Author's Note:
I have revised this fic for my good friend Jaime. I hope everyone will like this OC pair. I would also like to include the disclaimers here in my note. I DO NOT own Prince of Tennis. Thank you! Please Review guys! thanks!
I want you to Know
Le- Ann has been in love with Atobe Keigo since she was a child. He was the only one who didn't laugh at her, the only one who acknowledged her and her ability. She can still remember the day she first met him.
Flashback 10 years ago:
Le-Ann 6 years old
Keigo 7 years old
*In a Garden Party at the Sia Residence*
"Gomen nasai… I know all of you are not that fond of people but please endure it for a bit longer… today is my grandpa's birthday, mother and father wanted him to have an enjoyable party… don't worry… I hate parties as well, I don't like how people talk about me… it's alright… I'll stay beside you." She said to the rows of blooming roses.
"You can talk to plants?" a young male voice asked surprising Le-Ann, she turns around to see a boy probably a year older than her holding two glasses of juice.
"Here" he said offering one glass to Le-Ann.
She accepted it with a blush and nodded. "Thank you" she said.
Both of them sat at the table across the row of roses. Silence reigned.
"Do you find it weird?" Le-Ann shyly asked.
"Huh? What do you mean?" the boy asked.
"About me understanding the flower's language?" she asked.
The boy chuckled. "Not at all… if you say you can understand them then I believe you. You're not the kind of girl who would lie. Am I right?" He said frankly.
Le-Ann blushed and nodded, she sipped her drink. "Arigatoo… you're the first person who ever said that to me… others think I was a freak and even my parents think I was only making it up to catch attention." Le-Ann said sadly, head bowed lowly.
Atobe Keigo put his glass down and kneeled in front of Le-Ann; he lifted her head and brushed off the threatening tears.
"Don't mind what other people say about you. Even if no one believes you as long as you believe in yourself that's the only thing that matters… besides… you're not alone. I do believe you remember?" he said with a smile.
Le-Ann nodded. Keigo smiled standing up from his kneeling position. "And you know what… I think it was a blessing that you can understand flowers language… because now a day only few people appreciate their beauty. They must be very happy because they have you to talk with." He said.
Le-Ann smiled at Keigo his smile broadens. "You look a lot prettier when you smile" he said. "You should always smile." He added.
"Keigo! We're going!" a female voice called from the crowd.
"Coming!" he replied and turns to Le-Ann. "I have to go… I'll see you soon Le-Ann" he said.
Le-Ann was shocked that the boy knew her name but before she can ask how the boy knew her name he was gone.
"Who are you?" she asked to no one. Her soft whispered carried by the wind.
After that night, Le-Ann tried asking their maids if they knew the boy she was talking with at the party but no one knew him or had seen him with her.
Until, one day…
The said boy arrived at their manor again together with his parents. Le-Ann smiled at him but the boy didn't smile back as if he doesn't recognize her at all. But what's more shocking is when her father announced that she and Keigo are now officially engaged to be married when the time comes.
End of Flashback
"He must have hated me since then" Le-Ann murmured to herself as she watch Atobe Keigo train with the Hyotei tennis team.
"Le Ann-chan! What are you doing here? Coach is looking for you." Her assistant team manager said.
"Nothing, I just took a break. I'm about to go back anyway…" Le-Ann replied.
"Alright, let's go now… they are almost through their practice." Misa said.
Le Ann nodded.
"Aahh! At last! That was tiring!" Gakuto said stretching his arms.
"Here" Le Ann said giving him a towel and his water bottle.
"Arigatoo Le Ann-chan!" he said. Le Ann nodded and went to Ohtori and Shishido to give their towels and water bottle, both guys thanked her.
On the bench, Yuushi and Jiroh were fixing their things when Le Ann caught their attention.
"Manager sure is hard working…" Jiroh said with a yawn.
"Sure she is… to think that she chose to be a manager rather than be one of the players." Yuushi said.
"Is it true that she's Atobe's fiancée?" Jiroh asked.
"Last time I check yes she is…" Yuushi said with a smile.
"If you two are done gossiping about other people's business can you hurry up because I don't have all the time?" Atobe's voice came from their back. Both guys stiffen laughing nervously.
"Keigo-san… you forgot the team's practice results." Le Ann said.
Atobe turned to her, glaring. "I am not the one who read those trashes, what I have witnessed are enough to say where my team needs to improve and if you don't mind… Get lost" he said.
Le Ann nodded. Atobe turned away and walk away. Yuushi went to Le Ann and got the papers.
"I'll look over it, there might be things Atobe missed out, this would be a great help. Thank you." He said with a smile.
Le Ann nodded and left hurriedly. 'Idiot… what an idiot I am' she thought crying.
I want you to notice me,
I want you to love me.
The sanctuary of the rose garden at the Atobe estate is Le Ann's haven. She spent most of her time there with the plants and beautiful roses. She sat at the dark corner of the garden near the fountain tears streaming on her face.
The flower on her left moved as if consoling the emotionally troubled girl.
Le Ann smiled apologetically at them. "I am sorry… don't worry about me. I'll be fine… I am really sorry I am affecting you guys…" she said trying her best to stop the tears.
Then it happened… Le-Ann's eyes widened as she felt her chest tighten and her breathing grew labored. 'No… not now…' she thought before everything went black.
The entire room went dead cold. As if the flowers are calling out to the now unconscious girl.
---
Atobe Keigo got off the shower and is now toweling his hair when a cold tinged ran down his spine. He turns around sharply. 'It's just my imagination' he thought.
Then pot of roses caught his attention. The petals were falling one after another. He forgot to water the flowers.
Atobe sighed, he was about to water them when the pot cracked his eyes darkened only one name ran in his mind. 'Le Ann'.
A sudden wave of awareness engulfed him, he dressed as fast as he could and went out of his room to go to Le Ann's room, he knocked steadily at the door when after few minutes she didn't reply he knocked again putting more force on it.
"Le Ann… are you in there?" he asked. No reply. Keigo fisted his hand and is ready to bang the door mercilessly.
When…
"Keigo-sama?" one of the walking by maids called him.
He turned to the maid with a glare. "Have you seen Le Ann?" he asked.
"No Master Keigo… Mistress Le- Ann didn't join dinner either. I haven't seen her anywhere inside the house…" she answered.
Keigo cursed under his breath. "Fine" he mumbled and walked away.
As he turns around the corner going back to his quarters, he accidentally saw the dome of the rose garden thru the window.
Noticing the lack of lighting inside the rose garden made him think, Le Ann would never leave the garden without the garden lights on.
Deciding that Le-Ann must have been late in going home and probably still at school preparing for the tennis teams things, he decided to light the garden himself.
As he was approaching the rose garden another wave of uneasiness enveloped him. The last time he went there was when his mother is still around. His mother love flowers especially roses just like Le Ann and when Le-Ann arrived to live with him in preparation for their impeding wedding somewhere in time, it was her who took care of the rose garden as if it was hers.
Keigo pushed the garden door open. He felt another cold breeze encircled him. The place was dark and he had a hard time making his way through the center path. Trying his best to find the switch he patiently strode to one corner where he remembers the switch was located. Finally touching something akin to a switch he flipped it open and the garden was flooded with light.
He sighed and looked around only to notice a lump of mass around the central garden, approaching steadily he started to see that it wasn't just an ordinary lump… it was an unconscious body… the body of the person he was looking for, his eyes widening in shock he ran to the body lying on the cold pavement.
"Le Ann!" he called the unconscious girl. Fear gripped his heart. He never felt this way before not even when his mother died or his father left him alone to work on their family business abroad.
Shaking the unconscious girl and getting no response, he immediately check her pulse seeing a faint pulse he scooted her in his arms and ran frantically to the main house.
---
The main door opened in a loud bang and Atobe Keigo's loud booming echoed inside the mansion.
"Someone get the car!" he screamed on top of his lungs as he carried Le- Ann to the receiving area where he met his butler who hurriedly order the preparation of the car.
"Keigo-sama what happened?" he frantically asked.
Atobe laid Le-Ann on the large sofa. He tried to make Le Ann as comfortable as she can be, he held her hand. "I don't know… I found her unconscious in the rose garden." He said his voice almost cracking.
Few minutes passed. "Is the car ready?" he asked.
The old butler dialed the chauffeurs lounge and asked if the car is ready. The informant said that the car is almost ready.
Minutes passed, Keigo felt Le-Ann's temperature go cold. He panicked. He looked at his butler angrily and bellowed.
"Where the hell is that car?!" he roared. The butler flinched and was about to dial the chauffeurs lounge when then door burst open.
"Keigo-sama the car is ready" one of the maids said with urgency.
With out a word Keigo scooped Le-Ann in bridal style as he hurriedly went to the waiting car.
"Follow us to the hospital." He said to the butler who nodded and started barking orders to the other maids.
---
On the way to the hospital, Keigo watch Le-Ann's pale face. He knew from the very start that Le-Ann has a weak body but she never showed any sign of falling ill.
Except for the look of pain that flashed in her eyes during their encounter that afternoon and he greatly felt guilty about it now.
If anything happens to Le Ann he won't be able to forgive himself. Le-Ann chose to study in Japan than in any other school to stay beside him and yet all he does is pushing her away.
He was mad when his father arranged him to be married to one of his colleagues' daughter for business purposes, he is not an assurance prize just to keep their elite status and to his utter annoyance, the one who will be engaged to him was the girl he was crushing on.
Seeing her smile that day was enough to make him love her even in his child heart. He wanted to see her smile always but his father ruined his chance of romantic involvement with her since it would only be an arranged marriage and nothing more to secure their social status.
He promised himself never to fall in love with her and that he would make her life a living hell so that she'd pull out from the engagement. Yet, Le Ann was different, she endured every pain he inflicted on her.
Whenever he saw glimpse of her smile his chest tightens. And the thought that it wasn't him making her smile makes it more irritating. As much as he wanted to make her smile, his desire to be free from the confines of the engagement is also strong enough to make him act coldly towards her.
Now, sitting behind the car with Le-Ann's frail body, his guilt is eating him away. If he only treated her kindly this wouldn't have happened.
He caressed her pale face, his tears forming at the end of his eyes.
"Hang in there Le Ann… I won't let you die… I won't let you leave me as well…" he murmured.
"Keigo-sama he have arrived at the hospital" the driver said bringing Keigo out of his musing.
He went out of the car carrying Le Ann in his arms and immediately entered the hospital. In seconds the doctors is fussing over Le Ann as is pushing him away, he wanted to stay by her side but one of the nursing aid stopped him telling him that he wasn't allowed to go anywhere nearer to Le-Ann.
Thirty minutes passed, Atobe sat edgy at the waiting area near the emergency room where Le-Ann was currently being treated. He was about to close his eyes when he heard approaching steps. He tiredly looked at his right to see Yuushi, Kabaji, Gakuto, Ohtori, Shishido, Jiroh, Hiyoshi, and Haginosuke had arrived.
Kabaji placed a hot chocolate on Atobe's palm. He looked up to see the concern in his team's eyes. He tried his best not to crack. He is their leader for goodness sake he's not about to breakdown now in front of them… but how he wishes he could.
Accepting the hot chocolate, Keigo gave Kabaji a slight nod.
"We heard what happen, you might need some assistance." Yuushi said.
Atobe nodded and sipped his hot chocolate.
Yuushi place a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry… she'll get through it" he said.
Again Atobe just nodded. Hyotei Gakuen tennis team exchange wary glances.
Yuushi knew Atobe, he's just hanging by a thread. His sanity would snap any moment now… and he can only pray that Le Ann would be safe because a berserk Atobe would be deadly dangerous.
Kabaji watched silently as Keigo fought his internal battle, his worry and guilt clashing with each other. He knew Atobe since they are in middle school and what he's going through is so far the hardest because he knew that it wouldn't happen if he had watched over her more.
The opening of the ER brought the Hyotei team out of their musings. The doctor strode to their place. He smiled gently at Atobe.
"She's fine… she's resting now, I cannot say that this would be the last attack. Since according to the records we found, her heart has been weak since she was a kid. Less pressure and stress would greatly help in her recovery." She said.
Atobe nodded numbly. Everyone cracked a smile.
The lady doctor gave a tight squeeze on Atobe's shoulder.
"You must be Keigo-san" she said. Although he was curious as how the doctor knew him, he already nodded in response.
"Relax. She'll be able to stay with you for much longer than you expect. Just don't give her anymore heartaches okay…" she said.
Relieved at the doctor's statement. Atobe nodded a smile forming on his lips.
"How did you know?" he finally asked the lady doctor.
The doctor smiled at him, patting his shoulder. "She regained consciousness after our medication and she murmured that she cannot leave Keigo-san's side… she needs to stay with you forever because you are the only one who believed in her and she wont let you down." She said.
Atobe looked stunned.
"Keigo-san, she has her heart in the right place… save her the angst and take good care of her. She deserves more than she's receiving." The lady doctor said again.
Silence. "Yes, I will take care of her… and thank you." Atobe said.
"I only did what I can… it's her determination to not leave you saved her on most part. It's her you have to thank the most." She said.
Atobe just nodded at the doctor. With one final pat on Atobe's shoulder the doctor walked away.
The Hyotei members exchange smiles.
"Oh! You may see her when the room is ready. But not all of you can stay; we can only allow one person to stay with her. Alright?" The doctor said as she was about to turn to the corner.
The guys nodded and saluted the doctor.
Kabaji place a hand on Atobe's shoulder. Keigo looked at him and nodded.
"Okay… let's go…" he said and everyone nodded.
I want you to feel my love every time I look into your eyes
Will you love me?
Everyone has left the hospital, Atobe chose to remain there to watch over Le Ann. It's been a while since he let himself do what he really wanted to do. All these years he'd been keeping his emotions in check. He doesn't want Le Ann to think that the only reason why he is being nice to her was because of the engagement their parents made.
For him Le Ann is a figure of untainted innocence, she's so fragile that one wrong handling and she'll break into pieces. Yet, because of his insensitivity it put her life in peril.
He does 'love' Le Ann and even without the arranged marriage he'd really take Le Ann as his future bride. Not because of her family, not because she reminded him of his mother who died in his younger years, but because he love her with all his heart and he would protect, believe and make her happy.
Her smiling face is his strength in life, as long as she smiles regardless who makes her smile he believes he can conquer all.
Holding Le Ann's hand in his, Atobe watches her sleep under the moonlight.
I want you to tell me "I love you,"
I want you to hold me and never let me go.
Le Ann felt extremely tired. The last thing she remembered was the attack of her sickness. She got extremely worried when she opened her eyes next she's covered with light. She remembered calling out for Keigo, then everything turns black again.
It was past midnight according to the wall clock hanging in front of where she is lying. And the first thing that caught her attention was the warm hand wrapped on her own.
She looked at her side to find a slumbering Atobe Keigo sitting in one of the hospital's chair gripping her hand.
She cannot help but smile a little. Using her other arm with dextrose she carefully caressed his hair as not to wake him up.
But unfortunately, Atobe was a light sleeper and awoke from her ministration.
Their gazes locked, as Keigo stared at Le Ann's eyes.
"I am sorry for waking you up…" she said with a smile.
He just nodded and released her hand. "It's okay… how are you feeling?" he asked.
"I am okay…" she answered.
Silence reigned between them.
"Errr…"
"Umm"
"You go ahead" Le Ann said with a blush.
"No, you first." Keigo said.
"I was just wondering why you stayed behind. It's not so you to spend a night watching over someone like me" she said.
"Don't ever underestimate yourself; I won't take a bride who degrades herself like you do. Give yourself more credit will you…" he said.
Le Ann's blushed darkened. "You shouldn't say such an embarrassing thing Keigo-san, besides, I thought you disapprove so much of that engagement." She said looking away.
"I have my own reason for disagreeing in the engagement. However, I should let you know… I have absolutely nothing against you." He cleared.
"Then why are you treating me cruelly… you've change so much from the guy who said he believed me when I was young. You grew to hate me because of our parents' arrangements. And even if I try my hardest to make you understand the extent of my feelings it still doesn't reach you." Le Ann said tears threatening to fall.
"Do not make that face. I never want to see you cry. I hate it the most. Tears don't justify your beauty… only a smile should adorn your lovely face Le Ann…" Keigo said wiping away few tears that leaked out.
"Keigo-san" Le Ann murmured looking at Atobe.
"I don't want to be with you because of a mere engagement. If I will be with you I'll do it my way. I'll have you because I want you and will not because I was ordered around by my father." He said getting Le Ann's hand and placing it on his cheek.
"It's not true that I am not attracted with you. Since the first time I saw you at the balcony of our manor when you are three I had fallen in love with you. I have loved you since then. When I saw you at that party when we you were six I have to see and talk to you in person. I didn't waste anytime and walk up to you. Even then I am so much in love with you." He said.
Le Ann's eyes were clouded with tears. "Keigo---" she was cut off by Atobe's fingers.
"I do not wish you to call me with any formalities. You can call me anything you want but not with –sama, or –san…" he said.
"Then calling you Kei-chan would be okay?" Le Ann joked in tears.
Keigo chuckled. "Well between the two of us is alright, but not in front of everyone. I have an image to protect you know." He said.
"I promise. Kei-chan" she said with a smile between tears.
"Then why are you still crying?" Keigo asked.
"Silly, that's tears of joy." Le Ann said.
Keigo smirked. "I see… how about I give you a kiss… would that make up for everything I did to hurt you?" he asked.
"If you do it on regular basis maybe…" Le Ann joked.
"Gladly" Keigo said before placing his lips on hers sealing the promise with a loving kiss.
I want you to Kiss me and know that it is forever,
I want you to know that I will stay true to you always and forever.
After a while, Le Ann caressed Keigo's cheeks. "I love you always and forever" she whispered.
"I love you too…" he said kissing the palm of her hand.
"Le Ann I want to break the engagement." Atobe said.
Le Ann looked confused. "But…I thought…" pain flashed in her eyes.
"No, you got it all wrong… what I mean is… I want us to start anew… we'll get engage in our phase. Not because we were dictated by our parents but because we want to…" he said.
Le Ann's doubt disappeared. "I understand." She said with a smile.
"Thank you. That's the only thing stopping me from loving you so much. I don't want our relationship to be purely family related arrangement… I want our relationship to be heartfelt and real." He said.
"I cannot argue with that Kei-chan. As long as you love and need me I'll stay by your side." Le Ann said.
"I won't have it any other way because you are all I need in this life to be happy and satisfied with." He said giving her forehead a kiss. "You should go back to sleep, you need to recuperate your energy back" he added.
"Thank you" she murmured eyes shutting close.
Keigo caressed her cheeks and shifted few strands of her hair. "No Le Ann… I thank you." He whispered.
END
AN:
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