"I LEFT YOU ALONE ONE HOUR. ONE FUCKING HOUR. AND YOU GO AHEAD AND RUIN WHAT COULD BE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR LIFE. WHAT THE FUCK RIN, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! DO YOU EVEN THINK?! I CANT BELIEVE-" Makoto's surprisingly angry, running his mouth and even swearing. Makoto never swears so that's a starter. Since Rin had called him he had been screaming at him on the phone and wouldn't stop.

"Makoto" Rin urges, trying to calm him down.

"DON'T YOU MAKOTO ME RIN, YOU KNOW HOW BAD THIS IS. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME A MERMAN HAD TRUST IN YOU. A PURE BLOOD SPECIFICALLY?!" He stays silent. "HUH?!"

"Never, Makoto. I-"

"EXACTLY" he yells once more and Rin hears his sigh. "What the heck, Rin. Seriously. What did you even tell for him to get so angry?"

Rin sighs again, running his free hand through his hair. "Apparently, there's a way for him to turn human"

There's a pause. "No fucking way"

"Yes way"

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Makoto sounds worried. "Him being human and all that?"

"Let me finish. He told me and first of course I was excited but then I asked him if it was dangerous and he said it could take his life and - Makoto, what in the actual fact. Are you fucking crying?"

"Sorry, sorry" Rin hears a sniffle. "It's just like a romantic movie but go on"

"So I was like, 'there's no way I'll let you gamble your own life" but he was like, insisting and saying he'd give anything but I wouldn't budge and then he said 'we could be normal' and then I yelled at him 'i don't want you normal, i want you safe' and why the fuck am I even telling you this? The point is he looked really angry and he had, like, a nervous reaction, cause his scales stood on end like cats hair and then his teeth were sharp and his pupils turned to slits and I was so fucking scared so I just, like, got out of the water and yelled so hard I think you could hear me from the station and then he looked super scared and I felt so guilty and when I tried to touch him to say sorry he hissed at me and now I'm here spitting this story on the fucking phone and I fucked up and now I don't know what to do" Rin said really fast, but he knew Makoto could keep up to him.

"I...I'm really sorry Rin" Makoto says with genuine sadness and understanding. "But, I know that the Haru you saw, the one with the sharp teeth; I have never heard of that happening before" the passing of pages on the other side of the line was faint but enough to be heard. "But I don't really know if you can gain his trust again. That's not on any book I've read. These are all theory, physical. That untrust is psychological"

"Oh God, Makoto" Rin kept shaking his head. "How am I supposed to-?"

"Wait!" Makoto suddenly sounded a little hopeful, the sound of a book slamming on a table. "It says here something. 'Pure bloods are recognized by the color of the tail and the loneliness, showing how careful they are' like I told you"

"So..."

"'So it's really complicated to earn one's trust' like you did. 'And this trust forms a connection between the pure blood and the folk it's laying the trust on, like a bond' it says some things about how to see these bonds, tail twining, hormones, eye color, blah blah - here. 'If said bond is to be broken there could be serious psychological damage. Like low self esteem, almost no emotions showed; there can even be an inability to swim anymore, and the tail could lose color' blah blah"

Rin sighs and presses his thumb and index finger to his temple. "Makoto, that just makes me feel worse. I'm even more worried now"

"Sheesh, don't be impatient" Makoto barks at him "it says here that 'it would be really difficult to earn ones trust again. BUT there is a way to do it. As the merfolk would be deeply offended, it's improbable the other folk would be able to even touch him, so the bond must be mended another way. Merfolk, especially Pure bloods, consider trust a queer feeling, used only in rare occasions. So one way would be to show trust is still an option' that's actually pretty difficult" murmurs Makoto, but composes himself immediately. "'Or the folk must prove he or she is a real mate by finding the other's weak or sensitive spot' that's actually pretty romantic, isn't it? But you would have to do it on the first try you near him or it won´t work"

Rin sighs for the third time that day, "yes, it is. But who the hell found out that information?" Rin could almost feel the shrug. "Okay, so I must prove myself to be a real mate?"

"It sounds so weird when you say it" Makoto giggles. "But yeah. Basically. Then it says 'if it works, the Pure Blood would have no other option as he or she is flattered by the action and gain trust again. After this the folk must make an offering to the Pure Blood, like a small sacrifice. It could be letting the Pure Blood drink some of the others blood or vice versa'"

"That's creepy" Rin mutters "sounds like freaking vampires"

"Well," Makoto says, sounding relieved. "At least thank God-"

"If there is one on the first place"

"-that you found a way to earn his trust again. It could be worse" Makoto finishes, ignoring his comment completely. "And taking into consideration both vampires and mermaids were considered myths before The Incident, I'm not surprised they have similar properties or quirks"

"You sound like a professional" Rin mocks him. "Thanks"

"This is big" Makoto laughs on the phone nervously. "Don´t fuck up Rin. You better gain his trust"

"Yes that´s why I´m hanging now" Rin pulled the phone away from his ear, hearing Makoto´s protests but anyways hung up and flopped down on his bed.

You have to prove yourself trustworthy, Rin thought as he energetically stood up and jumped a few times, rubbing his hands together like a maniac. You gotta prove Haru. You gotta see a mate in you, gotta see it, gotta be it. Be the mate. Deeper in his mind a voice told him, you are seriously a retard. He pushed it away. Shut up. I gotta be the mate.

He googled in his laptop: How to gain one´s trust again. "Okay, okay" he said clicking a link that said ´How convince someone to trust you back´ ((this actually exists)). "Convince them with your actions. Out of limits. Blame yourself. Don´t do it again. That´s pretty obvious. Do it by your manners. Be patient. Be ready to sacrifice. The irony god" he read everything under his breath. "Think about what you did. Surprise them. My best. Surrender your privacy. The fuck´s that supposed to mean? Offer to make amends. Apologize being specific. Don´t pressure for forgiveness. Give them space and time. Respect their decision. Oh god…" he closed his laptop and run his fingers through his hair. "Don´t expect forgiveness"

After some mental preparation he was standing at the bathroom´s door, his hands in his pockets. He knocked almost soundlessly. Okay, let´s do this. He slid the door open and watched as Haru dropped his head back in the water almost completely, only his eyes peeking out. The same he had done when Makoto had come in. It wasn´t a good signs but Rin had to at least try. He neared the tub slowly and sat down on the toilet beside it. Haru, of course, went straight to the opposite side from where he was close to and continued staring at the water for a change.

"Hey…" he started calmly, dropping his hand to move the water slightly. It had gone cold from so long without changing but Rin kept moving his hand in it in slow circles. "I don´t really know what to tell you for you to believe me, but I´m really sorry for how I reacted. I – It´s my fault; all this…It´s not what I wanted – what I want. I was just scared…for you. I need you to understand it´s you I worry about. Not me. I don´t want us to end like this; not talking, not touching. " he waited. Blame yourself. Check. Do it by your manners. Check. Apologize being specific. Check. Give them space and time. Check. Be patient. Check. He remembered what he had read.

Rin had it clear it was too improbable that Haru would gain trust in him so easily again; he knew Haru was probably making an escape plan in his mind right now. But he had to try. He first thought about it and decided against it, but as if his body was moving alone, he found himself easing himself onto the tub. Haru didn´t move a muscle as he did; his tail was bended like normal legs would against his chest and he was hugging himself. The posture made Rin feel worst than he already did and he found himself copying it except his arms were crossed over his knees sloppily.

Rin was defeated by then, the only thing he had left to do was wait, but the more he did the worst he felt. But this was something he couldn´t lose. This bond – to put in some way – had to be mended. Shit, I sound like a teenager, he thought helplessly. But what was he supposed to think like? Rin had never felt so compromised to something before. Sure, the races before The Incident had asked all but effort from him; but this was different. This was something he did for himself and not against someone. But it is like a race, his mind told him; except this time the prize is not a trophy…

He looked up at Haru through tired eyes and almost jumped backwards when he saw the merman was looking at him; there was still doubt in his eyes, and he wasn´t happy or excited or nothing close to that. His expression was plain, save for the doubt; he was pokerfaced. Therr was no disgust, no fear, no anger. Nothing. And Rin felt so relieved

This time the prize is him.

omg so shorttt. But i got the rest (kind of) planned so next chapters are coming soon. Short thanks: But omg i never believed i would have reviewss jbakxgcbw. ALL of you I´ve read them u beutiful ppl you have me smiling like an idiot. CapriciousUke 6 in a row i was crying i swear ur all so beautifull and good and awesome for reading my crappy writing. Thank you! IM SMILING IKEA RETARD EVERY DAY CAUSE OF YOU *sprays you with flowers*