FOREWORD: I, HashiriyaGDB, am submitting this Initial D facfic on behalf of Midnight Dorifuta, the author of this fanfic and a fellow user on the Initial D World Forums. The only things I've done to this is correct some (if not all) the typos.
All trademarks are owned by their respective owners.
Chapter 21: Home Team Win!?
A group of old friends were gathered around the gleaming metallic-blue hood of a well-known loacl car, each standing close together - most with their arms crossed, some unable to sit still. The driver of the car, clad in an elegant dress, seemed ready to drive out on a date. For all she knew, she might receive her wish, but that would all depend on one lucky moment of truth to reveal itself this lonesome evening.
As she slid the silvery key into its comfortable home - the ignition switch of her beloved Sil-Eighty, of course - her heart rate spiked. Mako was unable to keep a steady hand, any more, and had to pause. A few of her friends gasped, falsely thinking the install was a no-go. Her closest friend, Iketani, took a deep breath, leaning in torwards the car, as the others whispered about. "She... won't run, right?"
"N-n-n... no..." Mako gasped, her breaths short, quick, and shallow - almost as a mighty force was pressing down on her chest, suffocating the life out of her - and her otherwise beautiful voice wavery. "I.. can't keep... steady hand... to turn... ignition on..."
Iketani was in a small state of slight disbelief. He thought he was nervous, as he looked at his sweaty palms, but Mako's condition blew all that right off the map, and into next week. She looked ready to have a heart attack, the poor girl. Grinding his teeth once, Iketani slowly made his way around the opened door, the slight "ding-dong" chime early 90's Nissans were almost trademarked for lightly - ever so lightly - tormenting him. The others remained silent and motionless, although one particular female member simply went "hmph", and crossed her arms, debating whether or not she should go see a movie; she was certain when the movie ended, they'd still be at this.
But Mako's now AW-11 driving teammate was light-years away from the two re-developing love-birds as Mako felt her shaky hand being steadied by Iketani's strong and comforting grip. Iketani covered her hand with his, looking into Mako's watery eyes. "Come on", he said, with a bit of a smile. "It's alright. We did this together, right Mako-san?" Mako flashed a small and brief smile, doing her best not to implode on herself with emotion. She knew damn well what this truly meant to her - although it was a definate walk into the unknown, it was a step she wanted to take.
"Hai", she replied, in a near-whisper. Iketani's grip was the only thing keeping her hand steady as she placed her two fingers on the opposite notches of the ignition switch, her shaky leg struggling to keep the clutch pedal fully depressed. In a brief moment of panic, her left hand wriggled the shifter, making certain that if the car simotaneously fired while her knee gave, she wouldn't mow down 3 of her friends., Fighting not to look away, she instantly gave the switch a good, solid twist.
"Come on... come on..." Iketani heard the whine of the old starter motor as it turned over the engine 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 times, with nothing. But, the engine started catching. First once, then twice, then three times... and then, behold! The engine caught and grumbled to life, its first time running under its own power in a number of years. Sayuki Kimohiro, Kenji Saotome, Itsuki Takeuchi, and of course our little 'hero' Iketani, all erupted into a collective cheer, Sayuki giggling and clapping calmly, Kenji literally yanking Iketani off Mako, and hugging him chanting "She lives, she lives!" and Iketani first being annoyed but falling into the cheer. Itsuki of course threw his damn fist as high up as he could and screamed "Kuuuuuuu!" at the top of his lungs... and Mako... well...
Tears begam streaming down Mako's cheeks upon hearing the first breaths of life from her new Sil-Eighty. It was such a sweet, blissful tone that rumbled out the car's racey exhaust pipes, and felt so good to listen to... She was swept away and crying sheer tears of joy, not knowing what else to do or say. The note also reminded her of one of her other friends, but his just wasn't nearly as wonderful as her own Sileighty-chan.
The excitement soon died down and the Silvia was left to carry out a warm-up cycle, Mako literally being helped out of the car, still wiping her eyes, thunderstruck. When the two ex-Lonely Drivers... well, one of them still single, but that was beside the point... stopped hugging each other and finally slowed down to behold the amazing mechanical cycle of the FJ20ET. Iketani and Kenji knew well enough that it was amazing that these machines, which sported over 300 working parts, even ran - much less hold up to the challenges that were, in this case, about to be thrown at it.
When Mako had all of her bearings together, Sayuki calmly marched over to her best friend and gave her a big, warm hug, patting her more emotional street-racing equivelant firmly on the shoulder, and acting quite masculine. "Now nobody can touch you...", Sayuki grinned, before pointing her index finger at her own MR2 which was slowly but surely becoming a force to be reconed with. "Except for me, of course. You can pass me, but you won't lose me once my MR2's officially a Mk. 1.5." Like a child who was lost for so long but finally found home again, Mako just eyed Sayuki and nodded, releasing a blissful sigh - before blushing. Given she tried to maintain a tough-girl image, she was embarassed to have exposed how much of a sappy case she really could be. Sayuki, noticing this, freed her embrace.
"Just don't have a car-gasm the first time you rev this thing", Sayuki teased, talking low enough so that only Mako could pick it up. And Mako's face lit up like a Roman candle upon hearing that - she was tempted to smack Sayuki, but knew her friend was just teasing. Regardless, that remark threw her emotions back together, somehow, and she just rolled her eyes and chuckled, now ready to enjoy the group's small celebration - even Itsuki was dulled down enough to fit in.
-
The blue-haired figure shivered in the late November air, knowing winter was definately on the horizon. "Burr", she muttered, shaking her body vigorously. The leg-less woman sitting next to her poked the digital figure, pulling down an eyelid childishly and sticking her tongue out for a second. "What are you shaking for?", she teased. Espirit lauged for a second, before floating around to the front of Kasumi Suzaki, looking Akiyuki's injured sister eye-to-eye.
"You mean, you don't know I can feel temperatures as well as you do? It's not like I'm not completely out of the loop", the digital spirit giggled. "Yeah, I guess you're right", Kasumi nodded, enchanted by just how... complete... Espirit truly was. Almost as if she once beared a human form, she thought to herself. "Say, Espirit-san, does Kira-san ever drive you the way I did?" Espirit shook her head twice, before exclaming, "No! I mean... not at all. He babies me... it's a little boring, to be honest."
"Need to go out and have a good time every now and then, eh?", the experienced ex-racer asked.
"Yeah... that's some of it. But Kira's a great guy. He loves me a lot. You would think a normal relationship would be impossible... but, we're able to enjoy ourselves. Did you know how suprised I was when you and your brother so openly accepted me for who... or rather, what, I am. You would be amazed at how low a tolerence people have for those who aren't so normal." Espirit's pearl white wings fluttered on her back, not only her body but the car itself giving off a faint glow.
"Well, just look at myself, silly. You don't see me weighed down just because I lost my legs. Sure, life isn't nearly as comfortable as it was back when I was fully mobile on my own two, but... I look at Aki (Wataru)-san and realize just what's important to me; us, as a family operation. Nobody believes just how clouded their mind can get from an actual racing career until they experience it. My days as an Indy driver had a lot of good in them, but a lot of bad, too. I missed Aki (Wataru)-san's first career start, along with his first rally victory, because I was already preoccupied with so much organized mayhem. The racing world truly is a scary place, Espirit... it can suck years from your life without you even knowing."
Espirit beared a bit of a dry smile to her newfound friend, floating behind her and locking Kasumi into a solid embrace. "I wish I could speak as vividly of my past as you... but my past is a very empty and confusing one at best. When I first met Kira-san, it was at a used car dealership of all places. I... I really didn't like being there. I mean, I know cars are built as machines and all, but... it felt like a slave trade. Most people didn't glance at me, uhm, well, me as a car anyways, twice, because I was not domestic. But Kira really had an eye for me - he liked me, and each time he touched me, it was like breathing life into me... awakening me, I guess you could say..."
"An awakening, eh? I think I understand where you're coming from." Kasumi lightly held Espirit's tender, albeit digital hand, feeling the warm softness of her skin. It feels so real, she thought to herself. How can she possibly not be human? It's amazing - it continues to mystify me. The two were also secluded in a rather remote location; a clifftop view of the Pacific Ocean about a hundred or so feet from sea level. The late afternoon phased on to early evening as the sky changed to the warm winter colors, the many varying shades of grey, blue, red, orange, and sometimes pink, mixed together in a stunning combination - something that had to be watched to truly be enjoyed.
The elder Suzaki spent this time continuing to talk conspire with the car-form teen, letting the minutes slowly roll by. And why not? Akiyuki was off somewhere in Gunma, on a "meet" with someone who she knows Suzaki is probably trying to recruit for his almost freelance race team - a team that, since there's lots of money but nothing that the money was actually spent on, save the little Suzaki Performance parts supply/Mitsubishi-Chrysler Starquest specialty stores in the United States. The more time that the two spent learning more about each other, the more they felt like they were united, despite their many differences.
Eventually, the two would find themselves sitting within Espirit's car form. In the cozy cockpit of the British-developed wedge, they were able to shield themselves from the cold weather, and just watch the multicolor sky fade slowly to darkness and the moon to take on its soft glow. Kasumi's heart fluttered. She hadn't felt this... relaxed... in ages. For once, she was in a truly comfortable environment - no buisness agenda to stick to (for now, anyway), no worrying about what time it is, or if she's missed anything, no hoardes of people to interfere... so extrodinarily different from life in New York.
As for Espirit, it felt nice to finally be with someone, knowing how much of a task Kira had upkeeping his little franchise in the city, and making sure money was gong where it needed to. Added to that was also the fact she rarely interacted with anyone aside from Kira - he was a lovable little gem, yes he was, but just one person? She knew him like the back of her hand to the point she could identify 5 seconds into any rant of Kira's exactly where it was heading torwards. Kira understood her perhaps a little too well, too. He remained devoted to her and her alone, not being the crazy social type anyways.
But for once, the two felt an emotional connection - they both knew it probably wouldn't go any further than friendship, especially since Espirit would put herself through a car shredder before ever considering doing the one who truly brought her back to life wrong, and Kasumi, well... Kasumi wanted friends more than anything, too. No matter what, she knew she'd end up being the financially-managing backbone to Akiyuki's mechanical genius the same way she always was. But none of that mattered at the moment as the two enjoyed one another's presence, the Espirit quietly purring to life and driving down the road. For now, it was all about the moment, and the fact that they both knew they'd meet again somewhere down the line.
-
Fujiwara tensed as he neared the beginning of the downhill start on Akina, glancing at the green sheetmetal of Suzaki's Starion from the corner of his eye. He'd been in rolling starts, but usually those begain in a follower/leader fashion. This one was different; as the AE86 and Starion neared the "start" line, marked with chaulk, Takumi knew it would be heads-up from the first second. He spared no hesitation in jabbing the gas the instant the Trueno's front tire crossed the line, the car immediately growling to life in its naturally-aspirated roar. The Starion followed suit almost immediately, with the exception that there was just a split-second's hesitation to "full" acceleration - the car's turbocharger taking the time to gather itself up before charging the ITB-feeding intake manifold with around 20 pounds per square inch of fresh air.
Suzaki's eyes of determination were conveniently concealed by the dark-tinted shield of his racing helmet, although Fujiwara's nervous stare gleamed straight through his old hatchback's windshield. He knew the start would be a horsepower game, and on Akina's long initial straight, the Starion was clearly winning. It was a few hundred pounds heavier, but 100 horsepower more powerful than the AE86, and its smooth power delivery and V8-flat torque curve didn't do much to help the Trueno's cause.
But by the first corner, things seemed to be different; as in, not entirely hopeless for Fujiwara. The Starion's driver wasn't -as- familiar with Akina as Takumi, obviously, but he had a basic idea of what to do. He began braking at a good point, iniated a good turn-in, followed a good apex, and followed through with a smooth, good exit. It was Suzaki's usual 'conservative' play, pushing the Starion to 85-90, not for the sake of going light on Fujiwara, but for being aware of the fact it wasn't his home course, nor was he quite ready to risk his life again on this course, not until fifteen to twenty more solid, back-to-back runs... and maybe a few tanks of gas and a set or two of tires to go with that.
Fujiwara, on the other hand, did go all-out; it was his natural habit, with a perfect mid-corner drift, a six-out-of-five star exit, and a line that allowed him to carry out the maximum exit speed, per usual. He didn't make up too much ground, but it was a step forward from being 5 car lengths behind at the corner enterance. Takumi kept the Trueno floored, charging full-gallop down the short-straight to the next corner. Suzaki glanced at his rear, grinning slightly just fore of the corner's enterance, admiring the fact the AE86 was keeping up. You really are one hell of a driver, you know that, Fujiwara? I know the AE86 can be a highly competitive machine, but from almost every perspective, the Starion should stand superior. You're lighter, and smaller, though... you can take sharper lines. You also know this course, but still...
Suzaki downshifted back to 2nd gear as his car swung around the next corner, gathering momentum once again at the earliest oppurtunity. What stood in front of them next was like a bit of a jab-chicane before another hairpin. Focused on his own driving more than anything, Akiyuki took another moment to judge how close the AE86 was to his rear bumper. Two lengths? Still... it's difficult to imagine an AE86 keeping up with my Starion this easily. I once competed against a Turbo Levin on Tsukuba... although that track is small, it said a lot about our cars' characteristics. Maybe the Levin's driver just wasn't on Fujiwara's level. But something... something seems odd about that Trueno. Fujiwara. Do you know how amazing your performance is right now?
Takumi was far from calm or relaxed, however. While he was keeping up, he was dialing in at least 110 to do it. Damn it, he grimaced, looking at the Starion's trailing headlights. Jeezus, he's fast. I don't even have time to think about my next action - I'm driving sheerly on instinct! He was also aware Suzaki wasn't exactly 'holding back', but wasn't out to play cards with the devil, either. It was the "race driver" mindset that Fujiwara was familiar with that Kyoichi Sudou once demonstrated to him - fast enough to say you're trying hard, but not fast enough to put yourself at a serious risk for failure early in the run. It begged the question as they charged through the next few corners; Does that mean Suzaki- will be faster at the end?
Suzaki's train of thought was similar to what Takumi imagined. It was second nature of him to be conservative until the final stages, but he had an oppurtunity to easily seperate himself from the panda-colored wedge as the two cars freight-trained down another long Akina straight. 100 horsepower seemed to be the difference, Fujiwara thought from within. At 6,500 RPM, Suzaki grabbed for fourth gear. He was easily in excess of 100 miles per hour before grinding down on the brake rotors again, the inner wheels glowing brightly as the pads clamped down, the Wilwood metallic discs superheated from the friction. The 4G54 i.e. G54B was in its natural environment as the anti-lag system kicked in again, Suzaki taking another 'good' line, Fujiwara gaining precious inches through the corner before immediate no-lag boost shot the Starion through the corner exit with vigor.
Intense, Fujiwara thought to himself. The Starion was hard to follow, its last-second line-changes being very unorthodox to any opponent Fujiwara approached. It was like he had one strategy, but quickly switched plans just in time. It wasn't exactly the reactive driving style that he noticed in Kouichirou, but it was along the same lines. The Starion maintaining a distance from guardrail to sheetmetal of about 5 inches off the next corner's exit. They've passed the halfway mark by now, and the slopes were beginning to get a little more extreme. The Starion's power advantage would soon be dulled in this trickier section, and Suzaki knew this very well. You're about to enter your prime, my dear rival..., he thought, glancing at his side-view mirror. It's time to see why you're called 'Akina's Ghost' by so many locals.
The Five Hairpins were upon them. Fujiwara's driving became even more extreme as Suzaki dialed up the agression dial on his lines. His Starion was starting to shriek around each corner as the tires were now being strained to within 1 of their maximum traction availible. Tires chirping before each corner entry, Akiyuki demonstrated the same kind of non-ABS braking skill that his opponent also posessed, but naturally Fujiwara had the edge; not only was his car a lesser mass to reduce to a halt, but he also knew the maximu, lateral traction he could obtain at each corner. Like an experienced fisher, around each tight twisting corner the AE86 reeled the green-and-black tail end of the Starion closer and closer. He knew what he had to do next. They were one corner aray the first of the famous 5 Hairpins, and Fujiwara had 4 car lengths from the Starion. He noticed Suzaki's lines were just a tad wide.
He knew what he had to do next.
Taking one of his smoothest lines yet, Fujiwara performed his 'part 2' gutter technique that he used against Ryousuke Takahashi to start gaining on the Starion, and fast. Suzaki wasn't watching his rear through the first and second corners, for he had his own handling issues to deal with. For some reason, the texture of the asphalt used along this .5 mile stretch of roads that ended just after the fifth Hairpin didn't agree with his tire style. Perhaps it was because the texture was more abrasived, but it was just slightly less forgving and he lost traction just a tad earlier. On the Fourth hairpin, Suzaki paid a quick glance to the rearview, and was almost startled by what he said. What!? How'd he...! Unlike a few other drivers, Suzaki never had the chance to witness Takumi's home-course special with his own two eyes. That speed boost... were you holding back the entire time!? I'm already at 99.9...
That tiny little suprise was enough to offset his concentration enough to go... just a bit... wide on the Fifth Hairpin, and that's exactly where Fujiwara made his move. For Suzaki, he wasn't sure just what to think when the AE86 crept around the sheetmetal of his Single Overhead-cam powered wedge. Things just didn't seem to click until Fujiwara nosed ahead of him. He noticed the slight tilt to the car's composure, and then he heard the scraping of the tire against the rough concrete surface of Akina's covered drainage ditches. It all made sense. That's it!, Suzaki quickly realised. He's using the gutters! After having driven all these years behind the wheel of a rally car, I've done it a few times myself, but it never helped my speed that much. But him... Fujiwara didn't break his concentration at the corner's exit, effectively blocking the Starion from a counterattack by squeezing in front, forcing Suzaki to lay off the gas to face getting ran into.
Takumi took a look in his rear view, now seeing the matte black paint - almost like a stealth jet - of the Starion's hood dominating most of his mirror. Akiyuki might've been passed, but he was nowhere near giving up. I'm sorry I had to do that, Takumi thought to himself, one eye on the two-tone Mitsubishi that followed closely now like his Trueno's own shadow, but it was my only chance to pass, and I had to take it. It was slightly cheap, forcing the Starion to back off, but it was still fair all the same. Now I understand how even the White Comet of Akagi could be out-classed... you're in a rank of your own, Fujiwara. A step below a full-blown professional but well beyond most 'hobbyist' street racers. His glare on the Trueno's decklid intensified. However, let's see if you can hang onto this lead, Fujiwara! Suzaki reused to let the chance to win escape him, as the cars both rocketed down Akina's pass.
Time was running out for the Starion driver, though. Only a few corners remained, and in an instant, his line dramatically changed. He ran on the outside, looking high and low for an opening, following up on the Trueno and attempting his counterattack. But the only chance he had to lead already passed at the exit of the fifth Hairpin. Beyond that point, it was essentially futile, although Fujiwara did have to push hard to not be caught off guard down Akina's final straight. The roadway was wide, but he made his rear bumper as big as possible, swerving left and right, Suzaki being unable to advance. Two more quick corners, Fujiwara taking the far inside on the last... but wait! Suzaki had one last trick left in his bag. The final corner was easily wide for two cars, maybe even three, and Suzaki took the far outside line in a last-ditch attempt to pass. He had a bit of a nose in, and laying on the gas, he took one final chance to creep ahead of Fujiwara. Only 500 feet remained, but at this rate of progress, it was anyone's call as to who would actually 'win'.