Ch. 11 A brothers bond

Still in school, god already a quarter of the semester is gone, well found sometime between papers and exams here's ch .11. Keisuke's turn to race has come. This race may be one of the most grueling he's had. Just remember things are not what they appear, what may seem to be may not be.

"Moshi, moshi…."

"I see…"

"Very well. Thank you Fujiwara, I'll take note of what you have told me." Ryousuke closed his phone. Takumi had just confirmed what already knew. Ryousuke always had data on his opponents and this time was no different from any other. He knew exactly who this Zaaku kid was. He belonged to an elite racing school in Tokyo, which rivaled even Todo Joku.

To say this kid was good an understatement, this kid was more or less a prodigy. The 20 year old had participated in multiple junior leagues, since age 15. Five solid years of racing experience. At age 17 he had joined the illustrious Tokyo Alpha Racing School. To graduate its students had to learn all aspects of racing, drag, rally, street and track. No detail was left untouched. Braking, turning, tire-conservation, weight transfer, tuning, every sort of theory possible was covered meticulously.

This kid was truly a pure bread racing school demon. Few, part time racers would stand the slightest chance. Even some pros would have to take Zaaku seriously, if only because his background.

"Aniki!" Keisuke knocked at his brothers door and then walked in, Ryousuke's door was open but it was always his little brothers custom to give him a heads up anyway. Keisuke never wanted to interrupt his brother. He knew Ryousuke often found himself buried under mounds of work, whether it where studying medicine, preparing Project D's next move, or even dreaming up new ways of going even half a sec. faster.

"Kenta, Fujimoro, and I are going to go run some time trials at Akagi, the new suspension parts from Mazda have come in and I want to see how the limits have changed." Ryousuke turned to his brother and nodded.

"Hoi." "I could tell him what his up against what to expect and the best way to win…but no, he is far greater a racer than that…" Zaaku was a purebred racing school, Fujiwara learned to go fast solely on the street. Both had advantages and weaknesses. But Keisuke was something else, a Hybrid Racer. Ryousuke had thought Keisuke to race like a pro. but along the way Keisuke's instincts had taken over, he was a natural he was learning Ryousuke's track theory in street races.

"Keisuke." Ryousuke looked at his brother in a way that only Keisuke could understand.

"Yes, Aniki?"

"Give them one hell of a race." Keisuke looked at his brother, the only person who never gave up on him, with eyes of admiration.

"Hai." Keisuke nodded slightly on his way out.

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The sound of 9,000 RPM's of full rotary power filled Akagi, Keisuke knew each and every corner by heart. He could attack Akagi's down and uphill in any condition. Here he found absolute Euphoria. Adrenaline pulsed through each of his veins. Here he was one with his FD3S no one…well almost no one, could touch him here.

"You practice everyday Fujiwara, you show no weakness on the downhill. If there's one thing I've learned from you it's determination. That is why I won't lose even to you. That's why someday I'll match brother's speed, and with his help…" Keisuke's hand instinctively left steering wheel, touching the shift knob and engaging the clutch with absolute position, in mid corner! "Surpass it!"

"I race for my pride, but also for you Aniki." The FD slid taking corner after corner, the RX7 seemed to engage in a dance with the road, perfect apex, nearly kissing the guardrails.

Had it really been that long? It had been nearly three years since he first went down this mountain with Ryousuke behind the wheel. That moment was a turning point in Keisuke's life. Back then he was a punk kid involved in gangs, even his parents had given up on him. Only his brother stayed by him. The speed that his Aniki had shown that night made Keisuke think he was going to die. But then somewhere down this very mountain he found inspiration.

Reaching the base of Akagi Keisuke, yanked the steering wheel hard to the right, pressed the clutch, and pulled the hand brake. The FD rotated a perfect 180 degrees, with first gear engaged Keisuke dropped the clutch. It was time for the uphill, nothing was going to hold him back.

"GO!"

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"Kai-san, the EMPERORS are gone, you can start the decent."

"I understand, thanks." The Sapphire SW20 rocketed off the starting line.

"Well done Fujiwara, you've learned my trademark skill well. I'm sure Takahashi will also win tomorrow, but you'll be surprised what I've learned in the last few months. Thanks to what my father has thought me I will be GOD of Irohazaka, completely invincible!"

Kogashiwa Kai, had improved. He secretly held the record on Irohazaka having beaten Sudo's time by nearly two and half seconds. Even if the incompetent EMPERORS couldn't beat D, Kai would do it single handedly, with a swift blow.

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Night descended Togochi Prefecture.

"Alright everyone ready?"

"Hai." Came from all of Project D's members.

A red Mitsubishi sports car rolled up to the starting line. Its sleek curves and sound of power rivaling those of the FD.

"Ah, a Mitsubishi 3000GT!"

"No Kenta, it's a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4. It's much more powerful." Ryousuke stood firm, Keisuke was going to have his work cut out for him. Just looking at the VR-4 he knew it had been tuned with one sole purpose, beating Keisuke's FD.

"Keisuke."

"Aniki."

"You have your work cut out for you tonight. That guy over there is top-notch and his VR-4 rivals you FD in terms of balance, power, and handling. His car is also AWD so he has more grip . He has a twin turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine with dual-overhead camshafts, so he's pushing over 300 hp, he also has four-wheel steering This race is different from others races you've had against AWD and yet it's the same. The usual weaknesses have been eliminated and new ones have emerged. He's matched you in power, use this to your advantage. Miogi held a key to victory that may also be applied here. Remember your weakness is his strength and his weakness your strength. Take advantage of this and you won't lose."

"Hai." "Riiiight even for Aniki, that advice was just plain weird." Keisuke let out a small sigh. "Oh well, doesn't matter."

The FD rolled up next to the VR-4.

"He won so I have to win too." Keisuke glanced towards Takumi.

"This race is for the whole team. Especially you Aniki."

Fujimoro walked over to the line as usual.

"READY! 4...3...2...1...GO!"

Both cars launch in near synchronization, and headed up the slope, two blurs of fire and lightning.