ChapterOne:SharkBait
His name was Matsuoka Rin and he was the gill-less shark of the swimming pool. A predator with sharp burgundy hair that framed his sun stained face, red eyes to stroke fear into his prey and edged teeth to add a bite to his words. It is often said that sharks are abandoned as children and left to fend for themselves at a nearly age after viciously murdering their kin within their mothers womb. Perhaps in some respects the gill-less shark was no different. He had his sister, but their communication could often be forced and awkward. His mother, there could be little talk of her. So in the end perhaps he really was a shark fending for himself in the open ocean of existence. At least this is what he liked to think. After all that had happened in his childhood the last thing he wanted to remember were those years of being held back. Those years of struggle to fulfill the dreams his father could never have because he'd been brought into the world. So, then, why did he feel so sick?
Rin stared into the expansive mirror, his sharp eyes burrowing holes through his own skull as he gripped the area over his heart the shirt crinkling into a ball of fabric. He was doing the right thing. He was accomplishing something. He would beat him. Him. Him. Him. Him.
Matsuoka's eyes closed and he sighed his crisp teeth glinting under his thin garden pink lips."Why can't I move on?" Why did he feel like he had to beat him to move on? Perhaps he knew the answer and was just not strong enough to admit it. The gill-less shark sighed softly and moved out of the restroom of the local swimming center. He was here. He could practically smell salted mackerel wafting through the public area. They always ended up in the same place together. It never failed, as much as he tried to avoid him. Rin didn't know if he should just leave, or wait for the inevitable. The last time they'd talked in any terms of the word he'd had him pressed up against a chain link fence, just barely chest to chest, lips to lips. The red eyed swimmer shook his head his wine locks bouncing on his head. He shouldn't be thinking like that.
His bare-feet glided across damp tile as small children, women, and teenagers like himself passed by in swimsuits of all designs, running excitedly to enjoy the atmosphere. Matsuoka could no longer enjoy it however, he was going to try and draw this out as long as possible or at least he would have if destiny didn't have other ideas. There he was.
Haruka Nanase stood at the edge of the adult swimming pool. His toes curling in and out as he prepared for a dive. The muscles in his back contorting with formulation. A strong aorta noticeably pulsated under the skin of his abdomen, seeping adrenaline fueled blood through his body. It was beautiful. No prey could be more perfect then Haruka.
The gill-less shark tensed biting his lip as his hands formed into fists. He couldn't tear his eyes away as he watched the arch of the others body as he dove into the pool with perfect fragility How could he possibly continue walking on by after that? His body moved on his own, his saunter falling into place with each step as he moved to the edge of the pool as Nanase completed his signature freestyle swim back to the edge he'd dove from in record time. Rin squatted, his professional grade ankle long swimming shorts stretching around his toned calves and thighs. Haru surfaced tearing off his diving goggles and taking a breathe, his wet raven hair falling perfectly into place on the side of his face. In regular fashion ocean blue hues focused on Rin with very little expression. Marsuoka gave a toothy smirk to the other."Seems like your slowing down Nanase" It was such a hollow jab.
There was no response, only a slight lowering of the eyebrows. Perhaps he was surprised to see him? They had left on such a apocryphal note. Rin could feel his heart cease up again as flashes of the meeting circled through his head. It rested stubbornly on the motion Haru had made to lean further back and grip the wire as if he'd been expecting more. The scene was there, fresh in his mind and he was only brought out of it when thin beads of water splashed across his cheek alerting him to the fact that Haruka had exited the pool. The shark quickly straightened up to stand over the blue eyed freestyler. Look at me. He wanted to say, but he remained silent as Nanase looked off in some opaque direction. They just stood there, Rin burning his gaze across the agile pale body, while the body in question just stayed where it was barely acknowledging the predators presence.
He could have stood there forever if Haruka hadn't made the first move to walk away. His feet slapping across the tile as he moved toward the male changing rooms. It was basic instinct for the predator to follow. Nanase entered first and then Rin caught the door before it could close following after him into the small room only meant for one. His hand fell on the door knob as the door clicked closed and turned the dial the tumbler falling in place. This granted a response from Haruka, finally, as he looked at Matsuoka with a barely readable stare.
"Once I win. I hope you will show me that face again." Rin remarked before Haruka could possibly begin to consider speaking. Again eyebrows furrowed softly and Rin let out a haughty chuckle his shark teeth only sharpening the effect."By that I mean that wide eyed expression you sported the last time we spoke." This only caused Haruka to look away his face returning to its solemn and hard to read state. It was clear that he would not respond to that."You were so surprised. Did you believe I was going to hit you?" Rin's words dripped from his lips. Again there was nothing, as Nanase simply put a towel over his head sitting down on the bench provided for changing. The shark's eye twitched with annoyance."Maybe that wasn't it hmm?" He purred, his hands moving behind his back as he leaned forward tilting his head."Maybe you were hoping for some other outcome?"
Ultimately, Haruka's gaze returned to the blazing red eyes of his former friend. He was quite aware that Rin was trying to get him to respond to some degree. He knew how much Rin loved to stroke his emotions to the surface. Still whenever he spoke it seemed as though Matsuoka was the one to show the most color. Perhaps it was that time again."You wish to beat me. That is all I expected." Rin's eyes narrowed and he slammed a hand into the locker beside him, the sound of metal ringing in the tiny room. Nanase's eyes drew away again, had he said something wrong? Had Rin expected him to say something else?
"And I will." He could hear the bite in those words. He might as well be a piece of pan seared mackerel. Quiet settled into the air as neither spoke again. It would always end up like this wouldn't it? Haruka didn't move his head this time but his eyes pushed to the side of his skull peeking at Rin. The burgundy haired male's head was bent, he was staring at the ground. Then the eyes quickly ping-ponged back to stare in front of him, as Rin's head raised."Hey, Haru, are you afraid?" Of what? His mind responded instead of his lips as he knew Rin wasn't done."Of me? Losing maybe?" Neither. "Oi, Haru." Haruka didn't turn his head, but it didn't particularly matter as he heard Rin move toward him until he settled in-front of him bending down to stare at him. His eyes gazed into the deep red hues as his lips gaped just a little. Here they were again. His long slender fingers gripped the bench he was sitting on. Would it happen this time? "I guess I'll find out once we swim."
Rin leaned up and shifted back around Haruka toward the door. He didn't catch the tiniest of heavy exhales from the freestyle swimmer as he was out the door by then closing it behind him. He was satisfied for today. Haruka would learn what it was like to lose to him. If only the dumb-ass understood that that's not what Haruka Nanase cared about at all. Haruka Nanase didn't care about times, records or anything like that. He just wanted to be cuddled in the arms of ocean water, bath water and any kind of water he could submerge himself in. Most of all, Nanase Haruka wanted to feel free, free to expect the warm embrace of a clueless gill-less shark.