Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ The Rumour ❯ The Rumour ( Chapter 1 )

Title: The Rumour

Author: Hex

Fandom: Prince of Tennis

Pairings: Oishi Shuichiro X Kikumaru Eiji

Rating: PG

Warnings: Kissing, mild teenage boy-love angst

Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis does not belong to me. I just like going into other people's sandboxes and playing with their toys because they're usually cooler than mine are. Theme #5 Rumour

 

It didn't seem to bother Eiji, but that shouldn't have surprised Oishi. After all, it took a lot to make his partner angry. For Oishi however, the situation was nearly unbearable. People avoided looking him in the eye, they whispered and laughed. The girls were the worst. Their giggles carried down the hall and they would /stare/ at him. Oishi was used to scrutiny. He was used to being watched for weakness. Tennis was about using your strengths to exploit the weaknesses of others, but this was different. It wasn't tennis and there was no obvious hurdle to over come. There was no counter for Oishi to use; nothing that he could do to turn the tide of the events unfolding around him.

 

He wasn't sure where the rumour started, or why. It was true that he and Eiji were close, that they spent a lot of time together on and off the court. They were the Golden Pair. Eiji clung to his arm, jumped on his back, poked and harassed him; but Eiji did the same thing to nearly everyone. And they had been acting this way with each other for nearly three years, so why had the rumour started now? Why were people saying that he and Eiji were-

 

"Oi! Oishi! Practice is indoors today. The courts are soaked." Eiji cried as he bound over to him, dodging other students in the school hall. "Stupid rain, nyah! I like playing outside /so/ much better."

 

"Mmmm. Yes, I'll see you there," Oishi said and shook off Eiji's hand from where it had settled on his arm. Oishi tried to pretend he didn't notice the confused look that crossed Eiji's face. He turned and walked away from his doubles partner, whispers following in his wake.

 

* * * * * * * * * * *

 

Oishi had managed to avoid Eiji all day, however there was no way it could be done at training. Ryuzaki-sensai and Tezuka had both been sending disapproving looks in their direction. Their combination had been out of synch all practice. Or more to the point, /he/ had been the one throwing their combination off. Eiji, though a little less chatty, was playing with his usual antics. Oishi found his entire rhythm and timing were thrown off completely. It was so bad that Tezuka even pulled him aside to tell him that if he hadn't come to practice with the intent of putting in an effort, then it would be better if he just went home.

 

Oishi was impressed at Tezuka's restraint in taking him aside to mention it, instead of telling him outright for all to hear. He supposed the team captain was showing him pity or something similar. Oishi doubted said pity would last until the next practice. He continued to hit balls against the wall and waited for everyone to leave. Oishi could feel Eiji watching him. His friend hesitated, hovering near the door, but finally gave up when it became obvious that Oishi had no intention of leaving the gym any time soon.

 

The rhythmic sound of the ball hitting the wall, the floor, then his racket kept him moving. Oishi almost felt as if he would collapse if the sound stopped. He was sweating and his vision was starting to blur when fatigue finally caught up with him. Oishi dragged the back of his hand across his mouth. He was sweaty everywhere. His clothes clung in uncomfortable ways. His legs trembled from exertion. In all, Oishi should have felt the usual satisfaction that came from a good, hard practice, but he didn't. He still felt unsettled, unhappy and just a little angry. Oishi would have been swearing if he were prone to vulgar language, but he wasn't, so he didn't. Instead he gripped his racket tighter and left the gym.

 

 

Good work in conveying the frustration and emotions Oishi is feeling!

 

He slowly made his way to the clubhouse. A loud crack of thunder had him jumping nearly out of his skin. The first drop landed right on top of his head while he stood panting, the heel of his hand pressed to his heart. Oishi looked up to the sky only to have another raindrop fall catching his (him) right in the eye. He let out a long sigh and dashed towards the clubhouse on shaky legs.

 

"Oishi," Fuji smiled as Oishi barrelled into the clubhouse. The clouds had opened. It was pouring outside. "You're a little damp, aren't you?"

 

"A little," Oishi tried to sound something other than upset. Fuji was leaning casually against the windowsill. Oishi was glad that Fuji didn't actually look directly at him. Fuji might have seen right through him if he did. Oishi made his way to his cubbyhole and pulled out his bag. He made sure to keep his back to Fuji.

 

"Are you all right Oishi? You haven't been yourself recently."

 

Oishi winced at the observation. He had tried to pretend it didn't bother him but he wasn't very talented when it came to deceiving people. A feint, when used occasionally, was an effective tactic, but life wasn't tennis. When it came to real life, Oishi was hard pressed to find a feint he could use consistently and effectively.

 

"I've been- something has been bothering me, but I'll deal with it on my own," Oishi said and pulled his jersey over his head. He began to slowly wring out the water as well as he could while his arms felt so weak.

 

"You don't seem to be doing very well on your own."

 

Oishi didn't turn to face Fuji. He didn't want to get angry but his back had stiffened and his hands were clenching his jersey a little too tightly

 

"Maybe you should consider talking to someone about it."

 

Oishi made his way to the shower in silence. He wasn't sure if what Fuji had said should be taken as an observation or an offer. Oishi showered and changed quickly. Once he was done he stood helplessly in the middle of the clubhouse for a moment. He opened his mouth to say something but no sound came out.

 

Oishi started a little at the sound of a dull pop followed by complete darkness. Despite the hammering of the rain on the roof their breathing sounded rather loud when the hum of electricity was absent. Oishi was glad he had showered, changed and packed his bag before the lights went out.

 

"Well, it seems we won't be able to go any where (anywhere is one word) for quite some time." Fuji observed. "Unless you're willing to try to run around in the pouring rain and the dark."

 

"That would be foolish," Oishi pointed out. "A person could easily hurt themselves."

 

"That's very true." Fuji murmured.

 

Oishi carefully inched his way forward. He dragged his feet and put his hands out in front of himself so he wouldn't walk into anything. His hands brushed something and Fuji let out a low laugh.

 

"That was my shoulder, Oishi."

 

"Oh, sorry. I just didn't want to walk into you." Lightning flashed and illuminated Fuji's smiling face. It looked eerie in the brief moment of light but it gave Oishi the opportunity to orient himself. Oishi squinted trying to see something, anything, out in the darkness.

 

“It's all right, Oishi. You didn't do it intentionally." Oishi felt himself blush. Fuji was laughing at him.

 

"What you said earlier, about talking about it. Was that an observation or an offer?" He held his breath after he asked the question. He wasn't sure how he wanted Fuji to answer.

 

"Which ever way you'd like to take it I suppose."

 

"That's not an answer."

 

"I would say it is. An answer is what you want it to be, isn't it? Or maybe not."

 

Oishi could hear the smile in Fuji's voice.

 

"I-" Oishi began but bit his lips. He took a deep breath and started again. "There's-There's a rumour going around about Eiji and I. People are saying we're more than friends; they've been laughing at me behind my back and whispering. A few have even come up to me and /asked/ me things; things that are just so /rude/." Oishi paused to take a breath. "They're making some suggestions that just-just…" Oishi trailed off, trying to control his anger. "I want to know who started these rumours. I want to know /who/ so I can deal with it."

 

"That's what has been bothering you? I didn't think a silly rumour would affect you like this," Fuji said, "Otherwise I never would have said anything."

 

His body moving on it's own in the darkness, Oishi lashed out before he could think about it, his hands managing to land perfectly in the middle of Fuji's chest. Pushing forward roughly, Oishi felt a wild rush of satisfaction when he heard the sound of Fuji landing on the floor on his backside. Not even a second later he regretted it.

 

"You…you're the one…" Suddenly he felt like he couldn't breathe. "Why would you say something like that about people you're friends with? Why would you start a rumour like that?"

 

Lightning flashed and reflected in Fuji's eyes. Oishi was angry and he couldn't stop shaking. He was sure he could hear his knees knocking together.

 

“Technically I didn't start a rumour; I simply said that Eiji liked you loud enough for people to overhear. Sometimes you are incredibly awkward Oishi. I knew throwing you off balance would force you to recover gracefully," Fuji said. "You and Eiji are my friends. The intent was not malicious." Oishi's eyes had adjusted to the dark. He could faintly see the white of Fuji's teeth as he smiled. "But the more you ignore your feelings, the more you hurt Eiji. You have to confront it. If you don't do it properly Oishi, you and I will finish this." Fuji got up from the ground and dusted off his pants. He gently brushed the dirt from his palms. Oishi could tell they were scrapped as Fuji gave a nearly imperceptible wince.

 

“You should wash your hands off," Oishi said, softly. Fuji shook his head.

 

"It's fine."

 

Oishi let out a sigh and gently put a hand on Fuji 's wrist. Fuji tilted his head to the side, that dangerous expression hovering in the corners of his mouth and the edges of his eyes, but it vanished. Fuji let Oishi lead him to the sink and gently wash his hands.

 

"I'm sorry I lost my temper like that."

 

"It's only natural that you would be sensitive when it comes to Eiji," Fuji replied.

 

"That's not an excuse."

 

"But it's the reason, isn't it, Oishi?" Fuji asked. Oishi ran his thumb over the palm of Fuji's hand. He had no idea how bad the damage was in the dim light. Fuji could have been bleeding. It was hard to tell.

 

"Fuji, if I promise to talk to Eiji, really talk to him, will you promise me something?" Oishi moved away from Fuji, feeling strange from being so close to the other boy. Having Eiji invade his personal space or invading Eiji's all felt natural, but it felt wrong to do it with Fuji. It felt wrong when it wasn't Eiji. Oishi leaned heavily against the wall, jamming his hands into his pockets. He felt drained after the confrontation.

 

"No more rumours?" Fuji asked. There was a touch of seriousness to the teasing tone.

 

"Talk to Kawamura." Oishi didn't look at Fuji, but he could feel the way the atmosphere changed as Oishi chose to walk on very thin ice. "After this year Taka isn't going to be playing tennis any more. So if the two of you don't go to the same school, you might not see him very often any more. He'll miss you."

 

"And where did you get this idea?" Fuji asked with a chuckle.

 

"Momo."

 

"Momo?" Fuji echoed, obviously surprised.

 

"It was something he said when he was a first year. He mentioned that there was something special about Eiji and I when we played doubles. I thought it was about our game and technique, that was probably what he meant anyway, but he was right. A few days later he said the same thing about you and Kawamura. I pushed it aside because I didn't know what to think about it, and I really didn't /want/ to. With everything that's been happening I started to think about it, to /really/ think about Eiji and I, and I realized what it was that Momo saw. I figured it out on my own. And then I started watching you and Taka, just to see if I was wrong. I was trying to convince myself I was wrong, but the more I watched Taka the more I was sure I was right. Sometimes he looks exactly how I feel. Pained, really confused and stupidly happy." Oishi dragged a hand down his face. "If he feels half as badly as I do, I hope you can talk to him."

 

"Momo's animal instincts are surprisingly reliable," Fuji muttered.

 

"You knew then?"

 

"I guessed, but I wasn't completely sure. It's far more jarring when someone else points it out to you, isn't it?" Fuji smiled at him. Oishi let out a little breath of relief. "And certainly more so when it's from someone that you would never have confided in about that sort of issue."

 

Oishi nodded. They stood silently in the darkness of the change room, each pondering their own situation. The lights flickered back to life and Oishi found himself blinded by the sudden brightness.

 

"So will you talk to Eiji tonight?"

 

"I should, before I get too confused and scared to try. But I would hate to tell him something like this over the phone." Oishi fisted his hands in his pants.

 

"What if I gave you a ride there?" Fuji asked. "I know my sister; she'll come to pick me up if the storm is this bad."

 

"You mean I should suddenly appear on his doorstep?"

 

“We'll phone ahead." Fuji said and pulled a cellphone from his backpack.

 

* * * * * * * * * * *

 

Oishi's hands had been shaking since his perfectly cheerful phone call to Eiji. Oishi wasn't even sure that Eiji had been able to tell how upset he was over the phone.

 

"We're here, Oishi."

 

Oishi swallowed and stared at Eiji's house. It looked so foreboding in the rain and lightning.

 

"Thank you." That bit of manners was out of his mouth before he even thought about it.

 

“Call me if you need a ride home," Fuji 's sister said.

 

Oishi started at that statement.

 

"I couldn't inconvenience you like that!" Oishi sputtered.

 

"Don't worry about that. This is weather is too terrible for you to walk home in." Oishi was taken a back for a moment as he realized he was being given twin glares from the two Fuji siblings in the car.

 

"I'll phone if I need a ride," Oishi felt completely cowed. He would apologize to Fuji again later.

 

Oishi ran from the car to the door as fast as he could. Eiji was there already, swinging it open and ushering him inside.

 

"You didn't bring a jacket?" Eiji asked. Oishi tried to shake his hair out the best he could so he wouldn't drip on the floor.

 

"No, I didn't even bring an umbrella this morning."

 

"How unlike Oishi to be so very unprepared!" Eiji declared and gave him a disapproving look.

 

"Eiji, get him a towel and let him dry off. Then take him upstairs so he can put on dry clothes." Eiji's mother barked from the kitchen.

 

Eiji looked momentarily guilty before pouting and complying with his mother's will. Eiji lead him upstairs and to his room. He handed Oishi some clothes and turned around, humming and shuffling things on his dresser. Oishi dried off and changed as quickly as he could. It didn't bode well that he felt self-conscious when changing around Eiji. He had never felt that way before. Again, Oishi felt angry with Fuji and then guilty. Fuji hadn't meant to hurt anyone; there was no point in being angry with him.

 

"Eiji, can I talk to you about something?" Oishi said the words slowly and as he smoothed the wrinkles from the borrowed T-shirt. He sat down on the floor near the foot of the bed. "I need to tell you something, but I'm afraid you'll take it badly."

 

"Oishi can tell me anything," Eiji paused to consider his statement. His eyes took on a mischievous glint and he smiled. "No matter how /bad/ it is." Eiji crossed the room, settling down by lying on his stomach across the width of his bed. His feet hooked at the ankles as they rocked back and forth in the air.

 

Oishi couldn't help but laugh a little. He could always leave it to Eiji to make a situation sound perverse when it wasn't. Well, his thoughts of Eiji might have been perverse, but only occasionally and for the most part, not. Oishi swallowed thickly against the thought, forcing nervousness from the back of his throat down into his stomach. He stared at Eiji and felt transfixed as the smile went from mischievous to down right devious. Eiji wiggled slightly closer to him so there was barely a hand span between their faces. He looked excited and conspiratorial. He looked as if he were expecting a secret; Oishi could see it in his eyes. He wasn't sure how to feel about that.

 

Oishi pushed all thoughts away and moved. He threaded one hand into Eiji's hair; the other came up to cup his cheek. Oishi shifted forward and pressed his lips to Eiji's. He didn't open his mouth or try to make the kiss more than it was. He just gently pressed his lips to Eiji's smile for a few moments then pulled back.

 

"There's always some truth to rumours, right?" Oishi dropped his hands to his lap and shifted his gaze to his upturned palms. Eiji hadn't seemed confused, only concerned. Oishi didn't know how to feel about that either.

 

“Is that what's been bothering you?" Eiji asked. He moved from the bed to the floor, sitting beside Oishi. Their shoulders touched but that was it. Oishi liked the sensation. "It's just a stupid rumour, Oishi. Just words."

 

"I love you." Oishi mumbled his confession to his hands. He didn't look up and simply forced it out between lips that didn't really move. "Just words, right?"

 

Oishi couldn't quite breath. He kept sucking in air but he still felt oxygen starved.

 

Eiji pounced on him, grabbing his face and roughly pinching his cheeks. Oishi had to look up from where his hands rested, he had no choice. Eiji was straddling his thighs. It put his gaze and hands precariously close to the other boy's groin. Eiji was pouting at him.

 

“That's not fair."

 

Eiji kissed him this time. It was the same sort of chaste kiss. Their lips pressed together and held there. Eiji pulled back and released his cheeks, looking pleased. Oishi smiled and stared at a spot on Eiji's chest.

 

"I just wasn't ready for everyone to know. I wasn't ready for /you/ to know. I was only half-sure of it myself. I couldn't risk everything until /I/ knew, until I was positive" Oishi felt the words tumbled from his mouth. "And I was scared."

 

Eiji glared at him.

 

"You should never be afraid of me."

 

"What about being afraid of not being with you any more?"

 

Eiji's glare became darker. Eiji looked angry with him. Oishi found he couldn't maintain eye contact.

 

"Unlikely," Eiji paused, "Impossible. I go where you go, no matter what, because I love you too."

 

Oishi smiled a bit and leaned forward. He pressed his face into the space where Eiji's neck and shoulder met. He slipped his arms around Eiji's waist and spread his hands out at the base of his spine.

 

They sat that way for a while, Oishi holding Eiji tight with his face tucked under his partner's chin. Eiji was gently finger-combing the short hairs at the back of his head while the other hand twitched against his back.

 

"Neh, Oishi?" Eiji whispered in his ear.

 

Oishi made a non-commital noise to let Eiji know he was listening. He was too content and run down from the day to do more than that.

 

"What other parts of the rumours are true?"

 

Oishi started at the leer in Eiji's voice. Oishi pulled away a little to look Eiji in the face. When he caught sight of Eiji expression, all he could do was try not to blush.

 

"I heard some really interesting ones about you."

 

"Like what?"

 

Oishi felt his face go from slightly flushed to beat red as Eiji explained the rumour with an amused grin and exaggerated gestures. Oishi decided he didn't owe Fuji an apology any more. Fuji was lucky he wasn't dead because this particular rumour had Fuji written all over it.

 

~~End~~