Jun had some small talk with Anthony about the evening but really her mind was on other things.
Her thoughts about Ken were distracting her.
Ken never was a person to waste a compliment, because he never really complimented her on anything other than fighting skills.
But he thought she was beautiful not just tonight but always… and he was staring for a long time at the portraits of her in birdstyle even wanting to buy one.
Could it be he had felt the same way towards her and he had never expressed it?
She was so lost in her thoughts Jun hadn't realized that Anthony wasn't taking her home; he had turned of the highway a little way out of the city and was headed up a dirt road that lead to a lookout. He pulled up and switched the button that allowed the soft top to roll back.
The view of the city was beautiful and she told him so.
"Yes, but not as beautiful as you Jun," he said staring into her eyes. Why was she not reacting to him she wondered.
"I thought after a long night it would be good for us to alone together," he leaned in closer to her and put his arm around her shoulders. Jun gave him a side long glance and she forced a small smile.
But she felt that she was else were, and could not shake the feeling of wanting Ken.
Next thing she knew he had leaned in to kiss her not just a light brush but his tongue was parting her lips, and for a moment she gave in when the kiss ended she came up with the feeling of wanting. It wasn't Anthony she wanted after all.
Something, but not him, he leaned in to kiss her again. "Anthony please stop," Her chest felt tight, and she needed to space to think, but he only got more insistent.
His one of his hands was trying to un-do the buttons at the back of her neck and he didn't stop when she began to protest louder.
The next thing she knew someone grabbed him and yanked him out of the car.
"You get your fucking hands off her you bastard." Ken swore angrily as he stood over him while he got to his feet.
"What the hell!" Anthony yelled angrily while he struggled to his his feet. "Who the hell do you think you are!" he scolded, looking at Ken and at the same time trying to comprehend what was happening here. Ken was now worked up and ready for a fight so he took another swing at Anthony and a fight broke out between them.
As it was Ken was much more skilled than Anthony, it was easy to see the out come. "Stop it!" Jun yelled at then getting out of the car. "Please stop, the both of you!" She ran over to intervene helping, Anthony to his feet once again.
Anthony looked at Jun and then at Ken and walked over to his car and got in trying to fix his suit.
Jun ran as best she could in high heeled shoes to the car and he looked up at her in disgust with bruises forming on his face. "I believe Jun you have your ride home." he stated bitterly, looking at her like she was now something he didn't want to touch. "What I ever saw in you…you're a woman with no class…" He started up the engine and pulled out of the lookout.
He was just going to leave her there!
As Anthony drove away she turned and looked at Ken with tears of anger darkening her green eyes.
Hurt by Anthony's comments she turned to look at Ken.
" What gives you the right-'She began in a low deadly voice.
"He was trying to mall you, I heard you ask him to stop." Ken tried to defend his actions, throwing his hands in the air. "Besides what he said about you having no class at all is a lie."
"Quit while you're ahead Ken."
They stood and looked at each other for a minute before all the suppressed anger of years of being ignored by him came spilling out of Jun.
"You…" she cried and slapped him hard across the face. "You ignore me for years treating me no more than you would a sister and now…Now you decide when someone else shows an interest in me to try to "win" me like some kind of prize, by attacking my date like I'm some helpless female who can't defend herself." She spat the words at him like daggers.
"I know what it takes to be a member of the Science Ninja Team, so don't even try to lecture me on things like duty and putting the good of humanity first so please spare me from it…. Why Ken" she cried"….. Why now? I have tried to forgethow I feel about you, besides aren't you seeing someone a girl called Claudia-"
Ken looked surprised at that one. "Claudia?" he questioned "She was my math's teacher at flight school she's about 50 years old a mother figure…you thought….you thought I had a girlfriend." Ken almost smiled.
She thinks I'm seeing someone and was jealous, that almost took away the sting of the slap that he probably deserved.
Ken looked at her in the moonlight as she yelled at him.
She sure looked even more beautiful fired up in an evening gown with some of her hair falling loose around her face and her emerald green eyes on fire ready to take him on and the chandelier diamond earrings swinging as she moved, catching the light.
He drew in a deep breath and did something that defied all logic in the moment, and defied all thought and he let his emotions take over. He closed the space in between them and drew her to him. He leaned down and kissed her lips, parting them with his tongue and letting the depth of his emotions draw her in.
Jun crumbled under the passion of his kiss and responded back her knees nearly giving way under her, and the fire of emotion sweep through her body, he was holding her so close, his hands on her bare back increasing the intensity, she could feel his arousal against her it was intoxicating. There was a long moment before either came up for air, Kens lip continued to trail down her neck.
Jun felt like she had been drinking a lot of champagne only to have the full effect of the alcohol hit her now. Was this real?
It felt amazing, better than anything she had ever imagined with him. Then she began to feel she had to take control of the situation. "Ken…Ken. "she said trying to catch her breath again. She gently pushed him away from her. She could see the lust in his eyes and his breathing was heavy against her, but she still had to know.
"Ken …what do you want from us? Are we to be lovers when it suits you and friends any other time? I don't want to start something with you only to get my heart broken when you decide what we are to be just friends .It can't be all on your terms." She turned away and started to walk down the road stopping long enough to take off her shoes and hitch up her gown.
He looked after her for a moment taking in her words and trying to catch his breath after what he felt when he kissed her just then, before going after her, "Jun," he called out. "Jun it wouldn't be like that. I love you….. I have for a long time; I've been a fool and not realized how much you mean to me… please listen…" He begged her as he grabbed her shoulders and turned her towards him. Jun looked searching into his clear blue eyes for a moment. Could she believe him on this?
Ken had always kept his emotions in check and had control over everything relating to that area. She trusted him on a professional level but on a personal level?
Ken was not one to take responsibility with emotions, and was good at avoiding things. At one time she would have fallen straight into his arms if he told her he loved her, but at this moment self preservation kicked in.
"Ken I don't know. I need something more than just your word. I know you very well… we know each other very well" Tears were welling in her eyes. "I….I need something more than a casual affair during a peaceful time. If you can't give me anything more than that, then don't play with me. My heart couldn't handle it" She turned out of his grip and began walking fast down the road again past his car. Ken went and got into his car and drove after her.
She had broken into a run as fast as she could with her dress hitched up in one hand and her evening bag and shoes in the other holding her fur shawl around her shoulders. Hot tears of frustration, and long pent up emotion flowed freely down her cheeks. She did love him, a lot, but at that moment she felt soooo confused as to his reasons for his sudden actions.
Men! she thought. Can't live with them, you can't live without- his voice broke her train of thought. "Jun get in the car," he ordered as he pulled along side of her.
She started walking fast again, ignoring him. "Jun it's a long way into the city I'll give you a ride home. Please… I won't leave you out here, so either you get in or I drive along side you all the way back to the Snack J." Jun stopped as if to think for a moment still simmering.
Gosh she must look a sight now; she thought Eye makeup running hair a mess. She gave him a side long look and relented. Jun got in the passenger seat of the car.
The drive home was silent between them.
Neither was game to say anything least they start another argument. When they arrived back at the Snack J, Jun glanced at Ken and then got out of the car and without looking back fumbled her keys into the front door and went in. Ken did not follow her, and she knew he wouldn't.
Closing the door she ran up to her room and threw herself onto her bed and cried.
Jinpei was home and heard her come in, and the muffled sounds of her tears he gingerly went into her room."Onechan?" he quietly asked. "Are you O.K did someone hurt you?" She heard the concern in his voice and was touched by it. "I'll be O.K Jinpei, just very tired we'll talk in the morning O.K" she reassured him. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up into his eyes.
She had a good brother in Jinpei, and no matter how difficult he could be sometimes it was moments like these she treasured him. "I just need to sort a few things out Jin that's all. Promise you I'll try and get some sleep, now I need to change out of this dress first." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and sent him out of her room. He gave her a small concerned smile at the door and left her in peace.
Ken didn't know how he made it home that night.
He was so dazed by what happened it was wonder he got there in one piece.
Somehow he did, though and he knew he would not be sleeping that night. He opened a beer and downed it in no time- it was followed closely by another one.
He had to show her he was for real; she had to believe how much he loved her. He 21st birthday was in a week's time and Jinpei had organized a party for her, just a small group at the Snack J. He had to come up with something between now and them.
For now though he was drowning his sorrows, Ken knew he needed to get back his self control. Acting on emotion instead of holding it back was new to him, and he was learning fast…
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