Act 16

Alex was getting bored of the race, Nakazato just could not see the lesson behind it. She trailed him for a few more corners pushing her car as close to the rail as she dared. That normally got her focused back on the race but not today. She was not at the speeds she was used to racing at.

//Come on. Do *something*,// she begged before her eye began to drift towards the people in the gallery. //Don't do that,// she thought to herself. //You know that is the best way to get into an accident. But I can't help it. He's going so slow!// She saw one of the markers flash by. //Almost at the end? It's about time.//

Alex eased her car beside the 32 and passed him easily at the next turn. She looked back at him through her rear view mirror when a thought occurred to her.

//Isn't the last part of this course downhill? I wonder if I can get my car to jump like Aki does sometimes.// She smiled. //This might be fun after all.// Alex began to concentrate on the corners, trying to find the ideal line. She pressed her car faster and soon left Nakazato far behind.

******

Aki arrived at the peak just as Nakazato was exiting his car. As expected, the galleries had thinned and judging from Nakazato's expression, the race did not turn out like he had planned. Aki spun the black FC to a stop beside the 32. She got out looked at Takeshi's freaked expression and smiled.

"What are you so worried about? I still have an inch to spare."

Nakazato quickly recovered. "But how am I supposed to get into my car?" he growled.

Aki shrugged. "I'll be gone before you, so chill out?" She turned to Chris. "So did I miss anything?"

"Nope just Alex testing out her flying skills. She's pretty good but I don't think she is quite ready for suicide dives off a bridge."

"So she jumped the last bit?" Aki said a little surprised. "Well, I guess it was bound to happen. She has a bigger wild streak than me."

Chris chuckled. "Aki, no one has a bigger wild streak than you."

Aki grinned back. "That might be true. Oh here comes Shingo. It looks like he is getting a little impatient. Why don't you go talk to him," she said maneuvering herself behind him. While he was talking to Shingo, Aki quickly popped his hood and made the last of her adjustments. Shingo left for his car just as she was finishing.

"Ok so what did you do?" asked Chris suspiciously. "You know how I hate it when you change stuff on the car without me knowing.

"Oh nothing much, just made this gum tape death match a little easier on you by rearranging a few things. Now hurry up and get in. They are waiting for you at the starting line."

Chris reluctantly got into his car. Nakazato started them off after both Chris and Shingo had their hands taped. Chris easily pulled in front of the civic with his greater horsepower, yet he didn't push the car to its full power. Chris nervously looked in the rear mirror.

//Maybe I shouldn't have taken the front so quick.//

The first turn came up. He went into a drift and managed to make it around. It was shaky but he had done it. He tried the same thing in the other corner, with the same results. He looked behind him again. Shingo was sitting back and enjoying himself, confident about an upcoming win. Shingo pulled along beside Chris and gave him a smirk before going back to following. It had the desired effect. Chris began to speed up. In the next corner, Shingo expecting a crash had dropped back to a safer distance. Chris didn't notice. He pushed down hard on the gas when he hear a click.

//Shit, what was that? Oh hell I hope it wasn't anything major,// he thought as he hit the corner. He closed his eyes when he realized how fast he was approaching the corner. //I'm gonna die.//

A few moments past and he opened his eyes. He was around the corner and his car hadn't shaken like it was off balance.

Chris stunned didn't notice his foot pressing on the gas pedal until he heard the click once more. With the second noise a lightbulb went off in his head.

//Aki did it. She must have set something to activate after I got to a certain speed.// He tried the next corner and cleared it with no problems. He smiled. //So that is what she did.//

He glanced to the rear view mirror to see Shingo desperately trying to make up ground. Chris pushed his car a little faster and soon left Shingo eating his dust.

*****

A call came from the base.

"Shingo lost."

Aki smiled and walked over to Nakazato. "Thank you for the race, it gave my crew some needed experience. See you around."

Nakazato fumed. He couldn't bring himself to say what he wanted to say. He watched her get into her car and race down the mountain followed by Alex. He regained control of his temper before Shingo made it back to the top. The red Civic pulled along side the 32.

"So you lost too."

"Don't remind me," snarled Shingo. "I should have rammed him. I could have won."

"Yeah maybe. But then their leader would have been on your case, and I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to get her angry."

Shingo looked at him in surprise. "You think she's good?"

"Definitely. Her aura is one of the strongest I have ever sensed."

"So if she raced against Ryosuke Takahashi, who do you think would win?"

"I don't know. I honestly don't know."

******

Ryosuke drove up to Masahasi's garage and found Keisuke waiting outside. Keisuke jumped in as soon as he pulled to a stop.

"My car will be done tomorrow," Keisuke informed him. "I think Aki called him because he has some extra guys doing the night shift."

"Those might be for the other car. It was damaged a lot more than yours."

"Yeah you might be right, but Masahasi said mine would be done first."

Ryosuke drove down the highway in silence before a thought occurred to him. "So what were the twins like?"

Keisuke looked at his brother. "You wouldn't believe how immature they were. First they were arguing over whose fault the accident was and then they wrestled over it. Really they were acting like kids."

Ryosuke chuckled.

"What? Are you laughing at me?" asked Keisuke suspiciously.

"You're the last person I thought I'd hear giving judgments on maturity."

Keisuke turned towards the window. Ryosuke recognized the signs. Keisuke didn't like what he had just said so he was giving his brother the silent treatment. Ryosuke smiled.

"They're going to be at Akina next Saturday," he said in an offhand manner.

Keisuke glanced his way. Ryosuke didn't say anything more. Keisuke fought with the idea of breaking his self imposed silence. Keisuke sighed.

"Well are you going to tell me how you know this?"

"Aki told me. I don't think she wanted to take the chance of us showing up unexpectedly again."

"Hey bro, you think Alex will be there?" asked Keisuke avoiding his brother's eyes.

A/N Next chapter ….. Aki challenges Takumi.