Author's note: I got a message saying if Akio is Shou's tuner, how come they acted as if they've never met back in Gear One. If readers remember correctly, Akio was the one who insisted on letting Shou raced for them. Anyways, in this chapter, it'll be the first time a special something will be mentioned. See if you can spot it.

Gear Eight, Shift three: Flame, Time In

A.K.A; Tuner-King Battle

Everything is in motion and every motion is in place. Are you ready, to take on the oppressor of wind?

The day of the battle…

The redhead stood on the roof, awaiting the arrival of his opponent. The heavy afternoon sun beat down on him yet not a trickle of sweat was seen on his face. Beside him, stood a female of around the same age, her blue hair tied up in two coils. He wore a black jacket and dark blue pants in the blistering heat and she was wearing a tight green suit usually worn by mechanics and carried a large tool box with her.

"Pledge Queen Ine Makigami and Flame King Spitfire, long time no see." Akio said, appearing from behind. He wore a stunning black tuxedo with a matching tie, seemingly to have just gotten off work but have his favorite chain belt with him. He didn't have his cap with him that day so his snow white hair blended in with his black outfit perfectly.

"Where's your friend Akio? They've been calling him the Cyclone King lately. Is he really that good to be recognized as a King?" Spitfire replied, turning to face him.

"I see you've bought your guitar." Ine pointed out to the case on Akio's back.

Akio took a quick look at his case and smiled. "Well, we're battling against two Kings. Not to mention they're Gravity Child. And Ine, you really need to dye back your hair. That color just doesn't suit you." He said cheerily as if they were having a friendly chat over breakfast.

"There should be some other reason why you called us out. I mean, experience riders such as you two won't just bet Regalias for the fun of it." Shou said, landing beside Akio. He was wearing his trademark white hoody as usual with casual black jeans. "You guys must be looking for Kings. Mind I ask what for?"

"It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with Sleeping Forest now would it?" Akio added in.

"You sure are a sharp one." Spitfire said, mostly directed to Shou. "No it has nothing to do with us. But, I want to battle you first before I tell you."

XXX

They were led through a small dark alley way by a man who only introduced himself as Conon whose face was covered with a blue bike helmet with a sticker of their team emblem. A jump rope coiled up, leaving a small space in the centre where the team name was written in. They passed through a door into a building which smelled of cigarettes and drugs, finally reaching a door at the end which leads to more alleys. After what seems like hours, the group reached an empty lot where seven men and two women were waiting. They were all wearing bike helmets similar to Conon's.

"Welcome," one of them said, taking off his helmet, revealing his scar across the left eye and a green bandana. "I'm Jason, nice to meet you. You know the rules right? So I'm not going to explain any further. Who are going to be in your first team?"

"Jason huh, what are you a foreigner or something?" Amaya asked half mindedly.

Jason gave a short laugh. "No, I'm no foreigner. My mom just got a thing for English names. And if you're wondering, I and Conon," He points to Conon who have taken off his helmet. "are your next opponent."

Conon is around his late teen. With his face bruised with marks of past fights. He too, wears a bandana but his is blue.

"So what do you think Tsubasa?" Miu asked the King.

Tsubasa had chosen to wear a black zipped up jacket today with white track pants.

"Judging by their ATs, they've most likely have been riding the longest." Tsubasa said, huddling the Duals in a small circle so their opponents can't hear them. "Our best should take them on."

"So should I partner you then?" Miu suggested.

"No," Tsubasa replied. "I'll go with Shin."

Everyone turned, including the opposing team members, to look at Shin who has taken a chair and took a sit in the corner of the lot, listening to an MP3 with lots of knobs and buttons. His right leg still in wrapped up in a bandage. He took off his headphones and answered with a cheerful, "Yes?"

"I said I'll be partnering you!" Tsubasa yelled out loud.

"You're kidding right?" Jason asked,

"No, we're quite serious."

XXX

Spitfire and Shou charged at each other with such speed that they disappeared upon acceleration and only reappeared upon impact. Akio and Ine hung back, Akio taking out his guitar. It was an electric guitar colored metallic blue and the neck, a metallic white. There were eight strings compared to the normal six and twelve tuning keys at the headstock. The design was a V-shape with a black screen in between the gap of the V.

"You're not using your Regalia?" Akio asked Ine.

"I don't see the point. A Gravity Child's Regalia don't need tuning."

Shou attacked with a Cartridge Slide which Spitfire dodge with a quick turn. He activated his Flame Regalia, lighting a flame at his heel, riding round Shou in a circle, trapping him in a cage of flame.

Flame Road, Flame Typhoon

Let's see you get out of that one.

Within the flames, Shou kicked himself off the ground and did a back flip on the spot, followed by a second. During the second one, he kicked a ball of air similar to the Magnum Air up to the sky. Unlike the Magnum air however, it whizzes around in a spiral, opposite to the direction of the flames which slowly died down.

Left Core Infinite Atmosphere, Spirale Air

"I see why they call you a King." Spitfire commented.

"I've got more than that up my sleeves." Shou replied. "I'll beat you up good."

"We'll see about that. Ine!"

Spitfire jumped back to where Ine stood and swung his legs at her but missed her intentionally. Ine's hands seems to flash for a moment before Spitfire landed from his kick and burst of the starting line, a large burst of flames followed behind him. He jumped into a flip and Shou wasn't able to dodge as he sends a burning leg down at him. Upon touch, there was a loud explosion and Shou was engulfed in a ball of flame which spat him out and straight into the wall of the building opposite.

Meteor Fall

Most of Shou's clothes were burned and his skin was red. His jean has large holes in them and blood was dripping from his head. He managed to grab onto the edge of a window and swings himself back up onto the roof top.

"That wasn't half bad." Shou coughed, wiping the blood from his face. He stuck out his right hand and to Spitfire's shock, his white hoody came floating back down unburned onto his awaiting hand. Now, all that was covering his body was a slightly burned black shirt.

"You managed to react to that attack." Spitfire said. "You threw your hoody up right before the kick hit you."

"What did you put on Spit's Air Trecks?" Akio asked Ine.

"Bombs," Ine replied calmly. "small ones which I attached to his springs, rig to explode upon compression. The heat from his Regalia made the outer shell soft enough to be pressed."

"I see." Akio said. He swung out his guitar and strums all eight of the strings, then went to turn two of the tuning keys and gave a thumb up to Shou. "Will you be switching Gears?"

"After seeing that performance, there won't be a need to." Shou replied calmly.

XXX

Tsubasa was lead through the door by Conon and Jason with Shin leaning against him for support.

"Are you sure you don't want to change members? It isn't to late…yet." Jason asked.

"It's fine." Tsubasa replied, helping Shin into a corner.

Shin sat down and took out his MP3 again and began listening to it.

They were in a large room, more like a lobby of sort with all windows barred up. Suddenly, the lights turned on and Tsubasa and Shin got a good look of the place. The main door, made of glass has been bared up from the outside and right in front of it is a crescent reception desk made of marble, same as the floor. To the right is a spiral staircase leading up to ten meters before disappearing into the ceiling. Further right holds what seems like two elevator doors all barred up.

The left holds the place where they entered from and a ramp which leads to another landing ramp. Beside that there's a six by nine meters half pipe and a tunnel which enters directly from the end of the half pipe and out near the reception table. White patches on the floor suggested there where other things placed there but has been removed some time ago. There were six pillars, two at the right, two at the centre and two at the left which reaches the ceiling.

"This battle will be over before it even started!" Conon yelled. He had already charged in for an attack while Tsubasa surveyed the surroundings.

But all Tsubasa did was glided backwards and the punch completely missed him.

"You don't think they called me a king for my good looks did you?" Tsubasa said coolly with a wink.

Conon stumbled but regained his feet. He charged forward and attempted a slide while from behind, Jason attacked high. Tsubasa again, glided back. He bends over and Jason missed completely, flying over the rider. After that, he immediately jumped and Conon missed as well.

"The best tag Storm Rider team, don't make me laugh."

Jason spat at the ground and took a look around the room for anything he can use. That's when he spot Shin in the corner and made a rush for him. Conon also went after him.

"I knew you guys were dirty but I didn't know you were this dirty." Tsubasa said, appearing in front of Jason from out of nowhere. "Now you've finally given me a reason to use this." He continued, directing the sentence to his Regalia.

He kicked his right leg backward with plenty of force and the wheels spun with loud velocity. Air was seen entering the Regalia and out of fear, Conon and Jason charged at him, hoping to get Tsubasa while he was distracted.

Shin was concentrated on the music he was listening to as his fingers turned the knobs and pressed the buttons on his MP3 with ferocious speed. Tsubasa's wheels turned faster and he lifted his leg up, releasing the bullet before sending it back down again. The air bullet was much larger than any of its previous incarnation.

"Are you ready for this?!" Tsubasa yelled. "Shotgun Air!

Multiple bullets penetrated both Jason and Conon's body, sending them flying backwards into a pillar and the reception desk respectively.

Shin-Tsubasa Tuner-King Special, Shotgun Air

Bang! This battle is over.

XXX

The cyclone will blow you away…

Shou has gotten in front of Akio and back to back, started to do The Flare, a breakdance move where he supports his body with his arms, swings his legs around his stationary torso in continuous circles. Air is gathered in his Regalia and released every rotation, causing a continuous barrage of Spirale Air. Akio behind, constantly playing his guitar and tuning it with a quick hand.

Akio-Shou Tuner-King special, Gatling Air

"If he keeps this up, that Regalia will burn out for sure." He thought after dodging a shot. After a few minutes, the barrage continued. "It should have worn out by now. Unless…"

"I surrender!" Spitfire shouted suddenly and the barrage came to an immediate stop.

"What gives?" Shou said while sitting up.

"You're guitar, it can tune the Regalia from a distance right?" Spitfire asked Akio.

"Wireless Tuning Equipment. Me and Shin's proudest achievement." Akio replied.

"If that's the case, I've lost and like I promised, I'll tell you why I asked you here."

"Don't you think that was very anti-climatic?" Shou asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I thought I was doing a pretty good job at owning your ass good so why stop now?" Shou was quite disappointed. He gave a sigh, "Anyway, did you see how I got up that wall just now."

"Shou," Spitfire said coolly. "I'M SORRY BUT I HAD MY BACK TURNED."

In the quiet corner, Ine was giving silent chuckles. "Idiots."

Author's end note: I know the battle with Jason and Conon was kind of shot but it'll all be explained in the next Shift.

Tricks

Flame Typhoon: With the activation of the Flame Regalia, Spitfire can create a large burst of flame at his heels. By riding around an opponent in a circle, it can create a sort of flame typhoon, trapping the enemy in the centre.

Spirale Air: Same concept as the Magnum Air except that the Cyclone Road's wind is much stronger, making the wind of the bullet spins more violently, allowing it to spin, twirl, turn and ricochet off object.

Meteor Fall: A team effort attack in which Ine quickly equips Spitfire's ATs with a small bomb. The outside layer of the bomb will slowly melt upon heating and explode upon compression. This attack comes from above with a kick.

Shotgun Air: A more intense version of the Magnum Air. The wheels have to be off the ground and spinning backwards. This activates a vacuum within the Regalia. The air inside it spins at an accelerated rate. This places heavy strains on the Regalia unless it is constantly being tuned by the tuner. When the kick is connected, the air bullet bursts and separates into many smaller bullets, creating a shogun effect. This is the second out of the six variations of Tsubasa's Regalia's Infinite Atmosphere. Hazards in doing this will be if the kick is not strong enough, the bullet will burst right in front of the user.

Gatling Air: By performing The Flame, a breakdancing move that swings the legs round the body while being supported by the arms, the Regalia can gather, release and fire Spirale Airs in quick succession. In every rotation, air is gathered when the feet faces the opposite direction of the swing. At the end of the rotation, the old bullet left in midair from the previous round is kicked away with the front of the feet and a new bullet is fired from the end. Constant firing of the Regalia will cause it to burn out quickly, thus constant tuning is needed. Like before, this is Shou's second of the six variations. Note that this move is very draining of the user.