Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

All For Love 3rd in Rivalry Series	By : kurahieiritrJIO Category: +G to L > Initial D Views: 2173 -:- 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-All For Love
- 2-AFL 2
- 3-AFL 3
- 4-AFL 4
- 5-AFL 5
- 6-AFL 6
- 7-AFL 7
- 8-AFL 8
- 9-AFL 9
- 10-AFL 10
- 11-AFl 11
- 12-AFL 12
- 13-AFL 13
- 14-AFL 14
- 15-AFL 15
- 16-AFL 16
- 17-AFL 17
- 18-AFL 18
- 19-AFL 19
- 20-AFL 20
- 21-AFL 21
- 22-AFL 22
- 23-AFL 23
- 24-AFL 24
- 25-AFL 25
- 26-AFL 26
- 27-AFL 27
- 28-AFL 28
- 29-AFL 29
- 30-AFL 30
- 31-AFL 31
- 32-AFL 32
- 33-AFL 33
- 34-AFL 34
- 35-AFL 35
- 36-AFL 36
- 37-AFL 37
- 38-AFL 38
- 39-AFL 39
- 40-AFL 40
- 41-AFL 41
- 42-AFL 42
- 43-AFL 43
- 44-AFL 44
- 45-AFL 45
- 46-AFL 46
- 47-AFL 47
- 48-AFL 48
- 49-AFL 49
- 50-AFL 50
- 1
- 2
- 3
A/N: This is temporarily an older draft. I will revise to correct inconsistencies ASAP. Please have patience with my weird schedules that have made uploading revised chapters an ongoing hassle.

CHAPTER 2

Takumi's gaze was drawn to Keisuke's profile time and again. The blond's head rested in his lap. He was shocked when Keisuke first plopped down onto the couch and decided to use his lap for a pillow. They were watching television together. Keisuke had interlaced their fingers as he lay across the sofa's length. His attention shifted between his lover, and the documentary they were watching.

Ryosuke sat in a chair near the European couch he and Keisuke occupied. The dark-haired racer had told them not to move when he came in. Being home was rare for Ryosuke, yet he had taken the day off to sleep in and recover from his grueling schedule. Because Ryosuke was there to handle any emergencies, Yukiko-san had run errands. Takumi's embarrassment at being caught in an intimate position had faded. At some point, Takumi had gotten comfortable enough to let his left hand rest on Keisuke's shoulder.

The teen heard the front door close, drawing his attention from the program. Yukiko Takahashi walked into the living room a few minutes later, a large yellow package in her hands. "Shonen, Sammy-chan sent something to Takumi-kun. The address says it came from the United States of America."

'Kāsan Yukiko sounded confused. The packet had a frayed edge where a machine had crimped a corner of the stuffed manilla envelope. They had then taped it back together. The packet was thicker than Takumi had expected.

Keisuke got up and took the package. "Sammy promised to send Fujiwara a copy of the regulations for the Iron Will Continental Endurance. That must be it."

"Eh? Takumi-kun, how can you already be planning to race? Keisuke's only been home two weeks. Major gaps in your bone won't allow for you to drive any time soon. Your thigh can still re break without warning, costing you that leg."

Yukiko's left hand dropped to her hip as she gave him a look that demanded answers. Her right hand pushed stray hair behind her ear. Keisuke dropped onto the couch next to him as she continued to harp about his medical problems. "Even if the bone is healing faster than expected, you can't drive before late February or early March of next year."

Takumi sighed. "This battle might help Keisuke and me to get into the professional circuit, 'Kāsan Yukiko. Sammy-chan sent the packet because she hopes we can battle her too. We don't have to do this race next week. It happens next year."

"How do you propose to take both cars across the ocean? You have to ship each car, which has weight based charges. You have export fees. You must pay several taxes, and the other country's import fees when you get there. Does this other country require temporary usage permits for each car? How do you plan to pay for the mechanical checkup other nations require before admitting a foreign car?" Yukiko ticked off each new item on her fingers as she glared.

"But, . . . " Takumi tried to object only to be cut off.

". . . Then, you have to go through the same exact process to bring the cars back. You need return freight, and our nation's fees and taxes to get them into this country again. How do you propose to pay all of that, Takumi-kun? Her government probably paid for Sammy-chan's car. Otherwise, she would never have brought it here."

"Uhm, we haven't decided to enter yet, Yukiko-san. Sammy-chan told me that drivers use sponsors. She's supposed to include stuff about sponsors in the packet. If we find sponsors, won't the shipping get paid for by them?"

Yukiko Takahashi narrowed her eyes at him. "Takumi-kun, you still have to go through rehabilitation therapy before you can start driving. Don't forget what your senumon-i said about pudendal nerve fringe damage causing you to have slower reflexes."

"I haven't forgotten Kitamura-senumon-i's diagnosis. I know I have to work hard to get my right leg back in shape again. Several World Champions have this non profit race on their resume. They all finished in the top twenty. That's naze I wanted this information for Keisuke and myself."

Keisuke's shifting eyes told Takumi he was reading as he answered "Okāsan, we have enough time to heal before this battle happens. Naze get mad that Takumi asked for information?"

"I won't tolerate you two thinking about racing right now. Until the isha sans say you're both well, you have no business planning to race anywhere, musuko."

Keisuke interrupted her rant. "Sammy wrote that a translation program was used for the Japanese version of the regulations and entry forms, minasan. Sam enclosed English originals for us to refer to and fill out if we enter the actual race. She added that she's willing to help supply equipment, and a van for each of us. She mentions supplying parts for each car to fill one support team each. Sammy-chan says it's all she can do because the Iron Will has tied her other assets up in her A. A. R."

Ryosuke-san asked, "This battle requires how many support teams?"

"No idea. I'm still reading, Aniki." Keisuke turned the page to read the contents of the back side. He sat the page on the ottoman next to Takumi's elevated foot and continued to read.

"Little brother, I'm concerned about the multiple support teams."

"Aniki, I'm looking for anything else on it. By the way, Sam's offering to help us get meetings with sponsors through her connections in America. We'll have to use American after-market parts in upgrading our cars to get sponsors over there."

Ryosuke-san appeared startled. "She's offering to give us access to her sponsors? Naze would Singing-Wolf do that? Doesn't it affect her own finances?"

"She's the one that wrote it, Aniki. Nani's the maximum horsepower we can tune the hachi roku for?"

"It doesn't need any more power. Add any more horsepower and the old main frame in it might be compromised. It would take weeks to reinforce it enough to handle any additional strain. That would increase hachi roku's weight significantly. That kind of reinforcement defeats the purpose of all the modifications we've made to lighten it's body weight. Naze?" Ryosuke got up and stalked over to Keisuke, frowning.

"Damn it! Sammy says that we have to pay extra attention to the modification rules. The rules and regulations say car minimums on horsepower start at four hundred. It's one rule the officials won't bend on. Iron Will officials require certain types of chassis, suspensions, and undercarriages to enter because of the off-road section. The charitable organization running the show only allows cars that meet those specs."

Takumi's head turned to look at his annoyed lover, feeling despair. The regulations kept his hachi roku out of competition even with it having a racing engine. He had enough grief because of his shattered right thigh bone. To have his hachi roku rendered unworthy even before Takumi could discover whether his leg would heal in time was a bitter pill.

Hachi roku was Takumi's beloved baby. This development thrust all the things that Oyaji had told him about a car's limitations down his throat. The rules of this competition held harsh doses of reality. Driving the Impreza to make morning deliveries had never depressed Takumi this much. His hachi roku's frame was too old to increase the horse power enough to be admitted. Takumi's pride stung over his car being condemned, sight unseen.

Ryosuke snatched the packet out of Keisuke's hands. The spiky-haired racer glowered at his older brother as Takumi sought to calm his boyfriend. "You can still enter, Keisuke. It shouldn't take much to tune the FD for the horsepower minimum."

"Let Aniki figure things out before you give up, baka."

"Naze are you two so interested in this race?" Yukiko snapped at them, frustrated by their conversation.

Ryosuke intervened as he scanned the pages. "The reason for their interest is the number of World Champions connected to it. This endurance race has a reputation for training them. If Keisuke or Fujiwara did well in this battle, then went on to represent Japan in the World Championship, they have a better shot at winning one of the most prestigious races in the world. Winning the World Championship would go a long way to overriding homophobic values. Doing such impressive things also helps them both get into the professional circuit despite being a couple."

"Oh." She frowned at Keisuke and him in turn. "Are you two certain that you wish to push yourselves so hard? Can't you wait one year? It's only mid-September, and you still have a lot of healing to do, shonen. Especially you, Takumi-kun."

"This battle doesn't happen every year, Okāsan." Keisuke grumbled.

Yukiko had a perplexed look on her face. "How often does it happen?"

"Every three years." Takumi answered as he squirmed in the couch corner. Her expression cleared as Takumi continued, "We probably can't get involved, Yukiko-san. Like you pointed out, it costs a lot of money to get into this battle. Hachi roku won't cut it, so I'm already out of the picture."

"Kāsan, Takumi. You're part of this family too."

"Fujiwara, do you think your Otosān might agree to loan you his Impreza?"

"I haven't talked to Oyaji since our fight at the hospital. I know he won't lend me his car, Ryosuke-san."

"Nani are you thinking, Aniki?" Keisuke frowned at his brother.

"Fujiwara's hachi roku will never qualify. The chassis and main frame must have tubular, or leaf, two or three ply steel with honeycombed aluminum reinforcement. That's been highlighted on page three. All car frames must be hard impact off-road rated to enter. This mentions specific allowed alterations and blue print specs for all entries. The FD can't even qualify by this criteria. A Subaru Impreza is 4WD, so it should qualify with most of the off road ratings listed here."

"Che!" Keisuke's fist hit his knee as his lip curled. The blond radiated fury. Pain flashed through Takumi's body. He wanted to console Keisuke. Being in love was painful at times, and this was a perfect example of how much it could hurt. Takumi felt useless because Keisuke was unhappy, and he could do nothing for the blond. It had been his idea to try and enter this battle which made Keisuke's frustration his fault.

Ryosuke-san continued. "This document lists many modification allowances. These regulations mention several types of tires the cars must change between. We definitely have to find a different car for you too, Keisuke. Fujiwara's already familiar with his Otosān's Impreza. We know Fujiwara's unusual learning curve. He'll adapt to off road conditions and techniques even faster if he drives a familiar car."

"True. Takumi's down right terrifying when he's learning new techniques." Keisuke tossed his back against the couch and grabbed Takumi's hand in a comforting squeeze.

"Oyaji won't lend me his car, Ryosuke-san. . . . He's still mad as hell, . . . about my being with Keisuke." Takumi blanched as his curse registered. "Erm gomen ne, . . . 'Kāsan Yukiko. That didn't come out, . . . right."

"Fujiwara, would Takeuchi loan you his commemorative box set again?"

"Naze do you want to borrow Itsuke's box set again, Ryosuke-san?"

"It had very good photography of the different terrains. I want to double check alterations used on the top five cars too. With that information, I can modify useable vehicles to tackle this course."

"Nani are you thinking, Onīchan?" Yukiko asked.

"I need to read this packet, and review the commemorative again before I can decide anything, Okāsan. There's information about sponsors from America included. However, I need to see if we can't find local companies willing to invest in Project D. Several listed sponsors are Japanese subsidiaries in America. That gives me a starting point."

"Which ones, Aniki?"

"Nissan and Toyota have sponsored American sold automobiles. A Toyota was featured in Takeuchi's commemorative pack if I remember correctly."

"Ryosuke-san, do you want the car company to sponsor us, so you need Oyaji's car to approach Subaru?" Takumi asked with a sinking feeling.

"Hai. If you can get your hands on the Impreza, it creates an opening to get Subaru to sponsor. If you can drive, and place high, that creates a fantastic advertising campaign for countries that have off-road heavy regions. VHS footage, and photocopied images from Takeuchi's commemorative pack are instrumental to building our case. We need that box set to convince companies to sponsor Project D for this foreign race."

Even knowing what he did about the hachi roku's weaknesses, Takumi had not lost a scrap of loyalty to the machine that had taught him automotive control. Still, to make his dreams reality, Takumi would have to talk to Oyaji and get permission to change cars.

"Takumi-kun and Keisuke both receive fan email every day. Could their email increase sponsor interest, Onīchan?"

"Hai, Okāsan. Keisuke and Fujiwara have lots of fans. They're safer to sponsor because of their current popularity in the street racing scene."

"Takumi mentioned the North American Iron Will Continental Endurance in his letter to the public, Aniki. We've gotten tons of email asking for information about it."

"With interest being shown by the public, we have an even stronger case to present to potential sponsors, little brother."

"I only wrote that I feel I owe Sammy-chan a race if we heal in time. She's a good person, and I'd like to repay her for saving Keisuke's life. Sammy-chan kept me sane when I found out Keisuke was on the ventilator."

Keisuke leaned forward to catch his eye as he spoke. "Takumi, you have a great idea so quit being modest. It may be overseas, but enough people are interested to make it an inspired finale. Japan has never entered this competition before which makes it even more significant if we do enter. Instead of ruining our reputation, you saved it. We simply need to figure out how to capitalize on your genius."

Takumi considered his words with care as he hesitantly spoke. "I'm not as famous as you. I can probably drive Oyaji's Impreza, without pissing off Project D fans. I'll try asking Oyaji to use it. Nani will you drive though, Keisuke? You're a rotary brother. Even without Ryosuke-san, you're famous for your skills with the FD. You're known in the gymkhana, open enrollment rally circuit, autocross, and have been featured in magazines, Keisuke."

"Fujiwara makes a very good point. Nani impact will driving different cars have on Project D's fan base? You're just as famous, Fujiwara. You earned the nickname Akina's Phantom Hachi Roku in the street racing scene. The absence of magazine articles doesn't mean anything in your case."

"That's kind of a creepy nickname, Ryosuke-san."

"It's because you drive like a damned ghost, Takumi. You come out of nowhere, stick like glue to the opponent's bumper for several corners, then pass them. Once you pass your opponent, you practically vanish into thin air. That's your opponents' favorite complaint. Even my hackles rose when I faced you on Akina's course. You really freaked me out when we battled. No matter how hard I fought back, once you got into your groove, it was impossible to get away from you, or catch you after you passed me. Watching you from Aniki's passenger seat almost convinced me you had serious screws loose during your battle with Nakazato." Keisuke teased.

The past flashed to the fore. Takumi was back on Akina's slopes meeting Keisuke for the first time. Takumi recalled being waved into the lane next to the sleek yellow car parked in the roadway. Itsuke hit him in the head over following the hand instructions to park beside the yellow car he was given. With a sore head, Takumi faced his opponent once Iketani settled their dispute. The stranger he was there to race lounged against his car's fender with folded arms. Whomever the man was, he seemed relaxed, even a bit bored. Assurance laced the other man's voice as he introduced himself. Takumi felt out of place as he gave his own name. Keisuke's reply that he would remember his name startled Takumi.

Keisuke's voice pulled Takumi back to their discussion. ". . . zines we were in. I bet they have sound advice to share for researching cars we can use. They may have tips on how to keep fans from getting pissed about switching cars too."

"I'll try to find the writers' contact information as soon as I can make time in my schedule. I believe we have the magazine articles somewhere in this house. It might take me a while since I have several papers due."

"I can do that much, Aniki. I don't have anything else to do right now. I can make some calls once I look up their names, and get their contact information. It can't be that hard to track them down, and get information out of them."

"Shonen, I have the articles. Let me get them for you." Yukiko turned and glided from the room.

Takumi watched his lover's ryōshin leave the room. "Your Okāsan must be proud of you both if she kept the articles on your racing careers."

"Sometimes Okāsan's pleased, and sometimes she's a ticked off pain, Takumi. Trust me, she had a two month long tantrum when the first article was written about Aniki."

"Naze?" Takumi frowned at his older lover.

The youth turned to face his mentor as Ryosuke spoke. "I'm in medical school, Fujiwara. Okāsan thought it would damage my reputation and future career. However, when Keisuke was brought into the picture, she was less annoyed by the ongoing publicity I received. Keisuke wants to be a professional driver. Having his name in magazines improves his chances. Because our ryōshin had given up on Keisuke, his decision to become a professional race car driver has been a huge relief to them both."

"You both do incredible things. I thought because she saved your magazine articles, Yukiko-san was pleased with everything you've done."

"You're being impossibly cute again, Takumi."

"Eh?" Takumi looked over at Keisuke. The blond smirked, flashing a quick wink. Takumi felt his face heat up at the intimate gesture. His heart shifted rhythm once more, timed with his emotion's shift toward elation because Keisuke seemed happier.

Ryosuke's voice tugged his eyes from Keisuke. "Okāsan's happy that Keisuke left his gangster lifestyle, Fujiwara. She understands that this is a make or break race. She gave ideas to get into it now that she knows it improves your chances of success. Keisuke's goal of being a professional driver gives her strong incentive to help."

"Che. Okāsan needs to get past her hang up that I'll go back to being a gangster who disappears for weeks. That won't happen, Aniki. I won't do anything that might piss Takumi off if I can help it. Besides, I have every reason to stay at home now that I have Takumi." Keisuke flashed him a scandalous smile as his hand tightened around his fingers.

Takumi grumbled with a reproachful look. "Keisuke?! . . . Um, becoming a professional driver's really important right now." His face was getting hotter as Keisuke continued to give him flirtatious looks. "I'll get really mad if you don't keep your promise to get into the pros."

"Careful, Takumi. You know nani that expression does to me." Keisuke shot back with a lecherous smirk.

Takumi squirmed at his boyfriend's forward actions. "Keisuke, would you knock it off?" He gave the blond a glare. In a fluid move he jerked his foot off the ottoman and rocketed off the couch. Takumi grabbed his crutches as he sought to escape. "I'm going to the kitchen to get something to drink."

He heard Ryosuke-san's choked off snickers as Takumi hopped toward the kitchen. "Here's the magazines, Onīchan. I hope they'll help."

Takumi's curiosity was piqued, so he turned to look back over his shoulder as she spoke. The album she held was thick. "Speaking of the kitchen reminds me that I need to call Otosān and see if he decided on whom to invite to our dinner on the ninth. Arigato, Takumi-kun."

"Nani dinner, Okāsan?" Ryosuke asked as he sat the Iron Will information on the coffee table, accepting the memorabilia book. "Are you entertaining some of Otosān's colleagues on the ninth?"

"Actually, I won a dinner for four at that ultra exclusive new Italian restaurant everyone's talking about. I filled out a survey, and was called three days ago with the news that I won the grand prize. I thought Otosān and I could invite one of the couples we know. The flu season started early this year so he needs a break."

"Have fun, Okāsan." Ryosuke said as he looked through the album.

Keisuke's eyebrows rose. "A survey huh?"

"I don't normally do them, musuko. One of my favorite stores wanted to know if the clientele would like a cosmetic counter added to the lady's department." Yukiko shrugged with her hands up. "It was short so I filled it out and handed it in. I didn't even know there was a prize involved."

"I wonder, . . ." Takumi focused on the blond as he tried to understand Keisuke's odd tone. Keisuke drummed his fingers on the couch back, lost in thought. "Some people are Project D fans because of our specific vehicles. Your fans love you because you beat top of the line automobiles in an antique, Takumi. Losing the Hachi roku could cause a full-blown riot. Unless, . . . we get input."

"Are you suggesting that we create a survey for Project D fans, little brother?"

"We could use an online service. Survey site servers are usually free and they process the answers for us. First we present the regulations to enter the Iron Will. Then we find out which cars can qualify with the least amount of modifications. Our fans can go to the survey site and give us their opinions. There's no choice but change cars, so we could make fans happy by letting them help decide the cars we drive. We can use the information with our fan mail to approach sponsors once we get the cars."

"The best way to get people to answer surveys is to give them a prize, Keisuke. If you want a survey, you need to figure out different types of prizes for your fans. For now, I'll focus on gaining a better understanding of this package. After I understand the details, I'll choose a plan of action."

"Fine, Aniki. Since you seem to be waiting for me, let's get our drinks together, Takumi. I'm sure we'll be briefed once Aniki dissects everything." Keisuke stood and sauntered toward him.

-oo0oo-
- 1
- 2
- 3
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

All For Love 3rd in Rivalry Series