The Absence of Nothing, by Avelynn Tame (PG13)

[anenko.livejournal.com]

Fandom: GOKUSEN
Pairing: Shin/Yankumi
Length: One-shot
Author on LJ: ficcingwitch
Author Website: FF.net Profile
Why this must be read:

There’s a lot of “getting together” stories in Gokusen fandom, and no wonder--there are some pretty significant barriers to a relationship between Shin and Yankumi (his status as her student; her incredible denseness when it comes to relationships).

This story tracks the progress of Shin and Yankumi’s relationship through Shin’s school attendance records. I’m particularly fond of this story’s Shin, at first trying to figure out Yankumi and his reaction to her, and then having to deal with the realization of how much he cares for her.

Then there was the matter of her strange, unflinching loyalty to them. Their education was important to her. Their lives were important to her. It bothered him. He could see the way the others were slowly warming up to her, still putting up a front of disinterest, although their hostility was long gone.

And Shin knew he was headed the same way.

If he was wrong about her - if they were all wrong about her, and she was just like all the rest... it would be different this time. It would hurt. So for his own sake and for everyone else's as well, he wanted to figure her out.

Too bad the only way to do that was to go to school.

The Absence of Nothing