Notes

Another SSL shot, 2nd in the arc, features Harada-sensei and Nagakura-sensei in their everyday life as teachers. Here I have to mention that english is not my first language, therefore many of the terms used in school, as the names of the gym utensils, are not known to me. I took a dictionary and translated them how I best found fit. If you find words that are incorrect, or not used in that sense and know the correct term, please tell me. I'm going to need it in the future.

It's set more or less directly after the first one, the first day after Chirstmas break. In the last part they have been writing with the kids their mid-term exams. I wrote it before I got the information that the school year in Japan starts in April and ends in March. However, there are always some exams written, so you can take it that they were some random tests, or season-exams (if a thing like this doesn't exist, I'm borrowing artistic licence and making it up). I'm also aware that there isn't a Christmas break in Japan, but it suited the mood, so you can take it as another artistic licence.

Monday Sorrows

#09. Hear all, trust nothing.

„So how was Christmas? I never got to ask yesterday." Sano spoke up as they were riding in his ferrari to work, after a few days of Christmas break.

Shinpachi had been away for the days, visiting his family in Tokyo and yesterday evening he appeared on Sano's porch with his suitcase, looking worn out and tired of the long travel (even despite the bullet trains being extremely fast) with his arms outstretched to his boyfriend.

Not that he hadn't been expecting Shinpachi, he just thought that his boyfriend would stop by his apartment first and come to Sano's place much much later.

It had been a nice surprise.

They used the time to make up. And it did not involve much talking.

So it happened now, that after a wonderfull night they were driving in his car to work, Shinpachi's suitcase in the luggage compartment, talking about their Christmas.

„How do you think?" his boyfriend grunted. „I had to sing crappy songs, eat fancy food, that didn't reach your by far, and listen to my parent's complaining how I finally don't grow up and don't get a girlfriend instead of staying with, I quote, that gay person. Seriously as if they didn't know you had a name." He huffed.

Sano smiled sadly.

Shinpachi's parents were catholic and they were strictly against his relationship with Sano. But at least they were with him, which could not be said about Sano's parents. Shinpachi seemed aware that the conversation was heading into the wrong direction, so he turned it around.

„And you? Had someone over?"

„Nope." Sano shook his head. „Just me. But I went to the Christmas party at the Dojo that Kondo-san has hosted."

„Ah, yeah. How was it?"

„As every year: We drank cheap sake, ate food bought at the conbini, listened to old music, talked about work..." It was the same every year, the same drinking party, the same guests, the same music, the same conversations... One would ask himself why he bothered, but at least he wasn't alone. „After I got tired of it I went home, opened your present, thanks by the way. I seriously needed that."

„It was the only thing I could think of that would make you feel at least a little better."

„A weekend at a wellness hotel? Of course it would! You know what a massage I got? I couldn't walk untill last friday."

It was a good thing that Shinpachi was from a fairly wealthy family. It wasn't everything in life, but it was certainly helpfull when they needed a bit more money than usually. If he didn't gamble it away before they could put it to use, that was.

„And you? Did you like your present?"

„Oh babe, you don't know how I squealed as I opened it."

„Really?" It was stupid, so Sano had felt a bit unsure about it, but he knew Shinpachi needed it and that he would prefer rather something practical over something expensive and commercial.

„Yeah. I needed a new razorblade so much..."

Sano smiled. „You mentioned it awhile back."

„And that aftershave is like silk. You always buy me such practical things I can't afford..."

„Because you gamble your money away."

„Because I have to pay the rent, the electricity, gas and water and still want to save up, was what I wanted to say, but I guess one could put it your way too."

Save up to gamble, Sano added in his mind, but he voiced something else.

„My offer still stands."

„Sano..."

He knew Shinpachi was tired of hearing it, but Sano was tired of being alone in that big house too.

„Look, if we just moved together we could split the costs, make some spare money renting your flat, and we would get to spend more time together."

The topic came up sometime during the late summer, when they took a week off from work and spent it together, before the next semester started and there would be no more time. For some reason, Shinpachi didn't like the idea, even though Sano found his boyfriend would profit the most of it.

„And my parents would come and kill us for practicing heretism."

Usually that was the reason he gave.

„Since when do you care?"

„I don't. I'm just not sure if it's worth the trouble."

Sano's body jerked with shock as he heard the last sentence. Unfortunately, his hand jerked too and the wheel was yanked sharp left, so they almost drove onto the sidewalk. But fortunately, having the reflexes he had, Sano caught himself and regained controll fast enough. He pulled to an empty lot at the sidewalk to calm down his heart again, ignoring Shinpachi's squeak of distress.

„What the fuck was that?"

„I almost crashed, but nothing happened it's alright, but anyway that's not the point. What?"

„What what?" Shinpachi was looking at him like had just grown another head. Which was understandable, since this was the first time it happened that Sano almost crashed. Sano never crashed. Sano always had his car under control. Untill now, when he heard words he never thought he would hear.

„What you said just now."

„What did I say just now and Sano, are you sure you're alright?" Shinpachi was giving him a very worried look.

„No, I'm not." Besides the fact that he almost crashed, he wasn't sure he heard right. „Why wouldn't moving in together be worth the trouble of going through a bit more of your parents grumbling?"

„That's it? That's what you're worrying about? Sano you almost shrotted your car!"

Shinpachi stared at him.

Sano stared right back.

Shinpachi sighed.

The shock had already worn of and so he could muster a reply, without hyperventilating. „Ah well, you know. They are already cursing like old sailors when the topic of the two of us dating comes up and yeah well, I know there could be several advantages, but when I think about it, it seems to me like too much trouble for a small thing."

Sano didn't actually believe his ears.

„A small thing? Twenty years woth of dating are a small thing?"

Shinpachi paled as he heard the betrayed tone of Sano's voice. „Wait, wait, wait a sec there!" he raised his hand as if trying to stop the trail of thoughts in Sano's head. „I didn't mean it like that! I mean moving in together! I mean, it's just, I mean, argh damnit Sano!" he teared at his hair, while Sano just watched him. „We spend the entire day working together, we spend the weekends together. We are together 76,2 percent time of the week. That's almost three times more than a regular couple and 1 point 5 times more than a married couple. And well...spending the evenings of the workdays together... I get home and sleep untill the next day and I can't imagine you doing something else."

Sano looked away.

„Actually, I go over the lessons for the next day..."

„That's not my point."

He knew that already, alright. But Shinpachi didn't get what Sano meant.

„Yeah, yeah I get it. I just thought you would find it nice to have company when you sleep till the next day."

„I'm too tired for sex on workdays."

Sano felt his annoyance growing.

„Have I said a word about sex?"

„Huh?"

Sano sighed. Seriously. What was it with his boyfriend and using a brain?

„Nothing, just forget it." He started the engine again to avoid a possible outburst of frustration Shinpachi tended to cause more often than not, but his boyfriend laid a hand on his wrist.

„Wait." The blue eyes were serious as they bored themselves into golden. „What's your problem?"

Sano didn' t look at him, his eyes fixed on the key. „No problem."

„Sano."

Why did Shinpachi never get a hint? Fine, he wanted to hear it, he got to hear it.

„You just don't get it, do you?" Sano didn't bother hiding the annoyance anymore.

„Right now I'm as lost as I can be." He looked like that too with those big blue eyes staring at Sano hurt.

„Why do I put up with you, remind me again."

„Good sex?" Shinpachi tried a joke, but Sano decided to use it as a rebut.

„And there's the problem."

Shinpachi looked utterly mortified.

„You've got a problem with our sex life? Oh god, am I becoming frigid?"

Sano groaned and banged his head against the wheel. „You know, I never really understood how you passed your final exams at college." No matter how much he tried, Shinpachi always seemed to misundertsnad him. He was a teacher damnit, he was supposed to know how to explain things! He sighed invardly. „Sometimes I get the feeling that there's only air between your ears." No helping it when the student was dumb, he guessed.

„Am I becoming boring?"

„For fuck's sake, no!" This was getting ridiculous.

„Then what?"

Sano tried again, this time through examples. „Look, it's as you said. We are working together, but besides a few seconds during the breaks, we don't get much time alone. And on the weekends all we do is have sex and eat, in this order. Nothing against routine, but seriously, when was the last time you took me out?"

„The weekend before Christmas."

„Yeah, an hour at dinner and then we went home and had sex."

Not like that, jerk. He meant a date.

„In other words, you need cuddly time."

Sano was gripping the wheel very tightly and the leather squeaked.

„Shinpachi. If we weren't sitting in my expensive car and I wouldn't want to dirty the seats with your blood, I would kill you right now."

„Alright, alright, I get what you are saying, but I still don't think it's worth the trouble. If you want to we can go on a date any evening you want to, so that can't be the problem. I may have be an airhead sometimes, but I'm not stupid. What's it really?"

Honestly, he didn't know. He had been feeling weird lately and stupid thoughts were going through his head every day.

„Christmas depression?" he offered. He had been alone after all. He hated being alone for Christmas. Weird thoughts always came to him then.

„You went to see your parents, am I right?"

And then there was that.

„Yes. No. Yes. Kinda."

Shinpachi raised an eyebrow. Sano sighed.

„I went to the house. I don't know what possessed me, but I was lonely at home, so I went for a walk. Then the thought that I could at least check if my parents are still alive crossed my mind, so I went. I got as far as to the front door, but I didn't enter. Something just held me back."

He didn't see his parents since he left for Tokyo University. He didn't bother paying them a visit after he returned to Kyoto to teach at Hakuoki High. But that didn't mean he never checked on them.

„How does it look?" Of course Shinpachi knew. They had known each other since High School and Shinpachi had helped him through some nasty things. There was no point in hiding it.

„It's even in a worse shape than last year. The windows are completely broken, the walls consist of more cracks than wood and bottles of cheap sake are all across the yard. Oh, and the doorlock was somehow removed."

„Kami-sama..." Shinpachi breathed and Sano couldn't but agree.

„Yeah. And I was confronted with the sight on the 24th december." When one was supposed to be with his family. Only for his family, he was dead.

„Sano..."

„Don't." Sano knew what his boyfriend wanted to say, but he didn't want to hear it. Instead he continued. „I thought about going in, but then I heard my mother's drunken talk and my father's mumbles and I found I couldn't face it. Not only would I be making a fool of myself, but get even yelled at and rejected again." He was an unwanted child after all. „So I thought, yeah they are as alive as they can be and left. I took a last look and I caught my father watching from behind the window."

His father had never told him as his mother in actual words that he wasn't welcome. Maybe that meant something? He never could get a clue what his old man was thinking.

„And? What happened?"

Sano shook his shoulders. „Nothing. I left."

„Oh."

„Yeah." What else was there to so say, after all? But back to the topic at word... „And don't misunderstand me, but after I'm still trying to cope with it, you go and say that living together with me isn't worth the oh-so-big trouble of your parents complaining. You've got a hell of a timing, really."

„...Oops?" Shinpachi offered.

Sano didn't even find the strength to be annoyed anymore. And it was only short before 8 am.

„Well, I guess an oops is more than I could have expected from you."

„Sano..." Something seemed to sink through the thick skull though, he noted at Shinpachi's next words. „I'm really sorry. I didn't realize that it could hurt you. I thought that as a practical person you would see it the same way as I. You know, paying for the migration service, all the paperwork around it, and on top of it all, having to deal with the bitchin' of my parents, because of five evenings which would be mostly spent sleeping and doing a little left-over work..."

„I see your point." Sano didn't need to hear that again. He got it already. The problem was something entirely else. „But you don't see mine. It's not about the trouble, it's about being together. All I ever see of you is at work, or 60 hours in the bed. Sometimes it feels like this relationship lost it's spark."

He was probably exaggerating a little, but it was the only way to make Shinpachi finally understand what he was trying to tell him.

„You can't possibly mean that."

„I'm just saying how I feel. Didn't you hear? Talking about your problems with your partner is recommended for a working relationship." He was sick of being alone in that big house (even when he bought it, it seemed rather small) and they were together twenty years, twenty fucking years and they were still living at separate places. Sometimes he felt like the virgin maiden waiting for the prince to finally jump over his shadow.

„And what do I do?"

„Oh I don't know." His annoyance was back. Yay. „You said you're not stupid, so try using those braincells you claim to have. I'm out of ideas." He settled for staring ahead, because he had the feeling that if he would just look at Shinpachi, he would tear his head off.

„You think moving in would help?"

Yes, was the original reply he wanted to give, but he chose an elaborate one. Something to do with teacher syndrome and explaining things for the upteenth time to a dumb student, he guessed. „Look, we are together twenty years and we reached a stand still. The logical thing to do would be to take the next step." And he couldn't resist the need to punch Shinpachi into the gut with his next words. „And as a math teacher, logistics are your speciality. But it seems you're either too convenient, or too much of a chicken."

Shinpachi was silent for a while. „I'll think about it."

Sano nodded and started the engine again, not sure if he should feel annoyed or accomplished. He somehow always dreaded it when Shinpachi said he'll think about something. Creatures with such a feeble brain shouldn't be allowed to do that.

„Sano."

„What now?"

„I love you."

In spite of himself, Sano found himself smiling. Damn him. Even if he was a creature with a feeble brain, somehow Shinpachi always knew when he needed to hear those words. That was probably why he said them so rarely.

„Me too."

„We'll figure this out, I promise."

Sano found himself ruffling Shinpachi's hair before he took hold of the control lever and they ressumed their way to work again, falling into familiar patterns. Somehow their arguments never lasted long. Because most of the time, Shinpachi would back off and let Sano have his way. All in all, despite being a stupid oaf, Shinpachi was a good boyfriend. Those twenty years just proved it, right?

„Say Sano?"

„Yeah?"

„Now that you mentioned it... I heard about an 80ies party being held at the bar we sometimes go to."

He meant a gay bar nearby. Sano had frequented it in high school too, but back then with different accompaniment.

„Ah, yes, I heard about it too." Of course he heard about it. He was the first that the bartender had told.

„Wanna go? It should be a Saturday, sometime next month." Sano had to supress a grinn. It seemed that something really did sink into that thick skull. „You like the 80ies music, right?"

Like? He loved it!

„It's the music of my youth, Shinpachi."

„I'm just a year older than you, you know."

Yeah, right. They were in the same class at high school, after Shinpachi dropped a grade. He had been a great friend, and back then, that had been something Sano needed: A friend. Sano found himself chuckling. „Those were some crazy times back then..."

„Worth a bit remembering, don't you think?"

Not everything had been bad after all. With Shinpachi a door had opened and suddenly he hadn't been alone anymore. He found friends, a boyfriend...he wondered what had happened with that one.

„I would love to, Shinpachi."

„Good. So it's a date."

„So it is."

„Hook line and sinker."

„Excuse me?"

Shinpachi grinned. „You are smiling again."

Was he? Damn jerk of his boyfriend for manipulating him so easily!

„Why you..." suddenly Sano smirked, an idea coming to him. „You seem to be forgetting something, Shinpachi."

„What?"

„That I'm at the wheel and I could, I don't know, for example yank it anytime right and crash into the nearest wall. I could make it look as an accident and then be rid of you for the rest of my life." That didn't actually sound as bad prospect... „Oh, dolce vita..."

„You wouldn't want to murder your darling sweetheart." Why not? He said so now, didn't he? „And I'm not talking about myself." That made more sense. However, he was wrong. Sano smiled wickedly. „I have enough money for the repair, don't worry."

„Oh."

Exactly.

„Then how about we make a deal? I keep my trap shut and you don't kill me."

„The best idea you had today Shinpachi. And it's not even 8 am."

„It's always such a pleasure riding with you."

„Trying to have the last word?"

„I'm not succeeding, am I?"

„Nope."

„Thought so."

„The wheel is in my hands."

Blessed silence fell.

They were five minutes from the school when Sano remembered suddenly.

„Ah, no, I take back what I said. There's something I needed to talk to you about. Work related."

If there was one thing he could give Shinpachi credit for, it was not mixing private life and work together. They were either boyfriends or colleagues, so his tone was strictly collegiate as he replied. „Sure, what is it?"

„Wait a minute."

And the car pulled to the sidewalk again.

„The correction exams will be written this week, won't they?"

It was rhetorical question, but Shinpachi answered anyway.

„Yeah. So?"

„There's someting I wanted to ask..." Sano said as he was rumaging through his case. „I have noticed that...where...ah here it is." He took out a paper. „I wanted to ask if Okita Souji will be retaking his math exam."

Shinpachi wondered why Sano would need to know who passed and who didn't pass a math exam, but he didn't bring it up as it struck a chord.

He frowned. „Now that you mention it..." Shinpachi took out his notes and rumaged through them. „Where is he... Okita...Okita... here you are! Yeah. He left his paper empty."

Sano frowned. „Did you have the feeling that the current lessons are something he couldn't manage?"

„His grades have been dropping..."

„That wasn't my question."

„I know what you're getting at. I didn't give it a thought untill now, but that you brought it up, I thought it was strange. Okita is a slack off, but he never had problems with his grades. He is a bit of a genius, being good at anything he does. But to the end of the semester...like he's got no clue."

That was a nice comparison.

„Yeah. He didn't pass his Japanese History exam."

Shinpachi's head snapped to him.

„What? I thought it was his best subject."

„No, his best subject is PE. But he almost didn't pass that one too."

Shock was written all over Shinpachi's face.

„What? How's that possible? Everyone passes PE. Especially with you teaching it."

„Well, he almost didn't. He has been especially clumsy this term." Which was weird, since Sano knew him from Kondo-san's dojo. That boy had never been clumsy. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen him at the dojo for a while. „It's like he's a different person."

„Different person?"

„Yeah."

„What now?"

„Nothing. I'm his homeroom teacher, so I'll take necessary action. Thanks for informing me."

„No prob."

ox*xo

They arrived at school with enough time to spare for Sano to make coffee and Shinpachi to read the morning newspaper. As they entered the room, they greeted Hijikata-san, who was smoking at the opened window. Their demon-vice only shook his head as he saw them in their Morning-routine-after-a-night-at-Sano's-place-version (the only one when Shinpachi had enough time for the newspaper. The other two were staying at his place, where he never set the alarm clock, so they arrived with a total of five minutes to spare, thanks to Sano's ferrari, or they spending the nights separately, which Shinpachi had no chance on arriving early).

„You two should just marry. This looks like a scene out of a daily soap rather than a routine Monday morning."

„No, this is a routine version 2 Monday morning." Sano replied with a smirk and laid the coffee next to Shinpachi, then sat down at his own desk. „Tell that him, though." He gestured to Shinpachi. „He's the one who has such a big problem with moving together."

„I told you I'll think about it." Shinpachi mumbled from behind the paper.

Sano shook his head and turned to Hijikata, sipping on his coffee.

„How was your holiday?"

„Boring." Hijikata replied stoically and Sano burst out laughing.

„No colleagues to annoy you, huh?"

„With no students to piss you off and work finished, I see your problem." Shinpachi didn't look up from the newspaper as he said that, but the humor in his voice was evident. „Get a hobby, Hijikata-san."

Hijikata growled. „You two..."

Sano chuckled. „Now, now, we're just teasing you."

Soon the other teacher's and the students streamed in too, and it was time for the first day after the break to start.

Sano decided that his class needed a praise. Almost everyone aced their tests and in the rating they had surpassed Shimada's class 2B, scored even higher than that fish Ito's 3rd years and they were equal with Shinpachi's 2A, which had such straight A students as Saito and Yamazaki. And how Shinpachi got to be the homeroom teacher of the best class at Hakuoki High, Sano did not know. Probably something to do with Hijikata being stuck with the first years. Sano envied him. He had the only female of their school in his class.

But his class wasn't so bad either, he decided as he stepped in and everyone stood up.

„G'mo'nin' Sano-sensei!" the chorused and he gestured them to sit.

„Class, today I wanted to discuss with you the results of the exams."

They paled. Sano smiled.

„Well done."

A whisper went through the class and everyone was staring at him.

„We are on equal points with 2A."

Heisuke bolted up in surprise.

„We beat Saito?"

That caused an explosion of cheers errupt in the room. Sano let them bask in the joy for a while, before he tapped the board and the class quieted down. All but one.

„That means that Shinpa-sensei won't be able to tease you for being stuck with such irresponsible slack offs as us, doesn't it?" Okita Souji spoke and everyone chuckled.

„Shinpa-sensei should look into the mirror when he says those words." Heisuke commented and another chorus of laughs echoed. The two partners in crime high-fived.

„Talking about irresponsible slack-offs, Okita-kun..."

Sano watched with satisfaction as the boy flinched.

„This wondrous result is not thanks to your genius skills. You will be retaking all of your exams, as it seems. Including PE."

„I thought I'd pass that one."

„I don't like your result." Sano raised an eyebrow. „Or do you admit being stupid and clumsy?"

„Che. I could beat the whole teacher body at any time."

Sano clutched his hand and resisted the urge to throw the spare chalk he kept in his pocket at the kid. He had been doing that too often lately, his target mostly the cheeky brat in front of him. He should stop that. The poor kid didn't need more brain-damage than he already had.

„Then prove it. Or I'll make you eat those words."

The class chuckled at that and Okita scowled.

„Furthermore," Sano continued without taking notice of the boy in the rage of his puberty, „Toudo Heisuke."

„Yes?" the kid looked worried and Sano smiled encouragingly.

„I would like to highlight your work of the last quartle of the year."

The kid blinked.

„Huh? Me?"

„Yes, you. I have recieved praise on you from Ito-sensei, Shimada and even Hijikata-san. Your grades are getting progressively better and you work hard. Keep up the good work." He turned to the whole class. „Some of you," his eyes flickered to the still scowling Okita for a moment, „should take an example from Toudo-kun. Moving on, if some of you want to retake the tests, or have the feeling that they didn't do their best," Sano's eyes flickered to Souji again, „please do so in the next two weeks. It's January and to the end of February, the final exams will start. The corrected papers will be handed to you at the begginning of the given lesson. Do any of you have questions to this?"

And so the class went on. They discussed the preparations for exams, the upcoming field trip and the class representative held a voting concerning the newest discussion around Valentine's Day. After that the bell soon rung and the students bolted from their seats, probably hoping they still could catch the cafeteria before the next lesson started.

Sano shook his head. Youth these days... Heisuke passed him on his way out and Sano suddenly remembered there was still an open issue to be discussed.

„Toudo Heisuke, for a word please."

The kid turned around with a puzzled look and approached the desk.

„What is it, Sano-sensei?"

Sano waited untill the door closed behind the last student.

„Heisuke."

Heisuke blinked at the lack of honorific. It wasn't that they weren't informal with each other, but never outside school.

„Sano-san?"

Sano eyed him. „You are good friends with Souji, right?"

„We hang out, yeah."

Sano nodded. „That means that if Souji was behaving strangely, you would notice, right?"

Heisuke's eyes narrowed. „Strangely?"

Sano's eyes bored themselves into the kid. „I see you know what I mean."

Heisuke looked away. „Yeah, I have noticed that Souji is...strange lately. Stranger than usual." He frowned contemplatingly. „He's still the same, but...something has changed."

This perked Sano's attention. „What has changed?"

Heisuke shook his shoulders. „Dunno...I would say he's grown too serious, only...he's still being a walking disaster as always and acts as the brat he is, alright."

„I see..." Sano looked away thoughtfully. What could this strange behavior of his once best student mean, he had no clue. But he would be damned if he didn't find out.

For a few moments there was a contemplating silence until Heisuke spoke again, something occuring to him.

„Maybe that's it..."

„What?" Sano raised an eyebrow at him.

„He acts so." Heisuke looked at him. „I mean, it's all it is: An act."

That was what Sano called an idea. „Are you saying something could be troubling him?"

„Most likely." Heisuke hesitated, then finally added: „Last time he stayed over night I beat him at Tekken."

Tekken would have been the last thing to worry about, but untill this moment, Sano would have sworn to whoever asked, that if Souji lost at that game it was on the day that hell froze over.

„It seems it's more serious than I thought."

„Why are you asking anyway, Sano-san?" Heisuke asked.

„Because Souji didn't pass either his math, history and classical literature exam and made PE for D-."

„What?"

Sano nodded. „I told so, didn't I? He's retaking all of his exams and I'm not satisfied with the grade he got at PE." He looked at Heisuke. „Heisuke, as his best friend, could you keep an eye on him? And if you find out something, or if anything in your opinion strange happens, could you tell me? If something's up, I would like to solve it before it becomes a major issue."

Heisuke nodded. „You should probably ask this Hajime-kun and Yamazaki too. They use to hang out with us and..." Heisuke smirked, „I think that Hajime-kun has a thing for Souji."

Sano chuckled and nodded. „I'll do that. Thank you, Heisuke."

Heisuke nodded and turned to leave, when Sano remembered something.

„Oh, and Heisuke! I heard from Ito-sensei that you are contributing to an art challenge. Congratulations."

Heisuke scratched the back of his head embarassedly. „Thanks! It's not like I have many chances to win, but I kinda thought, why not..."

Sano smiled. „Ito-sensei praised your work and said you had a lot of chance."

Heisuke blushed and scratched his head embarrassedly. He quickly found a way to change the subject, though. „But Sano-sensei, I thougth you were avoiding Ito-sensei if possible."

„Whatever personal issues I have with out art teacher don't matter, if one of my class is a little genius at painting. Keep up the good work."

„Yessir!" Heisuke grinned from ear to ear and seemingly flied out of the class, his spirits raised. Sano smiled. This was the part of teaching he loved so much.

ox*xo

He made a short stop at the teacher's office and grabbed himself a sandwich he had prepared in the morning. He would spend the next four hours at the gym, he needed energy. He felt a presence behind himself and then lips pressed into the crook of his neck.

„Yo. Grabbing energy?"

He had to give it to Shinpachi, it seemed that blockhead had thought over at least over a part of their conversation. He turned around and came face to face with sparkling eyes.

„Yep." He replied. „I'll finish this and head down."

„OK, don't let yourself be disturbed. I have to prepare for the next lesson anyway. See ya in three hours?" He asked with a hint of unsureness in his voice. They always spent the hour before lunch together, but it seemed that after their morning conversation, Shinpachi wasn't sure he was welcomed.

Sano smiled assuringly. Even if Shinpachi was working to get on his shit list, there was no reason for him not to come to the gym as usually.

„If you don't decide that you'd rather spend your free hour with something better than me, yeah." Sano winked. Shinpachi's face lit up.

„But babe, what could be better than you?"

„That's what I wanted to hear." It seemed the good mood was finally returning to him, Sano noted as he ate his food.

Shinpachi grinned. „You're so full of yourself..."

„Seen into the mirror lately?" Sano asked as he took another bite, supressing chuckles.

Shinpachi smirked. „By the way, I haven't congratulated you yet to the results."

Sano grinned from ear to ear. „I win." Was his only reply.

Shinpachi rolled his eyes. „Yeah, yeah, I know. You are equal with the best class, you even beat Ito's third years, yadda, yadda." Shinpachi waved it off, seemingly annoyed, but then he smiled. „Congrats though. I won't spoil your fun being a sore loser, besides, your class has some real geniuses."

At the mention of geniuses, Sano frowned. It startled Shinpachi.

„Something the matter?"

„Okita."

„Aaah, yes..." Shinpachi recalled their morning conversation. „Have you spoken with Heisuke?"

„Yeah."

„And?"

„He'll keep an eye on him and tell me when he notices something. I'm also intending to talk to Saito and Yamazaki about this."

„If you want to, I can ask them. They're in my class, after all."

Sano nodded. „That would be great."

Shinpachi sighed. „I guess talking to Souji would do wet shit, huh?"

The corners of Sano's mouth pulled downwards as he chewed on his sandwich. „Yeah." He swallowed the bite down. „If anything, it would just put him on alert and he would be too cautious around me. I want to talk with him only after I have something concrete I can pin him with. Anything else wouldn't do a thing." With that he took the last bite of his sandwich and stood up. „Alright. Up I go. There's only ten minutes left and I still have to change." He gave Shinpachi a small peck on the lips. „See you."

ox*xo

Two double-hours of gym were no fun, Sano decided. And especially not when you trained a bunch of hormon-driven teenies. Monday morning. Two hours with 2A were alright. But two classes with 2C after that were too much. Why had he gotten the most impossible, most crazy, most raging class of the whole Hakuoki high? One hour with them and he was ready for the senior club. He was getting too old for this job...

„15 minutes break!" he announced as he looked for the tenth time at the clock in hopes the time for the break came. This time it did. The students streamed out immediately, either for the changing rooms to lie down on a bench and rest, or for the cafeteria to buy themselves an energy drink. Sano, slumping onto the wooden bench, asked himself if he shouldn't join them.

Then he felt a familar presence and every tension poured out of his shoulders.

„Yo."

A warm smile spread across his lips as he heard the voice of his boyfriend. He was too tired to care about what he had said to his lover in the morning. Now he was just happy to see him.

„Yo."

Shinpachi brought their lips together and sat down next to him, handing him a bottle of water. „Figured you would be out of it."

„Thanks." Sano said and drank the water in small sips. Then he leaned his head on Shinpachi's shoulder and sighed heavily. „I don't get it."

„Hm?"

„I make them run laps, I make them jump over the buck, I make them climb the ribstall, and they still have enough energy to throw stupid jokes and be wiseass. Did we have this much energy too, Shinpachi, when we were their age? I don't remember."

Shinpachi chuckled. „Well, it was a long time ago. And we're not getting any younger."

That was true. And back then they had other things to worry about than abbundance of energy. Which was really ironic, because now they seemed to be lacking it.

„Our mid-life crisis will be starting soon." He said suddenly.

Shinpachi pulled a sour face. „Oh joy..."

„Maybe it has already started and we were too busy to notice." If he thought about it, they should be already mostly past it.

„I hope you're joking."

„I'll grow grey hair soon."

„That would be a shame..."

„Maybe I'll dye it."

„Please do."

„We'll get old and rusty. You'll be on a walking stick and I in a wheelchair."

Shinpachi looked at him quizzically.

„What's with you today?"

„It's Monday." Was Sano's simple reply.

„Oh, yeah, right. How could I forget? But I have good news."

„Hm?"

„Lunch will be soon."

„Oh thank god..."

„It get's even better. A coffee will be waiting for you."

„Don't tempt me."

„And the best thing comes now: You won't be returning to the gym untill tomorrow."

„Have I finally died and found myslef in paradise, I wonder..."

Shinpachi chuckled. „Feeling better?"

„Yeah." Sano raised his head and took another gulp of the water. Slowly the students started coming back, greeting Shinpachi-sensei while they were at it. It was nothing new that Shinpachi was visiting him an hour before lunch at the gym. He did so every free hour he had. And somehow it came so every term that he had at least one day of the week an hour free before lunch. Kondo-san was too kind...

The bell rung. Sano took a last gulp of the water and stood up, taking off the hood of his jersey. „Alright gentlemen! I hope you had enough energy drinks!" he whistled and everyone stood themselves into a straight line. Sano took the attendance notice and a pen and Heisuke stepped forward, but something was off. „Class 2C, PE attendance, Okita Souji missing."

Sano frowned. „Okita-kun is? Why is that? He hasn't excused himself."

„Sano-sensei, I think he has snuck away."

Shinpachi watched the vein popp at Sano's head and his hand tremble as it clutched at the pen so that Shinpachi feared that it would snap. It was the last one Sano had. His boyfriend breathed deeply in and out. „Once any of you see him, tell him to see me."

„Yessir!" the class chorused.

„We will now ressume the lesson. 5 laps around the hall!"

ox*xo

At the end of the lesson, Shinpachi thought it was a wonder that Sano still could stand upright. The students scrambled for the showers, tired, but with still enough energy left to be desperate for the refreshing water, while all that Sano could do, was take the towel Shinpachi offered him and wipe his face with a sigh.

„The more I teach, the more I get the impression that I'm getting too old for this job. A few years ago I wasn't this exhausted after four hours spent here."

„It's probably just your imagination. It's the day after Christmas break, you just need to get back into old patterns."

„Maybe..."

„I'm sure." Shinpachi smiled. „I doubt that a hord of raging teenagers could tire you out, Harada-sensei, if I am not able to achieve that."

Sano had to laugh. „I have to admit, Nagakura-sensei," he said between chuckles, „there might be some truth to your words."

He ruffled Shinpachi's hair. „I'll go shower and then we can head to lunch, ok?"

„Hurry up, I'm starving."

„Glutton."

Fifteen minutes later they entered the lunchroom, the fresh scent of water, shampoo and Sano's Hugo Boss carrying after them.

„Let's see...mushroommiso as soup, main course either Udon, or smoked salmon...Ah hell." If the Udon was anything like the last time, he didn't know what to pick. He tended to get sick after smoked salmon. At the prospect of starving, his stomach churned loudly in protest. Sano sighed. „I should have just made bento after all."

„I told you so?" Shinpachi sounded from behind him and Sano sent him a glare. Yeah, alright, so he would have had the time to make some in the morning, but as he woke up, after a week of loneliness in the arms of his beloved and opted his choices, he decided to rather stay in bed with Shinpachi for a while longer. After that there hadn't been any time left for preparing a lunchbox. Lazy him, yeah. He slacked off so often, after all, it wasn't even healthy. Right, he thought as his inner voice was dripping sarcasm.

„Shut up, Shinpachi."

In the end they both picked Udon and sat down at their standard table, staring at the plates in front of them as if it was poison there instead of lunch. They shared a look.

„Itadakimasu?" Shinpachi offered and Sano nodded. They should eat at least a little.

However before they could take a bite of what wanted to be Udon, a falsely polite voice sounded from beside them.

„Harada-sensei! Nagakura-sensei!"

Sano gritted his teeth and turned to look at their colleague.

„Ito-sensei." Their art teacher was carrying a plate of smoked salmon and Sano felt his stomach turn. Though, he wasn't sure whether it was the fish, or the person that caused it.

„I just wanted to congratulate to those wonderfull results you got!"

„Thank you." Sano forced a smile onto his face. He didn't know why, but an encounter with their art teacher always left a bad feeling in his gut. „You did well, too."

„I heard you praised Toudo-kun for his work. Please do that in the future too. He has talent that should not be overseen."

„It's your guidance that makes it unfold." Before this tanuki started teaching at their school, he was the head of the painting class at the primary school of arts. As he was a kid, Heisuke took a few courses there.

„You flatter me." Ito-sensei smiled sweetly.

„Was that all you wanted, Ito-sensei?" Sano asked in hopes of getting rid of this person as soon as possible. „Or did you have an issue to discuss with us?"

„No, no." Ito-sensei shook his head dismissively. „I just wanted to pay my regards. I'll stop bothering you now." He bowed. „Bon Apetit." With that he left.

Sano stared after his retreating form, muttering a quiet „Tanuki" under his breath.

„He asked me out, you know."

His head snapped to Shinpachi as he heard that.

„I mean Ito-sensei. He asked me if I wanted to go for a drink after work with him, his treat."

Sano' s eyes widened and he had hard time to force back a scandaled scream.

„Ito-sensei asked you out?" He sneered and clenched his teeth. The nerve of that racoon!

„Lower you voice, damnit!" Shinpachi hissed. It was already a wonder no one (and especially the teacher in question) heard them. „Anyway, I politely refused and told him I had plans with you. He didn't bother me after that, but I think he's plotting something. Be careful, ok?"

That fish was always plotting something, Sano thought to himself as he nodded. Then looked at his food. He wasn't really hungry anymore.

„Eat." He raised his head to look at Shinpachi. His boyfriend was unusually serious.

„Eat." Shinpachi repeated. „You haven't eaten since the morning and you are a pain to deal with when you're hungry."

Sano glared at him.

„And I won't have you starving yourself. Don't think I didn't notice you losing weight over the week I was away."

Sano blinked in surprise. He barely lost a pound, how did Shinpachi notice...?

Shinpachi showed the chopsticks into his face, a piece of flesh between them. „Eat, or I'll force feed you."

Sano sighed in defeat and picked up his chopsticks again, and started eating. Better get it down before it gets cold. If there was one thing worse than cafeteria food, it was cold cafeteria food.

ox*xo

.#cutid1

Afternoon classes came and refreshed after a shower and energized after having eaten a warm meal (even if the meal itself had been horrible and Sano had to inavde his sake reserves he kept locked in the bottom drawer of his desk to keep the food down), Sano headed for his Japanese History lesson he had with 2A.

He had always liked the lessons with 2A.

They were attentive as he explained, they didn't disturb the class and they always answered his questions correctly. They weren't the best class of Hakuoki High for nothing after all. And he still didn't get how Shinpachi got to be their homeroom teacher.

He entered the class and everyone stood up.

„Good afternoon, Sano-sensei." They chorused.

„Good afternoon, class." He answered them with a smile.

He quickly did the attendance and started the lesson.

„Alright, folks. Can someone tell me what we did last time, before Christmas break? Yamazaki?"

„Yes." The boy stood up to answer his question. „We discussed the new institution of the Imperial Mausoleum Guard and it's complex relationship with the Shinsengumi."

„Precisely." For the last semester, they have been discussing the Bakumatsu aera of Japan and Sano couldn't but focus on the Shinsengumi. He tried to explain the events through their eyes, or in relation to them, as they were an institution that had subsistedthe whole Bakumatsu aera. „Thank you, Yamazaki-kun, you may sit down."

The kid did so and Sano started.

„Today we will discuss the Abura Kouji incident, as it was one of the many consequences of the agenda of this institution. It is a widely discussed subject and some historicians call it the 'Beginning of the end'. Saito, please let us hear what our widely cited historician says about it."

No answer.

Sano looked to the table where the darkhaired boy sat, obviously preoccupied into the book.

„Saito, please, answer the question."

Again there was no answer. Sano frowned.

„Saito."

Nothing. He tried a bit louder this time.

„Saito!"

It was really strange. Saito was never this spaced out. Sano approached the table of the student and standing directly next to him, he called out in the loudest voice that was possible without disturbing the class next to them.

„SAITO!"

It was really funny to watch the reaction he got. Saito startled, his whole body jerked and he shot up like an arrow, standing straight as a ruler (Sano was surprised that he wasn't saluting), the book still tightly clutched in his hand.

„Please excuse me!"

It suddenly clicked.

„Have you been reading in class, Saito?"

The boy didn't even need to answer. His blush said it all.

„I...uh...yes." It was even funnier to see Saito stutter, Sano decided.

„You know what that means?" He asked, trying his best to sound serious. There was, after all, a punishment for reading in class.

„I...I'd rather..." but Sano already took the book from him, still open on the page Saito had been reading.

Saito watched with apprehension as a predatory smile spread across Sano-sensei's features. After an eternity of sheer suffering, he spoke.

„Well. Normally, the punishment would be a teacher's notice and me reading the passage in front of the whole class, but since it's you and this happened for the first time, I'll make an exception. You have 3 options: The regular one I mentioned now. 2: You'll be the one to read this in front of the class and instead of a notice, you'll get a bad grade for not answering my question. 3: What you read will stay between us and Kondo-san. In other words, we skip the reading and pay the principal a visit. He is a kind and tolerant person, so there's a chance you get away only with a warning. Which one is it?"

Saito thought for a moment. If he chose option one, everyone would know what he had been reading and there would be a black taint in his otherwise perfect reputation, in form of a teacher's notice. With option two Sano-sensei was giving him a second chance. A teacher's notice stayed, but he could always correct a bad grade. But that came with the price of humiliating himself personally, which would need a completely different form of courage, standing in front of the class and practically make a fool of himself. It would accompany him untill graduation year. The third option was the most convenient one. No one would know, his grades wouldn't suffer and a principal's warning was the least of a price. On the other hand a principal's notice was too much. Not even Okita had a that one in his collection of warnings and notices yet. But then again, no one ever heard Kondo-san writing one. And then there was the issue with rumors of being favorized.

„Basically, you're asking me to choose which one is more important to me: School results or my reputation."

„Basically, yes." Sano-sensei nodded.

Saito sighed. Why was he even thinking about it? He was by no means a coward. He was one to take responsibility for his mistakes, no matter the price. And out of a principal's warning, teacher's notice and a bad grade, the bad grade was the easiest to overcome. He extended his hand, asking for the book.

„Which passage do you want me to read?" he tried to make it sound more sure than he felt, but he heard the tremble in his voice and he saw the surprised looks of his classmates even through the curtain of his hair.

„These two pages please." Sano-sensei said as he handed him the book. The two pages he had been reading. This was suicide. But he had already made his resolve and he wasn't backing down. So he took the book and stood himself in front of the board and begun to read.

As he finished and closed the manga, his face was burning in embarassment as a massive amount of blood collected in his cheeks and the class was staring at him wide-eyed.

„Saito...you read yaoi?"

If Saito thought that becoming even redder was impossible, he was proven wrong the moment he swallowed and nodded.

The whole class exploaded ito uproarious laughter.

But that didn't last long as it was immediately silenced by a high-pitched screach and everyone was busy shieldieng their ears from the sound as Sano-sensei dragged his nails across the board.

„Silence! I wonder what I would find in your book-cases if I looked. Don't go laughing your classmate out, or else I will make you empty your bags here and now. Saito, sit down." He gave him a small smile and whispered, only for Saito to hear: „You have done well. In turn I'll have a small chit-chat with Souji."

Saito's eyes widened. „How did you..."

Sano just smiled and said in his normal voice. „Go, sit down please. I want to finish the current topic we're on."

The rest of the lesson went without further incidents and before they knew it, the bell signalizing the break rung. Before Saito could do a fast strategical retreat and not show himself for the rest of the break, Sano called him over.

„Saito-kun, for a small moment."

The students passing him snickered and the still red Saito approached his desk with small, unsure steps.

„Yes, Sano-sensei?" he asked meekly. Sano smiled assuringly.

„Relax, there. I just wanted to ask if Shinpachi talked with you already."

Saito blinked for a confused moment, but then remembering, understanding spread across his features. „About Souji, you mean."

„Yes."

Saito nodded. „He has spoken to me and Yamazaki. We will have our eyes open."

„Good." Sano nodded at him. „That's all I wanted. You can go hide somewhere now. No doubt that Heisuke will be here soon to tease the living daylight out of you." He smiled understandingly, but Saito didn't move. The boy seemed to hesitate about something.

„What is it, Saito?" Sano smiled encouragingly, skipping the honorific. Saito was another person that he was informal with outside of school and now seemed to be the time to remind the boy about that. Sano didn't bite. It seemed that Saito realized that too, as he shook of his hesitation and finally asked.

„Sano, I just wanted to ask what grade I got."

Sano smiled into himself as he heard the familiar adressing. He decided not to torture the boy any further. Saito had paid for his 'sins' already. „C."

„What?" The boy seemed surprised.

„Seems mild?" Sano could understand that. Saito was of the type who would expect the worse possibility than to hope for the better one. He smiled. „Take it as a reward for your courage. You've got guts, I give it to you."

Saito actually blushed at the compliment, but Sano couldn't but notice that tehre still was something bothering the youth. Sure enough, Saito spoke up again.

„Sano?"

„Yes?"

„How did you know that..." he trailed off, but he didn't need to finish, as Sano already knew what it was about.

„That Souji gave you the manga?" He smirked. „Well, it might have to do something with me recomending him the title a few weeks ago."

It was fun to watch the ever stoic Saito's expression change into one of utter shock.

„You should hurry. No telling when Souji will turn up from wherever he disappeared to, once he hears a good gossip."

Being the wise person he was, Saito decided that it was probably safer than to ponder into the literary preferences of his teachers. „Yes."

Sano supressed a grinn, but he couldn't help himself to prevent a small tease from escaping him.

„And Saito-kun? Try not to read in class this time. I doubt that Hijikata-san will be as considerate as I. Even if it's the best part of the manga and you're his favorite student." Sano winked.

Saito blushed furiously and nodded. „Yes!"

Sano bit back a laugh. That was when the door opened and Yamazaki stuck his head in.

„I'm sorry to disturb, but Heisuke is heading this way. He is grinning from ear to ear. I thought you might want to know."

The viscious red of Saito's cheeks turned into a ghostly pale within the span of a few seconds.

„I suggest, you run, Saito-kun." Sano threw the mortified boy a set of keys. „You can hide in the gym during the breaks for the rest of the day, but don't forget to lock up after yourself whenever you leave for class. You can give the keys to Shinpachi after your homeroom class ends."

One „Thank you very much!" and a hurried bow was the last Sano saw of him before the poor boy practically sprinted out of the class, while Sano just silently laughed to himself. Did he say he was getting old for this job? No way! It was way too much fun to quit.

ox*xo

Later in the afternoon, Sano was ready to enjoy his free hour in the teacher's room and go through some files for the next lessons, without Shinpachi breathing down his neck, or Hijikata-san complaining to him about some student.

He took his case to pull out his materials, when he noticed a folder that was not his stuck there and he remebered.

„Stupid me!" he exclaimed into the empty room as he pulled the folder out. The corrected math tests. He accidentally grabbed them together with his files this morning. He had noticed it sometimes during the day and intended to give them to Shinpachi during lunchbreak, but had forgotten.

He stood up. If he remebered correctly, Shinpachi had now an hour in 2C. Sano smirked. He would give him the papers and maybe even get the chance to give Souji a piece of his mind for skipping class. Perfect.

Five minutes later he was knocking on the doors of his class.

No answer came, so he carefully opened the door and experimentaly stuck his head in. Only to almost close it behind himself again, overcome with surprise about what he was seeing.

There he was, his lover Nagakura Shinpachi, standing behind the desk wildly gesticulating and screaming to the class the explanation with as much enthusiasm as if he was commenting a horse-race.

„Listen here! N can grow indefinitely! Indefinitely! You know what that means? That-" he scribled on the board „n !"

Sano took a look at his class. The students have already noticed their homeroom teacher standing there and were trying to signalize Shinpa-sensei to stop his somewhat maniac rant and take a look to his left, but Shinpachi, the dense being that he was, didn't notice it.

Sano motioned his class to stay quiet and not give him away just yet. He wanted to see this.

It wasn't that Sano never got the chance to witness Shinpachi's lessons, but this was the first time he had come to see such an enthusiastic explanation.

After listening for a while, he understood the reason. It was Shinpachi's favorite subject. Statistical theory and the asymptotic theory.

„SEE? Now we can obtain ANY result! If we just count HIGHER, if we let out minds wander into THOUGHT OF INFINITY, instead of lingering in finite sizes, we can OVERCOME OUR WEAKNESS! HUMANITY WINS!"

He slammed his fist into the board with enough strength to get a hole. Sano was making him pay for that. He was panting hard, with a victorious grin on his face, while the setting Sun of the later afternoon bathed his frame in a golden hue. He looked almost heroic. Sano covered his mouth politely to surpress his laughter.

His class didn't bother hiding anything. Chuckles and barks of laughter sounded from everywhere and finally Shinpachi seemed to notice that something was off.

„Huh? What's with you today? I present you such a thrilling subject and you laugh?"

Souji, apparently back from whatever business urgent enough to skip class he had, waved his hand as if to chase away the laughter.

„No, Shinpa-sensei, it's just..." he lost the fight with amusement as he broke into another fit, so the only thing for him left to do was to point his finger to where Sano stood.

Shinpachi turned and for a moment Sano thought his lover was dying of a heart attack.

He smiled sweetly. „Yo."

„Sano!"

Shinpachi's face was suddenly a nice shade of tomato, burning from embarassment, while his body was frozen to the spot, remaining in the positions of a victorious general like a marble statue.

It was hilarious.

„How...how long..."

„Long enough." He couldn't help it, Sano's voice shook with supressed laughter as he saw Shinpachi staring at him utterly mortified. Sano tried to console him. „It's alright, I understand."

This sent his class into another fit of hysterical laughter.

Shinpachi put away the chalk he had been holding and straightenend himself to keep at least a little of his dignity.

„What..." he coughed to get his voice rid of embarassment. „What are you doing here?"

Sano only raised the folder in his hand.

Shinpachi's eyes lit up.

„The results!"

The silence that the class fell into after those words was an eerie contrast to their previous outburst.

„I kept searching for them the entire day!" Shinpachi hurried to him.

„Sorry." Sano said as he handed him the folder. „I accidentally took them with me and forgot to return them until now."

„'S okay."

Shinpachi turned to the class, his enthusiasm back full force.

„Class! I thought I had to withold the results for another few days, but now look at this!" he waved the folder triumphantly, while Sano just watched with a raised eyebrow. „Now, all of my efforts paid off, and thanks to the man of the hottest dreams another man can only imagine, has brough me, ME, Nagakura Shinpachi, the best teacher for math on Earth you could have been hoping for, this, THIS!" he held the folder up high like it was the imperial flag, while Sano's eyebrow just went higher and higher as the rant went on. „Gentlemanies and Gentlemen! I proudly present you: THE RESULTS!"

Sano nodded approvingly at the sardonic clapping that his class rewarded Shinpachi with.

Kids under themselves.

Shinpachi grinned.

„I shall now interrupt the lesson for a few moments to give out the papers." He turned to Sano with a charming smile. „Thanks for bringing them over."

„Don't mention it." Sano smirked. „It was totally worth it."

He watched in satisfaction as a faint blush spread across Shinpachi's cheeks.

He turned towars the door. „I guess I'll leave now. Wouldn't want to disturb you in the, ahem, interesting lesson."

Shinpachi focused his eye on the papers as he fumbled with them hiding his embarassment. Sano decided not to torture him further. His hand was already on the knob when suddenly Okita spoke up.

„Sano-sensei! Is it true that you caught Saito reading yaoi?"

A hushed whisper went through the class and all eyes were on him.

Sano turned to Okita. In the end he decided to settle things with the brat after homeroom class, but somehow the kid had a special virtue to change his intentions 180°. Sano again resisted the urge to throw a piece of chalk at him.

„Okita-kun, you have no room to talk. After all, it is very clear to me where Saito-kun's source lies."

Souji smiled cheekily, the sort of smile that sugested he had back-up blackmail in his hands. „Oh? And where would I get such a book into my innocent hands?"

Too bad that Sano didn't allow himself to be toyed with. He looked directly into those mischievous green eyes.

„Okita-kun, don't tell me that besides your grades, your memory suffers too. I remember clearly recommending you that manga not a week before Christmas break started."

Okita fell from the chair he had been swinging on. Apparently, the kid had never expected Sano-sensei to admit that.

„WHAAAT?" Clearly, he wasn't the only one shocked. Shinpachi stared at him wide-eyed. „You read yaoi?"

But of course. How could Shinpachi know?

Sano smiled sweetly at him. „Yeah. Light read on weekday evenings to pass the time. Lack of better entertainment, you know."

It was a homerun.

Shinpachi just gaped.

Sano turned to his class again. „So, now that I gave you a gossip topic worth 'till the end of the next term, I shall take my leave now and let Nagakura-sensei continue this very interesting subject." Sano turned his attention to Souji. „Oh and Okita-kun, see me after class. You still haven't explained yourself for missing on PE." Then he turned to his class for one last time.

„Be gentle on him." He jerked his thumb to the still stupefied math teacher. „I need him sane for my purposes." With these words he headed out.

It was Okita who called out after him: „I thought you needed him physically capable, you never mentioned brain-functioning."

The chalk landed in the middle of Souji's forehead, before the door closed behind Sano-sensei.

ox*xo

It was early in the evening when they met again, after the homeroom classes ended and they finished with the rest of their work. Sano was already waiting at his car, the thick and long creamy white winter coat covering his frame when Shinpachi exited the building, his short green jackett unbuttoned at the top, showing the black scarf wrapped around his neck.

Shinpachi startled as he saw him, but approached him with slow steps, his tiredness obvious to Sano.

„You already here?" he asked when he was in hearing range. „Didn't you want to talk with Souji?"

„He skipped class again. Seems he's avoiding me." Sano shook his shoulders. „Ah well. I have other ways to corner him." He nodded his head towards the group of students standing nearby. It were Saito, Yamazaki and Heisuke. They noticed them look their way and Heisuke waved his hand, while the other two nodded in greeting. Sano raised his hand in answer, then turned to Shinpachi again. „Your suitcase is still in my car. I'll drive you."

Shinpachi nodded. „Thanks. And before I forget..." he pulled out a set of keys and handed them to Sano. „Saito gave them to me at the end of the homeroom class. Said they're yours."

Sano grinned as he put them away. „Yeah, I let him hide in the gym to avoid the teasings."

Shinpachi chuckled. „He get's embarrassed too easily."

Sano had to agree.

They got into the car. As they fastened the seatbelts, Shinpachi sounded.

„Do you think you could take a stop at the convenience store? I have the feeling that my fridge is empty."

Sano started the engine, nodding. „Sure."

They pulled out from the lot. Before they drove off, they paused at the trio. Sano leaned out of the window.

„Thanks for today, you three."

„Don't mention it, Sano-san."

„It seems that Okita is avoiding you now, though." Yamazaki spoke up.

„He can't do that forever." Sano said. „Even if he skips all of his his homeroom, PE and japanese history classes, I'll find a way to confront him."

Heisuke laughed. „Souji's screwed."

Sano smirked, but then his expression grew serious again. „Keep your eyes open, yes? It might be serious."

The three of them nodded.

„However, don't neglect your studies because of it, alright?"

Saito and Yamazaki nodded again, while Heisuke just scratched the back of his head embarassedly, giving away his intentions of doing just that away.

Sano smiled. „Especially you, Heisuke, now that your grades are so good. And Saito too. You need to correct that C you got yourself today."

Saito blushed faintly, while Heisuke chuckled wickedly.

„Speaking o'ich," Shinpachi spoke up, „Once the rumors spread, you might want to avoid Hijikata-san for a while. No doubt he'll give you one of his lecture about spreading 'literature inapropriate for minors under students below 18', or whatever."

No shit, Sherlock. Shinpachi didn't even need to tell him that.

„Thanks, I'll keep your advice in mind." Sano couldn't help but be sacastic. He was probably just too exhausted to give a normal reply.

„You're welcome." Shinpachi replied equally dryly, but he didn't seem upset, probably just as tired as Sano. It had been a long day.

Sano turned to the three again.

„I apologize for bothering you so close before exams."

They shook their heads.

„Not at all, Sano."

„Alright, I'll stop keeping you from 'hanging out'. Got a kid to drive home."

„Hey."

Sano and the trio just grinned at each other, ignoring Shinpachi's complaints about not being a kid.

„See ya tomorrow."

„Bye, Sano-san!"

With that, they drove off.

After a short stop at the convenience store, where Shinpachi bought himself the necessary supplies to survive the week and Sano promised him to get up early enough to make bento for them each day, they arrived at Shinpachi's flat with a suitcase and four huge shopping bags. Shinpachi rumaged for the key and opened the door. He put his suitcase into the porch and turned to take the bags from Sano.

„Thanks."

„No prob."

For several moments they stared at each other.

„Do you want to come in?" Shinpachi asked finally and Sano shook his head.

„No, thanks. I'm dead tired, I think I'll just go home."

Shinpachi didn't say anything. Sano just smiled.

„What are you trying to prove, Shinpachi?"

His lover looked away.

„I don't know. Maybe just find out the appeal of a late evening spent together? I have no clue."

„Look, I don't want to force you into anything. Just think about it, like you promised, okay?"

They looked at each other and finally Shinpachi smiled. „You're probably right."

Sano smirked. „Of course I am."

That was when a noise interrupted them. They turned to see one of Shinpachi's neighbours, Shinkawa, exit her flat. As she spotted them, she turned bright read, their last encounter obviously still fresh in her memory. She quickly looked away, fumbling with her keys.

Sano smiled politely.

„Good evening, Shinkawa-chan."

She stuttered back a reply and called the elevator. Sano could see the relief in her eyes as she found out it was there, as they previously used it. Usually they climbed the stairs, since Shinpachi's flat wasn't that high (fifth floor), but with four heavy bags and one suitcase to carry it was more convenient to just let yourself be carried up. She got into it quickly and before they could blink, she was gone.

They both burst out laughing.

„I think we caused her a major trauma that time." Shinpachi said between laughs and Sano had to agree.

„Well, it was all your fault. You were the one who decided that sticking your hand down my pants in the middle of the night, just outside your door, was a good idea." He replied and they both laughed again, remembering the moment clearly.

It had happened after they got back from Kondo-san's Halloween party, some good deal after midnight. Shinpachi was dressed as a werewolf (fangs and furr and all that came with it, present) and Sano went as a wizard, complete with a black, embroided robe, long cape and a pointed hat (that had been discarded already in the car). They were drunk, they were horny and they were loud. Of course they woke up the neighbours and Shinkawa-chan was one of those neighbours who didn't like to be disturbed from her beauty sleep. So it came that suddenly her door burst open, breath already drawn to yell at them the loudest possible, waking the whole building up, but it never came as far, because her breath died out as she saw the exact position they were in, with Sano pressed against the door, Shinpachi just working his best to give him a nice hickey just below his ear. Adding their costumes to the scene and the fact that the floor had been just dimply lit at that time, and combined with the crush the woman had on the hot colleague of her right neighbour...Sano could somehow see the traumatic factor.

After a while they managed to bring their outburst under control and Sano wiped away his tears of laughter.

„Alright then. I'll better go, before more of your neighbours, that have one or two embarassing memories about us and the fifth floor of this apartment complex, come across of us."

Shinpachi nodded. „Please, do that."

They looked into each other's eyes, suddenly their faces just a few inches apart.

„Thanks for driving me home again."

„Don't mention it."

And their lips met in a gentle kiss.

Shinpachi dropped the bags he had been holding the entire time to wrap his arms around the perfect waist of his boyfriend, while Sano's encircled Shinpachi's neck and his hands came to rest casually at the nape, fingers occassionally brushing the sensitive skin there softly, causing a soft shiver run through his lover.

They both sighed at the nice feeling that warmed their chests and they relaxed into the gentle touch that soothed the stress out of their minds and calmed the muscles of their overworked bodies.

For a few moments that felt like eternity it was just them in the silent, dark floor, not even the pale light of the street reaching them.

The thing that managed to break them apart, was the noise of a door opening just the floor above them, startling them.

They listened to the sound of footsteps entering the staircase and dissentangled their limbs from each other.

„I should go. I have an unfinished manga lying at home."

Shinpachi chuckled weakly. „Yeah."

They greeted Shinpachi's upper neighbour, as he headed to his nightshift, who nodded his greetings back when he noticed them, not stopping in his descent.

For a while they just listened to the sound of fading footsteps.

Their eyes met again and Shinpachi carressed Sano's cheek, who leaned into the touch and put his hand above Shinpachi's.

„See ya tomorrow."

„Yeah."

Sano let go of the hand and Shinpachi took the bags, turning to head inside of his flat. Sano heard the door closing as he was on the third step.

Back in his car, as Sano started the engine, he couldn't but think about everything that had happened today. Of course, as the first day of school after the break, it had been stressfull. Everyone needed to fall back into their patterns and with the end of the term knocking onto their door, things were bound to get hectic.

Weaker students needed to learn more than usually, the lesson's would get stuffed with more things to learn and the teacher's would need to prepare a bunch of exams. He should get started with focus on the senior's lessons. They were graduating in less than a month and had still much to learn. He should do everything in his might to help them get the neccessary knowledge to pass the finals into their heads.

And yet he couldn't get his mind away from his class, particulary from one cocky genius. The more he thought about, the more worried he got. He didn't believe for a second that his once best student was fine.

And then there were his own relationship troubles.

Sano sighed.

A teacher's private life...he had heard once someone saying that such a thing didn't have enough time to exist. He felt inclined to believe that.

He turned his head to look at the dark building. Many lights were lit, the windows glowing a golden hue. His eyes settle on a window of the fifth floor. It seemed that Shinpachi was making hiimself dinner, because in th ekitchen the light was glowing, but the other rooms were dimmed.

Sano's fingers carressed his lips.

He had a bad feeling that had nothing to do with the Udon they ate for lunch.

He shook his head. Enough of this. He was probably just imagining things. They would work things out, he was sure.

With this in mind he adjusted the control lever and stamped on the accelerator, driving off. He didn't notice the window on the fifth floor opening and a brownhaired man sticking his messy head out to watch after the retreating car, munching on his tuna sandwich.

Shinpachi couldn't but worry about Sano. He had a forebrooding feeling that something bad would happen and the fact that his instinctive feelings were rarely wrong only added to his worry. Lately Sano had been weird. Previously Shinpachi had put it off as the Christmas depression that striked every year upon his boyfriend, but now he couldn't help but sense that it had maybe something to do with him too.

He sighed. Sano didn't deserve this.

His fingers absentmindedly stroked his lips, the taste of Sano's lips still lingering there, even through the bread, tuna, butter, onions and lemon.

Maybe he should really think the offer over, he contemplated as he looked around the empty room. Without Sano there, even the bright light of his newly bought lamp felt dimm.

Shinpachi bit into his sandwich again, making up his mind.

He would make Sano feel better, no matter the cost. Observe what was wrong and then make his move. And he wouldn't stop untill Sano was smiling truly again. He was tired of those sad smiles.

With his newfound resolve he closed the window to the chilly air of a winter night.

Spring would come soon.

o-*-x-*-o-*-xox-*-xox-*-xox-*-xox-*-o-*-x-*-o

Phew...

It's so hot here...Maybe that's why I'm writing a shot set in the dead of the winter. It's 17:47 and it's still 35° Celsius (I'm too lazy to convert it into Farenheit now, forgive me).

Due to the heat it took me longer to finish it. The last scene was being written a week (with me staring at the blank paper for a week and finally today summoning enough strength to write it).

Originally, I wanted to end it there where they parted at Shinpachi's doorstep, but it felt unfinished and I kept writing and this angst is the result. I'm even deciding about rewriting it, but I probably won't. It's a good foreplay to what is about to come in the next SSL shots. Don't worry, you'll get to know everything about Sano's parents, his ex-boyfriend, their past, Okita's problems, and also the reason why I'm making Heisuke good at painting. Prepare yourself.

Also, I'm probably making them too old, but I couldn't help myself. The idea came as I listened to some 80's songs and I felt like it could be just the right music for Sano to grow up with. And I also wanted them to go to college in the 90's, because it was the break of a new decade, new things came and so on. You know, symbolic and all that. If their current age bothers you, don't worry, I'm making them still act like 20. And even if that doesn't make sense, this is fanfiction. Not everything has to go according to regulations. Besides, 40 isn't that old.

I hope you liked it anyway and are going to review. For my last three shots I didn't get any reviews, if I don't count that wonderfull PM from my faithfull reviewer (she knows who she is – and hereby I declared my undying gratitude for he loyalty and the wonderfull reviews she always leaves) and I would really like to know what everyone else thinks.

Thank you a bunch guys!