Back at the starting point at the top of the mountain:
"Hey…*Hiccup*..wanna slare some of thlat *hiccup* sake?" slurried Nao as she leaned heavily against a bike.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! WATCH OUT!" Too late. Even as the biker screamed for his bike, he watched it tip over under Nao's weight and tumbled onto the next bike. And the next. And the next. A full blown domino effect continued until the last bike fell heavily against an expensive looking silver Porsche.
Pure, sweet silence followed the aftermath as people digested what had just happened. And then..…all hell broke loose as riders, drivers, fans, and even drunks stalked threateningly toward Nao.
"Oooo, let's do that again! *hiccup*" Nao cheered, oblivious to the death glares closing in all around her.
Before anything permanent happened though, the angry mob turned at the sound of cars and motorcycles driving up the slope. Natsuki, on her bike, watched in disbelief when she saw Nao amidst a line of falling bikes and angry drunks. What have you gotten us into now, NAO! Parking her bike and throwing her helmet down, Natsuki ran to Nao.
"Boooossssh…over here," Nao waved at the incoming Natsuki. All her instincts screamed at her to hightail it and run, but Natsuki angrily pushed forward and stubbornly ignored the dagger-like glares attacking her from all sides. Upon reaching the girl, Natsuki attempted to grab a hold of her and shake the living daylights out of her, but Nao was surprisingly agile and fast and evaded Natsuki's attack. Swinging an arm around Natsuki's shoulders, Nao announced, "EVERYBODY…this is my booosssh…she's..rich. *hiccup*…rolling in dough…*hiccup*..and VERY generous." Nao grinned widely.
"NAO! WHAT THE EFF ARE YOU SAYING!?" Natsuki screamed and covered Nao's mouth to prevent her from speaking anymore.
"hmmHMm..uumh," Nao still managed behind Natsuki's hand.
"Soooo, you're her boss?" A large, built bouncer-looking guy asked as he stepped out from the crowd.
"Y-yeah, but—" Damn you Nao! This isn't fair! She thought as Nao seem to have conveniently passed out in her arms and her weight pulled Natsuki down on the ground.
"But nothing. Pay up. The damage on my bike alone probably costs over a grand." Another guy ridiculously claimed.
"WHAT!? A GRAND!? I highly doubt the damage on ANY single bike is worth a grand!" Natsuki said defensively.
"What about my Porsche, bitch?" said an overdressed guy in a dress shirt and a tie.
He did NOT just call me "bitch." But before she can retort, Midori came barging into the circle.
"Hey, Hey, HEY! No need to get violent here!" She said, waving her arms around to calm the mob. "Natsuki just won her race, so she can pay everyone with her proceeds. Everybody just calm down."
"She only won half the winnings since there were two winners and THAT won't be enough to cover the damage. Right everyone?" A jackass said, trying to rowdy up the crowd again.
"Damn it all. I own a garage. And I can fix all your damn bikes and cars free of charge! How about that!?" Natsuki yelled angrily.
"Pfft, like I'd trust your hands on my bike. Just look at your sorry-excuse for an assistant." The same jackass jeered. That got the crowd going. Everybody starting shouting at once and the circle was getting smaller and smaller.
Damn it. Once we're out of this mess, you're gonna get it, Nao!
"Ara, what is taking my Natsuki so long to join me?" The angry and loud mob hushed and respectfully stepped aside as their princess and her knights sailed through the once impenetrable wall of people.
"Shizuru…" Natsuki whispered slightly confused.
Shizuru's chest tightened and warmed upon hearing Natsuki say her name so familiarly. Secretly grinning at Natsuki, Shizuru turned and faced the crowd while protectively standing over Natsuki.
"Shizuru-sama, look what she did to our bikes and Chase's Porsche, "the bouncer-looking guy pleaded.
"Ara, now how did my Natsuki accomplish this when she has been with me almost the whole time since the end of her race?" Shizuru asked innocently, knowing full well the answer.
"Her assistant…" the bouncer guy trailed off.
"But she's her boss. So she should take responsibility," the jackass claimed confidently.
Shizuru smiled and sprung the trap, "Ara, and I'm her friend so I guess I am also responsible."
At that, the jackass's face reddened in embarrassment and shame. "It-it's not the same—"the jackass started but whatever else he said was lost as the crowd pleaded and whined right over him.
Shizuru calmly raised a hand and everyone obediently fell silent within seconds.
"Natsuki will be paying everyone with her winning because her assistant is responsible and under the same reasoning, I will also be paying the difference." The crowded started to murmur complaints again, but Shizuru went right on over them until they quieted again, "Hopefully with Natsuki by my side I will be able to come out first tonight and pay everyone with my winning as well." Staring around the crowd, Shizuru waited for more complaints, but no one dared voice any objections so she smiled and turned back to Natsuki.
Extending a hand to Natsuki, Shizuru smiled, "Nat-su-ki, would you care to join me for a ride?"
Staring up dumbly at Shizuru, Natsuki was utterly dumbfounded at Shizuru's power of this crazy mob. She was so astonished at the graceful way Shizuru motioned with her hands, the softness of her voice, the confidence she carried in her walk, that Natsuki completely missed the words that she said. And just gawked.
"Natsuki!!" Midori urgently hissed and pushed her toward Shizuru, "STOP staring and go with Shizuru or else everyone will think you're rejecting her again. Go! I'll watch over Nao."
"Wha-what are you talking about!?" Natsuki said, completely lost. Shizuru sighed, grabbed Natsuki's hand and led her to her Ferrari.
Natsuki could only stare. Stare at the soft, creamy hand that held on to hers tightly…protectively…strongly…tenderly.
Mai, Mai,Mai her mind constantly chanted as she stared. For some reason, guilt raked at her chest as she let the handholding continue. Argh..this has to stop. I'm sorry, Shizuru.
"Fujino-san, I can walk by myself." Natsuki said more coldly than she intended to.
Shizuru stopped. Her bangs hid her eyes for the tiniest fraction of a second before she looked up and forced a smile at Natsuki. "Ara, whatever was I thinking holding Natsuki's hand like that." Her hand shakily tore itself from the bluenette's.
Natsuki glanced at her now-bare hand and secretly missed the warmth Shizuru's hand provided. Looking up, Natsuki found Shizuru already waiting at the car. What the, how'd she get there so fast?? Did she run?? Natsuki thought as she hurried to catch up.
Pwease review? with cherry, chocolate, strawberry, candy-cane on top?