A/N: Woots! I finally managed to finish this story. After so many years, here are the final two chapters! Sorry if this one's too short and too unfunny. Thesis does that to my sense of humor. Anyway to make up for the lack of funny, I present you with some smex which as usual can be found at my LJ page. Hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: PoT isn't mine. I make no profit from writing this.
A Match for Love
"Do you want me to ship him to Brazil?"
"No."
"Kidnap you and take you back to Japan?
"No."
"Send him to Brazil in a sexy, pink, leather bunny outfit?"
Fuji paused thoughtfully then regretfully decided to refuse. "No, thanks."
"Okay, Gakuto, you can wear the outfit!" Oshitari shouted to someone. He then murmured something Fuji didn't want to hear then sighed heavily. "So when do you plan to carry out the end of your seduction?"
"I don't know. I won't be back in weeks." Fuji sighed. The thought of spending lonely nights in a faraway country isn't so appealing to him. Last night was his first night in Brazil. He didn't realize until then just how much he was used to having someone sleeping next to him. He felt very lonely last night but didn't dare to call Tezuka in fear of disturbing him. While Fuji looked forward to exploring the jungle and the river, he wasn't so excited about being away from Tezuka.
"The good news is abstinence could increase desire. The bad news is if you wait too long, the intimacy could sizzle out and the stamina could be reduced. Here's hoping for a hot, steamy, non-premature reunion sex for you!"
Fuji sighed. "Unfortunately that will have to wait."
"You know, there are plenty of things you can do to keep yourself entertained when you're alone." Oshitari eagerly informed Fuji. "Have you ever tried using ic…"
"That will be unnecessary."
"I promise it won't hurt. I've tried it on myself before."
"No."
"Cu…"
"No."
"Su…"
"No."
"Hotdog?"
"Oshitari." Fuji called his friend to attention. He had known most of Oshitari's perversion but he always seemed to have something new to surprise Fuji every time they talk. "I can wait."
"What do you mean? It is necessary to practice your skill at any given opportunity. Have I told you about that magical time when I…"
Fuji listened to his friend quietly. He knew he wouldn't be able to look at the content of his refrigerator the same way anymore by the end of this phone call. It was a pretty good distraction though. He hadn't been able to keep Tezuka out of his mind. He had made the choice to do the project but now he wanted to spend his time with his fiancé. He must wait. A month could be a short time if he enjoyed himself. Fuji stared into the blue sky outside his hotel room and thought of Tezuka. Naked. Covered with wasabi sushi. Damn that Oshitari.
Tezuka missed Fuji a lot. He hadn't wanted to admit it at first but when he grew more and more absentminded by days, he decided to admit it to himself.
It's kind of silly, actually. It's not like they're not contacting each other at all. They occasionally chatted via internet. Fuji would tell him how his work was doing and hint how soon he'd be able to return to Japan after pending his return several times. A week isn't a very long time after all. Right? Yeah, right.
So did this mean he really was in love with Fuji? Lust was easier to distinguish of course and since he has been engaged since he was ten years-old, Tezuka was very well informed on the subject of lust, much to his horror. Of course being passionate about another man was an entirely new dimension but those yaoi mangas did tremendous help. Besides, this wasn't just another man. This was Fuji Syuusuke he was in love with.
Okay, so force of logic said that Fuji was indeed another man, unless Tezuka had been seeing things the three times he had sex with Fuji and that flat chest was indeed curvy, those lips… those thighs… those legs... that a… Tezuka cleared his throat as crossed his legs as inconspicuously as possible but unfortunately not inconspicuously enough.
"Tezuka, are you okay? You're all red and fidgety, nya!"
The only think he could think about currently was how to silence Eiji without resorting to some kind of violence. Fuji's suggestion to ask Oishi to occupy the redhead's mouth (Tezuka crossed his legs some more) was out of question. Oishi was driving and he'd rather arrive to wherever they're heading alive.
"I'm all right." Tezuka said as coolly as possible.
Oishi didn't seem convinced but he wisely decided that the best course of action would be to distract Eiji from Tezuka's terrible mood by talking about animals. Tezuka sighed and looked at the scenery outside the car. He had been 'saved from moping and pining to death', to quote Eiji, by the duo. In other word he had been bodily dragged by sugar-high Eiji to a waiting car which will drive him to some place that could lift his spirit. Tezuka doubted that there's still a supposedly-fun place in this world which he hadn't associated with his mother's traumatizing attempts to make Yumiko turn him into a man. Tezuka still had strange urge to run away whenever he saw Ferris wheels to this day. At least Yumiko had been kind enough to wait until he got to high school before relenting to their mothers' persistence to help his transition into a man. And taped every moment of it.
"We're here!"
Tezuka looked at the building in front of him and immediately recognize it. It was a gym with tennis courts he often went to. Thankfully he didn't have much trauma related to this place. As long as he didn't go behind the back building, he would be all right. Tezuka shuddered at that particular memory.
Oishi and Eiji were right though. If there was anything that could take his mind of counting the microsecond to Fuji's return, it would be tennis. When was the last time he played tennis? Oh, it was with Fuji in the cruise ship when it rained before they could draw any conclusion to the match and Fuji looked at him sharply as water poured from the sky… making his thin shirt clung to his lithe body… Oh, damn, he should've worn looser pants.
"Tezuka, how nice to see you here."
Tezuka stopped just as he was about to step into the court. He turned to the speaker stiffly, fighting not to swing his racquet to Atobe's head.
"Atobe."
The air sparkled with electricity strong enough to light up the entire Japan. Oishi and Eiji cowered behind a potted plant, watching the love rivals from a safe distance.
"I heard Fuji is having a great time in the Amazon."
Tezuka knew better than to fall for it or provoke back so he turned away to leave but not without surrendering to jealousy. "So I heard." He said quietly, noting in quiet satisfaction how Atobe's smirked dropped just a millimeter after hearing that. Take that, Monkey King.
The satisfaction didn't last very long. Atobe quickly regained his composure. By now Oishi had begun the evacuation of everyone in the gym. Not that the screams of terror ever reached the heirs. "Well, since you're here, why don't you have a match with me?" Atobe asked with a confident smirk. Better hurry up with that evacuation, Oishi.
"I'd rather not." Tezuka refused and turned to leave, not out of fear of losing. He'd just rather not interact with Atobe in any way. It was clear to him that Atobe enjoyed the fact that Fuji was far away from him and had taken advantage of it. Fuji told him that there was barely a day when Atobe didn't contact him and thus reducing Fuji's work time.
"If I say that the winner may have Fuji, will you be interested?"
Tezuka glared at Atobe. "I refuse to use him as a trophy for a game."
Atobe nodded, seemingly a little upset by his choice of words. "Then let me rephrase that. The winner will have the right to spend as much time as he wanted with Fuji." The glint in his eyes told Tezuka that Atobe was indeed capable of that. If Atobe had managed to influence Fuji to go to Brazil, sending him away from Tezuka and closer to him was not an impossible task. "I'll stay away from him if I lose." Atobe declared. "And I expect you to do the same if you lose."
It was too tempting to pass. Tezuka thought he should refuse anyway. He respected Fuji enough not to think that he was some kind of trophy but he also knew that Atobe would keep his word. If he had said that he would stay away from Fuji then he would.
"All right."
Tezuka never underestimated his opponents, including Atobe. If anything Atobe was the last person he should underestimate. Knowing his upbringing, he might excel in tennis. Tezuka didn't want to let his guard down and let the chance of having Fuji all to himself slip away.
Still he didn't expect Atobe to be quite this good. Tezuka watched in mild surprise as his racquet clattered on the ground a few feet away after trying to return the ball.
"15-love!" Oishi, the kind soul who is willing to risk his life for the safety of human race within ten miles radius from the spot by being a referee, announced.
"Is that all you've got?" Atobe mocked from across the court.
Tezuka picked up his racquet and closed his eyes briefly. The image of Fuji flashed behind his eyelids, reminding him of his purpose. He definitely must not lose this game!
And thus begun the most difficult tennis match of Tezuka's life. He didn't hesitate to use his special techniques and neither did Atobe. He was precise, directing the ball to difficult corners in attempt to exhaust Tezuka. It was then that the bespectacled man was grateful for all the morning he spent working out the sexual tension Fuji induced on him. He barely ran out of breath as he returned the ball, stealing scores from Atobe only to have it stolen back. It was always a close call, though. Neither man was willing to give up when the stake was this high.
Tezuka heard a distant rumble of thunder but ignored it. It reminded him of that night he found Atobe molesting Fuji in the cave. He narrowed his eyes and hit the yellow ball as hard as he could and watched as it dropped just after passing the net before skidding back to his side of the court. Atobe had lost his smug smile, now looking serious as he realized Tezuka wasn't an opponent to be trifled with.
The match dragged on and on. Tezuka was only partially aware of the suddenly darkening court. When the first raindrop fell, he was too far gone to realize and so was Atobe. Oishi wanted to stop them but knew that his voice wasn't heard by the tennis players. He and Eiji watched as Tezuka and Atobe ran around in the wet court, slipping on puddles of water every now and then but regaining balance very soon. They had entered tie break with no end in sight. It would take something as drastic as Fuji's sex tape scandal to make them stop for a break.
"Kunimitsu, what do you think you're doing?"
Well, it's not a sex tape but it would work. Oishi looked at his grinning boyfriend and gave a grateful smile. Tezuka halted his run and looked at the young woman glaring at him. He blinked in surprise when the tennis ball hit the court right beside him and instantly regretted the distraction. He looked accusingly at Yumiko but the pregnant woman would have none of it.
"Kunimitsu, Atobe-kun, I demand you to stop now!" Yumiko said with the kind of authority only mothers could omit. "Get back in here! I am not going to get myself and my baby wet just to fetch you ignorant adolences!"
Tezuka walked back to the building obediently, absently noting that Atobe was following suit behind him. Once inside, Oishi handed him a towel to dry himself. Atobe's zombie servant also suddenly appear to dry his master wordlessly.
"It's raining cat and dog and I am called out here just to stop you two from killing yourself with flu! Do you know how difficult it is already for me? I have a baby growing inside me, my back hurts, my feet uncooperative, and I should still come here to stop your stupid match! Now I…"
Tezuka barely heard Yumiko's rant. His mind still reeled from the event that just took place. Atobe was slightly distracted as was Tezuka, but there was no mistaking the result of the match. Tezuka said nothing as Oishi led him back to his car. He stared blankly at the gloomy sky and heavy rain pounding on the car windows as he was driven back home. He had lost the match.
"Now who was it that insist on saying 'don't let your guard down' every half an hour?"
"Really, Kunimitsu, you should know better than to play during such a heavy rain. Now open wide, you must finish your chili soup."
Tezuka sighed. Hadn't he had enough punishment already? First he lost to Atobe and now this? Why on earth did Oishi call his mother here to take care of him? And why did his mother bring along Fuji's mother here?
"I can take care of myself." Tezuka croaked out unconvincingly.
Tezuka Ayana rolled her eyes. "So you said yesterday night before you almost pass out from your fever."
"I didn't pass out. I slipped on the carpet." Tezuka argued. But then Tezuka Kunimitsu didn't slip on anything. Not even when Fuji was reenacting shampoo commercial in front of him.
"Now, now. It's not time to argue, is it?" Fuji Yoshiko said while presenting him with a spoonful of red, bubbly… thing. Tezuka closed his eyes, stopped breathing, and swallowed the hideous thing. It was a good thing that the Fujis have a chef.
"I'm all right." Tezuka said again after the spiciness that burnt his mouth had died down.
Ayana sighed heavily. "If only Syuusuke is here… he could help you get rid of our fever instantly."
Yoshiko nodded solemnly. "Vigorous activity would help lower your temperature. Or is that why you want us to leave you alone now?"
He couldn't believe he was having this conversation with his mother and his fiancé's mother. "No."
Tezuka had gotten a fever since the previous night and the women had taken it upon themselves to help make him feel better in Fuji's absence. It didn't make Tezuka feel better at all. When they were around he would be subjected to scolding and teasing and physical as well as psychological torture. When they're not with him he would be haunted by the thought of having to stay away from Fuji because he had stupidly lost tennis match to a Monkey King. Could he have some mercy?
He had thought of running away at night. But this was already dark and his mother had insisted sleeping in the same room to make sure he'd be all right. This reminded him why he always took good care of his health. Yudan sezu ni ikou. Don't let yourself get sick and thus give your mother a chance to humiliate you.
"Maybe you're not strong enough to finish your food yet. It's time to take some drugs."
Tezuka's eyes widened slightly. He almost begged for Yoshiko to feed him the dreadful soup again. These 'drugs' were prescribed by Fuji's friend/spy Inui and looked more like poison. The fancy colors of the liquid and pills did nothing to convince Tezuka of their effectiveness to cure his illness. The foul scent and terrible taste, however, was quite effective to knock him out for an entire night.
Still, he'd rather sleep on his own without the help of the dubious potions. Tezuka edged away from the two witches… err… women. But he couldn't get very far. Ayana pulled him back, smiled threateningly, and bring a spoonful of bubbly, multicolored liquid close to his mouth.
"Say 'ah'…"
Could he at least have his last word?
"I think I should ask you to leave my fiancé to my care."
Tezuka blinked, hoping that the fever hadn't made him see and hear things. Was that really Fuji standing in this room?
"Syuusuke! Okaeri!"
"Didn't you say you're going to be home next week?"
Fuji smiled sweetly, his blue eyes locking with Tezuka's brown ones. "I decided to go home early. Now if you don't mind, could you leave me alone with Kunimitsu?"
Ayana and Yoshiko obeyed easily. They closed the door firmly behind them after giving Fuji welcoming hugs and kisses. After they were left alone, the couple kept staring at each other, lost in wordless conversation. Finally Fuji sat on the bedside, next to Tezuka, caressing the taller man's flushed skin.
"Got yourself a fever, didn't you?" he said quietly.
"Yes. I…" Tezuka swallowed to guilt and braced himself to confess. "I had a tennis match with Atobe in the rain." At Fuji's questioning look, he continued. "He said he'd stay away from you if I won…. I lost."
Fuji looked surprised and a little upset but it didn't last long. Tezuka was a little relieved. As much as he thought he deserved punishment, he was currently in no condition to pay back for his stupidity. "Tell me about it later. For now… let's focus on making you feel better, shall we?"
Tezuka was slightly startled when he felt Fuji's lips on his own but it didn't last very long. His eyes closed on their own accord and his arms reached forward to wrap around Fuji's slender body. The kiss was slow and tender, meant to convey affection instead of lust. Tezuka pulled Fuji close to him, enjoying the feel of having that body this close. Tezuka broke the kiss to nuzzle Fuji's neck in contentment.
"I've got the flu, you know."
He could hear a smile in Fuji's answer. "Should I care?"
Tezuka smiled slightly, inhaling the sweet scent of his fiancé. "I thought you'll arrive next week." He murmured.
Fuji chuckled and wrapped his arms around Tezuka. "I can't wait to see you so I asked a friend to take me back home." He paused, caressing Tezuka's damp hair. "Did you miss me?"
Tezuka pulled away to look at Fuji. He saw insecurity there, as if Fuji was worried that he might get a negative answer. Tezuka smiled to reassure him. There were many things he wanted Fuji to know but he'd rather show them through action instead of words.
Fuji's lips curved into a smile when Tezuka pressed their lips together. He missed this. He missed kissing Fuji, touching Fuji, having Fuji near. Tezuka promised to himself he wouldn't ever let Fuji leave him for that long again.
Fuji moaned softly when the kiss grew heated, their tongues battling for dominance. He shifted so that he was now straddling Tezuka, providing the bespectacled man more access to his body. He broke the kiss to gasp when Tezuka kneaded his buttocks.
"Aren't you supposed to be sick?" He asked with a mischievous smile. Yet there was no way to mistake the lust darkening his eyes.
"Your mother did say that vigorous activity will lower my temperature." Tezuka answered. He nibbled Fuji's collarbone and slip a hand inside Fuji's blue shirt.
Fuji laughed. "You can always count on my mother for random wisdom."
Fuji moaned softly as they slowly rode the afterglow. Tezuka sighed in contentment, whatever unpleasant sensation that had plagued his mind and body gone. When the haze of pleasure finally cleared they looked at each other and smiled. Tezuka pushed back a strand of hair from Fuji's sweaty face, smiling affectionately at his lover. They leaned close for another kiss but a cry from outside the door stop them. They blinked at a small puddle of blood under the door.
"Yoshiko! Are you all right? Someone stop her nosebleed!"
Tezuka closed his eyes in mortification while Fuji laughed breathlessly. That was one way to impress your future mother-in-law.
"Kunimitsu."
"Hmm?" Tezuka asked, looking at his lover. When he saw the look in Fuji's eyes he nodded. "Right."
TBC
A/N: Mwahahahah…. But it's not done yet. Check the epilogue for closure. Still, R&R is very appreciated.
