Memory 2: 追憶は発表...Recollection Unveils…

Author's Note: This story is a "Bridge" between Free! The Future Beyond and my upcoming Fan-Fiction Free! Heart of the Sixth Magic. Be sure to have read the others stories prior to this one! Otherwise you'll be confused and sorry. ^_^;

The Next Day…

Haruka and Makoto sat next to each other in homeroom as the class chatted a little bit before homeroom began.

"Did you sleep well, Haru?" asked Makoto.

Haruka said nothing at first but turned his head, asking, "Why?"

"I had a dream," said Makoto.

"A…dream?" asked Haruka.

"I…it was weird, I saw someone that looked a lot like myself…but much older," he replied, "I just don't get it."

"Dreams are never meant to make sense," muttered Haruka as he and Makoto saw the teacher walking in along with Rin!"

"Morning class," said the teacher, writing Rin's name on the board, "We have a new student that joined yesterday and he'll be starting his classes today."

Rin stepped out to the class, smiling and saying, "My name is Rin Matsuoka. It sounds a bit girlish…but I am a boy. I'm happy to be enrolled here!"

"Please give Mr. Matsuoka a warm welcome," said the teacher.

The class clapped their hands in welcoming the new student. Rin was assigned to sit next to Haruka and Makoto for the time being until there was a new arrangement of seating.

"Sounds like we got swimming next," said Rin, feeling excited.

"Yeah, I hope we'll have Nagisa with us," smiled Makoto.

Haruka smiled a little, knowing that he will finally be in the pool for class.

Gym Class…

Haruka placed his swim cap and goggles on as he took a step on the diving block. He prepared himself and dove in after waiting for a proper timing moment.

Rin watched as Haruka dove into the waters as if time was moving very slowly. He was stunned to see such a dive right before his eyes.

"I'm happy we're all here," said Makoto, "Right, Nagisa?"

"Yeah!" smiled Nagisa, "I was worried a little, but I figured we would be together!"

"Yeah, quite a coincidence," said Rin.

"Hey um, excuse me?" asked a voice.

The three turned to see a girl who smiled before them. She and two of her friends were also dressed in their swimsuits for the pool also.

"Was that Haruka that dove in?" asked the first girl.

"Yeah, what's up?" asked Makoto.

"Oh, my name is Aki Yazaki," she said, "I wanted to say thanks to Haruka."

"For what?" asked Nagisa.

"Well, I almost lost my bell for my bike but he caught it just in time before it fell into the sewers," smiled the girl, "Are you his friends?"

"Yeah, I'm Makoto Tachibana," said the green-eyed boy.

"Nagisa Hazuki," said the blonde.

She turned to Rin who said, "Rin Mastuoka. I'm deeply inspired by Haruka but I'm going to be his opponent for the race."

"Oh? You're taking on a challenge?" asked Aki.

"Yeah," said Rin, "It's because I…huh?"

Rin suddenly fell to his knees as his head was giving a splitting headache.

"Rin!" gasped Nagisa.

"Rin-chan!?" shouted Makoto.

Aki and the girls moved to the side as Haruka got out of the pool and saw Rin covering his ears with his hands.

"Rin!" shouted Haruka as he rushed up towards him, being careful not to slip. The red-hair fell down on the ground as his eyes were closed.

"This is bad!" gasped Aki, "We should get the ambulance!"

"Wait!" said Makoto, checking up on Rin's pulse, "It's still making a pulse."

Haruka rested his head over Rin's chest, hearing his heart still beating as he wondered what was going on. The girls were frightened and they rushed out to get help.

The little boy opened his eyes and saw a flash of images before him; he saw himself and the others doing a swim relay together, celebrating on their victory. He watched how it all changed as he saw his older-self wanting to defeat Haruka to a race and won, leaving Haruka alone but couldn't hide his loneliness.

He then saw himself rescuing Haruka alongside with the others from a strange laboratory room as well as seeing a group of mysterious beings dressed in cloaks and robes, smiling before him.

"Rin," echoed a deep-like voice before him.

The boy turned to see a taller man dressed in a warrior outfit before him, smiling and reaching out to him. Behind him was the Sakura tree where they buried a trophy from their victory as a way to remember their times together.

Rin woke up with a gasp as he saw Haruka and the others by his side.

"Rin-chan!" shouted Nagisa in relief.

"Are you alright?" asked Haruka.

Rin nodded as he got up but still sat on the floor, stunned on what he was seeing.

"What's the matter?" asked Makoto.

Rin looked at them and looked at the pool before him.

"We…we were here before," he answered.

"Eh?" asked Nagisa.

"This…was where we first met…and had the relay also," said Rin as he got up, still trying to figure out what he was seeing.

"What are you talking about?" asked Makoto.

Rin didn't listen as he got up with his swim cap and goggles and made that "snap" effect on the goggles, echoing a memory to the boys. The trio gasped as they somehow recalled that snapping effect from before, knowing that something is not right.

"That…what he just did," gasped Makoto.

Nagisa trembled a little as he felt a bit light headed. Haruka helped Nagisa to stay on his feet while Makoto watched Rin swimming his way back.

"Haru-chan…I heard a voice…" said Nagisa.

Some of the other classmates watched in confusion of this strange scene but many of them ignored it and moved on. Rin got out of the pool, seeing Nagisa shaking.

"We're all here now," said Rin.

"I'm going in," said Haruka.

"Haru! Wait! Maybe it's the water!" shouted Makoto.

Haruka geared up and jumped in, doing his freestyle across the pool when he saw a hand of water stretching out before him; he held his hand together as his eyes suddenly glowed neon blue, causing a bright reflection in the water.

"What's that light?" asked Nagisa.

Haruka broke to the surface as he drifted off to get out; they saw his eyes were glowing. The other people didn't seem to notice that light.

"His eyes…" said Rin, "It's neon blue…"

Rin walked up to Haruka while Nagisa held Makoto's hand, hoping that he could relax a little. At that moment, Makoto smiled a little but gasped as he and Nagisa saw himself and the others, much older and standing with the Suiei Gods before them.

Haruka's eyes turned back to normal and said, "We were here…I…I remember now."

Rin smiled and replied, "Yeah. I don't know much…but I kinda had a feeling this place was familiar."

They turned to see Makoto and Nagisa holding hands and chuckled a little.

"We should get going before we get more hocus-pocus," said Makoto.

"Yeah, let's go," agreed Nagisa.

They turned to see Aki and her friends with a couple of adults who were prepared to face the emergency.

"Oh, he's okay now?" asked Aki.

"Yeah, I'm fine," giggled Rin, "I was just a bit exhausted."

"Well then, I guess we'll see you later," blushed Aki.

After School…

The four sat out by the Metro Park as they watched the Sakura tree standing tall and mighty before them, scattering its petals around.

"I don't understand one thing though….are they memories…" said Rin, "Or is it the future?"

Haruka took a sip on his drink and answered, "How should I know?"

"Well we know one thing for sure," replied Makoto, "We have met before…at some point."

"I'm…just happy that we are back," giggled Nagisa.

"But there's so much that we have to uncover," said Rin, "It's like it's all of a riddle…"

Haruka sighed and replied, "Well…assuming if we have met before in a different life…what should we do?

"Let's embrace it like how it was…but even better!" smiled Makoto, "We were probably meant to reunite!"

"Yeah!" agreed Rin, "This is destiny!"

Haruka looked down a little as he was a bit worried on what was going to become, assuming if this is either going to be the same as it was…or will it be different this time?

"Haru, don't worry…we're gonna be fine, okay?" asked Rin.

"Yeah! We will be!" smiled Nagisa.

Haruka nodded and replied, "It's a lot…we're only little boys right now…but…I guess…"

Makoto asked, "About what?"

"I'm worried…that it may all be the same again," said Haruka, "Like…exactly the same."

"Don't say that!" replied Rin, "Whatever happened back then…I'm sure we have won and we are living it now."

"It's going to be alright now," agreed Nagisa, knowing that this world is a lot different in many ways from what it was previously.

"Let's make a team!" said Rin, "All of us! I swear we'll make this work even better than the first time!"

Makoto smiled as Haruka nodded in agreement. Naigsa cheered up for this as the four became one group again…

"Let's do this…" said Rin, "And…if we all swim together…we can see a sight that we have never seen before!"

Osaka, Japan

The young blue-haired boy looked into his bag to make sure everything was in; including his underwear.

Oh thank goodness, thought Rei, blushing, that would have not been good if someone else found it.

He turned to see the teacher explaining about a field trip coming up and handed the students permission slips that had to be signed by the parents.

"Wow…" said one of the students, "A boat ride on the Osaka bay!"

Oh no, thought Rei, I can't do boat rides like this…

After school was done, Rei walked into his apartment where his father read the newspaper and saw the little one walking in.

"I'm home!" smiled Rei.

"Welcome back son, how was school?" asked the father.

"I got a permission slip for a trip on the Osaka boat ride based on our geography class," he replied.

"Oh my…going out to the seas?" he asked, "Well, I don't know how well you can handle the water since we were on that…"

"Please don't," said Rei, blushing as he recalled when he threw up back on the family trip on a boat ride in Kyoto last summer.

He turned to see his mother walking in as well, holding a bag of some groceries, "Hey Rei," she smiled, "I got something good for us to eat tonight!"

"Yay!" smiled Rei as he placed his bag to the side and went to watch mom cook. He was always interesting into learning how to make his own food and the smell of the rice was beautiful.

He went to the fridge to get a cold bottle of water when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see but there was no one behind him.

What, he thought, what was that?

Days later, Rei and his classmates were on the boat ride in the Osaka Bay. It was around 10 in the morning and they would be back to the school around 5 or so in the evening.

He kept his best to not overlook at the water as he distracted himself by talking to one of his teachers but they had to keep the kids organized so he was a bit alone.

I…I'm not going to make it, he thought as he made his way to the railing of the boat and held his hands onto it. He was already feeling a bit lightheaded.

Suddenly, a voice called out, "What are you doing? What are you waiting for?"

"Who…who said that?" asked Rei as he got up and fixed his glasses. His mind was distracted by the voice.

He turned to see the waters of the bay swirling around like a water spout. He was a bit frightened at first but was astonished to see such a show. However, no one else seemed to take notice of this strange phenomenon.

His mind suddenly raced back in time as he saw four other boys standing side by side, reaching out to him.

"Rei! Rei-chan!" they all shouted.

Rei fixed his glasses and somehow recognized the others…but before he could ask, he was back in reality but felt something on his neck. He opened his buttons on his collar and saw a heart-shaped pendant necklace on him. He blushed at first in fears that someone would notice.

"We finally meet," echoed the voice again.

"Who-who are you?" asked Rei.

He turned around and finally saw a tall man with blue, long, braided hair like his own with purple eyes and dressed in some ancient robes with a cloak around him. His body was like half made of water but had the appearance of a human.

Rei stumbled back in fear but the necklace glowed in a neon-purple color.

"It's been a long time…Rei," said Suiei Ryugazaki.

"…how…how do you know me?" asked the boy.

"I see your memories are still locked away," replied the Suiei God, "You are still young to remember even though the others are currently in the process of remembering who they are…"

"Others?" he asked.

"Four other friends that are dear to you…and you mean a lot to them," said Ryugazaki, finally taking on full human like form as he grew his legs from the water-mists. He walked up to the boy and brought him back on his feet.

"You will eventually leave this town and attend to Iwatobi High School…that's where you will find three of them. The other one…will be separated from them…but it's your duty to make sure that all five of you stick together," said the god.

Rei was silent in confusion and in fear, his mind was clogged up with a lot of things. However, the Suiei God rested his hand on the boy's shoulder and finally, he began to see some visions of the past….he saw himself with three other guys on a team as they went out to the islands, competed and even almost died together.

Some of the scenes scared him to death as he began to remember the horrifying incident as well as the betrayal and the lies that he and the others encountered.

"S…Suiei…" he said, "Please don't leave me!"

"I will be watching you from afar," replied the god, "however…I cannot be always here…but let the necklace guide you…and protect you. Trust in it."

Rei nodded and watched as the Suiei God dissolved into the mists, heading back out to the waters. He vowed to himself and prayed to find the others…one day soon.

Iwatobi, Japan

Haruka sat outside on the steps of the walkway that led to his house, watching the sunset. He could almost sense something going out at the bay but he wasn't too concerned about it.

He was really worried about the future of him and the others. After remembering what happened between him and Rin in the other timeline, he didn't want to go through that experience again.

But can he really fulfill his dream, thought Haruka, does Rin still plan to go to Australia to improve his swimming for the sake of his father?

The wind blew across his hair as the Sakura petals swirled around nearby. He looked down towards the bottom of the steps and saw Makoto waving out to him. Haruka nodded as he watched Makoto climbing up the stairs.

"I was wondering where you were," he said, "Is something bothering you?"

Haruka kept silent about it, he wasn't sure if he was going to say something or not.

"If it's about Rin, please don't hide it," answered Makoto, "I remember a bit more now about ourselves and I don't want you to carry that burden."

Finally the other boy answered, "Yes. It's him…"

"Haru," said Makoto, "I'm sure Rin won't be as flamboyant like the last time. I mean, I'm sure he will want to do his best in swimming and what not…but I think he already has learned his lesson. And if he didn't…I'm sure he'll feel it in his heart."

Makoto sat down next to Haruka but the other boy didn't say much. He was going to have to make a decision soon…whether he liked it or not.

Rin stood out by the Sakura tree and saw Nagisa walking by. He called out for the blonde and the latter rushed up to him.

"This looks like a Sakura Tree, right?" asked Rin, "It's awfully tall…"

"Yeah, Makoto told me that it's one of the biggest ones here," said Nagisa.

Rin chuckled but narrowed his eyes for a moment.

"What's the matter?" asked Nagisa, "You seem…?"

"I made a decision…well…no…I have to go," said Rin.

At that moment, Nagisa's eyes trembled as he remember all too well on that day, "You're leaving…aren't you?"

Rin sighed and answered, "I have to. Unlike the last time that I made my own accord…this time…I have to go because it's the price…that I have to pay. Do you remember this boy who was like a witch or something?"

"Oh…I think I do, kinda," he replied, "He said something that a wish must be fulfilled by a price…but I don't understand what that has got to do with you leaving here?"

"It's to keep the world stable," said Rin, "And also…for the sake of our relationships. He came to me in the form of a dog and explained some stuff…even though I was a bit confused; my memories of our past life were coming back a bit more and more."

"I see," answered the blonde as he lowered his head, "I'm worried about the others…"

"I'll tell them," he said, "But…we'll make our race the best! I promise all of you for that."

"Alrighty then, I'll see you," said Nagisa as he took off while Rin closed his eyes and thought about the petals, visualizing himself swimming in the water with the petals intertwined.

~To Be Continued...