Love will find a Way

Haruka was sprawled on top of his bed. He had been relaxed ever since Rose had come over. She had immediately comforted him and given him the courage he needed. She told him that Makoto was still in love with him and that had almost brought him to tears. He had known of course, but to hear it was the reassurance he had been craving for.

When Rose entered Haruka's room he couldn't help but stare at her. He had never noticed it before but she had a tattoo on her right hipbone. He could count three small stars but somehow he knew that there were more but they were hidden by the blue shorts she was wearing.

"I never knew you had that," He pointed vaguely at the tattoo. Somehow he wondered why she had gotten something like that in the first place. Haruka couldn't imagine that he would ever get one. It seemed like something that hurt and it was for forever, what if you didn't like it anymore after a few years?

"Oh that, I actually have several," Rose smiled a warm smile before sitting on the bed next to the sprawled raven-haired male.

Haruka furrowed his brows, she had more than one? He could hardly believe that a cute girl like Rose would sport several drawings on her beautiful body.

"So you've obviously seen the stars already, I also have one on my ribs, that was the most painful one." Rose lifted her tank top to show Haruka her other tattoo and the raven-haired male could only gape. It was situated just below her left breast and Haruka tilted his head to check out all the details. It were two small swallows with a small rose in their beaks. Haruka thought it was beautiful and he was sure the tattoo had some sort of meaning but he was afraid to ask.

"It's beautiful," Haruka mused and he bit his lip. He wondered whether he could ask Rose if he could touch it. He didn't know people that had tattoos so it was his first time to see one up close.

"Why are you biting your lip?" Rose asked while laughing softly.

"I was uh, wondering whether I could uh,…"

"Yeah you're allowed to touch it," Rose finished his sentence and her chest rose and fell as she laughed.

Haruka brushed his fingers over the two birds and he smiled a small smile.

"Satisfied?" Rose mused as she pulled her tank top back down. She hugged her knees to her chest and glanced at the raven-haired male. Haruka nodded and smiled back at her.

"Do you have any other ones?" He asked with a shimmer of curiosity in his eyes.

"I have one more actually, but I'll show you that one some other time okay?" Rose said gently as he rocked softly back and forwards.

"Okay," Haruka replied as he closed his eyes. He was content with having Rose next to him. She wasn't the same as Makoto but somehow she comforted him greatly during this tough time. He was looking forward to tomorrow because he would finally be able to spend some alone time with the olive-haired male. He hoped that Makoto would be in a cheery mood, just like before. He had hated it when Makoto was cold and distant, that demeanour just didn't fit him properly.

"Shall we get some sleep then?" Rose pulled Haruka from his daydream and the raven-haired male nodded. She let herself fall backwards and sighed contently. It had been a very long time since she had slept with someone beside her.

Haruka snuggled up close to Rose and he could feel her stiffen before she draped her arm around him.

"Goodnight," she whispered as she turned off the small light next to the bed.

"Night," he whispered back.

The day had been a really long drag for Haruka. He had been high on ecstasy with every hour that passed. However, he was also nervous because tonight would be important and what if he screwed up royally? Rose had been nudging him all day and soothing him with the fact that everything would be okay but Haruka felt a nervous twitch every time he looked at Makoto.

"Nanase Haruka! If you don't calm down I'm going to kick you," Rose said playfully as she whacked him on the head lightly. Her face was graced with a bright smile and Haruka shook his head in exasperation. He hadn't just been making himself crazy but those around him as well. He glanced at the clock and he found that the last five minutes of the lesson were really ticking by too slowly. He stared down at the English sentences that he had to translate and he crinkled his nose out of boredom. He didn't like English and he thought it was way too much effort to learn the language. He picked up his pencil and tried to complete the exercise but his focus was off as usual, even more so than on other days. It was Friday after all and that last period of the day was always one too many. Just when he had formed the sentence he needed in his head, the bell rung loudly and he swept the books off of his table. The school day was over and he was glad. The teacher bid them all a nice weekend and Haruka nervously hopped on his feet as he waited for Rose to pack up her things. Haruka had asked her to join him as he got ready because he wanted some advice on his clothing. Rose had tried to tell him that he would look good no matter what but Haruka had insisted on it.

"I'll see you at seven then?"

Haruka was startled and he looked up to see Makoto smile at him. The raven-haired male blinked his eyes a few times because he wasn't used to the fact anymore that Makoto talked to him in school.

"Sure, I uh…" Haruka nervously fidgeted with his fingers.

"I'm looking forward to it too," Makoto finished his sentence and smiled another breath-taking smile before leaving the classroom. Haruka was dumbstruck as he stared at the door the olive-haired male just walked out of.

"Come on love-fool, let's get going," Rose dragged the still flustered raven-haired male out of the room.

Rose was sitting on the bed trying to catch her breath. Haruka had made her laugh so many times that her stomach actually hurt.

"You're such an idiot," she said while hiccupping.

"Don't mock me," Haruka said while trying to sound upset even though he failed miserably.

"Don't be so stupid then," Rose said while flopping down on the bed and clutching her heaving chest. She tried to regain a normal composure but Haruka was being so idiotic and his deadpan reactions didn't exactly help. Rose sat up and walked over to his closet. In a few minutes she had picked out the perfect outfit and when Haruka went to grab his swimming pants, the girl was gaping.

"What are you doing?" she asked with a horrified expression.

"I'm wearing them," the raven-haired male looked at the girl with a serious expression and all Rose could do was gape. If she gaped long enough Haruka might even grow a tail and two horns.

"Why?" she managed to ask while still staring with wide and alarmed eyes. Why would anyone want to wear swimming pants when they're not even going to swim. It was true that she did include a certain mass of water in their date but it was just meant to set a nice décor and nothing more.

"Because they're my lucky pair and I want to wear them."

Rose blinked as she tried to fit lucky and swimming pants into one sentence and she burst out into another fit of laughter. Haruka simply rolled his eyes and walked out of the bedroom. He guessed that she would never understand that part of him…

Haruka took a deep breath before opening his front door. When he saw the olive-haired male standing in front of him, Haruka had trouble containing himself. He just wanted to throw himself at him and hug him until the night made way for the upcoming day.

Haruka could feel Rose nudge his back and he glanced backward. She winked at him and gave him a reassuring squeeze in the side. Haruka turned his head back towards Makoto and glanced at him.

"Shall we get going?" He asked softly and Makoto simply nodded. Rose winked at Makoto as well and the two set off. They knew they had to head towards the beach first, Rose had gone all the way to set up the perfect date and all they had to do was follow the guidelines Rose had given Haruka before they'd left.

The walk towards the beach was silent but it was a comfortable kind of silence. Their hands would sometimes brush against each other and it made Haruka blush slightly each and every time. When they reached the beach Haruka could hear Makoto gasp softly. Rose had set up a pick-nick blanket with a matching basket filled with yummy foods and the scene just looked beautiful.

The sun was setting as the boys sat down to enjoy the goods that were left for them. When Makoto rummaged through the basket he stumbled upon a picture of him and Haruka. The sweet memory that the picture produced, ran through his mind.

"Do you remember that time we went to that new swimming park with Nagisa and Rei?" He gazed at Haruka and he was glad to see that the raven-haired male did remember that very vividly.

"Yeah, you almost broke your nose," Haruka tried his best not to laugh at his friends expense. He had been worried sick but they still managed to have a very nice day.

"We were just together then," Makoto stared out towards the sea, the breeze gently sweeping his bangs in front of his beautiful green gems.

"Yeah, everything was still simple back then," Haruka cast his eyes down, afraid to break at the memory.

The two boys glanced at each other and their eyes sparkled when they met. They had to miss each other for a few days now and enough was enough. They needed each other even though they had some obvious problems between them. Haruka was glad that Makoto would finally look at him, he deserved to be looked at.

"What do you love about me?" Makoto blurted out and the moment he realised what he said, he could feel his cheeks heat up.

Haruka simply gazed at the olive-haired male and Makoto could see him thinking all kinds of things. Whenever Haruka was in deep thought, his nose would crinkle slightly. Makoto used to take note of every little thing that changed in Haruka's expression. Since it hardly happened it was oh so special when something did change from his usual flat and uninterested expression.

"Well, I love the fact that you're so strong, you've always protected me even when you were scared yourself. I kind of like the fact that you're a scaredy cat from time to time, gives me the chance to protect you." Haruka's voice was soft but a touch of love lingered in his soothing voice. Makoto's shivered when he listened to Haruka. He wondered how he was able to survive without him for so long.

Haruka cast his eyes down at his own shivering hands and he wondered why he wasn't wearing their rings. He started to feel uneasy because he was certain that he didn't take them off. He tried his best to hide his worry and he smiled a small and shy smile at Makoto.

"You're wonderful," Makoto whispered as he took one of Haruka's hands in his own. It was a small gesture but it sent sparks through the both of them.

The breeze picked up and Haruka shivered a little. It wasn't particularly cold but it wasn't that warm either. He looked up when he saw that Makoto put his jacket around his shoulders. Makoto's scent immediately filled Haruka's nose and his mind went hazy. The scent was so familiar and the fact that he had to miss it hurt the raven-haired male.

"Shall we get going again, I think we're supposed to go to the pool at school next," Makoto said while picking up the note that Rose had left behind for them in the basket. Haruka nodded and he refused to release Makoto's hand. He was able to hold it now and he would never let it go again.

When they arrived at the pool, it was Haruka's turn to gasp. The pool was lit up with small candles and since it was already getting quite dark, it was just beautiful. Haruka had to resist the urge to dive in because he knew that Makoto still wasn't able to swim. When Haruka looked over to his left he saw a blue tent and he chuckled. It meant that they'd have to sleep together tonight, that is… if Makoto wanted to as well.

"Haru, look!" Makoto exclaimed and he smiled broadly at Haruka. The raven-haired male was already glad that Makoto called him 'Haru' again but that smile almost made his heart flutter away into the night. The raven-haired male collected his thoughts and smiled broadly at the candles in front of the pool. They were fitted to form a huge heart and in the middle there was something twinkling and Haruka immediately knew what it was. They stepped towards the heart together and Haruka released Makoto's hand to pick up the two rings. Haruka shook his head as he realised that Rose must've stolen them last night when he was asleep.

He toyed with them in his hands for a few seconds before locking his gaze with Makoto's.

"My dear Makoto, I know that I've made a lot of promises since we've been together. I didn't always keep them and I'm very sorry for that. I hope that one day you can forgive you because there's only one person that has my heart. I know I said that I didn't love you but I was wrong, so so wrong. I do love you and I hope that you will let me love you because you're the only one I want to be with…" Haruka slipped the ring on Makoto's finger and the olive-haired male stole the other ring from Haruka's hands.

"My dear Haru, everybody knows that I was such a fool to ever let go of you. I know I said that we would be better off alone. I know I broke your heart but I didn't mean to. I didn't know what had gotten into me but I now know that is not what I want. I don't want us to be apart anymore, I cannot stand to be separated from you. So if you'll let me, I'd like to be with you…"

Tears were cascading down Makoto's cheeks as he gazed at the raven-haired male through blurry eyes.

Haruka shuffled closer towards Makoto and he kissed away every single tear.

"Let me be the one that catches all of your tears…"

Small A/N: Hope you enjoyed another longer chapter of this story :) I'll see you all on Wednesday since I'll be off to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday tomorrow :)

PPS: Because of my obvious and extremely annoying insomnia, I've come up with another story, similar to the Slumber Party one (Crazy/funny/deranged/) so be on the lookout for that since that will come out in a few days I think. I'm going to kill myself with three active stories but I'll do my best to manage :) It'll feature the four lovely Iwatobi boys + Rin/Nitori and there will be an added extra but I won't say what/who that'll be :)

Thanks for reading!