A/N After being bugged incessantly by my cowriter, I finally put down the other fic I've been working on and finished another chapter. Please note that I know almost nothing about cars so the technical talk is all bullshit and if anything is actually true it is mere coincidence only. Anyway, the next chapter involves Ryosuke and Aki testing out each other's cars. How will they fare? You'll just have to read and find out.

Act 29

The crowd suddenly became silent as two engines roared to life. Looking to the starting line, they could see the Takahashi's yellow RX-7 alongside the Dark Horizons Red Viper. Before anyone could start them off the two racecars launched into the race so even it was if they were responding to their own silent count down. On the sidelines, the two leaders watched as their protégés took off.

Inside her car, Alex was flung back as she threw herself into the first turn. With her superior engine she managed to win the small drag race at the peak. //This isn't so bad,// thought Alex. //I can show off my skill if I'm in front. I wonder if he can keep up.//

Alex threw herself into the first turn with Keisuke following close behind her. Gunning her engine she raced to the next turn. Entering at an amazing speed she went into a fast drift with Keisuke beside her. They continued down Akagi increasing their speed at every corner. At this rate they were coming close to matching Ryosuke's best time on this course. It was amazing to watch. Both drivers were playing off each other so well, their mistakes and shortcomings were compensated by their opponent. When Keisuke was about to understeer, he was forced to slow down by the Viper in front of him and by following so close behind her, Keisuke was forceing Alex to take the best lines. Combined like this they were making a run that would be difficult to duplicate by anyone. Reaching the bottom, Keisuke made one last attempt to pass the Viper. His eyes focussed on the finish line, it was only a few hundred meters away. Flooring the gas, he was able to pull ahead of Alex's Viper. He crossed the finish line just as her car switched gears and roared ahead. Keisuke sighed. He had won, barely. If the course had happened to be a few meters longer he would have lost.

Ahead of him, Alex stopped and got out of her car. "I almost had you for a moment," she said to him smiling.

"Almost doesn't quite cut it," Keisuke retorted jokingly. "Just be happy I beat you." Alex looked at him curiously. "I don't like people who beat me," he continued with a grin.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Really? And what if I want a rematch? You won't be able to beat me a second time and you know it."

Keisuke grinned as he leaned down and kissed her. It was a kiss filled with passion and desire. Pulling away Keisuke noticed her dazed look. "Don't be too sure of that," he replied.

*********

Back at the peak, Ryosuke watched as Aki typed away at her computer. Windows were popping in and out of the screen as she ran through the data at phenomenal speed. "They're coming back," she said suddenly breaking the silence. Ryosuke drew his attention away from the computer and listened. Now that he was paying attention he could hear the distinct sounds of Keisuke's engine as it climbed the pass. As soon as the two racers reached the group, Aki got up from her laptop and went to greet them. From his vantage point, Ryosuke could tell that she had been pleased with the run they just did. Looking behind him, he noticed Aki had left her laptop open and running. Unable to resist, he quickly walked over and began flitting through her files.

//Let's see. Letter to BMW, letter to Toyota, letter to CEO of Temtek, never hear of them. Oh what have we here?// thought Ryosuke opening the latest file. //Looks like notes on how to choose the best lines on an unknown course.//

"You're hogging my computer," said an annoyed voice from behind him. Looking up he saw Aki with her hands on her hips and tapping her foot impatiently on the ground.

//Uh oh, someone's in trouble,// thought Chris with a grin. Suddenly he paused. Aki was a lot tenser than she should be. Normally she brushed off people looking into her things pretty easily but right now she looked almost as though she was planning on murdering Ryosuke. Looking at the FC driver, it seemed as though he just realized it too.

"Why don't you two race?" asked Chris trying to break the tension.

"In each other's cars," added Alex also noticing Aki's mood.

"What!?" said a shocked Aki. "No. Absolutely not. There is no way I am letting anyone drive my car." Ryosuke was silently agreeing with her.

"Oh come on. It would be so cool," Vicky continued. "I mean think of the learning experience. We have never seen you drive anything but your engine. I'd like to see how you do on a normal one."

"It's a nice idea," Ryosuke replied, "but I wouldn't want to. Her car probably doesn't come equipped with ABS or LSD." The RedSuns nodded.

"Oh bullshit. No second generation RX-7 comes with those standards," Aki snorted. Ryosuke turned to her slightly shocked. No one had ever tried to refute him before. "Only third generations, like Keisuke's have them. Unless of course you went and had them installed," she continued.

"So if you don't have LSD….."

"I use a slotted brake shaft."

"So the stopping difference is only about 1.2 seconds then."

"If I had used the normal make, but I'm using the ASP model."

"ASP? Interesting," Ryosuke commented. "Do you have a spark amplifier as well?"

"Of course, the Chrome Low-6 came standard. I had it upgraded to a High-6 almost as soon as I got it," Aki replied.

Ryosuke was surprised. //She's able to have a detailed conversation at my level.//

They continued arguing for a few more minutes before Aki finally stumped him.

"Yes that may be true but with the power hyped up that much you need a blow off valve. TRD's actually got a nice one in the works." Ryosuke paused while Aki grinned in triumph. //This is the first time I've had an advanced conversation with someone not in the Formula One Circuit.

Keisuke looked on in shock from the sidelines. "That was a first."

"What was?" asked Alex.

"That's the first time I've seen my brother lose an argument."

"Are you telling me you could actually follow that? As soon as they began with the short forms I was lost."

"Actually I caught the gist of it, but I wouldn't be able to tell you many of the details," replied Keisuke. "But here's your chance to try. It looks like they are starting up again."

Looking back over to the pair, Alex could see that Aki and Ryosuke had moved on from engine parts into the structure of the car itself. She caught the tail end of a point about roll bars and weight distribution.

"Enough already!!!" Vicky yelled getting their attention. "What are you two? Married or something?" Aki was about to retort when Vicky continued grinning. "Don't say another word or I'll have to give you a time out. Now it is obvious you both are professionals so it is highly unlikely that you would damage each other's cars."

"Yeah so do us a favor and put on a good show," Alex added with a grin.

About half an hour later, Ryosuke and Aki finally gave into the begging and pleading of their teams and reluctantly handed each other their keys. "If you damage my car I'll destroy you," Aki warned.

"Likewise," Ryosuke replied.

A/N To be continued…..