Don't Let Me Drown

Alrighty! I've just recently got into this series, so please be easy. I do not own any rights to Free!, and yes this is going to be a yaoi in later chapters. So, tell you right now, don't like don't read. RinxHaruka (possible going to write something that goes along with this one, just have to wait and see)

Anywho~~ Please enjoy and don't forget to RxR ;)

Chapter 1

"I win. This means I'll never swim with you again." Haruka could only stare up at Rin in shock, his body going numb as he registered the man's words. Surely he didn't mean that! He couldn't! Not with their history as friends!

"Never." Rin growled out, and Haru went wide eyes as his friend, rival, and person who he cared for greatly, turned and walked away. A shiver shot down his spine, making the water that was around him seem to go cold, and for the first time, he didn't want to be in the water. Not as he knew that Rin was speaking the truth. That he was leaving him, again!

Haru's entire body shot upright, his hand extending in front of him as he tried to reach for Rin's retreating form. He stared at the appendage as his breath came out in gasps, and his chest heaved desperately. Closing his eyes, he closed his hand and brought it over his bare chest, feeling as his heart slammed against his ribs. He swallowed as he recalled the memory that refused to stop haunting him. It had been over a week now since Rin had said those words, and he still couldn't get over them. They haunted him, day and night.

Sure, he could distract himself from them during the day, but at night they came back with force. Making him awake early, and too afraid to go back to sleep. So, since he was used to the new routine, that was now in his life, he slid from his bed and headed for the bath. He hated the sweat that was cooling on his skin, and knew that he needed to wash it away before he got ready. He knew that it was early, about three in the morning, and that it would still be a few hours before Makoto knocked on his door. He knew that the moment his life long friend saw him, he would know something was up.

Looking in the mirror he scowled slightly at the bags under his eyes, knowing that they alone would worry Makoto. Giving a sigh, he adjusted the water to his liking and allowed the tub to fill as he stripped down to his swim suite. He glanced hesitantly at the water, not wanting to feel the coldness as he had a week ago. That feeling alone caused him to hesitate to enter any water, because the water had never been cold to him before. He had always felt warm in water, even during the winter, but that day...Shaking his head, he turned the water off, and eased into the, thankfully warm, water. Giving a sigh, he sank low into the water, closed his eyes, and allowed his mind to wander. Wincing as it decided to return to his dream and the words that Rin had stated.

A heavy feeling settled into his chest, and he sank lower into the water until his whole body was submerged. He slowly opened his eyes, and frowned as his mind refused to stop repeating Rin's words. He didn't know what was wrong with himself, which was one reason that he had yet to tell any of the others. He figure that it was pointless to make them worry over nothing, but lately he was feeling worse and worse. Not to mention, every time he saw the red head, he would feel like his breath left him, and his heart stop beating as a sharp pain shot through him. Not to mention, the look that Rin gave him, one something akin to betrayal, hurt, and some other emotion, struck him deeply. He blinked as another sharp pain struck his chest, and then realized that his lungs were demanding air.

Surfacing the tub water, he breathed deeply, giving his lungs the relief that they wanted, and then leaned against the back of the tub. Swallowing, he glanced down at the water. He knew that he could easily get rid of all of these weird feelings easily, but everyone said he wasn't that weak. Shaking his head, he gripped the edges, and stood. He moved out of the bath, grabbed a towel, and started to his room. Looking around, he frowned as he saw that he still had a decent wait until Makoto came calling. Biting his bottom lip, he dressed, wrote a quick note, and then stuck it to his door before he turned and started for the school.

Makoto looked down at his feet as he walked the familiar path to Haruka's house. He gave a small smile as he realized that he could probably walk this path blindfolded. Giving a huff at that, he looked up as his childhood friend's house came into view. Walking up the path, he raised his fist, but stopped short when he saw a note stuck to the door. Lowering his hand, he stepped forward and carefully removed the note, addressed to him, from the door:

Makoto, went on ahead since I got up early today. I'll be at the school's pool. - Haruka.

He sighed, and eased the note into his pocket before turning and walking the way he had came. He wasn't mad at the young man for not just calling, or texting, him that he wasn't going to walk today, but he was worried about him. Something had been off about him the past week. He looked tired, with bags under his eyes, and more zoned out than usual. He was also slowing down in swimming, and he had, more than once, caught Haru staring at the water in a way that frightened him. At first, he had noticed that he had been hesitant about entering water again, but now, it was a deeper, contemplating look. The kind of look that people who were thinking of jumping from a building, or running a blade over their skin.

He stilled, his hand sliding to the paper in his pocket and pulling it out. "I'll be at the school's pool."...He let out a small curse, something he rarely did, and started off at a dead run. He didn't think that Haruka would take such measures if something was bothering him, but he knew that some people who became like this forgot about the others that deeply cared about them. He just hope that he was wrong, and that he was just over exaggerating about everything. Still, it wasn't going to hurt to be over cautious, especially when it came to one of his treasured friends. Besides, he knew that something bigger had happened between Haru and Rin, and knew that whatever it was, was bothering him deeply.

He didn't push though, because he knew with Haru being Haru, he would want to figure it out all by himself first, and then Makoto if what he was feeling was natural. It was how they always did things, sometimes he would just come right out and ask, other times he would sulk and brood about it for a while before asking. He figured that this would probably be the same way, but obviously this was something deeper. Something that had Haru more than confused, and he had to be there for him. He didn't want to lose Haru, because he wasn't sure what he would do if he lost the dark haired, blue eyed man.

It felt like an eternity before Makoto reached the school, and he quickly ran to the pool. Stopping long enough to allow his burning lungs some air, before walking into the locker room and looking around. Haru's locker was still open, his school clothes carefully placed inside. He swallowed, debating rather or not to strip into his swim suite, but decided against it, and headed for the pool. He scanned the water's clear surface, feeling his body tensing as he didn't see Haru practicing his form, or movement. He stepped closer, and jumped the man in question broke water, gasping slightly as he gripped onto the ledge of the pool.

Relief rushed so strongly through him, that he thought he might collapse, and he watched as Haru removed his goggles and shook his head from side to side to shake off excess water. Looking around, he quickly grabbed Haru's towel, and then leaned down so his hand was in front of the man. Watching as surprise caused sea blue eyes to widen slightly before he looked up at him. Offering him a smile, he waited patiently until Haru finally gripped his hand, and he pulled him easily from the water.

"Working on your speed?" He asked, handing him the towel and bit the inside of his cheek when the other shook his head. He was about to ask what he had been doing when those blue eyes locked with his, and then he sighed.

"I didn't mean to worry you, Mako. I wanted to improve my form." He whispered, and he winced. He knew he was too easy to read, they had all told him at one point or the other, but he just couldn't help it. Still, he knew that there was no way he could deny it now. He rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin, and then stared at the man before him.

"No need to apologize. I was just over thinking, again. I know that you would never do something like that, but you know how I can be sometimes." He stated, smiling as those deep blue eyes looked at him again, before Haruka mumbled something and started to rub the towel over his hair. Makoto sighed, and watched as he finished drying and started for the locker room. He watched him until he moved through the door, and then looked out at the water. He swallowed as he saw that Haru was still keeping something from him. He knew, that if his friend had been working on his form, like he said he had been doing, the water wouldn't be as calm as it was, meaning that rather Haruka had just been floating in one place, and moved under before Makoto came in, or had been underwater from the start. He prayed with everything that he had, that it wasn't the latter of the two.

Turning, he followed his friend, sliding a smile on his face as he entered the locker room, and watched as Haru gathered his clothes and went to wash and change. He then grabbed his phone, pulling it out, he debated rather or not to text the others about what had happened. Then decided against it, knowing that they wouldn't be able to hide their worries from him either. If only he knew what Rin had said to Haru after their race...!

Flipping his phone open, he quickly found the number he was looking for, and typed out a quick message before pressing send, closed it, and slid it back into his pocket. Only one person knew Haruka as well as him, and he knew that the person would know more about what was going on than he would. Although, he wasn't sure how much Rin would help. Considering it was basically his fault that Haru was acting this way.