AN:
To Kina-chan: No problem. And the other regulars aren't coming till Christmas. As for Fuji not being human….we'll see.
To everyone: Thanks for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I do not own the PoT characters.
WARNINGS AU, slash, many, many Ocs (original characters)
Chapter 6"You promised you wouldn't do anything on the first day of school."
"Saa, I didn't."
Golden eyes glowered resentfully from beneath dark bangs, every line of the face to which they belonged radiating accusation. How dare Fuji steal his hat!
"What is that supposed to mean?"
The two were seated at a small, square table in a cozy café located on a quiet street corner. It was a neat if small place with large windows flooded by afternoon sunlight. Pale, sky-blue draperies were tied back with long, velvet ribbons, fluttering softly in the slight breeze of the air conditioner like butterfly wings. Watery swirls swept across the snowy wallpaper in watercolor shades of purple, blue, and turquoise.
Paintings of seaside shores and faraway mountains had been hung at strategic spots upon the walls and the chairs were cushioned in matching, pale blue.
Fuji thanked the waitress politely as she set two cups of liquid on the table between them, taking a delicate sip from his own glass before replying. "Tennis practice was after school. I said I wouldn't do anything during school hours—on the first day."
Ryoma opened his mouth for a retort then closed it again, torn between amusement and fury. Dealing with Fuji twenty-four seven was driving him up the walls. But instead of throttling his smiling boyfriend, as he knew he would regret not doing many times in the months to follow, Ryoma grabbed his ponta and, to all appearances, attempted to drown himself in it.
Fuji set his glass down with a soft clink and glanced out the window at the people passing on the street. He had been….disappointed…when Ytashi had not shown his face around the courts during practice.
No one laid a finger on Fuji's property and survived unscarred. But no matter.
There was always time.
"So, how have the last few years been? You never did return all my letters."
His companion shrugged. "Fine, I guess."
"Oidhi said to say hello for him. He and Eiji are off in a world of their own these days."
"Hn, that's no surprise."
Fuji chuckled. "The question has always been what took them so long? Taka-san is almost ready to take over the sushi restaurant and Momoshiro is still a regular customer at the burger joint. Kaidoh has been hiding a lot lately—hmm, I wonder why? Oh, and Inui said he'll be sending some juice over as a sort of late birthday present since he didn't make it last year."
Ryoma choked, fear flashing across his face. Inui's juice was probably the scariest thing he could think of next to the smiling prodigy sitting opposite him.
"Tell him he needn't bother," he said hurriedly as soon as he was able to speak.
Fuji's innocent smile quirked, resembling more of a wickedly amused smirk. "But it would be rude to refuse the generosity. We'll be receiving three gallons by post next week."
Ryoma turned green.
………….
Half an hour later, they stood to leave, pushing in their chairs as they drained the last drops from their cups. The waitress bustled over to collect the empty glasses, halting with her eyes wide as the taller of the two pulled the other into a kiss. She was still standing frozen in shock as the two broke apart and headed for the door, the dark-haired one pulling his hat down to hide his startlingly golden eyes.
Now that had made her morning.
After all, it wasn't every day that she saw two handsome guys kissing in the café.
…………..
As Ryoma stepped out into the sunlight, he was greeted by something far less pleasant.
"Well, well, look what we have here."
Golden eyes glared contemptuously at the messy-haired teen as people passing by stopped to watch what promised to be a brewing fight, forming a circled around the three.
Before Ryoma could make a retort, Fuji walked past him and halted before the youth, smile never faltering. "Are you Okiru Ytashi by any chance?"
The boy scowled. "I am. What's it to you?"
"Saa…"
And in one, swift movement, Fuji brought his hand back, the fingers curling into a fist, and punched Ytashi in the face.
Ignoring the boy's indignant, pained gasp as he sank to his knees, clutching his bleeding nose, Fuji turned and walked calmly back to Ryoma.
Taking his hand possessively, the tensai smiled, leading his boyfriend through the stunned spectators who parted before them like the Red Sea.
"Let's go, Ryo-kun."
The dark-haired youth did not envy the former captain. The punch was effective, but it was not Fuji's style.
If he knew the prodigy at all, this was only the beginning.
He could almost feel sorry for him.
Almost.
Ryoma smirked.
-----------------------
"Did you hear? There's going to be a play. The principal is going to draw lots to see which of the school clubs have to design and perform the end-of-the-year play."
Whispers could be heard all around school as Ryoma made his way to his first class.
Being the indifferent person he was, he paid the talk no attention.
After all, as far as he was aware, it was not his business.
……………
Fuji glanced up as the teacher cleared her throat.
"If you would please conclude whatever you have been working on, we have to attend a brief assembly."
Calmly, Fuji logged off and stood up, smile firmly in place—though those who knew him better might have noticed the slightly wicked tilt to the corner of the mouth and felt some concern. Indeed, those with less self-restraint might have turned in the opposite direction and hid.
Fuji had just spent the latter half of his computer science class hacking into the school computer to research one popular, former captain of the tennis team Okiru Ytashi. He had also been rather pleased to discover that the school grounds were being monitored by an advanced camera system and that, with a little more time, he could gain access to it with ease.
As the class filed into the theatre, Fuji scanned the sea of students. Spotting a familiar head of black-green hair, his smile became genuine and he detached himself from the group to take the conveniently empty seat.
"This looks interesting," he murmured.
"Hn."
The assembly quieted as the principal walked onto the stage and coughed experimentally into the microphone, but Fuji was only listening with half an ear.
Sapphire eyes glinted as they locked with bloody red. Shikara smirked, his gaze flickering meaningfully towards the dark-haired boy beside him before returning to icy blue.
Fuji's gaze narrowed as he shifted closer to Ryoma before turning back to the stage.
The principal reached into the black hat he had set on the podium and drew out a small slip of yellow paper. The audience held its breath as he unfolded it.
"The tennis club. Echizen Ryoma, please turn in a plan for the play Monday next week."
TBC
AN: Thanks for reading and please review.