Ridgerunner Touge

Disclaimer: I do not own Initial D, and any references made to any other television shows, films, or works of fiction are meant to pay homage and I am in no way making money off this story. It's just a labor of love.

Chapter 1

Bunta Fujiwara sat at the table in the den of his tofu shop, reading a newspaper and smoking a cigarette. Every once in a while, he'd turn his head to look at the clock and check the time. Currently, it was 2:30 a.m., and Takumi hadn't arrived home from practice yet.

"Gonna be a little later tonight, aren't we Takumi?" Bunta thought to himself, turning his head back to the newspaper article he was reading. "Oh well, don't start whining when you have to make your deliveries because of how tired you're gonna be."

Bunta didn't really care that his son was later than usual, since Takumi was no longer a minor, had a driver's license, and was to free to do as he pleased as long as he didn't get arrested or forget to come home and do the deliveries to Mt. Akina. That, and not being late for his job.

Although knowing this, he couldn't help but be curious of why Takumi was being a little later each night than the previous coming home. He already knew the practice sessions were usually long, but not like this.

"If he's been coming home later, one of two things is happening: one, Ryosuke Takahashi is holding the sessions a little longer because of a new challenge; or two, Takumi's got himself a new lady friend and she's keeping him busy."

Although the latter humored Bunta, and would have made him somewhat proud if it was indeed true, he shook his head as he realized the former was ultimately more plausible. Takumi hadn't had a relationship since Natsuki Mogi had left for Tokyo University.

"She was a pretty girl, and very nice too. What a shame he let her go." Takumi had been really late coming home two nights before she left. Bunta didn't even ask where he'd been because as soon as he smelled Natsuki's perfume on Takumi's clothes, he knew what happened. He did allow a smile for that thought, since his son was officially a man after that night. That, along with Takumi's newfound interest in racing, made Bunta Fujiwara a proud father.

After some time pondering, a car was heard parking in the alley beside the Fujiwara Tofu Shop. The engine shut off, the front door opened a few seconds later, and in stepped Takumi.

Bunta didn't face his son, but acknowledged his presence when he stepped into the den. "You're late."

Takumi yawned. "Sorry, dad. Ryosuke held the sessions a little longer tonight."

"I figured as much. What's the reason for it? You're not slacking are you?"

"No," Takumi said with some subtle annoyance. "He just said we might have some new challengers, and they're not exactly from here."

"So? You've had other challengers from different prefectures. What's the big deal?"

"Dad, I didn't mean here as in Gunma. I meant here as in all of Japan."

"Oh?" Bunta turned his head to look at his son. The last sentence had caught his attention. "Where from?"

"America. Something about a Southern states team or something with souped up old cars."

Bunta's eyes eyebrows rose in complete curiosity now. "Muscle cars?" he asked.

"Well, I don't know. He didn't use that term, but he did say they were pretty powerful. Old and big from the late-sixties to mid-seventies, but powerful."

"Those are muscle cars, kiddo. Any mid to full-sized car from that time period with a powerful engine is a muscle car."

Takumi was almost completely surprised that his father would know of foreign cars. Then again, it did seem reasonable, since Bunta used to be a racer. "You know about them?

"I've read a few articles about them, yeah."

"How good do they run?"

"From what I remember reading, they would make you bite their dust on the straights. But, on the corners…well, let's just say your friend Itsuki could drift better in his AE85." Bunta chuckled a little.

"Hey, Itsuki's getting better!" Takumi defended his best friend.

"Relax, kid," Bunta told his son calmly. "I wasn't insulting your friend, I was just making a point about a muscle car's cornering."

"Oh...well still-"

"Still nothing. Get your ass to bed; you have deliveries in less than two hours, and you're taking the Impreza tonight."

Takumi sighed. "Alright." He then dragged himself upstairs to get what little sleep he could get.

"Little brat," Bunta whispered lowly as he turned to the next page.

The representatives from the F/GM RidgeRollers and the Mopar Moonrunners left the lot after the meeting. Each sped home a litte faster than necessary, excited by the news they would be heading to a foreign land to race a team they didn't know much about. That made the situation just a little bit more interesting.

After Critter cut onto the road that lead to his mechanic shop/house, Brian and Liam headed to their farm that they shared with their cousin, Katy (short for Katherine), and their uncle Jake Jennings. The cousins had been living with Uncle Jake (as they called him) since all their parents had died in an unfortunate truck accident. Since Jake was a widower who had no children of his own, he took the three cousins and cared for them like they were his own. Jake did everything he could to make sure they all turned out right, and he succeeded…for the most part.

During high school, Brian and Liam competed on the wrestling team for Monroe High. Katy went to the same school so the two could 'keep an eye on her', on Uncle Jake's orders. Katy was a cheerleader and a softball player on the girls' team. She was both as beautiful as a Southern Belle could be, and was tough as grits.

Liam, being the oldest, graduated a year before Katy and two years before Brian. He didn't see himself as a college boy, but was determined to make something of himself. So, he joined up with the Army and got to spend some time around the world. One place that Liam got to visit was Japan. There, he saw their world of drift racing, and even got to run a few times himself. He won some, lost some since he was only familiar with power sliding at the time. All the same, he learned some new techniques, and was having the best time in the Land of the Rising Sun until he had to leave. Soon, after serving the mandatory four years, Liam left the Army and began helping out around the farm, and resumed helping his Uncle Jake with his moonshine runs along with Brian.

Brian, like Liam, graduated from high school but didn't see much of a future in college, so he stuck around to help out on the farm, and with the shine runs. He and Liam had been hauling their Uncle's whiskey since Liam was 14, and Brian was 12. They would always do the runs late at night to avoid being seen. Liam, being the most mature, was the driver of the Charger at first. Later on, he and Jake taught Brian to handle the car better, and soon Brian was the driver, and Liam was the navigator. The Charger was given to Brian after Liam left.

On the side, Brian entered local derbies and rallies with the General (the name he dubbed the car), and became involved with the Mopar Moonrunners ridge running team that his friend Critter was part of. When Liam got out of the Army and got himself the Challenger, he was inducted in too.

Katy, unlike her two cousins, started attending community college, studying Ecology. She took a side job as a waitress at the local bar/grill for money. Throughout this time, Katy dated but never found the 'right man' she was looking for. Even though she wanted to complete school and earn her degree, Katy wanted a steady man she could love and raise a family with; almost every girl's dream.

Uncle Jake had never forced either of his nephews to help with his moonshine deliveries; they simply volunteered for it. At first, he was very hesitant to even let them accompany him during the deliveries, but one night, after hurting his arm while working on the farm, he needed some fast help. When Brian and Liam came to answer the call, Jake had no choice but to accept their help. While on that run, Jake saw not only how much fun they were having, but also well they could handle the roads on their first time. From then on, Jake taught his nephews driving maneuvers during the day, and let them take on the deliveries at night. However, he made a law, not just a rule, but a LAW that cousin Katy would NEVER make a shine run. Not even if she was the last driver on the planet. It wasn't because she was a bad driver; she wasn't bad at all, really. It was because Jake was extremely protective of his niece, and wanted nothing bad to happen to her. He couldn't forgive himself if something had because of his doing. Brian and Liam had no problem following that law, on account they were just as protective. Still, every now and then, Katy got into a few races in her '71 Plymouth Barracuda.

The skills they learned from their dear uncle came in handy when ditching the law, and were about to come into play again when Sheriff Hoss Colemain pulled out of a hidden spot near Hazzard Haven in his Plymouth Gran Fury and let the siren roar.

"Alright," he spoke over the CB, "you Jennings pull it on over 'ere and come out with your hands up!"

"Dammit. Real perfect timing." Liam cursed as he saw the siren lights in his rearview mirror. He knew Brian still had a case of moonshine left in his trunk because Old Man Grady went out to his fishing cottage for vacation and wouldn't be back until next week. Brian told Liam about that from the note he had read taped to the old man's front door. That meant they had a case to take back home couldn't deliver it until Grady came home.

Not wasting any time, Liam flashed his brights to the syllables of "evasive action". This was a code the Jennings family had used for multiple vehicles since their first run.

Brian pressed his brake pedal twice, letting his cousin know he got the message, and then cut his lights off. With everything set, they were ready. Liam cut his lights off completely and pulled off to the side behind some bushes so Sheriff Hoss would pass him. Once Hoss had passed, Liam launched his Challenger back onto the road and tailed Hoss.

"Pull it over, you Jennings! Ya' hear?" Hoss called again over the CB. "Ya' ain't gettin' away from me this time!"

Brian pushed the accelerator and shifted up a gear to put some distance between him Hoss. A long right came up ahead, and they entered it. In the middle of the curve, Brian downshifted and used the handbrake to help him slide out of the turn. Hoss almost spun himself out trying to keep up, while Liam kept a safe distance so he wouldn't rear-end the Sheriff and damage either car. It was hard on the Sheriff when the cars he was after didn't have their lights on.

The road was being eaten up like spaghetti by the hungry cars. Brian upshifted once again to put some distance between his Charger and the Sheriff's Gran Fury and blew through a smooth left curve that led to a fork in the road. He head down the right and made it through a series of short corners, downshifting on only a few of the more sharper ones. There were two dirt embankments down this road, and Brian had passed the first one. He looked into the mirror, and saw the Sheriff bang his right fender against that same one.

"Ouch." He winced at that sight.

"Ohh, you Jennings are gonna pay for that!" Hoss called over. He sped up as much as he could and aimed right for the Charger's rear. Brian sped up to avoid being slammed.

"Damn, the Sheriff must REALLY be in a bad moon tonight!" Brian said to himself. He looked up ahead at the long right corner. After that long right came the sharp left where the second embankment was. If he didn't slow down, he was going to crash!

Luckily for Brian, Liam knew the second embankment was coming up. He honked his horn loudly a few times, and kept it up until he saw the Fury's stop lights come on. The Sheriff got scared and slammed his brakes.

With precious seconds bought, Brian downshifted and yanked the handbrake up to make the sharp turn. The rear grazed the second embankment. Then…

"Ooohooo!" Sheriff Hoss tried to make the turn, but spun out and hit the right side of his car up against the embankment. Thanks to his seatbelt, he was alright. The only thing hurt was his pride.

Liam quickly and smoothly made the turn without having to use the handbrake. He got as close as five inches to the embankment and never touched it.

Brian saw his cousin make the turn, and both of them let out the rebel yell and honked their horns, leaving the irritated Sheriff behind.

The Jennings boys turned into their farm sometime later pulled and parked. They entered their house and immediately headed for bed after the chase had exhausted them.

After brushing their teeth they settled into bed to get some sleep. Before they could completely fall asleep, Brian looked across the room to Liam.

"Hey, cuz," he called out softly.

"What's up, Brian?" Liam sat up and rubbed his eyes before looking back.

"Can I ask you somethin'?"

"Yeah, sure. What's on your mind?"

"Well," Brian hesitated slightly, "You remember how everyone at the meet got freaked at the challenge at first?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I didn't hear you shouting. And you didn't even stall when you nodded to Critter to go along with it. Why's that?"

"Because, I know how they race. Remember how I got to see a lot of places when I was in the Army?"

Brian nodded. "Mhm."

"Well, Japan was one of the places I got to stop at, and I got a chance to see how they race. I gotta tell ya, it's nothing like we do."

"How do you mean?" Brian pressed.

"They race on touges instead of the streets."

"Touges? What's a touge?"

"A mountain pass. And they have a lot of turns and corners up there. They use mostly drift to take the corners."

The word 'drift' caught Brian's ear. "What's drift?"

"Well, it's kinda like power sliding. Except instead of sliding just out of the turn, you slide both in and out of the turn in drift. Very handy since those turns are like U's. I used a drift to clear across the second embankment. It's called Inertia Drift."

Brian got a little nervous at that piece of information. "That was a drift? How come you never told me you knew all this before?"

"Well, cuz, you never asked." Liam chuckled. "Besides, I was still figuring out at the time how drifting works and how we could apply it to our own cars. It ain't gonna be easy since Japanese cars are designed to take the corners, while ours were designed to just take the straights. I had to modify my Challenger just so I could take the corners smoother."

"How are we gonna take them then, Liam? And what are we gonna tell Uncle Jake?"

"Don't worry about that just yet. I have an idea. First, I have to talk it over with Sung before we can put it to work. As for Uncle Jake, I'm sure he'll go for it. But, right now, we're both too tired. Let's get some sleep, ok?"

"Alright. Goodnight, cuz."

"Goodnight."

With that conversation over, they both went to sleep, unaware that their beautiful cousin Katy was just outside the door, listening in with a smile on her lovely face, playing with her long dark brown hair. "I wonder what my two cousins are up to now…" She wondered curiously.

To be continued…

Author's notes: Took me long enough, I know. I hope I haven't lost any of your interests yet! Stick around, chapter 2 will be up soon!

See ya'll next time!