DISCLAIMER: I wish I owned Free! Then Haru and Rin lived happily ever after. The end.
A/N: The rated M is here but it's not much 'cause I couldn't make myself write too much detail. It's my first time writing something rated M and I felt so embarrassed I couldn't continue on. I'm so sorry for a lot of things. Please forgive me for any mistakes ! Oh, and this should be the last chapter.
When Haru lunged at him and hugged him, Rin's heart almost jumped out of his chest. He froze for a second at the feel of Haru's body so close to him then almost relaxed in his embrace but he realized that his hands had moved to hug back the smaller one halfway and instead of settling his palms against his back, they gripped on his shoulders and pushed him away.
Haru's face broke into surprise at first until he seemed to have realized his own abrupt actions and his azure eyes returned to their saddened state. They fell into awkward silence, just facing each other but not looking at each other's eyes.
Everything that had happened so far weren't within Rin's plans. Well, he didn't have one in the first place. He was not supposed to come and see Haru –he had decided on it- but he couldn't stop his feet from leaving the house at the thought of Haru waiting for him. He just couldn't bear the thought of giving Haru another heartache when he'd already caused him so much pain.
So he left his place and ended up at the entrance of the Iwatobi school pool only to find himself not courageous enough to go in. He couldn't bring himself to leave either. So he settled outside, leaning against the wall and waited for Haru to come out. Which brought him another problem to think about because he didn't know what to do if they met. Well, fuck it. He'd just think about it when it happens.
After waiting for an hour or so, he got impatient and almost decided to just head in and face his dark-haired rival. But he chickened out and returned to the wall, lightly banging his head against it in frustration. He didn't know what to do.
He spent another thirty-minutes and maybe more on hesitating and he'd finally decided to deal with this shit. He took in deep breaths and told himself he'd be fine, that this was the last for the two of them and just when he was about to go enter the entrance, Haru came out looking lifeless and stopped dead in front of him.
Rin flinched at the sight of Haru but the latter didn't seem to have noticed him. He just bent on his knees and balled himself up. They just stayed like that for what seemed like long minutes until Haru breathed in and muttered, "I should just give up."
Give up what?, Rin asked himself. There were a lot of things that he could be giving up. Give up on swimming? He frowned with unpleasant feelings bubbling in his chest. Give up on him? A jolt of pain hit him on the chest. Give up on life? A dreading feeling grew on him because that wasn't entirely impossible. Worse, he might be the reason for it. He then couldn't stop himself from calling out to the oblivious dark-haired man.
And that was how they got themselves into this awkward situation.
"Rin." Just like how it had been since he returned, Haru broke the silence. He still kept his eyes away from Rin's face though. "Won't you swim with me?" He pursed his lips before adding, "For one last time. Please." His voice slightly shook at the end.
"Sure." Rin replied almost instantly and Haru looked at him with wide shining eyes. Rin returned the gaze and added, "For one last time." He could at least give Haru this, right? For all the pain that he's inflicted the other and perhaps, for all the feelings that he'd denied to himself all this time. Then maybe, at the end of all this, the two of them would be able to let go.
Haru gave him a small happy smile that took his breath away then they went inside the school pool.
The two men went inside the locker rooms and changed. After changing out of his clothes and into his swimming gear, Rin caught sight of the ring on his left ring finger and his chest squeezed him from the inside tightly. He took it off and carefully put it on one of the pockets of his bag then headed out to the pool.
Haru stood on the starting block, his heart hammering into his chest rapidly with excitement he had not felt for years. He gazed at the waters that glimmered so temptingly and felt the strong urge to just dive in. But no, not without Rin.
Seconds after Haru had stepped on the starting block, Rin stepped up on the one beside him and brought down his goggles to his eyes, running a finger through the strap and stretching it then letting go of it which made a snapping sound when it hit the skin of the cap.
Seeing Rin do that, Haru couldn't help but be filled with happiness. He missed seeing that gesture and it proved to him that Rin was really standing beside him, getting ready to get into the water. He brought down his own goggles unto his eyes and looked at Rin.
"We'll do a 100m race." Rin said and Haru nodded. Even fifty would've already been enough for him just as long as he got to swim with Rin again. "Ready." Rin signaled and they both bent down. "Set." They leaned back. "Go."
They dived into the waters, Rin kicking further than Haru. The latter closed that distance by the speed of his strokes but Rin always managed to get ahead, not so far though that they wouldn't be feeling each other swim on their side anymore.
Haru felt so pumped up that he could feel himself swimming faster than usual just to keep up with Rin. He could feel Rin swimming beside him and happiness overflowed from his chest that, if he had not been in the water, his tears had already been rolling down his cheeks. Rin was purposely holding back and Haru knew that. But instead of feeling insulted, Haru only felt appreciation because then they swam side by side.
Rin reached the turn first and Haru felt him slow down a bit when they swam back to the starting point. Haru went faster though as a challenge to Rin and he complied. The dark-haired man swam to his fullest alongside the redhead until finally, Rin's hand banged against the wall of the pool, followed by Haru milliseconds later. They got out of the water, Haru panting more than Rin, his knees and hands against the floor. Then he started sobbing.
He never felt so happy in years that the feeling overwhelmed him. His tears of joy wouldn't stop from flowing at all, no matter how much he wiped them away. What if Rin misunderstands? He immediately looked up at the man to explain his tears.
But Rin had kneeled in front of him before he could speak, surprising him. And what surprised him more was the pained expression on Rin's face as if he was about to cry. "Haru, I'm sorry." He said with a trembling voice that sent daggers to Haru's heart. "I'm sorry."
Haru gaped at Rin for a second before looking into his red eyes searchingly as he asked, "What are you apologizing for, Rin?"
"A lot of things." Rin replied and tears started rolling out of his eyes.
Haru was so surprised, at the same time pained, at the rare vulnerable sight of Rin. The last time he'd seen Rin like this was when they were in middle school and he'd felt the same from back then.
"I'm sorry for rejecting you. I'm sorry for hurting you." Rin sobbed, his tears continuing to fall. "I'm sorry for being so selfish. I couldn't help it. I was afraid that I'd never reach my dream so I rejected your feelings. Even though I felt the same too. I'm sorry."
A gasp left Haru's mouth in disbelief and he grabbed the redhead's shoulders, his wide blue eyes staring straight into red ones. "What do you mean?" He demanded and almost shook Rin, his hands tightening on the muscles underneath his palms. "What do you mean you felt the same too?"
It took time for Rin to answer him; he even looked like he didn't want to say anything. Haru waited patiently though until Rin finally grabbed a hold on his wrist and closed his eyes then spat out, "I love you! Even before that time we parted. I've always been in love with you."
Haru couldn't believe his ears and he just stared at Rin with his mouth open. He couldn't quiet digest Rin's confession but he did and his eyes shone even brighter. He felt like he could never be happier. "Rin, are you serious?"
"Of course I am!" Rin exclaimed, wiping his tears away. "I kept on denying it to myself but even after ten years had passed, my feelings for you never left. And after swimming with you again," he looked into Haru's eyes and felt himself being drawn into them. "I just couldn't lie to myself anymore. I love you."
Haru pulled Rin into a tight hug and almost yelled, "I love you too!" and repeated it again and again. His chest could really explode with happiness now, his heart flying out of his ribcage with how it fluttered in bliss. He wondered if he had not only been dreaming with how unreal everything seemed.
"But it's already too late." Rin whispered against Haru's neck.
The celebration in Haru's head stopped and he pulled away from Rin, his eyes questioning the redhead's.
Rin took in a deep breath with a sob and stated as quietly as he could, "I'm getting married soon."
"Eh?" As quickly as the happiness came, as quickly as it went. All the emotions Haru felt just seconds ago left him with nothing but emptiness. "You're lying."
Another deep breath as Rin explained. "I came back home to bring my fiancé to my father's grave."
Haru tensed, his shoulders going up as his breathing started going deep and rushed, like he's about to hyperventilate. Except, he broke into a crying mess when Rin's words had dawned into him cruelly, his chest being rained down with knives and needles and anything painful. His crying now was even harder from when Rin had left him. Just as he thought he could never be happier, he could never be sadder either. He might as well have become grief itself.
It was Rin this time who pulled Haru into a hug in an attempt to comfort the other as he whispered, "Haru, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." But he himself was crying and wasn't feeling any better. When it felt like a hug just wasn't enough, Rin started trailing kisses along Haru's jaw, his cheeks, his forehead, his eyes.
As much as how Haru felt how wonderful and sweet Rin's kisses on his skin were, they were just as painful and cruel. They were poisonous. Even so, Haru let Rin continue. He didn't want him to stop. In fact, he wanted more. So when Rin kissed the corner of his mouth, he shifted his head and accepted the kiss on his lips.
Rin startled in surprise at the contact of Haru's lips but he didn't pull back and soon relaxed against the softness of it. It was sweet yet bitter, tender yet painful, and loving. Then it was Haru who first started moving his lips and licked at the bottom lip of Rin. The redhead couldn't resist pushing a tongue inside Haru's mouth who gasped in surprise, letting Rin have more access to his wet cavern. He explored his new discovery, licking here and there, stroking on Haru's tongue and inviting it to his own mouth.
Shyly at first, Haru inserted his tongue into Rin's mouth and randomly moved it around. He mimicked Rin's earlier ministrations then Rin wrapped his own tongue against Haru's who moaned at the contact. He then pulled away from Rin with a fiery blush on his cheeks and brought a hand on his mouth.
"Sorry." Rin mumbled, his own cheeks tinted with red. Haru's chest tightened and he caressed a hand against Rin's cheek. "Don't apologize." He said and leaned closer. "I want more." He whispered and took Rin's mouth with his own.
Rin returned the kiss and Haru melted into it. Then the redhead brought their bodies down to the floor, Haru's back against it and Rin hovered above him. Rin pulled back a few inches from Haru to look into his eyes and whispered huskily, "You'd better not regret this."
Haru slightly smiled and replied, "Never." Then wrapped his arms around Rin's neck and pulled him down into a kiss.
Rin ran a hand across Haru's chest; his other hand stationed on the dark-haired's hips. He came across one of Haru's nipples and he pressed a thumb against it then rubbed which made Haru moan and buck his hips, rubbing his erection against Rin's own. Haru gasped when he felt Rin hard while Rin groaned in pleasure.
Learning how good rubbing their erections felt, Rin traced a finger along the waistband of Haru's trunks then tugged them down. Haru helpfully lifted up his hips to make removing the piece of cloth easier then it was thrown aside somewhere behind them. Rin ran his eyes over Haru's naked body and muttered, "Beautiful." And hearing him, Haru blushed.
Rin also removed the only piece of clothing he had on and threw it away somewhere then ground his hips against Haru's, slowly at first until it just wasn't enough anymore so he went faster. Haru kept on moaning at the contact which urged Rin to do more, then Haru also started rolling his hips, meeting Rin's at each grind.
Looking at their manhood rubbing against each other, Haru wrapped a hand around them and started pumping, making Rin moan and grinding even harder and thrusting into his hand.
"Ah, Rin, I'm close." Haru whispered, biting down on his lower lip from pleasure, his half-lidded eyes staring into Rin's pleasure-filled face. It was very beautiful and Haru couldn't stop a hand from cupping his cheek lovingly. Realizing that this could be the only time he could see Rin like this, tears started pooling in his eyes and rolling sideways to his ears.
Rin groaned and replied, "I'm close too." and with one final thrust, Haru moaned loudly that it echoed within the room and shuddered as he came. Rin continued on grinding until he too felt his own release and rode on it.
After their orgasm, Rin rested his forehead against Haru's chest, panting slightly before lifting his head up to look at Haru.
"Rin." Haru called out, brushing away Rin's hair from his face and tucking them behind his ear. "Won't you continue?"
For a moment, Rin's eyes widened but he seemed to have understood from Haru's eyes that they should continue. Because this could be the only time they could do this. So he pressed his lips against Haru's and replied, "I will."
When morning came, Rin woke up with Haru sleeping beside him. This unusual sight surprised him at first then he remembered what happened the night before and he felt his eyes grow wet. He let a tear escape his eye but nothing more. He sat up right after and got out of bed then wore his clothes.
After a round at the pool, they decided to head to Haru's house and did some more rounds. Once just couldn't be enough for the both of them and how they wished that the night had never ended. But alas, the world was cruel just as reality was.
Having changed into his clothes, Rin walked to Haru and sat down beside him. He caressed his dark-haired rival's cheek gently and with all the love he'd held for him. And feeling like he should be going before Haru woke up, he bent down to give his love a light kiss on the head. "Goodbye, Haru." He whispered, stood up then headed for the door.
When Rin's footsteps have finally died down, Haru slowly opened his eyes and touched the part of his head where Rin had left a kiss. Then he started to tremble as the grief of being left by Rin again had filled him.
The airport system had announced the arrival of the flight Rin was waiting for and he stood waiting for the woman he was supposed to be married to soon. As a crowd of people started pouring out to the area, Rin spotted a familiar head of black and he went to greet her.
When the woman spotted him, she beamed and half-ran to him as she called out, "Rin!" and when they got closer to each other, she went and hugged him for a second. "I missed you! How was it to be back to your home?"
Rin slightly smiled at her as he replied, "I'm glad I came back."
"Oh? That's great!" The woman took his left hand to her own and noticed a certain thing missing from it. She looked at his hand, her azure eyes widening. "Rin, where's your ring?"
As she looked up at him, his expression turned serious and he answered with, "I have something I need to talk with you."
A/N: I think this is a good ending. But it's not. I mean, not the end yet. There'll be more because I have something more I want to write. It's nothing good though. I hope you enjoyed ! Thank you for reading this ! Thank you for following and favoriting and reviewing , I love all of you so much :D :*