The Ocean We Left Behind

Chapter 3

Makoto's P.O.V:

It was early morning, and the sun was just spreading through the crack in my curtains when Ran and Ren came bounding into my room.

"Onii-san! Onii-san! It's Christmas, get up! Get up!"

With a small groan, and a chuckle when the two started rocking me back and forth, I finally gave in and waved them off with a yawn. "Yeah, I'm up, I'm up."

Looking around the room I could see that it was still as messy as I had left it yesterday. With a sigh, I realised that I'd have to clean that up before Haru got here. Oh, that's right! Haru is coming!

I flung back the covers and hopped out, slipping into my pair of old slippers before making a brisk trip to the bathroom to get showered. It didn't take long, and as I emerged from the steam-filled room the twins were chatting excitedly from elsewhere in the house, "Onii-san was so lazy this morning," I heard Ran giggle, "Yeah, and he's probably taking a dump," Ren added mischievously.

I followed the sound of their voices into the hallway, "Hey, what're you two-!" I started, but stopped mid sentence when I was faced with a pair of all too familiar blue eyes.

"Ah Haruka!" I exclaimed, realising that I was stood there with only a short towel wrapped around my waist, rivulets of water still cascading down the bare parts of my body. I then turned to confront the twins. "Don't go talking about me like that to Haruka. It's rude." I scolded them.

Ran had the decency to look a little bit guilty, but Ren simply grinned cheekily and quickly pulled his twin into the kitchen, leaving me alone with Haruka.

"I'm sorry about that, they're getting to that age, you know?" I explained embarrassingly. Though I was starting to feel a bit awkward - and a little cold, standing there in next to nothing. "I'm going to get some clothes on, I'll be back out in a minute, okay?"

I didn't wait for his reply, which I knew would never come anyway, and instead ambled back to my bedroom to shuck on some decent clothes; after all, it was Christmas day, as the twins had so insistently reminded me in my wake-up call. It's not like it was a day like any other: it was Christmas, and one spent with Haru - it sounded like it was going to be a merry Christmas after all. He still seemed distant and kept to himself, like a usual day I see him, but around the holidays he was more open. You just need to know him well to realise it: even Haru becomes slightly more festive during this time of the year.

I walked back and saw him, still in the spot I left him like he hadn't moved at all - which he probably hadn't.

"Sorry for that." I chuckled nervously , "You arrived earlier than I thought you would."

"Might as well come here early." He spoke monotonously, but I could tell there was a glint of excitement in those deep eyes of his. We walked through to the living room, where the twins were sitting and whispering to each other. I looked on and sat down with Haru, giving some space between us. He didn't seem tense or deep in thought - yet, it wasn't like him to express emotion so there was nothing notably wrong. He was most likely still waking up himself; but then again, why did he insist on arriving early today?

As I pondered over this, the twins began giggling to each other. I glanced sidewards: Haru looked interested, and I saw the small, barely noticable tilt of his head as he tried to hear what they were talking about.

Again, this was something only his bloodline could do, not that Haru took advantage of this, but I can tell it comes naturally to him: as well as having some kind of otherworldly energy that allows him to perform rituals and such, he also carries the ability to sharpen one of his senses for a short period of time.