Initial D Fan Fiction ❯ Rush ❯ Blood Rush ( Chapter 1 )

Dawn was almost upon the Fujiwara Tofu Shop. The sounds coming from within the establishment were the usual, Takumi was in the shower and Bunta was loading the 86 with that mornings deliveries. No one usually came by so early; when the doorbell rang, it was no wonder when Bunta jumped and headed to the door. When the elder opened the door, he was surprised to see Ryousuke Takahashi standing in the frame. He was dressed the way he usually dresses, khaki slacks, button up shirt underneath a cardigan sweater.

“Forgive the hour of my visit Fujiwara-san, has Takumi left for his morning deliveries already,” Ryousuke asked the bewildered old man.

“Tak, he's up in the shower. It's almost time for him to leave. Would you like to accompany him so that the two of you can talk,” Bunta answered after getting over his initial shock of someone being at his door this early in the morning.

“I would like that very much. I'll just wait outside by my car,” Ryousuke replied.

It had been nearly two months since Project D was formed. In that time, Takumi had managed to be a bigger asset than he originally figured. His plan was not just to witness the technique of Takumi, but to see what kind of technique and presence of mind he carried behind the wheel. In person, Takumi was shyest boy racer that Rye had ever met. He knew from personal experience not to underestimate his driving whatsoever. The cool confidence and the lazy approach he used while drifting made him one of the best in the whole of Japan.

While Ryousuke was thinking about this, Takumi came outside. He was already aware of the eldest Takahashi brother's presence. He wanted to know the reasoning behind the visit. Takumi knew that there was a Project D meeting this afternoon. He really could speak to Ryousuke then. Despite not wanting to speak, he was rather elated to know that he was graced with a personal visit from the White Comet of Akagi. He felt his pulse quicken ever so slightly in the presence of the team's captain.

“Hey Ryousuke, what do you need,” Takumi asked trying to stifle a rather large yawn.

“I was wondering if we could speak in private and figured your daily tofu delivery run would be the best way to maintain privacy,” Ryousuke replied matter of factly.

“Oh, okay, the way my dad was going on about your visit, he was under the impression that it was about Project D,” Takumi responded a little under his breath. Ryousuke had figured that even in familiar territory that Takumi was still shy. It was slowly getting better due to the fact that Keisuke and Takumi were now the best of friends.

“Do you mind if I tag along on this morning's run,” Ryousuke asked politely, though knowing that his presence would render agreement anyway.

“I guess if you're looking to witness any special technique this could almost be a waste of time. I don't think that I have much of a technique anyway. If it's to talk, I guess I could try,” Takumi replied in a small voice. He looked forward to every morning run because of the privacy it gave him to think about things. People always bothered him out of his thoughts; yet, he still had not managed to meet the expectations of everyone because he was so shy.

Ryousuke had not meant to catch Takumi off guard like this. He felt that it was the best time to talk in private with the young driver. What kind of shift changes or what kind of facial expressions were used during his drifting. He needed something to help his theory about Takumi and street racing in general. The theory that was formulating in his mind right now about Takumi and racing was mindset. The speed it takes to complete a drift plus what is going through the mind of the driver at that moment equals flawless turning capabilities. Keisuke was developing his own technique that was purely for the uphill. Downhill is something that not everyone could do simply because it took too much effort to calibrate the engine and set up body specs. Too much work was required to cars that were not meant to be light weight. The AE-86, on the other hand, was already equipped to be lightweight because it was an older car. The engine had been replaced with a better one, but that really did nothing to the bodyweight. The struts and tire pressure have to be measured just right to maintain flawless drifting runs.

While Ryousuke was going over this in his mind, Takumi was situating himself in the driver's seat. Bunta came out in his usual laziness and handed the cup of water to Takumi. When Ryousuke saw this, he decided to make a mental note as to the significance of the water. It might have been related to the cargo that was in the hatch in the first place. Never being one to conclude false assumptions, Ryousuke decided to ask Takumi about it when the run was finished.

The morning passed without any further event. The entire drive Ryousuke kept his eyes on the shifting and quickness of Takumi's feet. Brake, clutch and gas the quickness and speed in which the peddles were pressed impressed him to no end. The tires were continuously squealing and he thought that they were going to pop as soon as they entered that last turn at the base of the Akina touge. Ryousuke's business had been about Project D, but now he knew that he had made the right decision in his downhill ace. He had noticed that Takumi did indeed look pensive. Something must have been bothering the young driver. Maybe it was just the fact that Takumi was not used to any sort of human contact while he was delivering tofu.

After the run, Takumi pulled into a parking lot and found a secluded corner. He had wondered why Ryousuke was absorbed in watching him drive. Takumi found the fixation to be an awkward, but welcome boost to finishing his run in record time. Never being one for handling delicate situations, Takumi flushed as he tried to gather up courage to speak.

“Uh, what was it that you needed to speak to me about,” Takumi asked knowing that he reminded Ryousuke of the rising sun.

“It is quite complicated, quite complicated,” Ryousuke replied almost to himself. “I thought about asking you if you felt comfortable being in Project D. After what I witnessed today, I am more certain than ever that you are indeed one of the best decisions that I made about the project.”

“I don't…I…,” Takumi stuttered as he tried to reply. He was never good at accepting complements because he knew that there was more to be done before he could compete with his father. Bunta was never one to give complements, but he had never said that Takumi needed to improve either. Hearing The White Comet, himself, say that his decision had been right. What could he say in response?

“Did I say something wrong,” Ryousuke asked concerned. Takumi was never one to just give up trying to find the right words to say. “I think what I should have said was. You do have more technique than you realize. Not just anyone can shift and switch peddles without losing speed. That takes great agility that not even I have. Every time I switch peddles and try to keep my speed, I cannot keep one foot on both peddles.”

“I thought that it was something that everyone could do because that's how I learned from my father,” Takumi replied in a small voice. He was unable to contain his blush because of the confession that he had just received from Ryousuke.

“I am not trying to make you feel a certain way. I want to let you know how completely unique you are as a driver,” Ryousuke replied. “It was my intention to talk to you about what you expect to gain from doing this.”

“The Project sounded like a great idea,” Takumi replied. “You had told me that there was a bigger world than just Gunma and the Akin touge. I thought that it might be one of the best ways to see just how good I am.”

Ryousuke was stunned at the bluntness of Takumi's answer. He had never been comfortable around anyone in the Project to even vocalize how he truly felt. Either something was really wrong, or they had made tremendous headway as friends. It could even have been attributed to Takumi's lack of sleep. Whatever the case, Ryousuke wanted to the moment to last forever because this was such a rare event.

“I had no idea that you had been paying attention to me that evening,” Ryousuke commented. “That was such an interesting event. I finally spoke to you and all you could say to me was that you were not faster than I was. I know when to accept defeat and that night was one of those times that I could accept it.”

“You never answered my question, though,” Takumi interrupted, not realizing that he had cut Ryousuke off. “I know that you could have beaten me if I had not used the gutter technique that my dad explained to me.”

“That is what I have been trying to tell you,” Ryousuke politely interrupted. “I did not even know that was a possibility.”

“Oh, I guess that you are right,” Takumi agreed shyly. “But why did you choose me? I am not so great and I am even socially challenged. I feel like that all I could do is bring the group down. People don't help make me comfortable, they make me nervous.”

“You are not dead weight, the dead weight of the group happens to be the one who is always arrogant and narcissistic,” Ryousuke replied. “You are humble to the point of almost being annoying, but when you drive, the confidence that you have in yourself takes over. You are slowly overcoming your shyness, but I am not expecting you to party hard like Keisuke.”

“You still avoided my question,” Takumi retorted. “Why did you choose me?”

“Simple, every time you race you adapt and change. You never get caught making the same mistake twice, but you hardly ever make any mistakes. I need someone that can adapt and change. You do that better than anyone, Keisuke included,” Ryousuke answered him sincerely.

This one particular moment was something that Ryousuke had wanted for a long time. He had secretly wished to be selfish enough to talk to Takumi. He could talk to him about Project D and cars, but not about a long heart to heart that he really wanted to have. Harboring same sex tendencies, Ryousuke hid behind Project D and college to avoid girlfriends. He desired and yearned secretly and painfully in the solitude that is Ryousuke Takahashi. He wanted no other except the downhill specialist of Project D.

“I just thought that you were doing this out of pity because I am not that great around people,” Takumi admitted sadly. He knew that since joining Project D, Itsuki had felt betrayed and had quit speaking to him. The other Speed Stars were just too busy trying to catch up where they knew they were lacking. Takumi had never felt more alone in his life than at that very moment. Natsuki had gone off to Tokyo, but that was the last he had heard from her.

“Why would I do that?,” Ryousuke asked sadly. “I don't feel sorry for you, but I know how lonely you are. Never knowing who you can trust or who to confide in.”

Takumi almost responded when he realized what time it was. Bunta had told him to be back before sunrise. It was almost sunrise. He hurriedly pulled out of the parking lot and sped home. Bunta was waiting outside for him, looking at his watch. As soon as he saw the 86, he was happy to see Takumi was safe, but infuriated at the lateness. He waited for them to park. As soon as Takumi stepped out, and he thought Ryousuke was out of sight, he grabbed Takumi by the arm and proceeded to continue their meager existence.

Ryousuke was not out of sight; however, he did keep his ear pressed to the door to make sure that Takumi was in any harm. He heard the usual noises of Takumi going up to his room, but being followed by Bunta. What he heard next made his heart stop, heard something tumbling down the stairs. He hoped it was not what he thought, but his worst fears were confirmed. Takumi lay unconscious at the bottom of the stairs. Not about to eavesdrop any further, Ryousuke rushed in and proceeded to put his medical knowledge to good use. He checked for a pulse. Then he proceeded to check for broken bones, internal bleeding, head trauma and the condition of his neck.

“Takumi,” Ryousuke called as he gently shook him. “Takumi, can you hear me?”

“Ryousuke,” Takumi answered quietly. “Why are you still here?” He tried to sit up, but felt Ryousuke hold him down. He followed Ryousuke's line of vision and saw that he was not going to get up anytime soon. His right leg looked none too happy with an open compound fracture staring back at him. It was still a little too early for him to feel any pain because the realization of what had happened had not impacted him yet. He could see Ryousuke checking for any other injuries. He soon became aware at the difficulty he had trying to breathe. Ryousuke noticed this as well and proceeded to check for broken ribs or perhaps a punctured lung. Thankfully, his ribs were just broken. As shock slowly turned into a painful haze, Takumi tried his best to stay awake.

Ryousuke noticed that Takumi was slowly falling unconscious. As soon as Takumi was unconscious, he started to set the leg. It was a clean break, but part of the tibia was protruding from through the skin. With the speed of an experienced trauma surgeon and the steady hand of an artist, he was able to snap the bone in place. Upon his assessment of the situation, he concluded that Takumi sustained a minor laceration to his shifting hand, broken bones and a minor concussion. He notified emergency and the authorities to keep Bunta away from the young driver until he found out what had happened.