"He's so cold."

Haruka lay in his massive bed, blankets and quilts piled on top of him. He was really weak from basically drowning, and exhausted. He slept soundly. Rin stayed right by his side, one hand on Haru's forehead.

"That bastard," Rin hissed. "He's just as good as declared war, with what he did back there."

Nagisa clambered onto the foot of the bed, careful to avoid Haru's feet. "What do you mean, declare war?"

Rin sighed, and Makoto noted that he looked troubled. "It is against the code of the gods to do certain things against each other. Certain acts are basically equivalent to declaring war. One of these is thievery of a god's ward, or someone they keep close to them."

"So when Seijuurou took Haruka, he basically declared war," Rei clarified. He was leaning up against the wall, Makoto next to him.

"But we got Haru back!" Nagisa said.

"That hardly matters. He tried it once, I'm sure he'll do it again," Rin said. "I'm certain he's going to plan something much bigger. And no matter what kind of defenses I put up, it might not be enough to stop him."

"But Rin-chan has such powerful magic! Didn't you just put up defensive spells around the city?" Nagisa asked.

Rin looked a bit upset, his face holding a trace of anger. "Unfortunately, Seijuurou is more powerful than I am."

The room went silent, and no one said anything for a while. It was so quiet, one could hear the ocean outside as it pounded against the palace walls. Suddenly, a small voice spoke up.

"I want mackerel."

"HARU?"

"You get kidnapped and drown in icy cold water…and the first thing you want is mackerel…really Haruka…" Haru could see that Rin was smiling a little, though. Makoto was relieved, and Nagisa was all smiles and hugs while Rei pulled the blond off, apologizing profusely to Haru in the process. Makoto excused himself and the other two, leaving Haru and Rin alone.

Haru slowly sat up in bed, only for Rin to push him back down again. "No, Haru, you need to rest."

"Rin…that's the first time you've called me that instead of my full name."

The unmistakable faint rosy tint of blush spread across Rin's face. He turned away a little, embarrassed. Haru shivered again underneath the blankets, much to Rin's dismay.

"Move over a little, Haru." Rin pulled off the covers and climber into bed with Haru, pulling all of the layers back over them again. Haru rolled over a little so he was facing Rin. The water god pulled Haru close, resting his head on the raven-haired teen's head. After a few minutes, Haru started to feel better.

"Rin?"

"Hmm?"

"I like it here. And I like being with you," Haru said.

"I like you too, Haru." Rin said. He could feel Haruka's heartbeat against his own. "I don't want to lose you."

"What will happen if Seijuurou comes back?" Haru asked. His eyes were starting to get heavy, and he yawned.

"I don't know. But Haru," Rin said, lifting Haru's head a little so they could see each other. "I will always find you. I promise."

"Rin, I…I just…"

Haru fell asleep against Rin's chest, never finishing his sentence. Rin stroked his hair for a while, bending his head down to place a chaste kiss on the other's head. He listened to Haru breathe; the swimmer's breaths were long and deep, his lungs expanded from years of swimming.

Haruka's skin actually started to feel like a normal body temperature, and Rin was certain Haru would be fine if Rin left. He was about to try and move when Haru's hand curled around Rin's, gripping it tightly. Haru snuggled closer to Rin subconsciously, trying to move closer to the source of warmth and comfort. Rin decided to stay right where he was, and lay down with Haru on his chest. They stayed like that all night, Rin stroking Haru's hair and holding him all the while.

-Mackerel-

Haruka awoke the next morning, only to find himself on top of Rin. He glanced up at the other, who was wide awake and staring at him.

"Were you awake all night?"

"I'm a god. I don't need as much rest as you do. I made you immortal, but you're still human, Haru."

"Well, this human is going to go shower. I need to tell the water not to drown me next time," Haru said as he rolled out of bed.

Rin rolled his eyes at the other. He watched as Haru pulled out another of his typical black and purple swimsuits along with some other clothes. "Are you wearing that in the bath?"

"No, it's for after," Haru said, his face deadpan.

"Seriously, you never go anywhere without a swimsuit…"

Rin left to go get himself cleaned up for the day, leaving Haruka alone. Haru sat in the hot bath for a while, enjoying the feeling of it. He scrubbed himself really hard and washed his hair thoroughly. After he got out, he dressed in black jeans and a matching shirt with a dark blue hoodie and grey shoes, and of course, the swimsuit underneath it all.

"Haru-chan! Are you in here?" Nagisa called out, his cheerful voice reverberating throughout the spacious bathroom.

"Really, Nagisa, he's in the bathroom…" Rei said, exasperated.

"I'm here," Haru said as he came around the corner.

"You look much better, Haru," Rei said, his face filled with relief. Nagisa jumped on Haru, who hugged Nagisa back.

"Let's go get breakfast," Makoto suggested. "The kitchen crew should be awake by now."

Haru followed his friends to the palace's dining hall. As they sat around the table for breakfast, Haru realized that Rin wasn't there.

"Where's Rin?"

"He said there was a disturbance and he went to check it out," Makoto answered.

"Yeah, a disturbance in The Force," Nagisa added. Both Makoto and Rei gave him an exasperated look.

"Nagisa, was that necessary?"

Haru smiled a bit, much to Nagisa's great joy. The cook came and brought them food, and let Haru eat all of the mackerel he wanted. Nagisa took a loaf of melon bread, and shoved the entire thing into Haru's mouth, much to his displeasure. Makoto had to save him, while Rei tried to gain some control over Nagisa, who had then suggested for someone to try and eat a whole square of horseradish.

Eventually breakfast was over, and Haru found himself heading back with his friends. He looked out the glass walls at the open water as they walked through the corridors. Haru suddenly stopped, grabbing Makoto's sleeve.

"What is that?"

"Huh?"

Out in the water, there seemed to be a mass of something. As it came closer, Haru could see a bunch of large sea creatures, including a blue whale alongside a few humpbacks, some elephant seals, walruses, and various others. They were all headed straight for the wall, and were moving quickly.

"Haru!"

Haru and the others turned, only to see Rin coming down the corridor, flanked by some guards. "Haru, we need to go, now."

"Rin," Makoto said, his voice anxious. "What's going on? What's happening?"

"An invasion."

Just then, one of the whales rammed into the glass wall, causing it to crack. Water dripped out like a leaky faucet, and another hit or two and it would be smashed. Rin grabbed Haru by the hand and motioned for the others to follow.

"Come on!"

Haru could hear glass shattering behind him, followed by the sound of crashing water. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through him as water followed them.

"Rin! We can't outrun the wave!"

Rin suddenly stopped, turning around to face the massive flood of water. In an instant, there was a wall of ice stopping it completely.

"We're safe for now," Rin said. "But we need to hurry."

"My lord," a servant said, running. He seemed out of breath, and sweat beaded on his brow. "All of the portals, sir. They've been ruined, destroyed."

"The city has fallen," Makoto said from behind Rin. "You can see it from here, through the glass."

Haruka had never seen Makoto and Rei look so terrified, and Nagisa eyes were as wide as saucers. Haru turned to look through the glass, only to see the most unpleasant sight.

The beautiful city he had visited was collapsing as water invaded the crystal dome, shattering buildings and knocking them over. Homes were destroyed, and Haru thought he could see some of the bodies of residents as they floated around in the water.

"There's one more portal out of here," Rin said, breaking Haru's focus on the dying city. "Follow me."

The five of them ran down into the library, much to Haru's surprise. Rin pulled him along until they reached the back, where Rin pressed in a panel, which swung open to reveal an entirely separate room. In the center was a ring surrounded by glass. Upon their approach, a section of the glass slid open.

"Seijuurou's coming. He'll be here any minute. I can feel it," Rin said. "I need the four of you to get into the portal, now. It will take a minute to power up, but once it does, it will take you to the surface. Go, now."

Makoto, Rei, and Nagisa complied, but Haru grabbed onto Rin's arm. "What about you?" Haru demanded. "You're coming, right?"

"Haruka-no, Haru," Rin said. "I need to hold off Seijuurou. But you remember what I promised you last night? I will always find you again, you hear me?"

"What am I going to do, Rin?"

"Go back to your old life. Go back to school," Rin said. He held Haru's face in his hands. "The others will be there with you. As long as you stay away from the sea, Seijuurou won't get to you. And when you're done with school, go travel or something. See the world. Be in the Olympics. Just know that I-"

"You'll always find me," Haruka finished for him. He could hear the faint sounds of Seijuurou and his own men as the ransacked the library to find them.

Rin turned back to Haru after giving the wall a glance. Haru suddenly got hit with the feeling that he might never see the water god again.

"Rin?"

"Haru, you need to-"

"I love you."

Rin didn't answer but instead pulled Haruka closer, kissing him. Time seemed to stand still for just a brief moment as their lips locked, their mouths meshing together like two perfect puzzle pieces. To Haru, Rin was like sea salt and sunshine.

They could have stayed like that forever, except they were interrupted by the sound of banging on the wall. Seijuurou had discovered their location, and was trying to find the way in.

"I'm not leaving you," Haru said. "You can't stay here alone. I can't leave you behind to fight them off by yourself."

"And I can't let you get hurt by that bastard again." Haru didn't notice that Makoto had come up behind him, and it wasn't until he felt strong arms around him that Haru realized what was happening.

"Makoto-"

"Sorry, Haru, but I have my orders," Makoto said as he pulled a struggling Haru into the portal. "And they're to keep you safe."

The glass slid shut with a hiss, once again forming a seamless cylinder around the ring. Just as the ring began to glow, Seijuurou broke through the wall. He pushed Rin to the side and was just about to smash the glass with a large, gold scepter when Rin grabbed it, redirecting its path so it hit the wall instead. Seijuurou turned and swung the scepter again, its sharp point piercing flesh and ripping Rin's chest apart.

"NO!" Haru cried, breaking away from Makoto's grip. The glow of the ring beneath him had intensified. He had only seconds left.

Rin looked up at Haru, his ruby eyes meeting with Haruka's sapphire ones. He cracked that grin that Haru had grown so accustomed to.

"I WILL find you, Haruka. I swear I will!"

At that moment, Seijuurou kicked Rin to the ground, but the wounded god kept his eyes on the dark-haired swimmer behind the glass. Haru had his hands up against the glass, as if he was trying to get closer. The ring under his feet was glowing a bright white.

"Rin, I-"

"I know, Haru. I love you too."

"Rin…" Haru's voice came out as a whisper, and with a flash, he and the others were gone. Maybe Rin had been the only one who had noticed, but he had seen it, just for a brief second before everything went black.

Haruka had been crying.