Ignition
by Ewen "Blackbird" Cluney
Episode 4: The Distant Finish Line -- Two Racing Hearts As One
[Kenji starts the engine and pulls up alongside the Skyline, and
Keiichi stands inbetween them. Cut to Kyosuke idly strumming his
guitar as he leans against the side of his car (now more sensibly
parked), with Toasty and Kimiko standing next to him. She offers
him a slice of toast, which he takes and takes a bite out of.]
Toasty: Kyosuke-san, why'd you do it this way?
Kyosuke: Kenji-kun still doesn't understand his car. Whether or
not he wins or loses isn't the real contest here; if he can see
through all the metal and plastic and come to a new
understanding, he will have won a more important victory.
Kimiko: You're being melodramatic again.
Kyosuke: [grins] I'm seeing what's really in front of me.
[Cut to Kenji sitting in the car, looking out the windshield.]
Nokia: Civiko and I...
Keiichi: Three!
Kenji: Huh?
Keiichi: Two!
Nokia: We were--
Keiichi: One!
[Kenji puts the pedal to the metal. Both cars speed out of their
starting places, flying past Keiichi. Cut to Kyosuke; he grins.]
Kyosuke: It's begun, little bro.
[Cut to Keiichi wearily walking up to Kyosuke.]
Keiichi: I... I sure hope you know what you're doing.
Kyosuke: I'm pretty sure.
Keiichi: You're sending your own little brother up against
Takashi the Demon, on a downhill race at that, and in a *stock*
EG6.
Kimiko: EG6?
Kyosuke: Honda Civic. [to Keiichi] That's no ordinary EG6.
Keiichi: What're you talking about? I looked under the hood -- it
can't have been more than a week out of the factory!
Kyosuke: [grin] Maybe we'll show you after the race.
[Kyosuke pulls out his cell phone. Cut to Kenji in the car; he's
keeping pace with Takashi's 32. Nokia pulls out a handset, plugs
it into a tiny jack behind her ear, and puts in on Kenji.]
Kenji: What the...?
Kyosuke (heard over the phone): Hey there little bro! Can you
hear me?
Kenji: I hear you.
Kyosuke: All RIGHT. You remember how to drift, right?
Kenji: Drift? You mean that crap where you make the car slide
around?
Kyosuke: Er... yeah. I taught you how to do that, if you'll
recall.
Kenji: No one else would teach me how to drive, so naturally you
had to add in all this extra crazy shit.
Kyosuke: Well, you'd better remember how if you want to have any
chance of winning.
[The two cars come up on a turn; the Skyline does a skilled drift
and keeps going, while the Civic slows down.]
Kyosuke: He'll overpower you at every last corner if you don't.
At the next one steer into the curve and brake a little and down-
shift so that the car starts skidding. Then -- and this is
important -- steer the *other* way so that your car straightens
itself out as you come out of the drift. You should be coming on
the next corner in a few seconds, so get ready.
[Kenji gulps, and sees a sharp turn coming up. He downshifts, and
enters a drift, and the hand-brake jumps up by itself for a
moment. The rear bumper taps the guard rail, but the car keeps
going and Kenji shifts up again as the car exits the curve. Cut
to Kyosuke and the others by the car.]
Kyosuke: Sounds like you did it!
Toasty & Kimiko: YAY!
Toasty: You can do it, Kenji-sama!
Kimiko: Give em hell, 'niichan!
[Kenji comes up on another curve and drifts again, coming closer
to the Skyline, and this time manages not to hit anything. Cut to
a view of the front of the Civic.]
Civiko Voice Over: I'm so happy! Kenji-sama, can you feel it too?
This excitement? Look out Ms. Skyline -- I'm gonna beat you!
[Cut to Kyosuke taking into the cell phone.]
Kyosuke: What'd I tell you! You *are* my little bro!
Kaoru: That's impressive, pulling off a drift without any
problems on his second try, but can he really improve enough to
survive against Takashi, much less beat that asshole?
Kyosuke: I wouldn't have let him go near this place if I didn't
think he could.
Kaoru: You *are* a madman.
Kyosuke: [into the phone] Watch out, little bro; there's a set of
five sharp curves up ahead -- that's your best chance to pull
ahead. They start on right and alternate, and you have to be
ready for the next turn as you're coming out of the current one.
[Cut to Takashi sitting in his Skyline. He glances at the Civic
in his rear-view mirror and rolls his eyes.]
Takashi Voice Over: This little punk has potential, but right now
that's all. I'll end this at the curves ahead.
[Cut to a profile view of Kenji as he sits in the Civic.]
Kenji Voice Over: I've driven cars before -- when I got my
liscense Mom and Dad were always having me run errands -- but
this is so much different... It's like before I was fighting with
the car to get it do what I wanted and now... now we're working
together.
Kenji: Here it comes.
[Cut to an outside view of the car as it drifts into the first
curve.]
Civiko Voice Over: Kenji-sama... Do you know that I'm helping
you?
[The Civic comes out of the drift and begins drifting the other
way, getting very close to the Skyline.]
Civiko: It's really hard for me to drive by myself, but you're
better than you think you are, and when I help you steer and
brake just a little bit, you're even better than that!
[The Civic drifts right again, this time doing the drift so that
it's parallel with the Skyline.]
Kenji: I'm... I'm right next to him in the drift!
Kyosuke: YES! Now's your chance! You'll have the inside! If you
can power out of the curve just right you can pull ahead of
him!!!
[As the two cars come out of the drift, the Civic accelerates.]
Civiko Voice Over: I don't care if my engine has to work extra
hard if I'm with you. We can win this together!
[Cut to Takashi watching the Civic pull ahead of him through his
windshield.]
Takashi: This is where your little joyride ends, you little brat.
[Cut to Kenji in the car.]
Kenji: I pulled ahead! I did it!
[Cut to the Civic drifting through the next curve. As that's
happening, the Skyline suddenly accelerates a bit more, and taps
the side of the Civic's rear end. In slow motion the Civic begins
to go into a spin. Kenji watches in shock as the Civic moves
towards the edge of the road. As it does, Takashi's Skyline
drives past, and Takashi regards Kenji with a malicious grin.]
Kenji Voice Over: That... ASSHOLE! Can't he win without playing
dirty?!
Civiko Voice Over: NO! It can't end like this! I don't care what
happens to me, but Kenji-sama... I'll protect you!
[Kenji sees the gear shift suddenly move on its own -- into
reverse. There's an awful sound of grinding gears. The hand brake
jumps up for just a moment, and as the car's spin has it
backwards, it suddenly pulls back on its own power, drifting into
place so that it faces forward.]
Kenji: What the...?!
Car: <HONK!>
[Kenji blinks and realizes that the car has recovered and is
facing forward; he shifts into first gear and slams on the
accelerator.]
Kenji Voice Over: I... I could've been killed, but...
Civiko Voice Over: Owwww... Shift up soon; my first gear's gonna
hurt for a while.
[Cut to Takashi driving along.]
Takashi: Too easy. I'll pull up to the finish line an hour before
he crawls out of his wreck. I am unbeatab--
[Takashi stops short and looks at his rear-view in shock as he
sees the Civic's headlights coming up from behind; for some
reason the headlights seem to be gleaming a predatory red.]
Takashi: Impossible!!!
[Cut to Kyosuke on his cell phone.]
Kyosuke: [to those around him] The Demon tried to run him off the
road.
Kaoru: What'd I tell you?
Kyosuke: But it didn't work.
Keiichi: WHAT? _HOW_?
Kyosuke: [grins] Pure audacity.
[Cut to Kenji behind the wheel; he's coming up behind the rear of
the Skyline again.]
Kenji: Now I know where he got that nickname; by being a cheating
bastard.
[The Civic suddenly accelerates.]
Kenji: What're you doing?!
[Cut to Takashi as he drives; his car suddenly jerks forward.]
Takashi: You want to try to beat me at my own game?!
[Cut to Kenji.]
Kenji: Damnit! Don't provoke him! We barely survived one of his
side-swipes!
Car: [dejected] <honk...>
[The Civic jerks backwards.]
Kenji: What'd I tell you!? He's gonna try and kill us again!
Kyosuke: I know his type -- his kind give street racing a bad
name.
Kenji: Since when did street racing have a good name?
Kyosuke: Never mind that; the road is pretty wide up ahead so
you'll have more room to avoid if he attacks. Try to take that
opportunity to pull ahead again and stay ahead.
[Cut to an overhead view as the two cars pull onto a wide,
straight section of road. The two cars jockey for position, the
Skyline trying to block the Civic from pulling ahead whenever
possible. Cut to Kenji.]
Kenji: Damnit! No matter what I do he blocks me!
Kyosuke: Think outside the box.
Kenji: This is no time for stupid cliches!
Kyosuke: You *have* an opportunity; you need to capitalize as
soon as possible.
[Cut to a view of the front of the Civic.]
Civiko Voice Over: I'm sorry, Kenji-sama... I lost my temper...
If only we could pull ahead... Wait! I know what to do!
[Cut to a view from behind the two cars; the Civic starts moving
to the left and the Skyline moves to block, but the Civic
suddenly veers right. Cut to Kenji looks at the wheel, which
seems to be moving by itself. Cut to the cars; the Skyline moves
right again, but by that time the Civic is already pulling up
alongside the Skyline -- by driving with two wheels going onto
the shoulder of the road. Takashi scowls and tries to shove the
Civic off the road completely. The two cars clash against each
other with an unpleasant scraping sound.]
Civiko Voice Over: No you don't! I won't lose now!
[The Civic pushes back, and with more scraping pulls ahead.]
Civiko Voice Over: OW OW OW OW OW!
[The Skyline's stability is thrown off and Takashi struggles for
control as Kenji pulls ahead.]
Civiko Voice Over: YAHOO!
[Cut to Kenji.]
Kenji: That was insane... but it worked.
Kyosuke: I knew you'd find a way. If you can stay ahead and keep
him from bumping you then you'll have this won.
Kenji: Right. But you're helping me pay for the repairs.
Kyosuke: Repairs?
Kenji: A new paint job _and_ some body work at the very least.
[Cut to Takashi, who is fuming.]
Takashi: IMPOSSIBLE! That little PUNK is going to DIE!!!!!!
[Takashi guns the engine, gradually coming closer and closer to
the Civic.]
Takashi: End of the road, little brat!
[Cut to an overhead view; the Skyline closes in on the Civic, but
the Civic suddenly goes into a drift. The Skyline makes a feeble
attempt to turn, but it's going far to fast. Cut to Kenji; he's
startled by a terrible sound of scraping metal and screeching
tires.]
Kyosuke: What was that?!
Kenji: <sigh> I think that was the Skyline.
Kyosuke: Pft. That idiot lost his temper. You'll be able to take
it easy from here.
[Kenji heaves a sigh of relief. Cut to an outside view of the car
as it drives along at a more leisurely pace.]
Civiko: Kenji-sama... we did it! We won! Together!
[Cut to the Civic pulling up at the finish line. The street
racers and spectators look on in awe as Kenji climbs out of his
car. A cheer goes up from the crowd -- except for a small
contingent that grumbles as they get into their cars and drive
off. Kenji finds himself surrounded by all sorts of people.]
Kaoru: You actually beat Takashi the Demon! If you want a place
with the Black Thunders, it's yours.
[Kenji looks at Kaoru, pats the hood of the Civic, and shakes his
head.]
Kenji: I think she's had more than enough excitement.
Kaoru: When word gets out that you beat him you'll have
challengers coming out of the woodwork.
Kenji: You think I care?
Keiichi: Come on Kaoru; he isn't a street racer. He'd never have
come here if not for us.
[Kyosuke & co. come up behing them.]
Kyosuke: Very true.
Toasty: It's all your fault that Civiko got so dented up.
[Kaoru and Keiichi turn around and <gulp> in unison.]
Kimiko: Don't think we'll let you get away with this.
Keiichi: Now, I'm sure we can settle this peaceful-- eep!
[Keiichi stops short as he sees Kyosuke, Kimiko, Toasty, and
Nokia looming over him.]
Kenji: I can call them off -- _if_ you pay for the damages to my
car.
Kaoru: I'm not sure we can--
Kenji: Think of a way. Fast.
[Cut to Kaoru and Keiichi lashed to the hood of Kyosuke's car.
Kyosuke and Kimiko dust off their hands and nod in satisfaction.
Cut to Kenji looking at the Civic.]
Kenji: I never thought driving could be like that.
[The Civic suddenly glows red, transforming into Civiko.]
Keiichi: Kaoru, look, over there!
Kaoru: [annoyed] I can't! At least not without breaking my own
neck!
Keiichi: His car... turned into a girl?!
Kaoru: Pft. Now you're seeing things.
Keiichi: I'm serious!
Kyosuke: [smacking Keiichi] Shut up; they need to be left alone
right now.
[Cut to Civiko as the stands before Keiichi, looking a little
scraped up. She looks into his eyes and smiles.]
Civiko: Kenji-sama...?
Kenji: ... Hm?
Civiko: Thank you.
Kenji: For what?
Civiko: I always wanted to be able to drive like that. I've never
had so much fun before.
Kenji: Hm.
Civiko: Did... did you have fun too?
Kenji: [deep breath] I was about to crap my pants a lot of the
time there.
Civiko: Aww...
Kenji: But... I guess... I did enjoy it sort of. You... you were
helping me drive, weren't you?
Civiko: [blushes] Y-yeah... Please don't be mad! I only wanted to
help you, Kenji-sama...
Kenji: [deep breath] ... Th...
Civiko: Hm?
Kenji: Thanks.
[Civiko looks up at him, smiling and crying, and throws her arms
around him. He looks at her for a long moment. His fists
gradually un-clench, and he very slowly puts his arms around
her.]
Civiko Voice Over: I never ever imagined it was possible to be so
happy! Kenji-sama, thank you!
[Cut to Kimiko and Nokia climbing into the car. Kyosuke looks
around and sees Toasty serving toast to the spectators.]
Toasty: Anyone else want some fresh toast? I brought a whole loaf
of bread along just in case!
Spectator #1: What's with her and _toast_?
Spectator #2: Who cares? She's _really_ cute.
[Cut to Takashi's battered car pulling up in front of Kenji and
Civiko. Civiko pauses for a moment, and rests a hand on the
Skyline's hood. She then walks over to Takashi's window.]
Takashi: What the hell do you want?
Civiko: I didn't appreciate what you tried to do, and neither
does she.
Takashi: ... "She"?
Civiko: You used to take good care of her -- so much so that I
was jealous when I first saw her -- but now you hurt her so much
and I don't think you even know why.
Takashi: You mean my car.
Civiko: [nods] She still wants to be there for you, but if you
want that to happen you have to treat her right.
[Takashi pauses, looking at his car, and then at the scrapes on
Civiko. Momentarily flash to the image of the scraped Civic.]
Takashi: Who... _what_ are you?
Civiko: [smiles] I think you already guessed. [to the Skyline] I
don't think I like racing too much, but I had to try it out at
least once, but maybe we'll meet again some time anyway.
[Cut to Kyosuke driving along; Toasty is riding shotgun and
Kimiko and Nokia are in the back, and Kaoru and Keiichi are still
tied to the trunk.]
Kimiko: Wow. That was an amazing night, even for you.
Kyosuke: [smiles] Hopefully the first of many.
Nokia: Do you think... Kenji-sama...?
Kyosuke: Don't expect him to change overnight.
Kimiko: But he and Civiko--
Kyosuke: Tonight he took his first step down the road he needs to
travel.
Nokia: Then... we'll do whatever we can to help.
Toasty: That's right!
Kyosuke: Neither of you would want to have him to yourselves?
Nokia: [blushes] I... it might be nice. But I'm not human --
that's not what I really want.
Kyosuke: Oh?
Nokia: [smiles] I'm a cell phone; I want to be useful to him.
Toasty: Me too! [holds a pair of slices of toast in each hand] By
making toast!
Kimiko: T-toasty-chan...
Toasty: Well... well I wanna' get lots of practice in for
tomorrow morning...
Kimiko: What's there to practice?
Toasty: Hey, making toast just right takes very careful control
of the heating duration and the type and consistency of spread
relative to the heat of the toast--
[Cut to Kenji driving the Civic; he sighs, and then smiles. Cut
to Civiko sitting on the couch. Kyosuke walks up behind her.]
Kyosuke: Hey. How're you doing?
Civiko: I... I've never been so happy. ... I just hope Kenji-sama
can feel the same way.
Kyosuke: Why don't you go check on him?
Civiko: [blushes] B-but... I mean... I couldn't and besides he
usually locks his room.
Kyosuke: Are you sure he did tonight?
Civiko: Huh? Well... I didn't check or anything, but...
Kyosuke: Better be sure before you give up.
Civiko: Uh... [smiles, stands up] Thank you, Kyosuke-san. I will.
[Cut to Civiko coming to the top of the stairs. She creeps up to
a door, rests her hand on the doorknob, and takes a deep breath.
Very slowly, she turns the knob; as the knob turns and the door
opens, she smiles and slips into the room. Cut to a mysterious
figure walking through a dark hallway. The figure opens a door
and walks into a room lit by occult-looking candles and with a
pentagram inscribed on the floor. A smaller figure in a dark robe
slowly turns from its study of an ancient grimoire.]
Richmond: Mistress, I've found out about something you might
find--
Mistress: You again. Just go _away_.
Richmond: But--
Mistress: Iya-da.
Richmond: My lady--
Mistress: Iya-da.
Richmond: Please, I want to tell you abou--
Mistress: Iya-da.
Richmond: There may be a--
Mistress: Iya-da!
Richmond: You'll want to hear abou--
Mistress: Iya-da!
Richmond: <sigh>
Mistress: Iya-da.
Richmond: But I didn't--
Mistress: That one was pre-emptive.
Richmond: A VALKYRIE STONE!
Mistress: ...
Richmond: There's a rumor going around among the street racers; I
may be able to find out the source of it.
Mistress: <sigh> If you bring me the Stone I'll take you back and
let you serve me. Otherwise get out of my sight and *don't* come
back; if you do, there won't even be enough to make a book end
out of.
[Cut to Kenji lying in bed in the morning; he smiles as he stirs.
He slowly opens his eyes and turns on his side to see... the
Civic parked next to his bed. His eyes open wide as he sits up.]
Kenji: Civiko?
Car: ... <honk?>
Kenji: We're gonna have to have a talk.
Car: [apprehensively] <H-honk...?>
Kenji: [glances at the clock] _After_ I get some more sleep.
[Kenji flops back onto the bed and closes his eyes. Fade to
white.]
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ewen "Blackbird" Cluney blackbird@blackbird.nu
Blackbird's Domain http://www.blackbird.nu/
The Official Thrash Home Page http://thrash.blackbird.nu/
Knight Kevlar of the Immortal Frog Silver Knight of Mihoshi
"Be nice to me; I might just develop
psychokinetic powers and destroy Tokyo!"
------------------------------------------------------------------
.---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
| Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
| Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
| Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject |
`---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'