sixth, actually) and he invites the old team over. The past resurfaces, should they seize it or leave it? nya, this is a leap year gift to our favorite tensai from our favorite buchou. Enjoy:3 (third settlement based on Fallen Angel and A Fine Week.)
a/n: nya, nya, you'd like this chappie… I just know it… Btw… BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZAI! Ms. Japan won the crown in Ms. Universe… woohoo!!! I really was sulky when Ms. Japan was only First Runner up last year… BANZAI! BANZAI! (Ms. Philippines won Ms. Photogenic…)
Thin-K – nya, you should be studying for exams… here's the update… but you really should study for your exams! Although, I'm really glad you think this fic is good. :3
Munoi – nya, sankyuu… I hope you can read this fic if you have the time. :3
Ai-Kusabana – well, they are out of school so I thought it would be strange to call them senpai… well, I almost did make him call them senpai, I had to check that part several times to make sure I didn't type senpai… -.-" TeFu are pretty much in the same boat, ne? And I think they're smelling each other's pheromones, and it's really, really drawing them to each other. (Has it ever happened that you have a crush on someone, then you just know that he's present? Well, that's not entirely because you really, really like him, that's mostly because you inhale the familiar pheromone. It's sort of the human radar. ü) Syu-chan still loves buchou, syu-chan is being in denial, haha! Well… GP is like that, weird them. Echizen was going to get Ponta:3
Miji-Chuu - -pat,pat- that's all right… sneaking is bad. NOT:3
Chrono Breaker – well, yes… 7-5 is pretty close, but I like to think that it's always 7-6 whenever they play, you know… Fuji is Tezuka's ultimate and strongest rival. And, of course, he was playing seriously… that's Tezuka he's playing against:3 and it's sad that they haven't played in the manga. –sniff- Nyer… let's rid the world of yanadas and Hondas! It's to be solid TeFu, because I'm a hardcore TeFu fan. :3
Apythii – mou, I'd like to make you wait some more… but… well, here's the next one:3
Ketchup for Blood – I wanted to make Fuji win as well… you know, something like Tezuka getting a taste of Fuji's wrath… but, yeah, that would have made no sense. And sankyuu… :3 –hugs you-
alchemistgrl09 – mou, you are on summer break? Evil. Can't update THAT soon… and, well, thanks. :3
PyroSiren – woot… but Fuji's still a virgin. And Tezuka is as well… we can't have that, so I'll just leave that to your imagination, ne. I saw one table of sex positions in a mall… it's about the same size and format as the table of periodic elements in a science lab… -twitchtwitch- eww to tick infested stick and, yes, please ask Robbie to get it and give it to Honda (exactly because it's eww). Hmm, well… Tezuka will blame himself sooo much for leaving Fuji, but Fuji is just like that, ever accepting, so let's just wait and see… Woot, vanilla and orange is equal to Tezuka and Fuji… hmm. –hugs you-
wirbelwind – nya, maybe I'm psychic and I can hear your thoughts. Or not (but my dreams do come true…). :3 yeps, very complicated situation, indeed… but it will soon dissolve into a rather simple one. How come you can be so patient? I can't even keep away from the PC… -sniffs-
cassie – sometimes its nice to be reading loads of chappies for a fic, too. :3 and how can you abstain? I can't! –sniff- I need to practice patience, too, as school's on the way. Well, if the pc is right next to my bed and parents are not home… I really can't abstain, can I? hmm… lemon is in the 9th chappie and I'm done writing it… :3 of course, kawaii tezufuji is love!!! They totally won't be able to resist each other in this chappie. –grins- and about the man in the taxi window, I'm really not supposed to tell you yet, but I think you already know…
luvcloud307- yeps, probably an easy read because of the old team… and here's chapter five! Enjoy it:3
maldita08 – that's from kzone, nya. Funny article, teehee. :3 being in denial is good. For now. KIKUMARU BEAM! –Fuji gets hit- COOL DRIVE! –Tezuka gets blue flaming aura for pinnacle of true love- yay! This chappie results:3 but there's gonna be Yanada here and Honda as well… btw, yes, half-naked Tezuka is just… hot! but I think half-naked Fuji is irresistible as well… I mean: 'Tezuka, look! Can't you see the smooth and creamy skin glowing under the rays of the moon? Can't you see the slender body so lithe and graceful?' yeps, irresistible like that. –evil cackle-:3
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
Chapter Five
"Sake?"
Furrowing his brows, Tezuka suspiciously eyed the porcelain cup of liquid in Inui's hands.
Chuckling, Momoshiro appeared in front of the former buchou. "It's really sake, buchou."
"Would a taste disrupt our playing shape?" asked Ryoma curiously as he had been handed with a shot of the spirit.
Taking the cup from Inui, Tezuka took a sip. "No, it won't."
"Oishi! Hayaku! Tell them the news," Eiji's loud voice boomed in the living room as he dragged their former fukubuchou down the stairs.
"Hai, hai," said Oishi, smiling patiently as he dropped to an empty chair. "Demo… where's Fuji?"
Feeling his throat burn with the alcohol, Tezuka grimaced bitterly. "With Yanada," he said briefly.
Oishi's brows twitched a little as he discerned Tezuka. However, the latter seemed occupied with the drink at hand. Thoughtfully, Oishi turned away and started, "Atobe called this morning. He asked if we would like to join a little reunion that he prepared for the old teams that were part the US-Japan invitational tournament camp in junior high… it's on the twenty-first."
"Fushuu… why now?" asked Kaidoh.
"Ah, well," said Oishi, "he said that this is one of the rare times that most of us are all here in Japan…"
"Mn," started Echizen, frowning at his shot of sake. "How does he know where we are?"
Inui tapped his palmtop and looked up. "He is rich and has plenty of affiliates. He, of course, gets help from Oshitari."
"Nya! Well?" asked Eiji, glancing around enthusiastically. "Are we going?"
"We could, ne, buchou?" asked Momoshiro eagerly, his purple eyes were glowing.
"Oh, and," said Oishi as though just remembering something. His voice faltered noticeably as he said, "We are supposed to bring dates…"
"Fushuu… doushite?" asked Kaidoh, frowning.
Oishi smiled apologetically. "Well," he said, "Atobe said that who we are with right now is part of the life that we had after junior high… he says that it's just socially proper and obvious."
"Well, could we? Could we?" asked Eiji whose eyes were now round with anticipation.
A crease formed at Tezuka's forehead. Dates? Well, of course, Atobe would think that way. But Tezuka didn't think he wanted to bring any at the moment. The obvious thing to do would be to decline the invitation himself, but eyes turned to him expectantly. He pressed his lips. "If you want to," he said in resignation. Sometimes, he just hoped that his old teammates wouldn't see him eternally as a buchou. Downing his sake, Tezuka gritted his teeth as he heard footsteps shuffle behind him.
"Saa… Reiji, you really should go home now," went Fuji's mellow voice.
"Don't be late tomorrow, love," came the lighthearted answer.
Tezuka raised a brow by a mere fraction of a millimeter and swirled the cup in his hand. Love, thought Tezuka scornfully. The word of endearment that Yanada used caused Tezuka's grip to tighten around the china. Then, hazel eyes clashed with gray ones. And the former Seigaku-buchou felt the ire increase in his body. He didn't take his gaze away, however. Instead, he focused his eyes and scrutinized the darker man. No. He hadn't been mistaken. The man that he saw at the –
The thought was cut short as Yanada pulled Fuji to a kiss. Tezuka watched silently with a crushing hold on the porcelain. The kiss had been long and, as far as Tezuka could see, quite heated and demanding. Tezuka couldn't conceal a scowl as he saw Fuji being pulled closer to Yanada's body.
Abruptly, Yanada unglued himself from the tensai. He gazed shortly at Tezuka before bringing his full attention to Fuji. "Tomorrow, all right?" said Yanada.
Glowering, Tezuka took a shot of the sake. Whatever was with tomorrow anyway that it sounded such a big deal to Yanada? Then, causing Tezuka to gulp down more sake, Fuji smiled cheerfully and nodded while showing his boyfriend to the door.
Tezuka's jaws clicked as he glared at the closed door. Yanada was a lion that marked its territory around Fuji. But Tezuka wouldn't just let things rest; he was more than willing to take the challenge if only to be awarded with the right to love and protect Fuji.
Feeling his heart pump more blood than ever, Tezuka turned steely to the ricebeer as Fuji joined him at the couch. He didn't dare meet the azure eyes lest too much of his feelings showed. More than that, though, he didn't think he could stop himself from trying to kiss Fuji right then and there if only to prove that he was a much better man than Yanada. But he still had to bear with the fiery desire to kiss Fuji, because he still had to prove to himself that he was a much better man than Yanada.
Quite cheerily, Fuji turned to Inui. "May I have some sake as well?"
Inui obliged, pouring some of the spirit into a spare cup.
Quietly, Fuji sipped and satisfactorily smacked his thin red lips, unaware that he had caused Tezuka to take another gulp of the ricebeer.
"Tomorrow's Valentine's Day, isn't it?" asked Inui offhandedly. "Fuji, isn't tomorrow your anniversary with Yanada as well?" Inui tapped his palmtop pointedly and his eyes wandered to Tezuka's direction.
"Ahh," said Fuji pensively. "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day… However," he raised an eyebrow, "how did you know that it's our anniversary?"
Grinning, Eiji piped in, "Well, you did mention that you might excuse yourself on Valentine's Day because of that…"
Knitting his brows together, Fuji looked dubious. Nonetheless, he nodded, not noticing that the man by his side had reached for another cup of the alcoholic drink.
"Mm, do we have more sake in the container?" asked Momoshiro, grinning childishly. "We could play a game, ne?"
"Hoi! Hoi!" cheered Eiji. "I never! We could play 'I never,' nya? "
"But isn't sake – " Oishi stopped in mid-sentence owing to the fact that Eiji had flashed narrow eyes at him. "Ahh," said Oishi, whose brows were twitching. "That might be a good idea…"
Fuji turned to his side. "Is that all right, Tezuka?"
Tezuka gulped, struggling to keep his sanity intact as his eyes fell on the mildly smiling lips. What would it be like to kiss Fuji after six years? "Ahh," he said curtly, knowing that Fuji was awaiting the response. Tezuka pressed his lips, wondering if he were drunk already. However, he doubted that. His head was still surprisingly clear – save for the thoughts of Fuji.
"I'll start," said Inui monotonously. "I never fell in love."
Uncertainty could be seen in the men's faces, but both Fuji and Tezuka drank to that as well as confused-looking Eiji and Oishi.
Snickering, Momoshiro went, "I never kissed a man in the lips…"
Calmly, Fuji and Tezuka sipped off their sake.
"Fushuu," hissed Kaidoh, looking either slightly grumpy or very thoughtful. "I never had a boyfriend…"
Both frowning, Fuji and Tezuka reached for their shots and gulped down the spirit.
Lowering his head, avoiding anyone's eyes, Ryoma grumbled, "I never had a crush on buchou."
At that, Fuji's smile widened. Quite placidly, he took a shot of the ricebeer.
Looking rather discomfited, Oishi glanced almost apologetically around him. "I never had to look after Fuji…"
A bemused-looking Tezuka drained his sake. As he replaced a cup on the table, he caught Fuji's slightly revealed eyes. Quick in understanding, Tezuka crossed his arms. Neither he nor Fuji needed to be a genius to know that they were being targets of the game.
Beaming brightly, Fuji rested his chin at the back of his hand. "I never was intimidated by Tezuka."
To the tensai's satisfaction, everyone in the room except for Tezuka and Fuji reached sullenly for the alcohol.
Looking as staid as ever, Tezuka said, "I never aim to get Tezuka and Fuji drunk after this game."
"Nya," said a pouting Eiji, who had just a shot of the spirit. "How did you know?"
"Saa…" said a chuckling Fuji. "You weren't being subtle about your questions at all…" He smiled at Eiji in a rather confounded way. "But why do you want to get us drunk?"
"Some say that alcohol brings out a person's true thoughts and emotions," said Inui in a usual informative tone, "We wanted to see yours."
"Because," Echizen added hastily, "You are the ones who seldom really reveal what you feel… We were just curious."
If Fuji and Tezuka thought that Echizen had sounded defensive, neither said anything.
"But we can still play, can't we?" asked Eiji beseechingly. When both Tezuka and Fuji assented, the redhead flashed his teeth almost too happily. "I never had sex."
A scandalized Oishi shook his head disapprovingly. The youngest of the lot bowed his head, but acted as though the thought was just beyond him. The purple-eyed Momoshiro gazed around, as if ready to catch a culprit. Kaidoh hissed nonchalantly and fixed his eyes on the floor. Inui's hands were scribbling on the palmtop. The smile on Fuji's face was just as content as ever while the former buchou was wearing an emotionless mask.
No one took a shot of the sake.
Looking extremely enlightened, Eiji grinned. "Nya, Momo, it's your turn, nya…"
"I never…"
oOo
"Excuse me."
Much to Fuji's amusement, Inui took off from the living room and noticeably staggered upstairs. "Perhaps Inui could tolerate his juices more than alcohol, ne?" Fuji said, turning an inquiring eye at the man beside him. "Saa… this is no longer fun with just the two of us, ne, Tezuka?" Fuji smiled as their former buchou nodded quietly. Two hours of the game had passed and the others have conceded and rushed to their bedrooms, pleading headache and dizziness.
Fuji watched as Tezuka rose from the settee and started for the second floor. The brown-eyed man's steps were still dignified and purposeful. Nothing on Tezuka's countenance displayed the influence of alcohol. But Fuji could just smell it – the bittersweet scent of the ricebeer lingering from Tezuka's red, desirable lips.
Holding back a chuckle, Fuji wondered if he were the drunk one. No, he thought. He always prided himself with his high alcohol tolerance. He took longer strides than Tezuka up the stairs so that he reached the landing first. Well, Tezuka's lips were red and desirable… And Fuji, for one, knew how well those lips kissed and how well Tezuka's tongue probed… He frowned as he heard a flat ring of a phone and he cast Tezuka a questioning gaze.
Tezuka's face was unchanged. He dipped a hand into the pocket of his pants. He held out his mobile and pressed it to his ears. "Megumi," he said curtly.
Teal eyes opened for a split second at the sound of the name. Not knowing why, Fuji smiled casually and lingered, leaning his back against the wall.
"Iie," came Tezuka's terse reply. "How many time do I have to –"
Fuji looked down to the tiled floor. He could hear the coldness and the detachment in the former buchou's tone. He crossed his arms and brought an index finger to his chin in contemplation. Could Tezuka and Honda possibly be drifting apart? His heart felt a sudden squeeze. His mind tried to argue, but couldn't win against the inexplicable delight that Fuji felt at the thought.
"Megumi," was Tezuka's reprimanding tone.
Craning his neck, Fuji looked at Tezuka.
"Think whatever you want," said Tezuka in short, cutting words. He flicked his phone shut and slipped it back to his pocket.
Half-smiling, Fuji wondered what was bothering Honda. Perhaps, she was piqued by the fact that he and Tezuka were staying under the same roof. After what happened six years ago, Tezuka told Fuji that Honda did know that the two men used to be together. Fuji couldn't help but feel contempt; Honda had pushed herself into what could have been a wonderful relationship. But Fuji hid his musings from Tezuka; instead, Fuji assured the latter that the information didn't really matter anymore. Fuji, however, was able to figure that he had been a threat to Honda, at least around the time they spent in high school.
"Kuni-chan, why won't you kiss me?" asked Honda, tugging at Tezuka's collar.
The tensai, mildly smiling, happened to have passed by the couple at lunch as the two shared bento at one of the school benches. The buchou looked up, met Fuji's eyes and turned to Honda. Then, Tezuka shook his head. But Honda was a smart, quick-witted woman. She had seen the slight figure walk before them and the little exchange of glances.
Honda narrowed her eyes and looped an arm around Tezuka's neck and pulled her boyfriend to a long, disarming kiss.
The tensai would have stopped in shock, but he still had his pride left. He kept his slight smile and ambled on. He didn't expect that Honda would be so utterly possessive. And she sounded so whiny just then. How Fuji wanted to slap her and whisk Tezuka away. But he couldn't. Slapping someone was not in his nature. Besides, he couldn't hurt Tezuka like that; there was always the softness in the buchou's eyes in Honda's presence, there was always a shadow of a smile. At least, he had a consolation; from the way Tezuka had looked at him earlier, he knew that Tezuka wouldn't do anything to deliberately hurt him.
"A lover's quarrel, ne, Tezuka?" noted Fuji, smiling just as usual as Tezuka came up to him.
The bespectacled eyes stared stonily, but Fuji smiled sweetly. The former buchou did not say a word, but he planted a heavy gaze at Fuji's countenance.
Smiling complacently, Fuji stretched his arms and patted Tezuka's shoulders affably. Tilting his head, he studied Tezuka's face. "Do you often argue? Your okaasan – " Fuji's eyes dilated; the rest of his sentences was drowned out by the bittersweet taste of sake in Tezuka's red, desirable lips.
Shivering down to his knees, Fuji wrapped his arms around Tezuka's head and pushed forward so that he could feel Tezuka's chest hammer against his. He opened his mouth, allowing the other man to deepen the kiss. Shutting his eyes, Fuji let himself be owned by Tezuka's searching kisses, by Tezuka's familiar warmth, by Tezuka's dizzying smell.
Tauntingly, Fuji fondled with the other man's lips. Every time their tongues met, he could feel a surge of electricity shoot through his body. Submerging himself deep in the awe-inspiring sensation of Tezuka's mouth owning his, Fuji wondered if they could stay that way, kissing till they were too tired to continue, kissing till they were out of breath. His hands raked through Tezuka's soft, rather unruly hair. He didn't think he would crumble easily in one simple contact with Tezuka, but there he was responding fiercely to each of Tezuka's fervent kisses. "Kunimitsu…" he murmured against Tezuka's throat, his hands traveling to Tezuka's back; the name had come out so naturally, even without his thinking.
Tezuka fed on Fuji's lips even more passionately as he heard his name so sweetly uttered by Fuji's melodious voice. How long had he been dreaming of the time when Fuji would kiss him again and whisper his name? The time had spun so long that even Tezuka couldn't remember. He held Fuji closer, sucking at Fuji's tongue gently but longingly. "Syusuke," whispered Tezuka, feeling his mind swivel, "I – "
Suddenly, almost painfully, Fuji jumped back and stared. Panting for breath, he murmured, "Your phone… it's ringing again." He sensed reluctance coming from the other man, but Fuji shook his head.
Sighing, Tezuka loosened his hold on Fuji and got his phone. He saw the number on the screen and he gritted his teeth. "Megumi," he said curtly.
Easing out of Tezuka's arms, Fuji gaped. He could just feel his body freeze. Yes, Honda was still in Tezuka's life and he was out of it.
Without saying a word, he crept inside the room that they shared. His body felt limp whereas it had been so alive just a minute ago. He was rolling out a futon when the door opened and his eyes met Tezuka's. Trying to sound conversational, Fuji said, "I'll sleep in this…" He indicated the futon. "You can take the bed."
Tezuka didn't say anything, but gave his usual piercing gazes. All the same, he didn't object.
Fuji couldn't have seen the ailed look in Tezuka's eyes as the brown-eyed man walked to the direction of the bathroom. To Fuji, it was pretty clear that if they shared the bed, things would get out of hand. But he knew that no apologies would be accepted for what happened; anything of the sort would be a lie. Neither man was sorry for the kiss; both were sorry for the situation they were in.
Without even changing, Fuji dropped his head to the pillow. He couldn't get rid of the desire to kiss Tezuka's lips again, to be back to that familiar ground. He knew that he already had Yanada, but kissing Tezuka did not feel wrong at all…
Fuji bit his lips, his teeth sinking into the pink flesh. He hoped that it would bleed. He hoped that the pain would bring him back to his senses. He was just drunk. Yes, drunk. He was just drunk with the intoxicating smell of Tezuka. He was drunk with the raw heat that consumed his body in Tezuka's presence. He was just drunk with everything that had to do with Tezuka.
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: Should I have used brandy for I never? Or would that have been less effective? Or was sake a bit too harsh for a game? Well it did have good effects (Tezuka sure had a lot of sake)… let me just say: IN YOUR FACES, Yanada and Evil Honda! Fuji-Tezuka kissu, kissu:3 Darn, I just realized that Yanada did kiss Fuji… but, darn it, Fuji loved the kiss with Tezuka! And, darn, Honda kissed Tezuka here as well… I just realized that this chappie is full of kisses… could you hate Evil Honda more? Well, actually, you could.
I'm done writing the lemon, btw. :3 And, hai, Tezuka is still –ahem- a virgin. (Do you now see why it's difficult to write the lemon?) I made Tezuka a –coughs- virgin because I do believe that a person should at least give himself to a one true love (if it's outside the sanctity of marriage). Besides… if he had stayed a night with Honda… ewwwwwwwww… -pukes-
And about Atobe's little reunion, well… I did say the old teams, which could include the school team, not just the people who actually took part in the camp.
Sake- Japanese ricebeer, fine… I had to italicize it because it could have been mistaken for the English word 'sake'
Doushite – why?