Disclaimer: I don't own Gokusen.

For the sake of argument, I have pretended that Yankumi (and others) can actually fight instead of pushing people to the ground and having them stay down with the force of her lectures.

I've used some dialogue from the drama, and the odd line from the manga. The drama lines were included to help you track the progression of the story. The story diverges more as it progresses. The beginning follows the drama quite closely.

Changes:

I worked primarily with the drama, but have changed the timeline so that at the end of season 1, the school shuts down and she is out of a job for 9 months before the beginning of season 2 (which would make her 24 years old), and another 9 months (after being fired) before the beginning of season 3 (which makes her 25 for the beginning of our story). Having her involved with a student 8 years younger than her felt a little cougarish, so I needed to modify that (the best I could really do was a 6 year difference). Also, there is no major character development for Yankumi in the 3 year gaps the drama presents, so I don't feel that shortening the timeline has any major impact, although instead of Kuma having a baby, please read it as him getting engaged.

I have chosen to use the brother/sister relationship between Yankumi, Tetsu and Minoru from the manga (explained in Vol. 2, Chap. 6) since I feel that this is a major factor for Yankumi's dedication to her delinquent students.

The story is set during season 3 (except that she doesn't have a crush on Natsume, because I seriously can't handle the ditziness) with some modifications.

I've gone with the manga in that the man she marries will be the family successor, as opposed to having her completely uninvolved with the yakuza.

I've included the character Kyo-san from the manga (Vol. 3, Chap. 1).

I've decided that Kuma meets Yankumi's new students earlier than in the drama (season 3).

Why I chose Ryu:

I feel that Yankumi can only seriously date a former student since she needs someone who'll forgive her for (always) ditching their dates for a pile of high school delinquents. The only guys I think would be able to completely accept that are the ones who have already been there.

In the manga, a strong codependent bond was developed between Yankumi and Sawada. He goes to her when there is trouble, and she goes to him for information. This negates the teacher/student aspect. Within a couple of episodes in season 2, Odagiri is balancing Yankumi.

Sawada Shin (manga edition) serves as a level head for Yankumi. In the drama, most of the class leaders are hotheads. Odagiri is the only one who (mostly) keeps a level head for himself and for her.

Although the movie won't be in my timeline, I liked how they developed Odagiri in it. He baits her while simultaneously balancing her wilder moments. He is also able to predict her movements, instead of always running behind her (literally).

Yankumi risks her family by taking Odagiri in (which is extreme even for her).

Odagiri virtually never calls her Yankumi, but Yamaguchi, which could imply that he does not see her the way the rest of the class does.

There was a man at the school gate.

In and of itself, this was nothing unusual. But he was waiting for Yamaguchi Kumiko, and that was unusual. Beautiful young men were not often waiting for her, unless they were in some sort of trouble. Since there was no obvious crisis – no visible injuries, no one chasing him, no one he was chasing, no partially collapsed building - the situation was almost surreal. He had straight red hair, and a paper held loosely in one hand. He was leaning against the wall, gazing from the paper in his hand to the gate and back again. Students looked at him as they headed home, but left him to himself.

A woman with pig tails came charging out without glancing in either direction. Eyebrows lifting, he fell into step with her.

"Yo."

She jumped, noticing him for the first time.

"Baka (Idiot)." He murmured, looking away to hide his smile.

"Odagiri! What are you doing here?"

It was hard to pretend that he was just passing by when he had been waiting at the gate. Hell, he hadn't seen her recently, so there was no reason for her to assume that he knew where she was teaching. Without turning back to her, he passed her the paper in his hands.

"What is this?" She asked, immediately distracted, as he had known she would be. He watched her scan it, waiting for the reaction. "Hitotsubashi! Law! You're studying law at Hitotsubashi University?!"

"Maa na (Well, yeah)." He shrugged, blushing.

"Omedetou (Congratulations)!" She reached out to ruffle his hair in celebration, but he stepped out of reach. She was so embarrassing!

"What's that?" He asked, jerking his chin at the paper in her hand.

"Ah." She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders before answering. "One of my students has been suspended for a crime he didn't commit. This is the real culprit."

He glanced over. He certainly understood how that felt. "I can pass the description around. If you're looking for him, we can help."

Her smile lit up again. "That would be great! I need to be going. I'll see you around." Count on Yamaguchi to not notice that he had been waiting for her, or that he had known where to find her. How did the woman survive being this oblivious?

"Maa na." He glanced away, disappointed, but his shoulders relaxed slightly when she added:

"We'll celebrate for sure once I find the culprit."

This is my fist Gokusen fanfic, so let me know what you think! I have a fair bit written, but will only finish the story if people are reading.