This story is based on the manga but I altered Shinohara, making him as a cop like the J-Drama.
I don't know where I want this story to go but I hope you enjoy reading this while I continue to murder myself. :P
It is my first fic, so it's probably not very good. D:
(Yes, I edited and changed a few things in preparation for the last chapter.)
Tangling and untangling his fingers in his red hair, Shin questioned the decision to approach and enter the house in front of him. Perhaps, heading back home would be the smartest decision. Could he really enter a house full of Yakuza after waiting five hours to respond to a call. It hadn't seemed so important at the time because he was alerted of all situations but now that he was thinking about it, it was probably something severe. Kyo wouldn't it share it with him over the phone. He cursed himself for having fallen back after he'd hung up on Kyo. He turned around, going back into the darkness he'd come from.
Two silhouettes approached him. He couldn't help but think that they looked a little too menacing to be normal folk, walking around. He wondered if they were going to the Kuroda house, if they would react like almost everyone else did with a loud and noisy greeting, calling him by his nickname.
"Oi! Don't drag me!" Shin shouted as the two grabbed him, one on each side, crushing his arms with unneeded force.
The thought that they may be part of Ooedo slipped his mind, he felt in danger. He slipped his foot in front of one dark silhouettes, tripping the first man, bringing him crashing down to the ground. Shin went down with him but his arm was held upwards, in an awkward position because of the second man who was still standing. The fallen man's grip has loosened and he wriggled his other arm free as quick as he could though it was painful. As he stood straight, he swung around and elbowed the second man in the face. The grip was loosened allowing for him to pull back and swing.
"Good work." Muttered a rough, familiar voice with a small laugh. "That was very good work!" The voice praised through the darkness. "Hai!" He said in a triumphant yell. "Now pile 'em up!" He commanded, trying to encourage Shin to do it with a rough elbow in the ribs.
"No thanks, Kyo-san..." Shin replied, feeling annoyed at the implication he could ever do something so lame.
"It's an acquired taste, Red Lion." Kyo commented.
Walking out from behind Shin, he kicked the other two in the legs and snarled at them, ordering them to get up. His feet did not cease their persistant nuding until the two slowly got up. They wobbled, and Shin smothered a smile.
"Sorry-" Shin started quickly.
"Don't bother. They're too drunk to know the difference. I just wanted to make sure you were ready."
The redhead's shoulder was gripped with shocking force and Shin found himself being dragged back towards the house he had chosen to leave. Shin didn't resist, in fact, he was flooded with relief that he had met Kyo on his way home. He was beginning to regret the fight with the two Yakuza men, though. They grumbled incoherent pieces of a conversation that sounded deadly.
"Why so late?" Kyo asked, finally breaking the silence. "Did something go down?"
"Just a rough day." Shin mumbled as Kyo opened the door for them. "I ended up falling back to sleep after you called."
Kyo brought his finger up to his lips before yelling, "Tadaima!"
He nodded his understanding to Shin. There was silence and then a loud crash from further inside the house. No one moved, all listening but there was silence once more. An eerie feeling creeped up on Shin, settling into his stomach as he remembered Kyo's call. A situation. Shin's face went pale as he thought he heard Kyo gulp.
"Is it a good idea to be here?" Shin asked, desperately trying to not sound nervous.
Kyo shrugged, grabbing the kid's shoulder before he could run for it. Reluctantly, Shin followed Kyo deeper into the house. Another crash rang through the house. A weird metallic sound made them stop in their tracks. Fear slid down both their spines. They no long felt the will to go towards the sounds that would no doubt bring them both pain. Kyo laughed nervously not wanting Shin to know he was scared and kept on going against his better judgement. Stopping infront of the living room door, Kyo mentally pepped himself, building himself up.
Kyo opened the door and then shut the void as quickly as it had been allowed to reign free.
"O-Oujo! Put that down!" Kyo cried to the woman behind the door.
The door began to slide open without Kyo touching it.
"Yamaguchi. That's dangerous, y'know." Shin said, stepping back, almost instinctively behind Kyo.
Snarling at Shin from behind a long, unsheathed sword, Kumiko stood, pointing it directly towards the young man behind the Kumi's aniki. Kumiko swung the sword to the side almost teasingly, gesturing for Kyo to move out of the way but he stood his ground.
"Oi! You!" Kumiko hissed, taking another approach and locking her eyes with Shin's.
His ex-homeroom-teacher shoved the man in front of him out of the way like he was a toy and approached him, the tip of the blade unmoving, still pointed with accuracy, coming straight at his mouth. She stopped when she was about an inch away from his skin and swung it down to her side. With her hair down and make-up on, she didn't look any less scary. He could tell she was pissed off in a way, he'd only seen a few times. Angry enough he could feel the malicious aura and it made a chill run the course of his spine. Pain stung his cheek as she assaulted him with a hard slap.
"Mangy fucking brat! How fucking dare you!" She screamed, clutching the sword at her side tighter.
Shin's eyes flicked away from her face, towards the sword in her hand and then back at her face. He resisted the urge to comfort the sting on his face before asking, "How dare I what?"
"You just take on every fight that comes your way, right? You can't say no, can you? Can't ask why, can you? You don't think of consequences. You just do whatever you like, don't you?" She snarled, started to rant.
"What are you talking about, Yamaguchi?" He asked, his voice turning edgy.
"I'm talking about how in the world it was possible to get an entire group of thugs after you! More than fifty would love nothing more than to have your fucking head!"
"Not possible. I don't know what you're talking about." Shin said calmly, moving his hands to the pockets of his jeans.
Dropping her sword to the ground, her hand switched to clutching his shirt, tightly. With a hard yank, she pulled his face closer, staring him in the eyes but it was as she'd anticipated, in his eyes she saw no hesitiation, they did not waver, blink nor look away.e
"Damn!" She muttered, releasing his shirt and throwing him back. She turned around. "Listen Shin, another kumi who have had ties with Ooedo for a long time came to us blaming a warehouse was burned by you after beating up three of their punks. They described someone who looks like you, even called you that stupid name."
Shin frowned. "I did beat up three punks today." He admitted but the fire he saw in her eyes made him choose to explain. "They approached me first and swinging. I wasn't going to take the beat or run away."
"Young Master Red Lion, wouldn't do that!" Kyo said coming to Shin's defense.
"YOUNG MASTER RED LION?" She scoffed. "CUT THAT BULLSHIT NAME RIGHT NOW! I can't believe they called him the successor! A whole 'nother load of bullshit for me to deal with!" She screamed into her hands.
"He'd be a great..." Kyo hesitated about what he was about to say. "I gave him that name!" Kyo huffed.
"Lots of people have red hair in the city! Why does it have to be me? Plus, if you guys have been so close, then why would they automatically suspect me? Someone tipped them off and onto me." Shin reasoned.
"You didn't exactly have the best rep before Kudou, anyways and being involved with us doesn't make it any better. We're powerful but we're still hated. So, you'd better stay away from trouble while I'm sorting this out! One wrong move and I'll have your head myself!" She threatened.
"Whatever." He said, dismissing it with a little smile. Normally, I'd interfere..." He murmured, then his voice changed and he continued, "... but since you seem to care so much, I can be a good boy."
That annoying comment had rushed the heat from her temper to her cheeks. What an unnecessary thing to say, she thought. That stupid brat, always acting so calm! Yet... she knew herself enough to recognize that sometimes, she needed his leveled head.
"Oujo's had a hard day." Kyo said quickly, trying to fix the mood. "Let's go get drinks..." Kyo mumbled and grabbed Shin by the shoulder again, leading him away as Kumiko retreated to sit down.
"NONE FOR THE KID!" Kumiko yelled automatically.
"Kid?" Shin scoffed. "I'm an adult now."
He picked up the cup he was brought by Tetsu and brought it to his lips. He shot her a defiant look over the rim before slugging it down. He felt his mouth revolt against the taste, but he kept a straight face and held out the cup for more. She shot him a dirty look but she knew he was right. He wasn't her student anymore, and he wasn't a kid, especially not after that confession. He was nineteen and he could drink with her and Kyo if he wanted to. She knew he wasn't much of a drinker though, he only wanted to because her comment was a low blow.
A helpless feeling creeped over her as she watched Shin drink one after another. There was nothing she could do to stop him now that he was 19 but she was beginning to think that maybe he would get a little too drink. This was the hard stuff, not that sleazy brand that Minami would come up with.
Shin... You are ridiculous, she thought to herself.
"Yamaguchi. I still don't get it. They're supposed to be allies but they said it was me. Why?" Shin asked her.
"I don't get it either. I believe you... You wouldn't stoop so low as to torch a building." Kumiko said nodding, downing another drink.
"Then why does it have to be me?" Shin said, putting his chin in his hand.
Kumiko stifled the laughter that arose in her throat. "I don't know but whoever it is, we're going to find it out... Right, Kyo?"
"Hai, Oujo! Now, now. Forget this, let's have more drinks!" Kyo grinned as he watched them, sitting across from each other. He refilled their cups and watched them continue to shoot each other dirty looks and down the sake simultaneously.
SLAM! - Kumiko put her cup down on the table and was staring visciously across. She was buzzed and bit out of it.
"He's drunk!" She accused pointing a shaky finger.
"Drunk? Who's drunk? I'm fine! Here, fill it!" Shin said unhappily, shoving his cup towards Kyo.
Kumiko shook her head, knowing she was more immune than Shin was. She had never seen him completely wasted, only the aftermath. She felt her mouth twitch with unhappiness as she remember his "No, don't touch me there," mumbles.
What would he be be like drunk? It would be nice if he was a fool, she could rest easy knowing he wasn't always so collected. Kumiko's anger had disappeared now replaced by anticipation of seeing Shin's foolish drunk-side.
"Don't drink soo much, Kumiko-chan." Shin sang again, happily egging her on.
"You shouldn't be talking." She shot back but her face flushed. "H-HEY! WHO SAID YOU COULD CALL ME THAT?" Kumiko yelled at him.
"Don't I always call you that, though, Kumiko-chan?" Shin sang again.
He knew he was drunk, it had hit him a few moments ago. Every stress, worry, doubt and nuisance he'd felt disappeared in that moment. He did not care about a thing probably because he was comparing the way his head felt to jelly. There was a grin stuck on his face and when he looked at Kumiko blushing, he couldn't help but lean across the table.
Fingers on his forehead, pushed him back to his place on the other side of the table forcefully, a scary look on her face. Kumiko watched him. As he fell, then raised back up.
Kyo watched the entertainment quietly, holding back a chuckle. Perhaps, the plan would go a little better than expected. He stood, unable to watch the Young Master make a fool of himself. Leaving them alone together was what Ryuichiro had ordered, so alone they would be. He shrugged off the thought of Shin hurting his precious Oujo, Shin wasn't capable of that.
"Kyo! Kyo don't leave me with him!" Kumiko begged but Kyo only smiled mischeviously and slid out the door.
"You're all alone." Shin commented, almost taunting her as the door closed.
"Kuuuumiiii-ko-chan." He purred getting closer to her still. "Blushing again, are we?" He said in a low voice.
She didn't say anything to his question, she just studied him carefully. She watched his eyes flick down to her lips, then he licked his own. She registered what that meant and immediately viewed him as the red lion toying with prey. But she wouldn't be his prey! No way!
Kumiko... it's okay. He won't do anything reckless. He's drunk, not crazy. He knows I'd kill him... WHAT THE FUCK!
Shin lunged forward and swung her down to the ground. He found his way ontop of her, pinning her with all his drunken weight. Panick over came here, being in a submitting position to this boy. She went to push him again but he grabbed her hands and planted them beside her head. He pinned her and leaned down close.
"Stop it! You don't know what you're doing!" Kumiko hissed.
"I know exactly what I'm doing." He whispered with a smile.
She felt his whisper hot against her lips. She knew there was only a small space distancing their mouths. She inhaled sharply as he ran a tongue over bottom lip. He put his lips on hers. Then, they gently moved against her own.
"Shin!" She hissed.
He stared at her, with a face caught between flustered and lustful. Then he smiled at her. Her brow furrowed in confusion at his smile.
"You didn't call me Sawada." He breathed, getting closer once again.
His hand trailed to her neck. Then it held her cheek in his hand, leaning in again and he closed his eyes, making that mistake.
Finally.
She pushed him away from her and stood quickly.
"Just say my name and I'll stop." He mumbled as he regained his composure.
... I can't call him Sawada for the rest of my life, can I? After al, we've been through I'm still going to address him like a student? He's not a student and he never will be again.
"My name..." He mumbled.
Her eyes snapped open when he said that, she didn't even know they had closed. Her phone started ringing at the same time.
Thank god... Why did I let him do that to me? What's wrong with me? What about Shinohara-san! SHINOHARA-SAN! I'm just drunk, I'm just totally and completely intoxicated. My mind is clouded, I have bad judgement. Alcohol isn't good for the pure soul!
She grabbed her phone quickly, recognizing the ringtone. Shin groaned as he recognized it, too. A heavy blush spread out across her face as she stuttered a greeting. It was him, it was that cop, Shinohara.
"Sh-Shinohara-san! Eh? You aren't bothering me. Hai, I know it's late. Oh, I understand... N-No, I'm not busy Friday. R-really?"
"Fuck him." Shin grumbled.
"Friday, Hai. I'll see you then." She said.
She shot a cold glare Shin's way when she closed the phone.
"I can't believe you." He spat and stood up, bracing himself against the wall.
She got up quickly and walked over to him. "Me? I can't believe you! You're just a kid!" She growled.
He grabbed her by the back of the neck and slammed his mouth on hers. His teeth cut the inside of his mouth as he kissed her visciously. She pushed him off. He tasted blood in his mouth. She saw it on his teeth when he opened his mouth to speak.
"Have fun on your date." He growled and walked out angrily.
The phone rang again, minutes after, Kumiko sighed sadly and opened it.
"Mushi Mu-"
"We got your cat." The voice grumbled.
... Cat?
"What are you talking about?" She growled into the phone.
The door slid open and Kyo looked at her with a concerned look, then his eyes dropped.
"We have your Lion. He'll pay for shooting one of the Sansetsuko-kumi!"
"You have Shin?" She asked, her hand forming a fist at her side.
"We'll wait for him to sober up. He should see the face of the people going to kill him. He's been causing a little trouble lately." The voice said, smugly.
"It's a complete set-up!" Kumiko yelled into the phone.
"No mistake about it. The Ooedo are powerful, if you'd like to talk about a little give and take... Wait a few hours... We'll call back."
The line went dead before Kumiko could answer. She whipped the phone at the ground and kneeled to pick it up.
"Get the car ready. We need to see Grandpa, and quick."
