Hey guys! I'm having a Christmas fanfic giveaway on my FB! On my profile there is a link to my FB. Find the post about the fanfic and comment to participate!

And I forgot to mention in the last chapter that I made a little timeskip. So this is a few weeks later!

Hope you enjoy!

...

Racing through the tunnels, the subway made its way to its end destination. The final stop for the evening as it would settle for the night. The carriage was almost empty, a few people spread out over the empty seats. Rin was one of them, sitting lazily in the aisle seat as he stared at his reflection in the window. Music was blasting through his headphones, keeping his mind off of things for the time being. His bag was posed on the seat beside him, steading bumping along with the subway's movements.

The next stop was announced through the speakers, a few passengers perking up as they noticed they had to get out. Rin hadn't heard, but got up with them, knowing exactly where he had to get out. He had counted the stops, looked at the window to see the signs of the previous stations to make sure he was almost there.

Casually he flung his bag over his shoulder, stepping around a woman who didn't feel like getting out of the way. The doors automatically opened, letting a few people off. Only one or two got on at this point, the subway getting emptier and emptier with each station. Rin was one of the ones that got off, instantly aiming for the exit as the well light station guided him through. His eyes peeked up at the clock, squinting to see the time properly. It was late, but not too late. Ten at night was not a time everyone was in bed yet, but a time people wanted to go home, especially on a Sunday evening.

Rin scanned his ticket at the small gates, the gates opening as he pushed through and got up the stairs. The cold evening air surprised Rin a bit as he got out the station, tugging his jacket higher up to his chin to keep warm. He hadn't noticed how cold it had gotten before. But his journey had been a long one and it had gone by without him really realising.

Looking left and right Rin figured out which direction to go, keeping a steady pace to get out of the cold quickly. Grabbing his phone of his jeans' pocket he checked the address once more, Google Maps showing him exactly how to walk there. It was a short walk. He would be there in five minutes now. He clacked his tongue when he saw he had not received any new messages, slightly irritated no one had bothered to text. But it was not as if he had kept others up to speed either, so it was expected he hadn't gotten any new replies. No one really knew what was going on anyway. Not even Rin.

Standing by the traffic light Rin waited a few seconds, but then couldn't be bothered waiting on it to change colour. He crossed the street after looking left and right, making sure no car was coming. A car ended up honking at him. They always drove too fast in these parts of town. Especially at hours like these. But it was Rin's fault for crossing already. A bad habit he had picked up.

Stuffing his hands in his coat's pockets, he tried to keep them warm as another cold breeze swept through the streets. Rin cursed under his breath, growing more irritated by the second. Why did he have to come here again at this hour? What was the sole reason of this? Of course he had made the choice to come here, but he was sincerely doubting his objections now. Was it honestly worth it to fly all the way to Japan, get here in the dead of night, and be cold? Australia was much better. Rin didn't need a jacket there when he went outside.

Yes, Rin was moping, and whining, and had no real reason to be annoyed. It was his way of coping. To him there was no other way to deal with this than get angry at the others. While of course he personally was to blame. No one had forced him to get on that plane. Makoto had only told him to come home, and Rin had returned home after their conversation. He had gone to his apartment, had taken off his shoes, and had settled into bed. With his laptop to book a flight for the very next day. For a while he blamed the alcohol he had consumed, his brain still fuzzy at that point. But he had not cancelled when he had woken up sober. And he had made the journey here without ever having another drink to blame it on. Rin had gotten here on his own accord.

Turning the corner Rin reached the final street he had to pass through, the building he needed to go to already forming somewhere in the distance. Rin took a shaky breath, the reality of it all really sinking in now. He was in Japan, and he was about to see his friends again. The friends he had not spoken to in weeks. The friends that had seen sides of him he never had wanted to show them. The friends he had seen sides of he never had wanted to see. How would their first encounter be? Could they even look each other in the eye?

The doors slid open in front of him as someone went out, giving him instant access to the building. At least he didn't have to call up and announce his arrival. Now they all still had some time to prepare, or at least Rin did. Slowly pushing himself up the stairs, Rin tried to delay the next moment for as long as he could. His fast pace had diminished as he moved through the hallway as he had reached the right floor. And as he stood in front of the correct door, Makoto's last name flashing on a sign beside it, Rin hesitated. With his fist raised in the air he waited on something. A sign for him to go through with this. But who was going to give him that?

Closing his eyes, he sucked in a deep breath, letting it rest in his chest for a moment to calm his nerves. As he exhaled Rin knocked on the door, slowly opening his eyes as he heard movement coming from the apartment.

The door was opened and Rin was met with a familiar pair of teal coloured eyes, sharp eyebrows scrunched up in confusion as he stared at Rin in the doorway. "Rin?"

"H-hey." He wasn't able to keep his voice steady. Not with seeing Sousuke again after such a long time. And yes, it was weird, and slightly uncomfortable, but Rin couldn't deny the happiness blooming inside his chest, it far outweighing any of the negative feelings he had. This was his best friend, and he was close enough to touch. Rin didn't reach out though.

Sousuke opened the door further, silently giving Rin permission to enter, even if this wasn't Sousuke's apartment. The Beta kept staring at him, confused as to why Rin was here to begin with. It seemed no words were shared over what had occurred the night before. What Rin and Makoto had spoken of. Maybe it was for the best.

For now Rin couldn't bring himself to step inside Makoto's apartment, standing right at the edge of the doorway as he let his eyes wander through the room. Seeing the small living room he faintly remembered from their skype call, attached to that the kitchen, where he found Makoto leaning back against the island. His green eyes were blown wide as he looked back at Rin, several emotions running through their depths, Rin unable to grasp any of them as they passed by over and over again. It was odd seeing the Alpha again in his full glory, but not seeing any of the Alpha features. Nothing about Makoto screamed dominance. Nothing about him said he wanted Rin down on his knees. A stereotype Rin hadn't been able to shake.

Letting a tiny smile form on his lips he greeted Makoto too, hoping it would take away some of the awkward mood that had enveloped them all. "Hey," he said softly as he finally stepped inside the apartment, only to step dead in his tracks again.

He hadn't really noticed before, far too occupied with the situation. But now that he was inside the apartment, really inside, he could no longer ignore the strong smell that lingered around him. The musky scent forced its way up his nostrils, invading his lungs as it settled deep inside his body. He could taste it on his tongue, the bitterness sending a shiver over his spine. He had forgotten about the effect Makoto had on him, completely forgotten. But now it all came rushing back…

"Fuck!" he cursed loudly, putting a hand over his nose and mouth as if to prevent the smell from going through. But it was far too late for that. His eyes started to water as his mind tried to figure out how to respond to it.

Out of the corner of his eyes Rin could see Makoto wanting to push off the counter and come to Rin's aide, but eventually decided against it. With worry in his gaze Makoto stated rooted in his place, finding it the safest. Sousuke on the other hand did step closer, putting a hand on Rin's shoulder as some kind of comfort as he looked his friend over. The pressure there had been before when smelling Makoto was not really there anymore, and everyone was reacting differently. It was odd, but also nice to notice Rin didn't have to be frightened anymore of what might happen.

"Damn, I forgot how strong you smelled," Rin commented, trying to make the mood a bit lighter again. He grinned at both Makoto and Sousuke, easing their nerves slightly as well. "I can handle it, but I will stay here for a while and not get too close yet, if you don't mind." Because even if it wasn't as bad, Rin did want to protect himself and somewhere he didn't fully trust himself either around Makoto. Not after what had happened before. "Do… Do you smell me too?" he dared to ask, grin fading as he stared up at Makoto out of the corner of his eyes.

Makoto nodded shortly, mouth opening to say something, but closing again as he decided against it. But it was enough of an answer for Rin. It was smart for Rin to stay out of Makoto's way for now, until they at least got used to each other. Rin was really happy now that Sousuke wasn't an Alpha. He couldn't imagine going through the same thing with his best friend.

Feeling the mood change again to something awkward, Rin was about to open his mouth and make some light conversation. But right at that moment the door opened, letting none other than the other Omega in. Rin wasn't sure if they had left the door open, or if Haru now had a key to Makoto's apartment to get in.

Haru walked in as if he belonged there, crossing his arms as he glanced through the apartment, holding Rin's gaze in the end. "Hey, Rin," he murmured, tone as monotone as Rin remembered.

"Hey," Rin replied, grin forming back on his lips. Hopefully now that Haru had come in, the others wouldn't be as awkward anymore. Not that Haru was the light of the party, but people tended to feel comfortable around him. Especially Makoto should feel better now that his best friend, or lover was here. Rin still wasn't sure what they were at this point, and was highly curious, but also dreaded the answer. "So how have you all been? Plans to move in together?" he asked nonchalantly, or at least hoping it came across that way.

"Sousuke already lives here, but they won't allow me to join them," Haru answered, giving the Beta a pointed look.

"I don't live here," Sousuke said, shooting a confused glance over at Makoto, who still kept silent on his side of the room.

Cocking his head to the side Haru studied Sousuke for a moment, and then kicked right in again. "You are always here though. When do you even sleep at your own place?"

Rin followed the conversation as Haru and Sousuke shot things back and forth, one denying everything and the other throwing in arguments that disproved the first's statements. There was still friction between the two, but there was also something quite warming about how they argued. Still this got them nowhere and Rin hadn't received a straight answer yet. "So… what? Are you guys together or not? I mean you all kissed already from what I've heard and… saw. There must be something going on, right? And wouldn't be a good next move be to move in together." Quite the faulty logic since Rin had no desire to move in with the people he had kissed so far. No desire at all.

"You know about that?" Sousuke asked surprised, worry shimmering in his teal eyes.

Rin merely raised an eyebrow, not wanting to make a fuss over it, even if it did sting a bit now that he had the confirmation from the second person. "Yeah, Haru told me. So to me it only makes sense something should happen, right?" He was pushing them towards an answer now, because he needed to know, badly. They could keep up with this denial thing, but in the end they did need to come up with a solution. And Rin was going to force them to come to one.

"Then what about you?" Haru fired back.

"What about me?" Rin returned, not letting Haru get to him yet. This was not about him, this was about them. They were the ones in denial. The fact that Rin had gotten here to see what else could happen, with him included, was something he had stuffed far away in his brain at this point. "I didn't kiss any of you, remember?"

Haru didn't say anything straight away, but his eyes had widened as he glanced over Rin's shoulder, and when Rin followed his gaze, he saw something that shocked him right to the core. Here Sousuke was, leaning in closer and closer, slowly closing his eyes as he was a mere inch away from Rin's face. Rin could feel his warm breath fanning over his skin, noses bumping into each other lightly. One more second and they would be kissing. Rin was torn between stepping away and closing the distance himself, the desire to feel his best friend's lips on his own suddenly growing and growing. He wanted it, wanted to feel them move softly on his own. Erase every memory all the previous kisses had left behind.

Before that one second passed, Sousuke suddenly moved away from Rin, and as Rin opened his eyes fully again, he noticed it was not by choice.

"You do not kiss him!"

Right in front of him stood Makoto, teeth bared and a fire burning in those vibrant green eyes. His fists were balled, ready to throw in a punch if needed. Everything about his stance screamed aggression. He would do anything to keep Sousuke away from Rin. His voice had deepened, darkened, a tone Rin hadn't heard before, and it seeped into his skin so deliciously he couldn't stop himself from shivering.

"You do not touch him."