DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gokusen or any of its characters, least of all, Shin and Kumiko. So, please don't make me feel worse by repeating this to you every time I cheer up and want to add a chapter to my dear fan fiction project!

Author's Notes: A special thanks to yurika'hellgirl and drama-watching-queen for their wonderful reviews!! Come here both of you; let me give you a tight hug!!! Also, I'd like to thank everyone who read my story, added it to their Favorite list or their Alert list. Thanks for all your support. Now, without wasting anymore time, here's chapter 4!

CHAPTER 4 – A DATE TO REMEMBER

"Shinohara-san," said Kumiko with an odd expression, "Please take Kashiwagi-san home."

"Huh?" said Shinohara looking spaced out, "Yes, yes of course. I'll take him home right away. I'll come back later to pick you ladies up and drop you home. Is that ok?"

"That'll be ok," assured Kikuno looking very alert despite being drunk, "We'll wait right here."

"Thank you," said Shinohara and walked over to where Kashiwagi had fallen. Shaking him awake, Shinohara put Kashiwagi's arm around his neck and lumbered away from the table. But midway, Kashiwagi slumped and fell down before they could reach the door. Kumiko got up and rushed to help Shinohara carry Kashiwagi to the car.

"Thank you so much for your help," said Shinohara with a weak smile, "I apologize for all this!"

"Don't bother about that!" said Kumiko shaking her head, "I just want to ask you; how long have you known this?" The look in her eyes said it all. She was talking about Kashiwagi's confession.

"Seven years," replied Shinohara, not seeing the point in lying, "I just didn't know he still harbored his old feelings. And I never expected him to confess to you like this," he finished, his eyes crinkling. Kashiwagi's confession had put a new and strange worry into his mind. He clearly remembered the day when Kashiwagi had admitted to liking Kumiko (A/N: Refer episode 12 of the drama). They hadn't been alone that day. Tetsu was with them. But that wasn't what he was worried about. It was that other person with them…

Could this be the reason Sawada had returned to Japan after seven years? To confess his long, undying love for Kumiko? If so, he was late. She was already taken. Anyway, he had been her student. There was minuscule chance of her returning Sawada's feelings. And why would she? She loved him, Shinohara-san.

"You want me to come along and drop this guy home?" questioned Kumiko as she watched Shinohara apprehensively. His temporary escape to his thoughts had apparently not gone unnoticed.

"No, I'll be fine. I'll drop him off at my apartment. He can go home tomorrow morning. You go back and wait with Fujiyama-sensei and Kawashima-sensei," said Shinohara at which Kumiko gave him a tiny bow and went back to join the two women.

As she approached the table, she saw the nurse and the English teacher whispering away into each other's ears excitedly.

"I'm back!" announced Kumiko resuming her seat at the table.

"Oh, we were just talking about how totally unexpected this confession was," said Kikuno.

"Kashiwagi-san must really like you," gasped Shizuka.

"Did you two know he had feelings for me beforehand?" asked Kumiko, shooting them a dangerous look.

"Well, he hasn't ever made an attempt to hide his feelings for you, has he?" said Kikuno wearing a bemused expression.

"You call that real emotion?" scoffed Kumiko, "I just thought he was a bit persistent and perverse."

"Hmmmmm…at the beginning he was," said Shizuka, "However, he developed a genuine liking for you later."

"What's surprising to us is," said Kikuno leaning back in her chair, "that he confessed what he felt for you. In spite of you being Shinohara-san's girlfriend at present, you know."

"Yeah, he wouldn't make a pass at a longtime colleague and friend's girlfriend unless he thinks you're his true love," added Shizuka.

"True love?" repeated Kumiko scathingly, "You two watch way too many romance movies!"

"Oh please," frowned Kikuno, "Don't tell me you don't believe in true love? In long, everlasting love?"

"I'm sorry to say, I don't," replied Kumiko shortly.

"You don't think your love for Shinohara-san will last forever?"

"See, I just don't think you can love one single person crazily for all of eternity or whatever, as they say in those idiotic romance movies."

"Then it's simple," shrugged Kikuno, "You still haven't met that person. Shinohara-san is probably not the man of your dreams."

"But this doesn't make sense!" exclaimed Kumiko, "You cannot love someone just as much as you did after a few years."

"Yes, you can," contradicted Shizuka, "If you can't, there was probably more lust in your relationship."

"Tell me honestly," said Kumiko sounding impatient, "Have either of you found anyone who loves you as much?"

"You think I'd sit here and waste my time with you if I had?" retorted Shizuka.

"I haven't found that person yet," said Kikuno staring into space, "But I'm sure he exists and is out there somewhere."

"Just look at you two!" said Kumiko, "You sound like princesses out of a fairy tale! I think, in today's world, real love is really rare. People are together because they're probably benefiting from their relationship. Everything's based on practicality."

"That may be the case with some or, as you say, most people. But you cannot deny that there are people who truly love each other and that love does exist. It's like if you believe it does, it does. If you don't have faith, you can hardly complain about there being no love."

"Maybe you're right," concluded Kumiko, tired of the discussion.

"Going back to what you said earlier," said Shizuka, "About the meager chances of you loving Shinohara-san forever."

"What?" said Kumiko, trying to remember what might've slipped out of her mouth before, 'Shoot! What did I say?' she thought uneasily. What she said to them was, "I might've said something stupid. What I meant was that it's too early to say if our love will last forever."

"They say that soul mates have a kind of a connection the first time they meet," said Kikuno.

"That's a stereotype," defended Kumiko, "That kind of thing, you know, the world going silent and you sense vibes from your love, only happens in movies. Real life soul mates may not realize that they're meant to be together until very long."

"You have a point there," said Shizuka and the three women were silent for a long time until they saw Shinohara returning.

"Are we ready to leave, ladies?" he asked, looking around at the three of them.

"Yes," chorused the women. After they were done paying their checks, they followed Shinohara to his car.

"Kumiko," said Shinohara as he slipped behind the wheel, "You look disturbed. Is something the matter? If it's about Kashiwagi, I apologize a thousand times for that!"

"It's alright, Shinohara-san," said Kumiko soothingly, "I'm not upset about anything. As for Kashiwagi-san, he was drunk. Had he been ok, I'm sure he wouldn't have said all that." She said looking into his eyes. Shinohara smiled softly and bent forward to kiss her. This time, Kumiko had made up her mind and thus, had no qualms about kissing him. She put her arms around his neck and edged forward. At last, this kiss would bridge whatever distance had come in between both of them. Except…

"Ahem!" Shizuka cleared her throat reminding the couple of their presence while Kikuno shook with silent laughter.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" exclaimed Kumiko, hastily unwrapping her arms from around Shinohara's neck, "I forgot you two were still here," she blushed.

"That's evident," said Kikuno, "So, whose place is it going to be tonight? Shinohara-san's, I think, because you stay with your family, don't you?"

"I can't understand what you're talking about," said Kumiko, sounding clueless.

"I'm sure Shinohara-san can," laughed Kikuno and they all turned to face Shinohara, who turned beetroot red.

"We've made a pact," he said, his voice shaking a little, "We plan not to get into that until we're married," he coughed.

"Ooooooohhhhh!" squealed Shizuka and Kikuno and burst into hysterical giggles, "Isn't that typical?"

"What's typical?" questioned Kumiko blushing and looking annoyed at the same time.

"Typical of you to make Shinohara-san wait like that," remarked Shizuka while Kikuno nodded in agreement.

Shinohara blushed even more and turned to start driving while Kumiko glared at the two women, still giggling silently.

The bell signaling the end of all lessons for the day sounded somewhere. The classroom doors burst open and the students ran out. The floor shook with their weight. Kumiko dragged herself out of the classroom and down the corridor. She took a deep breath as she descended the stairs. Waving goodbye to her colleagues, she tottered out of the gate, at a snail's pace.

"Another tiring day!" said Kumiko to herself, massaging her arms as she walked. She took a quick look at her watch. "No plans for today. I'm going straight home…" she thought. Just then, her cell phone rang.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Hey gorgeous," came a deep voice at the other end, "You forgot your date with me, didn't you?"

Kumiko looked at the screen of her phone, flabbergasted. She didn't recognize the number. Probably it was some stupid stalker. Still shocked, she put the phone to her ear and said-

"Look buddy, I don't know who you are or what you're talking about. I don't have a date with anyone tonight, least of all, you and nothing, I repeat, nothing gives you the right to call me 'gorgeous'," she stated firmly.

To her amazement, the person on the other end burst out laughing. Kumiko pouted and said, "What's the matter with you, dude? Who are you? Want me to register a complaint against you in the police? My boyfriend works for the Fuzz." At this, the person laughed even louder and said-

"No one in their right mind will ever call you 'gorgeous,' baka!"

"Shin?" exclaimed Kumiko but quickly corrected herself, "I mean, Sawada? You rascal! Playing jokes on your dear old Yankumi like that!"

"Dear old?" repeated Shin incredulously, "Yeah, well, old…maybe. Dear…definitely not!"

"Sawada!!!"

"Just kidding!" laughed Shin good-naturedly, "Of course, you're dear. Anyway, I'm sure you forgot about your dinner plans with me tonight, didn't you?"

"Oh my God!" interjected Kumiko slapping her forehead, "Yes, I totally forgot! I'm so sorry! I don't know if I'll be able to make it today."

"Why?" inquired Shin, "Got a date with Shinohara?" he added bitterly.

"No, I'm not doing anything," explained Kumiko, "It's just that I forgot all about it and now it's a little late, so…"

"Shut up. I'm coming to pick you up. Where are you?"

"Oh, I'm still outside Shirokin…"

"Great. I wanted to pass by school anyway," said Shin sounding satisfied, "Wait right there, I'm coming to pick you up."

"Oh-kay!" surrendered Kumiko and snapped the phone shut.

After a minute or so, Kumiko remembered to call home –

"Moshi moshi?" said Tetsu.

"Tetsu, I'll be a bit late coming back. I forgot I had plans for tonight."

"With Shin-san, right?" said Tetsu happily, "But Ojou, we knew you were going out with him tonight. How come you forgot?"

"So he told all of you?" asked Kumiko sounding surprised, "He told all of you that we were going out tonight?"

"Actually, he just told Boss. Boss asked Minoru and me not to wait for you for dinner."

"Oh, ok. I see. Fine, then. I'll see you later."

Shin reached there in about 10 minutes. As his car neared the gate, Kumiko waved to him. Shin grinned and shook his head disbelievingly.

"Nice car, huh?" remarked Kumiko as she opened the door of the passenger seat and sat next to Shin.

"Yeah, thanks. What was with that wave though?"

"Oh, that was just in case you didn't see me."

"It's hard not to notice you, Yankumi," smirked Shin, "And, is this how you come to dinner with an old friend?" he asked, "Let me alter your appearance," he said as he took off her glasses and untied her pigtails. Kumiko watched him with an astonished look.

"There," he said as he took one proper look at her, "You look so much better now!"

"You think so?" Kumiko wondered aloud, "I don't even meet Shinohara-san like this."

"It's ok; you don't have to," said Shin, "I like you this way 'coz your Yakuza side shows a little. And you look pretty. So, this can be your special look for me!"

"Ah! You think I look pretty?" queried Kumiko with a smirk, "You've never complimented me before!"

"I was stupid boy back then," said Shin, "Now, I'm a truthful young man."

"Awwwww…!" said Kumiko ruffling his hair, "if you like it this way, I'll keep it in mind. You won't have to tell me to look like this again!"

"Ok, now quit the act," said Shin quietly, "Where's Yankumi?"

"The one with the pigtails or the one without them?"

"Without," he replied.

"Sure."

At the restaurant-

"I didn't know your choice of restaurants was this good," remarked Kumiko, "I must say I'm impressed. Your dates will be too."

"I don't want any dates right now," said Shin, "And I'm glad you liked this place."

"Of course I did and what's with this, 'I-don't want-any-dates-right-now' business? What's with you? Why haven't you gotten yourself a girlfriend in all these years?"

"Simple – because I don't want one," replied Shin coolly, "Anyway, what do you care if I've got a girlfriend or not?"

"It's because you're a good looking guy and you don't look nice alone," reasoned Kumiko picking up the menu.

"And will you be happy if I do get a girlfriend?" asked Shin raising an eyebrow.

"Obviously I'll be happy, Sawada," said Kumiko looking flustered, "Why won't I be happy to see you happy?"

"Who says I'll be happy?"

Kumiko fell silent at that. Her retort died in her mouth. She hadn't expected him to say this. She braced herself and said-

"Then, I'm not sure you're normal," said Kumiko and burst into giggles but stopped when she saw the grave look on Shin's face, "What else do you expect me to think, Sawada?"

"Forget it, you'll never understand," said Shin angrily, snapping the menu shut.

"I'm so sorry, Sawada!!" apologized Kumiko, "I'm very sorry," she said grabbing his right hand. Shin looked up.

"I shouldn't have joked about this," said Kumiko, "Tell me, what's wrong? Why do you prefer staying alone? There has to be a reason behind it."

"I said, forget it, Yankumi."

"Try me, Sawada," she said with a determined look on her face. Shin studied her face for a whole minute. Finally, he said-

"It's because I'm in love with someone I cannot have."

"Oh….forbidden love?"

"Yeah," replied Shin with a bemused expression, "So, I think I'm gonna stay alone forever."

"Now, now, don't say that!" said Kumiko soothingly, "You'll either get the girl you love or you'll eventually get over her and find someone else who's better."

"I hope the former comes true."

"Just remember one thing, Sawada – What has to happen, will happen. If she's meant to be with you, she will come to you."

"I hope she does…she's perfect! It would be a shame if things didn't work out," said Shin exhaling hard.

"If the perfect thing doesn't work out, it just means that there's something better for you out there," said Kumiko wisely.

"That's a very optimistic thought," commented Shin, "But it gives me hope. Thanks, Yankumi."

"Oh, don't thank me! I'm sure you'll be happy," said Kumiko softly. Shin observed her carefully. She looked unhappy.

"One look at you tells me you're not happy with your love life," stated Shin.

"It's nothing, Sawada…"

"Yankumi?" he said, locking her in an intense gaze. She melted and broke down-

"I don't know why I'm even unhappy. I've loved Shinohara-san for almost as long as I can remember. Yet now that we're together, I still don't know why I'm not happy. All these years, I thought that all I wanted was Shinohara-san. And two years ago, when he asked me out, I thought I couldn't get happier. I was overjoyed. But within a day or two, that feeling came back. That feeling of emptiness and something not going right along with the unhappiness and loneliness seemed to have doubled. I don't know Sawada, I don't know what's missing!" she finished, running her fingers through her hair.

"Why do you think you're not satisfied?" questioned Shin still watching her intently.

"I don't know!!! That's what I'm trying to figure out! Shinohara-san's the nicest guy I've ever met. He's smart, sophisticated, handsome…still, I feel something's wrong. Even though we have a lot of fun together, I get this nagging feeling from within. You know, it's like I waited for a date for years and when my turn finally came, it was with the wrong guy."

"I think you've hit the nail on the head right there!" said Shin, "You probably love someone else."

"No, I thought so too before. It's different from that though. I don't love anyone else. Maybe I'm just not used to being in a relationship, never having been in one. I just need to stop thinking too much into it."

"I see…" said Shin after a while, not sounding utterly convinced, "Tell me something, are you two physically compatible?"

"What?" asked Kumiko looking confused, "Yes, yes, we are."

"Yankumi," said Shin slowly, "Do you even know what I'm talking about?"

"Um…" she said smiling, "Not really…"

"What I'm saying is," said Shin with a sigh, "Do you two have it going good, you know, in bed?"

"Ah!" gasped Kumiko and quickly slapped Shin's arm, "How can you say that? Did you think I'm that kind of a woman? I wouldn't do anything of this sort until I'm married!"

"So I thought," said Shin with a weird look in his eyes, "Are you having any kind of trouble from Shinohara's side?"

"Not at all. In fact, I feel so bad for him. He has to put up with all of my eccentricities and upon that, I can't even make him happy. I hate it!"

"So, the problem lies with you," said Shin thinking hard, "I still think it's because you love someone else. Relationships don't have a pattern or anything that you have to learn or get used to. You decide how you want your relationship to be. So your claim that you don't know how being in a relationship feels is nonsensical."

Kumiko was silent for a long time. She thought about what Shin had just said as Shin waited patiently.

"Perhaps," she said finally, "That could be it. But that still does not give me any reason to be mean to Shinohara-san. For all I know, I may never meet the one I love. So I might end up screwing my life. Shinohara-san's a decent guy. He shouldn't have to suffer for my problems. And who knows? I may never find someone as nice as him. I don't want to mess up what I have for something I don't and am not sure of."

"You're right, Yankumi," said Shin in a strange voice, "You shouldn't make Shinohara-san suffer. Whatever's meant to be, will come to you eventually. I'm sure you'll be happy too."

"Thank you so much, Sawada," said Kumiko, her eyes shining with tears, "you're so sweet! Any girl would be lucky to have you. At least I'd want you real bad if I was single!"

"That's all I wanted to hear," muttered Shin.

"Did you say something?" inquired Kumiko, "Didn't catch you…"

"I'm surprised you would want me!" said Shin feigning surprise, "Why, I'm so pleased!"

"Haha…anyway, I didn't know you liked Shinohara-san. I was always under the impression that you had a problem with him."

"I didn't say I like Shinohara-san even now," said Shin indifferently, "I only think he shouldn't have to suffer for your mistakes."

"That's true. Especially not when he tries his best to make our relationship work."

Shin looked around for a minute or so. Kumiko gazed at him affectionately.

"You know what, Sawada?" she said, "The U.S. really has changed you. You're so much more open now. I like the new Sawada."

"You have a lot more of me to see," he thought and smirked.

"The one thing even America couldn't change about you is your smirks. You still remain a man of more smirks than words."

"Shut up," laughed Shin, "Can we place an order now?"

As Kumiko lay in bed thinking over the night's events, a smile crept over her face. Sawada sure had learnt how to make women happy. Kumiko hadn't had so much fun in so many years. Her outing with Shinohara and the others the previous evening appeared dull and drab now. No doubt, she enjoyed with them too. But if her evening with them was compared to the time she spent with Shin today, it wouldn't even stand a chance. Maybe it was just joy for meeting her student after this long. Still, there had to be something more to it…

'Sawada has changed so much; for the better, of course,' thought Kumiko and beamed. She simply couldn't stop smiling. The evening kept coming back to her again and again. She couldn't go to sleep even as she turned over to her side. Just as she was trying to bury her head into the pillow and close her eyes, her cell phone rang out loudly-

"Moshi moshi?" said Kumiko, without taking a look at the incoming number.

"Hi gorgeous," came the voice that had been ringing in her head for hours now, "Asleep yet?"

"Sa-wa-da!" she said, breaking his name up, "Stop with the 'gorgeous' already."

"At least you'll know it's me whenever I'll call you 'gorgeous.' I bet no one calls you that even as a joke."

"You meanie! Anyway, what's with the late night 'love call'?"

"Love call?" repeated Shin in amazement, "You wish! I just called you 'coz I had nothing better to do. Wasn't all that sleepy. So I thought I'd check if you were awake."

"I was under the impression you found me annoying," said Kumiko playfully.

"Well, that was before. I had fun with you today."

"I had a lot of fun too."

"Then why didn't we fix another meeting? I dropped you outside your place and we forgot to discuss our next meeting?"

"Oh my God!" said Kumiko sounding horror-stricken, "How can that be? What were we talking about?"

"I dunno, let me think. We were discussing the lyrics of 'Lucky Man' in detail," replied Shin sounding embarrassed.

"I know! Anyway, when are you free? How about tomorrow?" questioned Kumiko cheerfully.

"Hmmmmm…I think tomorrow's cool," said Shin, "But we'll have to go a little late. How about I come and pick you up from your place at 7.30? That way you can have some rest after school. That way you can rest after school too."

"That sounds good. See you at 7.30 tomorrow then."

"Yeah. By the way, you sleepy by any chance?" asked Shin, his voice sounding hoarse.

"No," whispered Kumiko, "You?"

"Not a bit. I can't stop thinking about our evening together. It's been ages since I've been this happy and had this much fun."

"The same goes for me. I've missed 3-D a lot! I wish I could meet them somewhere! Have you heard from your old classmates?"

"I'm in regular touch with Uchi. He's one of the architects involved in that project going on in the area near your house."

"He's part of that project, yet he never bothered meeting me!" hissed Kumiko.

"I don't know; don't spit poison at me," said Shin, "As for the others – Noda's working as an assistant on an anime."

"Wow! That's awesome!! Have you met any of these guys since you got back?"

"Just Uchi. He picked me up from the airport the night I got back. I still have to talk to the others and fix a day with them."

"What are all the others doing?"

"Minami's working as a journalist for Nihon Times."

"Cool!! Never knew Minami was into reporting and media."

"He's a sports journalist. He loves all the fun he gets to see."

"I'm sure he does. So, all these guys have been in touch with you but they haven't bothered checking up on me?"

"They miss you just as much. They've only been extremely caught up in life."

"It's ok. I understand. Kuma's the only one I heard from regularly. He seems pretty happy with things. I met his wife, Ami Morisaki, the Momoyuri girl, remember?"

"Yeah, I know. He told me. He'd invited me to the wedding. I was too far away to attend and plus, I was having too many issues of my own at the time."

"What issues?"

"It's kinda personal, Yankumi."

"You still have to tell me why you never called me in all these years…"

"I'll tell you that story when the time is right. You'll have to wait until then."

"You're the boss," surrendered Kumiko.

"Saying that doesn't suit you at all, you know, Yankumi," said Shin happily.

"Yeah, I know," laughed Kumiko, "Have you heard from the rest of 3-D?"

"Not really. All I know is that outside of my group of friends, Matsudaira, well, you remember him don't you?"

"Yes, I do. What's Matsudaira up to?"

"Matsudaira went into hotel management. He's assistant manager at a 5 star hotel in Osaka."

"That's really nice to hear. You heard of anyone else?"

"Yeah. Remember Kenichi Mouri? The blond guy with the droopy face?"

"Shut up! He was one of the cutest in the class. He looked so sweet and sad and cute…"

"Well, he's in India, doing his Indian Culture PhD."

"Oh my God! He's doing a PhD? That's amazing! I never thought anyone in class 3-D was interested in studying much."

"I met him when he was holidaying with his family in the U.S. He's dyed his hair black so it was a bit difficult to recognize him at first. He looks a lot more decent now."

"That's nice. It feels so great when I think I was teacher to all these guys. It's just like seeing your children growing up."

"You think of me as your son, Yankumi?"

"Not you, Sawada. Just watching students grow older before your eyes, it gives you that parental feel. You won't really get what I'm saying. It's a little complicated. You'll probably have to become a parent to understand it."

"Hmmmmm…I see," murmured Shin and thought, "I have a lot to work."

"Sawada?" said Kumiko, "You there, right?"

"Huh? Yeah, I am. I was thinking, would you like to come along when I meet the old gang?"

"Sure, why not? But only if they want me to tag along."

"Why won't they? I'll speak to them and let you know when we meet up."

"Ok. I'm quite eager to meet them."

"Yankumi," said Shin throatily. Kumiko's heart skipped a beat at how sexy his voice sounded. "Don't you have school tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yes, I do. Why?" said Kumiko deflating a bit. She had expected him to ask her something more serious.

"Um, just take a look at the time, will you?"

Kumiko glanced at the alarm clock sitting on her bedside table. The clock was glowing in the dark. Its tiny hands were both fixed on the number twelve.

"Oh my!! It's midnight!"

"Yes, it is. It's time for bed."

"Sure. See you tomorrow! Good night, Sawada."

"Good night, Yankumi. Sleep well."

"You too. I can't wait to talk to you again tomorrow. I really had a great time today."

"Me too, I can't wait for tomorrow either."

"Bye now."

"Bye."

Kumiko hung up and held the phone close to her heart. She closed her eyes, smiled and rolled over. Shin lay in bed, staring at the stars for a long time until he drifted off to sleep.

Author's Notes: Aaahh!! Gomen ne! I'm sorry for updating Love Actually at a snail's pace. I have no excuses this time. I admit, I've been plain lazy. And working on my other story has left me with no time for this one. But I promise I'm going to start updating this more frequently now!! Okay, now, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you did, go review! If you didn't, even then review and tell me where you think I could've written better. Because all praise and criticism is welcome with open arms. And I survive on your reviews. So please review (reviews tell me if people even like the nonsense I write!). Chapter 5 is almost done and should be up in some time. But I won't update unless you review. So you know what to do!!! Byeeeee!! =D