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 obsession over Initial D prompted me to write this although I do not know this manga. The lyrics, however, are mine.

Invincible.

By Miyamoto Yui

Chapter 11 – The world beyond her(e).

I waited for his hold on me to grow weaker.

Every time I pulled away, he gripped even harder, as if he couldn't sleep without something next to him. I sat there watching his face in the darkness. Again, I'd turn my head with my eyes aimlessly wandering around his room.

He breathed peacefully, but what about those times when he's awake with this unsettling silence? I don't know why, but the stillness bothered me, just like Tsugumi's words.

There's something lingering in the air that keeps wanting to say more.

Maybe this was his sanctuary away from the demands of the hospital or all the things that he was assumed to be in control of.

With my free hand, I took the towel from his forehead and brushed away the hair from his face. I flipped the towel over and placed it back on his head.

Did Keisuke ever have this problem? I want to ask him if you were always like this.

I yawned and tried again to pull away, but it was useless. He'd wake up the moment I'd try to get away.

In exasperation, I whispered, "Fine. I won't go anywhere."

I don't know if he heard me or not, but his lips slowly curved upwards, his teeth flashing for a moment. The innocence on his face revealed someone else was hiding behind the data and his family's reputation.

Unexpectedly, his expression made me feel somewhat reassured. And not long after that, I blinked and blinked until I could no longer fight the tiredness.

I guess I'll just let it go for today.

*/*/*/*/*/00000

Out of habit, I still got up in time for my deliveries.

I heard his heartbeat against my ear as his breath brushed against my scalp. My blurry eyes opened and closed sleepily, slowly registering the desk across us. His left hand refused to let go of my hand, and now, his right arm was over my shoulders.

Despite the panic trying to wake up my disorientated mind, I was glad the fever had gone down.

As patiently as I could, I gently pushed his arm away and sat up. Grabbing the other pillow that was close to his head, I stared at that hand again. Yawning in between, I somehow untangled his grip on my hand and replaced it with the pillow. He fully turned towards my side, hugging the pillow and pulling his blanket over himself.

Taking the towel with me, I got up from the bed and left the door open in case he needed me.

I went to the bathroom to rinse the towel and hung it on the rack behind the door. Then, I washed my face. My cheeks were the worst color of red to date, getting redder while thinking of when I'd almost lost myself when I was talking to him inside my mind.

The sink was filled with water and I stuck my face into it as it also dawned on me that he'd treated me like a stuffed animal.

Even when he's asleep, he still messes with my brain!

Pulling my head from the water, my reflection stared back at me through the unfamiliar mirror.

Plip plop, plip plop…Drops of water fell into the sink. Today, the person in the mirror was in another home. Even with all the strange circumstances, the questions in my head as to why that guy could even get sick, and my bruised jaw stinging once in a while, I was glad I was here.

After that day, I thought he'd hated me for how I'd treated him, but instead, I discovered the opposite.

I'm getting closer and closer to acknowledging how important you are to me.

*/*/*/*/*/00000

I debated on going to a convenience store or a 24-hour supermarket if it weren't for the fact that I didn't want to leave him alone in case something happened.

Taking a deep breath, I finally ventured to go into the kitchen.

Turning on the light, I stood frozen for a good minute. Was it even possible that this was most beautiful part of the house? It was more impressive than the dining and living rooms. It had waxed golden brown floors and white walls. The shiny, deep reddish-brown cupboards and their steel handles sparkled. Even the large sink was two feet away from a steel oven looked new. The huge window above the sink took at least one-fourth of the kitchen and showed a small patch of grass with some rose bushes. There was even a countertop at the center with two black bar stools and a large restaurant type of refrigerator to one side.

How does he take care of this all by himself?

My phone beeped. I checked it and saw that it was Keisuke.

Message (125/125)

Name: Keisuke

Subject: Aniki

Attachment: None

Hi,

Heard from Tsugumi that my workaholic Aniki is sick.

I told him to rest, but he doesn't always listen to me. Then, he forgets to eat when he's in work mode.

Thanks for helping him yesterday.

Take care of him for me.

I owe you one.

-K.

Message (124/125)

Name: Itsuki

Subject: Yesterday

Attachment: None

Hey Takumi,

Your dad said it's okay about the delivery and that he'll see you later.

Hope Takahashi Ryousuke is fine.

You take care of yourself too.

-Itsuki

Message (123/125)

Name: Taku

Subject: Re: Sadamine Pass

Attachment: None

Hi Wataru,

I am really sorry. I was there last night, but there were some health issues. I'll explain later.

Thank you. I really wanted to see your new teammate.

I'll get in touch with you soon.

-Takumi

After sending the mail, I still held the phone out in front of me.

How was I going to explain about Ryousuke's condition? Should I even tell about it? I'm pretty sure someone saw his car there.

I put my phone into my pocket and walked over to the refrigerator. It really looked like a hotel freezer, too sleek to be in a house kitchen.

Standing in front of the refrigerator, I opened the cold handles of both sides and looked for something to make.

How long should stay until I know he's all right?

Somehow, the near-emptiness of the fridge seemed to make things less intimidating. There were some eggs, spinach, green onions, tomatoes, maitake, and frozen meat.

I took out the green onions and put them on the center counter. Afterwards, I opened cupboard after cupboard to look for some rice and any seaweed. Luckily for me, and as expected, things were categorized. I also put those on the counter.

What was up with all the Italian coffee? And the endless varieties of Western and Japanese plum, earl grey, and green tea?

Despite how big and modern it was though, Ryousuke's house resembled mine in a way: Minus the Italian coffee, all the food was fresh and organic. Everything was high quality, Western or Japanese, that I found really nice almonds as well as brand-name bonito. I recognized it because Dad gave me a lesson about that in the store when I was really young.

Where does he find the time to maintain everything? Then again, considering his schedule, he's probably not here most of the time. Does Tsugumi help him with it?

Taking out some of the small earphones I had, I searched through the music I'd stored on my phone and decided on some dance music to keep me awake.

I never sang in front of anyone because it was too embarrassing, but once in a while, I secretly did. Putting my phone back into my pocket, I moved my head to the beat and my mouth sang the lyrics in a low whisper.

"I don't want to turn back there,

When grayness became my answers.

But it's the price to find my treasure

Giving more than I thought,

Even what's in my hands.

Can I always protect it

Or will I trade it too?"

I pulled a nabe pot from one of the cupboards and poured some rice into it.

"It was really warm that day

When I looked at the sun

And almost burned my eyes,

Wasn't I worthy to stare

At it straight through?

I wished for many things

Because of my childishness,

Thinking when I grew up,

They'd work themselves out."

At the sink, I soaked the rice in water and set it on the counter.

"There are too many colors

In a single crystal prism

I wonder how many will reveal

Themselves when I roll it

In between my fingers?

Or will I drop it someday

And never know at all?"

A grin was forming on my face because this song always lifted up my spirits, but when I opened my eyes, there Ryousuke stood in the threshold, crossing his arms and smirking at me.

I wiped my hands on a towel and quickly turned off the music, taking my earphones off and putting everything away into my pocket. It was hard to look at him.

"Good morning." The smugness on his face didn't seem like it was leaving anytime soon.

He looks too amused for someone who'd just woken up.

Clearing my throat, I said, "Uh…good morning. How are you feeling today?"

"Still a bit dizzy, but much better than yesterday."

Out of embarrassment, I continued to stand behind the counter. "So, why did you get up so early?"

"I usually have to finish reports or look at racing stats. This is the only time I can fit them into my schedule."

"Oh." I immediately thought of all the trouble Tsugumi and I had to get him to his room. "But you can't go to the hospital like this."

"To tell the truth," he said as he walked to the bar stool and sat down. "I already took this week off."

He put his elbows on the counter. Balancing his chin on his interlocked fingers, he continued to stare at me very closely.

Even with messed up bed hair and sleepiness in the air, he was still in complete control.

"You even plan when you get sick." I chuckled at how meticulous he was, coincidence or not.

"I needed time to prepare something." He coughed and patted his chest.

I got him a glass of water and handed it over to him.

"Thanks." He drank it and put it down with a sigh. "Now with this, I don't know if I can finish it in time."

"Can't you ask for an extension?"

Ryousuke shook his head with a slightly worried expression. "Not in this case."

"Can I help you then?"

"I'll be sure to ask you when the time comes."

"All right."

He coughed again and I went over to his side to pat his back. While I put my hand on his forehead, his expression changed from concerned to very serious.

Ryousuke's cheeks were still flushed.

We found ourselves staring at one another.

He was really searching into my eyes for something and I watched him as he did so. I took my palm away from his forehead, but was too dumbstruck to move away from him.

"You're truly fascinating."

What image of me are you so attracted to?

"You sometimes remind me of her."

My face was slowly changing to different shades of red and I gulped.

"Kaori..." There was a soft smile on his lips as he said, "You both have the habit of opening your mouth halfway when you're unsure and want to say something about it."

Kaori...

It hurt to hear him say her name both in such a precious and lonely way…

"Why do you always compare us? Even Keisuke mentioned about her."

He folded his hands in front of him and looked at the ground. "I don't really talk about her, but your confidence in what you have and the uncertainty of everything else around it is completely identical."

The mystery surrounding this Kaori was like a room full of dark smoke. I knew the further I went into the walls of this place, the more I'd be burned, even consumed by her presence between us.

"Remember when I told you that you should see beyond Akina?"

He didn't sound like himself.

I was almost afraid to answer. "Yes."

I remember it everyday, especially now that I'm going.

His grave voice told me, "Once you leave here, you probably won't be the same."

When Ryousuke's head looked up to face me once more, for a second I heard nothing at all, as if my ears had suddenly gone deaf.

My heart completely shattered in between his honesty.

That face...

Why are you looking at me with such painful eyes?

I don't want to see you like this.

"Why did you say that? You're the one who said for to me to follow you so that I'd grow."

"I know, but that expression might disappear once you go out into the world." He squinted his eyes as they began to turn a bit red. "My selfish year seems so much shorter now."

My hands opened to touch him, but I held myself back and clenched them into fists. "This is what I trained for. You're the one who taught me to get to this point, Ryousuke-san. Wasn't that the reason why you challenged me to go against you in Hakone?"

"For you, yes. I've given you everything I possibly could within my reach." Ryousuke reached out his hands towards me. His fingers touched my neck, his index fingers went under my ears, and his thumbs tenderly pressed on my jaw.

I winced as his warm hands held my face so that he could make his point without me running away.

"For me, it's to keep the small part of you that's completely mine."

"I…"

I caught myself before I finished and closed my lips.

still want more too, Ryousuke.

Tsuzuku…/To be continued…

Author's note: We are back to Takumi and Ryousuke on the same page! Ryousuke is older and knows most of the things Takumi will face from here until he becomes his age. Can Ryousuke really just watch it all happen? Will Takumi finally figure things out? To tell the truth, at this point, this confuses me too.

Okay, I hate to wring out the heart, but it's what I do with my favorite characters. It's difficult to make long fics, but the build up tickles me silly.

Why do I do this to myself…?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Love,

Yui

7/19/2016 11:59 PM – Los Angeles

7/20/2016 3:59 PM - Tokyo