A/N: Hello guys! So as promised, here is the rewritten first chapter of 'Can you Keep a Secret?'. I hope you enjoy it just as much as you enjoyed the original!

A/N#2: This story is way overdue. Should have finished this ages ago but...uhhh, I had writer's block for this story. Sorry!

Warnings: OOC Ryoma and Atobe (but it's all for the story) So read at your own risk.

Can You Keep a Secret? Rewritten

Chapter 1

It was a wonderful day inside the Atobe manor. The sun was shining, the birds we singing, everyone was happy. It was a typical, normal day in the household. Well, as typical and as normal as it can get with a snobby, arrogant young master and his innocently conniving little friend.

A dark-haired boy sat on the lavish purple bed with his arms crossed, brows furrowed, face set in a frown. He was obviously deep in thought. And this sight intrigued the self-proclaimed King of Hyotei. It was rare for Ryoma to lower his guard down and let his emotions reflect on his face, especially when he was around other people. So to think that Ryoma trusted him enough to lower his guard down…well, it was flattering.

Keigo observed the boy before him. Echizen Ryoma was by all means beautiful. That silky black hair which looked so enticing to touch, those almond shaped eyes that held so much emotion, that long, cute nose that wrinkled whenever he thought of something distasteful, those high cheekbones that blushed when caught by surprise, and those pink, plum lips…Echizen Ryoma most definitely topped the tennis captain's "Most Beautiful Boys on Earth" list.

"Hey, Monkey King." Atobe was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts as a soft, melodic voice filled his senses. He looked at the boy before him, who was fidgeting, his eyes hesitant as if he was about to say something embarrassing.

"Hn?"

"Well," Ryoma blushed, eyes settling everywhere but him, "can you keep a secret?"

The question certainly caught the tennis captain by surprise. But his surprise suddenly morphed into a smirk. Does Ryoma even have to ask? "Of course I can. The Great Atobe Keigo is like the trustworthiest man alive!"

Ryoma snorted, "I highly doubt that. Because if I remember correctly, the last time I told you a secret, every regular in Hyotei seemed to know about it. I wonder if you had something to do with that." Ryoma wondered oh-so innocently, his inner self smirking as he saw Atobe blush and stutter, clearly at lost for words.

Guilty.

"But they were just so persistent," Atobe whined, but then paled as he realized what he said. Shit. Flailing his arms, he hurriedly corrected himself. Ryoma seemed to have not noticed his slip. Thank God. "I mean, the Great Me was just feeling generous that day so I decided to share your not-so important secre…" Atobe faltered as he saw black aura surrounding Ryoma's body.

Oh shit.

"A-to-be~"

Oh double shit.

"What did you just say?"

Atobe Keigo was a dead, dead man.

A bonk in the head, a slap on the face and a kick on the groin later, the almighty king of Hyotei was left sniffling, nursing his bruises and abused body. He definitely learned something that day: Never tell Ryoma that his secret is not important. If you're not a masochist, that is. It was a shame, really, that Atobe had to learn it the hard way.

The diva sighed, wincing as he touched the absurdly big swell on his head. How could such a small person like Ryoma hit like sumo wrestler, anyway? That was just absurd. But again, he learned, not impossible. Why the hell did he have to learn these kind of things the hard way anyway? It would have been better if there was a book about what and what not to do whenever you were with the Seigaku's youngest player. The world would definitely be a better place if there was, especially if it meant not having to have a sore body and unwanted bruises.

The diva yelped in surprise as he heard a chuckle in his room. "Monkey king, I never expected you to go down with just one hit. So very lame." Ryoma smirked. "You're still so mada mada."

Keigo felt his brow twitch. Did…did the brat just call, The Great Atobe Keigo, mada mada and to top it off, lame?

"The Great Me is not lame!" Atobe argued.

"Is so."

"Is not."

"Is so."

"Is not."

"Is so!"

"Gah!" The diva resisted the urge to pull his beautifully styled hair. The brat was just too impossible to deal with. He was impossibly childish!

"I am not childish, monkey king." Ryoma stated blandly.

This comment made Atobe take a step back. Was he? Did he? Did? Oh my amazing self. Did Ryoma just read his awesomely awesome mind?

Ryoma shook his head, mouth curving in amusement. "No, Atobe. I did not just read your awesomely awesome mind." He scoffed.

The diva's eyes widened comically, gasping, "But you just did it again, brat!"

Ryoma sighed. Really, Atobe was just so very stupid at times. For someone who's so admired by thousands of people, his IQ was definitely lacking. Good thing he had the looks to make up for it. Ryoma lessened the distance between him and Atobe, just enough so that he could pat the Hyotei captain's cheeks in an endearing manner. "You're just too easy to read, monkey king. Your face says it all."

Atobe growled, "It is not!" How dare Ryoma say that his face was an open book! But even if he was slightly offended, Atobe couldn't help but lean into Ryoma's touch. The small boy's calloused hands felt so impossibly soft against his face, which was impossible because calloused equals rough, right?

Ryoma smiled softly as he noticed the way Atobe leaned into his touch. Really, how could he remain thinking the captain was stupid when he did cute things like this. He rubbed his hand on Atobe's cheeks, surprisingly gaining a purr as a response. Ryoma's smile turned into a smirk, "You know, for someone who looks like a monkey, you certainly act like a cat."

Atobe sputtered, "Wh-what? I do not look like a monkey and I certainly do not act like a cat!"

Ryoma chuckled, "There, there. I was just teasing. Anyway," Ryoma's face suddenly turned serious, and the change sobered Atobe up. "Let me ask you again. Can you keep a secret?"

Atobe pounded his fist on his chest, grinning superiorly. "Of course I can! Trust me!"

"Oooooooh. Acting like a monkey now, Atobe?"

Before Atobe could say anything, Ryoma said something that gave him, The Great Atobe, the shock of his life. Because the next thing he knew, he was already on his bed, a worried and concerned Ryoma hovering over him. "W-wha?"

Ryoma sighed in relief. "What the fuck, monkey king? You fainted! Was what I said really that shocking?"

"Of course it was!" Atobe hollered. "How could you. Why would you. Why whould you like someone like Tezuka?"

Ryoma looked offended by this, "Why wouldn't I? Captain Tezuka is handsome, kind, smart, responsible, commanding and oh wait, did I already mention the Captain Tezuka's handsome?"

"But you can't!" Atobe reasoned.

Again, Ryoma yelled, "Why not? You're not making any sense, Atobe! Why can't I fucking like him?"

Atobe flailed his arms, he was at lost for words. Why? Why can't Ryoma like Tezuka?

Because he's yours, A voice quipped inside Atobe's head. To say that he was shocked was an understatement. But he then realized that it was true. Ryoma was supposed to be his and his alone. He realized that he liked Ryoma so much more than a friend should, that he wouldn't allow some guy take Ryoma away from him. But well, he couldn't very well tell that to Ryoma, now could he? So instead, he came up with the lamest excuse ever. "But he's old, Ryoma! He is o-l-d!"

"He is not!"

"He is"

"Then who do you suggest I like then?"

"Me!" Atobe proudly suggested, "I'm better than him in every way! I'm smarter, kinder, more responsible, more commanding and a hell lot more handsome than that four-eyed freak is!"

Ryoma snorted. Smarter, yeah right. As if he would ever believe that. "But you're just as old as he is! So doesn't that make you 'too old' for me too? And don't call captain a four-eyed freak, you monkey!"

Atobe groaned. Again with that monkey comment! And really! How could he overlook the fact that he was as old as Tezuka? Now, he was also 'too old' for his dear, dear Ryoma. "That's different. Tezuka's older because he has glasses! And how many times do I have to tell you not to call me monkey, brat?"

Ryoma was really frustrated now. The damned monkey was making things difficult! He could feel his eyes water. All he wanted was for Atobe to listen to him and help him and just be there for him. But with the way things were going, it might not be possible anymore. "Why are you being so difficult?" Ryoma asked, his voice cracking. "All I want is for you to be there for me. But why? You're so mean, monkey king!"

This made Atobe panic. Oh shit, he just made Ryoma cry. In an instant, he was by Ryoma's side, cradling the boy in his arms, making shushing sounds and drawing circles on the smaller boy's back in attempt to calm him. Great, now he was feeling guilty.

Begrudgingly, Atobe said one sentence that he would forever regret in his life, "Fine, I'll do anything you want so, forgive me?"

"Really?" Ryoma pushed Atobe back so he could look at the diva, eye to eye. "You would do anything?"

Atobe did not like where this was going but still, he said yes. No point in backing out now.

"So you'll help me confess my love for Captain Tezuka?"

Atobe nodded, "Of course I'll help you confess your-" Atobe stopped short, his mind rewinding back to what Ryoma just said. "WHAT? Of course I'm not going to help you confess to that..that…that four-eyed freak!"

Ryoma's eyes widened, eyes once again watering. "See?" He wailed, "You're not really going to do anything I want. You're such a liar, Atobe!"

Ryoma made an attempt to get out of Atobe's embrace but the said man just tightened his hold on the smaller male. He then said something that he would once again, forever regret in his life. "Fine," he reluctantly, very reluctantly agreed. "I'll help you confess your feelings for Tezuka."

This made Ryoma smile. He was about to say something sappy when Atobe's fingers shushed him, "But I'm not doing this because I agree of your silly crush on Tezuka. I'm doing this for you. Don't forget that."

Ryoma smirked, delving deeper into the diva's embrace. Really, it was too easy to manipulate his snobby, arrogant best friend. Just a little water in the eyes and voila! He had the Hyotei Captain wrapped around his finger. But he was really happy. Atobe's opinion really mattered to him. And even if the diva did not approve of Tezuka, atleast he was still willing to stand by him. Yup, Ryoma was happy. All things were well…for the meantime, that is. "Thank you, Atobe. You really are the best."

Meanwhile, inside Atobe Keigo's head, a battle was raging. He did not want to do this. No, he did not want to help Ryoma confess his feelings for his captain! Just the thought of losing Ryoma, just the thought of Ryoma being happy with another guy made him want to puke his guts out.

No. No way. He would not just stand aside and watch Ryoma be whisked away by that damned Tezuka Kunimitsu. Yes, of course he'll help Ryoma confess but that didn't mean he'll help make it a success. He'll just have to find ways to make Ryoma realize that Tezuka wasn't worth his love. Oh yes, evil little plans were now forming inside the diva's head. For sure, he would make Ryoma fall in love with him. And he swears it on his Georgio Armani Limited Edition Purple Suits.

He will make Echizen Ryoma fall for him.

He just had to take Tezuka out of the picture first. And that's not gonna be an easy task.

But as always, he'll manage.

Because what an Atobe wants, an Atobe always gets.

A/N: So, what did you think? Was it better than the original? I hope it was. Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoyed it. Lovelots!