-Thanks for the reviews! ^_^-
Sora examined herself in front of the mirror in their huge motor trailer. Strapping on her boots she grabbed her gloves from the compartment and strode towards the back hatch and opened it up so she could haul her motorcycle out. Wow, she watched bemused as she caught sight of the huge crowd that had shown up for the fundraiser, she spotted her team/band members not too far and, hopping off the van she quickly ran towards them.
"Is he any good?" Yamato glanced up from filling in his sign up sheet and watched Taichi conversing with another competitor who, was also part of a rather well-known band like theirs. A rumor, nothing but pure gossip was suddenly spreading all over the competition grounds that a famous singer had signed up right before the tournament. No one knew anything of this mysterious rider but rumor was that he was indeed very good at motor cross.
"That's what people have been saying, but I don't think he'd be any match for my team and me," the dark-headed teenager replied. Taichi grunted and laid a hand on Yamato's shoulder.
"Yeah right, your band may be fairly good at singing but my team will blow the shi—" before Taichi was finished Sora came in and intruded.
"Don't start making any bets again without even thinking of your chances, Taichi," she warned and crossed her arms, Yamato cleared his throat and the three slowly went back to their sign-up sheets. Sora narrowed her eyes at them and grabbed her own sheet. "So, what were you going to make a bet on?"
Taichi exploded in excitement, "You wouldn't believe how much we could win! Okay, there's this rumor that this top speed rider—who's also some famous singer just signed up like, a few days before the tournament and he made such an impression that the board committee just had to accept him!" he took a deep breath. "And Jack here thinks he can whip him in the race, and us."
"Can't blame it if it's true," the one called Jack, said and received a blow from Sora. He chuckled, "Ooo, feisty there, aren't we? So are you guys putting money in the pot or not?"
"Not/Yes!" the two different answers came from the three. Jack arched a brow as they all looked at each other. "What do you mean no/yes?"
Yamato sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "Uhm, I think I'll go hand this in now and let you two figure this out," he shook his head and walked away from the tent, hearing the faint hollers of Sora and Taichi. He strode along the dirt roads trying to look for the sign-up booth (Uhm, think of that movie Motor Cross scenes o_o).
"Ah," he breathed and looked around at all the busy people, tough-looking riders her recognized. "How I missed being here, been too long."
"Yamato!" called a voice from his side. Yamato let out a slight groan when he saw that it was only their manager, Jyou—what does he want now, Yamato put on a small smile and waved his hand as Jyou came jogging towards him, wearing his eccentric business suit and unsuitable leather shoes. Jyou came up to Yamato with full hopes. "So, I believe you've already heard the rumor. Competition, ne?"
Yamato chuckled, "Let's hope so, the only way we can be the best is by competing with the best—ahem," he quickly cupped a hand to his mouth as Yamato started coughing hoarsely. Jyou furrowed his brows and laid a hand on his back.
"Yamato, Yamato, are you alright?" he asked and Yamato slowly stopped and shook his hand at Jyou.
"I'm fine, something in my throat, that's all," he said and saw Sora coming over to them. "I'll see you later, Jyou, I gotta do some stuff," Jyou tapped his forehead with his pencil and walked away just as his phone rang. Yamato coughed once more and turned towards the approaching girl, noticing the excited look on her face.
"He's here!! He just pulled up by the entrance and everyone's going over there to see who he is," she exclaimed and grabbed Yamato's hand and dragged him to the opposite direction. "C'mon, run faster!"
Yamato clutched the papers in his hand, "Nani—what in the world are you talking about and who's here?! Ow, Sora, slow down, will you," Sora smiled and slowly let her running die down as her and Yamato found the slightly huge crowd forming randomly around the incoming car. Yamato whistled at the crowd he was getting.
"Yamato, Sora! Over here!" Taichi waved his hand over to their trailer which wasn't that far from the scene. The three stood up onto the tables and watched in anticipation.
Smirking, Taichi commented, "He sure is getting a welcome, hey, did I tell you? Yours truly is racing against Mr. Popular on the first round off."
Sora and Yamato's eyes widened, "Are you serious?!" Sora exclaimed and prepared to rant onto Taichi, "Taichi, a lot is going to depend onto you cause of this! Oh no, please don't tell me you made bets without our concern again," she sighed and rolled her eyes. Yamato quickly cut in before Taichi could respond, grabbing Taichi in a headlock and knuckling his head.
"Alright, now we can show him that Cerulean Passion's running the show here!" he exclaimed and both guys laughed their heads off, boasting and knowing it. Yamato, catching Sora's upset look at them quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulder which surprised her to a blush and Taichi to a pout.
"Oh, gomen ne, Sora-chan, you gotta learn how to loosen up with us," Yamato grinned and lightly kissed her forehead. (Yes! Yamato does like her a bit, it's revealed!!)
Sora bit her lip when something else caught her eye, "Hey, the door's opening," she pointed. Cerulean Passion arched their brows all anxious. The door opened and out stepped—two heavy men in black stomped out and caused the people to take a step back, again their hopes rose but went down when just the manager of the boy stepped off.
"What's he doing here," the trio looked to the source beside them and saw Jyou standing there, a rather disturbed and shock look on his face.
"Jyou, you know that guy?"
Jyou never nodded but gritted his teeth, "Hai, I know him…unfortunately, but I just don't see what he's doing here. And bringing her with him."
"Her?" the three repeated and looked back when a roar of reporters hustled closer to the open door when a girl suddenly stepped out. Their jaws dropped, they couldn't talk, they couldn't move but stare at her as she quietly stepped down. The crowd gasped.
Taichi laid an arm on Yamato's shoulder, "Mimi Tachikawa…Wow, she sure is the last person you'd ever see here," he watched her with a mesmerized eye—and felt himself smiling, can't say I'm too disappointed, though…
"Pff!" Sora grunted angrily as everyone was swarming over the timid girl. "She's the rider we've been hearing about? Can you believe the show she's putting on?! I bet she can't even ride, what do you think Yamato?"
Yamato's eyes stayed on her considering this was actually the first time he's ever seen her in person, stripped from those fashion line clothes and glamour and make-up. She's beautiful, he commented to himself, noticing the alarmed expression on her face as her two bodyguards made way for her through the crowd.
"Yamato! Are you two even listening?!" Sora hit his elbow, Taichi averted his eyes towards them. Slightly startled, Yamato grinned and crossed his arms.
"Uh, yeah, probably just a publicity stunt!…" Yamato forced a smirk as the crowd moved back when Francis and Matthew stomped pass Cerulean Passion. For a brief moment, Yamato could have sworn that Mimi heard what he said when she turned her head towards them. Towards him.
For a split second her hazel eyes pointed at his, Yamato gulped and awkwardly felt his lips curl when Mimi smiled gently at him—but Matthew quickly blocked his view when he ushered Mimi to quickly step into her trailer to get away from the crowd. Mimi nodded obediently, casting a small apologetic look at Yamato before disappearing.
"Mr. Tachikawa! Is it true that your daughter is competing in this year's fundraiser?" the reporters exclaimed at Mimi's father.
"Your daughter shows no history of ever taking interest in this particular sport, any reason on why? Is she any good?"
"Is it true Mimi Tachikawa went behind your back and signed up for this herself?" called another and Mr. Tachikawa raised his hand to halt them.
Rubbing his temples, Mr. Tachikawa sighed in aggravation, "No comment on any of those, Mimi is just here to compete in some good ol' fashioned racing, nothing more. She is fairly exhausted from the excitement so she would gladly appreciate it if no one bothers her for the time being. Arigatou," he said and quickly walked off to the sign-up booth, bumping Yamato and Taichi out of his way.
"Mou," Taichi narrowed his eyes. "Talk about grouchy, now I see why Hikari and her barely ever get to hang out with a grumpy old man like that!"
"Alright, show's over, folks!! The first round-off shall begin in precisely half an hour!" a man dressed in the fundraiser's garments called all around and the crowd died down.
Yamato tapped his side, "I'm going to go hand my papers in, see you two later." He said and he quickly walked away after Mimi's Dad.
Sora crossed her arms, "Whatever, I don't like that girl."
Pretending to read his papers, Yamato leaned in slightly to try and hear the conversation ahead of him.
"—wait for this to be over, poor girl," Mr. Tachikawa was saying to the guy at the booth. "This is going to cause her more stress…"
"Well, she did sign up for this on her own, did she not?" the man smiled and handed him some papers. "Anyway, I really hope Miss Tachikawa has fun in this."
Mr. Tachikawa muttered a thanks and turned, turning Yamato's greeting smile with a frown and shoved him to the side as he angrily stomped back to his daughter's trailer. Yamato scratched his cheek in a clueless manner.
Back in the trailer, Matthew hummed a melodic tune as he prepared a sweet cup of tea for Mimi who, after the excitement, he had made sit down against her will. As she was handed her cup, Mimi watched as Matthew took his position standing by the door.
Mimi gently blew on her cup, "You know, I'm not really tired at all, I'd really like to just go out and have a walk. I mean," she went to look out the window and smiled. "Look at all those people! And they're all around my age, too! I've, I've never felt so excited before."
"—You have strict orders from you father, Miss Mimi, why not just catch up on your reading until your father gets back?" Matthew rolled his eyes sarcastically when Mimi glared at him, grabbing a large book and burying her face in it to avoid him. Matthew checked his watch.
"Where is Francis, anyway?" Mimi asked and flipped through the pages. "Is he finding out when it's my turn to race?" she smiled widely beneath her book, the excitement seeping into her—the door opened and in stepped Mr. Tachikawa. "Otou-san! How'd it go with the reporters?"
Sighing, Mr. Tachikawa took his seat and waved off Mimi's question, "Matthew, please get me some aspirin—and double my usual four. Has Francis come back yet with Calica?"
"No, he hasn't," Mimi replied for him, standing up. "And who's this, Calica…? Papa—" again her questions were paid no heed when the door opened again and this time it was Francis who came in, but before Mimi could greet him another person—a girl—walked in. Mimi felt like she just took a huge blow.
"Ah, Calica, what took you so long, my dear?" Mr. Tachikawa raised his arms as the girl smiled. "I guess you already know Matthew and Francis, but I'd like you to meet my daughter, Mimi."
The girl, Calica, smiled and flicked her long hair back. Mimi still stood aghast, the girl looked so—awesome! She wore a black racing suit and dark sunglasses, and she looked the confidence that Mimi surely lacked, plus—the girl looked almost identical to Mimi herself!
Mimi looked at the girl when she stretched out her arm to Mimi, "Hi there, I'm Calica."
-Ooo…Who is this mystery girl? O_o review!