Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ BOKU NO KOE ~A Tale of Complexities~ ❯ DAIICHIBU : RIYUU (first part : reason) ( Chapter 1 )

TITLE: Boku no Koe ~A Tale of Complexities~

PART: One

MAIN PAIRINGS: Sanada Genichirou x Kajimoto Takahisa, and Atobe Keigo x Tezuka Kunimitsu.

SIDE PAIRINGS: For this part: Kamio Akira x Ibu Shinji and hints of Atobe Keigo x Kamio Akira. As for the rest of the chapters, well, they will depend on whim. XD

GENRE: Yaoi (Alternate Universe/ Humour/ Angst / Romance)

DISCLAIMERS: All the series I'm referring to in this fic do not belong to me… ^_^ only this twisted story does.

NOTE #1: Blah or Blah is for emphasis. /Blah/ is for conversations over the phone or flashbacks (if any). /Blah/ is for the conscience or whatever inner voice there is talking. Blah is for thoughts or random Japanese words. Some of these words are footnoted at the end of every page (I'm beginning to understand the need for footnotes in fiction. Thank you dear friend, you know who you are. XD).

NOTE #2: This is inspired by Youka Nitta's manga “Boku no Koe”, hence the title, but the story is not quite the same. Special Thanks to Delusional_Lady for opening this topic up while we were chatting over the phone the other day. I just have to remind you guys that this is an alternate universe fic. I am not using the characters' seiyuu, but I'm using them, as themselves dubbing other stuff (i.e. Tezuka being the seiyuu of Brad Crawford in Weiss Kreuz, etc.), and Tennis no Oujisama does exist in this world though the characters, instead of the regular names we know, are named after the real seiyuu. I'm twisted, I know. XD I'm just reminding you these to avoid confusion, should you read this fic. And yes, their ages are different here too. XD

NOTE #3: There are records corresponding to the schools in Tennis no Oujisama. They are:

Kooun Limited

BHI (Black Horse Inc.)

Teikoku Songen

MG (Masterpieces Group)

Yuushousha Studios

PT Unlimited (Polar Talents Unlimited)

Hashira Kin

Playhouse Productions

Everything will be explained as the story goes on.

NOTE #4: These are mostly from the point of views of the uke; so don't be mad that the seme do not have as much screen time.

DEDICATION: This is dedicated to all of you guys who have had this fancy eating your brains for a long while now. We have to wonder after all, how is it working as a seiyuu? I personally have seen a friend of mine work as a `dubber' locally, and I guess, most of the stuff here are based from what I have observed as well as based from the info I have collected over the years.

 

 

 

DAIICHIBU: RIYUU

(First Part: Reason)

 

 

/“Ah... uhh... Sonna koto... shinakutemo ii no ni... uhh...”/

 

/“Nngh...”/ (1)

 

Kajimoto wanted to hide under his seat.

 

It was going to be his first time auditioning for a cd drama, and his manager said that it was a good project to start with, so he decided to come early.

 

Now he was regretting his decision.

 

/“Ahhhh... uhhh... Hnnngh... Ikuzo da... Ryo... kuchi - hanashite...”/

 

/“Ah...”/

 

He knew now why his manager was being mysterious regarding the type of drama he was going to audition in.

 

/“Mou... agh... ah... Ahhhh-ha... uhhh... haaa... haaaa...”/

 

/“Nii, ore wa, mattetandarou...”/

 

By the time he finished with this, he was going to kill her. Hanamura-san... you will pay... oh how you will pay... he thought crossly, brow twitching.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Surprised at the sudden inquiry, he looked up from the darkened booth he had been staring at ever since he heard the atrocious noises emanating from the speakers. Shit. He had forgotten that he was in a public place... where only five people besides him congregated.

 

Such small crowd to be considered public. Now he couldn't even think straight anymore. Maybe all the moaning and groaning coming through the speakers around him was starting to rape his brain.

 

Great. Now he was even using the word `rape'. He whacked himself on the head inwardly and frowned, surveying the room for the source of the unexpected question...

 

And there he was, smiling easily at him as if they had been friends for such a long time. He had never seen him before. But something about him screamed familiar... Hesitantly, he smiled back. “Ah, yeah. I'm fine.” He answered, nodding once in acknowledgement. “Just... unused to this.”

 

The other guy laughed and flipped his longish carrot-coloured hair. It might seem pretty conspicuous for some people, the hair-flip, but this guy did it so naturally that he seemed incomplete without doing it. He allowed his smile to widen, much in fondness than anything else.

 

“I know exactly how you feel!” Came the energetic response. “I'm new to this too... actually, new to everything else, since I just signed a contract with MG yesterday and my manager said I should try out for this role as well!”

 

Eh? Wait a minute... “MG? Masterpieces Group(2)?” He asked, starting to smile even comfortably now.

 

“Yeah... you've heard of it? It's fairly new, but they said their voice talents are being trained as they take on different jobs, so I agreed... after all, Hanamura-san said I have the talent to be a good seiyuu.”

 

“Of course I've heard of it.” Kajimoto chuckled. “I'm one of their protégés too.”

 

The other guy's eyes widened in surprise. “Really? Uwa~h! That's so cool!” his eyes glowed. “Then, you must be the one Hanamura-san was talking about... you're Kajimoto-san, aren't you?”

 

Kajimoto couldn't help warming up to him. He was competition, that was the truth, but this guy was sincere in his awe, he could see it in the way his features contorted to a beaming grin. “Yes.”

 

At that, the guy bounded over from across him and grasped his hands before shaking them repeatedly. “I'm pleased to meet you, Kajimoto-san! I hope to work forever with you! I'm Wakato, Wakato Hiroshi! Doozo Yoroshiku(3)!”

 

He nodded, a bit flustered from all the attention he was not used to getting. He wasn't exactly the best seiyuu out there, but he left a mark, even if just a dent, in the industry. Money was pouring in steadily, and he was grateful for everything... the only thing missing was this, complete adoration... possibly blossoming friendship, since he wasn't exactly the sociable type. “Just call me Takahisa, no formalities, I'm not used to it.”

 

“Un!” Wakato agreed. “And you can just call me by my name too! Uwa~h! I feel so honoured!”

 

“Ah, this is interesting.”

 

Both turned to where the voice came from, and Kajimoto recognised him instantly. “Ah, Sorry, Fuji-san. We were being loud.”

 

Fuji Syusuke sat comfortable on one of the couches in the area. As per usual, his eyes were hidden beneath long chocolate lashes as his effeminate features resumed its constant smiling. “No problem, Takahisa-san, I'm just fascinated with both of you. I think you would become good friends in the future.”

 

A chorus of “Shhh” sounded from around him as Wakato laughed energetically, making him shut up for a while, holding a hand on his mouth as he looked around nervously. Kajimoto couldn't do anything but scoot over and give him a place to squeeze into.

 

They were chatting when the door opened, and bursting airily outside was a seething Kamio Akira and a chuckling Sengoku Kiyosumi.

 

Kamio screamed in frustration. “What the hell was that?!” He intoned loudly. “I'm having sex with my younger brother for heaven's sake!” Noisily, he squeezed next to Kajimoto, pouting as he stared at the script in his hands. “Of all the dramas to audition to, I have to do another yaoi one! What is it with directors, yaoi mangaka, and my so-called uke(4) voice? Why do I always have to audition for uke roles?”

 

“Like Atobe said, Kamio-kun, you are all too cute!” Sengoku laughed, sticking his hands in his pockets for good measure. “And so is your voice... you're the perfect uke!”

 

“Remind me to kill him later for recommending me to the director of this studio.” He grumbled. “How about you, Kajimoto, what do you think? Am I really going to be an uke all my life?”

 

Kajimoto raised a brow teasingly. “Is that a hypothetical question?”

 

“Nyargh! Kajimoto you idiot!” And he commenced pounding on him with his script copy.

 

It was rather fortunate for him that the technician called him in. gratefully, he rose from his seat hurriedly, entering the booth after responding in kind to the conspiratorial wink the guy gave his way.

 

Once the booth door closed, he felt stuffier than he did before when he dubbed other projects, and he was acutely aware of the script in his shaking hands. Taking a deep breath, he put it on the holder in front of him, and then put his headphones on.

 

After the brief sound-check, the signal to start was called.

 

There was nothing more to do but begin.

 

Taking another deep breath, he picked up his script and read, trying hard not to embed the disturbing imagery in his head... and miserably failing. There was no turning back; his brain was now officially polluted. Damn you, Hanamura-san... he swore under his breath.

 

The director chuckled in response. “I don't think your manager would appreciate that, Kajimoto-kun... good thing there's only us in here!”

 

Oh shit. The microphones are sensitive! He coloured in mortification, and he dared not glance up, for fear of seeing the laughing faces he could hear in his headphones.

 

“Okay, okay, enough, enough, let's just get this on. Get ready, Kajimoto-kun...” The director spoke gently this time. “Concentrate, and we're starting... three, two, one - start!”

 

/“Chihiro...”/

 

X o X o X

 

 

“Please tell me that's not nattou(5) you're eating, Kunimitsu...” Oishi Souichirou sighed as he stared at his friend's takeaway.

 

“With curry.” The other replied with a small smile. “Extra spicy. You want some?”

 

Oishi took in a huge breath and let it out slowly. Honestly now, his friend could get a fancier meal somewhere, since he was loaded, but the guy still chose to eat the normal stuff - and yucky ones at that. He just couldn't understand it. “Kunimitsu... you know I hate what you eat. Sometimes, I feel that if Inui doesn't exist in this world, you would be him.”

 

“No, that wouldn't be me, Fuji is more his type than anyone else.” Came the wry response.

 

“Seriously though, I'm surprised your voice is not affected by the amount of gross stuff you consume almost every other time!” He laughed, shaking his head as he took bites of his pasta parmigiana. “I can just see the headlines tomorrow. `INFAMOUS SEIYUU, TEZUKA KUNIMITSU, FIRED AFTER LOSING HIS VOICE SUBSEQUENT TO EATING EXTRA HOT CURRY WITH NATTOU ON THE SIDE.' Heh, not exactly good isn't it?”

 

Tezuka chuckled. “Don't push it, Ichirou.”

 

Oishi laughed some more, trying hard not to choke on his mouthful of food. “Ack! Sorry.” He coughed twice before taking a sip of bottled water. “I'm just looking out for you, you know, after all, we're best friends.”

 

“I know.”

 

He sighed. “Maa, you never did change. Well, I wouldn't exactly have you any other way.” Oishi shook his head wryly. “Maybe, if you smile more like when we were kids.”

 

“Oi, I still smile, you know.” Tezuka protested through a mouthful of rice.

 

His friend snorted. “Hai, hai.” Then, he was momentarily still. “Wait, what was the title of the project you got lined up for today?”

 

“Ah, Ikoku Irokoi Romantan(6).” He said thoughtfully. “It's not the first time I'll be doing this kind of thing but I'm quite apprehensive about it.”

 

Oishi turned to him fully. “Why?” He asked, curiosity getting best of him. After all, he was a newbie in the industry and was only working part-time. He had to learn something about how things work, and his friend was knowingly supplying him with everything he knew. They were friends. No backstabbing. Competition, yes, but enemies, definitely no. “Is it about the plot? Do you hate the script?”

 

“...” Tezuka went before shaking his head. “No.”

 

“What?” Oishi asked, worried. There he was again, his motherly instinct cropping up at the sight of his disturbed friend. “Why are you hesitant about this one?”

 

“The cast.”

 

“Cast? Well, all I know, from what was written in your script, you're with Itou Kentarou(7)-san and Atobe Keigo, among others... is something wrong with them?”

 

“None really.” Tezuka allowed ruefully. “I'm just not comfortable playing a role alongside Atobe.”

 

Oishi was intrigued. “Why not? Even if it's your first time working with him, you've worked with lots of people, different kinds at that, so what worries you about him? Koyasu(8)-san even praised you for being adaptable to your workplace...”

 

“He's... different.”

 

“Different?”

 

Tezuka took a bite of his lunch and chewed. The small frown was still there, and it deepened a little in the duration of their conversation, Oishi observed. “He looks at me.” He admitted quietly after swallowing.

 

“Eh? Well, he has eyes...”

 

He shook his head, chopsticks holding a clump of sauced rice hanging midair in between his bowl and his mouth.

 

“When we meet, he always stares at me.”

 

Oishi had to wonder why it was so disturbing to be stared at by a co-worker.

 

Maybe I should go along with him to his recording session tonight...

 

 

X o X o X

 

 

Atobe was relaxing in his special seat in the Teikoku Songen's top of the line mini-studio. It was such a great day, and a most gratifying one as well. After all, he would be having another go as a seiyuu.

 

He did not exactly need money. After all, he was the only heir to the `Atobe Kingdom'. He needed nothing, nothing material that is. He had never been good at relationships. His manservant, Kabaji had always been at his beck and call, however, he had never shown him enough consideration. He always worked him hard, doing the chores around the house like common house help. There was guilt, so he was always atoning for it by taking him to the nearest tennis area just to play with him because it was something he enjoyed doing. That was it. After that, it was back to being a pushover for him.

 

His parents were never around, and he wasn't even reduced to tears when his father died a month ago. His mother began changing then, morphing into someone new, running the businesses, running the household and running his life - until he protested. Violently. He was Atobe Keigo. No one ordered him around - not even his own mother.

 

Gradually, the tension around the house eased, and his mother now talked to him freely... even hugged him most of the time, being all affectionate and such. But there seemed to be something left between them, and even though it was not tearing them apart, it was not bringing them together either.

 

His co-workers, rather, the only people he ever had some kind of close-affinity with, were surprisingly, the most difficult ones of all... his long-term friend Shishido Ryo and his weird friend from Osaka, Oshitari Yuushi. He was with them almost always, but he just couldn't open up everything about him to them, no matter how hard they tried to encourage him to do so.

 

His business partner in opening the agency they were in now was the same as well. Sakaki Taro was a freelance music instructor-slash-single father-slash-ultra rich guy whom he and his mother trusted financially... and in his part, emotionally. He was honest and expected the best in everything... surprisingly, they never clashed. They were even... partners for a while, until they both decided it was better sticking with people with the almost or at least the same age as they were respectively.

 

And then, there was Kamio Akira, a guy who worked in this company but transferred after they broke up. They had a good and satisfying relationship before, until they began noticing different people. Now he had his own source of happiness, and he, The Great Atobe Keigo, with a figure that he wanted to claim upon sight.

 

Tezuka Kunimitsu was an enigma to him. He was quiet, meek, and yet with a strong personality. There was something in his eyes when he first met them directly by accident, which sent his blood roiling. He felt the need to protect. It was as if he was hiding some terrible secret he did not want anyone to know.

 

He was certain Tezuka might have forgotten him, since he was just a face in the crowd then. Atobe was not a seiyuu yet when they crossed paths, and Tezuka was already successful even at a young age. His deep baritone made people fall in love with him, and his quiet presence was reassuring, almost as if he was supporting them whatever their burdens in life were. His good looks were fetching, even if it were not as great as his, and even if he did wear eyeglasses, his power remained undiminished.

 

He was just the agency owner then, but after that incident, after their eyes met and he saw him up close for the first time, he decided to jump in the industry bandwagon and be a seiyuu... even as part-time.

 

And a few hours from now, they would work together for the first time.

 

A shiver went up his spine and he closed his eyes, revelling in the delicious aftershocks.

 

This was only the beginning.

 

 

X o X o X

 

 

Sanada Genichirou hated being pushed around, however, when it came to his best friend, he was instantly defeated. There was something really weird with the way Yukimura Seiichi seemed to lead him by the nose when it came to these stuff.

 

Why in heaven's name did he have to submit a demo tape to his own father in order to gain entry in his own company? It was stupid, and his father laughed upon receiving the tape via the equally amused top producer in his employment.

 

He confessed that Yukimura was the reason and he laughed even harder. It became embarrassing when his mother joined in a few hours later after charity work. Seeing nothing wrong, they decided to let him audition, and soon enough, they were not surprised to know that their son made the cut. There was no politics involved, regardless of what those who failed said. He won the slot of the company regulars fair and square.

 

And his best friend made it too, ironically.

 

He even topped him in the ranks... before he died of cancer last year.

 

He sighed, shaking his head as he strolled along one of Tokyo's narrow Kantou avenues. He did not use his car today. It was autumn, and even if it was cold, he couldn't resist the call of nature's fiery beauty. The golds and reds around him beckoned coyly, and he was happy to be led to their ecstatic depths.

 

He surveyed the flowerless limbs of the sakura trees and the vivid fire of the other trees scattered around them.

 

They were beautiful.

 

He just wished there was someone with him to share the beauty with.

 

Just like when Yukimura was still alive.

 

Seiichi... wish you're still here...

 

 

X o X o X

 

 

“Tachibana-san, why are we here? I thought we were going to the studio. I still have dance lessons to go to and I still have to practice for the P*nish(9) stage show. I have to do my best in what I do and I need to get the viewers hyped up so I could perform just as actively in my shows. I mean, this is just a waste of time. Why do I even have to do this kind of thing? Why are you always dragging me to places that doesn't have anything to do with me? Why is everything about you? Why do I always have to go along with your plans?”

 

Tachibana Kippei sighed, shaking his head. “Shinji.” He said, effectively cutting another influx of irritated mutterings. “We're here because I want you to do something for me, and it's important.”

 

“But why me? Why do you want to include me in this when I don't even like what you're doing in your spare time? You're going to make me pick something up again, aren't you? What is it now, your laundry, or is it your groceries? Just because your car has suicidal tendencies doesn't mean that I'm at your beck and call... that is called `abuse' already. You are abusing -“

 

“I'm not abusing anything, Shinji.” He sighed, corners of his mouth quirking up in amusement. I just want you to try out early for this show they're gonna, well, show, in TV Tokyo next month.”

 

“...”

 

“It's an anime, one by Konomi-sensei.”

 

“I'm not a cartoon, why do I have to try out for an anime? Shouldn't animators be drawing the characters and not casting people in it? And what kind is this now? Is it like the one you did before with Shishido Ryo? What was it called again? Ah, Boys Love drama... I don't want to do that, that's gross. Such things should be kept private, you know, and why do people even listen to it? Do you enjoy listening to such things, even working as a character? Why? Why don't they, even you, just have sex with...”

 

“Shinji!” Tachibana's cheeks were red from embarrassment. The people around them were snickering. He could see Kirihara Akaya, a budding seiyuu; dissolve in a fit of giggles. Another, a kid wearing a Fila(tm) cap and holding what seemed to be a white raccoon, smirking. “This is work. It has nothing to do with my private life.” He said with outmost patience. “I am not gay, okay? I'm straight. I'm going to say it again. This is just work.”

 

“But why this kind? Don't you get disturbed? Because if it's me I'll be disturbed, after all, moaning and groaning all around isn't decent, especially since you are with lots of other people. That's so gross, don't you think, Tachibana-san? Before you work, you must've seen the manga or the novel it's based on first... like the way Suzumura(10)-san does. I knew that because I saw his interview over the Internet yesterday. That's weird... I think it's too much. Do you do that too, Tachibana-san? If you do aren't you -“

 

He had to wonder why Shinji suddenly stopped his incessant flow of words. Intrigued, he followed the stare of his friend's glassy eyes and he laughed inwardly.

 

At the far end of the hallway, talking to another seiyuu was the perpetual hothead, a mutual friend.

 

Kamio Akira.

 

X o X o X

 

“~NFU~”

 

“Stop jeering, Hajime.” Kajimoto said irritably.

 

“~FUFUFUFUFUFU~”

 

“Hajime...”

 

“I'm sorry, it's just interesting, you know, you starring in a boys love drama... as seme(11).” Mizuki Hajime sniggered, as he crossed his legs demurely.

 

“Says the guy who almost always plays uke in his dramas.” Kajimoto teased wryly.

 

“Ah, but at least I'm more accepting of my fate! How could I resist such lovely roles?”

 

“You sound like a girl.”

 

“Do I?”

 

“...”

 

“~NFU~”

 

Kajimoto grimaced as another sound of complete amusement reached his ears. Silent, fingering his take-home script, he decided to fold. This was work. He had to earn his living; he had to earn his fame. He had to earn everything in this industry, no matter what the roles were. He had twins to take care of, and it wouldn't do well for him to be lazy... he was working alone after all.

 

Kajimoto's wife was now deceased, in childbed, and he was raising their precious children alone. They were the only ones left to remind him of the person he had loved almost all his teenage life. Now he was twenty-six, and they were eight, and thankfully, still growing. He needed to support them, even if he was a kind of affluent, he didn't want to go keep on wolfing down his inheritance, no matter how huge or small it was. He was a father, and a father always provides for his children.

 

He closed his eyes and his hands gripped the rolled sheets of file paper.

 

Even if he had to do these kinds of things.

 

Even if he had to play a different role in others...

 

Even an... uke.

 

“~FUFUFUFUFUFU~”

 

He winced as Mizuki chortled once again, probably from the twisting his features were doing. Tiredly, he grumbled.

 

“Hajime... shi-ne(12).”

 

 

X o X o X

 

 

Sanada was walking around aimlessly, hands in his pockets, cap perfectly in place. The cold was not affecting him the least. He was fortunate that he was not with his friend Atobe or else he would not be hearing the end of it, walking around in such chilly weather without a proper jacket and set of gloves.

 

And then he would send Kabaji off, telling him to purchase some and fast, right Sanada's size.

 

Sometimes he had to wonder how he and the guy became friends. They were so different that one had to study their connections hard before they would be able to deduce why.

 

For him though, the answer was simple.

 

Time.

 

They had been together for such a long time that they had known all there was to know about each other. They studied at the same school since kindergarten, and were around each other so much that they were bombarded by each other's faces every single waking day. They pulled each other's hair, scuffed each other's shoes all throughout grade school, and then had fistfights in junior high. But during senior high, everything changed. Kabaji's family had begun serving the Atobe household (Atobe Kingdom is more like it) and they were almost inseparable, since he was an appointed bodyguard after all.

 

And Sanada? He was immersed in class. Yukimura Seiichi became his best friend and then, he learned to cope up with said best friend being sick, the same person who was the one who brought him together with Atobe. The three of them became friends - four, including Kabaji... Even when Atobe's father came up with Teikoku Songen, a direct counter to their established agency, Yuushousha Studios.

 

He shook his head. Why was he even thinking about Atobe anyway?

 

/Maybe because you feel really lonely. /

 

His inner voices were acting up again, as they had since... Seiichi died. He thought in sadly. Seiichi...

 

“'Tou-chan(13)! Hayaku(14)!”

 

The chorus of forceful calls made him look up and focus on a sight that was quite entertaining. Two children, fraternal twins from the looks of them, were jumping around as a much older person, obviously the father, hugged around paper bags of groceries. They were slowing him down, and he couldn't help smiling as he saw him laugh at his children's encouragement.

 

“Ah! Wait for your poor father!”

 

“`Tou-chan, you're slower than Kiku-chan! And he's a turtle!” The boy called out as his twin sister giggled brightly.

 

“Sou da, sou da(15)!” She agreed empathically, triggering another round of laughter from the burdened father.

 

“Ah, Shikata ga arimasen(16)... da ne... Maybe I'm becoming too old for both of you...”

 

“Ah! Don't say that `tou-chan! You are still strong! We are still young!” the young boy said stubbornly, stomping his foot in supplication.

 

“Yeah! And besides, even if you are, we still love you!” The girl sing-songed lovingly.

 

Their father only smiled and took a deep breath before hurrying, despite the weight of his baggage.

 

It was fascinating, the way they seemed to be bonded together. So tightly that it made him feel nostalgic. He wasn't young anymore, and he envied the father for having such great kids to accompany him. They might look like a handful, but it must be fun dealing with them everyday.

 

Seeing them, focusing on them as they walked off noisily down the narrow tree-lined path, Sanada never felt more alone.

 

 

X o X o X

 

 

He was feeling ill.

 

It was not as if he hated his work. It was just that he was obliged to switch off a part of him in order to fit into the scripts given by the companies he worked on. He always had to switch off a portion of his personality in order to morph to that of what was assigned.

 

That was what he hated.

 

First off, he was not a very sociable person. And then he had to do all kinds of promotional videos where his face was plastered all over the world in support of a new anime, drama and other whatnots. He became a seiyuu mainly because he did not want to appear in anything. He did not want his face to be viewed publicly. In fact, he hated public appearances, and yet, here he was, invited to guest, or even host some seiyuu events he did not even know why they were even created.

 

He was just like Mizuki and his hate of singing. It was not that the guy's voice was bad; it was not his passion, which was why he did not like it. Same as he was, he didn't look bad at all, maybe even good, acceptable... he just did not like being in front of a huge number of people. It was the reason why he left when rush hour was over, no matter how tired he was. He stayed in the studio's resting area, sleeping doing anything to occupy himself while waiting for the crowd to thin out considerably before heading out.

 

It was pathetic, he knew, but he couldn't help it. It was ingrained in him, embedded in his psyche that he couldn't take it out no matter how hard he tried.

 

His daughter was left in the care of his parents most of the time he was at work, and he dared not think of how she would think of him when she was a little older. It would be hard for him to take her out on trips to the zoo or trips to Joypolis(17) in his spare time.

 

He shook his head, sighing as he took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. It was no good for him to get stressed before work... Oishi would be here any moment now, since he insisted on coming along to watch.

 

“There you are.”

 

Tezuka stiffened a moment before stiffly putting on his eyeglasses to see the newcomer better.

 

He was right.

 

“...” He stared. It was Atobe.

 

Atobe raised a dark brow in what seemed like amusement. “Are you ever gonna join your co-workers before your work, ah~n?” He asked wryly, entering the room, much to his dismay.

 

He was ready to bolt now. One wrong move on the other's part and he would be out of here. But he did not want him to know that he was uncomfortable... even scared. Tezuka did not like Atobe. He couldn't exactly pinpoint why, but he felt searing pain when their eyes melt, and he did not like it one bit. It just carried over, perhaps.

 

Or perhaps it was the knowing gaze Atobe seemed to direct him almost all the time. It was as if he was dissecting him and pinning down his weaknesses... as if he knew something about him that he himself did not.

 

And it scared him.

 

“I am just resting.” He answered quietly, standing up and straightening his clothes. To his surprise, Atobe stopped in his tracks and just gazed at him thoughtfully, as if gauging the truthfulness of his words.

 

“I see. Well, Tezuka, Let's go, the director's gonna call any time now.” Atobe smiled cryptically before stepping aside to let him pass.

 

Tezuka nodded, trying to walk calmly towards the door, until, when he was in front of Atobe, a firm hand gripped his wrist. As a reflex, his arm jerked, away, all to no avail.

 

Atobe's hand remained steadfast.

 

“Hanase(18).” Tezuka said, frowning, jerking his arm in a futile effort to get away.

 

Atobe just stared at him.

 

“Atobe... hanase...”

 

There was no response; just a small smile... and he let go, sauntering away, out of the room with such arrogance that it made his blood run cold.

 

His eyes dazedly looked after Atobe's retreating figure, and unconsciously, his other hand touched his still-smarting wrist.

 

What was that...?

 

 

 

 

TSUZUKU

 

 

A/N: This is gonna be quite long, I can tell. XD Probably five to six long chapters after this one. X3 Let's have fun thinking of the possibilities! X3

 

 

FOOTNOTES:

 

1) This is from the bl drama “Aisare Tsugite Kodoku”. It stars Suzuki Chihiro as Fukami (Hence Kamio), Toriumi Kousuke as Ryo, Suzumura Kenichi as Chihiro and Konishi Katsuyuki (Koni-tan! Hence the involvement of Kajimoto in this! XD) as Taiki. ^^ If given the time, I'll try to upload it in my journal, so that those who haven't heard it yet, would. X3

2) Figures, huh? It's for the guys from Jyousei Shounan! XD

3) Translates to `Pleased to meet you'

4) The submissive one in a yaoi pair.

5) Fermented Soybeans... other people find this yummy, but sadly, even though my favourite seiyuu, Okiayu-san loves this stuff, I can't bear eat it. (T_T)

6) Another bl drama based on mangaka Yamane Ayano's work with the same title. It stars Suwabe Junichi as Al Valentino (Hence Atobe's presence), Itou Kentarou as Ranmaru, and Okiayu Ryoutarou as Gondou (Reason why Tezuka is in the project in this fic) ^^;

7) A real seiyuu, as you all know. ^^

8) Koyasu Takehito, Seiyuu Extraordinaire! X3 I wanna keep him, but his wife will kill me for sure... >D

9) The company where Ibu Shinji's real life seiyuu, Moriyama Eiji works as a stage actor. ^^ Cute guy! ^^

10) Suzumura Kenichi, Kamui's seiyuu. He is said to internalise his roles before recording day - yes, even the yaoi dramas. X3

11) The dominant one in a yaoi pair.

12) Die! X3

13) A sort of endearing term for a father by his child. An obvious variation of `Otou-san', which means, you guessed it, `father'

14) Roughly translates to `Hurry!'

15) Roughly translates to `that's right, that's right!” ^^

16) Translates to “Can't do anything about it then.” ^^

17) An infamous hangout of young people. Features games of sorts and whatnots. ^^

18) Roughly translates to `let go.'