Two days later, Ren was sparring with Kyo-san in the backyard when Shin came out and signaled an emergency halt. Kyo-san nodded to both of them and left the area to allow them some privacy.
"Ren, we'll be seeing Tanukibara-kaichou first thing tomorrow morning. Wear your formal kimono." Shin said gravely.
Ren felt his blood ran cold. "What happened?" He asked in a small voice.
Shin gritted his teeth. "Taiyo Wataru called. The Superintendent had just hand delivered a stack of documents to the Taiyo clan headquarters."
"No way, even after everything we did?"
"Yes. In fact, probably because of everything we did."
"How long of a grace period did he give them?" Ren asked. Hopefully, there would be enough time for most of them to go into hiding.
"None. The orders were all effective immediately."
"That bastard!"
"Indeed."
"Well, we need to move now!" Ren gripped his katana tightly in anger. "We offered Taiyo Wataru sanctuary, did we not?"
"Really, Ren? I don't think Taiyo-san will appreciate you marching into The Woodstock with a katana, even if they are celebrating its reopening."
"Huh?"
"The Woodstock is reopening next Thursday, followed by the rest of their businesses on Friday." Shin said solemnly. "Superintendent's orders."
"Wha- you bastard!" Ren yelled at Shin.
Shin laughed. "Nope, that's the Superintendent. I'm quite legitimate."
"Don't be a smartass. You made me think we were going into war!" Ren hollered.
Shin pulled his still-fuming brother into a celebratory hug. "Oh come off it, Grumpy! In case you haven't realized, we did it! And you did very well, Ren. I'm so proud of you!"
Ren couldn't bring himself to stay angry at Shin. "Oh alright." He grumbled half-heartedly, before his lips gave up and curved into a joyous grin.
"I thought I should let you know that the problem has been solved."
Yankumi gave a small shriek and turned around abruptly. "Stop creeping up to people soundlessly!" She scolded, holding her heart.
Shin laughed aloud. "I wasn't creeping up to you. I walked up to you quite normally."
"Normal people make footstep sounds and breathing noises." She pointed out.
Shin snorted. "You're making me sound like a vampire."
Yankumi made a face at him. "Well, I suppose congratulations are in order?"
"That sounds like a question, but thank you nevertheless. And I need to thank you for your little act too, bad as it was." Shin teased. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. "I can't afford a gold bar just yet, but maybe this will suffice until then?"
Yankumi stared at him. Was he being serious? She was just kidding! Shin was still waiting patiently, his hand held out in front of her. Shakily, she reached out her hand and took the box.
She looked at Shin uncertainly. He raised an eyebrow amusedly. "It's really for you, Kumiko. Go on, open it. I promise you it doesn't say 'Oedo-ikka' or 'Maths suck' or anything like that."
His joke seemed to relax Yankumi a little. Clearly he was referring to Tetsu and Minoru's disastrous attempts at giving her presents. 'Yeah Kumiko,' She chastised herself. 'He's just giving you a gift as a token of appreciation. It's just like any other gift from Tetsu or Minoru. There's no special meaning attached to it…'
The next moment, however, she found herself having a hard time believing her own sermon. Before her eyes was the most exquisite ruby bracelet she had ever seen. It consisted of a platinum chain interwoven with bright red rubies. There was something different with these rubies though. She had never seen rubies with such a vibrant shade of red. In fact, it was almost the exact same shade and character as his hair –maroon-ish but still extraordinarily vivid. And at the end of the chain was a tiny lion-shaped charm, almost indiscernible to a casual onlooker; unless you were specifically looking for it.
"Shin, I… I can't accept this. This is too much…" She whispered.
"Be lest assured, Kumiko; that costs a lot less than a solid gold bar." Shin deadpanned.
"I was joking!"
"I know." Shin smiled. "I was just waiting for a reason to give the bracelet to you." His voice dropped lower. "Do you want to know a secret, Kumiko?"
Yankumi didn't trust herself to speak at that moment, so she just continued to stare at him.
Shin leaned in next to her ear. "I made this for you when I was in Africa."
Yankumi squeaked slightly at both the disclosure and the feeling of Shin's warm breath in her ear. Vaguely, her mind was telling her that she should say something. Preferably something along the lines of 'you're joking!' but instead what came out was "huh?"
Shin reached into the box and unclasped the bracelet. "Here, let me put it on you." He pulled her left wrist towards him and fastened the bracelet over it. "I was going to make you a necklace," He said, tracing his finger along the bracelet softly. "But I remembered your propensity to get into fights, and I didn't want anyone to use it to choke you. I hope this will be a safe enough companion for you… To keep you company when I can't be there." The last part was barely audible.
Yankumi's head was spinning, not knowing what to think. Of all the times she had imagined Burberry-sama and Romeo-san saying something along those lines to her… She couldn't believe that in the end, it was Sawada Shin that filled that role in real life. She felt cheated and thrilled at the same time. What was his intention, really? Did he think that he could just toy around with her feelings because she couldn't get a 'proper' man in her life?
Luckily, Shin knew her well enough to recognise that look on her face. He knew not to push further. He stood up and spoke in a normal volume. "Well, I've gotta go report to Ojiisan and Tanukibara-kaichou now. I'll see you around, Kumiko. I hope you like the gift." And with that, he left her to her thoughts.
Yankumi's attention was still transfixed on the ruby bracelet. She recalled the way Shin had caressed the bracelet and suddenly felt almost jealous of it. It also made her think about the kiss that he had planted on her head two days ago. She didn't know what to think of Shin's behaviour, or her body's traitorous response to him. 'He's a student!' Her brain chastised. 'Ex-student. Or rather, soon-to-be superior.' Her heart argued.
'He's 5 years younger than you!'
'No one understands you better than he does.'
'He doesn't see me that way!'
'Oh, is that a ruby bracelet I see on your hand? Complete with a lion charm? To keep you company when he can't be there? What about that kiss? Calling you Kumiko? Taking over the family business?'
'That's… Oh I give up. He's rather attractive nowadays, isn't he?' The inner voice giggled.
'Understatement of the year, Kumiko. And gods, that voice, that charisma, that aura!'
'I know right! Not to mention the way he looks when he fights!'
"Absolutely and unmistakeably sexy."
'Uh, Kumiko?'
'Yeah?'
'You do realise I'm just a part of you right?'
'Oh. Right.'
'Well, since you've finally come into your senses, I'm gonna leave now. By the way, go get him, girl!'
Shin's eyes sparkled happily when he sat down for dinner – opposite Yankumi as usual – and noticed the bracelet on her wrist.
"That's a very nice bracelet, Kumiko. Where did you get it?" Kuroda asked genially, although he already had a very good idea where it had come from.
Yankumi blushed slightly. "Shin gave it to me as a thank you present for helping him with the Aiken problem." She said softly.
Minoru leaned forward curiously to inspect the bracelet. "Are those rubies real?" He asked innocently.
Tetsu slapped his bald head. "How dare you question Aniki like that?"
Shin laughed. "Lighten up on him, Tetsu, you know that he doesn't mean any harm!" He looked at Minoru. "Yes, they're real – about as real as I am." He said, shooting Yankumi a meaningful gaze.
Yankumi looked at him contemplatively. Did that statement meant what she thought it meant? Sometimes, the way Shin spoke could be absolutely infuriating. There could be at least 5 different implications in one sentence, depending on how you interpreted it. Ren talked like that on some occasions too, which made Yankumi want to strangle them both. What was wrong with speaking in normal Japanese?
Thankfully, Shin had caught the sign of what looked like an internal rant; so he immediately nudged Kuroda to open the meal. He wanted to wait for the right time and place to confess to her, not while seated at the dinner table surrounded by the rest of the family.
Kuroda smartly took the hint. "We give thanks for all life…"
The next day, Yankumi was walking home from Akadou when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned her head and – found a finger pressed against her cheek. "Baka." A cheeky voice said.
Yankumi smiled for more reasons that one. Despite her acceptance that Shin was no longer her student, she really missed their interactions in the past. Ever since he moved into the Oedo house, however, Shin had been a little distant. He did not avoid her or anything, but he seldom sought her out specially like this. That; and also because this particular gesture had been one of the starting points of their mutual understanding many years ago.
"What's up, Shin? Why are you here? Please don't tell me you're gonna recruit another student of mine again." She asked, half-dreading and half-jokingly.
Shin smiled. "No, but you can't say that you're not proud of everything Ren has achieved so far. I have seen the pride in your eyes every time you look at him, Yankumi."
"Yankumi?" She echoed uncertainly. She had not heard him call her that in a long time.
"That's your nickname, is it not?" Shin grinned impishly. "Okay, now, Yankumi, tell me; which side of me do you prefer – Sawada Shin the delinquent, or Kuroda Shin the Yondaime?"
"What kind of question is that?" Yankumi asked incredulously, mentally starting another rant about smart-asses who cannot speak in an understandable language.
"Whoa whoa, hold your horses Kumiko." Shin turned serious. This was getting dangerous if Yankumi was getting upset at him so easily. It was the second time now that a simple statement from him had caused an instantaneous negative reaction. "What's bothering you?"
Yankumi glared at him. "You know what!"
Shin looked at her confusedly. He really did not know what. "I don't, Kumiko. Contrary to popular belief, I really can't read minds. I can sense emotions, and I know that I'm making you upset; but I can't tell why." He said patiently.
Her expression softened slightly at his explanation. She had initially thought that he was doing that just to annoy her. "You tend to speak in riddles." She said shortly but not unkindly.
Shin broke into an apologetic smile. "Ah, you mean the diplomatic speak? I'm sorry Kumiko, it's not deliberate. I guess I use it so often that it slips into everyday speech. What I meant is, I am asking you to have dinner with me; and I wanted to know if you would prefer to hang out with me as I am right now, or as we used to back in the days. Is that better?"
Yankumi nodded in understanding, but was confronted with a new question. Which one would she prefer? She missed Sawada Shin, but she was starting to like Kuroda Shin too.
"Why aren't we eating at home?" She asked slowly, trying to stall the question in order to have more time to think.
"I eat with everyone in the Family in private every so often. It helps me bond with that person on a more personal level." Shin said.
Yankumi knew that it was true. Shin would excuse himself and one of the henchmen from their family dinners from time to time, choosing to eat outside rather than at home. On rare occasions, Ojiisan would get Wakamatsu to take everyone out for dinner as well, opting to have a private meal with Shin at home.
"I'm not really part of the clan though." She stated.
Shin gave her a tight smile. He looked almost… sorry; for reasons unfathomable to Yankumi. "No, not part of the clan, but always part of the family." He said softly.
Yankumi examined the man in front of her. Yes, man. Not a boy, not a delinquent, but a fully-grown man. A man who held considerable power, but had never allowed it to go to his head. A leader who commanded absolute loyalty, but had never taken it for granted. Sawada Shin was a good leader, but he could not even hold a candle to Kuroda Shin.
She made her decision. "I've spent a lot of time with Sawada Shin, and as much as I missed my favourite student; I think it is time for me to get to know my future leader."
Shin smiled in approval. "Good choice. It also meant the difference between Kuma's ramen and fine-dining." He teased her gently.
Yankumi laughed. "Hey, no looking down on Kuma's ramen." She said mock-sternly. "I call it Student Bonding Ramen. It's a specialty of mine."
Shin chuckled. "Indeed. Now, eating with the Yondaime usually entails a chauffeured car, but I think you would rather walk than being seen within 10 miles of our family car." Every car owned by the Oedo clan had '8-9-3' as their number plates, which was considered a great honour in the Yakuza; but was a dead giveaway in public. Shin was of the opinion that the Yakuza needed to learn the concepts of subtlety. That was one thing he planned to change when he take over.
Yankumi shuddered at the thought. "Yes, please."
Shin grinned at her and offered his arm. "This way." He said mischievously.
Yankumi hesitated for a second before deciding that two could play at this game. She hooked her hand through his arm firmly. "Lead the way."
"Isn't this a little too… romantic?" Yankumi asked tentatively when they sat down in a private room decorated with candles and roses.
Shin privately thought so too, but he had been willing to shed his ego for the sake of the love of his life. "Does it make you feel uncomfortable?" He asked.
"A little." Yankumi admitted. It was kind of funny, however. She would have been overjoyed if Kujo-sensei or Natsume-sensei had planned this for her when she was infatuating over them; but it felt wrong to be in this kind of setting with Shin. Not that she was not interested in a romantic relationship with him; but she just envisioned it to be a lot more natural and masculine, judging from Shin's character.
Shin looked slightly relieved at the admission. He went to the intercom and buzzed a server. "Prepare another room for us please, no decorations necessary."
"Yes, Young Master." Came the reply.
10 minutes later, they switched dining rooms. This time, the table was tastefully but not overly decorated. Just an elegant strip of purple table runner draped across the dining table and a simple grey chair cover over the seats.
"Better?" Shin asked.
"Much." Yankumi agreed. This felt a lot more appropriate.
Shin poured her some saké to start the meal. "Kumiko, first and foremost, I owe you an apology."
"What for?" Yankumi asked bewilderedly.
"I have taken away your birthright as the immediate heir of the Kuroda family. For that, I must express my most sincere regrets." As Shin had been legally adopted by Ojiisan, he became a direct grandson of the Kuroda family, as opposed to Yankumi who was an indirect granddaughter. The Japanese family structure was patriarchal in nature; therefore Shin outranked Yankumi in terms of entitlement regardless of his age.
"Oh, that? Don't worry about it, Shin. It's not like the Kuroda family has that many assets; and I know that you didn't do it for the money. Moreover, the Kuroda family's greatest inheritance is the mantle of leadership of the Oedo clan, which already rightfully belongs to you in any case." She said generously.
Shin smiled. "Thank you, Kumiko. And just so you know, I've promised Ojiisan to always provide for you no matter what; even if you become my sworn enemy in the future."
"So you'll be paying me to kill you?" Yankumi laughed.
Shin pretended to pout. "I have no choice. I'm bound by my word and my honour."
Yankumi found herself fighting to keep from swooning at his statement. She had underestimated the charisma of a true man. Who needed little pink hearts and whimsical poems when you could get real deal – brains, brawns and all?
Shin was smirking smugly on the inside. He knew that he had finally caught her attention. Shin – 1, the rest of the world – 0.
