I was going to wait til tomorrow actually to post this, but I finished my homework and I'm having a rough night, so to counter my bad ngiht I thought maybe this would make someone else's by posting the next chapter~?! Hope you enjoy!

Things get a little steamy..? (But mostly OOC)

Disclaimer: I own nothing~ Chapter title is from Lydia's album 'Illuminate'; another great song, this one; giv eit a listne if you'd like!

Your Taste Is My Attention

Chigusa is crying hysterically and immediately wraps Gou in a hug, squeezing the breadth out of her. Away from the apartment, from Kent, Gou feels like she can relax. She's still shaking but she immediately judges herself to be in better condition than Chigusa, who she has to pry apart from.

"Hana, I'm-"

"Are you alright?!" Chigusa blurts, still crying.

Before Gou can say anything, Rin is pushing them both forward.

"We need to keep going. We're going to Haru's."

"Huh? Haru's? Why..?"

But Rin doesn't say anything. He sounds and looks so angry. Is he angry with Gou?

Gou bows her head, trying not to look at him.

Chigusa gets called by Makoto, asking: where they are, what's happened, is Gou with them?

("We're fine, yes...yes, we have Gou. We're going to…yes, yes, we're going to Haru's.")

It doesn't go unnoticed to Chigusa that Gou is wearing Rin's jacket. By the look of her form, she's not wearing anything underneath.

Chigusa feels both embarrassed and angry. She keeps blaming herself for not having known—that's it, though. She didn't know.

Chigusa has never been to Haru's house, but she recognizes it instantly because she notices Rei from her grade and the swim team standing outside it, watching for them.

"Is everyone back already?" Rin asks Rei.

"Waiting on Haru and Makoto, but they said to go ahead and go inside. Nagisa is already inside with Nitori."

Nitori was out looking for Gou, too? Chigusa thinks.

Rin glances at his sister, but doesn't say anything to her. The entire walk here was awkwardly quiet. Gou refused to look up from her feet, and Rin walked ahead of both the girls. Chigusa wanted to just grab her friend's hand, to hug her and shield her, comfort her—something!

She couldn't bring herself to touch Gou.

Like she was fragile.

Chigusa wants to ask why everyone is here, what's this about. They have Gou now, shouldn't they bring her home? But, Rei smiles at the girls and directs them to come on in.

Chigusa wants to scream at him to stop smiling! Gou is hurt, she's damaged, something's wrong!

Gou just nods and walks inside to where Nagisa and Nitori already are.

Chigusa, reluctantly, follows.

Rin stays outside with Rei.

"Gou!"

Nagisa yells, and for a second Chigusa flinches.

The three of them wait for Gou, in the short silence that follows, to correct Nagisa.

When she doesn't, Nitori quickly speaks up.

"W-we actually had a surprise for you today, Gou!"

"Nitori, you'll ruin it!"

"It's alright. We're all here now," Makoto calls, slipping his shoes off. He's followed by Rei and Haru, and lastly Rin who still won't look at anyone.

"Everyone's here! Great! Then, Surprise, Gou!" Nagisa yells, jumping up in a spray of invisible confetti. Rei sighs from beside Makoto.

"It's not a party or anything…"

Haru slips behind everyone into the kitchen, muttering about starting the grill. No one denies that they're hungry, or even argues with the fact Haru is going to make mackerel.

"We also got you this…" Nagisa offers, holding up the bag in his hands that Chigusa had seen earlier.

Gou blinks a few times, still unsure what was going on, looking to Chigusa for some sort of explanation.

Chigusa shakes her head, unsure as well.

Gou looks to Makoto.

"We wanted to do something nice for you…surprise you, for being such a good manager!"

That's a lie, Gou realizes. They'd planned this to counter what happened last week.

And here it'd gone and repeated itself today, in place of this party.

"Open the gift! We all chipped in to buy it!"

Gou smiles, "You didn't have to get me anything!" It's such a forced smile.

Rin can't look at it. He slips into the kitchen after Haru.

Gou pretends not to notice, because that hurts her more than Kent's grip. That Rin won't look at her or talk to her.

She opens the bag and smiles, genuinely this time, because it's a new school bag and it's not ugly, either.

"Makoto picked that one out," Nagisa pouts, still sour that his option had been rejected. He'd thought it was the cutest.

"It's from all of us," Makoto admits.

"I like it a lot! Thank you, Makoto, and everyone." For more than just the bag.

Haru steps from inside the kitchen, "Dinner will be done soon. Gou, could you come with me for a second?"

Gou feels odd, being alone with Haru. He leads her up to his room and she isn't sure what this is about. She can't imagine Haru being the type to give her some dramatic spiel.

He crouches at his dresser and pulls forth some old T-shirt, handing it to Gou.

She quickly shakes her head. She doesn't need his shirt-

"Take it."

Is all he says.

She realizes Rin must have asked this of Haru.

Gou bites her lip but takes the shirt because Haru's expression is unwavering.

Then he stands up and exits the room, allowing her to change.

Alone, Gou realizes she has both bags with her. Before changing into Haru's shirt, she decides to go ahead and change bags.

She moves everything from her old bag to the new one before finally clipping off her penguin charm.

It had trouble, always falling off from her old bag and the bent ring it was on. The new bag was a fresh, perfectly circular ring that the charm hopefully won't fall off of.

Gou smiles at the charm, thinking of Mikoshiba before snapping the charm on.

She unzips her brother's jacket, folding it before throwing Haru's shirt on quickly.

She takes a spare hair tie from her, now new, bag and without a mirror ties her hair up. She rubs her arms, suddenly cold, then straightens up, gathering her two bags and Rin's jacket in her hands.

She grips her brother's jacket and for a moment thinks she's going to cry. She doesn't; she swallows back those tears, straightens herself up, and heads downstairs to everyone else.

When Gou and Haru disappear, Rei heads to the kitchen. Nagisa and Nitori and Chigusa are all arguing about setting the table, who should sit where and no, Gou should sit between me, not you two! Makoto ignores them and sets the table himself.

The Mackerel is simmering, but standing in front of the sink is Rin. He's gripping the edge of it and as Rei rounds up to him, he notices that Rin's knuckles are bloody.

He wonders if any of that is his.

"Bastard has her shirt…" Rin mumbles, and it's the most defeated and angry he's ever sounded, that Rei's ever heard. Rei doesn't say anything and Rin doesn't follow that up with anything either. Rei realizes Rin was giving him some justification for his knuckles, which he realized Rei noticed.

Rei doesn't think Rin needed to justify himself.

And all at once Rin straightens himself up and his anger retreats into his eyes. He turns the faucet and slowly washes the blood form his hands until there's no trace on them. For good measure, he uses Haru's soap by the sink.

A moment later, Haru enters and nods something knowingly to Rin.

Rei doesn't understand what they mean until Gou also returns, wearing a shirt Rei knows to be Haru's. No one says anything or remarks on the sudden wardrobe change. Rei wonders if that makes things more or less awkward.

Rin doesn't say anything and it's clear he's holding back a lot. Rei thinks it's best Rin talks to Gou, and soon, because Chigusa fills him in quickly between washing the dishes after they all eat of how Rin and Gou aren't really talking right now. There's some odd tension between them and Rei doubts it'll end well if they don't confront it.

The 'party' doesn't last long. Rei keeps chewing Nagisa out for calling it such, to which Nagisa whines why can't it be a party? Makoto finishes setting the table and Haru's mackerel is as good as ever. Everyone complains about quizzes or approaching tests. Nitori mentions how he ran into Mikoshiba earlier today, who couldn't make it to this because of some after school tutoring lesson, what with seniors' finals approaching.

Gou tries not to look disappointed hearing that.

Rin says nothing while Chigusa awkwardly and obviously tries her best to ask questions and keep the small talk going so that the conversation never turns towards this afternoon, or Friday afternoon, or anything related to the real reason they're all gathered.

Finally, Gou says the magic words "I'm tired" and all of sudden everyone has excuses to be out of here in under three minutes.

Makoto's parents are calling. Nagisa has a test to study for (study? Gou giggles at that one).

Rei has a test to study for (that one actually is plausible).

Hana hasn't told her parents where she's at—they might worry.

Just as Gou is thanking everyone and saying goodbye, Rin appears from behind her.

"I'll walk you home."

Gou just nods. She saw this one coming.

Rin doesn't say anything, again, during the walk and Gou wants him desperately to do so. It kills her that he doesn't say anything, ask anything. She wouldn't mind if he chewed her out for something, anything.

"Hear from mom yet?"

That's something.

"She'll be back a week from today, next Monday. Earliest flight she could get."

Rin doesn't even nod, so Gou looks at her new bag.

She gave Rin back his jacket, but he doesn't wear it. He just holds it.

She both wants him to and hopes he doesn't ask what happened. What he missed in the few moments it took for him to reach that room. How he threatened to go after Rin, how she lost her shirt, her first kiss…

Gou squirms at the thought. She lost her first kiss to that creep…

To Kent.

It occurs to her that Rin doesn't know his name. None of them do. Except Mikoshiba.

She wants to talk to Mikoshiba so badly. But, he's at tutoring.

And that hurts, too. Knowing that she'd rather talk to Mikoshiba than her own brother.

Gou feels herself shrink away from Rin, like a retreating turtle in its shell. Rin doesn't notice.

Streetlights are on, buzzing with moths flocking around the light. Gou thinks of asking how swim practice is going, but remembers there was none today. She tries thanking Rin for coming to get her after school today, but that doesn't seem right either.

Thank him for the jacket?

She doubts he wants her to mention that. She doesn't want to talk about it, anyway (not with him, she cringes).

Something needs to be said, though. They're almost home.

"Rin-"

"Wait for me afterschool, alright? Inside." He emphasizes.

Gou blinks.

He continues, still trying to sound aloof without looking directly at Gou,

"Until mom gets back; I'm walking you home from now-"

"Don't be an idiot!"

Rin blinks, taken aback by his sister's rejection.

"What?"

"You have swim practice! Maybe not today, but every other day this week! I'll be fine—I won't leave Hana's side again! He's not going to bother me-"

"-Again? Because we sure all thought he wasn't going to search you out at your school!"

Rin is flaring with anger but Gou tries to ignore that, acting indifferent.

"I'll be prepared next time."

It kills her that there's a possibility of a next time. Or maybe there isn't. Rin beat the message into Kent to stay away from his sister. She hopes Kent doesn't try holding up to his threat of going after Rin. Gou feels guilty for that, but tries not to show it.

"I'll be fine, Rin. I can take care of myself!"

But you shouldn't have to, Rin thinks.

Rin just looks away, not arguing. That's a red flag to Gou, but she doesn't want to challenge him.

Now, they're home.

"You better go back. If you hurry, you can catch up to Nitori so you won't have to walk back to Samezuka alone!"

Rin opens his mouth to say something else, but doesn't. Then, he jerks, as if to move in to hug Gou goodbye, but again hesitates. She catches this, quickly smiling to hide her disappointment and turning on her heels.

"Bye, brother!"

He doesn't even say goodbye, because she's already turned the corner to their yard and out of sight.

He sighs, clutching his jacket, and walks back to try to catch up to Nitori.

It's a good thing Rin doesn't walk Gou to the front door because there, sitting on her porch, is Mikoshiba.

"Mikoshiba?"

The older boy is on his feet the second he hears Gou's voice.

"Are you alright?!"

Gou, perplexed, finally nods.

"Do you want to come inside?"

Mikoshiba looks to be struggling, thinking on it and weighing the option before finally shaking his head.

"Out here is fine. Unless, you'd like to..?"

Gou finds herself shaking her head. She'd actually like to sit outside, she thinks.

She moves to sit down beside him, to which Mikoshiba awkwardly takes a seat back on the porch.

He notices her shirt—it's not her school uniform, and it's not even a girl's shirt. He wonders whose it is.

He got the text from Nitori, who earlier that day had told him about the 'party-not-a-party' the others and he had planned. Mikoshiba couldn't make it, but after Rin's phone call, he'd been worried.

He'd texted Nitori during his class about it, only for Nitori to tell him the others were out looking for Gou.

Kent.

Nitori hadn't texted anything after that, except when they'd found Gou. Mikoshiba had left class early, sprinting practically the whole way to her house (he had to look up the student directory to find Rin's emergency contact listings).

So he'd been sitting here, waiting, for over an hour for Gou to return. He wondered if she'd appreciate this; if she'd get mad, say she was tired and didn't want to see or talk to him.

To his surprise, she said, "I'm actually glad to see you…"

It was a quiet confession, and as sad as Gou looked, Mikoshiba knew it shouldn't make him happy—but, it did.

He blushed, slowly nodding, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Slowly, Gou nodded.

She brought her knees up to her chest and folded her arms over them, hiding her chin and nose in her arms.

"He threatened to go after Rin."

Mikoshiba straightened at this.

"He what?!"

Gou flinched.

"He knew who Rin was…he said he could call up his friends, have them go after Rin."

Mikoshiba recognizes that Gou is starting to shake, but he can't tell if from fear or anger.

"I was so scared…but not for myself! For Rin!"

Mikoshiba tries to smile assuredly. "Rin? He could take care of himself. He didn't get a chance to fight last time, but I bet he could hold his own-"

"He can," Gou whispers, cutting Mikoshiba off. "I saw him…today, when he found us…he pulled Kent off me…"

Mikoshiba's chest rises when she says that. 'pulled him off her'. He wants to punch something but keeps his fists down. He hears her out.

"He just kept hitting him…I yelled at him to stop. I didn't…I didn't like seeing Rin like that." That angry. It was scary, is what she doesn't say. She was afraid of her own brother in that moment.

"At least he knows not to mess with you or Rin," Mikoshiba offers, smiling weakly. He doesn't feel much like smiling now, though.

Gou nods, but she isn't trying to smile. She's still looking at the ground.

"Poor Chigusa…she was so upset…"

"She was worried. Everyone was," Myself included, he thinks. He had no idea what was going on. What had happened. He still didn't quite understand.

"He's a swimmer," Gou finally blurts out, but she realizes that Mikoshiba probably already knew that.

Mikoshiba nods like he didn't, but it's more to comfort her than to confirm. She finally looks up at him and her lip starts twitching, threatening to drop into an ugly frown. Her eyes feel heavy, too.

"He…h-he kissed me," she finally admits, and that's what sets off the tears. Mikoshiba tenses up but continues to watch her as she starts to cry.

"He kept grabbing a-at me, and touching me…" her face is burning, "a-and he kissed me. H-he took my shirt," she tries to laugh that off but it isn't funny. It's sick. She's angry at him. She's angry and hurt and scared.

Mikoshiba has waited long enough, he thinks, and quickly pulls Gou towards him. She likes his hugs, she decides, and quickly throws her hands around his waist, crying into his chest for the second time in less than a week.

"He found me at my school! I-I didn't feel safe anywhere, a-and he threatened to go after Rin…h-he knew who Rin was, he kn-knew who I was…"

"Kou…"

Gou shakes her head violently under his chin.

"H-he called me Kou! I-I hated it! I hated the way he said it."

"I'm sorry…Gou," Mikoshiba tries, and Gou's cries soften so he thinks that's okay. He tries it again, quieter, softer. "Gou…" he whispers and her sniffles calm down.

He hugs her closer, tighter, trying to be gentle but also shield her from everything and everyone; from Kent.

Gou rubs at her eyes and nose, leaning back to face Mikoshiba.

It's then that he catches sight of her wrist.

"He did this to you, too?!"

It's hard to see in the dark, but there are clear rings of a bruise on her arm from where he gripped her. Gou hadn't noticed it, and is amazed and relieved Rin hadn't either. Kent would probably be dead.

Mikoshiba is practically fuming, but tries to remain calm for Gou's sake. His hands are shaking, gripping Gou's shoulders and she wonders if he's about to cry.

"Mikoshiba..?"

He looks away. He's not about to cry, but he feels like screaming. Like hunting this bastard down, like-

"Would you kiss me?"

Mikoshiba's body takes a moment to react before all the blood currently pumping through his veins rush to his face.

Gou herself is blushing suddenly at the request, quickly following up, "I-I mean….today, with K-him, I-I lost my f-first…"

He's both blushing and burning with anger. Her first kiss? She lost it to that bastard? Kent. He hates that. He hates that they know his name, that she knows his name. He hates that that bastard ever chose to mess with Gou, of all people. He's so infuriated he almost can't enjoy the fact that Gou is asking him to kiss her. To erase the stain that Kent left.

Would she have wanted this under any other circumstance? Would she have ever asked Mikoshiba to kiss her had it not been for Kent?

(He's still not going to thank the bastard)

"Yes."

He answers and she gapes at him, her lips barely parted before he leans in, slowly. He hesitates only to make sure she's sure—he's not going to force himself onto her.

She doesn't retreat, sitting perfectly still with her mouth still parted and waiting, so he closes the gap.

It's a quick and chaste kiss that lasts only a moment, but it sends his mind spinning with happiness and nothing else matters in that moment. He forgets all about this afternoon and about how sick with worry he's felt since the moment Rin called him and how unsatisfying Nitori's texts had been and about how miserable he is to see Gou crying again because of that bastard just when the last time he'd seen her she'd been crying because of him, too.

He doesn't taste like cigarettes, Gou notices.

When Mikoshiba pulls apart, he doesn't retreat far. Their lips come apart but he keeps his forehead against hers and leans into her, his eyes still closed as he breathes in each of her breaths. She's smiling now; he can tell because he hears it in her voice.

"Where were you? The other morning…"

Mikoshiba is smiling, too. How could he not?

"Coach Sasabe woke me up—warned me I should probably move before Rin woke up. I was there the whole night, though," he promises, bringing his hand up to the back of her head.

He really wants to kiss her again.

She must think the same thing because she tilts her head up into him and both his hands find their way to cup her face. This time, he holds her lips a little longer; he deepens the kiss and he pulls her into him.

Her arms wrap around his neck, supporting herself on his shoulders, his muscles.

Now he could die a satisfied man.

This time, when they break apart, she isn't crying anymore.

"Thank you," for more than just the kiss.

Kisses, she corrects.

Mikoshiba smiles, nodding the entire time as he leans in for that third kiss without saying anything. She giggles through this one, but doesn't pull away from him. She leans back, her hands tugging at his collar to follow and soon he's laying out across her, their lips still locked.

His arms now support him over her as he slowly lowers himself on top of her. They're still outside, on the porch, and it's so late at night.

Mikoshiba imagines Rin running back, as if sensing his sister being violated in some way, and finding and murdering Mikoshiba. But Mikoshiba would die with a smile on his face and the taste of Gou on his lips.

Gou.

He loves that name.

This time, when they pull apart it's for the last time. Gou looks gorgeous under him, Mikoshiba thinks, though his cheeks turn red from the thought and he's quick to sit up.

"I wish you could stay," Gou confesses, quietly before pulling herself up to sit beside Mikoshiba. She leans against his shoulder, both of them looking at the grass before the porch.

"Why don't I?" He teases. He could stay up all night, just watching her.

Gou laughs, and that sound melts him.

One word, "School." Followed by, "And practice. You have Nationals next week."

Screw nationals.

"And our date." Please don't forget about that, he thinks.

Gou nods, smiling, "Yep."

It's quiet and Gou pulls, again, her knees to her chest.

"It's late…you probably should head back now."

Mikoshiba just nods. He doesn't want to leave.

But, he stands, and when Gou does, she's taller than him because she's on the porch and he's in the grass. Maybe taller than him isn't quite it—she's his height, actually.

Gou smiles, noticing this, and Mikoshiba laughs because he's not used to seeing anyone on his level.

Taking advantage of this rare opportunity, Gou grips the sides of Mikoshiba's head and bows it before her, kissing the top of his skull like a parent to a child. Mikoshiba laughs, nodding and accepting this as his goodnight kiss.

"I'll see you." Tomorrow, he wants to add. He hopes he sees her every day.

"Mm." Of course.

A/N: Random Facts about this chapter; I like writing from Chigusa because she knows less than the audience; she doesn't get why everyone is going to Haru's or anything; random, anyway...

Also, one of the most cliche-touched-upon elements of a Gou-centric story is the transition from her insisting being called Kou to giving in to being called Gou; I feel a bit bad for covering this, but also I just had to I'm sorry haha.

(Hey, look! I wrote some Haru~! Every reader wave at Haru...and~ there goes Haru. I'm sorry, I just cannot write Haru XD)

Rin and Gou tension is awkward now; the party environment might not have been the best, considering they just got back from an abduction, so Rin kinda couldn't pull his sister aside and have a heart-to-heart then and there...And he sorta tries when walking her home..? He did at least offer to walk her home~ That whole conversation is just more miscommunicaiton between the two of them driving a wedge between 'em~

-Which is fine for Mikoshiba! I both love and loathe this confrontation between Mikoshiba and Gou, cause I like to think I did alright on making it cute and fluffy, but at the same time I feel akward for having this happen literally the night of an assault. I tried my best to write it convincingly that Gou isn't just using Mikoshiba as a rebound to erase the crappy afternoon she just had (But in a way, that too) but maybe they're going too fast?; it seems a bit OOC for me because here I was wanting Gou to gradually fall for Mikoshiba, yet look at them already kissing~! So, sorry if some of you find that squicky-quick OOC!

Anyway, there's a lot more that could be said about this chapter and Mikoshiba and Gou's scene alone~ (This chapter runs long because of the party scene and Mikoshiba scene, but I couldn't split the two up cause I liked where the last chapter ended :p) I jsut hope it wasn't too too OOC and that you as readers are alright with how quickly their relationship is kinda spiking..? Sorry!

Anyway, hope you enjoyed, I'll update prlly in the next day or so~!