Mistaken – By RoyLover (AtoSae) Saeki's POV

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Prince of Tennis except Himeko - OC character

-Chapter 7-

Morning came in and I woke up on my own. After turning off my alarm clock so it wouldn't go off while I got ready, I quickly dressed up for work as always. Looking in the mirror, I practiced my smiles, making sure to seal the depression inside me. Seeing that it was time to go, I quickly grabbed the container of the ring and stuffed it in my jacket that I wore, closing the door behind me to the lonely, little home of mine.

The day was alright. Everyone seemed to believe that I was alright. I even forced myself to eat like usual even though I didn't felt like it. The most important thing now was them…my friends, family, and just those who I am acquaintances with. Atobe, I forced myself to think, was now the past, and now I had to focus on what's in front of me and after that. The only thing left to do was give this ring to its rightful owner…the one with green eyes as lovely as the emerald wielded on the ring.

"Saeki!" Bane called out right when I had left the building where I worked.

"Bane…David…Itsuki…Ryou? What are all of you doing here?" I asked, surprised to see them together all of a sudden.

"We got together to give you something, Saeki," Itsuki explained.

"Yeah…since you've been gloomy for so long now," David added.

"We all…made it…" Ryou said, looking casual as ever.

"Here." Bane reached into his pocket, searching for something.

"Bane, did you lose it?" David asked after some time.

"Shut up! I have it! It's here for sure!" He continued searching through his entire jean pockets.

"Bane, you idiot…" Ryou commented to himself quietly.

I smiled, enjoying my friends' company, and asked, teasingly, "So, you guys actually all got together to make me something?"

"It's cheap," Itsuki admitted.

"Itt-chan! Saeki, it's not cheap! We all put all of our hearts into it!" Bane exclaimed.

"It's still cheap," Itsuki admitted again.

"We cheat to make it cheap." David giggled his awkward laugh, but end up being kicked in the head by Bane.

"Stop the pun! No one's behaving like they're supposed to!" Bane complained.

"Well, if you haven't lost it…" Ryou said to Bane.

"I know!" David yelled.

"Why are we fighting?" Itsuki asked.

I couldn't help but giggle. How they acted right now reminded me of my unforgettable childhood life.

"AH! FOUND IT!" Bane said happily, ending the commotion. Then, from his pocket, he pulled out a woven bracelet with beautifully colored beads crafted on. Taking a closer look, I saw that each bead had their name engraved onto it permanently. "Here, Kojirou…from all of us," Bane said in a gentle voice, smiling, handing the woven bracelet to me.

I took it and wore it on my wrist, smiling so very happy. It was something I had never expected my friends would do. "Thank you…I-I can't thank you all enough. You all…made me really, really happy today." I opened my arms and hugged all of them at once, telling them, "I'm so happy to have such great friends like you all."

Afterward, they took me to a cafe, one they knew I would like, and to find out that they had Fuji and Yuuta there, too, with my mom, dad, and older sister with her husband waiting for me. This truly made me happy. I hadn't seen my family for so long, and because I was so happy, I ended up in tears right in front of everyone.

"Everyone…" I could barely said, the tremendous emotions inside of me just all coming out in tears with a wide, true smile on my face.

"Kojirou, I haven't seen you in so long! Why haven't you visited us?" my mom asked as she and dad hugged me.

"I'm sorry mom…I've just been…so busy," I explained, the tears still streaming down my face.

"Kojirou…" My sister smiled as she patted my head like she used to when I was younger…when we all were still together…me, my friends, and my family.

"Saeki…We're always here for you no matter what," Yuuta said with a smile, just watching me as I hugged my family.

When that was done and dinner was served and eaten, I kissed my family and hugged my friends a nice, happy farewell. Then, with Fuji, I walked home as the sun was setting from the sky. Today was a day that seemed to have saved me from the darkness. That joyful, happy moment…I knew I would never forget it.

"Syusuke, I thought you couldn't come visit me for some time," I told him.

"Ah, well, Bane called me and said he was doing something special for you with his friends. I might as well come, you know." Fuji continued to smile that same smile as he had always been.

"You're too sweet, Syusu-kun," I said, teasing a bit.

"Don't call me that…it sounds weird," Fuji replied.

"Why did Yuuta come?"

"Well, Bane said it was for you, so he came…even knowing that I was there."

"Gosh, Syusuke, haven't you made up with Yuuta yet?"

"No, he's too stubborn…to return my many sorrys."

"Heh, so like Yuuta…Even after these years, he still hasn't changed. I'm sure you two will make it up and become good brothers again. That's what I want from you two. You better make up with Yuuta, Syusuke."

"Ah, thanks for your support, and I'll make it up with Yuuta…somehow."

"That's my Syusu!"

"Oh, Kojirou, I told you to stop calling me that already."

"Heh, heh, heh…Hmm…"

"What is it, Koji?" Fuji asked.

"I…want to go see Keigo again," I told him forwardly, stopping in my steps.

"Want to?" Fuji asked kindly, right beside me.

Looking toward him, seeing his gentle smile with his eyes open, I smiled and replied, "Yeah…"

The moon had taken over the sky with the stars now. There I was, in front of the Atobe Residence, a huge mansion, Fuji accompanying me. Slowly, my hand reached for the doorbell and pressed it, hearing a ring from inside. After waiting patently for a while, a butler of Atobe's answered the door.

"Ah, Master Saeki. It's a pleasure to see you again for so long," he said.

"You don't need to address me like that anymore, remember?" I told him.

"Ah, yes, master Sae–er–I mean, Sir Saeki. Please, come in."

"Oh, you lived such a luxurious life when you were with him, didn't you?" Fuji asked me, still smiling the same smile as he walked in the house.

"Yeah…Although, he told me he would build a beautiful, small house at the place where he and I first…Wait, I can't tell you such things!" I hushed up quickly, trying to hold back my blush as I entered the familiar residence.

"Koji-kun, you're my best friend, right? Then you could tell me." Fuji giggled his all-too-well-known giggle.

"Well, it was a beautiful place with a blue sea as far as the eye can see! The field was filled with colorful flowers and soft, beautiful green grass with a big, nice, healthy-looking willow tree there. It was a place that just took my breath away…"

"And what's so special about the place? You and Atobe first…?"

I blushed. It was so weird talking about things I usually kept to myself instead of bragging about it. Then again, this wasn't something to brag about anyways. "It's where Keigo and I…first made love…And it all happened underneath the branches of the beautiful willow tree…"

"I bet that was full of passion, lusts, and pleasures," Fuji commented with a smile.

"SYUSUKE!" I complained, but then I giggled afterward. "I'm not going to talk to you about my past sex life…Not one bit," I told him, blushing bright red.

"Koji, you're so secretive."

"So! You are, too!"

"Really?" He giggled.

I sighed, but even so, the conversation was interesting, I admit.

"You sure had many happy moments with Atobe…"

I nodded. It was true. If I was with Keigo right now, I would've been happy…

"Sorry to interrupt your conversation, Sir Saeki, but I must tell you that Master Atobe and his wife had moved to Germany for some time now and aren't planning to come back anytime soon," the butler informed.

"Huh?" There was a jolt a pain in my heart. Knowing that I won't see Atobe for a long while…I didn't think I could last. After a couple of deep breaths, I grabbed the ring case in the pocket of my jacket and took the ring off my finger and placed it in its case. "Here, please send this to Himeko, then…"

"Ah, Sir Saeki…this will take about a week or two to get to them…is that okay?"

I nodded. As long as it got to Himeko, I was fine with it. "Oh, can I add a letter along with it as well?"

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Oh, chapter 7 done! Thanks for the reviews, everyone!

Ennov - I got to start typing that happy story of Atobe and Saeki. It might come after I finish Mistaken…I think.

LiTOSWTAZN - Don't worry, Atobe will suffer later in the story!

YurinaYamato - Wow, it brings up bitter flashbacks from your past? Well, this story is written with feelings I've experienced before (most of them), and I try my best to describe them in words, but, instead, it's through Saeki's view.

Well, I think there's only going to be around 13 chapters for Mistaken. That means this story's going to end soon! (Well, I didn't plan to make it a very long story…just a story that I could complete in a short period of time as in some months.) Please continue to R&R, everyone! It helps me, much!