Heartaches

Chapter 73

By KellyQ

Crow shook his head as Jack drove his motorcycle into the pit stop, the red-haired teen was already on his own motorcycle ready to go. "Do you have to show off like that, Jack?" Crow complained.

Yusei stepped up and stood next to Crow. "Don't go too easy on Jinbei," Yusei suggested.

"The second one from Team 5D's is Crow Hogan against Team Taiyo's Jinbei! Competitors get ready!" Came M.C's voice.

Crow smiled. "Don't worry. I'm just going to have fun." He started the engine and veered his motorcycle to starting line.

Crow glanced at Team Taiyo's pit stop to see Taro fixing the wheel before Jinbei got on. The dark-haired teen put on the helmet, and sat down on the bike after Taro pulled back. Crow smiled when he saw that they had faith in each other.

"You're all set Jin," Taro said. Jinbei nodded, started the engine veered the green motorcycle to the starting line.

"Alright! On Your mark, get set, go!"

The two competitors pulled on their clutches with their left hands and eased back on the throttles with their right hands, shifting gears with their left feet. They both eased off on the clutch as they used their left hands and twisted the throttles as they continued their accelerations.

The crowd watched with interest as the two competitors zigzagged. Crow started to think that he was going to have a little bit of a challenge.

Crow increased his speed and glanced at Jinbei. "Not bad! What's your name again?" Crow waited for Jinbei to reintroduce himself, but when he didn't, Crow studied him a little bit more, to see Jinbei had toned everything out. Crow shrugged it off.

I'm going to make sure that we get accepted so that Taro can feel comfortable being here, Jinbei thought.

Taro, Yoshizo, and Jinbei stepped back to look at their handy work of their green motorcycle they had built themselves.

"We did it!" Yoshizo chirped, grinning.

Taro sat down and started the engine. The motorcycle vibrated and the engine humed.

"We should test it out!" Yoshizo insisted.

Taro gripped the handlebars and pushed the bike forward with his feet. The engine still 'humm'ed and purred.

The crowd continued to watch the race unfold. Crow and Jinbei were shoulder to shoulder with their speed. In the sea of people, on the second row was Trudge, Carly, Mina, the twins, and Rally watched with awe. Jinbei was driving the green motorcycle skillfully.

The crowd along with people watching the race on TV, like Harald, Dragan, Brave, and Team Unicorn were starting to think that Team Taiyo was good. M.C raised a brow as he continued to watch. The crowd started to have hushed conversation amongst themselves. Yusei observed the race and the crowd. He was trying to understand what was going on with the way the crowd was responding to Team Taiyo.

"If you ask me," Jack spoke up, "I think that Team Taiyo is not doing all too much."

Yusei 'humm'ed in response, he was still observing how things were progressing with the race. Then it occurred to him, Team Taiyo was trying to get the crowd to accept them as a team from the countryside.

"I don't think they're here for the money, or showing what teamwork mean, I think there here to get acceptance from the crowd," Yusei clarified.

Jack raised a brow and glanced sideways at his boyfriend, before he did a double take on the race. The roar of the crowd encouraged Jinbei to win. "That's right. You told me that they came from the country," Jack said.

Yusei nodded his head, still keeping his eyes fixed on the race to see that Jinbei was a head of Crow, but Crow started to have a hard time controlling his bike. Oh, come on, Crow thought, I fixed the brakes and gave it new stuff! How can I have problems?

Jinbei glanced behind him to see that Crow was having trouble steering his motorcycle. A smirk made its way to his lips. Jinbei revved up and a gust of wind, and carbon monoxide, trailed behind the green motorcycle as it rode over the finish line. The crowd clapped and cheered.

"The winner is Jinbei from Team Taiyo!" M.C said, amazed.

Crow grumbled as he pulled into the pit stop to see that Yusei was ready. "Sorry about that."

Yusei smiled and shrugged. "Don't worry about it."

"I have an announcement to make!" M.C's voice boomed, getting everyone's attention. "Team Taiyo means Sunrise! And if I'm not mistaken, it means that they believe in being positive, showing miracles, and have strength!"

One by one the crowd started to glance at each other, and it wasn't long before a random guy got up and looked down to see Taro and Yusei. Taro scanned the crowd, and it was a different approach to see warmth what he and his friends got when from the crowd in the country.

"Competitors, are you ready?" M.C asked. They both nodded their heads. "On your mark get set, go!"

A gust of wind, carbon monoxide, trailed behind both motorcycles, as they were both neck to neck. Yusei glanced at Taro and it was the first time Yusei had a good look at his opponent. Taro averted his gaze to Yusei, and they both smiled.

"Shall we give them something to remember?" Yusei suggested.

Taro caught on and a respectful look made its way to his face. "Sure! But don't think I'm going to go easy on you!"

The smile on Yusei's face didn't leave as he revved up the engine. He couldn't help but feel carefree and humble. "I'm ready whenever you are!"

To Be Continued …