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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
- 38
- 39
- 40
Author Notes: The card contains an actual Shinto prayer that I discovered doing research for the ceremony. I really liked the meaning of the prayer so I had to use it somehow. Taking a week to move the rest of the Rivalry Revealed series to this site. Once Alternate Tracks 2nd story, and All For Love 3rd story are up, I will continue this tale, never fear.

CHAPTER 39

Returning from changing out of the formal kimono, Takumi was startled that his father had not yet left. Tsuchia remained beside Oyaji which probably explained the unexpected behavior. Stopping near his only relatives at the ceremony, Takumi asked, "Mind if I join you?"

"By all means, Takumi. I was hoping you were coming back." Tsuchia graciously waved at the empty chairs.

With a nod, Takumi sat, leaning his cane against the table. "Our teammates have to return to America tomorrow so Keisuke and I are spending time with them this evening. Domo for coming today, Oyaji, Tsuchia. I figure you had something to say. Otherwise, you and Tsuchia would have left, Oyaji."

"I was wondering how you're doing, Takumi." Tsuchia spoke gently before his father could say anything.

"If you're worried about whether I'll race again, the answer is hai. Until the authorities catch Kahori sama and her henchmen, the kēsatsu won't allow me to actively train on the touge. Physical therapy for my damaged leg is going well. Pray they catch the slaver behind this mess so I can be in public without possibly dying."

"You made quite an impression when you got released from the hospital. The way you attacked that ignoramus we all despise made quite an impact. Are you aware of that, Takumi kun?" Tsuchia asked.

"Doesn't matter to me. I couldn't let that bastard hit Hikaru again. He's too young to protect himself, Tsuchia. If people hate me for it, something's wrong with them."

"Did I say you made a bad impression, cousin?"

Hearing Oyaji's soft snort in response to Tsuchia's question turned his head toward his sire. "Spit it out, Oyaji. I know you've got something on your mind."

"You've wasted all of your hard work like I warned you, Takumi. You learned so much, and got so many modifications done to hachi roku. All of it was for nothing You insist on ruining your chances of going to the pro circuit. Your reasons don't make sense."

Takumi heaved a sigh as he watched his father slam sake. "I've told you my reason for staying with Keisuke despite how weird it felt at first. The kidnaping happened because of Mogi's obsession with me, Oyaji. Keisuke wasn't involved with her trying to kill us last year. I dated Mogi before I found out about her subsidy dating. All of Project D's problems are my fault."

Tsuchia gasped. Oyaji stared at him hard for several seconds, but said nothing. Annoyed, Takumi decided to explain the situation. "Everything that happened to Itsuke, and to me, happened because I dated Mogi in high school. I found out about her subsidy dating to save her okāsan in the worst possible way. Even if Keisuke hadn't fallen in love with me, the shooting, and everything else would have happened. The only reason I'm alive is that Keisuke loves me so much, Oyaji. Hate us all you want, but I'd be dead if not for Keisuke's obsessive devotion to me."

"I'm not denying that he's damn serious. It's a shame that you're both going to continue suffering because of that vow you took today. You've thrown away any hope of getting out of this mess by going through with this crazy ceremony, musuko." With those words, Oyaji stood. "Let's go, Keiichi. I have to get up early to catch the train."

Shaking his head, Tsuchia reached into his jacket. "Some things never change. Call me when you get a chance, cousin. Don't be a stranger just because Bunta's so damned stubborn. You've told me your situation, and I get it. Because of your arguments the last time I saw you, I believe you deserve to get into the pro circuit. I'll arrange for you to show me your driving on a real track once you finish your rehabilitation. Show minasan everything you've learned from your time with Project D."

His cousin handed him an envelope. Takumi nodded once as he accepted it. "Sure. Arigato, . . . for everything, cousin."

The pair walked toward the main doors leading out of the resort hotel's private reception hall. He saw Tsuchia shaking hands with several of Keisuke's relatives. He slowed long enough to shake hands with Kenta and Matsimoto on his way out. Keisuke was returning as the pair opened the door to leave the resort.

Glancing back at the envelope in his hand, Takumi was reluctant to open it. Yet, Tsuchia had told him to call him. That meant his phone number was inside. Caving to the inevitable, Takumi gently pulled the adhesive free. Lifting the flap, he found a card. Pulling it free, Takumi looked the card over. The front was a beautiful landscape with a cascading waterfall and a rainbow. An image of partially clouded skies backed a scene bathed in light. Jagged lightning in the distance completed the image.

Opening the card, he read the beautiful calligraphy passage: 'If you plot and connive to deceive men, you may fool them for a while, and profit thereby, but you will without fail be visited by divine punishment. To be utterly honest may have the appearance of inflexibility and self righteousness, but in the end, such a person will receive the blessings. So follow honesty without fail.'

Beneath the elaborately detailed Shinto prayer was a personal note. 'Congratulations on your courageous marriage. Remain true to your deeply ingrained honesty, Takumi. It will serve you well when facing detractors in the months to come. Best wishes, Your cousin, Tsuchia Keiichi.'

Following his signature was his phone number. Relief flooded Takumi's system. Despite barely knowing his cousin once removed, Tsuchia understood his reasons. The Karma warning prayer was very appropriate. He had been following his own honest feelings about Keisuke, and would continue.

Taking a seat beside him, Keisuke smiled. "I'm glad Oyaji san came to his senses. I know his being opposed to us bothered you, My own."

Looking at his spouse while handing him the card, Takumi answered. "Wrong, Lover, Oyaji's still very much opposed to us being together. He's not about to start wasting his breath trying to change our minds. He figures we won't listen to him."

The flash of widening eyes before Keisuke's expression settled told Takumi that his quasi official spouse had not expected his answer. "I heard your otosān say that you're your own man, and everything's up to you."

Hearing Itsuke snickering on his other side as he dropped into an empty chair, Takumi knew Itsuke understood. Looked like he had to explain things. "Hai. Oyaji said the consequences were mine. Call it his way of saying nothing good can come of my taking the vows to inherit your family's Legacy, Keisuke."

"Gomen na, My own. I didn't realize, . . . because you told him arigato."

Seeing Keisuke's expressive brow furrow made Takumi smile. "Arguing with him was pointless. Saying arigato meant I got his point. He said the consequences were mine which means he's as opposed as ever. I know where I belong, so I'll deal with any backlash that comes my way."

"Oy, Sometimes your family speaks a language I don't know."

Itsuke chuckled again. "You can say that again, Keisuke. You have to read the different expressions Tak has to get his meaning. Oyaji san is twice as hard to understand because he doesn't have many expressions."

"Did you have to say that, Itsuke? I've still got to find a way to make Oyaji san accept our relationship. We need Oyaji san on our side for Takumi's sake."

Eyes closing, Takumi smiled at Keisuke's soft pitched grumble. "I wouldn't worry about it, Lover. Oyaji's stubborn. I've made my choice, and I won't change my mind any more than Oyaji will."

"Keisuke san, are we interrupting anything?" Takumi's eyes opened to find Kenta and his lover, Sugisaki, standing in front of them.

"Nan da, Kenta?" Keisuke asked.

"We wanted to say congratulations. We couldn't get close with all the people surrounding you earlier."

"Arigato, Kenta. Having Project D here made the ceremony even better." Keisuke responded with a smile.

"Grab a chair, Kenta, Sugisaki." Takumi invited the couple to sit.

They dropped into chairs as Kenta rambled. "I really thought Etsuya and Etsumi weren't coming for a few minutes. I was relieved when they did get here. Etsuya told us in America that his otosān is very worried that his dealership might get destroyed because of your relationship outside Project D."

"I'm relieved that your teammate didn't let that stop him from being at the ceremony, Kenta. It's not about whether you agree with things your friends do or not. Friendship should always be honored, even when people don't always agree." Sugisaki added.

"Too bad more people don't feel like you, Sugisaki san. I owe my life to Keisuke san. I'm now one of his biggest fans." Itsuke added with a chuckle.

Keisuke snorted. "Itsuke kun, I was already searching for you when they kidnaped Takumi, Fumihiro, and Matsimoto. Takumi was so worried about you that I started contacting Walking Man members within forty-eight hours of your disappearance."

Shocked, Takumi stared at his spouse. "Nani? You never said anything."

Keisuke shrugged slightly. "You were so upset when you found out he was missing that I didn't know how you would react. Worse, Okāsan would have gone ballistic if she found out. Unless someone found a real lead, getting your hopes up that I could find and retrieve Itsuke seemed cruel. So, I kept my mouth shut for your sake."

Sugisaki nodded. "I wouldn't want to give false hope to anyone. If you can't deliver, the person you tried to help gets their faith in you damaged."

Matsimoto spoke from behind him. "Sounds like you guys are talking about something really deep."

Twisting to look at his car's mechanic, Takumi responded. "Hai. Keisuke was telling Itsuke he was looking for him before we got kidnaped, Matsimoto san. Grab a chair so you can hear the things Keisuke was up to before we went missing."

The older man's hesitation was hard to miss. After several seconds he spoke. "Are you sure? I mean, aren't you both tired after everything? . . . The Legacy ceremony was sore of like a wedding in a way. To be honest. You surprised me by coming back. I know you said you would, but I didn't actually expect it."

Keisuke chuckled aloud. "Sit, Matsimoto. We haven't seen any of our teammates in a long time. We don't want to miss this opportunity. The ceremony you saw normally gets added to the regular Shinto wedding of sharing three cups of sake. Regular inheritors drink two cups of sake each, then make the vow before they take the third cup which acts as a dual sealing of the vow and official marriage. Usually the Legacy's history doesn't get discussed if the ceremony involves heterosexual marriages. I think priests recall the history to remind themselves that the Shrine's honor bound to uphold the decree left by their founder. The Shrine is small, so it's not well known. Makes it easier for them to get by with doing a few families traditional rituals that bigger shrines would never consider. It also helps to explain the Priest's reason for doing the ceremony for a same gender couple to minasan present."

Takumi pointed out in a soft voice. "Maybe, but I learned more about your family's legacy because the Priest explained the origins. You hadn't told me half the things I found out listening to that lecture. Your sobo named you her successor, and I was still somewhat ignorant before today. Even if I knew this Legacy was a type of Ancestor reverence ritual, it was startling to learn how much I didn't know."

"I told you the critical points. A taboo marriage was behind the Legacy's creation which you knew. Every generation, the couple that has the most difficulty staying together gets the Legacy. I heard Sobo tell you that. We've all mentioned the vow since last October. Besides, I figured it was more interesting to hear the longer historic version from someone else." Keisuke spoke with an unrepentant grin.

"A very good point, Otouto. To those of us who know the Legacy story by rote, it's boring to talk about in depth." Ryosuke spoke from behind his position. Turning his upper body yet again, Takumi nodded to Ryosuke and Etsuya who held chairs to scrunch into the table's occupied area. Keisuke shifted his chair closer to him, as did Itsuke to make more room. Kenta and Sugisaki followed their example. Soon everyone settled into the circle.

Etsuya spoke once he finished settling into place. "The only one missing is Fumihiro. I never guessed your family had such a distinguished history, Ryosuke san, Keisuke san. The sermon portion startled me. Close to four hundred years of history getting crammed into such a short amount of time is impressive."

"Fujiwara and Keisuke aren't the only taboo couple to have inherited the Legacy. Having a taboo relationship doesn't automatically make a member of our blood line the Legacy's heir either. The main point of the Legacy is the reminder to stay true to the person loved no matter the difficulties that love causes." Ryosuke explained to Etsuya.

"That much I understood when Sobo Erika talked about it at Keisuke's birthday dinner last year. The sermon told me how much history backs your family Legacy." Takumi replied to Ryosuke's contribution to the conversation. He noticed Matsimoto watching him with a furrowed brow as he talked.

"Matsimoto, you seem uncomfortable for some reason. Is something bothering you aside from Takumi still looking so ill?" Keisuke asked their teammate.

"Uhm, well, I was thinking about the fight I saw Fujiwara in while we were prisoners. I always thought you mildly tempered, and I'm still trying to figure out where you learned to fight like that, Fujiwara. Gomen if I seem rude."

"You're fine, Matsimoto san. Fighting isn't something I enjoy. . . . Erm, I guess the best way to explain my fighting in the compound is to say, . . . well I couldn't stand seeing someone completely defenseless getting tortured. To me, . . . I'm not sure how explain this. . . . I couldn't stand it, so I tried to stop it because it was so wrong." Takumi tried to find a way to express his fury over seeing such an abomination happening in front of him. However, he found he could not find the right words.

"Tak never starts fights, Matsimoto san. Usually he walks away. Seeing the teenaged onna getting tortured woke up Tak's protective side. I've known Tak all my life, so I've seen every one of his rare snaps. Honestly, he never explodes over anything minor. Life and death cruelty is another matter. Everything you saw is really rare." Itsuke spoke in a sorrow tinged voice.

"I couldn't stand her screams, and the way she was pleading for her life. She was begging them to stop. Hearing the psychotic slaver talking about her onīsan's failures to also get Keisuke to her when Arai san was arguing I had been, made the inhumane torture my fault. When something's my fault, I've got to correct my mistakes." Takumi answered as he stared at his hands on the table top. The heavy weight of the unfamiliar wedding band on his finger sparkled as his fingers twitched.

Matsimoto's choked voice filled his ears. "You didn't know Arai Umito, or his family. Such a horrific incident was an example used to make us terrified of attempting an escape. You can't seriously feel her death is your fault! . . . Fujiwara?"

"Because of my contact with Mogi, who set everything in motion, too many people have suffered. Everything started when Mogi tried to kill me because I couldn't trust her. I didn't realize I needed to stop trying to help her get her life on track. She was my friend in high school, so I didn't understand how dangerous . . ."

Cutting him off, Keisuke growled. "Takumi, don't start! We've discussed this several times. I have a stake in this mess also. I fought this same drug syndicate years ago. Part of this dangerous situation is my fault. These sick bastards have held a grudge against me for years. They even kept my musuko as a prisoner to get even with me. Walking Man dared to challenge and beat them."

He shook his head over his spouse's input. "Will you let me finish, Keisuke?! . . ."

"Only if you accept you aren't alone in sharing the blame for this."

"Fumihiro's still in the hospital, the teenaged onna's death, Itsuke's mangled hand, minasan getting kidnaped, members of the Red Suns and Project D getting hurt . . . all of it, Mogi started because of an obsession with me. They weren't going after Project D because Hikaru was considered your payment in full, Keisuke. The slavers threw everything in my face. They made it clear that they wanted my debt paid. They even said it was because of Mogi's actions leading to the drug bust. You didn't hear the discussions about how they would get their lost money out of my hide." Lifting his head, Takumi looked into Matsimoto's startled eyes. "Keisuke refuses to accept my responsibility, but I know better, Matsimoto san. Kahori and her underlings always made sure I knew who they held responsible."

Matsimoto again spoke. "How can you honestly blame yourself for someone else's actions, Fujiwara?"

"Because all of us are getting hunted by that insane onna. Mogi's sickness started everything that's gone wrong for Project D. Keisuke fought with the drug syndicate, and that may have made things nastier. None of you sitting at this table had a strong connection to Mogi, . . . except me. Itsuke only knew her by face, and a couple short talks when she was looking for me. Her ambush resulted in the Drug Syndicate busts. That caused the Drug Syndicate to order mine and Keisuke's kidnapings to pay for their losses. My letter to the public is the reason for Itsuke's mangled hand. I'm a dangerous liability to Project D. Gomen that I didn't know it until people got hurt."

Ryosuke spoke in a firm voice. "We didn't give you the option to leave the team, Fujiwara. Although Keisuke and I knew of your hardships, we refused to let you to withdraw. I made certain you wouldn't leave. I posted our battle locations before we went on the Project D website. It was my responsibility to safeguard the team, and I failed. All damage resulting from Mogi's crime is due to my placing location information on the website."

Matsimoto groaned. "None of us knew Fujiwara had such a dangerous stalker. Taking on blame for everything that's happened is irrational. I've never blamed you for this out of control crisis. Project D is getting targeted by an organized group of ruthless criminals. We never did anything to provoke them. Knowing your stalker doesn't make you responsible for the injuries, or murders, Fujiwara. You didn't do anything to provoke this."

Itsuke huffed. "Obviously. Tak isn't going to listen for a while, minasan. So we might as well drop this subject."

"When will you be well enough to join us in America, Fujiwara, Keisuke san?" Matsimoto was the first to find a new topic.

"Considering Keisuke san and his gangster friends saved a lot of lives, the authorities seem worried about public backlash if they charge any of them. Keisuke san is a known celebrity of the street racing scene, and his friends are getting treated better that expected because of saving so many people. Not knowing how things will turn out is stressful, I think. Wish someone would decide either way. We all want to get on with our lives, and we're stuck in a weird kind of limbo."

"Agreed, Takeuchi." Ryosuke replied.

Sugisaki cupped his chin and leaned his elbow on his crossed arm. "It would be better for Project D members if the authorities would make their intentions known. The stress must be unbearable for you specifically, Keisuke san. Having a young kodomo is going to make everything very difficult if you get charged."

"Takumi and I have already worked out the details. If I go to prison, Takumi gets full custody of Hikaru for however long I'm incarcerated. He's already on my bank account. He knows to combine his own modest trust fund that he takes control of soon with mine once he takes control of his fund. He also has full legal access to my investment portfolio to make certain that my trust doesn't lose value. I'm confident that Hikaru will be very well cared for if I go to prison."

Kenta smacked the table top. "How can you be so morbid, Keisuke san? You aren't going to prison! You saved too many lives! They can't do that to you!"

"Kenta, calm down. I've got to be responsible for Hikaru's sake and the team. I've already got a lawyer getting a defense case ready. Takumi's as much of a celebrity as I am. Protecting his privacy keeps the ret of you from taking a hard hit. Therefore I also hired a lawyer to get a gag order on his and Itsuke's imprisonment within the same camera-monitored cell. Protecting Project D members' reputations is important. The major stress I've got is doing all the damage control to insure the rest of my team's not adversely affected."

"We need to talk about everything you have in the works, Otouto. It seems you've been busy since the kēsatsu shipped us off to America. We've been imposing on Samantha san's hospitality longer than we like." Ryosuke grumbled.

"It isn't any secret, Aniki. The media's publicly complaining about my actions. I hired the lawyers, and took over Itsuke's medical bills because of the volatile situation. It's the fastest way to get him and Takumi healthy, and out of the hospital for their safety. I got the gag orders in place as soon as I found out they shared a monitored cell. The videos starring both of them are in hard lock down. Only a closed session medical panel and the actual review committee can view them. My biggest problem is finding a way to end the ongoing murder attempts on Takumi and Itsuke." Keisuke explained.

"Wish the kēsatsu would catch Kahori, and her fellow psychos. Itsuke and I feel like we're still trapped in that damned compound cell. Doesn't matter where we are, we can't really get out of our cell yet. Even Leamas senumon-i said that we won't recover while we're terrified of the next ambush. Everywhere we go feels like a transformed version of the same cell. Even the nice place Tatsuhiko san is renting feels like a prison to us." Takumi softly vented.

All of the table's occupants stared at him with shocked looks on their faces. "I've never thought about how horrible this is for you, Fujiwara. I've been worried about my family business, and never imagined things were so bad here at home. Gomen nasai gozaimasu for my callousness." Etsuya responded with a hang dogged expression.

"Until we got back, none of us appreciated how ill you've been, Fujiwara. All the reports Ryosuke san gave us couldn't make it real. I'm grateful that you're getting stronger. You and Keisuke san are good for each other. None of us can stop you feeling like a prisoner. In a way you still are in a prison. But, I for one am on your side, Fujiwara. You can get well despite everything if you focus on that alone." Kenta spoke with conviction.

Looking at his teammate, Takumi considered his input. Hearing other murmurs of agreement form the rest of the table's occupants, Takumi took a cleansing breath. "You're right, Kenta. Kahori and her underlings aren't going to beat me. Domo for everything, minasan. I've missed all of you more than I realized. You've always motivated me to work harder than I think I can manage. Having friends to remind me to keep fighting is a gift I've really needed. All of you were hurt because of me. Feeling that way has been a huge burden. I'm not sure I deserve such generous friends."

"Forget it, Fujiwara. You aren't responsible for any of this. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Focus on getting well. You need to rest, and eat more. So get back to your room, and start resting the way you should. Another thing, I'm still holding you to your agreement made at Akagi, Keisuke san." Matsimoto said in a stern voice.

Heat flashed from his face down into his chest, Takumi nodded. "Hai, Matsimoto san."

"I'm doing all I can to get Takumi well, Matsimoto. Trust me, I haven't forgotten anything. I'm doing my damndest to take care of Takumi."

"Eh?" His head swivelled between the two men as he tried to understand the change in conversation.

"Good. Get him well so he can start tackling corners again." Matsimoto stood. "I'll see you in the morning before we leave, Fujiwara, Keisuke san. Get enough sleep to see us off."

With a tossed off wave, the dark-haired mechanic headed toward the hotel lobby. The others also began taking their leave with similar admonishments for him to rest and eat more. When it was down to himself, Itsuke, and Keisuke, he asked. "Itsuke, do you mind being Hikaru's roommate for one more night?"

"Not at all. He's a great shonen. Let's head back to our rooms. Minasan wants us to see them off in the morning."
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As the Smoke Clears #4 in Rivalry Series