Title: For the Last Time
Author: Diamondust
Characters: Tezuka/Fuji
Genre: Romance/Angst
Rating: PG
Summary: Unable to be together during their lifetime, Fuji now waited for his last chance to get a certainty from Tezuka
Warnings: Perfect Pair, slightly implied TezukaXOC and FujiXOC
Disclaimer: Characters owned by Takeshi Konomi.
Beta: a1y_puff

For The Last Time

Chapter 1

A legend said that far away in northern Japan, there was a place called Ozoresan where the Sanzu River—which was the gate between the living world and the netherworld-was flowing. To reach the netherworld, the soul of the deceased people had to cross the bridge laid over it, which was guarded by two guardian spirits. The souls allowed to cross the bridge were those who had done good deeds during their lifetime, while the ones who failed were those who had done unfavorable deeds. They would end up stuck around the bridge as a wandering soul with no destinations. Though apparently, not all of the qualified souls decided to cross the bridge immediately. For some reasons, some of them chose to stay before the bridge.

*****************************

"Fuji-san."

Curiously, Fuji Syusuke looked at two guardian spirits who were approaching him. They were both short, almost looked like two identical boys with a flat face. They were wearing some kind of Japanese traditional clothing with long, glowing silk shawl. Fuji found the fact that they had no mouths was interesting for he could clearly hear their voice chanted in his ear.

"Why don't you continue your journey?" asked one of the guardians. "You have finished your life. You were a good person. You've had a perfect family and a respectable life. Now is the time for you to enter the afterlife. Please, you may cross the bridge."

Fuji smiled and refused politely when one of the guardians took his hand to escort him.

"Thank you, but I'm afraid I prefer to stay here for a while."

"Why?" The guardians looked at Fuji with questioning look.

"I'm waiting for someone."

"Have you both made a promise to meet before?"

Fuji plastered another smile.

"Should we have made a promise beforehand?" he asked back innocently. The guardians sighed.

"It is not always necessary," said the guardian. "The person whom you are waiting for might find you here, but only if both of you hold the same feelings, and if this person is also searching for you."

At that statement, Fuji fell silent.

Would you also feel the same? Would you go look for me, then? Maybe, this is my last chance to make things clear.

"Then, I will wait," stated Fuji softly.

Fuji waited before the bridge and looked at his surrounding. There was only darkness around the river. The only light came from the bridge and the sole tree nearby. Fuji saw more shawls were hung on the branches. He thought that maybe, those were the other guardians' shawls. He assumed the tree must be the guardians' shelter. Fuji found himself observing the guardians now. He used to imagine that the bridge's guardian would be a horrible demon. Unexpectedly, they were actually far from frightening. Or was it because he had become a spirit that he wasn't afraid of the two guardians? Fuji wondered how he looked like right now. It was a pity there were no mirrors in sight. Worse, he was starting to get bored now as nothing could be done to kill the time.

"Is there something wrong, Fuji-san?"

Fuji smiled sweetly. Too sweet, actually, which had usually brought a bad feeling to the people around him at the time he was alive.

"I'm bored."

"So?" The guardian tilted his head. The sweet smile was getting wider.

"Let's have a talk."

"What?"

"You see, I'm used to have people to entertain me when I'm bored. Sometimes we would just have some random talks, or maybe even play some games," Fuji explained. "Mostly I did it with my siblings or my friends. Actually, my parents were nice people to talk too. But my father was rarely being around while my mother was too innocent for joke. Neesan was a great sister. She had taught me about many things. We often did fun things together. I think you have met them here before."

"Fuji-san...—"The guardians tried to cut the Fuji's unexpected narration. But Fuji ignored it and continued.

"And Yuuta was the best brother that I've ever had."

"You only have one brother, Fuji-san. To whom are you comparing him, then?"

"To all brothers ever existed in the world, of course. He was the best for me anyway." Fuji said lightly. "You may check it if you meet him later."

The guardian sighed and inwardly wondered, what is the point of talking about his family on this bridge with us?

Their conversation was interrupted suddenly as Fuji's attention moved to a group of souls which approached from the darkness. Some of them looked elderly, the other looked younger and there were even children among them. They walked towards the gate with content smiles. Fuji could even see halo rings above their heads. As they were getting closer to the bridge, the elderly souls were gradually turning younger, and when they had finally arrived in front of the gate of the bridge, their appearance had become completely young, beautiful, bright and innocent. Fuji was astounded with the transformations, while the guardians were busy welcoming and assisting them.

"Why were they coming in a group?" Fuji curiously asked after the group had passed.

"They were prayers who died when their temple was burned recently."

"That was horrible." He murmured. "And why had the elders turned younger?"

"Every soul would cross this bridge with their best appearances during their lives." The guardians said.

"So am I?" Fuji wondered.

"Yes, you are, Fuji-san. You are in your best shape right now. You are…" The guardian paused for a while. Fuji tilted his head and threw a questioning look. "Well… you look very beautiful," coughed. "…just like an angel," the guardian continued, and the other one nodded his agreement. Fuji showed his infamous angelic smile which had successfully made the guardians felt rather awkward.

"And what are those pale and dim lights around the bridge?"

"They are the unqualified souls. They are trapped between the two worlds. They have finished their lives but we still can't accept them due to some considerations."

Fuji smiled. He liked the way the guardians explain things to him. He thought the guardians were rather cute.

"Saa, you seem to know everything," he said cheerfully. "I wonder how long you have worked guarding the bridge and assisting the souls like this." The guardian spirits frowned. "Are you well paid? What about the day-offs and rewards?"

"Fuji-san," cut the spirit. "We are Sanzu's bridge guardians, not the Nation boundaries' gate keeper."

"Well, you two are suited for that position."

The other guardian sighed.

"Fuji-san, there have been many souls who have crossed the bridge or stopped to wait here as you do now, but you are the first one who talk to us and compare us to the Nation boundaries gate keepers."

Fuji chuckled, feeling rather amused with the guardians' reaction. He was sure he could see the spirits blushed and got annoyed at him. Fuji was glad he didn't lose his sense of humor after his death. He found teasing the guardian enjoyable. This was what made him never stopped teasing Yuuta and his friends, especially Tezuka. Remembering him, Fuji's smile grew wider.

TBC