One Year In Four
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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)
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.)
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a/n: omg.omg.omg. genius 350 fried my brain. Frozen cephalon. Where is Fuji Syusuke? Tezuka Kunimitsu needs a hug, now!!! –momentarily stops typing and drags Fuji to hug Tezuka- WHAT THE HECK!!! Why does Tezuka always have to… fufufu. At least Fuji knows what Tezuka was doing. –tells Fuji to hug Tezuka tighter- darnit. Me wanna cry. Waah. –wails and bawls- TEZUKA KUNIMITSU NO BAKA!!! –runs away from Fuji who starts to glare for having called Tezuka stupid- fufufu.
-sweatdrop- I really should have been studying for math instead of reading the manga… oh, well.
Have you brought deadly weapons? Well, I do hope so.
Oyif Calendar: February 22, 2008 (just a week before Fuji's birthday!!!)
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Answers to reviews:
ginta – as I might have told you already. YES!!! By all means, please make a doujin based on oyif. But please make sure that you cite this fic and you SHOW ME THE PICTURES!!! Wait. What was that link again, the one on tefu doujins? I also loooove akira hojo. :3 –huggies-
serenitatis417 – I. well. Am shocked that you feel sorry for Honda. But, honestly, it isn't at all a love gone wrong. I don't like doing that because I might feel sorry for the antagonist myself. Just you read on, ne? nya. Yanada plus Honda is too evil. I don't think the world will like that…fwahaha.
nejilover – oh. That's sad. And strange. And thanks for reading this fic! –hugs you-
Thelchtereia – well, since you never get tired, I'd say that again: TEZUFUJI IS LOVE:3 nah. I don't think the women can break tefu apart. Yes. There'll be more angst after all the fluff, so yes. And I swear I won't disappear on you.
Sweet Obsidian Rain – yes. Sooo sweet and adorable and cuddly. I just love them. Don't you? Hope you've prepared something sharp with you.
xoHakugei – don't worry, even if this chapter will make you angry, there's still some goodness in it. :3 well, I did like Fuji's outfit myself! I did most research on it, I think. I'm so glad that you loved that last chappie. Well… it just had to be relaxing especially because of this.
Miji-Chuu – there might have been lucky 777, but there's also Friday the thirteenth… you must find the time!!! WRITE:3
kunimitsu4shusuke – nya, I got your name right this time. And, I told you, you could write a tezufuji poem in Filipino. :3
Potter's Wifey – mou. I wish you'd love this chappie as well… but I'm rather dubious.
BluePhoenixFairy – woot! Thank you:3 I LOVE the pairings as well. They're about the only ones I can write about.
Animestar73 – hmm… everything that Tezuka will be doing will be very refreshing, I'm sure. But I don't think this chappie would be refreshing, though. I've seen those in youtube… but do please share the doujins and fics. :3 thank you in advance. –hugs- don't mistake in giving me a fujiryo title though (or tezuryo for that matter) because I might die (indigestion).
Kyoka – I don't think you've reviewed for me before. -.- but now I'm glad that you did. What kind of stuff have you read recently? Deathfics (you write a lot of them)? Well, of course, this would be different from deathfics. Woot, thanks for taking up the challenge! Yes, please do give me links to doujins!
Ketchup for Blood – so glad you pointed out the Japanese stuff. It's sad, though, that you can't do the challenge… and I'm so surprised that you don't watch the PoT anime. Oh, well. But, well, some people do say that the anime is crack. Hehe.
SkySurf – of course Fuji is significant in Tezuka's life. Of course he is. :3
Cryzzel – woot, longish review. I always enjoy them since I ramble a lot myself. Haha. Sarap. Well, of course you should know that since Filipino food are also very good. I can't readily affirm your suspicions about proposal and such. Nya… they do resemble each other in really, really good angles. Yes, they do. And then there's the belief that you choose a partner who has a semblance to you for genetic preservation. Nya, this pair is really canon. It's a classic. :3 but it never fails to entertain. -curtsies for the compliments- 'general hospital' lol. And I'll make this up to chapter nineteen plus an epilogue. :3 no, I haven't read Chitose, I have read plenty of Akira Hojo, though. Tezufuji genius. So could you give me the links for the doujins? Sankyuu!
hitsugayasugar – yesh. Sweet dancing tezufuji. BURNINGG LOVEE!!! It's good to hear that you won't write fujiryo… good. Really good. –hugs you- I'm pro-environment as well!!! So sad though that I can't join Greenpeace since I'm taking up a molecular biology and biotech course. They say that it's a conflict of ideas…
Shia Nosake – thanks that you think I am being subtle. I really do try hard. I don't have anything against women, either. In fact, I'm a feminist. But, yes, I can't tolerate people who do/say nonsense. Actually, at the lemon, I was like: don't do it don't do it don't do it. I did it anyway. :3 I heart Marui! I really meant for that to be funny. –hearts Marui- Amane reminds me of a really, really lame joker whose name is amanel. So I really like Amane as well. Fwahahaha. Nya, don't worry, I enjoy reading long reviews since I ramble a lot myself. :3 as for the intriguing pairings… I am not really a fan of these, but the ideas amuse me: AtobeOshitari, IbuRyo, KevinRyo (it's my best friend's idea), MomoKai (but I like inuikai more, of course, just goes with the hatred-turned-love thing), TakaAkutsu… yeah. Strange, I know. The first two in this list are pairs that I'm really considering to read on. I'm a firm TezuFuji fan, though, with a drop of GP and SanaYu in my blood.
PyroSiren – yes. I did call Tachibana blond. He's blond in the nationals… My best friend just cringes whenever I offer her a fanfic. And she's trying to convince me out of writing a tezufuji vampire fic. she's asking me to treat it as a tezufuji fic, but putting in different names and in the manga section of fictionpress so that she could read it. somehow, I don't understand that. So I must say that her effort is futile. Read reddwarfer's latest fic!!! I suppose it'll will make everyone see reason about the entire Echizen thing coming in between tezufuji. Woohoo!!! We can be surrogate mothers for tezufuji babies if they get married, don't you think?
alchemistgrl09 – just a week's interval in updates… I hope I can do that. Yes, yes… here's the update:3
Thin-K – I'm not going to do anything. but a certain annoying thing is going to do something, though. Yes, you should do Danger Mark over my challenge. But I won't forgive you if you allowed Fuji to kill Tezuka. But since you assured me that it won't be a deathfic… well. –huggies!-
okinneko – yeah, I'm back again! –huggies- this chappie, on the other hand, is not going to be as sweet and lovable as the last… but I think it's good enough. :3
amynaoko – woot. Thank you for liking it:3 and I do hope you could send me links for tezufuji doujins. Mou, English is not my lenguaje either. You are español, aren't you? don't worry about your English… enjoy reading:3
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Love scenes, if genuine, are indescribable, for to those who have enacted them, the most elaborate descriptions seem tame and to those who have not, the simplest seems overdone. So romancers have better let imagination paint for them that which is above all art and leave their lovers to themselves during the happiest minutes of their lives. – An Old-Fashioned Girl , Louisa May Alcott
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Chapter Thirteen
"Bromeliads," Tezuka said pointedly as he looked over Fuji's shoulder, eyeing a 3R photograph observantly.
Fuji smiled up at Tezuka. "Good morning," he said lightheartedly, showing the picture to his boyfriend. "Fascinating, aren't they? We're releasing an issue on animal habitats and I thought bromeliads would be quite an example."
Tezuka opened his mouth to agree when a blag came from the corridor.
"Nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Fuji turned his head abruptly as the feline screech was carried through the tiny crack on the door.
"Oishi! Oishi!" was Eiji's agitated voice. "How could she do that? She's foul and mean and - "
Raising a brow, Fuji got to his feet and began to take purposeful steps toward the door. Eiji's sunny disposition sounded as if it were thrown away; if there were some problems –
"I hate Honda!"
Fuji's hand tightened around the doorknob at the sound of the name but he opened the door anyway. Plastering the eternal smile back into place, Fuji brought his eyes to meet Eiji's. "Is there anything wrong?"
Wide-eyed, Eiji blanched at the sight of Fuji. He clutched a copy of the morning paper to his chest, but Fuji had gotten hold of it.
"May I borrow this?" asked Fuji, smiling placidly as he tugged at the broadsheet. "Ne, Eiji?"
The redhead exchanged an uncertain glance with Oishi. When Oishi nodded, his hold on the paper loosened and he hung his head. He stared openly as Fuji's eyes scanned the paper. He couldn't stop his eyes from dilating as he saw of reaction from Fuji. He expected Fuji's azure eyes to be revealed. Instead, upon Fuji's red lips was a big, bright smile – a false one, Eiji knew.
As if to make things worse, Tezuka had come to the doorway, standing beside the eternally smiling tensai. "What's wrong?" he asked, eyes planted on Fuji's face.
"Nothing," said Fuji, beaming sweetly up at Tezuka, clasping the broadsheet, nearly crushing it in his arms.
With deeply creased brows, Tezuka asked, "What happened?" his voice had twice the usual dose of iciness in it.
But Fuji wouldn't be easily staggered by Tezuka's glare. He just continued smiling, meaning to be reassuring.
"What does it say?" Tezuka insisted, trying to catch Fuji's eyes. But Fuji's eyes wandered off across the room, drilling a hole through the wall. "Syusuke – "
Fuji shook his head wordlessly. He inclined his head and went, "The doorbell rang. Could you please get the door?"
Pulling out a heavy sigh, Tezuka realized that Fuji was much too resolute in hiding the matter at hand. But he wanted to know, would insist upon it because he saw the distortion of Fuji's smile, he heard the quirk in Fuji's voice and he felt the dread coming from Fuji's heart. He took a quick gaze at the newspaper but Fuji's arms were covering the headline. "Ahh," Tezuka said finally, turning to his heels and taking long strides down the stairs.
Fingers crumpling the corners of the broadsheet, Fuji nodded at Eiji and Oishi, who had both been watching the exchange. "Thank you," he murmured darkly as he returned the newspaper. He couldn't stop the sickening feeling of woe as it burrowed its way down the pits of his stomach. But he descended the stairs in his usual laidback manner, wearing the usual smile that was glued to his lips.
Tezuka tried to calculate Fuji's expression as he turned upon hearing Fuji's footsteps alternate with his. Fuji's entire countenance was guarded. He attempted again to coax Fuji into sharing the problem, but the effort was futile; Fuji only smiled vaguely. Then, his heart dropped and his fists clenched. He could well remember the day when Fuji had been this way, when Fuji smiled as cheerily as always in spite of his true feelings. That was the day when Fuji drew the curtains between the two of them, that was the day when Fuji had let go of him. Tezuka felt panic rise in his throat, but he swallowed it back, trying to clear his head. Fuji wouldn't let go of him again – at least he hoped and prayed.
"The door," said Fuji matter-of-factly.
Frowning, Tezuka obliged and pulled the door ajar.
"Mitsu!"
Tezuka's brows twitched at the familiar feminine voice. He stared hard as the woman seized his arm. "Honda," he said emotionlessly as he tried to ease out of the woman's embrace. "Honda," Tezuka said in a cold, warning tone as the woman did not let go. Hiding his annoyance, Tezuka tilted his head to see where Fuji was standing. There was no smile in Fuji's face; there was no trace of anger either.
"I'll put on some tea," said Fuji tonelessly. Before Tezuka could say anything, Fuji had gotten inside the kitchen.
His mind garbled, Tezuka wondered at the way Fuji had reacted to Honda's presence. Oddly, Fuji had nothing to say now whereas he had been blatant in his hostility toward Honda mere days ago. Tezuka couldn't understand the reason – unless… Fuji had known that Honda was coming?
"We should wait for Fuji," said Honda, beaming brightly as she dragged Tezuka to the sofa.
"Let go of me," said Tezuka flatly, irked by Honda's clinging arms.
Then, again, Honda refused to do as asked. In fact, she scooted closer to Tezuka as Fuji arrived carrying a tray with cups and saucers of tea. For a moment or two, only the clanks of china could be heard as Fuji set the tea on the coffee-table.
"I'm fairly certain that Fuji would like to hear my news," said Honda, arching a thin brow as she watched Fuji take a seat.
Fuji just smiled unaffectedly at Honda, "I'm sure," he said. But the hollowness of his voice could not have escaped Tezuka.
A speck of light glinted in Honda's eyes.
"Honda," said Tezuka in reproof, glowering as the woman linked their hands together. He tried to wrench his arms away –
"We're going to have a baby."
Tezuka's hands dropped, but he tried to keep his composure, avoiding any form of emotion mar his poker face. "That's a lie," he said coldly. He lifted his head to see Fuji's face, but was as blank and as empty as nothingness. Pressing his lips, Tezuka clenched his fists as he felt his heart wring in pain.
Honda bit her lower lip and gave a faint smile. "I went to consult a doctor… remember that we celebrated my birthday over a month ago? We finished late in my party so I asked you to stay at my apartment…"
Wrinkling his forehead, Tezuka nodded. "Yes, I remember," he replied truthfully yet passively. "But I was in the guest room – "
"I love you," said Honda in an urgent voice. "I always told you that. I wanted you then… so I – even if it was wrong – I – " She halted, pulling a deep breath. "Don't you want this child?" she asked, her brown eyes narrowing with resentment. "I love you. I always – " she tugged at Tezuka's collar and tried a kiss to plant on Tezuka's lips.
But Tezuka failed the attempt. Still wearing the staid façade, he pushed Honda gently away. "I don't believe you," he stated in short, cutting words. In his disdain, he got to his feet and walked over to Fuji, taking the latter's hand.
"I could take another pregnancy test," announced Honda quickly. "You can choose any doctor to do my test… that would be fair enough."
"I won't have anymore of your lies."
"That does seem fair enough," said Fuji, freeing his hand from Tezuka's grip.
Tezuka stared, studying Fuji's face. "Syusuke, you shouldn't – "
"It wouldn't hurt to know if she's pregnant or not, would it?" asked Fuji thoughtfully. But his voice sounded sharp just then – sharp and ailed. "I can go with her," he said, trying to put on a smile. "We wouldn't want the media to hound you at the hospital…" Fuji wasn't easily influenced in making decisions and he most certainly wasn't going to let Tezuka talk him out of the situation because he wanted to know the truth, because he deserved to know the truth.
There was no way to convince Fuji out of the notion, Tezuka knew, and so he nodded in silent assent.
oOo
Hugging his pillow close to his chest, Fuji shut his eyes, forcing sleep to dawn on him. But he was keenly aware of the ruffles of the bed-sheet, too achingly conscious that Tezuka had moved in to bed with him. He tried to deepen his breath into a slow and even breathing, pretending to be asleep.
The foam gave a small creak as it took Tezuka's weight in. Fuji had to stop himself from gasping as a warm hand rubbed against his forearm. His fingers sank into the pillow as he felt the familiar fingertips run up to his hair. He swallowed a sour lump in his throat when he felt a familiar hot breath against his nape.
"Syusuke," said Tezuka. This time, his voice wasn't cold and detached; it was now cracked and hoarse. "I'm sorry."
The urge to spin around and touch Tezuka was overwhelming Fuji, and yet he dared not, lying as still as a statue in bed.
A soft, lingering kiss stung the skin at the back of Fuji's neck. "I love you," Tezuka murmured.
The familiar touch had gone and a small creak told Fuji that Tezuka had left the room.
Fuji didn't move as Tezuka had gone. He only opened his eyes and stared through the sliding glass doors of his balcony, staring right through the darkness of the night.
"Do you realize now that there are so many things that you can't give Kunimitsu?" asked Honda, raising a penciled brow, watching with a smug look in her face as Fuji read the report that the gynecologist had given. "I can give him children, a family… and he would never be ashamed to tell the world about us. We'll both be accepted easily by other people, and he can go on with his career as long as he wants."
Fuji folded the paper in half and slipped it inside the envelope, trying and failing to shut out Honda's voice.
"You love him, don't you?" asked Honda thoughtfully. "Then, don't be selfish and give him up. Do you honestly think that he'd be happier with you?"
"I need to give this report to Kunimitsu," said Fuji quickly.
"What he feels for you now might be nothing compared to the sense of fulfillment of having a family, a decent life, and a clean name."
Fuji smiled at her. "What he wants to do with his life is his decision to make… not ours," he said objectively. Inwardly, though, he wondered if Honda were right, he wondered if Tezuka was indeed sacrificing a lot to be with him…
Feeling his heart squeeze in pain, Fuji reached out for the pillow that Tezuka used. His head swiveled at the filling, intoxicating smell of Tezuka wafting to his nose. The last words he told Tezuka that day were 'Honda-san is with child'. But who could blame him? He felt so torn and betrayed. Just when things started to pick up on the relationship he started to rebuild with Tezuka, Honda came back, shattering the entire structure with just a snap of her fingers. If his relationship with Tezuka was so unstable… perhaps, Fuji thought, he should just give it up?
Fuji felt his eyes droop with the weight of sleep and of heartache. Wondering what would happen between him and Tezuka, he sank into a disturbed slumber.
Blinking his eyes open, Fuji pulled the soft pillow tighter to himself, enjoying Tezuka's scent, wishing that it were Tezuka. His gaze tore across the room and found the clock that indicated two o'clock in the morning. Fuji screwed his eyes together to check if he didn't get the time wrong. Yes. It was already two in the morning.
His eyes landed instantly on the vacant space on the bed beside him. Where was Tezuka?
Terror filled Fuji's chest as dreadful thoughts played in his brain. What if Tezuka left? For good? What if Honda were right? That Tezuka would feel happier with a family, with a decent life? He bit his lower lip. Tezuka deserved that – a perfect life for the perfect Tezuka Kunimitsu.
"Kunimitsu." The name fell from his lips almost as if by instinct, almost as if his soul was calling out. Could he live without Tezuka? Could he forget those times when Tezuka gave him a rare smile? Could he forget the times when Tezuka held him close? Could he forget the times when Tezuka was simply there, his presence more than an assurance? Could he? Could he?
The six years he spent without Tezuka had been painful enough. Could he survive without Tezuka forever?
Pulling a deep breath, Fuji tried to calm himself. No. Tezuka couldn't possibly have left without telling him because Tezuka cared immensely, because Tezuka loved him. Hoisting himself up, Fuji slid his feet into his slippers and walked out of the room, hoping to comfort himself with a cup of tea.
As he took the last step down the stairs, a soft smile graced his lips.
"Yes, arigatou, Imai-san. That was a lot of help."
Fuji smiled wistfully as Tezuka flipped his phone shut and leaned his head to the backrest of the couch. Fuji was more than relieved to hear the deep, ringing voice. No. Tezuka wouldn't leave him and he had been wrong to push Tezuka away.
Silently, he crossed to the kitchen and prepared two cups of dark tea. Gently, he placed the tea on top of the side table and stood behind Tezuka.
"Syusuke," said Tezuka, hazel eyes meeting azure ones. "What are you doing up so late?"
Fuji didn't say anything. With nimble fingers, Fuji massaged Tezuka's temples, slowly and soothingly, trying to relieve the latter of stress. His hands moved to knead the tensed muscles around Tezuka's shoulders and he smiled thoughtfully as Tezuka relaxed.
Tezuka pressed his lips, feeling Fuji's hands coaxing his flesh, feeling the gentle way Fuji's fingers rubbed his muscles. He inhaled Fuji's vanilla scent and closed his eyes, drowning in the comfort of the moment.
"I'm sorry."
Amber eyes fluttered open at once and Tezuka searched Fuji's visage. "What for?"
Arms looping around Tezuka's neck, Fuji whispered, "For doubting you, I'm very sorry."
Eyes fixed on Fuji's face, Tezuka shook his head. "It's all right."
Smiling amicably, Fuji went, "Drink up the tea and sleep… you need it."
"I still have calls to make," said Tezuka, stifling a yawn.
Fuji let out a chuckle. "Sleep," he insisted, cradling Tezuka's head in his arms. "I'll make the calls myself."
At first, Tezuka was reluctant, but Fuji's arms had been too warm and affectionate that even the perfect Tezuka Kunimitsu himself couldn't defy sleep.
Holding Tezuka with his left hand, Fuji whipped out his phone with the other and dialed a set of numbers. "Moshi moshi, Akito, this is Fuji… yes. I know that it's been a long time… I just did a lot of traveling." He stopped, trying to think of how to best phrase his request. "Akito, I have a favor to ask. It's about Honda-san…"
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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.
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a/n: oops! A cliffy. But, yes, dear friends, EVIL Honda is, indeed, with child. Yes. By a hundred percent. (READY! AIM! FIRE!) To know if she raped Tezuka or something, well… just read on. Sorry for the typos. My brain is fried. I'll check them when I'm feeling ok. I've a question, btw: what is Tezuka Kunimitsu's favorite fruit:3 (this isn't a serious question… it's a lame joke, actually)
sorry that I got held up. Ah. Well. Doujins. –coughs- Again, I think I read them all up. It's a real bother when you read fast. . I was trying to pick up from my old writing style. But, well. I think my writing style just went 'kaboom' since school started. I blame the tadpoles for this!!! argh.
Bromeliads are sort of orchids in rainforest canopy. It was a random thing… but I like them (even if they hold lots and lots of tadpoles) because they're colorful and such.
nhowy wrote not mistaken for the last challenge, btw.
URGENT! I need you to share with me ideas for pictures of Tezuka that will be taken by Fuji… (And vice versa if you wish). I mean, like Tezuka's hair billowing as he walks along the beach… yeah. Something like that. Tezuka would have to be the twenty-four year old Tezuka that we have here in OYIF. Please? Include that in your review or PM me. I need them ASAP:3 thanks in advance. You'll understand soon enough. Ü
URGENT AS WELL!!! I need tezufuji, tezuryo –cringes- and fujiryo –dies- moments from both anime and manga. Yesh. I need them. If you remember anything, please PM me the particular scene, episode, chapter and such. I really, really need it and I can't reread/rewatch because of school. You can go random and PM me whenever a scene wanders aimlessly through your brain. Pretty, pretty please? I really think I'm going to die after this (I mean, TEZURYO AND FUJIRYO?!?!?!? We don't match. Not at all. –points at last three sentences and says 'understatement'-). but I need to make some sacrifice all for the love of the Perfect Pair. You'll understand later.
Offtopic: have you watched HP-OotP? Watched in the 11th… haha. Lurved it!!! I'm sooooooo going to watch it again. Woohoo:3