Awesome Empress: With all due respect, you ain't seen nothing yet.
WolfPacFaan: Asshole Makoto will be here for quite a while longer, unfortunately. But time shall march on relentless and then reveal everything to us all.
Abiding Angel: I love re-readers like you because you catch things which I had hoped to be caught. And you're talking about racyue, right? I love her adorable artwork!
NyxLied: Hm, I don't know. Does he? *dangles carrot*
A: If you have read this far you should realize that this is the point, LOL. I'm a sadist by nature.
Nayomi-Kiiroibara: Do keep making the theories, I love them so very much. It makes me feel like I'm writing a good mystery.
Amaylee: I'm glad that it has you hooked, but I apologize for the trauma. :P
starry-eyealchemist: I see that I have done my job well.
Whoruntheworld: Awww! Your praise makes me so happy! Thank you! I'll continue doing my best for readers like you~
Elouai: I looked back at my previous chapters and realized what a piece of trash I have turned Makoto into and I find it hilarious because GOOD GOD THIS STORY WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO TURN IN THIS THIS KIND OF STORY. I literally meant to write Makoto as a character with a troubled past and then all of a sudden Makoto and Nagisa's first serious conversation turned into a catalyst for THIS MONSTROSITY.
WrenchingStar: If I say no promises, will you kill me?
KeefaMighty: Here is another chapter, but you will still have no idea what's happening.
TigerWaffle: You know, when I first got this review in my email, it was one of those reviews that was too long to read so they give you a link directly to the review page. Normally when that happens I click on the link and the review is like maybe three to four sentences longer. In your case it was FIVE PARAGRAPHS LONGER. I have never felt this combination of happiness from your praise and guilt from corrupting you. Please, continue to read and review because I feel like I'm going to enjoy chatting with you, lol.
Stewbaka: So how long did it take you to read 17 chapters in the end? LOL. Sorry for badly distracting you. Thank you for reading.
Jokomambe: The suspense is killing me too! But there is something called rhythm and pacing in writing.
Miki Mae: I see that you are a new reader. I can tell this because you have left 9 reviews on sequential chapters in the span of a single day. I will admit that I am currently glorying in your pain which you have showered news onto me about. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE CONVERTED A PRO-MAKOHARU INTO A PRO-RINHARU HOLY SHIT WHAT AM I DOING. I'M TAKING AWAY FROM MY OTP. Will it be too late if I promise a happy ending? (I will not promise about denying SouRin because I actually like the couple but honestly I wasn't actually counting on having Rin being paired up with anybody.)
Haruko: I'm pretty sure I read the exact same doujinshi and I'll admit that it's pretty accurate in the terms of "a bird in a cage". Unfortunately your theory isn't right this time around - it's not even close, lol. Even in the beginning stages of this fanfiction I hadn't planned on the drowning slave be Makoto. And Haru still has about four or five days... Don't worry, he's not going to be sent to his doom (yet).
Lilioth: I'm glad for your love~ Thank you very much!
I do not own Free! Iwatobi Swim Club or any of the characters in it.
This chapter will be considerably slower than the previous somewhat fast-paced chapters. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce a change of setting.
Sousuke bent over his worktable as he used his large hands to skillfully handle a bulky roll of cloth. The black cotton fabric felt smooth beneath his fingertips and he smiled slightly. The material was of high quality and felt great to touch. It would make a nice casual dress shirt or perhaps he should use it to make a lady's dress. As he contemplated, there was a loud banging from his entrance of the shop and he glanced up to see a familiar face glowering in his direction.
"You'll scare off my customers," the brunette remarked, stepping away from the worktable to lean over the sales counter. "It's been a while. Do you need something made?"
"Back," Rin shot back immediately. Sousuke took that to mean "let me in the back so that we can talk" and gestured for him to walk around the counter.
"I have to work while we talk. I have a couple new designs that I need to test out," he said as his best friend from childhood came closer. "Is there something wrong? Did Gou finally get a boyfriend?"
"Over my dead body!" Rin yelped, successfully distracted. Sousuke laughed at him and went back to fondling his fabrics.
"So why are you here?"
Rin paused. Now that he looked back on it, he really probably should have thought about what to say. With his mind still steaming from his encounter with Makoto, he had pretty much just come to the tailor shop on a whim. Asking directly would probably cause Sousuke to dodge the question...
"You okay? You've got a weird look on your face," the tailor's lips curled into a small smile. "Don't tell me. You're thinking."
"You suck!" Rin immediately countered, giving him a light kick in the shin. He propped his elbows against the counter and gave an exasperated sigh. "Fuck it, I'm not good at subtlety. Sousuke, you know that Makoto's back, right?"
"Yeah," Sousuke shrugged and picked up a pair of nearby scissors to start snipping at the black fabric. Blue eyes cast a sidelong glance. "Why?"
Rin was honestly thrown by the curt and overly honest reply. He had thought that Sousuke wouldn't be willing to tell him, well, anything. "Uh... well, I just thought that you would be glad he was back. You liked him, right?"
"Mm, yeah, he was a good guy," Sousuke picked up the piece of fabric he had cut out and examined it. "Bit of a pushover though. He was always more concerned with others than himself."
"Heh, sounds like someone we know."
"Shut it," this time it was Sousuke who gave Rin a light kick. "But it's weird that you would come out all this way just to tell me. Isn't it more like something you would wait to say until I came over to visit?"
"Uh..." curse having a childhood friend who knew him so well. "I just thought that you would like to know. I mean, you got real quiet after he left, not to mention you started to hate on Haru even more than usual..."
The scissors started to cut more vigorously. "Mm."
"So, uh, do you want to meet him? We can all go to Haru's place and – "
"No, I don't think I will," Sousuke held up the fabric, examining the cuts he made and what he could turn it in to. He opened a drawer from under his worktable and pulled out black thread and a needle. "I've already been in touch with him."
"You what?" Rin froze. "Since when? Since he went to work for Haru?"
"No, for a year before that," Sousuke's piercing teal eyes were suddenly passionate as they gazed at his friend. "We've been exchanging letters."
"What?!" the redhead squawked, standing up straight. "You've been sending letters? Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Because it's something that you need to stay out of," Sousuke slipped a thimble onto his finger and the thread into the needle. "The two of us have exchanged letters a few times in the past. In his last letter he told me that he was going to be working for Nanase and that we should meet up. Which we did," he added, his voice hardening slightly. "Don't get in involved, Rin."
"He's my friend, like I'm going to not get involved," Rin snarled, hands balling into fists. "But why did he send letters to you? I've known him longer than you have!" he was unable to keep the jealousy out from his voice. He had done so much for Makoto, but he had instead turned to Sousuke?
"I guess he found me to be more reliable than you," Sousuke shrugged and began to sew the black fabric together.
"... Why did he send you letters at all?" Rin asked after cooling himself down. "He's been missing for so many years and then he just suddenly decides to send you a letter? What did they say?"
"Rin," Sousuke's voice held a note of finality. "Stay out of it."
The redhead let out a wordless, frustrated groan and jumped over the sales counter to stomp towards the entryway. "Fine! Fuck you! I'll figure out what's going on myself! I don't need your help or your commentary! Asshole!" he shouted over his shoulder.
"Wait, Rin!" Sousuke called, wincing slightly as the door slammed shut hard enough to make his teeth rattle. "Damn," he held up the fine black button-up shirt he had just thrown together while they had been talking. "I wanted to give this to him..."
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"Our summer house?" Haruka asked suspiciously, eyeing both of his stone-faced parents across the dining table. They were eating a light lunch of fish, salads, and tea, when this conversation had started. "What about our summer house?"
"Your father and I are going to be away for a while," his mother said, her voice soft and impossible to argue with. "I imagine that you don't want to come along, Haruka, so we're offering to let you stay at the summer house while we're gone. You may take servants with you, if you wish."
Haruka turned his gaze to his father, who was using his fork to pick at his food. He never picked at his food. What was going on? His father had always been the one to give in to his demands, or tell him secrets, so Haruka simply asked him directly: "Father, why are you leaving?"
"Business," was the reply. Under his son's burning gaze, Lord Nanase relented. "We have a possible new business partner in America. We're going to go there in person to establish a business deal. No offense, Haruka, but your English is too lacking. We're not going for sightseeing, so you'll just get in the way."
Admittedly, that hurt Haruka's feelings a little. Pouting, he turned his head to the side. "... Can I take just Makoto with me?"
"You may," said Lady Nanase. "I'm sure that he'll be delighted to go with you."
Haruka shot his mother a skeptical look. How would she know what Makoto would be happy about? They barely ever interacted, at least in front of him. The idea of Makoto meeting his parents behind his back made his mouth go dry.
"... Then I'll tell Makoto to pack. When should we leave?"
"Today, by the earliest, since it takes a night to get there. Your father and I will be leaving tomorrow afternoon," Lady Nanase daintily wiped her small mouth with her napkin and put down her silverware. "You should go pack."
This was too weird for Haruka. But then, the idea of going to the summer house was very appealing. When his grandmother was still alive, the two alone often went there. The Nanase summer house was by the beach and Haruka loved to swim in the ocean from time to time. His grandmother, who was really the only person to ever understand him as a child, taught him how to cook there, and encouraged his artistic talents by buying him paints and canvasses from the local shops. After Madame Nanase's death, however, he had refrained from going because of the memories he had of her in that place. But now...
Maybe I can make new memories with Makoto.
"I'll go," Haruka made to stand up when he saw something flash in both of his parents' eyes. What was that emotion supposed to be? If he didn't know any better, he would have said that it was concern. Well, whatever.
As soon as he left, Lord Nanase took Lady Nanase's hand into his own and squeezed it. "Don't worry," he said softly. "I'm sure that Makoto-kun knows what he's doing."
"I don't care!" Lady Nanase hissed back to him. "Just knowing what he's planning is horrible enough, but I have to just sit here and pretend to know nothing – "
"We have an atonement to pay," her husband tried to reason with her. "This is something that we need to do, to clear our own guilt and maybe set things right – "
"Our baby," Lady Nanase began to cry and used her napkin to dab at her eyes. "They're going to do such horrible things to our baby!"
"Shh, I know, I know..."
"I'm amazed that you can muster up so much emotion for the Young Master," came Makoto's voice, thick with amusement. He watched as the two broke apart and shook his head, still amused. "Don't mind me. I think that it's a good thing your marriage as managed to pull together, despite what a shipwreck it used to be," Makoto strode forward and seated himself in Haruka's vacant chair.
"What would you know?" Lord Nanase asked bitterly, one hand still over his wife's protectively. "What would you, who is trying to take our son from us, know?"
"I know," the brunette's eyes softened very slightly, just enough to let the worried parents see his compassion. "I know, that your marriage was arranged and unwanted by you both. I know, that when Master Haruka was born, suddenly your world brightened and that maybe your marriage wasn't such a bad thing. I know, that Master Haruka is the reason why you two stayed together, and even managed to start to fall in love," he eyed their joined hands on the table. "I know, that both of you think that Master Haruka is one thing you have in common and treasure so fiercely, and yet the both of you are too awkward to show it openly in front of both him and the servants due to the first few frigid years. I know."
An awkward silence settled over them before Lady Nanase's spoke, "And even though you know, you'll still take him away...?"
Makoto gave her a half-smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Unfortunately, I must."
"... When this is over," Lord Nanase asked hesitantly. A little glimmer of hope entered his voice. "When this is all over, will we be able to see him again? Can he come back home?"
"..." Makoto stood up from his seat and made to leave. With a hand on the open door, he stopped. "... Yes, he can."
And just as tremulous smiles began to appear on the Lord and Lady's faces, Makoto turned his head to smile at them, and this time the dullness in his eyes – the same dullness Haruka had noticed when they had first met – was clear. "But he'll be just as broken as me."
In the hall, Makoto closed the door behind him and leaned his back against it, listening as on the other side Lady Nanase burst into tears and sobbed openly on her husband's shoulder.
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Nagisa swung his legs to and fro as he sat on his bed, watching Rei pour water from a silver pitcher into a glass for him to drink. "Here, Master Nagi – "
"Rei-chan~ I don't want to tell you again~"
"... Nagisa-kun," Rei said with a sigh. "Here is your water. Will you be turning in for tonight?"
"Yup," Nagisa smiled, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I can't wait to go on a trip with you, Rei-chan!"
"Trip?" Rei paused in setting down the water pitcher. "Is there an event coming up soon? I'm afraid that I haven't heard..."
"What are you talking about Rei-chan? The trip!" Nagisa bounced off his bed and landed on his feet with a flourish. The glass in his hand sloshed water onto the carpet. "It's a trip, just for you and me!"
"I'm afraid I still don't quite understand – "
"Rei-chan~" the blonde drew out the name in a long singsong. "It's too late for you to start playing dumb~" he twirled around on one leg, the glass virtually emptied onto the ground.
"Please stop that!" Rei cried out, rushing at the carpet with a towel. The shiny gold threads had become a dull shade of yellow. As Rei dabbed at it, Nagisa laughed out loud and threw himself onto Rei's back, toppling the two over into a pile.
"Oof," Rei grunted, trying to roll out from under the wiggling mass of limbs and laughter. "Nagisa-kun!"
"Rei-chan~" Nagisa grinned. "My bags are all packed and ready to go~"
"I don't – "
"What's Ácweorran like, my dear Marquis Rei-chan?"
Rei effectively shut his mouth and stared at the water staining the carpet. Nagisa destroyed the quiet with an almost girlish giggle. "Rei-chan, were you happy there?" he asked in a softer voice. "Will I be happy there too?"
Rei did not answer, but instead he stopped struggling altogether and went limp. His glasses were askew. "... Probably not," Rei said softly, and one hand went up to tangle in golden locks. "Your experiences will be dreadful, to say the least. I'm afraid that once you have gone in, you will not be the same when you step out."
"You're finally being honest with me," Nagisa said in wonder and his laughter rang like little bronze bells. "But Rei-chan, I can still trust you, right?"
"... I have no idea why you would," Rei pushed up his glasses. "... But I'll try to make sure you aren't abused too badly."
"Thank you, Rei-chan," Nagisa smiled up at his servant with innocent, beguiling eyes, as Rei coughed and turned his gaze away from his ever dazzling young master.
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"The summer house?" Makoto asked pleasantly, glancing out of Haruka's bedroom window at the blazing sun. "It is good weather to go to the beachfront. So we're going there for a vacation."
"It's not really a vacation. It was something completely unplanned," Haruka smiled at Makoto as he packed his clothes into a medium-sized leather suitcase. "You should pack clothes too."
"How much?"
"..." Haruka paused as he realized that his parents did not say specifically how long they would be gone. "... I don't know," he looked at his bag doubtfully and made an estimate. "Maybe a week?"
"I'll pack for two," Makoto chuckled. He moved to gently push his master aside and started folding clothes in his place. "Will we need to bring food or any other supplies? I'm assuming that I will have to do the cooking..."
"I'll cook," Haruka immediately said as he dug through his dresser for his swimsuit. "There's a nice market there that can sell fresh mackerel. Since we're right next to the beach, we can go fishing too."
"That sounds nice," Makoto hummed, tucking several casual shirts in blue, black, and gray into the bag. "It almost sounds like a honeymoon."
Haruka's brain screeched to a halt before it charged forward into a horde of filthy thoughts and deviant daydreams. "... Yeah..." he mumbled, though his face showed nothing of what he was thinking. Come to think of it, they were supposed to be... lovers, or something, weren't they? They had confessed their feelings to each other and now they were leading what Nagisa would call "the rosy lovey-dovey life". As a couple, it would be the first time that they would be completely alone...
... Will Makoto take off the mask he usually wears?
Would he let himself loose with no one but the two of them there? Would Haruka get a little glimpse of the beast which lurked within his servant's sweet exterior?
"Master Haruka, you're frozen. What's wrong?" concerned green eyes gazed at him and the wildness was indiscernible from the gentleness obscuring it. "Are you not feeling well?"
"I'm fine," Haruka said hurriedly. "I was just thinking about the summer house. Rather than the ocean, there was a long river near the house that I always used to play in..." suddenly it was as if his memory throbbed with a life of its own and he almost fell to his knees with the amount of pain bouncing around his skull. A strong arm wrapped around his waist to hold him steady.
"Master Haruka!" he heard his faithful servant cry out. Struggling to stay one his feet (and stay conscious), Haruka squeezed his eyes shut and instead focused on the firm realness pressed against his body that was Makoto. The throbbing slowly began to subside and he sighed in relief, until he looked up and realized that he could see his reflection in green eyes.
Eye contact remained unbroken. The pain was forgotten altogether as he felt Makoto's hand cup his cheek and a wave of anticipation washed over him.
"Master Haruka," the rough pad of Makoto's thumb rubbed irregular circles on the softer flesh of his face. The voice was low and husky. "May I kiss you?"
"... If we're alone you really don't have to ask – mmph."
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Haruka was thankful that his parents didn't bother to say goodbye to him – though he did see his mother standing at her bedroom window, watching him leave, which was kind of creepy – otherwise they would ask why his lips were slightly swollen. Makoto had been in a toothy mood. The coachman, true to his service training, said absolutely nothing, nor did he look directly at him.
Makoto loaded up the carriage with their luggage and then extended a hand to help Haruka into the coach. Haruka's lips pulled into a slight frown, since he didn't appreciate being treated as a woman, but the gesture was at least considerate. As he climbed in and seated himself on smooth velvet cushions, he caught a glimpse of his father over Makoto's shoulder before the door swung shut and the horses were reared into action.
What was with that worried crease between his eyes? It didn't suit him at all.
"You should try to sleep a little, Master Haruka," Makoto was saying. "By the time we get there, it will be morning or early afternoon," they were seated next to each other – something unheard of for a master and lowly slave, but Haruka had insisted – and a strong arm wrapped around his shoulders and pulled him closer. "You may lean on me, if you'd like."
Haruka felt the heat ripple over his skin as the faint smoky fragrance of Makoto wafted under his nose. It disappeared almost immediately, and he buried his head in closer to catch it again. Makoto laughed in his usual soft way and stroked his master's hair, murmuring quietly into his ear.
"Sleep, my Master. I will wake you up in the morning," he murmured with words as thick and sweet as honey, complete with the burning aftertaste in the back of the throat after swallowing.
Have you ever swallowed a spoonful of honey? If you have, you'd probably know what I'm talking about.
Ever since I've seen what Haruka's (and EVERYBODY'S) parents looked like, I can't really fit the image of cold parents to them anymore. Since Haruka lived by himself while his parents were in Tokyo, I thought that they were detached from him. But Haruka's mother (who he REALLY resembles) is so pretty with a nice smile and his father looks so damn YOUNG. I know that we're probably too far away to see the wrinkles or creases, but man the Nanases are a very pretty family.
For the record, I've been taking Creative Writing classes (finally) in college so my writing style may start to jump around a bit. Just a warning beforehand. Hopefully it changes for the better.