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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
CHAPTER 8

"After all that excitement, I expect you're a tad worn out. Do you still want to start shopping for Hikaru's necessities today, grandson?" Ojīsan asked while starting the car.

"By tomorrow we won't be able to go anywhere because both of our faces will be on tonight's newscasts. Let's get everything out of the way this afternoon if possible. If this trip proves too troublesome because my face gets recognized, I'll have to ask Obāsan to pick up Hikaru's things, and reimburse you for everything."

"A reasonable enough alternative if things prove difficult. I looked up addresses for clothing stores. Clothing stores are something Tokyo has in excess so I limited our shopping area. There are several full line department stores that should have his other necessities which I also listed. I figure if we don't find everything Hikaru needs today, we can visit some places tomorrow, provided we don't get mobbed."

"Nani besides clothing does Hikaru need, Ojīsan?"

"Oh, I have the complete list Obāsan and I put together sitting right here. Go ahead and read it over, grandson."

Ojīsan handed him the list, and pulled into traffic. Along the route, Keisuke read over the items. It was much longer than he had anticipated. Sweaters, pants, shirts, underwear, socks, shoes, pajamas, a heavy coat, gloves, and winter hat were all Keisuke had thought Hikaru needed. Below the expected clothing list was another. A booster chair, car seat, stroller, toddler dishes, coloring books, crayons, toy box, toddler bed, bedding, pillow, nightlight, step stool, and potty guard, or training toilet followed.

"Are you sure we need all of this, Ojīsan? Nani is with the booster chair?"

"Unless you wish to feed Hikaru from your lap every time he gets hungry, a booster chair is necessary. The fully furnished flat I rented has European style furnishing. Hikaru can't sit at the table, and reach his dishes to feed himself."

"Got it. If you think I need a booster seat, I'll get one. Is there a reason Hikaru can't sleep in a regular bed?"

"Standard beds are too tall for a toddler's safety. We can purchase a futon mattress for the floor if you would prefer." Ojīsan replied, stopping at a red light.

"Huh? Isn't the stool for Hikaru to get into and out of bed?"

"iie. The stool and potty guard become necessary if you decide against the training toilet. How can Hikaru use an adult toilet as small as he is?" Ojīsan chuckled.

"Okay, I kind of remember standing a stool to use the toilet when I was really young." Keisuke frowned at the page in his hand as he thought about his own childhood. "It's really hard for me to remember being that small. When I think about my childhood, I only clearly remember being angry with adults patting me on the head without listening to anything I ever said."

"You've always been temperamental, grandson. You do realize that with Hikaru getting regular meals, and vitamin supplements to help his body recover, he still might not grow into his original height potential. I doubt many of the compound kodomo will outgrow lifelong medical problems. I've never seen so many sets of braces used to straighten little legs until their bones can harden appropriately. Rickets is a horrible form of malnutrition."

"At least Hikaru's bones aren't nearly as soft and fragile. Honestly, I never knew bones could bow out of shape from simply standing up. Kahori's sick obsession with me insured Hikaru's much healthier than the others physically at least. If he didn't look so much like me, I doubt he'd be getting out of the hospital anytime soon."

"We should be grateful to Kami sama for Hikaru's mixed blessings there. Let's start by checking smaller clothing boutiques and work our way up to the department stores. You do have his measurements, don't you?" Ojīsan parked as he spoke.

"Hai. Suzuki-san gave me all his information."

Getting out of the car, Keisuke followed his grandfather toward a prominent row of shops facing the street. Finding the place he was seeking, Ojīsan pushed through the door.

A clerk looked up and seemed stunned into stillness Keisuke noted when his eyes adjusted to the darker interior. She hastened over asking, "can I help you gentlemen find the store your looking for?"

Ojīsan smiled. "We're in the correct place. We wish to purchase clothing for a two-and -a-half-year-old shonen, Ojosan."

She glanced around as if looking for someone else. "Sumimasen for misunderstanding. It's actually quite rare for men to enter kodomo clothing stores. I thought you were lost. . . . Will your wife be joining you soon, sir?"

"Sadly, my wife is in another city at the moment. My grandson and I are hoping to rely upon your generosity, and expertise, . . . in my wife's absence, Ojosan."

"Of course, sir. Nani are you looking for exactly? Do you want a warm sweater, a complete outfit, or trousers for the shonen, sir?"

"Actually we're in the process of purchasing a full wardrobe for my great grandson." Ojīsan answered.

The sales girl's eyes widened while her jaw went slack. A glance between them as Keisuke nodded seemed to shake her from her daze. Blinking rapidly she recovered part of her composure. "I see. Well, that quite an enterprise you've undertaken. If you'll follow me, yoroshiku?"

She moved farther into the shop's interior. The first thing Keisuke noticed about the clothing was the plethora of riotous patterns. His first impression was that everything visible clashed. Tiny mannequins featured huge panda, teddy bear, and mecha design shirts and sweaters. Popular anime figures dominated other outfits hung strategically on the wall. No way was he was putting Hikaru into anything with patterns so large, or obnoxious that they overwhelmed the eye Keisuke decided.

"Do you know the shonen's clothing size, sir?"

Keisuke pulled the paper he had gotten from the child psychiatrist from his wallet, and handed it over. A moment later the sales clerk murmured, "Oh, I'm afraid he needs smaller clothes. His size is the next rack over. . . . Uhm, sumimasen, but you look familiar for some reason. Have I met you before, sir?"

"You may have seen my grandson on television recently. He was involved in the slave ring compound raids outside of Tokyo last December."

"That's right. You're Takahashi Keisuke sama! It's a real pleasure to help you! This shonen's size is the next rack over."

She moved to another rack, glancing at him every other step with blatant curiosity. It was obvious she was bursting with questions. The young woman slammed into the rack while looking back at him. Ojīsan covered his mouth, fighting down amusement. The twinkle in his aged eyes had Keisuke's eyebrows twitching in a silent warning. Keisuke clamped down on his urge to curse, or better yet, beat a hasty retreat.

Recovering from her blunder, the clerk began sorting through the clothing. "So nani is the shonen's name? It makes helping you to find him clothing much easier if I can call him something other than shonen."

Legally Mitani was still Hikaru's surname, so Keisuke was obligated to give his current surname to the clerk. He also figured it was safer for Hikaru if the public remained ignorant to his full name. "Mitani."

"We have this adorable two-piece outfit, sir. It's a very popular style right now. I'm sure Mitani-kun will love the anime theme also. Young shonen just adore wearing their favorite anime mecha."

Another garishly colored robot with a pilot perched on the machine's shoulder leapt at Keisuke as the clerk pulled more items off the rack without getting confirmation that her first choice was appropriate. "Do you know if Mitani-kun is completely potty trained, or does he still have accidents? Sometimes they need training pants, or even diapers when sleeping. It affects the type of sleep wear you'll wish to purchase for your nephew, Keisuke sama."

"My musuko doesn't have accidents at all." Keisuke answered.

His response ruined the girl's smile, and concentration. Her eyes widened as they darted to his naked hand a moment later. The small hangars with shirts slipped from her fingers. Keisuke silently cursed the absence of the wedding ring he wished he was already wearing. Yet, instead of putting a wedding ring on Takumi's finger by New Years like Sobo and he had planned, he had spent time with Hikaru while fearing Takumi would never awaken from the drug overdose Kahori had force fed him.

Recovering, the dark-haired woman pasted a very fake smile onto her thinning lips as she scooped up the dropped items. "Uhm, that's excellent news. You're quite fortunate. So which anime's are Mitani-kun's favorites?"

"My musuko doesn't watch much television. He prefers to keep his hands busy with coloring books."

"I see." Keisuke doubted her words. No doubt she was drawing incorrect conclusions because she was recalling his public acknowledgment of pursuing Takumi.

"Sumimasen, but Mitani finds getting attention from strangers extremely frightening. Would you have any solids, or more subdued, small pattern prints available?" Keisuke asked trying to maintain his calm.

"Solids? I'm not sure about shirts, but we do have lots of solid colored pants. The sweaters are fairly subdued weaves also. Let me see here." She began rifling through the tiny shirts again. After several moments of circling the rack she found something in a neon blue. It was a sweatshirt. A moment later she pulled a lighter green colored turtle neck off the rack.

"How about this bold blue sweatshirt, and this pastel green turtleneck?"

Suppressing a groan, Keisuke wondered how he was going to find Hikaru clothes that were not going to make him ill. Ojīsan took some of the pressure off so he could recover from his dismay.

"I was wondering where I might find the underpants and socks section, Ojosan?"

The girl replaced the neon blue sweatshirt, and light green turtleneck on the rack which Keisuke grabbed the instant that she turned away. She led them to brightly colored plastic bins where underwear and socks inside their packaging were stacked. Again, bright patterns dazzled his eyes. However, Hikaru's regular clothing would cover those. Keisuke picked up a couple packs of each. Finding pants was much easier. Heavy corduroy weaves dominated the warm, winter fabrics. The blond was relieved, yet feeling drained when they escaped several minutes later.

"Tell me it won't be that bad everywhere we go, Ojīsan?" He grumbled as they dropped off the package.

"I have no idea if it will or not, grandson. All we can do is go to the next clothing store, and hope they have a more agreeable selection. I take it large toy prints are not ideal?"

"Nothing that loud or obnoxious is ever agreeable. I want to be able to stomach looking at Hikaru. You know? Finding things that Takumi or I would be comfortable wearing was my plan. The toys and bears are out unless they're much smaller, and tasteful. Hikaru doesn't need to look like a clown. He has Takumi and me, and none of us wants female attention." They stopped in front of the next store on Ojīsan's list.

Keisuke found himself in very real trouble at the seventh boutique on his grandfather's list. Batting her eyes, the clerk latched onto his arm in an overly familiar gesture and tugged him toward the clothing racks while gushing compliments. "You're so very brave to save all those people, Keisuke sama. Not many have your kind of courage in this day and age. Purchasing clothes for a small kodomo is quite generous of you also."

She released his arm only long enough to grab something off the rack and shove it into his arms. Without waiting for his feedback, she was yanking other things off the rods and pushing them toward him.

"I'm buying clothes for my musuko which is normal. Solids and subdued designs are preferable for his wardrobe." Keisuke grumbled feeling irritated over being pushed into holding her choices as if he were too stupid to know how to coordinate clothing. Most of the shirts he was sorting through were obnoxiously cutesy. Her head tilted as she glanced back at him, clearly startled.

After making a thoughtful noise, the clerk held up a mock tuxedo long sleeved shirt and pants set for him to inspect. It was solid colored enough to pass, but the tiny bow-tie silk-screened image at the neck looked ridiculous. "Here's an adorable ensemble. I think your musuko will look fantastic in this. It's the perfect outfit for a wedding, or similar nice gatherings. Don't you agree?"

Ojīsan interrupted the woman's bright chatter. "I'm not certain your obāsan will approve, grandson. You know how finicky she gets especially when it comes to being in public. If she dislikes our purchases, well . . . ?" He let his voice trickle away as he pretended to consider the outfit.

Keisuke latched onto his grandfather's prompt. "Obāsan will have my head."

"Although I appreciate Ojosan's point, Akiho's dead, so there's not going to be any weddings. Ryosuke isn't getting married as far as I know. That leaves formal wear work related functions. Are there any formal functions we attend that would be appropriate for my great grandson to be seen at, grandson?"

"Not that I can think of, Ojīsan. All of the formals are related to the medical field, and our family's clinic. As the only non isha san in the family, I rarely attend those."

Looking flustered, the onna put the mock tuxedo back on the rack. Looking through more clothes, she pulled out another outfit. "Nani made you decide to become a single ryōshin, Keisuke sama? Not many men can handle young kodomo alone. It's a very difficult job when they're young. Toddlers have so much energy and curiosity. I've heard that day care expenses are skyrocketing too. Plus, well, I saw that interview when you said you were involved with another man. It must have been something of a shock for him to discover your musuko is coming to live with you."

"I have plenty of help raising my musuko. Fujiwara likes Mitani. He agrees that Mitani should be with me where he'll get the love and care he deserves." Keisuke placed several things the clerk had shoved into his arms back on the rack. He gave each piece a lookover to determine if it was bearable before discarding it. "Nani do you think of this sweater, Ojīsan? It looks like something Obāsan won't object to him wearing. The pattern is tasteful enough to pass her standards, isn't it?"

Keisuke showed it to his relative in hopes the woman would take his not so subtle hint about appropriate clothing. Ojīsan nodded after a moment. "That's a very good choice. Obāsan will be delighted to see him in it."

The clerk butted into their conversation with a bright smile. "It's quite encouraging that your boyfriend's in agreement for the time being. Still, a small kodomo will probably be burdensome to him after the newness of having him around wears off. After all, men have their wives raise kodomo for a reason. We have greater patience with small kodomos' incessant questions, and exuberance. Few men can make such a commitment. If he's one of the rare men that has such patience, you're very lucky, Keisuke sama."

Watching the young woman, Ojīsan's eyes danced with amusement. Keisuke flinched over his fan's unsubtle jabs to find and marry a woman. He had little doubt by her domineering actions, and thinly veiled, cutting comments toward Takumi that she was fancying herself in that role. Furious with her audacity, Keisuke decided to put her in her place.

"Sumimasen, but my musuko is my concern, not yours, Ojosan. Several onnas from my own family are already involved with his care. Mitani has enough doting onnas to keep him quite happy. As I've already pointed out, Fujiwara genuinely likes my musuko. He feels that my musuko should get to know him, and decide whether he likes Fujiwara, not the other way around. I think these sweaters and turtle necks will work nicely. Don't you agree, Ojīsan?"

After they escaped, Keisuke dropped into the passenger seat whining, "Ojīsan? We need a new plan. After all that infuriating crap from the last one, I can't handle another flirting, husband hunting onna that thinks she can take Takumi's place. We do need to get the furniture for Hikaru still."

Laughter laced the older man's voice. "You expected a different reaction from young, attractive, and very available onnas? Really, grandson. . . To be blunt, you're wealthy, officially famous, technically single, and handsome marriage market material. Of course they're throwing themselves at you. Little Hikaru has actually improved your prospects more than your wealth. If I didn't know how much you love and adore Takumi-kun, I'd be concerned about you two staying together."

He snorted at Ojīsan's amused taunt. "Takumi's my spouse even if I didn't get to put his ring on his finger when we scheduled with Sobo to do the ceremony. That's officially very high on my "get it done immediately" list. With so many pushy onnas staring at my ring finger, I'm through with it being bare. Do you think the hospital will let us do the ceremony there? I'll pay for Sobo's train tickets gladly to get our rings where they belong."

"I don't believe Takumi's senumon-i will let him do anything exciting yet. Those drug leeches, and withdrawals have taken a heavy toll on his body. Patience, grandson. Shall we eat? It's almost one thirty."

"Fine. Anything to avoid onnas like the last one." Keisuke brushed his hand through his longer than usual mane and grumbled. "I need to get a haircut again. I hate it when the top gets so long."

Ojīsan chuckled as he started the car. Within minutes they found a restaurant that looked promising. Going in, Keisuke was relieved to see an older waitress who was much too busy to pay him any excess attention. They talked about the furniture Hikaru needed as they ate. Still traumatized by his morning's excursion, Keisuke found that his usual hearty appetite was missing so only managed to eat half of his meal.

Furniture shopping was much easier for Keisuke. The sales clerk was older and did not ask prying questions about Hikaru in an attempt to learn about him instead. Having a professional minded clerk made a difference. Picking out a toddler bed with drawers already contained in the frame, Keisuke's spirts improved dramatically.

A step stool, and potty guard were quickly added to his expanding purchases after the clerk explained the advantages, and disadvantages of the guard versus the kodomo sized toilet. A sturdy plastic toy bin that would fit snugly against the end of Hikaru's bed was picked out. Booster chair merits were weighed against more elaborate self-contained high-chairs. Since Hikaru was two years old and growing fast, the clerk suggested the less expensive booster seat. After a fairly detailed discussion of the different functions of each, a stream-lined folding stroller was added to Keisuke's order. He made that purchase after learning that Hikaru would need to be carried after tiring rapidly from any extensive walking. Discovering that a stroller was also the fastest way to keep Hikaru from wandering away from him in public sealed Keisuke's determination to get one.

The next item on the shopping list was a car safety seat. From everything the clerk explained, Takumi's hachi-roku would be safer for Hikaru to travel in. Safety seats required back seats. After careful deliberation, Keisuke picked out a highly-rated safety seat with expandable straps to adjust for Hikaru's growth spurts. Keisuke silently acknowledged that he needed to buy another car effective immediately. He made a mental note to tell Takumi about finding a sedan. Resentment flared over having to make such a painful choice. Loving his yellow FD made it hard to contemplate selling his baby.

Catching up with his grandfather at the check out, Keisuke was startled by the things his grandfather had found. "Shouldn't I be paying for all that, Ojīsan?"

"iie, I'll get these things. You've picked up almost everything he needs. Furniture is quite expensive."

Ojīsan Tatsuhiko had four sets of sheets, and a comforter in his cart. With a grin, Keisuke realized a medium blue Mazda FC design covered the comforter. A pillow had made it into his grandfather's cart as well. It also had the blue FC image. A complete set of very small dishes, bowls, spoons, forks, and chop sticks were placed on the conveyor belt. Five glasses small enough for Hikaru to hold went next. A warm winter coat with hat and gloves headed the busy cashier for scanning. Somewhere in his wanderings about the department store, his grandfather had located six long sleeved shirts in solid colors.

"Do you like the comforter, grandson? I thought the Mazda theme was a nice touch. I was going for a security angle. Your Otosān owns and drives a Mazda. Here's one you can sleep under to feel closer to him." The distinguished man asked before handing it to the cashier.

Keisuke smirked. "It's fine, Ojīsan. Hikaru's uncle Ryosuke owns the FC, er, I mean Savanna. I own the FD, or Infini sport coupe. Looks like I'll have to sell it though. From everything I've just learned about car seats, I don't have any choice. Safety seats require a back seat that my car just doesn't have."

"They didn't have your exact car, or I would have gotten that style instead. Last I saw of your car, it was so full of metal rods sticking out at strange angles, there's not enough room to put a mouse, much less a kodomo in a safety seat."

"It's a roll cage, Ojīsan. Would you rather I race on the touge without any safety equipment installed?" His grandfather shook his salt dusted head. "Guess I'll be telling Hikaru all about Aniki's FC and how he's another famous street racer."

Keisuke arranged for all the furniture, and the largest portion of his grandsire's purchases to be delivered to the flat the next morning. They loaded the remaining bags of goods into the Mercedes. The medium sized stuffed bear Keisuke had found went into the back seat with the heavy coat, beanie and mittens. His grandfather had bought enough things to ease the day's shopping bill considerably. Even so, Keisuke was dismayed over the fortune spent on his son's necessities.

"Think we should take Hikaru a couple sets of new pajamas, Ojīsan?"

"Heavens, Keisuke, slow down. You haven't even seen the flat yet. Let's get everything unloaded and organized first. There's plenty to do this evening, and tomorrow morning. Obāsan shipped several suitcases of clothing for you and Takumi. You need to put them away once we get home. We also have to wash Hikaru's new clothes before he can wear them. Relax, grandson. Hikaru and Takumi won't vanish into thin air if you aren't with them tonight. I'm sure they'll remain perfectly safe considering the high level security in place."

With a heavy sigh, Keisuke looked out the window at the slow-moving bumper to bumper traffic. His grandfather had a point. Takumi and Hikaru had guards armed with more than sticks to protect them this round. However, he was worried.

"Gomen that I'm on edge. I'm not there to stay on top of potential medical problems that Takumi and Hikaru might have tonight."

"I understand, Keisuke. Takumi will watch over Hikaru in your place for a few hours. Since he's used to getting visited by your musuko, I'm sure someone took Hikaru to his room today. The pediatrician knows Hikaru needs the security of familiar routines. Takumi knows that your musuko needs to be with family if he's going to overcome his traumatic experiences. From everything I've seen, Hikaru seems quite comfortable with him."

"Akiho convinced Hikaru that I never wanted him. Takumi told him that I had no idea he existed, and I'd be glad to know about him when they met in the compound. Still, seeing me fighting the overseers didn't help my musuko feel secure around me. He flips back and forth between clinging to, and avoiding contact. I'm still not sure how to handle that."

"Give Hikaru time to adjust. He responds to Takumi and Itsuke kun better because they were in the same situation as himself. That created a common bond of sorts. Seeing their interactions with you will do wonders for his uncertainty. He'll learn that you have their trust and follow their lead in extending his trust in time."

"Maybe. . . . I just wish I'd spent time with Takumi and Hikaru today. Working with Hikaru requires my presence or he'll never adjust to me, Ojīsan."

"It's sometimes a good policy to spend time away from our loved ones, Keisuke. I go off on a weekend trip to give Obāsan space so we don't argue over trivial things. Obāsan visits some of her relatives for a weekend to get away from me once or twice a year to keep things more relaxed also."

"But, I recently spent three and a half weeks searching for Takumi. Then I got him back and had to wait until he woke up. Then I pissed him off so he barely spoke to me after he found out that I told the media about us being a couple. We're finally getting past all that and talking again. If Takumi got stuck with Hikaru alone today, he has every right to be furious with me. Even though he said he'll help raise Hikaru, that doesn't mean I can dump my musuko in his lap for the whole day without any warning."

"Call Takumi's room when we get home, grandson. You can make sure he's not irritated if he did spend a large chunk of time with Hikaru this afternoon. Discuss your new quarters, and the shopping trip with him. They say laughter's the best medicine. I'm sure Takumi will find the lady clerks you encountered today very amusing. Describe how they tried to strong arm you into buying things they preferred without considering your personal tastes. You can even tell him about how all onnas seem to think we men are hopelessly clueless about kodomo. How's that for a compromise?"

Keisuke gave him a bitter smile. "I'll make do, Ojīsan. Domo for putting up with me whining like this."

"That's part of the duties of being an Ojīsan. I'm here to listen to, and understand my grandson's problems."

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As the Smoke Clears #4 in Rivalry Series