Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

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
- 19
- 20
- 21
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the halfway point chapter. Eleven days of ignoring my 1/2 completed story and I'm having vile withdrawals from lack of free writing. ROFL. May have to sneak a two day hiatus from revisions to hash out a new Smoke chapter to shut my plot bunnies up soon. Hope everyone who has gotten this far has enjoyed the ride.

CHAPTER 20

Kenta waved as his teammates got into Fujiwara's hachi roku to leave. He remembered the pudgy and hyperactive teen who made a fool of himself when Keisuke san, and Ryosuke san battled Fujiwara on Akina's slopes.

'For some reason, I think I recall Takeuchi always hugging Fujiwara before all of Fujiwara's Akina battles. Shit! This may prove more difficult than I expected. Maybe I'm reading too much into the friendship. Never mind if it's tougher than I thought, Keisuke san's done too much for me to back out now. Takeuchi probably isn't interested in Fujiwara the way I'm thinking. Not everyone that hugs their friend wants them. Keisuke san would have noticed if Takeuchi was hot for Fujiwara.'

Kenta pasted a smile on his lips and started talking. "Have you guys followed the Project D battles on the website?"

Kenji nodded with a smile as Iketani answered. "Of course. Takumi kun's becoming a top notch street racer since he started driving with the Rotary brothers. It's hard to believe he's improved so much, so fast."

"Keisuke san grumbles that Fujiwara keeps him on his toes. He says that if he doesn't work harder, he'll get left behind."

"It's hard to believe a rotary brother would say that." Kenji spoke.

Iketani replied as he scratched his chin. "That's a fact. Driving magazines has featured the rotary brothers in driving magazines because they're so good."

"Fujiwara says Keisuke san's skills are better than his. It's almost harder to get my head around his comments after watching him drive each week." Kenta began steering the conversation toward his objective. He needed to figure out Takeuchi's position to help Keisuke san.

Kenji replied, leaning against his car. "Takumi's been hung up on their skills and focus ever since he battled Ryosuke san. He mentioned that he would sound like a baka to any of you if you ever heard him try to evaluate Itsuke kun's turbo-charged hachi go."

"Fumihiro, and Matsimoto have shown Fujiwara a lot about car mechanics, but he still hesitates to tell them when he has preferences in settings." Kenta volunteered trying to draw Takeuchi into the conversation also.

Iketani showed no surprise. "Takumi didn't even know that a Trueno was an AE hachi roku until I saw his otosān's car at their tofu shop. I had to explain that it was the chassis that gave it the name. He feels like he still has to catch up to the rest of us I think. One of Takumi's rivals told him he needed a higher revolution tachometer so he could access the power in the new racing engine Oyaji san got for him."

Kenta frowned, "I don't understand how Fujiwara can't appreciate the things he's accomplished since he joined Project D. His driving style has changed dramatically in the last few weeks."

"It's probably because Takumi doesn't have an arrogant bone in his body. Right, Itsuke kun?"

"Tak never talks to me anymore, so how should I know, Iketani sempai!?"

Kenta grimaced at the dark-haired teen's angry tone. He scratched his head and pretended ignorance. "Uhm, are you angry about something I said?"

"Itsuke's upset with Takumi kun. He got a rude shock recently because Takumi kept quiet about some things. Unfortunately Itsuke thinks he should have known about everything since he's Takumi's best friend." Kenji volunteered.

Takeuchi snorted as his lower lip jutted at a severe angle. He turned around as if to go to his car. Kenta's thoughts prompted him to action.

"Are you talking about how Keisuke san's in love with Fujiwara?"

"Matte! You know about that?!" Kenji asked with wide eyes.

Kenta shrugged as he spoke. "After Keisuke san took me under his wing, I got to know him. I could tell he was fighting with himself. Among Red Suns members it is common knowledge that Keisuke san's bisexual. So, it became obvious to those of us who know Keisuke san very well."

"How so?" Takeuchi turned back.

"Keisuke san was pissed off all the time, and watching Fujiwara's every move. He said he had to beat Fujiwara in a decisive final battle before he tried to get into the pros. He also said he was Watching his teammate all the time so he could beat Fujiwara."

The three Speed Stars gave each other silent looks as if communicating. Iketani shrugged. "I'm not sure we understand how that convinced you that Keisuke san's in love with Takumi. Keisuke san always looks a bit annoyed to us."

Kenta chuckled at their confused expressions. "Keisuke san's the only person I've ever met who can forget anyone's transgressions after beating them in a battle. He assumed he could do the same thing to get rid of his annoyance over Fujiwara and it backfired. Keisuke san wasn't really annoyed over getting beaten by Fujiwara like he convinced himself."

"When we got into the fight, Keisuke san said he started a rivalry with Tak because he was trying to deny being gay." Takeuchi said in a thoughtful tone.

"Project D became a one person war zone, not a rivalry. Keisuke san always glared like he wanted to break someone's face whenever anyone talked to Fujiwara too long. He was hard for minasan to work with for a couple of weeks." Kenta made an airy gesture as he monitored Takeuchi.

Kenji scratched his head as he pursed his lips. "Keisuke san's a stern guy. He usually has an almost angry looking expression. Since he glares all the time, I doubt I would have thought anything was unusual about how he watched Takumi."

"True. Nobody could reason with Keisuke san because he was extremely jealous of Fujiwara. Keisuke san got enraged every time he saw Ryosuke san focusing on Fujiwara's training. Whenever Ryosuke san spent too much time with Fujiwara, Keisuke got belligerent with minasan."

"Whoa, Nakamura san, that would suck!" Iketani turned to Kenji as the long banged street racer commented on the situation.

Kenta nodded with emphasis as he noted that Takeuchi shuffled his feet from the corner of his eye. Kenta returned to his narrative. "Keisuke san thought Fujiwara san liked Ryosuke san more than him because of how much time they spent together. That was easy to figure out by watching him whenever they worked together. After I realized Keisuke san's rages always followed Ryosuke san teaching Fujiwara, I knew Fujiwara attracted Keisuke san to Fujiwara. Project D was turning into an uncomfortable mess before Fujiwara's accident. Right after the isha san hospitalized Fujiwara, things changed."

Takeuchi frowned. "Keisuke san mentioned that he was jealous of Ryosuke san when he told me he wants Tak to be his, . . . uhm, . . . you know."

"Very true, Takeuchi. Keisuke san was getting so jealous that he actively started picking fights with Ryosuke san."

Takeuchi said. "Keisuke san said he realized how he felt when Tak got into the car wreck during our fight at the lookout."

"Hm, so that's the reason Keisuke san almost committed suicide saving Fujiwara when he passed out behind the wheel."

Iketani frowned. "Nani?"

Seeing the worried looks on the Speed Stars faces, including Takeuchi's, Kenta decided to embellish the story. "When Fujiwara passed out he was actively doing a really fast round. Hachi roku collided with the steep mountain face at an angle. It rebounded hard toward a broken section of guard rail. Keisuke san used FD to shove hachi roku back before it plunged over the sheer cliff drop. If Keisuke san had made even a microscopic mistake, both would have died. As things went, FD almost went over the cliff instead. Keisuke san had a wheel floating in the air before FD's power altered hachi roku's momentum enough for it to veer back onto the road. Keisuke san forced Hachi roku back against the mountain face and boxed it in so it couldn't roll anywhere. Had Hachi roku weighed one hundred more grams, they would have gone over the cliff together. Keisuke's only alive because we have lightened Hachi roku's body."

Kenji paled. "We knew Takumi was in a wreck. Still, we heard it was a minor scrape against the mountain. We never heard anything about Keisuke san saving Takumi's life by doing something so dangerous."

Kenta was enjoying the reactions from his Speed Stars audience. Takeuchi looked ill as he listened. Making sure that he kept the other drivers' attention, Kenta continued telling them the full story.

"It wasn't a simple accident. An ambulance took Fujiwara to a local hospital because he was out cold and bleeding. Keisuke followed in his damaged FD so he could relay Fujiwara's location to us once he knew anything. We found out from Ryosuke san that Fujiwara san spent the first night under heavy sedation. Ryosuke san told us that exhaustion combined with a serious vitamin deficiency caused Fujiwara's black out while he was training. We all think there's far more to Fujiwara's illness, but Ryosuke san won't give us any details. We've all noticed that Keisuke san's very worried. We've all heard him scolding Fujiwara to take his medication."

Takeuchi had paled significantly. Kenji and Iketani looked concerned. Iketani shook his head as he spoke. "We never knew Takumi kun was sick. Itsuke heard a few things about it from Keisuke san when they were arguing at the lookout. It was the first we heard about any of this. Takumi won't talk to us about it."

Kenta crossed his arms as he considered Takeuchi's reaction. "When Keisuke san found out Fujiwara's sick, he underwent a radical attitude adjustment overnight. He stayed at the hospital the whole time Fujiwara was there. Something's wrong with the diagnosis Ryosuke san told us. Two months is plenty of time to recover form exhaustion, and if Fujiwara was only taking vitamins, Keisuke wouldn't be so worried."

Kenji spoke, "Minasan, maybe we should keep a close eye on Takumi kun from now on."

Iketani nodded in agreement. Takeuchi looked at the ground while he toed a rock back and forth. "Keisuke san did say Tak's having problems with vomiting. He also said that he's worried about Tak having to go back into the hospital for a longer stay."

"Hm, I hadn't heard anything about Fujiwara having stomach problems. I'm sure Keisuke san is insuring Fujiwara san eats. I know he's taking care of Fujiwara when we're at battles, and enforces breaks to make sure Fujiwara rests. If there's more to Fujiwara's illness, it explains Keisuke san's determination to spend so much time with him. I know everything suggested by the isha san during Fujiwara's last hospital stay gets enforced by Keisuke san."

"Nakamura, do you think Keisuke san started training with Tak's hachi roku so he can take care of Takumi?" Iketani asked him.

"I wouldn't put it past him, Iketani san. The first thing Keisuke san did when we arrived was asking Fujiwara if he'd eaten. He's determined to keep a close watch over the situation even if he is pissing Fujiwara off. Keisuke san can easily force Fujiwara to limit his training hours if they train together. Then again, Ryosuke san says that Fujiwara is a living ABS. He really thinks the additional training is very valuable for Keisuke san's own growth as a driver." Kenta found himself getting increasingly impressed with his mentor's conniving as he spoke.

"Keisuke san's newest times posted on the website give me the impression his work with Takumi is paying off." Kenji said.

"Hai. Their times are getting better since they started this new training program. Keisuke seems to have found a way to help Fujiwara either way. We've noticed Fujiwara seems more relaxed lately."

"I doubt that, Nakamura san. I found out that Mogi's calling Tak a lot. Seems he's really stressed out over her calls."

"Mogi's having some kind of problem as I understand it. Takumi would try to help her as a friend." Iketani turned to face Takeuchi with a frown.

"It's not like that, Iketani sempai. Keisuke san make Tak tell me part of the mess. Mogi did something really harsh to Tak. He blew the hachi roku's old engine the same night he found out about everything she was doing behind his back. Tak forgave her because he found out that she was trying to help her okāsan."

"I know about onna problems. Much easier being a racer whose car is his only love." Iketani spoke, his arms folded across his chest. Takeuchi nodded.

Kenta had a difficult time keeping a straight face. "So, you're all bachelors huh?"

Kenji nodded. Iketani and Takeuchi both flushed and nodded after short hesitations.

"Plenty of onnas and men to fit everyone else in the world. Everyone finds someone sooner or later."

"I'm not interested in guys." Takeuchi snapped.

Kenji raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Whoa, calm down, Itsuke kun. Gomen, Nakamura san. Itsuke's still a bit stunned that Takumi kun is seeing Keisuke san."

"Lots of people are uncomfortable with bisexuals, and homosexuals. Our ryōshin raise us to see them as bad people. I've gotten to know Keisuke san, so I knew he isn't a bad person. I almost lost my slot as a Red Sun because I couldn't keep up with the practice schedule. I didn't have the money to afford all the gasoline and tires I needed. Keisuke san figured out the problem, and sponsored me. He told me to shut up and get to work learning how to drive from him. Next thing I knew I had new tires and enough gas to practice the required hours."

Iketani sounded stunned as he asked, "Takahashi Keisuke buys your tires and gas, Nakamura san?"

"Whenever I'm short, he takes care of things. Keisuke san refuses to let me repay him either. How can anyone think poorly of him? He's never pushed his views, or attractions on anyone. I've heard that it was realizing he was bisexual that pushed Keisuke san into being a gangster. A couple of Red Suns drivers have known Ryosuke san since middle school, and they mentioned that Keisuke-an had a very traumatic life when he was younger."

"I've heard that Keisuke san led the most powerful gang in Gunma Prefecture until he was nineteen."

"Hai, Iketani san. Keisuke san created the Walking Man Gang when he was fifteen. I've heard that the gangsters he brought together didn't care if he was bisexual. They really respect Keisuke san for his character. People must have treated him like he had a disease or something. Rumors in Akagi area say that Keisuke san had trouble controlling his attraction to a classmate right after he hit puberty. It must've been tough growing up knowing that society hated his existence. Keisuke san's not very friendly because of all the violence he survived in high school." Kenta explained as he continued watching Takeuchi's reactions from the corner of his eye.

Takeuchi stared at his toes as he frowned. Kenta was certain that the younger man was listening to him. Considering his suspicions, winning Takeuchi over was not going to be easy. He was going to have to talk to Sugisaki about spending a few more afternoons focusing on changing Takeuchi's mind.

"Hey, can I ask you a question that's been kind of bugging us for a few days now, Nakamura san?"

"Hai." Kenta tilted his head as he looked at the long banged driver.

"Keisuke san thinks people try to become his friends because he has a trust fund. At least, he mentioned that to Itsuke kun a few days ago. We aren't sure how to react since Itsuke kun told us about it. Is there a way to make Keisuke san understand we aren't hanging out with him because of his wealth?"

"People have done that too many times to count, minasan. Keisuke san doesn't make many friends because he's gotten burned so often. He intimidates people so he doesn't have to be disappointed when he starts seeing al the wrong signs. I barely managed to gain his approval, although that doesn't mean he really trusts me. I don't know of anyone outside his family except Fujiwara that Keisuke san's willing to trust completely."

Takeuchi raised his head and grumbled. "Is Keisuke san trying to get with Tak because of onnas trying to get at his money?"

Kenji snapped, "Damn, Itsuke. Would you lay off Keisuke san?! He really loves Takumi kun. You need to chill out already!"

"Uhm, Kenji san, I think Takeuchi's question is reasonable. I've even wondered about the possibility to be honest."

"Itsuke's trying to find an excuse for their choice to see each other, Nakamura san. We talked to Keisuke san at length recently, and we know that he's serious about Takumi. Keisuke san shocked us all by saying he wants Takumi kun for his life mate." Iketani growled while staring Takeuchi down.

"Really? I'm surprised since Keisuke san got mixed up with two different onnas who always tried to control him because of his wealth. I met the second one. Akiho was a bitch and a half whenever she felt Keisuke wasn't completely under her thumb. I think Keisuke san fell for Fujiwara in spite of his vow to avoid all relationships."

Kenji picked up the conversation thread. "So, if Keisuke san swore off all relationships, naze did he change his mind?"

"Can't be sure. Perhaps Fujiwara's a huge shock to Keisuke san. Fujiwara openly admires his achievements. He also stands up to Keisuke san when he doesn't agree with him. Most people try to suck up to Keisuke san, but not Fujiwara. I think Keisuke san got attached to him because he treats Keisuke san like minasan else around him. I'm pretty sure that Keisuke san got nasty with us all because falling for Fujiwara really scares him."

"Well, he's gone overboard with his attachment to Tak. Just because Tak accepts him for himself doesn't mean Keisuke san should be getting the hots for him."

Kenta gave the unhappy Takeuchi a measured look. He considered how to explain things to the obstinate teenager.

"Takeuchi san, have you ever considered that real love is a need for someone who understands you? Don't you understand that there's usually more to loving someone than physical attraction?"

"Of course I know that! Love starts the same for most people. You see a hot chick and want to get to know her because she's hot. When you start talking to her, you hope she'll think you're good looking too." Takeuchi answered in a forceful tone.

Kenta felt his frustration increase. The guy had a definite homophobia streak. "I'm talking about relationships that last, Takeuchi. Sure, I've wanted to get my hands on several cute onnas. To be blunt, I didn't care about their personalities, just getting my hands on their bodies until they started getting boring. That happens all the time. You're attracted to looks, and decide to ignore all the important things about the onna that walks past and leaves you drooling. The situation with Fujiwara and Keisuke san is totally different."

"How do you figure that?" Takeuchi snapped his question.

"They have genuine respect for each other's talents and personalities. This whole attraction seems to have caught them both off guard. It's like they did everything in reverse, Takeuchi."

Takeuchi scratched his head. "Matte! Keisuke san thinks Tak's hot, doesn't he?"

Kenta burst out laughing over the confusion in the teenager's voice as he sought to understand. Iketani and Kenji gave each other loaded looks that questioned his reaction. It was too much to resist. Kenta began laughing. In moments Kenji and Iketani were also snickering at the crazy question.

"Gomen nasai, Takeuchi. At first, Keisuke san didn't think Fujiwara was attractive. Fujiwara's not the type of guy that I've seen Keisuke notice when he thought nobody was paying attention. He didn't start giving Fujiwara that kind of look until after we started Project D's team training meetings to solidify our teamwork. After we started the active battle phase, things started changing."

"Guess that blows your theory out of the water, Itsuke kun." Kenji snickered as he spoke. Iketani also looked amused.

Takeuchi snorted as he crossed his arms over his chest and snapped, "Shut up, Kenji sempai. It's still weird. I mean Tak doesn't seem like the type, . . . nor does Keisuke san really. I mean, . . . naze am I trying to explain myself?"

"Takeuchi san, where did you get the idea that there's a type? Far as I'm concerned Fujiwara, and Keisuke san are good people. You can't catch gay, straight, or bisexual because they aren't diseases. You're either born that way, or you aren't. Good people are good people. Can't we all like them for themselves?"

"Great points, Nakamura san. My cousin's bi, and he's considerate of others. Lots of people respect him." Iketani agreed.

"Iketani sempai, I just don't get them going to this extreme. I mean, even if Tak and Keisuke san did things in reverse, I still can't understand how they could find each other hot. It's kind of gross."

Kenta tried not to chuckle. 'It sounds like Takeuchi's trying to figure out how guys have sex or something.'

Iketani frowned at the black-haired teen. "Itsuke kun, we were just as shocked as you that Takumi kun and Keisuke san are a couple. But, I believe Keisuke san truly loves Takumi kun. I can see Takumi coming out of his shell because of Keisuke san's influence. He's not as afraid to speak his mind because of Keisuke san. I know you're still flipped out over whatever happened at the lookout, but their relationship's none of our business, Itsuke kun."

"But, it's wrong, Iketani sempai. I mean they're both guys. It's not supposed to be like that." Takeuchi's frustration was evident.

The stubble cheeked driver spoke with obvious disgust. "Ryosuke san had a good point when he said they are good together, Itsuke. They need each other which makes their relationship work somehow. Takumi kun's changed in very good ways because of Keisuke san. That's all I care about in the end, and the same should apply to you."

Kenta interrupted their argument. "I did some online research at a public library to find facts about gays and bisexuals when I heard that Keisuke san was bisexual, Takeuchi. I avoided pornography sites in favor of medical organization websites. Places explain bisexual and homosexuality by giving genuine medical information. Discovering how many lies exist about gays and bisexuals was depressing. Once I knew the facts, I accepted that Keisuke san and Fujiwara don't have a contagious disease. Maybe if you find the facts, you'll stop feeling uncomfortable around Fujiwara and Keisuke san. Getting information really calmed my nerves when Ryosuke san scouted me for the Red Suns."

"Speaking of those two, I wonder where Keisuke san and Takumi kun are. They should have returned a while ago. Even driving at the speed limit, or a bit under, they normally return before now." Kenji pushed off from his one eighty's fender and headed toward the road as he spoke.

"Hm, you think we should go check and see if the hachi roku had a mechanical problem, Kenji?" Iketani asked as he also stepped closer to the street.

Kenta intervened. "Minasan, I think they probably got to talking. Fujiwara looked upset when we first arrived. I bet Keisuke san pulled off somewhere and made Fujiwara talk. I'm kind of glad we can avoid their argument."

"Tak's mad at me. He knows I'm not down with him, . . . seeing, . . . Keisuke san like this. We had a big blow up over them dating recently." Takeuchi mumbled.

"You also said Keisuke san's stealing your best friend from you, Itsuke kun. Part of your problem is feeling like Keisuke san has replaced you. Takumi kun told Keisuke san about his troubles instead of you. Maybe you're so against them being together because you think Takumi has replaced you with Keisuke san." Kenji growled.

Kenta found his hackle's raise as Kenji's harsh response registered. Was there something to the older street racers accusation? Before Kenta could find a way to divert the situation, the sound of the hachi roku's high-pitched exhaust caught the group's attention.

It came into sight once it left the last corner. Keisuke turned into the lot and stopped behind his FD. Although the pair was gone for a while, they were talking about the last run from the gestures that Keisuke and Fujiwara made inside the car.

The pair exited the car with Fujiwara shaking his head. "I know you don't like your own aniki to drive it. Are you sure, Keisuke? If I can do the same thing in your FD, you're going to be pissed at me for days. Then I'm going to get pissed since you told me to do it."

"Takumi, I have to master this. I need you to drive FD to help me understand the whole balancing point. I can't do the right amount of weight shifting you want me to do to keep the water in the damn cup. It doesn't work using your little demonic monster. You say to feel bumper to bumper, and I'm trying, but I just don't get it."

"If you get mad at me over this, . . . " Fujiwara seemed to recall that others were present. He turned and asked the silent group, "Nani?"

"You're letting Fujiwara drive your car, Keisuke san?" Kenta blurted as shock filled him. Not even Ryosuke san drove Keisuke's FD unless there was a genuine emergency. The mechanics only got to drive it while they were running tests. Keisuke was exceedingly protective of his FD.

"I have to master the feel of weight shifting from the balance point. Fujiwara's talking about using body awareness more effectively to master this training, Kenta. I can't get any speed at all in his damn hachi roku. I can drive a little faster in FD, but hell, the stupid water still sloshes all over my interior on the sharper corners. Maybe if Fujiwara drives FD, I'll get the missing puzzle to understand his comments about knowing every millimeter of a car by feel." Keisuke ran a hand through his hair as frowned at the Panda he stood beside.

"You're right. Give Takumi a couple corners and he'll understand how the FD works, Keisuke san. He surprised me by how fast he figured out my Sylvia."

Kenta turned to look at the tall stubble cheeked man. He wondered if his expression looked half as bewildered as he felt. "Matte, Iketani san, did you say Fujiwara has driven your car?"

"Hai. I thought if Takumi drove Sylvia I could copy how he drifted. Boy, was I wrong, Nakamura. Sylvia did things I didn't know it was capable of doing. Takumi kun's way out of our league. If he retired tomorrow, and didn't touch a car for a few decades while I trained all day, every day, I'd still drive like a rank amateur beside him once Takumi picked up a set of keys again."

"Iketani sempai, I didn't do much. I didn't even do a full braking drift for several corners. You told me to, but it took a few corners to feel how your car moved, and handled. Remember?" Fujiwara scratched his head with a self-conscious expression.

Keisuke san chuckled. "You wanting Takumi to teach you isn't surprising, Iketani. Unfortunately, Takumi seems vague because he relied heavily on describing sensations. It's like pulling teeth without Novocain. He describes how something is supposed to feel which makes it impossible to understand if you think in technical terms. Takumi's never technical in any explanations that he gives."

"Keisuke san, if he's so hard to understand then how are you managing?"

"Kenta, Fujiwara drives a round in his hachi roku and says, 'there,' or 'that's it,' or something similar as he feels the sensation. He's ridden shotgun with me enough times in the FD to get an idea of sensations I should notice. Takumi tries to clue me in by making quick observations about everything right which he feels. When I do something right in either car, he says something so I know that I needed to pay attention to that sensation. You could say I'm getting accustomed to his way of teaching."

"How come you never said anything when you rode with me, Tak?" Takeuchi sounded sullen as he asked the question. Fujiwara looked startled. He glanced at Keisuke san then looked at Takeuchi again.

"I didn't know you wanted me to try and explain how your hachi go felt to me, Itsuke. I try to explain things to Keisuke because he's determined to learn refined weight shifting. Still, I'm not any good as a teacher. Keisuke has a very hard time understanding me."

"Wrong, Fujiwara. I'm not good at paying attention to everything simultaneously." Keisuke glared at his boyfriend. "Stop doing that already."

"Uhm, did I do something wrong?" Fujiwara stared owlishly at Keisuke san.

"Hai. You're picking on yourself again. You aren't a bad teacher, Takumi. I don't understand the sensations you describe because I've never paid attention to actual sensations for themselves. I don't make sensations the main way of telling me about FD's performance. You feel sensations for themselves, and then figure out how the car is reacting. I learned to handle cars through a different sequence of steps. You feel a G force and you think about the whole car. You think, 'Ok, that sensation feels like I'm being pulled hardest at the side of my neck and shoulder. I need to shift the weight more to the center because I've got the weight too far on the back left rear wheel."

"Is that bad?"

"Takumi, it's the mark of a genius. Think about it for a minute. When I feel a G force, I focus on my steering wheel reactions, seat vibrations, and pedals. I can't always tell that the weight and balance have shifted toward the back and to the left automatically like you do. Most often I recognize that I need to shift weight more to the center to gain traction, but I rarely have a clue where else the sensation hit me. The steering wheel and seat vibrations come into play immediately so I miss the nuance that would make the correction faster, and easier."

"Hm, . . . sometimes I think rear bumper, or driver side fender, Keisuke san."

"My point exactly. You think of every centimeter of the car as if it was an actual part of your body, Takumi. I think seat, wheels, steering, pedals, and engine. End of body awareness."

Kenta watched as the two Project D aces argued. Keisuke pulled out a cigarette and smoked while trying to make the difference obvious to Fujiwara, who frowned in return. Keisuke tossed his keys across the roof of the hachi roku.

Fujiwara took them with a heavy sigh. "Just remember that you said you insisted on my driving the FD, Keisuke."

"This argument sounds way too familiar. I recall the same words coming out of my mouth a few weeks ago when you pushed hachi roku's keys into my hand."

"I was worried at the time. Still, I want to help you figure out the difference in the types of brakes. You're worried too, even if you won't admit it yet."

Kenji spoke in a quiet voice meant for only a few select ears to hear, Kenta assumed. "Wow, I never knew Keisuke san could talk Takumi kun into anything he didn't want to do. Even Tachibana san had a hard time manipulating him into racing against Nakazato of the Night Kids to help protect Itsuke's face from getting pounded. Took us two hours to get Takumi to drive your Sylvia."

Takeuchi grumbled a little louder than Kenji as his lower lip jutted. "Tak can't be talked into doing anything he doesn't want to do, normally. Keisuke san's changing Tak. It's hard to believe that Tak, who burns his tongue because he takes too big a bite of a hot bun, is the same person out here tonight."

Kenta looked over his shoulder at the Speed Stars as Fujiwara walked to the driver's side of the FD. Keisuke stood next to him while they continued to discuss how Fujiwara would tell his partner that he was comfortable enough to show him the water trick in the FD. Kenta turned to the three men standing near him.

"Fujiwara has caused some pretty serious changes in Keisuke san also. He would never have relaxed this much around anyone before Fujiwara gave him a reason to calm down. Fujiwara didn't understand that his best was any good, despite how awesome his achievement before Keisuke san helped him change his attitude. I've noticed that Fujiwara shows confidence in small ways, like his offer to help Keisuke master brakes and body awareness because of everything Keisuke san has done to help him believe in himself."

"Kenta, you seem to have the same point of view as Ryosuke san. He said they need to stay together to get anywhere when we spoke to him."

"I only know the things I've seen, minasan. Subtle changes have happened to both of my teammates since they started dating. It improved their working relationship, so I do feel it's a good thing that they're together."

-oo0oo-
- 19
- 20
- 21
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Alternate Tracks 2nd Story in Rivalry Series