Brothers Or Lovers? (Super Lovers)

Part 3: A Little Appreciation

*Morning at the river banks where Ren was playing with the dogs.

Ren ate his breakfast with Haru and went straight to the river banks with the five adult dogs. They splashed and played in the cool water. Then Ren sought throughout the scenery and noticed the sun was almost in the middle saying that it was almost lunch. Ren sat by the large stones that sat on the river as he watched his companions catch salmons. After catching a bunch, the dogs hauled it a shore and ate. Ren stared and smiled at his friends. Suddenly upon seeing them eat their lunch, a sound caught Ren's attention.

*Grumbles*

Ren realized that it was his stomach doing those funny sounds. He was hungry. Then he looked at his surroundings as if he was looking for something to eat. He spotted a yellow bag near the dogs. He remembered that Haru made him some lunch. It was a fully packed Shrimp bento with Banana biscuits by the side and milk ice candy with puppy symbols on them. It seems Haru had out done himself now. Haru knew that Ren loved the dogs so he added some symbols on his food just to make the kid happy.

*Eyes sparkle, mouth waters, stomach grumbles*

Ren took out a milk ice candy and bit on it.

'Hmmm, sweet!' Ren closed his eyes in delight and sensed a crowd around him. The dogs encircled Ren in high hopes that the boy will give them some. Ren was not selfish but he was starving! He snatched the lunch box and ran as fast as his little legs could take him with the dogs close behind him.

"Noooo! These are mineee!" Ren ran fast but he knew he would eventually stop and let the dogs have some. There is no way he could resist their cute whining.

*With Haru and the others at the house.

Haru was busy cooking at the kitchen while his mother Haruko sat by the living room making her paperwork before the deadline.

"Oh, hello Haru-kun! Have you seen Ren?" Aunt Fumie came upstairs.

"Well, I haven't seen him Aunt Fumie. Maybe he is still playing with the dogs?" Haru replied.

"I really hope he opens up to us..." Aunt Fumie sighed.

'I hope so too...' Haru mentally sighed.

"Well how are things going on with you and Ren?" Aunt Fumie asked.

"Yeah about that... I got these yesterday putting him in the bath..." Haru showed them the bite marks and deep scratches that Ren gave him as a souvenir for forcing Ren to bath.

"Well call me a monkey's uncle!" Uncle Rob yelled as he came inside the house from the balcony. "Fumie, Haruko, come here and see the wonders of Haru's magic!" Uncle Rob shouted. Haruko and Aunt Fumie went to the balcony as well to see the ruckus that Uncle Rob has been fussing about.

"Haru! You are a miracle maker! You have made Ren wear shoes! I am so happy I could cry..." Aunt Fumie smiled in ecstasy.

"Well every day is battle between Ren and I. I fought with patience and guts with that brat. I was even called a pervert!" Haru winced at the memory of forcing Ren to wear shoes like a civilized kid.

*Flashback of yesterday's shoe battle between Ren and Haru.

Haru just forced Ren into bathing which really required guts and determination. Like hell, Ren was stubborn as a Mule. After bathing, Haru made Ren dress up in civilized clothing. As Ren proceeded to dress, Haru swiftly got Ren's shoes.

"Now that is a good boy. Now wear your shoes Ren..." Haru waved the pair of shoes in front of Ren. Ren shuddered at the sight of the shoes and he wanted to escape. Sensing his attempt to escape, Haru caught Ren by the foot and yanked the boy towards him. He grabbed Ren's leg and started putting on the left shoe. Wearing a shoe is easy, but with Ren kicking Haru straight to the face really made Haru's situation a whole lot difficult.

"Stop kicking me Ren! If you are human, you better wear this effing' shoes!" Still Haru wouldn't give up on forcing Ren to wear his shoes.

"Ughh! Stop it! Move! Don't touch me you old geezer! Ughh! Let go pervert!" Ren continuously kicked Haru's face but no avail was made to each kick. Haru was one of a hell tough nut to crack.

*End of Flashback.

Haruko smiled in approval making Haru smile. As the three adults talked about Ren's progress of becoming civilized, Ren came upstairs and was greeted by Haru.

"Welcome home Ren... Did you have a fun day?"

"......" Haru was expecting for Ren to reply but the boy just gave Haru his lunch box. Haru took the bag and it felt heavy which made Haru slightly upset.

"Oh, you didn't touch your lunch? Uhmmm... it is okay, I'll just make another one tomorrow. I will bring it you and we could both eat, how does that sound?" Haru tried to make his voice unaffected by his sadness.

"Okay..." and with that Ren went to the bathroom to freshen up.

"I thought it would all go well... I shouldn't have made my expectations high. Well so much for a wasted bento." Haru opened the heavy box expecting to see his home made lunch but instead his eyes smiled in happiness.

Ren ate the lunch that he had prepared and brought home a haul of wild ripe Berries. It was a sign of Ren's appreciation towards Haru that it had made him smile.

'Who would have thought that brat could make me smile?' Haru happily thought to himself.

As the adults came inside, they saw the whole thing and was touched at Ren's actions. Aunt Fumie was deathly hugging Haru and blabbering that Haru was a great big brother while Uncle Rob was annoying Haru if he could get some of the Berries that Ren gave to him.

'Haru really reminds me of his father. He never gives up on anyone,' Haruko smiled as she knew that Ren was slowly opening up to his family and the brat was growing up to be loved by his older brother.