Disclaimer: I own nothing from Gokusen drama or manga, but this story is mine.

RECAP: Tsuchi had a heart-to-heart discussion with Imani's father and told him his intentions with Imani. Imani insisted that she and Tsuchi remain strictly friends although they obviously like each other. All the guys came to Imani's house and had a good time. Yabuki found out about one of the letters, and Odagiri and Imani explained what happened and the dates leaving out the details. Yankumi and all five guys are spending the night.

Chapter 24: Midnight Rendezvous

Imani had reached upstairs when she saw a shadow. She was instantly on alert and turned to greet the shadow to find Tsuchi waiting up for her. She relaxed. "Hey, you waited up for me. Good, I was hoping to get to say goodnight to you before you went to bed."

"Yeah, well I wanted to say a few things to you before you went to bed." Tsuchi responded in an irritated tone.

Imani smiled and encircled his neck with her arms and kissed his cheek. "Really, and what is that?"

"What's all that with Odagiri and Yabuki?" Tsuchi had an accusing tone.

Imani's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean what's all that with Odagiri and Yabuki?"

"I mean what is it that they can't tell me or I haven't seen?" Tsuchi asked.

Imani released Tsuchi and looked at him incredulously. "You heard that? Were you spying on me?"

Tsuchi crossed his hands in front of his face. "No, no. I just overheard that part, and I came back upstairs to wait and ask you about it."

Imani responded with a snide tone. "Okay, if you must know, we were talking about the last letter that Ren sent, where he listened in on my conversations and questioned my relationships kind of like how you are doing now." She glared at him and turned to leave.

"Imani." Tsuchi grabbed her arm and turned her back around. "You know me better than that. It's not the same thing."

"Isn't it?" Imani folded her arms across her chest.

"No, it's just that you and Odagiri have shared a life and death experience, and you two seem closer now than you and I are. You feel comfortable sharing everything with him." Tsuchi looked frustrated.

"Tsuchi, do we have to go through this again? Yes, Odagiri and I have shared a very memorable, dangerous experience, but remember what you and I have shared? You've seen me almost completely naked and shared my bed." Imani sighed. "And you're the only one who could comfort me through my nightmares. Not even my father could do that. So, do you have to share a life-and-death experience with me for us to be closer? Must you compare our relationship with Odagiri's and mine?" Imani seemed hurt.

Tsuchi ran his hands through his hair. "That's not what I meant at all. But look at the two of you. While ago you were laughing and playing together like like …"

"Stop right there Tsuchi. Would you have a problem if that had been me and Yabuki or Hyuga? Is the problem that it was with Odagiri? Or is the problem is that someone besides you were playing with me? Would you have cared if it was two of the guys playing around?" Tsuchi looked away. "That's what I thought. I take it back. You're acting like a jealous, possessive boyfriend right now, and that's another reason why I want to keep our relationship as just friends. I don't need that because first of all, I am not an object to be possessed. And second of all, it shows that you don't trust me, or you don't trust anyone to be around me. So you see why I don't want a long-distance relationship? How is either of us going to be able to focus on our work if you're worried what my relationship is with every guy, and I'm worried if something I am doing is going to make you jealous?"

"Imani, I'm sorry. I do trust you." Tsuchi pleaded, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"No, you don't." Imani was getting angry and knocked his hands away.

"Imani, I do trust you. I just … I … I don't know what else to say. I don't know what you want me to say."

Imani shook her head. "There's nothing left to say, Tsuchi. I don't have anything more to say to you, and I don't want to speak to you right now. Good night." Imani stomped off to her room and slammed her door.

Tsuchi sighed and put his head down.

"Smooth move, Romeo," came a voice from behind Tsuchi. He turned around to see both Odagiri and Yabuki glaring at him.

Odagiri shook his head. "You should have known better. You know her better than any of us do. You should have known better than to do that and say that to her. I can't believe you. Hasn't she been through enough already?"

Tsuchi hit his forehead with his hand. "I know, but I react badly or overreact when it comes to her. I can't think straight. I should go talk to her." He headed toward Imani's room.

Odagiri stepped in front of Tsuchi, stopping him and shook his head. "No, I'll talk to her. You go to bed. You need to clear your head. Go get a good night's rest and get yourself together." Tsuchi nodded, and Yabuki escorted him to his room while Odagiri lightly knocked on Imani's door. "Imani, it's Odagiri. Can I come in and talk to you?" He waited.

Imani came to the door in a robe, slippers, and a towel draped across her arm. "I was just about to have my bath. So whatever you want, make it quick." She turned to leave toward the bathroom, and he followed her.

He looked around her room since it was the first time he had ever been in it. He noted Yankumi sleeping peacefully on the bed. Imani sat down in a chair in the bathroom and motioned for Odagiri to do the same. She folded her arms across her chest. "I'm listening."

"You know how he feels about you." Odagiri began as Imani nodded. "You know this is all new to him. I've known him for several years, and he has never been this serious before about a girl."

"You know this is new to me too." Imani countered.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Well, think about how anxious he must feel. So you have to forgive him." Odagiri stood up for his friend.

"That's no excuse. A week ago, he wouldn't even speak to me, and now he's behaving like some jealous, possessive boyfriend. I don't need that in my life. That is the way Ren behaved on a more psycho level, of course. And that's why Tsuchi and I can only be friends. Besides, we need to go back to being friends first before we can move forward to anything else." Imani argued.

Odagiri shook his head. "I don't understand you. You know you like him. Why won't you give him a chance, give the both of you a chance?"

Imani shook her head. "I can't."

"You mean you won't." Odagiri countered.

"Look, all his actions tell me that he doesn't trust me. Besides, liking me is life-threatening. I can't allow anyone else to get hurt, and I can't function if I know that my boyfriend doesn't trust me and questions my every action and relationship." Imani exhaled frustrated.

"Those aren't good enough reasons. That sounds like fear talking. Give yourselves a chance at least." Odagiri pleaded with Imani.

"I agree." Odagiri looked up shocked to find Yankumi had joined them. "If you learned anything from your experience, if any of us learned anything from all of your experiences, we have learned that you can't go it alone, and that you have to cherish the relationships that you have while you have them. Remember, we both learned at a young age that we can never be sure how long we have with our loved ones. I learned that when I lost my parents and you. Tsuchi also has learned this lesson."

Imani nodded and put her head down. Odagiri looked back and forth, confused, between Imani and Yankumi. "You're right, Miko. I'll consider it."

"You better. Don't make my precious student unhappy." Yankumi smiled at Imani, who returned the smile. Then Imani jumped up remembering her bath and shut it off.

"Okay guys, out. Thanks for the support. Now I need to take my bath and get ready for tomorrow. We have a lot to do tomorrow."

Odagiri's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Yankumi was about to nervously cover over Imani's statement when Imani smoothly stepped in. "You'll find out tomorrow. Now, thanks for your help with the kitchen. Oh by the way, I'm not angry with him. I understood his emotions. I've already forgiven him, but I want him to worry about it. So don't tell him yet. Good night." She kissed him on the forehead.

He and Yankumi left her as she closed the bathroom door. Odagiri noted that Yankumi was wearing soft pink silk pajamas, which really suited her. She looks cute. Odagiri suppressed the urge to tell her. He closed the door behind him, smiling. Tsuchi was waiting for him.

"How'd it go?" Tsuchi asked.

Odagiri shrugged nonchalantly. "We'll just have to wait and see."

"Can we talk?" Tsuchi asked Odagiri.

Odagiri looked skeptical. "If it's about what happened on the dates or the last two letters, then no. You will have to hear it from Imani."

"No, it's about something else." Odagiri looked puzzled but followed him to his room, where they talked and reached an agreement.

The Next Morning

Although Imani was one of the last ones to go to bed, she was one of the first ones to rise. She had a lot to do that day and woke up refreshed and charged to fix breakfast. Her father was the next to get up. He poured a cup of coffee from the pot Imani had just freshly brewed and grabbed the newspaper. He eyed her as she was putting the finishing touches on breakfast. "Change," was the only thing he said to her.

"That's it? No good morning, Princess. No kiss on the forehead, no kind of greeting, just change?" Imani pouted.

Her father smirked. He came over to hug her and give her a kiss on the forehead. "Good morning, Princess. Now go change. There are five teenage boys with raging hormones around. Your robe is too short, and your night gown is see-through."

Imani rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. "Uh, Daddy," she whined. He arched an eyebrow at her. "Oh, fine. I'll go change."

While Imani and her father had been arguing, Hyuga had woken up and come to the kitchen. He took one look at Imani's outfit and ran to get the others. By the time Imani had walked up the stairs all five boys were there waiting, smiling. "Good morning, Imani." The all said in unison.

Imani rolled her eyes and scoffed. "You're no help." She quickly changed into sweat pants and jersey top. She completed fixing breakfast and called everyone down to eat. She bowed before them. "I apologize. I am still learning to cook Japanese food. So, I made a full, traditional American breakfast." She moved from in front of the table, and they stared at the food. Yankumi came sleepily downstairs at that moment and rushed in front of the guys to be the first one to begin eating. There was nothing left when everyone had finished eating, and they were all full. Imani cleared the dishes and cleaned the kitchen and then ran upstairs to get ready, as did Yankumi.

Imani made an announcement right before leaving. "Please feel free to make yourselves at home. If you need anything, just ask the caretakers of the house. They will be here to provide you with whatever you need. I will be out all day running errands. Let the maid know if you would prefer to order food or for her to make lunch. Please don't disturb my father unless he doesn't mind, and call me if you need anything." Imani was getting ready to walk out the door followed by Yankumi when she remembered something. "Oh yes, don't tear up my house." She looked serious at first and then laughed.

They all laughed, too, except Tsuchi. He was worried that Imani was making excuses to avoid him. He ran up to her. "Do you need some help or company?"

Imani shook her head and smiled at him. "No, Yankumi and I are going to do some girl things together. Don't worry yourself. Relax and have fun." She rubbed his arm and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She was beside herself at what to do with Tsuchi. Imani and Yankumi left to pick up Mariko and then to get the club prepared.

Fortunately, Imani was so busy with the club preparations that she didn't have time to think about what to do with Tsuchi.

Unfortunately Tsuchi had all day to think about what to do about Imani. He only half-heartedly participated in playing games. Half the time he sat by himself to reflect. Odagiri joined him on the couch as Tsuchi absently flipped through the channels on the TV. Tsuchi looked at him. "Do you think she's still angry with me?" Tsuchi asked.

"No, you know that she is not the type of person to hold a grudge. Besides, she likes you too much to let this come between you two." Odagiri reassured him.

"You two seem to be awfully close, and you seem to know her well enough now." Tsuchi was suspicious.

Odagiri sighed. "I thought we had this discussion last night." Tsuchi nodded. "Did I ever tell you what happened the day that I came to confront her about dumping you?" Tsuchi shook his head. Odagiri recounted it, leaving out some of the details. "So you see at all costs, she will protect you even if it means pushing you away or making you hate her or being alone and facing everything by herself. She likes you that much. So give her some space, already. Look how long it took you two to get back together. You don't want to blow it by coming on too strong. The more you push, the more she will retreat."

Tsuchi looked up at Odagiri. "You don't have to tell me that."

Odagiri got up to leave. "Yeah, but it's something you need to remember."

Yankumi and Imani were having a similar conversation on the way back to the house. "So, what are you going to do about Tsuchi?" Yankumi asked Imani curious.

Imani shrugged. "I really don't know."

"Do you like him?" Yankumi searched Imani's face.

"Yes, I do." Imani nodded.

"No, I mean do you like him, like him?" Yankumi asked again.

"Miko." Imani whined. "Yes, I like him, like him, and I knew what you meant."

"So then, what's the problem?" Yankumi looked confused.

"Well, less than a week ago he wasn't even speaking to me, and now he wants to be my boyfriend. This is moving too fast for me. We need to get back to where we were before and then we can move further. Besides, it is obvious that we have some trust issues that need to be resolved. How can we be boyfriend and girlfriend if he doesn't trust me?"

"Do you want to move further?" Yankumi asked the obvious.

Imani sighed. "I don't know. After what happened with Odagiri, I'm half tempted not to have any contact with either of them again."

Yankumi gasped. "You can't do that. That would hurt them both more than anything that has happened so far. Since Odagiri risked his life for you, you are responsible for him. You owe him."

Imani nodded. "I know, but if we hadn't found a double for Odagiri, he would have been millimeters away from losing his life. I can't allow that to happen again. I won't allow it. I wouldn't be able to take it."

Yankumi nodded. "I understand, but he chose to do that. You know my kumi would give their lives for me any second of any day, and I would do the same for them. Wouldn't you do the same for Tsuchi or Odagiri?" Imani nodded. "Didn't you already do the same for me when you were barely more than a toddler?" Yankumi's eyes turned watery. "How would you feel if they wouldn't let you and cut off all contact with you just because things got dangerous? How did you feel when Odagiri didn't contact you to tell you the trouble he was in with his father?"

Imani put her head down and sighed. "I know, but there are times when you won't allow them to help you either. I'm sure. Anyway, I just like him too much to see anything happen to him. "

Yankumi snorted. "Whether it's because of you or not, things happen to the two of them all the time. Look at how much trouble they got into because of the goukon, and that had nothing to do with you."

"True." Imani laughed.

"And look at what happened with Kuduo. That had nothing to do with you either, even though you ended up involved. That had more to do with us than with you, and none of us ever thought for a second of staying away from you to keep you out of harm's way." Yankumi was preaching now.

"So, what you are saying is that I love you guys more than you love me?" Imani joked.

"No, that's not what I am saying at all. I'm saying that the only thing that should stop you is if you two don't share the same feelings or if there is someone else's feelings to consider. Is there someone else in the picture? Is that the real reason?" Yankumi looked concerned.

"No, that's not it at all." Imani was frustrated.

"Because you and Odagiri do make a cute couple." Yankumi grinned goofily.

Imani scowled. "Shut up. No we don't. Odagiri and I are just friends. He is more like a brother to me or a trusted friend."

"That's not what it looked like on the dates to me." Yankumi sounded unconvinced.

"We were just acting. We're cool. We know what's what. Besides, he has a crush on someone else." Imani teased.

"Really, who is it?" Yankumi was excited.

"I'm not telling." Imani teased. "It's not my place to say anyway, but it's not me."

"Oooh, I wonder who it is." Yankumi was frowning trying to think.

"Don't worry about it. What about you? Since Kujo sensei left, is there anyone in your past or present that interests you?"

Yankumi thought for a while as two faces sprang to mind, both inappropriate since one was a cop and the other was a former student. She shook her head, erasing the images. "Anyway, if you insist on only being friends, then don't do anything to encourage him to think otherwise."

Imani nodded. Then she looked up. "Oh, we're home."

They went inside and weren't surprised to find the guys in the game room. Tsuchi looked up. "Imani, you're back." He went to hug her. She returned his hug. He spoke quietly. "Can we go somewhere and talk privately?"

She shook her head. "We don't have the time to talk. We have to get dressed and go to the club."

Tsuchi frowned puzzled. "The club?"

"Someone I know very well opened a club and is hosting a private party to get more people interested in it and to congratulate some friends. We're all invited." Then Imani spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "Guys, it is time for us to get dressed and get ready to go."

Odagiri was confused, while the others all nodded. "Huh?"

"We didn't bring club clothes with us." Take spoke.

"You don't have to worry about that." Tsuchi spoke up.

"Yeah as we speak I bet there is someone laying out our clothes right now." Odagiri chimed in. As if on cue, the maid and butler walked in with five garment bags and handed them to the guys.

Yabuki looked at the bag. "How do we know these will fit?"

Hyuga also spoke. "Yeah, and how do we know they will be our style?"

Imani placed her hands on her hips. "Just go get ready. I guarantee you, you will like the clothes that I chose, and you will have an unforgettable night tonight."

(A/N): Yes, I know. It is taken Imani and Tsuchi forever to work through their feelings. Unfortunately, there are a whole lot of other things they will have to go through before they can resolve their issues. Did you notice a slight Shinkumi moment? Well, I'll hint at it again later.

Next Chapter PREVIEW: So it was arrogance, ignorance, and foolishness that would coalesce in one night and at one location, Club XLR8, and all plans culminate into one tragic occurrence.