A/n: Warning, this chapter is slightly over the top... I wrote it over a month back and was probably not in a very good mood so, I myself am surprised about how much drama is in this hahaha... -looks away nervously-

Well as an excuse, here's a kind of prologue to the chapter:

Makoto was physically and mentally exhausted. The thing between Rin and Haru had already caused him to feel like an awkward bystander, but the thing with Rin and Kou had effected him more. He was still tired from the over working from the previous day and all the events that followed had left him in a bad mood. Plus the lack of sleep, his nerves, insecurities and frustrations breathing down his neck. So he felt himself snap. He had a feeling of impending doom, but he was too irritated to do something about it. He wasn't sure he could keep his emotions under check much longer.

Yeah well, there's more Haru in this chapter but it's extremely short and I apologize because I didn't have the time to re-write it. I apologize for any OOCness right now before you guys shoot me.. -hides-

Chapter 10

Nagisa, Rei and Haruka stared at their manager. The latter seemed to have fallen into a volcano and then gotten thrown around by a great white whale. Kou looked like death. Her every move was forced and her every word was clipped and brief. She wasn't even trying to hide the fact that she was in a bad mood. Nagisa and Rei steered clear of her, if only to save their lives than anything else. Haruka on the other hand was frustrated. It seemed Makoto was the only one of them who knew what was going on and he stuck close to Kou the entire day. The Iwatobi Swim Team had decided to have an extended practice session at the beach during the weekend. Makoto and Kou had arrived two hours late with Kou in her present state. Makoto had given them all a 'do-NOT-ask' look and they had tried to act as though nothing had happened. That of course was turning out to be exceedingly difficult. Kou's moods were all over the place. One minute she looked like she was about to break down and the next minute she was tearing down the beach waving her umbrella at some poor kid who tripped over her. Haruka was finding himself growing tired of her mood swings. While Kou tore after the kid, Haruka chose that moment to confront Makoto.

"Makoto."

"Haru, I know you're going to ask, but I can't say." Haruka frowned at the instant rejection he received.

"But at this rate we aren't going to get any practice done." Makoto gave Haruka an incredulous look.

"Practice?! Practice!" Haruka scowled but nodded, not knowing where Makoto was going with the conversation.

"Kou has been through hell and all you care about is practice?!" That pissed Haruka off.

"Well it's not my fault you won't tell me what happened!"

"It's not my place to go around telling people what happens in other people's lives!"

"Well then you can't expect me to do much can you?! What else can I think about other than practice?!"

"You can atleast act concerned!"

"Why would I act when I already am!" Makoto and Haruka stood an inch from each other's faces, glowering and fuming. Nagisa came running towards them.

"What's going on you two?! I look away for one second and now you guys are fighting?!"

"Shut up Nagisa." Makoto snarled and Nagisa looked like someone had slapped him across the face. Never in his life had Makoto ever, ever used that tone with anyone. Let alone ask Nagisa to shut up. Nagisa burst into tears and that caused Rei to hurry over.

"Nagisa kun!? What's wrong!" Rei looked between Haruka and Makoto questioningly. Haruka looked at Makoto with accusing eyes and Makoto stepped back and threw his hands in the air.

"Don't you go blaming me for this!" By then Kou had also reached them and for once, she seemed more concerned about what was going on between them. Before she could say anything, Haruka whipped around and glared at her.

"You are the cause of this mess! Pull yourself together already!"

"Haru!"

Nagisa was clinging onto Rei and the two looked on as Haruka and Makoto glowered some more at each other. Makoto came to stand in front of Kou protectively and for a second, a fleeting look of hurt passed over Haruka's face.

"You're taking her side?" He almost sounded accusing and Kou feared for the worst. Makoto sneered.

"What? You can't take care of yourself? You need me? Why? You seemed perfectly fine on your own all this while. Why don't you go practice?" If Nagisa looked like he'd been slapped, Haruka looked like someone had smashed his face against a wall and stepped all over it. The hurt on Haruka's face was obvious now.

"What are you saying Makoto…"

"Makoto san please!" Makoto ignored Kou's plea and looked directly in Haruka's eyes. Kou tried to stop him, she knew if he said whatever he was going to say, the damage would be too great. She knew she had to stop him before he regretted. She pushed herself between the two teens and pushed herself into Makoto's chest.

"Makoto san please! Don't do this!" Tears spilled down her cheeks as she tried to shake the meadow-haired teen. She somehow managed to get him to back off. She turned around, hoping to stop Haruka, but she was too late.

"Or what Makoto? Or what?"

"Or nothing haru. Or absolutely nothing." Never in her life had Kou seen this side of either Makoto or Haruka. From the expression on Nagisa's face, she was sure that no one had. Maybe not even them. To think the kind Makoto who had stayed with her and comforted her all night had turned into the person standing in front of her, she found it too incredible to accept. Before anyone could react, Haruka reached forward and slapped Makoto across the face. It wasn't half as hard as when Kou had hit Rin, but she knew the act was what stung Makoto more than the slap. Makoto's eyes widened as he stared at Haruka. Haruka's eyes were instantly filled with regret for what he had done. He reached up, making to touch Makoto's face, his eyes pleading, "Mako-" Makoto stepped away. Haruka flinched at the rejection. Haruka was close to tears. "Makoto I'm sorry I didn't mean to-" Kou looked at Makoto and knew it was too late. After everything she had done the previous night to convince Makoto that Haruka cared about him, Haruka had torn down everything. That slap had altered Makoto to such an extent, Kou was afraid they'd lose him forever. Makoto's jaws clenched and unclenched several times. Then he looked at Haruka. Really looked at him. And the hurt and betrayal in his eyes were so intense, Kou wanted to hug him and scream that it wasn't what he was thinking.

"So this is your answer Haru." Before Haruka could respond, it was Nagisa and Kou that answered to Makoto. Both trying desperately to undo what Haruka had done. Haruka stood staring at Makoto, mouth unmoving, fear, confusion and uncertainty clear in his eyes. Makoto slowly nodded. Then he took one step back and started to walk away. Kou and Nagisa called after him, begging him to come back. Nagisa chased after him and Kou desperately turned to Haruka. Tears poured down from her swollen eyes and she clung to Haruka like he was her life line.

"Haruka san please go after him! You have to go after him Haruka san!" Kou screamed at Haruka, shaking him, slapping him, but Haruka just stared ahead of him. His eyes were slowly losing their light and the only thing reflected in the depths of the blue orbs was vulnerability and loneliness. Kou screamed with frustration. She'd already lost Haruka. She looked at Rei desperately and the other nodded once. Kou spun around and tore after Makoto. This was all her fault. Makoto's emotions had been stretched thin by Rin and she should have guessed he would break. Makoto was still exhausted both physically and mentally. They should have never come to the beach. She should have sent him straight home and told him to rest. She shouldn't have been so vulnerable and taken advantage of his kindness. She couldn't lose him. She had lost Rin and Rin had lost everyone he had ever held dear. The last thing she was going to let happen was Haruka and Makoto to drift apart. She'd rather die than see that happen. She caught sight of Nagisa's blonde head and shortly after, Makoto's sturdy back. She let out a strangled scream and forced her legs to run faster. She had to catch up with him before it was too late. The damage had to be undone. She wasn't going to lose Makoto. She wasn't going to lose him.

"Makoto san!"

Kou's anguished cry echoed across the empty beach. Behind her she heard an anguished roar and she knew Haruka had broken free of whatever had been chaining him. Tears of hope flowed down Kou's cheeks.

'Please let us make it. Please let us not lose him. Please please please..'

A/n: For some reason I feel like I owe you guys the next chapter earlier than usual because- Yeah well. But! on the brighter side, there's some actual RinHaru action coming up soon!

P.s: This fic is turning out to be waaaay more dramatic than I expected it to be.

Review, Follow and Favorite!

Love~