Of Unsent Letters and Unwritten Memoirs
By Kochan
Chapter 6 (Part1): Defiance
She hadn't had this much fun for quite a while. DJ Ricky had been at his best for this Christmas with the music second to none. The food had been first class and the men...oh god...the men; Never had she seen such a collection of hard, tanned, shining bodies bumping against each other like in there.
Lei Fang giggled to herself.
A shame there were none for the taking: they were all gay.
The click of her heels resounded onto Hollywood Road as she squeezed out of the Propaganda Nightclub. The dark blue glow of the interior was now replaced by the dull white radiation of the street lamps. Not even her tight slacks were spared, shimmering with the same pale glow that contaminated everything else in view.
She closed her eyes and let the the cool, dry air of the Hong Kong winter fill her, a welcome change from the stale, suffocating heat of the club. Her arms wrapped about the slinky red tube of her top and she felt her heart echo the raw, tribal house beats continuing to reveberate from within the building.
The ringing in her ears begin to settle and she turned her head at a drunk screaming abuse at his partner down the next street. Lei Fang bit her bottom lip, arms tightening about herself as her eyes scanned the lane for Jann Lee. Unable to find him, she pouted and begin to tap her foot in impatience. She'd given up a half night of dancing for this.
Whereever he was, he'd better not be long.
* * * *
The stench of rotting food, vomit and urine hung thick in the alleyway. The air was stagnant, with not even the wind daring to pass close. Lighting was sparse at best, distant shop lights filtered through the night. What little that could penetrate the darkness hovering above only served to highlight the paint cracks and dirt marks infesting the walls.
Three of them and one of him, seemed like a fair fight. Jann Lee shifted his weight onto his back foot, hands drawn from the pockets of his dark blue jacket in readiness. He knew the woman, Siu Wen Cheng. Not the three black suits, but they didn't matter. He swept a hand through his black spiked hair as a scowl crept across his forehead; these constant interruptions were beginning to annoy him.
He had his own life, his own plans. His hands clenched into fists; he was going to make them understand that.
"Zhong Lei...we should talk this out. It won't take a moment of your time. You know it would be best for all of us if you came along quietly." Siu Wen was polite as always, so professional in speech and dress. But beneath that five-thousand dollar black designer suit, the dark gloss of her mane and that innocent, pretty face, there lay nothing but lies and deceit. She had used all of that to manipulate others to no end in the past. But not tonight; Jann Lee knew better, knew her too well in fact.
"I have plans, Miss Cheng. I think you should understand and respect that." his monotone voice was devoid of emotion, neck joints clicking as he rolled his neck.
Siu Wen almost sounded apologetic, feigning innocence as she looked down, "I know...and I'm so sorry that it's Christmas eve but Mr Kheng is..."
"...chasing me like a rabid dog, no doubt" Jann Lee interrupted, eyebrows knitted in irritance, "I'm not interested, Miss Cheng. I won't ever be. Your employer is no different to the other dogs he opposes and I will have no part to play in their childish games." The truth cut like a blade, and he was merciless in its delivery.
No surprise that the three black suits were offended at his open disrespect for their employer, evident in their sharp grunts and hisses.
"You dare insult the house of Kheng? You should not tread the streets of Hong Kong without watching your back after this night, Zhong Lei!" spat the leader, venom thick in his west-mainland accent. He was tall and lean with a receding hairline, peering with small, beaded eyes that would have been more at home on a reptile. The other two were younger, eyes on the lookout for anyone that might interfere. Siu Wen raised her gaze once more and he saw the silent plea in her widened eyes, begging for him to stop before matters got worse, out of hand. Well, he wasn't about to oblige her.
"I do as I wish and go where I please. Furthermore, Kheng still feuds over underground jurisdiction for Kowloon. You know that just as well as I do. There are those who would more than welcome me for what I know." Jann Lee's reply was flat and to the point. A subtle smirk to himself as he noted the woman's eyes darkening as she dropped her gaze. She hadn't wanted it to come to this, but they hadn't left him a choice. He wasn't about to grant them anything in return.
"Worthless threats! You are nothing more than a lowly worm, and tonight you WILL know your place!" exclaimed the snake, pointing an accusing finger at him
"Better to be free as a worm than be trapped in a house of nightsoil like yourselves." Jann Lee threw back, the taunt sinking deep as they growled and advanced on him. He allowed the briefest of glances at the garbage can to his left, returning his eyes to his adversaries as a broad grin spread across his face.
He was ready.
Like maddened boars they charged with animalistic grunts. A swift kick of his foot sent the container of putrid fish innards and rotting vegetables flying towards the leader, causing the others to pause if only for a moment
Not a split-second passed before Jann Lee had covered two steps, close enough to unleash real damage. He vaulted forwards to send a knee crashing upwards into the leader's chin, the impact dislocating his jaw and knocking him clear off his feet,
He shifted his death gaze to the next target, seeing the man's eyes widen in fear. The suit's hand reached to his suit jacket to retrieve what could only be a weapon.
Jann Lee never gave him a chance, crouching to deliver an dashing elbow to his prey's sternum. The man staggered backwards as his breath burst from his lungs.
The quick reverse heel kick Jann Lee followed on with connected hard with his target's cheek; the man was sent sprawling to the side of the alley. Surely incapacitated, if not unconscious.
A flicker of movement from the side caught his eye and he ducked just in time to avoid a swung baton, flashing through the space where his head had been only a moment ago. Jann Lee's forearms rose up, deflecting the hard side kick from the last of the trio, causing him to retreat a step before he settled in his stance once more.
Jann Lee's hands lowered to his sides, his Cheshire grin visibly unnerving his opponent as the man glanced about himself, anxious.
'Good, a challenge.', thought Jann Lee to himself.
His eyes tracked the all-too-predictable arc of the baton as the suit attacked once more. Jann Lee side-stepped once, back once and saw his opening. He landed a quick jab to the man's mouth, stunning him. As his prey raised his hands to guard his face, Jann Lee let loose a fury of hard punches into the man's unprotected midsection.
Each blow struck with increasing speed, increasing power, each blow biting deeper and deeper as Jann Lee felt the explosive tension building in his fist.
His shrill cry filled the alley as he released the tension, slamming a Dragon Knuckle strike into his opponent full force. He felt ribs crack beneath his knuckles before the man's body flew several feet through the air to crash into a pile of rubbish bags and bins against the wall.
Then all of a sudden, the world exploded red. The nauseating sensation of pain choked him as something crashed across his shoulder from behind. Stumbling forward, Jann Lee felt the second swing only just brushing pass his neck. His shoulder burned as he rolled upon the ground, grazing his cheek then coming to his feet in a defensive stance against the wall, teeth.gritted.
He'd been careless!
The snake's disjointed face glared at him, one hand on his jaw, the other held high with the accursed baton. Animals were infinitely more dangerous when wounded, this one was no different. A smirk, and Jann Lee shook off the pain as he cracked his shoulder joints, hands by his sides.
The leader rushed him and Jann Lee was more than prepared. His adrenals were already working overtime and his opponent seemed to move in slow motion by comparison. Jann Lee caught the leader's outstretched arm, twisting around behind his opponent's body in a single movement.
Without a pause, Jann Lee's grip tightened and he used their momentum to smash the man face first into the brick wall.
The rage burned in him and Jann Lee showed no mercy, spinning about back-to-back to deliver a crushing elbow to the back of the man's head. A loud crunch sounded as his adversary's nose caved in, teeth shattering. The man's body went limp and slumped backwards to the ground, leaving only a bloodied mess that once resembled a man's face.
The baton clattered to the ground with a metallic ring, echoing the end of the conflict. Jann Lee let loose a guttural growl, raising his foot to finish off his last opponent.
"Zhong Lei! Stop!" A woman's voice; a familiar one, dragging him from his blind fury, drawing him back to the world of the sane. He looked up to see Siu Wen's face, eyes filled with tears from what she had already witnessed, begging for him to stop.
She shook her head, "Please, that's enough." she pleaded, "The man has a family."
Jann Lee sneered amd stabbed a glare at her, "Maybe he should have thought of that first" he kicked the fallen man in the side, drawing a splutter and a groan.
"You owe Miss Cheng for your life tonight. " he spat, then walked past the other two who were beginning to stir, rolling his shoulder once more as the dull ache there grew worse. Siu Wen stared down as he passed, unable to meet his death stare. He paused a step behind her, watching her body tense in fear as he leaned close. She turned away as his icy words chilled her neck and ear.
"People get hurt everytime we meet." Jann Lee leaned closer still, drawing a whimper from her, "Maybe its time that Kheng and you left me alone, Siu Wen." came his unsympathetic hiss. He continued walking, hand to his shoulder as the nagging pain continued. .
"Zhong Lei, I'm sorry..." she called out.
Somehow he knew that she meant it this time, but he wouldn't let himself forgive her.
He glanced at his watch.
Damn. He was late.
* * * *
Author's Notes
Propaganda - Popular Gay Nightclub in Hong Kong Central. Resident House DJ is known as Ricky.
Dragon Cannon (3 punches followed by the Dragon blow/strike) - P, P, P, f+P Just for visualisation so you know what I'm speaking of.
The conversation between Jann Lee and Kheng's group takes place in Cantonese, which is the main dialect used in Hong Kong. This is why Siu Wen addresses him as 'Zhong Lei' rather than 'Jann Lee' which would be the Mandarin form.
Guess I lied when I said that it wasn't too far away. By far the most difficult chapter I've had to write for this 'short' fic. So much so that I've had to split it into 2 parts. It's been almost 6 weeks but finally, here it is. So all you JL/LF fans, read away...and if you're wondering why the 2 haven't even touched eyes yet, well...that's because the 2nd part is still under construction (dodges rotten tomatoes) *^^*.
As a separate JL/LF fic further down (FAR FAR DOWN) the line I may actually broaden out on just what Jann Lee has had to do with Siu Wen in the past. But that's for later.
Now for replies:
Katherine P: Thanks for the v.informative review. Have tried to keep the lines together a little more but I'm having problems with that lovely Microsoft product Winword. Silly thing keeps wanting to put massive spaces between the lines. But yes I have to say - the story IS very disjointed, with no beginning and no end most times. It's an 'experiment' in a way being my 2nd fic to test out how writing 10 chapters from different books and fusing them together can work. I swear...never to do this again :P Your fics/stories available yet?
Visitor: Assuming you're the same 'visitor' reviewing about the Fandom...firstly, thanks for the reviews - makes it all worthwhile. But...we'd like to read some of your own work as well. A chapter or two of your stuff would be GREAT!!! Don't worry about getting the whole thing done before posting! You can always repost after all?
E Predator: Had a quick read of your B Roar story. Fantastic for a first fic, looking for more. Sadly, no Bayman section planned though. Thanks for reviewing!
Dark/Steel Angel: 6th Chapter...just for yous (and any other JL/LF fans out there) *grin* Well...half of it for now anyhows *^^*
DOA2 Kasumi: Hey hey...nice to see you back. Got a fic or two to throw about my way maybe? Don't worry, I'll make sure you get your odd couple fix soon...
Hanger 18: Hola! Thanks for reviewing as well. Must say I'm looking forward to more on Z v. bad bad Tengu girl. Maybe you can help DOA2 Kasumi out with the odd couple fix as well. *grin*
Next Part - Late for a date. Nuff said. Stay tuned.