PART FOUR: EPILOGUE
By: Jenny Lambert
Ken and Joe entered the Snack J, and were instantly greeted by flying glasses, pots, and pans. "You two! We need to talk, NOW!"
Joe cocked an eyebrow. "We do? About what?"
"Since you asked, let's start with you. Explain to me how Jinpei got the idea that if you ask me out on a date, he's going to get a little brother."
He looked innocently towards the ceiling and cursed under his breath. "I didn't mean it that way! Besides, he was supposed to forget the whole conversation! When we were on the ship headed to Pearl City, he showed me a picture from a nude magazine and asked me about it. What was I supposed to say?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe the truth!? He thinks Ken won't ask me out because he doesn't want to make a baby with me!"
Ken was suddenly into the conversation, slightly agitated himself. "How did I get thrown into this?"
"He asked me why you won't ask Jun out. I didn't want to tell him you were too afraid to ask."
"I am not!"
"You are to!"
"Am NOT! Look, I'll prove it to you!" Turning to Jun he asked with sincerity, "Will you go out on a date with me. It's not that I didn't notice you before. I just really didn't…"
"No."
"…Think you'd want to. Did you just say no?"
Joe slapped his friend on the back. "Looks like it's your turn to get chewed out!"
"You're still mine Joe! We're not finished yet."
He extended a finger and cocked it at Jun. "Hold on a second. You can't have both Ken and me. You have to choose."
Ken grinned sarcastically. "Looks like she's all yours. I just got turned down."
It was Jun's turn to explain. "I heard from Ryu, and I quote, 'There's nothing worse than an angry woman, except Jun'. Does this sound familiar?"
Ryu got up from the table quickly as the glaring eyes moved towards him. "Wow, look at the time!"
"You told her I said that? Did you really want me dead?"
"No, I was trying to make her less angry."
Simultaneously, the others replied. "It didn't work!" There was a moment of silence, then everyone laughed, including Jun. Though she was still furious, she couldn't help but forgive them; they were a family, after all.
Sheepishly, Ken turned back to her and whispered. "You really serious about that no? I can pay all my debts, and Joe's, and pay for the date. See, I have money." He removed his wallet and flashed the $100 bills. "Something good came out of going to Pearl City. I got paid." Handing over a few bills, he smiled deviously. "That ought to cover it. Sure you won't reconsider? Maybe afterwards we can work on Jinpei's little brother."
It was supposed to have been a joke, but Jun didn't see the humor and slugged him. At the sight, the others looked on astonished. Jinpei made the only comment. "You're not going to let a girl hit you, are you Aniki?"
"Your sister isn't a girl." He flinched as she hit him again, harder than the first time.
"Ken Washio, you're impossible!" Turning away, she stormed into the kitchen.
Once she was gone, Joe started laughing. "That was good, but you'll never get her to go with you that way." He paused as he heard a scream, then a crash as something was thrown against the wall. "I feel sorry for whatever is back there with her. It doesn't have a chance. By the way, did I hear you right in saying you have money?"
"Yea, can you believe it? I got $3,000 just for flying into Pearl City."
"$3,000? Great, that should cover this then." He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over. Ken read it over quickly and gasped. "$3,300? For what?"
Joe ticked off each item on his fingers. "One: $2,600 for the repair of the G-2. You did a lot more than just dent the fender. Two: $500 for the repair to my trailer. Three: $20 for the beer you drank. The rest I think I can handle."
"Thanks, that leaves me with about $30, or am I going to have to buy you dinner too?"
"Nope, Jinpei's taking care of that."
Surprised by hearing his name, Jinpei peered up from behind the deck of cards he was holding. "I heard my name. What'd I do now?"
"You're buying us something to eat. We never did get around to it before."
"Joe, you know I won that bet fair and square. You cracked first!"
"Yea, I know, but you also got me in some hot water with Jun, and you owe me! Speaking of bets, I hear you're good at poker Ryu."
"I'm not too bad. Care to challenging me?"
Ken looked at Joe and winked. Though it was a well-kept secret, he knew Joe played poker better than anyone. Ryu was soon going to find this out the hard way. "You're on!"
Just as they were about to sit down, a call came over Ken's transpower band. "Sorry to interrupt your evening, but we just received a priority one distress call, and need you to investigate. Assemble the team and meet in my office for further instructions."
"Be there in five."
Jun eyed her commander as she came from the kitchen. The others did likewise, all anxiously awaiting his orders. He smiled at his fellow teammates; the pride was evident. "Team, you heard the Doctor. Let's move out!"
Honored to be serving under Ken, all four replied. "Roger!"