Anon-chan-san: Maybe I am too~ Lately I've been focusing on Reigisa a lot too though.
Haruko: I can totally do fluff! But you know, I've also received a PM with a request for kinky bondage... What~ to~ do~? And don't worry about Makoto. More like, you should worry about Haruka.
Lady Monochromic: I'm actually not so confident about my relationship writing, because of course the setting is different so the interactions are going to be different, but I still aim for them to be 'in character'. It's difficult to write AU's...
ZZ960107: Lying Makoto is lying, Honest Makoto is honest~ Which is which, that's up to the reader to decide~
The Deviant Protagonist: Thank you so much! I hope this chapter pleases you as well! It's written quite... cliffhanger-y.
WolfPacFaan: I keep deviating from what I plan :P But personally I like the flow that I'm setting up because it makes things easier to work with. There are still some things that I need to reveal before we head for the climax and finale. I'll do my best to decide on a manageable order (spoiler*and really, there aren't going to be too many flashbacks until later when Haruka gets his first dream*spoiler).
DarkSapphireXx: More like two steps forward and five steps back. Whatever 'truth' is in the story isn't going to be revealed for a while... or maybe in the next chapter when the reader will definitely be clued into a couple things including Makoto's past and current personality.
NyxLied: Compliant and willing Haruka is a very sexy Haruka. And Makoto is sexy no matter what, lol. But I'd consider the choice of your words a little more carefully... "Trouble in paradise"? What is this 'paradise' that you speak of? Ohohohoho...
I do not own Free! Iwatobi Swim Club or any of the characters in it.
Some of you are going to kill me after this chapter, I swear.
Within a dark room, a figure stood by a moonlit window, staring up into the starry sky. Behind him, another person approached. "King," he spoke softly. "There has been troubling news about the Archduke."
The figure called King turned around. "About Makoto?"
"Yes," the other person who was one of his servants nodded. "From what the Marquis has reported, the Archduke may hold... romantic feelings for the product he is currently overseeing."
King swept his gaze over his servant, gazing at him through lowered lashes. "... That is impossible."
"My King?"
"Makoto is loyal to me and only to me," King flicked his bangs away from his face. "Love or no love, Makoto will always come back."
"But my King – "
"Are you contradicting me?"
"No sir," the servant said quickly, eyes on the ground.
"Makoto is mine, for the rest of eternity," King gave a lazy smile. "He himself swore his loyalty to me. No matter whom he loves or who he hates, he will obey my orders," he chuckled. "Because my love is the only love he needs."
"Not that I doubt you, my King, but the Archduke has always been something of a... wild card," the servant swallowed nervously. "Is it absolutely sure that he can be trusted?"
"First of all, you are doubting me, otherwise you wouldn't state so," King snorted, turning his gaze back out to the window. "And second, yes Makoto can be trusted. Particularly when it comes to Nanase Haruka."
"Why is that, if I may ask?"
"You may. And," King noted a streak in the sky caused by a falling meteorite, "it is because more than anyone else in the world, Nanase Haruka is Makoto's greatest enemy," a soft chuckle resounded through the room. "Because Nanase Haruka took everything away from Makoto, and Makoto will do anything to get it back."
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"Master Haruka," Haruka heard a voice purr in to his ear. "Wake up, Master Haruka."
Haruka yawned and rolled over to squint sleepy blue eyes at his servant. "What time is it?" he grumbled. "It's too early. Come back later."
"If I do, your breakfast will get cold, Master Haruka," Makoto said amusedly. He rubbed at Haruka's back in small circles in a comforting way. "Come on, get up. I won't take no for an answer."
Haruka gave him a little kick and rolled over. "No."
"Master Harukaaaa," Makoto nudged Haruka's shoulder playfully with his head. "Come on. You need to get up. Lady Amakata is coming by later for your tutoring session, and I know for a fact that you have yet to finish your English homework."
"I hate English," Haruka grumbled, rolling back so that he could look Makoto full in the face. "You seem to be educated. You do it for me."
"I may be your servant, but it is my duty to see that you are brought up as an upright gentleman," the brunette cupped a supple cheek with his palm.
Haruka slapped the intruding hand off his buttocks. "You are definitely not a gentleman."
"Not at all," Makoto smiled lightly. He leaned forward to rub their noses together. "I like you too much to bother with formalities."
Haruka could barely hide the blush covering his cheeks. "Idiot," he muttered and pulled the covers over his head. After Makoto's confession of love, Haruka couldn't stop himself from blushing like a lovesick fool whenever their eyes met. He wasn't sure if he was in love with Makoto – lusted after him, definitely, but love? He and Makoto had barely started this faulty (but wonderful, absolutely wonderful) relationship two months ago.
(Specifically, it was one month, two weeks, and six days.)
He felt Makoto lean over his still body, felt his breath through the blankets – did Makoto chew mint leaves? – and felt light kisses being dropped on his face through the covers. How Makoto managed to pinpoint exactly where his nose was located was beyond him, but he would be lying if he said that he didn't enjoy it. Shyly, he slid the covers from his face so that Makoto could kiss him directly.
For a while longer they slowly entwined their limbs together until Haruka's leg fell asleep and he promptly kicked his servant off. Makoto took the kick with good grace and merely kissed his master again on the forehead as a sign of giving up. "Make sure that you finish your homework," he reminded him gently before leaving the room.
Haruka groaned and rolled himself back into the covers to catch a few more minutes of sleep.
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As he walked down the hallway, Makoto glanced out the window and his green eyes alighted on a messenger pigeon staring at him from a nearby tree. He noticed the small scroll on the bird's leg and his eyes narrowed slightly.
He looked around to make sure no passerby were coming and, seeing none, slid open the window and held out a hand to let the pigeon hop on to his hand. The bird cooed and flew from his fingers to his shoulder.
"Oh, is that you, Hibi-san?" Makoto smiled, smoothing down ruffled feathers. "I'm glad that you remember me."
The bird happily nuzzled against Makoto's tanned neck and stuck out its leg obediently for him to take the scroll off. Makoto unraveled it to reveal a message written in flowing Japanese script.
...
My Makoto,
I miss you every day that you are not with me. It pains me knowing that you are lavishing your affection upon Nanase Haruka who cannot possibly understand the significance of your existence as I do. Come back to my side soon.
Love,
Your King
...
Makoto's mouth slowly turned upwards into a smile. He touched the signature lovingly and lifted it to his lips to kiss it. "Master..." he murmured softly. "I'll be by your side soon, My King."
The pigeon made an impatient cooing noise and shook its leg more insistently. Makoto blinked and realized that there was another paper wrapped around its leg, directly under where the scroll had been. He delicately plucked it off with his forefinger and thumb, and the pigeon gave a final coo as it flew away through the open window.
Makoto unrolled the paper to read the contents...
... And his lips twitched upwards into a faint smirk.
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"The English plurals constantly change depending on the noun itself. English has many exceptions in – are you paying attention to me, Nanase-kun?" Amakata gently rapped her ruler against her pupil's knuckles. "When I am talking, you should be listening. That's a student's duty."
Haruka tore his gaze away from his study's door. For the past five minutes he had been staring at it, wishing for Makoto to walk in with some sort of magical excuse so that he could take him away to a place where they could be together in private. It would be a lot better – and fulfilling – than having to translate English sentences into Japanese.
"Nanase-kun!" Haruka quickly snapped his head around to Amakata who looked as if she were genuinely about to lose her temper. Haruka bowed his head contritely and she deflated a little. "That's better. Now, about English plurals..."
Haruka inwardly groaned as she restarted her lecture. This was going to be a long three hours.
And then Makoto – heaven-sent angel! – knocked on the door. "Lady Amakata," he called through the wood, "the Master and Mistress wish to speak to you. Could you please go meet with them?"
Amakata looked up in surprise. Hardly anyone had before interrupted her while she was teaching. "Can it not wait?" she called back.
Haruka could just imagine Makoto shaking his head behind the door. "I'm afraid not. They say that it is an urgent matter."
Amakata sighed and pushed a worksheet towards her pupil. "Fill this out. I'll be back shortly to check it," she instructed him and stood. Makoto opened the door and she stepped past him. "Thank you for delivering the message, Tachibana-kun."
"My pleasure, Milady," Makoto bowed deeply to her and waited for her to disappear down the hallway before turning to his Master. "You look tired, Master Haruka," he said cheerfully.
Haruka scowled but secretly he was happy to see him. "Come here," he beckoned his servant over. Makoto came obediently and stood by the desk. Haruka rose from his seat and placed his hands against the broad chest in front of him. He tilted his head upwards to stare directly into green eyes. "Kiss me?" he asked softly.
Makoto's eyes widened in surprise before he leaned down to brush their lips together. His master slowly closed his eyes and leaned into him, his hands sliding up from the chest to cup Makoto's face in his hands. The brunette's gloved hands were placed on his hips, slowly pulling him in closer.
Their kisses slowly grew deeper as tongues came into to play. Makoto pulled away briefly to bestow his lips upon Haruka's sensitive neck. The young master repressed a sigh of contentment and tilted his head back to give him for access.
It was times like these, Haruka mused, that he really enjoyed. The peaceful loving moments... not that he had anything against hot and heady moments where he and Makoto touched each other intimately. Speaking of which...
Makoto's hands pulled Haruka's hips closer and the dark-haired teen gave an involuntary gasp of surprise when their groins rubbed together. His hands fell from Makoto's face to his shoulders, which he grasped tightly, wrinkling the coarse fabric between his fingers. "W-Wait," he said breathily. "Amakata-sensei might come back soon..."
"I locked the door," was Makoto's answering rumble. He grinded them together, harder this time, and Haruka moaned lowly in his throat. Even so, he pushed himself away, red-cheeked and reluctant.
"Even so," he panted out, trying to ignore his half-hard erection, "we can't do this now..."
Makoto sighed, sounding very unwilling to let his Master walk away unsatisfied. "Are you sure?" he stepped forward and cupped Haruka's cock through his pants, making him hiss in surprise. "I can take care of this quickly, like before..."
The thought of another blowjob made Haruka's mind race madly and his breathing to quicken even more. "N-N-No," he stuttered and hated himself for it. Makoto looked far too smug. "We can do that... later, tonight."
"Do you promise?" Makoto teased, giving his master a kiss on the ear followed by lightly biting the cartilage and working it between his teeth. He felt Haruka shudder under his ministrations and loved every moment of it. "You'll give yourself to me tonight?"
"Y-Yes."
"All of you?"
"Eh?" Haruka blinked, not entirely sure of what 'all' meant. "I don't..."
Makoto let out another sigh, but this one sounded more on the amused side. "Well, we don't have to rush anything. You aren't quite ready for that yet," Makoto gave him another quick kiss before stepping away. "Then, Master Haruka. Will you come to my room tonight?"
"Your room?" Haruka asked in surprise. He had never gone to the servants' quarters, though he had tried once before. He knew that Makoto's room was far away from any of the other servants, due to his room being previously used as a small storage closet.
"You don't have to," Makoto said quickly, though his expression was a bit disappointed. "I just..."
Haruka gazed at his servant, who seemed to become more dispirited by the second. "I can go," he said quickly. "I'll go to Makoto's room."
When Makoto's face lit up, Haruka couldn't help but smile himself. "Thank you," Makoto whispered. "T-Then I'll fulfill my duties quickly so that I can clean my room properly for your arrival."
"I don't care about things like that."
"But I do," Makoto kissed him one last time before hurrying to leave. "I'll see you tonight, Master Haruka."
"Yeah, see you," he said without thinking. The moment Makoto was gone, his face turned scarlet and he leaned on the desk for support. What the hell? he thought to himself in bewilderment. Did I just schedule a clandestine visit with Makoto?
He sighed and remembered Amakata's worksheet, which was still sitting undone at his seat. "Damn," he muttered, "I still have to do this thing."
However, when he was about to sit down, he noticed something small and white on the ground near the door. It looked like a piece of paper, rolled into itself as if it were a scroll.
Is that Makoto's? He must have just dropped it.
He went to go pick it up and examine it. It was a very fine and heavy type of paper, the type was the used for letters. Confused, he unrolled it and read the contents.
That was where Amakata found him when she returned, staring at the short letter with his face deathly pale and hands trembling oh-so-slightly. Surprised, she pursed her lips at him. "Nanase-kun? Are you alright?"
Haruka jumped and shot a wild look at her, causing her to take a step back. "Nanase-kun?" she said, even more uncertainly.
"O-Oh, Amakata-sensei," he muttered, quickly shoving whatever he was holding into his pocket. "It's nothing."
"Really? Are you sure, Nanase-kun?"
"Yes."
"Okay then... Ah, you didn't do my worksheet at all! Honestly, Nanase-kun! Don't you know? 'Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere', a Chinese proverb! You won't get anywhere if you ignore your education, Nanase-kun!"
Haruka completely tuned her out. He had more important things to think about.
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The late night found Makoto anxiously pacing up and down the small length of his room. The only light in the room came from a small stub of a candle on his dresser which was on the verge of going out. It was well past 10 o'clock at night and Haruka had still not shown up. He sighed. Perhaps his master had gotten scared at what he had meant by 'all'? It was a moment of weakness, he couldn't help himself. Master Haruka was just too desirable for his own good.
A quiet knock sounded on his door. Eagerly, he hurried over to let in his visitor.
"Master Haruka!" he beamed. "Please, come in."
Haruka walked in quietly, hands behind his back and his face sullen and brooding. Makoto blinked and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Master Haruka?" he asked worriedly. "Is there something wrong?"
"... No," Haruka mumbled, facing the ground. "Nothing."
"Is that so..." Makoto frowned but went over to his bed to smooth out the sheets. "It may not be as comfortable as you are accustomed to, Master Haruka, but I am confident in my ability to please you thoroughly," he shot Haruka a surprisingly cocky smirk. He leaned over the dresser to blow out the candle and immersed the room in faint moonlight before he sat down on the edge. "Well then, Master Haruka, please come here," he requested, spreading his arms and knees apart.
Haruka slowly stepped forward into Makoto's embrace. One of the servant's arms went around his waist while his free hand slowly pushed up the bottom of his master's shirt. Makoto's mouth, level with Haruka's navel, nipped at the bared skin and felt it ripple with... sadness?
Immediately he halted his ministrations, though he did not stop his embrace, and peered up to his master's eyes. Though it was too dark to see his expression, he could still see a faint glimmering blue. "Master Haruka?" he questioned, the hand pushing up the shirt rubbing soothing circles on his master's abs. "As I thought, is there something wrong?"
"Nothing," Haruka replied shortly, lifting his hands to rest them on Makoto's shoulders. "You may continue," his voice was flat and toneless.
Makoto gazed at him for a while longer before sighing softly...
... And then yanking down his Master on to his bed and pinning him down.
That got a reaction. Haruka yelped in surprise and struggled against his servant's strong hands. "Makoto!"
"Ahh, that's better," Makoto smiled and leaned down to kiss Haruka's forehead. He missed in the dark and ended up kissing his hair. "I don't think you're up for it today, Master Haruka. We can stop. If you don't mind sharing the bed, we can sleep instead."
"Huh?" Haruka momentarily stopped struggling. "But don't you want to..."
"Of course I do," Makoto said softly. He leaned down even closer to rub their noses together. "But I don't want to force you into doing anything you don't want to do. If you don't feel like it, then we won't. It's as simple as that."
Haruka's throat tightened and he had to blink away a sudden bout of tears. "I – " he said faintly. "Makoto, I..."
"It's alright. You don't have to say anything," Makoto released his grip on Haruka's wrists and rolled over so that they were lying side by side. He reached for the blanket, recently washed, and pulled it over the two of them. He threw one arm around his master to spoon him from behind. "We can sleep. Good night, Master Haruka."
Makoto's eyes slid shut and just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard Haruka uncertain voice.
"Makoto... who is 'King'?"
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"It's so nice to be home," Nagisa sighed and threw himself on to the bed. "Rei-chan, come here and join me!" he called to his blue-haired servant who stood by the door.
"That would be improper, Master Nagisa," Rei pushed up his glasses and folded his arms. "Please remember that you are eating breakfast with your father tomorrow. It seems that he wishes to discuss politics with you."
"I have no interest in that stuff!" Nagisa proclaimed boldly, kicking around his feet as if in a temper. "Rei-chan, are you coming with me tomorrow? We can all eat breakfast together!"
"If it's a personal conversation between father and son, then I must decline."
"No way, Rei-chan! You should come too!" Nagisa sat up and stretched out his arms. Rei frowned at him. "Seriously, Rei-chan! You have good ideas and stuff! You should come and tell Father about them!"
"I highly doubt that the Master will want to listen to the words of a servant like me."
"He will once he understands how amazing you are, Rei-chan!" Nagisa proclaimed with his puppy dog eyes. "Also, how long are you going to leave me like this?!" he asked, his arms still outstretched and waiting.
Rei sighed and halfheartedly complied by stepping forwards. Nagisa perked up and wrapped his arms around him. Rei lightly hugged the blonde's head to himself.
"Rei-chan," Nagisa's voice was unusually soft. "Rei-chan... the 'event' is going to happen soon, isn't it?"
"... I do not know what you are talking about, Master Nagisa."
"Then I'll just keep talking!" Nagisa grinned into Rei's stomach. "Rei-chan... after the 'event', I'll probably be gone forever, won't I? So at that time... at that time, please stay here and take care of my family. I'm sure that after I disappear, as long as Rei-chan is around, they won't even notice that I'm gone."
"I highly doubt that scenario will come to pass," Rei replied. His tone was short and curt. "I do not understand why you are speaking of such things, Master Nagisa."
"Rei-chan you bully~" Nagisa giggled and continued in a singsong voice. "Rei-chan, it isn't nice to keep playing dumb. I know everything~" Nagisa tilted his head straight up to stare up at the handsome face above, unable to see his servant's eyes because of the glare. "I even know things that you don't know about, Rei-chan~"
"..." suddenly Rei's face was close, so close that Nagisa could feel every breath from each word he spoke. "Perhaps I also know things that Nagisa-kun doesn't know..."
Their lips met for barely a second before Rei was sent crashing to the floor. Nagisa, in his panic, had shoved Rei backwards as hard as he possibly could.
Rei noncommittally fixed his glasses which had been knocked askew. "... That hurt, Master Nagisa. A gentleman should act with more decorum."
Nagisa was breathing hard, tears slowly starting to well up in his eyes. "We can't! We can't do that sort of thing!" he whispered, and yet his expression showed such longing that there would be no one to believe him.
"Why is that, Master Nagisa?" Rei stood up and dusted himself off.
"Because! Because Rei-chan is my – " Nagisa cut himself off by throwing himself off to the side to bury his face in a pillow. "Forget it," he said in a muffled voice. "Just go. I'm going to sleep. Go away, Rei-chan."
"As you wish," Rei bowed courteously. Nagisa heard the door open and shut before he rolled over to lay on his back on the mattress.
"I can't," he said aloud to himself. "That sort of thing is wrong..."
A lone tear leaked down a pale cheek as quiet sobs filled the room...
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"Master Rin," Nitori poked his head into Rin's study, hiding the majority of himself behind the door. It seemed to be some sort of nervous habit for him. Even at this late hour, the redhead was working through a series of documents necessary for his business. "There is a visitor at the door. He requests to see you. It is urgent."
"Tell him to come back tomorrow. It's fucking 10 o'clock at night. I'm busy," Rin didn't even bother looking up and waved a dismissive hand. "And if he's one of Gou's suitors, tell him that the next time he comes here, he'll be hung by his balls."
"W-Well, I do think that he is interested in Lady Gou... b-but!" he added quickly as Rin's eyes shot him a murderous glare. "It seems that he is someone with authority, so we cannot refuse him."
"Hah? Authority? What kind of authority?"
Suddenly a hand appeared above Nitori's head to grasp at the door and throw it open. Squeaking in surprise, Nitori was flung forwards on the study's floor and groaned in pain.
"Ai!" Rin stood up angrily from his chair. "Who the hell are you?!"
A tall man with flaming red hair and golden eyes stood at the doorway. He wore a black uniform with golden buttons and a matching black hat. Rin vaguely remembered him from the Nanase manor as one of the many pests that had vied for Gou's attention.
There was a 9mm revolver in his belt.
Rin's hand shot towards one of his desk drawers where he himself owned a pistol for self-defense. He whipped it out and pointed it straight at the man, who got a surprised look on his face.
"Whoa there," the man held up his hands, showing that he didn't want to fight. "I'm not here for a gunfight, Lord Matsuoka. I'm merely here to ask you some questions," for the first time, Rin noticed the gold badge in shape of a distorted cherry blossom on the man's hat. He relaxed his arm but still kept it pointed and at the ready.
"What do the police want with me?" he asked warily.
The policeman grinned at him widely and walked over to the desk, in front of which there were several green velvet chairs for guests or business partners. "Let's just sit down and talk nicely, shall we?" he said with his ever present grin. He tilted his head backwards to glance at Nitori, who was still sitting on the floor. "Hey, Nitori."
"Y-Yes sir!" Nitori stood up immediately and gave him a salute. Rin blinked.
"Hey now, stand down, private," the policeman's voice sounded exceptionally amused. "Could you get us some tea? I'll probably be here for a while and I'm parched."
"Y-Yes sir!" Nitori knew from past experience to never argue with a man with a gun in his belt. He dashed out of the room as quickly as he could, his gray hair flowing backwards from the speed.
"Don't order around my servants," Rin finally put down the gun, though he didn't put it back in the designated drawer. "Well? Who are you?"
"Ah, right, right, my apologies," the man smiled. "My name is Mikoshiba Seijuurou, head of the Samezuka Police Force. I have reason to believe that you are a man of many answers," he smiled. "Plus, your sister is a real cutie. Let me go on a date with her sometime – I was kidding! I was kidding! Put down the gun, please!"
Rin glared at him evilly before relaxing his grip on the trigger. "You want answers? Who says that I even know what you want to know?"
"Well, I thought that we could start off with a few light questions! And then I would like to make a deal with you," Mikoshiba rambled amicably. "It's really beneficial to both of us if you just cooperate."
Mikoshiba's easygoing attitude made it difficult to take him seriously. "A deal? Whatever. Just ask the damn questions and then let me get back to work. I've got another stack of these to go through," he gestured to the pile of paperwork on his desk. "I promised my sister I'd take her shopping tomorrow, so pick up the pace."
"Whoo~ Can I tag along...? Geh! Alright! Alright!" he held up his hands again as Rin aimed the muzzle directly between his eyes. "Alright then, put away the gun, and then we'll talk."
The pinker-shaded redhead glared at him suspiciously before slowly tucking away the gun in its proper drawer. The moment he closed it, Mikoshiba leaned forward onto the desk on his elbows, his chin resting on the back of his entwined fingers. "Now, may I start asking you the questions?"
"Just hurry up," Rin muttered. He picked up his pen and twirled it lazily between his fingers, wondering just when he'd be able to go asleep.
"Well then, Lord Matsuoka," Mikoshiba's smile was ever-present, but there was something sinister about it.
He asked the question.
Rin dropped the pen on to floor. It cracked and the ink spilled upon the carpet like blood.
"W-What?" Rin stammered his face pale. "What did you just say?"
"Strange, didn't you hear me the first time?" Mikoshiba tilted his head in feigned innocence. "But, well, that's fine. That reaction tells me that you definitely know something."
"I don't – "
Mikoshiba smashed his fist onto the desk. The desk chair went topping backwards as Rin jerked back on to his feet in surprise from both the action and the noise the action produced. The police captain was now standing, his tall, looming figure both threatening and dangerous. Gone was his flippant aura, but his grin was still in place, terrifyingly so.
"You didn't really hear me, did you? Then I'll repeat it for you!" he said, his voice still cheerful.
Rin swallowed, his heartbeat thundering in his ears as Mikoshiba again asked the dreaded question.
"What can you tell me about the Tachibana family?"
CLIFFHANGERS EVERYWHERE, HAH! I keep deviating from what I actually plan to write, but I do like the way this chapter turned out. Though I still have a long ways to go...
An omake for Haruka's birthday will be out on the 30th. Again, send in requests or opinions and I'll do my best to adhere to them! I've already got fluff and... *whispers* bondage... Talk about two different types of fans, but I can totally do both in one chapter.
Also, I've become sad recently because I noticed that the view count of his story is steadily going down... NOOO! COME BACK! *sobs* DO YOU DISLIKE THE SLOWNESS OF THE PLOT OR SOMETHING.
