Guest: I always get happy when guest readers comment. It makes me feel like I'm writing something worth reading. Thank you so much!
Akiyuzu-chan: Oh, I see. Thank you for reviewing again, I appreciate it. :)
Natalie Edelstein: I am so sorry about this late update (I really just should have sent you an AN). For your prize fic, would you like anything specific? Like pairing, situation, age, setting... anything in particular? Everyone in this series is ridiculously ship-able so I think I'm up for anything. And I'll agree with you; description isn't my forte, but Haruka's thinking a lot about Makoto in this chapter, so...
Gwynhafra: Thank you so much for your review~! I hope this chapter makes you smile (or blush, whatever works).
Magua: Haha, I always prefer Makoto as the seme because I just can't do heavily muscled ukes... and Makoto... isn't really used for the women in the mansion per say. At least not all of them. Your English isn't bad at all! I personally think that all non-Americans speak better English... grammatically-wise at least.
lilypond8: It's alright, I don't leave a lot of reviews myself. I hope you can review more though. :) You're also free to give me criticisms if you feel the need.
Blue reminisce: Thank you! I hope you like this longer chapter!
Shin-kai Syndrome: Actually I think that Makoto could pull off being a host. He says sweet things like its nothing without getting embarrassed, like in episode 9 when he complimented the girls while Rei and Nagisa stared at him like 'HOLY SHIT HE'S SMOOTH'. The only thing he wouldn't be able to do is say it insincerely like some modern day hosts do. Perhaps this shall be my next AU, hohoho~
Lulubell12345678: Thank you! Sorry for the wait!
I do not own Free! Iwatobi Swim Club or any of the characters in it.
Thanks for sticking with me for this long. You all are wonderful people. I honestly did not expect this many reviews. Please enjoy the contents below.
Nagisa had never known silence to be so tangible.
Perhaps it's not the silence itself, he acknowledged as he stretched himself out a little more on the stiff red velvet couch. He traced the little loopy swirls designed all over the cushion with the tip of his index finger, while at the same time lightly nudging Rin in the stomach with his foot. The redhead, surprisingly enough, did not notice. Nor did he even twitch.
Booooring, Nagisa thought, propping his chin on his hand. His elbow sank down in to the cushion.
He had also never realized that Haru-chan could look so confused. The blue-haired teen was looking in between his servant and friend with his brows furrowed. Such a rare look, Nagisa mused.
He took a peek at Haruka's supposed 'servant'. Nagisa wasn't stupid. He had noticed the silver triangle earring right off the bat. He also noticed something a little different about this earring. Usually the triangle earrings were pierced a little higher up on the cartilage of the ear, like the tags farmers used to sort their livestock. This earring was down lower directly on the lobe of the ear. A specialized slave? You don't see many of those anymore, Nagisa thought. I thought the practice was illegal. Guess not...?
His pink eyes ran over Makoto's handsome features and broad frame. His gaze darted to Haruka, who looked like he was at the end of his patience.
Makoto... his lips pressed together in a sly smile. Mako-chan, huh...?
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.
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"Makoto. Makoto."
Makoto snapped out of his dazed trance and his green eyes zoned back to Haruka immediately. Right. Rin was here. Hazuki Nagisa. Master Haruka. Right.
"My deepest apologies, Master Haruka," Makoto said, all sunshine and politeness again. There was a thin film of sweat on his brow that did not go unnoticed. "I was quite surprised. I did not know you were acquainted with Lord Matsuoka Rin."
Clearly he was lying between his teeth. Haruka furrowed his brow. Makoto had just called Rin 'Rin' without any honorfics at all. Only family or close friends of noble blood were allowed to do such a thing. Had it not only been the four of them – the Matsuokas were reputed for being the kindest slave owners and Nagisa was a huge equal rights supporter – Makoto could have possibly been forced to perform hara-kiri.
"Mako – "
"AHHH! ENOUGH!"
Everyone jumped, including Rin who dislodged the shouter from his lap. "Honestly!" Nagisa swung his legs around so that he was sitting upright. "The atmosphere in here is terrible! Haru-chan, Rin-chan, and Mako-chan too! You're all too tense!" he scolded.
"Mako-chan?" asked Rin.
"Mako-chan?" asked Haruka.
"Mako-chan!" the blonde grinned at the looks on his friends' faces. "It's a cute name, don't you think?" he addressed Makoto directly this time. The servant looked taken aback.
"What you wish to call me, Lord Hazuki – " Makoto started to say before the bubbly Prime Minster heir cut him off.
"Call me Nagisa! Or Master Nagisa. Either one works," he tilted his head and his pink eyes twinkled mischievously, well aware of the trap in his words.
"... Master Nagisa then, seeing that I have no choice..." Makoto's lips also took on a faint smile. His green eyes flickered towards the redhead casually, as if they had only just met. "Do you have a preference as well, Lord Matsuoka?"
"... Master Rin or whatever works," Rin replied quietly. His lips pressed together as if suppressing other things he wanted to say.
"Very well then," Makoto bowed towards all of them and kept his light trademark smile on his face. "Dinner shall be served at 5 o'clock. I hope that you shall enjoy your meal tonight."
Haruka did not miss the odd tone of finality. "... Do you still need to go somewhere?"
"Ah, yes. I have been called away again for a certain duty," Makoto's eyes were gentle. They gave a truly regretful impression. "I am sorry that I cannot be here with you, Master Haruka."
"... It's fine," Haruka muttered, turning his face away. His expressive blue eyes turned a shade duller. "When will you be back?"
"Perhaps by ten o'clock tonight," Makoto replied. "I will return in time to help you with your bath, Master Haruka."
"But didn't you just come back?" Nagisa interjected, once more lying on his stomach, his chin supported by the armrest. "What was the point of coming back then going again?"
"Oh, I wanted to see Master Haruka before I had to leave again. This job seems to be much more taxing," Makoto replied easily. "Seeing Master Haruka beforehand lifted my spirits."
With his face still turned away, a light blush came over Haruka's face. Nagisa and Rin, who both noticed, glanced at each other. Nagisa's face had a soft smile, while Rin's depicted a light frown.
"Well then, Master Haruka. I will see you in a few hours," Makoto bowed formally towards all of them once again. His master nodded, his face back to its usual color and blankness.
Makoto frowned.
"Oh yes," he clapped his hands together, his expression lighting up as if he had just remembered something. "Master Haruka, there are private matters that I need to address with you. I'm terribly sorry to ask, but could I humbly ask you to step outside with me for a moment?"
Surprised, Haruka's eyes widened fractionally. It was not the request he minded, but the company of the people they were with. A slave requesting something of the master was highly irregular. If it were only he and Makoto alone, he wouldn't have minded. But proper etiquette needed to be seen to. Again, Haruka was glad that it was only Nagisa and Rin. A request would not earn hara-kiri, though it may have earned him a flogging.
He quietly followed Makoto out from his room and the two of them stood in the dusky hallway. The other servants were busy preparing for dinner, and his parents were probably still either in the study or their room. Ordinarily, another servant would be waiting outside of the door to wait on Haruka and his friends, but he had dismissed them so often that they no longer bothered. If Haruka needed one, he would call for them via the bell pulley system.* In other words, they were completely alone.
Perhaps that is why Makoto chose to be so bold.
Haruka felt a gloved hand press to his cheek and he had to swallow a gasp. Makoto's face came close to his, as close as it had the night had had been sick, and he once more felt as if he were swimming in glimmering green eyes. He was made uncomfortably aware of how much taller his slave was, having to tilt his head backwards to meet his gaze.
"Master Haruka," his normally light and polite voice was lower and suddenly sensual. The gloved thumb rubbed small circles on his cheek. "I apologize."
Caught off guard, Haruka could only blink and stare. Makoto continued to speak.
"I am sorry I cannot stay with you, as you desire," Makoto murmured. His breath ghosted over Haruka's face, making him shudder. "I am not happy about having to spend so much time away from you when I am supposed to be your servant. But my duties are unavoidable, though I would like to be by your side..."
"Then don't go," Haruka's voice was raspy to the point where he couldn't recognize it himself. "Stay."
Was it his imagination, or were Makoto's eyes glowing? He heard his slave's breathing hitch as Haruka lifted a hand to clasp the gloved one on his cheek. He pressed it harder to his flesh and wished that the glove would magically disappear. He wanted to feel Makoto, to feel his warmth.
"Master Haruka..."
"Stay," Haruka whispered. "This is an order."
He felt the hand on his cheek tighten. "I... I cannot. Even if it is an order from you, Master Haruka, I cannot. For that, I sincerely apologize."
"But I am your only Master," Haruka objected, his voice rising slightly in volume. "That is what you said to me. Were you lying?"
"Of course not!" Makoto looked mortified at the very idea. "I would never lie to you. Especially not to you! It's just..." the brunette closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "This is important, Master Haruka. If I want to remain by your side, this is absolutely necessary...!"
The intensity of his slave's words surprised Haruka. He searched his face, searched his expression, but could find no answer. Then again, he didn't even know what he was searching for.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn't even realize that Makoto had leaned forward more until he felt warmth on his forehead. Makoto had pressed their heads together, his eyes still closed.
"I'll be back soon," Makoto whispered. "I will return by your side soon, Master Haruka."
Then he pulled away and Haruka, who had also closed his eyes, heard his footsteps growing fainter and fainter. When the sound had completely disappeared, he opened his eyes again.
He's gone...
But...
He raised his fingertips and pressed them against his forehead which felt warm and feverish.
The place where his skin touched mine...
It burns...
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"Oh, Haru-chan!" Nagisa exclaimed as Haruka wobbled back into the room. "What did Mako-chan want? Did he – Haru-chan? Are you okay?"
Haruka collapsed back into his armchair and sighed, burying his face into his hands. "I'm fine..." he muttered, his voice muffled by his fingers. His forehead still burned from Makoto's touch. He felt his hands being pried away and he realized that he was staring into the red eyes of Rin.
"You alright? Your complexion isn't so good... did you get another fever?" Rin pressed his own hand to Haruka's head, checking his temperature. His hand was pleasantly cool. "It doesn't feel like you do..."
"Let me see!" Nagisa bounded over, squashing Rin flat underneath him. Rin narrowly avoided eating carpet by turning his head to the side.
"YEOWCH! NAGISA!"
"Hahahaha! Sorry, Rin-chan!" Nagisa pressed his forehead against Haruka's and hummed. "Hmm, well you don't seem like you have a fever..."
"I'm not sick," Haruka said brusquely, pushing him away. He felt highly irritated – and somewhat embarrassed – from the attention. "I have a deck of cards here. Let's play until dinner is ready."
"Ehh?! But Haru-chan always wins, no matter what card game we play!" the blonde complained. "Even if we know that Haru-chan is cheating, we still can't catch you!"
"It's not my fault that you're so clumsy with your hands," the blue-eyed young master couldn't help but feel a bit smug. "Let's play poker."
"It's boring if it's just that! Let's play strip poker!"
"Deal."
"WHAT?! Nagisa, Haru, I'm not doing this shit!"
"Why? Do you have something to be ashamed of?"
"... Haru, you little fucker, I'm going to kill you!"
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.
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Three rounds later, Haruka was smirking at Rin, who fumbled with the hem of his pants.
"Haru-chan won all the rounds! No fair!" Nagisa whined, rubbing his bare arms. He bounced up and down on the couch. His shirt had been flung onto Haruka's bed sheets. "Your room is cold without a shirt on!"
"I like the cold," Haruka gave Rin a once-over. "Nice fundoshi, Rin."
"Fuck you, Haru," Rin muttered. Having lost two rounds in a row, Rin was forced to strip of his top and bottom. Haruka dragged his eyes over the bare skin and muscles before him. "Quit staring at me so much. You have the same look in your eyes as Gou."
"Gou-chan still has a muscle fetish?" Nagisa questioned, his pink eyes twinkling with mischief. "Haru-chan, you'd better hope that Gou-chan never meets Makoto. She'd steal him away in a heartbeat."
"Come to think of it, he's gotten pretty huge," Rin said thoughtfully, leaning his head back to look upwards at the ceiling. "I didn't think he'd get to be such a big guy. He was always tall for his age though."
"Ah, so Rin-chan, you really did know him from before!" the blonde bounced up and down on the couch again, causing Haruka to wonder if he would have to replace the cushions later. "Hey, hey, what was your relationship?!"
"None of your business," Rin scowled at two people. "I thought I told you to stop staring, Haru."
"Let me draw you sometime. A naked sketch," Haruka replied without thinking. Rin's words were still echoing through his head and he wondered just how the redhead and the brunette knew each other. Did Makoto used to work for Rin...?
"Hell no! You're giving me the creeps, Haru...! Haru? What are you spacing out for?" Rin waved a hand in front of his face. Haruka didn't snap out of it.
"Are you thinking of Gou-chan?" Nagisa teased. "Ah, Rin, wouldn't it be nice of Haru-chan married Gou-chan? The two of you could be brothers!"
That snapped the water-lover out of it. "I don't want to marry Kou."
Rin jumped out of his chair and loomed over his friend, sharp teeth clacking together threateningly. "Are you saying that my sister isn't good enough for you?!"
"... Do you want her to marry me?"
"Hell no, you'd be a terrible influence on her," Rin plopped back down, crossing his arms and legs. "... She did used to say that she wanted to marry me when we were kids though... Gou..."
"Haru-chan, Haru-chan," Nagisa said in a purposefully loud whisper. "I think that Rin-chan is starting to turn into an old man."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Rin, who looked ready to jump on to Haruka, who was smirking immensely, bared his overly pointy teeth. Haruka, despite his apparent cockiness, placed most of his weight on his feet, ready to spring out of the way if need be. Just the moment the redhead was about to pounce, there was a timid knock on the door.
Nagisa groaned and rolled his eyes. "Great, and it was just getting good," he grumbled. "Come in!"
The door creaked open and the first thing Haruka saw was a head of gray hair cut into a bowl shape. Then he saw timid blue-gray eyes peeping from behind the wood. "Master Rin...?" he asked in a soft, nervous voice.
"Oh, come on in, Ai," Rin waved his hand offhandedly.
"Isn't this my room?" Haruka muttered, clearly irritated.
"The gray-haired servant dubbed 'Ai' shook his head quickly, causing his soft hair to fly every which way. "Oh no, Master Rin. The Nanase household's servants sent me to tell you that dinner is ready. Today's main course is freshly grilled mackerel with miso together with sautéed vegetables."
"Why is it always mackerel? What is it with your family and mackerel?"
"Shut up. Mackerel is the blessed food given by the ocean spirits."
Nagisa started laughing. "Whatever food it is, I'm starved! Let's go eat!" he said, playing peacemaker between the two. Grabbing both of them by the arms, he hauled them up and dragged them along with an amazing display of energy, much to Haruka and Rin's chagrin. All at once, he came to an abrupt halt right in front of Rin's servant. "Sorry," he apologized, making the gray-haired servant's jaw drop with shock. Masters never apologized to their servants. Especially not someone as important as the Prime Minister's son! But then again, this was Nagisa. "I didn't quite catch your name. Ai, was it?"
"N-N-Nitori Aiichirou, sir!" the servant squeaked out, bowing so low that he almost banged his head against his knees. "I-I am Master Rin's newly appointed personal servant, sir!"
"Nitori Aiichirou," Nagisa said thoughtfully, completely ignoring his friends who were attempting to struggle out of his iron grip. "I'll remember that. I'll call you Ai-chan!" Nagisa winked at him before once more yanking his friends along and sprinting out into the hallway.
"Take it easy, Nagisa! You're gonna pull my arms off!"
"Nagisa, stop running! And let go already!"
Nagisa high-pitched cackling laughter resonated all the way back to Nitori, who sweat-dropped. G-Good luck with that one, Master Rin...
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.
.
Haruka curled up in his bed in a fetal position. Two hours. It had been two hours since the end of dinner – which was delicious as usual – and only thirty minutes since Nagisa had yawned hugely and excused himself for bed. Rin followed him not long after, saying good night to Haruka before being escorted by Nitori to his guest room.
Haruka was waiting for Makoto.
He knew that Makoto had said that whatever job he had to do, it would take a long time. But Haruka's bath time was approaching fast and he hoped that his servant would return in time for it, like he had promised. While his skin itched to just forget about Makoto and head straight for his private bathroom and water-filled tub, his mind spoke otherwise and told him to wait.
Floorboards creaked outside of his door and Haruka immediately sat up, hopeful. His wish was granted when there were soft familiar knockings on the door.
"Come in."
Makoto pushed open the door and hurried into the room. "My deepest and most sincere apologies for being late, Master Haruka. I – " his master cut him off by holding up a single hand.
"Bath time. Now," Haruka replied, grabbing onto Makoto's hand to hoist himself off the bed. Not letting go, he pulled Makoto towards his private bathroom and promptly started to strip.
"M-Master Haruka, please don't toss your clothes on the floor like that! You'll get them wet!" Makoto momentarily panicked, hurriedly scooping up the slightly wet fabric. "Honestly, I've never seen you do this before. At least wait for me to properly undress you."
"Can't wait," Haruka muttered, promptly sliding into his bathtub. The warm water greeted him like a lover and he sighed in much needed relief. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Makoto fold his clothes and place them on a dry spot on the floor. Makoto used his teeth to remove his gloves. For some reason it made Haruka feel ridiculously hot.
First was Haruka's hair. Makoto lathered the shampoo between his palms and worked it into a foamy mass of bubbles. Haruka liked the way Makoto would wash his hair, with fingertips that pressed all the right places on his scalp as he worked the shampoo through fine black strands. His hands were so gentle, and yet it was at times like these where Haruka could feel the power that his servant possessed. If he wanted to, Makoto could probably crush Haruka's skull with ease. The young master shivered at the idea.
"I'm rinsing it out now, Master Haruka. Please close your eyes," Makoto's voice murmured softly into his ear. The way Makoto touched him was a little too intimate for a normal slave, but Haruka found that he liked the gesture and even welcomed it. More than anything, he wanted more of it.
Hot water splashed over his closed eyes as Makoto emptied the bucket over the head, washing out the suds and leaving his hair shiny clean. He felt Makoto's hands gently touch his wet bangs, brushing them out of the way from his face. "Master Haruka," he said for no particular reason, only because he wanted to. It was a peculiar habit of his.
Haruka couldn't help but shiver slightly at the touch, but something wafted past his nose and made him frown.
Again, Haruka thought, his face quickly forming a scowl. He smells like perfume again. And it's even stronger this time. The flowery scent annoyed him greatly and he gripped onto Makoto's wrist, ignoring the strange pleasure that suddenly shot through his body from touching his bare skin. "Makoto."
"Yes, Master Haruka?"
"... Take off your clothes."
"EH?!" Makoto gasped, yanking his hand out of Haruka's grip. "M-M-Master Haruka?!"
"Like I said, take off your clothes and get in here with me."
"W-W-Why?!"
"Because you reek of women," he muttered this last sentence so quietly that Makoto had to strain his ears to catch it. "You smell like their perfume."
"E-Eh? Do I?" Makoto pressed his free arm against his nose and sniffed. "Oh, I can smell it a little. Does it bother you, Master Haruka?"
It does, Haruka wanted to say. Instead what came out of his mouth was, "Not really... Just get in."
"...I'm terribly sorry, Master Haruka. But I must refuse this order even if it means my punishment," Makoto gently shook off Haruka's hand from his wrist, ignoring the way his master's brilliant blue eyes dimmed. It wasn't that he didn't see it – he ignored it. "Please give me your arm, Master Haruka."
"... Don't use the towel."
"Master Haruka, please, there is a protocol – "
"Don't use the towel," Haruka balled his fists underneath the water's surface.
The surprisingly sharp and commanding tone took Makoto by surprise. Sighing resignedly, he dropped the towel and folded his hands behind his back. "... Then what shall I use, Master Haruka?"
"Your hands," blue eyes darted towards Makoto's hands, which looked big, strong, and worn. He imagined them running over his body, rubbing the soap into his skin and he swallowed, suddenly feeling nervous. "Just your hands."
Makoto immediately obliged, reaching over for the soap to lather between his palms. "Your arm please, Master Haruka."
Haruka lifted his right arm out of the water and held it out over the side of the tub, so that the suds wouldn't get in the water. His breath caught in his throat as Makoto's bare, slippery hands slid over his skin.
Makoto's hands worked their way from his master's fingertips to the shoulder and back again, gently caressing, squeezing, and massaging as they went. The soap made his skin slick and it gave Haruka a strange burning feeling everywhere his servant's hands touched. He bit back a breathy gasp as Makoto lightly trailed his soapy fingers from the inside of his elbow to his wrists. He wasn't sensitive there. He wasn't supposed to be sensitive there. And yet when Makoto slid a little further up his shoulder towards his neck, Haruka made a little noise that almost sounded like a whimper.
Immediately, Makoto retracted his hands. "Master Haruka?" he asked, puzzled and waiting for permission to go further. Haruka took a little time to compose himself.
"I... I think that's enough for this arm," Haruka managed to say with a straight face. "Wash it off and do the next one."
Internally, he was panicking at himself. What was that?! he wondered to himself, wondering why Makoto's mere touch could make him lose control. He bit his top lip as Makoto obeyed and poured warm water over his arm to clean it off.
Makoto reached for the soap again and walked to the other side of the bathtub to wash Haruka's left arm. Still biting hard on his lip, Haruka tried his best not to make a sound when the burning sensation returned as the skin-on-skin contact started again.
He felt a trickle of wetness run down his chin and suddenly Makoto was visibly alarmed. "Master Haruka! Your lip!" he cried.
Haruka opened his mouth to speak and tasted liquid iron. He had bitten his lip so hard that it was bleeding. "It's fine," Haruka muttered, automatically lifting his cleaned arm to wipe it away. Makoto hastily stopped him by lightly jerking on his other arm.
"Don't just wipe it! It might make it worse! We need to wipe up the blood too, before it gets in the water," Makoto glanced down at his hands, covered in soap. If he touched Haruka's open wound with them, it might sting badly.
Haruka panicked a little when he felt the blood trickle lower and he tilted back his head so that it would at least run down his throat and not drip into his bath water. "Makoto. Clean it."
Green eyes watched the blood's process as it swiftly trailed down his Master's pale skin. "I'll go wash my hands, then – "
"No time! Just do it!"
"Um, um..." Makoto's eyes darted around. "... My thousand apologies, Master Haruka!"
"Wha – "
Something warm and wet that was definitely not Makoto's fingers touched just below his collarbone and made its way up to the hollow of his throat. He repressed a gasp as he realized that it was Makoto's tongue.
The large pink muscle delicately made its way up to his chin, leaving a thin trail of saliva on his skin. Realizing what would happen next, Haruka shut his eyes just as he felt Makoto's tongue lap against the wound on his lip.
Something inside of Haruka seemed to coil and tighten unbearably, giving him the sudden, desperate urge to cross his legs. Makoto continued to lick lightly on his top lip, cleaning away the blood. Haruka found himself gripping on to Makoto's sleeve and keening softly.
Why... Why does it feel good...?
All at once, it hit him of what they were doing. Makoto was practically kissing him. He was doing something more intimate than kissing him. They were servant and master. An act like this was completely forbidden.
Summoning a desire to escape – which was difficult because he didn't really want to escape – Haruka let go of Makoto's sleeve and placed his hand on his chest in a halfhearted effort to push him away. He gasped as Makoto grabbed his hand and entwined their fingers together, while his other hand also let go of Haruka's arm to favor the nape of his neck. Haruka tried to protest, to pull away again...
Then their lips were lightly pressing together and Haruka couldn't tell if it was on purpose or by accident and the next thing he knew he was being kissed over and over again on the lips and then Makoto's tongue licked his lip again, not to clean his wound but to... to...
"Stop!"
Instantly Makoto let go and Haruka pressed himself against the rim of his bath tub, trying to get as much distance from Makoto as he could. Wiping his lips with the back of his hand, he glanced at Makoto's face and recoiled even further.
The normally soft and gentle green eyes were suddenly tainted with something darker and carnal. Again, Haruka felt the powerful urge to cross his legs, but this time out of a feeling similar to fear.
Then Makoto blinked a few times and suddenly he seemed to come to his senses. "Master Haruka!" he gasped, his cheeks flushing a rosy pink. "I didn't mean to... I mean, I didn't... I..." he blushed terribly. "I'm so sorry, Master Haruka! I just... couldn't control myself..." his voice trailed off feebly and he shifted his glance to his hands. "Ah, I got soap on your neck. I'll wash it off, just wait a moment – "
"No," Haruka rasped, flinching at the thought of being touched again. "I-I'll do it myself. You're dismissed, Makoto. Go, just – " he waved his hand and again, Makoto obeyed without question, quickly rinsing off his hands and practically fleeing from the room.
Haruka shakily touched the back of his neck and his lips. Now that the fear was gone, suddenly the heat came back with a vengeance. It was similar to the feeling of when he dived into an iced lake – no matter how cold it was outside, after he emerged to the surface it would feel like something on the inside was on fire. Even his bath water felt chilly in comparison to his body.
Hot... so hot...
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Dressed in his dark blue sleeping yukata, Haruka could not even think about going to sleep. How many hours had he been lying awake on his bed? The burning had left him, much to his relief, but it was replaced with a powerful urge to see Makoto again. On a whim, he made up his mind to go see him.
He should live in the farthest of the servants' quarters... since we don't actually have rooms for slaves...
Quietly shutting his bedroom dorm behind him, Haruka took unsteady steps down the hallway, his bare feet making little to no sound. He placed his hand against the wall to make up for his obscured vision. The lights were all out now, and while he was free to wander as he pleased, he didn't want to see anyone but Makoto.
He did pause, however, just outside of Nagisa's guest room and press his ear to the door. Hearty snores from inside told him that Nagisa was completely knocked out. Figures, Haruka thought dryly. He bounces around with so much energy, of course he would wear himself out...
Shaking his head, he moved on. Rin's room was just around the corner from Nagisa's. The company president was probably already asleep, since he was actually very conscientious and responsible despite initial appearances. Much to Haruka's surprise, however, the light was still on and the door was slightly ajar. As he moved closer, he could hear two voices. One was Rin. The other was...
Makoto?
He quietly slid closer to the door and tried to peer through the narrow crack. He saw Rin, sitting on his bed, dressed in his gray sleeping yukata. He couldn't see Makoto, but judging from the direction of Rin's gaze, he was on the other side of the room.
They were speaking very quietly and so it was difficult to hear their conversation. Straining his ears, however, Haruka could at least hear Rin's words.
"I don't understand," Rin was saying. "Why are you even here..."
Makoto's words were indiscernible, but Rin gave a big sigh and propped his elbow on his knee, his chin on his palm. "It's not like I don't know what you mean, but... Even so, you shouldn't do such a thing... I can't believe Haru's parents would make you do that... What? What do you mean, yourself? ... You'll show me? What do you mean you'll show me... HOLY HELL!"
Haruka jumped and so did Rin, up to his feet. "What the hell is that?!" Rin was demanding, his face looking absolutely furious. "What the hell is that?!"
It seemed that Makoto did not lose his composure at Rin's outburst. His words were as soft as before.
"The fuck do you mean! That isn't natural!" Rin hissed, seeming to remember that it was late at night. "You didn't... You can't mean..." Rin shook his head in disbelief. "You are one crazy motherfucker, I'll give you that. But hey, do you realize what you're doing? Do you even..." Rin trailed off. Haruka tried to shift his view to see Makoto, widening the crack slightly as a result. "Makoto, what about Haru? If you hurt him, I'll never forgive you."
Me? Haruka wondered, still trying to see Makoto. Why are they talking about me?
Suddenly the need to see Makoto was made unnecessary. The servant himself strode into view, standing directly in front of Rin. Haruka frowned. Something about his appearance was very... disheveled. Even more than when he had run from the bathroom.
"I won't hurt him," Makoto stated. From the angle he and Haruka were at, only his back and the side of his head were visible. His eyes were not. "I won't hurt him, but... I will use him."
Haruka's gasp was swallowed up by Rin's indignant outburst. "HOW COULD YOU – "
"Please, Rin. It's almost two o'clock in the morning. Mind your volume," Makoto gently reprimanded him. Haruka's eyes narrowed. Makoto was speaking to Rin so casually. It was almost like a conversation between two friends, not a noble and slave. "Like I said... I'll use him, but I won't hurt him," Makoto seemed to stand a little taller, his back straighter. "But no matter what, I will protect my Master."
A warm and tingly feeling surged through his said master standing outside the door. Makoto, Haruka thought, with the fierce urge to hug him. Makoto.
Yet the way Rin was looking at Makoto made him uncomfortable. It was not affection, nor anything particularly romantic. It was the gaze of a man who cared very deeply and was afraid for him. "Hey," Rin said in a hoarser tone. "You... will you be alright with this? With everything? Does Haru even remember – "
"He doesn't," Makoto interrupted him. Haruka impulsively flinched. A slave interrupting the Master would earn a week of solitary confinement with limited nourishment. "And I don't want him to. As long as I am near him, I am happy."
Rin scrutinized Makoto skeptically. "You're sappy as usual. And overly masochistic," he sighed deeply. "... Hey."
"Hm?"
"... Don't be too reckless alright?" to Haruka's shock, Rin reached up and touched Makoto's face gently on the cheek, reminiscent of how Makoto had cupped Haruka's cheek hours before. "I don't want to lose the two of you. Especially you. Not again. I couldn't take it the first time."
Makoto smiled – Haruka couldn't see his face but he knew he smiled – and murmured, "I know," before enveloping Rin into his strong arms for a hug.
Again, heat flooded into Haruka's body, but this heat was different. Instead of a burning sensation which ebbed its way down his body, it was more like he was being pricked by a thousand heated nails, stabbing him from the inside out. The sight of his servant and his friend hugging was painful, and he didn't even know why.
"Protect yourself. And Haru," Rin was muttering. Makoto laughed softly into his hair, making several red strands wave from his breath.
Haruka couldn't stand it anymore. He inched himself away from the door and then sprinted away back towards his room when he deemed himself far enough. What he wasn't aware of were the green eyes, following his image as he ran away.
*The bell-pulley system is an older system similar to an intercom. Bells would be set up in certain rooms available for the Masters within the house to pull. Pulling one would cause the pulley system to ring another bell down below in the servant's quarters. The bell would be labeled in which room the servant is being summoned. I made up the name but I know this system exists (you can also see it in Kuroshitsuji chapter 33 page 24).
My apologies for the late chapter. It wasn't flowing as smoothly as I would have liked until the bath scene. I had to rewrite it several times and even now I'm not satisfied. Hopefully I can do better for chapter 4. Cheers, everyone, and Happy New Year. I hope you all have a happy 2014.