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A Rivalry Revealed Novel #1	By : kurahieiritrJIO Category: +G to L > Initial D Views: 2435 -:- 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
- 5
- 6
- 7
CHAPTER 6

"It would have been nice if you'd called to give me an additional update on Fujiwara, Keisuke. Would you have called at all if not for having to fill out paperwork and realizing you knew absolutely nothing relevant about Fujiwara's life?" Censure laced Ryosuke's tone as he started their confrontation.

"I got a little busy, Aniki. I had to help calm that baka down before he hurt himself. He thrashed so much with that nightmare he was having that he almost hurt one of the nurses." Keisuke was irritated at being on the receiving end of his older brother's wrath. It was rare when they fought, but Keisuke never felt that he could win if Ryosuke showed displeasure. "Naze the hell didn't you stop him from driving again last night, Aniki? We wouldn't be here if you'd told him to stop driving for the night."

"I told Fujiwara that he seemed inordinately tired and should stop for the night. He said he felt fine to make another run."

"Well, you should've taken his keys away from him since he wasn't going to listen. Or, you could've called me over. I'd have been happy to do it for you, Aniki."

"Keisuke, a fight is the last thing the team needs. Fujiwara was warned that he needed to stop. He chose to make the last run. Because it turned out this way, we know about his health issues before they became critical. He just admitted to thinking he has some kind of mild stomach flu but figured it would go away in a few days. I have a feeling that it's not as simple as he thinks it is." Ryosuke's voice remained much softer, yet seemed ten times more lethal for how quietly he spoke.

The blond closed his eyes in defeat. He had known his brother would not consider a physical confrontation as an option. "I heard you the first time, Aniki. Damn, how are we oing to salvage things if Fujiwara is really sick, Aniki? We can't consider moving forward with Project D if he's seriously ill."

"From now on, consider the rest of us before going overboard in your temper tantrums, little brother. I'm not happy that you chose to do the insane things you did last night, even if I understand your reasons, little brother. Chasing after the ambulance was the least unreasonable of all the things you've done recently. At least your call alerted us to where Fujiwara was taken. Still, I had intended to go with Fujiwara because I know his critical data in case of such an emergency, Keisuke. Another thing, I think any medical concerns will be corrected in time so we won't have to replace Fujiwara to complete our domination of the Kanto plain this year."

"I felt like I had to make sure Fujiwara was all right so I followed the ambulance. It was my fault he took that turn at full speed and lost control. I yelled at him at the rest stop to get into my car and he gave me lip. Next thing I knew he was back in his car and hauling ass back toward the course head. It was my responsibility to stay with him because of that screw up and I knew it."

Ryosuke gave him a long look before he nodded his head slightly in acceptance of the answer. Ryosuke spoke with a soft voice that held firm conviction. "I'm forfeiting both battles tonight."

"Nani? . . . Aniki, you can't be serious. FD's fine. It got a few scuff marks, but that isn't going to prevent me from winning tonight." Keisuke's already frayed temper unraveled another notch as he watched his older brother give him a hard stare. He had made Ryosuke very angry and it showed in the tightening of the darker haired man's lips and narrowed eyes. Keisuke could not stop the flare of resentment burning in his chest over the way he was getting considered.

"Little brother, you miss the point. This decision isn't about the FD's mechanical condition. This is a decision I'm making because of your state of mind. There's zero possibility of my letting you drive hard while your head's this messed up. Had the hachi roku been a hundred grams heavier, you'd be dead instead of arguing with me, Keisuke. Fujiwara would most likely have died also."

"Fujiwara would've died if I hadn't bumped him back the way I did, Aniki. FD has enough horse power and I knew it could handle the extra weight pushing against the front fender so long as I pushed hachi roku from directly behind the front tire. It worked like a charm too." Keisuke tried to defend his position.

Ryosuke's soft voice turned glacial. "It was a very bad call to make. You already know how dangerous that kind of maneuver is in cars that have the kind of weight distribution FD has. Were you driving something as heavy as an R 32, your stunt wouldn't have bordered on truly suicidal, Little brother! Hate G-TR all you want, but that car is one of the few with enough weight to make box in maneuvers relatively safe. I'm not going to make you regret you were born over taking such an insanely stupid gamble because I know your mind set. That knowledge is also precisely the reason for my forfeiting both battles."

"I may be mad at Fujiwara, but that doesn't mean I can't handle my battle this evening. I know we have to forfeit Fujiwara's battle since he's in the hospital. That doesn't mean I can't run a time attack on the downhill, and set a new course record in his place and salvage our reputation."

Keisuke did not like seeing the disappointed gleam that entered his brother's eyes. It annoyed him to think that Ryosuke, his older brother, might hold Fujiwara's affection as he glared back at the dark haired brother he had worshiped as a kid.

"Keisuke, you will not be allowed to drive tonight. You're too stressed over Fujiwara's accident. There's not a chance that you'll be able to put his accident behind you. I'm not a baka. You don't have to pretend that you're in a rivalry anymore. I know better since last night made that very clear to me." Ryosuke kept his voice soft. The blond was shocked as his brother's words sank beneath the surface. Keisuke had a new reason to feel so shaky.

'Aniki knows. Damn, when did he figure it out? I didn't even have any idea that I was ignoring more than a temporary attraction to Fujiwara until last night. How could he figure everything out before I did?'

His heart pounded as Keisuke staggered back a step. "Aniki, nani are you saying?" He hoped Ryosuke would say anything other than what he feared.

"Keisuke, I won't say that I'm precisely happy with your choice in short term lovers, or whatever it is you have in mind for Fujiwara. The potential of jeopardizing Project D is the only reason I have qualms about your interest in him. Unless those glares you always give me when I instruct Fujiwara have another meaning that you care to share, you've been assuming incorrectly that I'm a rival for Fujiwara's interest. My only intention is to catch Fujiwara up to the same driving theory levels you've already mastered. Stealing him away from you is absolutely not in my plans." The nutmeg haired man folded his arms across his chest and leveled a mocking stare on him. Keisuke closed his eyes, and clenched his jaw.

'At least Aniki isn't condemning me for being attracted to Takumi kun. Although, it would be easier if he'd be more understanding of how weird this is for me. Figures that he saw through my scowls before I figured out the real reason I've always gotten pissed off. Naze did I try to convince myself I wasn't really interested in anything but demolishing Fujiwara's winning streak in return? Aniki saw the truth all along. Has anyone else noticed that I'm pissed off because I want Fujiwara to notice me?'

Aloud Keisuke cultivated an offended tone. "You think I over reacted because Fujiwara's involved. Domo for telling me that, Aniki." Keisuke raked a hand through his hair as he pinned his brother with a disappointed look of his own. "It would have been nice if you had thought to say something about this before now. Even I wasn't certain naze I found myself getting pissed off when you spent so much time with Fujiwara. Until last night when he slammed into the mountain, I had myself convinced that it was something else. Now, . . . you're mad at me for not realizing the real problem I'm having with my teammate."

A sad sigh escaped Ryosuke's lips. The blond watched his brother shift his weight, and shake his head as if he argued with himself. "Keisuke, I'm not mad about your being in love with Fujiwara. I'm hesitant to discuss anything with you on this subject. I know how intense you get whenever your emotions get involved with someone else. Obviously you're very unhappy about being attracted to, or in love with, Fujiwara. That's the only plausible explanation for your escalating foul moods recently. How to handle this situation will require further consideration on both of our sides to come up with an acceptable solution."

The blond flinched over each word slamming into him and finding a tender mark to slash into deeply. He watched as his older brother's brow creased. Obviously, Ryosuke had more to say so Keisuke kept silent. A lecture was sure to come. Although Keisuke feared how his brother would phrase their parents reaction once they learned of his romantic interest in another man, he braced himself for the onslaught.

"For now, we need to work together to bring Fujiwara around. You told him that he was important to the team. Fill me in on whatever happened so we can work this out with Fujiwara before he wrecks his hachi roku with a much worse outcome in the future."

"Matte. Aren't you going to give me a lecture about our ryōshin having a fit over me letting my guard down, Aniki?"

"iie, Keisuke. They don't need to know about this situation. This is between Fujiwara and you, and should remain between the two of you. As long as you understand that Fujiwara may never understand, nor share the same kind of feelings, there's nothing else I can say to you at this point. If this situation changes top the point where Fujiwara and you decide to become involved long term, then our ryōshin will have to be told if things do change. Otherwise, don't waste time and energy on telling them anything. Don't expect me to become involved in this situation beyond whatever's necessary to keep you both calm, and Project D together. Do I make myself clear?"

"Understood, Aniki." Keisuke's shoulders unknotted as he glanced at the closed door. "Fujiwara was having a nightmare. He was trying to grab onto thin air, and continued to mutter that he'd work harder so we shouldn't leave him behind. He said we were awesome, and how he was trying to get better to keep up with us. He was fighting to wake up but the isha san gave him a sedative to force him to sleep. Fujiwara continued fighting until I got my hands on him and told him that I'd stay with him. He was so tense that it was like grabbing onto a brick wall when I stopped him from hurting the poor nurse who couldn't keep him down."

"I suspected as much. Fujiwara still doesn't recognize how incredible his talent as a driver is. He only sees our skills because we know the technical terms he lacks. It makes him an interesting person to train." Ryosuke's words sped up as he continued, "Don't take that the wrong way, Little brother. His lack of self esteem almost caused a fatal disaster last night, and I am very much aware that it needs to be dealt with immediately."

Keisuke noticed the frown Ryosuke leveled at him as he blocked any possibility of another misunderstanding. It amused him to see his older brother make a point to reassure him that he didn't have competition. Keisuke snickered at the gesture.

"Aniki, you don't need to get so defensive. Looks like I've been jealous for a while, but as you put it, this deal's between Fujiwara and me. I have to get a better handle on myself and I already know that. I really hate it when he listens to you so intently, and it annoys me that he watches you all the time. Then again, this is not my idea of a good situation either. I have to get a handle on this and stop fixating on him."

"Fujiwara doesn't have any kind of crush on me, Keisuke. I'm observant enough to notice if he did. He often reminds me of you when you were still in high school. You always watched me like he does now. At most Fujiwara sees me as something of a surrogate brother that he listens to because he respects my opinions. Most of his watchfulness stems from looking for reassurance that he hasn't made any mistakes as far as I can tell."

Keisuke relaxed as he was assured there was nothing to fear about his older brother's influence over Takumi. A few words from Ryosuke could possibly help, or destroy any chance he had with Fujiwara the blond realized win a flash of insight. Keisuke had often told himself that he was mad about being ignored by his brother. Yet, his brother had recognized that it was Takumi's lack of attention that had mattered most to him it sounded like.

"Any suggestions on how we convince Fujiwara that he's a top driver that already belongs on our elite out of prefecture team, Aniki?"

"I'll have to consider the options. Perhaps sitting him down and talking to him at this point would be a wiser choice. But I think we need to have the full picture on Fujiwara's health before we even take that simple step with him. Meanwhile, try not to scream or lash out at him because of frustration to make your point that he belongs on Project D's roster. I believe that will backfire rather badly. Anger won't make Fujiwara believe he has any real talent, or win his heart, Keisuke." Ryosuke smirked at him.

'How can Aniki find my problem so amusing? This isn't the least bit funny. He has no idea how bad Takumi's temper is either. Man, naze did I have to fall for a silent and shy type? Hell, Fujiwara isn't even my type! This is one mess I need to get myself out of fast!'

Keisuke growled, "Easy for you to say, Aniki. You aren't the one who's confused about nani to do. You don't have to worry about things to say because you can't figure out your own mind at times." Keisuke scratched his head as he vented. "It's like you never have trouble with anything since you have the answers with a quick analysis of any situation. I've spent years getting pissed off because I never know how to react. We're so different that sometimes I wonder how we can even be related."

"Believe me, Keisuke, you're my younger brother. You have more of okāsan's personality traits than otosān's. I think we should expect that kind of balance."

Frustration had left his muscles sore, Keisuke learned as he trailed his fingers across his sore neck. He hoped he could put his new enlightenment into words to gain Ryosuke's eventual insights. "I know. Okāsan gets frustrated with otosān over the same things that I do. Anyway, I can't figure out how I got so hung up on a damned punk hachi roku driver who makes me mad as hell. I really could use some clues to how I started making a fool of myself. Better yet, I need suggestions as to how to get over this insane crush."

Keisuke let his head thump against the wall as he stared up to the ceiling lights. His blunt words after they left his mouth dismayed him.

"Keisuke, the best way to learn your answers is to be patient. Fujiwara will require a slow and steady course to reach. First, you need to get some idea of whether he's even open to the idea of accepting a man as a romantic interest. If not, you'll need to back off before you kill each other."

Keisuke frowned as he listened to his brother. He had tried to ignore the younger man. That plan had not worked the way he wanted. He had to see Fujiwara at each battle, so he could not walk away to end this increasingly aggravating fixation. His focus returned to his brother's words with a snap.

"I suspect that Fujiwara has a volatile temper that can match yours if he feels cornered, little brother. Whatever you do, don't back him into a corner. You'll regret the consequences, Keisuke. Fujiwara won't give into your every whim which I believe is a very good thing to help balance out your domineering traits. He'll be someone that can force you to compromise if anyone ever could, should you manage to convince him to become your partner, Keisuke."

"I'm not interested in backing Fujiwara into any kind of corner. My only intention is to figure out how to get rid of my stupid fixation on him, Aniki. I know better than to let my impulses control my judgement."

Ryosuke gave him an irritated frown. "One look at your FD's front end proves that when it comes to impulses, you still lose your better judgement."

"I just had trouble making my body follow what I knew I should've done." Keisuke ground his teeth at the admission.

"As to naze you're hung up on a damned punk hachi roku driver that makes you mad as hell as you phrased it, love doesn't have any hard rules that I'm aware of. Your fixation will not go away, Keisuke. Trying to ignore Fujiwara has caused the exact opposite problem for you. There isn't any avoiding yourself this time because I'm certain that your emotions are too fully engaged in this fixation as you insist on calling it. Perhaps it would be wiser for you to get to know Fujiwara better. Only then will you know whether this is a short term infatuation, or genuine love, Little brother."

Keisuke flinched again at his older brother's prognosis. He did not want to break his promise to remain single until he got signed by a pro racing team. He had decided to focus on his driving instead of relationships because he could not focus on two things simultaneously and knew it. The blond also hated having his emotions lain so perfectly bare with a few words. Regardless of his feelings, his brother knew him better than anyone else.

Ryosuke continued with his advice. "Your head, and your heart have very different ideas because you've tried so hard to ignore Fujiwara. I don't believe it's wrong if you love him, but it won't make things easier for Project D's future. You have to come to an understanding of your emotions which can only happen if you know who Fujiwara truly is, Keisuke. You'll have difficulties with either eventual outcome, as I'm sure you already know. Still, I think it's too late for you to try and shrug this situation off. You've failed miserably because of trying to do exactly that."

The blond shook his head in denial trying to find something he could say. He wanted to refute his brother's theory that he was in love with the younger man in the hospital room behind them. He could not drum up a good enough argument that could negate these emotions. There was no way to reduce what he felt to a crush, or a short term lust since nothing about these feelings fit his previous pattern. His dark eyes met his older brother's as he struggled to find words that refused to come. The turmoil of Keisuke's emotions rendered him speechless. If Aniki felt he could only get through this by taking time to get to know Fujiwara as the only possible way to overcome his current insanity, Keisuke had to take the chance on giving the advice fair consideration, and even try to see how it would turn out.

His brother put a hand on his shoulder to express his understanding. "We can return to the team and give them an update. Since I'm forfeiting, we can return home tonight. I spoke to the isha san in charge of Fujiwara's care. He wishes to keep Fujiwara here for three days. The blood work he received this morning has him concerned about potential other problems. I'll tell him about Fujiwara thinking he's had a stomach virus. It's a good idea to insure those tests get completed. Fujiwara hasn't taken very good care of himself."

Keisuke wanted to know more about what the doctor had said. He started to speak but Ryosuke held up a hand and stalled him. "I'll contact his otosān and tell him what we know so far. Bunta san needs to know that his musuko is ill."

"Aniki, are you leaving the hachi roku for him to get home?"

"I planned to return for Fujiwara when he gets released so I can speak with his isha san to make certain I know everything he needs to do to get well. In the meantime, we can get his hachi roku repaired. Once I know the full extent of Fujiwara's medical problems we can focus on our next objectives. Those objectives include straightening out Fujiwara's misunderstanding of his place on the team."

Keisuke frowned at his brother. "Naze don't I stay here and keep tabs on everything? I'll keep you informed of anything the isha san decides if you make sure he knows to pass information on to me."

"Then you'll need to focus on making sure Fujiwara eats enough. Make sure that he rests while he's here too." Ryosuke searched his face as he spoke.

"Aniki, nani exactly did the isha san say to you after you signed off on the bill? How bad is Takumi's health?"

"Fujiwara's going to be fine if he rests and eats right as far as anyone knows right now. He'll have to have Iron and B complex shots while he's here. Some of his blood work implies that he may be suffering from stomach problems. I've already told the isha san to run any tests he thinks are necessary to head off a more serious problem before it can become a genuine issue. Fujiwara will get a supplement prescription to correct his vitamin deficiency after he gets released. That should be all he really needs to get better at this stage. So long as Fujiwara eats full meals from now on, he'll be fine in a couple weeks. Unless the stomach tests prove that he has something serious to contend with, he should recover quickly simply by eating properly."

"I'll make Fujiwara eat enough if I have to force feed him." Keisuke growled.

"If you want to stay here and investigate whether any possible relationship can even work between you two, keep a tight reign on your temper, Keisuke. Another thing to consider, the whole team thinks you hate Fujiwara because you scowl at him so often. Fujiwara truly believes that you hate him also. I've seen him go out of his way to avoid drawing your attention, especially of late. You have to compromise when you love someone. Fujiwara's under some kind of severe stress already I believe. We need to uncover the source of his stress to help him get well faster mot likely. You have to stay calm if I let you stay here with him for the next three days. It would be a huge help if you can get him to talk to you about his problems. That requires you convincing him that you don't hate him as a starting point. Otherwise, you'll never be able to tell him that you love him."

"Fine, Aniki. I get the point. I'm not a five year old." Keisuke considered his brother's advice. It made sense, even if he flinched every time his brother used the word love to describe his connection to Fujiwara.

Ryosuke fished in his pocket, and pulled out his wallet. "Make certain you get something to eat. I don't want both of my aces getting sick. It's going to be difficult to straighten Fujiwara out. I need you to put in some of the foundation work required, Keisuke."

Keisuke took the money that his brother pressed on him with a mild "che," of indignation. He rolled his eyes as his older brother's habit chose to surface. He had his cards, so did not need the cash his brother handed him.

'Things will be ok. Aniki isn't going to turn on me because of my bad case of the hots for Fujiwara. He gave me ideas of things that I have to do to get clear about my own feelings. Make that baka accept that he's a great driver. Get him to calm down, and eat right so he gets well. Get to know Takumi for himself so I can get a real grip on these out of whack emotions. I can do this. Aniki would make me leave if he honestly thought I'd blow it.'

Keisuke said, "I'll convince Fujiwara to get enough sleep, and eat enough without shredding him. Domo, Aniki." He gave his older brother a quick, hard hug, before he stepped back into the hospital room.

Takumi was asleep when Keisuke returned. He looked down at the younger man who seemed to have wormed his way under his armor without even trying. With a sigh that bordered on exasperation, he sat in the chair. He grabbed the youth's wrist again and laid his head back on the mattress as he wrestled with his unruly emotions and thoughts.

'I wasn't supposed to get involved with anyone so I could focus on my driving and career objectives. Looks like I was so focused on becoming a professional that I ignored that someone under my nose could steal my heart. This isn't part of my plans. Aniki saw through me. Now I'm worried about the rest of the Project D's team. The things they must think about my behavior. There's not any guarantee that Fujiwara won't break my nose if he discovers the truth about how his racing partner feels about him. naze the hell did I have to fall for another man? If I am even in love with Fujiwara?'

Keisuke raised his head, and considered Takumi's sleeping face.

'This isn't your fault. You don't know that you have a way about you that caught my attention and won't let me go. Getting mad at you for my own stupidity is pretty damned unfair. These emotions won't go away and I know Aniki's right about that much. I have to play it cool like Aniki said and figure out how to make you notice me if I can't make these feelings fade. I can't get any kind of answer until you start to look at me. Racing is not the way to make you see me. I have to find a way around your inferiority complex. So, I need to do something else. Can it be as simple as getting to know you for yourself? Will that let me get control over this mess in my head?'

'Don't be interested in Aniki and hiding it, Takumi. That would really mess my head up if you're in love with my brother. Damn, I have to figure out how to convince you to fall for me if I can't get rid of these feelings. Yet, nani do I do if you're one hundred percent straight? I have zero chance if you are and these feelings don't settle down soon. Naze did this happen with you of all people? My plans included marrying some onna my family approved of and have kids to make okāsan happy.'

A rumble from his stomach made the blond look over at the wall clock. It was ten in the morning. Visiting hours were under way, and he hadn't eaten anything since the previous early evening hours. His stomach complained again. Keisuke blew out a frustrated breath in the wake of his mental ramble. He didn't want to leave Takumi alone in case the younger driver had another nightmare. Starving until Takumi woke up would only make him cranky enough to insure Fujiwara continued to believe that he hated him.

As if hearing his thoughts, a nurse materialized with a tray. The perky woman smiled as she set the tray on the mobile desk that she wheeled into place. "Hello. I'm the day shift nurse, Faung. I have Fujiwara san's meal. We were instructed to let him sleep for a while before bringing him his morning tray. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"If I can't wake Fujiwara up, would you keep watch so I can grab something from the visitor's cafeteria? I don't want him to hurt himself if he has another nightmare."

"His isha san has him on a sedative based pain reliever. I understand that he was quite difficult to soothe last night. Something about severe nightmares. The isha san mentioned something was troubling Fujiwara san greatly. So, I will keep an eye on him while you run to the cafeteria if needed."

Keisuke realized he had Takumi's wrist in his hand, and released it as he stood up while trying to act nonchalant about his actions. "Takumi," he shook the younger man's shoulder with gentle pressure to wake him. "Come on, you need to eat something."

Takumi groaned and opened one eye in groggy contemplation. "Nan?"

The slurred way he spoke made the youth far more attractive. Keisuke had to suppress a fantasy image about how it would be to wake up next to the younger man in a better situation.

"Get up, Fujiwara. The nurse has breakfast for you." He swiped a hand over the younger ace's head, in a way similar to the one his own brother had so often done to him. "Eat. The isha san told Aniki you aren't taking care of yourself, so I'm going to keep an eye on you until you get released."

Keisuke crossed his arms over his chest, and tried to mimic the look Ryosuke had used to such advantage with him. He noticed the wide eyes that Fujiwara leveled on him. The younger ace flushed a dark scarlet while he sat up.

"Here you go, Fujiwara san. Let me know if you need anything else, kudasai." The nurse bowed, and let herself out of the room with quick strides and another cheerful smile.

"Gomen nasai gozaimasu. Causing you so much trouble that you didn't need wasn't my intention, Keisuke san." Takumi looked up at him with sheepish, wide-eyed dismay. "I never meant to . . ."

"Fujiwara, I don't want to hear any apologies from you. I'm worried about how you've made yourself so sick and managed to hide it for so long. Damn. Naze do you have to make things so much harder all the time?" Keisuke cut off his apology before Takumi finished his thought and sighed as he fought his annoyance.

"I had no idea I was actually getting ill, Keisuke san. I thought I was just a little tired . . ."

"Enough. You need to eat, Fujiwara. I'm going down to the cafeteria to grab some food too. I'll be back soon. I expect that you'll eat every bite on that plate. We'll talk about this problem you're having after I get back."

Keisuke gave the younger man a stern look before leaving the room. He felt certain that Takumi would manage to eat some of his meal before he returned with something to curb his own complaining stomach.
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A Rivalry Revealed Novel #1