Curse of the Devil Z

Kazumi Asakura decides to check on her cousin Akio Asakura. When she learns he drives a blue Nissan Fairlady Z S30 that's tainted with a dark past, Kazumi becomes concerned for him, while Negi senses a dark and frightening presence within the car. Takes place after the Mahora Festival.

Disclaimer: Maho Sensei Negima is property of Ken Akamatsu and all related publishers. Wangan Midnight is property of Michiharu Kusunoki, Kodanshita, OB Planning, and Namco.

Chapter 9: The Devil Z's Foreign Competition

(Thursday, Late Evening, Wangan Expressway)

A trio of Skyline GT-R R33's drove in formation, as if on patrol, along the Wangan. These three cars have been the bane of a number of car tuners who were unfortunate to have run into them - being challenged by them often meant defeat, and lately the trio have been using dangerous tactics to maintain their victories. Fortunately a few special personalities and their cars turned the tables on them, causing them great grief and putting them on a thirst for blood.

They are the infamous R200 Club.

Once thought to have disbanded a year ago after their defeat by the Devil Z, the Blackbird, and the Reina-R, they caught everyone by surprise by appearing again, and to everyone's horror, more dangerous than ever.

"See anything out of the ordinary?" said the driver of the car on the left of the group, one known as Ryoichi "JAPAN" Teizuka, through his mobile phone, which was in conference call with those of the other two drivers, and all of them used hands-free kits so they could keep driving.

"None so far" replied the driver of the car on the opposite side, known as Yasuo "CCR" Motoki.

"Keep driving you two" said the driver of the lead car, Jun "JPP" Sonoda. "We'll find what we're looking for."

"After those sluts humiliated us, I just can't wait to kick butts!" growled Teizuka, who recalled their humiliating defeat in what became a 3 vs 3 match against Reina Akikawa, Makoto Morishita, and Rikako Ota. Being beaten by girls in an all out race was just not acceptable for him.

"Yeah! The bitches!" added Motoki.

"Quiet you two!" snapped Sonoda. "You'll get your chance soon enough. Right now" he paused, looking ahead a one particular car. "We've got another gaijin car to deal with."

"At last!" said Motoki.

(200 meters ahead)

A Dodge Viper convertible was speeding along the Wangan at a very sedate pace. Its passengers were unaware of the three Skylines closing in on their car.

"At least he managed to finish high school" said the passenger, Rumi Shimada, who was Akio Asakura's former homeroom teacher.

"That's good to hear" replied the car's driver and owner, Takamichi Takahata of Mahora Academy.

"I still can't believe how he used to skip classes just to tinker with his car so he could drive it on this very stretch of road" said Rumi.

"I admit it's tempting" said Takamichi. "But it's very dangerous. What was his car again?"

"He called it the Devil Z" said Rumi.

"Interesting." said Takamichi, who then glanced at his rear view mirror. "Hmm?"

"What is it?" asked Rumi.

"I see three cars driving together coming up behind us." said Takamichi.

"Eh?" piped Rumi, who looked behind and saw the three Skylines rapidly approaching. "They're coming rather fast."

"I have a bad feeling about this" said Takamichi. His suspicions were correct when two of the Skylines flanked his Viper, and then closed in seemingly trying to sandwich his car.

(BGM: Decoration for the Dement)

"What are they doing!?" yelped Rumi.

"Whatever it is, they're up to no good!" said Takamichi, shifting gears and flooring it. The Viper's V10 engine roared as the car accelerated quickly, leaving the Skylines behind before they followed suit.

"They're chasing us!" exclaimed Rumi.

"Indeed. Looks like an impromptu street race." said Takamichi.

"You're kidding!" whimpered Rumi.

"Afraid not! Hang on!" said Takamichi as he snaked around the slower traffic.

The R200 club aggressively followed the Viper hell bent on not letting the American car escape. The frontmost Skyline managed to come up close to the Viper on its left. In response the Viper accelerated again, going around a slower car on its right side then moving directly in front. A second Skyline followed from behind and managed to come abreast of the Viper on its right. Once again the Viper accelerated, getting slightly ahead of the Skyline, but couldn't shake it. The first Skyline also came alongside the Viper on its left.

"They're very persistent!" barked Takamichi.

"Can't you do something?" pleaded Rumi.

"They're fast! I can't shake them!" replied Takamichi.

"Oh my!" piped Rumi, as she noted that they were approaching a slow truck.

Thinking quickly, Takamichi hit the brakes hard while keeping the wheel straight so as not to send the Viper into a spin. The flanking Skylines surged ahead, then tried to brake. Then Takamichi shifted and revved hard, pushing the Viper ahead of the Skylines, and manouvered around the truck on its left. The two Skylines tried to follow suit, but made the mistake of accelerating at the same time into the single lane at the truck's left. In a panic, the right Skyline brakes hard, throwing itself into a spin. The first Skyline couldn't avoid its sibling, and was subsequently sideswiped, and both cars came to a screeching halt.

"Oh God!" shivered Rumi.

"That was too close!" said Takamichi.

"Those idiots!" grumbled Sonoda, as he narrowly avoided his teammates and continued to pursue the Viper. "If you have to do something right you gotta do it yourself!"

"There's still one more!" said Rumi.

"Looks like he won't give up without a fight" said Takamichi, flooring it.

The remaining R200 Skyline relentessly pursued the Viper, both cars weaving around the slower traffic. Sonoda managed to come close to the Viper, but had to back off when the Viper squeezed between two slower cars that came together in front of him. He went around the traffic and managed to catch up to the Viper again.

"Just what does he want!?" cried Rumi.

"Apparently these guys just want to own the road or something!" said Takamichi. "I heard of these guys from a friend. Some group called the R200 Club! They'll take on anyone who gets in their way by hook or by crook! I thought they disbanded a year ago. I guess I was mistaken."

Rumi shuddered.

Sonoda's Skyline was now abreast of Takamichi's Viper, positioned on the left side. They seemed evenly matched, with neither car gaining an advantage. Sonoda knew he was at his limit, but his pride wouldn't let him back down. He didn't realize it, but his pride would soon be his downfall.

Takamichi kept the Viper on a straight line to keep its stability at 330 km/h. This was as fast as he could go, and thus he couldn't shake the Skyline. Then he saw an opportunity. In a daring move, he nudged towards the Skyline, and its driver reacted moving a little to the left. The Skyline's driver was so distracted he did not notice the roadblock on the left lane they were rapidly approaching.

"OH SHIT!!!" yelled Sonoda, only noticing the road block meters ahead. He braked hard, which proved to be a huge mistake. As the Viper fled, the Skyline fishtailed wildly, and was spun towards a right angle to the road, its left side slamming into the roadblock.

(end BGM)

"Oh thank goodness" sighed Rumi.

"I'm glad that's over." said Takamichi, finally letting up on the throttle and slowing to a sedate pace. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern.

"I'm okay, just a little shaken." said Rumi. "Riding with the wind blowing so hard in my face was just... overwhelming."

"I'll take you home if you want." said Takamichi.

"Yeah I'd like that" said Rumi.

They were interrupted by another car blowing its horn in a familiar pattern.

"Eh?" piped Rumi.

"Hey it's Kochan!" said Takamichi, noticing the Mazda RX-7 Savanna approaching from behind, apparently from an exit ramp they passed, with its driver's side window opening.

"Hey Takahata-sensei!" called Kochan Takahashi from the RX-7.

"Yo!" Takamichi greeted back.

"You're a sight for sore eyes" said Rumi.

"What? Something happened?" asked Kochan.

"Got a run-in with the R200 Club." said Takamichi.

"Oh geez, those jerks again?" remarked Kochan. "So rumors of their disbanding was just wishful thinking."

"Anyway I'm taking Rumi home." said Takahata.

"Hey! Allow me! No offense Takahata-sensei but I think she'll be more comfortable in my car after what you guys been through." suggested Kochan.

"Yeah I think you're right. What do you think Rumi?" asked Takamichi.

"Much as I'd like to chat with you some more, I admit I'd feel safe in a closed car for now" said Rumi.

"As you wish" said Takamichi. "We'll pull over at a rest area so you can get into Kochan's car."

"Thanks" replied Rumi.

-TBC

A/N: I had not originally intended to introduce Takamichi Takahata this soon, but a request from an enthusiastic reader made me reconsider. I admit it's really tough trying to imagine the chase scene and thinking about how cars would behave realistically, like how exactly a street car will react to hard braking from running at 300km/h, ABS or not. So basically I again referred to the chase scene in the anime I used in an earlier chapter.

Also, I'm not absolutely certain about the modus-operandi of the R200 Club when street racing. I just know they're supposedly dangerous and wreckless (eg in the manga when they raced against the Blackbird, Teizuka tried to physically block Tatsuya's car only to collide with Motoki), and so I just tried to visualize what they might do. And lastly, I have no idea about Takamichi Takahata's driving skills since he was never portrayed in the manga engaging in any high speed driving, but the fact that he owns a Dodge Viper of all cars would indicate he would know the capabilities of such car.