Disclaimer: Nothing in POT belongs to me. All OoC-ness, OCs, events, situations, venues and tournaments are just figments of my imagination.
CAUTION: Most of the plotlines in these chapters won't be following the original storyline from any manga, anime or movie!
"xxxxx" Conversation
'xxxxx' Thoughts
xxxxxxx Flashback
The Prince For Sakuno
2. The Diva Prince
Atobe Keigo was livid. His parents wanted him to attend yet again another omiai. He had had enough of the pretty but empty-headed women displayed to him and his well-intentioned parents by the women's ambitious parents.
It's not that he didn't want to get married. What he wanted was the same love his Okaasan and Otou-sama shared with each other. They managed to fall in love with each other even though his grandparents arranged their marriage for business purposes.
He swept his fingers through his bluish grey hair with frustration as he took a walk through the huge park of Tokyo U. 'Ore-sama is finishing the university courses soon. Okaasan hopes to see Ore-sama settling down before taking up the mantle of Otou-sama's business and company.
Suddenly, a female cried out, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"
Keigo looked around and soon he made his way to another part of the park followed by his bodyguard, the always quiet giant. They came upon two young men gripping the arms of a young woman who was struggling to get away from their clutches.
"Don't be so coy, sweety!"
"You know you'll have a good time with us."
"Don't touch me!"
"What are you doing with her, huh?" Keigo crossed his arms and glared at the men with Kabaji standing beside him. The men, clearly university students, turned pale and dashed off as soon as they realized who have found them. No one wanted to mess with an Atobe.
"Useless twerps!"
"Usu."
"Arigatou, Atobe-san." The young woman thanked them with a deep bow. When she lifted her head, his eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. No wonder those men wanted her.
Wavy brunette hair curled around her face which reminded him of the girl in Jan Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. She wore casual blue jeans, a green top, a brown jacket and black boots. He could tell she had a slender hourglass figure underneath them. But it was her rich expressive chocolate eyes that captured his attention. 'Where have I seen her before?'
With some well-placed questions, he found out she was Ryuzaki Sakuno, whose grandmother was the tennis coach for Seishun Middle School and High School.
"Ore-sama am sorry for your loss. She was well-known through-out the middle school and high school tennis circuit." Her grandmother passed away a few months ago. Keigo remembered sending his condolences.
"Thank you."
"Come with Ore-sama. Ore-sama will send you home. It's not safe for you to walk back alone."
"Hai."
Keigo would remember that meeting very well for many years to come. They chatted all the way back to the apartment she shared with Tachibana Ann. He had found her to be an intelligent woman who shared many of his interests such as reading, Shakespeare and classical music. She was also a student at the university studying to be a teacher. He was amazed that she even managed to chat for a few minutes with the normally docile Kabaji.
Before long, he found himself meeting up with her now and then for coffee and a friendly chat. They began to hang around each other more often, especially when she had problems with some of her classes and his jealous fangirls. He found that he didn't mind being her knight in shining armour. 'Why does Ore-sama want to protect her so much?'
One day, he found Insight into his feelings for her when he saw her talking animatedly to his former tennis rival, Tezuka Kunimitsu on campus.
"Ore-sama loves her." He whispered to himself. He observed them for a while and concluded she already has someone she loves.
After that he avoided her like plague. When he couldn't avoid her, he would treat her coldly. His heart always clenched with pain when her face displayed hurt, confusion and sadness by his distancing behaviour. This went on for a few weeks until he walked out of class one day to find Tezuka Kunimitsu waiting for him.
"What can Ore-sam…"
"You are a jerk, Atobe." The eyes behind the glasses glinted with hardness.
"What?"
"You hurt Sakuno with your cold behaviour, do you know that?"
His hands fisted tightly by his side upon hearing her name. "Ore-sama has no idea what you are talking about, Tezuka."
"You have no idea what you put her through, do you?" Keigo stayed silent while Tezuka stared at him with frustration.
"She never stopped talking about you and what you two did together, Atobe. Her eyes lighted up when she gets your phone call. She smiles serenely when she listens to the classical CDs you gave her. I have never seen her so animated since her grandmother passed away."
"She…she did? But Ore-sama saw her with you and…"
"And you thought she's with me? You are a dolt, Atobe even with your gift of Insight. Do you love her, Atobe?" His silence spoke a thousand words.
"Yudan sezu ni ikou, Atobe. Treasure her or another will take your place in her heart." Tezuka patted his back and walked off.
Atobe Keigo took some time to collect his thoughts before calling his mother. "Okaasan, you can begin my wedding plans. I have a bride for you."
- PRESENT DAY -
"Welcome back, Atobe Keigo-sama!"
The 30-year old CEO of the Atobe Consortium accepted their greeting with a firm nod of his head. He walked pass the servants standing in a row and entered his home with confident strides. His head bodyguard, Kabaji Munehiro and his head butler followed behind him.
"Where's my wife, Honda-san?" He loosened his tie, removed his suit jacket and undid the buttons of his shirt.
"She's in the nursery, Sir."
"Then…"
"PAPA!" "DADDY!" Two little figures ran over to wrap their arms tightly around his legs. Two happy faces peered up at him with huge grins. Keigo returned their smiles as he knelt down to pull them into his arms for a brief hug.
"Have you two been good children today?"
"Hai, Papa!" His son, Atobe Kazuo aged 6 nodded vigorously. He's got his father's hair and eyes but his face came from his mother.
"Me, too, Daddy!" His daughter, Atobe Kiyoko aged 4 jumped in his arm. Her face and eyes were similar to her father's except for her hair. She's got her mother's hair.
"Papa, let's play tennis." Kazuo pulled on his arm.
"Let's go, Daddy!" Kiyoko grabbed his other arm.
"Children, let your father have some rest, first." A woman slowly glided down the majestic staircase toward them.
"Hai, Mama!" The children let go of their father and went over to greet their Uncle Kabaji.
"Welcome back, dear. Sorry I wasn't here to greet you." She gave her husband a peek on his cheek.
But Keigo smirked and leaned closer to give his wife a deep kiss. When he finally pulled back, he was pleased with her breathlessness, the blush on her cheeks and her reddened lips. He placed a hand on her and caressed the baby bump in front.
"Is everything alright, love?"
She smiled sweetly, "Everything is fine, dear. All we need to do is to wait for our third child to arrive."
"Good! And Atobe Sakuno?"
"Yes?"
"You are my treasure and my heart. I love you."
"I love you too, Atobe Keigo."
…. The End of Chapter 2 …