Chapter 7

Mitsu rolled over and turned off her alarm sleepily. Staring up at the ceiling, she felt very alone. She was lying in an unfamiliar bed with unfamiliar sheets in an unfamiliar room, in an unfamiliar house and it's unfamiliar residents. All of which she would have to become accustomed to. This was going to be her new life. She turned onto her side and stared at the furniture in the room. There was a handsome mahogany desk on the far side of the room, accompanied by a dresser and armoire of the same colour. The walls were painted a pale yellow, which you couldn't notice when the room was cast in darkness as it was now. Nothing else adorned the room. Takahashi Emi had told her that this was her room and that she was free to do as she pleased with it. It was a mature looking room and at the moment she felt anything but mature. She wanted her parents back. She wanted to be ten years old again when she could run into her parents' room and jump into their bed in the mornings and snuggle between them. She missed their smell. She missed them. Her eyes closed as she tried desperately to block out the pain that threatened to take over her senses. Taking several calming breaths, she forced herself to focus on her objectives: School. That's what her parents had wanted. That's what she was going to achieve. She would get her medical degree and follow in their footsteps. She would make them proud. No matter what. Having found her drive, she pushed herself out of bed and went to the window. He still hadn't come back. Frowning she moved back into the room to get her things ready. She collected a change of clothes and made her way to the washroom. Several minutes later she emerged feeling refreshed. Looking down the hall, she decided to visit her friend. At his door she knocked lightly then pushed it open. He was still asleep. A grin came to her lips as he tiptoed into the room and to his bed. She carefully grabbed the corner of his blanket.

"WAKE UP!" She yelled loudly as she yanked the comforter off his body.

Satoro bolted upright in shock. His eyes still half closed and doused in sleep. He looked around confused.

Mitsu started laughing.

The young man's eyes slowly focused on her and he frowned, "That was not funny Fukotomi Mitsu! I could have been naked you know!"

"I didn't know you ever slept naked." Her eyes sparkled.

"Like I would tell you something like that!" He replied. She looked happy this morning. He was glad but it also concerned him. Why didn't she seem more affected by her parent's death? Was she trying to ignore it? He wouldn't put it past her to do something like that. Mitsu had always thought herself a very tough person. Not that she wasn't, but sometimes she really didn't seem to know her limits. It seemed like one of those times right now, "So what am I going to do while you're away getting educated?"

Mitsu shrugged, "You could get to know Keisuke?" She suggested, "Maybe he can teach you a few things?"

Satoro frowned, "Like what? Humiliation?"

Mitsu frowned, "I thought you were used to losing."

"Funny!"

Mitsu only smiled.

Then, both turned to his bedroom door. Both heard the footsteps rushing up the stairs. They glanced at each other then Mitsu headed for the door and Satoro climbed out of bed to put some clothes on.

In the hallway, Mitsu saw Keisuke moving into his brother's bedroom doorway. She went to him and also looked in.

"There you are!" Keisuke said.

Ryousuke nodded simply as he organized his school bag. He glanced back as he finished and saw her in the doorway behind his brother, "Are you ready?"

"Almost. I just have to grab my things." She answered softly.

Ryousuke nodded again, "I'll be outside." He said and walked out of his room, passed them and downstairs.

Keisuke watched him go. He was worried.

"He didn't just get back did he?" Satoro asked curiously as he stepped out of his room.

Mitsu nodded, "I should hurry." She was about to leave when she turned to Keisuke, "Keisuke-san, is it okay for Satoro to stay with you today?"

He nodded simply. His brother's strange behavior lately still foremost in his mind.

"Thank you." She said then went to her room.

Satoro joined her, "Is everything okay?"

She frowned, "I hope so... But I better go. Walk me out?"

He nodded and followed her out of the house. They walked to the idling white RX7 and its driver who currently had his back turned to them.

He turned when he heard their footsteps approaching.

Mitsu's pupils narrowed and she watched as he turned his back to them again and brought the cigarette he held between his fingers back to his lips. She walked straight up to him, leaving Satoro somewhere behind her. She stopped directly in front of him and stared up into his face, "Give me that." She said as she quickly and nimbly reached up towards him.

Ryousuke surprised her by grabbing her wrist, "Mind your own business Fukotomi Mitsu." He said sternly, his gaze hard and menacing.

Mitsu glared back up at him and ripped the cigarette from his lips with her free hand. She then pulled her trapped arm away from his stunned grasp and proceeded to toss the cigarette to the ground and stomp on it, "Let's go."

Ryousuke watched as she then walked away. She had some nerve. That was the third time now! He fumed inwardly. He briefly glanced at Satoro who was watching them intently, then turned to pull open the car door, "Look over the video again Keisuke." He said casually as he climbed into the car.

Satoro turned to look behind him. Had Keisuke followed them out? No one was there. He looked about confused but then he saw him. Standing against the balcony railings, Takahashi Keisuke was also watching his older brother, frowning. Both watched as the white FC drove down the driveway and onto the main road.

"Satoro-san, are you hungry?"

Mitsu's friend looked up, "I could eat something." He answered and saw Keisuke smile at his answer.


Ryousuke pulled in front of the house.

Mitsu glanced at him curiously, "Aren't you coming in?"

He shook his head and looked ahead of him. Waiting for her to leave.

Mitsu frowned. He was acting differently today. During his break, she had seen him go to the library where he had almost fallen asleep doing research. He was tired. And no wonder, after staying out all night. She had casually suggested that she could drive if he was tired when they had met after school. He almost looked disgusted at the thought. But there was something else too. She had surprised him with the suggestion. She looked at him now and could tell that he was still tired. She sighed.

Ryousuke glanced at her when she sighed, expecting her to open the door and leave. Instead, she was leaning towards him.

Mitsu saw his eyes twitch slightly as he stared at her. He remained his ground and quietly watched her as she inched closer. A strong energy seemed to be emanating from his body. She ignored it and reached out in front of him, her eyes locked challengingly onto his. Then she felt it. The car keys between her fingertips. The soft rattle of the metal seemed to snap him into action as he moved to stop her. But he was too late. Mitsu had already turned off the car and was straightening in her seat. She grabbed the door handle and climbed out of the car.

"Fukotomi Mitsu. Give me the keys." Ryousuke said as he also got out of the car.

Mitsu shut her door and looked at him. Oh he was definitely mad now, "No." She said and walked towards the door.

He watched her a moment then reached in the car to grab his school bag. He carried them to the door, which Mitsu had already unlocked. She took off her shoes and was just about to head further into the house when he grabbed her arm.

"Give me my keys." His voice was hard.

She met his gaze, "No. You haven't slept in over twenty-four hours. You're tired. You're not driving anymore today."

"That is not for you to decide." Ryousuke said stoically.

He may have sounded calm, but she could feel the anger burning inside of him.

"Aniki! Mitsu!" Keisuke's voice called suddenly as he rushed into the lobby followed closely by Satoro. Both had smiles on their faces but they disappeared once they saw Ryousuke and Mitsu.

"Right now it is." She said to him then she turned to the two that had just arrived, "Hello Keisuke, Satoro. Did you two have a nice day?"

"Uh, yeah." Keisuke answered unsurely as he watched his brother carefully. Satoro simply nodded and gave Mitsu a questioning gaze.

"Mitsu-Chan, give me the keys." He said again.

Mitsu turned to him. She had hoped Keisuke's and Satoro's presence would have diverted him from making a scene. She had guessed wrong, "And I said No."

"What's going on? Aniki?" Keisuke asked looking from Mitsu to his older brother.

Ryousuke only had eyes for Mitsu. He kept on glaring at her as though if he continued he could get her to do as he wished.

"I have Ryousuke-san's car keys and I'm not going to give them to him while he's still tired."

"But the Redsuns are going to be waiting for him!" Keisuke exclaimed shocked.

"Too bad. They'll have to practice without him. He needs to get some rest."

Keisuke listened stunned. He glanced at his brother unsure what he would do.

"You need to learn your place Fukotomi Mitsu."

Satoro's eyes narrowed. But a quick look from Mitsu prevented him from saying a word.

Mitsu turned to Ryousuke, "You may not care about your safety Ryousuke-san, but I do. So until you get some rest, I'm not giving you your keys." She saw something flicker in his eyes. She frowned. It wasn't what she thought. Was it?

Ryousuke moved suddenly.

"Aniki?" Keisuke called unsurely as he watched his brother set his school bag beside the door before he pulled the former open and stepped outside. The door shut softly behind him.

"Mitsu what is going on?" Satoro asked curiously.

"I'll tell you later." She pocketed Ryousuke's keys and set her bags beside his before also stepping outside.

Satoro and Keisuke exchanged looks.

"Follow me." The younger one said as he led Satoro to the living room. They climbed on to the couch and Keisuke pulled aside part of the curtain slightly.

Satoro smiled, "I like the way you think." He said as his eyes focused on Mitsu and Takahashi Ryousuke.


As she expected, Ryousuke-san was pulling out a cigarette. He replaced the Pack in his back pocket and proceeded to light the cigarette between his lips. She frowned and went to stand in front of him. He watched her as he pulled the cigarette from his lips. Three times was enough. He wasn't going to put up with her behaviour anymore. He watched her carefully as she stepped up to him and reached for his cigarette. He moved his hand away, "What part of 'mind your own business' do you not understand Mitsu-Chan?" He asked coldly.

"What part of 'smoking is bad for you' do you not understand Ryousuke-san?" Mitsu tossed back casually. She stepped right up to him.

Close. She was very close. He could feel her body heat touching him. He matched her steady gaze. He saw her move but he couldn't seem to focus on anything but her eyes and the warmth coming from her. Then he felt it. Her touch. Her hand had made its way behind him and was reaching into his back pocket. His lips parted slightly as her fingers touched him. Then before he knew it she had stepped back with his pack of cigarettes.

She didn't smile. She didn't frown. She simply opened the pack of cigarettes and started breaking them in half, then she stuffed them back in the box. She looked up at him then. He was stunned. That was clear.

Ryousuke could hear his heart in his ears. Control. He had to regain control over himself. He brought the lit cigarette to his lips.

Mitsu stepped towards him again and she saw him freeze. She took the opportunity to grab the cigarette from him.

Ryousuke had somehow managed to regain some of his senses just in time to try and move the cigarette out of her reach, but failed. He watched annoyed as she again got a hold of his cigarette. She fumbled with it and immediately dropped it to the ground, stomping on it as she shook her hand. He frowned. Without thinking he had grabbed a hold of her hand.

Mitsu froze and turned to look at him. He looked angry and she suddenly felt a little scared. What was he going to do with her? She took a sharp intake of breath as he gently pried her hand open. His thumb gently stroked her palm and he raised her hand closer to his face. He blew gently on the small round red burn mark on the inside of her hand. Her lips parted and she shivered.

"Serves you right for meddling with other people's business." He said releasing her hand and staring down at her. She was watching him in a daze. He watched as she came to her senses after hearing his words.

"You shouldn't smoke. I don't like it when you smoke." She said as casually as she could. She was surprised by the calmness in her voice. A calmness she didn't feel at all right now. She matched his gaze a moment longer then stepped past him and went inside the house. She took off her shoes and went to the kitchen to toss the pack of cigarettes in the garbage. Walking back into the lobby so that she could pick up her school bag she glanced into the living room, "Stop pretending. I know you two were watching. Satoro don't teach him these things."

"What! It was his idea!" Satoro objected.

"But you're his senior." Mitsu said and started up the stairs.

Satoro turned to Keisuke, "She sure knows how to make a person feel guilty."

Keisuke smiled and turned to look out the window again. His brother was looking at his car still parked right in front of the main doors to the house. He was frowning.

"He's coming back!" Satoro said as he turned to sit properly on the couch. Keisuke scrambled to do the same.

They watched as Ryousuke entered the house and picked up his school bags before heading upstairs as well.

Satoro and Keisuke watched quietly.

"Have they always acted like this around each other?"

Keisuke shrugged. He turned to Satoro. Fukotomi Mitsu's best friend. If Mitsu was a threat, then was Satoro a threat as well? He sure didn't feel like a threat.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Keisuke answered and looked away, "Want to play some pool?"

"Did you look over the video Keisuke?" A stern voice called out to him.

The young Takahashi looked towards the lobby to see his brother heading for the door.

"Hai." He answered getting to his feet to see what his brother was doing. Ryousuke was slipping on his shoes, "Where are you going?"

"Akagi."

"But your keys?"

"I'm taking one of the vans." He said and pulled open the door, "Look over the video again."

Keisuke nodded simply and watched as his brother left the house again, "Well, do you want to play?"

"Sure." Satoro replied having witnessed the exchange between the siblings. He followed Keisuke to the rec room, "You guys take racing seriously."

"Of course." He answered as though what Satoro said was the strangest thing he had ever heard.

"Keisuke-san!" Mitsu rushed into the room.

The two young men looked up at her.

"Did your brother just leave?"

Keisuke nodded.

Mitsu growled and stormed out of the room again.

"So... Let's play!" Satoro said turning to Keisuke who laughed.

Satoro was about to break the balls when Mitsu came rushing back into the room, "Satoro would you mind taking me home?"

"Home? Why?" He asked turning to her curiously.

"I want my car." She said and left the room again

"She's mad now." Satoro declared glancing at Keisuke, "Do you want to see something interesting?"

Keisuke grinned when he saw amusement on Satoro's face, "Okay."

"Let me get my car keys." He said and left the room.

Keisuke joined Mitsu and Satoro in the lobby within minutes.

"Let's go!" She exclaimed pulling open the door and rushing out.

They went to Satoro's prelude and climbed in.

"Can we hurry? I want to give Ryousuke-san a piece of my mind and come back to do my homework."

"Yes boss." Satoro teased as he pulled out of the driveway.

Mitsu sat in the back seat staring out the window. Takahashi Ryousuke was so stubborn. She sighed inwardly and looked in front at Keisuke and Satoro. They were chatting easily together. She smiled. Satoro had always had a way of making people feel at ease with him. And Keisuke seemed to have really befriended him.

"Okay we're here."

"Finally!" Mitsu exclaimed as the car came to a stop. Keisuke climbed out of the car to let Mitsu out, "I'll follow you guys. Keisuke-san you can give Satoro directions right?"

Keisuke nodded and watched as the girl rushed to the garage and opened the door. He frowned, "That's what you drive?"

"Yes." Mitsu answered and went to the car.

Keisuke climbed back into the Prelude.

"You seem surprised." Satoro said smiling.

"Well yeah." Keisuke replied putting on his seatbelt, "I thought she would have had a nicer car."

Satoro chuckled, "Nothing flashy. Mitsu likes to keep things low key. She doesn't really like to attract attention to herself."

"Doesn't she attract a lot of attention driving something like that though?"

"Maybe if she hung around people of the same social class as her parents and you guys, but Mitsu tends to stay away from that class for some reason. No offence or anything. But she usually finds them too boring."

Keisuke frowned, "She's right."

Satoro looked over at him and smiled, "What about your brother?"

"Ryousuke?" Keisuke repeated surprised, "I don't know. Sometimes he looks like he belongs with all those boring people, but I can't imagine him not being part of the racing world either."

"I think it's safe to say that he proved its possible to be a part of both worlds."

Keisuke nodded and the two young men watched the white MR2 pull out of the driveway.

Keisuke frowned as he watched it.

Satoro laughed, "You are in for a big surprise!" He said as he started for the main road again.

Keisuke just frowned.


Author's note:

I know It's just an MR2.... But Great things often come fromĀ the most unusualĀ packages though... Just look at Fujiwara Takumi!

Anyway, cheers!

CelicaChick