Chapter 2: The Lawyer

Two weeks previous

"Damn brats get stupider every year," Yamaguchi growled to herself as she marked her tenth exam with a bright red single digit. "No you moron, no! How did you get this answer? Where did it come from?" she continued to mumble, those around her well used to her self absorbed rants come exam season.

Forty minutes and 13 exams later, Yamaguchi capped her trusty marker and slapped it on the table. "The future of our nation is doomed," she announced to the now empty room. "It's filled with idiots who couldn't tell the difference between a multiplication or an addition sign if their lives were on the line." She paused. "Maybe I should put their lives on the line."

"If you get into trouble over that, you have my card," answered a teasing voice from behind the opening screen door.

"Shinohara-sensei!" Yamaguchi brightened. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard the boss got out of the hospital. If he's feeling up to it, I have a few papers that need his attention and I believe he had something to discuss with me."

Yamaguchi pulled out a seat cushion for Shinohara to sit on. "Wakamatsu took him to the hospital for a checkup but he should be back around now. Sit down while you wait and I'll have Minoru make tea."

"No need to take the trouble," he answered, taking the seat next to her. "I'm fine."

"Oi, Minoru, get over here and bring Shinohara-sensei some tea and sweets!" Yamaguchi hollered. She looked at Shinohara and smiled sweetly, "I insist."

Smiling, he nodded his assent. "Hard at work I see," he said, inclining his head towards her graded exams.

"There's not a smart one in the bunch," she replied, noting the circled six on the top of the stack, "but stupidity alone doesn't really hurt anyone and they're all good kids."

"It's in your nature to find the best in your students," he answered with a hint of a smile. "That's the kind of person you are."

Yamaguchi turned bright red, bashfully hiding her face with one hand. "Sensei…"

Peeping from the hallway, both Minoru and Tetsu watched their ojou turn into a love-sick puppy, squealing in embarrassment in front of Shinohara-sensei.

"Oi, how long do you think ojou will stay in love with sensei?" Minoru whispered while prepping the small table with various snacks he knew she was fond of.

"Until hell freezes over," Tetsu answered. "Ojou's loyal."

"It's kind of been awhile though, hasn't it?" Minoru answered. "You think she should move on or something?"

"That's not for us to question," Tetsu gruffly replied, "ojou is ojou; she'll do what she wants."

"But I've been thinking," Minoru continued, "that maybe sensei ain't into our ojou that way."

"How does that matter? If he don't like her like that, we'll force him to!" Tetsu grunted.

"Minoru, Tetsu! What are you fools jabbering about over there like old women? Where's sensei's tea?" Yamaguchi's voice hollered through the wall. "Get your asses over here!"

"Shit," both mumbled. Hustling to their feet, Minoru lead the way carrying the serving table with Tetsu at his heel. Reaching the family room, Tetsu slid the screen door open for Minoru to walk through.

Putting the table down, Minoru was had just finished pouring sensei's tea when they heard the front gate squeaking open.

"We're home!" a voice bellowed from the entrance, followed by greetings chanted to the boss from those in the vicinity.

"It looks like the boss is back, ojou."

"Yeah," Yamaguchi echoed, disappointed that she was losing Shinohara's company so soon after he arrived.

Oblivious, Shinohara stood up and smiled at her, "Good luck with your students, Kumiko-chan. I'll see you around."

"Thanks for the tea, Minoru," Shinohara said to the man before leaving the room.

"No prob, sensei." Minoru waited until he could no longer hear the footsteps of Shinohara and turned to face Yamaguchi. "Ojou, you look a little down. Something wrong?"

Startled, she looked up at Minoru in annoyance. "What are you, my therapist?"

"Sorry," he replied meekly. "Do you need anything else?"

"No," she answered before pausing to look at the table with the cups set out for two. "Actually, why don't you and Tetsu take this tea to oji-san and sensei."

"I'll make em a new batch, that's for you, ojou." Before she could protest, he scooped up one of the cups and fled the room with Tetsu in tow.

"Oi, Minoru!" she called after him. He paused outside the door. "Thanks, for the tea."

"Is that all of the paperwork that needs my attention?" Kuroda asked Shinohara from his bed, a thick wool blanket covering the bottom half of his body and his back resting against the headboard. Several packets of papers lay sprawled across the bed.

Shinohara nodded. "That's it for today." Looking at the dragon, Shinohara felt a small twinge of pain to see the deep set lines in the man's brow and the slight tremble of his worn hands.

"Heh, it's a little bit early for you to be feeling sorry for me," Kuroda responded, his voice dry. "I'm not exactly dead."

"You're too stubborn to die," Shinohara answered. He would have liked for Kuroda too take it easy for a bit, but he knew full well there was no arguing with the man. "Kyou-san said you wanted to speak to me?"

"Ah. That's right, Kyou is setting up an omiai for Kumiko. I'd like to go over this kid with you and see what you think of him."

Careful to keep his face blank, Shinohara's voice was neutral when he answered. "Of course."

"He's from the Tsubatsu clan in Osaka. They call him the Red Lion," Kuroda continued, his arms folded inside his yukata. "He's been with that gang for five years and has just turned 24. He doesn't hold any posts but he seems to be intelligent and well respected."

Shinohara studied Kuroda, not sure what the man was driving at but certain that this candidate was significant in some way. With only five years under his belt, they both knew the credentials of this kid were going to be sketchy. Under normal circumstances he would hardly be worth a mention. He waited for Kuroda to continue.

"Actually, you've met this boy once or twice, I believe. He was a student of Kumiko her first year at Shirokin."

"Sawada Shin," Shinohara answered, immediately remembering the sullen faced student that had faced off with him all those years ago.

"It seems the boy has become a man," Kuroda chuckled. "We haven't responded to the challenge yet. I'd like you to go to Osaka and meet him face to face before he appears before Kumiko. I'd send Kyou but he's needed here to run the gang now that I'm constricted to the home." He looked up at Shinohara, eyes serious. "And it's your personal judgment I'd like to hear. Find out about the man he's become."

Shinohara nodded. "As you wish."

"I'll have Wakamatsu clear up your schedule for next Tuesday. The omiai will be set up after your approval."

"I understand." Shinohara stood up, "Is there anything else…?"

"Find out if he's ready, Shinohara-sensei. If you see any weakness in his character from inexperience, reject the challenge…" his voice trailed off. "And if he is ready and you have any other objections, reject the challenge. Whether or not he meets Kumiko, it's entirely your call."

Shinohara made for the door, pausing with his hand resting against the screen.

"Five years ago a boy came to me." Kuroda answered Shinohara's silent question. "He knelt on the floor in front of me, looked me in the eyes, and would you like to know what he said?" he asked.

"Please continue."

"He said to me, 'Kuroda-san, I am in love with your grand daughter. I would like your blessing to marry her.' The audacity of this kid, and the entire time, unflinchingly he kept my gaze. I thought to myself then, 'now here is a boy that has the makings of a real man.' The look of his eyes, they reminded me a lot of yours when you first came to work for me. No matter how many times I told you to get lost, you looked straight forward and you've never looked back since. Like you, he only looks forward. I think it would take that kind of man to win Kumiko's heart. Don't you agree, Shinohara-sensei?"

A knock was heard from outside the room. "It seems it's time for my medication." Kuroda grunted from the bed. "How tiresome. On your way out send Kyou in."

Nodding, respectfully Shinohara bowed to Kuroda and took his leave.

Kuroda sighed after Shinohara left the room. He had long felt the years roll in and he was beginning to think he wouldn't mind so much a permanent retirement. It'd be nice to have another child in the house again. A little girl as feisty as Kumiko or as gentle as his Yuriko. He sighed once more. It seemed age was making him soft and nostalgic, proving the time for a replacement was long past due.

"Are you leaving so soon, Shinohara-sensei?" A breathless voice asked from the front gate.

He turned to smile at Yamaguchi. "My business here is done."

"I see. Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" she asked, eyes a little hopeful.

"Unfortunately I've got some matters I need to attend to. Another time," he answered smoothly.

Disappointed yet hardly fazed, she held her hand up, "Stay here and I'll have someone drive you back home."

"That's fine. Tonight I'd prefer to get some fresh air."

"Are you sure? It'd be easy enough for anyone to take you back," she answered. "And its pretty late out right now, you should be careful." Kumiko frowned, thinking of all the women who would attack Shinohara at this time of night.

Shinohara laughed a little and reached out to ruffle her hair. "I think I'll be alright, Kumiko-chan. Take care of yourself and Kuroda-san." Slipping his hands into his pockets, he walked out of the front gate and disappeared into the street.