Did I already say
"You are always with me, Jun." I said. "I can't let you down, because you're always there, urging me on, when I most need your support."
Jun smiled, nodding her agreement.
"It's the same for me, Ken." she whispered. "No matter what I go through on a mission, I can deal with it because you're there with me, in my heart. Those times when Galactor captured me, even when they tortured me, I just pictured you telling me to stay strong, and I knew that they couldn't defeat me."
All of my fears about what could happen to Jun if Katse found out how I felt about her suddenly seemed so insignificant. Certainly it wasn't something I would want to happen, but I knew now that if Jun were captured, she would be able to deal with whatever Galactor did to her, just as I would be able to deal with it, knowing that she was in my heart.
By allowing Berg Katse's potential actions to stop me from declaring myself, I was allowing him to run my life for me. I had been afraid of Katse, and I didn't want to be that way any more. If Jun could stand up to him, then so could I.
And I would give Jun the strength and support to endure whatever might come in this terrible war. Nothing Berg Katse could do to us was insurmountable, as long as we had each other. Just knowing that we were fighting for each other was enough.
My mind was awhirl with these revelations. Why hadn't I seen this before? How simple everything could have been, if I had understood what kinds of closeness Jun and I truly shared.
I looked at Jun, my feelings for her overwhelming me. I reached out and drew her into my arms, burying my face in her hair as I had done the night before.
"We can get through anything, Jun." I said in a choked voice. "As long as we have each other."
"Didn't I already say that?" Jun laughed softly, holding me in her soft embrace.