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As the Smoke Clears #4 in Rivalry Series	By : kurahieiritrJIO Category: +G to L > Initial D Views: 2635 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Initial D, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-As the Smoke Clears
- 2-Smoke 2
- 3-Smoke 3
- 4-Smoke 4
- 5-Smoke 5
- 6-Smoke 6
- 7-Smoke 7
- 8-Smoke 8
- 9-Smoke 9
- 10-Smoke 10
- 11-Smoke 11
- 12-Smoke 12
- 13-Smoke 13
- 14-Smoke 14
- 15-Some 15
- 16-Smoke 16
- 17-Chapter 17
- 18-Smoke 18
- 19-Smoke 19
- 20-Smoke 20
- 21-Smoke 21
- 22-Smoke 22
- 23-Smoke 23
- 24-Smoke 24
- 25-Smoke 25
- 26-Smoke 26
- 27-Smoke 27
- 28-Smoke 28
- 29-Smoke 29
- 30-Smoke 30
- 31-Smoke 31
- 32-Smoke 32
- 33-Smoke 33
- 34-Smoke 34
- 35-Smoke 35
- 36-Smoke 36
- 37-Smoke 37
- 38-Smoke 38
- 39-Smoke 39
- 40-Smoke 40
- 12
- 13
- 14
CHAPTER 13

Following Samantha's A.A.R. on the interstate in Twylah's Toyota sedan, Ryosuke listened as Kenta and Hiroshi discussed their unexpected outing. "It's really great that we're going to visit an American racetrack."

"Sammy chan said this one isn't a major track, Kenta. So don't get excited. She warned us that this county track isn't like the NASCAR ready Phoenix track. Does it seem strange to minasan that she's suddenly trying to introduce our group to top drivers since Keisuke and Fujiwara aren't with us yet?" Hiroshi added.

"From everything she said this morning, making connections is important even if Keisuke and Fujiwara don't participate in the Iron Will Endurance this time. Naze is it strange that she's decided to follow through with that, Ryosuke san?" Kenta interjected while Ryosuke turned on his blinker to follow the antique muscle car onto an off ramp.

"Naze is it suddenly so important? Keisuke san may get prison time. Fujiwara won't consider entering the next race without Keisuke, Kenta." Hiroshi grumbled while looking at him for backing.

"He has a point, Ryosuke san. Once things calm down, you'll be starting your residency. Fujiwara wouldn't consider coming to this country without the rest of Project D. It seems like a waste of minasan's time in a way." Etsuya's younger sister, Etsumi also added from the back seat of the Toyota.

Stopping the sedan behind Samantha's car at a traffic light, Ryosuke glanced at Hiroshi. "Martonelli is sending two R-34's despite Samantha's protest that it's a waste of time. Samantha said we need information on how to modify them for off road racing, minasan."

"When did you hear this, Ryosuke san?" Kenta asked.

"I was informed of this development yesterday. The G-TR's will be in California in three days. Martonelli is having them shipped to Twylah's home as soon as they clear customs. We should receive them by Thursday. Samantha agreed to contact top off road drivers and get input on setting them up for off road racing in case Keisuke and Fujiwara do get to join us. Martonelli insists on having the vehicles ready when, or if, they arrive." Ryosuke answered as he tapped the accelerator again.

"Considering everything your ojīsan said when you called home the other day, public pressure seems to be solidly backing Keisuke. Let's hope his luck holds because they might get to race after all. It would be nice to have Project D represented in the Iron Will Endurance the way Fujiwara proposed in his apology letter. Then I wouldn't feel like we've been wasting our time in this country." Hiroshi said while watching desert scrub flash past.

"When did you get the survey up on Project D's website, Ryosuke san? I thought Keisuke san forbid you to add G-TR to his survey because he hates them so much." Glancing into his rear view mirror, Ryosuke saw Kenta's confused expression.

"As to Keisuke's dislike of G-TR, Fujiwara gave him an argument he couldn't overcome. He agreed to change his position about the surveys. Still, I never put the surveys online because of Fujiwara's abduction. Martonelli has cut a deal with Nissan to apply extra pressure on our government so fans weren't given any say. It seems Martonelli excels at forcing situations to go as he plans."

"Odd. Nissan would normally avoid any kind of controversial publicity." Turning into the long lot that their guide entered, Ryosuke listened to Hiroshi. "Makes me wonder how Martonelli managed to convince them to back Project D since Keisuke's the only one that can participate. His public announcement about being in love with Fujiwara should have sealed their refusal."

Pulling up beside Samantha's car and cutting the engine, he spoke. "Perhaps public approval of Keisuke's rescue mission has given the Nissan company a positive diversionary angle to make the risk of sponsoring him worthwhile."

"That's entirely possible. From everything Matsimoto told us the day before yesterday, the newscasts are plastering Keisuke san's image over all over Tokyo and calling him a hero. Minasan is praising him for saving so many people." Hiroshi agreed.

Etsumi spoke up as they got out of the car. "Keisuke san did lead a very challenging rescue. My ryōshin have told me that there's a great deal of publicity about it. Although some do mention his attachment to Fujiwara san as being the reason for his actions. My okāsan thinks it's all rather romantic of Keisuke san. Otosān can't decide how he feels. It's known that he sponsored Project D before the shooting. So far he hasn't had any negative reactions from customers, so he's withholding any judgement."

Closing the door to Twylah's sedan and insuring it was locked, Ryosuke glanced at the Hachi roku mechanic stepping closer to their location. He chose to ignore Etsumi's input. "How did you like riding in Samantha's antique, Matsimoto?"

"It's an impressive car. Nothing I've ever ridden in or driven has such a raw horsepower shimmy. First time I've ever felt like my teeth were getting shaken. It's a well balanced car with a very stiff frame. Overall, I can see how Sammy chan has won several regional races, and the Iron Will. She's definitely an A grade driver that can fully control all that power and make it look easy."

"Ne, Matsimoto, did you know that Martonelli is shipping two R-34's to us next week?" Ryosuke frowned at Kenta's excited question.

"Eh? Is that so?" Matsimoto swung back to look at him.

Samantha came to his rescue. "Hai. Rob told me about his dim witted plan. Seems he's really pushing corporate Nihon to back Project D in the Iron Will this year. That's the reason I drug you here tonight. Saturday night public drag racing's the best place to learn where the legends are hanging out. They're the ones who know how to set up any car to handle any amount of off road punishment. If we're really lucky, Meemah and Cookie will be here tonight. Get them on your side, and the other legends will fall all over themselves to help you."

"Legends, Sammy chan?" Kenta settled into step on her left side as Etsuya fell into step on her right.

"The best off road drivers in this state, Meemah included. A few years ago, she and fifteen other off road racers held off several military vehicles carrying a huge drug shipment long enough for the fans and other drivers to escape into town."

"That can't be right. Naze would the military get involved with drugs? You can't expect us to believe an insane story like that, Sam." Etsuya snipped at her.

"Insane sounding or not, it happened. The Mexican mafia broke into a military facility in Mexico and stole a tank, three transport trucks, a helicopter, and two gunner jeeps. It took the American and Mexican governments working together to recover the stolen convoy from the bastards. Needless to say the story was suppressed to keep the general public in two nations from panicking over that kind of ballsy action. Only four drivers that tried to slow that convoy down so their fans could escape lived to tell the story. They're the Legends."

"Whoa. This Meemah must be an incredible street racer." Kenta interjected into the conversation.

"She was. Now she's missing a leg, and uses a walker. Cookie's her cousin. They started living together because Motor mount got killed that afternoon. So did their son. Motor mount was Meemah's husband's handle. Anyway, she and her husband developed two of the toughest off road tracks in this state before that happened. God's Eye and Ramrod Trail are their contributions to off road stunt racing. None of us go to Ramrod because that's where the drug traffickers were. The Government made the area off limits to minasan that isn't military or wearing a badge." Samantha answered in a pensive tone.

They paid their admissions and filed into the bleacher area. Samantha grabbed a rail and craned her neck while stretching up onto her toes as she searched the growing crowd milling around the area. Ryosuke took in the track as he waited for their guide to complete her search. The course seemed fairly crude to his eyes. There was a straight section, and the longer ring engulfed the other. However it was well maintained. Massive lamps glared down on their heads to illuminate the small arena. Tin toned, static crackles mired music blasting from antiquated speakers set on rigid poles. If nothing else, Ryosuke was certain he would develop a headache before long.

"Hot damn, jackpot! Pharaoh's here tonight! Minasan, stay here, I'll be back with Ryosuke and Pharaoh as quick as I can." Samantha bellowed as she whipped around and grabbed onto his arm. She tugged hard enough to upset his balance as she began pushing her way through the crowd.

"Who's this Pharaoh?" He managed to ask as he twisted his head to see if the rest of their group was still with them. It seemed they were obeying Samantha's order since the remained next to the railing.

"The only Legend that didn't get crippled! Hurry up or we might lose him in this crowd if that isn't where he plans to watch the next generation of drivers." She released his arm and leapt forward. Grumbles rose from innocent bystanders that she plowed through.

"Sorry you got shoved like that. Excuse me. Please let me through. Thank you." Ryosuke found himself saying to the same strangers shoved so rudely aside by Samantha while seeking to follow her. He tried to keep her in sight as he more courteously followed. The aisles were congested compared to the slowly filling seating area. He was not surprised when his quarry bounded up the seating platforms to bypass the worst of the traffic. Shaking his head, he followed at a more sedate pace.

Relief washed through Ryosuke when she skidded to a halt in front of a distinguished looking older man that stood before several seated women. Samantha whirled and made an impatient gesture for him to hurry his progress. With a frown, Ryosuke ignored her imperious gesture. He scaled the last four rows of seating without incident and stopped beside her. "Anyway, this slow poke is Ryosuke Takahashi, Hector. Hector Mendoza, meet Ryosuke Takahashi."

Trying to refrain from frowning at her rudeness, Ryosuke extended his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, sir."

The older man chuckled as he took his hand in a firm grip. "Don't let Sam get on your nerves, son. She's quite a handful. Her daddy has thought about throttling her many times."

Taken aback at Hector's perceptiveness, Ryosuke wondered how to answer as they completed the ritual greeting. He settled on asking a polite question. "Is that so, sir?"

"Yep. Just Hector. I'm not that old yet. Sam here says you came from Japan. Seems to think you need some kind of advice. So what kind of advise is it that you need, son?"

Recovering quickly from the shock of such direct questioning, Ryosuke answered with equal candor. "There's a possibility of my team, Project D, entering the Iron Will Continental Endurance race this year. However, my mechanics and drivers are unfamiliar with off road modifications and driving techniques. I'm seeking expert input about where to find off road racing techniques and mechanical tuning, Hector."

"Now don't that beat all. There's still a young man alive that knows how to be respectful. Ain't he something, Hector?" An older woman sitting on the metal bench behind the man asked with a laughing tone.

Hector answered, swivelling his head toward her. "Nothing wrong with getting shown a little respect, Meemah. Most youngsters aren't worth speaking to in this day and age."

Ryosuke dipped his head as he addressed the woman Samantha had mentioned on their way into the fairgrounds. "Samantha mentioned you earlier. I'm honored to meet you, Ma'am."

An expressive brow lifted at a crooked angle due to a scar as the maimed woman took his proffered hand over the metal bar of her walker. "Is that so? And what did Sam say about me that got your attention, handsome?"

Slightly flustered by her bantering words, Ryosuke answered. "She said that you saved many lives by trying to tackle a military tank. She didn't specify how you managed to do such an astonishing thing."

The crippled woman laughed. "Quite the charmer too. Looks like Sam's taste in men improved lately. Put bluntly, we got mighty lucky or none of us would be here to meet you, Ry. The trick to surviving a tank is to keep your car moving mighty fast so the gun can't catch your tail pipe. If an old tank can't lock a target on you, you're safe enough. Don't think it would've worked had it been one of them fancy new types we were distracting that day." She replied, leaning against her metal walker's frame to see past Hector.

"Didn't hurt that the damned fools that stole it didn't know how to operate it! Otherwise none of us would have gotten out of there alive." Hector added with surprising humor.

"You got that right. Damned gunners were the real problem. Fifty millimeter guns do a whole lot of damage mighty quick. They killed a lot of good men that afternoon." The older woman's features clouded as she spoke.

"Hey, Meemah, you feel like meeting the rest of Ry's mechanical team? I'll go and get them if you want. Most of them need a translator to talk to you but I think you'll really like them if you like Ryosuke already." Samantha butted in unexpectedly.

"Why not. The more the merrier. Figure these fellas 'll be a lot more entertaining than watching young bucks trying to prove their hot shots when they don't know a damned thing 'bout drivin' yet." She answered which garnered a cackle from the other middle aged woman sitting beside her. With a big grin, Samantha whirled and leapt down the bleachers like a gazelle being pursued.

Glancing back at the other woman, Ryosuke extended his hand. "Hello, I'm Ryosuke Takahashi. And you are?"

"Names Shaunda Perkins, but folks 'round here call me Cookie. I feed everybody at the big weekend meets we have out in the middle of nowhere." She answered with a toothy grin and surprisingly powerful hand shake. Whipcord lean and weather beaten as the older woman looked, something about her drew him into a twinkling gaze that seemed somehow to be lit with an inner glow.

"A pleasure to meet you also. Samantha said that there are four Legends in this area. Are you the third, Ma'am?"

"Good heavens no. Just Cookie cause this bunch don't stand on ceremony. I might be a little nutty, but I ain't completely insane like a Legend, Ry. I leave that kind a nonsense to my cousin and this old goat." Her thumb jabbed in Hector's direction as he guffawed at her amused tone.

"As you wish, Cookie." Ryosuke answered with another nod while refraining from shaking out suddenly numb fingers. It seemed that these elders had chosen to shorten his name considerably, and due to Samantha's comments about needing these people he dared not request that they use his full name.

Hector began speaking. "So what got you interested in the Iron Will?"

"Actually it's Fujiwara, my downhill specialist's idea, Hector. Fujiwara owes Samantha a debt because she saved his life while she was visiting Japan. They spoke several times while he was in the hospital and he became intrigued by the off road techniques she described. However, we don't have any major off road racing in our own country so need to find a mentor proficient in the sport."

"I didn't think Iron Will allowed pros on the roster." Cookie commented.

"Oh, we're touge racers, Erm, I mean mountain pass street racers, not a professional team, Cookie. In Japan most mountain passes have driving enthusiasts that form teams which compete with each other during the summer season." Ryosuke explained.

"Sounds interesting. So you drive too I take it?" Meemah asked.

"I recently retired from active racing because of the demands of medical school."

Hector waved him onto the bench and sat beside Meemah. "So tell us a bit 'bout this team of yours, Ry. Might help us figure out what you need to consider."

"Project D is a specialized street racing team that I formed for one year to help the two most talented drivers from the Gunma prefecture round out and solidify their driving skills. Due to my younger brother and Fujiwara getting shot several months ago, we had to postpone several competitions we had scheduled with other Prefecture teams. Since there's no possibility of completing the original Kanto Project, Fujiwara asked if we could consider the Iron Will as our Gunma Prefecture elite team's grand finale. I'm supposed to start my medical residency soon, so can't pursue the original goals with them this upcoming racing season."

"Ambitious sounding young man you got there. How come he wants to get on a track that's dirt when he don't know spit 'bout dirt racing?" Meemah asked.

"Fujiwara has an insatiable desire to learn everything there is to know about racing. He has a phenomenal learning curve, and extraordinary talent which is the reason I asked him to join Project D. He hopes to join the professional racing circuit one day. The same is true of my younger brother, Keisuke."

Meemah gave a sage nod. "A good attitude to have. When you stop learning, you stop living life right. So tell me, Ry, what kind of cars your boys drive?"

"They'll both drive Skyline G-TRs made by Nissan in the Iron Will if everything goes according to plan." He replied.

Hector snorted. "I'm not a fan of rice burners as we call 'em in our particular off road set. Don't get me wrong, their great cars to have for shopping and going to work, but you'll need to do a lot of modifications to make them suitable for hard driving on rutted dirt. They're too light framed to handle the abuse at high speeds. The motor mounts can't handle all that banging around. Four wheel drives are better for deep sand washes, and the sharp troughs and humps involved in off road."

"Skyline G-TR has the Atessa E-TS four wheel drive system which should improve the performance of the cars in dirt. If one tire slips, the others compensate. It also has a v six big block engine. Due to the number of antique American big block competitors in the Iron Will, we need cars capable of staying with them."

"So what kinds of cars do your drivers normally use back home, Ry?" Meemah pointedly asked as she watched him.

"Keisuke owns a modified Mazda Efini sport coupe. My brother specializes in classic professional circuit techniques adapted to street racing. He's exceptionally good at maintaining his tires and pacing his races such as you would expect of a genuine professional driver. He also has very good instincts where times are concerned. Having learned to omit unnecessary motions while racing makes him a serious competitor on Japan's mountain passes."

Ryosuke paused as he considered how to describe Fujiwara. Collecting his thoughts, he continued with his impromptu dissertation.

"Fujiwara Takumi owns a heavily modified Toyota Trueno hatch back. Samantha explained that the Trueno was renamed Corolla for the American market. It's very light weight and has a genuine racing engine under the bonnet. Fujiwara's a genuine driving prodigy. His speciality is unconventional tactics with minimal braking downhill sprints. His ability to memorize courses is startling. His extraordinary vehicular weight shifting recently earned him the title of a driving God from mountain pass racing fans. He's only the third street racer to earn such a title. God's Hand and God's Foot are the only other racers that have been given such distinction in Japan."

"How old's this Fujiwara?" Hector asked with obvious interest.

"He's much younger than God's Hand and God's Foot. While the other God class drivers are in their forties, Fujiwara turns twenty this March. Considering he drove the Akina downhill course every single day since middle school, his weight shifting ability evolved from doing intensive daily training with a cup of water in his dashboard. He had to prevent the liquid from spilling while delivering his father's tofu to the resort at the top."

Ryosuke noticed the calculating gleam that flared in Meemah's eyes as she hummed thoughtfully. She and her cousin looked at each other as if holding a silent conversation. "He do things that are hard to explain when he's driving?" Meemah asked.

Caught off balance yet again, Ryosuke wondered how they could have guessed that Fujiwara's driving defied logical explanation. "Looks like you hit the nail square, Meemah. Ry's face says it all." Cookie replied.

"How did you know that Fujiwara's driving defies logical explanation?"

"Dancer drives that way too. She's not all that smart, but she does do some mighty strange things behind the wheel. I think you'd call her a prodigy too." Hector explained while rubbing his chin.

The rapid thudding of hurried footfalls on metal announced his companions' immanent arrival. Samantha stopped with a hard metallic bang of her booted foot in the walkway next to them. She was breathing a little deeper than normal, yet was not truly winded. Looking up, Ryosuke caught Hiroshi's questioning gaze. Standing up, he motioned his friends closer and began making introductions.

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As the Smoke Clears #4 in Rivalry Series