"I'm surprised. I didn't think you'd actually cut your hair."

He looks at you, seems to stare right through you. "Ah~n, but Ore-sama gave his word."

"Yes," you agree. "But didn't you say it was your 'crowning glory'?"

He ignores you and keeps on talking. "Besides," He looks away but you can see his smile. "I don't need that to help me win." He pauses. "I've got you."

And you really think he's going to say it, say those three words. But he doesn't. Instead, the opposite happens. His smile fades and he turns to look at you.

"This can't end well." You watch as he paces back and forth. You knew this was coming. He's trying to pull away. And you have to let him or else you'll probably lose him forever.

"What can't end well?" you prod.

"Us, this." He looks frustrated. He doesn't throw his hands up in the air but he seems like he's not too far off.

"Why not?" You say this petulantly, because you know the answer. And for the first time, it's not because of Tezuka. You're not worried in the slightest that Keigo has fallen in love once more with the frigid captain of Seigaku. Because Keigo has changed.

Of course you understand where he's coming from. He's thinking of his family, of his father, of his future business. And it hurts that it matters for to him than you do.

He's mad, you see it and instead of trying to mollify him, you explode. He's forgetting that you have a voice, a temper, too.

"You know, Keigo. I thought you'd grown up. But you haven't. You're still an immature spoiled brat who still vainly hopes that I'll do whatever you want just because I love you. And damn it Keigo, I do love you. I wish you loved me enough to see that."

He shoots you a contemptuous look and before you know it, the door is swinging and he's gone. The door slams with, you think dismally, a sort of finality. You stand there for a full hour waiting for him to open the door. But he hasn't changed, hasn't grown that much. And really, you can't fault him for it.

You need to give him room. Space. You need him to realize that he doesn't need you, but that he wants to be with you.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

You can't bear to look at him during practice. He doesn't warm up with you during stretches and chooses instead an alarmed looking Shisido.

Gakuto is by your side at once. "Did you guys have a fight?"

"Yeah." You try to make your voice sound pained and really, it's not that hard. You try to get across that you do not want to continue this conversation, but alas, to no avail.

"I've never seen Keigo look that mad. It's kind of scary. He's not raising his voice, but that just makes it even worse. He's sent at least three Hyoutei tennis players into tears and it's only the first hour of practice." Gakuto shuddered. "Whatever you did, Yuushi, I'd go and apologize right now."

You say nothing but glance at your boyfriend's, ex-boyfriend?, face. It's paler than usual and his hair is messy like he couldn't sleep. Well, you think savagely, good. Or, not so good because he still looks stunning. You sigh.

He catches you looking though, and you know he wants to talk.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

He walks, or rather, strolls up to you in the locker rooms.

"Walk home with me?"

You ignore the fact that the two of you live in opposite directions. "Sure."

His face is set and he waits silently for you to finish up.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The two of you walk slowly and end up at a play ground. You both sit on the swings and neither of you say anything for a moment.

"I thought you'd come for me." He isn't looking at you.

"No, if you want this Keigo, you have to show me. I can't read your mind." You need him to see that you're changing too. And he does see, you think.

"Okay. I want this. I want you." He nods, almost to himself. He really has changed, and it's not just the hair, either. He's growing up. "I'm-"

"Don't," you interrupt before he can say anything. "I never want you to apologize for something like that." You don't want him to be sorry for maturing, for needing space. You don't want him ever to be sorry of sorting out his feelings. You smile crookedly, "You can apologize for making me wait though."

And his grin is back but it doesn't seem as forced. "I think I can do that."

It's a start. He holds out a hand and you take it, the two of you swinging in tandem. It should be hard since the two of you are on two separate swings and started at different times, but it works. You realize something: Atobe Keigo is still Atobe Keigo, even when he's in love. He still plays games but you know how to deal with them. You aren't thrown as much by his actions.

However, that isn't to say you know and understand the enigma that is Atobe Keigo. You know with certainty that the two of you will fight and that there will be tears. But you don't panic at the thought, because you know you can't resist him. He's pretty when bored, gorgeous when he's angry, brilliant when everything's gone according to his plan.

He is arrogant because he was born lucky, born into wealth and power. But then again, so were you. The future isn't that far away, but the two of you will take it a day at a time. After all, the world still adheres to Atobe Keigo.

And really, it's more than a start: it's a promise. Of hardship, of tears, of love. And you seal the promise with a sweet kiss. Actually, you're pretty sure you just wanted to kiss him. But if Keigo were to find out your romantic side had decreased, he'd probably stop giving into your 'romantic' needs of public displays of affection. And you can't have that.

You know you're lucky to have landed the Atobe Keigo, but it's more than that. Which is why, when you kiss him, it's not a display of ownership, but rather, because you miss the feel of his lips against yours. Most people would think it stupid; you spent less than a day apart. But it's too long. The romantic part as well as the tensai part of you knows he's the only one who can make you feel so lucky when all he does is stay by your side.