STREET TALES: Legend Of Zui Hou R
Third Gear: 'Requiem of the Sky Dragon'

ACT 1 – 1000RPM 'The Eternal – Bu Xia De'

The town continued at its usual busy state, as life was neither easy nor hard and neither advanced, nor simple. Adhesive to shoppers and fanatics alike, tourists as well as locals spent most of their days surveying and enjoying the mountain resorts that surrounded both the provincial and metropolitan areas.
Many had their own forms of entertainment, whether it would be during the day or night.
However, it was the nighttime that really juiced up the scene, as the countrysides were taken over by the world of street racing…

The ending of the annual Bu Xia De Street Racing Tournament had brought light to a new beginning – a beginning of a war.

The past few days have not be very tranquil at Route H3. The after-effect from last month's tournament had nearly everybody talking about the rise of a certain new entity that etched itself recently directly at the eyes of the street-racing world.
The mysterious Zui Hou R had overwhelmingly overshadowed the name of Bu Xia De.

Elite members of BXD had gathered, namingly Mirishima Reiko, specialist in the RE Amemiya Spirit R. However, she was only one of the heralded drivers who were a part of BXD's Street Elite.
The group were parked along the sidelines of H3, located at the tourist parking, with some of them running time trials along the track.

It was around the late evening, Reiko stood next to her FD dressed in office attire, along with other members of the Street Elite.

"I don't think this is the right time… We know next to nothing…" suggested Reiko.

Three other cars were parked nearby Reiko, which were an orange Silvia Spec R Aero equipped with a C West kit, a red MR2 twin turbo GT-S and a black AMG E55, which belonged to Reiko's husband who was not a part of BXD.

"Our reputation is damaged. We cannot let Bu Xia De be disgraced through countless eyes after what Zui Hou R has established at the tournament. It was as if they were running it for us…!" said the man with the red SW20. He wore a business suit with a few BXD badges of different roles. His hair was rather long and had a medium build. He was a Korean man in his late 20's and had a rather commanding presence throughout the group. He was referred to his colleagues as Alex, though known to the racing world as the Burning Ruby of Bu Xia De.

"Bu Xia De isn't outclassed by anybody," said the man with the S15. "…Not even by a four-wheel-drive assault. Bu Xia De will still remain the top organization in the underground."
The young man next to the S15 was known as Sly. He was a 22 year old European man who seemed calm and a little air-headed, and wore the same thing Alex did.
He stood fearsomely next to his Silvia, as he continued his plight, "We must not allow them to ruin this already dangerous game. Zui Hou R is a poison that has slowly been spreading throughout the passes. And we are the antedote!"

Reiko continued to argue, "You don't understand…! You haven't seen the level of Zui Hou R first hand! They're…"
"Reiko… what's with you? I thought you're the one who'll never acknowledge that there is nobody better than BXD?" added Alex.
"You've changed, Reiko…" said Sly, "Ever since you were beaten by a lame GTO, and you've become so weak. Perhaps we should clean up your mess ourselves. You don't have to join us if you think your abilities are too meager for our own operation!"

"I'm not saying we can't stop them," said Reiko, "I'm just suggesting that we should plan our actions carefully and wait for the best chance to strike…"
"And this is the best chance to strike. We have to stop the storm that is Zui Hou R before it even begins. We are going to make the challenge as soon as possible!" claimed Alex.
"Hmm… in that case, count me in," said Reiko. "But we have to be careful about this…"
"Reiko might be right. We shouldn't get careless and it's true that we don't know much about Zui Hou R anyway. But we have to take action now," agreed Sly.

Fao slowly stepped in, as the middleman once again. He sometimes helps his wife through intelligence gathering, filling in gaps in which Bu Xia De cannot close.
"We have currently confirmed four members and a potential fifth included in the Zui Hou R race force…" Fao began to explain. "First up, is the legendary Fukada Kumiko. She is the winner of BXD's recent tournament and has been crowned the undisputed champion of all road racers. Rumour has it that she was to retire after her previous race. Taking her title back to BXD will probably be next to impossible, even if you guys can defeat her…"

"She's not somebody to be taken lightly either…" added Reiko. "Fukada Kumiko is a phenomenon both on and off the street. And her GTO is anything but different."

"Second is a driver calling himself Shireishou S. His style is heavy in the rally industry and boasts incredible skill in his Evolution VII. His driving is sharp and aggressive, though he has still some wide-open weaknesses in which you can exploit. He is probably the youngest of the group, but he is still skillful regardless of this. Use extreme caution."

"…His Lancer Evo VII is tuned to be a rally monster. Just like all the others, don't take him lightly…"
"Third, is Shireishou N. Weilding a DC5 model Integra Type R, he has defeated Dreadnaught's team leader with almost no effort whatsoever. Just like his colleagues, N is unpredictable…"

"And finally, Shireishou W. Equipped with a series 6 FD3S, his skill is said to rival Fukada Kumiko herself. He is apparently very agile and quick to adapt to various situations. Though you guys have an FD of your own, so it wouldn't be too hard to work out any weaknesses from a car you are very familiar with."

"…Also, rumour has it that Zui Hou R has a Lancer Evo V as well as an S202 Impreza, though no further details have been retrieved…"

Momentarily after Fao and Reiko had explained where they currently are in the know, Alex stepped in and shared his plans.
"We are going to have a team battle of four races and a possible fifth if a sudden death occurs. The course hasn't been decided yet, but we'll have to systematically take out each Zui Hou R member one by one…"

Sly gave out his suggestion and explained, "How about we challenge each one to different courses?"
"That could also work, but it would be time consuming. However, we might actually consider doing that depending on the opponent…"

"Besides, we are unaware of Zui Hou R's course advantage. They seem to lie mostly on the shadows…!" explained Reiko, "We don't even know where they came from…"

"That settles it then…" replied Alex. "We'll go with Sly's idea…"
"First, we'll have to find some contacts. Fukada Kumiko would be our best option at the moment…" suggested Sly.
"Fukada Kumiko herself is difficult to get in contact with. Perhaps we should find somebody closely affiliated with her…?" asked Alex.
"…Kumiko's apprentice… Chuan Fu Huo…" said Reiko.

Bu Xia De's Street Elite were consisted of Reiko (FD3S), Alex (SW20), Sly (S15) and Jen (BNR32). These drivers were in their own class compared to the other BXD members when it came to touge-style racing. By far, BXD may have very well been the most prestigious and heralded group of drivers if not for the likes of the great Fukada Kumiko herself.

Founded several years ago, Bu Xia De was the result of gathering the fastest-timed well-trained autocross specialists and brought them into the illegal street racing mix. Home to Route H3, racers from BXD hold various training and meeting sessions during odd or late times of the evening. Their reputation had expanded quickly, overshadowing all those that they have conquered so far.
However, little is known about Bu Xia De's original organizational founder…

The legend of the Neon Serpent had gone quiet and lay dormant ever since her last appearance on the street. However, Kumiko was yet to fully disappear from the motoring scene.
She spent her time at motorshows signing autographs, commentating events, and hosting video series.
Kumiko took her GTO and went off to attend a photo shoot that she was recently offered.

She had no interest in modeling, as she would rather be seen as the people's heroine rather than just some supermodel. But being offered the cover girl as well as featured car for the next issue of Auto Salon magazine, Kumiko could not resist.
She was rather shy in front of the camera, which was odd, as she had not felt shy when she was in front of an audience.
Exposing a little more of her figure, Kumiko still wanted to ensure that her driving skills were more than a match for her beauty.

She had made various shots, both with and without her car, followed by an interview, as there would be two sections in the magazine featuring Kumiko as herself, and Kumiko with her car.
She was the total package, a dream girl for any guy out there – smart, sexy, and loves cars. Not to mention the fact that she is fast in one too.

Kumiko was also a great figurehead in the autocross scene – her championship titles speak for herself. It was like she had continued the legacy that she had Maya had once started to build. She was living their childhood dream.
But they were not kids anymore. Both had grown separate ideals for the future. Maya has her bar. Though despite her status and achievements, Kumiko was still in search of what she really desires.

Kumiko posed for the camera… This smile on my face… is it for real?
She had a great big smile; her cheeks were as adorable as a pussycat that matched her panther-like prescence. Surely she felt happy. But there was another feeling inside her that made her feel incomplete.
I've done it all… but why do I feel this way? What more do I want…?

Coincidentally, Kumiko had found her answer within a question.
The journalist had asked her a few basic questions for the interview, which would be featured for the upcoming Auto Salon issue.
The first question was a question that everybody always asks. The most impotant question of all; that one question which determines how much hope or luck is left for many.

"Are you single?" asked the journalist.
"Yes!" replied Kumiko.
"I see. Now that's good news to all our male readers out there! Okay, let's see… what are the qualities for your ideal man?"
"Well… he has to be able to put up with me of course!" laughed Kumiko, "Somebody who will understand all the different sides of me; a man who will see me for more than just my name and status."
"That's great. I bet a ton of our readers are already dying to see the Fukada Kumiko behind the scenes, if you know what I mean! Anyway Kumiko, do you have any other hobbies other than racing?"
"Um…shopping? Hehe…"
"I've heard rumours that you do a bit of singing. Is this true?"
"It's not true actually. However, I did dancing for a while though…"
"Is that so? In that case, I hope the great Fukada Kumiko would kindly grace us with a performance at the next motorshow!"
"Hmm… maybe I will!"
"It is obvious that you are also pretty much into cars. Do you have a particular favourite?"
"Well, my baby of course. The GTO. Other than that, I also wouldn't mind Honda Jazz! Such a pretty car!"
"Wow, that was unexpected. It's nice to see that you still have a soft spot for lightweight cars, considering you drive such an incredible beast!"
"It's beautiful, isn't it? I believe cars are an expansion of the owner's image, and the driving skill to match its performance would reflect the owner's personality…"
"…And just like you Fukada Kumiko, the 3000GT is both beautiful and powerful!"
"Heheh… not really. I've actually de-tuned recently…"
"I guess there must be a reason behind that, isn't there? I have another question for you. It has been rumoured that you have been planning to follow on the footsteps of Kouda Maya and retire from racing. Can you possibly shed some light into this issue?"
"Yes, I've actually been considering it for a while now. I've felt that there is little left for me to accomplish and I think it's best for me to let the new generation take over. I'm sure people are tired of seeing the same old Neon Serpent all the time. But who knows, maybe once in a while, I'd have to satisfy my need for speed!"
"It's plain to see that you have a great figure. Do you have any secrets to reveal about your diet?"
"Um… I'm not really an expert on those things, hehe… And I'm not going to say that racing and shopping are the ideal exercise either. All I know is that I drink a lot of milk than my car drinks petrol!"
"You know, a lot may have considered you to be the best behind the wheel. Would you agree with this? Do you think there are any other potential challengers other than Kouda Maya?"
"I would say that I am the luckiest I've known so far. But I believe everybody in my team has the potential to defeat me."
"Speaking of teams, is there anything you could spare us on Zui Hou R?"
"I'm sorry, I'm unsure if I have the authorization from our leader to expose anything more than our affiliation. But anyways, Zui Hou R is an organization that selects drivers with only certain qualities and affiliations, equips them with the latest technology and is turned into the lethal combination of the finest in racing development, unlimited potential, and absolute style."
"As you say, you are not the leader of this Zui Hou R?"
"That is correct. A man who refers to himself as the 'Emperor' founded Zui Hou R. I am actually uncertain of his background or even if he actually races."
"Thank you very much for your time and patience, Fukada Kumiko. It was an honour and pleasure to conduct this interview, let alone have you here for the photo shoot! Even the cameramen are melting!"

During the afternoons when things went slow, the Divine Unit Generals West, South and North spent their time around the games center downtown to kill some time. Apart from the shooting games and fighting games, they all had a special place for car games. Various machines were featured along different sections, including Daytona, Sega Rally, and among others, Initial D.

The North General spent his credits getting himself shot in the face in Time Crisis games, while West was having the time of his life at the F355 Challenge.

Action! Bang! Bang! Bang! Reload! Bang! Bang!

The South General on the other hand spent his time on the game he enjoyed the most – Battle Gear 3 Tuned. He had recently started playing, and had chosen the same car he drives and races with in real life; a Lancer Evolution VII RS, same colours, same sticker, etc.

S inserted his BG3 key into the slot, and began to slip in the credits. The machine hollered, "Come on, challengers!"

The Evo VII was displayed in the screen in front of him. He then pushed the start button impatiently.
To the corner of his screen had a bit of a surprise in store for him.
The number of racers on display had two.
Somebody had sat down to challenge him. He nonchalantly picked an advanced course and kicked the pedal.
South smiled to himself, I feel like a rat fishing him, but he's the one who challenged me anyway…

The game began to load, and S began to lay back in wait. Hold on a sec…
He turned to his right and gazed at his challenger a few seats away.
It was a girl who had challenged him to a BG3 race. A young Asian-looking woman, with brown hair tied back wearing a pink sweater and jeans sat on the last machine to the right.

Wow, she looks alright…
The South General concentrated back into the game, with a little smile on his face.
He revved his Evo VII, waiting for the countdown to start. His opponent was using a tuned R32 GT-R Skyline.

The race started, and the South General gave his opponent the lead on take off. However, the girl began to slow down a lot through the early corners of the game. Her driving was rather sloppy, and S could not slow down enough and had no other choice but to overtake her.

Moments later, W and N came to the scene and began to watch the race.
"He's racing that chick over there. That's odd, hardly anybody here challenges S to BG3…" said West.
"Well, its not like it makes a difference. He's already winning anyway…"

S maneuvered his hands and feet precisely as he cruised through the track with little effort.
He glanced at the rear view mirror and got a close up of his opponent's R32.
Weird… she seems to be driving differently… Her turn-ins became much better all of a sudden… Could she have been just toying with me?

Nobody else could beat Shireishou S and BG3 other than Fu Huo and East. However, the girl seemed to be putting up a fight.

The R32 had finally caught up to the Evo VII on the mild straightaway. This is getting a little more interesting…

A hairpin right came up, and the R32 easily overtook the Evo VII. Not bad at all! I guess I actually have to turn up the heat!

The Evo VII closed the gap from behind the Skyline. A set of S curves came up. The South General began to show off his moves.
He pulled the E-Brake and sent his Evo VII drifting sharply sideways.

This is actually becoming a little fun! But I got this.

The Evo VII launched itself past the R32, passing it easily at great speed.
S began to counter-steer back into position. In a sudden instant, his car stopped. The South General was staring at the corner's apex due to a mis-timed drift and crashed into the wall. Damn…

The R32 carefully squeezed past the Evo VII – precisely avoiding it and sped off to grab the win.
A big word displayed on South's screen in huge letters 'LOSE'.

The North General made a hideous laugh at S, "You lost to that chick! Haha…!"
"What happened there, man?" asked West.
"I dunno… I think I got a bit too cocky…" explained S.
"I bet ya don't feel cocky now, do ya? You just got served, S!"

N continued to laugh at him, as S stood up and humbly admitted his defeat.
"I guess that's all for today…"

North and West walked off, as the South General lurked around for a bit.
"What are you waiting for…?" asked N.

S felt a soft tap on his shoulder. He turned around and saw the young woman who had just defeated him. Wow… she's kinda pretty too…

"That was fun," said the girl. "I like your car,"
"Uh… thanks. I enjoyed it,"
"You must play here often, don't you?"
"Well…yes I do. How about you? I don't see you here much… But you're actually pretty good compared to the others around here." S cleared his throat.
"Actually, I'm from out of town…"

The two other guys speechlessly looked on and watched S.
"Why the hell does he get to talk to her?" wondered West.

The young girl continued, "I'm from the provincial area of H3…"
"Oh really? That's cool. I've only been there a few times," replied S, "Anyway, what are you up to here in town?"
"Nothing much… I'm meeting up with some friends later at the club. You coming?"
"Well… I guess I am now…"
"Then I'll see you there! My name's Jeni by the way…"

They shook hands as S introduced himself. Though he could not fully explain his other alias.
"Well… my friends call me… Ling Luan. Nice to meet you…"
"Ling Luan? I've heard it somewhere before… Where does it come from?" asked Jeni.
"People call me Ling Luan because it means 'chaos'…"