"There's never been a race quite like it…but the champion is beaten! Xin Akashi-Feng is the winner of Round 12 of the Japanese Grand Touring Cat Chamiponship…"

Cameras flashed and reporters amassed in their usual huddle, all eager to get their piece of the latest shockwave to hit the JGTC. At the centre of the huddle, Xin stood parked, beaming with twisted pride in his achievement. He was just loving every minute of it.

"Xin-san, how do you feel about becoming the first car to finish ahead of Shinji Katayama in a race?" fired off one reporter.

The silver Skyline's reply was a watered down version of what he'd rather say. "I feel amazing! The greatest race of my life! It's such a shame to see a great champion throw away his chances like that…"

That last comment dripped with sarcasm. Xin happily posed for more pictures and answered some more questions, before he summoned his entourage to usher the media circus away. The silver Nissan then coolly sidled back to his trailer, to have a long sip of petrol.

He replayed the moment he'd rammed his pathetic excuse for a rival into the barrier, and deviously cackled to himself each time he thought about it.

Now that championship will be mine for the taking…that pile of scrap metal will never make the next race…

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Every racecar despised the emergency garage. There was one at every track in the JGTC, but it didn't matter which one, for they were all equally dimly lit and ominous.

It was called emergency garage for a reason - only severe crash victims were brought into that unwelcoming place, usually because their own team garages didn't have the necessary resources to carry out such a massive repair job. When a car was brought in, they would go in not knowing whether they would come back out alive and revving, or as extra junk for the scrapheap. Many a crashed racer had perished within these garages.

An anxious Hiroshi gradually made his way into the emergency garage, followed closely by an equally anxious Sun, Banzai, Bonsai and Takahashi. As they drove in, they saw the first car that had crashed during the race, parked upon a maintenance platform, looking depressed, and giving slight groans of pain from his crash damage. Next to him was another car, covered in a blanket. Any car covered in a blanket was, at worst, destined for the scrapyard, or at best, destined never to set tyres on a racetrack again.

Hiroshi gave a small gasp as he caught sight of the car in the far left corner of the garage. Parked in front of the car was a sobbing Rikishi. Of course, he himself had suffered some crash damage, but thankfully for him, it wasn't severe enough to put him in the emergency garage. It added to his guilt instead.

Rikishi's words were choked with sorrow. "Gomen, Shinka-san…gomen…I was too…reckless…I was trying...to be like you out there today…"

In front of him, the crumpled Shinka was barely conscious, but was taking in everything Rikishi was saying.

"Rikishi-san…it…it wasn't your…fault…" he spoke, his vocal delivery low, stuttered and laboured, "you're having…bad luck enough…as it…is…the last thing I…I want…is for you…to blame…yourself for…for me…ending…up like this…"

The crestfallen Toyota looked at Shinka with tear glazed eyes. He saw the stricken champion as an inspiration to his racing career, and had never thought he'd ever see his hero in such a state.

"Promise me…that you'll be OK, Shinka-san. A…a lot of cars look up to you, you know…"

Shinka gave a weak nod. "I…I promise, Rik…Rikishi-san…please…don't worry yourself…sick about…me…"

Rikishi acknowledged him, then saw the other cars making their way over. He gave them a greeting nod, and then slowly drove off out of the garage.

Hiroshi, Sun, Banzai, Bonsai and Takahashi collectively gasped in shock as they saw Shinka for the first time since the crash.

"Oh my…" began Hiroshi, trailing off as he surveyed his best friend's damage. The Kagashima twins were speechless in shock. Takahashi uttered an exclamation in Japanese.

Shinka gave a weary sigh. "It's not…as bad as you think…"

His yellow Nismo friend was quick to disagree. "Sumimasen, Shinka, but I can't believe you just said that! You were nearly killed out there!"

Bonsai chipped in. "It must have been horrible…how did it happen?"

Her brother followed suit. "Yeah, somethin' must have gone down…I mean, this is the first crash you've ever had…you're normally slick on any corner…"

"He possibly crushed by one other?" suggested Takahashi in his broken English.

Shinka grimaced, unseen to the others. No…

The group went silent after the black Toyota's suggestion. Banzai, naturally went into overdrive.

"That's it…it must be! He was second place when you crashed! Why, that lousy, cheatin' gichi! If I see him, I'll shove a rivet up his exhaust!"

"Banzai!" scolded Bonsai, quickly changing composure, "but hey, he's right…that Xin has got a lot to answer for…"

"I agree stronger! Down with race crusher!" announced Takahashi.

Hiroshi was also in agreement. "He's gotten away with his cheating and car ramming for so long. We should report him to the JGTC committee…"

"Stop it! All of you!" Sun suddenly yelled. At once everyone ceased conversation.

"Before we can think about reporting Xin-san, we need proof, and all we have is just rumours!"

After a small pause, she gazed at Shinka. "And before that, Shinka needs to rest…and if we do report Xin and he was to find out it was us who did, who knows what he could do…Shinka could be put in danger again…"

No response from the others, until Bonsai spoke. "That's true…and really, Shinka should have the say…after all, he is the victim here."

The cars nodded in agreement, then all looked at Shinka. Just by looking at them, he could tell they wanted an answer.

"Guys…let's just drop it…onegai shimasu…" he replied.

Hiroshi sighed. "OK, Shinka…if it's what you want…but he can't keep getting away with it."

Shinka gave a nod. "Can I…have some time…to myself…please?"

"Of course," replied Hiroshi, signalling for the others to leave. As they sidled away, they each gave Shinka a "take care, get well" in Japanese.

"Sun…Sun…" Shinka called out wearily, "stay with me…"

The other cars exited the garage as Sun stopped and turned round, driving back over to Shinka's space. Her eyes were full of tears, and she was barely holding them back.

"Don't cry, Sun…" coaxed Shinka, "I'll be…fine…"

"I hate seeing you like this…" spoke Sun, her voice dripping in sorrow.

"Everything…will be OK…" replied Shinka soothingly, "I will get…fixed up in time…for the next race…"

This horrified Sun. "You need to recuperate, Shinka…the next race is in only two days! If you rush yourself getting fixed up it may make things worse…"

Shinka could feel the agitation and panic in her voice. He hated to hear Sun upset. The truth was, she was right. But he couldn't give it up. He needed his race.

Or did he?

"Sun…I…"

"What? What is it, Shinka?"

The courage once again deserted him. It was hardly the most convenient time, anyway.

"Never…mind…forget it…"

"You are trying to tell me something, Shinka…please, just tell me…"

"It's nothing…honest…please, I need to rest…"

Sun sighed, disappointed and drained. "I understand…" She was still sure of what Shinka was trying to say through that wall he'd put up.

She turned to leave the garage, but as she did Shinka spoke one last set of words.

"Domo arigato…for stopping with me…and please, don't worry…"

Sun's metallic heart melted as she heard those words and drove off out of the garage. She even managed a small heart-warmed smile to herself despite the tears.

I'm sure of it…I'll think of you, Shinka…I know you're thinking of me…please, get well so you can tell me…

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A red sunset blazed across the horizon of Kyoto as the numerous racing teams packed up to leave the city. Obviously, the main topic of conversation in the paddock was that of Shinka's horror crash. Not that the race winner had been overlooked, of course.

Team Xanavi were taking the time to throw a party. Of course, they believed that their racer had driven a fantastic race to take pole position and were totally unaware of his underhand methods. And naturally, Xin was lapping up the attention.

In stark contrast, the mood in the Team Calsonic camp was heavily downbeat. However, Seika had spoken to the press earlier on, adamantly reassuring that his mechanics would "do all they could to get Shinka race worthy for the next race in Nagasaki."

Indeed, they were now busy helping the emergency crew, making repairs to the blue Nissan himself, within the emergency garage.

Meanwhile, Hiroshi was parked outside his trailer, watching the sunset. However, his mind wasn't on that. The way Shinka had crashed that day was painful to him. Not just because his best friend almost died.

Because someone did.

Just then, Banzai sidled past the Xanavi tent, on his way back to his trailer. He saw the team partying, and was instantly filled with rage. He tried to contain himself, but seeing the arrogant smug upon Xin's face was enough to get him going.

"Yeah, that's right…" spat the embittered NSX, "party away…like the cheating freak you are…"

Xin just laughed him off. "Now freak I maybe, but cheating and me do not mix, Banzai-san…go and rest, you've obviously let the pressures of today get to you…"

Banzai wasn't about to let it lie. "I swear…if you cause another car to crash, especially Shinka or myself…I'll give ya pain!"

"Who are you to throw accusations at my racer!" barked Xin's team boss, clearly aggravated by Banzai's protests. "He's done nothing wrong, he is an excellent racer…you're just jealous because you're not doing so well!"

"Yeah!" piped up a member of the Xanavi pit crew, "you're just looking for the attention! Just because your team sucks!"

"Run along back to your trailer and stew in your own pot, Banzai…I have no time for ignorant whelps like yourself," taunted Xin, as he was presently joined by a couple of female cars.

Boiling with white hot anger, Banzai sped back to his trailer. He just wished he could get his own back on that cheater somehow. He'd been bullied by him for far too long.

Something had to give. Sooner or later.

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"Glad you're OK now, Shinka!" beamed Hideo over the radio to his charge, "the guys did a great job fixing you up! You'll blow everyone away at Suzuka…"

"Domo, Hideo-san…"replied Shinka, watching the night sky through the trailer window as a lone plane's light shot across the dark sky. Kyoto had now been left behind. Another chapter closed.

Shinka took a glance at himself. The mechanics had indeed done a good job, though not perfect. They'd had to use industrial-strength tape to stick some of his parts together again, and his paintwork still bore the sharp scratches. The main thing was that his main body was intact once again.

However, that had been the first racing accident Shinka had been through, and it had been a traumatic experience for him. He kept going over the moment he'd been rammed over and over again. So much that it was starting to prey on his mind.

Doubts now ran through him. What if Xin were to try another stunt like that again?

What if he wasn't so lucky next time? Was it all worth the risk for a place in the history books?

Shinka's thoughts of the constant pressure from the fans, his team, and the whole record business then re-ignited. It would be so much simpler if for once they would just let me be…

"You're quiet, Shinka," chimed Hideo over the radio, "something wrong?"

Shinka knew Hideo meant well with his constant chat, but right now it felt more like bugging. "I'm fine…just a bit lagged, that's all…"

"That's no surprise, considering what you've been through," commented Hideo in acknowledgement, "but hey, there's a first time for everything…hey, you know your buddy Hiroshi? He came second place…"

Shinka just stopped short from snapping. "I know he came second place, Hideo, and he didn't really care much. Look, I just want to get some shut-eye, so could you just drop the chatter for a while?"

Hideo was slightly startled by Shinka's tone of voice. He wasn't usually annoyed by his chat.

"Uh…OK, Shinka…goodnight, I guess…"

With that, Shinka closed his eyes and drifted off into sleep, feeling guilty for getting annoyed with Hideo. As he drifted off, he visualised Sun in his mind…her angelic voice being drowned out by the sea of fans' voices screaming "Shinka! Shinka!"…

Make them stop…stop calling my name…