A/N: Hello, minna-san. Yehey! The story is progressing, even though it's so slow. 20K+ words already, it's a small amount compared to others, but my only 20K+ words is the Skip Beat! Your Heart is Mine, and that has only 8 chapters...
To lizzie bobizzy-san, she's my pm-mate..lol. I want to dedicate this for you, our insights about Skip Beat, TCP, and Maid-sama, collided and it is so much fun chatting with you.
I am reading Amnesia, as a reader's point of view of course, and I saw that in chapter two.. little Keigo called Hotaru "my little fiancée." Hmmm, I think it's a reflex when he always think about her as his little fiancée, or called out to her like that even though he could not remember what happened before. Maybe it is a reflex he has, and in the back of his mind, he will always call her 'little fiancée'.
Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis is not mine.. If it is, then Ryoma and Sakuno are already in romantic relationship (ahem) and Momoshiro will going to court Ann and get beaten by Tachibana and the Fudomine members (although, I think Kamio is going to start it. hehe)
"Kei-kun, hurry up," a six years old girl with long lack hair in pigtails, shout at the older boy who's running behind her. She went outside after two days of staying inside the house after they brought her home from the hospital.
Their mansion in Karuizawa is appropriate for her healing, and although she's healed already, she needs to go to the hospital every month for one year to check up her head, although the doctor promised that the CAT scans are not threatening, Hotaru's father made sure that there's no some kind of radiation.
"Kei-kun, this is it!" she squealed in delight as she and Keigo dug at the back of her tree house. When she was four, she hide a pieces of heart shape pendants that had been severed with a zigzag in the middle, like a broken heart but if you put it together, the heart's zigzag is match and form as one whole heart.
They dug until they touch a little box and they opened it carefully. "Wow," Keigo said. "We could use this Ho-chan."
"Use for what, Kei-kun?" she asked the older boy, confused.
"As an engagement ring.. umm..necklace," he answered. "Can we?"
"Of course, Kei-kun," she said as she wrapped around him to show his agreement.
"Stop that, Ho-chan," he scowled. "We could lose this things."
"Oh, sorry, Kei-kun," she said, an understanding shown in her face.
"Fsssshh, sorry," he repeated silently, mocking her.
"Did you say anything, Kei-kun?"
"Nothing," he said, then stood up. He reached for her tiny hands to help her stand up. "Come on, get ready and we will start the wedding."
Hotaru went in the tree house to prepare their 'altar' and her 'veil', which is a samll tablecloth she grabbed from the cabinet when she run to get out of the house. She changed in her frilly white dress and put her 'veil' on top of her head. When she tried to make it stay, it dropped on the floor. Hotaru was frustrated. She look for a hairpin, and luckily, she found several of them in a chest of drawers. When she successfully put the thing on her head, she heard Keigo went in their little house.
Keigo went inside the mansion to look for a strings. When he could not find one, he ask a nearby maid to fetch him two. After several minutes, the maid approached him with two red strings. This will do, he thought. He carefully put the pendants on each strings and tie it up. He ran to the tree house and went up the ladders.
"I'm here Ho-chan!" he said. He went in the living room and saw a little 'altar', there, he wait for Hotaru to show up, like how the groom wait for his bride to walk down the aisle. He heard a foot steps towards him, and when he look, he saw the most beautiful bride. He smiled when he saw flowers in her hands, and her white dress and veil made her look angelic.
She smile towards him as she walk, he offer his hand to her and they stood beside each other.
"I, Atobe Keigo, take you Kinomichi Hotaru, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part." he smiled softly. He put the necklace on her.
Hotaru giggled, "I, Kinomichi Hotaru, take you Atobe Keigo, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part." She place the necklace on him.
"As two hearts unite this day," Atobe said in a rather priest-ly tone, which made Hotaru giggled more, "groom, you may kiss the bride."
Hotaru's heart is beating faster. Keigo cupped her blushing face and lean forward. When their lips touch, they felt an electricity that made them jumped.
"I..I guess that's it," he whispered. She nodded. Their eyes met, both grinned at the same time.
"Where is she?" Atobe said. He is getting impatient. He look from corner to corner but couldn't fin her anywhere.
"She?" Gakuto asked. "Your latest girl?"
"Or the girl yesterday?" Oshitari inquired maliciously. The others knew about her already because Oshitari and Jiro would not shut up for a moment, babbling about Keigo's new girl. Hot, sexy, and submissive.
As if, he thought. "None of your business."
"She's going to watch today's game?" Gakuto asked.
"Yes, I invited her," then look around once more. The others raised their brows in question but keep quiet. It's already the fifth game, Jiro's game with Momo is a No Game because the two got injured while playing. What with Momo being the power player of Seigaku and Jiro as the 'laziest' one in Hyotei, getting both injured is a big question for the two teams.
The match will going to end, and by the look of it, Seigaku's going to win this time, making it 2-2. He sigh and stand up. He walk passed through his coach to the gate of the tennis court. Instead of watching the game, most of the people who are expecting, look at the captain of the Hyotei Gakuen. He smirked inwardly, feeling every eyes on him.
His coach didn't ask him where he is going. He trust Keigo to do nothing wrong.
Hotaru, in her uniform, walked hurriedly to the event place. Several people are looking at her, they are wondering why a St. Rose Academy student, known as the most prestigious all-girls school in Japan, is visiting a tennis event.
However, Hotaru was lost and she doesn't care if everyone is looking at her. She sigh in frustration and he shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Excuse me," a girl's voice said behind her. Hotaru turned to look and see a girl with a light brown hair styled in a sharp bob with her bangs parted in the middle. "Are you, by any chance, lost?"
She stared at her.
"Uhmm, if you are," a much softer voice said. "You can asked us where you are heading. T-that's it, if you like." This girl has a long, reddish-brown hair in twin braids. Obviously, she's shy.
She nodded, "Seigaku versus Hyotei Gakuen?"
The two look at each other, then the short hair said, "You could come with us, we are going there also. I hope we can catch the last game, it's Tezuka-san and Atobe-san, you know."
The braid girl nodded, "Ah, my name is Ryuzaki Sakuno. Nice meeting you."
"Kinomichi Hotaru," she wait for any indication that they know or heard about her, but it seems that the two don't. Or maybe they just do not want to ask a girl from a prestigious school for her reason why she's going to watch a tennis match.
"Tachibana Ann," the other girl said. "Come on. We are super late already."
The three of them walk together to the court. Hotary watched as Keigo arrived drenched in sweat but smirking. Most of the girls screeched as he trod in front of them, some offering their towels but he ignored it.
When he raised his head and caught the sight of her, his smile widened. Hotaru's eyes widened when he walk hurriedly towards her and embrace her into a bear hug. She could feel the murderous gazes coming from everywhere and curious eyes from the two girls beside her.
"I'm glad you could make it," he said.
Without showing her feelings, she nod at him. How can she answer him if he surprised her?
"It's my turn to play," he said again, trying to catch her eyes. When he did, "Watch me carefully okay?"
Nod.
"Okay then, " he bent forward and touch his lips on hers lightly, "I need my lucky charm, ne?"
"So you are Atobe-san's girlfriend?" Ann asked. She grinned. "I didn't expect that. He never kiss someone in his match."
"You know him?" Hotaru asked the other girl, couldn't stop herself from asking.
She nodded, "Even though Hyotei, Seigaku, and Fudomine are competitors, they have a strong relationship because of their matches since middle school."
"Ah," she said in understanding.
"Ja ne," she said to Hotaru. "My team is on the other side."
She nodded in answer. The braid- girl bowed to her as she said goodbye politely.
Atobe is still smirking when he entered the court. Oshitari said rather loudly, "When did you ever need a lucky charm?"
"Yeah?" Gakuto second.
He just snicker towards them. He heard the gasps of every woman in that place when he kissed her little fiancée. He breathe the air to calm his throbbing heart. Why it is throbbing, he does not know why. "Let's do this Tezuka."
And everyone- Hyotei Gakuen tennis members and cheer squad- roared their infamous "Hyotei is the winner! Atobe is the winner!"
Tezuka, who is clearly not impress, because his blank face is...blank, doesn't care about pressure. He gracefully walk to the court, his brown hair swinging with the wind. "I hope you are ready."
"Hah," Atobe mock-laughed at his comment. "I'm ready, Tezuka. I've been waiting for this. I'm going to defeat you."
The referee called and the match started, Atobe serving. He dribble the ball and throw it in the air, with a swift move, the ball meet the racket's net and flew across the court. Tezuka easily returned it. However, Atobe returned the ball also. Everyone was astonished, clearly loving the match. Atobe scored first, then Tezuka, until the referee shout, "One set match, Tezuka."
Tsk, Atobe thought. "Tezuka serve." The second match began, until the twelfth match. Undoubtedly, the two are already exhausted and with Tezuka in the lead, Atobe felt the pressure getting on his nerves. I could do this. I could do this. I promise myself and the team that we're going to win this match. I made a promise.
So even though exhausted, Atobe grips his racket tightly and wait for the ball to come. He breathe in, and returned the ball. He could feel fatigue taking over. Not good, he thought. Ever since his match with Tachibana, he seems getting more and more restless from yesterday.
Maybe his body has not yet recover from their game, however, Atobe is not likely to get defeated with fatigue only. "40-30" the annoying referee called.
His opponent, being one of the most well-known tennis player in Japan for winning several championships with his team, didn't even falter when they called out the points. He gained point too, and if ever Tezuka get this round, Atobe's dream to win will crash.
Pressure is building between them, clearly, not only him is getting strain. If ever he get this, Atobe knew that they will need to do a tie-breaker, and he knew that he doesn't have any strength anymore. "60-game! Tie-breaker!"
Atobe and Tezuka gasped for air, their breathing is harsh and heavy. "Seigaku call for a break!" Atobe raised his head, Tezuka nodded. He went back to the bench. He is still breathing hard.
"A-Atobe-san?" a small voice said. He look behind him and see his fiancée's worried look. She knew that Atobe is having a hard time. Hotaru could see that Atobe's opponent is a National-level, but Atobe is too, so she could not understand. But then, it's Tezuka. The Tezuka Kunimitsu of Seishun Gakuen. Even Hotaru knew he was. Or rather, his famous name. Who could forget Tezuka zone?
"Ganbatte, Atobe-san," she smiled sweetly. Her impassiveness thrown away after she see how much he desperately want to win.
"Thank you, my little fia-" the referee cut his sentence with "The match will begin, please come back to the court."
With a growl, Atobe reach for her hand and squeezed one last time before turning away. Their audience found his gesture endearing and sweet. "I'll definitely win."
And with new vigor, he face his opponent.
A/N: That's it, people. I apologize for any mistakes, grammar and such. You'll know who's going to win in the next match, but I want to ask:
Who do you want to win?
I don't really know what I'm doing with this ff anymore.. Hotaru is getting soft! And what's with Atobe getting cheesy with her? Oh God! Tell me if I'm getting far away from my plot... I'll try to revert back, but nothing will going to change on earlier chapters, I just love that they have moments together...
I haven't thought on how I am going to torture Atobe or Hotaru.. I am not clearly an evil person so I could not think on how to break them apart and the revenge, I don't know what the 'employee/subordinate-turn-enemy' will do. What is he going to do? Kidnapped Hotaru? Infiltrate Kinomichi or Atobe Enterprises?
And I clearly need for the P.I. to go through his pictures... Ugh, I need to clear up things and write seriously...
Ja ne. Demo arigato gozaimashita, minna-san!
