Author's Note:

Hmm... not much to say (yet). I could have been really mean and ended this chapter on a cliffhanger at a certain point (two points actually), but I'm nice so I didn't. So... enjoy!

Race night… it was finally here. The month seemed to have flown by, even if it'd been extremely rocky. But the past few nights had been better. A lot better. Seiji seemed to really be coming back to himself. Shuu… however… had been doing a good job of ignoring his own problems. But he didn't want to think about it. He had the race to do. The race would be good enough to distract him from his dissatisfaction with leading a normal life. The entire day through work he'd had the race on his mind, feeling almost equal parts excited and angry to have to even look at Katsu again. That guy really pissed him off a lot, and even if the chances were slim, Shuu was really hoping to beat the guy at the race. If Shuu had gleaned anything from the way Seiji reacted when he was behind the wheel… well… maybe Shuu wasn't the best of drivers. 'I know Seiji was trying to hide that my driving made him nervous, but I could tell.' You didn't go through a high combat past like they did and not learn to read the tiny hints in someone's body. Of course, maybe he should have paid more attention to his driving than Seiji.

"Shuu? Please tell me you're listening to me…"

"Huh? Oh yeah, yeah, sure am." He looked over to Seiji briefly with a smile, driving the two of them over to the race starting location. The mountain road… no way would Shuu be beat there, right? They were heading over together, and Seiji was letting Shuu drive to keep him sort of accustomed to being behind the wheel. Seiji was trying to give him tips about the route that Shuu would be racing along, but Shuu knew that once he was driving he'd forget that on the fifth turn there was a small curb he could use or anything else like that. 'I'll just feel it like always.' He trusted his body, his warrior's instincts, to make this race a success for him. He heard the blond give a short sigh.

"You aren't even listening, are you?"

"Come on man… you know that I'll be fine. I've got this!"

Seiji gave out a short little chuckle. "I'm just trying to make sure you don't get hurt out there. So remember… the third time you hit a downgrade, you need to…"

"I got it I got it! Seiji really… some people tease Shin about being a bit of a worrier, but I'm starting to think you're worse."

"Hmph, excuse me for not wanting to see you go plunging off a cliff." The mild sarcasm in Seiji's voice made Shuu laugh, and it felt good that neither of them was really upset with each other. In a weird way, this almost felt like the past when they'd been in the Jeep with Nasutei, driving off to find their friends. Only this time Shuu was driving, and this time they didn't have a very worthy opponent looming in the distance. Not in Shuu's opinion. "Just remember Shuu… Katsu hasn't lost against any of us… and he isn't going to want to now. Not against an outsider."

"Right. What, you don't think he'll cheat or somethin' do ya?" Seiji was quiet a bit longer than the warrior of stone would have liked. "Is that how he beat you?"

"… I haven't seen him cheat. I was beaten, well… because I was. But all the same, keep your eyes open, alright?"

"Ok." For Seiji to imply someone might cheat, well, Shuu knew that it had to be a very high chance. Seiji was the sort who would shoulder the burden of a loss or dishonor to keep someone from ruining themselves. He'd done something similar in the past with kendo, though at the moment Shuu wasn't going to bother remembering the exact details. All this meant to him at the moment was that Seiji knew Katsu was planning to win tonight, one way or another. 'Asshole… I'll show him what happens when he goes up against the might Kongo!'

Shuu was watching the road, but for a minute he thought he felt Seiji's stare on him. It was as if the blond had just read his mind, which he knew Seiji couldn't do. Still, sometimes it felt like it. "Remember, Shuu… there are times you need to be cautious."

"I know I know… don't just charge like I always do." Still, he knew he couldn't help it, and Seiji knew he couldn't either. It was Shuu's way. He wasn't going to play cautious cat and mouse… he'd tackle this race head on. He glanced at Seiji, and Seiji smirked at him.

"At least try to remember some of the techniques I taught you. Some of it must have sunk in…"

"To my thick skull? Give me a break." The two laughed and Seiji told Shuu where their next turn was. Shuu could feel his blood pumping fast, and he was feeling good. This wasn't as good as having the armors back and a real battle to fight, but it was a little taste of what he hoped to reclaim when the time of their bet was ended. He guessed he could see why Seiji used it as a substitute, but the real thing would feel so much better when he got it back.

-

"Ha… Hahaha… you actually showed up?" It seemed the minute Shuu got out of the car, Katsu was parading around with his cronies, trying to aggravate him. Shuu crossed his arms over his chest and stood tall, feeling annoyed with the guy but not rising to the bait. Not right now. Seiji got out of the passenger's side of the car and leveled his own gaze at Katsu. The leader of the underground racers gave a snort at the blond. "And you… I don't know why you bother with this guy. Just a waste of time ya know?"

"Not in my opinion," Seiji replied evenly and without missing a beat. It wasn't even a big gesture, but Shuu felt good seeing that tonight, Seiji was really on his side. No hesitation to it.

"Hmph, whatever, I heard you already told Takeshi to find a new driver. You weren't that good anyway."

Shuu looked to Seiji. 'He did? He really listened to me to stop driving?' Seiji caught his gaze and gave him a nod, before taking a few steps away from the car. Seiji wouldn't be in it with him, Shuu would be driving solo of course. The route itself was easy to remember, it was just the specifics of each turn that he didn't know too well. Walking up to Katsu, staring down at the punk who was both shorter and less muscled than him, Shuu narrowed his eyes. "How about we cut all this talk and get to driving, huh?"

"You wanna get beat that fast? Fine by me!" Katsu sounded cocky, but you could see that it intimidated him to have Shuu stand so close to him. The leader of the racers backed off and motioned at the car he'd be driving. "I had Takeshi look at it… hey man, you vouch that it's on the same level as the one Shuu will drive tonight?"

Takeshi stepped forward out of the crowd for just a moment. "Yeah, I looked it over, it's good." Shuu noticed the gaze that passed between Seiji and Takeshi, and Shuu trusted what the mechanic said. It seemed Seiji had been trying to make sure of things without Shuu knowing. The blond was giving him support in any way he could. Seiji was trying to watch his back this time. 'I've got this race.' Even if it wasn't the support of the other three guys, too... having Seiji on his side made him confident. People started to move, and Shuu turned to get back into his car. Seiji came around before Shuu shut the door, even Takeshi coming by to give one last check to the car, make sure airbags and such hadn't been outwardly tampered with. Shuu buckled up and gave Seiji a thumbs up.

"I'll be waiting at the finish line... don't take too long," Seiji half joked.

"Make sure to take a picture of my win," Shuu said back, and the two parted ways. Shuu shut the door and watched as people backed away, giving him time to drive up to the line. There was a scantily clad girl waiting at the line, holding up a cloth that'd serve as the flag. As the cars drove slowly into position, it was like a sea of people filling in behind them. People were shouting and cheering, and virtually everyone was cheering Katsu on, wanting him to beat Shuu. Shuu was the guy who'd come and insulted their precious racing, after all. Shuu took a moment to try and find Seiji in the crowd, and found him and Takeshi standing up front, some people half harassing them. Still, Seiji was looking at Shuu, and he gave him a nod. Shuu nodded back and turned his head to look over at Katsu in he car next to him. Katsu gave him a mocking sneer, jerking his thumb across his neck in a slitting motion, trying to intimidate Shuu. 'In your dreams buddy.' The cars were smooth in their idle, the powerful engines within just waiting for the chance to explode out into the race. The starter girl blew a kiss to Katsu and Shuu snorted at the favoritism.

He licked his lips and waited for it. Five... four... three... two... GO.

The girl brought down the cloth, everyone in the crowd shouted in excitement, and the two cars shot off, snapping off the starting line at tremendous speeds. It wasn't anything like charging into a battle... but all the same, Shuu found his determination soaring and adrenaline pumping.

-

Just like that first night when he'd chased after Seiji, the world seemed to fall behind Shuu in a darkened blur, any lights he passed stretching away in hazy trails. The most prominent landmark he had to use to keep on the twisting darkened roads was... unfortunately, Katsu's taillights. 'Damn it! How is he beating me out!' Shuu wasn't holding anything back. He had no fear of losing control (even if he had almost lost it through some of those corners), and he didn't fear a crash even if, realistically, he should. But no matter what he did, no matter how often he floored the gas, he couldn't get ahead of Katsu. On every turn he seemed to get pinched out or forced into a bad spot. It didn't help that the car was starting to make some rather bad sounding noises. Shuu's hand with shifting and his heavy and clumsy use of the drifting techniques was probably grinding some of the gears of the car. This car was definitely going to need a lot of repair work done to it, probably replace some parts.

Even so, Shuu refused to be beaten. He'd drive the car into the ground if he had to, he just needed to find a way to get around Katsu. It wasn't that he couldn't read the other guy's movements. Oh Shuu could figure out an opponent. The problem was getting the car to do what he needed it to... and grudgingly Shuu was beginning to admit that it actually did take a small bit of skill to handle a car. Gripping the wheel tightly, Shuu eyed the corner they were approaching, and he depressed the clutch of the car, popping it out at the right moment to kick him into the drift. The clutch kick worked, and he grinned as the car started to drift around the corner like he wanted, catching up a little towards Katsu's car. Shuu was hoping for more straightaways, because at least then it was just a matter of gunning the gas and trying to find some way to get around Katsu. The guy was being a really tenacious driver, though, always moving and weaving just enough that Shuu would hit him if he tried to get around. It wasn't a case of Shuu not having the guts to try... there just was literally no way it could happen.

He didn't even realize that they were hitting up the third downgrade of the route, the race had been so intense that Shuu was thinking moment to moment, barely hanging on to the tips and tricks Seiji had taught him. The warning that Seiji had tried to give him about this particular spot wouldn't have helped him anyway... because Shuu noticed that Katsu seemed to be losing his lead, and the warrior of stone was hungry for the chance to get ahead. Shuu's car started to pull closer, and as he actually came up side by side with Katsu he flicked a glance over, trying to see him. 'The hell? Am I really getting ahead or is he pulling somethin'?' Katsu glanced over as if he wanted to gloat at Shuu, and it really made the former warrior mad. So the guy had let him catch up on purpose! His hands felt like they'd crush the steering wheel. He thought he saw Katsu laugh and look back at the road, but the panicked look that suddenly flashed over Katsu's face made Shuu quickly look ahead again as well. They were coming up on a turn, and in the road Shuu could see something that looked shiny and possibly slick.

"Damn!" He cursed, knowing why Seiji had been trying to warn him. This turn off the downgrade was sharp and blind, and even seeing the substance, at this speed it was nearly impossible to avoid it. Slamming on his brakes now would just send him out of control, and he had no chance of speeding around Katsu for a better angle to approach from. He grit his teeth and did what he could... namely trying to hit the slick spot head on. If he was going to crash... and it was seeming that was the only option, he needed to make the crash as controlled as possible. He didn't bother to watch as Katsu made it safely through the turn, the more experienced racer having been able to avoid the danger thanks to his better position. Shuu just felt his car hit the slick and the wheel start to jolt back and forth as speed and momentum fought against his attempts for control. Strong as his arms were, the force of the car around him couldn't be contained, and the horrible jolt as he went through a guard rail shook his body. He could see and heard bushes and trees hitting against the sides of the car as it plunged down the side of the mountain road, and as he tried to get the car to stop a couple of thoughts went through his mind. He was glad he hadn't run into any trees yet... and he was glad he'd gone off the road where there was a slope and not a cliff. The tires couldn't find traction in the dirt, however, and Shuu braced for the impact he knew would be coming any moment. When it hit everything went abruptly dark.

-

He knew he'd survived... because everywhere hurt. He didn't think there was a part of his body that wasn't aching as his head very slowly began to clear. For just a few minutes he was a bit muddled, knowing that he'd been in a car crash yet a part of his mind also telling him he needed to get up before he got attacked again. He blinked his eyes, trying to get some sort of sense of where he was. He could tell it was really dark, and as his mind cleared slowly he realized one of the headlights on the car had been busted out. He saw the deployed airbag in front of him... it'd already deflated back down. 'Wow... so an airbag and a seat belt really did save my life?' He guessed he was lucky that the car hadn't flipped over or exploded into flames. Turning his head to the left, his eyes widened. If he'd been in the passenger's seat... he wouldn't still be alive. There was a large spear of wood plunged into the other seat. The car had run down and over the road, and had hit upon a tree. Shuu could feel pressure on his legs from the way the front of the car was crushed up towards him. He tried to move them a bit and it hurt terribly. Still, he could feel them, so he knew he was lucky there. He stared at his body, and didn't see too much blood. 'I gotta get outta this car...' He pushed his shoulder against the car door after undoing his seat belt. He grunted when it didn't budge. 'Is something blocking it from outside?'

He kept pushing on the door for a bit before he had to stop, letting his head fall back to rest against the headrest of the seat. 'Amazing... I survive a crash like that just to be trapped in the car? Not funny.' He vaguely wondered for a moment if Katsu had gotten out of the turn ok... and wondered if the guy would get help. Katsu was an ass and a punk... but he'd fess up and get help, right? Shuu could feel his body getting really cold, and he took a deep breath. He needed to stay awake, and figure out a way out of this car. If he'd had his undergear, then this crash would have been nothing! He grit his teeth, bitterly missing the armor even more. He pushed at the door again and again, but he could feel his strength waning the longer he sat trapped like this. His legs were feeling sort of strange now as well, from being trapped so long. He hit his fist against the steering wheel, and heard the horn honk. It was a pathetic little horn, not very loud, but it gave Shuu some hope. Why didn't he check if it worked sooner? He started to press the horn in intervals. 'I shouldn't have to wait for someone to rescue me!'

He stopped honking the horn when he thought he heard it, the sound of car doors being shut somewhere above him, voices shouting in the night. He sighed and tried to relax. He didn't know how long he'd been stuck down here, but it was too long in his opinion. This feeling of helplessness was starting to aggravate all the old frustrations he'd been feeling up until now. But the thought that he wouldn't be stuck here like this if he'd had the armor orb was pressing into his mind. It was probably due to the accident, but it's what he was thinking of when he heard that familiar voice.

"Shuu!" He looked over and saw a circle of light coming towards him. 'Haha...' Of course the light came from a flashlight. Seiji was swiftly making his way down towards Shuu, skidding on the dirt but obviously more confident in his balance that the other people who were making their way down much more slowly. Shuu strained to see who it was, but it seemed like it was a bunch of the racing guys. 'Guess I gotta give em all a bit more credit.' Still, once Seiji got to the side of the car, Shuu didn't care about any of those guys. He watched Seiji shine the flashlight about a bit, obviously getting a look at whatever was keeping the door shut.

"How's it look?" He asked, and Seiji gave him a steady gaze in return as the blond set down the flashlight and started to tug at whatever it was. Shuu could hear something shifting, but he wasn't immediately freed.

"Not... bad..." the blond returned, and Shuu could hear the exertion Seiji was making as he talked. Whatever it was the blond was trying to move, it was obviously either too heavy or wedged real well. "How are you... are you bleeding? Is anything..."

"Nah... nah... I got real lucky. Don't think anything is broken, but my legs are pinned... starting to lose some of that feeling in em..." Seiji paused what he was doing, snatching up his flashlight and shining it into the car. He stared down at Shuu, and Shuu looked as well. "Damn... it ain't broken, but a leg shouldn't stay bent like that, huh?"

"Just hold on..." Seiji said, and again put down that flashlight, pulling while he waited for help from the others. Shuu gave a rather lackluster grin.

"Ya know... we shouldn't be struggling with something like this... seriously... a car... a tree...?" The two locked eyes... and it seemed like Seiji had something to say. But whatever it was, the blond didn't say it. Maybe Shuu was just expecting him to disagree, but he was glad the guy didn't. The other racers finally got there, and Shuu just let the subject drop as they all worked to get him out. This whole situation didn't sit well with him, but right now... he wasn't in a position to do anything but go along with it. He didn't see Katsu among the guys, but he hadn't expected to. As soon as they'd gotten him free, he was in a car being rushed to a hospital. Seiji was driving he realized, but the crash was taking its toll on him, and it was all he could do to stay awake.

"Shuu? Stay with me... stay awake..."

"Yeah yeah... I know..." He knew but it was getting real rough. He was actually starting to doubt he would when he heard Seiji start to just talk. The blond started to talk about their warrior days, retelling something Shuu had fought through. It was one of their first clashes, up against Shuten. Hearing the blond tell him this story was oddly comforting, and his desire to correct the blond here and there seemed to keep him awake until the hospital.

"Come on... let's make sure you're not bleeding internally..." Seiji was right there with him until the doctors finally took him back. Shuu stared at the bright sterile walls of the hospital and had to smirk. 'We never went to a hospital back then... I wonder what they would have thought.' But his thoughts were getting more and more scattered, and soon enough, in the hands of the medical staff, Shuu slipped off.

-

"Good morning..."

Shuu opened his eyes, a little surprised to hear the familiar voice. It was Seiji, standing rather calmly at his bedside. Shuu tried to sit up in the bed a little, feeling sore but not as sore as he thought he should. Seiji smirked at him.

"You're pumped full of pain killers... but I wouldn't test it."

"No wonder I feel so groggy... did the docs say if I'm good to go?"

Seiji took a seat. Shuu wasn't awake enough to look properly, but the blond was wearing the exact same thing he'd been wearing last night, and didn't look as though he'd slept. "They want to watch you for a full 24 hours... but... amazingly... you seem to have cheated death."

"Ha! If a demon couldn't kill me, no car will." Shuu grinned, feeling slightly indestructible, though that really might have been thanks to the meds. Seiji looked a little bit cross with him though, shaking his head.

"It could have... and you're not in great shape so don't act so cocky. You have a lot of major bruising, a significant sprain to your left leg, and..." the blond shook his head. "And I'm not going to give you a lecture. Not right now. You should call the restaurant, though. You might get to go home... but you won't be working."

"I feel fine."

"Thanks to the meds."

"No way!"

The blond pinched the bridge of his nose, but stood up. "Do you want me to contact your family? Or anyone else?"

"No... nah... I'm not dying so... no reason to worry them." He shook his head. "But, when I get released..."

"Yes, I'll be driving you back to your place." Shuu nodded, but then paused. If he wasn't allowed to go back to work right away, that meant he had to stay home? Seiji gave him a knowing smirk. "I have some vacation time I can use... to take care of a certain stone in my shoe." The blond feigned annoyance, but Shuu could see through it. The blond was glad he'd come out alright, and if Shuu had been in a different state of mind, he would have seen just how amazing it was that he'd come out of this mostly alright. He relaxed back in his hospital bed, and shut his eyes. 'Good... we have a lot to talk about. I'm going to win the bet... so having him around is best. I don't have as much time left as I used to.'

Another Author's Note:

Another note? Sorry!

Anyhow... I'm just going to say right now that I knoooow it's amazing that Shuu survived a crash. But... amazingly... it happens to people sometimes. Pretty wow.

And yeah... I could have stretched out his hospital stay... but it seemed unnecessary to the story, so please forgive me. ;] I also didn't want to end on anything like a cliffhanger... because I don't like pressure to write fast.