A/N: Hi everyone. This is going to be a short two-shot, I hope you will like it :)


Stubborn. Overachiever. Persistent. These are just some of the words my friends would commonly use to describe me. I consider them as compliments but my friends think of them as just one of my few little annoying quirks. It doesn't scare most people away, especially guys that wants to take me out on a date; they tend to gravitate more towards me in hope to get to know and understand me better. But once they peel off the pretentious layer of my façade and get to know the real Misaki Ayuzawa, learn about my trust issues, serious daddy issues, and get tangled in with this mess that I call my life, they will run the opposite direction faster than the speed of light.

I am dark and twisted and there's nothing that could change that, no matter how much anyone try.

After finishing my breakfast, I headed to the door and grabbed the leash and harness hanging on the wall. Unclasping the harness and the sound of metal clanking sent large paws running towards me.

"Excited to go for a walk, buddy?" my question made my sweet but overzealous, yellow-Labrador to jump around in excitement.

The walk to the park only takes a few minutes. It was a beautiful, Sunday morning and a few people are out early to enjoy the breezy, sunlight. A few older women and men were walking around the park, chattering away as they made another turn around the walking trail around the lake. And a few people I like to call 'people who got their shit together', were already out running around the park and getting some exercise done. If it wasn't for my dog, I don't think anyone would be able to get me out of the comfort of my bed, especially early in the morning.

The ringing of my phone pulled me out of my reverie. Without checking the caller ID, I immediately answered the phone.

"Hey," I said to my friend, Sakura on the other line. We walked the grass and I unbuckled his leash to let him play around.

"I am at the park right now," I sat down on the grass and threw the ball away. He followed the ball and happily scampered away to catch it.

"How was your date?" a small smile tugged on my lips when she began telling me her story. It has been a while since she last dated someone and it felt nice to hear that she was happy and contented.

He sprinted back to me with his favorite toy and dropped it onto my lap.

"Alright, tell me everything tonight at dinner," I threw it further this time and it rolled to the sidewalk. He excitedly dashed after it and disappeared from my sight.

"Shit. He might be leaping onto someone right now," she laughed on the other end, familiar with my dog's natural habit.

"I will see you later," I bid my goodbye and hurriedly walked over to the sidewalk.

It took me a few seconds to spot my dog who was shockingly idle, quietly being petted by a young man sitting on one of the benches facing the lake. Roy was giving the man his best puppy dog eyes while eyeing the espresso cup he was holding with visible whipped cream on top, it was similar to the puppuccino I used to buy for him as a treat.

My pace slowed down as I slowly approached them

The man looked up, "Your dog?" He asked

"Yeah. Sorry about that,"

"Come here, Roy," he looked back at me and returned to my side. I sat down beside the stranger to put back his leash.

"He seems like a good dog,"

I glanced at him and nodded my head.

"How long have you had him?"

"2 years. I adopted him when he was just 5 months," I could still remember the first day I saw him at the animal shelter and I knew right away I wanted him to be my own.

"What's his name?"

"Roy," I secured his harness.

"And yours?" I paused for a second before looking back. My eyes met his gold pools and he gave me a boyish grin. His intention seemed harmless as he continued to study my reaction.

"I am Tora," he introduced himself first.

But isn't everyone harmless until you get to know them and they start showing their true colors?

I gave him a small smile "'Misaki," as if on cue my dog pulled on the leash and started tugging to the other direction.

I faked an apologetic smile and stood up, "I have to get going, sorry if my dog bothered you,"

"Wait, would you like to go get coffee with me sometimes?"

I stared at his face with a blank expression while I tried to come up with a good excuse, finally giving up I muttered five simple words that made the stranger arch his brows at me.

"Sorry, I don't do dating,"

Clearly taken a back with my forwardness, a small smirk formed on the corner of his lips and he slowly nodded his head, "Alright, I will see you around,"

After an awkward goodbye, my dog and I walked back to my apartment.

I hung his leash back on the wall and kneeled down in front of him, "Life is better this way. Right?" I scratched his back while he tilted his head to the side and inched closer to lick my face.

-xxx-

I sensed something different as soon as I opened the door to my apartment.

"Roy?" I yelled out as I dropped my bag and folders on the kitchen table.

My dog would usually greet me as soon as I get home and surprise me with mess scattered all over the room but the eerie quietness made me break out into a cold sweat.

I made my way to the living room where I found him weakly laying down on his bed with his food left untouched.

"What's wrong, buddy?" he stood up from his bed and feebly walked towards me. We sat on my carpeted floor as he snuggled against me. I slightly scratched his stomach and he let out a pained whimper.

"It's okay, baby. We will get you some help,"

I immediately reached for my phone to contact my friend

"Hey, Hinata," he answered after the third ring

"Can you tell me where your vet's clinic is?" I ran to my bedroom and changed into more comfortable clothes while I continued talking to him.

"Yeah. Okay," I nodded my head, "My vet is out of town and Roy is sick,"

I grabbed his leash and collar, "He hasn't eaten anything yet since this morning," I looked at my dog and sighed in pity. It was hard to see my dog in this kind of state.

"Alright. Thank you," after ending the call, I put on his leash and headed to the parking lot to wait for my friend.

With Hinata's help we brought him to the clinic. The clinic was located near the plaza and since it was rush hour, it took us a while to get there. A nice middle-aged woman brought us to a room and Roy laid down on the table almost lifelessly. I couldn't imagine what kind of pain he was going through.

"It will be okay, baby," I scratched his ears to console him and he let out another whimper.

"He will be fine, don't worry," Hinata assured me.

The door creaked open and the veterinarian stepped in, "Hinata,"

"Hey, Takumi," he greeted back

I looked up from my seat and my eyes riveted on a young, blonde man

"This is a good friend of mine, Misaki," the man redirected his attention to me and green pools gazed at me.

"Hello, Misaki," he addressed me

"Misaki, this is Takumi. He is one of the best," he patted him on the back

"I already know that," he replied.

"Thanks for seeing us," he walked towards the table and I got a closer look of his face. I caught myself staring a second too long as I became mesmerized with his bright forest-green pools, I cleared my throat and looked away in embarrassment.

"No problem," he looked down at Roy and patted him on the back, "Now. Let's see what's happening with this big boy,"


A/N: Thanks for reading, I will upload the last chapter later this week and dont forget to let me know what you think of the story so far :))