There were a lot of things Zakari was afraid of, he was afraid of his family... he was paranoid over rain for thunder... and he was afraid of water... nothing as small as a cup or even a kiddy pool... but he was afraid of big public pools or in a grander scheme of things, large bodies of water like ponds or even worse the ocean. Something about deep water made him afraid, maybe it was because he was small or maybe it was because his father pushed him into one and almost let him drown if it wasn't for a butler... said butler was the one that helped him with his school studies or even finding his first apartment...

He shook his head as he stared off into the pool as Mitsukuni came bounding towards him happily, "Come on Zak-Kun! Let's get our swim trunks on!" He said happily making Zakari pale slightly at the thought... he would see... and he would have to swim... He slowly followed after the blond, opening the door to see he was taking off his shirt as was Takashi, he slowly went into a stall and slowly took off each article of clothing he had on before putting on his swim trunks... the scar that ran up from his shoulder down to his hip very visible... 

biting his lip he slowly walked out of the stall, he ignored the bright smile of Mitsukuni and just walked out of the bathroom... his fingers tracing his scar like an old habit hard to die off... Slowly he sat down in a chair under a small umbrella and put his knees to his chest... "Why to a water park of all places... his mind wandered back to the end of the school day...

"Zak-Kun! Come on!" Zakari turned slightly out of confusion as Mitsukuni was bouncing on the soles of his feet, "Where are we going?" The platinum blond asked as he closed his notebook and put it in his bag, making sure not to lose it. "You'll see!" Zakari smiled slightly, well it can't be that bad? He had thought as he has gotten into the limo... they had been the first there and all Zakari saw was a huge glass dome... but when he opened the door and walk in he felt his heart sink...

He sighed slightly as he leaned his head back against the padded chair, placing his legs down straight as he closed his eyes... after a few minutes he felt someone poke his cheek and he opened his eyes with a small annoyed look, he saw Haruhi who was dressed in a yellow jacket and he looked at it before looking up at her. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly making him sigh and sit up... "I don't like water parks..." He muttered slightly as she nodded her head.

"Yeah, I don't either. At least there's a snack bar..." she muttered slightly, Zakari nodded his head, the one good thing about it... that is drowned away by all the bad sides. He stood up and walked after Haruhi who was going towards the said snack bar... Haruhi turned hearing the small footsteps and she paused as she stared at Zakari... for a moment the Heterochromia-eyed boy paused before he panicked slightly and he covered his body. "That scar..." the whisper was small but Zakari had heard it.

"I hate it..." he whispered out as Haruhi slowly leaned down towards him with a small worried look. "Is that why you don't like water parks?" He looked up slightly before biting his lip... "You can talk to me about it if you want..." Haruhi trailed off before smiling, "We are friends of course Senpai." The platinum blond opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out before closing it once again, slowly he nodded his head as Haruhi smile.

"When did you get it?" She asked as he slowly moved his hands down so it was in plain sight for her to see. "T-Ten years ago..." He whispered making her frown in worry. "Did... Did someone do this to you?" He frowned at the question. "Not on purpose..." Haruhi didn't like that answer at all as she pulled him a little away when he saw the other bit of the host club chatting away. "Zakari..." She said seriously making the blond flinch... "It... I was walking with my sister Erika..." He whispered out as Haruhi saw him shake.

"It was raining and she... she handed me the umbrella and told me to stay outside... she didn't know..." He shook slightly as he felt a shudder as he pressed his hand on the top of his scar... "I was just walking back and forth in front of the store and then..." Haruhi frowned in worry as he shook. "I was struck by lightning." The look of shock that spread throughout the girl's face seemed to be instant... "I don't remember too much afterward... just knowing my entire family was much more distant with me... besides my grandfather..."

Haruhi frowned deeply as she turned her head slightly seeing Honey who was looking back and forth with a sad frown. "You should tell Honey-senpai... he looks like a mess of worry." Zakari had stilled slightly as she said this and she continued. "If your self-conscious about your scar you can always put your shirt back on, don't have to swim..." She drawled making him shake with tears running down his face. "Zak-Kun?" He suddenly heard making him freeze, his tears still falling as Haruhi turned around and was greeted by the blond who was still calling out for him. "It's okay..." Zakari suddenly whispered as he wiped away his tears and stepped forward...

"You're right after all... I should tell him..." He looked back and smiled grimly... As he walked past the snack bar he saw Mitsukuni running towards him... he felt arms go around him and he instantly blushed feeling the skin on skin contact. "You scared me when you suddenly left! Are you alright?" He asked as he pulled away as he had his eyes wander briefly before his eyes fell upon the scar his hand was over... Mitsukuni looked at it closely before looking at Zakari who turned his head, seemingly ashamed... "I just... don't know how to swim and I don't like showing this..." He whispered as he put his hand against the blonds.

"I should have asked you... I'm sorry..." Mitsukuni said lowly as he put his head down ashamed making Zakari blink in shock. "N-no then you wouldn't have come... I know you love your activities..." He said back, his mind awhirl as Mitsukuni looked at the scar, tracing it gently. "How did you get this?" He asked before he looked up with a concerned look. "I... I was holding an umbrella and was struck by lightning..." he really didn't want to tell the full story as he already felt enough emotion running off with him telling Haruhi... who was still listening in as he didn't hear her move.

"I... I see... I'm glad you're alright... is that why you didn't want to go in front of everyone with the exams?" Mitsukuni asked gently making him nod his head... "W-Well, even wi-without the scar I would say no... I'm not a model..." He whispered out making Mitsukuni giggle slightly at that. "Fair enough... come on..." He pulled his hand slightly towards the other highschoolers. "You said you don't know how to swim? Do you want to learn?" He asked with a bright smile making his heart do leaps and bounds.

"I..." He felt conflicted as he felt himself drowned by his insecurities but the look Mitsukuni gave made it seem so bright... "Just do it, it was ten years ago since then... grow up."  He felt himself going back and forth as Mitsukuni suddenly placed his hands on his shoulders once again. "I will always hold you, and never let go, and if I did I would dive right after ya." He felt his chest ache at the words before he blushed slowly. "F-Fine... just... please don't let go..." He whispered making Mitsukuni giggle. "Never!" 

Haruhi finally made her way towards the others right after the couple did. "Sorry guys, I kinda went the long way after I got something to drink." An easy lie as she sipped on a straw while Mitsukuni bounded towards Takashi, his hand still in Zakari's. "Takashi! Can you come and join me and Zak-Kun in the wave pool?" The stoic teen nodded his head and Mitsukuni felt the tense posture of his boyfriend relax slightly more.

"Wait a minute, -  is that a scar?" The twins had chimed in making Zakari sigh and turn his head before he was continually getting pulled away, "Zak-Kun doesn't like it so please don't talk about it Hika-chan, Kao-chan." for some reason the twins had a shudder go up their spine. Kyoya who was next to them pushed his glasses up and he felt himself gulp, wondering what the shadow king had planned. 

He was suddenly very aware that he was in front of the water, he felt himself freeze up as he stared at his reflection in the water, feeling as if he was back in his younger body and being pushed in by his father, the words flooding him as did the water in his mind. "Swim boy, get that immature fear out of your brain!" He shook as he stood there and Mitsukuni slowly went into the water with Takashi not too far behind. He turned around and he saw the teen shaking.

"Zak-Kun." The voice snapped him out of it as he looked down at the water again to see Mitsukuni holding up his arms. "I won't let go." The words repeated in his mind as he felt a small amount of courage run up his form and he felt himself slowly crouch before slowly easing himself into the water, his feet lightly touching the bottom on the edge and he seemingly sighed as the water was cool against his skin making him have a small breathing fit for a moment. Zakari then felt Mitsukuni's arms around him. "Just breath." He whispered in his ear making the boy shudder but did as instructed.

He felt himself exhale out so many nerves before he slowly turned around towards his boyfriend and felt himself relax more and more. Takashi was next to him as well in worry making him smile briefly. "Sorry, I'm just... new to swimming." Takashi nodded his head in understanding and left it at that as Mitsukuni giggled slightly. "Not so bad?" He had asked making the boy nodded his head as he looked down at the water before trying to step a little forward but didn't feel bottom and his face got a little more wet making him go back to the ledge.

"H-Hey Zak-Kun, wait, just grab ahold of me and start kicking your feet gently against the water, you'll stay afloat like that!" The more Mitsukuni talked it seemed to ease away the fears as he grabbed ahold of his arm and did just what he was told, kicking a little more frantically than needed but he stayed afloat. "I-I I don't like t-this Mitsu..." He whispered as he kept kicking before he felt his arms wrap around him fully and he felt himself pushed into Mitsukuni's chest.

"Shh, just... do you feel my legs?" He whispered as he was going back and forth a little and the small movement made its way near his making him nod his head slightly. "Just with me okay, forward... and backward." He kept repeating it as he did it, he and Mitsukuni slowly began to stabilize in the water as he heard the small little drums of Mitsukuni's heart... he had closed his eyes as he did but kept moving his legs.

"You know..." His moment suddenly gone as he opened them briefly to see that they were in the middle of the wave pool. "I was right about your body ya know... nothing is wrong with it." Zakari had a wobbly smile on his face as he said that, his face turning a deep crimson as his face was still pressed up against his chest. "more perfect if anything." He felt if he could get any redder he would probably make the pool boil from the heat... "S-So is yours..." He felt the chest puff up slightly. "Yeah?" He chuckled out making him nod slightly before Mitsukuni pulled away and gave a small grin, pink dusting his cheeks.

He leaned down and kissed his nose making him smile slightly up at him. "Okay... Ima let go of one of your hands, okay?" He suddenly said making Zakari look up at him confused for a moment before remembering they were swimming... "Oh, okay..." He slowly pulled away as he continued the kicking as if on instinct and felt his hands try to push downwards to keep him afloat. He smiled brightly as he did and he looked over towards Mitsukuni who seemed to be giggling at the look he was sending him.

He suddenly lept at him and hugged him tightly. "Mitsu-Kun! Thank you so much for this!" He said making Mitsukuni jostle slightly in the water but managed to stay floating by kicking down more than normal. "Of course Zak-Kun..." After a little while, Takashi had seemingly got out of the water and Haruhi couldn't help but smile warmly as the two hugged in the water. "They really are so innocent together."

Renge who was passing by looked at them in the water and hummed, "I don't think so Haruhi-Kun, just look at them, I think that innocent demeanor is all just an act for Honey-senpai!" She pointed upwards making Takashi deadpanned towards them. "They are the oldest." He said shortly and left it at that as Haruhi noticed the small little whispers that Mitsukuni seemingly blew into Zakari's ear making him giggle...

"Oh well, as long as they are happy." She had shrugged making Renge nod her head in agreement before turning and her eyes widened in happiness. "Is that a snack bar!?" She had shouted making the two shorter third-years look over from the water and giggle as she dashed to it. "Good to see Renge is having a good time," Zakari said as he turned slightly only for the arms to be back around his waist, and pushed his back against the chest of the other. "Are you?" Mitsukuni whispered making him smile slightly. "I am now.."

Closing their eyes they felt like they could sit there for eternity... but the small commotion that was happening from the triplets of mischief themselves made it seemingly difficult. Zakari opened his eyes in annoyance as he saw Tamaki slip on a banana peel and was flung face-first into a giant tiki head... only for the eyes to glow... "W-What is that?" He stuttered out, confusion slipping into Mitsukuni's mind as he opened his eyes, and as he did they both felt a small rumbling from the water.

Zakari looked around cautiously before his heart dropped as he saw a very big wave coming towards them. Mitsukuni turned him briefly and pressed him into his chest and whispered. "Hold on tight!" Zakari did as he was told as the wave hit them and it became increasingly harder and harder to hold his breath... He had felt himself tumbling with Mitsukuni still clutching to him for a solid minute before his breath finally leave him...

...

Mitsukuni had coughed as he lifted his head and sighed in relief, noticing they were on land as the wave must have pushed them higher and off the pool... He looked down at the boy in his arms before his heart dropped as he saw no signs of movement... he got off of him and his arms were going fast, but shockingly enough his mind was going faster, repeating the words... 'Breath... Breath..." Over and over and over again as he pushed down onto his chest before placing his mouth over his lips, pinching his nose as he did and breathed, repeating it. "Please... Please. Please..." His eyes started to flood with tears as he kept pushing down on his chest.

as he started to push more air into the boy's lungs once again he felt him move and he shook as he saw Zakari turn his head and cough up so much water before taking in a big breath all on his own... and Mitsukuni sobbed as he pulled him close once again, shaking so much Zakari thought he was hypothermic with how much he was shaking... until he heard the smallest voice he had ever heard from Mitsukuni. "I-I'm so s-s-sorry." He heard his voice crack as he choked out.

"Mitsu..." He whispered as the blond continued to shake and repeat that sentence, and Zakari closed his eyes, his own tears forming as he felt the emotion from the other radiating off of waves in more ways than one, the way he was clutching him so tightly, the movement of him shaking not stopping and the broken voice that came out... "Mitsukuni!" He had shouted as he felt his tears finally fall from his eyes and he pulled away to look at him in the eye, the tears trailing down Mitsukuni's. "I'm okay... thanks to you, why are you apologizing?" He had grabbed the other's hand and placed it on his chest.

"Just... feel my heart and my breathing." He said as he gave a deep breath before slowly exhaling and Mitsukuni seemingly copied it, his breathing slowing down and his shaking becoming less and less erratic. "We are alive..." Zakari said as Mitsukuni felt relief as he said it. "We are alive." He repeated making the little baker nod his head in affirmation. Mitsukuni shook once again making Zakari smile grimly, knowing his tears were relief... he opened his arms and Mitsukuni had taken that as a cue to wrap his arms around him and buried his face into his chest, getting to hear the heartbeat he fought to keep beating...

"I don't know how I would live without you..." His whisper was almost missed by Zakari making him smile grimly at the thought. "I couldn't even imagine it..." he whispered back as they sat there for a moment, after the small moment Mitsukuni slowly pulled away only for him to stare into his eyes... "I love you..." Zakari's eyes went wide as he heard it before the smile that spread on his face made Mitsukuni feel warm. "I love you too." When Zakari had said that, Mitsukuni placed his forehead against his, still starring at his eyes.

A crack of thunder made Zakari jump before shaking slightly as rain seemingly started to fall. Mitsukuni looked up in shock as the dome seemingly started to downpour around them. "if the rain is fake why did they have to make thunder with it..." Zakari shook from the drops of water. "Let's go over here." He pointed over towards a bit under a tree and he slowly tried to stand up before he cried out in pain. "Oh... I think I twisted my ankle." Mitsukuni looked down and saw that he did have a bruise. 

Mitsukuni leaned down and brought him up with one lift as Zakari flushed slightly as Mitsukuni carried him under the dry portion of the ground before sitting down with Zakari in his lap. "M-Mitsu..." He whispered in a small moment of embarrassment, Mitsukuni looked down and realized what he had done and shook his head of the thoughts. "You're cold... this way you won't be." Zakari felt his arms wrap around and he shuddered, he was right... he defiantly was warmer now...

"Do you..." Mitsukuni looked down as Zakari was leaning against him, looking out in the rain. "...Ever think about the future?" Mitsukuni hummed, the vibrations tickling at the back of his throat as he wondered. "Sometimes. Why?" He looked up with a gleam in his eyes. "I sometimes think where I'll be later in life... sometimes it came up blank for me, usually thinking if I could buy a bakery and maybe I could live like that." He trailed off as he looked back up. "Then I met you... and you just made it so much brighter." his smile, albeit tired shined.

"I think of the future now and I can see us..." Mitsukuni smiled slightly and leaned down, his head on his shoulder. "You see us?" The teasing of his voice wasn't heard as he turned slightly with a small frown, "You don't?" He chuckled slightly as he leaned his head back on the bark. "Of course, in my future I see myself eating all the yummy sweets you make for me." his smile was back as he said this. "I also see... my mom egging us on over a wedding and how she always gets around you, she might get kimono's sized fitted for us before we have a chance to understand what's happening." 

Zakari giggled at his musings. "Yeah... a wedding..." He hadn't thought of that as he wondered what that might look like. "Do you ever think of kids?" Mitsukuni asked making Zakari look up and smile fondly. "I always wanted to pass down my recipes so yes..." He looked up at him a curious glance. "I do too, it was mostly because of my family, always wanting an heir and all but I really like kids." He trailed off as he thought about it. 

Zakari frowned slightly as he fumbled with his fingers, the rain was still pouring and he felt himself become sad at the thought. "Sorry..." he whispered and Mitsukuni was taken aback by that and looked at him with a curious look, "What for?" He looked down in shame, "It's just... we won't be able to have a kid to do all this with... and even with this conversation it's too early to think about that distant of a future." He trailed off as he looked down in sadness. "That's why I apologized, because I can't give you that... even though I wish I could..." He trailed off.

Zakari and Mitsukuni sat in silence as the rain slowly started to die down making them sigh in relief. "Well, at least that's done." He muttered as Mitsukuni grabbed him fully once more and hoisted him up. "We can talk some more later, lets just find our way back. Okay?" Mitsukuni asked as he began walking making Zakari nod, "Yeah." It was an interesting walk to say the least, when they ran into an alligator however Zakari wanted to strangle Kyoya. "Why do they leave alligators to ROAM!" He shouted, his arms in the sky as if he were talking to a being in the sky.

"I don't think the sky will answer you Zak-Kun." His boyfriend quipped making Zakari glare at him with no malice in his eyes. Mitsukuni couldn't help but laugh at the little mutter that came out of his boyfriend. "Stupid shadow king." after a few minutes of walking they had started to hear some commotion and Mitsukuni walked quicker only for them to see Haruhi in Takashi's arms and surrounding them were soldiers? "Okay, what the hell," Zakari muttered as Mitsukuni lightly sat him down. "Stay here..." Mitsukuni muttered as he started climbing up a tree. "Where would I possibly go?" 

The blond rolled his eyes as he heard the mutter with a smile. Mitsukuni grabbed a vine and breathed in slightly as he started to swing. "Takashi! Haru-Chan! Out of the way!" He shouted as he kicked one of the soldiers directly in the fact and landed, his foot outstretched with a small grin spreading across his face. "What do you think you're doing pipsqueak!" Mitsukuni grabbed the man's arm and swung him into another and kept decapitating them all until they were all on the floor twitching. "W-Woah." Haruhi had gotten out in the middle of it, standing her mouth wide as were her eyes.

"You should pick your fights better! picking on my friends is bad!" He shouted as Zakari had been watching from a bush and sighed. "Zakari?" Takashi had asked his smaller cousin making him blink before going over towards said bush and picked him up, his arms wrapped around his neck. "Never subtle are you." The said teen muttered, though in his mind he never had gotten used to his fighting skills and it always amazed him every time.

"HARUHI!" Mitsukuni and Zakari turned their heads and saw Tamaki hugging Haruhi who seemed unimpressed while the twins were poking at the soldiers. "At least you held back," Zakari said as he looked down as Mitsukuni stepped over a downed soldier, his limbs were still intact. "Holding back??" Haruhi had asked in shock making the twins turn around. "You didn't know?" Zakari smiled ever so slightly. "Haninozuka's are renowned for their martial arts." Kyoya and explained simply as Zakari deadpanned. "Tho this one wanted to show off and became the Karate AND Judo champion." 

Mitsukuni smiled innocently. "Showing off? No, they promised cake so I was determined!" He said with a giggle as a chorus of "I'm sorry's!" echoed behind them... Zakari deadpanned at them. "Your park needs a few tweaks. I'd rate it a one star." Kyoya shrugged his shoulders. "A good first test run." Zakari sighed slightly, "Of course we are the guinea pigs." Mitsukuni giggled slightly at that as he walked up to Takashi, he seemed to be more worried than normal.

"Takashi! I hope you weren't lonesome!" Mitsukuni said looking up as Takashi ruffled his hair briefly. "I wouldn't say that." He looked over briefly towards Haruhi who smiled lightly at the cousin's reunion. "Where did Renge go?" Zakari looked around, briefly confused as they were walking towards the exit, "Right here my dear senpai!" He heard as they walked out of the dome to see a Limousine with a grin. "What kinda manager would I be if I didn't get you all home safely!" She said dramatically making them all sweatdrop.

"Hey maybe we can go to the beach next," Haruhi muttered and a certain blond had stars in his eyes as she said that while Zakari muttered. "Please no... not more water..." But apparently, no one heard him...

...

TBC

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