I had this idea for awhile now, so finally decided to write it :) Going to be multi-chaptered, feedback/concrit is always welcome!~

He's gone. Gone. Disappeared.

Makoto wipes at his puffy red eyes, swollen from days of crying. He feels empty, he is empty. There's nothing in his mind. A deep dark void, no coherent thoughts, nothing. Once in a while, a familiar name, one that had been a sweet tune on his lips, floats through the empty space.

Haru.

It had always been Haru. Haru, his protector. Haru, his warmth. His solid shield and armour. Makoto could never, had never, imagined a life without Haru. That raven-haired swimmer had always been by his side, always present. He was the one that had chased away bullies, the one that held him when he cried, the one who had taken his hand and pulled him away from everything scary.

It had been Haru whom Makoto had sleepovers with. It had been Haru whom he had pulled to the Iwatobi Swim Club when they were but small children. It had been with Haru when they had snuck a stray cat into the Tachibana's home, or when they ran through the tall summer grass hand in hand. It had even been Haru, whom Makoto had shared his first kiss with. That was the one day of his childhood Makoto never forgot.

Now, Haru was gone. Gone without a trace, with the exception of his signature pair of blue goggles floating on the ocean's surface. He had simply disappeared. No one had been able to find him, the missing swimmer. His body had vanished. All too soon, he was declared dead and Makoto's very soul dimmed and died out.

The funeral was held, despite the strong disbelief that Haru was actually dead. Makoto still didn't believe, refused to believe it. Haru couldn't be dead. He was just gone. Gone for awhile. Maybe for a short trip. A holiday. A breather away from the stress of life. He would return. Haru had to return. Makoto made sure to be waiting for him.

School was a pain. Makoto, the prized student who had not once missed classes or failed subjects was now slipping, close to the bottom. He couldn't concentrate. He couldn't sit in the classroom without that warm presence by his side. It was always cold, without Haru.

"Makoto, you have to go to school."

Makoto buried his head further into his pillow. Not today. Not without Haru. His mother would gently stroke her son's hair, naturally worried about his condition, before leaving him alone. Makoto had never been like that. Of course, there had been the ups and downs in his life just like anyone else. But nothing had ever gotten him this badly. He had always been able to get back up on his own two feet, get back up and face life head on. This was different. This time, Haru wasn't there for him.

Insomnia then hit him the way enemies lured their prey. Gently and enticingly at first, and then suffocating. Makoto couldn't sleep properly anymore. The dark rings under his eyes told numerous stories of tears, anger, grief. Pain. Tear stains were always on his cheeks in the morning. His eyes stung despite the darkness. But shutting his eyes meant vivid memories of Haru flashing across his mind. Trying to sleep meant risks of Haru-filled dreams. That was never good the moment he woke up.

As the days went by, Makoto became better and better at hiding his sadness. The sadness that was agonising yet addictive. All of it slowly seeped into Makoto's entire body, filling every nook and cranny of his tired bones, his aching frame. Inked its way onto his mind, just like a permanent stain on a once-white surface.

There was always one thought that haunted him wherever he went. That would cause tears to well up, or his head to hurt terribly. One thought that made him insanely sad.

Haru never said goodbye.

Up in the sky, Haru was still outside the gates of heaven. He stood there, back to the golden gates, unmoving. A strong desire in his heart kept him from entering. A desire so deep, a bond so strong that kept him connected to the world below. It pulsed through his veins, coursed through his body. The only attachment left to Makoto. A cord that couldn't be broken. This human craving, so strong and so firm.

"Let go. Let go of him."

Yet Haru wouldn't let him go. He couldn't let him go. The chestnut brown hair, the jade green eyes. That warmth that Haru longed for was still on the earth. The strong arms, that broad chest. That was all Haru yearned for, all that kept him outside. His beautiful smile, the way his eyes shone in the sun. His voice, his hands, his everything. Haru wanted it, needed it. He wasn't going to let Makoto go. Not in a million years.

It had once been a dull ache, but had now evolved and become a monster plaguing his mind. One thought, one wish that had taken over his entire resolve, enveloped his entire being.

I want to be with Makoto.

His desire had multiplied so much and so fast, it was impossible to let someone with such human desires into heaven. Haru couldn't be let in. His heart still belonged somewhere else, his soul someone else's.

"Okay," they said, "Fine. We'll let you go back."

But there was a catch. One condition that needed to be fulfilled before Haru could return to normal. Return to a normal human life with Makoto. One condition that only he and the Deciders above knew of. If that condition failed to be met, Haru would forever be stuck in this furry body, whiskers and a tail.

Then, it happened. Reincarnation.

The rain splattered heavily on the ground, its pitter-patter sounds now a range of loud thumps and painful beatings. A lightning storm flashed throughout the sky, followed obediently by massive claps of thunder. Haru shivered and meowed, retreating further into the bushes. He loved water, there was no mistake about that, but since when was thunder so deafening? It was scary.

Makoto sloshed through the rain, walking quickly yet not at top-speed. The rain pelted down on him, his shoulders, his arms, his head. It hurt, yes it hurt. But it didn't hurt enough to numb the pain still vivid and alive in his chest. The pain of losing Haru. And the weight of keeping him alive.

His heart almost skipped a beat when his sharp eyes spotted a shimmering blue in the bushes. A vibrant oceanic blue, exactly like Haru's eyes. But what would Haru be doing, hiding in the bushes? Makoto crouched down, cooing for the creature he had just seen to come forward.

Haru recognised that voice immediately, those sweet, sweet wooing noises could only be coming from one person. They were now faintly burdened with a sense of sadness, Haru could hear, but it was still Makoto. Inching forward slowly, eyes bright and on the watch, Haru peeked out from behind…

There it was. That beautiful face. Those beautiful eyes. The beautiful person right in front of him. The one with the beautiful heart and mind; a beautiful soul. Makoto.

Haru could see the sadness in Makoto's eyes as he slowly reached out to pet him between the ears, the gentle smile worn down by the despair. The bags under his eyes hadn't disappeared. This wasn't the Makoto he had known before, yet he was still Makoto. Worn-out, ragged, depressed Makoto. Haru felt his heart sting. He purred softly, trying to cheer the brunet up a little. He embraced Makoto's soft gentle touch, his big warm hand. Makoto, I've missed you.

"It must be cold here, let's go home."

That was so Makoto. Never had the heart to leave pitiful creatures out in the rain. Always thinking of others before himself.

Water was important, that was true. Haru would've loved to stay in the rain for the rest of the day. But going along with Makoto could only mean warmth, protection, affection. Maybe even cuddles. And shelter away from the loud thunder. Everything Haru craved for was now right in front of him. He couldn't refuse as Makoto gingerly picked him up and ran home.