I'm sorry for this very post! I really had no time making a chapter--I was so busy, with the thesis and everything! I'm practically dying here. I wake up, work on the thesis, and go home to sleep. Yep! THat's my life right now! Not to mention I'm high on fast food--urgh! I'm sick of it!

THankfully, my family decided to hitch me away on a 4-day island hopping. Meaning, I won't be handling any thesis stuff right now! YEy for me! I have faith in my groupmates--and anyways, they get day-offs, why don't I get one too? So there. In a few hours, I'll be leaving for our trip! So I decided to finish this chapter once and for all!

THis is the second to the last chapter. The last one will be an epilogue. I'm actually thinking of making a sequel...that is, if my evil schedule permits. And of course, if you welcome it, I might also be fueled to do one. (Sigh) Hope you like this installation! As usual, if there are any editing probs, etc, kindly point em out so I could edit them upon return (sorry, too groggy to edit...it's 1:30 AM...we leave at 3:00 AM. I haven't slept a wink yet).Again, I'm sorry for my lateness...I do hope you guys understand.

Good day and have fun reading!

Ch.15: Resolutions

Discretion is the key, thought Kumiko determinedly as she tiptoed out of her room. It was still too early for anyone to wake. If her family knew her plans of going back to school, they might actually forcefully carry her back to her room, ojou or no. She bit her lip, feeling annoyed. Since coming home from the hospital, she was made to stay at home. They served on her as though she were a piece of china. Well, it was a bit pleasing in the first and second days but—

She shook her head in annoyance. Not that she could do anything about it. Before leaving the hospital, the doctor was quite emphatic about Shin and her getting sufficient rest—6 weeks without any vigorous activities and a return visit by the very end. She fulfilled only two weeks of the bargain—but that won't stop her from going. After all, she was a teacher, and she's been on leave for a month already.

Hehe. It'll be nice to see if my students have forgotten me n' my lessons already. If they have well, she decided with a feral grin and an ominous cracking of knuckles. I'll just have to make 'em remember.

Passing out of the gate stealthily, she wished herself luck and ran down the streets.

"Boss!" Ryuichirou Kuroda looked up from his morning tea at the harried voice of his Young Chief. There was an alarmed expression on his face; immediately the boss knew what it was all about.

"Kumiko's gone?" he said amiably, resuming his tea drinking.

"Yes, boss. It's just like you was thinkin'."

"Hmm. You called him?"

Ooshima Kyoutaro grinned. "Yes, boss."

"That's taken care of then."

Though she left earlier than usual, Kumiko still arrived five minutes late. Unbelievably, all the buses that passed the stop were full. FULL! She snarled incredulously with a huff. In her impatience, she chose to ride through a different station, which led to her walking half of the way to Shirokin. It didn't help that there was a drizzle.

And so the last ten minutes was spent with running, a desperate measure to avoid a tardy arrival. Not that it helped. She climbed up the steps of the school, huffing and breathing wearily.

"Damn, I'm outta shape. I can't believe I'm this tired from such a lil jog," she murmured breathily, quite forgetting her condition in the equation. The stitches on her side ached. With a handkerchief, she dabbed off the water and sweat from her hair and face. Her jacket was already a bit damp so she took it off and tied it around her waist. Pulling two strong breaths into her lungs and ignoring the stinging pain, she pushed the door open with her traditional smile and laugh.

"Good morning, everyone!"

Loud cheers of surprise erupted. The reaction was mixed: some seemed surprised, others tried to hide their disappointment, but the atmosphere was generally happy. Though they would rather die than admit it, the class was glad that their teacher was back—as disappointedly flat-chested she may be.

"Yankumi!" cried Noda. "You finally decided to come back."

"Yep! A whole month is just too long to keep me from my beloved students!"

An involuntary shudder passed simultaneously over the student body. They would never really get used to their homeroom teacher's quirky mushiness.

"Oh, by the way, Yankumi, how's your great-great-great-great-grand uncle?" asked Kuma.

"What great-great--?" she trailed obliviously at them. Class 3-4 stared back at her in turn as though she had grown another head or two. Suddenly, it struck her. "Ooooh, yeah—I mean, yes! Ahem—uhm—yes, that's right! I was visiting my great-great-great-great-grand uncle. Hehehe." She laughed nervously, cursing herself for stuttering. Who made that alibi anyways?

Don't worry, ojou! Came Wakamatsu's confident voice as she remembered that morning. I made ya an alibi back then! Don't worry bout the details—everything's easy-peasy.

Easy-peasy my ass! He is so going to get it later, fumed Kumiko inwardly. Damn it, why in the world didn't I think to get the bloody details?

"He must be really old then," came one student's awed voice from the back. "I mean—a great-great-great-great—"

"Yes, yes," said Yankumi hurriedly, dizzied by the idiocy of "greats" and by that strain on her side. "It's—umm, healthy living, you know. He lives in the mountains. And…he eats a lot of vegetables and—leaves."

Leaves…? They stared again at her, not really knowing what to think and say.

To save face, she waved her hands and added frantically, "You know, leaves…for tea. Yeah. Some sort of leafy...tea."

"Oh." There was a pause. A voice from the back from a student named Masaki asked. "Then why din't ya just say 'tea' then?"

That statement earned the student a stony glare until Kuma asked innocently. "Really? Tea for long life huh? Mama should drink that type."

To Yamaguchi's horror, even Noda nodded seriously. "Yep yep. My gramps should like that, too."

"What typa tea are we talking about, Yankumi?" Minami wanted to know.

This. Is. Fucked. Up. They were looking at her expectantly and she gulped. Her mind was starting to go blank. What I need right now is a good Lying 101 manual! Without thinking, she blurted the first thing in her mind. "A special type of—uh—oregano tea."

"Oregano tea?!" exclaimed Noda with a shudder. The others simply shrugged, knowing that if they tried to imagine that, they would end up in a vomit. When she thought the whole tea topic was over, Inuzuka said. "But isn't oregano tea used for menstrual cycles?"

Okay! This is it. I hate tea! Great! This is just great! She agonized inwardly. Thankfully enough, the other students started whacking Inuzuka for his comments—

THWAK! "You fuckin' weirdo! How'dya know it's for the (blush) menses, eh?"

"Shit! Yah must be gay!" A gasp of horror and more roars of despair echoed through the room.

"No!" he whined under the riot of students. "My mom uses—"

"HEY! What's wrong with being gay?!"

"FUCK! Who said that?"

"We're doomed!"

The tea business was easily forgotten after that. She shook her head. This isn't exactly the tearful and elegant comeback that I've been expecting. Not to mention my stitches are aching like mad. It's a good thing Shin isn't here to laugh at me later.

Shin. The mere thought made her lighter. But there was a feeling of dread at the same time. While she has finally accepted the change in their relationship, there was nothing truly official yet. Indeed, they have reached that point of understanding, he had indicated many times how he wanted to be with her, and though she had frequently tried to reject him before, the recent incident opened her eyes to her feelings for her student. Nevertheless, she still wasn't sure what happens from there. Also, Shin no longer tried to speak to her of that matter, nor did he seem to make any indication of wanting to step forward.

Is he afraid? She wondered. If so, has he any idea how much more afraid I am?

Automatically, her eyes swerved to that familiar seat by the window. She could almost imagine Shin sitting there with a tiny quirk of a smile, looking at him with those eyes shining with silent laughter…

She blinked and shook her head. Her head must be playing tricks with her. For a moment—a long moment—she thought she saw Shin sitting there. Kumiko gave a deep breath and stared at that place again.

Shin was really was there; head bandaged an all, he continued grinning at her amusedly.

"You—you--!" she sputtered, pointing a finger at Shin. You're not supposed to be here! She glared at him unbelievingly. Taking another deep steadying breath, she smiled toothily at the calm expression on Shin's face. "Oh, Sawada! What happened to that head of yours?" she asked, a pitch higher than normal.

"Oh! Dincha hear bout Shin's accident, Yankumi?" asked Kuma.

Kumiko cleared her throat to compose herself and raised her brows inquiringly. "Accident?"

"'Course she didn't, yah dimwit," swapped Minami from behind. "She's in the mountains with her great-great-great—whatever, right?"

"Oh, yeah right."

"Our Shin-sama is a hero!" said Ucchi, eyes shining with reverence and excitement. With that, they all prattled details of how Shin supposedly saved a certain "damsel in distress" that he was with.

"We actually saw her there—in the carnival! A total babe!" ranted Minami.

"Long and loose hair with slanted, dark eyes. We didn't get too close so I don't think her boobies were that big—small but firm breasts I bet, and a tasty piece o'—" An utterly red-faced Shin threw an elbow over Uchi's face before the litany could be finished. Kumiko, who was torn between pleasure by being cited as a babe and enraged by being verbally molested by no less than her student, was glad that the red-head made him shut up.

Noda sighed. "I knew Shin had it for a taste of girls."

"Oh? So, you're interested in good 'ol D.I.D.s huh?" said Kumiko pointedly, brows raised.

"Not really," he shrugged. Then, a small smile played around his lips. "My interests lie elsewhere."

A moment of silent understanding passed between them and butterflies seemed to go around her stomach. I'm like a giddy school girl. She thought, both annoyed and pleased with herself.

Unfortunately, the sweet moment died when the freckled teen perched on Shin's shoulder. "Really? Can I have her then—" Another elbow and Uchi retreated to his corner with a pout.

Kumiko noted the ruckus her boys were making, especially the way the interaction between Shin and the others. There was a lot of respect and strong bonds between these boys—it didn't matter that people often segregated Shin from the rest. He earned his place here. He is truly their one leader. Grinning with pride, she thought not for the first time. He really would make a great boss.

Stop it! Rebelled a smaller part of her. Your relationship may have changed but he is still going to college. He will leave.

I know. But I can fantasize, right? Another sharp pain—Kumiko almost fell off balance in surprise. Instead, she leaned onto her table for support, masking this effort by pretending to sheaf through the papers on the table. This tiny shift of movement didn't miss the keen eyes of her red-headed student.

"You've been walking weird, Yamaguchi," murmured Shin when the uproar ended. "Did you fall in the…mountains?" The unreadable expression on his face seemed to grow darker. Kumiko met his eyes challengingly, jaws clenched.

"Really? I didn't notice much," said Kuma.

"Yeah, now that you mention it, Shin, Yankumi does look a bit pale—"

"And you've been sweatin' like a pig on a sticker," added Minami gracelessly.

"And she looks tired—" added Inuzuka from nowhere.

"Shut up, weirdo. But you're right," said Uchi. "Anything broken, Yankumi?"

Kumiko glared at all of them. Had they all just turned into detectives overnight? But of course, this was all due to her bratty red-head's too loud observations. Well, at least her kids are obviously worried about her.

You are sooo going to get it Shin, she promised mutely at him. Withdrawing her eye contest with him, she waved them aside. "Nonsense, nothing of that sort happened. Believe me," she said dismissively. "Let's start class now—we won't be getting anywhere with this talk. In our free time, we'll get the details of how you saved your pretty little D.I.D. and how I supposedly fell off a cliff. Shall we?" The class groaned and, with a satisfactory grin, Yamaguchi scratched an equation on the board.

"Now Sawada, since you're so pert, let's see if that wound of yours affected your ability to function."

Shin Sawada finally sat down after having to answer the thirteenth equation on the board. All the while, he and Kumiko traded glares. Her irritation with him only swelled as he answered each question without a sweat. Knowing that fully well, Shin chose to scratch the answers with an overconfident smirk and an uncharacteristic flair.

Truth be told, he knew there was a chance that the stubborn female would come to school against the doctor's prescribed resting period. However, her going four weeks earlier than the indicated length was unexpected. After all, her stitches were still too new, and she received a fatal gun wound after all. Her organs should still be recuperating.

Of course, the same could be said in his case—he had a concussion after all. But of course, when Kyou called him up that morning, he had to come. Who else would stop her from straining herself too much?

The redhead leaned back lazily on his chair but his eyes scrutinized her narrowly. Every movement, every sway, every mannerism of hers was evident in his eyes. And he knew, from those tiny pauses, from the way she pressed her lips together, from her obscure leaning towards the table to shuffle some papers, that she was exhausted. It was no wonder she would be—judging from the spattered mud and dirt on the hem of her jogging pants, she had taken the longer route and ran. Not all the way certainly—she wouldn't have made it. Probably half way…

"Yankumi, you fool,"he scolded inaudibly. What if you open those sutures?

The bell rang.

"Okay, don't forget to study hard this week—the finals is two weeks from now." She reminded as her students sighed thankfully and went out for a break.

"Hey, Shin—let's go eat somewhere," said Noda.

"You guys go ahead." He watched his friends troop away. The other students received a silent order from Shin; without a word, they left the room.

"You—" he began, making sure to press on the words meaningfully. "—are one hard-headed patient."

She looked up at him, glaring. "Hypocrite."

Shin shrugged as he walked lazily. "Hey, I was having a nice sleep when someone called—"

" 'Someone' being Kyou-san?" groaned Kumiko.

"—and told me how someone snuck out." Only a table separated them now.

Once the papers were neatly bundled, she took the liberty of gazing at him sideways. The intense expression in his eyes hiding behind that bored look excited her, but she wasn't about to say that. "And…?"

And yet she knew what it was exactly that he meant to say. If she told him of her plans, she knew he would point out the practicality of it all, and end up supporting her—coming with her. Yet she didn't. After all, he also needed to rest. She knew he would've wanted to know—he even visited the day before and she told him nothing!

Can't you trust me enough to depend on me? The look seemed to ask.

Amazingly enough, after all they have been through, the answer still eluded her. This, too, was another problem between them. Both of them were sharply aware of her independence, and how it sometimes brought her harm.

Eyes on the table, he murmured absently at her. "We can be strong together—why insist on being strong alone?" The words brought a pang of guilt in her heart. The questions she thought had quieted down before disturbed her again. She didn't know how to answer him.

Shin sighed at her silence. Since it was getting nowhere, he decided to change the topic. Softly, he asked the first thing he had originally wanted to ask her that day.

"Are you okay?" The answer to this was obvious, but Shin knew her enough to know that stating it so forwardly would be received by her accusatorily.

She blinked and answered to quickly. "Of course I am!"

The redhead sighed. "You're not a good liar you know."

"I may not be," she said with a scoff. "But I can handle it, really."

"You as good as admitted that you aren't fine."

Kumiko stammered. "What I mean is—"

"Whatever." he murmured looking away.

The disappointed look on his face reached her and the puzzle of her mind seemed to come together piece by piece.

They walked out of the classroom; her leading him. The slight swagger in her walk was unmistakable to his keen observations. He itched to grab her elbow to assist her but knew that she would detest it. No matter what they've both been through, or the changes in their relationship, she was still too independent and stubborn to ask for help. Also, people might—will—talk once they see how intimate his association with her is. He couldn't help her if it would cause trouble to her reputation.

But, he thought, if she asks me to stay, I always would. Knowing she wouldn't, he pushed his hands deep into his pockets, fisting them in frustration.

"I'll be going this way," declared Kumiko.

"Hn. 'K."

As Shin turned to walk the opposite direction, the unexpected occurred. A hand pulled his wrist, removing the stuffed fist in his pocket. With widened eyes, he looked down at her with surprise (Is she actually blushing?).

"Shin," she said in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible. "Walk with me."

Her eyes were on the floor. Shin noted that it was obviously a huge step for her. The fact that she tried to overcome her own boundaries just to reach him overwhelmed him. Feeling a small flush of pleasure and embarrassment rising in his own cheeks, Sawada Shin fought himself from stammering incoherently and nodded dumbly.

She let go of his hand. Comfortably, they walked side by side in the corridors, hardly aware of the world around them.

The day passed swiftly enough. Soon, teacher and student were sitting on the rooftop once again. It was their favorite spot and, after all, everyone has gone home.

"Shouldn't I be sending you home now?" Shin suggested as the last specks of sunlight fell from the horizon. They were sitting side by side, eating some snacks which they had brought; a staple of sugared doughnuts and muffins which she insisted on buying and a couple of beer in case it got too cold.

Kumiko waved a doughnut wielding hand aside. "Let's stay here a bit longer. I always wanted to see the night sky from here."

"You'll get cold."

"Don't worry 'bout it."

Kumiko was starting to get exasperated with her boyfriend—student. A smile flew into her face and she was tempted to giggle. Boyfriend. Yes, he is her boyfriend, no sense denying it now. That thought would take getting used to.

"You're stitches will hurt again if you get too cold," he pointed out superiorly.

Whether it was due to the beer or the sweets she consumed, her thoughts made her feel extra devious; Kumiko leaned towards him until her mouth toughed his right ear and whispered: "You could always keep me warm."

Shin was so surprised and flushed he fell on his elbows. Her laughter rang through the night. Shin was so glad that the dimness prevented her from seeing how red he was—or notice that she had unwittingly caused him an arousal. He breathed in and out slowly until the excitement died down.

"Hahahahaha—ow!" she clenched her stomach torn between laughing hysterically and caution instead her stitches fell open due to excessive hilarity.

"Serves you right."

"I always wanted to do that—damn, that was funny."

"I don't know what's so funny 'bout that," glared Shin, pride still not recovered. "That was the corniest thing I ever heard you say." And the sexiest. He mentally added but dared not say aloud. When she laughed again, he commented. "You had too much beer."

Kumiko stuck his tongue out at him. "Unlike you, I have a good hold on my beer."

"Is that true or just empty bragging?" said Shin with a smirk.

"Of course it's true!"

"If you really do have a fine hold, you wouldn't laugh so much, and you wouldn't say weird stuff."

"I always laugh like that and I always say "weird stuff"—well, at least to your opinion."

It was his turn to be devious. "And if you really aren't drunk or tipsy at least, you would be able to evade this—" he pounced on her, pinning her arms on the ground, her hips trapped between his bent legs. "Gotcha!"

"You cheated!" she pouted up at him.

"'Course not! Who was it who always harped about being on guard?"

"I never "harp about being on guard"! You're probably drunk, too."

"Got you again. "Too" means you're drunk, too."

"You said, "too" too, smartass!"

They laughed simultaneously at the weirdness of it all. When their laughter paved way to silence, Kumiko spoke softly. "Shin?"

"Hm?"

"You're still on top of me."

His eyes flashed down at her through the darkness. "I know."

Without warning, their lips collided fiercely. Kumiko's body seemed to be filled with strange energy as he lifted her off the ground into his lap. She scissored her legs around his torso, clawing his back frantically. Hormones! She thought blearily. This has got to be hormones!

Shin's mind was consumed by nothing but her; her lips, her tongue rolling with his, her hair tangled in his fingers, her body pressed firmly against his. He wanted nothing more than to touch her, kiss her, hold her—have her. He pulled out of her needy kiss and buried his mouth into the crook of her neck. When he nipped her lightly eliciting a groan, he—

Kumiko suddenly placed a hand on his chest, pushing lightly off him. A very surprised expression was on her face.

"Was that—was that—"

Knowing full well what she meant, he blushed scarlet and nodded, extremely glad that it was dark not to see—though apparently not dark enough to prevent her from feeling that.

Too shocked to even leave his lap, even with the shocking "protrusion", she shrieked. "You went hard on me?!"

Her statement sounded so profound that Shin wanted the ground to swallow him whole. As it was, she was still on wrapped around him it was impossible to get away. He gave him the glare of a man with an extremely frustrated libido. "We were kissing. It happens." He said in the most matter-of-fact voice that he could muster.

Kumiko was ominously silent, thinking furiously. He could easily perceive her face scrunched in concentration—so pretty….

It didn't help his situation one bit.

"I suppose this is way past sex education lectures..."

"Yankumi!" Shin couldn't believe himself—he almost sounded whiney. Well, who in his situation wouldn't?

"Do you want to have sex with me?"

Shin stared at her, blushing for the umpteenth time that night. "Do I have to answer that?"

"Just answer me, you ass!"

He tried to control his breathing—control his lesser than human instincts. She was reducing him to this state. There's nothing left but to be honest. Meeting her bright eyes, he answered. "Yes. I do."

She bit her lower lip. Shin, knowing full well the state of her mind, added before she could speak again. "I know that you are my teacher…I know I'm not supposed to cross the boundaries. But I couldn't help it. Now I have crossed—I want to make you fully mine." Kumiko blushed at his last words. Sighing softly, he leaned forward until his forehead was on hers. "But I decided that I won't go further until I graduate. If you ask me to, I won't even try to kiss or touch you again until that time even though I want you so much. I'll wait—just so I could be the man that you deserve."

The night was so still and warm—so much that even the minute particles of dust failed to move at the lack of a breeze. It seemed to match the exact feeling in Shin's heart—the expectant breathless waiting. He was blushing furiously, his heart hurt from too much thudding. He could feel hers thudding too the way he knew she felt his.

Slowly, slowly, Kumiko wrapped both arms around him again in a very needy hug—her face, wet from silent tears, was pressed against his in a very tender kiss. When she released him, she looked up at the sky and murmured softly, "Look! The stars are beautiful tonight."

He followed her look and smiled at her. "Yeah. So pretty."

The ojou giggled with a flush of pleasure. In a serious tone, she spoke, "Sawada Shin, I don't know how you do it—read my mind, understand my intentions, listen to my whining. I pushed you off so many times but you stayed and took care of me. I don't know if I deserve it—but I am lucky. I may be your teacher—but I can't pretend to feel only like a teacher to you anymore, just as you can't pretend to be just a student. I'm honestly afraid where we go from here. But when I think it over…when I'm with you—things are better. I want it this way, too. The only thing I'm sure about now is…us." She laughed nervously, and punched his chest lightly. "So, thank you—I don't feel that it's right by you to do it with you…yet."

"Meaning we will." He said with a smirk.

"Meaning we might." She joined pointedly.

Shin laid her down on the ground and leaned over her. "Really? Let's see then who has far better control."

Her evil smile made him shiver with pleasure. "You will lose."

TO those who wonder about Shinohara, he comes back in the epilogue. I just thought it wouldn't be nice of him to interrupt while their being so sweet. So, whaddya think?

Nincompoop?

Preposterous?

Or simply nil?

Please review! THankies!