A/N: Thanks to FanofBellaandEdward for being my beta!

XIII

August was nothing but a blistering heat wave that left Rin reeling and dizzy whenever he stepped back into the cold shade of the house. He was so disorientated on a daily basis and that was just from his morning jogs. Unfortunately, his jogs didn't last too long the last three odd weeks, not since Haru collapsed after the championships and passed out. It had been an awful ordeal; trying to get Haru to wake up and drink as much water as possible.

Nothing seemed to be making the merman feel better. Now that the competition was over and there was no real need for Haru, all the swimming teams had dispersed, more ready than ever to do nothing for a while. Some hardcore teams were going full-on into a new practice regime to prepare for the Olympics scouts. Ordinarily, Rin would have joined them but Haru's ill health made him second-guess himself.

Sousuke opted to as well, seeing as he needed to rest his shoulder and do a full month of physio-therapy. Normally swimming would help strengthen the muscle, but right now all it seemed to do was strain it.

For once, everyone was just eager to relax.

The sun tried to beat down through the large umbrella but the breeze that came from the south banks helped to stop everyone from sweating into puddles of mush. Haru was huddled up on the lounger, wrapped in a pair of baggy shorts that struggled to stay up on his hips, not to mention a pair of large shades propped up on his nose and a large shirt cloaking his torso. He looked like he was shrinking in stature within the folds of fabric. Rin watched him from the edge of the pool, trying his best to ignore the urge to rush over and wait on Haru hand and foot. Not that it would do any good.

He dipped his legs into the water and dropped his head forward, shoulders hunched around his ears.

He'd been on the phone to Gou last night and had somehow managed, after weeks of keeping it all to himself, that he'd had a friend staying with him for the entire summer holiday. She'd squealed and started grilling him about everything there was to know about another human being. Rin couldn't exactly say much so he'd just said the basics; his name was Haru, he didn't have any parents and came from Nanasake. It wasn't strictly a bunch of lies, but it wasn't the whole truth either. Gou, thankfully, hadn't been overly put-off that Haru turned out to be a boy. With such a feminine name, though, he wouldn't have blamed her for the mistake.

It had been one of his longest phone calls with her to date. He learned all about what she'd been up to whilst he'd been too busy or tired to check-in. She's started to learn a lot of German which, as complicated as it was, she claimed to love. Not to mention both their surprise at their mother apparently flirting with older gentlemen on evenings out. Of course it was never more than flirting, maybe a drink or two, but after an hour or two of Gou remaining at her mother's side, the suitors were quickly deterred and left them to it.

Rin had to admit he was amused by the whole thing. His mother had been alone for so long, he'd figured she'd just gotten too used to being independent.

As soon as he put the phone down, though, he was overcome with the loneliness that was suffocating the entire house. The heat didn't help either.

Swiping sweat from his forehead, Rin decided he needed to swim a few lengths, not for the exercise, but more just to feel the soft caress of cool water over each of his muscles. Slipping off the side he let his body sink down to the bottom of the pool, the water lifting all hair and sweat from his body. He was suspended a mere breath from the bottom of the tiled floor. His vision was only slightly blurred as he opened his eyes and glanced around him.

A part of him wanted to know what it was like to be a merman; to drift in the ocean and explore reefs and witness strange creatures that even the discovery channel didn't broadcast.

He almost wished he could breathe underwater ... just so he could relish the coolness rushing down his throat.

There was a muffled crashing sound that sounded completely detached from the watery bubble he was floating in. His heart skipped a little when he watched just how elegant Haru looked as he slid gracefully through the water towards him. In the blue hued world even Haru's cracking skin looked beautiful; like he was made of white-on-white marble, or that the sun was making patterns through the water, permanently etched into his muscles.

Rin reached out and let Haru take his hand, anchoring him lower so that they were settled at the bottom of the pool together. His skin glowed florescent white against the tiles. 'If only we could communicate telepathically,' Rin mused as he watched the sun create even more patterns on Haru's scarred skin.

Haru turned his head and reached out for Rin's hand. He laced their fingers together and squeezed. Rin squeezed back and felt his stomach flip a little. He didn't need to say any words with Haru. Words were hollow in comparison to the sincere joy he felt being with this strange, exotic little creature that washed up into his life.

A twinge in his lungs started up, so he had to pull free from Haru and push-up. Once he'd taken a gulp of air he descended back into the water, out of the harsh sunlight, and sank down to Haru's level again. He hadn't budged. It was like he could naturally sink like a stone if he desired. Pushing himself down as much as he could, Rin cupped Haru's face in his own and stroked the soft skin, ignoring the pale, raised cracks across his cheeks. He threaded his fingers up into the inky-blue hair and felt heat pool in his stomach when Haru slid up between his legs and wrapped his thin arms around Rin's waist.

His mouth pressing against Rin's made the red-head groan low in his throat, the air wanting to rush out of his lungs. He didn't want to break for air, he'd prefer to stay in the water for as long as possible, having Haru writhe between his legs, his body so tranquil in the water that he was one with the water itself. He was practically weightless.

Breaking for air was becoming far too tedious.

Rin dragged Haru up to the surface in the shaded section of the pool. Taking deep breaths, Rin turned to his companion and watched as water droplets ran down the length of the merman's stoic expression. "Sorry," he gushed. "I ... I can only hold my breath for so long."

"S'okay ..."

Rin ran a hand down his face before swiping his hair out of his eyes. "Do you want to go inside?" he asked. Haru didn't say anything. He simply sank down into the water up to his nose, before gliding back down the length of the pool, drawing closer towards the house. Rin rolled his eyes and followed suit. He climbed out of the pool first, shook water from his hair and bent down to help Haru slither up out of the water.

His legs were still weak and had barely gotten out of the water when he staggered and almost slipped out of Rin's grasp. Both boys were so wet it was like trying to juggle with eels.

Trying not to slide too much, Rin gathered Haru up in his arms and made his way in through the french doors. The house was cool and made the hairs on his arms stand up on end, as he swiped his feet on the towel by the door before crossing the room and gently easing Haru down onto the sofa. He didn't care about the water soaking into the cushions; it was only water after all.

Haru didn't want to let go. His hands were locked behind Rin's head and, despite having been weaker the last week, he seemed to have enough strength to keep Rin fastened in place. His eyes were intense, burning blue, and his lips were pressed together as he stared up at Rin. Why was it suddenly so hard to breathe whenever Haru stared at him? "Haru ..." he breathed.

The merman pulled Rin closer and pressed the softest kiss to Rin's mouth, soaking him up and letting his tongue slip into his waiting mouth. There his stomach went, flipping again! Easing himself up onto the sofa, the redhead let himself settle down between Haru's splayed knees. God, kissing this creature was a symphony of emotions crashing inside him. He didn't care what he was feeling, he just knew he'd never felt that euphoric in his life!

Haru pulled out of the kiss and started coughing, his eyes rolling back into his head as he leaned over the edge of the sofa.

"Shit!" Rin cursed as he rubbed Haru's back. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry!"

Haru took a deep breath and shook his head before collapsing back underneath Rin. He let his fingers trail up the swimmer's tense muscles before hooking his limp wrists over Rin's neck. "Handsome ... Rin ..."

The redhead was torn between blushing and being concerned. In the end he probably did both, but that couldn't be helped. "Do you want me to stop?" he asked softly. Haru simply shook his head. It was hardly the best response but there wasn't much else he could do. Now that they were back on dry land Haru's immune system seemed to me crumbling before his very eyes. "Are you sure you want to stay here? We can move up to the bedroom if you like?"

Haru only nodded.

The bedroom was warm from where it had been bathed in sunlight almost all day. Lying on the cool sheets with Haru lying beside him was such a calming feeling as the sky started to dim to a dull purple outside. Haru had wriggled out of his swimming trunks and kicked them off to one side. He hadn't bothered to redress himself. So Rin, after the initial shock of seeing Haru completely naked for the first proper time, was now lying beside a naked not-quite human creature.

With Haru's leg cocked up to give himself some form of modesty in shielding his privates from Rin's bashful gaze, the swimmer was able to study the human form of the creature in quiet awe; his legs were svelte and the muscles trembled a little in their weakening state. The sun-scars across his body -for that's what they looked like to Rin, sun filtering through the water onto whatever lay beneath -were like a sun spider web. His stomach was slender, his hipbones jutting out a little, and his nipples were small, round and a fine pink colour. His whole body was hairless, save for his head and his eyebrows. He didn't even seem to have armpit hair, which perplexed Rin to no end.

He was so ... smooth.

More than once Rin found his fingers aching to test his theory, to see just how smooth Haru really was, but each time he caught himself just before he reached out. Although, he didn't think Haru would mind. Splayed out on his bed, he looked so refined, almost elegant in his simplicity. His hair was drying into a mess of gently curling, inky waves on the stark whiteness of the pillow. His face, tilted towards Rin and the window, caught a glimmer of sun. He glowed a soft gold colour and there was only one word that came to mind when Rin stared at him.

Beautiful.

Sighing softy, Rin had to admit to himself that he would miss this sense of tranquillity. He almost wished that his mum and sister weren't coming home so soon. He didn't like goodbye's and there was no way a 'goodbye' would ever be worthy of Haru. Especially not everything they'd shared this summer.

"What ... you ... thinking?" Haru's cracked voice whispered.

Rin shook his head, suddenly feeling the effects of long hours in the sun. "Nothing really. Just when my mum and sister will be home. I don't want you to leave but then I don't know how I'm going to explain ... this."

"Easy ..."

"How is it easy? You washed up on my local beach, you can barely walk, how the hell is that going to be easy?" he asked, almost insulted.

Haru gave a weak smile, his eyes slowly closing. "Tell them ... I love you."

Rin felt his heart stutter in his chest. Bowing his head, he slid his fingers around Haru's limp wrist. "It wouldn't explain anything to them."

"It ... it explains ... everything ..."

Oh, how it wished it were that simple! How he craved that any situation could just be summed up in three small words. They carried so much weight and yet ... and yet. He hadn't even said those words to Haru, not properly, and truthfully he wasn't entirely sure if he could declare it with enough intensity to show the creature just how much he meant it. "Do you want to stay? For when my mum and sister come back?" he asked instead.

"Would you ... let me?"

"I wouldn't be asking otherwise," Rin retorted with an eye roll.

Haru hummed softly. "Okay ..." His leg trembled a little more before slipping down over the sheets, unveiling himself completely to Rin. His physique was impressive, not in an overly manly way, but in an elegant, china doll way. He looked so delicate, almost like painted porcelain. Rin just wanted to stare at him for as long as possible.

Reaching over, he placed a quaking hand atop Haru's thigh, his thumb tenderly stroking circles against the cool, soft skin. To suspend themselves in that moment, to have nothing else to care about other than this beautiful creature beside him, Rin could think of nothing more peaceful to his mind. He wanted nothing more than that moment ingrained into his memory for the rest of his life.

Despite his feeble promise, Haru's health deteriorated even further in the coming days.

The August sun burned through every brick of the house, even the shade did little to keep the sweat from their skin. With each morning upon waking up, Rin would stare down at Haru, sweet, still Haru, and watch as this soft creature breathed in the morning air. His thoughts tried to stay away from the hollowness that tried to creep in but there was nothing he could to stop it.

He didn't want Haru to leave him.

He knew that Haru wanted to stay and if there had been even the faintest chance of that happening, he would snatch at it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, their time was drawing to its end and the only thing Rin would be able to do it cry silently when Haru drifted back out of his life with the tide.

A soft sigh came from the man beside him. Rin swallowed as a tender, scarred hand came up to rest on his face. Haru's sleepy eyes looked up at him. "Rin ... time?" he murmured softly.

Scrambling for his phone, Rin touched on the screen and watched the numbers illuminate. He winced. "It's just gone five," he murmured.

A minute frown creased Haru's forehead. "Early ..."

"I know. I'm sorry I didn't realise," he said.

Haru merely hummed softly before inching a little closer to the coolness of Rin's own body. He always seemed to look so worried in the mornings. Truthfully, mornings were Haru's favourite time of day. There was never any need to rush, to move, to do anything other than breathe. Where the sun wasn't too hot that it burned everything around them, including the air, or hurt his head.

However it did sadden him because it was always in the mornings that Rin looked as though he were on the verge of crying. Haru hadn't seen him cry, and truthfully, he wasn't sure he wanted to. Rin was not a crier. It simply didn't fit his nature. The last couple of mornings Rin hadn't seemed bothered at all by the aspect of Haru sleeping naked within the sheets. He usually blushed like mad, but he seemed to be getting used to it.

Naked was the most natural Haru was able to feel out of water, it was just a shame it had taken him this long to realise it.

He often wanted to ask Rin to sleep naked with him, but somehow he felt like it would be crossing a line Rin was not used to. So, he was content to settle for boxers. For now.

"Rin ..."

"Yes, Haru?"

"Can we ... go ... beach today?"

Rin blinked a little before smiling slowly. He reached up and stroked some hair from where it had slipped into Haru's eyes. "If you like. The sun will be up soon. Are you sure you have enough energy to go?"

"With help ..." Haru gave a small wince and a smile before allowing Rin to gently ease him up into a sitting position. He slowly pulled a sheet across his lap, giving himself some sense of modesty as Rin pulled the blind up. The sun was not yet up, but the earth was lightening regardless. Warmth was already sweeping in over the horizon.

Haru watched as Rin pulled clothes from the dresser and got changed in the weak light, before turning with a few garments in hand for Haru. Dressing in the dawn light was soothing to Haru, in both mind and body, as he felt the soft cotton brush over his sun-scarred skin. Rin adjusted the collar around his neck, before raking his hands through the nest of inky blue hair. Haru couldn't help but smile in spite of his dizziness, as Rin cupped his face and swallowed his mouth in a tender, lingering kiss.

Haru leaned into the touch, the taste of Rin an addiction he never wanted to be rid of.

Raking his fingers through that red bed-hair, to feel the dry warmth under those clothes, having it all right by his side and keeping him safe, protecting him, and comforting him.

A stray tear dripped down his cheek as Rin left for the bathroom.

He didn't want to leave. He had never known such true comfort and love as he had found on this shoreline. He didn't want to leave, he merely wanted to be with Rin. He had nothing to return to in the sea; no mother, no father, no other family nor friends. Just the vast empty blue. It would swallow him whole, trap him within its waves. There was every possibility he would never see Rin again.

He needed to make this time count.

"Ready Haru?" Rin asked as he came back round the doorframe, socks on his feet and a pair of trainers hanging from his hand.

"... Yes."

~0~

The beach was a lovely strip of pale grey sand that stretched on for miles either side of the peer. The roads had been empty so getting there had been effortlessly quick. Haru had been content on the drive over, huddling up against the passenger side window, arms folded under his chin as he watched the pale houses and trees flit by. Rin had been okay with the silence. His brain was still a little foggy from sleep but he was more than grateful for the lack of cars on the road. Having the soft hum of Haru's company beside him had a calming effect on his tired mind.

The gravel had crunched under the car and underfoot as they'd made their way across the shingle and pebble path along towards the pier. The sea had been choppy and a bleak clash of dull greys, greens and browns as they waves churned and frothed in the far distance. Under the pier, however, it was a lot calmer and lapped gently. Rin was pleased, as it meant that there was no salt spray in his hair or clothes.

Haru rested against his side, his head tucked under Rin's chin. The fine hairs curled up into Rin's nose but he didn't mind too much. To have the creature cuddled up to his side, caught between two worlds so distinctly as in that moment, was so heartrendingly poetic that it made Rin want to cry. He could feel Haru aching to dive into the waves, but it was too risky. Already scales were etching up to his knees where they were lazily dipping their feet into the chilled water.

He squeezed Haru's shoulder, pressing him closer.

"Do you wish you could go back home?"

Haru hummed softly in response as he hugged closer to Rin's chest. The sun was just beginning to rise on the precipice of the waves. To watch the gold light glimmer on the tops of those waves was almost soothing. Haru realised Rin was still waiting for a reply. Licking his cracked lips he murmured, "Sometimes ... Miss my tail."

Rin chuckled lightly before dropping a kiss to the dark blue hair. "I sort of miss it too," he confessed.

"But ... like my legs ... too?"

Rin smiled down at Haru's large dark eyes and felt his stomach flip a little bit. "Your legs are very fine indeed, and perfect for swimming."

"Didn't win ..."

"You gave them a chance, which is all that matters," Rin stated firmly. "Do you want to see if you're better at skipping pebbles yet?" he asked after a little while.

Haru gave a dry little smile before nodding and stepping up beside Rin, his bare feet stark white against the old wood of the pier. The planks creaked underfoot as Rin made his way from gathering a handful of pebbles in each pocket of his shorts. It was still too warm to wear a hoodie, despite the early morning nip in the air. By the time they got home it would be too hot to even breathe.

Taking out two smooth stones, Rin positioned Haru sideways, pressed his fingers around the stone before guiding his wrist in a short, sharp flicking motion. The stone was released across the robes, skipping once, twice, three times before sinking.

"Awesome," Rin's breath was warm against his ear. Haru felt his heart thump heavily in his chest. He tried not to whine when he felt the warmth of the swimmer's body ebb away. "Now you try on your own."

With a heavy frown Haru did his best to skip each stone Rin handed him. He didn't know what it was, but his wrist seemed simply too weak to skim the pebbles on his own. Rin was the driving force behind it all, Haru didn't really do anything himself. He was determined to skip a stone at least three times before he became too weak to even hold his head up.

Pressing his lips together, he tried to focus as much as possible. He needed all of his energy to go to his wrist. Biting on his tongue he snapped the last pebble across the current.

It skipped once ... twice ... barely managed a third before disappearing.

"Well done Haru!" Rin grabbed him and spun him around on the edge of the peer in a tight embrace, his legs whirring like a propeller. "That's the best you've done all summer!"

"Thanks ... to you." Haru managed to murmur as Rin settled him down on his feet. Rin pressed a chaste kiss to his mouth before crouching down in front of him, and wrapping Haru's arms around his neck.

"Hold on tight, I'm giving you a ride back to the car."

"R-Rin ..." Haru frowned heavily.

As soon as Rin started to straighten up, Haru quickly hooked his arms around the redhead's neck and held on for his life. Rin linked his weak legs through his arms before adjusting Haru comfortably on his back. Haru gave a light laugh as he held on tightly and enjoyed the ride back to the confines of the car. As much as it made him ache, being torn away from the sea, the scales still etched into his legs, he was more than happy to run away to happiness with Rin.

No matter how little time they had left.

A/N: I hope you guys liked this update! Please R&R! x