Prince of Tennis: Kikumaru Eiji - 047 - Heart
Title: University: Shattered Again
Fandom: Prince of Tennis: Kikumaru Eiji
Characters: Eiji, Fuji, Daisuke
Prompt: 047 - Heart
Word Count: 2432
Date finished: 11/10/2006
Rating: PG-13
Continuity: 006/100
Summary: Graduation should be a happy time, right?
Author's Notes: I can't let him be happy, can I? No.... Too easy!
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Konomi Takeshi, and whoever did the anime. At any rate, it's not me.
It was, perhaps, the best thing for Eiji, to merely exist, to keep going. It had been a long time since he'd been home, and he was not sure how his family was reacting to his extended absence. He didn't dare go home, not after Oishi had emailed him about their confrontation with Fuji.
Their. It was so strange, to think of Oishi in this relationship with Tachibana Kippei, but he sounded happy in his emails (if that was really possible). And if that was the case, well… Eiji didn't care who his friend was with.
I am never going to another wedding, Oishi wrote that winter, when Eiji was knee deep in snow and up to his eyeballs in homework. I swear. At least not if An ever gets married again. I don't know who was worse, her or Akira! Or Momo, for that matter, who looked so sad and heartbroken it wasn't funny. Well, okay, it was Momo, so it was a little funny. Eiji grinned at the computer, reaching up to stretch; he'd been in front of it far too long. Aside from that, and the inevitable clash that happened when they first saw each other, everything settled down. Especially when it turned out Momo had brought a beautiful woman, and the whole thing was almost… staged. I've wondered if An had known about it and staged it, but I don't know for sure, and I can't bring myself to ask her or Kippei. I think An actually got her perfect wedding, though. She was glad to see me; she even asked about you, and I told her you were happy. You are, aren't you?
Eiji paused, glancing at the computer next to him. Daisuke was buried in a paper, typing so fast that his fingers seemed blurred. Eiji reached over and tapped his shoulder. "Save it," he said softly, and the other boy froze for an instant, before grabbing the mouse in almost a panic and doing so.
"Thanks."
Daisuke had lost nearly seven pages earlier that year because he hadn't saved the work he'd done, and the electricity had gone out due to a storm. He'd nearly thrown himself out his fourth floor window that night; Eiji had talked him down and helped him piece it all back together. Eiji was never sure how seriously he should have taken the threat, but he wasn't going to leave it to chance, either. The other man was just too important to him.
They didn't have class together any more; they were specializing in different things, but the friendship had done the most for healing Eiji's heart, and he was glad of it. Daisuke never asked him for another date, and Eiji knew he was dating others, but it was okay. To have this friend - not quite like Oishi, because there was no other like him - was one of the greatest gifts he'd been given.
He went back to the email. But the wedding was good, and Akira, for once, wasn't singing or anything. In fact, I think the only time I've ever seen him that serious was at the end of his first match with Kaidoh (who's gone pro, by the way, did you hear?)! The vows went off without a hitch, and the party afterwards was a very good one. Everyone sends their best.
Eiji sighed softly, still thinking about Oishi's question in the earlier paragraph. Was he happy? Oh, his heart wasn't as… shattered - best way to put it - and he loved what he did, so… yeah. Maybe he was. He'd have to tell Oishi that when he answered his email.
The next two and a half years flew by; Eiji did better in his business classes than in anything else, displaying an insight to the problems that he hadn't known he could have. It wasn't a huge step for him to decide to go on and get his Masters - MBA, to be specific - and began looking around for a good school.
None in Tokyo, of course, which narrowed his options; it was far too risky. But he found one and decided that would work. It was in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido, but that was okay, it was a good distance away from Kyoto, even.
Eiji started the process, applying for the school and for student loans; it was not fair to expect his parents to keep paying for his education. Daisuke thought he was insane to keep going, but then admitted that he was taking over his family's business, and didn't need to go on.
"I don't have that to fall on," Eiji said with a grin. "So I need all the help I can get."
"Good luck. Don't hesitate to look me up if you need me for anything."
Eiji smiled. "Have I told you how much I appreciate you becoming my friend?" he asked suddenly. "Because it has meant a lot to me."
Daisuke laughed. "It's meant a lot to me, too," he said.
The day had been weird, but Eiji wasn't sure what it was that made him think something was wrong; there had simply been some sort of ominous presence in the otherwise beautiful day. He'd finished his last final the day before; he and Daisuke were going to meet for dinner that evening around six to celebrate the end of school. Graduation was that weekend, and then he was moving on, hopefully heading up to Sapporo and back to school.
He could hardly wait.
Eiji was finishing packing his books when his heart gave a sudden twist at a knock on his door. A glance at his alarm clock showed it was 4:30, far too early for Daisuke, and he straightened from the box of books slowly. He walked towards the door, opening it with some trepidation, and stared, frozen, unable to move.
"Can I come in?" Fuji asked gently, and reached out to him.
Eiji jumped back before he thought, leaving the door open. Of course, Fuji took it as an invitation and stepped in after him. He glanced around the small apartment as he shut the door behind him.
"H-how…." Eiji stuttered.
"Oishi, of course."
"Liar." It was out, in a venomous tone, before he could think. "Oishi would never."
Fuji shrugged, still walking around the room, taking everything in. "If you wish to believe it."
Never mind that Oishi wouldn't, he couldn't. He didn't know where Eiji was. Eiji smiled bitterly. "Nice try."
"You leaving?"
"I graduate this weekend."
"Oh? What did you study?"
Eiji said nothing, but Fuji didn't seem to notice. "I heard you had a date."
"One. Didn't work out." Your fault, he wanted to say, but didn't dare. It was giving the other too much power over him - not that he didn't have it already.
"What happened?"
"We studied together. He's a good friend." And he was not going to tell him his name or anything else about him, because he wanted to keep Daisuke in one piece. There was no telling what a vengeful Fuji might do.
Fuji's blue eyes flashed at him. "Friend?"
"Friend. Why? What are you doing here, anyway?"
"I came to visit an old boyfriend," Fuji said lightly.
"Don't," Eiji said. "I was never…."
Fuji peered into the bedroom and tsked lightly. "So empty, Eiji-kun. So clean. You were never like this at home."
"Roommates don't care much for clutter." He backed away, almost to the small kitchenette, far out of reach, afraid to go near Fuji - and even more so while his ex-boyfriend was near the bedroom. "Go back home, Fuji. I don't want you here."
Fuji moved so quickly, Eiji was only able to react because he'd been waiting for it, and because his eyesight was good enough to see it happening. But he wasn't able to predict what the tensai would do, and Fuji grabbed his wrist, halting his flight before he got very far.
"That's too bad," Fuji purred, pulling Eiji closer. "Because I want to see you."
"Why?" Eiji asked, trying to pull away, struggling to release the hold on his wrist. He pried at Fuji's fingers, only to have his other wrist captured and gripped just as hard.
"Because you didn't go where I expected you to," Fuji said with perfect calm, and twisted Eiji's wrists in his grasp until Eiji cried out in pain and fell to his knees to ease the pressure. "You didn't go running to Oishi."
"I don't love Oishi," Eiji gasped. "He's just a good friend."
Fuji knelt down in front of him, letting one hand go to reach out for Eiji's face. Eiji flinched back, out of reach, but couldn't get his other wrist free. "Don't… don't touch me," he said, but it didn't sound as firm as he'd hoped it would.
Fuji terrified him. Because he knew, if the other boy did the right thing, it would happen all over again; he would submit, willingly, allow him to… touch, whatever, and then it would start again, pain, bruises, scars.
No. He couldn't take it. His heart couldn't take it. Four years was not enough time to recover.
And suddenly, he was pinned on the floor, Fuji straddling him, hands pinned at shoulder level, and he knew it was just going to happen, even as he struggled to get free, Fuji's weight shifting to his wrists as the other boy leaned down. "Fuji, no…" he whispered, but it was too late.
The kiss was everything he remembered, soft, demanding, tender. He fought, at first, but it felt so good to be kissed like that again, he forgot his terror, forgot everything but the body that slid down and now lay half on his, one hand in his hair, the other slipping under his shirt….
It had been so long, so long since anyone had touched him like that, soft fingers ghosting across his stomach, up his chest to tease him again, making him gasp. Fuji broke the kiss, then, smirking slightly at him before diving back down to suck and nip lightly at Eiji's neck; Eiji's own hands had moved of their own accord and slid under Fuji's shirt, feeling his spine and ribs, pressing the slighter boy closer to him.
Fuji's leg slid between his, and Eiji came abruptly to his senses. He moved, shifting slightly, and finally managed to push Fuji away. "Stop," he said softly. "Fuji, this isn't…."
And it happened, a pain on his head that made him gasp and brought tears to his eyes as Fuji pulled his hair. Fuji's nails dug into his back, gripping, scratching until Eiji cried out at the pain, struggling to free himself. Fuji stared down at him, eyes wide with anger and unfulfilled lust, then he bent down and nipped at Eiji's bottom lip, bringing blood. Licking his lips, he drew back and sat up, one hand again gripping Eiji's wrist.
"Stop?" he asked, sounding furious. "Why should I stop?"
"It's not right." Eiji tried to sit up, but Fuji held his wrist to the floor and he gave up. "We're not… I won't be just some… fling for you!"
Fuji's free hand went up and Eiji curled onto his side, face hidden in the crook of his free arm, trying to protect himself even a little. "What do you want?" he whispered brokenly when the expected blow didn't fall immediately, feeling the pieces of his heart shatter even more.
"I have to remind you," Fuji said softly, almost gently. "You are mine."
"You didn't want me," Eiji protested quietly, trying to hide how much it had hurt - still hurt, when he thought about it, which he usually tried not to do. "You didn't even care when I broke up with you."
"That was when I thought you were going to go to Oishi; he was always where you went before." Steel in Fuji's voice made him flinch.
"You think you know everything," Eiji said almost desperately. "You thought you knew…." He couldn't finish as Fuji's fist slammed into his ribs, driving his breath from his lungs.
"I did know." His hand brushed through Eiji's hair, gently, tenderly, belying the anger and steel still in his voice. Eiji tensed, waiting for him to grip and pull again, force him into another kiss that would just leave him open to more pain, more hurt. His heart ached as he gasped for breath, wondering how bruised he was likely to get from this encounter; his former boyfriend had gotten more violent since they'd graduated from high school. "You didn't listen to me."
Eiji didn't understand. He usually hadn't, even before this twisted relationship had happened; Fuji was just… so much smarter in a different way than he was. "I don't ever want to," he whispered, and hoped Fuji didn't hear the lie in his voice. Because in spite of it all, he still loved the blue-eyed boy.
Which was why his heart was in pieces, shattered in so many shards he knew he'd never recover fully.
He didn't know how long he lay there, stubbornly curled up as Fuji touched, teased, and finally hurt him, trying to get him to react; he didn't know how long he lay there after the other left, a promise on his lips that made no difference to Eiji, because Fuji didn't know where he was going, and neither did any one else, including even himself.
Eiji didn't move, arm still protectively over his head, for a very long time. It occurred to him at some point that he needed to get up, he was supposed to meet Daisuke for dinner, but he couldn't make himself move.
"Eiji?"
He hadn't heard the door open, but the voice was familiar, safe, and so he moved, gasping a little at the pain, and tried to sit up.
Daisuke was beside him in a flash, helping him, and Eiji couldn't look at him as he tried to make his hair flatten down, tried to pull his shirt straight again. "What happened?" Daisuke asked softly.
"I… He… I don't know how he found me," he said in a shaky voice.
"Your ex?" Daisuke asked.
"Yeah. I'm sorry…."
"For what?"
"I wanted to… I wanted to go and have dinner, and celebrate, and I can't even…"
"You're bleeding."
"And that, too."
"Is your first aid kit…."
"Wait." He held onto the arm of his friend, who had started to get up. "Not yet. Please."
Daisuke sat back down, wrapped his arms around Eiji, and just held him as Eiji sobbed into his shoulder.
My Table
Fandom: Prince of Tennis: Kikumaru Eiji
Characters: Eiji, Fuji, Daisuke
Prompt: 047 - Heart
Word Count: 2432
Date finished: 11/10/2006
Rating: PG-13
Continuity: 006/100
Summary: Graduation should be a happy time, right?
Author's Notes: I can't let him be happy, can I? No.... Too easy!
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Konomi Takeshi, and whoever did the anime. At any rate, it's not me.
It was, perhaps, the best thing for Eiji, to merely exist, to keep going. It had been a long time since he'd been home, and he was not sure how his family was reacting to his extended absence. He didn't dare go home, not after Oishi had emailed him about their confrontation with Fuji.
Their. It was so strange, to think of Oishi in this relationship with Tachibana Kippei, but he sounded happy in his emails (if that was really possible). And if that was the case, well… Eiji didn't care who his friend was with.
I am never going to another wedding, Oishi wrote that winter, when Eiji was knee deep in snow and up to his eyeballs in homework. I swear. At least not if An ever gets married again. I don't know who was worse, her or Akira! Or Momo, for that matter, who looked so sad and heartbroken it wasn't funny. Well, okay, it was Momo, so it was a little funny. Eiji grinned at the computer, reaching up to stretch; he'd been in front of it far too long. Aside from that, and the inevitable clash that happened when they first saw each other, everything settled down. Especially when it turned out Momo had brought a beautiful woman, and the whole thing was almost… staged. I've wondered if An had known about it and staged it, but I don't know for sure, and I can't bring myself to ask her or Kippei. I think An actually got her perfect wedding, though. She was glad to see me; she even asked about you, and I told her you were happy. You are, aren't you?
Eiji paused, glancing at the computer next to him. Daisuke was buried in a paper, typing so fast that his fingers seemed blurred. Eiji reached over and tapped his shoulder. "Save it," he said softly, and the other boy froze for an instant, before grabbing the mouse in almost a panic and doing so.
"Thanks."
Daisuke had lost nearly seven pages earlier that year because he hadn't saved the work he'd done, and the electricity had gone out due to a storm. He'd nearly thrown himself out his fourth floor window that night; Eiji had talked him down and helped him piece it all back together. Eiji was never sure how seriously he should have taken the threat, but he wasn't going to leave it to chance, either. The other man was just too important to him.
They didn't have class together any more; they were specializing in different things, but the friendship had done the most for healing Eiji's heart, and he was glad of it. Daisuke never asked him for another date, and Eiji knew he was dating others, but it was okay. To have this friend - not quite like Oishi, because there was no other like him - was one of the greatest gifts he'd been given.
He went back to the email. But the wedding was good, and Akira, for once, wasn't singing or anything. In fact, I think the only time I've ever seen him that serious was at the end of his first match with Kaidoh (who's gone pro, by the way, did you hear?)! The vows went off without a hitch, and the party afterwards was a very good one. Everyone sends their best.
Eiji sighed softly, still thinking about Oishi's question in the earlier paragraph. Was he happy? Oh, his heart wasn't as… shattered - best way to put it - and he loved what he did, so… yeah. Maybe he was. He'd have to tell Oishi that when he answered his email.
The next two and a half years flew by; Eiji did better in his business classes than in anything else, displaying an insight to the problems that he hadn't known he could have. It wasn't a huge step for him to decide to go on and get his Masters - MBA, to be specific - and began looking around for a good school.
None in Tokyo, of course, which narrowed his options; it was far too risky. But he found one and decided that would work. It was in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido, but that was okay, it was a good distance away from Kyoto, even.
Eiji started the process, applying for the school and for student loans; it was not fair to expect his parents to keep paying for his education. Daisuke thought he was insane to keep going, but then admitted that he was taking over his family's business, and didn't need to go on.
"I don't have that to fall on," Eiji said with a grin. "So I need all the help I can get."
"Good luck. Don't hesitate to look me up if you need me for anything."
Eiji smiled. "Have I told you how much I appreciate you becoming my friend?" he asked suddenly. "Because it has meant a lot to me."
Daisuke laughed. "It's meant a lot to me, too," he said.
The day had been weird, but Eiji wasn't sure what it was that made him think something was wrong; there had simply been some sort of ominous presence in the otherwise beautiful day. He'd finished his last final the day before; he and Daisuke were going to meet for dinner that evening around six to celebrate the end of school. Graduation was that weekend, and then he was moving on, hopefully heading up to Sapporo and back to school.
He could hardly wait.
Eiji was finishing packing his books when his heart gave a sudden twist at a knock on his door. A glance at his alarm clock showed it was 4:30, far too early for Daisuke, and he straightened from the box of books slowly. He walked towards the door, opening it with some trepidation, and stared, frozen, unable to move.
"Can I come in?" Fuji asked gently, and reached out to him.
Eiji jumped back before he thought, leaving the door open. Of course, Fuji took it as an invitation and stepped in after him. He glanced around the small apartment as he shut the door behind him.
"H-how…." Eiji stuttered.
"Oishi, of course."
"Liar." It was out, in a venomous tone, before he could think. "Oishi would never."
Fuji shrugged, still walking around the room, taking everything in. "If you wish to believe it."
Never mind that Oishi wouldn't, he couldn't. He didn't know where Eiji was. Eiji smiled bitterly. "Nice try."
"You leaving?"
"I graduate this weekend."
"Oh? What did you study?"
Eiji said nothing, but Fuji didn't seem to notice. "I heard you had a date."
"One. Didn't work out." Your fault, he wanted to say, but didn't dare. It was giving the other too much power over him - not that he didn't have it already.
"What happened?"
"We studied together. He's a good friend." And he was not going to tell him his name or anything else about him, because he wanted to keep Daisuke in one piece. There was no telling what a vengeful Fuji might do.
Fuji's blue eyes flashed at him. "Friend?"
"Friend. Why? What are you doing here, anyway?"
"I came to visit an old boyfriend," Fuji said lightly.
"Don't," Eiji said. "I was never…."
Fuji peered into the bedroom and tsked lightly. "So empty, Eiji-kun. So clean. You were never like this at home."
"Roommates don't care much for clutter." He backed away, almost to the small kitchenette, far out of reach, afraid to go near Fuji - and even more so while his ex-boyfriend was near the bedroom. "Go back home, Fuji. I don't want you here."
Fuji moved so quickly, Eiji was only able to react because he'd been waiting for it, and because his eyesight was good enough to see it happening. But he wasn't able to predict what the tensai would do, and Fuji grabbed his wrist, halting his flight before he got very far.
"That's too bad," Fuji purred, pulling Eiji closer. "Because I want to see you."
"Why?" Eiji asked, trying to pull away, struggling to release the hold on his wrist. He pried at Fuji's fingers, only to have his other wrist captured and gripped just as hard.
"Because you didn't go where I expected you to," Fuji said with perfect calm, and twisted Eiji's wrists in his grasp until Eiji cried out in pain and fell to his knees to ease the pressure. "You didn't go running to Oishi."
"I don't love Oishi," Eiji gasped. "He's just a good friend."
Fuji knelt down in front of him, letting one hand go to reach out for Eiji's face. Eiji flinched back, out of reach, but couldn't get his other wrist free. "Don't… don't touch me," he said, but it didn't sound as firm as he'd hoped it would.
Fuji terrified him. Because he knew, if the other boy did the right thing, it would happen all over again; he would submit, willingly, allow him to… touch, whatever, and then it would start again, pain, bruises, scars.
No. He couldn't take it. His heart couldn't take it. Four years was not enough time to recover.
And suddenly, he was pinned on the floor, Fuji straddling him, hands pinned at shoulder level, and he knew it was just going to happen, even as he struggled to get free, Fuji's weight shifting to his wrists as the other boy leaned down. "Fuji, no…" he whispered, but it was too late.
The kiss was everything he remembered, soft, demanding, tender. He fought, at first, but it felt so good to be kissed like that again, he forgot his terror, forgot everything but the body that slid down and now lay half on his, one hand in his hair, the other slipping under his shirt….
It had been so long, so long since anyone had touched him like that, soft fingers ghosting across his stomach, up his chest to tease him again, making him gasp. Fuji broke the kiss, then, smirking slightly at him before diving back down to suck and nip lightly at Eiji's neck; Eiji's own hands had moved of their own accord and slid under Fuji's shirt, feeling his spine and ribs, pressing the slighter boy closer to him.
Fuji's leg slid between his, and Eiji came abruptly to his senses. He moved, shifting slightly, and finally managed to push Fuji away. "Stop," he said softly. "Fuji, this isn't…."
And it happened, a pain on his head that made him gasp and brought tears to his eyes as Fuji pulled his hair. Fuji's nails dug into his back, gripping, scratching until Eiji cried out at the pain, struggling to free himself. Fuji stared down at him, eyes wide with anger and unfulfilled lust, then he bent down and nipped at Eiji's bottom lip, bringing blood. Licking his lips, he drew back and sat up, one hand again gripping Eiji's wrist.
"Stop?" he asked, sounding furious. "Why should I stop?"
"It's not right." Eiji tried to sit up, but Fuji held his wrist to the floor and he gave up. "We're not… I won't be just some… fling for you!"
Fuji's free hand went up and Eiji curled onto his side, face hidden in the crook of his free arm, trying to protect himself even a little. "What do you want?" he whispered brokenly when the expected blow didn't fall immediately, feeling the pieces of his heart shatter even more.
"I have to remind you," Fuji said softly, almost gently. "You are mine."
"You didn't want me," Eiji protested quietly, trying to hide how much it had hurt - still hurt, when he thought about it, which he usually tried not to do. "You didn't even care when I broke up with you."
"That was when I thought you were going to go to Oishi; he was always where you went before." Steel in Fuji's voice made him flinch.
"You think you know everything," Eiji said almost desperately. "You thought you knew…." He couldn't finish as Fuji's fist slammed into his ribs, driving his breath from his lungs.
"I did know." His hand brushed through Eiji's hair, gently, tenderly, belying the anger and steel still in his voice. Eiji tensed, waiting for him to grip and pull again, force him into another kiss that would just leave him open to more pain, more hurt. His heart ached as he gasped for breath, wondering how bruised he was likely to get from this encounter; his former boyfriend had gotten more violent since they'd graduated from high school. "You didn't listen to me."
Eiji didn't understand. He usually hadn't, even before this twisted relationship had happened; Fuji was just… so much smarter in a different way than he was. "I don't ever want to," he whispered, and hoped Fuji didn't hear the lie in his voice. Because in spite of it all, he still loved the blue-eyed boy.
Which was why his heart was in pieces, shattered in so many shards he knew he'd never recover fully.
He didn't know how long he lay there, stubbornly curled up as Fuji touched, teased, and finally hurt him, trying to get him to react; he didn't know how long he lay there after the other left, a promise on his lips that made no difference to Eiji, because Fuji didn't know where he was going, and neither did any one else, including even himself.
Eiji didn't move, arm still protectively over his head, for a very long time. It occurred to him at some point that he needed to get up, he was supposed to meet Daisuke for dinner, but he couldn't make himself move.
"Eiji?"
He hadn't heard the door open, but the voice was familiar, safe, and so he moved, gasping a little at the pain, and tried to sit up.
Daisuke was beside him in a flash, helping him, and Eiji couldn't look at him as he tried to make his hair flatten down, tried to pull his shirt straight again. "What happened?" Daisuke asked softly.
"I… He… I don't know how he found me," he said in a shaky voice.
"Your ex?" Daisuke asked.
"Yeah. I'm sorry…."
"For what?"
"I wanted to… I wanted to go and have dinner, and celebrate, and I can't even…"
"You're bleeding."
"And that, too."
"Is your first aid kit…."
"Wait." He held onto the arm of his friend, who had started to get up. "Not yet. Please."
Daisuke sat back down, wrapped his arms around Eiji, and just held him as Eiji sobbed into his shoulder.
My Table