Title:Blazing.Part 1 Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Rating:PG http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/5879 Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought 11/3/01 "Woman was created from the ribs of man Not from his head to top him Nor from his feet to be walked upon She was made from his side to be his equal From beneath his arms to be protected From very near his heart to be loved." --Anonymous-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chiba Mamoru,an 18 year old Azabu Tech Academy student walked lazily into the Crown Cafe Arcade.Lifting his sun glasses from his face,he waved at his bestfriend,Furuhata Motoki. "Motoki-kun,so this is where you always disappear off to after school." grinned Mamoru. "Hey,Mamoru-kun."waved Motoki enthusiastically."Like my new part-time job??" "Why didn't you tell me??And the others???Seiya-kun thought you were sneaking off to see a new girlfriend or something." "Maybe I am."replied Motoki nonchalantly. "Nani??Are you really???"asked Mamoru,dropping his books on the counter and settling in one of the swivelling chairs. "Iie...not really.But I've had my eye on this one for quite awhile." grinned Motoki. "So,who is she??" "Her name is Reika.She always comes in to meet her cousin here on Thursdays." "You've been spying."stated Mamoru. Motoki shrugged helplessly."Her cousin is Aino Minako.Goes to Juuban High." "I was wondering why you took a job so far from your home."mused Mamoru. The bell jingled,signifying the entrance of customers. "That's her.Don't turn around!!Just turn slowly.Don't make it so obvious!!"chastised Motoki as he nodded towards the brunette who entered with a blonde with flowing hair.They were chattering animatedly. "Hi Motoki-san!!"called out both girls. "Hey Reika,Minako!!Your usuals??"asked Motoki. They nodded in reply and took a seat in one of the nearby booths. "Got to move.Duty calls."smiled Motoki giving a mock salute. Mamoru grinned wryly."Or in this case...love calls." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somewhere else... Kou Seiya,Kou Taiki and Kou Yaten,three cousins were in a heated argument with a guy. "Chiba Mamoru can beat anyone from your team anyday!!"exclaimed Seiya towards the blonde in a loud whisper. The man was dressed in a Mugen Gakuen High uniform.He glared at the three."Oh really??I'm very interested to meet the legendary Chiba Mamoru of Gold Speed." Seiya smirked."We can see how good your Silver Stars are." "Name your place."hissed the man. "Cherry Hill,tomorrow,12 midnight."said Seiya. "Done.We'll meet you there."called the man as he walked away from them. "Make sure you be there!!!"shouted Seiya after him. Taiki sighed."Great...now we have to battle the Silver Stars." "It's not so bad."said Yaten. "Yeah...it's not so bad.But how do you tell Mamoru-kun???"asked Taiki turning to Seiya. Seiya looked back and forth between his two cousins and scratched his head."I'm...um...not sure." Taiki and Yaten gave a groan in dismay. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Motoki smiled as he conversed with Reika.Minako was playing a racing game in the arcade.Mamoru sipped his drink and shook his head in amusement.Turning to see the girl's cousin,one hand holding his drink, walked towards Aino Minako who was engrossed in winning the game. When he reached her,a sign saying 'winner' was blinking brightly across the screen. "You're very good."commented Mamoru politely. Minako turned and smiled at him."Arigatou.I guess I'm just a natural." smiled Minako. "I guess so." "I can see Motoki,likes my cousin."said Minako boldly. Mamoru chuckled."Is it that obvious???"he asked trying to hold back his mirth. "Very."answered Minako with a giggle. "Chiba Mamoru."said Mamoru holding his hand out. "Aino Minako."smiled Minako taking hold of Mamoru's hand and giving it a firm handshake. At that moment,Seiya,Yaten and Taiki rushed into the arcade tiredly as they panted,trying to regain their breath. Mamoru raised an eyebrow at their arrival.They had been running...Yaten hated running..."Gomen,Aino-san.Please excuse me.I see some friends of mine have just entered."said Mamoru. "Good day,Mamoru-san."nodded Minako. Mamoru walked towards the three panting cousins.Motoki noticed them and excused himself from Reika. "What happen to you three???Some wrestler chasing you??"grinned Motoki. "Don't...-pant-..laugh,..-gasp- Motoki-kun.Why..-pant- in the world... did you choose..-gasp- such a far place to work???And one so difficult too??"asked Seiya breathlessly. "It was..-gasp- Seiya's...-choke-..fault."wheezed Yaten. "Waa-ter..."gasped Taiki. "Hai,nice to see you too,Seiya-kun.Poor Yaten-kun."laughed Motoki. "So...what's wrong??"asked Mamoru as he and Motoki helped them to one of the empty booths in the far corner. "Let us catch our -gasp- breath first.Do you think we could get..-wheeze- something to drink,Motoki-kun??"asked Yaten as he flopped down on the seat. "Hai,of course."nodded Motoki rising and striding towards the bar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When Motoki returned with their drinks,the three cousins immediately grabbed for the glasses. Gulping down their drinks,they sighed in relief. "Now...can you tell us why you show up here out of breath like you've just run the cross country marathon??"asked Mamoru. The three stared at each other. "You tell him,Seiya.It was your fault anyway."sighed Yaten. Seiya glared at his cousins. Seiya turned to Mamoru."Okay...don't get angry.You see,we sorta accepted a challenge to race at Cherry Hill tomorrow night,against a team called the Silver Stars." "NANI???!!What did you say????"exclaimed Mamoru. "Without consulting us???"asked Motoki. "Seiya!!!"they exclaimed in unison. "No need to shout my ears off.The guy was waiting for us.Wanted to know about you."shrugged Seiya. "So we got into an argument."continued Taiki. "And yadda yadda yadda...the next thing you know,we're going to race against the Silver Stars."finished Yaten still looking at his empty glass. Mamoru groaned. "Seiya you baka..." The bell jingled.Motoki looked up and saw Reika and Minako walk out, still chatting and oblivious to the the three out of breath guys sitting with them."Shimatta."cursed Motoki. "How could you just accept a race without thinking???"continued Mamoru,oblivious to Motoki,whose attention was straying. "Yeah!!I was going to ask Reika-chan to go out on a date with me tomorrow night too!!"added Motoki. "Reika???"echoed the three in curiousity. Motoki clamped both hands over his mouth,a bright red flush staining his face in embarrassment."Oops..." Mamoru laughed and slapped his friend on the back. "Too bad Motoki-kun.Looks like you blew the lid off your secret." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mamoru dropped onto his couch and closed his eyes with a sigh.Listening to the fluttering of the thin drapes behind him,he released his breath. Feeling restless,he stood up and walked towards the balcony and leaned on the railing,looking at the peaceful picture Tokyo made with the setting sun.How Seiya could have so brashly agreed to a challege,was beyond him.But then...it was a Friday tomorrow.It was a weekend.Luckily. He thought about his car sitting down in the apartment house parking lot.He would have to tune her up.... *Ojii-san.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mamoru's car screeched to a stop at Cherry Hill,12 midnight.Seiya and the others were already there.But there was no sign of the Silver Stars. Getting out of his car,Mamoru acknowledged his friends. "So...where are the Silver Stars??"asked Mamoru looking expectantly at his friends. Motoki shrugged.Yaten scratched his head,Taiki frowned and Seiya shook his head. Mamoru blew out his breath in exasperation.The Silver Stars were late... Leaning against his car,Mamoru absent-mindedly stroked the car.His thoughts strayed to memories of why he'd first taken up illegal racing... As an orphan,Chiba Mamoru had had many heartbreaks and disappointments in his early life.His parents had died at a young age,leaving him with his grandfather who died when he was in his early teens,leaving a fortune to him which could only be accessed when he came of age. As soon as he could leave the orphanage,Chiba Mamoru had gotten himself an apartment and a part-time job while still attending school.He remembered the exhiliration and adrenaline rush when he first started racing.He had the most overwhelming sense of release and freedom. Headlights brought him back to the present.Three cars slowed to a stop. White,black and dark blue cars.They stepped forward,Seiya in front as he had challenged.Mamoru hung behind assessing the cars' speed. A tall figure stepped out of the car and stepped into the light. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Seiya took a deep breath.This was it.The Silver Stars were here. He watched in anticipation as a tall blonde figure stepped into the light.Leaving him to do a double take... Seiya gaped at the sight in front of him. The person who he had said the challenge face to face....who he had thought was a guy...was not a guy,but a girl!!! "Hi...you're punctual."smirked the figure. "You-..you're-you're a GIRL!!!"exclaimed Seiya agape. The girl's lips curled into a smile."I never said I was a guy." "Is this a joke????"asked Motoki. The girl glared at him."What??Girls can't participate in illegal racing???"she snapped irritated. "Really...Motoki-san.I never thought you to be the chauvinistic type." came a voice in the shadows. Aino Minako stepped into the light. "Minako-chan??"gaped Motoki. "Hello to you too,Motoki-san.Chiba-san."acknowledged Minako. Mamoru nodded his head."You too Aino-san." Four more girls stepped out of the darkness and into the little light provided by the moon and street lamps. Seiya,Yaten and Taiki gaped.Not believing their eyes. "The Silver Stars..."began Yaten. "Are GIRLS????" exclaimed Taiki. "This is definately the first time I've seen girls who participate in illegal racing."said Seiya. "Close your mouths.You're liable to swallow flies."snapped a girl with dark raven hair and flashing violet eyes. Seiya,Yaten and Taiki closed their mouths like goldfish. "I guess introductions are in order."smiled Minako. "This is,Tsukino Usagi,Tenou Haruka,Hino Rei,Kino Makoto,Kaiou Michiru and I am Aino Minako.We are the Silver Stars."smiled Minako as she stared at the members of Gold Speed. Mamoru took his place in front of the group and smiled coolly. "Very pleased to meet you."This is Furuhata Motoki,Kou Seiya,Kou Yaten, Kou Taiki and I am Chiba Mamoru."introduced Mamoru. The girl who was introduced as Tsukino Usagi spoke. "Pleased to make your acquaintance,Chiba-san." Mysterious ocean blue collided with sparkling sapphire blue.Mamoru took note of her appearence.Her blonde hair was tied up into two dumpling pigtails and she wore a sleeveless black pantsuit with an apronlike white shift with a slit up the side showing her black pantsuit. She looked young and sophisticated at the same time. "So...who shall be racing against whom??"asked Usagi. "Seiya will race."he answered. "Since it was his big mouth that started the challenge anyway."muttered Mamoru under his breath,turning to glare at Seiya in case of protest. Seiya stared at Mamoru and tried to babble a protest,but catching sight of Mamoru's glare silenced himself. Usagi smiled and Mamoru got the feeling she had heard his comment. "Then HARUKA,shall race.Since...SHE also had some fault in the WHOLE thing."said Usagi emphasizing certain words and turning her own glare on her friend. Haruka grinned sheepishly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tsukino Usagi stared on as Tenou Haruka got into one of the cars and gunned up the engine.She couldn't believe Haruka had gotten herself into a challenge like this without consulting the other members of the Silver Stars first.She thought back to her reaction when Haruka had told her... ~FLASHBACK~ "Usa-chan!!"called a voice. "Ruka-chan!Hey!!What are you doing here??"replied Usagi with a smile. "I need to talk with you and the others."said Haruka as she stopped in front of Usagi and one of her friends,Osaka Naru. Usagi frowned."But Rei-chan has extra-classes today." "I reeeally...really need to talk to you."said Haruka. Usagi sighed.Turning to Naru... "Naru-chan...gomen nasai,Ruka-chan needs to talk to me.I don't think I'll be going on that shopping trip.Please apologize to Keiko-chan and Natsumi-chan for me??" "It's alright,Usagi-chan.We can always meet up another day.See you tomorrow."grinned Naru as she walked off and waved back. Usagi smiled and returned the wave with a sigh. "So...let's go find Mako-chan,Mina-chan and Michi-chan.Then we'll wait for Rei-chan at the temple."said Usagi tilting her head in the direction of Juuban High. ~Later~ "Ruka-chan!!You did WHAT????!!"exclaimed the five voices in unison. "I got into a challenge with three members the Gold Speed group."said Haruka calmly. "Kami-sama...Haruka no baka!!"shouted Michiru slapping Haruka on the head. "And this challenge is tomorrow????"asked Minako. "Hai." "This is so short notice."groaned Makoto. "Haruka-chan...you are in so big trouble."growled Rei. ~END FLASHBACK~ "You all,know the rules,right?...Whoever's the first to reach back here,is the winner."said Motoki holding a flag in the middle of the two cars. "On your mark....get set...GO!!"shouted Motoki bringing the flag down. Usagi watched as both cars sped off. Mamoru stared after Seiya's car as it sped along with the Silver Stars's. He turned slightly to observe Tsukino Usagi's expression.There was none. Blue eyes that looked on blankly,not betraying a hint of emotion. He frowned.Wasn't she worried???? "Do you think Seiya-kun will win??"asked Taiki. Mamoru turned to face him."I don't know,Taiki-kun.This depends on his skill..."sighed Mamoru. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... What do you think???Email me please??? p.s.: Illegal racing is not a good habit.So please,don't try this at home. You could be arrested or get killed.