A tall man walked confidently into the tiny shop, appearing unconcerned as the layers of dust brushed against his evidently expensive suit, his dark eyes studied the displays carefully, searching.
The shopkeeper approached, a tiny old man who wrinkled features that appeared as ancient as everything else in the tiny shop.
"Can I help you?"
He spoke slowly and waited patiently for an answer, a sharp contrast to the rapid pace of the world outside his tiny shop.
"I'll take a look around first."
The man answered smoothly, continuing his careful search as the old man bowed politely before returning to his stool at a corner.
He continued looking around, running his fingers gently over the intricate ornaments, admiring the elegant beauty that never diminishes with age. Finally, he found what he was looking for.
It was a small crystal ball, a tiny object that glowed a slight shade of pink when held against the light.
He picked it up carefully, enjoying the feel of the smooth, cooling surface against his skin, gently dusting off the layers of dirt that had covered it.
"You like that."
The old man spoke suddenly, a tiny smile on his face as he took in the sight before him, the picture of a man approaching thirty gently caressing the ball as a child would a precious toy.
He saw the answer when the man looked up in surprise.
"You can have it."
He offered.
"A young man not unlike yourself brought it in this morning. He insisted on leaving it behind. "
At his words, the man smiled, a tiny smile, slow and careful, joyful with a hint of sorrow that made it more touching to watch.
"Thank you. But I'll leave it here where it should belong."
He gently replaced the ball on the shelves before moving rapidly out of the shop.
He was late.
Ten minutes later, he walked into a tiny eatery, a modest restaurant filled with old world charm, as removed from the outside world as its owner, an elderly old woman with a strong country accent and washed apron tied around her plump waist.
"Fuji."
He called out even before he reached the table, recognizing the brown hair and slender figure the instance he entered the room.
The man turned around slowly, joy in the blue eyes.
"You came."
There was a hint of surprise in his voice as he stood up slowly and unsteadily.
They had both rehearsed so long for this moment, but when it came, all the memorised lines were forgotten, the script dumped conveniently into the crackling fire that burned merrily at the old fireplace.
They moved slowly towards each other, meeting in a strong embrace at midway.
"I love you."
Atobe spoke the words slowly.
It was a confession that was three years overdue.
They had made an agreement then, at the airport, to spend three years apart, forgetting the past and deciding if they were truly in love. The meeting place was the old street in London, the place where they had found the tiny crystal ball.
There could hardly be a more appropriate location.
Over the last three years, while pondering over their relationship, Atobe had came to the realisation that this was the place his feelings for Fuji had gone beyond merely a sense of duty towards Tezuka.
It all took place in that tiny antique shop, he remembered the exact moment clearly, the smile on Fuji's face when he had first saw the tiny crystal ball, that pure and untainted pleasure on his face, and he knew then that he wanted to protect that smile forever. It was the reason he had bought the crystal ball for Fuji, to keep that beautiful smile, the innocent joy in the delicate features, the joy that he feared would one day be gone forever.
He knew at that moment that he loved Fuji.
He had always denied it, even to himself, both out of loyalty to Tezuka and out of fear that he would bring Fuji greater suffering one day. But he knew now, after three years of longing, that the man before him was the one he loved, Tezuka was part of the past, the one he now cared for truly was Fuji Syusuke.
The crystal ball had fulfilled its purpose. Atobe swore to replace it, to personally ensure that the stunning smile will always be present.
"I love you."
He repeated again, more urgently this time.
"I know."
Fuji's response was surprisingly confident.
Atobe looked into the deep blue eyes, uncomprehending for a moment.
"You came."
The reply was clear and simple, the joy in the blue eyes evident.
Bursting into laughter, they hugged each other closer, the years of longing and grieving forgotten as the only thing that mattered now was their love, the love that would go on for eternity.
Writer's Note:
Finally, it ended. I'm sorry I took such a long break in between, but to hopefully make up for that I've put up chapters 14-end all at the same time, which six chapters.
Thanks for reading and I really appreciate all the feedback and comments that I've received. I hope you enjoyed the whole story. Thanks once more!