Disclaimer: Bad grammar like my own does not deserve to be associated with Initial D. Or even cars in general. It doesn't even deserve to WRITE ABOUT cars.
Driver's Release
- Chapter 5 : Those Eyes
Sensing the tension in the room, Tsugumi looked up from her contemplation of the sticks to see Keisuke gaping at Yoshi. She turned to see Yoshi giving Ryosuke a 'defy-me-and-die' look complete with an evil smirk. At which point Tsugumi turned to Ryosuke. For the first time in her life she saw him intimidated. Intimidated enough to choke.
Hard.
What could have been so shocking as to make her calm and always-annoyingly-in-control cousin inhale his rice?
Then she remembered. The car thing.
---##---
Keisuke thumped his older brother on the back. What? A girl had just challenged his brother to a battle. He looked at the food suspiciously. Was it drugged?
"Sorry to ask so harshly but I've never been one to sugar-coat things"
He turned towards the voice, an apologetic smile upon the speakers face. Stupidly, he asked her the first thing that came to mind.
"Oh my God, you're a man aren't you?"
"Keisuke!" Tsugumi whispered harshly but Keisuke continued, fascinated.
"Oh my God! You are! I mean, I knew you were a bit TOO pretty… and – and…" a look of dawning realization came over him "you didn't move out, you were KICKED out!" Sympathy crept into his tone of voice. "Look, it's OK if you wanna spend a few nights with us," he gestured, without glancing, at his older brother who was choking again at Keisuke's stupid, blatant way of thinking. Keisuke continued on. "We're not, you know, against people like you or anything so… you know" a wave of curiosity passed over him. "What was it like as a kid? How'd you know? Does it hurt? Do you still get manly urges? Are you bisexual? -"
"Keisuke!" Tsugumi yelled out hoarsely, red in the face.
All was silent. Even Ryosuke's loud way of dieing had ceased.
"I try to have a friend over and I try to give her a nice stay here. And what do you do? You accuse her of being a transsexual!!" Tsugumi sniffled a few times and poked sulkily at her food. Upon spotting a celery stick she made a sound of disgust, stood up and walked into the kitchen area. After dumping the excess of her plate in the garbage she said frigidly "Thank you Yoshi. It was a lovely dinner. Please excuse me" and stomped upstairs, leaving an awkward silence.
"Sorry"
"Pardon?" Yoshi asked, looking at Keisuke.
"About the being-a-man thing…" he apologized, looking genuinely ashamed and embarrassed. To the surprise of the Rotary Brothers, she laughed.
"It's nothing, really. In fact, it's kinda cool, being accused of being a guy. I dunno why, but somehow it is" after popping a carrot into her mouth she delicately dabbed at the corners of her mouth and pushed herself from the table. "Excuse me but I think Tsugumi needs a little company"
---##---
After having soothed her friend's angst over Keisuke's behaviour, Yoshi took a short shower before retreating to her room for the night. Just as she tied the end of her braid with a hair tie there was a slow knock at the door and she went to open it.
Ryosuke.
"Hello" she said suspiciously. "Would you like to come in?" and she stepped back. He came into the room gradually, looking around as though it was not a room he was familiar with.
"About your challenge…" he started.
"Yes?" came Yoshi's eager voice.
"I'm sorry to let you know but I retired from the racing game only just so long ago." Seeing the crestfallen look on her face he added "of course I might have a fun race once in a while… but only if I feel it's worth it. Yoshi… you will have to prove yourself to me before I feel a temporary comeback is in order. Goodnight" and with that he left Yoshi.
A superior smirk was placed upon her lips as Yoshi thought 'I'll pull you of retirement and into the Hall of Shame, Takahashi Ryosuke'
---##---
It was close to midnight when Keisuke, lying on his brother's bed, popped the question.
"So explain to me WHY you didn't just say no to her again?"
Ryosuke was mildly annoyed. It was hard enough trying to explain to himself why he had told Yoshi to prove herself without having to explain it to Keisuke as well.
Why did he tell her that? Sure, she wasn't hard on the eyes but he had never known himself to have had his decisions swayed by the physical aspects of any female before…
… but there was something in her eyes. Even newbie racers read and heard enough about the Takahashi Brother's of the Rotary Engine not to even dream of coming near him and he was sure Yoshi was not completely ignorant.
So why DID he tell her to prove herself to him?
Because he had seen something in her eyes that told him that she was not to be underestimated – that told him that Yoshi truly knew what she was getting into.
Keisuke on the other hand was slightly confused about his brother's behavior.
First he actually took noticed of the girl then he showed some interest in her and instead of outright rejecting her challenge, he just HAD to go into her room to let her down nicely.
And now Ryosuke was taking longer than was actually to explain which he should have already figured out.
Which meant something fishy was going on.
But before Keisuke could question his brother further a rapping on the door alerted them both to a visitor.
"Come in"
"The door opened to reveal a hesitant Yoshi, in her pajama pants and a warm jacket over her top, clutching her car keys. She jiggled them.
"Wanna go for a drive?"
---##---
Tsugumi lay in her bed staring up at the ceiling mulling over dinner.
Where had it all gone wrong?
Now Yoshi was probably thinking that she had manly hands or something and was probably plotting to sever them off.
Her thoughts were abruptly cut off by someone bursting through the door and switching on her light.
Keisuke, of course. Neither Yoshi nor Ryosuke were lazy enough to NOT knock on the door.
"Get up, we're gonna go for a late night ride"
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A/N: TADA! The end of the chapter has come. Been a long time, eh? Well, it's been a lot of procrastinating, but this chapter was finally written in 15 minutes at one in the morning three nights ago. Amazing. Also, I HAVE been working on my other fanfiction so yes… please read…
One other thing I have to point out. This has got to be one of the most god-awful stories I have ever written so I might actually edit a lot of the grammar and sentence form, be filling a few sentences and so on so on. So far I have fixed up the most obvious problems, so hopefully it won't take me too long to fix it all up.
If you don't know yet, this story has 9 or 10 chapters, not including the THREE alternate endings. Exciting stuff, eh?
Thanks you's:
Boomchish – Thanks for the help! I really appreciate it…
Evilfire
Ofie – Hehe thanks, it's nice to know my story has a degree of humor in it, but my other story has tones more… hint hint
Trubluewolfeyes – Haha okies, thanks!
Mai Mai – Haha, done!
ArikaMorance – Glad you like it so much!
Orion
Pyaara Wala – Wah you remind me of my cousin and brother when you say OWNAGE!... ahh the memories! Haha sorry about the wait and seeing as Ryosuke's reaction wasn't fantabulous I'd understand if you were a trifle bit disappointed…
Maika
Anime-lavuh – Hmm… you seem familiar… or maybe it's just something else…