Initial D Fan Fiction ❯ Rush ❯ Endorphine Rush ( Chapter 5 )

After their many encounters, they lay thinking of different things. Takumi was haunted by the events that had traumatized him at the early age of three. Ryousuke thought about the same subject, he actually was thinking of a simulation with which to ease the topic of conversation towards that topic. He knew that the young driver did not like being backed into a corner. Every downhill racer that he faced did that because they assumed he did not know much and also his age. His age was the main factor in that equation. Fujiwara was impressive at the young age of nineteen. He had graduated and was determined and driven to be the best driver that he could be.

The longer Ryousuke thought about Takumi, the more he realized that he knew enough and at the same time very little. Takumi was a private person. He knew that it was a privilege to see him smile, even if it was a little one, reserved as they were. Talking was something that his lover, oh how he enjoyed that thought, something that Takumi had to accustom himself with. He was not lacking in intellect or conversational skills. Takumi's biggest problem had always been confidence in himself around other people, this much Ryousuke had deduced from their countless evenings out together without anyone else from Project D. Ryousuke felt Takumi shift to where he was facing the younger driver.

“I bet you want to hear about that day when I was three,” Takumi said, from left field. This had taken Ryousuke by surprise. He knew that Takumi was taking a gamble in confiding in someone for the first time.

“I am more than interested because it is a part of you. I want to know everything about you, Takumi,” Ryousuke replied, lovingly stroking Takumi's cheek.

“I know, I have never had anyone, besides my friend Itsuki. Even he never heard about what happened or about my mother,” Takumi retorted. “He was a great friend and all, but I never really trusted him or anyone for that matter. That was my motto until I met you, Ryousuke-san.”

“You never cease to amaze me,” Ryousuke replied. “You are shy and timid, but once you get behind the wheel, you become confident and aggressive. The aggressiveness that you possess creates an aura around you that draws people to you. I know that I was one of those people that fell into the jet stream that your personality creates.”

“ I…I just don't know where to begin with this,” Takumi responded shyly. “That was not that long ago, but it was. I remember only the extreme feeling of loneliness. I also remember what my mother looks like, vaguely, though I do remember her.”

“I know that something like that must have been traumatic,” Ryousuke commented as he wrapped his arms around Takumi. “The important thing is that you carry a part of her with you. I bet that she must have been a very good person because you are very humble and well worth pining after.”

“I guess that you are right,” Takumi conceded. “You are not such a bad person yourself, Ryousuke-san.”

“Takumi, your manners are above social norm, but please stop calling me Ryousuke-san,” Ryousuke chided. “I call everything from Fujiwara to Takumi-kun. Please stop it with the formalities.”

“I…uh…I apologize,” Takumi stuttered feeling embarrassed. “Ryousuke calling you by your name is something that I will have to get used to.”

“It's all right,” Ryousuke retorted while planting a chaste kiss on Takumi's lips. He wanted to deepen the gesture because he was still feeling the euphoria of their prior activities. However, the nagging sensation to have Takumi talk about the event that caused his hospital phobia was stronger. “Please tell me about that day.”

Against Takumi's instincts, which had somehow become better judgment, he knew that this was the one person that would not laugh at him. The person that had bore his soul to him and the one that would accept him no matter what. His friends from the Speed Stars had let themselves succumb to inferiority complex. That had made him apprehensive of getting to know people within Project D. Ryousuke, however, knew that Takumi would eventually warm up to everyone because he was the kind of person that people had a hard time disliking.

Beholden his trepidation, Takumi started remembering the day in every detail that he could muster. His frame of mind, the details of the hospital corner, the smell. It was that smell that sparked the domino effect of memories to cascade the tale out of his mouth.

//Flashback//

The ambulance sirens were louder than usual. The concern on the faces of the EMTs was enough to realize the gravity of the situation. Anytime a woman over forty goes into labor there are always risks and complications, but more importantly chronic fatigue. Mrs. Fujiwara was pregnant and overage. The shock had worn off within the first trimester of her pregnancy. The happy couple were taking their time with her breathing, but there was an underlying concern as to the haste with which the ambulance was driven. Her body appeared to be healthy enough to try for a natural labor. Preeclampsia is a condition that most OBGYNs pay close attention to. It is a condition in which the heart rate can be dangerous for both the fetus and the mother. During a doctor's appointment, if there is a dangerously high blood pressure recorded, they medically induce the labor for the sake of both mom and fetus. Her blood pressure kept climbing and fluctuating, but they were still nowhere near the hospital.

Fast asleep in the front seat was the son of the happy couple, under normal circumstances they would have found someone to watch him. Given the hour, they figured that no one would be willing to watch him. Every minute that they were prolonged from the hospital was a minute too long.

As the ambulance pulled up to the ER, the three year old was placed to sleep in the waiting room by the front desk. Bunta made sure that Takumi was still asleep and went to fill out the necessary paperwork. They had already rushed his wife to the delivery ER, but as standard procedures go, he was to fill out the forms before heading to delivery.

Hour after hour passed, but there was no head that could be seen. Her cervix had dilated the full ten centimeters required for natural labor; however, due to age and the way the baby was positioned, she was not having an easy time pushing or breathing. They had been there for almost twenty-four hours already, but still there was no sign of an end to the stalemate between body and fetus. Doctors were preparing to perform a caesarian section when the unthinkable had happened. Sometimes it is possible that during birth, women are put through the most agonizing pain and torture that their bodies can withstand. It is possible for the pressure to be felt in the brain, as a result of the extreme concentration necessary to labor their breathing, to cause an aneurysm. This is where a vessel in the brain swells beyond the confines of the skull and ultimately causes death. They noticed her vitals flat-lining almost too late.

Meanwhile, the three year old boy waiting in the waiting area, had noticed that his mother and his father were nowhere to be found. He didn't just want to wander around and look for them because he knew that it would just make them worry the way he was worried about them. The entire time he had been asleep, he had noticed the smell. Hospitals were always a sterile environment that somehow reminded society of elderly people. It was always the smell that drove the little boy hysterical. Something about the smell always signaled that something bad was going to happen. A heartbroken and distraught three year old started wandering about the waiting room looking and calling out to his father. He found the furthest corner away from all the people and the sympathetic looks that were not his father.

The doctors were still trying to see if they could do something about the fetus that had breached. They had kept the body of Mrs. Fujiwara attached to machines to make her breath, anything in an attempt to save the young life that was almost there. A breached birth happens when the fetus does not turn fully and tries to come out feet first. This is difficult because the fetus could wrap around the umbilical cord and choke to death, as was the case in this certain scenario. The father was stunned and trying to assist them in anyway necessary. His wife had barely managed to keep her body alive, but their efforts were making them feel as if it were all in vain.

The woman's body had not managed to release the fetus from the uterus at all. They had performed the cesarean, but still could not tell if the head was blue or just the right color. They had yet to see the baby. For twelve hours they struggled to see what was going on with the fetus. Was it still getting enough oxygen? Could it be pulled out and then resuscitated? Something had to be done, the doctors should be able to do something. It was not until the second day was almost over that they realized that their efforts were in vain. By the time they had reached the fetus, the newborn was considered a still born. They had reached the fetus only to discover that it had asphyxiated, the cause was the umbilical cord. This gave Bunta the greatest shock of his life, he had lost the love of his life and his future daughter. There was an extreme need to grieve, but it was during this moment that he belatedly thought of Takumi. He had not seen the boy since the first day at the hospital.

Time and space did not seem to matter to the distraught figure that was huddled in the corner. He neither slept nor ate because he did not know what was going to happen. He only wished that his father had been able to at least say good bye. He vaguely heard voices and chattering of staff trying to locate the father. It was only when they were trying to locate the father that Bunta emerged, defeated, but determined to leave a legacy behind.

It was at this moment that he was informed of his son's condition. The situation had helped the little three year old developed hysteria, a thorough examination had concluded that he was going to be all right. Carefully and cautiously, Bunta eased himself into Takumi's line of vision. He knew that any sudden movements would only raise alarm and cause the lad to run away. By the time he had reached the reddened eyes of his son, the boy had realized that his father was there and instantly flung himself into the strong arms awaiting arms.

//End Flashback//

After hearing Takumi's story, Ryousuke wrapped his arms even tighter around the younger driver. Tomorrow was going to be a trying day for the younger driver, he was going to be forced to push past mental barriers he was not ready to face. Project D was going strong and had all ready caught up on the time that Takumi was forced to take off. Ryousuke still had time to finish working out his theory to full completion before he had to devote himself to Medical School. Though, now he was not so sure if he could leave Takumi like that. Ryousuke knew that his parents were aware of their relationship and knew that they thought the world of him because he was so shy and reserved. It added to his appeal in the form of humbleness, and only made his parents all the more accepting of the odd couple.

“My father should be calling me tomorrow,” Ryousuke said after a poignant silence. “It is only to remind us where we should go. By the way, what time is it?”

“My guess would be that the time is around twelve thirty or so, why,” Takumi replied. He felt safe and secure for the first time in his life. He knew that Ryousuke was going to continue his studies elsewhere, but still decided to overlook that for now.
“Well, I guess we had better get to sleep,” Ryousuke chuckled pulling the covers over their entwined bodies. He kissed Takumi once again on the lips and kept it reserved and innocent. Then he whispered in Takumi's ear. “I will stay with you for as long you let me. Please let me love you forever.”

“You can stay with me forever. Let me love you forever,” Takumi replied, kissing him in return. They wanted to continue their explorations of each other, but knew that they had better sleep. It was a peaceful, dreamless sleep that Takumi had for the first time in his life.

Ryousuke watched the young driver as he slept. He saw the first contented smile fall upon those soft, luscious lips. He had to think some more about where he wanted to go with his life. His plans were still headed toward Medicine, but he now had to add Takumi into the equation. There was no way he could leave his love alone. His family had managed to bring him out of the existential loneliness that had encompassed his life thus far. It was only a matter of figuring out what to do about it. Ryousuke picked up his cell and dialed his father, he knew that his father was going to up thinking about what to do about the elder Fujiwara.

“Takahashi senior speaking,” His father said, knowing that only Ryousuke would call him this late if something were seriously bothering him.

“Father, I know you know who this is. I have a problem. Nothing about wanting to stop pursuing medicine, but more about what to do with Takumi,” Ryousuke never liked dancing around the issue whenever he talked to his father. “I just realized how much I love him and now I feel that if I were to leave for school as planned it would be betraying him at the same time.”

“That is a problem, son. I know that when I met your mother, I felt the same way. Of course she never had the baggage that Takumi has, I know that he is not a charity case, but you have done good for him. Leaving at the scheduled time would only cause more trauma for him. It might make him think that you were only using him,” his father thought aloud. “I see this kind of thing with my patients sometimes, they need counseling, but still choose to confide in their doctors. It is an honor and a burden at the same time. Well, we could make him go with you, right now, that seems to be the only conclusion that I can think of.”

“I was thinking the same thing, but he is the kind of person that prefers to rely on only himself. He just barely started relying on me last night. I have known him for almost two years,” Ryousuke replied.

“Are you with him right now,” his father wondered.

“Of course, he could sleep through anything, except his alarm clock,” Ryousuke mused. Suddenly, he realized that he knew Takumi as well as Bunta did, but more intimately. He realized how hard it was for the young driver to make that kind of connection with anyone. “Father, I really need your help with this. Trust is something that Takumi does not do very well. I think that his mind still thinks of himself as being abandoned. He feels that way about the friends he used to have and the girl he was trying to date.”

“Abandonment issues are a touchy subject with anyone trying to make a connection on an intimate level. You, apparently, know him very, very well. Almost enough to ask if he would want to go with you. If you decide to move in together, let me take care of it. I don't want you two worrying about that because you need to focus on school. Takumi, on the other hand, needs to sort himself out. A home is supposed to be a haven of rest not WWIII,” his father stated. Knowing from personal experience and having supported himself through college, the elder Takahashi did not want his son struggling like that while trying to become a doctor.

“Father that is something that I never wanted to ask. Since you insisted in your usual manner, I guess that I have no say in this matter. One thing that is going weigh heavy on Takumi's mind is what to do about the family business. I know that I had wanted to suggest that I move in with him, if he wanted to stay here,” Ryousuke pondered aloud, proof that he was like his father.

“That is another thing that we need to talk about with the hapless youth. He is mature enough to decide what to do on his own, but I remember you telling me that he does need someone to be there for him to remind him of personal hygiene. I guess we could talk about that later. The poor boy is going to have a tough time ahead of him. His father's illness is not something that he is emotionally prepared to handle,” his father stated. He wanted to ask how he took the news. He was hesitant about bringing the topic up for discussion because what they were doing did not seem right. Deciding for Takumi what was going to happen without consulting him for his opinion, but he knew that they had to simulate a way that would make Fujiwara feel comfortable.

“He took the news better than expected, but he still took it fairly hard,” Ryousuke said knowing why his father was so quiet. “I am glad that you talked me into following him tonight. There would have been a major catastrophe if I had given them their space like I had wanted.”

“There is that, but I could see it in your eyes. You needed to be there to show him that he is not alone, anymore,” Takahashi senior interjected. “It is later than I thought, I will meet you at the neurological wing of Akagi General, okay. Take care of your better half.”

“Goodnight,” Ryousuke said through a huge yawn that he had been fighting the entire conversation. He hit the end call button on his cell phone and turned to Takumi. The young driver indeed radiated something that his entire family had sensed. They were more accepting than they would have had it been someone else. Absent mindedly, Ryousuke started running his hands over Takumi's arm that had snaked its way around his waist.

Tomorrow was indeed going to be a tough day. Not only was Takumi going to be forced to push past his phobia, but he was going to say good bye to the only family he had left. Ryousuke knew that Takumi would not visit his father; yet, based on what happened at dinner earlier that evening, he knew that he would keep in touch.

What he had been discussing with his father he was not going to discuss with Takumi yet. Project D was still traversing the islands of Japan proving the theory that he had been working on since he first met the downhill genius. He still had yet to ask about the necessity of the water cup. It had to be a balance tactic as well as a way to know how the tofu in the back was fairing. He wondered how Keisuke would drive if he had to carry tofu in the back of his FD. It takes great skill to be able to deliver something like that in its entirety.

Ryousuke finally managed to stop his brain from working. He turned and faced Takumi, wrapping his arms tightly around him. Takumi snuggled closer wrapping his other arm around Ryousuke. Indeed it was the first night in the young driver's short life that he had experienced anything remotely close to happiness or even a peaceful night's sleep for that matter. Ryousuke knew that letting his father take care of things for them was going to be the silver lining that Takumi deserved. For now, sleep was the most important of all tasks left to do. They both were going to need every ounce of energy that they could assemble. There was no way knowing how the younger driver was going to react to being there at the hospital.