Tennis no Ojou-sama: A Prince of Tennis Fan Fiction

CHAPTER 43: Wife, my butt...

After Ryouko purchased the item, they went on their way. As they walked, she kept on throwing him furtive, taunting glances while her lips were turned up in a smirk.

Unable to stay silent any longer, Atobe said, "It was an innocent mistake."

"Just which part of you is innocent?" Ryouko said with a grin.

"Yamero. (Stop it.)" Atobe said threateningly, his eyes narrowed.

Ryouko laughed a pure tinkling sound. "I was kidding."

On their way back to the Fujioka mansion, Atobe couldn't help but look at Ryouko. But everytime she looked back at him, he averted his eyes to the scenery outside the window.

Minutes later, the chauffeur called their attention. "We're here, oujo-sama, obocchama."

"Hayakatta na. (That was fast.)" Atobe said.

"Huh?" Ryouko asked, looking at him.

"I said 'Why aren't you getting out?'" He answered.

"Hmph. I'm getting out. Don't worry." She said and went out when the chauffeur opened the door for her.

"Arigatou. (Thanks.)" She told the driver.

"Dou itashimashite, oujo-sama. (You're welcome, Young Miss.)

Atobe rolled the glass window down and said, "Don't come back to my house ever, you hear?"

"I won't even if you beg me to." She answered.

Atobe scoffed and started to roll back the window upwards.

The chauffeur went inside the driver's seat when Ryouko stopped him. "Chotto mate kudasai. (Please wait a moment.)"

She opened the small paper bag with the leather case and took out one of the wristbands. She motioned for Atobe to open the window. He did so.

"Hora yo. (Here you go.)" She said, holding the wristband towards him.

Atobe looked at it questioningly. "I was thinking of giving the other one to Ryoma, but I'll give it to you instead... In exchange for the ring." She told him.

He looked at it skeptically for several seconds. Ryouko rolled her eyes. "If you don't want it, then fine." She began to withdraw her hand when he suddenly snatched the wristband.

"Who said that I'm not taking it?" He said and rolled the window back up. Ryouko barely saw him gesturing at the chauffeur to drive away.

The driver bowed his head to Ryouko for the last time before driving off. She looked at the car's rear until it disappeared behind the Fujioka gates.

She strolled back to the mansion to find Ichidou waiting for him at the door. "I didn't mean it, Ryouko-chan. Honest." He said apologetically, his eyes wide.

"Daijoubu dayo. (It's fine.)" She said, passing by him and patting him encouragingly on the shoulder.

"Hontou? (Really?)" Ichidou said, blinking. He watched Ryouko climb the grand staircase with a smile on her face.

"She didn't get angry." Ichidou told himself, mystified. "I was sure she was gonna hang me once she's home. I wonder what happened..."

~~~

Atobe threw the wristband on his bed. He picked up the phone directly connected to the kitchen. "Oi! Get me a glass of iced tea and a plate of pasta!" He yelled.

"Hai, obocchama!" Came the muffled answer of a maid from the other line. He placed the phone back to the receiver.

His eyes landed on the wristband. He sat on the bed and picked it up. He put it on his left wrist and admired it. A smile formed on his lips. Then he realized what he was doing and wiped the smile off his face.