ACT 5 – 5000RPM 'Preparing for the Tournament'

At the apartment, Fu Huo stood leaning on his door, as Kanae was busy using his phone. He tucked his car keys into his pocket like he was ready to leave.

"Anyway, I'm glad you're safe. By the way, Roni wants to speak to you," spoke Fao through the phone.
"Okay," replied Kanae.
In a moment, Roni took the phone, "Hellooo auntie Kanae! I'm so glad you're okay! I miss yooh auntie."
"Thanks, Roni. I'm fine…"
"I halftoo tell yooh somefing auntie…"
"Yes, what is it, honey?"
"The guy you were racing that night… what car was it?"
"Well, its was an orange Eclipse. Why, Roni?"
"That's the guy who said he could be the fastest in F5…"

Hmm… so it was he… And he really was very fast…

Moments later, Fao took the phone and continued to speak to Kanae.
"That guy survived, luckily," explained Fao. "His car spun out before he crashed, and good thing it was the rear that took most of the collision. He's still suffered minor injuries, but at least he's survived."

"That's good to hear," said Kanae.
"By the way, his name is Hua Fei Long… An ex-BXD member…"

Oh no wonder he was so good… If that incident didn't happen… he would've gave me a real run.

"I heard from my wife that the tournament is still on… Well I can't stop you now, Kanae. Good luck and I hope you come back safely once F5 is open again. By the way, the tournament starts as scheduled only this time it's at C4. I gotta go sis, take care of yourself, you hear?"

"You too, Fao…"

"Hold on a sec…" paused Fao. "You didn't bring your phone did you? I was calling you before… So which phone are you using…?"

"Um… the payphone."
"Haha, bullshit, you don't have to lie."
"Um… I'm over at a friend's house…"
"It's a guy isn't it? Oooh."
"Hey, what are you trying to say? We just met."
"You slept with him didn't you?"
"Well, I slept next to him… but I didn't… you know…"
"Haha, you still slept with him! Haha, anywayz, I'm off, girl. See yah."

Kanae's face turned red in an instant. Fu laughed at her. "Let's go…"
"Go where?" asked Kanae.
"Oh, I just gotta see a friend of mine… another road racer."
"Wow… Anyway, you know about the BXD tournament, don't you?"
"Yeah… I'm entering,"
"That's great. So am I. It'd be nice if racers from other sections participate too. Its good to see people from D1 are interested."
"The racers from D1 aren't that good…"
"Really? Well I heard that even Fukada Kumiko is entering too."
"You know her?"
"Um… well, not really… but I hear she's one of the fastest street racing superstars, even an F5 folk like me has heard of her."
"Haha… really? She's that famous? Haha… Anyway, let's go and meet my friend…"

There were various other tuning shops around town. Local racing teams fund a lot of them provided different tuning styles, and others. One of the tuning branches belonged to a team known as Dreadnaught Racing. DNR did not really have a specialized tuning category, they basically tune any car, from VTEC, to rotaries, NA's, turbo's, s-chargers, the lot. Lately, DNR have been low on funds, from gathering and focusing all their resources on individual projects. Co-founder of DNR (who is also chief supervisor for the racing division), Gallard Raide, arrived at the workshop for inspection during that day.
He was there to inspect his new road-racing weapon, a machine to replace his wrecked Cosmo – the S2000. It was midnight pearl, with a C West Bodykit, along with the Dreadnaught Racing sticker.

I've had this car modified to drive a balance of both uphill and downhill with minimum settings to interchange before every other race. We've spent our current funds raising this monster. The tournament starts at Route C4… With this machine, I'll be able to give even Fukada Kumiko a bit of a run… A run in which she stares at my taillights!

Raide decided to keep the Honda rims on his car. Raide purposely skipped the dyno, in order to hide the true power of his supercharged vehicle. The only 'testing' he'll need is to see how it runs on the street…

Raide walked over around the S2000, and stood infront of it's rear bumper, staring at the rest of the car…

How ironic. It's pretty much appropriate; a part of C4's legend was that one of them had an S2000 like this one too. I'll be following in their legacy in this ride.

It did not take long for temptation to reach Raide's head. He took the keys to his car, and backed out of the workshop.

Moments later, Raide found himself running D1's hill climb, testing out his S2000 (AP1).

Marvelous. Much different to my old turbo rotary…

Through the first corner, the S2000 entered at amazing speed, at the same time, maintaining its grip staying close to the inside, and exiting with minimum speed loss.

Just as I thought… response is much greater. And the valve timing of the VTEC is nearly unlimited in variability. I'll get the hang of this car soon.

The S2000 increased its speed; Raide throttled on the next few mild corners. The boost seems to be more apparent during the lower rpm. My entry-exit recovery is smoother, but my straightaway speed is almost the same. That's all I need for this tournament anyway – maneuverability.

The next corner, Raide wanted to try something different now. I wonder if my move still works…

The car increased its speed, Raide quickly made the turn, and at the same time, clutched in, while throttling through the corner. The S2000 broke traction along the apex and flew sideways along the turn. Raide immediately counter-steered in order to put his car back in position.

Wait for me, Fukada Kumiko! I'm coming for you!

Back in town, Kumiko parked on the highest floor of one of the parking blocks, alongside her VR-4. This area was within the Zui Hou R workshops, which she had previously spent her time earlier that day.
She stood next to her car, waiting as she stared on, looking at the busy streets. A short moment later, cars could be heard from the parking block. The cars showed up and rolled by where Kumiko was parked. Two of them. A black Lancer Evolution V GSR and an aqua-sprayed strawberry-face Sileighty.

Who's that? thought Kumiko, her eyes catching view of the Sileighty.
The two cars parked nearby her. The Lancer door opened.

Kumiko walked over to Fu Huo as he stepped out of his car, and greeted him with a kiss.
"How're you doin', Master Ku?" greeted Fu.
Meanwhile, Kanae stepped out of her car, and walked over to join Fu Huo. She took a glimpse of Kumiko's car, and in an instant, her eyes lit up in bewilderment. Oh my… could that be?

"Kanae…" Fu Huo called out to Kanae, who seemed to be distracted looking at Kumiko's car. "Let me introduce to you my friend, Kumiko…"

"Ku…mi…ko? Could you be… Fukada Kumiko?" asked Kanae in shock.
"Heheh… that's right. You know about me?" asked Kumiko charmingly.
"Oh my god! I can't believe this! Well, my name's Mirishima Kanae, oh oh oh please, can you sign my front bumper for me? And my doors? And my steering wheel? Oh oh oh my god!" Kanae shook her hand excitedly. "Fu! You didn't tell me you were friends with Fukada Kumiko!"

"Well… now you know," said Fu Huo. He turned to Kumiko, "I guess you're pretty famous, huh…"
Kumiko started to blush. But she shook it off her head and decided to get down to business.

"I've heard about you too, Kanae…" continued Kumiko. "Fu told me that you've got something of mine."
"Oh really? What might that be?" asked Kanae in confusion.
"It seems that the doctor at your hometown gave you my pills by accident. May I have them back?"

The KYOKO pills? Kanae wondered in though. Could this be the secret to her driving?

"I'm sorry…" declined Kanae. "I can't believe a road racer such as yourself needs drugs to win your races. Even if you're a superstar, my belief in your true talent has been questioned…"

"I don't use them…" explained Kumiko. "And even if I did, it requires skill itself to be able to handle those drugs. They're made for a purpose."

"I don't believe you," argued Kanae. "This is why you brought me here, isn't it Fu? The two of you are fake!"

"Look," explained Fu Huo. "Its good enough that we didn't force you to hand over the drugs. Our high authorities demand the production of KYOKO, and someone like you would have been killed by now for having been exposed to the reality of our top secret project. You know far too much."

"The combination of drugging and feeding racing data directly into the driver's mind. What kind of twisted ideal you people have just to win. You'll go all the way as to destroy the human mind itself!" Kanae argued on.

Kumiko stepped in, keeping her cool, and began to explain, "Kanae… listen. KYOKO was never our ideal in the first place. I too agree with what you're saying. But that's not what's important right now. Our lives our at stake here. But with this situation like it is, yours is too."

"You're threatening me?" Kanae answered back.
"If we have to…" added Fu Huo. "Either way, we're gonna be screwed. But you… you can save your own ass by giving us those pills. It's better to have the to of us cop it than all three of us."

"Why, Fu? Why are you doing this?" sobbed Kanae.
"I'll be dead if I don't," explained Fu Huo.
"Listen, Kanae," interrupted Kumiko. "I have an idea… Since you don't believe in our skills, how about you hand over the pills if we defeat you in the tournament? That sound fair?"

Kanae stood quietly, without response. Kumiko continued, "But if any of us lose to you, you can keep KYOKO, as well as the sleeping pills you were meant to receive, as well as my autograph on your front bumper."

"I accept your challenge!" said Kanae.

Fu Huo stood quietly. He had a rather worried, yet resentful look on his face. Kanae is right… KYOKO mustn't exist… But there's nothing I can do… My… whole life is owned by Zui Hou R… And same with Kumi… We're both bound by the organization… at which at some point refers to itself, a 'dynasty'. Will there ever be and end to it all?

Meanwhile, back at Zui Huo's field track, two of the Divine Unit's Generals battled it out in a training session, both West and South pushed their cars to the limit. Shireishou S's Evo VII was in front, as W's FD3S was following very close behind, with almost no gap in between. Zui Huo's test track was a balance of both high and low speed technical sections. It was a rather long track, complete with almost every challenge you can encounter in a race, such as sand pits, gutters, corkscrews, leaves and a few of it's own other line specialties, designed by the Zui Hou Emperor himself. Very few, and even the Generals of the Divine Unit Shireishou have barely mastered this course.

S prepared to enter a corner. He slightly turned away from the direction of the turn, then quickly turned into the apex, using weight shifting and kicking out its rear, sending it into a drift to complete this sharp corner.
W executed a heel-toe shift as his car revved high, and broke his rear wheel traction. The sound of the rotary hummed through the curve as the FD crab walked behind the Evo VII.
S had the advantage, but in reality, their skills were both even, although they both have their respective styles.

And just like W, he turned up his music, as soon as he finished counter-steering and positioning his car to the direction of his front wheels – 'Basement Jaxx – Red Alert'

Vrrrm! Tssshhh…

A downhill corkscrew was shortly up ahead. Neither driver wasted their time. Though both of them took different lines.

'Better run, better run, it's a catastrophe…'

S's style was rally. He pushed his Evo VII straight down the corkscrew, even plunging through the dirt, with a minimal loss of speed even without following the line through the tarmac.

'…don't worry… don't panic…'

On the other hand, W used the momentum gained from his entry speed, along with the pull from the steepness of the corkscrew to send his vehicle in a drift motion, flinging itself side by side with the Evo VII.

'Aint nuthin goin' on but history, yeah… it's alright… don't panic'

The two cars exited out of the corkscrew, this time side by side, the FD slid along the tarmac lane while the Evo VII recovered from the dirt.

'…And the music keeps on playin' on and on…'

Vrrrrrreeee!

They dashed through the low speed section of the track, with the Evo VII taking advantage of it's grip, while the FD slid itself as W balanced his weight shifting and swayed his rear back and forth through the corners.

'And the music keeps on playin' on and on'…

West and South rocketed their way onward, setting a newly recorded personal best for themselves. They were both at least 1.5 seconds off Kumiko's record.

They both slowed down, and then parked their cars along the pit lane.
West turned off his music, and stepped out of his car.

"Another good one," cheered West, shaking South's hand.
"It was fun. It was fun,"
"Let's see the North General top this,"
"Indeed. But the tournament will be much different for sure…"

At the top of the garage block, the three road racers stood silently. Kanae had a rather glum look on her face, as the wind blew calmly and the sun shined on their vehicle's exterior. Fu Huo walked over closer to Kanae, once again, laying his hands on her shoulders, as if trying to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, Kanae," apologized Fu, with that sincere look on his face again. "I didn't really want to drag you into this…"

"Don't patronize me, Fu…" attacked Kanae. "And don't think your little story is too convincing either!" she shrugged Fu's hands off herself.

"Listen to me," enforced Fu. "Why don't you try KYOKO for yourself? See what it's really like!"

Kanae could not form anything to say. She gave Fu Huo that clueless innocent look again.
"I can't handle KYOKO…" added Kumiko. "Its not really a system for an average driver. It takes incredible stamina, effort, and patience to handle an incredible weapon."

The expression on Fu's face spoke for itself. Kumiko continued on, "KYOKO, as dangerous as it might be… She is a system that allows a driver to break the barrier that limits them in skill. If you still think we are 'fake'… feel free to challenge us…"

"Enough of this," Fu Huo couldn't take it anymore. Just like he hates small talk. "KYOKO must be in our hands. She is the only thing that can make or break us now… I'll defeat you Kanae… not just for those pills, not just for the tournament, but for my damn life if I have to!"

"Fu…" sobbed Kanae… "Why? Why do you have to follow them?"
"You don't understand, Kanae…" excused Fu Huo.
"Then make me understand, Fu. Please…"
"It's like this…" began Kumiko. "What does an Emperor do to those who are guilty of treason to his kingdom?"

Without saying a word, Kanae slowly reached into her handbag, and pulled out the KYOKO drugs. She quietly began to hand them over to Fu.
But unexpectedly, Fu Huo closed her palm, as if motioning her to take the pills back.

"What are you doing, Fu?" asked Kumiko.
"Kanae…" said Fu, looking into Kanae's eyes. "I guess I must be born a road racer… I can't take KYOKO from you until I defeat you…"

Kumiko could not speak. How she admired Fu's charm, yet also his strong will, and unparalleled integrity, her heart rested easy, Fu… I feel like I could leave everything to you…

Kanae tucked the pills back into her handbag… "Fu… I'll keep KYOKO safe… and I promise to give you the best race I can give!"