Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ A Game Worth Winning ❯ Truly, Madly, Deeply ( Chapter 3 )

"Truly, Madly, Deeply "

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

By Andrea Readwolf <andrea_readwolf @hotmail.com>

Chapter: 3

Rating: R for sexual situations and profanity

Pairings: Eiji x Syuichiroh, others implied

Genre: AU, Drama, Hentai, Yaoi, Romance

Series Rating: Mature for sexual content

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

Summary: Friends hanging out, boys exploring sex, shocking realizations, mysterious of the past peeped at

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

Date Started: May 3, 2004

Status: completed: May 4, 2004

Revised: May 30, 2004

"A Game Worth Winning--Truly, Madly, Deeply" By Andrea Readwolf

"Mada mada dane," the youngest member of their group mumbled, much to the amusement of everyone present.

"Oh, c'mon, Echizen. You know you want to try it," Momoshiro tried to wheedle his young friend into eating the seemingly innocent piece of sushi.

The ever-present baseball cap fell a notch lower as Echizen dipped his chin closer to his chest. "No."

"Nya! You wouldn't want to hurt Kawamura's feelings, would you, Ochibi? Refusing to eat the sushi he's made especially for us..." Kikumaru went on in a tragically over-exaggerated voice.

"Oh, hey guys, it's okay. I'm just starting, and all, and after last time, I mean, I understand--"

"Mada mada dane," Echizen muttered again, although Kikumaru and Kawamura were too busy talking to notice as nimble fingers reached out to pluck a rice morsel off the plate and pop it into his mouth quickly.

The others fell silent almost immediately, watching Echizen with wide, anxious eyes.

"Hoi...Ochibi? Daijoubu?" Kikumaru finally asked, crowding into the younger boy's space.

Echizen blinked.

"Oi! Echizen! Say something!" Momoshiro demanded, genuine worry clouding his voice.

"Good," the boy finally mumbled, trying to hide his face beneath his baseball cap again.

"Really?" Kawamura asked hopefully.

Another hand reached towards the plate, and this time all eyes turned to Kaidoh who chewed thoughtfully at the bundle of rice, fish, and seaweed. The viper-like second year nodded his agreement, reaching back to the plate for seconds--only to find there were none left. He scowled.

"Hey, Takashi, these *are* really good!" Momoshiro called loudly.

"Truly," Inui agreed.

"You'll be a great chef one day," Oishi complimented. "These taste really good."

"Oishiiiii!" Kikumaru cried, pouting. "Nya, they're all gone!"

After that rather hesitant start, the seven boys sat around, laughing, gobbling up the sushi rolls almost as quickly as Kawamura could make them, and chatting about whatever subjects rolled across the table. Of course, as with any group of teenaged sports addicts, the talk inevitably volleyed to their star sport: tennis---other schools in the area, previous schools they'd played against, old rivals, future challenges, different strokes and exercising tips.

Echizen and Momoshiro would be hitting the street courts again this weekend, and maybe joining up with the crazy pair from Fudomine. Oishi and Kikumaru might join them, too, and that would be pretty cool. Kaidoh would be training on his own, again. Inui? Oh, hadn't Tezuka mentioned that he was working on a new, special blend drink? Kawamura was helping his parents out at the sushi bar, but he'd probably put in some laps around the park. Who knows? He might even play a game or two if the others were there when he passed by... but he wouldn't be able to stay long, since he had cram school, too.

"Cram school?" Momoshiro wrinkled his nose. "Isn't it a little early in the year to be worried about High School entrance exams?" He scratched his head and fought back a yawn. "Ah, but I guess you guys are already thinking about which high schools have the best tennis teams and what, huh?"

The easy and light mood of the table dissipated with the oblivious boy's words.

"Auh, man, it's gonna suck when you guys graduate," he continued to ramble on. "I'm really gonna miss not seeing ya at practice everyday, or just hanging out like this, you know? And, gods, I don't even wanna think about who will be captain next year! I don't know, it feels so...anticlima--OW! Jeesh, Echizen, why'd you go and do that for!"

Momoshiro rubbed at his shin with an annoyed pout, and Echizen exhaled an exasperated breath. "Baka no senpai," the boy muttered, reaching for the last piece of sushi and popping it away easily.

"Oi! Ochibi! I wanted that!" Kikumaru protested, face breaking into a puppy-who's-been-kicked-pout.

"Too bad," the youngest replied, offering his senior a small smile, which was softly returned.

"Don't forget, Momo-chan," Oishi started suddenly, clearing his throat. "We can always meet up for weekends at the street courts, right?"

"Of course!" Kikumaru exclaimed exuberantly. "Have to make sure you and Kaidoh-kun are keeping a good name for Seigaku's doubles team, ne?"

The look of horror that past between the two juniors was enough to revive the mood of the boys for the remaining minutes before the group disbanded.

"Ah, but that was delicious," Kikumaru purred with content, rubbing his belly as he waited outside the sushi bar with the others for Oishi to finish saying their goodbyes and thanks to Kawamura's parents for their hospitality and--if he knew his boyfriend--trying to pay at least a little for what their rowdy group had devoured.

"Mmm... I could really go for some ice cream right about now," Momoshiro spoke up.

"Baka."

"What was that, Mamushi?"

"Mada mada dane," Echizen agreed with the other second year. "It's late," he added, looking up at the sky that was already beginning to pepper with starlight.

"Ah, you're probably right," the taller boy caved rather easily. "Yoosh! I'll walk the chibi home, then; make sure no one tries to molest him on the way. Catch you guys later? Oishi? Eiji? Tomorrow?"

"Baka," they all heard the younger boy mutter even though the pair was already walking away.

Inui, Kaidoh, Kikumaru, and Oishi remained standing outside the Kawamura sushi bar until the other pair had disappeared around the corner... and then Kikumaru began giggling. A questioning look from Inui, who had been unusually quiet for most of the night, prompted the redhead to explain.

"They look so cute together, don't you think?" Kikumaru grinned, blue eyes sparkling with mirth and mischief. "I bet with a little more practice, they'd be really great partners." Blue eyes shot briefly to his own 'partner'.

"Perhaps," Inui agreed, but he was frowning. "It would be a waste of their potential, though," he added, readjusting his glasses. "Echizen will always be a stronger singles player, but either way, it's really not our concern, since we won't be here next year."

"Saa," Eiji agreed, mood suddenly dampened as they started walking away. "Three years have gone pretty quick, haven't they?" And now his smile turned wistful. "It seems like only yesterday was the first week of junior high school, and I was so excited to be coming to Seigaku... and now..."

"Mmm," Oishi agreed, smiling at his partner and friend, bumping an elbow into Eiji's side. "But it's not over yet," he reminded the redhead. "Even though Tezuka's already started looking at the line up for next year's Regulars."

"Hoi! Honto ni?" the redhead blinked owlishly. "So soon..."

Oishi just grinned. "He wants to make sure we leave our National's Championship title in capable hands," the dark haired vice captain confessed. "Outside of Kaidoh and Momo-chan, there are some good players amongst the second years. But--"

"Good isn't great," Eiji, Inui, and Oishi said in unison with fond smiles.

"Yes," Inui continued contemplatively. "I see now why he's been pressing for more rigorous training, not just for the Regulars, but for the second and first years, too. He's been increasing their training in smaller steps than the Regulars, but statistically, this year's freshmen students are further along in their training than last year's."

Oishi and Kikumaru blinked at their data-gathering friend. "Really?"

The tall dark-haired tennis player nodded. "Their endurance level has already risen dramatically in just these few short months since school began. If their training continues along the same pattern, by the end of this school year, it will have quadrupled."

A long low whistle sounded from the redhead.

"Sssss... Buchou is an incredible man," Kaidoh spoke up finally, startling the other three men who had basically forgotten he was still there. "He will be sorely missed next year; as will all the senpai."

Inui readjusted his glasses again--it looked so natural a gesture, but also one that displayed his nervousness, Eiji realized with a grin--and cleared his throat. "I assume you'll be continuing your usually training pattern tonight, Kaidoh?"

At the younger man's nod of affirmation, Inui continued, "Ah, good. You don't mind if I join you, do you? I would like to check on your progress."

"Are you going to take my data, senpai?"

"Of course."

"Ssss, of course," the younger teen muttered, dipping his head in a little bow of acceptance.

"Well then, Oishi, Kikumaru? We'll leave you here. Have fun at the street courts tomorrow. Oyasumi."

"Oyasumi!" the others called, and Oishi and Kikumaru watched as Inui and Kaidoh continued down a side street before disappearing around another corner. Eiji was very good, he praised himself; he waited a full minute before allowing his laughter to roll over him.

"Nya, S'chiroh, our team is *so* *gay*," the redhead continued to laugh.

Oishi continued to watch his partner, the redhead's infectious mirth already spread a smile across his own face. "You think so?"

"I *know* so," the other boy replied, running a few steps ahead and swinging his arms out wide and just twirling, allowing all the joy and happiness inside him a very physical release as he continued to laugh. He stopped dancing suddenly, pinning Oishi with a bright eyed smile.

"Nyah, S'chiroh... I really don't feel like going home right now," he breathed, chest rising and falling rapidly from his energetic bout. He waited patiently for the other boy to catch up to him.

"Well, we could always go to the park," the green-eyed teen offered teasingly. "Maybe play a game or two of tennis?"

Eiji just shook his head, nixing that idea.

"Or we could go rent a movie?" Another decline. "Or visit the video arcade?" Not likely, but at this point Oishi was practically on top of the shorter teen and dropped his voice down to the little husky whisper Eiji seemed to like so much. "Or we could go to my place and....do something..."

"Uh huh," Eiji sighed, tilting his chin at just the right angle to brush his open lips against Syuichiroh's, letting his eyes fall shut just enough for dim out the rest of the world around them. "I like that idea...."

"Me, too..."

The rest of the walk to the Oishi house was spent in companionable silence and gentle, teasing brushes of hands against hands. They had just reached Syuichiroh's block when Eiji finally broke the silence.

"Ne, S'chiroh? What's between you and buchou?" the redhead asked with a little frown of puzzlement.

"Hmm?"

Eiji pivoted so he was walking backwards and could look at his boyfriend. "I mean, you're always watching him," he commented with a teasing inflection, "and you spend a lot of time with him, and--"

Syuichiroh's answering smile bloomed fully across his face. "Jealous?" he teased his boyfriend back.

"Hoi! Zen'zen! There's no reason for me to jealous," informed his boyfriend with mock-seriousness as the front door was held open for him; and then, as if to accent his point, he turned on the taller boy, pressing him into the door and claimed the older teen's mouth. His tongue darted out for a quick sweep of Syuichiroh's mouth...and ended up staying there for a few minutes, moving indulgently and leisurely over the other teen's lips, outlining sharp teeth, and frolicking with an equally self-gratifying tongue.

When both boys finally pulled away, they were flushed with the rosy glow of youthful love and panting with eagerness. Eiji licked his lips and grinned. "S'chiroh gives me all his kisses," he added, extending with a soft, tiny kiss on Syuichiroh's chin. "But... I'm curious. About S'chiroh and Tezuka."

Syuichiroh exhaled, his hands, which had moved to Eiji's waist during their kiss, pulling the younger teen to him and his smile turned a little sad. "We've been friends for a long time; before Seigaku, even," he reminded his boyfriend. "I've always known how amazing he was, his spirit and determination. His drive, it was all there, even when he was younger, and... I decided, I wanted to be there, to watch him reach his dream, and to help him if possible."

Eiji frowned, puzzling over that concept until he reached what seemed the logical conclusion. "You love him, then."

Syuichiroh was startled. He would have never have tagged the word 'love' to his feelings for his childhood friend, but... "Yeah," he laughed lightly. "I guess in a way, I do."

His smile turned ardent, however, as his lips nibbled across Eiji's cheek. "But not like how I love Eiji-kun. I love Eiji truly, madly, deeply," he whispered before sealing his mouth over his redheaded lover's.

Lithe arms twined round Syuichiroh's shoulders and neck, nimble fingers teasing the dark haired teen's scalp in a sensually encouraging massage. "Me, too," Eiji murmured when he finally was given a chance. Blue eyes were heavy with lust, his entire body singing with the emotions his lover alone had the ability to work from him. But....

"But, you don't seem worried about Fuji. Not like you've been worrying about Tezuka," the redhead commented, moving willingly as Syuichiroh guided him in the direction of the living room.

"Mmn." With a gentle push, Eiji plopped down onto the couch--he sometimes wondered what would happen if one of the Oishi family members should ever come home at any given moment.

"You don't think he went home sick today, do you?" only slightly worried about his best friend, and more concerned about getting his boyfriend to get down there on the couch with him and warm him up...

Ah, how well Syuichiroh knew his lover... Eiji purred as the ebony-haired teen draped over him, arching his body up invitingly, his arms moving around his lover even as warm arms wound under his arms and around his back.

"No, I don't."

"But then--" Eiji breathed, his question ending as a moan when Syuichiroh's lips found a particularly sensitive point at his throat.

"There's something going on between those two," the vice captain groaned, rubbing his groin against his boyfriend's "I just haven't put my finger on what, yet..."

And it took a moment for Eiji's star-studded mind to remember what it was they were talking about... Tezuka and Fuji. He laughed lightly, breathlessly. "I bet I know what it is."

"What?"

Eiji used hands and body leverage to recapture his boyfriend's lips, doing his best to kiss the other boy senseless for several minutes. And then, when the other teen lay against him like a warm puddle of play-doh, ready for the molding, he twisted, flipping their positions so it was Syuichiroh laying with his back to the couch as the redhead moved his body over his.

He straddled the ebony-haired teen's waist with ease conflicted only by the pull of his pants, causing a small cry as his groin was pinch. Still, he hovered over his lover, hips undulating against Syuichiroh's answering erection, a hand braced on either side of the couch for balance....

"So good, S'chiroh," he moaned, not even having to work for the right inflection to incense the other teen. They were both burning worthy of any inferno already. "It feels so good. You feel so good."

"Yes, gods, Eiji. Good..."

But it wasn't enough... no, he wanted more... they'd come so far in a little over a month, Eiji mused, watching the expressions of lust, love, and passion roll over Syuichiroh's face. Maybe... maybe the shyer boy would let him....

A hand slipped from its perch on the couch to brush lightly against the buttons of a very wrinkled school shirt... Quickly, deft fingers plucked the buttons freed and slid teasingly passed the soft folds of cloth to find the softer bare skin beneath.

Green eyes flew open with shock, locking immediately onto their sapphire equivalent. 'Better to ask for forgiveness than permission,' those blue eyes teased even as calloused fingers delved further beneath the cotton shirt, finding and rubbing a pert pebble of flesh.

Eiji watched his lover's reactions carefully, gauging the exact angle Syuichiroh's head fell back, how his emerald eyes squeezed shut, and his throat seemed to clamp down on a cry. And noting how, even though Eiji had slowed the pace at which he rode Syuichiroh, his ebony-haired lover's hips pressed more insistently against him.

"You okay?" he asked finally, breathlessly. The dark-haired boy apparently no longer had the ability to speak, Eiji noted amusedly, as his lover nodded and gasped. Grinning, the redhead decided to press his luck. Licking his lips, fingers continued to stroke soft skin even as they slowly inched Syuichiroh's shirt apart.

"Eiji..." the older teen finally managed, but it was too late if he had meant to stop the redhead. Eiji was already leaning forward to lavish Syuichiroh's bare chest with kisses---licks and nibbles. The dampness in his pants was becoming more and more uncomfortable, but the redhead didn't care, just as long as his boyfriend continued to move against him with such fervor--Syuichiroh's body, hands, and words all cocooned Eiji in a state of wanting to give the other boy so much pleasure.

"Oh, gods, Eiji, I can't--!" the ebony-haired teen finally cried out when sharp teeth sunk into the delicate flesh of a dark nipple.

"Then don't," the redhead groaned in response.

"But---you---?"

Eiji delivered one last hard suckle to the abused pebble of flesh before rearing up to find Syuichiroh's lips instead, readying to capture his lover's shout when it came. "Love me," the redhead demanded against Syuichiroh's lips.

"Always," the other teen managed to gasp before the wave of feelings crashing around him and upon him had their way with him. When Syuichiroh came, it was fast, hard, and unbelievable to watch. Eiji lay panting above his love, holding him gently and smiling as Syuichiroh's breath regulated.

"I love you," the ebony-haired teen whispered.

Eiji smiled. "I know, isn't it great?" He nuzzled Syuichiroh's cheek before replying, "I love you, too."

Arms tightened around him. "I know."

There was a long pause of comfortable, hazy silence as both fought to cool down and regain their strength. And then Syuichiroh shifted, craning his neck to look at his boyfriend, snuggling against his chest.

"When did you...?" he asked, embarrassed to actually say the word in addition to the fact that he hadn't realized his lover had already achieved orgasm ahead of him.

The redhead's smile was naughty and teasing, even though his cheeks were stained a pale pink with embarrassment. "Way too soon," he admitted, nuzzle a kiss against his boyfriend's throat and chin. "I guess I'll just have to work on my endurance if I'm ever going to learn to hold out as long as you do, S'chiroh...."

The older youth groaned. "I didn't even notice... You didn't..." he started to accuse, but Eiji just winked and grinned and kissed away any accusation.

"You learn to do your business quickly and quietly when you live with a lot of other people like I do," he reminded his boyfriend with an impish smile. And then his nose wrinkled. "Hoi... S'chiroh... let's change, okay?"

Laughing, Syuichiroh started to push up off the couch, wincing as the warm leather tried to stick to his sweaty skin of his back where his shirt had ridden up. Eiji had already scrambled away and was stretch languorously and maybe just a little showing off.

And suddenly Syuichiroh remembered his question from earlier. "Oi, Eiji? You said you knew what was going on between Tezuka and Fuji."

"Mmmhmm..." the redhead murmured, already bee-lining it for the steps.

"Well? What is it?"

The redhead stopped at the foot of the stairs, turning to look back at his boyfriend with an indescribable expression painted on his face. Finally, Eiji just let out a bark of laughter, cocking a hip. "Baka no S'chiroh," he announced, grinning madly. "Figure it out," he added, shooting a look at the now abandoned couch before plucking at his soggy pants.

Eiji was already at the top of the steps when it came.

"Tezuka and Fuji are having SEX?!?!" (1)

~~~****~~~

They weren't even halfway to his house yet when he felt the extra weight of the other boy's jacket fall over his shoulders.

"I'm fine," Echizen sighed, trying to shrug the extra material off.

"Take it," his companion ordered, before ruining the command with a grin. "It's starting to get cold out," Momoshiro explained.

Echizen sighed again, frowning naturally. "All the more reason for you to wear your jacket, baka."

"I'll be fine until we get to your place," the taller teen waved off the younger teen's arguments.

"Baka no senpai."

"What was that?" the other boy asked angrily.

Echizen turned sharp cinnamon-like hazel eyes onto his companion. "Going deaf now as well as dumb?"

"What the hell are you talking about, Echizen?" Momoshiro growled, not sure what he'd done wrong, but knowing it must have been something important enough if it got his younger friend this riled at him. Echizen Ryoma was usually so cool and seemingly indifferent in any given situation; the only time Momoshiro was used to seeing any level of emotion from the younger man at all was on the tennis courts. Well, that wasn't exactly true, but...

"Momoshiro Takeshi is an idiot," the other boy clarified, or rather, didn't. "Was there a purpose to bringing up the fact that this is the seniors' last year?" he added, confusing the older teen even more. "Of course it's their last year, they know that. Why do you think they're all working so hard to win the Nationals this year?"

"Well, because it's the Nationals," Takeshi replied, as if that was explanation enough.

"And this is their last chance to receive that honor at the Junior Level," Ryoma added, spearing the older teen another look before looking ahead. "I bet it must have sucked last year, being good but still loosing. There must have been some real idiot seniors..."

Takeshi frowned at the memories of last year. "Yeah... Hey, did you know, Fuji and Eiji used to be doubles partners?" The taller boy nodded with a smile. "We used to call them the Dream Team, and they were pretty good; well, of course they were," Takeshi laughed at himself. "They're Fuji and Eiji... and now, well, Oishi and Eiji, you know, are the Golden Pair... Saaa! But it sucked, being disqualified like that."

"What happened?" Ryoma found himself asking.

"We beat Yamabuki, but then..."

"Mmm... there was a ranking right before the next game; it wasn't scheduled, and a bunch of us think it was the seniors fault, but then, last year's captain wasn't exactly the greatest. I can't really see Tezuka giving in to anyone else's whims, you know? But, yeah, it... it wasn't good. Inui and Oishi were both ranked out, along with one of the Regular seniors...

Takeshi stopped, and Ryoma walked a few steps ahead before stopping, too, waiting.

"It was such a messed up game... We lost Doubles 2, but Eiji-senpai paired with Fuji for Doubles 1, and then we lost Singles 3, but Tezuka-senpai defeated their captain in Singles 2, but our captain lost in Singles 1, and that was it... We were out..."

"Hn." Ryoma started walking again, and soon enough Takeshi was following.

"Saaa! It was so annoying!" Momoshiro Takeshi stretched, as if breaking away from the poisonous webs of the past, and blinked as he realized they were already at Echizen's house.

"Momo," Ryoma spoke suddenly, spearing his companion's attention. "Just one last question, and then I'll let you go home," the boy grinned cheekily.

"Shoot."

"Who'd Seigaku lose to last year?"

~~~****~~~

End Notes:

(1) {snickers} I'm so sorry... I couldn't help myself... {giggling} This is a complete rip off of Lexarose's absolutely amazing and wonderful icon: "Eiji's Told" {walks off to regain herself, still laughing}