Author's note: Thanks – once again – for the reviews! I wish I can mention everybody – you've all been very supportive! Cookies for everyone! For your info, shou ga nai means 'it can't be helped'. I'm sorry that things have been pretty confusing last chapter. On with the story!

Disclaimer: you know the drill.

Chapter 4

Yuri gladly took back the wheel as Ming gave her directions back to his garage. Even though it had only been a three-day parting, she was quite sure that she could not bear to part from her Supra again. Especially not because it had helped her through so many things – not just races, but all the problems that never seem to fail to hound her. She could just get into it and drive off up the mountain's twisty roads and lose herself in the excitement of breaking the speed limit.

"Say, Ming, you don't happen to know if there's any hill here you can race up on?" she wondered aloud.

Koji snorted. "Hills? In Tokyo?"

"Sure there's a select few," said Ming before turning back and grinned at Koji who was sitting on the passenger's seat. "There's a reason why they say the best racers come from the Big Mikan."

"Yeah, but the best drifters come from the mountains."

"That's pretty true. Say, Koji, you know a lot, too? You heard of the one currently reigning the Boshi drift scene?"

"No. Fill me in all about it."

"A drift scene?" said Yuri, sitting up straight and prepared to pay rapt attention to what Ming had to say.

Koji laughed. "Relax, Yuri. You've barely been a week here!"

Ming smiled. "So you're one of those wannabe racers who can't wait to topple the kings, huh, Yuri? You better watch your ego around here in Tokyo – they don't appreciate inflated newbies."

"Yuri's no newbie," said Koji with a hint of pride, "Back home in Hokkaido, every racer on the scene knows her name – she's the person to beat."

"Koji!" said Yuri, but inside she was a bit pleased. Sure, she was quite proud of her achievement – after all female racers barely made a scratch in the circle of elite drivers, but she had proven otherwise in her stints in Hokkaido. She'd won more than races – useful cash and pink slips and plenty of ready co-operation. Plus friendships – though more often than not they were dishonest, scheming ones. The only person she could readily trust was Koji.

Ming's eyebrows rose. "Sounds like you have a good resume. But your Supra'll stand out like a goose." He looked at her. "The Boshi crowd's crazy about - about the FD, the Fairlady especially, and mostly the S15; drift cars."

"Trust my ride," said Yuri with a laugh. "It's drift-worthy." And to prove her words, she ignored the red-light ahead of her and pulled into an abrupt and clean power slide across the T-junction into the left turn.

Ming whistled. "I think I believe you now, Koji."

"Turn in here," said Ming as Yuri turned into an alley lined by worn-down buildings - faded bricks, stained windows and all the hoopla. She gave him a funny look. "Where are we going exactly?"

He stared at her for a few seconds before turning away, a smile on his face. "If I wanted to fool you I wouldn't have let you drive. Take the right corner. You'll see pretty soon."

She gave Koji a wary glance, but he just shrugged.

She steered her car through the corner and her Supra suddenly jiggled. The road was so uneven that even her car's suspension was not able to fully absorb the road's bumpity-bumps. But the sight at the end of the alley was one worth the shakes and rattles.

A large warehouse stood before him, its façade just as tired-looking as its neighbours – yet it was hugely different; for it contained a full-fledged garage – hydraulic jacks, scattered toolboxes, mechanics, and most importantly: modified cars parked inside and outside the garage.

"Welcome to my safe house," said Ming. "Oh, and Yuri – you dropped your jaw."

Yuri quickly shut her gaping mouth. Koji sniggered.

She pulled her car to a halt at the entrance. Ming got out first, and two lanky, spiky-haired teenagers greeted him with "Hey, Ming"s.

"How's it goin'?"

"The Evo's all souped up."

"And Anbu just saved a Tiburon from the junkyard."

"V8 engine still intact."

"There's potential."

"But we're already drivin' S14s."

"Just sweeten it up and put it on my tab, won't you?"

"Sure thing, Ming."

"You got it, boss."

"Sweet. Now run along and play."

"Catch ya later."

"Amazing, no?" said Koji as he went to Yuri's side.

She nodded. "Not bad."

"His brother, Han was in the business as well. But Ming's got a bigger garage."

"How do you know?"

"I've done business with him," he said a little somberly, "Han. He was a great guy. Always letting me off the hook and getting me out of trouble. I didn't even get to pay him back the money I owe him."

"Hey, you two," said Ming, tilting his head in the direction of the garage. "Come in for a bit of hospitality. I'll get you acquainted with the guys." Then, probably an afterthought: "And girls too."

Koji followed, but Yuri couldn't will her legs to move. She couldn't afford another mistake – not when things had turned out so ugly the last time she gave her trust to a stranger. But Ming seemed like a good guy – light-brown (dyed, probably) shoulder-length hair, street swagger and all.

"Yuri," Koji called out her name.

She drew a deep breath and rolled her eyes. Oh, what the heck.

"So Yuri," said Ming after she had downed a can of Pepsi while getting herself acquainted with the garage's resident delinquents, "you want in on the Boshi scene?"

"Heck, of course! I can't wait to get cracking," she replied with a grin. "Tell me who's hogging the top spot."

"Girl," said Koji with a snort, "you're real bad, you know?"

Ming laughed. "He's a gaijin, and he drives an S15. Other than that, he used to be my brother's chum. He trained him – my brother was the teacher, that is."

"Is he any good?"

"You bet. There's a reason why he's the D.K. of Boshi."

"D.K.?"

"Drift King."

Yuri contemplated over it. A gaijin D.K. Should be no sweat. "What the hell, there'll be a D.Q. in no time. Give me the details, Ming."

"You are bad," said Ming with a shake of his head. "Boshi Supermarket, parking lot, ten p.m. The races officially start at eleven but people come as early as ten to show off their goods. When you coming?"

"Tomorrow," she promised.

He shrugged. "Deal. I'll meet you there."

"Koji?"

"Er, I kind of, uh, you know, left my Corolla back home . . ."

Ming dug about in his pockets and then threw something to Koji, who caught it smartly, though the look on his face was one that was stunned: not so smart.

"Take mine."