Disclaimer: I do not now, nor will I ever own Gokusen or its characters.

Author's Note: Why did I take so long with the update this time? And red hits the buzzer first.

I'll take "Because you're super lazy" for 500pts.

Checking the board aaaannndddd….. He get's it! 500pts for team Pissed Readers.

Title: Clash of the Tigers

Rated: M (language, sexual content, violence)

Pairings: Shin/Kumi

What the hammer? What the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? What dread grasp?

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

-William Blake

Chapter 4: Anxious (Part one)

She was ignoring him.

He could feel it.

She thought she was being inconspicuous about it, but she was never good at being subtle about anything.

It's not like Shin was an idiot HE noticed everything, especially when it came to her. And she was definitely ignoring him. She would studiously avoid meeting his gaze. Walk faster if he happened to be walking in the same direction as her. Always duck into a room whenever he passed. Rush out the room as soon as class was over to avoid any "after class chats." In class, rather than letting him answer the question, she would just tell them the answer instead when it became obvious no one else would. What really got to him though, was when she stopped coming to the rooftop.

It had been three weeks.

Three fucking weeks!

Three weeks since he had had a chance to speak to her alone. Three weeks since he had had a chance to touch her. Three weeks since he had had the chance to kiss her. Three weeks since he had finally made his move and took what belonged to no one but him.

He was going crazy. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. He hated the fact that she wouldn't allow him to be near her while that kusotare could be near her whenever he wanted.

She had gone overboard and had truly pissed him off though, when she had went as far as having Tetsu-san and Minoru-san lie and say she wasn't feeling well when he came over to visit. That was going too far. Her family was the closest thing to a real family he had other than his sister and friends. He felt even more comfortable with them because they didn't treat him like he was special. They didn't treat him like he was some cool untouchable entity. They didn't turn to him every time a problem arose or looked to him for guidance. They just saw him as a person. No one special. No one to be admired, or revered, or followed.

He loved it. He loved the normalcy of it. The lack of pressure to always be so strong and so untouchable...and now, because of her, that was being taken away from him. He would not accept that. He refused to...But...but, he was worried also. A part of him just wanted to corner Yamaguchi and do as he wanted with her and show her who she really belonged to, the other part, the larger part was feeling slightly anxious. Yamaguchi had never continuously ignored him like this before, no matter how pissed she was. He wondered on whether or not he may have gone too far when he had cornered her in the classroom and gave her that "massage" three weeks prior. Ever since that incident she had been keeping him at a distance. That coupled with the "date" had left Shin wondering if she was putting distance between them because now she was taken. Shin's gaze darkened at the thought.

It'd be one thing if she were acting all nervous or angry or petulant or any of her usual emotions when she was mad, but instead she had been acting very apathetic, listless. Very un-Yankumi like for lack of a better word. It made him nervous. Though he had not known her for very long he still knew her, and in all the time he had known her he had never seen her act like this before. She looked very preoccupied. Like something very important was on her mind, and for the life of him, he couldn't figure it out. Couldn't figure her out. He thought she would be ecstatic at the cop finally asking her out on a real date, but instead...instead she was acting as if someone had died. That really confused him. He would have thought that she had turned him down or something of that nature if it wasn't for the fact that Shinohara still made sure to walk her to and from work.

He knew it was really none of his business. That he didn't really have a right to ask her anything, but he couldn't help but feel as though it were really his business. He wanted to know everything about Yamaguchi. If she wanted to teach until she retired. If she wanted to one day become a chairman so she could better help her precious students. If she wanted to have kids of her own. If she wanted to be married, and to whom. His thoughts stopped there. He already knew she wanted to be married, and to whom. His teeth gritted.

That damn cop, he thought venomously. He was the one she always fawned and swooned over like some love sick teenager. He refused to believe that the cop had been that oblivious to Yamaguchi's feelings. A blind idiot from Mars could tell that Yamaguchi was infatuated with the guy. He doesn't deserve her, he thought angrily. But whether the cop deserved her or not, he thought bitterly, he has a better shot at her than I do. And if their "study session" was anything to go by, he had finally wised up and decided to take a shot at Yamaguchi. HIS Yamaguchi.

It's not like he had planned on spying on Yamaguchi and him, his feet had just led him there even though he had had every intention of spending time with his friends so he could be distracted from the fact that the woman he wanted was going to be spending time with another male. No such luck.

After a few unfortunate incidents that caused him to walk out on his friends, he had walked, almost subconsciously, to the library where he knew Yamaguchi would be getting "studying tips" from that kusotare. After walking some more he had stumbled on her and him by pure coincidence. He had underestimated the cop. He assumed that he was hesitating between the trio of women because he wasn't really interested in any of them, but now because of this new development, he knew it to be quite the opposite. It seemed to Shin that he was biding his time, probably trying to figure out a way to reveal his feelings without hurting the other women. He's courteous like that, Shin sneered.

Thinking back to how everything went down he could feel the depression beginning to cloud his mind once more. His life it seemed was going to hell. Uchi was still ignoring him. His other friends, while they still talked and hung around him, seemed uneasy in his presence. Most importantly, Yamaguchi seemed to be slipping through his fingers. When he had first left were Yamaguchi had been on her date, the depression and hurt was strong enough to drown in. He was in a daze for the next few days afterwards. It had actually taken him a week to get up enough courage to see her again at school.

What had cut him even more deeply though, was that even though he had absent from school for three weeks, she had never gone to his place to check up on him like she normally would have. In all honestly, even though he had been apprehensive about seeing Yamaguchi, he had still fully expected her to come banging on his door demanding to know why he had missed her class. I guess she's too busy with her man to pay close attention to her students any more, Shin thought with overwhelming bitterness. She hadn't even said anything, or even looked at him, when he finally came back to class late. Even the rest of 3-D had noticed the unusualness in her behavior.

Because she wasn't acting all lovey dovey like he expected her to after the cop's declaration, he had actually managed to convince himself that the situation wasn't as serious as he thought it was, but Yamaguchi's apathy was almost as bad.

Hell. He was most definitely in Hell and it was all that damn cop's fault. If he hadn't confessed to her, if he had never been there for Yamaguchi to crush on in the first damn place...Shin closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall behind him as he let another wave of depression wash over him. It was time that he got a grip. He couldn't keep doing this to himself. No one was worth the pain he was feeling. It was over.

He had lost to that cop like he always suspected he would. It wasn't all that bad. Maybe in time he'd get over it, over her. Shin shook his head with a sad smile. Who was he kidding? He'd never get over her. No matter how much time would pass she'd always be there right in the back of his mind waiting for a chance to resurface and remind him of his loss. Remembering all that occurred in the bar, Shin could only blink. It seemed that the best man really had won.

He knew it was the day. The day Yankumi would finally be going out with that detective. It was all he could think about during class. He completely blanked on what Yamaguchi was saying his friends antics, everything. He watched her though. That he could still do. He watched as she went about writing down another math problem they both knew had no chance of being answered correctly by any of her students. It was sad really. She was so excited about her date tonight that she was energized. Though he didn't hear her words he could tell she was talking really fast. She kept dropping her chalk and she would often get this far off look in her eyes. Already thinkin' of her lover-cop, he mentally sneered.

He kept thinking of what would happen on this "study session". How Yamaguchi would dress. If she'd even go so far as to attempt make up. Would she wear her hair down for him, as she had only, previously, done for her students when defending them? Knowing her and her obvious infatuation for the detective, she would, he thought bitterly. She would wear her down for the cop as she had never done for him.

His mental entrapment had him so ensnared that he didn't notice that the bell had rung until he blinked and noticed that Yamaguchi was no longer standing there and his friends were looking at him expectantly.

Softly clearing his throat, Shin got up, swung his leather case over his shoulder, and made for the door his friends quick to follow him.

"Hey Shin," Kuma asked, "What were you thinking about so hard in there?"

"Yeah, you really zoned out," added Noda.

"He's right. You usually pay close attention to whatever Yankumi says," Uchi said slyly.

Shin stiffened. Did he know? Theirs no way he could know about his infatuation with Yankumi, but Uchi's eyes and that damnable smirk said otherwise. Shin turned a glare towards Uchi which only made Uchi's smirk widen. Shin wasn't sure how to react. He wasn't ready for everyone to know about his feelings for their home room teacher, and if Uchi knew it was only a matter of time before he told the others and then the others told everybody else. He would have to talk to him before they went their separate ways.

Of course the others were too thick to grasp what was going on between the two friends.

Kuma was the first to speak up. "What do you mean by that Uchi?"

"Yeah, why would Shin pay any attention to Yankumi?" Minami spoke up.

Uchi put his arm around Minami and said, "That's a very good question Minami. Why would Shin pay attention to Yankumi?" giving a side glance to Shin.

Shin balled his hands into fists and gritted his teeth. It was obvious by the way Uchi was talking that he did indeed know about his long time crush on Yamaguchi. For how long was a mystery, but the fact that Uchi knew and was taunting him with the information was enough to let Shin know that Uchi was overdue for an ass kicking.

Glaring at Uchi, with his look clearly saying, "We'll talk later," Shin answered their previous question.

"The only reason I even look at Yankumi is because I got tired of her always nagging me for napping in her class. I've just perfected a look that makes it look like I'm paying attention, when I'm actually sleeping." Shin knew it was a lie. Hell, he knew it was a bad lie, but he also knew that his friends, Kami knows he loves them, were stupid enough to believe it. Well, all of them except one.

And just like he expected, a chorus of "ooooo's" quickly followed his statement.

"Wow Shin, you really are smart."

"That's so cool."

"Yeah, you're gonna have to teach me that."

He would've felt bad for lying to his friends if it wasn't for the fact that he knew if he were to really tell them why he was always constantly staring at Yamaguchi, the news of it would be all over the class the next day and then the school. He couldn't let that happen which was why he needed to speak to Uchi soon.

Uchi was off to the side laughing up a storm, with the rest of their friends circling him asking him, "what was so funny?"

Yeah, he'd talk to him alright, right after that ass kicking, Shin grumbled mentally.

"So Shin are you gonna come with us to Covent Garden?" Kuma asked hopefully.

"Yeah Shin, come join the fun," Uchi taunted with his smirk ever present.

Glaring once more at Uchi, Shin nodded his head in the affirmative.

His friends giving a cheer, began to dance and sing their way over to the Covent Garden.

Shin pulled Uchi back. You and me need to talk, now."

Smiling, Uchi pulled away from Shin's grip on his shirt. "Later," he said catching up to his friends and joining in the conviviality.

Muttering to himself all the while, Shin grudgingly followed his friends.

He wasn't quite sure how it happened, but three hours after he and his friends walked in they were surrounded by girls who actually knew what school they went to and still wanted to hang out with them.

He shook his head in humor at the expressions on his friends' faces. They looked as though they had died and gone to heaven. Drinks, food, laughter, music, and girls all surrounded him, but he couldn't join in the festivities all because of his need to talk to Uchi and his worry over Yamaguchi's "study session". It was at times like this that he could feel himself becoming spiteful over Yamaguchi. He was young and a man. He should be the happiest guy on the planet right now and he couldn't be all because of her. No one else compared. All the girls couldn't compare to her. Some more beautiful, some more curvaceous, some probably smarter than her too. It didn't matter. It never mattered. None of them were Yamaguchi, so none of them were important.

He looked over to Uchi, who was surprisingly apart from the festivities as well. He had a girl draped over him and a drink in his hand, but he was staring intently at Shin. It was a little unsettling.

Uchi inclined his head signally that he was finally ready to talk. Shin got up following Uchi, more nervous than he thought he could be. Uchi being serious was not something he was used to. The girl tried to get up and follow him, but with a playful smile and some whispered words, she sat back down, pouting, but obedient.

Uchi walked towards the hall that led to the bathrooms. After checking to make sure no one was near, he stopped by a potted plant and turned towards Shin, his face as serious as it ever got.

They just stood there quietly staring at each other, the noise from the games and people fading into the background. Shin wasn't sure what to say. He knew their was no lie that Uchi would believe, but to tell the truth had disastrous consequences. Before he could decide on which action to take, Uch I finally spoke up.

"Do you know what'll happen if the school finds out about this obsession of yours?"

That stopped Shin from any retort he might've had prepared. Of all the questions Uchi could've asked, that was the farthest from his mind.

He gathered himself mentally and started to answer, but was interrupted.

"Have you lost your damn mind?" Uchi whispered furiously.

Shin could do more than stare. He'd never heard Uchi sound so angry before.

Uchi continued, "Do you know how serious this is Shin? I see the way you look at her. This isn't some stupid crush, you are seriously obsessed. If the Kyoto finds out about this you know he'll turn the board members, and their will be hell to pay. He's always trying to find ways to get her fired or in trouble, and here you are giving him a great opportunity. Shit, not to mention what your father would do. You know everyone will twist it around so it makes it look like she's trying to have illegal relations with a student. If you care anything about her, then you'll knock this shit off and leave her alone. Or at least wait until you graduate. I can't believe how fucking stupid you're acting! We finally get a teacher who actually gives a shit about us, and you try to fuck it up with your selfishness."

Shin stood there silently taking it all in. He had been angry at first, but what Uchi was saying actually made a great deal of sense. He knew his father and he knew Kyoto, they really would try to use this information to screw them all. The depth of Uchi's answer made Shin realize how long this must've been bothering him and how long he must've known.

Shin felt compelled to reassure his friend, to let him know that it would be alright, until the indignant anger kicked back in. Who the hell was he to tell him all of this? Like he didn't know the tribulations of his crush. Like he didn't know how stupid he was acting. He knew all the consequences, and knew exactly how selfish he was being. He didn't need anyone to remind him of it. Uchi had no idea what he went through everyday being racked by these chaotic thoughts and the pain of her possibly being in the arms of another. He had no right. No right to judge him. To insult him. To question him. In a fit of rage spurned on by his own conflicting emotions and bitterness, he grabbed Uchi's collar with one hand and punched him with the other. Uchi stumbled to the floor.

For a second Shin stood there. Staring at his fist before he went back to staring at Uchi. This would be the first time that he had ever been forced to strike a friend. He didn't like the feeling of his fist throbbing from the hit and he liked the smudge of blood on there even less. The sight of it churned his stomach. As he was getting ready to apologize, Uchi rose up, just as angry as Shin had been, and swung his fist out to connect with Shin's jaw.

Any feelings of remorse that Shin was feeling left him just as quickly as Uchi's fist had struck him, to be replaced with the indignant rage he felt before. With an audible growl, Shin rushed Uchi just as Uchi braced himself. Down they went in a tangle of flaying limbs, striking fists, and harsh incoherent words. Shin let all his burning emotions, that had been plaguing him for the past few days, reign down on Uchi as the fight grew more intense.

Some time during the fight a crowd had gathered to see what the commotion was about, only then to spurn them on. He could taste blood in his mouth. Feel his face pulse from the hits Uchi had landed. He smelled the acrid smell of the Coke sodas on Uchi's breath mingle with the smell of their combined sweat. Hear the anonymous strangers' shouts to urge him to continue pummeling his friend. And most importantly, he could see the mixture of outrage, anger, and pain on his best friend's face. If he looked hard enough, he could even see his reflection in his friend's eye. He didn't like what he saw. As he was about to get off of Uchi, he was suddenly airborne. He found himself in the grasp of, what appeared, to be a security guard.

The large security guard shook Shin as though he was as light as a doll and then turned him so they were face to face. "If you two got beef then that's fine, but handle that shit off of our property." With that Shin found himself thrown out of the establishment. Shin laid flat on the concrete for a bit before picking himself up and walking in a random direction. Before Shin could walk, or more like limp in his case, more than three steps his friends, with Noda's arm around Uchi supporting him, looking away as though the only reason he was even there was because of the support, quickly bombarded him.

"Shin, what the hell was that about?" Minami exclaimed.

"Yeah, why'd you attack Uchi like that?" Kuma said looking confused and just a little melancholy.

"I attacked him?" Shin sneered.

"Hai. Uchi said you started it," Noda said while Uchi glared at nothing in particular.

"I started it?" Shin said with disbelief. Sure, he had started the physical fight, but he did not start it. Uchi started it when he had the audacity to judge me, Shin thought angrily.

Deciding he had had enough of his friends' presence, Shin just ignored their inquisitive looks and questions and continued to wander aimlessly down the street.

Shin proceeded to walk down the streets ignoring the establishments he passed and the flirtations attempted by random women. He wasn't sure how, but by one way or another, he ended up at the library where Yamaguchi and that cop were supposed to be.

Shin stood right in front of the library, just staring up at it, lost in his thoughts.

He knew their was no way they could still be in there. The library closed at 8pm and it was well past eleven. He wondered how their "study session" went.

He hated the thought of her being alone with any other male other than himself, but it was worse when he knew it was one she had wanted to be alone with all along. He wasn't sure what to do. All the rhetorical questions weren't helping him any, but he couldn't seem to bring himself to think of anything else. He promised himself he'd stay away; and he had sincerely meant that too.

It was the only reason he went out with his friends to that stupid pub, and look what ended up happening. He got told off by his friend, that was followed by a fight with his friend, only then to be kicked out of the pub. He was lucky they didn't ban him, but then again, what did he care? Not like he ever went there for his pleasure, only because his friends liked the place.

Shin sighed again. It seemed to be the theme for the day. He needed to get out of his head, badly. He wasn't sure that taking a walk would clear his head or give him more of a chance to think, but he didn't really have a choice seeing as he didn't have a car. He started walking again aimlessly; head down and hands in his pockets. He had no idea where he was going and he didn't really care at the moment. Any direction would do. He was sure he had enough money to stay the night in motel if need be.

Shin smiled to himself. He really was pathetic, wasn't he? Spending all this time and energy on a woman he had basically zero chance with; alienating himself from his friends. What made him even more pathetic though, was the fact that he realized all this and he still couldn't bring himself to stop.

Shin continued to pass by stores and restaurants, their effervescent lights casting off an enthusiastic glow, trying to draw his attention their way. He actually looked up to glance in the direction of a bar that managed to give a friendly atmosphere despite its rough looking exterior. He recognized it as the bar that Yamaguchi and her female colleagues often went to with the cops to hook up for some fun and flirtation. He grimaced and kept walking only to stop and do a double take. His breath stopped short.

Yamaguchi and that cop were in there. Laughing. Talking. They looked like a couple having an evening out together. He couldn't stand it. Without a second thought he stormed in, his heart pounding, his intent unsure.

He paused in the corridor, his eyes scanning for them. They sat in the back. Like their own little island away from everyone else, Shin thought bitterly.

As much as the thought of grabbing Yamaguchi and giving the cop a well deserved ass kicking sounded, he knew such a thing wouldn't happen as his mind would have him believe. Trying to relax the tension in his muscles, Shin walked over and sat himself close by their table making sure he hid himself behind a potted plant. After getting a waitress to serve him a cup of tea, he settled in to listen to their conversation. He ignored the moral dilemma of eavesdropping by telling himself that he was merely checking to make sure that the atmosphere between them was mutual.

He gasped softly when he saw what she was wearing. Not even when she dressed up in Fujiyama-sensei's clothing did she look more beautiful then she did now. As Shin had guessed, she wore her hair down and she even had on light touches of make up, enough to enhance her beauty instead of hiding it. She wasn't wearing her glasses. In all honesty, he really could not understand why she wore them when she so obviously did not need them. She was wearing a spaghetti strapped, petal pink, v-neck silk dress that stopped just above her knees and matching inch high sandals. Shin didn't even know she owned something other than jeans and track suits. Her lips gleamed in the lights, her eyes looked entrancing, her silky hair invited caressing. All in all she looked...

Lovely, Shin thought.

Absolutely lovely.

Shin tightened his fists and shook his head slightly. He needed to get a grip. He was supposed to be investigating. He could admire Yamaguchi's beauty later. Shin concentrated on hearing their conversation.

"Yamaguchi-sensei, I had no idea you had such a strong interest in martial arts. You seem to know a lot about the shinobi from the past and fighting techniques," Tomoya said with a smile. Shin sneered. He had no idea how much knowledge Yamaguchi had on martial arts.

Kumiko looked down with a blush and started to mumble, "I really don't know that much. It's more like a hobby; probably a strong influence from my all male family." Shin snorted.

"You shouldn't be embarrassed about it Yamaguchi-sensei. I think it's a good thing for a woman to know how to defend herself. Especially in these times were you can't trust people like you use to."

Kumiko smiled.

Shin frowned.

"Yamaguchi-sensei?" he waited until she looked up. "I want you know that I've always admired you."

Kumiko's eyes widened in surprise.

Shin's eyes widened in apprehension. Was he going to confess? Shin wasn't prepared for that. If either of the two were going to confess their feelings he expected it to be Yamaguchi.

Tomoya smiled lightly at her surprise. "It's true. I've always the way you stand up for people. You're always looking out for others and you have a strong sense of justice. The way you were able to reach out to your students when everyone, including themselves, had given up on them... It's very admirable."

Kumiko looked down and blushed again. "Arigato Shinohara-san, but what I do really isn't all that impressive...Anyone could do what I do...You give me too much credit."

Tomoya smiled some more. "Their's something else I like about you. Your modesty. I think you give yourself too little credit. It wasn't only that you reached your students and made them believe in themselves. The other teachers who initially wrote them off began to believe in them too. Even with all the adversity you faced you never once gave up. That's something to be proud about it...Kumiko," he murmured the last bit.

Shin grudgingly agreed with the cop. Yamaguchi was a very admirable person and she never gave herself enough credit. Her modesty was pretty cu...did he just call her Kumiko?

Shin turned his attention towards their table. He could see the surprise on Yamaguchi's face and the determination on Shinoharas'.

He did. That son of a bitch called her by her first name! Shin was panicking now. He was furious too, but more than that he was worried. He could see it on the kusotare's face. He was going to confess.

"Kumiko," Tomoya started giving direct eye contact. "I was never very sure how to go about this, but for the longest I have felt this need to be around you. Even if it's just to listen you go over better ways to teach your class, I have felt this need to be in your presence. I find myself always thinking about you... You're constantly on the forefront of my mind... Just thinking about you is enough to bring a smile to my face... There are so many things I like admire about you...that I like about you."

Shin felt like he was experiencing a car crash. He could see what was happening, but he was unable to keep it from occurring, and just like a car crash, he knew at the end of it he would end up hurt.

Tomoya leaned forward to grasp Kumiko's hands, that had been previously in her lap and out of view, and continued, "Kumiko, despite what you may think, I've always cared deeply for you."

Kumiko blinked rapidly. "But what about Fujiyama-sensei and Nakashima- sen-," she was cut off.

"I care for them too, but only as friends. I don't care for them the way I care for you." Tomoya took a deep breath as if preparing himself. "Kumiko, would you be my girlfriend?"

He didn't wait to hear her answer. Shin stood up abruptly, threw some cash on the table, and left. He could feel his breath leaving him in shaky gasps. His vision was blurred. He didn't recognize any of his surroundings. His pulse was pounding and his blood was roaring loud enough through his veins that he was deaf to everything. His stomach was in knots. He felt unstable. Shin leaned against a building and threw up and when there was nothing, left he began to dry heave.

And just like that, he knew he'd lost.

End Chapter 4: Anxious (Part One)

And I'm done... for now. So yeah, what Part 2 is gon be about is Yankumi's point of view on how shit went down. The update for that will take a month tops. I know what I'm gonna write, for the most part, so it shouldn't take me that long. I won't be bullshittin it like I usually do. The only reason it'll even take that long is cuz I'm factoring in my laziness, so that'll slow productions. So yeah, my standard ending. I apologize for any mistakes I know are on there. I apologize this time for the over use of the word "yeah" in this chapter. I noticed I did that, but I didn't feel like changing it so... yeah. R&R

Until next time. Later -Obsidian Tigress

Glossary:

chikushou - son of a bitch

kusotare - bastard