30_Smiles: TezukaxFuji
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Title: Eden
Chapters: 2/30
Author/Artist: relinquished972
Theme(s): #2 [Ultra Relax]
Pairing/Characters: Tezuka Kunimitsu/Fuji Syusuke, Kikumaru Eiji, Oishi Syuichiroh, Kamio Akira, numerous nameless OC
Rating: PG
Disclaimer/Claimer: I don’t own Prince of Tennis and the plot was inspired by Gundam Seed so you may see elements that resemble Gundam Seed inside
Summary: [AU fic, 30_Smiles] An attempt at recreating Genesis has led to the emergence of a new humanoid race called the Apathos, who are smarter, stronger and more resilient than the original humans. Cast out of Earth, the Apathos have begun to rebel, waging war against their creators . . .
Chapter Two
~ Reconcile ~
Part One
Fuji was popular amongst the other crews and their members. Having worked with almost everyone before, what with all the transfer and regrouping, the prodigy was well received everywhere he went. Tezuka watched him as he went about his business tending to Athene and chatting with her maintenance team.
“She’s a beauty all right,” one of the older men said, patting the fighter.
“I just updated her shielding device,” Fuji told him, jumping into the cockpit and pulling down the keyboard from above. “The new Styx-101 comes with a reflector, so that anything from a gamma ray down will deflect back. Of course, I made enhancements to the program itself - Athene’s shield system will last four times longer than the average G-series and is twice as powerful . . .”
As they discussed the enhancements on the shielding system, Tezuka noted the way Fuji sat confidently and comfortably within the fighter. He was then reminded of a time when his previous pilot, Tachibana Kippei, would be sitting on his old model, but sturdy Pallas, working on improvements late into the night. They both were dedicated pilots and Tezuka had a feeling that Tachibana would have loved to meet this prodigy, if he were still alive.
They would be leaving again at the end of the week and Poseidon still had a few touch-ups to go through. It would give Fuji time to settle into the new crew and perhaps get used to the way things were run. And also for the crew to adapt to Fuji. Tachibana’s old regiment, Fudomine, were assigned to follow the prodigy from now on. The problem was that most of the members were older than Fuji and were extremely loyal to their late leader. His death had hit them hard and they would be reluctant to so hurriedly accept another.
“General, is there anything wrong?” One of the senior technicians was looking worriedly in his direction. “Are the adjustments all right?”
“Yes, they’re fine,” Tezuka answered, eyes not leaving Fuji. The blonde was now out of the cockpit and was jumping off the fighter onto the hangar floor. “I will be back shortly. Keep working.”
He approached Fuji, returning the salute in his direction, before taking the other by the elbow and leading him to the back of Athene. Fuji was still smiling, though in confusion now, as Tezuka looked slightly concerned.
“General? Anything to tell me?”
“Fudomine,” he said abruptly, “your new regiment. They will have to accept you, yes, but I must warn you that they are fiercely loyal to Tachibana.”
“You are worried that they may not follow me?” Fuji asked, guessing from the expression in Tezuka’s eyes. “Or, perhaps, that I will not lead them as well?”
“Fuji, that’s not what I meant.” He was falling into old habits of calling the boy by his name rather than title. They conversed, usually, without ranks to worry about. He would have to adjust to the fact that Fuji was a soldier first and a childhood friend second.
“No, of course not, General.” There was a mocking note in his voice. “I will heed your warnings nevertheless. Further instructions, sir?”
“Stop calling me that, Fuji.” Tezuka sounded annoyed. “I speak now as a friend, rather than your commanding officer.”
“I mustn’t show disrespect to a superior.”
The words were spoken mechanically, as if he had spent most of his life repeating them over and over. It was a sudden change to his happy, open nature. Tezuka followed him with his eyes as he went back to work. He hadn’t seen the boy in three years, even if he did try to go back to Earth as often as possible. What had made him change, to create so many different layers that changed as often as the tide?
War changes people, a superior had once told him when he was still a private, sometimes for the better, usually for the worst. It does more than damage the body. The emotional and psychological damage is immense.
I wanted to create my own Babylon . . .
“Better move, General!” Fuji called from the cockpit. “We’re taking her out for a test run while Poseidon finishes up!”
XXX
The first, official meeting with the rest of the crew members took place the day before they were due to leave again for Gondwana. The reason behind this was that they had taken three days off to be with their families, as was customary. Fuji’s family situation Tezuka knew well and Tezuka himself had practically grown up as part of Fuji’s family.
Their reactions to Fuji’s replacement of Tachibana were varied. The more senior members of the crew respected and welcomed him. Oishi and Kikumaru especially took it upon themselves to make him welcome. The privates showed less enthusiasm, but did not seem to be particularly angry or displeased that Fuji was joining them.
As Tezuka had feared, it was the Fudomine regiment that caused the most problems. Their de facto leader, Kamio Akira, refused to shake Fuji’s hand outright.
“You’re not good enough to be the top pilot on Poseidon,” he snarled, glaring at him. “You’ll never take Colonel Tachibana’s place.”
“Kamio!” Oishi exclaimed, shocked.
“One more word of disrespect, officer, and I will deal out punishments,” Tezuka warned, eyes flashing angrily. “Fuji is your new commanding officer and you will obey him like you did with Tachibana.”
“That would be impossible,” Kamio muttered. “He’s not the same.”
Tezuka didn’t like being disobeyed, but before he could order out any punishments, Fuji intervened. He opened his eyes and regarded Kamio with a calm expression, blue eyes glittering. The look made Kamio distinctly more uncomfortable and he shifted on his feet. When Fuji spoke, his voice betrayed no anger, but it chilled him to the bone.
“I am not interested in replacing Tachibana,” he said calmly. “My only wish is to help end this war and prevent any more innocents from dying because of false ideals.”
“Kamio, you will respect Fuji as your commanding officer,” Tezuka said firmly. “He is not Tachibana, but he is a valued officer nevertheless.”
Kamio saluted the general, though his eyes were hard. There would be no great fondness for each other, Tezuka knew, and it would be a long while before the de facto regiment leader could fully accept their new colonel. Fuji seemed to accept this and only smiled calmly at them all, unfazed. His eyes had closed again and the coldness of a moment ago had gone.
“With your leave, General, I wish to check on the final touches of our crafts before the maintenance crew change shifts,” Kamio now said stiffly.
Tezuka dismissed him and the others in the Fudomine regiment, annoyance with Kamio’s outspokenness quickly vanishing as he turned his look back on his childhood friend. Fuji could handle theme, he was sure, and he would win them over as he had once done with him, years ago. Kamio was the stubborn one, the others were easier to sway. He knew Fuji would have picked that up and was glad that the other prominent members of the crew had taken well to him.
“We’ll be leaving tomorrow,” he told the others. “Prepare to leave at 0800, with the usual routine. Am I clear?”
“Yes sir!”
“Poseidon! Dismissed!”
Kikumaru was immediately all over Fuji, arms draped over the other’s shoulders and chattering away. Oishi, the redhead’s ever faithful friend, joined them and the three left the hangar. The general watched them go, making a decision to try and contact the Parliament Chairman back on Earth before they left. With Fuji’s attitude and his own share of stubbornness, Tezuka was willing to bet that the prodigy had not informed his father that he was joining the army, much less going to the frontline. Fuji Senior would probably flip and order his son’s immediate return.
“General!” Oishi waved to him. “Take a break and come with us to lunch! It’s Kikumaru and my treat, to welcome Fuji into the crew.”
“Eh? Am I treating too?” Kikumaru’s head appeared around the corner. “I - oh, never mind then. Guess it can’t be helped.”
XXX
“Is it true, Fuji?” Kikumaru’s eyes were wide. “I heard from the people in the cafeteria that you’re the Chairman’s son!”
They had left headquarters to a café near the more suburban areas. The people here were families of the soldiers and they saw many of their crew members on the way. Fuji instead that this should be his treat, as he was the new member and would need their guidance, and both Oishi and Kikumaru had an experience of the blonde’s persuasion skills.
“Ah, yes,” he now said, sipping his tea. “Word spreads fast.”
“Wow,” Kikumaru breathed. He sat back in his chair. “I’m so honoured to be working alongside you!”
“There’s no need for that,” Fuji told him cheerfully. “I’m younger than you and less experienced, so I’ll need to learn from you in the future.”
“How old are you exactly?”
“Seventeen this coming February,” Tezuka said, putting down his own cup of coffee. “Making him the youngest colonel in history.”
He didn’t mention that Fuji was also known as a prodigy, because he knew that the others would have already known if they knew about the boy’s parentage. The two issues seemed to go hand in hand wherever Fuji went. That was why it had been hard growing up with him, always having to deal with the whispers and special treatment Fuji got and how he would always have to try and be better than him in everything.
“Tezuka?” Fuji’s voice shook him out of his thoughts. “I never knew you still remembered my birthday.”
“Hn.” He sent a present back every year.
“We’re childhood friends,” Fuji explained to their two bewildered companions with another smile. “He’s like an older brother of sorts.”
Kikumaru made a fuss over this. He was surprised, he said, that Tezuka and Fuji would be close friends and yet their personalities were so different. This caused Fuji to laugh and wink at Tezuka playfully. The older teen didn’t say a word. Fuji’s comment about being an ‘older brother’ had put him in his place at once and it hurt, knowing it was a deliberate jibe.
“Excuse me, I have urgent matters to attend.”
“Tezuka, don’t be annoyed at them,” Fuji said, blinking up at him with those blue eyes. They glittered with mocking innocence that made Tezuka’s blood run cold with the change.
“I care not about what they say about me outside of duties,” he replied curtly. I am an older brother to him. “Don’t stay out too late. We are meeting early tomorrow morning.”
He left the café, well aware of Fuji’s eyes on him. The uncomfortable atmosphere surrounding the blonde was different to anything he had ever experienced before. It was as if someone had taken out Fuji’s personality and replaced it with something more mocking and sadistically cruel. He felt as if he was talking to a stranger now, instead of the boy who had touched his heart years ago.
XXX
Part Two can be found here
Title: Eden
Chapters: 2/30
Author/Artist: relinquished972
Theme(s): #2 [Ultra Relax]
Pairing/Characters: Tezuka Kunimitsu/Fuji Syusuke, Kikumaru Eiji, Oishi Syuichiroh, Kamio Akira, numerous nameless OC
Rating: PG
Disclaimer/Claimer: I don’t own Prince of Tennis and the plot was inspired by Gundam Seed so you may see elements that resemble Gundam Seed inside
Summary: [AU fic, 30_Smiles] An attempt at recreating Genesis has led to the emergence of a new humanoid race called the Apathos, who are smarter, stronger and more resilient than the original humans. Cast out of Earth, the Apathos have begun to rebel, waging war against their creators . . .
Chapter Two
~ Reconcile ~
Part One
Fuji was popular amongst the other crews and their members. Having worked with almost everyone before, what with all the transfer and regrouping, the prodigy was well received everywhere he went. Tezuka watched him as he went about his business tending to Athene and chatting with her maintenance team.
“She’s a beauty all right,” one of the older men said, patting the fighter.
“I just updated her shielding device,” Fuji told him, jumping into the cockpit and pulling down the keyboard from above. “The new Styx-101 comes with a reflector, so that anything from a gamma ray down will deflect back. Of course, I made enhancements to the program itself - Athene’s shield system will last four times longer than the average G-series and is twice as powerful . . .”
As they discussed the enhancements on the shielding system, Tezuka noted the way Fuji sat confidently and comfortably within the fighter. He was then reminded of a time when his previous pilot, Tachibana Kippei, would be sitting on his old model, but sturdy Pallas, working on improvements late into the night. They both were dedicated pilots and Tezuka had a feeling that Tachibana would have loved to meet this prodigy, if he were still alive.
They would be leaving again at the end of the week and Poseidon still had a few touch-ups to go through. It would give Fuji time to settle into the new crew and perhaps get used to the way things were run. And also for the crew to adapt to Fuji. Tachibana’s old regiment, Fudomine, were assigned to follow the prodigy from now on. The problem was that most of the members were older than Fuji and were extremely loyal to their late leader. His death had hit them hard and they would be reluctant to so hurriedly accept another.
“General, is there anything wrong?” One of the senior technicians was looking worriedly in his direction. “Are the adjustments all right?”
“Yes, they’re fine,” Tezuka answered, eyes not leaving Fuji. The blonde was now out of the cockpit and was jumping off the fighter onto the hangar floor. “I will be back shortly. Keep working.”
He approached Fuji, returning the salute in his direction, before taking the other by the elbow and leading him to the back of Athene. Fuji was still smiling, though in confusion now, as Tezuka looked slightly concerned.
“General? Anything to tell me?”
“Fudomine,” he said abruptly, “your new regiment. They will have to accept you, yes, but I must warn you that they are fiercely loyal to Tachibana.”
“You are worried that they may not follow me?” Fuji asked, guessing from the expression in Tezuka’s eyes. “Or, perhaps, that I will not lead them as well?”
“Fuji, that’s not what I meant.” He was falling into old habits of calling the boy by his name rather than title. They conversed, usually, without ranks to worry about. He would have to adjust to the fact that Fuji was a soldier first and a childhood friend second.
“No, of course not, General.” There was a mocking note in his voice. “I will heed your warnings nevertheless. Further instructions, sir?”
“Stop calling me that, Fuji.” Tezuka sounded annoyed. “I speak now as a friend, rather than your commanding officer.”
“I mustn’t show disrespect to a superior.”
The words were spoken mechanically, as if he had spent most of his life repeating them over and over. It was a sudden change to his happy, open nature. Tezuka followed him with his eyes as he went back to work. He hadn’t seen the boy in three years, even if he did try to go back to Earth as often as possible. What had made him change, to create so many different layers that changed as often as the tide?
War changes people, a superior had once told him when he was still a private, sometimes for the better, usually for the worst. It does more than damage the body. The emotional and psychological damage is immense.
I wanted to create my own Babylon . . .
“Better move, General!” Fuji called from the cockpit. “We’re taking her out for a test run while Poseidon finishes up!”
XXX
The first, official meeting with the rest of the crew members took place the day before they were due to leave again for Gondwana. The reason behind this was that they had taken three days off to be with their families, as was customary. Fuji’s family situation Tezuka knew well and Tezuka himself had practically grown up as part of Fuji’s family.
Their reactions to Fuji’s replacement of Tachibana were varied. The more senior members of the crew respected and welcomed him. Oishi and Kikumaru especially took it upon themselves to make him welcome. The privates showed less enthusiasm, but did not seem to be particularly angry or displeased that Fuji was joining them.
As Tezuka had feared, it was the Fudomine regiment that caused the most problems. Their de facto leader, Kamio Akira, refused to shake Fuji’s hand outright.
“You’re not good enough to be the top pilot on Poseidon,” he snarled, glaring at him. “You’ll never take Colonel Tachibana’s place.”
“Kamio!” Oishi exclaimed, shocked.
“One more word of disrespect, officer, and I will deal out punishments,” Tezuka warned, eyes flashing angrily. “Fuji is your new commanding officer and you will obey him like you did with Tachibana.”
“That would be impossible,” Kamio muttered. “He’s not the same.”
Tezuka didn’t like being disobeyed, but before he could order out any punishments, Fuji intervened. He opened his eyes and regarded Kamio with a calm expression, blue eyes glittering. The look made Kamio distinctly more uncomfortable and he shifted on his feet. When Fuji spoke, his voice betrayed no anger, but it chilled him to the bone.
“I am not interested in replacing Tachibana,” he said calmly. “My only wish is to help end this war and prevent any more innocents from dying because of false ideals.”
“Kamio, you will respect Fuji as your commanding officer,” Tezuka said firmly. “He is not Tachibana, but he is a valued officer nevertheless.”
Kamio saluted the general, though his eyes were hard. There would be no great fondness for each other, Tezuka knew, and it would be a long while before the de facto regiment leader could fully accept their new colonel. Fuji seemed to accept this and only smiled calmly at them all, unfazed. His eyes had closed again and the coldness of a moment ago had gone.
“With your leave, General, I wish to check on the final touches of our crafts before the maintenance crew change shifts,” Kamio now said stiffly.
Tezuka dismissed him and the others in the Fudomine regiment, annoyance with Kamio’s outspokenness quickly vanishing as he turned his look back on his childhood friend. Fuji could handle theme, he was sure, and he would win them over as he had once done with him, years ago. Kamio was the stubborn one, the others were easier to sway. He knew Fuji would have picked that up and was glad that the other prominent members of the crew had taken well to him.
“We’ll be leaving tomorrow,” he told the others. “Prepare to leave at 0800, with the usual routine. Am I clear?”
“Yes sir!”
“Poseidon! Dismissed!”
Kikumaru was immediately all over Fuji, arms draped over the other’s shoulders and chattering away. Oishi, the redhead’s ever faithful friend, joined them and the three left the hangar. The general watched them go, making a decision to try and contact the Parliament Chairman back on Earth before they left. With Fuji’s attitude and his own share of stubbornness, Tezuka was willing to bet that the prodigy had not informed his father that he was joining the army, much less going to the frontline. Fuji Senior would probably flip and order his son’s immediate return.
“General!” Oishi waved to him. “Take a break and come with us to lunch! It’s Kikumaru and my treat, to welcome Fuji into the crew.”
“Eh? Am I treating too?” Kikumaru’s head appeared around the corner. “I - oh, never mind then. Guess it can’t be helped.”
XXX
“Is it true, Fuji?” Kikumaru’s eyes were wide. “I heard from the people in the cafeteria that you’re the Chairman’s son!”
They had left headquarters to a café near the more suburban areas. The people here were families of the soldiers and they saw many of their crew members on the way. Fuji instead that this should be his treat, as he was the new member and would need their guidance, and both Oishi and Kikumaru had an experience of the blonde’s persuasion skills.
“Ah, yes,” he now said, sipping his tea. “Word spreads fast.”
“Wow,” Kikumaru breathed. He sat back in his chair. “I’m so honoured to be working alongside you!”
“There’s no need for that,” Fuji told him cheerfully. “I’m younger than you and less experienced, so I’ll need to learn from you in the future.”
“How old are you exactly?”
“Seventeen this coming February,” Tezuka said, putting down his own cup of coffee. “Making him the youngest colonel in history.”
He didn’t mention that Fuji was also known as a prodigy, because he knew that the others would have already known if they knew about the boy’s parentage. The two issues seemed to go hand in hand wherever Fuji went. That was why it had been hard growing up with him, always having to deal with the whispers and special treatment Fuji got and how he would always have to try and be better than him in everything.
“Tezuka?” Fuji’s voice shook him out of his thoughts. “I never knew you still remembered my birthday.”
“Hn.” He sent a present back every year.
“We’re childhood friends,” Fuji explained to their two bewildered companions with another smile. “He’s like an older brother of sorts.”
Kikumaru made a fuss over this. He was surprised, he said, that Tezuka and Fuji would be close friends and yet their personalities were so different. This caused Fuji to laugh and wink at Tezuka playfully. The older teen didn’t say a word. Fuji’s comment about being an ‘older brother’ had put him in his place at once and it hurt, knowing it was a deliberate jibe.
“Excuse me, I have urgent matters to attend.”
“Tezuka, don’t be annoyed at them,” Fuji said, blinking up at him with those blue eyes. They glittered with mocking innocence that made Tezuka’s blood run cold with the change.
“I care not about what they say about me outside of duties,” he replied curtly. I am an older brother to him. “Don’t stay out too late. We are meeting early tomorrow morning.”
He left the café, well aware of Fuji’s eyes on him. The uncomfortable atmosphere surrounding the blonde was different to anything he had ever experienced before. It was as if someone had taken out Fuji’s personality and replaced it with something more mocking and sadistically cruel. He felt as if he was talking to a stranger now, instead of the boy who had touched his heart years ago.
XXX
Part Two can be found here