A/N: Here we are but i'm not quite sure if I want to do another short chapter on this story or just leave it? what do you all think?

KiTtEn18sMiLe- Well This fic has always had its action so we'll see if Ai is in it for the money or a greater purpose.

PheonixShadow- I know, but it's been a long time and it's finally to draw the curtains on their hectic life.

MARYLOVER- When in doubt, he doubted so you can see how unstable their relationship is despite the fact that they've been together for a year in the fic already. Despite all that time, they haven't had time to fully understand and be "together".

xxxKaixxx- At this point, everyone will reveal their sides and the time for a bit more Thrill is overdue.

Fated

Rated: M

Summary: When does the heart skip a beat? When do eyes really meet? Can you really say that love at first sight really does exist?

Those are all the typical questions someone might think and brush off but Fuji Syuusuke, a genius by nature, who had refused to use his IQ anymore than he had to, was absolutely sure that if he entered the international business world, he'd see "him" again.

Chapter XXIII: Fated For You

Recap

XxX

Business Room

Ai shot without blinking but Fuji was surprised to not feel pain shoot through him. He opened his eyes to see Ai's gun aimed at Nomorou who had dropped his gun in an angry roar to hold onto his shoulder that she had shot almost at point blank.

"You bitch!" Nomorou swore out.

"You threaten me and not expect me to gain an upper hand?" Ai asked kicking the gun he dropped away towards Fuji.

"Ai…" Rina started only to stop as the

The room came to chaos once more as men dressed in black filed in with gun drawn.

"Shoot the bitch and everyone else!" Nomorou shouted.

"You're under arrest Nomorou Chiaki for corruption, kidnapping, and god knows what else." One man said approaching him with handcuffs.

"Shit!" He cursed but allowed them to take him away.

"Ai…" Fuji started.

She dropped the gun on the table and sat down with a sigh. As if at a drop of the curtain, her mask fell off and she trembled horribly. It was like two different people in that instant but Fuji could understand her fear. He had never had to shoot anyone so he wouldn't understand the need to defend one's self but he had felt that constant fear ever since he started working for Ryoma.

"You did well." Rina said straightening up. She loosened the tension with a small smile and hugged Ai softly.

"You too," Ai said with a small smile. "You could be an actress with a little bit of work."

"You mean I'M the only one who didn't know?" Fuji asked with wide eyes at how easily these two were conversing as if it had been a simple day that didn't involve a near-death experience and guns.

"Ryoma and I knew Ai was playing a double-agent but I had no idea of this plan either." Rina admitted. "We left the move to make on Ai's part and for a while, she was so convincing, I thought she had betrayed us all."

"You did well though," Ai said as her hands shook when she reached to brush a lock of her hair back.

"No… you did." Fuji cut in. Jealousy stemmed within his relief at the thought that Ryoma had not trusted him enough to reveal that Ai was always with them.

XxX

A Week Later

"All that now matters is that Nomorou is under custody and no matter how long it takes us to recover from all the damage he has caused Japan; know that I will work hard to make Japan prosper once more!"Nakatsu said strongly to the crowd as he addressed the public to explain the recent situation in Japan.

There had been nothing but deprivation of sleep and sense after Nomoru's arrest for the politicians and business owners. Many of Nomorou's men had come forward to spill his dark secrets in exchange for their own lives and profit while others tried to rebuild their crumbling companies and policies that suffered under Nomorou's undercover monopoly that he had been working at for the last few years. Ryoma was scheduled to speak soon of his opposition to Nomorou and how he fought for Japan against Nomorou but he had declined to give an interview or speak sooner than he needed to due to the need to straighten his own business.

"I was proud of him… proud to stand beside him and see from his eye. Yet what bugged me was that I had been with this man for a little over a year now and I still couldn't understand all he was and am.

Did he love me? Does he love me?

I barely had time to think of that as I was hounded by the press for my thoughts on being taken hostage. I had work to do, people to meet and a million other details that were exhausting me. My family visited regularly almost as if they were afraid I'd disappear and I felt like my whole life that had already been fast-paced started to gather even more speed.

XxX

2 Months Later

Cemetery

Ryoma pressed his fingers to his lips and placed them on Nanako's gravestone softly as his eyes skimmed the etchings on the grave. It had been a little over half a year since he had stood here watching the coffins be lowered into the ground but the pain that spiraled through him was as raw as that day. That day he had vowed revenge on the people responsible for Shun and hear death and today he was here to tell not only her but his parents that all was well and he had completed that he had promised. He felt a burden lift from him and though his burden should've been heaviest, it was the lightest in his eyes because of all the people who believed and stood beside him.

He had spent time changing Mizuhuchi over to him and finally last month he had finished the switch that Mizuhuchi-san had wanted him to do for a long time before he even passed. He had renamed the company Echizen as was the wishes of Mizuhuchi who was almost like a father to him. Nonetheless, he had commissioned and placed a memorial down in the reception area to Mizuhuchi, the founder and strong CEO who held his ground to the last moment before Ryoma came to the company. He may not have been the smartest and most driven person but Ryoma respected his wish of wanting to support Japan and creating jobs to benefit the people of Japan.

Through the last two months Ryoma had worked extra hard with his team and together they were able to capture the main people running the ropes with Nomorou and now all were behind bars being tried for bribery, fraud and other charges while others that had nothing to do with the treachery found other work in other companies and moved on with life. It was a small victory for such a long war but they were progressing in the right way for once.

Nomorou had decided to not wait around and let the people of Japan judge him though. He plotted to have Wataku and a few of his loyal people take him out of Japan but their plan was thwarted by Department X and he had to be shot down

Fuji's brother Yuuta had gone on to climb in the corporation he joined. He had been angry that his brother had been placed in such a dangerous position but he was striving on his goal to beat out his older brother one day as a better executive. Fuji had merely smiled and told Ryoma that Yuuta needed a goal to look forward to.

Fuji's sister Yumiko was now settled with no debts and doing what she loves best. She was reading fortunes and satisfied that all was well and the road seemed clear for Fuji and his love life as she had said with a smile.

Ryoma didn't know about that but even he knew their status needed to be talked about and brought forward or broken. He was hoping Fuji would want to bring it forward.

Atobe was rebuilding his company to be better and withstand more than it originally could. That meant consulting Ryoma but Ryoma really didn't mind so much… though the man could stop with his diva status and ask like a normal person.

Kamui and Yukimura gave into their desire though Ryoma had frowned at it. Kamui was still VERY young and Yukimura should know better. Ryoma especially frowned on the fact that Kamui didn't look happy that he was attracted to Yukimura but Yukimura had been all smiles and touchy.

'Love isn't as simple as saying no," Yukimura had pointed out AFTER he had reminded Ryoma that he was NOT Kamui's father.

Nonetheless, Ryoma had agreed as long as he wasn't going to rush anything on Kamui and Kamui wasn't going to stray from his goal of being Prime Minister one day.

Out of curiosity, Fuji had asked Yukimura if he minded Kamui ruling over him, Yukimura merely told him with a wide smile.

"I'll enjoy supporting him from the bottom."

Nakatsu and Rina are due to marry in mid-summer. To the surprise of Ryoma, he felt neglected and jealous that his secretary was being fished out from under him by a man he found. It was hard getting used to the fact that he was no longer Rina's first priority outside of work but slowly he felt himself adjusting and Rina was constantly reminded him that the mini things he requested could easily be taken care of by Fuji.

Ryoga had gone back to his professional career leaving Ryoma in Fuji's care as he said with a grin at the airport despite Ryoma's frown. The relationship with Katsurugi Hitomi is questionable since they seem to have a strong hate/love relationship and Fuji had mentioned to Ryoma that he had seen them very close and cozy more than once. Then again, his brother went through girls like toilet paper so maybe it was just another one?

The Ishida brothers have healed completely from their injuries and rehabilitating was becoming easier so they were expected to be able to actively work again very soon.

Kirihara was doing what he said he was going to do and that was taking a long awaited vacation that he needed. He had also patted Fuji on the shoulder and entrusted Ryoma to Fuji to watch over till he got back and that got Ryoma thinking, "When the hell did I become someone they could entrust to another."

Niou was in the middle of adjusting to care for the former Nomorou Company which has come under Echizen. If it worked out well, Ryoma was in a mind to hand it completely over to Niou's ownership so he wouldn't have to have so much on his plate. Niou had taken it gladly and told Fuji to work hard to support Ryoma since he was handing over Ryoma to him.

Noto is in the process of being trained to take over Shun's spot in Department X while Kirihara was on break. He was being left in charge with Shinji and though there wasn't much to do these days for the department, they were on hand just in case since the nation was still precariously on a cliff.

Ryoma had promoted Ayumi to Nanako's old spot after he had found out that after the scare she received from the gunners entering her house. He insisted she have a check up at the hospital and while there, she had found out she was pregnant and not just skipping her period over stress. Shiraishi ordered that she relax more often and she had been obedient… to a certain degree.

Ryoma also kept his promise to Narumi and had gone back into acting. She was now successful and thankful for all the backing she got from Ryoma.

Ryoma sent Yagyuu over to LA to continue working on overseas expansion for Ryoma. If it was successful and Yagyuu liked it, Ryoma was certain he'd hand over that branch to Yagyuu as he had set Niou off.

"Ryoma and I work hard every day still to create peace and give people jobs and hope. It took its toll by cutting our time short but when we did see each other, we drew strength from each look and touch.

I wanted to give him time to think as he stared at all the graves of the people who died for his dream but I knew he knew, it was more than just his dream, it was all of our dreams."

A lone tear streaked down his cheek but Fuji doubted he noticed. He was a pillar, a stronghold for Japan… its savior…but everyone had forgotten one thing. Echizen Ryoma was only a human. He was a living, breathing human…one who could cry, one who could die, one who could love.

Sadness filled Fuji's heart as he stared at the man who freely admitted after a day that he liked him bluntly; he looked at the man who willingly loved him because he was himself; but more than that he looked at the man who was but a man…nothing more, nothing less.

Sacrifices had to be made was too easy of a saying, I love you was used too lightly these days…but throughout everything Fuji was sure that his first love, the man he truly looked at was the one who stood in front of him. His stubborn chin lifted just so to show the strength he had, the straight posture to tell how the burdens never brought him down, and the golden eyes that never truly died of determination.

Even the best fall down sometimes…but when Ryoma fell…Fuji would make sure he was there to catch him! His goal had been to enter this world for him…but he had no purpose after that…it was only now he realized what he truly wanted with the dream he started. He wanted to be Ryoma's support, his life, his everything. Reaching out to wipe at the tear, Fuji felt Ryoma turn towards him and he mustered a smile for Ryoma. It wasn't one of pity, or his usual mysterious one; it was one to tell Ryoma exactly how much he meant to Fuji.

"I love you too…" Ryoma whispered leaning his head against Fuji. Without any words from Fuji, Ryoma was intuitive enough to know what the smile had meant. Together, they could do anything…and together they'd raise Ryosuke to inherit and run Echizen corp.

I was content to never know the truth of 'love at first sight'… because you can't say when and where it will happen… you can't guess the look of the person you've fallen for… but despite all that if your breath and heart can be stolen at first glance, can't you say THAT was love at first sight? Can't you take the risk to find out rather than letting it past?

A/N: THE END

Yes, that ends Fated…I hope you all enjoyed the story despite how little there really is of Ryoma and Syuusuke!

But besides that point, PLEASE give me an overall review! I'd appreciate a little note of how well or bad you thought my "business" attempt was. It's the last chapter and you know I only force you all to review then. :)

Thank you for reading and please continue to read my other stories!

I'm thinking of doing a LAST FINAL chapter for Fated which would focus on a year or two later to give Thrill more time as well as show more of the other characters. What do all of you think?