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A Rivalry Revealed Novel #1	By : kurahieiritrJIO Category: +G to L > Initial D Views: 2400 -:- 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-A Rivalry Revealed Novel #1
- 2-Riv 2
- 3-Riv 3
- 4-Riv 4
- 5-Riv 5
- 6-Riv 6
- 7-Riv 7
- 8-Riv 8
- 9-Riv 9
- 10-Riv 10
- 11-Riv 11
- 12-Riv 12
- 13-Riv 13
- 14-Riv 14
- 15-Riv 15
- 16-Riv 16
- 17-Riv 17
- 18-Riv 18
- 19-Riv 19
- 20-Riv 20
- 21-Riv 21
- 22-Riv 22
- 2
- 3
- 4
CHAPTER 3

"Keisuke, where do you think you're going?" Ryosuke grabbed his younger brother's arm to hold him back as the paramedics loaded Fujiwara into the ambulance.

His younger brother jerked away to dislodge his grip which surprised him. Keisuke's fist was up, and his eyes looked murderous. That furious glare made clear that he blamed him for Fujiwara's choice to drive. The blond moved toward his damaged FD unimpeded by anyone from their team. His fury was a palpable wave of barely suppressed violence that everyone on the team felt.

"Answer me, Keisuke." Ryosuke tried a second time to get a reply from his volatile younger brother. Keisuke dropped into his seat, and turned on his car. "Did you collide with Fujiwara? Keisuke, don't you dare leave. The FD's damaged, and you haven't explained how it got that way . . . Keisuke."

The blond slammed his door without comment. The sound of metal, and fiberglass plates grinding together for a moment as Keisuke pulled back tugged a wince from Ryosuke. The Trueno's E brake engaged making Ryosuke wince again as the cars separated with a squeal of tortured plating. Another hard turn of the steering wheel on the FD completed the break away maneuver as the younger Takahashi pulled his car away from the damaged hachi roku, and followed the retreating ambulance.

"Nani's gotten into my little brother?" Ryosuke asked the wind as he watched the damaged Mazda's tail lights receding as it followed the ambulance down the mountainside. "Doesn't he realize that I tried to convince Fujiwara not to make that last run?"

"Ryosuke san, I think we need to talk after we get hachi roku out of the road. It's in a fairly blind corner right now. Someone might collide with it." Kenta stood next to him, and spoke in a quiet voice. "I think I know Keisuke san's problem. At least, I have a hunch you need to know about since this happened."

"A hunch, huh?" Ryosuke frowned at his younger brother's friend, and racing protégée, with a thoughtful gaze. He knew that Kenta spent more time around Keisuke than he did. It was reasonable that the other man knew more of his younger brother's thoughts. He was busy with medical school and lacked the time to spend with Keisuke to keep on top of the frequent bouts of black moods his brother was having. Perhaps Kenta could shed light on whatever was distressing Keisuke.

"Fine." Ryosuke raised his voice for the rest of the crew to hear him. "We need to get the hachi roku out of the road. How bad is the passenger front end?"

"It looks drive able, Ryosuke san. The damage seems cosmetic. I think Fujiwara hit the brake, and tried to straighten out before he lost control of the car which may be when he clipped the FD. He hit the front corner of the rock face at a glancing angle and scraped along the mountain until he stopped is my guess."

Matsimoto finished his report while shaking his head and looking over the compact. Ryosuke comprehended where the damage to Keisuke's car came from in a flash of intuition as he glared at the broken guardrail that was now behind the compact. He grabbed the flashlight from Fumihiro's hand and looked at the hachi roku's driver side door. Yellow paint marred the store information that was integral to the Akina hachi roku's image. A fairly deep dent at the corner of the fender front verified his hunch.

"Or, Fujiwara bounced off the rock face toward the guardrail and Keisuke used his FD to pin hachi roku against the mountain to stop it from going through the guardrail. That is as likely an explanation for the damage I see on this side of Fujiwara's car as any."

"That's very dangerous." Matsimoto answered as he looked up from the opposite side of the car.

"There's a lot of paint scraped off on this side and a couple of minor dents that I can see between the rock over here. I'll need more light and no obstructions to be certain though. The front blinker light's history, but we can replace the bulb and light case in about twenty minutes if there isn't any major structural damage." The black haired mechanic reported as he tried to see the damage hidden by the rock wall.

"I'll try to drive it to the starting line parking lot. Follow me to be safe." The mechanic nodded and headed to the van.

Ryosuke climbed into the small panda, and turned on the ignition. The compact would have to be double checked once they arrived. Tracking down Keisuke would wait until he knew more about Kenta's hunch. If hachi roku proved mechanically sound, he would use it to get to the hospital to give it a longer test drive. It was a good excuse to double check the structural settings if no glaring damage was found when he had both mechanics focus on the main frame and structure of the front end.

Once his younger brother was found, he would demand an answer to Keisuke's strange behavior. The dark haired Takahashi brother fastened the belt, and put the car into motion. With a new protested shriek of abuse the compact pulled away from the mountain and settled into a sedate climb to the top of the mountain. Ryosuke paid close attention to any oddities in the suspension as he drove the last two curves at a slow pace and along the straightaway into the parking lot. The drive was as uneventful as Ryosuke had hoped. He switched the car off, and opened the door.

"Minasan, check over hachi roku to make sure there aren't any major mechanical problems. Double check the suspension and structural settings to uncover any hidden surprises waiting to show themselves when driving at highway speeds. Kenta, come with me."

The smaller sandy haired driver trailed behind as Ryosuke stormed over to the vending machines. He took a deep breath to control his voice while noting that the shorter man looked worried as he stopped three steps away.

"Explain your hunch, Kenta."

Ryosuke simmered under the weight of the galling behavior his younger brother had displayed. Keisuke's dangerous actions had damaged his FD, and could easily have cost him his life had he failed to time everything perfectly. The reckless move Ryosuke thought his brother had made shook the black haired man deeply. His little brother's use of the yellow Mazda as a buffer could have gotten both of them killed if the Trueno had been any heavier. Only the feather light weight of the small compact allowed the stronger engine of the FD to shove it into the mountain. Both drivers would have died if not for modifications he had overseen to improve the balance, and abilities of the small car. Ryosuke pinned the man in front of him with a hard stare as he sought answers to Keisuke's escalating temper, and dangerous impulses.

"Uhm, well you know how competitive Keisuke san is with Fujiwara?" Kenta began.

"Hai. It's a bit hard to miss. Fujiwara makes Keisuke so mad that I wonder if he's going to quit the team, or outright demand that Fujiwara gets canned some evenings."

"Ryosuke san, have you considered that Fujiwara making Keisuke san so angry has nothing to do with his insane growth as a fellow street racer?"

Kenta visibly swallowed as Ryosuke mulled his question over. He watched Kenta fidget as he pondered the meaning behind Kenta's question. Ryosuke could think of nothing except the younger driver's accelerated progress that could possibly fuel his brother's recently explosive bouts of temper. He was unable to deduct from the question what Kenta had in mind by bringing up the subject.

"That's a bit vague, Kenta. Explain your thoughts on Keisuke's attitude problem in a clear way so I can understand your perspective."

"I don't think Keisuke san realizes naze he gets so moody when he's around Fujiwara. But, I've noticed that Keisuke san doesn't like the amount of time you spend with him. It seems like the more time you're with Fujiwara, the more peeved Keisuke san gets." Kenta rubbed his hands on his pants as he spoke.

"So, you believe Keisuke's behavior is directly linked to his being jealous of Fujiwara's time working with me?" Ryosuke knew his younger brother held his driving skills in awe, but didn't plan on indulging his desire to stockpile his knowledge. Fujiwara deserved to receive help to achieve higher levels of expertise as much as Keisuke.

"Uhm, Ryosuke san, I think you might have it backwards." Kenta shuffled his feet, and looked at their teammates checking over the panda Trueno. "Keisuke san's jealous of how much time you hold Fujiwara's attention. He doesn't seem to realize it, but I think your brother has become attached to Fujiwara. The way he sometimes looks at Fujiwara before he settles into that scowl makes me think that he wants to talk to Fujiwara san, and doesn't know nani to say. Fujiwara's always so quiet. It isn't exactly easy to talk to him."

Ryosuke pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, and lit it, while he considered what Kenta implied. The dark haired Takahashi brother took a long drag from his cigarette, his thoughts spinning.

'Kenta can't mean it like that, can he? If Fujiwara were attractive to Keisuke, I'd notice. I'm sure I would have picked up on something like that. Wouldn't I? Keisuke's turned his life around since he started driving. I can't believe he'd risk problems now that his life is calmer. Granted, getting him to help me with my one report two years ago by filling out that questionnaire showed that Keisuke's still far more open to the idea. Still, Keisuke couldn't have forgotten so much misery that he would be willing to take the risks, could he?'

Kenta shifted his weight, bringing Ryosuke's musings back to where he was. He worded his thought to remove the possibly incorrect conclusion he was leaning toward. The younger man may not have meant his statement the way Ryosuke took it.

"Perhaps Keisuke's worried about Fujiwara getting attached to me as a role model. I don't believe that's a good reason for him to act like he has, especially tonight. The way I see things, Keisuke thinks he's being slighted somehow in his training." Ryosuke was pragmatic about the problem. He stalled the smaller man before he could speak with a raised hand. "Keisuke's jealousy doesn't change the fact that I have to concentrate on Fujiwara because he has too little theoretical knowledge, Kenta. I have to bring our second ace up to the same level of comprehension Keisuke has mastered. That's the only way Fujiwara can succeed as a professional. I've already pointed that out to my little brother."

"I don't think Keisuke san's training has anything to do with this, Ryosuke san. It isn't you being a role model that bugs your brother either. Keisuke san doesn't want to accept how much he fights himself where Fujiwara's concerned." Kenta started to walk away, anger painting his features.

"Matte, Kenta. Do you honestly think my little brother is turning gay?" Ryosuke stopped his crew member with a hard tone. It was Kenta's intention to place the innuendo in front of him. Kenta turned back to his leader with a frown on his face.

Kenta shook his head as if to shake off an unwelcome thought. Whatever Kenta's mental argument was, the shorter man straightened his shoulders as he came to a decision. "iie. Keisuke san's not gay. I know that he's had two girlfriends that he dumped so far. Minasan with the Red Suns knows about Keisuke san being a swinger, Ryosuke san. Those rumors have been around since he started the Walking Man gang in middle school. We all know how much he hates that part of himself too. Knowing Keisuke san, failing to successfully ignore Fujiwara the way he wants to would make him this insanely grumpy. I just think it explains his getting so pissed off all the time."

Ryosuke repressed a shudder at the mention of rumors. Despite his desperate battle to overcome his bisexual nature, Keisuke's violent pubescent years were well known in the Akagi area. Keisuke's choice to become a gangster had stemmed from his inability to control his reactions to another male student during his middle school career. Fights had escalated over several months as his class mates ganged up on Keisuke who refused to do anything about his physical reactions. Even with his help to pull attacking school mates off, Keisuke often had bruises, and even suffered through cracked ribs during his second semester.

Kenta continued to speak as Ryosuke forced his mind back to the conversation. ". . . makes him so angry. Whether he wants to admit it or not, Keisuke san's at least infatuated, if not in love with Fujiwara. I don't understand the appeal, but, . . . I think it's because of the challenge that Fujiwara gives him. I know Keisuke san better than most people now. I have nothing but respect for him as a person, and as an ace racer, Ryosuke san. Fujiwara's not the type your brother normally notices either."

Kenta shoved his hands in his pockets as he glared at the ground while a shoe shifted a rock by his foot. "I see how much it bugs Keisuke san when Fujiwara listens to your every word. He hates it, and it doesn't seem like it's because you're his big brother, or Fujiwara steals his training time."

Kenta raised his head and pulled his hands out of his pockets as he looked Ryosuke in the eye. Ryosuke stared at the petite, sandy haired man who balled his fists at his sides. The younger driver looked away from him in a defiant pose.

"Gomen, Kenta. I can't think of anything to say." Ryosuke ran a hand over his eyes as he sighed.

"For every girl he mentions is cute, he also notices certain men, Ryosuke san. It isn't my imagination. Keisuke san doesn't have to say anything about the few men he notices. His expression is the same one he gets with hot girls. Fujiwara's nothing like the men your brother tends to notice."

Kenta rubbed a hand through his hair in obvious distress. "I've seen him get that look whenever he watches Fujiwara the last few weeks. It's like it triggers the scowl that makes you think he wants to break Fujiwara's neck. Keisuke might think I ignore details, but I don't do it intentionally. I knew Fujiwara was tired, but I didn't know he has such a heavy work load and all the rest so I didn't think it through. That's not the same as not noticing details. I know he's angry about liking Fujiwara because he doesn't want to feel like he does."

Ryosuke frowned at his team working on the compact as he smoked his cigarette. He began to contemplate what Keisuke's friend was telling him. "So, you think Keisuke's in love with Fujiwara, and hates it. Hm, . . . I've heard of stranger situations. It also fits how Keisuke operates. He hates that part of his personality, so hating Fujiwara's existence because of his reaction to him does make sense. That would also explain using his car to pin Fujiwara's hachi roku. The rumors about Keisuke becoming a gangster because he's bisexual are true. He's never acted on it, so I thought he'd gained control over it so to speak, Kenta. Domo for making me aware of your theory. I'll have to think about this."

"Look, Keisuke san would bust my jaw if he learns that I told you I think he's in love with Fujiwara. I respect him, and don't want him to hate me. I want to help Keisuke san if I can. Ryosuke san, try to go easy on Keisuke san, yoroshiku? He's got to be freaked out over this accident. Fujiwara could have died tonight. I don't think Keisuke san can think straight unless he knows that Fujiwara's ok. Crazy as things are getting, I honestly think he's getting attached to Fujiwara." The shorter man's voice fell silent.

The plea Ryosuke heard in Kenta's voice made the dark haired racer pause. He nodded agreement into the pregnant silence. Kenta smiled, and stepped away from the vending machine overhang. The smaller man walked toward the two mechanics who were busy with Fujiwara's compact.

'The sullen looks that Keisuke flashes us whenever I work with Fujiwara on techniques might be jealousy over something other than losing time to discuss his impressions of the course. It is more difficult to get Keisuke to cooperate on nights where I spend additional time working with Fujiwara now that I'm thinking about this angle. Could Kenta be right? Is Keisuke jealous of me because I spend so much time teaching Fujiwara? Is that triggering Keisuke's unpredictable fits of temper? How could he think I'm in his way where Fujiwara is concerned?'

Ryosuke dropped his cigarette butt into an outdoor butt container as he considered what Kenta had divulged. If Keisuke had fallen in love with Takumi Fujiwara, all bets were off. Ryosuke knew that getting his brother to see reason would be difficult due to such unwelcome circumstances. He had been certain that he knew Keisuke's motives before this accident. The older Takahashi brother began to make a silent catalog of his younger brother's behavior to see if Kenta's hunch held additional merit. Ryosuke's thoughts whirled in a tangle of images, and actions, as he tried to analyze his younger brother's mind.

'Naze did Keisuke yank the fuses out of his ABS computer, and train to master Fujiwara's level of braking skill if he's attracted to Fujiwara? Isn't he trying to get my approval? Keisuke knows I admire Takumi's ability. Granted, Keisuke puts the fuses back in when we get ready to leave for the next course. So, naze would he go to such lengths to be better than the man he's drawn to, . . . if that is the case? Isn't he trying to master his FD without the brake computer to get my approval? Nani could this bitter rivalry that Keisuke started with Fujiwara mean if it isn't about getting my approval? Nani am I missing? There must be a piece to this puzzle that I don't yet see.'

Ryosuke concluded that it was going to be a much longer night than he had anticipated. He began to make plans to salvage the situation for Project D. The dark haired team leader pulled out his cell phone and checked the time. It was too late to call the rival team's capatain, and attempt to reschedule. He would have to call in a few hours, and give their opponents the news that they would forfeit. He hoped his brother would call with an update on Fujiwara's condition, and location soon. The older Takahashi frowned at the night sky as he debated actions to take to cope with his younger brother's potential indiscretions.
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A Rivalry Revealed Novel #1