AN: I surprised myself with the ease in writing this next chapter. This one is a bit fast pace action. I don't know if I did the scenes justice. Also, since Shimizu sensei didn't provide a name for Konno-kun, I made up one. I hope his name fits his personality. Also, if this happens to be a real person's name, I apologize now. This is work of fiction and does not pertain to real people or places.

Kudos to those who found my Initial D obsession; can you guess whom my guest character is? I even name Konno after him. ^_^

A warning before hand: Yes, it is another cliffhanger. But look at it this way, Two chapters left and an epilogue. This fic will be over by next week! So look for the continuation this weekend. Please don't kill me and enjoy!

-Takamiya's POV-

Takamiya broke into a run. He hadn't the faintest idea why he felt such urgency to give chase, but his heart was pounding relentlessly faster with each step.

His thoughts were a tangled mess. The events seem so disjointed. None of it made any sense. What was Kuroda thinking? Why didn't he call Takamiya when Izumi showed up? Why didn't the editor answer the hotel suite's phone? What was the reason Izumi came to seek him out? Where is Kuroda taking Izumi? Who was the fellow in the baseball cap? And more importantly, why was Izumi unconscious?

So many questions were left unanswered as his feet carried him down and across the streets with Izumi's friend falling close behind. They dodged pedestrians and speeding vehicles along the way. Traffic on the local streets was getting lighter as the rush hour traffic descended onto the highways. The few blocks felt so far away from the hotel lobby entrance. In the distance, he saw Kuroda tipped the bellboy and hop into the passenger seat. The guy with the baseball cap had already moved into the driver seat. The engine started and the car pulled out to the curb, waiting for entry to the speeding traffic.

They were only a block away. Takamiya wanted to intercept them; some part of him felt blind panic in not knowing where Kuroda was planning to take his ex-lover. He was almost there. Takamiya dash across a garage opening from a business building and was pushed aside abruptly. He grunted upon impact to the ground. He heard a groan atop him followed suit.

A black Nissan Skyline slammed its breaks, nearly missing a head on collision with the translator. The driver poked his head out the rolled down window and asked, "Sorry. Didn't see you! Are you two okay?"

Takamiya shook himself from the impact and took a moment to gather his wits. He glances over at Izumi's friend, both a tangle of limbs on the concrete sidewalk. He took inventory of the other, cited no injuries from both of them and replied, "We're good. Sorry about this."

The driver nodded in understanding and pointed out before he drove off, "Be careful next time."

Both men untangle themselves and got to their feet. As they dusted off their clothes, Takamiya moved his gaze over to the hotel lobby and panic ensues. His eyes danced around the vicinity, trying to locate the missing van. It was nowhere in sight.

He was close to cursing. What could they do now?

"Let's hop back on the bike and search around. They couldn't have taken him far down that street. There's a few pocket of bumper to bumper traffic that heads towards the highway that way. It'll probably slow them down. Beyond that is the entertainment section of this district."

Without waiting for a reply from him, Izumi's friend began running back to the parked motorcycle in the alley. Takamiya felt chagrin in thinking ill of the fellow as he follow suit. The other was being very helpful in a time when panic wasn't a solution. Begrudgingly, the translator began to warm up to the fellow. Whatever Izumi's relationship is with this guy, Takamiya realize his ex-lover would be in good hands.

They reach the motorcycle in no time to spare. Izumi's friend had already thrown on his helmet and gloves as he straddles the vehicle. The young man thrust the spare helmet to Takamiya and started the engine. The translator quickly did the same and held on tight as the vehicle roared to life before it entered the morning traffic with a screeching of tires.

A few blocks down, as they cruise along the way and looked between the side roads and cross sections, Takamiya felt compelled to apologize to his rival. He hadn't meant to be impolite throughout this whole debacle to a man he hardly knows. It wasn't the guy's fault for falling for Izumi. In fact, Takamiya felt he should thank the fellow for taking care of Izumi for him these past weeks and saving his life earlier. Thus with this in mind, Takamiya yelled through all the traffic noise in order to be heard, "Hey, thank you for saving me earlier…erm ..."

Takamiya felt embarrassed, he hadn't even bother to ask his rival's name and make a proper introduction. Where had all his manners fled to, he wondered. He needn't worry after all; it would seem this Konno fellow was very good in reading people's thoughts.

"Konno Takeshi at your service!" The young man yelled back then added with a tinge of humor, "Don't worry about it! We should be even now!"

Flummoxed by what the other said, Takamiya yelled back, "What do you mean, even!?"

Konno chuckled before he replied loudly, "I'm just glad you didn't hit me! From what Izumi said of you, I thought you were the jealous boyfriend type!"

Takamiya felt a flutter of warmth in his chest in thinking Izumi had actually talked about him. Still, it didn't make any sense from the way the other said it. He thought the other was with Izumi now and said so, "Aren't YOU his boyfriend!?"

The answer was immediate, "Ha! I wish! No matter what I did he still wouldn't give in! I'm still his best friend to his eyes! You are one lucky dog, you know that!?"

The translator couldn't help but plaster a stupid smile on his lips in hearing that. He didn't know the particulars of Konno's relationship with Izumi, but hearing his rival state that his ex-lover wasn't with him made Takamiya felt relieved despite the continue urgency in finding Izumi in this little adventure. Suddenly, realization hit. He thought the name Konno sounded familiar. "You're Konno-kun aren't you!? The guy that cheat off of Izumi in form 3-D!?"

"Why that little shithead! Is that what he tells people!?" Konno yelled in mock rage. Takamiya couldn't help chuckling at the other's words. He now understands what Izumi could potentially see in the guy. Regardless though, Takamiya felt bless he still has a chance with his former lover.

He was about to respond with something witty of his own but something else caught his attention. They had just past a main shopping center when he spotted a white van that looks like the one at the hotel lobby five blocks down a side street on his right. Seeing no other lead so far, Takamiya took no chances. He taps Konno on the shoulder and points in that direction.

Konno nods in understanding and doubles back in that direction. They resume their search, this time in silence; the seriousness of the chase absorbing their concentration with this new lead.
The white van was now seven blocks ahead and gaining distance due to a red light they had to stop at. As soon the green was lit, Takamiya couldn't help but yell, "Go faster, we're losing them!"

Even in all seriousness, the man still has the effrontery to laugh in amusement as Konno yelled back, "What happened to this being your 'last time on this death trap'?"

Takamiya decided to take his earlier praise back. Konno still gets on his nerves with his excessive humor.

For the remainder of the chase, they rode in silence as they followed the white van pass the main entertainment area to the red-light district. Then without notice, the vehicle had pulled to the side. Two rough looking men in brown construction jumpsuits were already waiting when Kuroda stepped out and open the side door. The two men immediately lifted the still sleeping Izumi out of the vehicle and carried him inside the building with Kuroda and the fellow with the baseball cap following behind.

Konno made haste to pass the next couple of lights and park behind the white van. Takamiya took off his helmet before it even stopped and jumped off. He looked up at the building and was astonished to learn they were in front of a love hotel. He shared a perplexed look with Konno and frowned. Whatever Kuroda was up to, Takamiya didn't like the implication of this place at all.

Without wasting anymore time, the translator race inside with Konno following close behind. The lobby was empty. Only a kiosk greeted them at the counter. They quickly scan the menu options. It was early still and the hotel had only a few rooms booked according to the key log on screen, possibly residuals from clients who stayed the night. Konno moved quickly to grab a notepad and pen in the phone booth nearby and hand it over to Takamiya. The translator quickly jots down the handful of room numbers that was booked, tore out the page, and they were off.

Luckily, three of the rooms booked were the cheaper rooms on the lower floors. The other two were suites in the highest floor. Remembering that there were five people who went in, they both came to the same conclusion that the group must be occupying one of bigger rooms.
Seeing as how the elevator was still lit on the top floor only confirm their speculations, Takamiya didn't bother to wait and took the stairs located at the side three steps at a time until they reach the seventh floor.

They were spared having to investigate which room when they heard muffled voices coming through from room 704. Takamiya was about to kick into the room when he was pulled back by Konno with a finger over his lips. The translator frowned and decided to acquiesce. Both men crouched down and put their ears to the door and listened.