"Hello?" Makoto answered his phone.

"Do you know where Mr. Matsuoka is?"

"Nitori? Uh… no. I haven't seen him today." He checked his phone. "But its not even time for school yet."

"He missed classes yesterday – said he was sick – but he was gone when I got here and never came back to the room. He wasn't here all night so I thought maybe he was with one of you guys. But Nagisa said he hadn't seen him either. I'm a little worried…"

Sitting up and stretching he looked out his window to see the sun hadn't fully risen yet. "I will go look for him. But I wouldn't worry, Rin is a tough guy. Its not like he was mugged or anything."

"Thanks."

Sure enough he found Rin at the beach, waist deep in the water.

"Rin?"

Maroon eyes with large bags under his them found his. "Makoto? What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you. Were you there all night?"

Rin looked back out at the water. "Is he really out there?"

Crossing his arms trying to not to feel uncomfortable he stepped a bit closer. "Yeah. He is. Why…?"

"What if – what if I saw him?"

His voice was so quiet Makoto almost missed what was said.

"Rin, why don't you get out of the water? It's kind of cold this morning anyway. You're going to actually get sick."

"What if I saw him?" Rin asked again. "Am I crazy?"

"Nah. I'm pretty sure Haru likes to make people look crazy."

"Makoto?"

"Yeah?"

"I saw him here. He handed me my jacket."

Makoto smiled. "So he did make an appearance on land recently."

Rin suddenly turned and headed for the dry land. "Does he do that…?"

"He can't do it too often." He handed him a towel that was in the sand. "But every once in awhile he decides 'were worthy of his presence'. Or something. I'm not completely sure of the technicalities of it."

Sighing Rin wrapped himself tightly in the towel, unable to keep his eyes off the water. "Makoto… everyone thinks he's dead."

"I am well aware." Makoto grunted, unable to help thinking of the school councilor.

"We need to tell people that he's out there! Maybe we can help him stay on land longer? Rei is pretty smart, maybe he can find the science to it or something."

"Let me stop you there." Makoto rested a hand on his shoulder, only when maroon eyes met his did he continue. "People already think I'm crazy. I'm really glad you know the truth too. But telling people is only going to do you more harm then good. Haru is not hurt. And he understands that this is something beyond our understanding."

"Everything seems beyond understanding until you learn about it! This just needs to be studied. With some research we could do it! We could get Haru back!"

"You sound as hyper as Nagisa." Makoto smiled. "Please Rin. Go home and rest. Let this go. If you want to come visit him with me sometime I would love it. But don't try going to other people with this. It won't help anyone."

Rin wanted to argue. But the chill that had developed from standing in the ocean all night was finally getting to him. After a bit of shivering he nodded with a sigh. "Fine."

Makoto watched him leave before looking back out at the water. Off in the distance he saw the familiar rippling of water. Haru.

"You know this isn't going to go well. Rin can't handle this."

A faint splash. It could have been a fish that came close to the surface. But he knew it wasn't.

"Of course I'll watch out for him."

"Mr. Tachibana. Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon to you as well."

"Should we pick up where we left off?"

"I suppose if you like."

He was no longer with the school councilor, but an actual psychiatrist that she had recommended to his parents. Who of course took her too seriously. And of course they had sent him immediately. This was their fourth session, and Makoto was getting fed up. They spent an hour sitting in this office, on these couches basically having a stare off. He had nothing he wanted to discuss and besides touching upon possible trust issues he may or may not have the psychiatrist, Dr. Cyprus, had nothing that interesting to say except find ways to discuss Makoto's belief in his friend living.

"It seems to me Makoto, that you do not mind conversing with your own peers but choose not to with me. I feel we are well acquainted by now, but I am many years older. Would you like to bring a friend to our next meeting?" He tried with a smile.

Makoto resisted the urge to roll his eyes, sat up straight, gave a polite smile, and shook his head. "I don't mind talking with you Doctor. Is there something you would like to particularly like to discuss this afternoon?"

His parents had taught him to be polite. He believed that a kind word went far. But this was the first time that he saw his polite behavior was actually annoying someone, and he had developed a guilty pleasure of irritating his psychiatrist.

"I would like to discuss Haruka Nanase." Dr. Cyprus leaned back in his own chair.

"Haruka Nanase was a solid B student. He has a passion for swimming, and a really odd sense of humor. He doesn't talk much, but he'll listen to you. Or at least pretend to."

"I noticed you speak of him in the present tense, but you said he was a solid B student?"

Makoto shrugged. "Well sure. He no longer attends school. Can't be a student when you're not going to school."

"That is true. I have records here that state that Haruka Nanase drowned a couple years ago. But you speak of him as if you saw him yesterday?"

"I did not see him yesterday."

He was tempted to mention that another friend of his had, but refused to get Rin dragged into this. Even if these sessions were likely his fault.

"But you have seen him since his supposed passing?"

"Did I say that?" Makoto widened his eyes in mock surprise.

The doctor rubbed his eyes tiredly. "No. I suppose you did not. My apologies."

"Mr. Matsuoka?"

Rin sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you to just call me Rin?"

"Sorry sir. I was just wondering if you were feeling all right? You haven't been sleeping much and you've missed classes more then I've ever seen you do before. Is there something I could help you with sir?"

"No. I am fine Nitori. Now please go back to bed."

The underclassman hesitated. "Are you going out again tonight sir?"

Rin gave him a hard glare, which shut the poor kid up as he scampered away. Grabbing his jacket he headed out toward the beach again, library book in hand.

Once at the beach he settled in the sand, the moon was just appearing in the horizon.

"Alright Haru. I got this book from the school library yesterday and studied it thoroughly I want you to know. But if you are living in the ocean then you must not be completely human right? Humans don't have the right gear in our lungs to handle that. I read an anatomy book to be sure. We don't. So you are either some kind of mutation, or… something not quite real?" He wasn't sure how to phrase it.

Looking out at the water he saw nothing.

"How do I know your listening?" He grumbled crossing his arms. "Makoto comes out here all the time and he says he knows you listen to him."

There was no response.

"Whatever. Listen to this."

He spent the next couple hours reading from the book he had found on mythological creatures specifically related to water. At one point a couple walked by, giving him a strange look, but he kept reading.

If people thought Makoto was crazy, then it was only fair people thought he was a little crazy.

"Enough."

Rin jumped in surprise looking up from his book.

Haru stood in front of him, arms crossed over his chest with a smirk on his face.

"Haru?!" Rin jumped to his feet.

Please Review!