Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis or any of it's characters, and I don't pretend to.
Warning: This fic contains mild shounen-ai.
Author's Notes: And now for the anti-climactic epilogue! Hope you guys all liked it! It's been fun!
Inui showed up at Kaidoh's house early the next morning. He was surprised to discover that the second-year was not dressed in his usual tank top and shorts, but his school uniform.
"You don't seem ready for training," Inui had to remark, with a smile.
"Neither do you, senpai," Kaidoh retorted, pointing out Inui's own black uniform. "I figured I could change. What's your excuse?"
The third-year dismissed the question simply. "I don't have one." Then he asked, "Do you want to get breakfast?"
"As long as you pay, senpai."
"Fair enough."
While they were walking, Kaidoh asked, "So… why aren't we running today, senpai?"
Inui shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't really feel like it."
Kaidoh winced. "That never stopped you before…"
"I guess that's true… One hardly ever feels like running. I suppose you could say, instead, that I just didn't have the motivation today."
The second-year looked down at the sidewalk. "Are you quitting, senpai?"
Inui actually laughed at that. "No, I didn't mean that… I just meant I didn't have any goals set for today." He turned his eyes upward. "I couldn't think of anything I wanted to work on. I'm sure there will be something I'll think of tomorrow, but today… I don't know…"
"Today, it feels like nothing could be wrong?" Kaidoh interjected softly.
Inui looked down at him, a little shocked that the second-year had read his mind so easily. Kaidoh was giving him his usual little half-smile. Inui smiled back. "Yes. Something like that."
They found a quiet restaurant on the way to school. It was basically empty, since it was so early. They sat at a small table in the back.
While they were eating, it was silent for a while. Inui finally leaned closer and asked, quietly, "Do you want to talk about what happened yesterday?"
Kaidoh lowered his chopsticks. "What about it, senpai?"
"You don't, then."
"I didn't say that."
Inui adjusted his glasses. He still felt a little nervous.
He cleared his throat. "Maybe I shouldn't have… done what I did…"
Kaidoh sighed. "Don't apologize, senpai."
Inui looked into his teammate's eyes. They were honest and unafraid. He relaxed a little. "So… you didn't mind?"
Kaidoh blushed a little. "No, senpai… I didn't mind."
Inui started shuffling things around in his bag. Kaidoh leaned over to watch. "Senpai… what are you doing?"
Inui sat up again, notebook and pen in hand. "So, Kaidoh, I was curious… Did you enjoy it as much as I did?"
"Senpai!" Kaidoh's face turned bright red. "Why would you write that down?" He practically crawled over the table trying to get the notebook away from Inui.
Inui just laughed. "Alright, alright. I won't." He put his notebook away. Kaidoh sat back down, crossing his arms and hissing.
"You know, Kaidoh, I've been thinking…" Inui rested his chin in one hand.
"What's that, senpai?"
"I don't think we should play doubles again."
Kaidoh looked up. Inui gave him a smile.
"Why not, senpai?"
He pushed up his glasses. "Well… As much as I want to, I don't think we'd play very well. It would be a little awkward, after what happened… And it might be obvious…" He trailed off.
Kaidoh leaned forward. "What might be obvious, senpai?"
Inui looked up, eyeing some customers that had just come through the door. "Let's get out of here," he suggested, almost in a whisper. After leaving the money on the table, he took Kaidoh by the hand and led him out of the restaurant.
They didn't find privacy until they got to the school, where they snuck behind the tennis clubhouse. Inui put his hands on Kaidoh's shoulders.
"I love you, Kaidoh."
Kaidoh blinked.
"You do, senpai?"
"I do."
The second-year swallowed, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he looked very seriously up at Inui.
"I love you too, senpai."
A smile worked its way onto Inui's face at the sound of those words. Still, he couldn't believe them. "Really, Kaidoh?"
"Yes."
After a strange, happy pause, Kaidoh reached up and wrapped his arms around Inui's neck, and kissed him. When the second-year pulled back, Inui took him again into his arms and held him.
He wasn't going to let go.
Ever.
-the end-
Big thanks to...
1. My readers... Hope you enjoyed it!
2. My reviewers... I appreciate allmy reviews. Thanks so much!
3. My wonderful sister/editor. Love you! Thanks for all the help!