30_Smiles: TezukaxFuji Part Two
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Title: Eden
Chapters: 3/30
Author/Artist: relinquished972
Theme(s): #27 [Pride; High and Mighty]
Pairing/Characters: Tezuka/Fuji
Rating: PG
Disclaimer/Claimer: I don’t own Prince of Tennis and the plot was inspired by Gundam Seed so you may see elements that resemble Gundam Seed inside
Summary: [AU fic, 30_Smiles] An attempt at recreating Genesis has led to the emergence of a new humanoid race called the Apathos, who are smarter, stronger and more resilient than the original humans. Cast out of Earth, the Apathos have begun to rebel, waging war against their creators . . .
Chapter Three
~ Indebted ~
Part Two
Tezuka was back in his position on the command bridge, the station overlooking all the others. He heard the ammunition levels being announced with only part of his attention, already order for the preparations of the first wave of attacks. Kajimoto’s head shot up and he lost the controlled, lulling quality in his voice to warn them.
“They’re deploying fighters!” he shouted over the sounds of machines processing information, crew members muttering and people moving. “Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos - all F-series machines!”
The general was about to give the order for the Fudomine team to move out and intercept them, when Fuji’s face blinked into view on the large screen above the crew. His face was partially hidden from view by his helmet, but his blue eyes were twinkling.
“Fuji Syusuke, Athene, ready for takeoff.” He chuckled softly. “And the Fudomine team as well.”
Tezuka closed his eyes and smiled briefly, already knowing that the prodigy was capable of working miracles.
“Your job is to intercept Atropos and its team,” he said. “Clotho and Lachesis are lone fighters, but they cannot be forgotten or underestimated.”
“Hoi, hoi, Captain Kikumaru will take care of them!”
Kikumaru appeared as well, flashing a victory sign.
“Captain Inui ready.”
“Captain Kawamura awaiting orders, general.”
“You know your tasks then, intercept all fighters,” Tezuka said. They nodded once, in unison, and the screen clicked off. “Crew members on total alert! Are the weapons ready?”
“Yes sir!” Ikeda shouted. “Ready and loaded!”
“Lock onto the target,” Tezuka commanded. “Fudomine will dispatch immediately after the first round of attacks. Where possible, leave no survivors.” The image of a group of three fighters, in an arrowhead formation and flanked by seven others flooded the screen. Behind them was a large battleship, the same size as Poseidon, looming in the background. “Hold fire, deploy shields at maximum. Brace yourselves for the first attack!”
Everyone sat at their stations, waiting tensely and without moving. There was only the looming image of the battleship, Tisiphone and the approaching fighters. They waited for a long moment, before the thick atmosphere was broken.
“Tezuka, now!” Fuji’s voice came through sharply. “Fire now!”
“FIRE!” he shouted, without even thinking.
Tisiphone had attacked even as Poseidon launched its own. The two beams connected in the space between the two ships, exploding into blinding light. Oishi was thrown back against his seat from the impact, covering his eyes. Tezuka hit the intercom button with urgency.
“FUJI!”
“I’m one step ahead, general.”
Fuji’s sleek, compact craft was already in the fray, weaving in and out between the enemy crafts. He dodged and shot with fluid grace, deadly accuracy and breathtaking skill. But battles waited for no one and Tezuka found himself ordering a new wave of attacks without having time to register Fuji’s battle. The black Fudomine crafts were there as well, attacking in harmony and perfectly synchronised movements.
XXX
“SHINJI!”
Fuji whirled around to see the Fudomine fighter caught between three of the enemy. The others were sporting considerable damages to their engines, weapons and sides that had led to the formation being broken. The cry was from Kamio, whose shield had collapsed and was being towed by his comrade, Sakurai.
“Fudomine retreat!” Fuji ordered. “Take all the wounded on our side back to Poseidon immediately!”
“SHINJI’S STILL THERE!” Kamio screamed. His engine had completely shut down now and the only thing running was the communications. “HE’S GOING TO DIE!”
“This is an ORDER.” Fuji was angry now. He spun his craft around and bore down on the enemy. “Fudomine RETREAT.”
He shot down a fighter from behind, his eyes wide open and dangerous. The attack hit the main engines and the craft exploded. As the other two rounded on him, he met them head on. The two fighters could not brake in time and sped right past him, crashing into each other as they turned back around. The heat from the explosion, so close, was just a hair’s breadth away from his craft as he escaped the explosion of debris to reach Shinji’s craft.
“Ibu, can you still get out of here?” he asked urgently.
“I have enough engine power to get back to the ship,” was the weak reply. “My shields are all but gone and I have no more weapons.”
“Kikumaru! Get Ibu back to the ship! Kawamura, cover for him!” he spared a look for the last captain on his screen. “Inui, you and I will take care of the rest. Now MOVE!”
XXX
Tisiphone drew back after this final attack, losing all seven fighters in Atropos’ team, but the three fore fighters escaping with severe damages. The two battleships were unharmed. Fuji and Inui finished off the last four in the Atropos team and returned to Poseidon in time for the ship to makes its escape.
Fuji sat on the dressing room floor, suit still zipped up and gloves still on, but his helmet sat on the floor beside him. His head was bowed, breathing harsh, the sweat trickling down his face. The adrenaline was pumping still, but the blood pounding in his head was lessening gradually. He heard footsteps stopping before him and looked up.
“You saved Shinji’s life.” Kamio looked at him, expression almost confused. “After all that, you could have easily abandoned as all.”
“I never leave my team mates to die,” Fuji told him, smiling wearily. “I would do everything within my power to save every person I can.”
Kamio looked away first. After a moment, he swallowed his pride and forced his mouth to move.
“Colonel Tachibana was the same. He - he always thought of us first and he would always come back for us.” The stubborn redhead met Fuji’s eyes for the second time. “You have proven to be more like him than I thought. I can respect you for that, I think. And now I am in your debt.”
“There is no debt, Kamio. We are a team and this is what we do.” Fuji struggled to his feet, limbs feeling like lead. He clasped Kamio’s shoulder briefly. “Tachibana must have been a great leader, for you to be so devoted.”
Kamio looked at him, struggling to control his emotions. His voice cracked and shook with grief when he next spoke.
“He was the best.”
XXX
End
XXX
Part One can be found here