Aqua

Summary: AU. In the year of 2068, science is at its finest. With the technology they have now, it was possible to finally get to the bottom of the ocean without the weight of it crushing down on them- but they never expected the mythical creature known as a mermaid to actually exist. RinHaru.

A/N: Thank you to- onlyoneperson, Aetoii, Clarity in Scarlet, Ultravioletlex, Myanya, shards of a sonata, guest, of fan and fic- for reviewing the last chapter. Why am I not responding to the reviews? Well, I've already tried do, several times, but my computer keeps closing off the webpage for no apparent reason and I got annoyed with having to write the same things over and over-

But don't worry, I'll respond to all your reviews through PM (eventually). Sorry Guest, I can't actually respond through PM to you, but thank you so much for taking the time to Review :)

Be warned, this chapter could have been a lot better than what it is, but I've been horribly ill these past few days. Not been thinking straight. Anyway, enjoy~

Chapter Six

Haruka's eyes fluttered open, a soft gasp escaping him before he looked around, eyes hazy before they found Rin sitting beside him, softening when he noticed the other male was sound asleep, a blanket wrapped around him.

He continued to stare at Rin for some time, before he noticed that his head was laying on something soft and something light was covering him before he glanced down. He was tucked up in blankets himself, his blue eyes staring at the white material before he reached down and pulled it off.

His eyes were focused on the bandages covering his legs- all he wanted to do was rip the things off, but he knew that probably wasn't a good idea. He sighed before he looked up, pausing before trying to figure out where he was.

It was a bedroom. With hardly anything in it.

In fact... it reminded him of Rin's bedroom. From years ago.

… It wasn't actually Rin's bedroom, was it?

He up, wincing slightly before he paused, feeling the room spin slightly- but before he fell over he felt Rin's arm around his waist and a glass of water pressed against his lips.

"Idiot. You should have woke me up first," Haru didn't even respond to it, his eyes too focused on the glass of water under his nose before his mouth opened up. "You need to-"

Rin stopped talking as he stared at Haru's face, which looked blissful as he drank the water out of the glass, eyes closed. He couldn't help but watch- when he was younger, he knew Haru loved water, but he had never seen such a blissful expression on his face before.

It just showed that Haru really needed water.

Rin kept his arm round the other's waist, watching as all the water was quickly drank before Haru leaned back, opening his eyes again.

"...Is this your bedroom?" Haru asked slowly, looking around it once more. "It looks like it..."

Rin nodded his head and glanced around himself, yet there wasn't really much to see, at all.

"Why am I here?" Rin blinked before he sighed and rubbed his head.

"It's not as if we could take you back to the Research Clinic, so the old man permitted me to bring you here," he then closed his eyes. "And really, your appearance is like anyone elses, it's not as if I have anything to hide."

Haru blinked before he nodded his head, his mood lifting a bit before he looked at Rin with his soft blue eyes.

"Can I have fish?"

Free! Iwatobi Swim Club

It was a strange feeling. Walking beside Haru after all these years. This time, however, was different.

This time he was holding onto Haru's arm as he walked very slowly, seemingly unsure about taking steps forward. People looked at them in the street- but Rin didn't care and Haru didn't even notice. People just found it a bit strange that someone like Haru, who looked to have the body of someone who worked out every day, was struggling to walk.

The things they didn't know.

"You're doing good," Rin said, noticing the look of frustration crossing Haru's face. "You'll get the hang of it soon enough."

Rin's eyes then trailed down to Haru's legs, staring at the bandages. No matter how much he tried to make Haru stay in bed, the black-haired male wanted to see the ocean. Badly. He eventually gave in to him and was now helping him along.

Considering how injured Haru was, he was doing a pretty good job at walking. It wasn't long before they reached the beach, Rin watching as he saw Haru's eyes light up at the sight of the ocean. He actually his to increase his grip on Haru to make sure he didn't try and jump in it like the last time.

But Rin didn't know what Haru was really thinking.

Haru, as much as he loved it, didn't want to get too close right now. He was afraid that those hands would reach up and try to pull him under again. Far, far away from Rin. Haru was sure that if he was dragged down again, he wouldn't manage to get close to the surface again.

So he stared at it from where he stood in the sand, before closing his eyes and somewhat leaning on Rin as his legs got sore.

"See, I told you coming out was a bad idea," Rin spoke, Haru looking up at him questioningly. "You're hurting your legs."

"They'll heal quickly in water," Haruka then shrugged. "But I'm not going into the ocean."

"What was the point of us coming here then?"

"To look at it."

Rin merely rubbed his head before he turned.

"Lets go back, you can take a bath," Haru nodded before turning with him, still gripping onto Rin's arm tightly.

Little did they know a few people sitting on the ocean walls were watching them, their hoods covering their faces. The instant they left, one of them got up and followed, just from a far distance.

Free! Iwatobi Swim Club

Whilst Haruka was relaxing in the bath, Rin couldn't believe that the water was actually healing the cuts and gashes up to a point that they were almost gone. He then looked up at Haru, mentally telling himself he needed to get the other male his own swimsuit- not that he minded Haru wearing his ones, but he needed his.

He sat against the tub, checking the messages on his phone, only to get irked with the amount he had from the old man.

That stupid old man didn't even know how to use a phone. The amount of messages he had were because the old man had fragmented all his messages.
He should have gave him his email. That would have been so much easier.

"Rin?"

"Hm?" Rin looked up and then to the side, noticing Haruka's arms were leaning on the side of the tub as he looked at him.

"Are you okay? You were acting funny while we were at the beach."

"Was I?"

Haru nodded. Although he didn't do anything that would give off something was bothering him, Haru could feel something was up with him. But he didn't bother saying anything until it got to a point he had to ask.

Rin, in response, merely shrugged before looking back at his phone.

"It was nothing."

Deep inside, Rin dreaded having Haruka near the ocean now. He didn't want to risk Haru disappearing on him for years on end again. In a way, the ocean was like a cursed person that took Haru away from him.

Haru closed his eyes and relaxed before mumbling softly, but the words weren't coherent to be understood. Rin leaned back and sighed before he patted Haruka's hand.

"Don't you think it's time to come out now?"

"No."

And at that, Rin couldn't help but burst out laughing.