ACT 12 – 12000RPM 'Unconventional Tactics'
Tension collided as the sea of fans that littered the reception area near the starting point greeted Kumiko. But the race was not ignored for a second. The galleries cheered on for both competitors and the cars sped along past them instantly.
Without any expectations of the race's outcome, Kumiko stood next to her car, awaiting the result. She was ready and dead set to complete her mission. And she wanted to do it in style. She was clad in a black gown-like dress that exposed much of her leg and a formal coat in navy blue. She wore a pair of expensive Bvlgari earrings and a choker, along with Gucci sandals. She always seemed very dressy when it comes to an important race. But no matter what she wore, Kumiko was only really just herself. The spirited young Fukada Kumiko, who stayed loyal and true to herself and earned her place ever step of the way as a truly independent woman. Her beauty spoke for itself as she stood by her VR-4 Turbo and displayed a true masterpiece. But Kumiko's real beauty was not just her looks. Tonight, she would have the opportunity to let her skills to speak for herself.
Whatever the outcome will be… the Neon Serpent will come out on top once again!
Kumiko did not forget the deal that was made on the top level parking lot several weeks ago. In fact, this even strengthened her objective.
If Fu was to lose, I'll avenge him and add Kanae's name to the long list of losers on my record…
Keeping her thoughts ahead, Kumiko did not sway
far enough to lose focus on her current situation.
Her next
opponent is the fastest of the current course. She leaned on her
door, as she lay in thought, working out a strategy in order to grab
the win, down at Route H3…
Fu Huo proudly kept the lead with his Lancer, preparing to leave his opponent behind, maintaining focus and keeping his guard up. He was in good form; his tires were not as badly worn. But it was clear to both players that the game was definitely not over.
The galleries cheered on even louder, as Fu Huo's car slid past them swiftly. He was not quite as popular as his master yet, however. Keeping his cool, Fu Huo steered heavily into the next corner, blocking the inside, while Kanae positioned an attack from the ouside.
In a moment, Fu Huo pulled the E-Brake, and his vehicle began to drift. The car motioned itself to cover both the inside and outside as the car began to skid past the apex, taunting Kanae and not giving her a chance to even pinch an attack.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to hold back either. Fu Huo steered his vehicle into the right direction as his car regained traction.
His Lan-Evo is so fast… Its like his car is as light as mine even though its not. He pulls away so quickly on every corner's exit… Kanae steered back into position, reaching out toward the gap from her opponent.
Pssshh…
Shifting up a gear, revs dropped slightly, Kanae throttled hard, focusing on the road ahead while the Lancer obstructed much of her view. I guess in all sorts of competition, there's gonna be disadvantages that you can do nothing but improvise on. Its life… Kanae attempted to follow the Evo's cornering line.
Much to Kanae's disappointment,
her plan went to failure, as her ended up skidding and losing speed.
Rear wheelers just cannot go the limits of four.
Through
the apex of the turn, Kanae realized her revs drop, then heel-toe
shifted down to a lower gear.
This turbine lag isn't helping
much either…
The Lan-Evo was able to pull away again,
as it exited at a higher preparation for the straightaway.
Kanae's
car was nearly over revved as she exited as all she could see was the
distance blur of the Lan-Evo's taillights.
I can't keep up
with him in a lower gear…
Kanae then noticed her opponent's taillights flash from afar. She began to pull the E-Brake, sending her car crab-walking along the mild straightaway as her car was already in position and drifted along the next corner.
That was crazy. Fu Huo glanced at his mirror. What talent… I'm so thrilled.
The starting point was filled with BXD staff members, crowding around Reiko's Spirit R FD3S. Reiko had some work being done, such as tire changes, suspension and aerodynamic customizations. She was dead set on winning, not only at H3, but the final round as well. She was dressed in her usual BXD representative attire along with her racing gloves.
Reiko was ready. Not only did she want to race for her
team, but she also wanted to race for herself. Winning the tournament
is one thing. Defeating Fukada Kumiko is a much larger scale for her.
Reiko could very well be the first foreigner who has even added a
loss to Fukada Kumiko's record.
I'll show them… Not just Kumiko… but everybody that I can do more than just keep up with her. Bu Xia De is eternal. And so is my talent!
She looked proudly at her beautiful rotary-equipped sports car. I don't want to sound conceited or anything… But winning at a time like this is better than the lottery…
Reiko quickly glanced over to Kumiko, who stood clear and by herself, standing proud and tall next to her GTO. Reiko then began to change her mind slightly. I guess I can't make any assumptions yet. But I'll do my best. Whether I win or lose. Maybe I'll learn something, maybe I won't. But Fukada Kumiko is for real.
"It's ready…" claimed on of the staff members, as the RX-7 was lowered down after changing the tires and other mods, completing its setup.
But then again… I'm for real too… Reiko smiled briefly as she looked upon her FD…
The fight
goes on, as Kanae barely managed to narrow the gap between her car
and the Lan-Evo.
At the same time, Fu Huo struggled to get the gap
any wider than it already is.
You're doing nicely. But you need to to better if you plan to shake me… Fu Huo confidently rolled his way past the slight slope, diving sideways into the sharp curve.
Realizing what was up next, Kanae began to do the same, but at a higher speed as she gained oversteer very quickly into the turn.
Upon exit, was another blind turn, and that lead to a sharp downhill hairpin curve. Fu Huo confidently took the inside, while Kanae followed on, watching him at the same time. That's weird… there seems to be more bush extending past the guardrails…
Kanae followed the Lancer, gripping itself
closer to the inside. Perhaps if I take an inner line…
She
moved her car closer to the apex. Could it be?
Her mirror
did not seem to hit or graze anything yet, as she looked on the next
curve, looking at the corner's entry, noticing something on the
side of the road.
I see… It's possible…
Fu Huo began to continue his weight kicking, maneuvering his car into a drift motion through the use of feint.
Reiko glanced at Kumiko once more. She finally decided, and made her way over to her to exchange a few words.
"You look ready,"
said Reiko firmly.
"I am ready," replied Kumiko. "And so are
you, I assume."
"Of course. Let us settle this with nobility
and honour. I'll be racing for the glory of Bu Xia De. Who will you
be representing?" asked Reiko, crossing her arms.
Kumiko
paused, then finally answered, "In the name of the Zui Hou Racing
Dynasty, I will take you on and proudly rise into triumph," she
claimed.
"We have barely even begun. And you already think
you're gonna win…" Reiko smiled, and then continued, "In that
case, I'm looking forward to what kind of plan you have in mind.
Good luck."
"You too," said Kumiko, as the two female road racers shook hands prior to their bout.
Reiko slowly walked back over to her vehicle, as she prepared to get ready to line up even before the interlude. Zui Hou…? I've never heard of them before…? Who can they be…?
Reiko looked at
Kumiko's car yet again. The Evo VII and the yellow FD3S also
have that same sticker…
She looked on, staring at the
horizon as she awaited the result of the current race. And that
other guy, Fu Huo… since he's Kumiko's apprentice, he must be
Zui Hou too…? But it had no sticker…
The
crowd began to cheer for both racers at this point, as the Sil80 and
the Lan-Evo V came hauling down the hairpin curves.
Fu Huo
confidently stayed in the lead, maintaining a good balance of
throttle and weight shifting, and taking advantage of his traction.
In a quick moment, a bright light began to flash in his mirror… Huh? She's close!
The Sileighty popped out
of nowhere, as Fu Huo sped up then slowed down again during the next
turn.
Now how is this happening?
Kanae knew she had to take a chance. Loud eurobeat music kept playing from her car – Fight for Love Tonight – Initial D'
'Get my sensation, Do not deny me! I wanna take just another chance and carry on to fight for you'
Kanae took a more inner line that her opponent, as she finally closed the gap between her Sileighty and the Lan-Evo.
'Just you Baby! I wanna love cause I got too crazy waiting for you'
Fu Huo accelerated in confusion, as the Sileighty was right behind him now. What is she doing…?
'Guess you're ready don't say: "Tomorrow boy"! I just wanna begin...'
The next corner, Kanae did not
attempt to slow down at all, as Fu Huo tried to block the
inside.
Amazingly, the Sileighty did not understeer at the
corner's entry, gripping along the inside, as it tried to squeeze
past Fu Huo's Lancer.
'Fight for love tonight I wanna touch again you, baby Kiss and rock you, maybe'
Fu head checked in shock as the Sileighty was squeezing through. He did not realize that there was enough space for the Sileighty to pull through as the tall bushes slightly blocked his view.
She's going too fast! Why isn't she understeering!
Little by little, the Sileighty's front bumper began to pass the Lancer. Then slowly, the doors, and finally, Fu Huo took a wide stare at Kanae's taillights.
The Sileighty snapped back from the side of the road into the middle.
How was she able to grab the inside? I don't get it… Such cornering speed with such little room…
Kanae smiled to herself, speeding on ahead as she finally turned the tables on Fu Huo…
The Sileighty dashed on as Kanae refused to let up. She did not give Fu Huo any more room for a counter-attack, as they were nearing the final section of Route H3. Without letting her guard down, Kanae did not leave any opening.
As soon as Fu Huo attempted to send his
Lancer to glide through the inside, Kanae motioned her car to close
the gap, slowing down Fu Huo.
He was totally cornered and could
not fully accelerate ahead as Kanae tried to block him and pin him to
the wall.
Kanae knew that she was absolutely ready to win. The
feeling took over, she throttled off, forgetting about the whole
purpose of the race.
She felt the sudden rush and desire to win.
I'm sorry Fu Huo… I hope you don't still consider me
your enemy… But the victory is right in front of me and you can't
take it because I'm holding you back.
Vrrmm…!
The
Lan-Evo growled out of the hairpin curve. Fu Huo's usual attitude
began to take him over, despite the losing conditions. He's been
this way many times before, both winning and losing.
Quitting is a
foreign language to him.
But then again… foreign languages can always be learned.
The galleries were thrilled with Kanae's reversal, as they grew louder and greatly inspired by her efforts.
"That's F5's fastest for ya,"
said a young man from the crowd.
"Man… this tournament's
really dominated by chicks!" said the young man's friend.
"The
guy's even got a Lan-Evo… and he's totally being whooped by
that 180SX!"
Tires screeched and engine sounds echoed,
despite the race being nearly over, it still seemed such a long time
away.
At least for Fu Huo, that is.
He tried to stay calm. He focused his techniques as well as his opponent's. Although he was not going as fast as he could have, his car control and movement had a smoother flow.
But there was nothing that Fu Huo could
do or come up with. He Sileighty was pulling away for some reason.
Fu
looked on closer. What is she doing?
He dived his car
into the next hairpin, and tried to figure out just what was going
on.
She stays so close to the inside, without losing a lot of
speed… but its so hard to see with the bushes sticking out from the
guardrails…
Just out of the apex of the curve, the
Sileighty suddenly jolted slightly back into position, into the
middle of the road.
What was that sound? Could it be…? Fu
Huo heard the slight thump noise, as the Sileighty popped its way
back in line and sped along the exit.
Whatever she's doing… if she can do it… then there's no reason I can't!
Another set of hairpin curves came up. The Sileighty
continued its patterned as Fu Huo decided to copy her.
He swayed
his car closer to the inside, which was partially hidden by slight
patches of leaves and bush.
I thought this route was supposed
to be new and clean?
Gaining at a speed comparable to the
Sileighty's, Fu Huo accelerated further.
Stretching out right
behind the Sileighty, Fu Huo watched closely at Kanae's
vehicle.
But Fu Huo understeered and skidded slightly to the outside at the same time, he heard that jolting noise again. Her car seemed closer to the inside than the Lancer ever was.
As Fu
Huo began to pick up on his mistake, he finally realized what was
going on.
I see… what a cheap trick. Effective though…
At the hairpin's exit came a blind turn, then another hairpin right after each other.
Fu Huo continued to follow Kanae's line patterns again.
You're little tricks…
The Sileighty clipped the inside again on entry, as Fu Huo failed to do the same. Instead, he drifted his car as he began to sway closer to the inside on exit.
… are in the gutter!
Fu Huo attempted to draw closer to the inside, using his momentum from the drift. Kanae… You are amazing. You're a fine woman indeed… You're beautiful, you're kind… and what's more, you're fast…
The Lancer executed an opposite effect to the Sileighty's entry-oriented gutter techniques.
But this was one race that I did not intend to lose…! This is life right here!
A Fu Huo expected, Kanae would dip her tires into the hidden gutters on the corner's entry, in order to maintain a certain speed through the sharp turn without understeering, as well as allowing her to block the inside.
Even if I lose… I'm not going down until I've thrown in absolutely everything! Even if I have to sacrifice it all…!
The next hairpin came
up.
I guess he's figured it out… Kanae continued to use
her guttering technique. But its too late now, Fu. I'm sorry. No
matter how much faster you get, I'm in front and there's no way
for you to take that away from me.
The Sileighty cruised
along the inside line, as the Lancer flew its way sideways, clipping
its wheels on the gutter just before the car exited the corner.
Fu
Huo's exit speed was now greater than what he expected.
So
it does work… Fu Huo realized a new skill that he could
perform. The exit-oriented guttering technique.
Instead of
gripping the entire inside line through the turn, Fu Huo could skid
through in an angled position gained from drifting, and at the same
time, he could quickly regain traction and position himself back by
dunking his tires on gutter, enabling him to exit at a supreme
speed.
But Fu Huo realized that he found this out a little too
late.
Kanae did not show any sign of slowing down, even though the
Lan-Evo was right behind her now.
She used her fishtail
blocking techniques to ward him off, causing him to slow down.
Fu
Huo annoyingly swerved his car back and forth, controlling his
vehicle as he was distorted by Kanae's sudden moves.
She's really not giving me a chance… I guess my techniques aren't enough after all…
The Sileighty sped away proudly into the night, engine roaring and valves hissing, as the crowd cheered on, leaving her opponent tailing helplessly…
"So…
whom do you think won…?" asked Kumiko as she looked on past the
route she was about to risk her life on.
"Last transmission said
that my sister in law was in front…" replied Reiko
firmly.
Kumiko crossed her arms, as she leaned against her car, closing her eyes in thought. She did not know what to think. So… Fu Huo lost. Thinking of her young friend's struggle, Kumiko began to work out possible conclusions. She did not want Fu Huo to lose, nor did she expect it. His pride must be aching by now… But don't worry… its ok… I'll avenge him… Kanae's mine…
After a short moment, Reiko turned around again,
receiving a message from one of the staff members.
She grew more
eager to race as badly as she wanted to get in and have a drive.
Reiko was prepared to unleash it all through and through, no matter
who her opponent was.
"Hey… Kumi…" Reiko slowly walked
back, carrying on a message for Kumiko.
"What happened?" asked
Kumiko curiously.
"The race … Its not finished yet…"
Fu Huo gripped along the steering wheel. His eyes focused on forward, his face contained a dark expression, as he kicked in the throttle violently.
Kanae lay off her swaying, as her rear tires began to skid, through the corner's exit. My tires? At a time like this? Doesn't matter… His must be the same too…
The two racers have finally exited the sharp hairpin sections, as another slight uphill sequence was due in sight.
Fu Huo steered
sharply, making an aggressive turn in less wide than the
Sileighty.
The brief uphill then a sudden downhill was hard for
Kanae to predict, as she kept on her defensive.
Fu Huo saw the
line before she could, but the Sileighty as in the way.
Move…!
Get out the way!
The Lancer was coming at a slightly
greater speed than the Sileighty. But Fu Huo could not find any way
to capitalize.
I can't get through! What… What the hell can
I do?
He just could not say it. Until the race was
actually over, Fu Huo could never say that he had lost.
Fu Huo
braked as he helplessly watched on Kanae's taillights swaying in
front of him like a pendulum.
Kanae on the other hand, as quick as her pace may be, she was being fatigued. At least he put up a good fight. It's just unfortunate that he realized things too late. There's no way to overtake at this point. If you were still in front, then I would have lost. But things aren't like that right now, are they?
The finishing point was right ahead in
sight, but not unguarded by a few last sets of S curves.
So I
have won… Kanae breathed a sigh of relief, though keeping the
throttle on in case of any last minute counter-attacks.
Fu Huo realized the situation too on the other hand. He was out of time. Kanae continued her last stand, unleashing an array of fishtail blocking to finally put a silence to Fu Huo's efforts.
She's at it again…
Fu Huo did not want to lose to such a
cheap but effective tactic. In fact, he did not want to lose at
all.
He thought back at everything he's said and done in the
past that lead him into this moment.
The day when he took
Kanae to meet Kumiko on top of the parking building, the challenge
was made, and the objective was clear. He could not get the moment
out of his head…
"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!"
That
moment back then kept repeating in his head. Fu Huo kept thinking
about it so much that his head was lost in his own
world.
"That's…it…"
Fu Huo attempted a sudden
kick to the throttle. He looked on at the Sileighty's movements.
I
don't care what you're doing… I'm coming through no matter
what!
The Lan-Evo did not slow down form this point on.
The Sileighty continued it's swaying-block tactic, as Kanae focused
her eyes on nothing but the finishing point.
She moved her vehicle
outward, attempting to block Fu Huo's path. Yes…! Yes…!
Attempting to predict his movements, Kanae focused back in the other direction to block that section of the road.
Without thinking, Fu Huo quickly timed his turn in and throttled onward into the slightest opening that Kanae had carelessly revealed to him.
As the Sileighty was about to rock itself back to the other side, Kanae made a sudden glance at her opponent, who was entering her side right about the time she was about to close up. She felt a sudden panic, as she was about to collide with Fu Huo's car. Are you insane? You'll make us both crash!
Fu Huo did not care about the risks any more. He did not lift his foot of the accelerator for a second, even making a quick glance at Kanae, who was almost about to ram him sideways.
The bass began to pump through Fu Huo's system, as he poured everything into one move. 'Take Back – Koda Kumi'
Fu Huo made a brief eye contact with Kanae, as her face stared at him in panic and horror, and he just looked at her like he had nothing left to lose. Kanae quickly tried to steer her car back into the opposite direction to avoid collision, giving Fu Huo the clear opening as he took full advantage, knowing Kanae had already been distorted in panic and his guts dominated her effort to block him.
'Sunao wo torimodoseru no wa…….'
Fu Huo's efforts reversed Kanae's attack at the last minute, the fact that Fu Huo had the nerve to press on forward despite Kanae was using her swaying blocking, he caused her to panic instead, outlasting Kanae in the test of courage as she desperately steered her car away from the Lan-Evo to avoid just inches away from collision. This caused her car to swerve and almost lose control, as well as a lot of speed.
'Watashi wa somerarete yuku no.……'
Taking full advantage of his slight chance,
Fu Huo accelerated further, completely passing the Sileighty. The
Lancer then motioned itself directly in front, Fu Huo made sure his
opponent got a clear and straight view of his taillights disappearing
right in front of Kanae.
That was so frightening… So much
that I'm amazed by it… He didn't care if I was gonna hit him or
not and went on fighting…
A little tear fell out of Kanae's eye, as she slowly managed a smile, looking on at her opponent grab the win. He totally intimidated me by doing that… Making me crack at the last minute. Chuan Fu Huo… you are the real thing. I do hope you win this tournament…
The crowd roared relentlessly. The stream of fans loudly chanted over and over, "Fu Huo! Fu Huo! Fu Huo!"
The black armored Lancer Evolution V rolled in slowly away from the main road and parked itself on the side.
"Fu Huo! Fu Huo! Fu Huo!"
The chanting echoed nearly all over the valley, as Fu Huo heard his name being cheered by the crowd from outside. They… like me?
He slowly opened his door, and stepped out, and again, the crowd blasted with the chanting. "Fu Huo! Fu Huo! Fu Huo!"
'Zawameku
machi ni nomarete
Kioku kakikesu'
He looked on at everybody. The galleries loved him, inspired by his efforts and talent. Man… Kumiko is that way, geez… Indeed, he was not used to getting this much. Not as much as Fukada Kumiko. But this was no time to be thinking of things like that. He had just risked it all over just one little chance and came out successfully.
'Kitto
dokoka ni wasureta
Shinjitsu motome………'
Dozens of ladies began screaming out loud to Fu Huo as he innocently looked around him at all the strangers who continued to cheer at him.
Back at the starting point of the course, the staff officials had just received word of the result and the first finalist to enter the final round of the tournament.
Even the crowd at the starting point began to chant. "Fu Huo! Fu Huo! Fu Huo!"
Reiko was speechless, yet excited at the same time. Such a guy defeated her sister in law? Reiko could not wait to face him. Realizing this, she had finally worked out where the final round was to take place.
On the other hand, Kumiko had such a big
smile in her face that her cheeks nearly burst in excitement.
She
went along proudly joining in the chanting and cheering, even from
all the way back at the start point. He did it… I don't know
how… or why… but I'm so happy… I feel so happy for some
reason… Not so much for Zui Hou… But in a strange way… Fu Huo
makes me so happy…
'Sunao wo torimodoseru no
wa
Anata dake
Sasayaka na kotoba demo
Kanjiru KOTO ga dekiru
kara
Mi wo yudanete hoshii… '
The
Sileighty slowly followed and parked near the Lan-Evo. Kanae once
again breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the fact that not only the
race was over, but the whole deal.
She slowly stepped out of her
car, as she reached for her pocket.
Kanae slowly and shyly
walked over to Fu Huo, trying to hide her smile.
But she did not
last long as she approached Fu, who was standing in the middle of a
noisy crowd, leaning on his car.
She slowly made her way
closer to him.
Without a word, Kanae took out the packet of the
KYOKO drugs and handed them to him.
Fu Huo reached his hand out,
taking them from her gently then tucked them into his jacket.
He stared at her for a moment, then took her hand and walked away from the crowd to find a spot that overlooked the city, just at the edge of the guardrail, where it was less noisy and crowded.
'Anata
no yasashisa de
Tsutsunde hoshii'
Kanae did not know what he was planning to do or where he was taking her. But she did not care as she held Fu Huo's hand and walked on with him with a big smile coming out of her face.
'Anata no yasashisa
wo
Dakishimete'
They finally found a spot, and then
stood silently, looking on at the view of the city.
After a while,
Kanae decided to speak first, "Fu… I have fulfilled all my
promises."
"So have I…" Fu Huo softly replied.
"…Are
we… enemies?" asked Kanae, feeling beyond nervous.
But Fu
Huo stood silently, and kept Kanae in suspense.
He finally
replied, "…No."
"Really…? Then… I'm glad…"
Kanae
wanted to come closer to him, but did nothing.
Fu Huo then began
to speak again, "It was an honor."
"Yes…" paused Kanae,
as she also remembers the time she first bumped into him in the
tunnel. "Fu… I'm glad I met you…"
Fu Huo merely
nodded his head, and quietly walked away.
Kanae turned around and
watched him walk off, but some how did not follow him.
Fu Huo…
