ACT 9 – 9000RPM 'One More Time'

The next day after had not seen a moment of relief for Fu Huo. Everything had just come crashing down from that one moment. He remained in bed, trying to catch some sleep from the other night. It was ten o'clock in the morning; Fu Huo buried part of his face into his pillow and kept his eyes shut.
Though with the sunlight shining through his window, he was almost dazed and unable to get any sleep.

His doorbell rang, and Fu Huo had finally opened his eyes. He slowly got up and called out, "Be there in a sec,"
He reached for a set of khaki trousers and a light blue sweatshirt and made his way to his front door.
"Who is it?" he called out, just before he opened to see who it was.

"Hello there!" said Minako cheerfully.
"Hey… uh… what is it?" asked Fu Huo.
"Er… good morning! I see you've just woken up…?"
"Yeah, I just did actually,"
"Sorry," apologized Minako.
"It's alright."

Fu Huo grabbed a pair of shoes from the rack, and then stepped outside with Minako. She smiled at him briefly, trying to catch Fu's attention.
"You don't look happy… oh well, what's new…" she said.
"Just tired…" said Fu, yawning sleepily.
"Well why don't we go for a walk and wake you up?" suggested Minako playfully.
"I'm already awake," said Fu Huo, "I don't really need the exercise,"
"Doesn't matter. It's Sunday today, no work, so let's go do something."
"Okay…" agreed Fu Huo strangely.

Fu Huo wasted no time and quickly locked up his place, then walked out of the block in an almost immediate haste.
He did not want to do anything involving his car at the moment. He wanted to just forget the whole thing for a while. He needed time to cool down. And he could not be bothered finding out what Minako's reaction would be.

They continued on further along the next few blocks, strolling right around the middle districts of the town area. Fu Huo's apartment was so close to everything as it was almost in the middle of it all.
He had yet to have spoken a word, as they continued on past light traffic and medium sized buildings.

"Let's go get a coffee or something," suggested Minako, "My shout."
"You're shouting?" interrupted Fu Huo.
"Yeah. I don't mind. Considering all the money I won from you in poker," explained Minako as she teasingly poked her tongue out.

Continuing along down the street, the two had ended up at a place in which they could refer to as their second home – Koda's.
The place was running at its usual pace, yet was very tidy and had a fresh ambience to it.
Fu and Mina made their way to a table for two and sat down to order some coffee.

Fu Huo leaned his elbows on the table, placing his hands together as he rested his face on them, staring out the window half asleep.
"Why are you so tired, Fu?" wondered Minako.
"I had a battle last night, remember?" reminded Fu Huo.
"Oh yeah… I forgot about that, how did it go?" asked Minako curiously.
"Um…" Fu Huo did not know how to start. Once again, he had been reminded of the somewhat semi-traumatic experience on the road the night before.

A moment after that, Maya came with their coffee, and briefly joined in the conversation.
"Fu Huo… how bad was it, sweetie?" asked Maya in a supportive voice, attempting to cheer Fu up.
"I see you already know…" muttered Fu, "…pretty bad."
"Wait, what's going on? What happened?" persisted Minako.
"Fu Huo… I'll leave this up to you…" said Maya.

Fu Huo struggled to tell and explain the story. He was almost unable to bear the look of worry on Minako's face. He sensed that she was about to nag him or tell him off again.
Yet he had to tell it all.

"I see… So that's why you were so out of it this morning…" realized Minako.
"I cannot say anything," commented Maya, "It's just great that you had no injuries. I'm sure you remember the last hospital bill you had."
"I'm not going to say 'I told you so' anymore, Fu," continued Minako, "I'm sure you knew what you were doing. Your car may not be in its best shape anymore, but at least you're still in one piece. As long as you can still always be right here in front of me where I can see and talk to you… I don't care if you win or lose."

Fu Huo sat almost motionless. He then slowly and softly spoke, "Minako. You were never wrong about the things you said. You were always right about the things I did. I was a fool. Always have been. I never listened to you…"

"Even I am retired, Fu," added Maya.
The look of Fu Huo's face had changed for a moment.
He then slowly let it out, "Don't get me wrong," he claimed, "I'm not going to quit. Not at all!"
"Oh Fu Huo…" Minako had almost given up.

"I guess I still am a fool," admitted Fu Huo. "But at least I'm happy being a fool."
"Well, don't die being one, Fu!" scolded Minako.

Maya on the other hand, could not help but to interrupt, "But wait Fu… with your Evo nearly totaled, what much choice do you have? You plan to race in a taxi or something?"

Fu Huo could not comment…

"You did it, Alex!" cheered Sly, standing next to his S15 parked at the top of one of the parking buildings around town. "You've evened the score! Now that oughta teach Zui Hou that they can't own us!"

The sunlight made a blazing shine on the MR-2 GTS's formula red body, as Alex dropped the rest of his cigarette and stepped on it. "I'm not satisfied," he claimed. "We shouldn't stop here,"

"But what else can we do?" wondered Sly. "We've already thrown in everything we have, and all we could end up with is a draw."
"You're partially wrong," corrected Alex, "We may have given it all we've got, but this is not all we could end up with," he explained, "Rather than just proving that Zui Hou R can't own us… I can prove that we own them!"

Alex drew out his cellphone from his pocket, preparing to send a text message.
"What are you doing?" asked Sly.
"What does it look like?" replied Alex sharply, "I just need to ask Reiko for something,"
"I don't get what you're trying to say, Alex," said Sly, "Are you saying the war isn't over?"
"That's right," followed Alex, "But it will be soon."

"What's left then?"
"I think we should have a sudden death," explained Alex. "One last match to decide the absolute winner. One final battle to determine which is the more superior faction is all we need to re-establish our absolute dominance."

"I see," Sly had finally caught up. "So what do you have in mind?"
"I'm asking Reiko right now," said Alex.
"Asking her what?"
"For Fukada Kumiko's number!" claimed Alex.

Sly had been stunned once again. He knew how Alex had always talked about challenging Kumiko and how it was time to let the big dogs come out and play.
"You still haven't changed your mind, huh," spoke Sly.
"Of course. Destroying the Sky Dragon was only a warm-up. Now I'm going to carve right into the pride of Zui Hou by defeating the Neon Serpent herself."

"Looks like there's no stopping you, Alex."
"Indeed. Not even Chuan Fu Huo can get in my way anymore either," added Alex.
"I don't have to remind you about who and what you're dealing with anymore," said Sly, "It's up to you now,"

"That's right," approved Alex, "And now, unlike Chuan Fu Huo, I'll prove to everybody who overrated Fukada Kumiko really is. There are better drivers out there. Everyone is just making s fuss about her because she's one of the few damn women who disobey traffic rules on purpose and get away with it!"

"I don't believe the hype either," admitted Sly, "But Reiko, nor Fu Huo could get the best of her,"
"Well screw them both," it was the last straw for Alex, "I'll be the one to slay the Serpent, and I'll do it in her own lair!"

Alex was well determined to prove himself once again. He felt ready for anything. He has never been serious about racing like this before.
"I'm going to challenge Kumiko directly to her home course – Route D1 itself!"

The lovely and charismatic Fukada Kumiko spent her time with modifications on customer rides that day, even though everybody else was off work. She had been managing other staff and testing vehicles since morning. However, she was not at her usual cheerful mood.
She felt a little insulted and disrespect, following Fu Huo's loss and boosting the egos of the Bu Xia De rivals.
Her previous conversation with the Emperor recently had also put a bit of pressure, and deep within, she felt a slight disappointed in failing Fu Huo as an instructor.

I've had enough of this.
Kumiko sat on a desk, observing data on one of the vehicles she and a few of her staff were customizing.
She looked more and more into the vehicle, yet only fired her up even further.
Fu Huo and the Emperor were right. We can't let Bu Xia De gain hope of them actually being above us. But personally, I haven't felt so… furious. I just have this feeling inside me that I want to see Bu Xia De lose. If Fu Huo can't do it… Then I might as well do it myself!

Moments later, Shijian had arrived to greet Kumiko, whom he offered some assistance.
"Something bothering you, Kumi?" wondered Shi.
"You were at the battle last night? Didn't you give Fu Huo any advice?"
"There was nothing that I could give him," excused Shi. "So did the Emperor chew you out for breakfast this morning or something?"
"He was indeed pissed," said Kumiko, "But there was something about his tone… and the things he said… it was as if he expected it to happen to Fu Huo,"
"Really?"
"In any case," continued Kumiko, "The war is not over yet."
"Thought so. So Bu Xia De is gonna call a sudden death, huh?"
"Seems like it," agreed Kumiko.
"But just like them, we've already used all our resources."

Kumiko stood up, shutting the monitor of her terminal. She walked over to the ride that she had been working on and moved around it slowly, examnining it's revelry, thinking to herself. I know what you are, what you do, and how you go about doing it.

She moved to the front of the car, gazing at it front the bonnet upward. "Not yet, Shi," replied Kumiko, who continued to look at the vehicle. Just a few more tests. Yet I already have an idea of what you can do.
Kumiko did not take her eyes of the customer's car. It should be nearly the same. If my skills haven't rotten… I've got it.

"Uh… Kumi?" called out Shijian, "You listening?"
"Oh sorry," apologized Kumiko, who seemed to be almost talking to the car in her mind.
"What did you mean?" continued Shijian.
"We haven't used all of our drivers, Shi."
"What are you saying? You want me to go and race Bu Xia De? Haha, now that's cheating. It's nuclear warfare," bragged Shijian.
"No, not quite, Shi," corrected Kumiko sharply.

Standing in front of a blue MR-2 GTS owned by one of Zui Hou's clients that Kumiko had been working on, she announced fiercely, "I'm coming out of retirement, just for one race!"