This is only my second non-Ranma fic and I'd really like to hear a few 
opinions on it. I started it months ago, but only got around to finishing 
it today. I wrote it mainly because I really like Taiho Shichauzo and I've
never actually seen any fics about it. Anyway, I'm reasonably happy with 
it, but I can't shake the feeling that something is missing... Any 
suggestions would help.
                                                                - P-word.

==============================================================================
Clogged Sink Press Presents:

A Taiho Shichauzo (You're Under Arrest) Fanfiction:


                             Three Colours Blue:
                           Love, Friendship & Duty
  


By: Plunger

         All characters copyright of Kyousuke Fujishima, Bandai Inc. 
      Kodansha Inc. and Animeigo Inc., etc., etc., blah, blah, blah...
______________________________________________________________________________

[Story begins...]

Natsumi staggered into headquarters. Her head was aching abomnably from the
previous nights drinking session. She sincerely wished that she could be 
disciplined and organised like Miyuki, but that just wasn't her style. Where
Natsumi Tsujimoto went, mayhem, and severe migraine, invariably followed...

She shuffled down the hallway, hoping against hopes, that no-one would talk
or make any noise.

As luck, or ill luck, as the case may have been, should have it, Yoriko 
bounced cheerfully out of the cafeteria.

"Oh! Hello, Natsumi! How are you today?!" she chirped.

Natsumi cringed. Yoriko was her usual cheerful, happy, effervescent self, 
much to Natsumi's chagrin. She muttered a curt reply and staggered on.

Yoriko followed, wearing a concerned expression, "Are you alright, Natsumi?
You don't look so good."

"Just what I need to hear..." Natsumi replied flatly.

Yoriko was not to be put off so easily. "Did you have a big night out last
night?" she said merrily, as if just taking the hint.

"Yes!" Natsumi snarled, "I did! And now I have a hangover!"

Yoriko was visibly taken aback the Natsumi's tone, "Oh... I'm sorry... Would
you like a cup of coffee?"

Natsumi wandered off the down the corridor, "Yeah... Make it strong and 
black." she muttered.

Yoriko grinned and ran back into the cafeteria.

********************

Natsumi arrived in the locker room to find Miyuki waiting. 

Miyuki shook her head when she saw her partner's sorry state. "We must have
had a big night..." she remarked.

Natsumi managed a sick smile, "Dunno... I can't remember..."

Miyuki looked shocked, "Natsumi! How could you! Who knows what you did! And
with whom!"

Natsumi opened her locker, obscuring her face, "Don't worry... I can handle 
myself."

"That much is obvious!" Miyuki said, a frown crossing her face.

The locker door closed to reveal an annoyed expression on Natsumi's face, 
"What's your problem?!" she demanded.

Miyuki smiled wanly at her, "Nothing, really... I just think it's a little
irresponsible to be going out partying when you've got morning duty the
next day..."

Natsumi snorted, "Yeah, right... Funny coming from the girl who can't admit 
she's in love... *That's* irresponsible if you ask me!"

Miyuki blushed bright red and turned away. "That has nothing to do with it..."
she muttered, a flustered look on her face.

"Not half, it doesn't..." Natsumi cut back, "If it didn't, you wouldn't be 
complaining. You'd like to be partying, too... But instead you sit at home
waiting for that fool to call! He's not going to! He's too gutless! Why don't
you just-"

"HERE'S YOUR COFFEE, NATSUMI!" Yoriko shouted as she bounded into the room
with a cup.

Natsumi grimaced and clutched her head. "Don't do that!" she spat testily.

"Sorry." a rather subdued Yoriko replied, "I made it just like you asked!"

Natsumi put a spoon into the cup to stir it, and was rather surprised to 
have it stand up by itself. "What the..." she muttered. Taking a good look 
at the cup, she was able to see that the contents resembled a quicksandlike
coffee morass. "Yoriko..." Natsumi asked calmly.

"Yes?" Yoriko replied, a wide smile on her face.

Natsumi glared at her colleague's smiling visage, "Did you put any water in 
with this coffee powder?" 

"Huh?" Yoriko said, confused, "You said you wanted it strong so I put seven
spoons of powder in it!"

Miyuki looked into the cup, "What sort of spoon did you use?"

Yoriko winked, "A big one." 

Natsumi turned the cup upsidedown and watched as the coffee glob slowly slide
out and dropped to the floor. It hit the ground with a soggy sqealtch and 
spread out in a sticky puddle on the tiles.

Natsumi looked up, "Whaddaya know? It was liquid, after all!"

Miyuki frowned and said, "Look at the mess you made!" She paused to look at
her watch, "Oh, my! We're going to late for roll call! Hurry up and get 
dressed Natsumi! We can clean this up later!"

Natsumi immediately grabbed her clothes and, with a whirlwind of flying 
fabric, soon materialised in front of them in her uniform.

"That was fast." Miyuki noted.

Natsumi winked, "Natch! I was a chronic late riser in school. I had to learn
to dress fast!"

Miyuki rolled her eyes. Natsumi was so utterly irresponsible. It was a wonder
in itself that she had managed to get through the academy at all! She sighed
and grabbed Natsumi's scarf, "Let's go."

She dragged her partner out the door by the collar and carted her off down 
the hall with Yoriko following.

********************

Miyuki and Natsumi burst through the door and dived into the room. 

The Captain looked up from his clipbook, "Tsujimoto, Kobayakawa. You're late."
he said.

Miyuki stood up, "We're very sorry, Captain. Natsumi had a hangover and-"

"-I did not!" Natsumi countered, cutting her off.

Miyuki turned to her partner with an annoyed expression, "Oh?! And what would 
you call it? Morning sickness?! The way you play around it'd be no surprise!"

A murmur went through the room.

Natsumi glared at them and they shut up. She turned to Miyuki and leered at
her, "Now who's jealous?"

Miyuki coloured.

"Are you two quite finished?" 

Natsumi and Miyuki turned to see the Captain glaring at them, his arms 
crossed. If his expression was anything to go by, he was mad. The two girls
swallowed and sat down, trying to be as small and insignificant as possible.

********************

A little later, Natsumi and Miyuki were walking down to the garage to get
their patrol car.

"So..." Natsumi began, "What new improvements have we got this week?"

Miyuki turned with a smile, "Well... I've been boring a new block with  
larger cylinders for more low down power. I think if I can fit a blower
system in and add another turbo, I can get another hundred or so horsepower 
out of it."

"Just what we need..." Natsumi groaned, "Any chance of jump jets?"

"Maybe over the holidays..." her partner replied absently.

Natsumi stopped, a bemused expression on her face. She shrugged and ran to
catch up. 

They opened the garage to reveal a small black and white Honda hatchback. It 
didn't look like much, but it had been so thoroughly customised by Miyuki,
that Natsumi doubted if there was a single original part on it. Regulation,
this car was *not*.

Miyuki opened the drivers door and got in. Natsumi went around the back and
loaded her custom fold up motor scooter into the back. Like the car itself,
the scooter was no slouch in the speed department either. With an electronic
fuel injection system and a nitro booster courtesy of Miyuki, it was more than 
a match for most racing bikes any day, and had caught a quite few in it's 
time. Natsumi gave it an affectionate pat as she closed the hatch door.

Getting in the passenger side, she grabbed her racing seatbelt and strapped
it into place. "Okay..." she said, "Let's go get us some bad guys!"

Miyuki nodded and turned the key. 

With a roar that would put most airliners to shame, the Honda leapt to life,
humming and vibrating erraticly.

"This car is hyperactive..." Natsumi muttered, rubbing her temples in pain.

Miyuki cocked her head, "That's odd... Cylinder six is out of sync... I'll
have to fix it when we get back."

Natsumi grunted disinterestedly, "Whatever... Let's go!"

Miyuki nodded and slammed the gear lever into first. She lifted her foot off
the clutch and the little car lurched forward with sickening speed. They
roared out of the garage and screamed through the carpark before launching 
themselves off the speedhump at the gate, and flying over the median strip
onto the far side of the road. 

"Ooooeer..." Natsumi groaned, "I feel ill... Just once, couldn't you drive 
normally?"

Miyuki smiled, "That's what happens when you go drinking... Besides, 
Karama-sensei said I need to keep practising!"

Natsumi groaned, "Okay, okay... Don't lecture... You're good, I'm bad, and I
get a migraine as punishment, right?"

Miyuki wrenched the steering wheel to the right, "Something like that..." 
she murmured, her expression intense.

********************

About an hour later, Natsumi and Miyuki's patrol car pulled up at a red light.

"This is dull..." Natsumi moaned, "I need some action."

"Are you sure your stomach could handle it?" teased Miyuki.

Natsumi threw her a dark glare and grimaced. Miyuki was right, she probably
wasn't up to it after all. Sometimes she wished that she could be organised
and well mannered and all that jazz that Miyuki made look so easy...

She sighed, the simple fact was that she was a party animal to the core. When
the fun called, she was helpless to resist. "Say..." she muttered, "Let's go
see the kids... Something usually happens when we go see them..."

Miyuki nodded silently and slammed her foot down on the accelerator. The 
patrol car skated away from the lights, the wheels desparatly trying to 
find grip as they spun on the road, leaving behind a think black trial of 
rubber that looked not unlike Natsumi's coffee.

********************

A short time later, they rolled to a stop near an elementary school. They got 
out of the car and looked around. Everything seemed to be quiet, but one could
never be quite sure in Bookutou district. For such a quite area, there were 
a surprising number of rambunctious drivers around.

The two policewomen walked over to the gate and looked in. As usual, there 
was a group of small children playing inside. Upon seeing the two unformed
figures, the children dropped they toys and ran over.

"Natsumi-oneechan! Miyuki-oneechan!" they all cried excitedly.

"Hiya, Kids." Natsumi said, crouching down. "How's it going?"

A little boy smiled and hugged Natsumi, "Good, oneechan. Why did you come to
visit? Is it your day off?"

Natsumi grinned, "I wish! If it was, I could be at home in bed sleeping it 
off!"

"Natsumi!" Miyuki chided, "Don't say that!"

Natsumi stuck her tongue out at her partner, "Relax... I know what I'm doing!"

Miyuki smiled as the children milled around Natsumi, all talking and chatter-
ing. Somehow, Natsumi was able to pay attention to all of them at the same
time and keep them under control. It was something that Miyuki could never
quite work out. Miyuki considered herself to be a proper adult and a much
better example to children than her partner, and yet the children seemed to
gravitate to Natsumi like scrap metal to a magnet. She smiled, maybe children
just liked other kids...

She sighed a little and turned back to the car. <I may as well have a look
at that misfiring cylinder while I'm here...> she thought. 

She opened the hood and looked inside. The engine compartment was utterly
crammed with extra bits and pieces that would not have featured in any manual.
indeed many of the customisations that Miyuki had done were considered down-
right dangerous. Miyuki fished around inside, checking various engine funct-
ions and toying with several setting.

"Don't you ever give it a rest?" said a voice from behind her.

Miyuki turned to see Natsumi walking back out. Her uniform looked rather 
battered and she appeared rather disheviled. In fact, it appeared that many
little hands had been tugging on her clothes from many directions at once.

Miyuki ignored the criticism and said, "Are you ready to go?"

Natsumi straightened herself out and got in, "Yep. Let's go."

Miyuki shut the hood and climbed back into the drivers seat. She started the
engine and put the car into gear. As she pulled away from the curb, Natsumi
waved to the children. 

"You're very good with kids..." Miyuki noted as evenly as she could manage.

Natsumi turned. Was that jealousy in Miyuki's voice? She blinked, "Well...
Yeah... I guess so..." she floundered, "I..um... I guess I like kids and they
seem to like me..."

Miyuki smiled mischeiviously, "Maybe motherhood would suit you..."

Natsumi rolled he eyes, "Don't wish that on me! Not yet, anyways... I don'
even have a boyfriend..." Natsumi sighed and then frowned at Miyuki, "Great...
Now I'm hung over AND depressed about my love life! Thanks alot!"

Miyuki grinned inwardly, teasing Natsumi was very enjoyable at times.

They pulled out onto the main road and cruised off towards the centre of 
town.

Natsumi tapped her fingers on the dashboard, "C'mon, c'mon... Action... 
Where are you?"

All of a sudden, the radio crackled to life with Yoriko's voice, "Attention!
Attention all cars! We have a runaway sports car speeding dangerously on
Morisato Drive. Apprehend at once!"

Natsumi grabbed the mic and, with a grin, said, "This is patrol three! We're 
on it!" Dropping the mic, she pressed a button, activating the siren.

Miyuki swung hard right and jumped across the median to take a side street.
Natsumi held on tightly as the little car roared through the narrow back 
alleys. They burst out onto a main road, just as a jet black Lambourghini 
Diablo screamed past. 

"That it!" Natsumi yelled, pointing at the fleeing European hot rod.

Miyuki skidded out onto the road and slammed her foot the floor. The tacho-
meter jumped into the red zone as the patrol car bolted forward.

As they sped along, they began to realise that they were not catching.

"Damn, that things is fast!" Natsumi noted as she held on for dear life.

Miyuki gripped the steering wheel tightly, her eyes narrowing at the back
of the speeding Lambourghini. It was fast. Too fast. Someone who knew a lot
about cars had obviously worked on that thing. 

For the first time in her career, Miyuki began to wonder if she could 
actually catch the other car. She steeled herself, taking confidence in her
mentor's teachings. She feathered the clutch with her foot and slammed the
stick into top gear. If this didn't make ground, nothing would...

Agonisingly slowly, the Honda began to pull the black car back. 

"You're doin' it!" Natsumi cheered, egging her partner on. "Get 'im, girl!"

Miyuki planted the accelerator to the floor as hard as it would go. Slowly
the tachometer rose through the scale of thousands of RPMs. 

"We're gaining!" Natsumi yelled excitedly, "Use the booster!"

"Not yet..." Miyuki grated, her face taut from concentration. She knew the
time... <NOW!> she thought, hitting a button on the dash. 

The patrol car lurched and then rocketed forward, travelling even faster
than before. They were rapidly gaining now, cutting the distance between
them.

"This one is over!" Natsumi said, grinning.

Suddenly there was an explosion from under the hood and the engine died.
Miyuki fought for control as the sudden loss of power unbalanced the car.
They swerved off to the side of the road and crashed into a large shrub.

For a moment everything was still...

Natsumi sat up, "Nice landing." she muttered, rubbing her head.

Miyuki shrugged. 

"What's that smell?" queried Natsumi, sniffing the air.

Miyuki frowned, "It smells like..."

Natsumi looked up to see smoke coming from under the hood. "Help!" she 
squawked, "We're on fire!"

They both leapt out of the car and grabbed fire extinguishers. They opened
the hood and filled it with fire retardant foam. 

After the smoke cleared, Natsumi wiped her sooty brow. "The Captain is going
to be foaming about this..." she quipped.

Miyuki gave her a withering glare and said, "That's the first time I've ever
lost a collar because of mechanical failure..."

Natsumi patted her on the arm, "Don' worry. You said that cylinder was faulty.
It's not your fault."

Miyuki sighed, "Yes, it is. I maintain this car... I should have checked it
more thoroughly..."

Natsumi laughed, "How?! By dismantling it and rebuilding it every night?!
You treat that car better than your roommate!"

Miyuki scowled, "That's because the car does not go out drinking until all
hours of the night and then come to work the next day with a hangover!" she
replied tersely.

Natsumi cringed at her partners sharp tone.

********************

A short time later, Ken and tow truck arrived. "Are you girls okay?" he asked
sternly. Natsumi saluted and, imitating his stern tone said, "Yes. We are. 
Why aren't you out chasing the 'ghini?"

"It's gone." he replied flatly, "Damned thing just disappeared... No-one else
could catch it once your `special' broke down..."

Miyuki hung her head, she had let everyone down. 

Ken saw this and rested his hand on her shoulder, "It's okay, Kobayakawa-san
These things happen... Not much you can do but make repairs and wait for 
another crack at them!" He said the last with a wry, knowing smile.

Miyuki smiled and rested her hand on his, "Thank you, Nakajima-san."

He nodded stiffly and walked back to his patrol bike, "Any time." He started 
it and, putting on his helmet, rode away.

The two girls watched him go. Natsumi's expression was amused, Miyuki's was
closer to longing.

********************

Some hours later, Natsumi stood in the garage wearing a bored expression.

"Five eights socket." Miyuki ordered from under the hood.

Natsumi rolled her eyes and passed a spanner to the outstretched hand. They
had been at it for the last three hours and the new engine was nowhere near
being complete. They were both dirty and exhausted and it was getting late.

Natsumi yawned. After being up all night, this long shift was not agreeing 
with her. She wiped her brow and breathed a frustrated sigh. "C'mon, Miyuki,
let's finish this tomorrow... I'm tired!" she said.

Miyuki's voice rose from the engine compartment, "Can't. I need to have this
ready for tomorrow."

Natsumi snorted, "Figures... Listen... I'm going to go home. You can finish
this. It's not like you really need me here to hand you tools."

"I suppose not..." came the disembodied reply.

Natsumi frowned at the obscured figure and then turned around to grab her bag.
She slung it over her shoulder and then wheeled her scooter out of the garage.
"See ya!" she called. She gave the starter a kick and jumped on and the engine
revved. With a twist of the throttle, she shot out of the police station and
out onto the open road.

As she rode, she looked up at the night sky. It was cool and clear, but not
unpleasantly bitter as it was at certain times of the year. She cruised along
in the half light, flitting in and out of the intermittent street lights.

After a while, she noticed something odd ahead... A car with oddly shaped
tail lights. In fact, if she were not mistaken, they were Lambourghini lights.

She grinned to herself and opened the throttle. No-one got away from Natsumi 
Tsujimoto!

She sped along the road, pursuing the black sports car. Just as she approached 
it, it took off with an incredible burst of speed, leaving her struggling in
it's wake.

As it sped away into the night, Natsumi cursed her luck. "Darn!" she muttered,
"I was getting close, too... I guess he saw me..." 

She sighed and turned off to head back to Miyuki's and her apartment. When
she arrived, it was dark and empty. "That figures!" she grumbled, "Miyuki 
will be up all night fixing that stupid car! Hmm... She'll be the one with
the hangover tomorrow..." Natsumi grinned evilly as she wandered into her
room. She quickly changed into something more comfortable than her dirty 
battered, burnt, oil stained, crumpled uniform. As she threw it on the bed,
she noticed just how mangled it looked. "Geez... What a day..." she sighed.

Going out into the kitchen, she fixed herself a snack and then went back to 
her room. Deciding that she needed a good nights sleep, she turned the light
out.

Soon, however, she found herself unable to sleep. There was something 
funny going on. Something that was bothering her. Maybe it was just having 
a hangover all day... Or was there something deeper happening. Miyuki had 
been being distant for some time. At first she had thought it was just her
imagination, but now she was no longer convinced. Miyuki seemed to be 
spending more and more time with her toys than with real people. It was as 
if her failure to admit her feelings for Ken was bothering her so much that 
she was pushing herself away from other people... Even her best friend...

Natsumi sat up and shook herself. It was silly. What Miyuki did was her 
business. If she wanted to sulk, that was okay. Natsumi herself was a master
of the art of self pity.

Natsumi sighed and sat up, "This is no good... I can't sleep... Where's 
Miyuki? It's getting late." She got up and went out into the lounge room.
Sitting down, she pressed a button on the remote and the TV came on. It
blathered idly to itself as she stared into space. She couldn't help but 
think that there was something funny about the black Lambourghini... Maybe
losing it had something to do with Miyuki's mood? No... She had been behaving
oddly before that... Natsumi frowned, there was no point in second guessing
herself, she'd just have to ask Miyuki when she got home...

Natsumi looked at her watch. Two AM. If she got home, she corrected. 

She lay her head back on the couch, letting the soothing flicker of the TV's
light relax her...

********************

The click of a key in the lock stirred Natsumi from her sleep. She looked 
blearily at Miyuki as she stepped into the room.

"Oh..." Miyuki said, "I'm sorry... I didn't know you were out here... I didn't
mean to wake you up..."

Natsumi waved her away, "Forget it. I was just..um... Watching TV." she 
mumbled unconvincingly.

Miyuki smiled as she walked into her room, "Sure, you were..."

Natsumi got up and went over to the doorway. She stopped, as if unsure 
whether or not to enter. Looking in, she could see stray parts of cars 
everywhere. There was a piston on Miyuki's pillow and a crankshaft lying 
across her dresser with a drip try under it. Most of the remainder of the
room was a mess of cardboard boxes and tools that carpeted the floor. For
such a tidy and organised person, Miyuki had a room that was like a scrap
yard. Natsumi found this little ironic, considering how clean and tidy 
Miyuki always kept the garage.

"Er... Miyuki..." she began, "Um... Are you okay? You've been acting sort 
of...distant for a while... Is something wrong?"

Miyuki came into view in her pyjamas, which were covered with little 
sprockets and gears, "No. I'm fine."

Natsumi raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

Miyuki smiled reassuringly, "Yes. Now go to bed. We've got early shift 
tomorrow."

"Again?!" Natsumi moaned, stumbling off to her room.

********************

Morning came and Natsumi and Miyuki reluctantly rose and headed off to work.

They arrived at roll call on time, much to the surprise of the rest of the 
day shift officers. Natsumi sat down, glaring at the staring officers.

A moment later, the Captain arrived to begin the meeting. When he reached
Miyuki's name he ticked it without bothering to call out. However when he 
reached Natsumi's, he sighed and called it out with some reluctance.
"Tsujimoto?" he said, resignation in his voice.

He was just about to mark an X next to her name when he heard a "Yes!" from 
the crowd in front of him. He frowned and looked up, "Really?" he asked
incredulously. "This is a first..."

Natsumi stood up with a scowl on her face and stuck out her tongue, 
"Biiiiiidah!"

The Captain raised his clipbook to hide his smile, "Very good, Tsujimoto..."

*******************

Shortly after, the two police women strode out of the office and headed for 
the garage. When they arrived, they were most surprised to see a bright, 
glittering red Camaro Z28 sitting outside. The windows were tinted dark but
it appeared there was someone in it. As soon as they began walking towards it,
a door opened.

Natsumi was curious, "Hey that Yank hot rod is blocking our garage. Who'd be-"

She was cut off as an incredibly handsome man got out. He wore dark sunglasses
and a leather jacket. He stood looking at them for a moment before stepping
around the car and sitting on the bonnet. 

As they walked towards him, Natsumi noticed an odd expression on Miyuki's
face. It took her a moment to put a name to the expression, but finally she 
came up with one. Misery.

Natsumi frowned. Miyuki was a annoyingly happy person most of the time. There
had to be something odd happening. She strode up to the guy and said, "What
do you want?"

The man did not even look at her, his expression fixed on Miyuki, who had 
stopped a few feet away, her head bowed. He stood up and took off his glasses.
"Long time no see, Miyuki."

Natsumi turned to see Miyuki looking at the man with tears in her eyes, "It
has, Karama-san."

"I thought I'd come by and see how you were doing. You still practising your 
driving?" he asked.

Miyuki nodded, "Yes. I'm a highway patrol officer now. I spend most of my time
driving."

The man smiled to himself and said, "That's a shame. A girl as pretty as you
shouldn't be behind the wheel all the time..."

Suddenly Miyuki looked up angrily, "Don't do this to me, Hiro! I don't want
to go through it again! You taught me everything I know and I'm greatful, but
I don't need that pain all over again. The tone of her voice shocked both 
herself and Natsumi, but did not seem to bother the man at all. 

After a moment, he nodded and said, "I suppose so. For what it's worth, I'm 
sorry, Miyuki. You know I had no control over what happened..." He fell silent
for a moment and then turned to Natsumi. "You must be Miyuki's partner, 
right?"

Natsumi stared at him, stunned, "Y-yeah... I-I'm Natsumi... Natsumi 
Tsujimoto." 

The man smiled and offered his hand, then pulled it back. "Sorry," he muttered,
"Bad habit I picked up in America. I'm Hiro Karama."

"The racing driver?!" Natsumi exclaimed.

Hiro chuckled, "Yes. That's me. I've just come back from racing Indy cars in
America."

Natsumi's eyes were wide as she stared at him, "Wow..." she murmured.

Suddenly, Natsumi's daydream was broken by Miyuki walking stiffly between 
them. "We have to go, Natsumi." She turned to Hiro and added, "We might see 
you around, Karama-san."

Hiro nodded slightly and put on his glasses, before climbing back into his 
car and driving off. 

*******************

The little patrol car sat humming at the lights. Inside, Miyuki sat 
impatiently gripping the wheel with white knuckled hands. Natsumi failed to 
notice this and offhandly said, "So how do you know Hiro Karama?"

Miyuki sighed and thought for a moment. <How to tell her?> she wondered.
Finally she steeled herself and explained. "It was about eight years ago...
Hiro was an up and coming racer in this part of Japan. My father was the 
chief mechanic for the Honda factory team in the national saloon series. I
met Hiro at a race meet..."

"Was it love at first sight?" Natsumi probed.

Miyuki blushed, "No... Nothing like that. In fact, my father always tried to
keep me away from cars. he thought it was unladylike to mess with oil and
engines and things. Anyway, Hiro didn't agree. He taught me a lot about 
engines and even convinced my father to teach me what he knew. We got to 
know each other as we spent time in the team garage and before either of us 
knew it, we'd fallen in love. I...I don't know how seriously he ever took our 
relationship, but in the time I was with him, he taught me everything I 
know about driving high performance cars. I couldn't do half the things I do 
without his teachings..."

Natsumi frowned, "So what happened?"

"He won the title a few months later and went to race in Europe. He said that
that's where all the top drivers went. He told me that he wanted to be the
first Japanese Formula One champion. To do that he had to go and race in the 
European eff three thousand championship. I begged him not to go, or to take
me with him, but he said he wasn't ready for marriage, and that it wouldn't 
be right for me to be worrying about him being killed. The thing was, he said
it with such a straight face... I just wonder if he ever did care..."

Natsumi nodded slightly, "I see... And you're over him?"

Miyuki turned and looked Natsumi in the eye, "Yes. I am. But don't think badly
of Karama-san, he's a good man. I think he left me for my own good. I really
wasn't ready for marriage or travel or any of that stuff. In a lot of ways, 
I'm glad we broke up..."

Natsumi seemed to think for a moment and then said, "The lights green."

Miyuki turned her head back to the road and pulled away from the intersection.

*******************

The black Lambourghini sat purring at the traffic lights. All around it, 
people stared and commented at the rare sight. There were few cars in the
world that could turn heads like a Diablo. 

As luck should have it, a little black and white police car whizzed by going
along the cross street. Instantly, the Lambourghini's engine pitch changed 
from a dull rumble to a shrieking roar. it's right indicator came on and as
soon as the lights changed, it screamed off in pursuit of the police car.

*******************

Natsumi was just starting to doze off from boredom when she happened to look 
in the side rear view mirror. She sat bolt upright and twisted around, "Hey!
Loot at that! It's the black Lambourghini! He's right behind us!"

Miyuki glanced in the mirror, which was filled by the sleek black metal of
the Diablo. With slight smile, she changed gears and slammed her foot down.

Natsumi lurched in her seat before managing to register a protest. "Er... 
Miyuki... The 'ghini's the other way..."

Miyuki grated, "I know what I'm doing..." 

Natsumi rolled her eyes and held on. As she turned to look back, she noticed
the black car was rapidly gaining on them. "He's coming closer..." she noted.

"I know..." Miyuki replied.

All of a sudden, Miyuki threw the wheel to the side and slammed on the breaks.
The Lambourghini shot by as she changed down and slammed the throttle back 
down. "Now he's ours!" she cried exhaultantly.

"Awright!" added Natsumi.

Just as they started to accelerate, the Diablo slammed on it's breaks and 
performed a perfect one hundred and eighty degree "bootlegger" turn. It 
lurched to the side as it accelerated, roaring past the pursuing patrol car
at breakneck speed.

Miyuki slammed on the brakes, repeating his manoeuvre, "Damn! He's good!"

They raced off down the road in hot pursuit as the Diablo roared away, 
weaving wildly through the traffic as it went. 

The chase went on for what seemed like an eternity, with the black Lambour-
ghini slowly pulling away. 

Finally, Miyuki pulled he foot off the accelerator and slowed down.

"Hey! What are you stopping for?!" Natsumi protested.

"It's no good. He's too fast. If we keep going like this, we'll just have an 
accident. I'll work on the car and well get him next time." Miyuki muttered.

*******************

The rest of the day passed quietly with no more signs of the Lambourghini. 
After much searching, Natsumi and Miyuki were forced to give up and head 
back to the station.

That evening, while Miyuki was still at the garage, Natsumi sat in the apart-
ment she and Miyuki shared. She was reading a book and she was bored. 

After a while, she sighed and threw the book away. Zen and the Art of Auto-
matic Transmission Modification was just not her scene. Miyuki had some down-
right weird books...

All of a sudden the phone rang. Eager for any opportunity to do *something*,
Natsumi jumped up and raced to the phone. She picked it up and said, "Yello?"

The voice on the other end was smooth and vaguely familiar, "Hello. I was 
wondering if I could speak to Kobayakawa-san?"

"Sorry, she's not in right now. I'm her roommate, Natsumi. I can take a 
message if you like?" Natsumi replied.

"Natsumi?" the voice queried.

"Uh huh." she said, nodding unconsciously.

"It's Hiro Karama. I was actually going to ask Miyuki for your phone number,
but it seems I don't need to."

"Why do you want my number?" Natsumi asked curiously.

There was a slight chuckle from the other end, "Because you caught my eye 
this morning. I was wondering... Would you be interested in having coffee
with me tomorrow. It's another bad habit I got into in America..."

Natsumi frowned. He was asking her out. Should she go? What would Miyuki say?
Would Miyuki care? Did she want to go? Hmm... He was cute and she hadn't had
a date in a while. What the hell! "Yeah, okay." she said, "You can pick me
up from the Bookutou police precinct at eleven o'clock."

"Very good." he replied.

Natsumi hung up the phone and realised what she had done. Now that she thought
about it more, she really should have asked Miyuki about this. "Oh, well..."
she muttered, "Too late now..."

*******************

The next morning Natsumi sat in the office catching up on some paperwork. She
didn't actually have to be there, but it was better than sitting at home alone
while Miyuki worked on the car. 

Miyuki had eventually come home about two AM and gone straight to bed. By the
time Natsumi had awakened in the morning, she was already gone again. Natsumi
cursed herself for being unable to tell her partner about her date.

As she sat filling in various forms, a figure stepped up to her desk. "What
are you doing here today, Natsumi? Isn't it your day off?"

Natsumi looked up to see the Captain looking down at her. 

"You'll ruin a perfectly bad reputation if you keep this up." he added with a
smile.

Natsumi smiled back and said, "I'm just killing some time. I've got a date."

The Captain raised an eyebrow, "A date?"

Natsumi frowned, "You needn't make it sound like a rare event!"

"No... Of course not... Sorry..."

Just as the Captain was about to say something else, another figure stepped up
next to him. "Hi! Could you tell me where to find Tsujimoto-san?"

The Captain turned to look at the person who had spoken to him. Hiro was 
still wearing his sunglasses, but had replaced the leather jacket and jeans 
with a light linen suit.

Hiro threw the Captain a disarming smile and then turned to Natsumi, "Hello.
I didn't see you there."

Natsumi smiled slightly and got up, "Er... Captain, this is Hiro Karama. The
racing driver. He's my date."

The Captain looked appraisingly at Hiro, who smiled vaguely, ignoring the 
examination. "So, you're Hiro Karama... The racing driver?"

Hiro grinned, "Yeah, and if one more person calls me that I'm gonna add `the
racing driver' to my legal name... Be a pain in the butt to sign, though..."

Natsumi smiled at the Captain's bemused expression, "Well, we'd better get 
going..."

Hiro gave her a nod and offered his arm. After a moment's consideration, 
Natsumi took it and they walked out together.

*******************

Meanwhile, down at the garage, Miyuki had stopped working on the Honda to 
attend to Ken Nakajima's motorbike while he waited.

Ken stood outside, looking around while he waited for Miyuki to adjust the
throttle tension, he noticed Natsumi walking away, arm in arm with a man.
"Kobayakawa... Who's that with Tsujimoto?"

Miyuki glanced out of the garage and sighed, "That's Hiro Karama. The racing 
driver."

"Oh. Do you know him?"

"Yes. I almost married him." she replied.

Ken's face drained of all life for a moment, before he said, "I see... So why
is he out with Tsujimoto?"

Miyuki shrugged, "Because they seem to like each other, I guess..."

"I see..." he murmured.

*******************

Later that afternoon, Natsumi arrived back at the precinct in the red Z28.
She immediately headed to the garage for the inevitable meeting with Miyuki.

As she strode into the dirty crowded garage, she saw a pair of legs sticking 
out from under the engine compartment of the patrol car. She went up to it
and leaned over, looking down to see Miyuki staring fixedly at the oil pan 
she was working on. 

"How's it going?" she asked.

"Fine." Miyuki replied flatly.

"Umm..."

Miyuki answered the unasked question, "You don't have to apologise. You're 
the party animal, remember? You get to do whatever you like while I do all 
the work." 

Natsumi stared in shock, "I... I was going to tell you..."

"When? Before the wedding perhaps?"

"No... I was going to tell you last night, but you spend so much time hiding
in this garage that I hardly ever see you!" Natsumi countered, "If you 
actually bothered to stop hiding under cars and using them to protect you 
from having to deal with people, you mightn't be so damned lonely!"

Miyuki crawled out from under the Honda and stood up, staring angrily at 
Natsumi. "What did you say?!" she demanded, holding her spanner tightly in
one hand.

Natsumi sighed, "You heard, Miyuki. If you wanna hit me with that thing, go 
ahead. It might make you think about things. It's over between you and Hiro.
He said so today. He feels bad about how you broke up, but he thinks he did
the right thing. Hell! You said that yourself!" 

"That doesn't mean I believe it!" Miyuki cried. "I've waited for him to come
back for eight years! And then when he does come back, he doesn't want me! Do 
you know how that feels?!" 

Natsumi put a hand on Miyuki's arm, "No. I don't."

Miyuki brushed it off as she turned back to her tool box. "No. You don't. Have
fun with Hiro."

Natsumi opened her mouth to say something more when, Miyuki turned back to 
her, tears in her eyes. "Go away! I don't want to see you right now!"

Natsumi sighed and walked away.

*******************

That night, Natsumi lay in bed wondering if having a relationship was going
to cost her her best friend. About two AM she heard the door of the apartment
open. Getting up, she went out of her room to the kitchen where Miyuki was 
making tea. 

They stared at each other for a moment, before Natsumi said, "I really wanted
to tell you. I just didn't get a chance. And... I'm sorry about before..."

Miyuki continued her work, "I know. I just wish I had known you were going to
go out with him before I saw it. I guess I'm really not over him."

"I'm, um...seeing him again on Thursday... Is that...okay with you?" Natsumi
asked.

Miyuki sighed, "It hurts alot still, Natsumi. But if you really like him, then
I guess you should so what you have to..."

Natsumi looked sadly at Miyuki for and moment and then walked away. "Thanks,
Miyuki." she said softly as she went.

*******************

(Six months later.)

Natsumi stepped out of the Z28 and ran into the Police station shouting, 
"Thanks, Hiro-chan! See ya later!"

She ran into the building and headed straight for the locker room. Inside, 
Miyuki was just finishing dressing as Natsumi burst in. "You're late again,
Natsumi." she noted.

Natsumi tore her locker open and said, "I know, I know..."

"Where were you last night?" Miyuki asked curiously, "You never came home."

"I was at Hiro's place."

Miyuki gasped, "Natsumi! You didn't?!"

"So what if I did?" Natsumi replied around her locker door. "We've been going
out for six months. What's wrong with that?"

"But..." Miyuki stammered, "It's...it's not right!"

Natsumi patted Miyuki on the arm with a smile, "This IS the twentieth century
you know, Miyuki!"

Miyuki stared as Natsumi ran out of the locker room. 

*******************
      
Miyuki pulled out of the police station car park and drove out into the main
road. She then headed up town until she reached the railway station.

"Where are we going?" Natsumi asked. "Planning a train trip?"

"No," Miyuki replied, "I just thought we'd go this way for a change."

Natsumi shrugged inwardly and looked around. On the far side of the railway 
bridge, she spied the black Lambourghini. "Look!" she cried, pointing at the
car, "There's that damned black 'ghini again! Let's get it!"

Miyuki nodded as she turned the wheel to cross the bridge. After losing the
Diablo eleven times, she was sorely tired of seeing the back of it. Just once,
she'd like to catch the damned thing.

Gunning the engine, she drove across the bridge to intercept the passing 
car. As it went by, both she and Natsumi noticed the glint of sunlight on 
sunglasses. Natsumi couldn't help but think they look familiar...

As they fell in behind the Lambourghini, it appeared to slow a little, as if
letting them close in, then it pulled away, leaving them struggling to keep
up. It roared through town, bolting right through the school crossing without
slowing.

"That jerk!" spat Natsumi, "He didn't even slow down for the school!"

Miyuki did not reply, being too busy concentrating on the chase. She had never
seen anyone who could drive this well. No-one except Hiro anyway, but he drove
a red Camaro.

As they sped through the streets, the Lambourghini, suddenly veered into a 
small side lane. Miyuki sent the Honda skating around the corner and stopped.
The street was empty.

"Where'd he go?!" Natsumi exclaimed in annoyance. "That's twelve times!" She
looked over at Miyuki, who was looking exhausted. "Aren't you upset?!" she
demanded.

Miyuki sighed, "Maybe it's time to admit that he's too good for us. I'm just
not skilled enough to outmanoeuvre him..."

"You can't give up!" Natsumi shouted, "You've never given up before!"

"Yes, I have." Miyuki corrected, "I gave up on Hiro. It hurt, but it was 
better in the long run... Let's get back to the station..."

Miyuki backed the car out of the lane and drove away at a sedate speed. 

As they moved away, it occurred to Natsumi that Hiro's house was right near 
where they had lost the Diablo. 

*******************

Back in the garage, Miyuki stood over the open hood of the engine compartment.
"It's just no good..." she mused, "There's nothing more I can do with this 
car. If I modify it any more, it'll disintegrate under it's own weight."

"Come on, Miyuki," Natsumi replied, "There must be some way to get a few more 
k's out of it!"

Miyuki frowned, "What if it's not the car at all? What if it's the driver? 
He's the best I've seen since Karama-san... I just don't know if I can catch 
him..."

Natsumi punched Miyuki in the arm and said, "Have a little faith, Miyuki! 
You've never been bested before this guy!"

"Actually, I have..."

"Huh?"

"I raced Hiro once." Miyuki explained, "He beat me easily. It was terrible. 
I've never lost like that before or since..."

"Say..." mused Natsumi, "You don't think that..."

Miyuki finished for her, "That Hiro drives the Lambourghini? I don't know... 
It would explain why I can't catch him..." 

Natsumi frowned, "I think it's time to go and ask Karama-san a few questions."

Miyuki nodded and dropped the hood, "You don't really think he..."

Natsumi gave her a sickly look, "I really hope not...

********************

The patrol car rolled to a stop outside the house. Natsumi got out and
then leaned over, "I won't be long..."

Miyuki nodded an sat back, trying desperately to not look at the house. She
knew that there were many old, bad memories in there, and she did not want 
any of them coming back to haunt her.

As Natsumi walked away, she noticed Miyuki's uncomfortable state. She 
frowned. It was time to confront Hiro, and not just about black Diablos.

She walked up to the door and knocked. She waited a moment and then
turned the handle when no-one arrived to answer it. Going in, she looked
around. It was much like most other Japanese houses, except for the
fact that it was covered in racing trophies and stray car parts. The whole 
place reminded her of Miyuki's room. 

<No wonder Miyuki and Hiro were lovers... They're so alike...> she thought.

There was a sudden roar from the garage, causing her to turn and head for
that room. She stepped up to the door. This was the one room of the house she 
had never seen in all her visits. It seemed to be the place that Hiro liked 
to be alone... 

Taking a deep breath to reassure herself, she opened the door. 

********************

Natsumi walked into the garage to see Hiro tinkering with the engine of a
sleek black Lambourghini Diablo. She gasped as she recognised the car.
Hiro did not notice, being unable to hear over the rumble of the engine.
After a moment he reached into the cab and turned it off. "Smooth as silk."
he said, cheerfully.

"Not as smooth as you think..." Natsumi said. 

Hiro turned, and for the first time, Natsumi saw surprise on his face. It was
gone almost as fast as it came, replaced by the calm air of confidence that 
he always carried himself with. "Natsumi..." he replied slowly, "You came to 
visit me..."

Natsumi nodded curtly. "Yes." she said flatly, "Not that I would have bothered
if I'd known you were a chronic moving violator!"

He raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?" he asked curiously.

"You know! Driving around all over the place. Getting us to chase you! You're
making Miyuki's life miserable! She doesn't need to be reminded of you! She's
got someone else she cares about! And she doesn't need you showing that you're
a better driver all the time! You're destroying her self-confidence and you're 
just a selfish, self absorbed jerk! How could you do that you her after what
you said?! I thought you didn't want to hurt her?! I can't believe I actually 
liked you!" Natsumi spat the last angrily, surprising herself with her tone.

Hiro looked disarmingly at Natsumi. "Is that what you really think?" he asked.

Natsumi frowned, "Yes. Miyuki is my friend. I won't let you hurt her like this
anymore!"

Hiro stepped forward, placing his hand on her face, "And what about us?" he
whispered.

Natsumi slapped his hand off, "There is NO us, anymore! Not now! You lied
to both of us! About what you were doing here, about why you came back, and 
about Miyuki!"

"Yes. I suppose I did... But what would I have said to you? How would I 
explain about me and Miyuki? I still care about her... And I care about 
you. I never wanted you to fight over me... It's silly." he said evenly.

Natsumi clenched her fists, "And what about the car?! Where does that fit in?"

Hiro leaned on the car, "The car... It doesn't really... I was just using you
two to keep in good driving form. I don't care about it. If you want me to 
get rid of it, just say so... I care more about you than it..."

Natsumi stared. Did he really mean that? Was he willing to give up one of the
great cars of the world just for her? She shivered. He was so handsome...and
confident. She shook herself and frowned. He also knew all the lines to get
what he wanted. "No!" she stated firmly. "Regardless of how I feel, you've 
broken the law and nearly cost me my best friend! You're under arrest!" =)

Hiro chuckled quietly, "You're arresting me? I'm disappointed. I thought we
had something special... I'd even got you this..." He raised his hand to
reveal a small padded felt box about the size of a ring box.

Natsumi stepped back in shock. Suddenly dozens of images flooded into her
mind. Images of the time they had spent together. Of the dreams she had dared
to dream about him. And of the children at the elementary school... And 
others... Miyuki had said she was good with kids...

Hiro watched impassively as Natsumi wrestled with herself.

Finally she looked up at him, her eyes shinning, her expression hopeful.

Hiro smiled and straightened, "Natsumi..."

Natsumi's smile turned evil, "Sorry, Hiro... But like I said, you're under
arrest!"

Hiro face faulted and then slid into the Lambourghini, "Not a chance, 
Natsumi! No-once can catch this car! Not even Miyuki! Don't try to follow 
me! I won't be caught alive!" 

With that, he pulled the gull wing door down and gunned the engine. Without 
bothering to open the garage door, the black car roared out into the orange 
afternoon light, tearing the door away as it did so. It skidded out onto the 
road and shot off down the street at high speed. 

Miyuki sat up in the patrol car and watched the Diablo go by. "Hiro..." she 
whispered sadly.

Natsumi ran up and jumped in the passenger side, "Let's go!" she shouted.

Miyuki nodded and shoved the stick into gear and pulled away from the curb
with a squeal of tires.

********************

Miyuki drove like the wind, ignoring Natsumi's protests and instructions.
She drove through back streets and across gardens. Down stairways and along 
railway lines. Finally they jumped out of the storm drain and onto the coast
road.

"Say..." said Natsumi suspiciously, "You know where he's going, don't you?!"

Miyuki simply nodded, her eyes fixed on the winding road before her.

They drove on for some time before Natsumi spied the black car. "There it 
is!" she shouted, pointing ahead.

Miyuki's eye narrowed as she pressed the accelerator harder. "Now we see if
my improvements helped..." 

They sped on, slowly catching the Lambourghini. They soon reached a high 
clifftop section. 

"This is it..." Miyuki said evenly.

"It is? What's here?" asked Natsumi.

"Nothing. Its a dead end." Miyuki replied. "He's got to come back this way."

"Alright! We'll get him yet!" Natsumi cheered.

The black car appeared off in the distance.

"Don't be so sure..." Miyuki whispered.

Natsumi looked confused, "Huh?" 

Suddenly the Lambourghini roared and lurched forwards, quickly gathering speed
as it came towards them. Miyuki immediately manoeuvred the Honda so that it
blocked the narrow mountain road.

"Here he comes..." noted Miyuki.

Natsumi stared, "Is he gonna stop?"

Miyuki frowned for a moment and then stared, "No! He's not! We've got to get
out of the-"

She was cut off as the Lambourghini neared them. Just as it was about to hit,
it swerved sharply to the right and flew gracefully off the cliff...

Natsumi and Miyuki watched in fascinated horror as the black sports car slowly
flew away from the mountainside and dropped down to the water below. They both
turned away as the car hit the water at the base of the cliff and sank.

They stepped up to the edge and looked down. As the wreckage submerged, a tear
fell from each of their faces. "Hiro, you fool..." they whispered in unison.

After a moment, Natsumi turned away and went to call for back up. When she 
returned, she took Miyuki by the arm and pulled her away. "It over. Let it go.
He made his own choice... Like he said he would..."

Miyuki nodded absently, still staring at the gently lapping waves...

********************

Natsumi stumbled through the door of the apartment and slumped into a chair.
"Phew!" she breathed, "I'm *so* tired! Who'd have thought there'd be so much 
paperwork! I think I'll steer clear of men AND parties for a while..."

Miyuki smiled "Really? I was thinking that I should get out more..."

Natsumi sat up suddenly wearing a big grin, "You did? Good! I heard about 
this wild party over at..." She trailed off as she grabbed Miyuki's hand and 
dragged her out of the apartment. Miyuki laughed and allowed herself to be
dragged along. It suddenly felt good to let someone else take control...
______________________________________________________________________________
                                  - Fin -
plunger@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au