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chineseinkTitle: Refraction III
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Eventual FujiRyo.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine.
The difference between Tezuka and Fuji to Ryoma. Part 3/4.
Refraction III
by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
meitachi
Ryoma is untroubled by being addressed by either his first name or his last. Though he spent the first twelve years of his life being called “Ryoma,” he adjusted easily to the more formal “Echizen” during the last four years in Japan. His mother and cousin still call him by his first name, of course, (and his stupid father calls him “seishounen” which he usually responds to with an irritated glare or not at all) but all his teachers and classmates and senpai address him by either “Echizen” or “Echizen-san.”
Tezuka knows this, if only by virtue of accidentally overhearing a bold fan of boy wonder’s asking him if it was all right to call him “Ryoma-sama.” (Echizen’s reply was something along the lines of, “Whatever. Just don’t scream it during a match.” Tezuka inferred the rest.)
So Tezuka is not unduly concerned with why the younger boy was so casual about Fuji addressing him by his first name. Tezuka can’t help but wonder why Fuji would do such a thing though. It seems almost an oddly Fuji thing to do, but Tezuka won’t stand for it if Fuji has some scheme lying beneath that innocent smile. Echizen needs to be able to fly and not be hindered by whatever passing fancy has struck the tensai. Tezuka will take it upon himself to ensure that if necessary.
He approaches Fuji after practice the next day, pulling him unobtrusively around to the back of the clubhouse, unnoticed by the club members that file in and out through the front in various states of dress.
“What is it, Tezuka?” asks Fuji, looking almost concerned if not for the curve of his lips.
Tezuka thinks he can almost hate that perpetual smile, if he were the type of person to hate. Instead he frowns and rebukes the team’s most talented player. “You’re a third year, Fuji. You should know how senpai should act.”
Fuji knows. He knows many things. For instance, he knows he is the best on the team—better than Tezuka, though he’s never played to show it, because he finds flaunting strength a weakness, and unnecessary besides. He likes to belie Inui’s data, likes to destroy expectations and coax forward astounded looks. He has no interest in defeating the captain because that would be detrimental to the structure and morale of the team; he is happier being good, excellent even, but not the best.
Fuji also knows he is better than Echizen. He knows that the younger boy knows that now, too, even if part of him--the self-confident, stubbornly determined part of him--refuses to acknowledge it. He knows that Echizen has surpassed Tezuka and that Ryoma is aware of it too.
He knows that he is the one being chased now.
He knows also that Tezuka doesn’t know this and instead is contributing Fuji’s subtle provocations towards Ryoma as, if not malicious, at least unfriendly or unbeneficial overtures.
“I am looking out for Echizen’s best interests,” Fuji reassures Tezuka, making no effort to hide the way his lips curve further. He sees the unsatisfied look in Tezuka’s eyes, behind his glasses, and reaches out, laying a hand on his arm. “Trust me,” he says softly, the blue of his eyes sharp and vivid.
Tezuka stares at him a moment and then shakes his head and tightens his mouth. “Be careful.” His voice is tense.
Fuji lets a small laugh escape. “Maa, maa, I’m not that careless, am I, Tezuka?” His smile is blithe, carefree almost, as he leaves the captain behind the clubhouse, circling to the front. The afternoon sunlight slants off his hair, haloing him in a coincidence of angle and position. He thinks it is ironically fitting.
--
Started/Finished: 05/30/05
Edited: 06/02/05
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Eventual FujiRyo.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine.
The difference between Tezuka and Fuji to Ryoma. Part 3/4.
Refraction III
by
meitachiRyoma is untroubled by being addressed by either his first name or his last. Though he spent the first twelve years of his life being called “Ryoma,” he adjusted easily to the more formal “Echizen” during the last four years in Japan. His mother and cousin still call him by his first name, of course, (and his stupid father calls him “seishounen” which he usually responds to with an irritated glare or not at all) but all his teachers and classmates and senpai address him by either “Echizen” or “Echizen-san.”
Tezuka knows this, if only by virtue of accidentally overhearing a bold fan of boy wonder’s asking him if it was all right to call him “Ryoma-sama.” (Echizen’s reply was something along the lines of, “Whatever. Just don’t scream it during a match.” Tezuka inferred the rest.)
So Tezuka is not unduly concerned with why the younger boy was so casual about Fuji addressing him by his first name. Tezuka can’t help but wonder why Fuji would do such a thing though. It seems almost an oddly Fuji thing to do, but Tezuka won’t stand for it if Fuji has some scheme lying beneath that innocent smile. Echizen needs to be able to fly and not be hindered by whatever passing fancy has struck the tensai. Tezuka will take it upon himself to ensure that if necessary.
He approaches Fuji after practice the next day, pulling him unobtrusively around to the back of the clubhouse, unnoticed by the club members that file in and out through the front in various states of dress.
“What is it, Tezuka?” asks Fuji, looking almost concerned if not for the curve of his lips.
Tezuka thinks he can almost hate that perpetual smile, if he were the type of person to hate. Instead he frowns and rebukes the team’s most talented player. “You’re a third year, Fuji. You should know how senpai should act.”
Fuji knows. He knows many things. For instance, he knows he is the best on the team—better than Tezuka, though he’s never played to show it, because he finds flaunting strength a weakness, and unnecessary besides. He likes to belie Inui’s data, likes to destroy expectations and coax forward astounded looks. He has no interest in defeating the captain because that would be detrimental to the structure and morale of the team; he is happier being good, excellent even, but not the best.
Fuji also knows he is better than Echizen. He knows that the younger boy knows that now, too, even if part of him--the self-confident, stubbornly determined part of him--refuses to acknowledge it. He knows that Echizen has surpassed Tezuka and that Ryoma is aware of it too.
He knows that he is the one being chased now.
He knows also that Tezuka doesn’t know this and instead is contributing Fuji’s subtle provocations towards Ryoma as, if not malicious, at least unfriendly or unbeneficial overtures.
“I am looking out for Echizen’s best interests,” Fuji reassures Tezuka, making no effort to hide the way his lips curve further. He sees the unsatisfied look in Tezuka’s eyes, behind his glasses, and reaches out, laying a hand on his arm. “Trust me,” he says softly, the blue of his eyes sharp and vivid.
Tezuka stares at him a moment and then shakes his head and tightens his mouth. “Be careful.” His voice is tense.
Fuji lets a small laugh escape. “Maa, maa, I’m not that careless, am I, Tezuka?” His smile is blithe, carefree almost, as he leaves the captain behind the clubhouse, circling to the front. The afternoon sunlight slants off his hair, haloing him in a coincidence of angle and position. He thinks it is ironically fitting.
--
Started/Finished: 05/30/05
Edited: 06/02/05
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