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Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. So on with the fic...

AnimeZing Race: Leg 3

Previously in AZR, 6 teams set out in Piffle World and overcame challenges. Teams had a choice between washing and sewing. Some teams excelled while others struggled, same with their racing challenge. DN was the last team to arrive but was spared elimination. Six teams remain, who will be the next to be eliminated?

"This is Piffle and the second pit stop. The 6 teams must leave Piffle twelve hours after they reached the pit stop for a mandatory rest period. Yuki2 and Kyou who first arrived at 7pm will depart at 7am."

"Using the gem, go to the front entrance of Hanshin Castle in Hanshin Republic. You have 750 Koko for this leg of the race; one team will have 0 Koko. I think I've read about this in one of Yuko's books." Yuki2 said. They arrived in a modern Japan-like city with tiger emblems everywhere. They asked around and located the subway to Hanshin Castle front entrance station. They bought a city map before boarding the train.

Gravitation arrived next, bought a map at a nearby store and found information how to get to Hanshin Castle. They just missed the train Furuba rode. They boarded the next train 15 minutes later.

Bleach arrived and was disappointed that they need to use the subway; same with Ranma1/2 as they arrived with Loveless. They got their information from some screaming girls as they passed by with their Mokona sitting on Ranma and Soubi's head. All three teams rode the third train.

DN arrived in Hanshin and boarded the last train as Furuba arrived at the Hanshin Castle front entrance station. Furuba headed towards Hanshin Castle and out came the clue from Mokona's mouth.

"Detour." Yuki2 chose Visual Arts without asking Kyou's opinion.

A detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons. In this detour, teams must choose between Performing Arts or Visual Arts. In Performing Arts, teams head to the Hanshin Dome, create a song and perform it in front of an audience at Primera's mini-concert. In Visual arts, teams head to Asagi Liquors to help Shogo, while one member paints his kudan, the other makes his deliveries. Once they're satisfied, they'll give you the next clue.

Kyou was angry at first but upon reflection they don't have any talent in singing. They arrived at Asagi Liquors as Gravitation arrived at Hanshin Castle and chose Performing Arts. Furuba settled who will make the deliveries through rock-papers-and-scissors; Kyou lost.

Gravitation was in Hashin Dome when Bleach, Ranma1/2 and Loveless team arrived at the Castle. Ranma1/2 headed for the Hanshin Dome while Loveless went to Asagi Liquors. Bleach chose the Fast Forward that came with the clue.

This is only fast forward throughout the race. In this fast forward, team should look for Masayoshi Saito to help him free a powerful feather from his kudan.

At Hanshin Dome, Shuichi didn't need to write the lyrics since Yuki wrote one in five minutes. When he commented on it, he found out that Yuki wrote it before the race and was looking for the right time to present it to Shuichi, now is the perfect time. Shuichi was touched and, with tears in his eyes, applied his talent with a synthesizer. Within minutes, they're in front of the crowd performing their first collaboration song with Yuki joining in towards the end of the song, dedicating it to Shuichi.

He surprised Shuichi with his beautiful voice. Primera gave their clues after expressing her wish to sign them up. She was disappointed to know that Shuichi is already with another company and Yuki flat out refused – he only did it this once for Shuichi.

"Using a marked car, go to Tsuruhashi and look for Touya and Yukito." After a quick kiss, to show his appreciation for what Yuki did, they hopped into one of the marked cars and Yuki drove like hell after consulting their trusty map.

DN finally arrived at Hanshin Castle thanks to the other team's initial help. Each gave a small amount of Ko through their Mokona. They risked doing the Fast Forward, provided they were the last team and other teams may have taken it.

At Asagi Liquors, Yuki2 was struggling with the paint work when Loveless arrived. Ritsuka delivered while Soubi did the painting. Though he's used to painting butterflies, he easily finished the ray-like kudan and waited for Ritsuka to return after delivering the last batch.

The opposite happened for Furuba, Kyou was waiting for Yuki2 to finish his somewhat decent 'masterpiece' and followed Loveless out the door 15 minutes later.

Ranma and Akane struggled with the lyrics and music; it took them about an hour before they performed what will later be known as 'The ballad of Ranma and Akane'.

Meanwhile, before Bleach can locate Masayoshi Saito, they got in the middle of a territorial battle. Battle-hungry Kenpachi joined in and stopped the battle in the process. Unaware that they lost something, they continued on and found Masayoshi but can't understand him. Their Mokona is gone! They backtracked and found him petted by a bunch of cute female students, amid exclamations of 'Kyaa!!' They got back and easily removed the feather minutes before DN arrived. "Go by car to the next pit stop. Find the apartment managed by Sorata Arisugawa and Arashi Kishu, give the feather to receive the next gem." Yachiru read while Kenpachi struggled driving the car.

Gravitation arrived and found Touya in the okonomiyaki restaurant. He gave them their clue. "Roadblock: Who can handle the heat? Oh no, I think I know what this is all about. I'm sorry in advance." Shuichi said as he put on an apron. Yuki can only shake his head.

A roadblock is a task that only one person may perform. In this roadblock, that person must prepare ten okonomiyaki for a customer. Once finished, create another one then he'll receive the next clue.

Meanwhile, "Fast Forward taken." Read the disappointed Light. They headed straight to Asagi Liquors. Light volunteered to deliver while L was stuck painting Shogo's kudan. Utilizing his separation with L, Light wrote vigorously on small pieces of paper in guise of noting each delivery. On the way back to the liquor store, he bought a bag of yellow apples that went missing one by one.

Loveless and Furuba arrived shortly, minutes apart. Soubi and Kyou put on the apron and started working on their tables. They easily finished their task while Shuichi keeps on burning his and just served five customers. Yuki2 read the clue, "Go to the apartment managed by Sorata Arisugawa and Arashi Kishu, the next pit stop. Give the Okonomiyaki and receive the next gem. The last team may be eliminated."

Ranma1/2 arrived and Ranma began to worry for the challenge requires Akane to cook and she can't cook, at all.

Bleach arrived first at the pit stop. "Yay!! We're first Ken-chan!" Yachiru exclaimed. Loveless and Furuba followed a full hour after. They gave their okonomiyaki to their hosts and received their gems, they tied at second place.

Shuichi satisfied the last customer as DN walked in and Light put on the apron, leaving Ranma1/2 and DN in the restaurant. Akane is working her way to finishing the task, just four more to go.

Light also struggled with the task. He's never cooked before; somebody's always there to cook for him. It was a close fight, for they finished minutes apart. But, with Ranma's jumping abilities, they reached the pit stop first; eliminating DN from the race.

"This race hasn't changed my perception of Light. The possibility that he is Kira is still 5." L stated after the race.

TBC