Hello readers I'd like to say thank you to those that are keeping up with this fic, I'm hoping to get it moving from this chapter on after all we're all interested to see what happens to our heroes, but I just wanted to let you guys know this is mostly for my fun and character exploration after all I've always wondered how did Keisuke get into racing and since we barely have a background on him I've decided to write my own.

Lost

Two weeks had gone by and Akemi had rarely seen Keisuke, last time she did he was in an awful mood. His parents were hosting a party in the upcoming weeks to celebrate Ryosuke's eighteenth birthday, but Akemi knew where his frustration came from. It'd be a party to present their son to society, so he could start getting to know people, and if there was something Akemi knew Keisuke hated was large socialite gatherings. To tell the truth she did too but her reaction was quite different she'd simply go and be pleasant then she'd escape. Before she'd do it alone but once she met the Takahashi boy it was different. She had someone to spend her time with and the parties weren't as bad anymore. Before Keisuke there was no one, she was never any good at making friends until she met him. Behind his rude and arrogant façade there was a good person, at least she hoped.

As of the late she had begun to hear rumors of a guy from Sekai Academy taking over the surrounding turfs, he'd beat the toughest guys around into a pulp, him and some other older students from the nearby public schools. Akemi could only pray it wasn't Keisuke they spoke of after all; the guy they spoke of was blonde, not black-haired like Keisuke.

"He could bleach?" she thought walking into the first year classroom, inside she found Fuji Setsuko speaking to and upperclassman but after walking besides them she recognized him as Ryosuke Takahashi.

For a moment she stopped in her tracks only to hear Setsuko speak. "…He does pretty poorly, I mean he doesn't help clean up, he never answers questions in class, just sleeps, oh and -"

Akemi frowned it was then Ryosuke noticed her presence, and quickly interrupted the girl. "Thank you, but I was actually looking for Kaneda."

Akemi raised an eyebrow as he signaled for her to follow him outside; she did and quickly closed the door behind him.

"Listen Fuji is full of shit!" she whispered angrily. Ryosuke raised his hand quickly she shut her mouth, she was supposed to respect upper classmen. "Sorry…"

"I understand" he said taking a glance around to see if the hallways were still empty. " I was wondering if you had heard anything from Keisuke?"

"No" she said sadly "he's gone, like he disappeared…." Akemi decided she'd keep the rumors to herself instead of telling the older Takahashi.

"I see" he answered visibly worried, she looked up at the young man and sighed.

" He'll show up, Keisuke always does!" she said in a optimistic tone of voice. "But he's been to your house right?"

"Yes, he has come by, late at night" his voice was still full of worry. "I saw him last night, briefly of course…he's…changed his appearance."

Akemi cursed internally, the rumors were true, "great" she thought making it her business to go looking for him after school. "I'm sorry to be a nuisance; I believe classes start in ten minutes-"

"You're never a bother" she said with a small smile "if I find out anything I'll let you know." With a quick bow she walked inside the classroom her only thought was where would she start with her search. After two lessons she decided maybe she should tell the older Takahashi about the rumors after all he was smart maybe he could figure out where the 'bad kids' hung out.

"I'm not going to drag him through the mud" she thought after three more lessons he mind was made up. Today she'd walk the whole city and even wait outside his house. Today she'd find Keisuke Takahashi, no matter at what cost.

"Get 'em!" yelled one of the young men as he held his lip. Keisuke could only watch as two other jumped at him.

Keisuke wiped his mouth before punching one of the guys in the face; the second though caught his ribs knocking the wind out of him. He fell onto his knees, giving the other three the advantage "told ya you'd lose pretty boy, now hand us the cash and I won't bust your face" said their leader with a smirk. Keisuke looked up angry as he stood up and shook his head.

Their leader lunged at him once more. The two boys fell onto the ground whilst the others cheered their leader on. Keisuke had begun to lose count of the punches he had landed on the gang leader, all that counted was that now he was on top.

The others no longer cheered instead he heard worried cries for help.

One dared to pull Keisuke off only to be punched by the blonde in return. He quickly stood up his hands shaking as he faced his last two opponents. The adrenaline rushed through his veins; he could feel his heart pumping against his chest. He took short quick breaths, the last two boy picked up their leader and dragged him away past Keisuke out of the alley way. ''Just stay away from us man" said one of the less injured boys.

He leaned against the wall holding his ribs. Now that the adrenaline began to leave his body he felt the pain, it was his second fight today.

But he'd won, it was all that mattered. He slid onto the floor below his breathing was starting to return to normal. "Assholes" he thought standing up with difficulty, he took a look at his watch. It was three thirty, meaning that school was over and that he could finally go home without suspicion. He began to walk out of the alleyway slowly. Once on the street he decided to head to the park, it was closer than home.

"Dammit, I can't walk" he muttered turning a corner, just one more block and he'd be at the park, but Keisuke would settle for anywhere where he could sit really. As he got closer to the park the pain in his body intensified. If he only knew of anyone that lived nearby, but his only friend lived just as far as he did from the city.

"Oi!" called a voice, he shuddered. There was only one person he knew that called him that way, and if she saw him in these conditions…

"Keisuke" she called again, he turned only to see Akemi running towards him her eyes full of tears. She crashed into his chest and hugged him tightly, Keisuke winced. Pulling back she took a good look at him. "I've been looking all over the place for you!"

He flushed looking down at the girl "I was around" he said pulling her off of him.

She wiped her face and smiled. "Well blonde suits you, but those black and blues don't…"

He smiled back at her sticking his hands in his pocket. "I'm fine, don't worry" he said as she walked around him.

"What do you mean fine, it looks like someone beat the crap out of you!" she now held his face. Keisuke looked away, he didn't need anybody worrying about him, but it'd useless to tell Akemi that.

"Come home with me" she said taking his hand. Upon seeing the reluctant look on his face Akemi pouted hoping it'd warm his heart.

"Fine, but I can't guarantee me staying" he replied as the girl dragged him away to the nearest bus station.

On the way to their house Keisuke caught the attention of several of the city citizens who'd stare at him, in his mind it was probably his electric blonde hair that stood out amongst all the black hair, or maybe it was the black and blue he sported on his left cheek, whatever the reason it was getting tiresome and annoying. Before he could react Keisuke and Akemi arrived at the Kaneda residence. Much like his own it was a large house with a garage that was able to fit at least four cars. As they walked up the stairs to the house Keisuke noticed the empty garage.

"Dad isn't home" said Akemi as she pulled out the keys from her pocket. As she opened the door and walked in he stood outside, until she pulled him in. Once inside the pair pulled off their shoes leaving them in the entrance. "Go up the stairs first room to the right, I'll be right there with the first aid kit."

Keisuke shrugged walking up the stairs quickly finding the door Akemi spoke of, upon opening the door he noticed the luscious bedroom, the walls were white and the sheet on the four poster bed were a soft pink. Keisuke though took a seat at the large wooden desk at the far right side of the room, near the window. It was the first time he'd come to the Kaneda residence, now that he thought about it Akemi hadn't been over to his house either. Maybe his parents would like her; after all she embodied what most parents looked for when they tried to look for a wife. She was pretty, small, quiet, smart, polite and the list could go on if he thought about it enough. 'My father would probably try and pair her off with Aniki' he thought, at the pit of his stomach he felt slightly sick at the thought. Akemi walked in with a small box.

"Good, you didn't run off, anyway come sit here" she said taking a seat at the foot of her bed. She signaled Keisuke to take the space next to her. He took the seat next to her as she pulled out the rubbing alcohol "you have a cut on your cheek, but besides that you seem to be ok." He flinched as she stuck the cotton ball to his cheek.

"OW! What the hell?!"

"Well maybe you shouldn't get into any fights, besides after this get your ass home" she said now unwrapping a band aid.

"What are you, my mother?"

"No, but your brother's worried about you…."

He sighed as she stuck the band aid on his cheek; he was the only one in the house who even recognized Keisuke's presence.

"Now you should change, I have some of my cousin's clothes they should fit you just fine." She stood up and walked out of the room, he looked down at his shirt. It was bloody and full of dirt, Keisuke pulled of his shirt now he could see the black and blues on his chest, he clenched his teeth.

"Dammit" he muttered putting his shirt aside, just as Akemi entered the door holding a black v-neck shirt.

' 'I know it's not your style…damn who the hell did you fight with?' she asked handing him the shirt.

"Three guys" he said dismissively, Akemi's eye widened but before she could say anything he went on "this is nothing, anyway how's school?"

"Please like you give a damn about school" she answered as he put on the black shirt "but since you care so much guess who's on the track team, and the top runner at that."

He smirked "you've always been the top runner."

She smirked right back "I know" as he stood she took his hand he eyes widened as if she had gotten the greatest idea in the world. "Why don't you audition for a sport? You're tall and fit you could do basketball or baseball!"

"Huh? I pass, I don't someone telling me what to do, thanks for the band aid" with that Keisuke walked out of the room and down the stairs despite Akemi's protests, he was soon out of the door and on his way home which luckily was only a few blocks away.

As predicted there was no one home, he walked past his brother's room and noticed the dim light coming from inside, but decided against going inside instead heading for the room at the fall end of the hall. Once inside his room Keisuke took a seat on his bed as he did every night, something was missing, something important but now wasn't the time for philosophy, not that he was any good at it anyway.

Throwing himself on his bed the young man closed his eyes. Tommorow was another day, in fact tomorrow was the garden party to celebrate his brother's birthday.

Eighteen… and knowing his parents this would be the opportunity to show off their eldest show while pretending the other didn't exist.

"Great" he thought bitterly turning on his side, tonight would be a long night.