A/N Sorry about the delay in posting. R/L stuff keeps getting in the way. Due to the demand for more about our characters' pasts they have been posted. My co-writer Hachi is putting those up - she has much more time on her hands than me. And thanks for the reviews. I'm glad everyone likes it. :)

Act 22

Back at the hotel room the two boys were watching Alex and Aki putting away their clothes. Vicky was eagerly commenting on their purchases and whining to Alex for not bringing her along.

"I must say Aki, this is not usually the kind of stuff you wear," commented Chris watching Aki putting away one of her garments.

"Well Chris, I have to wear something more appropriate than khakis and a t-shirt when I am with the sponsors of the F-1 race."

"So is it really true that you are going to race the Emperors?" Alex asked offhandedly. The twins stared at her.

"That's the first we've heard of this," they replied.

"That's because I just decided it," stated Aki.

"And you were going to tell us….."

"Today actually but someone beat me to it." Aki glared at Alex who was looking a bit sheepish. "Anyway what are you guys still doing here. This is your day off. Go have some fun."

Vicky quickly suggested a movie, which the others quickly began to argue over. During the argument Aki slipped out and called Takumi.

Takumi was on his break when his manager called him for a phone call. He picked it up. "Hello, Fujiwara Tofu…." a burst of laughter could be heard on the other end of the line.

"Good one Takumi. You do realize you are not working at your dad's place right now right?"

"Oh, Aki. I still haven't gotten over the habit yet."

Aki chuckled. "Well I wanted to know if you had any free time this week."

Takumi thought for a minute. "This Thursday I'm free."

"Great. Mind meeting me at the usual place?"

"Sure, I'll be there around nine," he replied. Saying goodbye he hung up the phone and headed back to work.

******

Keisuke barged into Ryosuke's room.

"Hey bro, you free on Thursday?"

"Yes, why?"

"Apparently Takumi and Aki are meeting again. I wouldn't mind seeing another of her 'lessons' again."

"Really and did Kenta tell you this?"

"No actually it was Alex. She heard them talking on the phone."

Ryosuke sighed. "You do realize they are friends and they might be getting together to talk."

"They might but if she is going to be teaching him something, I don't want to miss out." Ryosuke didn't reply.

*******

Thursday night found Aki lying on the hood of her car with Lake Akina in front of her. She watched as the moon reflected off the surface of the water. In the distance she could hear the approach of a car. She closed her eyes. //Sounds like Takumi.// In a few minutes her suspicions were confirmed as Akina's 86 soon pulled up beside her car. She held up a coffee that was soon taken by the kid sitting beside her.

| "I don't know if your tastes have changed but I found your favorite coffee while I was in town."

"Thank you," Takumi replied. He didn't say another word for a long time. He could sense that Aki was feeling nostalgic. He couldn't blame her. Her life must be pretty hectic with all the pressure from the people she worked with. Yet almost no one noticed for she put up such a good front.

"Remember how we used to come up here to relax?" Aki asked.

"Ah."

She sighed. "Things were so much simpler then."

"Nothing is ever simple with you Aki."

"I guess not." Aki paused. "Do you hear that?"

They both turned to the sound of three cars approaching.

"It's Alex and the Takahashis," stated Aki.

"How do you know?"

"Trust me." A few moments later the three cars joined them. "And how did you know we were here?" she asked. "No wait, let me guess."

"Uh oh I think we're in trouble," Keisuke muttered to Alex.

//I knew I shouldn't have come,// Ryosuke mentally kicked himself. //Shit she looks angry.//

"I'm sorry Aki, I accidentally picked up the phone while you were on it," said Alex her hands up in front of her.

"I don't believe you," Aki replied advancing on her.

"Alright I overheard you through the door."

"You mean eavesdropping." Alex silently looked to Ryosuke for help. He conveniently wasn't meeting her eyes. "Alex I think this calls for some discipline," Aki said as she latched onto Alex wrists and began to drag her away.

Keisuke was about to go and help Alex when Ryosuke stopped him. "I think we should stay out of this one."

"Hold on Takumi I will be right back," Aki said as she began to pull Alex out on the dock. Just before reaching the edge of the dock, Aki shoved Alex off balance.

"Aki this is so not fair! Don't you dare let me go!" Alex screamed as Aki pushed her off the dock. As she fell Alex managed to grab onto Aki's shirt, and both hit the water with a big splash.

Keisuke and Takumi ran towards the edge of the dock. Ryosuke hesitated. Aki wasn't going to be too happy that she got wet. Therefore he was really surprised to hear the two girls laughing a few moments later. He glanced over the edge of the dock. Aki and Alex were completely soaked. He chuckled, as did Keisuke. Alex glared at them both making them laugh harder.

"Well you could at least help us up," Alex huffed.

"Sorry, what she is trying to say is, can you please help us out?" Aki corrected.

Keisuke and Ryosuke each reached out their hands for the girls to grab. As soon as they got a hold of them, Aki and Alex nodded to each other and pulled back hard.

When the two brothers got their heads back above the surface of the water they saw both Alex and Aki sitting on the dock.

"That's what you get for laughing at us," Aki smiled sweetly. In the background, the still dry Takumi was laughing.

Moments later, Keisuke and Ryosuke pulled themselves out of the lake. Keisuke quickly pulled off his shirt and began to wring it out. Alex let out a whistle.

"I can't believe you would do that to me," he said to Alex.

"Well it was one way to get you to take off your clothes," she replied sweetly.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Funny," he replied sarcastically.

Ryosuke on the other hand was glaring at Aki.

"Oh come on, your not that mad are you?" she asked. He just kept glaring at her. She smiled innocently. "It's only water. It's not like it is going to stain those precious white clothes of yours." Ryosuke was practically grinding his teeth. What he really needed was a cigarette to calm him down, but those happened to be in his back pocket and were soaked along with everything else. Suddenly Aki turned away from him and headed towards her car.

"If you guys follow me, we can dry your clothes out at my place. It's only a few minutes away from here."

"You have your own place in Japan? So why are we living out of motels then?" asked Alex.

"My place isn't big enough for all of us and I prefer to be with my team when I'm training them. It's easier," replied Aki. "So are you coming?" she asked, directing the question mainly at Ryosuke.

Ryosuke nodded and got into his car.

A/N up next…….Ryosuke & Keisuke meet Aki's dad :)