Rivalry Stage 1

ACT 10: Rampant Rumors

By Amaniblue

AN: Sorry for the neglect. I have too many projects up in the air and am trying my best to allocate time for Rivalry. Hopefully this huge chapter will satisfy you readers for now until the next post. I again, have combined two previously written chapters into one big one and had altered most of the scenes to fit the current plotlines. Please enjoy!

Edit: Fix some of the very blatant grammar and sentence structure errors. Anything else, please let me know, thanks!

Summary of the last act: Nakazato Takeshi wakes up from a wet dream to a nightmare. Aroused and not too happy about it, he kicks Keisuke out and the blond, confused and disoriented, scuffles home to nurse his hangover. Meanwhile his older brother sets up a meeting to discuss the new team and the Redsuns' plans to help Kenta win the battle. Also during this time, Takumi gets a brief lesson about sex from his father and Mogi reveals her troubles. Shingo of the Night Kids enters the story as he meets a very mysterious, yet voluptuous woman.

///Outside Yamamoto's Auto Store///

Sendo was on a mission. He had called upon several favors since last night's accident and was about to retrieve another. He should have left his old woman to wallow in her own mess, but then it was his own fault for hotwiring the vehicle in the first place as she had so heatedly reminded him. He smirked at the memory of her tirade. Twenty-years together and he still enjoys seeing the sparks fly from his wife's eyes. One would think (and several of his old pals in the past and present had indeed) that he was a masochist, but Sendo would argue otherwise. He merely smirks knowingly at all the poor fools who shake their heads at their fiery marriage. He knew better and that was all that matters.

"Ooomph!"

His thoughts instantly returned to the present when his chest bounced off someone very firm and nubile. Sendo glanced down and couldn't help ogling at the nice cleavage he was allotted to see. His lips kicked up to a lecherous smirk. Well, hello there!

Before he could draw his eyes to face the woman properly and apologize with all politeness though, her hand connected his left cheek with a loud smack.

"Asshole!" She spat the words and side step pass him in a huff.

"Bitch…" Sendo grumbled in irritation as he rubbed his tender cheek. If the woman had the mind to flaunt it, then he didn't mind to look at all. It was only fair. Besides, it wasn't my fault that her boobs bopped against me, he reasoned.

Despite knowing he might get another slap or worse if she ever finds out, he turned around anyways and continued to ogle the back of her curvaceous figure as she strode towards a waiting silver MX5. But then she paused upon just opening the door and throws a cold glare his way. He immediately bit out a low expletive, "Shit."

Thinking perhaps she might call upon who ever was in the car (a thuggish boyfriend mostly likely) to come out and take care of him for her, Sendo decided he wasn't about to stay around and find out. He didn't retire from a risky life as a famous car thief to only be taken down by a raging boyfriend of a woman he'd just accidentally bump into. Thus he quickly averted his gaze, yanked open the door to Yamamoto's shop, and scurried to safety inside.

---

Meanwhile, parked several meters from the shop's front door, the driver of the silver MX5 had lazily dangled a well toned arm through the lower window as he held a mobile phone to his ear with his other hand. "Yeah, yeah, I'll meet you down at Kiki's."

After a short pause while he listened to the person on the other line, a snicker escaped his grinning lips, "Of course the same one we use to hang out in 2-E. See ya!"

While the driver tucked his mobile phone back into the thigh pocket of his khaki cargo pants, the passenger door opens.

Shapely legs folded within the confines of the vehicle. The young woman from previously threw her self against the customized leather bucket seat and spat out an unladylike curse. "Fuck."

The driver rolls his eyes and turned his head towards her and comments, "What now, Jade?"

Her impish face scrunches up to a scowl as she grounds out, "This old fart bumped right into me and doesn't even say sorry. That old Lech!"

Her brother's face instantly mirrors her own. He slowly sat up straight and inquire evenly, "Want me to teach him a lesson in manners?"

Taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor, Jade reel in her previous anger and amended her words. "No, no. It's okay. I already took care of it."

He nodded in reply and returned to his previous devil-may-care attitude. It always amazes her, how his behavior could change so rapidly. Rui's hotheaded actions tend to be unstoppable once it begins and she didn't really want to be entangled with the local police just yet.

Deciding to change the subject, Jade buckle up and inquired absently, "So who were you talking to?"

Her brother merely shrugs in reply and comments offhandedly, "Oh, just an old friend."

But then in another breath, he burst out rather excitedly, "Hey, sis... you hungry?"

Weary of another sudden mood swing, Jade supplied with a hint of caution, "No, not really."

"Well, I am," He declares with a secretive smirk. Rui briefly scans the streets and pulls out onto the road, heading off in the direction of the intercity highway. "I have a sudden craving for tofu."

///Family Restaurant///

"A friend of mine happens to travel to Hong Kong on a regular basis to do business. He says within the entertainment district in Kowloon, some local groups host illegal gambling on street racing every so often. He's been there a couple of times himself when ever word of a battle was spread within an hour. It's pretty sporadic, but well worth the money he paid to be alert of the occasions even though he never participated beyond watching."

Fumihiro paused for breath, took a sip of his coffee and continued, "It turns out the Aoi Ryu has been the reigning champions for more than a few months now. They were rumored to have work for Xin Long himself, who happens to be one of Kowloon district's triad leader who rule the southern regions. The rumor was never confirmed, but he was told that the Aoi Ryu use to be Xin Long's carjacking squad before they turned to winning legitimate pink slips by street racing means instead."

Ryousuke raised a thoughtful brow at that as he chewed on this new bit of information. His lips thinned momentarily before he comments, "Makes sense to stay below the police's radar by swapping legitimate documents. Although, this means their targeted vehicles are sports cars or highly modified ones only. A bit too narrow a market is it not to make any profit?"

Fumihiro nodded in agreement and added, "That's what I said too. My friend however thinks there is more to it. Since the Aoi Ryu is widely known as purely a Japanese operated team, Xin Long is making a statement to all the other triad leaders to stay clear of his turf and trade. That, if anything, will boost the cred for them in any other ventures."

Kenta had no clue what Fumihiro was hinting at and downright asked, "How would that deter the other triad leaders?"

Fumihiro raised both brows in surprise. "Their surname doesn't ring a bell?"

Kenta shook his head, not understanding. "What is so important about their family name?"

Fumihiro stared at the puzzled face next to him and scoffed, "It's important if it happens to be 'the Sagano' of the Osaka yakuza clan."

"The...the yakuza!?" squawked Kenta a little bit too loudly. Heads from other tables turned to their booth by the window upon hearing him. He flashed an apologetic grin to the other diners and piped down.

"It's just a rumor, Nakamura."

Ryousuke, not phase by this alarming news at all, quietly chimes in. "How's their driving skills?"

"From what my friend tells me, they'll race against anybody with wheels on just about any type of road conditions. Downhill, uphill, city streets, and even dirt roads: you name it, they race it." Fumihiro paused and waited for any interjections from Ryousuke. The Redsuns' team leader only continue to sip his tea.

Realizing that it was his cue to resume, he did. "There are also rumors of crazy stunts they've pulled and the type of conditions they've raced in. Some things are harder to believe: like driving with blindfolds, double teaming, and rural farm rallies."

"Blindfolds and ...double team?" squawked Kenta. He's beginning to feel a bit queasy from listening to all this. The more he learned about his rivals, the more he feels like he's being dragged into a part of a cheesy Hong Kong action film. This was nuts and they're actually discussing it seriously.

Indeed, as if he was debating about the local economics or discussing the mechanical workings of a quad cylinder engine, Ryousuke provided the answer in a matter-of-fact tone, "while wearing a blindfold, the driver relies on his navigator to tell him directions on when to turn and how sharp a degree. It takes a tremendous amount of trust, practice and knowledge of the route in order to be successful at all. Although, to make up for the danger aspect, the speed as you can imagine are not what some action movie portray it to be. The speed hardly goes above 60 km. There have been some races where the navigator is not even present beside the driver at all; in which case, they communicate via a headset instead."

Ryousuke then takes a long sip of his tea before he continues, "As for double team obstacle races, two people from each team race through an obstacle course, namely local city streets to a finish line. Along the way, these teams will try to ram each other off the course."

"Tha… that's crazy!" exclaimed Kenta who shot straight up from his seat this time. Again, patrons from the cafe all turned their heads to stare at him. Kenta quickly sat back down in embarrassment as he glared at the snickering Fumihiro. Kenta who's beginning to see the full blown picture of how insane his next opponent could be wasn't so cocky in crowing his skills when he lamented with a whine, "So what should I do, Ryousuke-sempai?"

Ryousuke, without bothering to look his way, merely replied as if nothing was amiss, "Nothing at the moment."

///ESSO gas station///

"So what are you peeved about this time? You're the one who wanted to come all the way to Akina of all places to buy tofu! Why can't you buy it at Myougi? You don't even eat tofu! ..." Jade's continuous ranting of Rui's escapade to Akina fades into the background as Rui remain on the driver seat pondering about the boy from last night.

He had driven all the way from Myougi after calling the operator earlier regarding the location of a Fujiwara Tofu Shop. He had thanked his wandering eyes several times this morning for noticing the odd logo on the side of the Hachi-Roku. Rui deduced that the boy must have worked at this shop since it can't possibly be the Takahashi brothers. In any case, the magazine didn't mention the Rotary brothers being more than heirs to a hospital conglomerate. Thus they couldn't have own chains of tofu shops either.

Thus, with those thoughts in mind, Rui had thought to surprise the boy at his work place but unfortunately all he saw was an old man with slits for eyes. Oddly enough, Rui thought he looked familiar.

"Are you listening to me?"

Rui snapped out of his revelry and glanced at his sister. "Huh? Ah, sorry."

Jade blew an angry breath away and she closed her eyes to count to ten. When she reopened her eyes, she repeated calmly, "I said are you going to pay him or should I just let him stare down my chest all day?"

Noticing that she had both her brothers and the service attendant's attention, Jade quipped nastily, "Maybe he isn't convinced that I have a belly button?"

"She does," growled Rui as he handed the money to the attendant. He was about to threaten the poor fellow with a good beating when he caught a glimpse of a panda colored vehicle pulling into the station's garage. This caught his attention immediately. His head turned a full ninety degree towards the new arrival.

---

After dropping Mogi off at her parent's house, Takumi was on his way home when he passed by the ESSO gas station and decided to stop by and visit his friend, Itsuki.

After hearing Mogi's sob story earlier that morning, Takumi had insisted on taking her to Ishida-san's clinic. She had been reluctant at first, but he managed to convince her otherwise. However, things did not go accordingly as he had thought. The old nurse who had performed the check-up and assault kit kept glaring daggers at Takumi as soon as she came out and escorted Mogi to another room to await the doctor.

Then to his surprise, he was called into the room that Mogi had vacated and the same nurse began to interview him on Mogi's condition. After several insinuating and terribly probing questions later, Takumi finally spat out that he would never do that to her and stormed out of the room entirely. He could have explained to the nurse then regarding the circumstances that came to be, but Mogi had tearfully demanded that he not tell anyone. And being mindful of her reticence to not seek help at all, he acquiesced to her wishes only if she agreed to visit the clinic for medical treatment of her injuries.

Knowing all this but not being able to help beyond that and being blame for it instead, Takumi wanted to kick something or take a very long drive. But since, he couldn't do neither, the Hachi-Roku driver could only sit in the lobby lounge chair and avoid the wrathful glares of that particular old nurse. By the time Mogi returned with her bag of medication and bandages within her embrace, Takumi immediately stood up to tote her by the elbow and out the door. Despite having known Ishida-san throughout his young life, Takumi vowed to never come back until that old nurse no longer works there.

Thus after dropping Mogi off several blocks from her parent's house per her usual request, Takumi felt compelled to take a long drive until that is he passed the ESSO gas station. He needed to relax and visiting Itsuki had always done the trick. Thus he immediately pulled into his old workplace.

---

Itsuki quickly returned the change to the driver of the silver MX5. He was more than happy to escape the attention of a pretty woman for once. Espying his favorite panda Hachi-Roku, Itsuki quickly said his thanks to the customer and ran to Takumi who was already chatting with Iketani and Kenji. With his friend's back turned away from the gas pumps, Itsuki smiled broadly before he delivered a playful bop on the Hachi-Roku driver's head.

"Ow!" Exclaimed Takumi as he clutched the back of his head with his left hand. "What did you do that for?"

"It takes you so long to visit you're best friend? In your heart, is there still us friends in there?" mourned Itsuki in exaggeration as he stabbed an accusing finger at his best friend heart.

"Erm…" sputtered a wordless Takumi with a giant sweat drop. He had not expected such an emotional outburst from his long time friend.

"I guess he doesn't!" Iketani declared with a smile as he watched the silly antics of his co-worker.

A waterfall of tears began to pour down Itsuki's cheeks. Everyone laughed all the while Takumi half-heartedly tried to placate Itsuki with a wave of his hand and repeated over and over again, "Of course, of course I do."

Then all of a sudden, a shudder ran through Takumi as he felt a hand briefly caressed the cleft between his butt cheeks. The Hachi-Roku driver immediately stiffened as his spine stood ramrod straight while an arm brushed across his left side and wrapped securely around his waist to pull him back, flushed up against a hard warm body. Hot moist air brushed across his sensitive ear right before sharp teeth sank down on his nape for less than a tenth of a second. Takumi yelped in pain before he shivered in response when he heard that familiar voice so close to his ear.

"Hi, we meet again."

---

Rui was elated. The boy from last night was standing just a few feet away. He didn't know what it was, but there was something about him that made Rui wanted to pounce every time he saw him. Like now; especially now, with the boy's delicious backside facing him, taunting him.

Snapping out of his lust filled thoughts, Rui relish to put fantasy into reality when he decided with animal instincts to do just that. Conveniently forgetting his sister's presence, the MX5 driver dismounted his metal stead and stealthily stalks towards his prey. He pause his steps when the group laughed at the gas attendant's antics, that same person who had moments before ogled his sister. Rui silently thanked him, but of course conveniently forgetting the man's previous offense in light of his current usefulness.

When he was just about a step behind the boy, he pounced. In staking his claim, he tasted heaven. Rui was completely smitten by it.

"Hi, we meet again," he whispered against the shell-like ear.

---

Stricken from head to toe by the sudden heat suffusing his entire body, a recovering Takumi finally broke out of the hot embrace with lightening reflexes as he turned around to face the assailant who dared to fondle him for the second time. Having the dreadful feeling that history was repeating itself, Takumi managed to stammer his outrage at the hands of fate. "Y... y… you!?"

Bereft of his prey's closeness, Rui pouted in disappointment for a split second only to grin in satisfaction at the telltale pink tinge on the boy's baby soft cheeks. "Miss me?"

"Of...of course not!" sputtered Takumi. As outrage as the man's behavior was last night, this was even worse.

"You're body says differently," returned a leering Rui. Teasing him was just too easy.

Takumi went mute for a whole minute as his color darkened. His body did respond, even if he didn't mean too. Out of sheer desperation, he tried to change the subject. "Th...th...that's beside the point!"

Rui grinned widely at those telling words, his eyes sparkled in appreciation. "So you admit you DO like it!"

Takumi choked on a gasp of air as his eyes bugged out even further. He had not meant to say that. "No! Th...that was not what I'd meant!"

Rui was delighted with this turn of event. He continued to bait the boy with a wicked leer. "It is! Should I demonstrate again?"

He moved towards Takumi, ready to do just that.

"Wait— don't you dare!" The situation was getting out of hand. With each step Takumi took in backing away, Rui matched them with his own advancing ones. Takumi wasn't even sure if he could explain it to himself, but he wasn't about to let Rui come near him just to prove his point.

Meanwhile, Itsuki, Iketani, and Kenji were slack jaw with disbelief as they witness the pair in front of them embracing and exchanging flirtatious dialogue. Having never bear witness to such a situation like this before, they took it all in with rapt attention. It was not everyday one witness a friend (a male friend at that) being pounced upon by another guy, albeit never mind how good looking this man was. They snapped out of their attention when Takumi ran behind them to hide.

"Coward," pouted Rui who was about to move around the blockade to catch his prey.

"Hold it right there, sir." Itsuki stretched out his arm with his palm facing the amorous patron in an attempt to fend him off. He wasn't sure what's going on, but Itsuki knew that Takumi was in over his head. When the pursuing patron stopped in his tracks and raised a surprised brow at him, Itsuki squared his shoulders, stood to his fullest height, and size up the man before him. "Who are you?"

The man merely sniffed at Itsuki's attempt at machismo.

Rui continued to fix his eyes on his prey, rather than the questioner, and answered. "Sagano Rui of the Aoi Ryu."

Itsuki, Iketani, and Kenji raised all of their brows in unison. This was definitely a new development. They have never heard of this team before and their brains collectively buzzed with excitement.

---

"Oi, Rui!"

All heads swivel towards the speaker. Jade was sitting on the open window ledge of the silver MX5. Despite all appearance of looking bored with her head propped up on one hand as her arm braced atop the roof, she watched in awe as her brother pursue the Hachi-Roku driver with such comedic determination. She had never seen him so obsessed with a guy or girl before and the target's response was even more interesting. I guess I'd better up the ante on the bet with the gang before it's too late.

"Sorry to break up you're fun brother dear, but didn't you say earlier on about something like a prior engagement to attend to?"

"Oh! Darn it! Almost forgot." With a wistful sigh, Rui gave Takumi a longing look and turned around to leave.

Just when Takumi thought the coast was clear, Rui rounded the blockade and caught him off guard once again. "Here."

It was a business card with a flashy green dragon crouching at the bottom left corner of the card.

Takumi blinked cautiously at the man in front of him and took the card. It read, Sagano Enterprises, in dark red Kanji calligraphy with a phone number and address beneath it.

"Could ya inform the Takahashi brothers and that orange freak that I decided the race will be at Myougi route 22? The date and type of race will be up to them." Before Takumi could even think of responding, Rui had placed a quick peck on his left cheek and winked goodbye.

"Until next time," With those departing words, Sagano Rui he ran off to his car and drove off.

Takumi raised a hand and fingered his cheek. He could not believe the man's audacity. Twice in less than twenty-four hours, Sagano Rui had managed to accost him. Both times Takumi had found himself disoriented and strangely affected by the man's presence. Wary of his wayward thoughts, Takumi pulled out of his musings and found darkness casting a shadow over him or rather, three ominous looming figures.

Itsuki, Iketani, and Kenji surrounded the famous Akina Hachi-Roku driver with shiny glints of anticipation glowing within the depths of their eyes. Takumi could only shrink in deformation from the onslaught. Somehow he had forgotten that his friends had witnessed the entire fiasco.

///Family Restaurant///

"Maybe some modifications on the—," The sudden ringing of a mobile phone cut Fumihiro up short. He turned his frown on the person sitting next to him and waited.

"Um, sorry," Kenta flashed an apologetic grin at his sempai and dug into his shirt pocket to retrieve his mobile phone. "Moshi moshi, Nakamura Kenta here."

"Kenta, don't let aniki know that it's me."

"Ah, sure." Kenta looked askance at Ryousuke and excused himself from the table. After reaching the far end of the restaurant near the entrance, Kenta inquired in a low murmur, "Why sempai?"

"It's nothing. Just don't want to bother him, that's all. Look Kenta, I need a favor from you."

Without hearing the reason or noticing Keisuke's odd behavior, Kenta quickly jumped at the chance to help his idol. "No problem. What do you need me to do?"

"I need a ride somewhere. Come pick me up at my parent's place. And Kenta, thanks man."

With an idiot smile plastered on his face, Kenta returned to the table and made his excuses to leave. He wasn't sure what was going on, but whatever it was, his sempai needed him and he was all too happy to help. The upcoming battle can wait.

///TBC— ACT 11: The Encounter///

Review Responses (Thank you for commenting):

Ultra Rodimus – Keisuke will definitely have a problem with his car. As for Takumi popping a vessel while blushing… hmmm, he'll have a lot more things to worry about than his blood pressure. And um, sorry about the slow update. This chapter was a doozy to redo.

Swirly – The story will plod along much faster in the later chapters. As for whether Takumi will end up with Ryousuke or not, that will be his choice at the end of Rivalry ne?