"Thanks."

"You're welcome, Haru-chan!" Makoto chirped as he handed Haru the slowly melting blue ice-pop, "Oh, I got it," he said while reaching out to catch the slimy wrapper before it fell on the lobby sofa. Haru had always had a bad habit of disregarding other people's furniture, especially in hotels. Makoto assumed that it was something he picked up from Rin.

"It's a hotel. No one cares if you put stuff on the sofa. They have servants for that." Haru blinked while slowly licking his popsicle.

"Servants is a bit of an outdated term," he smiled, "plus, these people work here because they want to and they get paid. It's different. I know what you meant though," Makoto laughed and opened up the wrapper to his own pop while stretching over the back of the sofa to toss them in the trash.

Haru didn't respond, and Makoto didn't expect him to. He just kept licking his pop and staring out the huge window.

"I wonder when the power will come back on."

"Yeah."

"I miss having internet but free ice cream and popsicles is kind of an upside," he laughed, "plus, vacations are for being together with family and friends. I'm glad you got to come, at first I didn't think you wanted to cause we couldn't get a hotel with a po-"

"Makoto."

"-ol…Oh, yes? What is it, Haru? Sorry, I was kind of rambling. I get like that when I'm anxious." He paused and looked away. "I…still don't like being in the dark too much."

"I'll make you forget it's dark," Haru said after a quiet slurp.

Makoto thought back to when he would spend the night at Haru's house when they were in middle school. Since Haru didn't sleep with a night light, he would curl up next to Makoto and talk about water and dolphins and what Rin was maybe doing in Australia until he felt Makoto's heartbeat even out and his breath slow and deepen. That had been nice, but the thought of doing that now made him feel weird. They were both 17 year old guys, soon to be eighteen, and even to touchy-feely, soft-hearted Makoto, there was no justifiable reason for them to be that close to one another.

"Oh…you don't have to do that. I got a glow stick from one of the staff here. I'm going to crack it and put it right on the bedside table, everything will be fine….except I hope that won't keep you up, I mean, it's not that bright. But if it bothers you I can put it under the covers with me."

"Makoto."

He turned back towards Haru. "Mmhmm?"

"I've been thinking about something."

"Ah, you have? What is it about?"

In a split second Haru was eye level and an inch away from Makoto. A quarter second later his lips brushed against his mouth, and an eighth second after that Makoto's lower lip was caught between Haru's slightly parted ones. They were cool and they felt good, uncomfortably good, and wow, when did he start kissing Haru back? How did the kiss deepen without either of them seeming to instigate it? And since when did he get a semi in under twenty seconds?

Makoto shifted his jeans to hide his hardening dick and Haru took the opportunity to pull away. "That. I've been thinking about that," he said, staring Makoto dead in the eyes, his pupils slightly larger than usual. Not as large when he sees a body of water though, Makoto noted.

Before he had a chance to reply, footsteps padded across the tile floor. "ONIII-CHAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! ARE YOU AND HARU-CHAN PLAYIN' HOUSE?"

Dammit.

"Oh, Ran! I didn't see you there, did you, Haru-chan?" he asked, looking up at Haru, who had somehow ended up straddling his lap, in desperation.

"Don't stick a -chan on the end of my name."

"WHY ARE YOU LICKIN' MY ONII-CHAN'S FACE? ARE YOU KISSIN'? IF YOU GET MARRIED CAN YOU BE MY ONII-CHAN TOO, HARU-CHAN?"

Haru shrugged. Makoto cringed. The previously empty lobby was beginning to fill up with a few afternoon stragglers, unaware of the situation on the sofa in the window nook.

"Uh," Makoto laughed nervously and tried to take deep breaths in hopes that his face wasn't as red as it felt like it was, "let's not talk about that now, Ran. Haru was…" he looked around and spotted the pop wrapper he'd thrown teetering on top of the full trashcan, "licking off some ice cream I had on my face. I couldn't see it and we didn't have a napkin." He nudged Haru over and he took the hint, shifting off of Makoto's lap and back to where he had been sitting.

"Oh. Ok. Well I came ta tell you that mom and dad and Ren are in the car waitin' for you guys. They said we're all goin' out for dinner 'cause we don't have electricity."

"Right now?!" Makoto jumped up, his dick back to normal due to the absolute shock of his sister's surprise appearance and commentary.

"Yup!"

"Ok. I'm ready." Haru said as he began putting on his shoes that he'd kicked off to lay on the sofa earlier.

"Ran, how about you run ahead of us and tell mom and dad that we're coming? We'll be right there." Makoto urged her, his smile in a delicate balance between genuine caring and earth shattering embarrassment over the entire situation.

"Nope, mom said I have ta bring you guys with me or else you'll take too long gettin' dressed up," she hopped around her brother, taking his hand. "Come on, Oni-chan!"

"Let's go, Makoto." Haru said, finishing tying his shoes and hoisting himself up from sofa. "You can sit next to me in the car, Ran."

The family decided on an American style restaurant. "We're on vacation anyway, why not?" Mr Tachibana was always so enthusiastic, like he had an IV of espresso constantly pumping caffeine through his veins.

They sat in a booth covered in cheap, sticky, red nylon. It appeared to have been shiny at one point judging from the dull sparkles that glinted through the grime every so often. The table was old and had the kind of linoleum covering that was popular anywhere from the seventies to the early nineties in America. Black with thin boomerang shaped things scattered across it in various distasteful shades of baby blue and pink.

"THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER EATED AT A DINER!" Ran's voice rang through the low-ceilinged restaurant. "WHEN ARE THEY BRINGIN' OUT THE SUSH—" Mrs Tachibana's hand quickly covered her daughters mouth.

"Ran, we're indoors. Use your inside voice, ok?"

At the same time that she answered in only a minutely more quiet tone, Makoto's phone vibrated.

Haru: July 6, 17:53 You don't think Ran will say anything. About earlier.

Makoto discreetly held his phone just beneath the table and replied with one hand, glancing down at the screen only once before sending.

Me: July 6, 17:53 No, haha, I don't think so. Ran's not like that.

Several moments of idle chat passed before Makoto checked his phone to see if Haru had replied. He hadn't. His outgoing message had been delivered but not opened. Maybe it would be ok to ask why Haru suddenly…kissed him? Or would that be rude?

"So dad, are we gonna stay in this dumb hotel for the whole vacation or are we gonna get a new one?" Ren asked bluntly. He had been quiet for most of the ride over and while sitting at the table.

"Aww, Ren, it's not a dumb hotel. We can have fun! Tonight when we get back I'll play hide and go seek with you two," Makoto spoke up cheerfully, looking up from his phone. "Plus, it's lovely weather so it's perfect for opening the windows. There's a pretty sakura tree right outside mine and Haru's room, the blossoms smell so good."

Ren crossed his arms but looked slightly more appeased at the mention of the game. "You and Haru hang out all day and Ran and I hafta sit around doing nothing. 'Snot fair."

While Ren pouted, Mr Tachibana took the opportunity to pitch ideas for tomorrow's activities and Makoto zoned out. Haru still hadn't answered. Maybe he should just ask.

Me: July 6, 17:59 Umm..why exactly- His message automatically saved as a draft as an incoming one popped up on the screen.

Haru: July 6, 18:00 If you're worried about me kissing you again you don't have to be. I just wanted to try it once. You have a nice mouth.

Haru: July 6, 18:00 You make nice sounds too when I'm kissing you.

Makoto was positive that his entire face turned pink in one fell swoop.

Me: July 6, 18:01 Haru! Don't say that!

Haru: July 6, 18:01 Why?

Me: July 6, 18:01 It's embarrassing! I couldn't help it!

He snapped up from his phone when he felt his mother's eyes on him. "What did you and Haru do today?" she smiled at him, and he knew that she knew he was texting because he was never very good at hiding things for long periods of time.

"Oh, we walked around the area earlier and then Haru came back and read manga while I took a nap. We got ice cream too when the staff started giving it away. They said that it was going to melt anyway so we may as well enjoy it," he paused to sip his cola from a frosted red Coke cup, "It's a really nice hotel, dad, even with the power out. Thanks again for booking us rooms." He noticed Haru was hunched over the table with both hands beneath it, obviously texting something and doing nothing to disguise it. A few seconds later he felt his phone buzz but ignored it for fear that his parents would see the connection.

Just then the waiter came with their food.

"ONII-CHAN AND HARU-CHAN WERE PLAYIN' HOUSE AND KISSIN' IN THE LOBBY, MOM, 'CAUSE ONII-CHAN GOT ICE CREAM ON HIS MOUTH AND HARU-CHAN HAD TO LICK IT OFF 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY NAPKINS! ISN'T THAT FUNNY?!"

Oh god.

The waiter, who was obviously not Japanese, smiled and spoke brokenly with a strong American accent, "Kids will be kids, right? At home have I my own two, crazy things do them. You men very look happy", she stepped back after handing out the last plate and reached for the pitcher of water to refill the twin's cups. "Anyway, I wish that you enjoy your meal!"

Makoto sat with both elbows on the trashy table and his head in his hands, hoping that the blood roaring in his ears was responsible for somehow distorting the past three minutes into the horrific nightmare he had just witnessed. His phone buzzed again.

Haru: July 6, 18:03 Don't bring up the ice cream. It will remind Ran.

Haru: July 6, 18:04 Makoto. Don't say anything about the lobby.

Haru: July 6, 18:06 Nevermind. It looks like the cat is out of the bag.

Haru: July 6, 18:08 This burger is good.

Had all of that really happened in the space of five minutes?

Me: July 6, 18:09 I am so sorry, Haru. I didn't even think of that. I'll think of something to tell mkm nd dasd.

He looked up from his phone as he typed the last three words as he felt that it was time for him to say something. "Ran, that's not exactly what happened…I think you're exaggerating a little bit," he laughed nervously.

"YEAH I F'RGOT, HARU-CHAN WAS ON YOUR LAP—"

"Ran, honey, you've got to lower your voice when we're inside. And let's not talk about this right now, ok? I think you might have walked in on a private moment between Haru and Makoto," she glanced up with a gentle smile at the older boys. "How's your food, huh? Is that burger like the one they advertise on American tv?"

Mrs Tachibana was definitely the one that Makoto got his caring attitude from.

The rest of the dinner went smoothly, for the most part. The more that everyone talked the more the tension dissipated and by the time the waitress came to collect the dinner plates and ask if anyone wanted dessert, Makoto was only experiencing mild unease.

"I think we'll just get the check, thank you. Our hotel is experiencing a power outage and they have lots of ice cream to dispose of," Mr Tachibana smiled and winked at the twins, "so I think we'll be eating there. The food was delicious though, thank you so much."

"My pleasure to serve you many. You two have a night special very," she said, obviously aiming it towards Makoto and Haru.

Haru: July 6, 18:42 Someone is a yaoi fangirl.

Makoto, embarrassed all over again, didn't feel his phone vibrate and didn't see the message until they were all back in the car, squished together in the small rental.

Me: July 6, 18:46 Haru!

Haru: July 6, 18:47 What?

Me: July 6, 18:47 Don't say that! She was just being nice.

Haru laughed through his nose one seat over where he was squished between Ran and the window.

Haru: July 6, 18:49 Ok.

Makoto didn't reply and instead focused on calming down. He had been jerked back and forth enough that evening, and it was no one's fault but his own for mentioning the ice cream in front of Ran. He and Haru were friends, and there was really nothing that could change that between them. Even after…the incident…he didn't feel weird around Haru, he just felt weird around everyone else. Exposed. What happened that afternoon was totally unexpected, but in a way, Makoto wondered how it hadn't happened years ago. They had been friends for so long, and shared so much, it was no surprise that Haru would want to see what kissing him felt like. Besides, it wasn't anything special. Haru had said that himself, he just wanted to know. Looking back, Makoto realized that he had also wanted to know what Haru tasted like. His lips were firmer than he expected, but maybe that's because Makoto had only ever kissed girls in the past.

Thinking about all of this triggered the memory of that afternoon so strongly that he felt like he was there again. Haru kissing him, holding his lip between his, tongue snaking into his mouth. Somehow he had snuck onto Makoto's lap and he still couldn't figure out how he hadn't noticed. He had probably just inched a leg over Makoto's and settled himself in the same fluid movements that he swam free. Had his crotch brushed against Makoto's? He couldn't remember. He thought that maybe it had though, and he sensed that Haru was warmer there than the rest of his body. Maybe that's how Makoto got hard so fast. The feel of his best friend's crotch hovering over his, the anticipation of him maybe grinding down on him, the feel of Haru's ass on his clothed dick, rubbing the denim roughly against his cock. He would probably be leaking at that point, a wet spot spreading over his underwear, and he'd be hoping that it wouldn't make its way through his jeans but secretly he would want Haru to see, to see how turned on he was.

"Makoto."

Haru was looking at him from outside the car in the parking lot, one hand on the door. "Are you coming?"

"Oh…I didn't realize we were here. I must've dozed off," he laughed, then scooching over to get out, his blood ran cold as he realized he had a screaming erection. "I'll, uh, be right there. I think one of the twins left something in the car, mom just texted me."

Haru nodded. "I'll meet you inside."

"That was close," Makoto said once he saw Haru step inside the dark hotel. He was infinitely thankful for the cool night air as he tried to discretely hop around the parking lot, willing his erection to go away, and hoping that all of the ice cream would be gone by the time he joined everyone else.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"It's fine."

"Haru…"

"Makoto, it's fine."

"…Can you at least hold my hand?"

There was a muffled rustling as Haru groped around in the dark.

"There, is that better? I'm holding both of your hands. You should feel very safe now."

"A little."

"Be still. I can hear them."

Several seconds of silence passed until they were broken by the sound of bare feet on the tile floor of the lobby.

"Can we at least—"

"Sh!"

Haru clamped a hand over Makoto's mouth. He wasn't competitive, for the most part, but when it came to hide and seek he got pretty involved.

"Hrmm-uuu!"

"Sh!"

"ONII-CHAN I KNOW YOUR HIDIN' IN HERE."

Makoto squirmed and to laid a big, wet, lick on Haru's palm to get him to let go of his mouth. He hadn't thought about it, it was just instinct. It's what you did to get someone to uncover your mouth, at least when you were kids. Now that they were older it was a little gay but mostly just gross, and he was certain the clean freak in Haru would balk at such an action.

"Shit, Makoto!" he hissed, barely below the hum of the insect's medley sifting through the open windows. He jerked his hand away from his mouth and quickly rubbed it off on sofa they were hiding behind, the same one they had been on that afternoon.

Makoto took the opportunity to cry out. "Ran! Over he—"

Smooch. Right on the lips, or maybe it would be more accurate to say mouth, as Haru had nearly his entire chin and lower jaw covered as well. It was the last way he was expecting to be silenced, and it was more the shock of having his best friend plant a poorly executed French kiss on him than the actual French kiss that stole his voice away.

The footsteps halted for a moment, then began walking again, searching the lobby and trying to find the location of the voice.

"ONII-CHAN, IS HARU-CHAN WITH YOU? WHERE ARE YOU? IT'S DARK AND I'M GETTIN' SCARED!"

Ran didn't waste any time in going straight for her brother's weak spot, and neither did Haru. He knew that for as much as Makoto couldn't stand the dark, it was far worse for him to witness his siblings experiencing equal fear of it. That's why he shoved his tongue into Makoto's mouth.

"Mph!"

"Be. Quiet." Haru pulled back to hiss.

"But Haru this is—"

Now Haru was biting Makoto's lips, ok, this was definitely happening.

"ONII-CHAN!"

"Makoto, do not mess this up. I only care about three things, and swimming and hide and seek are two of them. Do not squeal."

"Ok but Haru isn't there a better way to ask me to be quiet than forcibly kissing me? I mean honestly."

"Apparently not because you're still talking."

"You're still talking-!"

From the carefully constructed position behind the sofa, Haru and Makoto were planking against one another but as Haru kissed Makoto for a third time, he slung a leg over him while using his right arm to turn him towards him to get a better angle. Makoto was so confused he didn't know what to do, and allowed his mouth to be attacked by his best friend because his number one defense mechanism was to freeze or catch something, and since nothing was falling…no, definitely nothing was falling, he thought as he began to feel uncomfortable in his jeans…he just froze as Haru held his mouth in domination.

"I'M GONNA CR—CR—CRY!"

Haru felt Makoto balk at the new declaration and shoved his tongue further into his mouth, trailing it along the roof of his mouth. That's when Makoto started kissing back.

"C'mere," he whispered as he opened his mouth to get a better taste of Haru and simultaneously admitted to himself that he had loved him since the night in the sea caves.