Act 8

Aki arrived early at Komotiri Pass in order to have a friendly chat with Raymond before the race. They ended up talking about bike upgrades and mechanics, impressing each other with their knowledge. Just before they began to race, Aki noticed a car pull up. It was an orange S14, the same one she had noticed at the diner the day before. She watched as Kenta began too look around, confusion written on his face. Aki smiled, he was looking for their cars. It hadn't occurred to him that she could also ride. Raymond signaled to her. They were getting ready to race. Aki drove her royal blue Ninja to the start and watched as the count down began.

"3-2-1-0!"

She accelerated quickly, popping a wheelie to entertain the crowd. Raymond and her had a clean start; both were equal going into the first turn.

*******

The Takahashis arrived at the pass a few moments before the race was to start. Keisuke had sent Kenta earlier to look for signs of the Dark Horizons. They managed to find a spot near one of the hairpin corners. Ryosuke got out and stood near the guardrail. A few minutes later Keisuke joined him after talking to Kenta on his cell.

"So far, Kenta hasn't spotted them yet bro. You still think they will come?"

"They will. I just can't see her backing out of a challenge she made," Ryosuke replied looking across the road.

Ryosuke looked again. He could see a car parked in the shadows across the street, yet it was too dark for him to make out its color or model. He was about to go over for a closer look when Keisuke's cell went off.

"What? Are you sure? Ok, thanks." He hung up the phone. "Bro, Kenta says that their having a motorcycle race and that he doesn't see any Dark Horizon stickers at the top."

Ryosuke was silent.

//Could I have been wrong?//

******

Aki took the lead at the first corner, yet Raymond wasn't too far behind. Both of them were swapping positions around the first dozen corners or so. Aki would get the lead only to find Raymond slipping by as she exited. Both managed to get side by side during the straights and the lead would be determined by whoever happened to be on the inside of the turn. Aki smiled, she knew she could probably beat him, but her techniques on a bike were a bit rusty from many months of disuse. By the fifteenth turn she began to pick up the pace. Her turns became sharper as she leaned ever closer to the pavement. Sometimes, to close that her knee would scrape the cement and her body would rub against the guardrail.

//She's racing as though this were a track,// though Raymond. //She takes her turns as though the guardrail wasn't there, that's why she's so close to it. She probably only realizes it's there when she rubs up against it.//

Yet by doing so, Aki was slowly increasing the distance between them.

******

Vic's stomach began to growl. Chris heard and began to laugh.

"What hungry again?" At Vic's nod he smiled. "I'm glad I came prepared then," said Chris, heading towards Vic's trunk. He pulled out some sandwiches. "I'm surprised you two don't get fat eating the amount you do."

The twins shrug. "So I heard that Aki's race today was on motorcycles," said Vic. "Any truth to that?"

"What you mean you didn't know? Aki used to race both cars and bikes before she began training other people. Honestly I can't think of anything she hasn't tried concerning vehicles," replied Alex.

They all became quiet as they heard the approaching motorcycles. Across the road, Keisuke also stopped talking as he heard the sounds approaching.

"Keisuke look," said Ryosuke pointing.

Keisuke looked. A car was approaching the corner, if the bikes remained on their current line there would be a head on collision. He looked back to the two bikers, apparently they had seen the headlights for they were changing lanes so that they could pass the car on the outside of the turn. Keisuke narrowed his eyes, the red Samurai had slowed down while the blue Ninja continued at its current speed.

//He's going to slide out,// thought Keisuke.

Ryosuke was thinking the same thing. The blue bike was going too fast to make it around the turn.

**********

Aki noticed the approaching car. She quickly moved over into the outside lane, yet unlike Raymond she didn't slow down.

//I can make this turn. My bike is feeling so responsive tonight, I know I can make it,// she thought as she drew closer to the corner.

Aki began to lean deep into the corner. She tried to keep her legs as close to the bike as possible yet she still managed to rub her hip against asphalt. Her heart was beating like mad. She had never attempted to go this fast, even on the track and she was praying that her tires wouldn't slip on any loose gravel.

******

Ryosuke and Keisuke watched on in amazement as the Ninja's rider practically leaned his bike into the road. The car passed, only a few inches separated the rider's helmet from the car's wheels. The Samurai passed a few moments later, but at a much slower speed. There was no way he could close the distance between them before they passed the finish.

After the two bikes had gone out of sight, Keisuke looked up to see Alex and the rest of the Dark Horizons get into Vic's car and drive away. Alex had finally spotted Keisuke standing against the other guardrail. Ryosuke also saw Vic's car as it was leaving.

//So they did come after all.//

*******

At the bottom of the pass, Aki rolled her bike to a stop and Raymond wasn't too far behind. They both pulled their helmets off.

"That was a good race, Raymond. I honestly didn't think it would be this close."

Raymond smiled. "Yeah that was fun. I wouldn't mind a rematch."

"Maybe another time."

Just then Vic pulled up. "Aki they're here and probably right behind us."

As they drove off Aki turned back to Raymond.

"I'd love to talk more but there are some people coming that I'd like to avoid," she said putting her helmet back on.

"Understood, I won't tell them anything."

A few minutes later, Ryosuke drove up. He couldn't find any trace of the team.

*******

Aki met the team at the top of Koto pass the next morning.

"This may be hard for some of you, but last night was our last race for a while. We have to head back to Tokyo."

Everyone complained.

I know you don't want to go, but part of you contract says that you guys have to take the second test."

"Second test?" asked Rick.

"Yeah it's a timed run on a circuit track. We are heading back to Tokyo so you guys can have some practice on one before the test. If you guys pass, we continue training here in Japan, other wise we all go home. Sorry guys, I didn't want to put any pressure on you, but I thought you'd rather hear the truth. If you don't want to try just say so, but I'm sure you will all pass."

"Well we've come this far, why quit now?" replied Rick.

"I take it that you all agree?"

They all nodded.

"Good. The test is at the end of the month, so we have a few weeks to train on the Tokyo Raceway. The test takes place back in America. The companies haven't told me what track yet, but we will end up flying our cars there. When you guys pass, we fly back. Ok then, get some sleep, we head to Tokyo in the morning."