Rain
Winter had melted away in a mere few weeks and spring was suddenly just around the corner, Keisuke was excited to finally be able to ride the Fireblade, every day after school he'd walk with Yuta to the Sato residence. The first few days Yuta would only let him ride to the end of their street and back, but before he knew Keisuke was riding all over town, and even up and down Mt. Akagi.
Meanwhile Akemi would barely send anytime with them, now spending her time with her new found boyfriend Yoshiro Sakamoto the eleventh grade track star, he was already the top runner on the school's team and claimed to be only helping Akemi reach stardom, but Keisuke and Yuta knew better. Rumors flew all over the school about the couple, mostly about him. It wasn't his concern, his concern was the Fireblade and where to keep it since it couldn't always stay at the Sato's house.
He had to talk to his brother, maybe he could convince their parents to keep it at their house. Keisuke discussed it with Yuta on the school roof over their last cigarette.
"You could just keep it at home, my bro doesn't mind" said Yuta taking his last drag before handing the cigarette over to Keisuke who took a quick drag and turned it off.
"Nah, I'd rather not bother you all the time" he said blowing out the last bit of smoke, Yuta leaned on the fence overlooking the school grounds, including the track.
"Ok, then just let me know when you're going to take it."
"M-hm"
"After lunch the girls have the physical" said Yuta with a mischievous smile "some of guys are going to take a peek, wanna come?"
Keisuke shrugged turning his back on Yuta and heading towards the door back into the school, he heard Yuta's footsteps behind him, at the bottom of the steps he watched two people speak both of them oddly familiar, he squinted his eyes when he noticed it was Akemi and her boyfriend in what seemed to be an argument.
"I said NO!"
"What the hell are you, a prude!" he shouted, it was then Keisuke saw her lift her hand and smack him across the face, he stood rooted on the spot, Yuta was behind him whistled softly. It was then that Yoshiro grabbed her by the shoulders; Keisuke jumped the last few steps, before he knew he had pushed Yoshiro back into a wall.
"What the hell is your problem?" yelled Yoshiro as Keisuke held by his collar. Keisuke glared at the young man.
Keisuke lifted his fist but before he could punch him he felt someone pull him back. It was Yuta who shook his head.
"This piece of crap isn't worth it."
Akemi who stood behind Yuta nodded glaring at Yoshiro. "Don't you go getting into trouble for this moron!" With that Keisuke released Yoshiro who glowered back at Akemi then at Keisuke.
"I'll tell you one thing Takahashi, you don't want to mess with me!" he snarled before leaving the trio behind him.
Keisuke turned to Akemi at the same time Yuta did, both of them with the same questioning look, she frowned at the boys. "What, going to say I told you so?" she said running her hands through her hair. The boys watched as she went on "he's been trying to get me to sleep with him, but I've been saying no-"
"He can't pressure you into that!" said Yuta outraged, but before he could go on the bell rung. Akemi sighed as the three walked in silence back to their classroom. Yuta mumbled a couple of things under his breath as they pulled aside the door entering one by one with Keisuke being the last of them. Taking his seat by the window he thought of Yoshiro's words, who the hell did he think he was? The guy was nothing but a pretty boy athlete.
It was about fifteen minutes before the girls got called out for their physical, Yuta looked at them and sighed whispering something Keisuke couldn't understand. The boys all came to their side of the classroom talking to Yuta about the girls in their class. Keisuke watched in silence, the conversation was mostly about the class president, who had the largest breast of the class. Keisuke snorted causing some of the boys to turn towards him.
"So Takahashi who do you think is the most attractive girl in class?" asked a boy with glasses, the guy next to him scoffed.
"I bet you he thinks it's Kaneda."
Keisuke rolled his eyes and looked out the window as Yuta spoke up distracting the boys from Keisuke. He reached into his pocket, after school he'd have to buy some cigarettes if he expected to make through the week. It was then the classroom door slid open at its frame stood his brother Ryosuke, he leaned onto the frame as Keisuke stood up from his seat and walked over to him.
"'Sup?" asked Keisuke as his brother took a look over his shoulder.
"I heard you and Sakamoto almost got into a fight" he said, Keisuke frowned as his brother went on. "I heard it from a friend of mine who runs track, Sakamoto told him he'd follow you after school today."
"So what? If he tries anything-" began Keisuke before his brother cut him off.
"He won't because you'll be walking home with me" Keisuke made a face as Ryosuke gave him a serious look. "Listen, Sakamoto won't be by himself-"
"I can handle myself bro" said Keisuke running his hand through his hair impatiently "I have shit to do after school."
Ryosuke smirked "Like drive that motorcycle of yours." His brother turned away. "Whatever it is your going with me and that's final."
Keisuke watched his brother's retreating back.
"You're blocking the way!" He turned noticing that he was blocking the way inside and that it was Akemi standing at the door with an irritated look on her face.
He stepped aside she sighed "can you believe they've gotten even smaller?"
Keisuke shrugged as she walked into the classroom grumbling about her breast size. He chuckled as he remembered last year she had the same fit over her physical.
"It's not funny" she muttered taking her seat, Keisuke took the seat next to hers as she watched Yuta talk to the other boys about the girls in their class.
"Yuta seems popular" she said, Keisuke nodded in agreement as he leaned back on the chair.
"Seems to be enjoying it if you ask me" said Keisuke his hands laced behind his head.
"Yeah, say where are you going after school?" she asked, he frowned and shrugged as he put the chair back the way it belonged.
"I'm going to give the Fireblade a spin…" he said remembering his brother's words, it caused him to frown and Akemi to become curious.
"Well someone seems thoughtful all of a sudden."
"Can it."
She smiled nudging his shoulder playfully, "you can tell little ol' me."
He sighed, maybe this one time a little white lie would have to do. "My bro wants to hang out…"
Her mouth formed a 'O' then she smiled. "That's nice, wish I had a sibling to hand out with, so what are you going to do?"
As the classroom door slid open, he watched a few girls walk in including the one whose desk he was currently occupating. He left without a response as the bell rung signaling them that it was now time for class.
The last bell rung and Keisuke walked out the door with Yuta and Akemi behind him. The two chatted about homework and other school projects as he walked to the locker, his was farther away from his two friends, he pulled off his slippers and put on his school shoes. Akemi waved good-bye to the boys as she headed towards the track, Keisuke watched as Yuta walked next to him.
"I need a cigarette" he said, Keisuke nodded as they approached the school gates where his brother stood waiting for him.
Yuta noticed Ryosuke's presence and turned to Keisuke who sighed. "He knows about the bike" whispered Keisuke as they approached Ryosuke, Yuta nodded but didn't say a word.
"Hey bro."
"Hello Keisuke" said Ryosuke extending a hand to Yuta with a smile. "Ryosuke Takahashi."
Yuta took his hand and nodded "Yuta Sato, Keisuke's says you're going to accompany us today."
Ryosuke nodded "that's correct, I hope you don't mind."
Yuta shook his head "no it's quite alright" he said chuckling nervously. Keisuke sighed as he walked past them.
It wasn't long before the two boys got onto the subject of cars; Keisuke walked a little faster hoping he could make it to the Sato residence before he exploded. So far, so good. Maybe his brother was wrong and Sakamoto wouldn't come looking for him.
He snorted, and so what if that loser came looking for him, it wasn't like this would be the first fight Keisuke got himself into. As he turned the corner he heard someone whistle. Keisuke turned around, it was a couple of upperclassmen from school.
Ryosuke stuck his hand out stopping Keisuke in his tracks. A couple of them were in the twelfth grade like Ryosuke, they chuckled.
"Protecting your little brother?"
"Sweet isn't it Hashimoto?"
"I could cry" said the taller of the two, he was broad shouldered his uniform tight around his arms, Hashimoto meanwhile was as tall as Keisuke with his dark hair brushed back.
Ryosuke frowned. "Keisuke can handle himself, I'm just making sure he doesn't put you in the hospital" he said, Keisuke turned towards his brother slightly shocked Yuta meanwhile spoke.
"You guys better go before we kick your asses."
The taller of the two snorted "don't worry kid, it's just a warning, don't mess with Sakamoto Takahashi."
Keisuke clenched his teeth "tell that coward he can kiss my ass, let's go." Before Keisuke could turn the shorter of the boys charged at him only to be stopped by Ryosuke who pushed him back causing the boy to land on the floor.
"Tell Sakamoto if he wants to face my brother to do it himself instead of sending you two idiots to do so" said Ryosuke in a dark tone of voice, Yuta and Keisuke stared dumfounded. Maybe Ryosuke wasn't such a goody two shoes after all. With that the older boy turned allowing Yuta and Keisuke to do the same.
Ryosuke stuck his hand into his pocket turning to Yuta as If nothing had happened. Keisuke though wouldn't let it go.
"Since when do you fight?" asked Keisuke interrupting Ryosuke's conversation with Yuta who too seemed curious for an answer.
"I've gotten into a few scuffles here and there" responded Ryosuke calmly.
Keisuke raised an eyebrow as they crossed the street towards the bus stop. "With who?"
Ryosuke gave him a small smile "it's none of your business, now what did you fight with Sakamoto for?"
Yuta spoke up "that piece of sh- I mean Sakamoto was going to hit Akemi, Keisuke just stopped him."
Ryosuke raised an eyebrow as his brother frowned at Yuta. "Yuta's right, besides what do you care, he's just an idiot jock."
"Rumored to have Yakuza connections" said Ryosuke as they made it to the bus stop. Yuta's mouth hung slightly open while Keisuke snorted.
"You'd think he wouldn't be such a coward."
"Drop it Keisuke, now Yuta where is it that you live?" asked Ryosuke trying to drive the conversation away from Sakamoto.
Yuta began to explain how to get to his house while Keisuke felt his blood boil, what the hell was Ryosuke thinking? If the guy came looking for him he was certainly going to kick his ass, no way he was going to let some jock get the best of him.
After about an hour trip they finally arrived at the Sato residence, Yuta opened the garage door where they found Kyo underneath his silver R32.
"Hey Kyo, Keisuke brought his brother today" shouted Yuta throwing down his bag next to the Fireblade that was parked in the corner of the garage, Keisuke walked over towards it kick Yuta's bag out of the way.
Ryosuke was right behind Keisuke looking down at the bike with mild interest. "This is your motorcycle?" he asked as Keisuke put his hand on the handle.
"Yeah."
"Hm." The older Takahashi examined the bike carefully as Kyo walked over to them wiping the grease of his hands.
"Nice isn't it, though the color's a bit too bright" said Kyo smiling down at the Fireblade. Ryosuke nodded.
"It's like his hair" he said fondly picking up the helmet. "Where do you go ride this thing?"
"Mount Akagi" answered Keisuke as his brother handed him the helmet.
"If you want I could drive behind him just to be safe" said Kyo putting away his small towel in his pocket,"Yuta and I usually do that anyway." Ryosuke nodded.
"That settles it then, we're going to mount Akagi!" said Yuta enthusiastically.
Kyo chuckled excusing himself to wash his hand and get changed, Keisuke turned towards his brother who examined the R32 with mild interest.
"You and cars" muttered Keisuke as his brother smiled.
"You and that bike."
The rainy season soon started in the Kanto region, canceling track club practices and giving Keisuke trouble riding his Fireblade on the slippery roads of Mount Akagi. Instead he rode around town as Ryosuke tried to figure out how to tell their parents about the Fireblade.
It was the only reason he kept going to school, to keep his father happy in hopes he'd allow him to have the motorcycle in the Takahashi household.
"What got you thinking?" she asked during their lunch break in which Keisuke who was usually eager to eat was staring out the window into the grey sky.
"I bet you it's the Fireblade?" said Yuta chewing on his rice. Keisuke turned towards them nodding.
"We still haven't told my father about it" he said pulling out his bento box. Akemi nodded while Yuta sighed.
"Just take it, he can't say anything, you've got better grades and you haven't gotten into any fights lately!"
Keisuke picked up a piece of fish and stuffed into his mouth, Yuta was right he'd just have to take it. "That settles it then!" said Akemi cheerfully taking a piece of fish from Keisuke who glared at her in turn.
Yuta chuckled "you two act like a married couple sometimes."
She turned a shade of pink as Keisuke stole a piece of squid off Akemi. "No we don't " she argued looking down she noticed her squid was gone and sighed.
Keisuke smiled continuing to have his lunch as Yuta and Akemi switched the subject to school and summer vacation.
"So what are you going to do during the summer Keisuke?" asked Yuta drinking his water, Keisuke shrugged, Akemi though spoke.
"We could hit the beach?" she suggested, Yuta nodded turning to Keisuke who was still busy scarfing his lunch.
"Sure, whatever" he manged to say, Akemi clapped her hands.
"I'll let my cousin know, hey why do you invite your brothers, Ryosuke has his license right, and Kyo has a car, it could be all six of us, we'll have loads of fun!"
Yuta nodded while Keisuke put away his bento box. Maybe this time his brother would want to go? It sounded fun, he could ride his bike to the beach or ride with his brother, coming to think of it he hadn't even been in his brother's car just yet.
Thunder clapped above them as the bell rung signaling their break to be over, Akemi went back to her seat leaving the two boys alone.
Yuta spoke of their trip to the beach, while Keisuke kept his eyes outside, today he wouldn't ride the bike, he'd probably hit the arcade or something.
The hours dragged by as he wrote whatever was on the board and listened to his teacher drone on and on. He took a quick glance at Akemi who looked as bored as he was he black hair loose around her face as twirled a strand around her finger.
She glanced at him smiling, he smiled back. Behind him Yuta chuckled.
"Seems someone has a crush" he whispered. Keisuke frowned as the bell rung above them dismissing the class.
"You're seeing things" he said to Yuta throwing his bag above his shoulders. Yuta rolled his eyes.
"She likes you Keisuke, you two are just too blind to notice. It's not the first time she looks at you during class, plus you two hang out a lot" he said sagely as they walked out of the classroom. "Think about it."
"There's nothing to think about, you're seeing things" he said walking to his locker pulling out his school and slipping out of his slippers. Yuta did the same as they walked over to the school entrance where there was a small group of students looking up at the sky.
"Gotta go, Kyo and I are going shopping for food, we're down to tea" said Yuta patting Keisuke's back, the blonde nodded as Yuta pulled and umbrella out of backpack and walked away. Keisuke followed Yuta covering himself with his backpack, once he and Yuta went their separate ways the rain stopped.
"Hold the umbrella!" shouted Akemi as she held the bright pink umbrella over Keisuke's head. He took it slipping his backpack over his shoulder. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Apparently your caretaker" she said standing close to him, he flushed frowning.
"It's pink" he said through his teeth.
"So, it's that or get sick" she said as they began to walk down the street. She was right, if he got sick, who would take care of his bike?
"After this summer we'll be in the eleventh grade" she said as they waited for the light to change at the corner, he nodded, it made him realize, Ryosuke would be going to Medical school in the fall.
He make his father's dream finally come true, Keisuke though knew his brother had other dreams, after all during his free time all he did was read books on cars, magazines and work on some weird program on his computer. It frustrated him to no end to see his brother follow his father's footsteps, like some zombie.
"You okay?" she asked as they crossed the street. Keisuke looked down at her.
"Yeah."
She took his arm in hers as they walked past a couple from a different school, she sighed. "Love, hey you haven't dated anyone since Junior High."
"So?"
"There are a couple of girl in class who think you're cute" she said her eyes on the sky.
"Not interested, girls are just trouble, they take too much time" he said impatiently as they turned a corner going down the street that would lead them to the park.
"Beside no one's going to take that nasty attitude you got going on" she said causing him to take the umberella away from he only covering himself.
"What the hell?! Keisuke!" she shouted as he walked little faster and even when she caught up she kept the umbrella from him.
"That's for taking form my lunch today" he said running from her, she quicjly caught up but he somehow manged to keep the umbrella away from her.
"Stop it! My books are getting wet!"
"I'm sorry but my nasty attitude can't help you" he said sticking out his tongue at her. She frowned.
"FINE! I'm sorry!" she shouted trying to reach for the umbrella he laughed after a few minutes of running around the park with Akemi chasing him the two found themselves under the umbrella completely soaked.
Akemi tried to get the excess water out of her hair, while Keisuke brushed his back. "I hate you" she said he laughed, the two failed to notice the two boy s that had followed them into the park.
One of the boys smirked signaling the other that it was time to go.
Hello readers so that's the end of chapter nine, I do hope you stick around since now the action's going to start, can anyone guess what it is? Anyway remember to R&R.