Hello everybody~

It's been a few days since my last update, but i'm trying to add more details to my writing so that it's just not pure dialog back and forth.

And thanks for all your support guys, really appreciate it


Barely hiding her worried glances from the oblivious bluenette beside her, Nao had immediately forgotten her frustration at Natsuki when the redhead watched the poor girl carefully hop into her truck with a tissue up her nose and eyes so puffy that she must have been crying for a while. She has never seen Natsuki looked so defeated…maybe that stubborn time bomb has finally exploded. Nao swore that Natsuki was holding too much inside, stupid dork. *Sigh,* at least she seems to have finally let it all out.

Nao remembered almost 3 years ago when Natsuki had spontaneously showed up at her door with nothing but her bike and a small bookbag filled with clothes. No matter how Nao badgered her, Natsuki wouldn't tell her what had happened in Tokyo, but Nao could guess. Even during high school, Natsuki had spoiled Mao to no end. The dumb bluenette looked at Mai like a puppy ogled over her owner. That Mai must have finally asked for too much… Natsuki only stayed at her place for a little while before the bluenette found another job at HIME garage and could afford her own place. It was a good thing, Natsuki came when she did though because soon after Natsuki got her own apartment, Nao found that she had finally drank and gambled away what was left of her pitiful inheritance and more. Ever since her mom's death, only the call of alcohol and the addiction of gambling got Nao out of bed in the afternoon. But after she was deeply in debt, Natsuki practically had to break down her apartment door and dragged her by the hair everyday to the garage where then Natsuki coaxed the redhead to help her with a promise of a few dollars here and there. After a while, Nao couldn't help feeling accomplished every time she and Natsuki fixed a stupid car. The feeling wasn't as carefree as the lightness of being drunk or the adrenaline from gambling money, but it was almost as good. One day Fumi offered to hire her full time, but before Nao can even bargain for a higher wage, Natsuki had already said yes for her. Stupid bluenette.

"Your highness, if you're done brooding, would you mind giving me a destination?" Nao asked sarcastically. The redhead's Aleve was wearing down and her migraine was coming back; she didn't think she drank that much last night but her hangover this morning was ridiculous. She thought she was gonna die. According to Midori, Nao last night had the entire biker gang ready to beat the living daylights out of her and only Natsuki and Shizuru kept her butt intact. Meh, that Midori must have been exaggerating. Sure, Nao can't remember squat about last night, but Natsuki would have definitely yelled at her about it by now. Then again…glancing sideways at the distracted bluenette, Nao wasn't so sure.

"Hey boss," Nao tried again when Natsuki continued to stare out the car window, "HEY STUPID, CAR-CRAZY BLUENETTE!!"

Shaken out of her reverie, Natsuki responded, "Whaaaaaaat?" Natuski couldn't stop thinking about what Fumi told her. HIME Garage was in a crisis and Fumi made it sound as if only Natsuki can save the Corporation. What the hell are all those top managers and board directors doing then? Are they only there to look pretty? Natsuki barely made it past high school, let alone step foot in a University classroom. How the heck was she suppose to help the multi-million dollar corporation?? Should she really find Shizuru to help her? *Sigh* No…why would the brunette help her and against her own father too! After all they've only known each other for barely 24 hours. No…Shizuru wouldn't help her…not unless…Natuski made her!

"Oh-em-gee, you ignore me one more time, I'm kicking you out of the truck, injured foot or no." Nao threatened. Man, her head was really killing her. She shouldn't be yelling at Natsuki when the dummy is like this, but that bluenette is really pushing her buttons. The redhead had thought at first that after the excitement of the race, Natsuki would be lured out of her moodiness, but boy was she wrong. Natsuki seemed worse than before after last night's race.

"Oh, sorry." Natsuki said softly, finally looking at the redhead.

Arching one surprised eyebrow, Nao restrained herself from teasing the poor girl since she finally got her to talk.

"Hey Nao…what do you think about HIME Garage?" the bluenette sincerely asked.

Where in the world is this coming from?? The redhead answered suspiciously, "Work is work, boss. It's the same everywhere."

"NO!" Natsuki responded angrily, surprising even herself with her fire. Feeling a slight blush rise to her face, she amended, "I mean…it's different at HIME Garage. You know what I mean? It's just different." I like it there. But the bluenette is not going to let herself admit that aloud to the delinquent redhead.

"Whatever, boss. You can work there the rest of your life for all I care. I only plan to stay there till I pay off my debt." Nao said distantly, but she really couldn't think of working with someone other than the the bluenette. Natsuki always seemed to know what Nao wanted and needed and the redhead can also read Natsuki like a book. They worked well together even though the bluenettes was always ordering around like she's a delinquent trapped in boot camp.

That rang a bell. "Hey Nao, I hope Midori told you of your new balance to me. At the rate you're going you'll never pay everything back. You just keep raking in more debt, dumbass. I guess you'll just be stuck with working with me forever then." Natsuki said slyly.

Damn, and here I thought she'd forgotten. Nao chuckled nervously. "Aww Natsuki-chan, don't be so stiiiiingy."

"Hmph. I'll strike you a deal, Nao. I'll forget about last night, if you help me with something." Natuski offered solemnly.

Extremely curious at this sudden offer, Nao said, "I'm listening." Her hands and eyes were focused on the road in front of her, but her attention was almost completely on Natsuki's deal. The redhead had no idea where they were at this point. She was just driving around randomly and turning whenever she saw traffic.

"You help me keep Fujino Corporation from taking over HIME Garage, and I'll forget all about last night." Natsuki offered confidently, but her insides were quivering with nervousness. She desperately needed the redhead's help, but she'd be damned if she showed that avaricious delinquent her importance.

Pulling over to the side of a small neighborhood road so that she can fully concentrate on this interesting development, Nao took a minute to process the information Natsuki had just offered and then said slowly, "Exactly how do you expect me to help you?"

"I know you know people underground. The black market. I want some…parts…for my bike." Natsuki said simply. She was sure that this should be a piece of cake for Nao, but the redhead doesn't do things for free. Nao knew that Natsuki didn't know many people because the bluenette was so reserved. She needed the delinqent for this job. Plus Nao had a keen eye for authentic mechanical parts. Natsuki trusted her.

Smiling dangerously, Nao leaned over the middle seat with her head resting on her palm. "So…our little puppy has finally become serious about something…but really, you care about racing so much you'd dive into the black market? No…that's not it…This is about HIME Garage isn't it?" Nao continued to stare at a silent Natsuki as she pondered aloud what the bluenette might be thinking. "Shizuru Fujinio. Fujino Corporation…. Are you planning to make her reconsider taking over HIME Garage through a race!?" The redhead exclaimed incredulously.

Embarrassed and a little hurt at the incredulous tone of voice Nao used, Natsuki stuttered, "Wh-What's wrong with that!?" The idea had seemed ingenious to the bluenette at the time…until it came out of Nao's mouth. That ass had a knack for ruining everything.

"You are serious…" Nao said still using that incredulous voice matched with wide saucers' eyes. Finally unable to stop herself, Nao rolled around the seat in mirth and occasionally wiped tears from her eyes. "Oh Natsuki, you're just too adorable. Are you truly this innocent or just plain stupid?? Your thinking is sooo simple."

Taken aback by the insult, Natsuki's blood pressure rose as she threatened to explode with rage. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY WAY OF THINKING!? YOU JACKASS, I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!" Natsuki yelled as she reached for the doorhandle, but before she opened the door she had to add, "AND I AM DEFINITELY NOT ADORABLE!" But that comment only made the redhead laugh harder. Fuming, Natsuki threw open the door, but the redhead grabbed her arm before she even made it halfway out the door.

"Ok, ok, boss. I'll help you." Nao breathed between her hysterics.

Looking at the delinquent suspiciously, Natsuki stood with one good leg out the car as she considered the sincerity of the other girl. Damn it, but I don't have a choice. Maybe she'd have a better idea. She begrudgingly got back into the truck and waiting for Nao to continue.

"Look, I may not think this will work, but maybe that crazy princess will take a liking to your adorable idea and risk her multi-million dollar project on a race." Nao said doubtfully but she quickly continued at the deadly glare from Natsuki, "I will start asking around for parts for your bike, but you should ask her if she'd really take you up on the deal soon. I don't want to waste my time talking to these underground people. They're not the nicest kids on the block, you know?"

Natsuki struggled between yelling at Nao for making fun of Shizuru and thanking her for her help, and after a few seconds of internal conflict she settled on flatly saying, "Fine."

"Good afternoon, father. I deeply apologize for being late." Shizuru said politely as she waited for the waiter to pull out her chair. They were eating at one of the more upscale, modern restaurants in town.

A dark haired, handsome middle-aged man with wings of white at the temples stared sternly at Shizuru as he waited for the brunette to settle down in the seat. "Shizuru, I must ask that you don't do this to our clients in the future. Punctuality is very important when working with business men who keep very tight schedules. A minute late may be the difference between a million dollar contract and a waste of ink on paper." Akio reprimanded firmly as he set aside a set of documents he was reading.

"You're right father. It won't happen again." Shizuru promised calmly. Her father was a busy man and Shizuru had made him wait. Feeling slightly ashamed under those stern crimson eyes, Shizuru offered her father some more tea to which he accepted with a nod.

"Shizuru," Akio started as waited for his daughter to finish pouring his tea, "I'm sure you've already guessed why I invited you to lunch today."

"Ara, I just assumed that my father missed seeing me. After all, it has been a few weeks since we last sat down together for a meal." Shizuru said with a fake smile. She knew what this meeting was about, but she couldn't help begrudging her father's busy schedule. Shizuru missed her mother terribly after she died in an unfortunate car accident a couple of years ago. Ever since then, her father had found another life partner: Fujino Corporation. He hardly ever came home and when he did, he'd lock himself in the home office for hours until he had to return to headquarters again. Shizuru felt like she had lost both her parents in the car accident.

"Shizuru, don't be a childish. You know how demanding the work is." Akio lightly chided his daughter even though he knew she was right. "I'm getting old, Shizuru. And you are just about hitting your prime. It's time, my daughter. I have your first assignment right here." The older man said, patting a large stack of documents he was reading before Shizuru arrived.

Eyeing the documents next to her father, Shizuru read the first line: "HIME Garage Corporation Takeover." Natsuki's garage!? Shizuru smiled at the coincidence.

Noticing his daughter's expression, Akio couldn't help smiling himself. "I'm glad you seem excited about your first task because this is quite an important project. If successful, which it will be, Fujino Corporation can raise its revenue by an estimated amount of over 10%. As for the details of the takeover, I wish for you to look over it tonight."

"Ara father has that much trust in me already?" Shizuru teased but she really was excited to be working on something related to Natsuki. She wondered what Natsuki would think about working under Fujino Corporation's garage.

Chuckling a little, Akio said, "You are my daughter, who else would I trust?"

This chapter is just setting up for the next one which I'm pretty excited to write about, hehe.

Again, reviews are definitely appreciated~