AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Dedicated to the diabolic, evil Ms. Evil, who has charmed me with her witty reviews. A promise is a promise (And although promises are meant to be broken, oh well... to hell with that for now.), and I've decided to keep true to my word. Oh yeah, Ms Evil, I am so waiting for your next review. What did Bob and Fred do to deserve such mean treatment? Oh wait... I forgot, you are Ms. Evil. Hehe.

P.S. I totally agree about the cliche plot. Actually, I had wanted to put up a longer warning on the first chapter regarding this issue, but I kinda scrapped that.

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Chapter 4: Carpe Diem

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"So take this world and shake it
Come squeeze and suck the day,
Come Carpe Diem baby!"

- Carpe Diem, Metallica

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Situated in the busy district of Eastern Tomoeda, Twinky's Diner was, as usual, crowded with students from the nearby schools during the late afternoon.

Meilin and her friends were been sitting at a corner booth chatting their hours away. It was a daily routine, eating sushi and sandwiches to hang out, kill some time, and hopefully, get to know some guys. She was getting tired of it, but there was little else to do after classes.

The urge to leave was so strong. Meilin glanced at the door for the umpteenth time, watching hoards of teens enter and leave the place. Finally submitting to the feelings of restlessness, and sick of hearing her friends swoon over some creep, she decided to leave.

"Hey, I've got to go. Promised to meet the guys at the club." She deliberately glanced at her watch and faked an apologetic look.

A pretty brunette, with a whiny voice, named Megumi, perked up. "You meeting them now?"

Somehow, the mention of her cousins and their friends always brought a wave of smiles among her girls. It's obvious that they - and lots of others, too - harboured some crush on the Reed boys who wouldn't even give them the time of the day. Meilin smiled. If only you knew...

"Yes, but we're not hanging out or anything. Heading straight home after that. So, don't bother tagging along." She lied, knowing the boys disliked being around her prissy girlfriends. Well, she wasn't as prissy as they were, but they're nice and friendly despite their love for gossip.

"Okay, Ja ne!" She hastily grabbed her bag and waved to the girls as she walked out, ignoring the caterwauling and uninvited waves from some nearby males. They whistled even louder when she passed by their tables.

Finally irritated by the teasing, she stopped at the door, turned and threw a scorching glare at the cheeky guys before stepping out. It disgusted her, how some of them were so respectful and docile whenever Syaoran or Eriol were around her. And it further infuriated her how certain guys could change colours so quickly, like chameleons. A brief thought of her ex-boyfriend aggravated her irritation. To hell with these males. I've had enough of them, she fumed silently.

Once outside, she took a deep breath and wished she had better friends, genuine ones. And maybe, a better life, too.

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"Konnichiwa, Benji!"

"Hello Benji-san!"

"Oi, Benjiro!"

Sweaty twenty-three-year-old mechanic Takeda Benjiro looked up from the carburettor he was working on, and smiled wide. Really, really wide.

Lined up in sight were three pretty girls in white blouses, ties, knee-length socks and red vests with matching pleated skirts that only reached mid-thighs. It was pure heaven. Not even Britney Spears could beat these original Aacdemy chicks in their uniforms.

"Ahhh, my beautiful princesses. What brings you to my workshop on this fine, late Thursday afternoon? Not that I'm complaining, but don't you have extra classes or something?"

"We're right here, aren't we? So, no extra curricular activities today, obviously." Chiharu rolled her eyes.

"Don't mind her; She's in a bad mood today." Tomoyo smiled, knowing Chiharu was still upset over the whole clandestine drug dealing in her club two days ago.

"How's business, Benji?" Sakura enquired politely as she sat on a nearby stool while Tomoyo and Chiharu wandered around restlessly.

"Not bad at all…"

He nodded towards a green Ashton Martin Vantage Coupe with a badly dented front. "And I just got that towed in on Tuesday. Belongs to Keishi. He crashed it while racing against a Reed member Monday morning. Raced on their turf, too!"

"The damn Reeds. A constant thorn in our sides. " Chiharu muttered to herself.

"I heard that he lost. Apparently he challenged the wrong guy... Someone far too experienced for his standard." Tomoyo chuckled. "And his Ashton coupe against a Dodge Viper? What was he thinking?"

"My thoughts exactly." Benji commented, trying hard to resist looking at the girls too much. It wasn't often one get to see them walk around town in their uniform. The conservative Academy always kept its girls in tight leashes.

Sakura then cleared her throat loudly, demanding his full attention. "Have my goods arrived already? Is my bike done?"

"We're too eager to see our babies and decided on coming over today, not the weekend. Sorry to disturb you, Benji-san." Tomoyo added apologetically.

Ahhh… Benji nodded thoughtfully. That explained their unexpected visit. They'd usually drop by his workshop on Saturdays or Sundays, when they're out of school. But for the love of road and race, it seemed that they were willing to make exceptions.

"Iie, not a problem. In fact, you've made my day even brighter!"

He walked towards his desk and checked against the inventory records. "Your new airbox and flatslides have actually arrived five days ago, Sakura-chan. I'm only ninety percent done with the new fittings, so you'll have to wait till tomorrow."

"Yatta! Since I'll be returning home tomorrow, I'll collect it after dinnertime!" She smiled gleefully, and then added, "Touya would be so envious of me!"

Benjiro eyed her suspiciously. "Doesn't Kinomoto know about this?" She had better inform her brother about it, since he'd be the one paying.

She laughed and waved her hand dismissively, "Of course!"

He nodded at her sceptically. "Whatever you say…" His eyes then trained on Tomoyo and Chiharu, who were inspecting some oilcans. Smirking at their feigned interest, he casually remarked, "Your bikes are parked at the back. Didn't want anyone to look or even touch your precious."

The girls instantly brightened up and rushed through the door that connected the main workshop to another private garage. Upon seeing their prized possessions, they squealed like little children who'd just been given candy. Benji shook his head in amusement.

Tomoyo sighed deeply, cooing over her dark purple custom Ducati. "How's my baby doing?"

"I'm fine." Benji grinned cheekily.

She rolled her eyes. "The bike, Benji-san…"

"Your baby's good. I've replaced the piston and friction plates at your request, fitted the latest turbocharger you've ordered. And I've also checked all the other tuning parts, re-serviced the steering dampers and forks." He paused and patted the bike affectionately. "And it's only waiting to be tested before I give it the thumbs up."

"Arigatou! Just send the bill over when you're done." She smiled sweetly. "Saa… Can I test drive it now?"

"No way, sweetheart! I'm dying to ride your new baby! You'll just have to wait after I test drive it later…" He trailed off, suddenly shifting his immediate attention to something else. Or someone else.

His grin faltered instantly. Oh, no…

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She was greeted by the devastating state of the private room. It was a complete mess! Empty cans of beer and soft drinks were clattered on the side tables, school jackets strewn about carelessly and several half-empty bags of potato chips were lying around. In addition to that, pieces of chips were scattered on the carpeted floor and there was even some spills. Meilin looked around her one last time and shook her head in resignation. They could be such slobs at times!

"Li Meilin!"

Yamazaki Takashi literally jumped with joy as he spotted her by the door. "Meilin, thank Kami-sama! Just in time for a new round of snooker!" He gestured towards the green table, where they were standing around. "Come, come, get your pretty ass down here!"

The group of them had been playing snooker for cash, since the past few hours. Unfortunately, thanks to his bad luck at flipping coins, he had ended up with Akira, against the powerful team of Hugosi, Syaoran and the best player of them all.

Surprisingly, his team was doing fine, keeping a very close score with the leading trio. Now, with Meilin's added skill, they could soon beat Hugo, Syaoran and Eriol. And also, win an easy sum of five hundred bucks.

Meilin smirked at him as she draped her jacket over a nearby chair, carefully avoiding any dirty spots. "Why? You're losing your touch, Yamazaki?" She sauntered towards the billiard table, chuckling at his grunted response. Mumbling something about unfairness under his breath, Takashi passed her a cue, which she so thoroughly checked for unevenness.

Akira rubbed his hands gleefully. "Let's begin, then! Meilin, Takashi and I are so gonna kick your asses this time!"

Eriol grinned devillishly. "You wish, prick. We all know Hugo, Li and I will always be the undefeated champs." He turned to Meilin, "For your information, your team's about to lose five hundred on today's game. Would you still like to join and lose?"

Takashi, impatient to win by a close eight points, barked out, "Hey, enough chit chat! Can we please begin? Right now and not Christmas, if possible? I'd like to collect my five hundred soon."

The atmosphere quickly turned intense, with the five boys fully determined to add more money to their stake, and more egos to their bursting male pride.

Hugosi made a whooping sound and proceeded on making the opening break. He bent down towards the table surface, placed the cue accordingly, aimed and took a calculated shot. The cue ball rolled swiftly in a flash, knocking the first red ball with a loud clack, thus disrupting the triangle arrangement in a chaos domino effect.

The balls moved violently all over the table, before two red balls finally disappeared into the same pocket. "Two reds!" Pleased with his move, he smiled smugly, earning some praises from his teammates, and snorts from the rest.

Eriol nodded approvingly before he contemplated his next move. The cue ball was hindered by several reds and he needed to pocket a coloured one. "Alright, I'm taking the yellow one."

Aiming carefully, he slowly pulled the cue back and then dispatched the shot with full force, sending the cue ball bouncing off the opposite cushion before knocking the yellow ball into the end pocket. "Told you I'm damn good." He flashed his opponents a rare smile, signalling to Li to continue.

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Meilin sighed at yet another overwhelming 'battle of the testosterones'. Three minutes later, she took her shot and ignored Takashi's groan when she managed to pocket only one red ball. She resisted the urge to beat him silly with her cue stick. Impatient idiot.

"Hey, I heard there's going to be an impromptu race tonight," Hugo casually stated while chalking his cue.

Takashi warmed on his favourite subject, momentarily forgetting the game. "Yeah, Greenhead Tony's organising the street race! I'm in it."

Eriol raised both brows. "Kuso, why didn't you tell me earlier!"

Takashi grinned sardonically. If his friends ever did participate, the chances of him winning were slim. "And let you join in the race? No way! It's a dog-eat-dog world, man!" He joked. There would be three other - not so competent - contenders for the prize money, and he damn well would like to win. "Of course, I was planning on letting you guys know later so that you'll come down to support your best friend."

"What time?"

"Late… Around two, I guess."

Syaoran leaned against the table. "Since Tony's organising it, then it's going to be in Central, right?" Greenhead Tony was a likeable person, very much a 'free man', who lived in Central Tomoeda. He belonged to none of the four triads, but maintained a good rapport with everyone.

"Yeah."

"Hmmm… I hope there won't be too many Amamiyas around." Eriol muttered while he smoothly potted two balls in two opposite pockets, all in one fluid shot.

"Let's just hope there'll be no cops and no fights. No distractions! I want to win tonight," Takashi agreed.

Akira and Syaoran, who thrived on fights as a source of adrenaline rush, looked at him in dismay. "Awww, don't be so jaded, man!"

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Benji watched in horror as Chiharu took a spanner and squatted next to her brand new burgundy Kawasaki Ninja bike. The latest baby on the market, it was a killer once he's done with modifying it.

"Chiharu-chan! What are you doing?"

"Helping you finish it up, silly!"

He snatched the offensive tool away from her before she could do any damage. "The last time you helped me with my engines, it ended up disastrous! The biker almost had his head run over by a truck when he skidded along the road!"

"It wasn't me! Sakura meddled with it after I fixed it!" She pointed and glared at Sakura for ruining her chances of working freelance with BT Automobile Services.

"Hoee! I did not!"

"Don't deny it, Sakura… And thanks a lot. Now, I can't even enjoy giving his engines lube-jobs!"

Benji rolled his eyes in exasperation. Leave it to Chiharu to make automobile services sound like something else… "It doesn't matter who did it. None of you are touching anything. I don't want your uniforms to get dirty, anyway."

Tomoyo raised a delicately shaped eyebrow in question. "And why is that so?"

He cleared his throat and assumed an innocent look. "You jolly well know it's impossible to get the grease stains out. "

"And?"

"Obviously sending it to the cleaners isn't effective. Your uniforms are rather expensive right?"

"And?"

"That's about it. It's true, you know."

"Hmm.." Came a skeptical reply.

Benji could feel his neck and face warming up under her intent gaze… One could never escape the Daidouji lie detector. Oh well, maybe they won't deny his small request. And after all that he's done for them… What's a tiny favour between friends, right?

He gathered his courage and stammered out, "Ano ne… Tomoyo-chan, I was wondering if you…" He gave a small, bashful smile, "Ermmm… have a camera with you right now?"

She read his mind all too well. "Don't you have enough magazines and posters, already?"

"One can never have enough."

"Right…"

"I'd be a fool to miss this opportunity! Three beauties in uniform… Lingering in a workshop full of hot wheels… A man's dreams come true!" He cried out, starry-eyed.

"A perverted man's dreams, you mean." Chiharu added dryly.

Sakura, who was busy inspecting the rear of her candy pink Honda Superhawk, narrowed her eyes at him. "Hmmmph! Do I look like a playboy model to you?"

He looked away and mumbled something unintelligible. Unfortunately, it didn't escape Tomoyo's sharp ears.

She giggled. "Shall I tell them what you've just said?"

"Iie! Tomoyo-chan, do you really want me dead?" He exclaimed in horror. Sakura wouldn't really harm him for his insolence, but Chiharu would. Physically and painfully.

"What did he say, Tomoyo?" Sakura asked, her voice hard and suspicious.

Tomoyo grinned at him maliciously and turned towards her friends. "He said that you needed breast implants and lots more if you wanted to at least look like one."

"So you're implying that she's flat-chested? A stick figure?" Chiharu gasped out loud in faked horror.

"No! No, no, no… She's not. Honest! No offence, Sakura-chan! Your legs, breasts, butt are so fine. Your body's perfect - " Benji stopped ranting abruptly, realising his error. Shit! He bit his tongue and cringed when he saw the girls' eyes bulge out in surprise. Did he really say what he thought he'd said? Damn his motor mouth. Now, they'd think of him as some hentai!

"That's not what I meant! I-I… You know, I don't go around looking at girls assets, really…" He could feel so much heat creeping up his neck, he was bound to suffer from an outrageous nosebleed. Okay, distract them from that slip-of-the-tongue statement.

He exhaled loudly. "Saa… all I'm saying is that…Ermmmm… Playboy models have even huge… balloons… right?" He frowned at himself. Did that even make sense?

There was only shocked silence, except for the muffled sounds of someone choking in her laughter.

Benji inwardly groaned. Hell, that was even worse! And kuso! Was Chiharu laughing at his discomfort? He wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole at that instant. And he'd drag her down with him, too.

Sakura suddenly grinned. "You really think my breasts are not so big?"

The sweaty mechanic scratched his head. It wasn't quite the reaction he expected. Wasn't she supposed to be insulted? Or the very least, pissed? He turned to Tomoyo and Chiharu. The former was just smiling, while the hot-tempered redhead was smirking at him. Weird.

"Erm... Is this a trick question?"

She took it as a no. "You have no idea how relieved I am! And for that nice honest remark, we'll be glad to pose some shots for you. Nothing obscene, though! Just normal poses, okay?"

Fortunately, Benji was one who sees good fortune and seize it without much complains. Well, it was better than nothing. "Okay!" He quickly dismissed the thought of what could have triggered such weird reactions from Sakura. Don't know, don't care.

"Wait a minute, Sakura. We?" Chiharu frowned hard. No way! "Count me out. I'm not some pin-up girl!"

Benji grinned at her disgruntlement. Payback time. "Come on, just a few shots will do. You really want me to do your Ninja-wheels good, don't you?" He coaxed her, knowing that she'd do anything for her bike.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you threatening me?"

Oops, wrong move.

"No, no… You won't kill me, right? I mean, who's gonna fix your bike then? You do want it back tomorrow, don't you?"

She glared at him before standing in front of a black Civic Honda with intricate linear patterns spray-painted on it. "You better not distribute these pictures, or I'll personally slit your throat myself. Got that?"

He gave her a horrified look. "No! I wouldn't even dream of giving them away!" They're all his, to be pinned up on his bedroom wall… He inwardly gloated. The rest of the Amamiya boys would be so jealous.

"And Benjiro… If you tell anyone about the 'breasts' conversation, I'll get Chiharu or Touya to cut out your tongue, too…" Sakura said a little too sweetly.

The threat worked nicely. Images of a crazed Chiharu laughing hysterically while sawing off his tongue crossed his mind. God, that would be brutal!

He then shivered at the thought of Touya doing him in. Now, that would be even worse! He'd rather jump down the Tokyo Tower first than to face Kinomoto-san's black wrath.

"No, don't worry. My lips are sealed, I promise…" He hastily assured her, with his right hand forming the scout's honour.

Then, all other thoughts quickly flew out of his head when Tomoyo dug out a complicated-looking digital camera from her tote bag. He must have been a good boy for god to reward him so! "Tomoyo-chan… You're the best…" He gave her a lop-sided smile, all starry eyed with happiness.

Sakura looked up from her bike and smiled at his state. "Oh, Benji, regarding payment for the new parts… You know the usual protocol - Just put it on my brother's tab!"

Still feeling floaty over his increasing pin-up collection, the spunky copper-haired mechanic could only nod dreamily. "Hai…" Kinomoto-san wouldn't be pleased when presented with the bill, but that wasn't really any of his problem!

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For the tenth frustrating time, Una Kyoko woke up to the sounds of rustling sheets and buried her head further into her pillow. "Go to sleep, already… It's damn late, you know," she groaned. Her roommate was such a pain sometimes.

"Gomen. I can't sleep. I'm going out," Came the disgruntled reply from across the room. "Why are you still awake?"

Kyoko couldn't be bothered to answer the ridiculous question. Instead, she opened her eyes wide, muttered a curse and groped for a flashlight in her bedside drawer. The room was so pitch dark she almost couldn't see her hand. Finally, with her intended weapon in grip, she then pointed it towards an unsuspecting, irritating figure, and grinned evilly in the dark.

She turned the flashlight on.

Chiharu gave a loud shriek, and then quickly covered her mouth in horror while trying to shield her eyes from the sudden light assault. "Kyoko! Kisama!" She hissed softly, not wanting to alert any patrolling dorm guards.

" That's what you get for ruining my beauty sleep. Now what's up?" She sat up from her bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She blinked twice to confirm the image of a semi-pissed Chiharu putting on her shoes, all dressed up in black.

"Nothing. Can you put the damn flashlight away?"

"Nothing? We've been roommates ever since we started high school. If there's anyone who understands your bad domestic and sleeping habits, it's me." She yawned out loud. "So drop the crap, and give me the 411. Where are you going? Is there going to be some action later tonight?" Darting the flashlight towards the bedside clock, she swore out loud. "Damn, it's almost one in the morning!"

"There's gonna be a race."

Kyoko sat up immediately, switching the flashlight off. A race? The last time they had a race in the West was a little over four months ago. She could feel her anticipation rising. "Well, why didn't you tell me! What kind is it?"

"Four wheels. Hori called me up this afternoon and told me."

She whistled. "Damn. I was hoping for two wheels, actually. Bikes are so much sexier!"

"The riders, you mean?"

She shrugged shamelessly. "Yes, and that too."

Chiharu snorted. She'd also prefer bike racing to those flashy sports cars, but they're just as entertaining to watch. And another source of adrenaline rush, mixed with easy income.

"So when is it starting?"

"I'm not sure. I'm waiting for Hori to call me to confirm the time and street."

Kyoko nodded. "So, you're taking Tomoyo's car, right?" She had just remembered that Chiharu's bike was still in the shop. "Or is someone picking you up?"

"Erm, actually no and no. I figured a motorbike would be better."

"Since you don't have your bike here, whose will you be riding?"

Silence.

Kyoko could feel it coming. "Well, I don't remember you asking about borrowing my wheels. So you have someone else's in mind, right?" She pretended to fluff her pillows, dreadfully waiting for Chiharu's admission.

"Well, I was planning on letting you know…"

"And when is that?"

"After I borrowed it."

She narrowed her eyes at the would-be bike snatcher and spent several moments considering. Okay, maybe she would loan Chiharu her bike for a few hours. But only if she's riding it!

"Alright, I'm coming with you." If Chiharu wasn't going to drag her along, then she'd just have to invite herself.

"Nani? Doushite? But I need you to help me sneak out of here! You're my best lookout."

"Then we'll just wake Tomoyo up and get her help… Besides, we've all sneaked out hundreds of times before, and without any help, too!"

"You don't trust me with your bike. That's what this is about, right?"

"Trust has nothing to do with this," she half-lied. One could never know when Chiharu could wreck a bike. It could happen anytime, anywhere.

"Then?"

"Did you forget that I am also an avid rider? That I would like to watch the street race?"

Chiharu sighed. Kyoko might hang out with another group of friends, but they definitely have somethings in common - mainly illegal races, the Amamiya gang and possessiveness over their bikes - actually.

"Okay, fine. So we both sneak out of here. I've parked your Interceptor outside school premises earlier today. Don't worry, just two blocks away."

"You moved my bike! To a public car park?" Kyoko screeched and threw her pillow towards the other end of the room where Chiharu was getting ready.

"Hey! All right, I'm sorry, okay! Besides, no one would touch your bike. They know it belongs to you."

Kyoko glared, even though she knew her friend wouldn't be able to see it in the dark. "Yeah, right. You have it all planned out, haven't you," she drawled out, making a mental note to constantly pass by the school parking lot in future. And to hide her keys somewhere safe.

"You know me. Always prepared." Chiharu grinned cheekily, flashing an upper row of gleaming white teeth.

Then her mobile phone suddenly vibrated against her bedside table, startling both girls for a split second.

"Damn it, pick it up!"

"Moshi moshi. Hori, it's about time you called!"

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