Pulling into the alley and parking, she turned off the engine and got out, followed by Tori. Then she opened the door and they went inside. Closing the door behind Tori, Asuka said," Follow me, Tori, and I'll show you to the guest room."

" How many rooms are there, Asuka?" Tori asked.

" Four bedrooms and three bathrooms," Asuka said," although, the third bathroom connects both of the guest rooms together."

" Oh," Tori said. A door down from her room, Asuka stopped and said,

" Here you go, Tori. Well.. good night."

" Good night, Asuka," Tori said. Then Asuka went to her room and went to sleep.

At 4 am on Monday morning, Asuka was already up and is on her way to Akina. Just like her father, at the age of 13, she was already driving and helping her grandfather with his deliveries. She had taken over her father's job since he was often away on races or resting up after a long and tiring race. However, she only worked for two years until her grandfather died and they sold the shop. Even though they did, she would still wake up at 4 in the morning and go for a drive on Akina. Every minute she got, she took it for it is only early in the mornings and sometimes after school will she have time to practice on Akina.

Pulling into the parking lot at school, Asuka turned off her engine and got out. Just as she closed her door, two girls walked over to her and said," Asuka, did you hear? There's a new student that just transferred here from Azabu High, his name is..."

" Tori Daidouji," Asuka said," I know, Ann."

" Really? How?" the other girl asked.

" Because he's the son of my dad's high school classmate, Reina," Asuka said.

" Oh, isn't he just a cutie, Asuka?" Ann asked, dreamily. Giggling, Asuka said," It depends on your definition of cute, Ann."

" Anyways did you attend Tetsuya's race last Friday, Asuka?" Reina asked.

" Yes, I did," Asuka said.

" Well... who won?" Ann asked.

" Um... you're not going to like this," Asuka said," but..."

" Yes?" Reina asked.

" No one," Asuka said," it was a tie."

At their shocked expressions, Asuka walked off and left them there. When she got to her locker, she opened it and put her books away. Then, just as she closed her locker, she finally heard their screams. Wincing, she thought, That sure took awhile. Then, sighing, she walked to class and sat down, just as the first bell rang.

Pulling into the gas station, Asuka got out and closed the door. Walking over to stand beside her dad, Asuka said," Is everything ready, Dad?"

" Not yet," Takumi said.

" Where's Tetsuya, Asuka?" a voice asked. Turning, Asuka smiled and said," Reina offered to bring him here, Aunt Mako."

" Good," Mako said," then we have just enough time to finish up before they get here."

" Let's do it then," Takumi said.

So they went inside and helped with the preparations. Just as they finished, Reina's car pulled up and she got out. Then she walked around, helped a blindfolded Tetsuya out and came in. Then, as Reina took off the blindfold, everyone cried," SURPRISE!" Walking over and hugging him, Mako said," Congratulations, sweetie. Oh, my baby's all grown up and is turning out to be a wonderful racer."

" But it was a tie, Mother," Tetsuya said, hugging her back.

" I know that," Mako said, pulling back," but that doesn't mean we still can't celebrate, right?"

" Right," Asuka said, with a smile. Just then, the music came on and, grabbing his arm, Reina said," Come on, Tetsuya, let's dance."

" Ok," Tetsuya said. Then they both went down to the small dance floor and danced to the music.

Soon everyone, except Takumi and Asuka, were on the dance floor, dancing and having a great time. While they watched everyone dance, Asuka sighed and said," I'm going to go for a drive, ok Daddy?"

" Ok," Takumi said.

" I'll be back soon," Asuka said. Then she went out, got in her car and drove off.

A red FC was on its way to the gas station when the driver saw the 86 pull out and drove off. There goes the 86 again, he thought, probably for a drive on Akina. Hmm... I better call dad and uncle. Then, he took out his cellphone and dialed his father's number. When his dad answered, he said," Hey, dad, where are you and uncle? Oh, good... Because I just saw the 86 you were talking about head out that way... Yes, the one you told me about... um... I doubt it's the same driver though... ok, meet you there soon. Bye, Dad." Then he hung up and put his cellphone away.

On Akina Mountain, a white FC and a yellow FD parked alongside the road. Sitting on the hood of their respective cars are none other than Ryosuke Takahashi and his brother, Keisuke, who is currently talking on his cellphone. Then, hanging up and putting his cellphone away, Keisuke looked at Ryosuke and said," That was Lloyd, he said he just saw the 86 heading this way." Looking at Keisuke and then at the road, Ryosuke said," Did he happen to catch a glimpse of the driver, Keisuke?"

" No, he didn't," Keisuke said. Then, hearing a car screeched around the corner down the road, Keisuke looked up and gasped.

Clearing the corner, Asuka exited the drift and stepped on the gas. Seeing two cars parked alongside the road up ahead with their emergency lights on, she released the gas pedal and stepped on the brake. Slowing to a stop, she flipped on her emergency lights, unbuckled and got out. Closing her door, she walked over to the guys, smiled and said," Hello, are you guys lost or something?"

" Hello," the guy on the FD said," and we're not lost or anything. We're actually waiting for my son, he just went into town not too long ago."

" Oh," Asuka said," well... I..."

Hearing a car screech around the corner she cleared a few minutes ago, Asuka turned just in time to see a blue Nissan 3000 GT zoomed past followed by a Sil-Eighty, a Levin and an S13. Catching the NightKids sticker on the side of the GT, the guy on the FD said," It looks like a member of the NightKids laid down a challenge. The question is who did he challenge?"

That's what I'd like to know, Asuka thought as she ran to her car and got in. Turning off her emergency lights, she stepped on the gas and sped off. As she did, the guy on the FC said," Come, Keisuke, let's follow her."

" Right," Keisuke said. Then they got in their car, turned off their emergency lights and sped off after Asuka.

Thirty minutes later, Asuka slowed to a stop behind Tetsuya's car on the road on Akina's peak and got out. Walking over to where Takumi and the others are, she said," What's going on, Daddy?"

" Ken Aino of the NightKids just issued a challenge," Takumi said, motioning to a guy with messy blonde hair and black eyes standing before the blue Nissan 3000 GT that she saw earlier.

" Oh," Asuka said," who..."

" You," a voice said, cutting her off. Looking over her shoulder at the guy her dad just pointed out , she turned and said," Me?"

" Yes, you," Ken said," although I'd have to say, I'd never imagined that Akina's famous 86 would be driven by a girl, such as yourself." Clenching her fist, she said," What's so hard to believe, Ken? That I'm a girl or that I drive an 86?"

" The second one," Ken said," and a turbo charged one at that."

" Well... let me tell you something, Ken," Asuka said," I may be a girl but I sure as hell can beat you at racing any day."

" Ooh, I'm shaking in my shoes," Ken said," don't make me laugh."

Glancing at her father's furious face, Asuka placed a hand on her father's arm and smiled. Catching her meaning, Takumi smiled. To Ken, Asuka said," Well... Ken, we won't know until we race, right? So I accept your challenge."

" Let's see what you got, Miss-"

" Fujiwara. Asuka Fujiwara, daughter of Takumi Fujiwara and granddaughter of Bunta Fujiwara," Asuka said, with a smile.

" ... Miss Fujiwara," Ken said, paling at the mention of Takumi and Bunta's names. Then, shaking his head, he added," I only hope you can live up to your father and grandfather's names."

With that, he turned and went back to his car. As he did, a white FC and a yellow FD rode into the rest area and parked. Upon seeing them, Takumi walked over and, when the drivers came out, said," Hello Ryosuke. Hello Keisuke."

" Hello Takumi," they said.

" What's going on here?" Keisuke asked, surveying the area.

" Oh, just a little race between my daughter and Ken Aino of the NightKids," Takumi said.

" Oh," Keisuke said. Looking at Ken and narrowing her eyes, Mako said,

" Wipe that smirk off his face, Asuka."

" Yeah," Sayuki said," show him that girls are just as good as guys."

" Right," Asuka said. Then she walked over to her car, got in and drove up beside Ken's car, as Tetsuya drove into the resting area. Walking out between the cars, Takumi raised his hands and said," 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... GO!" Then they sped off. As they did, Ryosuke said," The winner of this race has already been decided."

" Wha... oh, right," Keisuke said," the 3000 GT isn't actually made for mountain racing."

" Exactly," Ryosuke said.

An hour or two later, Asuka sped past the starting point, turned around and drove back. Parking and getting out, everyone rushed to her side to congratulate her on her win. Throwing their arms around her, Mako and Sayuki said," You did it, Asuka. You did it."

" Yeah," Asuka said, pulling back," someone had to teach him not to mess with girls, right?"

" Right," they said, laughing. Watching her laugh with Mako and Sayuki, Ryosuke said," How many races have your daughter been in, Takumi?"

" This is her first," Takumi said, smiling.

Smiling and giggling, Asuka turned and frowned when she saw the red FC drove up and the guy from last Friday stepped out. Seeing her, he said," That's her, Dad, she's..."

" Takumi's daughter," Keisuke said. To Takumi, he said," Takumi meet my son, Lloyd. Son, meet Takumi Fujiwara."

" Hello," Lloyd said, bowing.

" Hello," Takumi said. As Asuka walked over, Takumi said," Sweetie meet Ryosuke and Keisuke Takahashi and Keisuke's son, Lloyd. Guys meet my daughter, Asuka."

" Hello," Asuka said, with a bow. Then, to her dad, she said," Come on, Daddy, let's go."

" Ok," Takumi said," good-bye, guys."

" Bye, Takumi," Ryosuke and Keisuke said.

" Bye," Asuka said.

With that, she turned and walked to her car, followed by Takumi. Opening her door, she turned to Iketani and the others and said," Come on, guys, let's go." Then she and Takumi got in and she drove off, followed by Iketani and the gang. When they were gone, Ryosuke said,

" Let's go, Keisuke. I have a lot to do."

" Right," Keisuke said, smiling. Then they got in their car and drove off.