DISCLAIMER: Neither Busigt-81 nor myself own Initial D...unfortunately
Author: Busigt-81
Editor: DreamSenshi
Chapter 8
The next morning Takumi did the run again, he bowed his head not wanting to be disrespectful as Bunta gave him the cup of water. As the younger Fujiwara was driving home his thoughts were of his father.
After he had parked the 86 in its' usual parking spot, Takumi walked into the living room where Bunta was sitting, reading the newspaper.
"I'm sorry..." Takumi said in a low voice looking at his feet but somehow he noticed that Bunta stopped reading. When his father didn't say anything he continued, "For hitting you..."
"Hmm" Bunta squinted at the paper and then nodded to himself before finding words to speak: "Get me some sake, boy."
Ryousuke sat staring at his computer, he was trying to work on a simulation to help improve his ace's driving but his thoughts kept wandering to Takumi.
He shook his head, amazed over that he suddenly couldn't spend 24 hours without knowing how Takumi was.
Ryousuke closed his laptop and stood up walking over to the window to watch the falling snow. He was worried that he hadn't heard from the young Fujiwara, he could at least call to say that they made it home! He lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, he looked up as his younger brother walked in.
"So you're going because of this "waiting" too, huh?" Ryousuke smiled at his brothers words and was, once again, amazed over how easily his brother could read him.
"Yeah, I feel you, Aniki." Keisuke continued as he lit up his own cigarette. "At least he could call us or something..."
"We both know Takumi." Ryousuke said. "He would never call, he hasn't called before and I think that we really need to talk with him before he starts to."
"I know. I know." Keisuke muttered irritably, "but I that doesn't mean that I like it." He concluded in a huff.
"Me to, Keisuke. Me too." Ryousuke sighed as he turned away from the window. Their home phone started to ring and the older Takahashi answered. After a couple of minutes he hung up and looked at his brother. "Well, maybe this would help us to think about other things. We've just been challenged to snow drifting on the Akina."
Takumi lay on his bed and looked at the ceiling, he heard Bunta moving around downstairs, probably making tofu. He sighed and shifted so he lay on his side, looking out the window. It was snowing outside and he wanted to be out there, driving, drifting but he didn't want to disturb Bunta more the necessary. He felt like they had reached a temporary truce but you could never know what would break it.
Takumi's thoughts wandered to the two Takahashi brothers. They had been really nice to him yesterday and he had enjoyed the warm feeling when Ryousuke had touched his cheek. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine the sweet sensation again.
He was shaken from his daydreaming by the phone ringing and he moved to his door as he heard Bunta pick it up.
"Fujiwara tofu shop..." Bunta's voice was a bit raspy but Takumi could clearly hear: "What do you want Takahashi-san?"
Takumi felt hot and cold at the same time when he heard the Takahashi name being spoken, he could understand why they were calling him but it still made him wonder every time. But as the phone call became longer than: "Can I speak to Takumi"-style, he felt himself becoming worried. Were they telling Bunta that they didn't want him on the team anymore and asking him to pass the message on? Ryousuke did say that he had risked Keisuke's life, when he was driving with his injured hand and maybe now when they had had time to think about it, they didn't want him as part of project D anymore.
"Takumi! Phone!" Bunta yelled and Takumi walked slowly down the stairs, looking at his father before taking the phone. Bunta looked at him with his half closed eyes, grunted and then walked out to the kitchen. Hesitantly, Takumi placed the phone to his hear and mumbled his name into it.
"Fujiwara" Hearing this Takumi froze, 'He called me' Fujiwara' again. What happened to 'Takumi'? Does this mean he doesn't care anymore?' Takumi was so caught up in his own thoughts; he almost missed what Ryousuke said next,
"Are you alright?"
"Yes." Takumi didn't know what to say, the older Takahashi sounded worried and somehow it made Takumi feel better.
"Good. Project D has been challenged to snow drift on the Akina," Ryousuke said, "We start practice tomorrow."
"Ok."
"And Takumi?"
"Yes?" Takumi felt butterflies in his stomach at the use of his first name, he heard Keisuke in the background and Ryousuke sighed before he continued.
"We'll have that talk."
Takumi froze, unsure of what to do. Did he really want to talk to Ryousuke about what was happening at home? After a while Takumi sighed and mumbled, "Ok." 'It's not like I have a choice on the matter. When Ryousuke-san wanted something not even a tsunami could stop him' Takumi thought to himself.
"See you tomorrow." Ryousuke heard Takumi hang up the phone and he did the same. Ryousuke felt relieved when he heard the young driver's voice. He had sounded alright, not saying much, but Takumi was known for saying practically nothing. He took a long drag from his cigarette, he had had a little talk with Bunta about letting Takumi drive and felt that they had reached some understanding. But it was only temporary and if the talk with Takumi revealed what he suspected, the next talk with Fujiwara Bunta wouldn't be so "little".
