Epiloge

12 Years Later

The door opened with a slight creek, the sound of rain radiating from behind, a hazel eye peeked into the room to find an empty foyer, but the sounds of clicking keys could be heard through the open doorway, diagonal to the door. Taking a deep breath, the male made the rest of his way through the door, slipping off his shoes he began to tip-toe his way pass the gaping door way while clutching a bundle to his chest.

"And where do you think your going Ren?"

Ren froze at the sound of the person in the other room. Gulping he found his voice to reply, "I was going to go change into something more comfortable, you know how the weathers been."

"Your point?"

"I kinda got drenched out there."

"I haven't heard of any rain falls in the last twelve hours." The key clicking suddenly stopped as the sound of a chair swiveling could be heard along with the tapping of a socked foot. "Ren get in here."

Another Ren gave another gulp, but obeyed. He took a few steps back to see him dearly beloved husband turned towards the doorway with his arms crossed. A ginger eyebrow rose as he saw a bundle clutched to the brunet's chest, "What's in the coat Ren?"

The hazel eyed man looked into amethyst eyes, knowing he couldn't lie to his soulmate. "It's a-"

He was cut off by the bundle starting to squirm out of his hold, causing it to fall out of his grip and land on the floor with a 'thud' and 'yelp'.

Amethyst eyes looked at the form on the floor, a small, wet, white and tan patched dog with big brown eyes and floppy ears. Looking back up at the taller male's hazel eyes, "Ren, what have we discussed?"

"I know I know, you said a dog would distract you from your work, but she was all alone out there in a box and she wet and cold, a-and she could've been captured and used as an experiment for some sort of -"

A sigh cut him off as the love of his life closed his eyes, "It's alright, it's fine, we'll keep the dog-"

He was cut off when the brunet tackled him in his chair in a bone crushing hug. "Thank you! Thank you Shuu, I will take such good care of her, she'll be so well trained that you won't even know that she's here and-!"

"Until we find her a permanent residence."

"But...Gakashuu..."

"Ren, we've been over this. We can't afford distractions. Especially with a dog around."

Hazel eyes narrowed as they glared in amethyst colored orbs. "We do have the time you're just being stubborn about it."

The two stared for what felt like an eternity till a light bulb went off in the brunet's head. A sly grin spread across his face. "How about we make a deal?"

A ginger brow rose, "What do you propose?"

"If you don't fall in love with Joon by this time next month, I'll find her a home, a good one."

A smirked flashed onto the other male's face, "And what do I get if you loose?"

Ren bit his inner lip, but held steady. "Whatever you want."

A mischievous glint shined in the ginger's eyes, "Oh I have an idea," a chuckle escaping his lips.

A shutter ran down Ren's back, who knows what perfectionist had in store for him. He had to win. It might make him open up to new ideas more.

"If the mutt is staying, then she needs a bath, I'm not allowing a filthy animal to roam in here ."

The brunet gave a small smile and a short nod as he turned and picked up the small puppy that sat right where she was last seen, her ears perked up and tongue hanging out. A smile graced him as he leaned down and picked up the happy puppy. "Come on Joon let's get you cleaned up."

Ren walked out of the room with Joon in his arms, leaving the ginger alone. A smirk adorned his features, "This will be interesting."

Few Days Later

Amethyst eyes flickered over to the ticking clock only to return to the computer screen in front of him. A tired sigh left him as he laid back on the couch and closed his eyes. His vision was engulfed in darkness by only a few moments when a whine got his attention. Cracking his eyes open, he saw that the little dog his husband brought home the other day sitting on the floor with big brown eyes staring into his own, a bright blue ball in his mouth. "What is it?"

The little dog lowered her head and dropped the ball on the floor, he gave a small whine as his tale began wag. "What, you want me to throw this?" He asked as he reached down and picked up the slightly wet ball.

The small dog jumped into a playing position, giving a playful bark. Gakushuu sighed, 'Why did Ren have to bring home a dog? Why?!' Amethyst orbs looked over at the dog then the ball. "If I throw this will you not be a hindrance to my work?"

The domesticated mammal gave a yap in response. "Alright, there."

He tossed the ball lazily through the doorway, the dog ran on traction less hardwood floors and ran through the opening in the wall as she chased the ball out of the room, sliding as she went along. The young adult sighed as he sat back up on the couch, laptop resting in his lap, and ginger went back to his almost finished work, but that all stopped when the sounds of claws on hardwood came back into the room, stopping right next to the piece of furniture.

Gakushuu turned his head to see the puppy had returned with the ball, tail wagging. "I thought we had an agreement? I have work." The dog barked at the human, dropping the ball onto the floor. Sighing once again, the ginger picked up the ball and clenched it in his hand. "One more time, got it?"

The dog gave another bark, "Okay." He turned towards the doorway and threw the ball again, but a little harder then before. Joon did the same action as before and raced out of the room after the bright blue plaything. Giving a hint of a smirk, the ginger turned back to his near complete work in peace, however it didn't last long. The clicking of claws returned and stopped next to the couch. An amethyst eye twitched, but he decided to ignore the small dog, maybe she'll go away if he didn't her pay attention. Sadly for the ginger his plan backfired, Joon remained sitting there with big brown eyes staring at the person on the couch, soon she let out a whine as she pawed at the ginger's knee, this lasted till, a growl escaped Gakushuu, "What?!"

Joon gave another whine as she pawed at his knee and nudged the ball with her nose. "No, I done threw it twice, that is all I have time for."

Another whine left the white and tan puppy, not giving up. They started into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours till one of them relented. "Fine! But no more!"

He scooped up the ball and chucked it out of the room, Joon chasing the projectile, only to come back seconds later, prancing in as if she had won a prize. Before Gakushuu had a chance to sit, she was back and placed the ball at his bare feet. "No."

The white and tan puppy gave a whine as she tilted her head at an adorable angle. "Oh no, I see through your game, I am not stooping to that level."
She kept it up, not relenting. "Alright!"

He once again picked up the ball and threw it, and the cycle repeated till the ginger eventually gave in. He finished and saved his work quickly and kept throwing the blue ball, and before he knew it he actually began to enjoy it. However he was knocked back into reality when he heard the front door open, "Shuu' I'm home."

'Crap!'
Speeding to the couch, the ginger pulled his finished work up and made himself look relaxed on the couch, just as Ren walked into the living room. "Hey, how was your day?"

"Fine, just filling forms and grading papers."

A tiny frown married onto Ren's face as he walked over behind the couch and wrapped his arms around the ginger from behind, "Didn't you bond with Joon any?"
A scoff left the smaller male, "Like I told you Ren, I don't like animals."

Ren's eyebrows quirked as his hazel orbs drifted over to Joon who sat on the hardwood with a lightly banged up blue ball resting next to her front paws. The look of love shined in her eyes as they looked at ginger, her tail wagging and ears perked. His eyes then fell to his significant other's hands, they had a light sheen of a drying liquid. A small grin made it's way to the brunet's face, so his husband was playing that way, well looks like they'll just have to see what the next few weeks bring them.

A Few Weeks Later

Ren's alarm went off only to be quickly shut down. Blurry hazel eyes blinked opened to see bright red numbers, reading 6:30 AM. Groaning, the brunet turned back over in his bed to spoon his husband. A smile graced his face as he nuzzled it into the other male's hair, inhaling his wonderful scent as his arms wrapped themselves around his torso. Sunlight made its way through the closed curtains, illuminating his soulmate's perfect features. A wonderful way to wake up in the morning, however all good must come to an end, work calls.

Forcing himself to sit up, Ren looked over at his beloved and what he saw made him smile even more. On the other side of Gakushuu laid Joon curled up in his stomach sleeping soundly with one of the ginger's hands resting on top of her back. "I guess I win."

He leaned over and kissed his beloved before getting out of bed and getting ready for work. To be honest Ren thought it was pretty clear that his competitive husband had bonded with the dog and falling in love with her little puppy nature. Ren thought back to all the times he'd see Joon following the ginger around, or the little smiles he'd give her when she did a trick for him when he thought the other wasn't looking. Actually it was pretty amusing how Gakushuu tried to make it seem like that he hated the puppy and wanted nothing to do with her, guess old habits die hard.

Ren finished getting ready and made some breakfast, and before he left the room he gave the ginger one more kiss on his temple. Once he was out the door amethyst eyes opened and the aroma of coffee hung in the air, a soft smile made its way to his face as he got up, waking Joon up in the process. Walking into the kitchen the ginger and poured himself a cup, then opened the sliding door to the backyard, allowing the puppy to run about. Sitting on the wooden swing, he gently sipped his hot beverage and caught a glimpse at some words written on his wrist.

'Miss you already.'

A small smile graced this face once again at the note, but an eyebrow quirked at the addition. 'P.S. I won our little wager.'

Ren...won? He won?! Oh no, Sakakibara Asano Gakushuu does NOT lose bets! Getting up, the ginger stormed over to the opened door and went to the kitchen counter for a pen, he raised his arm to start writing, he was gonna tell him what for and Ren will know what he already should know, that he does not lose be-!

His thought process was cut off as a small bark and whine gained his attention. Looking down he saw Joon sitting at his feet, tail wagging and tonged lolling out. Glancing quickly at his arm, he sighed as he put down the pen and bent down to allow the puppy to snuggle in his arms. Standing back up he looked in Joon's eyes as a smile made its way to his face, "What am in going to do with you?"

The puppy gave a small bark and licked his cheek, the ginger gave a small chuckle as he picked up the pen again and raised his arm, while balancing Joon, and relayed a message.

'I guess you did.'

The amethyst eyed man placed the pen back down on the counter and went back outside to sit on the swing, coffee cup still sitting on the seat, he laid Joon on his lap as he rocked the swing, his hand petting Joon's cores fur, a calming feeling.

Later that night

Ren returned home to find a quite house hold with many of the home's lights turned off. "Shuu' I'm home!"

Toeing off his shoes, Ren walked to the living room only to come across an adorable sight. His ginger haired soulmate was curled upon the couch with Joon curled up next to him. A smile spread across the brunets face, leaning over he pulled the throw blanket over his husband and leaned down and kissed the top of his head, "Sleep well."

He straightened back up and was about to leave when he felt a tug at the end of his sleeve, looking over and saw a pale hand loosely gripping his top, "Stay..."

Staring into groggy amethyst eyes, the brunet smiled again and said, "Only if you move over."

Gakushuu made a noise but shifted to make an opening. Grinning, Ren sat in the opening, only for his beloved to lay himself back down on top of him, after some shifting from the two, they were both laying on the couch, the ginger on top of him with his head in his chest. "Comfy?"

Ren received a grunt of approval as he sleepily nodded. Hazel eyes glanced at Joon who still slept soundlessly next to the couple, "She's a heavy sleeper."

"Sleep..."

A chuckle escaped from the brunet man, "Alright, alright." Ren adjusted himself and fixed the throw blanket over them- including Joon- and rested one hand on Joon's back, and the other around Gakushuu. "I love you Shuu'."

"Love you too," was his groggy reply.

Ren smiled as he closed his eyes, allowing sleep to over run take him, and his soulmate. A happy little family that insisted of two young adult men, and one happy puppy, truly a beautiful sight.
And all because one decide to heed an unwritten command, Reply already.

Fin
A/N: So that is the end, I know it is kind of short, but I wanted this out a finished, I know it kinda seems choppy, but I'm thinking I'll come back one day and do some one shots for in between scenes. I hope you enjoyed my piece of work, comment your thoughts and give some criticism cause I know I need it. More works coming soon, hopefully, have a goodnight.