A/N: Wow, I seem to have forgotten to update this with the last chapter. Whoops. I can't say I'm really into this fandom (or anime) much anymore, but I thought I'd post this last bit just in case I left anyone hanging.

Enjoy!

ooo

The rest of the night passed without incident. The movie was funny, and the hot chocolate Atobe insisted on cut through the late night chill. We walked in silence for a good while, content with each other's presence. Only once both our cups were in the garbage and our bodies sufficiently warm did Atobe feel the need to speak.

"Oishi, why didn't you want to come up to the mountains with me?" His question was clear and frank, with no hint of a whine in his voice or manipulative gleam in his eyes. The honesty of both his words and body language made me want to return that honesty. Atobe -my friend Atobe- deserved that much.

"To tell the truth, I was a little bit afraid of you," I answered, smiling as Atobe's expression shifted to puzzlement. "You're this brand new person, yet you're already such a big part of my life. I like you a lot, and sometimes it scares me how much things have changed over such a short time. At one point I even got worried that you might be coming on to me," I continued, chuckling at the absurdity of such an idea, "but now I know I was overreacting. Like you said, friends should feel free to express themselves through gifts and," I tried my best not to blush, "bits of physical affection. I'm sorry I prejudged you after all you've done for me. I hope you can forgive me and continue being my friend despite this misunderstanding." Finishing my apologetic explanation with a short bow, I waited for a response.

I barely had time to blink before I was shoved roughly up against the wall.

"Oishi," Atobe growled, and suddenly he was all tongue and lips and teeth, kissing me hungrily before pulling back for a number of panting breaths. "What if I told you I'd been wanting to do that for a long time now? Told you that I wanted friendship to only be the beginning for us? What if," he drew closer, voice sinking to a hoarse whisper, "I told you that taking you away so I could have you all to myself was part of my plan from the start?" Atobe's eyes were alight with passion, mouth scant centimeters from mine.

"Well," I began, the words forming in my mouth before my brain could think through them, "I'd probably lean very close, and hope you'd kiss me again."

The stars laughed and twinkled overhead as Atobe obliged me.

ooo

With the impending trip weighing on my mind, it became hard to concentrate during school and tennis practice. If any of my teachers or classmates notices my fleeting attention, they were nice enough to keep it to themselves, or at least keep the gossip behind my back.

Taka-san was appointed temporary captain in my place, and all of the regulars were kind enough not to mention I was virtually abandoning them in their time of need. Momo-chan did jokingly inquire about the condition of my shoulder, but everyone else seemed strangely quiet on the subject of my sudden departure.

The day before I would head up to the mountains, Eiji insisted he walk with me home. We –or rather he- talked about math homework, toothpaste, and various other complaints he had in mind. Normally I would have found his behavior endearing, but watching him bounce around while I struggled with my books that he'd not once offered to help carry, I couldn't help but feel slightly put off.

It wasn't that Eiji was insensitive. He just lacked the maturity and finesse Atobe had been born with. Though I told myself not to compare my longtime partner with my newfound one, it was hard not to. How he never locked his eyes in a sensual gaze with mine, preferring to stare straight ahead, as if I wasn't there. The way my name was never a soft purr on his lips, just two syllables that never differed from the others. Returning home, I couldn't help but notice how inexperienced Eiji's sloppy goodbye kiss was in comparison to Atobe's well practiced caress. Waving goodbye through the gathering darkness, I wondered why I didn't feel the least bit guilty.

ooo

The trip to the mountains went by fairly quickly. Atobe wasn't a believer in prolonged road trips, as they took too long and didn't provide adequate comfort. Spending twelve hours in a cramped vehicle was no way to begin a vacation.

Instead, I found myself accompanying Atobe to a small airplane that I guessed to be his private jet. I felt like we were barely off the ground before the elderly captain announced our approaching descent. There was an equally short ride in a new SUV up the winding mountain roads.

Upon arriving, it occurred to me I hadn't seen Atobe's parents around anywhere.

"When will your parents be joining us?" I asked, busily unloading my suitcase from the trunk. Atobe chuckled, hoisting his bag and mine over his shoulder before depositing them in the arms of the driver to be carried up to the house.

"They aren't coming," he answered. " I thought we'd have more fun if it was just you," Atobe leaned close to capture my lips in a soft kiss, " and me. That way there's no chance of interruptions." Leaving me to turn his words over in my mind while the jumping in my stomach subsided, Atobe dismissed the driver. "Oishi and I can manage with the rest, thank you."

The cabin itself was relatively small compared to the grandeur I normally expected of Atobe. I could imagine his privacy-loving family would dislike the scant five room layout, given the mansions they were used to.

"Where do you think you're going?" Atobe asked as I carried my baggage past his room to the smaller one farther down the hall. Smiling flirtatiously, he inclined his head to the bed behind him. "Big enough for two."

"I uh… tend to kick when I sleep. A lot." Atobe's eyebrows raised, obviously fed up with my poorly crafted lies. "I'd much rather have my own room, if it's alright." Embarrassed by my sudden onslaught of shyness, I turned my eyes downwards, find the wood grain pattern to be quite interesting.

Atobe seemed to find this amusing ("So reserved. You're sure you're not Tezuka in disguise?") but agreed.

"Just try not be too loud when you get lonely and join me in the middle of the night," he said with a knowing wink. I tried to walk away as dignified as one can when blushing like the demure virgin I was, but found it difficult in the circumstances. I settled for laughing at Atobe's innuendo and my own shyness.

It felt good, laughing at myself, and even better when he closed the distance between us and began kissing me breathless.

"Oishi," he murmured softly, running his hand down my back, "come." Before I could ponder of the possible double meaning of his command, he had taken my hand in his and was leading me back to his bedroom. Giving me a gentle push to where the sheets had been parted expectantly, he followed my body's downward descent and came to rest on top.

Suddenly it was hard to breath, both from the added pressure of his body and the fact that his mouth was far too busy ravaging mine to allow oxygen to penetrate. The hand that wasn't pining my hands above my head began to roam downwards, stroking and caressing as it went. Realizing his intent, I attempted to pull away.

"Atobe, we can't, we shouldn't, I-" Silencing me with kiss, Atobe moved to work on the buttons of my shirt.

"It's 'Keigo', we can, and we should," he said after freeing his mouth from the tangle with mine. "We both want it." Atobe moved his hips against mine, punctuating his statement and causing a soft gasp to fall from my lips.

"Besides," abandoning his work on my shirt, Atobe moved to look at me with eyes full of sincerity. "Syuichiro, I love you," he whispered, pressing his lips to mine in a sweet, chaste kiss. Eyes shining with the love he'd just professed, Atobe drew away to receive my answer to the unspoken question.

"I love you too, Ato- Keigo." I answered, and was amazed to find I meant every word. We kissed again slowly, the wet friction sending a single shiver through my body.

"Please," I gasped as we paused for air. "Please, just-"

"As you wish, Syuichiro."

ooo

I woke to the feeling of someone shaking me. Opening my eyes, the blurry image in front of me slowly formed itself into Atobe's face. Smiling, I nuzzled his hand resting on my shoulder. To my surpise he withdrew it, averting his gaze from my puzzled one.

"Get your things together. We're leaving."

"Why? We just go here." Getting up, I moved towards Atobe, only to have him move away. He raised his hand, gesturing to the phone it held. Taking a deep breath, Atobe spoke.

"Your coach called. Tezuka's back."