Makeover 8
Joe slammed his fist into the wall as he left Jun's hospital room. He was so frustrated with Ken, and so worried about Jun. He hated being caught in the middle of it all.
He decided to go to the Snack J for a bite to eat, and a break from all of the drama.
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Ken sat alone on his couch, running his fingers through his hair. The late afternoon sun cast a red-orange glow all around him.
Maybe I should just go and see her…
…but I know when she sees me, she'll only be thinking, "Why didn't he catch me?"…or "How could he order the team to perform the Firebird Technique when he knew it might kill me?"
…I can't let her see me like this. I let her down…I might as well be the one who tried to kill her…
It's just like Joe said…I don't deserve her respect…
He pulled out and examined his boomerang. It still had traces of the goon's blood on it.
Ken stood up and walked to his bedroom.
"Damn it!" he cried, hurling his boomerang. It stuck itself deep into the wall.
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Jun lay in her hospital bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking about Ken.
What does he think of me now? How could he possibly love someone as useless and careless as me? Why did I even think I had a chance with him?
Tears cut their way down her cheeks and dampened the pillow beneath her.
A nurse knocked on the door and entered, bringing a plate of food with her. "Time to eat." She announced cheerfully.
Jun propped herself up and wiped at her tears. "No thanks, I'm not hungry." She said.
"Are you sure?" The nurse questioned. "Are you feeling ill? Maybe I should check you…"
"No, I'm fine, really, just not hungry." Jun tried her best to look believable.
"Ok, Sweetie, just page me if you want something later."
"Thanks." Jun smiled half heartedly.
She could feel depression setting in on her like a dark cloak. There was no way out.
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"Aniki! You're just in time for dinner!" Jinpei announced as Joe walked into the front door.
"That's what I was hoping for, squirt! Pass the spaghetti!" Joe smiled as Jinpei handed him a plate.
"Good timing, Joe. Where have you been?" Ryu asked.
"I went to see Jun." Joe replied, as he scooped some noodles onto his plate.
"How is she?"
"Better. She's moving her arms now."
"I know. I went over there earlier and snuck in some ice cream. Boy, was she glad to see me. But she still seems sad, you know?" Jinpei remarked.
"Yeah, she's really worried about Ken. He still hasn't gone to the hospital yet."
Ryu fumed. "What? That moron better get over there and see her, or I'll…"
"I already took care of it, Ryu. I went to see Ken, earlier, too." The Condor poured himself a drink.
"What was he doing? Taking a joy ride in his airplane?" Ryu growled.
"Yeah…I really don't know what's going on in that pea brain of his. We had a bit of a scuffle." Joe huffed.
"Oh yeah, those are some nasty bruises there, Aniki!" Jinpei's mouth gaped. "I'll bet you beat the snot out of him, Joe. Next time, I want ringside seats!"
"Me too!" Ryu chuckled. "Seriously, though, what do you think is wrong with Ken?"
"I dunno, Ryu." Joe took a bite of spaghetti and swallowed. "I just hope I can help get things back to normal. I promised Jun."
Just then, the door opened and Ken walked in.
"Well, well, well…look who finally decided to grace us with his presence." Joe remarked sarcastically.
"Shut up, Joe." Ken wore a dark expression on his face.
Ryu noticed the angry looks Joe and Ken were exchanging and decided it was best for him and Jinpei to eat upstairs.
He picked up his plate, and motioned for Jinpei to do the same.
"We'll just leave you two to…uh… you know…talk…Come on, Jinpei."
"Aww…man…I wanted ringside seats…" Jinpei complained, as he followed Ryu up the stairs.
"Do you think you can just come parading in here and everything will be alright, Ken?" Joe growled.
"I came to talk to you, Joe." Ken walked over and sat down at the table.
"I came to apologize. I haven't been acting much like a leader lately."
Joe rubbed his bruised jaw and chuckled. "Well, we are supposed to be on the same team, you know."
"Cut it out, Joe! I'm serious. I shouldn't have gone after you like that. I'm supposed to keep my cool. A real leader can't afford to make mistakes! And my mistakes almost cost Jun her life this time!"
"Oh, is that what this is about? You blame yourself for this?" Joe's eyebrows knit together. "For your information, Ken, no one is perfect, not even you!"
Joe continued. "And like I told you before, Jun wouldn't blame you for this. If anything, she blames herself. I went to see her today, and she could hardly speak to me for crying…and you know why? Because she thinks you are angry at her for jeopardizing the mission…and she thinks that you won't accept her any more the way she is now."
"What? What do you mean 'the way she is now'?"
"She's paralyzed, Ken…and she may have to quit the team."
Ken's eyes widened. He silently cursed himself for not checking in on his teammate. He didn't know which was worse, a Commander who almost killed his subordinate, or a Commander who didn't bother to check if she were alive or dead afterward.
His eyes brimmed with tears. "I'm sorry. I've failed everyone. I wonder sometimes if it's even worth it. People die because of our actions, and we aren't any closer to finding Katse's headquarters."
"People live because of us, too." Joe interjected.
"I'm just so angry…at myself…at Galactor…" Ken continued.
"At Jun?"
"No. I'm sure Jun had her reasons for going on the mission. I probably would have done the same thing in her shoes."
"She blamed herself for Erin getting sick. She wanted to make things right again."
"I see." Ken fiddled with his bracelet; he appeared lost in thought.
"When I saw Jun falling from the floor above me, I had a decision to make." Ken recalled. "I could've saved her, but I kept fighting instead. Thank god you were down below to catch her. I never did thank you for that."
"You don't have to thank me, Ken."
"I have to admit, I was angry at myself, and a little jealous that you got to be the one to save her." Ken admitted.
"She does call me her 'hero' now." Joe chuckled.
"Oh, that's just great…" Ken replied sarcastically. But he couldn't help but laugh at Joe's remark.
His smile faded once more. "I made a promise to myself, before I was ever made the Commander of the team… that I would never make a decision that hurt one of you, or put your life in jeopardy when it could've been avoided."
"What are you talking about?" Joe's eyes widened.
"I gave the command for the Firebird, when I knew that Jun probably wouldn't make it out alive."
"You had to do it, Ken. We had exhausted all of our resources." Joe grimaced. "Jun would have told you to go on with it. You know that she would. If you don't believe me, ask her."
Joe stared into Ken's eyes as he continued. "Go to her, Ken. Go and tell her how you feel, and ask her to forgive you. I know Jun. I know she will forgive you. She loves you."
"I will." Ken replied as he pushed his chair away from the table. "But it's getting late. I'm sure she is sleeping by now. I'll go and see her tomorrow morning."
Joe smiled. "Ken…"
"Yeah, Joe?"
"When you go, bring her a nice bouquet of flowers or something. I'm sure she'd appreciate it."
"Yeah, I will." Ken smiled back and walked out the door.
