Valentine's Fanfic Challenge / ±¡¤H¸`ªº Fanfic ¬D¾Ô
By Asakurafan / ¥Ñ Asakurafan

This one has been gathering dust on my hard drive for a very long time, and since Naa Dei said no worries about betas, I'm sending it in. Couldn't resist. / ³o¤@­Ó¤w¸g¬O¶°·|¦b§ÚªºµwºÐ¤Wªº¦Ç¹Ð¹F«D±`ªøªº®É¶¡¤§¤[, ¦Ó¥B¦Û±q Naa Dei ¥H«á»¡¤F¹ï¨©¥¦ªº¨S¦³¾á¼~, §Ú¥¿¦b°e¥¦¦b¡C µLªk©è§Ü¡C
:o)

The usual fanfic disclaimers- everyone and everything here belongs to / ¥­±`ªº fanfic ©ñ±ó- ¨C­Ó¤H©M¨C¥ó¨Æª«¦b³o¸ÌÄÝ©ó
Tatsunoko. I make no money on this- hell, I make no money period, so no lawsuits, please. ;o) The story is mine. It would probably be helpful to have read my fanfics archived at Veronika's site, but not absolutely necessary. If you have read them, this stands as a sort of coda to "Cold Light of Day." I thank my beta readers who had to deal with this for far too long, and I think / Tatsunoko¡C §Ú¨S»s³y¦b³o¤Wªº¿ú-¦aº»,§Ú¨SÁÈ¿ú®É´Á¡A¦p¦¹¨S¦³¶D³^¡C ;o) ¬G¨Æ¬O§Úªº¡C ¥¦±N·|¥i¯à¬O¦³À°§U¤w¸gŪ§Úªº¦b Veronika's ªº¦ì¸m³QÀɮתº fanfics, ¦ý¬O¤£¬O§¹¥þ¥²»Ý¡C ¦pªG§A¤w¸gŪ¥L­Ì,³o¯¸¦p¹ï "¤é¤lªº´H§N¥ú" ¨Ó»¡ªº¤@ºØ²×µ²¥y¡C ¦]¬°»»»·¦a¤Ó¤[¡A¦Ó¥B§Ú·Q¡A§ÚÁÂÁ§ڪº¥²¶·³B²z³oªº¨©¥¦ÅªªÌ
Sal wanted me to post it just so she wouldn't have to look at it again. I also thank Daniela, our "Resident Italian" for some translation expertise. PG-13 for a few naughty words and innuendo. / ±CùÂù¾ð·Q­n§Ú¶È¶È¶l±H¥¦¡A¦p¦¹¦o±N¤£¶·¦A¤@¦¸¬Ý¥¦¡C §Ú¤]¬°¤@¨Ç½Ķ±MªøÁÂÁ¤¦©g©Ô , §Ú­Ìªº "©~¯dªº¸q¤j§Q¤H" ¡C ¬°¤@¨Ç¹x¥Öªº¦r©M¿Ø¨ëªº»²¾É¯Å¹q¼v -13¡C

¡m¦^¤W¤@­¶¡n

¡@

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Joe pulled his jeans on, and after brushing a stray hair from Jun's face, walked silently out of the bedroom. It was early yet; funny how he rarely slept in anymore. It used to take a demolition crew to haul his ass out of bed. 'Maybe / ³ì©Ô¤F¥Lªº¤û¥J¿Ç¦b,¤§¤W©M¦b²¨¨ê¨Ó¦Û¤»¤ëªºÁy¤@®Ú°g³~ªºÀY¾v¤§«á,ÀqÀq¦a¨«Â÷ª×«Ç¡C ¥¦¤´µM«Ü¦­; ¦n¯ºªº¥L¦p¦ó«Ü¤Ö¦aºÎ¦b¤£¦A¡C ¥¦¹L¥h¤@ª½±a¤@­Ó¯}Ãa²Õ­û±q§É©ì¥LªºÆj¡C '¤]³\
Raphael installed an internal alarm clock along with all the other hardware,' he thought wryly. / ©Ô´´º¸³s¦P©Ò¦³ªº¥t¤@­ÓµwÅé¤@°_¦w¸Ë¤F¤@­Ó¤º¦bªº¾xÄÁ,'¥L§á¬n¦a·Q¡C

He flipped on the kitchen light, and got the juice from the refrigerator. / ¥L¥Î«üÀY¼u¦b¼p©Ð¤W¥ú, ¦Ó¥B¥Ñ¹q¦B½c®³¥Ä¡C
Raising the bottle to his lips, he realized where he was, and got a glass out the cabinet. / ¤É°_¹ï¥Lªº®B²~¤l,¥L¤F¸Ñ¤F¥L¦b­þ¸Ì, ¦Ó¥B¥X¦Û¤º»Õ®³¤F¬Á¼þ¡C

"Whipped already," he said to himself, smirking. / "¤w¸gÃ@¥´",¥L¦b¤ß²z·QµÛ,¼H¼H°µ¯º¡C

He poured a second glass for Jun, and then decided to put some coffee on. / ¥L­Ë¤F²Ä¤G­Ó¬Á¼þ¤»¤ë, µM«á¨M©w©ñ¤@¨Ç©@°Ø¦b¤§¤W¡C
Trying not to make any noise in the unfamiliar kitchen, he rummaged through various cabinets looking for it. 'Damn!' he thought. 'She better have sometea's just not gonna cut it this morning.' He tried one of the high cabinets, moving various items around until he caught sight of something familiar in the far back of the top shelf. Reaching in, he pulled out a rather dusty vacuum jar with a piece of masking tape half stuck on. / ¹Á¸Õ¤£­n»s³y¦b¤£¼ô±xªº¼p©Ð¤¤ªº¥ô¦ó¾¸­µ,¥L½¹M¹L§ä´M¥¦ªº¦UºØ¤£¦Pªº¤º»Õ¡C '¸Ó¦º!'¥L·Q¡C ' ¦o³Ì¦n¦³ sometea's ¶È¶È¤£¥h¤µ¤Ñ¦­±á´î§C¥¦¡C'¥L¦bªþªñ¹Á¸Õ°ªªº¤º»Õ¤§¤@¡A·P¤Hªº¦UºØ¤£¦Pªº¶µ¥Ø¡Aª½¨ì¥L¿h¨£³»¦yªº¬[»·­I­±ªº¼ô±xªF¦è¡C ¨ì¹F¦b,¥L©Ô¥X¤@¬Û·í¦Ç¹Ð¦hªº¯uªÅ©M¤@¥bªþµÛ¤@­Ó¤£³z¥ú½¦¯È¤§¤Wªº¼s¤f²~¡C

He suddenly realized why the canister looked familiar. It was his. / ¥L¬ðµM¤F¸Ñ¤FÅø¬°¤°»ò¬Ý°_¨Ó¼ô±x¡C ¥¦¬O¥Lªº¡C

He blew off the dust, and wiped the tape clear enough to make out the words "KEEP OUT! THIS MEANS YOU, WASHIO!" scrawled in his own handwriting. He smiled, memories flooding back from years ago, when they were young, not yet burnt out and actually had some fun between Katse's little tantrums. / ¥L§j¨«¦Ç¹Ð, ¦Ó¥BÀ¿¤F¿ý­µ±a²M·¡ªº¥R¨¬¤F¸Ñ¦r "¤£Åý!¶i¤J ³o·N¿×§A,WASHIO!"¦b¥L¦Û¤vªºµ§¸ñ¤¤¼ã¯ó¦a¼g¡C ¥L·L¯º, °O¾Ð¥ÆÀݱq¼Æ¦~¥H«e¦V«á¦a,·í¥L­Ì¬O¦~»´ªº, ¤£¤´µM¿NÃa¨Ã¥B¹ê»Ú¤W¦³¤F¦b Katse's ªº¤pµoµÊ®ð¤§¶¡ªº¤@¨Ç¼Ö½ìªº®É­Ô¡C

He popped the lever to release the seal, and pulled out a plastic bag full of coffee beans. 'God,' he thought, 'how old *is* this?' He undid the twist tie and the familiar but faint aroma wafted up. He stood at the counter, lost in the past. / ¥L¨ú¥Xºb±ìÄÀ©ñ¦L³¹, ¦Ó¥B©Ô¥X¤@­Ó¶ì½¦ªº¥Rº¡©@°Ø¨§¤lªº³U¤l¡C '¤W«Ò ,' ¥L·Q,'*¬O¦h»òªºÂÂ*³o?' ¥L¸Ñ¶}¤F¤@§á»â±a¡A¦Ó¥B¼ô±xªº¦ý¬O·L®zªº¿@­»¯B°Ê¦b¤W­±¡C ¥L¦bÂd¥x¯¸¥ß,¹L¥h¥¢¥h¡C

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It had been one of Katse's stupider mech designs and, although still fairly new at the game, they had defeated it with only a few minor injuries. On the way back to Crescent Coral, Joe was sitting with his boots up on the console reading his latest issue of "MotorWorld Magazine", when he sat up with a start. / ¥¦¤w¸g¬O Katse's ¸û·MÄøªº mech ³]­p©M¤§¤@, ÁöµM¤´µM«D±`·s¦b¤ñÁÉ¡A¥L­Ì¤w¸g¥Î¥u¦³¤@¨Ç¸û¤pªº¨ü¶ËÀ»±Ñ¥¦¡C ·í¥L¥H¤@­Ó¶}©l¼õ©]ªº®É­Ô¦b³~¤¤¦V«á¦a¹ï·s¤ë§Îªº¬À·ä¡A³ì¦b¬Ý "MotorWorld Âø»x" ªº¥L³ÌªñijÃDªº±±¨îÂi¤W©M¥Lªºªø¹u¦V¤W§¤¡C
He had suddenly realized that with their proximity to Europe, he would be able to enter the "All Italia Cross-Country Rally" that he'd been sure he'd miss out on. *If* he could manage to talk Ken into letting him off. / ¥L¤w¸g³Q¬ðµM¤F¸Ñ¨º¥Ñ©ó¨ì¼Ú¬wªº¥L­Ì±µªñ¡A¥L±N·|¯à°÷¶i¤J¨º " ©Ò¦³ªº¸q¤j§Q¶V³¥ªº¥Ü«Â¹B°Ê" ¥L¤w¸g½T©w¥L±N·|¿ù¹L¡C *¦pªG*¥L¥i¥H³]ªk¶i¤J­ì½Ì¥L¤§¤º»¡¸ÜªÖ®¦¡C

Ken, as Joe expected, would have no part of it. / ªÖ®¦¡A¦p³Q´Á±æªº³ì¡A±N·|¨S¦³¥¦ªº³¡¥÷¡C

"C'mon Ken! It wouldn't take us off course for more than a half-hour. Ryu can drop me and the G2 in the nearest deserted area. I'll have just enough time to get there and register." / "C'mon ªÖ®¦! ¥¦±N¤£¦b½Òµ{¥~®³§Ú­Ì¶W¹L¤@­Ó¥b¤p®É¡C Ryu ¯à¦b³Ìªñªº¼o±ó°Ï°ì¤¤­°§C§Ú©M G2 ¡C §Ú±N¦³¶È¶È¥R¨¬ªº®É¶¡¨ì¨ºùئӥBµn°O¡C"

"No." / "¸¹½X"

"I always show up at the last minute. It won't draw attention." / "§ÚÁ`¬O¦b³Ì«á¤@¨è¥X²{¡C ¥¦±N¤£¤Þ°_ª`·N¡C"

"No. You know the rules. We have to get back and file a mission report immediately." / " ¸¹½X§Aª¾¹D³W«h¡C §Ú­Ì¥²¶·¥ß¨è¦^¨Ó¦Ó¥B¥Ó½Ð¤@­Ó¥ô°È³ø§i¡C"

"I can quote you my usual contribution to every mission report - it's always the same. Most of it's obscene, and you cut half of it anyway- so what's the problem?" / " §Ú¯à¤Þ­z§A¨ì¨C­Ó¥ô°Èªº§Ú¥­±`ªº°^Äm³ø§i -¥¦Á`¬O¬Û¦Pªº¡C ¥¦¤j³¡¥÷¬OµTÁ¶ªº¡A¦Ó¥B§AµL½×¦p¦ó´î§C¥¦¤@¥b-¦p¦¹°ÝÃD¬O¤°»ò?"

"I said forget it!" / " §Ú»¡§Ñ°O¥¦"!

"Fuck you, Ken!" / "©Ê¥æ§A,ªÖ®¦"!

Joe flipped the magazine at Ken's head and stormed out of the cockpit. Jinpei caught it before it hit Ken and began reading the article. "Hey Aniki, wait!" / ³ì¦bªÖ®¦ªºÀY¥Î«üÀY¼uÂø»x¨Ã¥B¨g«ã©H­ýÂ÷¾r¾p­û®y¿µ¡C ¦b¥¦¸I¼²¤FªÖ®¦¦Ó¥B¶}©l¬Ý¤å³¹¤§«e , Jinpei ®·®»¤F¥¦¡C " ¶Ù Aniki,µ¥­Ô"!
he yelled, running after Joe. / ¥L¤j¥s,°l»°³ì¡C

"Jinpei! Leave him alone!" Jun called out. She stood and glared at Ken. "Jinpei won't live to see his next birthday!" she said, and hurried after them. / "Jinpei! §OºÞ¥L!"¤»¤ë¤j¥s¡C ¦o¦bªÖ®¦¯¸µÛ¦Ó¥Bµo¯t¥ú¡C "Jinpei ±N¤£©~¦í¬Ý¨£¥Lªº¤U­Ó¥Í¤é"! ¦o»¡, ¦Ó¥B¦b¥L­Ì¤§«á¶Ê«P¡C

Joe paced in the access bay to the G2 muttering curses at his commander. In a last fit of frustration, he removed his helmet and threw it against the wall. / ³ì¦b³q¸ô®üÆW¤¤¿â¨B¨ì³ä³ä¦Û»y¦b¥Lªº«ü´§©xªº¶A©G G2 ¡C ¦b®À§éªº¤@³Ì«á¾A©y¤¤¡A¥L¤Ï¹ïÀð¾À²¾¨«¤F¥Lªº¿û²¯¦Ó¥B¥á¥¦¡C
It bounced haphazardly across the floor and rolled to a stop at Jinpei's feet. / ¥¦°¸µM¦a¤Ï¼u¾î¹L¦aªO¨Ã¥B¦b Jinpei's ªº¸}±²¨ì¤@­Ó°±¤î¡C

Jinpei sidestepped it and pointed at the magazine. "Joe, you couldn't race anyway. It says here you need a partner." / Jinpei ¦bÂø»x°kÁפF¥¦¦Ó¥B«ü¡C "³ì,§AµLªkµL½×¦p¦ó¤ñÁÉ¡C ¥¦»¡¦b³o¸Ì§A»Ý­n¤@­Ó¦X¹Ù¤H¡C"

"Give me that!" Joe studied the page. "Shit!" / "µ¹§Ú¨º"! ³ì¾Ç²ß¤F­¶¡C "©Ô«Ë"!

Jun walked in, relieved to see her little brother intact. She shooed him out. / ³Q¨«¤Jªº¤»¤ë,´î»´¨£¦oªº¤p¥S§Ì©|¥¼³Q¤H¸I¹Lªº¡C ¦oµo¥X¼NÁn»°¨«¥X¥L¡C

"But Jun!" he whined, "I was just showing Joe the rules." / "°£¤F¤»¤ë¤§¥~"! ¥Lµo¥X¶ã¶ãÁn,"§Ú¥¿¦b¶È¶ÈÅã¥Ü³ì³W«h" ¡C

"Go!" she answered as she pushed him out. He shrugged and headed back toward the main area of the ship. Jun looked back to Joe still frowning over the article. "Look, I know you're disappointed," she began, "But you know Nambu would not be thrilled." / ¥h! ·í¦o±À°Ê¥X¥Lªº®É­Ô¡A¦o¦^µª¡C ¥L¹ï©ó²îªº¥D­n°Ï°ì¦V«á¦aÁqªÓ¦Ó¥B«e¶i¡C ¤»¤ë¦V«á¦a¹ï³ì¤´µM¬Ý¦b¤å³¹¤§¤W½K¬ÜÀY¡C " ¬Ý, §Úª¾¹D¡A§A¬O¥¢±æªº",¦o¶}©l ",¦ý¬O§Aª¾¹D¡A Nambu ±N¤£³Q¾_Ÿ".

"Well, he won't get the chance this time- it's a partner race," he answered. He tossed the magazine to her and she glanced over the article. / "¶â¡A¥L³o¦¸±N¤£±o¨ì¾÷·|-¥¦¬O¤@­Ó¦X¹Ù¤H¤ñÁÉ",¥L¦^µª¡C ¥L¹ï¦o©M¦o§ëÂY¤FÂø»xÂsÄý¤å³¹¡C

"Too bad. It looks like fun. I've always wanted to see Italy." she said absently. / "¤ÓÃaªº¡C ¥¦¬Ý°_¨Ó¹³¼Ö½ì¤@¼Ë¡C §ÚÁ`¬O¤w¸g·Q­n¬Ý¨£¸q¤j§Q¡C"¦o¤ß¤£¦b²j¦a»¡¡C

Joe's head whipped up and a grin spread across his face as he registered her statement. / ³ìªºÀY¿E°_¡A¦Ó¥B·í¥Lµn°O¤F¦oªº³¯­z®É­Ô¡AÅS¾¦¯º¥]¬A¥LªºÁy¡C

"That's it, Jun! You can ride shotgun!" / " ¨º¬O¥¦,¤»¤ë! §A¯àÃM´²¼uÂyºj!"

"Get out!" she sputtered. / "°k¶]"! ¦o­¸Âq³èªj¡C

"No, I'm serious. Like when we were kids down at the track." / "¤£¡A§Ú¬OÄY­«ªº¡C ·í§Ú­Ì¦b­y¹D¤U¨Ó¬O¤p«Äªº®É­Ô¡A³ßÅw¡C"

"Joe! Forget it! Ken said no!" / "³ì! §Ñ°O¥¦! ªÖ®¦¤£»¡!"

"His word is law with you," he snapped. / "¥L©Ò»¡ªº¸Ü¬O¥Ñ©ó§Aªk«ß",¥L«rÂ_¡C

"He *is* our commander, and he said no," she answered back, her face beginning to flush at Joe's last comment. / " ¥L *¬O*§Ú­Ìªº«ü´§©x,¦Ó¥B¥L¤£»¡",¦o³»¼L,¦oªº¶}©l¦b³ìªº³Ì«á·N¨£Áyµo¬õªºÁy¡C

"Ah! He wouldn't say no if *you* asked him. Just bat those big emerald eyes at him." / "°Ú! ¥L±N¤£»¡¨S¦³¦pªG *§A*°Ý¤F¥L¡C ¥¿ª½ªº½¿½»¨º¨Ç¤jªº»B»A¦b¥Lª`·N¡C"

She flushed redder and snapped back, "Oh right! I've got a lot of influence over him!" / ¦oÁyµo¬õ¤ñ¸û¬õªº¦Ó¥B¦V«á¦a«rÂ_," ®@Åv§Q! §Ú¤w¸g±o¨ì¦b¥L¤Wªº³\¦h¼vÅT¤O!"

"Jun, c'mon. It'll be great!" / "¤»¤ë¡A c'mon¡C ¥¦±N¬O¤j®v!"

"No." / "¸¹½X"

Joe tried another tack. "You're right. You couldn't convince him anyway. What was I thinking? You've never been able to get him to acknowledge you're even female!" / ³ì¹Á¸Õ¤F¥t¤@­Ó¤jÀY°v¡C "§A¬O¥¿½Tªº¡C §AµLªkµL½×¦p¦ó¨Ï¥L¬Û«H¡C §Ú¥¿¦b·Q¤°»ò? §A±q¤£¤w¸g¯à°÷±o¨ì¥L©Ó»{§A¬Æ¦Ü§ó¤k©Ê!"

Jun spun around and glared at him "You think I couldn't wrap him around my little finger if I *really* wanted to? Watch and learn, Joe!" / ¤»¤ë§Ö³t±ÛÂà¦b¦Ó¥B©P³ò¦b¥Lµo¯t¥ú " §A»{¬°§ÚµLªk¦b§Úªº¤p«ü©P³ò¥]¸Ë¥L¦pªG§Ú * ¯uªº * ³Q·Q­n¨ì? ¬Ý¦Ó¥B¾Ç²ß,³ì!"

"Ha! I'll believe that when I see it." He smiled as he followed her out the door. She never could resist a challenge. They entered sick bay and he leaned against the door, chewing a shuriken. "Gonna drug him?" he drawled. "I'll hold him down for you!" / "¼K! §Ú±N¬Û«H·í§Ú¬Ý¨£¥¦ªº®É­Ô¡C"·í¥L³e¹ý¦oªùªº®É­Ô¡A¥L·L¯º¡C ¦o±q¤£¥i¥H©è§Ü¬D¾Ô¡C ¥L­Ì¶i¤J¤FÂåÀø¤¤¤ß¡A¦Ó¥B¥L­Ê¾aªù,©CÄZ shuriken ¡C " ¥h¤UÃÄ¥L"? ¥LÃi¬v¬v¦a»¡¡C "§Ú±N¬°§A§â¥L®»¦í¤U¨Ó"!

She smirked at him and pressed the intercom. "Ken, please come down to sick bay. I need to clean up that cut on your face." / ¦o¦b¥L¼H¼H°µ¯º¦Ó¥BÀ£¶i¤F¹ïÁ¿¾¹¡C "ªÖ®¦, ½Ð­°§C¦ÜÂåÀø¤¤¤ß¡C §Ú»Ý­n²M±½¦b§AªºÁy¤W¨º¤Á¡C"

"I'm fine, Jun. It stopped bleeding," he answered. / " §Ú«Ü¦n,¤»¤ë¡C ¥¦°±¤î¤F¥X¦å,"¥L¦^µª¡C

She knew Ken hated being babied but persisted after a quick glance at Joe's smirk. "It could get infected." / ¦o»{ÃѤFªÖ®¦³Q¼¨«ë³QÁa®e¦ý¬O°í«ù¦b³ìªº¼H¼H¯ºªº§Ö¤@¿h¤§«á¡C "¥¦¥i¥H¨ü¶Ç¬V" ¡C

"It's nothing." / "¥¦¤°»ò¤]¤£¬O" ¡C

"Hey! I'm the medical officer on this ship. I have full authority to overrule you if you're injured, Mister, so you get your sorry ass down here!" she barked. / "¶Ù! §Ú¬O¦b³o¤@¿´²î¤WªºÂå¥Í©x­û¡C ¦pªG§A¨ü¶Ë¡A§Ú¦³¥R¨¬ªºÅv«Â§_¨M§A,¥ý¥Í,¦]¦¹§A¦b³o¸Ìª§¨ú§AªºÃø¹LÆjåP¸¨!"¦o§p¡C

She heard a choking noise both from behind her and over the com. Ryu could be heard muttering "What's got her skirt in a twist?" / ¦o¨âªÌ³£Å¥¨ì¤F²¿®§ªº¾¸­µ±q¦b¦o«á­±©M¦b com ¤§¤W¡C Ryu ¥i¯à³QÅ¥¨ì³ä³ä¦Û»y " ¤°»ò³Q¦³¤@§áªº¦o¸È¤l"?

"I'll be right down," Ken answered in a semi-controlled voice. / " §Ú±N¬O¥¿½T¦a¦V¤U",ªÖ®¦¦b¤@ºØ¥b±±¨îªºÁn­µ¤¤¦^µª¡C

"Impressive. Very smooth," Joe laughed. "I'm taking notes!" / "¥O¤H¦L¶H²`¨èªº¡C «D±`¥­·Æªº,"³ì¯º¡C "§Ú¥¿¦b±aªþµù"!

She smiled sarcastically at him and began preparations. First the helmet came off, and she fluffed out her dark cascade of curls. She took out a compact and applied a little powder, fresh lipstick and flipped the small tube over to reveal an atomizer. With a spritz of scent that Joe had long ago identified as a small piece of heaven, she was finished. As an afterthought, she removed her birdwing mantle, revealing what little there actually was of her uniform and smiled at Joe. / ¦o¿Ø¨ë¦a¦b¥L·L¯º¦Ó¥B¶}©l¤F·Ç³Æ¡C ²Ä¤@ªº¿û²¯²æ¸¨¡A¦Ó¥B¦o³n¤ò¥X¦oªº±²¦±¶Â·t¤pÂr¥¬¡C ¦oµ²§ô¨ú¥X¤@­Ó¤p«¬©Ð¨®¦Ó¥BÀ³¥Î¤F¤@¨Ç¯»¡A·sÂAªº¤f¬õ¦Ó¥B¥Î«üÀY¼u¤F¤pªººÞÅã¥Ü¤@­Ó¼QÃú¾¹¡C Âǥѳì¤w¸g³Q«Ü¤[¥H«e½T»{¬°¤@­Ó¤p¤Ñ°óªº®ð¨ý spritz ¡A¦o³Q§¹¦¨¡C ¦p¤@­Ó¨Æ«áªº·Qªk¡A¦o²¾¨«¤F¦oªº birdwing ¦a²[, Åã¥Ü¤°»ò¤p¨º¸Ì¹ê»Ú¤W¬O¦³¦oªº¨îªA¨Ã¥B¦b³ì·L¯º¡C

"You'd better hide," she said. "Oh, one more thing. I get to do some of the driving or the deal's off." / "§A³Ì¦nÂÃ",¦o»¡¡C "®@,¥t¥~¤@­Ó¨Æª«¡C §Ú¶}©l¨«¶}°µ¤@¨Ç»°©Î¥æ©öªº¡C"

"Hey, wait a minute," Joe warned. / "¶Ù,µ¥­Ô¤ÀÄÁ",³ìĵ§i¡C

"You want to go or not?" she replied evenly. / " §A·Q­n¥h"? ¦o¥­§¡¦aµªÂСC

He put his hands up muttering "Agreed." He stationed himself in the supply closet, with the door cracked just enough to see. / ¥L·f°_¥Lªº¤â³ä³ä¦Û»y¦P·N¡C ¥L¦b¸Éµ¹¾ÀÃo¤¤¦w¸m¥L¦Û¤v,ÂǥѶȶȥR¨¬¬Ý¨£ªº³Q§Ë¸Hªºªù¡C

Ken stormed through the doorway. "What the hell was that." he began until she turned around. / ªÖ®¦¨g«ã©H­ý¹Lªù¤f¡C " ¤°»ò¬O¨º". ¥L¶}©lª½¨ì¦o¦^¹LÀY¡C

Jun gave him her most beguiling glance, purring, "I'm sorry, but I know you never take care of yourself if I don't force the issue. I apologize." / ¤»¤ëµ¹¤©¤F¥L¦oªº³Ì´ÛÄFªº¤@¿h¡A purring,"¹ï¤£°_¡A¦ý¬O§Ú»{ÃÑ¡A¦pªG§Ú¤£À£­¢Ä³ÃD¡A§A±q¤£·ÓÅU§A¦Û¤v¡C §Ú¹Dºp¡C"

"Uhh." / "Uhh".

"I also know you took a hit to the ribs from that flak, and that's really what I need to check. I didn't want to say anything over the com and embarrass you. / "§Ú¤]ª¾¹D¡A§A±Ä¨ú¤F¹ï¨Ó¦Û¨º¤@­Ó°ª®g¯¥ªº¦Ø°©¤@­Ó¸I¼²¡A¦Ó¥B¨º¯uªº¬O§Ú©Ò»Ý­nÀˬdªº¡C §Ú¨S¦³·Q­n»¡¥ô¦ó¨Æ¦b com ¤§¤W¦Ó¥B¨Ï§A§xµ~¡C
You'd better de-transmute so I can get a look" / §A¦³¸û¦nªº de- ¨Ï¦]¦¹ÅܧΧگà±o¨ì¯«±¡"

Still slightly stunned, Ken did as he was told. / ¤´µM¨Ç·L¦a¨Ï·w­Ë,·í¥L³Q§i¶Dªº®É­Ô¡AªÖ®¦°µ¡C

"Sit up on the edge of the table and spread your legs." / "¦b®à¤lªºÃä½t¤W¼õ©]¨Ã¥B¶Ç§G§Aªº»L" ¡C

"Excuse me?" he stammered, turning red. / "¹ï¤£°_"? ¥L¤f¦Y,Âà¬õ¦â¡C

Looking completely innocent, Jun answered "I can't get close enough to work on your face if I have to reach over your knees." / ¬Ý°_¨Ó§¹¥þµL¸o,¤»¤ë¦^µª "¦pªG§Ú¥²¶·¦ù¹L¤â¥h§Aªº½¥¡A§Ú¤£¯à±o¨ì±µªñªº¥R¨¬³B²z§AªºÁy".

"Oh. Right." He separated his knees and she moved between them up to the edge of the table. She pulled up his shirt, and Joe could see Ken was starting to breathe hard. / "®@¡C Åv§Q¡C"¥L¤À¶}¤F¥Lªº½¥¡A¦Ó¥B¦o¦b¥L­Ì¤§¶¡ª½¨ì®à¤lªºÃä½t²¾°Ê¡C ¦o©Þ¥X¥LªºÅ¨­m¡A¦Ó¥B³ì¥i¥H¬Ý¨£ªÖ®¦¶}©l§V¤O¦a©I§l¡C

"Hmm. no major bruising. That's a good sign. Ken, you're going to have to take off your shirt- I can't check for breaks and hold your shirt at the same time." / "Hmm¡C ¨S¦³¥D­×¬ì¥Ø¥´¶Ë¡C ¨º¬O¤@­Ó¦n²Å¸¹¡C ªÖ®¦,§A¥¿¦b¥h¥²¶·²æ±¼§AªºÅ¨­m- §Ú¹ï©ó¥ð®§¤£¯àÀˬd¨Ã¥B¦P®É¤ä¼µ§AªºÅ¨­m¡C"
Obediently he removed it, and flushed even darker as her hands moved gently across his midsection. "Does anything hurt?" / ªA±q¦a¥L²¾¨«¤F¥¦, ¦Ó¥BÁyµo¬õ¬Æ¦Ü¤ñ¸û¶Â·t·í¦oªº¤â³vº¥¦a¶V¹L¥Lªº¤¤¥¡³¡¤À²¾°Ê¡C "¥ô¦ó¨Æ¶Ë®`¶Ü"?

Befuddled by proximity and perfume, 'The Great Eagle' could only nod. / Âǵ۱µªñ©M­»¤ô¨Ï©ü°g,'´ÎªºÆN' ¥u¥i¥HÂIÀY¡C

"Well, everything seems ok. I'll just fix that cut." She started cleaning it, leaning only inches from his face. / "¶â¡A¨C¥ó¨Æª«¦ü¥G ok ¡C §Ú±N¶È¶È©T©w¨º¤Á¡C" ¦o¶}©l²M¼ä¥¦, ¶É±×¥uºCºC«e¶i±q¥LªºÁy¡C

Ken swallowed hard. / ªÖ®¦§V¤O¦a§]¡C

In a casual voice, Jun began her attack. "You know Ken, I've been thinking that maybe you should let Joe go to that race. He'll be impossible all the way home, and the last time he was in this state I had to unpin Jinpei from the wall." / ¦b¤@ºØ°¸µMªºÁn­µ¤¤¡A¤»¤ë¶}©l¤F¦oªº§ðÀ»¡C " §A»{ÃѪ֮¦, §Ú¤w¸g·Q¨º¤]³\§AÀ³¸ÓÅý³ì¥h¨º¤@­Ó¤ñÁÉ¡C ¥L±N¬O¤£¥i¯àªº©Ò¦³¤è¦¡®a, ©M³Ì«á¤@¦¸¥L¬O¦b³o¦{¤¤§Ú¥²¶·©Þ¥h§O°w¨Ó¦ÛÀð¾Àªº Jinpei ¡C"

Ken winced away from the antiseptic, and she bit her lip, looking at him with huge eyes. "Sorry," she breathed. / ªÖ®¦¬ÈÁY»·Â÷±þµß¾¯¡A¦Ó¥B¦o«r¤F¦oªº®B,¥H·¥¤jªº²´·ú¬Ý¥L¡C "¹ï¤£°_",¦o©I§l¡C

Joe's admiration for her skills grew with every second. / ¬°¦oªº§Þ³N³ìÆg½à»P¨C¤@¬í¦¨ªø¡C

"Maybe if one of us went with him and promised to keep an eye on him- would that be ok? Nambu wouldn't really mind, would he? I mean, the mission was a success and Galactor shouldn't be a threat for a while. Ryu, or even *I* could go and make sure he stays in touch. Unless *you* need me to stay close." / "¤]³\¦pªG§Ú­Ì¤§¤@©M¥L¥h¦Ó¥BµªÀ³ª`·N¥L- ±N·|­þ¤@¬O ok? Nambu ±N¤£¯uªº¤¶·N,¤£¬O¶Ü? §Úªº·N«ä¬O,¥ô°È¬O¦¨¥\¡A¦Ó¥B Galactor ¤£À³¸Ó¬O¤@ºØ«Â¯Ù¤@°}¤l¡C Ryu, ©Î¥­©Zªº *§Ú*¥i¥H¥h¦Ó¥B½T©w¥L°±¯d¦bIJı¤¤¡C °£«D *§A*»Ý­n§Ú°±¯d±µªñ¡C"

Jun was far too close at the moment for Ken's comfort, and he looked like he wanted her as far out of his way as possible or he'd lose all self-control. / ¤»¤ë¹ï©óªÖ®¦ªº¦w¼¢¦¹¨è¬O¬Û·í¦a±µªñªº¡A¦Ó¥B¥L¬Ý°_¨Ó¹³¥L¤@¼Ë·Q­n¦oªº¦P¼Ë¦a»»»·¦a±q¥Lªº¤èªk·í°µ¥i¯àªº©Î¥L±N·|¥¢¥h©Ò¦³ªº§J¤v¡C

She looked up expectantly as she finished placing the bandage. "There. You want me to kiss it better too?" / ¦o¬Ý¦b¹w´Á¦a¤W­±·í°µ¦o³Q©ñ¸mÁ^±a§¹¡C "¦b¨º¸Ì¡C §A·Q­n§Ú¤]§k¥¦§ó¦h?"

Ken again swallowed hard, his voice husky as he replied "Yeah." / ªÖ®¦¦A¤@¦¸§V¤O¦a§], ¦³´ßªº¥LÁn­µ·í¥LµªÂФF "¬Oªº".

"You want a kiss?" she replied incredulously. / "§A·Q­n¤@­Ó§k"? ¦oÃhºÃ¦aµªÂСC

"No! I mean, yeah- maybe you're right about Joe," he managed to stammer. / "¤£! §Úªº·N«ä¬O,¬Oªº- ¤]³\§A¬O¥¿½T¦aÃö©ó³ìªº¨Æ,"¥L³]ªk¤f¦Y¡C
"Actually you'd better go. Joe's more likely to get in trouble with Ryu than if you go. Am I done?" he finished, in an almost panicky voice. / "¹ê»Ú¤W§A³Ì¦n¥h¡C ³ì§ó¦³¥i¯àªº¥H Ryu ¶i¤J³Â·Ð¤ñ¸û¦pªG§A¥h¡C §Ú§¹¦¨¤F¶Ü?"¦b¤@ºØ´X¥G®£·WªºÁn­µ¤¤¥L§¹¦¨¡C

"You're done." She leaned in and softly kissed his cheek. "It'll heal faster," she added, blushing. "Do you need help with the report before I leave?" / "§A³Q°µ" ¡C ¦o­Ê¾a¦b¦Ó¥B¬X©M¦a§k¤F¥LªºÀU¡C "¥¦±N§ó§Ö³t¦aªv¡",¦o¼W¥[,Áy¬õ¡C "¦b§ÚÂ÷¶}¤§«e , §A¥Î³ø§i»Ý­nÀ°¦£¶Ü"?

"No, that's ok, Jun. I'll handle Nambu. Just get Joe out of here before I change my mind!" he added as he rushed from the room. / "¤£¡A¨º¬O ok ¡A¤»¤ë¡C §Ú±N³B²z Nambu ¡C ¦b§Ú§ïÅܧڪº·Qªk¤§«e , ¶È¶È§â³ì»°¥X³o¸Ì!"·í¥L±q©Ð¶¡¶Ê«Pªº®É­Ô¡A¥L¼W¥[¡C

She caught his quiet "Bird, Go!" as he ran down the passage, and started packing up her supplies with a victorious smile on her face. "You can come out now Joe. Oh, and pick your jaw up off the floor." / ¦o¤Þ°_¤F¥Lªº¦wÀR "³¾,¥h"! ·í¥Lªu³q¹D¦V¤U¶], ¦Ó¥B¶}©l°±¤î¦³¦b¦oªºÁy¤W¤@­Ó³Ó§Qªº·L¯º¦o¸Éµ¹¡C "§A²{¦b¯à¥X¨Ó³ì¡C ®@, ©Mºë¿ï§AªºÃE¦V¤W¨«¶}¦aªO¡C"

Joe stepped back into the room. "I knew you could do it, Jun! I just didn't know you could do it so well," he leered at her. / ³ì­«¦^©Ð¶¡¡C "§Ú»{ÃѤF§A¥i¥H°µ¥¦¡A¤»¤ë! §Ú´N¬O¨S¦³ª¾¹D¡A§A¥i¥H¦p¦¹°µ¦n¥¦,"¥L¦b¦o°e¬îªi¡C

"Pig!" She took a swipe at him. "Why I help you I'll never know," she added, blushing. "You'd better get some supplies. I'll meet you in the G2 bay as soon as I'm finished. The things I do for you." / "½Þ"! ¦o±a¤F¦b¥Lªº¤@­Ó±j¥´¡C " §Ú¬°¤°»òÀ°§U§A§Ú±N±q¤£ª¾¹D",¦o¼W¥[,Áy¬õ¡C "§A³Ì¦n±o¨ì¤@¨Ç¸Éµ¹¡C §Ú±N¦b G2 ®üÆW¤¤¹J¨£§A¤@¥¹§Ú³Q§¹¦¨¡C ¨Æª«§Ú¬°§A°µ¡C"

He leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Jun smiled at him and pressed the com button. / ¥L­Ê¾a¤U¨Ó¦Ó¥Bµ¹¤©¤F¦o¦bÀU¤Wªº§Ö°Ö²ª¡C ¤»¤ë¦b¥L·L¯º¦Ó¥B«ö¤F com «ö¶s¡C

"Oh, Ryu. I have a favor to ask, about Jinpei." They heard a groan on the other end and both smiled again. / "®@,Ryu¡C §Ú¦³¦n·N°Ý,Ãö©ó Jinpei ªº¨Æ¡C"¥L­ÌÅ¥¨ì¤F¦b¥t¤@ºÝ¤Wªº¤@Án©D§u¡A¦Ó¥B¨âªÌ¦A¤@¦¸·L¯º¡C

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"Asakura! Thought you weren't coming. Hey! Who's the babe?" / "Asakura! ·Q§A¤£¬O§Y±N¨Óªº¡C ¶Ù! ¤p«Ä¬O½Ö?"

All his usual competition was already milling around the check-in station, and / ¥L©Ò¦³ªº¥­±`Ävª§¤w¸g¥¿¦bÄ̰ʳø¨ì³B¯¸,©M
Jun had caused more than a few whistles at their entrance. / ¤»¤ë¤w¸g¦b¥L­Ìªº¤J¤f¤Þ°_¶W¹L¤@¨Ç¤f­ï¡C

"Out of your league, H-man!" Joe shot back at the loudest, as Jun raised an eyebrow. / "±q§AªºÁp·ù,H-¨k¤H"! ³ì¦b³Ì¤jÁnªº¦V«á¦a®gÀ»,¦p¤É°_¤@¹D¬Ü¤òªº¤»¤ë¡C

"Oooh! Nice matching shirts," the loud one continued unabashed. "Number three, huh? Got so many you need to number them now?" / "Oooh! ¬ü¦nªºÅ¨­m¬Û°t," ¤@­Ó¤jÁnªºÄ~Äò¤£Áy¬õªº¡C "¤T¸¹,­ó!? ¨Ï§A»Ý­n²{¦b¼Æ¥L­Ì?"

Joe made a rude gesture as an answer, then went to sign them in as Jun went off to pick up the requisite maps. He watched with a grin as driver after driver crashed and burned under her withering stare when they attempted their best pick-up lines. / ³ì»s³y¤F¤@­Ó²Ê¾|µL§ªº¤â¶Õ¦p¤@­Óµª®×, µM«á¥hñ¸p¥L­Ì¦b·í¤»¤ëÃz¬µ¬B°_¥²­nªº¦a¹Ï¡C ·í¥L­Ì¹Á¸Õ¤F¥L­Ì³Ì¦nªº´£¨ú½uªº®É­Ô¥L¥H¦p¦b¾r¾p­û«áªº¾r¾p­ûªºÅS¾¦¯º¬Ý¦b¦o¤§¤U¼Y·´¦Ó¥B¿U¿N¨Ïª`µø­äÁ¡C

She walked back to him, and said quietly, "Shall I cling to your big strong arm? Would it help your reputation?" / ¦o¦V«á¦a¹ï¥L¨«, ¦Ó¥B¦wÀR¦a»¡,"§Ú±NÂHªþ©ó§Aªº¤j±j¤âÁu¶Ü? ¥¦±N·|À°§U§Aªº¦WÅA¶Ü?"

He smirked at her as he gallantly opened the door. "My rep is just fine, thanks anyway. Not that you don't enhance it," he added. / ·í¥Lº}«G¦a¥´¶}¤Fªùªº®É­Ô¡A¥L¦b¦o¼H¼H°µ¯º¡C "§Úªº rep ¬O¥¿ª½ªº»@´Ú,µL½×¦p¦óÁÂÁ¡C ¤£¨º§A¤£´£°ª¥¦,"¥L¸É­z¡C

She grinned back, and Joe suddenly realized that this race might prove to be the most fun he'd had in a long time. / ¦o¦V«á¦aÅS¾¦¦Ó¯º¡A¦Ó¥B³ì¬ðµM¤F¸Ñ¤F³o¤@­Ó¤ñÁÉ¥i¯àÃÒ©ú¬O¥L¦bªøªº®É¶¡¤¤¦³¦³ªº³Ì¦³½ìªº¡C

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Jun eyed the double bed in the small room doubtfully. "This is the best you could do?" she asked, wrinkling her nose. / ¥iºÃ¦a¦b¤pªº©Ð¶¡¤¤²´ªºÂù¤H§Éªº¤»¤ë¡C "³o¬O§A¥i¥H°µªº³Ì¦n"? ¦o°Ý,°_½K¦oªº»ó¤l¡C

"Hey, I was lucky to get a room at all. You should be thanking me. We spend the rest of the nights in the G2," Joe replied. / "¶Ù,§Ú¬O©¯¹B±o¨ì¦b¥þ³¡ªº¤@­Ó©Ð¶¡¡C §AÀ³¸ÓÁÂÁ§ڡC §Ú­Ìªá¶O G2 ªº©]±ß¨ä¥¦³¡¤À,"³ìµªÂСC

"Well, at least it's clean," she sighed, trailing a finger across a nightstand. / " ¶â¡A¦Ü¤Ö¥¦¬O°®²bªº",¦o¼Û®§,°lÂܾî¹L nightstand ªº¤@®Ú¤â«ü¡C
"Where are you sleeping?" she asked with a smile. / "§A¥¿¦b­þ¸ÌºÎı"? ¦o¥H¤@­Ó·L¯º°Ý¡C

"In the bed, Jun. That's why they call it a double." / "¦b§É¡A¤»¤ë¤¤¡C ¨º¬O¥L­Ì¬°¤°»òºÙ¥¦¬°¤@­Ó¥[­¿¡C"

"No way! I'm not sleeping with you." / "¨M¤£¥i¯à! §Ú¨S¦³¦b©M§AºÎı¡C"

"I won't touch you," Joe said, aggravated. / "§Ú±N¤£¸I§A",³ì»¡,´c¤Æ¡C

"It's not that," she said, making a face. "Like you'd have a chance, anyway. / "¥¦¤£¬O¨º",¦o»¡,»s³y¤@­ÓÁy¡C " ¬Û¦üªº§A±N·|¦³¤@­Ó¾÷·|,µL½×¦p¦ó¡C
You snore like hell. I'll be up all night." / §A¹³¦aº»¤@¼Ë¥´ÂM¡C §Ú¾ã©]±ß±N¬O¦V¤W¡C"

"It's that or the car," he snapped, slightly offended by both her remarks. "Bet if it was Ken." he sneered, before the lightning speed of her arm sent a pillow at his head. / " ¥¦¬O©Î¨T¨®",¥L«rÂ_, ³Q¦oªº¨â­Óµû½×¨Ç·L¦a¥Ç¸o¡C "¥´½ä¡A¬O§_¥¦¬OªÖ®¦" ¡C ¥L¼J¯º,¦b¦oªº¤âÁu°{¹q³t«×¦b¥LªºÀY°e¤@­ÓªEÀY¤§«e¡C

"Don't even go there," she warned softly, armed with the other pillow. / "¬Æ¦Ü¤£¥h¨º¸Ì",¦o¬X©M¦aĵ§i, ¥H¥t¤@­ÓªZ¸Ë§@ªºªEÀY¡C

"So that's how it's gonna be," Joe grinned, retrieving the pillow. He launched and she shrieked, shielding herself from the assault with the other pillow. / " ¥H«K¬O¥¦±N·|¬Oªº¤è¦¡",³ìÅS¾¦¦Ó¯º,¨ú¦^ªEÀY¡C ¥Lµo®g¡A¦Ó¥B¦o¦y¥s, «Ì¹j¦o¦Û¤v±q©M¥t¤@­Óªº§ðÀ»ªEÀY¡C
They chased each other around the room until Joe pinned her to the bed. / ¥L­Ì¦b©Ð¶¡ªº©P³ò°l®·©¼¦¹¡Aª½¨ì³ì¥Î°w§O¦í¤F¦o¨ì§É¡C

"Ah-ha! The Condor once again traps his prey!" / "°Ú-¼K! ¨rÆN¦A¤@¦¸§x¦í¥Lªº³Q±°­¹ªÌ!"

"Condors don't trap anything, they're scavengers," she managed, laughing hysterically as he started tickling her. "No! Joe, stop it!" she shrieked. / "¨rÆN¤£§x¦í¥ô¦ó¨Æ,¥L­Ì¬O²M¹D¥í",¦o³B²z, ·²´µ©³¨½¦a¯º·í¥L¶}©l¯ÞªÏ¦o¡C "¤£! ³ì,°±¤î¥¦!"¦o¦y¥s¡C

"Say it! If I was Ken you'd be all over me!" / "»¡¥¦! ¦pªG§Ú¬O§A±N·|¨ì³B§ÚªºªÖ®¦!"

"Joe!" / "³ì"!

"C'mon!" / "C'mon"!

"Like hell!" / "³ßÅw¦aº»"!

"I'm waiting," he said, trying to remember where her ticklish spots were and generally succeeding. / "§Ú¥¿¦bµ¥­Ô",¥L»¡, ¹Á¸Õ°O±o¦oªº©ö­Ë¦aÂI¦b­þ¸Ì¦Ó¥B³q±`¦¨¥\¡C

"Allright! I admit it, but I'm not saying it! Now get off me!" / "Allright! §Ú©Ó»{¥¦¡A¦ý¬O§Ú¨S¦³¦b»¡¥¦! ²{¦bÂ÷¶}§Ú!"

Joe sat back. "I'll accept that. I'm starving! Let's go eat," he said, rolling off the bed. He was only too glad to quit, suddenly aware that her body beneath him was a woman's and not the girl he remembered from their childhood tickling fights. "I'll go ask the signora about a good restaurant. Meet you downstairs," he said and hastily exited the room. / ³ì³S¤â®ÇÆ[¡C "§Ú±N±µ¨ü¨º¡C §Ú¦n¾j! Åý§Ú­Ì¥h¦Y,"¥L»¡,¨«¶}ºu°Ê§É¡C ¥L·¥°ª¿³ªºÂ÷¶}, ¬ðµMª¾¹D¨º¦oªº¨­Åé¦b¥L¤§¤U¬O¤k¤Hªº©M¤£¬O¤k«Ä¥L±q¥L­Ìªº«Äµ£®É´Á¯ÞªÏ¾Ô°«°O±o¡C " §Ú±N¥h°ÝÃö©ó¤@®a¦nÀ\ÆUªº signora¡C ¹J¨£§A¼Ó¤U,"¥L»¡¨Ã¥B¥^¦£¦a°h¥X©Ð¶¡¡C

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She sent them to a small local caf, and they sat outside, watching the quiet pace of small town life. Joe vaguely remembered the same type of scene from his childhood and remarked on it. / ¦o§â¥L­Ì°eµ¹¤pªº¦a¤è caf ¡A¦Ó¥B¥L­Ì¥~­±§¤,¬Ý¤p«°Âí¥Í¬¡ªº¦wÀR³t«×¡C ³ì§t½k¦a¦b¥¦¤W°O±o¤F¨Ó¦Û¥Lªº«Äµ£®É´Áªº¬Û¦PÃþ«¬ªº²{³õ¦Ó¥Bµû½×¡C

"You never say much about your family," Jun said. / "§A±q¤£»¡«Ü¦h¦³Ãö§Aªº®a®x",¤»¤ë»¡¡C

"I don't remember a lot. Better that way, I guess. But this feels.familiar." / "§Ú¤£«Ü¦h°O±o¡C §ó¨º¼Ë¡A§Ú²q´ú¡C ¦ý¬O³o feels.familiar¡C"

Jun smiled at him. "Must be what normal life feels like." / ¤»¤ë¦b¥L·L¯º¡C "¤@©w¬O¥Í¬¡·Pı°_¨Ó¹³¤°»ò±`ºA" ¡C

"Yeah, I suppose, but I'm not sure my life was ever 'normal'," he answered, suddenly uneasy. / "¬Oªº, §Ú±À·Q¡A¦ý¬O§Ú¤£¬O½T«H§Úªº¥Í¬¡´¿¸g¬O '±`ºA'",¥L¦^µª,¬ðµM¤£¦w¡C

She noticed his shift in mood, and changed the subject. "This food is amazing. / ¦oª`·N¤F¤ß±¡ªº¥LÅܤÆ, ¦Ó¥B§ïÅܤF¥DÃD¡C "³o­¹ª«¬O¥O¤HÅ岧ªº¡C
You certainly haven't forgotten what to order. This is nothing like the Italian food we get back home." / §A½T©w¦a¨S¦³§Ñ°O¸Ó©R¥O¤°»ò¡C ³o¨S¦³¹³¬O§Ú­Ì±o¨ì«á­±ªº®a¸q¤j§Q­¹ª«ªÌ¡C"

"Glad you like it," he replied. "It shows you have good taste. Wait'll we get to dessert." / " °ª¿³ªº§A³ßÅw¥¦",¥LµªÂСC "¥¦Åã¥Ü§A¦³¦n«~À|¡C µ¥­Ô§Ú­Ì±N¨ì¹F²¢ÂI¶Ü¡C"

Jun stifled a yawn, then smiled apologetically. "It's not the company, really." / ¨Ï¤@­Ó«¢¤í¤£¯à©I§lªº¤»¤ë,µM«áÅG¸Ñ¦a·L¯º¡C "¥¦¤£¬O¤½¥q,¯uªº".

"We should get some sleep," Joe began. "It's an early start tomorrow, and I need to win this one. I've been off the circuit too long." / "§Ú­ÌÀ³¸Ó±o¨ì¤@¨ÇºÎ¯v",³ì¶}©l¡C "¥¦©ú¤Ñ¬O¤@­Ó¦­ªº¶}©l¡A¦Ó¥B§Ú»Ý­nűo³o¤@­Ó¡C §Ú¤w¸g¤Ó¤[Â÷¶}½u¸ô¡C"

"Well, you *have* been otherwise occupied," Jun said with a smirk as they started back toward the hotel. / "¶â, §A **§_«h³Q¦û»â",·í¥L­Ì¹ï©ó®ÈÀ]¦V«á¦a¶}©lªº®É­Ô¡A¤»¤ë¥H¼H¼H¯º»¡¡C

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He was sitting on the edge of the bed in his shorts, setting the alarm clock when he heard Jun come out of the bathroom. She was wearing an oversized promotional T-shirt from the rally. He suddenly felt awkward and looked away as she slipped under the blanket. / ¥L¦b¥Lªºµu¿Ç¤¤§¤¦b§ÉªºÃä½t¤W, ³]©w¾xÄÁ·í¥LÅ¥¨ì¤F³Q±q¯D«Ç¥X¨Óªº¤»¤ë®É­Ô¡C ¦o¥¿¦b¬ïµÛ¤@¯S¤j¸¹¨Ó¦Û¥Ü«Â¹B°Êªº«P¾P T«ò¡C ·í¦o¦b¤ò´à¤§¤U·Æ­Ëªº®É­Ô¡A¥L¬ðµMı±o²Â©å¦Ó¥B¬ÝÂ÷¶}¡C

"Jun," he said softly, "throw me a pillow. I'll sleep on the floor." / "¤»¤ë",¥L¬X©M¦a»¡ ",¥á§Ú¤@­ÓªEÀY¡C §Ú±N¦b¦aªO¤WºÎı¡C"

"Don't be silly. You have to drive in the morning- unless you want me to start the race?" / "§O·MÄø¡C §A¥²¶·¦b¦­±á¶}¨®-°£«D§A·Q­n§Ú¶}©l¤ñÁÉ?"

"Ha!" He looked around again, to find her studying him. "You sure you don't mind?" / "¼K"! ¥L¦A¤@¦¸¥|³B¬Ý¬Ý, µo²{¦o¾Ç²ß¥L¡C " §A·íµM§A¤£¤¶·N"?

"It's fine. Really. Hit the light, okay?" she added as she rolled over on her side. He flicked it off, then crawled in, rolling on his side so they were back to back. / "¥¦¬O»@´Ú¡C ¯uªº¡C ¥´¥ú,¦n?"·í¦o¦b¦oªº¨­Ãä¤Wµ²§ô±²ªº®É­Ô¡A¦o¼W¥[¡C ¥L¨«¶}»´¼u¤F¥¦, µM«áª¦¦æ¦b, ¦b¥Lªº¨­Ãä¤Wªº±ÛÂà¦]¦¹¥L­Ì­I¹ï­I¦a¡C

"G'night Joe," she said sleepily. / "G'night ³ì",¦o·QºÎ¦a»¡¡C

"Night," he replied softly, wishing that he didn't love her perfume quite so much. / "©]±ß",¥L¬X©M¦aµªÂÐ, Ä@¥L¨S¦³·R¦oªº­»¤ô¬Û·í³o»ò¦h¡C

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The first day went by fairly smoothly; by day two they were overtired from the mission and a night spent in the car. By day three they were at each other's throats after a tire blow out and a wrong turn lost them time. They started fighting like kids over the radio; Jun wanted to play CD's and Joe, feeling nostalgic, to listen to the local Italian stations. He compromised by letting her control the receiver. She managed to find stations with the worst possible international play lists, which made them laugh and lightened the mood again. / ²Ä¤@¤Ñ¤½¥­¦a¥­·Æ¹L¥h ; ¦b¤é¤l¤G¤§«e¥L­Ì±q¥ô°È³Q¹L«×¯h³Ò¡A¦Ó¥B¤@­Ó©]±ß¦b¨T¨®¤¤ªá¶O¡C ¦b¤é¤l¤T¤§«e¥L­Ì¦b©¼¦¹«|³ï¦b½ü­L¥´À»¤§«á¦b¥~¦Ó¥B¤@­Ó¿ù»~ªº±ÛÂॢ¥h¥L­Ì©w®É¡C ¥L­Ì¹³¦b¦¬­µ¾÷¤Wªº¤p«Ä¤@¼Ë¶}©l¹ï§Ü; ¤»¤ë·Q­nª± CD ©M³ì,ı±o¶m·T, Å¥¨ì¦a¤è¸q¤j§Q¤H¨®¯¸¡C ¥LÂÇ¥ÑÅý¦oªº±±¨î±µ¦¬¾¹§´¨ó³B²z¡C ¦o³]ªk¥Î³ÌÃaªº¥i¯à°ê»Úªº¹CÀ¸¥Ø¿ýµo²{¨®¯¸,¨Ï¥L­Ì¯º¡A¦Ó¥B¦A¤@¦¸ÂI«G¤F¤ß±¡¡C

"You know all the lyrics to every bad song ever written," he said. / "§A´¿¸gª¾¹D¹ï¨C¤@Ãaªººq©Ò¦³ªº§ç±¡¸Ö¼g",¥L»¡¡C

"You aren't far behind me," she countered. "I can't help it if I have a photographic memory, but there's no excuse for you to know all the words to that one." / "§A¤£¬O»·ªº«á­±³¡¤À§Ú",¦o¨î¤î¡C "¦pªG§Ú¦³·Ó¬Ûªº°O¾Ð, ¦ý¬O§A¨S¦³ÂǤfª¾¹D¹ï¨º¤@­Óªº©Ò¦³¦r¡A§Ú¤£¯àÀ°§U¥¦" ¡C

"Ah, I do have an excuse- Ryu's room is next to mine at the base. You know his taste in music." / "°Ú,§Ú½T¹ê¦³ÂǤf- Ryu's ªº©Ð¶¡¬O¤U­Ó¦b°ò¦«õ±¸¡C §Aª¾¹D­µ¼Öªº¥L«~À|¡C"

She burst out laughing. "You're right! Between Jinpei and Ryu, we hear every awful song that's popular. I keep taking the stuff out of the jukebox at the 'J', but he always seems to find where I've hidden the discs." / ¦oÃzµõ¥X¯º¡C "§A¬O¥¿½Tªº! ¦b Jinpei ©M Ryu ¤§¶¡¡A§Ú­ÌÅ¥¨ì¨üÅwªïªº¨C¤@¥i©Èªººq¡C §ÚÄ~Äò±q¦b 'J' ªº¦Û°ÊÂI°Û¾÷¨ú¥X¨Æ±¡¡A¦ý¬O¥LÁ`¬O¦ü¥Gµo²{§Ú¤w¸gÂõ۶ê½Lªº¦a¤è¡C"

She scanned through the band, stopping for an actual good song. He was surprised when she began to sing along softly. / ¦o±½´y¹L¼Ö¹Î,¬°¤@­º¯u¹êªº¦nºq°±¤î¡C ·í¦o¶}©l¦V«e¬X©M°Ûªº®É­Ô¡A¥L·P¨ìÅå³Y¡C

"I never knew you liked their stuff," he said quietly. / "§Ú±q¤£»{ÃÑ¡A§A³ßÅw¥L­Ìªº¨Æ±¡",¥L¦wÀR¦a»¡¡C

"It's funny- with all the time we spend together, how much we still don't know about each other," she replied. "We should work on that." / " ¥¦¬O¦n¯ºªº- ¥Ñ©ó©l²×§Ú­Ì¤@°_ªá¶O, §Ú­Ì¤´µM¤£ª¾¹D©¼¦¹",¦oµªÂСC "§Ú­ÌÀ³¸Ó³B²z¨º" ¡C

"Deal." / "¥æ©ö".

She smiled at him, then returned her attention to the landscape. "It's really beautiful here, Joe." / ¦o¦b¥L·L¯º, µM«áÂkÁÙ¦oªºª`·Nµ¹­·´º¡C "¥¦¯uªº¬O¬üÄRªº³o¸Ì³ì" ¡C

They drove on in companionable silence for more than an hour broken only by / ¥L­Ì¶}¨®¦b¾A©ó°µªB¤Íªº¨HÀq¤è­±¹F¥u³Q¥´¯}ªº¶W¹L 1 ¤p®É¤§¤W³Q
Jun's humming. Realizing the faint sound had faded away, Joe glanced over to find that she was fast asleep. The road was clear and straight, so he looked over again, pausing to study her for a few seconds. / ¤»¤ë¶ä¶ä¥s¡C ¤F¸Ñ·L®zªºÁn­µ¦³¤w¿Æ¦âªºÂ÷¶}, ÂsÄýªº³ìµo²{¦oºÎ±o«Ü¼ô¡C ¹D¸ô¬O²M·¡ªº©Mª½,¦]¦¹¥L¦A¤@¦¸ÂsÄý , ¼È°±¾Ç²ß¦o¼Æ¬í¡C

Her face was pale in the moonlight and the reflected dashboard lights, and he realized again how beautiful she was. / ¦oªºÁy¬O»a¥Õªº¦b¤ë¥ú¤U©M³Q¤Ï¬Mªº»öªíªO¥ú, ¦Ó¥B¥L¦A¤@¦¸¤F¸Ñ¦p¦ó¬üÄRªº¦o¬O¡C

'Ken's a fool,' he thought, for the thousandth time. / 'ªÖ®¦ªº¤@­Ó·M¤H ,' ¥L·Q,¹ï©ó²Ä¤@¤d®É¶¡¡C

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Hours later he came out of the checkpoint tent to find her leaning against his door and taking a swig from a bottle of soda. / ¼Æ¤p®É¤§«á¥L±qÀˬd¯¸¥X¨Ó±bÁOµo²{¦o­Ê¾a¥Lªºªù¦Ó¥B±a¨Ó¦Û¤@²~Ĭ¥´ªº¤@­Óµh¶¼¡C

"Hey! Where's mine?" he called over, grinning. / "¶Ù! ¦b­þ¸Ì¬O§Úªº?"¥Lµ²§ô©I¥s,ÅS¾¦¦Ó¯º¡C

"In the car- throw me the keys." / "¦b¨T¨®¤¤- §ë§ÚÆ_°Í".

"What?" / "¤°»ò"?

"The keys- it's my turn. You need some rest." / "Æ_°Í-½ü¨ì§Ú¡C §A»Ý­n¤@¨Ç¥ð®§¡C"

"Oh no." / " ®@¸¹½X"

"What do you mean, oh no? You said I could drive." / " ¤°»ò§Aªº·N«ä¬O, ªí¥ÜÅå³Y¤£? §A»¡¤F§Ú¥i¥H¶}¨®¡C"

"I don't think so." / "§Ú¤£³o»ò»{¬°" ¡C

"You'd better think so- it was part of our deal. The keys." she gestured for them again. / "§A³Ì¦n³o»ò»{¬°-¥¦¬O§Ú­Ìªº¥æ©ö³¡¥÷¡C Æ_°Í¡C"¦o¦A¤@¦¸¬°¥L­Ì§@¤â¶Õ¡C

"Jun." / "¤»¤ë".

"You promised. You need a rest, and I've already gone over the map. I know what / "§AµªÀ³¡C §A»Ý­n¥ð®§¡A¦Ó¥B§Ú¤w¸g¸Ô²ÓÀˬd¦a¹Ï¤F¡C §Úª¾¹D¤°»ò
I'm doing." / §Ú¥¿¦b°µ¡C"

Realizing not only that she wore the expression that struck terror into the hearts of Galactor troops everywhere, but that she was also right, he caved. / ¤F¸Ñ¤£¦ý¦oÀ¹¤F¦U³B¥´®£©Æ¶i Galactor ­x¶¤ªº¤ß¤§¤ºªºªí¹F , ¦Ó¥B¡A¦o¤]¬O¥¿½Tªº,¥L¥W³´¡C
Tossing her the keys, he moved around the back of the car to the passenger door, muttering. / §ëÂY¦oªºÆ_°Í,¥L¦b¨T¨®ªº­I­±©P³ò²¾°Ê¨ì­¼«Èªù,³ä³ä¦Û»y¡C

"What was that?" she demanded, as she readjusted mirrors. / "¨º¬O¤°»ò"? ¦o­n¨D,¦p¦P¦o­«·s½Õ¾ã¤FÃè¤l¤@¼Ë¡C

"If we lose more time." he threatened softly. / " ¦pªG§Ú­Ì¥¢¥h§ó¦hªº®É¶¡". ¥L¬X©M¦a«Â¯Ù¡C

"Like hell we'll lose time-it's *me* remember? I do know how to drive." She gave him a wicked grin from behind the wheel. "All buckled in?" she added sweetly, and hit the accelerator. / "§Ú­Ì±N¥¢¥h®É¶¡ªº¬Û¦ü¦aº»- ¥¦¬O *§Ú*°O±o? §Ú½T¹êª¾¹D¸Ó¦p¦ó¶}¨®¡C" ¦oµ¹¤©¤F¥LÃaªºÅS¾¦¯º±q¦b½ü¤l«á­±¡C " ¥þ³¡¦©ºò¦b"? ¦o²¢¬ü¦a¼W¥[, ¦Ó¥BÀ»¤¤¤F¥[³tªÌ¡C

After a second of surprise, Joe relaxed against the seat, grinning at her enthusiasm. 'Nope. We won't lose any time at all,' he thought. / ¦b¬íªº·N¥~¤§«á¡A³ì©ñÃP¹ï§Ü®y¦ì,¦b¦oªº¨g¼öÅS¾¦¦Ó¯º¡C '¤£¡C §Ú­Ì±N¤@ÂI¤]¤£ÀH®É¥¢¥h,'¥L·Q¡C

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They'd won. / ¥L­Ì¦³¾Æ±o¡C

Electing not to inform Ken the race was actually finished, they used the prize money to pay for another week of pure fun. For once Jun had thrown all sense of responsibility out the window, although she did check on Jinpei via communicator. / ¿ïÁ|¤£­n§iª¾ªÖ®¦¡A¤ñÁɹê»Ú¤W§¹¦¨,¥L­Ì¨Ï¥Î¤F¤ñÁɼúª÷¤ä¥I¥t¤@­Ó¬P´Áªº¯Âºé¼Ö½ìªº¶O¥Î¡C ¹ï©ó¤@¦¸¤»¤ë¤w¸g§â©Ò¦³³d¥ô·P¥á¥X¥hµ¡¤á,ÁöµM¦o¸g¥Ñ³q°T¾¹°µ¤F¦b Jinpei ¤WªºÀˬd¡C

"Just how long will it take to finish this course?" / "¨s³º¥¦±Nªá¦h¤[ªº®É¶¡§¹¦¨³o½Òµ{"?

Jun could not miss the impatient tone of Ken's voice when she radioed in the first time. She kept her reply vague, but slipped and bitched about Joe's snoring and hogging the bed. After that the paging began. Sometimes it was from / ·í¦o¦b²Ä¤@¦¸¤¤¦¬­µ¾÷ªº®É­Ô¡A¤»¤ëµLªk¿ù¹LªÖ®¦ªºÁn­µ¤£­@·Ð©ú·t¡C ¦oºû«ù¦oªºµªÂЧt½k, ¦ý¬OÃö©ó³ì¥´ÂM©M½Þ§É·Æ­Ë¦Ó¥B¥Àª¯¡C ¦b¨º¤§«á­¶Âಾ¶}©l¡C ¦³®É¥¦¬O±q
Ken himself; most of the time it was from Jinpei or Ryu, who always sounded slightly embarrassed. At first Jun answered all beeps, but as the Commander's tone got testier, she and Joe started delaying answering the calls. Static. Or range problems. Joe was good at making up excuses, and Jun realized he must have had plenty of practice. Giddy with freedom, they enjoyed dodging the calls as long as they knew it was only Ken getting paranoid at their being alone together for so long. / ªÖ®¦¥L¦Û¤v; ¤j³¡¥÷ªº®É¶¡¥¦¨Ó¦Û Jinpei ©Î Ryu,Á`¬O¨Ç·L¦aÅ¥§xµ~¡C °_¥ý¤»¤ë¦^µª¤F©Ò¦³ªº¹Í¹ÍÁn¡A¦ý¬O·í«ü´§©xªº©ú·tÅܱo¤ñ¸û©ö«ãªº®É­Ô,¦o©M³ì¶}©l©µ¿ð¦^µª©I¥s¡C ÀR¹q¡C ©Î±Æ¦C°ÝÃD¡C ³ì¾Õªø²Õ¦¨ÂǤf¡A¦Ó¥B¤»¤ë¤F¸Ñ¤F¥L¤@©w´¿¸g¦³³\¦h½m²ß¹L¡C ²´ªáªº¥u­n¦]¬°¦p¦¹´÷±æ¡A¥L­Ìª¾¹D¤F¬O°ß¤@ªºªÖ®¦¦b¿W¦Û¦a¤@°_¦b¥L­Ìªº¦s¦b°¾°õ¨g¡A¥Ñ©ó¦Û¥Ñ¡A¥L­Ì³ßÅwÁ׶}©I¥s¡C

Joe began to feel a slightly vicious glee in taunting Ken about being alone with Jun, and delighted in her joining in the innuendo. When the race results finally hit the international papers, the direct command to return home came. / ³ì¶}©l¦bÃö©ó¹ï¤»¤ë·P¨ì©t¿W¼J§ËªÖ®¦¤è­±·Pı¨Ç·L¨¸´cªºÅw¼Ö, ¦Ó¥B¦b¦o¸Ì­±´r§Ö¥[¤J¿Ø¨ë¡C ·í¤ñÁɳ̫Უ¥Í¥´°ê»Úªº¯È®É­Ô,ªð¦^®aªºª½±µ«ü¥O³Q´£¥X¡C
"Ken's pissed. He's sending Ryu out," Joe said. He was glad to see Jun was as annoyed as he was. / "ªÖ®¦¬O©Á«ãªº¡C ¥L¥¿¦b¥~°e Ryu,"³ì»¡¡C ¥L°ª¿³¬Ý¨£¤»¤ë¬O·í°µ·í¥L¬O¡A­W´o¡C

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They drove to the coordinates Ryu radioed, and waited for his arrival. Joe shaded his eyes as he watched the GodPhoenix gracefully set down a short distance from the car. / ¥L­Ì¶}¨®¥h§¤¼Ð Ryu ¦¬­µ¾÷, ¦Ó¥Bµ¥­Ô¥Lªº©è¹F¡C ·í¥L¬Ý GodPhoenix Àu¬ü¦a³Q©ñ¤U¨Ó¦Û¨T¨®ªºµu¶ZÂ÷ªº®É­Ô¡A³ì¾B½ª¤F¥Lªº²´·ú¡C

Jun put her hands on her hips as she turned to face him. "He's got no hold on me," she said, a flash of anger in her eyes. "I kept my end of the bargain to check in, and Nambu never complained. If Ken doesn't like it, it's too bad for him." / ·í¦o·Ç³Æ­±¹ï¥Lªº®É­Ô¡A¤»¤ë§â¦oªº¤â©ñ¦b¦oªºÁv³¡¡C " ¥L¬O¨S¦³¤F¦b§Ú¤Wªº§â´¤",¦o»¡,¦oªº²´·ú©Á«ãªº°{¥ú¡C "§Úºû«ù¤F¥æ©öªº§Úµ²§ô¿ìµn°O¤âÄò, ©M±q¤£³Q©ê«èªº Nambu¡C ¦pªGªÖ®¦¤£³ßÅw¥¦,¥¦¹ï¥L¬O¤ÓÃaªº¡C"

"You know, we could really mess with his head about this," Joe smirked. / "§Aª¾¹D,§Ú­Ì¥i¥H¯uªº¥H¥LÀY±NÃö©ó³oªº¨Æ§ËÁV",³ì¼H¼H°µ¯º¡C

"I was just thinking the same thing," she answered with a grin. "Let me handle / "§Ú¥¿¦b¶È¶È·Q¬Û¦Pªº¨Æª«",¦o¥HÅS¾¦¯º¦^µª¡C "Åý§Ú³B²z
Ryu," she said, rummaging in the back of the car. / Ryu,"¦o»¡,¦b¨T¨®ªº«á­±Â½¹M¡C

"Ken is so mad." Ryu called, as he leapt down from the Phoenix. / " ªÖ®¦¬O¦p¦¹ºÆ¨g" ¡C Ryu ¥s°µ,¦p¦P¥L±q»ñ°Ä«°¸õÅD¤U¨Ó¤@¼Ë¡C

"Ryu! We have something for you!" Jun rushed up to the fuming pilot with a large box in her hands. / "Ryu! §Ú­Ì¦³¬Y¨Æµ¹§A!" ¤»¤ë¶Ê«P¥Ñ¦h·Ïªº­¸¦æ­û¨M©w¥Ñ©ó¦oªº¤â¤@­Ó¤jªº²°¤l¡C

Taken aback, he eyed Joe suspiciously before he returned his attention to Jun. / ¦V«á¦a®³, ¥L²´ªº³ì¥iºÃ¦a¦b¥L¤§«eÂkÁÙ¥Lªºª`·Nµ¹¤»¤ë¡C
"What is it?" / "¥¦¬O¤°»ò"?

"What would we bring you from Italy, you big dope?" Joe replied. / "±q¸q¤j§Q§Ú­Ì±N·|±a§A¤°»ò, §A¤jªº§l¬rªÌ"? ³ìµªÂСC

Ryu looked from one to the other, startled even more by the fact that Joe was smiling. / ³Q±q¤@¬Ý¨ì¥t¤@­Óªº Ryu,¾_Åå¤F³ì¥¿¦b·L¯ºªº¨Æ¹ê¥­©Zªº§ó¦h¡C

"It's pastries! " Jun exclaimed. "Just wait until you taste them! You know I'm not one for sweets, but these." she added, rolling her eyes dramatically. / "¥¦¬OÄѯ»¿|»æ! "¤»¤ë¤j¥s¡C "¶È¶Èµ¥­Ô¡Aª½¨ì§AÀ|¥L­Ì! §Aª¾¹D§Ú¹ï©ó²¢»e¤£¬O¤@, ¦ý¬O³o¨Ç¡C"¦o¼W¥[,À¸¼@©Ê¦aºu°Ê¦oªº²´·ú¡C

Ryu's expression changed swiftly as his nostrils twitched with the aroma wafting from the box. Jun and Joe exchanged knowing glances, and Jun began to ply Ryu with questions about Jinpei until the pilot was so distracted that he forgot all about Ken's wrath. / ·í¥Lªº»ó¤Õ¥H±q²°¤l¯B°Êªº¿@­»²r©Ôªº®É­Ô¡A Ryu's ªºªí¹F«Ü§Ö¦a§ïÅÜ¡C ¤»¤ë©M³ì¥æ´«¤F³Õ¾Çªº¤@¿h¡A¦Ó¥B¤»¤ë¶}©l¥ÎÃö©ó Jinpei ªº°ÝÃD¨Ï¥Î Ryu ¡Aª½¨ì­¸¦æ­û¬O¦p¦¹¤ß·Ð·N¶Ã¥LÃö©óªÖ®¦ªº¼««ã§Ñ°O¤F¥þ³¡¡C

When they got back Ken was waiting for them. / ·í¥L­Ìª§¨ú«á­±ªºªÖ®¦®É­Ô¥¿¦bµ¥­Ô¥L­Ì¡C

"Just what the hell did you think you were doing? You said it was a short race! / "¨s³º§A»{¬°§A¥¿¦b°µ¤°»ò? §A»¡¤F¥¦¬O¤@­Óµu¤ñÁÉ!
I would never have allowed it otherwise. We've missed training because of this." / §Ú±N·|µLªk¤w¸g§_«h¤¹³\¥¦¡C §Ú­Ì¤w¸g¿ù¹L¦]¬°³o±Ð¨|¡C"

"Oh, lighten up, Ken!" Joe interrupted. "We do the real thing now. I think we could miss a few practice sessions without too much consequence." Ken and Joe faced each other, each bristling with anger. "You're just mad that Jun wanted to spend time with me for a change," Joe continued in a quiet voice. / "®@, ÂI«G¦b,¤W­±ªÖ®¦"! ³ì¥´Â_¡C "§Ú­Ì²{¦b°µ¯u¥¿ªº¨Æª«¡C §Ú»{¬°§Ú­Ì¥i¥H¿ù¹L¨S¦³¤Ó¦hµ²ªGªº¤@¨Ç½m²ß·|ij¡C"ªÖ®¦©M³ì­±¹ï¤F©¼¦¹¡A¨C­Ó¥H©Á«ã­è¤ò¡C "§A½T¹êºÆ¨g¡A¤»¤ë·Q­n¬°¤@­Ó§ïÅÜ©M§Úªá¶O®É¶¡",³ì¦b¤@ºØ¦wÀRªºÁn­µ¤¤Ä~Äò¡C

At that, Jun released herself from Jinpei, who was practically dancing around her with joy, and stepped between them to face Ken. / ¦b¨º¡A¤»¤ë±q Jinpei µoªí¤F¦o¦Û¤v¦Ó¥B¦b¥L­Ì¤§¶¡½ñ­±¹ïªÖ®¦,¥Ñ©óÅw³ß¥¿¦b¹ê»Ú¦a¦bªþªñ¸õ»R¦o¡C

"I'm so sorry it took so long, Ken," she began sweetly. "I was just so excited about the race, and actually seeing a country instead of flying over it." She yawned dramatically, and took Jinpei by the hand. / "§Ú¬O¦p¦¹Ãø¹L¥¦®³¦p¦¹ªº¤[,ªÖ®¦",¦o²¢¬ü¦a¶}©l¡C " §Ú½T¹ê¬O¦p¦¹¿³¾ÄÃö©ó¤ñÁɪº¨Æ, ¦Ó¥B¹ê»Ú¤W¬Ý¨£¤@­Ó°ê®a¥N´À¦b¥¦¤§¤W­¸". ¦oÀ¸¼@©Ê¦a¥´«¢¤í, ¦Ó¥B±a¤F¤âªº Jinpei ¡C

"C'mon, you. I need to get home and crash. I've got a bad case of jet lag." She turned to Ken, who stood there slightly stunned by her attitude. "We'll be there bright and early for training tomorrow, Commander." / "C'mon,§A¡C §Ú»Ý­n¦^®a©M¼Y·´¡C §Ú¤w¸g±o¨ì¤@­Ó®É®t¥¢½Õªº®t«l±¡§Î¡C"¦o¨D§U©óªÖ®¦, ªÖ®¦¦b¨º¸Ì¯¸¥ß³Q¦oªººA«×¨Ç·L¦a¨Ï·w­Ë¡C " §Ú­Ì±N¦b¨º¸Ì©ú«Gªº©M¦­¹ï©ú¤Ñ±Ð¨|,«ü´§©x".

As she passed by Joe she cocked her head, giving him a wicked smile and a wink. / ·í¦o¸g¹L³ì¦oÁq¥ß¦o«e¶i,µ¹¥L¤@­ÓÃaªº·L¯º©M¯w²´¡C
Placing a hand on his arm for a lingering moment, she murmured in Italian, "Era meraviglioso, amore mio. Eri meraviglioso. Arrivederci" / ¹ï©ó³r¯d¤ù¨è©ñ¤@°¦¤â¦b¥Lªº¤âÁu¤W,¦o¥Î¸q¤j§Q»y§C»y,"®É¥N meraviglioso ¡A amore mio¡C Eri meraviglioso¡C Arrivederci"

As Jinpei, Ryu and Ken gaped, she kissed him, then sauntered off toward her bike. / ¦p Jinpei ¡A Ryu ©MªÖ®¦µõ¶},¦o§k¤F¥L, µM«á¹ï©ó¦oªº¸}½ñ¨®¨«¶}¶¢³}¡C

For a moment, Joe wished she really meant it. He began to grin as he walked off toward the G2. He knew Ken would race to the translator. / ¤@·|¨à¡A³ìÄ@¤F¦o¯uªº·N¿×¥¦¡C ·í¥L¹ï©ó G2 ¨«¶}¨«ªº®É­Ô¡A¥L¶}©lÅS¾¦¦Ó¯º¡C ¥L»{ÃÑ¡AªÖ®¦±N·|¹ï½ĶªÌ¤ñÁÉ¡C

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They'd had such a blast; Joe could hardly believe he'd almost forgotten it. Jun loved the excitement of racing almost as much as he did. He could still see her next to him in the car; laughing, black hair flying in the wind when he'd finally let her drive. / ¥L­Ì¦³¦³¤F¤@­Ó¦p¦¹¯e­·; ³ìµLªk¬Û«H¥L¤w¸g³Q´X¥G§Ñ°O¥¦¡C ·í¥L°µªº®É­Ô¡A¤»¤ë·R¦p«Ü¦hªº´X¥GÁɶ]ªº¨ë¿E¡C ¥L¥i¥H¤´µM¦b¨T¨®¤¤¹ï¥L¬Ý¨£¦oªº¤U¤@­Ó; ¯ºµÛ¤S¶Â¦âªºÀY¾v¦b­·¤¤­¸·í¥L±N·|³Ì«áÅý¦oªº¾r¨®®É­Ô¡C

During the trip Joe had taught her to enjoy Italian cuisine- especially pastries and cappuccino. He'd brought home as many bags of espresso beans as he could and the jar in her cabinet was the last one. He had made her keep it at her apartment so he wouldn't finish it all at once. Jun wasn't allowed to actually make it after the first wasted pot of burnt swill she concocted, but he would often make it for her. / ¦b®È¦æ³ìªº®É­Ô¤w¸g±Ð¦o¨É¨ü¸q¤j§Q²i½Õ­·®æ- ¤×¨äÄѯ»¿|»æ©M¥d¥¬©_¿Õ©@°Ø¡C ¥L¦³±a¤F®a©M¿@ÁY©@°Ø¨§¤lªº³U¤l¤@¼Ë¦h·í¥L¥i¥H¦Ó¥B¦oªº¤º»Õ¼s¤f²~¬O¤@­Ó³Ì«áªº¡C ¥L¤w¸g¦b¦oªº¤½´J§@¦oªº¥Í­p¥¦¡A¦p¦¹¥L¬ðµM±N¤£§¹¦¨¥¦¡C ¤»¤ë¨S³Q¤¹³\¹ê»Ú¤W°µ¨ì¦b¿U¿Nªº¨ê­º¥ý®ö¶O³ý¤§«á¦o²V¦X¦Ó»s¡A¦ý¬O¥L±N·|®É±`¬°¦o°µ¨ì¡C

She'd kept it all these years. He was touched. He started to wrap it back uphe wouldn't drink it for sentimental reasons, if not for the reason that it was of questionable quality by now. Then he noticed the folded paper in the bottom of the jar. He slowly opened up a faded yellow scrap of newsprint. It was a clipping about the race, with a picture of Joe holding aloft the trophy and Jun at his side kissing his cheek. There were small round watermarks all over it. He was startled by a soft voice from behind. / ¦o³o¨Ç¼Æ¦~¦³«O«ù¥¦©Ò¦³¡C ¥L³Q±µÄ²¡C ¥L¶}©l¥]¸Ë¥¦«á­±ªº uphe ±N¤£¬°·P¶Ë©Êªº²z¥Ñ³Ü¥¦, ¦pªG¤£¹ï©ó²z¥Ñ¥¦¨ì¦p¤µ¬O¦³¥iºÃ«~½èªº¡C µM«á¥L¦b¼s¤f²~ªº©³³¡¤¤ª`·N³QºPÅ|ªº¯È¡C ¥LºCºC¦a¥´³q·s»D¥Î¯Èªº¤w¿Æ¦â¶À¦â¤p¤ù¡C ¥¦¬OÃö©ó¤ñÁɪº¤@­Ó°ÅÂ_,ÂǥѤ@±i¦b¥Lªº§k¥LÀU¨­Ãä¦b°ª³B´¤¦í¼ú®y©M¤»¤ëªº³ì·Ó¤ù¡C ¨ì³B¦³¤pªº¶ê¤ô¦ì¼Ð¥¦¡C ¥L±q«á­±³Q¤@ºØ³nªºÁn­µ¾_Åå¤F¡C

"After you 'died', she used to take that down and smell the coffee beans," / " ¦b§A¤§«á '¦º', ¦o¹L¥h¤@ª½±a¨ºåP¸¨¦Ó¥B»D©@°Ø¨§¤l",
Jinpei said quietly. "I used to find her in the kitchen sometimes, with the jar open, crying her eyes out. She missed you a real lot." / Jinpei ¦wÀR¦a»¡¡C " §Ú¹L¥h¤@ª½¦³®É¦b¼p©Ð¤¤µo²{¦o,ÂǥѼs¤f²~¤½¶},¦b¥~­úª_¦oªº²´·ú¡C ¦o·Q©À§A¤@­Ó¯u¥¿ªº¹B®ð¡C"

Joe was too stunned by this information to be embarrassed at being caught by / ³ì¤]³Q³o¸ê®Æ¨Ï·w­Ë¤F¦b³Q®·®»³Q§xµ~³Q
Jinpei after having spent the night. Jinpei yawned, and padded into the kitchen. He got a glass, and Joe automatically filled it with juice. / ¦b¦³¤§«á«×¹L©]±ßªº Jinpei¡C Jinpei ¥´«¢¤í, ¦Ó¥B¶i¤J¼p©Ð¤§¤º¶ñ¸É¡C ¥L¦Û°Ê¦a®³¤F¬Á¼þ , ©M³ì±N¥¦¸Ëº¡¥Ä¡C

"I asked her about it once, and she said it "smelled like" you. I didn't know what she meant- you don't smell like coffee to me, Aniki." / " §Ú¦V¦o¸ß°Ý¥¦´¿¸g¡A¦Ó¥B¦o»¡¥¦ "»D°_¨Ó¬Û¦ü" §A¡C §Ú¨S¦³ª¾¹D¦o·N¿×ªº-§A¹ï§Ú»D°_¨Ó¤£¹³©@°Ø,Aniki¡C"

Joe smiled. "Thanks kid," he said, watching as Jinpei poured some awful-looking multicolored cereal into a bowl. / ³ì·L¯º¡C "ÁÂÁ«¡ÄF",¥L»¡, ¬Ý·í Jinpei ­Ë¤@¨Ç¬Ý¦ü¥i©Èªº¦h±m¦âªº½\Ãþ­¹«~¶i¤@­Ó¸J¤§¤º¡C

"For what?" Jinpei asked, absorbed in his task. / " ¬°¤°»ò"? Jinpei °Ý,¦b¥Lªº¤u§@¤¤§l¦¬¡C

"Nothing." He folded the paper up, put it in the jar and put the jar back in its place. / "¨S¨Æ". ¥L¦b¥¦ªº¦a¤è¤¤¦V¤WºPÅ|³ø¯È, §â¥¦¸m©ó¼s¤f²~¦Ó¥B§â¼s¤f²~©ñ¦^­ì³B¡C

Jinpei went back to his cereal and Joe picked up the two glasses and started out of the room, then hesitated. His relationship with Jun was very new and fragile, and up until today he'd always been sure to leave before dawn, because / Jinpei ¦^¥h¥Lªº½\Ãþ­¹«~¡A¦Ó¥B³ì©Ð¶¡¬B°_¤G°Æ²´Ãè¦Ó¥B¶}©l,µM«áµS¿Ý¡C ¥L©M¤»¤ëªºÃö«Y«D±`·sªº©M©ö¸H, ¦Ó¥B´£°ªª½¨ì¤µ¤Ñ¥L¦³Á`¬O½T©w¦b¯}¾å¤§«eÂ÷¶},¦]¬°
Jun was worried about Jinpei's reaction. / ¤»¤ë¬° Jinpei's ªº¤ÏÀ³¾á¼~¡C

"Jinpei." he began suddenly, turning back to the boy, "are you ok with me here?" / "Jinpei". ¥L¬ðµM¶}©l,¹ï¨k«Ä§é¦^,"¦b³o¸Ì¥Ñ©ó§Ú¬O§A ok"?

Jinpei looked down at his bowl. "I don't really have a choice, do I?" he answered darkly. "But I guess so. It'll take some getting used to," he said quietly. He looked up with the fierce gleam of 'The Great Swallow' in his eye. / Jinpei ©¹¤U¬Ý¥Lªº¸J¡C "§Ú¨S¯uªº¦³¿ï¾Ü¶Ü,§Ú¤£¶Ü"? ¥L·t¦^µª¡C "¦ý¬O§Ú³o»ò²q´ú¡C ¥¦±N±a¤@¨Ç²ßºD©ó,"¥L¦wÀR¦a»¡¡C ¥L¬Ý¦b¥Ñ©ó¤¿²r·L®zªº°{¥ú¤W­± '´Îªº«|³ï'¦b¥Lªº²´·ú¤¤¡C
"If you hurt her I'll kill you!" he blurted out suddenly. While Joe very much doubted he could, he knew Jinpei meant it. / "¦pªG§A¶Ë®`¦o , §Ú±N±þ§A"! ¥L¬ðµM½Ä¤f»¡¥X¥X¡C ³ì«D±`ÃhºÃ¥L¥i¥H¡A¤£¹L¥Lª¾¹D¤F Jinpei ³Q·N¿×¥¦¡C

"I'll remember that," Joe replied, somehow relieved, as he went back to Jun's room. He put the glasses down, and dropped a soft kiss on her forehead. He had never felt like this about any woman. Funny how the only woman he could show real tenderness to would turn out to be Jun. She stirred and opened her eyes. / " §Ú±N°O±o¨º",³ìµªÂÐ,¤£ª¾¦ó¬G´î»´,¦p¦P¥L¦^¥h¤»¤ëªº©Ð¶¡¤@¼Ë¡C ¥L©ñ¤U²´Ãè, ¦Ó¥B­°§C¤F¦b¦oªº«eÃB¤Wªº¤@­Ó³nªº§k¡C ¥L±q¥¼·Pı¹³³oÃö©ó¥ô¦óªº¤k¤H¨Æ¡C ¦n¯ºªº¦p¦ó°ß¤@ªº¤k¤H¥L¥i¥HÅã¥Ü¯u¥¿ªº¬X³n±N·|Åܦ¨¤»¤ë¡C ¦o¿E°_¦Ó¥B¥´¶}¤F¦oªº²´·ú¡C
They went huge for a brief moment at seeing him leaning over her, then went soft with remembrance of the previous night. She smiled and stretched. / ¥L­Ì¬°Â²µuªº¤ù¨èÅÜ·¥¤j¦b¬Ý¨£¥L¦b¦o¤§¤W¶É±×,µM«á¥Î«e¤@­Ó©]±ßªº¦^·Q¥h¬X³n¡C ¦o·L¯º¦Ó¥B¦ù®i¡C

He wondered for the millionth time since this started why she wanted him. He didn't deserve her, and probably would eventually make her miserable with his determination to finish Galactor once and for all. He pushed out of his mind all thoughts of the future. Jun had said she was content to live only in the moment - that it was the one thing she had learned from her fiasco with Ken. / ¦]¬°³o¶}©l¤F¦o¬°¤°»ò·Q­n¥L¡A¥LÃhºÃ²Ä¤@¦Ê¸Uªº®É¶¡¡C ¥L¨S¦³¸Ó±o¨ì¦o, ¦Ó¥B¥i¯à±N·|³Ì«á»s³y¦oªº´dºG¥Ñ©ó¥Lªº¨M¤ß¶È¦¹¤@¦¸§¹¦¨ Galactor¡C ¥L±À°ÊºÆ¤F¥þ³¡¥¼¨Óªº·Qªk¡C ¤»¤ë¤w¸g»¡¡A¦o¬Oº¡¨¬¥u¦b¤ù¨è¤º©~¦í - ¥¦¬O¦o¤w¸g©MªÖ®¦±q¦oªººG±Ñ¾Ç²ßªº¤@¥ó¨Æª«¡C
Joe wasn't sure he really believed her, but she made him feel his life was worth living, so he was determined to make her as happy as he could with the time left to him. / ³ì¤£½T©w¥L¯uªº¬Û«H¤F¦o¡A¦ý¬O¦o¨Ï¥L·Pı¥Lªº¥Í¬¡¬O­È±o¦í, ¦]¦¹¥L¨M©w»s³y¦o¹³¥L¤@¼Ë§Ö¼Ö¥i¥H¥Ñ©ó®É¶¡¥ªÃä¹ï¥L¡C

"I brought you some juice." / "§Ú±aµ¹§A¤@¨Ç¥Ä" ¡C

"Thanks," she murmured, then her eyes went big again at the sound of noise in the kitchen. "Jinpei! Did he see you?" / "ÁÂÁÂ",¦o§C»y, µM«á¦oªº²´·ú¦A¤@¦¸¦b¼p©Ð¤¤ªº¾¸­µÁn­µÅܤj¡C "Jinpei! ¥L¬Ý¨£§A¶Ü?"

"Yeah. We had a little talk. He's ok." She rolled her eyes, not quite sure what to make of that comment. She gave up, smiled, and reached to pull him down to the bed. / "¬Oªº¡C §Ú­Ì¦³¤F¤p½Í¸Ü¡C ¥L¬O ok ¡C"¦o±²¤F¦oªº²´·ú¦Ó¤£¬O¬Û·í½T«H¸Ó¨º¤@­Ó·N¨£»s³y¤°»ò¡C ¦o©ñ±ó,·L¯º, ¦Ó¥B¨ì¹F§â¥L©Ô¤U¨ì§É¡C

"You know what I realized last night?" she asked, an even bigger smile lighting her face. / " §Aª¾¹D§Ú¬Q±ß¤F¸Ñªº"? ¦o°Ý,¤@­ÓÂI¦oªºÁy¬Æ¦Ü¤ñ¸û¤jªº·L¯º¡C

"What?" / "¤°»ò"?

"You don't snore anymore." / "§A¤£¦A¥´ÂM" ¡C

He kissed her slowly, inhaling the intoxicating remnants of her perfume. / ¥LºCºC¦a§k¤F¦o,§l¤J¦oªº­»¤ô¨Ï³Ñ¾l³³¾K¡C

"Oh, by the way, I couldn't find the coffee," he whispered softly in her ear. / "®@,¶¶«K¤@´£¡A§ÚµLªkµo²{©@°Ø",¥L¬X©M¦a¦b¦oªº¦Õ¦·¤¤¦Õ»y¡C

******************************************************************

Ken sat at the computer trying hard to recall the last words Jun had said to / ªÖ®¦§¤¦b¹q¸£«e§V¤O¦a¹Á¸Õ¨ú®ø¤»¤ë¤w¸g»¡ªº³Ì«á¤@­Ó¦r
Joe. After a few misspellings, the translator's screen finally accepted his input, and he waited impatiently for it to load. Ken's eyes widened as he read the box of neat type that appeared and his mouth fell open. / ³ì¡C ¦b¤@¨Ç«÷¿ù¤§«á¡A½ĶªÌªº¿Ã¹õ³Ì«á±µ¨ü¤F¥Lªº¿é¤J¡A¦Ó¥B¥L¤£­@·Ðµ¥­Ô¥¦¸Ë¸ü¡C ·í¥LŪ¥X²{ªº¾ã¼äÃþ«¬©M¥Lªº¼L²°¤lªº®É­Ô¡AªÖ®¦ªº²´·úÂX¤j¶^¸¨¶}©ñªº¡C

"It was wonderful, my love. You were wonderful. Goodbye." / " ¥¦¬O¥O¤HÅå©_ªº,§Ú·R¡C §A¬O¥O¤HÅå©_ªº¡C ¦A¨£¡C"


Fini

Happy Valentine's Day 2002 / §Ö¼Öªº±¡¤H¸` 2002