12
You think that I'm a lady? You think that I won't fight? I'm the baddest bitch that ever hit this town.
Esthero
Z
I'm going to kill Neela.
The usual crowd of the Tokyo Underground swarmed like a loud, neon-colored kicked ant hill in the tight space of the parking garage. The loud music and cigarette smoke was assaulting my aching head. I was leaning on my car watching all of the different people pass by.
I made the mistake of borrowing something from Neela to wear tonight. She practically forced me into a skin tight gray sweater dress that was entirely too short and low cut. It was freezing cold and almost completely unbearable. Neela had borrowed high heeled over-the-knee-boots from one of my new model friends to keep some of the chill off my legs, but the dress still showed an uncomfortable amount of thigh and boobs.
Unfortunately some of the race rats had noticed. I was really glad I couldn't understand some of the Japanese. Usually they yelled their cat calls and left, but I had to go Bon Qui Qui/ Madea on one guy before he went away. I really need to do some work under the hood before my race, but with the guys surrounding me I didn't dare.
When the sound of screeching tires could be heard over the music from the floor above the crowd thinned out a little. I slid off the hood and got to work. I needed a new car tonight because of the damage that was getting inflicted on my other ones. Something in the engine of the Skyline had been knocked loose. I was deep in thought as I ran my hand over the engine when I felt a stinging pain on my ass.
I stiffened and felt my jaw drop open. Fury spread through my veins and I whirled around to punch the face of whoever just smacked me until it dented inward. My face burned red with rage as I took in the smirking face of Morimoto. I found myself wishing his orange bleached hair was a little longer so I could yank it out by the roots.
He made some really lewd comments on in Japanese and lecherously stepped forward towards me with his annoying smirk until I was stuck between him and the car. I had to fight to keep my lip from curling into an unlady like snarl.
"I think you need to keep walking." I said sassily and firmly.
"Come on, mami. Don't put it out there if you don't want it appreciated." He made a grab at my waist. I snorted and pushed him off.
"I don't hook up with boys I can beat, so why don't you scuttle back upstairs and go play with your whores, huh?" I flicked my head in the direction of the elevators and turned my head back towards my Skyline.
He grabbed my upper arm and jerked me to face him. He was obviously just as angry as I was. I glanced around to see my little corner of the garage was almost empty except for a few guys that would never help me. Out of options, I drew my left arm back and popped him straight in the jaw. The hit sent him reeling.
"I think you got your answer." Han's voice sounded from beside me. I watched Morimoto pick himself up, adjust his leather jacket and leave. Spanish curse words swirled in my brain as I glared at his retreating back while he stalked off in the other direction. Han wrapped his arm around my waist. I tensed when he touched me, still glaring at Jackass's back.
"Told ya you were a fireball." I looked at him and we both chuckled. My anger dissipated as soon as it came with Morimoto gone. He pulled me away from my car and back into the more crowed section of the garage.
"He deserved it." I mumbled. I ran my fingers over my newly bruised knuckles.
"Can't argue there." Han replied amiably.
"Aren't you so glad Sean and I just yell at each other?" I asked perkily. Han grinned and tilted his head so he could see my evil smirk.
"Something tells me that doesn't work on Sean."
"You got that right."
As Han pulled me towards the elevators I noticed a large amount of people were staring at us. I knew none of them saw me punch Jackass. I glanced at Han to see if he noticed, but he was too busy eating a bag of chips. He felt my stare and offered me the bag. I shook my head.
He ignored the few models that called out greetings and pushed me into the elevator. I shifted my weight nervously as the elevator pulled us upward. I always hated the elevators at the parking garage. They swayed and creaked all the way up and were usually way past their weight limit. Han still had his arm around me and noticed me tense.
"There are a lot of rumors flying around about you." He commented as he rubbed my back slightly to make me relax.
"Do I want to know what they are?" I asked hesitantly. He glanced at me for a second before his lips spread into a grin.
"You're DK's other woman. You're one of Kamata's top people's mistress, but you're having a fling with me." The huff I held in on the first one slipped one the second. Han chuckled. "You came to Tokyo to take DK's title. You're a bad ass mafia hit woman whose been spending the last couple of months trying to seduce me." I rolled my eyes.
'These people need a life- or a hobby or-something. They have entirely too much time on their hands if they're starting these rumors." Han and I started laughing.
"Want to start a few more?" He looked at me with a sly grin. I smirked and put my hands on his chest. He leaned down to kiss me. Right before the elevator opened, he decided it would be a great idea to grab my ass.
The elevator had been open for a good ten seconds before I pulled away. I gave him a smirk and slipped past him into the crowd near the starting line. I could feel the crowd start to buzz as I made my way past. I ignored the whispers and stares as I started to scan the rows of cars near the starting line. I found a red Toyota Chaser that had a lot of potential.
I forced myself not to look back towards Han. I knew after our little display he would have no less than four women hanging off his arms. They seemed to be drawn to him even more since the rumors got started about us after his birthday. After watching Neela and DK for a while I decided my best chance of being with Han would be disinterest. It was actually working.
To be such a stoic, loner type that gave up the spotlight to be on the fringe of things, he hated to be ignored.
"Like what you see? I know I do." A deep, amused voice sounded from left. A Japanese guy in sagging jeans and a wife beater smirked at me from his spot leaning on the trunk of the car.
"Your Chaser?" He nodded. "I'm running an '89 Skyline. Race me."
"Can I at least get your name beautiful?" He ran his hands through his spiked hair and smirked at me.
"If you beat me." I replied smoothly. I was getting extremely annoyed with guys his type.
"Is that really a possibility, sweetheart?" He started laughing. I had to fight to keep the smug look off of my face. I loved beating cocky guys; they were always funny to watch at the finish line.
"Why don't you find out?" I retorted.
"Look honey, I ain't seen you around here, so you must be new. The girls around here don't race. They just look nice for the boys." His smooth, accented voice was slimy with condescension. I held my ground in front of him.
At that point, it wasn't about needing a new car anymore. I was planning on winning by such a length he'd never be able to show his face in this scene again.
"You are obviously one of the wannabes that stand beside their car instead of driving them if you don't know who I am." I shot back. I was simmering with anger. I fought to hold it all in to use during the race instead of starting a fight.
"Why don't you go find a guy to screw and leave racing to the big boys." He suggested through clenched teeth and gestured to himself.
"Like yourself? Boy, I don't think you can handle me." I answered. His eyes practically bugged out of his head. Ha, two points for me.
"Just put your money where your mouth is and race her." DK drawled from the side. He had apparently been standing there a while. The guy muttered an answer and stalked over to check his engine over.
"I totally had that." I hissed at him as I walked back toward the elevators. Han and I made eye contact briefly. He shook his head at me with a grin. Apparently he heard that too.
"I noticed. You have caused a lot of trouble tonight." He commented. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Blame your girlfriend. She dressed me." I responded as I jabbed the elevator button multiple times hoping it would get there faster. It finally did and I stepped in. DK made sure he got the last word in before the door closed.
"You'd better beat him. You represent me after all."
Z
The crowd exploded into cheering as I slid to a stop after a 90 degree spin. The Skyline was barely hanging on, but I had been so far ahead from the starting line it didn't matter. I was out of my car and accepting congratulations before he even appeared at the top of the ramp.
Morimoto was glaring at me from the sidelines with an obviously purple jaw. His usual entourage of weirdly dressed skanks were clinging to his sides and obviously babying his new injury. Neela cut her eyes at Morimoto, then Han, then back to me with a spreading smirk that said she was going to get every detail out of me tomorrow.
"Reiko. Reiko-chan." I called. She pushed through the people when she noticed I was trying to get her attention. Being short in crowds really wasn't fun.
"Need me to take the Skyline?" she asked in accented English.
"Do you mind?" I had mentioned her taking home for me earlier, but I wanted to make sure she still could.
"No. I got it. Good job." She smiled and stepped off so the loser could hand me his keys. He forcefully pushed them into my hand.
"Pleasure doing business." I said flatly. He shot me one last glare before he headed towards the elevators. I heard one of his friends yell, "Dude, she's Yakuza." at him.
"You are all kinds of trouble tonight." Han teased and came to stand beside me.
"Yeah, well." I responded. "Whose idea was it to spark some rumors." I played with the keys in my hand.
"We have time to start a few more." He responded.
"I think that's enough for one night." Reiko reappeared off to the side. I slid into the driver's seat and grabbed my phone from the cup holder and also the gun I kept in the glove box. I shoved it in the top of my boot so it wasn't noticeable.
I let Han give me a peck on the lips before I got into my new Chaser. I felt his eyes on me as I adjusted the seat and the mirrors. I shot him one last smirk before starting the car and shooting back down the ramp with Reiko right behind me.
My phone buzzed beside me in the cup holder. I sighed and grabbed it before it went to voicemail.
"What, ho?" I asked jokingly. I thought about it for a second and really hoped it was Neela on the other end and Kamata about to bitch me out for my obvious closeness with Han. I heard her giggle and let out a sigh of relief.
"Who you calling ho? You have a lot of explaining to do."