Just to avoid confusion...and death threats, the thrill will be back in the sequel, so stop killing me with words. Anyways, this chapter will be present time Atobe pov, so completely 19 will be flashback of Ryoma pov during Atobe pov. Chapter 20 will also be flashback form of Fuji pov during Ryoma and Atobe Pov. So it will be the dramatic finale of this story in a three part segment from three vantage points. Soooo put on your thinking caps people, if you want to understand.

Chapter 18 - The Heart Really is a Fickle Thing pt.1

Atobe pov

Moonlight shone across my bedroom as I marveled at the man below me. Kevin began licking the nape of my neck as my hands went slick across his chest. I bent in to suck the pulsating vain on his neck, when a ringing noise stopped me short. I flipped off the bed and snatched the phone off the dresser.

"This is Ore-sama speaking. How may Ore-sama help you?" He drawled out in an annoyed tone.

"Kei- Where's Ryoma? Is he with you? He hasn't come home yet and it's dark already." Came a very worried voice through the phone.

"The brat's not here." I stated as calmly as I could refusing to reveal how truly worried I am.

"Kei, please. What if he had an attack? You know his heart is as fragile as his mothers, please find him." Nanjiroh stated frantically.

"I can't lose him too". He added in a very pained voice. I resolved what I was going to do- not that I ever really thought twice about it.

"Hai, I'll find him Tousan." 'Because I can't lose him too'. I thought that last part only to myself. No one needs to know just how attached to him I truly am.'If he dies, I would surely follow, without a doubt'.

-Time break-

I walked to the last place we had seen Ryo.

He was with Fuji beneath a sakura tree, when we left the happy couple. I was so glad to see him genuinly happy again.

After so long with this disease, knowing after this year he will probably never play tennis again. Seeing as his heart transplant will be at the end of this year in Tokyo. His smile was a true blessing.

If only, I wonder how Fuji will react to the news of his illness.

No one even thinks he's sick right now. No one saw him clutching his chest earlier, so they assumed the pain he felt was from the racket. So they assumed what I gave Ryo was pain medication. Well, you know what they say about people who assume(that you shoulden't?...face-palms..makes an ASS out of U not ME).

'I guess it must be really inconcievable for them to even think Ryo is sick.'

That thought alone sent a pang through my chest, come to think of it, it's still pretty inconcievable to me as well.

'We know eventually Ryo will die, without a heart transplant. He only has two years left'. I subconsciously wiped the tears that began to fall.

'Even if his heart is strong enough physically to withstand longer, I don't know how he is emotionally. It's not like he shares his pain with me. Hmph, he loves pain'. I asked him once why he's such a masochist and his only response was.

"If I wasn't we woulden't be perfect". I didn't understand who he meant at that time,but then he turned to face me with that damn smirk.

"And if I wasn't, why else would I want to listen to your loathsome Ore-sama's".

'But so help Fuji if he hurts my brother.'

As I reached the sakura tree's I saw no one there. 'Hmm, well now I got to think'. I placed my index on my chin as I thought.

"PONTA". Whoops, I clamped my hand over my mouth, slightly embarassed by my outburst. I glanced around to see if anyone saw.

'Nope, still the king'. I headed off towards the ponta machine.

I saw a silouhetted figure shaking against the moonlight. Frozen at the edge of an upcoming building. As I walked closer I took in the pale form of Ryo. I reached out to tug his shoulder.

"Ryo, whats wrong, are you in pain." Ryo coulden't take his eyes off of whatever he was staring at, and I coulden't take my eyes off him. He peeled his eyes away and finally turned to look at me with horror filled eyes. He placed his hand over his heart and said.

"It hurts Kei-chan.I-It hurts so much. How could he do this?" I pulled him into a hug and placed my chin above his head and allowed him to cry into my chest. Because over his head I saw what he saw. Two figures silouhetted in a powerful liplock, and I wanted to kill Fuji.

It seemed as though Ryoma sensed my hatred for the man across from me and bit back a sob to look at me.

"No Kei-chan, let's just go...he's right, it has been three years. I should've never come back from America." Ryoma then fell into a restless sleep. I lifted him, bridal style as his head lolled to rest on my collarbone, and headed towards my car. Once there I slid the sleeping boy into the passenger side, and I momentarily contemplated going back and killing the tensai.

A hand grabbed my wrist,"No Kei-nii-san". The voice mumbled before slipping into his dreams once more.

"Fine." I replied angrily to the now sleeping boy. I closed the door to get into the driver seat and start the car. I pulled out my phone to call my private jet.'If this is what he wants, so be it'.

"Get the jet fueled, I'm leaving to America tonight. You have one hour." 'I guess I should call Nanjiroh and Kevin, nah, i'll call them when we land.