Sorry for the very huge cliffhangers x_x; Concerning this one, all questions about the girl Calica will be answered in this chapter. Again, gomen nasai.
"Ah…for a singer you ain't much of a talker, are you, sugar," drawing her hand back, Calica just smiled laughing softly at Mimi.
Mimi blinked in surprise, fidgeting and tucked up a strand of hair behind her ears, "Oh—I, uh." before she could fix the awkward first impression she's made her father had laid an arm around her shoulder and prodded her closer to Calica.
"This is Calica Wesley, Mimi," he said, hesitating. "Look, honey, there's really no easy way to say this but, Calica is going to be taking over your races. Now before you argue with me don't forget that you sneaked behind my back through this whole thing, and I've done my research on this and let me tell you motor crossing is too dangerous for a girl like you. Isn't that right, Calica?"
Calica winced a bit, but then nodded vigorously, "Well, motor cross does have its hazards but it's all part of the sport!" Her eyes darted to Mimi's father waving his finger in a side to side motion under his chin. "Ahem, but your father is right, it's better to just let a professional ride for ya, hun—"
"And it's not like you'll be the first, either," Mr. Tachikawa put in and then ushering Calica towards the door. "Now the first race is starting in a little bit, we better get you to your motorcycle and." As they walked out the door, Calica put back her glasses and was followed by Francis for cover. When the door closed leaving Matthew and Mimi once again, she heard the bell ring and the announcer calling for the riders of the first heat.
Looking over at Matthew, Mimi finally found her voice, "She's riding on my bike!" she ran out the door and followed.
Gripping the handlebars and using the heels of his boot to buttress him, Taichi slowly led his bike down the ramp and onto the ground where he stopped and fixed the Velcro around his gloves. He spotted the other riders beginning to descend from their own trailers with their motorcycles and heading towards the tracks, but Taichi was searching for one particular rider amongst the crowd. He hadn't noticed Yamato walk up to him until the snapping fingers appeared in his vision.
"I'm going, I'm going," Taichi said and began to walk alongside Yamato, throwing him his helmet.
Yamato snickered, "Focus, Taichi, you're letting your mind wander too much."
"This coming from you," Taichi said with a lopsided smile. "Where did Sora go? She's not going to miss the first heat, isn't she?"
"She's bent up about that whole scenario with Mimi Tachikawa, I don't think she'll even want to watch her race. Now focus."
"Miss—Mimi!" Matthew hissed, jogging after the brunette trying so much as to not make a scene unlike Mimi. Tramping and trying to avoid the several fans approaching her for autographs, Mimi spotted her father and her twin looking over Mimi's bike. Grumbling Mimi ran over to them.
Clicking her tongue against her teeth, Calica slowly walked around to examine the motorcycle, "This is a recent model, isn't it? A speedster, none of my bikes have been this carefully detailed."
"I hope that wouldn't make it harder for you to use," Mr. Tachikawa said. "A few calls and we could have your own bikes sent over here."
"If it's too hard a professional to ride my bike maybe she shouldn't ride at all," Mimi said before Calica could talk. Walking and taking claim of her motorcycle, Mimi stood there defiantly until she caught the looks her father and the rest were giving her.
"Mimi! What has gotten into you?" Her father frantically ushered both girls into the trailer before anyone could see them together.
"Hey, look at that," Yamato pointed to behind Taichi's shoulder. "Wasn't that…?"
"What are you looking at?" Taichi followed his gaze and seeing nothing worth pointing at. "Who's the one letting their mind wander now, huh?"
"But that was," Yamato hesitated, seeing as how Taichi ignored him and looked onto his motorcycle. "Maybe it was just my imagination."
Mimi's eyes shot daggers at Calica, that Southern belle with her phony accent had her arm propped against her hip as if she didn't even notice Mimi's envious glares. Mimi's attention was averted back to her father when he cleared his throat towards her way—boy, is she on a roll with her father. About to go on about her actions, Mimi was relieved when her father's phone rang and he was forced to go and step outside accompanied by Francis and Matthew.
"You don't like me very much, do you?" Calica turned to Mimi once they were gone.
Mimi's brows went up, "Oh, and you only took how long to figure this out?"
Calica smirked, crossing her arms, "Sugar, if you don't want any trouble then you'd best rid of that attitude."
Her cheeks flaring, Mimi felt a bit embarrassed for all her previous antics, "No, I don't really like you at all."
"Why?"
"Why?" Calica arched a brow at her, Mimi paused, unsure, "because, I." she uncurled her fist, nervously tucking her hair behind her ear before sitting down. And after a while, Calica went and sat next to her.
"You really love it out there, don't you?" Mimi nodded. Calica let out a muffled laugh, scratching around the back of her neck. "Well, sugar, I'm really sorry this is happenin' to you, wish I could so something but it's out of our hands, y'know?"
Mimi sighed and stood up to walk by her bike, "Hai." both girls looked up when the door opened and Mimi's Dad appeared.
"They are calling the racers to the line, Calica, you better get going," he said, gesticulating for Calica to get up. "Calica?"
Mimi giggled a bit, "I'm not Calica, Papa, I'm Mimi-" her eyes widened.
"Oh, gomen nasai, princess," he smiled and looked at Calica. "C'mon, Calica."
"Wait!" Mimi exclaimed, grabbing hold of Calica's wrist before she went out. "She'll be right there, Otou-san! Miss Calica just forgot her gloves back at the trailer!" Mr. Tachikawa nodded, closing the door. Mimi grinned and started unbuttoning her jeans. "Take your suit off, quick!"
Mouth agape, Calica watched the girl strip right there, "What on Earth are you doing?!"
"You know how you said you wished you could do something to help? Well, here it is. Please, Calica," Mimi said, throwing Calica her clothing and shoes. Calica stared at her in disbelief.
Sora's cheering was almost drowned out by the crowds', as the first heat was about to take place the starting line was filling up with revving engines and that eager riders waiting for that 30-second mark to appear. Looking to the crowd, Taichi spotted Yamato had already found Sora and both were enthusiastically rooting for their fellow band member.
"Oh yeah, I will win in the end," Taichi tightened his grip, his motorcycle making a slight back and forth motion.
"Well he sure is focusing," Sora remarked as they watched him, Yamato chuckled and patted her back before motioning over to her left where Keith waited. He had his own tent propped up, high on a podium for the three to get a better overview of the track. They settled down just as the announcer spoke.
"What a marvelous day for a race! Lots of competition and nascent stars, I see here, dozens of old and even new faces—take Tachikawa Mimi for example!"
Yamato could've sworn he heard Sora's grunting, he turned to face the line once again and immediately leaned forward when he saw another rider come up beside Taichi.
"It's her," he muttered, Keith and Sora followed and spotted the dark- suited brunette stepping onto her bike. He flashed a smile and watched her, "Well, this would certainly prove interesting, Taichi."
"So Taichi's got a slight fancy for the girl, am I right?" Keith looked around. Sora glanced at him and then at Yamato, a nervous look swept across her face.
The rider on the opposite side of Calica and Taichi inched away when the immense Matthew came by, whispering something in the girl's ear that Taichi couldn't make out as it was drowned in the engine clamors. When he left Taichi finally found himself face to face with Mimi, finally. Now I actually regret saying those awful things about her, Taichi thought.
"Miss Tachikawa," he cleared his throat, failing to catch her attention as to how fixed her eyes were to the track, only the track. "Ahh....Mimi?"
"Huh," her black helmet had turned to face him and yet her eyes were still blocked by dark sunglasses, though her friendly smile was enough of a greeting for him.
Mimi smiled inwardly, looking around at her new yet somewhat familiar environment, what a rush—what a thrill! Oh, mama....if only you could see me right now, you would be so proud. She glanced at the stands, at a certain tent where her father and "her" were occupying, tension climbed up her spine when he started talking to Calica. Oh no, what if he recognizes that it's not me? Already she felt herself losing grip but Mr. Tachikawa soon resigned from his seat and seemed to be looking at her now, Calica gave Mimi a quick thumbs up and grinned.
Breathing more easily, Mimi's attention drifted back onto the front of the line where the 30-second mark went up, and the revving of the bikes around her made her jump. Her eyes landed and were held stationary at Yamato, Keith, and Sora—mainly Yamato. She recognized him immediately from earlier and was surprised to also find him looking at her too, they exchanged smiles, not seeing the small girl sitting near Yamato and cheering loudly for her brother.
"Okay, Mimi, relax…You've down done this a million times when you were little," she gulped. "Except those million times were on an actual bicycle. No, I can do this!"
Before she knew it a shot was fired to the sky and she was off. It wasn't anything what she expected—no, it was even better! The constant shaking almost threw her body off the motor and she often found herself losing grip of the throttle, but she was winning, nonetheless. Small wisps of her hair banged against her temples as if screaming to get out of that helmet and into where the action took place, every sharp turn she made and every dunes she managed to fly over gave her all sorts of dynamic sparks.
"I don't believe it! What a spectacular show is Mimi Tachikawa putting on, not bad for a beginner, huh, riders?"
"I don't believe it!" Sora exclaimed, joining Yamato and standing from her seat. "Taichi, what are you doing? She's almost neck-to-neck with him!"
Well, what do you know, Yamato smiled at the thought, intrigued at the show put on. She needs work, but not bad for a beginner.
"Alright, Taichi!" Hikari shouted.
"I don't believe it," Mr. Tachikawa surmised, his glasses almost falling from position. Matthew and Francis wore the same expression, leaving Calica to be the exuberant one and cheering her head off.
I don't believe it, Taichi kept looking back and to his sides as Mimi's bike gained more speed, if she keeps this up she's going to beat me! Just as he thought Mimi's motorcycle found its way beside his.
I'm winning! I'm actually winning! Mimi exclaimed to herself, she could make out the silhouette of that checkered flag against the orangish-glow of the sun. She was so caught up with her own little moment that her attention began drifting from her riding that, before she could gain any control, she lost her footing and her boot got caught amongst the rear of the bike. This sent both crashing onto the dirt before a series of bike skidding and Mimi rolling to her side. Even if this was a common thing to see the crowd was swept onto their feet if they weren't already getting a closer look.
Mimi! Calica spun to look at Mr. Tachikawa who had gotten to his feet, watched as Mimi curled her legs up and covered her head as the several other motorcycles passed her. Not too far from them were the anticipating members of Cerulean Passion and their acquaintances, Mimi did serve up quite a sight.
Not wanting to open her eyes or even get up, Mimi listened—her soft whimpers echoed inside her helmet and made everyone unaware of her crying. She didn't even need to be told who won; she could hear the crowd's booming applause for Taichi as his bike made the finishing hill. Mimi felt so foolish at that instant, I'm such a disappointment.
"Oh...wow, if that was me I'd be so embarrassed," Keith blew, running his hand and ruffling his hair.
"Do you think she'll be alright?" Hikari asked, looking up at Yamato.
Yamato shrugged, his eyes narrowed coldly at the figure, "Of course, this happens all the time, Hikari. Come on, let's go congratulate Taichi!" Hikari nodded and the rest followed her down to the stands, as he walked he kept an eye to the lone girl choosing to remain sitting on the dirt.
"I actually do feel bad for her, her first race," Sora's voice startled him, Yamato nodded.
"Hai, I feel some pity for her, but it was her foolish choice to celebrate so early in the game," he put it simply and Sora looked at him confusingly. "The girl can win, she's shown that, but she's no racer."
"Well, maybe someone should tell her she needs more training-Taichi!" Sora cut herself off and ran to congratulate her friend.
Yamato smiled widely as a new idea approached him, "Yamato Ishida, you are a genius," he ran to catch up with Sora and everyone when his shoulder knocked against someone's. "Ah, gomen nasai! I-hey," he looked at the brunette he had bumped into, she bore a striking resemblance to…"Aren't you?"
"I'm sorry, sugar, would you excuse me!" she smiled apologetically and hurried off, alongside two running giants and a little man who lead them.
"Huh?" And then it hit Yamato. "Of course! That was Mimi Tachikawa! And that girl on the field...was no more than a decoy hired to ride for her!"
Wee! I'm done. o_o How was that? Oh, and along with your reviews/flames could you all please tell me which stories you'd be wanting me to update the most right now? ^^; It will just help than having to balance every story out! Thanks!