Once again, this story is primarily Gou/Haru! I do not want to get your hopes up if you are aiming for a Rin/Haru! Though, to be honest, there will be plenty of Rin/Haru scenes in case you want to stick along for the ride.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or plot from Free! Iwatobi Swim Club.

Gou was late to practice the next day. She stumbled through the gate door exhaustedly, earning concerned looks from some of the guys. Silently, she made for the club room, entering without acknowledging the others' presence. The team looked to each other in question.

"You think someone broke her heart?" Nagisa quipped, hands cupping his cheeks in sympathy.

"No, it must be that time of month for her." Rei then offered, a look of disgust crossing his features.

"Now, let's not jump to conclusions, she's probably just having a bad day. Knowing Gou, she'd want us to continue with practice with or without her." Mother goose Makoto patted the younger teammates' shoulders before joining Haru in the water.

Several minutes passed before the club room door opened and out came the girl in question. She wore her usual athletic garb and ponytail, loose hold on the clipboard in hand. The swimmers decided after stretching they'd leave her alone, but that didn't stop the curious eyes of Nagisa and Rei from peeking over the surface of the water and watching her from afar.

"I'm gonna go ask her." Before Rei could interject, the blonde boy excitedly dove under and swooped up at the wall where Gou stood.

"Hey Gou, what's wrong with you?" His pink orbs flashed innocently, and Rei clapped his hand over his face.

In turn, she merely looked down at him through baggy eyes and sighed. Something was seriously amiss; Nagisa knew better than anyone she would've already been on his case about mispronouncing her name.

"I'm okay, just get in a lane and practice leg extension on the breaststroke." Her voice was dull, an unmistakable contrast from her usual lively, sweet tones. Nagisa didn't have any of it, though. He pouted slightly, crossing his arms over his chest in a rebellious manner that hardly worked for someone of his stature.

"I won't do it until you tell me what's wrong, Gou!" At this point, the rest of the parties in the pool ceased their workings and watched on. Rei crossed the lanes, aiming to persuade Nagisa out of his attempt to snoop into the girl's life, but he didn't make it in time; Nagisa suddenly leapt from the pool, like a little blonde ninja, and grabbed ahold of Gou's torso.

The rest of the guys watched in horror as she came down with him and unceremoniously crashed into the water, limbs and clipboard flying every which direction. "Nagisa!" Rei scolded, clambering over. Only seconds had passed when the two emerged to the surface, the blonde giggling foolishly and the redhead coughing in spurts.

"What the hell!?" She cried out, launching herself from his grasp, fingertips griping at the wall as she lifted her body. She kicked herself free from the liquid's swallowing pull, lips quivering and eyes watering, a freshly hot blush gracing her features. "What the hell Nagisa?!"

He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, grinning from ear to ear as if he didn't notice she'd not taken his doing lightly. "Well, you looked like you needed to have a little fun so I—"

"Don't you get it?!" She suddenly shouted, struggling to her feet as her clothing dripped unconventionally. Her lips were in a tight frown as her head lifted, hot tears brimming on the cliff of her darkened irises. "Doesn't anyone know when to leave me alone!?" With that, she spun around and tore into the club room, the boys staring wide-eyed after her.

"Nagisa—why did you do that?!" Rei spat to his shorter friend, coming from behind him after the initial shock wore off.

"I just… wanted to make her happy." He was about ready to reprimand the blonde, but upon seeing his dejected expression, the taller of the two merely sighed.

At the opposite end of the pool, Makoto breathed out heavily as he regarded the exchange, sending Haru a troubled look. But Haru was zoned out, brilliant blue eyes trained on the closed doors of the club room, where a sorrowful girl was undressing with tears in her eyes. The way the water soaked her raspberry tendrils, clinging to her neck and shoulders the same way a certain brother's hair did. Haru gulped, transfixed on the thought.

"I think I'm going to go talk with her," Makoto announced, breaking the raven-haired teen from his stupor. Then, the olive-haired swimmer moved to climb the wall, but not before a spongey palm was on his shoulder and Haru declared he would go instead. The need to see her hair again, his hair.

He didn't bother knocking. It wasn't like him to. Upon the intrusion, Gou went wide-eyed and tightened her towel around her. "Haru?!" She blushed furiously, backing into the wall. He didn't answer, eyes concentrated on the silky strands swirling behind her, her ponytail forgotten. This hair. He's been in love with it the majority of his life. It's caused him to feel things he'd never felt before.

Gou's body heated with every step towards her, lips quivering anxiously as he approached. She undeniably liked him. But he didn't need to know that, not yet at least. And even if she was obvious about it, she knew in her heart he was oblivious. Or didn't have a care in the world.

She gulped loudly, his hand resting atop her head and stroking the wisps of waves in a manner she didn't think he of all people were capable of. "Haru?" Her breathing stopped and she dare look at him.

The girl found herself being consumed by a frightening pleasure from his calloused fingers, shoulders going slack as she relished in the feel. "Haru…?" She cooed quietly, wondering if he was actually listening. It didn't seem so.

His temptation gave in and he brought her strawberry locks to his nose, earning wide-eyes from the beholder. It smelled just as it looked, fruity, even after being doused in chlorine. He savored it.

Savored it.

"Rin…"

Savored it until her little, smooth palm was rested on his masculine chest. Then he awoke from the dreamy oblivion, because that hand was too soft, and did not belong to her brother; his were as scaly and rough as Haru's, crafted by the years of gripping pool concrete.

When he met her ruby eyes, they were filled with a new kind of tear, and he backed away slightly in shock. Why had he done it again? This was not Rin, this was Gou. "I'm losing my control."

"You just said… Rin." She voiced so very quietly, distressed. She found herself embarrassed, puzzled, and angered at the same time, the latter more so the rest as she took livid, slow steps toward him. Of course he didn't like her. He liked her brother. It made immediate sense, and she cried out, an agonizing wail of defeat as she faced away and a mass of tears rolled down her cold cheeks.

"Just because my brother is visiting Australia for break doesn't mean you can pretend I'm him! Do you know what I've been through trying to make myself realize I shouldn't be in love with you!?" Her hand clasped tightly over her mouth as she wracked with a sudden choked sob.

Haruka felt a pain in his chest, watching her body jitter. She was in love with him?

He hadn't meant to hurt her. He hadn't even realized what he said, and now, a swarm of regret filled him, and he reached out for her shoulder.

She shook him away ferociously, refusing to look him in the eye. After uttering a quiet, heart-wrenching "go away", Gou fell to her knees, wrapping her nimble arms around them as Haru blankly stared at her. Then, he did as told, leaving with only his silence and a glance over his shoulder.

He knew he made a very, very big mistake.

And here's the tension! I'm only aiming for this story to be five or six chapters, so the plot will be relatively simple.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and please leave a review if you have the time! KIND FEEDBACK- NO FLAMES PLEASE.

Next Chapter: The Return of Rin.

Bye-bye!