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As the Smoke Clears #4 in Rivalry Series	By : kurahieiritrJIO Category: +G to L > Initial D Views: 2672 -:- 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-As the Smoke Clears
- 2-Smoke 2
- 3-Smoke 3
- 4-Smoke 4
- 5-Smoke 5
- 6-Smoke 6
- 7-Smoke 7
- 8-Smoke 8
- 9-Smoke 9
- 10-Smoke 10
- 11-Smoke 11
- 12-Smoke 12
- 13-Smoke 13
- 14-Smoke 14
- 15-Some 15
- 16-Smoke 16
- 17-Chapter 17
- 18-Smoke 18
- 19-Smoke 19
- 20-Smoke 20
- 21-Smoke 21
- 22-Smoke 22
- 23-Smoke 23
- 24-Smoke 24
- 25-Smoke 25
- 26-Smoke 26
- 27-Smoke 27
- 28-Smoke 28
- 29-Smoke 29
- 30-Smoke 30
- 31-Smoke 31
- 32-Smoke 32
- 33-Smoke 33
- 34-Smoke 34
- 35-Smoke 35
- 36-Smoke 36
- 37-Smoke 37
- 38-Smoke 38
- 39-Smoke 39
- 40-Smoke 40
- 24
- 25
- 26
**Otouto- Little brother** Thanks for the update on the correct term that came from my readers. I most definitely and deeply appreciate the language tips. I enjoy learning more Japanese every day. I am making notes of such corrections I get in PM's from fan fiction net as I go. Expect a new and heavily revised version of everything in the Rivalry series after I get this story completed and posted in a semi raw form. As always, I desire critical point reviews and welcome each one that I receive.

CHAPTER 25

Kenta scaled the ladder to get to their team leader. He was breathing hard after racing up the long dirt driveway. "Ryosuke san, the cars are coming down the road. They'll be here in a few minutes!"

He watched as the dark-haired man set down the hammer he was using. Ryosuke's expression changed as he twisted his upper body to study him. A few moments passed before Ryosuke's thinning lips shifted back to normal. "Domo, Kenta. We'll be down in a moment."

Accepting his dismissal with good grace, Kenta shimmied down the ladder and headed back toward the long dirt drive. Matsimoto was busy cleaning paint brushes beside the house. "Ne, Kenta, was that you shouting the cars are here?"

"Hai. Ryosuke san said he'll be down in a minute. Where do you think we should put the G-TRs?"

"We'll park them wherever Twylah san says. This is her home." Matsimoto answered as he stood. "Might as well look them over since they'll become our main priority."

They headed toward the long barn that doubled as a multi car garage. The leading vehicle was a limousine that stopped beside the house. Trotting closer to Matsimoto, Kenta studied the two Nissans on the truck's bed as it slowed to a stop. One was canary yellow, the same as Keisuke san's FD3S. The other was a Panda, obviously meant for Fujiwara. Both were new model R-34 instead of R-32 models. Project D logos dominated the doors of each car. Three other logos on each car's front fenders drove home how determined Martonelli was about their participation in the obscure American endurance race. How Martonelli planned for the team to compete when they lacked drivers was a mystery to Kenta.

Martonelli got out and waved the long bed truck toward the same long building before which they were standing. Two others followed Martonelli from the stretch limousine, yet Kenta's focus was on the growing bane of his racing team's existence. The golden haired freak wore a man's business suit, not the skirts' Kenta had last seen. It seemed as if Twylah's warning was correct. Their obsessed entrepreneurial sponsor was in the 'man spirit' as the old Indian woman had predicted. Kenta looked toward the side of the house as Ryosuke walked into sight with Etsuya two paces behind.

He wondered how their dark-haired leader would confront the haughty American making imperious gestures to the long bed's driver. The entire crew knew their leader was livid over Martonelli's forceful tactics. Until the Evidence Review Board came to a decision about how to proceed, the authorities trapped Keisuke san in Tokyo and unable to drive. Fujiwara was still in the hospital and in no shape to drive any time soon. Kenta wondered if Martonelli would try to coerce Ryosuke san to drive the car that looked like Fujiwara's hachi roku.

Additional vehicles were stopping near the limo. Five vans bearing the Project D logo with the other sponsorships began disgorging strangers. Frowning, Kenta wondered who the newcomers were. They wore mechanical jumpsuits such as Etsuya and Matsimoto wore during battles. Kenta figured they must be extra mechanical teams that the Iron Will specifically required for the multiple day race.

"Martonelli, care to explain all of this?" Ryosuke demanded as he stopped in front of the pale haired hermaphrodite.

"Good to see you again. Ryosuke. I want you to meet the team leads for the additional mechanical crews I brought over here to get these cars ready for the Iron Will." Martonelli answered as he waved aside their leader's irritation laced greeting.

"First, I would like an answer to my question, Martonelli san. Samantha told me you were shipping cars over here for the battle before we know whether Project D will ever compete." Ryosuke's tone was unusually harsh.

"That's not a problem. I have everything well in hand. Fujiwara and Keisuke will both arrive within the month. We need to focus on getting these cars ready so they can train properly."

Kenta found himself speaking out of turn. "Nani? When did Keisuke san find out he isn't getting charged, Martonelli san?"

"Well, I heard Keisuke's isn't getting charged at this time, so I'm quite optimistic. The news and media are being very cooperative with my people in Nihon. We'll keep Keisuke from getting charged. He has public pressure behind him which I've done all I can to increase for him. Now, as I was saying, minasan needs to meet your additional teammates. I expect you to continue leading your team, Ryosuke. They have been briefed on that particular point." Martonelli quickly shifted the topic back to the newest mechanics.

Gesturing the men closer, Martonelli began making introductions before any of them could respond. "This are the mechanics chosen by the Nissan corporation, Nakada Kouki. To his right is Yamanaka Shou, Oda Hikari, and Hakui Yamato. Nakada will lead van two. Yamanaka leads van three. Oda is the head of van four, and Hakui of course will be in charge of van five. You'll be in charge of van one of course."

With a heavy sigh, Ryosuke turned to the new comers. "It is a pleasure to meet minasan. I'm Takahashi Ryosuke, leader of Project D. I apologize for this inconvenience to you all. As far as we know, Project D will not have drivers for competing in the Iron Will Continental Endurance."

"Oh, stop being such a pessimist, Ryosuke. I have everything under control. We've had great success marketing the shirts I had designed to promote Fujiwara and Keisuke's connection so they won't get the expected backlash. My Nihon staff has a successful campaign underway. All we have to do is await Hikaru and Takumi getting released from the hospital before we begin the next stage." Martonelli breezed through the subject so fast that Kenta felt overwhelmed.

Matsimoto scowled. "So, the Love Conquers All Adversity jerseys was your idea?"

"Of course. I needed to know how the public would respond to Keisuke's interview after all. The demand for the jerseys has increased to include jackets as of three weeks ago. My contracted silk screening company tells me that they are falling behind in filling orders."

Ryosuke glared at the foreign businessman. "Did it never occur to you that such a stunt is in bad taste, Martonelli? Keisuke mentioned the shirts when I last spoke to him. He's angry about Fujiwara's suffering being used to make someone a profit. I think you would do well to explain things to him before you do anything more."

"Excuse me, but I'm not making a profit on the logo jerseys or any other paraphernalia my advertising team has suggested. Everything getting produced will get Keisuke and Fujiwara the public backing needed to insure their participation in the Iron Will."

Kenta felt his jaw slacken as the four mechanics nodded with smiles over the flamboyant white blond's comments. The lead mechanic Nakada san spoke. "The jerseys are proving that many Tokyo residents don't care that Keisuke sama's gay. He is a genuine hero to many people. Even our CEO's musume has a jersey that she wears with pride despite the fit it caused him."

Another newcomer nodded with an equally big smile. "Hai. Keisuke sama showed that he has the heart of a samurai by taking on such a frightening organization. I heard that he was on the news when the hospital released him."

Oda, the youngest of the team leads added, We heard that Keisuke sama admitted this slaver had connections to some drug syndicate that he and his gang the Walking Men defeated a few years ago."

Ryosuke nodded. "That's true. Otouto has a long history of fighting to protect others. Keisuke does not understand the meaning of retreating."

Etsuya stepped up beside their leader and asked, "Ah, Ryosuke san, where are we going to move the G-TR's? They are ready to unload any time."

Swivelling to look at the long bed that had dropped its tailgate, Ryosuke scanned the large yard. "We need to ask Twylah about that. Looks like I should go inside and ask." With those words he turned on his heels and headed back to the house.

Kenta continued to take in the bustle of the new crew members. "Matsimoto san, where do you think they're going to be staying? Twylah san doesn't have enough room in the bunk house for minasan."

Martonelli chuckled. "I have arranged for minasan's quarters over the next few months. Never fear, I do have everything under control as I keep explaining to minasan."

Finding the foreigner more than a little irritating, Kenta vented anger over the hermaphrodite's conceited tone. "So you keep telling us. Project D's team is accustomed to following Ryosuke san's lead. You're changing things when you need to talk to our leader before deciding for us. Project D is a top touge team because we work well together. Don't try to change everything without talking to us first and getting Ryosuke san's clearance."

"Oh? When did Ryosuke kun decide that he's in control of this expedition?"

"There won't be any Project D expeditions unless Fujiwara recovers. We received a report yesterday from their Ojīsan that Fujiwara is showing signs of declining health. We all respect that it is Fujiwara's desire to come to America and compete against Sammy chan. However, Project D won't consider competing in the Iron Will if he dies. It will be up to Ryosuke san's discretion to create a new team because I will not be a part of any team that Fujiwara doesn't represent." Matsimoto replied. The dark-haired mechanic tapped his shoulder and began walking away.

Following his teammate, Kenta was glad to be free of the shocked looking foreigner. "Ne, Matsimoto san? Did you mean that? You know, that you won't work with anyone other than Fujiwara?"

"Hai, Kenta. Fujiwara is a rare talent among drivers. If he does die, I cannot focus on race tuning for a while. I've become fond of Fujiwara so tuning another driver's car for a battle would feel like I was not respecting his memory."

"Competing in the Iron Will is Fujiwara's dream, Matsimoto san. Isn't it our duty to compete here for Fujiwara's memory to be respected if he does die?"

"Only Keisuke san can fulfil Fujiwara's dream if he doesn't make it, Kenta. He probably could not drive this year if Fujiwara isn't alive to watch from the sidelines, if nothing else. In three years we might consider a temporary reinstatement of Project D and return to fulfil Fujiwara's dream, but it won't be this fall." Matsimoto answered.

"You're probably right. Keisuke san will fall apart if Fujiwara doesn't get better soon. This is so unfair! Stupid slavers need to be caught and thrown into prison for everything they did to Fujiwara." Kenta kicked a large stone out of his path.

"We can hope that Sammy chan figures out that familiarity problem she's having. Perhaps Keisuke san could probably give her new information to clear things up." Matsimoto answered as Ryosuke as Twylah came out of the house.

"Is there another problem?" Ryosuke asked in a stern tone.

Kenta nodded. "Hai. Martonelli is a conceited jerk. It just asked when you decided you were in charge of this expedition, Ryosuke san. Matsimoto and I both told the jerk off."

"Explain yourselves." Ryosuke spoke in a sharp tone.

Matsimoto's chin lifted. "I told Martonelli that if Fujiwara dies, I won't be part of Project D because I'm his mechanic, Ryosuke san. Race tuning for another driver this year is out of the question. Keisuke san won't be drive if Fujiwara isn't around to watch if not compete this fall. That means there won't be any Project D. We told that to our arrogant Gaijin benefactor."

"You've made a valid point, Matsimoto. We don't know that Fujiwara will get worse. Try to keep from making things more difficult for us all. I need to get the cars parked. I'll see you in the house in a few minutes." Ryosuke turned and spoke to Twylah.

The pair continued toward Martonelli at a decent pace. Huffing in frustration, Kenta shook his head and followed Matsimoto into the house. "Etsumi chan, Is there any lemonade left?"

Hai, Matsimoto san. I'll get it out of the refrigerator for you." Etsumi was quick on her feet as she grabbed the large pitcher and headed for the side board. Looking out the window, her eyes widened. "How many men are standing around out there right now?"

Grumbling, Kenta answered. "Way too many. Martonelli said that it has made their arrangements, so don't worry about them. Etsumi."

"Must you sound so rude, Kenta kun? Calling Martonelli sama it is very disrespectful. Remember Twylah san says that we should always refer to Martonelli sama's gender in the terms herm or shem. Twylah will also insist on these new men having beverages. She's a very stern, and very devoted hostess. I'll start making more lemonade and pull down two more tea pitchers to get enough made for minasan before she comes back from helping Ryosuke san." She flounced back into the kitchen after speaking.

Kenta gave Matsimoto a long-suffering look over Etsuya's younger sister. She tended to pretend she was a grown up despite being in high school. "Sounds fine to me, Etsumi chan. I'm sure minasan will appreciate your thoughtfulness." Matsimoto answered as he grinned in his direction. Feeling betrayed by Matsimoto's humor over his difficulty coping with Etsumi, Kenta headed into the living room for some much needed peace.

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As the Smoke Clears #4 in Rivalry Series