Author's Note: Hello Again. Thank you all so much for the support and encouragement. This chapter probably will be short again, but I'm trying to update more often. I had a lot of fun writing Atobe the last chapter, and yes, he was a bit OOC. I love him to death and I apologize to any Atobe fans who want to strangle me. So, on with the madness. Erm . . . story. On with the story.

Disclaimer: The pretty tennis boys are not, in fact, mine. They probably never will be.

Replaced

Chapter Four: Crazy/Beautiful

Summary: YAOI. When Atobe discovers that he and Ryoma share a mutual enemy in Fuji Syuusuke, will he finally see what's right in front of him?

Pairings: Ryoma/Atobe; referenced Fuji/Mizuki, Atobe/Tezuka, and Fuji/Tezuka

Ryoma was still asleep when Atobe awoke the next morning. Atobe smiled down at the younger boy. Sitting up, careful not to wake the sleeping boy, Atobe called for breakfast. The maid hurried off to get the meal and Atobe slouched back against the headboard. Ryoma stirred slightly, groaning a little before blinking his eyes open and looking up at Atobe. "Did I wake you?" Atobe asked, frowning a little. The black haired teen shook his head and slumped back against Atobe's chest, still rather tired.

"Ryoma?" Atobe prompted, shifting so that Ryoma was looking up at him. Ryoma groaned, he knew what Atobe was about to ask. "Hai?" he said grudgingly, tucking his head back against Atobe's shoulder. He felt pressure under his chin, and realized that Atobe was lifting it, forcing him to look up. Once Atobe was sure that the younger boy was looking at him, he spoke. "Ryoma-kun, what happened last night?" Giving a halfhearted glare, Ryoma once again tucked his head against the older boys shoulder. Atobe heard the younger boy mumble something unintelligible. "What?" Ryoma lifted his head up. "I said, I'll tell you later."

After the boys had eaten breakfast, Atobe led Ryoma outside to the gardens. The younger boy had followed with only minimal protest. It was late spring, and the ground was carpeted with the pink petals of Sakura blossoms. Atobe continued deep into the garden, until they came to a small pond. The older boy walked to the deck around the pond and flopped down on a section near the small waterfall. Ryoma followed, sitting down beside him. He was quickly pulled down by a pair of strong arms to lie beside Atobe. "Ryoma-kun?" Atobe questioned softly. Ryoma pouted for a few minutes, then sighed.

"Fine, Keigo. I'll tell you what happened."

Right now, thinking about what he had seen the previous night was the last thing he wanted to do, but he knew that Atobe wouldn't leave him alone until he did. He took a deep breath, and then began speaking in a flat monotone.

"Last night I was supposed to be going on a date with Syuusuke." He started.

Then he stopped. He couldn't speak, his throat was closing up. He could hardly breathe. He closed his eyes and buried his face against Atobe's chest. He lay there like that for what seemed like forever, Atobe's hand rubbing slow circles over his back. He took another deep breath and sat up.

"Last night I was supposed to be on a date with him. But he didn't show up. So I got on the bus and rode to his house, figuring I'd just meet him there. So I got there, and his sister said he was upstairs. I went up, I was seriously pissed that he stood me up and I was going to chew him out." Ryoma stopped again. His eyes were burning, his throat was closing up. No. I'm not going to cry in front of him. Not again. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes, determined to finish his story.

"But . . . but when I got up there . . . I opened the door . . . and he . . . he was . . . he was with Mizuki."

Atobe sat straight up at this. Why the hell was Fuji with Mizuki? Fuji loved Tezuka, didn't he? The thought that Tezuka loved Fuji registered somewhere in Atobe's head, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to care.

"Ryoma . . ."

Atobe couldn't find the words to say, didn't know where he could possibly begin. He didn't know why he cared so much either. Do I love him? Do I love Ryoma? He thought he had loved Tezuka. But now that didn't seem to matter. Maybe it had never mattered at all. Atobe looked down at the younger boy, who was again curled up against his chest.

He needs me. Tezuka doesn't need me, he never did. Tezuka was just somebody who had happened to be there.

Atobe realized it now. It had never been about Tezuka. It was just about needing someone,anyone, to be there. He just didn't want to be alone. But with Ryoma, it was different. He didn't know how or why, but it was. Maybe this was it. Maybe he was really in love with someone. Maybe it wasn't always about him. Maybe there was more to life than money and popularity. This was crazy, he was going insane, but for once, it was okay.

To be Continued in Chapter Five: Fragile as Glass