Note: Makoto and Haruka (and any other sea person) appear like mermen creatures amongst each other while to normal humans they appear like the actual mammal/fish they are. If that makes sense.

"Haruka! The pods leaving, we need to keep moving along."

Haruka looked up from his lazing about at the edge of the territory the orca pod had been using. He was leaning against a rock, resting his head and wondering about the vastness of the ocean and the oddness of his life. He drew lazy patterns on the gray smooth surface of his resting place. His tail curled slightly and the blue gray of its back blended quite nicely with the rock. He rested his slim pale face on his other hand, only having his blue eyes glance up at the voice's owner.

The orca floated above him, just about his size, and with a soft smile on his pleasant face. His shoulders were much broader, his arms more muscular, and his eyes a shining green. Soft brown locks, much fluffier and lighter than his own dark hair, floated about his face from the water. The long black and white tail swished lazily behind him, keeping him afloat and at level with his friend. A hand extended to him, an offering he graciously took. "Moving North?" Haruka asked, hauling himself away from his ledge to float beside the killer whale.

"Yep! We're heading for colder waters, hopefully there'll be some seals." Makoto, the orca, continued, thinking aloud, "Oh and I'm sure we'll see some fish and mackerel for you." He added quickly, as if reading the dark haired boy's mind.

Because Haruka was not, in fact, a killer whale. He was a dolphin, orphaned at a young age from a vicious shark attack that decimated most of his pod and all of his close family. He remembered the ferocious night quite clearly, remembered the bitter taste of blood swirling around him in the ocean, remembered the shrill shrieks of dying cetaceans. Most importantly, he remembered the same offered hand, although much smaller at the time, bringing him out of his hiding spot and into the protective company of a friendly orca family.

Where he had remained ever since, mostly glued to Makoto's side.

Their hands remained connected as they swam toward the moving pod of a number of orca families, Makoto's being only one of them. The massive creatures moved deliberately through the water just ahead of them, their large dorsal fins occasional breaking through the sea surface. "Haru, when we breach could you do some flips in the air? They look so amazing when you do them!" Makoto spoke up, looking over at his friend with an encouraging, excited smile.

"Maybe." Haruka responded, though he, himself, enjoyed his acrobatics and was certainly going to do them. He just liked being difficult. Makoto didn't seem to mind though as he smiled more broadly in response, and quickened his pace. Soon enough they had caught up to the group, and remained in the outer rings.

Makoto let go of Haruka's hand, "I'm going to go check on Mama and the twins ok? I'll be right back!" He notified, ducking into the group and out of Haruka's sight. Makoto's mother had recently given birth to two new calves, and his friend had not stopped talking of the subject ever since. He was a proud older brother, and very impatient to show them off to the world. Unfortunately, they were still too young to leave their mother's side.

The dolphin did some lazy spins in the water, wanting to save the more advanced tricks for Makoto's gaze but also wanting to stave off his boredom. He never liked when the pod decided to move spots, it required following the group rather than simply swimming freely about at his own pace and leisure.

He kept his distance from the pod, feeling all the more an outsider without his near constant companion. The majority of the whales ignored his presence while still giving him the courtesy of allowing him to stay. It was only Makoto and his family that welcomed him so warmly. He didn't really mind though. He enjoyed keeping to himself and was perfectly fine with the arrangement they had.

He glanced at the group again, wondering when his best friend would return. He couldn't help his wandering eye, and studied the mammals. He wished he could capture their form. He was in awe at the size of them. Killer whales were formidable killers, with a formidable size to match. Makoto was still about as big as him, but he knew it wouldn't be long until he dwarfed him as well. And yet, he could never see Makoto hurt anyone out of malice. Sure he helped his family with the hunt, but he was terrified of any darkness the ocean had to offer, and clung to Haruka's side most always.

Haruka let a small smile slip his normally monotone features at the thought. A killer whale hiding behind a dolphin. A reality he was all too familiar with. He turned his head more as a burst of motion caught his sight as Makoto rushed out of the pod and toward him, a giant smile on his lit up face.

"Haruka! The twins are starting to talk! A lot too!" He informed, his face showing every form of elation as he caught up to his friend.

Haruka decided to let the smile stay, "I'm glad."

Makoto grinned ever brighter, letting out a light laugh and motioning for the other to swim up with him. The dark haired boy readily followed, poking his head out to the surface and taking a nice gulp of air.

Makoto breached beside him, shaking off some of the droplets from his brown hair and letting out more of his happy, boisterous laugh. He splashed his friend playfully, but Haruka only flipped his hair out of his eyes before diving back down.

He resurfaced soon enough, gracing his friend with a front flip. Makoto watched in awe at the show, as the rest of his pod soon breached for air as well. He waved at his mother and father from where he remained at the outer edge. They waved back and ducked back down.

Makoto dove down and surged back up for his own jump, which was all he could do. He couldn't do flips or dances like Haruka. But he didn't mind all that much. Watching Haruka do them was enough for him. Instead he simply dove right back down with his friend and swum along with him.

They played for quite some time along side the moving pod, making sure not to fall too far behind. It wasn't until they finally tired out and decided to just swim lazily that their hands rejoined each others at their sides.

"Haruka…Come meet my little brother and sister." Makoto offered quietly, tugging lightly in the direction of the black and white whales. Haruka hesitated, never really liking squeezing into the inner rings of the pod itself. He felt like an intrusion. However, Makoto's smile made him let out a tired sigh and finally nod.

The brunet led his best friend with a firm grasp on his hand into the swimming mammals hoard, deep within to where the new mothers swam with their calves. Haruka stayed close to his escort and watched as no one gave him a second glance, other than the curious children.

"Mama!" Makoto greeted, swimming up next to his mother, she smiled at him in turn, before her eyes fell on his companion.

"Ah, Haruka! It's been quite a while." She greeted with a warm smile. Haruka gave a polite nod in return. "Oh! Haruka, have you met Ran and Ren? Ran, Ren come over here." She beckoned, ushering the twins with her long tail. Two small orcas came into view, approaching with apprehension and keeping close to their mother's side. They were half Haruka's own size, but he knew they would eventually be twice as large as him. It was odd living with orcas.

"Ran, Ren, this is Haruka! My friend." Makoto introduced more properly, smiling at his siblings and hoping they would behave. They seemed a little less tense at their brother's words and leaned a bit closer.

"Mama…he's blue." Ran spoke quietly, confused, her eyebrows drawn together as she tried to figure out how this was possible. She swam slightly closer and poked at his small curved dorsal fin.

Makoto and his mother both laughed, while Haruka only let out a huff of indignation. "I'm a dolphin, so I look like this." Was his only response to the curious girl. She didn't seem satisfied with the answer, and continued her probing and investigating.

Ren remained silent but came forward as well, sliding a hand along the blue gray scales of Haruka's tail, inspecting them closely. He then circled his arms around the others bare chest and attached himself to it.

Makoto and his mother seemed to laugh some more while Haruka had trouble keeping up with their swimming pace with the new addition to his body. Luckily Makoto kept a firm grip on his hand and kept him from lagging too far. Ren did not see an issue with his new home, nuzzling into Haruka's chest.

"He likes you." Their mother smiled, but seeing Haruka's tense, uncomfortable body she soon added, "Now, Ren leave poor Haruka alone, they'll be plenty of times for you two to play when you're a little older." She beckoned the pair back with a swish of her tail. Ren complied slowly, slipping off the teen and swimming back to his mother's side, his sister following after.

"Alright now, you two can go run off and have your fun. Just don't stray too far alright?" She continued, shooing her son and his best friend off and out of the circle. Makoto nodded, waving a last goodbye before swimming back out, Haruka right beside him, as always.

As they regained their place in the outer rings, they fell into a peaceful comfortable silence. They swam at a regular place, letting the water flow around them easily. Haruka tucked his hand back in Makoto's own in order to be able to simply close his eyes and swim, knowing the other would lead him the right way.

It was in this silence that Makoto finally spoke up, "Haruka…Do you ever wish you were with other dolphins instead?" His words were quiet, pensive, and his face expressing a serious aura. For Makoto his family was his world…it was hard to imagine not being with them.

Haruka opened one eye to glance over at the other with an annoyed-why-are-you-interrupting-my-swimming-peace -for-this look. Makoto gave him a sheepish grin.

"Not really." Haruka finally answered, closing his eyes once more to feel the ocean currents across his skin.

"How come?" The brunet probed, continuing to look at the other.

The dolphin shrugged his slim shoulders, and the question was dropped completely. Nevertheless, Haruka squeezed Makoto's hand briefly, reassuringly, and Makoto seemed satisfied with that.

"There better be mackerel where we're going."

Makoto laughed and the mood lightened immensely with the sound, he nudged the other playfully and the two started swimming more energetically into the distant ocean.

And Makoto knew, deep down, in that shrugged off answer, that the pod didn't even matter to Haruka. That all that mattered was Makoto's ever present company, and the fact that it would remain just that—ever present.

At least, that was what the pair had always thought.

Free! Multific ho! Writing about dolphins and orcas this is what its come to

I have this entire thing planned out and its so far fun to write so hopefully itll go smoothing.

Lets pray school doesn't slow me down!

Reviews are always lovely dears :)

thank you for reading! Be sure to check out my free! oneshots