Author's Notes: Really sorry for the long wait on this story. I originally updated AO3 first and kinda forgot . I am so sorry.

"I'm a hundred percent sure that Nanase wants to do the nasty with you."

"Makoto, stop glaring at the helpless tomatoes and just pick the nice ones," Seijuuro drawled as he stopped behind Makoto, watching the brunette pick countless fruits before putting them back until he found some he was satisfied with.

"I am picking the nice ones," he replied absently before putting another pretty shiny tomato on his little tray which kinda looked ridiculous (and adorable) because his hands were so big. "It's why I'm taking so long."

"Shopping with a chef is a lot of work," he muttered with mock gravity as he went to Makoto's side and watched Makoto give the tray over to the nice lady to be weighed and priced, award-winning smile firmly in place as he handed crisp bills from his wallet.

"And we haven't even gotten to the fish section yet," Makoto chirped cheekily as he takes the bag of tomatoes and promptly hands it over to Seijuuro who was apparently his designated bag carrier for the day.

"So now I've been demoted from your boss to this," he mumbled but took the bag anyway, predicting that they would be here for the next couple of hours or so because Makoto was notoriously fussy about fresh ingredients – especially, fish. "This is what I get for telling you the truth."

"I thought you said I was your partner," said Makoto as he moved down a few stalls, eyeing the baskets of fresh greens: heads of lettuce and cabbages and bundles of other leafy vegetables before stopping at one with Seijuuro following behind him leisurely. He greeted several elderly storeowners and customers alike, engaging in a bit of small talk before carefully going through some produce. "And that's the most ridiculous thing you've ever said to me and had you told me this several years ago, I would have been very upset with you," he said idly as he picked a random head of lettuce, looked at it for a second then put it back to get another.

Seijuuro had no idea what he's looking for since all of them look the same to him but he lets Makoto do as he pleased, switching his weight restlessly from one foot to another. "It doesn't make it any less true," he retorted as he grabbed the closest head of lettuce that Makoto was pointing at. "I swear Nanase couldn't stop staring at you. He was looking at you like you came out of the ocean in your birthday suit, riding a freaking seashell."

Makoto looked up from his careful examination of lettuce and stared at him incredulously.

"What?"

"Out of the ocean and on a seashell?" Makoto repeated, confused more than anything. The image of himself like that popped in his mind and – no. No. He was going to forget ever thinking about it.

"Exactly," Seijuuro stated, enjoying the blush that rose in Makoto's cheeks. "It's like you came out of his kinkiest, not-so-super-secret, water-related fantasies."

"I do not," Makoto said with a disapproving frown as he set the head of lettuce down in exchange for another one. "Please remember that he's in a relationship."

"So? Doesn't mean he can't look, and, man, did he look," Seijuuro retorted with a playfully suggestive waggle of his eyebrows. He didn't mention how that stare leveled him for a few seconds when he was close to Makoto.

The brunette looked around him, catching the awkward and curious gazes of other customers who just so happened to hear their conversation. "Seijuuro, not so loud! And he was not!" he hissed and Seijuuro relented, scoffing, because this kind of discussion didn't need to be broadcasted all over town, not with all the little, old ladies watching them curiously from the corners of their eyes and giving Seijuuro the stink eye (because it figured that Makoto was everyone's sweetheart and he was getting a little upset).

Unexpectedly, it took them less than a couple of hours to finish shopping for lunch (why bother eating out when you can have homemade croque-Madame sandwiches?) and tonight's dinner even though Makoto did not settle for anything less than the freshest fish he could find. He didn't get the mackerel (which he honestly thought Makoto would go for) but he got some tuna and salmon fillets instead and Seijuuro might not be a trained chef but even he could tell how absolutely beautiful and fresh they were, all flawlessly pink and peachy in color as they were wrapped in wax paper. After that, a quick trip to the poultry side of the market and they came out with a nice chicken for tomorrow before they had to drop by the grocery store to get a few ingredients for dessert (dessert was gonna be awesome).

Obviously, shopping went by faster because Seijuuro had stopped badgering him about Nanase or Matsuoka like he really wanted to. Dinner was several hours away though so he had a lot of time to talk to him later in private.

"Just so you know," Seijuuro started as he placed their groceries in the trunk of his car, "I still think Nanase wants to tap your ass."

Makoto sighed in exasperation as he went ahead and opened the door to the passenger seat, climbing inside. "Seijuuro, you're just putting meaning into things. We just missed each other, that's all there is to it."

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that. He was so obvious," the redhead scoffed as he climbed inside and started the engine. Makoto fiddled with the radio, adjusting the volume and changing the channels till he found a song he liked. "He wants you."

Makoto sighed. "He does not and you're being ridiculous! His life is perfect and he's happy."

"You don't know that. You haven't seen them for almost a decade."

"I would know," Makoto insisted. "At the very least, I'd know if Haru isn't happy."

He tried to think of something to make Seijuuro drop the subject and nearly slapped a hand to his forehead. The answer was so obvious. "Besides, even if that was true – which it's not, by the way, I don't know how you can forget but I'm not exactly human."

"So? My father's not either but my mother married him anyway," Seijuuro retorted. "You're like Nanase's fantasy come to life. You live in water – or you can if you wanted to, you're half-fish – that's like being almost half-mackerel – and you're Makoto. What else could he ask for?"

"I'm not Rin."

He said it with a sad smile, one that felt resigned and it grated on Seijuuro's nerves a bit. "God, you are so stubborn," he pointed out with an exasperated shake of his head. "Can't wait until I get to tell you 'I told you so'."

Makoto closed his eyes, feeling tired all of a sudden as he leaned back and thumped his head on the headrest, before he turned his gaze at the redhead. "Seijuuro, can we just not talk about this? I just want to be friends with them again and get things back the way they used to be, regardless of how I feel."

"You're still in love with him, huh?"

Makoto closed his eyes. "It doesn't really matter anymore."

The drive was thankfully quiet after that and Makoto kept his eyes on his side of the road, listening to Seijuuro when he started humming. He didn't say anything more but Makoto knew he'd go back to needling him about this when Makoto's in a better mood and he won't stop until he was satisfied.

He couldn't stop himself from thinking about what the redhead kept on pointing out to him though.

He'd be lying to himself if he said that he didn't have even the slightest bit of hope that Haru felt the same way for him. Even after all this time, he still hung onto that very little possibility and he hated himself for it because it was a heavy weight that he really wanted to let go of. He'd been carrying it too long and maybe this was what the needed to put everything behind him.

He'd long ago accepted that it wasn't meant to be and even if Haru did return his feelings, the mere fact that Makoto wasn't even human, among other things, kept him from acting on it. Haru's happiness will always come first and he was glad that it was Rin because Makoto trusted him to take care of Haru in ways that he can't and that was enough.

With that thought in mind, he closed his eyes and dozed off.

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Cooking always made Makoto think. At the moment, he's obviously thinking of dinner tonight, of spending time with Rin and Haru, hands working almost mechanically as the knife went up and down with a steady, rhythmic clack on the chopping board.

He had just peeled red potatoes for his salad, quartering them and setting them on a bowl for later. Tomatoes were halved, green beans were cleaned and trimmed, hard-boiled eggs were peeled and fresh basil were cut into thin strips and all the while, he was thinking how tonight could possibly go – most of the scenarios end up in disaster in his active imagination.

At least he can guarantee that the food would be satisfactory and Seijuuro would be here so he could keep things from getting awkward.

"This doesn't look Italian but I like how it looks so far," Seijuuro commented as he came out from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his neck and hair still wet. He wore a simple, black tank top and a pair of worn denim pants. Bare, toned arms were crossed over his chest as he leaned against the table with his hip, keeping his distance from the kitchen counter as he eyed the ingredients laid out in neat rows.

Dried chili, fresh lemon juice and lime zest joined the growing list then some crème fraiche which he knew Makoto made from scratch.

"You don't even know what I'm making," Makoto says wryly with a roll of his eyes.

"I know for sure it's gonna be great," the redhead says with a waggle of his eyebrows. "You're gonna knock their socks off."

Makoto hoped so as he glanced at the wall clock hanging above his refrigerator. Dinner with Haru and Rin was at seven, a little over two hours from now. It was enough time to prep his ingredients, get ready and cook the food since he already finished dessert and it was cooling in the fridge.

He wasn't as unaffected as he was making himself out to be though. His palms were already sweaty and he had to wash his hands and dry it with a clean rag while he worries his bottom lip. He was anxious but he pours all the nervous (and hopeful) energy out in his cooking and hopes that they enjoy his food if nothing else.

"Hey, you okay?" Seijuuro asked, concerned.

"Just a little nervous," Makoto confessed, smiling awkwardly.

"That's understandable. Listen, don't pressure yourself, okay? We can always cancel, if you want."

"It's fine," Makoto shook his head. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Seijuuro, so thank you."

Seijuuro beamed at him, full of encouragement. "Yeah, well, it's nice to be appreciated. You're welcome. And no homo, man. We've been down that road before and it never really worked for us."

"Yeah," Makoto replied and he couldn't help but think how easy it would have been if it did.

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Haru was not nervous. He really wasn't. So why did his hands shake? Why did his stomach feel like there's a terrible weight pulling it down?

This was a bad idea. It's too soon for something like this. Maybe they should just cancel.

"Haru, breathe." And he did, his shoulders losing the tension that had them bunching up without him noticing. Rin was in front of him now with fire in his eyes and a determined set to his jaw. He grasped Haru's shoulders and looked at him straight in the eyes. "It's gonna be fine. It's just dinner, okay? Not the end of the world."

Haru nodded but he still didn't feel confident. It was strange because, until Rin and now, Makoto, Haru never felt this degree of anxiety and uncertainty before.

He looked at Rin, at the confident and supportive grin on his face and he is Rin didn't need to do this. Rin shouldn't be this kind or understanding when he's aware that Haru's more or less planning to cheat on him with one of their best friends. It didn't make any sense at all but Rin looked supportive even though he didn't really tell Haru how he felt about all this other than how he'd be okay if it was Makoto. Somehow, Haru still couldn't believe it was possible.

"You ready?"

"Hn."

"You got the address, right? All I know is that it's pretty close to the beach."

"I know where it is."

"Good. Just don't jump in the water, okay?" Rin paused thoughtfully. "Actually, maybe you should. Makoto probably misses that about you."

Rin chuckled as Haru stared at him flatly, holding his hands up. While it annoyed Haru and he knew it amused Rin, he had to admit that he felt a bit less nervous than before and he followed Rin out of the house then took the lead. Walking was calming for Haru and he gradually became relaxed enough to actually enjoy their walk and grow more excited rather than terrified at the prospect of dinner (though it still burned at the back of his mind).

Makoto's house wasn't too far away but it did take them a while to get there on foot. It was not on the beach itself but it was very near to it. It stood on partly the sand and partly on a rocky outcrop facing the sea, the same outcrop that hid a very small and relatively unknown cave underneath. It had two floors, the first floor resting on white sand while the second floor's deck was on the outcrop itself.

Haru couldn't remember it well but he knew that it didn't look this new. The paint was a warm, creamy color and there was a path of large, flat rocks that led to a flight of stairs to the second floor. Once they were certain there wasn't a door, they climbed up the stairs and were welcomed by the wafting scent of herbs in the ocean breeze.

The deck had a roof and took nearly half of the second floor. There was light but it was dim enough so it wouldn't attract attention. The place was neat but there were a few displaced slippers here and there and a grill in the corner. It had a row of plant boxes overgrown with a variety of fresh herbs and tiny flowers on one side and opposite the boxes were a couple of garden chairs, a low table and a hammock. There were colorful rugs and pillows strewn about even on the floor and various books were piled on the table.

They took careful steps to the door, eyeing the worn mat dotted with dozens of small paw prints and the huge 'Welcome!' written on it.

"It's Makoto's place, alright," Rin said with a fond grin and a slight shake of his head as he rang the doorbell.

A small smile played at the corners of Haru's lips as he looked at the mat then gazed around the deck yet again, spying a stuffed mouse and a couple of balls of yarn peeking under the chairs and the table. His somewhat good mood plummeted though as the door opened with a barely audible creak and he found his former captain, grinning and slightly underdressed in a tank top.

"Hey," he greeted as he opened the door fully and stepped away to let them through. "You guys are just in time. Makoto's just about done plating."

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Rin toed his shoes off and placed them beside Haru's, slipping his feet into cotton slippers that Mikoshiba dropped on the floor before he took his few steps inside. He waited for Haru, taking his hand and squeezing it reassuringly before leading the way inside.

He looked around and the only thought that ran through his mind was how much the house was just so… Makoto. It was warm and inviting with its yellow walls, hardwood floor and furniture with tiny splashes of color here and there.

The second floor was an open space with the living room, dining room and kitchen rolled into one and it's safe to say that Makoto's bedroom was probably below them. On Rin's right was a dark red couch with a quirky quilt made from sewn-up patches of cloth over its back and some pillows that were haphazardly positioned as if someone had recently sat on it and it came with two similar chairs and a low coffee table. The wall behind the couch had a row of bookshelves that were filled with books, picture frames and random items while the front had the flat screen TV and a messy stack of DVD cases.

On his left was the dining table, made of wood and large enough to fit six people and already decked out in fancy place settings. There were two platters with what looks to be salad and rice and a bottle of white wine was set aside and suddenly, he had to remember that they weren't in high school anymore.

Behind that was the center island that separated the dining area from the kitchen and Makoto was there, sprinkling herbs on plates with a little furrow on his brow and for a moment, Rin had to just watch him as Haru surely was if the sudden motionlessness behind him was any indication.

If Makoto was fit before, he was doubly so now. It wasn't so obvious before with that large, worn shirt that he was practically swimming in but there it was. He was leaning on the counter slightly, wearing a dark, green turtleneck sweater that stretched obscenely over his broad shoulders and chest with its sleeves pulled up to his elbows, exposing the firm muscles of his arms and his gentle hands. He should have looked ridiculous wearing the frilly blue apron with a pink killer whale embroidered at the front but he managed to look both manly and adorable.

But the icing on the cake? It was when he looked up at them, eyes crinkling at the corners in that same breathtaking smile that hasn't changed a bit, happy and welcoming.

Rin had to remember to breathe.

'Oh, fuck,' he thought to himself almost immediately.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, it's been a long time since my last update. I'm so sorry. Life happened and work happened and I just never had the time to work on it.

As always, comments are appreciated.

Recipe Information:

Salad Recipe: Grilled Salade Niçoise

For the dressing:

1 Tbs. minced anchovies (about 4)

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tbs. Dijon mustard

4 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the salad:

8 to10 small red potatoes, halved or quartered, depending on size

1 large red onion, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick

2 plum tomatoes, halved

1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed

Extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

1 to 1-1/2 lb. fresh tuna

Freshly ground black pepper

6 oz. Boston or bibb lettuce

4 anchovy fillets

2 Tbs. drained capers

4 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and halved

1/4 cup Niçoise or other good-quality black olives

1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips

Make the dressing:

In a food processor, pulse the anchovies, garlic, mustard, and lemon juice until combined. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil, a few drops at first, and then in a slow, steady stream. Season with salt and pepper

Grill the salad:

Heat the grill. Lightly coat the potatoes, onion, tomatoes, and beans with oil and sprinkle with salt. Lightly brush the tuna with oil and sprinkle with salt and a little pepper. Grill the potatoes over medium-low heat and cook until they're fork-tender and roasty looking, turning occasionally to keep them from sticking, 30 to 35 minutes total. Put the onion, tomatoes, and green beans on a medium-high part of the grill. Grill the vegetables until they're lightly charred and tender, moving the ingredients around so they don't overcook. The onions will cook in 10 to 15 minutes, the tomatoes in 5 to 8 minutes, and the beans in 4 to 6 minutes. As the vegetables come off the grill, transfer them to a tray or a jellyroll pan, drizzle with dressing, toss lightly, and cover with foil to keep warm.

Meanwhile, grill the tuna over medium-high heat until it's slightly pink in the center, about 6 seconds per side. Let it cool for a few minutes and slice. Line four salad plates with the lettuce and arrange the grilled vegetables and tuna on top. Garnish with the anchovies, capers, eggs, and olives. Drizzle with a little more dressing, sprinkle with the basil, and serve.

Main Course: Grilled salmon with chilli glaze & lime crème fraiche

Ingredients

6 garlic cloves, unpeeled

1 small onion, cut into thick slices

1 ancho chili or large red dried chili, deseeded and trimmed

4 tbsp soft brown sugar

4 tbsp cider vinegar

4 x 150g skinless salmon fillets

1 lime, zested, then cut into wedges

200g crème fraîche or soured cream

chopped coriander, to serve (optional)

Method

Blacken the whole garlic and the onion slices on all sides in a large, dry non-stick frying pan. Remove, cool briefly, then peel the garlic cloves. Soak the ancho chili in boiling water for 15 mins, drain, then place in a blender with the sugar, cider vinegar, garlic, onion and some salt and pepper. Whizz to a smooth sauce.

Heat the grill. Brush each salmon fillet liberally with the sauce and save any remaining. Grill for 8 mins. Meanwhile, mix the lime zest with the crème fraîche. Serve the fish with extra chili sauce, a dollop of the crème fraîche and lime wedges for squeezing over. Sprinkle with coriander, if you like, and serve with green beans or rice and a salad.

Dessert: Chocolate Irish Whiskey Cake

For the cake layers

Unsalted butter for the pans

10-1/8 oz. (2-1/4 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

2-5/8 oz. (3/4 cup) unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1-1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. table salt

2 large eggs

1 cup whole milk

1/2 cup canola oil

1-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 cup hot coffee

For the coffee-whiskey whipped cream

1 Tbs. instant espresso granules

1/4 cup Irish whiskey, such as Jameson

3 cups heavy cream

3 Tbs. packed dark brown sugar

To finish the cake

1 4-oz. block semisweet chocolate (about 1-inch thick), at room temperature

1 4-oz. block white chocolate (about 1-inch thick), at room temperature

Make the cake

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Butter three 9x2-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment. Butter the parchment.

In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl, using an electric hand-held mixer), briefly blend the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt on low speed. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla and mix at low speed, scraping the bowl as necessary, until the mixture is thick and creamy, like chocolate frosting, about 5 minutes. With the mixer running, gradually add the hot coffee, mixing at low speed just until combined. The batter will be quite thin. Divide the batter equally among the pans.

Bake, switching positions and rotating the pans halfway through, until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out with only a few crumbs clinging to it and the center feels firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on racks.

Make the coffee-whiskey whipped cream

Clean and chill the mixing bowl and whisk attachment. In a measuring cup, stir the instant espresso into the whiskey until completely dissolved. In the chilled bowl, whip the cream, brown sugar and whiskey mixture on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.

Finish the cake

Run a thin knife around the inside edge of the cake pans and turn the cakes out onto a large cutting board; peel off the parchment.

Transfer one layer to a cake plate and spread a third of the whipped cream on top, leaving a 1/2-inch border; repeat with the second layer. Put the top layer in place and spread the remaining whipped cream out to the edge.

To make the chocolate shavings, put a piece of waxed paper or foil on a baking sheet. Microwave each block of chocolate on medium power for 20 to 30 seconds to soften slightly, then draw a vegetable peeler along the chocolate bar's edge, letting the curls fall onto the waxed paper. Make enough curls of both colors to top the cake generously, 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 oz. each. Refrigerate the shavings to make them easier to handle.

Arrange the shavings on top of the cake and serve.

Make Ahead Tips

The baked cake layers can be wrapped in plastic and kept at room temperature for 1 day.

The assembled cake will hold for 2 hours in the refrigerator.