Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis, any of the characters, or most of the idea. That is all copyright Takeshi Konomi, I'm merely adding my own thoughts and expanding on some characters for absolutely no profit or gain.

Warnings: Rated T for yaoi and maybe language later on. The rating may go up to 'M' for some violence in later chapters.

Author's Note: Just as a note, Fuji's father doesn't abuse him. He's just a strict father, and this is one incident. And all of the moments between Fuji and Yuuta are completely left open for your own interpretation. More angst in this chapter, but it'll clear up soon. Enjoy

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Ketchup for Blood: Ahaha, well I suppose I should warn you again then. More angst in this chapter x) It'll go away next chapter though, I promise. As for the Atobe- and other-girl-randomness, I swear they're there for a reason. Some of which is explained in this chapter, and some of which will be explained later on.

Vierblith: xD Yeah I know, this chapter seems kinda messed up. People are probably wondering why I even put that it's a Tezuka/Fuji story, but I promise it'll get to their relationship soon. But they've gotta have some problems or I'd have no story x)

Ice sweet candy: Ah good, someone who likes all my angst. Good 'cause here's a ton more xD

Animestar73: -giggles.- My, how astute an assumption. We shall see wont we? Don't worry, you wont have to wait long, the answer's in this chapter. But I agree, no one should get in the way of their love or we'll have to hunt them down and murder them in a particularly cruel fashion –points at sharpened butter knives.-

Masi: Yup, more and more problems. Gotta have some problems, but I swear there'll be some fluff coming up soon.

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Fuji had had his share of bad days in his life, but this one really took the cake. He'd woken up ten minutes later and lost the shower to his sister, which threw him off even more. Even with taking the train, he ended up being nearly fifteen minutes late to school which meant that he had to spend the first half of lunch cleaning up the classroom. Unfortunately, there were those that loved to see the tensai suffer after he ruined the grade curve for the rest of the class, and so Fuji had his work cut out for him when class ended.

Just when he thought the day couldn't get any worse, he was cornered by a girl on his way to the lunch room. She politely informed him that her best friend was waiting for him on the roof. As much as Fuji honestly just wanted to walk past her and into the lunch room, he wasn't that sort of person. So, he thanked the girl and turned in the opposite direction to head up the stairs to the roof.

When he got there, the girl confessed as expected, but as Fuji opened his mouth to politely turn her down her entire mood changed.

"If you say no, you'd better watch your back."

Fuji froze with his mouth half open, waiting for her to laugh or say she was joking; but the words never came. She was a rather pretty girl with long, well-kept hair and pale skin, but her face was warped with anger and defiance. In response, the tensai found his guards shooting up around him, and though he smiled politely at her he spoke colder than usual.

"I can take care of myself."

It came out much more defensive than he would've liked, but Kiyoko didn't skip a beat.

"It isn't you that would need the protecting. Do you think Yuuta-kun would stand a chance against Ryuu?"

She named her brother, and immediately all of the pieces fell into place. Ryuu was also a member of the tennis club, and was known for having a very short temper and being physically violent. He'd been a regular the year before, but was dropped immediately after beating a freshman half to death. Now Fuji understood, Kiyoko got her brother to do her dirty work.

The tensai didn't get angry easily nor very often, but now his hands were balled into fists as his sides and his trademark smile was long forgotten.

"What do you want from me?" Fuji growled out, and watched the smirk of victory slide across her lips.

"Kiss me."

The tensai opened his mouth to refuse, but then he thought over what she said and cursed under his breath before pressing her against the fence and kissing her. He quickly reminded himself that he was only appeasing her now to make sure Yuuta was safe.

The kiss was wet and sloppy, and when Fuji heard the door blow open behind him he took the opportunity to get away from her as quickly as he could. But when he caught sight of Tezuka as he fled down the stairway, his heart sunk into the pit of his stomach. He called after the vice-captain over and over, but if anything Tezuka sped up. And when Fuji finally caught up to him at the bottom of the stairs Tezuka only coldly told him to go to class.

Fuji spent the rest of his class periods trying to find a way to correct the situation, but nothing was coming to mind. He had to correct things with Kiyoko before they got out of hand, and she was already furious at him for abandoning her earlier on the roof. As the bell rang and class ended, Fuji let Tezuka walk by without a word. First things first, he had to talk to Kiyoko; but when he turned around to look for her she was already gone.

Completely frustrated, Fuji packed up his things and headed for the tennis clubhouse. By the time he got there, Tezuka was already changed and on the courts. Fuji walked into the clubhouse, slammed his bag down in front of his locker, and started changing.

"Nya, Fujiko-chan, are you alright?"

The tensai turned to face Kikumaru and gave his best attempt at a smile.

"I'm fine, Eiji, just having a bad day."

Kikumaru feigned a look of shock, "You man you have bad days like the rest of us?"

This time Fuji didn't have to fake his smile; Kikumaru always knew how to cheer him up.

"Shh, it's a secret."

Fuji finished putting his shoes back on, threw his stuff into his locker, grabbed his racket and walked out onto the courts as Kikumaru threw an arm over his shoulders. As soon as Fuji got out there, he noticed Ryuu was missing. Ever since the incident with that freshman, everyone kept an eye on Ryuu, and as Fuji warmed up with Kikumaru and time passed without Ryuu showing up for practice Fuji started to worry.

Tezuka kept them busy playing matches against each other all practice, and for a time Fuji forgot his fears and just played as he always did. As usual, tennis was his escape, but when practice ended his fears came back full force. Fuji forgot about Tezuka and Kiyoko, and even skipped changing and taking a shower in his haste to ensure Yuuta was safe. He yelled a goodbye to Kikumaru and barely remembered to grab his bag before taking off at a run in the general direction of his house.

Halfway there, he turned down an alley he knew Yuuta liked to take which he claimed took ten minutes off the walk. The tensai rounded the corner and took off at a jog without looking where he was going and tripped over something in the alley. Fuji cursed quietly and barely caught his balance before he fell forward onto his hands and knees. He turned briefly to glance at whatever he tripped over, and when he saw only a tennis shoe behind him his curiosity got the better of him.

Fuji glanced up at the owner of the shoe who was lying on the ground, and it took a few moments for him to recognize the boy as his brother.

"Yuuta?" He called softly, not wanting to believe the heap in a corner of a darkening alley was truly his little brother.

When he got no response, Fuji knelt beside Yuuta and shook him very gently.

"Yuuta."

A very quiet moan of pain was all he got in return, but Fuji let out his breath in a huff of relief.

"Yuuta, what happened? Talk to me."

Yuuta attempted to open his eyes, but his right eye was already beginning to swell and he could only open it halfway.

"Aniki?" He called softly, turning his head toward the sound of his brother's voice.

"Yes, it's me. Who did this to you?"

Fuji had a fairly good idea, but he waited for Yuuta to confirm his fears.

"Who do you think? It was that bastard Ryuu."

The tensai cursed, and for the second time that day he was truly angry.

"I won't let him get away with this again." Fuji growled, but snapped out of his anger as soon as Yuuta reached up to grab his arm.

"Aniki, promise me you'll never do this to anyone. Not even Ryuu."

For a moment Fuji looked like he was going to argue, but after a moment's hesitation he nodded.

"I promise, Yuuta. I'll get back at him another way."

"You can't use me either, Syusuke. Someone needs to catch him or he'll get out of it just like last time."

The tensai wanted to argue, but he knew that Yuuta was right and his anger was making him think irrationally. So instead Fuji very gently helped Yuuta to sit up.

Yuuta bit down on the uninjured side of his lower lip, but stubbornly made no other noise as Fuji helped him first to sit up and then to stand.

Even after Fuji slung Yuuta's arm over his shoulders and coaxed him down the alley, it was slow going. Fuji murmured encouragements softly as they walked, his face uncharacteristically serious with no trace of a smile and his eyes sparkling dangerously.

Yuuta was completely silent despite his pain, and held as much of his own weight as he could manage. The normally short trip down the alleyway seemed to go on forever, and when they reached the busy city street on the other side the sun was well on its way to setting in the distance.

Fuji steered his brother toward the nearest train stop, and when they boarded to find it nearly empty Fuji was silently relieved.

Yuuta, on the other hand, no longer even seemed aware of his surroundings. His eyes were glazed over and his attention obviously elsewhere; the only thing that brought him back was the sight of their house before him.

"Aniki, I can't let mother see me like this."

Fuji paused for a moment, his mind whirling through options before he seemed to settle on one and nodded.

"I'll take care of it."

Fuji opened the door and walked in, calling out an over loud and eager, "Tadaima!" as he changed into his house slippers.

Yuuta turned to him, wondering what he was up to, but Fuji only whispered quietly "Go" and turned to walk the opposite direction into the dining room.

Bounding into the room excitedly, a smile now wide on his face, Fuji raced up to the table where the two women of the family were sitting.

"Okaa-san, onee-chan, guess what?"

The two of them gave him odd looks, but it was his ever-curious sister that dared to ask.

"What?"

Fuji grinned, putting all of his effort into forcing his emotions out opposite of what he was feeling. As much as everything that happened that day had hurt, he had to protect Yuuta.

"That girl I was telling you about, I asked her out today."

Yumiko grinned and asked the obvious question Fuji was waiting for.

"And she said yes?"

He nodded.

"See, I told you it would work. You should bring her over for dinner so we can meet her."

Yoshiko was smiling as well as she listened to the conversation between two of her children, but before Fuji could make his retreat she spoke up.

"Did Yuuta come in with you?"

Without hesitation Fuji nodded.

"He said he was really tired though, he went out to play tennis on one of the street courts."

Yoshiko watched him for a moment longer before nodding to accept his answer.

"Well, if either of you get hungry, there's food in the kitchen."

"Alright, I'm going to start on my homework."

Fuji turned and walked up the stairs to the second floor where Yuuta had walked as they were talking. But Fuji couldn't go to him now, nor could he help him until after his mother and sister went to bed. He could only hope Yuuta would be okay until then. So instead, he went to his own room and sat down at his desk to start his homework.

Even as the hours passed, he didn't get much done. He kept thinking about everything that had happened and worrying about Yuuta. When at last he heard his mother's bedroom door close, he very quietly opened his door and went downstairs to the kitchen.

There he grabbed a washcloth, some ice, a small bowl of water and a bowl of the soup his mother had left out for them. He headed back upstairs and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw all the doors were still closed. The tensai snuck into the darkness of his brother's room and shut the door behind him. Using only the slivers of moonlight that made it through the blinds on the window, Fuji made his way to the bed where Yuuta lay on his back unmoving.

Fuji dumped his armful of things on the bedside table, moving the lamp and alarm clock out of the way to make room.

"Yuuta." He called, softly touching Yuuta's shoulder to get his attention.

Yuuta jumped away from him and glared in his general direction, having obviously been asleep and therefore slightly dazed.

"Yuuta, it's just me. It's Syusuke."

Yuuta relaxed, but his glare turned into a frown.

"Why are you here?"

Fuji flinched, but held up the bowl of water and the washcloth as a reply.

Yuuta's glare returned.

"Why?"

Fuji diverted his eyes and dampened a corner of the washcloth before gently wiping it across a cut on Yuuta's lower lip. He kept his attention completely fixed there and refused to look Yuuta in the eye as he answered.

"I'm sorry, this is all my fault."

Yuuta looked confused, but didn't stop Fuji as he knelt beside the bed and gently wiped at several cuts Fuji had acquired. Fuji didn't seem inclined to elaborate, so Yuuta grabbed and stilled his hand. After a few moments of stillness, Fuji slowly lifted his gaze to meet Yuuta's. Fuji sighed and diverted his eyes a second later, pausing to try and make sense himself of what happened.

"Ryuu's sister blackmailed me. She basically said that if I refused her she would have Ryuu go after you. I didn't believe her, so I refused her. I should have tried to warn you, or go after you when Ryuu didn't show up for practice. I could've been there, I could've stopped him. Yuuta, I'm so sorry."

Fuji let his eyes slip back up to Yuuta's with his last sentence, blinking away tears.

"This is all because of him, isn't it?" Yuuta spat out.

Fuji glanced at him quickly, clearly shocked, before looking away and standing abruptly to leave.

Yuuta held fast to his forearm, which he still had in his grasp, and stopped Fuji from walking out.

"Why him?"

Fuji glanced over his shoulder at his brother, but hesitated with his words.

"I don't know, Yuuta. I think I'm falling in love with him." He turned to face Yuuta, his voice breaking on his words; "Not that it matters after today."

This time it was Yuuta's turn to look away.

"I'm going to switch schools."

Fuji's face went blank, which Yuuta knew was his way of covering up his true emotions. Without waiting for a reply, Yuuta went on.

"Mizuki-san approached me on Friday at the street court I always go to. He said that there's room at Saint Rudolph's for someone with my skills in tennis. I know he was just flattering me to get me to agree, but at the time I didn't want to leave Seigaku. But now, after today, I want to go. I called Mizuki-san when I got up to my room. I start at Saint Rudolph's on Wednesday."

Fuji sat down on the side of the bed and leaned over his brother, one arm thrown across his chest in an awkward sort of hug.

Into his ear Fuji whispered, "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Yuuta took a deep breath, already regretting his next words.

"Aniki, it's a boarding school. I'll be staying in the dorm there."

Fuji lifted his had, and Yuuta tried his hardest to ignore the tears in his brother's eyes.

"Syusuke, stay with me tonight. Please?"

Fuji opened his mouth immediately to protest, but then paused to think it over. They hadn't slept in the same bed since years ago on a trip to the beach house. Before their father got his job overseas they used to spend every summer at a small house on the beach, but the sound of the waves at night had terrified Yuuta; so every night Fuji would sneak into his younger brother's room to comfort him. One night, their father caught them and sent Fuji back to his own bed with a bruised cheekbone, and they never slept together again. But this time their father wasn't there to catch them, so Fuji slowly nodded in assent.

Yuuta scooted over in the bed to give Fuji more room, and Fuji curled against his side, his head pillowed on Yuuta's shoulder. Neither of them knew which was comforting and which was being comforted, but they settled together easily on the bed as though they had never stopped sleeping together.

After Yuuta drifted off to sleep he didn't feel the gentle kiss pressed to his forehead or hear the last whispered apology before his brother fell asleep at his side. This time their sleep wasn't interrupted.

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Japanese words:

1) Tadaima: I'm home