Oyasumi
by Michalyn
Pairings: Shishido + Ootori

Summary: Ootori and Shishido have just arrived at the Junior Invitationals Camp and Ootori needs a little help settling in.

“Che!” Choutaro heard a familiar voice swear behind him. He turned to see Shishido struggling to peer over the wall of Inui’s and Sanada’s shoulders as the two taller boys skimmed the room assignment list. They had just arrived at the preparation camp for the Junior Invitationals and after coaches Ryuzaki, Sakaki and Hanamura had divided the different school teams into groups, the boys were all referred to their room assignments which had been posted on the nearby bulletin board. Shishido, still blocked by Sanada and Inui was scowling.

“How the hell am I supposed to find my room like this?”

“Shishido-san,” Choutaro smiled, waving his friend over, “You’re in 343. It looks like we’ll be roommates.”

“Ah.” Shishido shoved his hands deep into his pockets and followed Choutaro down the hall. Their room was a neat, two bed affair with a large window facing the tennis courts. Shishido went to the window and gazed outside for a moment before rocking back on his heels. He gave Choutaro a lopsided smile. “That was good luck on our part, eh?” he said gruffly, indicating the beds.

Choutaro looked up in surprise, warmed by the admission. “Yes, I thought so as well.”

“Yeah?” Shishido asked softly, his burning look causing Choutaro to flush.

“Yeah.” Choutaro swallowed. He had been so excited about training for the Junior Invitationals that he’d forgotten everything beyond tennis. It hadn’t occurred to him that he would also have the chance to be alone with Shishido, without the worry of being interrupted at inopportune moments by parents. Choutaro stared at the beds, positioned so close together that when Shishido sat facing Choutaro on the edge of the other mattress, their knees bumped as they leaned forward to kiss.

The exchange was as searching and tentative as the other few kisses stolen between them. Shishido’s lips were soft, but behind their gentleness, Choutaro sensed a tension barely restrained that mirrored the nameless frustration within him. Choutaro loved Shishido’s scent and the way the heat of the older boy’s body seemed to meld into his, but recently, their kisses left him restless—hungering for something … something … more. Shishido’s hand rested on his knee and Choutaro inhaled a sharp breath. He spread his legs a little, and began inching forward to touch Shishido, when he was startled by a ruckus in the hallway. The moment was lost. Choutaro pulled back sharply as Seigaku’s Momoshiro and Eiji came thundering down the hall, Eiji’s giggling and Momoshiro’s whoop annoucing that dinner was ready echoing beyond even Choutaro’s and Shishido’s closed door. Choutaro sighed. They had been so close.

Shishido’s expression as he ran a rough hand through his hair seemed to indicate that he was feeling equally thwarted, but his expression was tender as he turned to Choutarou. “I guess we should go for dinner, huh?”

Choutaro’s irritation melted in the warmth of that glance. It seemed enough then to simply be held in Shishido’s gaze. Smiling, he rose to join his partner. “Yes.”

_________________________

“What’s the matter, Choutaro? You don’t look happy.”

“Ah…” Choutaro met Shishido’s concerned look with a sigh. “I just can’t sleep well in a different bed,” he complained as they moved to take their seats for breakfast.

“Is that what it is?” Shishido asked.

Choutaro nodded. He was the type to put down roots. The nurturing type, as Atobe always joked in that ambiguous tone of his, so that Choutarou never knew if his team captain meant it as a jibe or a compliment. Whatever the case, Choutaro couldn’t deny that home was very important to him. Being separated from the familiar places and faces he loved always left him a bit anxious. He hadn’t been able to sleep at all last night, even with Shishido so close by. Choutaro bit his lip. Well … perhaps because of that as well. It was hard to drift off into harmless dreams with Shishido’s soft breathing filling the darkness and the memory of his kisses still fresh on Choutaro’s lips. Still, it would be bad if he wasn’t at his best because of tiredness. Besides, he’d seen Shishido’s frown at the sight of the dark circles under his eyes and the last thing Choutaro wanted to do was worry his friend. He was so determined to protect Shishido that Choutaro sometimes forgot that Shishido was always looking out for his best interest as well. The thought warmed Choutaro a little and despite his fatigue, he found himself feeling more energized than ever to meet the day.

By the time they returned to their room in the evening though, the narrow single beds had never looked so good. Choutaro immediately slipped beneath the covers, determined to get a full night’s rest. Yet, when the lights were turned out, he found himself once again tossing and turning— unable to get comfortable yet hesistant to move around too much lest he wake Shishido. An exasperated gust escaped Choutaro’s lips. This wouldn’t do at all. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing sleep to overtake him.

“Geez, I guess this is the only way then.”

“Eh?” Choutaro stared as Shishido lifted the covers.

“Stop gawking and move over,” Shishido growled, pulling the covers around them and spooning tight behind Choutaro.”We came here to win. I won’t have you collapsing on the court when it’s our turn to play doubles.” Shishido’s warm breath bathed Choutaro’s neck as he wrapped an arm about his waist. It was a tight fit—but a good one. Shishido was so close that the the hair on his legs tickled the backs of Choutaro’s calves and Choutaro could feel the faint roughness of the other boy’s heels as their legs tangled together. He was also acutely aware of the way Shishido’s pelvis pressed against his buttocks. A little closer and … and … Choutaro’s heart thudded.

“Sh…Shishido … ah … maybe we shouldn’t…”

“Hmm?” Shishido mumbled sleepily, his lips brushing the nape of Choutaro’s neck in a way that made him shiver all the way down to his toes.

“This is really comfortable but I was thinking…maybe we shouldn’t … shouldn’t … you know… that is…”

“Choutaro?”

“Yeah.”

“Go to sleep.” Shishido tightened his arm about Choutaro’s waist, placed an open-mouthed kiss against the side of his throat and promptly dozed off, his soft snores echoing in the silence.

Choutaro blinked in the darkness, stunned for a moment as Shishido’s warmth surrounded him on all sides like a living blanket. After a while, he gave a little laugh and snuggled deeper within the other boy’s arms. He guessed there was no helping it. He had found a piece of home here after all.

End

Warm-Up
by Michalyn
Pairing: Inui +Kaidoh
Rating: PG

Summary: Inui has the pefect warmup excercise for Kaidoh’s new training menu.

The sun was bright overhead as Inui flipped his notebook to the page he had recently entered, the dappled light illuminating the neat text. It was a fine day for practice and he and Kaidoh had agreed to meet for an extra training session.

“All right, Kaidoh-kun, let us begin. After studying the data based on your performance at the recent intra-school tournament, I have developed a special training regimen for you which I believe will highly improve your strength and stamina. Moreover, if correctly applied, this will translate into a more effective Boomerang Snake for you, given the remarkable muscle extension the move requires.” Inui adjusted his glasses. “Are you ready?”

Kaidoh’s lips curled. Hissing, he nodded his assent.

“Excellent.” Inui retrieved his stopwatch from his pocket and moved to take his place at the nearby bench. “Then we shall proceed. Target heart rate for this warm up is 152.”

Inui watched as Kaidoh began his laps around the court. The younger’s man’s skin glistened with sweat, but Kaidoh was breathing deeply and regularly, his feet pounding against the ground in perfect rhythm. As always, Kaidoh’s expression was determined, the younger man approaching even this simple training exercise with the seriousness of a championship match. It was that doggedness, that implacable will, which so attracted Inui to Kaidoh. It defied all Inui’s calculations and his attempts at predicting it. Kaidoh was his most startling most precious conundrum and all the more sweet because the younger man was always evolving, always denying Inui’s ability to encompass him.

Inui continued to track Kaidoh’s steady pace and it was not long before Kaidoh was rounding the final bend. He slowed down, jogging lightly over to where Inui was waiting.

Inui referred to his watch. “Very good, Kaidoh-kun.” He studied Kaidoh’s parted lips, his heightened breathing, the tangerine bandana darkened with perspiration. “Hmm … it appears, however that we might have a small problem,” he murmured.

“Wh…what do you think you’re doing?” Kaidoh snarled, jerking skittishly backward as Inui snared his wrist.

Inui closed his notebook and rested it on the bench. Leaning forward, he captured the younger man’s lips. They were soft, full and wonderfully sensuous for all Kaidoh tried to hide it with his hissing and snarling. Inui took his time licking and nibbling that softness, coaxing Kaidoh’s mouth open until their tongues tangled in glorious abandon. The muscles of Kaidoh’s back were rigid beneath Inui’s palms, but bit by bit, that tension unraveled. Kaidoh made a rough, helpless sound and slowly melted into Inui’s embrace. He tasted of salt and heat and the smell of his sweat was sharp in Inui’s nostrils. When Inui lifted his head, Kaidoh was clinging to him like a vine or— Inui thought with a smile—like a snake curled around a sapling. He placed a tender kiss against a stunned Kaidoh’s forehead.

“Body temperature, approximately 37.6 degrees Celcius … respiratory rate, 17 breaths per minute…. ” Inui’s hand trailed down to the dampness of Kaidoh’s chest. He lingered there, savoring the powerful thudding of the younger man’s heart. “Heart-rate, 152.”

He smiled, adjusting his glasses. “Warm-up complete.”

End