Prince of Tennis - Yanagi Renji - 065. Passing
Title: You’ll Find Love at the End
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Characters: Yanagi Renji, Yukimura Seiichi, Niou Masaharu
Prompt: 065 Passing
Word Count: 9,749
Rating: NC-17
Summary:For a long time Yanagi has feelings for one of his best friends...throughout years as adults, he denies these feelings until the object of his desire finally comes around....
Author's Notes: Warning for m/m sex scenes
This also references a story I wrote for an exchange (Tenipuri X-Pair on Livejournal - check it out if you have a moment, there’s some good works on it!)
Also..please just forgive my lack of knowledge of the foreign places mentioned. I probably beyond failed at it, and I apologize for things that may be wrong (I’m too lazy to research, really.)
My LDT found here
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Yanagi Renji was sure of most things in his life. The one thing that eluded him, however, was love. Well, it wasn’t the feelings involved in a romantic relationship, but more the fact that he knew the one he loved didn’t love him back. Actually, he was only about 34.9% certain of that. He had never asked, and the one he had the feelings for never said anything if he did have any feelings for Renji.
He supposed it was in high school when the feelings started. They had been friends for a few years now, and it was obvious to Renji that Yukimura Seiichi was not attracted to the one they all thought. Or rather, the one everyone expected him to be head over heels with Yukimura had eyes only for someone else.
Renji’s heart broke the day that Yukimura came into the locker room and announced he had a date...and with a girl at that. So much for any chance he may have had.
Renji was so down, he called an old friend to cheer him up. After talking to Inui Sadaharu for about three minutes he realized that speaking to the other was just depressing him even more. He did appreciate the gossip from Seigaku though.
“Renji?”
“Yes, Sadaharu?”
“Are you even paying attention to what I’m saying?”
“I’m sorry, I’m not really.” Renji sighed. “I’ve fallen into that emotion called ‘love’....though I feel it for someone that only sees me as a friend.”
“I take it that person is not me.” Inui said, amused by his friend’s confession.
“No, not you. I thought you had your obsession with Tezuka.”
Inui cleared his throat. “He...has eyes for another.” He said. “I know my chances have fallen to less than one percent. So who’s the lucky person?”
Renji sighed. “Seiichi. Who is out on a date right now...with a girl.”
“There’s always the chance that first, it won’t work out, and second, that he is at least bisexual. Those things could increase your odds.”
“Was that supposed to reassure me?”
“Did it work?” Inui asked.
“It did not.” Renji stated dryly.
“I can offer sexual favors the next time I see you in person.” Inui joked.
“Because having meaningless sex with someone I respect is going to take my mind off the larger picture.”
“It might.” Inui said. “At least for a few minutes.”
Renji shook his head, even though Inui couldn’t see it. “I appreciate the thought and the offer, but I’ll decline for now.”
“Suit yourself.” Inui said. “Cold showers can get old though.”
Renji laughed and hung up before the conversation got even more weird.
Renji listened politely as Yukimura gushed about his girlfriend. They’d been dating for a few months now. It looked like things were going well, to Renji’s disappointment. He smiled and nodded in the appropriate places while in the back of his mind he imagined pushing Yukimura up against a wall, and burying his cock so far up Yukimura’s ass...He pushed those inappropriate thoughts to the side.
“You seem distracted, are you alright?” Yukimura asked.
“I’m fine.” Renji lied to him. “I’d better be getting home though.” He said, excusing himself.
Yukimura turned to his other best friend, Sanada Genichirou. “What’s wrong with Renji?”
Sanada shrugged. “Who knows.”
“You two are idiots.” A comment from the far side of the locker room reached their ears.
“This is a private conversation, Niou.” Sanada said bluntly.
That wasn’t about to stop their resident trickster. He oozed his way over and wrapped himself around Sanada, facing Yukimura. “Isn’t it obvious what’s wrong with our Officer? He’s lovesick.”
Sanada pushed Niou off of him, debating taking another shower now to get the taint of Niou off of him.
Yukimura laughed. “Renji? In love? That....” He paused. “Doesn’t really seem like him.”
“Well, when the one he loves is dating another, it kind of sucks for him.” Niou said.
“How do you know all this?” Sanada demanded.
“I notice things.” Niou said, leaving it at that. He turned around, grabbed his gear and left.
Yukimura looked at Sanada. “Who do you suppose is the not-so-lucky person?”
Niou smirked, and used his Illusion to become Sanada for the moment and chased after Renji.
“Renji!” Niou called out in Sanada’s deep bass voice. Renji turned around, then shook his head.
“You’re slipping, Niou.” He told the other. Niou scowled and dropped the illusion.
“What gave me away?” He asked.
“Actually, it was fairly spot on. I can hear the difficulty you have deepening your voice that much.”
Niou shrugged. “As long as it fools others...I’ve been told I have pretty flexible throat. Makes the choir director regret that I hate music.” He smirked.
“So to what do I owe the privilege of you flagging me down?” Renji asked as they kept walking.
“Can’t a friend just hang out with a friend?”
“Not when it’s you, and you and I are more acquaintances than actual friends.” Renji pointed out.
“Alright, point. Then again, you’re cold to almost everyone, so you’re hard to approach. You could open up a bit more.” Niou countered.
Renji had to concede that point to Niou. “Fine, you have your point. We’re even.”
“Good. Now, how about our love sick officer tell ol’ Masaharu who’s got his panties soaking wet?” Renji stopped and stared at Niou for a moment.
“There are so many things wrong with what you just said that I don’t think I should dignify that question with an answer.” Renji finally said, once he pushed down his temper.
“I don’t know. Obviously you have to be wearing panties ‘cause you’re moping around like a girl. And you obviously have the hots for someone...so your panties are probably soaking wet at the thought of them...”
“Please stop implying that I’m the opposite sex, and I may tell you more.”
Niou grinned. His plot had worked. “Fine. Though if I’m not satisfied with the answer, I want a blow job.”
Renji sputtered. “What?!”
“I want some kind of satisfaction out of this.” Niou winked at Renji. “I figure that would do it. Besides, you’re obviously gay, so I figure sucking a cock wouldn’t disgust you too much.”
Renji rolled his eyes. “There’s only one in particular I’d like to do that to, and it isn’t yours.” He said. “If I tell you, can you keep it to yourself? I don’t want to hurt him...”
Niou suddenly sobered up. “Yeah, I suppose I can do that. I can’t promise that I won’t use that information to try to maybe push you together.”
“I’d appreciated it if you wouldn’t. He’s not into guys.” Renji said, sighing. “It’s Seiichi.”
Niou stared at him for a few. Double whammy there. And he’d been putting up with Yukimura chattering on and on about his girlfriend. No wonder Renji looked more depressed than usual lately.
“I’m sorry.” Niou finally said, after it sunk in.
“I am too.” Renji said, turning at his corner, leaving Niou there to think.
Niou had actually kept his word and kept out of the affairs of their captain and treasurer. It almost broke his heart to watch Renji suffer listening to Yukimura go on and on about his girlfriend.
“Something wrong, Niou-kun?” Yagyuu came up behind him.
“Just thinking how much life can suck for some people.” Niou answered, pushing away from the wall.
They all made it through high school. Yukimura had gone out and broken up with several other girls. It was graduation day when he approached Renji.
“Renji!” Yukimura called out to him. “I wanted to ask you something.”
Renji hoped in the back of his mind that it would be something of a wedding proposal, but he knew that was as likely as Godzilla actually attacking Tokyo. Thought maybe he could get lucky and Godzilla would come after Yokohama?
“What is it, Seiichi?” Renji asked.
“Well, you know I’m going to go to the pro circuit, right? Would you be my manager?”
Well, that was as close to a marriage proposal he’d get, and it still really meant nothing other than a business relationship. He could at least be close to the object of his desire.
“I’ll....consider it.” Renji said. He didn’t want to give a definite answer just then.
“Please do.” Yukimura smiled his most charming smile at his friend. “Unfortunately, Sanada is going pro as well. It will be disappointing having to go against him now. I hope he hasn’t asked you the same thing.”
“He hasn’t. I think he had someone else in mind.” Renji said. “If you’ll excuse me...I have someone to say goodbye to...”
Renji pushed through the crowd, and headed to the roof of the school one last time. He headed to the lanky figure that was up there, taking a drag off a cigarette.
“You know that’s bad for you, right?”
Niou scowled. “You sound like Hiroshi.”
“He’s going to be a doctor; he has every right to tell you it’s bad for you.” Renji said.
“And your excuse?” Niou asked.
“I’m just a concerned individual.” Renji said, taking it out of Niou’s hand and taking a drag off it himself. “Oral fixation.”
Niou snorted. “I thought your oral fixation was cocks.”
“And the one I want asked me to be his manager.”
“You gonna do it?”
“I might.” Renji said, stealing another drag and passing the cigarette back to Niou. “I don’t know if I could take the sexual tension.”
“You have for...what, three, four years now? And you still won’t give me a blow job.” Niou said, twisting out the butt of the cigarette and tossing it to the wind. Renji frowned, but shrugged.
“You know I probably won’t ever see you again, right?”
Niou looked at him, and shrugged. “Life happens.” He said.
“I always thought you and Yagyuu were an item.”
“On and off, actually. You know he has to keep up his façade of being The Gentleman, especially for his family. I probably won’t see him again.” There were many implied levels to that last statement.
“I think I could have liked you if I wasn’t so attached to the idea that one day Seiichi might come to me.”
“You mean come in you.” Niou smirked. Renji snorted.
“That too.” He admitted. He closed the distance and gave Niou a peck on the lips. “That’s for keeping that secret for as long as you did. And in case you didn’t know this, I always pay my debts.” He said, as he sank to his knees, and fumbled a bit with the zipper on Niou’s pants, pulling out his dick and sucking on it before Niou could protest.
Niou tried to protest, but the only thing that would come out of his mouth was moans. Where in the world had Renji learned to give such an awesome blow job was the only thing he could think as he came...and the bastard actually swallowed!
Renji pulled back, and wiped his face of what little bit had escaped. “Are you satisfied now, Masaharu?”
Niou smirked, and pulled out a new cigarette, and offered one to Renji as well. “That answer your question?” He said, as he lit them. “To think what I missed out on.”
“Me possibly calling you Seiichi in the middle of intimate relations? I prefer to keep my shame to myself.” Renji said, taking a long drag.
“Being his manager means being around him constantly. Something will have to give at some point.” Niou commented.
“If something happens, it happens. If not, well, that was meant to be then.”
“By the way, where’d you learn to suck cock like that?”
“A friend.” Was the only answer he’d give. He blew out a bit smoke and looked up. “I guess this is goodbye then.”
“Don’t be a stranger.” Niou waved him off, knowing his words were probably true, and they wouldn’t see each other again. At least he’d gotten an awesome going away present.
Renji mulled over Yukimura’s offer for a week. He had wanted to continue on through university. Things would be financially tight, even with his savings, either way he went. Yukimura wouldn’t be earning a lot until he starting winning, and winning at the big tournaments at that.
Then again, he could be the one to aid Yukimura along that road. He called up Yukimura to tell them that he would love to take the job of being his manager.
With Yukimura’s skill, the wins just kept coming. He was plastered all over the sports pages of nationwide newspapers as Japan’s new rising star. There were some concerns about the possibilities of his condition relapsing into a state as he was in junior high. Renji took care of those rumormongers very quickly and with an ease that surprised even him.
It had been about four years since they graduated high school. Yukimura charmed people on and off the courts. He even managed to catch the interest of some models and dated them, though however briefly. It never seemed to work out.
He complained about his social life to Renji one night.
Renji pointed out that both he and the models had lives that were not exactly compatible, with travel schedules, training, and other obligations that would keep them apart. He did keep his feelings under wraps though. No sense in pushing at a button that obviously wasn’t there.
“Maybe I should date guys...” Yukimura mused. Renji looked at him.
“That’s an almost surefire way to fuel fan girl fantasies, or make them want you even more.” Renji pointed out.
Yukimura grinned. “Never really thought of that...” He said, then leaned back on the couch in his fairly simple apartment he rented when he was in Japan. He was out of the country more than in It these days, it seemed. “Ne, Renji, ever have sex with a man?”
“That’s a rather personal question, Seiichi.” He answered, trying to avoid answering.
“Just curious. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“I should probably go home for the night. Don’t forget, tomorrow evening is the flight to France.”
“I know, I know. I’m all set for it. You worry too much.”
“If I don’t, you won’t, and then how many tournaments would you miss?” Renji teased him.
“You might have a point there.” Yukimura said as Renji walked out the door.
The late spring air in France brought Yukimura’s first loss on the professional circuit. He moped around his hotel room for hours. Renji stood in the corner, and wonder what, if anything, he should do. It wasn’t as if it was really a first, it was more that Yukimura took the loss as a personal insult. Renji decided to quietly leave for a bit. When he returned, Yukimura was watching the current matches on the television.
Renji set down a chilled bottle of wine on the end table next to Yukimura, who looked up. “It’s a local vintage.” He said, finding a couple of glasses to drink from in the suite. He set them next to the wine.
“I just don’t get it, Renji.” Yukimura said as he poured some of the wine for himself.
“Relax tonight, we’ll review the tapes tomorrow.” Renji promised, taking a glass for himself. Yukimura nodded.
“This is pretty good stuff.” Yukimura commented on the wine.
“I couldn’t pronounce the name of it if I wanted to.” Renji said, staring at the foreign language on the bottle. Yukimura read it off and said it like he’d been speaking French his whole life. He’d only been learning it since middle school. Well, where Renji lacked in French, he certainly made up for it with his competency in English.
Yukimura went on in French, with Renji having no idea what he was saying. He just sipped at the wine, and pretended like he was paying attention. Yukimura finally slid into the same chair as Renji and curled up into a ball next to him, falling into a wine induced sleep.
Renji wasn’t really sure what to do. He’d dreamed about a moment like this for ages. He knew he wouldn’t take advantage of his friend in a situation like this. He did dare to stroke the inky tresses. He sighed, and carried Yukimura to the bed and laid him across it, brushing his hand through the other’s hair one last time before leaving the room for his own.
It was time for another cold shower.
Renji woke up the next morning, a bit warmer than usual. He clearly recalled going to bed alone that night. The only other person that had a key to his room was Yukimura. He cracked an eye open, and sure enough his friend was lying beside him, in a t-shirt and boxers. There was only a slight hint of the wine left on his breath as he snuggled against the lanky man.
Renji frowned a little, even as he reached to touch the silky tresses. He had planned on getting down to business early, but this break in the routine was already throwing him off. Yukimura should have already been awake and in the gym. In his official capacity as Yukimura’s manager he really should be waking him up, and getting him back on track. Unofficially, he didn’t want this moment to end. He sighed slightly to himself, and gently shook the other awake.
“Seiichi? Seiichi....you need to wake up.” Renji told him gently as he extracted himself from the blankets.
“Hmmm.....” Yukimura snuggled further down in the blankets. “Don’t wanna...” He murmured sleepily. Renji turned on the TV to see how the semifinals were shaping up. That got Yukimura to sit up. He scowled a little as some familiar names were mentioned. He seemingly oozed out of bed and stretched. “Damn it.....I can’t believe he made it further than I did.”
Renji looked at Yukimura, then at the TV where the face of an old friend was being interviewed. “Genichirou has some people behind him.” He commented.
“I do too.” Yukimura pouted. The expression made Renji want to pull Yukimura back in bed and just have his way with him. He was to resigned to do that though, and turned the TV off instead. “Do you have his personal number?” He asked.
“Of course.” Renji answered, sending t he contact information to Yukimura’s phone. Yukimura sent Sanada a text wishing him luck in his upcoming matches. He received a polite thank you back.
“Are you up to getting back on your routine? You shouldn’t suffer too much if you only do half your usual workout.” Renji told him. “After lunch, I’ll have had a chance to review the tapes, and we can go over what we need to do. I want to see you win at Wimbledon this year.”
Yukimura laughed. “Aye, aye, mon capitan” He said, and headed to his room to get dressed.
Not quite a month later, the draws for Wimbledon were announced. Yukimura had a bit of a fight on his hands, as his ranking had dropped with the loss earlier. He was more determined than before he would win the whole thing.
Renji just sat back, and did his job as efficiently as usual. He cringed at Yukimura’s broken English. The only other Japanese player on the circuit that was worse at speaking English was their old kouhai, Kirihara Akaya. Akaya’s English just made Renji want to cry, especially when he thought of all the times he had tutored the younger man in it. Fortunately, he rarely had to smooth other foreign relations, unlike Akaya’s manager.
In the quarter finals, Yukimura went up against another player from their junior high days. Fortunately, it wasn’t anyone to be overly sentimental over, it was just Tezuka Kunimitsu, former captain of Seishun Gakuen’s team. It was a fairly heated match, and somehow Yukimura managed to pull it off after five sets. He was exhausted while he cooled down in the shower. Renji was waiting with the statistics of his next obstacle to the title. Renji droned on about someone Yukimura didn’t really care about yet. He finally stopped Renji’s drone.
“Renji, shut up. I don’t care right now. I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed.” He said, and left, leaving Renji there, frowning, but taking the hint and went to do his work quietly from his own quarters. He got a few messages from Sanada, mostly updates on his matches. He answered with the odds of Yukimura going against him in the finals. He figured Sanada would mull over that for a while, as the phone messages had stopped. He worked well past one in the morning, and collapsed into a fitful slumber.
Early in the morning, Renji woke, showered, and headed to the practice courts, where he knew Yukimura should be. He frowned as he didn’t find him. He did take a moment to watch Sanada practice.
“I know you’re there, Renji.” Sanada finally said.
“I was looking for Seiichi.” Renji told him. “I assumed he would be on the practice courts.”
“He was earlier.” Sanada told him as he wiped the sweat off his brow. “I don’t know where he’s gone from here. His match isn’t until this evening, right?” Renji nodded in answer.
“I don’t think he’s nervous about it.” Perhaps he was, and wasn’t letting on. Renji wasn’t sure about anything at the moment.
“You know how he can be.” Sanada reminded him. Renji nodded.
“I’ll keep searching. I’m almost positive we’ll see you in the semifinals, at the very least.” Renji said, heading back out into the crowded streets full of tennis enthusiasts who wanted to watch the early morning matches. Renji gave up the leg work of finding Yukimura, and left him a message on his phone, and went in search of something to eat.
And of course life had a sense of humor, Renji thought as he saw Yukimura with a rather attractive lady at the place he had chosen to eat at. He was about to turn around and go back out the door when Yukimura saw him and waved him over to join them. Renji debated ignoring them, but he’d rather not have Yukimura’s ire directed at him for the next few days so he joined them.
Yukimura introduced the woman as Eve...Evelyn...Emma? It was something that started with E, but Renji didn’t pay much attention to her. She would be out of their lives in a few days. Yukimura hated long distance relationships, and each one he’d tried to maintain fell apart in just a few months. Renji figured he’d let Yukimura indulge in her company for a while. He just advised that it had better not interfere with his scheduled training. Yukimura scowled as Renji went on his way out the door.
“Your friend seems kind of cold....” His date said.
“He’s just aloof.” Yukimura said. “He’s not good with the ladies either.”
“Are you sure he’s into the ladies?”
“Huh?”
“I don’t know, but he looks more like he’s into guys.” She shrugged. “He’s your friend, so I guess you would know better than I would about that.”
After they had separated for the day, Yukimura thought about that conversation as he prepared for his next match.
“Are you about ready, Seiichi?” Renji asked, standing outside his hotel room.
“Yes, yes, I’m coming.” Yukimura said, hauling along his gear. Renji took a couple of the bags from his shoulders, and led the way to the elevators. They were on a rather high floor, but the view was fairly decent from up there.
Yukimura was silent for a while, even after they got on the elevator. Renji looked at him. Usually he would be more lively than this, discussing strategy, or just some pre-match trash talk that he wouldn’t actually dare to say to his opponent’s face.
“Renji?” Yukimura started out softly.
“What is it?” He asked.
“Remember Emily from earlier?” Well, he had, he just didn’t have the correct name to go with her face.
“Let me guess, you’re so in love with her, you plan on asking her to marry you.” Renji said drily.
Yukimura looked shocked at the suggestion. “No! I know there’s not going to be much there. She said she prefers the football player type athlete to us tennis players, but she’ll settle while Wimbledon is going on.” He laughed. “She said something that made me think, and made me realize that in all the years I’ve known you, that I don’t know something about one of the people I call my best friend.”
“And that would be?” Renji prompted.
The elevator arrived on the ground floor, dinging as the doors opened.
“...I’ll ask later.” Yukimura said, smiling. “No sense embarrassing you in front of a lobby full of people.”
“I appreciated that.” Renji said, shaking his head.
Later that evening, after Yukimura had successfully moved on to the next round (the semi-final was next, and if he made it through there, the final!), he sat in a chair in Renji’s hotel room. His laptop was sitting open on the desk, a couple of notebooks laid beside it with notes jotted here and there in it. The bed barely looked like it had been slept in, but then, the maids had probably been through earlier. A photograph of Renji’s sister and her husband was his computer’s desktop image. Yukimura examined the photograph for a bit as he waited for Renji to finish his shower.
Renji came out with the towel wrapped around his hips.
“What are you doing here, Seiichi? You should be in your own bed.”
“Don’t I know him from somewhere?” Yukimura asked, pointing at Renji’s brother in law.
Renji coughed. “Possibly....” His voice lowered. “That’s Genichirou’s brother....” Yukimura went wide eyed at the photo, and hearing that, it did suddenly make sense.
“How long have they been together, and how come neither of you told me?”
“Longer than we care to remember. Let’s just say that....well.....I’d rather not go into it.”
“Sasuke-kun?”
“Theirs.” He admitted.
“But...he was.....” Yukimura’s mind went into overload at that admission.
“Don’t think about it.” Renji suggested. “I don’t like thinking about it.” He took a sip from a glass of water that was sitting nearby. “As for not telling you....we both thought you knew.”
Yukimura sat down in a rather large chair. “Well, not until now.” He said. “Oh, well, I guess it really wasn’t any of my business anyway.” There was a small laugh as he thought about it. “Anyway....Actually, I wanted to ask you what I was going to earlier today.”
Renji raised an eyebrow at that, but remained quiet, waiting for Yukimura to go ahead and ask.
Yukimura cleared his throat. “So....something someone said to me made me think, and.....” Yukimura looked right into his manager’s eyes. “Are you into guys?”
Renji’s face didn’t change expression. He had wondered if his friend had either been dense or stupid over the years, and now with him finally asking directly... “Yes, Seiichi, I am.”
Yukimura just sat there for a moment, not exactly shocked, but a bit confused as well. “Huh...” He finally breathed out.
Renji just stood there, not exactly certain where things would go from there. “Honestly, I thought you already knew.” He teased a little. “Unfortunately, for me, the one person I’ve had feelings for is not the same way.” He went on. “So I’ve resigned myself to being alone, or in some cases, taking advantage of a friend with benefits. Unfortunately, there aren’t many of those around either.”
Yukimura tilted his head, considering his friends words, then chuckled a little. “Oh, I don’t mean to laugh, Renji. It’s just....how long have we known each other? I think I knew, I just didn’t want to believe it.”
“Well, it’s out there now.” Renji said, wishing he had something a bit stiffer than water to drink. “Did you want to discuss your competitor?” He asked, trying to turn the subject from his personal life. Luckily, Yukimura agreed and they talked strategy for a while before Yukimura decided to retire to his own room.
Yukimura had made it to the final...and had lost the final. After all the interviews and press conferences, he finally had a moment to contemplate his loss in private. Or rather, vent his frustrations while Renji listened and made notes on what needed improving while Yukimura said some rather colorful things.
Yukimura finally ran out of steam about an hour and a half later. “Let’s get some dinner.” He suggested.
Renji looked up, then nodded. He stretched as he rose, a few joints popping as he rose. “There’s always next year.” He told Yukimura.
“That there is.” He agreed, leading them to the lobby and the restaurant there. They spent the time each lost in their own thoughts for a while, and concentrated intently on their food when it arrived.
Yukimura looked up first. “You...you’re not going to think of this as a date, are you?”
Renji resisted the urge to laugh in his friend’s face. “Of course not. Why would you even ask that?”
“Just don’t want to give off the wrong impression.” Yukimura said, laughing it off.
“I usually consider dinner with you more of a business prospect, or just as friends. Not everything has to be read the wrong way, Seiichi.”
“I know.” He said. “So, should I be on the look out for someone to set you up with?” Yukimura perked up.
“Please don’t, Seiichi. I am perfectly happy the way things are for me right now.”
“Are you really?” Yukimura asked.
“I am.” Renji answered, putting a tone of finality to it. They finished eating in silence, and settled the check and went back to Renji’s room.
“Seiichi...”
“I’m not trying to make things awkward or anything...” He said quietly, slipping past Renji and sitting down. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy. Just because I haven’t found the love of my doesn’t mean that I ‘m not happy.”
“I think I know what you mean.” Yukimura said.
“You haven’t found your one true either...Other than tennis, that is.” Renji teased him a little.
“That’s because every lady I meet has just that one little flaw, or knows nothing about tennis.....” Yukimura sighed.
“In other words, your expectations are too high.” Renji said, sitting down on his bed. “Our flight is in the afternoon. Perhaps you should get some rest.”
Yukimura nodded, and shuffled off to his own room to finish packing and resting before they returned to Japan. Renji got up and went in search of a midnight snack. What he found was a somewhat intoxicated Sanada.
Renji sighed, and shook his old friend to his senses. Sanada let out a couple of hiccups before coming slightly around.
“Genichirou?” Renji called lightly. Luckily, he knew what room Sanada was in. He always made to sure to know those little details for just such an occasion. Sanada had a bit more mass on Renji, but Renji still had strength from his own days as a player and managed to heft Sanada to his feet and more or less dragged him to his room.
Renji dumped Sanada on his bed and tried to make him as comfortable as possible. He’d probably have a severe headache when he woke up. The only thing that seemed odd was the goofy smile on his face. Renji shook his head, and left some aspirin with Sanada, along with a note explaining how he’d gotten back to his room.
Sighing to himself, Renji went down to the lobby to see if there were other insomniacs there, or possibly to just find some company. Other than himself, there really wasn’t any one around, except for the person on duty at the desk. He sighed and just resigned himself to going to bed and getting ready to go home the next afternoon.
Things were about the same as usual back in Japan. Renji had gotten a text from Sanada thanking him for his assistance the other night. He had also gotten a text from Akaya of all people, saying that he was the first of his old team to know that his wife was pregnant...and wanted to know how that happened. Renji sighed when he read that. He wasn’t even interested in women, and he knew how children were made. Had Akaya been absent on that day his class covered that part of biology?
He shook his head as he arranged some personal appearances for Yukimura. Renji decided getting work over and done with for the day was a better plan than sitting around and doing nothing. He tracked Yukimura down to the gym that he usually worked out at. Renji nodded to the receptionist that knew him and let him in. He went right for machines he knew Yukimura would be at by this point in his routine.
He stood there quietly until Yukimura was aware of his presence.
“Good to see you finally, Renji.” Yukimura said. “Decided you didn’t need a workout today?”
“Perhaps later.” Renji said. “I was busy dealing with every TV station in Japan that would like a personal appearance from Wimbledon’s runner-up.”
Yukimura groaned. He hated doing these things, but he knew it came with being well known. “How many?”
“I managed to condense it down to about six or so. Some of them were willing to combine or simulcast.”
Yukimura nodded. He could deal with that. “Any thing else?”
“Not really. Though...there is one thing....”
“What’s that?” Yukimura asked.
“Would you mind if I took a couple of days off?”
“Go for it. I’m surprised you haven’t asked sooner!” Yukimura said. “You don’t have be mine 24/7, you know.”
The offhand comment stung a little at Renji’s heart, but he just smiled and thanked Yukimura.
He looked at his phone, and dialed an old number, hoping that the number didn’t belong to someone new.
Well, the owner of the number hadn’t changed, but it sounded like he was in a public place with the background noises Renji could hear as the call was connected.
“Sadaharu?” Renji asked, confused. His knowledge of his former best friend didn’t really put him as the type that would go out on what would supposedly be a work night.
“Renji.” Inui acknowledged. “I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m doing...” He trailed off.
“That’s one way to put it.” Renji agreed.
“Well, it’s a business venture. It seems to be doing pretty well so far. Then again, that remains to be seen in profits.”
“Business venture?”
“Yes. It turns out there really is a market for organic beverages.”
“I see.” Renji responded. “So I take it you’re busy for this evening.”
“I’m afraid so. That, and I have a date after closing.” Well, that was also new information he hadn’t had time to find out.
“Well, have fun, then.” Renji said, not meaning it at all and hanging up. He sighed to himself, then just wandered the streets for a while, as there was no sense in going home to the apartment that he and Yukimura shared. It would be too depressing. Disturbed by the thought that there was actually a market for Inui’s concoctions, he ducked into the nearest bar that sold more traditional alcoholic drinks.
Taking a seat at the bar, Renji ordered a beer and moped over it for a while. Someone took up the stool next to his, and Renji did his best to ignore the other patron and concentrate in his own self pity.
“You still don’t get it, do you?” The voice drawled. It was a familiar drawl, with a slight hint of an accent that Renji never did quite figure out. He turned his head slowly to his right where it had come from. The figure lifted up his mug, taking a pretty good swig out of it. Renji stared, wondering what in the world was fate trying to do.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Renji said, trying to leave it at that.
“Oh, I think you do. Don’t you still want that blue haired beauty?”
“I don’t want to ruin our professional relationship.” Renji defended.
“Have you thought about the direct approach?” Niou asked, leaning against the bar. Apparently that wasn’t his first round, as his words were slurring slightly.
“That not only would ruin any professional relationship, but probably ruin our friendship as well. I’d rather have a friend than have someone hating me for what I am and how I feel about them.” Renji realized how stupid it sounded as it poured out. He was also amazed that Niou was able to carry on a slightly serious conversation while not quite overly drunk. One or two more drinks, and this conversation might just head into the realm of the strange.
Niou waved at the bartender for another for both himself and Renji, and waved it off. “I’m buying.” He said, not leaving any room for argument.
Renji shrugged. He wasn’t really planning on having another. It would just be pushing at his own personal limit. Between his tall, lanky build and his metabolism, he never really found drinking alcohol to be all that enjoyable if he had anything stronger than beer, and he only tolerated that when he was in a funk.
Renji watched as Niou teetered a bit on his seat. The conversation seemed to be at an end. He sighed quietly, finishing his first drink before settling in with the next one. Honestly, in the last few years, he didn’t’ really expect to run into anyone, least of all Niou. Niou had given off the impression he was done with that phase of life, and didn’t want to see or hear from anyone in his past ever again. Renji smiled a little. Funny how life works, wasn’t it?
“Thanks for the drink* Renji said, standing up to leave. Niou caught at his shirt sleeve. He looked a bit like a wild animal at the moment. A few moments of silence passed as they just stared at each other. The moment was broken by Niou leaning up for a drunken, sloppy kiss. It didn’t last long.
“Come home with me.” Niou managed to say. Renji thought for a moment, and hoping his judgment wasn’t too impaired by the two beers. It’s not that he thought it was a bad idea, he just wasn’t all that sure. He nodded in agreement though.
After a taxi ride to another part of the city, the two approached a door that led into a tiny apartment. It was definitely a bachelor’s place, with only the smallest hint of an attempt at organization and cleanliness. There were random clothes thrown over the furniture. It wasn’t the worst mess Renji had been in, and probably wouldn’t be the last.
After Niou closed and locked the door, he pressed up against Renji again, resuming the drunken kissing. This time, Renji fell into it. He wasn’t certain how far they’d go or even if he should. He was carrying a torch for someone he wasn’t sure loved him back. What was a quick, drunken toss in the hay with Niou in the grand scheme of life?
The morning dawned with the sun hitting Renji in the eyes from an odd angle, and a warm body that was snoring away. Renji groaned softly as the memory of the previous night hit. He got up, and went to see if Niou at least had some coffee. The way he drank indicated that he would definitely have at least something for a hangover.
The closest thing to coffee Renji could find was some cola, and he managed to find some pain reliever in the tiny kitchen. He brought them with him as he gently shook Niou awake.
Niou groaned as well. “What the fuck did I do last night?” He asked, then looked up at his guest. “....I’m guessing part of my answer to that question is you.”
Renji didn’t quite smile at that, but nodded and offered up a glass of water and the pills. “I’m guessing you had a bit more than you could handle, and that was before our nights converged.”
“I vaguely remember discussing your fucked up relationship with Yukimura.”
“I suppose that’s one way to put it.” Renji said. He was praying that Niou had been so drunk the previous night that he didn’t remember Renji crying out the wrong name in the throes of passion. Oddly enough, what he’d warned Niou about years ago. “How about I take you out for breakfast? Since you paid for drinks last night.”
“Sounds good to me.” Niou smirked a little. “Never thought I’d see you doing a Walk of Shame.” He ducked into his bathroom and quickly rinsed off in the shower.
“I’m sure there are some people who think it’s about time I did.” Renji said quietly. The previous night had been cathartic in a few ways. He realized that this wasn’t quite what he wanted. And then there was Niou’s drunken suggestion of the direct approach with Yukimura. Maybe It wasn’t such a bad idea.
They walked down the street to the nearest café and took a table in the back. Renji got some coffee and a pastry, while Niou ordered something a bit more substantial. “You must think Seiichi pays me pretty well.”
“With what he makes these days, I’d be surprised if he didn’t.” Niou commented, leaning back. Renji chuckled. “You probably deserve more than he does.”
Renji just shook his head. “I’m perfectly happy with how things are.”
Niou looked at him and narrowed his eyes. “That’s bullshit and you know it.” He said.
“He’s obviously not into men, much less me.”
“Maybe he’s just putting up a front for the public eye that he lives in. Or even maybe for his family. Maybe he’d like nothing better than to have you lodged up his ass, jerking him off in time to that crappy techno music you like.”
“You have one hell of an imagination.”
“He probably yanks it at night hoping for that particular scenario.” Niou countered. “No, wait, that’s your fantasy. He probably does it while thinking about you, and how you’re so aloof, and with that sexy voice and what he hopes he could do to you. Maybe he thinks about getting down on his knees and blowing you.”
Renji just shook his head sadly. If any of those were true, that would mean Yukimura was deluding himself even more than he himself was. And Yukimura was a much more open person than he had ever been. Surely he would have said something if he felt remotely that way about Renji. “I don’t know where you come up with some of your ideas.”
“Too much time on my hands, thinking, I guess.” Niou shrugged. They ate their respective breakfasts in peace. “Thanks for the grub.” Niou said, getting up. “Keep in touch....especially if you need another ‘Seiichi’” Renji looked at him in horror as he left. Niou turned around and winked at him. “I won’t say anything.” because you’re my substitute for Hiroshi.... He added to himself.
Renji lingered over his coffee for a few more minutes, then left to head home. The small shared apartment was quiet, as Yukimura was out doing his usual work out. He would be home around three in the afternoon. Renji went and laid down on what seemed now an overly large bed. He’d been in Yukimura’s parents’ home many times over the years of junior high and high school, and he always thought his friend’s bed was too large for a teenage boy. It was in good taste with the décor, but it still always seemed like it was huge.
Renji managed to strip out of his clothes from the previous day and add them to the growing pile of laundry. He’d get to that later, if he thought about it. It was nice to take a break from his responsibilities for at least a couple of days. He knew he’d have to go back to handling the interview requests, adjustments to Yukimura’s training schedule, booking flights to upcoming tournaments.... It was a busy life, but it wasn’t horrible. Renji flipped through the messages on his phone, just to make sure there wasn’t a backlog forming. There wasn’t, so he felt fully justified in taking a short nap.
When he finally woke up, it was dark out. Renji almost panicked, then saw that he just sleep longer than he had meant. He took a deep breath and headed for the bathroom, ready to shower off the stench of previous 24 hours.
“Renji?” Yukimura’s soft voice called out from the other room.
“I’m getting in the shower, Seiichi.” Renji told him, closing the door behind him. After 20 minutes in the warm water, Renji finally felt refreshed.. Yukimura was standing outside the bathroom door when he exited. Renji raised an eyebrow. “Is something wrong?” He asked.
Yukimura shook his head. “No, just wanted to hear about your days off.” He smiled. “You must have had a wild time.”
“Probably not as wild as you think.” Renji said, sliding back into his room.
“Oh?” Yukimura asked, feeling that he was being left out.
“I ran into Niou, we had a few drinks, and that was about as wild as it got.” Renji edited the story down to the safe version.
“I see.” Yukimura said, then turned away. “I would think that alone would be considered a wild time for you.” He teased.
“Perhaps it was.” Renji said, leaving that open to interpretation. He really wished Yukimura would leave him alone until the morning when he’d be back to doing his normal job.
“I could use a wild time.” Yukimura sighed as he flopped onto Renji’s bed. Renji just looked at him.
“Don’t you have those all the time?” Renji asked.
“None I’ve truly enjoyed though, Renji.” Yukimura sighed, closing his eyes. It took everything Renji had not to straddle his friend, press their lips together, tangle his hands in that long, dark hair... “If you want me to be honest, I’ve never gone all the way with anyone.”
“But, you had a tendency to brag about the girls you’ve been with?” Renji was confused by that.
“Locker room talk. Had to remain the alpha male, and all that. Now that I don’t really have to, it’s just been...” Yukimura shrugged. “It’s mostly to keep up appearances now. At least for my family.” He turned on his side and invited Renji to sit down. He did so a bit reluctantly. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my career, I love the freedom, but....” He sighed.
“You feel like you’re missing something?” Renji filled in. Yukimura nodded.
“You got it.” He smiled quietly. “You always have.”
“I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t.” Renji said, his eyes cast away from what was actually going on. Yukimura moved so he could sit beside him, and leaned on him. Renji stiffened at the contact.
“What’s wrong?” Yukimura asked, frowning.
Renji took a deep breath, mentally promising to somehow injure Niou if this worked out for the worst instead of the best. “Seiichi, remember the conversation we had about a month ago, before we came home from London?”
“About you liking guys? I remember. If I’m making you nervous because of that, I don’t mean to. It’s not as if I’m scared of catching something from you because of it.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, but....there’s something I probably should have told you a long...long time ago.” Renji’s eyes cast down on the floor, gathering the strength to say this. “Seiichi...I’ve had a crush on you...since high school. I’ve stood by in the shadows because I wanted you to be happy. I took the job you offered me because I wanted to see you succeed, not to make myself miserable. And I’m not, but...I think it’s past time I said all this.”
Yukimura just sat there in shock at the revelation one of his best friends had just made. “Oh...Renji....” He breathed out, and wrapped his arms around the other man. He thought about everything he’d done over the years that just added to the other’s internal pain.
Renji shook his head. “I know you’re not interested. Please don’t make this harder than it is.”
“Renji...” Yukimura wasn’t quite sure what to say. He buried his face against Renji’s arm. “It’s my turn to be honest. I’ve....most of my encounters were trying to figure out if I’m into men or women. It may shock you, but I have been with guys....It may shock you more to know one of them was Sanada.” Yukimura laughed at that. “I guess the best I can say is that I’m either bi, or there just isn’t really anyone that does it for me. As for all the women I’ve left in my wake....like I said, keeping up appearances.”
“I...never knew.” Renji was actually a bit shocked because he thought he knew who everyone on the team was either dating or having sex with. He never thought his two best friends might have done something like that.
“We didn’t want you to.” Yukimura admitted. He pulled Renji back. “Are you angry?”
Renji shook his head no. It was too late for anger, and Yukimura was pressing himself closer to him, and suddenly their lips met.. It wasn’t really the jolting experience Renji had expected it to be. It was more mundane than that, but it at least felt right.
“I’m pretty sure it won’t reflect well on me if I’m in a relationship with my manager though...” Yukimura said as he slid a hand over Renji’s still rather well toned abs.
Renji nodded in agreement, though not stopping Yukimura from what he was doing. “It could be a PR nightmare if the world found out.”
“Then again....” Yukimura said, kissing Renji hard on the lips again. “I’m not sure I care.” He smirked.
Renji looked at his friend. “You said it yourself - keeping up appearances. We...could always keep this between us and you keep up the pretense of looking for the right person.”
“I’ll think about that....Let’s see how good a lover you are first....”
“Have you heard the news yet?” Renji asked Yukimura as they woke up in New York.
“Hmm?”
“Tezuka has dropped out. The reason is quoted as being health concerns. The last I heard though was that his arm was doing pretty well.”
“Less competition then.” Yukimura smirked.
The victory felt a little hollow after the loss in England.
Three years later, Renji and Yukimura were still hiding their relationship from the outside world. Yukimura finally achieved one Grand Slam title, and was on his way to a second. It was late in the year, and in an early round, old friends came to a meeting.
The victory was a bit frustrating, as Yukimura won by default. He had been matched up against Sanada, and despite every effort on his part to stay alive in the match, Sanada’s knee had just given up on him. They had made it through two sets at least. Yukimura sighed as he watched his old friend hobble out with the assistance of his trainers.
“Not really how I wanted to move on in this tournament...” Yukimura confided later to Renji.
“I think Genichirou knew he wasn’t going to last through to even the quarter finals.” Renji said, not looking up from his computer. “I’m not sure how being matched up against you factored into that.”
Yukimura shrugged. “It probably didn’t help any.”
“Probably not. You are known as one of the toughest opponents on the circuit. You seem to strike fear into several people.”
“I didn’t think I was that scary....”
“Only to some.” Renji reassured him. “I spoke to Genichirou earlier. His doctor is considering for a knee replacement. He’s pretty sure he won’t be able to return to playing professionally.”
“That really is a shame.”
“Some habits die hard with some people.” Renji said, shaking his head.
“Especially with stubborn asses like Sanada.” Yukimura put in, smiling fondly.
Over the next several years, Yukimura kept up his winning streaks, despite getting older. He dated several ladies on the pretext that maybe he was going to marry one of them. Renji stayed in the shadows, brooding jealously, but knowing that if the world knew the truth, it would not be pretty.
One day while they back in Japan, and after hatching a devious plot to get Sanada out of the dojo and into a more relaxed mood, Yukimura texted him to see how the trip had gone. Renji texted right afterwards to tell him that he would distract Yukimura for a while, but would like to hear about it himself. His distraction involved trying some things from the Kama Sutra.
As they were relaxing later on, Yukimura got a text from Sanada asking for a favor.
“...Sanada has a date...if I can do a favor for him.” He mentioned to Renji. Renji just raised an eyebrow. “You can come along too...”
“What kind of favor?” Renji asked.
“Babysitting.”
“Babysitting?” Renji repeated. Yukimura nodded. “Well, I guess this day couldn’t get any stranger.”
The two arrived at Sanada’s about a half hour later. Renji sat down in the living room while Yukimura fussed over how Sanada looked for his date. He was used to this sort of thing, and he realized just how sad that was.
There were the usual questions about Sanada’s date, and the shocking revelation that he wasn’t dating a woman (which Renji called Yukimura out on - even he knew Sanada wasn’t into the opposite sex).
Yukimura about tripped over his own feet when he saw who Sanada’s date was. Like a ninja, Renji had gotten up and caught him before he fell flat on his face. Recovering, Yukimura greeted the old rival. They had a quick reminisce before Sanada introduced them to the child they’d be tending to. Before leaving, Sanada pulled Renji aside to tell him to not allow Yukimura to make a huge mess.
Renji gave his word that he wouldn’t allow that to happen. The two men and young girl saw Sanada and Tezuka off. It was then that it sunk in just who she’d been left with. It turns out that Tezuka’s daughter was a bit of a fan of Yukimura’s.
Renji fixed a simple dinner for the three of them while Sachie recited Yukimura’s record, and even asked about some of the highlights of a few of the matches that had been favorites of hers.
“I don’t even think Renji could have recited that many of my statistics back to me.” Yukimura joked at one point.
“They’re worth knowing. It’s too bad Father doesn’t want to go back to playing. I think it would be awesome to travel around the world and play tennis.” Sachie told them.
“It’s not really as fun as you think it is.” Yukimura told her. “There’s a lot of work involved in it too.” He thought for a moment. “Shall we watch a movie?”
“Yeah!” Sachie agreed. Yukimura went and gathered pillows from wherever he could find them, and so he and the girl made a fort out of the pillows in front of the TV. Renji had cleaned up the mess in the kitchen from dinner, and slipped quietly onto the couch. Yukimura glanced back at him and gave him a smile that said he’d make it up to him somehow.
Sachie noticed this. “....Are you two a couple?” She blurted out.
The two men both looked at each other, not really sure what to tell her. And whatever they told her could possibly get back to Sanada. Though he probably already knew...or had a clue.
“It’s...complicated.” Renji told her.
“I don’t mind if you are.” She told them. “I think Father likes Sanada-san, really. He just has a hard time admitting when he likes someone.”
Yukimura tried not to laugh at that. He leaned in over to the girl. “Sanada has the same problem.” He told her. Sachie did laugh at that, and yawned.
A half hour later, she was asleep on the pillows on the floor. Yukimura turned to Renji, only to find that he was asleep as well. He sighed, and stayed awake until Sanada and Tezuka returned. Once they were home, he woke Renji, and gave the other two a warning to not do anything they wouldn’t, they left.
On their way home, Yukimura walked as close as he could to Renji. “Are we starting to be too obvious?”
“Right now, the answer to that is yes.” Renji said, a slight teasing tone in his voice.
“It’s been a few years...maybe I should just come out about us....”
“You’re quite well established in your career now, I don’t foresee any major repercussions now. And I’m sure I can handle any backlash there may be.”
“I think you can too.” Yukimura said, a smile on his face. “Ne, Renji?”
“What, Seiichi?”
“Sorry it’s taken me so long to come around.”
Renji just wrapped his arm around Yukimura just a little bit tighter.
**~**~**~**~**~
Sachie had invaded their apartment. She was wound up, and was constantly stealing Yukimura’s phone to see if any texts from either of her dads had come in. Luckily, she seemed afraid of Renji’s phone for some reason.
“We’ll tell you when we have something to tell you.” Yukimura reassured her.
“And due to the oddity of Tezuka’s condition, it is a surgery that they are performing. And like Seiichi said, we’ll tell you when we do have news.” Renji added.
The poor girl was bouncing off the wall, and it was difficult to distract her.
Both cell phones went off at the same time. It’s a boy! Was the message, with an attached picture. Yukimura handed the phone to Sachie.
“There, you have a little brother.” He told her.
“Name?” She asked. Yukimura texted the question, but got a grumpy response back. He sighed.
“Not sure yet. Sanada is a bit grumpy.”
“He’s always grumpy.” Sachie said, pouting.
Yukimura grinned at that. “You are a wise child.” He declared.
“I know.” She said. “So, when are you and Yanagi-san getting married?”
Both of them looked shocked, then laughed it off.
“We already are.” Renji told her, as he winked at Yukimura. He would have to explain it to him later.
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Characters: Yanagi Renji, Yukimura Seiichi, Niou Masaharu
Prompt: 065 Passing
Word Count: 9,749
Rating: NC-17
Summary:For a long time Yanagi has feelings for one of his best friends...throughout years as adults, he denies these feelings until the object of his desire finally comes around....
Author's Notes: Warning for m/m sex scenes
This also references a story I wrote for an exchange (Tenipuri X-Pair on Livejournal - check it out if you have a moment, there’s some good works on it!)
Also..please just forgive my lack of knowledge of the foreign places mentioned. I probably beyond failed at it, and I apologize for things that may be wrong (I’m too lazy to research, really.)
My LDT found here
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yanagi Renji was sure of most things in his life. The one thing that eluded him, however, was love. Well, it wasn’t the feelings involved in a romantic relationship, but more the fact that he knew the one he loved didn’t love him back. Actually, he was only about 34.9% certain of that. He had never asked, and the one he had the feelings for never said anything if he did have any feelings for Renji.
He supposed it was in high school when the feelings started. They had been friends for a few years now, and it was obvious to Renji that Yukimura Seiichi was not attracted to the one they all thought. Or rather, the one everyone expected him to be head over heels with Yukimura had eyes only for someone else.
Renji’s heart broke the day that Yukimura came into the locker room and announced he had a date...and with a girl at that. So much for any chance he may have had.
Renji was so down, he called an old friend to cheer him up. After talking to Inui Sadaharu for about three minutes he realized that speaking to the other was just depressing him even more. He did appreciate the gossip from Seigaku though.
“Renji?”
“Yes, Sadaharu?”
“Are you even paying attention to what I’m saying?”
“I’m sorry, I’m not really.” Renji sighed. “I’ve fallen into that emotion called ‘love’....though I feel it for someone that only sees me as a friend.”
“I take it that person is not me.” Inui said, amused by his friend’s confession.
“No, not you. I thought you had your obsession with Tezuka.”
Inui cleared his throat. “He...has eyes for another.” He said. “I know my chances have fallen to less than one percent. So who’s the lucky person?”
Renji sighed. “Seiichi. Who is out on a date right now...with a girl.”
“There’s always the chance that first, it won’t work out, and second, that he is at least bisexual. Those things could increase your odds.”
“Was that supposed to reassure me?”
“Did it work?” Inui asked.
“It did not.” Renji stated dryly.
“I can offer sexual favors the next time I see you in person.” Inui joked.
“Because having meaningless sex with someone I respect is going to take my mind off the larger picture.”
“It might.” Inui said. “At least for a few minutes.”
Renji shook his head, even though Inui couldn’t see it. “I appreciate the thought and the offer, but I’ll decline for now.”
“Suit yourself.” Inui said. “Cold showers can get old though.”
Renji laughed and hung up before the conversation got even more weird.
Renji listened politely as Yukimura gushed about his girlfriend. They’d been dating for a few months now. It looked like things were going well, to Renji’s disappointment. He smiled and nodded in the appropriate places while in the back of his mind he imagined pushing Yukimura up against a wall, and burying his cock so far up Yukimura’s ass...He pushed those inappropriate thoughts to the side.
“You seem distracted, are you alright?” Yukimura asked.
“I’m fine.” Renji lied to him. “I’d better be getting home though.” He said, excusing himself.
Yukimura turned to his other best friend, Sanada Genichirou. “What’s wrong with Renji?”
Sanada shrugged. “Who knows.”
“You two are idiots.” A comment from the far side of the locker room reached their ears.
“This is a private conversation, Niou.” Sanada said bluntly.
That wasn’t about to stop their resident trickster. He oozed his way over and wrapped himself around Sanada, facing Yukimura. “Isn’t it obvious what’s wrong with our Officer? He’s lovesick.”
Sanada pushed Niou off of him, debating taking another shower now to get the taint of Niou off of him.
Yukimura laughed. “Renji? In love? That....” He paused. “Doesn’t really seem like him.”
“Well, when the one he loves is dating another, it kind of sucks for him.” Niou said.
“How do you know all this?” Sanada demanded.
“I notice things.” Niou said, leaving it at that. He turned around, grabbed his gear and left.
Yukimura looked at Sanada. “Who do you suppose is the not-so-lucky person?”
Niou smirked, and used his Illusion to become Sanada for the moment and chased after Renji.
“Renji!” Niou called out in Sanada’s deep bass voice. Renji turned around, then shook his head.
“You’re slipping, Niou.” He told the other. Niou scowled and dropped the illusion.
“What gave me away?” He asked.
“Actually, it was fairly spot on. I can hear the difficulty you have deepening your voice that much.”
Niou shrugged. “As long as it fools others...I’ve been told I have pretty flexible throat. Makes the choir director regret that I hate music.” He smirked.
“So to what do I owe the privilege of you flagging me down?” Renji asked as they kept walking.
“Can’t a friend just hang out with a friend?”
“Not when it’s you, and you and I are more acquaintances than actual friends.” Renji pointed out.
“Alright, point. Then again, you’re cold to almost everyone, so you’re hard to approach. You could open up a bit more.” Niou countered.
Renji had to concede that point to Niou. “Fine, you have your point. We’re even.”
“Good. Now, how about our love sick officer tell ol’ Masaharu who’s got his panties soaking wet?” Renji stopped and stared at Niou for a moment.
“There are so many things wrong with what you just said that I don’t think I should dignify that question with an answer.” Renji finally said, once he pushed down his temper.
“I don’t know. Obviously you have to be wearing panties ‘cause you’re moping around like a girl. And you obviously have the hots for someone...so your panties are probably soaking wet at the thought of them...”
“Please stop implying that I’m the opposite sex, and I may tell you more.”
Niou grinned. His plot had worked. “Fine. Though if I’m not satisfied with the answer, I want a blow job.”
Renji sputtered. “What?!”
“I want some kind of satisfaction out of this.” Niou winked at Renji. “I figure that would do it. Besides, you’re obviously gay, so I figure sucking a cock wouldn’t disgust you too much.”
Renji rolled his eyes. “There’s only one in particular I’d like to do that to, and it isn’t yours.” He said. “If I tell you, can you keep it to yourself? I don’t want to hurt him...”
Niou suddenly sobered up. “Yeah, I suppose I can do that. I can’t promise that I won’t use that information to try to maybe push you together.”
“I’d appreciated it if you wouldn’t. He’s not into guys.” Renji said, sighing. “It’s Seiichi.”
Niou stared at him for a few. Double whammy there. And he’d been putting up with Yukimura chattering on and on about his girlfriend. No wonder Renji looked more depressed than usual lately.
“I’m sorry.” Niou finally said, after it sunk in.
“I am too.” Renji said, turning at his corner, leaving Niou there to think.
Niou had actually kept his word and kept out of the affairs of their captain and treasurer. It almost broke his heart to watch Renji suffer listening to Yukimura go on and on about his girlfriend.
“Something wrong, Niou-kun?” Yagyuu came up behind him.
“Just thinking how much life can suck for some people.” Niou answered, pushing away from the wall.
They all made it through high school. Yukimura had gone out and broken up with several other girls. It was graduation day when he approached Renji.
“Renji!” Yukimura called out to him. “I wanted to ask you something.”
Renji hoped in the back of his mind that it would be something of a wedding proposal, but he knew that was as likely as Godzilla actually attacking Tokyo. Thought maybe he could get lucky and Godzilla would come after Yokohama?
“What is it, Seiichi?” Renji asked.
“Well, you know I’m going to go to the pro circuit, right? Would you be my manager?”
Well, that was as close to a marriage proposal he’d get, and it still really meant nothing other than a business relationship. He could at least be close to the object of his desire.
“I’ll....consider it.” Renji said. He didn’t want to give a definite answer just then.
“Please do.” Yukimura smiled his most charming smile at his friend. “Unfortunately, Sanada is going pro as well. It will be disappointing having to go against him now. I hope he hasn’t asked you the same thing.”
“He hasn’t. I think he had someone else in mind.” Renji said. “If you’ll excuse me...I have someone to say goodbye to...”
Renji pushed through the crowd, and headed to the roof of the school one last time. He headed to the lanky figure that was up there, taking a drag off a cigarette.
“You know that’s bad for you, right?”
Niou scowled. “You sound like Hiroshi.”
“He’s going to be a doctor; he has every right to tell you it’s bad for you.” Renji said.
“And your excuse?” Niou asked.
“I’m just a concerned individual.” Renji said, taking it out of Niou’s hand and taking a drag off it himself. “Oral fixation.”
Niou snorted. “I thought your oral fixation was cocks.”
“And the one I want asked me to be his manager.”
“You gonna do it?”
“I might.” Renji said, stealing another drag and passing the cigarette back to Niou. “I don’t know if I could take the sexual tension.”
“You have for...what, three, four years now? And you still won’t give me a blow job.” Niou said, twisting out the butt of the cigarette and tossing it to the wind. Renji frowned, but shrugged.
“You know I probably won’t ever see you again, right?”
Niou looked at him, and shrugged. “Life happens.” He said.
“I always thought you and Yagyuu were an item.”
“On and off, actually. You know he has to keep up his façade of being The Gentleman, especially for his family. I probably won’t see him again.” There were many implied levels to that last statement.
“I think I could have liked you if I wasn’t so attached to the idea that one day Seiichi might come to me.”
“You mean come in you.” Niou smirked. Renji snorted.
“That too.” He admitted. He closed the distance and gave Niou a peck on the lips. “That’s for keeping that secret for as long as you did. And in case you didn’t know this, I always pay my debts.” He said, as he sank to his knees, and fumbled a bit with the zipper on Niou’s pants, pulling out his dick and sucking on it before Niou could protest.
Niou tried to protest, but the only thing that would come out of his mouth was moans. Where in the world had Renji learned to give such an awesome blow job was the only thing he could think as he came...and the bastard actually swallowed!
Renji pulled back, and wiped his face of what little bit had escaped. “Are you satisfied now, Masaharu?”
Niou smirked, and pulled out a new cigarette, and offered one to Renji as well. “That answer your question?” He said, as he lit them. “To think what I missed out on.”
“Me possibly calling you Seiichi in the middle of intimate relations? I prefer to keep my shame to myself.” Renji said, taking a long drag.
“Being his manager means being around him constantly. Something will have to give at some point.” Niou commented.
“If something happens, it happens. If not, well, that was meant to be then.”
“By the way, where’d you learn to suck cock like that?”
“A friend.” Was the only answer he’d give. He blew out a bit smoke and looked up. “I guess this is goodbye then.”
“Don’t be a stranger.” Niou waved him off, knowing his words were probably true, and they wouldn’t see each other again. At least he’d gotten an awesome going away present.
Renji mulled over Yukimura’s offer for a week. He had wanted to continue on through university. Things would be financially tight, even with his savings, either way he went. Yukimura wouldn’t be earning a lot until he starting winning, and winning at the big tournaments at that.
Then again, he could be the one to aid Yukimura along that road. He called up Yukimura to tell them that he would love to take the job of being his manager.
With Yukimura’s skill, the wins just kept coming. He was plastered all over the sports pages of nationwide newspapers as Japan’s new rising star. There were some concerns about the possibilities of his condition relapsing into a state as he was in junior high. Renji took care of those rumormongers very quickly and with an ease that surprised even him.
It had been about four years since they graduated high school. Yukimura charmed people on and off the courts. He even managed to catch the interest of some models and dated them, though however briefly. It never seemed to work out.
He complained about his social life to Renji one night.
Renji pointed out that both he and the models had lives that were not exactly compatible, with travel schedules, training, and other obligations that would keep them apart. He did keep his feelings under wraps though. No sense in pushing at a button that obviously wasn’t there.
“Maybe I should date guys...” Yukimura mused. Renji looked at him.
“That’s an almost surefire way to fuel fan girl fantasies, or make them want you even more.” Renji pointed out.
Yukimura grinned. “Never really thought of that...” He said, then leaned back on the couch in his fairly simple apartment he rented when he was in Japan. He was out of the country more than in It these days, it seemed. “Ne, Renji, ever have sex with a man?”
“That’s a rather personal question, Seiichi.” He answered, trying to avoid answering.
“Just curious. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“I should probably go home for the night. Don’t forget, tomorrow evening is the flight to France.”
“I know, I know. I’m all set for it. You worry too much.”
“If I don’t, you won’t, and then how many tournaments would you miss?” Renji teased him.
“You might have a point there.” Yukimura said as Renji walked out the door.
The late spring air in France brought Yukimura’s first loss on the professional circuit. He moped around his hotel room for hours. Renji stood in the corner, and wonder what, if anything, he should do. It wasn’t as if it was really a first, it was more that Yukimura took the loss as a personal insult. Renji decided to quietly leave for a bit. When he returned, Yukimura was watching the current matches on the television.
Renji set down a chilled bottle of wine on the end table next to Yukimura, who looked up. “It’s a local vintage.” He said, finding a couple of glasses to drink from in the suite. He set them next to the wine.
“I just don’t get it, Renji.” Yukimura said as he poured some of the wine for himself.
“Relax tonight, we’ll review the tapes tomorrow.” Renji promised, taking a glass for himself. Yukimura nodded.
“This is pretty good stuff.” Yukimura commented on the wine.
“I couldn’t pronounce the name of it if I wanted to.” Renji said, staring at the foreign language on the bottle. Yukimura read it off and said it like he’d been speaking French his whole life. He’d only been learning it since middle school. Well, where Renji lacked in French, he certainly made up for it with his competency in English.
Yukimura went on in French, with Renji having no idea what he was saying. He just sipped at the wine, and pretended like he was paying attention. Yukimura finally slid into the same chair as Renji and curled up into a ball next to him, falling into a wine induced sleep.
Renji wasn’t really sure what to do. He’d dreamed about a moment like this for ages. He knew he wouldn’t take advantage of his friend in a situation like this. He did dare to stroke the inky tresses. He sighed, and carried Yukimura to the bed and laid him across it, brushing his hand through the other’s hair one last time before leaving the room for his own.
It was time for another cold shower.
Renji woke up the next morning, a bit warmer than usual. He clearly recalled going to bed alone that night. The only other person that had a key to his room was Yukimura. He cracked an eye open, and sure enough his friend was lying beside him, in a t-shirt and boxers. There was only a slight hint of the wine left on his breath as he snuggled against the lanky man.
Renji frowned a little, even as he reached to touch the silky tresses. He had planned on getting down to business early, but this break in the routine was already throwing him off. Yukimura should have already been awake and in the gym. In his official capacity as Yukimura’s manager he really should be waking him up, and getting him back on track. Unofficially, he didn’t want this moment to end. He sighed slightly to himself, and gently shook the other awake.
“Seiichi? Seiichi....you need to wake up.” Renji told him gently as he extracted himself from the blankets.
“Hmmm.....” Yukimura snuggled further down in the blankets. “Don’t wanna...” He murmured sleepily. Renji turned on the TV to see how the semifinals were shaping up. That got Yukimura to sit up. He scowled a little as some familiar names were mentioned. He seemingly oozed out of bed and stretched. “Damn it.....I can’t believe he made it further than I did.”
Renji looked at Yukimura, then at the TV where the face of an old friend was being interviewed. “Genichirou has some people behind him.” He commented.
“I do too.” Yukimura pouted. The expression made Renji want to pull Yukimura back in bed and just have his way with him. He was to resigned to do that though, and turned the TV off instead. “Do you have his personal number?” He asked.
“Of course.” Renji answered, sending t he contact information to Yukimura’s phone. Yukimura sent Sanada a text wishing him luck in his upcoming matches. He received a polite thank you back.
“Are you up to getting back on your routine? You shouldn’t suffer too much if you only do half your usual workout.” Renji told him. “After lunch, I’ll have had a chance to review the tapes, and we can go over what we need to do. I want to see you win at Wimbledon this year.”
Yukimura laughed. “Aye, aye, mon capitan” He said, and headed to his room to get dressed.
Not quite a month later, the draws for Wimbledon were announced. Yukimura had a bit of a fight on his hands, as his ranking had dropped with the loss earlier. He was more determined than before he would win the whole thing.
Renji just sat back, and did his job as efficiently as usual. He cringed at Yukimura’s broken English. The only other Japanese player on the circuit that was worse at speaking English was their old kouhai, Kirihara Akaya. Akaya’s English just made Renji want to cry, especially when he thought of all the times he had tutored the younger man in it. Fortunately, he rarely had to smooth other foreign relations, unlike Akaya’s manager.
In the quarter finals, Yukimura went up against another player from their junior high days. Fortunately, it wasn’t anyone to be overly sentimental over, it was just Tezuka Kunimitsu, former captain of Seishun Gakuen’s team. It was a fairly heated match, and somehow Yukimura managed to pull it off after five sets. He was exhausted while he cooled down in the shower. Renji was waiting with the statistics of his next obstacle to the title. Renji droned on about someone Yukimura didn’t really care about yet. He finally stopped Renji’s drone.
“Renji, shut up. I don’t care right now. I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed.” He said, and left, leaving Renji there, frowning, but taking the hint and went to do his work quietly from his own quarters. He got a few messages from Sanada, mostly updates on his matches. He answered with the odds of Yukimura going against him in the finals. He figured Sanada would mull over that for a while, as the phone messages had stopped. He worked well past one in the morning, and collapsed into a fitful slumber.
Early in the morning, Renji woke, showered, and headed to the practice courts, where he knew Yukimura should be. He frowned as he didn’t find him. He did take a moment to watch Sanada practice.
“I know you’re there, Renji.” Sanada finally said.
“I was looking for Seiichi.” Renji told him. “I assumed he would be on the practice courts.”
“He was earlier.” Sanada told him as he wiped the sweat off his brow. “I don’t know where he’s gone from here. His match isn’t until this evening, right?” Renji nodded in answer.
“I don’t think he’s nervous about it.” Perhaps he was, and wasn’t letting on. Renji wasn’t sure about anything at the moment.
“You know how he can be.” Sanada reminded him. Renji nodded.
“I’ll keep searching. I’m almost positive we’ll see you in the semifinals, at the very least.” Renji said, heading back out into the crowded streets full of tennis enthusiasts who wanted to watch the early morning matches. Renji gave up the leg work of finding Yukimura, and left him a message on his phone, and went in search of something to eat.
And of course life had a sense of humor, Renji thought as he saw Yukimura with a rather attractive lady at the place he had chosen to eat at. He was about to turn around and go back out the door when Yukimura saw him and waved him over to join them. Renji debated ignoring them, but he’d rather not have Yukimura’s ire directed at him for the next few days so he joined them.
Yukimura introduced the woman as Eve...Evelyn...Emma? It was something that started with E, but Renji didn’t pay much attention to her. She would be out of their lives in a few days. Yukimura hated long distance relationships, and each one he’d tried to maintain fell apart in just a few months. Renji figured he’d let Yukimura indulge in her company for a while. He just advised that it had better not interfere with his scheduled training. Yukimura scowled as Renji went on his way out the door.
“Your friend seems kind of cold....” His date said.
“He’s just aloof.” Yukimura said. “He’s not good with the ladies either.”
“Are you sure he’s into the ladies?”
“Huh?”
“I don’t know, but he looks more like he’s into guys.” She shrugged. “He’s your friend, so I guess you would know better than I would about that.”
After they had separated for the day, Yukimura thought about that conversation as he prepared for his next match.
“Are you about ready, Seiichi?” Renji asked, standing outside his hotel room.
“Yes, yes, I’m coming.” Yukimura said, hauling along his gear. Renji took a couple of the bags from his shoulders, and led the way to the elevators. They were on a rather high floor, but the view was fairly decent from up there.
Yukimura was silent for a while, even after they got on the elevator. Renji looked at him. Usually he would be more lively than this, discussing strategy, or just some pre-match trash talk that he wouldn’t actually dare to say to his opponent’s face.
“Renji?” Yukimura started out softly.
“What is it?” He asked.
“Remember Emily from earlier?” Well, he had, he just didn’t have the correct name to go with her face.
“Let me guess, you’re so in love with her, you plan on asking her to marry you.” Renji said drily.
Yukimura looked shocked at the suggestion. “No! I know there’s not going to be much there. She said she prefers the football player type athlete to us tennis players, but she’ll settle while Wimbledon is going on.” He laughed. “She said something that made me think, and made me realize that in all the years I’ve known you, that I don’t know something about one of the people I call my best friend.”
“And that would be?” Renji prompted.
The elevator arrived on the ground floor, dinging as the doors opened.
“...I’ll ask later.” Yukimura said, smiling. “No sense embarrassing you in front of a lobby full of people.”
“I appreciated that.” Renji said, shaking his head.
Later that evening, after Yukimura had successfully moved on to the next round (the semi-final was next, and if he made it through there, the final!), he sat in a chair in Renji’s hotel room. His laptop was sitting open on the desk, a couple of notebooks laid beside it with notes jotted here and there in it. The bed barely looked like it had been slept in, but then, the maids had probably been through earlier. A photograph of Renji’s sister and her husband was his computer’s desktop image. Yukimura examined the photograph for a bit as he waited for Renji to finish his shower.
Renji came out with the towel wrapped around his hips.
“What are you doing here, Seiichi? You should be in your own bed.”
“Don’t I know him from somewhere?” Yukimura asked, pointing at Renji’s brother in law.
Renji coughed. “Possibly....” His voice lowered. “That’s Genichirou’s brother....” Yukimura went wide eyed at the photo, and hearing that, it did suddenly make sense.
“How long have they been together, and how come neither of you told me?”
“Longer than we care to remember. Let’s just say that....well.....I’d rather not go into it.”
“Sasuke-kun?”
“Theirs.” He admitted.
“But...he was.....” Yukimura’s mind went into overload at that admission.
“Don’t think about it.” Renji suggested. “I don’t like thinking about it.” He took a sip from a glass of water that was sitting nearby. “As for not telling you....we both thought you knew.”
Yukimura sat down in a rather large chair. “Well, not until now.” He said. “Oh, well, I guess it really wasn’t any of my business anyway.” There was a small laugh as he thought about it. “Anyway....Actually, I wanted to ask you what I was going to earlier today.”
Renji raised an eyebrow at that, but remained quiet, waiting for Yukimura to go ahead and ask.
Yukimura cleared his throat. “So....something someone said to me made me think, and.....” Yukimura looked right into his manager’s eyes. “Are you into guys?”
Renji’s face didn’t change expression. He had wondered if his friend had either been dense or stupid over the years, and now with him finally asking directly... “Yes, Seiichi, I am.”
Yukimura just sat there for a moment, not exactly shocked, but a bit confused as well. “Huh...” He finally breathed out.
Renji just stood there, not exactly certain where things would go from there. “Honestly, I thought you already knew.” He teased a little. “Unfortunately, for me, the one person I’ve had feelings for is not the same way.” He went on. “So I’ve resigned myself to being alone, or in some cases, taking advantage of a friend with benefits. Unfortunately, there aren’t many of those around either.”
Yukimura tilted his head, considering his friends words, then chuckled a little. “Oh, I don’t mean to laugh, Renji. It’s just....how long have we known each other? I think I knew, I just didn’t want to believe it.”
“Well, it’s out there now.” Renji said, wishing he had something a bit stiffer than water to drink. “Did you want to discuss your competitor?” He asked, trying to turn the subject from his personal life. Luckily, Yukimura agreed and they talked strategy for a while before Yukimura decided to retire to his own room.
Yukimura had made it to the final...and had lost the final. After all the interviews and press conferences, he finally had a moment to contemplate his loss in private. Or rather, vent his frustrations while Renji listened and made notes on what needed improving while Yukimura said some rather colorful things.
Yukimura finally ran out of steam about an hour and a half later. “Let’s get some dinner.” He suggested.
Renji looked up, then nodded. He stretched as he rose, a few joints popping as he rose. “There’s always next year.” He told Yukimura.
“That there is.” He agreed, leading them to the lobby and the restaurant there. They spent the time each lost in their own thoughts for a while, and concentrated intently on their food when it arrived.
Yukimura looked up first. “You...you’re not going to think of this as a date, are you?”
Renji resisted the urge to laugh in his friend’s face. “Of course not. Why would you even ask that?”
“Just don’t want to give off the wrong impression.” Yukimura said, laughing it off.
“I usually consider dinner with you more of a business prospect, or just as friends. Not everything has to be read the wrong way, Seiichi.”
“I know.” He said. “So, should I be on the look out for someone to set you up with?” Yukimura perked up.
“Please don’t, Seiichi. I am perfectly happy the way things are for me right now.”
“Are you really?” Yukimura asked.
“I am.” Renji answered, putting a tone of finality to it. They finished eating in silence, and settled the check and went back to Renji’s room.
“Seiichi...”
“I’m not trying to make things awkward or anything...” He said quietly, slipping past Renji and sitting down. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy. Just because I haven’t found the love of my doesn’t mean that I ‘m not happy.”
“I think I know what you mean.” Yukimura said.
“You haven’t found your one true either...Other than tennis, that is.” Renji teased him a little.
“That’s because every lady I meet has just that one little flaw, or knows nothing about tennis.....” Yukimura sighed.
“In other words, your expectations are too high.” Renji said, sitting down on his bed. “Our flight is in the afternoon. Perhaps you should get some rest.”
Yukimura nodded, and shuffled off to his own room to finish packing and resting before they returned to Japan. Renji got up and went in search of a midnight snack. What he found was a somewhat intoxicated Sanada.
Renji sighed, and shook his old friend to his senses. Sanada let out a couple of hiccups before coming slightly around.
“Genichirou?” Renji called lightly. Luckily, he knew what room Sanada was in. He always made to sure to know those little details for just such an occasion. Sanada had a bit more mass on Renji, but Renji still had strength from his own days as a player and managed to heft Sanada to his feet and more or less dragged him to his room.
Renji dumped Sanada on his bed and tried to make him as comfortable as possible. He’d probably have a severe headache when he woke up. The only thing that seemed odd was the goofy smile on his face. Renji shook his head, and left some aspirin with Sanada, along with a note explaining how he’d gotten back to his room.
Sighing to himself, Renji went down to the lobby to see if there were other insomniacs there, or possibly to just find some company. Other than himself, there really wasn’t any one around, except for the person on duty at the desk. He sighed and just resigned himself to going to bed and getting ready to go home the next afternoon.
Things were about the same as usual back in Japan. Renji had gotten a text from Sanada thanking him for his assistance the other night. He had also gotten a text from Akaya of all people, saying that he was the first of his old team to know that his wife was pregnant...and wanted to know how that happened. Renji sighed when he read that. He wasn’t even interested in women, and he knew how children were made. Had Akaya been absent on that day his class covered that part of biology?
He shook his head as he arranged some personal appearances for Yukimura. Renji decided getting work over and done with for the day was a better plan than sitting around and doing nothing. He tracked Yukimura down to the gym that he usually worked out at. Renji nodded to the receptionist that knew him and let him in. He went right for machines he knew Yukimura would be at by this point in his routine.
He stood there quietly until Yukimura was aware of his presence.
“Good to see you finally, Renji.” Yukimura said. “Decided you didn’t need a workout today?”
“Perhaps later.” Renji said. “I was busy dealing with every TV station in Japan that would like a personal appearance from Wimbledon’s runner-up.”
Yukimura groaned. He hated doing these things, but he knew it came with being well known. “How many?”
“I managed to condense it down to about six or so. Some of them were willing to combine or simulcast.”
Yukimura nodded. He could deal with that. “Any thing else?”
“Not really. Though...there is one thing....”
“What’s that?” Yukimura asked.
“Would you mind if I took a couple of days off?”
“Go for it. I’m surprised you haven’t asked sooner!” Yukimura said. “You don’t have be mine 24/7, you know.”
The offhand comment stung a little at Renji’s heart, but he just smiled and thanked Yukimura.
He looked at his phone, and dialed an old number, hoping that the number didn’t belong to someone new.
Well, the owner of the number hadn’t changed, but it sounded like he was in a public place with the background noises Renji could hear as the call was connected.
“Sadaharu?” Renji asked, confused. His knowledge of his former best friend didn’t really put him as the type that would go out on what would supposedly be a work night.
“Renji.” Inui acknowledged. “I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m doing...” He trailed off.
“That’s one way to put it.” Renji agreed.
“Well, it’s a business venture. It seems to be doing pretty well so far. Then again, that remains to be seen in profits.”
“Business venture?”
“Yes. It turns out there really is a market for organic beverages.”
“I see.” Renji responded. “So I take it you’re busy for this evening.”
“I’m afraid so. That, and I have a date after closing.” Well, that was also new information he hadn’t had time to find out.
“Well, have fun, then.” Renji said, not meaning it at all and hanging up. He sighed to himself, then just wandered the streets for a while, as there was no sense in going home to the apartment that he and Yukimura shared. It would be too depressing. Disturbed by the thought that there was actually a market for Inui’s concoctions, he ducked into the nearest bar that sold more traditional alcoholic drinks.
Taking a seat at the bar, Renji ordered a beer and moped over it for a while. Someone took up the stool next to his, and Renji did his best to ignore the other patron and concentrate in his own self pity.
“You still don’t get it, do you?” The voice drawled. It was a familiar drawl, with a slight hint of an accent that Renji never did quite figure out. He turned his head slowly to his right where it had come from. The figure lifted up his mug, taking a pretty good swig out of it. Renji stared, wondering what in the world was fate trying to do.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Renji said, trying to leave it at that.
“Oh, I think you do. Don’t you still want that blue haired beauty?”
“I don’t want to ruin our professional relationship.” Renji defended.
“Have you thought about the direct approach?” Niou asked, leaning against the bar. Apparently that wasn’t his first round, as his words were slurring slightly.
“That not only would ruin any professional relationship, but probably ruin our friendship as well. I’d rather have a friend than have someone hating me for what I am and how I feel about them.” Renji realized how stupid it sounded as it poured out. He was also amazed that Niou was able to carry on a slightly serious conversation while not quite overly drunk. One or two more drinks, and this conversation might just head into the realm of the strange.
Niou waved at the bartender for another for both himself and Renji, and waved it off. “I’m buying.” He said, not leaving any room for argument.
Renji shrugged. He wasn’t really planning on having another. It would just be pushing at his own personal limit. Between his tall, lanky build and his metabolism, he never really found drinking alcohol to be all that enjoyable if he had anything stronger than beer, and he only tolerated that when he was in a funk.
Renji watched as Niou teetered a bit on his seat. The conversation seemed to be at an end. He sighed quietly, finishing his first drink before settling in with the next one. Honestly, in the last few years, he didn’t’ really expect to run into anyone, least of all Niou. Niou had given off the impression he was done with that phase of life, and didn’t want to see or hear from anyone in his past ever again. Renji smiled a little. Funny how life works, wasn’t it?
“Thanks for the drink* Renji said, standing up to leave. Niou caught at his shirt sleeve. He looked a bit like a wild animal at the moment. A few moments of silence passed as they just stared at each other. The moment was broken by Niou leaning up for a drunken, sloppy kiss. It didn’t last long.
“Come home with me.” Niou managed to say. Renji thought for a moment, and hoping his judgment wasn’t too impaired by the two beers. It’s not that he thought it was a bad idea, he just wasn’t all that sure. He nodded in agreement though.
After a taxi ride to another part of the city, the two approached a door that led into a tiny apartment. It was definitely a bachelor’s place, with only the smallest hint of an attempt at organization and cleanliness. There were random clothes thrown over the furniture. It wasn’t the worst mess Renji had been in, and probably wouldn’t be the last.
After Niou closed and locked the door, he pressed up against Renji again, resuming the drunken kissing. This time, Renji fell into it. He wasn’t certain how far they’d go or even if he should. He was carrying a torch for someone he wasn’t sure loved him back. What was a quick, drunken toss in the hay with Niou in the grand scheme of life?
The morning dawned with the sun hitting Renji in the eyes from an odd angle, and a warm body that was snoring away. Renji groaned softly as the memory of the previous night hit. He got up, and went to see if Niou at least had some coffee. The way he drank indicated that he would definitely have at least something for a hangover.
The closest thing to coffee Renji could find was some cola, and he managed to find some pain reliever in the tiny kitchen. He brought them with him as he gently shook Niou awake.
Niou groaned as well. “What the fuck did I do last night?” He asked, then looked up at his guest. “....I’m guessing part of my answer to that question is you.”
Renji didn’t quite smile at that, but nodded and offered up a glass of water and the pills. “I’m guessing you had a bit more than you could handle, and that was before our nights converged.”
“I vaguely remember discussing your fucked up relationship with Yukimura.”
“I suppose that’s one way to put it.” Renji said. He was praying that Niou had been so drunk the previous night that he didn’t remember Renji crying out the wrong name in the throes of passion. Oddly enough, what he’d warned Niou about years ago. “How about I take you out for breakfast? Since you paid for drinks last night.”
“Sounds good to me.” Niou smirked a little. “Never thought I’d see you doing a Walk of Shame.” He ducked into his bathroom and quickly rinsed off in the shower.
“I’m sure there are some people who think it’s about time I did.” Renji said quietly. The previous night had been cathartic in a few ways. He realized that this wasn’t quite what he wanted. And then there was Niou’s drunken suggestion of the direct approach with Yukimura. Maybe It wasn’t such a bad idea.
They walked down the street to the nearest café and took a table in the back. Renji got some coffee and a pastry, while Niou ordered something a bit more substantial. “You must think Seiichi pays me pretty well.”
“With what he makes these days, I’d be surprised if he didn’t.” Niou commented, leaning back. Renji chuckled. “You probably deserve more than he does.”
Renji just shook his head. “I’m perfectly happy with how things are.”
Niou looked at him and narrowed his eyes. “That’s bullshit and you know it.” He said.
“He’s obviously not into men, much less me.”
“Maybe he’s just putting up a front for the public eye that he lives in. Or even maybe for his family. Maybe he’d like nothing better than to have you lodged up his ass, jerking him off in time to that crappy techno music you like.”
“You have one hell of an imagination.”
“He probably yanks it at night hoping for that particular scenario.” Niou countered. “No, wait, that’s your fantasy. He probably does it while thinking about you, and how you’re so aloof, and with that sexy voice and what he hopes he could do to you. Maybe he thinks about getting down on his knees and blowing you.”
Renji just shook his head sadly. If any of those were true, that would mean Yukimura was deluding himself even more than he himself was. And Yukimura was a much more open person than he had ever been. Surely he would have said something if he felt remotely that way about Renji. “I don’t know where you come up with some of your ideas.”
“Too much time on my hands, thinking, I guess.” Niou shrugged. They ate their respective breakfasts in peace. “Thanks for the grub.” Niou said, getting up. “Keep in touch....especially if you need another ‘Seiichi’” Renji looked at him in horror as he left. Niou turned around and winked at him. “I won’t say anything.” because you’re my substitute for Hiroshi.... He added to himself.
Renji lingered over his coffee for a few more minutes, then left to head home. The small shared apartment was quiet, as Yukimura was out doing his usual work out. He would be home around three in the afternoon. Renji went and laid down on what seemed now an overly large bed. He’d been in Yukimura’s parents’ home many times over the years of junior high and high school, and he always thought his friend’s bed was too large for a teenage boy. It was in good taste with the décor, but it still always seemed like it was huge.
Renji managed to strip out of his clothes from the previous day and add them to the growing pile of laundry. He’d get to that later, if he thought about it. It was nice to take a break from his responsibilities for at least a couple of days. He knew he’d have to go back to handling the interview requests, adjustments to Yukimura’s training schedule, booking flights to upcoming tournaments.... It was a busy life, but it wasn’t horrible. Renji flipped through the messages on his phone, just to make sure there wasn’t a backlog forming. There wasn’t, so he felt fully justified in taking a short nap.
When he finally woke up, it was dark out. Renji almost panicked, then saw that he just sleep longer than he had meant. He took a deep breath and headed for the bathroom, ready to shower off the stench of previous 24 hours.
“Renji?” Yukimura’s soft voice called out from the other room.
“I’m getting in the shower, Seiichi.” Renji told him, closing the door behind him. After 20 minutes in the warm water, Renji finally felt refreshed.. Yukimura was standing outside the bathroom door when he exited. Renji raised an eyebrow. “Is something wrong?” He asked.
Yukimura shook his head. “No, just wanted to hear about your days off.” He smiled. “You must have had a wild time.”
“Probably not as wild as you think.” Renji said, sliding back into his room.
“Oh?” Yukimura asked, feeling that he was being left out.
“I ran into Niou, we had a few drinks, and that was about as wild as it got.” Renji edited the story down to the safe version.
“I see.” Yukimura said, then turned away. “I would think that alone would be considered a wild time for you.” He teased.
“Perhaps it was.” Renji said, leaving that open to interpretation. He really wished Yukimura would leave him alone until the morning when he’d be back to doing his normal job.
“I could use a wild time.” Yukimura sighed as he flopped onto Renji’s bed. Renji just looked at him.
“Don’t you have those all the time?” Renji asked.
“None I’ve truly enjoyed though, Renji.” Yukimura sighed, closing his eyes. It took everything Renji had not to straddle his friend, press their lips together, tangle his hands in that long, dark hair... “If you want me to be honest, I’ve never gone all the way with anyone.”
“But, you had a tendency to brag about the girls you’ve been with?” Renji was confused by that.
“Locker room talk. Had to remain the alpha male, and all that. Now that I don’t really have to, it’s just been...” Yukimura shrugged. “It’s mostly to keep up appearances now. At least for my family.” He turned on his side and invited Renji to sit down. He did so a bit reluctantly. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my career, I love the freedom, but....” He sighed.
“You feel like you’re missing something?” Renji filled in. Yukimura nodded.
“You got it.” He smiled quietly. “You always have.”
“I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t.” Renji said, his eyes cast away from what was actually going on. Yukimura moved so he could sit beside him, and leaned on him. Renji stiffened at the contact.
“What’s wrong?” Yukimura asked, frowning.
Renji took a deep breath, mentally promising to somehow injure Niou if this worked out for the worst instead of the best. “Seiichi, remember the conversation we had about a month ago, before we came home from London?”
“About you liking guys? I remember. If I’m making you nervous because of that, I don’t mean to. It’s not as if I’m scared of catching something from you because of it.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, but....there’s something I probably should have told you a long...long time ago.” Renji’s eyes cast down on the floor, gathering the strength to say this. “Seiichi...I’ve had a crush on you...since high school. I’ve stood by in the shadows because I wanted you to be happy. I took the job you offered me because I wanted to see you succeed, not to make myself miserable. And I’m not, but...I think it’s past time I said all this.”
Yukimura just sat there in shock at the revelation one of his best friends had just made. “Oh...Renji....” He breathed out, and wrapped his arms around the other man. He thought about everything he’d done over the years that just added to the other’s internal pain.
Renji shook his head. “I know you’re not interested. Please don’t make this harder than it is.”
“Renji...” Yukimura wasn’t quite sure what to say. He buried his face against Renji’s arm. “It’s my turn to be honest. I’ve....most of my encounters were trying to figure out if I’m into men or women. It may shock you, but I have been with guys....It may shock you more to know one of them was Sanada.” Yukimura laughed at that. “I guess the best I can say is that I’m either bi, or there just isn’t really anyone that does it for me. As for all the women I’ve left in my wake....like I said, keeping up appearances.”
“I...never knew.” Renji was actually a bit shocked because he thought he knew who everyone on the team was either dating or having sex with. He never thought his two best friends might have done something like that.
“We didn’t want you to.” Yukimura admitted. He pulled Renji back. “Are you angry?”
Renji shook his head no. It was too late for anger, and Yukimura was pressing himself closer to him, and suddenly their lips met.. It wasn’t really the jolting experience Renji had expected it to be. It was more mundane than that, but it at least felt right.
“I’m pretty sure it won’t reflect well on me if I’m in a relationship with my manager though...” Yukimura said as he slid a hand over Renji’s still rather well toned abs.
Renji nodded in agreement, though not stopping Yukimura from what he was doing. “It could be a PR nightmare if the world found out.”
“Then again....” Yukimura said, kissing Renji hard on the lips again. “I’m not sure I care.” He smirked.
Renji looked at his friend. “You said it yourself - keeping up appearances. We...could always keep this between us and you keep up the pretense of looking for the right person.”
“I’ll think about that....Let’s see how good a lover you are first....”
“Have you heard the news yet?” Renji asked Yukimura as they woke up in New York.
“Hmm?”
“Tezuka has dropped out. The reason is quoted as being health concerns. The last I heard though was that his arm was doing pretty well.”
“Less competition then.” Yukimura smirked.
The victory felt a little hollow after the loss in England.
Three years later, Renji and Yukimura were still hiding their relationship from the outside world. Yukimura finally achieved one Grand Slam title, and was on his way to a second. It was late in the year, and in an early round, old friends came to a meeting.
The victory was a bit frustrating, as Yukimura won by default. He had been matched up against Sanada, and despite every effort on his part to stay alive in the match, Sanada’s knee had just given up on him. They had made it through two sets at least. Yukimura sighed as he watched his old friend hobble out with the assistance of his trainers.
“Not really how I wanted to move on in this tournament...” Yukimura confided later to Renji.
“I think Genichirou knew he wasn’t going to last through to even the quarter finals.” Renji said, not looking up from his computer. “I’m not sure how being matched up against you factored into that.”
Yukimura shrugged. “It probably didn’t help any.”
“Probably not. You are known as one of the toughest opponents on the circuit. You seem to strike fear into several people.”
“I didn’t think I was that scary....”
“Only to some.” Renji reassured him. “I spoke to Genichirou earlier. His doctor is considering for a knee replacement. He’s pretty sure he won’t be able to return to playing professionally.”
“That really is a shame.”
“Some habits die hard with some people.” Renji said, shaking his head.
“Especially with stubborn asses like Sanada.” Yukimura put in, smiling fondly.
Over the next several years, Yukimura kept up his winning streaks, despite getting older. He dated several ladies on the pretext that maybe he was going to marry one of them. Renji stayed in the shadows, brooding jealously, but knowing that if the world knew the truth, it would not be pretty.
One day while they back in Japan, and after hatching a devious plot to get Sanada out of the dojo and into a more relaxed mood, Yukimura texted him to see how the trip had gone. Renji texted right afterwards to tell him that he would distract Yukimura for a while, but would like to hear about it himself. His distraction involved trying some things from the Kama Sutra.
As they were relaxing later on, Yukimura got a text from Sanada asking for a favor.
“...Sanada has a date...if I can do a favor for him.” He mentioned to Renji. Renji just raised an eyebrow. “You can come along too...”
“What kind of favor?” Renji asked.
“Babysitting.”
“Babysitting?” Renji repeated. Yukimura nodded. “Well, I guess this day couldn’t get any stranger.”
The two arrived at Sanada’s about a half hour later. Renji sat down in the living room while Yukimura fussed over how Sanada looked for his date. He was used to this sort of thing, and he realized just how sad that was.
There were the usual questions about Sanada’s date, and the shocking revelation that he wasn’t dating a woman (which Renji called Yukimura out on - even he knew Sanada wasn’t into the opposite sex).
Yukimura about tripped over his own feet when he saw who Sanada’s date was. Like a ninja, Renji had gotten up and caught him before he fell flat on his face. Recovering, Yukimura greeted the old rival. They had a quick reminisce before Sanada introduced them to the child they’d be tending to. Before leaving, Sanada pulled Renji aside to tell him to not allow Yukimura to make a huge mess.
Renji gave his word that he wouldn’t allow that to happen. The two men and young girl saw Sanada and Tezuka off. It was then that it sunk in just who she’d been left with. It turns out that Tezuka’s daughter was a bit of a fan of Yukimura’s.
Renji fixed a simple dinner for the three of them while Sachie recited Yukimura’s record, and even asked about some of the highlights of a few of the matches that had been favorites of hers.
“I don’t even think Renji could have recited that many of my statistics back to me.” Yukimura joked at one point.
“They’re worth knowing. It’s too bad Father doesn’t want to go back to playing. I think it would be awesome to travel around the world and play tennis.” Sachie told them.
“It’s not really as fun as you think it is.” Yukimura told her. “There’s a lot of work involved in it too.” He thought for a moment. “Shall we watch a movie?”
“Yeah!” Sachie agreed. Yukimura went and gathered pillows from wherever he could find them, and so he and the girl made a fort out of the pillows in front of the TV. Renji had cleaned up the mess in the kitchen from dinner, and slipped quietly onto the couch. Yukimura glanced back at him and gave him a smile that said he’d make it up to him somehow.
Sachie noticed this. “....Are you two a couple?” She blurted out.
The two men both looked at each other, not really sure what to tell her. And whatever they told her could possibly get back to Sanada. Though he probably already knew...or had a clue.
“It’s...complicated.” Renji told her.
“I don’t mind if you are.” She told them. “I think Father likes Sanada-san, really. He just has a hard time admitting when he likes someone.”
Yukimura tried not to laugh at that. He leaned in over to the girl. “Sanada has the same problem.” He told her. Sachie did laugh at that, and yawned.
A half hour later, she was asleep on the pillows on the floor. Yukimura turned to Renji, only to find that he was asleep as well. He sighed, and stayed awake until Sanada and Tezuka returned. Once they were home, he woke Renji, and gave the other two a warning to not do anything they wouldn’t, they left.
On their way home, Yukimura walked as close as he could to Renji. “Are we starting to be too obvious?”
“Right now, the answer to that is yes.” Renji said, a slight teasing tone in his voice.
“It’s been a few years...maybe I should just come out about us....”
“You’re quite well established in your career now, I don’t foresee any major repercussions now. And I’m sure I can handle any backlash there may be.”
“I think you can too.” Yukimura said, a smile on his face. “Ne, Renji?”
“What, Seiichi?”
“Sorry it’s taken me so long to come around.”
Renji just wrapped his arm around Yukimura just a little bit tighter.
**~**~**~**~**~
Sachie had invaded their apartment. She was wound up, and was constantly stealing Yukimura’s phone to see if any texts from either of her dads had come in. Luckily, she seemed afraid of Renji’s phone for some reason.
“We’ll tell you when we have something to tell you.” Yukimura reassured her.
“And due to the oddity of Tezuka’s condition, it is a surgery that they are performing. And like Seiichi said, we’ll tell you when we do have news.” Renji added.
The poor girl was bouncing off the wall, and it was difficult to distract her.
Both cell phones went off at the same time. It’s a boy! Was the message, with an attached picture. Yukimura handed the phone to Sachie.
“There, you have a little brother.” He told her.
“Name?” She asked. Yukimura texted the question, but got a grumpy response back. He sighed.
“Not sure yet. Sanada is a bit grumpy.”
“He’s always grumpy.” Sachie said, pouting.
Yukimura grinned at that. “You are a wise child.” He declared.
“I know.” She said. “So, when are you and Yanagi-san getting married?”
Both of them looked shocked, then laughed it off.
“We already are.” Renji told her, as he winked at Yukimura. He would have to explain it to him later.