A/n: Chapter 11! I've been so busy doing random things that the days go by so fast and I don't even know it's time to update the next chapter. I wanted to confess that torturing my favorite characters is something that brings me immense sadistic pleasure. -looks away guiltily- But hey! I always make up right? ^^'

Well anyway, a continuation from before. More RinHaru in this chapter and Makoto's feelings for Haruka.

Thank you for all the faving, following and reviewing! Keep at it guys~

Love~

Chapter 11

Haruka stood panting as he watched Kou and Nagisa race after Makoto. He had rushed after them but had tripped and fallen. He dusted his swim trunks and took a deep breath. He was about to chase after the trio when a familiar voice stopped him.

"Haru?" Haruka turned around slowly and looked at Rin. With some shock and surprise, Haruka found that Rin looked just as bad as Kou. Actually he looked worse. Haruka was sure Rin hadn't slept for a couple of days. The blue-eyed male turned around. This wasn't the time or place for him to face Rin. There were more important things he had to worry about.

'Makoto…'

"Wait Haru!" Rin grabbed the other's wrist and Haruka nearly pulled away, but the expression on Rin's face stalled him. Haruka felt his chest clench at the hopeless look in Rin's eyes. Haruka knew he had to run after Makoto. He knew that if he didn't go, what he did couldn't be undone. But the sight of Rin stopped Haruka from going after Makoto.

'So this is your choice Haru..' Makoto's voice echoed in Haruka's head. Every vein in his body was screaming at him to go after Makoto. All he had to do was turn and run. But an image of a crying Rin flashed in his mind and Haruka couldn't. He couldn't abandon Rin. He reached up and pulled Rin into a hug, praying and hoping that he would be able to get Makoto to forgive him.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry Haru… It's all my fault.. I'm sorry.." Rin continued apologizing into Haruka's neck, his body trembling from unshed tears. Haruka wasn't sure what had happened, but he somehow connected two and two together and figured that Kou's state and Makoto's mood was directly related to Rin. Rin's behavior also backed his assumption. Haruka held Rin for a long time. He wasn't sure how long, but every second caused the sirens in his brain to blare louder. Every second was sending Makoto farther away from him and with every second, Rin was growing worse. At one point the redhead started sobbing against Haruka. The dolphin-like teen felt hot tears on his shoulder and he knew once and for all that he couldn't leave Rin. He couldn't abandon the pathetic male clinging on to him. In that instant, Haruka forgave Rin for every mistake he had ever made. To him nothing was more important than getting Rin to stop crying. He soothed the other, speaking soft and gentle words into Rin's ear. Several minutes – or maybe hours – passed before Rin quieted down. He sunk to the ground and leaned his head against a rock. Haruka sat beside him and watched him quietly. Finally Rin looked at him.

"Shouldn't you go after Makoto?" Haruka swallowed the lump in his throat but didn't answer. Rin shut his eyes and turned his head away.

"Go." Haruka opened his mouth to argue, but Rin placed a hand over it. "Go."

Haruka stared into Rin's eyes. He searched for the slightest expression or emotion, but Rin looked back at him with a blank look.

"Go Haru." Haruka hesitated. He didn't want to make the same mistake twice.

"Haru I will not let you choose me over Makoto. Now GO!" Haruka whipped around and ran towards where he had seen Makoto disappear.

Rin watched Haruka's receding figure. He leaned back against the rock and sighed heavily. He was ruining the lives of every person he ever cared about. First Haru, then Kou now he was even causing Makoto pain. Rin stared at the clouds passing above him and he watched as they covered the sun, throwing shadows along the white sand. Rin was tired. He was tired of everything. But most of all he was tired of being the cause for others' suffering. Why should he let them suffer when he was the one who was the cause? He was the one who disappeared. He was the one who left. Rin reminded himself of that fact over and over again. It was all his fault. He no longer belonged here anymore. He had gone and destroyed everything that could ever have been. With a sad clench of his heart, he realized that everyone had waited for him. Everyone had waited for him to come back. They had believed that he would come back. And the whole time Rin had known. He had always known. And he had taken advantage of that knowledge for his own consolation. Just to placate his own hurt and hopelessness. Just to cover his own wounded pride. He had used their love for him and then ripped it and burned it and thrown it in their faces. Last night's events had finally forced him to accept the extent of damage he had done. He had never expected Kou to break down like that. He had never meant to hurt her. Or Makoto. Or Haruka. Or anybody else. But he had. He had hurt them and deeply. And nothing he said or did could change that. Rin laughed darkly. He didn't believe his own thoughts. Rin knew that just one word and they'd forgive him for all he was worth. One apology and he could go back to everything he had ever wanted. But his ego wouldn't let him. His pride caged him and chained him and forced him to do the exact opposite. His ego forced him to do everything possible to push them away. Everything except apologize. He admitted it himself. His ego was as big as the moon. And his very ego was what would lead to his downfall. Or rather it already had. Rin laughed again, a low lifeless sound that escaped from his throat. He decided then and there that he wouldn't let his ego best him. He swore then and there that if his ego wouldn't let him go back to what was, then he was going to destroy everything that could ever be. He wasn't about to be beaten by himself.

Rin stood up slowly, his thoughts increasing in intensity. That one idea was spreading through his mind like a plague. He found himself grinning savagely. He had finally found his answer. He had finally found a way to free himself. Rin turned around and began to jog towards home. He would need to take a few things from the place he would no longer call home. Then he would go to the dormitory. Hopefully Nitori wouldn't be too much of a pain. He wondered if he needed food, then as an after thought he decided he might as well take some of last night's dinner. Kou had outdone herself, even if it had been for Makoto and not him. He wiped the thought of his sister from his mind. He couldn't afford to think of people who meant something to him. Or rather had meant. Because now Rin was alone. Now Rin had no one but himself and his ego. Rin quickened his pace as a maniacal laugh escaped from his throat. He bared his shark-like teeth. He knew what had to be done and he would do it as swiftly as possible.

"Makoto!" Haruka's voice sounded like a far away dream to Makoto. He continued to run. His lungs burned and his muscles screamed. He was physically and mentally spent. Last night's events had thoroughly drained him. He just wanted to crawl into a hole, curl up into a ball and escape from the world.

Yet he kept running. He heard Nagisa's and Kou's voices add to Haruka's. At one point he didn't even know why he was running anymore. He was the one who had caused Haruka to slap him. It was his own fault. So why was he the one that was running away? Kou was hurt, Nagisa was hurt and Haru sure as hell was hurt. Yet Makoto was running away from them like he was the victim. His mind shouted at him to stop and go back, but his body refused to listen.

Why he was running was beyond him. Was he afraid? Afraid to face Haruka? Afraid to face Kou and Nagisa? Afraid? Him? Of what? Makoto couldn't answer the question. He didn't even know what he was afraid of. He no longer understood his actions. They already were beyond senseless and stupid. Yet he continued to run. Every cell in his body was begging for respite. He was physically unable to carry on. Yet his legs moved mechanically under him. Like some unseen force was causing his limbs to move. His brain was obviously not the reason for his body moving. He knew his brain had completely switched off a while ago, if not literally. He could hear his heart beat in his ear. A steady thump-thump that pounded the inside of his head. His breaths were coming in pants and gasps. He could feel his lungs heaving from the lack of air. Yet he continued to run.

At one point he tripped, his leg caught on a stone and he nearly went tumbling across the sand. But once again, some unseen force kept him upright. He wondered for a moment if it was his will power. If he was running from sheer will power and nothing else. But what was his will power against Haruka? There was no will power in the equation when it was something related to Haru. Haruka could make Makoto run across the world if he wanted to. And Makoto would do it without a second thought. He shamelessly admitted the fact like a mischievous child accepting that he stole some candy.

Then why was it that he was running away from Haruka and not towards him. Now that made absolutely no sense to Makoto. Why in the world was he running away from Haruka? He didn't know. He had absolutely no clue. His brain refused to form more than two coherent thoughts at once. So he continued to run.

Again he felt his leg catch against something and this time he felt his balance fail him. Whatever unseen forces had been keeping him upright seemed to have tired of helping him. Makoto saw the gravel underneath him. He knew that if he fell against it face first, it would hurt. Then from far away he heard a loud honk. Something caused him to turn his head to the left and he saw a water tanker coming towards him. Everything was happening as though in slow motion. Makoto knew he would fall. He knew he didn't have the strength to stop himself from falling. He knew he didn't have the strength to push himself off the road. He heard Kou scream. He saw the truck coming. Yet his mind was crystal clear when it accepted the fact that he would be hit by the truck. He watched the red headlights and only one thought passed through his mind as he shut his eyes;

'Haru…'

A/n: Cliffhangers always kill me. Hence the need to cause others to feel the same pain and thrill and unbridled hair-pulling, nail-biting, head-banging urge. Ufufufufufufufu~ Thank y'all for reading! Stay tuned for Chapter 12!

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