Disclaimer: I do not own Free! Iwatobi Swim Club or any of its characters. If I did, I'd suffer from major blood loss from daily ogling of muscles.

Warning: Yaoi fanfiction. Semi-AU and partial crack (because I can't help it.) May contain spoilers for the anime, novel and Drama CD. Some scenes have been modified and may not follow canon. MPREG in next chapter.

Rating: T for this chapter

Pairing: Tachibana Makoto X Nanase Haruka

A/N: This fic was written as a trade with a classmate of mine, with the prompts being Makoto and Haruka acting like they're married, plus mpreg. It was meant to be a one-shot…it was supposed to be a one-shot. It mutated.

Updates for this fic will be once every two weeks since it's already prewritten.

p.s. Please take note of the Author's Note at the bottom.

Anyway, to the story then…

To Makoto, With Love

By: Gwynhafra

Chapter 1

For as long as Haruka could remember, he had very few loves in his life he was fully devoted to. In fact, for his whole childhood, he was already a rather quiet child, being exceedingly inept at expressing himself, or of his desires, or of his wants.

Other children his age were given their freedom of being childish to get what they wanted, but Haruka's parents were very uptight and work-oriented. He had long learnt that even from young, showing childish tantrums pretty much got him nothing in return. When his parents told him they were moving away, he made a fuss over it, hoping that they would change their mind. They didn't, and Haruka was soon gone from his old home, moving to a small fishing village and leaving what few friends he actually (miraculously) managed to make.

It was at this same village he met two future loves. The first was during a mountain climbing activity, which his parents took him on to make up for neglecting him for the whole week. It was there he met with his fated one. It was an intensely beautiful, positively vibrant, sparkling and pristine…waterfall. The image of water flowing down so gracefully ingrained itself in his mind so strongly that he would later develop a strong, unconditional obsession for water, one which most classmates of his would later consider to be unhealthy.

The second was Tachibana Makoto, a chirpy, bright-eyed boy who would later become his inseparable best friend. The emerald-eyed brunette wasn't exactly a love, per se, but Haruka did grow a form of dependence on the boy as much as Mako did to him. Makoto didn't actually live in that town, but he did drop by frequently to visit a kind, elderly man who was like a second father to him. While he was there, he would also pay a visit to Haruka, who was home alone most of the time and who appreciated his company.

Haruka couldn't really remember how it was that he became acquainted with Makoto. He was not exactly the most sociable of people, especially since his friend-turnover rate was so fast as he moved so often. He once brought up that query, and Makoto refreshed his memory of the day they met. Makoto had dropped his good luck charm into a pond shortly after a visit to the shrine on New Year's Day, and Haruka, having gained his new love for water and discovered his innate talent in swimming not too long after that, went into the pond to get it for him. They became fast friends, or at least on Makoto's part, and the brunette had been trailing after him ever since.

Haruka allowed him to, simply because Makoto could put on the most pitiful of expressions if Haruka shook him off. When they got more familiar with each other's company, Haruka introduced Makoto to his one and only love – water. He taught Makoto, who was a little sceptical at the beginning, how to swim. Makoto awkwardly picked up a few different styles, but found his preferred style to be backstroke, as it gave him a stronger sense of security to have his face looking upwards, his air passage well away from the water.

When the old fisherman, the one Makoto really looked up to, died in a terrible storm, Haruka could still remember the completely lost look the brunette had on his face, and the desperation with which he gripped Haruka's hand. Haruka, wanting to comfort him, gripped back. Many years later, Makoto will tell him just how much that hold gave him comfort, but for now they were content just by reassuring each other with their presence.

Makoto feared the ocean. Haruka feared that Makoto would cease liking to be in water in general. That didn't happen though, as Makoto eventually recovered and went back to swimming with Haruka again. The dark-haired boy didn't know if the other boy was forcing himself to, but he enjoyed his company all the same.

Without the old man around, Makoto didn't have much of a reason to come over to the fishing town, save for Haruka. They met up whenever he was around, went swimming, and had sleepovers. When they weren't around each other, they corresponded through letters, though it was more from Makoto's part than Haruka's.

Then came the day his parents gave him news that wasn't exactly new to him. They had to move. Again.

When he mentioned it in his letter to Makoto, he didn't expect Makoto to actually request his parents to send him all the way to the town. Both parties were then a little surprised to see little Makoto throw his arms around Haruka and cling to him tightly. "No! I don't want you to leave, Haru! Come stay with us!"

Makoto's flustered parents bowed their heads to Haruka's parents immediately for the racket their son was causing, but they could not separate their son from the dark-haired boy. Haruka threw a side-glance at his friend, having been through a similar situation so many times that he had gone cold to it. None of his friends ever gripped him that hard though, or trembled that much.

His cold demeanour lasted only for a moment, as Makoto's expression was enough to melt even the most hard-hearted of individuals. Haruka turned to his parents. "Mother…father…I do not want to leave." It never gets fulfilled, but he decided that asking again wouldn't hurt.

"Haruka…" His mother began, but his father was the one who approached him. Haruka braced himself, wondering if his father would ask him to stop sulking and act more grown up. Makoto tightened his hold on him, his green eyes wide and observing Haruka's parent.

"Haruka. We are moving." He told his son. He turned to Makoto, who continued to look at him. "My new workplace is near Makoto-kun's place. We will be within commuting distance."

Makoto's eyes widened further at that, and there was a sparkle in the child's eyes, similar to that of him receiving his goldfish from the late old fisherman. Makoto's parents could finally detach their son from Haruka, and they apologised again before taking him home.

Haruka decided to really sulk until he got his way this time, and for once, he was successful. His family moved into a house just doors away from Makoto's, and they have been together ever since, going to and from school, playing with each other, and visiting each other's houses. Makoto had a really amiable character, so much so that even Haruka's family appreciated him coming over. He was with Makoto during happy times and even sad times, being the one to witness Makoto's sadness when he buried his beloved goldfishes.

In school, he made other close friends, first the happy-go-lucky Nagisa, and later the confident Rin. His circle widened, making Makoto not the only one closest to him. The one only other person who became close friends with him was Rin, who shared the same love for water and had similar swimming abilities as him.

He didn't expect his love for water and swimming to hurt this friend though, and when he emotionally hurt Rin after beating him, the latter left and transferred out of the school, while Haruka stopped competing in any swimming tournaments officially.

Makoto, being his best friend and neighbour, noticed this immediately. He asked Haruka for answers, and when the dark-haired boy did not respond to him Makoto quit swimming too, though Makoto did not press him any further about the issue. Years passed, and Haruka grew, just as the feelings of guilt of having caused a friend hurt began to ebb away.

Both Haruka and Makoto enrolled into the same high school. They reunited with Nagisa and Rin's sister Gou, and later made another friend – Rei. By this time, Makoto had grown less dependent on Haruka (except if they entered a creepy building), and more protective over him, seemingly knowing all his needs without the antisocial, freestyle swimmer having to say anything. Haruka grew used to having Makoto look after him, be it getting him out of the bath so that he wouldn't be late in getting to school (or forgetting that he had classes to attend altogether), or making sure that he had something proper to eat, or keeping him company if he cooked mackerel. Most people would get sick of eating the same thing so many times, and while Makoto did voice his distaste at Haruka always eating the same fish, he ate the same meal anyway, as long as Haruka cooked it.

Haruka had not quite noticed it, or at least he didn't think too much about it, since he was with Makoto for so long that it became a routine. Makoto didn't ask anything from him (except for him to join the swimming club), and the brunette was pretty much always just…there…somewhere. Makoto looked after him, watched over him and kept him company. Makoto was like a natural extension of him, as he only had to reach out and Makoto would already know what it was he wanted and give it to him. That was about it.

It was only after he dragged Makoto to shore after a night swim went wrong did he encounter his first real taste of fear. Makoto was unmoving, and it looked like he was not breathing either. Haruka's mind went blank at the thought of not having Makoto, and his hand trembled. He snapped out of it quickly, and decided that he would not let it come to that. He checked for Makoto's breathing, found it to be barely there, and quickly administered CPR. After a few tries, he bent over again and locked lips again with Makoto, and that was when he noticed that the brunette's eyes were open.

Makoto's eyes were locked with his, but only for a brief moment. The next moment, Makoto turned to his side and coughed, hacking up water from his lungs and clearing the blockage in his air passageway. Haruka called his name worriedly, to which Makoto responded. The next moment, however, the soft-hearted swim club captain was more worried over Rei's well-being than his own, and when hearing that he might have gotten Nagisa into trouble too, the expression on his face was nothing short of devastation.

Haruka led him to shelter against the rain, and when Makoto finally calmed down, it was only then he began to speak. The brunette spoke of his reasons to start the swimming club, and to hold the training camp despite his fear of the ocean. Haruka found their eyes locking again when Makoto confessed his actual intentions. "I started the swimming club…because I want to swim with you again…if you're not there…it's meaningless without you! I want to swim with you!"

They did not discuss this until after they were done with the training camp, though Haruka was finally more aware of Makoto's staring at him. Makoto's always done that for years, but it never did make him self-conscious, at least until after the tournament, and after Rin beat him and mocked him for losing. "This means that I will never swim with you again. Never!"

Haruka's world spun. Swimming was like breathing to him. Water was everything to him, and he wanted to share his love for water with friends who were like kindred spirits to him. To have one of his close friends declare that he was going to break off their friendship bond, which was based on swimming, it was just like hearing that water just died.

He took a shower after that, allowing his thoughts to run. He thought he'd be "free" of the guilt once he raced Rin, but that didn't seem to be the case. A different kind of lump settled itself in his throat.

He took longer than necessary, and when the water was beginning to grow cold, he turned off the tap and stepped out of the shower room, debating if he should return to his teammates to watch their individual competitions.

It was then he heard Rin's voice in the hallway. "Huh. Was losing to me that much of a shock for him?" Rei retorted to that, stating that Haruka was affected by other reasons, to which Rin snapped back. "What else matters in swimming other than winning?!"

A loud smack made Haruka's eyes widened. He poked his head out to take a glimpse at the hallway, thinking that Rei might have done something. To his surprise, he found Rin standing there with a stunned expression on his face, and Makoto had his fist still swung out. Apparently gentle Makoto, the one who looked like he wouldn't hurt a fly and who was best friends with little kitties, had actually punched Rin.

"You have no idea how much Haru suffered these years. He refrained from competitions, and pent up his urge to swim. He stopped training, simply because he once hurt you and wanted to apologise for it. He's been trying to make up for it in his own way by having a fair competition with you, and if you win, he too would be freed from that past. Why are you hurting him in return now?" Makoto demanded. His voice was gentle, with his usual Makoto-like tone still intact, but those emerald orbs were fierce. It might have taken a lot out of him to hit somebody though, for while he stared fiercely at Rin, he also started quivering like a wet kitten, almost as if he were the one hit instead.

Rin rubbed his face, wondering if his cheek was going to bruise. There was no bleeding, so he knew that Makoto held back. The guy was like a killer whale, with strength to leave his opponents behind with strong, hard strokes. With his build and his arm strength, he could have packed a stronger punch. Literally. The red –haired boy gave a "ch", shoved Makoto aside and walked past him. "No matter what you say, you guys are weaker than me, so your barks won't affect me. If any of you want to defeat me, do so in the water."

Makoto's fist clenched. Before he could say anything else, however, Haruka walked up to him. "What do you think you're doing, Makoto?"

The brunette gave a yelp. "H-Haru?! You've been here?" He reverted into his harmless self. His eyes widened as he studied Haruka. "A-Are you all right?"

Haruka wasn't exactly feeling chirpier, but he knew that there was a more pressing matter at hand. "Aren't your events starting soon?"

XXX

Despite their training from hell, all of them lost the preliminaries and were eliminated in the first round of their individual events. Gou seemed upset, so much so that even when Samezuka's captain tried to strike a conversation with her to cheer her up, she didn't even pay any attention to him. Rin threw them a smirk before he boarded the bus with an elated Nitori close behind.

Haruka left first on his own, and the rest of the team was left to cope with their loss. It was then Gou confessed to having signed them up for the relay event. Their next job was to persuade Haruka to join them.

Haruka wasn't home, and the team left a message on his phone and waited for him until it got late. Makoto, having known Haruka for so many years and also knowing that he wouldn't join in any relay event, told the others to go home as he wouldn't turn up for the event. After he said that, however, he stayed back to wait for him. The day's event was exhausting though, and he slumped against the wall while waiting for Haruka to return.

When Haruka actually did reach home, he spotted Makoto waiting for him, spotted the phone in Makoto's hand and listened to his friends' recording. He closed his eyes briefly, even as he tried to sort the day's event in his mind. Rin, his close friend, the only person he saw was of nearly the same ability as him, turned down their friendship because Haruka once beat him, and now that he returned that favour, he would never swim with Haruka again.

He was initially overwhelmed by how lonely swimming was after Rin said that, as there was no one else who could be of that level. However, he was not exactly alone. His friends warmly accompanied him in swimming, even if they could never quite reach him. Also, there was Makoto, sweet, caring Makoto, who remained so devoted to him over the years, and probably will continue to do so.

"I will never swim with you again!"

"It's meaningless without you! I want to swim with you!"

Haruka gazed down at his best friend, the person currently closest to him. He knew what Makoto actually meant when he said that, and while he had been trying to avoid the answer, he decided to finally give his reply. It wasn't too difficult a choice to make. The person had been beside him all along.

"Makoto, wake up." The brunette did, cutely saying Haru's name at the sight of him. Haruka kept his gaze steady as he looked right at Makoto. "I will join the relay."

Makoto gaped at him, and his expression turned into one of joy. It was just like seeing child Makoto again, with those wide eyes and blushes on his cheeks. It was only his height and his broad build that were different now, but his nature remained relatively the same.

Makoto sobered quickly. "Why…did you suddenly decide to join in the relay?" He chanced his question.

Haruka turned away for a while. He could feel Makoto's questioning gaze burning into the side of his head. He swallowed. "I...want to swim with you too." He cleared his throat. "I do not like people who are so indirect with me. If you want something from me, just say it."

He glanced to the side, directing his stare at Makoto, and his blue eyes met Makoto's gentle, green gaze. It just occurred to him that Makoto only uses that gaze when looking at him. "I am not your equal, Haru. I am not qualified to stand beside you."

Haruka gave him a long stare at that. He turned away again. "I do not like anyone who belittles themselves when I haven't even done that yet." He turned back to Makoto. "I told you. I choose to swim with you." He stared at Makoto and said no more, but Makoto read his expressions and understood anyway. 'I believe I have the right to choose the person I want to have next to me.'

"Haru." Makoto reached out with a hand, which shook initially before touching Haruka's face. His hand was large and warm. "I'm glad."

Haruka maintained his nonchalant expression, though he had no control over the flush that spread on his cheeks. Makoto wrapped his strong arms around Haruka and rested his head on the shorter boy's shoulder, even as he began to speak up, talking of wanting to swim with Haruka and reassuring him that no matter what, he would always be with him. The freestyle swimmer knew that it was Makoto's way of trying to comfort him, since his distress must have shown on his face even if he tried to remain expressionless. Makoto continued to soothe him with comforting words, lulling him into a light sleep.

When he next opened his eyes, he was lying on his side with Makoto's arm as his pillow. It was dawn, and his childhood friend cum best friend cum…whatever-they-were-to-each-other-now was lying next to him, breathing softly. Seeing Makoto's sleeping face up close made Haruka flush. "Makoto, wake up." When the emerald-eyed boy did so, Haruka had to turn away from the gentle gaze and smile the taller male gave him. That didn't stop Makoto from touching Haruka's face again though. Haruka allowed the hand to rest there a moment before he spoke up again. "It's morning. Ju-just inform the others about the relay already."

Makoto nodded, removed his hand, and took out his phone. As the taller male busied himself with calling all their friends, Haruka turned away from him and rubbed the cheek which Makoto touched earlier. It was still strangely warm.

XXX

They won the relay with ease. In their individual events, they weren't able to catch up with others who had been practicing intensively for so many years. In a relay, however, they lent each other strength. Makoto and Nagisa gave them a pretty good head-start, and while Rei wasn't exactly fast since he was still a beginner, Haruka quickly covered for him as no one could beat him in freestyle, and especially since Rin wasn't competing in the relay. As he got out of the pool, Makoto was the first to clap him on the back, joined shortly by Nagisa and Rei. Haruka turned to meet Rin's gaze, noting how the other boy was boiling with jealousy. The dark-haired boy turned away from him. He had his current circle of friends who trusted him and cared for him. He would move on, with them.

Makoto didn't like the tension between Haruka and Rin though. Rin was the one who first taught Haruka the real meaning of a relay, and was the only one out of their group who had ability enough to match Haruka in the water. He treasured Rin as a friend, in fact both of them did, and it pained Makoto to see that friendship affected. Makoto pointed out that Haruka needed to resolve his misunderstanding with Rin, or the past would continue to haunt him.

Haruka did, realizing during the regionals that Rin lost his confidence after getting beaten by him as a child, and was simply taking his anger out on him. They won the relay together, and Rin, having finally let go of his pride and ego, admitted to himself that he did treasure his friendship with his former teammates. He hugged Haruka tightly, touched that Haruka would allow his team to sacrifice their chance for the Nationals for his sake. Haruka smiled, even as Nagisa glomped him, and Makoto wrapped his arms around all of them to complete the group hug.

Haruka's arms remained hanging limply by his side, as he was at a lost of what to do with his arms, even while everyone else was so busy putting theirs around him. He wasn't even sure if he should hug them back, or if he should pat them on the back. He was never very good at expressing himself, no matter what emotion it was, and he had a flood of emotions running through him at that time. He was happy to have resolved his conflict with Rin. He was pleased to have won that race with his team. He was embarrassed to have so many teenage boys hugging him in public, with Rin sobbing around his neck, and Makoto's slightly teary face inches away from Haruka's own. He continued to stare right ahead, at Makoto, with the hopes that the brunette would notice his distress and help him vocalise his thoughts and express his emotions on his behalf. It was all Makoto's fault that he was already so used to Makoto's mind-reading that he didn't feel the need to say his own thoughts aloud, so Makoto might as well take responsibility for it.

When Nagisa used Rin's old nickname, "Rin Rin" on him, and that prompted Rin to laugh, which in turn made both Makoto and Nagisa laugh, Haruka watched their faces and smiled too.

They sent Rin off, watching him head back to his own team, and after that they had to apologise to both Ama-chan sensei and Goro-chan. After promising to return the following year, they headed back to their respective houses. As usual, Makoto and Haruka walked home together.

"It was tiring, but it sure was fun. You did well, Haru. I'm proud of you." Makoto beamed at him.

Haruka continued walking. With him resolving the tension between himself and Rin, the clichéd weight lifted off his shoulders, and he was fully able to appreciate his actual feelings for swimming and for his team. The feeling of happiness in his chest at going through the relay with his team intensified, and just like when they went to the Squid Festival, he clutched at his chest. Makoto noticed that, and his smile faded, even as he turned to the dark-haired boy in concern. "Haru? Are you all right?" He asked in alarm.

Haruka surprised him by throwing his arms around him, causing Makoto to turn red instantly. Their bodies were pressed so closed that Makoto could almost feel Haruka's heart beat rapidly in his chest, just like his own did. "Thank you, Makoto. I am glad to have you beside me. If you hadn't encouraged me to talk things out with Rin, I wouldn't have been able to make peace with him, and I wouldn't be able to fully move on." His fingers gripped onto the material of Makoto's shirt tighter, digging slightly into his back. It had taken him all his courage to say that aloud, and he was too embarrassed to speak any further. He didn't have to though, for Makoto watched his face and read what he wouldn't say out. "I need you, Makoto."

Makoto nodded and smiled. "I'll walk beside you for as long as you'll have me, Haru."

They continued walking home in silence, comfortable with each other's presence even without words between them. Once Makoto finally sent Haruka back to his house, their hands brushed, and Haruka said a quick goodbye before ducking into his house to hide the slight flush on his face. He looked forward to seeing Makoto the next day.

XXXXXX

When Makoto decided to tell their friends about his new relationship with Haruka, there were varying reactions. Nagisa became all excited, Rei turned green, and Gou…if having blushes on her cheeks from seeing muscles and pecs was already scary, it was nothing compared to the explosion of stars around her head at the news. The sparkle in her eyes and her gushing looked strong enough to fill the whole clubroom, so much so that Makoto wrapped his muscular arms around Haruka to protect him from it (though it had the opposite effect as it merely made the explosion of stars and hearts become stronger).

Rei had difficulty stomaching the information, at least until Nagisa totally desensitized him with his daily huggle attacks and subtle brainwashing. Now if Makoto so much as handed Haruka a water bottle or a towel (like he had always done even before he confessed), Rei would just go into a state of mild shock instead of a dead faint, but it was nothing too life threatening so Haruka didn't really bother with it since it wouldn't affect his swimming performance.

The swim team had their budget, and the pictures of their tournament got them quite a few new members in the club. It didn't exactly matter to Haruka though. He leapt into the pool as and when he liked, while Makoto watched him and smiled from the sides before tutoring new members on the basics of swimming.

When it was just the four of them, Makoto stuck to Haruka's side loyally. With their club growing, Makoto was not given that liberty, since he was captain and had the duty of managing the club in order to give his beloved vice-captain the freedom to swim. The large gathering of topless males drew the attention of the female students in school, and not a day went by without at least a girl ogling at the boys. On a good day, they could even have more than 20 staring shamelessly at them from outside the fence. Makoto was too sweet-natured to make them go away, but Haruka made it a point to set a strict rule that anyone who wasn't a swimming club member wasn't allowed around the pool area. They had to remain outside the fence.

The swim team had admirers, and while Haruka was aware of the girls gazing at him adoringly, the same way Makoto did back then (and still does when he thought that Haruka wasn't looking), he found himself staring at the girls who were checking Makoto out. He had been with Makoto for so many years that Makoto's growth spurt during their school years wasn't exactly noticeable to him, but Makoto was indeed taller than almost all of the club members, and was more buff, and with broader shoulders too. He was, in a way speaking, probably the perfect physical representation of a hot-blooded male. Well, that may be true. He was masculine, unless he opened his mouth to speak. His manner of speaking, especially to Haruka, put him rather on the level of a harmless teddy instead of a badass male oozing of masculinity and testosterone. He was a gentle giant.

Makoto had to run errands for Ama-chan sensei, and while Haruka tried not to let him out of his sight, they couldn't always be together. When they had to arrange for joint practices with other schools, both Gou and Makoto would end up running around getting permission from the appropriate parties. Girls didn't quite get the courage to approach Makoto when he was with other people (and he was with Haruka almost all the time), they took the chance of him running about to corner him.

Makoto looked uncomfortable as he faced a girl so much shorter than him, and who was holding a perfume-scented letter in her hand. She thrust out the letter at him and yelled a confession with all her courage, one loud enough be heard across the corridor and even reaching the ears of one Nanase Haruka, who was leaning against one of the walls.

Makoto looked at her, scratched his face a little, and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, but I have someone else…" The girl opened her mouth to demand the identity of Makoto's mystery girl, as did the previous seven girls who confessed to him, when Haruka walked over to him. "Makoto. We're calling for a meeting."

Makoto took the chance to drop her another apology and escape with the dark-haired boy. He breathed a sigh of relief when he was a distance away. "That was scary." He turned to Haruka. The shorter boy was sulking. "You sure are popular."

Makoto smiled. Haruka was not one to show his childish side, not even to his parents. He only did this to Makoto, and occasionally Nagisa. Unlike Haruka's parents, Makoto would always oblige with his wishes though, and pamper him with whatever means he had. The taller male reached out and took Haruka's hand, holding on firmly and giving a squeeze. "Don't worry, Haru. You dislike anyone who cheats on you. I will not do anything you dislike." Haruka gave him a slightly bratty stare, then turned away. The damage was done though, as the freestyle swimmer felt a flush creep up his cheeks. He squeezed hard to crush Makoto's hand in retaliation.

Makoto chuckled and looked thoughtful. "Speaking of which, we are getting separated quite often…and I do see a lot of girls watching you too. Things are going to get complicated at this rate… I've decided, Haru." He turned to the other boy and gave him a bright, sunny smile. "Move in with me."

Haruka turned to him and gave him a point blank stare. "Makoto."

"Yes, Haru?"

"…you're moving too fast…"

XXXXXXXXX

Haruka swore that Makoto knew hypnosis…or some kind of mind-control technique. It must be the reason why Haruka found himself swept according to the gentle natured man's pace so easily.

After graduating from high school, they enrolled into the same university. Makoto didn't want to burden his parents financially, since they had to send his younger siblings to university after he was done with his courses, so he moved out of his house. Of course, with the Tachibana family members being so close to each other, Makoto's younger siblings made a pretty big fuss over their big brother leaving them. Makoto eventually compromised by moving into a place which was located near his old place, and so he could visit home often. The suggestion was brought up repeatedly when they were both in high school, but the brunette really did convince Haruka to move in with him. It was more to share the rent and responsibilities, but it was still living together under the same roof. Haruka did the cooking and housework, and Makoto took care of Haruka, shared housework duties and everything else. It was a peaceful arrangement, one which allowed them a lot of alone time and allowed Haruka a lot of bathtub soaking time.

It was on Makoto's birthday when Haruka really sealed his own fate.

"Since it's your birthday, what do you want, Makoto? You may ask for anything that I can offer within my power." Haruka told him over their meal of squid and mackerel.

Makoto gave a chuckle. He reached out and touched Haruka's face, even as his gaze softened. "I don't need anything, Haru"

Haruka's eyes narrowed. "…I did say I dislike anyone who is not direct…"

"Ah, fine. It's a silly wish though." Makoto's face flushed. "I want you, Haru. I want to be with you like this, for many more years to come, until we're both old and weary. It would be good if we could be something like a family and…just forget what I've said…" Makoto looked thoroughly embarrassed.

Haruka stared at Makoto for a while. "…For us to become a family, there is only one way… is it fine if I apply to be under your family registry?"

Makoto's eyes widened. "Tha-…It's just a silly wish. You don't have to go so far, Haru!"

"I won't go back on my words. I told you, you may ask for anything that I can offer within my power."

Makoto's gaze softened. "You're willing to do this much for me?" He reached out and held Haruka's hands. "Thank you, Haru. Then…are you willing to cook mackerel for me every morning?"

"I'll make it for lunch and dinner too if I have to." Haruka replied. He was smiling faintly too.

XXXXXXXXX

After they both graduated from university, the former first four members of Iwatobi Swim Team went their separate directions in life, though Makoto, as usual, stuck close to Haruka. The dark-haired young man gave a sigh as Makoto insisted that they enter the same company. Haruka decided to be a full-time lifeguard at a swimming club. He just wanted a job with large bodies of water and his first choice had been as a lifeguard by the beach, but the sea scared Makoto, so he settled for a swimming pool instead. Makoto, unsurprisingly, followed him there, though he opted for the position of a swimming trainer instead. Haruka observed how Makoto seemed to be especially popular among female students, but felt a sense of smugness at seeing how the brunette paid more attention to him than to his own students.

He was lifeguard as well as assistant trainer alongside Makoto. The manager of the swimming club once chided Haruka for being in the water most of the time instead of actually sitting around and watching over the safety of the other members of the swimming club, though Makoto managed to convince the manager that Haruka could actually do his job better if he was in the water. The manager eventually relented, especially after seeing Haruka's beautiful swimming form. It became a sort of harmonious arrangement, with Makoto tutoring the new members, and Haruka flitting about the other swimmers in the water. When it got dark, somebody did actually mistake him to be some kind of shark or sea creature, and freaked out. Makoto had to reassure the poor girl that Haruka was perfectly human, even if he swam with more grace than most of his own kind. The girl clung to Makoto, who patted her on the shoulder awkwardly. Haruka's blue eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything as he continued swimming about in his usual carefree manner.

When she finally calmed enough to be taken home by a friend, Makoto decided to call it a day. He walked to the edge of the pool, where Haruka was. "Haru, let's go home." The dark-haired man ignored him and ducked underwater. He squatted at the edge of the pool and smiled as Haruka swam around. "Haru…come on. It's late. I'll bring you somewhere nice to eat on the way back. All right?"

Haruka seemed to consent with the idea, as he swam over to the edge and poked his head out. As usual, Makoto held out a hand to help him out of the water. Without warning, however, the smaller male held on and gave a sharp tug, ruining Makoto's balance and causing him to fall into the pool.

"Haru-!" It was all Makoto could yelp before he landed with a loud splash. He opened his eyes to find his partner's deep blue gaze fixed on him. Haruka swam over to him and cupped his face, gazing meaningfully into his eyes before pressing his lips to the taller male's. Makoto had never been more grateful to being a swimmer, and being able to hold his breath for a long time. It wasn't exactly their first kiss (their first had been when Haruka agreed to move in with Makoto), but it was their first underwater kiss. Perhaps with his first love being witness, or maybe because water just naturally made Haruka more sensitive, he pushed Makoto down to the bottom of the pool and began kissing him passionately, or as passionately as two males could go with their lips still sealed in order to preserve as much oxygen as they could.

It was over a minute before they both came up, gasping and trying to regain their breath. Makoto gave a chuckle as he held Haruka's shoulders. "That was amazing, Haru."

"Let another girl touch you again, and I'll never let you kiss me like that anymore." Haruka dove back into the water, splashed a whole load of water at Makoto by kicking his feet, and swam off. Makoto gave another chuckle and gave chase. He would very much love a continuation of their underwater rendezvous.

XXX

The swimming club wasn't their only workplace. They also worked part time at an aquarium, Sea World, a place that was a gathering of volunteers and enthusiasts, all eager to be working with marine life. The pay wasn't exactly high there, but they weren't there for the pay anyway. Both were put to the task of caring for the dolphins and killer whales. For Makoto's case, he was in charge of tending to them, while for Haruka's case, he was in charge of training them.

They were reunited with their former teammates, who also volunteered there. Nagisa was currently a daycare teacher who also worked part time at the aquarium as a penguin keeper. Gou was a veterinarian who also dropped by to take a look at the animals at Sea World. Rei wasn't working there, but he dropped by for their performances a lot.

Makoto had a hard time stopping Haruka from jumping into the water, and at some point he just gave up…just as long as Haruka didn't accidentally fall into the one with sharks. Haruka frequently swam alongside the dolphins, and normally, it took people a while to notice that one of the dolphins looked different from the others.

With two jobs, they were both financially stable, and Makoto decided that he could have Haruka registered under his family name now. It was time to actually tell his parents about it. Makoto locked up the house and walked up to Haruka, who was waiting at the main road for him. Both of them walked side by side, heading towards Makoto's family home. They have gone back to Makoto's place quite frequently even after moving in together (and for Haruka's case, he went back to his old house to clean the place up too), as Makoto's family loved having them around especially for festivals and holidays. Their son may be all grown up, but they still wanted him to come home. Of course, they wanted Haruka to drop by too because it made Makoto happy, and they liked having him around.

As Haruka stood before the house, he thought back of his relationship with the other members of Makoto's family. From young, ever since he moved into the house a few doors away from the Tachibana residence, he had been coming and going from Makoto's place like a second home, as Makoto did his. Haruka's parents had to work away from home quite often, and initially they moved about just to be able to bring Haruka along with them under their care, but ever since they became acquainted with the Tachibana family, it was Makoto who reassured them that he would take care of Haruka in their stead.

Of course, back then Makoto was only a child, and instead it was Makoto's parents who insisted that Haruka come stay with them every time the Nanase family were away. Haruka's mother and Makoto's mother became fast friends because of that, exchanging cooking recipes and small talk. With the number of sleepovers Haruka had at Makoto's place, it wasn't a surprise that he created a familiarity of his own presence in that house, and Makoto's parents already treated him like their own son. Haruka was there watching Makoto grow. He was there when Makoto's younger siblings were born, and he watched them grow too. The Tachibana family treated him as one of their own just as much as he took them to be his second family.

Even now, years later, with both of them having grown up into young men, the smile on Makoto's mother's face remained unchanging as she greeted them at the door. She was not the only one, as Haruka could see the smiling faces of Makoto's younger siblings and father too. "Come on in, Makoto, Haruka."

Haruka gulped minutely, dreading if her attitude towards him would change once they break the news to them. Makoto took his hand, gave a squeeze and smiled at him. "It'll be fine, Haru." The dark-haired boy said nothing as he allowed himself to be led into the house.

The whole family sat down for dinner, with Makoto's parents asking him about both his and Haruka's welfare. Haruka let Makoto do the talking, as he himself wasn't too extroverted a person and hardly spoke. He merely spoke when the questions were actually directed at him, but even then, he let Makoto give most of the details.

It was when Makoto's brother and sister were washing the dishes when he decided to bring up the topic. "Mother…father…" He began, his expression serious for a change. His parents noted this and turned their full attention to their eldest son, watching his face for clues as to what he had to tell them. They both noticed how their son held Haruka's hand, and looked between both Makoto and Haruka.

"I am going to have Haruka registered under the family registry. My family registry." Makoto spoke in all seriousness.

Haruka braced himself once the cat was let out of the bag. Makoto's parents' reactions were nothing like what he expected though, as they merely exchanged glances with each other, then gave a sigh. "I thought so…" Makoto's mother began.

"We were wondering just how long it would take before this happens. In fact, had a different sort of registry been legal in Japan, I daresay you would have opted for that instead." Makoto's father sighed again and turned to Haruka, who sat all stiff and nervous in his seat. "We're not going to accuse you of anything, Haruka, so you can rest easy. Makoto already told us about his feelings for you a long time back, when he was still in high school, so we have had plenty of time to prepare ourselves mentally for this news. I admit that I was pretty awkward hearing it that first time, but if it's you, I suppose it's fine. Do make our Makoto happy."

Haruka turned to Makoto, who smiled at him. "I told you, Haru. It'll be fine. My parents are pretty understanding when it comes to my personal matters."

Makoto's mother leaned back against her chair. "I had a feeling I knew of Makoto's orientation even back then, when he kept looking at you every time you came over, and when he has never brought a girl back home all these years. Even when both of you were young, he kept clinging to you in his sleep like a baby koala. Really, this child."

"Mom! Don't go saying all of that!" An embarrassed Makoto yelped, even as Haruka tried to hide a smile at her words.

He turned to Makoto's parents. "Are you really all right with this? I'm a guy…Makoto's a guy…"

Makoto's parents exchanged glances again, and then Makoto's mom reached out and held Haruka's hands. "Has Makoto told you that he's uncomfortable being with you because you're both guys?" Haruka shook his head at that, and she smiled. "We'll accept his decision then. Of course, like other parents, we were initially hoping that he'd find himself a sweet girl and settle down and have children, but it's Makoto who has to decide that for himself. Besides, our Makoto is not one to do something without thinking it through first. If he's together with you, then it's like we've gotten another son." She beamed at him after saying that, with the same smile inherited by her firstborn.

Makoto beamed at his parents. "Then…if I want to marry him, would that be fine too?"

Makoto's mom chuckled, while Makoto's father sighed. "Makoto…you'll need to wait until the laws get changed for that. For now, you'll have to settle with having Haruka registered under your name. Wait until you've saved enough money, and you can go have your actual ceremony in another country."

Makoto's mom nodded and looked slightly thoughtful. "That being said…Haruka… you'd need to inform your parents too…"

Makoto and Haruka exchanged looks at that. Now that…was going to be a little difficult.

XXX

Makoto's family had been easy to convince. Then again, considering Makoto's temperament, it would have been strange if the family had been a bunch of bull-headed folks who somehow managed to raise a sweet son. Haruka's family took a longer time to convince. It first started out with Haruka's dad going into shock, and later the man punched Makoto for somehow leading his son astray. The brunette was so much larger than the older man that if he wanted to, he could have stopped the blow anytime. He didn't, and when Haruka tried to stop his dad, Makoto stopped him. "It's okay, Haru. I'll do anything to convince him of my feelings for you."

When Haruka's dad next turned the blow to the smaller man, however, Makoto did actually wrap his arms around the blue-eyed boy and take the hit for him. When Makoto wrapped his arms tightly around Haruka as a child, it was still cute. A grown man hugging another grown man was a less cute sight for the Nanase family. Makoto's emerald gaze was hard as he continued to protect the other man. "It's fine if you hit me or yell at me. However, please don't hurt Haru."

The older man was too surprised to actually hit him again, actually, and didn't. Haruka touched one of Makoto's arms lightly. "Father…Makoto has been by my side all this time. He is the one who took the most care of me, doted on me and watched over me. I would like him to continue doing so. It won't do if it's not Makoto…"

"Haruka…" His mom began, looking at her son as if for the first time.

"Is this your way of rebelling against us…because we left you home alone so often… we had to work to raise you, and this is your way of repaying us…" Haruka's father demanded.

Haruka frowned. "I've never once thought of rebelling against you, nor hook up with a man to spite you. I am grateful for the effort you took to raise me. However, I am not a child anymore. I'd like to choose the one I'd spend my future with." He tightened his hold on Makoto's arm. "I…I love Makoto. Please let me be with him."

Haruka's father looked torn between deciding if he should allow his son to go ahead with his whims, or to strangle the large brunette currently clinging to his son. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself before looking at the two. "Give us some time to think about it. We will be discussing this…"

Haruka's father had been initially stubborn, but after meeting with the Tachibana family and talking it out, he eventually relented (because Haruka was extremely stubborn over it), though he did secretly mourn the end of family line since Haruka was his only son.

They were already living together under the same roof, so it was just a matter of signing the papers. Once that was done, Haruka let out a sigh of relief, wondering just how his life with Makoto was going to change after that. It didn't really change though. Makoto had always been devoted to him. He continued on the same routine, though with an increase of hand-holding and stolen kisses.

Considering Makoto's character, it probably will be years before there is any change between them.

To be continued…

A/N: Phew…and that was part one of the fic. The rating will most likely go up in the next chapter. It's not explicit or anything, but there are still hints of smut (slightly). I'm debating if I should rate the next chapter as M, or merely remove the scenes. What do you people think? Also, do correct me if I made mistakes in the chapter.

To explain one of the scenes in the fic (the one with Makoto asking Haruka for mackerel every morning), it's my murder of a traditional marriage proposal.

Normally it's,
Guy: Will you cook Miso soup for me every morning? (Will you marry me?)
Girl: Yes. *blush*

in Free! it's,
Mako: Will you cook mackerel for me every morning? (since he'd go along with Haru's pace, he probably won't ask for his fav squid)
Haru: *cool and calm* I'll make it for lunch and dinner too if I have to.

Edit: (2 October 2013) So far, according to the votes, this story may lean towards the M rating next chapter (I say that, but it's still not going to be too explicit. I think). If you're not comfortable with this and you'd rather it remain T rating, do mention it in your reviews. I will tally the numbers and upload the next chapter according to the preferred rating. I have both versions of the chapter in my pc anyway~

Here is the current tally for rating preference.

T - 0

M - 9

If the count for M increases, I will be uploading the M-rated version of chapter 2, and I will also be changing the rating of the whole fic. When that happens, please do remember to set your fic filter to include M rated to find this fic. By default, M-rated fics are hidden in normal searches.

Please read and review. No flames please.

-Gwyn