AN: hello to anyone out there, i'm going to upload 2 chapters today, since i forgot to update a saturday.
And thanks to 191026 for being observant and the good advices. I have actually read many fic's where the relationship moves very fast between jun and kazuya, so i'm trying to explore other opportunities by taking it slow!
I hope you enjoy reading and let me know what you think!
Chapter 3 - The dark night
"Look at the press" Michelle said taking a look outside of the limousine.
"Yeah it really is a big deal" Jun said and looked out of the window.
"Ladies," the chauffer said who had opened the door, gesturing them to come out.
"Thanks" Michelle said as she stepped out.
"Miss Chang, Miss Chang" most of the photographs yelled after her.
"Miss Kazama you look dashing tonight" A male reporter said.
"Tell me are you on work?"
"No, not tonight, I'm sorry to dissapoint you" Jun replied slowly, knowing he was referring to the tournament.
"What about you Miss Chang, what is your motive for participating?" the reporter said eagerly, to get some gossip. Michelle loked up at him, not caring to give him an answer she walked through the door.
"They really know how to get on my nerve"Michelle said when they were inside.
"Keep a cold mind, and make them think you are playing their game"
"It's hard to do when all you can think of is punching them," Michelle said flaunting her obvious hatred for the press. Jun just nodded to her reply.
"Good evening ladies" Baek said when he spotted Michelle in the lobby. "Would you ladies care to join us tonight?".
Michelle looked at Jun for an answer, and Jun smiled to her. "Yes we'd love to"
The waiter seated them and served them champagne. Everywhere there either was competitors or sponsors. Juns eye searched the whole crowd, she didn't know what she was looking for. But she knew she would know when she saw it. When she looked around she recognized the most people from her work, but then she noticed something else. Someone was looking at her she couldn't see the person but feel it. When she looked around she knew who it was, it was Lee Chalon he rose his glass as a greeting. Jun then realized that getting up and greeting people was the best solution, to avoid him.
"Can I have your attention" people heard Kazuya say, "I would like to say welcome to the opening of the tournament, and congratulate the fighters that are participating. Further more I hope you enjoy yourself and if you get bored the liquor is free" Kazuya said laughing and the whole Ballroom sang of laughter. There crept a little smile on Jun's lips, she had never imagined hearing something like that from the CEO.
The room was all centered around the candelier, where he gave a quick speech. All candlelights and other lighting, gave the room a enigmatic atmosphere which drew people to the center, for a dance or two.
Jun greeted many people and shock their hands, she tried really hard to move away from Lee's eyes but it seemed impossible for her to do so. No matter where she went she could feel his eyes on her naked back. She was wearing a long black dress with a low cut in the back, which she was regretting to the fullest extent.
Jun moved around but the crowd always seemed to be around Kazuya, which didn't make her wonder so much over. Everyone was doing something either they were talking or dancing and enjoying themselves. For Jun it was just like another business conference.
"Hey Lei why are you just sitting, go and meet people" Jun said taking his hand and pushed him into the middle of a crowd, that she knew was from a police department. Then she began to talk to a group of people, which involved Kazuya.
"It's lovely to see you again Jun," a business associate said to her when he kissed her on her cheek and hugged her.
"It's nice to see that the business world rests in your hands, Takashi" Jun said and laughed and hugged him, as she would if it was her own father.
"Oh dear Jun, it doesn't only rest in my hands, but also in Kazuya Mishima's hands too. I do not believe you two have met, have you?" Both Jun and Kazuya nodded no.
"Well Jun this is Kazuya Mishima, the head behind Mishima zaibatsu, Kazuya this is Jun Kazama the best Wildlife protector in all of Japan" The man said introducing them both, they both smiled and shook hands.
"Kazuya why don't you keep the lovely miss Kazama accompanied, I have to talk with, where did he go, ah there he is. And don't let her wander!" he said and blinked to him. Jun and Kazuya looked helplessly at each other, and stared at the ceiling for a while. Kazuya took a sip of his champagne and gained courage.
"So… miss Kazama is it true that you are the best?" Kazuya said taking a zip of his champagne. "Just as true as you are the CEO of Mishima zaibatsu" Jun said raising her eyebrows. "I like business women with a sense of humour" Kazuya said smiling and Jun laughed at his remark "And may I say that you look lovely to night". "Thank you" Jun smiled and bowed for fun.
"So how long have you known Takashi?"
"Quite a while actually, since I headed for a carrier in wildlife protection."
"So he's responsible for you being here tonight?" he asked her.
"Actually, I like to think that I had something to do with it too" she answered him, she started to reflect on what kind of a person he was. She wondered why he would say something like that.
"Don't misunderstand me," Kazuya said in a hurry when he saw her eyes wander in the room "I'm sure that you are more then capable of taking care of yourself".
She finally looked at him and smiled, she smiled at his try to reinsure her.
"Are you here for buisness or…" Kazuya asked her, as he couldn't imagine her participate in the tournament.
"I'm actuallly participating in the tournament," she said taking a sip of her glas "It's for personal reasons" she said when she saw the surprise in his eyes.
"Oh… I didn't expect that you were participating" he said getting a little nervous, she was participating and her background as a wildlife protector… The combination was troublesome.
"Well miss Kazama, I'll have to leave you for now. I hope you enjoy the evening" he said and smiled and went his way, making his way into another crowd. She looked at his back as she saw him disapear into the crowd. She looked around herself and found herself all alone. She walked around for a while, making smalltalk with people. Along the evening she felt a lively breeze, creeping along the floor it made her shiver. She walked to where she thought the breeze came from, and she soon discovered the two big glass doors. They were standing wide open letting in the fresh evening wind, soon she felt the scent of flowers, trees and grass creep in with the breeze. When she looked at the sky she could see the moon hiding behind the skies. She walked out and saw other figures standing on the porch, she sat down on one of the benches. She sat in peace breathing and taking the scents of the garden into her. She filled herself with what seemed like nature in the middle of the city. The music rung in the background, and the natures sound drowned in the laughter and voices that came from people. Jun got up and walking around in the grounds, she felt the sounds and noices leave her mind and drown. She walked around enjoying herself, it was only her and her mind, she could finally again hear her own thoughts.
Jun walked aorund without paying any attention, and when she turned a corner in the garden she was shocked. She saw Kazuya speaking to someone, when the figure discovered her, he whispered something which made Kazuya look up quickly. He saw her and made eye contact, he was surprised that she was walking around in the garden.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt, I'll leave right a way" she said and turned on her heels to walk away. Jun walked back mortified, and more aware about her surroundings to avoid any other incident. When she got eye on a bench she sat down and swalloed the rest of her drink in one gulp. She leaned back and looked up into the skies. She saw the light from the moon break and dance on the clouds, which were rare tonight. When her eyes had adjusted she started to notice the stars, she was so focused that she didn't even see a figure walking towards her.
"Can I sit here?" the voice asked her. When Jun finally tore her eyes away from the sky, she discovered it was Kazuya.
"I'm truly sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt," she said again apologizing.
"There isn't a need to apologize, I was just talking to a friend. I guess that means I can sit down" he said looking at her. Jun returned to starring at the sky, when he had sat down. He kept staring at her, until he finally spoke.
"What are you doing in the garden?"
"I couldn't hear my own thoughts, and I was getting a headache" she said breathing heavily in, she filled her lungs to their limit and blurted the air out.
"I know how that feels like, I've had that headache since I moved here" he said emptying his glass, with a small smile on his lips.
"Very funny" Jun answered when she saw his smile "Won't they miss you inside" jus asked him nodding towards the building.
"They'll do just fine, until they want me to sign papers hoping I'm drunk and stupid enough to sign any" he said, again with a strange grin Jun noticed.
"Then it would probably be best if you stayed out here" Jun offered him without thinking twice.
Jun retired to the hotel before anyone else, she walked through the hall with her mind bursting with thoughts. She couldn't carry the weight of her head, and so she found her door room and the keys with her head bent heavily down. When her head finally hit the pillow, her thoughts centered around one person. And that person was the last she wanted to think about, considering the meeting she would have with him when tomorrow came.