Warning(s): this is an AU fic, the characters are a bit OOC, and no tennis included in this story. The setting is in a big city, which divided into 2 areas of lower and upper town. Upper town is where the rich is and the lower town.. Well, you get the idea.

As for the age, go imagine Tezuka and Atobe in their late 20, Inui and Oishi in their early 30. And Echizen is somewhere near 23. Fuji is 25, and so is Eiji.

Review is loooove.

saya, thank you for the corrections, teheee. I am a little bit retarded with those apostrophe-thing.. please do tell if I make another slip up again :)

yoshikochan, Atobe is sweet in his own way, don't you think? Hehe.

vegibee, that is very much ok :) well, this story is not rated M for nothing, you know *wink wink* just wait and read, okaaay :D

Vhii1217, And thank you for reading and reviewing :). Atobe's role… hmm. I'll leave it to your imagination for now *evil laugh*

I Apologiiiiiize. Holiday is f*ing over and now I got stuck with the new semester and the lecturers are me-haters in disguise for their never ending projects and homeworks. *sniffles*

This might be a bit short… My muse was robbed by physics and calculus and stuffs.. (why the heck am I choosing to study engineering anyway?)

Oops. This fic had unintentionally turned into a personal diary. *apologize again…*

Gah. Just ignore me for this time being… Happy reading :)

Chapter 4

Memories

Fuji Yoshiko has never been to the lower town before. But his oldest son had been so excited about visiting the orphanage, planning to give them a little food, money, and other knick knacks for the upcoming Christmas. Shuusuke even picked the gifts for the orphans himself, his beautiful blue eyes shone so bright in excitement, while his little brother Yuuta tagged along behind him, his brothers excitement caught his interest.

It was snowing that night, and the way to the orphanage was so dark and gloomy. She didn't feel save and she knew that something is going to happen, but she shoved the feeling to the back of her head. Yoshiko didn't like this part of the town; the lower town where everything look so gloomy and the people look so miserable. She was lucky to have a well respected father and a mother related to the royal family, she never had to experience such difficulties in her life.

Even her marriage was perfect. With a loving husband and their three adorable children, her life was complete. Her children were her biggest pride.

Yoshiko smiled softly. If not for Shuusuke, she will not have any intention to visit the lower town. But Shuusuke wanted to give the Christmas gift himself, eating together with the orphans, and played piano for them; he wanted to be there to see their eyes glowed in happiness. And now that Shuusuke was unable to leave his bed due to his high fever, he asked his mother to do it for him instead. She chuckled softly when she remembered the pure disappointment on her sons face, his lips pouted in a rather childish way. "Papa said I can't, Mama.. so please, take a lot of pictures for me? I want to see if they're happy with our presents.." her blue eyed son begged her that morning. How could she say no to her beloved son when he gave her that pleading look?

Her car jerked in an abrupt stop.

Yoshiko turned her head to her chauffeur in the drivers' seat. She wanted to ask him what's wrong, but a loud voice stopped her, and she screamed as the cars windows being bombarded with bullets.

A sharp pain struck her left side, and she knew she will not make it home tonight. She will not be able to say goodbye to her angels, running her hands through her husband's hair as she watches him asleep. She will not be able to keep her promise to Shuusuke. She felt really really cold, and the visions of her family played before her eyes like an old film, and slowly, darkness took over her short dream.

Sometimes he wondered what had he done so wrong in his previous life.

He didn't really believe in superstitions, but it was the only reason he knew why some people suffered more than the others.

His life had been perfect. Loving family, good friends and he could always get whatever he wanted. But ten years ago, his perfect life was shattered when his mother died. And he was the one who killed his mother. His egoistic wish and naivety did that.

It was still so vivid in his mind, the day the tragedy happened. He was down with a high fever, and his mother had gone in his place to the lower town. But he was waiting for her to come home that night; he couldn't stay still in his room even with his fever. So he waited in the piano room downstairs, the one with its window facing the front foyer, so that when his mother coming, he will be in the front door to greet her.

She never came home.

Some unknown people had robbed her on her way to the orphanage, probably knowing that she had money and food and some valuable things.

He cursed God so many times since then.

Was doing a charity a big sin? Was it something so evil that He has to take his mother away from him? And as if it wasn't enough, He took away his loving, gentle father, and replaced him with this ambitious, cold man. He used to call his father 'papa', but 'mama' wasn't there anymore, and he barely knew the man his 'papa' turned into. So he called him 'dad' instead. Of course it held the same meaning, but it was less painful to call him 'dad' because 'papa' always reminds him of 'mama' who will never come home again.

Fuji Shuusuke smiled bitterly. His blue eyes glazed with angry tears that threatening to fall.

He was tired of asking why, tired of being angry, tired of crying. But sometimes, the whole gloomy feelings just called back to him, reminded him of those painful memories.

He took a deep breath, refusing to let the tears fall.

"Have you done pitying yourself?"

His bitter smile turned into a knowing smirk. "Hello, Keigo".

Atobe took a few steps closer to his friend. "It's one of your bad habits, you know. You always think about bad things when you're alone and stressed like this".

"Oh, and seducing my boyfriend is one of your bad habits Keigo, in case you haven't notice". Atobe rolled his eyes. "I thought we're over that, Shuusuke". "Oh I'm not sure, best friend," Fuji's voice turned suspiciously cheery, and Atobe cringe inwardly. "The last time you did it, it took a couple of days and a good contract for me to forgive you. Since it's the fifth time and you are the one who needs the contract, I think it will be much more than a month, Keigo".

'Damn his logic'. Atobe sighed exasperatedly. 'And he's the only person who won't be affected with my charm beside my mother..'

"Fine. What should I do, then?" Fuji then smiled triumphantly. "Another contract."

Atobe quirked a brow. "Contract? But..".

"For Avery Corp. in London"

Atobe's gaze widened. He really shouldn't be surprised, but…

Atobe's hand grasped his smaller one, but Fuji's smile didn't waver. "Shuusuke, Yuuta wouldn't like that. If he find out that it's you who set up this contract..". "That's why I want you to do it. You don't have to give the contract directly from Atobe Corp., you know. I thought you have enough influence to your business partners, no?".

Recognizing the finality in his childhood friend's voice, Atobe sighed. "How about a brand new studio?"

Atobe knew the answer already, but, well, at least he tried.

15 minutes later, Kikumaru Eiji entered Fuji's apartment, with a box of his home made tiramisu in his hand, only to find his best friend asleep the sofa.

He was glad that Fuji got the sleep he really needed, knowing how hard Fuji works for the past few weeks, not to mention the whole assassination thing..

The young patissier shuddered, remembering how close he was from losing his best friend.

So it was good that Fujiko can finally get to sleep, he thought. But, why, he wondered, did Fujiko had to be asleep there, cradled on Atobe's lap? Something was not quite right..

"He cried himself to sleep." He heard Atobe's voice, rather surprised to hear the strain in the usually confident voice. Eiji put the tiramisu inside the fridge, then approached the two friends in the living room. Solemnly, he eyed the brunette in his Atobe's arms, looking so shattered and vulnerable. "Remembering about his mother again?" he asked, slowly running his fingers through the honey brown strands. "That, and exhaustion. He overdid himself with his latest project." Eiji watched Atobe caressed his best friend's cheek in such tenderness; he couldn't help to think if he really understands what kind of relationship these two have.

"Mmm.. Keigo..?" Fuji's sleepy voice startled him. "I'm here." Atobe patted Fuji's head, and Eiji smiled softly at his best friend's rare clinginess. "I heard Eiji…" the brunette muttered softly while snuggled closer to Atobe's chest, as if not sure if he was dreaming or not. Eiji chuckled and pinched Fuji's cheek. "You're not dreaming, cutie. Eiji and his tiramisu are here."

Fuji awakened instantly at the word 'tiramisu'.

And Atobe was left alone in the living room, while the two best friends dashing to the kitchen. Atobe shook his head in disbelieve. "25 years old, and still act like sugar induced kids.."

"Admit it, it's better than your chef's" Eiji glared at the vice president of Atobe Corp, currently one of Fuji Shuusuke's so called baby sitter. "Gakuto's pie is better, though." Atobe replied nonchalantly.

Fuji watched in amusement as his two friends bickering. "Ha! So my tiramisu is better than his!" Eiji grinned triumphantly. "Hm. Congratulations. You have your first win against Gakuto after these two years of odd rivalry.." Atobe smirked. "Mou, Fujikooo, Atobe's being a prick! Do something, nya!!".

Fuji shrugged innocently. "Saa, I don't know, Eiji… he does brought me Gakuto san's cakes everytime..". "Nyaa Fujikooo, you traitor…" Eiji pouted, and Fuji couldn't help but laughed.

Then his phone rang, and when Fuji came back to his friends with his well practiced mask of smile, he asked if can have his apartment to himself for a session with his new boyfriend. Atobe and Eiji didn't buy his smiling façade, but they left anyway.

5 minutes later, he met Kunimitsu Tezuka for the first time. Or so he thought.

Reviews will make me giddy at first, and then feed the plot bunnies in my realm of muse, make them bounce around in happiness and thus inspires me to write the next chapter…

Okay that doesn't even make any sense.

The point is, review pleeeeeeaseee??