ketchup (ketchupblood) wrote in ironman7, @ 2007-09-15 23:41:00 |
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Entry tags: | ketchupblood, prince of tennis, week 4: prompt 2 |
Prince of Tennis (Tezuka/Fuji) [week 4 - prompt 2]
Title: Nothing to Give
Author: ketchupblood
Rating: PG
Warnings: Slash, AU, the boys almost growed up
Word Count: ~9,000
Summary: Gypsie!Fuji and Storekeeper!Tezuka fall in love.
Author's Notes: WHY DO I WRITE SO MUCH?! -flails-
2. I am a king in everything when with a wanton gypsy
When Tezuka had first heard that gypsies were on their way to the city, he had taken a moment to think of that fact then decided that it was a good thing; performances by gypsies meant that there were more people out at any given times, or at least at more times than normal, and that meant more business for the shop, which could really use any business that it could get. Still, that hardly meant that Tezuka approved of their way of life and he sincerely hoped that they would come and leave quickly—the city was bad enough without even more bad influences on its people, no matter how much business the bad influence might attract.
When they came, though, it was to find his shop—the only semi-respectable shop in that area of the city—fully stocked with new cloths and plenty of mostly fresh fruits that he knew would tempt any traveler. It was difficult to find any fresh produce at this time of winter even so far south. The land was practically a desert and there was little by way of vegetation; the south relied heavily on the countries to the north to supply their people with food. Thus, fruits sold very well, especially to travelers who had been deprived of real food for who knows how long and would have looked at a half rotten pear as a delicacy. Not that Tezuka had half rotten pears, but neither were the fruits perfectly fresh. It was difficult to keep them from drying out, though, especially without the benefits that the stores in better areas had such as the natural caverns underneath the city, and they were, while not rotten, certainly not in the best of shape. They were certainly in good enough condition that there was quite a crowd in his shop that afternoon, though.
Such a crowd, in fact, that he didn't even realize when one of his customers wasn't one of his regulars until the customer asked him what the price for flour was, pointing at the large sacks of flour that Tezuka kept behind the counter. Then he looked at the boy's (or was it a man's?) face and realized that he was quite obviously not from this city at all—he was too pale for the southern city. Tezuka answered, "Fifty pennies."
The man—Tezuka had decided that he was a man; his build was slight but the way his muscles rippled under his tight fitting shirt was powerful and no boy could have that much hidden power—dug into a purse that he had pulled out and produced two silver coins. "Ah, I don't have fifty pennies on me. Would two silver crowns suffice?"
"What crowns?" Tezuka asked. Southern crowns were worth twenty-five pennies each; northern ones only worth around ten.
"The southern peninsula." The stranger said. "It really is beautiful there, you know, and they give such wonderful tips."
"You are a gypsy, then." Tezuka stated and then, "Two silver crowns will do."
"Yes, I am." The man handed the crowns to Tezuka and continued, "You can call me Fuji. We're only going to be here for a short while. It's so cold up north! I do hope you'll come to see us perform."
"Perhaps." Tezuka answered and turned around to get the bag of flower.
"So what should I call you?" Tezuka could hear Fuji's voice and he was almost certain that the gypsy was trying to lead to something inappropriate.
Still, he was too rude to not answer, so he said, "Tezuka."
"Tezuka, huh?" Fuji thought for a moment. "It fits you."
"Here." Tezuka gave him the bag of flour.
"Thank you." Fuji took the bag without any trouble. "If you do come, we're camped right out the city. I'd like it if you would visit me."
Tezuka nodded, not promising anything but not denying it either. It seemed enough for Fuji, though, because he smiled before he left. Tezuka watched him leave, actually considering going to see the gypsy show, before turning back to his next customer.