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Alternate Tracks 2nd Story in Rivalry Series	By : kurahieiritrJIO Category: +G to L > Initial D Views: 2493 -:- 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
- 13
- 14
- 15
CHAPTER 14

Takumi ripped out of the parking lot with his tires screaming in protest. Takeuchi looked as if torn between passing out, and vomiting. The chubby teenager was wobbling beside his hachi go Levin's door. Keisuke knew he had to catch Takumi, or he would regret it. He strode to his car with his heart hammering in his chest. The blond looked over at the young man Takumi had tried to reach. The chunky teenager sported a dismayed, sickened expression for all his beloved's efforts. Remorse over the shocked teenager who had received a very rude awakening about his childhood friend swirled in Keisuke's gut. He decided to share a few truths about how Takumi felt with the shell shocked youth in hopes it would help.

"Takeuchi, Takumi hid our situation because he believes you'll turn on him."

"Shut up!"

"If you discard Takumi's lifelong friendship simply because I'm in love with him, then you're still an immature brat that needs to grow up, Takeuchi."

"I am not!"

"Fujiwara's still your friend, and you're damn important to him. You need to believe that if nothing else about his accepting me into his life makes sense."

" . . . . . . "

"If you're really Fujiwara's best friend, you'll try to understand how he feels before cutting him from your life, Takeuchi. I'm asking you not to do the same thing everyone else Takumi's cared for has!"

" . . . . . . "

"Che. . . . Fine, act like a baka!" The words exploded from Keisuke's lips over Takeuchi's silent, sullen glare. He yanked the FD's door open, and dropped into his seat. Slamming FD's door, Keisuke belted himself into place and started his car.

"I've got to find Takumi, and calm him down." Keisuke punched the gas pedal to rev the engine. Keisuke grumbled as he watched Takeuchi stagger as he tried to open his own car's door. "Damn, Takeuchi's got lousy timing. Then again, . . . Shit, I really need to learn how to control myself around Takumi."

Keisuke slammed FD into gear and peeled out of the lookout to keep Takumi from getting too far ahead. Keisuke frowned with concentration as he hurtled down the side road. He cut into traffic, swerving around slower cars on the main road. Using every drop of skill that he possessed Keisuke flew down the twisting road toward the city. He tried to think of places Takumi could go to sort out his fear and anger if he could not catch hachi roku on the mountain. Keisuke knew his younger lover would not go home.

Keisuke prayed that Takumi wasn't so angry that he had also driven at full throttle down this mountain as the blond realized he had no clue where the man he adored might go. Returning to their lookout was out of the question thanks to Takeuchi's presence. That blocked Takumi hiking back to the small canyon he loved. Takumi would have to pick another quiet place to brood. Some days, Takumi's quiet personality was a huge drawback. His silence about himself made finding him in a pinch nearly impossible.

Keisuke didn't have very much traffic to dodge, so was making excellent course time. He caught up to the panda not far from the skating rink lot. He slowed as his Infini RX-7 closed on the Trueno's bumper, and honked his horn to signal Takumi to pull over. Keisuke noted his speedometer with relief. Fifteen over wasn't a very dangerous speed. He had feared that Takumi would do something reckless out of blind rage and tackle the course at full speed. His own guilt over doing the same got discarded quickly. The blond sent a silent prayer of thanks heavenward that Takumi hadn't gone berserk. Takumi had been quite livid when he peeled out of the lookout.

Keisuke was determined that he would not allow his distraught lover to escape as he backed off enough to avoid an accident. He thought for a moment that Takumi would ignore his signal to pull into the next lot. His boyfriend did not slow until the last possible second. The panda slid into the lot with minimal braking, and skidded to a halt in a space away from the exit. A large sign and shrubs lining the roadway acted as a screen. That part of the lot was farthest from the building.

Keisuke exited the FD and walked over to Takumi, who waited in his silent car. He yanked open hachi roku's door and found his beloved shaking hard. Takumi's hands were white knuckled with strain, clenching his steering wheel as he fought for control of his emotions. His breathing was erratic.

"Takumi-kun? Are you going to be all right?" Keisuke knelt beside his lover, inside hachi roku's door, but hesitated to touch the man he wanted to wrap in a comforting embrace.

"I really fucked up, Keisuke. I should've known that Itsuke would look for us when we skipped practice last night."

"Whoa, if anyone has fucked up, it's me, Takumi. I'm the one that couldn't keep my hands off you when I should have."

Keisuke cupped Takumi's jaw and turned his face to look at him. He kept his voice soft. If Takumi cracked, then he would be in the spot Aniki had warned him about so often. The thought that he could lose Takumi because he had gotten so impatient frightened him.

"I hope you understand that I never meant for this to happen."

Takumi released the steering wheel and smacked his fist into his thigh. Keisuke covered his angry lover's clenched hand in his free one as he sought to ease the suffering he saw in his significant other's face.

"I know you didn't want our relationship discovered this way. Still, you've wanted us to be open about our relationship from the beginning. You've said as much before, Keisuke. I doubt you see this as the disaster I do. But, now you understand the reason I didn't want to tell any of my friends. They aren't like Kenta or Ryosuke-san."

"Takumi, the only reason I wanted us to tell the important people in our lives was to prevent anyone finding out by accident! I'll apologize profusely for causing this problem. I'll do everything I can to fix things between you and Takeuchi also."

"You can't fix this, Keisuke."

"Nani do you need from me so you can believe me? I never wanted you to get backed into a corner. I'm begging you to believe me, Takumi."

"Stop it! I know you didn't do this on purpose, Keisuke! You didn't back me into any corners. I did this to myself. Nothing we do or say will fix things with Itsuke." Takumi continued to tremble.

His younger boyfriend's voice was as unsteady as his limbs. Takumi faced him as he continued shaking. Keisuke noted emerald green, with bluish gray tones dominating the younger man's often tawny eyes. It was the third time he had noticed that Takumi's eyes shifted between a kaleidoscope of hues depending on his feelings. Keisuke wondered how many distinct shades of color Takumi's eyes changed between while trying to soothe his sweetheart's nerves.

"Let's back off and give Takeuchi a few days to calm down. Then we can talk to him again and salvage everything, Takumi."

"He'll go straight to Iketani and Kenji-sempais."

"Nani?" Keisuke felt his brows dive for the bridge of his nose. His heart dropped into the vicinity of his stomach.

"He'll tell them both before nightfall."

"Takeuchi might keep his mouth shut."

"Not a chance! Itsuke will tell them, and Oyaji will find out from my old boss. I've got a lot of explaining to do tonight." Takumi trembled even harder as he spoke.

"Then we'll face minasan together. We'll pick up the pieces if your friends and family won't accept that we belong together, Takumi."

"Kami-sama, I'm such a baka! I should have used my head today."

Takumi jerked his chin out of his grip and rubbed his temples, an indicator of acute pain. Keisuke dropped his free hand to the teen's leg. Keisuke knew he had developed another migraine from the day's disastrous events.

"Whoa, Takumi. Calm down. We don't know that he's going to say anything. Takeuchi seems dazed right now."

"I've known Itsuke all my life. He'll tell Iketani-sempai and Kenji-sempai before tonight's through because he's freaking out right now." Takumi pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You did the right thing by telling Itsuke you gave me a chance because you know I love you. If he does talk, he'll probably say I'm blackmailing you to protect your reputation which is fine with me."

"I wanted to kill Itsuke for accusing you of something like that. I'm not being forced into anything. If Itsuke spreads something like that, . . . I'll kill him!"

Keisuke spoke in a soothing tone. "If it helps keep things calm, I'll take the heat, Takumi. Let Takeuchi tell your friends I forced you into a corner to get you in bed. Especially if it keeps Oyaji-san from going after you."

Takumi's head snapped around, expression horrified. "That's not fair to you!"

Keisuke knew he had to make his younger lover understand. "I don't give a damn about whether or not it's fair, Takumi!" Keisuke dropped his volume. "I don't care about anything Takeuchi's decided about me. If he's determined to think that I'm using cosmetic damage to FD to force a sexual repayment from you, that's fine. It'll protect you from Oyaji-san, so let him spread that bullshit to his heart's content. I'm more concerned about your well being than any excuses he uses to stomach us getting together. The only thing I care about is insuring you don't get pounded by Oyaji-san."

"iie way, Keisuke!" Takumi's head swung in violent denial as he grabbed Keisuke's shoulder in a vice grip.

The bright greens increased in Takumi's eyes as he glared down on him. Keisuke refused to grimace under the pressure to which his shoulder was subjected. Takumi had an iron grip that was getting tighter. Keisuke lowered his voice and kept it steady with effort.

"Then we need a good plan in place if you think my suggestion's so bad, Takumi."

"We're both men, and we were caught making love in a public place. Obviously my friends aren't reacting like Kenta and Ryosuke-san have! Oyaji won't care about any excuses Itsuke gives everyone! He's going to kill me on principle!" Takumi let go of his shoulder, slamming his head into hachi roku's headrest.

Keisuke leaned into the car, wrapping an arm around Takumi's waist to force eye contact again. "Takeuchi has to find your sempais before he can talk to them. We still have time to change his mind. He may still be at the lookout."

"Itsuke's stubborn, Keisuke. He can't handle the idea of two men being in love with each other, so talking is a waste of breath."

"I think we should try. I got you into this mess, Takumi." Keisuke didn't like Takumi's pallor. He trembled as his eyes darted everywhere.

"You don't get it. You're not the one who blew it. I am! Iketani-sempai works at the gas stand where I used to work. Tachibana-san owns it, and he's one of Oyaji's best friends. All Itsuke has to do is talk at the station, and I'm royally screwed! He's probably already on his way there, Keisuke!"

"Takumi, if you're that certain that Oyaji-san's going to explode, then crash at my place. That way Oyaji-san can't pound you into the ground. Let him cool off before we face him together."

"As if running away can possibly fix things?" Takumi snapped.

"I didn't say you should run away. Staying with me will buy us enough time to figure things out. Hell, I already want us to live together. We can step up the time table if necessary. I won't stand by and let anything happen to you."

Keisuke caught Takumi's hand in his and held it against his heart. Takumi looked mutinous. He continued, "I can't lose you, especially because I did something this stupid, Takumi."

"I'm not going to live with you because you want to protect me, Keisuke." Takumi's words held bite. "IF, . . . we LIVE together, . . . it's going to be, . . . because WE KNOW it's the right choice for us."

"Well, the only other option that comes to mind is to tell your Speed Star friends something else to slow things."

"I won't lie to my friends, Keisuke. I can't do anything underhanded to Itsuke. He's been my best friend since we were little. Stabbing him in the back is one thing I won't do! When Itsuke tells them everything, I'll deal with it. I know that I love you, so I have to be honest about us. My only choice is to face my friends. The sooner, the better. Everything's blown up in my face already so avoiding them will only make things worse."

Keisuke's phone shrilled in his pocket. He wanted to break the repeat offender. This was the second time it had interrupted him when he was in the middle of something important. The wheat-haired man grabbed it out of his pocket.

"Hang on a second, Takumi. We'll sort this out once I get done with this call. I promise." Keisuke hit the button as he stood. "Nan da, Aniki?!"

"Keisuke, the next time you growl at me when I call, I'm going to make you wish you'd never been born." Ryosuke spat in his ear.

"Considering everything happening today, go ahead and get pissed off, Aniki! I've got more important things to deal with right now."

Keisuke was in no mood to appease his older brother. Serious issues faced his lover, and he had no time to spare on his mother's newest hysteria fit. If she couldn't accept that he had left the gangs for good, then she had too little faith in him.

"Na . . . nani happened, Keisuke?" Keisuke could imagine the stunned expression on his brother's face because he had not backed down. Ryosuke sounded frightened.

"Too much to explain on the phone. Takumi and I are busy with damage control. So whatever it is you're calling about has to wait."

"Keisuke, nani did you do? Tell me right now, Otouto!"

"Not now, Aniki. I'll probably have Takumi with me when I get home tonight."

Ryosuke snarled, "Keisuke, start talking!"

Keisuke covered the receiver, and looked at his distraught beloved who had closed his eyes. The teen ran his hands across the back of his neck and over his temples. Keisuke winced as he heard his brother continue to snarl his name on the other end of the phone line. "Aniki's demanding an explanation, and he's pissed. You're call, Takumi."

"He'll find out anyway, won't he?"

"Probably."

"Then, . . . it doesn't matter anymore. Go ahead and tell him the truth." Keisuke sighed at the defeated ring in Takumi's answer. He sounded as if he believed they were completely out of alternatives.

"Gomen for causing you such a big mess, Takumi. Aniki's right. I really need to learn how to be patient."

Keisuke lifted his cell phone and started talking. "Takumi and I were at the lookout and Takeuchi showed up at a bad time. He found out that we're a couple, and couldn't cope. We've got to figure out how to keep Takumi's otosān from finding out before we have a permanent solution. I may have to get Takumi out of the house until Oyaji-san calms down."

"Did you two get caught making out in a public place or something?"

"Hey, it's not a very public spot. Nobody really knows about that specific lookout. Takeuchi's arrival was a total fluke, Aniki!" Keisuke snapped back.

"Couldn't you get a hotel room? At least have sense eno, . . . !"

Roaring at his brother, Keisuke vented his irritation. "Chew me out later, Aniki! I'm busy trying to figure out how to keep Takumi's otosān from killing him and don't have the time or luxury of listening to a damn pointless lecture!"

"Do you really believe Takeuchi would go to Fujiwara's otosān?" Ryosuke sounded doubtful.

"Takumi's dead certain that Takeuchi will talk to their sempais in the Speed Stars. One of them works for Oyaji-san's best friend. Oyaji-san will find out when Takeuchi blabs because the guy's boss likes to eavesdrop on their conversations."

"Naze would Takeuchi do something that irresponsible, Keisuke?"

"Whenever Takeuchi flips out, he talks to someone he trusts to sort out everything that happened."

"Keisuke, I just thought of something." Takumi interrupted him. He turned to his boyfriend whose complexion was improving.

"Hang on, Aniki. . . . Nan da, Takumi?"

"The Speed Stars meet at a restaurant today because it's Iketani's early off day. Iketani has already left the station. I have a little more time before Oyaji finds out about us."

"Takeuchi can't spill anything he saw today at the gas station then. That's a relief." Keisuke echoed as he watched Takumi begin to relax.

"Keisuke, Itsuke's probably headed to meet Iketani and Kenji. By tomorrow night Oyaji will know about us, but I still have tonight to figure out a plan."

"Where do they meet, Takumi? Maybe we can get there first. I'll try to calm Takeuchi down before he talks to your teammates."

"Keisuke, put Fujiwara on the phone." Ryosuke barked the order loud enough that he heard despite not having the phone against his ear.

The twenty-two-year-old knew better than to argue with his brother after snapping at him nonstop. He also felt a twinge of hope that his older brother could help. Ryosuke had a knack for how he handled Takumi.

Keisuke offered the phone. "Aniki wants to talk to you."

Takumi took the cell with a sigh. He raised it to his ear. "Moshi moshi, Ryosuke-san." The younger man listened to Ryosuke for several seconds.

"It's my fault this happened, not Keisuke's. I know how Itsuke is. I should've expected him to hunt every corner of Akina until he found me. He gets this way when he decides I'm missing. So I'm the one that created this mess."

He hesitated before saying, "Hai. I'm sure."

Takumi ran a hand across his eyes as he listened again. "Itsuke's decided that nothing we said to him matters. He announced that Keisuke's blackmailed me into dating him because of the accident a couple months ago. He wouldn't accept anything we said once he made up his mind."

Another pause followed as Takumi's lips pursed. "I doubt it, Ryosuke-san. He can be really immature at times." Takumi shook his head.

"I know you're busy. You shouldn't have to, . . ." Takumi's brows dove to the bridge of his nose. He leaned his head against his headrest and closed his eyes with a pained look clouding his features.

"I understand that, but, . . ." Another pause followed.

"But, you've, . . ." Takumi smacked his steering wheel while glaring at the back of the sign under which he parked.

"It's too late for that, Ryosuke-san!"

Keisuke wondered what his brother was saying as Takumi continued to frown while rubbing his temple. Keisuke had to assume by the way that Takumi had ceased to shake, Ryosuke's words were working, even if Takumi looked much angrier.

"Naze?" Another pause as Takumi's lush lips thinned dramatically.

"You don't have to do that. It's my problem to fix, Ryo, . . ." Takumi huffed and looked up at the roof of his car.

"Fine! They meet up for dinner, and Karaoke every week."

Another pause as Ryosuke talked. "Asian Flowers Grill normally. It's pretty close to the gas stand where they work."

Keisuke watched as Takumi glared at his steering wheel. "Ryosuke-san, that's not going to change anything. My friends aren't like Keisuke's."

Takumi fell silent again. He tilted his head and gave Keisuke a frustrated look while he held the phone to his ear. "Sure."

He handed the phone back to Keisuke. "Aniki?"

"I'm going to intercept the Speed Stars. I found the address on the Internet. If there's any specific message you want me to give Takeuchi, tell me now."

"This is our problem, and I thought, . . ."

Ryosuke cut him off. "I'm not going to stand by and watch you and Fujiwara self destruct which isn't an option. Project D will collapse unless I can control this mess. I'll put a stop to any opposition against Fujiwara before it gains momentum. Focus on helping Fujiwara."

Keisuke's knees went weak. He knew Ryosuke was behind them, but having his brother decide to take this problem on when he had said he was going to stay out of their personal affairs came as a welcome shock.

"Then tell Takeuchi this; I don't want to see him fighting with Takumi because of me. We need to know if he's going to turn on Takumi, or stand by his best friend? Tell him gomen nasai gozaimasu that I couldn't stick around to insure he was fine. I felt I had to catch Takumi and calm him down."

"Got it. That's quite a message, Otouto. I'm surprised that you're apologizing to anyone."

"Well, I have to start somewhere, Aniki."

"True. I'll do some real damage control. You stay with Fujiwara. I hope you two can weather this mess."

"We will, Aniki. We're working out a plan to keep things calm. Takumi decided that we need to face his friends soon because of this blow up with Takeuchi."

"Then I'll expect to see you at the restaurant later this evening." The phone clicked as Ryosuke hung up.

Keisuke dropped his cell into his pants pocket. He dropped back onto his haunches beside his boyfriend and took his clenching and unclenching hands into his own.

"Okay, back to how we keep Oyaji-san from doing serious damage to you before he calms down, Takumi."

"Running from him's wrong, Keisuke." The teen looked in his eyes as he spoke.

"I'm not suggesting that you run away, Takumi. I think we need to keep things, . . . "

"I know that I have to face Oyaji when he finds out about us. If I don't, we'll never know we're together for the right reasons, . . . if I live with you, Keisuke. I can't do that to either one of us. I won't give you any reason to doubt me if we ever live together."

Keisuke looked up into Takumi's green and gray flecked eyes which reflected fear, and anger, but also held a strength that drew him in. "Are you sure you're ready to tackle all of this head on?"

Takumi looked at him for several moments without speaking. Keisuke felt his stomach clench painfully as he waited for his boyfriend's decision. "We find the Speed Stars and explain things. Then we leave so I don't have to hear any more excuses about how you're forcing me to be with you. I'm half this relationship, Keisuke. We'll sort the rest of this out as we go. I'll figure out how to deal with Oyaji after we finish with the Speed Stars."

"Things may get rough for a few weeks. You should toss some clothes in the hachi roku, and bring them to my house. Oyaji san doesn't know my address. It will keep things under control. One step at a time, Takumi. We'll get through this together."

"Keisuke, . . . ?!" Takumi sounded drained, but also harried.

"I already know we're together for all the right reasons. I'm not going to change my mind if we move in together ahead of your schedule, Takumi."

"Keisuke, even knowing Oyaji's going to flip out, I've finally made my choice. If I didn't love you, I would've stopped everything happening between us last night. I know I belong with you. Belonging with you doesn't mean we should rush into things. I'll be fine."

"Your safety is my top priority, Takumi. I'm going to be there when you talk to Oyaji-san. I won't let you get hurt because I love you, and convinced you to love me back."

"Oyaji will probably kick me out of the house when he finds out. So, I guess I should grab my clothes since I'll need them."

"Then we do that first. Talk to your otosān after you've got your bag ready to go. We'll go to my house afterward."

"Don't fight with Oyaji, Keisuke."

"I won't throw down with Oyaji-san unless he attacks first. I'm not going to stand by if he goes after you, Takumi. I noticed the scars on your shoulders and back when you took your shirt off yesterday. I'm not stupid! You've left too many clues for me to think you got them from anyone but Oyaji-san."

Takumi's eyes widened and his face lost the color he'd managed to regain. Takumi's reaction almost mystified Keisuke that he didn't deny the charge. Takumi closed his eyes with a pained grimace. He ran a hand over his face as he shook his head. Keisuke thought he was in an argument with himself by the way he reacted. Takumi lifted his head after several minutes and began to speak.

"Keisuke, I can't impose on your family because I got careless. That's wrong. I won't compound our problems by tipping your ryōshin off too!"

"It's not going to be an imposition. Trust me. It will only take a few days to find a place of our own if Oyaji-san turns on you."

"Damn! If we move in together under this kind of stress, it'll ruin everything between us. I don't want you to feel that I moved in with you because of Oyaji's bad temper." Takumi's voice wheedled as he tried to convince him.

"Whatever happens, I know you love me, Takumi. That's enough for me. If the only thing we need to do is get you out of your otosān's house until he calms down, then we'll do that. If he kicks you out, we'll get our own place effective immediately. Then my ryōshin won't be a problem either. I know what I have to do."

"Keisuke, stop taking the blame. We both caused this problem. Stop taking on all the responsibility."

"I pushed you to make love in your car today. I'm taking responsibility for my actions."

"I wanted it too. That makes me just as guilty, Keisuke."

"Not when I'm the one who pushed your buttons first."

"Don't you dare act like I'm innocent here, Takahashi Keisuke!" Takumi's jaw set at a stubborn angle as he glared down at him.

"I should've suggested a hotel because I couldn't keep my hands off you. I got impatient and I know it." Keisuke growled back as his patience slipped.

Takumi leaned over and locked eyes with him. "We both should have thought of a hotel. We're both equally guilty. I'm not happy about how things have blown up, but I know what I have to do too, Keisuke."

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Alternate Tracks 2nd Story in Rivalry Series