You and the Night and the Music (III)
Track 3/?
Pairing: TezukaFuji
Rating: G
Genre: Romance in general
Word Count: 4462
A/N: The music has begun, will they dance their hearts out? Or just let it end?
An AU for my OTP with OCs. Sorry for some OOC.
and for my lovely and nice beta : tacuma811 , thank you!
I do not own Prince of Tennis nor the lyrics (Koi no Gekidasa) used in this fic
Previous Chapters: kat-himesama.livejournal.com/3317.html| kat-himesama.livejournal.com/4780.html
Next Chapter: kat-himesama.livejournal.com/6307.html | kat-himesama.livejournal.com/7665.html
Having nothing to do, Fuji fetched his cigarette box and lit one while leaning on the side of his car, waiting for his friends. The night wind was blowing against his face, ruffling his soft honey-brown hair. His eyes flew open when he saw someone pacing towards him. The man was noticeably graceful and anyone would feel intimidated by his presence; every step was full of confidence. Fuji was surprised himself to immediately recognized the taller man approaching him. The blue-eyed young man dabbed his cigarette in to his portable ashtray and smiled at the newcomer.
‘It’s nice to see you here, Tezuka.’
‘Ah, it’s nice to see you too, Fuji,’ Tezuka said in a quiet, baritone voice.
Tezuka stopped in front of him and glanced at the ashtray he was holding, curiously. Fuji just shrugged his shoulders and put the ashtray inside the car. The two young men just stood in silence for a few minutes. It wasn’t uncomfortable. Neither of them was bothered by the quiet. Suddenly, Tezuka’s cell phone rang. The bespectacled man excused himself and walked, not too far away from Fuji, and answered the call.
‘I am already here, Atobe.’ Fuji heard the taller man say. Tezuka’s occasional ahs and grunts were the only sound breaking the silence. Again, Fuji was left nothing to do but try not to look at Tezuka…unsuccessfully. His dark brown hair was as usual, disheveled - even so, Tezuka looked like he had just finished shooting a commercial for hair gel. Tezuka Kunimitsu, a very good tennis player and a good looking young man. No wonder he has so many girl fans swooning over him. Fuji smiled when realization came to him. This is what I missed. Of course, Tezuka would be one of Japan’s Elite Bachelors under 25! Fuji shook his head, thinking how his friends acted the night they informed him about the interview, how they kept this from him. He let out a sigh and glanced up, and the tennis superstar was staring at him, his amber eyes were unexpectedly vulnerable. Fuji caught his breath and blinked. The honey-brown haired guitarist stared up at the sky to avoid Tezuka’s eyes.
‘It’s twilight,’ Fuji murmured, looking at the Western horizon. His voice was thoughtful, as if his mind was somewhere far away. ‘The easiest time, but also the saddest, in a way…the end of another day, the return of the sleepless night. Darkness is so predictable, don’t you think, Tezuka?’ The smaller man smiled wistfully.
‘I like the night. Without the dark, we’d never see the stars,’ Tezuka answered.
The bespectacled man seemed to have recovered from his teasing when they were in London. Fuji smiled his eternal smile and the mood abruptly lightened.
‘Where are your friends?’ asked Tezuka.
‘Oh, they are still on their way.’ Fuji answered casually. ‘I was a little too early, like you. And sometimes, being alone is nice,’ he continued.
‘Aren’t you afraid to be all by yourself?’ The taller man stopped short, measuring Fuji’s expression for a moment. ‘I mean your band is famous, you might get bothered by your fans or by the press.’ Tezuka continued as he leaned against the car, beside Fuji.
‘I could say that to you, you know?’ The singer answered immediately, rolling his eyes to hide his surprise at Tezuka’s sudden proximity.
A night wind blew past them that made Fuji shiver. Tezuka noticed, then stood straight.
‘The others will be here in a few minutes. Would you like to go inside and wait there instead?’ Tezuka raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.
‘I guess you’re right.’ Fuji cleared his throat and followed the taller man.
‘By the way, the sweater looks good on you,’ Tezuka said, watching him and smiled a crooked smile so beautiful that Fuji could only stare at the taller man.
The honey-brown haired man was surprised; he didn’t expect Tezuka’s stoic mask could be very versatile. He looked down, flushing of course. The blue-eyed man tried to hide his embarrassment.
‘So even you can smile like that, Tezuka,’ Fuji said laughing, trying to make the distance clear in his tone. The sound of his laughter was off, but Tezuka did not seem to notice. The dark-brown haired man just grunted his throat and adjusted his rimless glasses.
This is not good, Fuji thought internally. Did Yumiko-neesan see this coming that’s why she gave me this sweater? He questioned himself, referring to his clairvoyant sister.
The two young men walked in silence until they were under the shelter of the building. Fuji noticed that his friends were already there and he heard Eiji called out for him while bouncing towards them.
‘Fujiko, I’m sorry. Did you wait long?’ asked Eiji while gasping for air.
‘Not at all, Tezuka was kind enough to accompany me,’ he said, tilting his head towards the bespectacled man.
The redhead looked at Tezuka, then at Fuji, then at Tezuka again.
‘Oh I see. So that’s how it is,’ Eiji said, smiling widely at the both of them.
Fuji knew his best friend’s train of thought, and before something more complicated comes out from the pianist’s mouth, he opened his eyes and stared at Eiji intensely. But the cat-eyed man wasn’t affected by his glare; the redhead just stuck out his tongue, gave Tezuka a hearty wink and padded towards Oishi, Momo and Kaidoh, who had the same menacing smile plastered on their faces.
‘Fujiko, just take your time!’ Eiji bellowed before turning into a corner.
Fuji sighed. ‘I’m sorry. He is really bouncy and talkative most of the time,’ he said in a soft voice, turning his eyes away from Tezuka.
‘He’s like a kid,’ the taller man commented.
Fuji was surprised. That was unexpected, he thought. Tezuka was not affected by Eiji’s teasing and seemed to be in a conversational mood.
He smiled and met Tezuka’s eyes. ‘Yes, he is such a kid,’ Fuji agreed.
‘Yo Tezuka!’ They heard someone call and it sounded like no other than Atobe.
They turned around to realize that Atobe was sashaying towards them, along with Inui and Oshitari.
‘There is a 96.58% probability that Tezuka was forty-five minutes earlier than the appointed time,’ said Inui as the group reached them. His glasses were glistening against the lights.
Oshitari creased his eyebrows. ‘You know Tezuka; he can’t let his guard down,’ said the blue-haired man, mimicking Tezuka’s voice.
Fuji was amused by how the newcomers teased the amber-eyed man. He couldn’t stop himself from chuckling.
Tezuka grunted his throat, but before he could say something, Atobe interrupted him. ‘It is nice to see you here, Fuji,’ the purplish-grey haired man said while smiling widely, flashing his perfect set of teeth.
Tezuka stepped back a little and folded his arms across his chest while the doubles pair nodded their heads and smiled at the guitarist.
Fuji smiled back at the two before facing Atobe. ‘I didn’t expect you to be here, Atobe,’ he said, playing dumb.
The self-proclaimed king smirked. ‘Of course I would be here. I am a bachelor and the whole nation would be awed by my presence in the magazine,’ the diva said in a majestic tone.
‘I am sure they will be, Atobe,’ agreed Fuji while smiling sarcastically.
Oshitari and Inui looked at each other and laughed.
‘As expected of Fuji Shusuke,’ said Atobe with a raised eyebrow, but smiling. ‘I am also sure that now your band is back here in Japan, the press would be feasting on you, again, Fuji.’
The smaller man pretended not to hear Atobe, and instead of answering, he checked his watch and smiled. ‘I’d better be going. It’s almost time for the interview and Oishi might come out here, panicking,’ Fuji said, deliberately not looking at the millionaire.
Suddenly his cell phone rang, like it was on cue. Fuji looked at the screen and saw Eiji’s name.
‘It’s them.’ He informed the four young men. ‘I’ll be going now. It’s nice to see all of you here,’ he continued and started taking the way Eiji took earlier.
But before turning in to the corner, Fuji craned his neck to look at Tezuka.
‘Thank you for accompanying me, Tezuka,’ he said smiling, and disappeared from sight.
________________________________________________________________________________________
PURAIDO dake ga areba ii no sa sou shinjikondeita
Kekkyoku itsumo umaku ikazu ni yarisugoshiteita kedo
(I believed that it would be okay just having my pride
Though in the end I always took it too far without doing well)
‘Na Tezuka, what was that? Huh?’ asked Atobe, his voice was teasing.
Tezuka’s eyes flashed up to Atobe and adjusted his glasses. ‘What do you mean? We were both early.’
Atobe grinned. ‘Oh? That is not what my insight tells me.’
Inui and Oshitari exchanged knowing glances. Tezuka just kept quiet and stared at his narcissistic friend with a puzzled look.
The millionaire diva put an arm around Tezuka’s shoulders and whispered. ‘You two looked like a couple.’ His voice was low, but still teasing.
The dark brown-haired man’s eyes grew wide at Atobe, but the latter stared back at him and smiled widely. Atobe was saved from Tezuka’s deathly glares when Echizen came to them, panting.
‘Did you help a pregnant woman again, Echizen?’ asked Inui. ‘Too bad that you are not too late - my Super Ultra Deluxe juice was waiting for you,’ the spiky haired man continued, his voice was dangerous.
‘As if I would drink that,’ answered Echizen. ‘I would rather run laps, right buchou?’ The cheeky young man continued.
Oshitari ruffled Echizen’s hair. ‘You are really something, Echizen!’ he said laughing.
‘Ouch! That hurts Oshitari-san,’ Echizen groaned, avoiding Oshitari.
The blue haired man stopped when they heard Atobe.
‘Guys, I hope that you are not doing anything tomorrow, because we will be having fun tonight.’ Atobe’s eyes were shining dangerously.
‘Huh? Not again.’ Echizen was perplexed, while the doubles pair exchanged puzzled glances.
‘What do you mean, Atobe?’ asked Tezuka. He had the feeling that his millionaire friend was up to something again, like the last time they were in London.
Atobe’s eyes lingered at Tezuka, longer than necessary and smiled. ‘You’ll see,’ the purplish-grey head finally answered.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Fuji wasn’t sure how he ended up in Atobe’s mansion. He just remembered that after their interview, Atobe, Tezuka, and the other three young tennis stars were waiting for them at the lobby. For no reason at all, the self-proclaimed king invited them to his house for dinner. After hearing Atobe, Momo and Eiji got really excited and immediately accepted the invitation in behalf of their group. Since they didn’t have classes and band practice the next day, and to avoid arguments, Oishi, Kaidoh and Fuji just agreed.
The band’s vocalist sighed and looked around him. They were gathered in a spacious and luxurious living room - rare expensive paintings, grand chandeliers and fine collections of crystal glasses adorned the room. Five house helpers were standing nearby, ready to serve them with foods, drinks, and whatever they needed. To top it all, ten extra security guards were dispatched around the mansion.
‘What did you expect? I have invited nine world renowned young stars and not to mention here at my house tonight, of course I need to take extra precautions. The press would not dare to sneak in.’ Fuji remembered Atobe saying when Oishi asked the diva about his grandiose act. 'And to make the obvious clearer, we would like to keep this as private as possible, na Fuji? The press really loves to put you in the hot seat, after all,' added Atobe in a matter-of-fact tone.
'If you already knew that, why invite us in the first place?' Fuji asked sarcastically.
'Maa, I’ve got everything covered. I wouldn't let those damn paparazzi have their way, so let’s just enjoy tonight and forget the outside world for the meantime, Fuji,' the diva answered and sashayed his way inside his mansion.
‘Fujiko, come here.’ Fuji heard Eiji calling, pulling him back to reality. The bouncy redhead was playing Poker with Inui, Kaidoh, Momo and Echizen.
Fuji seated himself beside Eiji whose cheeks were flushed. His nose caught a faint smell of alcohol from his best friend.
‘Fujiko chan, can you play for me?’ asked Eiji while handing him the cards.
He got the cards and looked at them. These cards are way too far from winning, he thought to himself and glanced at Eiji.
‘Eiji, are you drunk?’
‘Nya? No, I am just a little sleepy and light-headed,’ answered Eiji, while leaning his head at Fuji’s shoulder.
The blue-eyed man smiled and whispered. ‘And there you were telling me that you’re not drunk.’
After a few minutes, he was able to get a Royal Flush and won the game. Suddenly, Inui brought a glass filled with green liquid and handed it to Momo, who lost in their game. Echizen’s eyes grew wide and gasped, as if he saw a ghost.
‘What is this Inui-san?’ Momo asked Inui, looking at the weird drink on his hands.
Inui adjusted his glasses and smiled. ‘This is the punishment for the loser. It’s my latest invention, the Super Ultra Deluxe Inui juice.’
‘But we didn’t talk about this!’ complained Momo, his hands were shaking.
‘Maa, let’s put that aside. Don’t worry; I’ve adjusted its taste thoroughly.’ Inui said and beckoned Momo to start drinking.
The purple-eyed man slowly drank the juice with trembling lips. When the glass was half-full, Momo let out a loud scream.
‘Ah! What’s that Inui-san? It tastes really, really bad!’ Momo shouted while running to find the bathroom, his hands were covering his mouth.
‘What a rude guy. This is the most delicious of all my energy drinks,’ mumbled Inui. ‘Do you want to try it too?’ the bespectacled man asked the remaining players.
Echizen, Eiji and Kaidoh were shaking their heads frantically and stepped away from Inui.
‘No, thank you!’ the three young men chorused.
Fuji got curious. ‘I would like to try it, Inui,’ he said while smiling.
Inui was surprised but handed him a glass and filled it with the green drink. Kaidoh, Echizen and Eiji’s eyes grew wide as the honey-brown haired man was able to finish the drink without taking a breather.
‘Ah! This tastes good. I recommend it!’ exclaimed Fuji and his smile grew wider, while handing the empty glass back to Inui.
‘Fujiko, I really don’t get your taste buds! You are really weird!’ Eiji sneered, and the group laughed heartily.
After winning three games straight and with Eiji, Echizen and Kaidoh had their share of Inui’s drink, Fuji started to feel sleepy. He excused himself and got up to get some fresh air.
Kokokara subete hajimaru munasawagi wo sutete
Imasugu tozasareteiru sono DOA wo aketai
(Everything will start from here; I’ll throw away all my uneasiness
I want to open that closed door right now)
‘So Tezuka, did you visit your doctor already?’ asked Atobe.
‘Ah. I went to him yesterday,’ Tezuka answered in his usual calm self.
Oishi was bothered and couldn’t stop himself from asking.
‘Uhm, Tezuka, I hope you wouldn’t mind me asking, but,’ Oishi stopped to breathe. ‘Are you okay? I mean are you injured or something?’ the neatly-cut haired man continued.
‘That was just for our post tournament check up. I am not injured.’ Tezuka’s eyes never left Oishi while talking. He didn’t expect the concern from Oishi as they just known each other not too long ago. Maybe it’s his nature, like a mother, Tezuka thought.
‘Oh. That is good to hear then,’ said the warm-eyed man.
‘Usually, Dr. Takishima tags along with us, but his family is busy preparing for his younger brother’s wedding so he was not able to come with us to London,’ Oshitari added in a matter-of-fact tone.
Tezuka saw Oishi’s eyes grew wide for a second and his hand on his left leg was clenched into a fist.
‘Takishima Ryou? Did you mean the eldest son of Takishima’s Group of Companies President? Eldest brother of Takishima Akira?’ asked Oishi, his eyes were bothered and hiding something.
‘Yes Oishi, the same man,’ answered Oshitari. ‘Do you personally know him?’
‘No, not your doctor, but his younger brother. I know Akira very well,’ answered Oishi after a moment of silence while nodding his head to no one in particular. His eyes were painted with sadness and anger.
Oishi’s reaction made Tezuka curious - the dark haired man called the younger Takishima in his first name and with anger. He saw Atobe and Oishi exchanged glances and the latter’s warm eyes roamed the room - as if searching for something, for someone. Tezuka followed Oishi’s gaze and did not notice that Atobe was looking at him intensely while hiding a smile.
‘Na Tezuka, are you curious?’ Atobe asked him suddenly. ‘Would you like to know why Oishi is acting strange? Hn?’
Tezuka shot the diva with his deathly glare and answered. ‘It is not necessary Atobe, because it doesn’t concern me.’
The self proclaimed king was not affected by his glares; instead, Atobe’s smile grew wider and continued. ‘Oh? Are you sure? Maybe I’ll ask Fuji to tell you the whole story.’
Oishi and Oshitari who were just listening to them looked at Tezuka. The warm-eyed man smiled timidly while the blue head grinned at him. Tezuka stood up from his seat without answering.
‘Where are you going Tezuka? Don’t you want to know who Akira to Fuji was?’ Atobe continued, still teasing him.
Tezuka sighed and adjusted his glasses. ‘I think I need some fresh air,’ he said to Oishi, not looking at the purplish-grey haired man or to Oshitari. He really wanted to escape Atobe and the sudden awkward atmosphere.
‘You can go to the veranda, it got the nicest view.’ Atobe was smiling. ‘You know your way, right?’
‘Ah.’ He excused himself and padded upstairs.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Konna ni yogoreta mado ja nanimo mienai dake
Imanara nani wo subeki ka mou wakatteru darou
(With the window so dirty like this, I just can’t see anything
You already know what you should do now, right?)
The night breeze welcomed Tezuka as he stepped out of the veranda. The rainy days weren’t over; the clouds were hanging low and few stars were scattered in the sky. He tucked his hands on each side of his jeans’ pocket to keep them warm. He noticed a hammock that wasn’t there when he first came to the mansion. It looked so inviting and Tezuka could not resist but to lay on it. He closed his eyes and the wind blew past him. He was pleased by the silence and by the dim light. His head started to bother him earlier when he was downstairs, where Echizen, Inui and the others were playing, like bunch of noisy kids. And the worst cause of his headache was Atobe. He was really not interested with what was Atobe had to say, but there was something in the conversation that caught his interest and he couldn’t name what it was.
Tezuka's eyes flew open when he heard something different. He stood up and focused his mind to where the beautiful sound was coming from. He turned abruptly and walked back the way he had come. Tezuka hurriedly passed through a long corridor and stopped outside a huge wood antique door at the end of the hall. He slowly and quietly opened the door just to be surprised; a beautiful, white grand piano was set on the platform by the gilt-edged glass window and seated in front of it was Caerulean’s lead vocalist - Fuji.
The smaller man’s back was nearly facing him, giving Tezuka an angle to see how Fuji played. His slender fingers were flowing swiftly across the ivory, filling the room with a composition so complex, so luxuriant. It was impossible to believe that only one set of hands played. Tezuka stared at Fuji’s face; his eyes were closed but the music still surging around them without a break.
The dark-brown head felt his jaw drop, his mouth slightly open in astonishment. Suddenly the music slowed, transforming into something softer, but unbearably sad. Like the band’s songs, he found himself into another world; a world where only sadness, pain and heartache existed. Tezuka’s amber eyes were once again lingering at the smaller man. The honey-brown head’s eyes were still closed and his beautiful face was peaceful and vulnerable, completely absorbed by the music flowing from deep within.
The song Fuji was playing drifted to an end, the final chords shifting to a more melancholy key. The last note hovered poignantly in the silence.
Tezuka didn’t know what to do when the music ended. He didn’t want Fuji to think that he was invading his privacy. But when the honey-brown haired man faced him, he was surprised; Fuji was smiling at him.
‘Ne Tezuka did you like it?’ asked the blue-eyed man while standing and walked towards the huge glass window.
‘You knew I was here?’ Tezuka inquired instead of answering Fuji, and he crossed the room.
Fuji kept smiling at him and didn’t answer his question either. They just stood there, not saying anything. Both felt that words weren’t needed to understand each other.
‘So you play the piano too.’ He heard Tezuka say. It wasn’t a question.
‘Yes, I did. Now, I just play out of whim,’ Fuji answered, looking out the window.
When he didn’t hear Tezuka say something, Fuji sighed and continued. His thoughts were years away.
‘I have a younger brother, Yuuta. When we were young, we learned how to play the piano together. I really enjoyed playing so I practiced a lot. I entered competitions at a young age and won. People hailed me as a musical prodigy, a genius.’ Fuji stopped to let out a soft, bitter laugh. ‘But when I was in Second year in middle school, Yuuta went to the same school, only to realize that he hated me. I couldn’t blame him - people started calling him the younger brother of tensai Fuji Shusuke and Yuuta was cornered in to a wall. He decided to transfer to a different academy with dormitories; to walk away from my shadow and from me.’ Fuji’s opened eyes were unreadable. The blue-eyed man sighed before he continued.
‘He rarely went home nor spoke to me. Things were like that for a year and it was unbearable, until we just found ourselves talking again. So when I went to high school, I decided to stop playing the piano in public and learned the guitar. Yuuta didn’t approve my decision and told me that it wasn’t my fault how people treated him, but that was the only thing I could do for my brother. I did not want him to live under my shadow and suffer.’ Fuji sighed again, and chuckled. ‘I am sorry if I made you listen to my ramblings, Tezuka.’
When Fuji finished his monologue, he craned his neck to see Tezuka staring at him, the taller man’s face was unexpectedly tender and his eyes were smoldered at his’. Fuji blinked, his mind going blank and his stomach felt full - of butterflies.
‘Wasn’t that a little too much for you to give up?’ asked Tezuka. ‘You still love playing the piano,’ the taller man pointed out.
Fuji was surprised. Until that day, Yumiko was the only one, who dared to ask him about his decision and could see through him, could see that his love and passion for piano didn’t change at all.
The honey-brown head smiled before answering Tezuka, like how he answered Yumiko. ‘It wasn’t easy but I had to keep reminding myself that I made my choice, and I was not going back on it. And I still play, in private, for the band and my family so I am not really depriving myself.’
Tezuka was about to say something when they heard someone bellowing at the hall.
‘Fujiko chan, yoohoo, where are you?’
‘Fuji-senpai, we’re going home!’
‘Here they come,’ said Fuji when he recognized Eiji and Momo’s voice. His eyes were smiling playfully as he walked towards the door and waited for it to be opened.
‘Ah, Eiji-senpai, Fuji-senpai is here!’ shouted Momo, his eyes were looking behind Fuji, smiling. ‘With Tezuka-san!’ the spiky head added.
‘There you are Fujiko, hic! We’ve been looking for you all over.’ Eiji stopped shortly, tilting his head to get a view of Tezuka. ‘So Tezuka, hic, you were hiding Fujiko, nya.’
Momo chuckled after hearing Eiji’s comment, just to cover his mouth immediately when Tezuka grunted his throat.
Fuji grabbed his best friend’s hand and looked at Tezuka. ‘We’ll be going now; I’ll take this little drunk home,’ the vocalist said, referring to Eiji.
The redhead’s eyes roamed the room before heading out and noticed the grand piano. ‘Were you playing the piano, Fujiko?’ asked Eiji, looking at his honey-brown haired best friend. ‘And Tezuka heard you?’
‘A little,’ answered Fuji while shrugging his shoulders casually. ‘And yes, he heard. I planned to be discreet, but I guess I failed,’ he continued, while smiling.
Eiji’s eyes grew wide and stared at Fuji intensely. ‘No fair Fujiko! The cat-eyed exclaimed and moved closer to the smaller man. It’s been over a year, hic, since you resisted touching the piano because of that bastard Akira, and Tezuka was, hic, the one to hear you first?’ Eiji hissed under his breath, trying to whisper, but he was loud enough for Tezuka to hear.
‘Maa, I didn’t know that he was also upstairs, Eiji,’ explained Fuji. ‘Come on, let’s go home.’
The bouncy redhead pouted in resignation and his eyes flashed up to the bespectacled man. ‘You’re so lucky Tezuka,’ said Eiji and passed through the huge door with Momo trailing behind him.
Fuji sighed and turned around to face the amber-eyed tennis superstar. ‘Good night, Tezuka,’ he said while smiling.
‘Hn,’ answered Tezuka and adjusted his rimless glasses.
Tezuka stood there for a while, looking at the honey-brown haired man’s back as the group walked away. He never knew that there would be someone who could arouse his curiosity, someone who could break through his guard. A blue-eyed, young man he just met and knew nothing about but never failed to surprise him. A man that was full of mysteries, a thousand-piece puzzle, and an enigma. Fuji Shusuke.
Nandomo hitori no yoru wo akireru hodo kasane
Ima goro kiga tsukeba mada koishita koto ga nai
Utsuriyuku kono machi de Koi wo tsukamaete
EKUSUTASHII (ECSTASY)
(The number of nights I have frequently spent alone was astounding
Now that I’ve realized it, I still have not been in love
Coming and going, in this town, I’ll get a hold of love
ECSTACY!)
TBC