Chapter Nineteen – Sick Buchou
The summer break was over and the Regional Tournament was fought, but sadly Seimaku didn't make it all the way. It was close, but it wasn't enough. The Golden Pair had lost as did the team of Kaidou and Inui. Fuji had won and so had Tezuka, but Echizen hadn't – thereby losing them the place in the next tournament.
Miyako could see the frustrated scowl that was printed across her boyfriend's face and she knew that there was nothing that she could say. She hadn't dared take his hand as it was clenched into a fist so tightly that there was no chance to loosen it. But she wanted to comfort him somehow.
"Tezuka…" She whispered. He didn't speak, but he looked over a little, acknowledging her words. "Let's go and sit at the park for a bit." She suggested, hesitantly reaching out for his wrist and tugging him away from the side walk. "It's only a block in this direction."
Wordlessly he let her lead him to the small park. It was different to the one they took Kiba to. It was smaller and traditional with small shrines and delicate plants. There was a sign outside reading that no pets or rollerblades were allowed. He observed it all quietly – not really sure if he was in the mood to admire the garden.
"When I was little and I was still sick Dad used to bring me here." Miyako explained softly. "He'd usually bring my favourite juice and food and we would sit on the grass field and eat – I could forget my troubles for an hour or so and it really calmed my spirit." She said, pulling him over to the field she'd talked about and made him sit down.
The trees surrounded them and it felt as though they were in the middle of a forest – they couldn't even see any buildings from the city. There was barely a sound of the outside world – only the calming sound of a bamboo fountain.
"Tezuka…talk to me. Please."
He looked over at her, but the guilt bubbled again and he looked away. He felt complete and utter shame. He hadn't been able to lead them to victory. He'd led them to the Nationals in Junior High – when they were smaller and naïve, and yet he couldn't lead them to the Nationals as High School students. What kind of a Captain was he?
"Kunimitsu."
His eyes widened and he looked back at her. She'd only called him that once – and even then it was in tease to try and win that match. She had the beginnings of tears in her eyes and her bottom lip was trembling.
"Please, would you just talk to me?" She pleaded.
"I'm sorry." He admitted, leaning his head over and pressing his nose into the side of her neck. "I'm just being pathetic."
"No." She replied, leaning her head against his. "It's okay to be disappointed."
"I failed them."
"They don't believe that." Miyako said. "Sakuno-chan said that Ryoma-kun felt like he'd failed you – and I didn't have to hear it from their lips to know that the rest feel the same."
"I didn't notice."
"Yeah, I know. You were too distracted to notice and they understand." Miyako reassured him.
Tezuka sighed and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Where will they get their motivation now that they don't have a tournament to work towards?"
"From you." Miyako replied. "You're so strong and they care about you – though they each show it in their own strange way."
Tezuka looked up. "Miya?"
"Hmm?" She asked, looking at him.
In response he pressed his lips against hers. "Thank you."
"Any time." She whispered and lowered her fingers down into his collar to pull out the dog tags. "And these are still here – they'll get you through this challenge."
. : . : . : .
Tezuka pulled the shirt over his head, he was going to be working with the Regular's the whole practice that day and had been for nearly two weeks to help raise their spirits after their defeat – he'd had to cancel another lesson he'd planned with Miyako. She'd insisted that she didn't mind and would just have to practice on her own again.
She was constantly giving to him and she did it without a worry. She was unconditional towards him and it was something that he truly admired about her.
They'd give up hiding their relationship by the time the tournament had ended and now all of the Regular's and nearly the whole school on default. He was the Captain of the team – it was near impossible for such gossip not to be spread like wildfire. To his surprise, Miyako took it all in her stride and wasn't worried too much about the mild harassment she'd already received.
"Their words won't change how I feel." She's insisted. "Their stupid opinions and lies have nothing to do with what's in my heart."
He sighed heavily; feeling slightly fatigued, picked up his racquet and stepped out of the change rooms. He was a little late and allowed Oishi to bring the club into order and set them up with some activities to get them started.
He knew that he was getting a little ill – but there was nothing that couldn't be fixed later on. He'd just have to have an earlier night's sleep.
As he walked onto the courts he looked over at the half courts, her easily distinguishable form working hard as she practiced intensely against herself. Then his mind flashed to lunch earlier that day.
"Why did you want to meet me?"
"Why would I not want to meet with you?"
"Why the roof?"
Tezuka smiled at her as he slowly took a hold of her waist. "So that no one can see me do this." He whispered as he captured her lips with his.
She giggled against his mouth, weaved her fingers into his honey brown hair and stood on her toes.
His cheeks flushed a little.
Over the Summer break he hadn't kissed her at all. He'd decided that kissing her wasn't something that he needed to do – because it was her personality that he craved. But after the tournament he found that for comfort he needed her body against his and the taste of her breath on his tongue. She was intoxicating and she certainly didn't seem to mind the interaction.
"Is that a blush I see, Buchou?" Eiji asked, teasingly.
Though Tezuka fought with the blush it refused to dissipate. "Fifty laps."
"What?"
"Make it sixty."
Eiji gasped a little, but turned dejectedly to do as he was told. "Awww, Buchou you meanie…."
"One hundred."
"Kuso!" Eiji cursed, leaving the courts at a sprint.
"Tezuka that's a little excessive don't you think? For such a trivial comment." Fuji asked, suddenly appearing.
Tezuka glared at the smiling prodigy. "Do you want to run a hundred laps too?"
Fuji smiled casually. "No." He replied and walked away.
Tezuka sighed, coughing a little against a closed fist and turned to watch the Tennis club practice.
They had been downtrodden after their loss and all that Tezuka could do was encourage the second and first years that they could make it there next year. But it took all he had to mask his own self guilt.
"Buchou."
Tezuka looked down at the first year student, the tell tale cap pulled right down to cover more than half of his face.
"I'm sorry that I didn't win my Single's match." Echizen said softly.
Tezuka smiled. It was rare of Echizen to admit that he had done anything wrong. He gently raised a hand and pet the boy against the back. "You'll have every chance to win next year."
"It won't be the same team next year." Echizen admitted.
"You'll have a new team and that team will be just as strong." Tezuka said to him. "And if it helps, I'll be a spectator at every tournament."
"You already were." Echizen said, looking up from under his cap. "You came to every tournament after you left Seigaku."
Tezuka nodded. "I guess that I couldn't let go of the player I'd created in you – or Momo and Kaidou either."
"If it means anything: it did help. Seeing you there, I mean."
"And you made a great Captain in your third year." Tezuka complimented.
Echizen blushed a little. "Nah, not really. It was hard becoming a first year again."
"I couldn't agree more." Tezuka smiled, but raised a fist to his mouth again as he coughed. He flattened that hand against his throat lightly, feeling the tender flesh that was beginning to ache.
"Are you okay, Tezuka-senpai?" Echizen asked.
"It's just the beginnings of a cold. I'll be fine tomorrow."
"Maybe you should go home?" Echizen suggested.
Tezuka shook his head, feeling the fever beginning to truly show itself. "No, I can't leave."
"I'm heading home." Miyako announced, waving to the Regular's as she had done every afternoon the past two weeks. She walked over to Tezuka. "I'll talk to you tonight, okay?"
Tezuka nodded, trying to hide his dazed state.
She frowned. "Tezuka? Are you okay?"
He nodded. "I just have a slight headache, that's all."
Miyako grabbed each side of the Buchou's head and pressed his forehead against hers. "You have a fever." She gasped. "You should go home, Tezuka."
"He doesn't want to." Echizen butted in.
Miyako placed her hands on her hips. "Tezuka. Come on. I'll take you." She said, grabbing his wrist. "Oishi-senpai! Can you take over?"
Oishi nodded readily. "Take care of him, Miyako-chan."
Miyako saluted. "Come on, you stubborn lug. Quickly get out of your tennis clothes." She said, pushing him towards the change rooms and standing with her arms crossed by the fence.
. : . : . : .
"You don't have to stay here." Tezuka said as Miyako followed him into the house.
"Yes I do. Because I know exactly what you will do when I leave." Miyako said as she slipped her shoes off and placed her bags down.
"And what is that?" Tezuka asked, slipping his own shoes off.
"You'll do homework." Miyako replied. "When what you should be doing is resting and sleeping." She grabbed into his hands and pulled him through the house until she pushed him into his room. "Now get changed into your pyjamas and into bed – if you aren't in there when I get back then I'll just have to make you." She said, leaving his room and fleeing to the kitchen.
Tezuka sighed, shaking his head as he dazedly and slowly changed from his uniform and slipped on his long flannel pants and was about to put on the matching button down shirt when he decided it was too hot. He'd just sat down on the edge of the mattress when Miyako returned.
She held in her hands a bowl of water and several small towels and a thermometer between her teeth. "You're not lying down, but I'll let you off for sitting on bed." She managed to say.
He smiled weakly at her and raised a hand to press it against his own forehead. "Nnn. My head's really killing me."
"That's what you call a fever." Miyako informed, placing the bowl on his bedside table and placed the towels down. Gently she made him lie his head down on the pillow. "Put this under your arm to see your temperature. I'll be back in a second with some cold and flu tablets." She left the room again, her ponytailed hair flying out behind her. Since the Summer she'd started to wear it in a simpler style – especially after he commented on how lovely it looked that way.
The pain behind his eyes was frustrating him and angrily he shut them, groaning a little. At least he wasn't at school where everyone could see him in such a debilitating state.
Miyako returned again, a glass of water and two tablets in hand. She helped him to take the two large tablets and lay his head on the pillow again and then tucked his doona cover over him as she sat on the mattress beside him. "How's your temperature?"
Tezuka reached under his arm and pulled out the thermometer and allowed her to take it off him.
She frowned. "It's pretty high." She commented and dipped a towel into the water and wrung it out until it was damp and then after taking his glasses off his face, softly dabbed it against his forehead. "You could have overworked yourself, you know that?" She asked, placing the glasses on his bedside table and out of the way.
He only coughed into his hand. "Miya, you've done enough, so you should just go home." He suggested.
She dipped the towel into the water again and after only straining it a little smacked the towel over his forehead. "Are you kidding? I'm not going to leave you until at least, your parents get home."
"They won't be home until next week." Tezuka said, coughing. "You can't stay here that long."
"Until you are better, I am." Miyako said stubbornly. "Besides, we've been together for so long now…don't you want me to stay with you?" She asked, her whole manner changing as she looked away dejectedly.
He reached out for her hand, upon realising that her skin was so cool compared to his, he placed the back of her hand against his cheek, closing his eyes. "Please stay."
Miyako smiled warmly, smoothing his hair out a little with her free hand. "You should put a shirt on. If we make you sweat then the fever will recede quicker." She said thoughtfully. "Oh, I know. Where's the linen closet?"
"Why?" He asked.
"I'll get more blankets." She explained.
"But I'm already melting."
"Your head only thinks you are." She said, pulling her hand free. "Now where's the linen closet?"
Tezuka replied, though he still thought it was pointless. "Down the hall to the left."
Miyako flew out of the room and he heard her searching for the closet and when she did she muttered to herself trying to find the perfect ones – the heaviest and warmest. After a few minutes she walked back in with her arms laden with several large blankets. She dropped them onto the floor and then one by one she picked them up, flapped them out and lay them over him.
"They're heavy." Tezuka complained softly.
"That's the point, Kunimitsu." Miyako said. "If you get hotter and sweat more the fever will leave your body faster." She said, repeating herself.
His heart thumped. She only ever called him by his first name when it was just the two of them. "I know a better way." He mumbled.
Miyako frowned, missing what he had said. "Pardon?" She asked, walking up beside him.
Weakly he reached up and after gaining a reasonable grip around the back of her head, he tugged her down so that he could whisper in her ear. "I know a better way." He repeated and tugged her even closer.
"Kunimitsu." She warned. "I don't think so. You're not thinking clearly."
Despite his ill state he was still rather strong and took her lips in his, groaning weakly as he sought the comfort only she could give.
"Ku-ni-mi-tsu." Miyako panted between his kisses, slowly losing reasons to fight as she placed a hand on either side of his head to keep herself from falling on him. "You're going to make me sick too."
"Does it matter?" Tezuka asked, kissing along her jaw.
Miyako shuddered. He'd never gotten this passionate – but then whenever they had the chance to kiss they were outside and she supposed that there was a sense of vulnerability to that. But right now they were inside. His hands roamed down her back and then found the hem of her school shirt and then, as his lips burned a trail down her neck, his burning fingers brushed up under the fabric.
She had to stop this.
Using all the strength she had – mental and physical – she pulled herself away and stood back from the bed, panting deeply and self consciously flattening her school shirt out. "Kunimitsu, you need to discipline yourself."
"Why?" He asked.
Miyako looked at his dejected expression – she saw the rejection settling into the soft colour of his eyes. "You're intensity for me is a little worrying sometimes."
"Is it wrong to love you?" Tezuka asked, not understanding why she had pulled away so suddenly when he was only just getting started.
Miyako's heart leapt as the words left his lips. "No, of course it isn't. But you're not well and you're not thinking clearly. I refuse to take advantage of you like that." She explained, sitting on the bed and taking the towel from his forehead to dampen it again and then placed it back.
"You'll still stay here though?" Tezuka asked.
She smiled and kissed his lips softly. "Of course I will."
. : . : . : .
Tezuka's eyes slowly fluttered open and he met the chocolate irises of Miyako's eyes staring right into his, so close that he leant his head forehead and lay his forehead on hers. "Hey."
"Hi. Your fever's nearly gone." Miyako informed him.
"You're not ill?"
Miyako shook her head awkwardly from her lying position. "I'm fine. At least for now. If I end up sick you're returning the favour."
Tezuka smiled, but then it vanished as he remembered what he had done. "Did I scare you?"
"No." She said. "I was a little bit flustered, but no, not scared. I haven't been scared of you since February or March." She giggled a little. "When your glare used to find me on those half courts and I would just cringe."
"Very effective."
She looked at him, confused.
His arms found her under the blankets and pulled her into his still bare chest, kissing her forehead. "This medicine."
Miyako smiled. He had a knack for changing the subject. "Love is usually a pretty good remedy."
Tezuka sighed, closing his eyes as he held her closer. "And I meant what I said. When I said that I love you."
Miyako blushed and snuggled into his chest. "I love you too."
Suddenly, from across the room a familiar sound met their ears and Miyako yelped, pulling away and stumbling out from under the several blankets, fixing her skirt as she ran to his desk where she'd left her phone. "Hello?"
Tezuka watched as she looked at the clock and began to panic.
"Dad, I'm fine!" She reassured into the phone. "Tezuka was just sick so I took him home and I'm still here with him. No Dad, I'm not coming home now. I'm going to be here until his cold has completely healed."
"Miya, it's as good as gone." Tezuka said.
"Huh? Oh Dad, wait a second. What is it?" She asked, covering the receiver with her hand.
"I'll only be sleeping from here on in; you may as well go home." Tezuka suggested. "Besides, you'll have to go to school tomorrow."
Miyako hesitated, but sighed. "Okay. Dad. I'm coming home now." She said. "Okay, bye."
She hung up and walked over. "Where are your keys to the house?"
"Why?"
"I'll visit you in the morning to see if you're well enough to go to school." Miyako explained.
"They're on the hook by the front door." Tezuka replied.
"Drink lots of water and sleep, I'll see you in the morning." Miyako said as she carefully leaned over him and kissed his lips.