Hi! This is my first time trying to write a Free! fanfiction. I hope you will enjoy the story!

This fic has an Alternate Universe setting in which some of the characters are mermen. This will be heavy on friendships, especially MakoHaru friendship.

Romance pairing will be Sousuke/Makoto, and it will build slowly.

This fic will follow very loosely on the anime, with some other references regarding Free!, Free! Eternal Summer and High Speed, although with lots of turns and plot changes. Also, in this fic, Rin never went to Australia and Sousuke has been with him throughout the time.

This prologue will introduce our characters in their elementary school year, while the first chapter will begin in their high school year.

Disclaimer: Free!, Free! Eternal Summer & High Speed belong to KyoAni, Koji Oji & Futoshi Nishiya


Chapter 1

How Fate Throws Them Together

:-:

There was a legend in the small seaside town of Iwatobi, that the merpeople live in disguise alongside humans. One version of the legend told that they are actually Sirens, which explained some cases of disappearance in the ocean over the years. The Sirens would lure human with their irresistible singing voice to the ocean to be their prey. This version of the legend had been brushed off as it didn't ring true, since people had spent a lot of their time in the ocean and nothing had actually happen. Also, over the generations, there were no reports of unusual singing voice heard from the sea.

The other version told that the merpeople are actually friendly. They found comfort living along with human, and some of them might have fallen in love with humans, and vice-versa. This brought up a speculation that there may be half-bloods in the town.

The more advanced and accepted version believed that the merpeople are guardians. They are the ones who protected sailors, swimmers, and fishermen over the centuries. They were also rumored to be capable of using different magical abilities. Some people believed that the merpeople have the ability to heal and bring good luck, but sometimes they can also bring harm and destruction.

The last version of the legend eventually led the townsfolk of Iwatobi in the past to build a temple in honor to the merpeople. It was a beautiful ancient temple standing near a cliff overlooking the vast ocean. Ancient paintings, depictions, and statues of mermen and mermaids were displayed throughout the temple. People of Iwatobi, especially the sailors and fishermen, would sometimes go there to pray for good luck, and sometimes, when they thought the merpeople are pleased, something really good would happen to their lives.

Throughout his whole life, elementary student Nanase Haruka had always known the truth. None of the legends were exactly true, yet neither of them were totally wrong. People might have invented a version in which the merpeople are giant, flesh-eating sea monsters and he couldn't care less. Haruka, who was not at all talkative, had never opened his mouth to react or be involved in any conversation regarding such legends. One thing that occasionally rang true in his head was that the water is alive.

With that in mind, Haruka dived through the water. It created a gentle splash and formed ripples on the surface. For Haruka, that meant the water would immediately bared its fangs to attack and bind him. But there's nothing to fear, his mind kept going, don't resist the water. Thrust your fingers to the surface and carve an opening. Then slide your body through that opening, moving your arms, your head, your chest.

All he wanted was to feel the water, with his skin, his eyes, his soul. He wanted to never doubt what it made him feel. Don't resist the water. Welcome it. We accept one another.

This wasn't the water he'd always craved for. This water was all chlorine and caged. This water was not so alive—it wasn't natural, it wasn't the same as the one which he had been born in. Neither him nor the water was free. Yet he treated the water like a drug, in which he would never get enough of it. He needed and craved it much more than any other people.

:-:

Tachibana Makoto set his green eyes on Haruka, watching his every move. His lips eventually cracked into a warm smile. "His swimming always looks so smooth." He commented gently. Beside him stood a blond boy who's a year younger than him. The boy was grinning from ear to ear. In his shining magenta eyes there was a reflection of Haruka, gracefully thrusting his fingers and swimming ahead.

"Yeah. Like a dolphin!" The boy cheerfully said. Makoto chuckled and presented his knowing, friendly smile. "And... Mako-chan too." The young blonde suddenly continued, magenta eyes bored into his own green ones. "When you swim, you do remind me of something, not a dolphin, but it's also a kind of fish. Let's see, what is it..."

"Ah!" Makoto suddenly exclaimed, his eyes averted to the direction behind the boy. "Nagisa, who are those boys? I don't think I have seen them before."

The young blonde, whose name was Nagisa, got distracted from his thoughts and turned his head around. His eyes spotted two boys who were standing side by side, on the starting blocks at the third and fifth lane. "Oh, they're..." Nagisa paused for a while, "They just joined the swimming club today. Since you were late, you skipped the moment when they introduced themselves. If I'm not mistaken, they're..." He stopped for another pause, "Matsuoka... Rin, and Yamazaki... Sousuke."

As Nagisa declared their names, both boys turned their heads toward them for a while, before the boy on the fifth lane turned his attention away and adjusted his goggles, then moved his arm to the back of his head and snapped the rubber strap. He took his position and dived in, creating a bigger splash than Haruka's. It was then followed by the boy on the third lane.

"That's Rin, the one who jumped first. The one who followed is Sousuke." Nagisa repeated, then he watched them swim alongside Haruka, who was in the forth lane. Both boys began to pass him, while he could see Haruka sped up when that happened. "Oh, they're fast! Mako-chan, look!"

Makoto didn't listen. He stood there, mouth parted open, transfixed in his place. His eyes couldn't leave Rin, the boy with bright maroon hair. There was something very familiar about the boy—something natural, like he belonged to the water.

Now, the three boys raced one another in the water. Makoto was snatched out of his trance when he saw Haruka's hand slammed on the wall of the pool. For a second there, he knew exactly what thought crossed Haruka's mind.

Me and the water aren't free in this box, or something like that. Makoto kept his mouth shut and walked to the edge of the pool in front of Haruka who roughly pulled off his cap and goggles, shaking his head as if to wipe off the droplets from his hair. At this, Makoto chuckled. Haruka was probably thinking that he didn't need that cap or goggles at all.

He held out his hand to Haruka and smiled gently. "I knew it. Nobody can beat you when you're in the water, Haru-chan."

Haruka eyed him for a while before shutting his blue eyes in an expression that looked annoyed and angry, but Makoto knew better. "Stop putting '-chan' on my name." He muttered. Despite his expression and reply, he took Makoto's hand and let himself be pulled out of the pool.

When Haruka stood up, Nagisa couldn't take his eyes off Haruka. He smiled at him in admiration. "That was so cool, Haru-chan! I want to swim like you!"

Haruka wasn't going to reply. He knew Makoto would speak for him. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Makoto started to open his mouth before another voice interrupted them.

"You're as fast as the rumors said."

Haruka turned his head back to the two boys still in the pool, the ones who raced after him. "What was your time?" The boy with bright maroon hair continued. He was also the one who commented on him before.

Haruka looked away, "I don't care about my time." He replied nonchalantly.

At that, the redhead laughed, and revealed a row of sharp teeth. "That's just like the rumors said, too."

Haruka showed no interest in continuing the conversation. He was about to walk out of the scene when he captured Makoto's figure beside him. His best friend didn't even move an inch. It even looked like he was paralyzed, his green eyes widened in shock and recognition. Now Rin's eyes were fixed on Makoto, too. They were unreadable.

Nagisa seemed to notice this. He looked back and forth between Makoto and Rin, bewilderment crossed and replaced his cheerful expression. "Uh, Matsuoka-kun, I bet you and Mako-chan haven't been properly introduced yet! This is Mako-chan—Tachibana Makoto. He was running late today so you guys must have not meet in person." Nagisa grinned, although his body fidgeted uneasily. "And—just in case you also don't remember me, my name's Hazuki Nagisa."

"I remember you, Hazuki-kun." Rin pressed his palms on the pool edge and used his arms' muscles to climb out of the pool. He slowly stood and faced the three boys in front of him. "And nice to meet you, Tachibana-kun!" He flashed a friendly, easygoing grin. Makoto eyed his sharp teeth for a second before returning Rin's friendliness with a gentle, warmhearted smile.

"Nice to meet you too, Matsuoka-kun. And you are..." He was finally able to shift his gaze to the boy who just walked up to them, stopping beside Rin. "Yamazaki Sousuke, right? Nice meeting you, my name's Tachibana Makoto." Now he studied the tall boy in front of him. Makoto had been the most tall among his peers, but now he could safely pass up that position to Rin's friend. He was quite well-built for an elementary school student, with short, very dark hair and droopy teal eyes. Unlike Rin, he didn't appear as friendly. He didn't even smile when Makoto had flashed him his best smile. Instead, Sousuke looked away.

"Yeah, nice to meet you." He replied, his voice low. Rin smirked at him and Sousuke grunted. Makoto smiled at them, assuming that they're doing some sort of telepathy, just like he and Haruka often did.

"Now that we all know each other, why don't we eat ice cream together after this and get to know each other better?" Nagisa suddenly suggested.

"Don't want to. Too much effort." Haruka replied in disinterest and left the group.

"Haru, wait for me!" Makoto walked after him and they entered the locker room together. Haruka pulled out his towel from the locker and shut the door. He made his way to the shower room. Makoto followed behind.

"What was that, Makoto?" Haruka finally asked, his fingers turned the tap and let a shower of fresh, clean water washed over him.

"Haru, you noticed?" Makoto soaked himself with clean water and rubbed his olive-brown hair with his shampoo.

"I'm better than you at small details."

Makoto laughed softly, then nodded in agreement. "You're right. So what did he remind you of?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Haruka clutched a strands of his foamy hair. "A shark."

"Yeah." Makoto's mind started to wander off, "Those movements in the water, and those teeth. They don't lie."

Silence consumed the room for a full minute.

"Speaking of which," Makoto broke the silence, "Nagisa told me you're like a dolphin."

"Yes? What about you? Did he mention that you're like an orca in the water?" Haruka said as he rubbed his legs with soap.

"No, he didn't. He said I remind him of something, but he didn't quite catch what that something is." Makoto sighed, "I distracted him, though. I felt like my heart's ready to jump."

"Makoto, there's no need to fear anything. Any person can be like a dolphin or an orca in the water." Then Haruka shut his mouth again.

Another two minutes passed.

"What about Yamazaki-kun, Haru? What do you think?" Makoto began again.

Haruka kept silent for a while. Makoto had assumed he'd lost interest in the conversation and decided just to drop it, but Haruka's voice interrupted him. "Seemed normal to me."

Makoto's green eyes bored blankly to the wall in front of him. "Are you saying we're not normal?" He suddenly asked in a very gentle voice, it turned to be a whisper. Despite his question, Makoto knew the answer already, so he didn't expect an answer from Haruka. Haruka never replied to that.

"Haru-chan, Mako-chan!"

A loud, childish voice broke the silence between them. Nagisa entered the shower room along with Rin and Sousuke. "Don't just go off like that, you two!" He scolded, "Look, Rin-chan and Sou-chan had agreed to eat ice cream together after this. You two should join, come on."

"I never really agree..." Sousuke trailed off, "and what's with that 'Sou-chan'?"

Rin just grinned, "Come on, Nanase-kun, Tachibana-kun. Before we eat ice cream, we can jog around."

"Haru's pretty slow on land." Makoto helpfully replied for Haru, "So let's do it slow and steady. I'm in."

"Hey, Makoto." Haruka looked at his best friend in annoyance.

Makoto turned to him. "Come on, Haru. It will be fun. We can eat your favorite ice cream together after that."

"Plus, if you want to compete against me or Sousuke, you should always train your body." Rin added, "Right, Sousuke?"

Haruka sighed. "I don't want to compete—"

"Aaah, don't say that, Haru-chan. Come on." Nagisa was clinging to him. Haruka stared at Nagisa for a while, before his eyes caught up to Makoto. His best friend was looking at him with that gentle smile plastered on his face. A sigh escaped Haruka's lips. He was defeated.

:-:

"I'm pooped." Nagisa managed to say between his gasps. He felt like he was constricted in the chest and it cut off the air circulation in his lungs. His cheeks were tinged in pink and his body was sweaty all over. The jogging was fun, but it took all of his energy away. "I want my popsicle. Now." He let out a huff and picked up a strawberry popsicle out of the ice cream freezer.

Haruka lifted up a pack of double soda-flavored popsicles.

"Wow, Nanase-kun. I bet you're so exhausted." Rin grinned at him while fishing out a vanilla-flavored ice cream. "I don't particularly like sweet foods but I think I really need this." He said between breaths.

Sousuke closed the freezer and held out a can of Pocari. Rin huffed at him, "You're not going to eat ice cream with us?"

"Nah, too sweet. Not in the mood." He placed the can on the counter to pay. The others followed after him. When they made their way out of the minimart, the fat clouds were swimming on the orange sky. The sun was setting, leaving a soft yellow trail from its radiant golden lights between all the orange. Slight hints of stars were visible if you bothered to look more closely. While watching the sky, Sousuke popped the can open and drank a lot from it. He didn't mind to wipe off the sweat soaking him in the forehead and the neck.

"Tachibana-kun, you didn't buy anything?" Rin disposed the lid of the paper cup holding his vanilla ice cream. Before Makoto could answer, Haruka handed him his pack of double soda-flavored popsicles. Makoto took the pack and teared it open, separating the popsicles into two and handed one to Haruka.

"Haru and I used to share our popsicles." Makoto finally replied. Rin looked them over before taking a peek at Sousuke.

"What?" Sousuke took another gulp from his can, "Are you turning to that shoujo manga character again who thinks that sharing food is romantic?"

"I haven't said anything! Shut up!" Rin turned his head away while stuffing a large scoop of vanilla ice cream to his mouth. He looked pissed.

"Is everything okay?" Makoto looked concerned.

"Everything's fine. This happens all the time." Sousuke just smiled at him.

When Makoto returned the smile, Sousuke's smile vanished and he looked away. Makoto saw that reaction and looked down at the ground.

"Everyone, let's stop by the temple! Who knows if we can bring out good luck." Nagisa stopped when they crossed the ascending pathway to the temple.

"You believe in that thing? It's just a legend. A myth. Merpeople don't exist." Sousuke stated. "My great-great grandmother still went there to pray, though, but not our generation."

"Eeeh, you fon't believevh in merfpheople?" Nagisa talked with his strawberry popsicle still hanging on his mouth.

"Nagisa, don't talk with food in your mouth." Makoto sighed. "Well, now it's some sort of tourism spot. That temple is beautiful, I can't deny it."

"Riight? So let's go up!" Nagisa pulled his strawberry popsicle out of his mouth.

"Don't want to. Too much effort." Haruka continued to walk while repeating the same reply to Nagisa's previous offer to eat ice cream together. Makoto gave Nagisa an apologetic smile and walked with Haruka.

Nagisa sighed. He wanted to show them his secret place. He wanted to tell his story, that he had seen a merman once, but that can wait.

:-:

Several years later, Haruka and Makoto was standing on top of the cliff overlooking the ocean. Makoto was still fully dressed in his high school uniform, while Haruka had folded his formal school coat in his arm. Their eyes never lingered away from the sailor who was praying in front of a large crystal bowl of clear salt water standing near the temple entrance. Judging from his appearance, he looked like he was still in his early forties.

"Please protect me and my crew." The sailor whispered. The water brought his prayer to both Haruka and Makoto's ears. "Please protect my son. Even if the situation turn out to be impossible to protect all of us, please protect my son." He repeated, "He's the only one I have left."

As he was finished with his prayers, he plucked out a pearl attached in the string of a necklace he'd brought with him and dropped it to the clear salt water. He watched it sank to the bottom before he stood up and left the place.

Makoto didn't avert his eyes until the man was out of sight. "Haru," he began. A soft, honeyed voice escaped his lips. Makoto's green eyes widened. "Haru..." he tasted the name again on his tongue, "I think I just turned seventeen. Is this my... special ability?"

"Part of it," Haru replied with a small smile, "but I've guessed what would be your actual ability. Use your voice with caution from now on. Happy birthday, Makoto."


Author's Note:

English is not my native language. Kindly leave comments, suggestions, or grammatical corrections via the Review section. I will really appreciate your reviews! See you on the next chapter!