A/N: Here comes the short chapter... which is almost 1000 words... But it's short compared to earlier chapters because this time it's just 1 part (1 V-day) instead of 2. Also, hello there, fluff! Nice to see you again!

Standard disclaimer apply.

Making History

Sunday, February 14 2010

Cold. Lonely. Hurt.

Tezuka never thought he would experience those again. He thought that, although his life could never be the kind idealized by people, he would be content for the rest of his life. He thought that that kind of dream of a happily ever after would be possible with Hiro. And maybe it was. Tezuka would never know now that Hiro had left.

Tezuka scoffed to himself and his naiveté –he really should've known better than believing fantasy. But bitterness did nothing to alleviate his longing. For three years, Hiro had been his lover and best friend. He had even reduced his time with Fuji in favor of spending time with Hiro (Fuji had never complained but Tezuka didn't miss the miniscule frown when he turned down an offer for an outing). Tezuka was ashamed to admit that he had grown a dependent on him. He had focused his pursuit of happiness on his relationship with Hiro, and as a result, he was at a lost now that he was alone.

Yes, alone. And he didn't know how to survive this anymore.

A sudden ring from his cell phone made Tezuka jumped. He sighed, and picked it up, partially hoping it was an apology from Hiro. But it wasn't. It was a message from Fuji. He frowned. He had told Fuji that he would be busy with work for a little while (which wasn't entirely untrue) so he'd rather not be disturbed. Fuji had agreed since unlike Tezuka he had many friends and coworkers he loved to spend time with instead of focusing all his attention to one person. He only interrupted briefly one time after Tezuka told him Hiro had left him to marry a woman because his parents demanded him to have a family of his own. A family that Tezuka couldn't give. A family that Hiro admitted to wanting so badly. Tezuka had wanted to contact him at times, needing someone to talk to, but he was worried about Fuji's response after the way he had repeatedly pushed him away in the past. Although, if this text was any indication, then Fuji wasn't mad at all.

Check your email. Fuji's message said simply, without the smileys he usually used as if even in written words, he couldn't help but smile at people. Too bad the symbols didn't have the same effect as the real thing, although Tezuka wasn't sure the real person could make him smile at all at this point.

The tall man went to his laptop to do as he had been told to. This had better not be a prank because Tezuka was not in the mood to entertain him. He had had a really terrible mood lately. His co-workers had noticed this and even resorted to avoiding him completely. Tezuka was glad he was no longer in the marketing department. Imagine having to deal with clients when he's like this. He would definitely be fired and he didn't know what to do with his life if his job was taken away from him, too.

There was a new email from Fuji simply titled 'For Tezuka'. The intended recipient sighed in exasperation, almost entirely certain now that it was a prank. He opened it anyway and his eyebrow rose when he saw that Fuji had sent him a video. His phone rang again before he could decide whether to open it or not.

Have you opened it?

What is this? Tezuka typed back.

Just check it! Fuji ordered with a written smile Tezuka couldn't say 'no' to. He shook his head and decided to obey.

Tezuka blinked when the video opened with a picture of him smiling that must've been taken without his permission. Music followed as the picture change into another one of him and his Seigaku teammates, then of him with his cousins when they were kids. The music was soon accompanied by the voice of an amateur singer that Tezuka soon identified as Fuji. What on earth was this? Tezuka wondered as he watched the pictures keep changing.

Fuji answered him through that song. He told him that he wasn't alone. That he knew things were tough now, but he believed Tezuka would pull through. He told him of what he had forgotten in his sadness: that he had friends who cared. He reminded him of the times long gone when he had managed to survive difficult times, and that this time wouldn't be different. Fuji told him he understood if Tezuka wanted to be alone for now, but he wanted Tezuka to know that he would be there for him if Tezuka wanted him to.

Tezuka watched the pictures of his past while listening to Fuji's horrible voice. Some of them he recognized, others he believed were secretly taken, and there were even random pictures of kittens that were supposed to represent his friendships. When the video ended with a picture of him and Fuji glowering and smiling, respectively, at the camera, Tezuka replayed it.

After what must be the hundredth time he watched the video, Tezuka got up from his seat, grabbed his coat, and left his apartment. He briskly walked, the stupid song in his mind, to a destination he knew by heart. It was pretty late when he arrived, but he knocked on the door confidently, knowing that the person on the other side was still awake.

Fuji opened the door, surprise marring his face for a moment before melting into a smile. "Come on in." He said, opening the door wider for Tezuka.

Tezuka stepped into the apartment. And when Fuji closed the door behind him and smiled at him, he knew for sure that things were going to be okay.

TBC

A/N: Just 1 part, but tomorrow we'll focus on Fuji and more fluffiness!