She plopped down in front of her desk that night, the moment she got home, and pressed her cheek against it. She didn't know how to feel. She'd been psyching herself up to whatever he might do, only to be sorely disappointed.

Did she want him to try something? She definitely thought he would. Sure, she did.

It'd give her reason to pound his arrogant ass, that's for sure...right? Right?

But today was like...everything was back to normal. And for all that, she still couldn't place the reason why she couldn't make up her mind how to feel about it. Wasn't it better, like this? Did she really prefer that other Shin? The one who looked at her in that strange way? The one who made her feel something she couldn't even begin to describe?

Unbidden, an image of his face flashed in her head. From the lazy, indolent way he regarded her, to his lips...and how soft they felt against her knuckles...and why wouldn't they? They were so full, round, and red like cherries.

just luscious. Followed by an image of Shin in a fundoshi, that was almost too much to even bear thinking-that was just a few days ago!!!

Oh Kami. Fujiyama-sensei was rubbing off on her!!!

"Well now, Yamaguchi sensei..." She could almost imagine Fujiyama-sensei whisper, while eyeing her slyly. "...it looks like we have something in common, after all..."

She let out a long, panicked shriek. Kyou-san, Minoru and Tetsu kicked her door down, and was beside her in an instant, asking her what happened.

Like hell, she'd tell them.

She came up with some lame excuse, covered up for it by telling them off for some minor thing, and hit Tetsu and Minoru for good measure, for breaking down her door.

Ooshima Kyoutarou wasn't fooled. Something was going on, and if anyone knew, The Young Master Red Lion would surely be the one to ask. He had never really seen her flustered this way, before.

Then, as if something had clicked, he realized what it was. Only Shinohara-sensei could bring about something like this out of her, but instead of the excited, dreamy look, she seemed guiltily panicked about something...someone? He had to muster all of his willpower not to even smile...
It couldn't be...could it? Although he had heard of her date with the Sensei, she should look pleased, not guilty. Hmmm...The Red Lion, then?

He smiled smugly. Maybe the fundoshi trick did work.

The next day...

She had just walked past Ooedo's wooden signboard, when she heard a familiar voice call her.

"Oi." she heard him say. She froze where she stood, and slowly turned her head to see the current object of her discomfort, leaning casually against the wall, in a white, long-sleeved shirt over straight-cut, low-rise blue jeans. He was wearing white sneaks. She lifted her gaze to meet his, and drew a sharp intake of breath, as if she had just noticed how handsome and well-dressed he was.

"Yamaguchi." He tried, again. Why was she gawking at him like an idiot? She seemed pretty jumpy, too. He imagined she was surprised to see him, when she said she'd be coming by, but his own nerves were jangling. He didn't want her to catch him off-guard, and he wasn't up to being a nervous wreck, waiting for her to come.

"Shi-Shi-Shin!" He heard her stutter, then seemingly regaining composure, asked him in a more normal voice, "What are you doing here?"

"Are you a fool?" He asked, in a tepid voice. "Isn't this what guys do on dates?"

"What?" She asked, still recovering. She wanted to smack herself. Really. "Aren't you only supposed to teach me how to dance?"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her close. He heard her 'kyaa!' in a small voice, and saw her panicked expression again.

"This," He said, in a low whisper, his hand against her back, his other hand in hers, in typical waltz fashion, "is how close we'll be."

There it was again. That hazy film that clouded his eyes, every now and then. He was looking at her too closely! Too close!!!

She wondered how he could hear her, what with her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

"...Are you sure you don't want to get used to me, first?" He asked, softly.

He dearly hoped none of the kumi walked out at this very moment. He dearly hoped she was too emotionally imbalanced to pound him into the ground, that even the fact that he did more or less tell her what kind of mindset she should have about the favor she asked required, would not stop her...not that he wasn't enjoying this close proximity, not that he could blame her for possibly killing him.

He was acting waaaay too bold for his own health.

Also, that was twice, now that she looked alarmed at his closeness. He needed to let her get used to the idea, even like it. He closed his eyes briefly and breathed in deep.
And so, she was a bit surprised at the softness in his voice, and the look on his face, now.
It wasn't unsettling. It wasn't impassive, either. It wasn't even that look he gave her when he was amused at the silly things she did. He looked sheepish, if a bit unsure.

"Okay." She squeaked again, even smiling a little, comforted that even he felt something, and not just the usual 'keeping-my-cool-thank you' look that he always had. This look, though...she found it so cute.

Not knowing what to make of that silly grin on her face, he settled to just holding her hand, while they walked.

"So, what's on the agenda, Young Master Red Lion?" She asked him innocently, finally regaining composure, finally getting used to the idea. After all, he did warn her what he thought they should be like. And she did need to get used to the idea of being so close, if they were going to dance.

So...that was why he told her that she needed to think of her as someone she was possibly dating.

"Will you not call me that?" he said in a gruff voice. She gave him an evil smile. She knew how much he disliked that name.

They continued talking/bickering about what to do that day, and were thusly occupied; they didn't notice they had an audience, after all.

Ooshima Kyoutarou, A hand each, over Minoru and Tetsu's mouth, grinning like a hyena that just had its favorite lunch. Well. Looks like his hunch was right.

That was some move, though. Y'gotta admit. He thought, inwardly. After scaring the other two into silence, he decided to follow the two 'lovebirds' .

Hehehehe...this was better than Wife of a Yakuza. No way he was passing this up.
Young Master Red Lion. Much as the young man hated it, Ooshima Kyoutarou had named him correctly.