Makoto wasn't used to the warm atmosphere in his apartment right now, ever since Haru had left, his home had been dull and cold, never once did the old warmth and happiness return, it had just felt empty without his best friend. Yet now, it was warm again, at least slightly as it could never return to its full warmth without Haru.
Rin and Sousuke were over, deciding to have dinner with Makoto after the hell of a week they all had. First off, there was the scare at the beach that Haru could've been dead, that had terrified both Makoto and Rin. Though the relief in finding it wasn't Haru was overwhelming and gave them both slight hope that Haru really was out there, waiting to be found.
After that, there was a boat load of work to do at the station, mainly revolving around the body they had found. It ended up being a college student who, for lack of a better phrase, was having a hard time in life. They had been missing for about three months and it turned out many people assumed it had been a suicide or at least a runaway. Sadly, it turned out to be the darker fate of the two, though Makoto wasn't too affected by it. He had become jaded over the years in the force, what once would've made him want to throw up or hide behind Haru now barely caused him to flinch.
Finally, Rin had convinced Makoto to let him assist in searching for Haru, it kept the two of them from getting a decent nights rest for the week, which ended up affecting their work at the station. Their boss wasn't too pleased having the two practically falling asleep at their desks when they were supposed to be doing something productive, after that they had gotten a long lecture on how they were supposed to be protecting the city, not slacking off.
Sousuke wasn't too pleased with the two either, claiming that the last thing they needed right now was to be sleep deprived. He was the one who suggested they all just relaxed for a day, from there Rin decided to go over Makoto's apartment for dinner and well, since Makoto hadn't put any effort into learning to cook after Haru disappeared, he remained a fire hazard in the kitchen so Sousuke and Rin were the ones doing all the cooking. It wouldn't be as good as Haru's food… But it would still be a nice home cooked meal, something Makoto hadn't had in a long time, only when his family came to visit was there nice meals like this one. Other than that Makoto stuck to take out and ramen, cheap and low maintenance was fine with him. He was sure Haru would be mad at him if he found out.
No…. When he found out.
"Makoto can you set the table?" Rin asked from the kitchen, snapping Makoto out of his bitter thoughts and doubts. Of course Haru would come back, he had to keep positive about this, he couldn't give up because if he did there would be no chance of getting Haru back to him.
Makoto got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen, he could smell the stir fry Rin and Sousuke cooked wafting around the small room. Maybe one day it could be Haru in this kitchen cooking him dinner, that is, if Haru forgave Makoto for what started this whole fiasco…
Trying not to get in the way, Makoto got to his cabinet and took out went to take out plates for them, he hadn't used them for a long time and had practically forgot their existence until now since he usually used paper plates or bowls. Though, when Makoto caught sight of the plate he grabbed he froze, accidentally dropping the plate in the process, sending it crashing onto the floor into thousands of pieces.
"Makoto?" Makoto registered Rin's voice though he was still in shock, out of all the plates, why did he have to grab that one. Why was it even at his apartment?! All Makoto could think was his mother had snuck it in or something.
"That was Haru's favorite plate…" Makoto said quietly, it was one Makoto had gotten at the aquarium with creatures like dolphins, whales, and fish on it. Haru had used it ever time he went over to Makoto's house, including the day he went missing… Now it was broken because Makoto couldn't even look at anything related to Haru without tensing up, it only brought pain as he knew Haru wasn't by him right now…
"…Sousuke, get a bag or something." Rin said as he went to find something to help sweep it up, Makoto blinked and looked between the two, slightly nervous as to what Rin was going to do with the plate, even if it was broken, it was something of Haru's that Makoto didn't want to give up.
Rin came back over with a small broom and pan, he took a paper bag Sousuke had found and began to sweep up the pieces and put it in the bag, being careful as he did so.
"I'll bring this to a place where they can glue it back together." Rin informed Makoto, causing the taller male to relax but notice how careful his friends were being around him. Makoto couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of guilt at the fact that his friends were going so far to try and keep a shred of happiness in Makoto. Even though Makoto tried to hide how broken he had become, everyone could see. He didn't have the mask like Haru did.
"…Thank you Rin…" Makoto said, it was all he could do to show his gratitude for his friend, but at least it was something, right? Makoto slowly turned back to the cabinet and gently took out three plates, not even looking at them for he knew that with ever one he would find some memory of him and Haru, it was inevitable for someone who had been such a large part of his life.
Makoto set the plates down then brought over napkins and utensils. Luckily, even with his distraction with breaking the plate, dinner had been finished in time. Sousuke brought it to the table while Rin brought over drinks and as they were doing so Makoto couldn't help but notice how well they worked together… They were truly meant to be, they brought out all the good in each other. They were each other's other half.
He wished he could say he wasn't jealous, but as he sat down at the table and watched Sousuke and Rin share a small kiss before going to eat, he couldn't help but think… That could've been him and Haru. If he hadn't screwed up he'd have Haru right beside him, he'd be able to kiss him whenever he'd like, hold him, show him an endless amount of love…. Why did I just freeze up?
The question was one that haunted Makoto for years now, he didn't understand how he could let himself freeze when Haru admitted his own feelings, when Makoto actually returned those feelings, he just… Couldn't even open his mouth until Haru was already slipping away from him.
The thought of this made Makoto feel as though he lost his appetite, though he knew if he didn't eat Rin and Sousuke would be on his case so he began to eat some of the stir fry… Makoto just couldn't help but being angry at himself for letting himself screw up like that and an overwhelming sense of sadness and loss filled him. He honestly wasn't sure how long he could go without Haru.
"So um…. Did you two find any leads during the week..?" Sousuke asked after swallowing a mouthful of food, trying to make some sort of conversation. Rin sighed and shook his head.
"No, we went around Iwatobi asking everyone who lived near the beach and we got nothing…" The red head said, since there wasn't much physical evidence they had turned to asking around if anyone remembered anything on that fateful night, though no one saw or heard a thing… It was unreal how Haru could be taken away without a trace.
"I'm not going to give up though. He's out there… I know it. Even if I can't find anything, I need to keep trying." Makoto said, the one thing he remained to have was his hope and he was not letting himself lose it. If he did, he would be losing Haru too.
"Well… Don't overwork yourself in the process of trying to find him…" Sousuke said, obviously not wanting a repeat of this week. Makoto sighed and opened his mouth to reply but was cut off when his house phone began to ring.
"Excuse me." Makoto said and got up, going over to the phone. He already assumed it was work and was proven correct when he looked at the phone, he only really got calls from his family, Rin, Nagisa, or work.
"Hello?" Makoto asked as he picked up the phone, wondering what business work had with him right now. He knew he finished all the papers they gave him… So it wasn't as if they were calling him to nag at him.
"Hi Tachibana. I'm sorry to call you at this time but… You asked me to call you if there were any incidents on the Iwatobi beach…" The police chief started and Makoto perked up. When he began working in the force he told the chief what had happened to Haru, well… More like the police chief forced Makoto to spill the beans since when he first started all he wanted to do was search for Haru and not do any of his work. When he had talked to the chief about it, they made a deal. Makoto would be informed of any case involving the beach so he could see if there were any clues to Haru, of course this very rarely came into play and each time there ended up being no lead, but still Makoto had hope.
"Yes, its fine, what happened?" Makoto asked, almost eager to hear. He desperately hoped this could bring him one step closer to finding Haru, he needed something to go on.
"Well, there is another missing person case. We found the kid's sweatshirt on the beach…. Just like your friend." The chief said and Makoto let out a shaky breath, just like Haru…. This meant it could be the same person who took Haru… He wasn't going to let this guy slip away from him!
"I have Rin with me, we can be at the beach in about five minutes." Makoto said and quickly hung up before going over to the table.
"Rin, there's another missing person… A sweatshirt was left at the beach, just like Haru, we need to go now." He said quickly, gathering some of his own things as he let the words process in his friends head. Rin's eyes widened and he got up.
"I'll start the car." The red head said as he quickly got his shoes on and left the apartment. Makoto chewed his lip and looked to Sousuke.
"Sorry." He said, mainly for ruining their dinner, though there was no guilt in his voice, he was too excited. This was it, this was what he needed, it had to be. They'd be finding Haru.
Makoto left the apartment and ran outside, the cool air hitting his face immediately. He saw Rin already in the car and got in the passenger side, not even buckling up. Rin seemed in a rush too, as right when Makoto got in the car he began to drive towards the beach.
"Do you think it's the same guy who took Haru?" Rin asked while chewing his lip, he seemed just as nervous and eager as Makoto.
"I do… It has to be… Same beach, same object left behind…" Makoto said, desperately hoping he was right and there was some sort of lead to this…
"If it is, we have to find Haru quick…. The guy hadn't kidnapped another victim as far as we know in five years… There has to be a reason he's getting a new one and that might put Haru at danger…" Rin brought up, Makoto knew he was right and that the sudden kidnapping might mean the man is preparing to kill Haru… They've seen it before.
"I know… I know and we'll find him." Makoto said, determined because they just had to.
They pulled up to the beach for the second time that week and Makoto rushed out of the car, Rin fast on his heels, both men eager to try and find their dear friend again. There were a couple cops waiting for them there, making sure no one came and disrupted anything at the scene.
"Hey." One greeted, an older man around Makoto's height, he was one of the kinder cops they knew at the station and though Makoto didn't want to be rude, he really didn't want to sit and chat when they could be looking for clues to find Haru.
"Found anything yet?" Rin asked, luckily a lot more sociable than Makoto right now, who was just full of pure worry and determination to find his love. The man looked between the two and motioned towards a sweatshirt on the sandy beach by them.
"Go look for yourself." He said and Makoto didn't need to hear it twice. He went over and looked at the sweatshirt, his eyes widening when he did.
"What color hair did the victim have?" He asked, his voice slightly shaky at the possibility of seeing something groundbreaking.
"Dark hair, almost black." The man said, this knowledge filling Makoto with an overwhelming amount of joy. He looked back to Rin, his expression one of relief from all the stress that was built up over the past five years.
"What?" Rin asked looking at Makoto, not having looked at the sweatshirt yet.
"There's blond hair on it." He said, a clump near the sleeves as though the victim ripped it out. It had to be the person who took Haru, they were finally going to catch the guy. Makoto felt shaky, his body tingling in anticipation. They can have a DNA test and in a couple hours they can find out who this son of a bitch is. They can find Haru.
Blue eyes slowly opened when a door slammed shut above him, he found himself in a dusty old basement, tied up to an old, dirtied bed with multiple stains on it… His head was pounding and pain gnawed at his stomach. He didn't try to move at all though, the ties around his wrists were too tight and he knew it would only hurt him more if he did.
When he scanned the area around him he saw another man tied up to a pole on the floor, unconscious…. He couldn't help but wonder how he had gotten here. Were they a victim to the same fate as him?
All thoughts ceased when he heard the door to the basement open and he tensed, an automatic reaction for this situation. He swallowed thickly and watched as his captor walked downstairs, his dark eyes covered by his blonde hair. The blue eyed man couldn't stop himself from shivering in fear, knowing what this man was capable of.
"Ah, awake I see." The captor said as he approached, a chilling smirk on his face, only alluding to what would come next.
"Well, now it seems we can play." The captor added and began unbuttoning his own shirt. Blue eyes widened and he let out a shaky breath, if he had the energy he would squirm and try to fight, but it all had been lost, he had no strength left, no hope, the best he could do was try to be detached as another part of himself was taken away by his captor.
Once the shirt was discarded, his captor climbed over him, kissing along his jawline and down his chest, of course his captor kept him barely clothed, his button up shirt was always unbuttoned, his pants off with loose boxers on, just so his captor could have easy access. He was tense as his captor touched him and he made no noise, he didn't want to give his captor any satisfaction.
A hand moved down his back and into his boxers, invading any space that used to be personal, he's learned not to make a noise though, if he does it'll hurt more for him, though he can never stop the tears from coming, even if he knows it only makes things worse for himself.
"You're so pretty…" His captor whispered into his ear, the word send chills down his spine and sent him into a shaking mess, it always reminded him of his captor and he hated it, such a silly little word could unravel him.
"Oh, don't be scared little doll." His captor added and bit his hip before taking off his own pants and boxers. He didn't watch his captor, instead he closed his eyes letting the tears form. He could feel his own boxers be taken off, the cool basement air hitting his skin, though he had barely enough time to register as the captor began to stretch him out, just enough to be able to get in him, but so little that it caused maximum pain.
Tears freely came down his face as he felt so violated, even after all these times he would never get used to this. It wasn't long before his captor's member was being shoved into him, he couldn't help but let out a cry at that which earned a growl and deep thrust into him, only creating more pain.
"I told you to be quiet!" His captor yelled with another deep thrust only earning more tears in response.
"I-I'm sorry!" He cried, it felt as though he was just being ripped open.
"You're worthless, you know that. This is all you can be useful for and even then you're a failure!" His captor said, continuing to move in him, it felt as though this was so torturously long… He just wanted it to be over, he wondered why death has yet to spare him, why he has to put up with this pain….
His captor made sure it was longer this time since he cried out loud… Even when his captor pulled out of him, he felt pain. He felt so utterly broken and torn apart, so disgusting and worthless… He could feel himself already bleeding onto the bed, it happened each time his captor did this to him.
A hand moved onto his cheek, the hand of his captor, and he refused to open his eyes, he didn't want to see the smug face of the man who successfully ruined his entire life.
"Don't worry, I'll put you out of your misery soon… Haruka." His captor said before walking off and heading up the stairs. Haru kept his eyes closed the entire time, not opening them until he heard the door shut. He stared at the ceiling, tears still pouring down his face, how his life turned so wrong… It amazed him. He never should've ran, it was his fault he was in this position… Because he was too weak he ran and he was thoroughly being punished for it.
The thought of death reaching him soon though, brought a small sense of hope. Haru doubted anyone was looking for him anymore, they all probably gave up, they don't care any longer or they never did care. Haru believes it's best if they don't because he is, like the captor said, worthless. He deserves nothing more than death.
Haru wasn't good for anyone, he was a poison, and he was getting what he needed. The pain he was receiving now must've been for what he did for other people, how he made other's give up their dreams like Rin, who stopped swimming because of him… Or how he hurt everyone near him by disappearing and being taken all because his stupidity… He hoped Makoto didn't feel guilty over this…
Then again, Makoto probably hated him for what happened, he never should've admitted his feelings like he had…. He should've kept them to himself, Haru only ruined everything.
He doubted anyone stayed sad for long when he disappeared, he never brought much to his friendships so… They probably never noticed him missing. Makoto probably found a new best friend, probably a girlfriend by now…
God, Haru didn't even know how long had passed.
All he knew was soon he would finally be given release, the one thing he wishes he could do is make sure no one else is hurt by his captor… But obviously a replacement for him has already been found. He hates to think about his captor doing everything he did to Haru to another soul… Completely breaking them apart and taking everything they have to offer... But this was why Haru had to go, he had nothing left he could offer the world, the doctor took everything. Anyways, Haru doubted help would ever come, he didn't have anything to hold out for because of this.
Makoto stared at the screen, a picture of the man who the DNA traced back to was there, those eyes were so familiar… It took Makoto a moment to recognize them, they were the same dark eyes he saw at the beach with the suicide victim, Haru's captor had been there and he hadn't even known, the fucking bastard!
His name was Aito Yamada, he was a doctor. A fucking doctor. He was supposed to help people yet he took Haru and was no doubt hurting him. They got the address down and now were getting ready to go to the house, Makoto was relieved the day had finally come where he can find Haru, but he was also nervous…
How much damage has been done?
Is Haru going to be okay?
What if he's too broken?
What if… Makoto can't fix him?
