Endless Mackerels: The Encounter

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Makoto rarely ever joined him in the sea. So Haru would come alone, early in summer morning or late in summer evenings, when the crowds were at their thinnest, and swim alone in the endless blue. He would float in the cool water and wish he could live in the sea forever, supping on an endless supply of mackerels as he explored all the seas and oceans of the world… but that was a dream, a vision of heaven beyond Haru's reach.

Haru sighed as he dived deepers, swimming so close to the bottom that he could almost touch the sand lining the seabed. But Haru was careful not to mess with the sand, the visibility of the water was great today and Haru didn't want to cloudy the water by disturbing more sand than he had to. So he swam carefully just enjoying himself when suddenly he saw a fish trapped in bits of garbage. Feeling annoyed at careless beach goers, Haru carefully freed the fish and swam to shore to properly dispose of the rubbish.

"Haru-chan," cried the happy voice of Makoto, just as Haru was about to head back in, "I thought I would find you here," he ran down to join Haru, "Are you going to swim for much longer?" he wondered.

"No, I am done," said Haru, "Let's go. I am hungry."

"Come to my house," Makoto invited, "My mother is making pancake. You should eat something other than mackerel once in awhile."

"I rather add mackerel to the pancake," replied Haru.

"Haru, that's just weird!" comment Makoto in a long suffering tone before both headed off towards Makoto's house.

Next day, Haru came once again to swim. The water looked even bluer than before, so pristine and beautiful. Haru dived in started to swim. He swam and swam and suddenly realised he was far from the shore. But he didn't feel like turning back. Instead he dived down as a need to touch the bottom of the sea overcame him. Suddenly, red ribbons shot out from the inky black depths and started to pull him down, down to the depths of the sea.

For the first time panic started to lap at Haru's senses as he realised that the water was too deep, deeper than it should be at this distance and too dark. Alarmed Haru started to pull against the ribbons, trying to get free but then, "Don't worry," came a sweet, soothing feminine voice, "I will not hurt you. I merely wish to thank you for freeing me yesterday from the filth your fellow mortals thoughtlessly defiled the my ocean with."

Haru's mind was in a whirl but from the depth of the confused hazed emerged the memory of the freeing the fish from bits of garbage, "Who are you?" Haru asked, no thought but somehow knew his mind was open and whoever was holding him.

"Ryūjin," came the reply, "I believe that's what your people call me."

"Ryūjin.." repeated Haru, not quite believing what he heard. Afterall, Ryūjin is supposed to be a he right? And a dragon to boot.

"I can be a he," replied the voice, "And I can look like a dragon if I want to. But in my true form…" suddenly Haru was engulfed in light and felt warmth and comfort seep into his every pour. He felt and saw what looked like hands come and caress him, "In my true form I don't have genders like mortals or a form that mortals can easily comprehend," the voice sounded different. Still soothing, still sweet but no longer identifiable by gender, "I am what I want to be and I can give you what you want. The power to breath in the water, youth, everlasting life and an endless supply of mackerels…"

Haru felt his eyes grow wide as he realised that he was breathing, breathing in the water as if it was air and felt a difference in his body and limbs that he could not really understand. "Come to my palace," it wasn't really a request because Haru knew he couldn't refuse, "Let me thank you with a feast of mackerels!"

Author's Notes: So back when I was more firmly abroad HMS Friendship and hadn't been pulled of it by both Haru and Rin because they both want to a piece of Makoto in my fic Losing Makoto ( s/9653883/1/Losing-Makoto) I floated three MakoHaru ideas as a one time "all on board HMS MakoHaru" deal. The idea that got the most votes got turned into Mackerels Forever ( s/9620583/1/Mackerels-Forever) but I couldn't get this idea out of my mind. So started writing it up a bit. I don't know if its worth finishing or not but decided to post what I had anyway and see what people think.