There it is! I promised (I think?) a makoharu-chapter! Though it's a little short!

Ma-Ko is making tough decisions for both Ha-Ru and himself, because he thinks it's his responsibility as a leader to care for him, his mother and the rest.

Ma-Ko's character is not one of a leader, and so it is hard for him to take good measures.

This is written more or less from Ha-Ru's perspective again.

Slight non-con warning.

The area was bathing in the moonlight as the Rei, Na-Gi and the other members were getting cozy outside. It was warm and to get themselves even more comfortable they decided to grab some of the antelope skin the men have gathered and use them as sheets. Together they were lying around the campfire, creating the atmosphere they had hoped for to achieve ever since Ki-A's passing.

However, at the end of the dark cave, the atmosphere has gotten clammy .Ma-Ko and Ha-Ru were the only ones awake. Ha-Ru had difficulty breathing. Or at least, that's how it felt to him. He hadn't felt so uneasy in a long time. If he should choose between this particular feeling or getting run over by an antelope, he'd rather go for the latter. Ma-Ko looked so incredibly sad, but he also looked determined of his decision.

"Ma-Ko..." Ha-Ru whispered, mouth dry, tracing the ants running away from him with his eyes. "I can't. I'm sorry, but it just can't."

"Please, Ha-Ru, listen to me." Ma-Ko began, shifting closer to Ha-Ru and trying to look at him in the eyes. As Ha-Ru was strolling back, he grabbed his hands and sat in front of him, sitting as close to him as he could, yet still giving Ha-Ru the personal space he needed. Despite that, everything about Ma-Ko's movements and words struck Ha-Ru like sparks of electricity, and the lump in his chest was growing bigger by the second. When Ma-Ko touched him he tried releasing himself, because the feeling was only getting worse. He was getting so nervous.

"You're the one who I trust the most, and you make me feel safe. Ever since I was little you are the only one I have ever looked up to. The women are kind and caring, but Ha-Ru, you are exceptional to me. You are the one I love. That is why I want you to be my partner, and I also want you take over my position when I'm gone-…"

"Ma-Ko, it can't!" Ha-Ru yelled. He quickly realized he was being too loud and tried keeping his voice down. Keeping his eyes on the few men sleeping in the cave, who he couldn't recognize. He covered his eyes with a hand he had managed to free from Ma-Ko's grasp. He swallowed the lump in his chest that grew bigger as all the information seeped in. Ha-Ru didn't want to believe it, but there was no use in denying it. Ha-Ru must have known since that kiss from yesterday. Ma-Ko is in love with him and wants him to be the Head's partner, for all eternity.

"I love you. Do you love me, Ha-Ru?"

Ha-Ru looked away, wishing nothing but to leave. He wanted to go swim, right now. "I… don't know." He replied. And he really didn't. Ha-Ru didn't think of a future with Ma-Ko. It didn't even cross his mind once that Ma-Ko might want Ha-Ru as a partner. He had guessed that when Ma-Ko became leader, he would pick a woman and have children. The same goes for him. Ha-Ru would choose a partner for himself, have children, maybe two or three, and the both of them would have a happy family, and stay friends until they were old. That was what Ha-Ru had always thought. It wasn't a different faith than from the other men. Just when did Ma-Ko start thinking of Ha-Ru this way?

"What about yesterday? The kiss, did that make you feel bad?"

"I don't know what that was, Ma-Ko. You just kissed me without a warning, how was I supposed to act?"

"You could have dodged it, but you didn't."

"Because I didn't know what to do."

The taller man sighed.

"… I didn't hate it." Ha-Ru said after a while.

"You didn't hate it." Ma-Ko repeated. He suddenly grabbed Ha-Ru's chin so Ha-Ru saw his green eyes, and once again, without a second warning, Ma-Ko's hand slipped behind Ha-Ru's head, grabbed his hair and pressed their lips together for a second time. This time with much more force than yesterday. Ha-Ru felt his lips getting pried open by Ma-Ko's tongue and invading his mouth. Unlike the day before, Ma-Ko didn't give Ha-Ru time to get used to it and enjoy it, but conquered Ha-Ru's lips and mouth completely. Ma-Ko's other arm snaked around Ha-Ru's waist and held him tightly. Meanwhile the taller man kept plunging his tongue inside the raven's mouth, stroking his fingers through his black hair, making it impossible for him to escape. Ha-Ru kept his arms against Ma-Ko's chest, offering him some sense of stability. But somewhere he knew he had already lost.

After a brief moment Ma-Ko's lipt left Ha-Ru's with a pop. Leaving Ha-Ru with a face flushed a deep red.

"Didn't hate that either?" Ma-Ko inquired, looking angry somehow. Breathing heavily.

Ha-Ru felt lost and didn't feel like replying anymore. He didn't like the feeling Ma-Ko was giving him. What was going on with Ma-Ko? Is this because of the turn of events? Ma-Ko's loss, his new position, and his new responsibilities?

"Ma-Ko, please…"Ha-Ru whispered, looking away from Ma-Ko's focused green eyes. "Please think about what you're doing. Just get yourself a woman, have children. Forget about me."

"Ha-Ru, I can't. The women can't make me feel the way like you can. It's just… not working. I have thought about this, Ha-Ru. Over and over again. I want you to think about this now. Please, Ha-Ru."

The more Ma-Ko spoke out Ha-Ru' name, the more uncomfortable he felt. Whenever Ma-Ko would call out his name with his kind soothing voice, a wave of calmness would wash over Ha-Ru. But this time, the syllables he used were forced out and desperate, trying to make Ha-Ru understand something that the raven doesn't want to accept.

"You want me to think about this? Is this what you want?" Ha-Ru mumbled. Voice shivering. "You want me to admit that I love you, while I don't know? Ma-Ko, this is not like you. You normally are kind and… considerate… and…" Ha-Ru doesn't have words left. There was both anger and sadness bubbling up inside him. He had to leave. Now.

He pried himself away from Ma-Ko, stood up as fast as he could and ran away, leaving the brunet alone in the dark cave.

"Ha-Ru, sorry…" He heard him whispering as he left.

Before he knew it, tears starting flowing over his cheeks as he ran. He didn't realize he was holding them up until he met the soft breeze from outside.
But Ha-Ru suddenly remembered that Ma-Ko was the Head. Ma-Ko knew he could choose Ha-Ru's faith, and he is willing to do that just so Ha-Ru could stay by his side. But again, why? Why is he deciding things for him? Why can't Ha-Ru just choose for himself what he wants? He thought Ma-Ko was a friend that would let Ha-Ru go his own way, and grant him the freedom he desired. The thought was making him only feel worse.

Ha-Ru needed the lake right now. He wanted to drift above the surface and submerge his back and legs into the cool water. It was warm after all and the conversation he just had with Ma-Ko only made him feel hotter. He ran further, and as the campfire's light faded away, Ha-Ru looked up. He was met with a full moon that shone upon him, not one single cloud covering it. The moon was blurry from the wet tears that started pooling under his eyes as he looked up. He wiped them away with his arm and continued running. The moonlight leading him to the woods. Where the trees surrounding the lake welcomed him to soothe his bleeding heart.

I know it's a short chapter (+/- 1200 words or more), but this part has been rotting in my folder forever and I needed to publish it asap.

I'm not 100% certain, but I think next chapter will be written from Makoto's perspective, since he is also and important character and his thoughts and feelings need to appear at least twice or three times in this fic.

See you in a couple of days, and a happy eternal summer!