Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ In Dreams ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

 

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Tezuka leaned his forehead against the shower tiles, trying to focus on something aside from the lingering after effects of the dream. He hadn't slept any more that night, just barely managing to keep himself awake until the alarm had gone off. He knew that Fuji was getting worried about him by this point and expected him to at least tell him the contents of the dreams soon. But he just couldn't tell him what the dreams concerned. Certainly couldn't tell him that he had a major part in those dreams. He stood for a few more minutes, letting the water run down his shoulders and back, until a pounding from the other side of the shared bathroom sounded.

 

“Fuji, try to at least leave some hot water for others to use,” came Inui's voice from the other side of the door.

 

Tezuka shut off the water. “I'm sorry, Inui. I'll be finished in a few minutes.”

 

“Don't concern yourself. As long as it isn't Fuji in the shower there should still be hot water.”

 

Tezuka heard Inui move away from the door and fought down the urge to bang his head into the shower wall. This was not going to be a good day, he thought.

 

Fuji frowned a little as Tezuka came out of the bathroom. He was fully dressed for the day but there was an air of exhaustion about him that worried the other man. He also looked unusually pale and somewhat strained.

 

“Tezuka, are you going to be okay?”

 

“Fine. No problem,” he said, turning to gather his books and thus avoiding the highly dubious look Fuji directed at him. “I have to get going or I'll be late for class.”

 

“Maybe you should just take the day off and rest,” Fuji suggested. “Try to get some more sleep.”

 

“No!” Tezuka said sharply. The last thing he needed was to sleep. “No. Really, Fuji, I'm fine,” he said, walking to the door. “I'll see you at lunch.”

 

Fuji shook his head as he stared at the closed door. His eyes narrowed sharply as his mind started to pick apart what he knew of Tezuka's dreams. Not much to go on but something was clearly disturbing him about those dreams. “I'll just have to find out what the problem is.”

 

 

For Tezuka it seemed that he'd managed to sleepwalk through his first two classes. He had no idea what kind of notes he'd taken and the general content of the classes themselves was fuzzy at best. He tried his best to keep a clear head as he sat next to Inui in their Mid-Level English class but found his focus on what the teacher was trying to put across to them fading.

 

He felt long fingers bury themselves in his hair, toying with the longer strands lazily. Curled up on the bed, with the other person's head resting in his chest, listening to the rain tapping against the windows outside. The bed was warm and comfortable. It was a good way to spend a rainy day, he mused. He was almost lulled to sleep when he heard a chuckle against his chest. “Better wake up now.”

 

 

He jolted awake to Inui's elbow digging into his ribs. He blinked several times before focusing on the teacher, who was standing directly in front of him and looking none too pleased.

 

“Mr. Tezuka,” she said, sounding impatient.

 

“H . . . hai, Sensei?” he said, barely stifling the yawn that threatened.

 

“In English, Mr. Tezuka. This is an English class, after all.”

 

“Yes, Ms. Wolf.”

 

“See me after class,” she said, before turning and walking back to the front of the class. “The rest of you are dismissed. Make sure you have your essays in to me by the end of the week. I want no chat speak in the papers. Save that for your friends online. I will give a failing grade for the use of it.”

 

“Why didn't you wake me?” Tezuka hissed at Inui under his breath.

 

“I did. Just as soon as I heard you mumbling in your sleep but it was too late. What seems to be the trouble? This is the third time you've fallen asleep in class in the past month.”

 

“I'll explain later. She definitely isn't happy with me.”

 

“And she certainly lives up to her name. I wonder if she sees us as sheep.” Inui mused.

 

“Doubtlessly,” Tezuka said, watching the rest of the class file out.

 

“Good luck,” Inui said, getting up and collecting his books from the desk. “There is a five percent chance she'll let you off easy.”

 

“I don't want to know what the remaining ninety five percent entails,” he said, looking at their teacher, who was standing by her desk with arms folded across her chest. He sighed and got up, making his way past the departing students. Maybe it would have been better if he'd taken Fuji's advice and stayed home to sleep. It would have saved him from this embarrassment. He waited until the last of his classmates had closed the door behind them before approaching his teacher.

 

He bowed to her before beginning to apologize. “I'm truly sorry for sleeping in class. It was by no means intentional.”

 

“I know it wasn't intentional. Eye contact, Mr. Tezuka. It's important if you plan on being in America for business.”

 

“Yes, Ms. Wolf,” he said. Trying his best to hold eye contact with her.

 

“I'm not sure what's going on with you but I know it isn't like you to sleep in class. I'm more than a little worried about you. I understand that you have a very full schedule with classes and tennis. Perhaps you should slow down a little though. At this rate you'll be burned out before you're twenty and that isn't a good thing. I also know that your teammates are concerned about you as well.”

 

“How do you . . .”

 

She smiled a little at him. “You'd be amazed by what you hear on the wind. Now, this is an odd request but I'd like for you to tell me what you know about dreams.”