A/N Thanks for all the comments. I know you guys want more, and more are on their way.
This fic is complete in rough form and being written with more detail before posting, so no need to worry about this fic being left incomplete. My co-writer and I are also working on a sequel to this stage but we are not completely satisfied with it. It is yet to be seen if it will be posted after this one is completed. It really depends on the types of comments we get on this one. What do you people want to see more/less of? Or is it fine the way it is, and we should just keep going like so many people have begged? J As a side note my co-writer will soon be posting ficlets that go along with this story and use many of the same characters. We wrote these/tossed around the ideas when I had to delay writing chapters for a while for some reason or another. Ok I think I've talked enough….hope you enjoy the fic.
Act 14
Sayuki looked behind, they were still keeping up.
"Ok, Mako, the only place to settle this is on C-121."
"But Sayuki, the fog. What about an oncoming car?"
"When have we ever seen another car coming out of this corner? But if you don't want to then we'll just have to go another round."
"No let's settle this now."
Sayuki smiled. "Right. Then take this corner at full speed."
Mako didn't slow down for the turn. Suddenly a car appeared before them. Reacting instantly Mako swerved the Sil-Eighty barely missing the oncoming car. Keisuke, also seeing their approach had moved his car as close to the side as possible, scrapping off some paint. The Sil-Eighty spun to a stop ending up behind Keisuke's FD and they watched in horror as the twins in an attempt to avoid both cars, were skidding towards the outer guardrail.
//Oh no, they're not going to be able to stop!//
Just as the Diablo was about to ram head first into the guardrail, a car appeared out of nowhere, hitting Vic's front end and causing it to veer away from the edge of the cliff. Keisuke watched on in shock as the black FC forced the Diablo into a tight spin that landed the two cars in the middle of the road. Aki and Ryosuke quickly jumped out of the car and looked to see if anyone was hurt. They seemed to be the only ones able to move after the almost fatal crash.
Ryosuke seeing Keisuke's shocked expression, quickly headed over to the FD while Aki checked on the twins. Alex arrived a few minutes later and went over to the Sil-Eighty. Surprisingly everyone managed to escape with only a few bruises.
After the initial shock, everyone began to head towards Aki who was looking at Vic's reaction to the damage of his car. Other than the dent to the front fender, his car was in pretty good shape.
"Sorry Vic. If I didn't hit you that hard, your car wouldn't have completed the spin."
"Yeah I know. So your ok too right?" asked Vic looking at the bruise forming on Aki's head.
Aki smiled. "I'm ok Vic, thanks."
Ryosuke heard the last of this conversation as he approached.
//Ok? Yeah right Aki. That impact jerked the steering wheel enough that your wrist should be hurting pretty badly.//
Aki looked over at the girls. "Sorry about the race guys. I guess we won't know who won until we race again."
Mako looked up. "No you guys are better than me. You would have won."
Aki laughed.
"You give up too easily. This was a race. Anything could have happened," smiled Alex. "That was one of the first things Aki taught us."
"It's the saying 'No matter how improbable a miracle is, the chances are never zero'. At least I think that was how it went," Vicky added.
"Did Aki teach all your team how to drive?" asked Keisuke.
"Yes. She's really an amazing teacher."
"So her skill must be good," stated Ryosuke.
"Of course it is. How could you doubt that?" replied Vic angrily. "She's better than good. She has never lost a race to anyone and she has been rated the best driver in America."
"She's practically famous for her skill and for her engine designs," continued Vicky. She was about to add more when Aki silenced them.
"That's enough. We aren't here to argue."
She said it in such a commanding tone that everyone listened.
//She has a presence about her,// thought Ryosuke. He looked at Keisuke who was preparing to leap to his defense. Ryosuke watched as Keisuke's anger died. //She practically commands attention. When she speaks you are forced to listen.//
"Here's what's going to happen," continued Aki "the race is a tie. That I believe is the most agreeable solution for everyone." Sayuki nodded. "Good. Then, Alex call Chris and head over to Myougi. Proceed with the race as scheduled, you race uphill, Chris downhill." Aki turned to the twins as Alex was leaving. "You two, call a tow truck and take the car to the shop. I don't want it damaged any more than it is before Masahasi has a chance to fix it." She turned to Keisuke. "Can you drive?" Keisuke nodded. "Good, you can follow the twins to the body shop while I drive Ryosuke back to the peak."
A few minutes later found Aki driving Ryosuke up Usui at a leisurely pace. Although she didn't want to admit it, Ryosuke was making her nervous. He was silent while heading back yet he kept giving her strange looks when he thought she wasn't looking. She was about to say something when he finally broke the silence.
"Why did you choose those two to race the Night Kids?"
"I have my reasons, but I really need to be there when Chris races Shingo."
"Why? You don't think he will win?"
Aki chuckled. "Oh he'll win. I just modified his car last night and I need to put the final touches on it before he starts. Shingo is in for one hell of a shock." Aki looked at her passenger. "I take it you want to know what I did." Aki smiled at Ryosuke's expression. "No I can't read you mind, but you actions are like an open book. All I did was make the steering in Chris' car much more sensitive. That should balance out the disadvantage of the gum tape match perfectly."
"In other words he doesn't have to turn the wheel as sharply to get the tires to turn. With that kind of setting he could initiate a drift with little more than a slight movement of the wheel."
"Exactly."
//Clever// thought Ryosuke.
*****
Alex called Chris on her way to Myougi.
"Hey Chris, it's me. Yeah they raced but got into an accident. No, everyone is fine and Aki declared it a tie. Yeah, our race is still on. You're supposed to race the downhill after I race the 32 on the uphill. I'll be there in a few minutes," she said as she left the highway.
Chris hung up his phone and headed over to the Night Kids. It was time for him to get the race ready. He began to walk over to the Night Kids who were standing in a group near the black 32. Nakazato noticed him almost immediately.
"And here I thought you weren't going to show. I take it you were making a point of being late just to get on our nerves," stated an angry Nakazato.
"Hardly," replied Chris just as haughtily. "I've been here all along just waiting for the crowd to thin out. Plus my teammates were on another pass and they will be arriving right about now."
Just then a pair of headlights rounded the corner. Alex and Chris had timed this move perfectly in an attempt to throw the other team off balance. The lesser members glanced at Chris before they separated into their own groups. Chris looked at Shingo and Nakazato.
He smiled. //I didn't think it would work on them but it gave the rest of their team something to talk about.//
The Viper slowed as it passed Chris and the Night Kids. Alex was showing off her car and was thoroughly enjoying the stir she was creating. After she came to a stop she got out of her car and strolled over to stand beside Chris. Nakazato tensed as he saw her approach. Shingo saw his leader go stiff, like he did when he spoke to Sayuki, and decided to take over the conversation.
"So do you want the terms of the battle to be?"
"You mean your letting us decide?" asked Alex.
Shingo snorted. "We are racing on our home course so naturally you can choose what type of race you want."
Chris inwardly smiled; the pride these guys carried was amusing.
"Well then I will race uphill with Nakazato Takeshi and Chris will race the downhill with you in a gum tape death match. I believe that is the type of race you prefer. Agreed?"
Shingo was shocked. Normally he was the one who issued that kind of a challenge and no one was stupid enough to challenge him to one on his home course.
"Well, do you agree or not?"
Shingo and Nakazato nodded.
"Good then Chris will go to the top and we'll start as soon as he gets there," Alex stated.
Chris got into his car and headed up to the top of the pass. Shingo followed a few seconds later. Nakazato quickly got into his car and tried to collect his thoughts.
//It's not that bad. I admit, her car looks powerful but my GTR can handle it.//
Alex watched him go and got into her car. The two drivers edged their cars up to the starting line and waiting for the signal.
3-2-1 GO!!!
Both cars leaped forward. They had an even start yet at the first corner Alex let Nakazato take the lead. All was going according to the plan she and Aki worked out the night before.