Epilogue

Two years later…

Sho had a headache when he pulled the restaurant door open. He sat at his usual spot. After a few minutes, his favorite bowl of ramen was served in front of him.

“Please, enjoy!”

He smiled the moment he heard the voice he loved the most in this world. It had been almost two years since Nino had started working as apprentice at the restaurant owned by Ohno’s good friend. The latter had no children, so, if Nino proved to be capable, he’d be the next chef. He’d usually go there to have lunch. It was a chance not only to see Nino during the day, giving him the power to continue, but also to see how his lover had found the work that was meant for him. He always thought Nino had talent in cooking, and now, he finally had the opportunity to exploit it.

He took the first bite, feeling all the different smells explode in his mouth. “It’s perfect!”

Nino could only smile. Sho would always enjoy his food at its fullest, giving the best grimaces. He leaned closer. “I love to see you eating!” he threw him quick wink before he turned to the next customers that sat two chairs away from Sho.

Sho let his eyes follow the other’s silhouette. He could see the smile, the sparkle in his eyes… his whole presence was screaming… life. He still visited Masaki twice a month but was taking no longer antidepressants and the natural sleeping pills remained unused at the bathroom cabinet.

He was admiring him. He felt lucky to have by his side such a strong man, like Nino. He continued eating with a small smile. There was only three words that were lingering in his mind the whole time.

I love you…

***

“Where did you discover this restaurant, Jun?”

“It shouldn’t be a surprise that my Jun has great instinct and taste, Sho-kun.”

Sho shook his head seeing the way Jun looked at his boyfriend.

“I hope you behave when Satoshi comes! Don’t forget that tonight he’s going to bring his fiancée!” Nino hurried to remind both his lover and Jun. He knew how… immature they could be sometimes.

Sho cupped his hand under the table mouthing sorry. He knew how much Nino cared for the older man; Ohno Satoshi was his family. When the latter had revealed how guilty he felt for the way Nino was treated back when he was at the orphanage, it was a big surprise for his lover. Nino hadn’t known that Ohno knew about that bastard and their relationship and also hadn’t imagined how the older man had thought of him… what he wanted from him and how he saw him as someone important in his life. They had talked… a lot… right before Nino moved in with him. It was also that time that he started calling him Satoshi.

“Hey!” a voice was heard from a few meters away pulled Sho out of his thoughts.

Everyone turned around and saw Ohno coming closer with his fiancée. Undoubtedly, she was a beautiful woman and looked good together.

“I hope we’re not late!” Ohno said as they came closer. “Everyone this is Yuko Nikagawa, my fiancée.”

“Nice to meet you, Nikagawa-san,” Jun and Masaki said almost together.

Everyone got introduced properly. Ohno’s fiancée turned out to be a teacher for special needs who attended the same art seminar with Ohno.

The night went on with a vivid discussion on various topics. There was a lightness in the atmosphere, reflecting in a way the way both Sho and Nino felt inside. From time to time, they would brush their hands against one another or they would simply smile at each other, and Sho was sure of one thing. He was falling more and more in love with Nino every time he saw him smile. It was the most beautiful sight, accompanied with faint hints of wrinkles at the edge of his eyes every time he did so.  He was glowing and that was in Sho’s eyes breathtaking.

---

“You’ve been staring at me the whole night,” Nino commented the moment they entered in the apartment.

“Can’t I admire your beauty? Is it something forbidden?” Sho told in seriousness as he followed the shorter man inside.

“Sho, I’m speaking seriously! Masaki would nod at Jun chuckling all the time…!” Nino continued as he took off his shoes. He let out a small cry of surprise as two arms wrapped around his waist.

“One. They are not the ones to judge and you know it, and two. Who said that I care?” Sho turned Nino around, making him meet his gaze. “Don’t you know what you do to me when you smile?”

Nino smiled again, shyly, feeling his face turning red. “Hmmm… I have the tendency to forget…”

“Is that so?” Sho asked with a smirk.

“Maybe… What will you do about it?” Nino asked, a little bolder this time.

“A few ideas cross my mind…” Sho spoke in a hoarse voice, his breath landing on top of Nino’s lips as he lifted him up in the air.

The move made Nino laugh out loud as he wrapped his legs around his lover’s waist.

“And you’re doing it again…” Sho said even lower.

“Sho…” Nino whispered, his eyes locked on Sho’s mouth. All that was needed was a quick glance. The next minute, the two men found their way to their bedroom in a hurry.

Sho would make sure Nino wouldn’t forget again.

***

The next year…

15 June. 23:55

Nino couldn’t help smiling at the sight of Sho having fallen asleep on the sofa waiting for him. He knew the other was exhausted but always insisted on waiting for him to come back from the restaurant.

He came closer and let his hand caress his lover’s hair. They had been together for three years… and they were doing great… getting stronger together. He remembered how he had felt when he had woken up for the first time in this apartment, that now was also his. Confused… angry… afraid… Now, he could say that it was fate. Masaki had been right. It was fate to meet Sho… Thanks to this man in front of him, he was able to chase away all those demons that were haunting him from the moment he remembered his life. He came to discover who he really was, how much strength he was hiding in him… He was able to trust people… to laugh… cry… simply feel.

It was Sho’s love that made him explore himself and become the person he was after all these years. His hand moved to the cheeks, his smile growing bigger.

You’re so beautiful…

Sho looked innocent like this… trustable… Nino smiled. Maybe his subconscious had decided to trust him from the very beginning, when in his sleep he hadn’t left him to leave his side, back in the beginning… Sho had always said that it felt as if they were connected… The more he was with him, the more Nino also came to agree. They were connected… as if they were soulmates, destined to find each other to feel complete.

“Sho…” he whispered before he pressed his lips on those of his lover tenderly. “I’m back home…”

He saw him frowning as he opened his eyes. “Kazu…?”

Nino smiled. Sometimes, Sho would call him Kazu… It was somehow cute… “Why did you stay till this hour here? Still dressed?”

“Because there’s something I needed to tell you.” Sho replied more awake than before.

“O…k…? What is it?”

Sho took out of his jacket’s inner pocket an envelope. “Here. Open it!”

Nino frowned as he took the envelope in his hands and opened it. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “Sh… Sho?”

“We’re leaving, tomorrow. I’ve already spoken to your boss, I’ve taken my day off, too. Don’t worry! Everything’s ready.”

Nino could only hug his lover. “I can’t believe it!”

“You deserve it, my love!”

Nino said nothing more; he just crushed their lips together.

---

17 June. 10:50

“Hey…” Sho whispered the moment he saw Nino opening his eyes.

“Hey…” Nino said as he tried to sit up on the futon.

“Kazunari, are you ok?”

“Yes, don’t wo-”

“But I can tell you’re in pain… I should-”

“Have changed nothing,” Nino cut him off, “because it was perfect! I’m pretty sure you could tell that I enjoyed it! Really… it’s not what you think it is…”

Sho frowned in concern. “Then… your back?”

Nino smiled before he kissed his lover on the lips. “Yes. But nothing serious… Don’t forget that yesterday after the train journey till Kyoto, we went on walking around the neighborhood around the onsen… and then we made love a couple of times! It’s normal!”

Sho sighed, still not convinced.

“What do you say we enter our pool? I’m sure the hot water will make me feel better!” Nino pushed the covers away and, naked as he was, walked towards the private pool of their room.

Sho was still lying on the futon, his eyes following the silhouette of his lover. There was no more shyness… Nino was no longer afraid of how the marks on his body would look under the sunrays. He was confident, having embraced everything that made him him, and that was making him even more beautiful in Sho’s eyes… He was still trying to believe that this man had chosen him… that he was his…

“Sho! Come! It’s amazing!” Nino called him from the private pool, causing him to finally get up, too.

“I’m coming!” he replied.

His eyes fell for a moment, to the jacket folded on top of his luggage. A shy smile appeared on his face. Inside there was a small box with his present for the 30^th birthday of the most precious person in his life. It was rather symbolic, since there was no law that could name it official, but it was what he hoped could reflect his deep emotions for Nino and for their relationship. The two golden rings that were inside the box were chosen attentively with the precious help of all his friends.

As Sho entered in the pool, he wrapped his arms around Nino’s waist, bringing him closer.

“Happy birthday, my love!” he whispered onto Nino’s lips, that were curved into the smile he had come to love more and more.

“Thank you, Sho. It’s one of the most beautiful birthdays ever! I’m such a lucky man!”

“I am lucky to have found you, in my life, Kazu…” and with that locked their lips together into a deep, passionate kiss.

---

18 June. 21:35

“The bathroom is yours!” Nino announced as he entered in the bedroom.

Sho only pecked his lips before he headed to the bathroom with his bathrobe in hand.

Nino picked a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, and headed to the kitchen to prepare something quick for dinner. He could hear the water falling from the other room and could only smile as he started cutting vegetables for the omelet he’d prepare. If felt as many times in the past, but in the same time as something different. That night, the kitchen light was reflecting on his fourth finger of his left hand. He stopped for a second to look at the golden ring that he was now wearing. It symbolized the love he and Sho felt for one another… The forever. The everything.

He sighed, not able to stop smiling.

Yes… Sakurai Sho was his everything and he needed nothing more than this everything in his life.

OWARI

A.N. Sooo minna here’s the epilogue as promised!! ^^ It’s quite short but wanted to have some shirt glimpses of Sakumiya’s life – as well as everyone! I hope you enjoyed it! :)
I’m very happy to have finished this story that happens to be the first Sakumiya chaptered story of mine! I have truly enjoyed writing it!! ^^ I hope the Sakumiya fans (and not only xP) liked it till the end! :) I would like to thank each one of those who left comments because even a small thank you for me was a motivation to keep on writing despite my packed rl!!! :D
Ahead of me it’s one of the most stressful weeks of my life but I hope I’ll manage it and have the best possible results! *crosses fingers*
On the other hand, I have started writing my Sakuraiba fic (Personal Assistant)! So wait for it! I’ll start posting once I’ve advanced with the story a bit so that you won’t wait for too long! xP

So once again I hope you enjoyed the story till the end! ;)   

See you soon,
Andy <3