***

Later that afternoon, Kenshi and Jax are playing a game of pool in the Special Forces lodge.

Jax hit the white ball, which rolled to the other side of the pool table. It hit a stripped blue ball, but it only rolled a couple of times before stopping.

"A party?" Kenshi asked after Jax told him about the yearly Special Forces party.

"Yeah," Jax replied. "Unfortunately, it's one of those fancy things where women dress in evening gowns and men wear tuxedos. I can't even fit into the sleeves of the tuxedos because of my arms."

"Um," Kenshi said. "Have you ever thought about taking those cyber metals off of your arms?"

"NEVER!!" Jax cried. "I have strength because of these! I would never take them off!"

"Whatever you say."

Kenshi aimed the white ball with his pool stick. Then, he hit the ball. Perfectly, the ball rolled towards a solid green ball, hits it, and rolled into a hole in one of the corner holes.

"Any ways," said Jax. "Do you have a tuxedo to wear?"

Kenshi shook his head. "All I have is my armor suit and this." He pointed to his torn white shirt and pants.

Jax raised an eyebrow. "No offense, but you need a new wardrobe. I hate shopping, but I guess we might as well shop for new clothes for you. It's better than going with Sonya, trust me."

Kenshi laughed a little. Jax continued. "Heh, you want to impress Alex, do you?"

"What are you talking about?"

Jax hit the white ball, which rolled around and didn't even hit anything. "Come on, Kenshi. You two are made for each other. You're around each other every chance the two of you get."

Kenshi swallowed. "Well, I do like her, but I'm not sure about any more than that."

"You're kidding right?" Jax asked. "Guess you haven't realized your feelings for her yet."

"Why haven't I realized?" Kenshi asked aiming the ball.

Jax sighed. "You'll figure it out."

Then, Kenshi hit the ball. The ball hit the remaining solid balls and they all go into the holes. Then, the white ball hit the eight ball and fell into a corner hole.

"You suck!" Jax cried realizing that Kenshi won the pool game.

"I suck? How could I suck when I won the game? You're the one who sucks!"

Jax lightly punched Kenshi's arm. "Well, any ways, just think about it."

"About what?"

"You and Alex."

"Jax........it's not like that."

"Maybe not now," Jax replied. "But soon it will be." Jax laughed a little bit.

Kenshi sighed. 'Maybe I really can't admit to myself that I like Alex like that. Who knows.'

 

***

One week later...........

Alex looked at herself through a mirror. It was the first time in years that she's actually dressed more like a girl instead of her usually tomboyish clothes. This time, she wore a light blue evening gown and wore her dark hair up in a single bun. This is all because tonight is the Special Forces Dinner Party.

As she waited for Sonya, Alex walked over to her chair and sat down in it. Many thoughts filled her mind.

'Why am I dressed up any ways?' she thought. 'Who is it that I'm trying to impress?'

The truth is that the only person she waned to impress was blind.

'I wonder what would've happened if Kenshi wasn't blind?'  Alex thought. 'Would I really attempt to look better? '

She let out a sigh. Her mother once told her that looks aren't everything and it's what's inside that counts. Sometimes, Alex believed that, and sometimes, she doesn't. Tonight, she found herself stuck between that.

'Oh well,' she thought once more.

Then, she heard the door knock. Alex turned her head towards the door. "Sonya?"

The door opened. Indeed it was Sonya. She wore a simple black evening gown and left her shoulder-length blond hair down.

"Hey Alex," Sonya said with a smile. "Are you ready?"

Alex stood up from her chair. "I'm ready."

As they headed towards the party room, Alex thought that extremely boring music would be playing, like an orchestra or a jazz band. As she and Sonya reached the ballroom, she was surprised to hear a live DJ playing real dance music.

"Wow," Alex said. "I didn't think that they would play this type of music!"

"Oh we do," Sonya replied. "If not, I don't think there would be any party here at all."

"I see." Alex began to look around the ballroom. Everyone seemed to be having tons of fun; dancing to the music, talking and chatting, and mostly getting drunk.

"That's funny," said Sonya. "Usually, Jax would get here first before I would."

"He's probably still trying to get his tuxedo jacket over those bulky arms of his," replied Alex. Sonya laughed at the comment.

Alex turned around and noticed Hsu Hao standing by the punch stand. A chill ran up her spine. He stood there in an eerie way, like he was spying on someone.

'Maybe Jax and Cyrax are right,' she thought. 'Maybe Hsu Hao is up to something.'

Alex turned her head again. She saw Cyrax coming into the ballroom. She almost laughed when she saw that he was wearing a tuxedo with a yellow cumber bum.

"Cyrax, you made it!" Alex cried as she walked over to her cyborg friend.

"I never miss a party," Cyrax said. "Where's the bar?"

"Over there," Alex replied pointing to the back corner where the bar is located.

"Thanks Alex. Heineken here I come!" Cyrax began running over to the bar area.

'I hope he won't get too drunk.'

"Well, hopefully he'll be careful," Sonya said about Cyrax. She turned back to Alex. "So what do you want to do?"

Alex turned her head towards the stairs. Her heart fluttered a little as she spotted Kenshi coming down the stairs with Jax. His dark hair was gelled into little spikes. He wore a black tuxedo with a red cumber bum and a red bow tie. Instead of his blindfold, Kenshi wore black sunglasses over his eyes.

'Jax must've given those to him,' Alex thought.

 

"Alex?" Sonya asked waving her hand in front of Alex's face. Then, she spotted Kenshi and Jax going down the stairs. Sonya almost laughed when she saw that Jax ripped the sleeves of his tuxedo showing off his metallic arms.

"There you guys are!" Sonya said. She and Alex began walking over to the two male agents.

"Wow, you actually got here first?!" Jax asked in shock.

"Yeah, we got here before you," Sonya answered. "What took so long?"

"Jax doesn't want to take off his 'arms,'" said Kenshi. "So after some struggle, he finally ripped the sleeves off."

"I had no choice!" cried Jax.

"Well," said Alex. "You could at least have them just for one night."

Kenshi smirked a little bit as he heard Alex's sweet voice. "Hey Alex."

Alex smirked. "Hey Kenshi."

Then, Pink's 'Get the Party Started' came on.

"So let's get the party started!" Jax cried out and jogged towards the dance floor.

Sonya looked at Kenshi and Alex. "Well, have fun!" Then, she followed Jax to the dance floor.

Alex laughed a little. 'I feel like I'm at my prom!'

"So, do you want to get a drink?" asked Kenshi.

"Sure," Alex said taking Kenshi's hand into her's. "I'll lead the way."

Kenshi smirked to himself as Alex leads him to the drink stands. When they get there, Alex ordered two cups of wine.

"So how's the party so far?" Kenshi asked.

Alex shrugged. "It's all right so far. I mean, it's only the beginning."

"True."

The bartender gave them their drinks. Alex took both cups and gave one to Kenshi.

"I wonder what kind of toast we can make," Kenshi said with a little smile.

"Let's see," Alex replied. "Um......to our friendship."

"Okay. To our friendship." Kenshi and Alex tap their cups together and began drinking out of them.

For some reason, Kenshi felt a bit disappointed when she said 'friendship.' 'Maybe she doesn't like me like that,' he thought.

For two hours, people partied and had fun. Kenshi and Alex spent most of it talking and laughing.

After all of the fast-paced songs, a slow songs came on. Alex recognized it as 'Amazed' by Lone Star.

"Have you ever danced before?" Alex asked.

Kenshi swallowed. "Nope."

Alex took his hand. "Let this be your first."

"Um......" Kenshi tried to speak, but then felt Alex pulled him up from his seat.

"Don't worry," Alex said. "All you really have to do is rock from side to side very slowly."

Alex lead Kenshi to the dance floor. She then rested her arms on his shoulders. Kenshi placed his hands on her hips.

"This is easier than I thought," Kenshi said after a moment giving Alex a little smile. "I like this."

"Glad you do," Alex replied.

Kenshi listened to the words of the song being played;

 

 

"You're quiet," Alex whispered.

Kenshi smirked. "I'm taking my time to enjoy this moment."

To his surprise, he could feel Alex bringing her body closer to him. She placed her chin on his shoulder. Kenshi wrapped his arms around her more.

Both of them danced for the rest of the song like this, even when Cyrax ran and screamed across the dance floor, obviously drunk, and knocked a few dancers down.

Kenshi could feel her heart beating against his chest. He loved the feeling of this.

'Hopefully, I was wrong about the whole friendship thing.'

 

To Chapter Five ------->