Synchronized Heartbeats

Written By: TCOOKIES777

Chapter 38: Betrayal

"You want to what?"

"I want to see Onii-chan."

Sousuke ran a hand down his face, soaking in her words. He'd stopped by for his daily visit to check in on her and they'd just finished having breakfast together. The last dregs of his tea stained the bottom of his mug while Gou's own tea had remained untouched for the duration of their conversation. Teal eyes flicked down to where her belly peeked over the edge of the table as he mulled over her sudden proposal.

He gestured, "You're, what, twenty-two weeks now?"

"Almost twenty-one."

"And you want to meet Rin now?" asked Sousuke, raising his gaze to meet Gou's. "The last time Rin saw you, you didn't look like…"

"Like I swallowed a cantaloupe?" She finished for him.

Wrapping a hand atop of her belly, Gou felt the swell of her five months progress. Her belly was still nice and small, becoming more rotund as the weeks flew by. Despite the obvious gain of weight, she felt that her breasts were still more swollen and heavier than her belly, but give or take a month or two and she was sure that her belly would be a large enough rival. By now, her baby was supposed to be the size of a grapefruit. However, with the way Sousuke would stare at her bump, she felt bigger than that.

Even as Sousuke was contemplating her face, Gou couldn't help but tug her shawl closer to cover her front. "The original plan was to talk to Onii-chan and tell him about the baby once he came home for the holidays."

"Right, but Rin didn't make it." Sousuke sighed, "So you still want to go through with this?"

Well, the first and foremost reason was that Gou wanted to see her brother first before making the decision to abort their baby. Sousuke believed that she'd already made her decision, but the truth was that Gou hadn't. She wasn't sure if she could really go through with the idea of destroying the fruit of their love and labor. It was easy to say yes to an abortion, but it was difficult to go through with the decision and then live with it.

"Onii-chan stopped calling and texting me almost a week ago," She explained, wrapping both hands around her mug of tea which was still warm. "Don't you think that's weird?"

"Well, you haven't been answering him the whole break. He probably gave up."

Gou shook her head. "Onii-chan would never give up… not on me—even if I have been ignoring him." Did she feel guilty? Yes, but her anger outweighed the guilt and Gou preferred feeling angry rather than sorry. "I don't know why he suddenly stopped reaching out to me, but it doesn't change the fact that if I don't tell Onii-chan about our baby, then I think… no, I know I will surely regret the abortion for the rest of my life."

The other reason was something Gou didn't want to share with Sousuke. She knew her friend, despite his good intentions, could never begin to understand her feelings. He could never understand the jealousy that tore Gou apart as she toyed with the idea that perhaps her brother had indeed found someone better than her. Yet, the stories that Ami and Rin had admitted with great reluctance had coincided too well to be a lie.

She needed to see Rin and confront him about everything. Clear the air and any doubt that weighed heavy in her heart before she chose what to do with their child. She needed to see if there was truly something going on between her brother and Ami. A part of her felt distraught at the idea of placing such doubt in Rin when, all her life, she had spent it with undying faith in her brother. Faith that he'd always be there to love and protect her. After all, wasn't that the duty of all older brothers?

"Please, Sousuke-kun, I need to see him."

He sighed, "What are you even gonna tell him?"

"The truth," Gou shrugged stiffly. "All of it. I'm just… so tired of keeping it a secret from him."

At first, she'd thought she could survive keeping the truth from Rin for as long as she needed. It turned out that keeping the pregnancy a secret from the father of her child had been just as exhausting as the pregnancy itself. It was wearing her out, though she was loath to admit it to Sousuke. He'd been right all along; she should've told Rin the truth immediately. The idea of revealing it on the phone, however, was far scarier than in person. At least if she were to talk to her brother face-to-face, then she would know the truth of his heart simply by the look in his eyes.

Watching Sousuke duck his head and run a hand through his hair, Gou reached across the table to touch his hand. He stilled instantly, raising his head to peer at her hand over his. A few seconds passed before Sousuke released a heavy sigh and grasped her hand firmly in his, "With the snow, the drive will take twice longer than by train."

Gou bit back a squeal of excitement, squeezing his hand in gratitude instead. "Thank you, Sousuke-kun. You have no idea how much it means to me."

"Yeah," He mumbled, clearing his throat seemingly in embarrassment. Noticing a bit of red creeping across his cheeks, Gou pulled her hand away, finding his grasp too warm all of a sudden. "We can go this weekend. I just need tomorrow to ready the car and put the chains on the tires."

"The trip should take around eight hours, right?"

He nodded. "The train should be up and running in a few days though. You sure you don't wanna wait for him instead?"

"I think it's best if I go to him," said Gou, shaking her head as she stood up to gather their mugs. "I'll cover myself up with a coat so that he won't notice immediately. Then we'll talk and… that'll be it."

"I'm guessing you won't want me there when you meet him." Something about the way Sousuke said that made Gou pause at the sink just for a split second. Rinsing the mugs, she fought the urge to glance at him over her shoulder and the brief silence prompted him to add, "I'd feel more comfortable if I was with you though."

"I'll be fine, Sousuke-kun. You know Onii-chan would never do anything to me."

"What you really mean is that you don't want me there." There it was again. That tone… With her back towards him, Gou could almost believe it was a different man who was talking to her and not the childhood friend she'd known for as long as she could remember. His knuckles rapped against the table, and a pin could have dropped and it would sound as loud as that. She heard him suck in a tight breath. "I get it. It's not just about the baby. You miss Rin and want some alone time with him. I'd only be getting in the way."

"That's not true," she spun around to face him. "I know you've been the only person to help me pull through this. You've been so supportive of me in every way possible, and I appreciate it, Sousuke-kun. I really am grateful, and I promise I'll make it up to you someday. But Onii-chan is the father and… the matter of the baby is between me and him."

There was no nicer way to put it, but Gou hoped that Sousuke would understand. She expected that he would because that was the kind of man he was: patient and understanding. So her heart fluttered with disappointment when Sousuke merely stood up, rubbed the back of his neck, and muttered, "I'll call you within a day. We should leave at eight in the morning."

Gou followed Sousuke as he made his way to the door, and she opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came to mind. It was clear that no words of comfort would be enough for him, so she remained quiet as Sousuke said his goodbye and left. She watched his retreating back, noting that his hair was still mussed from earlier, the ebony strands sticking up endearingly. Leaning against the doorway, she smiled when he looked back at her for a moment, the both of them shyly waving at the other.

As soon as his car peeled down the road, Gou closed the door and leaned back against it, exhaling heavily. Despite making the decision to see her brother, she had yet to figure out how in the world she was going to break the news of her pregnancy to him. Perhaps she could write down a speech on notecards, but then what? Read it aloud before him? She chuckled dryly at that, shaking her head as she imagined how ridiculous that scenario would be. Knowing Rin, she knew he wouldn't even be able to pay attention to what she had to say. He would probably blank out as soon as she said, 'I'm pregnant'.

"How will I tell Onii-chan?" she asked herself, cupping her baby bump in thought as if the child within could give her an answer.

A day later…

Sousuke stood outside the Matsuoka household, gazing at the curtained window of Gou's room. In the early morning winter, the neighborhood carried a deafening silence with only the caw of a stray bird to break it. He exhaled, raking a nervous hand through his hair only to stop and tame the locks back in place. He stepped forward and pressed the doorbell button, listening to the shrill buzz cut through the silence. A moment passed before the door finally swung open to reveal Gou in a summer dress with a thick sweater on top. Hanging around her arm was a new coat she'd bought recently from one of the local donation stores. Normally, it didn't make sense for her to wear a summer dress. However, dresses were the only kinds of clothes that fit her comfortably now since most of her pants wouldn't even button this far into her pregnancy. At least she was wearing a pair of leggings to cover up her legs.

The outfit was a strange combination but, even so, Sousuke thought she looked lovely, and the glow of her pregnancy was evident in her complexion despite the dark circles under her eyes.

"Hey, come on in!" She stepped aside to make way and Sousuke followed her into the kitchen, watching her flit around in a hurry. "Let me just grab my bags and we can go," she shoved a fresh mug of tea into his hands before Sousuke could refuse it. He eyed her carefully, making sure she grabbed the railing for support as she ran a bit too fast up the stairs.

He hadn't packed much for the trip other than the essentials and light snacks. Most of what he needed in the event of an overnight trip were in his dorm room with Rin anyway. Still, he was surprised to see Gou reappear at the top of the staircase, hefting along two large duffel bags on both of her slim shoulders. He cursed under his breath, setting the mug aside and jumping to his feet in a hurry to help her carry the bags.

"Wait there," he said, but Gou, stubborn as always, ignored him.

Her body shook with the effort to balance the bags as she took that first step down to meet him. Surprise flashed across Gou's face and Sousuke's eyes widened as he watched those dainty lips form an 'o' in a split second. He threw himself forward, cushioning Gou's fall with his own body, his arms wrapped tight around her petite frame. The edges of the stairs dug into his back and his head was spinning, but he focused on the warm puffs of Gou's breaths hitting the side of his neck.

When the familiar scent of strawberries permeated the air, Sousuke found himself tilting his face to press his nose to the crown of Gou's head, letting her smell overwhelm him.

"S-Sousuke-kun?"

He pulled back, willing his heart to stop pounding like crazy. "Are you okay?"

"Mhm! Nice save there, thanks." She raised her face and bright garnet eyes blinked up at him. Suddenly, Sousuke was all too aware of how close their faces were and he tried to ignore the warm tingle in his abdomen. "Sorry," she mumbled, the sweet mint of her toothpaste fanning his face, "it seems clumsiness comes with the pregnancy package. I can't stop tripping over my own two feet these days."

"Seems like it." They pulled away from each other—Gou first—and Sousuke nodded to her torso. "Baby okay?"

He watched Gou wrap a hand around her bump, a small smile lighting up the soft features of her face. Something panged in his chest as she answered, "Yeah, baby's alive and kicking. The movements are stronger these days… Would you like to feel it?"

His heart stuttered at the offer.

"We should go," he said before his hand could reach out and touch her.

Gou's bags had tumbled down the stairs and Sousuke retrieved them, slinging each strap across either shoulder with ease. Gou trailed after him and Sousuke stored the bags in his trunk while she locked the door. When she took too long to join him at the car, Sousuke turned to call for her, only to stop when he saw that she was taking the chance to consider the house for a moment. At first, he didn't understand what she was thinking, standing before her house in the cold. The longer he contemplated her small figure and the house that seemed to loom before her, Sousuke realized that this would be the first time that the Matsuoka household would be completely empty for an entire day.

The last time such an occasion had happened was the day of Mr. Matsuoka's funeral. On that day, the house had been completely empty with the remaining members busy burying their patriarch six feet under. Then, Mrs. Matsuoka had busied herself with work—anything to move on from her husband's untimely death and to make up for the significant cut of their income. For a short period of time, there had been the question of whether Rin could afford to continue taking his swim lessons or not.

Sousuke remembered the day his childhood friend had told him of his inner turmoil. The last thing Rin wanted to do was be a burden to his mother who was already juggling so much as a young and single mother still mourning the loss of her husband. At the same time, the other last thing Rin wanted to do was give up his dream to swim competitively, a passion that'd only been fueled by the death of his father. Later, Mrs. Matsuoka had sat her son down to discuss their financial situation; she would work hard to support Rin but he had to make sure that he was serious about his dream. The following year, Rin left for Australia, leaving the youngest Matsuoka to look after the house.

Sousuke wondered what thoughts were running through her mind right now as she would leave the house she'd filled by her lonesome… empty after all these years.

But before Sousuke could broach the subject, Gou had already turned around and smiled mildly at him before making her way to the car. He chose not to say anything when he saw the way her hand had been clenched against her baby bump.

The drive was peaceful and quiet for the most part, beginning with small talk about their current favorite shows and the new restaurant that had opened across the cram school. Eventually, Gou had started nodding off, and their conversation died off into a mute lull once she fell asleep. Only a little over an hour later, she awoke for a quick bathroom break. Thirty minutes later, she informed him of her urge to pee again. By the fifth time they had to stop, Sousuke had to assure a horribly embarrassed Gou that they had plenty of light left and that she didn't need to hold her pee for his sake. She only smiled sheepishly in response, mumbling a dozen more apologies before disappearing into the gas station.

Halfway into their trip, after Gou had just finished eating some drive-thru food they'd picked up on the way, Sousuke decided to ask, "So what school are you gonna apply to?"

The question caught Gou off guard, and he watched from the corner of his eye as she tucked her hair back and looked through her window. "Um, I suppose somewhere local."

"So, let me guess…. Kinesiology?"

"Huh?"

"Your major."

"Oh," Her voice deflated like a balloon. "Um…"

Sousuke glanced at her, noting the downward tilt of her mouth. "Didn't you fill out your Career Paths sheet?"

"No," sighed Gou, "not yet. I've asked for an extension. I just haven't had the time to worry about what college I'm going to attend, let alone what I'm going to be when I grow up. It's hard to worry about those things when you've got a baby to hide."

When he was Gou's age, his future career was all Sousuke could worry about. The childhood part of him had wanted to become a policeman like he and Rin used to dream about for fun back when they were kids toying with the question of what they'd want to be. He couldn't imagine the stress Gou was going through now.

"Don't worry about it too much," Sousuke said. "It's just an assignment meant to make you consider what kind of career you might be interested in. I almost put 'policeman' on the paper."

"You?" She finally turned his way, brows raised in surprise. "A policeman?"

"Yeah, Rin and I used to say that if swimming doesn't work out then we'll work as buddy cops in law enforcement," He glanced at Gou, smiling lightly. "Remember when we were kids? We used to make you play the role of the princess we had to save."

"More like the damsel in distress," She retorted, but the expression on her face told Sousuke that she had no recollection of such memories.

She was probably too young back then to remember now, he thought to himself.

"What do you think? Officers Yamazaki and Matsuoka reporting for duty, Ma'am," chuckled Sousuke.

"I can definitely see you in a uniform," Gou nodded. "Onii-chan would probably get tired of the tight collar though."

He could imagine wearing the uniform too and had often imagined it as a little boy alongside his best friend. Fantasies of fighting bad guys and making finger guns, copying the poses of the superheroes they'd seen on T.V. A larger smile tugged at his mouth as Sousuke remembered those fond memories. Then the smile fell away as he remembered that those were memories of days long gone… days of a childhood that had ended years ago.

"I kind of miss it."

"Hm?" He peeked at her, finding her own gaze had turned wistful.

"Being a little kid," Gou replied. "Not having to worry about adult stuff. All I had to worry about back then was just coming home in time to watch my favorite cartoon. Not… this."

Even without looking, Sousuke could tell she was biting her lip; a bad habit she'd picked up sometime during her pregnancy, but he'd never bothered to comment on it. Seeing her do it always hit him with the urge to brush a thumb across her bottom lip, if only to get her to stop.

Instead, he heaved out a sigh and said, "It's fun to dream of your future career when you're a kid. Not so fun when you're older and thinking about how to pay the bills… But, you know, I always thought you'd be interested in something like physical therapy.

"Really?"

"Really. You have good judgement and analysis skills, great at observation, you know how to work and coordinate in a team, and, uh… you've got an extensive knowledge of the human anatomy."

At that, her eyes started to glimmer, no doubt with the idea of working with beautiful muscles.

"I'm serious," Sousuke pressed on, encouraged by the shy smile that was beginning to spread across her face. A smile he hadn't seen for too long a while. "No matter what you decide to do about the baby, you still have a future ahead of you. It won't be the end."

Words didn't always come easy to Sousuke. Even Rin was far better at expressing himself than him, but Sousuke and Gou never had trouble communicating with each other. Perhaps it was thanks to the bond they'd developed through the years since they were children. Still, these days he constantly worried that the wrong words would slip out of his mouth and set Gou off. Even now, his palms were beginning to sweat as he tapped a finger against the steering wheel.

"I'll think about it," she merely said, but the tone of her voice was chipper than before and that was enough for him to bite back a pleased smile.

Gou was famished by the time they arrived at the university… or at least what she assumed was the university. Acres of sprawling grass rolled on for as far as the eye could see. Leaning against the strap of her seatbelt, Gou scanned the group of buildings that were sectioned off in the center front of the campus, but the buildings seemed to only make up half the entire campus.

"So? What do you think?"

"This place is… huge!"

"Yeah," Sousuke nodded, "don't try to run laps around the entire campus or you'll be puking before you can even finish the first lap."

She raised a brow at that, briefly wondering if he'd ever attempted that feat when he was a freshman. "It must've been overwhelming when you and Onii-chan first arrived here. Even with a directory, I'm sure I would get lost for hours. How can you even find your way around?"

"The classroom buildings are grouped together so that students don't have to sprint at least a mile to get to their next class," Sousuke explained in between sips of the espresso he'd purchased upon reaching Kanoya.

"Half of the campus is just… acres of fields?"

"Well, it is a sports university." The nutty notes of the coffee wafted between them as Sousuke finished his cup. Gou herself was tired from the long trip, but whatever exhaustion that'd set in her joints were forgotten as she took in the sight of her brother's second home. Pointing to their one o'clock, Sousuke continued, "The facilities are set up to accommodate all sorts of athletes. Track, ball sports, swimming, gymnastics, martial arts, marine sports—you name it."

"Marine sports?" She blinked at that.

"If we have time," He turned to her with a small but teasing grin, "maybe we can relax a bit in the steam room."

"You've got a steam room?" The idea was far too appealing for Gou to just brush off, and Sousuke chuckled at her expression.

"And a sauna."

"You're kidding!" She shook her head. "No wonder Onii-chan was so eager to attend here even though it's far from home."

Good thing Onii-chan was able to earn himself a full-ride scholarship, or else I don't think Okaa-san would've been willing to pay off the tuition fees.

She'd once thought that her brother was just that desperate to get away from his family. Leave behind anything from his past that would only tie him down. The day Rin had left for university, Gou had hid her tears with a smile as she bid him farewell from the entrance of the Matsuoka household. He hadn't wanted his mom and little sister to say their goodbyes at his dorm and Gou often wondered if the reason was because Rin didn't want to be embarrassed. He'd mentioned something about not wanting the guys at the dormitory to see his baby sister sobbing all over him. At least, that was the only excuse he'd given.

As they left the parking lot to enter the school grounds, Gou couldn't help but soak in the sights all around her. Their small town had beautiful scenery, and the view of the sea could not be beat, but this was different. It felt almost like she'd entered a different world—the world of her brother's.

Somehow, she felt anxious… like a stranger walking upon new land. She felt out of place.

At her side, Sousuke gave her the tour of the campus, pointing out the different facilities and explaining their purposes. Usually, the buildings were crammed with students, but the school was practically empty for the holidays. While walking across the building that housed the indoor pool, Gou suddenly stopped to grasp her belly, feeling sudden movements within.

Hearing her sudden intake of breath, Sousuke touched her arm, his brows furrowed with concern, "What is it? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. The baby is just acting up again," she breathed.

"Are you in pain?"

"No," Gou answered, giving him a shaky but reassuring smile. "It's more of a strong tickle or fluttering sensation. It surprised me just now, that's all… Maybe the baby is also excited to finally meet its father."

Sousuke nodded, a solemn look darkening his face. Taking Gou by the hand, he continued to lead her across the campus. She peered down to where her hand was clasped firmly in his, confused by the action until she concluded that it was merely for her safety. After all, she'd nearly taken a tumble down the stairs just this morning. Gou had never been clumsy before, so it felt strange to be looked after in the way that Sousuke was doing right now. Yet, at the same time, it felt good to be taken care of for once instead of the other way around.

"Do you know how you're going to break the news to Rin?" asked Sousuke.

Lowering her eyes to her boots, Gou mumbled, "I didn't exactly prepare a speech."

"You want my humble opinion?"

"What? You think I should be direct?"

"No," He shook his head. "Tell your brother your feelings first. Then ask him what his feelings are. That way, you both remember and understand what you guys chose to get into the day that he and you… you know." His eyes were turned away, so he missed the way Gou winced. "Then, once you both understand the situation, that's when you should tell him about the baby. Don't sugarcoat it for him. Just tell him."

She waited for the nerves to pass and the queasiness in her stomach to ease up before nodding at him. With a voice that trembled with just the barest hint of emotion, she said, "Yeah, I think… I like that idea, Sousuke-kun. Thank you."

"Since I can't be there when it happens, the least I can do is help like this," he said.

One day, she would give Sousuke her thanks and express her gratitude properly. After everything he had done for her—everything he'd sacrificed for her needs and wants—Gou wanted to make sure he knew how much she truly appreciated their friendship. Their bonds had been tested over the years as the distance apart had made them grow apart as well. Ironically, it was this event that had brought them back together as if they'd never grown apart at all. Admittedly, despite the circumstances, Gou had missed this… had missed being able to spend time with Sousuke just like they did as children.

Staring at him from behind, Gou wondered when had his back become so broad and strong. Those shoulders sculpted with muscle, his biceps stretching the fabric of the black sweater he wore. While Sousuke droned on about the school, Gou took the chance to study his striking and lithe figure. The thought of how mature and handsome he'd turn out as an adult made Gou smile.

"Over there is the boy's dorm… oh."

Sousuke had stopped mid-stride and Gou followed his gaze to see what had caught his attention. Her smile fell away at the sight of two people exiting the front doors of the boy's dormitory.

A boy and a girl.

Rin and…

With lightning reflexes that surprised even herself, Gou dragged Sousuke to one of the many sculptures that adorned the campus grounds. They hid behind the statue and Gou ignored the fluttering in her belly as Sousuke shot her a befuddled look.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"It's her," muttered Gou, peering between the statue's legs. "She's with him. Why is she with him?!"

"Who? Ami?"

But Gou wasn't paying attention to Sousuke anymore. Gripping his hand tightly, she watched her brother and Ami cross the yard together, heading for the same parking lot Gou and Sousuke had come from.

"Let's follow them!"

"What?"

Before Sousuke could protest, Gou pulled him to keep up with Rin and Ami. She made sure to stay a good distance away, hiding behind pillars, hedges, and the corner of buildings whenever she could. The crunch of the snow beneath their feet often made Gou pause in worry of her brother—or worst, Ami—hearing them. The last way she wanted Rin to discover Gou's pregnancy was by finding her stalking him with Sousuke at her side.

She watched from afar as Rin slid into the passenger seat of Ami's blue car. It took her a while to realize she was squeezing Sousuke's hand too hard until she caught him peering at her. His face tightened with worry when she finally turned his way and said, "We're gonna follow them."

"Gou, will you tell me what's wrong?" Sousuke demanded once they returned to his car.

She didn't say much as they peeled out of the parking lot to chase after her brother. It was only until they reached the first traffic light, staying three cars behind Ami's, that Gou finally caved in and explained her suspicions about the nature of Rin's relationship with Ami.

"So… you think your brother is cheating on you?"

"I know how it sounds, but Onii-chan has been acting strange."

"Define strange."

"I mean, he's never lied to me before. Why now?"

"Gou, I'm in no position to say this but," Sousuke rubbed the slight stubble that lined his jaw, "every couple has their own problems… their own secrets. You and Rin aren't the exception. I think how you deal with the issue—together—is what matters."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you should trust your brother," he said, his mouth twisted with discomfort. "Trust him and his love for you. He must've risked a lot to… to be with you, right? You and I know Rin, and he isn't the kind of guy to just give a half-hearted effort when it's something important to him," Sousuke's hands were gripping the steering wheel, but he heaved a sigh and smiled at Gou. "Trust him."

These days, it wasn't often for Sousuke to speak of Rin in such a positive light. Gou always felt like she was to blame for the sudden rift in their friendship, so it pleased her to hear Sousuke talk about Rin like they used to back in junior high.

Feeling the knot in her chest ease up a bit, she flashed him a grateful smile and nodded, "Okay."

Trust Onii-chan… right, that should be easy enough.

The urge to pee had returned again and Gou pressed her thighs together to hold it back. She turned all her attention to the blue car that was driving a few cars ahead of them, wondering what Rin and Ami were doing right now. Was Rin chatting with her like Gou was chatting with Sousuke?

No, stop it. I have to trust him.

Yes, at the end of the day, Rin would always be her brother. He would never betray her like that.

"Oh, looks like they're about to park," Sousuke noted aloud.

Together, they ducked their heads, peeking over the dashboard to watch as Rin and Ami stepped out of the car. Gou couldn't help but notice the frown that marred Rin's face as he followed Ami down the sidewalk. She wondered what had happened for her brother to look so murderous and a part of her smirked at the idea that he might be upset with Ami. What bothered her was the fact that Ami, instead of looking worried or apologetic, seemed smug.

"Where do you think they're go…" When Sousuke fell silent, his question left hanging, Gou glanced at him expectantly. His face had become pale with apprehension, brows knitted tightly together. "Let's leave."

"What?" Frowning at his sudden change in plans, Gou flicked her eyes back to her brother's retreating back. "No way! I haven't yet—"

At the sight of the building Rin and Ami had just entered, Gou froze. She felt her heart fill with a strange ache, as if she was drowning right this second. She could almost hear the cracking begin, and then the abrupt shatter.

"Onii-chan… lied to me."

The room was filled with the artificial scent of some sort of cleaning solution, a tell-tale sign of the recent activities that'd transpired here. It'd been nearly a week, and Rin still couldn't get used to the too-clean smell that seemed to cling to his clothes and follow him back to his dormitory. He was sure that the smell had been seared into his olfactory memory, much to his chagrin. But if he had to choose between what he was seeing and what he was smelling, he'd choose the disgusting lemon scent.

Taking in his surroundings, Rin's heart started beating faster in anticipation. Today's room was an underwater theme that had him cringing. The walls were painted a deep, intimate blue to imitate the deep sea, the lights programmed to appear like bubbles floating across the walls. Coral reefs and marine animals had been painted atop of the blue wall paint and Rin squinted at the orca whale posed behind the main attraction… and then his squint transformed into a dark glare as he took in the bed designed like a clam shell.

"You've gotta be kidding me," he muttered under his breath.

"I suppose you don't need me to tell you what to do now," Ami said from behind, placing her hands on either of his shoulders. "C'mon, you know what to do."

Of course he did. They'd been doing it for days now, but the experience didn't make him feel any better.

Closing his eyes briefly, Rin sucked in a breath to steady himself. His hands clenched and unclenched to stop the trembling. Then he opened his eyes and, grabbing the hem of his jacket, he began to strip his clothes. The air-conditioned room raised goosebumps on his bare arms, but Rin was ashamed that he'd grown used to it by now. In fact, unlike the first day or two, he no longer had the urge to cross his arms over himself after his boxers fell to the floor.

Turning to Ami who was still fully clothed, Rin asked, "Same as yesterday?"

She bit back a smile and nodded. "And harder."

Feeling that tremble return, Rin clenched and unclenched once more, letting the pain of his nails digging into his palm invigorate him. He inhaled sharply through his nose, then grabbed Ami by the belt loops of her jeans and pulled her flush against his body. His mouth crashed down to hers and he ignored the sticky taste of strawberry gloss just like how he ignored her grin. Ami giggled as he yanked her jacket off, her body jerking against the rough action. She was still grinning when he pushed her onto the bed and crawled over to kneel before her.

"Stop," said Ami, and she leaned back on her elbows, taking the time to appreciate Rin's body.

It was a struggle not to shudder under her intrusive gaze, even as her eyes studied every contour of his body before lingering between his legs. She grinned again, lips smeared with gloss, and Rin looked away when she reached forward to trace the outline of his abs, her fingers following the groove of each muscle until she reached the v-dip of his hips. Closing his eyes, he swallowed hard upon feeling her fingers brush down the length of his cock until she was grasping him by the hand.

With her other hand, Ami grabbed his and guided it to her mouth. "Look at me," she said, and Rin met her gaze just before she sucked in his fingers, swirling her tongue around and around. Rin watched her, fighting the warmth that was beginning to pool in his belly. Releasing his fingers with a gentle 'pop', Ami leaned in closer and whispered, "Now, touch me."

He did as she commanded, slipping the fingers that'd been in her mouth a second ago in between her legs. Over the past few days, he'd learned what techniques got her moaning louder and louder and, sure enough, she'd already opened her mouth to do just that. In a minute, her hips began rolling with the motion of his hand as he continued to finger her at the same time she continued to pump him towards a full erection. They'd created this routine by the second day after the first day had been spent learning of each other's bodies and pleasures. After the third day, they'd been able to follow each other's directives smoothly without a hitch.

It disgusted Rin every time.

But he remained helpless when Ami knelt down and took his cock into her eager mouth. Rin was able to swallow back the first grunt, but when their eyes locked, he couldn't help but groan aloud, watching her head bob up and down on him. When his groans started becoming too loud and consistent, Ami leaned back, wiping the precum that coated her smile.

"Are you ready?" Ami asked, glancing down at her hard work. "It looks like you're more than ready."

"Let's just get this over with."

She narrowed her eyes at his despondent attitude. "You haven't forgotten the rules already, have you, Rin? We made a deal."

He gritted his teeth at that but restrained his anger with a smirk. Saying nothing, he pushed Ami back and shoved her legs open, nestling himself in between with practiced ease. The heat of Ami's core could be felt in the short gap between their bodies and Rin hated the way his erection responded with a restless twitch. Ami giggled again when he grabbed her wrists to pin her down against the clam shell bed. Their bodies pressed deep into the bouncy mattress and Rin adjusted his position so that he could have a proper foothold.

"Remember," said Ami, "you can fuck me however way you want and as much as you want."

Rin met her heavy-lidded gaze with a sharp glare and, when she merely smiled back, he bared his teeth as if to growl. Rage had his blood boiling and he expressed his anger in an explosive thrust that forced out a sharp cry from Ami. He gripped her wrists tightly above her head as his hips slammed against hers. Hot breaths puffed into the shell of Rin's ear as he pressed his face into the crook of her neck, if only to help him forget Ami's face and replace it with Gou's.

But her moans grew louder, sharper, and his thrusts began producing lewd, wet noises that produced a nasty symphony of wild, loveless sex.

"Ah! H-Harder!" Ami cried, arching her back to meet Rin's thrusts. "Ahn! Yes!

He let go her wrists to grip her hips instead, sweat dripping down his nose to land in between her breasts. She took the chance to grab Rin's shoulders, her manicured nails digging into the caps of his deltoids and drawing out a low groan from him.

The friction of their bodies against each other raised the temperature of the room, leaving the both of them panting and sweating with a delirious high even before they'd reached orgasm. It took all of Rin's control to not just pull out as soon as he felt her hot insides squeeze down on his cock, triggering his own climax.

Soft moans continued echoing into his ear as Ami rubbed a hand down his back, quietly encouraging him once his hips began jerking erratically against her. After he finished spilling his release within her, Rin pulled back to meet Ami's kiss, forcing himself to respond with equal fervor.

"God, I love your cock." She sighed, more than satisfied. "You're the only man I've met who knows how to fuck a girl mindless."

Nausea rolled in his stomach as he took in the smell of their sex and that artificial strawberry gloss. For what felt like eternity, they stayed in that position, him on top of her, her legs locked tightly around his waist, and their faces level to each other.

"You came a lot again," she purred, pressing another kiss to his lips. "My panties were a mess last time. And every time before that."

"Then maybe you should wear something more sensible than a thong," Rin snapped at her.

She merely laughed. "Or maybe I shouldn't wear any underwear at all if you're going to keep messing up my pussy with your creampies."

His grip on her hips tightened and Rin smirked when that prompted a wince from Ami. "Whatever. Are you ready or not?"

Licking her lips, she nodded, and Rin backed away from her to give her enough space to flip herself around. She grabbed a pillow, stuffing it between her belly and the bed, and Rin jerked her hips up so that her backside was level to his pelvis. At the sight of his cum spilling out from between her folds and dripping down her inner thigh, Rin froze with guilt. The memory of his sister and her sweet voice calling to him overwhelmed his senses for a split second before he shook any thoughts of Gou out of his head. He slid a hand down the slope of her back until his fingers were buried into her hair, then he yanked her head back, eliciting a sharp gasp from Ami. With his other hand, he slapped her ass, watching with satisfaction as the fair skin quickly reddened from the power of his strike. He did it again, grinning when Ami yelped from the pain.

"Is that all you—" Before Ami could finish, Rin slammed his cock all the way back inside her so that she choked on her words instead.

With his fingers tangled in her blonde hair, Rin held her in place as they continued their ritual once again. With each thrust growing more aggressive, his grunts became more of a growl to match the ferocity spurning him on. And when they finished for the second time that day, collapsing onto the bed for a reprieve, Rin let that rage keep on stewing deep within him as he listened to Ami renew their rental time for another hour through the telephone.

After their third round, Rin called for a time out not because of exhaustion but because he wanted to ask for the countless time, "Are you really sure we don't need a condom?"

She was already on her side and gazing at him when he'd popped the question, as if she'd been expecting it. Rin kept his attention to the school of clownfish on the ceiling, but heard the smugness when Ami answered, "We can both take birth control if that'll make you more comfortable. Why is it always the woman's responsibility? It takes two to tango, you know."

"I would prefer condoms," he replied in a gruff voice. That way, there would still be some sort of barrier between their flesh, and he wouldn't have to feel her so much.

"Afraid of becoming a father all of a sudden?" She asked. "I know plenty of people our age and younger who are already making babies. It's not that uncommon."

"I've got a future ahead of me," Rin retorted. "The last thing I need is a baby I never asked for, so you better be doing what we'd agreed upon."

"You don't have to worry. A deal is a deal. You and I continue to play by the rules we made and everything will turn out fine."

"I remember the rules just fine. It's you I question."

She tipped a brow at him. "As I said: a deal is a deal. Your body for the ring. What's a couple of fucks for a gorgeous rock like this one? I'd say that's a steal."

"How ironic of you to say that," he said, upper lip curling with animosity.

"I did warn you that this world is full of predators. You can either be the prey, or the predator, and I chose the former. What about you?"

"Tomorrow night, I expect that ring as soon as we finish fucking for the last time." He finally turned to look at her, his rage a mix of white-hot fury and ice cold apathy. "Am I clear? That was the deal. A week of fucking as much as you want until the train station is reopened, and then you give me back the ring before I leave."

"Yeah, yeah," She waved dismissively, "you'll get your girl's rock back. Pinky swear."

"I better," Rin muttered, brushing aside the pinky finger she'd offered. Standing up, he raised his arms to stretch out his back muscles, knowing without looking that his ass was being ogled by yours truly. He grabbed the backpack he'd brought along and said on his way to the adjoined bathroom, "I'm taking a shower. Don't interrupt."

"Have fuuun!"

As soon as the hot water pelted his sweaty skin, Rin had to resist the urge to slam his fist against the slippery tiles. Instead, he opted to bow his head under the stream of water, running a hand through his soaked locks only to stop when he remembered Gou once mentioning that his hair was getting long. He could practically hear his sister's voice right now, light and gentle, and soothing the furious beast within him.

If he tried hard enough, he could even imagine her dainty fingers caressing his back in a comforting attempt, followed by her plush lips laying sweet kisses on his bare skin. Sighing heavily, Rin blinked back the tears burning his eyes and turned his back to Ami, making sure she wouldn't have the chance to see his expression right now.

From behind, viewing him through the clear window that allowed no privacy between the bathroom and the bedroom, Ami considered him, eyeing the single scratch mark she'd accidentally left over his shoulder. A breach in the rules they'd made together, but Rin didn't know, and she wouldn't say a word of it either.

She dragged her eyes away from his figure and reached for the purse she'd left beside the bed. Procuring her locket, she popped it open, letting the ring fall into her hand. As she admired the sapphire stone shining brightly even in the dark atmosphere of the intimate room, Rin's phone began buzzing and she nearly dropped the ring in surprise.

"Huh," she mused aloud, noting that the caller I.D. spelled out Gou's name. She chewed the inside of her cheek as the phone continued to buzz for almost a minute until it stopped. Letting out a sigh of relief, Ami was startled again when this time it was her own phone that buzzed atop of the bedside table. Even without checking the caller I.D., she knew it was Gou as well. She deliberated for a couple of seconds before picking up. "Hey there!"

"Fujioka-san!" Gou's voice was unexpectedly chipper than the last Ami had heard from her. She detected the falseness of the bubbly attitude immediately.

"Gou," Keeping her voice down and her eyes on Rin in the shower, Ami continued to speak into the phone, "I wasn't expecting a call from you. Is something wrong?"

"Ah…" There was a sudden lull of silence as if the young girl hadn't known what to say when she first made the call. Ami waited, watching Rin scrub his body down with soap. "I was, um… I was just wondering if you've heard from my brother…. Are you with him right now?"

She twirled a lock of hair around her finger, contemplating her answer. "Me? No, I'm cooking dinner right now. Haven't seen your brother all day. Ah, you know what? It didn't work out between Rin and I. Yeah, we decided to end things amicably."

"Oh? So... you're not seeing Onii-chan anymore?"

"Nope. Only at the gym."

"Hey," Rin's voice cut through the small room as he stood by the door of the bathroom, his hair still dripping wet, "how much time do we have left?"

Pressing the phone to her shoulder, Ami glanced at the touchpad on the table. "Half an hour. Take your time." Once Rin retreated into the bathroom, Ami held the phone back to her ear again.

"Fujioka-san? Who was that just now?"

"Oh," she released a lighthearted chuckle, "that was my boyfriend. Tonight's date night. He was just asking how much time is left until we can eat."

"I see… So, what are you cooking?"

"Huh?"

"You said you were cooking dinner. What are you cooking with your boyfriend?"

"Oh, um," Ami's nose wrinkled in thought before she blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "shrimp!"

"Just shrimp?"

"Shrimp alfredo. Ever had that? It's Italian, but I first tasted it when I lived in America a few years ago. It's a pasta-based dish—I think you'd like it! Oh, but it has a lot of carbs, so it can be pretty fattening. I don't think you need to worry about that though. Your curves are to die for! Seriously, you've got to tell me—"

"Fujioka-san," Gou interjected, her voice calm and quiet as ever. "Are you really not in love with my brother anymore? Wasn't he your true love at first sight?"

Glancing at Rin now rinsing his hair of shampoo, Ami's lips curled at the sight of those luscious locks that clung to his sharp jawline. She raised a finger, pretending to stroke it down the line of his figure. "I've found someone else. I think he's a keeper, Gou."

"Really?"

"Yeah, hold on, check out what he gave me." Ami said, slipping the ring onto the ring finger of her left hand. It was a bit of a tight fit, but it fit nonetheless. It was truly a gorgeous ring indeed. She couldn't help but feel a bit envious of whoever this girl was that had captured Rin's heart.

After taking a photo and texting it to Gou, Ami continued to admire the rock on her hand while waiting for Gou to respond. It was silent on the other end for quite some time and Ami thought the little Matsuoka sister had accidentally ended the call until she heard some light sniffling on the other end.

"Gou? You there?"

"Yeah, sorry, I was just blowing my nose. It seems I'm catching the flu," the sister chuckled. "Wow, a ring, huh?"

"Whaddya think? Should I keep it?"

"I…. I don't know—I mean… Rings are a huge sign of serious commitment and devotion, right?" Gou spoke almost in a whisper.

"Told you he's a keeper," Ami said, watching Rin.

"I…." There was a pregnant pause on the other end, and then Gou said, "I wish you both happiness, Fujioka-san. You and… your boyfriend."

"Thanks, Gou. I'm sure you'll find someone as wonderful as him someday." Noticing Rin finishing up with his shower, she tore the ring off her finger and returned it to its secret place within her locket, shoving the necklace back into her purse. "Listen, the train station should be reopening in a few days. Rin will be back home before you know it, so don't worry too much."

"Oh, I won't." There was a strange flatness to the girl's voice that caught Ami off guard. "Actually, you can tell Onii-chan that he doesn't need to come home anymore."

Ami frowned at that. "Wait, are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Anyway, I have to go now." Gou was speaking slowly now, as if she'd become distracted, and it left Ami befuddled. "Goodbye, Fujioka-san."

"O-Okay…? Bye! It was nice talk—"

The line had already disconnected before Ami could finish speaking, and she pulled back her phone to squint at it in confusion.

"Who was that?" asked Rin, standing by the doorway of the bathroom once again and toweling his hair dry.

"Your sister."

Garnet eyes narrowed at her as he stepped closer almost menacingly. Despite the predatory nature of his movements, his nudity saved by a small towel clinging for life around his hips lessened the menacing aura he exuded right now. "I told you to stay away from my little sister."

"She called me," shrugged Ami.

"I don't fucking care!"

She rolled her eyes. "Well, I should at least tell you that—"

"I don't give a shit what you have to say about her." Rin pointed his finger at her, and the dangerous glint in his eyes was enough for Ami to instinctively shut up, her core throbbing in response. "Do what you will with me but stay the fuck away from Gou. I won't warn you again."

Folding her hands beneath her chin, Ami observed how stiffly Rin moved about as he searched the room for his jeans. "Such a passionate lover you are in bed, Rin, but won't you share your heart with others?"

"Hurry up and get dressed," Rin ignored her, throwing her pants onto the foot of the bed. "Our rental time is about to end."

Under the dim light of the streetlamp, Gou waited on the sidewalk just by the corner of the love hotel her brother and Ami had disappeared into. That had been almost two hours ago. She clasped both hands over her mouth, breathing heat into them while watching over Sousuke farther down the street as he napped in the car. At some point while waiting for Rin to come out, Sousuke had fallen asleep, no doubt tired from the long trip and exhausted from dealing with the Matsuoka drama. Gou had been standing outside for almost an hour already, not expecting it would take Rin so long to come out.

Well, she thought bitterly, he's probably having the time of his life in there.

The fact that Ami had lied on the phone had only proven Gou's worst fears about her brother, but the photo of the ring had really driven it home. She laughed dryly, her breath coming out in a tendril of white smoke. A ring! All this time, Gou had foolishly believed her brother truly loved her and only her. She had felt like they were soulmates finally uniting after an eternity apart from each other. It was too late to realize just how terribly wrong she'd been.

They were not lovers.

They were not soulmates.

They were merely brother and sister.

They were a mistake.

"It was all a mistake," she whispered, raising her face to the pitch-black sky.

As if in answer, a whirl of snowflakes began descending, leaving pinpricks of cold all over Gou's face. The snow melted on her skin, and she gladly welcomed it. She wanted herself to freeze over in this moment and feel absolutely nothing. So she closed her eyes, and let each snowflake freeze her heart until the cracks of it stopped spreading. Her lips became numb, and she willed herself to forget every kiss she'd ever shared with her brother. Every time he'd caressed her cheeks with a brush of his fingers or gently grazed her jaw with his knuckles. She let her face become frozen as she locked away every memory of Rin gazing at her with such heated passion that always made her heart skip a beat.

In the late evening of this night, Gou decided it was best to just numb herself to everything rather than lose herself to the insane love she would always carry for Rin. She refused to get burned by the inflamed torch she carried for him in her heart. No, she'd already lost a piece of her heart the day their father had died without warning. And their mom had taken another piece of Gou's heart as well as she turned her attention away from her children and towards her work instead. But her brother? Rin had stolen all that remained of her heart and then stepped all over it to leave her behind for someone else.

Of all people, Gou had expected her brother to be the last person on Earth who would ever betray her.

A cold chill swept through, prompting her to raise her hood up.

"I was wrong," she said, cupping her baby bump with both hands. A minute ago, she'd have been crumpled all over the pavement and sobbing with heartbreak. Now, she could hardly feel a thing. Sweeping her hands across her swollen belly, Gou whispered to the child nestled in her womb, "I'm so sorry…"

The sound of footsteps shook Gou out of her thoughts and she carefully peeked around the edge of her hood only to widen her eyes at the sight of Rin and Ami just exiting the building. Turning her back to them, she sucked in a shaky breath, clenching and unclenching her hands. The footsteps came closer to where she stood, and she took that as her cue to go. Snow crunched painfully loud under Gou's feet as she began to make way down the sidewalk and towards Sousuke's car further down the street. At first, she worried that Rin would end up in the same direction as her, but the sound of footsteps began to fall away. Realizing they'd turned to the opposite direction of Gou's path, she released a heavy sigh.

Her sigh became a sharp cry as her foot slipped on a patch of ice. In the split second she had, Gou tried to adjust her legs to cushion the fall. Her knees suffered the brunt of the fall, leaving Gou hissing in pain and gripping her belly protectively.

"Miss?" The voice further behind Gou had her freezing in place. The footsteps started coming closer again. "Are you okay?"

It'd been so long since she'd last heard her brother's voice in person, but Gou merely tugged her hood closer around her face and forced herself to stand up. With her knees screaming in pain, she scampered away from Rin before he could discover her. No doubt Ami was at his side, sporting the beautiful sapphire ring he'd given to her.

The fluttering in her belly was back, and she touched her belly to appease the restless child inside. A child that she had once believed had been made out of love. The father was so close, but Gou had never felt any further apart from him as she did now.

As she left Rin behind, she remembered the words that had spilled out of her mouth during her phone call with Ami.

'I wish you both happiness.'

"I wish you both happiness," Gou mumbled, walking away from them.

A/N: I've become very rusty with my writing skills, so please excuse any fluctuation in the writing quality! It's also because I'm kind of in a hurry to finish this story/fanfic and move onto other projects, so the story pacing may be moving more quickly from here on.