This is my first attempt at writing a Gokusen story so I really hope you like it. Please review and let me know if you like it and if I should continue or not. This story is set shortly after the movie.
Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing but my story and any characters I may create. Gokusen and its original characters are not mine.
Chapter 1: Welcome Home
"Shin?" It is barely above a whisper as Kumiko stares at the man standing by the school's front gates. His hair is shorter and all one color, a deep brown, but still a little shaggy. His frame has filled out to more manly proportions since she saw him last. She hadn't seen Sawada Shin in eight years but there was no mistaking those piercing eyes or that slow grin that spread across his face. Jolting to a stop, her bag drops to the ground unnoticed. They stare at each other, drinking in all the changes.
"Yankumi." That one name said with all the affection he has for her is enough to break Kumiko out of her trance.
"Shin!" She screeches in excitement and runs across the grounds, leaping into his open arms. The entire student body that had been loitering around the area, stops in shock at the sight of Yamaguchi-sensei in the arms of a handsome ikeman. As the hug continues for several minutes, the chatter of the students picks up as they try to figure out who the strange teacher of 3-D is hugging and what their relationship is.
The two don't notice the attention, as they pull apart finally. Kumiko suddenly gets a glint in her eye, which Shin notices but not in enough time to protect himself from her first hit. She smacks him hard on the back of the head and then again on the arm. "What the?" Shin yells at the onslaught.
"Eight years!" Kumiko yells at him and smacks him again. "Eight whole years, Sawada Shin!" She shoves him on the chest, causing him to back away. A tear streaks down her right cheek which she brushes away with a fist in irritation. "No visit. No phone call. Not even a shitty little postcard to tell me you were alive." She crosses her arms and glares at him.
Shin sighs and shoves his hands into the pockets of his black jeans. "I'm sorry." Looking away, he shrugs his shoulders. "There were some things I needed to do but I always knew I'd come back here someday. I just got off the plane and came straight here. I haven't seen anyone else yet."
Looking behind him, Kumiko sees two large suitcases sitting next to the gate and sighs. "Do you have a place to stay?"
"I was going to check into a hotel." Shin replies, showing a distinct lack of enthusiasm at the prospect.
"No you're not." Kumiko picks up her school bag and one of his suitcases. "Everyone at home is going to want to see you, so you better just come with me." Not waiting for an answer, she walks to the road and hails a taxi. Shin, grabbing his other bag, quickly follows.
Neither spoke a word for the length of the car ride until they stood outside the large wooden doors at the entrance of Kumiko's home. As they step though onto the grounds, Shin stops and looks up at the main house apprehensively. Kumiko ignores him and continues into the home. Squaring his shoulders, Shin follows her in.
"I'm home!" Kumiko announces and is immediately greeted by two men who come running up to her with respectful bows. One is tall and rather rough looking but with a caring look about his eyes. The other is a bit shorter, much rounder with a bit of a childish air about him. Neither had changed much as far as Shin could tell. "Welcome home!" They both shout then run into each other as they notice the man standing behind their beloved Ojou.
"It has been a long time." Shin bows at the two older men. "Tetsu-san. Minoru-san."
"Sawada-kun?" Tetsu's eyes widen in surprise. "Is it really you?" At Shin's nod, a broad smile spreads across both of their faces as they bow to him. "Welcome home! Welcome home!"
"Did I hear Kumiko's voice?" A much older man walks slowly into the room wearing a dark brown kimono with silvery hair and an air of confidence about him. This is the master of the house and the head of the Ooedo family, a true Yakuza Boss. "Welcome home Granddaughter."
"Thank you Grandpa. I've brought someone to see you." Kumiko pulls Shin up beside her.
"Hello Kuroda-sama." Shin bows respectfully low. "It is a pleasure to see you again."
"Sawada Shin." The old man smiles affectionately at the young man, having no problems recognizing him. "It's about time you came home to us. Come in and have a drink." Noticing the luggage, he gestures to the two henchmen to pick them up. "Take his bags to the guest room." They silently bow and walk away with the bags as Kuroda leads the way to the cushions on the floor. A short while later another henchman sets down a large white bottle of Sake with several cups in front of his boss.
"Come. Let us have a drink then you can tell us about your adventures over the years that has kept you from visiting." Kuroda passes out the full cups of liquor and Shin winces slightly at the admonishment he can hear in the old man's tone. "We have often spoken of you over the years." He gives a significant look at his granddaughter who misses it as she sips at her cup.
"I'm very sorry, sir." Shin bows low again, almost touching his forehead to the floor. "There were things I needed to do and I knew that if I heard from home…" His glance at Kumiko is noticed by her grandfather. "…I would have a hard time continuing because my need to be home would be too overpowering."
"Since you have come home, I assume you have finished what you needed to do." Not waiting for an answer, Kuroda continues with an encouraging smile. "What have you been doing these past years?" Though it is said in the form of a question, Shin can hear the tone of command in it. If he wants to stay in this man's good graces, he better answer thoroughly and honestly.
"At first I went to Africa, as I told Yankumi before I left, and helped build homes and schools. It was a lot of dirty, manual work but I enjoyed the physical aspect of it and feeling that I was useful." Shin sips his sake thoughtfully. "It also gave me plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do with my life. A short while later I was accepted at Northwestern University in the United States with an academic scholarship."
"You went to America?" Kimoko asks in surprise, almost dropping her cup.
Thank you for reading and please review and let me know your thoughts.
What do you think Sawada Shin got his degree in?