DISCLAIMER: I do not won Initail D. I do not own the hunky characters - Keisuke and Ryouske. I just borrowed them to create a fanfiction.
It was a very hot Saturday night. The galleries of Akagi mountain pass were tightly packed with visitors and onlookers. A battle, between the Red Suns and the Emperors for the pride of Gumma racers, was about to come to an end. Racers from different areas of the Gumma prefecture were there to support their last line of defense against the marauding Emperors. The recent defeat of Akina's Hachi-Roku in this same course heightened their fear of the sly and slithering Emperors. They used to think that Akina's Eight-Six driven by the genius Fujiwara Takumi is undefeatable in the downhill. But they were wrong; they forgot to consider one very important thing in making this assumption. It was not only technique and skill that matters in racing. The vehicle was also an asset that either gives you either advantage or disadvantage on the road. Kyouichi and his Lan Evo III proved it.
This particular race between Ryouske and Kyouichi would not only determine who the real king of the road is. It would also determine whether the Emperors could complete the vicious plunder of the region's racing dignity. People were discussing in hushed voices filled with worry. Some started to doubt Takahashi's credibility after that unexpected first defeat in the hands of the young racer Fujiwara. And the worse part was that the boy was driving a ten-year old car model without special racing features!
"Damn! Do you think Takahashi could do it?"
"I'm doubtful. He was defeated by a Hachi-Roku, for Pete's sake!"
"That FC is no match for that Lan Evo III, both in the uphill and downhill"
"The Lan Evo is a road monster equipped with the autocross misfiring system and four-wheel driving ability."
"Unlike in the case of the Hachi-Roku, the FC has no advantage on the corners because the Lan Evo can enter and exit a corner while accelerating. It is the real power of the misfiring system!"
But there are still others who have faith in RY's skills. They believe that no matter what, Gunma's racing ace will win.
"I still think that Ryouske-sama can beat that bastard Seiji! I just can feel it"
"Yeah. Same here. GO RYOUSKE-sama!"
It was almost about time for the race to culminate as the two vehicles reach the last corner of the mountain pass. The FC was tailgating the Lan Evo, and it seemed that the Lan Evo could not outrun the FC. The racers were approaching the last corner before the straight runway towards the finish. Ryouske knew that the last chance to win the race occurs at this critical point. If he were not able to overtake the Lan Evo in this corner, there would be no more chance for him to overtake in the straight road. The difference in their engine power said it all. Kyouichi already thought he won this race. He thought that there was no more chance for the genius to overtake him from the outside curve. But he was wrong. He took the inside and left the outside too open. He underestimated his opponent's thinking abilities, however, and in an eye blink Ryouske overtook him. It was a sweet revenge and retribution for all of Gunma's pride.
"Alright, Ryouske!"
"The Red Suns did it again. Ryouske is really the top racer and is truly the best!"
"Ryouske-sama, love me!!!"
"Eeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"
"Ne aniki," Keisuke, the blond spiky-haired guy from the Red Suns, slapped his brother's shoulders in a congratulating gesture while letting out a sigh of relief, "that was a very good race you won. You are…"
His words were cut off by a loud screaming and cheering from the crowd,
"R-Y-O-U-S-K-E!
R-Y-O-U-S-K-E!
From north to south to east to west,
Ryouske-sama, you sweep the rest!
Ryouske-sama, you're the best!"
The girls were screaming in obvious delight and adoration of their teen idol. They were fast approaching the racing ace, ready to hug him and ogle, and you know - stuff fans do.
"Aniki," there was laughter in his voice now, "this really is getting strange. I feel like I'm in a basketball game instead of a mountain race." He shook his head in disbelief, "These girls remind me of the preppy cheerleaders in high school. They're really loud and annoying!" He chuckled to himself.
Ryouske ignored his brother's attempt to humor him. He was far too consumed in his own world right now to throw some smart-ass remarks to his brother.
"But at least," Kenta butted in their conversation, "it is better than rocks being hurled at you for losing to that monkey Emperor guy!"
Kenta attempted to laugh at his own joke, but the glare he saw in Ryouske's eyes stopped him. He was suddenly embarrassed and turned to leave the two.
It was not in his present mood to have a bit of humor in his system. Everything about Ryouske now was serious and scary. His eyes were narrowed into thin slits, and his face was flushed with the heat of the recent battle. He stood still, unmoving, like a phantom in the night. Keisuke even used to say that his aniki was beastly after a race so there was no use cheering him up.
"Forgive him, aniki," Keisuke tried to save his friend, "He just doesn't know you that much." He tried to convince his brother to have fun instead and spend his night with friends, "Let's just head over to the club. I heard that Bad Luck is there to perform. There will be lots of girls and beer. It will be…"
But before Keisuke could finish his sentence, Ryouske was already boarding his white FC, "I'll pass." With that, he drove away from the group of racers, away from the noisy cheeky girls, away from the traces of the heat of the recent battle, away from Mount Akagi.
It was to the mountain pass of Akina that this racer decided to take a drive. At times, when his adrenaline rush for a race threatens to overpower his mind, he goes for a slow drive through Mount Akina to calm his nerves. Ryouske likes the mountain pass for many different reasons. The air at night is very cool and invigorating after an enervating race. The harmonious melody by tree crickets is very soothing, and the sound of the rustling of leaves reaching his ear is like the soft music that lulls him to sleep. The serenity of the night, especially before midnight, is incomparable to other places, since not many people drive through Akina. Ryouske opened his car window, letting the cool night breeze ruffle his hair and kiss his cheeks.
"It's so lovely in here," he whispered to himself. The beast in him is slowly departing, leaving his peaceful self in its place. "How I wish I could stay like this for the rest of my days."
The mountain pass of Akina is a very dear place for him. It is not only the venue where his winning record was marred by Akina's Hachi-Roku; it's also a place where many of his childhood memories are preserved. On this mountain is where he spent his first love's days. On this mountain is where the heart of a once cheerful boy was buried not long ago. On this mountain is where Ryouske died and where Ryouske was reborn. On this mountain is where he first began his racing career. And only on this mountain could he still feel the happiness he tasted when he was younger and the pain that was its price to pay. It wasn't in his personality to be sentimental, but he couldn't help it whenever he drives through Akina. It was just inevitable.
"It's so peaceful in here... Shizuka…"
It all happened four years ago, before high school graduation. He was then an enthusiastic boy who cared naught about cars or racing. He was just like any normal high school guy whose attention was paid only towards his girlfriend - Shizuka. As the name suggests, Shizuka was a peaceful girl. She was always silent, poised, and mild. She had long brown hair that the wind always loved to play with. Her smile was like sunshine and never ceases to make his heart melt like candle wax; her laughter was the sound of golden bells singing that makes his heart burst in happiness. She always carried an air of serenity about her, a sense of peace and a promise of happiness that enveloped her being. This quality attracted him to her more strongly than anything in this world. When he's with her, he feels like his problem dissolves to thin air. All worries from his face disappear, and in its place is a warm and accommodating smile. This was how Takahashi Ryouske used to be, before he was exposed to the cruelty of reality.
When Ryouske turned eighteen, he received his first car as a gift from his father. It was a red two-door Toyota Corolla. Ryouske and Shuzuka would often go out for a drive after classes. They wander off to many places - from Akagi to Usui to Akina. They do this often to escape from the worries of the world and to enjoy life to the fullest.
"Ryo, life is surely beautiful, isn't it?"
"It sure is, Shiz, especially when you're here with me"
"But I think I could never be the same again if I lost you…"
The two of them would often drive for long hours while listening to music in the car's stereo or while chatting about how the day went for both of them; they were really close and bonded. Some even say they were inseparable. The two of them often take picnics, with Shiz preparing the snacks and Ryo bringing the drinks and blankets. It felt like they could go on like this forever, never tiring, as long as they had each other to hold onto. But their favorite place for the drive was the Akina mountain pass, where they got a lot of privacy. Near Lake Akina, there was a huge tree that was rumored to have magical powers to make wishes come true. They often go there and ask the tree to fulfill their wishes.
"What did you wish for, this time, Shiz?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Of course. I want to know what you think and feel."
"I wished… I asked the tree to grant that we will always be together."
But Ryouske knew that life is a turning wheel; sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. Every piece of happiness you receive has a price to pay, and the magnitude of the pain it brings is even greater. He knew that in the near future, this almost perfect bliss he was in would turn to dark waters. But despite all this, he was willing to take the chance. He was willing to taste happiness with Shiz even if he knew there was nowhere else to go if you're already on top but to the bottom. He knew the dreaded day would come at his doorstep one day… But little did he know that his pain would be too much to last a lifetime.
(Shizuka's friend's voice) "Ryouske-san, Ryouske-san! I was searching the whole school for you!"
"Why, Mina-chan, is there a problem?"
"I don't know how to say this…"
"What is it? Come on, you can tell me.'
"I-it's about Shizuka. This morning… this morning she was found in her room. It turned out she took too much sleeping pills."
"Wh-what? What are you saying? Is she alright? In what hospital is she staying? Is she okay? What did the doctors say?"
"I'm sorry. There was nothing else the doctors could do. We were all shocked, but they said it was too late for them to pump out the pills from her body. She was already in rigor mortis when she was found. Shizuka is dead…"
"Nooooooo!!!!!!!!!"
After the sad accident, nobody could ever cheer up Ryouske again, not even his mischievous younger brother Keisuke. He would always go to classes alone, drive alone, eat alone. He was always lost in his own world and inattentive in class, unlike before. The last time his friends saw the joy in his eyes was the last day that he'd been with her. It felt like a part of him died and was taken by Shizuka to the grave. After this tragic day, nobody ever saw again the old Ryouske.
Nobody knew where Ryouske actually went to the day he found out about Shizuka's accident. Only Ryouske knew that the sole witness to his mourning was the magical tree of Mount Akina, where his and Shizuka's names were still engraved inside a heart on the tree's trunk. It was this tree that witnessed most of his happy days with Shizuka. But it was also this tree that witnessed the death of Takahashi Ryouske.
Late that night, Ryouske went home. Except for the haggard look on his face, he seemed better now. The tears in his eyes had long dried; the pain long gone. But in their place was icy glare that conceals the anguish he feels over the loss of someone dear to him. His heart didn't feel like being pricked by a million needles anymore. Instead, it felt hard and cold like steel. He didn't acknowledge his parents when they greeted him, nor did he return Keisuke's affectionate pat on the back. He just walked by them like they were invisible and shut the door of his room behind him. He closed the door to the past, to the old chapter of his life. But he couldn't leave there the scars that marred his heart.
Ryouske was suddenly snapped out of his reverie when he caught a glimpse of a blinking light in the distance. It looked like a signal from a car parked on the road's shoulder, but he wasn't certain due to the vast darkness that envelops this part of the mountain. He slowly pulled up and approached the unfortunate car. By the look of the its exterior, Ryouske could already guess that the driver is not a mountain racer. No part of the vehicle was enhanced for better performance on either the uphill or the downhill travel. The wheels were already in bad condition, not the type with good grip. And he could guess that the engine was just some normal type, at most 150 horsepower. He stopped in front of the car door and asked in the dark, "Hello? Is anyone there?"
A cold wind blew, and there was a sudden commotion inside the car. Ryouske could only hear muffled mumbling but no coherent words. He asked again, and then came a reply in the dark, "I'm in here." It was a rich female voice. "My car broke down, and I couldn't ask anybody for help." The car door suddenly opened and a figure came out of the shadows to introduce her self. She gracefully extended her hand to him, "My name is Yumi." There was a sudden change in her voice. He couldn't make it if it was whiny or just perky, "I'm here to visit a friend in Akagi, but as you can see my car broke down. I thought people passing by would see my signal light, but I guess not many people come here often. I tried to call for help, but my phone's battery went dead. Again, I'm Yumi, The Jinx Queen." She was speaking at a speed of at least a hundred miles per hour.
Ryouske was suddenly confused. This girl was really talkative. She was babbling on and on about what happened without being asked. It was a strong contrast to the serene mood of the night.
"Nice to meet you." She shook his hand cheerfully and continued, " and you are?"
Ryouske was brought back to his senses with her simple question. Maybe she was just happy that someone came to save her. "I'm Ryouske."
"Ah, Ryouske." She walked closer to him and inspected his face, "you don't look like a rapist or a robber. You look almost decent, in fact. So I guess it is okay for me to trust you. You see…"
What's with this girl, seriously? I can't believe she's talking this fast and didn't seem to care. Did she drink too much coffee?
"… Hey! You're not listening to me." She waved her hand in front of his eyes to make sure he was still awake. "I said I've been here for five hours now. The mosquitoes are already fat with my blood." She pointed at her slim bare arms, "See? There are so many blotches visible. But there's nothing much I can do but bear with them until somebody arrives to rescue me. But I also figured a while ago that rescuers would not come until tomorrow morning. And so I slept here in my car…"
Yumi's endless babbling was cut short by Ryouske's question, "What's the matter with your car?"
"Oh! The car? I don't know. It just stopped while I was driving. I was listening to L'Arc En Ciel in my car stereo when suddenly, smoke appeared from the car's hood and the engine stopped. I guess it was the engine, because I tried to restart it but it won't budge… Hey! What are you doing to my car?"
While Yumi was talking on and on, Ryouske decided to take a look at the engine. He guessed that it was an engine failure. He popped up the hood and took out a flashlight from his pocket. He started inspecting the heart and soul of the vehicle when Yumi suddenly popped up behind him.
"What are you doing to my car?"
"I'm searching for the problem so I can fix it."
"Oh, I get it! You're a mechanic, right? You will fix my car, so I can go to my friend's house"
"…"
"Hey, why are you such a snob? I'm talking to you, remember?"
Ryouske finally closed the hood and returned the flashlight to his pocket. "I found the problem, but it cannot be fixed here."
She was shocked, "Does this mean that my car needs to be towed to the mechanic? But it couldn't be done until tomorrow!" She was now talking to herself, "Then this means that I will sleep here through the night and wait for the tow away truck tomorrow morning."
Even though Ryouske was irritated by this overzealous girl, he still tried to act like a gentleman. "Well, you don't have to sleep here. I can offer you a ride to your friend's house."
Upon hearing the man's offer, she became alarmed, "Are you saying that I must leave my car here? Alone? What if some robbers come here and car-nap it? And you're asking me to come with you?" She stopped short and eyed him suspiciously, "You're not a mechanic, are you? You're planning something! Well, I won't hear it!" She turned her back to him and started for her car. "I'd better rot here and die than come with a pervert like you!" In no time, she was inside the car and back in the shadows.
Ryouske was about to give up on her, but he caught a glimpse of a familiar tree - the magical tree. He didn't realize that they were near Lake Akina now. He was too lost in his reverie a while ago to notice the sparkling water of the lake, and the strange breeze that blows over it. He felt a little strange, like the tree was actually giving him patience and courage to help this mule-headed lady. He let out a sigh and started, "Look, miss Yumi, I'm not here to harm you. I'm here to help you. I'm from Akagi, so I can drop you to your house." He made room for a dramatic pause, "But if you feel that it's better to spend the night with the mosquitoes, it's fine with me. I'm not in the right position to insist and drag you out of here. Just a warning, though - this isn't a safe place." He now turned to leave, but a light hand on his shoulder stopped him. He was expecting this. He was so sly and such a consummate liar at times.
"Wait…" Yumi said apologetically, "I'm sorry about my attitude. I don't mean to insult you. Can you please take me to my friend's house?"
"Causes stain… stay away!" Yumi was singing loudly now in Ryouske's car. She was so lively, tapping her fingers on her lap and swaying her body a little to the music. She was oblivious to the world around her, not realizing she was inside Ryouske's car; not knowing she was being observed by the driver beside her through the mirror.
Man. This is so irritating. I didn't expect to find a woman here stuck in Mount Akina alone. This is so strange. Of all times to fall down, why now?
What's wrong with this woman? She's so alive and brazen. She doesn't seem to have inhibitions, singing like this and tapping like that. All of the girls who accompany me were shy - or at least trying to be just to get my attention. Plus, she doesn't seem to know who I REALLY am. She doesn't seem to care that I am the popular Takahashi Ryouske! Is she playing with me? Or is she that dumb not to know?
An hour later, Yumi was still in Ryouske's car. She seemed to have forgotten the exact location of her friend's house. She just kept on saying it was a blue apartment near a bookstore in Akagi. The white FC was roaming around Akagi for almost an hour now, but Ryouske knew that there was no blue apartment near a bookstore here. He was silently pissed off, but he kept his cool to avoid further problems. He tried again to ask for directions from this peculiar being he was with now, "Yumi, what is the exact address, so I can verify if we are in the right place?"
She was also pissed, and she didn't even try to hide it, "Wait, okay? I'm searching for it." She searched in her bag, in her pocket, in her wallet… and finally! She took out the piece of paper from her wallet and read it, "… Kyogi Street… Ashikaga… Ashikaga?!?" She slapped her mouth to stop the curses that were about to pour out of them. "Ano, Ryouske-san, I think we're in the wrong place."
Ryouske just glared at her and headed for Ashakagi, about two miles away from Akagi.
Yumi was silent on the way to Ashikaga. She was observing this odd guy beside her.
Seriously, though. What is wrong with him? He's so silent and cold. I could even feel the chills at the back of my head. I didn't do anything wrong, you know. I just forgot! Okay, okay! I know I should be thankful to him for helping me out, but still, he's so irritatingly silent! Like he's weighing my worth with his eyes. This is so creepy. I've met many guys before who were also silent. But their silence comes from shyness and not arrogance! I can feel that he is rude, and just look at those cold and cruel eyes! But… but it doesn't seem to fit in his handsome face. It's so wrong for him. Up close, he is very presentable. No, he's attractive and hunky. He looks like a fashion model. Oh, right! That's why he looks very familiar to me. He looks like someone out from the covers of a magazine. This night is getting weirder by the moment!
After another hour, Ryouske was able to locate the house. It was indeed near a bookstore, and it was a blue apartment. But it wasn't in Akagi… in Ahikaga. He parked the FC in front of the apartment's gate. He turned off the car stereo, which was still hot from the continuous playing of Hyde's voice. He pressed the button and returned the CD to Yumi, who was abnormally silent on the way to Ashikaga. He wagered she was embarrassed over her mistake.
"Look, Yumi," he slowly started, "I'm not mad. I'm sorry if I glared at you or acted so cold. This was just unexpected."
She was still silent for a long while, until she found the voice to reply, "It was I who should be sorry, Ryouske. You were just being a gentleman to bring me home, but what did I do? I lost my control and yelled at you. I'm sorry." She bowed her head and fell silent again.
"We're here now, and we're safe," he smiled at her for the first time.
Yumi was taken aback by the smile slowly spreading across his face. It was a warm, friendly, and reassuring smile, but it was still pretty. It was the first positive reaction she got from him. "Hahaha," she laughed; she couldn't help it.
"What's so funny?" he asked, perplexed.
"Nothing," she finally smiled at him, "It was just weird to see you smile. You have warmth in you, after all." Unexpectedly, she leaned over to him and planted a friendly kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for everything," she said. She got out of the car and headed for the gate, and then disappearing into the shadows again, just like the first time he saw her.
Whew! That wasn't hard at all. At last! My first fic on the net. Isn't it great? I'm really looking forward to finishing this story. I hope you liked it. I'm also expecting some of your useful reviews.