Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis and its characters

Writer's Note: Sorry this took so long to write, but I needed to get sufficiently started on the third chapter before I actually post this so as not to be too inconsistent…Oh, and I'll like to thank everyone who left a review on the last chapter, I really appreciate you comments.

Eternal Love- Chapter 2

Atobe nodded silently at the doctor's words, and turned around to return to the room. Yet, he paused as he reached the door, filled with uncertainty on how to face this new Fuji. Fuji may not remember, but he did, and it was too painful, much too painful to look into those piercing blue eyes again, those eyes that brought back such tormenting memories. And yet, Atobe knew that he had no choice.

Summoning all the strength he had left in him, he forced himself to turn the doorknob and slowly push the door open, letting himself softly into the room before gently closing the door behind him.

The brown-haired man sitting on the bed looked up, his blue eyes piercingly questioning, and for a moment, Atobe thought that the doctor's words had been wrong and Fuji had regained his memory. Yet, the words that escaped the former tensai's mouth told him that he was wrong.

"So, who are you?"

All that Atobe could think of was how his voice remained the same; it was slightly husky due to his long period in coma, yet smooth, calm and soothing, as always. He stared at the other man without a word for a moment, before forcing himself to reply.

"Atobe…Atobe Keigo."

He paused.

"And you are Fuji Sysuuke

He added hesitantly, his voice soft and uncertain.

Fuji sensed his discomfort and merely nodded a silent "thank you" as he repeated the seemingly unfamiliar names to himself. He looked up with a smile after a moment and spoke, his tone friendly and cheerful, his face glowing with the calm innocence of a child.

"Do you mind if I call you Keigo?"

Atobe was stunned, for while he knew that Fuji had lost his memory, he could never have expected such a casual and sincere offer of friendship from the other man. He could only nod mutely and try his best to smile in return.

The hours soon passed, and for once, it flew by for Atobe, for he laughed for the first time in years as he spoke to Fuji about the city they were in and shared the other man's cheerful spirits, losing himself in the child-like innocence that he had lost so long ago. When visiting hours ended, he walked out of the door with a smile on his face and a sincere promise to come again the next day, a promise to both Fuji and himself.

That night, as Atobe laid alone in bed in his well-decorated yet cold and empty apartment, he could not help but remember the events of the evening; repeating the words again to himself.

"Keigo"

The word; his given name. It brought back such wonderful yet tormenting memories, for there was once a time when he had still enjoyed hearing the word and when he had loved the voice that uttered it so tenderly. He could still hear the voice in his dreams sometimes, but it was just yet another memory stored deep in his heart. It was no longer real, but merely a figment of his imagination.

He soon fell asleep with a smile on his lips, as he thought of the one that he had loved so much and so long ago. For it was for once that the sweetness of those memories outweighed the pain that came with them.

The next evening, after leaving his workplace at the usual time, he sat off as usual for the hospital. Yet, the routine and uniformity in his life seemed to be broken, for even though he still did everything according to schedule, for he felt for the first time in years.

For the first time since everything happened, Atobe was able to revisit the memories of the past without sinking into a period of uncontrollable pain and depression. It still hurt, of course, but at least he was able to feel something other the painful numbness that he had previously used to keep himself sane.

Stepping through the glass doors of the white building, he headed straight for Fuji's room, a tinge of anticipation in his heart.

Entering the silent, large room, he looked on, enchanted and speechless, at the serene sight of a beautiful young man drawing with deep concentration, his head bent over a sketchbook, clearly oblivious to all that was going on around him. Atobe stood silently at the door, afraid to disturb this enchanting moment that seemed almost sacred to him.

It was a long moment before Fuji finally looked up, his face serene and happy, a sparkle dancing in his eyes. He handed the sketch to Atobe without a word, a calm smile on his lips as he did so.

Atobe looked down hesitantly at the piece of paper he held, and what he saw nearly made him cry out. On the white sheet of paper, was a single rose, sketched out beautifully with a dark pencil, a single flawless rose lying against a background of pure, untainted white, which made it stood out even more.

It may be just a mere rose to anyone else, a worthless picture of a rose that could be easily removed with an eraser.

Yet, it meant so much to Atobe, for it brought back fond memories of the days when the one he loved would send roses to him along with his love and blessings. The contrast of black and white on the sheet made him remember the purity of their love, it surprised him, even now when he thought of it, how two people with such contrasting personalities could come to treasure each other so much.

Holding the piece of paper near to him, he felt that he could smell the scent of the roses in his mind, and silently thanked Fuji for reminding him of the beautiful memories.

Yet, even as he bathed in the past happiness, he was reminded of how fragile their relationship had been, it was just like the rose, it could be erased anytime, without leaving a trace…no, it had not just left a trace, it had left a permanent mark in his heart and soul, their relationship may have been fragile, but the love between them was certainly not.

Fuji seemed to have sensed that the other man was no longer with him, but lost in his own memories. He merely smiled to himself as he calmly waited for Atobe to return to the present.

Putting the piece of paper down after a long moment, Atobe looked into his companion's clear blue eyes without a word, the other man merely smiled sincerely into his eyes. The former tennis captain felt something snap in him, he suddenly moved forward and caught Fuji in a tight embrace, holding him close as if that will make up for the pain that he had once caused the tensai.

"Thank you" he whispered.

He was felt with guilt and sorrow as he spoke, for although Fuji did not know it, the tensai had given him so much.

"And yet", he thought bitterly, " I took away what meant most to him."

Fuji silently returned the embrace, unaware of the emotional turmoil that the other was experiencing. They held each other without a word for a long time, one was filled with the pain and regret of past events and sought to remove the hurt that he had once caused his companion while the other merely wanted to share the sorrow of the man that was his only friend in the world.

Visiting hours soon came to an end and Atobe knew it was time to go as he heard a gentle knock on the door. Gently releasing Fuji, he could not bring himself to look into those innocent and sympathetic eyes and fled the room without a word, his thoughts in disarray, pain and confusion in his eyes.

End Chapter Two

I guess this chapter wasn't very substantial, I think I wanted to portray the current relationship between them, but I'm not sure if I did it well. Anyway, you could interpret things as you wish…. and do review, I'll love to know what you think, comments and suggestions are greatly valued. I'll try to post chapter three soon, where they is actually more plot development than this chapter.