Ch. 10 Downhill…Itski?

Oh man, back in school. This is going to be long semester. Oh well, here's ch. 10.

"Downshift…Now"

"Ok slowly open the throttle"

"Good your really starting to learn how to use the turbo Itski." Takumi had been coaching Itsuke on and off for the last couple of months and Itski was finally starting to show some improvement. At least he didn't spin out while Takumi was in the 85.

"Thanks Takumi, I'll finally be able to show Ikatani who's boss and become the BEST in the Akina Speed Stars! Kenji won't be able to touch my skills either. I'm getting sooo cool!"

A drop of sweat slowly rolled down Takumi's face. While trying to hide his embarrassment. "Itski…we're doing the uphill right now remember? You still need to do a lot of work on the downhill. Okay? You have to keep practicing. Remember being too confident can hurt your driving."

Itsuke looked just as distanced as usual. "Itski did you hear a word I said?" Takumi let out a small sight he never could hold his best friend's attention long.

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"Alright! I'm already for the downhill. Just watch Takumi and see how much I've improved".

"Oh god, why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret this." Takumi could felt his stomach coming up his throat as Itsuke reached Akina's peak and prepared to go downhill.

"Hey Takumi look a yellow Civic is up hear. Looks like an EK9. He must come up here to see the best of Akina. Little does he know he's looking right at one of them. Wait here I'm going to challenge him to a downhill. I'll show him who's the man." Itsuke stepped out of the car and walk over to harass the EK9 driver while Takumi rolled his eyes. " Man, I'm so cool."

"Hey, Civic guy."

"Excuse me, my name is Ninomiya DaikiI'm looking for a local street racer named Fujiwara Takumi. I have some information I would like to share with him on an upcoming match that Project D has against the EMPERORS."

"Really, I happen to be really good friends with him I'll let you know how to contact him …if you do me a little favor." Itsuke glared with an evil twinkle in his eye.

"And that would be?" Daiki stared back at Itski feeling confused.

"A super fast downhill race! First to the bottom wins." Itsuke let out a little chuckle."

"I'm sorry. I really wasn't looking to race anyone tonight I simply wanted to speak with the driver of the Hachi Roku if it was possible." Daiki tried to decline Itsuke's challenge as politely as possible.

"Oh I see you must be too scared to race me right? I understand, its because you drive a front wheel drive car right? There's no point in racing because you can't compete with FR. Everyone know that FF cars suck."

Itsuke always did have a way of putting his foot into his mouth. But then again, how was he supposed to know he had just insulted the Todo Racing School's current downhill champ? Daiki's couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Great another kid who thinks he's fast."

"In my opinion someone who drives an 85, shouldn't be so quick to judge other people's cars." Daiki was a in training to be a professional and the boss had always though him to keep his head.

"I'll have you know that my turbo Hachi Go, can destroy your VTECH crap EK9 any day."

"Listen LEVIN boy, I'll make you eat your words. I accept your little challenge. Tell you what I'll even give you a four second handicap." Daiki was usually calm but when people boasted and talked trash he got pissed.

Both drivers walked to there cars, and lined up. Itsuke revved to 2500 rpm's and drop the clutch sloppily effectively burning some clutch fluid. Still it was enough to get the 85 moving.

"Okay lets see no need to really rush 1...2...3...4 GO!" Daiki took off but by that time Itsuke was already lined up for the first corner.

"Yes, I'm so going to win Takumi. The turbo is working great today. He'll never catch up he has an FF!" Itsuke laughed while telling Takumi what had happened.

"Hey Itski, who is this guy anyway?" Takumi was starting to sweat Itski was really overconfident and pushing the 85 way too hard, for his amount of skill.

"I don't remember…well… it was something like umm.. Nino- something Daiki." Takumi's eyes widened as Itski finished his sentence.

"Do you mean, Ninomiya Daiki?" Takumi asked nervously.

"Yeah that's him, how do you know this guys name? Hey Takumi hold that thought, I'll do this corner coming up and finish this race."

"Itski there something you should really know… ahhh!" Takumi screamed for help and turned pale this was one of the scariest corners he had ever seen, he had know idea how Itski didn't loose control.

"That should do it. See Takumi I told you I could take this guy. What the?" Two headlights popped up on the Hachi Go mirror.

"What! How'd he do, that no matter I'll just pull away as I take this corner on the inside he'll never match my speed." As soon as Itski started braking the EK9 flew past him without so much a flinch.

"What Takumi look he's crazy that's too fast he'll understeer of the face of Akina!"

"Itski don't you get it he's on another level nothing's going to happen to him. He's the downhill expert from the Todo Joku racing school. By the time you exit the next corner he'll be long gone."

A drop of sweat rolled down Itsuke's face.

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"Takumi I can't believe that to an FF that badly." Itsuke looked broken. "I think I'm going to cry."

"I'd hate to say I told you so that would just be mean…ah what the hell" Takumi smirked.

"Hey, Itski."

"Yeah, Takumi?"

"I told you so." Hearing Takumi's comment nearly shattered his pride. Then again he deserved it. No one without some serious skill should ever talk trash. Daiki stood by his car, so Fujiwara was with that kid all along. This guy had some really weird friends. No matter Akina's downhill had actually felt kind of good. And now that he had found Fujiwara he could get down to business.

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"So your saying that this Zaaku guy that Keisuke is racing is from racing school that rivals Todo Joku?." Daiki nodded.

"And he's about to graduate. From what I hear he's the best racer to ever come out of that school. Part of his reason for participating in the race against Project D, is so that he can beat a racer from the team that beat Todo Joku. I would have liked to have contacted Takahashi directly but I had no idea how to get to him. So I came to you." Takumi nodded. I this guy really rivaled the best of Todo than Keisuke might be in over his head.

"Do you know what he drives?"

"No, he doesn't seem to have a preference. So in Projects D's next race anything is possible. Hey look I have to get going but I've go one more thing. If you ever need someone to practice against let me know. You'd be surprised how much faster I've gotten. Catch you latter Fujiwara."

Daiki walked over to the EK9 and took off. He respect Project D. And didn't want them to lose especially after being beaten by them.

"He has gotten faster, I could tell just by watching him take that one corner…" What to expect? The EMPERORS had thrown a curve ball. Takumi took out his cell phone and scrolled down his phone book to Takashi.