"At long last, freedom," Jehu took one step out of the school doors and basked in the sunlight and tiny breeze that already felt like the winds of change before him.

Haou laughed beside him. "It's just high school."

Jehu shot him a grin, putting an arm around Haou's shoulder and bringing him in close. "You weren't the one worried he wasn't going to pass." They slowly started walking towards Jehu's car; countless other students rushed past them or walked at a slow pace as if to relish the final times they'd walk through those doors.

"I believed in you," Haou replied nonchalantly, causing Jehu to stumble and nearly bring them both down.

They'd been together for only a little while and Haou's comments like that still took Jehu by surprise. Underneath that blasé exterior, Haou was actually really sweet. And Jehu was really lucky he got to see it.

Jehu's face turned a lovely shade of pink as Haou stared at him curiously.

"Come on, you act like this is a surprise." Haou crossed his arms over his chest as he looked away, clearly embarrassed. The faint red dusting on his cheeks gave him away though.

Jehu covered his face with both hands and peeked at Haou through the spaces between his fingers. "You're so cute," he whined.

Haou's cheeks immediately turned full-on red, any pretense of hiding his embarrassment gone.

"Get a room!" Manjyome shouted as he and the rest of their friends met up with them just outside this particular exit, near where their cars were.

Asuka elbowed him in the stomach and smiled at the soulmates. "You guys got big plans now that school's out?"

Haou started shaking his head when Jehu yelled out, "Party at Ryou's!"

"I think the fuck not," Ryou immediately shot down as he and Edo joined them right on time to hear Jehu. "Last time you threw a party at my house the cops were called. Twice."

Jehu grinned like it was an accomplishment. "You just gotta let loose and have some fun!" His amber eyes zeroed in on the way Edo and Ryou were holding hands. Jehu's gaze softened. "We should double date sometime."

"Absolutely not," both Edo and Haou replied with twin looks of disdain.

"I thought you guys had gotten over your rivalry?" Yusuke piped in as he and Fubuki appeared.

"Just because we don't hate each other doesn't mean we have to go on double dates," Edo explained. Haou nodded in agreement.

Jehu pretended to think about it with a finger on his chin. "Hmmm… nope. Ryou and I are best friends, we need our lovers to be able to get along too."

Both Edo and Haou turned a dark shade of red. For being a couple of people who refused to be anything but civil with each other, they sure were on the same wavelength a lot.

Ryou couldn't help but snort. "Lovers?"

"Are you two not at that stage of your relationship yet?" Jehu asked innocently.

"Are you?" Ryou glanced at Haou who tried his best to appear unaffected.

"What about," Asuka graciously cut in, sparing Haou and Edo from further embarrassment, "We go on a triple date?"

She tried to look nonchalant once everyone simultaneously turned to look at her, but the tips of her ears turned a little pink, betraying her composure.

No one had the time to ask anything before Fubuki shoved Jehu out of his way and shrieked, "Who are you dating?!"

Manjyome cleared his throat and stepped forward to stand beside Asuka, with a slight petulant look.

"Whoa," Haou and Edo whispered. Fubuki was too busy gaping like a fish.

"Holy shit," Jehu said, "Since when?"

Manjyome crossed his arms over his chest. "Not that it's any of your business because it's like we're just the background characters for this disaster story of yours, but I've liked Asuka for a very long time now."

Asuka looked at him and smiled fondly. "But you were too scared to tell me until last week." That fond expression was a good look on her face; made her look softer, happier.

"I'll make the cake at your wedding," Haou spoke up, to the surprise of many.

Asuka quickly rushed over to him, ignoring the way Manjyome turned twice as red as anyone else had before as he started sputtering.

"What kind?" Asuka asked.

"Red velvet of course. I'll make as much as you want."

"I love you."

"Don't let Manjyome hear or he'll burst a blood vessel." Haou looked smug.

"M-m-marriage?!" Manjyome finally choked out. "Who said anything about marriage?!"

Fubuki rounded on him, hands on his hips. "You mean you're planning to break up with my sister?!"

"Who said anything about breaking up?!" Manjyome shrieked.

"The hole just gets deeper," Edo commented, enjoying this.

Ryou raised a brow over at Jehu who was laughing but looking away so he wouldn't get caught. By now, the school was mostly empty, the buses having left already and only this unruly bunch and a few stragglers remained.

Haou and Asuka were talking about what kind of decorations the cake and cupcakes would have.

Jehu felt the teal stare and he grinned at him, arms up in defense. "For once, this wasn't my fault."

Ryou shook his head. "I hoped he'd rub off on you, not the other way around."

"We gotta keep people on their toes." Jehu wiggled his eyebrows and caused Ryou to groan. "We," he loudly spoke up, as he slinked an arm around Haou's waist and pulled him close, effectively drawing everyone's attention, "should totally go on a triple date, I'm down."

Fubuki, who was in the midst of trying to strangle Manjyome (wow did that conversation escalate), pouted as big, fat tears rolled down his face. "But I don't want my little Asuka getting married so soon!" He shook Manjyome with every word.

Asuka was too busy daydreaming about all the cakes Haou would make to rescue her boyfriend.

"I'm really gonna miss this group of friends," Yusuke spoke up. "It won't be the same with some us graduating and others not."

Everyone got quiet as they let that sink in.

"I, for one," Jehu was always a master of drawing attention to himself, "Am so glad I'm one of the ones graduating, was real scared for a bit there."

Ryou reached over to ruffle his hair despite Jehu's protests. "We're all proud of you."

Everyone agreed, even Fubuki who was still trying to choke Manjyome and Manjyome who was in said chokehold.

"And also," Haou shyly took hold of Jehu's hand, feeling him grip his hand back tightly, "Just because this is the end of high school for some doesn't mean life stops here."

"This story definitely stops here," Manjyome muttered from his chokehold, always determined to break that nonexistent fourth wall.

"We're all still friends," Haou continued as he looked down, shy again, "thank you for being my friends."

All those present, even Edo, were all smiling at this warm moment.

"Oh," Jehu suddenly perked up, remembering something, "this has been wonderful, truly it has, but we'll be seeing you guys later, Haou and I have stuff to do." He started pulling Haou along in the direction of his car.

"We do?" he asked.

"Yup! We have things to take care of before Ryou's party."

"There will be no party!"

"Yes there will! Starts at six!" Jehu cackled as he and Haou reached his car. They climbed in after waving goodbye, laughing at the high of the situation.

"What kind of things do you have planned?" Haou asked as Jehu drove off. He watched Jehu, eyes drawn to his earrings for a bit before just staring at the way Jehu looked behind the wheel. Jehu had always been kind of cool, along with being a dork (and a jerk at times too).

"It's nothing big, our parents just want us together at my place for an early celebratory lunch."

Haou watched as Jehu checked his side mirror and glanced behind them before merging into the left lane. His boyfriend was used to being watched now and didn't let that distract him. "That sounds…"

"Yeah… but I'm glad they've at least gotten their shit together after all this time."

"Too bad that only took almost two decades and a red string between their sons to accomplish."

"And handcuffs." A pause. "And alcohol."

In the driest voice ever, "How could I forget?"

Jehu snorted.

When they got to the Andersen house, Jehu made no move to get out of the car after turning it off.

"What's wrong?" Haou asked, staying in the car with him. It was warm out and the sun was bright and shining, barely any puffs of clouds in the sky.

Jehu took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I'm really surprised I'll be graduating."

Haou reached over and put a hand over his. He squeezed it gently.

Jehu smiled at him, flipping his hand over so he could squeeze it back. "The scariest parts of this year was almost not graduating and almost losing you." He brought their joined hands up so he could kiss Haou's hand. "If I can overcome those, I can overcome this."

"Our parents?"

"Sparkle."

Haou chuckled. "I believe in you." His tone was lighthearted but both knew he genuinely meant it. Jehu leaned forward and kiss him once, twice, then pulled back to admire the faint red on Haou's cheeks. It was one of his favorite looks on him.

And then they stepped out of the car, with Jehu leading the way, a finger to his lips to keep them both quiet so he could hear if Sparkle was outside.

Sure enough, as soon as Jehu opened the gate to his house, quick footsteps immediately followed, along with very familiar loud barking.

Instead of running away, he let himself be tackled down and hugged Sparkle, steadying himself as he stood up while holding the at least seventy pound dog like she was nothing.

She didn't rip his face off. She didn't try to eat his flesh and feast on his remains. In fact, she stilled in his arms for a moment, pulling her head back enough so she could see his face.

He smiled at her. "Hi Sparkle," his hold on her never faltered.

And just like that, a switch flipped. Her tail started wagging like crazy and she licked him all over the place. Haou reached over to pet her, adoring the way she practically melted in Jehu's arms and allowed herself to be pet.

A crying Reiko came out of the house holding her camera and taking endless pictures and videos of the scene before her. "I'm so happy right now. I mean I'm sad I lost the easiest way to get you to do something but I'm still so happy right now."

"Mom, please," Jehu whined, setting Sparkle down and watching as she happily walked beside him. "Is lunch ready?"

Reiko took a couple more pictures then winced. "Yeah, about that—"

"You burned dinner?" Jehu suggested as he closed the gate behind Haou and they both reached to pet Sparkle again. She was loving all the attention.

"Rude. I'll have you know I had no part in making this meal."

"Gee, I wonder why."

"Little shit. Anyway it wasn't me. It was Isamu."

"Oh no," Haou sighed.

"And Vergil."

"Oh no," Jehu sighed too.

"What happened?"

"Apparently their competitive streak has always been part of their friendship and eighteen years apart has only intensified the fire between them."

Jehu made a face. "Mom, that sounds—"

"I know," and her shit-eating grin was exactly like the one Jehu would make. Like mother, like son indeed. "It's ok because Seira's inside ordering us some pizza. Your fathers have been banished to the bedroom together."

Jehu made another face. "Still sounds—"

"I know." Her shit-eating grin got bigger.

And Haou laughed. Because this was his life from now on and it looked like it was going to be so much fun.

Haou walked into Jehu's bedroom wearing nothing but one of Jehu's t-shirts that was too big on him, ending halfway down his thighs.

Jehu's amber eyes glanced up from the sketchbook in his hands. He sat up on the bed, eyes never leaving Haou the closer he got, sketchbook and pencil lying forgotten on the ground.

"I like the view," Jehu commented nonchalantly as Haou climbed onto the bed and Jehu focused on his exposed thighs.

Haou rolled his eyes as he laid down next to him, sighing deeply as his eyes tried to pick out every star painted on the ceiling. There was Jehu's small desk lamp as the only source of light in the room and it caused the stars to sparkle and glitter somehow, and Haou was mesmerized. He would always be in awe of the way magic left Jehu's hands to be able to paint like this. "I will never get tired of this view." Because Jehu had worked hard on it. Because these were the stars in Jehu that he saw when the rest of the world looked dark.

"Me neither," but Jehu was only focused on Haou, taking in every possible detail. The curve of his cheeks, the shadows his eyelashes caused, those golden eyes that reflected the glittering stars. Nothing Jehu drew would ever match Haou's beauty.

Haou finally noticed the staring and his cheeks grew warm under the attention. "Jehu?"

"Can I kiss you?" Jehu was already laying on his side, body curled towards Haou's. But he'd back off the moment Haou expressed it.

To his surprise, Haou nodded in response.

Jehu lifted a hand to lightly caress Haou's cheek, soft and gentle as he shifted, leaning forward until they were nose-to-nose. He could feel Haou's breath hitch a moment before their lips connected.

The press of their lips was so gentle, so hesitant as he slowly pulled back. Jehu pressed their lips together again, a bit firmer so Haou would react. Haou reached an arm up to put his hand around Jehu's neck and pull him in a little closer.

"Did you think it would be like this?" Jehu murmured against Haou's lips.

"Be like what?" Haou arched his neck so Jehu could kiss his way along his jaw and throat.

They wouldn't do much else other than make out today. Not only did they feel they weren't quite ready but they didn't want to go much further with their parents in the rooms around them. Their parents weren't even paired up by marriage either. Seira and Reiko insisted on having a "girls' night" and that meant after their wild alcohol adventures they would crash in the same bed together. They also, of course, took the master bedroom.

Isamu tried to throw a fit about having to sleep with Vergil ("I vote he takes the couch!") but Vergil knew if their wives wanted it there was little else they could do but comply.

"I'm putting up a pillow divider and I will scream if you try to end up on my side."

Vergil pinched the bridge of his nose as he led Isamu into the guest room. "At some point you're just going to have to admit you want to sleep with me so we can all move on with our lives."

Isamu's outraged squawk was the last thing the boys heard before the door slammed shut.

So yeah, nothing too adventurous would happen tonight but eventually they'd like to do it.

"I was about to say easy but that doesn't seem right," Jehu replied, licking at a particular spot on Haou's neck.

"I will end you if you leave a mark," came Haou's hissed warning.

Jehu chuckled and pulled back, leaning forward so they could kiss again.

It continued for a few more minutes until they had to stop less things start to get a little too intense than they were comfortable with.

Jehu settled down again, laying beside Haou who wasted no time in curling into him, sighing in content when Jehu's arm wrapped around his waist to keep him close.

"I think I get what you mean," Haou whispered after a few beats of silence. "I didn't think I'd be so quick to end up with my soulmate," he hid in the crook of Jehu's neck to hide his blushing face. He could feel Jehu chuckling. "But I'm happy, here, with you."

Jehu's grip around his waist tightened a fraction. "So am I."

And things hadn't been easy.

They were childhood friends who suffered through memory loss and they were left behind in a tiny, dark, cold corner of the other's mind. Then to meet up again all those years later, when one is a borderline depressed alcoholic at eighteen and the other is so detached from life that hardly anything existed to make him smile and one time he did feel normal was when he was dying of his migraines. And then all hell breaks loose when they meet again. Not to mention their opposite personalities making things difficult. And then their parents—their dads, what a mess.

But it took some communication—and lots of it, before they could get here.

And here wasn't even their final step.

This was their first of many.

They already knew they wouldn't be going to the same college.

And that was ok.

Because there was room to grow, together and apart. That red string meant they found each other, and now that they had they didn't plan to lose each other anytime soon.

A sudden thumping sound and hushed—male—voices broke through their comfortable silence and both paled.

"They're not…" Haou began.

The thumping and the voices continued.

"Nope. No, no, no, no, no," Jehu reached into his nightstand and pulled out some ear plugs for them. He held Haou tight and they slept in blissful ignorance of whatever was happening in the guest room.

"Do you think we should move in together?" Haou asked out of the blue when he and Jehu were home alone at his house. Their parents (which seemed to become inseparable after Vergil and Isamu patched things up) were all at the Andersen house ("Having a swinger's party," Jehu guessed. Haou winced at the mental image) so the two decided to go to the empty Yuki house.

Jehu choked on the chocolate milk he was drinking with the chocolate chip cookies Haou made. "We're fresh out of high school."

Haou flushed. "I don't mean now." He balled up his napkin and tossed it at Jehu's head, watching it bounce harmlessly off him. "Later on, maybe after college."

"We need jobs," Jehu replied, picking up another cookie. "We also have to pick a good place between our jobs." He took a bite of the cookie. "We should move far away from our parents."

Haou was going to an out-of-state college in the state over, currently undecided about his major. Jehu was going to a college that had an arts program he liked, but it was on the other side of the state, putting a bit of a distance between him and Haou.

"I think it wouldn't matter how far we move, they'd find us," Haou replied, taking a sip from his vanilla chamomile tea. He could feel a migraine coming on—he still got them only they were a little less frequent—and hoped the tea would help.

Jehu made a face. "You're right about that. We should just run away after graduation."

Haou raised an unimpressed brow at him. "Tomorrow?"

With a smirk, "Are you saying you'd do it if we had more time?"

He blushed, taking his cup of tea and walking towards the living room.

"Aw come on, Haou," Jehu called after him, as he jumped out of his seat with a cookie in each hand.

Haou sat down on the couch with a tired sigh. He pulled his knees up to his chest and sipped his tea while Jehu sat beside him, careful not to jostle him too much—he could see the signs of Haou's oncoming migraine. "I'm surprised you don't want to move in with Ryou."

Jehu ate both cookies at once causing Haou's nose to wrinkle in distaste. "We probably will," he shrugged, "Dunno if his sanity will take it. Or if Edo will move in with him after."

"Edo's still in high school."

Jehu flicked his nose gently. "I don't mean now, probably when Edo graduates next year."

"You think they'll be together that long?"

Amber eyes regarded him as he stared into the remnants of his tea. "I do. Ryou's not been this happy in a long time. I think they have a good dynamic that works out well for them."

The brunet held the empty cup in boths hands. "Do you think we'll work out?"

Jehu took Haou's cup and set it down on the floor away from their potential kicking. Haou let himself be maneuvered into laying on top of Jehu who stretched out on the couch. Haou's golden eyes looked shyly away from Jehu's face as he felt him wrap his arms around his waist to keep him steady. "We will. We aren't perfect, we're probably gonna fight a lot."

Haou snorted good naturedly and finally met his gaze with a soft look. "Probably."

"We're gonna have our ups and downs like all relationships and that's ok."

Haou leaned forward and kissed him. "We'll make it work."

"Exactly." They kissed again, sweeter, longer, content in their reprieve before graduation.

Jehu's phone chose that time to go off, a shrill ringing that had Haou wincing and pulling away from the kiss. He rushed to answer it, curious because his phone was on silent and yet it rang—

"Are you two fucking on the couch?"

"Mom? What?" Jehu smiled down at Haou who sighed and laid his head on Jehu's chest. Jehu carded his fingers through that soft brown hair.

"Well after the things your dads have been up to—"

"Are you telling me—" Jehu didn't sit up with a start because he didn't want to dislodge Haou but he nearly did, "—our dads fucked on the couch?"

Haou's head shot up in shock, gold locking with amber after he winced in pain.

"What? No, Jehu that's ridiculous," Reiko laughed as Jehu and Haou sighed in relief. They just never knew with this family.

"I was about to say, I can't believe they beat me and Haou to it," Jehu joked, yelping when Haou pinched him but looked completely unapologetic.

"Better hurry then," Reiko laughed and Jehu wasn't sure if she was joking or not.

Jehu gagged. He would never understand their parents. "Why did you call?"

"Because I'm nosy and wanted to know what you were doing."

"Mom—"

"Be careful Isamu or you might accidentally trip and land on Vergil's dick!" Reiko suddenly yelled; Seira's cheers could be heard in the background while Isamu started cursing.

"There's not enough alcohol in the world to help me get through the rest of my life," both Jehu and Vergil simultaneously lamented.

Reiko immediately started cackling. "Guys! Oh my god like father like son, guys—"

"Mom, try not to get too wasted before tomorrow, ok?" Jehu could feel Haou shaking his head at the call.

"We're trying to see who has the better tolerance between Isamu and Vergil. My money's on Seira."

Jehu chuckled. "We'll see you tomorrow then?"

"You bet! Use condoms!"

"Mom!" And she hung up with a laugh.

"Their timing is horrible," Haou commented as Jehu turned off his phone completely.

"Isn't it?" Jehu tossed his phone onto the other couch. "Now," he held Haou close but gently. "Where were we?"

Haou smiled down at him. He leaned forward to kiss him again when suddenly his phone started ringing, a generic ringtone. Jehu groaned.

Haou picked up. It was his mother reminding him not to forget about their plans for tomorrow. He leaned into Jehu's embrace, hanging up once he assured his mother (he could hear gleeful shouts in the background coming from Reiko) that everything would be fine.

Haou silenced his phone and let it fall onto the carpeted floor beside his mug. He laid his head back on Jehu's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. They were quiet after that, Haou's migraine making its appearance at last and not letting them continue what they were doing before.

But this was nice.

Haou was really going to fucking miss this when they parted ways for college.

They would still see each other on weekends and breaks when they could but still.

Eventually, Haou started drifting off to sleep so they both got up and did their nightly routine. Haou took some painkillers before brushing his teeth and settled into his bed as he waited for Jehu.

He came into the room a little while later and climbed into bed with him, letting Haou curl into him again.

"We're so horribly domestic," Jehu commented into the dark room.

Haou snorted, then winced, pinching Jehu's arm. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow, get some sleep."

Jehu kissed the top of his head in response.

Haou sighed tiredly, moments before he drifted off.

This was great.

In the end, graduation was actually really fun. There was music and lots of screaming and so much love from the families and everyone involved. Confetti was everywhere, noisemakers, megaphones. It was wild.

Jehu even met up with a couple of his teachers, the ones he had given the most trouble to, and they wished him luck in his future, each of them looking like they truly meant it. Jehu grinned.

"Let's hear it for this year's graduating class!" Was the final cheer before the entire arena exploded into deafening screams of joy.

Jehu and Haou met up with each other as everyone started moving around. "We did it!"

"We did!" Haou hugged him tightly. "We finally made it."

The graduating group of friends all met up with their friends who weren't graduating yet as they started to leave the arena.

"Good luck next year, I'm sorry I won't be around to liven things up around here," Jehu said with a wink.

Edo rolled his eyes but smiled. "Oh, how are we ever going to make it without you?"

There was cheering and dancing and screaming.

It was amazing.

And it was the first step in the next chapter of their lives.

"Jehu, for fuck's sake," Ryou groaned the moment he woke up and felt a body using him as a bed. He knew it wasn't Edo and the only other culprit could only be his best friend.

Jehu, who was sleeping sprawled on top of him, only partially woke up, raising a hand and accidentally smacking Ryou in the face.

Ryou didn't hesitate to roll him off, feeling no remorse at the loud thud and louder whine that followed.

"You're so mean so early in the morning, I should warn Edo," Jehu mumbled, face half buried in the carpet.

"And you're a terror, I should warn Haou," Ryou replied, sitting up on the couch and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I already know," Haou said brightly as he and Edo walked into the living room, each holding a cup of coffee black enough to rival rocket fuel. They were unhappy how alike they found out they were.

"Babe," Jehu whined from the ground.

Ryou swung his legs over the side of the couch, accidentally stepping on Jehu.

"Ouch, I'm right here," Jehu complained, making no motion to move.

"Thanks Ryou," Haou smirked.

Jehu sighed. "Babe."

Summer was already here and the first double date happened yesterday, where the four of them went out to the movies followed by laser tag, then returning to Edo's place where they stayed up playing Mario Kart until about three in the morning. Manjyome and Asuka couldn't come this time because Asuka had to go out of town with her family but she assured them that next time all six of them would hang out.

Jehu was just grumpy because he lost at everything and Haou was being playful and didn't let him sleep with him in the guest room last night. Edo had retired early and Ryou stayed up with Jehu in the living room watching random movies on tv.

Ryou finally stepped over Jehu and went into the kitchen. He found a big stack of pancakes on the counter. "Who made the pancakes?"

"I did. Edo had surprisingly little else to make in his kitchen," Haou replied, not missing the way Edo glared at him over his coffee.

"Well excuse me for not being super talented in the kitchen like you are," Edo shot.

Haou grinned. "You think I'm super talented?"

Edo made a face. "You're as bad as Jehu."

"As if one Jehu wasn't bad enough," Ryou sighed as he walked out with the pancakes.

"You're all so mean to me," Jehu whined again before finally getting up, reaching up high to stretch, then reaching behind him to stretch some more.

"It's because we love you," Haou smiled at him as Jehu walked over and held a hand out for his mug. It didn't matter that they both knew Jehu will hate it, this was something of a routine they'd started settling into.

"Speak for yourself," Edo replied lightly as Ryou went back to the kitchen for syrup.

"You've got yourself a feisty one, Ryou." Jehu smirked, moments before gagging after taking a sip of Haou's coffee. He handed it back.

"I know, I like him that way," Ryou replied, taking his seat next to Edo whose face turned a dark red and sputtered into his coffee. Jehu and Haou smirked at him.

"Every single one of us is terrible." Edo said with as much dignity as he could while using a napkin to wipe up the coffee he spilled.

"Maybe that's why the universe put us all together," Jehu added.

Haou and Edo groaned simultaneously.

Jehu reached over and stole one of Ryou's pancakes-—Ryou let him because he knew Jehu would do this and that's why he brought the whole stack with him—and shrugged as he rolled it up and took a bite. "Seriously. All because of that damn priest."

Haou watched Jehu stuff his face and he smiled into his coffee. Not even Jehu's less than ideal eating habits could scare him away now. Wow, how far he'd come. "We should go visit him again."

Jehu raised a brow. "Really? I'm not sure he'd be up for seeing us again after we nearly destroyed the place when we brawled."

Edo looked between them. "Who ended up winning?"

"It was a draw," Haou answered at the same time Jehu said, "Haou did."

"Why do you say that? The priest separated us before we got anywhere in that fight."

Jehu gave him a shit-eating grin. "You did end up on top of me, I'd consider that winning."

Haou stared at him as Edo and Ryou enjoyed the show.

Jehu brought a finger up to his chin in mock thoughtfulness. "Though I guess since I ended up underneath you, maybe I ended up winning. Hmmm…"

Haou lunged at him and Jehu quickly ran away, laughing. They ran around the living room before racing upstairs.

"Give it up, Haou. I was trained by the she-devil herself!" Jehu yelled out before screaming when Haou jumped on him, sending them both to the ground.

Ryo and Edo kept eating despite the loud crashes and thuds from upstairs.

"Do you think we should go to that priest?" Edo asked quietly, staring at the dregs of the coffee in his mug.

"We could if you want," Ryou replied, ignoring Jehu's cackle in the background as he presumably gained the upper hand.

"You don't want to?" Edo's sapphire eyes shyly avoided Ryou's teal ones. "I mean, you don't want to be sure?"

"We don't need a priest to tell us if our strings are connected; if we are or aren't soulmates," he reached a hand out to grasp Edo's who squeezed back. "Our story is different than theirs."

Edo smiled. "You're right."

If someone went back some chapters of their life they probably wouldn't be able to tell these two would end up together.

Sometimes, it was best that way.

They heard Jehu and Haou's laughter.

"Those two would've found each other eventually," Edo said.

Ryou nodded. "Not even the universe could've prevented those two forces from colliding."

Eventually Haou and Jehu came back, both breathing a little heavy and with smiles on their faces.

"We're gonna go see the priest again, you guys want to come?" Jehu asked, holding Haou's hand as the latter quickly drained the last of his coffee. He led them into the kitchen and put his mug in the sink.

"Nah," Ryou answered after looking at Edo who shook his head. "We're good."

"You two have fun."

Haou pulled out his phone and tapped away at it. "Asuka sent me some pictures of her and Manjyoume's date last night." He swiped through them as Jehu put his chin on his shoulder to look at them too. "They look so happy."

Jehu nodded. "Is that Fubuki in the background of that one?"

Haou squinted, then snorted. "It is."

"Poor Manjyoume," Jehu lamented playfully.

"Can you believe our first meeting resulted in a fist fight?" Jehu mused as he and Haou walked up to the large shrine.

"It's so cliché."

"It's the start of our love, who cares if it's cliché? I'm sure someone out there would love to write our story."

"I think whoever did would be crazy."

"Would probably stop writing it for a decade before going back and writing a half-hearted ending to over-compensate for the hiatus."

Haou snorted. "Good thing no one would read that."

"Oh, I think some might," came a new voice.

Jehu and Haou turned around to see Nakadai's smiling face. "I thought I recognized you."

Haou looked shy. "We made a terrible first impression."

"I prefer the word memorable," Nakadai replied. He eyed their joined hands. "I take it all has gone well?"

"Eventually," Jehu looked sheepish. "Took us some time to get there."

"But we did."

Nakadai looked ecstatic. "That's wonderful news! I'll pray for your happiness in the future."

The pair smiled at him.

"May I?"

They nodded, releasing their hands. He stepped up to them and plucked at something in the air between them. A bright red, thick string made of light connected their little fingers together.

"It's stronger now than it was before," Nakadai's soft voice commented. "I'm so happy for you." He released it and the two held hands again. "You two were quite the pair."

The soulmates looked away, embarrassed.

"It's wonderful that you found your happiness in each other."

"Thanks to the little push you gave us," Jehu said, with Haou nodding.

Nakadai's kind eyes twinkled. "Oh I don't know, I think the universe would've gotten you together eventually."

Jehu looked over at Haou whose cheeks were red. "I think you're right."

"I think so too," Haou quietly added.

Maybe not in high school, maybe not even in college, but at some point, Jehu and Haou would've come together, one way or another.

"Rooming with you is going to be a nightmare," Ryou said as he and Jehu unpacked at their new shared apartment.

Jehu grinned cheekily at him. "I think you meant to say a dream come true," he waggled his eyebrows.

Ryou only sighed and wondered where his life went wrong.

"I watched the guy sitting next to me pour red bull into his coffee before our eight-thirty class started," Haou spoke into the phone as he settled on his bed.

"Why did you take an eight-thirty class?" Jehu asked.

"Because if I only have morning classes then that opens up my afternoons."

"You're a braver man than me."

"I'm thinking of getting a puppy." Reiko said as she and Seira met up like they did every Friday now.

"Aww! You should! I'm sure Sparkle would love having a little buddy." Seira hugged her before the two started walking around the mall.

"What if I get two puppies?"

"The more the merrier."

"You're so right."

Vergil's black eyes slowly opened only to find himself looking straight into brown hair. He was laying on the couch, a heavy warmth on him. He recalled drinking with Isamu and their wives before they went bar hopping, leaving their husbands behind.

Isamu slept on, curled into his side as much as possible so neither would fall off the couch.

Vergil closed his eyes and gave up. He put an arm around Isamu and felt his friend relax in his arms, sleeping peacefully.

Haou ran to Jehu and jumped, landing in his open arms where Jehu didn't even flinch at the sudden weight. He spun them around. They hadn't seen each other in half a year. They kissed, ignoring the way some people cheered in the background.

"I've missed you."

"Only three and a half more years."

They kissed again.

"Jehu give me back that phone!" Edo yelled, chasing a laughing Jehu.

"No way, I've got to tell Haou—" his boyfriend picked up. "—Haou! You're not gonna believe what Edo just did!"

"What?"

"He, he just—" his sentence was cut off by Edo screaming in the background, a crash and Jehu's yell following right after and then Haou heard the call disconnect.

"Huh."

He never did find out what Jehu wanted to tell him.

"And when I opened the door, I saw the living room full of red and pink roses, a big red velvet cake on the living room table and my brother trying to strangle my boyfriend," Asuka concluded.

"Again?" Haou asked as they sat on the couch together and watched a movie.

"Yup. My life's playing out like a bad romcom."

"Which means this will end in a wedding."

"Did someone say wedding?" Fubuki asked, appearing suddenly from behind the couch.

Haou and Asuka screamed and threw their popcorn bowl at him.

"Typical. I'm home just for the weekend and I'm bedridden because of a migraine." Haou lamented from the bed.

Jehu sat beside him, holding his hand. "Just focus on getting some rest."

Haou weakly squeezed his hand back. He'd already drank some tea and took the heaviest painkillers he had. Jehu had closed the blackout curtains so Haou could sleep.

"I'll be here when you wake up."

"Thank you."

"This isn't our year," Haou grumbled as he brought some soup for Jehu who lay sick in bed. He was visiting Haou for the weekend so of course he immediately gets sick.

"It's the universe trying to tell us to come back together soon," Jehu coughed.

Haou's gaze turned soft. "Take your medicine. I made you some chocolate chip cookies for when you get better."

"You're the best."

"I walked in on Ryou doing Edo."

Haou blinked. "That was fast."

"It was only a matter of time."

"Maybe you should knock next time."

"I need brain bleach."

"They've changed," Haou said as he and Jehu watched their dads cook in the kitchen.

Isamu leaned in close and giggled at something Vergil said while he was at the stove. Vergil tapped Isamu's side to get him to move when he needed to grab a spatula.

Isamu slipped at one point and Vergil steadied him with an arm around his waist.

Vergil let Isamu lean into him while keeping him far away that Isamu didn't cause a mess or accidentally burn himself.

Jehu kissed Haou's temple. "It's best if we don't think too much about it"

"Yeah, you're right."

Haou and Jehu stared at each other, Jehu leaning forward to kiss Haou as the brunet tried to steady his breathing. Haou had his arms wrapped around Jehu's neck and he gasped when he felt Jehu pull out.

Jehu took off and threw away the condom before going to find a wet cloth to clean them both up since they were too tired to shower right now.

Haou let himself be taken care of and didn't hesitate to pull Jehu onto the bed when he finished. They had gotten used to each other now, not shy about telling the other what they wanted.

Both had graduated college earlier that year, Haou with his degree in business management and Jehu with a double degree in art history and communications with a minor in English. And now here they were, living together in a small house, in the same city as their friends and family; another first step in the rest of their lives.

Jehu kissed him. "I love you," he kissed him again.

"I love you too," the words were so easy to say, so easy to feel. Haou loved that. He let Jehu curl into him, both trying to find a position that wouldn't result in one of them falling off the bed in the morning.

Their parents were more or less a set of four these days.

Fubuki, in a surprising (to some) turn of events, had started dating Yusuke.

Edo and Ryou had been living together for a little over a year now and they were happy too. Manjyome had waited too long to propose so Asuka asked him first and he cried—tears of joy he assured, because it meant she really did love him. Haou would bake the wedding cake.

Kayako and Naoko had moved away shortly after Kayako graduated high school but she was doing well as a photographer and she and Jehu kept in constant contact. Naoko was an adorable kid, too.

And there was Jehu and Haou.

They weren't perfect.

Jehu liked to take on too many work projects at once and would frequently forget things. Haou, who had started working with their dads while simultaneously going for his master's degree, was a bit of a workaholic too. They kissed, they talked, they argued like any other couple. They started traveling too, small, spontaneous road trips or sudden plane trips when they had the chance. Haou's migraines came up every once in awhile. Jehu had gotten some tattoos as a spur of the moment decision when Haou was away one night. Haou loved them. Haou had grown his hair long, long enough to tie up into a long ponytail and Jehu adored it. And sometimes they would piss each other off. Haou would give him the silent treatment. Jehu would walk away. But they always eventually talked things out. They refused to let miscommunication be their downfall, but they were still human and sometimes made mistakes. Every once in a while, they would swear they could see little flashes of red between their hands, but neither ever mentioned it. Haou liked to bake a lot for Jehu who loved everything Haou made. And Jehu often drew or painted pictures of Haou and gifted them to him. They made Haou blush and he wasn't sure where else they were going to fit all the paintings.

But, the author of this story is rambling.

Jehu and Haou were happy.

And if there was a ring or two involved, then they were even happier.

They were in love.

They were soulmates and were lucky enough to find each other and they wouldn't let each other go.

And it was all because of a fortunate twist of fate.

END.

Thank you so much, to everyone who read my fic, despite the near decade it took to finish it! (I'm so sorry about that.) (Punkrockgirl101, wherever you are, I hope you liked this fic in the end!) I was worried I'd never get around to it, but I did it, I managed to finally write the last chapter. My writing style has changed a lot since I started this in 2010, and since uploading the previous chapter in 2015, but I did my best with this, so the changes wouldn't be too noticeable. (I graduated high school AND college since the start of this fic omfg.) I also have to admit I never reread this fic so I hope I did alright with the ending. Who'd have thought there would finally be an ending for this fic, huh? The graduation scene almost didn't happen, because I forgot that's actually important, but I went back and added that in later so I apologized for it being so small and rushed. I was originally going to split the ending so I could have another chapter but I figured enough was enough, and I crammed every little thing I could in here without making it too messy, I think. I'm still writing for this fandom and this ship, I'm just doing it over on ao3 instead—you can find me as gummyrubi there! If you wanna talk to me about this ship/fic/fandom, you can also find me on twitter or tumblr too! My usernames are in my profile :D Thank you all so, so much if you stuck around, every single favorite/alert/and review made me so happy. I love you guys! -Monkey, from Monkey and Cookee