Author Note: Happy (late) New Year, everyone! Damn am I glad to finally be in 2014. I hope you all had a wonderful time during the holidays. During the crappy final days of 2013 the only things that kept my spirits up was writing fanfics in my journal (since my poor computer is nearing it's untimely end) and surfing Tumblr on my phone. Every time I got a notification that another lovely person was following/or faving this fic, and my others as well, it made my heart fly! Thank you to every single one of you for reading the stuff I attempt to write. Much love to you!

Warnings: Aside from those already mentioned in chapter 1: a bit of angst in this chapter, and have I already mentioned OOC, because, yeah OOC...

This will also be posted to my tumblr: dontlookdirectly

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The soft breeze did little to alleviate the harsh rays of the blazing sun. Makoto wiped away the sweat that dripped down his forehead. His mind was eagerly supplying an image of his mother's iced tea, tart and cool, waiting for him at home. This only urged him on, his pace quickening. Until…

"Um, excuse me." The soft voice came from behind him and halted his movements. The brunette turned around and came to face a pretty, young women. Her dark hair was pulled up in a messy bun and her brown eyes were filled with worry. His eyes then found the small child she was holding in her arms, a large blue hat covering most of his face.

"Do you need help?" Makoto turned fully, straightening his shoulders. The women nodded, smiling weakly.

"My husband and I just moved here, up there," she inclined her head toward the top of the stone staircase just a few feet from them. "Well, you see, I've been looking for a convenience store and only managed to get myself lost. Luckily, I found my way back, but I really need to buy a few things. Could you please tell me where the closest one is?" The women began to rock the child in her arms when he started to make little whining noises. The oppressing heat disappeared, and the sun's rays didn't sting as much as Makoto offered to help the women.

"If you'd like, I can guide you myself." Makoto offered, smiling widely. The women thanked him profusely and he became flustered with her grateful words. As he showed her the way to the nearest store, she introduced him to the small boy she was cradling.

"Haruka Nanase." Makoto repeated after she had said his name.

"I had to convince my husband a bit though. He kept pointing out that 'Haruka' was too much of a girly name." The women sniffed, clearly still upset over the issue. Her grin returned after a brief pause.

"In the end, I got my way. You love your name, don't you Haru-chan?" She laughed as the boy gave a loud giggle as she cuddled him. Makoto's lips stretched into an even wider smile at the scene.

"Well, I was actually teased a little about my name when I was younger, but it doesn't bother me anymore." Makoto revealed.

"Oh, forgive me. I haven't even asked for your name." The women frowned.

"Makoto Tachibana."

"Well I think you have a lovely name." The woman said. Makoto flushed, appreciating the compliment. By the time they reached the store the woman breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you very much, Tachibana-kun." Makoto waived his hands dismissively.

"Would you like anymore help?" Makoto couldn't help but ask, watching as she took off the child's hat now that they were inside the cool store. Bright, wide, blue eyes gazed up at him in wonder.

"You have helped me more than I could have hoped for. I'll be okay now, I remember the way back." She smiled warmly. Makoto nodded, gazing at the pink-cheeked boy, who was squealing in delight, one last time before leaving the store.

"I-I can't, n-not anymore, I-I'm sorry." The women's sobs only grew louder, harsher. Her entire body began to shake.

"I don't understand what you want me…" A cold shiver of dread slowly trickled down Makoto's back. He shook his head.

"No, you can't ask me to-"

"Please! I have no one else….I-I don't know who else to a-ask, please." The woman grabbed his shoulders, shaking him slightly. He closed his eyes, desperately hoping for the woman to stop talking, for her to wipe her face and smile as brightly as she always did. For her to hold her head up high, pick up her child, and continue to move forward, but her crying only increased, her pleads growing more desperate. This couldn't be happening.

Makoto jerked awake, accidentally knocking over a few papers from his desk. He briefly wondered where that harsh huffing sound was coming from before he realized it was his own jagged breathing. He straightened his glasses and got up to retrieve the fallen papers. A small grunt left his lips when he saw the glowing green numbers of his desk clock

4:36 a.m.

He'd have to get ready for work in two hours and he had only gotten three hours of sleep. He was still wearing his suit from yesterday and had not even bothered to wash his face.

Horrible example for Haru. He thought, stifling a yawn. Seeing no need to head to bed now that he had so little time, and wanting to keep his mind off the dream (memory?) he'd just had, he sat back down and decided to continue grading his student's papers.

…

Smiling as the last of his students walked out of class, Makoto took off his glasses and placed them on his desk. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, or at least tried to. He was exhausted and had not been able to stop yawing all through out his lecture. Some of his students even thought he was battling a bout of the flu.

"Your students seemed worried, Mako-chan." Makoto smiled weakly, watching Nagisa lean against the doorframe.

"I'm fine, just sleepy." The yawn that followed proved his point.

"Makoto," Nagisa's voice lowered, his tone changing into a serious one. "I know you are trying your hardest-"

"I'm fine."

"-but you are still just one person, and-"

"Nagisa, I'm fine, please-"

"-I wish I could help you more-"

"Nagisa!" Makoto raised his voice, the stress, irritation, and sadness showing in his eyes. The brief crack in his normally docile façade quickly repaired itself. A tight, forced smile etched itself on his lips.

"Really, I'm fine, just a little sleepy." He gathered his glasses and scattered books. "I have another department meeting today." He said without looking up.

"Oh. So, is Rin-chan still babysitting Haru-chan?" Nagisa smiled at the way Makoto's demeanor changed, it became brighter, a hint of joy reaching his guarded eyes.

"Yes, he is great with Haru. I was unsure at first, well, you know Haru, but he found his way of interacting with him. Thank you for introducing us, Nagisa." Nagisa nodded, his pleasure of hearing those words only lasting a few seconds.

"I've been meaning to ask you. How do you two know each other?" Nagisa's smile faltered. He suddenly found the door far more interesting.

"Oh, you know, just, um… old friends." Nagisa chuckled nervously, standing up to leave. He was spared any further scrutiny when another teacher came looking for Makoto. They parted ways and the blond blew out a sigh of relief. There really was no need for the brunette to know exactly how he and Rin had come to cross paths. That was all in the past and there was no point in bringing it up.

…

"No, Haruka, you two have plenty mackerel at home." Rin ignored the scowling pout he received. He was currently out shopping with the little Haruka, and had to once again refuse to buy the particular fish the kid loved so much. He had been surprised when he'd received a frantic call from Makoto earlier that day. Makoto had explained to Rin that they had moved the time of his meeting to an earlier hour and that he couldn't get out of it. The distress in the brunette's voice had influenced Rin to agree to pick up the boy from school, so Makoto wouldn't have to worry about the child walking home alone. Later that day, after he had safely delivered Haru home, he saw how empty their pantry and fridge was. They now had nothing but mackerel at home, hardly what he would call a decent meal for a growing boy. With a sigh and a frown, Rin had dragged the boy out of the house and to the local market, intent on buying actual food.

"Rin." The tugging at his sleeve and the soft voice brought him out of his head. Rin looked down at the raven and saw that he was pointing at something. He barely had time to see what it was when the boy ran from his side and out of sight.

"Haru!" Rin ran after him, bumping into people and nearly dropping his grocery bag. Shit, shit, shit. Rin cursed when he couldn't see the little boy. Panic began to set in, a cold shiver of fear trickled down his spine.

"Haru!" A few people threw him curious looks, he ignored them all. His heart was hammering loudly in his ears, drowning out the loud chattering around him. Then he saw him. There crouching in front of a fish tank. He sprinted the rest of the way there, the horrible lump in his throat lessening. His relief was abruptly replaced by an irrational anger.

"Don't- ever- do that." Rin growled, his face sweaty and red. The boy mumbled an apology, his eyes flickering to the tank before meeting Rin's glare.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack, Rin, Gou! I've told you two to stop running around like that. Keep it up and I'll just leave you two at home."

Rin was taken aback by the sudden memory. He could clearly see his mother's stern face, one hand on her hip while the other held a large paper bag.

"Rin?" Haru stepped forward. Rin blinked and the image blurred and faded, he saw Haru's worried face. He cleared his throat and stuck out his hand, motioning for Haru to do the same.

"This way we won't get separated." Rin clarified as he grabbed a hold of the boy's tiny hand. Haru nodded.

"Makoto does it too." The boy said quietly. Rin smiled a little, of course he did. Makoto had the makings of a perfect parent.

"You should have just told me from the beginning." Rin said. Haru shrugged his shoulders.

"I didn't know if all adults did that." Rin looked down at the boy, his expression caught between confusion and bewilderment.

"Well, since you always act so grown up, I assumed holding hands was beneath you." Rin smirked. The boy said nothing else after that and kept his gaze down at his feet. However, Rin realized that, contrary to what he liked to portray, Haru really enjoyed being looked after. He saw it in the way he stuck close to Makoto whenever the brunette arrived from work. He saw it the way the boy would try to hide a smile whenever Makoto fussed over him. And, now, he saw it and felt it in the way his hand was being held in a vice-grip. It was truly endearing.

…

Stifling what would have to be the hundredth yawn this evening, Makoto pushed open the door to his cozy apartment. He was slightly surprised to not hear Haru greet him like he always did. He closed the door, removed his shoes and tie, and finally heard the voices of Haru and his babysitter.

"Be careful with that and don't drop it." Rin's voice came from the kitchen.

"I'm not a baby, I can do this." Haru replied impatiently, his voice growing closer. Makoto smiled when he saw the little boy come from behind the wall that separated the kitchen and dining area, carrying a pitcher. As soon as he set it down on the table he noticed the brunette.

"Welcome home, Makoto." Haru smiled.

"I hope you don't mind that I borrowed your kitchen today." Rin greeted him with a small grin, carrying the food over to the dining table. Makoto was momentarily speechless. The delicious smell of the food reached his nose and his stomach grumbled loudly.

"Y-you didn't have-" Makoto stammered as he made his way to the table. Rin dismissed his words with a shake of the head.

"It wasn't any trouble. I used to help my mother cook all the time." The words tumbled out before he could stop them. Rin quickly spoke up again, mentioning that he had taken Haruka along when he went shopping. The change in subjects carried them through a peaceful dinner. It was odd, Rin mussed. These people were still strangers to him, but he felt completely serene around them. He'd mentioned it to Gou one time, his sister answering him with a vague smile on her face. She'd then said something along the lines of him being emotionally stunted. Rin shook his head at the memory, his eyes moving from his plate to the man before him. The brunette was definitely under some sort of stress. His usually bright green eyes appeared darker and dull, with dark circles under them. Rin also noticed that his shoulders seemed tense and rigid at times. Rin had been uncertain on how to approach the issue. He was after all Haru's babysitter, and therefore had no obligation to worry or care for Makoto. Unfortunately, he did care. Seeing him look this beaten down caused a swirl of worry to set in the pit of his stomach. That had been the reason why he had decided to cook dinner tonight, instead of waiting for Makoto to do it. The man looked tired enough. It wasn't until they had finished eating, and Rin had, while Makoto was putting Haru to bed, washed the plates, that the red-head finally addressed Makoto's current appearance. As soon as the brunette stepped into the living room, tired eyes searching for his wallet, Rin spoke.

"Is something wrong?" Rin tried to sound nonchalant, making his way from the kitchen to the threshold. There was silence.

"Of course not," Makoto finally replied. Rin's eyes narrowed when he saw the forced smile Makoto tried to pass off as genuine.

"I won't pry, after all who am I to do so, but," Rin faced Makoto fully. "Sometimes, keeping things bottled up inside only destroys us." Rin could have very well bitten his tongue. Who the hell was he to suggest Makoto open up to him, when he was hiding things of his own.

"Thank you for your kindness, Matsuoka-san. I can't thank you enough for you helping me out with Haru." Deciding that Makoto would say no more on what was affecting him, Rin allowed Makoto to switch their conversation.

"You know, you've helped me too." Rin knew this to be true, yet had not planned on telling the brunette that. Makoto stared at him for a moment, his green eyes looking less shadowed, Rin had to stop himself from fidgeting. Suddenly, a strange idea erupted within Rin. He wondered what an entire day with Makoto Tachibana was like. In the weeks he's been babysitting Haru, he only sees the brunette for a short period of time after he comes home. Their conversations never linger on anything too personal, Rin makes sure of that, though some days his curiosity burns stronger than others. Today was a perfect example of that. So, what would it be like to just spend a day with him? Rin's mind strayed further, into dangerous territory. Rin reeled in his thoughts.

They're mutual silence was broken by the sound of Rin's phone. Rin flinched at the sound and quickly grabbed it from his back pocket, answering it without caution. It was a stupid mistake to make. A cold wave of shock crashed into him when he heard the voice on the other line, the illusion that always formed whenever he was inside Apartment 259A shattered with that cold voice.

"You've been neglecting me an awful lot, Rin-Rin." It was one of his least favorite clients. He was a pushy man that, although paid extremely well, had sadistic tendencies that sometimes surfaced when Rin least expected them too. He'd often thought about removing him from his list of clients, but the money always outweighed the cons. He tried to mask his shocked expression from Makoto, who was staring at him in worry. Rin considered just excusing himself from Makoto's presence, but the next words whispered to him through the phone rooted him to the spot.

"I want to see you tonight, triple the rate, and," he paused. "I want you the entire day tomorrow." Rin's feet finally responded. He silently excused himself from Makoto's presence and stepped out of the apartment.

"The entire day?" Rin repeated, unable to keep the disbelief out of his voice.

"Will three-hundred thousand yen do it?" Rin's mouth went dry. His heart began to beat wildly with excitement. With that kind of money he wouldn't have to worry about the upcoming rent.

"Yes, alright. Just let me get a few things before." Rin breathed into the phone. The man chuckled.

"Of course, of course, just don't keep me waiting too long, Rin-Rin." Rin ended the call after they finished making arrangements and stepped back into the apartment. His eyes widened and his lip twitched in amusement at the sight he was greeted with. The brunette had indeed been exhausted. Makoto was currently sleeping away on his couch. The brunette's chest rose and fell with each breath, and his mouth sagged, a pink tongue peeking between his pale pink lips. Rin tore his eyes from the man, a hot wave crashing into him, causing his face to redden.

Deciding that it was best not to wake up the other man, Rin quietly let himself out. He'd have to call Makoto once he got home to tell the man that he would be unable to watch Haru tomorrow, Rin ignored the small twinge of guilt that arose within him. One day without his help wouldn't be the end of the world, Rin desperately tried to convince himself of this. Besides, his family came first, Gou should be the only one he should be worried about. With the money that he was going to get tomorrow, their situation would surely lighten. Nodding along with his thoughts, Rin made his way home, and attempted to come up with a good excuse he could give Gou to explain why he would be gone for an entire day.

He gave up half-way home when he remembered his sister was neither dumb nor five.

To be continued...

...

Author Note: I have tried to look for descriptions of Haru's parents but have not found anything, I have yet to read High Speed! so they might be mentioned there but I honestly don't know. So please put up with my own headcanon of what his parents look like. Also 300,000 yen equals roughly 3,000 US dollars, just an fyi.

Thanks for reading!