MAJOR OOCness in this chapter! I apologize for that… skip this chapter if you want :D

There, I revised it. I wasn't thinking right when I wrote this, that's why Tezuka was kind of, well, out of character.

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis

Chapter 1:

They both sat there in the benches, both sweaty as they just finished playing Tennis. One was wiping the sweat off his face and the other was drinking water. When the one drinking finished, he placed his water bottle back to his bag and looked at the person beside him.

"Fuji?"

"Yes, Tezuka?" He put the towel down to his left

"Have you ever been in love?" he looked at Fuji straight in the eye.

"I love Yuuta."

"Not that kind of love, Fuji."

"Then, what kind of love were you pertaining to?"

"You know what I mean." Fuji looked away.

"Oh, that kind of love. Why do you ask?"

"Well," Tezuka looked away too, "I've been feeling something for a certain person for a long time now."

"Really?" Fuji turned to look at him with that smile of his yet again, "who's the lucky girl?"

"There's no girl, Fuji." 'great,' Tezuka wanted to hit himself, or better yet, give himself some laps, 'I just revealed to him that I like a guy.'

"Oh, then," Fuji paused, as if hesitating to ask, "who's the lucky guy."

'So, he doesn't know?' "I don't think that I should tell you."

"Aww, come on, Tezuka."

"It's better if you don't know about it." 'Because it's you, Fuji.'

"Tezuka," Fuji's smile faltered, 'Why do I feel as if something is wrong?'

"I must be zoning out, sorry," and Tezuka got his racquet and stand up, "let's play"

Tezuka looked at Fuji, "Sure," and Fuji stood up and followed him to start another game.

They played, their bodies were into the game, so was Fuji's mind, but Tezuka's was elsewhere.

'I want to tell Fuji,' a secret that he has been keeping for days, weeks, months,who knows how long. No matter how he wanted to tell Fuji though, he can't. 'but that might make things worse. I won't be careless.' The fear of rejection and discrimination was with him. He was scared to be rejected by Fuji, to hear those words telling him that he doesn't have a chance. He didn't want to be discriminated by Fuji either. Most people hate their kinds who love the same sex.

What would Fuji say if he found out that Tezuka loves him, knowing that their both guys? 'I'm holding back to much,' He felt as if he's going crazy. He wanted to let this secret out but didn't know how to say it or let it be known without facing what he feared for. 'I guess I should tell him. Nothing will happen if I don't take action.' Today is the day, not tomorrow, nor the other day, but today.

He will confess.

Not long after though, they heard the ring of a cellphone which caused them both to stop and look at their bags.

"Sorry, Tezuka, that's mine," so Fuji ran jogged towards his tennis bag to answer his phone.

"Hello?... No, I can't meet with you today... Yes, I'm actually quite occupied today... frankly, I don't want to see you ever again... You're not going to stop being persistent, are you?" There was a change in Fuji's tone, "Never again," Tezuka now got the idea that he was getting angry, "No." and he closed the phone shut.

Fuji just stood there, the phone in his hand and his back facing Tezuka.

"What's the problem?" Tezuka approached him, sitting down on the bench in front of Fuji.

"Nothing, it's just Miluki," Fuji sat down, "He wanted me to convince Yuuta to try out the new move he discovered because Yuuta won't let him. After what happened last time, he has totally no right to even be in the same school as my brother."

"Aah," 'should I still tell him right now? He seems angry' "You love Yuuta that much."

"Yes, he is my cute little brother you know." Fuji turned to look at Tezuka with that smile.

"Yes." 'he never does stop smiling'

"I feel closer to him than my sister. I would really torture anyone who tries to harm him."

"I could see that."

"I really wish that he didn't transfer to St. Rudolph's."

'he seems okay now' "Fuji, about earlier,"

"What about it Tezuka?" he looked at Tezuka with a curious expression, azure eyes showing.

"Are you in love with someone right now?"

"No, Tezuka," 'he's just curious, he doesn't know it. He can't know it.' "Why do you ask?"

"I know someone who likes you."

"Really? Who is it?"

"I can't tell." 'I think I'm confusing him.'

'I don't want to go through this again.' "Really, Tezuka, you're spoiling the fun."

"I just can't tell you."

"Why?"

"He doesn't think that he has a chance with you."

'He?' Fuji became silent, eyes widening and mouth opening slightly.

'Great, now he'll know it's me.'

'This is strange, is Tezuka playing with me.' "Don't worry, I give everyone a chance," 'because I really must know who it is. I don't want it to happen again.'

"Everyone? What if it's Mizuki?"

"Is it him?" 'I want to barf.'

"No, it's," 'it's time,' "one of the regulars."

"Taka-san?" asked Fuji without hesitating at all.

"No."

"hmm, let me think," Fuji brought his hand to his chin and looked up to the sky. 'One of the regulars, so I'm not the only one in team? What if he?' Fuji looked at Tezuka, trying as much as possible to suppress the emotions swirling inside of him. 'no, he doesn't know it. Eiji didn't tell him, I'm sure.' "Momo?"

"No."

"Tezuka, you're just playing with me."

"I'm not," and they stared into each others eyes for a few moments in silence.

"I don't like these games, Tezuka," Fuji's smile disappeared.

"I'm not playing a game, I'm telling the truth, Fuji."

"Then stop making me guess and tell me because I know it's not you. Don't keep-"

"It's me," Tezuka stopped Fuji in mid-sentence. This cause widen his eyes even more.

"Don't joke with me, Tezuka." his eyes closed a little. "I don't want my feelings to be played by anyone."

"What are you talking about? I'm not playing games, Fuji." 'is this how discrimination is?'

"Why are you saying this to me?" tears were threatening to fall from his azure eyes.

"Didn't I make it clear? I-"

"Who is it?"

"What do you mean?" Tezuka was seriously confused.

"Who told you that I like you? I mean, that's the only reason why you're saying this to me. You're playing with me, just like him!" Fuji abruptly stood up, "Did you make a bet with someone, or are you playing with me to ease yourself?"

"Fuji..." Tezuka could only stare at him. He didn't know what to do.

"Was it Eiji who told you?" Fuji asked, a tear rolling down on his cheek. I know that you're playing with me, don't deny it!"

"Why would I not deny it? I'm telling the truth here," Tezuka stood up, "Why won't you believe me?" He was having a hard time controlling himself, his emotions, seeing Fuji snap in front of him.

"Because I know that you'll never love a guy!"

"Never love a guy?" 'that's what I thought before you came.' Tezuka didn't prefer men over women, nor women over men. He was confused and frustrated. When he was little, he had crushes like any other kid his age would have but they were all from the the female race. When he entered Jr. High, he just seemed not to think about those stuff, until he found Fuji, that is. He was slowly falling for the guy, contemplating whether he was gay or not. Then, reality hit him. Love doesn't have a limit, whether it's on the lines of gender or age. However, he didn't care about loving a woman or a man, all he cared about was loving Fuji.

"Of course you'll never love a guy! You're straight and a lot of women are falling head over heels for you!" another tear rolled down, followed by another.

"Fuji, I don't care if the person I care for is a man or a woman. As long as that person is the one I care for," Tezuka said those words monotonously, as always.

"You're playing with me." Fuji turned around and wanted to walk away but wasn't able to even take two steps as someone grabbed his arm and turned him around.

"I'm not playing with you, Fuji. Do I have to say those three words to let you know that I'm serious? I love you," he said in the calmest way he could.

"Tezuka," he stared into the depths of his eyes, his mind was blank, he didn't know what to do, say, or think.

"I'm not joking around, Fuji."

"I do not need an 'I love you,' Tezuka, that happened to me before and I didn't like the outcome. How will I know that you're not kidding me?"

"You've known me a long time, Fuji. Do you not trust me?"

"I do," Fuji looked down, "but-"

"I'm different from other people." Tezuka loosened his grip on his arm. "I don't play with them."

"I believe your words, Tezuka," he looked to meet Tezuka's eyes, "but there's something inside me making it hard for me to believe you."

"Do you feel the same way for me?" 'Now I'm talking without thinking."

"Tezuka..."

"Please answer me, Fuji. I need to know. I'll stop my pursuit on you if you don't feel the same way."

"Tezuka," 'I love you,' "I... I feel the same way." and for them, the world just stopped moving.

'He feels the same way.'

'What will happen now?'

Their eyes stayed on one another, drowning in each other's depths. They stayed there for a while until Tezuka, acting on his emotions, started to descend. How could he not? Their faces were close and their eyes were on each other.

As Tezuka was descending, Fuji closed his eyes in anticipation.

'he's going to kiss me,' but he did not. Tezuka stopped when he was mere millimeters away from Fuji's lips, and pulled away.

"I'm sorry," Tezuka looked away but his hands were still holding Fuji's arms, "I shouldn't have done that."

"Look at me," and that's exactly what Tezuka did, "I don't mind," Fuji smiled and didn't let his eyes leave Tezuka as he waited for Tezuka to claim his lips.

Slowly and surely, Tezuka descended yet again but stopped just millimeters from Fuji's slightly open lips just like earlier. He didn't pull back though, but after a few seconds, he claimed the lips of the person in front of him.

As they kissed, they didn't care where they were. They felt as if they were the only persons in the world.

They were in a public place, the public tennis courts. Anyone could see them whether if it's someone they know or someone they don't know. Alas, they didn't care. Their minds were only full of thoughts of each other.

Like everything else, the kiss had to end. They separated and stared into each other's eyes, a blush very evident on Fuji's cheek.

"Look, Tezuka," Fuji just noticed something, "it's already the sunset."

Tezuka looked behind him, "Yes. I didn't notice it."

"It's a beautiful sight, isn't it?"

"Yes." Tezuka looked back at Fuji, "I think we better go home now. It's getting late. We could admire the sunset while walking."

"Sure, Tezuka," and they picked up their bags and left, walking side by side in silence, thinking that they were possibly the happiest people in the world as of this afternoon. Little did they know, someone was hiding in the bushes with a camera in his hand.

"Gottcha" he had no particular reason why he was there. He was just, you could say, bored at home. Bad thing though, this person goes to Seigaku too and had plans for the moment that he caught on camera.

TBC