A/N: I love Atobe. Really I do. And I torture him because I care.
Always Tomorrow
Day Three
Maybe a day to cool off would be good. Atobe Keigo didn't often do that. He was always thinking, always working on things…and he still wanted Tezuka Kunimitsu to be his own. But either way…a calming day might help. And then, he'd be back in the game and ready to win the object of his affections over.
"I will have you…Tezuka Kunimitsu," Hyoutei's captain said aloud as he walked, for once leaving the 'Ore-sama' out and replacing it with 'I.' Tezuka seemed to have that affect on him ever since he told him to use 'I' instead. Wait for me.
The rest of the walk, he made his way through downtown Tokyo in silence. It was a rather warm day for the season, so he didn't really mind walking. And he once again didn't even have Kabaji on his tail, obeying his every word; a bit of a shocker for the elegant one…but it was easier to think that way, nonetheless.
If his mind slowed down in time, he had planned to pay his favorite Seigaku player a visit later on and give it another try.
Being such a peaceful day, he was actually finding himself feeling better about everything. If not today, he would be able to visit his rival tomorrow and clear everything up. Then he'd have another chance at winning over the man who could not be read.
Atobe Keigo-sama was definitely not really used to 'chasing' after others. And he didn't realize that he had feelings for the other team's captain until he felt himself craving, over and over again, for a rematch with him. They had been rivals for a while…and always were unable to remain 'perfect.'
After Tezuka had injured his shoulder, Atobe felt…empty. He felt like something was torn violently from him; something vital to life.
It was then that Atobe Keigo realized that Tezuka Kunimitsu had become…an addiction. He lived on playing against the other. He strived to be better than him in everything. There was no one else in the world that mattered more to the narcissist than the unreadable man. And when they played against each other at the Kantou Tournament, everyone might have thought that Atobe only meant respect and friendship when he lifted up both his and Tezuka's arms instead of shaking hands…but that wasn't entirely true. Tezuka was everything. Tezuka was the only person that Atobe Keigo held such respect for. No one else earned it. No one else deserved it.
Having feelings for Tezuka Kunimitsu might not have been the smartest thing that the arrogant man ever did…but it was what felt right. No one else sparked any sort of interest; no one else was better at tennis than Atobe Keigo besides Tezuka Kunimitsu; no one else ever refused Atobe's persistence like Tezuka did. Tezuka was everything Atobe wasn't…and Atobe was everything Tezuka wasn't. In time, he'd make the Seigaku captain realize that they completed each other.
He made his way towards a common, inside/outside café, his eyes catching and locking on something he thought he'd never see in his life. Could that be why Tezuka Kunimitsu always—
"… Tezuka," Atobe said aloud, though his voice was quieter and way less sure than it usually was. He felt himself shatter even more than he had the day before. Looking through the various outside tables, he saw something…something on the inside of the café.
There, sitting on the couch just at the window, was Fuji Syuusuke, Seishun Gakuen's tensai. But that wasn't what was bothering the Hyoutei Regular. Oh no. What fueled Atobe Keigo's break was that the man sitting with Fuji was none other than…Tezuka Kunimitsu.
Was that the reason why Tezuka always turned Atobe down? Because he was with…Fuji?
He didn't care what anybody had to say; Atobe Keigo was infinitely better than Fuji Syuusuke and he was going to let Tezuka know just as much.
But…now might not be the time.
Tezuka Kunimitsu, why couldn't you be the one to save me?
Sighing, he gave the two Seigaku players one last look. They seemed to be talking happily, well, as happily as their captain could get and, as usual, Fuji was smiling.
It wasn't fair.
It just wasn't fair that someone like Fuji Syuusuke, someone so sadistic in nature, got to be happy. Why did he get to be happy while Atobe was left behind? It was completely evident that Fuji had feelings for Tezuka. But it wasn't apparent until now that Tezuka actually returned those feelings.
How could he be so stupid?
How could Atobe Keigo, the amazing caption of the wealthiest school's tennis team, be so stupid?
He fell for Tezuka Kunimitsu without any hopes of turning back and finding someone else. Everything was the cold buchou…no one else mattered. Atobe wanted Tezuka…and Atobe wanted to be wanted by Tezuka.
Why couldn't Tezuka want him?
"Tezuka…" He whispered. His eyes that usually held such confidence, such resolve to continue playing tennis, the only thing he cared for besides Tezuka Kunimitsu of Seigaku, finally drained away. The man who was everything was slowly becoming nothing.
He lost the game…and at this point, he might as well have lost the match. He was already thoroughly convinced that he lost.
Atobe Keigo was basically broken; and now…there was no use in believing that there was always tomorrow. No amount of confidence could help him in defeating Fuji Syuusuke. The tensai had everything that money could never buy.
And that was Atobe's weakness. He depended on his wealthy self…his Atobe Gym…and his team.
He had the money, yes. But was he happy? No.
Atobe Keigo was not satisfied with what he had because it didn't…complete him.
Tezuka Kunimitsu, you complete me, he thought, his eyes still locked on the scene before him. His rival, his respected enemy, his addiction…and most of all, his friend; Tezuka Kunimitsu of Seishun Gakuen.
He couldn't bid himself to walk away and forever say that he lost to Tezuka again. Oh no. He still refuses to lose. Atobe Keigo will, under no circumstances, lose to Tezuka Kunimitsu in tennis, school rivalry…and most certainly not in emotions or life. They were rivals to the end; rivals through everything. And Atobe had to admit…he fell for his greatest rival.
Fuji Syuusuke…you cannot have Tezuka Kunimitsu.
The Hyoutei captain shot a glare towards the window that his addiction and his new non-committing rival reflected in. They were still there, talking, never noticing the one that watched them. But there was no need to know. There was no need because…Atobe Keigo was already gone.
A/N: Ah…that was honestly a horrible chapter. I tried my best. But please, tell me all your opinions. I need help if I'm actually going to continue this. Gahh…I'm really sorry that it was bad!
Please, please, please review. Dx
