A/N Thanks to everyone for their comments. Many of you are asking for the race between Takumi and Aki which by the way happens in Act 19. I'm not sure yet which Act the LanEvo race between Aki and Kyouichi will happen, but a race between Aki and Seiji happens in Act 24. And because I got so many nice reviews, I'm posting both acts 17 and 18 today. Any questions or comments you can email me at out_foxed@yahoo.com . Thanks again everyone.

Act 17

Aki got up early the next morning and headed over to Akina. She drove over the pass for most of the morning, enjoying the leisurely pace she was travelling at. She had nowhere in particular to go and her mind kept recalling instances from last night. The party after they got back to the motel was a toned down affair and her team had been surprised to hear that she was going to race at Akina the coming Saturday. She had left her team this morning with instructions to help Masahasi fix the Diablo while she went and looked over the course. In reality, she wanted some free time to meet up with some old friends. Later in the afternoon, she pulled up to a gas station and got out of her car. Itsuki and Iketani quickly ran up to serve her.

"Fill it up with high octane please."

Itsuki handled the gas, while Iketani began washing the windows. Itsuki noticed a sticker on the rear window and signalled to Iketani. He came over and looked at the sticker.

"Dark Horizons?"

"You think she's really one of them, Iketani-sempai?"

Iketani was about to ask her, when he realized she was gone. Aki had wandered inside the gas station after she had seen Yuichi having a smoke on the couch.

"You should stop smoking old man, it's bad for your health," she said sneaking up behind him.

Yuichi jumped and dropped his cigarette. It rolled down his shirt and on to his pants where he tried to beat it out before it burned him.

"Shit, why the hell did…" his sentence was cut short when he realized who it was. "Aki!" he exclaimed and caught her in a bear hug before she could back away. "Look at you. You have grown so much since I last saw you. How long has it been? Three years?"

"Four almost. Dad and I are back here in Japan and this is the first time I have been close enough to the area to stop by," said Aki sitting on the couch. "So how has everyone been?"

"Well Bunta is the same as always."

"What still plotting to get Takumi on the pro circuit?"

"Actually, Takumi has become really good recently. He's actually joined a team now."

"Are you kidding? Takumi hated racing."

"Not anymore. He joined Project D, that's Ryosuke Takahashi's new team. He actually plans on going pro eventually."

//Takumi's on Ryosuke's team? But I haven't seen him at any of the meets.//

"So how did this happen?" she asked.

"Well it all started when he beat the Redsuns #2 driver on one of his deliveries. From that point on he raced everyone who challenged him, including Ryosuke Takahashi."

"Let me guess, he won that one too."

Yuichi nodded. "How'd you know?"

"Ryosuke wouldn't challenge anyone on his home turf which means he came here, and lets face it, The only one to beat Takumi here has been me."

"That was a long time ago Aki. He's gotten better since then."

"So have I. It ought to make it interesting. Anyway I'm off to see Bunta now. I was hoping to catch Takumi here, but I'll catch him later. See you later Yuichi." Aki paid for her gas and got into her car. Just as she was about to leave she looked at Iketani. "Hachi-Roku. Downhill. This Saturday. See you there," she smiled sweetly at his shocked expression.

Aki drove to the Fujiwara Tofu Shop. Walking in the front door she didn't notice anyone.

//Maybe I should pick up something while I'm here,// she thought looking over the menu. A few minutes went by and still no one showed up to serve her.

"Hey, Yoda! How do you manage to keep this running while you're sleeping?" she yelled out.

"Now no need to be mean," he said coming out from the back. His eyebrows raised when he saw her.

"Well, I'm waiting," she said tapping her foot with her hands at her hips.

"And you'll keep waiting you over privileged brat."

"Bunta," Aki whined. Then smiled. "Dad wants to meet you for dinner sometime next week after his race. He said he would have offered you tickets but you wouldn't have gone anyway."

Bunta reached over and ruffled her hair. "Much better kid. So what brings you here, other than the fact that your heading your own team now."

Aki looked at him in surprise. "Hey how did you know that? That was SUPPOSED to be a surprise." Bunta smiled. "Anyway I've been making engines and I had one in mind for you if you wanted it."

"Sorry squirt, I already got a new one."

"Stop calling me that! I am not a kid anymore! But are you serious about the engine?" said Aki a little disappointed.

"Yes. Want to take a look? I think you'd be surprised."

Bunta led her out to the Hachi-Roku and opened the hood.

Aki's eyes widened. "Wow. You really pulled some strings for this one. I'm surprised Toyota let you have it. It is actually suited perfectly for this car after you took off some of the extra applications."

"That was the idea," he said proudly.

"Hmm, well I guess you won't be needing my engine. But I'd love to see how it runs. You think you could spare Takumi on Saturday night?"

"I could."

"Great, but don't tell him I'm in town yet. I want to surprise him later," she said. She chatted for a few more moments with Bunta before she got into her car and pulled away. After she had left, Bunta went back inside and picked up a newspaper.

Takumi came home a few hours later. He went past his father and started walking up the stairs.

"You got a phone call today."

"Who was it?" asked Takumi.

"Didn't say."

"Doesn't matter. I think I know what it is about."

"So someone already told you about the challenge."

Takumi poked his head around the doorframe. " How did you know about that?" he asked a little surprised.

"An old friend dropped by and told me."

//What old friend?//

"So are you going to race?" Bunta continued.

"Ah," Takumi answered heading up the stairs.

//Good,// thought Bunta. //I wonder who would win?//

*****

The phone rang persistently right beside Takumi's head. He glanced at his clock.

//Who would be calling at 3:30 am?//

He got dressed and went downstairs. The phone was still ringing.

"Dad, why don't you answer the phone?"

"Because it's for you."

Takumi yawned and went to pick it up.

"Fujiwara Tofu…"

"It's about time you picked up the phone. Now we have no time to talk cause you're going to be late for your delivery," said a female voice.

//How does she know about the delivery?// thought Takumi now fully awake.

"Oh well, I'll just have to talk to you on Saturday. See ya there."

The other side went dead. Takumi hung up the phone.

//Who was that?//

A/N Up next prelude to the race with Takumi.