Hohoho! Finally this is the last chapter! Pls comment!
Disclaimer: I really don't own Prince of Tennis
Warning: As usual, bad grammar and bad sentence structures!
The fateful day came and Atobe left early to meet his Hyoutei gang for some confidence booster before going to meet Tezuka at the airport.
"Meeting Tezuka, huh?" Shishido asked, surprised. Atobe leaned back into his chair and stretched. "You sure you've recovered fully? You having a match with him or what? You may get hurt you know-"
"Oi, Shishido, you speak too much today, ah?" Atobe said, glaring at him. "I've been waiting for this day!"
"Tezuka… chih! That irritating Seigaku captain! That stupid poker face!" Gakuto said, angrily. Atobe just smiled proudly.
"Tezuka… I'll crush you like a Ponta can one day!" Atobe declared. "Right, Kabaji?"
"Usu!" Kabaji answered. Atobe looked at his watch. It's time, Atobe said. Tezuka… we finally meet again.
"Alright then, guys. Wish me luck," Atobe said. He stood up and limped out of the cafetaria door. The rest of the Hyoutei guys looked at him.
"Is it me or was Atobe limping?" Choutarou asked.
"His knee doesn't look well today," Oshitari commented.
"What does he have against Tezuka?" Shishido asked.
"Seems like an obsession to me!" Gakuto added.
"I have no idea. It's a grudge since he was young or something," Oshitari said. "Atobe never really talked much about his childhood."
The guys kept quiet. Even though Atobe was their friend and also their captain, they never really knew him that well. In fact, nobody knew anything about Atobe's past.
"Stupid knee. Not today please. Tezuka is waiting for me!" Atobe said under his breath. He limped towards the nearest empty seat and sat down. He was sweating heavily. He slowly tried to bend his knee but it felt numb. He slowly massage his left leg. Maybe it was a cramp or something. It will go away soon, he thought. He then heard the flight arrival announcement over the intercom.
"Come on knee. Don't fail on me now!" Atobe cursed. He stretched and flexed his numb knee and soon the numbness subsided. He smiled. He saw a large number of people pouring out of the arrival hall. He kept a look out for Tezuka. He spotted him coming out pulling a big blue bag behind him. Atobe stood up and looked at himself in the nearby mirror. He looked gorgeous as always. His knee felt much better now. He was glad that it was a temporary cramp.
"Tezuka," Atobe called out to him. Tezuka spotted Atobe and walked towards him.
"I suspect you will come and meet me here," Tezuka said. He looked at Atobe's knee. "With your condition, I don't think you should move around that much, Atobe."
"Is this how you treat an old friend, ah?" Atobe asked. So Tezuka can see right through me, eh? Did he notice my weak knee? Did he suddenly have the insight too… just like me? Atobe thought. Tezuka, I am impressed by your capabilities.
"My grandfather is here to pick me up," Tezuka said. "I'll send you home."
Tezuka turned and walked away. Atobe followed him from behind.
"How is your shoulder?" Atobe asked.
"Why do you ask?" Tezuka said.
"I'll wait till you are completely healed and we'll have a match!" Atobe declared, pointing a finger at Tezuka.
"You never changed," Tezuka answered. "You are still the same Atobe as before."
"I'll defeat you," Atobe said, like a spoilt child.
"Don't behave like a spoiled brat," Tezuka said. He walked away. Atobe followed him in silence. They reached the main door and Tezuka spotted his grandfather's red car. His grandfather was waving at him from inside the car. Tezuka waved back.
"Alright. Come, Atobe. I'll send you home," Tezuka said.
"Don't pretend to be nice to me," Atobe said, coldly. "I'll take a cab."
"Thank you for coming," Tezuka said, softly. Atobe looked at Tezuka. He remembered the great times they had together. He missed those times when they were young… when life is easy and worry free. His childhood memories consist of Tezuka because Tezuka had always been there for him. He couldn't even remember having any other friends. Tezuka was his only friend.
"I'll wait till you get into a taxi," Tezuka said. Atobe felt touched but he couldn't let Tezuka know that. He knew that Tezuka was truly worried for him. Tezuka had always looked out for him. Even till now. Atobe suddenly felt angry. I am not a child anymore, Tezuka... Atobe thought.
"You don't have to watch over me anymore, Tezuka. We are rivals now. I don't need your pity!" Atobe said.
"Is that why you are here?" Tezuka asked. "To tell me that?"
Atobe ignored him and walked away. We are rivals now, Tezuka... remember that... Atobe thought.
Tezuka watched his old friend cross the road to get to an empty cab. He shook his head. Atobe never changed. He thought Atobe wanted a truce but he was wrong. Atobe is still the same Atobe… someone who hates to lose...
Tezuka walked towards his grandfather's car. He hadn't seen him in months and he missed him terribly. His grandfather got out of the car to help him put his luggage in the boot.
"Don't strain yourself," Tezuka said. His grandfather is old and weak.
"Is that little Atobe?" his grandfather asked. "He'd grown to be such a handsome young kid."
Tezuka did not answer.
"Kunimitsu! Look!" his grandfather suddenly cried out. Tezuka turned to see that Atobe had stopped in the middle of the road. He seemed to have some trouble with his left knee. Tezuka saw a huge truck heading his way. Atobe would not be able to get to safety in time.
"Atobe!" Tezuka yelled. He sprinted towards Atobe. Without thinking, Tezuka put his arms around Atobe's waist and dragged him to the curb. The slow moving cargo truck driver was blasting the horn at them.
"Crazy kids!" the elderly driver yelled. "This is not a playground! Go play somewhere else!"
Atobe didn't know what happened. Everything happened so fast. He remembered not being able to move and then Tezuka had pulled him to the curb… to safety. Atobe felt Tezuka's arms still around his chest. He never felt so safe.
Tezuka apologized profusely. The truck driver glared at Tezuka and drove off. Tezuka stared at Atobe. His face was hard and angry.
"Ah, Tezuka saved me again, ah?" Atobe said, slighty embarassed. He held Tezuka closer. It just felt right. Tezuka pushed him away.
"I'm not a big fan of you but that does not mean I want your brains splattered all over the road," Tezuka said coldly. "I heard you are causing trouble for Echizen and his family. When will you grow up?"
"Ah… so you still care?" Atobe said. He looked calm and cool even after a near death experience.
"I want to know why? The fire… it's a fraud right? What are you hiding?" Tezuka looked really angry.
"Oh well. Might as well tell you everything. It's because of Nanjiroh. We both worshipped him, right? But you… Tezuka, you idolized him… you want to be just like him… that's why you worked hard on your Tezuka Zone… and you've become a great tennis player and a also great captain… I could never defeat your Tezuka Zone… So I thought the only way I could defeat you is to learn the Zone from Nanjiroh himself," Atobe explained. He felt slightly better after getting it all out of his system.
"By blackmailing him," Tezuka added.
"No. I just thought of it in the hospital. The fire broke out because Nanjiroh was spying on Annabella," Atobe said. "I knew Annabella was at fault too but hey… she's my staff so I have to protect her, right? And Nanjiroh looked really stupid that day... so I thought I could make use of him."
"Annabella. Your cook?" Tezuka asked.
"Yes. I am glad no one was hurt in that fire. I only got hurt because I fell down the stairs while trying to run out," Atobe said and laugh. "You should see the look on my dad's face! He was so worried I would not be able to play tennis! HAHAHA!"
"So either Nanjiroh teach you the Zone or you'll send him to court to sue for damages?" Tezuka asked.
"I'm impressed, Tezuka. You are absolutely right… but it was all for nothing. That stupid old man refused to teach me," Atobe said.
"You don't need the Zone to defeat me, Atobe," Tezuka said, softly. "Try to defeat me with your Rondo towards destruction. I want to fight with the real Atobe. Not a desperate copycat."
Atobe looked at Tezuka. His words made him think. So Tezuka wants to fight with the real Atobe, ah? Atobe thought. He wants to fight with the real me. Tezuka... you are a truly great man.
"Since you owe me one, Atobe... I would like you to apologize to both Nanjiroh and Echizen and I want you to leave their house by the end of the day," Tezuka said. He helped Atobe to stand up. Atobe's left knee seemed fine now. Tezuka had save his life and so Atobe shall leave the Echizen's house.
"Okay. So we are both even now," Atobe said finally. Tezuka nodded and turned to leave. Atobe quickly grabbed Tezuka's hand.
"Thank you… for watching over me," Atobe said. Tezuka pulled his hand away.
"You should see a doctor," Tezuka said. "Get your knee checked again. Let me send you to the hospital."
Atobe nodded. They walked to the car together. Both of them were silent all the way to the hospital.
"That's a nice shirt," Nanjiroh said when Ryoma came out of his room. Ryoma was wearing a light blue Polo shirt and his hair is neatly combed. "Going on a date?"
"Don't be stupid," Ryoma answered as he walked away. He had made Sakuno upset a few days ago so he had agreed to go to the birthday party with her. So it will be a date… sort of. That's why he had dressed up... but his dad doesn't need to know that. He passed Atobe's room and spotted an unfamiliar figure inside. The figure stopped what he was doing and looked at Ryoma.
"The door is opened so I came in to collect young Master Atobe's stuff," the elderly man said.
"Ack! That brat is leaving??" Nanjiroh cried.
"Yes. The mansion is fully restored and Atobe can come home now," the loyal servant said. "Oh by the way, young Master Atobe asked me to pass this to you."
The loyal servant passed Nanjiroh a small blue package. "Thank you for taking care of our young master. I hope he had not been such a burden!"
"Ah, it's not a problem, really!!! HAHAHA!" Nanjiroh said and laughed. The servant finished packing Atobe's stuff.
"Thank you so much!" he said and walked away. Nanjiroh waited till he was gone and quickly opened up the package. It contained come expensive delicacies and a folded letter.
"Here, Ryoma. This letter must be for you and the food must be for me," Nanjroh said as he gobbled down the food. Ryoma looked at him disgusted. He took the letter and unfolded it.
"Thank you for everything," Ryoma read. " So he's really gone, huh?"
"Ah… what a relief!" Nanjiroh said as he gobbled down more food. Ryoma suddenly remembered his appointment. He'd better leave or he'll be late.
"I'm leaving," Ryoma said.
"Come back safely!" Nanjiroh shouted after him. Ryoma walked on. The guys are meeting at Kawamura's place. He wondered what Atobe was thinking, leaving so suddenly. Something is not right. Does it have something to do with Tezuka?
Ryoma reached Kawamura's place about 10 minutes late. He was surprised to see Tezuka all alone there.
"Everyone will be late," Tezuka said, his face as serious as always.
"Tezuka buchou!!" Ryoma said brightly. Tezuka gave him a stern look.
"So had Atobe left?" Tezuka asked.
"Eh, buchou knew about it too," Ryoma answered. " He got his servant to pack his stuff. I didn't see him today at all."
"That's good," Tezuka said. There was a long silence.
"Oi! Sorry we are late!" Oishi yelled. Ryoma saw that he was with Kikumaru, Inui and Fuji. The others were terribly late.
"You looked fine, Tezuka," Fuji said. "Long time no see."
"Oh? Ryoma is here too," Inui added. "We spotted Atobe and his fellowship at the tennis store down the road. He said he's back at his own mansion. You must be glad, Echizen."
"Ochibi is finally free!" Kikumaru yelled. "Oh yeah!"
"A lot of interesting things happened, huh?" Fuji said, amused. "I guess our conclusions were wrong, Inui."
"We thought Atobe had a hidden agenda," Inui explained. "Like he wanted to learn something from Nanjiroh just to defeat you. I guess my calculations were wrong. Atobe really stayed with Echizen because he have nowhere else to stay, I guess."
"Ah, we really do owe him an apology," Oishi said.
"Oh yeah! He may be arrogant but I don't think he's that bad!" Kikumaru said. "Anyway, he have a large fan club and everyone seemed to respect him a lot! He can't be a horrible person right?"
"Eh, Eiji… it's rare to hear you say such things!" Fuji said. Kikumaru laughed. Tezuka looked at them. He hadn't seen them in months and he's missed their amusing antics. Kaidoh and Momo came next followed by the three freshmen. Sakuno, Tomochan and Ann came last.
"You guys are all here! Come on in! Coach Ryuzaki is on her way now!" Kawamura said. Everyone entered the restaurant.
"Kawamura-senpai! This place looks lovely!" Tomochan cried.
The restaurant was decorated with blue, white and red balloons - the colour of the Seigaku school flag.
"I wanted it to be a special birthday for coach Ryuzaki!" Kawamura said.
"Grandma will love it!" Sakuno said happily. She was also happy because Ryoma had agreed to be her date that day. She looked at Ryoma who was busy staring at Momo and Ann.
"Eh, Momo-senpai brought a date," Ryoma said. Momo covered Ryoma's mouth.
"It's not like that, ECHIZEN!" Momo cried.
"Yup! We're on a date!" Ann said, smiling. She looked at Sakuno and winked. She knew that Sakuno and Ryoma were on a date too. Sakuno blushed.
"Ann-chan!" Momo cried. Everyone laughed. Ryoma laughed too. He stopped when he realized that Tezuka did not laugh. He saw that Tezuka looked disturbed.
"She's here, nyah!" Kikumaru cried when he saw Coach Ryuzaki walking towards the restaurant. Kawamura quickly turned off all the lights and everyone huddled together in the darkness. Coach Ryuzaki entered the dark restaurant.
"Ah, how come the restaurant is closed?" Coach Ryuzaki said. Kawamura turned on the lights.
"SURPRISED!" everyone yelled. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
"My, my. A surprise party! How lovely!" Coach Ryuzaki said, smiling widely. Sakuno ran to hug her grandmother. Oishi and Kawamura handed her the birthday gift that everyone had chipped in to buy.
"My, my! Thank you!" she said, hugging the gift happily.
"How old is she again? Did you get the correct number of candles?" Momo whispered to Kawamura.
"I've got everything under control!" Kawamura said. He brought out the huge pink cake. It contained too much candles too count.
"You came, Tezuka. What a great surprise," Coach Ryuzaki said as she sat down beside him.
"I missed home," Tezuka replied. "I missed the guys too."
"LET'S EAT!!!!" Kikumaru yelled as Kawamura brought out the dishes. Sakuno and Tomochan helped to serve the drinks.
"You seemed quiet today, Tezuka," Fuji said as he handed Tezuka his drink. "What are you thinking of? Atobe? Heh… I shall not say more. I guess you guys go way back."
"I'll be here for a week, Fuji," Tezuka said, changing the subject.
"Sounds great," Fuji answered. "Welcome back."
"Mmm," Tezuka said. They toasted. Tezuka felt right at home. He watched the rest of the guys clowning around. Momo and Kaidoh were arguing as usual and Kikumaru was eating as much as possible. It was a successful party. He'd never seen Coach Ryuzaki laughed so much.
Tezuka retreated to a corner and closed his eyes. He was glad to be back… but somehow the feeling of unease didn't go away. It is not over yet, Tezuka thought.
-------END----------
Yah! This is the ending! I hope you all liked it!!! I tried to give it a happy ending so I hope everyone is happy with how the story ends!