Prologue -
"Yatta!" Yamaguchi Kumiko, other wise known at Yankumi, murmured as she stroked her finger along the tip to the photos' frame, "I promised we'd graduate together and look at all of you. All so handsome" She gazed over her second class of delinquents fondly. It had been a long road but they had finally managed it.
Hearing her cell phone ring she turned to her desk to pick it up, recognizing her favourite ramen chef she broke out in a grin. "Kumai, how are ya doin'?"
"Fine Yankumi. I was just getting ready for the kids to come over for the meeting tonight and I realized I had left my order book there last night when I was dropping off your stuff. Would you mind bringing it along when you come over later?"
"Ya. Ya. No problem Kumai. I'll bring it along." She smiled "though it would be a good excuse to get you to visit, you know you're always welcome."
"I know, Yankumi, Ma and the brats say hi. I'll see ya here tonight. I even have a surprise for you." Kumai eyes glinted, the sly expression out of place on his normally placid face. "Something to keep you on your toes "
Kumiko's sucked in her breath in alarm her voice hardening into her ojou tones, "Kumai, if I have to get you guys at the police station I won't be happy. Since Shinohara was transferred to Osaka I'd have to bend my head to the cops and I really don't like dealing with that other guy."
Unseen Kumai's expression became almost edged with evil humour. "But Yankumi, we would never do anything to make you unhappy."
Throwing the clothes from her closet onto her bed, Kumiko went through her outfits. After another semester in a track suit she wanted to get dressed up. She glanced at her kimonos, taking a second to brush her hand over the one she wore for her omiai; she let memories wash over her. Her precious students from her first class, where were they all now? It had been over 3 years and Kumai was the only one she saw on a regular basis though she had seen Noda a few times.
Noda, that was right, she remembered she had purchased that dress from Noda's new shop last month; it would be the perfect thing to wear. Though it was quite form fitting, she found it extremely easy to move in. Noda had cracked a joke about it being a Yankumi special and had thrown in a pair of underwear that could double as shorts. "Just in case, you never know with you, though knocking them out by giving them panty shots would be pretty effective."
Slipping on the dress and matching bits she sat in front of her mirror looking at her hair. She then twisted it into a bun and slid a pair of matching combs to hold it into place. Putting away her glasses, the plain glass really did give her an air of respectability she assured herself. She quickly added some lipstick and eye shadow. She was ready.
Walking happily out the door, she paused and turned her back to her grandfather listening for the reassuring click that let her know that her grandfather was taking steps to protect her on her way.
Kumai looked around his small diner proudly. Everything was in place, the floor was swept neatly, and the tables were wiped down. Checking the counter top, he noted that almost all the ingredients were cut up and ready. Yabuki Hayato was hard at work chopping the last of the cabbage and Odagiri Ryu was stacking the bowls that he had just finished washing
"Hey Kuma, do you think that Yankumi will like her surprise?" Yabuki inquired as he focussed on not cutting his fingers a second time.
"What is it anyway?" Asked Odagiri looking up from his task.
"You never did want to tell us. You spent all morning talking with that sunglasses cop. Why did you tell him and not us?" Odagiri grumbled. "Not that we're important, not that we care about Yankumi at all."
Hayato and Kuma looked at each other and snickered at Odagiri's uncharacteristic descent into childish behaviour.
"It's just something to make her happy. Yankumi is fairly simple; it doesn't take much really" Just as Kumai was about to continue, the trio looked up as a fourth person arrived at the door followed by the thunder of a crowd behind them. Odagiri and Yabuki broke out in matching grins as they saw the rest of their class arriving. As everyone found a spot and sat down, Kumai started bustling around the stoves.
"You know if Yankumi spots that alcohol, you guys are so dead." Odagiri observed.
"We're not students anymore!" Tsuchiya Hikaru objected.
"You'll always be her students." A voice from the door stated firmly then added. "I heard there was a meeting for 3D delinquents and I thought it wouldn't be complete without the great Minami."
As Minami Youichi grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the table, He found himself being shoved as someone else seemed to pop out of no where, and stick their hands in his hair. "You are so right; you'll always be my cute students."
"Yo! Yankumi, you're going to hurt him"
"Shin!" A soft smile appeared on her face as her former student walked to her and stood in front of her with a cocky smile. Her hand lifted to his cheek, "You've grown up into such a nice looking young man."
"Hey like your surprise Yankumi" Kumai yelled out.
Just as she was about to answer she was interrupted by her cell phone going off. Moving off the side she listened for a few minutes her expression getting more serious.
"I've got to go." Kumiko rushed to the door.
"I'll go with you" Odagiri jumped to follow. , pushing Shin out of the way.
Shin followed Odagiri's progress with narrowed eyes. "I think I'll go as well, I haven't paid my respects to Kyo or Kuroda-san yet."
As you can see this is a mostly drama verse, however, there are aspects of the manga as well, (I've ignored the anime) Kyo is too much of a favourite for me to ignore him as was done in the drama so count in the whole red lion bit.) I'll be updating this here and there and will eventually go back to my other stories.
Since Gokusen 3 was announced last December I've been overwhelmed with the need to write.
