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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
- 18
- 19
- 20
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Continuing to revise and fix grammar as I load chapters. Also have started putting up the stories at DeviantArt. Link is on my Bio Page. Hopefully, anyone reading this will give me feedback about any more missed errors.

CHAPTER 19

Takumi was starting to get uneasy. Keisuke had called to say he would be late, but that was not the reason for his nervousness. He would face Iketani, Kenji, and Itsuke for the first time since he and Keisuke were forced to announce that they were a couple. Accepted the situation shocked Iketani and Kenji. However, Itsuke was unable to recover from the shock of catching Keisuke giving him a blow job at the lookout. The rift that yawned between himself and Itsuke smarted. Takumi was trying to accept that he was getting cut from his best friend's life. Itsuke would avoid him if he came to the mountain.

Hearing a familiar rotary engine, Takumi turned to look at the road. It surprised him to see Nakamura's orange S-fourteen behind the yellow Mazda. Both cars parked near his as the two men got out to greet him.

Takumi nodded to the other downhill driver as Kenta spoke while walking toward him "How's everything going, Fujiwara?"

"I'm fine, Kenta." Takumi looked over at Keisuke with a frown. "Isn't it a bit late for that particular plan, Keisuke san?"

Kenta looked surprised. "Oh, you already knew Keisuke san was going to bring me, Fujiwara?"

"We talked about having you hang around Takeuchi, and the Speed Stars before we were forced to tell his friends about us. I still think it's a good idea to have you pick Takeuchi's brain to see if we have a chance to change his mind, even if it's a bit late, Kenta."

"It won't work, Keisuke san. Itsuke's too stubborn to change his mind. He'll ignore us if he even bothers showing up tonight."

"Takumi, have you eaten yet?"

"Don't change the subject, Keisuke!"

"We won't know unless we try, Takumi. Now, answer my question." Keisuke demanded.

Takumi growled at his lover. "I told you that I learned my lesson. Of course I ate before I came up here."

"I'm just making sure because I worry about you, Takumi."

"Stop worrying already! You shouldn't ask Kenta to clean up our mess, Keisuke." Takumi dropped his elbow on his knee while grumbling.

Kenta spoke with a smile. "I'm happy to help any way I can, Fujiwara."

"Domo, Kenta. You already do so much for us at the battles that we shouldn't impose on your generosity. It's not fair to you."

"Kenta will get mad if we don't let him help, Takumi."

"But, Keisuke, . . . ?" Takumi gave his lover a loaded stare.

Kenta gave him a bow as he spoke. "You don't understand how glad I am when I can help you both. Please let me continue."

"Erm, . . . if it means that much to you, I guess I can't argue." Takumi agreed with a touch of reluctance.

"Domo, Fujiwara. You won't regret this."

"Iketani and Kenji should be at the top of the course, but I doubt Itsuke'll be there, minasan." Takumi slid off his hood and stepped to his car door.

Kenta shook his head as he responded. "We'll know when we find them, Fujiwara."

"Kenta's right. Let's get out of here. Time to fight with your little demon possessed compact so I can call it a night."

Takumi took the lead as the three cars drove back to the course head. The pull off at the head of Akina's course came into view, and Takumi tensed. The teen held his breath as he counted the cars already present. 'One, two, three. Itsuke's here!' Takumi felt a touch light headed at the sight of the turbo-charged hachi go parked in front of Iketani's S thirteen, and Kenji's one eighty SX.

'First hurdle down. Guess we'll see whether he speaks to me. That's the key to whether or not we're still friends.'

Takumi pulled into the turn off, parked beside Iketani's S thirteen, and cut his engine. Keisuke pulled behind him, while Kenta parked behind Kenji's one eighty SX. Takumi took a deep breath to brace himself, and got out of his car. He looked over at his friends with what he hoped was a calm expression.

Iketani greeted them with a relieved smile. "Hey, you're late. Did you have car problems, or something?"

Takumi felt some tension bleed out of his shoulders as he replied. "Everything's fine. Keisuke had an errand to run before he could come tonight. Gomen that we worried minasan again."

"Hey, you brought a Red Suns crew member tonight." Kenji grinned at Kenta, who smiled back with a nod. The long banged street racer began making introductions. "Kenji des. This is Iketani Koichiro, and Takeuchi Itsuke."

"Nakamura Kenta des. Arigato for having me tonight."

Iketani grinned at Kenta and added his own welcome. "Friends of Takumi kun, and Keisuke san are always welcome around here."

"Domo. Minasan wants to know how Keisuke's training looks here on Akina. It's been top secret, so I talked Keisuke san into letting me tag along for a peek." Kenta didn't waste time Takumi noticed.

Kenji smiled as he spoke. "Top secret huh?"

"Keisuke san's improved since he started training with Fujiwara. I've noticed his brake control is getting better, but he hasn't explained Fujiwara's training regiment. Care to share the secret?"

"Keisuke san has to drive with a cup of water in hachi roku's dashboard, and not spill a drop." Itsuke answered in a superior tone. It surprised Takumi that his best friend was speaking at all. He thought Itsuke would ignore any topic involving them.

Kenta looked dubious. "Really, Takeuchi san?"

"Yep. It's a lot harder than it looks. Keisuke san, and hachi roku get soaked."

Takumi heard Keisuke snort at his shoulder. "Takeuchi, I dare you to drive fast with a half full cup of water, and not get yourself, and the car wet."

Iketani spoke when Itsuke hesitated to answer. "Itsuke kun started driving with a cup in his car too. He's soaking himself, and his interior as much as you, Keisuke san."

Kenji, and Iketani laughed as Itsuke blushed and spoke. "Hey, if Bunta san thinks it's a good training tool, and he's Akina's undefeated downhill legend, then I'll master it."

"Who's Bunta san?" Kenta looked confused.

Takumi answered, "My otosān. He's a downhill specialist also. He's beaten me several times on this course. Oyaji keeps me from getting a big head."

"Your otosān and you battle each other? Wow, so that's how you keep improving so fast, Fujiwara. If your otosān's a great driver, and he's working with you, it must be like having two full time teachers."

"Kenta, Fujiwara's otosān likes to beat him. Oyaji san isn't big on teaching Takumi how to be a better racer. Fujiwara needs Aniki for technical information, advice, and strategy training."

"Oh. Sumimasen, I didn't know." Kenta gave him an apologetic look.

Takumi was in no mood to train, yet he could not stay there while Itsuke refused to even look at him. The snub cut deep, and Takumi felt an overwhelming need to flee. "We should get started, Keisuke. I've got the cup, water jug, and towels ready to go."

"Okay. Lets get tonight's fight with your demonic compact over." Keisuke pitched his tone to convey his joke.

Takumi rolled his eyes with a chuckle as the clenching in his gut eased. Iketani, Kenji, and Kenta were also chuckling at his obvious taunt. Keisuke displayed his impish side around the Speed Stars only rarely. Takumi felt mildly confused as the subtle differences in the atmosphere between the group of men clicked.

"Have fun getting wet, Keisuke san." Kenta waved them off as he turned back to the three other road racers.

Keisuke snorted and gave a mock growled reply. "Baka, I'm supposed to keep from getting wet."

Takumi handed his keys to Keisuke, and got into his passenger seat. The blond gave his leg a quick squeeze when he got into the car. "Takeuchi will come around, Takumi. Let Kenta work on him. He'll have you and Takeuchi talking in no time."

Keisuke shifted the mirrors and seat as he spoke. He did not waste time getting them onto the course. "I expected Itsuke to ignore me."

"This mess is my fault, Takumi. Give me a chance to figure out a way to make things right between the two of you."

"Don't! Itsuke's very stubborn about things he believes are wrong. He may never speak to me again because I love you. We have to respect his choice, Keisuke."

Keisuke entered the first corner at low speed to keep the water in the cup. He eased on the brake as he monitored the water that threatened to overflow. He alternated the brake, and gas pedal. Takumi watched as his lover began to add gas as the hachi roku leveled out on the next straight way. His boyfriend's eyes flashed quick glances at the water threatening to explode from the cup.

"I'm always here for you, Takumi. You've lost too many people you've cared for already, my own. Standing by and letting the last person you've had faith in that he would stay beside you isn't an option. From everything Takeuchi has said, I think real information is all that's needed to bring him around to our side. You can't give up on working things out with him yet. Meanwhile, talk to me, My own."

The slight that Itsuke had dealt him was cutting very deeply. Sadness continued to pierce deeper into Takumi's core as memories tumbled through his mind.

'Itsuke had his arms filled with car magazines, and a happy grin on his face. His height, and uniform morphed, but not his expression. Takumi felt irritation as he helped Itsuke lug the large stack of confiscated magazines to his house. Takumi hated doing this on the last day of school every year. His shoulders burned as he watched Itsuke try to flip through pages while he balanced his load of glossy-covered treasures. Takumi laughed so hard his sides ached when Itsuke panicked as the mountain of magazines changed into a paper avalanche because of his eagerness to drool over every page while they walked.'

'On the way to their fourth grade classroom, Itsuke proclaimed he would open his own garage when he grew up. He would become one of the most sought out mechanics in Gunma Prefecture. Itsuke dropped into a crouch as his tiny fists clenched from his overloaded emotions while he dreamed out loud.'

'Itsuke latched onto dreams of street racing as he spoke of getting an AE hachi roku of his own. Takumi wondered why Itsuke wanted to dominate the mountain passes. He badgered Takumi to go in halves with him on the mysterious car while Iketani sempai encouraged them.'

'Riding with Iketani sempai to the top of Akina was terrifying. Itsuke was hyper as he sat in the passenger seat yelling at him to stop being a baby. He talked about how he wanted to learn how to drive as well as Iketani did when he got his own car. Disgusted with Itsuke sucking up because Iketani's driving sucked, Takumi fought bouts of fear induced nausea in the back seat.'

'Iketani sempai held Takumi in a head lock as Itsuke threatened to pour gasoline down his throat because he lacked knowledge of street jargon concerning cars. Because he had not known what an AE hachi roku was, he was in serious trouble. The duo harassing Takumi caused both panic, and anger, as the gasoline nozzle got closer to his lips. His finger shoved into the nozzle was not a very reassuring feeling as Takumi tried to break free.'

'Itsuke pulled into the station with his new car. The heartbreak of learning it was an AE hachi go, instead of hachi roku clouded his face as he ran from the station. Takumi chased him down and told him how much he admired the fact that Itsuke had gotten his own car. It eased the pain in Itsuke's eyes caused by Kenji, and Iketani's teases.'

'Itsuke sat in a hospital bed as he relayed the accident caused by Shingo Shouji. Takumi felt fury burning within his heart. Itsuke had gotten rammed with his new girlfriend in his car. His hachi go was damaged, but his girlfriend had walked away without a scratch. Itsuke had spun the car so that he protected his passenger from impact. Takumi swore to get even with Shouji for everything he had done as he stormed out of the hospital room intent to win this latest challenge.'

'Itsuke looked like he was going to cry. He had learned that Mogi and Takumi had agreed to go to the beach, but had not invited him.'Takumi felt like a heel because part of him was glad he would be alone with Mogi. He had always enjoyed her company. This was his only chance to get to know whether he had a chance with her. Itsuke would blow any hope he had of feeling the situation out to see if Mogi might like him also.'

Other moments of Itsuke's adolescent crushes with hyperactive, irresponsible behaviors, followed by tearful moments of deep depression marched across Takumi's mental screen. The images generated emotions against which Takumi fought hard. Those waves of emotion seemed to squeeze him from the inside as if they would crush his heart and lungs.

Keisuke's voice tugged at him. "Takumi, are you okay?"

Takumi looked at his worried expression, and realized they had parked in a pullout. Takumi forced words past his constricted throat. "Gomen, Keisuke, I, . . . I guess I, . . . spaced out for a second."

"You aren't breathing like normal. Damn it! Talk to me. Don't try to pretend this isn't bugging you." He shut the car off, and undid his seat belt. "Takumi, onegai, don't shut me out. Let me be here for you. You can lean on me whenever you need me. I'm not going anywhere, and I'll find a way to help you keep Takeuchi around too."

'Keisuke's right, I can't seem to breathe.' The thought crystalized as Takumi made the connection between his strange lightheadedness, and the tightness that dominated his torso. An unexpected sliver of wetness sliding down his cheek surprised Takumi. 'Am I crying? I never cry. Naze am I losing it like some stupid girl? I'm used to this kind of situation. Minasan leaves sooner or later.'

Closing his eyes, Takumi focused on regaining control. He wiped away the evidence of tears that leaked past his lashes. Even as he removed the residual moisture, another drop materialized to push past the barrier of Takumi's defenses. The slow overflow annoyed him. His body shook as Takumi tried to halt the trickle of silent tears.

"It's going to work out, Takumi." Keisuke leaned over, undid his belt and pulled him into a hard hug. He burrowed into Keisuke's shoulder as his paramour rubbed his back.

Keisuke's body heat fought against the cold numbness that began at Takumi's deepest core and radiated outward. The teen fought to get air into starving lungs. The sensation went far beyond the description of unpleasant. Takumi felt as if his own heartbeat would tear him apart. He couldn't seem to keep the irrational pain at bay. It was so harsh that it felt unreal, as if someone else suffered while he watched on the sidelines. Takumi knew this was a moment within his own existence, and yet it was so intense that it was as if he had disconnected from his body.

Takumi choked out a whisper. "I knew this would happen, . . . when Itsuke found out about us, . . . but, I thought I could, . . . blow it off like I always do, Keisuke."

Takumi had felt white-hot anger when he learned of Mogi's other man. He had even felt sadness alongside his hurt. Still, when compared to this heartache, Mogi's betrayal had been easy to manage.

"I'm here, Takumi. Let it out." Keisuke's hand slid into his hair as the blond held onto him. Being in Keisuke's arms eased the yawning chasm opening within his being.

"It's not like Itsuke hasn't caused me a lot of trouble over the years. Most of our lives, I've picked up after his messes."

"Nevertheless, he's still your best friend."

"I don't have any memories from before I met Itsuke. It's never mattered how rough things got. Despite how mad Itsuke makes me, I've always known him. I practically lived at his home whenever we weren't actively in school. His okāsan calls me onīchan because I spent so many hours with Itsuke while we were growing up together. It feels like losing Itsuke is ripping part of me out because he hates me now."

"Takeuchi said he considers you his onīsan, so it fits that you feel the same way. He's the only person that hasn't abandoned you so far. Isn't he?"

Takumi listened to Keisuke's voice as one hand fisted in the blond's shirt. "You're right. Itsuke's more like my otouto, than a friend. He's always acted like an obnoxious otouto that I've watched over all of our lives. When he gets into trouble, I always find myself bailing him out whether I want to or not."

"Don't give up on him, Takumi. Let Takeuchi calm down for a few days. You have a lot of history together. I don't think this silent treatment will last. Don't assume he's already abandoned you because of me. Takeuchi's still in shock over us, but he'll come around if we're patient with him. He'll calm down once he knows the facts."

Takumi shook his head. "Itsuke's afraid of gays. He won't change his mind, Keisuke."

"Takumi, there's a chance that Takeuchi's really angry at me because he feels that I took over a place in your life that he feels is his. I knew about Mogi, and how you weren't taking care of yourself. To Takeuchi, I'm the bad guy that stole you away from him. He's hurt and could be taking it out on you because he's sulking over my new place in your life. Takeuchi strikes me as immature enough to do something asinine like that."

"Itsuke can't cope with me being in love with another guy. It goes against everything he believes. I wish he was only sulking, Keisuke. We've fought before, but, . . . this is the first time we've fought over something Itsuke honestly believes is wrong."

"I still think Takeuchi will start to talk to you again. You're important to him, Takumi. You may not have the same kind of relationship, but I think he'd be lost without you. We simply have to make him understand that he bases his fears off lies and give him facts. He'll get through the mess in his head and change his mind if we can give him time."

Takumi latched onto the encouragement. He took a deep breath and tried to collect himself. He pulled back and looked at his love's face. Something undefined about Keisuke's upset expression confused Takumi. "Gomen for falling apart like this, Keisuke."

"It's going to be fine, Takumi. Let's make it impossible for Takeuchi to reject us being together. Deal?"

'Naze would Keisuke offer to put such effort into getting Itsuke to accept our relationship? I know he resists the urge to yell at, or slap Itsuke because he's so immature. Feeling guilty isn't a good reason to be so adamant that he's going to fix this mess. Keisuke doesn't like Itsuke, so he should be relieved to get rid of him.'

Keisuke continued. "We'll win if we're more stubborn than he is, Takumi. Takeuchi won't have any choice but to agree that we're perfect for each other if we prove it to him."

The blond cupped his chin in his hand and tugged his face up so Takumi had to look into his cerulean eyes. Heat flooded Takumi's face as he squirmed under Keisuke's gaze. His core emotions felt cold and empty with this latest loss. Tears were not normal, even when he had good reason to cry. Takumi also reeled from shock from how his body was beginning to respond to being in Keisuke's arms. Reconciling the way his body yearned to melt into his lover was hard, and the emotional pain from Itsuke's snub. Keisuke kissed his forehead as he brushed his thumb along his cheek. The blond's hold tightened as he pulled Takumi back against his chest. It felt as if Keisuke's hold on him somehow prevented him from shattering. A touch of fear shimmered along his spine as Takumi's thoughts shifted.

'When did I start to depend on you so much, Keisuke?'

"I love you, Takumi. I can't stand to see you get hurt like this, especially because of me. I'll find a way make it up to you somehow. I'll find a way to change Takeuchi's mind."

"You've got nothing to feel bad about since I know you don't like Itsuke, Keisuke. You don't have to do something that'll make you miserable. Itsuke's my problem."

"Wrong. Takeuchi's your only reliable family, Takumi. I need to get along with him despite anything I might think of his actions. Takeuchi's your surrogate otouto, and that's all that matters, Takumi. Can't you understand that I want you to be happy too?" Takumi comprehended the odd expression Keisuke wore as his words registered.

'Keisuke thinks he's destroying my family. Because Itsuke's always been a part of my life, he feels Itsuke's my literal otouto. Guess I can understand him being so upset over things falling apart between us. He hates Itsuke. Yet Keisuke's willing to get along with him for my sake.'

Takumi had not understood that he loved Itsuke like an actual blood-related brother until this rift opened between them. The loss of the emotional family connection he had with Itsuke was what hurt the most. He had not known how much he cherished Itsuke's presence until it was gone. Takumi had taken for granted that Itsuke was the only foundational part of his life he had left. The pair had grown up together, even fighting like blood siblings would. They had shared so much of their lives on a daily basis that imagining life without Itsuke's presence was impossible. Stopping breathing was easier than to not look after his best friend's welfare.

"You're lucky. Ryosuke san didn't explode when he discovered that you wanted us to get together."

"Actually, Aniki has fits about us all the time, Takumi."

"Nani?"

"Remember when he told me to get out into the hospital hallway? His first fit was to tell me he wasn't happy about me acting like a suicidal baka to save my choice in lovers. Aniki also chewed me out for being jealous because he was smart enough to notice if you had a crush on him."

"That was his argument? Ryosuke san was angry with you for thinking I was interested in him?"

"Hai. It wasn't the fact I was in love with you that pissed Aniki off, although he was unhappy about me breaking my promise to him at first. He was angrier that I freaked out when I realized you were in real trouble, and did something reckless to save you. Well, that and I nearly punched him because he didn't take your keys away before you got in that wreck."

"Keisuke, that's not the same thing as Itsuke hating me because I'm doing something he honestly can't stand."

"Maybe, and maybe not. Only time will tell whether Takeuchi's able to come to terms with us being in love. Anyway, did you know Aniki loves to ride my ass to learn patience so we'll stay together? That's become his favorite fit."

"I wish Itsuke could feel like Ryosuke san does. How will your ryōshin handle it if they find out about us, Keisuke?"

"Otosān's an isha san, so it's part of his job to be nice to gay patients. But, I'm his musuko, so it's probably out of the question for me to love another man. I think Otosān's used to how often I disappoint him by now. Still, I'm pretty sure he'll be upset when he finds out I won't be giving him any grandchildren."

Takumi had no idea what he could say to ease his boyfriend's mind. His boyfriend did not give him the chance as Keisuke continued. "Okāsan will observe whether I'm happy before she decides anything about our relationship. I know she'll notice that you love me for myself, instead of my trust fund. She'll back us being together because you love me for myself, Takumi. Once we win Okāsan over, Otosān will come around to accepting you as his newest musuko."

Takumi's eyes dropped as he considered the directions that things would take if he ever moved in with Keisuke. His heart twisted, and ached as he thought of Keisuke's potential losses. Another tear slid down his cheek to be dashed away with an angry jerk of his hand. "Naze does our falling in love have to cause so much trouble, Keisuke?"

"So long as you're mine, I don't care how much trouble I have to face, my own heart. We'll get through everything together, Takumi, one step at a time."

He looked up at Keisuke again. The earnest expression and confident tone exposed Keisuke's conviction. No matter what faced them, Keisuke would stand his ground. Coping with emotional upheaval was easier because of the steadfast determination Takumi saw within those dark-blue eyes that held his gaze. No doubts were hidden away to reflect in his blond partner's stare. The way Takumi was cradled against Keisuke's broader chest was proof that his lover wanted and cherished him.

Keisuke's eyes transmitted a message that made Takumi aware of his good fortune. A different emotion began to take hold. It sliced through the bitter hurt that tried to consume him. He felt the sting in his eyes fade. What had been tenuous knowledge before, solidified. Takumi's emotions did a one-eighty.

Takumi uncovered the reason why he could love Keisuke. Harmonious traits, where one's strength overlapped the others' weakness drew them together. His ability to focus on, and complete multiple things in tandem, complimented Keisuke's singular focus. Keisuke's ability to acknowledge genuine skills, offset his inability to comprehend that he had any to offer. Those qualities were creating a foundation built on mutual respect. Keisuke believed in, and accepted him for himself, as he could believe in and accept his older lover. Those qualities had triggered the emotion of love between them.

"You're right. We'll get through this together, Keisuke. I'm here for you too. I won't let your otosān, or okāsan get out of liking me. We'll out stubborn them, just like Itsuke."

Takumi felt his lips curve into a smile. His fear of making mistakes that would cost him this newfound happiness diminished. He gave Keisuke a kiss to seal his promise. Keisuke smiled when their lips separated.

"I like the sound of that, Takumi."

Keisuke rested their foreheads together as they gazed into each other's eyes. The revelation of why he had fallen so hard, gave Takumi reason to eagerly wrap himself around his blond, spiky-haired companion. Takumi resisted the urge until his emotions calmed.

"For now, let's get back to you trying to prove you're more stubborn than hachi roku."

Keisuke groaned and shook his head. "How can you switch gears so fast, Takumi?"

"How can you be so single minded? I thought my ability to balance more than one thing was something you love about me."

"Actually, it's one of many things that I love about you, Fujiwara Takumi. So don't ever doubt that."

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Alternate Tracks 2nd Story in Rivalry Series