Watching Makoto leave set Rin into a panic. He didn't know what to do! Should he wake up Haru or go after Makoto. He quickly scribbled down a note for his boyfriend, threw on a jacket and rushed out of the room, following faint muddy foot prints that lead out of the house and to the park.

For a sunny afternoon, the park was deserted, except for one brunet child, who was on the swing by himself.

Rin slowly walked over and sat down on the next door swing and began to push the seat back and forth slightly. It broke his heart to hear the child sobbing to himself quietly.

The two sat in silence, neither of them knowing what to say to the other. Rin finally decided to break the daunting quiet.

"We should've told you. I know it's late to be saying now but we should've. You have to understand that we didn't really know what was going on between us either," Rin huffed out a small chuckle "I'm sorry, it's strange talking to you when your dads the one we're talking about."

There was an awkward five second pause before Makoto replied.

"Why my dad?" He asked in a soft low tone.

Rin looked at the child who still refused to make eye contact. "Why?" he repeated.

Makoto finally turned to look at his English teacher. His eyes were red and puffy. There were pools of water in the bottom of each eye accompanied by a small amount of snot dribbling from his nose.

"Yes. Why my dad? We're doing perfectly fine just the two of us. We don't need anyone else, we haven't needed anyone for a long time. I was there for him when mummy died! I was the one who helped him get back on his feet- not you! You don't come into the picture anywhere. Don't try and take my best friend away from me!" He stopped suddenly, a sob forcing its way out of his mouth, consequently stopping the yelling. "Please don't take him away from me." He choked out.

Rin felt his throat get tight and his vision blurred slightly. Damn it. He needed to be strong for Makoto right now. "Look Makoto," He began shakily "I don't want to take your dad away from you; I would never do that to you. I'm not here to try and steal his attention for myself. I never went into this relationship wanting to hurt you in anyway. The thing is, I love him." He said softly. Makoto looked at him, eyes wide with shock. Rin slowly took Makoto's hand "I love Haru more than anything that I have before and if you'll let me, I want to be a part of your family."

Makoto began to cry harder. He jumped off his swing and ran at Rin. Rin wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised when he felt his small arms wrap around his waist. The burgandy haired man picked Makoto up and sat him on his lap, gently swinging the swing together.

"I'm sorry." The child apologised. "I was rude."

"No, no it was a natural thing to do. No need to apologise." Rin replied.

Suddenly he heard giggles from Haru's son.

"What? What's so funny?" He asked curiously.

Makoto pulled himself off of Rin and hopped back into his seat as he explained. "You're a man."

"Why is that funny?" Rin asked with a slight chuckle.

"Daddy hasn't dated a man before! So I was just thinking that it's strange is all."

"Well you're dating Kisumi right?" Rin said teasingly.

Makoto's face blushed a deep shade of red. "W-what?" He stuttered.

Rin laughed loudly. "It's obvious to see Makoto," He joked. Makoto looked petrified. "I'm kidding. Kisumi came to talk to me about it."

Makoto's eyes shot over to Rin. "He came to you? About me?" The nervous boy asked.

"Kind of. And about struggling with being gay." Rin answered honestly.

Makoto's mouth opened and closed a few times as though he was thinking of a way to say something.

"Am I too young to say I'm gay?" Makoto said quietly.

"What?" Rin responded, shocked. "No! God no! You could be 5 and know you were gay! I mean… I haven't heard of that actually happening to someone but still- you could be! And Makoto you're very grown up for a nine year old. If you want to say you're gay, you can say you're gay." He finished with a comforting smile.

Makoto took a huge inhale of breath and practically screamed "I'm Gay! I'm Gay! I'm Gay!" from the top of his lungs.

Rin almost fell of his swig he was so shocked by the sudden outburst from the usually calm child. But as soon as the initial shock wore off he was laughing hard, and so was Makoto.

"That's the spirit!" Rin said breathlessly.

After the laughter had subsided Makoto softly murmured "You won't tell my dad yet though will you? I mean it not like it embarrasses me, but I'm not ready to tell him yet."

"Of course I won't tell him! Jeez Makoto, have a little faith in me." He said, mocking offence.

Makoto giggled. "I could get used to having you around Mr. Matsuoka." He said, giving Rin one of his trademark warm smiles.

Rin's eyes shone with happiness. "I suddenly have the strange urge to buy you ice cream. You up for that?" Makoto responded with furious nods of his head.

Rin stood up with a quick "Come on then, let's go get some!"

He didn't expect to feel the boys smaller hand grasp his as they walked.

Haru paced his living room quickly; Rin's note in his hand, crumpled by now by the force of Haru's fumbling hands. He had woken up an hour later to loneliness and a note.

Haru,

Makoto knows. Going after him. Back soon, I'm sorry.

What was he supposed to do? He couldn't go after them, he didn't know where they were! Hell, he didn't even know if they were together. Makoto wasn't supposed to be home yet, Haru didn't understand what was going on. The note was vague and all he could infer was that Rin didn't have time to write more.

Did that mean Makoto ran because of Rin and Haru being together?

He slumped down on the sofa, his head in his hands, his eyes wet and fingers trembling. He needed to explain to his son what had happened. He needed him to understand.

He needed Makoto to accept Rin.

Haru didn't know how long he sat there, all he registered was the front door opening. He moved the fastest he had ever moved.

"Mako? Makoto?" He said as he turned the corner, seeing his son and boyfriend walking in together.

He ran over to his son and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him tightly into a hug. "I was so worried, I was so worried about you. Never, ever do that again! Never just run out do you hear me? What if something had happened?" He sobbed lightly into his sons shoulder.

"I'm fine dad, really. I'm sorry." He said hugging his father back and patting his back softly.

"And you," Haru said, standing back up to full height and pointing at Rin. "Why didn't you wake me? Or take your phone? I was so scared, you were both just gone and you left me this-" he said holding up the tattered note. "This as an explanation! I'm just- I can't-" he began to cry, silently his shoulders shook as the tears fell down his face. He felt so stupid. Crying over something so little.

"Hey, hey now." Rin said, embracing Haru and whispering into his ear. "Shh, c'mon everything's okay. Makoto's home now, I'm back now, it's all fine."

"I woke up, and you weren't here. What was I supposed to think? I thought you... I thought you left." He mumbled into Rin's neck.

"Idiot, I'm not leaving you. You're stuck with me now." He grinned, kissing the top of Haru's head.

Makoto watched them in awe. As he watched his father hug Rin he knew. He knew that's what love was. His smile grew wide as he saw Haru's lips turn upwards into a smile.

Haru pulled back and wiped his eyes. "Good." He said happily.

Rin leant in and pressed a soft kiss to Haru's lips, which the black haired male returned with joy.

His eyes suddenly shot over to Makoto, the sandy blond child was sitting down at the table wearing a knowing smile.

Haru pulled away his face flushing red as began stuttering "M-Makoto! It's umm... Well, it's like Rin... Rin and I, we..." He tried to explain pathetically.

"Dad!" Makoto said, cutting his father off. "I know okay? I know. Rin told me what was going on earlier." Makoto said, throwing Rin a smile.

"A-and?" Haru asked nervously.

"And I think you chose a keeper." Makoto said, grinning at Rin, who returned the grin with just as much enthusiasm.

"Oh Makoto." Haru said with a rare tooth filled smile. "You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad? I mean, I was at first, but that was because I thought you didn't tell me because you loved Rin more than me or something. But Rin explained earlier how you only became boyfriends today and that you didn't want to tell me until you were sure." Makoto explained.

"You don't care that… that Rin's-"

"A man? Nope! What's the difference really. Just don't forget mum okay?" Makoto added softly.

"I would never." Haru said, kissing Makoto on the top of his head.

"Right! I think its high time we ordered some food and watched a movie or something. Its getting all emotional and I think we need to chill out and relax. You hungry Mako?" Rin said, taking out his phone to call the pizza place.

"Well the ice cream was kind of filling but I guess I could eat again."

"Hold on- while I was here panicking, you two were out getting… ice cream?" Haru said, glaring slightly at Rin.

There was a moment of silence between the three before Rin grabbed Makoto' hand and shouted "Run!" Pulling him to Makoto's bedroom and closing the door so Haru couldn't get in.

Makoto was laughing hard as Rin and Haru fake fought through the door and he realised that he wanted things to stay how they were on that day.

The next two months went by amazingly.

After that initial night of pizza and movies things just kept getting better, the three would spend time together and Rin spend most of his time at Haru's house.

Things were finally looking up for all three of them.

And then Rin got the call.

"Oh, sorry, its work I gotta take this, be right back." Rin said, hoping off of the sofa and walking into the kitchen. He had been watching a movie with Haru, Makoto and Kisumi. Makoto still hadn't told his dad about being gay, and Haru was too dense to notice the two holding hands whenever they were around.

Still, at least Makoto knew that when he did tell his dad, he would be accepted.

"Hello?" Rin said as he answered the call

"Ah Rin," He heard Goro's voice through the speaker. For some reason his voice didn't seem to hold its usual enthusiasm. "Glad you picked up. We really need to talk tomorrow. You have a free period third right?" The head teacher seemed to rush out.

"Uh, yeah yeah, I think so. Are you alright Goro? Is everything okay?" He said, slightly worried.

There was an uncomfortable silence from the other end of the phone. "We'll talk tomorrow."

And then the phone had been hung up.

Rin slowly walked back into the main room and flopped himself down next to Haru, throwing an arm around him and appreciating his boyfriend's ability to snuggle up to him quickly.

He didn't know what was happening, but he knew he didn't like the sound of it.

"Hey, what was that all about?" The shorter man asked quietly so he wouldn't disturb the movie.

"Nothing. I'm not sure to be honest. Something about Goro wanting to talk to me tomorrow." He answered honestly.

Haru hummed in response "Maybe you're getting promoted or something?" He suggested happily, resting his head on Rin's shoulder.

"Yeah. Maybe." He replied sceptically.

But as he arrived at work on Monday he knew this wasn't the case. He kept getting strange looks from some of his co-workers in the staff room. There was something that no one was telling him. He noticed Miho in the corner of the room reading.

"Hey," He said as he sat down next to her. "What's going on?"

The woman looked up at Rin and instantly turned her head away from the red eyes that were stuck on her.

"O-oh Rin, nice to see you. Whatever do you mean?" She said, obviously trying to lie. And failing.

"Cut the crap Miho, I know somethings going on." Rin said, panic setting in slightly.

The brunette woman glanced around quickly and leant in. "I can't tell you anything, but please know that most of us seriously disagree with what's going to happen."

Before Rin had the chance to reply the bell went for first period.

"Good luck Rin." She said before walking away.

Fuck, two periods before he could find out.

"Rin. Come in, come in take a seat." The blonde man said, gesturing to the chair on the other side of the desk.

Rin sat down carefully. He thought about responding, but he felt sick to his stomach so he decided to let Goro continue.

The older man laughed nervously. "Rin. It's… hard for me to say this. In fact, I don't really know how to say this. We've had… complaints."

"About my teaching? Sir, honestly if you take a look at the kids progress records you'll see that they're all been improving and-" He was cut off.

"No Rin. Nothing to do with your teaching skills."

"I'm afraid I don't understand sir. If not my teaching abilities then what-"

"Your sexuality."

Rin felt his blood run cold. His what? His fucking what?

"It came as a shock to us too but apparently you've made your preferences quite clear to one of your classes, a certain 8B. apparently many of them have been telling their parents who are less than pleased about their child having a queer for a teacher." Goro said in a matter of fact tone. "There's also the issue that we've been having with certain students. There have been reports from both parent and teacher about… homosexual acts being broadcast around school. For example boys holding hands or girls kissing. We as a school do not want to be promoting this sort of behaviour."

Rin was sure his hands were bleeding from the sheer force of his nails digging into his skin where he was clenching his fists. His jaw was locked tight as he glared at the table in front of him.

"With all due respect sir," Rin seethed, slowly standing up from his chair. "Fuck you."

"E-excuse me?" Goro said, an eyebrow raising.

"You heard me clearly. How dare you? How dare you? How does me being gay change how my teaching is helping these students huh? And let me tell you something right now- even if I hadn't come to this school, those children who are gay now, will always have been gay. You don't want to promote that behaviour? You don't want to promote an equal school that accepts anyone and everyone? What kind of a town is this where people judge you for things you can't change?" Rin finished, slamming his fist onto the table, his voice practically at a yell now.

"Look Goro," Rin said, his voice returning to normal volume. "I like this school. I like the students and I like the staff, and I don't really want to leave here so I need you to tell me what you plan on doing about this."

"I'm glad to hear you say that Rin because I don't want you to leave us either. The only thing I wish for you to do is first of all, stop bringing up the subject of homosexuality or avoid it when it comes up. This is only to make the children stop otherwise there is a fear the parents will move their kids to a new school," Rin breathed out softly. Okay, okay. This… wasn't a terrible term. If he just stuck to the curriculum he shouldn't have a problem with that. Even if it bugged him personally, he needed to keep this job.

"And secondly, I'm going to need you to stop whatever sort of relationship you're having with Nanase Haruka."

Rin's whole world fell.

"Wha-"

"Don't play dumb Rin. I've seen you out and about with him and so have others who believe, you're corrupting his son. And before you try to argue with me, I personally saw him screaming out that he was gay with you sitting right next to him so don't deny it. It's wrong to force a child so young to decide something so drastic. But, it not just that Rin. It's against the school rules and you know that."

Rin angrily glared at the teacher. He wanted to yell and scream. "I won't break up with him." He said instead, his voice full of venom.

"Hmm, yes. I thought you might say that. So I prepared this." From a draw next to his table, Goro pulled out a file and threw it across to Rin. The read head opened it and almost threw down the file in disgust.

Blackmail. Pages and pages of sporadic blackmail. Forged sheets of paper and photos showing Rin stealing, dunk at work, and, the most sick of all, him looking inappropriately at the children along with forged notes of children accusing him of inappropriate things. Whoever created these wanted Rin gone, and they wanted him gone badly.

"This is sick. This is utterly sick!" He shouted, throwing the folder right back at the man in front of him. "I don't think it's ever occurred to you that I could just quit this job. I sure as hell don't want to work here anymore."

"You see, that's the big issue Rin because if you don't break up with Mr. Nanase, we send these files to the police and every school in the near vicinity, and if you leave- we do the same. It's a lose lose situation really isn't it Mr. Matsuoka?" Goro said with a sickeningly sweet smile.

"You son of a bitch. You fucking son of a bitch!" He all but screamed at his boss.

"You have 3 days Rin. 3 Days and to make a decision or we send these everywhere. What would poor little Makoto think of you then?" Goro said. "Now Rin, I'm going to need you to leave my office."

"Fuck you." Rin said, angry tears falling from his eyes. "This isn't fair. Why are you doing this?"

"Lets just say, a concerned parent is paying the school a lot of money to get you gone, or straight." The teacher said in his usual chipper tone of voice. "Now Rin, leave. Or I will make you leave."

Rin moved out of the room and slammed the door on his way out. He moved quickly to the male bathrooms of the swimming pool. He locked the door and screamed. Screamed so loud he felt his throats was red raw. Screamed until they became sobs.

Why? He didn't understand why? He hadn't asked to be gay. He hadn't chosen to be ridiculed and mocked throughout his teenage years. He had thought it would get better when he was an adult, but at that moment he felt 15 again, crying in the boys bathroom.

Bullshit. It was all bullshit. The allegations, the blackmail, what he was being forced to do. Haru… they wanted him to leave Haru. He couldn't do that. He couldn't just up and leave the man he loved.

He rinsed his face under the sink and sent Haru a text saying that they needed to meet up tonight. He needed to tell Haru everything.

"They what?" Haru fumed. His usually quiet voice was now shouting loudly. "They can't do that! That's illegal!"

"Somehow Haru, I don't think they care. I don't even know who's behind all of this." Rin said, anger dripping from his words.

"Why would they do something like this? It makes no sense, why out of the blue do this?" Haru said confused.

Rin swallowed harshly. "Haru, I don't want you to freak out. I… I… you just need to know the truth," Haru nodded. "They're doing this because I'm dating you. They say it's promoting my homosexuality and causing a bad influence for the children. They say… They say that they'll dispose of the photos if I break up with you, can you believe that? I would never break up with you!" Rin said with a burning passion.

Haru was frozen. It was… his fault? Oh god, it was his fault. If he and Rin weren't dating, Rin would be safe. He could continue to do the job he loves, and he wouldn't go to jail. I mean, Haru wasn't anything compared to a job and freedom was he?

And in that moment Haru knew what he needed to do. To keep his lover safe. To make everything right.

"No, you won't break up with me; but I'm going to break up with you." Haru said solemnly, he grabbed Rin's hand. "I don't want to be with you anymore Rin." He said, his voice heavy with guilt.

"What?" Rin said, laughing nervously. "You don't mean that Haru, stop acting weird, let's get serious for a second."

"I'm dead serious Rin." He said, grabbing Rin's hand tighter. "Let's be honest, I'm straight. I couldn't love a guy, I'm not that way inclined. It was just a momentary lapse of judgement." He said as a tear fell down his face.

"Haru, stop this. I'm not leaving you. I can't leave you, I only just got you." Rin said, his voice cracking when he realised Haru was serious about this.

"You can't… You can't force me to stay in a relationship with you. I don't have time for a relationship with you, I have Makoto to look after. I don't lov-" He was cut off by the press of Rin's lips against his.

The kiss was desperate, lips moving fast against each other, tongues clashing and fighting. It plead "Don't go.", It plead "I'm sorry". It was over before it had even really begun.

"Don't. Don't lie to me Haru, don't lie to me." The red eyed man whispered as his lips broke from Haru's.

Haru pulled away and leant his head on Rin's head. "I won't be the reason you go to prison. I won't be the reason your life falls apart. I- I love you too much to do that." He said, tears falling down his cheeks as he cried silently.

"I thought this was it for us Haru. I thought we could finally be together and just be happy. Why does it have to end now?"

"I'll find a way." Haru said suddenly. "I'll find a way for us to be together. I won't give up on you Rin. I won't give up on us. And I won't let you get hurt because of me." The two kissed once more, both sobbing into each other's mouths.

"You should go now Rin." Haru said closing his eyes.

"I don't want to go."

"You have to go."

"When will I get to see you again, to see Makoto again?" Rin cried.

"You'll see him every day."

"It's not the same Haru." Rin said, standing up. "I don't want him to know about this. I don't want him to know what that filthy school is actually like. Just… just tell him we weren't working out." Haru nodded as he watched Rin walk to the door.

"I love you Haru. I love you much. When all this is over, how about we go get some coffee? It'll be just like the first time."

Haru laughed pathetically through his tears. "I love you too Rin."

Rin slowly opened the door and left the apartment. He felt tears falling from his cheeks as he closed the door to Haru's apartment. But to him it felt more like he was closing the door on his whole time at Iwatobi. He moved to his car and got in. But he didn't drive anywhere. He just sat and weeped.

A sudden knock made him raise his head.

Makoto was at the car door smiling.

"Rin?" He asked quizzically, his smile turning into a frown when he was the older man's tears "What's the matter? What happened?" He said from behind the glass.

Rin started up the car and rolled his window down. "Sometime kid, things just don't work out. And you have to let go and move on." He said, his voice thick and strained.

"I don't understand. Why don't you come upstairs, dad would be happy to make you something to drink or eat? We could watch a movie together; I like it when we do that." He said smiling.

"Makoto," Rin said, felling regret and anger "I can't… I won't be doing that with you guys anymore. Your father and I we…"

"No." Makoto said, his eyes pooling with tears. "No, no, no, no, no, you can't. You can't do this. You guys can make it work! You're perfect together! If you or dad did anything I'm sure you guys can work past it, you can't leave… You can't leave me." Makoto said. He felt betrayed by Rin. He let himself get too close to this man, and now he was leaving, just like his mum left.

"I'm so so sorry Mako. Please believe me." He said as he reached out to wipe Makoto's tears.

"I don't want you to leave. I need you." He sobbed.

"I need you, dad."

Rin wanted to scream in agony. His heart hurt, his head hurt, he wanted to stay and be Makoto's second father. But he knew he couldn't. He pulled his hands back inside the car and pulled away from the crying child.

"I'm not your dad. I'm not worthy of being your dad." He whispered, before he sped off, his eyes still forming tears, as he was sure Haru and Makoto's were, while he drove away from his future.