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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
CHAPTER 8

Takumi waited in his teammate's car while the wheat haired racer went inside to pay for gasoline before they left for the next leg of their trip. The yellow Mazda still bore white and black scrape marks, and staggered dents on the front passenger fender. A slash of colored tape covered the broken blinker case.

Feeling horrible that he had damaged Keisuke's car, Takumi still smarted over his stubborn pride. Becoming friends with Keisuke helped Takumi to relax around the stern blond. Four days earlier, relaxation would have been impossible. For that gift, he was almost grateful the accident had occurred. Keisuke admitted that he had never hated him. Frustration over not knowing how to talk with him had resulted in Keisuke's misunderstood glares.

The elderly physician who treated him made certain Takumi knew he was not to skip meals, or drink caffeine containing drinks. Over three days, the teen received a series of shots to improve his iron, magnesium, and B vitamin counts. The physician warned him that four to six hours of sleep out of every twenty-four was unacceptable. He had no hope of recovering if he did not get adequate rest.

Takumi accepted that he had unintentionally used coffee and colas as a replacement for food before the accident. Anxiety, anger, minor stomach pain, and nausea had combined to kill most of his appetite. He had not noticed the warning signs that something was wrong as he sought to improve his driving skills to remain on Project D's roster. Instead, he had brushed everything off as a cold that would go away. Learning that he was developing a bleeding ulcer was a huge shock for Takumi. Discovering that his stomach bug was in reality a potentially dangerous medical problem sobered him greatly. The doctor had prescribed medication to help reverse the damage before it got to the point he needed surgery.

Keeping his stomach acids under control was only one of the steps Takumi had to take. Dealing with Mogi was getting more necessary, although Takumi found himself reluctant to decide how he felt about her ongoing overtures to get back together. He did care about her, yet he felt something was missing that he had to understand before he could make any choices about her professions of loving him. Too many questions about her actions plagued him.

Takumi wondered if his father would explode over the car getting damaged when he got home. Bunta loved the A E hachi roku although he had given his Trueno to him after the new engine was installed. No doubt his father would be livid over his accident, and Takumi did not blame him for feeling that way. The teen still recalled getting a serious knot on his head the night he raced Shouji Shingo. He bounced hachi roku off a guard rail to correct his car's trajectory. His parent had been furious over the minor scuff marks left behind. Takumi sent up a silent prayer of thanks that his father would never see hachi roku's damage this time.

His thoughts shifted to the younger Takahashi brother. Keisuke had kept a close eye on him and was a source of unexpected comfort after Project D returned home. Ryosuke san had driven hachi roku back to the Akagi area to the repair shop Takumi knew. His teammate announced that it would be a waste of time, and gasoline to drive back to retrieve him. The blond had stayed at a nearby hotel each night. Takumi knew it was more expensive to stay at a hotel, yet refrained from antagonizing his teammate.

The brown haired teenager considered everything he had learned of the volatile dark blond over their three days of building a new foundation in genuine friendship. Keisuke's strong opinion that he belonged on the Project D team roster eased Takumi's mind considerably. Keisuke systematically demolished every one of his arguments, and settled a few others without them having been mentioned.

'Before the accident, our rivalry made me uncomfortable. I felt the pressure to outperform minasan like a resentful slap from Keisuke san. Now, I understand that Keisuke san has been pushing me to stay on top. Our rivalry was never meant as a threat, but was supposed to be a comfortable presence for both of us to honor. I think I can finally make my place on the team work. Getting told that Keisuke san wants me to be a force to contend with so he gets stronger without fearing that he'll hate me really took a lot of stress off my shoulders.'

'I'm glad that I admitted thinking he hated me. I didn't know that he was frustrated because I'm quiet so he couldn't figure out how to talk to me. Who would have thought that Keisuke san was struggling to find a topic that would get me to actually talk in full sentences? Never knew that keeping my answers short and neutral, . . . so I wouldn't say anything stupid, . . . gave Keisuke san the impression that I didn't want to respond whenever he spoke to me.'

The driver side door clicked as Keisuke pulled up on the handle. The sound snapped Takumi out of his revery, as his ride got into the car. "Here, Takumi, drink up." Keisuke handed him a bottle of water as he buckled in.

"Arigato, Keisuke san." Takumi accepted the drink.

"Drop the san, Takumi. We're not at a battle so you don't need to be formal." Keisuke reminded him as he put his key in the ignition.

"Erm, Gomen, Keisuke s. . . I forgot for a moment." The teen watched as Keisuke started the FD. He had noticed that Keisuke called him by his first name when nobody else was around. When others were present, Keisuke san automatically reverted to calling him Fujiwara. The teen contemplated the different forms of address Keisuke used with him.

'Perhaps Keisuke san feels that he needs to sound more impersonal when others are around. It feels really weird to call him Keisuke without the san though. Keisuke san just fits him better because he's a take charge person. Showing respect is natural around him. Got to work on that so I don't make him mad by accident.'

Although a bit overwhelmed by the changes, Takumi found that he appreciated that Takahashi Keisuke was a very complicated person. They fell into companionable silence as the wheat haired man drove the next stretch of highway. The more Takumi learned about the other man, the more intrigued he was by the diverse layers the blond was revealing now that they were actively talking to each other. Takahashi Keisuke was not simple minded, or easy to impress. Maintaining high level expectations for himself and others still made him feel somewhat intimidating to Takumi.

Oddly enough Takumi had frequently found himself thinking about Itsuke while getting to know the younger rotary brother. In many respects the two men were as different as was humanly possible. An image of his best friend flashed into focus in his mind.

'Itsuke's obnoxious, and rambunctious. He's obsessed about things like how to prove himself as a street racer. He isn't one to get high marks in school, nor would he be considered brainy by anyone. Impressing him is way too easy to do. Talking to him is easier since nothing I say gets more than the level of thought needed to come up with an answer.'

Takumi glanced at Keisuke as the blond focused on the road. 'Keisuke san has a biting wit, and sarcastic flair that I've received the brunt of whenever I've annoyed him. Keisuke's sarcastic wit is part of his agile, street smart mind. Talking to him made me nervous because I expected him to pick my words apart so I'd feel even dumber than I already do when I'm around him.'

'Itsuke's intense optimism about how life will work out overwhelms minasan. He never considers things before he acts on his impulses. He frustrates me because he jumps into things and gets himself into so much trouble. I've cleaned up several disasters that Itsuke's caused without meaning to do so. It was Itsuke who accepted the GT-R challenge. Sometimes I wonder if there's something going on with Itsuke that nobody else has noticed. It actually feels like his impulses are overwhelming him so he has to follow them even if he doesn't want to at times.'

'Keisuke san has an almost cynical outlook on life. He's as intense as Itsuke in some ways, but he keeps that under control. He observes his surroundings, and considers all possible outcomes before he acts on anything. Keisuke believes he has to make his life go in a specific direction, instead of going with the flow. There's nothing optimistic about miraculous happenings in his existence. When Keisuke san decides he wants to accomplish something, he focuses on the steps to take and does whatever he needs to do.'

'Itsuke seeks attention in all the wrong ways. Maybe that's because he's still naive. His honest emotional reactions can get pretty loud. He doesn't seem to understand he should feel bad over his outbursts. Sometimes Itsuke boasts to get people's attention without considering how angry they'll get when they find out the truth. But, . . . at least he's getting pretty good at drifting because of Kazumi chan's tips a while back. Maybe someday Itsuke really will become Akina's second downhill specialist. Then it won't be just another empty boast. He's been putting serious thought into making his hachi go into a decent performance machine too.'

'Keisuke san's blunt, and makes his point without wasted words or embellishment. He's never loud and obnoxious. He's in his twenties so maybe he's just outgrown the impulse to be loud and awkward. His voice never seems to rise when he wants to make a point known. People listen when he talks. Keisuke's words can be harsh, and rough edged though. He doesn't actually care whether others accept him. That strength of character attracts people. They want his friendship because he means it once he decides to accept them.'

'Keisuke san comes from a wealthy family, and lives in a different world from the one Itsuke, and I know. His otosān owns his own clinic, and is one of the higher ranked members of a hospital too. His okāsan never has to work to pay for family expenses, even though she's a nurse because she wants to be. Their family fortune has made Project D a reality. Keisuke san doesn't worry about car parts, tires, or gasoline when he's training.'

'Itsuke's otosān is a construction worker. His okāsan works in a grocery store which is how they keep their bills paid. Oyaji owns a tofu shop that barely keeps a roof over our heads some months. Itsuke and I always have to watch how much we use our cars for training. Neither one of us can afford to waste gasoline, nor buy new tires and other car parts very often. If not for Project D's financial backing, I wouldn't have improved as much as I have lately.'

'How fast will I lose this new connection with Keisuke san once I get home? Our different classes, and incomes are an obvious barrier to us hanging out regularly. We live in different towns too. I'll go back to the mind numbing work hours required to pay the bills I have. Keisuke san will focus on his training schedule to improve his driving techniques. We won't really have much contact outside of Project D once Keisuke san drops me off.'

'It's not like we ever hung out with each other before the accident. Things will return to normal pretty fast. I'll get really busy every day like always. But, at least now I'll be able to talk to Keisuke san without feeling like I'm resented at the battles each weekend.'

The last thought depressed Takumi. The last two days had given him several reasons to wish he could spend time around the younger Takahashi brother. The teen now understood how strong an ally, and mentor he had in the wheat haired man taking him home. The idea that he would lose this tenuous connection outside of Project D was painful. He wanted to know more about both Takahashi brothers in hopes of finding some kind of common ground with them both.

"Keisuke san, would you mind if I ask you a strange question?"

Keisuke glanced at him. "Nani's on your mind, Takumi?"

"I had a classmate that committed suicide in ninth grade. Minasan said it was because he couldn't uphold his wealthy family's expectations. His family demanded he live up to their standards simply because they were very wealthy. Do you think that is normal?"

"Very. In middle, and high school I did everything I could to get my ryōshin to disown me because my life was a pressure cooker. Getting mixed up in gangs, and causing all sorts of trouble was my way of escaping my family's expectations. Most people want to be friends with wealthier people to get things from them on top of the family expectations. I don't make many friends because I've been burned by those types of people. Wealth also limits the dating scene dramatically. Onnas from common families are quick to accept a wealthier man's interest, but most of them only want to get their hands on his bank account."

Takumi felt a wave of dismay over the blond's bitter sounding reply. "I've never thought of things that way. Seeing how you act around minasan made me think that your character inspired them to be your friend, Keisuke san. It never crossed my mind it might be something else motivating minasan."

Keisuke grabbed a cigarette and lit it as he drove. "Not many see things like you, Takumi. I've noticed that you get uncomfortable with Aniki paying for things like gasoline, extra tires, and car parts for our expeditions. That's one of the reasons I want you for my friend. I'm obviously not a bank account to you."

"At least you didn't get offended when I said I feel bad about accepting the help I'm getting from Ryosuke san. Getting your feed back about wanting to repay Ryosuke san for all of my expenses with each paycheck I get made me feel better about being on the Project D roster. Knowing that I'm not acting like I'm ungrateful eased a lot of my stress."

"I'm glad I was able to help. Anyway back to your original question. Okāsan's actually from a normal working class family, so she made life bearable. Still, I hated the pressure cooker that otosān created when I was in school. He comes from the wealthy family that believes high-level achievement has to be maintained for the family image. Your classmate committed suicide because of the successful family image scenario. I'm not a prodigy like Aniki, so I felt otosān's disappointment in my academic career. I only fit into the upper grade scale, and never made top ten lists unless it involved athletics. I couldn't live up to otosān's expectations like Aniki does. Okāsan said it was fine so long as I honestly gave my best efforts. She made otosān's disappointment bearable so long as I did my homework and kept my grades high enough to keep a decent range of college options alive."

Takumi looked out the passenger window as the scenery went by and volunteered information about himself in return. "Oyaji never said anything about grades as long as I passed each grade level. He sometimes gets depressed, and drinks a lot when he is. He didn't get mad about grades since I'm not a book smart person, and he knows it. Oyaji has a temper, so if he had been picky about my grades, I never would have survived. I was always in the lower level grade averages except in math and sports. At least I never had to worry about Oyaji being disappointed about where I ranked in school. He says things like, 'think 'til your head hurts,' and drops the subject most of the time. Guess that's one of the reasons I'm quiet."

"That actually sounds worse than I lived with, Takumi. As much as I hated the lectures, I knew my otosān was really worried about my future. It was always obvious that Otosān wanted the best for me." Keisuke's voice was soft and thoughtful.

Takumi's head turned to focus on his friend. "It wasn't too bad. 'Kāsan left when I was three. That's when Oyaji started drinking, and got cranky. Since I passed my classes, he didn't get mad that I wasn't on the honor's list. Hanging out with Itsuke after school kept me out of Oyaji's way while he was running the tofu shop when I was little."

"Who's Itsuke?" Keisuke's glance seemed razor sharp to Takumi as he asked the question. Dark blue eyes bore into Takumi for a suspended moment before he returned his eyes to the road. The blond's voice conveyed an odd intensity that Takumi did not know how to define.

Takumi's brows furrowed. "I met Itsuke in kindergarten. We've hung out since then. You saw him the night that we officially battled on Akina. He was the one that whacked me in the head for pulling in beside your FD because he didn't know Oyaji told me to battle you."

Takumi noted that Keisuke relaxed visibly in his seat. "I see. . . So, that really loud dark-haired, hyperactive teenager is Itsuke."

"I know Itsuke gets a bit excitable. But, he's a lot of fun to be around since he gets me involved in things. It doesn't matter how awkward he can be, I can't stay mad at him because he's a genuine good guy. Itsuke always cheers me up simply by being himself." Takumi shrugged.

"How does he do that?" Keisuke asked with genuine interest.

"Lots of ways. I sometimes ride with him when he practices drifting. Itsuke talks about ways to make his hachi go into a decent downhill car. He's very enthusiastic about all the plans he's made, and gets excited whenever he manages to get the next upgrade completed. He's always pushing car magazines in my face with different types of articles about the cars that are most popular in the touge. Itsuke still trips over his feet as he pours over his car pictures if he's walking anywhere. That's really funny. I don't get to see massive magazine slides anymore though. Those ended when we graduated highschool. Itsuke sees cars as treasures, and wants to be a certified mechanic someday. His family didn't have the money to send him to trade school, so he hopes to save up to get into one in two or three years."

"Magazine slides?" Keisuke's voice conveyed his confusion.

Takumi felt his lips twitch upward as he suppressed laughter. "Itsuke's habit of tripping over his own feet while looking at car pictures started in middle school when teachers returned his confiscated magazines. Every time he tripped, magazines spilled off his huge stack like a paper land slide."

"So Itsuke's a real car fanatic. Watching those kinds of disasters probably would be funny." Keisuke san sounded almost grudging.

"When hachi roku's engine blew, Itsuke helped me deal with it. I hated myself for breaking Oyaji's car, so I was shredding myself over it. Driving it while I was pissed off was a bad move. Itsuke came over and drug me to lake Akina in his hachi go so he could give me your message. He got me into a rock skipping contest and gave me space to talk about how I felt over it."

"I thought hachi roku was yours." Keisuke shot him a quick frown before returning his attention to the road.

"It is now. It was still Oyaji's car when I blew the engine battling Sudo."

"Ouch. Bet he was pissed." Keisuke muttered.

"iie. Oyaji told me that he was expecting the engine to fail before it happened, so it wasn't my fault. He's happy that I'm interested in racing. I chipped in on the new engine and modifications. He told me the car was half mine once the modifications were done. Once he found the Impreza, he gave me hachi roku outright. Now that we have something in common, he talks more. I found out that he was a street racer when he was younger, so he knows a lot about mechanics."

"Naze doesn't he teach you about settings and things?" Keisuke asked.

"Oyaji explains things when I ask him questions now. When I blew the engine, I asked Oyaji naze he couldn't fix it if we put enough money into the job. He told me that there was a pin that tore a hole inside the engine block, but I simply couldn't understand that engine blocks can't be repaired. Then, Oyaji didn't tell me I needed a tachometer and stuff with the new engine because he was waiting for me to ask the right questions. I never thought to ask him naze the new engine was so hard to control. That's how I learned that he was a mechanic. He was the one who changed the settings on the hachi roku for my different races before I joined Project D."

"Matsimoto complimented hachi roku's settings when you first joined. Your otosān's actually a top notch mechanic." Keisuke replied with another glance his way.

"You know, Oyaji hasn't been drinking as much since I started racing. I feel like I owe you, and Ryosuke san a lot more than I can ever repay because of that too."

"Just win your races and learn everything you can, so you get where you deserve to be, Takumi. I'm sure Aniki would say the same thing."

Keisuke dropped a hand to his knee in a quick pat before returning it to the steering wheel. He flashed a smile, and returned his focus upon the road. Getting the unexpected pat startled Takumi, but he brushed it off. He watched the scenery, and considered Keisuke's new behaviors toward him.

'Did Keisuke san assume an aniki role for the team's benefit? Is this an attempt to make up for my accident because he feels responsible for me? It's not his fault that I got into the wreck. He reacted out of concern, but I lacked faith in myself, and his intentions. Was Keisuke san's friendship a possibility that I never acknowledged? Have I been feeling so inferior that I threw away chances to be friends with him all along? He told me to stop feeling that way because he believes we're equals. Still, I'm not completely comfortable with this new Keisuke san. I always thought he was a cold person. Finding out that he thinks people see him as a bank account explains a lot. Keisuke san does have a ruthless streak, but I'm beginning to think he fosters strong friendships when he feels a person deserves it.'

'Over the year since we battled on Akina, Keisuke san has become a strong ally. His interest in my driving has become an anchor in my life. I just didn't realize it until I woke up in the hospital. Seeing Keisuke's haggard expression will stay with me for the rest of my life. Where it concerns Ryosuke san, Keisuke san sounds less certain that bridging the gap is possible. He has trouble talking with his older brother. Keisuke san's close to Ryosuke san, but feels overshadowed too. Guess that can't be helped since their otosān used to compare him to Ryosuke san so often.'

"What're you thinking about, Takumi?" Keisuke asked as he maneuvered his Efini RX 7 through traffic.

"I was just wondering how I managed to gain you, and Ryosuke san as mentors." Takumi replied with a small shrug.

"Che. Takumi, don't be a baka. If you mention how much we've done for you again, I'll get annoyed. Aniki and I want to make sure you can battle with your full potential because you have awesome talent. The money that gets put into the hachi roku's modifications is well spent to Aniki. I've also told you I want you around because you're worth knowing."

"I know. But, I'm still going to pay you both back as I can. Otherwise, I'd never be able to live with myself."

Keisuke shook his head. "Aniki and I are only helping you get where you need to be because you have the ability to succeed, Takumi. Aniki pays for the modifications because he wants to see you reach your true potential. He recognizes that you've turned attacking the downhill into an art. I push you to keep improving for the same reasons. We both know you need help breaking through the barriers that were keeping you down last year. I couldn't live with myself if I failed to help you get into the pro leagues. Besides, you're someone I want to rely on whenever I need help after we both get there." The blond glanced over at him as he stopped in a toll booth line to wait his turn to pay.

"I hope I can help you if you ever need me, Keisuke s . . . Ah, I don't really know how I could though. You have your life planned so well, nothing can go wrong. But, I'll do my best if something happens where you need me." Takumi looked at the older man as he spoke, hoping that Keisuke had not noticed his near slip.

Keisuke seemed pleased with his answer, yet gave him a serious look as if considering something. "I may have my major goals planned, Takumi. Nothing is ever certain even with every step outlined in a logical plan. Things don't always go smoothly just because I have thought of the steps to take that make goals reality. The more important something, or someone is, the harder it is to attain my goals."

"You're an awesome driver. I know you'll get an offer from a professional team soon." Takumi sought to reassure Keisuke.

The blond rolled his window down to pay the toll charge. Takumi watched him take their ticket. To see the ever confident Takahashi Keisuke worried over something going wrong was difficult to swallow. He watched the blond put the car into motion, rolling up his window before he continued.

"I'm not particularly worried about that, Takumi. I'm confident that I can make it into the racing circuit. That isn't my most important goal anymore. Someone's become more important to me than becoming a pro driver. They don't know that they've become so important to me." Keisuke frowned as he spoke. His eyes concentrated on the road with a fierceness that made Takumi think he was not happy about falling in love.

"Will she want you to stop racing? Onnas don't seem to understand the reasons we get into battles. Mogi, this girl I used to date, told me it was fine to lose battles if it kept me from getting hurt. Trying to make her understand that the point of racing is to win was impossible. She wanted a promise that I couldn't give her."

"I didn't know you had a girlfriend. Guess that is another mystery solved." Oddly enough Takumi thought Keisuke sounded depressed.

"Mogi's definitely not my girlfriend. She moved to Tokyo and is going to college. Something happened so we split up months ago. Mogi swears she wants to make things right, but I just can't trust her after the things I found out."

Takumi mentally kicked himself for mentioning the raw subject. To find out he had fallen for a girl who could sell her body still bothered him. The teen did not want to explain the circumstances. He doubted that Keisuke san would understand. Her subsidy dating was the worst part of their break up.

"Let me guess, she found someone else, then decided she made a mistake. Am I right?" Keisuke kept his eyes on the road as he waited for an answer.

Takumi felt compelled to answer honestly since he had been the one to mention his ex. "iie. When Mogi convinced me to start seeing her, she kept her Papa on the side. Mogi's classmate found out about her. She got mad enough to call the shop one evening to tell me where I would find Mogi, and her salaryman. The first thing I saw was the very expensive Benz Mogi's classmate had described in detail. Mogi and her papa left the love hotel and got into that same Benz."

Keisuke flinched. "Sumimasen for reminding you of such a raw subject. That's a horrible way to discover you need to end a relationship. The person I'm in love with shouldn't have any problem with my racing, Takumi. That isn't the reason I'm afraid I won't be able to make things work."

"Is it that onna in the black FD you battled recently? I've noticed her watching your battles now." Leaning his head against the window, Takumi watched the shifting expressions on Keisuke's face.

"She's cute, . . . but, iie. I was already interested in someone else before she came along." Keisuke raked a hand through his spiky hair, and heaved a shaky breath. "I was so focused on becoming a top driver that I made the mistake of thinking I was immune if I wasn't actively looking for a relationship. Now, it's too late to walk away because I tried to convince myself I wasn't interested and have failed miserably to make it stick. Looks like I need to think long and hard about this mess."

"As long as you're honest with her, I think everything will work out. Don't worry about it, Keisuke san. Once this onna gets to know you, your bank account won't matter to her anymore. You're a good person. You've got your life planned with enough focus and drive to get there. I've seen how onnas watch you at battles. I think you're worried over nothing. You should talk to her and settle things."

Keisuke snorted and shook his head, "it's not that easy to resolve, Takumi. The situation's too complicated. . . . Never mind."

Takumi noticed the twitch Keisuke's eyebrow as his dagger sharp gaze pierced the road. The FD's engine thrummed a melodic tune while eating away the distance to his hometown. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, although the last burst of conversation covered an awkward subject. Takumi wondered what complications could exist that caused Keisuke san to think he would have trouble with the person he loved. Takumi sought to find a topic that could distract his teammate.

"Keisuke san, naze did you stay behind when Project D went home? You could've gotten the FD repaired. I know you said it wasted time and gasoline. But hotels cost more than gasoline does."

"You needed me to stay behind so I could report everything to Aniki, Takumi. This way I could make sure you had a ride home, . . . among other things."

"Keisuke san, all I did was sit in a bed while the isha san gave me shots, or lectured me. You got stuck listening to those boring lectures too."

"I'm glad I know the details because you would've minimized everything if you were given the chance, Fujiwara. You got dangerously focused on training while ignoring the symptoms of a genuine problem. I'll harass you whenever you ignore those lectures. Do not think I'll let you get off the hook easily now that I know about the situation. You would've gotten a lot sicker if you hadn't passed out behind the wheel while I was around to keep an eye on you. Consider yourself very lucky."

"I won't forget anything I need to do, Keisuke. Cutting back on practice time to get enough sleep, and eating several smaller meals each day is better than the alternative the ishasan mentioned. I won't let myself get so focused on training that I can ignore my stomach trouble, or forget to sleep." Takumi grumbled feeling guilty over the reprimand.

"Good. I don't want to have to knock you out because you forget the things that really matter, Takumi." The blond shot him a grin while threatening him.

Takumi hefted the bag containing his new medications. "I think these are good enough reminders. There won't be any need for a black eye."

A raised eyebrow was the only sign of what Keisuke thought as the gas station came into view. "Where to from here? I only know how to find your old work place. Fumihiro's the one that delivers your videos each week."

"Go straight for three streets, and take the right-hand turn loop. There's a stop light for the three way directional beyond that. Go left at the turn arrow. Half a block further down that street, you'll see a parking lot on the right side corner. The left side of that lot looks like it has second entrance, but that's actually my street. My home has an obvious sign, and a blue Impreza parked beside it."

"Got it." Keisuke followed his instructions. Takumi was in front of his door a few minutes later. He dreaded his father's reaction to his return. Keisuke placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you going to be ok, Fujiwara? You look worried."

With a glance, Takumi saw Keisuke's intense perusal of his features. He sighed and forced his shoulders to relax. "Hai. I hate knowing Oyaji's pissed over my damaging hachi roku. I don't blame him for growling at me though. He really loves hachi roku. Trusting me with it was a huge deal for him."

"Then, . . . naze did he give it to you? He could have helped you get a different car instead." Keisuke looked at him with creased brows. Takumi realized that Keisuke debated the wisdom of leaving as he cast glances at the front entrance.

Oyaji stood in the doorway. A cigarette in his mouth, and hands on his hips told Takumi that his father was waiting for him to exit Keisuke's car. "He knows I love hachi roku too. Oyaji also wants me to drive different cars to get stronger."

"He's got you using an Impreza as a cross trainer? That's quite an interesting choice your otosān made." Keisuke's voice was thoughtful as Takumi let himself out, and leaned his head into the vehicle.

"Domo for the lift, and everything else over the last three days. Let me know when hachi roku's ready, and how much I owe you for the repairs to both cars, kudasai? I caused the damage by being a baka. So, you and Ryosuke san shouldn't pay for my mistake." The teen closed the yellow FD's door and stepped back so Keisuke could leave.

"Gomen I took so long." He ducked through the doorway, past the silent man who smoked his cigarette. He heard the FD's engine fade as Keisuke headed for his own home.
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A Rivalry Revealed Novel #1