Catch My Fall

Chapter 10: Sometimes I feel I've got to run away I've got to get away from the pain that you drive into the heart of me.

Silence reigned for the next five minutes as everyone stared at the spread that hung over the bar. The irrational part of Tezuka, which he liked to pretend didn't exist, was screaming at people to stop staring so unabashedly at Fuji's naked form. He could feel the tension in Fuji's body, and decided that perhaps it would be best to go back outside. Everyone else seemed to agree, because they followed him in silence.

Once back outside, Oishi approached them. "Tezuka, I'm sorry, but Eiji and I need to speak with Fuji-san for a few moments alone."

Fuji separated from him, albeit hesitantly, and followed after Oishi and Kikumaru toward the police car. He watched for a few minutes as Fuji nodded in response to something Oishi had said.

"Tezuka," Atobe said from behind him. He reluctantly took his eyes off of Fuji as he turned to face Atobe and Echizen.

Looking uncharacteristically grave, Atobe spoke quietly, "We'll have to close the club for a few days. I'm having a friend of mine install some video surveillance and better alarms for the building. I don't know how long the police will need to look over the scene, but Yanagi assures me that he'll be here the moment I call him.

"That's fine." Tezuka just wanted the problem dealt with. He hated feeling like he wasn't in control of his surroundings, and this whole situation was seemingly out of his control.

Atobe looked over at Echizen for a moment, nodding for him to leave. Echizen scowled at Atobe. As he walked away, he yelled over his shoulder, "If you think you'll make this up to me in bed, you're out of your mind. I want Ponta."

Rolling his eyes, Atobe refocused his attention on him. "Tezuka, you know that you can't go back to your flat just yet."

Nodding in agreement, Tezuka replied, "I know. Fuji may want to visit his family. I'll stay at a hotel."

"Don't be ridiculous, Tezuka. The last thing he'll want is to be away from you right now, regardless of what he says. Echizen and I were going to go up to my cabin for a week, but I need to deal with club matters. You two can go instead."

"I couldn't do that, Atobe. You've been wanting this vacation for years."

Sighing, Atobe pressed a set of keys into Tezuka's pocket. "Tezuka, no one can say no to ore-sama. I own the place. I can go whenever I please. It's on a lake. There's fishing, swimming, hiking, and all the trees you'd ever want to make out against. I even have a hammock. I've counted over seventy-three places where you can engage in acts of indiscretion. Enjoy it."

"Atobe," Tezuka began, although his resolve was weakening.

"Now Tezuka, don't make ore-sama call Kabaji over to carry you there."

"Fine. As soon as they're done, we'll go," Tezuka fingered the keys in his pocket and looked back over to Fuji. It was clear from the body language that he was stressed. Perhaps Atobe's idea had merit after all. "Thank you."

"It's nothing, Tezzie-chan. I fully expect you to let the old band reunite for at least one show at the club once I have Oshitari sufficiently black-mailed. Yamato would do it in a heart-beat if you asked."

Pinching the bridge of his nose at both the nickname and the thought of playing again, Tezuka heaved his most put upon sigh, even if it was only for the benefit of his one-man audience. "Why I still talk to you, I'll never understand."

"Because, you, like so many others, are awed by my beauty, prowess, magnificence, amongst other honourable traits, and are unable to deny my most glorious self any relayed desire."

Tezuka grimaced. "You forgot humble."


Just then, Fuji, Kikumaru, and Oishi made their way back over to them. Kikumraru was bouncing on the balls of his feet, fighting the urge to discover more about Fuji. It didn't help that he was fully aware of how Fuji was different then the other two people he'd dated in the past, which made Fuji very interesting to Kikumaru.

Oishi looked at Kikumaru with what could only be described as exasperated fondness before speaking once more to Fuji. "Thanks, Fuji-san, for all of the information. Now, I need to call headquarters and get someone to process the scene."

With that, Oishi walked back to the car and radioed the station. Kikumaru, now without someone suppressing his innate curiosity, began with more questions.

"Fuji-san! Wait, I can't call you that. It's too formal since you're Tezuka's boyfriend! I know! Fujiko! You look like a Fujiko. Is that okay?"

Fuji, looking thoroughly amused, responded. "That's fine, Kikumaru-san."

"Nya, call me Eiji. Everyone does. Except Tezuka, of course."

"Fine, Eiji," Fuji responded good-naturedly. He seemed to actually like Kikumaru, which would make things easier if he ever wanted to restart playing chess with Oishi. That sort of activity was too boring for Kikumaru, and the games were eventually abandoned.

"So, Fuji want to hear some stories about Tezuka's band days? There was this one time when he was walking down the hall during college and a few girls were still excited about a show the night before, they surrounded him, and before he could get away, they completely tore his shirt apart! It was so funny and he had to walk around topless until he could find a shirt to change into! I thought he was going to have an aneurysm."

Fuji looked over at him, as if trying to imagine how he'd appeared when that happened, and he started to laugh. "Have they recovered?"

Completely thrilled that Fuji knew Tezuka like he did, Eiji's eyes widened as he continued his story. "I think one of them didn't talk without a stutter for weeks. They belonged to the girls' tennis club, and he was able to talk their coach into making them clean the latrines for a month."

Still laughing, Fuji walked over to him, nudging him lightly, and said, "You would have been a fearsome coach. I'm glad you weren't the head of any of my clubs."

Refusing to even dignify that with a response, Tezuka instead sent Kikumaru a warning glare that clearly stated that what was in the past should stay there.

"Fine, Tezuka. You're never any fun. Fujiko, I'll call you sometime when mean old Tezuka's at work and then you'll hear the really good stuff."

Fuji smiled at Kikumaru, ignoring the annoyed look on his face, and replied, "I look forward to that, Eiji."

Tezuka decided that it was the best time to inform Fuji about their unplanned vacation when another car pulled in behind Oishi's. Two men emerged from the vehicle. Although one was shorter and slighter than the other, Tezuka could tell that he was in charge. What he did not expect was for Fuji to dart over to speak to the man.

"Syusuke, come here," the man said softly, opening his arms. Fuji hugged him for a few minutes before pulling away.

"What are you doing here, Yukimura? Not that I'm not happy to see you," Fuji asked, but Tezuka thought that the tone sounded sheepish.

Yukimura pinned Fuji with one glance. "I received a call from Yuuta last night."

"Oh."

Frowning, Yukimura held Fuji's chin between his fingers forcing him to look him in the eye. "You promised me, Syusuke. You promised me that you would call me. I didn't even know you were back until Yuuta phoned me. I know I'm not your father, but the minute you knew that it had started again, you should have called me first."

"I didn't think it was serious," Fuji said, obviously lying.

Yukimura pulled Fuji close again. "You didn't want me to worry. It's my job to worry about you. I'd be worried if it weren't my job. I still remember back in junior high when you were happy."

"Sorry," Fuji murmured quietly into Yukimura's coat. "I just wanted it to be over."

Sighing, Yukimura released Fuji. "I know, but for now, you can't keep me in the dark. I won't let you."

Fuji led the two men over to where he was still standing. "This is Tezuka Kunimitsu."

Smiling, Yukimura shook his hand. "Yuuta told me about you. Take good care of him, because he won't do it for himself. This," he said as he pointed to the man behind him, "is my partner, Sanada."

Sanada mumbled his greeting, Tezuka nodding in response.

"Do you want to tell me what happened here?" Yukimura asked as he looked over at Oishi and Kikumaru.

"Well-" Tezuka started when van parked near the other cars. A tall man wearing thick glasses came out of the vehicle, followed by a shorter man carrying various things in his hands.

"Inui-senpai, can I handle this one? I have two years of experience in the field!" the shorter man yelled as he trailed after the man named Inui.

Inui turned back to him. "Not this time, Horio. Now, please be quiet and follow me."

"Inui, you've made it. I want everything done properly. Let's go," Oishi said with a serious expression.

All of the officers exchanged greetings before heading inside. He stayed outside with Fuji, having no desire to look at the club again until it was blissfully free of the photography.

"Fuji," he said now that they were alone, "Atobe gave me the keys to his cabin."

Smiling a little, Fuji kissed his cheek. "How long are we going?"

"At least a week."

"What about the club?"

Tezuka shook his head. "That's not important right now."

"Tezuka," Fuji began, but he didn't finish because the second inspection of the building was complete and Yukimura was once again walking toward Fuji.

"He'll never leave me alone," Fuji said quietly.

Yukimura crossed his arms. "You know I have my doubts. I'm not so sure it's him."

"Who else could it be, if not him?" Fuji asked exasperatedly.

"I'm not sure, but I wonder. I don't think it's wise to go back to the flat until I've cleared a few things," Yukimura said, obviously contemplating something.

Fuji nodded. "Tezuka and I are going away for a week or so."

"How can I contact you if I need to?"

Pulling out a small pad of paper and pencil from his pocket, Fuji quickly jotted a number down and gave it to him. "Here's my cell phone. I'm not sure how the reception will be."

"Fuji, can I borrow that for a moment?" Atobe asked, as he presented his hand.

Handing it over, Fuji smiled as he warned. "Now, don't peek at my music."

"Certainly, Fuji." Atobe wrote down two numbers on the page. He tore off the bottom half and handed it to Yukimura. "The top one is the number at the cabin. The bottom is mine. Please call me if it's something important."

Yukimura took the phone numbers with thanks and turned to Fuji once more. "I'll be in touch. If anything happens, you'd better call me or else."

"I will. Thank you."

"Fuji," Tezuka said as he watched them drive away, "we can leave now if you want."

Fuji looked relieved as he agreed. "What about our things?"

Atobe nodded toward the limousine that pulled up at that moment. "It's been taken care of, already."

Tezuka was surprised to see Kabaji behind the wheel until it struck him that he wanted to make sure that no one except the people inside of the car knew exactly where they were going.

It was late when Atobe and Kabaji drove away, leaving them alone in a nicely decorated cabin in the woods. They unpacked quickly and efficiently before sitting down on the couch, watching the fire burn in the hearth. Both of them had been silent since they began the long drive there, and neither knew exactly what to say to each other. It had been a long, stressful day, and both were rather worn out by the circumstances.

His eyes were beginning to feel heavy when Fuji pulled him down to lay in front of him on the sofa. Once Fuji, had settled behind him, holding him tightly, only then did he speak. "I suppose I should tell you about Kirihara."

AN: Sorry, I've taken so long to post. I hope you enjoy the little cameos. :D