Embers

A loud explosion ripped through the movie theatre, at least, Rin thought it was an explosion, given that he never heard one before in his life except for the ones during action movies.

"What was that?" Makoto asked softly, as if he was afraid that his voice would cause another one.

"I don't know," Rin muttered and when he glanced at the other people in the room, they were equally surprised as to what that loud boom really was.

"It's probably nothing," Haruka assured because he didn't want to admit that he was spooked. He wanted none of this, not when everything was going so well again. There was no way something bad was going to happen now, that was simply impossible. A loud voice boomed through the speakers, telling everybody to stay calm and head for the emergency exits. As soon as the voice stopped talking, the few people in the room began screaming and panicking. Rin winced when there was no other sound than screaming and fear started to flood his body.

"We should go," Rin said as he stood up. His crimson eyes fell upon Haruka and Makoto but they made no movement whatsoever, as if ignoring the problem would make it go away.

"We have to go!" Rin shouted, not giving a damn that it would probably scare the living hell out of Makoto. They needed to leave and they needed to leave right now.

Rin grabbed hold of Haruka's hand and when Haruka's sapphire gems detected the fear in Rin's eyes, it was clear to Haruka that there was definitely something going on. Haruka didn't hesitate and he grabbed Makoto's hand, pulling the olive-haired male up.

"Whatever happens, don't let go," Haruka commanded and Rin and Makoto nodded. If they stayed together everything would be just fine. When they walked down to the front of the room, everyone had already left and Rin figured that they would be able to go outside without a problem. The redhead opened the door and gasped as he saw hundreds of people running down the hallway, screaming, shouting, crying and panicking. Rin stopped in his tracks and he wondered whether it was a good idea to get mixed up in that mass of people that seemed out of control.

Rin understood why people were panicking, he would do just the same if it wasn't for Makoto and Haruka. He knew that Makoto, no matter how strong he was, wouldn't be able to act as a leader and Haruka… well…he would know what to do but he probably wouldn't be able to lead Makoto. It was up to Rin to get them all out in safety and it was scary but Rin took a deep breath and he stepped out of the room.

The hallway was becoming more and more dark, hazy smoke travelling all over the place making you want cough your lungs out. The foul stench of the fire was a smell that Rin would probably never forget even if he tried. People bumped against him but the only thing he was aware of was the hand that held his own. Haruka's grip was fierce and strong but Rin didn't mind. Haruka's hand was all he needed to stay focused even if it was becoming hard to see and breathe. Rin coughed loudly a few times but his feet never stopped moving. He needed to do this for them. The screams became louder and louder and it was all Rin could hear. If he strained his ears, he could hear flames flicker and burn everything in their paths but that sound was even more gruesome than the screaming and shouting. Rin didn't dare to look behind him, afraid that the looks on Haruka's and Makoto's faces would get to him and distract him. He didn't look at the people that were pushing against him, he didn't want to see the broken looks on the faces that passed him.

A loud and sharp cry made him turn his head and there was a small girl, clutching on to her bunny plushie, crying like there was no tomorrow. She didn't even look around to find her parents, she just stood there and cried. Rin didn't hesitate and he released Haruka's hand for just a fleeting moment but it was enough to get separated. Makoto's desperate cries were muffled by the other screams and Rin looked around frantically to find the two boys who had stolen his heart. The redhead crouched down and he met the watering eyes of the small girl. She didn't even ask who he was, she clutched her arms around him and he picked her up. Rin wanted to try and turn back to find Haruka and Makoto but he didn't want to risk this girl's life as well. He didn't care if he lost his own but this girl deserved better. Rin screamed one last time but when he received no answer, he let himself be pushed forward by the crowd. He felt horrible but perhaps Haruka and Makoto were already outside. They probably got pushed along as well so Rin's feet took him outside. The walk had been long and exhausting and his eyes stung. His lungs felt like they were on fire and when he was able to breathe in some clean and fresh air, he coughed loudly while the girl still had her arms tightly around his neck.

He could feel wet tears stream down his burning neck and Rin started walking around a bit. Never glancing at the movie theatre, afraid that Haruka and Makoto were still inside. Finally, the redhead dared to look at the people who were standing and sitting outside. Most of them were crying, the screaming had subsided.

"There she is!" A woman's voice called out and before Rin knew it, he was engulfed by a pair of arms. He had his eyes closed, hoping that maybe he was being hugged by Haruka or Makoto, or even preferably both. However, the sobbing didn't sound manly enough and the arms weren't strong enough. When the woman backed away a little, the small girl reached for her mommy and Rin was bombarded with an array of thank you's, you're a true angel, my god I cannot thank you enough and so on. Rin simply nodded, feeling slightly happy that at least the child was reunited with her mother. He wished he could say the same about his friends, please me be okay… He hoped that Haruka would step up and be able to drag Makoto along with him.

If I had the chance, I would look back and drown into your eyes. I'm sorry…

Haruka's lungs were burning and his eyes were watery. Everything was so dark and the smoke was really suffocating. He barely felt Makoto holding on to his hand because he was so lost since Rin let him go. He wanted to scream at Rin but it had been pointless, the entire movie theatre was engulfed in screams so Haruka's weak voice would have never stood out. Haruka had followed other people but because everyone was panicking, it seemed that the exit was still so far away. Haruka wanted to try and find it on his own but he was still being pushed forward and he could do nothing but follow.

A loud scream could be heard and then hundreds of other screams filled Haruka's ears. It made him afraid and he could do nothing about it. A few metres ahead, red hot flames were engulfing a door and the people were afraid to go forward. The flames burned brilliantly and Haruka wondered whether there was another way out. When he glanced backwards, he met Makoto's eyes and they sparkled with an amount of fear that Haruka had never seen before. His eyes glanced further back and it seemed that going back was not an option either, given that the flames were bursting down the hallway. Haruka wanted to push people aside but every push he gave was so weak that nothing happened. Suddenly, the people behind him started pushing and pulling and before Haruka knew it, he ran past the flames of the door, making his skin flush and burn with heat. He shielded his eyes from the heat and extreme flash of light. When he passed the flames, he realised that somewhere along the line, he had let go of Makoto, or Makoto had let go of him. Haruka wanted to turn but he couldn't, the flames were too bright and they covered the entire passage. He could only hope that Makoto was somewhere in the stream of people that led him to the exit.

Haruka shivered once the cold night air brushed along his skin. When he looked down on his hands, they were black and his shirt had suffered a little as well. Not that he cared though, he wanted to find Makoto and Rin and try to forget about this nightmare. Haruka wished that they hadn't gone to the movies in the first place. Why did something like this have to happen right now?

Haruka looked around for a few minutes, faintly hearing the sounds of help coming in the distance. He wondered why it took so long but then again, Haruka didn't have a sense of time or direction at all. Not too long in his search for either Makoto or Rin, did he find the redhead. It was relieving to find Rin and Haruka was the one who wrapped his arms around the redhead, relishing in Rin's comforting heat.

"Where's Makoto?" Rin asked softly as he brushed some soot off of Haruka's cheek. Haruka's voice was stuck in his throat and Rin could easily tell from those hurt sapphire gems that Makoto was not with Haruka.

"I lost him, I'm scared Rin," Haruka was not one to cry or sob but now, he couldn't help but let salty tears stream down his face. Haruka had never thought of the possibility that one day, Makoto may be taken away from him. It was something that Haruka never wanted to think about, he'd have Makoto forever. His Makoto…

"Let's look around, he has to be here somewhere," Rin assured and he dragged Haruka along, looking around frantically for those emerald gems that they both loved to drown in. Haruka's mind was bombarded with ideas that he might not see Makoto ever again. What would he do without him? Would he even want to continue swimming? What would his life be like?

Haruka concluded that he didn't want a life without Makoto and his life would be over as well if Makoto wasn't there with him. Haruka clasped Rin's hand tightly and the longer they looked around, the more Rin started to worry that maybe, Makoto was still inside. In the distance, Rin could see the flashing blue lights of fire trucks and paramedics but by then it could be too late. Rin did the one thing he could think of, and without an ounce of hesitation, he ran back into the burning movie theatre. Rin had let go of Haruka and had screamed to stay outside but the hand returned very quickly and Haruka followed Rin inside.

The smoke was so dense and black that neither of them could see anything but red hot flames. They were crawling closer and closer towards the entrance. Rin ran forward and he began screaming as loud as he could. Most of the people were outside already so now, there were no more screams. The entire movie theatre was eerily silent and Rin felt like this was something that he couldn't handle. What if they found Makoto but he…

"Makoto!" Haruka shouted but there was no answer. When they ran further inside, they could hear faint cries for help but they couldn't reach the people that were trapped. They screamed back saying that help was on its way but they both knew that it would be too late. Rin pulled Haruka away, placing his hands over the raven-haired male's ears, preventing him from hearing the people scream while the flames crept closer. It was a horrible sound and Rin knew he would hear it in his nightmares for the rest of his life.

They took a turn to the left but it was no use, only the ticket hall wasn't engulfed in flames and with a heavy heart, Rin tried to pull Haruka back to go outside. There was nothing they could do.

"Haru, come on!" Rin shouted as he pulled at Haruka's hand.

"No! I have to find Makoto!" Haruka shouted back and they exchanged a gaze that would haunt Rin for the rest of his life. Haruka looked terrified and Rin realised, that he had the same look in his eyes. They both wanted Makoto to be okay and they were not prepared to say goodbye. Not now…not ever.

Rin screamed when he was pulled back by strong arms and he had to let go of Haruka's hand. He was being dragged outside by one of the firemen but Rin still screamed and kicked around wildly because he couldn't just sit outside and wait. He could hear Haruka's screams and he was even more violent, scratching and punching the fireman.

"Let me go you asshole! I need my boyfriend, no I don't want to go outside!" Haruka screamed and he clawed at the mask of the fireman trying to be released. Rin looked around for Haruka and he noticed that he was being brought to an ambulance.

"Fuck you, stay away with your damn needles! I am perfectly calm!" Haruka shouted and Rin ran towards him to calm him down. Haruka kept kicking around and Rin just held on tight, afraid that Haruka might attempt to run back inside. It took two other people to keep him down and then he received the shot to calm down. Haruka kept kicking around for a few more minutes and then his body stopped moving. His eyes were drooping and Rin knew it was for the best. Haruka would probably hate him for it but for now… Rin thanked the paramedics and he kept Haruka in his lap, running his fingers through his jet-black hair.

"Can I move closer to the entrance with him? I need to see if they bring out our friend," Rin asked softly and the paramedics gave them both an oxygen mask.

"Keep that on and then you're fine, however, you'll both need to go to the hospital, but a few more minutes can't hurt," one of the paramedics was a friendly young man and Rin nodded. He carried Haruka towards the entrance, as close as they were allowed to go. He watched with watery eyes as the firemen began to bring out more and more people. Some were coughing loudly and to Rin it was a miracle that they still found people who were alive. However, there were also people that weren't moving at all…

A broken gasp followed by a blood-curdling scream left his lips before he crashed down on the cold pavement.

I have to pick myself up but where do I start? We were pulled apart but I know we'll be brought together again.

A/N: Well, it's not exactly a happy chapter to start off the new year with… sorry! I just really need it for the relationship development between the boys! So sorry!

I still hope you enjoyed it a little!

PS: I won't be able to update as frequently anymore because my holidays are over and on Monday I can torment my pupils again :p

Lots of love!