The Love I'll Never Find Again

Chapter Title: The Love I'll Never Find Again

Pairing: Atobe/OC

Chapter Summary: Getting engaged to a half-British young woman and getting along with the arrangement that will be nullified in five years' time if no romantic feelings emerged between them was a little crazy in his perception. Especially if he could clearly see now what lies ahead of his future if that woman disappeared in his life forever. At that realization, he already knew he was lost.

So this is another one-shot I wrote which you can say is a continuation of the chapter with the title "For Real?!". This is written more on Atobe's perception since he would be most likely explaining how he and Julie became engaged. Of course, this will come out a little cheesy and sort of OOC-ish (or maybe even crappy) one shot so be warned. Julie appeared in Chapter 5 of "Seasons of Chances and Love 2: Perfect Love In Summer" so I guess I can considered this, still, as a side story for "Seasons of Chances and Love" series.

Anyway, enjoy reading this story. Please do leave a review if you have comments/suggestions. It will help me in more ways than one.

Standard disclaimer applies. You are warned that the characters might not be in their usual selves (in other words, possible OOCness).

NP: "Now That I Found You" by Michael Bolton

-x-x-

I can still remember

When all I had was time

A time when I had nothin'

But this empty heart of mine

Would it be really weird if someone like Atobe Keigo actually thought of the future—and I mean the far future—just because he got strangely engaged (for real, this time) to a young woman of high class? In the young master's perception, it wasn't only weird.

It was completely crazy.

But that was what happened to him. His engagement to a young half-Japanese woman named Julianna Marie Elzea made him think of the future—something he rarely does. Yes, he was aware that he'd inherit the Atobe family's vast fortune as soon as he reached the right age. He knew he would be the one to lead his family's group of companies as soon as he was done studying.

At least, he thought about that kind of future about him.

That one that Atobe considered crazy as he thought about the future concerned theyoung Elzea heiress—Julie. Yes, her family called her that way. And since the two of them became engaged due to an old family agreement—their fathers were to blame for that, he was given the privilege to call her that way, as well. It was shorter, in his opinion, and so he agreed.

But since the first day, his girl had truly intrigued him—in more ways that one.

When I needed inspiration

When the night was all I knew

You were the light shinin' into my life

The reason for all the love I'm feelin'

"Keigo-bocchama, the files that you needed have arrived. And I also brought you some tea," the family butler announced that brought him out of his reverie.

The young master acknowledged it with a nod and soon said that the butler could leave. The servant obliged. Once again, he was left to think of his "fiancee" all alone in that room.

"Fiancee… huh?" Yes, it was really a weird thing he could think of that word now without actually loathing it to the core. He must admit—in his own Atobe way, of course—that the word first gave him contempt all because he was still clueless about the identity of the woman he was betrothed to.

But during that one fateful night he met her for the first time, loathing the words "engagement" and "fiancee" seemed to be the last thing in his mind as soon as he laid his eyes on her…

-x-x-

For a half-British half-Japanese lady like Julie, she surely carried herself regally as expected. There wasn't any signs of shyness or reluctance in her posture and stance as she entered the room where they held their first meeting that night. Just as how the other members of the Elzea family would usually project themselves to the public and to the world. At the sight of Julie approaching Atobe and his family in such regal manner already made him realize that she was completely different from all the girls he encountered in his life.

One thing Atobe noticed, though, was the Julie was too quiet for his taste. During the meeting, she rarely spoke a word. She didn't even retaliate about his father's announcement of their engagement. Normally, those women trying to get engaged themselves to him would either react immediately in excitement or get angry because they didn't want to tie themselves in such useless arrangements.

But Julie's reaction was different—one that sparked his interest about her even more.

Now that I've found you

I don't know how I lived without you

I don't know how I survived without your love

Now that I've found you

I only know I'd be lost without you

"Otou-sama, if I agree with this kind of arrangement without complaints, I'm hoping it won't interfere with my duties to the family and to the princess," Julie started as she faced her British father Charles Elzea.

Atobe saw Charles nod in understanding. "I know that, my daughter. I'm very well aware of your position to the family. I asked your mother's opinion about this before I proceeded with the plan. So you don't have to worry about anything."

"This arrangement, Julie, will never hit any important duties that you and Keigo have to your families and I can assure you that," said Atobe's father with a reassuring smile.

At that, Atobe saw Julie heave a sigh of relief. She neither agreed nor disagreed with the arranged marriage idea yet. But one question lingered in his mind after that, though. How important was Julie's filial duties for her to say such things? Because of that, he even thought she didn't have that much freedom because she was too bound to her duties.

"Ore-sama would like to know more about this 'princess' you spoke of," Atobe uttered. But to his surprise, he saw Julie smiled and soon broke in small fits of laughter. His father found it confusing while her father found it amusing.

What could have made this girl do that?

I found the love

That I'll never find again

"I'm sorry for that sudden act. I just couldn't help it," she said as she smiled. "I thought my cousin Tetsuya was already too pompous for my taste and for his own good. It turns out you can beat him to it, Atobe Keigo-san."

Another weird thing happened. He didn't feel insulted with her words.

"It's ore-sama, after all. Be awed at my prowess."

"Well, sorry but I don't get easily awed by someone's prowess—if they really have one to begin with—unless I'm able to see a proof of it."

Well, this girl was way too blunt for his taste. That was for sure. But his intrigued for Julie had easily dissipated his irritation over her actions and responses.

"Now, Julie, don't get yourself into a petty argument with someone at the moment. We have an arrangement to settle," Charles interjected which was enough to keep the young woman quiet.

Atobe could tell it wasn't out of fear why she became silent. She wanted to listen or at least understand her father's words with regards to the reason of their meeting that night.

And so the two fathers explained to them the full reason for Atobe Keigo and Julianna Marie "Julie" Elzea to meet that night. Of course, it still had something to do with business and old college promises that the two family patriarch made. But this arranged marriage agreement had some twist on it, though.

For once, Atobe couldn't tell if he was going to be happy about it or not.

-x-x-

'Cause all I ever needed

And all I ever wanted has come true

I found it all now that I've found you

"An arranged marriage agreement that will be nullified after five years…" Those were the words that Atobe fully remembered from the conversation that had transpired that night more than two years ago. He was in second year of his middle school when it happened.

It wasn't a lifetime agreement, the two fathers stated quite clearly to them. It would only last for five years, no more no less. Of course, the twist to that was: if something happened in the span of that five years that would be beyond their control, especially to that of Atobe and Julie, then the arrangement could be reconsidered.

In other words, if neither found themselves falling in love with each other within the span of five years given to them as a time frame to change each other's feelings, then the arranged marriage agreement would be rendered null and void in an instant. That means the agreement would only be secured if there was an emotional involvement between him and Julie.

Seriously, when did his father actually consider emotional involvement in arranged marriages such as the one that happened to him and Julie?

I could've searched forever

And never realized

The treasure of a lifetime

Was the love inside your eyes

And yet, there he was—still thinking of what to do to capture that elusive young woman's heart which he never did to other girls before. But with their current duties to their respective families, he was stomped.

During those two years that had passed since that announcement, Atobe did his best to learn more about Julie and her life. He discovered her to be a very artistic and intelligent woman. Too intelligent, as a matter of fact, that she had found herself advancing to her studies, thus enabling her to enroll in one of the famous universities in Vienna, Austria. That's right, Julie was already a university student at a young age of 16. She dedicated herself in painting whenever she had free time and even he was amazed at her artistry. Yet he would never admit that to her for now. At least not at the moment.

When I reach for inspiration

In your touch, it's always there

Givin' me faith every step of the way

Givin' me all I ever needed

And he also learned that, since she belonged to the famed Yumemiya family because of her Japanese mother Yumemiya Emi, Julie was quite adept in sharpshooting. In fact, she was one of the most skilled sharpshooters in the family alongside her older brother Chrono Arthur Elzea, and her maternal cousins Yumemiya Mamoru and Miyako. So he knew full well not to get to Julie's bad side. Or else, he'd find himself shot in between the eyes in 3 seconds flat.

For real.

Yet through all that, he couldn't feel fear even though he was aware of Julie's true combat skills. Worry, yes. He would always worry for her safety. But he knew she would do her best to come back alive and unscathed. She admitted that to him once before, when she visited him out of the blue.

He would visit her in Vienna. She would visit him in Tokyo. All were decided in the spur of a moment. Of course, they must be aware of those visits so that they wouldn't miss out each other. Through that, both of them were getting chances to know each other. It was those visits that made Atobe slowly becoming aware of the emerging new emotion in his heart.

Atobe sighed as he looked outside the window and observed the clear sky. Soon after, he faced the folder that the butler had placed on his study table. He strode a few steps and stopped beside it before taking the said file and opened it.

But he frowned at what he had just read on it.

Now that I've found you

I don't know how I lived without you

I don't know how I survived without your love

Now that I've found you

I only know I'd be lost without you

I found the love that I'll never find again

"Didn't I tell you not to do anything to find the identity of the princess I'm tasked to protect?"

He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. His eyes remained fixated to the information he was reading.

"You know how Ore-sama's mind works when overwhelmed with curiosity, Julie," he said without turning around. He had to stay like that for a while to calm himself.

Soon after, Atobe heard her sigh that made him finally turn around and faced Julie. She was sitting on the on the windowsill while facing outside with a melancholic look. Come to think of it, he'd sometimes see her like this. But whenever he would asked her about it, she would say it was nothing despite knowing it was a blatant lie.

'Cause all I ever needed

And all I ever wanted has come true

I found it all now that I've found you

"I'm hiding that part of the truth from you because of the oath I made when I decided to accept the task, Keigo. Please try to understand that. I'm doing this not just for the clan but also for you and your family. I don't want you to get caught up in the mess," Julie said without looking at him.

But for one moment, he had heard and felt fear, hopelessness, and desperation in those words. Of course, without a question, it arouse his curiosity even more. And yet her pleading appeared to be one thing that even he—the King of Hyoutei Atobe Keigo—couldn't possibly ignore. It was something he realized for more than two years since the engagement.

"You're talking as if Ore-sama can't even protect himself, Julie."

"Because that's the truth," she deadpanned before finally facing him. "You're still weak in terms of similar physical combat that I'm facing. Keigo, I know you're curious but it's for the best if you don't know anything about all this. It would be safer for you."

"Ore-sama doesn't take orders from a girl and you know that, Julie." Seriously, this young woman was beginning to get on his nerves.

"I don't give orders to a pompous brat and you know that, as well, Keigo," she retorted firmly. "I'm saying this not as an order but as a request."

And every step of the way

I'm gonna dedicate my heart to you

Promise you my world forever

Pledgin' my love my whole life through

Well, that had truly tugged him in the heart. Julie rarely made any request to him. In fact, if he was to recall properly, this would be the first time she made a request to him. And at that point, he was aware on how extremely serious the situation was.

But before he could respond to that, he grunted when he saw Julie disappeared—again. Seriously, that woman should stop being so discreet. With that, he opened the file he was reading a while back once again and eyed a certain part that eventually made him decide to grant Julie's wish… for now.

Mission: Protect the surviving member of the Shinomiya clan

Member's identity: Unknown

Now that I've found you

I don't know how I lived without you

I don't know how I survived without your love

Now that I've found you

I only know I'd be lost without you

I'll give you my love that I swear will never end

Of course, it only meant that the Yumemiya clan—and perhaps even the Elzea family—did their best to keep the princess (whoever that was) from being exposed to the enemies. And looking at this kind of result for the fifth time, Atobe guessed that he sould temporarily put the issue to rest until he found another way to discover the truth.

He looked at the window where Julie sat a while back. Until now, he could see her melancholic expression that he wanted so much to erase from her face. But as always, she disappeared so fast.

Just as how fast she had appeared in his life.

'Cause all I ever needed

And all I ever wanted has come true

And yet Atobe wanted nothing less than to chase after her in his own way. He would catch her and never let her go. He still had to confirm something—everything. Julie was the only one who could give an answer that he sought for.

So for now, he would allow himself to think of the future. Because he swore that one day—in the future, he would make sure to make it all come true. After all, he already lost.

Atobe would never allow himself to lose Julie—whatever it takes.

I found it all now that I've found you

-x-x-

I'm not sure what to say about this. Seriously…