Chapter 49

She always loved these kinds of flights, sitting back and relaxing in first class comfy chair that invited her fall soundly asleep, and that's exactly what she did, dosing for most of the flight.

First class all the way, just how Dr Nambu used to send the team occasionally except it was cattle class as she liked to call it. She knew it was because of sponsors that helped them get around on regular services, and Dr Nambu felt it was better for their cover. But this time it was on the ISO, and no one knew they were coming. Apparently the world thought they all died, giving them a chance to slip back into society anonymous once again. She read in a few magazines how the world mourned them. It touched her heart how much people had loved and missed their 'Mysterious birds of prey,' as one article had labelled them.

She felt a light pressure against her lips not long before they were due to land. "Wake up Jun." Ken whispered. "Almost there, we'll be coming into land in five minutes."

"Ahhh…"She whispered seductively." My own special bird of prey…"

Quickly she laced her fingers around his neck and pulled him in closer, almost out of his seat next to her to finish what he started.

"You bet." He whispered. His warm moist lips lightly tickling her neck with his soft kisses.

The hosted went passed them carrying a tray of chocolate dipped strawberries for first class passengers, sound made them both stop and look up.

"I don't think I'll look at chocolate dipped strawberries again after the other night." Jun murmured in his ear, and slowly smiled fondly at the memory of the way they chose to eat them…

"Me either." Ken whispered back grinning playfully." But I'd sure like to try it again…"

"Will you two cut it out!" Jinpei scolded from behind them. "Some things about my sister I just don't wanna know."

Ken's a slow blush rose to Ken's face, he moved away looking embarrassed at Jinpei overhearing the conversation.

After a moment she could hear Jason's small feet running down the aisle toward them. Joe had swapped seats with Ken when they boarded the flight, for some reason Ken had been seated further back, with Joe beside Jun.

"Jason for the last time get back here!" Joe's voice boomed. "Or I'll tan your hide boy…it won't be pretty I sware." Jason giggled and stopped next to Ken's seat- he looked back at his father and then turned to run away towards the Air hosts lounge. He had a liking for hanging out with them. (The ladies found Jason to be very charming.) Like lightning Ken jumped out of his seat and grabbed the back of his shirt forcing Jason to stay put until Joe reached him.

"Thanks." Joe said sighing heavily he picked Jason up and threw him over his shoulder and then he marched back to their seat. By this time the seat belt light had come on and the plane had just turned to make its decent into the main airport runway.

A few hours later they all piled out of the international terminal to hail a taxi for the trip to the hotel. And at last the six of them exhausted from the long flight stumbled into the hotel.

"Wow, this some classy place." Jinpei exclaimed his eyes roaming over the plush lobby.

"The best…would we want anything less?" Joe smirked, carrying Jason and his travel bag to the front desk.

"We'd like to check in." He said casually to the petite Swedish blond with a short bob hair cut standing behind the counter.

He has a natural charm with women, Jun noted watching the way she flirted with him as he accepted the room door card. Jason had his fathers gift even at three from the way he copied his smiles, making the girl pinch his cheek and she handed him a lolly pop for it.

"I'll catch up with you at breakfast, this kid is overtired." Joe indicated to Jason whose cloud grey eyes had become brighter as he scanned the lobby looking for more mischief.

"I'm Ken Washio and this is Jun Nambu. We would like to book in together." Ken introduced himself to the lady behind the counter.

"Yes Mr Washio we have you're room…it's in the west wing of the building over looking the gardens 20th floor "Miss Nambu, your room is over on the north side of the building 10th floor." The blond girl smiled and handed them their door in cards.

Ken caught her questioning glance.

"That can't be right- we should at least have a joining rooms?" Ken asked her.

"Sir, I'll check again." She said looking at her computer. "No, that's how it was requested. She's sharing with Jinpei Nambu and Ryu Nagasaki. You room is a single Mr Washio."

"Can we have it changed then, it's a mistake I'm telling you." Ken insisted. Still the young woman politely informed him she couldn't change it due to the place being over booked.

"We're fully booked out for the next few days due to a conference here being hosted by the ISO. I'm sorry sir, I can't change it." She repeated very apologetic.

"Can we work something out with my room? Replace the bed with a bigger one or something like that." Ken glanced at Jun and then back at the lady behind the counter.

"We can bring in a portable fold out bed sir." She offered. "You'll be sharing with Sergeant Eddington from Ameris. Unfortunately we can't-"

"Sharing?" Ken's looked at her in disbelief." I thought this is a five star hotel-"

Jun sighed in disappointment cutting the both off with a wave of her hand. "Its okay, we'll see if we can sort it out in the morning. I'll be fine with Jinpei and Ryu."

* * * *

After a sleepless night listening to Ryu and Jinpei loudly whispering about the great adventure they were about embark on together Jun was finally out of bed and into the bathroom.

"Sis, hurry up! This room has only one bathroom not three…and one toilet and guess what it's inside the bathroom." Jinpei complained loudly.

"I won't be long." She smiled at the door—something's I won't miss is his teasing and complaining about me using the bathroom. But not seeing him everyday just so they could bicker…that is something that made her blink back tears and left a small hollow place in her heart where he belonged. Oh stop it! She chided herself. He's not dying, just getting on with his life and dreams, besides he's with Ryu…We'll see each other again, it'll just be different that's all. Jun thought trying to counter the rush of sad emotions. He's grown up so fast-- these days he spends more time preening than I do, hoping some teenage girl will notice him.

She opened the door and began to head out of the room to meet Ken for breakfast when Ryu stopped her. "Jun, Ken left you a message while you were in the shower. He said to meet him at the conference hall- he was called into a meeting and so was Joe." Ryu looked over at the other side of his bed- Jason popped up and looked at her grinning wildly and held up a pen.

"What…you just scribbled all over my paperwork." Ryu threw his hands into the air and grabbed the pen off him.

"We go and play Jun…" He said cheerfully. "This place is boring…"

"It looks like you're travelling with us then." Jun returned his smile. Jason nodded his shaggy dark caramel hair madly.

Joe needs to get that hair trimmed. She thought. It's falling in his eyes and it's getting way past his shoulders.

"Common lets go then." She said briskly taking Jason's hand into hers she turned to leave the room.

"I'll meet ya there sis, I need a shower and it's not like we're going on a mission and need to bolt out the door." Jinpei flashed a cheeky grin and then he bolted into the spacious bathroom.

"I'll wait for Jinpei." Ryu said apologetically.

"Okay, we'll see you there." Jun said getting a firm grip on the three year old boy's hand they two of them left the room and headed out of the Hotel to catch a cab to the conference. Jun managed to pick up a fruit smoothie from a sandwich bar just after they arrived at the ISO headquarters there.

Jason had a banana milkshake and the two of the two of them headed in through the security gates to go the huge auditorium that the first of three meetings would be held in.

"The kid can't come in." One of the guards put a hand out to stop her from entering.

"He has a pass, he's with me." Jun pointed out showing him Jason's high level security pass.

The man frowned looking at Jason and them looking back at the pass.

"What does he do here?" He asked still not buying it.

"Child genius! He's amazing." She said her eyes widened and looked down at him. "He's here to do some complicated mathematics calculations…"

The guards face changed as Jason began talking.

"We need to find daddy." He tugged at Jun's hand and managed to get his small out of hers and bolted down the hall.

"Now you've done it." She scolded the guard. "His father is a scientist who's currently in a top secret meeting."

Joe had warned her he was fast, and he was out of sight before she reached the end of the hall, an office door was open so she quietly walked in.

"Jason, get back here now." She said in her best mothering voice.

All she heard was a giggle and a muffled. "Catch me if ya can."

"It sounds like they have been planning this for sometime." Ken's muffled voice drifted towards her.

He must be walking up the hall she thought. While she continued her search of the room for Jason playing hide'n'seek.

"Yeah but it sounds very inviting doesn't it." Joe agreed.

Ken fell silent for a second before responding, his voice held a sense of awe. "A good opportunity…one that will be hard to say no to. Especially after the impact Dr Anderson said it will have on improving the way of life on Earth. And I thought it would be all over all once we got rid of Galactor but it sounds like it's just the beginning of something greater. Worthwhile being a part of."

Jun's heart began to shiver from the tone of his voice. The way he talked sounded like the old Ken, the one that kept her at a distance because of his devotion to duty.

"Gotcha." Jason said loudly pushing her hard and he ran out of the room. Joe must have spotted him since he called his name and Jason ran to his father.

"Who are you with?" Joe asked him.

"Jun." He replied.

Jun steadied her quivering body, Ken appeared in the doorway.

"Hey Jun, what's up?" He asked.

"Ahhh…nothing I was just looking for him, he must have heard Joe, I was just coming out." She forced a smile and turned to leave the room. Ken gently placed his hands on her shoulders stopping her from leaving.

"Something wrong?" He asked his eyes becoming concerned.

You're too damn observant for your own good. Jun silently reproached him. Yet she knew she couldn't lie to him, she made a pact not to ever again with herself.

"I heard you're conversation, just the tail end of it…wars end, but the world still keeps turning doesn't it…and while it does there will always be a need for you." Jun didn't hide how disillusioned she had become of what peace time really meant for them. Just a lull until the next mission came along. She though sadly. It's ended for at least four of us, but not for Ken…

"Come into the conference, you'll learn more about over the next few days, I was only given a glimpse Jun…that's all…common lets go." Ken held her close, but Jun couldn't shake the sinking feeling she had in the pit of her stomach.