Alright- next chapter! I hope the pacing makes sense here- this chapter starts at the end of Takumi's first day of being missing, and ends in the early morning of Takumi's second day in captivity of the Yakuza (Kai's 3rd). Please review! :)
That evening, well after the closing of the gas station, Yuuichi stopped by the tofu shop yet again to find his old friend leaning against the exterior of the shop, smoking a cigarette.
"They're all out looking for him, you know." Yuuichi said seriously. "Every one of the Akina Speed Stars- hell, even a few from the neighboring towns have come- they've skipped practice, they're searching every street for him…."
"Hmm." Bunta hummed around his cigarette, eyes darting around dully for a moment before he was looking down at his shoes. "Nice of them."
"Apparently Takumi has a lot more friends than we thought." Yuuichi added, before he was placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I know things seem rough, but don't give up…."
"I haven't given up." Bunta mumbled around his cigarette, looking up at Yuuichi in surprise. "What kind of an idiot do you take me for? I just figured I'd wait up, in case the kid manages to find his way home."
Yuuichi sighed. "It's only been a few hours, Bunta. He's only been missing since this morning. He's fine- I'm sure of it. If the police don't find him in the woods, one of his friends is sure to find him wandering along a road somewhere…."
Bunta nodded half-heartedly in agreement, dropping his cigarette and putting it out with the sole of his shoe.
Yuuichi stood with his friend in the darkness for awhile longer, watching the road for a boy who never showed.
"Both of you- with me." The sallow looking saiko-komon stood in the doorway, rousing the two morose teens from their brooding.
They followed apprehensively behind the sallow figure- Takumi shuffling with his hands buried deep in his pockets, head down, and Kai in a stiff and anxious fashion.
They were led into a garage of sorts, where Kumicho Matsuda himself stood, smoking a cigarette.
He beamed at the teens. "I think you boys will like our little set up." He admitted.
Two cars sat in the garage, each shining new- a GTR and a Toyota Supra sat on the pavement, the coat of paint gleaming on each….
"Well?" Matsuda crossed his arms, as his sallow senior advisor- Saiko-komon, they were supposed to address him as- held out two sets of keys. "Are you boys going to be grateful?"
"I can only drive an 86." Takumi spoke up, concerned.
The keys to the Supra were shoved into his hands, however, and he was ushered over to the black Supra by Saiko-komon, who was grinning like a viper.
"You'll have to learn to drive a supra, then. Some things are more important than your comfort, so be grateful." Takumi was shoved roughly into the driver's seat, the door shut roughly behind him, before the sallow man climbed into the passenger seat, his pistol resting in his lap.
He gave Takumi a ghoulish smile, nodding towards the steering column. "Let's begin, shall we?"
Takumi turned the key in the ignition, already feeling his hands begin to sweat as he shifted into first, allowing the car to roll forward, down the rough gravel drive.
His passenger said nothing at first, and Takumi took to the rather hilly roads, soon losing some of the tension in his body as he focused on his true love- driving.
Slowly, the landscape grew more and more urban- the rare house multiplied into to, then to small villages, to multi-lane roads summiting in a large mass of city, lit by bright lights that were nearly blinding….
He wasn't used to driving in so much traffic, and he blinked stupidly as they were stopped in traffic at a red light, trying to gather his bearings….
"You try and run from this car, and I will shoot you." Saiko-komon said with a sadistic grin.
Takumi's eyes widened for a brief moment, before he nodded seriously. "Understood."
He accelerated up a rather steep hill.
"Turn here." Saiko-komon frowned when Takumi missed the turn.
"S-sorry." Takumi blustered, feeling the color drain from his face. "I-I'm not used to the traffic, I'll turn here, at the next street over…."
"See that you do." Saiko-komon spoke icily, his sallow skin turning a sinister shade of yellow as he fingered the pistol in his lap thoughtfully.
Takumi managed to turn onto the side street successfully, and obeyed his leader's orders to the letter for the next several minutes, taking every turn he was instructed to, until he found himself at the base of a rather poorly lit mountain.
Takumi sighed, relieved- it was much les stressful to drive a mountain pass than it had been crawling through the city, with cars so close on either side of him and no room to maneuver.
"Get us through this pass as fast as you possibly can." Saiko-komon instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"R-right." Takumi's gaze lingered on the gun resting in the man's lap, and he took a deep breath, steadying himself, before he tuned everything out- the fear and hunger gnawing in his gut, the unfamiliar feel of the Supra's pedals beneath his feet- it was all just one big distraction, really, and he drown it all out with the roaring of the engine.
Within the first three corners, Takumi had gotten a feel for the car's handling, and he took the rest of the pass at what would've been a suicidal speed.
He sighed contentedly as he left the pass, and Saiko-komon nodded to him, satisfied. "Take the next left."
Takumi nodded, biting his lip and following the senior advisor's instructions to the letter, pujlling back into the garage of the remote home.
He saw Kai hadn't returned yet and frowned- he hoped the other boy was alright.
"Go- get out of my sight. Stop in the kitchen and grab some dinner- can't have your dumbass collapsing." Saiko-komon spoke up, looking at the teen with contempt.
Takumi nodded, eagerly taking his leave and walking hurriedly into the home.
He was like a shadow in the hallways, searching the rooms nervously until he found the kitchen. He was starving- he hadn't eaten all day- but fear gnawed at the pit of his stomach more than anything. He didn't want to stay in the kitchen and cook for fear of running into other gang members- he grabbed an apple, two rolls, and a hunk of cheese, before he was darting back into the hallway, struggling to recall the layout of the place.
He jogged up the stiars, relieved to find his room. He shut the door behind him, climbing on his bed and waiting nibbling on his roll nervously, watching the door.
He could've shot me. Takumi realized, and he pulled the roll away from his mouth, the current bite he was chewing suddenly feeling like sand as his body refused to swallow.
He took a breath, managing to calm his frayed enrves and swallowing, taking another bite of bread. Just… don't think about it. Don't let fear paralyze you. Besides, you need to eat- you'll need your strength for when the police locate you… or if I can find the chance to run.
About a half hour later, Kai entered the room, looking rather pale.
Takumi looked at his friend apprehensively, and Kai sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "They made me drive through a mountain. Mount Utatsu, the signs said… we're close to the city of Kananzawa."
Takumi nodded seriously. "We're in the Ishikawa Prefecture." He admitted. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that he was two whole prefectures away from Gunma. He'd never been that far from home before- not even on school trips. It made him feel incredibly homesick- and the fact that he was powerless to do anything to leave wasn't helping him cope any.
"Kumicho had a gun in his lap the entire time." Kai admitted, letting out a sigh.
Takumi nodded, and for a moment, they sat in morose silence.
"What do you think they want with us?" Kai asked, looking uncertain.
Takumi shrugged. "Maybe… maybe they're just looking for street racers? Perhaps they want us to beat their rivals in a street race?"
Kai scoffed. "Yeah, because that totally makes sense. The Yakuza kidnaps us so we can win a street race for them."
"It was just a suggestion." Takumi muttered.
Kai sighed, resting his head in his hands. "Sorry. I'm just tired and hungry. I haven't had anything to eat all day."
"Oh yeah. I saved you this." Takumi handed Kai a roll, and Kai's eyes widened. "Thank you." He tore into the bread, and Takumi nodded.
"Saiko-komon told me to go and grab something to eat, so I know where the kitchen is…." Takumi admitted. "They said the door to our room is unlocked earlier, but I'm hesitant to go outside. I don't want to meet any other gang members."
Kai nodded between bites of his roll. "True- but we'll have to eat."
Takumi nodded solemnly- truthfully, he was incredibly tired.
Kai finished his roll, wiping his mouth on his sleeves. "I have a sinking feeling that they'll make us do something illegal." Kai spoke seriously. "I mean, street racing is illegal- but I have a feeling whatever they need us for, it's something decidedly more dangerous."
Takumi nodded. It seemed as though the air in their room had gotten a lot heavier.
"My father's noticed I'm gone, of course- the police will be looking for us everywhere. It's only a matter of time before they find us." Kai stated, trying to sound sure.
"Hmm." Takumi nodded, rolling over onto his bed. It was getting late, and he'd do well to get some sleep.
The door swung open in the wee hours of the morning, a loud voice rousing both boys.
"Both of you- get your asses up." Saiko-komon's rough voice spoke. Kai moaned and rolled voer, and Takumi blinked blearily, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. It felt like the wee hours of the morning- about time for when he usually did the tofu delivery.
"Get down to the garage. Don't keep Kumicho waiting." Saiko-komon barked, before he'd stalked out of the room.
Takumi stood, stretching, before he was grabbing Kai. "Kai- hey, c'mon, get up!"
"Don' wanna…."
"Do you want to get shot!?" Takumi snapped, yanking Kai out of bed. " C'mon- I'm not getting in trouble because of you." He dragged a bleary Kai downstairs and into the garage, and the two made it into the garage at a decent hour.
Saiko-komon stood, arms crossed, looking at the sleepy teens with distaste. Kumicho grinned at them, his spiky hair and denim jacket looking sharp in the dull light. A few other curious gangsters were gathered around the garage, eying the two teens with contempt and speaking to one another in hushed tones.
Kumicho nodded to Takumi. "I've heard you possess great skill."
Takumi looked over at Saiko-komon hesitantly. Had the surly senior advisor really told his leader that?
Kumicho nodded to Takumi, climbing into the co-pilot's seat of the Supra. "Let's see if he was correct."
Takumi nodded quietly, situating himself into the driver's seat and pulling out of the large garage.
Dawn hadn't broken yet, and Takumi took the rough hills with ease, watching as the landscape became more urban. The city of Kanazawa was sleepy, the roads nearly deserted, the low burn of street lights illuminating the way.
As they climbed the steep hills, Takumi failed to even notice his passenger, reaching the peak of the mountains and gunning the engine, running the corners at breakneck speed. Any sidewalk pedestrians would've run from the roaring engine, but the tail of the supra drifted an inch from the curve, clearing turn after turn until they were back on rural roads, heading towards what Takumi hoped was the house.
Kumicho grinned. "You drive as though you want to die." He spoke finally, grinning. "But you have the skills to outrun anyone. You're exactly what we need."
Takumi nodded, looking over at the man hesitantly. "Can we head back to the house, Kumicho?" he spoke quietly keeping his eyes down.
Kumicho nodded, and Takumi turned the car down another nearly deserted road, pulling back into the garage.
"So- you're as good as my boys said you were." Kumicho said, grinning. "Head upstairs and get some rest. Tonight- prepare for a race."
Bunta tried to focus on the tofu. The sound of running water seemed to mesmerize him as he rinsed out the tofu machines.
He'd have to go on the deliveries soon, but he was putting it off, hoping against hope there would be a call….
The house was so quiet…. The air seemed a lot colder….
The ringing of the phone shattered the silence, and bunta fairly tore the receiver off the hook, putting it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Is this Fujiwara-san?"
"Yes."
"We'd appreciate it if you'd come down to the station?"
"Takumi?"
"No, I'm afraid we haven't found your son, Fujiwara-san…."
Bunta's heart dropped.
"But we believe we've connected his disappearance to the case of another missing boy in Tochigi prefecture…." Bunta had already dropped the phone- it hung uselessly from its cord as Bunta grabbed the keys to the 86.
"Hello? Fujiwara-san?" the voice crackled over the phone as the door of the shop slammed, and the sound of a motor starting was the only sound as Bunta tore into the street.
Five minutes later, he was stepping out of the car and jogging into the police station. The secretary looked up, surprised by Bunta's abrupt entrance- Lieutenant Tomo stepped into the room a moment later, nodding to Bunta.
"Glad to see you, Fujiwara-san. If you'd follow me…."
Bunta fell into step beside the lieutenant, feeling anxious.
"We've linked your son's disappearance to a similar situation in the Tochigi prefecture- two days ago, a boy roughly the same age as Takumi disappeared from the Tochigi prefecture. The disappearance of Kai Kogashiwa is remarkable similar-"
Bunta had stopped walking.
"Fujiwara-san?"
"Did you just say Kogashiwa?"
Tomo nodded. "Yes. We've called the boy's father here to discuss the similarities of the cases- are you familiar with him at all?" the Lieutenant suddenly looked interested, pulling a notepad and pen from his pocket.
Bunta nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I know him…." Bunta hurried down the hallway into a conference room to find himself staring at his old rival.
"Ken. Long time no see." Bunta said morosely.
Kogashiwa was older- he wore square-rimmed glasses, and the man looked absolutely exhausted, though he stood when Bunta entered the room.
"Bunta. It's good to see you again, though I wish the circumstances were different…."
"As do I."
"Can I ask how you two are familiar? Any connections between you two are important." Lieutenant Tomo looked interested.
Bunta nodded, looking over at Ken. His older rival nodded- both men came to a silent agreement to disclose everything. While street racing was illegal, laws regarding it weren't really enforced- and even if there were consequences, Bunta would gladly face them if it meant finding Takumi sooner.
"We raced one another on the mountain passes, back in the day." Bunta said calmly.
Ken nodded.
"I take it you were on the street racing scene?"
Bunta nodded, and Tomo scribbled something on his notepad.
"And your sons- were they involved in street racing, as well?"
"Yes." Bunta said without hesitation. "Takumi's skills were still developing, but he's won several battles."
Kogashiwa looked surprised, before he nodded. "Kai has been in a battle or two, but he'd just started. He mostly drove go karts and motor cycles, until he got his license- but he drove Irohazaka every day on his way to school."
"And Takumi? Does your son have sufficient driving skills?" Tomo asked.
Bunta nodded. "Kid's sufficient- but he could be a lot better."
"Do either of you have any enemies?" Tomo asked.
Ken frowned, and Bunta shook his head. "No. Old rivals, yes, but none of them would do this-"
If one of his old rivals had taken his son, they'd need divine intervention, as Bunta was going wring their neck when they were caught….
Lieutenant Tomo frowned. "Odd. Do your boys know each other?"
"No. Takumi's never met Ken or Kai, to my knowledge." Bunta spoke up, and Ken nodded.
"Kai mentioned something about hearing of a new 86 driver on Akina, but I doubt he knows Takumi by name."
Luietenant Tomo nodded, getting to his feet. "Thank you for both your information. I have to make some calls-" Tomo nodded to both men. "Thank you for coming, Kogashiwa-san. You can both return home, we'll call you if we discover anything…."
The Luietenant ducked out of the room, and Ken and Bunta stared at one another for a moment, taking in their old rivals.
"I'm sorry about your boy, Ken." Bunta said finally.
Ken nodded sadly. "I could say the same to you."
"How'd it happen?"
"I got a call he didn't show up to class that day- I assumed he was skipping, I went down the hill to look for him- found his car still running, door open- he was just… gone. You?"
"I sent him on the morning Tofu delivery like I always do. He was late coming back, I assumed he was driving the pass, working on his technique. I finally went up to look for him- found the 86 running, door open, one of his shoes lying in the road, some blood on the pavement…."
Bunta looked away, falling silent.
Ken had closed his eyes, and his hand had clenched into a fist. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, well, being sorry isn't going to bring either of them home." Bunta said, looking back over at his old rival. "I can't see what anyone would want with Takumi- kid's an okay driver, but he's spacey as hell, his grades are nothing special- he's a simple kid."
Ken sighed. "I don't get why anyone would take Kai, either. He's just a kid…. I'm waiting for a ransom, personally. I'll pay any price to get the kid back safe. But it's been two days, and no word…. Let's hope they're together, at least. Someone easygoing like your son might help Kai keep a cool head, wherever they are…."
Bunta nodded thoughtfully. It was a bit heartening to think the boys were together- they'd look out for one another while their fathers couldn't.
"You wanna come over to my place? You look like you haven't slept in days- you could probably use a mean. Plus you'd be nearby, in case they called with anything…."
"Thank you- it's a generous offer, but I have to get home. My wife is hysterical about Kai, and my daughter's been very quiet- she's scared, and she misses her older brother. I may take you up on that offer if I have to come down here again..." Ken spoke up, standing.
Bunta nodded. "Someone's taken our boys, Ken. When they find out who, I expect your help kicking their asses."
The ghost of a smile appeared on Ken's face as he headed for the door. "You can count on it."
Any feedback is appreciated! :)