Reaper: Hi there Free!dom. This is my first Free! fanfic and it's based on the whole Haru-Merman/Mer-person thing with the second ending (which is so fucking amazing AM I RIGHT?!) Anyways~ This is just a idea I got and I don't really plan for a lot of people to like it (since it is a shitty story and I am a shitty writer jfc) but I hope you like it. This is gonna have all the water-homos in it, and all the gay you could ask for. Want a pairing in this story? Bros, just ask. Imma add every single fucking pairing you guys want, even if it is just a fluffy huggle scene or some smooooooches. Yuh. I don't do that hardcore frick-frack stuff (so sorry I've been on tumblr so much jfc look at me rambling) but uh, yeah, I can give you mega loads of fluff?

So sorry.

ANYWAYS~

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Free! If I did, I wouldn't be making fanfiction (or maybe I would. IDK maybe KyoAni makes fanfictions of their shit i dunno) but yeah. I don't own, sadly. Though I would be terrified if I did. So much pressure and people wanting to steal the rights from you, yuh.

Enjoy?

16 years ago…

The elderly lady hobbled along the sand, a basket hooked on her forearm as she took in the sun rising along the ocean's horizon. Gray hair tucked into a tight bun and a shawl covering her small frame, the elderly woman continued to watch the sun. Her blue eyes skimmed the ocean, watching how the water's surface danced with the light and colors of the sun's wakening.

The sounds of something moving on the sand drew her attention to a few feet in front of her, where a small figure laid. The elderly woman gasped, her eyes widening as she saw the tiny form of a toddler sit up. The toddler shook, hugging themselves as loud gasps escaped their throat. The woman rushed over, all but ripping her shawl off her shoulders as she saw the child was stark naked, his pale skin glistening with water and – the woman stopped, taking in the blue, shimmering fish scales that patched on his shoulders and arms and legs, his torso and belly-button framed with small clusters of the blue scales and glitter-like specs of sand that seemed to blanket his skin.

The boy, hearing the old woman coming, flinched and looked up at her. The woman's breath caught in her throat. The boy's eyes were a deep color of blue, reminding the woman of the dark depths of the ocean and his pupils were slanted like a cat's, ready to attack if threatened. The scales danced across his cheeks and forehead, looking like face paint smearing off as the scales began to sink into his skin. The boy's black hair was long, spilling down his back in uneven cuts of locks, slinging over his shoulder and dancing around his thighs. His frame was thin, skinny and small, his ribs showing through his flesh. His fingernails were blue, though the color was receding to a more fleshly color, like normal nails. The woman gently knelt down next to the boy, ignoring the way he tried and failed to scoot away from him, and wrapped the shawl around his torso, covering him up.

The elderly lady took off her sweat-jacket, shuddering as the morning air shook her aged frame, and draped it around the boy's shoulders. The boy watched her silently, his eyes calming down as he realized she wouldn't, or couldn't rather, hurt him.

"What's your name, child?" The woman asked, sitting back as the boy huddled into the over-sized jacket. The boy flinched and shook his head. He pointed to the ocean, his hand shaking, and the woman watched with baited breath as the water churned and danced up into a mini-wave, as if warning him to keep silent.

"You can't talk? Or not allowed to?" The woman asked, keeping an eye on the water, which seemed to draw back slightly at her narrowing gaze. The boy looked down, nodding his head.

"Can you write?" The woman asked and the boy stilled before shaking his head. The woman watched how he sluggishly moved his legs, as if trying to get a feel for them. The woman bit back a sigh. Of course she'd be the one who'd have to deal with the unnatural.

"Well, since you seemed to be from far away," the woman cast another glance to the water, "how about I name you Haruka." The boy looked up at her with wide eyes, his mouth opening slightly before his eyes went back to their distant, blank stare. The woman stored that into the back of her mind, silently observing how his scales were gone, making him look like a normal boy.

"My name is Chizuru. Chizuru Nanase. You'll be Haruka. Haruka Nanase," Chizuru spoke and stood up slowly, grunting as her back gave a sharp stab of pain. The boy just stared at her.

"My son and his wife can't have children, you see," Chizuru gave a sad smile, "so this will be a blessing for everyone. Come now, Haruka, let's go." Chizuru held her hand out, waiting for the boy to grab it. Haruka looked back to the ocean one more time before reaching out. It was a struggle, really, to get the boy up. It wasn't that he was heavy, quite the contrary, more like he didn't know how to walk on his legs. He fell flat on his face as Chizuru fell on her butt, both of them stilling. Haruka shot up, looking determined as he slowly stood, shaking slightly. Chizuru sighed and turned around, inviting the boy onto her back. Haruka wobbled over, hugging her around the neck as she stood up, supporting the tiny child.

"Let's head home Haruka," Chizuru spoke and began walking. Haruka burrowed into her neck, his eyes staring out into the ocean as they walked away.

Tank wu, Chizuru-human, a soft voice spoke into Chizuru's mind. The elderly woman nearly dropped the toddler she was carrying as she jumped, startled. She turned her head, seeing Haruka staring up at her with big eyes. His eyes seemed to dance, looking like they were vibrating in their sockets as he gave a nod.

"You can talk with your mind," she bluntly stated, biting the inside of her cheek as Haruka nodded again.

We dun have spow-can words, Haruka spoke in such a way that only a child could, still learning to pronounce correctly. Chizuru nodded.

"I'll have to teach you then," she decided and continued on her way. "How'd you get…here?"

Curse, Haruka said simply and nodded to the ocean as they moved up the stairs to the concrete side-walks and streets. King…curse me…banishment…. Haruka trailed off as his eyes slipped closed. He fell back onto Chizuru's back, slipping into sleep. The elderly lady gave a sigh, shaking her head lightly.

"I'm too old for this," she grumbled and continued on her way. Hopefully her son and his wife were awake.

16 years later… PRESENT TIME.

"Haru? Come on! We're going to be late for school!" Makoto called, standing a little ways down the stairs leading to Haru's house. Haru tilted his head to the side slightly, nodding silently to himself.

"I'm coming," Haru called out softly and stepped down the stairs, meeting up with his taller friend. Makoto gave a smile and turned, ready to head off to school.

Haru looked out towards the ocean, his eyes shining as the morning sun greeted them. Makoto followed his eyes and gave a small, almost sad smile.

"Come on," Makoto spoke softly as he grasped Haru's wrist gently, "let's go." Haru nodded and followed after his best friend, Makoto still holding his wrist.

In the ocean, the water churned and twisted.