Rivalry Stage 1

Act 2: Enter the Aoi Ryu

By Amaniblue

Summary of the last act: Ryousuke made plans to talk to Takumi but was spoiled by the machinations of his own brother, Keisuke and with a little help from Kenta. A typical night run for the Hachi-roku might be rescheduled due to some unexpected visitors.

///Mt. Akagi, same night///

Kenta had arrived at a decision; he reached for the remote to the camcorder and press the Power On button while maintaining his eyes on the road. Just when he was jogging his memory on how to preset the device, a shot sounding very much like a backfire kit kick-starting startled him from behind. The remote dropped face-down on his lap and a dull beep was eclipsed by Kenta's sharp exclamation, "What the fu—!?"

A black blur shot pass his right, missing his orange S14 by a foot. Before Kenta could react to that close call, several flashes of head lights from his rare view mirror caught his attention. The vehicle directly behind him, sped up and switch position to the inside lane just before the opening of a right side curve. In his panic, Kenta, hoping to avoid a sidelong collision with the grayish vehicle, rotated his steering wheel to the left a little too quickly. The orange S14 swerved to the left with a force. Realizing too late that he over steered as his front lights reflected off the guardrail, Kenta steered the wheel to the right and pulled his hand break with all his might. Rubber tires burnt on gravel as sparks flared when the tail of the S14 kissed the guardrail just as the car jolted to a stop. Before Kenta was able to make a Hail Mary from that hair rising save, several more vehicles sped pass him at a much slower pace.

The last of the vehicles pause beside the S14. The passenger car window roll down and a slender man with flyaway hair poked his head out the window and shouted, "Learn how to drive, dumb ass!"

The driver beside him snickered at the insult and sped off to follow the entourage.

Kenta's cold numbness from the experience boiled into hot anger as the slender man's words sank in. With a growl of determination, Kenta literally put peddle to the metal and drove for all he was worth.

///Inside Takumi's car///

Despite Keisuke's best intention in setting the three of them up to go together for his own amusement, the disquieting lack of conversation so far was irritating him tremendously. He scooted forward to look over the driver's shoulder; Takumi's eyes were fixed on the road with his cheeks slightly flushed. Keisuke briefly wondered about that and turn his attention to the left to see what his brother was doing. With his laptop propped open, the screen showed a model simulation of Mt. Akagi's route. Ryousuke's eyes remain glued to the screen with his fingers stroking some keys on occasion. Apparently, his entertainment had both decided to occupy themselves with their respective tasks. Annoyed by the current situation, the blond took it upon himself to break the silence. "Hey Ryousuke, I heard the Futuristic Car Expo is hosting at Tokyo Bay next month. Do you want to go check it out with me?"

Without turning to address his brother, Ryousuke responded with his own question, "Which week?"

Keisuke scratched the back of his head absently, "Oh, um. I think it's the second week. I can check later. So, what do say?"

This time, Ryousuke's response was a bit mumbled as his brow knitted together. His focus was directed over a portion of the simulated road. "I believe I have some prior engagements that week. Otherwise, I am free."

"Cool," said the blond. He then turns to ask Takumi. "Fujiwara, how about you? Want to join us?"

"Um, sure." Takumi hesitantly replied, then added as an afterthought, "But I, ah… have to check with my dad and boss first."

Keisuke nodded in understanding. Takumi doesn't have his own car and plus he works odd hours for a delivery service company. Sometimes he even gets a call during his rare off days to take over a shift. Keisuke learn that annoying fact when twenty minutes into a film that he was dying to see and had drag Takumi along, the boy's pager buzzed. So his friend had apologized before he took off and the movie wasn't as enjoyable after that.

Waking up from his introspective thoughts, Keisuke soon realize that things were back as they were. Silence again. The disgruntled blond resign himself to the situation, lean forward and perched his chin on the bucket seat, barely touching Takumi's shoulder. The blond sigh and decided to join the two in quiet solitude.

Takumi froze; his flush darken, and immediately shift his body to the left.

Unaware of the young driver's discomfort Keisuke remain there for the rest of the trip.

///Top of Mt. Akagi, minutes later///

"We're here," announced the Hachi-roku driver who was reluctant to be noticed at the moment by the two dominating presence of the Takahashi brothers.

Too close for comfort, thought Takumi. Throughout the long drive when Keisuke started hanging over his shoulder, talking and breathing down his neck, Takumi's goose bumps were on alert ever since. Then, when Ryousuke suddenly lean over his left arm to check his gauge and meter readings, a shiver ran up Takumi's spine at the light contact and he immediately shifted away. Distance has to be put between them and fast, he thought.

I don't know which is worse: breathing in the clean scent of Takahashi-san's warm body or Keisuke-sempai's cloying breath, thought Takumi with a shiver. He quickly got out of his Hachi-roku, put his keys in his left pocket, and hastens his step to rest atop the nearest guardrail. He was thankful that the Takahashi brothers hadn't commented on his flushed cheeks throughout the long drive. Takumi would have been mortified in trying to explain that. He wasn't even sure whether he could explain it to himself.

During the first two weeks when he first joined Project D, it was the older Takahashi who had made sure the crew members accepted him. It was Ryousuke who lectured him on tuning methods and take him on test runs at Mt. Akagi. It was Ryousuke who would show him what to do, work along side him and correct his mistakes. Ryousuke was always patient, supported him, and praised him when he made even the smallest progress. Takumi is baffle still by the older Takahashi's decision. The Hachi-roku driver constantly mull over the first two weeks to find some clarity as for the reason why. Sure there were certain times when he would clumsily bump into and spill onto Ryousuke or stare at the older man much longer than what is deem polite or doze off while the man lectures. But Takumi had apologized profusely each time. Somehow after those two weeks, Ryousuke became more distant and wouldn't help him quite as often. Instead, Ryousuke had silently passed the responsibility of mentoring Takumi to Keisuke.

Takumi knew at first, Keisuke was reluctant to work with him. The Hachi-roku driver sense it was due to the fact that the younger Takahashi had lost to him twice. As time pass within each other's company though, somehow they became fast friends. Their shared goals in the racing world and their enjoyment of the race itself were the catalyst for their friendship. When Keisuke opened up, he was playful, straightforward, a tad eccentric, and quick tempered. Takumi was comfortable being in Keisuke's company. He is tremendously grateful for Keisuke's help and companionship.

"Hey, Fujiwara!" Keisuke's unexpected appearance and close proximity shout broke into Takumi's musings instantly. In reaction, he threw his hands up in fright and subsequently began falling backwards from the guardrail. Strong hands caught his forearms before Takumi ended up landing on his back.

"Sorry." Keisuke flashed an apologetic grin and help right Takumi on his perch atop the guardrail. The blond then raise a hand to ruffle Takumi's hair when he question with a tinge of amusement, "Daydreaming again?"

His only response was a blush from the Hachi-roku driver.

"If you don't stop daydreaming like that, it could get very dangerous. You might be driving and then...BOOM!" He smacked his hands together for emphasis and continued, "Slam right into a tree or something."

Raking a hand through his hair trying to fix it, Takumi remarked in his usual blank way, "Ah."

Keisuke chuckled in amusement, "Is that all you have to say?"

Takumi stopped his preoccupation with his hair and raised his eyes to meet amused green ones, "I was thinking, not daydreaming. Besides, I don't daydream while driving, I just drive."

"Well, hell. What do you call that just now? If I hadn't caught you, you could have…" Keisuke's teasing comment trailed off when he noticed a pair of headlights shining upon them and headed straight for his brother. Fear for his brother left him immobilized as he shouted, "Aniki!!!"

Meanwhile, Ryousuke, with his hands tucked inside his slack pockets and a bored expression plaster on his face, calmly stood his ground by the side of the road. With an ear-piercing screech just less than a meter away from the Redsuns' leader, the charging vehicle jolted to a stop.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Takumi jumped off the guardrail and stood beside Keisuke in stun silence as the black Mazda MX5 driver door prop open.

A pair of shapely legs clad in black sneakers following upward to a curvaceous body dressed in a black mini tube dress with a risqué side split stood before them. Her chest length hair with red streaks scattered randomly as it blew in the wind. The driver was a young woman, in her early twenties. She had an air of sophistication and authority about her despite her petite figure and dainty appearance. However, the driver was anything but, judging from her aggressive driving and subsequent actions.

She took a long appraising look at Ryousuke, grin, and scan him admiringly from head to toe and back again. She then glance towards Keisuke and Takumi and did the same. Her gaze flew back to Ryousuke with an amuse sparkle in her eyes.

A minute later, another Mazda MX5 in silver with gold pinstripes intricately painted in tribal patterns, stop along side the black one. The driver side door propped open and out stepped a hansom young man in his early twenties too. His facial features were similar to the woman driver except more angular and his windblown hair flowed unkempt almost to his shoulders. He was dressed in khaki pants and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His gaze swept over the three silent figures before him in the same shocking appraising way the woman had shown previously. His licentious gaze remain on Takumi however, a smirk slowly form on his lips.

"You're right sis, they ARE cute," remark the new arrival with smile.

His sister pointedly ignores him. She took several steps toward Ryousuke and bow formally. "I am Sagano Jade, the leader of the Aoi Ryu. My brother, Sagano Rui and I would be honored if a match can be arranged with the famous Takahashi Rotary brothers."

///TBC – Act 3: Winner takes all!///