Okay, I'm kind of confused with the timeline. I've kind of believed that everything happened in Initial D was between 1998-2000 but with all the technology, modern cellular phone and laptop, it's kind of hard to believe that it was during these times.
I have to change, again, the timeline to balance everything even just a bit, to make everything more believable. Since Japan is a country that is very high-tech, I can make everything here more believable.
I'm very sorry for the confusion of the timeline because I, myself, am a victim of this confusion.
Anyways, here's the first chapter! A chapter full of romance, hope this is not too cheesy for your own good!
Happy reading everyone!
Key to His Locked Heart
Act 1
A year ago…
Takahashi's residence: May, 2002
Takahashi Ryosuke, just like every day, is caught working on his laptop, when a familiar ringing tone filled the whole room. He stopped typing and finally let his gaze off the screen and took the cellular phone beside his laptop. He instantly flipped it open when he read who was calling and placed it on his ear.
"Hello, Ryosuke, here," he answered quite cheerfully.
"Hi, Ryosuke," a female voice answered back but the difference is her voice is not as cheerful as of the other line's. It is quite disturbed.
"Why did you called? I'm quite surprised you're still awake even though it is almost midnight."
He heard her gasp. "I'm sorry," the lady hurried to apologized. "I unconsciously lost track of the time. Did I wake you up?"
"No, you didn't. I was doing my medical report."
"Oh," she voiced out in disappointment. "So, you're busy, then. I think let us just talk next time."
"No, it's okay," Ryosuke hurried to say. "I'm almost done and the deadline is next week so I have more than enough time to finish it," he explained, feeling the need to. "So, what is it you want us to talk about?"
The other line suddenly went silent. If it wasn't because of the sound of the lady's constant breathing, the future doctor would have thought she had hung up.
"Akira?" Ryosuke finally asked after a few moments of silence.
"I'm still here," she finally answered back.
"Is there something wrong? There's something bothering you," he asked, his voice sounded very worried, his face, also, showed his worry.
"Ryosuke," she finally started after a few seconds of hesitation. "I know this is not the best time but… can we meet up at Mount Akagi's summit?"
XXXKEY TO HIS LOCKED HEARTXXX
After a few minutes, Ryosuke found himself driving up to Mount Akagi's summit. After entering the last corner which you can now reach the parking area of the pass, he saw a familiar red colored Subaru Impreza parking perpendicularly on the road, its front facing the cliff, showing the city's impressive view like stars twinkling during nights and a familiar figure sitting on the bonnet.
He parked his beautiful white FC3S, with the Red Suns sticker on both sides near the rear, beside the Red Impreza, this time a Code: G sticker revealed on its both sides and turned off the engine. He climbed out the car and approached the lady. As soon as she stood up, he gave her a quick peck on the lips. The lady, which is obviously Ryosuke's girlfriend, has dark hair shadowing through the moon extending to her back done in layered and her chinky eyes, slightly hidden with her full bangs, matching it with the same color. Her features showing that her Chinese blood is more dominant than of her Japanese. Her skin, just like most of Chinese citizens have, is yellowish-white. She is wearing a simple but elegant and expensive white dress extending to her knees. She stood in complete poise, which was taught to most rich ladies and her simple but beautiful face looked at his boyfriend's handsome features.
"I'm glad you didn't decline my invitation," she said in all formality.
Ryosuke nodded to that. "So, what do you want to tell me?"
She faced the cliff before replying, "Ryosuke, I do not know how would you react or what would you feel about this but I hope you will not take this the wrong way."
Ryosuke for the second time nodded to that once and replied, "I'm all ears, Akira."
Akira took a deep breath and let it out after gathering enough courage, she decided to face her boyfriend again.
"How's Project D so far?" she asked conversationally.
"It's doing very well. Everything's running according to plan, thanks to your help."
Akira suddenly faced her back to Ryosuke to hide her disappointment from him. "But I'm very much sure you would have done everything on your own without my help."
"Oh, no," he disagreed. "You were really a big help to me when I was arranging everything and you still are, to be completely honest. At the same time, our dream of being in the same team had finally been reached. We now have more time to meet and-"
"Ryosuke," the lady interrupted.
"Uh, sorry. Go on."
She faced her boyfriend again. "You still remember, Shigeno-san?"
"Of course. She is the leader of you team."
Akira nodded and walked near the guard rail and faced the cliff. "The following week, she and her family are going to migrate in the States, for good."
The White Comet, for the rarest time, expressed a surprised look but managed to hide it in a split second.
"So, who's going to replace her?" he suddenly asked out of the blue. He already has a gut feeling what it is going to be and he may not like it.
"Last month, she asked me if I could replace her as the team leader even though I've already split from them. I told her that I have to think about it keeping in mind of the team we've just recently formed. She told me that I have the whole month, the night before she leaves, to decide because if I will not replace her, no one will and she will dissolve the team."
Seeing Ryosuke did not voiced out that, she continued, "It was practically not a threat and most especially a black mail to guilt me but she was just being very honest to me- leader to a member.
"I know that you are fully aware that if the Code: G will dissolve, no one will claim Hakka Pass and the gangsters in our prefecture will and they will do whatever they want: rob and molest the people who will use the pass and worst, play dirty games with the street racers who want to race against them and no one can stop them but the team. Most of all, everyone is fully aware that the main objective of Code: G, the strongest reason behind its existence, is to defend the women's rights and respect when it comes to street racing.
"I've thought about this for a month, thinking of Project D and Code: G at the same time and I've finally decided." She faced her boyfriend and for the first time in the whole conversation, she allowed herself to let out a small but a sad smile. "I think you already know what my decision is."
Ryosuke shook his head. "No, I want to hear it from you, yourself. I might misunderstand some things."
"I really owe a lot to the team: my experience, my wide knowledge in techniques and the improvising of my skill because of Code: G. I've felt that I cannot leave the team like this, especially what would be the consequences if what Shigeno-san has planned will continue. So, I've decided to accept Shigeno-san's offer. I'm very sorry, Ryosuke. I hope you do understand."
Ryosuke nodded and allowed himself to express the disappointment that he felt. "Yes. I really do. It's just that I'm quite disappointed. I've really thought that if we would be together in one team, we would have more time with each other and at the same time, we would make a very great team and be the most undefeatable team of all Japan."
Akira nodded her agreement. "Yes. I, also, thought so." She looked directly on Ryosuke's eyes to express her sincerity. "I truly am very sorry if everything that we have planned will be put to waste. Things sometimes get out of hand and such decisions had to be made despite the consequences of another to fulfill a better one. I'm not saying that Project D is not worth the risk, in fact, I'm quite disappointed that I have to leave the team at this point where everything had just started but the situation says that my previous team, Code: G, needs me most and I cannot do anything about it anymore. I understand if you feel disappointed and betrayed by now because I did not inform you about this until now. I would really understand if you are upset with me, I'll just give you all the time you need to-"
"Akira," Ryosuke interrupted her and held both of her hands. "I may sound like a hypocrite if I would say I'm cool about all of this but I'll repeat this to you: I fully understand and I know how it feels like to be pressured by these kinds of events." He held Akira's hands firmer. "It's alright," he reassured her, his eyes looking deep into of the lady in front of him to connect to her that he is truly being honest to her.
The lady's eyes at that instant mirrored her shame and guilt and no longer wanted to let the gentleman worry more, she instantly looked away and turned her body away from her lover, freeing form Ryosuke's warmth and tight safety.
The gentleman was surprised of the lady's sudden action and behavior. It is very unusual for her to hide things from her boyfriend and Ryosuke concluded that what she is acting by now is far from being finished from her shocking and frightful announcements. That made him nervous.
She's now looking directly at the city's wonderful view as she continued, her voice sounding very serious, "I still have one more thing to tell you."
"What is it?" Ryosuke asked, suddenly feeling his mouth very dry.
"I know that you are very knowledgeable that Akita is very far from Takasaki, right?"
Ryosuke embraced himself inwardly, hoping that whatever his mind had come up is wrong, wrong at all.
Seeing Ryosuke nodding to that, she continued, "Since I am the team leader and with the absence of Shigeno-san, the team has to sort things out and adjust to the sudden events happening to the team." She faced Ryosuke, trying her best to keep a straight face, "And I'm leaving for Akita the following week after Shigeno-san's leave."
For the second time of the conversation, Ryosuke can't help himself hide the sudden shock. His eyes widened and his mouth opened, forming a small o. Only his girlfriend can do this to him. It is because he felt completely secured and safe in taking off his mask whenever with her. No one had made him feel this way except her, only her.
"But what about your parents and sister? Your job?" Ryosuke tried with a hint of panic in his voice.
"I've already talked to them a while ago and they've agreed that we should move together. And about my job, I'm planning to resign first thing tomorrow morning and just concentrate in helping managing our family business. I do believe that I already have enough experience and with only training that my father is going to conduct, I'm ready to take the responsibility of it," she answered simply.
He inwardly braced himself, sinking in all of the worst that is yet to come. Gathering all the courage that did not have, because of his pride, he finally made the urge to ask. "What about us?" His voice was strained, his face showed his deep frustration.
She let out a small smile, a small sad smile, "That's what I've been waiting for you to ask." She faced the cliff once more with both of her hands at her back.
"You know how hard it is to have a long distance relationship and most of them do not work quite well. And I do think we are still young and should prioritize our careers first, don't you think?"
Ryosuke took the three steps forward that separated the both of them. "What are you trying to say?" he asked the obvious; panic, fear and worry altogether written all over his face. He is too devastated to hold everything inside him. He needs to be more transparent this time because if he will not, every single bit of what he is afraid of will happen.
She faced her boyfriend's handsome features before answering, "Ryosuke, I've thought of this very carefully and believe me, it was not easy, in fact, this is the most difficult decision I've ever made. So, I'm going to say this loud and clear." She stopped, seeing the frustration mirrored on his eyes. She can't believe that she managed to say everything before the biggest revelation in a straight face and voice. Isn't everything affecting her so much just like what she thought?
No, that was just an understatement. She felt very much devastated and broke more than her lover, she had just managed to keep everything inside of her for the reason to deliver everything in a clear and much understood way. She's trying her best to remain strong whenever the med student's not because for the rarest time at this point he seemed to just want to collapse. They do this all the time. This is their silent way to encourage one another and now, she believes this will be the last and with all her willpower, she tried not to show any weakness for the mean time because she wanted to surface all her sincerity and honesty and just raw love despite what she is going to say. She still can't believe that the very charismatic Takahashi Ryosuke, who is an independent and does everything by himself perfectly is very much submitted to her and her effect to him is huge.
She took a deep breath and hoping what she will be saying will not regret her as long as she lives,
"I want us to break up."
Right at this instant, the last two words were slowly sinking in him but his heart seems to reject it. He almost felt that his heart was drowning of pain and bitterness. In an instant, he felt the world stopping, everything around him stopping. After a few moments, he felt the whole world crashing down on him. He really did felt his heart breaking in a million pieces. He felt his whole body enervating; he even doubted if his legs can support his stressed body.
How can this be happening? His joy is going to be taken away from him in less than a year and now his first love will, also, be leaving by his side? What had he done to suffer like this? He has been a good son to his parents: did everything what they wanted including planning for his future and he had been a good brother. What had he done to deserve all of this? He felt that he cannot take all of the pressure anymore.
Thanks to his super-training when controlling his emotions, he managed not to fall onto his knees and cry with all his might. But the tears that are now starting to form in his eyes, he cannot control.
He had never felt this frustrated and pained ever in his whole life. All this time, he had endured everything, all the pressure of his school works, the team and of his parents, because of his girlfriend's support. But now she is not at his side anymore, how will he do it? What will happen to him?
Then, it hit him hard. For the past three years of his life, he had been dependent on her than what he had thought. How? When did he become very dependent? For all of his life, he had been doing everything on his own, alone.
Yes, alone.
He was so drained from having company that when she came to his life, he'd been so attached to her and likewise. What he thought that everything he does is in control is not that controlled after all.
But…
Akira, if she felt so attached and safe to him, like him, why she does not seem so affected like he does? He felt himself sulking and getting angry. Isn't he enough for her that she can easily let go?
He went back to reality when he felt his girlfriend's, no, ex-girlfriend's, he hates to think and admit that, hands holding gently his right hand. They locked looks after that. Just then, Ryosuke saw what he had not seen before. She let go of her mask and finally surfaced all of the mixed emotions that she had been hiding from the very start. She cannot take it anymore and she cannot stay strong in this situation as to what she thought. Her body had finally given up. He had finally seen in her face, deep in her eyes that she is more hurt and frustrated than him. This has been a big impact than what he had thought.
He felt his cheeks getting hot in result of the embarrassment that he felt. How, when had he been this so shallow? They always have read and understood each other especially when in times like this but what happened this time? What's happening to him? Is this the result of uncontrolled emotions?
"Ryosuke, you know that I love you, right?" her voice was strained and full of pain and guilt. "And the reason behind our break up is not because I've lost my love for you. I've been thinking of every possible way and option that I can think of to save this relationship but…"
Ryosuke cut her off. "I know. It's, also the same with me. I love you no matter what the situation says. It's just so painful to bear that we need to break up because of something else. But to top it all, I know that you are doing everything you can and I know that, like me, you want to continue this relationship and the situation contradicts us and there is nothing we can do. We just need to hope for the best despite all the pain."
She shifted her gaze on the floor. Boy, Akira hated to see Ryosuke suffering. She wanted to slap herself for hurting Ryosuke this much. This is just too much to see and bear. She felt the moist in her eyes will burst any minute now.
Ryosuke placed his left hand on top of her right hand, which is holding Ryosuke's right hand. She looked up to him, found her eyes in his safety and comfort.
"I… would like to apologize because I've been very shallow with you. I've really thought that you're not that affected in breaking up with me. But I was so wrong. You're way too affected than what anyone can imagine."
Akira nodded to that. "I've been trying to be strong but it just sent a wrong signal to you."
"I… I'm so sorry. I'm so ashamed of myself right now that I've managed to think about it at this time, at this situation. I'm not like this. What's happening to me right now…"
"…is a mental and emotional relapse," she finished for him. "Ryosuke, I know that this is not going to be easy but I know that we can do this. This is not yet the end, right? We just have to fix our personal lives first before we commit to each other. In that way, we can give ourselves fully, without any puzzle pieces missing. And let us let fate do all the work for the both of us. If we really are meant for each other, we will be; no matter what happens."
Ryosuke nodded to that in agreement and said, "I just want you to promise me something."
Her face was confused. "What is it?"
"Promise me at this very day, we would see each other, again but facing each other as the leaders of our respective team. Before Project D dissolves, your team would be the last that we would race against. I want to see if all of this sacrifice and pain are worth it and will pay off."
Regardless of what he felt right now, he gave out his rarest and most charming smile to the lady he love, his first love, for the last time.
Akira smiled back her most charming one, also, that made most of the gentlemen go crazy about.
"Splendid. I'd love that. That's a deal you have there, Takahashi Ryosuke," she said in her business-tone of voice, letting out her business blood that is running in her family, as she stretched out her hand to him.
"I'm glad you agree with the idea. Deal, Ishigata Akira," Ryosuke said, shaking it briefly, closing the deal that the leaders of soon to be strongest team of all Japan made.
After that short deal, both took off they're suits as leaders as Ryosuke allowed himself to hug his love for the last time. He hugged her tightly, allowing himself to think, at least for now, his security and safety is there right beside him, there for him and will not go away from him and to continue on loving him. For the very last time, feeling that she is his.
"I hope I will not regret letting you go from me because once this will spread, all of the hopes of your fan girls of getting you will go up and…"
"You know that you are the one and only girl that I will ever love and hold. It will never change," he whispered to her ear in all honesty.
"Never," he repeated, this time stronger.
Feeling Ryosuke's nothing else but raw love, the lady allowed herself to cry.
"I love you. I love you so much," Ryosuke said again in all sincerity.
"I love you, too, so much," she said in between her cry. "I'll miss you so much."
"I'll miss you, too."
There, he finally said it. What he had considered his, he'd finally let go, but only for the mean time because he promised himself that he will get everything back at the right time.
He swore that he will never let his emotions get uncontrolled ever again. For now, he closed his eyes, treasuring the last moment he has with Akira. For the first time, in what he can remember, he allowed tears slip off his eyes, he allowed himself to cry.
XXXKEY TO HIS LOCKED HEARTXXX
"Wow," was all Keisuke had managed to say.
"Aniki, I do not know what to say…"
The Takahashi brothers are currently at the older Takahashi's room. As usual, Ryosuke sat on his swiveling black leather chair placed behind his study desk but is facing his brother while Keisuke made himself comfortable on his brother's neatly arranged bed.
"Now you do understand why it took me time to share this to you. I was buying some time to recover from the shock and frustration that I felt. Things just happened to happen so sudden that not even me had managed to recover that easily," Ryosuke said, managed to keep his voice neutral.
"I now understand, Aniki. If it was me, I would have gone ballistic. I'm so sorry if I've been too pushy for you to tell me though you're still not ready yet. I didn't know…" Keisuke said, guilt suddenly filling him.
"No, it's alright. I'm not that bothered anymore that's why I have shared this to you," he reassured his brother. Or that's what he wanted to let himself believe.
Keisuke nodded. "So, this will going to be the most exciting race of Project D," he grinned.
Ryosuke nodded once. "That looks like it, Keisuke, since it will be the last race of Project D."
That hit Keisuke. He knows that the topic is very sensitive to his brother. As much as he wants to continue on with Project D, start aiming for the professional league, he knows within himself that he can't. On June, his Aniki will take his final examination for his second year in medicine and as soon as summer starts, he will start his training to familiarize the this and that in our hospital before he steps in third year where he starts his duty as a trained med student on his journey on being a doctor. He will be too busy and he won't be able to give the team the attention that he usually gives and it pains him more than anything in the world: him and racing will finally be separated. He still can't accept the fact that The White Comet of Akagi, the most promising street racer of Japan, really has to let go of racing because his future had already been decided for him, such a waste of talent and skills.
Right now, it seemed that his Aniki is mentioning about the end of the team more often than what is necessary, like he isn't affected by it all. But Keisuke knows better, Ryosuke does it to make the situation more realistic and acceptable to him as early as now. He is greatly affected than what he shows.
He went back to reality when his brother added.
"And there's one more thing that I haven't tell you yet, Keisuke."
"What is it, Aniki?" the latter asked intriguingly.
"Akira wanted me to promise to her that by the time we meet again, we should race," he said simply.
"WHAT?" Keisuke shouted, springing up from the bed. Then, getting back to his normal voice, he asked, "What did you answered?" sounding hopeful.
"I didn't promise anything," the older Takahashi answered.
Seeing the younger Takahashi's defeated expression and weakly sitting on his bed, he quickly added, "But I'm still reconsidering my answer and I really would like to race her."
"What's stopping you?" he asked desperately. He really would love to see his Aniki back in action: his brilliance, his talent, his almost perfect techniques.
"One of the main goals of the team is to shape the both of you for the professional league under my guidance. As far as I'm concerned, Keisuke, I've created the team not for me to race, but for you and Fujiwara to be the drivers. Only the two of you are the drivers of the team, no more."
"Well, then, don't bring the name of Project D and Code: G," he said frantically, putting down his one and only card. "You race with Akira-senpai as The White Comet of Akagi. Both of you will race as individuals."
Ryosuke smirked to that. "One more thing, Keisuke, I think you've forgotten that I'm already retired. At the same time, I may already be out of practice. It's been a while since I've driven in a mountain pass. Also, I'm too occupied to-"
"For pete's sake, Aniki!" he exclaimed, clearly pissed and standing up, "Try to follow what you feel sometimes! Not only everything under intellectual means! You still have… what? More than a month! And remind you, Aniki, you are Gunma's White Comet and the finest of the prefecture! Yes, Akira-senpai is a really great racer, her skills are near the same of yours but please, Aniki! I can't believe I'm hearing all of this! You're unusually underestimating yourself. Give yourself a break sometimes; I think you really need it."
Ryosuke, at long last, stood up and placed his left hand on Keisuke's right shoulder and at that instant, Keisuke seemed to calm down a bit. He then replied in a small sad smile, "I understand how you feel. One of the reasons why I separated this piece of information because I didn't want you to worry about me. I've expected that this will be your reaction but I thought that I didn't want to hide anymore from you. I'll think about it, alright?"
"Aniki…"
He let go of Keisuke's shoulder and said dismissively, "You go to sleep now, it's getting very late. Goodnight, Keisuke."
He hesitated at first but then nodded in resignation for he knows very well that arguing with his brother when he had made up his mind is as impossible as making a man fly by himself, and replied, "Goodnight, Aniki."
Ryosuke watched him as he left the room and he sat back on his swiveling chair. He took a deep breath and let it out, clearly frustrated.
The reason behind he cannot accept the challenge which is yet, very tempting and you just have to accept it and you're back to racing but it isn't as easy as it looks.
He's too afraid.
Yes, at this time the great Ryosuke Takahashi is afraid and has doubts.
He's too afraid that his deep desire that he had buried deep in his heart to race again will rekindle and he might not be able to let it go anymore.
He rested his head on the headrest and closed his eyes, his over active brain starting to figure several ways on how to solve this personally complicated problem of his.
He never thought that he could be this miserable and only racing can give this to him.
His eyes shot open when an idea suddenly struck him. He hopes that this idea would be the one that can solve this problem.
Act 2 coming soon…
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