Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any characters associated with it. This story is rated for a mature audience.
Check profile for story status.
Kagome wondered when the last time she had been in a car like this. It wasn't a bad car, opposite in fact. It was a high-end Lithen, a newer company that specialized in hydrogen and electric vehicles. Lithen cars were extremely popular among the upper-middle class as affordable luxury vehicles. This was one of their higher end models, fully-loaded from what she guessed. Still, this was a consumer car. She was used to cars that were manufactured in quantities of hundreds, maybe thousands, not tens of thousands. Her Porsche might be similar in looks to another more common model, but it was custom built. Including hers, only six existed in the world.
It was also clear that it wasn't Inuyasha's car. While he could drive it well enough, he wasn't quite as comfortable with all the controls as an owner would be. Regardless, she wasn't completely put off by it. After all, it certainly kept a low profile. No one would ever think a G-1 racer, especially one as popular as her, would ever be caught dead in a car like this. And here I am, she thought, looking around the interior. Her eyes settled on Inuyasha. Certainly don't mind the company. He was definitely her type looks wise. She wouldn't be here if he wasn't. Still, it was a little different then what she normally dated. He worked out, but it was obviously just cardio, and if he didn't, she was extremely jealous of his metabolism. There were no obvious signs of muscle, though she bet flexing would force some to show. Still, he took care of himself and had a nice, strong face with beautiful eyes. She was especially glad she had not allowed Sango to pick out her outfit. As it were, she matched his casualness with kaki cargo pants and an olive button-down. Hopefully, they would appear as an ordinary couple just out for dinner and a movie. She grinned. While it hadn't been his intention, he was certainly giving her a unique outing. Most dates involved dinner at places with waiting lists and menus with no price tags. After all, they were irrelevant when you just gave your credit card without bothering to check the bill. At those restaurants, the clientele didn't have to worry about prices.
"So, what's this mystery place?" she asked, giving him a smile.
"It wouldn't be a mystery if I told you."
She didn't like being left in the dark, but decided not to push it. Instead, she steered the conversation a different direction. "What do you think about this week's race?"
"The duel?" He thought for a moment. "Should be pretty entertaining." A duel race was when two teams were randomly picked to race against each other. They tended to be a bit more popular than the standard races as the racers could focus on just their target. It really got intense when two big rival teams went up against each other. This time, it was the Wolf Pack against the Canadian Crusaders.
She raised an eyebrow. "That's it? No speculation about the winner?"
"No," he said, taking a turn. "I don't know enough about the teams to really judge."
She didn't know whether to be impressed or appalled. "Don't you do pre-race strategy meetings?" They were the lifeblood of her team and proper preparation could mean the difference between winning or losing.
He shook his head slightly, keeping his eyes on the road. "We tried to way back in the days of the Road Dogs, but Hideki was too impatient to sit through them."
She giggled, just imagining a more arrogant Inuyasha fidgeting like a little kid during a lecture. It was surprising she hadn't met his brother yet, as social as he was. She briefly wondered what would have happened if she had met Hideki rather than Inuyasha. She certainly wouldn't be here, and she was thankful for that. "You should probably start having them again. Hideki's just going to have to suck it up." Inuyasha shrugged. She tilted her head slightly, looking over at him. "Why did you become a racer anyways?"
There was a brief silence. "Mostly because my dad did it. There was some rebellious teen in the decision too. Mom hates us racing. I don't think it's the actual sport more than the lifestyle around it."
"Is that why she keeps to herself?"
"Yeah. She… never quite got over dad's death. Not fully." Kagome realized that she was quickly getting into very personal, intimate knowledge. It made her chest feel slightly tighter than normal. He was sharing with her, things no one else knew about him and his family. No one gave out this sort of information readily. Falling into the wrong hands could be devastating to a racers carefully constructed PR-perfect image. He was smiling though as he thought back to old memories. "Hideki and I would race in those racer karts, you know those mock ones they had?"
Kagome nodded. "I never had one, but I remember them." Despite her life now, she had come from humble beginnings and those were expensive. Not to mention you had to have the land to properly use them, though she supposed a residential street would work just as well.
He chuckled. "They were clunky things. Hell, you could probably jog faster than they could go at full speed." His smile faded slightly. "But we would always race each other in them, taking turns pretending we were Dad." The smile was completely gone now. "Mom threw them away when he died. She threw many things away pertaining to the race. The important stuff she locked away in a few far off rooms. I think that was what really set us on the path to becoming racers. The more our mother tried to take the race from our lives, the more it drove us towards it. At least Sesshomaru and Hideki, I just followed after them."
She smiled. "It hasn't been all bad."
"No, it hasn't, but it had come with a price." She was about to ask him more when he pulled into an empty spot on the side of the road. She looked out the window. They were closer to her house than his. "We're here."
"How did you find this place?" she asked, still not finding an obvious restruant.
"Miroku took me here. He's our lead mechanic," he said clarifying.
"Ah," she said, getting out.
"There's still a little walk, but I wanted to grab a spot rather than risk not having one when we get there."
She shrugged. "It's a nice day anyways." Smiling, she walked beside him.
She grinned over at Inuyasha, turning her attention to the waiter as he dropped off their drinks. She got an Asahi while Inuyasha got… water. She resisted the urge to mention something. "How did you know I like sushi?"
He gave her a sheepish smile. "The internet." When she raised her eyebrows at him, he gave a half-shrug. "I figured if I wanted to know more about you, it would be the place to start."
Sitting back, she crossed her arms. "When I'm right here in front of you…" She smiled to show she wasn't upset. "But you have me at a disadvantage. I know nothing about you."
"Sure you do. I've been watched seemingly my entire life."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but that's all movie drama. Nothing actually factual."
"Well some of it is based in fact."
"Hollywood could make a movie about a zombie Hitler and say it's based in fact because there really was a guy named Hitler." She took a sip of her beer. "But you do know that a lot of that is carefully constructed PR BS, right?"
"Yeah."
She gave a curt nod. "Good." She felt a little nervous about what he knew. While she was better behaved than most racers, she still had some press worthy scandals. I guess if they were too much for him, we wouldn't be here. As for Inuyasha, he might as well been a saint. A squeaky clean past. She might have put that on him just emerging into the light, but with his family legacy, they got press too. Hideki had some DUI's and other minor things when he was younger.
She tipped her hat down lower when she noticed a group of girls looking in her direction. The last thing she wanted was people swarming them. She relaxed when the man they were looking at walked in. Apparently, they had seen him through the window they were setting by.
"You get recognized a lot?" he asked, noticing her behavior.
"How do you not get noticed?" He was barely doing anything to conceal his identity. Even if he wasn't that famous, him and his brother were quickly making themselves known.
"I don't know. Maybe people just don't notice me. When they do, it's mostly because they think I'm Hideki. They leave me alone when I tell them who I am." The waiter returned and took their order. After the waiter left, Kagome gave Inuyasha an interested look.
"Ramen?"
"Yeah, Myoga loves this place too. He's always brining carryout back to base for me."
She stared at him for a moment. "Myoga. The Myoga?" He looked confused. "The legendary coach of the Speed Demon?"
"Yeah," he seemed confused. "Why?"
"The man is a legend! He disappeared right after your father's… uh… accident."
"Sesshomaru found him. He's been training us."
"He trains you too?" She was going to have to have a serious talk with Sango and the girls next meeting. VI or no, they were going to have to really push themselves. The brothers were already shaking up the race as it was, with Myoga training them, they were only going to get better. It was also an incident of how careless and naive Inuyasha was. It may have seemed like an innocent piece of information, but with it, he had shown a very important card in his hand. It reminded her that she needed to be careful around him as well. "That's so cool!" The temptation was there, to push him for more information. She would get it too. She stopped herself. She wasn't going to allow herself to use him like that. The drive to dig more almost had a physical pain as she suppressed it.
"I thought so too at first. Once he gets into trainer mode though…" He shook his head. "He turns into a hard man to be around."
She smiled. "I bet."
His expression brightened. "I'll introduce you to him sometime."
Kagome's smiled widened. "I'd like that."
"You never told me about how you got into the sport."
She had a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "You didn't read that on the Internet as well?"
He spread his hands. "I figured I would ask the source directly."
She laughed lightly. "It's pretty much what's written. My dad worked for an industrial company that built construction machines. When they opened a new division to build racing machines, my father was promoted to run it. Through him, I got a job testing them." She took a decent drink of her beer before continuing. "From there, I was recruited into the G-4. After my first season, I moved up to G-3. G-2 a few seasons after that. Finally, Lexie recruited me to the Steel Angels. And here I am," she said spreading her hands apart.
"So did you want to be anything other than a racer?"
She shook her head. "No way. The moment I strapped into my first test machine, I knew I found my place."
Their food interrupted the flow of conversation for the moment and it slowed as they focused on eating. It picked up again as they headed to the theater. It was little things, stories of their childhood. She found it fascinating listening to how Hideki and Sesshomaru were always getting into trouble, usually dragging him into it as well. You never got any of it from any of the documentaries or movies about them.
As for the actual movie, Kagome wondered if she had a made a mistake suggesting it. She could understand why the critics were raving about it. The movie itself was fantastic. The writing was good, the production value, story, everything. Alvin Grosner was a fantastic actor and he was spot on playing the role of the Speed Demon. He won several awards playing him, which was usually why he was top of the list whenever someone wanted to make a racing movie about him. The problem was the content. In a way, the director was making a poignant statement about the racer lifestyle. It definitely wasn't telling the glory of the Greatest Racer, but rather the dark and gritty life behind it. Collectively, the public remembered the greatness of the man and forgot the flaws. This movie was all about the flaws, the drinking, the violence, most of all, the women. The sex scenes were long and graphic. The sex montage of him bedding dozens of women in rapid-fire succession was especially uncomfortable. She had never been one to flinch from a sex scene, but sitting next to the son of the man being portrayed on the screen was unnerving. She couldn't imagine what Inuyasha had to feel.
It was a silent walk back to the car. Kagome wondered if she had completely killed the great mood dinner had built. She struggled to think of something to talk about, but anything she thought of made it sound like she was trying to avoid talking about the movie. While that was the point, she didn't want to be obvious about her aversion. Luckily, it was Inuyasha who broke the silence.
"My father was a pretty popular guy, wasn't he?" he chuckled. She matched his laughter, pulling her hair back from her face as the night breeze picked up.
"He was a great racer," she said, putting her hands in her pockets.
He nodded, looking off into the distance. "He was a terrible father though." Kagome turned to look at him as they walked. He laughed. It had a somber tone to it. "You know, I actually remember Hailee and Anna."
She was surprised. "You knew them?"
"Vaguely. It was a long time ago and I was young. The movie was actually wrong about that."
"Oh?" Kagome said. She was genuinely interested about it. Hailee and Anna were the two mistresses everyone knew about. Some conspiracy theorists believed Anna was really the mother of the twins, pointing out the hair color and eyes. Both recessive, it would have been impossible for her to conceive kids with their father's famous features. It was easily debunked if you looked back in his wife's family history as her grandfather had the same eyes and someone else carried the hair color.
"Yeah, all that drama never happened." He grinned. "That's Hollywood for you."
She laughed. "Yeah."
He nodded. "I remember meeting them though. It was after some race. I forget the reasoning behind it, but Sesshomaru and Hideki were with my mother. I was with Dad when he met up with them at the hotel." Kagome watched him with wide eyes as they walked. "He told me to wait outside the room when he took them inside. I didn't know what they were doing until much later though. So yeah, they never fought over him like the movie suggested. From what I remember, it sounded like he was always bedding them together. He certainly did that night."
"That's… uh… wow." Kagome didn't know what else to say. It was a little mind blowing to think you know a story so well, only to find out it was completely wrong. After all, the stories behind those two sisters were almost as big as the legend himself.
He nodded. "I think I only remember because Mom found out about it. She was furious that he had left me outside like that. I remember her shouts, then her cries. His only response was, 'Well should I have brought him inside to wait?'" His laugh was a single, humorless laugh. "That's one of the strongest memories of my father." He looked over at her, meeting her gaze. "So you say you're envious of my father. I'm not. I'm envious of yours, the one who cared enough about his daughter to make sure she got a good job, who supported her as she clawed her way to fulfil her dreams." He clutched at his necklace.
"What's that?" she asked, eyeing his necklace.
"It's from my father. Hideki has one too, though good luck catching him wearing it, if he even still has it. A trinket for a forgotten birthday."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Kagome said, her voice low.
After tightening his grip on the necklace, he released it. "I wear it as a reminder to myself. No matter what I do, I am myself. Hideki does everything he can to follow in our father's footsteps. No. He wants to be greater than our father."
"And you?"
"This is to remind me of who our father was, and how I am not him."
Grinning, she stood up to kiss him on the cheek. He looked surprised. "No, you're not. I never knew your father, not the way you did, but even I can tell you are worlds apart."
He smiled. She felt giddy knowing she had been the cause of it. "Thanks." He opened the car door for her. She slid in, letting him close the door for her. She smiled. And here I thought the movie had killed the mood.
"Are you sure you don't want me to drop you off in front of the building?"
Kagome shook her head. "No. Paparazzi are always watching."
"Ah."
"I had a lot of fun tonight."
"Surprisingly, I did too."
She gave him an irritated look. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, I was a little worried that this wouldn't really be your style. Once it looked like you were enjoying yourself, I got to relax a little. Next time, I'll pick the movie."
It sounded like a farewell, the date coming to a close. She gently bit her lower lip, butterflies in her stomach. God, what am I, a schoolgirl? "Say, you want to come up?" she asked, brushing hair behind her ears.
He seemed taken aback by the preposition, like it had been the farthest thing from his mind. "Uh… for what?"
"I was just thinking since we were having such a great time tonight, it didn't have to end here." She hoped she wasn't being too forward. At the same time, she hoped he picked up on her intentions. With him, she never knew.
By the way he was fidgeting, she knew he understood what she was suggesting. She almost sighed in relief. "I… Kagome…" He took a deep breath before straightening up, looking straight at her. "You are a beautiful woman and I would be lying if I said I didn't want that."
"But?" she asked softly, knowing it was coming.
"But we just started this. Each moment together, we learn about one another. When it happens, I want it to happen naturally, not because it was offered." He licked his lips. "Is that okay?"
She punched him in the arm, causing him to jerk in surprise. "Who knew you were such a romantic?" She laughed, stepping closer to him. Hands against his chest, she stood on her toes to press her lips against his. Head tilted slightly, she parted her lips to run her tongue along his lips. With an impish grin, she backed away. "At least that's okay, right?" she whispered. He nodded dumbly, too surprised to say anything else. "Goodnight Inuyasha," she said, slowly backing away. He nodded again. Smiling, she turned away, walking towards her apartment building, hands clasped behind her back.
She was definitely giddy, her body feeling lighter than normal. To her surprise, she wasn't even disappointed in being turned down, even though it was the first time it had happened. She thought back to the kiss, smiling. He was a terrible kisser, but that didn't seem to matter. None of it seemed to. Her heart was thudding against her chest as she paused in the opening of the lobby, an almost physical reaction to her thought. Oh god. Am I actually falling for him?
Miroku found himself wondering how it was going for Inuyasha. He had been surprised when he announced he was going out, and with whom. Miroku wished him the best, he really did, but he worried. Kagome was a fellow racer and did anything she could to win. Was she using Inuyasha for something? After all, he certainly was the black sheep on the track. Miroku would never say anything aloud, but Inuyasha was the better racer on the team. His intuition and skill seemed more keen than his more visible brother. He just lacked the confidence and ambition of Hideki. He never mentioned anything to Inuyasha though. This was important to him, and Miroku was going to do everything he could for him both on and off the track. That was what friends were for after all. Besides, if Kagome did have some ulterior motive for all this, they would deal with that later. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
"Hey, it's a good stopping point tonight," he said, wiping his hands on a rag. "Let's call it a night."
"What about the rear shoulder armor?" Edward said, looking down from his position on the machine.
"That's another four hours. We'll do it tomorrow." Shrugging, Edward made his way down the machine.
Elizabeth walked over, handing her tablet over. "I need you to check off on these."
"Sure," he said, taking it. Clearing the queue, he synced it with the master he held before holding it back. He paused a moment, looking at her. It had been too long since they had done anything together. Even something as routine as getting coffee had ceased. He found he was missing it, not so much on the physical level, but mental as well. She knew her way around machines as well as anyone else, but she had the ability to keep his abstract ideas grounded in reality, the perfect counterweight to lofty ideas. Inuyasha's machine was as much her idea as his. It was a huge loss that their relationship had turned into this.
"Inuyasha's using my car tonight." She looked surprised. "Yeah, I know. Surprised me too. Apparently he has a hot date tonight."
"Inuyasha?" Her eyes narrowed. "Are you sure you're not confusing one brother for another?"
"Oh, it was definitely Inuyasha." He grinned, pretending to wipe away a tear. "Our baby's growing up." Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her tablet from him.
"So what now, you need a ride home?"
"That would be great." He suddenly remembered the odd stand-off terms their relationship had turned into and quickly added, "If not, I can get a taxi or ask Edward."
She shook her head. "No, I'll take you."
He smiled. "Thanks."
Miroku dropped off the tablets in his office before heading to the locker room to change. He found Elizabeth already changed and waiting for him. In a few minutes, he had locked the hanger door and set the alarm. He stretched his sore arm as they walked to her car. It was a BMW electric. She had splurged on her car rather than getting a decent apartment. It really suited her personality. Machines were everything where things like living space were secondary.
The lights blinked as she unlocked it with her key fob. Getting in, she silently started the car and pulled out of the lot. It was an awkward silence. Miroku looked out the window, wondering if it was actually a mistake forcing this. What was I actually expecting?
"So," she said, breaking the silence. Her eyes were forward as she spoke. It looked forced. "How are things going?"
He shrugged, knowing she really couldn't see him do it. "It's been busy. Sesshomaru and I have managed to whittle down the list of potential new hires, so it will be nice to have some more hands helping out." She gave a curt nod. "I've also been working on a new beta OS for Inuyasha's machine. I wanted something a little more open-ended for possible enhancements down the line."
"I'd like to look it over," she said. Miroku almost smiled. It was true, Inuyasha's machine was as much her baby as his. She would never let him install something without her looking it over.
"Sure. I'll put a copy on your tab tomorrow morning." She nodded, eyes still focused on the road. Ah screw it. He needed to take a leap. He was tired of this standoff between them. "I've missed you." He could see her throat tighten as she struggled to keep her eyes on the road. "I don't see why we can't—"
"I broke it off with him."
"Huh?"
"The other guy."
"That's…" She was waiting. He could tell she was, but he didn't have an answer. What could he say? Was it good? He certainly didn't like how he had been reduced to second string, but he didn't have any place to tell her who she could go out with. He knew she had strong feelings for him. He wished nothing more than to be able to return them. She was a smart, attractive woman and they made a great team. However, as much as he wished otherwise, he couldn't see her as anything more than a college and friend.
She sighed, tightening her grip on the steering wheel. "I honestly don't know what I expected."
"I'm sorry," he said. No matter how much he meant it, it could never be enough.
"No, I'm sorry. You've always been very clear on how things stand. Thank you for that." He nodded. He also noticed they were not going to his place. He said nothing, allowing silence to descend on them.
Illuminated by the glow of her computer, Miroku took a quick look over his shoulder to the sleeping Elizabeth. It was like nothing had ever happened. He had been welcomed back to her bed with every bit of passion as she could muster. He rubbed the back of his neck. Maybe a little too passionate. Either he was misremembering, or she wanted things a lot rougher in bed than he remembered. Still, it was nice to be back.
"What are you doing?" she asked sleepily.
"I had a thought about a possible design modification for Hideki's machine. Next season of course."
She sighed. "I would tell you to come back to bed…" He could hear the sheets shifting as she got up. "But I'll offer coffee instead." He grinned. She really did know him well. A few minutes later, she was back with a steaming cup of coffee. She hadn't bothered getting dressed, standing there naked as she watched him work. He took a sip, trying to keep his attention focused. Damn her, she's teasing me on purpose.
Her arm crossed his vision, pointing at something on the screen. "That isn't going to work. You will need extra armor there and the weight distribution will be off."
"Not if we change the frame here and here to compensate."
She frowned. "Yeah it will work, but we are talking about dropping the top speed by a considerable amount." He sighed. This is why he liked her. She took his ideas and trashed them. If he wanted a pass, he had to work at it. He didn't understand why, but he was at his best like this. It was like sex with Elizabeth cleared his mind and allowed his creative energy to pour freely out of him. Many, many sessions had built Inuyasha's machine and was as close to their child as they would ever get. It was only with her too. Other woman didn't give quite the potency as she did. One of the reasons why he always came back to her. Damn it, I always feel like I'm taking advantage of her feelings. He knew she loved him, and one day, he truly hoped this would end. That she would find a nice man who would shower her with the love she deserved. He loved her, but it was another sort of love, something that transcended simple friendship, but could never breach the realm of lovers. He would miss her, god would he miss her, but he wanted it. She deserved to be happy in ways he could never give her.
She rested her hand on his shoulder, taking a sip of coffee. "It was worth a look at though." A silence. "I really missed this," she said softly.
"Other guy not big into racing machines?" He knew the casual way he could talk about her other lovers was painful for her. She wanted it to somehow stir something inside him. It didn't. There was no jealousy, the same how there was no guilt for bedding another woman.
"Oh he loved racing," she took another sip. "Fantastic in bed, but his after-sex conversation was lacking."
Miroku gaped up at her. "Better than me?!"
She grinned. "Oh, worlds apart." She broke into a smile before leaning down and kissing him on the forehead. "But I'll pick you any day of the week." Taking her coffee, he set it down on the table. She looked at him with an arched eyebrow as he led her back to bed.
"And?" Sango said, skipping normal phone etiquette.
Kagome fell back onto her couch, staring up at the ceiling. "It went well." There was a pause.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"That's… boring. Here I was expecting a juicy story."
"I'm sorry."
"What's wrong? You don't sound like you normally do."
"I think I might actually like him."
"Of course you do. You made the first move, remember?"
"No, I mean, I might actually like him."
Sango seemed to understand what she was trying to say. "You mean like, 'love' like?"
"Nothing that serious! But… yeah. I think I like him."
"Oh shit. You okay?"
"No."
"Want me to come over?"
"Please."
"I'll be over in five." The line went dead. Sighing, Kagome let the phone fall to the couch, which then slid to the floor. She never expected something like this. She wished he had come up with her. They would have had their moment in bed and that would be that. A few more times down the road if it was good and they would just… drift apart. It's what always happened. No, Inuyasha was expecting more. It hadn't been until the very last moment when she realized just how seriously he had been taking everything, and how casual she had been about it. She had been trained to play the short game. It was the moment of 'now.' Enjoy what you could, then move on to the next. Now that she had learned what the true game they were playing, she had big decisions to make. Taking a deep breath, she curled into a ball and thought.
"You seem happy," Hideki said, eyeing him suspiciously. He found it suspicious anytime Inuyasha looked forward to simulator runs.
"Probably because he had a date!" Miroku said grinning.
"You're fucking with me!"
"You did?" Kikyo sounded… overjoyed. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. "With who? Someone we know?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Means he's still a virgin," Hideki said, sliding into the simulator.
"Don't listen to him!" Kikyo said, chastising him with a glare. She smiled over at him. "So? Who was it?"
"I… Not yet."
"Okay," she said, holding her hands up to her chest. "No pressure." She did wrap him in a hug, squeezing him tightly. "I'm so happy for you though! I can't wait to meet her!"
"Come on! Let's just do this!" Hideki shouted before closing his door.
Kikyo gave a 'humph' but released Inuyasha so he could get inside his simulator. As the door closed, he saw her still smiling. As darkness fell around him, Inuyasha took a deep breath. Right now, he felt guilty. He liked Kagome. Last night had been a lot of fun, more than he had in a long time. Yet he still loved Kikyo. Even now, his heart was racing from her embrace. It was unfair to Kagome that his heart was split like this. Still, he was working on it. Hal told him things take time and he just needed to be willing to work on it. He was working on it, but his heart was stubborn.
The darkness was replaced by a mock track. Shaking his head, he cleared his thoughts, focusing on the training. "I've changed the AI to one of my own making," Myoga said over the speakers. "I think it's time the kiddie gloves came off."
With a serious expression, Inuyasha grabbed the controls. He found the lack of noise soothing inside his simulator. If only the real thing was as easy.
Kouga lit his cigarette, slowly exhaling as he stood naked on the balcony, staring at the moon above. Hardly anyone smoked cigarettes anymore. They were damn expensive. Luckily, he had more than enough money to burn. He didn't worry about anyone seeing him naked either being on the eighteenth floor. If someone did, well, fuck'em. He took another drag and looked over his shoulder. Minori was inside tending to her equipment. The only reason he ever agreed to be interviewed by her is because she spread her legs so easily. God is she a good fuck, he thought, burning through his cigarette. As for her personality and skill at her job, who the hell cared? He got what he wanted, a fine piece of ass in bed, and she got what she wanted.
"I'm ready now," she called out to him. Grumbling, he flicked the burning stub over the side. He wondered if it would hit anyone. That would be great. Exhaling the smoke one last time, he walked into the hotel room, a broad smile on his face as he rubbed his hands together.
She smiled as he walked in. He knew she didn't like him. Not matter how great an actress she was, he could tell a fake smile when he saw one. His grin was genuine. Fake or not, the little slut certainly wasn't faking that orgasm. "The Wolf Pack is one of the first teams to participate in the duel race this season. As a former G-2 pilot, this will be a new event for you. Nervous?"
He chuckled. "No way. To me, this is just another race and I'm going to do what I do with every race: win."
"That's certainly a bold claim."
"It's not a claim, it's a promise."
"You certainly made an entrance. You placed first in your debut race despite the controversy."
His expression darkened. "What do you mean 'despite the controversy.'"
"The collaboration with Siege Hammer was deemed illegal by the IRL. If not for the Dog Demons manager's agreement with the IRL to not pursue damages in return for immediate rule changes, it's very likely the win would have been forfeit."
"Perhaps if they had been more willing to follow protocol, they would have received a warmer welcome."
"And what protocol would that be?"
"Those country bumpkins are pretend racers living off the breadcrumbs of a mediocre racer."
"Their father is regarded as one of the best the sport has ever seen."
Kouga gave a hearty laugh. He was wiping a tear from his eye as he spoke. "The man rode straight into a wall and killed himself. Hardly the best."
"It's a brave stance for a new racer to take, insulting a world-beloved figure."
He jammed his thumb against his chest. "It's because people need to stop living in the past. This is now. We are better than ever, and at the end of this season, I'll be on top of it all."
Minori shifted slightly in her seat. Kouga's eyes fell to her pert breasts. They never left as she asked her next question. "Earlier, you described Hideki and Inuyasha as, 'country bumpkins.' Care to elaborate?"
"They have no place here. They feel like they are special because they got magic tickets to the front of the line. Everyone is here because they deserve to be. We all fought through the lower G circuits to be standing right where we are." His voice had a heated tone as he spoke. "They used their father's name to get them where skill could not."
"And yet the brothers have impressed the world with moves such as the Hideki Spin and their inspiring victory against Knight Gunmen. Both moves have won them fans across the globe with people calling their races as exciting and inspiring as the original Speed Demon himself. Would this not suggest they are capable of racing among the best in the world?"
"We're done," he said, turning to move back to the balcony.
She stood up and followed him. "With such feats under their belt, do you see team Dog Demon as a threat?"
"I said we are done!" he shouted, whipping back on her. To her credit, she didn't flinch, her eyes glancing up at his raised fist. Taking a deep breath, he slowly lowered his fist. Her shoulders noticeably relaxed as well. Not completely without effect. Even if she was willing to take a hit from him, she knew how small a woman she was. "You've exceeded the time and welcome your pussy bought. Either get on your knees and start sucking, or get the fuck out."
Calmly, she put her equipment away and slid on her clothes. He noticed she stuffed her bra and panties in her bag to expedite the dressing process. "I believe I have what I need." He lit up another cigarette. She gave him that fake smile of hers. "I wish you luck on your race tomorrow. I hope you'll remember me when you are giving post-race interviews."
He took a long drag from his cigarette. "Well I guess that depends on you." She tilted her head ever-so-slightly, raising an eyebrow just a tiny bit. "A nice bareback fuck with a creampie finish does wonders to loosen lips," he said grinning.
She straightened her back, that smile still firmly in place. "That depends entirely on you."
He raised his eyebrows as he exhaled smoke towards her. Her nose wrinkled slightly. "Oh?"
"I'm only interviewing the winner." With that, she turned and walked out. Kouga nearly snapped the cigarette in half as he ripped it from his mouth. Fucking bitch. She was going to get it tomorrow, that was for sure. Turning, he stormed out towards the balcony.
Sergio Gomes was the 'voice' of Racing. With his smooth, rich voice and slight Spanish-accented English, the announcer was as big as the racers themselves. Combined with his long-time partner-in-crime Tommy Parker, the two were famed for their commentary and lightning-fast wit. Even people in the stands, seeing the action themselves often tuned in to listen to their insightful observations and humor.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us out here in this beautiful sunny day in my hometown of Madrid. Nothing makes this homecoming better than to be commentating on the first duel match of the season, isn't that right Tommy?"
"That's right Sergio. Right now, we are looking at a scorching 98 on the track, but that hasn't stopped people from filling the stands."
Sergio laughed, his rich voice flowing out to millions listening in throughout the world. "It will take more than that to stop us Spaniards from enjoying what's guaranteed to be an exciting race!"
"But the weather isn't the only thing heating up our booth today," Tommy said, his voice projecting his smile. "Today we are joined by a special guest, the beautiful Kagome Higurashi of the Steel Angels. Kagome?"
"Thank you for having me."
"Oh no," Sergio said quickly. "Thank you."
"So tell us Kagome, who do you think is going over the line first?"
"Hmm, I'd say Wolf Pack, but Canadian Crusaders will certainly give them a hard time."
"And which team are you going to be rooting for?" Sergio asked.
"I'll be rooting for the Canadian Crusaders. Oh now don't give me that surprised look Sergio! I've always been a fan of the Crusaders."
"This is news to me!" Tommy said.
"They are the scrappiest bunch I've ever had the pleasure to race with. They've had a rough past few seasons, but they have been greats sportsmen and have always keep their heads high."
"Indeed they do." Sergio this time. "It looks like we still have a few minutes before they start. You'll be racing again next week, correct?"
"That's right. We'll be facing off against Dog Demon's and Siege Hammer."
"Dog Demon's… Now they are an exciting team to watch! No offense Kagome."
"Ha-ha! None taken. They certainly know how to surprise you."
"Worried about next week?"
"Not at all, if anything, I'm looking forward to it!"
"I believe I can speak for everyone when I say we are too. Oh, it looks like things are about to get started here. Yes, the engines are spinning up now." (Sergio)
"Before they start the countdown, Kagome, can you give us a brief introduction to the duel race format for any first-time viewers out there?" (Tommy)
"Of course. Unlike the standard three-team races, the duel format is a two versus two. However it's not the typical team race, as individual points are awarded in addition to team points. Individual points are only acquired in these special races that will take the place of a regular race at specific points this season."
"And what are these individual points used for?" (Sergio)
"At the end of the season, it's used to determine rankings amongst teammates."
"Give us an example if you would Kagome."
"Sure thing Sergio. Let's say my team, Steel Angels, comes in first place this season."
"Somehow I knew you would!"
"Now, now Tommy, let her finish!"
"Well, everyone knows there are two people on a team and both are equally responsible for that placement, so how do we get our first and second place racers? That is where the individual points come into play. Placing above your teammate will get you a point lead over them. At the end of the season, the racer with the most individual places highest on the team."
"So if your team comes in, say, third?"
"Then the racers will be fifth and sixth overall. This is what makes the duel races unique and interesting. You have two teams fighting against each other, but also teammates facing off against one another."
"So it's a free-for-all?" (Tommy)
"Ha-ha, in a way, I can see how you might confuse it. There is a very delicate balance. As a whole, you want your team to win first. After all, team points are far more important than the individual ones. However, you do get fewer individual points for coming in say, third overall. The key is to finish with both team racers in the first and second positions, and of course, you want to be in the first spot."
"Wow, I can understand why so many racers get nervous about it."
"In some ways Sergio, these are the toughest races in the season. You have to balance the needs of the team with individual ambition. You can't just leave your teammate out to dry and claim glory for yourself, that can break the team. After all, at the end of the race, you are still teammates."
"Thank you for that wonderful explanation Kagome."
"I could not have said it any better myself. Oh, it looks like the race is about to start. Sergio?"
"We have the two Wolf Pack machines on the right side, Canadian Crusaders on the left. You can tell by the hushed crowd that we are all excited about the opening shots of this very important race."
"We have the first red. Yellow. Yellow. Yellow and green-green-GREEN!"
"Look at them go! Off like rockets! We have Wolf Pack One pilot Kouga taking the early lead with Canadian Crusader Ace on his tail."
"Oh my Sergio! Did you see that hit!?"
"It certainly knocked Ace around, but look! His teammate Jean is coming in from behind to help his stricken teammate."
"Looking back up at the front, both Wolf Pack machines are pulling ahead with machine one slightly ahead of the other. Two is pulling up beside him and— Wait, what's this?! OH NO! Wolf Pack One has just attacked his teammate!"
"A glancing blow off the front of the machine. A shove almost, just enough to send it to the wall. Crusaders are approaching fast!"
"Kagome, is that legal?"
"Of course, though you don't usually want to do something as extreme as that unless you are on very good terms with your teammate. Even still…"
"Crusaders are back up. Look at that teamwork! The both pass on either side of Katsuki."
"He prefers Katsu, Tommy!"
"It looks like Katsu is shaken up by that."
"He obviously wasn't expecting it," Kagome's voice chimed in. "It put Kouga in the lead, but I wonder if the cost was worth it."
"Kouga is now left in a 1 vs 2 match as Ace and Jean keep him cornered. OH! That hit! Ace lands a solid hit on Kouga's machine. AH! Another one by Jean! Kouga is in trouble and his teammate! Oh! His teammate is still behind!"
"It doesn't look like he's trying very hard to catch up Sergio."
"No, it certainly does not! Meanwhile Ace and Jean are taking their time knocking around Kouga's machine. This reminds me of another race Tommy."
"What race is that?"
"The Knight Gunmen against Dog Demons."
"That was an exciting matchup Sergio, and it does share some similar parallels. Kouga is certainly paying for his mistake of shaking off his teammate so early in the match. However, I think we can all agree this is nothing compared to that brutal beating."
"He's fallen behind. A solid third now. Both Canadian Crusaders are pulling ahead." (Sergio)
"I notice they aren't attacking one another. Kagome, it looks like you wish to say something."
"It's one of the reasons why I respect them so much. Out of all the teams, Ace and Jean is probably the best synced team there is, beating out even Natalie and Jarred of the Drunken Dusters. They focus on the team victory, letting individual rankings come naturally."
"Another development. Both Crusaders are entering speed mode. Kouga fast behind them. Even Katsu has gained ground, returning to the side of his teammate."
"Oh boy Sergio, I would love to be able to listen into that team chatter. Their manager has got to be fuming!"
"Agreed Tommy! But what is important now is if they can regain lost ground."
"Their machines are lighter and focus more on speed. Chances are very good that the Wolf Pack isn't out of this yet."
"Thank you Kagome. And it's true! Already we see the gap slowly closing. Oh! Crusaders are back in battle mode! Wolf Pack following suite! And here we are! 2 vs 2! Slugging it out!" (Sergio)
"Kouga makes a dash at Ace! Ace blocks! Pushes back! You can see the anger in those attacks! He is not happy!"
"Ace is a man of honor. He probably doesn't like the way Kouga is treating his teammate."
"Thanks for that insight Kagome! Jean is fending off a desperate assault by Katsu. Ace coming into assist. Teamwork at its finest! Both are holding them back as we are into the second lap!" (Sergio)
"Kouga slips into lead again as both Crusaders lock Katsu down. Is he—? HE IS! He is in speed mode! Leaving his teammate behind a second time! This time locked in a 2v1!"
"Jean pulling away for the chase! Ace and Katsu going at it and POW! Katsu takes a hit. Sparks fly as he runs the wall and falls behind. Ace already moving after Jean and Katsu. Thoughts Kagome?"
"Perhaps Kouga is still racing with a G-2 mindset."
"Oh, please elaborate while we have this brief moment. Jean slowly catching up to Kouga."
"G-2 has a different setup than G-1. Teams are a much looser concept. There are triple the teams and each team is broken up into two, a lead and a support. The lead's job is to win while support does everything they can to ensure the lead crosses the line first. There, points are scored solely on the position of the lead."
"So even if the support comes in first?" (Tommy)
"It doesn't count. The placement is whatever the lead is. Kouga was lead of the Rangers. This might explain some of his behavior."
"This is coming right after his debut race collusion scandal and his Minori interview just this morning!" (Sergio)
"I read it too! Certainly did not cast a particularly kind light on him!"
"It took me by surprise too. Minori usually isn't that scathing in her interviews."
"You should know better than anyone Kagome! Oh! Here we go. Jean has finally caught up to Kouga, no! SHE PASSED HIM! OH MY WORD!" (Sergio)
"It makes you wonder if he was even paying attention! What's this? She's switching to battle mode! Oh! A big hit while in speed mode! That had to have done some damage as we enter the third lap."
"She's slowing him down so Ace can catch up."
"Is that right? Thank you for that Kagome. This is what teamwork is all about ladies and gentlemen. We have a black and white comparison of sportsmanship on the track today."
"It doesn't like Katsu is going to catch up." (Tommy)
"No, it certainly does not. It appears he is having issues keeping his speed up. There is fluctuations in his speed."
"It does look like that two on one earlier has left some lingering damage."
"And Kouga is still in speed mode, though Jean is doing her best to slow him down."
"The power in his machine is incredible! He is just pushing her down the track!"
"But it's not enough. Ace is quickly catching up! Wait! Something is happening."
"Hold on ladies and gentlemen, give us a second to put into words what is happening."
"It looks like his is transforming Tommy!"
"He is violently lashing out at Jean! Oh my! She is in trouble! He has managed to partially lift her machine off the track! What is he doing?"
"He is attacking her leg! The leg of the machine! Oh! Ladies and gentlemen! The damage being done down there is tremendous! Metal plating is flying!"
"I already see IRL cleaners inbound. Yes! There it is! The yellow caution flag. All racers are slowing to allow the cleaners to clear the track."
"Kagome, you have a shocked look on your face. Can you describe what we just witnessed?"
"He was quite obviously aiming to remove her permanently from the race. While the legs are armored, they are designed to protect against scraping, not hammering. While it is not illegal, we avoid leg shots if possible."
"You seem upset." (Tommy)
"Upset? I'm furious! This entire race has been a mockery of G-1 racing. I know it can get heated down there. The desire to win is incredible, but this entire display has cheapened the race. What Kouga has done is equivalent to tripping a track runner or purposefully kicking the knee of an opposing football player, though for all my fellow American's out there, I was talking about soccer."
"I certainly agree with your feelings on this one Kagome. And it looks like the track is clear. The green flag is up and the racers are on their way. Kouga has dropped Jean and is speeding off. Ace coming in and… oh! He's slowing down! Can you believe this? He is carrying the stricken machine down the track."
"And there goes Katsu, securing second place. Ace doesn't seem concerned about that though. He isn't going to leave his teammate behind."
"It looks like we have our victor today, but I think we can all agree that the victory goes to another. It doesn't seem like Kouga is too concerned about pulling ahead though."
"That's probably because the two-minute barrier is disabled in duel races. You could lap the other team as many times as you want, but you'll still have to finish the race the normal way."
"Thank you for clearing that up Kagome. Now, to recap for those who are just tuning in…"
"What the fuck was that?" Katsu shouted. Kouga gracefully ducked under the thrown helmet, crashing into his armored machine behind him. Coolly, he ran a hand through his hair.
"I believe that was us winning the race."
"You fucking walled me! Then you just fucking run off when I am double teamed?"
He shrugged, nonchalantly glancing down at his fingers, rubbing them together like they had dirt on them. "I can't help your skill is so low a simple tap will send you sprawling out of control. As for leaving you behind, I knew one of them would chase me."
"I'm going to fucking kill you!" Katsu said, rushing forward. Kouga deftly stepped out of his way, his foot tripping the man, sending him face-first into the concrete below.
"Please, you're a million years too slow to touch me."
"That's enough! Both of you!" their manager said, her heels clicking ominously on the concrete as she approached. Her eyes locked with his. Those green eyes were filled with fury. God she is hot when she is mad. "What is fucking wrong with you? Do you have any idea in that pea-sized brain of yours, what you have done?"
"I won the race."
"You fucking rallied the crowd against you!" She pointed behind her. "Do you know what I heard when you crossed the line? Booing. Fucking BOOING!" She was inches from him. Her face was a mixture of barely controlled rage and frustration. He wanted nothing more than to bend her over and— "If I didn't have an entire god damn season left, I would fire your ass right here and now! You abandon your teammate, display some of the worst sportsmanship, and all this on top of collusion charges and a piss-poor interview with one of the most respected and popular reporters on the planet!"
He grinned. "You finished?"
She slapped him. Hard. "Do not dare smile like that. I will not tolerate a Naraku on my team." He glared down at her. "You are good, but there are plenty more like you just waiting for the chance. I will replace you like that," she said, snapping her fingers.
His grin returned. "I believe that's your father's decision to make. Last I checked, he owns the team, not you."
Her face reddened slightly. Oh yeah. "Starting now, you are a saint! You hear me? A god damn SAINT or so help me god, mid-season or not, I will end your career right here and now. Do you understand?" She waited for his response. "I ASKED IF YOU UNDERSTAND."
"Yeah, I do." She continued to linger close, never loosing eye contact. Finally, she backed away, still facing him. Slowly, she turned and stormed off. There was only so far the cuteness could take you, and it was running thin on her. Once she cooled down, she'd be back. They always came back.
She stopped, partly turning around. "And just in case you forgot," she said, glaring back at him. "It may be my father's money that pays the bills, but it's my call on personnel."
Cracking his neck, he walked over to the table where his personal effects were. Grabbing his phone, he checked the call history. A grin spread across his face as he saw Minori's name on the screen. They always come back.
Naraku was entirely impressed by Leone. In the end, the man had fulfilled his promise and introduced a pair of wonderful blondes. Both were incredibly beautiful and despite differing haircuts, identical. They had been completely star struck and eager to impress.
Naraku was relaxing in the nude on his plush leather recliner. He perused Minori's latest interview with the upstart Kouga. His performance today had been despicable, allowing his teammate to wander in such an uncontrollable manner was inexcusable. In every pack, there will always be an alpha male. Kouga was weak, and his teammate's disobedience was proof of that. Had it been his race, none of it would have happened. After all, it was only natural for him to come in first.
Glancing over, Naraku was pleased to see the twins training was progressing well. They were actually surprisingly amenable to a great many things. It didn't take nearly the amount of time to break down their reluctance to pleasure one another. The ghost of a grin touched his lips as he watched the 'older' sister do her work between the 'younger' ones legs. It was getting to the point where they might actually be enjoying it. Still, there were bruises on both their bodies showing that not everything had gone smoothly. He was proud of his accomplishments thus far. Two sisters were on the cusp of transcending simple sisterly love. Under his tender care, they would embrace one another as true lovers. Yet as wonderful as it was, it still stirred a deep rage within him as the sight of them inevitably reminded him of them. The twins that scorned him. It was one of the rare moments where he lost control and struck the lovely twins not out of punishment, but rage. It was disgraceful that he would allow himself to succumb to such anger and that he would raise a fist to them simply because they reminded him of such despicable human trash. Since then, he had taken great care to sooth their wounds and focus their attention to each other rather than to himself.
Taking a deep breath, he forced them from his mind and focused back on his paper. In the end, Kouga was a hothead, but ultimately not a threat. The Steel Angels and Drunken Dusters might pose a problem, but it was nothing he could not overcome. As for the Dog Demon's, well, he was developing a special plan for them.
A squeal brought his attention back to the girls. The older one looked over at him expectantly. He smiled. She had brought her younger sister to orgasm and was looking for her reward. He stood up, already fully erect from the younger's moans. She greedily began doing to him what she had to her sister. He sighed, closing his eyes, his last sight her blond ponytail swishing from side to side as her mouth slid along his shaft. Everything would turn out as he wanted. It always did.
Had to rewrite this chapter twice because I didn't like the way it turned out. Even now I feel its not like it should be.
Back when I started this, the show IGPX was a huge influence on it. I had completely forgotten about it until now.
Thanks everyone for the reviews. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know you are enjoying the story! Until next chapter.