Thank you to all the reviews! I must say that I was really encouraged to continue by all of 'em. To those who haven't read the manga, I highly recommend that you read 'em. Calophi has this great/cool/amazing fansite called The Whip of Love. It provides manga downloads (English translated). Calophi is really cool. So, if anyone out there hasn't visited The Whip of Love yet, I encourage you to by going to Calophi's page and connecting to the url. It is most recommended!

Special mention to:

dead2self: Yeah. That part did sound quite awkward. I haven't edited that paragraph as you've recommended, but I will as soon as I can. There's actually a problem with our PC recently and I had to update this chap through a borrowed laptop (I'm armed with a handy diskette) so I have to hurry. Thanks very much for your comments! I'll be sure to repost it!

Calophi: I actually am dedicating this fic to you. By reading your fics, I became acquainted to the Whip of Love and the manga downloads that you've and provided. You're so coooool. (Sigh) I'm not actually sure you'll ever get to read this lowly fic that I've made. Still, I just want every reader to know how great you are! So there!

Disclaimer:

My10315: Yoohoooooo! Morimoto-kun! (In a sultry sing-song voice) Where-are-yoouu?

Morimoto: Gah! Get away from me! You give me the shivers!

My10315: (Snivelling) How crueeeel. I only wanted to set the disclaimer.

Morimoto: Do it yourself.

My10315: Aww, alright, baby.

Morimoto: (turning paper-white) I'm not your baby!

My10315: Hmm, darling?

Morimoto: (horrified) I'd rather spoon my eyes out!

My10315: (grinning deviously) Aww, but Morimoto-kun—

Morimoto: I told you never to "kun" me!

My10315: (sighs) Gokusenbelongstoyouyouandolnyyouit'snotminesoscrewmeforwantingtobeageniuslikeyou! Whew. Satisfied?

Morimoto: (grinning smugly) Of course.

Ahem. So, with no more of that bickering, here comes the next chapter!

Bathing Issues

"Fuji really likes you!" Yankumi commented and laughed. Fuji, by standards, was not your normal everyday dog but this did not prevent him from occasionally jumping on people. The moment they entered the gates, the large dog had bounded at her companion and had eagerly licked his face. Naturally, Shin fell flat on his back with a thud.

"So I've been told," he said dryly and scowled as he struggled to sit up. Every inch of his face was wet with dog spit, not to mention his back was sore from the unexpected impact with the ground. He tried to push the dog away, but as though not understanding his cue, Fuji placed his heavy paws on Shin's shoulders and lovingly abused his already much abused face. He could almost swear he could taste the smelly saliva. Yes, wonderful indeed.

Yamaguchi doubled over laughing as she watched the displeased expression on his face. He looked up at her consciously and he blushed—wait, was that really a blush? No, she must be seeing things. Shin doesn't blush, or rather, she never thought him to be the type. She thought she did see him blush once when she had rescued him from his father's house. But then again, it could easily be the trick of the light. Blinking, she looked at him more closely; there were no traces of redness in his cheeks. She must've really been seeing things then.

"Ojou, welcome back!" came Kyou's warm greeting as he came out of the house. He grinned when he saw Shin sitting on his rump with Fuji, who had grown tired of licking his face, comfortably lying on his lap. "And Young Master Red Lion is here, too! Doing warm-ups, eh?"

He glared at the man. Moron.

Kumiko smiled and shooed Fuji from Shin's lap and helped him up. The dog's liking for Shin was a mystery to her. But then again, Fuji has always been a strange dog.

"I think ya need a change of clothing," she mused. Much to Shin's annoyance and embarrassment, she sniffed him and added. "And I think ya need a bath."

"Right-O, ojou," and bellowing for Tetsu, Kyou ushered Shin inside the house, and into the bathroom. Tetsu arrived with a fresh towel and a set of clothes. Before he could protest, Kyou pushed him in and shut the door behind him.

"Guess I have no choice," he murmured to himself. Wrinkling his nose, he sneezed violently at the lingering canine smell. Not that I mind. With that, he threw off his clothes, went inside the shower room, and closed the curtains.

Meanwhile, the teacher led Fuji to Minoru to be fed. "By the way, Shin'll be stayin' here for dinner so you should cook some extra rice and soup for him, ok?"

"Alright, ojou."

For no reason at all, she jumped up, feeling especially cheerful. With an afterthought, she looked back at Minoru and added, "I think you should also prepare a room for him to stay the night."

"Eh—I mean—but ojou, I thought you said—"

Waving a hand at him, she winked. "He's having fighting lessons with Kyou-san. I doubt he'll be making it out of the front gate tonight."

oo0o0oo

I'm supposed to be wearing this! Shin gulped. He had just finished with the bath, and had already wiped himself up. With the towel wound tightly around his middle, he examined the extra-extra large T-shirts and shorts. He can't possibly get out of the bathroom wearing something that barely hung on his shoulders. The shorts alone—three people his size could fit there. He groaned. "These must be Tetsu's."

To his despair, he realized, as he further examined the clothes that there was no underwear. The idea of having nothing under something so unbearably loose was painstaking. And to top it all, his used clothes were no where in sight; someone must have snuck his clothes out, possibly to clean it up, but then, that meant that his only glimmer of hope has been extinguished.

Nerves twitching, he peered out of the hallway; there was no one in sight. Well, I'm just gonna have to take my chances, he thought wryly and tucked the towel even tighter. He needed to find Kyou, or Tetsu, or any one, just any one who is not Yamaguchi…or Kuroda for that matter.

Kyou, where the fuck are you? With a grimace and a thousand curses under his breath, Shin pattered his way into the corridor, Tetsu's clothes clenched on his hands. He sincerely wished Yamaguchi wouldn't find him in his state.

oo0o0oo

Ryuuichirou Kuroda was having his massage when Kumiko entered. The masseur motioned to leave but she stopped him as she sat down. "Don't worry, this won't take long."

Opening his eyes, Kuroda's eagle-sharp eyes were gentle as he focused them at his granddaughter. "What is it, Kumiko?"

"Shin's having dinner with us tonight. Kyou-san's teaching him how to fight."

"I see. So has the guest room been prepared for him as well?" Kumiko smiled. She really was more like her grandfather in opinions. She nodded in assent.

"Ah, Shinohara is coming here tonight. Were you told?"

"Ehh? Shinohara-sensei?" her mouth fixed into a too-wide and dreamy smile which made Kuroda flinch.

"Yes. He arranged to come here this evening—said it was something important."

Kumiko thoughtfully rested her chin on her hand. "Hmm, I wonder what it could be. I wish he'd come just to visit. He's always too busy with work."

Her grandfather closed his eyes and didn't answer. With a sigh, Kumiko stood up and excused herself from the room. Shinohara-sensei…I wonder how he is? Grandpa said that we'll have to let him get back to the real world eventually. It's the right thing but…

"OUU!" She shouted and fell flat on her back. Angry and flushed, Kumiko stood up to see who tripped her. Instead, she saw a wet puddle on the floor. "ARGH! WHO THE HELL MADE THIS MESS?"

Shinohara forgotten, she quickly followed the trail along the wooden boards, secretly promising pain to whoever made it. The wet foot trail went around the house except the private rooms. Still, there was no one in sight.

As she turned a corner, she fumed. "When I get my hands on that ass, I'll—SH—!" The curse died on her lips as she hurriedly bumped on the offender. The impact made her slip forward, and he fell on his rump with a thud, a surprised and disgruntled Kumiko on top of him.

Recognition hit them. "Sa-Sawada!"

"Yamaguchi, I—" Shin gulped nervously. How in the world did this happen? I shouldn't have left that stupid bathroom…but the thought died immediately as he stared up at her, mesmerized.

Was that her heartbeat? No, it can't be. Hearts don't beat like drums. Shin was too near—much too near for comfort. But strangely, she felt comfortable and sensationally warm all over. In the back of her mind, the image looked alarming and dangerous; a freshly bathed Shin clad only with a towel with her trapping and straddling him on the ground with her arms and legs. She couldn't move.

Her brain completely shut down its defenses.

All she could do was stare at the tendrils of water hanging on his damp hair.

The only other thing she could do was feel his cool skin against her flesh.

Still trapped in her dazed observation, her eyes traveled at his body. Sure, Shin wasn't the muscular and strong-looking type like Kyou or Kyousuke-san. But his lean physique had its own share of strength and masculinity. Kumiko was met with his heated intelligent gaze as she went to his face. A tingling sensation went up her spine.

Shin saw her very flushed face and he felt sure that his face was just as red. He recognized that expression on her face; the first was when she saw him in a fundoshi. But now was more intense, probably because of their position…

This close, he could almost count the strands of loose hair and see the sheen of perspiration on her neck. Studying and feeling her close, his heart thudded in a steady mantra. It was torture to have her so near and not have her.

Meanwhile, from being blank, her mind went completely haywire as a stray thought passed through her head. His lips look so soft…what wouldn't you do for a teeny kiss, eh? And maybe you could bring it to a higher level…

NO! NO! Kumiko Yamaguchi, you can't rape your student! YOU'RE A TEACHER! HIS MATH TEACHER!

If it had a mouth, the stray thought would have grinned eerily. Who cares?

Shin seemed to sense the whirl of thoughts in her head. For one thing, her glazed expression was moving nearer—they were almost nose to nose. He knew what she meant to do and resisted a groan. He could kiss her now if he wanted to, but he knew better. To take advantage of her on this spur of a moment might ruin his future chances. She would never forgive him.

But there's no harm in trying, came a sneaky voice in his head. This chance might never happen again.

Shut up. I'd pass on a hundred chances if it meant I'd have her at the end.

He was determined. Her mouth was almost on his. Closing his vision from the captivated/captivating face, he blurted. "Oi! Will you get off me?"

"Eh—huh?" Kumiko snapped out of her daydream and jumped off him as though he were on fire. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? Her brain began functioning properly again and the whole situation clicked in place on her befuddled mind. She tried to master her breathing and her heartbeat as she exclaimed. "What the hell were yah doin' walking around here like—like that, yah nasty pervert!"

"Idiot! It's not like that!" And in a few words, he calmly explained his dilemma to her and she nodded in uncomfortable silence. Her thoughts wanted to scream at him hoarse: how can you be so calm after what happened? I almost frickin' kissed you! Don't you understand how dangerous—how wrong that would be? Instead, Kumiko stood up and helped him to his feet as well. She couldn't look at him. God, this is embarrassing.

"Wait here. I'll fetch yah some clothes."

"O-okay." Why am I stuttering like an incompetent fool? He groaned inwardly.

She returned in less than a minute with an armful of clothes. "Duncha worry about the underwear, it's unused. Hurry up getting dressed and clean up the shit on the floor; I don't want grandpa slipping on 'em."

"Right," was all he could think of to reply.

Kumiko hurried outside to fan her still jangled nerves and blushing cheeks. What was I thinking? That moment, she actually thought—she actually felt as though she were attracted to Shin. And she actually thought that his lean, un-macho body was sexy. And on the top of that, she almost kissed him! And she doesn't even like him that way!

But what if—

Stop it, Kumiko. You're treading on dangerous stuff. You don't.

"Shit," she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. "This is what I get for hanging around Fujiyama-sensei."

Minoru passed by her carrying a large pot and she suddenly remembered something. "Oi, Minoru, where is Tetsu?"

"Ah, he went out to buy a packet of cigarettes for Kyou-san," he sweat-dropped as her face transformed into a grim expression.

"Good. When he returns, tell him I have something of his," she stood up and cracked her knuckles. Her adopted brother gulped and scurried away with a brief "Yes, ojou." Kumiko normally doesn't enjoy punishing for mistakes, but Tetsu's jumble with clothes pissed her off. And anyways, she hadn't sparred for quite some time, too. It would be a nice exercise…and it would take her mind off things.

Gritting her teeth, she spitefully punched the wooden boards. Damn you, Sawada! I hope Kyou beats you good!

Note: In the manga, Fujiyama likes thin men and used to talk to Yankumi about the "students she'd want to sleep with." Yeah, she's a weird one.

So...how was it? I'd really like to know how you feel about this fic. What would it be?

Grubby Shoes?

Smelly Socks?

Rotten Notebooks?

Tell me. Please? Oh, and should there be errors, please feel free to tell me so that I may correct them.

Please review!