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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
- 35
- 36
- 37
CHAPTER 36

So far the visit with their teammates was going smoothly. Still, Keisuke was uneasy about lacking control over the situation. Strangers stood around the perimeter of the hotel dining room. They bothered Keisuke immensely. Knowing they were professional body guards did nothing to improve the wheat-haired man's mood. He knew nothing about these foreign guards. Therefore, he was unwilling to trust them with his family's welfare.

Spying Samantha, Keisuke sauntered in her direction. Singing Wolf had styled her hair in a vastly different way. No longer confined by hundreds of braids, her hair was in a single thick coiled braid pinned at the base of her skull. The ruffled shirt and form fitting black pants with the knee-high boots were both stylish and serviceable.

An oriental faced her, speaking while she watched the room. A nasty scar marred the left side of his face and drew the outer corner of his eye downward. Very bleached silvery blond hair was haphazardly spiked on top, reaching the base of broad shoulder blades in back. He looked rangy and broad shouldered in a blazer. He wore blue jeans and a button up collared shirt.

"Long time no see, Sammy chan. How have you been?" Keisuke asked as he stopped in front of the pair.

Turning her head to look at him, the woman answered in slow spoken stilted Japanese. "Fine. How's Takumi kun doing? I've heard assassins attacked him several times in the hospital."

"I stopped the four attacks and he's getting stronger every day since I checked him out. Will you be saying hello to Takumi, or should I bring him to you?" Looking at the extremely tall Asian next to Samantha, Keisuke extended his hand. "Takahashi Keisuke des."

Taking his hand in a firm grip the other man gave him a sketchy head bow. "Lupine Nilus des. A pleasure to meet you, Takahashi san."

Considering the man with Sam, Keisuke found himself wondering about the last name. Lupine was not oriental. The stranger must have mixed heritage. His Japanese was excellent, so he was probably a native. "The pleasure is mine also. Call me Keisuke san to prevent confusion. Several Takahashi's are present this evening."

Sam interrupted before Lupine could respond. "I've heard rumors that assassins attacked him after you liberated him from the slave compound. Is that true?" Sam asked yet again, only in English.

"Yes, Sammy chan, Takumi's been attacked four times. I told you already that I removed him from the hospital to limit access to him."

"Okay, I only caught a fraction of your Japanese answer. Remember, I'm anything but fluent in your language. I'm wondering if you would be better off speaking English so I understand everything you're saying. Otherwise, I can't keep up because you speak too fast." Sam reminded him with a grin.

"Sorry, Sammy chan. I forgot that you aren't fluent. The police were unable to secure the hospital. After the fourth attack, which involved poisoning, I checked Takumi, Takeuchi, and my son out of the hospital for their safety." Keisuke explained.

The woman hummed softly for a moment. "Not surprising. Considering the flow of patients that hospitals receive, security is extremely difficult. Vetting people takes time and money. It can hinder the medical profession, so the police have to find a balance. Even with the records they access, it involves a mess of red tape whenever government agencies are involved. Even private high grade security companies would find the job of protecting the compound victims a nightmare. The best solution is locking down a single ward where guards contain all the victims under security restrictions. Then limitations on the medical staff can be implemented easier."

"Our government has spread over two hundred compound victims across three hospitals. That's too many to contain within a single ward, Sammy chan. Too bad the police didn't think to extend their security to the hospital cafeteria. Several patients died from the poisoning attack. Takumi, Takeuchi, and Hikaru got very lucky because I realized something was wrong. The hospital staff treated them in time. The poisoner seems to have screwed up the dosage or they would be dead." Keisuke grumbled.

"Providing security for a full hospital is complicated. Take too long on vetting, and someone dies. They can't get medical assistance during the background check, Keisuke. A private security team vetted all the people present in this room. It took a week to accomplish this small group's background checks. Only a couple dozen relatives of Project D members are here tonight because of vetting protocols. In a scenario where patients are changing daily, security is a nightmare. Consider that they must bring food in daily to feed the patients. The police should have expected poisoning. It is the quickest way to eliminate witnesses. The criminal element inserts someone into the processing plants. They dump heat resistant, or heat activated poisons into part of the food that hospitals have shipped to their kitchens. Unless authorities monitor food distributors closely, people are going to die." She explained in a monotone voice.

"Speaking of security, do you know how many of these strangers will be at the Love Legacy ceremony tomorrow?" Keisuke broached the subject.

"I take it the body guards Rob provided are making you jittery." Sam challenged with a lifted eyebrow.

"Lately, everything has me jittery. Takumi's life, and my son's safety are on the line, Sammy chan. I deserve answers since my family's at risk. A stranger recently tried to abduct my toddler under a police guard's nose. He almost succeeded. The policemen on the pediatric's floor thought the bastard was a hospital worker. Come to find out, he was working for the fucking slaver that almost killed Takumi. The bitch was raising Hikaru to be her heir."

"Far as I know, the security team will do a complete sweep of this room. Once it is secure, they'll stay outside the doors while your family holds the celebration planned. These body guards are all top rated, well-respected members of the business. Rest assured, there won't be any problems. This room only has one set of doors to maintain security. Even the Shinto personnel passed vetting to be here for your ceremony."

Feeling marginally better, Keisuke smiled. "Good to know."

"Will you explain the ceremony so I can insure that there aren't any problems tomorrow?"

"My family passes Love's Legacy to the family member that the current Legacy holder deems capable of upholding the Legacy's meaning. This necklace is part of my family's legacy." Keisuke pulled the legacy necklace from beneath his shirt to reveal the golden tax chest locket. "We'll do a purification which is standard to most of ceremonies. After the purification is complete, Takumi and I will recite the vows to receive the rest of the Legacy pieces, and the ceremony closes."

Samantha nodded. "So this is a commemoration for receiving some antique jewelry I take it."

"Takumi and I will take vows to uphold the meaning of the Love legacy. The vows will last for the rest of our lives. We'll take possession of the rings, molds and historic documents tomorrow after we complete the vows."

"Sounds very complicated. Is there a reason for all the ceremony and pomp to inherit this Legacy of yours?" Sam's companion inserted into the conversation.

Keisuke answered, "My ancestors were forbidden to marry roughly four hundred years ago because she was an Aristocrat, and he was a commoner. A Shinto priest made a pair of necklaces and rings for them from my ancestress's gold jewelry. He performed their marriage ceremony despite samurai ordered to find and kill her lover. The priest held them to the task of upholding the meaning of loving each other and those around them. They had to maintain their relationship, and befriend others. They also had to overcome overwhelming odds sent against them by her warlord father. The tradition is that the couple with the most difficulties to overcome inherits the Love Legacy. This generation, Takumi and I are the Legacy's guardians."

"I thought Takumi was a male name. Does that mean you're gay?" Lupine asked in a polite voice. He was speaking in fluent Japanese again Keisuke noticed.

His relationship with Takumi was well known to the media. Hearing the odd question from Sam's friend alarmed Keisuke. "All of Nihon knows about our taboo relationship. The nightly news mentions it with every damned compound update. Going anywhere is a pain due to reporters hounding us for details. Martonelli made those ridiculous logo shirts to drum up public support for me and Takumi because of Project D. A couple reporters are trying to turn the public against us because I'm seeking full custody of my toddler."

"I'm from America, so I don't watch this country's news." Lupine responded in a calm voice.

"Gomen nasai. I thought you were a local." Keisuke replied.

"iie. I was born in Okinawa at the Futinma Marine Air Station. Okāsan was a native Okinawan. Otosān was an American civilian attached to the military. She married a Gaijin to spite her family. I haven't been back because okāsan's relatives aren't fond of her decision to marry a Gaijin." Nilus explained with a lopsided shrug.

Sam snapped her wrist up to halt conversation, and began speaking in English again. "This ceremony almost sounds like a marriage contract to me."

"That's right. We aren't the first taboo partners to inherit the Love's Legacy despite the marriage not getting legal recognition. The temple where the rings and necklaces were initially carved maintains ties to my mother's family because of the Legacy. The old priest that created Love's Legacy made them give their word to administer the Legacy vows for each generation without fail. He instructed them to always uphold the meaning of the true Legacy and ignore popular sentiments. Hence a taboo relationship gets acknowledged, if not condoned, because it mirrors the original meaning." Keisuke explained.

"Nice. Bet they aren't pleased to give marriage vows to gay partners. Then again, if the whole point is to prove a couple can overcome overwhelming adversity, a gay couple is perfect to inherit in this country."

Chuckling at Lupine's insightful comment, Keisuke replied. "Very true."

"Looks like Takumi's got some space. Shall we go?" Samantha asked.

Turning to scan the table, Keisuke saw Kenta and his significant other, Sugisaki at their table. Takumi had Hikaru on his lap and was absorbed in the tike. Itsuke was gesturing as he and Kenta talked. Looking around the room, Keisuke saw Etsuya and his sister returning to their family. "Sounds good. I'll remind Takumi to speak slowly for you, Sammy chan. He may have forgotten because you haven't spoken in several months."

Keisuke headed back to their table. Eager to check on Takumi and Hikaru, Keisuke ignored Hiroshi lifting a hand to catch his eye. Stopping beside Takumi's chair, Keisuke dropped onto his haunches and looked at his son. "Hey, Hikaru? Did you meet all of our friends from Project D?"

The toddler nodded his head, clinging to Takumi's chest. "Hikaru's been great with minasan, Keisuke. He had trouble seeing over the table top. Ryosuke san gave him to me after you left to talk to minasan. I introduced him to minasan you sent. Though, . . . Matsimoto was tense around me when he and Hiroshi san visited."

"Matsimoto probably has a lot on his mind, my own. Aniki said his fiancee left him over the abduction." Keisuke reassured his mate while considering the problem. He looked around and found Matsimoto. He would talk to their ace hachi roku mechanic and get answers after the evening meal.

"Adorable shonen you've got in your lap, Takumi kun. I've heard you had a rough time of it since we last spoke." Sammy stood at the opposite side of the table.

Lupine was with her Keisuke noted. He turned his head to catch Takumi's eye. "Remember she needs time to translate in her head."

Takumi snickered. "I haven't forgotten, Keisuke. This is Keisuke's musuko, Hikaru, Sammy chan. He's a great kodomo, so watching over him isn't rough. He and Keisuke are getting to know each other since minasan rescued us." Tilting his head to catch Hikaru's eye, Takumi continued. "Hikaru, this is Sammy san. She helped your otosān shut down the compound. Will you say hello?"

The toddler gave a small bow to Sammy with a soft "Domo, Sammy san," before ducking his head back against Takumi's chest.

"Domo to you also, Hikaru kun. . . This is Lupine Nilus, a friend of mine, minasan."

Lupine bowed and spoke in a soft voice. "A pleasure to meet minasan."

Sammy took over the conversation. "Gomen for being bold, but I have to find out as much as you're willing to tell me about the compound you were in, Takumi. I didn't see nearly enough of it the day we ransacked it. I can't figure out the sense of familiarity I got from the upper levels I did manage to check. Would you be willing to share your memories of how they ran things? If I could get copies of the compound blue prints and such, I wouldn't ask. Your government isn't cooperating, so I'm out of options."

Itsuke stopped talking the moment Sammy mentioned the compound. Takumi passed one of his silent messages with a look at Itsuke. Itsuke waved to the vacant chair on the other side of Kenta. "I don't mind, Tak. I think we owe Sammy san."

Sam sat at the table. Lupine grabbed a second vacant chair and sat also. Kenta cleared his throat. "Sugisaki and I will hang out with my ryōshin. Let us know when you're done, Itsuke kun. I'll finish telling you about that American music group after you finish."

"Arigato, Kenta." Takumi squared his shoulders, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Could you explain your reason for wanting information, Sammy chan? Talking about it isn't pleasant."

"More importantly, is it necessary for a complete stranger to listen, Sammy san?" Keisuke growled.

Lupine spoke in slow, succinct Japanese. "Gomen nasai gozaimasu for my intrusion. I was a prisoner of a similar compound several years ago. My twin died in the South American compound where traffickers took us. During my captivity, I learned a great deal about the various Black Market branches specifically involved with slavery. Sam hopes I can pinpoint which specific Black Market branch was involved in your abductions. She believes I'll recognize details that pinpoint to a specific faction. If I do recognize any, I can help her to block future abductions and murder attempts."

"Whoa!" Itsuke's eyes widened dramatically.

Keisuke found himself giving the other man a closer look. Only Takumi seemed unfazed by the revelation. "How do you know that the Black Market is involved? The slaver was working for a local Drug Syndicate. Keisuke ran the same Syndicate out of the Akagi area several years ago."

"Slavery is always bound to the Black Market. Hiding and smuggling humans is always extremely difficult, minasan. There isn't a slavery operation in this world that doesn't smuggle human and animal cargoes to different nations where they maintain secret auction houses. Three dominant Black Market divisions collectively own all of the secret auction houses in the world. Therefore, the Black Market is involved." Lupine responded evenly.

"Matte, Takumi, Itsuke. Kurou told me the slaver had Black Market ties. The Black Market was involved in the drugs imported as well. Lupine san is verifying things I already knew." Keisuke spoke quickly.

Lupine leaned over the table top to keep his voice from carrying. "If drugs were involved, there is the possibility that a second branch might also become interested in your street team. Unless the local Drug Syndicate kept their Black Market ties hidden, you may have a bigger problem than Sammy thinks, minasan."

"Don't say that, Lupine san." Keisuke growled as he grabbed another vacant chair and dropped beside Takumi and Hikaru.

"Gomen nasai, but you need to consider the possibility. If you don't, you may not survive long. Knowledge is the only asset I can give you. The Black Market has several dozen distinctive branches with sub factions who control very specific aspects of illegal commerce world wide. My knowledge pertains to three factions which are firmly intrenched in human and exotic animal smuggling. Five factions are involved with smuggling drugs, including medical supplies they hijack from reputable sources. Factions from these two branches could be deadly to you all. I'm here to help you understand, and counter both branches. The Black Market is a massive, and powerful network that spans the world."

Takumi stroked his cheek as he hummed thoughtfully. "So you think by asking us questions you can figure out which factions we're up against. Is that right?"

Sam nodded and began talking. "I'm playing bodyguard to your teammates, so I need all the intelligence I can get. However, Japanese officials are stone walling me. Without vital information, I can't effectively protect Ryosuke san, and the rest of your team. If Nilus recognizes the faction running the slave compound can only be discovered if you will give us concrete information. Nilus also brought detailed drawings from a South American compound my otosān and I helped bust several years ago. He can show you the drawings if it will help you recall details."

Keisuke sighed heavily. "We'll see if we need to do that after Itsuke and Takumi tell you the things they can remember."

Itsuke cleared his throat. "An onna that called herself Lady Kahori ran the compound. She wore painted masks that hid her identity. Sadami, . . . he's another slave, told me that she wore the masks to hide her ruined face. She dressed like a Geisha because that was part of her childhood before World War two began. Kahori sama had a vicious body guard named Taihei. He loved torturing people to death in really brutal ways."

Lupine had turned his head at an odd angle as he listened to Itsuke's input. The odd angle appeared condescending, and yet that did not feel quite right. The rest of the man's body language did not fit disdain.

"Did you ever see any of these masks that the female leader wore?" Lupine probed for details.

"Hai. I saw several of her masks. Kahori sama liked to harass me about Tak and Keisuke's relationship. Kahori sama told me she planned to force Tak and Keisuke to make porn movies to pay off a drug bust they supposedly caused." Itsuke answered as he rubbed his scarred knuckles.

"Could you draw out any of the painted features on her masks?"

"Maybe. My drawings wouldn't be exact, but I think I could do a fairly decent sketch after I train my hand again." Itsuke answered. Keisuke blinked as he stared at the darker haired man.

Takumi was nodding with a furrowed brow. "Itsuke's a much better artist than I am. I saw a couple of the onna's masks, and can try to describe them if you need me to."

"Excellent. Next question. Did any of you have anything to do with this supposed drug bust?" Lupine inquired.

Takumi nodded. "My ex girlfriend shot me, and Keisuke last year. She got the gun from some lunatic that a Yakuza boss's grandson killed at the touge we were visiting. We heard there were papers in his car that led the kēsatsu to three warehouses containing illegal drugs."

"May I see your damaged hand a moment?" Lupine pointed at Itsuke.

"Eh? Naze?" Itsuke asked with obvious unease.

"It looks like they branded you. Brands give clues. If your hand is branded, it may give me the answer I need to help Sam plan a defense." Lupine responded.

Itsuke looked at his scarred knuckle ridge closely. "Whoa! It does kind of look like part of a symbol. Guess I never noticed."

He stood and extended his mangled hand toward Samantha's companion. Pulling a pair of glasses out of his jacket pocket. Lupine settled them on his nose and took the mangled appendage in his grip. The way he turned his head made Keisuke think he might be blind in his left eye. The scar was bad enough that it was plausible the odd Black Market expert Sam had brought was partially blind. Perhaps he was also partially deaf. That could explain the odd angle for holding his head.

"It's a brand all right. Looks like the top segment of the Chamaeleon crest." The foreign expert noted as he released Itsuke's hand and pulled his glasses off.

Sam's head slammed into the table top with an audible groan. The half Asian twisted his head toward her, pushing his glasses back into his jacket. "Are you absolutely certain that it isn't another faction, Nilus? Please tell me it could be another faction. Chamaeleon's the hardest one to find, and even harder to bust!"

"Only chamaeleon has the crested v at the top. Crested V is the mark that stands out on this man's mangled hand. He needs to get it removed soon, or chamaeleon agents will never stop pursuing him." Lupine spoke in slow Japanese for Sam's benefit despite her having spoken in English.

Keisuke found and caught Takumi's hand beneath the table. The resolute tone of the man's conclusion knotted the blond's stomach. Protecting Itsuke was imperative for Takumi's well being. Yet, if he believed Sammy's expert, it was going to be difficult. Catching Itsuke's eye, Keisuke smiled with a confidence he did not feel. "Looks like some criminals are going to find out that fucking with the original leader of Walking Man is a bad idea soon. Don't worry, Itsuke. I've got your back, and Takumi's covered."

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As the Smoke Clears #4 in Rivalry Series