Author's Note: A HUGE Thank You to everyone on the JackXAshi Discord server for their help with this fic, especially orenashii and GatorJoe for their many suggestions and comments, some which ended up in the fic word for word. Daft Punk and the episode "Jack and the Rave" helped cement a long love of electronica music and the many sub-genres therein. Lyrics are from Basshunter's "I Came Here To Party."
Ashi followed the kids toward the rave, trying not to feel self-conscious about her plain, stylish attire compared to the random mish mash of outfits around her. She spent the afternoon in a local shop browsing the fashion but everything was so horribly strange and attacked her sense of taste. This was considered good? She wasn't a fashionista in any sense of the word but the only unifying theme, if you could even call it that, in these outfits were the loud neon colors that clashed. She settled for a more utilitarian outfit: black sneakers, black leggings, and the most daring piece of all: a black mid-riff t-shirt. Oh if her over-bearing father could see her now, she smiled at the thought, he'd tear that stupid red beard of his right off of his chin.
"Summer of freedom," she quietly reminded herself. After 18 years of obeying every rule, every command, every wish without arguing to his face, she finally had the freedom to make her own choices, even if they were pointless distractions compared to the real decisions in her life.
"Congratulations, sweetheart, you've been accepted into Harvard Business School!" He greeted her at the door with the acceptance letter thrust into her face as she returned home from school a month ago.
"But I never applied. I don't know what I want to major in, let alone a school to go to or a career to follow!"
"Of course you do! You want to follow in Daddy's footsteps and continue to help his business thrive."
Do I really though? "I just need some time to think. A summer away to figure things out. Adulthood is a really big step for me."
"Tell you what," he reached into his jacket and pulled out his wallet. Nimble fingers flipped through the large pile of plastic cards and he pulled out his black credit card. Ashi's eyes widened as he stuck it in her hand. "Go wherever you want this summer, so long as you are back in mid-August ready to attend Harvard."
The asterisks were clear. He would allow her this freedom but he would be tracking her every movement with this card. If she purchased something that violated his number one rule: do not embarrass me or my company, he would personally bring her home and she would never be allowed a choice again. She took extra steps to safeguard her freedom: disable the GPS on her phone, even if it meant carrying maps like a tourist, and carry a small pile of cash strictly for forbidden purchases, like the cover charge to a local rave.
"Make your night right, mama?" A man asked, interrupting her thoughts.
Ashi scoffed and almost turned away, but then she caught sight of the white pill in his hand, the word "love" imprinted on it. It couldn't be, could it?
"Ecstasy, a raver's best friend. All the lights Olivia uses in her show, you're guaranteed to have a good trip."
Her mind immediately reached into the memories of medical textbooks that their father had made her and her sisters read after Ami asked to go to a classmate's party. "Don't you know what kind of substances those fools peddle at these parties? You're better than them. No daughter of mine is going to become a slave to drugs." Ecstasy produced intense feelings of euphoria, heightened perception, disabled any kind of critical thinking. It sounded exactly like what she needed.
"Let's do this," she exchanged cash for a pill and a bottle of water.
"Stay hydrated," the dealer advised as she washed down the pill. "Dancing is pretty physical as is. I don't need anyone passing out and alerting the cops to what I'm doing. Olivia doesn't need the bad publicity either."
"Neither do I," she agreed. An ambulance trip of any kind would cut her summer short regardless of who caused the accident. If her father discovered illegal drugs in her system, who knows what else he would cut short.
She sat on a bench on the edge of the dance floor, watching her fellow ravers. Their movements were so random, ranging from wild flailing to something clearly controlled and practiced, like club dancing that she had seen in the movies. She was taught ballroom dancing, but her skills at the waltz would get her laughed out of town. Her father wouldn't let her learn anything too "sexual" like the tango or the rumba. The music varied from song to song, a chill trance flowed into a frantic hardcore and then back to somewhere in between. How do you know how to dance to such random melodies?
"Dance with me?" A desperate soul made his rounds around the wallflowers. Ashi politely shook her head, but kept an eye on him as he walked past. He is cute though.
"Men only want one thing, and when they learn who you are, they want it in spades. Don't make the mistake I did."
She knew the story of her conception: she and her six sisters born from a night of drunk passion, and their parents were quickly married out of obligation. His team did amazing damage control, painting the two as a couple so deeply in love and successfully hid the truth from the public eye. It made for some rough times at home. Sometimes Ashi wondered if he father would prefer that she and her sisters turned out to be gay so accidental pregnancies wouldn't be an issue. She wasn't sure about her sisters, they were far too private with their love lives, but she was certainly into men.
The dealer wasn't kidding about the deejay's love of lights. Ashi could see her switching from panel to panel, controlling the music one minute and changing the colors and movement of the lighting to reflect the music in the next. She certainly knew how to manipulate the emotions she wanted her dancers to feel, using sound and the art of color to control them. After being under her father's thumb her whole life, she had to admire the deejay's skill at this power, only she used it for the benefit of her attendees, taking them to joy-filled trips of the mind.
I'm feeling like a virgin
I'm gonna party like it's my first time
"Rub it in, why don't you?" Ashi grumbled to herself, nervously rubbing her arm. The song was right on both counts, and she wasn't sure which factoid bothered her more.
Bartender
Keep 'em coming
Tonight I'm wanna lose my mind
That was the whole idea about coming here tonight. Only water and Gatorade were sold directly in the venue, not that Ashi wanted alcohol anyway. Her father never drank again after the night of her conception and championed the evils of alcohol so successfully that Ashi did not feel compelled to drink this summer. Maybe he should have focused a little harder on drug use, Ashi smiled at the thought.
I'm gonna be what I wanna be, wanna be!
I'm gonna do what I wanna do, wanna do!
Don't give a fuck about it!
Her head began to bob to the beat, taking the lyrics to heart. This was her time to shine, to establish her own self-identity without her family's influence. No one was here, no one could judge her. Do whatever the hell you want.
Let's get this party started!
Let's get this party started!
Hold your hands up high
Almost everyone on the floor obeyed, reaching up to the sky. Ashi found it mesmerizing; such unity and solidarity with complete strangers over something as simple as music. "DROP THE BASS!" The people around her shouted as the music paused. What the hell were they talking about? What kind of language were they speaking?
A deep BOOM emanated from the speakers around her, filling every empty space within her, and when the melody resumed, she jumped off the bench and started flailing with the best of them, basing her moves on various martial art stances from her classes, because that's all her addled mind could come up with. The ecstasy had kicked in, and Ashi surrendered herself to everything. The colors from the lights surrounded her and others in the most beautiful rainbow ever seen in the entire lifespan of the planet. The music was speaking to her in ways she didn't know existed, guiding her actions, not caring about anything except how she was feeling in the moment. No judgement, no cares, no worries about her future; for the first time in her life, she was truly free.
It shouldn't have got her attention. It was so inconspicuous. No one acknowledged him. The masses did not part as he weaved through the crowd. His outfit was almost normal compared to others around her. But as soon as he stepped onto the dance floor, Ashi forgot the world around her and only saw the most handsome man in the world.
What was it about him that captured her attention: the board shoulders, the beefy biceps, the strong hands, the chiseled abs that could grate cheese, the square, kissable jaw, or the intense dark eyes behind the green visor? Whatever the reason, few things was certain: she wanted him in her life; she wanted him in her arms; she wanted him in her bed.
She never pursued a man before, always content to stick to the shadows and admire them from afar. Was it shyness, a fear of her father, a combination of the two? Not this time. She was not going to let this fine hunk of man escape. She danced her way backwards, maneuvering through the crowd, her ass thrust out, catching the attention of many, including her blushing target, who tried but failed to avert his eyes. She smiled in victory, he clearly liked what he saw. He was even more handsome up close, a buff Asian with a katana on his back, and what was that in his hair—a top knot? It was too cute for words. "You know you want to tap it."
"Don't mind if I do," a man nearby replied, reaching out for her bottom.
"I was talking to the samurai, not you!" Ashi growled, pulling herself away, ready to bite his fingers off if he came any closer.
"I'm outta here," the man relented, holding his hands high as he walked away
"Sah-sah-samurai?" Her intended target nervously asked, sending Ashi's hormones skyrocketing. He's even cuter when he's flustered!
"Japanese descent, a sword on your back, your hair in a top knot, what else could you be?" She pointed out, flicking his top knot like a cat would a dangling string.
"My parents are strong traditionalists. I was taught to honor my culture from a very young age." He nervously stood there as Ashi played with his hair. Of all the strangest reactions he ever had about his top knot, this was brand new and unexpected.
"So what do they call you?"
"Jack."
Wait what? "That's not exactly a Japanese name." Her face scrunched up in confusion. Was he trying to play her, trying to chase her away?
"You asked me what they call me. I prefer to go by the name that others have given me. Only around my family do I go by my birth name, Shinjiro."
"So, Samurai Jack," she purred as she wrapped her arms around his neck and grinded her hips against his, "dance with me?"
She felt his body stiffen and preferred to think it was a good sign. His eyes darted back and forth, observing those around him. Was she embarrassing him? Who cares! "Don't worry about them, just focus on me, and I promise I'll make this the best night of your life."
He took a deep, calming breath, and placed his hands on the small of her back, "Alright."
She smiled and leaned in closer, outlining his beautiful square jaw in kisses. "Damn you're hot, and buff." Her hands moved from his neck to caress his shoulders and biceps. "This can't be from dancing."
"Mmm—mixed martial arts," he stammered.
"We'll have to spar sometime, I'm trained in it myself, and I would love to see your…" she paused as she dropped down low, slowly dragging her hands down his body, and always maintaining eye contact. "'Swordplay,'" she slowly ran her tongue up his covered crotch, still maintaining eye contact, pleased at his bright red face and the fact that he still couldn't look away. She had him right in the palm of her hand.
He jumped back and crossed his legs, trying to hide and discourage a growing erection. "Olivia has strong rules of conduct and she enforces them," he hastily explained, his voice cracking. "I don't want to risk a ban or hurt our friendship."
She hated the sound of another woman's name on his lips. It should only be her name, preferably cried out from pleasure. "Who is she?" Ashi growled, her fists clenched. "Your girlfriend?" Damnit! Of course he was with someone! A man as handsome as that, no doubt some woman grabbed him a long time ago and refused to let go.
"She's just a friend," he defended, his voice going back to his normal dulcet tones. "We met back in college. I'm vacationing here to visit her, and she's our deejay. She owns this venue and I don't want to cause any trouble for her."
"I don't need anyone passing out and alerting the cops to what I'm doing. Olivia doesn't need the bad publicity either." Right, the dealer said the same thing.
"So who are you seeing right now then?" She asked, coming down from her anger, but still cautious. If he was dating someone, she didn't know how to react to that. She wanted him for herself, but she also didn't want to stand between him and some very lucky woman.
"Only you at the moment," he smiled warmly, extending his hand toward her, "and I think I deserve to know the name of my date."
Single. Fantastic! Were other women blind? Who wouldn't want to be on the arm of this fine hunk of man meat? She took his hand and pulled him close. "Ashi," she whispered seductively in his ear, and then kissed him with all the lust she could muster for him. To her delight, he returned her kiss enthusiastically , holding her close. His hands on her bare back felt like fire, and the kiss thrilled her beyond anything she ever expected. Was it the ecstasy or just how wonderful Jack was? She wasn't sure, but she wanted to remember this moment exactly as it was forever.
The night continued on like this, dancing together to every song, with Ashi never failing to miss an opportunity to remind Jack how much she was into him. Their dancing remained seductive, though his hands stayed in safe places like her waist and back, where Ashi's continued to explore every inch of his body. Jack consistently dragged her hands to more appropriate places, especially when security was intently watching.
"I'm gonna fuck you up big time!" Olivia shouted to the crowd before switching to a song with a dirty bassline and even dirtier lyrics.
"Oh please do," Ashi purred, looking directly at Jack, enjoying the almost permanent blush on his face. When the song asked to shake her ass, she gladly did so, directly against his crotch, smiling as she felt him respond before he pulled away.
When he returned from getting them both water, Ashi dumped it on her head and t-shirt rather then drinking it as Jack's intention. His eyes widened and nerves overtook him again; her already tight shirt was getting tighter. He made hasty apologies and ran back to the vendor to get more. Enough teasing, she chided herself and graciously accepted the offered drink. "A toast? May every night this summer be as blessed as this one."
"Indeed," he agreed, bumping their plastic bottles together.
They crowd began to thin out as the night carried on, but Ashi stubbornly fought exhaustion. The last thing she wanted to do was confess the need to sleep and be put in a cab to her hotel a few towns away. What if she never saw Jack again? She didn't want him to become just a memory, just a fun night to look back on for the rest of her life.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked worriedly, noting that she was hanging onto him more then usual, like she needed his support to stand up.
"I'm fine, stop asking," she replied, sneaking yet another kiss from him. She lost count of how many they had shared, but she happily noted that he always reciprocated, and every single one of them was always amazing. "I have you, what more could I ever need?"
"Ashi…"
"I'm not leaving you," she weakly growled, trying to glare at him through half-lidded eyes. Never mind sprinkling a tiny bit of sand, Ashi felt like the Sandman had unloaded a dump truck on her.
"I'm not asking you to. I'm just saying we should get some sleep. There's another rave tomorrow night. I'd like us both to be in peak condition for it."
Sleep. Bed. Sex? "Perfect," she agreed.
"Where you staying?"
"Wherever you are."
He sighed. It wasn't worth arguing with her, and he wasn't about to rummage through a woman's wallet to find her room key. "I guess you are. Come on." He offered her his hand. She draped her arm around his shoulders instead, and smiled secretly as his hand wrapped around her side and clutched her bare waist. Third best decision she made all night, wearing this mid-riff shirt. Second was taking the ecstasy, and first was meeting Jack.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw a bored stranger reading a book at the lobby desk. If it was Olivia's father, there would be too many awkward questions. "Need a room?"
"Already have one," Jack replied, flashing his key. An actual key, Ashi noted. What kind of modern hotel had those anymore?
The man shrugged and went back to his book, and Jack escorted her up the stairs and down the hallway, into his usual room. Ashi immediately searched for the bed as soon as they entered and smiled, only one full size bed, complete with two pillows. He helped her sit down on the bed, but she was too quick for him, grabbing him and dragging him onto the bed as well. "Do me, samurai!"
"What?" Jack exclaimed as he tried to move away, but she was a lot stronger then she looked.
"Stick it in me, and I don't care which hole it is! Dealer's choice!"
Jack's faced turned as bright red as a tomato. "Sure, let's just get, um, settled first," he fibbed, moving with her until they were both stretched out on the bed and beneath the blanket.
"Fuck me, you hot piece of…" a light snore finished her sentence and her grip on him loosened.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he carefully slipped out of the bed, taking the extra pillow with him. "We shall see," he smiled down at her sleeping form. "Good night, Ashi," he kissed her forehead and settled down on the floor, removing only his shoes and his visor before falling asleep. Both shared a slight smile as the shared experience of the evening invaded their dreams.