The Rise of Usui's Ghost

by SilentAssassin11

It's been several months since Impact Blue officially disbanded. Project D has taken the Kanto area by storm; but in the wake of the damages Keisuke's FD sustained in Tuschisaka they were forced to delay their schedule until the repairs are made. All the while, a mysterious silver car has been making runs across Usui Pass in the dead of night. Just who is this enigmatic racer?

32. Chapter 32

The Rise of Usui's Ghost

Chapter 32

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Irohazaka, Tochigi Prefecture

1:18AM

"To what do I owe this distinct pleasure tonight? As I'm sure you know I'm a very busy man with lots of things to do so let's cut to the chase…what do you want?" Tatsuru asked.

"Not one to beat around the bush, are you?" the blonde man snorted with a shake of his head.

"No," the pro-racer shot back. "But seeing as I've done you the courtesy of paying you a visit on your home course during these early hours of Saturday morning, I assumed that there was something important that you wanted to discuss."

Kyoichi inclined his head in affirmation. "And you are correct."

Tatsuru's glare intensified ever-so slightly. "Then I will repeat myself for the second and final time. What do you want? What could have possibly been so important that you would have called me all the way out here in the dead of night just to discuss something?"

"It's about Kurokawa," the leader of team Emperor calmly stated.

Almost immediately the elder Tochigi native's glare grew into a full-blown scowl. A few of his own informants across Kanagawa had notified him of Kyoichi's move to put out a few feelers in the area and as far as he was concerned, it was something Yuzuru would not have appreciated. Unless the kid chose to reveal anything about himself to others, it was not his place to speak about it. He'd been through far too much in such a short span of time and he did not deserve to have someone poking their nose where it didn't belong.

"What about him?" he questioned.

"Since our last meeting in Akina I've been left with more questions than answers."

"You don't say," came Tatsuru's effortless retort.

Kyoichi bristled at the sudden interruption. All things considered, he knew he should have expected the man to be difficult even about the smallest of things, but this was taking it to a new level.

"I still don't understand why he would just up and disappear at the height of his popularity in an area as competitive as Kanagawa. It makes no sense to me seeing as most pass racers would have wanted to keep such momentum going," he expressed.

"Sometimes people need change," the Honda signing offered with an indifferent shrug. "It's what I did when I lost to Ryosuke."

"You dropped off the face of the earth well over a year ago and everyone was tight-lipped about it," the bandana-clad street racer decided to point out.

"Oh, what's this? I didn't know you cared Sudo," was the elder man's derisive remark.

"I don't," Kyoichi returned in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "But you've emerged a full-fledged professional racer and are due to make your debut in just a few months' time. Kurokawa on the other hand, vanished without so much as a trace and my understanding is that he was constantly on the move, searching for a very specific car and driver."

Tatsuru gazed at the man before him with an inscrutable look, mentally cursing Kyoichi for being so thorough regarding everything he did. Unlike Ryosuke, who was typically less direct and respectful of other's sense of propriety, Kyoichi held no qualms about being direct when necessary. The man was known for his tenacity and inability to take no for an answer which at times he considered an admirable trait, but in this instance is was more of a hindrance than anything else.

"What makes you think he was searching for someone during his time in Kanagawa?" he inquired.

The man in question scoffed through his cigarette, fixing his senpai with a hard glare. "Don't think me stupid Iwamura. I saw how you reacted when I first confronted Kurokawa with those rumors and after what I've learned from my sources, I've managed to confirm it."

"Then why bother asking me?"

"Because I get the feeling that you know a lot more than you're letting on," he said before pausing to steal another drag from his smoke. "Not to mention the fact that he was searching for the so-called 'Demon of Nanamagari'."

In an instant Tatsuru's impassive expression morphed into one of barely repressed disgust at the infamous moniker adopted by the one individual he loathed with every fiber of his being. Every single time he paid Kanagawa a visit he made it a point to avoid Nanamagari like the plague because of the monumental loss he experienced that fateful night. That driver was the root cause of Shiori's suffering, and the reason why Yuzuru went through such lengths to hunt the person down in a manner not so dissimilar to himself.

He too prowled Kanagawa in the hopes of tracking down the elusive Mark III Supra, but before he ever managed to make any sort of headway in those endeavors, Shiori begged him to stop for fear of losing the only remaining friend she had left. Seeing the strong and passionate woman he grew to care for like an older sister break down in front of him like that was an experience he never wished to relive again. He would rather swallow his pride and suffer through the tormenting loss of his closest friend by her side than subject himself to the dangers that came with such an unhealthy obsession.

Tatsuru was very much aware that it could have been him in Yuzuru's shoes. It was a frightening thought for him to consider; but at the same time, it forced him to recognize that he has saved from such a fate because Shiori was there to catch him. The elder Kurokawa had no one for the better part of a year, and while he was positive Reina did all she could to be there for her older brother, she made no secret of how close he came to riding that dangerous edge.

Only the timely intervention of the few friends he'd made during his time in Tokyo, along with his sister's efforts were able to bring back some semblance of the teenager Kakeru so often described to him in the past; but even two years later it was still a slow-going process according to the small circle around him. While there was little doubt that time could heal just about any emotional wound, the loss would always remain. He'd seen it with Shiori those first few months afterwards; and in his case, he found his motivation and love for racing steadily beginning to dwindle.

'But in Yuzuru, the pain of losing his best friend was multiplied by the loss of his greatest source of inspiration,' he mused. 'I don't know the exact details yet, but that kind of emotional trauma would have broken just about anyone. The fact he's still managed to pull through speaks highly of his resilience.'

Without much consideration for the man awaiting his response, Tatsuru pulled out his carton of Mild Sevens with a slight tremble to his hands. This was a detail Kyoichi most certainly did not miss, but the elder street racer could care less if the man saw it as a sign of weakness or anything else for that matter. Silently, he slipped his cigarette to his lips and cupped his free hand around it whilst flicking his lighter. After a few attempts to light his desperately needed cancer stick, and only a few sparks barely strong enough to light the end, he sent a tired glance in his rival's direction.

"Got a light?" he asked.

Kyoichi shook his head in exasperation, sporting a heavy scowl that relayed just what he thought of the man's obvious attempt to stall their conversation. In the end however, he offered him his lighter.

Tatsuru gave him a tight nod of acceptance, promptly lighting his waiting cigarette before returning it.

"Before you ask any more questions Sudo, I will warn you now that I there are some things better left unspoken. Whatever the kid's reasons for suddenly leaving Kanagawa are his, and his alone. I can't answer for him. You are right in your assumption that I know more than I've let on, but I won't betray his trust just to satisfy your curiosity. I'll tell you what I can and you're going to have to piece together the rest from there. Don't think I'm not aware that you've put out a few feelers down there," he declared with less animosity.

"As you wish," the blonde street racer agreed.

Kyoichi knew the proposition was not wholly unreasonable given the circumstances and coming from one of his fiercest rivals in all of Kanto with whom he shared a mutual dislike, it was about as good as it was going to get. Getting the man to even agree to a meeting had been quite the task, and in all honesty, he expected him to blow off from the very beginning. The leader of the Tochigi based Lan-Evo team was not the sort to look a gift horse in the mouth, and he wasn't about to start now.

"What's so special about a Mark III Supra that had Kurokawa tearing up the competition in the prefecture?" he finally asked.

"In the hands of the average driver, the A70 doesn't amount to much. For all the power they're capable of producing, weight has always been that chassis' specific hurdle. Most of the time they understeer heavily, and even then, it's not the sort of car people would usually prefer for pass racing. Sure, with some modifications, weight reduction, and suspension work it might amount to something, but you rarely see them as it is."

"That's common knowledge Iwamura, but if I wanted a lesson on the damn car, I would have asked for one," Kyoichi growled.

The man in question rolled his eyes, determined to not rise to the outburst. "Pay attention Sudo. The reason I'm even bringing this up is because the driver of that specific A70 was by no means average. The Supra was frighteningly quick, a ferocious cornering machine and among the most feared in all of Kanagawa. But at the same time, the driver was considered by many to be dangerous, vicious, and a stain amongst the locals. Not many teams in Kanagawa take kindly to someone who crafts their reputation by breaking the laws of the touge."

"Dangerous? Like the Shinigami?" inquired Kyoichi.

"They're both cut from the same cloth," Tatsuru affirmed as he exhaled a round of smoke. "But unlike the Shinigami he wasn't as skilled yet. Some would call it arrogance, others sheer recklessness, but that A70 was well known in Nanamagari and most of the surrounding touge because it never lost a race against any opponent, especially when the driver resorted to dirty tactics to succeed."

Kyoichi averted his gaze, brown eyes rapt with attention as he processed the information relayed to him. Despite the reputation of his team along with his own, he would never condone the use of such dirty tactics. Among the first set of many rules he implemented with the inception of Team Emperor, was the order that no one would ever knowingly and purposely, strike, or make contact with the vehicle of any opponent they faced in a battle. This was a stipulation he required each of his drivers to follow to the letter, irrespective of their differences with rival teams or street racers.

At the end of the day they were all united by their passion for motorsport and pass racing above all else, and they would never risk the life of another human being for something as small as a single battle. As underhanded or even negative their own standing was with their rivals, they still looked after their own. For this reason, the blonde Evo III owner felt a sudden sense of revulsion overcome him.

"I get the feeling that's not all," he expressed.

Tatsuru inclined his head in acquiesce, his countenance growing more ominous by the second. He would never be able to forgive the man he knew to be the cause of so much anguish and pain for the Kurokawa family, Shiori, and himself. The recent Honda signing simply did not have it in him to forget or even absolve the man for his deed, and deep down he had a feeling that even Yuzuru would be incapable of it as well. If there was one thing, he managed to deduce from multiple eyewitness accounts and his sources in the neighboring prefecture, it was that the driver of that A70 treated racing like a game.

The man was the sort of individual who derived very little pleasure from regular races, always preferring to add a little twist to make things interesting for himself. He was notorious for being one of the few in the area to have no qualms about using foul play, often relishing the opportunity to nudge opponents to throw them off balance right before a corner. At times, his actions would cause many of his rivals to spin out or trade paint with guard rails, but there was little to doubt his over skill.

His time racing in Kanagawa with the man he considered his best friend alongside Shiori, revealed just how skilled many of the locals were. It truly lived up to its name as the Holy Land of Street Racing, and for those who truly wished to test their mettle against some of the best pass racers in the area, Kanagawa was the place to be. As much as he loathed admitting it, the driver of the Supra he so deeply despised was no exception to this, even if he sullied his reputation and the esteem most of Kanagawa's racing community held of him.

"You're not wrong," Tatsuru conceded. "There's a much bigger reason why so many locals began constantly referring to the driver of that Mark III Supra as the 'Demon of Nanamagari', and let's just say he was about as merciless and barbaric as the Shinigami in his methods. The biggest difference between them, however, is that this man never took racing seriously. It was all a great game to him, and there were a few occasions he even partook in gum tape death matches."

Kyoichi's eyes widened in vivid surprise; a genuine feat for someone of his bearing. Gum tape death matches were a rarity in the word of pass racing, simply because of the larger risk and room for error such a handicap involved if one did not have the experience, technique, or skills necessary to adjust so rapidly in the middle of a race. With a front-wheel drive or even four-wheel drive car, handling and steering would have been a little easier due to their inherent mannerisms but with a rear-wheel drive, it was a whole different story.

Most people who drove an FR car often needed to make constant alterations to their technique by the way of counter steering after initiating a drift or reaching the clipping point of any given corner. Such was the compromise of drivers who held a preference for the showmanship and style he so-often thought to be a waste of time. In his eyes, drifting was for posers. His philosophy was based on power, speed, precision, and skill. It was one of the lessons he took to heart as a student in the Todo Juku, which he in turn adopted and built upon with his belief that a well-tuned 4WD car paired with a nice turbocharger was superior in every conceivable way.

To hear that someone had the balls to throw themselves into a gum tape death match at the helm of a car as heavy as an A70 without even taking into consideration that it was indeed rear-wheel drive was nothing short of ludicrous. Having one's hand taped to the steering wheel would limit the driver's mobility by a very considerable margin, so much so that most people would often race at a slower pace because of it. In a touge like Nanamagari, such an undertaking would be considered impossible for the average street racer because of the narrow twists and turns that were best characterized by its twelve consecutive hairpins.

'Nanamagari is known for being one of the toughest mountain passes in Hakone. One section consists of some of the toughest corners in all Kangawa, while the other is dotted with high speed straightaways with only a few bends and corners in between. A gum tape death match here is tantamount to suicide with how little room there is to maneuver,' he surmised.

"You do realize that a gum tape death matches would require very subtle steering input and exceptional throttle control just to be able to induce the necessary counter steer to stabilize a rear-wheel drive car when cornering right? Few people can even claim to have such proficiency Iwamura, and its part of the reason no one is willing to risk their skin in such a dangerous game," Kyoichi evenly declared.

"Indeed, but that's all it was to him. Placing himself and his rival into a perilous situation was how he got his fix, but the worse part of it all is that almost no one dared to stop him. He's nothing but pure scum, and a coward of the highest order as well."

"A coward?" he pressed.

"Very few people ever truly got a look at the driver of that A70," Tatsuru said with a deep frown. "Others had a little more luck, but he rarely ever showed himself. It seems to me like he didn't want many people to see his face with all the ruckus he caused in and around the prefecture which is highly hypocritical considering there are a few people out there with a personal vendetta against him."

"Like you and Kurokawa?" Kyoichi queried. "It's no secret that even you seem to harbor some animosity with the way you've been referring to him."

As soon as the question came his way Tatsuru mentally chided himself for his slip up. Nothing ever got past someone like Kyoichi, the man was far too observant and curious for his own good. It was a trait of his he often found vexing, but admittedly it was also one of his greatest strengths.

"In a way I suppose," came his cryptic response as he drew another puff from burning cigarette.

"You're not being very forthcoming about it."

"It's also none of your business," the S2000 owner shot back.

Kyoichi raised an eyebrow at his rival's statement, knowing that he was dangerously close to toeing some invisible line between them. The warning in his voice was enough of an indication for him to take a hint, thus leading him to veer away from his question in favor of one that still had not been answered.

"Can you explain why Kurokawa spent almost a year and a half searching for that Supra?"

"It's not my place to tell you Sudo," Tatsuru revealed with a hollow sigh. "You could try asking him on your own, but he'll probably just tell you to go to hell. He's not the kind of guy who enjoys having people poke around where they shouldn't."

"That's rich coming from you," spat the Lan-Evo driver. "Ever since we made Kurokawa our latest target you've been holding out me. Don't think I didn't notice the way his whole demeanor changed once I asked him who the original owner of his FD was. He was acting like a completely different person once I mentioned it so what am I missing in all of this?"

Tatsuru snorted, shaking his head with disdain and perhaps a small amount of amusement. Leave it to the ever calculating and obstinate Kyoichi to overlook the simplest of details when the answer had been staring at him in the face from the very beginning. Honestly, it astounded him that the man still had not been able to put two and two together, especially when it was someone as intuitive and sharp-minded as Kyoichi but in the end, he couldn't help but feel rather glad he still hadn't.

Sooner or later, the leader of Team Emperor would come to know the truth, that was but a certainty. One did not scour Kanagawa relentlessly, especially to the point of obsession without more than a few people taking notice. Rumors held a tendency to spread like wildfire in the right environment, and while Gunma did have quite the lengthy grapevine, Kanagawa was a different beast altogether. There was a reason why so many people flocked to the prefecture to take part in some of the action, and the past week gave him plenty of time to compile a lengthy account on just what the nineteen-year-old was up to.

Once he got back to Shiori with his findings, it was safe to say his friend took it much harder than he would have expected. Despite having met him face to face only a few days earlier, the MR-S driver rapidly came to the conclusion that Yuzuru had willingly used himself as bait in a desperate attempt to lure out the ever elusive driver of the red Supra that haunted them everywhere they went. The revelation was a startling one for him to come to terms with, but more difficult for someone like Shiori to swallow. It was safe to say that the kid tore through all of Kanagawa's strongest teams like a hot knife through butter, giving no quarter to any of his opponents. Some people even went as far to say that Yuzuru drove like he already had one foot in the grave, without a single shred of reservation for the risks and dangers he subjected himself to in the fog-covered touge of Hakone.

The boy was very much akin to Kamikaze in that sense. He was willing to put everything on the line when it mattered and as tumultuous his state of mind must have been compared to now, Tatsuru could not help but admire him for it. By being a racing driver, one would always be at risk. This translated to life on the track as much as it did on mountain passes, but he was also acutely aware that Yuzuru's actions were the result of someone who was utterly lost in the depths of their despair. For a brief period, only a few months after the incident in Nanamagari, he too had been lost to his inner demons. He raced in the desperate hope that he would be able to recreate the same magic and love he once so fervently held for racing, all whilst searching for the man responsible. The biggest difference was that Shiori managed to reach him where it would take others longer in Yuzuru's case.

Now, two years later he'd managed to recover that same burning desire to chase his dream and push forward with the promise he once shared with Kakeru and Shiori. Signing with Honda had only been the start, and with the new season not beginning for months he resolved that he would watch over Yuzuru the same way his old friend once did for him. That fateful night in Usui he witnessed the kid face off against his cousin revived the passion and desire to succeed within him, so much so that he'd made his decision to race the elder Kurokawa in his final battle as a street racer.

'The way I see it, I owe Kakeru a debt. He taught me a great deal and never asked for anything in return. Now I'll make damn sure to pay it back two-fold by being there for the kid whenever he needs it and I'm not about to give this blonde prick anything. If he's that curious then he needs to do some more homework,' he silently vowed.

"If you think I'm going to give you the answers you seek Sudo, then you've got another thing coming. That kid's been through way too much as it is for you to come crawling around and start making any sort of demands of him," Tatsuru warned with a vicious glare.

Kyoichi sighed, his frustration finally beginning to wear at his patience. Iwamura made no secret of his ties to Kurokawa during their previous meeting, giving him further food for thought over the last few days. His rival always knew how to push his buttons, and admittedly it was a curse he seemed to share with Ryosuke as well. Those two seemed to get off on the fact, but he would not give them the satisfaction of knowing it.

"Then what can you tell me?" he finally asked with a deep-seated groan.

"What I can tell you Sudo, is that you won't like what you'll find," the man advised.

"That's for me to decide isn't it?" Kyoichi countered.

"Indeed, but if you do end up discovering the truth, I only ask that you keep what you learn to yourself. Don't share it with any of your teammates, especially that goddamn ape that is your second. Iwaki is a right bastard, and I won't have him antagonizing Yuzuru am I clear?"

Although he didn't show it, Kyoichi was struck by the defensive attitude displayed by his fellow graduate. In his opinion Iwamura Tatsuru was many things; sarcastic, dismissive and a monumental pain in the ass that would make it his personal mission to rub him wrong in all sorts of ways. He rarely took anyone seriously unless he held some esteem for them, and many of their peers back at the Todo School often spoke of his reputation as a loner. He was a man of few friends, often preferring to keep to himself and surprisingly unassuming in appearance when compared to his burlier younger cousin. At a glance, one wouldn't realize that they were in the presence of one of the most talented racers in all of North Kanto but the way his aura seemed to permeate the very air around him was enough of an indication to the sort of monster he was.

As odd as it was for him to witness a man of his reputation become so fiercely protective of Kurokawa, his reaction all but confirmed what he initially suspected. The boy's FD once belonged to someone exceedingly close to him. Irrespective of his skill or technique, no normal seventeen-year-old would have the funds to cover the cost of a third generation Efini RX-7. The mere thought was downright laughable in his book and besides, the one he owned was specifically among the first to have been released in 1991. Kurokawa would have only been in middle school when it was purchased and by his own admission, the car had been passed down to him after it had been in his family for some time.

'Kurokawa tore through an entire prefecture all for the sole purpose of searching for the driver of an outdated Supra with a kind fervor that I've never seen or heard of since. This can only mean that he has a much bigger reason that would explain his actions. Looks like I'm going to have to dig deeper, possibly before he even began racing in Kanagawa. I'll see if I can start building a profile on this so-called Demon of Nanamagari,' he decided.

With his thoughts finally sorted Kyoichi tossed the remnants of his own cigarette to the floor, crushing it under his foot before fixing Tatsuru with a passive look best known as his trademark.

"You should know by now Iwamura, that I can be discrete when I need to be. But what could possibly be so sensitive about Kurokawa that you do not wish it to become public knowledge?"

At the line of inquiry Tatsuru averted his gaze, brown eyes taking on a duller shade as he ruminated his own past as a street racer and the missing member of the trio he once belonged to. The loss was one he still felt as deeply as the night he first learned of it, and for Yuzuru there was little doubt it was equally as painful. The cold and hollow feeling that slowly began to envelop him was a stark reminder that it would remain with him for the rest of his days, even if he did not look forward to revisiting such a dark period of his life.

"When I said that I was a family friend Sudo, I wasn't lying," he conveyed without meeting his stare.

"I gathered as much judging by this whole display you've made tonight. Look Iwamura, I know you and I haven't really seen eye to eye since day one, bu-"

"Well that's an understatement," Tatsuru cut the man off with a shake of his head.

To his credit, Kyoichi did not rise to the bait. He knew Iwamura well enough by now to understand that this was his way of getting under his skin, and he would not give him the opportunity to do so. Instead, he crossed his arms and contined to glower at his rival before continuing with his previous statement.

"But there are too many things about Kurokawa's past and this Mark III Supra that just don't add up. In Kanagawa many either praised him for his skill or despised him for his accomplishments. You and I both know that aside from our technique, all we street racers have left is our pride. There are some who didn't take to kindly to his success in their home prefecture, but there is one thing both parties agreed on whenever Kanagawa's Kamikaze ever came up in a conversation. Do you know what it was?"

Tatsuru fixed Kyoichi with an unreadable look, his cigarette still hanging limply from the corner of his mouth. He cocked his head to the side, shrugging in return. There was little Kyoichi could say to him that would shock him when it came to Yuzuru at this point.

"Every opponent he faced would later go on to say that the exhaust note produced by his FD always sounded like an angry roar. He pressured his opponents on the downhill, bearing down on them with a primal fury seldom seen across the prefecture that some could rarely even keep up with the intensity of his pace. He was like a-"

"Like a raging storm," Tatsuru finished for him.

"Indeed," Kyoichi acknowledged. "Kurokawa never lost one of his battles in the prefecture, and rumors say that the few times he did emerge after a race all he ever asked for was for more information on the driver of that A70. It was all he ever cared about; this became such a common occurrence that some thought him obsessed with finding that car. He knowingly and deliberately used himself as bait with the sole purpose of drawing him out."

"I know," the recent Honda signing said in a voice full of resignation. "I know Sudo," he repeated.

"But why?" he asked in a final attempt to press his old rival for answers.

"Why are you so curious to know?" Tatsuru finally asked.

"Because it doesn't make any sense!" he hissed, now tired of going around in circles with the man. "When he raced in Kanagawa, he used to be much faster than he is now. It's like he lost a part of himself in the transition between the FD and the Sileighty and lacks the ferocity he was known for in the past. It's obvious that he has a personal score to settle with the driver of that Supra, and by the looks of things you're not far off from it either."

Suddenly, a small smirk began to tug at the corners of Tatsuru's mouth. He knew from his previous dealings with Kyoichi that he was a creature of habit, and rarely liked to be at a disadvantage. In a sense, the Lan-Evo driver despised anything that reminded him of his weaknesses as a team leader and a driver, which meant that he viewed Yuzuru as another puzzle he was unable to solve. For someone like him, the very thought was probably nothing short of infuriating, but it also led him to deduce what he'd suspected early on.

'He's worried,' he realized. 'He wasn't prepared to find out that the driver who was once called Kanagawa's Kamikaze would turn out to be the same person as the Ghost of Usui. His last race with Keigo didn't really reveal much in terms of his ability, and admittedly the move was a smart one on the kid's part. He toyed with him throughout the whole race, and now Kyoichi's pitted his newest recruit against someone he's severely underestimated.'

"You're not wrong Sudo," he confirmed. "I hate that man about as much as Yuzuru does, but I won't discuss the reason with you of all people. If you're really all that curious about it dig a little deeper, because you'll find a lot more than you bargained for."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly as I said. You want to find out the truth? Then I'd suggest you do more homework because you won't get much else from me. You've got two weeks left, so use your time wisely because once the kid's done with your recruit he's going to come straight for you."

Kyoichi sniffed. "I'm not afraid of him, Iwamura. If by some miracle he happens to defeat Naruse I'm more than willing to show him the might of my Evo III here in Irohazaka. I've wanted to race him for a while now, and besides; you and I both know that he's not as fast as he used to be since he switched over to the Sileighty."

Tatsuru allowed a small chuckle to escape him in response to his comment before tossing his cigarette away.

"You've already underestimated him once Sudo. I'd suggest you take great care in not repeating your mistake for a second time," he advised before turning away.

With that final warning, the pro racer turned back in the direction of his beloved AP1 and a newfound resolve to keep an eye on everything Kyoichi did from here on out. As much as he disliked the man, he knew that his technique was top notch even if he spent much of his time developing it in track events and Gymkhana. His Evo III was lethal on the downhill, and when paired with its turbocharger, anti-lag system, and 4WD there weren't many cars that could hope to match the amount of grip and traction such a highly capable machine could put out.

'And then there's the matter of his battle in Akagi… Naruse shows promise and is talented beyond reproach, but Akagi is very different to the narrow corners of Usui and Irohazaka. There's more space for him to reap the benefits of his car's capabilities while Yuzuru will be at a disadvantage in terms of power and handling which can only mean one thing…he will need to rely exclusively on his instincts and technique as guides.'

Tatsuru decided right then and there that he would soon be meeting with Yuzuru to discuss his plans for the upcoming battle in Akagi once he returned from Ibaraki. Things were now beginning to kick into higher gear, and he would rather be damned than miss a single piece of the action.

'Besides,' he mused. 'There's no way in hell I'd pass up the opportunity to see the so-called Emperors get knocked down a few pegs all over again.'

---

Mt. Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture

2:28PM

"If this is what early June is going to be like, I'm almost dreading what the rest of summer has in store for us. It's hot as balls out here," Akio audibly groaned as he wiped the sweat off his brow with the end of his sleeve.

Beside him stood an equally disgruntled Yuzuru, who simply didn't have the heart to call him out on his crude remark. His usually rich and vibrant auburn hair was matted to his scalp and dripping with perspiration after hiking up and down Tsukuba twice in the last hour and a half by foot. In all honesty, he was glad that he at least had the sense to don his sunglasses before they went on their walk. With the midafternoon sun bearing down on them since they began scouting the course and the other members of Project D relaxing in the shade, he knew now would be the best time to get a feel for what their aces would be dealing later tonight.

"I think I should have brought another change of clothes aside from my work coveralls and what I'm wearing now," he remarked whilst gesturing to his drenched t-shirt.

"Well just be glad we're done with our exercise for the day Yuzuru, 'cause I get the feeling that we'll be in for a very long night after everything I've heard about our opponents. They're not exactly your run of the mill street racers," the Nagano native solemnly declared.

"So I've heard," the elder Kurokawa revealed as he spared a short glance to the notebook in his hands.

Ever since he arrived in Ibaraki a few hours earlier he found it increasingly difficult to ignore the seemingly unrelenting pressure that dominated most of Project D's members. The general atmosphere was grave when compared to his first meeting with them in Usui the week prior and although he had yet to see Hoshino and Joshima in action, it was obvious that the upcoming battles would be a spectacle to behold.

With Keisuke's FD now operating at full capacity and Takumi's Eight-Six almost ready for what was to come, a fresh wave of excitement began to course through him. Not long after he first learned of Project D, he and Reina made it their mission to dig up as much information she possibly could pertaining to them as well as their drivers. Ryosuke's illustrious past as Akagi's White Comet was common knowledge by now, but it did not stop him from scouring the internet and old car magazines for any mention of the man and his accomplishments.

The leader of Project D was every bit as meticulous and driven as the rest of his team, traits that resonated deeply with him due to his own methodical approach to almost everything he did regarding cars. He held a host of records across Gunma and the rest of the Kanto region, with outings as far as the Kansai which served to highlight his tremendous degree of skill and ability. Ryosuke would remain undefeated for almost two whole years, and it was only until he lost to one Fujiwara Takumi that things took a very interesting turn.

To some degree, Yuzuru regretted the fact that he spent a most of his time in Kanagawa searching aimlessly for someone he despised with every fiber of his being. Were he in a better state of mind, and his sense of purpose not so heavily derailed by the unexpected blow he and his family were dealt, he probably would have been able to catch some of the action that occurred in his home prefecture.

Nowadays, the mere thought of Kanagawa was enough for him to set him on edge. Even now, two years after the incident in Nanamagari, Yuzuru had never truly stopped searching for the driver once labelled the touge's so-called demon. He knew the few contacts he left behind after moving from Tokyo would eventually reach out to him if they ever caught wind of his quarry, and Ryosuke would also be a great help in that department given his own extensive network across Gunma and the surrounding areas. If he could hazard a guess, if someone so much as moved a finger the retired street racer would know about it; he was just that good.

'But there's no denying that he's a genius. He's unbelievably knowledgeable and bears a certain acumen that's a lot sharper than I could ever hope to emulate. His technique on the downhill is legendary around these parts, and I'd give anything to see him in action,' he idly mused as he studied the notes and observations he made during his walk of Tsukuba.

"This touge reminds me a little of our home course," he murmured loud enough for his senpai to hear.

"It has a similar feel to Usui doesn't it?" Akio agreed as they continued their walk back to rejoin the rest of team.

"Yes; its just as tight and narrow and the road surface is marginally better by comparison, but it's still going to take it's toll on the cars to some degree. Did you get a look at the lidless gutters dotting this whole pass?" he queried.

"Yeah I've marked them all on the map Ryosuke-san gave me last night. If the tires on either of the two cars catch them then we'd be royally screwed."

Yuzuru stopped in his tracks, his eyes zeroing in on one of the lidless gutters before him. The depth alone would have been bigger than the tires on both the Eight-Six and the FD, but it could also be used as short cut of sorts. If one were to shift most of the car's weight to the rear, thereby taking as much weight off the inner front tire as possible, it would possibly allow the car to float the inner tire above the gutter whilst taking the corner at full speed.

The move if pulled off correctly would be a ballsy one, and to some extent he was curious to see if he would be able to manage it since it would no doubt prove challenging. Yuzuru had the feeling that the Eight-Six in particular, would excel in using the raised shoulder boundary since it featured an open underbody, but such a technique would require a remarkable sense of timing to get right.

'Maybe I'll try it out later tonight after we finish up here,' he decided. 'It's my first time here in Ibaraki and I want to see how the locals handle themselves on such a demanding course.'

"If you screw up the timing it would certainly screw our chances," he began. "But if you get it just right, it could be a serious game changer. You'd be cutting the corner at a much higher speed by using the raised shoulder boundary and in a place like this where there are numerous left-right directional shifts, it would be a boon."

Akio eyes suddenly shifted from his own notes over to his kouhai, staring at him as if he'd suddenly grown a second head. He knew from experience that there as method to Yuzuru's madness after partnering with him at Matsumoto Speed on a frequent basis as well as the few spats they shared on Usui's downhill, but this newest suggestion made him question his sense of self-preservation, or lack thereof.

"You'd have to have gone mental if you think someone could pull that off. No one's that skilled," he argued.

The brown-haired mechanic allowed a small smirk to spread across his lips once he heard his co-worker's comment. He raised his head, brown eyes shifting behind his sunglasses from the gutter and focusing back on the elder mechanic.

"But it can be done Akio-senpai. Project D is facing their strongest opponent yet, and both drivers are heavy veterans with loads of experience on this course. There's no doubt in my mind that they've clocked countless of hours here, and they probably know every crook and cranny Tsukuba has to offer. Do you seriously think they wouldn't have given such a technique or at least something similar to it, a thought with this being their home course?"

Akio sucked in a breath, taking a moment to seriously consider the question and realized that his friend was right. Although the aces of Project D were undoubtedly Gunma's finest, the two top ranking members of Purple Shadow held enough experience and skill between them to account for about as much of their entire entourage. The longer he considered this, the more he came to understand that tonight would be a war of attrition against their opponents.

"You have a point," the raven-haired Nagano native finally conceded before they resumed their walk back to join the team.

"So," Yuzuru began as he continued to read through his notes at a leisurely pace. "What sort of adjustments were made to the car's suspension settings last night? I imagine Tomiguchi-san may have adjusted the dampening rates because they still felt a little too soft during the FD's shakedown."

"You guessed right. The ride's a lot stiffer now which is what Keisuke-san is gonna need on a course like this one but it's not to the point where he's going to be losing any grip. We managed to get the balance just right but there are a few things we can still come up with to give the car more agile on the corners since it's gonna be facing a GT-R after all."

"I need to sit in with Keisuke-san before the race begins to get a feel for how his FD responds to the road. I need to do the same with Fujiwara-san as well, I get the feeling that there are a few touches we can make in terms of camber on the front end and adjust the toe as well," Yuzuru expressed.

Akio nodded in agreement. They both knew from their experience working at Matsumoto Speed that their boss was no slouch when it came to tuning and setting up a car. The man's skill was already spreading across Gunma like wildfire and many prospective clients were beginning to pay attention to their shop as a result of his work and accomplishments as Project D's chief mechanic. Improving on his work was often a very daunting task, but Akio couldn't dismiss how open their boss was to the sharing of new ideas and at times his child-like curiosity whenever he decided to test a new idea or theory out on their cars despite being known for his quiet and contemplative demeanor.

"In theory, those sorts of adjustments would make the Eight-Six turn in a little sharper and initiate better as well," he felt the need to mention.

"Precisely," the brunette asserted. "From what I've written down, Tsukuba resembles Usui to a certain degree, and because Fujiwara-san is facing an S2000, he's going to need to retain as much agility and cornering speed he possibly can tonight. Joshima is a very dangerous driver, and if there's one thing I've gathered from the information I've managed to scrounge up, he holds no real weakness in terms of driving ability."

"Yeah and that AP1 of his is no joke either," the elder mechanic added.

"That car is lethal on pretty much any touge in the hands of a driver who is talented enough. Tatsuru-san is a testament to the fact, and in terms of weight distribution and power it certainly isn't lacking either. It's currently the only mass-produced vehicle to have a power output of 124HP per liter in a naturally aspirated design. F20s love to rev high and since the car is front midengined it's pretty safe to say the odds will be quite stacked against Fujiwara-san."

In response, Akio arched an eyebrow in surprise. "All that from a 2.0-liter engine? Then that means it's capable of matching the Eight-Six's performance in almost every aspect."

"That's the key word," Yuzuru stressed. "Almost. I know what the 4A-G is sitting under the hood of that car is capable of and coming off the line the Eight-Six will have a slight edge. It's lighter and revs even higher than the S2000 which means Fujiwara-san will be able to tackle corners at a lower gear or at least as at the peak of his available power band. Its one of the few advantages he's going to have, but the biggest factor here is Joshima."

He paused for a moment, spotting Fumihiro and Matsumoto laying on a few blankets in the shade provided by the surrounding tree line while Kenta was only a few meters away basking in the scorching afternoon sun with a bottle of suntan lotion right beside him.

'Is he seriously sunbathing here of all places?' he thought with no small amount of bewilderment.

Akio too, followed his co-workers' line of sight and cocked his head to the side in a display of bemusement when he caught a glimpse of Kenta.

"Is he for real?" he voiced aloud.

Fumihiro perked up at the sound of their newest recruit's voice and shook his head in favor of a repressed sigh.

"I'm afraid so," the second in command said.

"I'm still wondering if he can get any darker than he already is," Matsumoto offered with a shrug of his own.

"At least Tomiguchi-san has it all figured out," Yuzuru added whilst gesturing over to Keisuke's primary mechanic who seemed to be enjoying his nap under the shade a few steps away from them.

"I don't know how he does I to be honest. It doesn't matter where he is, but he has this uncanny ability to just shut his eyes no matter how uncomfortable the situation is and promptly fall asleep," Fumihiro said.

"That reminds me of this one right here," Akio pointed over to Yuzuru. "I've seen him pass out underneath a car from a lack of sleep," he finished.

"I can vouch for that, I've had to drag him out under the car on two separate occasions because he'd fallen asleep after skipping one too many meals," Matsumoto declared with a small grin.

Yuzuru pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance, sending a withering glare in Akio's direction while the other men laughed at his expense. He was somewhat thankful that Kaede still hadn't caught wind of that little piece of information, and it served as a reminder to bring the subject up to them later. As much as he enjoyed having his friend around, she could be a little overbearing at times, and had a tendency of mothering him along with Ryuji whenever they each did something she did not approve of.

Despite her remarkably chipper disposition around them, it occurred to Yuzuru that she had changed a great deal since their high school days. A year and a half prior, the girl was once considered the physical embodiment of an Ice Queen. Most of the male population back then practically worshipped the very ground she walked on while she ignored them for the most part, promptly adopting the persona in a prolonged effort to keep people away from her.

Kaede was always a bit of an introvert; shy and distant after moving from her native city of Sendai but once he finally started seeing her and Ryuji as friends, she became one of the few he grew to trust implicitly. Although Kaede proved to be kind and sweet underneath her normally withdrawn personality, she was also incredibly loyal. She was among the few alongside the elder Aizawa to try to knock some sense into him in his darkest of times, something he would always be grateful for her and considered her one of his best friends as a result.

'But Ryuji's been influencing her way too much lately. She disappeared with the keys to my old man's Eight-Six without so much as a word just to get me away from Usui for a night and disguised it as a damn prank… I think it's high time I get them both back for their little stunts,' he idly mused.

"As long as both of you don't breathe a word of that to Kaede I'll be fine Tencho, otherwise she'll never let me live it down. And Akio-senpai, if you so much as bring it up in her presence I'll make sure Kurebayashi-san learns of your past as a cheating two-timer," he warned.

"My lips are sealed," the chief mechanic chuckled.

Akio on the other hand, started at his friend with a look of utter betrayal plastered across his face with his mouth agape.

"Y-you w-wouldn't do that to me would you?" he said imploringly. "I actually like her."

"Try me," the brunette shot back with a smirk of his own. He'd forgotten how fun it was to see the man squirm at times considering how often he seemed to enjoy teasing him.

"I'd suggest you quit while you're ahead Ichinose-kun," Matsumoto advised after placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Once he registered the shop owner's comment Akio finally relented. "Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut."

"I knew you'd see things my way," Yuzuru declared with no small amount of satisfaction lacing his tone.

Fumihiro smiled. Being able to witness the top mechanics of Matsumoto Speed freely banter with one another was a much-needed breath of fresh air considering how serious things had been as of late for Project D. Their relaxed and generally amiable attitudes injected a renewed enthusiasm after spending many sleepless nights preparing for their expedition to Ibaraki. Both of their aces would be in for their toughest battles yet, and as thankful as he was to have both Ichinose and Kurokawa for additional support the rest would be left to the drivers.

After doing enough research in his free time, Fumihiro quickly came to learn just how highly organized Purple Shadow truly was. They were like a well-oiled machine, operating at a capacity that was remarkably similar to that of his old team, the Akagi RedSuns. Most members of Purple Shadow constantly ranked on the award platforms for amateur races in Tsukuba Circuit, and this was without even mentioning Joshima and Hoshino's own personal track records.

When it came down to the two veteran street racers, both were already considered truly legendary figures in Ibaraki and some of the surrounding prefectures. Most of the regular members that made up the ranks of Purple Shadow were at some point mentored by the two men, and the results were all too compelling to ignore. This time around things would not be as easy. Even the typically cryptic Ryosuke spent hours upon hours of his time pouring over as much data as he possibly could alongside Matsumoto and Tomiguchi, trading ideas and analyzing possible strategies or directions they would be able to take on a course as tricky as Tsukuba.

In truth, Fumihiro believed Kurokawa and Ichinose's addition to their ranks would serve them very well, especially once they progressed into Kanagawa. With each battle, their opponents grew smarter, faster, and tougher. Just as they learned from races past, so too did their rivals, and for this reason alone they would need all the support they could possibly have. So far, Ichinose was proving himself to be incredibly capable as a mechanic. He had an eye for detail that most would often overlook and played off both Matsumoto and Tomiguchi's strengths rather well.

Kurokawa on the other hand, would prove to be quite the wildcard. The longer he spent time with the boy, the more he began to understand why Ryosuke desired he form part of their team as a supporting mechanic. Not many people his age had the knowledge, skill, experience, or ability the teenager had when it came to setting up a car and while he would be the first to admit that he had his doubts before he truly got to know him, the information he managed to procure in from his sources in Kanagawa and Tokyo revealed an remarkably extensive background to corroborate it.

As much as they all trusted and respected their chief mechanic as well as the equally as experienced Tomiguchi, there was something about Kurokawa that made him different. Perhaps it could be attributed to his racing pedigree, considering how famous his father was as a former rally racer, or even his own considerable prowess as a pass racer forged through years of battles abroad in addition to some parts of the Kanto region. But one thing he did notice the night they preformed the FD's shakedown is that he had an almost unnatural sixth sense that enabled him to feel every minute detail pertaining to how a car behaved in response to road conditions.

The very notion that someone could even make such a claim was something Fumihiro would have dismissed as outlandish under more normal circumstances, but once he saw the results from their data readings off the Eight-Six and FD after a few laps around Usui and compared them to their original setup the differences were nothing short of staggering. Keisuke and Fujiwara felt the differences almost immediately, with transitions between corners now smoother and more evenly balanced than their first few runs to go along with a sizable increase in grip which would undoubtedly serve as a benefit on places like Usui and Tsukuba.

Fumihiro stole a quick glance at his watch, noting that they only had a little over an hour before he was due to pickup their drivers, who had spent the night at a nearby inn for some much-needed rest. The previous night had been a long one if he considered their drive from Gunma, and truth be told the rest of their entourage was quite lacking in terms of sleep. They all spent most of their time practicing until daylight, and the few hours of intermittent power naps they took was of marginable help at best.

Nevertheless, he chose to address the two mechanics to see what sort of observations they'd made after hiking across the course on their own.

"So, tell me Ichinose-kun, Kurokawa-kun, anything of interest to report on your end?"

"We've already got a few ideas for how we can coax a little more from both cars. Thankfully we already managed to fix the weight issue we had with the FD's rear end last night so there's a more even distribution in terms of balance, but I think we may need to run a slight amount of toe out on the front."

"Negative camber as well," Yuzuru added as he continued to gloss over his notes. "Not too much though. Just a very small amount to give the car a better advantage on the corners. Tsukuba has a section with a long series consecutive s-turns where the drivers can only accelerate for a fraction of a second before they must brake once again. We need to make the cars as agile as we possibly can and perhaps stiffen up the front damping a tad more to force the cars to turn-in sharper. It will give them a much quicker response, but we need to keep things subtle. Too much and we'd be shooting ourselves in the foot."

"A good idea," Matsumoto acknowledged. "The balance on the Eight-Six is already perfect for the most part. But if we can make it transition between corners a little faster than our opponent and gain some more grip for this battle it would be extremely beneficial."

"That's the plan. But before we make any sort of changes, we need the feedback of both drivers to make sure they're comfortable with them. When are you due to pick them up Fumihiro-san?" the youngest mechanic among them inquired.

"Around four o'clock," Fumihiro replied "Which leaves us with enough time to grab something to eat before we have to pick those two up. I heard there's a good barbecue spot not far from here and it'll give us the opportunity to grab a bite before we have to come back for our final shakedown."

Akio sighed, his shoulders sagging in relief at the mention of food. He'd been awake more hours than he'd slept over the last two days, running on a consistent diet of coffee, convenience store sandwiches and the occasional energy drink in between some heavy calorie-ridden snacks. Although he was never one to consider himself much of a picky eater, a warm was far more appealing than a repeat of the previous day.

"I'm in," he exclaimed. "A cold beer and some barbecue sound absolutely divine right about now."

"Matsumoto?" Fumihiro queried.

"You can also count me in," the veteran mechanic confirmed before turning to stare at the sunbathing Kenta and unconscious Tomiguchi. "But what about those two?"

"I'll wake Tomiguchi up, he won't pass up the chance of actual food. As for Kenta…" Fumihiro trailed off before placing his hand at his hips, the beginnings of a smirk slowly beginning to take shape on his face.

"He seems a little preoccupied at the moment don't you think?"

All four sets of eyes fell on the dozing blonde, who had blissfully fallen asleep well over an hour prior despite the sun's extremely harsh glare.

"We could just bring him some of the leftovers," Matsumoto played along with a low chuckle of his own.

"Then let's get going, shall we? Kurokawa-kun will you be joining us?"

Yuzuru shook his head in response. "I had a late breakfast so I'm not all that hungry right now. Besides, I still need to go over last nights data and time sheets. Is Ryosuke-san still with one of the support vans?"

"Last I checked he was still running a few simulations by Support Van #1. You'll probably find him there. Feel free to ask him if he wants anything and we'll order it for him. He's made a habit of skipping meals just like you have Kurokawa-kun," Matsumoto said with vivid amusement.

Yuzuru rolled his eyes, not in the least surprised to hear his boss send one final remark his way but he truly couldn't fault him for it. His work often found a way to reel him in to such an extent that he rarely ever stopped for breaks in which he could take the opportunity to feed himself. It was a bit easier to get away with it back at the shop than at home however, considering Reina would quite literally drag away him from whatever he was doing just to get him to eat.

"I'll be sure to mention it to him," he sheepishly groaned before collecting Akio's notebook for Ryosuke to read once he made his way back to the parking lot.

"If you need anything just give us a call," Akio reminded him.

"Will do," he said with a final wave as the group of three joined by a freshly roused Tomiguchi.

He stood by the side of the road, silently watching them all pile up into their second support van only to watch it drive away a few minutes later. Throughout it all, Kenta remained entirely unperturbed, only a soft series of snores accompanying the occasional calls of cicadas in the surrounding foliage. Although he had only interacted with the man a few times over the previous weeks, he still could not fathom how the blonde was able to sleep through the sweltering heat. To top it off, the man was quite literally sunbathing only a few meters away from him seemingly without a care in the world. If he kept at it any longer, he would probably be regretting his decision later, but in the end, he chose to leave the street racer to his devices.

Yuzuru sent one last look in Kenta's direction and with a shrug, set out on the short walk back to the parking lot. Despite the unpleasant feeling of having his clothes stick to him like a second skin after his long hike across Tsukuba, he was content to be left alone to his thoughts. He so rarely had the opportunity to do so, between his responsibilities at Matsumoto Speed and ensuring things at home were still running smoothly, it was difficult at times to juggle everything and have some time for himself.

Kaede had pretty much up and disappeared on him again not long before he left on his two-hour drive to Ibaraki, but he was glad to see she possessed the decency to leave him the keys to his father's old Levin. With Friday a complete bust with her little stunt, and his Saturday pretty much down the drain due to his commitment to Project D's upcoming battle, he only had one day remaining to fulfill his promise to the old man.

'I'm cutting things close. Way too close for comfort, but I refuse to give up. I've been lapping Usui at least four and a half seconds quicker than my old time in the FD consistently now, which means that that I may just be able to accomplish my goal. I just need to figure out a way I can shave even more time on the corners. It's the only way I'll be able to cut it down some more,' he inwardly considered.

As much as he disliked even admitting it, deep down, Yuzuru knew that his father had been right all along. Two years prior, he never so much as gave a damn about whose toes he stepped on, or the string of adversaries he made by challenging the locals of Kanagawa and beating them at their game. All those battles he fought during that tumultuous period of his life were but a means to an end for him, a way for him to feed of his anger, rage, and despair and channel them towards the one thing he did best. Some people referred to him as a madman with a death wish. Others admired his recklessness, labelling it courageous instead much to his bewilderment, but one thing he could never forgive himself for, was his inability to recognize just how far he'd fallen off track.

While Kakeru's loss undoubtedly proved the most unexpected and equally as crushing, only a few weeks earlier he'd also lost his best friend. The first few years he spent living in New Zealand were not a seamless experience by any means, and at first he struggled to adapt to a new country and culture. For the first eleven years of his life, Japan had been his one and only home. He had no desire to leave Gunma; to leave Mayumi, Daiki and the friends he made at school in his hometown of Shibukawa, but most of his pleas fell on deaf ears since both of his parents made the joint decision to go through with the move. It would only be months after their arrival that he would meet the person he once considered his closest friend and confidant.

A small forlorn smile made its way across his previously vacant expression, his brown eyes lacking the usual focus and spark they normally carried once his mind wandered back to earlier and simpler days. Even with his strict aversion to anything resembling his mother's musical ambitions for him, there did come a time he enjoyed playing the piano with the occasional performance in between. Although his love for cars and racing supplanted any sort of affection he may have developed for the instrument, he developed a newfound appreciation for it solely because he was able to spend time with one of the most significant people in his young life.

Aside from Kakeru if there was one person he missed as dearly with every fiber of his being, it would have been the wild and free-spirited girl who taught him to follow his heart. Even as things continually got worse for her, she never lost her bright and cheerful demeanor to the end. She loved to sing, often with a guitar in hand and encouraged him to chase his dream of becoming a professional racer like his father before him. She never once asked for anything of him in return, and the longer he was in her presence the more he could scarcely get enough of her.

Being around her was like a drug; every waking moment he spent with her left him wanting and hoping for more. She simply had that effect on him, and although things would end up becoming even more difficult for her in the long run with the deterioration of her physical condition, she became the one person whose opinion, and counsel he valued above everyone else.

Not a single a day ever went by where he didn't think about her in some way, shape or form. Irrespective of how brief their friendship was, the pain of her loss never diminished in the slightest. In New Zealand, she'd been the one person he could always turn to, the one friend he could rely on in the face of adversity and knowing he could do nothing to help her, only watch helplessly as she grew weaker by the day remained one of the cruelest things he ever had to endure.

The experience alone very nearly drove him to his breaking point, forcing him to recognize that although life was indeed precious, it was also immeasurably cruel. The girl had been the single most positive influence in his life until then and having that guiding light so viciously torn from him left a gaping hole where his heart should have been. Even in the face of her impending fate, he could still vividly recall the promise he'd made to her the last time he paid her a visit… A promise he had every intention of keeping and yet, very nearly forsook because of the second and final blow that kickstared his downward spiral into depression.

"If you were here right now you probably would have told me to stop allowing the past to consume me… isn't that right Rori?" he breathed with traces of yearning lacing his voice.

---

Asahina Residence, Higashi-ku Ward, Hiroshima Prefecture

4:21PM

Reina eagerly stretched her limbs, sighing in satisfaction once she heard felt her joints make an audible series of pops and cracks. Being stuck in the same position for a prolonged period was not something she was quite used to yet, especially in was in confined spaces. Part of her could only wonder how Yuzuru or her cousin Natsuo were able to spend hours underneath a car without so much as complaining of a stiff back, considering how uncomfortable the creeper was but deemed it irrelevant considering how much fun she'd been having since her arrival to Hiroshima.

Not far behind emerged her uncle Gentaro, flashlight in hand and a proud smile on his face. He quickly stood up, watching the youngest member of the Kurokawa family set aside the broken rear axle stub shaft she singlehandedly removed from the SA22C that had occupied their time for the last three hours. After swapping the older transmission with her and Sakumo's aid, he ultimately made the decision to have her change out the broken shaft and smack through the piece that had broken off before replacing it with a fresh one.

Watching his niece work proved to be an enlightening experience for Gentaro, mainly because of her inherently child-like curiosity and the almost incessant barrage of questions she directed at him each time she needed some clarification. Much like her father, Reina possessed a shrewd and highly meticulous mind, something he had come to associate as a family trait among the Kurokawa, but behind her fierce streak of independence was a highly intelligent young woman, with an insight and maturity well beyond her years. She was a far cry from the Reina he first came to know as a child, and in some ways, it only served as a reminder as to how quickly things could change in such a short span of time.

There was a fire to her now, a passion and determination that stemmed from her desire to follow in her father's footsteps that permeated her aura, and the longer he came to be in her presence, the more Gentaro realized just how much potential the girl truly had. Her older brother's influence would have undoubtedly sparked her interest in mechanics in addition to her own desire to make a name for herself in her home prefecture of Gunma. For the rotary specialist, there was little doubt in his mind that his niece would eventually venture out on her own once she possessed the experience and technique necessary to venture out by herself.

Sooner or later Yuzuru would not be the only Kurokawa whose name would be on the lips of Gunma's street racing community, and if given the training and development necessary to persevere, Gentaro felt the girl would most likely set her sights on the one person who introduced her to the world of pass racing. The battle would be years in the making and truth be told, the Asahina patriarch knew it would not come to pass for a very long time. He knew from personal experience that the road to becoming a true legend on the touge was one rife with challenges and setbacks.

In his book there were no shortcuts, no easy way out. If someone truly desired to learn and grow on the long and winding road to accomplishing one's goals, then everything would need to be earned. No matter how difficult the hardships Reina would most likely encounter along the way, the most important thing for her to remember was to never give up. His own professional career taught him just how crucial it was to believe in his abilities, even when his own blood, sweat, and tears weren't enough to overcome some of the hurdles he faced.

Throughout his years competing in the JTCC and later Group C, there were several occasions he was often berated or ridiculed by manufactures and fellow drivers for sticking to Mazda and their rotaries. Even Sakumo was among them, and though he was very much aware that his barbs were mostly done in jest, Gentaro remained steadfast in his loyalty and commitment to the team representing the automaker hailing from his home city.

Gentaro would never forget the long list of obstacles he and the rest of the team would eventually overcome to make their four-rotor monstrosity of an engine reliable and equally as competitive. The feelings that coursed through him as he watched their car claim the checkered flag after 24 grueling hours made those all-nighters he and his fellow engineers pulled, worth it in the end. Their victory at Le Mans in 1991 would always remain one of his proudest moments, but it was also a one of the many lessons he hoped both his son and niece would be able to take as an example.

'Only time will be able to tell… but her heart is in the right place. Once she gains the experience needed to become a phenomenal pass racer in her own right, it will be a matter of learning her limitations and overcoming them just as her brother is trying to do now with the task Sakumo has set for him,' he pondered.

"Okay so I think that's it for the broken axle stub. Is there anything else you'd like me to help you with Oji-san?" he heard the brunette ask as she placed the snapped shaft next to a nearby bin of scrap parts in his home garage.

"No, I think we've done enough to this old girl for today. I don't want to keep you here for too long, or you'll end up losing the rest of your final day here in Hiroshima," he replied with a smile.

Reina's grey eyes shined with mirth. "I don't mind at all Oji-san. I've learned a great deal from you and Natsuo-nii over the last few days and I will certainly be putting it to good use. If I ever get the chance to visit you again I would do so in a heartbeat. I've really come to like Hiroshima and let's just say that your car culture certainly isn't lacking either."

"Ah yes, I heard that you got a true Rotary Club welcome last night. The two of you got home around three in the morning last I checked. How was that?" he asked with a casual stroke of his well-kept beard.

"I enjoyed every second of it," she declared with a beaming grin. "I've been to plenty of gatherings up in Gunma but never like the one last night. There was a sense of unity and camaraderie between them that is different to Usui, mainly because there isn't a team to speak of. Back home most people just support the local heroes, drivers who stand out among the crowd, but I wouldn't be able to speak for Myogi, Akagi, or Akina since I haven't visited those places yet."

"Understandable," Gentaro chuckled before feasting his eyes on the SA she had been working on moments prior.

"But I'm also curious to know what you managed to observe when you sat in with Natsuo and Nanami-chan. They're well known around these parts, especially in Daniwa as its their home course. You have a very keen eye Reina-chan, so what can you tell me about the differences between their overall techniques?"

At her uncle's line of inquiry Reina opened her mouth to speak, only to close it again in an effort to sort out her thoughts. The previous night at Daniwa would most certainly be one she would never forget, especially with the amount of action the touge was teeming with, but she also needed to give credit where it was due. Natsuo and Nanami both lived up to their reputation among the fastest on the downhill and uphill respectively, easily decimating their challengers without a single ounce of hesitation in a display of superiority despite the hard-fought battle against the kouki S14. Both were at the top of their game the previous night, and the long she spent in each of their passenger seats, the more she began to compare their styles and temperaments behind the wheel.

In the case of her older cousin, his FB exhibited all the traits she expected of a ferocious cornering machine as a result of the extensive modifications made to it. The first-generation RX-7 was incredibly well balanced, and the addition independent rear suspension granted the car better traction and stability even if it turned out to be a very stiff ride in all respects. Everything from the smallest of bumps down to the road's camber and surface conditions were clearly felt and she found it an odd sensation.

When compared to her brother's Sileighty or FD, the red Savanna FB was an entirely different animal that not many would be able to tame. It was extremely light, nimble, and highly effective with loads of grip available. Overall, the car was a testament to Natsuo's skill and capabilities. He was aggressive and at times purposefully erratic, but it never detracted from his speed. On the contrary, it was a cleverly disguised strategy crafted to avoid the discovery of his preferred racing line, which alluded to the young man's penchant for mind games. Natsuo thoroughly enjoyed luring his opponents into a false sense of security, beginning his battle with a quick but manageable pace before swiftly moving in for the kill once he decided to get serious.

'It's no wonder they've taken to calling him the Red Devil of Daniwa,' she idly contemplated. 'He's aggressive and energetic behind the wheel of his FB and isn't the sort to show off. Natsuo-nii is all about precision. He doesn't waste his time with fanciful displays of any kind, preferring to deal with his opponents head on and adapt if necessary.'

Nanami on the other hand, was the complete opposite. As the uphill specialist of the Rotary Club her blue FC was equipped with more power, acceleration, and torque at its disposal than the FB belonging to her cousin which was a necessity on any hill climb, but against the competition, the car held a slew of advantages. Although not as light as the FB in comparison, the second-generation RX-7 was still an extremely agile machine. With the multitude of adjustments she knew Nanami must have undertaken to improve on her beloved FC, the first thing Reina felt once she sat in with the woman was the remarkable degree of stability and smooth delivery of power she felt.

There was nothing quite like the experience of a half-bridge ported 13B-REW producing 420 horsepower on tap at 8,700RPM. Reina could still hear the deafening roar the twin-rotor powerplant could produce, and it was something she would never allow herself to forget either. On the corners, Nanami's FC was unbelievably lustrous; exhibiting a balance and durability that left her breathless for the most part. The car's handling was superb all around, and the added GT wing generated the downforce necessary at higher speeds to maintain as much grip as possible on the car's front tires whenever she guided the car into a drift or simply opted to tear through it with as much momentum she could.

All in all, the FC was in every way the perfect complement to Nanami's lively and vivacious demeanor. Over the series of laps Reina sat in her fellow brunette's passenger seat she realized just how much it translated through the car's actions. Though remarkably fast by all accounts, Nanami had a certain flair and refinement to her technique that at times Natsuo lacked. Perhaps it was due to her love for drifting and Gymkhana, forms of motorsports usually more geared towards showmanship than speed in its purest form; but even with that aside she soon came to understand that beneath the Nanami's fun-loving exterior, lay an extraordinarily talented pass racer with a sharp and highly driven mind that was equally as competitive and just as blistering as her counterpart in every conceivable way.

'The Blue Angel of Daniwa,' she mentally recited. 'Fast, smooth, energetic, and elegant behind the wheel of her FC. She loves to show off, which is also a good way for her to unsettle her opponents as means to throw them off their game. Although outwardly relaxed for the most part, she's also the sort of driver who feeds off her emotions when she's driving. I could tell that she enjoys every second she's in the driver's seat of her car, but Nanami-san also isn't afraid to get serious when the time calls for it.'

"Natsuo-nii is very direct as a driver," she began. "He prefers the quickest and at times simplest method to dispatch his rivals. There's nothing wrong with that, and I think its part of the reason why he's constantly changing his line during a race. He adapts and reacts accordingly depending on the situation thrown at him, but I get the feeling that he sometimes tends to lose his patience as well."

"Spot on," Gentaro praised. "And what about Nanami-chan?"

Reina took that as her cue to continue.

"As for Nanami-san, she's more controlled but at the same time inventive. She throws herself into a battle with the desire to drive her absolute best, loves racing, and finds the whole experience exhilarating as well. It's the reason why her FC almost seems like its dancing all the time. She's a highly emotional driver, and what I love most about her is how her personality shines through each time she's behind the wheel. She isn't afraid of anything, which highlights her adventurous side rather well too."

"My, my, she certainly hit the nail on the head with regard to those two," a new voice joined in.

Reina and Gentaro both turned to see Sakumo standing beside a smiling Asahina Erika. Although usually confined to a wheelchair most of the time as a result of her spinal injury, the woman seated before her still seemed to retain a positive outlook on life. Her aunt was warm and inviting, with a voracious sense of humor that at times could also be categorized as blunt considering how she managed to poke fun at her son's expense without any qualms about it.

For a woman already pushing into her early forties Erika still retained much of her youthfulness. Her lavish brown hair was pulled into messy but admittedly stylish bun, and her light brown eyes were clearly visible through her prescription glasses. She was dressed comfortably, donning a maroon colored blouse, a homely pair of jeans that appeared to have seen better days and a pair of socks. It amazed Reina that despite her condition, her aunt carried herself with a strength and resilience that most would have struggled to achieve, especially after her accident a few years ago.

Erika was the sort of woman to be admired, primarily because she never gave up. Over the last two days Reina had seen her aunt move around the house with the aid of her crutches and braces for support, and with the extensive amount of physical therapy it must have taken for her to already reach that point, she eagerly look forward to the day she would see her walk unassisted once more.

"Oba-san," she greeted warmly.

"I told you that she's got quite the brain Gentaro," Sakumo spoke up with no small amount of pride.

"Indeed. It seems to me that she's also inherited your diligence. In a few years' time I expect to hear great things from you Reina-chan so don't let me down," her uncle expressed with a grin.

"Don't pressure her," Erika said to her husband with a short glare.

Gentaro held his hands up in defense while Sakumo snorted in restrained merriment. After nearly twenty years of marriage together it still didn't surprise him to see that Erika had his cousin wrapped around her little finger. He crossed his arms, shaking his head as the corners of his mouth twitched upwards.

"It's fine Oba-san, I know I've got big shoes to fill but once I get back to Gunma, I think it's high time I begin with the basics. Theory can only get me so far, I'm a firm believer in learning by doing."

"Well said," Sakumo acknowledged. "I'm sure your brother wouldn't mind giving you a few lessons here and there. You've also got my Eight-Six to practice with and perhaps the FD once Masashi is done with the rebuild. I heard he had you and Mayumi-chan pull it apart by yourselves with his guidance."

"Yeah, it was a great learning experience as well. I honestly don't get why you don't like 'em Dad. They're so simple to work with if you know what you're doing and can push tons of power in such a small package."

"That's because they're a damn pain in the ass to tune and are practically torqueless," the former rally racer grumbled in annoyance.

"Only because that stubborn little brain of yours isn't smart enough to understand their simplicity," Gentaro quickly shot back to his cousin.

"So says the moron who sticks to engines who've developed a reputation for grenading themselves," Sakumo returned with an equal amount of jest.

"If that's what you believe then you should ask Nanami-chan about that time a 13B murdered a 2JZ on Daniwa's uphill. The poor thing couldn't even keep up even if it tried, and we both know you're just sore that all your kids have developed an interest in 'em," Gentaro chortled.

Realizing that their argument would most likely continue for the next few minutes, Reina silently removed her gloves and exited the garage with her aunt in toe. Her piercing grey eyes greedily took in her surroundings, zeroing in on her uncle's black RX-3 Savanna GT with a sigh.

"Those two are gonna be at it for a while; honestly it surprises me how they can still act like children even after all these years," Erika said with a chuckle.

"If you think that's bad you should see how it is when he and my brother are bantering with one another," she muttered under her breath.

Erika shook her head, glancing up at her niece for a moment to marvel at how much she'd grown over the years. In many ways, Reina was the spitting image of her mother. Her features were predominantly European, and when paired with her creamy skin, flowing auburn hair, captivating grey eyes, and heart-shaped face, she cut quite the alluring figure. In a few years, the girl would most likely be turning heads wherever she went; that was pretty much a given.

"How have you been Reina-chan? Did you enjoy spending time with Natsuo in Daniwa?" she finally asked.

The teenager in question quickly realized that the question was a loaded one. Over the last few days Reina came to understand that her aunt was a very perceptive woman. She could read her husband and son with little effort on her part, and truthfully, she thought the trait to be a welcome change since she was usually the most observant when it came to interpersonal relationships compared to Yuzuru.

"I enjoyed every moment," she admitted without a single shred of hesitation. "Natsuo-nii and Nanami-san are both incredibly talented drivers and clearly know their stuff. I almost wish Onii-chan made the trip down here, but he's tied up back home with work and some pass racing related activities in Ibaraki. I just wish I had more time here in Hiroshima."

"You could always come back dear; you and your family are always welcome to stay here. We already love having you around, and you've made quite the impression on both Natsuo and Nanami-chan from what I've heard. Do you two have any plans for tonight? It is your final day here after all," the Asahina matriarch questioned.

"Hai, Nanami-san said she would pick me up a little later today. She wanted to show me a little more of the city before I left and mentioned something about a possible track outing for some of the Rotary Club's newer recruits. Natsuo-nii should be joining us once he finishes up his shift at ARW."

A short laugh escaped the elder woman. "Those two are as thick as thieves. I've been telling that boy to get his head straight and properly ask her out for years now, but it seems like he's being uncharacteristically patient as opposed to his school days. I get the feeling he's trying to show her he's changed since then, and I hope he succeeds because the suspense is killing me already."

"Sounds like Natsuo-nii has been around," the brunette said with a light snicker.

"You don't know the half of it," Erika stated before realizing she was veering off track. "So, be honest with me now Reina-chan, how are things for you back home? How's your brother? I can't imagine going what you've all been through, all I can do is apologize that I was forced to miss the-"

"It's alright," the youngest Kurokawa hastily interrupted. "You weren't exactly in a condition to travel and I know my uncle had it hard during that year after your accident. To be brutally honest things have gotten better over the last two years, but the situation is still far from ideal Oba-san… I'm not gonna stand here and pretend that they're great because they're not. They probably won't be for a very long time and our family is going through quite the rough patch on all sides. My father may hide it well, but I can tell that he's never going to be the same. My mother is just as bad and takes to her work as a source of comfort and has become more forgetful than she used to be."

"And what of Yuzuru?" Erika asked, taking the girl's hand in hers as a gesture of support.

"He's the one who's suffered the most throughout it all, but he's better at hiding it now than before. Not many people know this, but my brother lost far more than someone he admired and idolized that night in Nanamagari. Only a few weeks earlier, he also lost the one person he adored with every fiber of his being. I know this because each time he looked at her, his eyes carried the same sort of reverence I see every time Natsuo-nii interact with Nanami-san."

Erika's smile quickly dissipated once she had enough time to process her niece's candor. The usual sparkle of her light brown eyes growing cloudier and unfocused with each passing second as she struggled to swallow the lump in her throat. Despite being only sixteen years of age, it was now evident that Reina's maturity stemmed from the issues plaguing her family. She understood now, just how far went the extent of the young adolescent's resilience and strength.

'She loves her family. She cares for them as any daughter should, but she's also been unable to mourn properly because she's been so preoccupied trying to bridge the gap between them all. I can't imagine what would be like for a teenager to suddenly bear the responsibility of watching over her only remaining brother go through such a dark period in his life,' she carefully reflected.

"I know it's not my place to question or judge the decisions or issues your family is dealing with," she steadily began. "But know that if you ever need someone to speak to, someone a little older, don't hesitate to reach out to me, Gentaro, or Natsuo. We're all a phone call and train ride away if needed, and for God's sake tell your brother that I expect to see him pay us a visit sometime soon."

Reina smiled in return, offering a nod in appreciation of her aunt's tact. After losing her composure in front of Shiori and Tatsuru a few days earlier, she did not wish to make a repeat of the event. Revisiting her brother's past and thinking at length of her family only served to diminish her spirits. Like everyone else, she preferred to leave things as they were for the moment, but she was also acutely aware that it was high time they all sat down and discussed things openly. It would be the height of folly if she continued to allow things to progress as they were now, but she still did not feel ready to take up such a large responsibility on her own even with the knowledge that time was not on her side.

In a matter of weeks, her father would be due to return to Germany given his responsibilities as one of Toyota Team Europe's chief mechanical engineers and team principals. And as far as she'd been led to believe from her last correspondence with her mother, she had taken a temporary leave of absence from her duties at the university and was currently secluded at her preferred lakeside retreat in New Zealand. Her brother still wasn't on speaking terms with her either, which would make things all the more difficult for her in the long run.

'I hate this; all this bloody distance between us. Instead of sticking together through like a family should, our parents ran off to Germany and we stayed behind in Japan. Instead of being the responsible adults they cowered away to find some semblance of peace and fulfillment in their work while my brother nearly went off the deep end and I had to scurry about with only Ryuji, Kaede, and Rokuro to help me. I know that life isn't exactly fair by any means, but they should have done more! It was their duty, their responsibility! Even if they've provided for us, put a roof over our heads and ensured we never went hungry all these years, they were never there physically there for us when it mattered most!'

A firm, but gentle squeeze of her hand alerted Reina that she had once again withdrawn to her thoughts, and she turned her head to gaze at her aunt. Erika rapidly took note of her niece's sparkling grey eyes, easily spotting the darker shade to them after she brought her older brother up. The underlying traces of frustration and regret were easily visible, but beneath it she could also gather a certain amount of resentment as well. To whom it was directed towards, she did not know but wisely chose not to comment on it.

"I will definitely bring it up once I get back to Gunma," she finally said.

---

5/5/20

A/N:

This chapter took me a little longer than usual, mainly because I was finishing up last minute assignments with the end of the semester but I'm glad to finally see it released. Either way I hope you all enjoy it, since I think this one took on a much darker tone than the last few for the most part, mainly because we've now gotten a deeper look to the Kurokawa family and Reina's thoughts in relation to their current impasse.

Over the coming chapters we will be delving deeper into each member's backgrounds, state of mind, and how they each manage to cope in their own ways. We will also see Project D's battle against Purple Shadow from Yuzuru's perspective, and even see him make some new acquaintances as before we wrap up Reina's trip to Hiroshima.

As always guys, stay safe, take care, and please leave a review. I'd like you all to voice your thoughts and let me know if you're at all interested in having me publish a list of the characters introduced in this story so far, their cars, and modifications.

Ja ne.