Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ A Game Worth Winning ❯ Something To Talk About ( Chapter 1 )

"Something To Talk About"

~A Game Worth Winning~ "Prince of Tennis" Fanfic Series

By Andrea Readwolf <andrea_readwolf @hotmail.com>

Chapter: 1/1

Rating: PG-13 for Kissing Content

Pairings: Oishi Syuchiroh & Kikumaru Eiji

Genre: Drama, shounen-ai, lemony-lime flavor, Romance

Series Rating: Mature for sexual content

Series Pairings: Kikumaru + Oishi, Tezuka + Fuji, Echizen + Momoshiro, Inui + Kaidoh

Warnings: Underage characters in homosexual romantic and sexual situations of self-discovery. Characters are written in character according to author's interpretation.

Summary: Rumors can hurt...or help.

Disclaimer: Tennis no Ohjisama, characters and settings are the property of Konomi Takeshi.

Date Started: April 30, 2004

Status: Completed

Revised: May 16, 2004

"Something To Talk About" by Andrea Readwolf

"Well, all I'm saying is, there's a lot of chemistry there, what with the way they're always standing so close to each other and all," the young boy said as the door to the tennis club room opened.

"Yeah, but they're both boys!" another boy protested.

"Like that has anything to do with it!" a third rose to the unknown lovers' defense.

"What?! It has everything to do with it! Boys can't be in love with other boys! It's not...it's not... well, it's not natural!"

"It is if it's Love!"

"What do you think, Ryoma-kun?"

"Huh?" from the sound of Echizen's voice, it sounded like he had no clue what the topic of conversation was about. Their listener almost made his presence known, just so he could tease the four freshman, but one of the boy's spoke up, halting the listener's movements.

"Yeah, you're a Regular! You see them more often than the rest of us! Do *you* think there's something 'special' going on between Oishi-senpai and Kikumaru-senpai?"

The listener waited anxiously for what the young prodigy would say.

"Hn. Mada mada dane," the freshman Regular replied, closing his locker with a snap.

"See! Even Ryoma-kun sees it!" one of the boys cried happily.

"Hn. I'm not ready to run the extra twenty laps Buchou will demand if I'm late," Echizen corrected, already halfway out the door.

"K'so! We're late for practice!"

"Well, it's your fault!"

"Mine!"

"Yes! If you hadn't've antagonized those second years with your mouth--"

The door to the clubhouse shutting behind the four boys shut out whatever else they said. The listener's moment of stunned silence ended suddenly if a fit of giggles as Kikumaru Eiji slipped out of the corner he'd been in and proceeded to laugh his figurative ass off.

*

"All I'm saying is they're awfully familiar with each other, you know?" the young man sighed, wiping his face free from sweat.

"Hn. Unlike you, they're professional doubles, what do you expect?"

"Okay, granted, they've had way more experience at doubles than I have--"

"Isn't that putting it mildly?"

"*But*," the first young man continued on angrily, "Oishi is like, I don't know, *always* watching Eiji-senpai, and--"

"Baka. Oishi-senpai watches out for everyone. He's just that kind of person."

"Yeah, but they're *always* together!"

"They're friends, and even then, they're not *always* together."

"And Eiji's *always* laughing at Oishi and--"

"And Oishi says a lot of funny things," a third voice supplied happily. Bouncing up to his locker, Kikumaru winked at a flustered Momoshiro and a slightly annoyed looking Echizen.

All of a sudden, Kikumaru stopped bouncing and frowned at his locker. "And... and Oishi's really good at reading my moods... He knows...exactly what to say... to keep me focused on the game...." He blinked at both the stunned boys before grinning maddeningly at them and shooting a Victory sign. "All part of being a part of doubles, Momo-chan. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it, too, by next year! Ha ha!"

*

"Nya, Oishi---I wanna ask you something?"

"Mmm?" Oishi inspected his prize fish tank with a loving but critical eye before measuring out just the right pinch of angelfish flake food.

Behind him, on the bed, Eiji sighed loudly--again--and shifted. "We're friends, right?"

Oishi blinked, first at the strange question coming from his doubles partner, and then at the tone behind the questions: seriousness.

Eiji. Seriousness? Hmm... must be cold in Hell, came the uncharitable thought before the dark-haired boy could stop himself, and mentally Oishi chastised himself for such a mean thought about his partner and friend.

He looked at the boy laying on his bed--Eiji's posture matched his tone. Serious.

"Two years and going strong, yeah. Why? What's on your mind, Eiji?" He caught his computer chair and wiggled it over towards the bed.

Eiji didn't move for the longest time, just continued to lay back, arms thrown over his head--causing his shirt to ride up well past the cresting of his rib cage--sock covered feet planted squarely on the bed and bent knees--pulling his shorts even lower than his waist so Oishi could see a hint of the boxers he knew the other teen liked to wear when not playing.

Oishi tried to shake the thoughts that arose at the picture his friend made.

"Would you say we're close friends?" the redhead finally spoke up again, still looking up at the ceiling fan as if it contained the answers to all the questions he'd ever had. "We--we can talk about anything, right? Anything and everything?"

Oishi frowned. Eiji sounded so troubled; he hadn't been like this an hour ago when he'd come over to study for their English test. This mood change seemed to come out of nowhere, and Oishi didn't understand it. "Eiji...? What's wrong?"

"You know how people talk, right? Regular old gossipers--? Well, there's someone... someone I like, but..." Blue eyes shut out the image of the rotating fan above him, but without the steady distraction of the rotating blades, other images superimposed themselves in his mind. "And, well, I've been hearing a lot talk recently, and I've been thinking.... "

Oishi tried his best to hide his hurt and disappointment.

"I wanna make those talking heads spin like tops and watch their jaws drop from all their yapping."

Even though the words were delivered seriously, Oishi couldn't prevent the tired sigh that escaped him. Eiji was planning another practical joke it seemed.

"But I need Oishi's help to make it work." Blue eyes fastened upon Oishi with a fierce intensity.

Green eyes blinked wide with surprise. His...help? It would be better to know what Eiji was planning anyway so he could stop it, but... he couldn't deny his curiosity was piqued. "What is it?"

"Well, like I said, I've been hearing a lot of people talking, and, well, usually I just ignore it, but... but lately it's been getting to be a little too much." Eiji closed his eyes, and again the images swam up to surround him, suffocate him... tease and torment him with their promises of possibilities...

"Hmm? And what are they saying?" Oishi asked, finding himself intrigued despite himself--and despite the previous look into those blue eyes, the dark-haired boy was simply *not* prepared for the fiery sapphires that seemed to burn into his very soul.

In a movement that Oishi didn't actually see but could simply assume was executed with Eiji's natural litheness and grace, the redhead was sitting on the very edge of the bed, directly in front of Oishi.

"I thought I could ignore it, but they keep talking."

"What are they saying?"

"They... they say we... I laugh too much, we have too much fun. That we stand too close and stare too long at each other, and... and... they think we're lovers."

There. He'd said it. He'd finally told Oishi about it and now they could think of a way to---but, but Oishi's face was suddenly more red than that time they'd stayed outside all day and he'd forgotten to put sunscreen on and....

Eiji's brain shut off the tumbling thoughts and his body moved on instinct to test what his mind and soul had already started to suspect was true.... that there was some grain of truth falling from all those wagging tongues...

"Let's give them something to talk about," the redhead whispered, slipping off the bed and bracing his arms on the computer chair's armrest, effectively trapping the older teen.

"W-what? Eiji--" the dark-haired boy managed before Eiji's mouth crashed against Oishi's.

Neither boy blinked--or moved, for that matter--for a full minute.... and then Eiji fell back onto his haunches. Throwing his arms behind his head and a smile on his face, the redhead pivoted around and up.

"Hoi, hoi, just kidding, Oishi-kun," he sang happily, twirling around to plop back down on the bed when strong hands grabbed his shoulders, preventing him from escaping--not that Eiji could move anywhere away from the blazing, angry glint of emerald fire that bore into him.

"Don't you ever play me for one of your jokes, Eiji," the taller boy growled.

"Nya, Oishi, calm down--Mmnnn!"

Eiji found his mouth suddenly silenced--by Oishi's lips.

He was too shocked to respond, but the dark-haired boy didn't allow that for long; Eiji soon found himself being the one expertly played as gentle but insistent lips coaxed his to move, and teeth teased and grazed, scrapping along his sensitive lower lip, sucking the lip into a warm mouth before nipping with just enough force to cause Eiji to gasp---

How well Oishi knew him, knew his actions and reactions, knew how to play him.... Something hot, wet, and demanding tried to press its way into Eiji's mouth, slipping easily past the narrow gap of sharp teeth to move against his tongue. Eiji almost bit down, but strong fingers were digging into his shoulders threateningly, and the tongue became more demanding... Eiji moaned, loudly, his knees giving up even as his arms reached out to wrap under and around Oishi for support and protection...

And he opened himself to the other teen fully. Their moans met and mated somewhere between tongue, teeth, and lips. Slowly, too slow for Eiji to notice before it was too late, the fingers digging into the redhead's shoulders relaxed... until the grip was finally used to push Eiji away.

Eiji landed on the bed with a shocked "Nya!" and a small bounce, panting and flushed. And suddenly very, very angry. "Nyah, Oishi! Why did you--" the younger teen began before getting a good look at his partner.

The wild look in those wide green eyes; normally thin lips, swollen and bruised and moist; chest heaving as though he'd just finished one hundred laps around the courts....

The redhead licked his lips and tried again. "Why'd you stop?" he asked, realizing suddenly just how short-winded he was, too.

As his sides, Oishi's fists tightened and shook with repressed anger. Still, when he spoke, he managed to reply with almost completely calm tones, "I won't be played with, Eiji."

"Oi--" the redhead began, but just as suddenly stopped, smiling sadly as he shook his head.

"Syuichiroh," he began again. "You know me better than anyone. Sometimes, sometimes I think you know me better than I know myself."

Eiji heaved a sigh before crawling up into a more comfortable position than how he'd fallen onto the bed. "I'd like to think I know S'chiroh, too, but not as well as you do. So... we both know I can be a big dummy," he said bluntly. "But, S'chiroh, I didn't know you could be one, too."

He looked up at the other teen from beneath golden lashes, waiting.

Oishi blinked, his anger releasing with the shock of being called a dummy by his friend. "Excuse me?"

"S'chiroh is a big dummy," Eiji repeated, tilting his head as if checking the statement in his head, and then nodding. The redhead grinning, leaning back into the bed, but even in this new reclining position, sapphire eyes never left emerald, meeting, challenging, volleying as if this were another tennis match, just set in a different court.

When the dark-haired teen still didn't say anything, Eiji set to serve. "You think I'm having fun on you. Dummy. Read me."

Oishi hesitated, dark green eyes briefly running over Eiji's posture before he turned away---scared of what he would find. But... was he scared that he would find that Eiji *was* making fun of him....or that he wasn't.....? He swallowed. "I think it's past time that Eiji went home."

"No."

"What?" he asked, blinking away his surprise as he turned back to face his partner.

"No, I'm not leaving," Eiji clarified, watching Oishi's surprise melt into a frown. He was so cute...

"The Golden Pair," he started, swallowing nervously and praying that this gamble would work for them, improve them and not just tear them apart. "The Golden Pair is something really special. Something that connects Oishi and Kikumaru, strengthens Seigaku, without a doubt. But... I want us to be more than just friends, S'chiroh. More than just Oishi and Kikumaru, the Golden Pair of Seigaku."

He waited a moment, watching the other boy's face carefully before delivering his next words. "I want the Golden Pair to be more than what we've restrained it to. So much more... Will you help me? Help me make the Golden Pair shine brighter than the sun itself? Because I can't do it alone---and neither can you. Not anymore."

"Eiji...."

"Let's shine, S'chiroh... together?"

"You're sure? You really want to--"

Eiji was up off the bed again, pressing his body towards his partner's, whispering, "Very sure..."

"What about that person you like?" Oishi couldn't help asking, using every ounce of self-restraint he really didn't have to avoid kissing Eiji again...

"I'm trying to get him to kiss me," Eiji admitted, smiling saucily. "Is it working?"

Oishi's breath caught. "You're sure...?" he repeated more to convince himself now.

"Stop fight, S'chiroh," the redhead murmured, tilting his face up and forward, blue eyes falling behind heavy lids...

*

Eiji woke up slowly and just a little disorientated. His body ached, and... his arm was numb... But beyond that... warm breath brushed over his face, and a steady heartbeat thumped softly near his ear, and...

A warm wash of memories from the prior night cascaded over him, bathing him in languid pleasure. Eiji smiled again, stretching just a little to work some of the kinks that had set during sleep, before pressing a lovingly soft kiss against Syuichiroh's shirt-covered chest.

"How do you feel?"

"Mmm... Hoi, my back hurts," he complained, only to be rewarded with the arm wrapped around him moving so those deceivingly gentle hands could move over his back. "And my left arm's asleep," he admitted, hard pressed to try and hide his grin as his partner offered a nervous laugh and shifted, allowing Eiji to move the offending limb.

The redhead blinked sleepy blue eyes opened, and looked up into the other's face, smiling. "And I want more kisses," he added, licking suddenly dry lips.

Oishi smiled, and leaned the small distance to press his lips to Eiji's in a chaste little kiss, shivering at the other boy's mew of protest.

"Hoi, hoi! S'chiroh! That's not a real kiss!" the redhead pouted.

Grinning, Syuichiroh leaned back. "Of course it is, but if that wasn't good enough, then maybe..."

Eiji's tongue darted out, licking Syuichiroh's lips, seeking permission that was readily granted, and the dark haired boy fell back, pulling Eiji over him, arms holding the smaller boy tightly as he eagerly swept his tongue around Syuichiroh's mouth, exploring and caressing and teasing... He allowed this for only so long before rolling them over and returning the kiss, his tongue pressing into Eiji's mouth.

When they broke apart finally, both were grinning.

"This is good, ne, S'chiroh?"

"Ah, and it can only get better," the dark haired teen agreed, dipping to nuzzle along Eiji's throat.

"Mmm... If this is going to become a habit... can I have some space in your closet for some of my clothes?" the redhead teased, arching his chin back for more of Syuichiroh's treatment.

"Mmm... but maybe we should get up first," he smiled, knowing Eiji could feel it against his sensitive skin. "We have practice this morning."

Eiji blinked, his body suddenly tensing. "EH? What time is it?"

"Close to seven."

"HOI! Oishi-kun! Why didn't you wake me sooner!" the redhead accused, an adorable pout on his face as he sat up.

Syuichiroh continued to smile. "Because Eiji-kun looks really cute when he sleeps."

The redhead was already out of bed and intent upon the door, but he stopped, his body naturally falling into a saucy pose as he winked at his partner. "I'm always cute," he replied before catching sight of the alarm clock that indeed read ten minutes to seven. "Nya, Oishi-kun, let me use your shower?"

The dark-haired boy couldn't stop smiling as he waved his friend onward. "Go ahead, I'll bring you in a towel in a second. Let me just go get your clothes. I called over to your house last night after you fell asleep, and your sister brought some things."

"Sugoi! Sank you, S'chiroh!" Eiji squealed, whirling around to plant his boyfriend with a quick saliva-swapping kiss before darting into the bathing room two doors down.

Oishi blinked, and then grinned again, shaking his head as he went to get the promised towel and clothing.

Under the water, Eiji allowed the memories of last night to pour over him again, and felt his entire body awaken and tingle. Like he was being covered in kisses. That was all they had done--kiss, oh, but, how they had kissed! Tiny kisses, light kisses, teasing kisses, hungry kisses, devouring kisses...

Eiji had never realized there were so many ways to kiss someone!

And Syuichiroh's hands!--those sweet, wonderful, tender hands, moving over his body felt so good.... They made no move to undress, but then, they didn't need to. They kissed and touched each other into oblivion... every where, well, except...

Eiji blushed, debating mentally with himself... He was a healthy, normal, teenaged boy, with the hormones and libido of one... and right now he was really horny. And last night, despite being so hard and so desperate for his touch, Syuichiroh's hands had stayed firmly away from Eiji's groin, and so following suite, Eiji had restrained himself from touching Syuichiroh there, too, but...

He groaned as his hand brushed past his growing erection. Syuichiroh was so beautiful... so loving and kind and wonderful... It was something that wasn't really physical, although Oishi Syuichiroh was definitely attractive. But ask any girl at Seigaku and they would tell you, Oishi wasn't one of the top lookers on the tennis team.

The last poll he'd heard about had stated Tezuka-buchou at the top, followed by Fuji, and then himself. Even Momoshiro was listed above his Syuichiroh on the list of "Hot Guys in the Tennis Club", but even so, every girl would probably do anything for Oishi. He was just that type of guy, Eiji thought fondly. He tried so hard, worried about everyone, that you couldn't help wanting to make him happy, too...

Eiji quickly rinsed off, finding the towel and his overnight bag waiting for him next to the sink. He smiled. Yes, this was going to be a good move in the right direction for the Golden Pair...

*

After bolting a quick breakfast, the pair made another bolt for the bus stop. Eiji noticed right off that something was wrong with his partner.

"Hoi! Oishi," he pouted, eyes twinkling despite his nervousness at the other boy's demeanor. "What's wrong?"

"Eiji... I don't want to hurt your, but..."

Those words held such potential for disaster, and the redhead couldn't help bracing for an impending crash.

"But you... and I... and school." Oishi sighed heavily. "What I mean, is...well, I don't think..."

Eiji grinned and waved a hand, waving away the need for his partner to say anything more. "People at school talk too much," he announced boldly, grinning again and nodding. "Nya...Syuichiroh is all mine, demo... I'm used to having to share Oishi-kun with the masses, ne, vice-captain?" He winked as the bus approached.

Oishi sighed with relief, the stiffness that had held his body rigid relaxing. "Arigato, Eiji..."

"Do itashimashite," the redhead called back flippantly as he climbed onto the bus.

*

It was a close call--they were almost late to practice. Still, Eiji was breathless but laughing as he fell into his locker.

"Hoi! Hoi! Oishi! You're too slow!"

The dak-haired boy grinned. "Maybe, but I'm not the one who's out of breath. Eiji has no endurance. Even last night, he falls asleep," he teased.

The redhead's face flushed. Well... it *was* true... he'd been so comfortable, laying there all warm and cozy in Syuichiroh's arms....

"Oh? What's this? Eiji's falling asleep on you, Oishi? We can't have that?" a smiling voice teased, and with a start, the partners realized they weren't alone in the clubroom, despite being late.

"Nya! Fuji! You scared me!" Eiji complained at his friend and classmate.

"Ah, gomen, Eiji, gomen."

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Fuji."

"Ohayo, Oishi, Eiji. Are you ready for practice?"

"Nya!" Eiji wrinkled his nose. "I heard Inui's developed a new juice and what are the chances he'll wait till this afternoon to test it out?"

"Ah, I can't wait," the honey-haired blond replied, smiling as he walked out ahead of the pair, racket in hand.

Oishi frowned. Fuji was too observant by far, but at least he was discreet and didn't talk about others. Still... Green eyes followed a certain redhead's bouncy progress towards the tennis courts. It would be hard to try and be discreet about his feelings concerning his partner. And something told him that no matter how hard he tried, the Golden Pair would be a hot topic for wagging tongues looking for something to talk about.

~Owari "Something To Talk About"~

Author's End Notes: Okay, there you have it! This is "the beginning" point for the Oishi/Kikumaru pairing, definitely, and I think the entire series, too... I think it's time to give Fuji and Tezuka some more lime light, even though Eiji's begging me to write some more smut for him (I swear, he's like a bunny, always wanting one more go!), Syuichiroh's starting to clam up on me (so shy, that boy), and Fuji's starting to get annoyed at being ignored (I love him to death, no, really, but I swear to gods, he starting to scare the shit out of me.... {shivers} I mean, he's like Quatre to Zero in 0.9 seconds!), but Tezuka's trying to be uncooperative (I mean, I've managed to get HEERO to be more cooperative than this kid's being.... [blinks] actually, Heero was always very cooperative for me. I think that, unlike *some* people, Heero didn't mind being given the opportunity to boink with whoever he wanted... {frowns} and I just don't understand *why* I keep comparing the PoT boys to GW... strange...). So, what it comes down to, is, we'll see what the next story will be.

I know there's already a scene where Eiji gets to tackle S'chiroh, and there's still the Fuji-Tezuka confrontation scene.... {sighs} so many decisions....