Nik woke up early the next morning, not Al early but definitely not Mei late. He got dressed and walked out onto his porch. The weather was starting to get warmer.

He sat on the porch and looked out over the beautiful green landscape of Myogi Valley. Nik had found a better place to live for less money in Akagi, but he wanted the scenery.

He walked over to his monster FC and started up the engine. He spun the tires lightly as he took off towards work. He sighed as he cruised along the highway, wishing he could feel the curves.

Nik had thought about new cars all night, but what? Should he stick with FR? An 180SX? A Silvia? 4WD? A 22B? A GTS-4 Skyline? MR even? The MR2? An NSX like Kim?

Nik kept letting these ideas slip through his mind until he parked in the rear parking lot of Gurume Tokyo. He walked inside and picked up a white coat of the wall. He put on an apron on top of it.

He then started to work, filling the steam pots with rice's, checking on the meats in the cooler, making sure the soups were cooking, the usual morning set up. Then to finish it off, he went out to the bar to get a drink.

He downed a small glass of Shochu and then walked away back towards the kitchen when a bright orange car caught his eye. It was Kim's NSX and it was empty. Nik walked back towards the kitchen. He walked through the back until he got to the office where Amber was sitting.

He asked, "Is Kim here?"

"No, why? You see the car?"

Nik nodded, "Yeah, why is it here?"

"I don't know, when I opened the mailbox this morning, I found a small package with the keys and two letters. One was for you."

Amber handed Nik the note and he took it. He heard Amber say that hers said to sell the car and then Kim would get a hold of her about the money. Nik then began to read.

Nik,

I'm going back home today. I guess that means I should tell you the truth. I love you Nik, I really do. I want to be with you

but apparently you would be happier with Jen. I really wish that you hadn't been so blind. I came to Japan to beat you,

but then the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn't just beat you and walk away. So I stayed, but you were

blind. I wish that I could have made you see things more clearly, but I'm sick of you. I'm getting on a plane at 11:30 this

morning and I'm leaving you in Japan.

Love,

Kim

Nik stared in disbelief. How could he not have noticed? She hadn't said anything, she hadn't made any insinuations? What on earth could have made her just up and leave except…?

Nik looked at Amber, "I gotta go, I'll be back soon."

Nik ran out, not listening to what Amber was saying. He got into his FC and started it while taking out his cell phone. He dialed Mei's number as he peeled out of the parking lot.

Mei answered groggily, "Hello?"

"What did you say to Kim last night?"

"What do you mean?"

"Before she left, what did you say?"

"Just that you and Jen used to be together."

"That's all you said?"

"Yeah, why?"

"She took off this morning for home and I've got like 40 minutes to get to the other side of town and through the airport."

"What are you doing talking with me? Drive!"

Nik dropped the phone on his passenger seat and slid onto the opposing lane. He powered past a slow sedan and then got onto the highway. He floored it through traffic, not noticing he passed by a cop.

The cop took off after him, lights blaring. Nik didn't have time. He knew the right thing to do was stop, but he had to stop her. He hit the gas harder and looked a head at the Wangan turn before his exit.

He drifted hard along the inside and flew to the outside doing 160 km/h. He then put his blinker on and took the exit, pulling a 180 stop at the bottom. He peeled away towards the airport.

He looked in his rear view mirror. The car was still on his ass and had picked up friends. He floored the gas and drifted to a stop with his driver's side at the door. He got out and ran inside.

He was halfway down the first isle when a set off guards came in front of him. He looked to the side at the schedule. The next flight to Chicago was leaving in ten minutes.

He ran towards the guards at full speed, running right into them. He knocked down the guy on the left, but the one on the right got hold of his shirt. He pulled and ripped the shirt as he kept running towards gate 72.

78…77…76…75… he was almost there. He saw guards behind him. He got to 72 and ran through the isles, looking for any sign of her. She wasn't there. Where'd she go?

"Attention, flight 325 is now boarding at gate 62 to LA."

That was the only other option. Nik ran through only to run into two more guards. He jumped over a row of seats and kept jogging towards gate 62. He was getting closer.

Nik then felt something hit his chest. He looked over in the direction and he saw a guard with a shock gun. His eyes widened as the trigger was pushed. The voltage roared through his body causing him to pass out…

--------------------------

Ring……Ring……

Mei picked up his cell phone as he rounded the corner leaving the gas station. He looked at the number, noticing it was Nik. Hopefully good news. He clicked the answer button and put the phone to his ear.

"How'd it go?"

"Is this Motouji Meikeru?"

"Hai. Who's this?"

"This is Kirasawa-San at the Tokyo Police Department. Are you of relation to a Hogashinu Nikorasu?"

Mei sighed, "Oh crap… Yes, he's my cousin."

"Ok, one moment please." Mei waited and waited as the phone was passed from one person to another whose breathing could be heard heavily. He heard the man sigh, "Hey man."

"What did you do?"

"I took down a guard and evaded four or five until I get hit by a taser gun."

"Did you stop her?"

"No, she took the flight to LA and I went to the gate to Chicago. I was almost their when I got hit."

"So what's going on?"

"They said they needed to keep me for questioning and that they're only gonna give me a warning, but the FC got towed to the impound lot. Could you come get me?"

"Yeah man, I'll be there as soon as I…"

He heard the phone taken from him. Mei then listened as another man said, "I'll give him a ride to the impound lot for you."

"Who is this?"

"I'm a cop and a racer, don't worry about it, He'll be alright."

Mei nodded, "Alright, thank you officer."

"No prob, call me Sagara."

--------------------------

Nik got up and rubbed his wrists. Handcuffs hurt more then they used to. He then looked up at a very nice looking car. He walked over to the passenger side and said, "Nice GTR."

He nodded, "It's a Tommykaira"

"Really? How much horsepower."

"I've got it at 550 hp."

Nik stared straight ahead, blankly. His mind was blank and he liked it that way right now. Impulse had taken him over. He sighed as Sagara put it in gear and the driver took off from the place where he was. Nik looked over at him, "You're Sagara Sakurazaki, right?"

"Hai, Hogashinu-San."

"Do you still race?"

"Occasionally."

"I would like to race you."

"I'm sorry, but I don't have a car for touge with horsepower too match a 13B. I don't think…"

"I have a 26B engine with 700 horses and I'll race you on Wangan."

"You sound angry."

"Sad."

"Why?"

"My…A good person from my past left me."

"I see, we'll, once you've calmed down, you can get a hold of me. My number's…"

"Are you scared?"

"What would make you think that?"

"You're not accepting my challenge. You have a Lancia, don't you? Race me in that. I'll beat your most powerful car."

"My most powerful is the Satan 037."

"I see. I'll race it."

"When?"

"Tonight."

"Why would you want to? If I was you, I'd…"

"You're not. Race me or don't."

Sagara watched him with a slight misunderstanding, "I'll race you. Meet me at the Police station garage tonight at nine."

"Agreed."

They stopped at the impound lot and Nik stepped out of the car with Sagara. Sagara walked up with him and he got his car back without a fine. He thanked Sagara as the FC was brought forward to him.

He got into the car and started the engine. He revved it loudly. He sat for twenty minutes revving it up to the red line and then letting it drop back down. He couldn't stop. The sound was like crack.

He hit the gas and let the rear tires spin as he took off down the road. The aura of the FC had changed along with the driver's aura. Nik didn't notice. He had a job to do…

-------------------------------

Mei sighed as he sat at home on the couch, tapping his bare foot against the coffee table. Nik hadn't checked in. He thought that he would have at least called to say he was at work or on his way home.

Mei looked over at the door as it opened, but it was only Sara. He had asked her to come up. She walked over to him and sat down on his lip, gently kissing his lips. He smiled at her, "Thanks, I needed that."

She smiled and touched his face, "So what's wrong?"

"Nothing really, I'm just out of it and I wanted to see you."

She sighed, "What'd Nik do now?"

He looked up confused but then smiled, "He got himself arrested chasing after that Kim chick."

"Wow! Obsessed much?"

"Well, it's kind of my fault. I didn't explain the whole Jen and Sato story."

"I guess, but she's the one who flipped."

"I guess. Well, anyway, now Nik is nowhere to be found and the girl's gone, not that I miss her much."

"I see, well maybe you should stop thinking about it."

"How?"

Sara placed her lips onto his and pushed him back in his chair. She then moved her legs around and straddled herself on top of him. Mei shut his eyes and returned her kisses as his hands slid down her back.

He grasped her back side and lifted her up. Her legs wrapped around him and Mei took her into his bedroom. He set her down on his bed and walked back to shut the door…

A half-hour later…

Al walked into the house yawning and placed his keys in a small dish on the kitchen table. He was tired. The race last night combined with the little party had wiped him out. He was really glad he didn't have to work.

He walked towards his room and as he was passing by Mei's, he heard noises. Groans and screams. Someone was telling someone to stop and that something that was happening hurt.

Al got worried immediately and walked into Nik's room where he picked up a Shinai sword. He walked over to the edge of Mei's door before kicking it open. He walked in only to open his eyes up widely.

He stared for a minute before nearly falling over as he scurried out of the room. Mei then walked out of the room wearing a pair of sweatpants a moment later. He put his hand on Al's shoulder.

He asked, "Are you alright?"

"You were naked…"

"Yeah, I was…"

"She was naked…"

"Yeah, she was…"

"Is it even humanly possible to bend like that…?"

"Apparently so…"

Sara walked out of the room as she was just finishing pulling her shirt on. She looked over at Mei who walked over to her and gently kissed her. She looked at Al as she was leaving.

She said softly, "Sorry Al…"

He replied, "Its ok…"

Mei sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Dude, I really wasn't expecting you home this early…"

Al stood their quietly…

"I'm sorry you had to see that…"

Not a sound…

"Are you alright…"

Still quiet…

"Say something…"

"She's got really, really, really…"

"Don't say it."

"Long legs…"

--------------------------

9:02, Police Station Garage, Tokyo

Nik pulled up in his FC and killed the engines and the lights. He stepped out and looked over at the members of Sagara's Battalions. Nik looked over at Sagara and didn't see the 037.

He asked, "Where's your Lancia?"

"I didn't bring it. I wanted to keep things fair, so Aikawa is allowing me to race you in her 240Z."

"Fine, your funeral."

As the members of the Battalions conversed, Nik got into his car and pulled up to the edge of the garage driveway. A second later, Sagara pulled up along side him in Aikawa's 240Z.

Sagara rolled down his window and Nik did the same. Sagara then said, "We're gonna start at Marunouchi and go down to the loop at the heliport in Shinkiba, then the first one back to Marunouchi wins. My record is 4 and half minutes."

Nik nodded, "Let's go."

Sagara led off down the road in the 240Z. Nik held tight to the back of his car. As they left the Ginza, they turned onto the highway. Sagara then hit the gas and Nik heard the wheels spin. Nik did the same as he downshifted to get the RPM's up.

He took off behind Sagara as they both began to get there speed up. Both cars gripped the first corner, swerving between the lanes and then taking off farther down the road.

The next sets of corners were consecutive. Both cars had to be doing atleast 260 km/h by now. They both drifted the corner. The slightest turn of the wheel on either car would send the back ends out.

Sagara broke and used a braking drift to keep good control of the car. Nik went in full force, turning the wheel and sending the car into a high speed slide. The front tires turned and matched up with the road as Nik's car was sliding completely sideways.

Sagara was still ahead and Nik pulled out of the first curve just barley, using the gas to get himself straightened out. Then they had to immediately changed and head into the next turn. Sagara was able to accelerate into the turn as he had slowed down enough in the last curve to be able to control the car in this one.

Nik's maneuvers were more erratic. He couldn't keep it together. He was driving without any line or even overall technique. The fact that he was an amateur was shown while racing the skilled Sagara Sakurazaki.

Sagara and Nik were evenly matched on the straights. The car's headlights shown greatly as he attacked the straights as fast as he could. The car was heard shifting. The engine roared as they approached the next turn.

Nik broke solidly and turned into the corner before applying gas. The back end let go and Nik went towards the inside of the corner. He tapped on an apex point and then pulled out of the drift simply. Sagara had held higher speeds and gained more of a lead.

Nik hit the gas hard as the RPM needle rolled into the redline and the shift light on his new gauge lit up. As he upshifted, he swerved around an SUV. He then got himself centered on the back end of the 240Z.

He attacked the next curve with more speed and less angle. He came in strong on the inside, letting the rear end slide only slightly by controlling the movements with steering. He closed some space.

Sagara was very talented in a car that wasn't even his own. Sagara is a Lancia driver, which are both MR. His only other car is the Tommykaira GTR, and that's AWD. This was an FR.

Nik could only imagine that Sagara had spent a lot of time around cars for his entire life. This would have let him understand the mechanics of how an FR would handle, he may have even previously owned one.

Nik decided that this race had been over from the beginning. He had shot out of his league and failed. But he wasn't giving up. Nik hit the gas and took off down the road. He hit a lighter corner at top speed. Sagara in the 240Z had between two and six car lengths depending on which lane he was in. Nik was finding it more and more difficult to catch up as Sagara drove faster and faster every second.

They both began to round what rally drivers would call a '4 right, long', 4 being the level of difficulty, right being the direction of the corner, and then you can figure out what the long means.

After that corner ended, there was a sharp left hander. Nik tried to mimic Sagara's movements. He managed to do so, but about 30 km/h slower. He pulled out of the turn and tried to catch up again.

The next curve was on off ramp that led towards Shinkiba. Nik had a bit of a hard time controlling the car through the curve. He had lost quite a bit of tire grip so far. He needed new treads.

They first curve on the Shinkiba loop was a wide right hander. Sagara followed a grip line and Nik used a low angle drift. Nik closed distance as his tighter line allowed him to slide through the mostly empty slow lane while Sagara dealt with traffic.

They were now 2 car lengths apart as the next turn approached. Both Nik and Sagara drifted around a tight interior line, avoiding most traffic. The distance stayed the same. The next corner hadn't been far away and the same maneuver had been used to negotiate it.

They slid up an onramp to get back on the road towards Marunouchi. Nik and Sagara were fighting now. It was all up to who could maintain the higher speed. Nik hit the gas and shifted into fifth gear.

The car's slid around a sharp left hand corner and then headed back towards the long curve. Sagara had the same lead as before, although Nik was keeping up. The traffic was becoming thicker on this side of the road.

Nik and Sagara swerved and swooped until they came to an obstacle. An 18 wheeler. Nik and Sagara carefully slowed down in attempt to move around it. They were soon blocked.

Sagara was quickly cut off by a black car that was unfamiliar to Nik. Nik was passed by a Toyota Supra RZ pulled along his left. Sagara had hit the gas hard as the two cars passed. Nik thought it must be a plan to beat him. The Supra RZ by Nik swerved in front of him, as did the black car in front of Sagara.

Nik sighed as he desperately tried to pass as the RZ slammed its brakes and it skidded towards Nik's FC. It was trying to hit him. Nik moved quickly to avoid him, but then took off again. Then the RZ pulled ahead.

Nik looked over at Sagara just as the black car pulled ahead of him. The RZ began to drive really close towards the 18 wheeler's cab. The black car was out of Nik's sight.

Soon, the truck was swerving back and forth. It was very unstable. Nik slowed down but it was too late. The rear end of the trailer had already started to slide. Nik was too close to pull away.

He hit the gas hard as the trailer popped up off the ground, pulling the cab with it. He quickly slid underneath it, scraping his roof. Sagara had done the same thing, except with less hesitation and no damage to the car body.

Nik looked in his rearview as the trailer scraped against the ground and came to an abrupt halt. Nik yanked his E-brake, as did Sagara, as the RZ and the unknown car pulled ahead.

Nik stepped out of his car and looked at the carnage that had become part of the once crowded highway. Sagara looked over at him and said, "Nik, you should leave before the police get here. Go, I'll cover for you."

Nik got into his FC without another word. He got off the exit and took the back roads until he got onto route 186 which would take them to the connection to get home. He sighed as he drove home in third gear.

He got off at the Akina exit a while later. He couldn't go home yet. His head was dead. He headed all the way to the top of the mountain where he immediately turned around and started on the downhill.

He hit 160 km/h before he drifted into the first curve, likewise at the second, slowly gaining higher straight speeds. He sighed and downshifted into a lower gear. His RPM's would rise and fall quite quickly during his shift changes.

He saw a set of head lights shining in his back mirror as he was heading down the mountain. They were pop-ups. He sighed and hit the gas a little harder. He began to downshift and use power over drifting to attack the corners.

The car behind him was still catching up. It was getting closer and closer. He soon was tandem drifting with it. It was so close. He could see what it was now. His eyes widened.

"An FB!"