Act 15

[Usui]

Aki drove quietly up the mountain with Ryosuke now sitting beside her just as quietly. Aki glanced at the time.

"Alex should be racing the 32 right about now," she stated to break the silence.

"How do you think she's doing?"

"Oh he should be in front."

"How do you know?"

Aki smiled. "Because I told her to play it out that way. It's all part of the plan."

Ryosuke smiled ever so slightly. "You plan everything?"

"No not everything," she gave Ryosuke a look. "If I did, you wouldn't be here."

"Would you like it if I got out and walked?"

"That's one solution," said Aki sweetly.

Ryosuke just smiled back. "I don't think so. So what did you tell her?"

//Still trying to gather information. God, he's relentless. But I think he knows why I told Alex to be in back.// Aki smiled. //I'll just be difficult.//

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she retorted.

Ryosuke recognized the challenge. After all, Keisuke pulled this same trick on him often enough. But unlike Keisuke, Aki's emotions were much harder to discern. Ryosuke repeated himself.

"So what did you tell her?" Aki only smiled and kept on driving. "You realize I have ways of making people talk."

Aki looked at him. "Oh, I am really scared. No really I am," she replied smiling.

"Fine if you won't tell me then I'll just guess."

"Now this should be interesting." Aki had her elbow resting on the window and pretended to be bored. "Please, do go on."

Ryosuke looked at her angrily before turned his head trying to get control. She was much better at this game than Keisuke. She knew just what words to use to get him riled up. By this time most people would have given up but he was determined to get his answers. He took a deep breath and thought over what he would have done. The answer was pretty obvious once you factored in that the one she was racing was Nakazato.

"You told your friend to go behind because Nakazato has a short attention span and will lose concentration if she trails him closely," stated Ryosuke. He looked at Aki to see her response. She was holding up her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart.

"So close yet so far. Care to try again?"

"I take it your also trying to teach Nakazato a lesson in patience?"

"Man, nothing gets past you," she said sarcastically.

Ryosuke didn't rise to the bait again. When she could no longer get a reaction out of Ryosuke, Aki got bored with the game and continued the conversation.

"No you're right, Nakazato has a short temper. If only he'd learn some patience he would be a great 32 driver."

"I don't think he's going to learn the lesson. Keisuke tried to teach him the same thing a few months ago."

"On your orders I suspect," she replied smiling.

"Yeah. I'm actually surprised you noticed his weakness so quickly. Have you seen him race before?"

"No, but I met him once. I could tell right away that he had some issues to work out but I think he is getting over the feeling that the race is determined by how powerful your car is." Aki smiled. "Well my father always said I had a knack for finding weaknesses."

"Really? So what did you find out about me?" asked Ryosuke.

"If I found anything, you'd be the last person to know," replied Aki. "Think of it as insurance for when we race."

Ryosuke smiled at the last comment. So she had finally accepted his challenge. He was about to ask when she was planning on racing him when they reached the top.

"Good night, Ryosuke," she said as Ryosuke got out of the car. "Oh just in case you wanted to know, we are hitting Akina next." With that remark she did a quick 180 and raced off down the mountain.

//I'll see you sooner than you think// thought Ryosuke as he floored the gas pedal in an attempt to catch up.

********

Back on Myougi, the red Viper was pushing Nakazato hard.

//Already losing patience? But we're only half way. This is getting boring. I guess I'll pass him at the next S-turn. I think I'll show him the power of my engine first, maybe he'll learn some humility,// thought Alex, then she smiled. //Probably not but I'd love to see him try to counter this.//

On the next straight away Alex pulled up beside him before he could block the road. She took the lead for a few seconds before dropping back and doing the same thing on the other side. She then settled back into her previous position, her front fender practically rubbing his car. Her move had the desired effect. Nakazato pushed his car harder in an attempt to increase the distance but only managed to throw his car off balance in the corners. He was driving erratically and was losing speed.

//Hmm, I think I just pissed him off,// thought Alex. //Well this makes passing him even easier. Might as well pass him in the next corner. It's not going to make a difference when I pass anymore.//

Alex prepared for the coming turn that Kenta happened to be watching.

*******

After dropping off Ryosuke at the top, Aki began to head over to Myougi.

//Good thing the twins raced this course together, this is actually harder than I thought.// She glanced at the clock and then at her rear view mirror. //Let's see Alex is racing and I should arrive just before Chris starts to race and Ryosuke should be catching up to me soon.// A pair of headlights appeared behind her. //God, I hate being right, but since we're here, we might as well have some fun.//

Aki picked up her pace and Ryosuke once again caught up.

//So you can keep pace with me. Good. But what if I use all the engine's power?//

She increased her speed and her technique. By the time she reached the base she had a significant lead over the white FC. She continued onto Myougi without slowing her pace. Ryosuke headed in the opposite direction so that he could pick up Keisuke at the shop.

//I hope he doesn't get into the habit of wrecking his car,// he thought before going over the race he just had. //Her car is incredibly fast but the weaknesses she showed in the beginning were lost as soon as she increased her speed. I can't tell if that was her true skill or just another of her performances.// Ryosuke smiled. //This certainly makes racing her exciting.//

A/N Please send more reviews. Or email me at out_foxed@yahoo.com if you don't want to post.

Coming up next the race between Shingo and Chris…..don't miss it :)