Chapter 8: The Final ACE and the Kiss of Death
Wasn't satisfied with this chapter last time. So I did some serious revision. Chapter has a slightly different ending. Sorry for the lack of new material been getting ready to go back to the university. Hope this fixes a few things. And ch. 9 will be up latter tonight as well.
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"Remember the first way you beat him is the way which he least expects to be beaten."
Ryousuke smiled and chuckled to himself. As awful as it seemed, part of the joy that came from running Project D involved torturing both Keisuke and Takumi using ingenious enigmas that would twist their minds. This did them good though, as a professional racer always had to think on his feet. Every drop of sweat that a racer gave was equal to every drop of blood that than through his or her veins. Even if at times you had to lose…well best not to think of that right now…
"Ryousuke, I've just overheard on the radio that Fujiwara's reached the hairpins, and he's using the shortest line as well. He almost wiped-out, but he managed to hold it together."
"Thank you Fujimoro. Project D's racers have yet to disappoint me." Ryousuke distanced himself for a minute "Come on, Fujiwara I know you can pull the rest of those corners off, with my suspension set-up. Your half way to winning just keep it up…Strange if remember correctly today's forecast said that there was only a 20 chance of rain tonight…Damn, the wind direction just changed this might be a problem."
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"That was close, the suspension is really saving my ass today."
The Hachi-Roku had landed again, with another impact that made Takumi grind his teeth. Two corners down, he was gaining big time. He just had to keep up his concentration. "This is harder than I thought it would be, without the SW20 to follow. I have to suck it up though, once I finish these corners I have to figure out the last ace Ryousuke was talking about, that EVO can still out run me."
"God damn piece of crap. Why won't he give up? It doesn't matter what he does. It'll be all over soon, he's screwed why can't he see that?" Seiji snarled the 86 was really starting to piss him off. "I'll do anything it takes to beat you brat…anything, you don't know what I'm capable of."
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"Aniki! It looks like its about to rain. Why the hell is it going to rain now! I think this could be trouble for the 86. The EVO VI has TCS,ABS and AWD. If it starts to rain Fujiwara will be totally outclassed beating a Cappuccino is one thing but a …"
"Keisuke." it was unusual for Ryousuke to interrupt his brother, but this was an exception.
"You of all people should know better. Don't you remember the battle you had with Narrazato on Myogi last year? Even if you don't want to admit it, in the rain the R32 clearly outclassed your FD in every aspect imaginable. And yet, you bested him on his own course. Don't you think that at this level Fujiwara is capable of the same, and even greater things. Both of you have improved greatly. I have no intention of saying Fujiwara will win for sure as this race still has the one final stage. But do not underestimate his determination."
"Which reminds me. What IS the final ace? Must you always speak in riddle I mean really." Keisuke almost seemed to be almost whining at this point.
"Keisuke, you more than anyone should know what the final ace is. Just think about it for a minute. What advantage in skill could Fujiwara possibly still have?"
Keisuke's jaw dropped. Of course! "Aniki do you mean that the final ace is…"
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"Ok, that was the last corner. He's starting to pull away again, the race is almost over. Oh man I wish I were smarter. My last race here wasn't nearly this challenging."
"I totally in the zone today, lady luck is on my side, and to top it off if those clouds break there's nothing he can do."
Both car sped around more corners, the course was coming to an end, Takumi was seriously almost out of time, then the clouds finally broke. All at once millions of droplets fell covering the road with a fine film of water.
"Your grip's gone. Go to hell! Now you'll know the true power of All Wheel Drive!"
Takumi looked broken he hadn't expected rain , his mind drifted. This was the perfect condition for the WRX his father owned. He loved his 86 but what good was it to him if he couldn't win. Takumi's eyes changed, he was holding back tears of frustration. How could he deal this.
"I've let down Project D. If this were Akina I wouldn't lose, I wish this was Akina, I'm having a one of the hardest races I've ever had, I KNOW I'm better than him but it's not enough. The first time I beat him I…" Takumi's eyes widened and the tears went away, "Remember the first way you beat him is the way which he least expects to be beaten."…I'm an idiot! I should have figured the third ace out instantly. The one I have on Akina! The rain isn't a factor anymore, I'm dropping my tires into the gutters!"
"I should be able to blow you away completely now, I can't wait to see your face after …what the…?" That instant Seiji heard the tires drop he knew what had happened. Seiji turned pale, his bulging eyes simply watched as the Hachi-Roku used full acceleration in the corner and pulled up next to him.
"Oh , no ing way! I don't intend on losing Fujiwara. You may have gotten this far but I'm not willing to lose like Kyouichi did. I can't, I must win by any means necessary. The road narrows soon, you know as well as I do that only one car can pass…MINE…Get ready to choose from life and death!"
Seiji knew that Takumi was as determined as he was…but fear can twist one's mind. The EVO VI started rocking side to side. "What is doing, is there something wrong with the LANCER?"
Takumi thoughts were interrupted as the EVO IV struck his beloved Hachi-Roku.
"What the hell is he doing?"
"Boy, I'm not trying to kill you but, you have limited traction. I'll make you spin out before the road narrows. If you too stubborn to give up, it'll be your own fault when you crash. A few more taps should be enough be break your motivation. Do not cross me!"
The 86 received two more, well placed hits. "He trying to run me off the road right before the road closes…it only a few more meters…crap…"
The EVO swung hard this time, Takumi hit the brakes, the tires locked his car skidded. His control was gone. Seiji smiled his plan had worked. Seiji hit the gas and started to turn the wheel knowing he had won…bad move.
For all the grip the EVO VI's tires had, the combination of the rain, the acceleration and turning were to much. Though the EVO corrected it self down the straight utilizing understeer the unimaginable happened…the LAN EVO snap oversteered. Seiji was a good driver but he caught completely off guard. He spun out of control nicking the 86, which was already slowing down causing it to spin as well, before slamming into the guard rail blowing out two tires and then rolling from the recoil.
Takumi sat in his car breathing hard, he was alive. But what about Seiji? Takumi was almost too scared to get out and look
To win at any cost, is to lose.
Next Chapter; Ch 9: Keisuke, your up.