Thank you Zaabeth for being my beta, don't know how I'd survive without you!
…
Makoto ran, his legs pumping faster than he'd ever pushed them before, the sound of his feet pounding on the pavement louder than his pants filling the air. His heartbeat rang in his ears as his lungs burnt from excursion. But he'd never stop. He couldn't stop.
"Come on slowpoke!" Sousuke teased, sticking his tongue out over his shoulder.
Makoto frowned in determination and pushed his arms, hoping it would give him that little extra push to catch up to his friend.
His best friend, Sousuke.
He and Sousuke had been best friends for as long as he could remember. Their mothers had met at an antenatal class and become firm friends, the boys only naturally following. Sousuke was older. He was also braver, stronger, and bigger, but Makoto didn't care. He loved his friend all the same.
And Sousuke loved him too, even if Makoto wasn't as fast, or as courageous, or as confident. They had always been best friends and they would be forever. They balanced each other out, they supported each other, they were a perfect team.
Sousuke protected Makoto from anything he found scary and in turn Makoto stopped Sousuke from acting before thinking.
"Keep up Mako-chan!" Sousuke grinned, turning so he was running backwards but still ahead of the other boy.
Makoto pouted and reached his arms out in an attempt to grab his friend and propel himself forward but he was quickly running out of puff. However, they were both too excited to stop.
Today was the first time they'd been allowed to go all the way to the park and back on their own. Usually their mothers would come with them, stopping off at a café along the way and letting the boys carry on. But after Makoto's thirteenth birthday they were old enough to go alone, both teenagers now and too mature to always need their mothers.
It had been a very hesitant allowance though, neither woman wanting to let their baby go, especially with the amount of busy roads the boys would have to cross. But Makoto and Sousuke were both responsible enough to handle it themselves.
"It's not fair Sou-chan!" Makoto whined. "You have longer legs than me."
Although it wasn't by much, Sousuke always remained that little bit taller. For every growth spurt Makoto seemed to have Sousuke always managed to trump him.
"Excuses, excuses." Sousuke laughed, turning back around and with an unknown burst of energy ran forward.
Makoto groaned. How was the other boy not getting tired? Makoto himself was quickly running out of steam. His body was practically begging to rest on one of the nearby benches. But he couldn't stop, knowing Sousuke would tease him mercilessly when they got to the park if he did.
They reached the first of the roads, Sousuke slowing slightly to scan the road before bolting across, stopping on the other side to give Makoto a cocky grin.
With a frown Makoto ran, not bothering to slow down as he reached the edge of the pavement, not bothering to check he was clear of cars. He just ran blindly into the road.
"Makoto!" Sousuke screamed. "Stop!"
But it was too late, he was already half way across the road before he realised his mistake. He glanced to his right and froze, a car speeding towards him as his eyes widened in fear.
He heard the sound of a horn, he heard the crunch of metal against his body, he heard the crush of his bones as he landed a few feet behind the car, he heard Sousuke's cries as he rushed to his best friend's side. But he felt nothing.
It was as if his body was numb, he didn't feel a thing. He didn't feel pain as he'd rolled over the car, he didn't feel the blood spilling from his side, he didn't feel Sousuke's hot tears as they splashed against his cheeks, he didn't feel the air fill his lungs as he took his last breath.
…
Makoto opened his eyes and winced at the bright light that surrounded him, the hot sun beating down on his back. His cheek pressed against a cold, hard floor, contrasting the warmth shining on him. He rolled over expecting to feel pain but once again he felt nothing. He pushed himself into a seated position, ready to see the blood and the gore but there was none. He looked just like he had when he'd left the house this morning, his clothes clean and his skin unscarred.
He glanced around the room, hoping to find someone to help him, explain this situation but he seemed to be alone.
He began walking, hands shaking and begging to reach out to grab Sousuke's shirt, a habit he'd picked up at a young age and never had been able to break out of. His footsteps echoed as he journeyed, constantly reminding him how alone he was.
He tried to pretend Sousuke was with him, pretending the other boy was there, that he was next to him, excited to explore this seemingly empty expanse of a building, if it could even be called that.
There were no walls or ceilings, just columns by his sides almost guiding him, stopping him from ever straying off the path. Clouds hung low, looking almost close enough to touch, while the sun shone brightly. It was pleasantly warm, never too hot, never too cold, just the right temperature.
His heart stuttered as he reached a temple, looking eerily similar to the ones he'd looked at in History and Ancient Mythology at school. Only this one wasn't old, wasn't crumbling. The pillars looked clean and bright, as if they had just been built, the roof still strong and sturdy.
He tilted his head in confusion as he tried to read the symbols carved into the stone, but he knew it was hopeless. They weren't anything he had come across in Japanese lessons. With nowhere else to go he tentatively climbed the steps and slipped inside the temple.
In the distance he saw a man sitting on a grand chair, his pink hair contrasting the otherwise solely white surroundings. He was laughing loudly as he drank from a gold cup, but as far as Makoto could see there was nothing in the room to see. Only the man, his chair, and a table.
And Makoto too of course.
Slowly, he stepped out of the shadows and made his way over to the man.
"Ah, Tachibana Makoto, I've been waiting for you." The man boomed, standing up and walking over towards the boy. His hair and clothes billowed in a wind that appeared to only be surrounding him. The air around Makoto remained steadily tranquil.
The man wore silk robes, held together on one shoulder. His wrists were covered with gold bracelets that made no noise as they shook by his side. His legs seemed to barely move as the man practically glided across the marble floor.
"How do you know me?" Makoto whispered as the man reached his side.
"I know everything my dear child." He grinned, wrapping his arm around the boy's shoulder and leading him down the room.
"Who are you?" Makoto asked, looking up into violet eyes.
"Kisumi." He replied, guiding Makoto into his chair.
The boy shifted awkwardly in the thrown. The stone was more comfortable than he imagined, but Makoto still found himself not wanting to be here. He wanted to be back with Sousuke, racing to the park to play football.
"I saw that nasty crash you had, it must have hurt." Kisumi gushed, gently stroking Makoto's soft brown locks. "Can I get you a drink?"
Without waiting for a response the man conjured up a bottle of water in the flick of a wrist, holding it out for the other boy.
Suddenly it all clicked into place. The pure white surroundings, his immaculate recovery, the lack of anyone else around, this extravagant man with his magical powers. Makoto had died.
"Are you God?" Makoto blurted out, accepting the bottle.
"A God of sorts." Kisumi nodded, walking over to the table.
He looked down at the table, his shoulders gently rising and falling with his breaths as his clothes bellowed in the wind.
"Come here Makoto." He gestured with his hand, never turning to look at the other boy.
Hurriedly, the boy scurried over to the man, eager to see what he was looking at so intently. Makoto gasped as he glanced at the table. The wooden top was covered with a map of the world, only the seas flowed and the lands thrived. Makoto didn't understand how this was possible but he supposed he was in the presence of a God after all.
But it wasn't just the map that amazed Makoto, it was the small people on the map, some fading in, others fading out, and some remaining clear the entire time. The map never stilled constantly moving, constantly growing.
"Beautiful, no?" Kisumi asked, Makoto only nodding dumbly in response. "This is the world, and every person you see on it needs my help." He gestured to the map and Makoto nodded again. "I am the God of Future."
"Future?" Makoto asked dubiously, he remembered doing a project on God's a few years ago and not once had their ever been a god of future. Fate maybe but never future.
"Yeah," he reassured Makoto. "I always get skipped over in myths and legends but believe me I'm important."
"Okay." Makoto agreed, albeit somewhat reluctantly.
"Now, every person has a path, a destiny. A future if you will." Kisumi said, shooting a smirk in Makoto's direction. "But sometimes humans can be stubborn, thinking they know what's best and ruining their futures. When that happens you appear on my board and it's up to me to make sure you all get to where you need to. Sometimes all it takes is a little push and I can set you right, others take a little more work. That's where you come in."
"Where am I?" Makoto asked, barely processing Kisumi's words as he stared at the world in wonder.
"There." He told him, pointing to an abandoned figure on the floor.
Makoto gasped as he saw himself and made to dash over, only to be grabbed and stopped by Kisumi.
"Not so fast, I need to explain a few things to you first." Kisumi said, pulling back the wriggling boy.
"Fine." He sighed, he supposed it didn't make much of a difference whether he found himself now or later.
"Technically, Makoto, you're dead. But before your body can fully rest your soul needs to earn its wings." He explained, bending down to look the boy in the eye.
"My wings?" Makoto croaked.
He didn't want wings, he wanted to go back to where he belonged. He wanted his mum to give him a kiss to show how much he was loved. He wanted his dad to give one of his special cuddles where he was held so tight he knew he was safe. He wanted to tell the twins a bedtime story and watch as their eyes sparkled in wonderment. He wanted to sleepover at Sousuke's and giggle and whisper all night long, only to fake sleep when his mother walked into the bedroom. He didn't want to be dead.
"Mako, don't cry." Kisumi pleaded, but it was too late. Fat tears rolled down the boy's face.
Makoto gripped the man in front of him, his body shuddering as he cried into his neck. He would never get to see anyone he loved ever again, all because he was stupid and he was reckless.
"It's not all bad." Kisumi comforted. "I pair you up with a human who needs your help, you do you good deed and bam, wings and eternal happiness. Doesn't that sound good?"
"No." Makoto whined, burying his head deeper into his neck.
"Oh dear, poor Haruka." Kisumi sighed.
Makoto sniffed. "Who's Haruka?" He asked, pulling back slightly.
"Your human." Kisumi smiled softly.
"I have a human?" Makoto stuttered, rubbing his eyes.
"Weren't you listening to anything I was saying, silly?" The man teased.
"I was a little bit." He admitted.
"Right, I'll explain it all again but you have to promise not to cry." Kisumi said sternly.
"Okay." Makoto agreed. He had to be brave now there was no Sousuke to look after him. He was on his own.
With a smile Kisumi conjured up a bar of chocolate. Makoto licked his lips in excitement as he was handed the treat.
"Now, each time a person's soul leaves their body they get assigned to a God who needs them and right now I need your help Makoto." Kisumi exclaimed dramatically, managing to coax a smile out of the distressed boy.
Kisumi stood tall again and turned back to his table, gesturing for Makoto to look with him. The boy leant over the world, eagerly waiting to see who his human was. Haruka was a beautiful name, he hoped they were as lovely as their name.
"This is Haruka." Kisumi told him, gesturing towards one of the people that didn't fade in or out. "He has a bright future ahead of him but he's closed in on himself, he won't let anyone in. I need you to be his friend Makoto, show him the power of friendship so he can make more relationships and become who he is destined to be."
Kisumi walked away and picked the Makoto figure off the floor. His insides involuntarily swirled as the doll was carelessly tossed from side to side in Kisumi's grip.
"You think you can do all that for me Makoto?" He asked.
"Yeah." He nodded, finishing off his chocolate. "I just need to be his friend?"
"That's the idea, yes." Kisumi replied. "You need to show him how to open up to other people and develop relationships."
"I can do that."
"That's what I was hoping for. Good luck then, Tachibana." Kisumi smirked, placing Makoto's doll next to Haruka's.
…
Haruka sighed deeply to himself, extremely bored and getting more fed up by the minute. One of his neighbours was hosting a party and Haruka had been dragged along by his parents. His mother had insisted it would be a great chance for him to meet people his age before they left and moved to Tokyo.
But Haruka had no intention of making any friends here today and once his parents had moved out he would have less pressure on him to do so.
While all the adults were distracted Haruka slipped away, sneaking into the garden to get some air and to get away from everyone.
He didn't understand the great need for friends. All he had ever needed was his Grandmother growing up – she had played with him, she had loved him, she had kept him company. And even though she was gone he didn't feel the need to replace her with some other meaningless relationships.
Haruka jumped when seemingly out of nowhere, a boy fell in front of him, face down in the grass. However, the boy quickly jumped up and acted as if the fall hadn't even hurt him.
Haruka frowned slightly as the boy looked around. He didn't recognise him from earlier, back when he'd be forced to greet everyone here, but the boy appeared to his age. He wondered why his mother hadn't tried pushing them together yet.
"Haruka?" The boy asked.
"Yes?" He replied uncertainly. He knew he should be cautious about the fact that this stranger apparently knew who he was, but those gentle green eyes made him feel at ease.
"Hello Haruka!" The boy greeted, rushing to his side. "My name is Makoto."
"Haru." He said in return.
"Huh?" Makoto wrinkled his nose in confusion and Haruka hated the simple word that flittered through his mind at the expression. Cute.
"Call me Haru." Haruka explained, accepting this new presence into his life with little fighting. It somehow it felt right. Like they were destined to be together. "How do you know me?"
"I'm your angel and I'm going to be here to make sure my Haru-chan is happy!" Makoto gushed, wrapping his arm around his human, protecting him.
"Tch, drop the chan." Haruka grunted but didn't made any attempt to break out of his hold. He felt like he belonged in those surprisingly strong arms.
The boys spent the rest of the party together, Makoto eagerly telling him all about his family before he'd become an angel. His best friend Sousuke – who Haruka took an instant dislike to – who Makoto was sure would make loads of friends without him because he was one of the nicest guys he knew. Haruka offered small comments in return but he mostly listening, letting Makoto's voice float around him, hug him, and hold him.
"Haruka!" A voice scolded, the boy in question turning around to see his mother. "Have you been out here on your own this whole time?"
"No, I've been with Makoto." Haruka frowned, could she not see the brunette sat next to him.
"Well where is he now?" She asked, glancing around.
Haruka shot a confused look towards Makoto who looked down sadly at his lap, twiddling his fingers.
"I'm only your angel." He told him, knowing he would never be seen again by anyone but Haruka.
"He had to go home." Haruka explained, wanting to comfort the other boy but knowing he couldn't with his mother there.
"That's a shame, I would have like to have met him. Anyways, it's time for us to leave as well Haru." She smiled gesturing with her head for her son to follow.
Dutifully he stood up and walked towards the doors, glancing over his shoulder to see Makoto still sat on the steps, hunched over and looking at his shoes. Unsure whether he should follow or if Haruka would come back for him when he needed him.
"Come on Makoto." Haruka said, holding his hand out for the boy.
With a small smile Makoto jumped up and rushed over to the other, tightly gripping his hand and following him home. He may not be able to return to his family anymore but he definitely found a new place he belonged.
…
For the next three years Haruka was looked after by his angel, never once feeling lonely despite living without his parents. Makoto filled every silence, kept him company, made him smile, made him feel loved and in turn Haruka let the boy in, let him get closer than anyone had ever got before.
But as he got older, he knew one day Makoto would have to go. Makoto had explained to him that he was doing a good deed to earn his wings. And whether he liked it or not when he earned them he'd be forced to leave.
Although Haruka was Makoto's human and he belonged to him, Makoto would always belong to Kisumi. When he deemed it the right time Makoto would be gone and Haruka would never see him again and that scared him more than anything.
Makoto was here to make Haruka happy but at the same time he made him feel terrified, made him feel sad, made him feel devastated because one day they would no longer be Haruka and Makoto.
He would just simply be Haruka, alone once again.
…
So I thought I'd try writing a new Makoharu story, after everyone responded so well to He Is The Air I thought I should see what else I can come up with. Hope you like it :)