Originally posted on Quizilla for my friend LadyAsami.
[A/N] SORRY I TOOK SO LONG TO POST THIS. I GOT LOST (haha what?) BUT I'M BACK AND I WANT TO WRITE MORE.
Sorry if this story doesn't live up to your standards. I'll try harder on my next story.
Disclaimer: All Prince of Tennis characters belong to Konami Takeshi
Beneath the Surface: A materialistic wife
Atobe's business associates frequently witnessed the classy young man standing in front of a brand store. Staring into the window glass with a rather pensive expression. They didn't understand his insistence, his stubborn adherence. Atobe Keigo always spent the last few hours of his business trips in search of a souvenir for his wife. Anything expensive that could safely travel home with him on the long plane ride back to Japan. Sometimes he brought Louis Vuitton bags, Dolce and Gabbana shoes, Christian Dior perfumes. Other times he bought Ashton-Drake porcelain dolls, Tiffany necklaces. Everything that caught his eye was above the usual price for a spontaneous gift.
His associates were skeptical of the so-called love that exists between the two. Was he buying her love? Did she love him for the money? As colleagues, they felt obligated to inform the young entrepreneur of their doubts. But no one ever mustered the courage to ever bring them up. Their exchanges occurred behind the safety and security of closed doors. Behind-his-back conversations that never saw the light of his face. Most of them predicted his reply anyway. "Ore-sama is not doing this because he has to. Ore-sama is doing this because he can," or something equally ridiculous. Maybe Atobe Keigo needed a superfluous wife to counter this constant show of absolute pride.
[Guess what I found today?] Atobe spoke into the phone with smug satisfaction. The sigh he heard from the other end diffused his boastful comments. Maybe later, when he sees her in person.
[Don't tell me you got something again. I always have to rearrange the house to find a new spot for your souvenirs.] She was exaggerating, he knew.
She always carried around conflicting feelings when he described the 'perfect' gift he had found for her. Kasumi was happy and relieved to know that she was on his mind, enough to encourage him to buy a gift. Unfortunately, her happiness was weighed down by her own doubts, swimming somewhere in the corner of her mind.
Was there a reason why he was so adamant in bringing back a gift? A reason not so benevolent as she innocently believed... It all started thanks to those "high-class" ladies from the party. The feminine voices swirled around her thoughts, leaving her with nothing but pessimism. Great. They would be happy to see her current, miserable state.
[I'll be back tomorrow morning.] A smile lit up both their faces at the news.