Disclaimer: I don't own Initial D; it is one of my favorite comics. I hope that my fanfic won't offend any Initial D's fans. I have created a female Takumi instead under the name of Tatsuki; I hope you will like them. This is a fanfic. All characters except for Initial D's characters are all imaginary characters. Most of the details are fictional and any similarities are coincidence.
The buzzing sound of alarm clock was sounded in the early morning. The girl on bed tucked her head under the pillow, was not ready to wake up. She sat up with annoyance as the alarm was still buzzing.
'Who the hell put it there?' Tatsuki muttered in her thoughts.
She got up and slammed her hand on the button, slowly moving herself into the bathroom. She had been in her bed since yesterday morning when she came back from Sadamine. She slipped on a singlet and a pair of shorts before leaving her room. As she walked towards the door of the shop house, she heard an unfamiliar sound from a car engine.
"I should have thought of that... who the hell in this world would do such things to me... the most idiotic person in this planet... who the hack would drive so dangerously, so recklessly fast on my turf... stupid!" Tatsuki squatted down next to the blue car, rubbing her head as she bleated on the defeat earlier.
"I want you to alternate the Trueno and this car from today onwards for delivery. And you should go now, it's getting late," Bunta said, holding his laughter as he watched his little girl still brooding over her defeat.
"You call this practical? Hell No!" Tatsuki raised her voice at her father.
"Watch your manners, girl," Bunta said with a smile.
Tatsuki never thought that driving this blue car would have a big impact on her. She began to doubt herself and confused. The more she drove it, the cloudier her mind was. She returned home in muddled silence. She then left with her father to Tokyo for the board meeting. Bunta did a brief introduction on the Impreza WRX to his girl while they were on their way to Tokyo. Tatsuki never drove any 4WD cars, though she had a few races with the Lancer Evo.
The stern face of Sun Entertainment artist was seen by all the staff at the studio. Tatsuki walked straight to her dressing room. Jen was ready to trim her hair and colored it black. She sat on the chair, drawing on a sketch book. It took a few hours to get her new hair done. She just made full use of her time doing some other work.
Tatsuki came to her penthouse in the evening. She bought their dinner tonight. Ryosuke, who was just knocked off his work at the hospital, was smiling at her new look. He preferred her in black hair. Tatsuki stopped in front of him, pulled his head down and kissed him. She was so frustrated with how stupid she was from the morning. Her clumsy and forceful kisses were pleasurable to Ryosuke. Though he did not know why she was so cranky, he quite liked the way she chose to vent her anger.
"Let's have dinner," she said after she cooled down.
"Have you thought of where you want to do your internship?" Tatsuki asked.
"Either Tokyo University Hospital or Gunma University Hospital. But there is a chance that I may be posted to other hospitals too," Ryosuke replied.
"Do you want to do your last two years and internship overseas? It would make a big difference than just stay in Japan," she asked.
"Of course, I won't turn down such opportunity," he replied looking at his girlfriend.
Tatsuki looked at him while her mind was occupying with the possible ways to make this happened. She briefly told him how long it would take for these overseas studies and what were the possible paths he could take. Ryosuke nodded as he knew that his career path would be different from what he had now. With overseas experience, it would help him in his management role at his family hospital. Tatsuki told him that she would only be able to join him after a year. She had 7-8 months long of concert tours before she could leave Japan. He wondered why she suddenly initiated this subject.
"I just want the best thing for you," she said with her eyes fixed on him.
They were looking at each other as they talked about their future. Tatsuki could work anywhere but Ryosuke could not. She never believed in long distance relationships. One year was her limit. Slowly, their subject changed to her doubts in her Hachi-Roku. Ryosuke felt that he had to check with her father on his training plan for her.
They left the penthouse after dinner. Tatsuki looked up at Ryosuke as his RX7 stopped in front of her house. Her gaze lowered and fixed at his neck. She found his shirt and necktie were an obstacle. But she could not bring herself to do what she had in mind. She got out of the car eventually. Ryosuke chuckled at her back out behavior. He was expecting her to do something bold.
Ryosuke met Tatsuki on Friday noon at her house. He wore a t-shirt with a shirt and jeans today. Tatsuki was wearing a cropped singlet with jacket and jeans, matching color to his. He took her out for lunch before they met with the team. As they sat in the car after their lunch, Ryosuke told her that this opponent would be a tough competitor.
It was a surprise sight to see Ryosuke and Tatsuki to come together. Matsumoto was the only one at the meeting venue at this moment. He found that he came to know their little secrets. Though they did not show any intimate behavior, he could sense their closeness even when they just stood there. Ryosuke was having some chats with Matsumoto as Tatsuki was waiting in the car. Matsumoto noticed the faint mark on the leader's neck under his shirt collar. Ryosuke smiled when his mechanic hinted him at what he saw.
"Please keep it a secret, thanks," Ryosuke said as his eyes were on the Hachi-Roku's driver.
Tatsuki was sitting in her car, writing on her notebook. She just wrote a new song "hearsay". She was still editing the lyrics and slowly the rhythm was coming into her head. She was singing the new song in a cappella version. She wished she had at least a keyboard with her so she could finish this piece when her inspiration was vividly in her mind.
Tatsuki was quieter than usual as she sat at the dinner table. After a few months of idling, she had not written any new songs. She still had her new season of clothes to design. She was drawing on a piece of paper with her left hand while eating with right hand. Ryosuke knocked on the table when he saw her multitask behavior.
"Keep it and eat," Ryosuke said.
"Ok," she replied and quickly finished her drawing.
She looked at the sketch, put the colors on it and checked. With her satisfaction, she kept it and continued with her food. At least, she had a song and a croquis today.
The Project D arrive at Maze Pass in the evening. Tatsuki put on her black mask before she got out of the car. She stood by her car, watching Matsumoto working on it. As Ryosuke briefed her earlier, this would be a difficult race for her. She looked at the sky, the possibility of rain was high. She then went for her practice rounds. While the guys chose to stay in their cars for rest, she just went to her house for a good rest. Ryosuke came in an hour later. She was ready to sleep. She gave him his towel and pajamas. She tucked herself into the bed. Ryosuke slipped into her bed, wrapped his arms around her from the back. They both fell asleep together.
Tatsuki looked down on her waist, seeing a hand on hers. She quietly slipped out of the bed. She had a shower and changed into her new clothes, similar to the one she wore yesterday. She made a meal for both of them and went out to meet Matsumoto. The driver and her mechanic were on the pass. She was observing the course to see where were the rainwater flowing and where the paddle of water would be. It was raining at this moment. She made a round on the course registering the details on her head. She returned to her house, finding her boyfriend was sitting at the dining table working on the laptop. They had their meals before they left to meet with the team.
The downhill battle started at 8pm. It was raining continuously from the afternoon and there was no sign of stopping. Tatsuki introduced herself to Sakamoto before they started. She did not get what Ryosuke was telling her. She tried to keep up with the Cappuccino while she was thinking what exactly Ryosuke meant. She was quite against the choice of overtaking on the straight road to win. She recalled how Kyoichi and her idiot father did with their 4WD cars. She passed the Cappuccino at the last moment, winning the battle without going into the second round. She got back to the team after winning. Ryosuke explained her doubts while waiting for Keisuke's hill climb battle to unveil itself. He told her that in the racing world, you would do anything to win the race. No one cared how you win as long as you follow the rules. With a more powerful car, overtaking on the straight line was common.
"Remember, winning is the only thing I want from you," he tapped her shoulder.
Ryosuke knew that Tatsuki would understand soon. She might be confused now but she would be able to accept it eventually. He told her to take a rest as the time attack was cancelled due to rain. She got into her car and listened to her new song. The sight of the Hachi-Roku driver singing in her car was something new to people around the parking space. She asked Ryosuke if she could make a move first. He told her to wait as Keisuke's battle was still in progress. He knew that she was eager to go back to lake Akina to continue her work.
Tatsuki was immersed in her fashion design for fall/winter season. She had spent her time at Akina warehouse. She had her regular guest almost every evening. Ryosuke also stayed over frequently at her place. As their relationship was just began, Tatsuki tried to stay in Akina and put off any business traveling. They would make dinner together. She would help him with his clinical reports. He would watch Tatsuki drawing or sometimes played piano, writing songs. They sometimes went out for a jog around the lake. Ever since they were together, Ryosuke's life changed. She led him towards a healthier lifestyle, beginning with some workouts and making meals for him. His life was no longer just studying and racing. She always had her way for him to sleep early. It was one of his desires to wake up with her every morning. However, they never crossed the line no matter how intimate they were. They were always stopped at kissing and hugging.
As usual, Tatsuki came back to her warehouse after her practice before Ryosuke woke up. She sat on the bed, waking him up. He wrapped his arms around her waist as he snuggled up on her lap. She smiled and pinched his cheek.
"You're going to be late," she said.
"Morning kiss," he said.
"After you've showered and get ready for school," she told him and got up to choose his clothes for today.
"You know... you're just a perfect wife for me," he smiled.
"Thanks for your compliment. But... you're still not near to a perfect husband to me," she laughed softly as she grabbed a light blue shirt.
Tatsuki was in the kitchen making breakfast for them. She watched him eat and sent him off before she began her work. She loved their way of life at the moment. It was comfortable.
Ryosuke bought a bouquet of white roses and picked Tatsuki up. They were going to Kaori's grave today. Ryosuke placed the roses in front of her gravestone. He introduced Tatsuki to his late love interest. Tatsuki held his hand tight as she said her gratitude message to Kaori. Ryosuke was so touched by her words. He could feel that Kaori was smiling happily at him. He could not help but to hug his girlfriend as tight as he could. She was the best gift to him.
Tatsuki led him to see her mother. She saw a stem of white lily on the granite slab, knowing who was here earlier. She introduced Ryosuke to her mother and began to complain about Bunta. She told her mom how her father was playing pranks on her again and continued to the trouble she had with his new car. Ryosuke was quite surprised when he heard that she knew what her father wanted her to discover. The weakness of the Hachi-Roku and its limitations. However, she could not let it go. It was full of her childhood memories. She thought she could continue driving it forever. Her words were contradicted by her complaints. A part of her said she could just keep driving and another told her to look for another car.
Both of them were now on their way to meet the Project D team for a meeting. Tatsuki was in a puffy sleeves white dress, walking a distance behind Ryosuke. She sat the end of the table, listening to the briefing. They were battling with the LAN Evo team this weekend. Everyone was looking at her as they never saw her in a dress. Matsumoto even afraid that her dress might get dirty in this garage. Tatsuki shrugged her shoulders and told him that it was fine. She received the course footage and left in her car. The team was still speculating about their leader and downhill ace.
Ryosuke shook his head when she left without him. His car was still parking in her Akina cottage driveway. He had no choice but to take Keisuke's FD home. Keisuke was sitting in Ryosuke's room, asking about his relationship with Tatsuki. Ryosuke took a deep breath before replied that they were just friends. He did not want to hide from his brother but it was not the right time. He then asked Keisuke about Kyoko. Keisuke told his Aniki that he had no intention of seeing this girl or anyone at this moment.
Tatsuki was standing among the Project D crews looking at the damaged FD on the Tsuchisaka Pass. Their opponents were nasty and played dirty games against them. Tatsuki felt sorry for Keisuke but she still had her practice to do. She was more seriously driving down the course than her usual pace. She asked Ryosuke after her practice if he wanted to use the FD in her garage. He had thought of that and arranged the transport for it in the afternoon. She came by Keisuke's FD site to see if she could help out. However, he turned down and told her to rest well for tonight battle.
Kyoko, who was following Keisuke, came up to see his race. She found him on the course with his crippled FD. Keisuke decided to borrow Kyoko's car to race. He came to his brother and told him what he wanted. Ryosuke sighed and took out his phone to cancel the replacement car. Without any practice, Keisuke still fought hard to get back his and the team's pride. He tailed the Lancer Evo and saw the line to take. He passed the Evo when they were side by side. Aikawa was pissed off when he back down, thinking that he would crash. He confronted Keisuke after the battle and got slammed back by Keisuke on how much space each of them had back there which he could pulled through safely.
When it was Tatsuki's turn, Ichijo approached her for a small talk and told her about his friend calling some gangsters. He was sure that the driver would be intimidated by his words especially when she was a girl. Tatsuki looked up at the Evo driver with a corner of her mouth slightly raised upward. If Ichijo knew her, he would never pull such a trick. She relayed Ichijo's message to Matsumoto and assured him that she was alright. She still remembered what Ryosuke told him on the previous race. Winning was the only thing that he wanted.
Matsumoto passed Tatsuki's message to Keisuke. He thought it was just a bluff. Meanwhile, Tatsuki was studying the Evo VI from behind. She was quite annoyed at how bad his braking technique was. Matsumoto and Fumihiro were worried about Tatsuki being affected by the threat. However, Ryosuke believed otherwise. He knew that Tatsuki was different especially when she was one of the Seiki Academy legends. He recalled the first time he met Tatsuki at the hospital. The girl was so calm and did not even care for her injury. Keisuke also trusted that Tatsuki would never be affected as her concentration was top notch when she was behind the wheel. She passed the Evo VI when the car ran onto the oil slick. With the thought that he still had chance to win, he had no idea how her braking technique was. Tatsuki showed this guy what the true braking technique was.
Ryosuke instructed the team of what they had to do in this situation when cars spotted coming up their way. Tatsuki knew she could help but Ryosuke declined her offer. She was upset especially when she could not vent her frustration on someone. Nevertheless, Keisuke knew the gangster leader and nothing happened. They packed up and headed home. Tatsuki had a clear idea of what she should do after the race. She had to focus more on practicing her acceleration and braking skills to overcome the weakness of her car.
Tatsuki had been racing downhill on Akina Pass alternately in his Hachi-Roku and Impreza every morning. She was racing with herself competitively, beating her own imaginary car. Bunta had saw Tatsuki's changes recently. He knew what on his daughter's mind. But she would be forever chasing that imaginary rival.
With two weeks of break from expedition races, she had more time to herself. Tatsuki told Ryosuke that she would not be contactable for a week or so. She then drove her pink S2000 to a farm in Akagi area where the car disappeared into a small dirt road. Tatsuki walked into her basement laboratory, putting on her white gown before she locked herself in it. Ryosuke looked at the text messages on his phone, wondering where she was. He tried contacting her every day but her phone was turned off. He knew that she was busy with her work.
Tatsuki dragged herself home after ten days in the laboratory. She looked at the letters on her table before she went to bed. She woke up the next day afternoon. Tatsuki drove the Impreza to Maebashi to look for Ryosuke this afternoon. She stood at the gate waiting.
"What are you doing at my house?" Keisuke asked when he opened the gate.
"Is Ryosuke-San in?" Tatsuki asked.
"Do you know how busy my brother is? And he doesn't have much time to date you or something," he said annoyingly.
"Can you help me telling him that I'm here?" Tatsuki told the blonde man.
"Wait here," he replied annoyingly.
Tatsuki nodded and stood by her car. She could just walk in and find Ryosuke, but that would make Keisuke knew about their relationship. She leaned against the Impreza as she occupied herself with a lab report in her hand. Time passed and there was still no sign of Ryosuke. Tatsuki patiently waited at her car.
Ryosuke paced towards his girlfriend when he heard that she was waiting. Keisuke felt that Tatsuki was interrupting his brother and even gave a false impression to him. He did not want his brother to be upset when she had no intention to become his girlfriend. He took his own sweet time to call his elder brother. Ryosuke looked at Tatsuki who was focused on her work. Tatsuki gave him the offer letters from prestigious universities overseas. He was very surprised by how quickly she got them. It was just a fortnight ago when they discussed on his future. He looked at her distance expression, knowing that Keisuke was watching behind. He told her to wait for him in her warehouse so they could talk. He watched the girl left.
Ryosuke turned around and looked at his brother. Keisuke was quite nosy about the envelopes in his brother's hand. Ryosuke walked back to his room to get his laptop and bag. He then drove off in his FC, leaving Keisuke hanging in his curiosity. He caught up with the Impreza halfway to Akina. He led her car, allowing her to see how would tackle the hill climb up the Akina. Tatsuki had registered his lines in her head. They drove into the garage area. Ryosuke got out of his car immediately and pulled his girlfriend into his embrace. He missed her so much. He kissed her passionately and only broke off their kisses when she was breathless. Tatsuki was leaning against his chest, breathing heavily.
"Any suggestions for the transfer?" he asked while stroking her back.
Tatsuki looked at him with a mischievous smile. "What will I get for giving you advice?" Tatsuki asked.
"A little getaway to wherever you want to go," he replied.
She shook her head, "Not interested."
"So, what do you want for an exchange?" Ryosuke asked as he caressed her swollen lips.
"No idea at the moment. You owned me first and I give you one week to propose your offer to me... if... you still can't, you must pay me an interest," she said.
"Why don't I just wrap myself up and give to you?" Ryosuke teased.
"No, no, no. You're too expensive to keep," she shook her head profusely.
Tatsuki told him that she had a good friend at Harvard who could mentor him. Ryosuke was surprised who her friend was. He knew it was the greatest opportunity to be mentoring under this professor. She added that Haruka and Asahi were there so they could help him out when he needed. Another option was University of Oxford where her other two friends were studying in Cambridge.
"I think they'd probably keep an eye on me for you," Ryosuke smirked.
"Oh, you're so smart!" she patted his head.
"Can I stay here tonight?" he asked.
Tatsuki nodded with a smile. She missed him too. She told him that he should plan his departure properly. She suggested to be there early to familiarize himself with the place. He still needed to improve his English so she suggested that they could use English in their every day's communication. She had a house nearby so he would be staying there till she moved in a year later. He looked at her face searching for any deceptions. She assured him that the house would be their little love nest. She would be staying there till he graduated or even finished his internship. He was touched by how she tried to accommodate him.
"Will you marry me? I mean after the Project D is over," she proposed with a racing heart.
"That's my line. Let me be the one to do it," he replied and kissed her lips.
"I'm afraid that you might find someone else..." she mumbled softly.
"When did my love lose her confidence in herself and me?" Ryosuke held her tight in his arms. "I'll never leave you, Tatsuki. Remember you're my last love. If I could make you mine, I'd do it already..."
It was not that he did not want to further their relationship. However, he respected Bunta and wanted his approval before they took the next step. They had some discussion about his transfer and the house there. Tatsuki wanted Ryosuke's opinion as they would be staying there for at least five years. After the conversation, Tatsuki went into her recording studio. He watched her singing in the room, admiring her beauty when she was so focused on something. She walked out with the phone on her ear. Kyoko was crying and told her that Keisuke outright rejected her on their first date. Keisuke did not want to see her again. Her chance had gone. Tatsuki ran her hand through her hair, disturbingly. She had no words to console Kyoko. She was barely knowing Keisuke to judge if he would think otherwise after Project D disbanded. She looked up at her boyfriend, seeking for his advice. She told the girl to give some time for herself to cool down. She even offered to introduce someone nice for her. Kyoko declined her offer and hung up.
"You seem to like playing matchmaker with your friends," Ryosuke teased.
"Kyoko is a nice girl. Why your brother is such a jerk?" Tatsuki pouted.
"Keisuke is a "single cell" person. He can only do one thing at a time," Ryosuke smirked at his brother's personality.
"He told her that he likes her but scared of something that hasn't happened... such a coward!" Tatsuki berated Keisuke.
"His previous relationship didn't end well... I mean he screwed up and she blamed him for everything..." Ryosuke explained to Tatsuki.
"That's really bad. I never thought he had such experience. I always think that he is kinda Casanova," she remarked.
He agreed with Tatsuki on Kyoko that she seemed to suit his brother. But he knew Keisuke's past relationship still had a great impact on him too. He looked at his girlfriend and found that he was lucky to have her. Tatsuki smiled at him and told him that she was going to find a more attractive man for Kyoko. Ryosuke shook his head as it would be finding a needle in a hay-sack. They then went for a jog around Lake Akina. He told her that the subsequent battles would be tougher. Tatsuki knew that she must practice harder to be able to fulfill his dreams.
Ryosuke sat at the discussion table, working on the Ibaraki battle simulation with Purple Shadow. She sat down across him, sketching out the fashion croquis. She then slowly drawing a ring for themselves. She pushed the paper across the table and looked at Ryosuke. He nodded with a smile. He loved the way she behaved with him. He loved every little thing she did for him. She was generously showing her affection for him. It was him that did not give her enough attention. He realized that she had doubts about his love for her sometimes.
He looked at the clock, telling him it was her bedtime. He switched off the laptop and lights. He led her to her bedroom, slipped into the bed with her.
"Good night, sweetheart. Sweet dreams," he whispered and gently kissed her lips.
The good night kisses were getting hotter and more intense. She looked at him with cloudy eyes, full of desire. Ryosuke kissed her forehead before she finally fell asleep. He looked at her and slowly got out of the bed. He went into the bathroom for a cold shower. She never knew how hard he was enduring every time they were together. He came back to the bed and slept with her in his arms.
The Project D was gathering at the Matsumoto's workshop on Friday afternoon. It was another battle in Ibaraki, Mt. Tsukuba. Tatsuki came up a little early in her summer attire. Ryosuke had told her about their opponents this time. Tatsuki did not know what she was going to face in this battle. She stepped out of her car dressed in white sleeveless loose t-shirt with a tube inside and jeans. The guys were discussing about the addition van full of tires. Ryosuke said it was necessary as this expedition was quite far away from Gunma.
Toshiya Joshima and Hoshino Koza were waiting for them on the pass in the evening. Fumihiro and Ryosuke brought their two drivers to greet the middle-aged men. They were surprised to see a young female driver in the team especially she had a beautiful face. Tatsuki did not wear her mask as a respect for the older men. The two Purple Shadows had a good impression of them. The practice session began soon after. Tatsuki was never been in such a concentration state before. She knew from the first moment she saw Joshima that he was way above her current ability.
Joshima came up to Tatsuki who was sipping her tea along the guardrails while waiting for some tweaks on her car. She had some chats with him when he recognized who she was. He told her that his daughter was head over heels for her. Tatsuki was awkwardly smiling at the man when the images of girls confessing their love to her. Joshima laughed out loud at her cute expression and tapped on her shoulder.
"It would be great if you could give me some autographs for my daughter. Her birthday is coming soon," Joshima whispered.
Tatsuki nodded and told him that she would pass to him tomorrow after their battle. She quickly ran to her car and drove off for another practice run when Matsumoto called. She returned to her driver mode as soon as she sat behind the wheel.
On the other side, Kozo approached Keisuke with his proposal for mixed stage racing. Keisuke was more than happy to accept it. Ryosuke did not object it and thought that it was to their advantage. As the sun was rising, their practice session was over. Tatsuki stood by her car and told her team to follow her to the vacation house nearby.
"I have a house nearby where all of us can stay. With this summer heat, I doubt you guys can have a good rest." Tatsuki said with a firm tone before she turned to the leader of the team. "I think we have discussed about this earlier so just leave the accommodation issue to me."
Tatsuki walked to her car and led them to her house. She stood on the parking space in front of her house which only a ten-minute drive from the course. As soon as the guys were out of the cars, she led him into her house. She asked the chef to prepare more food for the guys before she showed them the tatami room facing the backyard. There were four to five futons for them. There were two rooms on the second floor where the brothers could sleep in. She slowly entered her own bedroom.
Tatsuki, who was in a Yukata over her pajamas, leaned back on her chair and looked at her team leader. She just had a shower and was sitting at the dining table waiting for everyone.
"I don't quite understand why you are so courteous to me about the accommodation issue? You're so stubborn!" Tatsuki said as her eyes were gazing at him.
"I just don't want us to trouble you... especially when you're already helping me out being my driver," he tried to explain in a polite manner.
"So, I'm not your teammate, huh!" she asked back, looking at everyone on the table.
Fumihiro looked at Ryosuke and Tatsuki, knowing that he had to do some sweet talks to the girl before she misunderstood their leader further. Tatsuki looked at their team communicator in an amazement at how good a talker he was.
"Fumihiro-San, do you wanna work for me? You can come to me anytime. My offer is always open for you." Tatsuki asked Fumihiro in the midst of his words. "I can give you a contract that you could never turn down. A job and career path that you that everyone is dreaming for. And, I'm talking about a six figure, closing to seven figures a month to start with."
Fumihiro stunned a minute at her offer. He did not know when the whole conversation had changed to a job offered by their downhill driver. Tatsuki pushed her name card to Fumihiro and began to eat her breakfast. She asked the chef for Tonkatsu for dinner. The chef nodded and returned to the kitchen. She urged the team to tuck in and take a rest. Fumihiro was staring at the metallic dark purple name card bearing "Zyne Corporation" on it. The name was similar to Zyne Racing that was gaining more attention from motorsports enthusiasts, as the team had won consecutive races since the beginning of this season.
Tatsuki returned to her room after breakfast to sleep. She dozed off so fast that she did not hear the knock on the door. Ryosuke stopped Keisuke from knocking as he knew that she must have already fell asleep. They went to their room to get some sleep too.
Fumihiro and Matsumoto were chatting at the dining table after they woke up at two. Tatsuki walked downstairs in her dazed state. She was making some sweet ginger tea for herself. She watched the chef preparing the dinner, asking if he could prepare some fruits for her as well. She then went into the living room to switch on the television, playing some music videos. The two men on the table were wondering if she saw them. She then rides the scooter to the course liked she always did for every race. They did not understand why she turned on the television and left. Tatsuki was checking out the course as much as she could.
Keisuke and Ryosuke came down after showers. They were refreshed with a good sleep. Fumihiro told them that the girl was out to check out the course. They had their dinner early while waiting for their downhill driver. Tatsuki walked into the house after two hours. She told the chef to prepare some supper before he left. She then went up for another shower as she was sweating. The weather was too hot. She then had her dinner while listening to the music from the television. Sierra, the current executive director for Sun Entertainment, came into the house with a bag of gift for Joshima's daughter. Tatsuki looked at the exquisite gift containing all her albums and some gifts from Aint. She joined her boss at dinner with some updates on her work. Tatsuki was looking through the document at an amazing speed. She made use of her time fully before she left with Project D.
The race began with Keisuke and Kozo first. They did a full lap race with the combined uphill and downhill. Keisuke had fought hard with the GTR and won when the GTR tires were worn out and knocked into the FD, causing the FD to move forward and finished ahead of him in the second round. Kozo concluded the race with Keisuke's victory as his car had not enough traction to run another round.
Tatsuki began her race of endurance with Joshima. She felt that she was being chase by her father's Impreza. That feeling came back again which motivated her to fight harder. She was lured into his traps when Joshima was using different lines at every turn. However, she was persistent and used every technique she knew to keep up with the S2000. She used the blind attack and forced the old man to use two hands on steering wheel which was never happened to him. He fought hard with her showing his true skills and forced Tatsuki to use the gutter techniques. With her excessive force on gutter run, she damaged her suspension. However, Joshima could not withstand the heat and fatigue after a long race, he pulled over to vomit while Tatsuki slowly drove her crippled car to the finish line. Tatsuki told the old man that she did not win. She gave him a small black pill, telling him that it would help him recover soon. Joshima looked at the girl skeptically. He took the pill and was surprised at the efficacy of the pill.
Tatsuki requested Joshima to give her a ride. She wanted to see his technique which he was more than happy to show her. After the ride, Tatsuki gave him what he had requested for his daughter. She wrapped it in a very delicate gift box with a small exquisite card. Joshima did not expect her to prepare such a beautiful gift for his daughter. Tatsuki also gave him two bottles of the pills with one for Kozo. This was the first time she gave away the most precious revival pills that only available in the black market.
After the Ibaraki expedition, Tatsuki was getting more serious with her driving practices with the Impreza when the Hachi-Roku was in the workshop. She was upset that she had damaged it again. She trained herself with what she witnessed from Joshima's techniques. She tried using different lines for every corner while maintaining her speed and using his God Arm technique. Bunta knew that his daughter would encounter more difficulties as she progressed.
Another task that occupied Tatsuki was Ryosuke's internship. Ryosuke decided to go to Harvard for his further studies. They had a long conversation and planned out their initial schedule. Ryosuke was planning to leave in May next year while Tatsuki would be on her last leg of the concert tour. With his studies plan concluded, he could focus more on the races. Ryosuke went to see her morning practice occasionally. He gave her advices and even trained her personally when she asked for. She spent most of her free time with him, even sneaking into his classes sometimes.
Tatsuki had just finished her morning meeting at her office. She looked at her watch and thought she could catch him for lunch. She waited for Ryosuke along the corridor outside his class. Ryosuke walked out of the classroom with a few friends and were discussing about the content of the lectures. Tatsuki looked at a lady beside him. She was looking at Ryosuke with a look of interest at him. Tatsuki was uncomfortable with the sight but it was not enough for her to get upset. Ryosuke saw a familiar figure in her sleeveless tee and shorts, wore a mask and reflective sunglasses to cover her face. He excused himself from his friends and paced toward her. He was not afraid to show to his friends who this girl was. He held her hand and walked down the hallway to his car.
"You're quite popular, huh!" Tatsuki teased.
"Not as popular as you're," he replied and opened the FC door for her.
They left the campus with eyes on them. They were heading to his clinical practice at Tokyo University Hospital. Tatsuki had lunch with him at the hospital cafeteria before she found a quiet place to wait for him. She took out some paper and began her sketches. She was listening to music while designing some accessories and jewelry for themselves.
Ryosuke came to see her with a cold drink after his shift. He placed the can of drinks on her cheek, waking her up from her concentration. She smiled and drank it before she kissed him. The taste of cold green tea was very sweet even without sugar. They left the hospital right after.
The rumors about Project D drivers were at Saitama area, was spreading among the car enthusiasts. Tatsuki heard it when she was refueling at Yuichi gas station. She had no idea of what they were talking about. Iketani asked if she hung out with Keisuke recently. She denied and told Ryosuke about the rumors. She knew straight away that it was not her or Keisuke, especially when both drivers were men.
Tatsuki drove the Impreza to Matsumoto workshop where they were having their impromptu meeting. She told the guys what she heard from the Akina Speedstar. Keisuke was very angry at the imposters especially when their team's reputation was at stake. Tatsuki agreed with Keisuke, especially when she was not a guy. For once, both Keisuke and Tatsuki shared the same thoughts. Both of them told the team to seek help from Wataru as he was in Saitama. With the Hachi-Roku was still in the progress of upgrading, she must wait for a few days before she could confront those imposters.
Tatsuki went to Takahashi residence after the meeting. Ryosuke led her to his room while his brother was still on Akagi practicing. He had been wanting her to stay over at his place for a long time. The girl was finally agreed to his request. She got into the bathroom and came out in his white shirt with a damp hair. Ryosuke was typing on the computer, did not notice that his girlfriend was already out of the bathroom. The shirt was dampened from the dripping wet hair. She was drying her hair with a towel.
"Do you like what you see?" Tatsuki asked when he finally turned around to look at her.
"Hmmm..." he walked over to her and grabbed the towel from her hands.
His eyes were fixed at her damp hair as he knew how sexually attractive she was at this moment, especially when she was in his white shirt. He slowly dried her hair with a hairdryer and get a new shirt for her. Tatsuki sat on the king-sized bed, watching her boyfriend went back to his study table. She looked around his bedroom for the first time. She did not have a good look at his room at her first visit. The room was neat with only essential furniture. She slipped herself into the thick blanket and fell asleep right after that.
Ryosuke turned back to check on his girlfriend. He smiled when he saw she was hidden inside the blanket. He walked over and tucked the sleeping girl properly. He switched on the night light on the side table for her. He then went back to his laptop, finishing off his simulation theory. Tatsuki was snuggled up when he pulled her closer as they slept on the bed together. He placed a gentle goodnight kiss on her forehead before he turned in at midnight.
The couple went to Fujiwara's Tofu shop the next morning. Tatsuki was standing in front of Bunta with her remorse for causing worry last night. Bunta was angry when his beloved daughter did not come home last night. It was the first time that Tatsuki stayover somewhere without informing him. He chased Tatsuki back to her room with a curfew imposed on her. Ryosuke bowed deeply as he apologized for their negligence. He told the old man what he had planned for their future and even asked Bunta for his final approval to marry his daughter. Fujiwara family was not a typical Japanese family. They had a very strong bond with one another. While his family was a typical Japanese one, his parents had minimal involvement with him and Keisuke since they were in high school. However, the arranged marriages were very common for the family with status or in his parents' circle. At the moment, they were too busy to check on him. However, he did not know what to expect if they knew about his new relationship. In addition, he had not talk to them about his overseas offer. He had been thinking of how he could bind her with him forever. So, he decided to marry her anytime soon. This plan was the most irrational one that he ever made in his life. Bunta misunderstood that the plan was initiated by Tatsuki. This made him very annoyed that Ryosuke had agreed to all her requests. He began to think if he had made the right choice to choose this young man. This man spoiled his daughter like he did. The two men were engaging in a serious talk outside the shop. Ryosuke also understood that her father and even Kaito would be staying nearby after their marriage. Bunta looked at the young medical student with some satisfaction that he was prepared to blend in with his family.
With the curfew imposed by Bunta, Tatsuki must stayed home every night. Ryosuke could only meet her for dinner with no other outings until their next expedition. This allowed both of them to slowly study each other and made plans for their days logically. Tatsuki had more time to concentrate on her work at Zyne Corporation. She spent more time with practicing on Akina in the morning in the Impreza and evening in her own Trueno. If Keisuke was doing practices on Akagi, she was doing more on Akina itself. Racing with herself constantly was the best way getting her ready for any challenges in the future. She was getting hang of racing with a higher level of skills as she progressed with Project D. She even had some practices on the simulator game as well. Ryosuke observed her practices on Akina every evening. She did not need him to tell her what to do but she did it with her own initiative. That was the difference between his two drivers. He could fully claim that he trained his brother while this girl, she was otherwise. Her concentration, adaptability and inquisitiveness were so strong that she could come up with her own plan and executed it in her own way. He wished that Keisuke could witness this.
Ryosuke had found the license plates of the imposters and told Fumihiro to watch over Keisuke when dealing with them. The two Project D aces were on their way to Saitama to meet up with Wataru. Tatsuki was delighted when her car was repaired and upgraded. Fumihiro met the two drivers at a cafe, who were with Wataru. Tatsuki was in her singlets and hot denim pants, finished off with a black cap. She was now listening to their conversation. Tatsuki turned her attention to the entrance of the cafe when she saw a familiar tall pale blonde young man just walking in. She leaned over to the window, checking for a familiar white car. It had been a long time since she last seen him.
Kaito was busy with his racing career for the past few weeks, especially when his sister was too busy dating her boyfriend. He was doing very well recently and was featured in many racing magazines. Zyne Racing was getting more popular especially their drivers. They were not only fast but all the drivers were good looking that attracted crowds and fans. Kaito had the most rated in terms of look and ability, he had earned many fans and attention from many racing teams.
"Oh! This is Fujiwara Kaito and this is Akiyama Wataru," she introduced the man to Wataru.
Kaito nodded politely and sat down next to Tatsuki. The guys were looking the rising professional driver that they had seen on magazines recently. Kaito was blushing when Tatsuki told him that she asked for his opinion on Kyoko. He knew who Kyoko was as they met once, but he did not feel any special feelings at their first meeting. Tatsuki briefed him about his modeling work next week. She told him that she needed him for her new music videos. Kaito was staring at his sister when she told him to learn dancing. He had a bad feeling about it when he saw her mischievous smile. Although she did have a plan to get Kaito and Kyoko together, there was a missing chemistry between the two. And she noticed something odd about Kaito recently. Nevertheless, this did not stop her from provoking Keisuke.
"You know?... The best way to forget someone is to get into a new relationship," Tatsuki told Keisuke straight in his face.
Keisuke swore at his teammate who had her way to piss him off every time she had a chance. Fumihiro had no choice but to stop before the two started a fight. He was really headache with these two kiddos. Kaito shook his head at Tatsuki. Wataru had a good look at the young professional driver. Kaito was a bit taller and slimmer than Keisuke. He was attractive with his athletic physique. He even had an attractive face with charming smile. Both Kaito and Keisuke were chick magnet. However, they had their own charisma. Kaito then went on discussing some work as they hung out in the cafe.
They followed Tatsuki out of the cafe and surprised to see a crystal white FD parking next to the Trueno. Tatsuki was smiling at the car in front of her. She asked if he wanted any special paint for the car. Kaito immediately declined with the images of different artistic artworks that he did not know how to appreciate. Tatsuki frowned when he rejected. She was complaining about his reaction.
"Hey, Tatsuki. It's time to go. Those guys are at the pass now," Wataru told the Hachi-Roku driver.
"Help me take care of him," she told Wataru and Fumihiro.
Tatsuki got into her car while the three men were driving up to meet the imposters. Wataru approached the imposters and introduced himself another Hachi-Roku owner. He wished them to show him the drifting technique around the corner. The imposters were trying to refuse with the excuse that Ryosuke forbidden them to do so. Suddenly, a panda Hachi-Roku did a four-wheels drift through the corner in front of them and spectators around the parking space. The imposters finally realized that they were getting caught and tried to sneak away. Keisuke came in and confronted them. Tatsuki joined in a moment later. She was fuming when she saw how hideous the imposters were. She was berating them with Kaito trying to pull her back, afraid that she would bash them up. Fumihiro asked the two drivers to step back so he could do his job.
Tatsuki left the pass with Kaito following behind. She then went to Akina to vent her anger. The Trueno was roaring down the Akina, chasing the imaginary Impreza. Kaito was surprised at how good this girl became. She was evolving at every run. She was one of the unbeatable on Mt. Akina.
After cooling down, she began to test drive a few cars that Kaito arranged in the garage. These cars were designated for their school. Kaito walked around her private garage while waiting for her to come back. He saw deep purple FC3S and Trueno with sparkling white ZR graphic design on the sides of the cars. It was an acceptable paintwork especially when these were racing cars. Next parked sparkling white FD3S and Supra with dark purple ZR graphics. He was relieved to see there were no more graffiti or cartoon images on the cars. He knew how artistic Tatsuki was from her previous work on the music video cars.
Tatsuki came back after half an hour. She was happy with the handling of the car. She told Kaito her ideas about the paintwork of Zyne Racing cars. They were at the garage till midnight, talking about the plan for Zyne Racing. Tatsuki asked about 4WD car models. Kaito nodded as he was already had some modification works done for a few Lancer Evolutions and WRX Impreza. Tatsuki went to the cottage for a night stay while Kaito drove back home.
The white FC3S sped down the Akina tailing at the Hachi-Roku early in the morning. It forced the car ahead into a stop along the course. Ryosuke walked over and pulled his girlfriend out of the car. He claimed her kiss furiously. Tatsuki was still in dazed, confused by his sudden appearance and act. She hit his chest a few times to stop his behavior when she tasted tints of metallic taste in her mouth.
"What's wrong with you?" Tatsuki looked up at her boyfriend with questions.
"Don't say sorry. I don't want to hear it," she added while she pressed on her lip.
"I..." Ryosuke looked down at her as he had calmed down.
"You were with Kaito the whole night?" Ryosuke said softly with some guilt in his voice when he unintentionally hurt her.
"Ryo, that's my brother," she corrected him when she realized that he was jealous.
"No blood ties. Even he's your biological brother, I'm still jealous," he protested.
"Haiz, you're so cute right now. I just tested some cars that he did the tuning while he waited in the garage," she replied with a gentle smile. "How I wish the curfew would be lifted... I missed going out with you."
Ryosuke followed her to the tofu shop where he met her father. He asked the older man if he could bring her out for a date, promising to send her home at seven in the evening. Bunta knew that they had been in good behavior for the past week so he agreed. Ryosuke thanked Bunta and walked up to find Tatsuki. He sat on her bed waiting for her to finish her shower. Tatsuki returned to her room in her silk bathrobe as usual. She covered her mouth, preventing herself from screaming when she saw Ryosuke in her room. She gestured him to get out of her room so she could dress up. She quickly locked the door and turned to her large wardrobe. She picked a sexy laced undergarment. She slowly dolled up in a baby blue cropped blouse and matching mini skirt.
Bunta and Ryosuke were both stunned when they saw Tatsuki walking down the stairs. They gave her an annoyed glares for the outfit she chose. She was gorgeous in it but it was too revealing to them. Tatsuki ignored both men and waited outside. Ryosuke grabbed her hat, mask and sunglasses before he said goodbye to Bunta.
Tatsuki was smiling happily as she sat in his FC. The skirt was short and revealing her long slender legs. She leaned over to him as their fingers interlocked. It was an impromptu date so Ryosuke brought her to Saitama. They began their date at a small cozy cafe. Tatsuki cut a small piece of pancake and fed her boyfriend. Ryosuke pressed the tissue at the corner of her mouth when he saw white trace of milk foam. They were just behaving like any young lovers on their dates. He brought her to the walking street, followed by strolling in the park. Tatsuki leaned against a tree and pulled Ryosuke towards her, wrapped her arms around his neck. They were looking at each other before they kissed. Tatsuki did not know how many times they were kissing. She was now feeling contented as he held her tight in his arms. She could hear his strong and fast heartbeats.
Tatsuki noticed that Ryosuke was a little off today. She wrapped her hand in his hand, interlocking their fingers.
"I'm not sure what bothered you lately. You're unpredictable nowadays… You get jealous very easily, too possessive sometimes. Ryosuke that I know is a great guy. Did I not give you enough assurance in our relationship? If you're confused or lost, just stepped back and relaxed. Let's take a step by step. I believe that you will finally figure out what to do... if it got to do with our relationship, let's slowdown our pace. I don't mind stay here and wait for you to come back to me when you're ready. You need some time to yourself..." she said.
"How do you say this so easily?" Ryosuke asked with hurtful eyes when he thought of not seeing her for some time.
"Because I know what I want ultimately. My answer is always you so my focus is you... As for other things, I make plans and work on them. Ryo, you don't have anything to worry about your studies. I literally take care of them for you. As for our relationship, there's nothing to worry too. I won't leave you unless you don't want me..." she pinched his cheek.
"And now... Project D is so overwhelming you that you lose your focus, feeling lost. It's your dreams and it's normal for you to feel confused, stressed and much more... Ryosuke that I know is great in whatever he does. So, get a good rest, relax and take things one at a time..." she added with a smile.
"If you need an ear, why don't you talk to my dad. I think he can help..." she teased him and urged him to go home.
"Tsuki... I love you... more than you ever imagined," he said to her before placing a gentle kiss on her lips.
Ryosuke was wondering how she knew what he had in mind. She could even feel his little negative feelings. He admitted that he had a fear of losing her, especially when there was opposite sex around her. Also, he was trouble with his problems with Rin.
"Where are we going next?" she asked.
Ryosuke lowered her sun hat before led her to his car. They were heading to a western restaurant for lunch. He got themselves a quiet corner table. Tatsuki ordered a few main dishes and appetizers to share. She was very keen on their pastry and dessert. Ryosuke grinned when he thought of her differences with the girls he knew. She had a small appetite but she loved food, especially sweet stuff. They left the restaurant and were heading to a railway museum. Tatsuki was jolly with his choice of places. He seemed to know what she liked. They spent the whole afternoon there. They brought dinner home to eat with Bunta. Tatsuki sent Ryosuke to his car. She pulled him to a dark corner of the parking space. She thanked him for the date with her kiss.
"I think it's enough. Tsuki-Chan, you should go to bed soon," Bunta said after he finished his cigarette.
"Dad!" Tatsuki exclaimed and ran into the house in her embarrassment.
Ryosuke said goodbye to her father and quickly drove off. He could not believe that her father was standing there all this time. Bunta smirked at the two young couple. They reminded him of his romance with his wife. He recalled his first kiss with Shizuka at the age of fourteen.
Ryosuke got home with his mind full of their moments together. He could still feel her sweetness lingering on his lips. She was very addictive. He slowly turned on the laptop, began to work on the Kanagawa expedition. As soon as the expedition started, it meant that Project D was coming to an end soon. He leaned against the chair, looking up the ceiling. It was time that he was going to meet Hojo Rin after two years. There was so many negative information about his Sempai recently. He was troubled by how much Rin had changed after Kaori's death.
After Project D, he was looking forward to the next phrase of his life with Tatsuki. He would introduce her to his family and hoped that his parents would welcome her.
To be Continued...