Another Rumor ~ Chapter 3
Story Summary: Sequel to Rumored Relationship. Another rumor has taken hold of the tennis circuit. Tezuka and Fuji's relationship continues to develop as one between Atobe and Jirou begins. Shounen-ai: Perfect Pair and Adorable Pair/AtobexJirou.
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or any of its characters.
Chapter 3
‘How did I get roped into this?’ Tezuka sighed in exasperation. He was currently standing in front of the park, waiting for his Hyotei rival to arrive with Fuji’s hyper fanboy. “Syuusuke, explain to me exactly why we are about to go on a double date with Atobe and Akutagawa.”
Fuji blinked up at the taller boy. “Because it’ll be fun of course.”
“For who?”
“Everyone. That’s why people have double dates. Besides, you owe me for last night.”
“I do not.”
“Do so. Meanie.”
“How can I be considered mean when you were begging for it?”
“…Shut up.”
Atobe’s limo pulled up, and Jirou quickly ushered the Seigaku boys in.
“Fuji Syuusuke!”
Fuji giggled as he petted the strawberry-blonde who had glomped onto his arm. “Hello to you too, Jirou-kun.”
Jirou grinned brightly, happily chatting away to the tensai.
Atobe watched as Jirou latched onto the other boy and scowled. ‘Why the hell is a double date including Ore-sama, Jirou, Tezuka, and Fuji even occurring? Why did Ore-sama give into Jirou again?’ Thinking back to the events prior to leaving his mansion, the silver-haired boy groaned quietly.
When Jirou had first announced that they were going on a double date with Seigaku’s top two singles players, Atobe had looked at the other boy in disbelief before plainly stating that no such thing was going to happen. The normally sleepy boy pouted at his captain and pleased for Atobe’s compliance. When such actions still failed to convince the taller boy, Jirou snuggled next to his captain, turning large puppy-dog eyes on his friend. Atobe caved in a second.
‘Ore-sama needs to make the use of such eyes illegal.’ Focusing his attention on his fellow captain, Atobe took slight satisfaction in the fact that Tezuka seemed just as displeased as he was at their current situation. “Na, Tezuka? Don’t tell Ore-sama that you were unable to go against your tensai’s wishes to come here. He doesn’t already have you on a leash, does he?”
Tezuka scowled at his rival. “I could say the same thing about you, Atobe, or did you come up with this idea to have a double date yourself because you couldn’t satisfy Akutagawa on your own and needed advice?”
The glare Atobe shot at Tezuka was a mixture of disbelief and fury.
“Kei-chan, calm down.” Jirou held onto the taller boy’s arm as Fuji did the same with Tezuka. “We’re supposed to be having fun, not fighting. Play nice with Seigaku, okay?”
“And what reason does Ore-sama have to ‘play nice’ with Seigaku?”
“Please, Kei-chan. Do it for me.”
Atobe took a deep breath before nodding. ‘Ore-sama is finding a way to make those eyes illegal as soon as possible.’
“You’ll be good too, ne Kunimitsu?”
Tezuka frowned at his smiling boyfriend. “Hn.”
Fuji placed a quick kiss to his boyfriend’s cheek before turning towards the other two present. “Is there anywhere in specific that either of you want to go to?”
“Home.”
Jirou smacked Atobe’s arm lightly. “Mou~. Stop being such a spoilsport, Keigo. I want to go to the amusement park.”
“Jirou, you went there last week.”
“But that was different! We were with the other Regulars!”
“Ore-sama sees no difference.”
“The difference is that this is a double date, Atobe.” Fuji cut in, using a sweet voice. “You couldn’t have had much time alone with your boyfriend when all of your teammates were there as well.”
Atobe glared at the tensai. “If you are so concerned about Ore-sama’s time alone with Jirou, then exactly why are you here?”
“Because Jirou-kun wanted to have a double date.”
“Jirou?”
The strawberry-blonde smiled shyly up at his captain, glancing up through lowered lashes. “I thought it would be fun.” He said meekly. “It’s okay if you don’t want to go on a date with me though, Keigo. We can just drop Fuji-san and Tezuka off wherever they want, and then you can take me home to my place.”
‘Why does Ore-sama feel like Ore-sama just kicked a puppy?’ Atobe sighed and stroked his player’s hair gently before tilting the smaller boy’s head up so that their eyes met. “That’s not what Ore-sama meant. Besides, today is Ore-sama’s day to have you.”
“Does that mean you don’t mind going on a date with me?”
“Ore-sama prefers you over any of those loud females that fawn over Ore-sama.”
“Yay!” Jirou smiled brightly and snuggled against his captain’s arm. “Then we can go on a date after practice tomorrow!”
“What?”
“You said that you didn’t mind going on a date with me, right?”
“Ore-sama did, but-”
“Yay!”
Fuji chuckled as Jirou neatly trapped Atobe into going on a real date with him.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Tezuka spoke quietly into Fuji’s ear.
The tensai shivered as Tezuka’s voice seemed to resonate within his body. “Ah.” He breathed out. “Jirou-kun is pretty good at manipulating Atobe.”
The bespectacled boy chuckled deeply, enjoying the way Fuji reacted as his lips brushed lightly against the other’s ear. “Did you teach him how to do that?”
“I didn’t have to. He’s had Atobe wrapped around his finger for years.”
Tezuka sighed and kissed the top of Fuji’s head. “Then why are you busy playing matchmaker with them?”
“Because Jirou-kun asked me to help him. Besides, it’s fun watching Atobe crumble just because he can’t say no to Jirou-kun.”
“You really are bad at times.”
“And you love it.”
Tezuka smirked and tilted Fuji’s head up for a lingering kiss.
“Ore-sama never thought that there would be a day where Tezuka Kunimitsu openly displayed affection with anyone.”
Fuji pouted as Atobe’s words caused his boyfriend to break the kiss. “You’re the one who said that you were tired of tip-toeing around our relationship, Atobe. Do us all a favor and take your own advice.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
“I mean shut up and kiss Jirou-kun already.”
“Fuji-san!” Jirou yelped as Atobe tried to figure out exactly how much trouble he would get in if he made the tensai suddenly disappear.
“Honestly, what kind of person won’t kiss his own boyfriend?”
‘Ore-sama can bribe a judge. Tezuka will just have to learn to live without Fuji.’ Atobe continued to fume quietly until they arrived at the amusement park.
“Oh~!” Jirou bounced in place as they entered the amusement park, tugging on Atobe’s sleeve. “Kei-chan! Kei-chan! Let’s go on the rollercoaster!”
The Hyotei captain smiled down at the bouncing strawberry-blonde bundle. “As you wish.”
“Yay!” The volley specialist started to run forward only to be stopped by a hand grabbing his own.
“Jirou, don’t wander off by yourself. You could get lost.”
“Oh yeah, but Kei-chan will always find me, ne?” Jirou giggled and snuggled against his captain’s arm. “Kei-chan always finds me.”
“Aw!” Fuji cooed quietly, lacing his fingers together with Tezuka’s. “Aren’t they cute?”
Tezuka shrugged. “You’re cuter.”
The tensai blinked up at his captain, blue eyes opened wide in surprise.
The taller boy chuckled softly and gently stroked the other’s cheek. “Let’s go.”
Fuji shook his head to clear his thoughts. “Hm…I was supposed to do something.”
Jirou blinked and turned towards the Seigaku players. “Fuji-san, you told me to remind you.”
“Now I remember.” Fuji reached over and smacked Atobe with his free hand.
“What was that for?” Atobe scowled at the shorter boy.
“For being so dense.”
Jirou laughed and pulled Atobe forward lightly. “Let’s go! Let’s go!”
Atobe glared at the tensai but allowed Jirou to pull him in line for the rollercoaster.
“Sugee~! It’s so big! And I bet it goes really fast!”
“Jirou, you went on it just last week. You already know how fast it goes.”
“But still!”
Atobe shook his head in amusement and climbed into the rollercoaster next to Jirou. As the ride ascended to the top of the first drop, he felt the smaller boy move closer to him. Looking over at the other, Atobe was met with the sight of wide doe eyes.
“It’s going so high!” Jirou exclaimed excitedly.
The rollercoaster came to a stop at the top of the peak, allowing the passengers a complete view of the amusement park and the fall about to occur.
“Kei-chan?” Jirou asked, gripping the other’s arm tightly.
“Yes, Jirou?”
“I forgot that it went this high.”
“You just rode this last week. How did you forget-”
“Eek!”
The rollercoaster plunged down, quickly gaining momentum. After a series of loops and more drops, with Jirou gripping Atobe’s arm tight enough to cut off the circulation the entire way, the ride coasted to a stop.
Atobe gently pried the strawberry-blonde’s fingers off of his arm, flexing slightly to get his blood circulating again, and released both of their harnesses before helping his player out of the rollercoaster. “Jirou…Jirou!”
“Huh?”
“Are you alright?”
“Sugoi~! Let’s go again!”
“…You’re fine.”
“Saa, that was fun, ne Mitsu?”
Atobe turned and realized that the Seigaku players had been behind them the entire time. “Ore-sama takes it that you enjoyed the ride, Fuji?”
Fuji giggled and cuddled against his boyfriend’s arm. “Of course! I got to hold on to Mitsu the entire time!”
Atobe frowned slightly. ‘Ore-sama doesn’t see why that would make anyone so happy. It’s nothing special. After all, Jirou clings to Ore-sama whenever we ride this all the time.”
Fuji rolled his eyes behind his closed eyelids as he saw that the Hyotei captain did not understand what he was implying. ‘I can’t believe that Atobe is being this dense. Jirou-kun clung to him throughout the entire ride! Although, I do suppose that Jirou-kun does cling to a lot of people, just like Eiji. Hm…I wonder if that would clue Atobe in.’ Smiling sweetly, the tensai tugged on his captain’s sleeve. “Mitsu, I want to go into the haunted house.”
Tezuka sighed slightly as he realized that his boyfriend was once again up to something. “You always do.”
“That’s because it’s so much fun! Jirou-kun wants to go too, ne?”
“Yeah! Let’s go!”
Once they were all inside of the haunted house, Fuji pulled Tezuka along with him ahead of the two Hyotei players. “We’ll meet you two at the end.”
The Seigaku couple quickly disappeared in the darkness, causing Jirou to blink in surprise. “Eh? Where did they go?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Atobe sighed in annoyance. “It’s not like they’re that important.”
“I thought that you liked having Tezuka as a rival.”
“Ore-sama can always beat Sanada instead.”
“What about Echizen?”
The taller boy scowled. “What about that brat?”
Jirou giggled underneath his breath. “Nothing, Kei-chan.” He jumped as a loud crash sounded in front of them. “What was that?”
“It’s just something the builders of the haunted house put in to scare people. Nothing in here is real, Jirou.”
“I know that!” Jirou’s indignant exclamation was ruined though as he squeaked and clung to Atobe when a monster popped out in front of them.
Atobe chuckled and took Jirou’s hand in his own. “Come on. I’ll make sure nothing in here hurts you.”
Jirou nodded and clung to Atobe tightly. While the haunted house was usually fun for teasing the other Regulars, this time it seemed to be scarier than usual to the strawberry-blonde. It was as if everything in the building was targeting the two boys. Jirou yelped as something pushed him from behind. He pitched forward onto the ground and was surprised to find it so comfortable.
“Are you alright, Jirou?”
Jirou blinked and pushed himself up from the ground enough to realize that he was not lying on the ground after all. Atobe was lying on the ground beneath Jirou with his arms wrapped around the smaller boy’s waist.
“Kei-chan?”
“Who else were you expecting?”
“Right…”
Atobe rose, making sure to keep a secure hold on Jirou’s waist until they were both on their feet. He brushed the dirt off of his clothes disdainfully. “What happened?”
“Something pushed me. Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to fall on you or get your clothes dirty or…” The volley specialist rambled on while he straightened his captain’s clothes.
“Jirou!” Atobe cut off his player’s ramblings before gently brushing back strawberry-blonde curls and pressing his lips against the other’s forehead. “As long as you are unhurt, then that’s all that matters.”
Jirou blushed and smiled shyly. “I’m fine. After all, Kei-chan always keeps me safe.”
“Good. Now let’s get out of here. If we leave fast enough, then we might be able to ditch Seigaku.”
“I don’t believe this!” Fuji huffed from inside the haunted house’s control room. “How can Atobe still be so dense? I pushed the two of them together. Literally!”
Tezuka sighed and let his eyes wander around the familiar setting. Since Fuji insisted on visiting the haunted house every time he came to the amusement park no matter who he was with, the control staff had come to know the boy quite well. They were completely fine with leaving the tensai in the control room while they took a break so that ‘the angelic-looking boy with the sweet smile could make sure his friends had a good time since all of his friends loved the haunted house so much.’ The control staff was made up of fools. The only reason any of the Seigaku Regulars went anywhere near the haunted house was out of fear of what Fuji would do to them if they refused. The Hyotei players had gotten off easy today. Fuji was more intent on getting them into a compromising situation than actually scaring them. Whenever the Seigaku Regulars are forced to come here, Kikumaru jumps at the slightest thing for a week afterwards. The rest are always more paranoid as well, but Kaido is the worst. The boy practically faints at the mere mention of this particular haunted house.
“He even kissed Jirou-kun! Granted, it was on the forehead, so it wasn’t a real kiss. But still!”
“Syuusuke, enough.”
Fuji pouted. “But, Mitsu~!”
“No. You’ve done enough for today.”
“But-”
Tezuka gave the other’s backside a sharp smack as the tensai bent over the control panel once again, making him squeak and spin around.
“Mou, what was that for? Meanie.”
“Akutagawa already got Atobe to go out with him tomorrow, and I’m sure you’ve given him plenty of advice as well. Let the two of them work the rest out by themselves now, Syuu.”
Fuji sighed plaintively. “Fine. I’ll leave them alone for now. You didn’t have to spank me though.”
Tezuka rolled his eyes and headed towards the door. “It’s not like you don’t deserve one after what you always put everyone through whenever you come here. I’m pretty sure none of the Regulars would be upset if I actually gave you a spanking the next time we came here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“Come on. I wouldn't put it past Atobe to actually leave us here.”
“Mitsu!”
Tbc...
A/N: I apologize for how long it took me to get this chapter out. Real life has been pretty hectic lately, and I haven’t had as much time to write as I would like. This chapter has been the most difficult to write as well. I hope that it was worth the wait. I’ll try to get the next chapter out faster.