Cipher

AU, OT3 Tezuka/Fuji/Atobe, Bus Gamer Tribute A dangerous game entwines the fates of a stoic insomniac, a helplessly bewitching boy, and an egotistical brat. "So...what kind of flowers do you want on your grave?"

A/N: A huge, huge thank you for the reviews, I got so many...and honestly it made me giddy because OMGWTF! My OT3 is not a dead pairing! It makes me so, so happy! -swoons- So in my happiness I've pumped out the longest chapter thus far, although it's still all setup. x.x This story is so complicated that it requires 3 chapters of setup. I promise the next one really gets into the actual story. Please enjoy!

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03

-

A whole week passed. And then a week easily segued into two weeks without him knowing.

Life went back to normal for Tezuka, classes in the morning, bar tending in the afternoons and nights. Inui messed with the kitchen sink one time too many and it exploded, they had to call a plumber, and dishes had to be done in the bathtub. Tezuka was thankful, however, that his friend left the shower well alone.

Life was monotonous. Unending. Unyielding. He developed carpal tunnel from writing too much. And then, it healed, thanks to one of Inui's very rare practical remedies.

It was times like this, as Tezuka stood scrubbing dirty wineglasses, he wondered if the scene at the hotel, and the two strangers that he'd met. If it was a dream.

It certainly seemed like one. In all honesty, Tezuka hoped it was.

But then...

"I thought you only worked nights, Tezuka." The voice that said his name was both familiar and strange.

His grip on the glass, already slippery with soap, slipped. But there was no crash, because he caught the cup seconds before it hit the counter. Tezuka didn't dare glance up. If he glanced up, he was sure he'd see a ghost. He willed the tremor in his mind to stop before he spoke. "...We said, didn't we? No prying. I'm allowed to lie."

"Yeah, but you hardly look the type." There was rustling, and one of the stools squeaked. His visitor had sat down.

"What?"

"...I mean, you look honest, like a good boy."

"Thank you." Tezuka felt his lips twitch in spite of himself, "You look like a delinquent." It was only fair to return the favor. He finished wiping the glass and turned briefly to set it in the cupboard. "Now, what can I do for you, Atobe?" Saying the other's name made the whole situation...real. Tezuka looked up. Yes, Atobe Keigo, haughty smirk and all was sitting right in front of him, smoking, as usual.

Normally, Atobe would have been offended like nothing else being called a delinquent. But he cut to the chase and offered Tezuka a wispy cloud of smoke as he spoke. "The first game's tonight."

"Aa." Was all Tezuka managed, trying to breathe as little as possible.

So it was real.

"This...isn't a fluke, is it?" Atobe asked.

Tezuka reached for the next stained glass. "Haven't we all come a little too far to be wondering that?"

"Probably." His companion sighed, "Can I get a drink?"

Tezuka's first instinct was to refuse. But then, Atobe was not Atobe here, Atobe was a guest, not a likable guest by any means, but still a guest nonetheless. He put the glass that he was currently scrubbing aside and cleaned his hands of suds before he turned off the faucet. "...What would you like?"

"Something strong. I have a feeling I'll need it for tonight."

Tezuka reached for a clean glass, and then stopped, "Did you...drive here?"

"No, I walked thirteen miles in twenty minutes, of course Ore-sama drove!"

Tezuka half glared at him, and after a moment with his back to the other man, he turned back and set a glass filled with pale yellow liquid with a fine layer of thin ice on top in front of Atobe. "Here."

Atobe instinctively wrinkled his nose, "What is that?"

"It's lemonade with minute amounts of gin. It'll leave you sober enough to drive."

Atobe only glared at him and took a noisy sip from the glass, "Cheapskate."

-

It seemed that hours passed without either of them speaking. The silence that inevitably between them was a strained one, filled only by the sound of running water as Tezuka resumed his task of washing dishes.

And on occasion, when Atobe finished his lemonade with gin, the clink of the glass joined running water when Tezuka set down a fresh drink.

After a couple of clinks, Tezuka turned off the water and dried his hands once more, "I was wondering. Can you fight if you're drunk?"

"Now, aren't you the one prying?" Atobe smirked as he took a sip of his glass, he was only a little bit tipsy, lemonade and gin wasn't the best way to go if someone wanted to get wasted. His head swam. Just a little. "But just because. Yes, I can."

"That's a relief." Tezuka said, mildly sarcastic.

Atobe was annoyed. "Speak for yourself."

"I can take care of myself." Tezuka returned calmly. "If I have to do something dangerous, the least I can do is stay sober."

"I don't know what that means." Atobe said, "With a face like that, forgive me if I doubt you."

"You should go into the business of mocking people." Tezuka shot back quietly, "I'd think you'd be decent at it."

"Either that was a bad joke or a compliment. Ore-sama is not sure which." Actually, Atobe was tending towards the former. Tezuka looked to him one of those people that would rather bite through their tongue and die rather than give a compliment.

Maybe it was Atobe's imagination running wild—or perhaps it was the liquor, but he thought he saw Tezuka smirk. "...Take it which ever way you wish. What time are we supposed to be at the game site?"

"Midnight, we have plenty of time."

Midnight. Tezuka glanced at his watch, it was a battered excuse for a watch and it was in need of a new strap. But with all sorts of misfortunes taking up his time, he hadn't taken it to be fixed. It was four o' clock. He had outstayed his shift, but if the game began at midnight...

"Hey, Tezuka, isn't it about time for you to get going?"

The cheerful voice shook him out of his thoughts and he turned to find Oishi Syuchiro, who usually relieved him for his shifts. Tezuka wondered why Oishi worked at this bar, his desposition seemed altogether too bright for such a career. He nodded. "I was just about to go...actually."

But the night shift began at eleven. The game, whatever it was, began at midnight. Tezuka Kunimitsu had always been a prompt, upstanding person, and he prided himself for that, but now...it seemed like he was playing in an entirely different dimension.

"Oishi, could I ask you for a favor?" It was something he preferred to do in private, but it was hard to do anything private with Atobe Keigo staring at him. The man knew very well how to make a presence. Though it was one small detail that Tezuka was determined to ignore for the time being.

"Sure, what?"

"I know you don't like working nights, but would you mind standing in for me just for tonight's shift? An emergency just came up."

Oishi looked puzzled because it was not in his nature to look anything more sinister. "Sure, I guess, if it's just tonight."

"Oh, I doubt if it's just going to be tonight." Atobe supplied absently. "Tezuka's getting to be a busy man."

Tezuka shot him a glare, "Be quiet."

Oishi looked between them, "...Tezuka, are you...in some kind of trouble?"

"No." Tezuka was suddenly in a hurry to leave, "Please just stand in for me tonight and don't mind him." Another death glare went in Atobe's direction. "He doesn't know what he's talking about. Come on, Atobe."

Outside, Tezuka held out his hand, "Keys." He had the uncanny ability to make any request sound like an order.

"It's my damn car."

"Yes, but you're not exactly sober, and we have to be in one piece for tonight."

"Bastard."

-

It had been one, two long weeks.

Fuji's life had...returned to normal. Somehow, after the strange encounter at the hotel and with Tezuka-san and oniisan...somehow, he had expected a change. Just a small one, perhaps. But nothing happened. He went to school, Yuuta cried at night, he worked at Taka-san's sushi shop. And he hadn't heard from either of them.

It was Tuesday, he had taken Hikaru and Mio prom dress shopping, he had already delayed the trip two weeks, and now, he was standing in a dress shop with them. It wasn't that Fuji was ashamed of being the only guy in the said dress shop; but he had to wonder, why the two girls...both eighteen, thought that he had an uncanny fashion sense.

"Fuji-kun, how does this look?"

Fuji shook himself, he glanced up to find Hikaru in front of him in a lavender dress that looked...rather painful to put on. So he went with his first instinct, "...Is it...comfortable, Hikaru-chan?"

She looked properly ashamed of herself, "...It's a little stiff."

"Well, it's important to find something comfortable." He admonished her gently, "Why don't you see if there's another size? I think I saw another dress like this over there." Fuji gestured in a vague direction where a bunch of racks were.

Hikaru hurried off in the said direction, long lavender silks trailing behind, and Fuji leaned back against the wall again. A moment later, Mio emerged from behind the heavy curtains in a flourish of peach. She twirled around once for effect and then asked, "How do I look, Fuji-kun?"

Mio, unlike Hikaru, looked good and comfortable in whatever she put on. Perhaps that was the reason why she was dating Wakato Hiroshi, the most popular guy in school and Hikaru was single. Fuji shrugged, "Good. The color goes very well with your skin."

"Aww, you're so sweet, Fuji-kun. Thank you. Do you like this one or the red one better?"

Fuji grinned at her, "I think you look beautiful either way. Shouldn't you ask Wakato-senpai's opinion? He's the one taking you to prom."

He was about to say more when his phone rang. It had to ring, the vibration feature had broke a long time ago. But just because he was Fuji Syusuke, having an unfashionable phone was acceptable. Taka-san's number. Fuji gave Mio an apologetic smile and flipped his phone open.

"Hello?"

"Fujiko-chan?"

"Hi, Taka-san. Is everything all right?" Fuji asked, mostly out of habit since Taka-san never called unless it was an absolute emergency. He had the sense to give Fuji space, and Fuji was grateful for it.

"...Uhh...I"m fine. I'm just...kind of worried about you." Hushed tones came from the other end, "You know those two that you brought to the shop a couple of weeks ago? They're here now and they said they needed to see you. Where are you?"

"Dress shopping with Hikaru and Mio." Fuji reported, trying to keep his voice low while his head spun. So Tezuka and Atobe existed. They were real people...and they were at Taka-san's sushi shop waiting for him. Which made sense, since that was the only place associated with Fuji that they knew of.

So it wasn't a dream. It wasn't a fluke.

"But don't worry about them. They're not there because I'm in trouble. I'll be there soon, Taka-san. Make sure oniisan doesn't smoke himself to death first."

"...Huh?"

"Never mind." With that, Fuji hung up.

"Fuji-kun?"

Both Mio and Hikaru were staring at him intently, in their regular clothes. Fuji quickly pocketed his phone and smiled, "...Sorry about that, something came up. I need to help Taka-san with an emergency. Do you think you could drive me to the sushi shop?"

-

Fuji realized too late that bringing Hikaru and Mio to Kawamura Sushi was a bad idea. A very bad idea. Especially when there were two very good looking older guys present. When they came through the door, Hikaru was already swooning, "That guy with the glasses is so dreamy..."

Fuji could have sworn he saw Tezuka twitch.

Atobe, on the other hand, looked supremely amused, "...You have girlfriends." He was smirking, "Ore-sama is impressed."

Somehow, he'd almost expected a reaction like that. Fuji rolled his eyes. "They're not my girlfriends, oniisan."

"They're not?" Maybe it was Fuji's imagination, but did the man seem disappointed? "Well, if they're not, I don't feel so bad telling them to leave. But they're going to have to. We have business to take care of. Say goodbye."

"I'm not a kid, oniisan." Fuji said, but he turned to the girls with a practiced apologetic smile plastered on his face, "Sorry Mio-san, Hikaru-chan, oniisan's cranky today. I promise I"ll introduce you properly next time."

"What about the other guy?" Hikaru asked hopefully as Fuji began to push them towards the door.

"...He's Tezuka, he's always cranky." Fuji said quickly before they could come up with another reason to stay, When there were cute guys involved, they were especially tenacious, "Bye. I'll see you two in school. Thanks for driving me here."

-

"You're a regular heartbreaker, aren't you, Fuji?"

"For the last time, they're not my girlfriends. oniisan." Fuji rolled his eyes, "So. Why'd you call me?"

Tezuka cut in, and it was a wise move, given how much Atobe wanted to throttle the kid at the moment. "The first game's tonight. At midnight. We need all the members present."

"It's barely five." Fuji had to smile, "Are you saying you miss me, Tezuka-san?"

Suddenly, Tezuka wished he was back the bar making drinks and washing dishes. It was much more simple. "No, but..."

Atobe did something unexpected, he rescued Tezuka. But of course he expected that favor to be returned, later. "I was the one that suggested we meet. I thought it'd be nice of me to treat the two of you to a last meal before we go, so that's the reason I gathered everyone."

"Oh." Fuji did not look convinced, "Why so charitable, oniisan?"

"Is that a bad thing?" Atobe shot back.

"It's just a little strange that you'd be so charitable all of the sudden." Fuji shrugged with a smile. "Just a little suspicious."

Tezuka cut in, "It's all right, Fuji, we may not get to see Atobe kind often."

"I'm not even going to ask you what that means." Atobe sighed, "Shut up and let's get going."

"Wait, oniisan."

"What?"

Fuji paused, somehow, he had the feeling that it definitely wasn't the smartest thing to ask, but it was worth a try. And besides, it might be useful if he could find out Atobe's soft spot, "...I know this isn't exactly – polite, but oniisan, may I bring a friend?"

"Depends, is it your real girlfriend?"

Fuji sighed, "You're not going to let that go, are you? No, it's not." He paused and sucked in a deep breath, "He's my little brother."

-

Today was not Atobe's day. Tezuka had insisted on driving (yet again) even though Atobe knew perfectly well that he wasn't at all drunk. Lemonade and gin hardly had any alcohol. At all. To add to that, he wondered why he had been so charitable in the first place...and he was expected to deal with a twelve-year-old brat.

"I'm not good with kids." Atobe grumbled, as Tezuka pulled his car in front of a series of buildings. A school. Atobe hadn't been here in years.

Fuji unbuckled his seatbelt and smiled a smile that made Atobe want to throw up in his mouth. "I'm not asking you to be good with kids, oniisan. I'm just asking not to smoke for the next two hours. And try not to swear if you can help it."

Atobe sighed, "The brat gets to eat, and then he gets to go whenever it is that kids go. I'm not a babysitter. Just go get him. I don't have all day."

"All right, oniisan."

Atobe glared daggers at Fuji's back. And then he looked at Tezuka, "...If I told you to drive away, would you?"

"No." Tezuka said, "I don't like our current situation either, but we can't just leave them to wander around, nor can we participate in the game with only the two of us."

"You're underestimating me."

Tezuka almost rolled his eyes, "Even if I wasn't, they'd disqualify us."

"...Good point."

Atobe sighed, he reached for his pack of cigarettes and lit one. He took a long, long breath from it and blew smoke towards the backseat, away from Tezuka. "I hate kids." He confessed after a long moment without any reason at all.

Tezuka said,"I haven't been around enough to form an honest opinion."

Silence reigned again. Smoking bettered Atobe's mood with each drag he took, but still, the silence was stifling. He glanced towards Tezuka, who was glaring at the steering wheel. "...Do you intentionally try to kill every conversation that you take part in?" He asked rather lamely.

"Not intentionally, it usually turns out that way."

Atobe blew some more smoke, "There you go again. You're a bigger asshole than I thought, Tezuka."

"...Thank you?"

There was a light tap on the window, Fuji's freaky smile was pressed against the glass, there was another boy hiding behind him. "What did I tell you about smoking, oniisan?"

-

Atobe Keigo learned a few things. He learned that Fuji Yuuta was twelve years old, and spoiled rotten. He also learned that taking a kid to a high class French restaurant was not in his best interest. People kept staring; and even though it didn't Atobe half as much as it had in the old days, it still bugged him.

He was also thankful that his parents stayed together long enough to reproduce only once. It was a thought that was reoccurring more and more often.

"Aniki, are you sure it's okay for me to eat the snails? They look weird..."

"Yes, eat the snails. They're very good and aniki can't afford them, so eat as many as you can."

Dinner was...as pleasant could be with Fuji fawning over his brat of a brother. Even though Tezuka continuously frowned about it, Atobe ordered wine. His reason being, "...You can't have a dinner of this caliber without wine."

Tezuka said nothing. He took in another spoonful of soup and sighed. Glancing towards the two brothers for a long long moment, he suddenly turned back to Atobe again. "It's a wonder to me how you can afford dinner like this when you're contending for a billion dollars."

"You're prying, Tezuka."

Tezuka shrugged, "It's a legitimate question. You can't be suspicious and expect me not to ask questions."

Atobe smirked, "I find that just a little insulting." He drank more wine, "But if you must know, I'll give you a simple reason. I'm greedy."

"Is it true?"

Atobe only shrugged.