[PoT] Just a Beginning, PG, General, FujiRyo

[meiface.livejournal.com]

Title: Just a Beginning
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: FujiRyo
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine.

What they thought of each other at the beginning.


For xelloss_poo.


Just a Beginning
by meitachi

Ryoma had always thought Tezuka was his goal. Like Inui, he played to beat the Seigaku buchou, if for different reasons. Inui wanted to be stronger, had created Data Tennis for that express purpose of overcoming Tezuka; Ryoma knew he was stronger, or had the potential to be, at least, and wanted the win as another step towards defeating his father. Tezuka was only a stepping stone, Ryoma had thought, and his goal was to overcome first him and then Nanjirou. Yes, Ryoma was ambitious, but he knew he could afford to be.

Fuji Syuusuke Ryoma had seen as something less: a stepping stone to get to Tezuka. He was intriguing, yes, and a bit of a challenge, but with work, easily surpassable. Fuji was not Ryoma’s aim. Ryoma would overcome him and focus on Tezuka, whom he would then defeat, and finally face his father.

Never had Ryoma expected Fuji to become something…different. More.

But then, Fuji had always been one for surprises. He did so hate to live up to people’s expectations of him. It was much more satisfying seeing the look of incredulity, of shock, when he did the unexpected. Still, it wasn’t often opened his eyes and shook foundations because, in his opinion, he rarely found a cause.

But a certain confident freshman caught his interest.

For Ryoma, it was that infamous match in the rain that really triggered everything. He had noticed Fuji before, obviously, because the tensai, as unobtrusive as he could seem, was not someone who could be ignored while on the courts. Every play, every serve, every return—anything Fuji did on the courts drew eyes because he was more than good—he was exceptional.

But it wasn’t until that “informal” practice game when Ryoma finally had a chance to deal with the prodigy head-on that he began to take an interest.

Here, he thought, was someone he’d have to defeat before playing Tezuka again. Before he beat Tezuka.

This wasn’t something very extraordinary; Ryoma had thought during his first match with Inui, “This is someone to defeat if I want to make it on the regulars.” It was not so different. Ryoma was intrigued by Fuji, especially his high level of play, most of which was kept hidden even during matches, but he was just another obstacle to overcome.

Soon, Ryoma honestly believed, the interest would wane and he would have another goal to aim for, another opponent to pursue and defeat. As soon as he beat Fuji.

However, it was almost a shame that he wasn’t aware of the interest of Fuji’s side. The tensai had been fascinated with the genius freshman as soon as he’d barreled headlong onto the Seigaku regulars. His interest had only grown over the course of the months they’d practiced together, and watching Ryoma play and adapt against his opponents, from a Fudomine’s doubles to Fuji’s own brother to Yamabuki’s Akutsu, Fuji discovered that he wasn’t quite ready to let this new prodigy go.

Tezuka would have to wait, he thought with narrowed eyes, because Fuji was not quite done with Echizen Ryoma.

There was so much more to explore and Fuji intended to do so thoroughly. And so when Ryoma nonchalantly plopped himself onto the bench reserved for coaches during the match against Hyotei, Fuji smiled. “I don’t mind,” he said pleasantly to the arguing Momoshiro and Kikumaru, who were attempting to bodily remove Ryoma from the bench.

Surprised, they dropped Ryoma. The younger boy’s face expressed surprise for a moment before curling into a satisfied smirk, settling into a comfortable position as he prepared to watch the game.

And Fuji thought: This is only the beginning.


--


Started: 05.08.05
Finished: 06.21.05
Edited: 08.31.05