"Will you be ok?" Marui asked Kirihara before the scheduled match that afternoon.

Kirihara grinned; the usual one he has every time he's up for an all out game of endurance, strength and speed.

"You do know he's in a bad mood, ne, Kirihara?" Niou added with a similar grin displayed by his junior.

The little devil smirked. "I'll definitely take the win this time."

With that said, Kirihara went on with his practice match against Yukimura. Later that same afternoon, Kirihara found himself sulking at one corner of their club room, wondering what went wrong for him to deserve a love game.

Niou and Marui shrugged their shoulders off. One important lesson Kirihara has yet to learn was never to face Yukimura when he's not in his best of moods.

"Fuji…" Tezuka called out the moment he made sure everyone else has gone home. For the past few weeks, the club room has been a very useful place for him and Fuji, and though he didn't thought much about it, the same place has been the only place they could ever share their thoughts which doesn't have anything to do with tennis or academics.

"I'm going home early." came the unusually passive response.

"Do you want to talk about something?" Tezuka asked knowing that there's indeed something wrong with the tensai that afternoon. Otherwise, Fuji wouldn't have lost against Inui. Not that he was underestimating the specialist's data. Tezuka just knew Fuji can win that match when he willed so. And he didn't.

"Nothing."

"Fuji…We had a deal. And I suppose we have to be more open here if we plan to-"

Fuji's sharp glare stopped him from saying anything more.

"You broke the deal yourself." Fuji started. "You said you're not seeing him anymore, and you did. And who the hell knows how far you've gone through with that reunion of yours. You must've enjoyed the luxury you have, captain. I'm kind of jealous.."

Tezuka didn't miss the mockery on Fuji's voice. And although he didn't tell anyone about it, the Seigaku captain was quick to pick up that what Fuji was referring to was no other than the encounter he had with Yukimura at his own house.

"I agreed to meet him to set everything straight." Tezuka clarified.

Fuji faced him.

"You like him. And please….don't you dare deny it."

"If I do, does it matter?"

"What?"

"Even if I like somebody else, you'll still have your way of getting things by yourself. Whatever I feel….wouldn't matter."

Fuji gaped at Tezuka. Was that really how their captain saw his advances? Purely out of wanting him? God… where did Tezuka's mighty comprehension and analytical prowess went? While it's true that he want him so much, that was not just all to it. He loves Tezuka, a point the other man clearly doesn't get at all.

"Do you really think I agreed with the deal just to play around?" he asked, masking the hurt he felt by the aversion of his tone.

"You've always been doing that Fuji. Not just on me."

"Then why did you offer it in the first place, damn it!" This thing's really starting to get on his nerves. If he doesn't get the explanation he needs, he'll really end everything here.

Tezuka looked at him, in what looked like a stare with pity to someone who has lost it all. Fuji didn't like it. Not when it came to someone who meant everything to him.

"I have to."

"Why!" Fuji demanded.

"Because I don't like seeing you bother any other person with your childish games."

The blue-eyed boy stared in amusement. Now it makes sense. The only reason Tezuka had agreed to it was for him to stop bothering other people with his nonsense. There was none of this special feelings and affection on what they've agreed. Everything was a ploy to make him stop and make sure that he focuses his hundred percent attention to tennis and not to his desires.

Deep down in Fuji's subconscious, he knew all about it. He just continually denied that fact every time it surfaces, because it hurts. He's tired of hurting himself. He wants to be happy and secured. But now that he was faced with the same thought point blank, he had no way of escaping it. It's a dead end.

He looked away and hoisted his bag on his shoulder. Perhaps this is what you get as a payment for playing with other people's emotions. You consume it, you pay the price. He just never expected it to be 'this' high.

"You should have told me about that captain. Then I wouldn't have wasted much of your precious time." Fuji said as he went away.

The tennis genius closed the club room door behind him. He tightened his grip on his duffel bag against his shoulder, as a pained smile crossed his lips.

That one really hurts.

"Yukimura…I apologize for not making it to the regional meetings. I've sent Yanagi, but I knew you'd like an explanation from me." Sanada said.

The day before, he received a call at dawn from their captain requesting him to represent their school for the annual regional meetings of the finalists for the national competitions. That was the same time when he stayed at Fuji's place where they were about to do what could possibly be the greatest mistake of his life.

However, he wasn't really feeling well on that day; definitely not after Fuji had thrown you the coldest accommodation ever. The tennis genius really made him feel like crap. He never had much choice than to leave the house early. Well, Sanada knew he was also at fault. He really should have given Fuji the respect he deserved back there. Now he doesn't really know how to fix everything.

"Where were you when I called you?" Yukimura asked with his unmistakable cold voice.

Sanada hesitated and decided that he has no way of lying to Yukimura without letting him find out soon. It's one of their captain's talent; determining lies no matter how real that lie could be.

"I stayed at Fuji's place." he replied, lowering his voice down, and hoping that Yukimura would dismiss the issue.

"I see."

"I- I want to explain…It's not what you're thinking." Sanada found himself talking.

"Give it up, Sanada. I don't need things which practically don't have anything to do with me."

"But Yuki-"

"Enough. Yanagi took care of everything. No problem."

Then Yukimura hang up.

Sanada stayed dumbfounded. Now it seems like Fuji was not the only problem he has to deal with.

Headache.

Tezuka was having one of the worst headache in his entire life. He drank his medication few hours back then but he wasn't feeling any improvement at all. Her mother insisted on calling their family doctor, but Tezuka waved off the idea saying that it will pass.

It didn't.

And now he was left lying on his bed, with a very bad headache and thoughts which were not at all helping the entire situation.

He stared at his phone wanting to call him. If there's a person who could understand him more, it would be him. Tezuka grabbed his phone and dialed the familiar number he had memorized by heart.

"Hey.." he muttered when he answered from the other line.

"Hey…" Yukimura responded.

"Am I disturbing something?"

"Actually yes…"

Tezuka shut his eyes tight. Wrong timing. He was surprised when he heard a sigh from Yukimura's line.

"Yuki-"

"I want to see you Tezuka…..I…"

There was silence on the line, and Tezuka knew that the bluenette was organizing his thoughts about the matter.

"Shall I come over then?" Tezuka found himself offering, though he knew his mother wouldn't allow him to go anywhere at this time.

"N-no…I mean…I'm…outside your house, right now,,…and-"

"What?!" Tezuka panicked as he jumped off his bed and opened his room's window. He peered down and saw Yukimura's figure standing at their front gate. His face was buried on his scarf, with his face slightly flushed. "I'll come down. Stay right there." Tezuka commanded.

Even when Yukimura was a captain, Tezuka's sneer authority every time he commands somebody gets to him as well. It was one thing he had dreamed of having before; one thing he couldn't have.

Tezuka's parents were already inside their room so he didn't have much trouble in explaining as to Yukimura's sudden visit. He led the bluenette to his room and set the temperature higher. He knew the other felt cold.

"How long have you been there?" Tezuka asked.

"Awhile."

Tezuka sighed. "I'll prepare dinner."

"No. I've….eaten something before I came here…Just…stay."

They sat silently beside each other on the edge of Tezuka's bed. Words were not needed for them to know that both of them had a tough day with their team. There was honestly no particular reason why Yukimura suddenly decided to visit his co-captain. After what had transpired between them the other day, Yukimura wasn't sure if they can even still talk with each other properly without considering the feelings that he has for the other guy. He can hide everything with his smiles. But not at all times.

"I'm sorry…"

Tezuka knew what he meant. "You don't have to be Seiichi.."

"No..I was….It was-"

"I feel the same." This time, Tezuka finally found the courage to look at the other guy straight in the eyes.

"Oh please….You don't know how hard this is."

Tezuka reached out for Yukimura's hand and held it tight. He loves him. He wished he could tell him about it even for once. If not because of the present circumstances that involved a Sanada and Fuji, Tezuka might have done that long ago. But there are things which are beyond his control as a captain; things which should be taken cared of first before indulging to his own desires.

"Come here.." he muttered as he pulled Yukimura closer so that the other guy was now leaning against him.

Yukimura closed his eyes and leaned his head closer to Tezuka's chest. They sure understood each other more than anybody else. No wonder how they got so attached to each other for all those years. They didn't talk much, but that never stopped them from gravitating towards each other. Every time Tezuka looks at him during those times when they cross roads on some competitions, he could feel the admiration and desire he has to know him better.

"Can I stay for the night?" he asked.

Tezuka nodded. "That's fine."

Yukimura glanced up and looked at him in the eyes. His eyes moved on their own and traveled down to Tezuka's nose, to his cheeks, and finally to his lips. He slowly inched closer. When Tezuka didn't show any signs of resistance, Yukimura peck a kiss on the other's lips. It's true that they've kissed before, but this time felt entirely different.

Just as he was about to move away, he felt Tezuka's hands on his arms, and the next thing he knew, he was already pinned down on bed. Yukimura stared at him with wide eyes.

"Tezuka?"

"Seiichi…I thought I've told you not to tease me so much.." he whispered. Their faces were only few centimeters apart and Yukimura could feel Tezuka's warm breath against his cold lips. He felt light-headed.

"Not that I could remember.." he said, this time with a smile.

"I thought so."

Yukimura was more than surprised when Tezuka started kissing him. He knew how his lips felt, but the intensity of how Tezuka was pleasuring him felt all too different. He wants to be in control. In fact he was already in control. Tezuka invaded Yukimura's mouth with his tongue, which eventually made the blue-haired guy moan in pleasure.

So this is how it feels like to be kissed by Kunimitsu Tezuka; overpowering but still gentle in some way. A groan escaped his lips when Tezuka's lips went lower to his neck while his hands moved down and untied the belt of his trench coat.

"Tezuka.." Yukimura moaned.

When Tezuka went back on kissing his lips, Yukimura took the opportunity to take the other guy's shirt off, revealing a well-toned chest and abs.

"You're beautiful." Yukimura manage to whisper as he slightly pulled away to catch his breath.

Tezuka answered him with another mind-blowing kiss. Yukimura couldn't help but smile. He's still in a daze from their previous kiss, and here he was, eagerly responding to Tezuka's equally eager intention to snatch his breath away. He knew he should feel suffocated by now. It's a wonder how his lungs are holding up with the lack of air intake, but he really didn't care. Kissing Tezuka was an acceptable trade.

Then suddenly, a knock on the door froze them both from their heated encounter.

"Kunimitsu? Are you awake? You're father wants to talk to you.." came Ayana's gentle voice outside.

Yukimura could feel Tezuka tensed. He took the initiative to slightly push himself away.

"Go ahead. Your mom's going to be suspicious if you don't come over. It's still early." he said with a smile.

Tezuka nodded and headed for the door, forgetting the fact that he was half naked with his shirt thrown at some corner of the room. He half opened the door just enough for him to see his mother and to prevent her from taking a view of his bed where Yukimura was.

"Mom.." he said.

Ayana looked at him in question. Tezuka frowned but soon realized what was it all about. He was standing there in front of her mother, half naked, hair ruffled, belt undone, and sweat drenching off on his chest, forehead and arms. He looked at his mother with the I-can-explain look, but noticed the meaningful smile that graced her lips.

"I'll go ahead and tell your father you're asleep. Just keep it low. We couldn't afford to wake him up later.." she said with a wink.

"Mom!" Tezuka protested.

Ayana tapped his son shoulder and headed down. It was her first time to see her son blushing, and she thought it was kind of cute. Whoever it was, she's willing to wait for Kunimitsu to open it up to her. She trusts his son to make decisions right.

Tezuka locked to door and headed back to the bed. He looked at the smiling Yukimura and couldn't help but smile as well.

"Wow…" Yukimura muttered.

"What?"

"You just…..you smiled!" the bluenette exclaimed.

Tezuka cleared his throat.

"So…she knew."

"Somehow."

"Hmmm.."

Tezuka went closer and slammed himself down on bed. Yukimura snuggled closer so his head was not resting on Tezuka's arm.

"So…..are we now like…going out?" Yukimura asked sheepishly, feeling slightly hesitant to ask the question knowing that Tezuka has a lot of priorities, much more like him actually. He just don't know it the other was willing to start a serious relationship. But there's no harm in asking anyway, so be it.

Tezuka looked at him lovingly as he gently entangled his fingers with the blue strands of his hair. Yukimura smiled. He has his answer.

Author's Note:

There...I'm starting to hate Tezuka's insensitivity here...(but well, I love him so it doesn't matter!) So what's next?

Fuji? Sanada? Yukimura? Tezuka?!

*excited!*

Watch out!

Thanks for the read!

(..and well, time to grab this opportunity...I need comments on Tip of a Pen...it's also becoming interesting by now!)

See you!

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