A.N.: Good day, guys!!! I'm back with an update!!! I'm really sorry for the long wait, but schoolwork was really dragging me down along with some problems and lack of inspiration. I'm really grateful to those who reviewed. I love you guys!!! This is another chapter in the lives of Shin, Uchi and Yankumi in my little Gokusen world… Hope you enjoy!!!

blaine36

Shin rode a cab to the Sawada mansion. He walked in the house to be greeted by Natsumi, who wrapped her arms around him.

"Oni-chan!" Shin smiled at his baby sister's affectionate ways. He patted her hair a little awkwardly.

"Hey," he said.

"We're gonna have a family dinner with some of dad's friends today," said Natsumi, pulling away from him. "They're waiting at the dining room."

They left the front hall and made their way towards the dining room, where Sawada-san was situated, along with their mother and their guests.

"Shin," his father addressed him as they arrived in the room.

"Otoosan." Shin bowed in response.

"Do you remember Kotomori Genzo? He's one of my friends from the congress." Sawada-san addressed the man sitting at one side of the table. Shin bowed down to him too.

"Good evening," he said.

His eyes traveled over the stately man to his wife, who was surveying him in a way that made him feel conscious. Beside her was a young, pretty girl, dressed in a dress that looked like it's worth more than his condo unit. She was gazing at him awkwardly, a blush creeping up her already rosy cheeks.

"Come join us," his father motioned to a seat at the other end of the long table. Shin obliged, walking smartly to his designated position. Natsumi followed him and sat at one side beside their mother.

"Now that we're all set," his father began. "Why don't we start the dinner?"

Everybody ate, although Shin could feel that this was not the main purpose of this meeting. After a while, it turned out he was right.

"So, Kotomori-san," said Sawada-san, looking up from his meal. "I'm glad you gave time to bring along your daughter. She is indeed a beautiful girl."

"Yes, Megumi is quite a smart girl. She is studying at Imagawa University and is one of their top students," said Kotomori-san.

"I see," said Sawada-san. "Ah, Shin, along with Kotomori-san is Himiko, his wife, and Megumi, his daughter.

Shin addressed both with a slight bow.

"A pleasure to meet you," he said, as Himiko-san smiled and Megumi blushed deeper.

"Megumi is a very pretty girl, is she not, Shin?" Sawada-san said.

"Uh…" Indeed, she was pretty, but not up to his unique taste in women. "Yes, father, she is."

"Aha! I'm always sure that no man can resist the charms of my daughter!" said Kotomori-san in a mighty voice. Sawada-san chuckled.

"Shin here is no exception," he said.

Shin smiled politely as Kotomori-san surveyed him through brimmed spectacles. "You are indeed a very smart man, Shin. Your father speaks highly of you."

"I told Kotomori-san that you are the best student in Keiko University, Shin," said Sawada-san. "And I also mentioned your high-position employment in my company. Kotomori-san and his family are most impressed."

"I appreciate your recognition," said Shin politely.

"A remarkable man indeed," said Kotomori-san mightily. "Quite suitable for Megumi-chan here, isn't he? What do you think, Reiko?" He addressed Shin's mother.

"They're a match made in heaven, Kotomori-san," said Reiko.

"What do you say, eh? Shin?" Kotomori-san turned his gaze to Shin, who was watching the conversation, surprise slowly creeping on his face.

"It's… It's up to your daughter if she thinks I'm suitable," Shin said as politely as possible.

Everybody then turned their eyes to Megumi, who was sitting there, her face beet red.

"Megumi?" Kotomori-san addressed his lovely daughter with a firm gaze.

"I-I think he's a very remarkable man, father," said Megumi after a few moments of hesitation, her eyes never leaving her lap.

"You have her approval, son!" Kotomori-san chuckled mightily. Shin's brain reeled. Since when was he called son by Kotomori Genzo?

The rest of the evening dragged on, while Shin had to put up with the matchmaking procedures his father had arranged for the evening. While his face bore an ever polite smile, his insides were churning as he realized that this "family dinner" was done to introduce to him his fiancé, Megumi.

If only he was his old, rebellious self. He would have walked out on this meeting/marriage trap for sure.

But he couldn't do it. Not now. Not when he regained his father's trust and the comfort of a family. He had Natsumi to think about, and just watching her cry if ever his father disowned him again would surely break his heart.

These thoughts were interrupted as Kotomori-san marked the end of the family dinner.

"Ah, look at the time!" Kotomori-san dropped his napkin on the table. "Sawada-san, we better go before we overstay your welcome."

"Oh, not at all, my dear colleague," said Sawada-san. "Also, I'm sure Shin here would like to spend some time alone with Megumi, to know her better." He gave Shin a meaningful stare.

Shin thought he would be better off by himself than chatting with an ever-blushing mannequin, but he knew better than to disobey his father's orders.

"Of course, father," said Shin politely.

"Well, then, why don't you take her to the lounge while Kotomori-san and I discuss business at the library?" Sawada-san led his colleague to another room while Himiko and Reiko left, chatting. Natsumi, Shin and Megumi were left in the dining room, all silent.

Natsumi was the first to speak. "Um, I think I have homework. Megumi, Oni-chan, if you would excuse me," she left the room, winking at Shin before she disappeared.

Now the two of them were alone. Shin was battling a strong urge to stalk out of the room, as he glanced at a blushing Megumi.

"Uh…" He rattled his brain for anything to say. He never had this problem talking to girls. But then, before this all he had to do was cock an eyebrow before walking away unscathed. This time it's different. He had no choice but to entertain the girl.

Megumi spoke first. "Shin-san, I know this is awkward, but our fathers think we suit each other well, and I don't want to disappoint them, do you?"

Silence was answer enough for her. Her blush growing deeper, she continued talking. "This shouldn't be hard, anyway. I already think you're cute."

Shin sputtered, for the first time blushing. "You- you think I'm—"

"Yes," she nodded, for the first time smiling. It lit her already radiant face perfectly. "I've already seen your picture. You were quite known in a district called Shirokin. A lot of people said you were ruthless and rebellious, but I've seen that you've changed a lot. You've matured. That doesn't change the fact that you are a natural heartthrob among the girls in Tokyo, and pretty hard-to-get too."

"I don't go around pleasing girls," said Shin matter-of-factly.

"And so it seems. That's why it's quite some luck to be your fiancé, Shin-san," said Megumi, gazing up at him through innocent eyes.

"You're quite pretty yourself," said Shin a bit nervously. He couldn't believe he was saying this without his father's supervision. Maybe it was her innocent semblance to Natsumi that was working wonders. "Don't say that it was mere luck."

"Hearing it from you is a huge treat, Shin," said Megumi. "I know that I'm the only girl you have graced with that compliment."

Shin didn't answer. All he knew was that every time he opened his stubborn mouth all the things he'll say will bring him closer to the girl, and he doesn't want that to happen.

"Come on, Shin. Let's go the balcony," Megumi walked away, leaving him to follow. Shin sighed, knowing that he can't refuse his father's orders.

What in the blazes has he gotten himself into?

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The next morning Yamaguchi Kumiko woke up, her hair sticking out in all places like always. Her late-night talk with Uchi had left her a sleeping up 'til ten this morning. She yawned, and looked at her watch. She peered at the device stupidly for a minute before realizing the time. Then her eyes widened in shock. Oh no. She was late. She was severely late.

"I'm late!!! I'm sooo dead! I'm very, very late!!!" Yankumi emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, brushing her hair while at the same time trying to put on her socks. As she hopped about in a circle trying to get her various body parts in the right clothes, the door opened, revealing a cheery Uchiyama carrying a tray of her morning meal.

"Good morning, Yamaguchi-sensei!" He said in an excellent resemblance of an old family butler. "I bring you your morning meal! Thy master has ordered me to see to it that you eat your breakfast before you leave for work."

"Oh, leave me alone," said Yankumi irritably as she dropped her hairbrush for the umpteenth time. "Can't you see that I'm late? It's all your fault! You shouldn't have kept me awake last night!"

"Woke up in the cranky side of the bed, haven't we," said Uchi, flashing her a dazzling smile. He placed the tray on a nearby table and picked up her hairbrush. "Here," he handed her the brush, which she took huffily.

"Oh, come on… You don't need to be such a grumpy individual, do you?" Yankumi sighed.

"I'm so late… The principal will have my head for this, you know…" she said, and slumped on the bed, running a hand through her hair, which was still not locked in her usual pigtails.

"Cheer up, the principal can't be that bad," said Uchi. He understood that Yankumi cared deeply for her job, and she wouldn't want to lose it by just being late. He took a bowl of rice from the breakfast tray and handed it to Yankumi. "Eat your breakfast. You won't have energy for your students if you don't put anything on your stomach now."

Whatever put Uchi in a cheerful mood Yankumi did not know, but she took the rice bowl anyway, and smiled at her former student at last.

"At last, you smiled!" Uchi waited as Yankumi ate half of her meal then stood up, handing him her food.

"This will have to do, Uchi, I can't be late now," she then fumbled in her vanity table for some bands for her hair. Having completely forgotten where she usually put it, she closed the drawer with a bang, muttering.

"Where did I put them last, dammit?" She murmured, searching the drawer top for the missing bands.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, stopping her from her frantic search. She turned to look at Uchiyama, who was looking at her intensely.

"Don't bother looking for them," he said after a moment. "You look better without the pigtails, anyway." He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her forehead. "Not that I really care. I like you just the way you are."

He then walked out of the room, carrying the breakfast tray with him, leaving Yankumi to gape, open-mouthed, at his retreating form.

A.N: Ahh… this chapter is too short! But I promise to update reeeeaaally soon! Oh… and just for a glimpse, next chapter will be a meeting between our two fave Gokusen characters… guess who! And Megumi will make another appearance… And oh… review please!!! I just luuurve to hear what you guys think about my story!!!

blaine36