[Drabble] A Matter of Inconsequence (Prince of Tennis)
Title: A Matter of Inconsequence
Rating: Gen
Pairing: Genfic, but considering the request, perhaps TezuFuji.
Summary: Tezuka doesn't understand Fuji.
Author’s notes: Written for wax_feathers, who requested "Antoine de Saint-exupéry's The Little Prince" on tezukafuji on the claims post for the Tezuka/Fuji fantasy fest.
Beta-ed by perfectassasin *cuddles* First posted on tenipuri here on May 1, 2006.
It was two weeks before Nationals, and the Regulars were at the training camp again. It had been a grueling day, and Tezuka was exhausted, but somehow he found he could not sleep.
The room was quiet, the soft breathing of sleeping tennis players barely audible. Momoshiro was muttering something about burgers in his sleep as Tezuka sat up, pushing the covers off and standing up. He silently walked to the window. The frame had been oiled earlier by Oishi, and it slid quietly open as Tezuka Kunimitsu climbed out onto the small roof outside and sat there, closing the window behind him.
The darkness outside hung over Tezuka like a curtain, full of sparkling lights. He sat there, head tilted towards the stars. It was quietly comforting out here, and if he closed his eyes he could pretend that he was on a mountaintop with his father.
He felt the shift of the window frame opening, and then Fuji was there beside him as it slid shut noiselessly. They sat in silence for a while. Tezuka began to think it was nice and peaceful, and perhaps he might get sleepy eventually. Then Fuji spoke.
"How many stars do you think there are in the sky?"
Tezuka was silent for a while, mulling over the unexpected question. He humored Fuji with an answer. "I don't know."
"Five-hundred-and-one million, six-hundred-twenty-two thousand, seven-hundred-thirty-one," Fuji said in a sing-song reciting voice. Tezuka turned and looked at at Fuji, who smiled. "According to The Little Prince."
"Aa." Tezuka considered that for a moment silently as he looked up at the night sky.
Fuji continued on cheerfully. "It would be rather funny if it were five-hundred-and-one million, six-hundred-twenty-two thousand, seven-hundred-thirty-two. Or it were five-hundred-and-one million, six-hundred-twenty-two thousand, seven-hundred-thirty. Perhaps even funnier if it were five-hundred-and-one million, six-hundred-thirty--"
"Fuji." Tezuka interrupted, confused at this insistence on an exact number. It was behavior one did not expect of Fuji. "Why does it matter?"
"Because one should be accurate on matters of consequence, Tezuka."
Tezuka blinked, surprised. "How is this a matter of consequence?"
Fuji stood, and slid open the window to return inside. Pausing midway through the frame, he turned back towards Tezuka, a smile on his face. "That was the right answer. Sleep well, Tezuka." Then Fuji was gone, the window shut.
It was another half an hour before Tezuka gave up considering the stars and consequential matters to return to the warmth of his futon. His dreams were of Fuji, carefully counting the stars in the night sky.
Comments/critiques welcomed. ^_^
Rating: Gen
Pairing: Genfic, but considering the request, perhaps TezuFuji.
Summary: Tezuka doesn't understand Fuji.
Author’s notes: Written for wax_feathers, who requested "Antoine de Saint-exupéry's The Little Prince" on tezukafuji on the claims post for the Tezuka/Fuji fantasy fest.
Beta-ed by perfectassasin *cuddles* First posted on tenipuri here on May 1, 2006.
It was two weeks before Nationals, and the Regulars were at the training camp again. It had been a grueling day, and Tezuka was exhausted, but somehow he found he could not sleep.
The room was quiet, the soft breathing of sleeping tennis players barely audible. Momoshiro was muttering something about burgers in his sleep as Tezuka sat up, pushing the covers off and standing up. He silently walked to the window. The frame had been oiled earlier by Oishi, and it slid quietly open as Tezuka Kunimitsu climbed out onto the small roof outside and sat there, closing the window behind him.
The darkness outside hung over Tezuka like a curtain, full of sparkling lights. He sat there, head tilted towards the stars. It was quietly comforting out here, and if he closed his eyes he could pretend that he was on a mountaintop with his father.
He felt the shift of the window frame opening, and then Fuji was there beside him as it slid shut noiselessly. They sat in silence for a while. Tezuka began to think it was nice and peaceful, and perhaps he might get sleepy eventually. Then Fuji spoke.
"How many stars do you think there are in the sky?"
Tezuka was silent for a while, mulling over the unexpected question. He humored Fuji with an answer. "I don't know."
"Five-hundred-and-one million, six-hundred-twenty-two thousand, seven-hundred-thirty-one," Fuji said in a sing-song reciting voice. Tezuka turned and looked at at Fuji, who smiled. "According to The Little Prince."
"Aa." Tezuka considered that for a moment silently as he looked up at the night sky.
Fuji continued on cheerfully. "It would be rather funny if it were five-hundred-and-one million, six-hundred-twenty-two thousand, seven-hundred-thirty-two. Or it were five-hundred-and-one million, six-hundred-twenty-two thousand, seven-hundred-thirty. Perhaps even funnier if it were five-hundred-and-one million, six-hundred-thirty--"
"Fuji." Tezuka interrupted, confused at this insistence on an exact number. It was behavior one did not expect of Fuji. "Why does it matter?"
"Because one should be accurate on matters of consequence, Tezuka."
Tezuka blinked, surprised. "How is this a matter of consequence?"
Fuji stood, and slid open the window to return inside. Pausing midway through the frame, he turned back towards Tezuka, a smile on his face. "That was the right answer. Sleep well, Tezuka." Then Fuji was gone, the window shut.
It was another half an hour before Tezuka gave up considering the stars and consequential matters to return to the warmth of his futon. His dreams were of Fuji, carefully counting the stars in the night sky.
Comments/critiques welcomed. ^_^