(Though it will be covered in the next chapter, somewhat, I just wanted to say that Akiha means (according to the internet) Autumn Leaf. Since she's orange and black, it sorta fits, yeah? And besides it's impossible to find out what boy names sound girlish in Japan. I have no idea how to research a thing XD So, well, I tried.)

Rin made breakfast with miniature pinprick claws jabbing into his calf as begging.

"You'll get it when you get it," he chuckled down at the kitten.

Akiha mewed sadly and tried to climb his leg but all that earned her was a light reprimanding pat to the top of her head and a firm 'no'.
It was when he transferred their breakfast into bowls that arms wrapped around his waist. He knew the firm body immediately, broader and taller than his own, and relaxed back into Makoto's chest. The brunette rumbled a laugh, buried his nose into the crook of Rin's neck, and inhaled deeply. A gentle bite in the same place as the night previous made Rin snort.

"Eat your food, not me."

"Mmm, but you taste better."

Rin shoved a bowl into the taller boy's shoulder. "Knock it off, Mako."

A quiet hum and a second little nip to his already bruising throat and Makoto took his own bowl for himself. Akiha followed him eagerly, tiny tail practically vibrating, minuscule meows and bright eyes painting a picture of desperation. Rin grumbled at the sight.

"You'd think she didn't get damn well half the mackerel I prepared."

The brunette just laughed as he took his seat.

"Where's Haru?"

"Bath."

"Mmm."

They sat across the table from each other, tossing pieces of meat and fish to their excitable (and apparently starved) kitten as Akiha delightedly devoured the morsels.

"Are you feeling better?" Makoto asked quietly out of the blue.

The redhead blinked. "Yeah, why- oh. No, about earlier... Mikoshiba has arranged a joint practice for today."

"Ehh?!" The brunette looked honestly shocked and Rin couldn't blame him. The news did kind of come out of nowhere. "When today?! Do the others know?"

"Not sure, and six."

Makoto wilted a bit from his startled posture. "Oh. That should be enough time to warn the rest of the team. What's so upsetting about a joint practice..?"

Rin gave his lover a disbelieving look.

"Mikoshiba. And Gou. In the same room. They will be hanging all over each other and I will have to watch. And I can't get mad because... Well, the team. Therefore, you guys will be there to calm me down. Well..." He smiled despite himself, propping his chin on his hand. "You two especially."

Makoto smiled back and it was then that Haru came in, wearing only his swimsuit as usual, and both his lovers' eyes were immediately drawn to the beads of water that slicked down his chest...
Rin chuckled as Makoto's Adam's apple bobbed around his heavy swallow.

"I heard something about a swim practice?" Haru asked as he sat at the table.

And just like that his good mood was squashed.

Akiha seemed to sense it, somehow, because despite the fact that Haru was handing her morsels of fish she came trotting over to him with big wide eyes. She balanced one front leg on his knee and stretched up, reaching for his face with an orange-toed paw (how had he not seen that before?) as oceanic eyes bored into his. The sweet gesture- out of a cat no less- made his heart melt and a hesitant grin flicker over his lips.

Haru and Makoto were powerless to resist their answering smiles.

Rin sighed as he stretched out his muscles.

His run in the pool was another three swimmers away so he was in no big hurry. Nitori was offering running commentary by his side, listing off swimmer after swimmer as they did their individual laps.

"Nagashima-senpai's dive seemed really off today, I wonder why? And Natsume-senpai was having trouble adjusting his kick, probably because he's trying out a different stroke and- Ah, Tachibana-senpai's up!"

Red eyes snapped to the gorgeous definition of that broad back and a predatory smirk lit up Rin's face.

He ambled to Haru's side and the black-haired boy pressed back against him so that skin brushed skin with every breath. Makoto's green eyes drifted over and the teen smiled that sexy smile that was just for them- a slow, sensual curve of the mouth- but as the whistle blew (Rin could swear Mikoshiba was smirking) he leapt into the water all the same.

He gripped the block with both hands and drew his knees up, compacting all the hard muscle in that body into a tense bundle. Rin unconsciously strained forward. His heart was pounding, breath coming a little faster, body tingling with anticipation. Haru felt the slight motion, heard all the signs, and his lips quirked up ever so slightly.

Mikoshiba blew the whistle and Makoto's body released that tension, a spring no longer hindered, and his body arced beautifully through the air.

Dynamic. He'd said it before, he'd say it again. Makoto was a beast in the pool. It was hard to believe that he was afraid of water, with how powerfully he commanded it and bent it to his will, forced its submission to his stroke.

A quiet laugh broke his concentration and Haru was glancing sidelong at him. "Don't get too excited now Rin," he whispered coyly. The redhead wanted to pretend he wasn't, he wouldn't, but Makoto was truly gorgeous in the pool.

"Sugimura!" The fiery-haired Captain boomed. "Get your ass to the block!"

Sugimura, a first year, hurried up to the block, stumbled, and took position. Rin nipped at Haru's clavicle and followed the poor kid up to the edge.

Makoto finished his run and found Rin holding out a hand to him, expression uncharacteristically gentle. He yanked off his swim cap and goggles at once and took the redhead's hand with a thrilled smile. Rin hauled him out and pulled his lover into a tight one-armed hug before he released him.

Makoto's fingertips trailed like fire across the skin of his abdomen and he shuddered with eagerness as he settled into ready position.

He felt a stifling need to do something and looking around he realized what it was.

"Mikoshiba-buchou!" Rin called out.

His patience was already thin and his glare said enough. He wasn't to be fought on whatever he was about to say. Golden eyes scrutinized that face before the Captain broke out in a huge grin.

"What's up, Matsuoka?!"

"The guys and I wanna run a relay. We'll take lane seven."

Mikoshiba smirked. "Go on ahead."

There was a certain freedom he felt every time he shared a lane with his old friends that he wouldn't pass up for the world. He'd apologized profusely to Rei for being presumptuous but the blue-haired boy just laughed quietly and shook his head. "No, we've taken another advantage of you today, Rin. As an apology, please- go ahead and swim a relay."

He needed it all; Makoto's powerful swimming, Nagisa's exuberance, the smooth trade-off between himself and the blonde, the feel of the water as he cut through it effortlessly, never more at home than with them, Haru's perfect dive and that one-of-a-kind view he could only get when they were in a relay.

Makoto helped him out of the pool this time and didn't release his hand immediately. There was no cheering because this wasn't an event, it was a practice, but none of them had held back.

When Haru smacked his hand into the wall and looked up at them, panting, Rin just bared those wicked teeth in a prideful smirk.
The whole Samezuka team was muttering behind their backs. Jealousy. Such a beautiful thing.

The train ride back to Haru's consisted of Seijuurou and Gou holding hands and talking with their heads together in low voices, Rin glaring murder at his captain, Haru's fingers drawing slow circles on the irate redhead's thigh, Makoto's hand teasing his waistband, Nitori trying not to stare at Rin being molested, and Rei and Nagisa up to their typical Rei-and-Nagisa duo (informally known among their friends as Reigisa) antics.

The walk up was more bearable. Nagisa chattered incessantly, hanging off Rei's arm, and though the teen constantly fixed his glasses it was also partially to hide a smile.
Rin was between his lovers, as usual, a hand held captive by one on either side. It enabled him to be calm. To take deep breaths and will himself not to rip his Captain's head off.
And the lovebirds followed behind the threesome, STILL giggling and whispering and he was going to kill Mikoshiba-
Haru squeezed his fingers and he sighed, looking for the last member-
Nitori had fallen back some, texting rapidly.

"Oi, Ai!" He called out.

The silver-haired boy's head snapped up and he jolted upon realizing how far he'd fallen behind. "Ah! Sorry, Rin-senpai!"

Rin rolled his eyes. "Don't apologize, Ai."

"R-right! S-sorry Rin-senpai!"

Nagisa giggled as Rin groaned. "What did I just say..?"

Haru squeezed his hand again. "We're home."