Disclaimer: I don't own Tennis no Ouji-sama

Something was wrong.

Something was terribly wrong.

Oishi had realized it the moment he entered their club room and noticed how Fuji was hardly pinned against his locker by an equally strong pair of arms which was no other than that of their captain's. At first he thought he was just seeing things. He blinked twice. And then thrice. And finally lounged forward in an instant horror when reality struck him.

He grabbed Tezuka's arm which was clutching Fuji's shirt and pulled it away. Too bad, Tezuka seemed to be intent on not letting Fuji go.

"Tezuka! What are you doing?!" Oishi cried as he desperately struggled to free Fuji away, who had his head bowed down, veiling whatever emotions he could feel at that moment.

"Get out right at this instant Oishi. This is none of your business." Tezuka said in between gritted teeth, furious glare boring straight on Fuji's fragile figure in front of him.

"You're hurting one of our team mates, Tezuka! How is this none of my business?"

"You heard me."

"Yes, and I'm not getting out unless you tell me what the hell is going on." Oishi demanded, feeling the need to neutralize the flaring situation instantly.

Tezuka heaved a sigh and freed Fuji away.

Oishi waited for an explanation. There has to be. He has been staying beside Tezuka for three years, and the man he knew was a cool and calm personality who never knew how to get angry. At least that was how he thought. But seeing Tezuka right now, obviously angry for whatever horrible thing Fuji did, was just beyond his imagination.

Oishi turned to Fuji's direction, and offered a hand. Without even looking at him, Fuji simply nodded and fixed himself. He then went out, leaving all his things inside.

"Tezuka…What is this?" Oishi asked, when Tezuka didn't take the initiative to provide him with the explanation he deserves.

"Nothing."

Oishi looked at their captain in disbelief.

"This? Nothing? You really expect me to buy that?"

Tezuka turned at his direction, and gave him that well-known glare that few people who have tasted the captain's wrath feared.

"Yes. Now leave."

Oishi shook his head, but nevertheless obliged. He grabbed Fuji's things before heading out, and took one last glance at Tezuka who remained still in his original position.

The vice-captain didn't like to jump into conclusion in matters that require vital decision making. But Tezuka assaulted Fuji; a clear breach of the power given to him as the captain. Now that Tezuka doesn't want to give him the details of what happened, Oishi was left with no choice than to believe the impression he had on what he saw.

And that same impression didn't really settle well on him.

If there was one word that could ever describe the situation inside the Rikkaidai tennis courts that afternoon, that would be, gloomy.

It was not enough that Renji already had his critical eyes on the team's practice session. Yukimura, their feared captain, also seemed to have gained much interest on the necessity to have an untimely array of sit-ups and push-ups prior to their actual practice matches.

Not that it was entirely something new. In fact, they've been used to the endurance tests Yukimura usually gives in some lucky cases when he sees something undesirable from somewhere. Today, was quite unfitted for any of those lucky days.

Yet there they were, panting hard as Yukimura delivered his divine verdict for the day.

It was expected then that at the end of the day, all of the members of their tennis team will end up worn-out to the bones, with no more energy left other than that of what they need to get to their respective homes.

"Don't you think we've pushed the team too much?" Sanada muttered, immediately regretting what he said when Yukimura literally rewarded him with 'that' glare. "Sorry….I just thought we did too much considering that we'll have the major exams the following day." he continued.

"And you really think I'm not aware of that?"

"No. You know that's not what I mean. I was just trying –"

"To knock some sense into me, is that it?"

Sanada sighed.

He knew his apology wasn't enough to pay off his absence on their recent practices just because of his selfish desire to spend more time with Fuji. Sanada knew it was unfair for the team, and that he shouldn't be diverting his attention to something else when more important games are up ahead. In short, he fully accepts Yukimura's resentment at him right now. He just hoped the team wouldn't suffer much like how he should.

"Yuki…."

"All I want to know is if you're going out with that Syusuke Fuji."

Sanada frowned.

Even he, doesn't know if Fuji and he are already up for that thing. Yes, they've been in good terms for the last week, yet it doesn't suffice that they're already beyond friendship. It's more like of a fresh start for the both of them. Even though Sanada hoped for more, he knew that was all to it as of now.

Yukimura slammed a fist on his locker and glared hardly on his vice-captain. Sanada swallowed hard. He didn't realize Yukimura hated Fuji so much.

"I….we're…..yes. We're together." Sanada stammered, wondering what has gotten into him to lie at his beloved captain.

Yukimura smirked and raised an intimidating brow, obviously intent on mocking the taller guy.

"Well...no wonder you've been falling behind. Hanging out with losers always doesn't yield favorable results. Now I see." he said as he grabbed his towel that lay discarded on the bench.

"Yuki.."

"We'll have a game tomorrow after class. Two weeks suspension for the loser." Yukimura said.

Sanada opted to say something more, but eventually realized that his appeal would be useless knowing that the decision has already been made. Knowing Yukimura for a long time, the vice-captain know better that defying the other guy would be worst than any kind of punishment.

He stared at Yukimura's figure, whose back was facing him.

He loved him.

And he didn't know when that same serene, noble feeling started to dissipate. Perhaps it was because of Fuji, which was the only reason he could actually think of. Or maybe it was because of Yukimura's undeniable interest to Tezuka that made him back off. Maybe even both.

Yet on a second thought, it was never on Sanada's nature to back off on anything or anyone that poses a challenge to whatever he's got. In fact he could still remember how he continually strives to be at par with their captain just for him to notice him more than just a vice-captain.

Sadly, Yukimura didn't see him that way.

It has always been Tezuka.

And Sanada Genichiro always remained a shadow to the mighty 'child of god'.

Fuji clutched his hair with his hands.

He sat down defeated at the edge of his bed as he contemplated the encounter he had with Tezuka. He had hoped that his week of absence on their practices would do him enough favor to forget and temporarily set aside his feelings for their captain. But as it all turned out, it only made things worse.

He never saw Tezuka become so angry at someone before, and Fuji strangely found a bit of fascination from the fact that he was the reason why the other did get angry earlier. If only that anger came out of jealousy, perhaps he wouldn't feel so humiliated and defeated right now.

Fuji stood up and answered the knock he heard on the door.

"You're friend's here." Yumiko said, eyes obviously worried, though she tried not to show it all at once.

'Oishi….' Fuji thought in guilt, remembering how the other rescued him from an apparent disaster earlier.

"Get yourself fixed. I'll have him come here so you can talk in private. You seemed to have some issues at school."

"Thanks, nee-san…" Fuji muttered with a half smile.

Yumiko looked at him straight. "I'm not interested, okay? And I don't want to get involved, so fix it yourself." she said and headed down.

Fuji gently closed the door and headed inside the bathroom.

What would he say to Oishi? He couldn't possible lie, could he?

He lost track of the time he spent inside the bath tub.

So he didn't quite understand why his eyes locked on a very familiar pair of hazel brown eyes when he decided to open his own. The water on the tub, which was supposedly warm has now turned icy cold, much to Fuji's slight inconvenience.

He blinked several more times and rubbed his eyes to clearly look at the person who was apparently standing tall over him.

"Shit.." he mumbled as he drowned himself on the tub, making himself fully awake.

Standing on the side of the tub was no other than Kunimitsu Tezuka. Other than murder, Fuji couldn't think of any other reason why their captain would be there. He raised his head up and grabbed the towel he placed just right beside him.

"What is it?..You could have waited outside. I'm still taking a bath." Fuji said as he pretended to wipe his face dry, but was actually trying to avoid Tezuka's penetrating gaze.

"Are you?" Tezuka asked before heading out.

Fuji bit his lower lip and threw the towel to Tezuka's direction. Thankfully, Tezuka was already out.

"I acted in impulse earlier. That's not me." Tezuka said.

Fuji was on his bed, arms pulling his knees tight against his chest. He didn't try to hide his dismay with another smile, for both of them knew that everything couldn't be fixed with pretensions anymore. There were just so many complications already going on.

Tezuka examined Fuji's face, and noted that the other's hair seemed to have grown longer, judging from how it veiled a generous part of his eyes.

"I came to apologize. I know I shouldn't have done that." he said.

"You mean,by pinning me against the wall? Believe me, I don't mind." Fuji replied, eyes fixed at nothing in particular.

He was not angry at Tezuka. He just feels disappointed knowing that the other was not even willing to respect his privacy. If Tezuka was indeed angry with his absences, he could at least handle it more diplomatically than automatically accusing him of things he didn't commit.

He's not an idiot. But then again, who was he to Tezuka anyway. It's not like it was the first time their captain had made him feel so disappointed. If he would recall everything, he could swear there were countless times.

"You slept with Sanada. Did you ever think what will that cost you?" Tezuka asked.

"I spent a week with Sanada. He stayed there together with me, and I didn't have sex with him. Let's put facts straight, alright captain?" Fuji countered.

"What were you thinking?.."

"None that concerns you or the team. Purely personal."

"Personal things that affect your performances in tennis is my concern. You know that."

"Oh yeah? Well tell me. Am I slacking off? Was defeating Momo and Inui not enough to prove myself? If you want me to play against you and see who'll win I'd gladly set-"

"Stop it Fuji. You don't have to tell me what I recognize. What I'm saying is….you could've at least told us."

"Told you, you mean."

Tezuka sighed. When it comes to things like talking some sense into someone, Fuji was among those people who's hard enough to make a point at without risking a strand of your patience on the process.

"Fine. I would've wanted you to tell me what was the problem."

"You are the problem…..and this stupid feelings of mine which just couldn't die no matter how I exhaust my intellectual capacities. Hell, I don't even know why I love you so much."

Tezuka fell silent.

That was so far, the most direct confession he had ever received from the blue-eyed boy. And strangely, it sounded so heartfelt, which is quite unsettling.

"If that's how you feel, then you shouldn't be using others, and making them expect for nothing."

"And then what? Let myself rot in misery as my first true love lives happily ever after with my mortal and only enemy?" Fuji asked bitterly with a smirk. "I'm sorry captain. But that's not going to happen."

Tezuka sighed. If only he knew what's the most appropriate thing to do right now.

"…..and I'm not using Sanada. He's….a good friend."

That, was something new.

"Well…"

"Anything more? Because if none, then you may go. I also have dinner to catch. See you tomorrow."

Without waiting for any reply, Fuji went back inside the bathroom and waited for Tezuka to finally leave their house.

He really has to move on.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

There…

Moving on this 2013…..