CHAPTER ONE: TROUBLES ABREW…

"Syusuke?" Fuji heard his boyfriend of two-months called, while absentmindedly drawing lazy circles on his back.

They had just finished yet another intense tumble in bed. Fuji was sprawled on his stomach across Tezuka's bed, feeling dead tired. His boyfriend was horny as hell that day. But then again, Fuji wondered wryly, when was Tezuka never before?

"What?" Fuji mumbled sleepily into the pillow. Tezuka tended to want to talk after sex, when all Fuji wanted was to sleep it off.

Tezuka continued to draw circles on his back, somehow luring Fuji deeper into his sleep. After a long moment, he finally spoke up. "How serious are you about our relationship?"

Something in Tezuka's tone disturbed Fuji. He cranked open an eye and turned towards the somber-looking boy, frowning. "Where did that come from? Are you doubting me, or perhaps yourself?"

Tezuka looked away. "It's just that you always keep your distance from me in school and you won't let me call you by your first name in public..."

"That's a lie!" Fuji protested, feeling indignant. "You called me by my name yesterday..."

Tezuka gave him a droll look. "Syusuke, we were in the toilet at the time...alone, so it doesn't count."

"And," Tezuka added when Fuji couldn't seem to come up with a repartee to defend himself. "We never go out for dates like real couples do. All we ever do is hang out in my room..."

That's because you always want to have sex whenever we meet...Fuji's mind thought peevishly.

Tezuka sighed. "Fuji," he said, reverting to calling his last name, "are you ashamed...of us being together?"

"N...no, of course not! Don't be ridiculous," Fuji tried to sound affronted, but the slight hesitation gave him away.

"Then prove it. Go out on a date with me tomorrow." Tezuka's eyes held Fuji's, as if daring him to take the challenge. "Show me that you are really serious about us."

"Fine, I will." Fuji glared at Tezuka balefully for backing him into a corner. Jeez, why is Tezuka so obsessed with letting the whole world know that we are gays?

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The next day dawned bright and sunny. Tezuka waited patiently for Fuji in front of the train station, looking attentively at the piece of paper in his hand. Tezuka already had the whole day planned out for them on his to-do list, giving it the same meticulous effort he did to his daily schedule. First, a movie, then a trip to the amusement park (he thought Fuji might like that) and later, dinner at a sushi restaurant. If everything went accordingly, the date would end at around eight in the evening, leaving him approximately three hours to prepare for his lessons the next day…

If anybody told Tezuka that he was being rigid to the point of becoming obsessive, Tezuka would have scoffed at them. He merely liked to optimize his time well (right down to the last second, preferably) so none would be wasted superfluously.

Someone heading his way caught Tezuka's eye. He gave the suspicious looking person a cursory glance. The fellow was wearing a dark red sweater that was a couple of sizes too big for him, with the hood drawn up and baggy black pants. His face was nearly obscured behind a pair of enormous shades. The guy looked as if he was trying to hide from something or somebody.

A fugitive on the run? The notion came unbidden to Tezuka's mind. Nobody sane would dressed like that on such a hot day.

The guy came to a stop and stood beside him. Tezuka tried to edge away as inconspicuously as he could, in the event he was unlucky enough to be caught in the crossfire between the guy and whoever it was that Tezuka presumed was after him.

Tezuka glanced at his watch. Why wasn't Fuji here yet? It was already 20 minutes past their appointed time. If he was any later, they wouldn't be able to catch up to their list. He fastidiously kept in mind to give Fuji a long lecture about punctuality.

The weird looking guy moved as well and inched closer to Tezuka. Suddenly he spoke up. "So, where are we going today?"

Tezuka frowned at the guy's insolent attitude and over-familiarity with him. He had a mind to tell him off but something about the guy struck him as odd. Tezuka did a double take. "Fuji, is that you?"

Blue eyes peeked out from slightly lowered shades. "Who else would it be?"

"Why the hell are you dressed like that?" Tezuka asked, voice raised and looking extremely put off. One might say that the cool Tezuka was actually yelling like a fishmonger in the market if not for the fact that it was totally against his character to do so.

"You are the one to talk," Fuji riposted, sounding miffed. "You look as if you are attending a funeral." He was referring to Tezuka's black suit attire, complete with a black tie and black shoes buffed to such a high sheen that they nearly blinded Fuji if it wasn't for his shades.

"Well, I think it is important to dress smartly for a date," Tezuka replied stiffly, in defense of himself.

"Come on, we are not in school now."

"It's better than looking like a vampire in disguise!"

Arguing wouldn't get them anywhere. "Fine. You don't talk about my clothes, and I won't comment on yours. Agreed? Now, where are we going?" Fuji asked blithely.

"To the movie," Tezuka replied, still sounding mildly incensed. "Isn't that what people usually do on a date?"

"Whatever." Fuji started walking, forcing Tezuka to follow him.

"Wait!"

"What now?"

"We are supposed to hold hands when we walk."

"Are you serious?" Fuji stared incredulously at Tezuka.

"I am."

"Well, I am not going to do it! Not in broad daylight anyway."

"Aren't we supposed to be on a date?"

"And your point is?"

Tezuka frowned. "Why are you being so stubborn about this? Didn't we use to do it back at the onsen?"

"I was pretending to be a girl at that time, for heaven's sake! It would be really weird if people see two guys holding hands in broad daylight." And not to mention that there is a pretty high chance of running into people we know here compared to the onsen…Fuji added silently to himself.

They argued about it for some time until Fuji stopped abruptly, his straying furtively to something over Tezuka's shoulder.

"What is it?" Tezuka craned his neck to see what had captured Fuji's attention.

There was flurry of purple aiming their way, followed closely by a veritable mountain of muscle and brawn. It was Atobe and Kabaji.

"Atobe. Kabaji," Tezuka greeted the Hyoutei's tennis team captain and his goon. He was suddenly being overwhelmed to the point of almost fainting by the musky scent enshrouding the diva as Atobe came within arm's length. Tezuka tried controlling his breathing so as not to take in any more of the noxious odour than was necessary and somehow managed to keep his composure.

"Tezuka," Atobe drawled with an ostentatious flip of his lustrous hair. "Fancy meeting you here. What are you doing here, all by yourself?"

"Actually, I'm...," Tezuka turned around to present Fuji but the other boy was nowhere to be seen.

"...alone," he finished with a slight frown.

"We know that," Atobe quipped haughtily. He wrinkled his nose in distaste as he took in Tezuka's apparel. "Are you going to a funeral or something?"

Tezuka cast an ominous glare at the diva. He didn't really appreciate having his clothes being so uncivilly criticized for the second time in a row.

Atobe made a tsk-ing sound. "You are not? Then Oresama has no other alternative but to comment on your appalling choice of clothing. It's truly surprising that such a perfectionist as you is so sadly lacking in fashion sense. Of course, Oresama will be more than happy to depart some insightful advice…" He offered magnanimously, preening a little in all his purple glory.

As he proceeded to conduct a critical once over on Tezuka, a furrow appeared between Atobe's perfectly trimmed eyebrows. "Oresama had thought of purple in mind, but frankly, the color won't do for you at all. It's much too elegant a color for just any Tom, Dick and Harry to wear, you have to realize. Not everybody can carry it off as well as Oresama…"

Atobe tapped a well-manicured finger on his chin. "Maybe murky brown will suit you better…"

"Aren't you late for wherever it is that you are going, Atobe?" Tezuka interrupted pointedly, tired of the stuck-up diva's ramblings.

Atobe blinked and glanced at his expensive-looking Rolex watch. "Thank you for your reminder, Tezuka. But honestly, nobody will blame Oresama for being fashionably late. It's expected after all, from someone as great as Oresama…."

If Atobe didn't leave soon, Tezuka might just give in to his impulse to throttle that narcissistic guy with his bare hands, as undignified as it was. Fortunately, Atobe seemed to have said enough for the moment.

"Ja, Tezuka. Remember, you are most welcome to approach Oresama anytime for help," he added with a smirk before sauntering away. "Come on, Kabaji."

"Usu," came the spontaneous response, and then they were off.

Tezuka watched until they disappeared around a corner before turning around to look for Fuji. Where did that guy run off to so quickly?

Tezuka found Fuji in a nearby alley, hiding behind a trash bin.

Fuji poked his head out when he saw Tezuka. "Well, are they gone?"

Tezuka stared at Fuji with a mixture of outrage and disbelief. "What do you think you are doing?"

Fuji got up and dusted himself. "Oh, I didn't want to see that Atobe, is all. You know what a gossip monger he is," he replied airily as he walked over to Tezuka. "Now, shall we….?"

Tezuka folded his arm across his chest, not budging, his cold visage belying the fury he attempted to keep in check. "Admit it," he said in an accusatory tone. "You are ashamed to be seen with me."

"Don't be..."

"Don'tsay I'm being ridiculous!" Tezuka cut Fuji off. "The clothes, the reluctancy to hold hands, running away to hide, it's all so obvious." He stared Fuji in the eyes, glowering. "Why do you agree to go out with me in the first place anyway?"

"I..." Fuji was brought up short, too stunned to speak.

"I've enough of this, Fuji," Tezuka suddenly looked dejected, crestfallen. "This is not working after all."

He paused for a while, as if coming to a decision. "Let's break up," Tezuka finally said.

"WHAT?"

A/N: Hi! Hope you like this sequel to the Bet. I know, Tezuka is totally OOC here, but what the heck. Just take it that Tezuka is a totally different person when he is with Fuji, or think of it as AU, whichever you like.

This is my tentative attempt at humor, whether I'll be continuing will depend on your support and how well it is received. The next chapter will be up…uhm, till I get enough reviews, OK? (say 20 ne? XD) I don't want to waste my time or burn myself up writing if it is not well-received.

So, keep the reviews coming, people! By the time you reached here, I take it that you have finished the story. Thank you once again for reading!