Rivalry Stage 1
Act 6: Unmistakable
By Amaniblue
AN: Sorry about the long wait. I was B-Z with work the whole last month and had little for anything hobby-like at all. I hope everyone had a nice holiday season. Happy new year everybody!
Summary of the last act: Ryousuke makes his move and stakes his claim. Takumi is swept along for the ride.
///Twilight Bar///
"Hey buddy, here's ya order," groused the bartender as he placed two more shots of whiskey in front of his newest patron. While shaking his head disapprovingly, the bartender grabbed the couple of empty shot glasses from the guy and walked away from the blond sunken form to tend to his other customers. A hand shot out from the inebriated form to try grasping for the drink. After several clumsy yet unsuccessful attempts, the blond lifted his heavy head from the bar to locate that damnable, elusive shot glass.
Takahashi Keisuke slid the glass directly before him as he rested his chin on top of the bar table. Taking his time, he nursed the drink between both hands. He had down the first couple of drinks easily the moment he sat down and ordered. Now though, Keisuke only stared at the amber liquid before him with distant eyes. His distorted reflection from the shot glass blurred as the inner turmoil within replayed that unmistakable scene he'd witnessed back at the shop.
///Flashback///
"Kenta! Stop pacing around and sit down!"
Kenta stopped briefly only to open his mouth to protest. Keisuke wouldn't have any of it and raised his voice in frustration. "NOW!"
Finally realizing that he had unwittingly angered his sempai, a contrite, Kenta sat down instantly on the bench closest to his idol.
Thinking that he'd finally got a handle on the S14 driver, Keisuke took in a deep breath and released it steadily. He brushed a hand through his unruly spikes and glared down at Kenta. "Good. Just stay put, don't pace, don't whine, and don't—"
Keisuke was about to warn Kenta not to express that worried look the S14 driver was so fond of making when he's anxious; the dark boy did just that. His face had that familiar pinched, scrunched up look again. Having had his tolerance level knocked down several pegs long ago, Keisuke stabbed an accusing finger at Kenta and continued pointedly, "don't give me that look."
Kenta frowned up at his idol then sulked in silence. Keisuke rolled his eyes at that display then absently sat down on the stool next to the bench. He turned his attention towards the back entrance of the body shop. He had been waiting earnestly for the return of Ryousuke and Fujiwara. The blond had some ideas what his brother had wanted to say to his friend, but he was most eager to find out the details.
While his attention was thus occupied, the other Redsuns who had been gathering across from the duo snickered toward Kenta's direction. Fumihiro broke apart and lead the conspiring pack to Kenta. Regardless the fact that the respectable business owner of said body shop and agent of the Redsuns was also the oldest member, no one could deny that he wasn't a good leader and role model. Unfortunately for Kenta and the rest of the gang though, no one could also deny Fumihiro his sardonic sense of humor when it timely rears its ugly head either.
"Hey, Kenta-kun!" crooned the leader of the pack.
The S14 driver absently turned his sulking demeanor away from his idol and towards the group.
One of the Redsuns' members with long shoulder length hair donning a gray jumpsuit picked up what looks like a new performance tire and passed it to Fumihiro. The leader of the conniving pack pressed onward; a wide grin threatened to break out on his wizened face anytime. "You won't need this, right?"
Kenta stood up when he realized the object that the body shop owner was referring to were his own hard earned performance tires, he panicky exclaimed, "Now, wait a min—!"
The now snickering group encouraged the wide grin to break out on Fumihiro's lips as he continued, "It'll be a waste. You'll be leaving us anyways."
Keisuke's attention was drawn back to the group as Kenta cursed colorfully at the pack, and then ran towards the restroom stalls in a huff. The boy slammed the door shut to cut off the hooting laughter coming from the group. Keisuke tried to hide his low chuckle as he shook his head with mock disapproval at the teasing group.
A distant rumble of an approaching car diverted his interest towards the back entrance once again. Expecting the two familiar faces to waltz through the threshold any minute, Keisuke waited anxiously. When not a single person appeared, the blond thought perhaps he must have mistaken, but the sound did stop nearby. Thinking that perhaps, they might have some uninvited visitors at such a late hour, Keisuke rose from his perch on the stool by the workbench and headed towards the darken office at the front of the body shop. Noticing the lights shining through the partial opened blinds of the front window, Keisuke went to investigate.
The blond smiled in relief when he recognized the pair with the panda Hachi-roku. The smile soon disappeared, replaced by a curious frown. His friend was blushing furiously as his brother leaned through the opened driver side window. Confused, Keisuke's brow drew together when his brother leaned in further just as Fujiwara had turned to face the older man.
It dawned on Keisuke then, like a sledgehammer to his head as he took in the scene before him: his brother was kissing his buddy.
///Present///
With that thought, Keisuke banged his forehead on the bar table with a loud conk. The bartender and a few heads turn his way with a look of annoyance. Groaning from the pain on his forehead and the unfamiliar weight on his chest, Keisuke lifted his heavy head and poured the potent drink down his throat once more. After wincing over the burning sensation in his throat, with another quick snap of his head, he downed the second drink in the same fashion. He then raised his empty shot glass to signal the bartender for yet another round.
Said reluctant bartender crossed over towards the blond and prepared the new patron with several more.
Before the man could place the shot glasses down though, Keisuke had snatched one of the drinks away, violently sloshing the contents to spill on the counter. The bartender shook his head in disgust as he wiped the counter and placed the other glass down in front of the blond. The man went back to divert his attention back towards the other patrons. Oblivious to the bartender and the populace in the bar, Keisuke, with another drink in hand, remembered his reaction to the scene.
///Flashback///
That realization had hit him like a ton of breaks. It left his entire body numb; his mind, a mush.
He felt betrayed somehow. He'd thought that the two didn't get along together: his brother had an aversion to clumsiness and his friend was introverted. They were heterogeneous and he was their catalyst. But overnight, their whole dynamic as brother, friend and comrade has changed.
Was it a lie? He thought wildly. Had the two wanted to keep their relationship secret?
He had no idea that his friend, let alone his brother swing that way. Keisuke didn't know what to make of it. He'd thought, like most men in his street racing circle, dating was last on their priority list. It held no contest to the adrenaline pumping thrill of racing the mountains and beating your opponent.
Is this a joke then?
But it didn't feel like a joke. Their kiss looked very real. Keisuke's entire body was tightly wound up by the time the kiss before him ended. Keisuke wanted to rush out there and demand the truth, but his legs wouldn't budge, they were rooted to the spot while a sunken feeling landed in his gut. The first time in his life, he had never so much wanted to commit violence against his brother.
That thought alone frightened him, yet oddly he felt justified by it somehow.
The low rumble of the Hach-roku's engine restarting brought the blonds' attention back to the couple. Suddenly realizing that his brother was returning alone through the front of the shop, Keisuke hastily beat a retreat. He really didn't want to face Ryousuke, for he didn't know what he would do at the moment.
Thus, the blond stormed out of the office, bypassing all the crew members without a backward glance and made his exit. The Redsuns' shared a questioning look with each other as they hear the screeching tires of Keisuke's yellow Mazda RX-7 burn a heated getaway from the shop.
In his confusion, Keisuke drove aimlessly, recklessly dodging the scattered vehicles on the long stretch of the highway leading away from Akagi. During the drive, Keisuke found himself thinking about his friend.
At first, Keisuke felt more than a mild irritation towards the clueless Takumi, whose quiet humbleness had always managed to make his blood boil. He then came to grudgingly admire the gifted driver. After Takumi joined Project D and having been forced to work in close contact with him, Keisuke had grown to like the younger man's company and vice versa. So much so that they were practically inseparable when there was a Project D gathering. Their friendship soon extended to beyond the team as well. Keisuke had enjoyed tutoring, teasing, and just plainly spending time with his friend.
But the two were kissing. Should I be happy for them? Then why am I angry? Keisuke thought when he realized both his hands were fisted taut on the steering wheel.
///Present///
Meanwhile, as Keisuke continued to drown his mixed emotions by drinking into oblivion, a familiar figure dressed in a black short-sleeve dress shirt, with matching slacks and loafers strolled into the bar. The man waved a greeting to a few familiar faces at the nearby tables and went to sit on his usual cushioned stool by the far side of the bar table near the wall.
"Hey Nakazato, strike out again?" The bartender smiled in greeting and glided in front of Nakazato Takeshi, the fame leader of the Nightkids.
"Hn, the damn woman was too annoying so I cut the date short," replied an irritated Takeshi.
"The usual?" Before Takeshi could reply, the bartender was already retrieving a round glass from the rack above and began pouring a small sample of imported brandy for his favorite patron.
"Yeah." Takeshi took the proffered glass in hand and swirled the dark liquid around. He cups the glass steadily between two fingers and raised it just below his nose to breathe in the intoxicating fumes. A grin form on his lips then, he lowered the glass to his lips and took a small sip to savor the initial taste of the liquid in his mouth. A wider grin formed on his lips when he raised his glass in salute to the bartender and said, "Not bad."
The bartender returned the grin with his own smile and pours more brandy into the glass. After taking several satisfying sip of the brandy, Takeshi expelled a long sigh and completed his ritual notion of the night. "I can't understand why women can complain about nothing as it means something for so fucking long."
"Yeah that's women for ya," consoled the bartender as he absently wiped the newly washed glasses dry and succinctly hang them on the rack above the bar table. "The key is to nod your head and pretend you heard everything they say."
Takeshi chuckled softly at the advice and questioned wryly, "Is that how you've survived marriage eh, Sendo-san?"
"Damn right. Twenty years and I'm still happily married to a shrew of a wife." Sendo, the bartender, suspiciously glanced behind him and flashed a toothy grin when Takeshi chuckled at his antics. "You never know. The old ball and chain can be anywhere. Likes to keep me on my toes she says."
With his mood suddenly lightened, Takeshi took another drink, looked around the bar absently, and commented, "Koji-san's night off again?"
"Yeah," grunted the old bartender, seemingly not happy to discuss his new employee.
"Didn't he just start like three weeks ago?" questioned Takeshi.
"Yeah, so?" grunted Sendo in agitation.
"But he had only worked for a total of six days." Takeshi waited for a comment from his old friend after making this statement.
When none came, he admonished dryly, "its bad business to hire someone just for his looks if he's not showing up to use them."
Knowing that he can't dodge the onslaught of comments, Sendo finally replied, albeit sorely, "He does bring in more business, both men and women. Besides, he's a son of a relative from my wife's side. Can't fire him. It'll bring the old woman breathing fire down my neck."
Takeshi was about to make another questioning statement, when just then, Keisuke raised his glass yet again to order another round. Glad to have any distraction, Sendo pounced on his new, now drunken patron, "Hey buddy, I think that's enough for you."
Takeshi absently glanced towards the person his friend was talking to and his eyes lit with recognition. Thus, he mumbled in disbelief, "Takahashi Keisuke. What's he doing here?"
"You know this guy?" questioned Sendo.
Upon seeing the slow nod from Takeshi, Sendo continued, "He came in about half an hour ago. He sure looked frantic then. Now though, looks more like a pile of shit."
At that point, Keisuke slumped down on his seat and fainted on the counter. His head flopped on his right arm while the shot glass in his loosen left hand rolled free and rocked back and forth until it stopped. Sendo threw the towel he was using over his right shoulder and ranted sarcastically, "I knew it! Just great, wonderful! I don't have time for this!"
Upon recognizing that the famous half of the Takahashi Rotary brothers was invading his sanctuary, Takeshi surmised the drunken form for a long thoughtful moment. His usual response told him to leave well enough alone, but suddenly an overwhelming bout of sympathy tore at his conscience urging him to take charge. Denying his better judgment, Takeshi volunteered his services. "Hey, Sendo-san. Don't worry about it. I'll take him off your hands."
Takeshi finished his glass of brandy and walked over towards the sleeping Keisuke. He then noticed the shot glasses in front of him, "How much does he owe ya?"
"Don't worry about it. He gave me a couple thousand yens right off the bat. I should've known he was planning to drink himself under." The bartender sigh in disgust while he watched Takeshi carefully pulled the slacken blond off the seat and supported the fellow with a shoulder.
"Need any help with him?"
Concluding that he had the blond driver well in hand, Takeshi shook his head in negation and headed towards the front entrance. Just then he remembered, "Hey, Sendo-san, this guy drives a yellow Mazda RX-7 that is probably parked right outside. So can you keep an eye on it till tomorrow?"
"One of the new rotary model ones, huh?" Scratching his chin absently, Sendo's business face relented to show a crafty smirk. "Sure, it'll be my pleasure."
Noticing the sly demeanor plastered on his old friend's face, Takeshi shook his head in mock disapproval. He hadn't meant for that to happen but knew better than to begin arguing about it. Thus he threw a teasing warning over his shoulder before he closed the door, "Don't have too much fun."
///Nakazato's apartment – Sometime after midnight///
"I can't believe you actually wasted yourself," muttered a heaving Takeshi who had just successfully maneuvered the heavy Keisuke out of his Skyline GTR without any puking mishaps. He dragged the blond into the elevator and through the doors of his spacious western style apartment.
"Fuck," cursed Takeshi suddenly. He'd just realize his mistake.
It was during times like this that Takeshi cursed himself for not purchasing a large sofa instead of the small cozy leather loveseat in the living room and not having any sets of the traditional futons for guests. It was also during times like this that he'd cursed his sudden bout of sympathy towards anybody, especially towards his opponent no less.
Taking a long look at the drunken figure hanging limply by his side, Takeshi had another bout of sympathy. He placed his hand briefly on his own forehead and remarked rather dryly, "I must be sick or demon possessed. Why else would I have you here?"
Takeshi hadn't expected a reply from the slacken form and he received none. Amused by his own thoughts, he released a large sigh then proceeded to drag the blond towards his bedroom.
Having been on the receiving end of many drunken nights, Takeshi knew being fully clothed while one thrashes around miserably in his drunkenness can be painfully constricting at times to certain body parts and highly uncomfortable by the morning. Heaving another sigh, this time in disgust at the thought of helping the younger man undress, Takeshi gritted his teeth, and bent over the sleeping form that was lying on his bed. He peeled the designer shoes off of Keisuke and dropped them by the front door. Takeshi then returned to the room and began tugging the blue hooded sweater off of the blond. After several tugs in which jarred the sleeping form to grumble sulkily, Takeshi threw the garment on the hardwood floor and proceeded to unbuckle Keisuke's leather belt. When Takeshi finally had the thing pulled off, strong hands grabbed a hold of both his wrists and pulled him down to land fully on top of an awaken Keisuke.
///Fujiwara Takumi's room///
Meanwhile across town, Takumi was fitfully rolling back and forth trying to sleep. Thoughts of the drugging kisses shared with Takahashi Ryousuke plagued his senses. Takumi was at lost in defining what happened between them.
A ring downstairs echoed loudly through the house. With a soft groan, Takumi flipped on his back, threw the covers to the side and slid out of bed as he reluctantly went downstairs to answer the still ringing phone. Under normal circumstances, Takumi would have just let it ring since it was so late at night or yell for his father to pick it up, but unfortunately his father had gone out to drink again and Takumi had given up on sleep.
"Moshi, moshi. Fujiwara Tofu Shop. How may I help you?" answered Takumi automatically.
"Takumi?" questioned a soft voice from the other end. Takumi froze upon hearing the lilting familiar sound.
Not waiting for his verification, the caller pleaded frantically in a low hush, "please come quickly! I don't want to be here anymore!"
Takumi gathered his wits and shoot out in rapid succession, "are you okay? What happened? Where are you?"
"The onsen, by the lake." He heard the caller cried out.
I'll be right there. Just stay put," Takumi then hurriedly ran up to his room and changed into a pair of jeans. He grabbed his keys from his desk, and bounded down the flight of stairs. He flew out of the house with his mind set hell bent towards Mt. Akina.
///TBC - ACT 7: A long night
Review Responses:
Strawberry buttercup – Takumi might or might not, ne? Since he is so dense right? But Ryousuke will definitely have competition, more than he thought he would.
Ultra Rodimus – I like that liner too. I enjoyed writing it very much. As for Keisuke's reaction, I hope you like the results. I revamped it from my last draft.
Liliath– Thanks for the constructive criticism. I don't like apologizing for my shortcomings, but some reviewers tend to be pretty picky on such things. By making a note of it on my fic though, I wanted to make sure that these types of reviewer know what's up. Anyhoot, finding a long stable beta-reader is tough. I'm still looking. Well, I'm glad you like the story.