Thank you very much for the reviews! They all really brightened up my day. Yes, the next chapters will be longer (though this one isn't too long).

Special mention to Kawaii Selene. If it weren't for her, I still wouldn't know that my anonymous reviews are disabled. It's okay now! All anonymous reviews are welcome in my page! Arigatooooo!

Disclaimer:

My10315: Oh, seriously Morimoto-kun, do I have to do this?

Morimoto: Of course you have to! And don't you "kun" me,I don't even know you!

My10315: You're cruel. Alright. Gokusen and all the characters are yours. You're a genius. I don't need some rubbing!

Morimoto: (nodding importantly) Yes, I am a genius.

My10315: (dancing around like a maniac) Haha, but this story is mine! All mine! Fwahahaha!

Morimoto: AH, just SHUT the HELL UP and get ON with it!

My10315: (blowing raspberries) Killjoy!

Ahem, and so, with no more further ado, here is the second chappie! Please R&R!

Walking Home

Yankumi gave a very loud sigh and smiled to herself. Another day was over. That meant that Day 48 of this semester was done, and a good 149 days were left before graduation. Pride for her students overwhelmed her accompanied by a sting of loneliness. They'll be leaving her soon to take on anything the world has to offer. Even then, she would still make sure that they have her support. And if someone makes a move to hurt 'em…well…

I'll take 'em out. And she pictured her students' future offenders cowering and shrieking before her. The corner of her mouth twitched into an evil smile. Oooh…not bad. With effort, she shook her head to force the sadistic ideas away.

Walking out of the gate, she saw the retreating backs of her students and gave an undignified sniff. She'll miss them all for sure when they finally leave her!

"Getting sentimental again?" The teacher almost jumped in surprise as the familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. As true as day, there stood her redheaded student with a hint of amusement glimmering in his eyes. Somehow, she had a feeling that he could read through her thoughts with that intelligent gaze.

She threw Shin a very annoyed look and continued walking ahead. "What makes ya so sure, huh? You haven't gone psychic on me, have ya?" Yankumi unconsciously shifted into her yakuza accent as she spoke to him. But then again, she has always felt comfortable with him. Whether it had something or nothing to do with the fact that he was aware of her background, she wasn't exactly sure.

Shin raised a brow and didn't reply. There wasn't really an answer to this question as Yankumi's mind was an open book to him. Instead, he preoccupied himself with watching her bobbing pigtails. As he did so, he couldn't help but share her thoughts, and he felt both depressed and excited at the idea. In a few more months, he would no longer be with his friends; they will all be pursuing their each and own paths. They will remain friends for sure, but chances of meeting each other in the future were slim. Then again, that also meant that he would no longer have this jolly woman in front of her as sensei. Perhaps, then, he might have a chance; right now, he knew that she only sees and cares for her only as his student. It wasn't in his nature to hope for more.

And there was still that lawyer…his jaw tightened considerably as he was remembered, for the thousandth time, how Kumiko called out Shinohara's name.

Meanwhile, Yankumi bobbed onwards, aware that Shin was closely behind her, yet completely oblivious of his churning thoughts. "So, why aren't ya with the others today? They're probably shitting themselves without yah already."

Cocking his head to her, he shrugged. "I'm visiting someone. Tired of my company already?"

"That what ya were thinkin'?" she narrowed her eyes and stopped walking completely. "And will you walk beside me? I hate it when I keep turnin' my head at ya!"

Shrugging again, he took the place beside her and they proceeded once more. Shin was relieved to see her smiling again as she hummed a simple tune to herself. The corners of his mouth relaxed into an almost half-smile when a note went off-key.

"You going to Kamiyama-chou with me, huh?" she murmured at him, still looking ahead.

"Un," was his only reply. After some time, he added. "Kyou told you?"

"He hinted that you might come. I didn't ask him why though—wait, ya aren't planning anything bad, eh?" She cast him a suspicious look.

"Like what?"

"Like going to them bars and clubs again," She said bluntly and he reddened slightly as he remembered the very unattractive woman wearing a nurse's outfit. He shuddered as he came to the part where she almost tore her pants off. He was lucky he escaped. "You're underage. Don't you forget that yet, kid."

Underage. Kid. As though he needed reminding that there was this damned six-year gap between them! He knew she didn't say that to hurt him, but the words still came to him as a slap. He dug his hands deeper into his pockets and sighed.

"I asked Kyou to train me," he said finally. "He reckons we might start today."

"Really? That's good," she looked happy again. Too happy, fact. He couldn't decide whether it was because she wanted him to train, or because he was sure to get a great deal of bashing. "Did Kyou tell you that he was the one who taught me to fight?"

"Yeah, I think he told me once."

"You'll learn so much from him. Kyou-san is a great man," she said, brimming with pride.

"Yeah, he is," he smiled as he remembered the man's teases and passionate lectures on manliness. Thinking of him reminded him what an elder brother should be. Shin had a brother, too, but he knew how the older man looked down on him. "He's already taught me so much already."

"Ehh? Like what?" she asked keenly. Yankumi's eyes widened when she realized that Kyou had previously gotten him a gal…! She gasped. Could it be that Shin has already had—already did that? Of course, it was not impossibility since many young ones engage in premarital sex. But the idea that it was Shin and not just any other teenager made her squirm. She wasn't sure if it had something or nothing to do with him being her student. One thing was for sure though; she was definitely going to kill the woman who stole his virtue!

Shin looked at her, too, and detected the deep-red blush spreading on her face which transformed into a nasty devil-look. He immediately understood her train of thought and sweat-dropped. "I-idiot, it's not like that! Stop thinking dirty thoughts—baka."

"Then what have you learned from him?" Her curiosity was piqued.

That you like fundoshi-wearing men. Surely, Yamaguchi would beat him to pulp if he dared mention it.

"Some things," he said vaguely. Extremely nettled by his unelaborated reply, she decided to beat the answer out of him. But Shin detected the evil smile beforehand and sprinted off before she could do him bodily damage.

"Hey! Come back here, yah little twit!" but soon, she was laughing as she ran after him.

Needless to say, they arrived at the area five minutes earlier than expected with Kumiko's arm hooked around his neck, smiling and giggling at his futile attempts to move away; though enjoying their close contact, Shin couldn't risk being strangled to death.

"Get…off!"

"Not before yah spit what Kyou-san's been teaching yah, ya brat!"

"Let go—"

"Hey—"

"Ah, Kumiko-chan…and the Red Lion! So, you've given up on Shinohara-sensei, eh?"

"EHH!" Both of them stopped bickering and looked up to see Uomasa-san's wife looking at them with a amused and triumphant expression on her face. Kumiko was suddenly aware of how conspicuous their position might seem; with her arm hooking her neck and his hands holding her arms like that…they look like a—a—

—a flirting couple. Shin thought inwardly. He peered up at her red face and she knew she was pretty much thinking the same thing. Before any of them could explain, the older woman spoke again.

"Well, that's a development then! A woman can't wait forever! Oh, here, I've got something for your grandfather!" She handed Shin a large and heavy squash and to Yamaguchi a plastic of potato tubers.

"Th-thanks, oba-san. But really, it's not like tha—"

"Oh, you don't have to be shy of having such a fine, young lover! Being with younger men'll make you feel younger, too," and she winked at Yamaguchi's beet-red face. Looking around discreetly, the older woman leaned close to her and whispered quite loud enough to be heard by Shin. "Tell me when you're planning to do it, eh, Kumiko-chan? I might give you some tips."

Before she could say anything more, Yankumi hastily said good-bye anddragged Shin from the stall as fast as she could.

As they trudged along the road with Yamaguchi muttering something about old women, Shin smiled to himself. The woman caller him Kumiko's young lover. Gazing intently at her petite form, and still-red face, he smiled even wider.

I like that.

Yeah, I know. Not much happened in this chappie, but it still is winding. There will be more in the next chapters. I'll update as soon as I can! If there are errors, please inform me so that I may correct them. Thank you!

Rocks?

Scissors?

Papers?

Please Review!