A/N I know it has been awhile, and I'm sorry for that. First I had problems with my computer, then

school work piled up and add work on top of that….*grimace* not fun. Anyway, I finally convinced my co-writer to stop her other fics for a while and help me get the rest of this one out so hopefully there won't be a wait as long as this one again. Anyway thank you for the reviews everyone. Hope you enjoy this one too.

Act 31

Aki leaned against the chain link fence with her eyes closed, soaking in the atmosphere of the early morning. Without even glancing at her watch she could tell that it would be dawn in mere moments. Opening her eyes at just the right moment, Aki watched as the sun rose over the east end, giving some light to the mist shrouded track. The silence was absolute for a full minute before the twins began chatting.

"Like come on. This is race day. There have to be some celebs here. I heard Jet Li liked racing, maybe we'll see him," Vicky began.

"Oh that would be awesome! But I heard that Catherine Zeta-Jones is supposed to be filming here this month."

"Well Tom Cruise is too!"

"Why would I want to see him?"

"Children, children, break it up," interrupted Aki. "It's Friday morning. Those kinds of people don't normally show up until the F1 races on Saturday. So until then, take these and have some fun," she stated handing out passes to the group. "These will let you go into places that only the racing staff gets to go. Just make sure you don't get into everyone's way, ok?"

"Aye, aye captain," the twins saluted before bolting off towards the food stands. Chris chuckled before heading down to the pits. Aki smiled. //He was always more into the mechanics than anything else.// Glancing to her side she noticed that Alex had decided to stick around.

"Well since you're here you can help me."

"With what?" Alex asked.

"I need to go and find a PS2-X78 gear. Mine was damaged during that mistake on Wednesday."

Alex chuckled. "Are you ever going to forgive him for that? I heard you messed up his system a little too."

"Not as bad as he did. Do you realise how hard it is going to be to find this? I can't just go up to the manufacturer and buy it. They don't make this model anymore. I have to actually go around the pits and see if anyone has one in good condition and then if their actually going to sell it. I'm just lucky that the race was happening this weekend or I'd have to leave Japan to go looking for it."

"Ouch," replied Alex. "Well let's get started."

Hours later, Keisuke and Ryosuke were sitting in the grandstands waiting for the race to start. In the background he could here Aki's voice. "We won't be able finish looking until after this race," she was explaining. "They're going to be too busy." Turing his head he saw that Ryosuke had noticed them as well. //Looks like he's still mad,// thought Keisuke when his brother pointedly ignored them. He looked over to Alex and noticed her motioning for him to stay quiet. He nodded.

Alex quickly glanced between Ryosuke and Aki before answering. "That's ok I understand they have their own jobs to do. But I do have a PR question."

"Sure go ahead," Aki stated not yet noticing the Takahashi brothers.

"Let's say you were at a dinner party and were a little drunk. Not staggering around the place, I can't find my feet drunk, but you know slightly buzzed."

"I don't like the sound of this," Aki said suspiciously.

"Don't be paranoid, this is purely theoretical. Now let me finish. Lets say you bumped into this guy, possibly a partner or client, and he's in the same state you're in and you both spilled some wine on each other's designer cloths. What would you do?"

"Apologise obviously. But I guess what would happen next would depend on what he did."

"What do you mean?" Alex asked.

"Well if he didn't apologise in return then I know I'd be wary of trusting his judgement. I mean, according to your description it is partially his fault as well, so by not making up for that fact I'd have to wonder how he would handle business situations. If he apologised as well then I'd probably see if we could split the cost of having the cloths cleaned or replaced."

"That sounds like some good advice," said a voice from behind her. Aki glared dangerously at Alex before slowly turning around. "I'd like to apologise if I damaged your car in anyway," Ryosuke continued watching Aki's eyes. He saw widen slightly in shock over his apology but then they once again hardened.

"I really hate you right now," Aki stated after a pause. "You overheard the conversation and now you're backing me into a corner. Never give up an advantage right?" Aki watched as a slight smirk crossed Ryosuke face. "Didn't think so. Very well, I also apologise. Now I know for a fact that my car is more expensive to fix so would you mind helping me look for a part I need?"

"Not at all, right bro?" Keisuke jumped in glad that the little melodrama was now over. "So what are we looking for?"

"A gear," Alex replied.

"A PS2-X78 to be specific," added Aki.

Ryosuke looked at her curiously. "The Pontiac PS2-X78? The one they stopped making a few years ago?"

"Yeah," sighed Aki. "I would really like the A model but those are really hard to come by now a days." Aki watched as a small smile appeared on his face. "You've got one," Aki stated. Ryosuke nodded. "How much would you be willing to sell it for?"

Keisuke quickly covered his brother's mouth. "I am not going to listen to you to haggle over prices and statistics for the rest of the day just to find out who has the most power in this warped relationship," Keisuke interrupted lowering his hand. Alex burst out laughing and cheered him on. "We were invited here to watch the races so any comments concerning driving and statistics may only be used to comment on the race on the track."

"I second that motion," stated Alex smiling.

"Same here," said amused couples in the row behind them.

"Looks like we've been out voted," Aki said with a smile. "Until later?"

"Later," Ryosuke agreed.

"Good now that that's settled, who do you think is going to win?" Keisuke asked as soon as the race started.

Ryosuke began analyzing the race in front of him. "Car #44," Aki answered.

Ryosuke searched for #44 on the track. Currently it was sitting in last place. "What makes you think that?" he asked.

"Experience," Aki replied with a smirk. "In this kind of race, he likes to make his move on the 10th lap."

*******

"You know I didn't believe you when you said he was going to win," Keisuke said in awe over #44's victory.

Aki chuckled. "He's called The Sleeper in Brazil. In the trials he always goes just fast enough to get himself into the race and in a tail position. It still pisses the hell out of his sponsors."

"Aki! Aki!" Chris called as soon as he spotted them. "Aki you have to come and see this mechanic I met, he's amazing."

"Sure Chris. Be down in a sec," Aki yelled back. "Well shall we see what's got him so excited?" Aki asked the group as she began walking towards the pits. Everyone smiled and followed her down.

Chris quickly led the group to a small 40 year old brunette man who was carefully wiping the oil off of the many tools in front of him. Looking up at the approaching group his eyes widened. "Long time no see Aki. I heard you were in Japan but I didn't think you were going to stop by," he said with a smile. "But I'm glad you did. What's up?"

"Wait you know him!?" Chris asked astonished.

"Of course. Everyone, this is Kyle. Kyle meet everyone." Kyle chuckled. "So you're working with J.C.? I noticed your handiwork out on the track."

"Yeah, so far I'm the only one that can stand listening him complain about how the alignment's not right or there's not enough pressure in the tires. I went on a break a month ago and my replacement begged me to come back early. So this is you're new team?" Kyle asked glancing to the group behind her. "Kind of young aren't they?"

"Just these two are," Aki replied pointing to Chris and Alex. "And that comment reminds me of the first time you met me."

"Oh I sense a story," Alex whispered to Chris.

"Yeah I said that and then you proceeded to lap me on the track. Twice" Kyle replied smiling. "After that little stint my manager bullied me into learning under her."

"Wait Aki taught you?" Keisuke asked.

"Yeah me and four other guys. We were all professionals at the time so it took her lapping us a few times for us to get over our egos. Bur let me tell you," he began looking at Chris and Alex. "She is the best. And I mean that."

"Aww Kyle you're embarrassing me," Aki said mockingly.

"Not as bad as your mother will," Kyle replied smirking as he saw Aki suddenly pale. "She's lead mechanic for one of Ferrari's F1 models. She should be arriving sometime today. Sorry rephrase that. She should be arriving now."

"What?" Aki asked and that's when she heard it.

"Aki! Honey! Over Here!" Everyone turned to see a tall blonde haired blue-eyed woman approaching at a jog. "Hey sweetheart," the women gushed giving Aki a huge hug.

"M-Mom, c-can't b-breathe," Aki gasped.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm just so happy to see you. You're father hasn't sent me the pictures he said he was going to. Oh I'm sorry," she said seeing the shocked expressions of the rest of the group. "I'm Shannon Blake, Aki's mother. You must be Alex," Shannon stated holding out her hand to the correct person. "Aki has told me so much about you, and Chris, it's nice to finally have a face to put to the voice that keeps picking up my daughter's phone. Though I must say the first time that happened that was a shock wasn't it. Now you two I don't recognise."

"This is Ryosuke and Keisuke Takahashi, and no they're not on my team and no they aren't planning on joining my team and no I am not going out with either of them," Aki stated answering all the questions she could see twinkling behind her mother's eyes.

"Now Aki don't be like that. I'm sure that one of them just hasn't made his move yet."

"MOM!"

"Oops, did I say that out loud."

By this time everyone except Aki had burst out laughing. Suddenly a car came screeching around the corner and began barrelling its way towards the group. Everyone gasped and leaped out of the way. Everyone except Aki.