The meeting of the Royals.
"So how do you like your evening so far?"
Tezuka and Fuji turned to him.
"Fine," Tezuka replied.
Atobe snorted.
Fuji was smiling. "It's a great party, Atobe-san," he sang in a teasing tone.
Atobe picked up his chin. "That's good." He nodded before walking off. "It will be your best holiday," he said over his shoulder, waving.
Fuji chuckled and stole a kiss from the frowning captain next to him.
Behind them, Echizen stood, drinking a glass of whatever they weren't offering for everyone while watching Tezuka and Fuji under the night in the garden of the large hall.
"Ochibi! You're drinking!"
Echizen glanced at the glass with grape-looking stuff in it. "Considering it's a liquid, yes, I assume I'm drinking."
Atobe walked through Eiji and Echizen, standing closer to Echizen.
"You do know what you're drinking, right?"
"Yes," he said, with determined eyes. No.
Atobe nodded without looking at him, trying to find the interesting point Echizen had been staring at for as long as he stood there, which was a considerable amount of time. Ah.
"Ochibi, please don't drink," Eiji sadly requested.
"I'm old enough."
"No way, Ochibi. You're still fifteen! Atobe-san! To think you're the one Ochibi likes. Tsk, tsk, tsk!"
Echizen glared at Eiji who looked apologetic.
"To play tennis with!" he tried. "That's besides the point. You're still underage, Ochibi."
"Only for a few hours more."
Eiji gasped. "A... few... hours?"
Echizen shrugged and finished the other half of the glass in one go before putting it on the nearest table and leaving the hall. "Damn it why does your ground move you stupid monkey." He sniffled, leaning on the wall as the noise of the hall started fading.
"Because you like Tezuka or because of what they have?" an arrogant voice said, almost next to him.
Echizen nudged air. "Shut up."
"Ah, that was a good button, wasn't it?"
Echizen spun around, bumping into Atobe. He held a finger between them. "I'm... not... jealous," he slowly said, almost slurred.
Atobe snorted. "Sure."
"Fuck you, Atobe. And stop your ground from spinning so much," he said before losing balance and completely depending on Atobe to stay upright.
Atobe held him up, keeping as mush balance as possible in the equation. "Come, you fool. Let's find your room."
"I don't want my room. You can have it too, if it satisfies your oh-so-greatness!"
Oh dear, Tezuka – you have a problem. Atobe thought as he took Echizen to the room ha was staying in. He opened the door, balancing Echizen while looking in first. The inhabitants gasped and jumped apart. He snorted and closed the door. Maybe not, he thought, moving to a more familiar suite. He ended up mostly carrying the barely, if even, conscious Echizen. Too many steps later, Atobe made Echizen lie down on the two-seater couch in the large room before loosening his clothes, removing his shoes and socks, and tossing his vest over the backrest. He then lifted the covers from the side of the bed and took a deep breath before returning to the couch and lifting Echizen completely. His right brow lifted. Quite light. He laid Echizen on the bed. As soon as his back hit the mattress, Echizen turned to his left, facing the rest of the bed, away from Atobe, and stilled completely.
Atobe put a pillow between Echizen's knees to support his spinal cord and tugged the heartbreakingly soft and comfortable covers over him.
"Che. Getting yourself pissed at 6 PM. Amateur," he said before admiring the scenery beyond his private terrace's large glass doors and leaving the room. He looked at the cleaning lady waiting next to the door. "Bring more pillows."
"Yes, Atobe-sama."
He made his way back into the hall a few minutes later after refreshing himself in the bathroom.
"Have you seen Echizen? He suddenly disappeared," Eiji said.
"He's sleeping."
"Sleeping? At 6PM?"
"You heard me."
He then wandered off to where Seiichi Yukimura and Genichirou Sanada stood. Che, as if they don't see each other enough to still have more to say. He snorted when Sanada gave Yukimura a glass of water. He's like the Kabaji that can hold a conversation.
At 8PM, some left the hall to wander around, but selective few joined Atobe, by his invitation, of course, to the bathhouse.
"Ah, this is so good!" Jiro exclaimed as he lowered himself into the hot water.
Atobe entered and caught sight of Echizen, looking back at him. He smirked. "Decided to join the living?"
Echizen ignored him.
Atobe snickered at the tiny blush on Echizen's cheeks, though different from the previous, intoxicated one.
They soaked in silence, only slight, low conversation came occasionally.
Echizen took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Atobe watched him.
Soon, Atobe found himself doing the same.
"Nah, Echizen-kun," Jiro said, attracting Echizen and Atobe's attentions, "do you want to play tomorrow?"
Echizen shrugged. "Why not."
Jiro's eyes brightened.
Almost twenty minutes later, Tezuka made his way into the bathhouse.
Atobe watched Echizen's expression for any change but Echizen's eyes remained closed and his expression still.
Behind his closed lids, Echizen heard and felt every movement like an echoing fortissimo note on the largest piano in a large, empty concert hall.
"Finally grew bored of the crowd, Tezuka?" Atobe said.
"Now, now – don't pick on our captain," Fuji's voice chuckled a few seconds later.
Atobe's eyes fell on Echizen at the sudden shuffle through the water. He lifted his head to see his face.
"I'm done. Goodnight."
"Ah, leaving already?" Atobe asked.
Echizen looked over his shoulder, glaring at him, before turning again and continuing his exit.
Fuji's eyes caught the whole thing.
Every muscle in his body was tense, as if the water was cool to them.
Atobe's eyes followed the wet hair, shoulders and arms, and tensing curves of his back down the towel around his waist down the glistening hamstrings, calves, ankles and feet, as he walked away.
When Echizen disappeared, Fuji turned to Atobe, whose eyes were closed once again, in deep contemplation rather than lush relaxation.
When he was satisfied, Atobe left the bathhouse, feeling his muscles gratefully refreshed. Stretching, he made his way to the best spot to unwind in the night. Ah, it's almost 10:30PM. I won't take long.
He lifted a tree's branch from in front of him and revealed the ethereal lake hidden behind it in the middle of a thick oasis of plants and flowers and relaxing lighting. The corners of his mouth lifted as he crossed his arms and leaned on the branch of a tree next to him, letting his soul feed on the silent beauty of nature. He inhaled the freshness and his eyes relaxed, as if being watered by the lake.
He gasped slightly at the sound and sight of a stone thumping into the lake, standing upright and looking from around the large trunk.
He tried to recognize who it was.
A sigh escaped the person before a tiny, "why?"
The corners of his mouth lifted once more. "So you're being all depressed now?" Come on, Echizen, that's not you.
Echizen gasped and turned towards him. "How did you-"
"I live here, dork."
A few seconds of shock later, Echizen's eyes narrowed.
"Come," he said, starting to walk off.
"No."
"Suit yourself. Enjoy my little wolf friends."
"You don't have wolves," Echizen said, but Atobe was already gone.
Atobe slowly walked back as he spoke quickly on his mobile phone, chuckling at the sound of rustling before footsteps ran behind him and slowed a few steps back.
"You don't have wolves."
"You'll never know."
As they walked in, Echizen recalled the way. "Why are we going to your room?"
"Just come, brat. You talk too much."
Atobe nodded to the butler standing next to his room, who nodded back before walking away. Atobe opened the door, leaving it slightly ajar after Echizen walked in. His room's private terrace's glass doors were open, the curtains swaying to the gentle wind.
Echizen looked at everything, unconsciously allowing himself to be lead from behind his back towards the terrace by Atobe's left arm.
When he stepped out onto the terrace, he was taken by the scenery.
"Che, you probably got the room with the best view."
"Never less for my greatness."
Echizen snorted but went to the edge with Atobe and looked. He felt the sweet scented air brush his hair from above him as his eyes fed on the beauty under him. He felt like he was weightless.
Atobe's eyes couldn't leave him. At that very moment, his eyes found Ryoma Echizen a much more pleasant sight.
Echizen's eyes widened as he pointed ahead, gasping softly.
Atobe turned to find the reason for his shock.
"Wolves."
Atobe smiled. "Ah. I guess you get to find out after all."
He turned back to Echizen, surprised that he was looking right back. "You have wolves."
"I never lie."
Echizen scowled. "I'm not going out again."
"I can live with that," Atobe chuckled, before he could stop himself.
Something shook in Echizen's eyes before he turned to the scenery ahead once more. "This scenery is beautiful at night. I bet it's even more beautiful while there is light."
"You're welcome to find out."
Echizen took another step and leaned against the luxurious stone rail. He looked over his shoulder. "What time is it?"
"Almost 11PM."
"That's too bad."
Atobe's brows lifted in wonder.
"I'm not feeling sleepy at all," Echizen said, starting to turn.
"You don't have to go to sleep now."
"Buchou will be angry if I don't."
Atobe took a stop forward, stopping Echizen. "Forget Tezuka." Echizen's eyes connected with his own. "You are your own self."
"You have dark blue eyes," Echizen noted, as if in a trance.
Atobe blinked. "I'm glad you noticed."
"Do they bite?" Echizen asked, noticing the confused look on Atobe's face. "The wolves."
"Oh."
Atobe looked above and beyond Echizen's head at the two young white wolves circling the garden before going to the lake's area.
"Only people I don't like."
"Che."
Atobe sensed Echizen's disappointment.
"You're not one of those people."
Echizen's eyes returned to his. "I'm not?"
"Genichirou Sanada might be," he arrogantly added.
Echizen snorted a laugh and turned back to the night.
"Aren't you hungry? You didn't eat anything during the party."
"Have you been watching me?" Echizen picked.
"It's my responsibility as a host."
"How courteous."
"Fine, don't eat."
Atobe turned and started walking back inside.
Echizen smiled, staying as he was.
Atobe nodded at the butler as he was leaving his room and undid another button on his shirt for extra comfort, or so he told himself.
He went to retrieve a good bottle from his private holder. When he came back, Echizen was sitting on the couch in front of the table Indian-style with his shoes on the ground nearby as he looked over the food. Atobe put the bottle on the tray next to the TV and approached.
"All that was in the party?"
"Well, no. That's fresh," Atobe said, joining him on the two-seater.
"When did you... order... all this food?"
Atobe didn't answer, and though they ate slowly, it was a very quiet meal.
"Are you always this quiet?"
"Yes."
"How boring."
"You brought me here – put up with it," he said before sipping some of his orange juice.
Atobe stood made his way to the lone tray next to the TV. He poured some of the bottle contents, pleased at the color, taste and substance before pouring another glass. He went back to the couch, offering Echizen a glass too as he lowered himself.
"The best," Atobe said, sitting comfortably.
"Eiji-senpai would kill you," Echizen said before taking a small sip.
"Then you."
"You're what oh-so-righteous Seigaku would call a demon for corrupting youth," Echizen said, taking a sip. "This is better than the crap at the party."
"It's from my own collection."
"You've been generous so far – I'm just waiting for the catch."
"There is no catch."
"Sure," Echizen replied in a mocking tone, the small intoxicated blush creeping back to his cheeks the more liquid dissolved into his system.
"You don't hold your alcohol, do you? Here, try this with the wine," Atobe said, holding out his fork.
"I never drank before." Echizen opened his mouth, his decision ability inhibited.
Atobe watched, surprised, as the reddish lips close on the fork, breaking into a barely noticeable sweat.
Echizen took another sip from his glass after it and closed his eyes in rapt, dazed delight.
Atobe wiped a bead of sweat that gathered on his temple off with a napkin.
Echizen's eye opened and regarded him from its corner. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You're very..." Atobe couldn't continue because his breath ran out. He put his glass on the table, hoping the air would lighten, but Echizen's eyes remained trained on him.
"What time is it?"
"Why don't you wear a watch?" Atobe said, checking his watch.
"Because I don't want to."
"It's almost midnight."
"I need to go, we have a long day tomorrow," Echizen said, standing.
Atobe's eyed widened. "No."
"No?" Echizen said, turning back to him.
"Go... wash your hand and stuff first. The bathroom's right this way," he said nodding behind the couch.
Echizen snorted, entertaining the request anyway, almost tripping on air.
"Fucking alcohol. Fix your floor," he grumbled.
Atobe smirked.
While Echizen entered the bathroom, he heard knocks on the door and Atobe talking to someone called "Fredric". He washed his hands, taking his sweet time, just to annoy Atobe. He took a tour of the large bathroom. "Hmm. Mother would love this bathroom."
A shiver ran through him. He looked at his toes which felt like they were going to fall off. Oh... My shoes are still next to the couch. He snorted again.
He then nonchalantly left the bathroom to another dimmer atmosphere and gasped.
Atobe waited for him to pass the sitting area before he approached and pulled him closer from his hand.
"Happy birthday," he said, standing behind Echizen and lighting the lone candle on a dark chocolate cake sitting on a trolley making the words on it clearer.
'Will you have me? - Keigo'
Echizen's breath left him when Atobe's arms came under his and around his waist.
"Please."
His breath quickened.
"Be my Ryoma."
He felt unable to move.
"Only mine."
His heart was trying to leave him through his throat as his head starting doing strange back flips.
His hands found Atobe's and allowed Atobe's slightly bigger hands to hold them warm.
His eyes appreciated the golden writing on the dark chocolate surface of the cake before falling on a small inscribed face of a monkey with a crown on it, dots signifying tears in his eyes.
Echizen gasped, his emotions a turmoil in his head, and tried to turn.
"Nu uh-uh. Not yet," Atobe's whisper came. "Happy birthday to you," he sang in a whisper in Echizen's ears. Echizen closed his eyes against the hot breath and a shiver ran from his ears to the bottom of his spine. Atobe placed a kiss on the right temple. "Happy birthday to you." He moved to the top of his right cheek, right under his eye. "Happy birthday... my Ryoma?" The slight, barely noticeable nod was enough confirmation for Atobe. He lifted Echizen's left hand up and placed a kiss on the fingers curled in his own. "Happy birthday to you." He covered the cherry lips with his own.
"No one ever remembers my birthday," Echizen finally said in a whisper, "thought it's easy to remember."
Atobe placed a kiss on Echizen's soft hair. "Make a wish, Ryoma."
Echizen closed his eyes.
"You better hurry before the candle melts on my face."
Echizen chuckled before he bent down and blew the candle out.
Atobe placed the cake handler in Echizen's hand. "Cut your cake."
"You're going all-out, aren't you?"
"Shut up and cut the damn cake, brat," he said, affectionately.
Echizen smiled and exhaled as he cut a triangle from the cake. Atobe met him with a plate that already had a large scoop of ice cream. Echizen placed the cake on it. Atobe reached to the second level of the trolley and poured something dark on top of the ice cream. Seconds later, strong coffee aroma caressed Echizen's senses.
Atobe picked a dessert fork and held it in the same hand he held the plate in. With his free hand, he pulled Echizen back to the two-seater.
Atobe cut some of the cake and scraped some ice cream with the thick coffee liquid and offered it to Echizen who opened his mouth.
Seconds later, Echizen's face twisted and a very pleased sound escaped him. He leaned his head back, eyes closed, and savored the taste. His head felt like cotton candy for a few seconds.
Atobe felt like the cat with the tuna. "Good?" he asked.
"Good?" Echizen exhaled. "God."
"Nah, just me."
Echizen laughed. "Aren't you going to have any?"
"Am I allowed to?"
Echizen's brows flew up, turning to him.
"You're the birthday boy; you give out the orders."
"Oh really?" Echizen asked with a glint.
Atobe gulped. "To an extent."
Echizen laughed again.
Atobe smiled.
The cake, ice cream and coffee were gone very soon. Atobe put the plate and fork on the table when they were finished.
Echizen sat, watching Atobe move to close the glass doors of the terrace too before his nerves remembered the chill and his toes curled.
"Cold?"
Echizen shook his head.
Atobe smiled, noticing the blush still on Echizen's cheeks before going to the tray next to the large TV and brought the whole bottle with him.
"That's a very big moon."
Atobe glanced through the glass doors. "It is."
He poured some more for himself.
"I want some."
Atobe poured a little more for him. "You've almost had a glass-worth tonight."
"Buchou is going to be so pissed," Echizen laughed.
Atobe snorted.
"We should put some of that stuff in his food."
Atobe laughed. "That can be arranged."
"What time is it... Atobe-"
"-Keigo."
Echizen looked at him. "Keigo."
"I know just what to get you for a present."
"More than this?"
"1:15AM."
"Yep, buchou will dance the Hula tomorrow."
Atobe snickered at the image.
Echizen shook his head once after a sip.
"Maybe you should stop drinking that," Atobe said, taking the glass away, but kept sipping from his own.
"What did you want to get me?"
"A watch."
Echizen made a face.
They remained silent for a bit, enjoying the night before a chill ran through Echizen again.
"Hey, Atobe-"
"-Keigo."
"-Keigo."
"Yes?"
"I'm sixteen."
"Yes you are."
"I'm legal."
"Yep."
Echizen pouted before noticing Atobe's eyes and turning to him. "What?"
Atobe placed the glass on the table. "It's fun, annoying you," he said, leaning over.
Echizen's eyes widened in anxiety and a soft gasp escaped him before his lips were sealed by Atobe's. He didn't know what to do with his hands so he just left them on his sides.
Atobe's hands closed over his before their lips parted. He stood, still holding them. "Come, Ryoma."
Barefoot, they made no sound as they went to the large bed. Hesitation shook through Echizen right against Atobe's warm hands. When they were close enough, Atobe's lips returned to his, slowly making love to his brain while to moving unconsciously further towards the bed.
Minutes later, he lied down in the center of the bed, his shirt and pant buttons completely undone, panting deliciously vulnerable while Atobe sat up on his knees, straddling Echizen's legs as he unbuttoned his own shirt while he himself panted. When his shirt was discarded, Echizen pulled himself up. Atobe's lips found his neck once more as his hands pushed the white shirt off the smaller set of shoulders.
"Keigo..." Echizen gasped before Atobe pushed him back down and returned his attention to every nerve under every inch of skin. He felt slightly faint from the wine they had but gasped once more when teeth found intensely sensitive skin. "Keigo...!"
At sensitive spots, his toes curled and at others his back slightly arched, but his fingers remained clutching at the pillow under his head and sheets below him.
When Atobe dipped lower than his navel, Echizen cried out, his hands flying to stop him. "No!"
Atobe brought himself up against the startled Echizen, not even questioning him for a reason.
As Echizen kept apologizing, Atobe kept shushing and kissing his face, shoulder and neck.
"It's ok. It's ok, Ryoma," he kept saying.
"I'm sorry... I ruined it. The first nice birthday I get and I ruined it," he said, panicking to the shivering point of tears.
"You didn't ruin anything, Ryoma. I'm just happy you're here." Atobe moved to tug the covers above them, feeling warmth would have calmed Echizen down. "Let's get under the covers."
Echizen looked at him. "You're not angry?"
"You underestimate me," Atobe said, removing his pants and pulling the covers up. "Want to remove yours?"
Echizen blushed.
"I won't do anything."
With hesitation, he removed his pants too and quickly went under the covers.
Atobe smiled when the soft back rested against his chest.
"Keigo... thank you."
"What for?"
"Um... for going all-out? No one's ever done anything like this just for me."
"I was worried your affections were someone else's possession."
"What they had," Echizen said and paused for a few seconds, "what you asked me before about Tezuka-buchou and Fuji-senpai."
Atobe's arms came around him.
Echizen's wish echoed in his mind, lulling him to sleep.
Atobe placed one last kiss on his hair before he too gave in to the night.