Initial D Fan Fiction ❯ Rush ❯ Rush of Testosterone ( Chapter 3 )

Three months later…

Time flies whenever there is bliss. Life seems to take wings and help heal old wounds thought gone. Bunta was living better now that he did not have to worry about suddenly raging against his son. That day played over and over again in his mind while his son nursed himself at the Takahashi's residence. Begrudgingly he had accepted Ryousuke's proposal that he and his brother would do the morning deliveries. He had accepted because he knew that the older Takahashi brother had found out about the condition of the senior Fujiwara. Bunta had wanted to tell his son on countless occasions that he was dying, but how do you tell someone who is so lonely that they are about to get lonelier?

Takumi had been very young when he lost his mother. That was another day that never left the mind of Bunta. His son had to wait in the waiting room for almost three days. His wife had been in labor for twenty-four hours and her body gave up. They then spent the better part of another twenty-four hours trying to save both, but only managing to retrieve another body for burial. By the time Bunta was able to check on the three year old, he found him huddled in a corner warding off anyone who tried to console him. He had to approach his son very carefully and repeated his name over and over again. When Takumi finally saw his father, he jumped into his arms crying hysterically. It was at that moment that he realized he was going to have to do this himself with no help. He had no idea as to where he should begin. He knew that he had to console his distraught child, but how was he going to tell him that his mother was in a better place?

That was the second hardest moment in his life. The hardest would have to be now. His headaches were getting worse every day. He constantly worried about telling his son. It was his constant worrying that triggered the mood swings. He had managed a more than comfortable life for the both of them. If he had had the two extra mouths to feed, it would have been a little more difficult. Things had managed to work themselves out. Except, Takumi had managed to introvert himself making it harder to communicate. Takumi was always a shy child, but with his mother around, he would come out of his shell. Now that she was gone, they barely spoke to one another.

While Bunta was deep in meditation about how to communicate to his son for once, there was a knock at the door that nearly gave him a heart attack. He knew that it would either be one or both of the Takahashi brothers. The face that greeted him was the face of the eldest brother, Ryousuke.

“Oh, hello there. Come in,” Bunta said in an excited voice. He enjoyed the company that this man could give because Takumi had not been home at all during his recovery.

“I just came by to tell you that Takumi is driving again. He is doing just fine and his leg is completely healed. It has not affected his technique at all. Why don't you tell him what is wrong with you?,” Ryousuke finally gathered up the courage to ask the all important question on his mind.

“I don't know what is keeping me here. The doctors tell me that I should be dead all ready. I am not in pain since he is not around, but I miss him and need him. He is the only thing I have left of his mother,” Bunta wailed into his hands. “That day, it was like he retreated and gave up trying to communicate to anyone. He was huddled in a corner scared to death. He had no idea what was going on. He barely recognized me, but luckily he flung himself into my arms. That was the moment that we came together, but grew further apart.”

Ryousuke knew not how to respond. That small confession summed up Takumi's entire life. He forgave, but never forgot the extreme loneliness. Deep down Takumi must have been convinced that his father had abandoned him. Of course being three years old the mind would not comprehend what was going on. To put is simply, he had actually convinced himself that he had been abandoned.

“What do you want me to tell him?,” Ryousuke asked. “He is with Keisuke right now. They are out in the 86 to see if Takumi was affected by what happened. Keisuke just called me to say that he is driving smoothly.”

“That makes me feel better. I don't know what comes over me when I get my anger spells. All I know is that I want Takumi to be happy and right now it is not here with me,” Bunta answered sadly.

“When you die will Takumi take over the business for you? Do you know what would happen to him?,” Ryousuke asked.

“That is what I worry about every single day. Who will help him with the deliveries, and who will take care of him. I have to remind him to shower when he comes home from deliveries. He just needs someone to watch him like that,” Bunta mused to himself almost forgetting that Ryousuke was there.

Ryousuke thought it was endearing the way Bunta was remembering little things about his son. Takumi and Ryousuke had not talked about their feelings for one another since that night in the hospital. Though they knew how the other felt, they were both still too shy to try anything because Keisuke was always around. Tonight, Ryousuke had planned on taking Takumi to dinner to confess in private.

Ryousuke stayed until he felt that Bunta was capable of handling things on his own. The drive to his house seemed to go faster than usual because he knew that both drivers would be awaiting his arrival. It was a new feeling that he felt every time he saw Fujiwara's face. He felt his heart skip a beat and try to dance. His face would take on a slight hint of pink because of the way that Takumi would look at him. He would be wearing his bored expression with a slight smile and evident twinkle in his eye.

When he pulled into the drive way, Takumi was standing next to his car. From his posture, Ryousuke could tell that he was anxious. He knew Takumi better than Takumi knew himself. If he wasn't mistaken, it appeared as if Takumi was awaiting his return. Again, he felt his heart skip and dance around inside his chest. He almost thought it could be heart palpitations, but it only happened whenever he saw Takumi.

As he got out of his white FC, he noticed Takumi look his way and give him a smile. This corroborated his suspicions. Takumi had indeed been awaiting his arrival. Today would be the day that he confessed everything, except what was going on with his father. That was a conversation that would take a long time. Bunta was a very proud man, Ryousuke had come to deduce from their conversational sessions.

He approached Takumi and figured himself to be brave. He planted a brief but passionate kiss on Takumi's lips. Keisuke was already inside so there was more than enough privacy for them to get lost for a few seconds. Ryousuke smiled when he saw the hint of pink to Takumi's cheeks.

“What took you so long?,” Takumi asked trying not sound sulky. “When you had called Keisuke we had just pulled into the driveway. It took you an hour to get here. I thought you didn't like going the speed limit.”

“Hey! It is not my fault that rush hour traffic decided to follow me home,” Ryousuke chuckled. “Get changed, I want to take you out to dinner. If that would be alright with you, consider it a congratulations for surviving a cast.”

“Oh, okay. I thought you were wanting to take a practice run with me down the Akagi touge, but that works a little better,” Takumi replied happily. “I have to take a shower first, but it is good to finally be up without having to wobble.”

Ryousuke chuckled at what Takumi had just said. It was the first time that he had attempted to make a joke. He was actually pretty good at it. The more Ryousuke got to know the young driver, the more he realized that Takumi's social issues were a lack of confidence on his part. It was also attributed to his shyness, but Ryousuke knew that Takumi had to get to know people before he would open up. The closest family that Takumi had were his friends because he subconsciously did not trust his father.

Ryousuke walked into the kitchen where Keisuke sat eating some left-over food that he had brought back from Zenny's. Aside from the coffee, Ryousuke never understood why Keisuke loved that place so much. The food was bland and it lacked the kind of atmosphere that Ryousuke preferred. Then again, it was a friendly atmosphere that helped Takumi come out of his shell during the couple of meetings that Project D held there.

“Bro, what did Takumi's old man have to say,” Keisuke queried. He knew that what had happened was explained, but he still did not like that fact that Takumi was caught in that kind of situation. “I know that he has a good reason for the cause of his mood swings, but goddammn it, he better not take it out on my best friend anymore. I am tired of seeing cower in fear at the mention of his dad's name.”

“I understand what you mean, Keisuke. There really is nothing that can be done. Fortunately, his father has not mentioned if Takumi can come home yet,” Ryousuke responded to Keisuke's rant.

“You need to answer my question,” Keisuke demanded. “What did his father have to say?”

“It is really a complicated matter,” Ryousuke began. “His father does indeed love him, but the cause is really the tumor. If it were not inoperable, the problem would have been avoided when they found it. All the doctors can do is make sure that he is as comfortable as possible.”

“Oh, I just thought that it was some kind of depression causing them,” Keisuke replied. “Why didn't you tell me that he has a tumor, I would have been a little nicer.”

“Well, you tend to come to Takumi's defense faster than you do for me,” Ryousuke countered. “Besides, Takumi and I are going out to dinner. Do you want us to bring you anything?”

“Knowing you, I will have to ask if you could stop by Zenny's and get me a hamburger,” Keisuke answered. “I can't stand expensive plates with almost nothing on them.”

Ryousuke chuckled at the face that Keisuke made. He loved the taste, but what disappointed at the lack of food. Keisuke was imagining what a plate of food would look like if it were not from Zenny's. The lack of food in the picture he had in his mind, almost made Keisuke cry.

While they were exchanging chuckles, Takumi walked into the kitchen. He enjoyed staying with them. What most people fail to realize is the kindness that the Takahashi brothers possess. They were offering him a place to stay, no questions asked. Granted, they lived in a huge house with their parents gone most of the time; however, they preferred the company that Takumi was sure he failed to give them. The scene before him was intoxicating; he could not help but smile in response. The sunlight filtered through the blinds in the kitchen. It seemed to give radiance to everyone that was enveloped in that warm glow. Almost as if God, himself, were smiling down upon the moment to make sure that they were protected.

“Hey Takumi,” Ryousuke said between giggles. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, do you mind if I ask where or for what for?,” Takumi questioned.

“Well, to avoid discomfort,” Ryousuke retorted. “I will wait and tell you when we are in my car. Keisuke, we'll see you later okay?”

“Be careful,” Keisuke called after them.

There really was so much that could have been said at that moment. Keisuke was not ignorant or oblivious to the fact that Ryousuke and Takumi were spending so much time together. He had picked up on it the day that Ryousuke had personally went after Takumi to get him to join Project D. The sadness, the yearning that he noticed Ryousuke held in his eyes it was not hard to figure out what was going on indeed. Keisuke was glad that his brother had found someone that could finally make him happy, but he knew that hell would freeze over before he would rat out to their parents what was going on. He knew that, eventually, all would be revealed when the timing was right, but he could not suppress a smile of pride he felt for his brother. True happiness is found in what makes one happy deep within.

Ryousuke was following behind Takumi as they headed to the white FC. The occasion was indeed a happy one and one that he wanted to remember. The courage he had built was ready to overflow from the irregularity and dancing his heart seemed to do. Ryousuke wondered if this could be true love because he had heard his parents talk about how they felt when they first met. This feeling that his heart kept giving him, based on their descriptions, was almost the same.

Takumi sat in the passenger seat waiting for Ryousuke to enter the car. It seemed as if he were thinking of something that had made him content. The smile slowly stretched across his features, making sure not to mess with the quality of his face. The simplest pleasures in life are the ones that catch people off guard. It seemed that somehow Ryousuke felt Takumi watching him, but he was not startled or alarmed. In fact, his beamed a little brighter. They both reciprocated the same feelings and reached a mutual understanding in that brief moment. They knew that they were falling, but how hard was yet to be determined. Ryousuke opened the door and turned the ignition.

“Sorry for making you wait,” Ryousuke replied with that same genuine smile. “I was thinking about this feeling I get every time I look at you.”

“R-Really? I was wondering what was making you smile like all of a sudden,” Takumi responded in return, blushing a deep shade of crimson.

“I decided not to tell you where I am taking you,” Ryousuke replied. “The suspense will just have to kill you.”

“Don't tease like that, Ryousuke,” Takumi sulked. He had been looking forward to hearing where they were going. “You promised that you would tell me.”

“I know that I promised, but the look on your face is going to be much more worth - while,” Ryousuke stated as leaned in and kissed Takumi. He spun in and out with his tongue. He wanted to make Takumi yearn for him. He played and toyed with Takumi's tongue until he was panting for air.

“Okay, you win. I'll wait,” Takumi conceded happily.

“I knew that you'd see it my way,” Ryousuke teased as he kissed him lightly before pulling out of the driveway. The reason he had told Takumi to wait was simple, he had no clue where he wanted to take the young driver. There were so many places that he was worth the risk of gossip. It was almost a sigh of relief that he finally had something to hold onto. Takahashi Ryousuke was thought of as an entity, as a person that was not meant to be beholden. That kind of mentality had always him feel like a prize to be won or earned. Nothing mattered anymore, now that he had someone he had chosen for himself. Social status almost called for him to accept whomever his parents accepted; due to their constant traverses all over the globe, they had never pushed him because they were so loving. He only hoped that they would continue to let him live his life as long as he continued to succeed in all of his endeavors.

Even though he was happy, even though he had something to smile about, Ryousuke could not get Takumi's past out of his mind. The story that Bunta had confided in him had almost broken his heart. It had not made him pity, it had made him want to get up at that moment and comfort the lonely, shy driver that was in the passenger seat next to him. As he was thinking about this, his shifting hand subconsciously placed itself on the inner thigh of the passenger. This moment in time, pondering what to do next, Ryousuke had never felt such pure happiness.