[February 20, 2009][Prince of Tennis] In Silence He Speaks

[lovefujitez]

Title:   In Silence He Speaks
Day/Theme: 25/ lost and found in translation
Series: Prince of Tennis
Characters:  Tezuka/Fuji   Konomi owns PoT characters, I just write about them
Rating/Warnings : None / Angst,  drama happens even between the two – for no reason. (If it does not make sense, gomen - edits will be done later.)

Words: 1,175 words. 

A/N:  AU- Tezuka and Fuji are Tokyo University students and share an apartment together.  A snapshot of their life together, sharing moments to make memories.

Memory:  Fuji’s head was muddled with thoughts of uncertainty. Tezuka patiently waits for Fuji to figure things out.

He wouldn’t call it a shortcoming or a character fault.

“It’s all part of the package after all, to be in love with an artist,” the bespectacled man mused.

He looked out the huge picture window adorning the corner wall of the library, where lately, he found the sanctuary he needed from his “sort of” home life.  It used to be something he’d look forward to at the end of his day, after school and after tennis practice he would rush home to spend the rest of the evening with his lover, and he was happy.

The scenery at the other side of the huge picture window was painted with hues of  orange and red, the sun was setting soon and the century old sakura trees were now void of the autumn colors and the grey extension of  branches were all that could be seen, and yet he found peace in the lonely picture. He had watched the trees transform through its autumn glory, slowly dwindling into its current cold nakedness. 

‘How long has it been,’ the tennis player counted the days since he sought the quietude of this place, he furrowed his brow upon realizing, ‘three weeks, it’s been three weeks.’

Tezuka was not pleased at all.

The library was near empty as most of the students left for the evening. The only sound Tezuka heard was the humming from a flickering ceiling light and from the constant clicking of his Parker pen, an annoying habit for others but lately he found it soothing, calming him down.

He closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelief, ‘He’s letting it go this long?’

 

 

~0~0~0~0~0~

 

 

Fuji stared at his cup of tea, lately he noticed that was all he'd been doing, staring.  The usual smile that masked his face was not apparent as of late, Fuji’s loneliness could be read instantly. At least to those around him, but Fuji didn’t let anyone witness his state of loneliness, not even Tezuka. Despite his rough attempts to do so, Tezuka with his quick observation of his lover could sense Fuji’s distraught even over the phone.  Tezuka knew him too well, for Fuji's silence spoke a thousand unspoken words.

He should be happy. Lately, however, the silent awareness bothered him.  Fuji felt that he lost his mysteriousness and the idea of being read like an open book, he felt naked.

Well, there was nothing wrong with being naked before the eyes of the man he loved.  So what was wrong with this picture? 

Three weeks earlier, he left the apartment they shared at the university and camped at his parent’s home.  For what reason, Fuji wondered, why did he leave in the first place, he also pondered as to how he could fix their current situation.

The delicate china before him was his favorite set which he used for tea every time he was home, everyone in the household seemed to acknowledge it, the Prince Albert rose tea cup was for his use alone.

Fuji wondered why the thought made him feel content, the idea of how special he was and his family didn’t mind at all about his choices in life.  They accepted his relationship with Tezuka from the very start and supported them as a couple.

It was a great relief for them and a life hurdle they didn’t have to worry about, since Tezuka’s family eventually accepted their relationship as well.

Officially a couple for over two years and there should be something to celebrate, but what bothered him now was, there were no arguments between them. Tezuka was always there for him, supporting him, comforting him, and understood him.  What was he looking for?  What was it that kept him unhappy?

He loved Tezuka.  It hurt him deeply to be away but after the first night, three weeks ago, he wanted to know how long he could endure being away.  What was it he was looking for? It’s not like they were never separated from one another before, Tezuka with his out of town competitions and Fuji had his trips to location shoots. 

Why?  

Fuji couldn’t figure out, what he was trying to prove. 

He stared at the china once more, his very own, his special tea cup.   He reached to touch the delicate porcelain, cold and smooth.  He didn’t want any other cup for his tea, he wanted this one.

He wanted this one. 

He wanted Tezuka, no… he needed Tezuka.

I love him.

He reached for his cell phone and speed dialed #1 but it went straight to voice mail.  Fuji paused but decided not to leave a message.  He expected that, three weeks was way too long to even expect Tezuka to sit around and wait.

Even his sister warned him, ‘He loves you, you love him but what are you trying to look for?  Why do you doubt your relationship now?

The question resonated repeatedly in Fuji’s head.  He didn’t have any doubt whatsoever. Somehow he needed to be sure, but he didn't know what he was to be sure about?  He didn’t have the answer for that.

He stared at the china before him once more.  The porcelain tea cup, so delicate and beautiful, such fine china needed careful handling.

 

 

~0~0~0~0~0~

 

 

The dinging echoed from the front door, how long was he obliviously staring at his surroundings? He heard his older sister calling him from the other room and instantly, Fuji left his comfortable spot at the kitchen. When he entered the living room, he saw his sister in conversation with someone at the front door. Fuji heard the familiar voice and his heart skipped a beat.

The visitor was ushered in and he watched him as he stood by the entryway, brown eyes met Fuji’s eyes, waiting.  Somehow he saw the trepidation in those brown eyes, Fuji’s heart cringed and felt his pain. He was not the only one naked before the man he loved.  Fuji could read him as well, just like an open book.  Here his lover stood, emotions overflowing, the pain, the anxiety, and the loneliness he caused him. 

“I’m here,” Tezuka announced, stoic as always, yet his heart reached out to him.

 “Kunimitsu,” Fuji responded, ‘I’m sorry for causing you this pain.’

Yumiko left the two men alone. She was on her way out to meet her friends for dinner, a well planned excuse, which gave his brother and Tezuka time to talk privately.

Fuji approached the taller man and embraced him.  

They held on to each other for long time.  The silent communication they exchanged, with a mere caress, the warmth emanating from a touch, the love for each other, they felt it, it was  all there, this was the connection they missed during the past three weeks. 

This was real.  

Although words they exchanged at most times appeared cryptic, during the past three weeks Fuji lost his insight of the silent communication and now he realized, it spoke the loudest between the two of them. 

.

for:31_days_exchnge