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Alternate Tracks 2nd Story in Rivalry Series	By : kurahieiritrJIO Category: +G to L > Initial D Views: 2560 -:- 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
- 12
- 13
- 14
CHAPTER 13

Takumi stopped hachi roku beside the FD and killed the engine. He turned his head to apologize as Keisuke leaned closer. The wheat haired blond released the latch on Takumi's seatbelt. He was pushing the lever that dropped his seat back before Takumi understood what was happening. Keisuke slid an arm around his waist as he leaned over him.

"I'm going to make you forgive me." The blond purred, and gave him a deep kiss. Takumi's residual irritation faded under a blatant onslaught of powerful love. Keisuke turned on the seductive aspects of his personality while devouring his mouth with a thorough exploration. The seductive kiss sent the teen's hormones into the dangerous high rev range. His groin leapt to life as their tongues danced together.

Takumi gasped once Keisuke let him up for air. "I forgive you. Just don't do it again. Okay?"

Keisuke's cerulean eyes transmitted messages that made him blush as his older boyfriend wiggled his eyebrows at him in a flirtatious way. "Your bed smells like you. I dreamed that you were next to me, and woke up with one hell of a hard-on."

Takumi's throat went dry. His eyes widened as he comprehended that Keisuke liked his scent also. "I didn't know, . . . having you sleep on, . . . my bed would . . . do that . . . !"

"Should that surprise me?" Keisuke chuckled as he looked down on him.

"Uhm, well, . . . I, . . . I, j, j, just, . . . didn't, . . . think about it."

"Makes me want to put living arrangements as my number one priority."

"Naze, Keisuke?"

"Because I love you so much, I hate being away from you for long, Takumi. You have every bit of my heart, and that's the truth. I want to spend my life with you. Didn't I tell you this morning that I want to go to sleep every night with you in my arms?"

"Hai. I've been such a pain in the ass for the last two months. It's hard for me to understand you wanting to deal with my flip outs on a daily basis."

"Takumi, you didn't even know you could be a bisexual before I kissed you at this lookout two months ago. You've been trying to get comfortable with a lot of things that you never imagined were possible since I asked you to become my lover. You're trying to get over a lifelong fear that you have every right to feel. Everyone vanished once you got attached to them. You admitted that yesterday. Even if Oyaji san didn't physically leave, it doesn't seem like he was there for you the way you've always needed. I know he drinks a lot from things you've said. That's a form of abandonment too, Takumi. Those are real issues you've been fighting to overcome. Your panic attacks aren't the same thing as becoming a pain in the ass on purpose, my own heart."

"Still, I've made it really hard to feel like we're a real couple, Keisuke."

"You've fought nonstop to figure out how you feel about me. I'm not dumb, or blind. Your determination to make us work has already shown me that we'll make a lifelong commitment, and keep it, Takumi.

"Are you certain you can put up with me for that long?"

"Hai. I need to be patient so you can get used to me staying with you for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, I happen to suck at patience." Keisuke's voice turned rueful, as did his expression.

Takumi could not suppress the smile at Keisuke's blunt acknowledgment. "You do have trouble waiting when you want something."

"Damn straight. I always get everything I want in the end because I'm so single minded, and arrogant."

"I've noticed your single mindedness. You can't even get through training without trying to jump me."

"I adore that sexy look you get when I turn you on. Not to mention I love to catch you off guard, and make you jump. The only thing I'm overwhelmingly aware of is your body."

"Keisuke?!" Takumi glared at his sassy boyfriend with mock annoyance, and reached out to ruffle his spiky hair. "You've become a total hentai since I agreed to date you."

The twenty-two-year-old gave him a passionate kiss before he answered. "I dream about you when I'm asleep. When I'm awake, I think about you. I want to be with you so much that it hurts sometimes, Takumi."

"I found that out this morning."

"I tried to convince myself that I'd get over you if I beat you behind the wheel. Do you have any idea how frequently my sheets needed washing when I was trying to convince myself I wasn't in love with you?"

Takumi felt his face flame over the intimate detail. "Ah, well, . . . iie. I haven't, . . . really thought, . . . about that, . . . kind of stuff."

The teen was certain his expression looked as scandalized as he felt. He couldn't argue with Keisuke's honesty though he phrased it crudely. Takumi found this man's complexity, and volatile nature to be more of an enticement as he spent time with him. Even if Keisuke used blunt, sexually charged words that few Japanese had the courage to voice, Takumi found himself intrigued by the trait.

"I've held you in my dreams so often that I can't get enough of you now that I've got permission to touch you. Can you blame me for wanting to wrap myself around you and not let you go?"

"Keisuke, if I hadn't had the wreck, do you think you would have accepted how you feel so we could get together?"

Keisuke had changed him through proximity. Takumi knew he would be a much different person if Keisuke had not pursued him with such determination even before the blond realized he loved him.

"Hai."

"Even though you thought Ryosuke san, . . . "

"I was terrified that you were in love with Aniki. I already knew I wasn't going to be able to stay away from you even if you loved Aniki. I don't want to think about how big a fight Aniki and I would have gotten into if he ever got romantically interested in you."

"Matte. Ryosuke san's bi too?" Takumi felt a wave of discomfort. This was not the first time he had the unpleasant thought brought to his attention.

"Not really. However, you've always intrigued Aniki because you don't think quite like the rest of us. Your attitudes fascinate Aniki like a puzzle he can't stop trying to solve. If any man ever existed that could convince Aniki to get involved with them, it's you, Takumi."

Takumi's eye widened as he heard Keisuke's opinion. The idea that his lover though he could have so much power over another person's emotions frightened Takumi. The teen shifted the subject back to their original topic.

"That's not funny, Keisuke. Turning straight men gay is your talent, not mine. You were the one that chased me down at Akina frequently. You kept after me until you made me fall in love with you. You knew you loved me long before the accident. Admit it."

"I was in hard denial, Takumi. Nothing I tried to do made my feelings go away because I couldn't stop finding excuses to see you. I honestly thought you wanted Aniki. Even thinking that way didn't make any difference to how I felt. All that line of thinking did was keep me pissed off at Aniki for catching your attention so easily. I was furious because I thought he had the man I couldn't admit that I belong to heart, body, and soul."

Keisuke captured his lower lip between gentle teeth, and worried it. The action was a seductive turn on that shot straight to Takumi's groin. Kissing Keisuke back, Takumi was content to hold onto Keisuke and let his own feelings flow through his lips welded to his older boyfriend's firm mouth. Slowly, Keisuke lifted his head and gave him a sexy grin.

"I've never been interested in Ryosuke san that way, Keisuke. Just hearing you say I could get him interested in me kind of grosses me out."

Keisuke chuckled. "Domo arigato, Kami sama! I would've had one hell of a hard time getting you if you had been interested in Aniki. A lot of people say Aniki's as close to perfect as a human can get."

"I do admire him, because Ryosuke san's a great teacher. Still, there's not another man alive that can convince me to love them like you have, Keisuke. You're the only man I'll ever love."

"I should've admitted I was in love with you sooner. If I'd used my brains like Aniki's always telling me I should, I'd have kissed you after my first wet dream of making love with you. I wasted way too much time getting pissed off over having fallen in love with you."

Takumi's blood ignited as their tongues entwined again. When their lips parted, he resented it. He heard the quicker pace of his wheat-haired lover's breathing, which matched his own. Keisuke's hand slid down to stroke his half hard manhood. Takumi twitched when he felt the snap on his pants release.

"Keisuke? Are you trying to get jumped again?"

"Takumi, you're so gorgeous when I turn you on. I want to see you cum just so I can enjoy the look you get when you lose control."

Keisuke nipped his neck as his hand teased his zipper down. His older lover gave him a mischievous grin, and slid sideways to avoid the gearshift while exposing Takumi's rapid swelling manhood to his touch. With a seductive expression on his face Keisuke slowly pumped his fast awakening member. Takumi's eyes slid half closed as sensation washed over him. The idea of drowning in passion again had appeal Takumi thought. He gave himself over to the delicious sensations Keisuke was giving him.

His spiky haired seducer lavished attention on Takumi's sensitive head with his tongue before swallowing his length. The warm, wet caress was heaven as Takumi's hands slid into Keisuke's hair. He whimpered as his body responded by getting much hotter while Keisuke sought to please him by moving his mouth and fingers up and down as he sucked.

The sound of a car door slamming close by made both of them jump. 'We should be the only ones here,' Takumi thought with a flash of resentment, and a surge of fear.

Keisuke slid back into the passenger seat with a soft curse. Takumi pushed the lever to raise his seat back into an upright position. He jerked his shirt over the bulge in his unzipped pants as Itsuke walked even with the hachi roku's rear fender. The black-haired teenager looked confused as he strode up to the driver side door.

Takumi rolled the window down and hoped his voice would not betray him. "Itsuke, nan da?"

"I was going to ask you that, Tak. I found your cars here last night, but you were both missing. We all got worried about you two when you didn't show up on the course."

"Gomen na. I was pissed off and went for a hike. Keisuke followed me to try and calm me down. It got dark before I turned back, so we were stranded on the mountain."

"Is everything okay?" Itsuke looked over at Keisuke with an odd expression as he asked. Takumi wondered why his best friend was looking at his passenger that way. He fought to remain still as his body screamed for appeasement. He forced himself to keep a straight face.

"Hai, Itsuke."

"When I checked back this morning, the hachi roku gone, but the FD was still here. Care to explain that, Tak."

Hearing Itsuke's suspicion laced tone, Takumi grappled with rapid growing terror that coiled like an icy band around his mid-section. Worry stifled his breathing.

"Look, Takeuchi, everything's fine now, so you don't need to worry about it." Keisuke spoke up before Takumi could formulate a reply.

Itsuke rubbed his neck as he turned toward his car. "Keisuke san, you're both acting weird."

"How so, Takeuchi?" Keisuke asked with a hard tone.

"I don't think I want to know the reason Tak's seat was reclined with you hovering over him, Keisuke san!" The black-haired teen snapped as an obvious parting shot and stalked toward his car.

Keisuke snarled under his breath as he jumped out of the car and moved to intercept Itsuke. "Hold it right there, Takeuchi. Talk to us before jumping to any damned conclusions."

Takumi's eyes slid shut as cold dread exploded through his core with the force of a battering ram. Itsuke knew that they were a couple. The amber-haired racer knew his friend was nosy. He should have guessed that Itsuke would search for them all over Akina when they didn't show up to train like normal. Iketani and Kenji were probably concerned also. Takumi had spaced those facts as he argued, and made up with Keisuke. Forcing air into his lungs, Takumi opened his door, aware that he had blundered badly.

"Who says I'm jumping to conclusions? I understand everything I saw when I drove up. You jumped back into your seat, and Tak's acting guilty. Nani am I supposed to think, Keisuke san? Are you going to try and give me some kind of lame excuse about whatever you're doing with my best friend?" Itsuke pointed back toward his open car door.

Takumi tried to get his pants zipped as his engorged shaft rebelled at being reconfined. Having to settle on buttoned and half zipped with his T-shirt pulled low over the bulge, Takumi got out of the car. "Nani do you mean by that wise crack, Itsuke?" Takumi demanded as he moved toward his lifelong friend.

Itsuke turned to look at Takumi and his expression turned darker. "Forget it. Tak, you could at least finish zipping your pants back up. Shit!" Itsuke stormed toward his car.

Takumi managed to get his pants zipped once he was standing and moved to intercept his best friend. He dreaded the need to explain things to the black-haired youth he had known his whole life. Itsuke was not known for his maturity level. "Itsuke, matte."

"I don't want to hear it! It's way too obvious. You've got the hottest chick from our high school for your girlfriend, Tak. How could you do this to Mogi Natsuki?" Itsuke whirled to glare at him with a face splotched by enough red to resemble a too long boiled ham.

"Don't mention that tramp around Fujiwara. She was playing a rich older man on the side. Fujiwara was right to dump her months ago. If we can stop her calls to harass Fujiwara, he can probably focus on racing."

Itsuke stumbled into his car's front fender at the vicious tone Keisuke employed.

"Keisuke! Itsuke didn't need to know that."

"Face it, Fujiwara, if he's really your best friend, you wouldn't be hiding this mess from him. You have reasons for hiding your problems from Takeuchi. Naze hide Mogi's cheating on you from him?"

"Keisuke, Itsuke has always been there for me, but this situation involves someone else's personal business. I can't discuss Mogi's situation. It's bad enough you found out that her okāsan's life was on the line."

"Nani? Mogi's okāsan's life was on the line?" Itsuke turned and took a step toward him before he resumed his annoyed expression. "Damn it! I can't believe I'm listening to this! I catch you two doing shit you shouldn't be doing, and now Mogi's okāsan is to blame? I don't believe you two!" Itsuke shook his head in a violent arc and turned back toward his car.

Takumi barked at his friend's back, "Natsuki was sleeping with a wealthy man in a Benz while dating me. I found several notes in my shoe locker that said she was dating a rich man that paid her for sex. Some onna called the shop crying. She didn't give me her name, but she told me that Mogi was with her other boyfriend at a specific love hotel."

The black-haired teenager stopped dead in his tracks. Itsuke stood with his fists clenched as he stared at his 85.

"I found her with an older man who drove a Benz where the tipper said they would be. I got so pissed that I took Sudo's challenge that night. The engine blew because I was too mad to pay attention to the warning signs hachi roku gave me."

"How come you didn't you tell me about this when it happened, Tak?" Itsuke turned his head toward him, body shaking.

"All I knew was that Mogi really was with an older man that drove a Benz at the mentioned love hotel. I needed answers before I said anything. Gomen, Itsuke."

"Mogi was really prostituting herself?" Itsuke turned to look at him with a questioning frown. "How could Mogi do that to you, Tak?"

"I found out seven weeks ago that the man in the Benz offered to pay for her okāsan's critical surgery, and hospital bills if Mogi would sleep with him. I'm still pissed that she started chasing me while obligated to be his mistress to pay off those medical bills. I don't think Natsuki's a bad person for feeling like she didn't have nay choice, Itsuke. I don't think I have any right to judge her for being so desperate. The thing that pisses me off is that she hid the truth from me. If I'd known from the start about Mogi's problems, I would have done anything I could for her."

"That's fucked up! You should judge Mogi, Tak. She did something really fucked up to you! Mogi shouldn't have wrapped you around her finger while banging another man behind your back!"

Takumi shook his head. "I can't hate Mogi for being desperate to save her okāsan's life. She believes she was out of options. I just wish she had trusted me instead of lying all the time."

"How can you say that, Tak? Mogi burned you badly."

"I can say that because Mogi finally told me everything. I got the information verified by one of her closest friends six weeks ago. How can I hate her for wanting to save her okāsan's life, Itsuke? Mogi must love her Ok~san to do something so degrading to herself."

"Maybe. . . . So, you found out the truth, and told Keisuke san, but not me. Arigato, Tak!" Itsuke snarled his hurt into the space between them.

Keisuke's tone was iron hard. "I forced Fujiwara to tell me everything going on, Takeuchi! Fujiwara almost killed himself by bouncing off the side of a mountain, and I had to box hachi roku in with my FD to keep him alive. The isha sans said he was in really bad shape from not eating, or sleeping when they checked him into the hospital that night. If no one stops Mogi's shit, Fujiwara will wind up back in the hospital for a lot longer than three days."

Itsuke looked worried as he murmured sourly, "I knew Tak had a wreck a couple months ago, but nobody gave me any details."

"Well, I dug the problem out of him after the wreck, Takeuchi! Mogi still calls to demand that he take her back almost every day. Do you have any idea how often I calm Fujiwara down because of her? Although he's trying to not skip meals, she makes him so mad some days that he pukes up whatever he eats. Aniki and I are worried that he's going to develop fully bleeding ulcers!"

"Keisuke?! I'm fine. Don't you dare blow things out of proportion! I'm almost through with the damned prescriptions."

"Am I that bad a friend, Tak? I mean, you're like a bro, but, I don't rate. You didn't even bother telling me you're sick, or anything else that matters. This sucks!"

Takumi winced at Itsuke's sullen expression, and resentful voice. "It's not like that, Itsuke."

"If you're ever pissed at Mogi, you can call me, and I'll be there for you. You don't have to go to Keisuke san to get if off your chest."

"You don't understand, Itsuke!"

"Then make me understand, Tak!" Itsuke yelled with his fists clenched at his sides.

"Stop it, Takeuchi! Fujiwara won't talk about things eating at him unless you practically beat it out of him! That doesn't mean he doesn't trust you!"

"You sure could have fooled me!" Itsuke snapped back.

Keisuke's temper ignited. "I fight with him every time I see him to get any kind of information. Fujiwara's having migraine headaches and stomach problems caused by long term acute stress. He's even had several vicious panic attacks because of everything he's trying to handle, Takeuchi." Keisuke stepped closer to Takumi, and spoke in a soft voice Itsuke would not overhear.

"Gomen, Takumi. I guess it's a bit late to hide our relationship, but it's up to you. I'll back whatever you decide to say."

Takumi raked his hands through his hair. Keisuke had given Itsuke a very good set of excuses that he could use to his benefit to downplay their relationship. Still, Itsuke had plenty of ammunition, and to lie was not something Takumi wanted to do. He nodded, and swallowed hard.

"It's been rough the last two months, Itsuke. I haven't been sure about a lot of things."

Itsuke toed a rock. "All you had to say, . . . was that you wanted to hang out . . . I would've been there for you. If you'd told me you were ill, I'd have tried to help you, Tak."

"I knew that if I tried to talk to you, you'd wig out over everything that's happened since the accident." Takumi fought to keep his voice calm.

Itsuke vented his hurt. "You didn't even try talking to me! I've always been your best friend. Now, I'm not sure who the hell you are, Tak!"

"Because I'm not the person that you used to know, Itsuke!"

"iie shit! I know it hurts when you learn you can't be with someone you love. But, you should've hung out with me, instead of Keisuke. His answer's not the right one, Tak!"

Keisuke's expression softened, as did his tone. "It does hurt to lose someone you love, Takeuchi. It also hurts like hell to find out that people only pretend to want you because you have a rich family. People want to gain wealth and status by latching onto you, instead of actually giving a damn about you."

Itsuke appeared uncomfortable as Keisuke spoke blunt terms. He looked away from the older man. Takumi wondered if Keisuke had decided to challenge the younger man on levels to which Itsuke did not know how to respond. Keisuke's sorrow roughened voice even stunned him. Despite knowing of Keisuke's cynical views, Takumi had never heard him speak like this before.

Takumi changed the subject. "I've had a lot more than Mogi's cheating did to deal with, Itsuke."

"That's way too obvious, Takumi!" Itsuke snarled. It was rare when Itsuke used his full name. However, Takumi knew it was also a very bad sign that Itsuke was very upset.

"When I had the wreck, . . . a lot of things changed. . . . Keisuke and I have, . . . we've had to work out, . . . several things. I needed to figure out, . . . I needed to, . . . to make things right." Itsuke's rejection petrified Takumi. Itsuke had stumbled upon the reality, but saying the actual words that would confirm everything Itsuke had stumbled onto was difficult.

Itsuke nodded his head as if hearing someone else's words in his head, and agreeing with them. The bowl cut wearing teen looked between them before he spoke again. "Okay. So Keisuke san's car got damaged, and you've had things like that to settle."

"That's already settled, Itsuke."

Itsuke snarled, "I'm not sure I like how you're repaying that debt, Tak. There's other ways you know!"

Keisuke's hands balled into fists as he stood next to Takumi. "This has nothing to do with repaying a debt, Takeuchi! Damn, you're dense!"

"Keisuke's right. The things going on between Keisuke and me . . . it's different. I had to decide whether our situation is right for me."

Itsuke gave him a blank look. Takumi faltered even more as he saw his friend's expression. Keisuke stepped over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. His grip gave instant reassurance as Takumi struggled with the uncomfortable situation. "Are you okay, Fujiwara?"

Takumi looked back at the man at his shoulder, he braced himself for Itsuke's inevitable melt down. He nodded once and took a deep breath to steady his nerves. "Look, Itsuke, I know you don't want to understand. I know you'll hate me over anything I do say."

"Spit it out already, Tak!"

Takumi's throat constricted and his tongue glued itself to the roof of his mouth. "Fujiwara, will you let me explain this?" Keisuke had an eyebrow raised as he searched his face. Takumi nodded his head because he could not speak at all. Keisuke had an equal right to explain and he knew it. "Fujiwara's had a hard time adjusting to everything, so don't give him any more grief than he's already had. All right?"

"Fine." Itsuke folded his arms across his chest.

"When I saw the hachi roku bounce off the mountain I realized I was about to lose the best thing that has ever happened to me, or ever will, Takeuchi. Both onnas I've dated, and loved, never saw me. People that I've called friends have the same problem. They all see my bank account, the trust fund I control, instead of me. I've learned to pick up on that really quick."

"That sucks, Keisuke san."

"Can I finish, Takeuchi?" Keisuke growled through clenched his teeth. Takumi could hear the sound of his molars click together as his jaw muscles visibly ticked with strain.

"Uhm, hai, Keisuke san."

"Fujiwara has never cared about my social status, or money. He only sees the person I am. He respects me, and my skill as a driver. I've never met anyone like him. Aniki hasn't either. Fujiwara's special because he only sees our achievements."

"That's one reason Tak's my best friend. Still, after seeing you acting so weird today, I think you're going overboard. That doesn't fit being buds."

"Would you shut up, and listen without interrupting, Takeuchi!?"

Takumi put a hand on Keisuke's arm to restrain him. "Itsuke's making sure he understands you. Let him talk when he needs to, so you'll know if he's getting it right. Onegai, Keisuke san?"

"Fine, . . . I'll try to keep that in mind." The blond conceded with a nod.

Takumi heard Keisuke's teeth pop again as he ground them together trying to control his fury. Keisuke raked a hand through his hair, a flash of pain crossing his features.

"Takeuchi, It's not easy to be a bisexual. I tried to ignore the socially condemned glitch in my personality, but my heart wrapped itself around Takumi before I realized it. I got pissed, and took it out on Fujiwara because I was jealous of Aniki."

"Nani?" Itsuke leaned heavily on his hachi go's fender as he stared slack jawed at Keisuke.

"I'm bisexual, and in love with Fujiwara! Can I get any more blunt, Takeuchi?"

Itsuke's forceful rebuttal gave Takumi reason to rub his forehead as his headache pulsed and sliced through his right temple. "If you're in love with Tak, you're gay!"

"Wrong, baka! It's not gender that matters to me. It's the personality when you're bisexual! Gays only like their own gender! I'm drawn to men and onnas equally."

"How come you're chasing Tak with all those onnas screaming after you at battles then?"

"If I'd met an onna with Takumi's personality, I'd be in love with her." Keisuke snapped back with equal heat.

"That doesn't make any sense!" Itsuke yelled.

"Bisexual means it doesn't matter to me whether they're onnas, or men, Takeuchi! It means I love Takumi's attitudes, actions, and personality more than anything. Hopefully I used simple enough words that you can get the facts into your thick skull."

Itsuke denied his words. "Excuse me? You see someone that's hot, and you want to get to know them because you can't stop seeing them in your head."

"Takeuchi, maybe you'll understand things if I explain the difference between gays and bisexuals." Keisuke growled after glancing Takumi's way.

"Nani difference?"

"Some isha sans did a study during World War Two that used complex questions which they had men, and onnas, answer by filling multiple choice bubbles for a flat payment. The people who filled out the questionnaire had to give only one detail about themselves. They had to mark whether they were male or female. After that, they answered whatever multiple choice answer reflected their feelings."

"Does this test have anything to do with you being in love with Tak?"

"Hai, and I'm getting to that, Takeuchi. Can I finish explaining the difference between a homosexual and a bisexual first?"

"Fine." Itsuke grumbled with sour glances shot his way. Takumi was worried over Itsuke's surly looks directed at himself.

"Seven out of ten people answered the list of questions in a way that proved personality attracted them to both sexes. The questions on that sheet of paper asked the same things repeatedly in different ways. Most people did not recognize it was the same question changed around to insure emotion driven answers. Many people that answered those questions were afraid of having homosexual feelings, and couldn't accept their attraction to people of the same sex. The isha sans discovered personality traits are a major factor in attraction for many people. Personality attracts most humans to both sexes to various degrees. I'm one of those people that was put in the category of bisexual, or attracted to people for themselves, instead of for their genders, Itsuke."

"If people fall in love with just anyone, gays would be everywhere."

"Because society says that same gender relationships are wrong. Bisexuals usually recognize an attraction to someone of the same sex and run, Takeuchi! That was my policy before Fujiwara blind-sided me!"

"Naze not leave Tak alone, if that's your policy?" Itsuke balled his fists as he turned his glare on Takumi. "How can you be so calm about this, Takumi? You're going along with Keisuke san."

"If I could've walked away from Fujiwara, I would have, baka! By the time I realized I was in love with him, it was too late for me to leave Takumi alone!" Keisuke's snarl had Takumi stepping back in alarm.

Takumi answered in a quieter voice while watching Keisuke from the corner of his eye. "I've had two months to get used to how serious Keisuke is about me. He honestly loves me, Itsuke."

Itsuke looked as if he was desperate to convert him. "You shouldn't be hanging around Keisuke san if you know he's got the hots for you, Takumi."

"Keisuke's still a good person, Itsuke! I can't ignore the good things about him."

"Takeuchi, you agreed to let me explain everything without making Fujiwara miserable!" Takumi saw his boyfriend's hands ball into fists as he glared at Itsuke.

"Does it matter? How can I expect you to answer my questions if I let you continue to deny that your gay, Keisuke san?"

Anger peaking, Takumi got between the two combatants. "Damn it, Itsuke! Look at how your acting right now! Your actions are the reason I didn't bother talking to you about any of this mess! I knew you'd freak out and ignore everything I said to you! It sucks! I've always known you don't think before making blind judgements. You won't even try to listen to Keisuke san's side because your mind's already made up about him! Everything you hear gets lumped into all or nothing groups with you."

"So, you do think I'm a bad friend after all." Takumi's harsh words subdued itsuke's voice.

"I've never thought anything like that, Itsuke. You've been my best friend since we were very little. Keeping my mouth shut is the only option you've given me so I won't lose your friendship. Would you try listening to Keisuke san and consider that maybe some things don't fit into either the black or white boxes inside your head?"

Takumi watched his lifelong friend's complexion shift from marbled red to pasty pale. Itsuke continued to glare for several tense moments before he nodded consent.

"Takeuchi, I didn't understand getting pissed off that Fujiwara spent so much time with my onīsan after we began the active phase of Project D. I couldn't stand seeing them together, but I couldn't face the truth either. I knew Fujiwara had to learn the mechanical, and strategy parts involved in racing. Nevertheless, as often as I reminded myself of that, I couldn't stomach seeing them working together. I started a stupid rivalry with Fujiwara to make myself believe that if I beat him in a battle, I'd stop obsessing about the attention Aniki lavished on him." Keisuke grabbed a cigarette. He lit it as Itsuke tried to come to terms with the complicated scenario presented.

Takumi knew his childhood friend was trying to keep an open mind by the way he rubbed the back of his head while his expressions shifted. Itsuke raised his hand. Keisuke frowned at the gesture.

"Do you want to beat Tak in a battle, or are you in love with him?"

"Takeuchi, wanting to beat Fujiwara was a lie I told myself to ignore the truth. I couldn't leave him alone because Takumi's the first person I've met who I can't walk away from easily. I honestly thought Aniki held all the cards. That scared the hell out of me!"

Keisuke's frustration came through in his reply. Itsuke leaned back from the savage expression on Keisuke's face. Takumi felt the same urge to back away, but held his ground.

Itsuke stood slack jawed. "You're in love with Ryosuke san, Tak?"

"iie!" Takumi snapped because he knew Keisuke would be even scarier if jealousy took hold. Takumi rubbed his temples seeking relief from the vice squeezing his skull.

Itsuke tried to understand. "Is Ryosuke san in love with you, Tak?"

"iie, Itsuke."

"So that means only Keisuke san's in love with you, Tak. Right?"

"Hai." Takumi tried to keep his voice calm.

Itsuke's confusion would have been comical if not for the situation. His lifelong friend continued muddling his way through the dilemma. "Then How's Ryosuke san's involved in this too?"

"Ryosuke san isn't involved. Keisuke was afraid that his onīsan was the one I liked because he's bisexual. Without knowing my orientation, Keisuke began comparing himself to his onīsan trying to figure out which one of them I would like more. Ryosuke and I never were, or ever will be interested in each other in a romantic way." Takumi shook his head while explaining.

"So, Keisuke san's jealous of Ryosuke san, and wants to battle you because of that?"

"You almost got it that time, Takeuchi. I don't want to battle Takumi anymore. I want him to be my boyfriend, mate, lover, or whatever term you can stomach to get the point across. I want Takumi to spend the rest of his life with me." Keisuke blew a stream of smoke as he tilted his head with a sardonic expression on his face.

Itsuke looked like he wanted to vomit. Takumi wished his childhood friend did not find the situation so upsetting. However, Takumi felt he had to make the misunderstandings go away at all costs. "Itsuke, I know you're really angry and hurt . . . "

Cutting him off Itsuke shouted, "That's an understatement, Takumi!"

"I can't agree that Keisuke deserves hatred for his feelings. He didn't decide one morning that he wanted to fall in love with me. I know how hard it is to control emotions because I got attached to Mogi. I won't be a hypocrite!"

Itsuke whined, "At least Mogi's an onna. It's normal to fall in love with onnas. Geeze, are you going crazy, Tak?"

Keisuke took a step toward the youth glaring at them. Takumi stopped him by placing his body between the two men as a restraint. Once satisfied that his angry lover would stand down, Takumi turned back to confront Itsuke. He blew out a breath as he marshaled his courage.

"iie, Itsuke, I'm not crazy. I didn't decide to fall in love with Mogi. I don't believe anybody really decides to fall in love with someone. It just happens! If it didn't, you wouldn't have gotten your heart broken. I wouldn't have gotten hurt because of Mogi's actions either."

"So, you think seeing Keisuke san will help you get over Mogi's betrayal? Isn't that a bit extreme, Tak?" Itsuke's baffled face made Takumi's fingers itch to either cover his face, and groan out of frustration, or smack his friend to try and force him to wake up.

"You've never understood how I think, Itsuke." The realization gave Takumi a pang of regret as the words spilled from his lips.

"We've been friends since we were little kids, so I do too, Tak."

"iie, you don't. Remember those guys that got expelled our freshman year because they loved each other?"

Itsuke scratched his head. "Huh? . . . You mean the fag seniors caught making out on the roof?"

"Hai. They shouldn't have been so obvious about their relationship at school. Even so, I didn't think they should have gotten a different punishment from straight couples that do the same damn thing, Itsuke! I was pissed that our school expelled them because they fell in love with each other. It's wrong to let straight couples get away with crude behavior, then condemn a same gender couple for kissing each other on the roof when they thought they were alone!"

"How come you didn't say something, Tak?"

"Because you went with the crowd's opinion. Getting into a fist fight with a classroom full of rabid, homophobic hate-filled lunatics wasn't an option. It didn't matter to me if those two guys were in love with each other. My only thought was that it should have been their business only. They should've gone somewhere private if they couldn't keep their hands off each other. My belief is going to the roof was the only thing that they did wrong. Everyone decided they had some disease because of how they felt about each other. If love is a disease, then we all get it, not just gays."

"That's harsh, Tak!"

"So is saying someone deserves hatred, or has a disease because they fall in love with someone without any choice! Can't you see it from Keisuke's perspective? You know how it feels to fall in love! How is it any different for Keisuke than it was for you, Itsuke?" Takumi realized he was shaking as his hands balled into fists.

Pain laced itsuke's words with venom. "I like onnas, and I thought you did too, Tak!"

"It's easier to date onnas because you don't get social backlash, Itsuke! I don't agree that people who fall in love with someone that's their gender are automatically bad! It's a lie! Falling in love doesn't change who a person is, Itsuke! We got involved with onnas who didn't love us back! That didn't change who we really are! Did it? How did falling in love with me change Keisuke into a bad person? He's still the same person around minasan he knows. The only thing that changed is he stopped trying to pick fights with me once he understood his emotions."

"You don't think it's twisted that Keisuke's got the hots for you, and blackmailing you, or whatever, to get everything he wants, Tak?!"

Takumi gritted his teeth and defended the man next to him. "Keisuke's not playing games. He's not holding any debts over me, blackmailing me, or anything else underhanded. That's the main reason I told him I'd give him a chance to prove we belong together! I know he's being honest. He's too important to me for me to be a jerk. I refuse to write Keisuke off without trying to understand how he came to love me, Itsuke!"

Itsuke flinched as if struck. The dark-haired nineteen-year-old staggered back.

Itsuke's stupefied stare met his tongue-lashing. Takumi clenched his fists even tighter, trying to stop his limbs shaking. Itsuke struggled to absorb what they were telling him. It only made Takumi's anger hotter. He fought the urge to pound on his friend to make him understand. The amber-haired teen turned on heel, and headed for his car to quash the desire to unleash violence.

"Let's go, Keisuke. I'm tired of arguing with someone who refuses to consider that people are people despite the gender their partner has. I'm not going to fight a useless battle with someone who wants to write you off because of me!"

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Alternate Tracks 2nd Story in Rivalry Series