Chapter 48
During the time she was in Utoland Jun had begun to plan her restaurant, over the months she hired a lady experienced in the industry to assist her with ideas on how to set up the sea side restaurant. And since Ryu and Jinpei would be leaving soon she had to show Jinpei she'd be okay once he left.
The two stooges didn't have a lot of choice on the timing of their departure, and Ken basically told them to get on with their business if that's what they wanted to do, he looked sad at first, but he showed them he supported their new venture by congratulating them with slaps on the back. The yearly storms that came into the Islands would be upon the two new business partners soon and they need a few months to get settled into the Island and fit out the Trawler for the coming fishing season.
Ryu's impatience to leave was escalated by a letter from his little brother telling him Sianetta, the girl he fell in love with a few years ago had returned to the Island, and she never married the man she left the village for after all. Seeing his chance at winning her heart he was eager to be gone from Utoland.
"Jun," Ken buzzed her later through her bracelet, a token of their service left to them by Dr Nambu, she still had her uniform if she ever needed it. She figured it was unlikely they'd every use their birdstyles again, so it was moth balled at the base. Sometimes she admitted to missing the wonderful feeling of floating as she jumped of the ship to glide over to a mecha…Maybe once in a while for old times sake she'll change into birdstyle and jump out of plane, she thought smiling at the image that came into her mind.
"Yes Ken." She answered.
"I'm escaping from the base tonight, are you willing to be my accomplice and come out to dinner with me?" His voice sounded lighter, almost boyish with his enthusiasm.
"I sure am, I think I bust you outta there…where do you want to go?" She asked waiting for his response.
"I figured you could…I have something in mind…it means you wearing a dress." Ken said cryptically, Jun smiled. She liked to dress girly, and of late she had been thinking of wearing more dresses than jeans for a change. She even brought herself a few casual dresses just a few days ago, she figured she had time to go and shop for a special one for her date tonight.
"That can be arranged as long as you wear something other than a T-shirt and Jeans." She negotiated.
"You're on, see you here at 6.30pm, we don't want to be late, I'll have my disguise sorted out by them" He Joked switching off.
Jun grinned finally they would have some time together, and left to quickly do some shopping so she could get back to the base and then change into a dress for her date with Ken.
* * * *
"You look beautiful." He said in awe when she met him in the dock to leave the base.
Jun felt like a girl going out on her first date from the way he admired her. The dress was different from the one she wore the last time he took her out to dinner.
The pretty pink dress was ashes these days, since it went up with the Snack J and in a way she was glad to never see it again, it was too much of a reminder of beginning of those painful days. The dress she chose was more a 1950's style soft jade green silk satin sleeveless gown that shimmered in the light with a tight belt at the waist and full knee length skirt that had a tulle petticoat underneath, it swirled when she walked, and on her feet she wore silver strappy shoes. In Utoland the retro look was latest fashion. She pulled the pale grey fur wrap around her shoulders hoping she wouldn't freeze since the winter cold was hanging around even though they had just entered spring.
"You look great too." She smiled running her eyes over Ken's neat white shirt with the neck open and dark neutral coloured dress pants and matching jacket, and brown shoes.
Ken looked relieved at her approval. "Thanks, Joe picked them up for me- he's got far better taste in clothing than I do…remember that blue suit I wore to my friend's engagement party?"
She remembered the suit, how could she forget! It had a seventies look to it from the pale blue shirt and bow tie to the wide lapels and two toned darker blues. She raised an eyebrow that day when he emerged from his quarters wearing it. Her facial expressions told him she hated it.
An hour later they arrived in Utoland and walked down a street Jun knew well. She paled at the memory as she took it all in. The sign hadn't changed, and when they walked through the doors neither had the small restaurant. It was the same one they came to all those years ago when she'd intended to tell him about her pregnancy, and instead they ended up in an argument with Ken storming out and Jun in tears...
"Are you sure?" She questioned faltering at the door.
"Yeah, I am." He said opening it, walking inside she has no choice but to follow him in.
The same old Italian man greeted them with a warm friendly smile and he guided them to an empty table in the far corner of the busy restaurant. He asked politely as he seated them at the table if they would like any drinks. Ken skimmed the wine menu and ordered a bottle of wine recommended by the waiter and some water for the table. A single candle with a flower in a small vase sat in the middle of the table for two with it pristine white table cloth.
"Was it this busy last time?" Jun said picking up her napkin and laying it across her lap and she picked up the menu.
"I can't remember." Ken said glancing at her and then he picked up his menu and began to scan the entrée's and the main meals. Jun's mind was on other things at the last she was there to notice anything about the restaurant other than its warmth and the friendly nature of the people who own it. Other than that, she'd blotted out the disastrous night from her memory as best she could.
"I like that atmosphere of this place- it's so warm and welcoming." Jun commented and she sat back and observed the busy dining area with new eyes. It was very clean, with neat small round tables and burgundy plush carpet, dark timber walls finished at the top in a soft mushroom coloured wallpaper. The lights looked very retro adding to the antiqued look of the restaurant.
"What are you thinking?" Ken asked softly placing his menu onto the table he relaxed back into his chair while they waited for service.
"About my new restaurant…the kind of place I want it to be." Jun's voice became distant. "It won't be like the Snack J… at first I wanted this really classy kind of place, very modern and sleek with a flashy menu…yet in a way I want people to feel relaxed when they walk into it. Like they don't need to put on show or spend big money to have a good time together. I want a dance floor with soft lazy music playing so couples can dance…a bar for a waiting area and place for people to come and wind down…in winter I want an open fire to be burning…it sounds too much doesn't it."
Ken's expression became thoughtful. "No, I like the idea of comfortable atmosphere over a modern classy place that people think they have to spend a fortune just to walk in the front door…I still think the place could still have some class, yet be welcoming. It sounds like you want more than just a restaurant."
"Yes I do." She replied. Ken nodded attentively, she could see he understood the idea she was trying to put into words.
"So, "Jun pretended to arrange her napkin in her lap as she spoke." What are you're plans?"
"I'm not sure yet." Ken's tone implied caution, before he could say any more the waiter came over to take their order.
Jun ordered her favourite Italian food Gnocchi for her main, while Ken ordered a pasta dish and an entrée for them to share. He tasted the wine that the waiter offered them and then he turned his attention back onto Jun.
"There have been a lot of changes happening in the ISO and I'm interesting in finding out exactly what's going on." Ken leaned forward and rested his chin on his fingers, his blue eyes lit up as he talked about what he heard the day before while talking to Dr Anderson.
"I know that they're not in a hurry to replace Dr Nambu. One of the other experts is filling in the position, but other than that people have been very tight lipped around the rest of us." Jun said watching his reactions.
"I'm not sure why that's the case Jun. After all we're a team, at least in our hearts." Ken picked up his glass of wine and sipped from it. Jun did the same realizing she didn't touch her glass the last time, and seeing his smile she wondered about that gesture. Did he still doubt her, how could he think that, they hadn't made love in ages.
"We were a team Ken- they don't need us any more, remember the conversation we had not long after you woke up." Jun reminded him.
Ken flinched. "How can I forget with four of you standing around telling me I'm no longer Gatchaman and we're no use to anyone...I hate feeling useless like that. Like a discarded piece of furniture…"
Jun thanked the waiter as he placed the entrée's in front of them. A selection of antipasto deli food and crisp Italian bread to soak up the sweet balsamic vinegar dip looked appetising.
"We all do, its time now for us to find a life and do the things we always dreamed of…the one you always talked about." Jun hinted.
Ken remained silent, deep in his thoughts while they ate the delicious spread in front of them. I'll have to have this kind of thing on my menu, Jun thought.
"I might have talked about it Jun, but I never really planned for it…to be honest I didn't really think I'd survive the war…that's why we all vowed to die together…and I could give up Mark to be raised by someone else. Now that its all over I'm having a hard time coming to terms with the thought that I could have been in his life and his father, the one he turned too." He confessed sadly.
By this time their mains were being placed in front of them.
She knew how he felt, the tugging at her heart when she thought about it. "Me too, but we can't be parents to him, even thought times have changed. We couldn't predict what our future in that unstable way of life we led and we can't change what's already done."
Silence fell between them as they ate their main meals.
Ken polished off his plate of pasta in no time, Jun smiled internally Ken always loved his food and it felt good to see his appetite returning.
"That's a great sauce…I bet the chef has a secret ingredient…I wonder if he'll tell what it is." Ken grinned wiping his mouth with a napkin. "I've been reading about chefs of late and their 'secrets' to turning out a sensational meal every time. Jamie Oliver released a book recently on running an effective kitchen.
"He could…but then he'd have to kill you…" Jun said playfully. "I didn't know you were so interested in cooking."
"What else is there to do but read when you're not around, and I was confined to a bed all day for weeks. The only books one of the nurses had happened to be on cooking and working in kitchens." Ken admitted.
Jun warmed to the change in topic. "Did you learn much? I've been looking up how to manage a larger restaurant. But other than that I have had very little time for reading."
Ken's eyes lit up again when he began to speak about something she knew nothing about until now. "Neither will I from now on- I've been invited to attend the meeting in Geneva outlining the new changes that will be happening soon in the ISO…you're invited to, along with Joe, Ryu and Jinpei."
"What…when…what kind of changes?" Jun gushed trying to get a grip on what he was hinting at. Something big was happening right under her nose.
Ken's voice lowered and he leaned over the table. "They wouldn't say…but I think the ISO and our governments are meeting to form some kind of alliance. Other than that I'm not sure."
Jun's mind reeled, what if they had a role for Ken in this. He may not be Gatchaman, but he was recovering now and why would they want to let him go, all they had to was use his dedication to duty to pull him in for good.
"What does this mean to us?" She finally asked. A feeling of de'ja vous flooded over her. Same restaurant, same turn in conversation.
"Have they offered you anything yet?" Jun quizzed.
"There's been talk…I'm not fit to fly yet so it's nothing really concrete." He starred into her eyes intently. "I asked you a long time ago to come with me if I went on mission that lasted a few months…"
"I turned you down." Jun felt tears sting her eyes at the memories." I had good reasons back then."
"Yes you did." He agreed softly. "And now?"
"I'll go with you to Geneva- I want to see for myself what's going on. When do we leave?" Jun compromised knowing she didn't really give him an answer. In her heart she loved Utoland, if she had to leave she would, but what role would they have for the former Swan in if they sent Ken off on a mission somewhere? And would she really be able to go with him since it wasn't Dr Nambu sending him this time.
"In two days- we'll only be gone for a few days at the most, so Jinpei and Ryu will still be on track for their departure. Joe can bring Jason- he just has to keep him entertained." Ken answered smiling.
Jun didn't know what to say, she could feel him being slowly pulled away from her even in peace time. Was it her own fault this was happening? Was she being selfish wanting a life outside of the ISO when staying inside the ISO could mean a life with Ken. No she thought it was never the case, for how long did he avoid relationships because of his duty and need to stay focused.
"Let's get going." Ken said standing up breaking off the conversation that was leading to an argument.
"Dessert is back in my quarters...uninterrupted time for us to be totally alone…and no clothing required…I hope you're wearing that lacy bra, so we can pick up where we left off last night." He grinned wickedly.
"I like the sound of that." She smiled warmly relieved that they would be leaving together this time. "And as for what's underneath…you'll have to wait and see." She teased. This time she had something even more seductive for him to take off, she couldn't wait to see the expression on his face…
Ken paid the bill and they left for G-town to catch up on lost time.