You have no idea how mentally prepared I am to write this. Or how excited I am. If any Eren's bothered me right now, I'd stomp them into their next seven generations, you little shits. And I am so putting in all of the sweet nakama-ship feels and classic storytelling to the best I can. Bring on all the drama, sweet friendships, empires, poison, prince-princess, festivals, and all of that. As well as humor and all of the nakama-ship. As well as some magic, spells, and chibi!fluff.

(... I'm sorry, I was kidding. I'm all fired up but this is lame. -Facedesks.- I don't even. You're probably going to be disappointed. Just so you know, as like, a warning sign. -Waves hand around.-)

And I also thought long about actually doing this. Free! is a new fandom, and not particularly large or growing, but I'm actually quite attached to this series, so voila. Here it is. Another huge-scale project that I've put into this instead of One Piece or Reborn.

Enjoy!

Mystics; Breathe

Written by Ko-Sensei

part one entails of orders to infiltrate the palace and estates

Wanted Notice

Iwatobi. イワトビ.

Rewards Depending On Circumstance

Dead Or Alive

Any member of the treason-warranted Iwatobi organization. This organization has been increasing their numbers at an alarming rate, and they have a large number of members as well as captains and squads. Their motive is to bring down many of the flourishing empire and eliminate royalty in Arabia, and as such in Balbadd, they are considered Class-S criminals.

Any proven Iwatobi-affiliated persons brought before the royalty in all empires dead or alive will be taken. If alive, they will be set to be executed shortly and the capturers will be rewarded handsomely. On a special note; whoever catches the lead figure of Iwatobi will be rewarded a noble estate, princely status, twenty camels bearing gold, an elite harem of fifty, ten gifts of engraven jewels, a magician, and the status of a royal.

Any information on Iwatobi is also wanted and will be bought; please give notice to the Balbadd guards.

『夢と生活との間に違いはありますか？』

『Is there a difference between dreaming and living?』

It's hot, Haru thinks.

Really, really hot.

The sun is blaring down on his back, and he's traveling alone again.

Alone.

He almost thinks he hears the footsteps of his friends right behind him like they normally are (Nagisa. Rei. Makoto.?), staying with him, walking behind him, keeping up, chatting animately, and following him to the ends of the world because they had promised they were forever, but when he turns around, all he gets is a mouthful of dust and sand in his eyes to remind him that he's alone again.

For the thousandth time that day, he reaches up and rubs the sift out of his eyes, and moves up one of his headscarves to cover his mouth. The dagger strapped onto his waist clinks, and he contemplates taking it off because it's just so hot and he is just so tired.

But he knows he won't take it off, no matter how tired he gets.

Especially since nowadays, the desert had become that much more dangerous. The number of thieves, bandits, and slave traders had increased, and the chances of getting attacked had increased. It definitely wouldn't be the first time he would have been attacked out in the middle of nowhere unsuspectingly.

(Two slave-traders trying to sell him off, seven bandits, three thugs. All attempts that had been made on his life in just half a year-which was saying a lot.)

Not that he couldn't take care of himself.

It was quite the contrary, actually.

His camel doesn't look all that bothered, though, and all it does is bob up and down a few times and blink at him dumbly. Haru places a hand on the top of the one bump it has, and gently pats it a few times before taking the reins again and walking ahead again.

Thankfully, he doesn't need to share what little rations he has with the camel.

Even though he doesn't need to share, his supplies are running thin anyways. As of now, all he is functioning on at this point is a few sips of water and his mental-will..

This also wouldn't be the first time this had happened, since this was the desert after all, but still, it doesn't get any less tiring each time.

His body has gotten used to the harsh treatment, and now the thirst and fatigue doesn't bother him as much-compared to what the past had been like.

It's not so much a physical battle as much as a mental one (since it doesn't take a horrendous toll on his body anymore), but still, if one didn't have nerves of steel-one could never be a traveler on the desert.

Especially by yourself.

(At least now he didn't faint after three days of travel like this-if Rei hadn't been there to find him at that oasis that last time, he would have died.)

Haru yawns, but remembers to pull up his scarf before he does so. He's really tired, actually, and though riding on Rakuda[1] sounds really nice, he knows it would wear her out more than it would actually help him.

[1]-Rakuda means camel in Japanese.

The sun is unforgiving and harsh, not allowing him a moment's rest.

Still hot, hot, hot. And dry-he licks his lips, trying to soothe the chapping at least a little, but all it serves to do is to make it worse.

Reaching over for a flask strapped on to the baggage, Haru flips it open and takes a sip, letting a few drops of moisture wet his tongue.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Two small flasks of water left.

It's just so, so tempting to empty them both right now, because it's so hot but he restrains himself. Somehow, he does. He does, because without discipline, you couldn't survive in a world like this. With much difficulty, Haru closes the flask and slides it back into the straps.

Huh.

It hasn't even been ten seconds, but…

…His tongue is already dry.

So he swallows (because he's so desperately thirsty but he has to ration, otherwise he'll die out here), grasps the reins, and keeps on walking forward.

He's not sure how long it's been. Hours? A few days? Weeks? A month?

But he knows that as long as he walks toward the sun, he'll eventually make it.

Back to his nakama.

The wind and sand whips across his face and gets into his eyes, whispering. You're almost there. You're almost there. And although he's probably just seeing mirages again, Haru thinks he sees the faint outline of a pretty genie-woman spirit motioning him to come forward. She's beautiful, really, and wears gold bands on her wrists and jewels on her fingers, red eyes twinkling at him. It's a kind of sight that's misplaced out in the harsh, hot desert, because she's just radiating pure and electric beauty and sweet perfumes and water and then there's even a hint of magic and spells here, and with one glance, he feels some kind of invigorating sensation rush through his body, cooling down.

Sitting on an embroidered carpet, she points him in a direction and tells him to go, child, go.

The desert spirit who has always watched over him, Makoto, Nagisa and Rei since years ago.

You'll find something important to you there.

Haru closes his eyes and lets the slightest trace of a smile fall on his face.

『むかしむかし、彼はできるだけ速く、彼はできる限り走った。』

『Once upon a time, he ran as fast as he could.』

"No."

"Awwww, Haru-chan! You can't just back out now. Don't worry, we'll make you look gorgeous. I already got your pwning outfit, jewelry and allllllll of the ingredients to the equation that equals your immediate transformation. I pinky promise that I listened to Rei this time. And if you back out, no mackerel for you ever again. I'll make Rei-chan tie you to the posts over there, since Mako-chan wouldn't lay a hand on you. Aaah, but wait, that might make Rei blush more than it would actually bother you."

"No."

"...Nagisa, I would never do such a thing to Haruka-senpai. Plus… stop obviously pointing out that you set this entire drawing thing up so that senpai would lose! How can you have preparations if you wouldn't know who'd draw that thing? Haruka-senpai, I'm really sorry! But I have to be one of the guards, since I'm the one with the letter of introduction!"

"No."

"Mouu, though you're really cute when you protest. But stop denying the truth, Rei-chan. You're just secretly glad you don't have to do the black card. And I can make you do anything, remember?"

A disbelieving face and indignant stuttering. "T-This is unfair…."

(As a side note, the kouhai of the group would like to be noted; Rei starts to back away from the mischievous blond who starts to have a rather unfortunate disease of "Grabby-Hands", fearing for his life and perhaps borderline-manliness-and-maybe-even-sanity.).

Amused green eyes twinkle. "Now, now. Nagisa, stop bullying Rei. And Haru, it won't be for long if the plan works. You should be able to get the files and intel within four weeks, if we're lucky. Will you do it?"

And…

.

.

.

Snapshot; Sitting in a small room on one of the smaller streets of Balbadd are four males, discussing where their lives are going to go for the next two months.

As of right now, they are all inside a small, run-down room in a poor, commoner residence building. Although the inside of the room is actually really neat and cleaned up, so it wasn't that bad of a place. The sturdy, stone walls shielded them from the blazing sun outside, and from the tasteless wind that would blow sand into their fragile, breakable vases and pots have been (thankfully) moved to the edges of the room, so in the event that Nagisa starts jumping around again, they won't have a mess to clean up.

Huddling together, the four are sitting in a square, using a cheaply-embroidered carpet as padding.

(No, not a circle. Shock. A square.)

(Rei insisted that they call it that since his precise calculating genius would not allow him to call their sad formation a circle. Why people always called it a circle eluded him, since people never could get that ninety-degree angle right. Never ever ever.)

Although this was one of the poorer parts of the city, the four had temporarily set up camp here to not attract attention within the streets. This building was right on the stall markets, so outside, there were many people bustling about and many merchants advertising their products loudly. Since this was practically a loud and chaotic part of the city, with literal crowds of people coming and going from this area, they could talk freely here without having to worry about being eavesdropped on.

Happy, excited childish voices running through the streets, exasperated parents chasing after them. Lovers waltzing by arm in arm, dreaming of a new world and future nights not being spent alone anymore. Eager merchants ready to people-please to gain gold, and soldiers patrolling at every odd corner to keep peace. (Not, more like stand around and get drunk.)

"Apples for sale! The very best in the world!"

"Jewelry? I think a fine pearl would like pretty on a damsel like you, miss!"

"Swords! Swords, swords swords! Sharp, durable, and palace-worthy! Come get them now!"

Though Makoto was starting to think that maybe the notion was useless since their hyperactive blond was making more and more decibels of noise by the minute, as Nagisa had a tendency to rant loudly about the most ridiculous of things when put in the mood-

"I want a sword! Stirring up trouble with a breathless pace, dashing all hope with the sight of the case, saving the world and doing epic duels with an evil sorcerer trying to take over the world! Then I'd get a white horse and ride off into the sunset. Ne, ne, Rei-chan-"

Which meant, basically, not focusing on the real reason they were there.

("Nagisa, you didn't even rhyme the rest of it!" "Shhhh, Rei-chan.")

The four aforementioned males were sitting around a circle on the floor, deeply and seriously ("What?" Nagisa pouted. "Stop staring at me pointedly.") discussing something that would affect their lives for the next four weeks. Even though this wasn't one of the more dangerous missions they had taken on before as the chance of death and failure were significantly low, and would hardly be tapped into unless they were found out…. it was still dangerous in a way that they could easily be caught… and punished.

Punished as in…. caught, and executed in a public manner.

…. Which normally meant being gored through the stomach with spears sadistically until you died, choked, or begged otherwise to be killed.

As it had been demonstrated over and over that royalty had an extremist die-for philosophy on the constant pain and punishment of "them."

Even the wandering peoples (who normally were held in high regard and reverence by the desert inhabitants), had they shown no formality towards.

Just yesterday, the heart of the capital Balbadd (for some reason, the un-creative first emperors had named their capital the same name as their empire; Balbadd. Which was boring, Nagisa whined,) had held and witnessed their first 'Iwatobi' hanging at dawn. When Haru and the rest of them heard this news, they couldn't.. wouldn't believe it, and had spent the day brooding.

In Arabia; It was a dangerous world.

They had known that, they had had it drilled into them, but it hadn't really sunk in until then.

They only had each other to depend on. No one else.

Because they were friends. As long as they had each other, they would be okay.

『世界は非常に残酷ですが美しいです。』

『The world is very cruel but beautiful.』

Getting up from his sitting spot on the floor, Nagisa attempts to grab something from the glasses-wearing boy, only to have the latter squirm away. Pouting, the blond sits back down, but points an accusing finger at Rei, making a petulant expression.

While Haru sits there uninterested as always, and Makoto smiles sheepishly, trying to quell the bickering.

"Come onnn, Rei-chan. You've been hogging the secret paper all to yourself because you're afraid I'll accidentally set it on fire again. That was just once, don't be so defensive!"

"No, Nagisa. It was three times, and after that fiasco where we almost died, I am never taking that chance again."

Clutched firmly in Rei's hands was a scrap of parchment containing a few scratched lines with ink. It didn't look like much, but to the group sitting there, it was their lifeline. It was what would decide their fates, and was extremely important. After being read, they had to burn the paper and make sure no one would ever be able to find it.

『または死が追随でしょう。』

『Or death would follow suit.』

Mikoshiba Seijuurou, one of the division captains, had entrusted this to them. Not to mention, they were also personally involved in this case. Two months ago, one of their active division leaders in the Iwatobi organization known as 'Gou-kun,' had gone missing, and through whispers on the street, it was said that she had been taken captive by the Balbadd Empire for questioning.

Senchou; Mikoshiba Seijuurou.

Infiltrate-Type-A. Intel.

Tachibana-team.

You are given an infiltrate-and-steal-intel mission. There are no blatant orders of hostility; for attacking and physically maiming the enemy. Strictly intelligence-surveying order. As always, regulations rule that you must always be equipped and ready to fight.

Details: The four members of the Tachibana-team will infiltrate the Balbadd palace. Subdivision-leader 'Gou' has been taken captive by the Balbadd Empire, and it is your job to locate the documents and records as to where 'Gou' has been taken. As for prerequisite mission information, there is none we have on hand as of far. When you locate the intel, you are to withdraw to Iwatobi base seven in Balbadd and send the intel by hawk. Stay on standby until given further orders.

Affirmative.

Free!

Gou was a very prominent and active informant, so they definitely needed her back. (Although Makoto believed that Mikoshiba's incentives for getting back Gou weren't as innocent as the rest of their were, Rei had simply shrugged it off and said there was no difference.) Not to mention, the four here were close friends with her.

So their orders were to break into Balbadd's records, and find out where Gou had been taken captive, then relay this information to Iwatobi.

But even this, however, was risky.

Filed throughout the entire kingdom were bounties and notices. Plastered onto every visible wall in all cities were the Iwatobi fliers, offering large sums of money and gold for caught criminals or information.

Iwatobi, however, operated in ways that made them very hard to find.

And they would have to be… no, they would be street-smart and careful about this.

Makoto nodded solemnly. With the correct planning, they could.. no, they would break into the palace with no problem.

『あなたが住んでいるにしたくないですか？』

『Don't you want to live?』

To carry this mission out, they would all first have to take on jobs to sneak in.

Though, they'd have to change clothes and disguise themselves so they wouldn't stand out. Haru was still in his traveling wear, with all of his headscarves and cut-layers of clothes on (even though he didn't need it anymore since they were inside and it was still hot). Rei and Makoto were in their acceptable guard-clothes already (though Makoto reminded himself that he'd have to take the feathers off later since they weren't respectful), and Nagisa was….. wearing obnoxious yellows (that contrasted horribly, though no one had the heart to tell him that.)

But first, their attention is caught by something else.

『彼らが持っていたものは何年もやって待っていた。』

『Something they had waited to do for years.』

The hidden map Haru has found is slowly unfolded and placed in the center of the room.

(It was the reason he had spent two months traveling by himself, making the others wait here for him.)

It's a piece of faded parchment, very fragile and thin, with some ink lines having been smudged messily.

In the center, there's an 'X' marking the spot of a dungeon--a real one, Haru says, while the rest of them stare in wonder.

It's located in Balbadd. ?

On the bottom right corner of the parchment, there is writing that seems to have been written backwards. Rei declares it to be mirrored writing, and sure enough, when they look at the reflection, there are clear instructions written on the map telling them where and how to get to the dungeon.

Leaning forward, Haru shows everyone the faded map. They all look over it with awe, barely-concealed excitement shining in their eyes, and it's such a look that affects him personally that Haru averts his gaze and looks elsewhere.

Rei looks positively thrilled, Nagisa is almost singing, and Makoto looks happy.

For the team.

Makoto holds out the map and smiles widely, before carefully folding it back into four sections and handing it back to Haru. If it weren't for the shortage of time they had left before they had to arrive at the palace, they would have obsessed over the map (because it was such a rare discover and find), but they didn't have the time to go after the dungeon now. Neither would they be able to do it for the next month or so.

It was unanimous that Haru would take care of the map until then.

Haru-chan, Haru-chan, you really found one?! I never thought… I love you, Haru-chan! We're going to become Kings! You're so amazing, heh heh! Nagisa almost sings, and tries to tackle Haru… who only dodges the attack.

Haruka-senpai! This is… this is insane… but we'll do it, for sure, I swear, Rei says with a determined look.

(They can all see the theories starting to form.)

Haru. That is all Makoto says, but it's enough because Haru understands him and there's no need for any more words.

Since it's always been their dream, after all. And that's what Iwatobi is after.

『Dungeons. ダンジョン。.

A type of mysterious floor that appears in random places all over the world. Deathly lethal and dangerous, many people disappear into them never to be found again. Since no one has come back to tell the tale, it is unknown what exactly lies inside these mysterious floors, but biblical references quote 'An enchanted lake of raging flames, vengeful-spitting volcanoes, fire-breathing dragons, poison-bringing wasps, monsters not made from this world, ghosts of time, and labyrinths from the past.' It is said that if you can seize one, you can gain the gold, jewels, wealth, enchanted items, magic weapons and wish-granting Djinns found inside a dungeon. Many conquerors of dungeons in history have tended to go on and form their own countries, having much military power. No one knows where the dungeons come from, but the legends speak of three mages who raise them on whims.』

Makoto smiles excitedly, Rei straightens up, and Nagisa gasps, clapping his hands together.

They would make it for sure this time.

"Ahem."

The focus of their attention was directed to the center of the room.

In the middle of their group were four cards-three white, one black, all inside a ceramic pot.

Rei, their ever-so-diligent-and-successful-strategist, had drawn out a plan for them to get in easily.

Two of them would be palace guards. One person would have to ferry around the dining halls to overhear and eavesdrop on conversations the nobles had, so they would either work as a kitchen assistant or a server, then the last one.. would have to dress as a female attendant.

The "female" attendant was the most important part of the plan, Rei had said. That person would ultimately be the one that would sneak into the record rooms and actually physically steal the intel. Then, they would complete their mission and could withdraw for the time being.

Naturally, no one ("No way, Nagisa. You are not dressing me up in ribbons. Wouldn't one of the senpai's be better?" "Oh. H-Haha, I think Haru-chan would be better for the job.." "Don't you dare.") had wanted to take on that role, so they had come up with a system to decide who would have to be it.

Four cards-one to determine each person's fate.

(Although Haru insisted that the cards actually rather determined how each person's doom would occur.)

White represented was for the three socially acceptable jobs; being a guard or a kitchen server.

Black … stood for the death-of-dignity card. The bomb, the death card, the… female card. The card that in all literal sense of of the word, could be called the man card and was just not acceptable.

Each person had drawn one.

Makoto, Nagisa, and Rei had found with relief that the color of their cards were white…

… And Haru had drawn the black one.

For a few moments, all of the inhabitants in the room (minus Haru) had let out a secretly contented sigh of relief, because they hadn't gotten the death card. Which meant no female-servanting ("That's not a word, Nagisa!") on enemy grounds in the Balbadd palace.

Haru.. would have to be the one strutting around in as a girl. And Haru would be the one that would actually go in and steal the intel.. so they were safe.

(All of the inhabitants of the room were blatantly ignoring Haru's pointed stare that spoke volumes of "I-am-so-not-doing-this.").

Having been delighted at this turn of events, Nagisa had smiled angelically before trying to tackle Rei in some burst of energetic sunshine and happiness. Of course, Rei could only back away from the blond in the small room, scrambling away from Nagisa, not realizing that he had just climbed onto-

"Eeeh? Rei-chaan, that's not fair. You're practically sitting on Haru-chan's lap now, you know. I'm so jealous… Haru-chan never let me do that!"

A good-natured smile. "What are you talking about, Nagisa? If I remember, as kids, you always clung to Haru like a koala bear anyways, even when he made scary faces."

Nagisa pouts and makes a face. "Mako-chaaaan. We don't talk about that."

Rei freezes up. "Waah! Sorry, Haruka-senpai! I didn't mean to uh, climb on top of you, I was really just running from Nagisa because… Nagisa! Don't point the flame-stroking stick at me, that's really dangerous!"

Haru's eyes flickers down Rei's body briefly before coming back to meet his kouhai's gaze.

For a moment, everyone stops what they're doing and they turn to watch Haru.. because this is stoic Haru of all people, who doesn't do hugs or physical contact in general, so..

(With Rei still perched on his lap.)

What's going to happen to Rei?

Makoto half-wonders if he should intervene and possibly help Haru from his predicament, while Nagisa just beams positively, radiating sparkles like an angel (a demon, a demon, Rei cries.)

The kouhai wearing glasses simply pales, attempting to explain and say that he is sorry…

… And as for Haru, he wraps his arms around Rei's waist before leaning forward to put his chin on his kouhai's shoulder, holding him in a casual embrace that could totally be called intimate, this was definitely intimate.

"..."

("..Now I'm really jealous! Damnit, Rei-chan! Haru-chan!" "Shhh, Nagisa, we'll be found!")

…. Is the world ending? Makoto wonders, and he fidgets with the decorative feathers pinned to the side of his head, pulling up his white hat and straightening out the golden bands laid across it.

Rei squirms a little before having tints of a blush come onto his face. "H-..Haruka-senpai!"

Nagisa only watches the interaction with a pout, obviously jealous. "But. But Haru never hugs anyone."

And as they all wonder what Haru could have planned for this out-of-character show…..

"Alright," Haru says with a completely straight and blank face. "Rei's going to be the black card."

.

.

.

"NANI?!"

As a note, at the very beginning, Nagisa did use the word 'pwn', and it's not really a real word- but if you get the reference, a gift of wrapped-up Rei for you.

Leave a review on your way out, s'il vous plait. Even if it's just to tell me you were disappointed, since I didn't even know how to start this. I know, the beginning is serious and beautiful, and then there's just Iwatobi!crack. Bam. And.. I don't even. It is a serious story, I swear.

This is actually an adventure and a sassy fairytale. It doesn't revolve around Rin and royalty either, our Iwatobi team has a purpose. (Sorry, I just find it annoying and unattractive when royalty or rich characters have the world revolve around them. What a turnoff. Haru's team is going to.. do Nagisa-scale projects. Project N.)

You can expect a lot of Iwatobi!friendship, some sassy Haru (he'll still be in-character, trust me, just not a princess-y bitch), curious (and exasperated) Rin, fun festivals (even a masked dance for Haru and Rin maybe), swordfighting, magic, dungeons, kingdoms, all of that. And even twists. Planning on making regular updates for this one as well.

Summary of the first chapter (because it is confusing):

First, Haru is shown traveling by himself on the desert, going towards a city where his friends are waiting. The next scene cuts to the four having met up in Balbadd and hanging out in one of the residence buildings near a market. Haru has a map that leads to a dungeon (read above for details), but they save that for later. They have to infiltrate into a palace and get intel for Gou.

Then all of the Iwatobi!crack occurs and at the end, Haru transfers his role onto Rei-maybe.

Second chapter on Tuesday!

See you then!

Owari

"Waaaait, hold on," Nagisa interrupts the storyline rudely, raising a hand as if in school, "What do you mean by a 'successful strategist', out of all the things we ever did in the past, only 30% of Rei-chan's plans ever succeeded."

The kouhai reaches for a book and attempts throwing it at the blond, indignant. "That's only because you would never listen to my plans! Who was the one who kept on deliberately ruining and messing with them because it would be more 'fun and interesting'? Even Haruka-senpai said you went overboard!"

Nagisa pouts. "Haru-chan didn't say anything, he just… uh. Kind of said my exploits were too exciting for us to bear."

"... You realize that is a lot, coming from Haruka-senpai? Who. Who was the one who switched the sleep-drugs for the last prince for an aphrodisiac? Who was the one who screamed "rape" at the top of their lungs when we were supposed to sneak away quietly? Who was the one that graffitied innuendos all over the palace walls? And who was the one…" Rei sighs. "...Who insisted on setting the hot spring changing rooms on fire, so all of the residents would have to run out skin-naked? Is it a surprise that we failed those excursions?

"Aaahhh… H-Haha. True. Well, Rei-chan, if your theories have a 150% rate of success, then small factors shouldn't matter…ne?~"

"Stop ruining the audience's opinion of me, I'm actually a smart character!"

"Waah, Mako-chan, save me!"