Post by dyaoka on Jun 18, 2006 0:55:43 GMT -5
hm. i'm experimenting with a new writing style. just wonder how it turned out. if you read, do tell me how it is. and this fic is not complete. this is only the first part.
Those Blue Eyes
By: Dyaoka
Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis.
Notes/Warnings: AU. TezuFuji friendship because I suck at romance. Also a new writing style for me, so I hope it’s good.
It had been a little over a month since Fuji had been acting strange, Tezuka noticed. The man would sleep in later than usual and when he was awake, stare off into space until he was spoken to. Tezuka didn't understand why, and as Fuji's guardian, it was up to him to discover the cause and fix it.
He brooded and thought over what could be wrong with his master's life. Fuji had every luxury he could ever ask for. A mansion with acres of land surrounding them, a hoard of loyal followers, money, and many other worldly comforts were all within Fuji's grasp. So why would Fuji shut himself up in his library for days on end? He was no researcher or philosopher.
"Tezuka."
Caught off guard, Tezuka looked up from where he sat next to an opened window, staring out into the garden. Averting his eyes from the greenery, he looked up to the speaker.
"What is it, Echizen?"
Echizen was only a boy. Far from Tezuka's height, the child was Fuji's designated heir. Brilliant in his studies and quite a drive in ambition; those were only several reasons as to why an orphan like Echizen was chosen. "Lord Fuji caught you, didn't he?" It was a familiar question ringing in the man's ears.
Sighing, Tezuka gestured for the boy to approach him. "I have told you the story many times. Why hear it again?" Echizen did not answer, continuing to stare at the other. "Yes, he caught me." The answer was quieter.
"How?" The boy was curious, even though the story was told so many times.
"We fought many times, in the mountain pass near your home village. I was...the master of the lands there. Fuji never bested me once. Then, I was caught in a trap one day, by a group of hunters. He saved me and I've sworn my life to him as his guardian. He is my master." Tezuka's gaze had returned to the garden, a far away look appearing in his eyes.
"They say you're not human." It was a statement, not a question. Something that Echizen had never said before, when they had the conversation. Tezuka did nothing to confirm or deny it, but continued looking down at the garden below. It was beautiful and the garden was his; Fuji's gift to him.
"Well, it's not like I care anyway." Echizen gave a slight smirk. As an afterthought, the boy said; "Fuji was asking for you earlier. He's at the library."
"You will address him as 'Lord Fuji,' Echizen, or I will punish you for that," Tezuka said, rising to his feet. "It doesn't matter if you are his heir or not, you will respect your elders." Without waiting for an apology from him, Tezuka was down the hall, walking at an abruptly quick pace. He wore no shoes, yet his bare feet did not make sounds upon the cold floor like a normal person would. The only noise from him was the rustling of his clothes.
Turning a corner and cutting through the courtyard, Tezuka decided that he was going to spend the time idling in a place much closer to the library than at the west wing of the mansion. Being too far away from Fuji always somehow did more damage than good.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door to the library, Tezuka softly padded over to where he knew was Fuji's preferred reading spot. It was a corner, hidden behind a bookcase and a slant of light from the windows, carefully chosen so those who didn't know where to look would miss the lord completely. Upon closer scrutiny, Tezuka discovered that Fuji's eyes were closed and he seemed to be asleep. A step closer and it was revealed that Fuji was not.
"Hello, Tezuka." The briefest moment Tezuka thought Fuji was laughing at him, but only a smile ghosted over his master's lips. "What brings you here?"
Noting the absence of a book in Fuji's hands, Tezuka answered. "Echizen said you called for me."
Fuji's face was blank for a moment and then he laughed. "I did." Sparkling blue eyes opened to pin Tezuka to where he stood. For all his long life, the many tens and hundreds of years that he had spent in the world, Tezuka had never seen a person with eyes like Fuji's. A cold, terrifying, and mysterious blue that seemed at the same time just as warm and loving the owner of those eyes truly was.
Tezuka frowned. "You're becoming forgetful."
Another smile. "I am. But that was not why I called you here." Rising to his feet effortlessly, Fuji gestured for Tezuka to follow him as he left the library. They walked through the halls and out into the garden in relative silence, a vassal following a lord. No words were needed, for there was nothing to say. Nothing that the two wanted to hear, but must be heard.
It was Fuji that broke the silence. "Don't you want to go home?"
"My home is with you," Tezuka answered.
"Not here. The place that you've protected for so long...the mountains? What were they called?" Fuji furrowed his eyebrows as he thought. "The Silent Mountains. You don't miss your home?"
Only a slight hesitation seeped into Tezuka's voice. "I do think of it often, but my place is here."
"You've stayed away from your lands long enough, don't you think? Your people must miss you." A slight chuckle carried upon the light breeze filtered through Tezuka's ears, sounding much of bells and chimes amongst the rustles of the leaves and blossoms. "I am relieving you, Tezuka. You can return to your proper place." Tezuka said nothing, but remained silent. "It must have been hard for you, to be under me here, when you had so much there."
"It was my choice to remain here," Tezuka murmured, walking up next to Fuji. "I had acknowledged you as my master and I will continue to remain here."
"And you don't need to stay here. Your duty has been fulfilled," Fuji smiled kindly and touched Tezuka on the arm. The other man said nothing, but stood rather still, unswaying in the breeze. Motionless.
"How long do you think it's been since our first meeting?" Fuji had once again broken the gentle silence. Tezuka glanced down at the shorter man that stood beside him. Light, smooth skin that didn't belong to a warrior, soft lips that resembled the moon in its smiles, gentle blue eyes, and shoulder length hair. Fuji had not changed at all since their first meeting.
"I don't know," Tezuka admitted. "It must not have been very long."
To that, Fuji laughed out loud and stepped away from Tezuka's side. He held his hands up to the sun, looking at them and studying them as though there was something there. "Oh, you've always been a strange one..." Fuji's smile was sad, his posture was slack, and the weight upon his feet was heavy. "Tell me, Tezuka, how do you see me?"
"You haven't changed," was Tezuka's response. He was confused; did this have something to do with his master's odd behavior lately?
"Tezuka, I am old now. I have changed." Fuji seemed to be serious, but Tezuka was the one to give a sharp bark of laughter.
"Tell me that when I see wrinkles on you," the man said. "You haven't changed one bit." This seemed to elicit a smile from Fuji.
"Very well. Shall we go hunting tomorrow, like we used to?" Fuji asked.
Despite a small frown, Tezuka agreed. Fuji had mysteriously stopped going hunting one day, leaving Tezuka to wonder why he had given up a sport he had loved so much. It certainly wasn't because of the beasts they were hunting, the guardian knew at least that much.
umm. yeah. it's kinda short, but i hope it was at least OK for a start. new writing styles and all...haha. ^^; well, please tell me if there are any points that need improving or tweaking.
Those Blue Eyes
By: Dyaoka
Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis.
Notes/Warnings: AU. TezuFuji friendship because I suck at romance. Also a new writing style for me, so I hope it’s good.
It had been a little over a month since Fuji had been acting strange, Tezuka noticed. The man would sleep in later than usual and when he was awake, stare off into space until he was spoken to. Tezuka didn't understand why, and as Fuji's guardian, it was up to him to discover the cause and fix it.
He brooded and thought over what could be wrong with his master's life. Fuji had every luxury he could ever ask for. A mansion with acres of land surrounding them, a hoard of loyal followers, money, and many other worldly comforts were all within Fuji's grasp. So why would Fuji shut himself up in his library for days on end? He was no researcher or philosopher.
"Tezuka."
Caught off guard, Tezuka looked up from where he sat next to an opened window, staring out into the garden. Averting his eyes from the greenery, he looked up to the speaker.
"What is it, Echizen?"
Echizen was only a boy. Far from Tezuka's height, the child was Fuji's designated heir. Brilliant in his studies and quite a drive in ambition; those were only several reasons as to why an orphan like Echizen was chosen. "Lord Fuji caught you, didn't he?" It was a familiar question ringing in the man's ears.
Sighing, Tezuka gestured for the boy to approach him. "I have told you the story many times. Why hear it again?" Echizen did not answer, continuing to stare at the other. "Yes, he caught me." The answer was quieter.
"How?" The boy was curious, even though the story was told so many times.
"We fought many times, in the mountain pass near your home village. I was...the master of the lands there. Fuji never bested me once. Then, I was caught in a trap one day, by a group of hunters. He saved me and I've sworn my life to him as his guardian. He is my master." Tezuka's gaze had returned to the garden, a far away look appearing in his eyes.
"They say you're not human." It was a statement, not a question. Something that Echizen had never said before, when they had the conversation. Tezuka did nothing to confirm or deny it, but continued looking down at the garden below. It was beautiful and the garden was his; Fuji's gift to him.
"Well, it's not like I care anyway." Echizen gave a slight smirk. As an afterthought, the boy said; "Fuji was asking for you earlier. He's at the library."
"You will address him as 'Lord Fuji,' Echizen, or I will punish you for that," Tezuka said, rising to his feet. "It doesn't matter if you are his heir or not, you will respect your elders." Without waiting for an apology from him, Tezuka was down the hall, walking at an abruptly quick pace. He wore no shoes, yet his bare feet did not make sounds upon the cold floor like a normal person would. The only noise from him was the rustling of his clothes.
Turning a corner and cutting through the courtyard, Tezuka decided that he was going to spend the time idling in a place much closer to the library than at the west wing of the mansion. Being too far away from Fuji always somehow did more damage than good.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door to the library, Tezuka softly padded over to where he knew was Fuji's preferred reading spot. It was a corner, hidden behind a bookcase and a slant of light from the windows, carefully chosen so those who didn't know where to look would miss the lord completely. Upon closer scrutiny, Tezuka discovered that Fuji's eyes were closed and he seemed to be asleep. A step closer and it was revealed that Fuji was not.
"Hello, Tezuka." The briefest moment Tezuka thought Fuji was laughing at him, but only a smile ghosted over his master's lips. "What brings you here?"
Noting the absence of a book in Fuji's hands, Tezuka answered. "Echizen said you called for me."
Fuji's face was blank for a moment and then he laughed. "I did." Sparkling blue eyes opened to pin Tezuka to where he stood. For all his long life, the many tens and hundreds of years that he had spent in the world, Tezuka had never seen a person with eyes like Fuji's. A cold, terrifying, and mysterious blue that seemed at the same time just as warm and loving the owner of those eyes truly was.
Tezuka frowned. "You're becoming forgetful."
Another smile. "I am. But that was not why I called you here." Rising to his feet effortlessly, Fuji gestured for Tezuka to follow him as he left the library. They walked through the halls and out into the garden in relative silence, a vassal following a lord. No words were needed, for there was nothing to say. Nothing that the two wanted to hear, but must be heard.
It was Fuji that broke the silence. "Don't you want to go home?"
"My home is with you," Tezuka answered.
"Not here. The place that you've protected for so long...the mountains? What were they called?" Fuji furrowed his eyebrows as he thought. "The Silent Mountains. You don't miss your home?"
Only a slight hesitation seeped into Tezuka's voice. "I do think of it often, but my place is here."
"You've stayed away from your lands long enough, don't you think? Your people must miss you." A slight chuckle carried upon the light breeze filtered through Tezuka's ears, sounding much of bells and chimes amongst the rustles of the leaves and blossoms. "I am relieving you, Tezuka. You can return to your proper place." Tezuka said nothing, but remained silent. "It must have been hard for you, to be under me here, when you had so much there."
"It was my choice to remain here," Tezuka murmured, walking up next to Fuji. "I had acknowledged you as my master and I will continue to remain here."
"And you don't need to stay here. Your duty has been fulfilled," Fuji smiled kindly and touched Tezuka on the arm. The other man said nothing, but stood rather still, unswaying in the breeze. Motionless.
"How long do you think it's been since our first meeting?" Fuji had once again broken the gentle silence. Tezuka glanced down at the shorter man that stood beside him. Light, smooth skin that didn't belong to a warrior, soft lips that resembled the moon in its smiles, gentle blue eyes, and shoulder length hair. Fuji had not changed at all since their first meeting.
"I don't know," Tezuka admitted. "It must not have been very long."
To that, Fuji laughed out loud and stepped away from Tezuka's side. He held his hands up to the sun, looking at them and studying them as though there was something there. "Oh, you've always been a strange one..." Fuji's smile was sad, his posture was slack, and the weight upon his feet was heavy. "Tell me, Tezuka, how do you see me?"
"You haven't changed," was Tezuka's response. He was confused; did this have something to do with his master's odd behavior lately?
"Tezuka, I am old now. I have changed." Fuji seemed to be serious, but Tezuka was the one to give a sharp bark of laughter.
"Tell me that when I see wrinkles on you," the man said. "You haven't changed one bit." This seemed to elicit a smile from Fuji.
"Very well. Shall we go hunting tomorrow, like we used to?" Fuji asked.
Despite a small frown, Tezuka agreed. Fuji had mysteriously stopped going hunting one day, leaving Tezuka to wonder why he had given up a sport he had loved so much. It certainly wasn't because of the beasts they were hunting, the guardian knew at least that much.
umm. yeah. it's kinda short, but i hope it was at least OK for a start. new writing styles and all...haha. ^^; well, please tell me if there are any points that need improving or tweaking.
tezuka has no personality = easy to manipulate in fics! XD