I know, I've been bad and haven't been updating, but here you are, another chapter. Sorry for the delay, everyone, I hope it was worth it.
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The Misadventures of a Rogue Hawking by Gracelyn Musica

Chapter Three An Unexpected Surprise

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Ring. Ring.

"Starwind and Hawking Enterprises, Kou Hawking speaking, how may I help you?"

Silence as she listened to the other end of the line.

Then, in a wisper, "I thought I told you never to call this line!"

Immediately Jim Hawking smelled trouble. He lowered the newspaper edge just enough to stare at his bottle-redhead sister. Kou was on the regular phone, leaning up against the wall and acting downright strange. She was tugging at her hair and her clothes, and blushing like mad. An uncharacteristic, high-pitched giggle fell out of her throat, causing Jim to raises a blonde eyebrow, the glance over at Melfina, who was washing dishes. Melfina just shrugged.

"Yes... yes, my cell phone please..." Kou nodded, tugging at her wide leather belt, something she only did when nervous. She turned her back to Jim and Mel, muttered something and hung up. She then sighed and slid down the wall to the floor, grinning like a fool.

Something began buzzing in her pockets and she popped up, hauling a silver flip phone out of her pocket and rushing upstairs, taking them two at a time and nearly knocking Gene down.

"What's up with Hurricane Koushiro?" Gene inquired, looking after his red-headed business partner.

Jim sighed, frowning. He gave a rough outline of the call and his sister's strange behavior. Gene smirked. "Sounds like our little Kou's in love."

"Oh, how sweet," Melfina smiled, happy for the girl.

"Sweet my left foot," Jim muttered, laying his paper down. This was bad. Every boyfriend Kou had ever had ran away, leaving his sister with a broken heart. "Gillium, trace the call."

"Jim!" Mel exclaimed, shaking a soapy finger at the blonde. "Kou's personal business is her own, not yours!"

"Yes, but she's my sister," Jim explained. "And as a younger brother I am obligated to go though her personal business."

Melfina looked pleadingly at Gene, who just laughed. "Sorry dear, but that's how it works." Gene put his arms around the dark-haired girl. "Besides, he only does it because he loves her and doesn't want her to get hurt."

"The phone is issued to a Taylor Alexander," Gillium's monotone voice interrupted.

"Location?" Melfina looked up at Gene, who had asked the question. 'That's right, Kou's his sister too...'

"522 West Street," the can-shaped robot replied.

The three humans (well, two humans, one android) sank into thought. "Hey," Gene said suddenly, "Isn't that down the street from that bar Kou is fond of, the... The..." The redheaded pilot snapped his fingers, searching for the name.

"The Sweet Spot?" Jim supplied, sweatdropping at the name. "Yeah, I think you're right."

"The Sweet Spot is a bar?" Melfina asked.

"What did you think it was, a candy store?" Gene replied, trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

"Yes!" Melfina chirpped, not detecting anything. Jim and Gene promptly facevaulted.
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Kou was out with Suzuka that night, the two of them chasing down bounty-heads for some quick cash. Suzuka came home about eleven-thirty, Kou tried to sneak in at midnight.

She made it halfway across the room when Jim turned on the lights. The redhead froze mid-step, her hand tight around another girl's. The newcomer was tall and willowy, with blue-black hair, slanted eyes and a backpack slung over her back.

"Kou, you know we don't mind if you have friends stay the night, there's no reason for you to slink around like you're sneaking a lover in.

Kou and the bluenette glanced at each other, before breaking into giggles.

"By the way, Taylor called-he wants you to call him back at soon as possible."

The girl giggled and Kou nudged her, smirking. "He does now?"

Jim noddeed. He hated lying to his sister, but he desperately wanted to know what was up.

"Jim, this is Alex. I met her last month at the bar."

Jim shook her hand. "Nice to meet you. Kou, you are filthy, go take a shower."

As Kou padded off to the shower, stripping offer her overshirt, Jim bowed politely to Alex. "My sister's room is this way," he motioned for her to follow him as he picked up Kou's discarted dirty clothing that trailed to the bathroom. Falling shower water could be heard behind the wooden door, Kou's faint humming filtering though.

"I apologize for Kou," Jim told Alex. "She had two brothers growing up, I think we rubbed off on her." The blonde blushed as he hurridly lifted Kou's bra from the doorknob.

"It's fine," Alex replied, her voice light. "I did too. It's a... Learning experience. Legos instead of Barbies and such."

Jim chuckled. "Well, here we are." He opened the door and tossed the bundle in the corner.

"Thank you, Jim."

Jim smiled. "Sleep well."
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Giggle.

'Fuuuuuuuuuck...' Jim tossed, slamming the pillow over his head. 'I know girls giggle during sleepovers, but this is fuckin' ridiculous. Another giggle and I'm putting my foot down.'

However, as soon as the thought passed though his brain, a muffled shriek came from the next room.

Jim throw the pillow on the floor, furious. "That's it." Gropping around in the dark, his fingers found some sweatpants, which he pulled over his boxer shorts. He stormed over to his door, wrenching his door open, stomping to the next door and opening Kou's door without bothering to knock. What he found on the other side was the most erotic scene he had evre seen laid out before him...

With the exception that his sister was a participant.

Kou and Alex were topless in Kou's bed, the white cotton sheets pulled around their waists. Kou's ice blue eyes were shut tight, her head thrown back, her face flushed while Alex's mouth sucked on one breast, it's partner gently being massaged by Alex's slender hand. Kou's hands were gripping Alex's long hair, which fell as a blanket over their bodies.

After a few seconds, the girl realized that the door was open.

"JIM!" Kou shrieked, wrapping her arms across her chest.

The blonde simply stood there, dumbfounded before uttering, "I think I need a bath..."
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He didn't even bother to take off his clothes: he just got in the shower with his sweatpants on, turning the water on hot, letting the scalding water fall on his dead and down his body in wet rivletts.

One question went around his brain, again and again: Why?

Why hadn't she told him?

Fuck, why hadn't he realized it? All the failed relationships, the way she looked at certain female friends... And he had been totally oblivious.

Salty tears were diluted by tap water. Why, though? Did she not trust him? She was his sister, his confidante, one of the only people he trusted with his life. And she didn't trust him? With something so trivial as her sexual preference?

Maybe that was it; he realized. SHe never told him because it didn't matter. Kou knew he would never love her less because of it--it was just another faucet to the jewel called Koushiro.

Calm, he cut off the water and pulled back the curtain to find dry clothing and a thick fluffy towel. He smiled.

"Kou..."
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Kou was standing outside the bathroom, dressed in light blue pjs and matching slippers. She didn't want Jim to find out this way, but it was a relief that he finally knew.

She could hear him changing in the bathroom, and felt her heartbeat quicken. 'Here it comes... The moment of truth...'

Jim had the towel around his neck, rubbing at his damp blonde hair when blue eyes met blue eyes. Silence fell between the two, and Kou cracked. "Jim, I--"

Jim just took his older sister in his arms and held her tight. "It's ok, sis."

Kou hugged him back, blinking tears away.

"How long have you known?"

"Sixth grade."

Jim looked her in the eyes. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Do you remember when you were in fourth grade? When I got suspended for fighting?"

The blonde nodded.

"My best friend beat me up when I said I liked both girls and guys."

Jim's eyes flared. "What was his name?"

"Jim, the past is the past. It won't do any good to beat him up years later."

"No... But I was afraid you'd disapprove."

"Kou, Kou, Kou..." Jim hugged her tight. "Who you love is your business, unless he--or she--hurts you. Then they're fair game."

Kou giggled. "Deal. And the same goes for you."
-
Gene and Jim were eating breakfast when Kou and Alex--actually Taylor--came down the next day, to join them. Gene smiled. "How did you sleep last night, Kou?"

Jim, Kou and Taylor snickered into their cereal. "Great," came Kou's reply.

Gene raised an eyebrow, but didn't press the subject.

Taylor looked at her watch. "I've got to go to work." She stood and looked at her lover. "I'll see you at my place tomorrow?"

Kou nodded. "I'll call you tonight," she promised, smiling.

Taylor leaned forward and kissed Kou gently. "Love you."

"Love you too."

Taylor picked up her backpack, threw a wink in Jim's direction and walked out the door.

Gene, however was floored. "What the FUCK was that?!"

Kou just looked at her older brother. "I'm bisexual, Gene."

Gene looked at Jim, who just shrugged and started reading his paper.

Gene blinked at Kou. "Wow... That is... Really, really sexy."

"Oh, that's it, I'm telling Mel. Mel! MEL! Guess what Gene just said!"

Jim just shook his head and continued reading the paper as his two favorite redheads begain chasing each other around the shop.
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