A/N

I got a little sappy with this one toward the end, but there aren't enough Rin/Gou fanfictions here! Enjoy the sibling fluff. Also, there seems to be some onesided Haru/Gou happening as well.

An alarm sounded off and Gou sprang up, startled by it. She slammed her hand into the snooze button, falling back on the bed and staring groggily at the ceiling. Iwatobi swim club's manager wasn't used to being forced awake so early on a Sunday, but it was compensated by the thought of getting to spend time with Rin. Imagining that sharp toothed grin she hadn't seen in a long time made her get out of the pink pajamas and into her swimming attire. A fresh smile adorned her face as she pulled a shirt over her head to cover the bikini. After she tied her hair in a high ponytail and jumped into a pair of white shorts, she raced downstairs out the door.

Outside, the weather felt perfect and a light breeze blew salty ocean smells in her face. Living in Iwatobi, it was impossible for a person to escape that smell. She passed Nanase Haruka's house and wondered off-handedly if he was there. When she heard a blundering sound inside, she ran to the door. "Haru! Are you okay?" she called over the threshold after slamming the shoji screen open.

"I'm alright." Haruka appeared from around a corner. As usual in the early morning, he wore an apron over his favorite swim bottoms. She stared at the muscles in his arm for a moment of awkward silence, then her face turned furiously red when she realized what she was doing.

Nervous giggling followed the reaction. "Ah, well, I was passing by and heard some loud clattering. Sorry for bursting in like that, Haruka senpai." She stiffly turned to go back toward the sidewalk.

"I'm having mackerel for breakfast, if you want any." His monotone offer stopped her. Gou thought about skipping the first meal of the day to get to Rin's dorm faster, but the girl's stomach betrayed her and made an embarassingly loud grumble in protest, so she agreed. Walking inside, she noticed that his house was as tidy as ever. Momentos of his grandmother, not touched after her death, were spread here and there around the rooms.

"Is mackerel the only thing you know how to cook?" She sat with her legs tucked under on the floor in front of his table. He shot a curious glance, but didn't answer. Haru always kept her wondering about his feelings. Did he only have emotions when he was surrounded by water or something? His back was turned toward her while he grilled the fish, the pungent smell hitting her nose at once. Ever the person to take initiative, she stood and walked into the kitchen. Noticing a frying pan on a peg over the sink, she grabbed it. "Have any eggs?" Haru opened the refrigerator and produced a large carton. Besides mackerel, he loved egg with most dishes. She nosed through pantry doors until she found a bottle of oil. "I would ask how you like them," she poured a bit of the liquid in the pan, "but I only know one way." Their arms brushed and she felt an instant heat rise up into her face.

He was only silent as she turned on the old electric stove top and waited for the oil to heat up. If the sudden contact rustled him, he didn't give any indication.

After their breakfast, during which Haru only became animated after Gou brought up the idea of more island training, she thanked him and went on her way. The academy wasn't far, but she sprinted down the hot sidewalks and crosswalks to keep from talking herself out of her resolution. Thoughts of being in deep water haunted her in normal circumstances.

She made it to the front of Samezuka's main building just as her brother was walking out with Nitori Aiichirou at his heels. "Good morning, you two." Efforts to cover up the apprehensiveness in her voice came across too cheerful, eliciting an unwelcome look from the older Matsuoka.

"Nitori," Rin glared at the silver haired boy before he had a chance to speak, "I'm training without you today."

"But, Matsuoka senpai, we.." seeing that Rin was in no mood to argue, he relented, "we can train tomorrow, then." He smiled brightly at Gou and waved a goodbye.

Nitori out of the way, she turned her attention to Rin. He wore his swim club jacket which she hardly ever saw him out of and baggy grey shorts. "Let's go." He started to walk away, expecting her to follow, in the opposite direction of Samezuka's pool.

"How is school going, big brother?" Skipping up beside him, Gou examined his features as if seeing him for the first time. He had a handsome jawline, and eyes the same color as her own, although his held more fire in them. All the things she wanted to ask or say to this man next to her vanished and she could only make small talk to fill the void in conversation and keep her mind off the pool.

"Do you really want to know?" This person who was so angry couldn't be the boy she looked up to as a child watching him swim in relays. He shoved his hands in his pockets, stopping, "Gou, you don't have to swim."

She was unsure of how to respond while so many emotions swirled around in her brain, mixing together into one mess. She was mad at him for being a different person from the one she knew, sad because she loved him despite it all. Finally, she fixed her eyes on him, now standing directly in front of her. "Yes, I do. I have to do it- for you and dad." Gou teared up, "it will bring you back to me, Rin, because we'll finally be close. After dad died and you left for Australia, I felt so alone. I hate it! If I could just swim like you, maybe I wouldn't feel like that anymore."

He stared at her with a suprised expression as small tears started rolling down her face. The only sounds for a few moments were Gou's sniffling and traffic in the street next to them. "Fuck." Rin ran a hand through his hair, frustratedly. He suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her small frame, the blue hair tie she always wore brushed his neck. "Do your best."

Her cheek smushed into the zipper of his jacket, but she didn't mind. His encouragement was all she'd wanted for a long time. "I will."