Pairing: Fuji x Atobe
Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis does not belong to me
Part: 1/?
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Color
I was actually anticipating.
My head kept replaying that line over and over again and frankly that very thought scared me a little. It implied that I have something to look forward to. It means there is a possibility that I am setting myself up for disappointment once again. My dad had always disappointed me so I would never expect anything from him, things like love and compassion. The empty promises that he continued to make had always ended up hurting my mother but yet she always held on to the tiny sparkle of hope.
I don't want to end up like my mother. I don't want to spend years chasing after invisible glimpse of hope like my mother had.
Hope.
It is the light that you see at the end of a tunnel. My mother was my light but my mother had vanished from my life for three years now. Would I ever be able to grab on to that again? Would I ever be able to see light again? Lately, I can feel the sun shinning through the window and I can hear a voice in the back of my head hinting that I will finally get to meet Dr. Fuji's "little Shusuke."
Every child loves the concept of summer vacation but to me it is just like any other day. I don't want to admit it but I miss the company of other children.
What do normal 9 year old boys do on a daily base?
Three years isn't a long time but it is not a short time either. I had already adjusted to waking up in pure darkness and I had gotten used to the fact that the beginning of my day is identical to the end of my day. But I have to be strong and I have to be the best. There is no other way of life for me; I was born to be the best. My dad told me that I was born into the family of Atobe and that means I will be the best in everything. It had been drilled in my head that being the second best just doesn't cut it.
Everyday I wake up and I would read books. I would read books about everything from Literature to Math. My dad had hired a well known teacher to teach me how to read using Braille. The teacher was amazed that I was able to pick up the language so quickly and the whole time all I want to do was laugh sarcastically. I have to rise to meet the challenge and I refused to be a useless person.
The moment I had lost my sight and my mother I know that I had also lost my chance of being a kid. To be blunt, I had run out of time. There is no time to waste being a kid when I have so much to learn and to perfect. I will not let a stupid handicapped put me behind other children.
I will be the best.
I am the sole heir to the Atobe business and the chance of my dad having a son who can match up to me is very unlikely. I guess being born into the Atobe family is both a blessing and a curse. I get to experience the best that life have to offer but I am deprived of the simplest thing that commoners have; friends, childhood and love from my non-existing family.
A footstep from the outside interrupted my thought process.
"Atobe-kun?"
"Yes, Dr. Fuji?"
"I didn't mean to interrupt you during your reading time but I just want to introduce you to my son, Fuji-kun."
"Little Shusuke is here?"
Dame, did I just say that out loud?
"Actually, Atobe-kun, I would appreciate it if you can take off the little and just called me Fuji since we are the same age."
"Hah, Atobe-kun, you must excused my son, he talks like he is all grown already. I will leave you two kids alone while I finish my research for the day."
"Bye dad."
"Bye Dr. Fuji."
I can hear Dr. Fuji's footsteps drifting away so that means I must be alone with Fuji-kun.
"So what are you reading Atobe-kun?"
"The Elephant Man, a play by Bernard Pomerance."
"Interesting choice, a play portraying the tragic story of John Merrick but I can't help but wonder what a sheltered rich kid would know about being an outcast of the high society."
"No, I wouldn't because my family is the very root of the stinky high society that you just referred to. This is the third time that I am re-reading this play because I enjoy Pomerance portray of cruelty in humanity."
"Hah, Atobe-kun, I hope I didn't offend you because I had been looking forward to meeting you for a long time."
"Fuji-kun, you are different than what I was expecting."
"Is that a compliment Atobe-kun?"
"No, it is just my honest opinion."
"I guess this summer vacation won't be as boring as I though Atobe-kun."
"Like-wise Fuji-kun but why would you would want to spend your whole summer vacation with a blind spoiled rich kid such as myself."
"Because every time I talk with my on the phone, he would always mention his favorite patient, little Atobe. I hope I am not being too blunt but every time my dad mentions your name I would feel jealous. I was jealous of the fact that you get to be near my dad day in and day out while I can only hear his voice over the phone. But I guess the real reason is curiosity, my own curiosity got the best of me and I want to see my dad's "little Atobe" for my own selfish purpose. I want to know if you are as delightful as my dad had said."
"Hah, I can't remember the last time that I want to laugh. I mean a real laugh and I was right, Fuji-kun, you are different. I am used to people being caution around me and I am used to people pretending around me but you are different."
"Atobe-kun, do you always talk this much? From what my dad had told me I thought you would be a shy kid."
"That is because I am surrounded by people who couldn't give a dame about me. You would be surprised by how clearly a blind person can see especially when it comes to another human's true intention."
"Atobe-kun, did you ever want to be just a normal kid?"
"…."
"Atobe-kun, I almost forget, I was supposed to call my mother to tell her that I got here safety. I will stop by later so we can have lunch together."
I can hear all his movement and I feel something aching in my heart. How dare he? How dare he question my actions? How dare he undermine my pain? But wait wasn't that what I had wanted? Somehow this Shusuke character is turning out to be quite difficult. Not just different but difficult. I feel like he is challenging me but why?
Is it jealousy or is it something more?
I mean what could a 9 year old boy do to me?
TBC
A.N. I hope the fiction is still interesting enough and please leave a review with your honest opinions :)