Author's Note: This fic was written in response to a request to redo my Battle of the Planets story as a Gatchaman one. Since that particular story was written based on an ending scene that was one of the added famously poorly drawn Sandy Frank scenes and since I have acquired the Gatchaman I import DVDs, I wrote this as happening right after Episode 105 (the next day after Joe's death) and the team's going through the grieving process. To the Gatch purists both here in the states and across the western pond who may read this, I have based some dialogue and flashbacks to the translations of the English subtitles of the DVDs so please bear with me if they are not entirely faithful to canon-I don't speak or read Japanese. I don't own Gatchaman, its characters or places, it is the property of Tatsunoko and this is no infringement of their copyright.
PASSAGES
Part I-FRESH WOUND
The ride back from the Galactor base on the God Phoenix was uncharacteristically quiet, the four remaining members of the Science Ninja Team were all lost in their own separate reveries. But this wasn't the usual journey home. Berg Katse had been defeated, the Black Hole Operation halted, but there was no jubilation among the team, only stunned silence and an almost palatable sense of loss. Swallow Jinpei, whose usual excitement after past battles was near ballistic, was subdued, quieted by the fact that one seat on the ship was eerily vacant. This was weighing heavy on everybody's mind for they all were in deep shock over the demise of their comrade, brother and friend Condor Joe. Joe, perpetually angry and driven to destroy Galactor at any cost, paid the ultimate price, his life, while he went down fighting. Knowing Joe, the team knew that there could never be any other way for him to go.
The team's hearts were heavy with the shock of seeing one of them go down at all. For the better part of almost three years, they fought Berg Katse and the evil empire of Galactor as a sacred mission side by side, all dedicated to protecting Earth from Sosai X's vicious and relentless pursuit of the fruition of his maniacal desire of domination. Even the sight of Berg Katse, throwing himself into the magma below the Earth's crust to certain death had held little satisfaction at the team's own feelings of loss. Even Owl Ryu, the gentle giant who always had a quick quip, was silent as he expertly piloted the Phoenix back to the temporary base at the ISO.
The other two members, Science Ninja captain Eagle Ken and Swan Jun were also in quiet contemplation over the death of Joe but there were other matters that each was preoccupied with as well while they all headed home. Up front, Ken sighed as his mind played back memories of his team's individual trials of the past two years like a nonstop mental movie marathon. He was remembering the events where each of them had been to the brink. At that particular moment he was pressed into especially reflecting on other times where he had felt such an excruciating sense of emptiness.
Ken was also mulling over what had taken place at Galactor headquarters in the machinery room. He could still hear the desperate cry of Jun as he was preparing to throw himself into the machinery driving the bomb that was to pierce the core of the Earth with a nuclear explosive to stop it. She begged him not to go, pleading and admitting she couldn't live without him that if he died it would kill her. She then had thrown herself at him in tears. As she did, he found himself in an emotional quandary, something he had hoped as the team's captain he was above of but his heart had constricted in pain at her tears, especially knowing that he was the cause of them. He returned her embrace, allowing himself the chance to show her that he not only acknowledged her feelings, he reciprocated them. He had tried so hard and so long to deny his feelings for Jun at least out in the open, having been placed in the role of commanding officer in this endeavor, setting personal feelings aside for the cause. Why oh why did Nambu have to put the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen on the team? he had asked himself constantly. Although it was what he wanted more than anything Ken felt strongly that an emotional attachment with the bright, lovely yet tough and resourceful female ninja would be detrimental to the success of the team. But he couldn't help those feelings when they chose to manifest themselves at times, usually when he was alone or asleep in his shack at 3 AM where visions of Jun swam before him, tantalizing and captivating him. He was a man after all and duty to the team aside, he yearned for a normal life where he could pursue the raven haired beauty with all of a suitor's ardor and tenderness.
As they approached the ISO base like he often did, Ken surreptitiously glanced over his right shoulder to peek at Jun sitting behind him. She was shivering in her birdstyle, her head bowed and huddling beneath her wings seemingly seeking warmth from an inner chill. He ached to go to her and hold her again, comfort her as he sought comfort himself from the insidious grief that was beginning to haunt him. But again he felt the iron fetters of duty and responsibility to the entire team so he savagely pushed the desire aside and began to form in his head what he would say to Nambu.
Jun in the meantime was deep in her own brooding, feeling strangely numb and ill at ease. Granted, it was no secret that she had deep feelings for Ken all these years that the team had worked together. However, when faced with the very real possibility of losing him as he chose to sacrifice his life for the duty of saving the Earth, like his father, the captain of Red Impulse had, she begged him not to, the thought of his death unacceptable. She found herself in the uncomfortable position of forcing him to neglect duty to spare him like any other overemotional girl without her training. She was filled with the remorse of knowing that she, a trained warrior, had chosen the human emotion of love to block Ken from fulfilling the vow he took as commander of the Science Ninjas, to risk all to protect the Earth. She was inundated with a vast feeling of shame and unworthiness. But the mere thought of his not being there sitting in the front, of never hearing his laugh or seeing his sky blue eyes twinkle at her again was unthinkable.
"Coming up on base, Commander" Ryu said flatly, breaking the cloying, heavy silence.
Ken nodded"Signal in for landing." He glanced back again. "D'you hear me, Jun"
She replied tersely"It's done, Commander."
He studied her"Are you okay"
"I'm fine." Her taut statement disturbed him but he didn't know why.
"Jinpei" Ken addressed the youth. He noticed the tracks of dried tears on his cheeks.
Jinpei sniffled"I'm okay, aniki."
Ken answered approvingly"That's the way."
The Phoenix landed and began docking in its hangar. Ken got to his feet and headed to the rear exit. "Let's go, team." They followed him to the bubble to disembark.
Once they jumped down to the floor of the hangar they detransmuted into their street clothes and headed to Nambu's office for debriefing. Jinpei and Ryu walked ahead and Ken fell in step with Jun but she remained silent, her head pointed straight in front. He reached to touch her shoulder intending to offer solace but she flinched as if burned which caused a shiver in his heart. He withdrew his hand and dourly shoved both hands in his pockets as they entered the elevator to go up to the doctor's office making no further attempt.
Nambu Hakase was facing the picture window, back to the sullen Science Ninja Team as they drew up to his desk. He turned and scanned the shocked and grief stricken expressions on the faces of his children for that is what they were to him, children thrust prematurely into the adult roles of soldiers yet still within the bloom of their youth. And like the children they still were, they looked wan, battle-weary, and forlorn. He slid his eyes from one sorrowful countenance to another and his heart went out to them. With head bowed he addressed them.
"I'm sorry everybody." That seemed like such an inadequate statement because he too felt the burden of grief but Nambu found himself at a loss, having nothing else to say in the face of the team's despair.
"Thank you, Hakase" Ken responded laconically, always the commander.
Jinpei sniffled loudly"Joe-aniki, he, he..." He buried his head against Jun's bosom, seeking comfort from his big sister, sobbing.
"Forgive us, Hakase we are" Ryu began but Nambu held his hand up.
"No explanations are necessary. You all, we all have been dealt a terrible blow. So I think that you all should have some time off."
"But, Hakase, Galactor still exists. Katse may be gone but Sosai X will regroup and attack again" Jun stated in a soft voice.
Ken glanced at her, surprised by the iron will underlying the near whisper of her words. He added"That's right. Besides, we have yet another reason to see Galactor destroyed."
Nambu shook his head. "No, neither of you is of the right mindset now to go out and uncover any other Galactor operations that may be in the works. You all need time to grieve and get your emotions out." They all began to protest but he stood firm. "As of the conclusion of this meeting, you are all ordered to go home and get rested for an undetermined time. That is until you all hear from me. That is all." He turned back to the window abruptly, dismissing them.
The team all exchanged quizzical glances with each other but taking Nambu's cue, Ken tossed his head toward the door, gesturing for them to leave. They all followed him out.
Ryu and Jimpei quickly headed down the hall but as Jun made to follow them, Ken detained her with a hand on her shoulder. "Jun, I want to talk to you" he said gently.
Jun looked at him with a bit of discomfort. "I really should get home. I don't want Jinpei left alone right now." She turned to go.
Ken's hand remained on her shoulder. "Then is it okay if I come over to the Snack later? I really want to talk to you."
Jun looked at him with trepidation and after a moment of uncertainty she nodded. "Okay, Ken." With her head down to avoid his steady blue gaze, she turned from his hold and hurried down the hall with him watching after her.
The Snack J was deserted, a note taped to the glass door stating -CLOSED DUE TO DEATH IN FAMILY. Inside, Ryu and Jimpei were slouched in two counter stools, elbows on table, heads resting in their hands, the picture of utter dejection. Jun, behind the counter, wiping the clean surface repeatedly, needed to stay busy. Her heart was grieving for Joe but her mind was returning to thoughts she would rather forget, at least for the time being. She tried valiantly to not allow her mind to dwell on that one thought but her mind was relentless, constantly going back to the scene in the machinery room. She wanted to forget about her desperate confession to Ken but it kept haunting her like a nightmare that refused to go away. She was positive by the look on Ken's face after the meeting with Nambu that he wanted to discuss it with her but she was filled with fear at what he wanted to say. But, she couldn't avoid him indefinitely, not when he was determined to ferret out any information, like the way he approached his job, he would be tireless until he got what he wanted.
Jun sighed as she noted the silence of her brother and teammate. She went up to them and placed her hands on their shoulders affectionately. "You guys want anything"
Jinpei looked over his shoulder and saw Jun's compassionate eyes. That did it for him as he plastered himself against her, sobbing brokenheartedly"Onechan, onechan" His tears flowed freely, making her shirt damp.
Ryu's own brown eyes glistened with unshed tears as the big man tried to be strong. He glanced helplessly at Jun holding the weeping boy, wanting to help but unable to, lost in his own sorrow.
"Nothing for me, Jun" he replied, a true indicator of his deep anguish for Ryu never turned down an offer of free food.
Jinpei shook his head, still sobbing in Jun's arms.
Ken pulled up on his motorcycle, cutting the motor and getting off. He set the kickstand and with a heavy sigh looked at the dark window of the Snack J, the large J sign in the front unlit. He noticed Ryu's battered van as the lone vehicle parked in the empty lot in front of the Snack, telling him that the rest of the team was inside together and he knew he needed to be there too. Nervously, he pushed back his still damp dark unruly long hair having taken a shower before coming to Jun's place. After the meeting at ISO he had gone to his shack on the airstrip to seek the release of tears privately in his shower, letting the hot running water course down his face, camouflaging his grief for his best friend Joe. He was beset with a myriad of emotions, guilt, anger, sadness, and, regret but duty bound and with firm resolve, he decided that the team needed him now more than ever. And he wanted, needed to talk to Jun.
The bell above the door tinkled announcing the arrival of someone, the tall muscular form of the Science Ninja commander silhouetted against the late afternoon glow as the group in the quiet diner turned to see. Ken walked up to his little extended family, huddled together seeking succor from the pain and with eyes of affection and shared sorrow, he encircled them in his arms. The four remaining members of Gatchaman remained locked together for several minutes.
"Aniki, I'm so glad to see you" Jinpei cried hugging Ken's waist with one arm while still clinging to Jun with the other.
Ryu sniffled"We didn't want to be alone so we're all here. Glad you came."
Jun noticed Ken's wet hair and knew that he had gone to grieve on his own. Since he couldn't fly and cry at the same time and it was too chilly this time of year to take a swim, she knew he had spent the last hour beneath his shower, allowing his own tears to flow unobserved. He gazed at her significantly over Jinpei's head, buried in his stomach, his clear blue eyes silently broadcasting his concern for her. She shrugged and nodded, stroking her little brother's head.
Ryu caught the subtle communication between G-1 and G-3 and wisely ascertained the need for privacy between them so he cleared his throat to speak"I have an idea Jinpei, why don't we go for a ride"
Jinpei looked up with a tear filled face. "I want to stay with onechan" he insisted hugging Jun tighter.
Ryu stood up and put a firm hand on his shoulder. "I think she needs some time alone, buddy. She's been here taking care of us all afternoon, she needs to take care of herself now."
Jinpei looked up at Jun. "Do you need to be alone, onechan"
Jun looked at Ken who had taken a seat on a stool. She smiled bravely and said"Well, it would be nice." "Just for a while" she added at Jinpei's crestfallen expression.
Jinpei looked doubtful. "But I don't want to leave you alone" he said stubbornly.
Ken rose to his feet. "She won't be, Jinpei. I'll stay and make sure she's okay" he stated gently.
Finally relenting, Jinpei nodded woodenly. "Okay, neechan. I'll be back later." He gave her a last, fierce hug and then said over his shoulder"You take care of her, Aniki."
Ken said gravely"I will, Jinpei. You can trust me."
With a dubious expression but somewhat mollified Jinpei walked over to the door and left with Ryu. The bell tinkled again as the heavy glass door slid shut.
Ken and Jun were finally alone.
Sighing, Jun went back behind the counter and reached for a rag. Ken sat on a stool and resting his chin in his hands, studied her with his steady blue gaze as she again polished the counter top wordlessly. He wondered what she was thinking as she continued to use nervous energy to wipe at dirt that didn't exist.
She asked in a low voice"Can I get you anything" Her hand went by him and he gently but firmly stopped her motion.
"Come here" he said as he gestured to the stool on his left.
Jun looked at Ken with the same uncertainty that she had in the hall outside Nambu's office but made her way around the counter to take a seat next to him. Her slender shoulders were slumped as head down, she sat there in quiet gloominess, her hair hiding her face like a black satin curtain. Ken turned his stool to her and he gently brushed the inky strands back from her forehead.
"So you been playing den mother this afternoon"
Jun nodded"Uh-huh. Ryu really didn't want to go back to his boathouse alone so he came in with us. He didn't even want anything to eat."
Ken commented"Then he was really upset."
Jun looked at him strangely but didn't say anything in retort. Instead she said"Everybody grieves in their own way, Ken. You took a shower didn't you"
Ken flinched slightly as she exercised her uncanny ability to read him. "I can't hide anything from you." He examined her closely"What about you, Jun"
She blinked her eyes and replied"I'll be okay."
Ken continued to gaze evenly at her. "I wish I could believe you." He continued"It's okay to let it out, Juni. Everyone's gone. And I'm here."
Jun gazed blankly at his warm compassionate eyes the color of a summer sky. She shook her head helplessly as the tears that were held back all afternoon fell from her limpid jade green eyes. Ken put his arms around her, pulling her against his shoulder so she too could grieve. He tenderly caressed her head as she sobbed brokenly, whispering soft words of comfort as she cried.
"I-I can't believe he's gone, Ken. I just can't"
"I know. I can't either."
"He was so weak out there, lying on the ground. In all the time we've known and worked with him he was indestructible. It just was surreal, seeing him on the ground and weak like that."
"Yeah" Ken said. "Too ornery to die. His rage was what drove him and it was his shield."
Jun sniffled"Not this time." She got up and walked over to a booth, clutching her arms in a shiver.
Ken rose and walked over to her. He grasped her shoulders and with the same care as he had used before at ISO and turned her around to face him. "There's something else on both our minds as well as Joe, isn't there"
Jun looked at him in feigned ignorance. There it is! It didn't take long to get around to it. "What are you talking about" she asked in a shaky voice.
Ken wasn't buying it. "You know what I'm talking about, Jun. What happened in the machine room at the Galactor headquarters" he probed gently.
"A-at Galactor headquarters" she replied dumbly.
"Yeah. You know when I was about to try to stop the bomb. What was that all about"
Jun tried to walk away but Ken's hold on her shoulders was firm. His azure gaze became searching, penetrating and she felt pinned like a butterfly on a board. "I was scared and I didn't know what I was doing or saying" she said nervously.
"Ah I see. So you really didn't mean what you said. About Hakase and Joe." He continued to drill her. "And what about what you said about me"
Jun looked at him in misery. "I-I wasn't very warriorlike was I" Tears appeared in her eyes and she bowed her head in shame.
Ken took her chin in his hand and lifted her head to look into her eyes. "No, but that's not the reason I'm trying to talk to you about it. I feel that it's time you and I talk about what's gone on between us."
Jun did a double take. "Y-you want to talk about...us"
Ken nodded"I know that there's been a certain...attraction between us since we first started on the team. And as you know, I've been, well, uncomfortable about it."
Jun nodded numbly, bracing herself for the letdown she felt was forthcoming. She responded in a small voice"I know that you've been."
Ken gazed kindly at her. "But you don't know the reason why, do you Juni"
Jun was confused by the endearing inflection of her name. "No, Ken, I don't."
He gestured to the booth where they both sat leaning on the table, facing each other. He studied her earnestly and began"In the beginning, when you and Jinpei were introduced to the team, I was glad for many reasons. The first, being the martial arts skills you both possessed and the speed and agility you had. It was terrific, Joe, Ryu, and me we were all impressed despite the fact that Jinpei was a child and you a girl."
He went on"But there was something else about you, Jun. As you matured and rounded out you became the most beautiful girl I ever laid my eyes on." Jun blushed with pleasure as he continued"You mesmerized me, I couldn't take my eyes off you during classes, practices and when we all had recreational outings, I wanted to be next to you and tried my best to impress you. Joe used to tease me unmercifully and we gave each other more than a few bruises fighting about it."
Ken took a deep breath"I saw how you reacted to me and I was so happy, I felt like I was walking on the clouds. But at the time, Hakase who had been grooming me to be commander took note and told me that any romantic attachment between team members was unacceptable, that emotions could cloud my judgment in making tough decisions. So I put aside my feelings for you to become commander of the Science Ninja Team."
Jun nodded in understanding. "I see."
Ken reached and grasped her hands. "There's more, Jun. Even though I was told by Hakase not to get involved with you, I still couldn't help my feelings. Don't you know why I mostly favored having you with me on missions"
Jun replied, "My intelligence and abilities"
Ken nodded, "That's part of it. But in truth I wanted you to be the one with me. If I had to give up my life, if you had to give up your life, I wanted us to die together."
Jun leaned back with her head down, digesting everything he had said. She let her memory roam, providing her with various scenarios of past missions against Galactor when she accompanied Ken. The day the Crescent Coral was destroyed, the time they were locked in the restroom of the Galactor helicopter and ended up in the middle of nowhere, when they snuck into the terrapin mecha, when they fell down below the baseball field, when they went on the island to infiltrate the mecha factory, the cruise ship, and the flight show. So many times that they had worked together. And then she thought of Joe and his last word to her as life seeped out of his battered body Jun, get together with Ken and have a real life. Get out of this life and be a normal girl. The remembered statement brought the sting of tears back and her shoulders shook with barely controlled sobs.
Ken got up from his bench in the booth and enfolded her in his arms as he squeezed in beside her. He gently brushed his fingers across her cheek and felt the warm stream of her anguish as she crumpled against him, wetting his shirt and allowing herself the freedom to let go of the despair she had felt all afternoon when she had to be a tower of strength for Jinpei and Ryu. Her body convulsed with deep heart-wrenching sobs that brought tears to Ken's eyes as the pain of Joe's death attacked him anew. They both grieved the loss of their brother and teammate as the sun finally sunk below the horizon, plunging the entwined figures in semi-darkness, silhouetted against the dim glow of the fluorescent light hanging above the bar.
Gradually, Ken and Jun's shared anguish was cried out and they sat there quietly, still wrapped in the comfort of each other's arms. Jun rested her head on Ken's chest, his warm and rhythmic breathing easing her along with the strong beat of his heart against her ear, making her feel safe and protected. He softly stroked her silky ebony hair, feeling the slight shift closer into him and marveled at how fragile she felt in spite of her physical strength as the Swan. He sighed deeply, words being a loss for the moment.
After a while, Jun picked her head up off of Ken's chest and looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry I fell apart like that. I was just thinking about how I never thought any of us would die, that with our skills and abilities we could be invincible." What a foolish, childish thought! she chided herself. Ken smiled sadly"It's okay. I thought the same thing. That nobody, nobody could defeat Kagaku Ninjatai, that we all would rise up in righteous fury to crush Galactor. They had stolen so much from all of us, parents, family, friends, our childhood innocence. Not to mention how many other lives." His eyes flashed with fury and anguish both as rage, pain, guilt, and grief all converged and swirled in his soul like a maelstrom. "And I could've done something to stop them from taking Joe's."
Jun studied his stormy blue eyes and as usual read his very thoughts. "You can't blame yourself, Ken. Joe was determined to overcome his illness, to continue to be a part of the team" she reasoned.
Ken grunted as he disentangled himself and began to pace. "Yeah, so he took off on his own and tried to single-handedly defeat Katse. He wouldn't have had to do that if I just took him along with us and ordered him stay on the ship."
"Ken, you know as well as I do that if you had done that, Joe would've felt worse, being so close to the action, yet unable to contribute" Jun said softly, her head down.
Ken whirled on her. "As the commander, I could have had him thrown in the brig" he said savagely, not wanting to hear any excuses, however pertinent.
Jun shook her head sadly"Now you know that that wouldn't have happened." She got to her feet and grasped him by the shoulders. "Joe would've found a way to escape and join us. He wanted Katse's hide more than anyone but you and he was determined to get it."
Ken looked into the forest pool eyes gazing solemnly into his and his anger fled as he slumped helplessly in her hands. "I can't help it, Juni. I feel so impotent, so..."
"Frustrated? Helpless"
"A failure! I feel like a failure as Joe's commander, his teammate, his best friend. I failed to help him, to insist that he be tested and treated. I once again took a chance on caring for someone and again they're snatched away from me! My caring for someone or loving them is like signing their death warrant" he cried bitterly, turning his face away so she wouldn't see the tears flowing down his cheeks.
Now it was Jun's turn. She reached up to Ken's face and gently brushed the mahogany waves that had fallen down over his eyes like a hood. Wordlessly, she reached for a napkin in the holder on the table of the booth they had shared and dabbed at the rivulets running down from the corners of his eyes. He gazed at her like a lost little boy and then buried his head in her hair, unable to hold back his sorrow.
"It's okay" she whispered, caressing his back. "It's okay."
Ken shook his head and pulled back as he smiled wryly through his tears. "I came here to be strong for you and the team. Some great Eagle, huh"
"Even eagles need to let go. Everyone does" Jun replied soothingly.
Ken gazed gratefully into her sweetly compassionate visage and his eyes sparkled. "I'm glad that this Eagle has his Swan to go to."
He reverently ran his knuckles lightly around her cheek and under her chin. His smile faded slowly as he deepened his study of her, the upturned heart-shaped porcelain face, the pine forest green eyes framed by sooty lush lashes, the pink Cupid's bow mouth that looked so tantalizing, the midnight corn silk hair. This was the girl who fought beside him for almost two years, and had always been an anchor to him, supporting him and trusting him, giving him courage and faith in himself even when he'd lost it. Her brilliant mind and superb fighting skills made her an invaluable asset to his team. They had known for a while the deep affection they shared but had mutually agreed to wait until the war with Galactor was over to act upon it. Now that Katse was dead, maybe it was finally the time to give into the desires of both their hearts. Ken was tired of having to be satisfied with dreams and fantasies of what it would be like to know Jun in a biblical sense, now he wanted the dreams to become reality. He cradled her face in his hands and drew her mouth to his, kissing her softly at first, then with increased insistence as all the bottled up hunger and desire that had gnawed at his being since the day he first laid eyes on her finally broke free.
Jun moaned softly, her slender arms snaking up under Ken's firmly muscled upper arms, corded biceps and triceps compressing, drawing her into him tightly, while his hands still cupped her face as he continued to drink in the sweetness of her mouth. She closed her eyes as she responded fully, her senses reeling, as she felt herself being swept into the whirlwind of her own pent up yearnings. Her hands kneaded his shoulder blades gently as she opened her mouth more to receive him. Soft guttural grunts erupted from his chest and came through his vocal cords as his orifice continued to cover hers, his tongue probing, exploring. Her mind was filled with the very essence of him, each sense virtually singing with the scent, the touch, the sound of his own surrender, mirroring hers. Their lips gradually drew apart but they stood there, forehead to forehead, savoring the closeness for several minutes.
Ken spoke first, hesitantly, the old fears resurfacing"I should go. Jinpei will probably be back with Ryu any time." But he made no move to leave, his arms still wrapped around Jun.
"Uh-huh" she said softly, knowing the telltale signs of his emotions in conflict. She decided to make it easy for him by removing herself from his arms and turning her back to him. "It's okay. I'm okay." She turned and looked directly into his eyes. "Really."
He was feeling torn by uncertainty as there she was again, making the way, freeing him with the same grace and humility she always practiced. Ken felt his heart pound with feelings of gratitude and more as he leaned down to give her a peck on her cheek. "Thank you, Juni."
She nodded and smiled tearfully. "Call me if you need me, Ken."
"I will." He turned around with his head down and hands in his pockets to head out the door.
Jun watched him as he got on his bike and kicked the starter, turned and rode out of the parking lot into the dusk. She sighed deeply as she pondered about what he had told her and realized how much it had taken for him to break down and to admit his feelings in words. Unbeknownst to him, he had always shown her how he felt though his body language and his clear blue eyes, no matter how benign his facial expression was. The saying "eyes are the windows of the soul" was personified in Ken Washio because since the day Nambu had brought her and Jinpei into his home, Ken proved he could communicate anything to her with his eyes. She could always read Ken's feelings in those intense azure orbs of his for if he showed indifference to her in other ways, she could read his true feelings in his eyes unlike Joe, for whom subterfuge of all emotions except perpetual rage was raised to an art form.
Thinking of Joe, Jun walked slowly about the deserted diner, her hand lightly running over the seat of the booth that he was fond of occupying when he used to frequent the Snack. She closed her eyes and could almost hear his baritone talking and arguing with Ken, scoffing at Ryu, and teasing Jinpei. Joe especially loved doing the latter because it never failed to get a rise out of her excitable little brother. His dark blue glare floated in her mind's eye like suspended twin sapphires, his sardonic smirk becoming as clear to her as if he were sitting right there. She could imagine his long lean form stretching indolently in languid catlike grace as he perused the daily newspaper or his favorite auto racing periodical, yet coiled and ever ready to spring into action if their bracelets summoned them to battle.
Jun sighed deeply, warm tears stinging her eyes as she was drawn to the jukebox in the corner of the Snack and she idly flipped through the selections. Music being her release, she came across a number that was considered obscure and antiquated by the youth that hung out at the Snack J but considering her present state of mourning was very appropriate. It was part of a group of music disks that she had snuck into the jukebox one day while Jinpei wasn't looking, some classic folk and blues tunes that she had fell in love with back when she began taking guitar lessons. Her teacher, who was an aficionado of blues and the folk music of the 1960's, had a deep appreciation for the acoustic artistry such music inspired and taught the same to Jun. He had introduced her to the likes of Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Neil Young, Ritchie Havens as well as blues legends Sam Dave, BB King, and Sam Cooke. And so inspired herself, she had searched the web, all the record stores in Utoland and the surrounding environs tirelessly for all the folk, acoustic rock, and blues she could find and much to Jinpei's chagrin, insisted on playing the music not only up in their living quarters, but down in the diner.
Jun chose the selection by sixties folk artist Tim Buckley so she pressed the button and then was surrounded by the throbbing and haunting guitar with the harmonica background
So Swan Jun, the resident pillar of strength to the Kagaku Ninjatai, hugged her shoulders tightly and giving into the wave of despair that was washing through her being, sank to the floor, sobbing and wailing over and over again like a litany of sorrow Joji! Joji! Joji!
