The Ocean We Left Behind

Chapter 1

Makoto's POV:

It's once more the usual morning routine; to be honest, with excitement for the holidays building up, I still get tired and exhausted because of the routine I have to follow: I have to make sure I get to Haru's place with minutes to spare, while he's getting himself ready, before heading out with him to Uni. Sometimes he doesn't get dressed and all his things prepared until literally minutes before our first lecture starts. Then I start to question why I actually bother to wait for him and jeopardise my own punctuality and education, then I remember - Haru himself.

Since we were young, even in our first few years of school, Christmas - or winter in general - was a time of the year where everything seemed relaxed and settled, poetic and soothing. Haru used to enjoy the snowy weather, on whatever rare occasion it was that we had it, and we would spend the afternoons outside in our gardens with the wonderful white stuff. Things have changed; we don't ever have snow anymore, we are more mature than back then - kind of - and Haru isn't as excited as I definitely am for the holidays to officially start. I have a feeling that Christmas will be something to remember this year...

With my inside thoughts over and done with, I take the key out of my bag and open the front door. I used to knock and open, but I'm sure Haru can sense whenever I'm in the house. He always seems to know where to find me or where I am when I'm in his house. Sometimes I wonder if Haru has some kind of sixth sense... No that's just silly.

I walk in, locking the door behind me and hear absolute silence; he better not still have himself under the covers. It's not like him to forget his Uni schedules. Well, there could be another reason, more likely in Haru's unique case, so I know where exactly to check now. If you ask me, it's a miracle that Haru's fair skin hasn't wrinkled up from his frequent free time in the water - it's more than just frequent, though. It's whenever he has what can be called an urge - not an interest, an urge - to jump in and let loose of his ways. He can either be challenging himself, racing in his beautiful freestyle - in my eyes, it's beautiful - or floating about without a care in his world. He must be completely satisfied in those moments alone... I'd love to watch, but then he wouldn't be alone and wouldn't be as free.

"Haru-chan?" I called whilst I walked towards the back of the house.

No answer. Not that it was a surprise.

I came to the glass door and stopped, hesitating slightly as I felt bad about disturbing him: when he was in this room he lost track of time, but eventually I pulled it open.

The first thing that met me was the smell of chlorine: it wasn't too strong, Haru wanted it to be as natural as possible. The second thing that met me was the small splashing sounds as his hands dipped down into the water with each stroke.

"Haru-chan?" I called once more.

Piercing blue eyes rose from the water, boring into me with an intensity I was all too familiar with. He dived back under and I watched his wavering form as it glided towards me where I stood at the end of the pool.

I just watched, waiting for him to rise again.

"Haru-chan?" I called for the third time and that's when he emerged, hands holding onto the edge, eyes looking up and his stare shooting straight into my own eyes.

"Needed something?" He asked with that low voice he tends to use in the mornings, even after his swimming session.

"It's time to go." I sighed. "We're going to be late."

I heard an exasperated groan from Haru as he lifted himself to sit on the edge. He had a look of boredom and disappointment as his eyes moved down to stare across the depths of his pool.

Anyone wold be riveted as the water trickled across his glistening skin; it was such a beautiful sight that I couldn't help but find myself staring.

Haru shook his head and sprayed little droplets across the floor and back into the water, "You always stare," he murmured.

Catching myself before I said anything embarrassing, I cleared my throat and held out a hand as I leant down to him. It was an unspoken acknowledgement between the both of us. "But I'm the only one that gets to see Haru-chan like this."

He sighed again and ran a final hand over the place where his legs should have been, the place that was slick with waterproof scales that reflected the most beautiful colours. Yes, the only people that get to see this sight is Haru and I: the gentle quiver of his translucent tail fin as he began to change back, and the way his royal blue scales receded into his pale white skin.

His matching blue eyes caught mine over his shoulder and he took my hand gratefully, staggering slightly as he got to his feet and gained his balance.

"Drop the -chan." He responded; it wasn't the first time I heard it and I know well it won't be the last. It sounds better - to me, at least.

"Sorry." I muttered, cleared my throat and smiled. "Now get some clothes on. We have to leave as soon as possible."

He simply rolled his eyes and took slow steps away. I kept up behind him as we walked back through the house and waited at the bottom of the staircase as he quickly made his way to his room to get himself ready. I always wait downstairs - it's the privacy thing, and it's his house. So I tried resolutely not to stare at his surprisingly gorgeous, naked form as he ascended the steps.

Even if he is my best friend, I have to admit, the few times that I had seen him naked, it was definitely a sight to behold. His indifferent manner makes him all the more intriguing, so much so that he often gets invited out dates, by both men and women alike.

But Haruka had only dated once before, it was when we were both about fifteen years old: he told me a girl had asked him out to go shopping because she wanted to know him better, and Haruka isn't completely antisocial so he accepted. This went on for a few weeks, they would go out to different places at least once a week and it seemed like Haru genuinely enjoyed it. Soon he was faced with a difficult decision however, when the girl wanted their friendship to mean more.

"Besides Makoto, she is the only person I have ever felt close to." he had told me. But I also knew that Haruka was asexual, and if they became lovers, he would never be able to give her the intimacy that she truly wanted. It was surely a tricky situation.

Months passed after Haruka had said yes, and I found a girl of my own: she was quite short with mousy brown hair that she liked to tie with a black bow, and warm hazel eyes. She lived quite far away so we only ever met when she was able. Eventually I realised that Haruka had never introduced me to his girlfriend, and I had ever introduced him to mine.

So I decided we'd do it one at a time, and asked Haruka to bring her to his house. I remember that he seemed a little bit unsure about the idea, and to be honest I was a quite nervous too, and at the time I couldn't figure out why.

So I let myself in to his house to wait for him to pick her up from the train station. Looking back on it now I can understand why the butterflies were rapidly flitting about my stomach, maybe I had some kind of sixth sense for it.

I was lounging over the sofa when I finally heard the opening of the front door. I propped myself up properly and stood up to greet them. Haruka's voice was muffled and heard the shuffling of shoes on the doormat, "I'm sure you'll like him." he said as they neared the room.

It pains me to remember the emotions that coursed through me when they rounded that corner. First came disbelief: her hand was clutching his like it was the most natural thing in the world. Second came betrayal: how could she do this to Haruka, and to me! Her kind brown eyes froze when they landed on my form, and even her hair was tied differently, as if doing that would make a difference. Finally anger settled in the pit of my stomach, replacing the nervous butterflies with a swarm of shrieking wasps, stingers at the ready: this girl, this stupid person, had wormed her way into Haruka's life, so much that he felt close to her, just to pull off a stunt like this and have it all come crashing down.

The innocent look on Haruka's face made me want to cry; he hasn't yet realised what had just unfurled, and for a moment I didn't think I had the heart to tell him. Well, until she spoke up that is, "Makoto?!" she gasped out, and Haruka's eyes flickered from her face to mine before confusion settled.

The wasps returned. "I'm going to give you two minutes to explain yourself before I do something I might regret later." I seethed.

Shock flickered in those blue eyes of his, and his "girlfriend" gulped with the new realisation of exactly what she had done.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this, I swear!" She cried suddenly as she sank to her knees.

Feeling the anger bubbling up even more inside me, I clenched my fists to try and gain some control. This day would break a part of Haruka, there was no doubt about it, and she would be the one I would blame for it; he had enough problems as it was! Why couldn't she have just left us both alone?!

With a suprising slap of reality to the face, I realised that this was the first time I had ever felt this angry towards someone since... No, I wasn't about to remember something as dreadful as that.

"It was just Haru until I met you, I p-promise," she began to sob, "and I never had any intentions of hurting either of you. I had no idea that you were both best friends! But I wanted more in a relationship than just holding hands!"

I was really having to hold myself back now, and I think Haruka was just starting to realise what was happening, as his face flickered with several sets of emotions.

"When I found out that Haruka was asexual I felt really disappointed, and it was around the time that I met you. So I thought I could get away with trying elsewhere, but I didn't want to hurt Haruka so I didn't break it off," she hiccupped, "You were too nice, Makoto! I couldn't help but like you, and when you allowed things like kisses and public displays of affection, I couldn't keep away!"

I strode quickly towards her as my insides blazed and my heart clenched for Haruka. She could have ruined everything with her idiocy and selfishness. The wounded look on Haruka's face spurred me on even further and I yanked her to her feet by her arm, "Get out!" I hissed.

Wide, tear-brimmed eyes stared up at me, "P-please!" she sobbed grossly.

I was so close to losing it; so close that my heartbeat was pumping erratically in my ears and red was starting to cloud my vision. I would have lost it, I realised, if a gentle hand on my shoulder handn't dissolved my anger.

"Makoto," he said steadily, "If it's you, then I don't mind."

Calm eyes bore into me, relaxing the surging rage inside, and in that moment I swear my heart skipped a beat.

Although it seems very unlikely for these turn of events to have a good side at all; I believe that was what blossomed a new side of my feelings for Haru, even if it was unnoticeable at the time...

But now wasn't the time to dwell on past mistakes. Haruka was ready to go.

Uni was pretty much the same as any day, nothing that was all too interesting. Although Nagisa did try to tickle Rei in the middle of the libary, and you can imagine how much trouble that got them into.

After Uni, Haru and I went Christmas shopping. Yes, I know, we shouldn't wait until days before, but Haru had a breakthrough with one of his studies and my little sister got stuck in her "other form", so I took responsibility of her this time.

Haru, as usual was sidetracked by the mackerel, his favourite food, that was half price. It took me ages to finally pry him away.

When I did, we got down to doing some real shopping; granted, there wasn't that many things left to choose from but there were some really lovely little bits and pieces that I was sure my family would like.

Haru didn't often see his parents, since they were always away on business trips or too busy with work. The only time they really got to see each other was at Christmas, so I made sure Haru would pick wonderful presents for them both.

I already had a christmas present for him, but I left him to browse never the less whilst I wandered the store.

"Hey, Makoto!" came a bubbly voice, that was almost immediately followed by an exuberant blonde.

"Nagisa," I smiled fondly, "Late Christmas shopping too?"

He winced and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Yeah, I can't find a good present for Rei-chan!' he whined.

Ah, those two were always worrying about each other, and they didn't really try to hide how they felt. It was a mystery how they were so oblivious to the other's feelings.

"Well that's easy!" I grinned, "You should make something for him!"

His whole face lit up at the idea, "Yeah that's right!"

"Just think of something you're really good at, or maybe you could follow an online tutorial." I offered helpfully.

He was bouncing with giddiness as he quickly engulfed me in a tight hug before hurrying away.

I shook my head with a smile, there's that same old Nagisa.

"Makoto."

I turned to find that Haruka had already paid for the gifts and was carrying two bags. One filled with something that looked suspiciously like the packets of mackerel we'd seen on the way in.

"I already have wrapping paper at my house, so let's get going."

I grabbed one of the bags from his hands and proceeded to lead the way back to the bus stop just outside the shop.

It was chilly outside and unfortunately rather windy, so by the time we were safe and sound behind the door of my home we looked completely disheveled.

"Nanase-kun! What a nice surprise!"

"It's so nice to see you Haruka-kun."

"What?! Haru-chan is here?"

"Haru-chan!"

My mum and dad, who stood at the door to the kitchen, greeted Haru whilst the twins called for him from the other room.

"Come on, I think Ran and Ren really want to see you." I said, tugging his hand.

They were propped up with their elbows on the edge of our large bath, small tails wriggling behind them in glee. Ran was the first to speak, "It's been too long Haru-chan!" she whined.

"Yeah! You should come and visit more often." Ren said, mimicking the tone of his twin.

I chuckled at their childish antics, though it was surprising that they took such a liking to Haru, considering how quiet and indifferent he can come off as. But it seems that the liking for Haru runs in the family; even my mum and dad treat him as if he were their son.

After wrapping the presents in the the bathroom, so that we could talk with the twins, I took Haru to my bedroom to play video games, much to their disappointment.

We were just about to climb the stairs when my dad approached Haru , "I know it must be such a bother for me to ask this of you every time, but do you think you could... Help again. Please. It's been too long."

I wanted to sigh, "Dad you can't keep-"

"Makoto."

Blue eyes interrupted me and he squeezed my hand reassuringly, "Haru you can't keep doing this! I know it puts a strain on you!" I pleaded. He simply lifted the corners of his mouth into a small, but Haruka-like, smile.

"Which one?" he asked gently.

"Ren this time."

I watched as he disappeared back into the bathroom, Ran emerging moments later.

Even she knew what was going on, but Haru felt uncomfortable when he had an audience so she had to leave her brother for now.

It was always like this, almost a never-ending cycle that I had to watch every single time: one of the twins would get "stuck" and Haru would help them. Sure, it sounds simple enough. But what person do you know that can revert a mermaid or merman back to their human form? It requires a lot of energy, and I mean a lot. As well as skill and a special ability that only certain bloodlines of merfolk possess.

"Haru-chan!"

My head snapped up and within an instant I was rushing into the bathroom.

Ren was crying and panicking as Haru, who had completed the ritual, lay seemingly unconscious on the floor, panting harshly from exertion.

My breath was stuck in my throat, even as I hauled him up into the bridal position within my arms. I could feel my heart pumping, hear it in my ears, as I rushed up the stairs to place him on my bed.

I could faintly hear my parents talking loudly outside my closed bedroom door, not that I really knew if they were talking to me or to each other. All that mattered was the rise and fall of his chest, the light puffs of air escaping from between his lips, and if I focused hard enough I could see that his breathing was becoming less laboured.

"This is the second time Haruka." I murmured as I grasped his hand, "You can't keep doing this to me; to yourself."

I rest my forehead against the bed and let out a ragged breath. He was so reckless: risking his life for someone he wasn't even related to. It made me so frustrated, torn between wanting Ran or Ren to be themselves again, and wanting to keep him safe.

A gentle squeeze to my hand brought me back to the present.

I glanced up at his face, "Mako." he breathed out. It was so quiet that I barely heard it. But it brought a smile to my face and relief to my worried mind.

He would be okay in the morning, I decided finally. So I got us both into a pair of my sweatpants each and settled us both into bed.

Christmas wasn't going to plan so far, though I had a feeling things would be looking up pretty soon.