Title: Starting Over
Author: shy-hinata
Rating: G
Summary: A story's gotta end somehow!

Disclaimer: I don't own PoT

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

The day after the dance, Atobe didn't show up to practice. The mood in the clubroom went from energetic and chatty to quiet and curious in a matter of seconds when Oshitari informed everyone that their captain would not be attending practice that day.

"Why not?"

The seemingly innocent question that Jirou posed before nodding off once again hung uncomfortably in the air. Oshitari glanced from Gakuto, to Shishido, to Ootori, all of whom had the good grace to look at least a little sheepish, before answering.

"He wasn't feeling up to it."

Ootori cringed visibly before Jirou's blissfully ignorant voice chimed in.

"Then we'd better work extra hard so he can see how much we've improved in his absence!"

Oshitari couldn't help but muse at how true that statement was on a whole host of levels.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Tachibana! Get your butt in gear! C'mon!"

The girl's team captain frowned a little. It was very unusual for Ann to lag so far behind during their requisite laps. Usually, the petite redhead was rushing ahead so she could get on the courts faster. Yes, highly unusual indeed. She watched as her star player nodded numbly and made a half-hearted effort of picking up the pace.

Okay…this is not good…

When the laps were finished, she pulled Ann aside for a quick chat.

"Ann-chan, is everything alright? You don't seem yourself today." She dropped the formalities between captain and player; right now, she was just worried about Ann as a friend. The non-committal shrug she got didn't inspire any confidence in her, and she debated sending Ann home. Sunday morning practices, while useful, could be negotiable once in a while.

"It's okay, buchou. I'll be fine as soon as I get my racket in my hand."

Sighing, the captain nodded her head and sent Ann on her way, making a mental note to pay a visit to her counterpart on the boy's team; maybe Ann's brother might have some insights as to what was wrong.

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

A week went by before Oshitari felt comfortable enough to talk to Atobe about the dance. He wasn't sure if he was ready, but their captain was hurting, and as a friend he felt the need to do something. After their afternoon practice ended, Oshitari pulled Atobe aside.

"Atobe, we need to talk. Call your chauffeur and tell him that you won't need a ride home today."

The uncharacteristic bluntness of Oshitari's statement made Atobe blink for a moment. Taken by surprise, he nodded in answer. He arched his eyebrow at his friend before taking out his cell phone to make the requested call.

"Alright…but what's going on that warrants such a meeting with ore-sama?"

"Just trust me on this one, Atobe."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

A week later, and his opinion of his sister's behaviour was that it hadn't improved much. Tachibana Kippei waited for his sister on the outside of the tennis courts, arms folded across his chest. To the casual observer, Ann had regained her usual cheerfulness, laughing and smiling as before. But Kippei knew that her smiles never quite reached her eyes the way they used to; something felt like it was missing – that usual spark that made all the difference. What had happened at the dance? Kippei had noticed that she had left before the end of the night, but his own responsibilities as part of the student committee kept him too busy to deduce anything else. Did Atobe say something to her, or try anything? He could feel his blood boiling at the thought of it, but reminded himself that he promised he wouldn't meddle in those affairs anymore. Well, not too much anyway.

"Ann." Kippei waved to his sister as the girl's team was dismissed, and watched as she smiled and bid her teammates goodbye before jogging over towards him.

"Hey, Aniki! What's up?"

He almost couldn't stand the fake cheerfulness that was in her voice, but he smiled back.

"If you're not busy now, I was wondering if you could take a walk with me." We need to talk…

Ann gave her brother a perplexed look, but nodded.

"Sure. Give me a minute to clean up and I'll be right back."

Nodding his assent, Kippei watched as Ann ran off to join her friends. He sighed. It looked like this was going to be harder than he thought.

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Later that night, Atobe lounged on his bed, replaying his conversation with Oshitari over in his head.

"It's obvious to me that you like her. Yes, it was unfortunate that things played out this way, but the Atobe I know wouldn't give up so easily."

"Oshitari, if Ann doesn't want to see me anymore, I'm not about to make things more awkward for her."

Atobe had watched as his friend sighed and shook his head.

"Just talk to her. You owe it to her to at least let her know what you feel. That way, no matter what happens after that, at least you two cleared the air and put all your cards on the table."

But as someone who always played his cards close to his chest, was Atobe really ready to do this? Would it really help, or make things worse? Even now, remembering the hurt look on Ann's face made his stomach drop. Could he handle seeing that again?

Too many questions…

Atobe shook his head in a meek attempt to clear it. Snatching up his phone and a light jacket, he decided to go for a walk. Maybe the cool night air could do something for him.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Whatever it was that Ann was expecting when her brother asked her to go for a walk with him, that talk wasn't it. Sitting at her desk, pondering the answer to her math homework, Ann played the conversation back in her head.

"Well, bet or not, if what Oshitari-san said is true, maybe there's more here than meets the eye."

"Do you really think so, aniki? I just don't see how talking about it will make things any better. And it's not like it really matters to me in the end."

"Ann, if it didn't matter to you, you wouldn't be upset about it."

"I'M NOT UPS--!"

The way Kippei quirked his eyebrow up at her outburst had spoken volumes. Okay, so maybe what Atobe felt did matter to her. But wasn't going to talk to him going to set her up for even more disappointment? She was bad enough now, did she really want to set herself to get hurt again?

Ann looked down at the page of homework, only to discover she had drawn nonsensical patterns all over it.

I can't concentrate right now…

Sighing, she closed her books, and grabbed her phone and keys.

"I'm going out for a walk, aniki!"

Maybe a little fresh air would help.

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Obsessions can be such strange things. They can invade one's subconscious, slipping their way into every little decision made. Atobe wasn't surprised that his feet had led him to the tennis courts. What did surprise the usually unflappable captain was who was already there, as if waiting for him.

Ann…

At first, all he could see was a silhouette, something that he initially dismissed as a figment of his imagination. He had been thinking about her all this time, it was only natural for even a mind as finely tuned as his to conjure such an apparition. But as he drew closer, her features became more defined; the way she seemed to lean more of her weight on her left leg, the way her fingers curled around the chain link fence surrounding the courts, and the slight sag in her shoulders that told him she was probably feeling just as bad, if not worse, than him. And just what was she doing out without a jacket? A few steps more, and her facial expressions were clear, making his heart stop. Ann looked lost and without confidence, something he never imagined seeing on the face of a Tachibana.

Atobe hesitated, unsure of just what to do. Despite what Oshitari had said, perhaps now was not the best time to talk. Maybe Ann would be angry with him for sneaking up on her like this? Maybe…?

As one may have expected, Ann was the one to decide things with a simple turn of her head. Her piercing gaze froze Atobe on the spot, so much so that he wondered if he his body would let him chase after her if she ran. How long they stared at each other in silence was anyone's guess, each one suspecting some sort of set-up before their looks of mutual surprise told them otherwise.

Ann could see Atobe swallow, a look of panic on the Hyotei player's face, as she turned and faced him fully. If it had been any other circumstance, the expression would have made Ann laugh.

"Hey."

The single word fell from Ann's lips as she mustered a weak smile. Plucking up his own courage, Atobe slowly made his way next to her, leaning slightly on the chain link fence.

"Hey…"

The silence that hung between them was tense, and uncomfortable. Ann couldn't help shifting her weight from one foot to another, directing her gaze everywhere except at him. For his part, Atobe could only shove his hands in his pockets, and stare at her. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he mused that this feeling was quite new to him – the feeling of not being able to control the situation, the feeling of not quite knowing just what to do.

"Ann--" "Atobe--"

Each one blurted out the other's name, seemingly eager to get something off their chest. Atobe managed a small smile before gesturing with his hand for Ann to continue.

"No, please. Chivalry dictates that I allow you to go first." He watched her sigh and run her fingers through her slightly unruly hair.

"Atobe, I'm not even totally sure I know exactly what it is I wanted to say to you. To tell you the truth, I was hurt to find out that everything you did was just part of a bet." She threw her hands up a little in frustration at her inability to find the words. "I don't know why, but I guess I kinda hoped you actually wanted to hang out with me for me." I wanted to think that maybe you liked me too…

The silence that hung in the air after her statement made her feel nervous. The way Atobe just stood there looking at her wasn't helping the cause either. What was he thinking? Was he upset? Did he not believe her? Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to say anything after all.

"Look, forget it, Atobe. Just forget I ever said anything, and we can go back to our old lives, before any of this mess happened."

But even as the words escaped her lips, Ann knew it would be easier said than done. After all, did she really want to forget the way it felt to have him smile at her? How fun it was to chat and poke fun at him over the phone? Or how it meant a lot to her that, when it came down to it, he actually put her considerations ahead of his own? Ann swallowed and took one last look at him before turning to leave. Every moment she stayed would just hurt more.

Or so she thought until a hand reached out and gently grasped her wrist.

"Ann…wait…"

She turned towards him again, mouth forming a small 'o' of surprise. She looked down at their hands, his fingers wrapped around her slim wrist.

Well…this seems familiar…

Ann's mind flashed quickly to that fateful day on those very same street courts where they had met the first time. They had been egging each other on then too. Turning her face up to look at his, her eyes took in a sight she'd never seen before. She wasn't quite able to describe the expression Atobe wore on his face; it was scared, hopeful, worried, caring, and panicked all at once. But when she looked at his eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was a message there.

Ann…I do like you for you…I always have, even if it took a stupid bet for me to figure it out.

The two stood there, staring at one another in silence. Atobe's heart beat wildly as he wondered why it felt like he was standing on a rather steep precipice, liable to tip over at any minute. The tension proved to be too much for him and he took a breath to speak, only to find himself cut off by Ann.

"So…I owe you a date, don't I, Atobe-kun? I'm a Tachibana after all, and I don't go back on my word."

Atobe blinked, and couldn't help the puzzled "Huh?" that slipped past his lips. That look alone was enough to make Ann giggle as she slowly shifted her hand to lace her fingers with his.

"B-but…we never beat Momoshiro and Kamio…"

Atobe almost couldn't believe it was his own voice saying those words. How many times had he heard Ann toss them towards him? Guess they ended up sinking in after all.

"Well, that is true. But… they arrived afterwards, and you and Kabaji-kun did beat everyone who was on court at the time I made that promise."

Atobe watched a small, slightly nervous smile spread over Ann's lips, and felt his own curl into one as well. He gave Ann's hand a light squeeze as he nodded his head, feeling worlds better than when he had set out that night.

"So, if that's the case, then yes…you do owe me a date. If you will allow, might I suggest a venue that would be suitably fitting?"

Arching an eyebrow up at him, Ann pondered just what venue Atobe was thinking of. Her curiosity piqued, Ann couldn't resist asking "You may, though I'd like to know what it is you have in mind."

"You'll find out soon enough." Feeling some of his old confidence return, Atobe simply smiled warmly at her. And when she made a face at him and accused him of being a brat, Atobe couldn't help but feel like they were starting over. And for that, he was grateful.

THE END

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Author's message: Thank you to everyone who has followed this story from beginning to end. I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long, but I hope you enjoyed it. So, this is where things come to a close for Atobe and Ann right now. I don't know if I'll write a continuation to this yet, or just write some drabbles, or if that's it, but I had fun writing it, and I hope you had fun reading it too!