Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

The Night Before	By : KNW Category: Prince of Tennis/Tennis no Ohjisama > General Views: 4447 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis (Tennis no Ohjisama), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-The Night Before
- 1
A/N: The Prince of Tennis boys obviously aren't mine.
Enjoy the fic!

The
Night Before

Smoke and mirrors: that was how disorientating the nightclub had become. The
heavy beat of the music made the room pulse and his head pound. His eyes
watered as cigarette smoke burnt his nostrils and hazed his vision. Not for the
first time Tezuka questioned the wisdom of consenting to accompany Fuji
Syuusuke tonight; Tezuka hadn�t come to London
to party.

It was an exchange scheme, one year spent studying in one of the best
universities in England,
with nothing there affecting his final marks at Tōdai.
It had sounded like an amazing opportunity. His father had been over the moon,
his mother was all enthusiasm, and Fuji
had said he would go if Tezuka did. It hadn�t been a hard decision. Tezuka had
nothing to lose from it and the experience would look good on his r�sum�, so he
went. Whatever he�d thought he�d find in England though, he hadn�t. He felt
as restless as he had in Japan.

�Having fun, captain?� The girl was practically in his lap as she leant close
to shout in his ear. Her breath reeked of drink and the sweat from her dancing
overwhelmed any perfume she once wore. Her blonde hair might have been sleek
earlier, but now it was plastered to her neck, as unattractively shiny as her
perspiration drenched skin. Kohl decorating her eyes only made the drug induced
dilation of her pupils more obvious. Somehow he managed not to edge away as she
repeated herself, her voice thick, �Captain?�

It was a habit for which he blamed Fuji.
Had the prodigy not revealed Tezuka�s position, it would never have become
fashionable to call him �captain� in that hideous, breathy, leering tone. He
supposed they thought it was sexy � it wasn�t. He knew what it sounded like
when it was spoken correctly; when it was said right, in his native tongue, it
could have him hard as a rock. These girls� They simply couldn�t pronounce
either Tezuka or Kunimitsu properly.

�Yes,� he responded softly. It didn�t matter that he�d answered in Japanese,
she couldn�t hear him. It didn�t matter that it was a lie, she couldn�t tell.
In truth Tezuka wanted to leave and get some fresh air, but if he�d said that
she�d have thought it was a come on. As it was she beamed at him, collapsing
against his side in the booth as the effort of leaning over him became too much
for her.

�Hello,� she giggled and fluttered her lashes, her cheek grazing his shoulder
as she twisted to see his face. He wasn�t as abnormally tall in England as he had been in Japan, but he
was still among the taller boys. It unfortunately served to increase his
popularity with the girls there.

�Rowley-san,� a curt acknowledgement before his gaze flitted from her face to
the rest of the room, not that he knew where to look. There were barely-clad,
gyrating bodies everywhere, it was positively indecent. Better that than
looking at her, however; she was far too close for comfort, an unwelcome
invasion of his calm corner in this miniaturised
hell. Turning his face away also avoided a repetition of any of those
embarrassing incidents where inebriated females tried to land sloppy kisses on
his lips.

She hit his chin instead, her hand brushing across his thigh with obvious
intent. That was new, new and horrifying. Tezuka didn�t even think before he�d
snagged her wrist in an iron grip to stop her. She was too far gone to even
register it immediately, the words tumbling from her colour
smeared lips anyway, �You can call me Becky, captain.�

He frowned, the faintest crinkling of the skin between his brows as he eased
the offending limb back towards her, bracing his hand against her shoulder and
pushing her back. Back against the booth rather than allowing her to spill onto the floor, but it was still away.
Foolish he that thought it could be enough, �Please Rowley-san.�

�Oh, captain,� his shirt pulled tight across his shoulders as she fisted
her hands in the material and Tezuka found himself lurching entirely
involuntarily after her. Maybe he should have damned chivalry and tipped her
onto the floor after all. He felt entirely graceless as he flung his hand out
against the booth wall to save himself, wrenching at her grip on his top as he
sought to escape.

�You do move fast, Tezuka. I�ll just come back later shall I?� Soft as it was, Fuji�s voice still
carried over the din of the club. He sounded far too gleefully amused by
Tezuka�s predicament. He looked it as well when Tezuka glanced briefly away
from the girl to glare at him.

It was moments such as this that Tezuka wished he still had the power to assign
laps; Fuji knew
damn well Tezuka�s interest was restricted to other men, one man in particular,
and he still hadn�t started helping Tezuka get free. Infusing as much authority
into his voice as he could manage, he growled, �Fuji.�

�Oh, Tezuka. You�re no fun,� it was admittedly a
remarkably fast capitulation for Fuji Syuusuke, but Tezuka was not going to
question his good fortune. It was with no small amount of relief that he
watched the prodigy slip an arm around his drunken companion and draw her out
of her seat and out reach of him, �Come Becky-san, I�d like a dance while the
captain gets us drinks.�

�You�re such a sweetie, Fuji.�

That giggled response as she was led away only reaffirmed in Tezuka�s mind how
little these girls knew them. Fuji Syuusuke was not remotely sweet behind the
smile. Owing him a favour was quite frankly the last
position Tezuka wanted to be in, the last position any being capable of
rational thought would want to be in for that matter. Somehow logic and reason
hadn�t been at the forefront of his mind while he was still struggling in the
girl�s clutches though.

Removing his glasses, he massaged the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes on
the abruptly blurry world. The headache had far from abated, even before Fuji had saved the day, and
now the pounding was promising a full blown migraine. Perhaps it was time for a
strategic retreat to the campus accommodation? He was wholly certain Fuji did not actually
expect him to supply anyone with drinks and presently he was at least still
sober enough that he could manage to get home alone. A few more drinks and,
well, suffice to say that Tezuka could not hold his alcohol. He had a paper to
finish, due in Sunday before the seminar discussion on Monday, and he really
couldn't afford a hangover when the library only opened Saturday mornings on
the weekend.

It was as he made to return the glasses to his face that he first became aware
of a foreign presence in the booth with him. He was too slow to avoid the hands
which caught his wrist and deprived him of his lenses, and his vision was too
unfocused to identify who it might be as his eyes flew wide in surprise. The
shape of the thief swam before him, blobs of blue and black and flesh that
meant nothing at all. He could only discern that it had to be a man from the
grip on his wrist, too strong and firm as he tried to jerk free for it to
possibly be a girl. It was as he realised Fuji would be gone
distracting his previous assailant for long minutes yet to come that he felt
the first shiver of fear race up his spine.

�It�s ok,� husky, self-assured and utterly reminiscent of something else, of
someone else; it was heat and promise in his ear as the invader lent close. A
teasing thumb brushing against the sensitive skin of his wrist sent another
shiver through him, one that had nothing to do with fear, �You won�t be needing them again tonight, captain.�

All in reassuring Japanese, the voice conjured images of an all too familiar
arrogant smirk. It brought memories of flashing golden eyes, shaded beneath an
annoyingly obstructive cap but steely with determination. It made him think of
pale skin tanned by the Japanese sun come summer�s end. It made him remember
black locks gleaming green, as unruly and rebellious as their owner was wont to
be. But most of all, it was the way that one breathy word � unquestionably
respectful, daringly possessive and insolently defiant all at once � made his
cock twitch.

�E�� a finger to his lips cut him off short, his breath catching in his throat
as he was hushed. It was funny how Echizen�s exhale, for he was sure that was
who it must be, was now cool against his cheek. The room hadn�t felt so warm
here before and it wasn�t as if he�d been dancing, yet his palms were sweating
as he blotted them against his jeans. This was never how their reunion had gone
in his head; he�d never been exposed and vulnerable, blind without his
glasses, alone in a sleazy nightclub in some foreign country with lipstick on
his chin. It would be just his luck if Becky�s had smudged after all. Stupid,
he realised, not to consider that Echizen would be in
England for Wimbledon this time of the year. Fingers flexing in
agitation against his thighs, he moved away from the hushing digit and looked
down upon what he hoped was the face of the shorter figure at his side, �I
can�t see without my glasses.�

�Fuji-senpai told me,� the tone was totally unconcerned by Tezuka�s annoyance,
but when was Echizen ever bothered by the opinions of others provided he got
his way? That selfish streak was something Tezuka had never managed to categorise effectively. Every time he tried to label it
�utterly irritating�, it slid sideways into �endearing� in complete defiance of
his wishes. He didn�t want to think about Fuji
being involved in this unexpected appearance either. The fingers ghosting
across his face were almost a welcome distraction, skipping a tingling trail
along his hairline as the younger man continued, �You have beautiful eyes, you
should really try contacts.�

For the second time that night Tezuka found himself
reacting instinctively as he captured Echizen�s wrist in his hold, tugging it
away from his face as his gaze narrowed to a frown again. He�d obviously drunk
more than he�d thought earlier to let this get so far already, he certainly
wasn�t going to let it go further if Echizen was going to toy with him like
some simpering girl, �Give me back my glasses.�

�No,� so simple and swiftly delivered, it took Tezuka by complete surprise.
Since when did Echizen start defying him with such ease? A tiny voice that Tezuka
didn�t want to acknowledge whispered it was probably about when he first
escaped Japan
almost a decade ago. Whatever Echizen might call him, he hadn�t been the man�s
captain in a long time. He had no right to expect obedience.

�E�� he began and slender digits against his lips cut him off again. Echizen�s
other hand this time for he definitely still had a hold on the first as it
twisted in his grip, braiding their fingers together so intimately he could do
naught but jerk away. Tezuka almost wished Becky was back, she might have
invaded his personal space terribly but she didn�t make butterflies flutter in
his belly like some school girl crush. Her voice would never have made him
tremble inside as it stated decisively, �None of that, captain.�

Tezuka�s lips set in a thin line, he had no idea what game Echizen was playing
but he wanted no part of it. Shaking his head and pulling back from the man�s
touch once more he evoked his best captain-voice, enthusing it with all the
authority adulthood was supposed to have brought. It compared sadly to the
middle school ability to assign laps, �I want my glasses.�

�How about a drink?� The light clunk of glass against
the table as some form of liquor was settled in front of him followed the
query. That and Echizen�s knee brushed against his own. Tezuka wanted to move
away again but he had nowhere to run anymore, he�d reached the booth corner and
the coats and bags of the party he�d arrived with obstructed his exit. The only
alternative was to try and climb across Echizen. He wouldn�t have wanted to try
that even if he had been able to see where he was putting his hands.

�No. Why won�t you give me my glasses?� even as he said it he realised why Echizen was doing it. In light of his behaviour thus far it was blatantly obvious what the
motivation was likely to be. He just listened distantly to the response,
already defeated. Game: Echizen.

�You�d leave,� and it was quite true. Tezuka never stayed around Echizen if he
could help it, not since he left the first time. Any reunion, any chance
meeting, anything� He�d avoid him or simply make polite, distant conversation
with the younger man, refusing to be engaged, refusing to play tennis, refusing
to let Echizen get any closer. He was already perilously close to consuming everything
Tezuka did and Echizen was too selfish not to just burn through him like he did
everyone else. Sure fingers clasped his own, wrapping
them around the glass as it sat on the table. It was cool against his palm and
he suddenly found himself questioning what the harm would be as Echizen spoke
again, �So since you�re staying, have a drink.�

So he did.

~*-*~

It was some time
later that found Echizen pressed against his side. He had no idea how much time
had gone by, or how many drinks, but they had graduated from brushing knees to
the lengths of their bodies pressed flush together. Echizen�s chin was resting
on his shoulder, the boy �no� man�s nose tickling his earlobe. Echizen�s
hands were resting on his upper arm and thigh respectively as the younger man
twisted against him. Funny how Tezuka didn�t care anymore, his eyes fixed on
the shapeless blob cradled in his grasp. It was the latest glass of whatever
Echizen had been supplying him with all evening, and it was good stuff.

He was so busy meditating on the delicious burn and heady euphoria that
accompanied his beverage that he entirely missed whatever the demonic
glasses-thief at his side had just said. For Echizen had still not given them
back. Indeed, he was staying true to his promise to keep hold of them all night
apparently. Tezuka didn�t care though, his headache was gone and having Echizen
pressed up against him like that was making him feel warm and fuzzy and utterly
content. Or maybe that was all just the alcohol, it wasn�t like it mattered to
him either way right now.

Turning to ask �what?� the question died on his lips as he realised
how close that single move had put them. Each inhale was suddenly Echizen�s
exhale, the air warm and heady with promise between them. Tezuka didn�t need to
see Echizen�s eyes to know how he was being watched; he could feel the
predatory golden gaze acutely. There was no chance to react as the hand on his
thigh moved to his cheek and the grip on his arm pulled with Echizen�s weight
as he levered himself up to press his smirking mouth against Tezuka�s.

Oh.

Somehow Tezuka had never imagined the press of lips against lips could be quite
so much by itself � it never had been before. It had been dry and meaningless
or it had been wet and distinctly gross. It had not been enticing: the gentle moulding of lips slick with drink and saliva made him want
to taste. It had not been electrifying: the tingling promise of so much more
as they slid lightly against each other. It was tentative and it was not
enough. The sweetness was at odds with Echizen�s evident hunger, a sure sign
the younger man was still too sober and in control of himself.

His hand found its way to Echizen�s hair quite without his input. The locks
were silken beneath his fingers and parted easily as they threaded through, it
was like brushing against feathers. The strands tickled his palm lightly as he
cupped the back of Echizen�s head. Strange that it was as though he now sought
to prevent the other�s escape, a role reversal, opening his mouth eagerly as a
probing tongue grazed the seam of his lips.

And then Echizen�s tongue was in his mouth and he didn�t think anymore. The
powerful tang of alcohol and something uniquely Echizen overwhelmed his senses,
washing across his palette as though the sole intention was to intoxicate him
still further. And it was working. He lurched back in his seat, Echizen surging
forward after him to invade his lap as thoroughly as he was invading his mouth.
He was staking a claim, owning him, and it didn�t matter that they were in the
middle of the club anymore. All that mattered was that Echizen didn�t stop, not
ever.

Moaning so softly as to be inaudible, Tezuka looped his arm about Echizen�s
waist only to have the smaller body inexplicably pull back, bracing a hand
against Tezuka�s chest to prevent any pursuit. Licking his lips Tezuka tried to
reason out the logic behind this move, eventually arriving at the conclusion
that it perhaps had something to do with whatever Echizen had muttered before
the kiss, �What say you did?�

He paused, pursing his lips a little. There had been something not entirely
right with that sentence. The main indicator was that it had earned a far too
sober chuckle from the body in his lap. Tezuka was more interested in kisses
than figuring out where he�d gone wrong really, but Echizen�s palm was a warm
and firm denial against his chest so he tried, ��what did you say?�

Echizen�s face swam before Tezuka�s vision as he leaned back in, hand still
preventing Tezuka responding physically as he nipped his earlobe. It was not
the bite but the flick of tongue which followed that made Tezuka blink,
Echizen�s breath cool against the damp when he deigned to speak. It was highly
distracting when Tezuka�s head was already swimming but he tried to focus on
the words instead of the sensation, �I asked where your coat was.�

�My coat?� Tezuka found it took a moment before the
words really registered, tilting his head to the side to allow Echizen better
access to his neck. He hummed appreciatively as the younger man blazed a hot,
wet trail down the column of his throat. Fuzzily he could remember Fuji and the others
tossing their belongings on the seats� Tezuka hadn�t wanted to crease his own
coat though, it was somewhere else. He shivered lightly as Echizen nipped his
neck, a sharp stinging sensation that shot straight through him to his groin.
He�d never been so hard in his life.

Abruptly Echizen�s face was back before his own, his luminous cat eyes boring
into Tezuka�s were unmistakable whiskey smudges in his out of focus world.
Their noses bumped awkwardly, their foreheads pressed together. Puffs of air
between them left Tezuka�s upper lip dewy with moisture, and when he licked it
away he licked Echizen too. Echizen�s words breezed into his mouth and echoed
in his ears, spoken slowly and carefully as if to a young child, �Where is your
coat, captain?�

The image of an irritated looking man in a suit dashed before his eyes, a
hanger clasped in one heavily ringed hand as the other slid a small square of coloured paper across a shiny counter. The word that came
automatically with the memory tumbled from his lips unbidden, �Cloakroom.�

�Fuck, you�re still so anally neat,� Echizen�s words burst against his face
with breathy laughter, the odd fondness in his tone keeping Tezuka�s scowl at
bay. Instead Tezuka found himself the recipient of a light kiss to his nose
which wasn�t really what he wanted, so he tilted his face to chase the
retreating lips. Echizen�s hand gripping his chin stopped him though, and he
found himself held in place, made to listen as Echizen continued speaking. The
younger man�s amused smirk was prominent in his tone, �Now, you�ll excuse me if
I don�t ask where you put the ticket.�

That was all the warning Tezuka got before the palm against his chest slid
south to dip into the front pocket of his jeans, fumbling around and knocking
teasingly against Tezuka�s trapped erection. He hissed and bit the fingers
splayed across his chin in gentle retaliation. It made Echizen laugh again and
Tezuka was finding he rather liked the sound. He liked it even better when
Echizen retracted his hand and dipped his head for another open mouthed kiss
though, their tongues tangling greedily.

All the while Echizen continued to plunge his hands into Tezuka�s pockets
seemingly at random, yet another thing to add to the list of �very distracting
things� he was compiling. Tezuka wasn�t sure, he was quite drunk after all, but
he thought Echizen had to have checked a few of his pockets more than once. He
seemed very prone to accidentally brushing against sensitive parts of Tezuka�s
anatomy in a way which had Tezuka squirming with a considerable lack of dignity
too. It seemed only fair to grab Echizen�s ass and squeeze it in response.

�Mmm, ok, found it, we�re going now,� it was Echizen�s
retreat from Tezuka�s lap that helped the meaning behind the words penetrate
Tezuka�s thoughts. He was left feeling bereft and cool with the withdrawal of
Echizen�s heated presence, but it helped. Even with the alcohol numbing his
thoughts it offered a moment of clarity, a moment to question what it was he
was doing making out so outrageously with an old teammate in the centre of a
busy club. He�d known he liked Echizen, more than liked the insufferable
junior, for a long time � that wasn�t the issue at all. He�d thought he�d
determined not to do anything about it, thought he knew it was a mistake and
something that he�d regret without doubt come morning.

�Up you get, captain,� it was a distant voice that pierced his reflection as
warm fingers threaded with his own. It was also then that Tezuka realised perhaps he�d changed his mind. Maybe he�d get
burnt, Echizen was an uncontrollable force of nature and that was part of the
thrill. For every straight-laced, infinitely proper aspect of Tezuka, there was
an unruly counter, a whirlwind of broken rules in Echizen. It was that
maelstrom that seemed to have plugged the gap, stopped the restlessness and
overrode his indifference in the past hours; it had made him feel. He
tightened his hand about Echizen�s, a silent acquiescence as the younger man
pulled him upright. When the world lurched, he decided he wasn�t about to let
go either.

�I�m up,� he murmured thickly, it made him wonder how much he�d actually drunk
that his words seemed slurred even to him. But with Echizen�s hand warm in his
grasp, clinging just as tightly as Tezuka was holding his in return, the answer
didn�t seem terribly important. He went with it for once, letting himself be
led away.

~*-*~

The drive to
Echizen�s hotel was not nearly as eventful as Tezuka would have liked; each
time he tried to undo Echizen�s trousers the younger man stopped him. There was
no logic in the action: the driver clearly had his attention on the road so he
wouldn�t have seen them, but Echizen seemed to think Tezuka himself would be
embarrassed later. It was only the rather detached recognition that perhaps
Echizen might be right that kept Tezuka from pressing the issue.

The lift in the hotel was still worse. While Echizen had at least made out in
the car, he insisted on holding Tezuka and Tezuka�s hands firmly away from
himself as they rode up to his suite. Tezuka suspected it had something to do
with the lift attendant. He couldn�t make the man out clearly, but even with
his eyesight he could see the shift from black hair to pale face as he glanced
back at them. He was probably staring at Echizen whose pants, Tezuka�s
wandering hands had discovered, rode rather low on his hips exposing a wide
strip of flesh. Determined to halt the looks, he wrapped a proprietary arm
around Echizen the next time it happened and glared. The man was quickly facing
forward again, and that was gratifying, but Tezuka wasn�t sure what to make of
the snickering at his side. He chose to ignore it and count the seconds until
they reached Echizen�s floor. The fact he managed to wander through Japanese,
German and English before he got to ten was in no way significant.

Tezuka was jolted from his thoughts as Echizen�s hand fastened about his own,
the shorter man�s words ghosting across his chin, �Next floor.� There was a
significant pause, �Captain.� Somehow Tezuka suspected that had been more for
the benefit of the lift attendant than for him, especially since it was in
English. The man certainly seemed to be radiating even more studious avoidance
than a moment earlier.

The chime of their arrival barely registered before Tezuka found himself
stumbling in Echizen�s wake, led firmly down the hall. Apparently the little
thief was finally sharing Tezuka�s sense of urgency as he fumbled his key card.
Tezuka lent against the wall as he waited with his eyes closed because of the
strain his lack of glasses was putting on them, he also didn�t entirely trust
himself to stand unsupported. His present position lastly afforded the benefit
of Echizen�s groin being in perfect groping range, the solid press of his cock
as Tezuka palmed the front his trousers confirming Echizen was every bit as
interested as Tezuka himself. The soft little gasping sound Echizen made was
delicious.

A moment later Tezuka found himself hauled bodily inside the suite, the door
closing behind them with a soft snick. He barely had time to take in any
details of the room � cream and earthy smears and a giant blob he hoped was the
bed � and then Echizen�s face was before him again, Echizen�s lips brushing his
and there were at last more kisses. It was open-mouthed, sloppy-wet and utterly
perfect.

Tezuka found his hands batted away as he reached for Echizen�s fly, settling
for sliding them along the stretch of revealed skin above the younger man�s
waistband instead. The taut muscles quivered under his touch, all warm,
unmarred flesh beneath his fingertips. He wanted to kiss Echizen there; he
wanted to kiss Echizen everywhere. Tezuka could already see he wasn�t
going to be in control tonight, though. He was too drunk, and if he hadn�t been
he�d have felt too embarrassed over his own naivety.

He gasped softly as Echizen nipped at his lower lip, opening his mouth to
Echizen�s questing tongue as he found himself pushed back against the door, his
coat falling in a puddle around his feet. It was oddly exhilarating, to be
pressed between that hard surface and Echizen�s body. His knees were bent in
deference to Echizen�s height and his own inability to stand up, he suspected
without Echizen there he might have slid right down to the floor. Deft fingers
undid the fastenings of his jeans and he hadn�t expected what a relief that
would be.

Tezuka knew better than to try and return the favour,
his fingers curling against Echizen�s lower back as Echizen breached his briefs
and took his cock in hand. It was what he�d been waiting for all night so the
first brush of Echizen�s thumb across the tip had him breaking the kiss, his
head falling back with a low groan. His skull connecting with the door was less
pleasant, �Ow.�

�Idiot.� Echizen did have the most peculiar way of
making insults sound fond. It was the only reason Tezuka was letting it slide,
or so he told himself. In reality, the thwarting of his impending frown likely
had more to do with the firm pulls on his cock and sucking kisses littering his
neck.

�Am not.� Frown dissuaded or not, Tezuka felt a token
protest was required. It was hardly a real protest however, his fingers hooking
under the hem of Echizen�s blurry blue tee to begin easing it off. Echizen
didn�t even try to stop him, his laughter bordering on a giggle as Tezuka�s
nails grazed his sides lightly.

�You are, but it�s adorable.� Echizen�s comment was swiftly followed by a brief
but hard kiss and a sure twist of Echizen�s hand at the head of his cock that
left his knees like jelly. It effectively short circuited the thought processes
attempting to generate further objection. In the end he simply moaned as his
fingers clutched at Echizen�s sides, his plan to strip the younger man forgotten.
It didn�t stop Echizen though, the little thief abandoned Tezuka�s cock to hook
his fingers into the belt loops of Tezuka�s jeans and ease them and his
underwear down. Careful and slow at first, making Tezuka squirm impatiently,
and then faster as he sank away from Tezuka�s hands. Tezuka couldn�t see him
any longer, but he could feel the slide of Echizen�s skin beneath his palms,
the brush of his bunched up tee and then the softness of his hair. He tangled
his hands in the silky strands, heedless of Echizen�s comfort as he sought
support while he was undressed. Standing on one foot with your trousers round
your ankles whilst rather drunk was harder than it sounded.

Tezuka supposed he should be grateful that Echizen had waited until he�d
untangled Tezuka�s feet to put his tongue anywhere near Tezuka�s cock. As it
was his knees still buckled, only Echizen�s hands on his hips keeping him up.
He told himself it was only because his knees had already been a little bent.
It made Echizen laugh again, breathy and moist over his arousal. Tezuka
squeezed his eyes closed, his hands curling into fists in Echizen�s hair as he
panted. It was already hard to concentrate with the alcohol jumbling his
senses, with Echizen teasing him like this there was a serious danger he�d
embarrass himself. He was fairly sure Echizen hadn�t gone to these lengths just
to suck him off and watch him pass out.

�Bed, captain?� Echizen�s voice was husky with
promise.

It was all Tezuka could do to nod and loosen his grip enough for Echizen to
pull away, except for the part where Echizen didn�t pull away. He slid
sinuously up Tezuka�s body to claim another heated kiss, the scrape of his
clothing a delicious friction against Tezuka�s erection. It made Tezuka�s
breath catch in his throat and he could only pray he wasn�t moaning as wantonly
out-loud as he was in his head. He doubted he�d be lucky enough that the kiss
would muffle it.

Tezuka�s eyes fluttered open as Echizen�s hands framed his face, a thumb
stroking his lower lip. Echizen was so close that his blurry visage filled
Tezuka�s line of sight and he could smell the alcohol they�d consumed earlier
on their mingled breath. It was almost as heady as the feelings generated by
having Echizen so focused upon him, he felt like he was being hunted and he
actually wanted to be caught. The bigger fear though, the bigger thrill; that
was that Tezuka had no idea what Echizen was going to do after he�d got him.

Tezuka had been expecting Echizen to speak but he didn�t. A distorted movement
suggested Echizen shook his head, but that made no sense when Tezuka hadn�t
asked anything. He wasn�t going to either, focusing instead on trying to steady
his breathing and his trembling legs as Echizen released his face and claimed
his hands. Tezuka suspected he was smearing pre-come across Echizen�s clothes.

�Come here.� Echizen�s voice was soft and coaxing, affectionate as he backed
towards the bed leading Tezuka after him. Tezuka felt adrift on sensations. He
was acutely aware of Echizen�s fingers braided with his, their sweaty palms
sliding together; of the brush of his shirt against the tops of his thighs as
he walked; of the cool air against his hard cock; of the soft and springy
carpet beneath his bare feet. The duvet was cool beneath his ass, a turn and gentle
shove finding him abruptly seated on the bed. Moments later and he�d been
relieved of his shirt.

Tezuka could feel his face heating before Echizen�s scrutiny. He was drunk,
blind and naked in a hotel room whose location he didn�t know, with someone he had
yet to actually identify visually as his ex-teammate. And then Echizen knelt
between his legs, swallowing his cock, and he fell back on the bedspread with a
groan and didn�t care.

All he could think of was hot and wet, and the moment Echizen sucked. Tezuka
hadn�t experienced anything like it before, hadn�t let anyone get that close.
How could he? It had been tennis and the nationals and then it had been study.
He hadn�t reached where he needed to be yet so there was neither time nor room
for attachments. But there, face buried in his groin, was a distinctly attached
Echizen and it felt really good.

Tezuka�d been hard and wanting for what felt like hours and he knew there was
no way he was going to last. Especially when Echizen swallowed around his cock,
those muscles moving and caressing and it was all so tight. The friction as he moved and what he was doing with his tongue� just fuck.
Tezuka�s eyes rolled back, hands clutching at the duvet desperately. It was
only Echizen�s firm grasp of his hips which was keeping him from thrusting
mindlessly, instead he felt like a quivering wreck. It was as though he
couldn�t get enough air, like he was drowning in the intensity of it all.

�Oh�� and that was all he could manage to vocalise on
the subject before biting his lip to stay quiet. He was damned it he was going
to give Echizen the satisfaction of his moaning wantonly just like that. It
would take more than one experience being deep throated to bring Tezuka
Kunimitsu down. He�d faced some of the greatest names in Japanese tennis and
won; one little blowjob was not going to cause him to utterly unravel.

And then Echizen rubbed his tongue just below the head of Tezuka�s sex and he
came, hard, so hard he blacked out. Or at least that seemed the most plausible
explanation for how he went from sprawled half off the bed feeling like he was dying
one moment, to lying lethargic and satiated against the pillows the next
without actually moving, �That��

�Was really good, I know.� Echizen sounded so smug that Tezuka half
wanted to contradict him, except that Echizen was right and maybe understating
the fact. Tezuka�s head was still spinning and his whole body seemed to hum
with the afterglow, he decided he really ought to have done this a lot sooner.
He had no idea why he�d had the least bit of doubt on the subject previously.
Nothing could possibly be better than lazing in a wonderfully comfortable
queen-size with Echizen curled against his side, the younger man�s hard cock
nudging insistently at his hip.

It took a moment for that thought and its ramifications to entirely sink in.
Given his knowledge of such things, and the employment of simple logic, the
correct etiquette now was to return the favour in
some manner or form. Tezuka suspected he could guess just how Echizen wanted it
returned considering the hand currently on his leg. He was too buzzed to be
immediately concerned by the idea though, his eyelashes fluttering as Echizen
pet the sensitive skin of his inner thigh. Echizen did seem to have a way of
pinpointing those little areas that made Tezuka tingle at a single brush of one
tennis-callused thumb. It seemed ridiculous to still be interested in more when
he�d barely started to come down from the last orgasm, but there went those
flutters of sensation zipping along his spine so he was hardly about to
complain.

A soft contented noise escaped entirely without his permission as he let his
head fall to the side. He still couldn�t make Echizen out even as close as he
was now, it was like staring at a collage picture he�d done as a child. The
whiskey hued smudges of Echizen�s eyes, the pale rose dash of his lips, the
fuzzy golden tan of his skin and the blurred mess of ebon locks that gleamed
green. Somehow it made it safe to smile softly in a way that it never had been
when he faced Echizen clearly. It was still only the slightest uplift of the
corner of his mouth, he had never been in practice let alone out of it, but it
felt like a milestone. Echizen didn�t comment on it, but the hand that wasn�t
tracing distracting patterns on Tezuka�s leg moved to finger-comb Tezuka�s
bangs back from his face, a kiss as light as a feather ghosting across his
temple. It was nice but it all promised the tantalising
edge of more without actually delivering, which was rather frustrating even if
he had already come.

Wetting his lips, he was about to tell Echizen to get on with it, with as much
dignity as anyone whose brain had just been melted via their cock could muster,
when Echizen cut him off with a kiss. This one was different from those before.
Their earlier kisses had been tentative, and later needy on Tezuka�s part and
teasing on Echizen�s. Every time their mouths had met, Echizen was pushing him
further towards the brink, overcoming more and more of Tezuka�s defences. He�d excited Tezuka as it had all been for
Tezuka. But now his kiss was far more selfish, demanding and taking. Tezuka
had thought the kisses in the club had been staking a claim, but he was wrong.
This, this, was staking a claim. This was Echizen leaving him whimpering
and bruised at the sheer possessiveness.

The calm slide of Echizen�s hand up and down Tezuka�s thigh as they kissed was
a distant distraction. Tezuka wanted Echizen to touch higher again, so he
parted his legs encouragingly. He cupped the back of Echizen�s neck with one
hand, hoping to hold him in place as he did his best to keep up. Tezuka could
feel himself being lost, dragged along with the tsunami like tide that was
Echizen. He was utterly out of his depth and somehow that was just fine, better
than fine as Echizen�s searching hand found his balls and cradled them in his
palm.

Tezuka broke the kiss with a little gasp. His world was abruptly focused on
Echizen�s fingertips as they fondled him gently through his sac. He could as
soon stop his hips moving in response as he could stop breathing. It was with
something akin to amazement that he felt his cock twitch, already taking an
interest in proceedings again.

Echizen was terribly good at seduction. Or maybe Tezuka was just that drunk, or
that easy.

Squirming at the touch, Tezuka spread his legs further. He was trying to keep
his breathing steady, trying to resist the excitement, and he was failing. The
little keening, needy sound he never wanted to emit � he failed to stop that
escaping too. It had Echizen petting his face almost tenderly, his fingertips
tracing along Tezuka�s cheek bone to his ear, �Mmm,
roll over on your belly.�

Turning his face further into the touch, Echizen�s meaning eluded Tezuka for
long moments. It took the withdrawal of that wonderful, wonderful hand that had
been gently petting his balls to gain his full attention. About to protest, it
was pre-empted by an insistent tone and guiding hand on his flank, �Over you
go, captain.�

Complying, Tezuka stretched out in his new niche, revelling
in the cool coverlet. It was refreshing against his heated body, the cotton
soft and calming against his cheek. He nuzzled into the pillow, folding his
arms above his head as hands skimmed down his back. Tezuka couldn�t help but
arch into the touch a little, especially as warm palms came to rest on his ass.
He rocked between their kneading caress and the sensation of the bedspread
against his sex, �E��

�No, captain.� Echizen�s voice cut him off
leaving no room for argument, Tezuka suspected there was a challenge in there
but he was hardly in a position to rise to it. Falling silent, he licked his
lips, not even able to muster a frown at their puffy and swollen state, and
shifted beneath Echizen�s attentions. Hopefully the younger man would get to
wherever he was going soon.

Tezuka wasn�t sure what to make of the two sure thumbs skimming the crease of
his arse as Echizen parted his cheeks. It wasn�t so
much that it didn�t feel good, more that his brain couldn�t wrap around the
idea that it should. It seemed really quite wrong to find himself twitching in anticipation when Echizen grazed the
puckered flesh of what had, until now, been only an exit. That it would be
Echizen�s tongue rather than his fingers which first disregarded the invisible
�no entry� sign was utterly unexpected. �Ryoma!�

Just as soon as it begun, it stopped. Tezuka was left tensed, his hands balled
into white fingered fists. Breathy laughter teased his exposed flesh, �That
took long enough. Were you waiting until I had proof there was no stick or
something?�

Tezuka ignored the words; he wasn�t even following what they meant right now.
All he knew was that the damned little devil had stopped and there was
no cause for stopping like that. The world ending was not enough reason for
Echizen to halt what he�d been doing. He knew his own speech was strained as he
pressed back against Echizen�s firm hold to find that delicious sensation
again, �Don�t stop!�

�So demanding,� Echizen murmured. Had Tezuka not been humping the bedspread like
he�d gone into heat, the amused and tender tone would have meant far more to
him. As it was, the return of Echizen�s tongue was ground for extensive
incoherence and not a little squirming.

�Oh, oh�� Tezuka bit down on his forearm before he got any further. Even
delirious with pleasure he knew calling Echizen �God� would come back to bite
him in the ass. Although if he could trade off the bite for tongue it could be
worth it�he really had lost his mind.

Tezuka soon gave up trying to keep his eyes open. It wasn�t like he could�ve
seen anything, even if he had been able to stop them from fluttering madly.
Besides, clenching them shut was something to concentrate on, something with
which to try and regain control. Something to distract himself from the way the
muscles in his ass were determined on clutching desperately at Echizen�s agile
little tongue, entirely contradicting his wishes not to seem needy and wanton.
He couldn�t help it though, the way Echizen kept lapping. It reminded
Tezuka of the times when Echizen and those stubborn golden eyes had seemed even
more catlike than Kikumaru.

Then that sneaky little tongue wriggled deeper and a blunt nail scraped ever so
lightly over his perineum. Tezuka�s world exploded in a burst of electrified
nerves, his body jerking violently within Echizen�s hold. It was apparently the
signal Echizen had been waiting for because he stopped once more, leaving
Tezuka to shudder under him, �I think you�re ready, captain.�

Tezuka lacked the coherence to even ask �ready for what?� let alone figure it
out. He was too busy trying to get his heart rate under control to do something
as taxing as think, especially as the tingles of pleasure still consumed his
mind. Each time he thought to a moment earlier, the moment before Echizen had
pulled away, his body buzzed. The alcohol was still dulling his senses too much
for him to feel remotely worried about what would come next.

That continued as he lay there, recovering. He could hear the pop of something
being opened and also the sound of Echizen�s breathing. To Tezuka, he sounded
like he did when he was playing tennis. Tezuka had watched a lot of Echizen�s
matches as the younger man made his place in history. He was never out of
breath when he played, but his breathing reflected his excitement and passion.
It seemed only right that sex between them should be like tennis,
there was something good in knowing Echizen saw it that way too.

It was strange how the first touch of cool gel to his anus could almost have
been termed soothing, except that it seemed to heighten everything the moment
the first rush of cool numbness subsided. Tezuka�s hands flexed against the
pillow and he remained still. He knew what was coming now; there was no
mistaking the gently probing touch, especially with the focus the chill of the
lubricant provided. �Go on.�

Tezuka didn�t know what made him say it since he doubted Echizen had been
waiting for it. But there it was, out between them even though they both knew
Echizen had always planned to go ahead with this from the moment he placed the
first drink in front of Tezuka that night. Maybe even for longer than that,
Tezuka could remember fleeting glimpses of predatory golden eyes spattered
through out the memories of gatherings over the years. As if Echizen could have
had that kind of patience, it was ludicrous. The alcohol was playing tricks on
his mind.

The entry of the first finger was strange. It reminded him of a comment one of
the guys at the university had made while drunk. Anal sex was like taking a
shit, with the shit going the wrong way. The guy said he�d only done it once,
that it had put him onto oral ever since. Tezuka hadn�t asked anything further
about it; he�d been feigning disinterest. It came back to him now though, upon
encountering that heavy sense of fullness. It made him laugh breathlessly
against his arms.

�What�s funny?� Echizen sounded like he wasn�t sure what to make of Tezuka�s
sudden laughter. In fact it bordered on giggles, which was a considerable
testament to Echizen�s ability to feed him drink. Tezuka couldn�t help it
though, it had been such a preposterous thought to enter his head at a time
like this and yet also so appropriate. Maybe he�d remember the words every time
he did this for the rest of his life. Though that operated on the assumption
he�d do this again, and even drunk he suspected that a sober Tezuka might not.

�Nothing,� Tezuka replied. His voice sounded far huskier than he�d ever
imagined it could, a low sexy purr that he�d never have associated with himself
before this. He canted his hips up a bit, pressing back against the intrusion
ever so lightly so as to draw Echizen�s attention back to what he had been
doing. He was not about to lay and have a conversation with the man�s finger
half buried in his ass.

Echizen didn�t say anything in response and Tezuka couldn�t see his expression
to tell if that was a bad thing or not. After an indeterminable period of time,
which felt like ages to Tezuka, Echizen�s weight shifted on the bed as the man
hummed softly and leant to place a kiss at the centre of his back. Tezuka
wasn�t sure if it was that, the hand that squeezed his arse
or the second finger sliding inside him that made him shiver. The latter
definitely burned a little though and he squirmed beneath the touch until
Echizen�s hand moved to stroke his side soothingly, the younger man�s voice
rolling over him, �Just relax.�

That was easier said than done to Tezuka�s mind,
Echizen did not have two fingers gently but insistently thrusting into him
after all. It was uncomfortable at first and remained so if he was honest, but
the initial pain did give way to a more curious sensation. He was at least more
interested in seeing how Echizen was going to make this feel good than in
demanding he remove the digits so it couldn�t be going too badly. Then Echizen
did something that made his eyes fly open and electricity skitter up his spine.
�Oh.�

�Got you,� Echizen said, smugly self-satisfied as he continued to repeat
whatever it was he�d done until Tezuka was trembling and his cock, which had
admittedly flagged a little, was painfully hard once more. Yes, he considered,
he was very much got as he began rocking his hips back into the shallow
little thrusts more insistently. He had to bite back those moans again as the
head of his sex rubbed against the bedspread, the soft cotton a teasing
friction.

Echizen was a master of distraction, Tezuka decided, all the sensations
assaulting him were leaving him totally confounded over what to concentrate on.
A long wet lick along his spine had him arching with a soft whimpered moan that
he bit his lips to prevent, but the third finger pressing inside him could
equally have caused the whimper. He wasn�t sure anymore, it could even be that
sneaky hand that had slid under him to tweak his nipples. There was nothing to
do but let go, allowing Echizen to play his body like an instrument and marvelling at his proficiency.

�Sh, nearly there now,� whispered Echizen. His breath
ghosted coolly across Tezuka�s damp skin raising goose bumps. Tezuka didn�t
bother to respond, there was really nothing to say right then when he needed to
focus on staying relaxed. Echizen was trying to drive him mad with the teasing
as his fingers insistently pressed the bundle of nerves inside him whilst they
stretched his passage. It hurt having that many fingers pushing into him, four
now, but he still didn�t want to say stop because for all there was pain it
still felt good. He felt uncomfortably full, but waves of pleasure were still
washing over him every time Echizen shifted his fingers. It was a contradiction
that was threatening to overwhelm his already disjointed thoughts, and then
Echizen withdrew and he was amazed to find himself feeling a sense of loss.

�Ryoma�� The younger man�s name came out as a soft groan. Tezuka had meant to
ask why he stopped but he couldn�t gather the thoughts and energy to put a
coherent question together. He also knew what was coming next if he was honest
with himself, and he was looking forward to it and that frightened him. This
was never how he�d pictured his first time, he could smell rubber and wasn�t
sure whether to feel grateful or insulted.

�Mm, you�re learning,� Echizen said. Tezuka wanted to assign laps to stop him
sounding so smug, he also wanted to growl �Echizen� at him pointedly and that
felt rather childish. In the end he did neither, shifting on the bed
uncomfortably as his chest heaved with his breathing. He felt needy and wide
open and exposed, and the longer it went on the less he liked it. The return of
Echizen�s hand to his flank was a welcome distraction, the younger man�s palm
cooler against his heated skin. Tezuka felt like he was on fire.

�On your side, it�s easier first time,� Echizen spoke more softly now. Tezuka
didn�t like to entertain how bad this was going to be if it had Echizen
sounding reassuring. He wasn�t going to question how Echizen knew it was his
first time either, he was just going to do something
to Fuji when he
escaped. It wouldn't be something Fuji'd
enjoy either, he�d make sure of the fact, even if it involved enlisting Inui�s
help.

Moving as bidden, he sighed softly as Echizen settled against him. Everywhere
they touched was bare skin and it was intoxicating. The expanse of Echizen�s
chest pressed to his back was comforting, as was the sureness of Echizen�s hand
lifting his thigh forward slowly whilst the younger man pressed open mouthed
kisses to his shoulder. He knew what was next and he tried to stay relaxed,
tried to heed the gentle strokes along his leg as his breath came in nervous
pants. What could only be the head of Echizen�s cock was pressing insistently
against his hole, pushing forward ever so carefully and slowly. It still burned
though, making his eyes water as he bit his lip to stifle a sound.

�Just relax, gods, you�re so tight,� Echizen�s words were a husky murmur at his
back, breathless though Tezuka couldn�t reason whether it was from the effort
of restraining himself or that Tezuka just made him that needy. Tezuka supposed
they were the same thing and he found he liked the idea he�d worked Echizen up
so much, no matter the discomfort he was in now.

Even as Tezuka blinked away tears he didn�t shy from the invasion, there was
something good in it that went beyond Echizen�s desire. His cock remained hard
and pulsing between his legs, more than ready for Echizen�s fingers to clasp
firmly around it. The long and slow pulls were welcome, a heady distraction as
Echizen eased all the way inside before stopping. Partially Tezuka felt like
he�d been split open, but overwhelmingly he felt full and cocooned in a way
he�d never imagined Echizen�s smaller body could manage. He was wrapped around
him and inside him, everywhere was Echizen for Tezuka in that second and he
entertained the briefest idea that it was the way in which he�d like to
continue.

Tezuka had lost all track of time as a hoarse moan escaped him, teased out by
the clever twist of Echizen�s hand on his sex. Amazing how the man could move
him from intense discomfort to squirming need, inviting the desire to overwhelm
hesitancy with the simplest of base touches. His chest rose and fell with deep
breaths as he sought to stay in control of himself, his skin slick with sweat
as he rubbed his palm against it, wondering that he�d not yet endured a heart
attack. Echizen was pulling him in so many directions, hauling him to the brink
and still holding him back in such a way he felt perhaps he�d go mad from it.
He hated the begging note to his voice as he gasped, �Please.�

That one word, needy and wanting, appeared to be all that Echizen had been waiting
for as he slowed pulled out and thrust back in for the first time. It was
strange, but nowhere near as bad as Tezuka might have expected. Echizen was
making small gasping-moaning sounds as if he couldn't help himself either, and
that only heightened Tezuka's own pleasure. It was slick, and fluid, and really
quite far from the awkwardness he'd always envisioned. It just felt good and
right, and between Echizen's hand and Echizen's cock Tezuka felt like he was
dying all over again. It didn't help that Echizen was going so slowly and
carefully, shifting a little with each stroke until Tezuka exhaled sharply.

"Like that, huh?" Echizen sounded like he was grinning as he pressed
a kiss to Tezuka's shoulder. He was as out of breath as Tezuka now, his skin sweat
slick at Tezuka's back, and Tezuka wasn't surprised with the effort staying
still must have taken. He wondered if what Echizen was feeling now was anything
like the blowjob he'd received earlier.

"Not-not bad," he managed to force out in response, determined not to
out and out admit how good it felt if he could help it. Echizen was being smug
enough as it was and he'd barely started yet, so Tezuka added, "Get on
with it."

Echizen snickered in response, "Yes, captain."

Then Echizen began to thrust into Tezuka in earnest and Tezuka's mouth fell
open in a silent 'oh' of appreciation. He'd been intending to tell the younger
man off for being cheeky but he simply didn't care anymore, he couldn't even
think. He was lying in Echizen's arms and trembling as he pressed back into the
thrusts, his every breath a stifled moan of pleasure. Echizen was being just as
noisy in his ear, and beyond that the slap of skin against skin filled the room
as Echizen moved more and more frantically as time slid past. Tezuka lost all cognizance, all he knew was that he wasn't sure he'd ever
heard anything so hot or felt anything quite so good. Any trace of Echizen's
earlier gentleness just bled away, his desperation infusing his every move.

Tezuka could feel his orgasm building, his balls tightening. Having been
enduring Echizen stoking it for long enough, and he welcomed the release it
would bring eagerly. He closed his hand over Echizen's at his cock, making him
move faster and rougher until he simply couldn't take it anymore. The
tightness, the tenseness of his entire body was suddenly washed away in a wave
of pleasure even more intense than his previous orgasm. It erupted from him in
sticky white arcs across the sheets and he found himself clinging to Echizen in
every way, the feel of the man shuddering against his back the last thing he
remembered as he let himself be swept away.

~*-*~

Come morning Tezuka
wasn't sure which throbbing was worse, the pounding of his headache after the
drinking or the soreness of his arse after the
fucking. In either case he wanted to throttle Echizen, and the prevention of
Tezuka's arrest for grievous bodily harm was probably the only good thing about
Echizen's absence. Because Echizen was indeed absent. It was the first thing
Tezuka had managed to ascertain when he'd groped as far as the nightstand,
knocking a water glass out the way before finally regaining his glasses. Now,
propped up against the pillows and feeling grateful that the curtains were
still drawn and obscuring the cruel light of day, he was being treated to a
view of a distinctly tidy, distinctly empty hotel room. Oh, it was lovely, no
doubt fantastically expensive as well, but it was empty. He couldn't hear
anyone in the bathroom either, and with the door open he didn't need to get out
of bed to go and check. The truth was blatantly apparent: Echizen had fucked
him and run. It brought a bitter smile to his lips.

The real irony though, to Tezuka's mind, was that he'd known last night. He'd
been too drunk to really care about it in more than a passive acknowledging
sort of way, but he'd recognised that Echizen was
still the same selfish, arrogant brat that used people as he pleased without
regard for their feelings. He'd known and he'd gone with it anyway, so really
he couldn't even blame Echizen for the situation. He wanted to though, because
it hurt. His chest felt tight like it was hard to breathe, which he knew was
ridiculous since he couldn't be healthier and his family had no history of
asthma or anything like it. He was far too young for a heart attack too, so he
simply drew a deep breath and pulled back the covers. There was no point
staying around doing nothing, he had a paper to write back at the university.

Before he got as far as looking for his clothes, his gaze returned to the
nightstand. There, half-dissolved in the water he'd spilt whilst retrieving his
glasses, were two little white pills on a small silver tray. A box beside them
proudly proclaimed its contents to be Paracetamol and Tezuka wasn't sure
whether to be grateful or throw them across the room. No Echizen, no note, but
here's a couple of painkillers. Resigning himself to practicality he reached
for the box, sliding the tab free with fingers that only fumbled a little. He
set his lips in a thin, irritated line, angry with himself for being affected
when it was his own choice that brought him to this. Shaking the box, the foil
tray fell into his lap and he picked it up, slicing his nail through the cover
and popping two more into his hand and then his mouth. The glass of water was
slick with the spillage in his grip but he didn't drop it, taking enough of a
sip to carry the pills down before returning it and the box, once the foil tray
was tucked back inside, to the nightstand neatly. He'd find a towel from the bathroom
to mop up the mess before he left.

Somehow he felt better already. Tezuka knew it wasn't the pills, but moving on
without dwelling on the situation helped. Standing up didn't so much as his
head swam for a moment, but he determinedly looked around for his discarded
clothes anyway. They were folded neatly on a chair, which was a surprise, but
he didn't question it as he picked them up and headed into the bathroom
silently. He didn't bother trying to cover himself up, nudity didn't embarrass
him and there wasn't anyone present to see him anyway.

The bathroom was, well, big. Someone like Atobe would no doubt adore the
massive tub but Tezuka ignored it in favour of the
shower, setting his clothing on the lowered loo seat
before leaning in to start it. A few precise twists had the water running at a
nice steamy temperature and he just remembered to close the bathroom door and
set his glasses atop his clothes before he got in. It was only then that he realised that for all he was sore, he wasn't the least bit
sticky despite the previous night. Tezuka wasn't sure how to react to the idea
of Echizen cleaning him up while he was asleep so he just didn't think about
it, turning the hot water up marginally higher than comfortable and grasping
the hotel-supplied bar of soap.

As he washed himself methodically his mind drifted, not to the events of the
previous night but to the paper he had to write. He'd already done the majority
of the reading list but there was one article that was only available in the
library and he'd been intending to tackle it this morning. Tezuka preferred to
leave himself both the afternoon and the evening for planning and writing the
piece, then he could read it through before the noon deadline tomorrow to be
sure there were no careless mistakes and tighten it up. He was fairly sure he
already knew what his argument would be but he didn't want to miss anything
that might be fired at him in a class discussion later. His peers had
consistently been trying to catch him out since he'd arrived and it was a point
of pride that they'd failed to date.

His clothes smelt of sweat and smoke from the club when he pulled them on. It
wasn't the least bit pleasant so by the time he opened the bathroom door, towel
in hand to accommodate the spill on the nightstand,
he'd resolved to head straight home and change. The last thing he was expecting
to see in the suite beyond was Echizen overseeing some maid serving breakfast
at the table. He was surprised enough that it brought him to a momentary halt.

"I didn't think you'd be up so early," Echizen told him, with no real
hint of apology in his tone.

Tezuka wasn't sure what to say to that, he wasn't even sure what he felt. Part
of him was relieved, the ache in his chest alleviated by the sight before him,
but at the same time his stomach was tangling in more knots that it had last
night when there'd been alcohol to soothe it. He just stood, expressionless,
regarding Echizen and the maid silently for what felt like an eon before he
asked, "What time is it?"

"Only nine." Echizen grinned easily, while
the maid blushed and thus merited the additional explanation, "But it was
late enough I had to go down and beg for breakfast."

Tezuka folded his arms across his chest, not allowing the humour
of Echizen's tone to thaw him in the least. "I'm usually awake by
nine."

The grin faded somewhat and the maid looked away, embarrassed. Tezuka merely
frowned and turned to mop up the water that he'd spilled, ignoring the twinge
invoked as he moved. There was no reason for the maid to be embarrassed when it
was obviously Tezuka who'd just been tumbled by their resident tennis pro. The
idea that everyone would know, that it might be
splashed across the tabloids by tomorrow� That was almost as humiliating as how
easily he'd let Echizen have his way last night.

"Kuni�"

"Tezuka," Tezuka cut Echizen off, glancing over at him sternly as the
rest of the grin faded from Echizen's face fully. The maid quickly finished
what she was doing and left with her trolley, unable to escape quickly enough.
It left Tezuka confronted with an utterly confused looking Echizen and since
Tezuka didn't have the words to deal with that he turned on his heel and took
the towel back into the bathroom. He took his time draping it over the railing
so it could dry, but no matter how long it took it wouldn't invent a second
exit for him and he was eventually forced to return to the bedroom.

"Captain," Echizen began the moment Tezuka emerged, a flicker of
defiance in his eyes as he stated almost challengingly, "I ordered
breakfast for us both."

"So I see," Tezuka returned evenly, and he had to admit that Echizen
had really gone all out. There were fruits and cereals, bacon and eggs and also
cold hams and cheeses. Everything Tezuka could ever remember seeing in any breakfast
room in any European country he'd visited, but it wasn't as easy as that. Now
Echizen was here in front of him, Tezuka didn't have to feel hurt. Instead he
could safely feel angry at the manipulation he'd endured, at the fact Echizen
had just waltzed into his life from nowhere and had taken exactly what he
wanted with only Tezuka's inebriated consent.

"Well, are you going to join me?" Echizen was frowning now, obviously
Tezuka hadn't reacted the way he'd expected and that made Tezuka wonder just what
Echizen had imagined would result from last night.

"No," Tezuka said shortly, picking up his coat from where it had been
draped over the back of a chair and moving to open the door.

"Captain!" Echizen's distress made Tezuka
pause, made him look back to see a whole array of emotions that he wasn't sure
he could begin to categorise flash through Echizen's
eyes. There wasn't any smugness though, no cocksureness for once. There was
uncertainty, hope and the palpable upset of his tone. Echizen actually seemed
to care, the fa�ade dropped as he entreated, "Please, don't go."

"I have a paper to write," Tezuka told him truthfully. Admittedly he
could probably spare the time for breakfast as the library remained open until
two but he did want to change his clothes and he didn't want to be with Echizen
right then. He needed breathing room to consider Echizen's return to his life
and its ramifications.

"Tomorrow then?" Echizen didn't question
that Tezuka would be working on a Saturday, relaxing back in his seat a little
now that Tezuka had stopped attempting to open the door and flee. It gave the
older man a thrill of power he hadn't felt since middle school when he reached
for the handle and Echizen straightened in abrupt alarm, crying,
"Monday?!"

That was only the day after tomorrow and Tezuka still wasn't happy. Echizen
didn't deserve to see him again within so short a time. The younger man was no
doubt here for Wimbledon and not only should
he be concentrating on that but he'd be here for weeks yet. Thus Tezuka told
him, "No."

Echizen's face fell then, but he still asked softly, "Tuesday,
captain?"

Tezuka wasn't sure what compelled him to say, "I'll be free next
weekend."

"Dinner then?" Echizen asked eagerly.

Tezuka considered it. He considered his irritation weighed against the fact
that, contrary to Echizen's disrespectful behaviour,
the younger man did seem in earnest now and Tezuka had wanted that long
enough that he was willing to give Echizen another chance.

"Coffee," Tezuka told him curtly, no room for argument as he opened
the door. It wasn't what he'd expected, not in the least, but it seemed as if
he'd been too hasty and there was something to salvage here. Since that was the
case he'd give it his best shot before he quit, but he wasn't easy and he'd be
damned if Echizen was going to continue thinking so.

Looking back he watched as Echizen grinned, not quite a smirk or Tezuka's
hackles might have risen but there was certainly
satisfaction bleeding back into his appearance. Echizen was almost delighted
over the chance of a mere coffee apparently, and to know that Tezuka might mean
that much to him was almost better than the sex. Whatever it was making Echizen
smug though, Tezuka couldn't let it go without a parting comment as he slipped
through the doorway. He felt Echizen deserved it at the very least after
everything, even if it wasn't entirely the truth.

"Echizen? Last night� Mada mada
da ne."

The look on Echizen's face was priceless and would've been enough to have
Tezuka almost smiling the entire ride to the ground floor. Would have, that is,
if the lift attendant hadn't been giving him the most curious glances.
- 1
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Night Before