ACT 10 – 10000RPM 'Because of You'

The longer they continued to duel, the longer they wanted it to last; Fu Huo and Minako had not a thought to stop any of their efforts to outrun the other. Even to the extent that had them try to catch their own breath, neither of them showed any sign of holding back.
The NSX-R and 350GT were once again on par with each other along the next section of the long route along the shoulders of the mountain route. I don't know if I can defeat him anymore… but I know I have to keep going!
Nothing in Minako's conciousness allowed her to have a second thought but victory. The long drawn out battle had caused both drivers a bit of stress.

Am I… starting to crack? Well no matter. I have to… keep going.
Fu Huo had soon lost sense of why and how he was still able to keep at this pace. He then soon realized that Minako had been going through the same.
However, instead of slowing down, they did nothing but turn things right up and continued to push themselves and battle down further into the mountainside.

Minako started to breathe heavily, after each corner she had Fu Huo had cleared. Though still visualizing her target, she continued her precise footwork and steering. Throughout the whole race, she was already forcing her vehicle to do more than what she had usually done at a certain level.

As for Fu Huo, who was struggling to keep on with what has probably become one of the hardest most demanding battles he had entered, accelerated in both stress and fatigue. The opponent, as well as his drive system never gave him a chance to relax.

The two vehicles continued to maim at each other, blocking each entry and exit depending on whether it was a right or left-hander. Each of them could not leave their corresponding lanes, as each of them did not seem to get ahead of the other.
It made no more sense to each other that Fu Huo and Minako were both equals in this battle.

Minako's heart pounded, while gripping her car into the inside very swiftly, concentrating both on the exit, as well as her opponent. She began to cough violently as she forced herself to counter-steer the vehicle back into position.

Fu Huo could now feel himself struggle more and more. The 350GT slightly gained more speed at the exit, taking advantage of his opponent's position and stole the apex on the next opposite corner.
The stress became too great, as he continued to struggle to pull his vehicle away from the NSX-R.

To no avail, both drivers were side by side once again. However, neither of them could take it any longer. The anxiety was far too much at this point. Minako and Fu Huo pushed each other along the tight stretch as they had both began to crack.

Defeated by their own drive systems, both drivers had lost control of their vehicles. The NSX-R had begun to spin out as the 350GT jerked wildly, sway slowly across sideways.
The two drivers had struggled to regain back their focus, though the pressure was too great.

Minako screamed in agony, as she had already lost track of what she was doing. The NSX-R had barely missed the 350GT by a few short inches and finally came to a stop near the guardrails. The 350GT continued to lose balance and swerve to the side, joining the NSX-R.
At the last minute, Fu Huo pulled the e-brake, changing the car's angle, avoiding collision with the NSX-R and the guardrails and also came to a halt…

Fu Huo struggled to take his seatbelt off, as he opened his door slightly and fell out of his vehicle. He began to crawl helplessly out of the Skyline as his helmet fell off and rolled along the ground.
Fu coughed a bit, as he watched the door of the white NSX-R slowly open.

With his eyes somewhat blurred, Fu Huo saw Minako move slowly out of her vehicle, almost limping and soon, lost balance and fainted. Her body slowly began to plummet toward the ground as Fu Huo gathered what strength he had left to send himself upward with a leg and caught Minako's body just before she had fallen to the ground.
Fu Huo had then slowly leaned Minako's body on the guardrails, as he himself had begun to faint and slowly rested along next to her…

Hyuga began to pace himself, just outside near the close garage doors of the pitlanes. The other Generals have gone home to rest after celebrating through the night, while Kumiko and Maya had remained by the side of their mentor. "So… Fu Huo is alive after all," believed Hyuga, after heared about what Kumiko had just confessed.

"I thought so…" whispered Maya.
"Do you think they are racing?" wondered Kumiko.
"Probably. Or probably not…" said Hyuga. "Nevertheless, we have to bring them back."

Maya chuckled, and commented, "At this rate, I don't think those two are planning to come back,"
"What makes you say that?" asked Kumiko.
"I don't know. I just have a feeling," replied Maya.

"In any case, I have to send a team to seize them," continued the Emperor, "Regardless of Fu Huo's true objectives. I am glad to see him alive, though also burned by the idea that he thinks of us as his enemies, but we still have to claim what is ours."

"You are right, but how do you plan to retrieve them?" asked Kumiko, "I hope you do not intend to use the same method as last time,"
"No… I have other means. Knowing him, he would try to use his remaining resources against us," explained the Emperor.

"You've really lost trust in him, haven't you, Master Hyu?" said Maya.
"Partially. But I believe there is still some sense left in the man. And that is of course… if I knock it right back out of him," threatened the Emperor, "He still needs to be taught a lesson."

"He's not some kid," said Kumiko, "He deserves a bit more credit than that,"
"I know. Which is why he will be difficult to capture him, as it is impossible to negotiate with him," continued Emperor Hyuga.

Maya stood silently, leaving the rest to Kumiko as she continued to guess on the situation, "I am certain that the Princess would take his side at this point,"
"Minako would betray me for him?" confirmed Hyuga, "I supposed that makes sense,"

"Hey, watch it!" interrupted Maya, "Please do not make quick assumptions about my sister,"
"No harm will come to her," said Hyuga. "We are merely retrieving our spoils."

"Those are two individuals! Human beings! Not some sort of property!" fired Maya.
"No they aren't. But they do have property. Property that is stolen," added Hyuga.

Moments later, Kumiko had received a report from one of the overtime staff left behind to clean up.
"There you go. The two forms of KYOKO have been spotted on the GPS. It had seemed that they have stopped," said Kumiko.

"I see… Regardless on what you might make of it, I am sending a team to intercept them." Announced Hyuga.
"Are… they gonna be armed?" asked Maya.
"Yes… but with ECU jammers. Firearms are not really needed," explained Kumiko.
"So you're trying to incapacitate their vehicles instead, hm?" asked Maya.

"That's the plan. But of course, we need some firearms on the side too, in order to level the field a little bit. I'm sure those two won't agree to come back by just asking them," added Hyuga.
"Don't you think that is too much?" commented Maya.

"You do not need to worry. The worst possible case would only probably lead to shooting at each other their tyres. Minor damage to either vehicle is acceptable. But I'd also rather have both of them alive… in my hands…"

"I hope you know what you are doing, Master Hyu. Please do not be hard on those two…" begged Kumiko.
"How very pitiful…" said the Emperor to himself, "This whole… ridiciolous war was staged by a mere result of a screwed up love story between those two. What a bunch of kids!"

Several moments later, Minako had soon opened her eyes. She moved her head slightly, away from the rails, looking around the area. She caught sight of the vehicles, recognizing both the NSX-R and the 350GT, dormant as if she had just dreamt about them.
She softly yawned and crossed her arms, as the wind had suddenly hazed in, bring on the coldness of the dark.
Minako slowly rubbed her eyes, and looked beside her.
"…Fu Huo," she spoke softly, glancing at Fu Huo who was leaning on the rails and rested next to her.
"So you are awake…" said Fu.
"…So you are alive…" replied Minako, accompanied by a slight gentle smile.

Fu exhaled and sighed, "More or less it seems…"
Minako wanted to so badly jump in excitement, though she had been too exhausted from the nightmare and remained in her position.
"I'm…really… I'm so glad…" continued Minako.
"Is that so?" said Fu Huo emotionlessly.
"What do you mean?"
"Nevermind. Nothing,"

Fu Huo lifted one leg up and bended it down as if he was preparing to stand. He leaned his elbow on his knee and looked up at the stars.
"Where are you going?" asked Minako.
"Nowhere… I don't have anywhere to go anymore,"
"I don't understand, Fu. What's wrong?"
"I've lost everything…"
"No… you haven't."

Fu Huo sighed once again, briefly glancing at Minako, wondering just what she thinks she is talking about.
"What makes you say that?" he asked.
"Because I've just found you. Isn't that cool?"
"I don't deserve to live. After all that I've caused,"
"Now that's really sad," teased Minako, "How can you say that you don't deserve to live? In my opinion, you are alive now because you are given a second chance at life. If you truly do not deserve to live, you would be dead by now…"

Fu Huo nodded his head in agreement, "Exactly," he spoke softly, "That's why I am going to pilot AYUMI to the death…"
Minako had slowly lost patience and grew a bit cross, "Is that all?"
"What?"
"Is that the only reason why you have the desire to live your live on the road? Because you want to die…?" scolded Minako, as she struggled to hold back her tears in front of Fu Huo.

"N-no…" replied Fu Huo softly. "Well what about you then, huh? Why are you here? Why are you piloting KYOKO?"
"Because I was chosen…"
"Because you were chosen huh? Is that it?" argued Fu Huo.

It had seemed that the two had returned back to their quarreling ways. Somehow, Minako felt relieved just by that feeling. It was a sign that she is really talking to the real Fu Huo and that he truly his without a doubt, alive.

"Um… no… that's not the only reason," continued Minako, "I also chose to do it,"
"And why is that?"

Minako suddenly pulled her back forward, away from the rails and faced Fu Huo and looked him sharply in the eye, "Do you really wanna know? Do you really wanna know why I am here now?" she asked as her eyes had became watery.

Fu Huo held back a bit, a little indimidate with Minako's sudden outburst. He allowed her to continue.

"…Because of you!" scolded Minako.
"…Me?"
"Yes, you!"

Fu Huo remained seated silently, staring at the ground and looked down upon himself. He had no energy or patience to argue with Minako at a time like this. He rested on and allowed her to continue explaining.
Soon, he noticed the tears run down from her eyes as Minako sobbed, "You are the reason. It is because of you that I race. It is because of you that I chose to pilot KYOKO…"

Minako continued, "You know…you've really changed. You changed so much…" she cried, "Ever since then, you've been so different. Why is that…?"

Fu Huo did not say anything. He could not make out any words to come out of his mouth.
Minako explained on, "Ever since this street racing crap came along, you've been pushing me away. Don't deny it, Fu!" she scolded him, "Each and every time you gone out during those nights… I worry about you. Everytime you risk your ass out there each night, I crumble inside, hoping for you to call me back and tell me you've made it safely… But you continued to avoid me, like I've done something wrong. I've still haven't figured out what it was…"

Fu Huo softly whispered, "…you've done nothing wrong…"
Minako continud, "So I decided to see for myself why you would always ditch me just so you could continue to kill me every time you step back into your car. I have had enough of it Fu Huo. It's become too much for me…"

The wind continued to blow strongly, as Minako had started to get the chills as she only wore a singlet and some tight hotpants. Fu Huo had then selflessly moved in closer to her to put his arms around her and try to keep her as warm as he could.

It was about time for her to get things out of her chest, and Minako explained on, "So I started practicing with my sister's car. Everyday and every night, just to find out why you have forgotten me just for some stupid road game. It was driving me mad. I wanted to follow you and get into racing, only to become closer to you, Fu. I wanted to become a good as you only so you could notice me!"

"…Really?" Fu Huo had nothing better to say, so surprised about the truth that he had finally been hearing from Minako.
"I wanted to become a great road racer like you so I could understand you better. I felt that if I was as good as you, I could finally understand why… And after you've disappeared all those months ago… I felt that I had no choice… but to follow you and meet you in death itself… I thought you were gone… and all I could think of doing was following you to your own fate… I thought I could find my answers through KYOKO… but not even she had shown me …this. I still haven't found my answers… my answers… from you…"

Fu Huo smirked at himself, and soon released Minako from his arms and looked away. He stood up slowly and faced along the horizons, looking past the guardrails.
"Do you really want the answers…?" he said in a serious tone. "Do you…?"

Minako turned around, looking up to him, as she could not get herself to reply after all that she had said. She looked at him in surprise, as Fu Huo continued to face over the rails and toward the valley, closing his eyes.
"I'll give you your answers… So you really wanna know why I went through all this trouble?" he asked sharply.

Minako stood up and moved in closer beside him, wiping her tears and hold on to his left arm gently. Fu Huo never opened his eyes, and explained. "…It was… because of you."
"…What?"
"Yes…you."

Fu Huo then opened his eyes and looked upward and continues to stare at the sky. He took a deep breath and finally, blurted out, "Minako… I love you. Always have, and I always will. Ever since we were kids… I've always felt the same about you,"
Minako had never expected something like that to come out straight from Fu Huo. She was rather stunned and affected greatly by his sudden words and spoke no further to allow him to continue.

"…That's why… ever since we broke up… I was so… torn. Nothing else meant more to me in my life…" continued Fu Huo, "I didn't have any loving parents who were always there for me throughout the most of my life. But at least I had you that time. And that is why… when we had to split several months ago… I felt like I had nobody left… I had nothing."

Fu Huo smiled at himself, being proud of finally being able to confront Minako in this manner and finally come out with the truth. "I've still wanted you. I've always wanted you to be by my side. But I knew I could never have that again… That is why I resorted to racing on the street. I thought that leaving my mark on the road would finally bring me peace."

Fu Huo exhaled again, "At first, I wanted to use racing as a means to get over you… But then… I guess I loved you even more. I wanted to become a great driver. I wanted to become the best at what I did. I wanted to become popular, just so you could notice me again…"

"I wanted you to notice me so badly, but I needed absolute power in order to do that," Fu continued to explain, "If I became famous… if I became the best of the best, maybe you'd gain back your respect for me…"
"But I've never lost respect for you, Fu…" interrupted Minako.
"You wanted to know the reason I was pushing you away? Well its that simple…" said Fu, "I wanted to see if I became so good and stray away from you… maybe you would realize… that you might have a need for me after all. I wanted to create a spark within your heart by pushing you away, to get you to conclude that you still need me and want me back…"

Fu Huo then admitted, "And soon… you began to move in on my own plans to become the best. And what the hell, you've become a road racer too. That started to complicate things a lot. The more you followed me, the more I wanted to become the absolute best…"

"You already are the best, Fu… I do not know anybody half as good as you. Not even me, Maya or Kumiko. You've always been the best, Fu," cheered Minako.
"I went to the extent as to having to steal KYOKO in order to etch the total dominance over all and take my illusionary place as the king of all road racers, with you as my queen. Though unfortunately, things had backfired…"

"Why didn't you come back?" asked Minako.
"Because I was a fugitive to my own organization, as I decided to seek help from LFD. So I ran away after surviving my crash and worked with him for a few months. And now, I came back as the man you now know as Bao Fu…"
"Is that why you wore the mask? Because you did not want your comrades to see you again?"
"No… I wore that mask… because I did not want you to see the monster that I have become…" admitted Fu Huo.

"Well I am here now…" added Minako, gently reaching for Fu Huo's face, "…and I do not see any monster."
Fu Huo touched her hand on his cheek, feeling the light and tenderness of her touch once again – a feeling he had worked so hard for though thought he would never get to experience again.
"Thank you, Fu Huo… now I finally have my answers," said Minako, as she began to smile at Fu Huo once again. "But you are wrong about one thing…" she continued.

Fu Huo sat down on the rail and rested against them, while he held on to Minako as she sat on his lap with her arms around his neck.
"You haven't lost everything," she whispered into his ear. "Because… you might be very far from being the perfect guy… but you're still the only man I'll ever love…"

Hearing Minako's soft voice and he could make out melodies out of her mere tone. At the same time, he had begun to realize that there was still hope for him in life. "Minnie… I've missed you so much…"

Minnie… that was the nickname he used to call me when we felt like nothing could split us apart…

"I've missed you too… and seeing you here alive makes me forget all the regrets I've had in the past… you've brought me new hope for the future, Fu-Boo…" whispered Minako.

Fu-Boo… that was the nickname she used to refer to me when she was still down for me… One day, if I start a clothing brand, perhaps that is what I would call it…

The two war-torn drivers held each other tightly. They had gripped each other, moving in as if they could never get close enough to each other. Before they knew it, they had continued to dig at each other's lips, and soon, their mouths. Feeling the tenderness and pureness of his beloved Minako once again, Fu Huo had felt such relief as he held her close to him and continued to kiss her. The feeling was like a soft and soothing massage to his lips. He felt so happy inside, like he had just reached heaven after 'dying'. At the same time, he had finally had a change of heart, vowing to himself to rid his old, dishonest ways as Bao Fu and finally, Chuan Fu Huo had been 'resurrected' once again.

Minako rested her face on Fu Huo's cheek and held him tighter. "Fu-Boo… do you remember the first time we made love?" she whispered into his ear.
"Yeah… though we were quite young back then…" replied Fu Huo, as he picked up her hand and held it firmly.

"Hm… yeah. But now you've become quite the man now huh. You're twenty now, right?" said Minako.
"…And you've become one hell of a woman…" complimented Fu Huo.

A few short moments later, a sudden beeping noise could be heard along the ground. Fu Huo held himself back from Minako and looked around. Minako stayed alert, as Fu Huo walked over to pick the helmet off from the ground.
The device continued to beep.

"Looks like they're coming for us…" said Fu Huo.
"Huh?"
"Here… take it," said Fu Huo, handing Minako the item.
"What is this?" wondered Minako, taking the device…