Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN THEM! I'd have stock in leather thongs and silver studded collars if I did. –thinks to himself- Yeah…a set of nearly twin slaves…
Warnings: This chapter is a bit darker than the rest. More angst, arguments and the addition of a third major character. I wanted more plot so I went with a conflict that takes more description and less dialogue. Being a fan of descriptive fics rather than dialogue ones anyway, it didn't seem too be much of a change for me. Plus there's a possible love triangle which intrigues me with each passing paragraph. Just be forewarned, THERE IS NO SMUT IN THIS CHAPTER.
Ryosuke let his eyes close and drifted off, not hearing the distant whine of an aged engine as it coasted up the gravel driveway…
The Project D meeting had been cut short once Fumihiro announced that the Takahashi's wouldn't be attending, Kenta leaving to pine over the missed chance to see Keisuke and the rest, along with Fumihiro himself, going to the restaurant at the base of the mountain as they always did. That left the young 86 driver by himself and although it was dark already, he didn't favour the idea of driving Akagi before the mountain's visitors had left for the evening. No sense in getting into an accident.
With a sigh, Takumi drove into the shadow of the Takahashi household, the single light beckoning to him from the second floor of the tall structure. He figured the brothers would be working on whatever maneuvers were needed for the next match, Ryosuke diligently typing away at his simulations with Keisuke peeking over his shoulder, both tired and ignorant of the time of night. It was a fair assumption and the young Fujiwara parked his car infront of the garage with a slim idea on what to tell the older men when he rang the doorbell. He stalked up the walkway and pressed the lit button gently, listening as it chimed through the front foyer, echoing slightly as if in an empty room, when in actuality, the entryway had a high ceiling that made it seem larger than it was.
He waited patiently, afraid of angering them by trying it a second time, his hands now buried deeply in the pockets of his faded jeans, his feet nervously shuffling on the flagstone step. The faint sound of commotion came from behind the heavy door and both the inside and outside lights suddenly flickered to life, nearly blinding the slow witted driver, his eyes squinting a bit as he peered around the door to the thin windows on either side. He was greeted by blond hair and a curious face, dark eyes wide as they stared into a pair that nearly matched his own, that caught-in-the-act look he gave everyone when asked a simple question. He lifted his right hand and waved slightly, stepping back once the face disappeared and the door opened.
Keisuke stared unblinking at the younger man, one hand on the doorframe, the other holding a set of bedsheets around his hips, carefully leaning back to cover his mouth as he yawned noisily.
"Fujiwara? What're you doing here? I thought the meeting was taken care of."
Takumi nodded and stepped back a little bit more, obviously taken a back by the blond's appearance.
"H..hai. Fumihiro let us go after saying you wouldn't be around. The next race isn't for another week anyway." His face felt hot as if he were blushing and he turned his head from the nearly nude body, idly fidgeting with the keyring in his pocket. "It probably wasn't what Ryosuke-san wanted us to do…"
He drifted off as Keisuke shifted himself to stand up straight, clutching with a death grip to the material around his waist, his obviously well kept body on display for the entire neighbourhood. The genius downhiller cleared his throat and felt his blush grow even hotter, the subject of Keisuke's appearance itching within his half asleep mind.
"Ano, Keisuke-san? Did I wake you? I'm sorry if I did…I thought you'd be practicing or working on something with Ryosuke-san…"
Once again his mind coasted elsewhere as his gaze averted from the FD driver's face to peer over his left shoulder, his eyes widening as they slowly took in the new sight. Ryosuke in only a housecoat, his bare feet padding across the tile floor and coming to rest behind the younger Takahashi, his arms at his sides until his right hand slid around Keisuke's waist, holding the edge of the blanket tightly.
"Who is it, Keisuke? Just tell them we're busy. I don't imagine Kaa-san has company coming over if they were spending the night elsewhere. And it can't possibly be Kenta again. I've told him before that we don't have time to give him in-car lessons…"
He peeked over a well rounded shoulder and stared, his hand frozen where the thumb was gently rubbing at Keisuke's side, the entire situation now within Takumi's line of sight. The younger man stammered before turning and making as if to run back down the steps, his body half turned as Ryosuke moved Keisuke out of his way and snatched the departing wrist, almost separating the boy's arm from his shoulder.
"Fujiwara. Now's not the time to run away. I suggest you come inside."
He let the thin arm go and stepped back into the foyer, gesturing for Keisuke to move faster than he was, a glare between brothers, almost an unconscious thing as if practiced since a young age. Takumi followed him in and quickly slipped his shoes off once inside, seemingly embarrassed for even being in the upscale home.
"Gomen ne. I didn't mean to bother you tonight but I had some questions about the upcoming race and your light was on…" His eyes darted from one brother to the next, occasionally slipping down to stare at Keisuke's bared torso or right to the floor where he looked far too long at the FC driver's feet, the toes curling slightly on the cold floor. Keisuke rolled his eyes and clucked his tongue, irritated with the whole situation now.
"Well this is awkward, Aniki. I told you we should have ignored the doorbell."
He chuffed to himself and plodded back through the hall to the stairs, taking them slowly as he made his way into the elder Takahashi's room, fully aware that Takumi's eyes followed him the entire way, purposely walking back to his own room through the hallway instead of the bathroom. He carried his pants on one hand, dangling them where the young driver could see them, smirking as he closed his door, the picture on it giving the delivery boy a clear idea on whose room it was and whose he had come from.
Takumi blinked and lowered his head, upset with his interruption of the brothers' night, his own toes curling and uncurling within his socks. There was no doubt in his mind that something had happened between them though, Keisuke's state of disarray and Ryosuke's obvious lack of formal wear unsettling him in a way, like seeing a Santa Claus at the mall with his beard off. The whole image changed. The dark haired driver now seemed less threatening to him, more like a friend he'd sit down to watch television with, both of them in old, grubby clothes on the couch. The question of what they had been up to niggled in the back of Takumi's mind, the sight of Keisuke retrieving his pants from the elder man's room running on endless loop.
Like the smell of fear, Ryosuke could smell Takumi's discomfort and he watched him intently before stepping to the side and resting his right hand on the boy's shoulder, smiling warmly at him.
"Come inside, Fujiwara. I was only relaxing before I made tea. Can I offer you some? It's the least I can do since you traveled so far to ask your questions. Normally you'd be home by now, right?" The 86 driver nodded, answering both questions silently and Ryosuke motioned for him to step into the livingroom, flicking on the table lamps to light the room somewhat.
"I'll be right back. Just make yourself comfortable. And don't mind Keisuke, he's still irritated that I kept him home instead of allowing him to go to the meeting. We had important things to discuss. You understand." He turned and headed to the kitchen, mentally sighing and hoping that he hadn't bothered the boy, knowing that he was somewhat innocent and still awkward with people.
Takumi, though slightly more at ease with Ryosuke dressed as he was, was unusually curious, his eyes darting about the room and taking in every detail he could, the baby pictures and school photos making him feel less crowded by the brothers' wealth. It was a real family with real problems. There, a stack of bills on the coffee table. There, a glass wine decanter and a set of six glasses sitting around it, two of the goblets with small cracks in them, both lovingly set amongst the rest as if nothing was wrong with them.
He jumped slightly when Ryosuke returned with the tea on a tray, the pot steaming from its spout. It was poured skillfully, not a drop hitting the wooden trough, the heated green brew a heavenly scent to the young 86 driver. He remembered drinking it as a child when he was sick and it always reminded him of his mother. He held his hands out and nodded his thanks as he took the offered cup, sitting back again with his legs crossed comfortably at the ankles.
"A..are you sure Keisuke-san's not mad at me? He seemed kind of upset." Takumi blushed and lowered his head a bit, the tea steam drifting up into his face and skirting around his head.
"And…ano..how come you were..touching him, when he was answering the door?"
The poor boy's blush deepened and he sipped the tea quickly, suddenly desperate to get out of the elder man's home, his hands shaking and head reeling. /Did I just ask him that! I must be crazy// He placed the nearly empty cup back down on the tray and stood up, bowing politely and hurrying past the coffee table to the foyer, his shoes hitting the floor twice before he managed to get them on properly. He straightened up and dug for his keys, tearing the front door open and sparing a quick glance behind himself, catching a glimpse of Keisuke standing at the top of the landing, his hands buried deeply in the pockets of a rather comfortable looking pair of flannel pajama pants.
With a slow blink Takumi looked at the object the blond driver held, the long fingers his mother had hoped would one day play the piano wrapped around plush flannel. /The shirt that goes with the pants he's wearing, idiot. / Why Keisuke's pants and shirt would be in Ryosuke's room was a mystery that slowly came into focus, his mind replaying the front door scene when the FD master answered it in only a sheet. He was naked…in bed..in a room that wasn't his. The realization hit the young driver hard and he stared wide eyed at Keisuke, slowly turning his head to face Ryosuke before he bowed again and hauled ass out of the estate slamming the door behind himself, the panda Trueno kicking up great gouts of gravel before it caught the tarmac and sped off towards town.
Keisuke was the first to speak, his lean legs bringing him down the stairs as he stretched somewhat, the muscles and cords standing out on his back and sides.
"Oi, Aniki? What was that about? He gave me the dirtiest look before he stormed out of here."
"Maybe he didn't like the way you answered the door, Keisuke. Clothes are an asset around this house. Plus, you shouldn't have gone through the hall to get them out of my room. He saw you."
The elder brother frowned slightly when he saw the holier than thou look on Keisuke's face, suddenly angry with him.
"You did it on purpose didn't you? To make him think he didn't have a chance. I can't believe you, Keisuke. You've dropped to the point I once considered your worst. You're no better now than you were when you ran with your thugs."
Keisuke's mouth hung open slightly as he was berated by his loving aniki, his mouth gradually curling into a sneer as he stepped forward from the bottom stair and slapped Ryosuke across the face, his hand stinging the instant it contacted the warm skin, the sound echoing slightly in the foyer.
"Fuck you, Aniki. You started this and now that he knows about us, or suspects as much as his lazy mind can comprehend, it's only gonna get more interesting."
He walked away tromped up the steep stairs, slamming his door and angrily getting dressed, simple jeans and a t-shirt, snatching up his keys and wallet before going back down and passing the FC specialist without a second glance, his sneakers slipping on without being undone. With a sharp grunt, he shoved the garage door open and headed out, his car noisily starting up, throwing echoes back through the entire house.
He flicked the door switch again and backed out, kicking up twice as much gravel as Takumi did, the yellow FD tearing down their street as he headed in the direction the 86 had gone, the highway within easy distance if he chose to drive that far. Ryosuke could only stare and rub his sore cheek, placidly picking up the tea dishes and cleaning everything up for when their parents returned. He pondered over whether or not he should follow the angry boy, his blood racing for a good hunt but his mind somewhat lacking in the get up and go spirit, a loud yawn indicating his amount of fatigue.
The boys had only just drifted off when the 86 driver interrupted them, his sleep patterns already messed up because of exams and Project D's late night meetings, their summer schedule already packed as he worked on new simulations and ideas. With a sigh he headed back to his room, flicking off any lights that remained on but which weren't needed, knowing that Keisuke would be home shortly after midnight, his normal 'pissed off, gotta drive' time. He dressed in loose slacks and a t-shirt, unheard of for the normally regal Takahashi but comfort was a plus when he was in the mood for a challenge. He picked up his keys and wallet, every street racers proper gear, and headed to the garage, punching the door button as he left, being somewhat more careful than his hot headed brother.
And while completely unaware of the tiff between the brothers, Takumi had headed back to Akina for a dozen or so challenges against himself, flustered beyond belief and dying to get the odd sense of inadequacy out of his system. He slipped the small car into second gear and shot out of the gallery parking lot after a quick breather, throwing his life into fate's hands as he drove the downhill for the fourth time already, the suspension and tires giving their squeals and screeches as he rounded the third hairpin and exited cleanly.
Turning around at the upper gallery, the young Fujiwara executed a near perfect u-turn and headed back down the incline, his eyes snapping to the rearview mirror where a set of headlights came into his line of sight, his foot unconsciously pushing harder on the accelerator. /How long has it been since someone came up behind me on Akina? Oyaji? Must've been. I haven't had any encounters since then. / With a sigh, he flipped the car into second gear and took off like a rocket, rounding the first corner without so much as a squeak, the headlights disappearing from his view for a split second before they reappeared brighter than before, certainly closer and gaining fast.
He watched as the tachometer slid closer and closer to the redline, shifting as quickly as he could to keep up with his speed, his teeth clenched in irritation as the following car continued to creep up on him, a sudden dimming of the bright lights telling Takumi that he had finally been caught, the rear car's bumper so close to his own that the back of his car blocked the glaring white lights. With a growl of frustration he downshifted and drifted hard around the next corner, purposely swinging it wide so he could look to the side and see who was tailing him, the 86's tires squealing harshly as they took the gruesome punishment.
Takumi blinked in confusion, his hands slipping and causing him to oversteer suddenly, the 86 veering dangerously close to the guardrail before he pulled it back and saved himself, his eyes wide and mouth slightly open. Did his eyes deceive him? Did they enjoy playing tricks while he raced for his pride, not to mention his life, considering the lapse he just had with his skills? He shook his head and looked into the rearview again, the blinding white of the retractable headlights unmistakable even along the unlit parts of the mountain pass. He licked his lips and returned to his task, noticing that the other car had fallen into pace with him as if waiting for him to make his move. With a burst of flame, the hachi-roku took off, its driver slightly worried about the opponent he had unwillingly accepted a challenge from.
The driver behind him only smirked as the light coloured Toyota moved away from him at an alarming rate, the boy's speed not surprising him but it did thrill him in a certain way, his mind rapidly calculating the possible outcomes…