Summary: Ryoma and Atobe were desperately in-love, just not with each other. It tore them to realize they could never have their heart's desire so they turned to the next best thing… an affair with one another. Devoid of feelings, succumbing to their needs… until it became something else. But what if their feelings were actually being returned?

Rating: It is still T for non-explicit adult contents. The explicit parts are still to come…

Pairings: Royal Pair. Thrill Pair. Imperial Pair, Perfect Pair

Disclaimer:I DOn't own Prince of Tennis or any of its character. If I did it would officially become a yaoi anime and well… use your perverted imaginations!

Warning:This is a yaoi story. It has boy x boy love here so for those who can't appreciate such thing you are warned. There are some sexual innuendos here. Proceed at our own risk.

AN:Recently I've been watching Tenimyu and it is wreaking havoc on my schedule! I just can't stop watching them. Specially the first batch. They're my favorite and for me they're the best batch. And Yanagi Kotaro is such a wonderful person and inspiration.

For the people who made the efforts to review the last chapter, thank you so much.

Clow Angel: Yeah, I'm not a native English speaker. I'm really trying to work out my English and hopefully I'll get better. Thanks!

animehphantom: Here's the sixth chapter you've been wishing for! I hope you enjoy it.

KuroiKuu: Tezuka will make an appearance (finally). Things are slow at the moment but soon it'll be more… action packed? I don't know how to put it into words. But it'll get more interesting, although I would make sure nothing happens in a rush.

hyperdude: I also think Ryoma couldn't really lie very well. But if he doesn't want to elaborate no one could make do otherwise. Ryoma and Atobe both needed someone to understand them, and that bond runs very deep, despite their indifference.

Kan0ne: Thanks for appreciating the story!

12nothings: It's really been a while! Atobe would make his occasional appearance in the chapter but since I'm basically following the pattern of the anime I'm afraid he won't be with them in Germany. But he'll still be there to support Ryoma.

vhevhe: I wish I had the time during the Holy Week but my dad came home from abroad and I was constantly by his side during that time. I haven't seen him for a long time. But here it is so you can stop sulking! XD

afallenheart: Here it is!

Sabaku no Sable: That'll take some time… hehehe

kat: Thanks! Really appreciate it.

tsub4ki: Oh, I'm going to be really evil with the next few chapters. Then I'm going to be extra nice… but I'll become evil again. XD

ichi nichi: Here you go!

2-D-A-N-I-0: The perspective will shift to the other two and we'll understand the motives behind their actions… and that is going to be decisive coz those acts would determine how everything could end up. Thanks for subtlety and now here it is!

Nameless Little Girl: Thanks!

wackylou: Yes. Even Ryoma dreads it. I'm evil like that! XD

And now I present to you chapter four of Double Standards. Read, enjoy and review!


Chapter Six: Off to the Other One

Atobe stood in solitary silence, looking over the team through one of the huge windows of the student council president's office. Oshitari was supervising the practice this morning. Even with their elimination from the Nationals the team was not losing any steam. Such setbacks only fueled their passion for the game, as their determination to get better was any indication.

If only the same thing could be said with one's feelings.

He removed his gaze from the team and tried to focus to other pressing matter, like the newly stacked file on his desk that needed his attention. The school was going to have their annual festival and it was up to him to make sure that the great name of Hyotei would not be sullied by whatever stupid plan the festival committee could have come up with.

But as he thumbed through the stack his mind wondered elsewhere, somewhere thousands of miles away to a land his newly found confidant along with his teammates were on their way to.

***************************

Flashback

A square piece of paper was placed atop the elegant writing desk. Atobe looked up from his homework to the solemn face of Ryoma.

"We'll be arriving at Munich the day after tomorrow. We'll be seeing buchou again."

"I see."

The reply was unbecoming of the normally proud boy. It sounded resigned, and so lacking of life. He had wanted to deliver the news via the phone but Ryoma changed his mind and decided to say it in person.

The inevitable will happen. Seigaku going to Germany to visit their captain meant to the two of them a chance for Tezuka Kunimitsu and Fuji Syuusuke to reunite. There was nothing they could do about it but sulk and whine, and the apparent lack of control in the situation was frustrating them way too much.

"The trip would last for a week. I'll be rooming with Momo-sempai and Fuji… he is supposed to room with Kawamura-sempai…"

"You'll tell when… when those two... You know."

Tezuka would see his precious Fuji once again. The fact grate on his nerve and he felt the underlying animosity against the Seigaku tensai raise. But he could do nothing about it. He was the outsider; he was the one who wanted to intrude in their perfect little world. He might seem unscrupulous inside and outside the tennis court but he had his pride and values, and wrecking something so perfect was going against with his own beliefs. That didn't mean, however, that he could help feel rotten about it all.

He could see it now, the reunion of the perfect pair. He tried to close his mind to keep the images from popping up like an annoying slide show but to no avail. He knew Tezuka seemed reserve in front of other people but a person who is so withdrawn on the outside but played with passion so hot it burns would show his partner another side of him, a side no other was privy of. He could see Tezuka holding Fuji in his arms, his face a mask of raw fervor and unbridled ardor.

And he could do nothing about it.

***************************

Sitting in the very comfortable business class section of the plane on its way to Germany did not do anything to ease his agitated nerves. The excitement his sempais were showing did not rubbed on him. Neither did the wonderful interior and comforts the business class section of the airplane provided sweetened his disposition. All of those were easily ignored, and he hoped he could just as easily ignore the person who was the root of all his agitation.

Fuji wondered why his seat mate was acting all so weird all of the sudden. He had expected the other to be a little out of the ordinary. They were going to visit their revered captain after all, and Fuji knew how much the younger boy looked up Tezuka. But Ryoma was acting all so strange all of the sudden, and it became even more prominent in the tensai's eyes as they took their seats in the plane.

Ryoma could not contain his nerves. Not when Fuji was sitting so close to him, that by just leaning a little to the side he could almost feel the heat radiating from the lean body. The tensai's right arm rested comfortably at his chair's arm rest, and his hand itched to clasp the callused flesh. So he looked away as much as possible, pretending that the teen beside him did not exist. In his mind ignoring him would keep calm to his physique. It was really next to impossible.

It was no coincidence that Fuji and Ryoma were sitting side by side in a plane bound for Germany. Fuji had made the arrangements and he made sure that the almost 16-hour flight would give him an ample monopoly of the tennis prodigy's company. He had wanted to enjoy the younger teen's company, to try and find out things about him the others don't know of, just for something he could claim he only shared with the tennis prodigy.

And although the attitude was a little telling he could not as easily trust his instinct as he did with other things. He wanted to be sure about the feelings of the other boy, and he didn't want to assume all of the sudden. So he delegated himself as the younger boy's seatmate, forcing (in a subtle way) his normal companion Momoshiro to endure the flight with Kaidoh beside him. He had high hopes that he could thaw the cool exterior of the boy wonder. Sadly, he was in for a disappointment.

Ryoma was more anti-social than ever since the beginning of their journey, and any attempts of the team to engage him in a conversation were trampled without any remorse. No amount of coaxing or cajoling made him reveal the reasons for his current disposition. The others quickly concluded, although with great skepticism, that the youngest regular was just suffering from the anxiety of once again meeting his mentor. Fuji believed the reason was far from that, although the reason was unknown to him,.

Five hour into the flight Fuji finally felt the tension eased from his companion and found the freshman tilting his head further to the window as he fell into his deep slumber. Fuji chuckled at the innocent sight of his love. These unguarded expressions were worth all the difficulties the younger boy threw, and he reached out for his camera to take a permanent memory of the peaceful face. After taking a few snapshots he returned his camera back in his bag and pulled the younger boy's head to settle it in his own shoulder, basking at the warmth that simple touch brought out in his body. Without thinking of any consequence he reached down and placed a small peck in the soft, petal-like lips of Ryoma.

"Soon, I'll make you mine Ryoma. Wait for me till then."

***************************

Kaidoh tried to ignore his seatmate but to no avail. Even though the seats of the business class were spacious and very comfortable it was a well known fact that to pacify his ranging nerves he needed to have a great distance between him and his worst enemy.

And that begs the question why would he willingly seat beside Momo.

The simple answer to that question was that Fuji-sempai had made the arrangement.

He had wanted to change seats as soon as he realized that he was to be seatmates with the other. But it didn't work out that way in airplanes, or so Kikumaru-sempai had said. He was even willing to seat with Ryuzaki-sensei if only to get as far away as possible to the peach-head. But they had arrived late in the airport, and they had barely made it in time so any further discussion was not entertained by the coach.

But Fuji-sempai should have known better. Unless…

Kaidoh stole a glance at the said boy seating four rows ahead of his seat. Fuji was settled in rather comfortably in his chair, relaxed. He couldn't make out if he was awake or not. But he could clearly see the head that rest cushioned between his chin and his shoulder.

Kaidoh's eyes rounded as he realized how close the two were. If he didn't know any better he would have thought… well, it wasn't really any of his business. What his teammates do in their private time was not his worry.

His musings were cut short when he felt something drop on his shoulder. He turned to see Momo fast asleep. His brow furrowed in annoyance and shrugged his shoulders none-too-gently, inevitably waking up the power player. Suffice to say many of the people woke up from their sleepy stupor to a rather loud argument.

Lucky for them Ryoma was a deep sleeper, and Fuji was able to enjoy the flight with the smaller boy in his close proximity. They could only imagine the horrors of the return flight if the tensai's peaceful haven was shattered.

***************************

Germany was myriad of quiet gentleness and furious chatters. The country waited for them as if it is itself a welcoming party. The first step they took as they landed in the country was exhilarating to say the least. It was both reserved yet so open, the people emanating silent pride yet they did not shy away from the visitors.

The regular roster of Seigaku Tennis Club took in their first sight of Germany with child-like enthusiasm, and their coach shook his head in both disgust and gladness as she watched her players take in the country with their usual excitement.

Oishi was in the edge of having a nervous break down as his teammates made a debacle at the general vicinity with their innate curiosity and lack of finesse when it came to dealing with other people. The only person he was not twittering at like a nervous bird were Fuji, Kawamura and Inui, who had sense enough to try and be as inconspicuous as possible to the locals and other foreigners still in the airport.

"Saa… don't let yourself worry so much Oishi," Fuji said as the latest batch of females asking him for directions and such left. "It would do well for you to relax."

"Fuji is right," Kawamura agreed. "This is our vacation. We should use it as such."

"There is a 60% chance that Oishi would spend approximately 68% of our time here in Germany worrying over the others," Inui declared. "If you'd like to keep from worrying you could drink my newest Inui Juice Relax-O."

Oishi, if it was possible, became more nervous. "I… I think I'll pass for that."

Everyone was doing their things one way or another, and despite the foreign land and the foreign people deep down inside everyone were delighted to be there. Everyone except Ryoma.

Ryoma truly wished he could be anywhere else but there. The closer they got to Germany the more heavy his heart felt. He was glad to be able to finally see his captain, he truly was. But beyond that he felt really rotten for even though Tezuka was one of his greatest mentors, one of his goals, the fact remained that he was still his greatest rival for Fuji.

No matter how much he loved the older teen he was not unscrupulous enough to try and break them apart. He had his pride and he was taught well by his parents. Even if seeing them together hurts so much breaking apart someone who are together was below him.

Ryoma sneaked a look at the direction of Fuji and he noted that his smile seemed brighter, more realistic. Another pang went to his heart because he knew what had caused such genuine expression from the Seigaku tensai.

"That is all what matters… He is happy," Ryoma whispered to himself.

"Entschuldigung(1)? Are you the people from Seigaku?"

The group looked up to see a woman standing before them donned in a white lab coat. She must be a doctor, if her attire was any indication. Ryuzaki-sensei stepped forward and acknowledged the woman.

"Yes, we are from Seigaku," she replied.

"I am Frau Schmitt(2), Kunimitsu Tezuka's doctor," the woman introduced herself. "I am here to take you to the clinic. Kunimitsu needed to finish some drills so I went here in his stead."

The group followed the woman into a mini-bus. They settled inside and made their way to the clinic relatively subdued; the prospect of finally seeing their revered captain the reason for the uncharacteristic quietness. Frau Schmitt kept up a commentary of the landmarks they were passing with relatively ease.

"When you see Buchou again don't cry Echizen!" Momo teased the quiet boy.

Ryoma scowled at the direction of the tall boy. "Of course not!"

"Can't wait to see Tezuka again, unnya!" Kikumaru exclaimed.

"We'll be there soon," Frau Schmitt assured the group.

The next few minutes were spent marveling the picturesque sceneries they were passing through, with some of them namely Momo, Kikumaru and Inui keeping up a light chatter. Finally the drive ended and they were parked in front of their destination.

Ryoma got out of the vehicles as soon as he could, trying to breath in some fresh air before the inevitable happened; he was hoping the air would somewhat calm his nerves up to maintain some semblance of control to his emotions. But as soon as his gaze shifted he noticed the familiar visage of their captain.

"Buchou…"

The younger boy noted that while most of his teammates looked in awe at their captain, himself included, Fuji had remained quiet but had shared a meaningful look with the other teen. It seemed that no words were needed between the two to convey what they wanted to say, and that just showed how strong of a bond the two had established.

Looking away to give the two some sort of privacy, Ryoma noticed his other teammates doing likewise and he felt his heart constrict once again. He was saved from pondering about it when the silence was finally broken and the rest of the team descended upon the captain.

"Tezuka! I'm so glad to finally see you again," Oishi had exclaimed.

They settled themselves in the lounge area of the clinic. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as Eiji jumped up and down in pure gladness, glomping everyone within his reach. Each expressed pleasantries with their captain as Tezuka greeted them with as much happiness as his stoic personality allowed. Oishi then presented the Kantou Takai championship medal, which Tezuka accepted rather reluctantly.

They continued exchanging stories to bridge the separation time that Tezuka and the Seigaku Tennis Club endured. Even Kaidoh was uncharacteristically more vocal than usual as he chirped in his share of tales. The only one who was keeping his presence unnoticed as much as possible and keeping his mouth shut was Ryoma.

For Ryoma it was really bound to be a long week.

"Ne Fuji! I bet you're really happy now that you can see buchou again, nya!" Eiji exclaimed.

Tezuka raised an inquiring eyebrow at the direction of Fuji but otherwise kept his thoughts to himself. Fuji just flashed another one of his smiles at his friend.

"You have no idea how much, Eiji," the sweet voice murmured.

Yes, it is going to be a very long week.

TBC…


­­­­­­­­­­­­­­1 – This means excuse me in German

2 – She doesn't have a name in the anime so I gave her one of the most common surnames in Germany.

This chapter is shorter but the next one will be extra long. The next chapter would be the turning point of the story so stay tuned! For now I hope you enjoyed this one. Please review!

nicki-gurl