DISCLAIMER: Neither Busigt-81 nor myself own Initial D...unfortunately
Author: DreamSenshi
Editor: DreamSenshi
Chapter 9
Ryousuke watched in awe as Takumi drifted through the snow-covered turns of Akina with such ease and grace. 'He makes it look so easy. Watching him drive...it's incredible'.
Next to him, Keisuke was just as awed by Takumi's driving as Ryousuke. 'To drift at that speed on a snow covered mountain? That boy must be extremely brave...or incredible stupid.' Keisuke thought to himself as he watched Takumi enter Akina's first hairpin.
Glancing at his brother out of the corner of his eye, Keisuke voiced his opinions aloud, "His incredible isn't he? To be able to control the car at that speed under these conditions...It's amazing." Ryousuke absently nodded his head in reply.
By the time Keisuke exited the second hairpin, Takumi was already out of sight. Seeing no point in continuing the race and wanting to talk to Ryousuke before they reached Akina's base, Keisuke slowed down. "Aniki..." Keisuke hesitantly began, "Do you really think it's wise to let Fujiwara drive with his injured wrist and back?" It wasn't like him to second guess Aniki but Fujiwara's condition had been bothering him since they started practice. Snow and mountain racing were already a deadly combination, but the fact that Fujiwara was injured only heightened the danger. "He could barely stand on his own two feet the last time we saw him."
Ryousuke sighed and raked his fingers through his hair as he leant back in his seat, "I don't want him driving either. But, when I told him that he shouldn't participate in the upcoming race...he looked like I had physically struck him, so I...I couldn't bring myself to stop him."
Keisuke understood that Fujiwara liked racing and to be told to sit out a race would have killed him, but there was still the issue of Fujiwara's injuries, intending to voice his concerns, Keisuke hesitantly said, "But, Aniki..." However, Ryousuke silenced him by raising his hand.
"I made a deal with him instead. I let him know that I didn't want him driving, but I would give him a chance to prove that he was capable of taking part in the challenge. I told him that I would let him take part in the practice races and after watching him, I would make my decision and what I decide would be final," Ryousuke calmly explained.
There was a long pause as Keisuke pondered over his brother's decision. "Hmm...I guess you're right" Keisuke agreed, slowly nodding his head, "If you had taken me out of a challenge without giving me a chance to prove myself, I would have been thoroughly pissed" Keisuke finished with grin directed at his brother who merely smirked in reply.
"We'll call it a night after we modify the cars." Ryousuke announced as he exited the yellow FD with Keisuke following behind him. Spotting Takumi standing at the back of the group, Ryousuke waited for the younger man to look up at him to make sure that he was paying attention. When Takumi's head snapped up to meet his eyes, Ryousuke continued speaking, knowing that Takumi understood the underlying message.
Standing at the back of the group, Takumi's surprised eyes shot up from its contemplation of the ground to meet Ryousuke's calm orbs. Does that mean his letting me race? Takumi couldn't believe it as he listened to Ryousuke explain what modifications would be done. He really is letting me race! If it was in his nature Takumi would have jumped for joy, but as it was, he merely gave Ryousuke a small, tentative smile before looking back down at his hands.
"Fujiwara."
Takumi's intense contemplation of his feet was interrupted by the rich timbre of Ryousuke's calm, soothing voice. Looking up he saw Ryousuke standing directly in front of him. 'How long has he been standing there?' Takumi wondered to himself and blushed under Ryousuke's scrutiny.
"Ryousuke-san..." Takumi began, staring at his clasped hands, "Um...th-thank you...um...for letting me...um...race" Takumi stuttered in a voice so low that Ryousuke had to lean forward to hear him.
Ryousuke couldn't help but smile at the sight before him. Takumi stood staring at his clasped hands, mumbling incoherent sentences and flushing a charming shade of pink. It was quite endearing, actually. When Takumi peeked at him from under his bangs, Ryousuke couldn't refrain from reaching out a hand to brush those very bangs from Takumi's face. He then had the pleasure of watching Takumi's entire face and neck turn a bright red.
Indescribable warmth spread through Takumi's body at Ryousuke's gentle caress. What is this feeling? I've never felt this way before... Takumi's eyes remained glued to Ryousuke's hand as it travelled from his hair to the side of his face to caress his cheek and then back down to Ryousuke's side.
"Fujiwara..." Ryousuke paused and waited for Takumi to respond. When he didn't receive a response, Ryousuke tried again. "Fujiwara..." Ryousuke raised an eyebrow as Takumi remained unresponsive. He watched in amusement as Takumi continued to stare at the hand he had used to brush away Takumi's hair. "Fujiwara" Ryousuke tried again and chuckled as Takumi stood with his eyes transfixed on his hand.
Takumi was snapped out of his reverie by Ryousuke's deep chuckle. His eyes snapped up and Takumi couldn't help but blush, "Ah..."
Hmmm...he looks like his going to pop a blood vessel Ryousuke mused. Now that he had Takumi's attention, and knowing how brief Takumi's attention span was, Ryousuke seized the moment. "Fujiwara..." Ryousuke paused to make sure he still had Takumi's attention, when he was sure he did, he continued, "We need to talk."
Takumi opened his mouth to protest but foreseeing Takumi's resistance, Ryousuke spoke first, "No arguments, Takumi."
Flushing a deeper shade of red from the use of his first name, Takumi gulped and mumbled his consent. He waited for Ryousuke to continue, but when he was met with silence, Takumi looked at Ryousuke, confusion evident in his eyes.
"Not now." Ryousuke said, shaking his head slightly, "You will come back to my place and you and I, along with Keisuke, will talk about what happened the other night." Leaving no room for Takumi to protest, Ryousuke gracefully turned on his heel and walked away with his hands in his trouser pockets.
Takumi sat nervously twiddling his thumps on the Takahashi's sofa, while, to his left, lounging comfortable in an oversized couch, Keisuke sat smoking a cigarette. From the direction of the kitchen, Ryousuke entered the room holding a tray with three cups of coffee. Accepting the proffered cup, Takumi mumbled a barely audible thank you and clutched the cup between his hands as if it was a life preserve.
Slowly, Ryousuke eased himself into the couch on Takumi's right, took a sip of his coffee before leaning back in the couch.
Taking another drag of his cigarette, Keisuke looked between his brother and Takumi and back again, waiting for someone to speak. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Wanting to break the silence and hopefully ease the tension, Keisuke opened his mouth to say something, but was stopped by Ryousuke's shake of his head. He sighed, sat back in his chair and waited for someone to do something. Damn...I hate waiting.
Just as he thought he was going to explode from impatience, Takumi broke the silence. "Um...y-you wanted to sp-speak to me?" Takumi winced at his weak voice. He hadn't wanted to appear intimidated, but when one was in the presence of the famous Takahashi brothers, alone and in their residence; it was hard not to be.
"Fujiwara..." Ryousuke began and winced at his distant tone. Wanting to sound more personal and caring, Ryousuke tried again, "Takumi, you know why we wanted to talk to you."
"Who hit you?" Keisuke, never one to beat around the bush, asked when Ryousuke paused. He didn't like waiting, and if Ryousuke intended to let Takumi be the first to bring up the topic, they would be here forever.
Rolling his eyes at Keisuke's lack of finesse, Ryousuke mused to himself, He was never one for being subtle.
Sitting on the sofa, Takumi's hold on his cup tightened until his knuckles turned white. He didn't want to lie to them again; they had been so kind to him, but he didn't want them to know how pathetic he really was.
Seeing Takumi's hesitation, Ryousuke knew that Takumi wasn't about to divulge any information, so he began the slow and painful process of teeth pulling.
"Takumi...we're here to help you. We want to help you, so please no lies," Ryousuke paused and watched as Takumi slowly raised his eyes to meet his own. "We both like you, Takumi, and we don't want anything bad to happen to you..."
"A bit late for that..." Keisuke mumbled. Seeing his brother glare, Keisuke scratched the back of his neck and laughed nervously, "Oops...Did I say that out loud?"
Keisuke mumbled an apology as Ryousuke shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stave off an upcoming headache.
Takumi tried, unsuccessfully, to stifle a chuckle at Keisuke's evident discomfort. The Takahashi's brothers were reputed for being cold and aloof. However, when they thought no one was watching or when they were in the company of close friends, the brothers would drop the facade and show their affectionate side, like they were now. Takumi didn't classify himself as a "close friend" of the esteemed Takahashi brothers but, sometimes, when he was in their company, he felt like he was wanted and it felt nice. Watching a repentant Keisuke and an obviously frustrate Ryousuke, Takumi couldn't help but smile and mused about how nice it would be to have a sibling.
"Like I was saying, we want to help you. Let us help you." Ryousuke said, interrupting Takumi's wondering thoughts. Ryousuke waited for Takumi to respond to him but when he was met with silence, he sighed in frustration and thought about how to get Takumi to open up. Ryousuke knew that Takumi wasn't one to provide information willingly, especially personal information. But he also didn't want to force the information out of Takumi, but with the way Takumi was behaving they would be here all night, and Ryousuke was slowly reaching the end of his tether. Ryousuke nodded his head, obviously coming to a decision about something and leant forward and asked the question that had been bothering him for the last two days, "Takumi, did your father do that to you?"
