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Disclaimer: Tezuka and Fuji belongs to each other (am I supposed to say 'Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi-sensei'?).
Hard Trap
Chapter 2
The following weeks were a torture for me.
I still felt that I made a false choice, believing Aonosora over my own lover. But Aonosora didn't seem like she was lying either. I had to be fair and believe what my eyes saw, but my heart refused.
Without a word of break-up, I knew Fuji and I were over. I barely saw him at school. He became so distant that I almost felt him fading away.
The next morning after the incident, he gave us a shock. Along with Kikumaru, he gave up the position as regular and quitted our tennis club.
"Why should they do that?!" Momoshiro wailed. "They don't need to… why does Fuji-senpai quit too, anyway?"
"So much if Fuji just doesn't want Kikumaru to be singled out," Inui stated. "There must be something… something that happened to Fuji."
My heart missed a beat at Inui's word, but I managed to keep composed. It was a great loss to our club. As the captain, I felt failing. But what was done was done. What I could do was managing the best with what we had.
Meanwhile, Aonosora and I became inevitably close. After the incident, she seemed like seeking my protection. Not to mention that my mother favored her so much.
I and Oishi also became more of best friends. I felt that somehow we shared a similar fate, losing the ones we loved by such incidents. When I was not with Aonosora, I would be with Oishi. Like that one rainy day.
"Do you want to discuss this in my class or in yours, Tezuka?" Oishi asked. We were in break time and had some documents we had to work on.
"Mine," I answered curtly. My class was always deserted when break time came. All of students would be at canteen, looking for some hot meal to warm them up in a rainy day like that. That way we could work in peace.
We strolled down the corridor to my class. Even the corridor was almost empty. I was just about to turn the doorknob when voices were heard from inside.
"So, you really did it, Naomi?" A girl's excited voice was echoing. Apparently she thought nobody would hear her at that time.
"Mm-hmm," a singsong hum answered her. From the volume of their voices, they must be talking near the door.
"And you succeeded! But how can you do it? Deceiving Tezuka-kun isn't easy, I know."
I tensed. Deceiving me?
"Yeah, it was quite a risky plan, but I succeeded with a help from Kunimitsu-chan's mother herself," Aonosora Naomi's voice replied, sounding self-satisfied. "I came frequently to his house and made good relationship with his mother. And then I accidentally told her that his dear son actually has… ah, had a boyfriend. She panicked and asked me to do everything to sever their relationship. I happily complied, of course.
"I came to meet Fuji-kun in his class when the school had been devoid of students, said things about Kunimitsu's mother already knows about their relationship and such… I was just wasting time. I knew Kunimitsu would come to fetch him. I deliberated the timing so that Kunimitsu would see want Fuji-kun… ah, abused me."
"Did Fuji-kun really hit you?"
"Of course not!" Aonosora answered with a laugh. "Quite luckily, I sensed Kunimitsu come just in time. He was not looking at us—at his watch, maybe—when I confirmed his arriving. So I acted like Fuji-kun just slapped me on the face, and everything went unbelievably easy."
"But how can you maintain a closer relationship with him?"
Aonosora laughed again. "With the help from his mother, as I said. His mother favors me, so when I asked her to help me with him, she just happily does."
They both laughed in satisfaction, while I was frozen on the spot as the rush of information entered my brain.
"And you, Ai?" Aonosora's voice echoed again. "I still don't get why you have to accuse Kikumaru-kun for harassing you. You don't look like you are after Oishi-kun… or are you?"
"Nope," Higaya Ai's voice replied. "It was actually a request from my cousin. He is a tennis double player in Heijo Gakuen and he was kinda afraid to face Seigaku's Golden Pair, so he begged me to do everything to ruin the Golden Pair."
"You sold your body and our school's victory for that? What a pride you have, Ai," Aonosora commented, but her giggles were contrary to her words.
"He paid me a lot when his double team won against Seigaku's," Higaya said. "I don't care about anything else."
More laughter was heard. I could sense Oishi be paralyzed by the fact Higaya just spilled. I myself was still frozen shock.
The door was opened and we came face-to-face with those girls.
"T-Te-Tezuka-kun?"
"O-Oishi-kun!"
Both girls shrank under our killer glares. But I didn't care about them. There was only a place I should be and I knew Oishi was thinking exactly the same as I did.
We turned our backs on the shocked girls and hastily made our way to Class 3-6.
We ran our legs off in order to get there as soon as possible. Still panting, we burst in. The class was also nearly empty, except for one presence that was sitting at the far corner of the room, alone.
"Eiji!"
Kikumaru looked up at the call. He looked desperately miserable and lifeless, not to mention a lot paler and thinner. I didn't know how horrible Oishi felt about this, since even I felt very sorry for the previously cheerful boy. The change was drastic, and drastically negative at that.
We stormed across the classroom and before Kikumaru could comprehend the situation, Oishi had pulled him into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry, Eiji. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry…" Oishi said repeatedly, stroking the red hair. "I'm such a dreadful guy that I didn't trust you. I'm sorry, Eiji, please forgive me…"
"Shu-Shuichiroh?" Kikumaru's eyes peeked from behind Oishi's shoulder and found mine. He silently inquired about Oishi's unexpected action.
'He's known the truth,' I mouthed. Kikumaru's eyes went big before softened into relieved ones. His arms slowly made their way around Oishi.
I, however, hadn't been relieved at all. I saw the seat beside Kikumaru. The table was clear from any book or stationery, and there was no bag on the chair.
"Kikumaru," I didn't want to break their moment, but I had to. "Where's Shuusuke?"
Kikumaru freed himself from Oishi's embrace and stared at me sadly. "Fuji… he…"
Fear gripped my heart. Whatever Kikumaru had to say, I knew it was not good.
"What happened to Fuji, Eiji?" Oishi was worried too. Kikumaru looked down and kept silent. Oishi held his shoulders and prodded him to look up. "Eiji?"
Kikumaru's tears welled up. "Fuji… he… he is no longer here. He… moves from Seigaku."
Tons of bricks were sent onto my head. "He… moves?" I whispered in disbelief.
Kikumaru focused his gaze on me. "He never told me what exactly happened, but since you left him and became closer with that Aonosora-girl, he… he was just not himself. He behaved like… like I did when I realized Shuuichiroh didn't believe me. And he was hurt every time he saw you with that girl. I know that, even though he tried not to show it.
"Until today… he told me that his family already planned to move to another place since months ago, but he begged them to delay it until he at least graduates from Seigaku. But I think the reason he didn't want to move is you… he wanted to spend as much time as possible with you. But now that you have left him for that girl… he just came this morning to say farewell to the class and left… just like that."
Oishi shook his head in disbelief.
"Fujiko-chan is a very good friend, you know? Even when he also had problems, he still tried to be cheerful in front of me. He didn't want to add my burden…"
Kikumaru closed his eyes and tears flew down his cheeks. Oishi was quick to pull him into a hug once again. Sure, the one who stayed by Kikumaru's side all the time in his most difficult moment was Fuji… to lose such a dear friend… such an angel…
I didn't even realize that I clenched my fist so hard until my nails dug into the flesh. All parts of my body were trembling. I couldn't bear losing Fuji… Shuusuke… my Shuusuke… because of a nasty hard trap Aonosora set upon me.
It was not even her fault. It was entirely my fault for not believing in Fuji.
The bell that signed the afternoon session rang. The students rushed back into classes.
"Tezuka," Oishi touched my limp arm. "There's nothing we can do. He's gone…"
He's gone…
No.
I turned back and stormed out of the room. Oishi immediately ran after me.
"Tezuka! What are you gonna do?!"
"Back to your class, Oishi!" I barked. "I have something to do!"
Oishi ceased his running. Faintly I heard a 'good luck!' and I sped up. Ignoring the confused school guardian, ignoring the harsh rain, I kept running…
Shuusuke, please wait for me…
---oOo---
I bent over on my knees, running out of breath. In front of me, a big house stood firm.
Shivering, half because of cold and half because of fear, I reached for the bell and pressed it. Once. Twice. No answer.
My shoulder slumped in defeat and I closed my eyes in pain. Rain kept showering mercilessly upon me. "Shuusuke…" I breathed out, letting my regret show in every syllable I uttered. "I'm sorry…"
"Kunimitsu… Tezuka?"
My eyes snapped open. In front of me, drenched by the rain, was my ever beloved Fuji Shuusuke.
"Shuusuke?" Rain wasn't deceiving my sight, was it?
"What are you doing here?" he asked carefully. Right, he still thought that I didn't know the truth.
"I…" For a moment, I was at a loss of words. I simply grabbed him into my arms. "I've known the truth. I'm sorry for not believing you, Shuusuke…"
He didn't immediately respond. He didn't question how I could know nor why I was in front of his house when I was supposed to be at school. We stayed silent for God-knows-how-long, completely unaware of the rain. It felt like eternity, yet it also felt like a blink of eye. I didn't know. The only thing I knew was that he was safe in my arms and not on a plane that would bring him a thousand miles away from me.
"Kunimitsu…" his soft voice that almost blended with the pitter-patter of the rain called my name ever so gently. He leaned more onto my chest and muttered, "I'm sorry. I still have to go…"
It hurt, yet I still thanked God that even if he left, he left with a goodbye.
"If only I trusted you, you don't have to go at all… Not until we spend our time to the fullest."
He kept silent for a while. "You talked to Eiji?" He finally asked, obviously wanted to change the topic.
I relented. Stroking his wet hair, I said, "Yes. Oishi has known the truth too. They are in good terms once more."
Fuji freed himself from my arms just to look at me. He smiled softly at the information. "I'm glad…"
"Me too," I echoed. We locked gaze and I realized just how much I missed those blue eyes.
I bent down slowly and he closed his eyes.
"Kunimitsu…" he called right before our lips met. "Can you promise me something?"
"Hmm?"
"If we meet again, can you promise to live your future with me?"
I prodded him to open his eyes so that I could look straight into his deep aquamarine orbs. I smiled a little and in the rain, I vowed before sealing his enchanting lips, "I promise, we will meet again and I will live my future with you."
END
A/N: Another too-long (supposed to be) one-shot. Really should learn how to write a short one.
I'm actually thinking about making the sequel, but what appears in my mind is a multichapterous fic about their life seven years after, or sort. It's basically about how Tezuka will fulfill his promise to Fuji. Do you think I should make it? For reference, here's the teaser:
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My Future with You
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I'm still busy reading a newspaper in the waiting room. It's been almost an hour, but I've yet to see the person I am waiting for.
"KUNIMITSU-NII!!" Ah, there she is. I shook my head inwardly. Why should she squeal my name that loudly? Sometimes she reminds me of a certain feline redhead from my tennis team seven years ago.
I don't want to look up from my reading just yet. I know people are glancing in our way, thanks to her overloud voice. Thank God people here don't understand Japanese.
"Come, quick, Soo Ki-oppa! It's very difficult to drag him all the way to Korea!" I hear her say in Korean. She must be dragging along Park Soo Ki, that famous young Korean photographer that she always talks about. She really favors that photographer. I wonder why.
I can see their shadows looming over the newspaper I'm holding.
"Kunimitsu-nii, this is Park Soo Ki, the photographer I often speak about. If you see him here, you'll think he's the model, not the photographer! Oh, and have I told you that he was once Japanese?" She chirps happily. "Soo Ki-oppa, meet my fiancé, Tezuka Kunimitsu."
I look up in order to greet the photographer, but the sight before my eyes makes me stop dead in track.
Piercing right through my brown orbs, are the very eyes of Fuji Shuusuke.
"Annyong hashimnikka? Na-nun Park Soo Ki imnida. Choum poepkessumnida."1
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Note :
1) "How do you do? I'm Park Soo Ki. It's a pleasure to meet you."
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Even my teaser is too long *sigh* So, how does it sound? Do you think I should write the sequel?
I'll be very glad if you review! Thank you for reading
