Uh... so I know it's been like, a year or something ridiculous since I updatedd this, and I stopped RIGHT before the end, but it was annoying tying it in around the manga specials, as this is a manga-complient fic (note, the car scene is after special chapter 08) this takes place before and then soon after special 09 (all 3 parts), and I just got... distracted I guess. Then today on the spur of the moment I decided what the flippety, I'd read over this story again.

Then I just HAD to finish it, I stopped right before it gets saucy :P Hurray for Shin because oh dear god he's the hottest thing I've ever known.

Shin recovered slowly from having his arm made into a glass pincushion, but at least he was recovering. Circumstances were such that he and Yankumi didn't see very much of each other for quite a while, as she had commitments at work and he split his time between resting at home and university. Having a smashed up arm made taking notes somewhat difficult, so he had to enlist the help of a friend to keep up with classwork.

"So, how's it going with that girl of yours?" Hiroki – the same friend who had given him the saying about 'a kiss with a fist' – asked between classes, when at last he finally plucked up the nerve to probe into the scariest guy he knew's personal life.

"Don't even start," Shin groaned sarcastically. "She's kind of responsible for this." He watched his friend noticeably paling, and remembered that to normal people his and Yankumi's 'relationship' was a lot more insane than either of them realized.

"She didn't mean to do it," he said quickly, "it was just an accident." Granted, they had been having a fight at the time, but she hadn't specifically meant to do it.

"Well... she sure sounds like a... uh, handful," his companion mused. "Is she worth it?"

"Ten times over," Shin replied flawlessly, a smile on his face just thinking of how much he cared for her, even if she did put him in the hospital from time to time. "I'm hopeless."

"Well, the heart wants what the heart wants," Hiroki proclaimed – coming up with slogans and catchphrases was a peculiarity of his. Shin chuckled and wiggled his fingers inside his sling – it would be coming off soon, thankfully.

"Mine's obviously a masochist then," he joked. The day he left the Kuroda house after the fight, she'd barely said two words to him – but she'd been blushing something chronic, and wouldn't look him in the eye. He'd wondered if their last exchange had anything to do with it, but there was nothing he could remember even half-worth getting embarrassed about.

"How long have you known her?" his friend inquired; Shin was an attractive guy, and had a bad-boy persona to rival no other – girls were always setting their eye on him – so he had to admit he was curious as to what sort of person could capture a guy like Shin's heart so strongly.

"Hm... since high school," Shin answered thoughtfully. "I guess that makes it nearly four years now."

"Wow, that's quite a while," Hiroki applauded. "So how did you meet her?"

"I just said," Shin replied a little snappily. "High school." There was an awkward pause, and Shin gradually became aware of his friend giving him a very confused look. "What?"

"Shirokin's an... all boys school, right?" Hiroki said cautiously, and Shin nodded. "So... so how did you meet her there?"

"Ohh," Shin hummed – hopefully Hiroki hadn't been thinking his 'girlfriend' was some kind of gender-bending boyfriend, though he supposed it would account for why he'd never taken up girls on their advances. "She was my homeroom teacher," he explained at last – saying it so casually, as if he wasn't personally aware of the scandalous nature of his confession.

However, Hiroki's mouth literally dropped open.

"You're..." he gasped. "You're dating your old homeroom teacher?" he whispered conspiratorially, stepping closer to Shin and staring up at him in awe.

"Sorta..." Shin murmured, deciding that trying to explain what was actually going on wasn't worth the effort of trying to describe the enigma in a tracksuit that was Yankumi.

"And she broke your arm?" Hiroki continued sensationally.

"She didn't break it," Shin corrected. "Just... shred it up a little... by mistake." He looked around a little guiltily, realising that every new piece of information made him seem like an even bigger pervert, and his reputation at the university really did not need to get any more outrageous.

"She must be... one tough lady," his friend settled on a phrase at last; 'maniac' or 'dominatrix' were probably not appropriate terms at this point. Even with one arm in a sling, he imagined Shin could beat him up just fine.

"Heh, more than you can imagine," Shin chuckled. "From her back-" he cut himself off the moment he even thought about Yankumi's background. If Hiroki found out she was a Yakuza as well, he was sure he'd never ever live it down. "Oh wow, look at that time," he said bluntly. "I have to get to class."

"Wait... we're going to the same class... and it doesn't start for half an hour," Hiroki replied bemusedly, staring at his watch and then up at a clock on the wall to double-check.

"Extra classes," Shin lied – poorly. "I only just remembered... I'm, uh, late for them..." He grabbed his bag off his friend's shoulder and slung it across his good one. "So I'll see you later!" he rushed, and then strode away as quickly as he could without looking ridiculous. Any more ridiculous, at least. He probably needed Yankumi to accept that they were dating before he went around telling anyone about it or her, much less letting slip she was a Yakuza and his old teacher.

As if his personal life wasn't colourful enough already.

No matter how many times it happened, Yankumi was still surprised to arrive home and find Shin in her house. It was almost as if the more times it happened, the more alarmed she was.

"Grandpa, I'm hoooo-YOU!" she yelped, upon sticking her head around a door and seeing her Grandpa and Shin relaxing with a pot of tea between them. No sooner had Shin got his arm out of a sling and fully recovered, than he was kidnapped by the Oujo of another gang – swearing to make him her 'bridegroom' and take over the Kumi together. Of course, Yankumi had come to rescue him in the end, looking a state in what had probably once been a nice-looking dress.

The upside at least, was that she had confessed to him – albeit in a very dramatic way – but thereafter swore she was going to become a priestess, thanks to Shin's father's interference in the situation. It had only taken a day or so to straighten out things, but the last time he'd been at the house Kyou had nearly killed him and even Ryuichiro had snubbed him, so he'd felt the need to make amends.

Not to mention it would be nice to see Yankumi without marker pen all over her face. He got a kiss out of her in the end last time, but the marker pen had somewhat ruined the romance, and the vice-principal walked in half way through and threw an absolute fit.

"Welcome back," her Ryuichiro said warmly. "Would you like to join us for a cup of tea?"

"What is he doing here?" she rushed awkwardly, jabbing her finger at Shin as if he couldn't hear her.

"I can hear you," he pointed out, but she didn't seem to hear that either.

"Not a very hospitable way to greet your boyfriend, Kumiko," her grandpa tutted. "What have I told you about manners."

"My WHAT?" Yankumi shrieked, and sent Shin a murderous glare. "What has he..."

"I haven't said anything," Shin interjected defensively. "I think the boss has just, uh, assumed." Ryuichiro watched his granddaughter carefully, and then turned to look at Shin.

"You mean she hasn't?" he asked, stunned, and Shin shrugged.

"Your guess is as good as mine, boss," he remarked. "I mean, 'I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you' usually works for most people, but she's not most people."

"I'm still here!" Yankumi squawked, and both men turned to face her expectantly. "Oh... uh... look! We're not going out!" she proclaimed, and out of the two of them, her grandpa was the one who looked more disappointed.

"Oh," replied Shin, then paused for a second. "Do you want to?"

"I-" she spat, cutting herself off when she swallowed awkwardly.

"Really, Kumiko," her grandpa said dejectedly. "I thought you would have got on with it by now. I'm not getting any younger you know, and I'd like some great-grandchildren before I die."

"GRANDPA!" she shrieked, and then noticed Shin was laughing behind his hand. "STOP IT!" she bellowed. "This isn't funny!"

"It's a bit funny," Shin sniggered, and then carefully got up, making sure to mind his recovering arm. "Do you want to take a walk?"

"NO," she shot crossly.

"Let me rephrase. Do you want to take a walk, or do you want to stay here?"

"We can discuss baby names," Ryuichiro suggested gleefully. "Girls, I imagine. I don't see why the Kuroda tradition would end now." He was only half serious, but it did the trick, as Yankumi rushed forwards and grabbed Shin by the scruff of his neck.

"All right lets go," she snapped, dragging him out the door with her.

"Easy, easy," he pleaded as he staggered along behind her. "I'm only just back on fighting form." Stumbling out into the garden, he stopped defiantly and yanked his arm out of her hand, straightening himself up and running a hand through his hair before started a more relaxed amble down the path that encircled the house's grounds.

"I thought I was the only one you liked in the whole universe?" he parodied cheekily as she trotted alongside him, and her cheeks flushed and eyes started fastidiously examining the gravel path.

"Don't... don't mock me," she mumbled, shoving him a great deal harder than normal play-fighting should entail.

"I'm not, I think it's cute," he replied with a grin, reaching out an arm to poke her in the cheek as they walked. "Like you." She swatted away his hand irately, still hanging her head low.

"Did... you mean it...?" she said at last, almost whispering.

"Mean what? I think you're adorable," he complimented suavely, tugging on one of her ponytails. She punched him in the chest. "Okay, ow," he wheezed, "I'm not going to live long if you hit me every time I give you a compliment."

"When you asked if... if," she babbled.

"If you wanted to go out? Of course I did, silly woman." This time she slammed her fist down on top of his head. "Again, ow!" he snapped. "Please stop doing that, or I'm not going to be accountable for my actions."

Yankumi rolled her eyes – he had to be dumber than she thought if he was threatening to get into a fight with her again.

"Frankly, I assumed that we were going out already," he pointed out. "I mean, I don't normally go sticking my tongue down people's throats if I'm not going out with them." He gave her an unmistakably lurid look, and she felt her face warming.

"Well... you didn't say," she replied bashfully.

"Then I'm saying now," he said, taking her hand in his and holding it firmly. "Will you go out with me?" She didn't reply, as she was biting down too hard on her own lip to speak, but with a tracksuit-red face, she nodded and made a little squeaking sound.

"Good, I'm glad we sorted that out then," he added proudly, and tapped her on the shoulder. Out of reflex she turned to face him, and found her lips captured by his, his arm slung around her waist.

With a muffled squeal, she shoved him off her, and promptly slapped him across the cheek. If he hadn't just been slapped in the face, he probably would have looked like he had anyway, going by his expression.

"You JUST SAID you'd go out with me!" he exclaimed despairingly. "What the hell is it now, Yamaguichi?"

"You can't just come up and kiss me like that," she barked, scandalised by his blatant display of affection.

"I'm pretty sure being my girlfriend means I can," he retorted.

"In my home, with all my family around?" she argued shrilly, and then for good measure slapped him again, though not as hard. "Have you no respect or decency?"

Slowly, Shin put one hand to his face where he'd been hit, followed by the other, and dragged them up through his hair heavily, like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"...You drive me absolutely crazy," he murmured vacantly, his eyes staring off over her head as his breath came in shallow puffs. He closed his eyes and forced himself to breathe deeply, and Yankumi suddenly realised she'd just hit her own boyfriend. Twice. She'd barely been in a relationship thirty seconds and had messed it up.

She felt her eyes brimming as she prepared herself to hear him take it all back, to say he'd realised this was a terrible idea and he didn't love her at all. She told herself she should've known better than to think anyone she cared about could return her feelings.

"...Please let me take you out tonight," Shin half-groaned, and Yankumi's mouth dropped.

"Buhwhuh," she grunted ineloquently. "Aren't you going to... dump me?"

"Do what? I only just got you," he scoffed. "You'll have to do a lot worse than that if you want to get rid of me," he taunted. "Nothing short of dead, I reckon." He reached out and grabbed her by the collar of her tracksuit, and then pulled her close to him, close enough to smell the chalk dust on her.

"Even when you're hitting and screaming at me, I still love you," he murmured into her ear. "I'm not going to stop. You infuriate me and drive me crazy." His fist tightened around her top, and his knuckles blanched totally white. "...But that might be what I love most. So," he said a little louder, letting her go and bringing a little more space between them once more. "Are you coming out on a date with me?"

Yankumi's mouth formed an almost-perfect circle. "Oh," she gulped lamely, completely bowled over by the sudden burst of intensity from Shin. "Right."

"I'm good to go now," he remarked brightly, like he hadn't just yanked her close and spilled his sordid heart in her ear and talked like when he said 'take you out' he just meant 'take you'. "You could always go and get ready now, and I'll go wait for you with the boss. I still never got around to apologising for the mixup the other day."

"Uh.. uh huh," she stammered. "O-okay."

"Right," Shin said cheerfully, but when he looked her in the eyes, there was something unmistakably dark in there. "See you in a bit, then."

He turned away and started to walk back in the direction of the house, only stopping to look up Kyou, Wakamatsu, Tetsuo and Minoru on the roof and give them a victorious thumbs up.

You hit me once, I hit you back, you gave a kick, I gave a slap, you smashed a plate over my head... then I set fire to our bed.

Shin didn't even remember how the fight started this time. It was the first date, real, actual, she-agreed-it-was-a-date-too date with Yankumi, and the movie had gone well, the food had been good, and then somehow they ended up brawling in a back-alley somewhere.

His breath rasped from his chest, heavy and strained, as she slammed him back against the wall and punched him in the stomach. All the air left his lungs and he nearly choked, but had enough thought to wrap an arm around her waist and shove her back a few steps, letting him slump back and try to steal just one decent breath.

He vaguely remembered something about his becoming a Yakuza lawyer, or becoming the next Kumichou, or maybe he'd just made a lewd comment she took the wrong way, but she'd leaned across the table and hit him.

Problem was, instead of taking it and letting the other diners feel awkward, he coolly hit her back. It escalated from there. She kicked him so hard he fell back off his chair, so he'd slapped her to try to get some sense back into her before they were thrown out.

Which they were – at least he didn't have to pay for the meal.

Only, on the way out she'd lashed out for a passing waiter and ripped a plate from the man's hand, then smashed it over the back of Shin's head as he was bundled out the door by two more waiters. He'd stormed out of the restaurant and was half way down the street before she caught up with him, at which point he'd grabbed her by the neckline of a rather nice top, and flung her down into the alleyway they were throwing each other around.

He didn't have much time to catch his breath before she punched him – he didn't imagine she remembered why they were fighting any more either, but he didn't have much of an opportunity to say that at present. He spat, tasting blood, and pulled himself back upright; she threw a punch and he caught the hand, crushing her fist tightly in his hand as she threw out her other hand.

He caught that too, and then with her own momentum spun her around to swap places, putting her against the wall as he pressed forwards and held her wrists down. He pushed his leg between hers, and his mouth came close enough to her ear to leave a bloodstain on her temple.

"I told you I'm not accountable for my actions if you keep hitting me," he said lowly, and Yankumi became very suddenly aware of just where his thigh was and how hard his chest was pressed against hers. He shifted his weight and unmistakably ground against her, and the nature of the fight was completely different; or had it always been like that?

"I'm seriouly gonna fuck you senseless in a minute," he groaned, and it was so crude, and so inappropriate in so many ways, and all Yankumi did was close her eyes and try not to think about how she was straddling his leg.

He let go of her hands – though she would have been able to get away if she'd wanted to – and braced them on either side of her waist, resisting the urge to lift her up there and then and to hell with the rest of it. Her hands flew out and wrapped around his neck, trying to pull his bloodied mouth against hers, but Shin pulled back warily and avoided contact.

"Not a good idea," he groaned. "Not here. I owe you more than this." Even though it killed him to pull away, he did, trying not to crack at the sight of Yankumi panting against the wall, hair a state and his blood smeared across her cheek. She'd never looked sexier.

"Why..." she gasped, her eyes only just refocusing on him as her mind caught up with her body, "why were we fighting again?"

"Who cares," he retorted hotly. "My place isn't very far. From here, I mean," he added a little awkwardly. He may have been fantasising about just this sort of thing for years, but he realised it might be new to her, and she might let herself get swept away by him. He didn't want to end up pushing her into something she didn't want to do, just because they were playing rough.

"Oh," she mumbled with a lot more awareness, and Shin bit his lip, not caring that it was going to make it bleed even more. "Good," she panted, and he let go of a breath he hadn't realised he was was holding, then found her mouth on top of his; for the first time, she'd kissed him, and it was beyond fantastic. He let go of restraint for a moment, his tongue tangling with hers as his fingers tangled in her hair, but reeled back in before things got too heated.

"Come on, sensei," he mocked breathily, knotting her fingers with his and half-stumbling back out to the street. "Let's get you to bed."

Love sticks, sweat drips, break the lock if it don't fit, a kick in the teeth is good for some, a kiss with a fist is better than none.

The End

And then the rest plays out in my head and probably belongs on or something. Doh hoh hoh.

In case it wasn't clear, the 'set fire to our bed' thing is all symbolic for sex'n stuff. Oh and I don't condone domestic abuse or anything like that, like the original song, this is about the nature of Shin and Yankumi's relationship, which is violent but not abusive. Plus people are into ALL sorts if you know what I mean ;)

Well, give or take a massive hiatus, this is FINISHED. Hope it's up to standard. Review if you're as hot for Shin as I am (fans self).