Savannah and Kayleigh grabbed a lift with Twinkie, as everyone moves on to the after race party, as they arrived it was clear it was well under way. Once inside the nightclub, Savannah takes in her surroundings, people danced on the dance floor to the drum and bass that was deafening, strobe lights of a multitude of colours flashed and darted before her eyes.
Kayleigh looked at Savannah and saw she was anxious, as her eyes darted from one thing to another like a cat chasing a laser pen, giving her friend's shoulder a reassuring squeeze she nodded towards the bar.
"What do you want?" Kayleigh shouted over the music.
"Double shots of anything strong." Savannah shouted back as they headed through the crowd to the bar. Everywhere Savannah looked, she saw attractive young women wearing outfits that left very little to the imagination, enjoying the company and attention from the young men. And there she was wearing a white tank top covered in oil stains and a pair of black skinny jeans, she suddenly felt like a fish out of water not having the cars to fall back on for conversation.
Over the next hour the drinks flowed and Savannah started to relax more and more, laughing and joking with Kayleigh, the two girls toasted to having a good time in Tokyo, when Neela approached them.
"Here you two are, come on you have to come dance with me and Reiko." Neela called, Savannah declined as she ordered another drink this time something she could take her time with, but ushers Kayleigh to go and enjoy herself.
Kayleigh gives Savannah a wave as Neela drags her off towards the dance floor and they get swallowed by the crowd. Savannah is enjoying her drink when a young Japanese guy with visible tattoos coating his forearms approaches her, Savannah immediately recognises him to be the driver of the Silvia S14.
"Hi, I'm Takeshi, I don't remember seeing you at the race, and can I buy you a drink?" Takeshi smiles as he leans in close to Savannah so she can hear him over the music. Savannah swallows down the sarcastic remark that begins to rise and takes a step back shaking her head.
"No I'm good thanks for the offer though." Savannah gives him a smile and turns her attention back to the dance floor looking for Kayleigh.
"You're not in America now sweetheart, here when a man offers to buy you a drink, you smile and say yes thank you." Takeshi says aggressively taking a step towards Savannah.
"I don't know what type of girls you're into but I'm not a mindless zombie." Savannah downs the rest of her drink and starts to leave, when Takeshi grabs her wrist. Savannah can see he is clearly drunk, and pissed off with the fact she shot him down.
"Don't walk away from me, you will show me so god damned respect." He shouts his temper rising, but before Savannah can say anything in retort Han steps between them.
"She's new around here Takeshi, give her a break." Han said in a calm tone, loud enough for them both to hear.
"Who do you think you are speaking to me like that?" Takeshi spits.
"I mean no disrespect but even you have to admit out of all the beautiful women here you choose this GIRL." Han said exaggerating the word girl as he nodded towards the dance floor where a throng of women danced.
"You know Han for once you're right, why would I be interested in that anyway." Takeshi snorts as he meanders on over to the women who are now calling for him to join them. Savannah shoots Han a glare and turns back towards the bar but thanks to the alcohol in her system her temper was too much for her to handle.
"What do you think you are doing? I am more than capable of looking after myself." Savannah hissed over the music as she whirls around turning her attention back to Han.
"Whoa, hold up I was just trying to help." Han said throwing his hands up in surrender.
"And who asked for your help?" Savannah cocked her head to the side and raises an eyebrow at him.
"You aren't at home now, things are different here." Han sighs as he notices the slight slur in Savannahs words, and the slight sway of her posture.
"You men are arrogant pigs, you always thinking women are damsels in distress." Savannah said as she crosses her arms over her chest. Taking a quick glance around and ignoring her defensive body language he grabs her arm and drags her somewhere a little quieter.
"He's Yakuza, Japanese mafia." Han hissed back at her, leaning over her so only she could hear him.
"I know what the Yakuza is, I don't need a lesson in Japanese culture, and I studied both language and culture for ten years I'll have you know." Savannah spat shoving Han in the chest before storming off towards the exit.
Once outside Savannah took several deep breaths of the cool night air to try and calm her down but thanks to the strong alcohol she was buzzed. She started to pace back and forth when someone grabbed her hand. Turning around expecting to see Han and ready for round two she was surprised to see Takeshi.
"Where's your bodyguard now?" He asks taking several steps towards her causing her to back away; she could tell he had something much stronger to drink since their pervious encounter.
"I don't need a bodyguard." She snapped head held high as her back hits the cold wall of the club.
"Are you sure about that?" He asked with a menacing smile on his lips causing her to grimace
"Is that meant to scare me, this coming from a guy who can't even handle his car?" Savannah smirks as she watched his face turn a shade of red.
Thanks to the alcohol that they had both consumed Savannah couldn't get a clear read of Takeshi apart from the fact she had pissed him off, it came as a shock to her when he struck her across the face with the back of his hand.
"I'll teach you some respect you little bitch." Takeshi chuckles pleased with himself at the strike until he hears Savannah laughing.
"Anyone tell you, you hit like a girl?" Savannah laughs before throwing her head forward head butting Takeshi and breaking his nose. Looking up at him she smiles as she sees the blood gushing from his broken nose.
He stumbles backwards and as Savannah steps forwards he lunged at her causing her to crack her head against the wall behind her, after that she couldn't help herself seeing red she throws a punch and catches him on the side of the face just below the cheekbone. Savannah's attack causes Takeshi to return the favour and he throws a punch towards Savannah, with nowhere to go thanks to the wall and his close proximity Savannah had no choice but to take it causing her lip to spilt and blood dribble down her chin, after that it doesn't take long before a full blown fight breaks out between them.
There was a clattering of glass as Noritaka one of the barmen came back to empty a bin full of empty bottles and for a cheeky smoke, when he hears the commotion he checks it out. Seeing Takeshi and Savannah in mid fight, he drops the bin and heads back inside to inform everyone of the fight.
"What's going on?" Kayleigh asked Neela as people start rushing outside.
"Seems some ones got into a fight." Neela calls looking around, Kayleigh looks over at the bar where she had left Savannah but her friend was nowhere to be seen fearing the worst Kayleigh headed outside with everyone else. Once outside Kayleigh pushes her way through the crowd to see Savannah and Takeshi trading blows.
Savannah grabbed Takeshi by the collar of his shirt and slammed her fist hard into his stomach causing him to become winded as he bent over to catch his breath she brings up her knee and connects with his face. Blow after blow is exchanged leaving both Savannah and Takeshi a bloody mess.
Kayleigh watched the fight wide eyed, before she scans the crowd and sees Han looking conflicted, pushing her way over to him she grabbed hold of his arm, causing him to look at her.
"Do something, she's going to get her ass kicked." Kayleigh pleads with him.
"No, Savannah's already told me she's capable of looking after herself, why should I stick my neck on the line with the Yakuza?" Han shrugged still feeling conflicted despite his cool and relaxed appearance.
"I can't watch her get beat up again." Kayleigh said with a mixture of defeat and desperation. Kayleigh's words grabbed his full attention, the defeat in her voice snapped at him along with the phrasing.
"What do you mean again?" Han questions, he watches Kayleigh closely as a glimpse of shame flashes in her eyes and she shakes her head.
"Forget it, I'll break it up myself." Kayleigh goes to take a step forward when Han grabbed her arm and turned her to face him.
"Tell me what you mean and I'll break up the fight" He pushes with a softer tone, Kayleigh looks over to Takeshi and Savannah, even though she was holding her own she was taking a beating.
"Savannah's step father used to beat her." Kayleigh blurts out turning back to Han her eyes practically begging him to do something.
Han stood there for a moment completely in shock with the information he'd just been given, without a word he steps forward grabbing hold of Takeshi and pulling him away from Savannah.
"Back off man, she is just a girl." Han pushes Takeshi away and stand in the way to stop him from going for Savannah again.
"This isn't over Han; don't forget you work for us." Takeshi spat as he straightens his shirt and stalked off. Savannah pulls herself up from the ground, spits the collection of blood from her mouth and gives Han a deathly glare.
"I told you I can handle myself." Savannah said as she shoved past him and walked off towards Kayleigh grabbing her best friend's hand.
"Yeah you handled that real well." Han called after her as she dragged Kayleigh to the end of the street and hailed a taxi. He shook his head as he watched the two girls get in the cab. He had never met anyone like Savannah, with a heavy sigh he turned away and headed back inside the club where the party had restarted.
Weaving his way through the crowds and throng of women he headed towards the door by the DJ booth which leads to his garage. Ignoring Sean's calls for him to join them he headed to his bedroom. Once inside the door he closed it behind him and collapsed on the bed.
Han closed his eyes and thought about Kayleigh's words, the look in her eyes and the way Savannah had taken most of the hits Takeshi had bestowed upon her like she was punishing herself. With all of that swimming around his head and the exhaustion he fell into a dreamless sleep.