(no subject)
Title: And here we meet again.
Author: dark_kana
Rating: PG
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Characters/Pairings: Tezuka Kunimitsu, Fuji Syusuke, Seigaku regulars / hinted TeFu, hinted Golden Pair, friendship EijiFuji
Disclaimer: I don't own the series.
Summary: There is a tennis tournament in France. And after years of being apart, Fuji and Eiji see one other again.
Author's notes : drabble. Written for tacuma811. (I promised you a TeFu drabble, where they'd meet in France, like ... ages ago... *huge sweatdrop*) Well, here it finally is... Hope you like it! (unbeta'd. Find any mistakes, please, let me know! ^^)
Seven Asian boys were standing before the date. All of them looking up.
Court de Tennis.
"You don't need to know French to understand that."
Eiji's voice was cheerful and he immediately followed their youngest team-member when Echizen walked through the gates.
"Regarde... Quesqu'ils vient faire ici? Ce sont les étudiants en échange? Où peut-être ils sont ici pour le tournoi international qui va se passé ici cette année." (1)
The whispers around them grew louder and louder, yet they remained incomprehensible.
"Ah, welcome young lads. You must be the Japanese school, Seigaku, right?"
A big man suddenly appeared before them. Black hair, very short. And a typical French moustache.
It was kind of him to welcome his international guests in English, but his accent was, truth to be told, horrible.
"Hai."
-
"Fuji, le garçons du Japon sont arrivés. Si je me rapelle bien, ils viennent d'une école nommé Seigaku. Va voir. Peut-être que tu connais quelqu'un..." (2)
The chestnut haired boy smiled upon hearing his room-mate's words. He already knew there'd be at least one boy he'd recognize.
Cheerfully he stood up from his place on his bed where he had been reading. It were three steps to the door, however when he reached it, he hesitated to open it. After all, they hadn't really parted on good terms. His friend didn't really want him to leave to France. As it was though, he hadn't really been given the choice...
"Qu'es-ce qu'il y a? Ton ami d'enfance est là, non? Tu m'as déjà parlé de lui. Alors, tu n'es pas content de le revoir après tous ces années?" (3)
With a soft sigh he forced the smile back on his face.
"Bien sûr que oui..." (4)
-
There was no language problem when it came down to tennis. Fuji had discovered that upon his arrival in France years ago. The Seigaku team found it out now. They were quickly challenged to a game. The French High School versus the Japanese one.
"Bouchu, if they want to play matches, isn't there one player short on their team?"
All the players looked up when Momo spoke. There were indeed only six players standing on the other side of the court. It was easy to make out the two double pairs, and there were two single players already warming up with each other. But the third singles had not yet arrived.
"Allé! Depêche-toi! Tu veux bien jouer contre eux, n'est-ce pas?" (5)
Everybody present looked aside when they saw the Captain of the French team waving another boy over.
"Bien sûr que je veux jouer. Si tu me le permets..." (6)
His bright blue eyes opened and they locked with familiar deep blue ones. The intensity that could be seen in these orbs made Eiji gasp softly. Not soft enough however, and he ignored the questioningly look of Tezuka.
-
The wins were equally divided. The French team won the first double game, however they were not strong enough to take victory from the Golden Pair. Taka won the first single match, and Inui lost the second one. Echizen had been sulking all the time because he was placed on the reserve bench. And finally it was time for the last game. The battle that would decide victory and defeat for the schools.
Nobody noticed how Eiji suddenly tensed when he realized that his Buchou had to play against his youth friend.
-
"Good luck."
They shook hands over the net and Tezuka wondered if that smile would ever vanish from the boy's face.
"Tu es vraiment aussi fort que tous le monde disait? Alors... Je dois donner le meilleur de moi-même..." (7)
The grin on Fuji's face grew wider when he saw Tezuka's eyebrow twitch and he swore he heard a soft muttered 'yudan sezou ni ikuo' when the Japanese team captain walked to the end of the court. Getting ready to serve.
The blue eyed boy knew this was going to be a heated and difficult game. He knew he'd have to use his special serve a couple of times, knew he'd have to use his triple counters of he wanted to have a change to win this match.
-
Their game was intense and neither was willing to let the other one score. It was six games all and they had been playing for an hour already. Neither wanted this tie-break to end in the favor for the adversary.
The cheers around the court grew louder and louder with each passing minute. Never before had they seen such an amazing show of power and technique and will to win during an ordinary school competition.
Eventually it was Tezuka who scored the last point and thus brought victory to Seigaku.
"Nice game."
They shook hands again over the net. Both out of breath.
"Aa. Very nice game indeed."
Without paying any attention to the shocked expression on Tezuka's face, Fuji walked over to his teammates, where he was welcomed by loud applause.
-
There was nothing on his face that showed the surprise he was feeling inside when he walked out of the changing room. The Japanese team was talking with his own. In English, of course. Yet when a certain redhead saw him approach...
"Fujiko!!"
Chuckling he opened his arms just in time to catch the energetic boy running towards him.
"That was such an amazing game. Up 'till now nobody has been able to play evenly like that against Buchou. You were wonderful on that court! And you developed these Triple Counters further since last time I played you."
Another chuckle escaped the chestnut haired boy's lips when he saw the shocked expressions on everybody's faces.
"Hey there Eiji."
They didn't need to say the words out loud. The fact that Fuji's arms returned the embrace was all the answer both of them needed.
I missed you.
"Right. Fujiko, that are my teammates. Kaidoh and Momo, who played D2. Oishi, my doubles partner and our fukubuchou. Taka-san. Inue, be careful, he took notes on you, he's our Data Master. Ochibi, Echizen Ryoma, nearly as good as our Buchou. And over there, the one you played against, is our Captain, Tezuka."
He nodded to everyone. Blue eyes locking a little too long with the brown ones of his adversary. There was something. Something about those eyes, something in the way he played, just ... something ... that made him feel ... feel ...
Without showing the inner turmoil of feelings, he introduced his own team mates, trying to avoid the gaze of that one specific boy.
-
"Ne Fujiko, what are you thinking?"
Eiji's voice had turned soft, concerned even.
He didn't reply, knowing that actually the other one didn't need an answer.
"It's been so long ago..."
A smile reached his lips when he felt an arm being slung around his shoulder.
"Yeah.. You play a match against me tomorrow?"
We're okay again, aren't we?
"Sure."
They continued walking in silence for a while, before Eiji's chuckling voice broke it again.
"So, what do you think of our Buchou?"
He could feel a slight blush forming on his cheeks. His state of being speechless didn't last long however.
"So, what's between you and your double partner Oishi?"
It took about half a minute before a soft shaky laugh escaped the redhead.
"Okay, okay, point taken."
-
"So, you and Eiji are youth friends?"
Both boys nodded when Momo spoke up, smiling when they saw Inui scribbling down some more data.
"Fuji. C'est vrai? Après cette tournoi tu repars au Japon?" (8)
For a second the smile vanished from his face.
"Aa. Désolé, mais il est temps pour moi de retourner à la maison." (9)
It took a couple of seconds before the French boy lowered his gaze.
"Bon chance... Ne nous oublie pas..." (10)
Without waiting for a reaction he walked away again and even though Fuji whispered it softly to his disappearing back, he still heard the word; "Jamais." (11)
-
He hadn't even told Eiji of his plan to return home with them. And the look of shock and afterwards such a happy expression, was worth his silence.
When the time had come to say goodbye to the French team, his new found youth friend had hugged him, all teary eyes, and still Fuji had not spoken up. The entire Japanese team had said their goodbye's to the French players and it was only when Fuji did the same, that they saw the tickets in his hand and his luggage standing ready.
He never really looked back, he never had, though saying goodbye to Eiji back then had been the hardest part ever. Yet somehow he always knew it would all turn out to be alright.
He flashed an honest smile when he caught Tezuka staring at him.
Yes, this new chapter in his life would definitely become an interesting one...
The End
Translations :
(1) "Look... What are they doing here? Are they exchange students? Or perhaps they're here for the international tournament that will be held here this year."
(2) "Fuji, the guys from Japan have arrived. If I remember well they come from a school named Seigaku. Go take a look. Perhaps you know somebody..."
(3) "What is it? Your youthfriend is there, no?" You've told me about him. Are you not happy to see him again?"
(4) "Of course I am."
(5) "Come on! Hurry up! You do want to play against them, don't you?"
(6) "Of course I want to. If you'll allow me to play."
(7) Are you really so strong as everybody claims you are? Well then ... I'll have to play my best then..."
(8) "Fuji. Is it true? After this tournament you're going back to Japan?"
(9) "Aa. I'm sorry, but it's time for me to return home."
(10) "Good luck... Don't forget us.."
(11) "Never."