Here's another installment for you folks. Hope you can bear with me as updating might be sllllllllllllllllllllow until I clear the story direction and some other stuff. I do see how I want to end this story, just so you guys would know. The hitch is how to get there.

Would really like to know what you think of it. I still feel like it isn't polished. Anyways, on to the chapter!


PROMISES TO A DISTANT SKY

ACT 1.

"Takumi! Phone call!"

Fujiwara Takumi let out a groan as he turned over in the bed, sorely wishing to sleep in on a lazy Saturday morning. Giving a jaw-breaking yawn, he rose. That call better be important…

"About time you got your lazy butt down here." His father, Bunta, glowered at him, a hand thankfully covering the phone's mouthpiece.

"Fujiwara. How has it been?"

Takumi frowned slightly, his sleepy mind trying to place the voice.

"It's Fumihiro."

"Ah, Fumihiro-san! Good to hear from you!" He actually found himself smiling. It had been more than a year since he got in touch with Project D's spokesperson. After the team disbanded, Fumihiro-san tried to keep in touch with them. He learned that Keisuke had signed up for the amateur circuit, and Ryousuke was pursuing his internship in various clinics outside of Gunma. At first, they talked about developments in the Takahashi brothers' lives, and of their own. When the members of the old Project D team had gotten into the routine of their new lives, there was little to talk about, and with little common subjects to talk about, the calls became sporadic to non-existent as the months wore on. For Fumihiro to call after all this time was a big surprise, but a very welcome one, nonetheless.

"Listen," Fumihiro's voice took a serious tone after small talk was established, "are you free today? I'd like to talk to you in person."

"Well," Takumi considered, scratching his head, "I have classes this afternoon…" Takumi had taken a technical course on automotives after his expeditions in Project D, at his father's suggestion, in his desire to know more about cars.

"Ah." Fumihiro was clearly disappointed. "This is presumptuous of me to ask, but is it possible that you… skip your classes for today? I wouldn't ask of this if it wasn't so important."

Takumi felt a knot in his stomach. Neither Ryousuke nor Fumihiro ever asked him to compromise anything else just to race for 'D. He distantly felt that sinking sense of foreboding…

"Sure… if you say so," he slowly relented. For Fumihiro to call up from out of nowhere with such a seemingly urgent request, Takumi wasn't one to turn him down. "Where do you want to meet?"

"I'm actually driving to Akina," he replied. "We can meet by the lake."

After exchanging goodbyes, Takumi just stood there, staring at a blank space on the wall. The conversation felt odd, for starters. His mind was already forming several conclusions, but Takumi brushed them aside. He didn't want his imagination get the better of him before he actually spoke to the man.

It didn't take a lot of convincing to borrow the Eight-Six from his dad; he was the sole owner now, after all. Minutes later, he was driving to Akina Lake, looking for Fumihiro. He found the older man by the parking lot, staring out across the lake.

Fumihiro approached as Takumi got out of the car, a broad smile lighting up his features. Takumi noted with a tinge of sorrow how the man aged. The year had not been good to him, it seemed.

"Great to see you, Fujiwara," he greeted with an enthusiasm that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I wish it was under better circumstances."

The sad countenance and the words gnawed at Takumi. "Fumihiro-san? Is there something wrong?"

Fumihiro drew a shaky breath in return. "A lot of things have happened in the past year and a half. I'm at a loss where to start." He gave him a shamefaced grin.

Takumi took that moment to usher the man to a nearby bench and sat down. He sat quietly beside him and bade his time.

"I didn't know who else could help me," Fumihiro began at length, "I couldn't think of anybody else." He turned to Takumi. "I need your help to find Keisuke."

Takumi could only blink. "What's wrong? What happened?" And why him? "Did he and Ryousuke-san­ have a fight or something?"

Fumihiro clearly flinched, and what looked like realization came and went from his face.

"It's a little more complicated than that. But… I've sworn never to tell a soul. I'd like to keep that promise. I hope you understand."

"Then, how can I help you if I don't know what's going on?" Takumi asked gently, hoping he didn't come across as rude.

"I'm so sorry, Fujiwara," he replied, face reflecting his sympathy. "But I intend to keep my word. All I can tell is something has put a gap between the brothers, and it's tearing them apart."

For that 'something' to put a wedge between brothers as closely bonded as the Takahashis was simply unthinkable. They've had their disagreements—who wouldn't?—but from the time Takumi joined Project D, he never saw them in a real quarrel, let alone almost come to blows. He couldn't see that coming from them, especially not from Ryousuke.

"How would you like to me to help you?" Takumi asked. "This seems to be a family affair. I don't think I should be involved…"

"There isn't much that we can do," Fumihiro reasoned. "He's not listening to anyone anymore, not even to Ryousuke." He swallowed. "I couldn't think of any other person whom he'd listen to."

"Then why me?"

He flashed Takumi an enigmatic smile. "Call it a hunch, but I think he'll listen to you."

Takumi still had his doubts. He was still intrigued about what Fumihiro wasn't telling him, but he didn't want him to break his confidence, either. And who was he to tell around someone like Takahashi Keisuke?

Fumihiro took advantage of Takumi's hesitation when he took him on both shoulders, startling Takumi from his ruminations. He looked at him dead in the eyes.

"The Takahashi brothers need each other more than ever," he fervently declared. "They need your help, Fujiwara."

Takumi felt there was no talking his way out of the situation; he couldn't if he tried his best. He then gave his commitment with a slow nod.

It was as if a burden was lifted, and Fumihiro was smiling warmly again. "Thank you. I knew I could count on you."

"How long has Keisuke-san been missing?" Takumi wanted to know.

"He left home two days ago," Fumihiro supplied. "But something tells me that this time, he has no intentions of coming back."

"'This time'?"

"You know that I manage Keisuke in the Fuji Speedsters team," he related, "so I'm aware of most of his activities. Lately, he's hardly home due to some reason or other that he doesn't tell anyone." He looked earnestly into Takumi's face. "He would never deliberately jeopardize his chance at a shot at the pro leagues like this."

Takumi was alarmed. It was normal for the brothers not to be home for more than a day during their runs for Project D, making days out of nights. "Are you sure, Fumihiro-san? He might just be blowing off steam or something."

"He's been acting more aloof lately, and would find some excuse not to be home," Fumihiro answered with a shake of his head. "He tries to avoid the people at home, and he only talks to me if it concerns racing."

"Even Ryousuke-san?"

All Fumihiro gave was a rueful smile.

Then he began to relay what he had done. He had Kenta posted at Mt. Akagi in case Keisuke ever showed up there. Fumihiro had already tried looking for him at the racetracks he would practice on, and even called on the Speedsters to ask them if the young man ever dropped by.

"That doesn't leave a lot of places where he'd go," Takumi remarked, scratching his cheek. Analysis and strategizing weren't exactly his strongest points, which was why he turned to Ryousuke for such things.

At the thought of the older man, he couldn't help but wonder again. Who could have been at fault? Could this be over a woman? Even Takumi wasn't convinced; he doubted the brothers would let a woman come between them—or could they? He wasn't so sure anymore.

Fumihiro's sigh caught Takumi's attention. "I know," he admitted, squinting out at the restaurant's parking lot from the window. They had already asked the staff if Keisuke had come by, to which they were given the same negative answer as before. They spent most of the morning driving around to Keisuke's usual hangouts. And every now and then, Fumihiro tried calling him on his cell phone, which was still unreachable. Having had no luck, they decided to head to the nearest family restaurant and rethink their plan.

If Ryousuke­-san was here, he'd know where Keisuke-san is, Takumi rued, watching Fumihiro speak to someone on his 'phone. Come to think of it, why wasn't Ryousuke helping them? Surely, he hadn't given up on his brother just like that, had he? If he had, there must be one hell of a reason to stop caring just like that.

"He hasn't shown up in Akagi yet," Fumihiro announced as his conversation with Kenta ended. "He said he'll drive around a bit more and will call if he finds him."

"Does Kenta know… about…" Takumi let the vague gestures finish the statement for him.

Fumihiro shook his head. "I'm the only one outside the family that knows. With Kenta, I didn't need to elaborate. He'd do anything if it's Keisuke."

Takumi had to smile a little. Nobody was dedicated to Keisuke as Nakamura Kenta was. Although…

"Ano… you've known the Takahashi brothers for quite some time now, haven't you?"

"Why yes," Fumihiro's features lit up once more. "When Ryousuke first formed the RedSuns, he asked me to join them."

"Though, I've never seen you race," Takumi pointed out, "even when you guys came to Akina."

"I wouldn't be signed up for the RedSuns if it was for my racing skills—or lack thereof," Fumihiro amended with an amused chuckle. "No, I was more of a technical consultant for the team, just like what I did for Project D.

"You see, I met Ryousuke in his earlier years as a racer. I heard he asked for me when he wanted to do more tuning to his FC, since I have contacts who specialize in rotary engines. I thought he was a strange fellow at first, eyes closed as he stood close to a roaring engine like he was listening to music." He shook his head at the recollection. "On top of school and racing, he'd come by to learn about engines and things. It wasn't just about his FC anymore. He wanted to know anything and everything there was to know about his opponents' cars. And for a young man born into a wealthy family, he didn't mind getting down and dirty when he'd help me do modifications." He looked out the window again with a fond smile lingering on his lips.

Ryousuke never failed to amaze Takumi. What he wouldn't give to see his mentor in dirty coveralls, hands and face grimy from doing manual labor. The image put a more human spin to an otherwise commanding persona.

"So you've been friends for a long time, then?" Takumi concluded.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that we are."

Silence ensued as Fumihiro seemed to be lost in a nostalgic trance. But, as Takumi observed, the thought of the present must have put that pained expression on his face once more.

"We don't have a lot of time," he declared, serious once more. "The day's almost gone, and we still don't have an idea where to find him."

"Maybe he challenged some teams around here for a battle," Takumi hazarded, recalling doing such a thing, costing him the Eight-Six in the process.

"I'm almost tempted to agree," the other man acknowledged. "Ryousuke had always drilled it into Keisuke to let instincts lead him, but never his emotions."

"Is Keisuke-san angry at his brother?" Takumi couldn't help but wonder.

"More or less," was Fumihiro's laconic reply. "Anyway, it's worth a try calling them." His cellular phone was out again, making a call to Nakazato of the NightKids.

Takumi was hardly listening to the one-sided conversation. Think, Takumi, think! You're a top racer, you have a fallout with your brother, you're probably frustrated as hell about it…

He bit the inside of his lip. He felt annoyed since he couldn't get through the shroud surrounding the brothers' discord. He wished Fumihiro was more forthcoming. Despite that, he wanted to do everything he could to help the Takahashis, for all that they did for him.

So where would he go? He's a racer, he conquers the roads. What would he want—

Something lit up in Takumi's brain so brilliantly that he didn't realize he was pulling Fumihiro to his feet.

"Ara—I was still talking to Sudo," the man exclaimed, surprised at his abrupt behavior.

It's a long shot, but it's still worth a try. "I'm sorry about that, Fumihiro-san," Takumi found his manners to apologize, something he forgot in his urgency. "But I think I have an idea where is."

"Really? How?"

Takumi spared him a slight smile. "Call it intuition."

End chapter 1…


I decided to stick with this title. Will let you in on why this title once I wrap this story. Anything you guys might find inconsistent with the characters and other things, do let me know.

UPDATE: 31 Aug. '07 - Many thanks to Kevin Griffis for the beta work! Be sure to check out his first Ini-D installment, Final Battle!