fandom: Initial D
title: Invincible.
pairing: Ryousuke + Takumi
rating: pg-13 (we hope for now)
description: Ryousuke suddenly appears at Takumi 's house to ask him a favor, but is there something underlying his request? (Note: Shounen-ai)
Disclaimer – My fangirling brought me here even though Initial D doesn't belong to me.
Invincible.
By Miyamoto Yui
Chapter 2 – My reality.
"What are you staring off at?" My old man said as he came down from his room.
I didn't know how long I'd been standing there, but I was still stunned by Ryosuke's words. Not to mention there was no way I could hide my tomato face.
I know I wasn't imagining all of his affection.
Trying to act normal, I shook my head. "Nothing."
He noticed that Ryousuke was already gone. "He left so quickly? It looked like he really needed something."
Shrugging his shoulders, he took a step forward to get ready for the new shipment of ingredients for tomorrow morning's tofu run.
"He wants me to race him again."
My old man stopped but didn't turn around to face me. "Oh?"
I couldn't tell if he was amused by me or the whole situation.
"He left without hearing my answer. He thinks I'll just go."
"Well, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Then, what are you whining about?"
So many things came to my mind at the same time that I didn't know how to reply back. I began to feel even more frustrated with myself.
"Remember, he gave you all of his time, money and effort."
Walking to the front and into the store, I could almost hear him say, "The reason you're where you are now is because of him."
I took the tray with the cups and teapot back into the kitchen. As I washed the rim of his cup, I sighed.
My dad hit the nail on the head.
I guess that's where Ryousuke and he were alike.
*/*/*/*/*/00000
It was no good at all.
I tried to clean my room, but I couldn't concentrate at all. I stood in the middle of piles of paper and things I wished I had thrown away years ago. What happened yesterday morning just wouldn't stop repeating inside my head.
I seemed to be hypnotized by the eyes that looked right into me. Ryousuke seemed to know what I truly thought.
Then or now.
But wasn't everything purely business? At Project D, we never really talked about personal matters.
I wasn't sure about their family situation either except for the rumors or the few things I picked up here and there when I was around them. I always think that if information isn't offered, it isn't my business to know.
That's why this was a curve ball from nowhere.
The guy who touched my face wasn't the stern stoic that stood a little ahead of me.
When no one was around, was that how you really thought of me?
Almost a year and a half ago, you only sent a note to challenge me. Then, when you praised me, you were already going towards your car. You were facing away from me when you said you wanted my technique for your team. All this time, I watched and listened to you about how to improve our team,
but you were still out of reach.
When you came back from Hakone, I knew something was different, but I couldn't ask what had happened.
What does all that have to do with me anyway?
I can usually brush things off, but you're the only one who always gets me so flustered! Why should I care so much about what you think about me?
Looking at the mess I'd made all over my floor, I then stepped over it and closed the door behind me.
I took the keys from the small stand in the living room and passed my dad saying I was going out. He lifted his chin and grunted in response.
Before I knew it, I was already crossing the lake and down the familiar pass.
Whenever I got stressed, I drove. I smiled to myself because now all I thought of was driving. A long time ago, I didn't care and thought it was so troublesome, but now, it was everything to me.
It made me feel alive, that life was moving inside my little town.
While going down the first corner of Akina, I started to think about how long we'd been together.
The '86 was my sibling. It was always there with me. When I was three, I was incredibly shy so, I used to just hang out with our car. I took naps on the hood like a cat out in the sun. My dad used to scold me to come inside before I caught a cold because there were times I didn't want to leave. I'd cry a lot before he picked me up and forced me to come inside.
My favorite thing was cleaning it every single Saturday. Then, it was shiny all over again for the week. And if it ever got a dent, I would whine to put a band aid on it. Somehow, at that time, my old man went along with my stupidity.
I may not have liked driving so much before, but I loved our car.
I didn't even think as I turned the corners of the hairpins and went down all the way to Ikaho. But today, I went further down and all the way to Shibukawa Station, pulling to the side of the road.
"I should go back and finish everything," I tried to convince myself, but my body refused to move. I glanced over at the phone in the passenger's seat. I closed my eyes and my hand reached out for it.
Almost glaring at my own phone, I averted my eyes away to look at the path that led to the other mountain.
Why can't I just talk to Itsuki and the others? What's so hard about this? It's like déjà vu anyway. Normally, the first person I'd talk to was Itsuki because he was so straight-forward. He'd be the optimist that countered my unspoken doubts. Sure, I was busier because of everything, especially Project D, but things hadn't changed…
…or had they?
What the hell was wrong with me?
I looked for Mika's name in my phone book, but I couldn't push the call button either. So, I put the phone down and went in the direction opposite from home.
I gripped onto the steering wheel tighter than usual.
*/*/*/*/*/00000
Why am I here?
I sat near the reception desk and looked up at the ceiling.
If it weren't for Keisuke's help, I don't think I would've understood how to even come to this hospital.
Yet again, I wondered, "Why was I doing this to myself?"
I know if Itsuki were here and knew why, he'd just pat my back and encourage me as he always did. Then, he'd give me that pep talk I was never opposed listening to.
I lowered my eyes to look around and there was Ryousuke quickly walking from one hall to another. I knew he was still an intern, but he didn't look like one at all.
Then, someone came up to him and said something that, by his gestures, looked angry. The man quickly went away with a grave expression on his face.
I saw Ryousuke look down to the ground for a moment and then his face turned back to the usual business-like one.
Turning away, I pretended not to see and waited.
After five more minutes, he stood in front of me.
"Oh. It's you, Fujiwara."
His shoulders lowered.
After yesterday, how can you look relieved to see me?
"I know you're really busy, but I needed to talk to you."
He shook his head. "You're not a bother."
"Remember, he gave you all of his time, money and effort."
I gulped, recalling my father's words as they overlapped with yours, "Don't be satisfied with just the small stage of Akina. There's a wider world to gaze at."
"Let's go to the vending machines reserved for the staff members." He led me down the very hallway he'd come from and we walked into a small bluish-white room with two machines in front of us.
When I was going to take out my wallet, he grabbed my hand. He gave it a quick squeeze while shaking his head. "It's on me."
Ryosuke let go of me and looked at the drinks. "What do you want?"
"Lemon tea."
"Okay."
He handed me the drink.
"Thanks."
I watched his profile as he got himself a hot black coffee.
I knew he didn't have so much time, but I was still in disbelief that I had come all the way to see him. What was I expecting from all this?
I turned the cap of my bottle.
"I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly after making such a request."
"No, you don't have to apologize." I took a sip of my drink. "I'm confused because I already beat your record when you raced me on Akina."
He pulled the tab of his coffee can. Pop! "Maybe I will tell you why after we race."
I twisted the cap back onto my bottle.
"Why not Keisuke? Why does it have to be me?"
Some people passed by and he drank the rest of his can. Then, he threw it into the recycle bin. Again, he had his back towards me. "She made me look for my dream."
"She?"
He took a few steps towards me. I found myself taking a step back and into the wall.
What have you been really thinking about me all this time?
He placed his hand on the right side of my face, just enough that it brushed my ear.
"But you helped me truly believe in it. You made it my reality."
Pushing his palm into the wall, he looked at me so intensely that I forgot to breathe.
"That's why it has to be you."
I came all the way here...to hear this...
But if he said something after this, I couldn't hear anything because my whole body was pulsating. I could only hear my heart vibrating into my ears.
Tsuzuku.../To be continued...
Author's note: Okay, I admit it. I have to put some service to keep me going through the day. This fic has been plaguing me since yesterday. I don't know why, but this is much longer than I expected it to be.
I've been playing the game for a long time now. I don't know but it's one of the few games that gets me very excited. Sitting there for an hour, I could be sweating from the adrenaline rush.
But it's true, when you're driving, it's all on you. I think those guys are always thinking. I know that Takumi's a quiet guy along with Ryosuke, but I don't think either of them are as calm inside as they project themselves to be on the outside.
I loved making this chapter.
I really hope you enjoyed this.
Love,
Yui
5/29/2016 3:49 PM – LA
5/30/2016 7:50 AM - Tokyo