Makoto woke up warm. He felt safe. He could hear the crashing of waves nearby. The bed he was in was cozy and soft and when he opened his eyes Haru was there, pressed against him with an arm around his waist. Haru glanced down and smiled.
"Where are we?" Makoto asked, "What happened?"
"I don't know where we are. Kisumi brought us here."
Makoto looked around, taking in the white stone, open glass doors and the ocean past the swimming pool.
"This isn't Kisumi's home," he said quietly before turning back to Haru and taking his hand. "Are you okay?"
"I'm better than I've been in a long time."
Makoto sat up, "There's some things I've been wanting to say. Maybe it's from living with you as a cat for so long and learning your cat language, but I know you're still not okay. Better than you've been in a long time, I know that's not much. This, what, week? Couple of days? Months? It's been hard. I know you hold a ton of weight on your shoulders, and even with the knowledge that it's not your fault, that you did everything you could, that you don't feel better. That you blame yourself for everything that's happened to me. That a part of you does believe Rin that maybe I'd be better without you, I'd be safer, I'd be normal. But I'm alive. I'm okay and if-" Makoto blushed but held onto Haru's hands a bit tighter within his own, "You didn't get to give me your answer before Kisumi interrupted, If you'd like to stay with me I would love to make my home your home."
Haru leaned his head against Makoto's staring into Makoto's eyes and blinked slow. Makoto's ears turned red.
Late evenings after Ren and Ran would go to bed Dewdrop would come down from checking on them and sit with Makoto, curled up in his lap. One evening, many weeks after they'd found a routine, Makoto was lying on his stomach on the floor with Rei and Nagisa, doing their homework and snacking, when Dewdrop walked on top of Makoto's books. The black cat's tail swished back and forth and purred before gently tapping Makoto's cheek to catch his attention. The cat rested his head against Makoto's and looked into his eyes. Surprised by this Makoto didn't know what to do, so he stared back into Dewdrop's blue eyes for a long time until he Dewdrop began to blink slowly. Makoto mimicked the cat and after awhile Dewdrop seemed satisfied and curled up on Makoto's textbooks.
"Dewdrop's fond of you," Rei said.
"You're definably the favorite," Nagisa agreed.
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked running his fingers through Dewdrop's fur.
"Slow-blinking is considered the equivalent of kisses from a cat," Rei said pushing up his glasses.
Dewdrop would catch Makoto occasionally for cat kisses, sometimes it was how Dewdrop said hello in the morning or good night in the evening. Sometimes it was thanks if Makoto scared of the birds in the yard or made up a warm bath for him. Makoto always felt pleased, the way anyone does when a cat chooses them as their favorite.
Haru smiled, freeing one of his hands from Makoto's and sliding it into the back of Makoto's hair, arm wrapped around his neck. Makoto seemed a bit frozen, in shock, suddenly realizing that he hadn't been playing for months with a cute but aloof cat but a young man, a king had been sending him 'cat kisses' and this cat, this man, joined him in the bath tub, gave him no privacy and was now sitting in his lap, and the beating of his own heart couldn't be hidden from him.
"Makoto," Haru said, practically a purr, "I want to keep you all to myself, you are my home. Can I kiss you?"
Makoto tried to speak but found his tongue tied in knots, his heart pounding in his ears, so he blinked, slowly back at Haru who smiled. Haru looked down at Makoto and lifted his chin gently, he blinked back slowly before pressing his lips against Makoto's. He breathed in Makoto, the warmth, the smell of summer, felt his heart pounding through his chest and smiled into the kiss as Makoto's arms wrapped around him. Haru never wanted time to stop more. But too quickly he pulled away and pulled himself off of Makoto, carefully disentangling himself. The look on Makoto's face broke his heart, so he reached out and took his hand and Makoto got up and out of bed, following him.
"I can't put it off anymore. We should ask Kisumi about your family. I know you're worried."
They walked out into the hall and Makoto looked around, taking everything in for the first time. There was a soft voice echoing down the hall that opened up into a kitchen over looking a balcony dining area. Kisumi was wandering around the kitchen and talking.
"How long?"
"Mmmhmm, Can I-"
"We can't? That doesn't seem fair-"
"Oh, I see, let him sleep then."
"See you soon."
Kisumi let out a deep breath tossing the phone which was snatched out of the air by a blackish green tentacle. Haru stopped suddenly, pulling Makoto behind him. Makoto looked over the top of Haru's head as Kisumi bent down and stared at the plates before him adding minute changes before standing quickly and clapping his hands with a satisfied air.
"Haru~" Kisumi called, "No need to protect Makoto. Pufflebum and Sir Huntley Willington the third have promised to be on their very best behavior. The three of us are a little too excited to do anyone any harm, so come, eat!"
Haru frowned and walked forward carefully, looking around. Makoto followed behind him, Haru sliding in front of him if he tried to walk beside him. Makoto followed Haru out the sliding glass door onto the balcony where Kisumi set their plates and took a seat. Haru looked around uneasily before letting Makoto sit and pulling his chair somewhat closer to Makoto's, their knees touching as they sat.
"How did you sleep Makoto? You didn't bump your head when you fainted?" Kisumi asked.
"I slept okay, I'm okay. How are you Kisumi?"
Kisumi smiled and shook his head, "Stop being so sweet, formalities are unnecessary at the moment. You're putting everyone else first, so I will just skip forward to business, because I can see the worry in your eyes you're trying to hide," Kisumi turned to Haru. "Sosuke hasn't sent me the key. I'm hoping that means he's just a bit caught up with Rin and Gou and dealing the information he dropped. I hope that it doesn't mean anything else, anything more serious."
Haru nodded but frowned, sitting back in his seat, but stiffening as Kisumi reached out and took Makoto's hand.
"Kisumi," Haru growled.
"Your family is here. They are fine. The sleeping spell is harmless the way I tweaked it. I think it's timed, they will wake up, but a key will make it a lot faster. I've locked their rooms so no one can get into them. Breathe please Makoto, think of it like they're napping, or that they're on vacation. Seriously when they wake up they'll feel more rested than probably anyone else on this planet. It's now more like a spa sleep spell. The kind requested by royals all the time to feel more rested and to sleep better. All we need is for Rin, Gou, and Sosuke to sort out everything and send us the key and then this will all be over."
There was a hope in Kisumi Makoto hadn't seen in a long time. The Kisumi he knew, the one whose language and mannerisms he spoke fluently, had hope, but it was small, mostly a mask he'd created to make Makoto feel comfortable. To field off questions to hide his pain. A mask that changed subtly depending on where they were and who they were with. But sitting on the balcony under palm trees with the ocean breeze and a plate full of pancakes between them, as Kisumi held his hand and tried to stress the importance of not freaking out, Makoto saw part of the mask crack. Makoto may have fainted, he may not have known exactly where he was but he didn't forget what had happened the night before. That phone call pieced with Kisumi crying, clutching onto his shirt, his head resting between Haru's and his own as Haru tried to free himself, Hayato was coming and Kisumi was freeing himself. The process had probably started last night, bits of his shell, a nightmarish shroud he'd wrapped himself in was crumbling away.
Makoto smiled and gave Kisumi's hand a squeeze before taking his hand back. Sir Huntley Willington the third swung out over them, pouring them juice.
"Thank you Kisumi, I understand. I have to be patient, so to distract me. Tell me, when is Hayato getting here?"
Kisumi grinned, pulling his napkin from it's ring and unfolded it over his lap, "Soon. Ah but first, Haru, you have fried mackerel with bretonne sauce and Makoto you have chocolate chip pancakes with a chocolate infused maple syrup. Please eat before it gets cold."
Makoto took a bite then frowned as he looked at Kisumi who was drinking just a cup of coffee.
"Aren't you hungry Kisumi?"
"Oh no. I don't eat much remember? Plus I'd rather save any room I have in my stomach to share a meal with Hayato," Kisumi said with a smile, "Please forgive me."
"I understand," Makoto said, before going back to eating his pancakes.
"Is this really mackerel?" Haru asked, poking the food in front of him with a fork.
Kisumi laughed, "Yes, Pufflebum cooked it up earlier. I made the sauce."
"Pufflebum? Who named these monsters? And do they have to be here?"
Kisumi's smile seemed strained but resilient, "My brother named them. I'm afraid we're all just a little to excited. They'll wait inside. Actually, I will wait inside with them," Kisumi stood, pushed his chair in and held his arm out for Sir Huntley Willington the third to wrap around before shutting the sliding glass door behind them.
Makoto took a big piece of pancake and shoved it in his mouth.
After a couple bites of his mackerel Haru cursed and set his fork down and put his face in his hands.
Makoto chewed a little slower, watching him carefully.
"I'm sorry okay! It's really easy and very helpful to have someone to blame. They become the ultimate evil and it's really really hard to forgive your villains. I don't like it. I don't like this, him being human, having reasons. Reasons I understand. He's been the monster pulling my strings for ages, the one haunting the shadows. It's hard to swallow that things aren't black and white. I hate this gray world. I don't want him to be like he was when we were kids."
Makoto swallowed his food, took a sip of the juice and gently took Haru's hands in his own and pulled them from his face, "Haru" he said softly. He ran his thumbs over Haru's knuckles before interlacing their fingers. "I hope you don't expect your feelings to change so suddenly. It can be hard to give someone a second chance, and with everything you've all been through, all the time you've only had a piece of the puzzle. It takes time. You have to give yourself time Haru, it will take a long time to heal I'm sure. Just let me know if you need anything from me, I want to be here for you."
Haru sighed, took a deep breath and looked at Makoto. He leaned forward and ran his tongue slowly over Makoto's lower lip and gave him a soft kiss, "Chocolate," he said pulling away, grinning as Makoto turned red.
"Why did Pufflebum make my food?" Haru asked taking another bite.
"Ki-Kisumi doesn't work with meat. He's been vegetarian since his curse was lifted."
"Which one is Pufflebum?"
"The pig."
"It's good," Haru said taking another bite.
Makoto smiled and finished off his mound of pancakes before sitting back and look out at the ocean.
"Hey, Haru?"
"Hmmm?"
"When everyone is safe and sound, do you want to- maybe we could- go swimming together? Maybe at the water park?" Makoto asked.
Haru's eyes sparkled and he stood, "Where is it?"
Makoto grabbed his hand, "Mom and Dad would have to drive us."
Haru nodded and sat back down and finished his mackerel.
"It'll be interesting to see Hayato. Kisumi was a doting older brother, he adored Hayato. He sent strongly worded letters to my parents occasionally about how his brother shouldn't have been at the school since he'd never been taught how to swim and being surrounded by so much water must have been terrifying. My parents thought it was cute but a waste of time, so they never responded, saying it'd 'make the boy stronger'," Haru said standing and heading towards the glass door when and explosion made the house shake. Haru rushed in, keeping Makoto behind him.
Standing by the entrance near one of the fountains were two teenagers, one with gray hair and the other with fiery orange hair. The gray haired one seemed surprised and looked around wide eyed.
"Aii! Momo!" Kisumi said sliding down off the kitchen bar and rushing forward but Momo met him half way and held up his hand then motioned for Kisumi to follow them into the kitchen, leaving a small pink haired boy standing alone in the entry way. He was about as old as Ren and Ran and Makoto couldn't help himself, he crouched down and smiled at the boy.
"Hello, Hayato correct? It's nice to meet you, I'm Makoto."
Hayato walked carefully towards Makoto.
"What's going on?" Haru asked following Aii and Momo, looking out the door as Makoto and Hayato played. Hayato seemed shy but was warming up to Makoto quickly and was soon full of smiles.
"A couple things," Aii said uneasily pulling papers out of his bag that he dropped and Momo sighed scooping them up as Aii panicked.
"Simple stuff," Momo said, "We've kept him asleep, or kinda like in a magical coma for a couple odd centuries, but he's not this age, mentally. He shouldn't be this age physically. But the magic that got him stuck this way is pretty strong, we've needed family DNA to unlock a more appropriate age."
"How old?" Kisumi asked looking out as Makoto and Hayato walked towards the pool.
"Not too much older, a young teen I'd suppose. Don't worry your little brother won't be your older brother in looks."
"Did he ever learn how to swim?" Haru asked watching Makoto laugh as they played in the pool and felt an itch. It took everything to not rip off his clothes and run into the water. The water was glistening off of Makoto's body and it felt like torture not to be in the pool with him.
"No, he's been pretty quiet and easily scared since the school exploded. We weren't able to save everyone and he's seen some pretty gruesome things."
"What do you need from me?" Kisumi asked.
"Some strands of hair and some help with a spell," Aii said pulling out pots and pans in the kitchen and setting beakers and test tubes on the counter.
Hayato floated on his back, eyes shut, with Makoto's hands supporting him. After a small coaxing by Makoto he opened his eyes and saw the clear blue sky above and heard Makoto's voice, a sound of congratulations as his limbs moved through the water like the silk he'd been use to as a child.
"See? Floating is easy," Makoto said treading water in the deep end.
Hayato nodded and mimicked Makoto with fierce determination treading the water.
"Careful, don't wear yourself out," Makoto said, smiling, "You don't have to run a marathon to stay up."
"Makoto?" Hayato managed, sinking a bit then rushing back to the surface.
"Yes?"
"You said you had siblings my age?"
"Yeah, Ren and Ran. I taught them how to swim too."
"Kisumi planned to teach me, but it didn't work out, I got sent away first."
"It's never too late to learn."
"I see that, thank you Makoto. You're good at this."
Makoto swam over to the edge of the pool and sat on the steps, looking worriedly towards the kitchen. The whole morning had passed and the earlier part of the afternoon and he still hadn't seen Kisumi or Haru emerge from the kitchen. He hoped they weren't fighting.
Hayato floated onto his back, making his way to the shallow end to sit next to Makoto.
"Kisumi is here right?" Hayato asked.
"Yes, I'm not sure what the hold up is though," Makoto answered.
"Is he okay?"
"I think so. He's getting better. He's really excited to see you,"
Hayato tilted his head and stared at Makoto and frowned sadly, "But he's not the one you're in love with is he?"
"What?" Makoto asked looking at Hayato in surprise, turning bright red.
"It would have been nice. I like you. You're kind."
"H-Hayato?"
Hayato giggled watching Makoto's face turn bright red and it spread down his chest and neck.
"Sorry, maybe you didn't know you were in love. It happens. Magic was pretty steady in my family and romance was our specialty. Or love I suppose. Even the least magical of anyone in our family can still tell by looking if someone is in love, broken hearted, or anything else within the scale of love and romance. Your smitten. My brother is great at it, his branches off more than just emotion, he can tell how people feel about each other and either diffuse a situation with utter ease or say the right things to set people off. It got him into trouble a lot. I'm not comfortable around a lot of people because of it. I don't like knowing whose with who. It was horrid at masquerades, being introduced to kings and queens and then getting confused because I knew they were in love with other people, sleeping with other people. It's why I spent all my time with animals. It's different with them, instead I can see if they're in pain or sad, and I can help."
"Like Pufflebum and Sir Huntley Willington the third."
"Kisumi mentioned them? I've missed them so much. I made new friends at the academy. I'd run away at night because the headmaster would give us the worst look once the teachers went home. It was better to not be there. I ended up finding this old turtle one night on the beach trying to snap away birds that were swooping down. I helped shoo them away and then watched baby sea turtles make their way out of the sand and to the ocean. The old turtle was injured and I spent most of the night sneaking in and out of the school to heal him. I also met whales and crabs and every night would rescue beached jellyfish. I got stung so many times until I found gloves. One evening after getting all the jellyfish up that old turtle crawled onto the beach. I left him alone but he followed me around the beach. Until I stopped and sat down and I was so surprised when he spoke.
"Did you know that some marine animals can talk? Apparently he use to be king and his people lived alongside the sea but a mishap with a spell turned them into creatures of the ocean and they spent their time trying to protect their newfound friends. He told me about the war that had broken out, the winged people of the woods kept in touch with them and spread news and the local gossip. He told me that the war wasn't going well on any side and many innocent people were getting caught in the fray. I panicked because it was near the time of year where my parents would journey out of the mountains to visit me and the sea turtle king seemed to catch my look and looked away before confirming my fears. He told me about an overheard plot to come to the isle and raze it to the ground. He gave me the schedule and a plan to save everyone.
"I told everyone, but- but the teachers, the headmaster, they didn't believe me. I ran and told the wizards of the isle, and they- they rushed back with me and it was too late. They were already there and all that time I'd wasted trying to convince people, to make my case, it was time wasted and so many people died. Out of a couple thousand students we only managed to rescue 20. Makoto, I know Kisumi's been through a lot. But I know my brother, I know the story. I know it wasn't his fault. I- I could have saved them, do you think, do you think he'll forgive me? When I could have saved people while he couldn't and I let them slip through my fingers?" Hayato asked holding his arms and looking at Makoto with big haunted blue eyes.
"Oh Hayato, it's not your fault." Makoto said pulling into a hug, "Don't compare your tragedies, without you no one would have survived."
There was an explosion in the kitchen and Makoto looked over, he ruffled Hayato's hair.
"Kisumi loves you, nothing will ever change that, Hayato," Makoto said turning back.
In his arms was a teen looking up at him with tearful blue eyes.
"H-Hayato?!" Makoto asked uneasily.
"Huh? Makoto, what's wrong?" Hayato asked, his voice lower, he turned to look in the still water that Makoto was pointing at. Hayato stared for a moment, squinting, then his eyes widened and he looked at Makoto with a grin then threw his arms around Makoto.
"Oh! They said they had a surprise! I didn't know they could do it! I'm not stuck looking like a kid anymore!" Hayato said laughing happily.
Makoto heard running footsteps on the stone floors and turned to see Kisumi rushing towards them followed by Haru who was frowning. Kisumi rushed into the pool hugging Makoto and Hayato, his shoes and clothes getting wet. Hayato was crying but he was smiling and so was Kisumi and Makoto was stuck in the middle.
Hayato looked from Kisumi to Makoto, "I'm sorry Kisumi," he murmured.
Kisumi laughed in surprise, "Don't worry about me. Oh Hayato, I'm so happy to see you, I- I can't believed it! There's so much I want to show you."
Hayato nodded, stared into Kisumi's eyes then looked at Makoto, "Thank you again Makoto."
"We'll see you later Makoto," Kisumi said.
The both turned and kissed Makoto on the cheek before Kisumi and Hayato stood and headed inside, Kisumi calling up out to Pufflebum and Sir Huntley Willington the third who rushed through the halls and followed after them excitedly, Sir Huntley Willington the third wrapping himself around Hayato and chirping happily.
The world went dark as something slapped into Makoto's face, he pulled it away, revealing a shirt and saw Haru swimming around with a look of peace on his face. Makoto smiled and watched him for awhile before swimming towards him. Haru dived underwater and Makoto treaded water, waiting, when he felt a hand pull him down and Makoto met Haru's eyes under the surface, the world was quiet. Haru smiled moving closer to Makoto, cupping the side of Makoto's face and pulling him into a kiss.