Disclaimer: I do not own Free! or any of its characters.
Sunday - 1 pm:
Haru was in the kitchen trying out new recipes. There was a cookbook laying on the counter beside him but he was only skimming over the ingredients so eventually he closed it. I'll just come up with my own. After awhile, he finished his new dish, mackerel simmered in miso. He carefully took it out of the pan and put it on his plate then went into the living room to try his creation. Haru sat down at the table, set down the plate, and turned on the television. When he looked back down at his plate, there was something off. The fish smelled awful. It reeked actually. Did I do something wrong? He shrugged as he tried to brush off the smell long enough to at least taste it. He picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and brought it up to his face. Haru instantly turned green. It felt like his stomach was turning inside out. Suddenly, he felt a burning sensation in his throat. Crap. He got up and ran into the bathroom. Everything he ate that day was now floating in the toilet. Just when he thought he was about to retch again, his doorbell rang. Haru stood up to look at himself in the mirror. His face was covered in sweat. What did I do wrong? Did I miss something? The doorbell rang again. Haru cleaned his face off and went to the door. He opened it slowly, "Hello?"
Makoto stood there with a smile plastered onto his face, "Hi Haru!" Haru didn't say a word. He silently led him into the living room. Makoto sat down and saw the full plate of food. He looked up at Haru who was sitting away from it. "Did I interrupt your eating? I'm sorry."
Haru shook his head, "No, it's fine. The mackerel's not right."
Makoto rose his eyebrow, "Not right? What do you mean? Your food is always good."
The dolphin shrugged, "You can have it then."
Makoto looked down at the plate then back at his lover. Wait a minute, did Haru just say the MACKEREL isn't right? What is he talking about? I've seen him eat it in just about every shape and form. Why did he just give it up to me so fast? "Haru-chan, what's wrong with it?"
He grimaced, "It smells awful."
The orca's face went blank. It smells awful? It smells wonderful actually. He's never said that about his own cooking before. When he looked back up at his lover, he noticed the slightly green complexion of his skin. "Are you all right Haru?"
He nodded, "I'm fine. Hurry up and eat it."
"What are you going to eat? This was obviously your lunch."
"I'm going to have tea."
"Are you sure that's enough Haru-chan?"
Haru glanced at Makoto, "Drop the '-chan' and yes." Makoto stopped asking about the food. Regardless of what he said, it was clear that Haru wasn't going to eat it.
Haru got up and went to the kitchen to make himself some tea, assuming that would ease his stomach. While he was in there, he had totally forgotten about the pan that he cooked the fish in. It smelled worse than the fish itself. A huge wave of nausea swept over him like a tsunami. This time was worse than the last. He cupped his hand over his mouth and started panicking. Ugh, I don't have enough time to make it to the bathroom. He leaned over the trash can and let go of what was left in his stomach. This is becoming annoying now. Makoto ran into the room to see Haru doubled over in front of the trash can.
"Haruka!" he yelled as he moved closer to his lover. He began to rub his back, "What's wrong? Do you need me to get you something?"
When he finished emptying the rest of the contents from his stomach, he tried to catch his breath. Eventually he shook his head, "I'm fine-"
"You need to lay down."
Haru stood up, once again covered in sweat. "I told you I'm fine."
"Haru~"
He closed his eyes, "Okay okay, I'll lay down." I don't feel like arguing with you.
4 pm:
Haru laid in the bed on his back, sleeping peacefully. The vomiting took its toll on his body. He hadn't thrown up in years. His body felt like it almost didn't know what to do. While Haru was sleeping, Makoto had cleaned up the kitchen and took care of the fish. When he finished, he went to check on Haru. First Haru faints, which he still blames me for, and now he's throwing up and refusing to eat? Mackerel has never bothered him before. I wonder, has he actually been sick this whole time? Haru shifted in his sleep then turned onto his side and mumbled, "Makoto."
The orca's eyes widened. He went over and sat on the edge of the bed, "Haru-chan?"
The boy shifted again. Makoto bent over and kissed him on the cheek. He watched his lover beneath him give soft breaths. Makoto looked at his whole body. The porcelain colour of the boy's skin in contrast with his raven-like hair paired with his delicate features. Before he knew it, he was thinking about how Haru looks when they make love. He felt his body getting hot the more he thought about it. No, not now. Haru's sick. I can't be thinking about this right now. He turned away from the boy. Stop it Makoto. Now's not the time. From behind he heard something that set him off. "Makoto..." The sound of his name coming from Haru's mouth made him feel hotter than before.
Makoto turned back around to see two blue orbs staring back at him. He reached over and glided his hand on the edge of Haru's jawline. He was trying to hold back by reminding himself that Haru didn't feel good. He smiled, "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine," he paused. "What's wrong?"
Makoto was confused, "'What's wrong?'"
"Your face is red."
"A-ah," he jumped back. "It's nothing, nothing."
Haru sat up slowly.
"Haru! No, you need to rest!"
He narrowed his eyes, "I told you I'm fine. Are you blushing?"
Makoto quickly turned his face away from Haru, "N-no."
"Makoto," Haru said in a serious tone.
"H-hai?"
Haru reached down to touch Makoto's thigh. The sensation of his hand shot through the other boy's body. I can't do it. Haru's sick. Haru's sick.
The dolphin got closer and whispered in his ear, "I'm not sick." We've been dating for seven months Makoto. I know that face and this attitude means you're holding yourself back. But, I know you're going to keep doing this and until you take care of it alone and then I feel guilty. He sighed. I really hate doing this. He moved his hand to between Makoto's legs and groped him. Haru was right. Makoto was rock hard. Makoto tense up and looked at him, "H-haru!"
"I told you, I'm fine."
He barely had enough time to finish his sentence before his lover kissed him on the neck. Haru released and dropped his hand down to his side. Makoto began pushing Haru back onto the bed. He continued to kiss Haru's neck then rose his shirt and sucked on the boy's nipples. He let his tongue fondle with them endlessly. Haru was flushed. Makoto dragged his tongue down Haru's torso. As he did, there was a swelling bulge in Haru's pants. Makoto pulled down Haru's pants and let his tongue wrap around the boy's privates. He made it glide up and down. Haru was trembling. Makoto rose his head and looked up at the boy. Haru's eyes were closed and his face was red. Makoto was completely dazed in ecstasy. He let himself get carried away. His usual gentle attitude shed in an instant. Meanwhile, Haru was feeling weaker and weaker, like his body was about to give out,"M-Makoto." His lover was too entranced in pleasure by thrusting himself deep into the smaller boy's body with full force.
"Hn...H-Haruka! A-ah!" He made a heavy sigh of relief until he snapped back to his senses. Haru was laying there unconscious. "Haruka!" Makoto touched Haru's shoulder to try to wake him up but instead, he felt like he burnt his hand on the boy's skin. He hastily pulled himself together. Shit! Uh...ICE! I need ice! He came back into the bedroom and placed an ice bag on the Haru's forehead then went to the bathroom to get the thermometer. When he came back into the room he began to take the boy's temperature. Calm down Makoto. Calm down. Haru will be fine. He'll be all right. He's always all right. He pulled the instrument out his mouth and stared at the screen: "39ºC!" He suddenly saw a hand reach over and slowly knock the thermometer out of his own. He jumped and turned towards the dolphin, "Haru! You're awake!"
Haru's voice was groggy, "Stop it."
"But Haru! What if you had the flu!?"
He looked away from the gentle soul, "You're doing it again."
"Huh?"
"I'm not going to fall in the river," he paused for a moment, "and I'm not going to die either. Calm down."
"But Haru, you need to go to the hospital."
"No I don't. I'm fine."
Makoto's concern took over, "39 degrees isn't fine! Please Haru~"
Haru looked back at his lover and into his eyes. He could see the flashbacks Makoto was having of the time Haru fell in the river when he was trying to retrieve Aki's scarf. He closed his eyes. For a second there, Makoto thought he lost consciousness again. "Har-"
"I'll go, okay?"
Makoto lowered his eyes. I'm not going to be able to convince him to go right now. He's too stubborn for that. This itself is a huge step. He never goes to see a doctor. "When are you going?"
He opened his eyes back up, "I'll go tomorrow." If I don't then he'll take me himself. It's best if I go by myself, otherwise he'll worry the whole time.
Makoto trusted Haru's word but still felt uneasy about the situation. He had faith that Haru would get there fine on his own since Makoto's parents wouldn't let him miss school because of someone else's doctor appointment. What worried him was the diagnosis. What if something is terribly wrong? What if it were something more than the flu? I mean, he rarely ever gets sick. He could only hope it was nothing that serious. He wouldn't know what he would do without Haru around. He averted his gaze back to Haru to find him sleeping. He whispered, "I'm sorry Haru-chan." You barely had enough energy to talk just now. Haru's sleeping face was paler than the normal porcelain tone he always had.
Monday - 12 pm:
The swim team was sitting on the roof eating their lunch as usual, except for Makoto. He ended up being the last one to get there. He'd spent his entire night trying to figure out on his own what was wrong with Haru. He sat down with his lunch in the square which was normally a circle but wasn't possible with someone missing. Nagisa stopped eating and looked at the boy with bags under his eyes, "Mako-chan, what's the matter? Where's Haru-chan?" Makoto sighed. It was a matter of time until one of them were going to ask.
"He went to see a doctor."
"What!?" Gou, Rei, and Nagisa said at once.
Their questions rolled out like rapid fire.
"Is Haru-chan okay?"
"What happened to him?"
"What's wrong with Haruka-senpai?"
They knew as well as he did that Haru didn't go to the doctor. "He's sick."
Nagisa frowned, "Haru-chan's sick? It must be bad then. Haru-chan never agrees to see a doctor."
Meanwhile...
Haru was sitting on the table speaking with the doctor. Internally he was actually very distraught. He had thrown up again that morning. He couldn't hold down any food and his stomach was cramping all night long. He decided not to tell Makoto any of this. He knew that Makoto would attempt to skip school if he found out. There was one more problem, the doctor couldn't figure out what exactly was causing these symptoms.
"Nanase-kun, I'm going to take a blood sample."
Haru nodded as the doctor prepared the needle. I just want all of this to be over as soon as possible. I can't believe that I'm going to miss practice because of this.
"Until the results come out, you may have a seat in our waiting room. It shouldn't take very long."
A few hours later:
Haru was becoming very irritated. He didn't want to be there anymore. The others should be at practice right now. All I want is to get back in the water. I don't have time to be sick...although I guess I never really did take care of myself. He sighed. This is ridiculous. I should've taken medicine and went to school. Makoto was probably worried for nothing. It can't be that bad. I mean...no, it can't be that bad. I'm fine. I've always been fine.
"Nanase-kun?" a nurse said in a pleasant tone.
Haru broke out of thought, "Hai."
"The doctor would like to see you. You can follow me."
To be continued...
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed! See you in the next chapter! xx