Rivalry Stage 1
Act 3: Winner takes all!
By Amaniblue
AN: I just realize (after a bit of research) that the vehicles I chose for the newcomers are 2006 models, which puts the timeline out of order or way into the future as the case may be. I profess I do not know much about cars, nor engine tuning, nor driving techniques. But despite this technical difficulty, if you may, please just ignore this little tidbit of fact and or any future discrepancies and enjoy the story. Thank you.
…Now, here's the pure ranting.
I thank you all for the constructive and encouraging reviews (more the merrier by the way), but as for those who have more to say. Here is my response.
First, I would like to clarify a few things to those anonymous reviewers who questioned my Japanese language skills, English grammar skills and writing conviction. In regards to the Japanese word 'aoi' in particular, yes it does mean the color blue, as well as the color green and green for inexperience. The popular word for green in Japanese is 'midori,' but in my case, I use the word 'aoi' for descriptive deception in presenting the new racing team as not what they appeared. This decision was made on my last revision of Rivalry. Otherwise, I would have just left it in English as Green Dragon.
Now in regards to the English grammar skills, if I hadn't mentioned it before, I'll do so now. I suck in editing. I suck especially in past and present tenses. So, since I am not a professional writer nor do I have an editor handy, please excuse my poor excuse for English writing. But please spare me the reminder of telling me that my grammar sucks.
Lastly, normally I don't express my remarks so publicly, but since these anonymous reviewers did not leave a working email for contact purposes, I have to pick my bone with them here. I find it offensive that my conviction as a writer and my integrity are questioned. I did not start this fan fiction and wrote up to thirty odd chapters just to have it questioned. The reason I haven't updated so easily is because I have been trying to correct them as I see it. So please do not insult my conviction to improve my writing. I would like to think that my writing has improved over the years and with every revision. Thus end my lengthy diatribe.
Summary of the last act: After surviving a near death experience, Kenta boiling with anger gives chase to the newcomers. Meanwhile Keisuke continues to have his fun ribbing his friend, Takumi as they wait for Kenta. Instead, two unknown drivers show up to request a match against the brothers.
///Top of Mt. Akagi, same night///
Moments after her announcement, three more cars pull up alongside the Mazda MX5s, essentially boxing the trio against the guardrail with the Hachi-roku behind them. The newcomers got out of their vehicles and Takumi took a mental count of their numbers. Including the previous two, it seems the Aoi Ryu outnumbered them, four to one.
The Hachi-roku driver didn't know why, but the atmosphere generated from them was far more intimidating then any previous encounters within the normal crowd of Gunma. Perhaps it was the way the Aoi Ryu surrounded them or perhaps it was the way all their members were looking at them as if they were life stock on an auction. But whatever the reason, Takumi especially didn't like how his heartbeat had double upon meeting the challenging gaze of that man— Sagano Rui was it?— standing opposite from him in particular. Fortunately, Takumi didn't have to endure that look for long when the sound of another car approaching took all their attention.
The driving sounded very aggressive, in fact almost angry-like.
Moments later, one familiar orange S14 pulled up next to the Hachi-roku with a jolting stop. Kenta threw his driver side door open and flew out of his car with his engine still running. The dark boy took only a few seconds to locate his intended target.
His furious strides launch him towards the pair of MX5 drivers and he threw a right hook at that Sagano fellow upon an arm's length away. Amazingly enough, the target feign his body to the right at the last minute, successfully dodging the punch and counter with his own tighten fist in return. Kenta, who was thrown off-balance by the momentum of his miss, is now left wide open for an on-coming blow.
Surprisingly, the blow never connected.
Confused, Kenta recovered his footing and straighten up. His previous, furious eyes now shine with unbridled adoration upon witnessing his idol coming to his rescue. Kenta didn't know how Keisuke had move so fast to block the blow, but as always, he was most grateful for it.
"What's going on here!?" bellowed Keisuke to no one in particular as he release Sagano Rui's wrist.
"Why don't you ask this raging bull here," answered Rui snidely as he glared at the blond.
Rubbing his wrist absently, the MX5 driver took another reassessing look at the younger Takahashi, sizing him up more closely. Sure, they had similar height and build, but Takahashi Keisuke was definitely leaner and more muscular in comparison. And judging from the younger Takahashi's quick reflexes, Sagano Rui decided to keep a guarded eye on the fellow.
"Bastard!" shouted Kenta at the newcomer. With his anger quickly recovered, Kenta sprung again for another attack but was restrain by Keisuke who looped an arm around his waist. After snapping out of gawking at Kenta making a spectacle of himself, Takumi decided to help and leapt in front of the dark boy to block his path. Thus every time, Kenta attempt a lunge to by-pass Takumi, the Hachi-roku driver would push him back while Keisuke held him in place.
The Aoi Ryu looked on with degrees of amusement as they sniggered at the futile display of the dark boy being restrained by his own teammates.
"KENTA!" barked Keisuke as his temper was beginning to flare. "Cool it will ya!?"
Unfortunately, the sniggering Aoi Ryu members only added fuel to Kenta's fury. But, since Keisuke asked him to, the dark boy struggled with his anger and stopped his attempts for immediate retribution. Kenta spat out as he settled for glaring at his target instead, "The bastard here almost ram me over the ravine! My car is all scraped up, no thanks to him!"
Sagano Rui wanted to laugh at the dark boy's pitiful excuse for a brawl and he almost did, but decided against it, especially not with the younger Takahashi glaring daggers at him. Thus the MX5 driver settled for a verbal assault.
"I did no so thing. It was all you. You panicked. You over steered. You almost killed yourself and my teammates. So count your blessings for coming out of that with a small scrape. Stop your complaining already," sneer Rui.
Kenta growled in response.
Tired of the present argument and finding the dark boy much too hot-headed, not to mention, idiotic for his jaded taste, Rui ignored him and refocus his attentions back towards his previous amusement upon discovering the perfect introduction. The MX5 driver licked his lips in anticipation and moved in to satisfy his urge since the first moment he came upon the trio.
"I thought you Redsuns have more than enough balls with your reputation," mock Rui rather coarsely.
He leered admirably before he pounced on his prey, "Or is that reputation gained from all those groupies who get to sample a taste of your bodies?"
"Hey!?" exclaimed Takumi when he felt a pinch on his behind. The Hachi-roku driver quickly turns to face the culprit. His shocked expression earned a few guffaws from the Aoi Ryu members. They were enjoying the show their second in command was putting on while their team leader merely grinned with indulgent humor.
Keisuke release his hold on Kenta and eyed Sagano Rui suspiciously as he wondered what the man was up to.
Kenta, with his anger still lingering, kept his scowl in tact as he looked on with growing curiosity at the turn of events.
Meanwhile, Ryousuke's previous bored expression had darkened immensely from this new transgression.
Upon turning about face, Takumi felt caught like a deer appearing before an oncoming pair of headlights. He found that Sagano Rui was standing but a few inches away from him. The other's warm breath danced across his cheeks as Takumi stared up wide-eye at the taller man.
Without taking his eyes off the Hachi-roku driver, Rui continued his taunt for all to hear, "Or is that just all rumors to excite the people who race you?"
The same hand that had pinched Takumi's rear earlier suddenly took a firm hold of the Hachi-roku driver's right butt cheek and squeezed. Takumi release a high pitch yelp in response.
He was immediately pulled toward the taller man with his arms trapped between them, fitting pelvis to muscular thighs. Sagano Rui peered down between their bodies and mocked luridly, "I guess there are some truths in it after all."
The Aoi Ryu laughed uproariously at the now blushing and mortified Takumi.
The unfamiliar suffusion of heat mixed with shock, embarrassment, and mortification at such provocation caused his brain to go into overload and arrested any reaction in response. Sagano Rui took the opportunity and lean forward, intending to steal a kiss from the immobilized Takumi.
"RUI! That's enough," interjected Jade when she noticed the deadly glare from Takahashi Ryousuke and the taut fists from the younger Takahashi. Her younger brother groaned at her unreasonable order and reluctantly released his prey. Then as if nothing had happened, Rui sauntered back to stand quietly by his sister's side.
Meanwhile, utterly mortified, confused and yet relieved, Takumi quickly return to stand behind Keisuke, as he tried to hide his redden flush.
Knowing that her brother had gone too far, Sagano Jade attempted to rectify his actions.
"Please excuse him. I apologize for my brother, he's harmless. He's a jester and offends people easily with his amusement. As I've mentioned before, we came here for a match. I understand the Redsuns always enjoy a challenge. I can guarantee you that we are."
Jade paused to assess Ryousuke's reaction to her entreaty. His feature had already return back to the bored expression prior to her brother's actions.
However, having unable to gauge his thoughts, she decided to continue with her speech, "I'm sure you are quite familiar with the cities street racing rules. The conditions are simple, we choose the location and in return, you decide on the type of match. The winner names a forfeit."
Jade paused yet again waiting patiently for a reply from Ryousuke who remained eerily quiet throughout her entire speech.
As everyone waited for his response, the man at the center of attention raised a mocking brow, sneered, and then turned away from her. As if he had all the time in the world, he dug into his slack pockets, pulled a lighter out while he retrieves a stick of cigarette from his breast pocket. Placing the stick between his lips to hold it in place, Ryousuke tilted his head to the right and lit the tip with the lighter. He remained there smoking lazily while he returned the lighter to his pocket.
Jade's polite demeanor cracked as a tick formed below her left eye.
Takahashi Ryousuke had made his disinterest quite clear. Keisuke smiled at his brother's demonstration and pounded the fact verbally. "If you're looking for a cheap thrill, I suggest you look elsewhere. Take your ass off our turf. We Redsuns aren't into street racing for that."
"How DARE you talk to my sis like that!?" yelled Sagano Rui.
Feathers ruffled at the younger Takahashi's disrespect for his sister, Rui took a step towards Keisuke, intending to pound the other's face in, but was stopped abruptly by Jade's outstretched arm barring his way.
"I said that's enough, RUI!"
Her voice hardened to steel and contempt filled the following, "I can see that the Redsuns are not what rumors has it. Why else would the Takahashi brother's carpool in a beat up and out-of-date Hachi-roku? Rui, I can see we've wasted our time." Jade then turned around, intending to walk back to her car with her brother following close behind.
But just before she reached her driver side door, she heard those words that made everyone stopped in surprise.
"I accept the challenge."
Keisuke turned his head promptly to the culprit of said remark.
"Kenta, you crazy!?" yelled the younger Takahashi.
Takumi's jaw dropped while Ryousuke swiftly turned around to flash a deadly glare at the dark boy's direction.
Fortunately for Kenta, he did not see the pointed glare that normally would quell him on the spot. With heated bravado, the S14 driver issued his request, "When I win, I want payment for the damages and a public apology from him."
He pointed a stabbing finger at Rui who sneer at Kenta's remark with ill-disguise tolerance. Kenta ignored him and continued his decree as he spoke to Jade. "This has nothing to do with the Redsuns; it is between me and the freak only."
"Who are you calling a freak, boy? You're the one with the orange car," retorted Rui.
"Shut up!" Kenta threw a shout at Rui and readdressed Jade evenly, "Is it a deal?"
Rui responded instead, "Deal. But you'll be racing me."
He then winked at Takumi who blinked at the gesture and spoke again to Kenta, "As for your forfeit, I'll name it at the time of the race. We'll deal with the details later."
"Let's go boys," With those departing words from the Aoi Ryu's leader, the new arrivals left as unexpectedly as they came.
"Idiot!" yelled Keisuke as he whacked Kenta on the backside of the head.
"Oww!" yelped Kenta as he rubbed his bruised head with his left hand.
"I've just finished telling them to buzz off and here you go accepting their challenge. What the fuck was that, huh!?" Keisuke raised a hand and whack the back of Kenta's head once again.
"Ow—!" Kenta let out another yelp of pain and hurriedly tried to placate his idol before his head received another blow.
"Keisuke-sempai, I just thought to get even with that guy and his whole team since none of you would do it. I mean...they just made fun of the Redsuns, me, and even tofu...er Fujiwara here."
Gauging that his words were having some effect, Kenta decided to solicit help from an unlikely source. Never would Kenta have imagined asking Takumi to back him up on anything. "Fujiwara, were you gonna just let that guy do that and get away with it?"
Takumi, numb from his initial reactions to Rui publicly fondling him, wasn't exactly sure how to respond to Kenta's plea for his cause. He was still too mortified by the exchange. His typical blank facade had been replaced by the myriads of emotions all in one setting. Even now confusion marred his smooth brow as he responded, albeit meekly, "No..."
"There, Fujiwara agrees with me too," Thankful for once that the tofu boy did something he appreciated. Keisuke although somewhat placated, scoffed at the entire explanation nonetheless.
"Nakamura."
All three of them turned towards the Redsuns leader who finally spoke his first word since the whole Aoi Ryu ordeal. "Do you know what the cities street racing rules are?"
Kenta counted the items with his fingers in his reply. "Whatever they just said right? Place, type, and forfeit."
Ryousuke flicked his cigarette away and reprimanded with a sneer, "The forfeit generally means, Nakamura, the loser hands over the ownership of their car. Since you name two, they'll name two forfeit as well."
"Lose… ownership… my car…" repeated Kenta absently as he swallowed the sudden lump in his throat while Ryousuke's words sank in. Panic rose to the fore, Kenta quickly covered it with extra bravado. "Don't worry I get to name the type right? Well, no problem there. Rain matches are my specialty."
"Wait a minute," Fujiwara Takumi, who has been numbly following along, was finally able to find his tongue and inquired, "You said two. So what is the other thing?"
Ryousuke stared unwaveringly at him.
Confused by the look the older man shot him, Takumi inquired albeit cluelessly, "What?"
///TBC - ACT 4: Why me?///