Author's Notes (1): No real hard Japanese words used.

Author's Notes (2): This happens about years later, when all the boys we know and love have all grown up. So it'll be a bit OC, I believe.

Author's Notes (3): To not give away the story here, please look at the end author's notes to know where and who some of the people I mentioned are.

Author's Notes (4): I hope that I did well with this final part. Hope you like it!

Title: What Atobe Felt: Emotions

Atobe looked down at the small bundle in his arms with cautious fascination.

The small bundle wrapped in a cheery baby blue blanket patterned with yellow ducks looked aback at him with equal fascination. The huge brown eyes looked back at him with wonder.

Tentatively, he lifted a hand and used his index finger to stroke the soft cheek of the baby and the baby looked at Atobe more fiercely then scrunched his nose and sneezed… several times.

Atobe grimaced as he yanked his face away. He looked at Tezuka in askance as he wiped baby spittle off his face with his hand. "Unlike his sister, your son has failed to appreciate ore-sama's attentions."

Tezuka sighed as he gingerly took his son away from Atobe as he nodded towards the baby towels. "Perhaps it's the cologne you wear."

Outraged, Atobe glared at Tezuka as he grabbed a baby towel and started wiping his face. "Ore-sama will have you know that the cologne that ore-sama wears is three hundred American dollars an ounce!"

"The price only makes it an expensive sneezing powder for Kunihiro," Tezuka said as he tickled the chin of his son. "Isn't that right, Kunihiro?"

Kunihiro looked up at his father and made an attempt to grab the finger. There was an aura of approval when the baby finally caught it on the second try and gripped hard on the finger. "He has a strong grip."

"Allow ore-sama to test it," Atobe said as he cautiously came by Tezuka and traded Tezuka's finger with his. His eyebrow lifted with approval. "He'll have a strong grip on his racket, ah, Tezuka?"

"I think he will," Tezuka chuckled as he held his son. He looked at Atobe who was wiggling his finger around, testing Kunihiro's grip. With not a small amount of caution, he held out his son. "Here, watch over Kunihiro. I want to see if Mitsuki is comfortable."

"If ore-sama must," Atobe said with a sigh as he gingerly took Kunihiro into his arms again and turned his back to Tezuka. The moment he was sure that Tezuka could not see him, Atobe twisted his face and stuck his tongue out at Kunihiro while wiggling his finger. Through half-closed eyes, Atobe could see that Kunihiro looked up at in wondrous fascination while maintaining his grip.

Atobe smiled with pleasure at Kunihiro as he allowed his scrunched face to go back to normal. "Ore-sama sees that you have the concentration of your father, Kunihiro. This pleases ore-sama, indeed it does. Ore-sama will have to get you a tennis racket soon, so that you may challenge your father as soon as you can." He smiled at Kunihiro as he opened his mouth to let out a mighty yawn. "Oh, that thought bores you? Ore-sama thought it might- then you may challenge ore-sama any time that you wish. Ore-sama will make time for you and make sure that you are worthy to be known as ore-sama's godson. Yes, ore-sama will."

Shaking his head at Atobe's ridiculous comments, Tezuka walked over to the large white crib to see if his daughter was still asleep. He moved away the colorful mobile of bears and lions sleeping on stars. Amidst the variety of bears, dragons, ducks and dolls, lay a small figure, sleeping peacefully. His eyes softened as he looked at her sleeping form, covered by a pink blanket with green bears dancing along the edges.

Tezuka's lips quirked a smile as the translucent hairs of her eyebrows knitted and small cupids bow mouth formed a slight frown, as if she were thinking of something troubling. He gently straightened the blanket as he patted her belly. "And what is so serious that has you frowning, Mitsuki?"

Walking towards the crib, Atobe looked over at the sleeping Mitsuki and lifted an eyebrow. "Your daughter is quite serious as she sleeps, ah, Tezuka. Ore-sama must think that there must be an instrument that will make her smile as she sleeps. Ore-sama does not wish for his goddaughter to look older than she actually is." He frowned as he thought of something. "Nor does ore-sama wish Mitsuki to have the robotic facial motions of her father."

"Leave my daughter alone, Atobe," Tezuka said as he cast an irritated glance at Atobe. "She's perfect the way she is."

"Ore-sama agrees with that," Atobe said as he looked at Tezuka. "But ore-sama is only thinking about her future. Ore-sama will make sure that Mitsuki will not look as her father did when he was in school and ore-sama will make sure that she will have the necessary protection she needs when she does go to school. Ah, Kunihiro?"

Tezuka lifted an eyebrow at Atobe. "What necessary protection? You think that I cannot protect my own children?"

"Really, Tezuka, their birthing process must have addled your wits," Atobe sniffed as he looked at Tezuka. "But you have nothing to fear, ore-sama will cover this for you. Ore-sama will find and hire the most able bodyguards to keep the unruly and hormone-infected boys away from the great beauty Mitsuki will be."

Tezuka stared at Atobe as the former diva of Hyotei went on. "They will most likely be young monks of great abilities, of course."

Tezuka could feel his eyebrow twitching, whether it was from amusement or annoyance, even he couldn't tell. "Atobe-"

"Ore-sama supposes that he should start finding ones of a comparable age right now."

"Atobe-"

"Ore-sama's secretaries should be able to locate most of the temples in Japan that still take in and train young students."

"Atobe-"

"But then why should ore-sama limit it to only Japan. Perhaps there should be a world-wide search and contest, just to see which monk is the best of them all."

"Atobe, you don't have to-"

"Ore-sama knows that he does not have to, ore-sama wants to," Atobe said as he broke from his train of thought and gave Tezuka a nod of assurance and satisfaction. "And you will have no need to thank me- ore-sama does this because he is aware of his duty as their godfather."

Looking up at the ceiling, Tezuka sighed as he crossed his arms. "And will these young monks be male?"

"Of course these monks shall be male. Are you sure your wits are still about you, Tezuka? Did you hit your head on something in the birthing room?" Atobe frowned.

Tezuka manfully resisted the urge to laugh. "My wits are fine, Atobe. I'm just trying to get this plan of yours straight. So you want young monks to protect my daughter from unruly, hormone-infested boys, correct?"

"That is correct," Atobe said then frowned when Tezuka shook his head. "And what is wrong with the plan? And why are you looking at the ceiling, ah, Tezuka?"

Tezuka looked down from the ceiling and quirked an eyebrow. "Isn't that like the foxhound guarding the chicken house, Atobe?"

"What do you mean, ah? Atobe frowned quizzically.

"Maybe you were the one that addled your own wits with that expensive sneezing cologne you wear," Tezuka said as he looked at Atobe. "You're usually not this slow. Think about it, Atobe."

Atobe frowned then his eyes widened comically in horror. "That will not do for ore-sama's goddaughter!"

"Glad that you agree with me on that, Atobe," Tezuka commented dryly. "Now give me my son-"

Ignoring Tezuka's order, Atobe started pacing around with Kunihiro as he thought of the dilemma. "Ore-sama will not use just any monk to guard your sister, Kunihiro. Ore-sama will find a temple that makes eunuchs out of their crop of young and able monks-"

"That's enough, Atobe, you're talking like Ibu Shinji," Tezuka interrupted as he stepped in front of Atobe and reached over for his son. "If you're going to be like that, go over there so I can put Kunihiro down for his afternoon nap."

Highly insulted, Atobe glared at Tezuka. "There is hardly a need to insult ore-sama while ore-sama addresses this problem."

With the corner of his glasses glinting in the light, Tezuka looked Atobe as he took his son. "I see no problem- any unworthy male that comes near my daughter will simply not be allowed to live."

Crossing his arms, Atobe frowned as he thought about it. "Ore-sama supposes that ore-sama could be able to hire someone to hide the body on one of ore-sama's many estates. Or perhaps ore-sama could arrange for the unfortunate one an unexpected trip to the South Pole-"

"You're talking like Ibu again, Atobe," Tezuka said. "Go over there if you're going to mutter to yourself, I'm trying to get Kunihiro to sleep."

Atobe gave Tezuka a long suffering look. "Again with the insults, you should be nicer to your children's godfather, Tezuka." He ignored the snort. "Anyway, ore-sama will consider this subject later for the sake of his godchildren." He gave the boy a mock glare. "And you, Kunihiro-chan, you will not sneeze upon your godfather's person again, is that clear? Ore-sama demands that you obey him."

In Tezuka's arms, Kunihiro looked at Atobe then sneezed again. Tezuka looked at the affronted Atobe. "And that, I believe, is Kunihiro's answer to your demand."

Atobe sniffed at Tezuka. "And that shows how much respect he has for ore-sama's brilliance. At least your daughter is more appreciative towards ore-sama." He watched as Tezuka put Kunihiro down next to his sleeping sister. He straightened the pink blanket and patted the baby girl's tummy. "You really are appreciative of your godfather, ah, Mitsuki? Don't worry, ore-sama will find a way to protect you from those unruly boys."

"Atobe, if you wake up my daughter, there will be hell to pay," Tezuka warned as he gently patted his son's back. "Go do something else."

"Only for their sake will ore-sama look around this room and see what is lacking in ore-sama's godchildren's education," Atobe sniffed as he turned around to look at the children's room.

Atobe's sharp and critical eyes looked over the white bookcase that was filled with books written by experts on parenting and children's storybooks of every type. The walls were decorated with the images of ducks, bunnies and bears, all dancing in a circle. He supposed that there were animals on the wall because Tezuka's wife insisted upon the animals. Had it been up to him, the walls would have held the images of the most influential tennis players and a giant picture of his esteemed self to remind them that their godfather was watching over them.

Shrugging mentally, he supposed that there was enough time to train the children properly. At least the colors of the animals were contrasted enough to stimulate their brainwaves. He looked up at the ceiling, which was decorated with glow-in-the dark stars and planets and smiled slightly, knowing that Kunihiro and Mitsuki would dream about the stars and wonder on how to reach them.

Atobe walked over to the changing table and saw that it was well supplied with diapers, wipes, lotions and powder. Tiny towels and undergarments lay neatly folded on the side, ready at a moment's notice. The white armoire was closed, but Atobe was well aware that it was filled with the clothing most appropriate for his godchildren. After all, he approved of the filling of it.

And all over the room, stuffed animals and unopened toys of every kind filled every nook and cranny. Atobe smiled at the huge stuffed blue bear that Kikumaru sent then shook his head at the unopened miniature kitchen set that Kawamura had given. He quirked an eyebrow at the small chemistry set that Inui had sent over, with a note that it was not to be opened until he was present. One by one, Atobe absently looked at the boxes then stiffened as his eyes focused on one particularly large, boxed gift, one that contained many small pieces. "What is this doing here?"

"Shh!" Tezuka hissed as he glared at Atobe. "He's starting to sleep!"

His mouth in a straight line, Atobe glared at Tezuka briefly before he grabbed the huge box and started to drag the bulky toy out of the room. He was halfway out with it when he heard.

"Atobe! What on earth are you doing?"

Stopping, Atobe looked up to glare at Tezuka's wife and hissed at her, "Hush! Mitsuki is asleep and Kunihiro's trying to sleep!"

Then he proceeded to drag the toy out into the hall with Tezuka Miyuki watching him impatiently. When he was done, he glared at her. "What is this thing doing in the children's room?"

"It's their gift and it belongs in there," Miyuki said as she crossed her arms and glared at the helpful nuisance known as Atobe Keigo. She supposed that she should be amused that her husband's oldest rival and friend was on the constant look out for her children's interest, but there were times when he took his over-protectiveness beyond the stratosphere.

When she was carrying, she could swear that sometimes that Atobe was worse than her brother and husband combined. Then when it was announced that she was having twins- there was no stopping the prima donna, he all but demanded that he be in charge of their well being. The way that he acted, one could have sworn that Atobe was the expectant father and not Kunimitsu. "Go and put it back."

"It has small pieces!" Atobe glared back. "They could swallow the pieces and hurt themselves with it!"

"That child-safe play set was unopened, Atobe," Tezuka said in a quiet voice as he walked out of the children's room and shut the door. "And it will be, like Inui's chemistry set, moved later to another room."

Somewhat mollified, Atobe looked at Tezuka and nodded arrogantly. "Ore-sama supposes that is an acceptable excuse." He looked at Tezuka. "You will move it soon for ore-sama does not wish to see his godchildren hurt."

"Who in the world said that they were your godchildren?" Miyuki demanded as she scowled at him.

Atobe looked down at Tezuka's wife. Her dark eyes were flashing as she glared at him. "Ore-sama has declared it."

Outraged, Miyuki scowled at him. "You can't just declare yourself as their godfather!"

"Ore-sama most certainly can!"

"Voices! Kunihiro and Mitsuki are asleep!" Tezuka growled in a low voice as he glared at Atobe and his wife.

"You can't!" Miyuki argued in a low voice. "We haven't decided on whom to ask yet!"

"There is no need to decide, ore-sama will be their god-father," Atobe said in a low voice as well.

Desperate, Miyuki glared at Atobe. "You can't do that- we have a list on what type of god-father would be best for them!"

"A list?" Atobe sniffed as he crossed his arms. "How very droll."

Before Miyuki could sputter a response, Atobe tilted his head consideringly. "One must assume that you want the best for Kunihiro and Mitsuki, ah?"

"Well, of course I do," Miyuki sputtered as she glanced at her husband who only shrugged. "What parent wouldn't?"

"Then we are agreed," Atobe said with a nod. "Ore-sama will become Kunihiro and Mistuki's godfather. And ore-sama's first duty will be to find a temple that trains eunuch monks and then tennis rackets for the twins to use."

Miyuki stared at him. "Excuse me? What are you talking about? What do you need eunuch monks-"

Tezuka laid a hand on his confused wife's shoulder. "Best not to go there."

Heeding her husband's advice, Miyuki nodded. "Fine, won't go there- but I still don't get the Logic of Atobe as to why-"

Atobe sighed heavily. "It is because no matter what list you have, ore-sama is simply the best and none can compare to ore-sama's perfection."

"How the hell did your ego fit into this house?" Miyuki demanded after a moment. "You are not perfect!"

Affronted, Atobe looked at her. "Ore-sama is as close to perfection as could be!"

"You're both getting louder," Tezuka warned then winced as he heard a cry coming from the nursery. He glared at the two combatants. "Keep it down!"

Atobe and Miyuki glared at each other as Tezuka went back into the nursery.

"You are not perfect!"

"Of course, ore-sama is! Can you name another person who is perfect, ah?"

As Miyuki started to sputter at him without words, Atobe lifted an eyebrow. "Ore-sama thought you could not so therefore ore-sama is as perfect as a human you can find."

Tezuka stuck his head out of the nursery, holding a crying Mitsuki in his arms and scowled at the two. "You two woke up Mitsuki and you're still loud."

"Ah, sorry about the noise Mitsuki-chan," Atobe said as he immediately claimed Tezuka's daughter before her mother could. "Uncle Keigo apologizes for your mother's loud voice, little one. She's having difficulty accepting ore-sama's perfection."

"What?" Miyuki cried as she stared at Atobe incredulously as he rocked her daughter in his arms.

"You two are still loud," Tezuka frowned. "If the two of you wake Kunihiro-"

Miyuki ignored her husband as she hissed, "I am not having- wait! I mean, I'm having trouble believing that you think that you're perfect!"

Ignoring Tezuka's wife, Atobe continued. "And it seems that she does not want the best for you, little one."

"Atobe, stop baiting my wife," Tezuka said at the same time Miyuki's jaw dropped.

"Excuse me? How dare you say that!"

"However, she shall over come her disbeliefs since ore-sama is the best, it is by consequence ore-sama will be the godfather to you and Kunihiro and not some imperfect person. Ah, Mitsuki?"

"What?" Miyuki practically screeched.

"Ano- Miyuki-chan? The timer for disinfecting the bottles just rang," called out a voice. "Should I take them out?"

Seizing the opportunity to stop his wife and his friend from arguing, Tezuka looked at his wife. "I think that you should help Sakuno-chan before she tries to do everything herself." He looked at Atobe. "And you should stop arguing with my wife before you wake up Kunihiro."

Shooting an annoyed looked at Atobe before frowning at her husband, Miyuki sniffed before she flounced out. "Fine- but he's not going to be the godfather of any child we have unless he apologizes about my brother being a bad choice, anata!"

"Understood," Tezuka said with a nod. He turned to look at Atobe, who had frozen imperceptibly at the sound of Sakuno's voice. "Atobe? Atobe?"

Atobe straightened as he looked at Tezuka accusingly. "You never said that Sakuno-chan was coming here today."

"I didn't know that she was going be here," Tezuka said shortly as he took his daughter from Atobe's arms. "If I did, I would have told you, Atobe."

Bereft of anything to do, Atobe folded his arms and nodded curtly. He so badly wanted to ask how she was but somehow his mouth just couldn't get around to the words. "So how- how-"

"She's doing all right, Atobe," Tezuka said quietly after seeing Atobe struggle with the questions he wanted to ask. "She's gotten better. She's gotten feeling back in her legs- she can walk and doesn't really need to use the wheelchair anymore. She uses a cane now- and that might be gone in a year." He gave a small smile filled with pride. "She's making Sanada, Oishi and sensei crazy because she's really determined to walk."

"That's good," Atobe said with a nod. "That's good to hear."

Tezuka hesitated as he looked at his friend. "It wasn't your fault, Atobe. It was that crazy fan's fault- shooting at you, Echizen and Sakuno, everyone. It was his fault, not yours."

"That crazy fan was trying to hurt me, Tezuka," Atobe snapped as he looked at Tezuka with anguished eyes. "Do you know how it feels? To know that there are two people dead because of me? To know that Sakuno… that she and Echizen got caught in the crossfire… Because some nut couldn't aim right?"

"Atobe, no one blames you for it. She doesn't blame you for it," Tezuka said softly. "And neither does Echizen. He's still playing tennis."

"But not to the point of where he once was," Atobe said as he gripped the crib guard. "He was on the verge of his sixth Grand Slam when it happened."

"And he's making a comeback, Atobe, the best one that there's ever been," Tezuka said as he crossed his arms. "You've seen him- hell, you've made sure that he's got the best doctors to help through it. Just like you hired the best for Sakuno. You've done a lot for her."

"It isn't enough," Atobe said with fervor as he looked at the sleeping babies. "It'll never be enough… not for me. I could never give her- she deserves more, much more."

Something in the tone of his friend's voice made Tezuka look closely at his friend. "Atobe… I never knew- you're in love with her, aren't you?"

Atobe stiffened immediately. "Of course not! Why would ore-sama be in love with her? She's merely a person that ore-sama feels responsible for! Why would ore-sama be in love with her?"

At Tezuka's silent look, Atobe started to get angry. "She's not a model, heiress or even part of the aristocracy. She's only a home economics teacher at a second rate school. And she doesn't even play tennis that well! Why should I be interested in a girl who can't even play a decent game with me? Plus, she's not aggressive and has no idea how defend herself and falls over her own feet most of the time."

"I don't know; after all that, why would you be in love with her?" Tezuka countered. "Like you said, she doesn't have the pedigree you insist on, she doesn't have the wealth and she doesn't have the proper independent attitude you like. You're right, she doesn't suit you at all."

"I know that she doesn't!" Atobe snapped as he glared at Tezuka. He was about to snap back when something in the other man's eyes made him stop. "I know that- I've known that, Tezuka. I've known that since I was fourteen years old."

Startled, Tezuka stared at him. "You've known that you were in love with her since you were fourteen?"

"I don't know. I believe that was when I started," Atobe laughed mirthlessly. "But I've always known how I felt when I was around her…I was quite confused… and always pissed off at Echizen for being near her. Not that she ever knew I was confused and pissed off. How could she? We were in different schools and had different lives. But I always lived for those matches against Seigaku, the chance to play against you, then it became just a chance to see her."

"Not that she ever really looked at me. You remember how she was back then. She was so into Echizen- and he was so into her."

"So what happened when she broke up with him?" Tezuka asked, fascinated by the diva's confession. "You were in the tennis circuit- you knew that they broke up. You could have asked her out."

"Chalk that one up to really bad timing," Atobe said with an unhappy smile. "She broke up and I just got engaged through an arrangement made by my grandparents."

Tezuka frowned. "But that engagement lasted only about two months."

"It was long enough for her to become involved with Sengoku," Atobe said as he looked at his hands. "It's funny- I could cut down people with just a glance, flick off their words without a thought, snap my fingers and make them coming running. I can manage a huge conglomerate and I can beat the world's best tennis players, I can have the most beautiful women in the world at my beck and call but I can't make one slip of a girl look at me the way I want her to because I don't know how. So what do you call that?"

"I call it you being an idiot," Tezuka said shortly.

Atobe frowned. "Oer-sama bears his heart out to you like this and you call ore-sama an idiot? You can't call say something else?"

"All right," Tezuka said shortly. "You're a dolt."

"Will you ore-sama of telling him why you think that he is a dolt?" Atobe asked through clenched teeth.

"Because you're so settled with just being the spectator in her life that you don't realize you have a chance here," Tezuka said shortly. "Life has just thrown you the best lob you can find- and you're not using your Rondo against it."

Atobe looked at Tezuka warily. "The birthing room has definitely made you lose your sense, Tezuka. You're starting to mix-up life with tennis."

"Because I'm talking to a monkey brain who only understands tennis," Tezuka said shortly. "If someone hits a lob in the air, what did you do?" Atobe stared at him. "Atobe, what did you do?"

Deciding to humor the man, Atobe answered. "I blew the racket away, making it impossible for the person to defend himself for the second half."

"Yes, you did," Tezuka nodded. "So what are you doing now you that have the best set-up that you could find?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Atobe demanded. "You're confusing ore-sama with your mixed metaphors."

"Do you really run that huge conglomerate or are you just a figurehead?" Tezuka demanded. He ignored Atobe's sputtering as he continued. "I'm talking about Sakuno- she's there near you. She depends on you- she's relying on you and your team of doctors and what-its to help her get better, and you're sitting on your ass and content to be on the sidelines of her life again."

"I don't want her to depend on me like that," Atobe sputtered. "I want her to love me."

Tezuka put his hand up to cover his eyes. "I can't believe that I'm going to be giving you advice on your love life."

"Who asked you to?" Atobe demanded irately. "Ore-sama doesn't need your help."

"Yes, you do," Tezuka snapped back. When Atobe looked at him mulishly, he snapped, "Out of all the adults in this room which one of us is married and happy?"

"Neither," Atobe smirked as he crossed his arms. "You're married but you're not happy right at this moment."

"That's because I'm with you, you idiot." Tezuka snapped back. Regaining control of his temper, he tried again. "She isn't going to love you if she doesn't see you, Atobe. We had how many games a year when we were in junior high and high school? Once or twice a year? That makes her seeing you about twelve times at most. How many times have you seen her since she was hospitalized? Six, seven times? How about after she started her physical therapy with Oishi and Sanada? Three, four? You're still a stranger to her, you idiot! Why should she fall in love with you?"

"I'm not a stranger." Atobe pouted. "I've known her since she was twelve."

Tezuka glared at him. "And what do you know about her?"

"I know everything, I know she likes strawberries and chocolate cake," Atobe said as he counted on his fingers. "She doesn't like to eat alone and loves to cook for people. She likes dramas but loves love-comedies and hates horror and suspense. She loved animals, the cat being her favorite. She-"

"And how much of that information did you find out from her lips and not through some report from some person you assigned to her?" Tezuka demanded, ignoring the black look that Atobe gave him.

"What's your point?" Atobe demanded.

"My point is that if you want her to really fall in love with you, you're going to have to get her to notice you," Tezuka said impatiently. "You can't wait for her to come to you, because she won't. She'll do what she always does- not see you if you don't fall into her line of sight, Atobe. It's just like when we're playing tennis, Atobe, for that game, nothing matters except that opponent in front of you."

Tezuka sighed. "And if you don't take this chance, there might not be another one."

"What are you talking about?" Atobe demanded with a frown.

"I heard from Oishi that Yukimura, who's been visiting Sanada, was very interested in Sakuno," Tezuka said as he watched Atobe stiffen. "And that Echizen will be coming to visit her in about two months. Just to see how she's doing."

"Echizen? What's wrong with him visiting her?" Atobe asked with a furled brow.

"You don't know Echizen, do you?" Tezuka said with a ghost of a smile. "There are only four reasons that Echizen only comes to Japan for: to see his family, to visit his cat's grave, to eat Japanese food and to make Sakuno fall in love with him again. I'm going to see what Miyuki and Sakuno are up to. You can stay here if you want, if you don't come down, I won't let Sakuno know that you're here."

"Why are you helping me and not Echizen?" Atobe demanded as he looked at Tezuka. "He was your kohai and she loves him."

"Of course she loves him, he was her first love and she'll always see him like that, but even she doesn't know if she's in love with him or if she simply just loves him because they've known each other for so long," Tezuka said quietly. "Sakuno deserves better and so does Echizen. And you deserve to be more than just a spectator in her life if you're really in love with her."

When the door closed, Atobe remained silent. He watched the babies as they peacefully slept, unaware of the turmoil going through their godfather's mind.

"My point is that if you want her to really fall in love with you, you're going to have to get her to notice you."

"You can't wait for her to come to you, because she won't."

"There are only four reasons that Echizen only comes to Japan for: to see his family, to visit his cat's grave, to eat Japanese food and to make Sakuno fall in love with him again."

"She isn't going to love you if she doesn't see you, Atobe."

Atobe scowled as he gripped the babies' crib. "You know, Kunihiro, Mitsuki, ore-sama believes that your father is truly annoying. Rest assured that your godfather will make sure that you will not become like him."

He bent over to kiss each baby's soft cheek. "Sleep well, my poppets. I must go and court a little princess." He paused at the door. "I make this promise to you- by the time you can walk, I will have her as my bride."

A few seconds later, Atobe popped his had back in. "Just make sure that you don't lose the rings, ah, Kunihiro? And you'll just be the most beautiful flower girl, Mitsuki."

As the footsteps faded, the babies slept in their blissful sleep of the innocent.

"Ah? Tezuka- the children are still asleep. Ah, Sakuno-chan? Ore-sama didn't know that you were here!"

Author's Notes (4): In the manga (to be specific, he's first seen in Genius 236), Senri Chitose is a former teammate of Kippei Tachibana's before Tachibana moved to Tokyo and joined Fudomine. Miyuki Chitose is his younger sister who met Tezuka while he was recuperating in Genius 282. (In the story arch, she was the girl that helped Tezuka get over his case of yips.)

Also, I don't there will be a sequel to this. It was just exhausting to write about it. Plus I'm still working on my "Ripple in the Ocean" fic.