Author's Note: Some of the events in Chapters 2-5 are inspired by the places & things that I did with my friends pre-Halloween this year (2014).
This story is for them. (edited and reposted 6-6-15)

The story starts with Rin, Seijuuro, & Aiichiro meeting someone unexpected at the bus stop & they recruit this person to join them on their Halloween adventure.

Haunting Impressions: A Free! Ghoulish Night

Chapter 1: Two to Three Then Four

It was a mildly cold evening in October when two of the Samezuka boys decided to go and check out one of the many Halloween themed attractions that were popping up around the area. Soon the group grew to three as the youngest member refused to be left behind and the older boys had a soft spot for this particular kouhai. Grabbing their coats and packing some things in a bag, they headed out to the nearest bus stop that included their destination along the route.

Upon reaching the bus stop the boys saw someone was already there, half asleep on the bench and leaning against the wall of the bus shelter.

"Do you think we should wake him up Rin-sempai? He could get sick if it gets colder out. And who knows how long he has been out here already."

"Not our problem. And didn't your mother ever tell you to stay away from strangers?"

"It's one guy Matsuoka, what's the harm? He looks around our age anyway. Maybe he was going to meet some friends at the same place we're going to."

"If you want to wake him up Captain be my guest."

"Uhh …. Rin-sempai …."

"What is it Nitori?"

"I know it's kind of dark and all but don't we know this person from somewhere?"

"Hhmm?"

"Hey, I think the little guy is right," Captain Mikoshiba said now that he was closer to the sleeping teen.

Rin moved closer and took a position in front of the person that looked like he was about to play leapfrog. From this height and angle he could get a clear view of the face under the hood of a lightweight jacket.

"Nitori, flashlight," Rin commanded.

Ai handed over the requested object and watched as Rin shined the light just above the person's eyes so as not to blind them should they wake up.

"Makoto? What the hell is he doing out here by himself? Shouldn't Haru and the others be with him?"

"Didn't you say something about the Iwatobi guys and Gou-kun going somewhere tonight? That's what gave you the idea to go find something to do, right?" Seijuuro commented, obviously not having heard Rin's mumblings over Ai's nervous chattering just behind him.

"Hey! Captain Tachibana wake up already," Mikoshiba yelled as he lightly kicked the boy's leg.

Makoto woke up with a start.
"Huh, what? ….. Aaahhhh!"

The Iwatobi Captain almost fell off the bench because he wasn't expecting to wake up to find Rin Matsuoka's face eerily illuminated so close to his. Actually, in his half-awake state he hadn't recognized it was his old teammate. All he registered was sharp teeth, blood red hair, and eyes reflecting their owner was annoyed.

"Oi, Makoto calm down it's just us," Rin said with annoyance because his Captain made someone scream right in his face.
Rin stood and brushed imaginary dirt off his pants as Makoto fully woke up and realized what happened.

"You guys really scared me. Don't ever do that again."
Then after a pause he added, "Sorry Rin-chan. I didn't mean to yell in your face."

"It's fine. It's all his fault anyway," Rin said as he gestured toward to the third year standing beside him.

"Way to throw your sempai under the bus Matsuoka," Seijuuro teased.

"Keep it up and I just may do that for real," Rin teased back with an evil smirk.

"Uhm, Tachibana-san is Nagisa-san and the others coming to meet you?" Ai cut in before his sempai and Captain could do something they would regret.

"Actually I was going to meet them. My mom was out and my dad had to stay late at work so I couldn't leave until someone else got home to watch my younger siblings. What time is it anyway?"

Seijuuro took out his phone and glanced at the time on the screen.
"Almost 7. What time were you supposed to meet them?"

Makoto looked at the Samezuka Captain and his faced paled as he began to panic.
"S-s-s-even? I was supposed to be there at 5:45!"
He then dug out his own cell phone.
"5 missed calls! Oh no, they must think something had happened to me."
Makoto was fully panic stricken now.

"Forget the missed calls. How long have you been out here?" Rin demanded, grabbing hold of his former teammate.

Makoto turned to look in Rin's face.
"Since 5:30-ish ….. " Makoto said weakly.

"5:30! Dammit Mako! Something could have happened to you. Those guys have every right to be freaking out. Not only that it's colder out now. You could have gotten sick!"

"Let me borrow this, OK?" Seijuuro asked as he took Makoto's phone from his hand.

While Rin continued to chastise his friend for his foolish behavior, Ai searched through the communal bag the Samezuka boys had brought with them to find which of the extra coats would fit Iwatobi's backstroke specialist. At the same time, Mikoshiba used the borrowed phone to call Gou and let her know what happened. He also took this opportunity to enter Gou's number into his phone. On multiple occasions he had attempted to get from Rin but every time he had refused to comply. Now that the boy was occupied he wasn't about to let this prime opportunity pass him by.

Near the end of the conversation Rin heard his Captain say something that made him stop his rant toward his former teammate.
"Did I hear you say 'we're borrowing Mako'?"

"Yep. I figured he came out to go somewhere with friends. So why not bring him along with us since he's too late to meet with his own team."

"Eh?" Rin said as he made an odd, confused, and unamused face at his Captain.

"But I thought this was going to be just us," Ai protested.

"Don't complain. You're a tag-along on this adventure so why not one more? Or do you want to do extra laps during the next practice?" Mikoshiba directed at the youngest boy before turning his attention toward the Iwatobi swim team captain.

"That OK with you? I can schedule an extra joint swim practice for your trouble."

"I guess so, if it's OK with everyone. My team would appreciate another joint practice."

"Then it's decided. Tonight will be a joint adventure of Samezuka and Iwatobi. Oh cut it out with the faces you two. Don't think I don't know you secretly want another joint practice with his team. By the way Tachibana my jacket looks good on you."

Makoto blushed before apologizing.
"Sorry about this. Yours is the only one that fit me properly."

"Don't worry about it. I shouldn't need it. I only took it so Nitori would stop whining. Anyway you need it more than I do right now."

"Look everyone the bus is coming!" Ai cried out happily.

A moment later all four boys were boarding the bus. There weren't many people inside so it was easy for the group to sit together. The Samezuka Captain had Ai go through the bag to find the food and drinks and start passing them out. His next decree was for them all to share with Makoto since he was sure the other Captain had not eaten anything before he fell asleep at the bus stop. Makoto thanked them all and promised to pay them back. Seijuuro refused, trying to convince the other teen to take a bet on the time trials at the next joint swim practice instead.

When it came time to break into the snacks Rin threatened to bite whoever tried to touch his favorite snack food. Believing Rin would actually follow through with his threat, the boys were glad to see they reached their destination before someone could accidently touch one of the shark boy's snacks. Not that they had anything to worry about since Rin grabbed his snack while the others were busy staring out the bus window at the scarecrows lining the path to the ticket building. He quickly shoved the package in his pocket before everything could be away back in the bag.