Title: Forever at Your Service

Summary: The Tachibana family, for many generations, has been servants of the Nanase family. One day, Haruka's parents died on an airplane crash. Haruka, being the sole heir of the family, was left alone. Makoto, the first born of the Tachibana family, was the only one who was able to understand Haruka's silent language. At first, it was just a master-servant thing when they were just kids but as time passed by, those little heart beats came to be more than just protecting a vulnerable dolphin. AU! YAOI!

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A/N: So~ MakoHaru for the win~! XD PLOTBUNNIES for the win as well!

I just thought that since all of those FREE! Characters have animal representations, perhaps I should just use it XD. This goes along the line of supernatural, angst and some heartstring being pulled here and there—just some of the chapters though! I don't like things that are too sad. That being said, this will be filled with fluffy, cute, romantic (*ehem* erotic *ehem*) also comedic scenes~!

Warning: AU! YAOI! OOCness! Some grammatical errors (please point them out), language mixing and any possible mistakes you can see out there~

Disclaimer: Bastard: Nanase-san, could you..?
Haruka: No.
Makoto: *sighs* adieu bastard doesn't own FREE! in anyway… Say… can't you do anything about your pen name? It sounded so wrong when I did the disclaimer…
Bastard: I don't care. I like it as it is.

Enjoy~!

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Chapter 01

The Vulnerable Dolphin

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"How's he doing..?"

"Not very good… He shut himself away…"

"Poor little kid… He has the mark and his parents passed away…"

"He's going to fall ill if this continues."

.

.

.

Nanase Haruka, the bearer of the mark, nine years-old, curled-up into a fetal position in his bed. This was the first time he didn't want to go into the water and this was definitely the first time he felt this depressed. His stomach growled but he just ignored this feeling.

It's my fault. If I didn't call them to come home..!

He scrunched up his face as he buried himself in the covers. A week has passed since they died and it was just yesterday that their bodies were retrieved. Haruka could still hear that last conversation just before his parents left for departure.

"My, my~! Haruka's missing us! We have to go now, honey!"

"Oh! You're right~! Just you wait, Haruka! We'll be back in no time!"

"Haruka… We love you… SO MUCH! So just wait, okay?"

He threw a pillow at a random direction. Warm tears ran down his face and on to the covers. He badly wanted to see his parents. Is this a punishment for asking something so rash?!

We love you… SO MUCH!

"SHUT UP!" He covered his ears, to helplessly block the echoing sweet voice of his mother. "BE QUIET! BE QUIET! BE QUIET!" He whimpered at his very state. "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE!"

So just wait, okay?

"I CAN'T!" Haruka's voice grew louder and louder as he shouted these words over and over: "Shut up! Be quiet! I don't want to hear your voice!" It wasn't long enough that he lost his voice in the process. He still strained himself to shout and cry even though he was dried up. He kept throwing any random items near him.

It was never enough for him to vent.

The cycle continued on the next day. His voice came back—although it was just a little, his eyes were swollen all because of his crying the day before, his little knuckles had wounds both old and fresh and his room never again became neat and tidy.

His stomach growled for the nth time. He still ignored the feeling of hunger as he grew tired of everything. He lied on the bed, facing the ceiling that seemed to mock as it had no utter care in the world. Pain that seemed to feel like little needles pricked him almost everywhere. He ignored the feeling of pain. The shine in his eyes slowly diminished as the whole world turned pitch black.

…

…

…

So cold…

Haruka slowly opened his eyes, and much to his agony, everything seemed to spin in circles. He groaned in pain as he tried to sooth his hurting head. "..!"

I can't move my body…

Gradually, he could hear indistinct voices and he could hear some machines doing their job. He mentally concluded that he was confined in a hospital. Haruka was too weak to break free as of the moment, so he wasn't able to do anything but try to get a good grip of the situation. But unfortunately, his body was paying the toll for its actions. The last thing he saw was a pair of worried gentle eyes.

They were soothing even though it was just a brief sight.

Haruka fell unconscious once more.

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…

…

"Oh! Finally up, Haru-chan?"

"Who's…?" Haruka turned his head to the direction of the voice. Stoic ocean eyes met gentle forest green eyes. "Mako…to..?"

Makoto's eyes suddenly rid of worry as it lit with a joyful glow. "Ha..ru..!" Tears started to form at the corners of his eyes.

"What… happened..?"

Makoto's breathing suddenly hitched as he evaded Haruka's eyes. His eyes were filled with worry once again. If he tells Haruka that he passed out due to bodily circumstances, will he remember the reason for him doing it so? And if he does, will he repeat his actions? Makoto can't possibly think of a good option in the given situation. He obviously cares for Haruka in so many levels.

"Are they here..?" Haruka slowly mentioned.

The olive head felt like he fell down a pit as he heard that question. He squeezed his two hands as he answered Haruka's question with a question. "Who are?"

Haruka's eyes had a small speck of expectation when he said this. "My parents"

Thousands of land mines exploded at the back of Makoto's mind. He shouldn't have done that. He went for Haruka's hand and clasped it together between his.

So cold… Makoto thought as he felt Haruka's hand.

A reassuring grip was felt as Makoto did this. The water lover was surprised (though it wasn't that obvious, given his condition) at Makoto's action. He saw his mouth move. It was barely audible but it was clear as it passed Haruka's ears.

"I'm so sorry…"

In a near state of panic, Haruka took him all the courage that he could gather, and asked "How long was I out?"

Makoto looked strained. He placed Haruka's hand back on his lap. His hands went to cover his face—to hide a pained expression for Haruka's sake. The olive head inhaled in an exhausted manner. His hugged himself, as if saying to himself to everything will be okay. "… days…"

"I didn't hear you…"

"… three days…"

Haruka forced himself up, disregarding all those contraptions that were connected on his body. A twinge of anxiety swirled around Haruka's fragile heart. The world seemed to move very slowly at the sudden moment. He could feel his heart beat out of his chest. His usually stoic eyes now filled with so many emotions looked out of the window. Birds flew past his field of vision. The sound of the sea reverberated in his ears. Not long enough, he could hear imaginary sirens and imaginary sorrowful sobs.

Across him was another Haruka who locked himself up in his room.

"My late grandmother used to say this saying: "Nice people tend to die early."." Said the imaginary Haruka.

"Haru-chan?"

Everything went back to normal. It was a nice hospital room again. But… What was that?

"Are you alright..? Maybe I shouldn't have talked to you—"

"I'm fine…" Haruka looked down and watched the dextrose do its wonders. "It's just that…" He closed and opened his available hand. "It's nothing."

Makoto took this as a chance to stand up, causing Haruka to jerk due to the sudden movement. The room was gradually filled with silent tension. Even the fishes in the tank seem to feel the rising tension as they swam slowly than usual. The olive head clenched his hands into a fist and move towards Haruka. He shut his eyes in the process when he was just a few approximations away from Haruka.

He latched himself on to Haruka. He squeezed Haruka tight—as if saying "Don't think about it.". Moments later, Haruka felt water droplets touch his cheeks. Without even thinking about it, the water lover returned the hug and unconsciously, he started to cry as well.

Haruka most likely doesn't remember. That's a good thing. But then again, he might hurt himself again if that memory resurfaces. Makoto lightly caressed Haruka's bedridden hair. "Haru-chan…" Makoto whispered.

The water lover didn't respond, but Makoto knew otherwise. "I need to tell you something after you've been released from this hospital…" He drew back his hug and looked at Haruka straight in the eyes. A warm smile, just as how Haruka had always wanted it to be, appeared on the olive head's features. "My parents will fetch you when it comes…"

One look and Makoto understood Haruka's silent language. Just now, the water lover wanted to say, "Don't go."

With a reassuring glance, the olive head said, "I won't. I'm just going to the toilet."

He turned his back on Haruka and his smile faded into a sorrowful face as he went outside.

The door slowly closed with a click.

"How was he?" The doctor, who was waiting for Makoto to come outside, asked.

"He doesn't remember… By the mentioning of his parent… it just somehow passed Haru-chan's ears…" The olive answered. A small pained smile was showed to the doctor. "Is that a good or bad thing..?"

"I can't say for sure…"

Back in the room, Haruka was blankly staring out of the window. The sunlight was gradually being covered by the clouds, making the place dimmer than I should be. He eyes were filled with confusion, worry, doubt, and fear. Something was wrong and Haruka just can't put it into words. A sharp, stabbing pain reoccurred in his head and heart.

Something was definitely wrong and time was the only thing that could possibly tell.

"Nanase's memories of that day were repressed."

Makoto didn't understand the doctor's words. Said doctor chuckled and squat down to Makoto's height, "Let's just say that this is how the head protects the heart." With a smile, the doctor stood up and walked out of sight.

~*TO BE CONTINUED*~

This was boring… I think… I can't make any tear jerking moments but yeah… Here it is! XD

Care to drop a review?

Ja ne~!