shiratorijun

Derek made his way down the stairs. He was a little irritated with Ock, but he knew that the man dealt with everyone in the same way. That, and the attempted barbs had failed to hit their mark: Derek had been immune to such insults since junior high.

( He took the steps that led into the kitchen of the J quickly but calmly. )

Jun finished her shift at the J. As shifts went, it was successful. She had managed not to think about Ken or even wonder where Derek might be. They had not discussed Ken's comment in her journal. She did not want to discuss it, not that Derek asked. She really had nothing to say when it looked like his actions were making a liar out of her.

Strange that. He was putting pressure on their marriage.

After her shift, Jun went out to the scene of the firefight for another look around the place. Mecha damage was telltale. From there, she pinpointed back to her apartment. There, Derek told her he was taking off for a bit.

As conversations went, it was a polite one. Shortly thereafter, she received news that Hippolyta was having a birthday celebration. Thereupon, Jun unearthed a cask of tequilla, prettied herself up, and went to join the celebrations.

She made it a point not to pay too much attention to herself. She came home late in the evening. Her bed was cold. The floor was still thumping beneath her feet from the party down in the J. She got into the bed and considered the thought, that this was the first night she and Derek had been apart for a reason other than his hunting.

Jun shut the bedroom door behind her and leaned against the wall. She held the empty tray to her chest and let her legs fold under her. Her back slid against the wall until her butt reached the floor.

She looked up, opening her eyes wide. It would not do to cry. Derek was having a hard day. He was worried about Sancho, and other things. People kept trying to kill her teammates. She was way behind on figuring out ways to move Dr. Totenkoph's library, or duplicate some useful technology.

She could not stop thinking of Ken's words. He thought she was beautiful. He had always thought she was beautiful. She used to think, there was no point in being cute when Ken didn't notice, but here he was; safe, if not sound, and thinking her beautiful. His words were like the lingering warmth of a lover's caress on her cheek.

Jun groaned a little then bit her lip. Derek was so wrapped up in his concerns. Perhaps he wouldn't hear.

Ken and his damned words. His impeccable timing had failed him. He was too late. It was too late for them.

In an old church in another Mexico, Jun had made vows. She had promised to forsake all others. At the time, she had not understood the cost.

All others included Ken. That meant abandoning him in his pain. It meant leaving him to his own devices. When he hurt, she would not offer comfort. When he struggled, she would not throw him rope -- at least in some respects.

She still loved the man.

But she had promised to forsake all others -- and she would. Because when it came right down to it, the only all others that mattered was him. Washio Ken. Gatchaman. Owashi no Ken. Her personal hero. Her shining star. Her savior and friend.

So she did.

As often as he reached out to her, she would continue to turn her back on him. Or only offer the back of her hand.

Timing. It was everything.

She took a deep breath. Her sigh was thick with tears. She rose to her knees and went downstairs for more soup. Hopefully, Derek was hungry and he would be wanting more.

Jun logs off her nexus connection and removes her wristband.

She places it on the cloth covered orange crate -- between the picture of her parents and the silver id bracelet.

So this is what betrayal feels like, she thought. Is this strange emptiness what Joe had to stomach when I went to the Nexus for help with his medical problem? Ken knew that Arisa shot me. Ken knew that Arisa shot a Swan. I don't know anything. I don't know anything about anything.

Jun spent the dawn terrifying the operative who'd been spying on her in the night. She'd dropped trash, passed close enough brush his shoulders, and fiddled with sound. He'd been thoroughly spooked by the time she'd finished harassing him.

Work was far less entertaining but she managed to get a good deal done. She'd put the packets she'd put together for Arisa, whatever her last name was, on the corner of her desk. She hummed while she saw to her business.

Please respect the fourth wall.

Jun hailed Ken:
justjuns: Ken?
Ken: Yeah?
justjuns: I asked...on the nexus about anchoring.
justjuns: Someone suggested...magic.
justjuns: Maybe I worded it wrong.
justjuns: Would you like to try? Maybe...ask yourself.
justjuns: I ...dont' want you to leave unless you want to...
justjuns: And I...today I was scared I wouldn't see you if I didn't go looking for you.
Ken: You heard, didn't you.
justjuns: What?
justjuns: You almost went away again?
justjuns: Ken?
Ken: Don't really want to talk about it.
justjuns: No!
justjuns: Don't...
justjuns: *nearly crying*
justjuns: Don't shut me out, don't ...don't! Please, Ken...
justjuns: You don't want...
Ken: What sort of good is it going to do? It won't solve anything.
justjuns: What have you tried?
justjuns: Please...I don't...it's been so hard on you and...
justjuns: Where are you?
justjuns: I'll give you my pinpoint.
justjuns: Maybe...
justjuns: If you have that in hand all the time, you'll be able to control where you go a little.
justjuns: At least, you can use it to get back.
Ken: I haven't ever been able to control it, Jun. I just go wherever some twisted hand decides to push me. That's it. It's the way it's always been.
justjuns: You're going to get some say.
justjuns: Where are you now?
Ken: Home. Arisa's out . . . somewhere.
justjuns: I'll be right over.
justjuns: And we can talk along the way.
justjuns: How's flying? *there's the sound of doors slamming and an engine starting. It's a big cycle 748cc.*
Ken: *voice can probably barely be heard over it* It's good. Whoever was before me took good care of the engine. And as usual, people are glad to get their mail. Just gets a little confusing when Hiroshi or one of the other guys mentions something I don't remember, I guess.
Ken: Price of gas is going up . . .
justjuns: That's a great big pain, right there.
Ken: No, not when I have to take the gas price out of my own paycheck. *he rambles on, more facts, details about the mail hangar, mundane details that he probably wouldn't normally bother to speak of, as though hearing his own voice or hers were a key*
justjuns: *Jun makes comments in the gaps between the ending of one thought and the beginning of another. She promises to look into getting a grant for the route. She talks about variations on the more fuel-efficient plane engine Nambu had developed. She makes jokes at her expense as well as Ken's...two small business owners that refuse to give their little pensions a break and work for other people.
Ken: *He seems to have grown resigned to the fact that she's coming whether he's said to or not, making no further commentary about her travel, offering a wry note of humor at the jokes -- not quite a full laugh, but enough. Tells her not to worry about the grant, tries to get her to fuss as little as possible; she has other things in her life now, and he's not used to sitting and being fussed over.*
justjuns: *Jun's blasting through traffic. Making shortcuts out of other's drivers sensibility. She gains the straightaway to Ken's sooner than is legally possible. She has no care.*
Ken: Don't break too many speed limit laws.
justjuns: I won't get caught.
justjuns: Didn't get caught that is...
justjuns: Bayanai's looking for work flying.
justjuns: Has he talked to you abou this yet?
Ken: Bayanai . . . ? The one who crashlanded? No. Haven't even met him yet. Not sure he knows who I am.
justjuns: No?
justjuns: That's right....
justjuns: You know....I've had worse houseguests.
justjuns: Just...not so many all at once.
Ken: And Jinpei's a handful in himself. *movement from the other end, as though he's gotten up* You close?
justjuns: Yep.
justjuns: If you've cleaned your ears you might hear me.
Ken: Other motorcycles ride by here, you know. *Silence a moment.* All right, there you are.
justjuns: Here I am.
justjuns: *Jun parks her bike, and trots to Ken's door.*
Ken: Just . . . don't panic or anything.
justjuns: *grabs hold of the handle* Okay. I'm coming in.
justjuns: *She shifts her wrist in order to open the door.
Ken: *He shifts his eyes to the door to look at her when she comes in . . . for a moment his body is solid, then shifts to near translucency for a moment before going back to as it was before -- almost, as Arisa has described it, a TV screen losing its signal.* Jun.
justjuns: *Her eyes are alight with pleasure. She's looking forward to looking at him until she does.*
justjuns: Oh.
justjuns: *Her voice is small. She drops her bag. Her eyes grow deep with concern." Bad v-hold.
Ken: *His smile is small and wry in turn.* Something like that.
justjuns: *she swallows hard, and takes a few steps toward him. She holds her pinpoint out toward him.* I don't watch much tv anymore.
Ken: *He shakes his head, dropping back onto the couch.* I knew you'd start to worry.
justjuns: *Sits down next to him.* Take it and I won't worry. *That was not an exact truth.*
Ken: *That might have worked on someone else, but it doesn't on him.* We both know that's not true.
justjuns: Then take it so I can see if it works or not and if it doesn't I can worry about something else.!
justjuns: *Then she grins.*
Ken: *Likely she won't leave him alone until he does, so he takes it with a small smirk, resting it against his thigh, staring down at it.* It's not that bad yet. They're minor.
justjuns: *It's a like a wristwatch. The band and face are a stark grey. She indicates two buttons.*
justjuns: That... *she points to outtermost of the two buttons* will take you straight to the roof of the J. *she points to the button next to it* This will take you to world 713, lake 73. 713 is the world Derek found and populated with some hunters. Lake 73 contains... *her voice falters* It contains ...a Godphoenix we...hadn't been using.

Went to the zoo with Ken the other day. That was fun. Forgot to take pictures, though.

A woman appeared in the nexus, searching for her brother. She claimed her name was Miyae Washio, and that her younger brother, Ken, had gone missing in April.

Jun contacted Ken while in a panic.

justjuns: Ken?
justjuns: Ken? Do you have a sister?
justjuns: Ken?
Ken:. . . Not that I'm aware of.
justjuns: Ah.
justjuns: There's a Miyae on Sages claiming to be looking for a Ken Washio who vanished in mid-April.
Ken: *rubs the bridge of his nose gently* So I see . . . Bliss has been at me about her too.
Ken: I think I can understand all of you now.
justjuns: Yes?
justjuns: Oh.
Ken: Did you panic, Jun?
justjuns: When she arrived claiming you as her sister?
justjuns: Yes.
justjuns: "Galactor spy!" I thought. Then, "Kill her before she can blow Ken up!" Then, "No, interrogate her first."
justjuns: Red Impulse...you're his only child?
Ken: *blinks, then smiles, having meant himself, but this works* That's all I've ever been told.
justjuns: Wait...when you came?
justjuns: I was so happy.
justjuns: You were so cold the last time you'd come out of the nexus...not you, but...yes.
justjuns: The ken_the_eagle-on-lj...so cold.
justjuns: I had known that once you came through -- the family would be put together.
justjuns: ...Yeah.
Ken: *smiles quietly* I'll go talk to her, see what I can find out.
justjuns: May I come too?
justjuns: A second pair of ears?
justjuns: A handy yo-yo?
justjuns: :)
justjuns: Also...well...a female you... must be an amazing sight.
justjuns: And...where would red hair come from in your family?
Ken: Sure. Let me go first, though. *shakes head* . . . I'm not sure . . . Red hair can be in Japanese families, but it's rare. I don't think my mother had it. My father didn't.
justjuns: No. Red Impulse didn't.
justjuns: Ken...if she's estranged from a you....does that mean she's not my sisteR?
Ken: What do you mean?
justjuns: Any sister of yours being...but she's not your sister.
justjuns: This nexus stuff...
justjuns: I'm babbling.
justjuns: I'm shutting up now.
justjuns: Sorry, Ken.
Ken: Don't worry about it. We'll get it straightened out.
justjuns: You're the best, Commander.