One Year In Four
Disclaimer: Tezuka and Fuji belong only to each other.
Warnings:yaoi, lemon… OOCness, presence of OCs…
Pairings:TeFu (I'm loyal and biased… they're the epitome of love)

a/n: woots. Here we are, alive again. Woots. Sleepy, though. Sorry for the long wait. Apologies for the shortness(the next chapter will definitely be longer) but hope you'd enjoy the love. Let's have a bit of drama, angst, fluff, annoyance and humor before we end, all right? And sorry if this is a rather late update (was supposed to update one fic a day) –cough- reading fics –coughcoughcough-

For those who reviewed! chaotic captivation (cool name!), -0 Degrees (lol. Your name is cool!), bjont, Tora Macaw, Nightshade Shrub, Sweet Obsidian Rain, hitsugayasugar, Skip-Beat, maldita08, wirbelwind, ginta, cassie, okinneko, SkySurf, hakugetsu, serenitatis417, Thin-K, HellRaiserAlchemis, yoshikochan, kunimitsu4shusuke and Ookami Fuu - thank you very much. And to those who continue reading this fic... I LOVE YOU. I can't believe that it's almost ending.

cassie –… smut. I don't know. Woots… Smut is a headache. –runs away- no sequel! (unless you want a follow up oneshot?) I have a lot of other fics, though.

oOo
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
oOo

OYIF Calendar: February 27, 2008 (the Press-con day)

Chapter Seventeen

Scanning around him with the viewfinder, Fuji pushed the button of his camera and waited for the clickandwhir before checking the photo in the LCD. The night sea, as he captured it, was dark and gloomy, vast and never-ending, roaring and crashing… Fuji smiled grimly. Or, he thought, perhaps that was how he saw it.

"Tezuka-san, this decision must have been difficult to make. Could you tell us what influenced you to come up with such a decision?"

Tezuka stared back at the journalist who asked the question and he ignored the dozen or so camera bulbs that flashed his way. He took the microphone and said calmly, "This was a decision I made for myself."

The journalist tilted his head and raised his pen, as if expecting Tezuka to say anything further. But, just as he always dealt with the press, Tezuka replied but never truly gave an answer. The journalist bowed, slightly annoyed, and murmured his thanks.

"But, Tezuka-san," called a female reporter who was waving her pencil to catch attention. "This is really a surprise. Before you came to Japan, you mentioned something about going to try and win the calendar Grand Slam. But you changed your mind and we all know that you are hardly fickle… Perhaps the rumors and the issue with Honda-san affected your decision?"

"No," was Tezuka's firm response.

"Is it true, though," asked the woman again, "that you are in love with another man?"

A hushed silence enveloped the room as Tezuka regarded the reporter. There was a buzz, however, when Tezuka didn't seem to have any hesitation when he said, "Yes."

"Could you tell us who this man is?" asked the woman inquisitively.

Tezuka eyed her coldly. "No."

Fuji used to pride himself in being able to understand Tezuka. This time, though, he had to admit that he couldn't quite comprehend Tezuka's actions. He thought that tennis was everything to Tezuka, yet the latter was able to push tennis aside. He knew that Tezuka dreamt of winning the calendar Grand Slam, yet Tezuka suddenly said that it was 'no longer as important'.

Taking in the saline air, Fuji pulled a deep breath and shut his eyes. If he was right and Tezuka was letting go of tennis for him, he didn't think he'd be able to forgive himself.

"It's cold, Syusuke."

Fuji didn't have to turn to know that Tezuka was standing behind him, watching him with dark disapproving eyes.

"Go back inside or you'll get sick," said Tezuka in a tone that was both commanding and reproving.

But Fuji wasn't listening. He stubbornly hung his head and watched as waves rolled one after another, whipping against the shoreline. He blinked however when he felt Tezuka's coat drape over him, filling him with Tezuka's scent, and as a black leather-bound portfolio landed with a gentle thud on his lap. "What's this?" he asked cursorily.

"Open it," Tezuka said curtly, as if nothing could be more obvious.

"But this doesn't explain why you're giving up tennis," said Fuji tersely.

Tezuka tried hard not to sigh. He pressed his lips together and said impatiently, "It's my tennis that I'm giving up, not yours."

"Still… why would you?" asked Fuji insistently. He wanted an explanation and he wasn't going to yield until after he had it. He let the question linger for a while, but when Tezuka did not answer, Fuji continued. "I told you. I can wait for a year more."

True, Tezuka thought as he brought his gaze to Fuji. He watched as a midnight sea breeze picked up and sent Fuji's hair billowing against Fuji's face.

Tezuka had thought of the possibilities. He could spend the time playing as Fuji watched and waited in Japan, or, if Fuji were willing, Fuji could go with him overseas as he pursued his professional career. But he looked back at the past six years and he knew the demands of being both a professional tennis player and a champion. He scarcely had the time for himself, how could he have the time for Fuji? That time, however unimportant Fuji claimed it was, mattered because, in Tezuka's opinion, Fuji already did enough waiting, enough watching. Besides, Tezuka knew that he had tennis all his life and he had only spent a measly six years of it with Fuji. Yes, he could be with Fuji later. But he wanted to be with Fuji not later but now and that was what made the retirement surprisingly easy.

"Why do you always sacrifice things for people around you?" asked Fuji, the words rolling sharply off his tongue. "You had to sacrifice your arm for Seigaku twice when you knew that it could jeopardize – "

"Why do you?" asked Tezuka sternly. He saw Fuji's blue eyes open and he waited for a response, but there was none.

Fuji expelled air from his lungs and leaned forward, turning the cover of the portfolio on his lap. His azure eyes widened as a picture of himself, bent over the balcony table and drawing something as the rain was falling, came into his view. "But you wanted to win the Grand Slam. It was your greatest dream."

Tezuka crossed his arms and said, "A career Grand Slam isn't too bad."

"You can't completely give up on tennis, though," mumbled Fuji.

"I can't and I won't."

Fuji finally raised his head and turned inquiringly at Tezuka.

"I only retired from the professional tennis circuit," Tezuka said briefly as he squatted on the sand beside Fuji. "Murihiko-san said that I can be a coach if I wanted to."

Fuji nodded his head slowly and asked further, "What would you be doing, then, if you're not coaching? You don't expect me to support us both, do you?"

Tezuka furrowed his brows and eyed Fuji questioningly.

Smirking, Fuji said, "Really, what are the other things that you want to do besides play tennis?"

"Study – "

"Law?" asked Fuji, tilting his head and remembering that Tezuka had always been interested in political science and history.

"Perhaps."

"What else?" asked Fuji curiously. He was now wearing the usual smile that marked his face.

"Climb Mount Everest," Tezuka answered pointedly.

"You were too busy to do other things that you also wanted to do, I see," said Fuji, turning the photo album to the next page. He chuckled as he saw a picture of himself sleeping in bed and hugging the pillow. "Do you watch me even in sleep?"

Tezuka only coughed but did not reply.

Chuckling, Fuji's smile turned into a genuine one as he saw an image of himself sitting serenely on the log and watching the sea at dawn. "Or you could work with me," he said lightheartedly. "Don't expect a big payment, though. You're still a starter and the shots are rather simple..."

Tezuka glowered.

"Or maybe not…" said Fuji, nodding his head as though recalling something. "Remember Toyama? Well, I knew that she had a crush on you for ages. But she told me that more than half of the number of unmarried women at work has a crush on you as well."

"Stop talking about trivial things," said Tezuka coolly, apparently flustered.

"Yes, Kunimitsu," said Fuji after a moment of consideration, purposefully ignoring the last thing that Tezuka said. "I think you should be a lawyer. Or, perhaps, a judge? Then, you can say 'twenty laps around the court, now!'"

oOo

Trying not to wake Fuji up, Tezuka rolled to his side and picked up his ringing phone. Maintaining a deep rich voice, Tezuka said, "Hello. Tezuka Kunimitsu speaking."

"Good evening, Tezuka," came a smooth, feminine voice that Tezuka easily associated to Fuji's elder sister.

"Good evening, Fuji-san," said Tezuka tonelessly and glanced at his watch that indicated a quarter before twelve. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

There was a pregnant pause as Yumiko stopped to think. "Mizuki and Yuuta told me that the vacation house you're staying at is quite big… Is there anyway you'd be able to distract Syusuke as we prepare the party over there?"

"A party?" asked Tezuka in a hushed tone, watching as Fuji turned in bed.

"Yes," said Yumiko in a gentle voice. "He always wanted to have this reunion and we want to make this even more special." Yumiko picked up a commanding tone and said, "I've talked to Eiji about this and all you have to do is take Syusuke somewhere while we prepare."

"I see," said Tezuka curtly.

"And please call your other friends… Atobe-san, Yukimura-san… I'm sure Syusuke will be glad to see them."

"Yes," answered Tezuka.

"I'll call you again this time tomorrow," said Yumiko thoughtfully. "Good night, Tezuka."

"Ahh," said Tezuka coolly.

Tezuka was about to hung up when Yumiko called, "Hang on, Tezuka."

Pressing the phone back to his ears, Tezuka said inquiringly, "Yes, Fuji-san?"

"I watched your press conference today…" said Yumiko in a sharp voice. "I wonder why you didn't reveal Syusuke's name when you were asked to. I wonder if you're ashamed of your relationship with him?"

Tezuka blinked and cast his eyes upon Fuji's sleeping face. He could see the shadow of a smile on it as the pale yellow lamp illuminated Fuji's countenance. "I'm not ashamed," said Tezuka truthfully. "I just don't want to drag his name."

"Indeed," said Yumiko and Tezuka could almost hear the smile in her voice. "Thank you for taking care of Syusuke."

"Hn."

Wearing a thin smile that unconsciously crept to his lips, Tezuka hung up and began dialing numbers. He called Atobe first and he couldn't help but be annoyed as Atobe knowingly said, "You've been in love with Fuji since junior high, haven't you?"

Wearing a scowl, Tezuka said, "Are you coming or not?"

"Tezuka, that is no way to talk when you are inviting people. But, yes, Ore-sama's presence will grace your boyfriend's birthday."

"Can you invite your former teammates as well?"

"Yes, Ore-sama can ask Oshitari to do that," said Atobe haughtily.

"Thanks," Tezuka said flatly, hurrying up to end the conversation.

Tezuka dialed Sanada's number next and he didn't bother to ask when Yukimura was the one who answered the call, partly because he already knew what was going on and also because it wasn't his business at all. He only cared about the fact that Yukimura promised to come and to call his former teammates.

Leaning back on his pillow, Tezuka took off his glasses and adjusted Fuji's head into his arms. He was about to whisk his phone away when it began to ring again. Thinking that perhaps Yumiko was making another call, he reached for his phone quickly and answered.

"Tezuka."

Tezuka's eyes widened in surprise as Tezuka heard the familiar voice. "Honda," he muttered, trying to keep his voice as swift and unaffected as always.

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: woots. The OshiAto and YukiSana fangirl in me leaked out. Don't berate me for making Tezuka quit pro tennis and not win the calendar Grand Slam. I just believe that one can't have all that he wants but one can have everything that he needs. In Tezuka's case, that's Fuji. And… don't you just like this line: 'Tezuka wanted to be with Fuji not later but now.' Last official chapter is next (it'll be longer, I promise!)… and, yes, Honda had to make an appearance here, yes. Er... I just said that it's the last official chapter... Not the LAST LAST chapter. I'll have an epilogue. wee...

Challenge!!! Nhowy told me that she read in some site that Tezuka brings his deodorant in his bag. Then rolled the questions…does Tezuka put hairgel? Does Tezuka wear perfume? How long does Tezuka stay in the shower? How long does it take Tezuka to comb his hair (and make it absolutely irresistible for Fuji to ruffle)? Yeah, I was hoping you could write some fics to show how vain and how much of a neat freak Tezuka is. Hygiene, isn't a trivial thing! What I mean is: Show Tezuka's morning routine/ritual and how Fuji is a part of it. (of course it should be a tezufuji) Go about it whichever way you want – crack, fluff, yeah... A bit of Tezuka's vanity is mentioned in Nearsighted. Why not try it yourself?