Okay, so here's the third chapter to the story. I'm surprised so many people like it.
I know a few of you are wondering who that boy was. Well, say hello!
Enjoy!
Verse 3 - Greeting
"I'm sorry, babe, I swear, it wasn't on purpose. I wouldn't do that to you, you know that, because I love you!"
Tezuka's ears jumped up, his brain translating what had just been said into the English he'd taken painstaking means to learn. He took a really good look at the boy.
Tezuka was sure he'd never met him before. The boy was definitely American born, or European, and had tanned skin, though you could still see pink undertones everywhere. Black hair with electric blue highlights framed a round face, inset with icy blue eyes which looked surprisingly warm. His height was comparable to Tezuka's own, and he carried himself proudly, though, at the moment, he was hanging off of Fuji.
He wore a pair of gray-black skinny jeans that seemed to a size or two too big and the traditional converse sneakers. His white shirt had "Try me. You won't regret it" written across it in big, sparkly blue letters; and he had on a sleeveless black hoodie over that. They clung to his well-muscled body in a way that showed him off. On his forearms were black and blue fingerless arm warmers.
One word came to Tezuka's mind while examining him: emo; though what a twenty-four year old was going dressed up as emo, Tezuka couldn't fathom.
His whole outfit worked with Fuji's simple clothes: a light blue, almost see-through long sleeve, and large, baggy jeans. They looked perfect together, Tezuka mused.
"Ah, sorry to keep you waiting. My boyfriend decided to try to burn down the kitchen once again." Fuji's smile showed no traces of anger, or even annoyance, but instead seemed perfectly relaxed.
"Shu, who is this?" the boy asked, while looking curiously at Tezuka.
"Of course, introductions," Fuji smiled wider while gesturing towards his companion. "This is Aiden Clanes, my boyfriend of the past three years."
Fuji pronounced Aiden's last name Clain.
"Aiden, this is Kunimitsu Tezuka, a friend from Japan."
Aiden stared at Fuji for a while before some sort of realization seemed to dawn on his face. He then untangled himself and held out his hand for Tezuka to shake.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kunimitsu – May I please call you Kunimitsu?" Aiden offered.
Tezuka nodded and shook hands with Aiden. There was just something about Aiden's manner, however, that seemed to remind Tezuka inconceivably of Atobe's propriety is certain situations.
After the niceties were over with, Fuji disappeared into the kitchen to make dinner. "I won't burn down the kitchen," he said with a smirk before walking away.
"I already apologized for that!" Aiden called after him, pouting.
"That was the seventh time, Aiden. I've told you to not go in the kitchen. You should listen, sometimes."
"Yeah, sure, whatever," Aiden grumbled. Though he seemed annoyed, Tezuka could see the pure admiration that Aiden seemed to hold for Fuji. He turned to Tezuka. "So, Kunimitsu. You and Shu have known each other since junior high, right? He once vaguely mentioned something about being on the same team as you…"
Tezuka nodded. "We used to play tennis."
"Oh, really? Was your team any good?" Tezuka noticed something: Aiden's eyes sparkled when he spoke, not unlike he remembered Kikumaru's, though Aiden seemed to know how to keep his voice down and be less energetic.
"We did well in a few tournaments, but we eventually had to split." Because Fuji left, Tezuka filled in, in his mind.
"Wow, that's great! Do you have any pictures? Shu never lets me see any pictures of when he was a kid, though I've asked a billion times." Aiden pouted once more.
"No. The others might. You can ask them, if you want."
Aiden chuckled. "That's the exact same thing Shu told me, but I swear he knew I wouldn't be able to contact the 'others'."
"You can ask Atobe. He has some."
"Tezuka, don't let him meet Atobe. They would become best friends and feed off of each other's pigheadedness." Fuji had reentered the room carrying a plate of cups. He poured Aiden what looked like coffee, and poured out milk tea for himself and Tezuka. "Either that, or they'll kill each other."
Tezuka didn't understand. He was still trying to remember the last time he'd had Fuji's milk tea, which used to be his favorite drink all throughout middle and high school, but couldn't. "Why?"
"Atobe Keigo, as in the son of the famous fashion designer?" Aiden asked hopefully.
Tezuka and Fuji both nodded.
"I love that guy! He can be a bit stuck up, but he's really interesting!"
That surprised Tezuka. Aiden knew Atobe? Why? After all, the only people Atobe interacted with were his old tennis friends and the new connections he'd had to make for his company.
"See what I mean? Sometimes, the two will get along, other times, they're like cats and dogs," Fuji hummed while blowing at his tea. Apparently, he'd picked up on sarcasm over the past six years.
"Aw, Shu, don't be mean, like you have a right to talk. You won't even go to the parties no matter how many times you get invited."
"I don't see a need to."
"Why not? They're fun. And you get to meet pretty girls!"
"Because meeting pretty girls is what I've always wanted."
"That's not the point, Shu! Ah, Kunimitsu! Please make Shu understand why he should go to late night parties! You've been to them right?"
Fuji's smile widened and he turned his closed eyes on Tezuka.
"…" He couldn't think of anything to say. The last time he'd been to one of Atobe's parties, he'd left after a half hour and had never gone back. Fuji definitely remembered that time, since Fuji had left with him.
"Kunimitsu! Don't tell me you've never been to one of Atobe's parties!"
"I have," Tezuka nodded shortly.
"Then why…?"
"He decided to leave early, muttering something about egotistical teenagers and alcohol," Fuji piped in cheerfully.
"Wow, you sound just like Fuji. You don't say much, do you?"
Fuji chuckled. "Oh, by the way, Tezuka, you're staying for dinner, right?"
Tezuka refused immediately and stood up to leave. He hadn't realized that it was already about five in the evening and he needed to talk to the others soon.
"Wait! You can't leave already! You just got here!" Aiden jumped up as well, blocking the doorway out of the living room.
Actually, Tezuka had stayed there for over two hours already, but he figured that didn't really matter to Aiden.
"I'm sorry, but I have to talk to the others, first."
"But, come on! I haven't gotten embarrassing stories of Fuji out of you yet!" Aiden sounded like a wounded puppy.
"He's staying, Aiden," Fuji simply walked off back to the kitchen as if everything was decided. Tezuka glared at his back and Fuji waved, being as omniscient as ever.
Tezuka sighed and rubbed his head. He hadn't gotten a headache this annoying since high school, and he couldn't say he missed them. He did, however, miss the aspirin he gotten used to leaving at home.
"Yay! Alright, so dinner for five tonight!" Aiden jumped back to his seat on the recliner as Tezuka sat back down on the couch.
"Five?" Tezuka only knew of three people in the house.
"Tyler and Sakuno should be back soon. I think you'll like Sakuno – everyone does – but Tyler can be a bit of a bother. I don't even like him, and the bastard's my brother."
Tezuka wondered why the name Sakuno sounded familiar.
TBC
So what do you guys think of Aiden? Like him? Hate him? Yes, he is Fuji's actual boyfriend, and he's there for a reason. I'll try to make him super likable though!
I should have the next chapter up either later today or sometime tomorrow. Byes!
Review please?