The other chapter I struggled with and didn't/don't like. It sounds very... rambly to me. Oh well. Sidefic updated tonight too! With probably my favorite side project chapter ever, so. Go read that and drop a review on it too, pleeeeease? I love it so~
And to 297.1, yes, the story's picture is what Akiha looks like! Lil cutie!

Chapter 17- Of Loneliness and Traditions
Haru sounded so soft and hesitant over the phone. They'd been talking nonsense for an hour and finally Haru had asked the question he'd wanted to ask all night.

"Can we stay together until you leave?"

Makoto wasn't surprised by the quiet, sad tone to Haruka's voice. It had been different the year before- they hadn't been together and Rin hadn't been around last year- and now that they finally fully understood how much they all meant to each other it was so much harder to let go.

So Makoto just smiled at the wall despite knowing Haru wouldn't be able to see it through the phone and nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."

The brunette was mildly surprised to realize Haru was Rin-less when he arrived but then the black-haired boy muttered "He wanted to let me have time alone with you."

Makoto understood at once and silently thanked his redheaded lover for his understanding and foresight. "I'll miss him, but I'm glad." He whispered as he gathered his boyfriend into his arms. "He knows we need some time together." Makoto said simply into ink-colored hair. "You're not used to being alone."

Haru nodded but the tightening of his fists in the brunette's light jacket gave away his real feelings on the matter.

"Come on," Makoto murmured as he pressed a kiss to the top of Haru's head. "Let's go."

Haru tagged along behind him for the first part of the day. Eventually Makoto had smiled back at his depressed lover and taken his hand.
The black-haired boy looked up sharply, blue eyes brimming with joy, and slotted their fingers together.
Normally Makoto would've been too wary of being seen to attempt the physical contact but he'd known from the look in downcast sapphire eyes that Haru needed some tangible affection. Seeing his lover light up like that made it worth it.

"Where are we going?" Haru asked as they fell into the familiar rhythm of walking side by side.

Makoto chuckled. "Well, it's still too cold to go swimming, so I figured the next best thing would suffice for now."

While Haru cocked his head, confused, Makoto smiled and pulled a pair of tickets from his hoodie's front pocket.
"I mentioned my idea to Rin a couple of days ago and woke up today to these shut into my window at home."

Makoto had been spending the odd night at home the last two weeks in preparation for the trip... and hashing out ideas for his new job. It had been part of Haruka's extreme irritation but now, he reached for the tickets his boyfriend held.

He only got halfway before he recognized the logo. "Is that... are these tickets to the aquarium?"

Makoto nodded. "The one two towns over. Yes. I don't know how Rin got them on such short notice but I've stopped wondering about his ways. I swear our boyfriend is magic sometimes!" He finished with a laugh.

Our boyfriend.

A fierce thrill of pleasure shot through the black-haired boy. Our boyfriend. Not Makoto's. Not mine. Ours. Our Rin. Our Rinrin. Always ours.
On the outside, all he did was hum and smile slightly.

Haru made up his mind on the train not to try to feel the water that day. He forced himself to believe that his tub would suffice later in the evening and focused on simply enjoying the exhibits and the graceful movement of the creatures that populated the tanks. Sailfish, penguinfish- which he took a picture of and sent to Nagisa- and seahorses all captivated the black-haired boy; Makoto watched Haru's every bright-eyed look with a satisfied grin.

He stood a little apart from his lover always, hands in the pockets of his hoodie, smiling so much his cheeks actually hurt. The brunette had missed his Haru lately; they had both been acting unusually and it had been straining their relationship. Rin had been markedly upset, trying to understand, but it had been a matter between his older lovers.

"Haru," Makoto called. "Come on. Shark tank isn't far."

Sharks reminded the oldest of their absent lover and Haru nodded. "Yeah."

"...that one."

"No, its teeth are too small."

"That one?"

"Mmm, yeah, that's a little closer. Not quite exact though..."

"There!"

"Perfect!"

Haru smiled as he watched the black-tipped reef shark swim in lazy figure-eights. Makoto wore a tiny smirk beside him, eyeing the shark officially dubbed 'Rinrin'. If the redhead had been present he would've been fuming but for now they could stare at their amusing facsimile of their lover without reproach.

"...Makoto?"

The brunette glanced over at the black-haired boy. Haru's gaze was focused down, staring at a vivid orange starfish, but unfocused.

"Nothing will change... Right?"

Green eyes softened and Makoto edged closer, taking his boyfriend's hand and leaning over to kiss his cheek. "Nothing can or will change, Haru-chan. I'm only doing this until the end of the year and I'll still be around plenty. It's just that, with me going off to college, there's a lot that will need to be done and most of it costs money. My parents can't afford everything on their own and I'm old enough for a part-time job. I'll just come home a little later is all. Rin will still be around-"

"On the weekends." Haru said sharply.

"-and you know you can always visit Mom and Dad and Ren and Ran if you feel lonely."

"I won't be lonely," Haru grumbled as he started to pout. "I'll have Akiha."

Makoto laughed. "Right, right."

Haru realized, abruptly, that the brunette hadn't dropped his hand at all. The second after he noticed Makoto squeezed his fingers and Haru had to look away and hope he'd hidden his pleased blush fast enough.

"And I'll still be with you too," Makoto said. "I noticed that orca in your closet, Haru. And the shark. Can I ask where the dolphin is?"

"...Samezuka."

"Ah, I see. I would say that's unfair- I don't get one, Haru-chan?- but... You'll be home with just Akiha. So I suppose you should have them both." The brunette nuzzled up his lover's jawline until he could whisper "And when I come home I'll make it all up to you, okay?" in the black-haired teen's ear.

"And Rin," Haru blurted, knees shaking at the taller boy's closeness.

"Oh yes, and Rin."

"You swear you will?"

"I'll be yours to do with as you please as repayment."

Haru shuddered. He really, really, really needed to feel the water..! When Makoto talked like that, that low and seductive purr, Haru always felt heat suffuse him, pressing against his skin from the inside and making him hot and bothered.
He needed water.

Makoto understood he was in distress before he knew he was in distress.
"Haru?"

Blue eyes stared at the tank, at the silver shimmer of light so far up at the surface...

"Haru, what's the matter? Did I upset you?"

He needed to feel the silky chill of the water's embrace...

"Haru..?"

The older boy licked his lips and reached for the zipper of his jacket-

Another hand, larger and warmer than his, caught his wrist.
"Not here, Haru-chan."

Frustrated, irritable, he fixed his lover with a sharp glare and tried to wrench away. He needed the water! But Makoto held steady, green eyes as placid as ever.
"Not here. Come on, I'll buy you a drink."

He drank greedily, clutching the cold bottle in both hands, and Makoto chuckled softly.

"It's not going anywhere."

A pointed look silenced the brunette and Haru resumed swallowing noisily. It wasn't exactly what he wanted- wasn't swimming- but it would do and the frigidity of the bottled water was battling the stifling inner warmth nicely.

"We do have to hurry, though. The dolphin tanks are only open for a limited time..."

Haru popped his mouth of the bottle and stared at his boyfriend. "Dolphins..?"

"Mm-hmm. You're supposed to get to play with them, if you get there in time. Part of the deal for the tickets-"

For once Makoto didn't expect or see it coming.
Haru lunged off the bench and threw his arms around broad shoulders. Water slopped down the sleeve of his jacket but he didn't care, kissing Makoto for all he was worth.

In public.

In broad daylight.

The brunette was quick to pull away once he recovered from his surprise, a hand lingering at the base of Haruka's spine despite himself, and green eyes were wide.

"Haru, what..?"

"I love you."

Makoto smiled his familiar smile. "Well I love you too, but that doesn't explain why you just kissed me that hard-"

"I love you," Haruka said again, and Makoto had to laugh. Of course, that had been the answer all along.

"Come on. Let's go."

The brunette had held back as Haruka surged eagerly forward toward the glass tank, curious and excited. Makoto wasn't sure if he was excited about the dolphin part or the pool part, but either way he hadn't seen a look like that on Haru's face since the gleam of victory in his eyes when they woke up a comfortable mess of jumbled limbs the morning after their first time.
He knew that taking a job, part-time or no, would've upset the balance of their relationship. He and Haru had been together virtually every hour of every day for as long as they could remember. Separation didn't sit well with Haru and the older boy certainly didn't like change: it was 'too much effort' to be dealt with. Which was why Makoto and Haru had developed a multitude of routines in their mutual lives and for once Makoto was snapping those routines in half and disregarding them. He couldn't quite describe the sense of self-loathing it gave him the last week, to know how upset and lost Haru had been, to know it was his fault.
For now, things seemed all right. Even Rin had relaxed back into his normal self, with the stress gone. And Akiha wandered around the house proudly again, nub of a tail held high.

"Makoto."

There was a note of contention in Haru's voice and Makoto realized he'd been spacing out.

"Ah, sorry, sorry. Ready to go?"

"Line's over there."

"Right! Sorry to space out-"

Haru slid his hand into Makoto's, flushing slightly. "It's fine. Don't apologize."

"Sorry."

Haru rolled his eyes with a half-smile and Makoto chuckled as he caught his mistake.

Maybe two minutes later Makoto realized his horrible mistake.

First, dolphins lived in large tanks of water.
Second, the trainers fed them mackerel.
Third, Haru had always been referred to as a dolphin in his swimming and he was currently... proving how accurate the statement was.

He'd barely had time to shout "Nanase Haruka-!" before Haru had stripped out of jacket, vest, shirt, socks and shoes. His pants slid off as he leapt into the water, his dive perfect as always, and not for the first time Makoto was intensely grateful that Haru at least tended to wear his jammers everywhere.
The trainer treading water by the small dock looked absolutely dumbfounded and the man standing on the dock shot a furious glare the cringing brunette's way.

"I'msorryI'msorry!" Makoto squawked.

The dolphins that had scattered upon the black-haired boy's invasion slowly swam up to him, clicking and squealing, trying to figure this anomaly out.
Haru flipped onto his back and dove down. The dolphins followed eagerly, curious, and Haru literally swam with them.
It was so interesting- and mesmerizing- that no one even thought about removing the odd teenager from the tank until the man standing next to Makoto recovered his scattered wits.

"Hideyoshi get that kid out of the tank! And you-" he pointed to the brunette gathering discarded clothes and Makoto winced. "Tell your friend to get himself out of the park before I call the authorities!"

Makoto bowed and apologized many times as Haruka was directed to the dock. True to habit, he pulled Haru out of the tank.

"Young man-" the manager started to growl.

"Can I keep some mackerel?"

The manager paused, struck dumb by the words, and then an ugly red started to rise in the man's cheeks. Makoto apologized about a dozen times more and yanked the dripping black-haired teen away.

"Honestly," Makoto sighed as he toweled Haru's hair. "I can't believe you wore your swimsuit even today."

A shrug. "I thought there was a chance you would be taking me to swim somewhere. I haven't been swimming in a week."

"I would have, but this seemed like a better idea at the time."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize," Makoto laughed. "You got to swim and you looked happy, so that makes it fine by me."

"So I didn't ruin anything?"

Makoto hummed thoughtfully. "Well, it's not the planned ending, to be sure, but as long as you had fun-"

"I did."

"-then everything's all right by me. Just in case though, Haru-chan... We should probably hurry and leave."

Haru nodded under the towel but after a second said "...can we go to the gift shop?"

"Makoto."

The brunette blinked and turned. "What is it Ha-" the rest died in a shriek when something was shoved in his face. He backpedaled and barely regained his feet, eyes wide.

Sapphire eyes sparkled with amusement, the small dolphin and shark keychains still dangling from the older boy's outstretched hand. "Will you keep these on your keyring at work so you'll think of us? That way we all have something to keep us happy."

Makoto held a hand over his racing heart and offered his boyfriend a shaky grin. "Of course." He took the pair of charms with a blissful smile. "Though you know I'd have thought of you two all day anyway. I always am."

Haru stared at him for a moment and Makoto knew that expression; he glanced over the black-haired boy's head- they were in a secluded part of the gift shop, hidden behind a corner of stuffed animals- and nodded. "Go ahead."

Haru stretched up a bit and kissed his lover. The brunette chuckled quietly and Haru was grateful for Makoto embracing him as he melted. There was just... something about the brunette's hold on his heart. Something that made him weak and giddy and a thousand other emotions he hadn't felt before he'd entered a relationship with both of his boyfriends.

Makoto's smile was warm when they broke apart, foreheads touching, breath mingling in the minuscule space between them.
"Love you, Haru-chan."

"Mmm. Love you too, Mako-chan."

Arriving home that night found them both on the receiving end of a kitten-y love attack. While Akiha mewed and cried and wound between their legs and over their laps once they sat (even crawling, claws out, up Makoto's chest to headbutt his chin) Rin got to laugh at the sight and ask about their day.
Makoto completely avoided talking about the dolphin-tank incident, which Haru wasn't totally surprised at but once again felt apologetic for... until a smirk curled the redhead's lips.

"So he didn't attempt to go swimming at all? Not once, all day? Kept every article of clothing on?"

Makoto grumbled something under his breath.

"Didn't catch that, Mako."

With an aggravated sigh Makoto reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed Rin a thousand yen.

The youngest burst into laughter as he accepted the money. "Knew he couldn't resist!" He crowed.

Makoto sighed heavily and Haru fought his amusement and lost.
"You bet on that?"

"I knew you couldn't make it," Rin hummed. "A whole week without water for the hydrophile? No way."

"I almost did." Haru said petulantly. "And had I known the bet I wouldn't have jumped in."

Rin snorted. "Sure, sure. Either way, I won, and I am cooking tomorrow and with this, I am buying meat for tomorrow night's dinner."

Haru scowled outright. "Definitely would've made sure I won."

Rin rolled his eyes. "Oh stop pouting. You'll live."

"Make it up to me." Haru said, sapphire eyes sparkling.

"Eh?"

"Why the hell should we have to make anything up to you? This was a thing between Mako and I!"

"Make it up to me." He repeated. "Both of you. Makoto leaves the day after tomorrow and Rin, you go back to school. I need you both tonight."

His lovers looked a little stunned but Haruka was determined to have his way. Because the idea of both had been driving him mad all day and he thought he may have an idea.

Two tentative agreements later he dragged them upstairs.

{Chapter 19 of my 30-Day Challenge came after this!}

Whew. Okay. From now on I'm back in my groove, it seems. Next chapter is totally silly and nonsensical so enjoy that haha!