A/N Hey guys, just letting you know that their will be a break in posting. I'm going to CNAnime in Toronto this weekend with my co-writer, hopefully to pick up a few new titles. If anyone is going we'd love to meet up with you. If you're interested please email me at out_foxed@yahoo.com . Anyway I hope you like Act 20 cause I'm not sure when I'll be posting the next act. Soon I hope :)

Act 20

Now that she was in front, Aki was not going to let Takumi pass. They were close to the base when Takumi tried his second ditch technique. He managed to pull up beside Aki but she continued at the same speed and kept her position. Crossing the finish line they both did a quick 180 to stop, but before they could be congratulated, they both took off back up the pass. The black FC charged uphill with Takumi close behind. Glancing in her rear view mirror, Aki noticed that the distance between them was minimal.

//Watch closely Takumi. I wonder how long it will take you to pick this technique up. With your new engine your car should be able to handle this.//

With that thought Aki began to concentrate on her next move. After allowing Takumi to watch her uphill skills on a few hairpins, she suddenly floored it. She would show Takumi her true skill in the last two turns. Approaching the corner at such a high speed made the galleries gasp.

"It's not going to clear the corner! Get out of the way!"

At the last possible instant the black FC began to drift. Aki's car was perfectly balanced allowing for a perfect exit. Glancing back she saw that Takumi's attempt did not turn out as well, the Hachi-Roku's exit was unsteady. Smiling she preformed the same feat in the next corner with the same result.

//Well, Takumi, it looks like you have something to work on after all,// Aki thought as she reached the skating rink. //Now where did my stalker go? I couldn't have left Ryosuke this far behind.//

Aki continued to the peak at a leisurely pace allowing Takumi to catch up. The lesson was over and she had no desire to continue with the mock battle.

********

Before reaching the base, Ryosuke suddenly let up on the gas.

"What are you doing bro?" asked a confused Keisuke as soon as he felt the car slow.

"I have a feeling that they will be coming back. This isn't a race so much as it is a lesson. By now she knows the limits to his skills on the downhill, but an uphill attack is where we might see something interesting," Ryosuke replied as he parked his car off to the side of the road. Getting out of his car, Ryosuke made his way to the guardrail. From this standpoint he could clearly see the last two hairpins that Aki and Takumi would hit. Keisuke stood beside him glancing between him and the road.

"You know you could be wrong about this whole uphill thing," stated Keisuke. "After all, she doesn't often follow what you predict."

Ryosuke didn't have an answer to that. But just as he was beginning to doubt himself, they heard the sound of approaching cars. Analyzing their approach Ryosuke noticed something wrong.

"Aren't they going a bit fast?" Keisuke asked.

Ryosuke remained silent as Aki and Takumi reached the corner. Her uphill drift was a spectacular sight.

"Never mind. I should have learned to expect this by now," Keisuke sighed running his hand through his hair. Ryosuke just smiled as he got in his car and headed back to the peak.

*********

Reaching the peak the brothers could see both Takumi and Aki surrounded by their respective teams. Getting out of his car Ryosuke could hear snatches of conversation.

"How did you……..teach us?…….how long…."

As he was making his way closer Aki turned and spotted him.

"Did you enjoy the show? I tried to make it more interesting since you were following me…..again," she smirked. Then she turned towards the Speedstars. "So Takumi did you have fun?" Takumi smiled.

"So how do you know Takumi?" Ryosuke asked.

"The question everyone wants to know," replied Alex as she glared at Aki. "But neither of them are talking."

Ryosuke looked back at Aki and raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, we're old friends, we grew up together," she relented.

"Wait I've been Takumi's friend for years," said Itsuki as he turned to face Takumi. "How come you never TOLD me about her?"

Takumi scratched his head. "You never asked."

"Well, I'm asking now. Who is she?"

"Aki Keiichi," replied Takumi in a bland voice.

"KEIICHI!? AS IN TISUCHIYA KEIICHI (A/N sorry not sure about the spelling, and I probably have the name wrong I can never figure out which one is first so I'm using Keiichi as the last name.) THE DRIFT KING!?" screamed Itsuki.

Aki laughed. "When did my dad pick up that nickname?"

"You mean it's true?" asked Keisuke shocked. Aki just gave a knowing smile in return.

"So you got your start from your father," stated Ryosuke.

"And with him and Takumi's father being such good friends I was trained by both," Aki continued.

"So how old were you when you started?" asked Iketani in amazement.

"Twelve. But I'm also three years older than Takumi."

//She's been driving longer than my bro,// thought Keisuke as he listened in on the conversation.

"But you didn't start for a couple of years did you?" Ryosuke retorted.

Aki gave him a sidelong glance. "Interesting that you should say that," she said heading towards her car. "Next time I just might answer that. Don't want get rid of all my mystery in one night." With that parting remark Aki's black FC sped off into the night, followed moments later by the rest of her team.

After the Dark Horizons left, Itsuke was the first to break the silence.

"Takumi, if you have anymore friends like that….Tell me."

A/N up next……Aki and Alex go shopping with company.