Relative distance
spring_fluff reveals are up! I've still got lots to catch up on and definitely a few to go back to now, but now that the masterlist is up, I can finally reveal (still oblivious as to whether anyone guessed at all) that I wrote Blueshift (Inui/Eiji), which was posted as a gift for the entire community. I'm still flailing over illuminations, who wrote It's a Date, an incomparably sweet Fuji/Kawamura for me. ♥
I had a really awesome time writing Blueshift - it made me rediscover how much fun these exchanges can be and it immersed me more deeply into the fandom. As for Blueshift itself, well - it was in many ways, an experimental piece, in terms of writing style and learning to write two characters I had previously avoided - Inui and Eiji, and to create a believable, interesting dynamic between them. It was a challenge and I really, fiercely enjoyed writing it. And I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed reading the beautiful comments on the original post. ♥
Title: Blueshift
Author: waxrose
Rating: PG-13
Length: ~8,400
Pairing(s): Inui/Eiji
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created by Konomi Takeshi. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Written for bloodybrilliant's prompt at spring_fluff and originally posted here. Make sure to check out the exchange masterlist - there's a lot of good reading to be had! Japanese Star Charts and Moon Stations, Database of Seasonal Constellations Visible in Japan and Modern Japanese Names for Constellations were all very helpful references in writing part of this story. Many thanks to tohshimari, freakytiki and bookshop for all of their hard work and support!
blueshift: an example of the physical phenomenon known as the Doppler Effect, which describes shifting wavelengths in frames of reference moving relatively to each other. spectral lines shift to shorter, bluer wavelengths when an object is moving closer to the observer.
After Kamio and Sengoku’s announcement, no one wants to talk about anything except Kevin Smith and his obsessive, if not somewhat roundabout pursuit of Echizen. That is, except for Echizen, who stares distantly at the ceiling and ignores the anxious whispers and conversations over the news that has sent the entire group into a frenzy.
"Hey, hey, what are you going to do, ochibi?" Eiji leans across the table towards Echizen anxiously.
Echizen closes his eyes. "It'll be okay to just ignore him, won't it?"
"But," Momo insists, "He seems pretty persistent."
"I thought the American team hadn't arrived yet," Shishido frowns, leaning forward so he can see Momo, who is sitting on the other side of Echizen. "So this kid came ahead?"
"Who knows?" Momo shrugs.
Eiji props his elbows on the table, resting his chin in his hands. Further down the table, Oishi and Kajimoto question Kamio, while Sengoku talks in low, serious tones with Inoue, Kirihara listening intently nearby. The mood is anxious and excited.
A chair scrapes back and Echizen stands, looking bored. "I'm going to bed," he announces to no one in particular. An uncomfortable silence descends as he strolls out of the cafeteria, towards the stairs.
"Geez, what's with him?" Shishido sounds exasperated. "He's got some star player from halfway around the world destroying half of the tennis teams in the Tokyo area just to impress him and it doesn't even faze him."
"That's Echizen for you," Momo sighs and Sengoku chuckles. "I'm going to go after him." He stands and pushes his chair back towards the table. “See you tomorrow.”
"It's not like he can do anything while he's at the camp," Kamio folds his arms across his chest. "I'm going to go call Tachibana-san again."
"Right, right!" Sengoku slings his arm around Kamio's shoulder, "We're all making a big fuss over nothing. American captain or not, he'll be toast in the tournament. There's nothing we can do now except to get a good sleep for the last day!" He ruffles Kamio's hair, who makes a face at him as they leave the hall.
"He's got a point," Shishido stands and stretches lazily, yawning. "Choutarou? You coming?"
"Ah, yes, Shishido-san!" Ohtori scrambles out of his chair, almost knocking it over.
Oishi still looks worried. "I'm going to stay here awhile longer. Tezuka won't be out of that meeting for awhile - and he should know about this. You should get some sleep, Eiji," he say, looking over at Eiji and smiling a little, "I try not to wake you up when I come in."
Eiji stretches fitfully. "I don’t feel like just sitting in the room. I’m going to go for a walk." The air in the building feels stuffy and stale, even with the air conditioning.
"Don’t be gone too long," Oishi is already moving towards the doorway. "There’s not that much time left until lights-out."
"Are you sure that you don’t you want to come?" It feels almost useless to ask. Tezuka’s presence is like the pull of gravity and Oishi has been orbiting happily for the past few days.
"Not tonight," Oishi smiles at him. "Sorry, Eiji. I'll see you in the room later, all right?"
"Sure." He can hardly blame Oishi. The past few weeks have been harder on him than anyone else and it’s quite possible that he almost missed Tezuka the most. Except for Echizen, but it’s always been hard to tell for sure.
The doors aren't locked for the night yet, though there aren't many people around. Eiji waves to Horio and Katsuo as he passes one of the other meeting rooms, and tips a wink to the cute pigtailed girl who is helping them clean up.
Outside, the air is pleasantly cool and the grounds are completely silent, except for the chirping of insects and the occasional noise from back inside the complex. The sky above is dark, dotted with bright stars. Eiji heads for the track, stretching his arms above his head. A few times around the track and he would probably be more than ready to go to bed. It probably wasn't a good idea to go too far anyways, and the small grove of trees surrounding the complex looked slightly forbidding at night.
He's nearly at the edge of the track when he realizes that there is someone sitting right in the middle of the grassy oval in the center. It is dark outside, but Eiji doesn’t have the best eyes in Seigaku for nothing. He can clearly make out spiked, messy hair and the gleam of glasses reflecting the light of the pale, slivered moon.
Inui is sitting cross-legged in the grass, leaning back with his hands braced against the ground. He is gazing up at the sky, seemingly unaware of his surroundings. Eiji grins wickedly. It's too perfect.
Eiji creeps slowly across the grass, careful to keep his footsteps light and not make any sudden noises. Inui is fun to attack, because he’s one of the hardest people to sneak up on that Eiji knows. He always seems to stay one step ahead.
Nearly there. Eiji crouches, preparing to pounce.
"Kikumaru. Stop it." Inui doesn’t even bother to turn around.
Eiji pouts, crossing his arms. "Mean, Inui! How did you know it was me?"
Inui looks back over his shoulder. Eiji can see him raise an eyebrow in the dim light. "You breathe differently," he replies finally. "I analyzed your breathing patterns along with the rest of the team. Yours is very distinctive - slightly huffy and excited. Furthermore, there is a very short list of people who I would expect to try and sneak up on me when I’m not suspecting it."
"Hmph." Eiji thumps down on the ground beside Inui, and flicks him on the shoulder. "You're weird, Inui."
"It was a long bus ride," Inui's cheeks look a bit pink, but it's kind of hard to tell in the dark. "And everyone was asleep, so it was a good opportunity. Did you know, Kaidoh makes this funny little noise in the back of his thr-"
"I don’t want to know," Eiji interrupts quickly, "What are you doing out here, anyways?"
Inui shrugs. "It’s the last night of camp. All of the coaches are in a meeting, so it seemed like a good time. It’s quiet out here."
"And the sky is particularly clear tonight," a voice from behind them adds. Eiji whirls around, clutching at Inui’s sleeve and almost pulling him off balance and down on top of him.
Yanagi Renji chuckles as he sits down on Inui’s other side and hands him one of the steaming cups he was carrying. "Relax, Kikumaru-kun. Here, Sadaharu - one of the freshmen helpers was kind enough to help me find some hot chocolate mix."
"You took longer than I had anticipated," Inui said, accepting the small paper cup and taking a sip, "Ah, thank you, Renji."
Yanagi makes himself comfortable on the grass, wrapping his hands around his own cup. "I ran into Sanada. I asked if he wanted to join us out here, but he declined. I can’t imagine why," He peers around Inui’s tall frame to Eiji, "I would have brought more hot chocolate if I had known you were joining us, Kikumaru-kun."
"I don’t mind sharing," Eiji reaches over and snatches the cup Inui had raised to his lips. He takes a sip, while Inui splutters. The hot chocolate is delicious, rich and steaming. Eiji licks the brim of the cup where some had spilled over. "It’s good!"
"Thank you," Yanagi wraps his jacket closer around himself, obviously pleased.
"Kikumaru," Inui has turned to face him, left eyebrow twitching slightly, "Do you mi-"
"Look, Sadaharu," Yanagi claps one hand on Inui's shoulder, pointing upwards with his other hand, "Just south of Sagittarius."
Inui adjusts his glasses, gazing upwards in the direction of Yanagi's pointing finger. "Minami no kanmuri," he breathed, "Brilliant, Renji."
"What?" Eiji squints at the point the other two seem fixated on. There were a lot of stars.
"Latitude of roughly 20̊," Inui supplies, apparently trying to be helpful.
"Here, look carefully," Yanagi leans forward around Inui to show him. He props one arm on Inui’s knee and points with his other. "Over there, an arc of about seven or eight stars, sideways." He traces a sideways semi-circle with one finger against the ink-black sky. "That’s the Southern Crown."
"Oh," Eiji leans against Inui’s side, tracing the wide, open circle of lights with his finger. If he closes one eye, he can cover it completely. "Do you two do this often?"
"We used to," Inui sounds almost wistful. Yanagi sits back and picks up his hot chocolate from where he had placed it on the ground beside him. "Renji, do you remember the meteor showers?"
"Sadaharu got a telescope for his tenth birthday," Yanagi informs Eiji, "We went on a camping trip with his parents." He pokes Inui. "I do remember. I also remember that we got hopelessly lost trying to find our way back to the campsite. We sat under a tree in the cold for almost two hours before anyone found us."
"You’re the one who said you had an excellent sense of direction," Inui nudges Eiji gently. "Kikumaru, you should be in bed if you’re tired."
Eiji rested his head on Inui’s shoulder, yawning widely. "I’m not. Show me more stars."
Inui seems to perk up at that and lets Eiji settle back against him. Eiji lets his eyes flutter shut as he listens to Inui’s quiet, excited lecture about moon stations, zeniths, seasonal constellations and something about the giant red bird of the south.
Inui’s jacket is warm and soft and smells clean. The night air is cool, but pleasant and between the warmth of Yanagi’s hot chocolate and the soothing cadence of Inui’s voice, Eiji relaxes completely. Time seems almost liquid and the stars blur and fade together above as Inui names them for Eiji, one by one.
"- should really bring him back inside, Sadaharu," Yanagi’s voice breaks through his drifting state. Eiji's head feels thick and he doesn’t want to open his eyes. "It’s late and tomorrow is an important day. Here, I'll get the cups."
"But he’s heavier than he looks." Inui sounds dismayed and Eiji fights the urge to snicker, hiding his grin against Inui’s arm, in the folds of his jacket. Yanagi makes an exasperated noise and Eiji is careful to keep his eyes closed. He feels Inui’s weight shifting out carefully from beneath him and two pairs of hands half-lifting him.
Eiji makes sleepy, compliant noises while Yanagi helps him onto Inui’s back and secures his arms around Inui’s neck. Eiji tightens his grip and nuzzles his cold nose against the nape of Inui’s neck, just above his jacket collar. Inui yelps and pitches forward. Eiji can hear Yanagi’s impatient, "For God’s sake, Sadaharu, don’t drop him!" from where he is walking ahead of them towards the dormitories.
They take the back entrance in, as Yanagi had apparently jammed the door open with a rock earlier. Despite his protests, Inui manages to carry Eiji up the three flights of stairs without any trouble. He is just breathing a little faster than usual by the time they reach the third floor and Eiji can hear the echo of his quickened heartbeat when he presses his ear against Inui’s back. It is clearly well past lights-out, because all of the hallways were completely dark and silent. Eiji peered out through slitted eyes as they silently walk past closed doors.
"I think this is the one," Yanagi says finally, rapping quietly on a door. There’s a click and light spills into the hallway when Oishi opens the door. Eiji hides his face in Inui’s neck again, but he can hear the relief in his partner’s voice.
"Eiji! I’ve been wondering where you had gotten to. It’s been lights-out for almost a half-hour. Thank you for bringing him back, Yanagi-san, Inui." Eiji rolls his eyes fondly behind closed eyelids. Oishi sounded more like his mother than his doubles partner.
"No need to worry, Oishi-kun," Yanagi says, "He was with us."
"He’s still asleep," Inui sounds tired himself. "I’ll just put him on his bed."
"The one by the window then," There's a creak and Eiji unconsciously clings tighter as Inui begins to move again.
It's tempting to take advantage of a situation like this. Almost too tempting. Eiji is having fun pretending to be sleeping, but it would also be incredibly fun to open his eyes suddenly and screech at Inui while he's lowering him onto the bed, faces just inches apart. But he keeps his eyes squeezed shut.
Eiji's back hits the soft solidity of the bed gently and he remains still, eyes squeezed shut, while Inui haphazardly arranges his limbs to ensure that he isn't half-sliding off of the bed.
Eiji can hear Yanagi and Oishi still talking by the doorway, and against his will, he's starting to drift off again. The bed is soft beneath his back and Inui managed to place him down with his head half-on his pillow - he could just turn over slightly, bury his nose in its softness and let sleep wash over him. He feels a weight settle down at the end of the bed and furrows his eyebrows in sleepy confusion until a gentle pressure on his feet makes his eyes bolt wide open, staring straight at Inui. Inui doesn't seem fazed at all by Eiji's sudden awakening, but merely raises his eyebrows.
"We brought you back to your room," Inui deftly unties Eiji's other shoe and removes it from his foot to place it neatly on the floor beside its partner. His hands hesitate at the top of Eiji's left sock. Eiji shivers, though whether its because Inui's fingers are cold, or the light brush against his bare skin tickles is hard to decide.
"Sadaharu," Yanagi's voice is loud and purposeful, and it's only then that Eiji realizes that he and Oishi have stopped talking and are watching Eiji and Inui, "Maybe we should get back to our room as well."
"Ah, right," Inui stands up quickly, almost tripping over the shoes he had placed neatly beside the bed. "Good night, Kikumaru. Oishi."
"Good night," Oishi chirps, while Eiji mumbles a quiet "Thanks," staying curled up on the bed while he watches Inui follow Yanagi out into the dark hallway. He feels slightly off-balance, like landing on one foot after a difficult jump. He rubs his stockinged feet together and shivers, wanting to just crawl under the covers and fall asleep again.
"Eiji, are you all right?" Oishi hovers by the edge of his bed, "Did you fall asleep outside? Where did Inui and Yanagi find you?"
"I'm fine." It comes out sounding slightly cranky and Eiji sits up, rubbing at his eyes a little. "Sorry, Oishi. We were just talking outside and I think I fell asleep on Inui."
"Yanagi-san said something like that," Oishi walks over to the window and tugs the curtains shut. "Well, I guess it's good to have some fun on the last night. It's hard to believe that the camp is already over, isn't it?"
Eiji nods. He still feels drowsy and the lights in the room suddenly seem too bright. He can still taste the lingering sweetness of the hot chocolate and grimaces slightly, searching the drawer beside his bed for his bathroom kit. "I need to go brush my teeth."
*
The bathroom is harshly bright and Eiji squints at his face in the mirror, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He brushes his teeth twice and flosses carefully for good measure before he heads back to the room, listening absently the snatches of whispered conversation and stifled laughter in a few of the rooms he passes by. Tomorrow was the selection and it was clear that few of the players have sleep on their minds.
"What did Tezuka say?" Eiji crawls back into his bed, wriggling around until the pillow feels exactly right beneath his head and the blankets and sheets are pulled up around his nose. Oishi shuts off the lights and Eiji watches his silhouetted figure pad softly through the darkness to his own bed.
"Not much," Oishi sighs, "He didn't seem surprised. I'm going to call Arai in the morning to make sure everything is okay." Eiji can see him sitting up in bed, knees drawn up to his chest, hugging them with his arms. His forehead was probably all scrunchy too. It always got like that when Oishi was worried.
"The guy challenged him to a game of tennis, Oishi. He didn't go in and shoot up the club room."
"I know that." Oishi's laugh is genuine, if still a little strained and Eiji hears him shift beneath his covers, lying down fully. "In any case, it will be okay. I'll call in the morning."
"It'll work out," Eiji turns onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "Hey, Oishi?"
"What is it?" Oishi's response is punctuated by a large, gusty yawn.
"Do you think that Ochibi can beat him? This Kevin Smith guy." Moonlight was spilling through the gaps of the curtains covering the windows, lashing across the floor in pale, jagged swathes.
"I suppose so," Oishi's voice is softer now, heavy with sleep. "He hasn't let us down yet. And it's pretty much certain that he will be chosen. Whatever this guy is like, I think that Echizen can handle it."
"I guess you're right." Eiji fiddles with the corner of his sheet. He listens to Oishi's breathing deepen for a few minutes, a comforting sound. "Oishi?"
It takes Oishi longer to reply this time and when he does, he sounds barely awake. "Eiji. Go to sleep, all right?"
"What if we don't get picked for the tournament?" Eiji sits up suddenly, "What if only one of us gets picked?"
"Eiji," Oishi's voice is still sleepy, but patient and affectionate, "We've given it our best shot, all through this camp. Whatever happens with the selection now is beyond our control. And if only one of us gets chosen - well, we'll support each other, won't we?"
It takes a moment to consider this before Eiji can lie back down, snuggling back under the covers with a contented smile. "Good night, Oishi."
"Good night," comes the pointed reply from the opposite bed. Eiji laughs sleepily, closing his eyes and burrowing deeper into the warmth of his pillow and blankets. The sheets are soft and clean, the room is comfortably cool. The whine of cicadas and the low hum of the lights outside the window are the only sounds interrupting the stillness of the night, constant and rhythmic.
When he falls asleep minutes later, Eiji dreams of the smell of freshly cut grass, a warm presence against his side and a low voice murmuring the names of the stars in his ear.
*
"Congratulations, Eiji." Fuji leans around the doorframe of his and Oishi’s dorm room. Oishi had left about ten minutes before to make sure that the other Regulars were packed and ready to leave. With the closing ceremony and the announcement of the regular tournament members, the camp had finally come to an end. The hallways were crowded and noisy, buzzing with talk, laughter and goodbyes. "I'm glad we’ll be on the team together."
"Fujiko!" Eiji bounds across the room, leaping over Oishi’s neatly stacked bags. He slings an arm around his friend’s shoulder, hugging him close. "Aren’t you excited?" It had taken awhile for Sakaki's announcement at the selection ceremony to sink in.
And when it had, Oishi had threatened to tie him down so he wouldn't accidentally break something while bouncing around. He feels jumpy and nervous. Excited, high ecstatic, unbelieving. He had wanted this, but he hadn't expected it, not really.
"Mmm." Fuji squeezes back Eiji gently, "Taka-san offered to load my bags to the bus, so I thought I would look in on you."
"I'm fine - all packed, see?" Eiji gestures to the two neatly packed bags beside the doorway. "Oishi even helped me find my lost spare toothbrush this morning. All ready to go home!"
"Oh, here you are, Fuji," Oishi stops outside the doorway, looked slightly frazzled. "Are you both ready? We’ll be heading out in about twenty minutes."
"Ah. I'd better go say goodbye to Yuuta, in that case," Fuji disentangles himself from Eiji, ruffling his hair before he lets go.
"Have you seen Echizen at all?" Oishi asks him, frowning, "He wasn't in his room and Momo said that he hasn't seen him since after the closing ceremony."
"I'm sure he'll turn up," Fuji squeezes past Oishi out into the hallway, "It must have been a shock, not being selected. We were all so sure he would be. He'll be fine, though. I'll see you both on the bus."
"Right," Oishi replies, still sounding worried. Eiji smiles, patting his doubles partner on the shoulder.
"Tezuka and the other coaches must have had a reason for not selecting him," Eiji tossed a bag at Oishi. He wasn't sure he believed that himself, but there was no other explanation. "Let's get going, okay? It's almost time to leave."
"Sure," Oishi catches the bag easily, slinging it over his shoulder. "You must be really excited, though - being chosen as a Senbatsu member is a big deal. I'm proud of you, Eiji."
Oishi's smile is warm and genuine and Eiji beams back at him, bumping his shoulder with his own.
Everything was falling into place, even if a few of the pieces were missing.
*
The bus ride back from the camp is long and Eiji is too restless to nap through it like he usually would.
He and Fuji had taken over the last two seats at the back of the bus, across the aisle from Momo and Kaidoh. Fuji was napping against the window, smiling serenely with his nose squished sideways against the glass. Momo had fallen asleep on Kaidoh's shoulder less than two minutes into the trip, snoring obnoxiously. Kaidoh was flipping through a magazine, occasionally trying to nudge Momoshiro off, looking disgusted, but resigned. Kawamura was stretched across the row of seats in front of them, sleeping soundly and obviously completely exhausted.
Oishi was sitting with Tezuka near the front of the bus; Eiji could see their heads bent over some paperwork, talking quietly - probably something official and boring. Echizen had staked out a window seat at the front and curled up, staring out the window and ignoring everyone else.
Long and boring. Eiji was debating rummaging through Fuji's bag to see if he had any magazines when he heard the sound of shuffling paper and a cough from the seat in front of him. It seemed that someone else was still awake. Eiji kneeled in his seat so he could see over the back of the seat in front of him. Inui was scribbling furiously, surrounded by what looked like the result of a hurricane hitting an office supply store.
"Inuuuui," Eiji rests his chin on the top of Inui's seat, neatly burrowing his nose in Inui's hair. He makes a grab for Inui's notebook, but Inui quickly holds it just out of reach. "I'm bored. Whatcha doing?"
"I'm trying to transfer all my data," There are papers strewn on all over Inui's lap and on the seat beside him, as well as a pile of notebooks on the floor. Inui flips a page in one notebook, checks a figure from another and makes a notation in the first. "This camp was a good opportunity to observe players from different schools."
"Any new data on me?" Eiji makes a face, straining his neck so he can read Inui's furiously scribbled writing on the pages haphazardly stacked all around Inui. "Can I read those?"
"No."
"Why not?" He messes up Inui's hair. It's spiky but soft and Eiji traces small, swirly circles in Inui's scalp with his fingers. "I can keep secrets."
"Stop it, Kikumaru." Inui doesn't sound annoyed, but he ducks his head a little so Eiji's fingers just barely brush the tips of his hair.
"You can't sit on all of them at the same time," Eiji points out, "Everyone's asleep and we've still got at least a half-hour drive left. I won't bother you much." He leans as far as he can over the seat without tipping over completely and squeezes Inui fiercely around the neck with both arms. Inui makes a choking noise and drops his notebook.
Across the aisle, Eiji can see Kaidoh look up briefly from his magazine, then down at his shoulder. "Gross," he hears Kaidoh mutter, trying to shove Momo against the window again and swiping at his shirt.
Inui takes advantage of Eiji's distraction to wrap a hand around one of the arms pinned against his neck, trying to ease it off his throat. "Kikumaru," he says, sounding slightly breathless, "If I say you can come sit beside me, will you please let go?"
Eiji is delighted. "Yes, I will."
"85% chance that you're lying," Inui mutters. Eiji ignores that, except to give Inui's neck a final, affectionate squeeze. Inui responds with a gagging sound and fumbles out of Eiji's hold long enough to clear the papers off the seat beside him, lovingly slipping them between the pages of one of the notebooks on the floor.
Eiji plunks happily into the seat beside Inui, curling up and resting his head against Inui's shoulder, staring out the window past Inui's head. Inui sighs - again, but doesn't say anything and minutes go by in silence, broken only by the loud, wheezy drone of Momoshiro's snoring.
There's something comforting about Inui. He's solid and dependable and constant. He's a bit strange, but he likes spying and secrets and always calls Eiji if there's something interesting going on. He's a lot of fun to bother and doesn't rise easily to Eiji's teasing or baiting. While Oishi will blush and act sentimental and Fuji will tickle him into submission, Inui, for the most part, accepts his clinging like he doesn't even notice he's there at all. It's always a challenge to pester him enough to actually get him to do something about it.
Eiji likes challenges.
"Kikumaru," Inui isn't looking at his notebook anymore and Eiji blinks, pulled out of his thoughts, "Have you given any thought to why you were chosen for the invitational team?"
"Hmm?" It's a little unsettling to have the full weight of Inui's stare on him. It's almost like he's a lab specimen that Inui plans to dissect. "I don't know. I guess I just impressed the coaches, right?"
Inui turns away, flipping another page in his notebook and tapping his pen against the page. "Teams like these are typically assembled with an idea of certain roles in mind for each player. Extremely gifted players are good, but to be truly strong, you need a variety of talents and strengths."
"You think that they picked me for some special reason?" Eiji lifts his head off Inui's shoulder, staring up at him.
"I'm saying that they picked everyone for a reason," Inui closes his notebook. "I don't know how the entire selection process proceeded, but the team leaders held daily meetings. The process was lengthy and given a great detail of thought. And I can assume that they picked you because-"
"Because?" Eiji is curious now.
"Well," Inui adjusts his glasses, pushing them further up his nose, "You work well as part of a team. You are outgoing and these skills - they all lend themselves to doubles." He fiddles with his pen "The invitational team can't just be comprised of strong players who can win singles matches. They also need players who can work as part of a makeshift team and pull together a strong enough combination to win in doubles as well."
"That makes sense," Eiji leans closer again, resting more of his weight against Inui, "You think I'll be playing doubles."
"I don't know," Inui looks uncertain. "I predicted at least an 90% chance that Echizen would be selected." He absentmindedly smooths out the open pages of his notebook, as if affectionately reassuring his data that it wasn't a complete failure.
"It makes sense, though," Eiji shifts, and something digs into his lower back. "I'm good, but everyone they picked was good - and most are more experienced at singles than doubles. But who would I be paired with?"
"I've given it some thought," Inui looks at him again, "There are several options, but some make a little more sense than others."
"Maybe it'll be me and Fuji," Eiji sits up slightly, wriggling his hand around behind him. He pulls out a scrunched-up ball of paper from the crack between the cushions.
"Ah," Inui plucks the paper ball from Eiji's fingers, "Mizuki-san. I had been wondering where I had put that. And yes, you and Fuji would be an ideal combination. That's completely possible."
"But that's not who you think it will be," There's a tiny smile twisting the corners of Inui's mouth and that can only spell trouble. "You think it will be someone else, not Fujiko."
"If I'm wrong," Inui points out, "You and Fuji are already a pretty effective doubles combination. But if I'm right, it would make sense to work on your combination before the actual match."
Eiji sighs. "But it could be anyone. What if it's not who you think and not Fuji either? I might end up perfecting a combination with someone for nothing."
"But you would still have the experience of working to figure out a combination with someone you barely know in a relatively short frame of time," Inui replies, and he is smiling for real now. "And if I am right, than you'll have the advantage of being prepared. I'm not advising you to do anything drastic or complicated, but simple formations and practice would give you a better idea of what might work with anyone, given the situation. Besides," Inui pushes up his glasses smugly, flipping his notebook back open, "Upon close examination, the possibilities are reasonably limited."
Eiji flops back down against Inui's shoulder, staring at the ceiling of the bus. "Inui," he says finally, "You think too much."
He can feel Inui's shoulder shake slightly beneath him with a quiet chuckle and smiles, snuggling back against Inui. The breeze wafting through the window is cool and smells slightly sweet. Eiji can hear Oishi's voice, pitched low as he speaks quietly to Tezuka at the front of the bus, can hear Kaidoh's rumbly snores as his head droops on top of Momoshiro's own. He thinks he hears Fuji chuckle in the seat behind them and in the row across from Eiji and Inui, Kawamura replies with a sleepy, contented noise.
"Kikumaru." He can feel the warm brush of Inui's breath tickling against his ear when he speaks.
"Mmm?" He stretches, languid and catlike, pressing closer against Inui. "What is it?"
"Go back to your seat. You're distracting me."
*
It is almost comforting to be back on the courts at Seigaku, back on familiar ground. Eiji throws himself into the game, leaping and soaring, secure in the knowledge that Oishi is right behind him. The clean smack of balls against racquets and the throbbing rush of sneakers across the ground blurs until all that is left is the bare thrill of playing. Eiji grins widely as he smashes the last ball in behind Kaidoh and even Momoshiro's quick, sprawling dive can't steal them the game.
"We'll beat you someday, Eiji-senpai," Momoshiro sucks water from his bottle like he's dying of thirst, "Won't we, Mamushi?" They are all sprawled across one of the benches near the clubhouse, trying to cool down in the late afternoon summer heat. Momo's hair is slicked back, still wet from the showers.
"Hmph," Kaidoh is leaning against the clubhouse wall, tennis bag slung over one shoulder, bandana neatly re-tied. "Maybe if you actually fast enough to get to the ball in time."
"Oy! I played better than you did!" Momo flings his towel at Kaidoh. He misses by several inches and the towel lands a few feet from Kaidoh, in the dirt.
Kaidoh raises his eyebrows. "Nice aim, dumbass."
"Break it up, you two," Oishi emerges from the clubhouse dressed in his school uniform again, cutting off Momoshiro's indignant reply. He fumbles around in his racquet bag with his other hand, pulling out his phone. "I'd better give Taka-san a call and see if it's still all right to come over."
"Hmm, that's a good idea," Fuji and Inui wander over from where they had been practicing on the far courts. Fuji sits beside Eiji, stealing his water bottle. "It feels good to be back, doesn't it?"
Eiji nods, watching Fuji tilt his head back to drink from his water bottle, his Adam's apple bobbing lightly as he swallows. "You and Inui looked like you were having a pretty intense match."
"Ah," Fuji swiped his hand over his mouth, smiling, "It was a good game. Inui has gotten stronger lately." Inui stands over beside Kaidoh, accepting a fresh towel from the younger boy with a gentle smile.
"He what?" All heads swivel instantly towards Oishi, who has his phone pressed to his ear and is listening with an expression of mixed confusion and concern. "Taka-san, slow down. What happened?"
"Oishi, is something wrong?" Fuji asks, eyebrows knitting together. Oishi ignores him, continuing to listen intently, making little noises of understanding every few seconds. Everyone else has stopped talking completely.
"Yes, I understand," Oishi finally speaks, rubbing the bridge of his nose anxiously, "Perhaps it's best not to now - I'll let everyone know, Taka-san. I'll talk to you later - yes, good-bye." He ends the call, staring down at his phone.
"What's going on?" Eiji leans around Fuji to tug at the sleeve of Oishi's jersey, "O-ishi. Did something bad happen? What did Taka-san say?"
Momoshiro is gripping the edge of the bench in suspense, looking as though he might fall off. Inui and Kaidoh are standing side by side, both looking worried - or rather, Kaidoh is trying not to look worried.
Oishi seems to barely register the hand tugging his shirt, "Taka-san said that he and Tezuka followed Echizen somewhere - I don't know the details, but Yamabuki's Akustu Jin was there - and so was Kevin Smith."
"Did they play a match?" Fuji's eyes are wide open now, grip visibly tightening on Eiji's water bottle.
"No, well -" Oishi twists his towel with his hands, staring down at the ground. "Apparently Echizen tried to and Tezuka tried to stop him. And then, Tezuka-" He stops mid-sentence, looking confused. "Taka-san said that Tezuka hit Echizen."
"What?" Momoshiro sounds shocked. "Buchou hit Echizen?"
Eiji can only stare at Oishi, confused. That wasn't like Tezuka at all. He didn't lose control like that. Kaidoh looks wide-eyed, and Fuji and Inui exchange glances. Eiji stays silent, watching Oishi's slumped figure, his hands twisting the towel into knots.
"I don't think he would hurt Echizen," Inui puts a hand on Momoshiro's shoulder, "Calm down. This is Tezuka, after all."
"That's right," Oishi stands up, stuffing the towel back in his bag, "Taka-san said that Echizen was fine - he seems to have come back to his senses." He zips his bag shut and slings it onto his shoulder. "In any case, I should leave. Taka-san said we'd better postpone the get-together for another day - he said to tell you that he was sorry."
There was no question to where Oishi was planning to go. It was in the determined set of his shoulders and the worry lines deepening on his forehead.
"This is weird," Eiji mutters, mostly to himself.
Fuji squeezes Eiji's elbow gently, setting his water bottle down on the bench beside him. He stands, facing Oishi. "Taka-san may not be in the mood for a party now, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind some company." He grabs his bag from below the bench. "I'm going to shower quickly and stop by his place before I go home. I'll talk to you all tomorrow."
The rest mumbled their goodbyes. Kaidoh and Momoshiro left together, walking side by side, but far enough apart to be able to deny that they were doing anything but walking in the same direction.
Eiji remains on the bench, tracing circles in the dirt with the front of his sneakers. It was like there was something deep and complex lurking below all of this that had everything to do with Tezuka staring straight ahead at the back wall of the meeting hall coldly while Echizen's name hung in the air unspoken. There are too many questions, too many things that Eiji can't even begin to pick apart.
Inui clears his throat and Eiji looks up, startled. He had almost forgotten that he wasn't the last one left. Inui looks awkward, shifting his feet and staring out over the courts. His notebook is unopened in his hands and he is clicking his pen absently. He didn't seem to know what to do and Eiji tilts his head, considering him.
"Hey," Inui starts a little, like Eiji had shocked him, or tried to squirt water in his ear again. He looks down at Eiji sitting on the bench like he hadn't remembered that Eiji was there and a bit like he didn't quite know where he was either. "Want to come back to my place?"
*
Inui's quick acceptance isn't really a shock, but the smile that breaks across the confusion clouding his face is. It all feels a little strange, but very nice. Eiji waits outside the clubhouse, watching the sun sink lazily below the horizion while Inui showers and gets dressed in his school uniform again.
They fall into step on the way to Eiji's house, walking slowly, not saying much. The dying sun stretches their shadows out behind them. Eiji watches Inui, whose mind is almost audibly buzzing as they walk, both lost in their thoughts. His own mind is reeling with questions, but he can't answer any of them right now.
It's been a long, confusing and exciting week, but at least Eiji is going home now.
Eiji's mother is thrilled to see him and kisses his face, hugging him until Eiji pretends to be choking and wriggles out of her grip. His sisters chatter at him and one of his brothers makes loud, obnoxious comments about how he can smell a week's worth of smelly socks from Eiji's bags. It's noisy and welcoming and it feels like home.
Inui seems at ease and not at all awkward, bowing politely to Eiji's mother and accepting her invitation to stay for dinner. He answers all of Eiji's sisters' questions, smiling easily.
"And that's Daigoro," Eiji dumps his bags beside the bunk beds after dragging Inui away from his family and leading him up the stairs to his bedroom. He sits down on the edge of the bottom bunk. The room feels pleasantly cool, carpet soft and ticklish against his bare feet when he pulls off his socks.
"I remember," Inui pets the over-large teddy bear awkwardly on the head and it droops to the left a little. "It hasn't been that long since I was last here." He drops his bags beside Eiji's and hovers awkwardly in the corner of the room, near the closet. There is a slightly uncomfortable silence, both of them staring at each other and not knowing quite what to say.
Eiji sighs and flops backwards on the bed, staring at the bottom of the top bunk. It's dim and quiet under there, contrasted to the brightness of the room. He invited Inui back because, well - because neither of them really seemed to want to be alone while the rest of the team seemed to be splintering at the edges, chewed apart by forces and reasons that they can't control or even understand.
"Why would Tezuka hit Ochibi?" Eiji can't even reconcile the image in his mind. Tezuka always seemed to be an immovable pillar of control, the axis on which Seigaku rotates. He didn't lose control, ever. None of it made sense.
"It's hard to say," There's a creak and Eiji feels the bed dip slightly beside him as Inui sits on the bed beside him, "I'm sure it's nothing serious, really. It'll work out soon enough."
"I hate not knowing," Eiji grumbles, folding his arms over his chest. "I can't believe even you don't know what's going on."
"I don't know everything," Inui's tone is light and he lies down carefully on his side, facing Eiji.
"Who do you think I'll be playing doubles with?" They are close enough that Eiji can feel Inui's breath ghosting across his cheek. He doesn't turn to look at Inui. His bare feet brush against Inui's leg where they dangle off the edge of the bed.
"I think you know," Inui sounds even closer now, "I think you've already come to the same conclusion that I did."
Eiji makes a face, swinging his right leg sideways over both of Inui's legs. "Why do you always have to make everything so difficult?"
"I don't," Inui sounds a bit hurt and Eiji finally tilts his head sideways to look at him. His head is propped up on his elbow, and he looks tired. Confused. Comfortable.
"Only sometimes," Eiji allows generously, turning on his side to face Inui fully. They are inches apart, both drowsy and heavy-limbed from practice and the long, long week at camp. He studies Inui's face with a completely serious expression.
"What is it?" Inui sounds concerned - and slightly suspicious.
"Nothing," Eiji lies. Then he leans forward quickly, snatching Inui's glasses off his face.
"Kikumaru!" There are few things that can get Inui this worked up, and Eiji giggles in spite of himself as he launches himself farther back on the bed, out of range of Inui's desperate lunge. It doesn't last, though - there isn't really anywhere to go and Inui has Eiji pinned on the opposite edge of the bed in a second, back against the wall.
Inui's legs are tangled up in his, and his knee is digging hard into Eiji's thigh as he snatches the glasses back, blinking myopically and disapprovingly at Eiji. Inui sits back on his heels to put his glasses back on, deliberately putting pressure on Eiji's ankles.
"You're heavy," Eiji complains, trying to control his breathing. It's doing funny things to him, being this close to Inui. Which is understandable, but completely stupid on several levels. Fine, he is fourteen, but this was Inui . Not some girl with a sweet smile and long hair and a pretty laugh.
But Eiji still feels kind of shivery and warm and wriggly. Inui is still holding onto one of his wrists and his skin feels hot under Inui's grip. Inui is looking at him strangely - not that he can see his eyes anymore, but he looks - uncertain. He's staring at Eji like he doesn't quite know how to move.
"Inui," Eiji says, and it comes out in almost a whisper. He clears his throat. "Inui, what?"
But Inui is moving again, and Eiji's eyes widen as Inui leans into him, leans against him, with one hand pressed against Eiji's chest and the other still gripping his wrist. Inui's face hovers in front of him for what feels like hours, but must be only seconds and Eiji can see his eyes through his glasses, dark lashes blinking against lenses.
Then there is no more distance or space between them at all, and Inui's mouth is pressed awkwardly against Eiji's. His lips are dry and hot. Eiji's limbs felt like dead weights and it took a minute to register anything except the burning, fluttery feelings in his belly and the warmth spreading out from Inui's fingers splayed against his chest, through his uniform shirt and the tentative, slow slide of lips against his own unmoving ones.
He must have stayed still for too long, because Inui pulls back. "I'm sorry," Inui looks embarrassed, his cheeks flushed. "I don't what came over m-"
Eiji rolls his eyes and pulls him back down so that Inui loses his balance, falling fully on top of him. Eiji slides a little down the wall and they are sideways, a hopeless tangle of limbs. Eiji's hair falls over his face and Inui brushes it aside gently, kissing him again on the lips, lightly at first, barely a brush, like he is testing to see if he is really allowed to do that. Eiji arches up against Inui, wriggling his hands out from where they are trapped between them to let them roam across the broad, muscled expanse of Inui's back.
They kiss deeply, until Eiji feels like his eyeballs might burst from his head out of lack of oxygen. He breaks away, breathing unsteadily and shivers as Inui boldly trails kisses down his neck, to the dip of his collarbone.
That is unfair and Eiji retaliates immediately, snaking a hand down between them. Inui makes a sound like he's choking and buries his face in Eiji's neck, murmuring something completely incoherent. Eiji laughs out loud, breathless and excited, fumbling with the buttons and zipper of Inui's pants, tilting Inui's face up with his free hand so he can kiss him again, tongue running across Inui's bottom lip.
"Kikumaru," Inui breaks off the kiss. His voice is deeper than usually and his face was bright red. He smells weird this close, like detergent, mixed with something strong and chemical. "Are you sure that we're not -ohgod." He arches his hips against Eiji's hand and releases his tight grip on Eiji's wrist to run his fingers through Eiji's hair, his thumb tracing the shell of Eiji's ear.
Eiji has a feeling that neither of them have much of an idea what they are doing or where this is even going, although with Inui half-out of his pants, it was definitely going somewhere and he really, really did not want to waste his breath talking about it. Inui's fingers were threading through his hair, his mouth hot and wet against Eiji's neck.
The door opens almost completely silently, but suddenly Eiji can see his older brother over Inui's shoulder, standing in the doorway, hand still on the doorknob. He looks completely shell-shocked and Eiji instantly shoves Inui off of him, panicking.
It's too little, too late, though. Inui falls onto the floor with a thud. Eiji can feel his face flushing bright red as his brother takes in the rumpled blankets of the bottom bunk, their unsteady, uneven breathing and flushed faces, Inui surreptitiously tugging his pants up.
"I'm supposed to tell you that dinner is in five minutes," His brother looks torn between horror, amusement and the dawning realization that he now has blackmail material for possibly the rest of their lives, "And for God's sake, Eiji, that's my bed. Gross."
He shuts the door again and Eiji slides off the bed, down onto the floor beside Inui.
Both of them are silent for long minutes, listening to the clink of dishes and the sounds of laughter from the floor below. He doesn't really know what to say. And maybe Inui doesn't either, because he won't look at Eiji.
"Oshitari Yuushi," Eiji says finally, because he doesn't know what else to say.
Inui looks up at him, startled. "What?"
"That's who you think I'll be playing doubles with," Eiji scuffs his bare feet against the carpet, wriggling his toes into the soft material. "Isn't it?"
Inui looks surprised and stares at Eiji, "Yes," he replies, sounding pleased, "It is."
There is a long silence again. Eiji can almost feel Inui's intent stare. He fidgets, rubbing his hands against the carpet and letting the friction burn slightly against his palms.
"We're not - a thing- or anything. Right?" He doesn't want to hurt Inui's feelings or anything, but he doesn't want Inui to get the wrong idea, either. Dating or - he wonders vaguely what dates with Inui would involve. Possibly spying on rival teams, or drinking gross juice. The spying would be fun, at least.
"No," To Eiji's surprise, Inui actually laughs. "I know."
"Oh." Eiji scratches his nose, feeling at a bit of a loss. "Okay. That's good." He gets to his feet, checking the mirror on his way to the door. There are no marks on his neck, luckily, aside from it being a little red. He tries to comb his hair back into a less disheveled state with his fingers.
"I can leave now, if you want." Eiji turns around. Inui is still sitting cross-legged in the middle of his bedroom floor, fidgeting and looking extremely awkward.
"No. You don't have to." Eiji is confused. "Why should you?"
"Oh," Inui stares up at him and it's like something clicks in his head, before he is pulling himself up from the floor, looking relieved. He smiles at Eiji and knocks their elbows together as they walk towards the doorway. "This is going to be awkward, isn't it?"
"A little. My brother can be a jerk sometimes, but he wouldn't say anything. I think." Eiji twists the doorknob open.
"No - I mean - us."
Eiji turns around. Inui is fidgeting a little again, like his insides won't stop shaking. "Nothing has to change," he replies, twisting open the doorknob. "Things are good, right?"
Inui smiles, looking relieved. "Yeah."
Things can't get awkward unless they let them and it would be stupid if they did.
Eiji smiles back tentatively, pressing his back against the door to let Inui go by first.
"Inui," Eiji says, barely suppressing a grin.
"Hmm?" Inui is halfway down the stairs, long legs taking the steps carefully two at a time. Below, Eiji's family was already seated at the table, conversation carrying up to the second floor, raucous and noisy. Inui half-turns his head, smile wide and nervous as he tilts his head back up at Eiji.
"You might want to zip up your pants."
And because after, it still felt incomplete, I took a second look at what was left - and the result? Standard Uncertainty (Inui/Eiji, ~3,000 words). This is my gift to everyone who supported me while I was writing this fic and to everyone who left kind and thoughtful comments to Blueshift.
I really need to start putting less sugar in my tea. :DDDD ♥ ♥ ♥!!!
I had a really awesome time writing Blueshift - it made me rediscover how much fun these exchanges can be and it immersed me more deeply into the fandom. As for Blueshift itself, well - it was in many ways, an experimental piece, in terms of writing style and learning to write two characters I had previously avoided - Inui and Eiji, and to create a believable, interesting dynamic between them. It was a challenge and I really, fiercely enjoyed writing it. And I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed reading the beautiful comments on the original post. ♥
Title: Blueshift
Author: waxrose
Rating: PG-13
Length: ~8,400
Pairing(s): Inui/Eiji
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created by Konomi Takeshi. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Written for bloodybrilliant's prompt at spring_fluff and originally posted here. Make sure to check out the exchange masterlist - there's a lot of good reading to be had! Japanese Star Charts and Moon Stations, Database of Seasonal Constellations Visible in Japan and Modern Japanese Names for Constellations were all very helpful references in writing part of this story. Many thanks to tohshimari, freakytiki and bookshop for all of their hard work and support!
blueshift: an example of the physical phenomenon known as the Doppler Effect, which describes shifting wavelengths in frames of reference moving relatively to each other. spectral lines shift to shorter, bluer wavelengths when an object is moving closer to the observer.
After Kamio and Sengoku’s announcement, no one wants to talk about anything except Kevin Smith and his obsessive, if not somewhat roundabout pursuit of Echizen. That is, except for Echizen, who stares distantly at the ceiling and ignores the anxious whispers and conversations over the news that has sent the entire group into a frenzy.
"Hey, hey, what are you going to do, ochibi?" Eiji leans across the table towards Echizen anxiously.
Echizen closes his eyes. "It'll be okay to just ignore him, won't it?"
"But," Momo insists, "He seems pretty persistent."
"I thought the American team hadn't arrived yet," Shishido frowns, leaning forward so he can see Momo, who is sitting on the other side of Echizen. "So this kid came ahead?"
"Who knows?" Momo shrugs.
Eiji props his elbows on the table, resting his chin in his hands. Further down the table, Oishi and Kajimoto question Kamio, while Sengoku talks in low, serious tones with Inoue, Kirihara listening intently nearby. The mood is anxious and excited.
A chair scrapes back and Echizen stands, looking bored. "I'm going to bed," he announces to no one in particular. An uncomfortable silence descends as he strolls out of the cafeteria, towards the stairs.
"Geez, what's with him?" Shishido sounds exasperated. "He's got some star player from halfway around the world destroying half of the tennis teams in the Tokyo area just to impress him and it doesn't even faze him."
"That's Echizen for you," Momo sighs and Sengoku chuckles. "I'm going to go after him." He stands and pushes his chair back towards the table. “See you tomorrow.”
"It's not like he can do anything while he's at the camp," Kamio folds his arms across his chest. "I'm going to go call Tachibana-san again."
"Right, right!" Sengoku slings his arm around Kamio's shoulder, "We're all making a big fuss over nothing. American captain or not, he'll be toast in the tournament. There's nothing we can do now except to get a good sleep for the last day!" He ruffles Kamio's hair, who makes a face at him as they leave the hall.
"He's got a point," Shishido stands and stretches lazily, yawning. "Choutarou? You coming?"
"Ah, yes, Shishido-san!" Ohtori scrambles out of his chair, almost knocking it over.
Oishi still looks worried. "I'm going to stay here awhile longer. Tezuka won't be out of that meeting for awhile - and he should know about this. You should get some sleep, Eiji," he say, looking over at Eiji and smiling a little, "I try not to wake you up when I come in."
Eiji stretches fitfully. "I don’t feel like just sitting in the room. I’m going to go for a walk." The air in the building feels stuffy and stale, even with the air conditioning.
"Don’t be gone too long," Oishi is already moving towards the doorway. "There’s not that much time left until lights-out."
"Are you sure that you don’t you want to come?" It feels almost useless to ask. Tezuka’s presence is like the pull of gravity and Oishi has been orbiting happily for the past few days.
"Not tonight," Oishi smiles at him. "Sorry, Eiji. I'll see you in the room later, all right?"
"Sure." He can hardly blame Oishi. The past few weeks have been harder on him than anyone else and it’s quite possible that he almost missed Tezuka the most. Except for Echizen, but it’s always been hard to tell for sure.
The doors aren't locked for the night yet, though there aren't many people around. Eiji waves to Horio and Katsuo as he passes one of the other meeting rooms, and tips a wink to the cute pigtailed girl who is helping them clean up.
Outside, the air is pleasantly cool and the grounds are completely silent, except for the chirping of insects and the occasional noise from back inside the complex. The sky above is dark, dotted with bright stars. Eiji heads for the track, stretching his arms above his head. A few times around the track and he would probably be more than ready to go to bed. It probably wasn't a good idea to go too far anyways, and the small grove of trees surrounding the complex looked slightly forbidding at night.
He's nearly at the edge of the track when he realizes that there is someone sitting right in the middle of the grassy oval in the center. It is dark outside, but Eiji doesn’t have the best eyes in Seigaku for nothing. He can clearly make out spiked, messy hair and the gleam of glasses reflecting the light of the pale, slivered moon.
Inui is sitting cross-legged in the grass, leaning back with his hands braced against the ground. He is gazing up at the sky, seemingly unaware of his surroundings. Eiji grins wickedly. It's too perfect.
Eiji creeps slowly across the grass, careful to keep his footsteps light and not make any sudden noises. Inui is fun to attack, because he’s one of the hardest people to sneak up on that Eiji knows. He always seems to stay one step ahead.
Nearly there. Eiji crouches, preparing to pounce.
"Kikumaru. Stop it." Inui doesn’t even bother to turn around.
Eiji pouts, crossing his arms. "Mean, Inui! How did you know it was me?"
Inui looks back over his shoulder. Eiji can see him raise an eyebrow in the dim light. "You breathe differently," he replies finally. "I analyzed your breathing patterns along with the rest of the team. Yours is very distinctive - slightly huffy and excited. Furthermore, there is a very short list of people who I would expect to try and sneak up on me when I’m not suspecting it."
"Hmph." Eiji thumps down on the ground beside Inui, and flicks him on the shoulder. "You're weird, Inui."
"It was a long bus ride," Inui's cheeks look a bit pink, but it's kind of hard to tell in the dark. "And everyone was asleep, so it was a good opportunity. Did you know, Kaidoh makes this funny little noise in the back of his thr-"
"I don’t want to know," Eiji interrupts quickly, "What are you doing out here, anyways?"
Inui shrugs. "It’s the last night of camp. All of the coaches are in a meeting, so it seemed like a good time. It’s quiet out here."
"And the sky is particularly clear tonight," a voice from behind them adds. Eiji whirls around, clutching at Inui’s sleeve and almost pulling him off balance and down on top of him.
Yanagi Renji chuckles as he sits down on Inui’s other side and hands him one of the steaming cups he was carrying. "Relax, Kikumaru-kun. Here, Sadaharu - one of the freshmen helpers was kind enough to help me find some hot chocolate mix."
"You took longer than I had anticipated," Inui said, accepting the small paper cup and taking a sip, "Ah, thank you, Renji."
Yanagi makes himself comfortable on the grass, wrapping his hands around his own cup. "I ran into Sanada. I asked if he wanted to join us out here, but he declined. I can’t imagine why," He peers around Inui’s tall frame to Eiji, "I would have brought more hot chocolate if I had known you were joining us, Kikumaru-kun."
"I don’t mind sharing," Eiji reaches over and snatches the cup Inui had raised to his lips. He takes a sip, while Inui splutters. The hot chocolate is delicious, rich and steaming. Eiji licks the brim of the cup where some had spilled over. "It’s good!"
"Thank you," Yanagi wraps his jacket closer around himself, obviously pleased.
"Kikumaru," Inui has turned to face him, left eyebrow twitching slightly, "Do you mi-"
"Look, Sadaharu," Yanagi claps one hand on Inui's shoulder, pointing upwards with his other hand, "Just south of Sagittarius."
Inui adjusts his glasses, gazing upwards in the direction of Yanagi's pointing finger. "Minami no kanmuri," he breathed, "Brilliant, Renji."
"What?" Eiji squints at the point the other two seem fixated on. There were a lot of stars.
"Latitude of roughly 20̊," Inui supplies, apparently trying to be helpful.
"Here, look carefully," Yanagi leans forward around Inui to show him. He props one arm on Inui’s knee and points with his other. "Over there, an arc of about seven or eight stars, sideways." He traces a sideways semi-circle with one finger against the ink-black sky. "That’s the Southern Crown."
"Oh," Eiji leans against Inui’s side, tracing the wide, open circle of lights with his finger. If he closes one eye, he can cover it completely. "Do you two do this often?"
"We used to," Inui sounds almost wistful. Yanagi sits back and picks up his hot chocolate from where he had placed it on the ground beside him. "Renji, do you remember the meteor showers?"
"Sadaharu got a telescope for his tenth birthday," Yanagi informs Eiji, "We went on a camping trip with his parents." He pokes Inui. "I do remember. I also remember that we got hopelessly lost trying to find our way back to the campsite. We sat under a tree in the cold for almost two hours before anyone found us."
"You’re the one who said you had an excellent sense of direction," Inui nudges Eiji gently. "Kikumaru, you should be in bed if you’re tired."
Eiji rested his head on Inui’s shoulder, yawning widely. "I’m not. Show me more stars."
Inui seems to perk up at that and lets Eiji settle back against him. Eiji lets his eyes flutter shut as he listens to Inui’s quiet, excited lecture about moon stations, zeniths, seasonal constellations and something about the giant red bird of the south.
Inui’s jacket is warm and soft and smells clean. The night air is cool, but pleasant and between the warmth of Yanagi’s hot chocolate and the soothing cadence of Inui’s voice, Eiji relaxes completely. Time seems almost liquid and the stars blur and fade together above as Inui names them for Eiji, one by one.
"- should really bring him back inside, Sadaharu," Yanagi’s voice breaks through his drifting state. Eiji's head feels thick and he doesn’t want to open his eyes. "It’s late and tomorrow is an important day. Here, I'll get the cups."
"But he’s heavier than he looks." Inui sounds dismayed and Eiji fights the urge to snicker, hiding his grin against Inui’s arm, in the folds of his jacket. Yanagi makes an exasperated noise and Eiji is careful to keep his eyes closed. He feels Inui’s weight shifting out carefully from beneath him and two pairs of hands half-lifting him.
Eiji makes sleepy, compliant noises while Yanagi helps him onto Inui’s back and secures his arms around Inui’s neck. Eiji tightens his grip and nuzzles his cold nose against the nape of Inui’s neck, just above his jacket collar. Inui yelps and pitches forward. Eiji can hear Yanagi’s impatient, "For God’s sake, Sadaharu, don’t drop him!" from where he is walking ahead of them towards the dormitories.
They take the back entrance in, as Yanagi had apparently jammed the door open with a rock earlier. Despite his protests, Inui manages to carry Eiji up the three flights of stairs without any trouble. He is just breathing a little faster than usual by the time they reach the third floor and Eiji can hear the echo of his quickened heartbeat when he presses his ear against Inui’s back. It is clearly well past lights-out, because all of the hallways were completely dark and silent. Eiji peered out through slitted eyes as they silently walk past closed doors.
"I think this is the one," Yanagi says finally, rapping quietly on a door. There’s a click and light spills into the hallway when Oishi opens the door. Eiji hides his face in Inui’s neck again, but he can hear the relief in his partner’s voice.
"Eiji! I’ve been wondering where you had gotten to. It’s been lights-out for almost a half-hour. Thank you for bringing him back, Yanagi-san, Inui." Eiji rolls his eyes fondly behind closed eyelids. Oishi sounded more like his mother than his doubles partner.
"No need to worry, Oishi-kun," Yanagi says, "He was with us."
"He’s still asleep," Inui sounds tired himself. "I’ll just put him on his bed."
"The one by the window then," There's a creak and Eiji unconsciously clings tighter as Inui begins to move again.
It's tempting to take advantage of a situation like this. Almost too tempting. Eiji is having fun pretending to be sleeping, but it would also be incredibly fun to open his eyes suddenly and screech at Inui while he's lowering him onto the bed, faces just inches apart. But he keeps his eyes squeezed shut.
Eiji's back hits the soft solidity of the bed gently and he remains still, eyes squeezed shut, while Inui haphazardly arranges his limbs to ensure that he isn't half-sliding off of the bed.
Eiji can hear Yanagi and Oishi still talking by the doorway, and against his will, he's starting to drift off again. The bed is soft beneath his back and Inui managed to place him down with his head half-on his pillow - he could just turn over slightly, bury his nose in its softness and let sleep wash over him. He feels a weight settle down at the end of the bed and furrows his eyebrows in sleepy confusion until a gentle pressure on his feet makes his eyes bolt wide open, staring straight at Inui. Inui doesn't seem fazed at all by Eiji's sudden awakening, but merely raises his eyebrows.
"We brought you back to your room," Inui deftly unties Eiji's other shoe and removes it from his foot to place it neatly on the floor beside its partner. His hands hesitate at the top of Eiji's left sock. Eiji shivers, though whether its because Inui's fingers are cold, or the light brush against his bare skin tickles is hard to decide.
"Sadaharu," Yanagi's voice is loud and purposeful, and it's only then that Eiji realizes that he and Oishi have stopped talking and are watching Eiji and Inui, "Maybe we should get back to our room as well."
"Ah, right," Inui stands up quickly, almost tripping over the shoes he had placed neatly beside the bed. "Good night, Kikumaru. Oishi."
"Good night," Oishi chirps, while Eiji mumbles a quiet "Thanks," staying curled up on the bed while he watches Inui follow Yanagi out into the dark hallway. He feels slightly off-balance, like landing on one foot after a difficult jump. He rubs his stockinged feet together and shivers, wanting to just crawl under the covers and fall asleep again.
"Eiji, are you all right?" Oishi hovers by the edge of his bed, "Did you fall asleep outside? Where did Inui and Yanagi find you?"
"I'm fine." It comes out sounding slightly cranky and Eiji sits up, rubbing at his eyes a little. "Sorry, Oishi. We were just talking outside and I think I fell asleep on Inui."
"Yanagi-san said something like that," Oishi walks over to the window and tugs the curtains shut. "Well, I guess it's good to have some fun on the last night. It's hard to believe that the camp is already over, isn't it?"
Eiji nods. He still feels drowsy and the lights in the room suddenly seem too bright. He can still taste the lingering sweetness of the hot chocolate and grimaces slightly, searching the drawer beside his bed for his bathroom kit. "I need to go brush my teeth."
*
The bathroom is harshly bright and Eiji squints at his face in the mirror, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He brushes his teeth twice and flosses carefully for good measure before he heads back to the room, listening absently the snatches of whispered conversation and stifled laughter in a few of the rooms he passes by. Tomorrow was the selection and it was clear that few of the players have sleep on their minds.
"What did Tezuka say?" Eiji crawls back into his bed, wriggling around until the pillow feels exactly right beneath his head and the blankets and sheets are pulled up around his nose. Oishi shuts off the lights and Eiji watches his silhouetted figure pad softly through the darkness to his own bed.
"Not much," Oishi sighs, "He didn't seem surprised. I'm going to call Arai in the morning to make sure everything is okay." Eiji can see him sitting up in bed, knees drawn up to his chest, hugging them with his arms. His forehead was probably all scrunchy too. It always got like that when Oishi was worried.
"The guy challenged him to a game of tennis, Oishi. He didn't go in and shoot up the club room."
"I know that." Oishi's laugh is genuine, if still a little strained and Eiji hears him shift beneath his covers, lying down fully. "In any case, it will be okay. I'll call in the morning."
"It'll work out," Eiji turns onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "Hey, Oishi?"
"What is it?" Oishi's response is punctuated by a large, gusty yawn.
"Do you think that Ochibi can beat him? This Kevin Smith guy." Moonlight was spilling through the gaps of the curtains covering the windows, lashing across the floor in pale, jagged swathes.
"I suppose so," Oishi's voice is softer now, heavy with sleep. "He hasn't let us down yet. And it's pretty much certain that he will be chosen. Whatever this guy is like, I think that Echizen can handle it."
"I guess you're right." Eiji fiddles with the corner of his sheet. He listens to Oishi's breathing deepen for a few minutes, a comforting sound. "Oishi?"
It takes Oishi longer to reply this time and when he does, he sounds barely awake. "Eiji. Go to sleep, all right?"
"What if we don't get picked for the tournament?" Eiji sits up suddenly, "What if only one of us gets picked?"
"Eiji," Oishi's voice is still sleepy, but patient and affectionate, "We've given it our best shot, all through this camp. Whatever happens with the selection now is beyond our control. And if only one of us gets chosen - well, we'll support each other, won't we?"
It takes a moment to consider this before Eiji can lie back down, snuggling back under the covers with a contented smile. "Good night, Oishi."
"Good night," comes the pointed reply from the opposite bed. Eiji laughs sleepily, closing his eyes and burrowing deeper into the warmth of his pillow and blankets. The sheets are soft and clean, the room is comfortably cool. The whine of cicadas and the low hum of the lights outside the window are the only sounds interrupting the stillness of the night, constant and rhythmic.
When he falls asleep minutes later, Eiji dreams of the smell of freshly cut grass, a warm presence against his side and a low voice murmuring the names of the stars in his ear.
*
"Congratulations, Eiji." Fuji leans around the doorframe of his and Oishi’s dorm room. Oishi had left about ten minutes before to make sure that the other Regulars were packed and ready to leave. With the closing ceremony and the announcement of the regular tournament members, the camp had finally come to an end. The hallways were crowded and noisy, buzzing with talk, laughter and goodbyes. "I'm glad we’ll be on the team together."
"Fujiko!" Eiji bounds across the room, leaping over Oishi’s neatly stacked bags. He slings an arm around his friend’s shoulder, hugging him close. "Aren’t you excited?" It had taken awhile for Sakaki's announcement at the selection ceremony to sink in.
And when it had, Oishi had threatened to tie him down so he wouldn't accidentally break something while bouncing around. He feels jumpy and nervous. Excited, high ecstatic, unbelieving. He had wanted this, but he hadn't expected it, not really.
"Mmm." Fuji squeezes back Eiji gently, "Taka-san offered to load my bags to the bus, so I thought I would look in on you."
"I'm fine - all packed, see?" Eiji gestures to the two neatly packed bags beside the doorway. "Oishi even helped me find my lost spare toothbrush this morning. All ready to go home!"
"Oh, here you are, Fuji," Oishi stops outside the doorway, looked slightly frazzled. "Are you both ready? We’ll be heading out in about twenty minutes."
"Ah. I'd better go say goodbye to Yuuta, in that case," Fuji disentangles himself from Eiji, ruffling his hair before he lets go.
"Have you seen Echizen at all?" Oishi asks him, frowning, "He wasn't in his room and Momo said that he hasn't seen him since after the closing ceremony."
"I'm sure he'll turn up," Fuji squeezes past Oishi out into the hallway, "It must have been a shock, not being selected. We were all so sure he would be. He'll be fine, though. I'll see you both on the bus."
"Right," Oishi replies, still sounding worried. Eiji smiles, patting his doubles partner on the shoulder.
"Tezuka and the other coaches must have had a reason for not selecting him," Eiji tossed a bag at Oishi. He wasn't sure he believed that himself, but there was no other explanation. "Let's get going, okay? It's almost time to leave."
"Sure," Oishi catches the bag easily, slinging it over his shoulder. "You must be really excited, though - being chosen as a Senbatsu member is a big deal. I'm proud of you, Eiji."
Oishi's smile is warm and genuine and Eiji beams back at him, bumping his shoulder with his own.
Everything was falling into place, even if a few of the pieces were missing.
*
The bus ride back from the camp is long and Eiji is too restless to nap through it like he usually would.
He and Fuji had taken over the last two seats at the back of the bus, across the aisle from Momo and Kaidoh. Fuji was napping against the window, smiling serenely with his nose squished sideways against the glass. Momo had fallen asleep on Kaidoh's shoulder less than two minutes into the trip, snoring obnoxiously. Kaidoh was flipping through a magazine, occasionally trying to nudge Momoshiro off, looking disgusted, but resigned. Kawamura was stretched across the row of seats in front of them, sleeping soundly and obviously completely exhausted.
Oishi was sitting with Tezuka near the front of the bus; Eiji could see their heads bent over some paperwork, talking quietly - probably something official and boring. Echizen had staked out a window seat at the front and curled up, staring out the window and ignoring everyone else.
Long and boring. Eiji was debating rummaging through Fuji's bag to see if he had any magazines when he heard the sound of shuffling paper and a cough from the seat in front of him. It seemed that someone else was still awake. Eiji kneeled in his seat so he could see over the back of the seat in front of him. Inui was scribbling furiously, surrounded by what looked like the result of a hurricane hitting an office supply store.
"Inuuuui," Eiji rests his chin on the top of Inui's seat, neatly burrowing his nose in Inui's hair. He makes a grab for Inui's notebook, but Inui quickly holds it just out of reach. "I'm bored. Whatcha doing?"
"I'm trying to transfer all my data," There are papers strewn on all over Inui's lap and on the seat beside him, as well as a pile of notebooks on the floor. Inui flips a page in one notebook, checks a figure from another and makes a notation in the first. "This camp was a good opportunity to observe players from different schools."
"Any new data on me?" Eiji makes a face, straining his neck so he can read Inui's furiously scribbled writing on the pages haphazardly stacked all around Inui. "Can I read those?"
"No."
"Why not?" He messes up Inui's hair. It's spiky but soft and Eiji traces small, swirly circles in Inui's scalp with his fingers. "I can keep secrets."
"Stop it, Kikumaru." Inui doesn't sound annoyed, but he ducks his head a little so Eiji's fingers just barely brush the tips of his hair.
"You can't sit on all of them at the same time," Eiji points out, "Everyone's asleep and we've still got at least a half-hour drive left. I won't bother you much." He leans as far as he can over the seat without tipping over completely and squeezes Inui fiercely around the neck with both arms. Inui makes a choking noise and drops his notebook.
Across the aisle, Eiji can see Kaidoh look up briefly from his magazine, then down at his shoulder. "Gross," he hears Kaidoh mutter, trying to shove Momo against the window again and swiping at his shirt.
Inui takes advantage of Eiji's distraction to wrap a hand around one of the arms pinned against his neck, trying to ease it off his throat. "Kikumaru," he says, sounding slightly breathless, "If I say you can come sit beside me, will you please let go?"
Eiji is delighted. "Yes, I will."
"85% chance that you're lying," Inui mutters. Eiji ignores that, except to give Inui's neck a final, affectionate squeeze. Inui responds with a gagging sound and fumbles out of Eiji's hold long enough to clear the papers off the seat beside him, lovingly slipping them between the pages of one of the notebooks on the floor.
Eiji plunks happily into the seat beside Inui, curling up and resting his head against Inui's shoulder, staring out the window past Inui's head. Inui sighs - again, but doesn't say anything and minutes go by in silence, broken only by the loud, wheezy drone of Momoshiro's snoring.
There's something comforting about Inui. He's solid and dependable and constant. He's a bit strange, but he likes spying and secrets and always calls Eiji if there's something interesting going on. He's a lot of fun to bother and doesn't rise easily to Eiji's teasing or baiting. While Oishi will blush and act sentimental and Fuji will tickle him into submission, Inui, for the most part, accepts his clinging like he doesn't even notice he's there at all. It's always a challenge to pester him enough to actually get him to do something about it.
Eiji likes challenges.
"Kikumaru," Inui isn't looking at his notebook anymore and Eiji blinks, pulled out of his thoughts, "Have you given any thought to why you were chosen for the invitational team?"
"Hmm?" It's a little unsettling to have the full weight of Inui's stare on him. It's almost like he's a lab specimen that Inui plans to dissect. "I don't know. I guess I just impressed the coaches, right?"
Inui turns away, flipping another page in his notebook and tapping his pen against the page. "Teams like these are typically assembled with an idea of certain roles in mind for each player. Extremely gifted players are good, but to be truly strong, you need a variety of talents and strengths."
"You think that they picked me for some special reason?" Eiji lifts his head off Inui's shoulder, staring up at him.
"I'm saying that they picked everyone for a reason," Inui closes his notebook. "I don't know how the entire selection process proceeded, but the team leaders held daily meetings. The process was lengthy and given a great detail of thought. And I can assume that they picked you because-"
"Because?" Eiji is curious now.
"Well," Inui adjusts his glasses, pushing them further up his nose, "You work well as part of a team. You are outgoing and these skills - they all lend themselves to doubles." He fiddles with his pen "The invitational team can't just be comprised of strong players who can win singles matches. They also need players who can work as part of a makeshift team and pull together a strong enough combination to win in doubles as well."
"That makes sense," Eiji leans closer again, resting more of his weight against Inui, "You think I'll be playing doubles."
"I don't know," Inui looks uncertain. "I predicted at least an 90% chance that Echizen would be selected." He absentmindedly smooths out the open pages of his notebook, as if affectionately reassuring his data that it wasn't a complete failure.
"It makes sense, though," Eiji shifts, and something digs into his lower back. "I'm good, but everyone they picked was good - and most are more experienced at singles than doubles. But who would I be paired with?"
"I've given it some thought," Inui looks at him again, "There are several options, but some make a little more sense than others."
"Maybe it'll be me and Fuji," Eiji sits up slightly, wriggling his hand around behind him. He pulls out a scrunched-up ball of paper from the crack between the cushions.
"Ah," Inui plucks the paper ball from Eiji's fingers, "Mizuki-san. I had been wondering where I had put that. And yes, you and Fuji would be an ideal combination. That's completely possible."
"But that's not who you think it will be," There's a tiny smile twisting the corners of Inui's mouth and that can only spell trouble. "You think it will be someone else, not Fujiko."
"If I'm wrong," Inui points out, "You and Fuji are already a pretty effective doubles combination. But if I'm right, it would make sense to work on your combination before the actual match."
Eiji sighs. "But it could be anyone. What if it's not who you think and not Fuji either? I might end up perfecting a combination with someone for nothing."
"But you would still have the experience of working to figure out a combination with someone you barely know in a relatively short frame of time," Inui replies, and he is smiling for real now. "And if I am right, than you'll have the advantage of being prepared. I'm not advising you to do anything drastic or complicated, but simple formations and practice would give you a better idea of what might work with anyone, given the situation. Besides," Inui pushes up his glasses smugly, flipping his notebook back open, "Upon close examination, the possibilities are reasonably limited."
Eiji flops back down against Inui's shoulder, staring at the ceiling of the bus. "Inui," he says finally, "You think too much."
He can feel Inui's shoulder shake slightly beneath him with a quiet chuckle and smiles, snuggling back against Inui. The breeze wafting through the window is cool and smells slightly sweet. Eiji can hear Oishi's voice, pitched low as he speaks quietly to Tezuka at the front of the bus, can hear Kaidoh's rumbly snores as his head droops on top of Momoshiro's own. He thinks he hears Fuji chuckle in the seat behind them and in the row across from Eiji and Inui, Kawamura replies with a sleepy, contented noise.
"Kikumaru." He can feel the warm brush of Inui's breath tickling against his ear when he speaks.
"Mmm?" He stretches, languid and catlike, pressing closer against Inui. "What is it?"
"Go back to your seat. You're distracting me."
*
It is almost comforting to be back on the courts at Seigaku, back on familiar ground. Eiji throws himself into the game, leaping and soaring, secure in the knowledge that Oishi is right behind him. The clean smack of balls against racquets and the throbbing rush of sneakers across the ground blurs until all that is left is the bare thrill of playing. Eiji grins widely as he smashes the last ball in behind Kaidoh and even Momoshiro's quick, sprawling dive can't steal them the game.
"We'll beat you someday, Eiji-senpai," Momoshiro sucks water from his bottle like he's dying of thirst, "Won't we, Mamushi?" They are all sprawled across one of the benches near the clubhouse, trying to cool down in the late afternoon summer heat. Momo's hair is slicked back, still wet from the showers.
"Hmph," Kaidoh is leaning against the clubhouse wall, tennis bag slung over one shoulder, bandana neatly re-tied. "Maybe if you actually fast enough to get to the ball in time."
"Oy! I played better than you did!" Momo flings his towel at Kaidoh. He misses by several inches and the towel lands a few feet from Kaidoh, in the dirt.
Kaidoh raises his eyebrows. "Nice aim, dumbass."
"Break it up, you two," Oishi emerges from the clubhouse dressed in his school uniform again, cutting off Momoshiro's indignant reply. He fumbles around in his racquet bag with his other hand, pulling out his phone. "I'd better give Taka-san a call and see if it's still all right to come over."
"Hmm, that's a good idea," Fuji and Inui wander over from where they had been practicing on the far courts. Fuji sits beside Eiji, stealing his water bottle. "It feels good to be back, doesn't it?"
Eiji nods, watching Fuji tilt his head back to drink from his water bottle, his Adam's apple bobbing lightly as he swallows. "You and Inui looked like you were having a pretty intense match."
"Ah," Fuji swiped his hand over his mouth, smiling, "It was a good game. Inui has gotten stronger lately." Inui stands over beside Kaidoh, accepting a fresh towel from the younger boy with a gentle smile.
"He what?" All heads swivel instantly towards Oishi, who has his phone pressed to his ear and is listening with an expression of mixed confusion and concern. "Taka-san, slow down. What happened?"
"Oishi, is something wrong?" Fuji asks, eyebrows knitting together. Oishi ignores him, continuing to listen intently, making little noises of understanding every few seconds. Everyone else has stopped talking completely.
"Yes, I understand," Oishi finally speaks, rubbing the bridge of his nose anxiously, "Perhaps it's best not to now - I'll let everyone know, Taka-san. I'll talk to you later - yes, good-bye." He ends the call, staring down at his phone.
"What's going on?" Eiji leans around Fuji to tug at the sleeve of Oishi's jersey, "O-ishi. Did something bad happen? What did Taka-san say?"
Momoshiro is gripping the edge of the bench in suspense, looking as though he might fall off. Inui and Kaidoh are standing side by side, both looking worried - or rather, Kaidoh is trying not to look worried.
Oishi seems to barely register the hand tugging his shirt, "Taka-san said that he and Tezuka followed Echizen somewhere - I don't know the details, but Yamabuki's Akustu Jin was there - and so was Kevin Smith."
"Did they play a match?" Fuji's eyes are wide open now, grip visibly tightening on Eiji's water bottle.
"No, well -" Oishi twists his towel with his hands, staring down at the ground. "Apparently Echizen tried to and Tezuka tried to stop him. And then, Tezuka-" He stops mid-sentence, looking confused. "Taka-san said that Tezuka hit Echizen."
"What?" Momoshiro sounds shocked. "Buchou hit Echizen?"
Eiji can only stare at Oishi, confused. That wasn't like Tezuka at all. He didn't lose control like that. Kaidoh looks wide-eyed, and Fuji and Inui exchange glances. Eiji stays silent, watching Oishi's slumped figure, his hands twisting the towel into knots.
"I don't think he would hurt Echizen," Inui puts a hand on Momoshiro's shoulder, "Calm down. This is Tezuka, after all."
"That's right," Oishi stands up, stuffing the towel back in his bag, "Taka-san said that Echizen was fine - he seems to have come back to his senses." He zips his bag shut and slings it onto his shoulder. "In any case, I should leave. Taka-san said we'd better postpone the get-together for another day - he said to tell you that he was sorry."
There was no question to where Oishi was planning to go. It was in the determined set of his shoulders and the worry lines deepening on his forehead.
"This is weird," Eiji mutters, mostly to himself.
Fuji squeezes Eiji's elbow gently, setting his water bottle down on the bench beside him. He stands, facing Oishi. "Taka-san may not be in the mood for a party now, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind some company." He grabs his bag from below the bench. "I'm going to shower quickly and stop by his place before I go home. I'll talk to you all tomorrow."
The rest mumbled their goodbyes. Kaidoh and Momoshiro left together, walking side by side, but far enough apart to be able to deny that they were doing anything but walking in the same direction.
Eiji remains on the bench, tracing circles in the dirt with the front of his sneakers. It was like there was something deep and complex lurking below all of this that had everything to do with Tezuka staring straight ahead at the back wall of the meeting hall coldly while Echizen's name hung in the air unspoken. There are too many questions, too many things that Eiji can't even begin to pick apart.
Inui clears his throat and Eiji looks up, startled. He had almost forgotten that he wasn't the last one left. Inui looks awkward, shifting his feet and staring out over the courts. His notebook is unopened in his hands and he is clicking his pen absently. He didn't seem to know what to do and Eiji tilts his head, considering him.
"Hey," Inui starts a little, like Eiji had shocked him, or tried to squirt water in his ear again. He looks down at Eiji sitting on the bench like he hadn't remembered that Eiji was there and a bit like he didn't quite know where he was either. "Want to come back to my place?"
*
Inui's quick acceptance isn't really a shock, but the smile that breaks across the confusion clouding his face is. It all feels a little strange, but very nice. Eiji waits outside the clubhouse, watching the sun sink lazily below the horizion while Inui showers and gets dressed in his school uniform again.
They fall into step on the way to Eiji's house, walking slowly, not saying much. The dying sun stretches their shadows out behind them. Eiji watches Inui, whose mind is almost audibly buzzing as they walk, both lost in their thoughts. His own mind is reeling with questions, but he can't answer any of them right now.
It's been a long, confusing and exciting week, but at least Eiji is going home now.
Eiji's mother is thrilled to see him and kisses his face, hugging him until Eiji pretends to be choking and wriggles out of her grip. His sisters chatter at him and one of his brothers makes loud, obnoxious comments about how he can smell a week's worth of smelly socks from Eiji's bags. It's noisy and welcoming and it feels like home.
Inui seems at ease and not at all awkward, bowing politely to Eiji's mother and accepting her invitation to stay for dinner. He answers all of Eiji's sisters' questions, smiling easily.
"And that's Daigoro," Eiji dumps his bags beside the bunk beds after dragging Inui away from his family and leading him up the stairs to his bedroom. He sits down on the edge of the bottom bunk. The room feels pleasantly cool, carpet soft and ticklish against his bare feet when he pulls off his socks.
"I remember," Inui pets the over-large teddy bear awkwardly on the head and it droops to the left a little. "It hasn't been that long since I was last here." He drops his bags beside Eiji's and hovers awkwardly in the corner of the room, near the closet. There is a slightly uncomfortable silence, both of them staring at each other and not knowing quite what to say.
Eiji sighs and flops backwards on the bed, staring at the bottom of the top bunk. It's dim and quiet under there, contrasted to the brightness of the room. He invited Inui back because, well - because neither of them really seemed to want to be alone while the rest of the team seemed to be splintering at the edges, chewed apart by forces and reasons that they can't control or even understand.
"Why would Tezuka hit Ochibi?" Eiji can't even reconcile the image in his mind. Tezuka always seemed to be an immovable pillar of control, the axis on which Seigaku rotates. He didn't lose control, ever. None of it made sense.
"It's hard to say," There's a creak and Eiji feels the bed dip slightly beside him as Inui sits on the bed beside him, "I'm sure it's nothing serious, really. It'll work out soon enough."
"I hate not knowing," Eiji grumbles, folding his arms over his chest. "I can't believe even you don't know what's going on."
"I don't know everything," Inui's tone is light and he lies down carefully on his side, facing Eiji.
"Who do you think I'll be playing doubles with?" They are close enough that Eiji can feel Inui's breath ghosting across his cheek. He doesn't turn to look at Inui. His bare feet brush against Inui's leg where they dangle off the edge of the bed.
"I think you know," Inui sounds even closer now, "I think you've already come to the same conclusion that I did."
Eiji makes a face, swinging his right leg sideways over both of Inui's legs. "Why do you always have to make everything so difficult?"
"I don't," Inui sounds a bit hurt and Eiji finally tilts his head sideways to look at him. His head is propped up on his elbow, and he looks tired. Confused. Comfortable.
"Only sometimes," Eiji allows generously, turning on his side to face Inui fully. They are inches apart, both drowsy and heavy-limbed from practice and the long, long week at camp. He studies Inui's face with a completely serious expression.
"What is it?" Inui sounds concerned - and slightly suspicious.
"Nothing," Eiji lies. Then he leans forward quickly, snatching Inui's glasses off his face.
"Kikumaru!" There are few things that can get Inui this worked up, and Eiji giggles in spite of himself as he launches himself farther back on the bed, out of range of Inui's desperate lunge. It doesn't last, though - there isn't really anywhere to go and Inui has Eiji pinned on the opposite edge of the bed in a second, back against the wall.
Inui's legs are tangled up in his, and his knee is digging hard into Eiji's thigh as he snatches the glasses back, blinking myopically and disapprovingly at Eiji. Inui sits back on his heels to put his glasses back on, deliberately putting pressure on Eiji's ankles.
"You're heavy," Eiji complains, trying to control his breathing. It's doing funny things to him, being this close to Inui. Which is understandable, but completely stupid on several levels. Fine, he is fourteen, but this was Inui . Not some girl with a sweet smile and long hair and a pretty laugh.
But Eiji still feels kind of shivery and warm and wriggly. Inui is still holding onto one of his wrists and his skin feels hot under Inui's grip. Inui is looking at him strangely - not that he can see his eyes anymore, but he looks - uncertain. He's staring at Eji like he doesn't quite know how to move.
"Inui," Eiji says, and it comes out in almost a whisper. He clears his throat. "Inui, what?"
But Inui is moving again, and Eiji's eyes widen as Inui leans into him, leans against him, with one hand pressed against Eiji's chest and the other still gripping his wrist. Inui's face hovers in front of him for what feels like hours, but must be only seconds and Eiji can see his eyes through his glasses, dark lashes blinking against lenses.
Then there is no more distance or space between them at all, and Inui's mouth is pressed awkwardly against Eiji's. His lips are dry and hot. Eiji's limbs felt like dead weights and it took a minute to register anything except the burning, fluttery feelings in his belly and the warmth spreading out from Inui's fingers splayed against his chest, through his uniform shirt and the tentative, slow slide of lips against his own unmoving ones.
He must have stayed still for too long, because Inui pulls back. "I'm sorry," Inui looks embarrassed, his cheeks flushed. "I don't what came over m-"
Eiji rolls his eyes and pulls him back down so that Inui loses his balance, falling fully on top of him. Eiji slides a little down the wall and they are sideways, a hopeless tangle of limbs. Eiji's hair falls over his face and Inui brushes it aside gently, kissing him again on the lips, lightly at first, barely a brush, like he is testing to see if he is really allowed to do that. Eiji arches up against Inui, wriggling his hands out from where they are trapped between them to let them roam across the broad, muscled expanse of Inui's back.
They kiss deeply, until Eiji feels like his eyeballs might burst from his head out of lack of oxygen. He breaks away, breathing unsteadily and shivers as Inui boldly trails kisses down his neck, to the dip of his collarbone.
That is unfair and Eiji retaliates immediately, snaking a hand down between them. Inui makes a sound like he's choking and buries his face in Eiji's neck, murmuring something completely incoherent. Eiji laughs out loud, breathless and excited, fumbling with the buttons and zipper of Inui's pants, tilting Inui's face up with his free hand so he can kiss him again, tongue running across Inui's bottom lip.
"Kikumaru," Inui breaks off the kiss. His voice is deeper than usually and his face was bright red. He smells weird this close, like detergent, mixed with something strong and chemical. "Are you sure that we're not -ohgod." He arches his hips against Eiji's hand and releases his tight grip on Eiji's wrist to run his fingers through Eiji's hair, his thumb tracing the shell of Eiji's ear.
Eiji has a feeling that neither of them have much of an idea what they are doing or where this is even going, although with Inui half-out of his pants, it was definitely going somewhere and he really, really did not want to waste his breath talking about it. Inui's fingers were threading through his hair, his mouth hot and wet against Eiji's neck.
The door opens almost completely silently, but suddenly Eiji can see his older brother over Inui's shoulder, standing in the doorway, hand still on the doorknob. He looks completely shell-shocked and Eiji instantly shoves Inui off of him, panicking.
It's too little, too late, though. Inui falls onto the floor with a thud. Eiji can feel his face flushing bright red as his brother takes in the rumpled blankets of the bottom bunk, their unsteady, uneven breathing and flushed faces, Inui surreptitiously tugging his pants up.
"I'm supposed to tell you that dinner is in five minutes," His brother looks torn between horror, amusement and the dawning realization that he now has blackmail material for possibly the rest of their lives, "And for God's sake, Eiji, that's my bed. Gross."
He shuts the door again and Eiji slides off the bed, down onto the floor beside Inui.
Both of them are silent for long minutes, listening to the clink of dishes and the sounds of laughter from the floor below. He doesn't really know what to say. And maybe Inui doesn't either, because he won't look at Eiji.
"Oshitari Yuushi," Eiji says finally, because he doesn't know what else to say.
Inui looks up at him, startled. "What?"
"That's who you think I'll be playing doubles with," Eiji scuffs his bare feet against the carpet, wriggling his toes into the soft material. "Isn't it?"
Inui looks surprised and stares at Eiji, "Yes," he replies, sounding pleased, "It is."
There is a long silence again. Eiji can almost feel Inui's intent stare. He fidgets, rubbing his hands against the carpet and letting the friction burn slightly against his palms.
"We're not - a thing- or anything. Right?" He doesn't want to hurt Inui's feelings or anything, but he doesn't want Inui to get the wrong idea, either. Dating or - he wonders vaguely what dates with Inui would involve. Possibly spying on rival teams, or drinking gross juice. The spying would be fun, at least.
"No," To Eiji's surprise, Inui actually laughs. "I know."
"Oh." Eiji scratches his nose, feeling at a bit of a loss. "Okay. That's good." He gets to his feet, checking the mirror on his way to the door. There are no marks on his neck, luckily, aside from it being a little red. He tries to comb his hair back into a less disheveled state with his fingers.
"I can leave now, if you want." Eiji turns around. Inui is still sitting cross-legged in the middle of his bedroom floor, fidgeting and looking extremely awkward.
"No. You don't have to." Eiji is confused. "Why should you?"
"Oh," Inui stares up at him and it's like something clicks in his head, before he is pulling himself up from the floor, looking relieved. He smiles at Eiji and knocks their elbows together as they walk towards the doorway. "This is going to be awkward, isn't it?"
"A little. My brother can be a jerk sometimes, but he wouldn't say anything. I think." Eiji twists the doorknob open.
"No - I mean - us."
Eiji turns around. Inui is fidgeting a little again, like his insides won't stop shaking. "Nothing has to change," he replies, twisting open the doorknob. "Things are good, right?"
Inui smiles, looking relieved. "Yeah."
Things can't get awkward unless they let them and it would be stupid if they did.
Eiji smiles back tentatively, pressing his back against the door to let Inui go by first.
"Inui," Eiji says, barely suppressing a grin.
"Hmm?" Inui is halfway down the stairs, long legs taking the steps carefully two at a time. Below, Eiji's family was already seated at the table, conversation carrying up to the second floor, raucous and noisy. Inui half-turns his head, smile wide and nervous as he tilts his head back up at Eiji.
"You might want to zip up your pants."
And because after, it still felt incomplete, I took a second look at what was left - and the result? Standard Uncertainty (Inui/Eiji, ~3,000 words). This is my gift to everyone who supported me while I was writing this fic and to everyone who left kind and thoughtful comments to Blueshift.
I really need to start putting less sugar in my tea. :DDDD ♥ ♥ ♥!!!