Summer Heat [Fuji Syusuke] Prince of Tennis

The rain, oh how it pours hard on days like this. Days like this that never end and drag on, so the pain from today seems larger tomorrow. The scars it will leave remain sore for as long as they can, until somehow the sun shines through. Although it only shines through after these days of enduring rains, so this leaves the hurt fresh among the drops.

"I don't think you should be doing that while it's raining."

People always believe they're smarter than their fellow human beings. They talk on about what they can do and how they can do it better than someone else. Others try to talk like they know what's going on, embarrassing themselves unconsciously.

"You know you could hurt yourself doing that."

Sometimes, doing something dangerous that makes adrenaline surface is just what a person needs. At least, that's what the person will think, because they really can't understand what they're doing themselves. Sometimes, people know what they're doing, but they can't find another solution to their pain, or fear, anger, or sadness.

"The school gates are going to close soon."

Every once in a while, a person rolls along that thinks others are just oblivious to life. Maybe, they'll say to themselves, that person doesn't know it's raining and school is out for summer. These people are the ones that cause irritation, which will lead to adrenaline rushes, which will lead to more pain, and will eventually lead to more storm-filled days.

"Let's go home."

My thoughts suddenly wind to a stop at these words and I catch the tennis ball I was whacking against the side of the white school walls.

'And then, there are the people who are so kind that you wonder what they're really like when they're not being kind.'

"Did you need something Fuji-san?" I ask with no emotion, afraid to let my real feelings shine through my mask. He smiles as he slides one hand into his pocket, his other slender hand holding a black umbrella above his head. He is wearing his uniform and, unlike mine, it is nice and dry.

"Let's go home," he repeats, his voice not giving me any sign of an order. The simple words are just a phrase, just a comment. They weren't a suggestion and they weren't commanding. They just... existed.

"I don't think I want to go home quite yet," I respond carefully, turning back to the wall that I can never beat. Fuji chuckles and I never hear him leave as I continue to play against the wall. From time to time, I see him still standing there watching me, his blue eyes hidden.

"You can never beat a wall," Fuji comments as I catch the ball, taking a few steadying breaths. Closing my eyes, I raise my face to the gray and silver sky, allowing raindrops to beat down on my face. I feel a few tears slip out of my firm control and they slid down my face with the rain.

"Let's go home," Fuji whispers, his voice suddenly very close to me. The rain ceases to hit my face and I open my eyes to stare at a black umbrella.

"I can't go home," I mutter back, dropping my head to stare at the wet ground. I turn my racket back and forth in my hand, watching the rain bounce off of the frame onto the concrete.

"Then come home with me for a while. Yuuta will not be home until next week, so just stay in his room for as long as you like. You can just hide out there," Fuji says his smile widening as he gazes down at me.

"Why would you do this for me?" I ask, noticing how sweet Fuji smells. Biting my lower lip, I keep my gaze on the droplets bouncing off my racket.

"I don't like it when people cry," Fuji says while hooking his arm around mine, pulling me towards the gates. Finally letting my gaze slide up to him, I see him staring straight ahead with his smile still gently curving upwards. Even if he noticed, he didnt show that he knew I was watching him the whole time we walked in the general direction of both of our houses. Soon, my house came and passed until we reach Fuji's little two story house.

"Are you feeling better?" Fuji asks as we walk into Yuuta's plain white room with a single red-covered bed. Nodding, I cross my arms tightly across my chest, noticing the cool air that blows from the air conditioning.

"I'll be right back," Fuji says while touching my back just slightly. He leaves me alone in the room to shiver from the cool air and from his gentle, feather-like touch. My stomach twists and turns as I try to forget the touch, but the more I try to forget, the more it embeds into my mind.

I've known Fuji since we both entered Seishun Academy. We've somehow ended up in the same class every year and we both play tennis. We've never played each other, but I'm the girls' number one player. I think it would be a fairly good match, but the boys and girls standards are different.

In our first year, we were only acquaintances. In our second year, we had to do many class duties and projects together, so I suppose we considered each other friends. This year, or the first half of the year, it's been about the same, but Fuji was gone most of the time for tennis activities. Now that its summer, I don't know what kind of tennis trips or trainings await us both, but this is probably the only time I'll have with him over summer break.

"Here, I think these should fit," Fuji says cheerfully as he comes in behind me. I jump a little and turn around in the same movement, hoping he didn't notice me jump. He's holding out sweatpants and a dark blue t-shirt and I take them carefully, trying not to touch him. My fingers end up brushing his right hand and I feel a little heat rise into my cheeks. I know Fuji is still smiling as I look at the clothes, my blush already under my control.

"Thank you Fuji-san."

"I didn't know we had to be so polite Minatsu-chan," Fuji teases while putting emphasis on the honorific. I manage to smile a bit while looking over at a picture of Yuuta and Fuji at the beach. Walking over to it, I let my hand glide over the gold frame and lean on the wooden leg of the desk.

"I think Yuuta loves you more than you can grasp Fuji-kun," I say while turning back to him. I almost die of a heart attack as I see his shocking blue eyes staring back at me, no longer hidden. Then, he smiles and his eyes are hidden again. My breath comes back to me slowly and I laugh sarcastically under my breath. Fuji's smile disappears and he tilts his head, his face full of questions.

"Do you know how easily you dazzle girls? I swear..." I mutter while placing the clothes in the desk, motioning towards the door. Fuji doesn't flinch.

"Come now, I'm going to change. Unless you want me to change in front of you, then stay right there," I say while placing my hands on my hips, glaring back into Fuji's blue eyes...

Those dazzling blue eyes that keep catching me off guard.

"Am I dazzling you now?" he asks, his voice reaching a new low. Gulping, I nod slowly as I try to move my eyes away, but I can barely remember how to breathe correctly. Fuji smirks with his eyes still piercing into mine and takes a step toward me. I take a step back and bump into the rolling chair, falling into it. I scream as I swirl across the floor before slamming against Yuuta's bed and I fall back against the not-able-to-roll sheets. Fuji chuckles for a while and then bursts into hysterics as I groan, glaring up at the ceiling.

"In answer in your question earlier, I had no idea I dazzled girls like that. But damn, it's fun," Fuji says while leaning against the doorframe, little tears coming to his eyes. I growl while sitting up, pushing the rolling chair back to its place.

"I'm sorry, it's just hilarious. Are you alright?" Fuji asks while smiling, his eyes hidden once again. Glaring, I shove him out the door and slam it in his face. Leaning against the door, I let my grin spread across my face, not being able to hold it back any longer.

"Alright then," Fuji mumbles on the other side of the door and his footsteps fade in the direction of his room. Sighing, I strip down and then change into the strange, yet sweet smelling clothes. A grin stays stuck on my face the whole time and remains there as I search for Fuji's room, finding it exactly where it was one year ago when we did a project with three other people.

"In answer to your question earlier, I'm fine," I say while walking in, mocking his statement prior to his leave. I blink as he pulls a white polo over his head, hiding his stomach that was visible just seconds ago.

"Fan service," I sing sarcastically as Fuji raises his eyebrows at me. Dragging my fingers along the edge of his night table, I grin at the thought of 'fan service' and my friends' opinions of it.

"You are twisted," he replies while sitting down on his bed with grace I wish I could steal. Our eyes lock as I continue to trace random objects around his room, until my fingers find something rubbery, making it hard to drag my fingers across. I break my gaze from his soft face, glad his eyes aren't open to stop me, and I find myself examining a photo book.

"Ah, those are just some old photos. They're not the important," Fuji says while jumping up, his blue eyes open. The green cover is already in my hand before Fuji can cross the remaining space between us and I giggle as I look down at the first page. I glance at Fuji's blue eyes that are staring down at the pictures, a light pink coming to his cheeks. His gaze flicks to mine and I wait for his eyes to bombard me with amazement, however they remain simple like a child's.

"You were cute when you were little... taking baths... with Yuuta... naked," I taunt, grinning with excitement as I look at the next few pictures. One is Yuuta's birthday and he had stuck cake on Fuji's nose. Another is Fuji holding a racket and, by the way his eyes are shining, it is his very first racket.

I flip through the first few pages until I end up coming to the elementary age, noting Fuji's sister's appearance a few times and, slowly, less of Yuuta.

Fuji shifts beside me and I glance over at him, almost choking on butterflies that swirl up to my throat. He's leaning closer to me, trying to get a better look at a picture, and his hair smells so good.

"That's Taka-san there in the background. I think that was my first week or so at Seishun Academy," Fuji says while smiling a bit, his eyes still open with curiosity. Smiling myself, I squint while leaning over the book and catch a glimpse of Taka running towards the school building with a frantic look on his face.

"You must really like photography," I whisper while leaning on my forearms, letting the silence of the house fill my ears as I turn the page silently.

"It keeps me keep the memories I have forgotten," Fuji whispers and I nearly jolt back from the nearness of his voice, even though it was near inaudible. Turning the page again, I giggle as I point to a picture in the middle of the page.

"That was the week after you and I introduced ourselves, because our teacher put us in the highest Science group since we were ahead of most of the class," I say while pointing to the "Science Fair" sign beside a young Tezuka Kunimitsu. Fuji chuckles and turns the page, pointing to the top picture.

"Remember our project?" he asks while pointing to a laptop with a younger me standing beside it grinning happily.

"The deja vu test, of course," I say while nodding, turning the page again. I scan the next page and reach for the next page when Fuji's hand is suddenly covering mine. Raising my eyebrows, I turn to see his half smiling face.

"I think that's enough pictures looking," Fuji says while drawing my hand away. If I wasn't a curious person, I don't think I would have pulled away, but I did. I turn the page quickly before he can grab my hand again. My gaze falls on a whole page full of little black-haired girls in the Seishun uniform. I gasp, tracing my fingers on the pictures lightly and look at all of the different angles and expressions I have.

"These are all me..." I mutter, turning the page eagerly. Fuji groans and walks behind me somewhere, his bed making a pad noise when he sits down. I continue to gaze in awe as the pictures progress and I become older, my hair grows longer, and then suddenly shortens, my face thins out, and my legs grow longer.

"I don't have any pictures of myself except for a few school pictures, since my dad is the drunk he is... It's like you're my family Fuji," I whisper, turning towards him. His hand is supporting his head as he looks at the floor, no emotion crossing his face. Out of nowhere, he suddenly looks up with anger in his eyes.

"I'm more like a stalker and you call me family. What the hell is wrong with you?" Fuji shouts as he stands up in one swift movement. My eyes widen as shock overcomes me. I back into the desk as he approaches me.

"Don't those pictures scare you in the least bit?" he asks, his blue eyes blazing.

"I don't think you're a stalker Fuji," I mutter, trying to avert my eyes, but failing. Fuji laughs sadistically, almost at himself, and slams both hands on either side of the table behind me.

"Do I scare you when I act like this? Did you know I could act like this?" Fuji asks, sounding sick of himself. My eyebrows knit together and I push against the table, trying to make room between us. He just inches closer.

"I'm glad you're finally showing me the real you. I've always wondered what you're really like when you're not smiling," I retort back, searching for confidence.

"I should have told you how I felt, not taken pictures of you and drawn you in class and dream about you constantly," he says, his voice getting lower and softer. His eyes close and he drops his head onto my shoulder. I struggle to keep breathing as he seems to sleep on my shoulder for a few, long seconds.

"You were just shy and didn't understand yourself what you felt," I whisper, letting my hand glide up to his face before my mind even registers I'm doing it. He raises his head to stare down at me again, my hand gently touching the side of his cheek.

"My feelings... do you want to know my feelings?" Fuji asks, while placing once of his hands on top of my roaming hand, pressing it against his cheek. I nod as I take a slow breath, his blue eyes staring at the wall behind me before flickering back to my own eyes.

"You had me at hello," he kisses me palm," and my heart would never slow down around you," he kisses my fingers," even when you were halfway across the room." He lips trail lightly across my forearm, his eyes never leaving mine. "No matter what changed," his nose gently brushes against my shoulder," you always looked beautiful to me. When you cut your hair," his lips brush my hairline, just above my ear," I wanted to have one lock you cut off just to smell your floral fragrance. When your body changed," his nose trails along my cheekbones, barely touching my skin," you become a woman that I desperately wanted."

"I felt as if I was frozen in time, not growing or changing, and there you were, shifting every second of every minute. Every part of my being longed to be with you, to touch your lengthening hair or to brush your growing legs," Fuji's voice becomes rougher as his lips whisper against my skin and his hands gently brush against my legs. My stomach tightens with butterflies and my head spins as I try to remember which way is up.

"Every second of every minute, I wanted to be with you more and more, because you are beautiful and you are lovely. You are sweet and you are intelligent. I would hear of another guy talk of you and jealousy would take over my body in waves, jealousy not even the freedom of tennis could sometimes defeat.

"You don't know how long I've wanted to have you here, sitting on my desk, just so I could do this," Fuji whispers, his blue eyes finally shutting as his lips find mine, sending fire along my skin. His lips are soft, but they caress mine with aggression and yearning from years of waiting.

"I love you Aiko," he whispers, breaking this passionate kiss long enough for me to breathe and then his lips are on mine again. I pull back first this time and hold his face in my hands, looking deeply into his blue eyes.

"I love you too Syusuke and I'm sorry," I whisper, kissing his jawbone.

"I'm sorry for making you wait," I add, kissing the edge of his lip. He chuckles and shakes his head, his eyes boring into mine.

"You are worth the wait. Besides, we have all summer break to make up for lost time," he whispers, his lips capturing mine again. I break it for the last time just to whisper one thing in his ear.

"Damn, I love summer."

Rating is Love.

Messaging is Devotion.

Both is Summer Hallucinations.