Wolves of the Pacific

by greenpeach20

In 1902, Renesmee Cullen grew tired of the tedious life of moving around with her family and decided to make the journey west as a mail order bride. Yet a chance encounter with a reddish brown wolf would change her life forever.

111. Chapter 111

Chapter 111

After having been shot in the shoulder, Eun Mi felt that horrible, sharp pain and watched the soldier that shot her fall to the ground in shock. The last thing she remembered was seeing JJ's terrified face and feeling herself being picked up, but by then she was so dizzy and in so much pain that she couldn't fight him. When her eyes closed, they stayed that way and she saw her life flashing before her eyes. Every moment of it. She remembered the dead gaze of her birth mother and the man that had attempted to drown her in the rice patch just moments after she was born. She remembered the woman that had taken her from that man with the assistance of a Japanese soldier. Eun Mi remembered she'd not been with this woman very long as she'd discovered her power, attempted to show this woman and was cast from the home in terror.

She remembered that horrible night so vividly. After being thrown from the home, she remembered wandering through the village until she saw a Japanese soldier drinking outside an inn in town that was well known for 'comforts'. She remembered being yelled at by him, by another soldier that had stepped outside to investigate, she remembered one of the comfort girls trying to defend her, and she remembered the soldier threatening to shoot her, but for what, she'd not known. Her Japanese had not been proficient at the time. What she did remember was defending herself as best she could trying to push the man away with her tiny ghostly hands she'd discovered how to use and at one point stabbing him in the eye on accident with one of those fingers.

The next several seconds had been a blur as the smell of blood had filled the air. She'd survived on breast milk those weeks she'd been alive but she'd always craved something else and she'd finally smelled it. Eun Mi only remembered that one moment she smelled blood, smelled more blood and heard screaming. When she finally came back to her senses, the soldier who's eye she stabbed was dead on the ground shriveled up from lack of blood and the other soldier was torn to pieces, his arms and legs parted from his torso and a giant blood spot on the wall of the inn where his head had been slammed against before rolling on the ground.

She remembered running away as fast as she could and being alone for so long and crying for what had been lost. She couldn't remember how long she'd been traveling, only that she had. She'd gone from one coast town and then past the mountain to yet another coast town. By the time she'd made it, she appeared as though she were five yet she had lost her shoes that had been too small shortly after she'd begun her journey and her dress was too small. It barely covered her hips and it would not take long before they no longer did.

Eun Mi remembered crying on the beach for several hours before someone found her. A young woman that had introduced herself as So Chin Sun. She tried offering Eun Mi food and shelter, but she'd been so scared that she'd not let the woman near her and she always had up a wall of hands to keep her away. She'd practiced and started mastering her power by that time and was beginning to truly understand her own strength and she was not afraid to apply that power, but Chin Sun would always smile and remind her where Eun Mi could find her home and that she was welcome there. Eun Mi remembered this going on for several days. Chin Sun would try to talk to Eun Mi and ask for her name or other information but Eun Mi never answered. She couldn't remember what she'd been called before. She only knew she'd been called something different until she'd been cast from the home as a monster. Chin Sun had brought her a new dress and a new pair of shoes that Eun Mi had not even realized she wanted, but she still kept Chin Sun at a good distance.

Then came a day where her thirst had gotten the better of her and Eun Mi lured a Japanese soldier into the woods so she could drink his blood, using all of her ghostly hands to keep the man still and quiet. It was only when Eun Mi had finished with the man that she finally realized Chin Sun was standing there with a small batch of Asian pears. She looked so alarmed and Eun Mi was just as startled. She'd tried to intimidate Chin Sun. She still remembered using those hands to make it appear as though she were floating as she approached Chin Sun above her and used another pair of hands to grab her head. Chin Sun cried and pleaded, but none of that had worked. It was only when she called Eun Mi 'Little One' that she finally stopped. It had taken years for Eun Mi to realize why she'd let her go after that but she'd realized that she'd let her go because no one had ever seen her with any ounce of affection after seeing the terror of her power.

Chin Sun, on the other hand, had. So Eun Mi let her go and then she ran away to return to the beach she'd been staying at and cried again. Eun Mi remembered it as though it were yesterday and she remembered that horrible uncertainty she'd felt. She'd not expected to see Chin Sun again. Rather, she'd expected Japanese troops would be attacking her very soon, but they never did. It was late in the evening when she saw Chin Sun again and when she had, the woman was holding something. It was the first time Eun Mi didn't keep up a wall of hands to keep Chin Sun away. She kneeled down so she was right beside Eun Mi and presented a gift to her. It was a gardenia. A perfect white flower that appeared freshly picked and that reached full bloom that day. Eun Mi looked at Chin Sun who was smiling kindly while she offered Eun Mi the flower. She accepted the flower and stared at it, admiring its beauty. She remembered Chin Sun once again asking for her name, but she claimed to not have one.

"You have no name, Little One?" Chin Sun had said surprised and continued to smile kindly. "Well, that won't do. Would you mind if I gave you a name?"

She'd nodded apprehensively to Chin Sun's request and it was then that she'd received the name Eun Mi. Chin Sun had taken her in as her very own and she'd become So Eun Mi. Eun Mi still remembered the nervousness she felt when Chin Sun brought her back to her little hut where she and her father lived. Eun Mi would never see another man the way she'd seen So Chin Mae. That man was like a grandpa to her in every way and she'd adored him. He'd been frightened of her power at first, but he quickly learned the usefulness of it when Eun Mi could reach high up things. Eun Mi had fond memories of fishing with her Grandpa Chin Mae and helping her new mother, Chin Sun, obtain enough Napa cabbage to make Kimchi. She learned how to make pickled radish, cook rice and fish and became a well rounded cook courtesy of her new mother and grandpa.

She'd been with her new mother and grandpa for years. She'd grown in no time, appearing an adult within six years of them adopting her, but they adored her and she adored them. It was the only time in her life she had felt truly loved and happy. Things began to sour after her Grandpa Chin Mae died. Eun Mi remembered crying with her mother after his death. They'd signed his name in red ink and went to a temple to wish him well in his journey and they mourned his loss deeply. They tried to keep the little house and Eun Mi remembered the struggle before it was eventually taken from them and they were rendered homeless. With no choice to do anything else and a desperate want to put a roof over her daughter's head, Chin Sun sold herself to become a comfort girl for the Japanese troops. Eun Mi refused to do it. She had a deep disdain for the Japanese soldiers that had been a constant part of her life from the beginning, and she was lucky that Chin Sun refused to allow it too.

Eun Mi still remembered the Japanese troops that would try to flirt with her and try to sleep with her, but she never tolerated it and it didn't generally take much to keep them away from her. The Mistress of the whore house had insisted Eun Mi pull her weight in some fashion, so she'd forced Eun Mi to dress in a kimono, wear white paint on her face and red paint on her lips with her hair up in a Sokuhatsu style that she despised with little ornaments in her hair. She wasn't a comfort girl, but she acted as a Geisha, dancing for the troops with fans and sometimes an umbrella, displaying grace and elegance that, for these Japanese troops, had really only been reserved for the wealthy that could afford a Geisha's attention. The Mistress had even encouraged Eun Mi to use her gift to keep several fans or umbrellas during her dances. She'd do the normal dance while she made the fans appear to be floating and spinning around to amuse the troops. She would serve them tea ensuring she showed her delicate wrists as an effort to make them more likely to pick a comfort girl for the night and she would sit and listen to them talk. She'd been learning Japanese but it had not been perfect. It was after she'd become a Geisha for the Mistress of the whore house that her Japanese speaking skills had flourished and the Japanese troops absolutely adored her.

Eun Mi had tolerated it for a few years, only because it ensured her mother ate and they had a place to stay. Her mother wasn't happy, though. She knew she wasn't happy. Eun Mi remembered hearing her mother cry at night sometimes and Eun Mi would do her best to comfort her. Chin Sun always accepted Eun Mi's comfort with a smile, but she suspected no matter what she did, it wasn't enough. Eun Mi remembered the last night they were in the whore house. She'd been amusing a soldier over a cup of tea she'd poured him when she heard her mother crying and scream a little. It wasn't uncommon to hear a comfort girl cry and scream. When drunk, some of the troops could get cruel. But it was her mother's scream Eun Mi heard so she stood from the table she'd been sitting at ignoring the Mistress's protests and she went to one of the rooms to see a Japanese soldier assaulting her mother, trying to tear her hanbok from her shoulders and she could already see the bruise forming on her eye.

Eun Mi hadn't thought it through, only that she wanted to protect her mother. Using her ghostly hands, she'd forced the soldier off her mother and had torn the man apart, causing blood to splash all over the room. She'd covered her mother's face with another hand to make sure her face didn't get blood on it, but there was blood all over her hanbok and all over the room. Eun Mi remembered that being the only time in all her life that she'd done such a thing and felt no remorse for it. She only regretted that it caused them to be forced from the whore house with a bounty on their heads and they needed to flee. Eun Mi apologized to her mother profusely, but Chin Sun wouldn't allow apologies. Eun Mi had defended her and she'd not allow her daughter to apologize for saving her.

Eun Mi did her best to find them a place to live and she finally found a spot where they could built a little hut that was a few miles outside of Pyongyang. They could be largely left alone and they started their own little garden. Eun Mi would fish and help her mother tend the garden and cook. It had been the closest they'd had to their normal life and Chin Sun was finally happy again and Eun Mi was happy to see her happy. It was three months later that her mother started getting sores around her mouth and, according to her, on more intimate parts of her body. They were red and irritated and some appeared white and pus filled. Eun Mi remembered retrieving sea water so Chin Sun could use the salty water to treat the sores and initially it had appeared to work. It had taken a few weeks but they'd eventually cleared up. But she experienced another strange occurrence when a rash formed on her palms and feet.

Eun Mi remembered desperately trying to find someone that could teach her how to make homemade creams that could treat her mother's new symptoms and she finally found someone that taught her how to make a healing cream from rice and flowers. Eun Mi would help her mother apply this cream to her hands and feet every night and she'd insist that her mother remain in bed to allow the cream to absorb into her skin with the hopes that the rashes would go away. But it didn't seem to work. Her mother started losing patches of hair, the sores had returned and she was falling very ill, feeling pain all over her body suffering from a flu. Eun Mi did what she could, making warming soups from fish and making a completely different cream that she hoped would be of greater use. Her mother would refuse to eat because she had no appetite and she felt so ill and her eyes were swelling and she felt constant abdominal pain, but Eun Mi did her best to make her mother feel better. Eventually, her flu symptoms finally went away but it had taken several days of constant attention from Eun Mi.

When her mother's flu symptoms were gone, that had been the end of it. She felt good as new and life went back to normal. Then the war broke out. Eun Mi didn't know much of the details of the war the Japanese faced with the allied forces. She only knew that some of the troops that had been in Korea were sent away while some of the less able bodied troops or older troops were made to stay in Korea. She only found out the war was over when she'd gone into the city for supplies and had found out all the Japanese troops were being removed from Korea because the Americans had dropped two bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima and the war was over and the Japanese troops were removed from Korea. It was after that when things started changing quite drastically for them. She would go into town for supplies, but she was always turned away because she didn't have the required documentation that warranted her being entitled to food or supplies. She learned that she needed to contribute to the state in order to be able to survive, so while her mother looked after their little hut and garden, Eun Mi found work.

She found work with a new factory that made clothes for soldiers. She still remembered her foreman that was demanding and expected a certain quota to be made each and every day or you didn't get your food stamps. There were women that worked in the factory that Eun Mi would sometimes give her finished clothes to others so they could be guaranteed to meet their quota since she was a faster worker than the others. She'd even use her phantom hands to make several at once when the foreman wasn't looking, but she remembered being caught. Several of the women in the factory had gotten into a lot of trouble for accepting her assistance while she had been given praises and was moved up to head the seamstresses, but that didn't last long. She'd gotten into trouble again for doing extra work to benefit the other workers and was demoted and forced to work in a room by herself so that she made clothes herself and her quota was increased exponentially to a degree where she could barely meet it. She'd effectively been ordered to make the amount of all the other workers combined.

She'd hated it, but it ensured she could keep her mother safe and kept their garden in good condition, so she did her best and made sure she was the best seamstress in the factory. After a year and a half of working in that factory, that was when, rather suddenly, her mother's illness had returned with a vengeance. It had started with her eyesight going bad and numbness in her limbs. This lasted for several days before more symptoms arose and she seemed to be losing control of her own body. Eun had vivid memories of her mother thrashing her hands and legs about unable to control herself. Her mother started having mood swings and was swearing that there was a bird that constantly invaded the garden, but Eun Mi never saw any bird and, frankly, her mother's hearing and eye sight was getting terrible so she didn't know how she'd even know there was a bird.

As the days went by, Eun Mi remembered still going to work and being diligent and a hard worker, but her mind was always and forever on her mother and her rapidly declining health. The worst part was one day when Eun Mi had come home and her mother didn't even know who she was. She'd had to spend several minutes trying to remind her mother who she was and eventually she remembered, but it was a horrible and stressful night. It became harder and harder to communicate with her too. She would forget words or not speak at all resulting in a terrible mood swing that would last for minutes before Eun Mi would finally discover what it was her mother had been asking for. It had become clear that her mother needed her full and undivided attention and she had every intention of quitting the factory so she could look after her mother.

She still remembered going to that factory and seeing troops there that she'd seen only a few times before. They were there to inspect the factory and had little tolerance for any out of line behavior. Lives were ruined on days when these men visited if a woman wasn't working fast enough or her work wasn't up to par. Eun Mi hoped that perhaps her quitting would be enough to keep the troops amused for the day and leave the other workers alone. What had come of that day was Eun Mi being ordered to go to her assigned room to work and her refusing to do so trying desperately to explain that her mother was very ill and her focus needed to be put entirely onto her. After her foreman yelling at her and the troops telling her she'd best work or else, emphasizing their order by pointing their guns at her, she used her ghostly hands to forcefully remove the guns from their hands and went so far as to disassemble them in the air right before their eyes. The terror in their eyes was all she needed and she told them she was going to be with her mother and that was that. She left the factory never expecting to see any of them again.

When she returned home that same day, he found her mother chopping at a piece of wood with a knife for no apparent reason and screaming about feeling bugs in her ears. Eun Mi checked both her mother's ears but there was nothing there. She was able to be with her mother uninterrupted for three more days but her mother's delusions just became worse. She complained of the strangest things: her stomach was backwards, her feet, hands and nipples were disappearing, she thought her organs were missing and she would often swing her arms around while saying complete nonsense. By that time, her mother was completely blind, unable to navigate anywhere without Eun Mi's help and she didn't know what to do. Eun Mi remembered when there was a knock at her door while she was trying to get her mother to calm down during her latest episode. She answered the door to someone in a soldier's uniform she'd never met before and she feared the worst.

That soldier claimed he'd heard from his subordinates about what happened at the factory and was intrigued. Supposedly, so was the Great Leader. The man claimed the Great Leader was impressed with what he'd heard and wanted proof and, if what was being claimed was true, she was to be enlisted into the military immediately where her power would be of greatest use to the People's Republic of North Korea. She knew so little of the General save for what was told about him every day at the factory and what all the propaganda posters said about him, all of it glowing praise with just his face on a banner. That's what the factory had: several banners of Kim Il Sung hanging all over the factory with words of motivation to serve the state.

She'd refused them initially, stating she couldn't and wouldn't just leave her mother especially in the state she was in. That was when the man had offered her a proposal: her mother would have access to the finest doctor available to treat her illness and all Eun Mi had to do was join the army. She remembered the glowing praise he'd given this doctor and how he would find out what was wrong with her mother and cure her of all her woes. Eun Mi remembered looking her mother, in the corner talking to herself and staring blindly into the distance, and then looked at the man making him swear this doctor would do anything and everything he could to save her mother's life and make her well again. The man promised, and so Eun Mi was brought into the city to meet with advisors to the Great Leader to prove her power which was an easy task for her. Having proved herself to these men, she was stationed within the confines of the Great Leader's palace as a protector and her mother was taken in by a doctor to receive treatment.

However, the promise would never be fulfilled. She still remembered the doctor requesting an audience with her and relayed to her that her mother suffered severe dementia that he simply couldn't treat and that no matter what he did, her mother would die very soon. She found out later that this doctor got in a great deal of trouble for relaying this information to her, though the extent she never knew. She was taken before her superiors at which point she made only one request: that she be permitted to remain with her mother until she died. Then and only then would she devote herself entirely to the Army of the People's Republic of North Korea. They granted Eun Mi her request and, within the barracks surrounding the Great Leader's palace, Eun Mi stayed by her mother's side in her final days. Eun Mi cried most of those days. She wasn't ready to tell her mother goodbye, but she had no choice.

It had been the most excruciating several weeks of her life. She'd taken no part in the invasion of South Korea despite her superiors requesting it. She reminded them that her condition for serving them was being with her mother until she died. So they respected her demands and left her alone. In her mother's final days, she'd heard of the success of the invasion of South Korea and how the Allied forces had not been successful in keeping them back, but it meant little to her. It came a time when word had reached her that the Americans had landed in Inchon and were making their way to Seoul, but again Eun Mi cared little. She took care of her mother as best she could but nothing she did felt like it had accomplished anything. She remembered the last night she spoke with her mother. She'd been crying after her mother had looked right at her blankly with her blind stare and asked her who she was. It hurt like a knife to her heart every time she heard her mother say that to her. While she cried, she'd felt her mother's hand fall on her knee and her mother's eyes appeared aware but still blind.

"What's the matter, Little One? Where is your mother?" she'd asked her and Eun Mi cried.

"You're my mother," Eun Mi cried. "I'm here, mama. I'm here." Eun Mi kept crying and had laid here head on her mother's chest. "I love you, mama."

"I love you too, Little One," she'd said with remarkable clarity. A clarity she'd not expressed in months. Eun Mi remembered crying herself to sleep that night and when she woke up the next morning, her mother was dead.

She remembered forcing someone that worked in the palace to bring her scented oils and water so she could wash her mother and adorned her with the finest clothing she could force that same servant to obtain for her so that her mother was dressed as highly as Eun Mi had thought of her. She couldn't give her mother a coffin, so instead she carried her mother's body outside the city without permission from her superiors though they were occupied with other things. She found their little hut that had been long since abandoned and buried her mother under the dirt in that little house. Once buried, she'd placed a bouquet of gardenias that had taken forever for her to collect on her mother's grave. She said some parting words after burying her mother, used her ghostly hands to then tear the house down and set the whole thing on fire. She watched as it burned. She remembered needing to burn the house. She had to. It was the only way she could truly part with her mother and devote herself to the People's Republic. They'd kept their end of their understanding and had allowed her to be with her mother in her final days. She would keep her end by serving them loyally.

And for months, that's what she'd done. She often times was used to defend her commanders and followed them north as the Allied forces had pushed them back. She remembered staying in China over to river for a brief time before the Chinese volunteer army had offered their assistance and helped push the Allies back. From there, once of the officers that spoke English had been requested at one of the camps where some prisoners had been brought. They were by no means the only prisoners did this camp require nearly so much force given that, as far as they'd been advised, there were only five Americans under captivity at this camp. Why Officer Lee had requested Eun Mi to come with him she had no idea. Why he'd been given permission to take her was all the more shocking to her. Then came the events that followed until she was shot in the shoulder. She would see a face while she slept. The man that she'd been shot for. She remembered the scared look he held before she'd lost consciousness, but above all she remembered that smile. It had been that smile that had left her breathless. Save for her mother and grandpa, no one had smiled at her that way. Just with tenderness and care rather than intrigue. It had been the beginning of the end for her.

When they'd arrived at the M.A.S.H, Eun Mi was still asleep in JJ's arms and he did his best to make sure she was given a gurney in the far corner of the medical tent ensuring she was away from the other injured men there. Some of the American and British nurses spoke some Korean, but JJ insisted that Jun be with him so he could help JJ keep the situation calm.

"She was shot in the shoulder?" JJ said after he'd placed Eun Mi down.

"When?" the nurse asked, removing Eun Mi's uniform. JJ took a moment to remove the picture he'd found and put it in his pocket so it was safe. "You said she was shot in the shoulder?"

"I had thought she was," JJ lied. Her bullet wound was long gone. "She may have just lost consciousness from the shock of the situation at the time. But she's been asleep for over a week and I'm worried she's hurt."

When a doctor was finally able to come over, he checked Eun Mi's vitals. Her blood pressure and heart rate were all normal, but he said she was running a fever. JJ knew better. She was naturally a higher body temperature but he went along with the possibility she had a fever. While JJ talked to the doctor, Eun Mi finally started hearing them. At first, their voices were foggy and she didn't recognize them. However, eventually, she realized those voices were in English. All of them. While they'd been speaking, Eun Mi's eyes shot open and she looked around, ready to scream.

"Eun Mi!" JJ said and made sure she could see him, but she was still horrified. "Jun, help me tell her everything's alright and that she can remain calm." Jun did as JJ asked and relayed the message to Eun Mi who started looking between him and JJ. He felt those ghostly hands begin to emerge. Hoping it would reassure her, JJ placed a hand on one of them and she immediately looked at him.

"저를 만지지 마세요," (jeoleul manjiji maseyo) she said to him.

"JJ," Jun said, "she said don't touch her. Let me handle this a moment." JJ did as he was told and stopped touching the extension, but he kept his eyes on Eun Mi while Jun tried talking to her. He said a few things to her that caused her to start panicking and she tried to get away. JJ and Jun kept her on the gurney while the doctor and nurses backed away but then Jun said something to her that stopped her instantly and she started crying. JJ felt a hand push him away and she said something that made Jun step away.

"What's the matter?" JJ asked Jun.

"I told her we'd brought her into South Korea. It upset her and she tried to get away but I reminded her that she'd been seen helping us escape and was likely seen by the soldiers being held by you as we brought her into South Korea. I explained that because of this, even if we tried to let her go back, they'd likely have her executed. I think she agreed with me and now she's crying and she told us to leave her alone."

"Can you help me talk to her?" JJ asked.

"She doesn't want to talk to you right now," Jun said remorsefully.

"I don't care. Just help me say a few things?"

"JJ," Jun whispered, glanced at the doctor and nurses to be sure they were out of earshot, and then continued, "she's about as likely to kill her than listen to you."

"Let me worry about that," JJ insisted. Jun was hesitant, so JJ practically dragged the boy over to Eun Mi's bed. She said something that made Jun sigh heavily, but JJ would let him leave. "Eun Mi?" He felt a ghostly hand on his chest again. Her warning. "Are you okay?" Jun translated the question. She responded, but it was clear in her tone she was upset.

"She said she doesn't want to talk to you. She's accusing you of kidnapping her."

"Kidnapping her?!" JJ said louder than he'd meant to. He took a moment to breath and wait for everyone to no longer be paying attention to him before he continued. "I couldn't just leave you. You were hurt and you helped us escape." Jun translated what JJ had said and then she responded.

"She said if you'd just run like the rest of us, you could have gotten away fine and she wouldn't have been caught helping us."

"Can you let her know that I'm sorry and I'll make it up to her?"

"She'll likely ask how."

"Just tell her I'll make it up to her when I can." Jun relayed the message to Eun Mi. She turned so she was sitting up on the gurney with the blanket she'd been given brought over her chest. JJ felt the hand on his chest go up into his hair and pull on the strands that were there, but he took it without complaint. That seemed to upset her more. She said something brief and then returned to laying in the gurney.

"She said you don't need to bother," Jun said. JJ looked at Eun Mi at a loss but finally nodded and looked at Jun.

"Can you let her know we won't hurt her and, to make things easier, not to use her gift in front of everyone?" Hesitantly, Jun relayed the message to Eun Mi. She sat up again and the hand in his hair went to his neck threatening to lift him off the ground. She said something to him and kept staring him down after speaking. Jun finally translated nervously.

"She…she said that she will determine if we will or will not hurt her and she will use her powers if and when they're necessary."

"If anyone here harms her or threatens to, she can reach out to me," JJ said. Jun relayed the message, Eun Mi responded, and Jun translated.

"She said she's survived this long on her own and she doesn't need anyone now, least of all you." After a moment and taking a deep breath, JJ nodded again.

"Regardless, I'll be here," JJ said and finally walked away. Jun translated but Eun Mi didn't respond this time since JJ wasn't there. Once they were outside the tent, JJ started rubbing his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair to regain his composure.

"JJ," Jun said. "Why did you bring her with us?"

"I have my reasons, Jun," JJ said. "I don't suppose there might be a hothouse in Seoul would there be?"

"A what?"

"A hothouse. It's where you grow flowers."

"It's winter," Jun said.

"Never mind," JJ said. "What about places that might sell picture frames?"

"I'm sure there's something like that in town, but I don't know of one," Jun said. "Why? What do you plan to do?"

"Something I hope will make her feel more welcome," JJ said. "I'd hoped to give her flowers, but I guess that's not an option."

"I can show you how to make origami flowers," Jun said.

"Oh, shit, those things? Kids near our base in Japan used to make little birds. You can make gardenias?"

"Not gardenias, at least not that I'm aware of. I know how to make paper cherry blossoms. We can always use white paper, but that won't be cheap."

"I didn't realize Koreans did origami," JJ said.

"Anyone can do it," Jun sighed. "There used to be an officer in our village who's wife was a bit of a humanitarian. She's the only thing about Japan's occupation that I'll ever miss. Mrs. Yoshiko Takanada was her name. She taught all of us how to make origami animals and flowers. When my dad died, she showed me how to make 1000 paper cranes to lay on his grave. She was a very nice lady."

"She sounds like it," JJ said with a smile and patted Jun's back. "How old are you? I know you said you're seventeen, but with all due respect, I kind of doubt that."

"I'm fifteen," Jun admitted. "I'd ask you not to say anything, but I don't think it would matter."

"Don't worry, kid. You're secret safe with me," JJ smiled. "Now, off to the shops we go. You can show me how to make those little flowers and we'll find a picture frame."

"What do you need a picture frame for?"

"For Eun Mi's picture," JJ said, pulling the picture from his coat a moment and then returning it.

"Are you crazy?! If she finds out you took that, she will kill you!"

"I'll just have to return it before she finds out then, now won't I?" JJ smiled and let the young man with him to the city proper of Seoul so they could retrieve the things JJ needed.

After purchasing their materials and obtaining a lovely wooden frame, JJ had Jun helping him all morning with making little origami flowers that took all of JJ's patience. A paper folding aficionado he most definitely was not. He managed eventually to fold a dozen flowers that looked perfect that he actually made himself and he put Eun Mi's picture into the frame. He kept the little flowers in a tiny box since her didn't know how to add stems to them and put the picture in the center of all of it hoping it made his little gift more presentable. He wrote a little note that Jun translated into Korean for him and by the time it was almost five in the afternoon, JJ went back to the medical tent and found Eun Mi in the same Gurney in the same corner as before and she was being left alone with her back to him. Jun wasn't with him, so he couldn't really speak to her but he wanted to say something at least.

"Eun Mi?" JJ said and put the little box of paper flowers and the framed picture on the small table next to her gurney. It seemed as though she'd intended to continue ignoring him, but she did glance behind her to see what he'd put on the table and she immediately saw the picture.

"방법?' (bangbeob?) she started but didn't continue as she turned around with the blanket to her chest and grabbed the picture. She looked up him confused but he smiled at her.

"I, uh….I wrote you a note. Jun was nice enough to translate it for me," JJ said despite knowing full well she didn't understand him. "I'll come see you again later, okay?"

JJ smiled at her kindly before walking away, leaving Eun Mi alone. She wasn't sure if she was angry because he'd clearly found and taken the picture or flattered that he'd clearly taken the time to put it in something nice for her. She looked at the little paper flowers. She recognized the origami techniques. The Mistress, as part of her duties to entertain the Japanese troops, used to be making little origami animals for the and either playing with them or, if she'd made hundreds of paper cranes and turtles, telling a little children's story using the little paper animals. She picked one up to examine it. He'd clearly never done it before as some weren't as perfect as one or two others, but she could tell he'd tried very hard and she was flattered. She looked at that old picture of her with her mother. It had been taken just days after they'd adopted her. Grandpa Chin Mae had not opted to be in the picture with them which always made her sad. She'd have loved a picture of her grandpa, but one of her and her mother together was enough. It was all she had left of her now and to see it framed was special and she even got teary eyed.

"So Eun Mi?" she heard her name and she looked up to see a nurse. A Korean woman about her age so it seemed and she spoke to Eun Mi in Korean. "Are you feeling better? We were told you'd been shot but we don't see any injuries."

"I'm alright," Eun Mi answered. The nurse bowed her head.

"I'm O Mi Sun. I'm one of the nurses here and I'll be helping you get adjusted to being here. I know you were extremely startled to find yourself in South Korea, but you have my assurance you are safe here. Private Dauer was able to get you over the parallel safely." She glanced at the gifts and smiled in humor. "I saw Private Dauer making those for you. A craftsman he is not, I'm afraid," she giggled. "At least not with paper. Poor Jun had to walk him through so many wasted pieces of white paper. What's in the frame?"

"A picture of my mother," Eun Mi mumbled.

"It's good you have that," Mi Sun smiled. She reached over to touch Eun Mi's forehead but was surprised she was still high in temperature. "You certainly don't look like you're running a fever, but your temperature is too high."

"It's always like that," Eun Mi said bluntly. "I promise you it's normal."

"Hmm," Mi Sun said. "We shall continue to monitor you. Your body heat shouldn't be that high."

"What happens after this?" Eun Mi asked suddenly.

"Pardon?" Mi Sun asked.

"What happens after this? Will I be imprisoned for questioning?"

"I would assume some commanders will wish to speak with you given you're from the North Korean Army, but Private Dauer was very, very clear the way I hear it that you are the whole reason he and the others were able to escape in the first place and that they should treat you with kindness. They won't torture you if that is your concern."

"And then what?" she asked. "Do you send me back to North Korea? I can't go back now. Even if I don't tell you anything, I'm guilty being in your presence."

"You'll not be sent back to North Korea," Mi Sun answered. "You'll stay here with us and you can help around her. I hear Terry needs help."

"Who?"

"Terry Price," Mi Sun said. "He's the head cook on base. Very nice man. Thickest accent I've ever heard. Supposedly he's from Alabama I think and that's why. You can cook right?" Eun Mi nodded. "Then I'm sure he'd be delighted for the help. He'll probably start you off with chopping onions and garlic. That's how he starts out everyone." Mi Sun glanced at the table seeing the note. She ready the English and Korean and smiled. "That was very sweet."

"What?" Eun Mi asked.

"That little note," Mi Sun said. "We'll let you rest for the night and tomorrow you should be alright to start working with Terry. I'll put in the request for you. Get some sleep."

Eun Mi nodded aimlessly as Mi Sun walked away to attend to some other patients. She glanced at the note by the little box of paper flowers and picked it up to read. One part was in English which she couldn't read and the other was in Korean. The hand writing was different clearly, but she could tell they were JJ's words.

Eun Mi,

I know it distressed you that I'd brought you over the parallel to South Korea, but after you were injured, I couldn't leave you. To be completely truthful, I'd no intentions of leaving you especially not when it was clear you would have been caught assisting us. I never intended to upset or hurt you and I'm deeply sorry for doing so. I hope that these flowers and picture frame for you picture, in some small way, adequately express my apologies.

I hope you will continue to feel better in the coming days and I hope that you will come to think fondly of South Korea. Thank you for everything you've done for me and the men I was imprisoned with. We'll forever be in your debt.

Until I see you again,

Private Jay Jacob Dauer

Eun Mi, suddenly, felt rather upset with herself for the things she'd said to JJ that morning. She'd been speaking from upset and had said things she didn't mean. She wondered if Jun had translated everything she'd said or just what was important. She felt herself desperately hoping that the latter was the case. This was all still very strange for her and she was still scared, but she knew full well JJ didn't take her from North Korea as a prisoner, just as Nurse Mi Sun had told her. Of course, why he'd taken her at all was still a mystery to her. He was telling her that even if she'd never been injured or caught, he'd have taken her and she wasn't sure why he'd bother.

That same night, JJ and a few others were able to finally place a call back home. Oscar was the only one that wasn't placing a call home. Jun would be going to the neighboring village soon to visit his mother before returning to base but the others had to make due with a phone call. Clyde and Davis placed their calls first, calling their mothers and, in Davis's case, calling his girlfriend and letting her know he was okay. Finally it was Hadley's turn and all three of them waited outside the office for him to be done. He was only the phone for a good thirty minutes, much longer than the others, but they asked their commanding officer who was with them to let him take his time explaining his wife was pregnant at the time he'd left. When Hadley finally came out, his eyes were a little red from rubbing them.

"So? How is everything?" JJ asked.

"We had a boy," Hadley said. "She named him John Jared Hadley. She said he looks just like me." Elated for him, JJ, Clyde and Davis all approached him and gave him a hug.

"Congratulations, Hadley," Davis said. "My condolences of the kid looking like you, though. Maybe he'll grow into it a little better than you did."

"Asshole," Hadley gently punched Davis's shoulder while they all laughed and continued giving their congratulations to Hadley.

JJ still had to make his call home, so he told the others to go ahead of him and find Jun so they could tell him. Once they were gone, JJ went into the office and followed the directions on the piece of paper so he could place a long distance call. He went through the required hoops until he finally got put through to his mom's house.

"Dauer residence," Suerro's voice came through the receiver. JJ was stunned the man's voice didn't infuriate him like it used to but there was certainly still a distinct tension.

"It's JJ," he said. "Is mom home?"

"One second, I'll get her," Suerro said and there was a silence on the other end. A few minutes later, he heard the phone on the other end being picked up.

"JJ? Honey?"

"Hey mom," JJ said.

"Oh, JJ, it's so good to hear your voice," Natalie said. "I've been so worried. We kept hearing the news that the troops had been pushed back over the border but we never heard from you and we weren't getting any word about you. I was so worried," she started sobbing.

"It's alright mom," JJ said trying to calm her. This was certainly not the time to bring up where he'd been. If he had his way, he'd never mention it, but it would definitely come up eventually. Just not now. "I'm sorry it took so long for me to call you and let you know I'm okay. I'm sorry about waking you."

"JJ, wake me whenever you want," Natalie said finally starting to stop crying. "So has there been any talk of sending you home?"

"Not yet," JJ said. "The war's not over and I'm not injured, so I'm staying. But don't worry, mom. When they send me back, you'll be the first to know."

"I'd better be," Natalie said.

"So how is everyone? Are things still going alright back home?"

"We're alright," Natalie said. "Your Uncle Nathan got Ivory a dog. She wasn't too happy when Tamara insisted the dog needed to stay here with Nathan, though. She's a cute puppy. She's a Pit-bull terrier Ivory named Cinderella, but we all call her Cindy. Nathan's had that poor puppy training for the past few weeks but she's loving it since it means she gets roast chicken."

"I'll bet," JJ chuckled. "Is Ivory still there?"

"She got on the train home last weekend," Natalie said. "Also, Scarlet's pregnant."

JJ chuckled, "Surfer Boy knocked her up did he?"

"Don't say it like that, JJ," Natalie said. "At this point we're waiting for him to come back so we can tell him."

"He seems like a good guy, so I'm sure he'll step up and help Scarlet with the baby. When's it due?"

"Kyle's saying April," Natalie said. "If the baby's born same day as Heather's birthday, that might be fun."

"Is Scarlet excited?"

"She was after the initial shock wore off," Natalie said. "Nathan's still a little grumpy with Kai at the moment, but I think he's more upset that Kai hasn't come back yet. Of course, we have no way to tell him about the baby, so I don't suspect we'll see him again until this summer."

"Does she have names picked out?"

"She said if it's a girl, she's naming it Luana and if it's a boy she's naming it Aulani."

"Unique," JJ said, not sure he liked them. "Does Kai even have a last name?"

"Not that I'm aware of," Natalie said. "The baby's just going to take Black as a last name."

"Sounds good to me," JJ said. "So how are Salem and Nesia? I assume they're asleep?"

"Yeah, they're asleep. I can wake them if you want."

"No, that's okay. Someone needs to get decent sleep around here," JJ joked. "How are they?"

"They're doing well," Natalie said. "Salem's helping Hailey out here and there at the shop but he doesn't work there. Nesia is with your grandma a lot for schooling. Mom actually offered Suerro a position as a teacher once the school's finished. We'll have it up by summer."

"What's he teaching?"

"Quileute and French," Natalie said.

"Seems practical," JJ said. "How are you?"

"I'm alright," Natalie said. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, mom. I miss all of you."

"We all miss you too. We're all looking forward to when you get to finally come home. We still have presents for you from Christmas. We're a little sad you weren't able to be sent back home by Christmas, but we'll keep them safe for you until you come home."

"Thank you, mom," JJ said. "So…um…guess what."

"What?"

"I met someone," JJ said.

"Really?" Natalie said with eagerness. "Oh, JJ, that's wonderful. Is the a nurse on base or something?"

"No," JJ said, once again thinking it was best not to tell his mother the full story just yet. "She's Korean actually. Her name's Eun Mi."

"Is she? How did you meet her?"

"About a month and a half ago in the camps," JJ answered carefully. "She doesn't speak English, though, so there's a language barrier at the moment. I'm hoping once we've concurred that, we can really get to know each other."

"Is she human?"

"Half," JJ said.

"Oh wow," Natalie said. "I'm happy you could meet her. What's she like?"

"Well, she's devoted," JJ said honestly. "She's quite the patriot too. She's a gifted cook from what I can tell and she has a very…unique gift."

"How do you mean?"

"I'm not really sure how to explain it," JJ said. "I'm not entirely sure I understand it even. It's one of those things that you have to see to believe."

"I assume she'll be coming home with you then?"

"That's my plan," JJ said. "I just need to figure out how to do it, though. She's not likely to be agreeable to going to America at the moment."

"If the two of you aren't able to communicate at the moment, I would imagine so," Natalie said. "You said her name is Eun Mi?"

"Yeah," JJ smiled. "I think you'll like her."

"I'm sure we will," Natalie said. "Do you know when you'll be able to call us again?"

"Not at the moment, but I'll call you as soon as I'm able," JJ promised. There was a gentle knock at the door, the superior's signal that he needed to get off the phone. "I'd better go, mom. My time's up. I'll call you again as soon as I can. Tell everyone I said hello?"

"I will," Natalie said. "Stay safe, JJ. I love you."

"I love you too mom," JJ said and they hung up the phone.

The following day, Eun Mi didn't receive a task right away, rather she was brought to a little conference room in one of the tents on base and was questioned. She was surprised how calm and non-threatening the officers were to her, though she wasn't sure if it was truly JJ's doing or they would have been this way anyway, but she told them what she could. She didn't really know much given that her access to information was limited. For most of the troops, herself included, they weren't given any information outside of go here or go there. That information was reserved strictly for those in command and she was never in command. They asked her several questions about General Kim, however despite the months she'd been under his command, she'd never actually met the man. She'd seen him from a distance at most but all her orders were given to her from a second hand source. The most useful information she could provide was the knowledge that China was hoping it would be enough to defeat the allies with overwhelming numbers.

The officers thanked her for her assistance and she was finally assigned a task in the form of helping Terry, just as Nurse Mi Sun had said she'd be. By noontime, she was brought to the kitchen area of a giant mess hall where there were already several Korean men and women working with who she assumed to be Terry working on something while simultaneously giving instructions mostly in English with a few Korean words mixed in.

"Mr. Price," the commander said in English, grabbing the cook's attention. He was easily in his late thirties/early forties and had a few scars on his cheek, neck and arms with brown hair and the shadow of some short beard hair he'd not shaved that day.

"Lt. McDaniel," Terry said. "Who's she?"

"This is Miss So Eun Mi. She's been assigned to assist in your kitchen."

"No, get her out of here," Terry said while he continued cleaning a duck. "No Commies in my fucking kitchen. She's likely to poison the lot of us."

"Mr. Price, please be respectful. She's personally responsible for releasing our men from a North Korean holding camp and she's been very forthcoming about important information regarding the North Koreans and the Chinese. Private Dauer carried her to our base personally and explained how she got them all out risking her own life for theirs." Terry stopped what he was doing suddenly and looked at the commander.

"Who?"

"Private Jay Jacob Dauer," the commander said. "He brought her into base in his arms and regaled us all with the story."

"Jae's boy?" Terry asked.

"I'm sorry?" the commander asked, but Terry was looking at Eun Mi now with a critical look.

"Fine," Terry said. "But she goes out of line once and that's it. You," he said to Eun Mi, grabbing an onion and making her take it. "You know how to chop onions?" Eun Mi was silence, not knowing what he'd said but assuming it had something to do with the onion. "Fuck me, does she not speak English?"

"She only speaks Korean I'm afraid, but she can certainly be taught English. You have plenty of subordinates that can teach her."

"Christ," Terry grumbled and then used his hands to communicate, perhaps condescendingly, to Eun Mi. "You," he pointed at her, then held up his knife making a cutting motion, "chop," and then pointed at the onion, "onion. Clear?"

"양파는 잘랐다 고요?" (yangpaneun jallassda goyo?/chop the onion?) Eun Mi said.

"Yes. Yangpa. You cut yangpa. Understood?"

"Don't be so rude to poor girl," a woman scolded Terry and Eun Mi looked at a Korean woman, again very clearly in her thirties, with her hair in a messy bun and an apron over her dress. "맞아요. 그는 양파를 자르기를 원해," (maj-ayo. geuneun yangpaleul jaleugileul wonhae/Correct, he wants you to cut the onion) she said.

"You'd better teach her some damn English, Lotus. She's no fucking good to me if she can't follow instructions," Terry said.

"You relax! I teach her English you grumpy man!" she said and then motioned for Eun Mi to come to her.

"Well, since you have this taken care of, Mr. Price, I shall leave you to it," the commander said.

"You're getting extra peas tonight and I expect you to eat them," Terry grumbled as the commander walked out of the mess hall. Once Terry's attention was back on the bird, Eun Mi was given a knife by Lotus.

"Don't let Terry bother you," she said to her in Korean. "My name is Mun Yon. Terry calls me Lotus since that's the translation to English for my name, but you call me Yon."

"Yes, madam," Eun Mi said.

"Just Yon, please," she said. "And I will be teaching you English. It will take time to learn, but if we start small and work you up, I'll have you mostly fluent in a few months. Do you know any English at all?"

"Lotus and onion now," Eun Mi mumbled.

"That's a start," Yon smiled. "Fair warning, you'll be chopping produce for several months before Terry lets you do much else. He's a bit of a control freak, but he's a good man."

"Lotus," Terry said, getting Yon's attention. "Less talking more chopping unless that talking's in English."

"I am working on that you impatient man!" Yon said and swatted Terry's shoulder. Eun Mi had a feeling Yon was the only one in the kitchen that would ever get away with doing that.

Eun Mi did as she was told and just chopped onions and wound up spending the entire afternoon chopping onions and garlic. She'd never seen so much in her life. Terry, in the meantime, had left the kitchen asking around until he found JJ. When Terry found him, JJ was in the bunks setting up a bunk that had been assigned to him. Seeing him was enough to make him go pale. He'd known of young JJ through word of mouth of Jae when he'd been alive. He remembered how Jae often spoke of his kids while they were in London. JJ had been just a boy then but he'd grown to look just like his father and it was enough to make Terry nearly cry. He still remembered finding out Corporal Jae Dauer had been killed in the line of action when they'd liberated Paris. He remembered seeing him cold and motionless in that crematorium and being with all of Jae's family and friends that still lived to say their goodbyes. JJ finally noticed the man and looked at him.

"Am I needed, sir?" JJ asked.

"Not that I'm aware of," Terry said and approached. "You're JJ? Jae's boy?"

"Yeah, Jae Dauer was my dad," JJ said with a hint of sadness. "Did you know him?"

"We fought together in Europe," Terry said. "He spoke of you and your mother and siblings constantly. We were all very sad to see him lost, but your father was a good friend and a hero."

"Thank you for saying, sir," JJ said, trying to hold his composure.

"I'm Terry Price," he finally introduced himself and shook JJ's hand. "Sgt. Terry Price until I suffered an injury at Pusan. I was no longer able to fight, but I wasn't ready to be sent home, so I was assigned to Culinary Specialist. Never knew a thing about cooking until I started working in the kitchen. Anyway, I found out today you'd been in North Korean holding camp?"

"Yes, sir," JJ said. "Eun Mi helped us escape."

"Yes, so I've been told," Terry said. "She's been assigned to work in the kitchen with me. Are you sure she's trustworthy?"

"I told the commanders I'd take full and complete responsibility for her, sir," JJ said. "But I promise she won't be any trouble. She's just trying to adjust. This is a shock for her and it's my fault that this has all been thrust onto her."

"How is this your fault?"

"The truth is I had no intention of leaving her at that camp," JJ said.

"Why?"

"There's just something about her," JJ said, staying vague. "It might not make a whole lot of sense, but I just couldn't leave her there and I'm glad I didn't."

"I see," Terry said and rubbed the back of his neck. "I hope you're right about her, then. I've got her working with Lotus. She's fluent in English even if she has an accent that would send anyone bat shit, so she'll get Eun Mi speaking English."

"I appreciate it," JJ smiled. That smile was like a punch to Terry's gut, but he just smiled back. "It was bragged to me by Officer Lee that she's a very good cook so I know she'll be helpful to you."

"Who's Officer Lee?"

"He's the man that was questioning us when we were in the camps," JJ said. "He focused mostly on me honestly."

"It looks like he didn't hurt you too much at least."

"Not for lack of trying, I can assure you," JJ said. "Anyway, I know Eun Mi is a good cook, so she'll be able to help you."

"She can start doing more than chopping onions and garlic once she learns English," Terry said. "Look, JJ – may I call you JJ?" JJ nodded. "JJ," Terry continued, "I don't want you to mistake blind attraction for anything other than that: attraction. She's a cute girl, I'll admit it, but that doesn't mean you can trust her and it certainly doesn't mean you have any substantial feelings for her."

"It's too early; I'll agree," JJ said. "I'll only know if I'm right about her if I can talk to her and get to know her."

"I guess," Terry said. "Well, I'm relieved you were able to get away safely and I'm relieved you're alright. I admit I was worried about you guys when your father died. I know your father used to say you and he were very close."

"Yeah," JJ nodded absently. "Dad was my best friend. His death hurt a lot. I basically took over after dad died." JJ was quiet a moment as he went thoughtful. "I focused so much on taking care of everyone that I never really dealt with dad's death."

"You seem to have done well for yourself all the same," Terry said. "It's a brave thing to serve your country."

"I didn't join the army for my country. I joined because my mom started seeing someone and I hated him so much that I'd rather face open combat then be around him."

"What's wrong with him?"

"He's not my dad," JJ answered, but that wasn't the whole reason. "I was so used to being the one that took care of everyone. Then this guy, Suerro, came into our lives and mom…..mom was happy again for the first time since dad died. That should have made me happy, but I wasn't."

"Why?"

"It felt like she was forgetting dad," JJ admitted. "The truth was mom was finally moving on and I just couldn't. I didn't want to and when mom started to…..I don't know."

"No," Terry said. "I think I understand. That is the worst reason imaginable to join the army, but you're doing good. I think your father would have been very proud of you."

"You think so?" JJ asked.

"I know so. That man was always proud of you," Terry smiled and then sighed a little. "I'll get on Lotus and make sure she has Eun Mi speaking English as soon as possible. The way you were smiling when you talk about her, I'll happily make the girl worthy of a good friend's eldest son." JJ chuckled a little and that smile hit Terry hard again.

"Are you okay?" JJ asked when he noticed Terry's eyes start to water.

"I'm fine," Terry lied and rubbed his eye. "Just the cold. It bothers my eyes. I'm an Alabama man. I'm used to proper warm weather. You're from Washington are you not?"

"Yeah," JJ said.

"You were born there. It's not your fault," Terry teased and then patted JJ's shoulder. "You still doing that thing where you refused to eat properly?"

"You mean that I don't eat meat, dairy or eggs?"

"Yeah, that," Terry sighed. "Never could wrap my brain around that shit. You know, in London, there was a Vegetarian Society and there was this guy who'd coined the term 'vegan'. Weird shit. Won't have anything to do with anything that came from an animal. Whatever. We the privileged of the world can do what we want right?"

"I guess so," JJ smiled. "Intriguing to have a word for what mom and I do."

"I know Jae used to eat that way to be supportive to your mother," Terry said. "Used to tease him senseless for it and he took it with a big smile." Terry looked at JJ while he laughed a little. "You look just like him you know. Even his smile." JJ stopped laughing and looked at Terry.

"Really?"

"Really," Terry said. "Damn near had a heart attack when I saw you. You look exactly like your father. He would be very, very proud of you if he could see you now." JJ was nearly in tears but he took a deep breath and made sure he didn't cry.

"Thank you, Mr. Price. That means a lot to me," JJ said.

"Just call me Terry, kid. I'll make something special for you tonight. More potatoes that your brain can even comprehend. Your dad said you love potatoes."

"I do," JJ nodded.

"I'll make Eun Mi get to work on that," Terry said and the smile on JJ's face almost made the man cry again.

"Thanks, Terry," JJ said.

Terry finally returned to the kitchen and found Eun Mi chopping garlic just as he left her. He said something to Yon who relayed to Eun Mi that, apparently, she was to make JJ a special dinner from potatoes with no mean or eggs or dairy. Yon thought the request silly when she voiced it, but Eun Mi wasn't surprised and she even found she was happy to comply with the request. She retrieved some potatoes, found there was oil as well as plenty of green onions, other green veggies and some pickled radish. She'd thought to incorporate the kimchi but that had shrimp in it, so she had to forgo the ingredient. She made a note of it but focused on the task at hand. She couldn't use egg, so she just compacted the potatoes enough that when they were in the pan cooking they didn't fall apart. But when the cakes were done, she felt like there was something missing. She searched the kitchen high and low for anything she could use and was lucky enough to find some tofu that one of the ladies had made. She may have nabbed some of it without permission. She fried that, made up some greens and pickled radish and put that on a plate with the potato cakes she'd made and they had it off to the side for when JJ came around.

By the time it was dinner and all the men had come to the mess hall for their food, Eun Mi was in the kitchen cleaning some pans by the time JJ came around. She heard him talking with Terry, but she couldn't understand them. Luckily, Yon was with her and had smiled.

"Private Dauer was very excited to find out you made him something special," Yon said.

"Really?" Eun Mi asked.

"Oh yes," she said. "He asked if you would be cooking for him from now on. He seemed rather pleased when Terry told him he'd make a point of it."

"I just hope he likes it," Eun Mi said with a gentle blush forming on her cheeks. Now that the shock of being there had worn off and she wasn't feeling as nervous, she found herself eager for the task. "I've never cooked for someone with those kinds of restrictions."

"You did very well," Yon said.

"I wonder if I could make some special kimchi," Eun Mi said. "You said all the kimchi has fish, but I know JJ wouldn't eat it. Perhaps I could try my hand at making kimchi without fish?"

"May as well make a hanbok without silk," Yon said, "but if you think you can do it, you're welcome to try. I don't know if we have any Napa cabbage to spare, but if you can obtain enough for a small batch, just let me know you plan to make it and I'll ensure Terry knows."

"Thank you," Eun Mi said.

"Also," Yon said in English rather suddenly, "we need to start working on your English."

When Yon had told Eun Mi they'd be working on her English, she'd damn well meant it. Every moment Eun Mi was with Yon, she'd walk Eun Mi through speaking English whether she liked it or not. If Terry made any request of Eun Mi, which was often it seemed, Yon would spend a good five minutes telling her what Terry said, make her repeat it in English and then make her answer in English. Eun Mi didn't even think the Japanese were so demanding when she was learning their language, but then enough had known enough Korean that it could be a natural progression. Her lessons in English, from what she could tell, would have nothing 'natural' about them.

Jun returned on base the following day from visiting his mother. She'd been alarmed and distressed to say the least to find out her son had been in a North Korean holding camp for several weeks but was relieved he was home safe and gave him an ongi to take back with him that contained her special kimchi with fresh fish just the way he liked it. He guarded that kimchi from the other South Korean troops with his life. Had he the option to keep in under lock and key, he would have. Eun Mi continued being tasked with making meals for JJ specifically, giving her more to do than just cut onions and garlic, though she certainly did plenty of that. She'd have several moments where she just wished she could use her gift and get more done in a forth of the time, but she kept hearing Jun's translation of JJ's words in her head about not showing off her gift and she would refrain. For several days the two of them barely got to see one another. JJ would have tasks he needed to attend to as did Eun Mi and even when they could see one another, it was awkward as the two of them quite literally couldn't talk to one another. JJ would say something, Eun Mi would blush and bow and she'd ran off to return to whatever she'd been doing and JJ would have to do the same.

This shy game of cat and mouse continued for several weeks. Word spread that among the M.A.S.H unit that peace negotiations were beginning seeing as neither side was gaining any ground in this war. Of course, negotiations did nothing to actually stop the war from proceeding. At the moment, both sides were defending their own end of the parallel. In the meantime, Yon continued to force Eun Mi through rigorous English lessons at times refusing to speak any Korean to her at all. It was terrible at first, but over the weeks she found herself getting better and better. All the while, she continued taking control over what JJ was served and she started becoming very good at making meat free dishes. During that same month, there were a few men that were brought into the unit for treatment. Thankfully, their injuries were such that most of them were able to walk around like normal in no time. JJ was walking the through the base one day when he happened upon Oscar who's attention seemed centered on something.

"Something wrong, Barker?" JJ asked. Oscar looked at him a moment and then looked back at what had previously held his attention. A blonde man that was sitting on a blanket and had his feet propped on three more blankets while he was polishing his boots.

"That man has been polishing his boots for the past 45 minutes," Oscar said. "I can't believe he can't already see his reflection in those shoes."

"So?" JJ asked. "I think he was brought in for an injury to his leg. I would think he'll be sent back soon."

"Likely," Oscar said and kept looking at the man. "He's kind of cute don't you think?"

"I guess," JJ said. "Why?"

"I wonder if he's open at the very least," Oscar said. JJ shook his head resisting the urge to shoot Oscar then and there.

"Fucking asshole," JJ said.

"What?"

"If you're looking for someone to fuck around with, you should frankly be focusing on cousin Travis. Not this guy that's probably not even into men."

"You don't know that," Oscar said and looked at the man again. "I don't think I've ever slept with a blonde before."

"Uncle Embry should have shot you when he had the chance," JJ grumbled and walked away before Oscar could say anything else. As he walked away, JJ happened upon Eun Mi carrying a basket of rice. "Did you want any help with that?" JJ eagerly offered.

"Oh," Eun Mi wracked her brain a moment only knowing for a fact he'd said 'help' and assumed he was offering it. "No. Rice….simple," she was trying to say the rice wasn't heavy but she couldn't think of the correct wording.

"Simple?" JJ asked.

"Carry," she tried to clarify, but she'd apparently not made herself clear because JJ smiled at her and took the basket of rice from her. She didn't argue, though.

"We're taking this to the kitchen?"

"Yes," she answered, understanding enough. "To kitchen."

"So how have you liked being here? Is Terry being nice to you?"

"Terry is nice," Eun Mi managed. The man had truly warmed up to Eun Mi after several weeks of her working for him.

"That's good," JJ said. She followed after him while he carried the basket of rice to the Kitchen. "I appreciate that food you've been making for me. I don't think I've eaten this well in years."

"You like food I make?" Eun Mi asked, barely understanding what he'd said.

"I've loved it," JJ smiled at her and she could feel her cheeks burn. "Your English is coming along great. At this rate, you'll be fluent in no time."

"Thank you," she managed, though she'd only understood bits and pieces of what he'd said. English was like no language she'd learned before and any rules that applied to Korean or Japanese were completely non-applicable to English. "I can carry," she said.

"I don't mind helping," JJ said and they continued to the kitchen. They finally made it and when they arrived, Terry was cleaning the proteins of the day with several others surrounding him with prep-work. When they entered, he looked right at Eun Mi and sighed.

"Damn it, Eun Mi, there you are," Terry said. "Did you bring the rice?"

"I have it, Terry," JJ said and put it on the counter.

"Give that to Mi Sook," Terry said and a woman approached JJ and took the rice from him so she could start work on what she'd needed the rice for. "Eun Mi, we have some fresh cabbage I'm being told needs to be salted for kimchi."

"What about kimchi?" Eun Mi asked, not understanding everything he said.

"우리는 양배추가있다. 그래서 우리는 곧 김치를 만들고 있습니다," (ulineun yangbaechugaissda. Geulaeseo ulineun god gimchileul mandeulgo issseubnida/We have cabbage so we're making kimchi soon) Yon said.

"Oh," Eun Mi smiled and went right to the corner where there was a mountain of cabbage that would need salting.

"You can get going, JJ," Terry said. "Dinner's same time."

"Okay," JJ said. "Thanks Terry." JJ left at last just as Eun Mi already had a few heads of cabbage that she was putting through a little water bath before salting. Yon came over to help and she was smiling.

"I see JJ was kind enough to help," she said in Korean. Eun Mi didn't say anything but there was a red hue that came to her cheeks. "You like him, don't you?" Eun Mi was silent. "You can admit it. You wouldn't be the first to fall for an American. They can be very charming when they put their minds to it."

"Private Dauer has been very nice to me," Eun Mi said.

"He certainly has," Yon smiled. "He's intimidating to look at, but that smile." Yon thought of his smile. "That smile is comforting I think." Eun Mi didn't say anything, so Yon shrugged. "I only mean to say it may be worth pursuing."

Eun Mi focused on salting the cabbage rather than contribute to Yon in conversation where it pertained to JJ. She asked for a tiny ongi that she could use to make a special batch of kimchi and once Yon had pointed one out for her, she didn't speak much more after that while they kept salting the cabbages. She made something for just JJ and handed it to him herself and she felt her knees go weak when he'd smiled appreciatively at her. After dinner was done and she'd cleaned her assigned dishes, she searched the kitchen for things she could use in the special kimchi she'd be making. She found dried shiitake mushrooms. She'd never used them before since they weren't often available, but Yon explained they had a good flavor and Eun Mi decided she would try using that instead of fish. It was a long shot, but so long as JJ liked it.

The following day, all the cabbages had been properly salted and all the line cooks spent the day cleaning the cabbage and getting it ready to ferment. Eun Mi put two cabbages to the side for later and focused on the usual kimchi for the time being. When the regular kimchi with shrimp and fish sauce was done and put in their ongi, they had to put the new pots in the ground so they could ferment. Eun Mi turned her attention to the kimchi she was making just for JJ. She'd even labeled the ongi with cloth that she wrote 재재(Jae Jae) on so it wouldn't be mistaken with any of the other kimchi. She would have a few days before she'd know whether in turned out correctly or not, so until then she'd just have to keep her fingers crossed. Yon tasted it pre-fermentation and confirmed it tasted alright so far, but it still needed to pickle.

"It tastes good so far," Yon had said after Eun Mi finished the fresh kimchi and had tasted it. "I'm surprised you were able to make it taste this salty."

"I just used more soy sauce," Eun Mi said. "And I made Shiitake mushroom broth for the rice porridge instead of just water."

"Well, for your first attempt as fishless kimchi, it's not bad," Yon said. "You will make a good housewife if you can make delicious kimchi with ingredients you're not used to."

"I wish I had minari," she said. "My mother and I used to grow that in our garden and I always used it in kimchi when it was in season."

"Oh," Yon smiled, "I look forward to that being in season. My husband loves minari."

"Is your husband fighting in the war?"

"Yes," Yon said. "I don't get to see him very often, but I always put aside some kimchi for him to send to him. He likes his kimchi extra spicy. I go through a lot of gochukaru when I make my husband kimchi."

"My mother always preferred white kimchi," Eun Mi said. "She wasn't a very big fan of spicy food."

"I say," Yon said, "put some aside for some geotjeori tonight." Eun Mi was thoughtful a moment and smiled.

"I think I know what to make him for dinner tonight," Eun Mi said.

She pulled off a few leaves of fresh kimchi and kept it in a little bowl off to the side while she made rice with peas in it. She was able to get a little more fancy with sesame seeds atop the fresh kimchi, some pickled radish on the side sautéed bean sprouts she found out they had. She'd handed the food to JJ personally and he'd tried saying something about the kimchi, but she explained, in her best English she could manage at the time, that there was no fish in it. He appeared surprised by that and even flattered that she'd gone through the extra effort and had thanked her for it.

"You know, JJ," Hadley teased, "were it not for the fact you eat like a rabbit, I might be a little jealous you seem to have a personal cook."

"I wouldn't say that," JJ said, but he was smiling.

"Well, whatever that woman's doing, it must be good. I don't think I've seen you eat properly since we met," Hadley said.

"She's made it easier," JJ said. The truth was he really was eating more than he used to.

"She certainly has," Hadley said and then pinched JJ's arm. "I think she's even making you a little chubby. May want to slow down a bit."

He and JJ laughed a little. Since Eun Mi had been making most of his food and he was finally eating properly like he used to when he was young, he'd gained a few pounds of muscle and he was admittedly rather pleased with it. He finally looked more like the other men in his pack back home. He was muscular and bulky like the others were and the rest of his body finally seemed to match his great height. He'd even needed to put in a request for a new uniform since his old one was starting to get too small. He was also more intimidating as a result. At least at first glance. One afternoon, JJ was helping one of the doctors with something while Eun Mi and the other line cooks were removing the newly fermented kimchi from their holes only to replace them with even more kimchi.

"You've been feeding him well," Yon said when she'd caught Eun Mi staring in JJ's direction. She'd said it in English, though.

"I'm sorry," Eun Mi said. "Please say again?"

"I said, you have been feeding Private Dauer well," Yon repeated first in English and then she said it in Korean to ensure Eun Mi understood.

"Oh," Eun Mi said and nodded absently as she looked at him again. He looked her way, smiled and then waved at her. She waved back feeling her stomach flutter. Yon giggled a little and went inside with a giant ongi in her arms.

"Dauer," the doctor JJ was helping said, snapping his fingers at JJ to regain his attention.

"I'm sorry, what did you say, doctor?" JJ asked, looking at the doctor again.

"I told you to hand be those tools," he said. JJ grabbed what the doctor had requested and handed them over for sterilization. The doctor glanced at Eun Mi figuring she'd been what had taken away JJ's attention. While neither of them had done anything really decisive, the whole unit knew the two of them liked each other. There were even people in the unit taking bets on when the two of them would finally get together. "You know, Dauer," the doctor said. "Tomorrow we're having a viewing for the troops. I think it'll be a showing of Citizen Kane."

"I haven't seen that movie in years," JJ said. "I actually saw that movie with dad, mom and my little brother and sister when it came out."

"Well, I'd suggest maybe asking Eun Mi to come see it with you tomorrow," the doctor suggested.

"You think so?" JJ asked.

"I know so," the doctor said. He didn't mention he had $50 riding on JJ and Eun Mi getting together in the next week or so. It wasn't important anyway. "Granted Citizen Kane isn't the most romantic movie in the world, but if the two of you get some seats near the back, you can just sit together and talk."

"That's true," JJ answered quietly and glanced where Eun Mi had been, but she'd already gone inside by then. "I'll have to catch her when she has a moment."

"Sooner the better," the doctor said and had JJ return to helping him.

JJ didn't get a chance to ask Eun Mi when the mess hall was serving dinner. She'd handed him his food but had immediately been called over by Yon to help with something and when he'd returned his tray, one of the other line cooks had taken it from him to be cleaned. He tried going into the kitchen afterwards but was told troops weren't allowed in the kitchen least of all during meal hours, so he had to wait. It was a little later before Eun Mi and several others were finally given leave for the night before they'd have to wake up in the morning to make breakfast. She was talking to Yon when she came out and he could overhear Yon forcing Eun Mi to speak English as often as possible, though she still needed a lot of help most times. JJ went up to them and Eun Mi looked at him the moment she noticed him approach. She had to look up at him as though she were staring at a skyscraper.

"Eun Mi," JJ started while she was looking up at him, "I found out there's going to be a movie playing tomorrow for the troops. Did you want to go see it with me? It's Citizen Kane."

"Movie?" Eun Mi said and looked at Yon who took a moment to explain in Korean. After giving her explanation, she nudged Eun Mi's arm with an encouraging smile and JJ saw her cheeks redden with a blush. She started thinking a moment before saying, "What time is movie?"

"I was told around 8 after the sun's down," JJ said. Eun Mi said something to Yon and the two spoke a moment until Eun Mi looked up at him again.

"Alright," Eun Mi finally answered.

"Great," JJ released a breath he'd not realized he was holding. "I'll come pick you up from here before the movie starts?"

"Pick me up?" she asked, confused.

"I mean that you and I will walk to the little theatre together and I'll meet you outside the kitchen," JJ said. Eun Mi nodded gently to indicate she understood and then she nodded more so confirming that arrangement was fine. "Good," JJ smiled nervously. "Can I walk you back to your bunk?"

"That is very nice, thank you," Yon answered and gently pushed Eun Mi's shoulder to get her to start moving. Eun Mi started walking beside JJ with Yon following closely behind them. It wasn't a long walk from the mess hall to the bunks where Eun Mi and the others were using, so when the two of them didn't start talking right away, she spoke up to break the ice. "So, Private Dauer, where were you born?"

"Me?" JJ asked.

"Yes, you," Yon said.

"I was born in the Quileute tribe right outside Forks, Washington," JJ said.

"What about you, Eun Mi? Where were you born?" Yon asked. Eun Mi asked her to repeat the question in Korean which she did but made Eun Mi answer in English.

"I do not know for certain," Eun Mi finally managed. "It was water place."

"A coastal village," Yon corrected.

"A coastal village," Eun Mi repeated. "I left town, went west to other coast village. Mother and me-"

"Mother and I," Yon corrected.

"Mother and I," Eun Mi repeated, "live outside Pyongyang for years."

"Your mother?" JJ asked, worried. "Is your mother still alive?"

"No," Eun Mi said, understanding his question. "She fall ill. Strange illness. She die during war."

"I'm sorry," JJ said. "Did she pass away before we'd invaded Pyongyang?" Eun Mi glanced at Yon for help and she translated so Eun Mi knew the question.

"It few weeks before you come," Eun Mi said.

"It was a few weeks before the Allies invaded Pyongyang," Yon said and encouraged Eun Mi to repeat it.

"Do you know what was wrong?" Eun Mi shook head at JJ's question. "I'm sorry for your loss," JJ continued. "Do you have other family?"

"No," Eun Mi said. "I had grandpa. He die years ago. No other family."

"Private Dauer," Yon interrupted to change the subject. "What made you decide to join the army?"

"It's…..it's a more personal reason," JJ said and scratched his head. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh," Yon said and thought for a different subject. "Tell us about Washington. What is that like?"

"Wet," JJ smiled at last. "It rains a lot. We have a large mountain that separates our half of the state from the city. My Uncle Kevin and his wife live in that area. They had a baby last year. Heather's her name. She'll be 1 in April."

"Oh, that's wonderful," Yon smiled. Eun Mi understood very little and Yon translated for her but made Eun Mi ask JJ the next question.

"Do have marriage? Childs?"

"Are you married with children?" Yon corrected and made Eun Mi repeat the question.

"No," JJ said. "I'm not married and no kids. Just lots of cousins. I had a big part in raising my little brother and sister after my dad died, but I don't think that technically counts." Eun Mi looked at Yon and they appeared to have a quick conversation. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, yes," Yon said. "I'm walking her through your answer so she understands."

"Okay," JJ said. "Also, Eun Mi, thank you for making that kimchi for me without fish. It's really good." This time, understand most of what he said, Eun Mi blushed.

"I never make without fish before," Eun Mi said. "I use mushroom instead. Umami flavor come from shiitake mushroom."

"I like shiitake mushrooms," JJ said. Eun Mi said something to Yon a moment, he heard the word 'eggplant' and then Eun Mi looked up at him again.

"You like eggplant?"

"Do you like eggplant," Yon corrected and Eun Mi repeated the corrected word.

"I don't really care for it," JJ admitted. "But I'm open to trying it again."

"You try again?" Eun Mi asked.

"If you're making it, sure," JJ said. Eun Mi nodded, seeming to compartmentalize what he'd said for later.

"We grow eggplant. My mother and I," Eun Mi said. Yon did not bother to correct her since she appeared she was on a roll. "Mama love with sauce and steam."

"I look forward to trying it," JJ said with a smile and Eun Mi looked away suddenly when she saw it and started blushing.

"Eun Mi is actually quite the good cook," Yon said. "Terry's grown very fond of her and he's been giving her more work around the kitchen. Complains constantly that her English isn't fluent, but as you can see, she's trying."

"I can tell," JJ said. "You're doing really well. Yon's tough love seems to be doing the trick." Confused with the sentence, Eun Mi looked at Yon who explained it in Korean and even did so with a proud smile from the compliment. "So why does Terry insist on calling you Lotus instead of Yon?"

"Because Terry is just being Terry," Yon smiled. "He found out Yon means Lotus and it stayed."

"I guess if you let him," JJ said. "How long have you been working with Terry?"

"Since he was assigned Culinary Specialist. He was grumpy from his injury at first but soon he grew into the role and now he loves it." That was when they'd reached the bunks that Eun Mi and the other line cooks used, so Yon came around them and stood beside Eun Mi. "Thank you for walking us back, Private Dauer. That was very kind of you."

"It was my pleasure," JJ smiled and then looked at Eun Mi. "I'll see you again tomorrow." Eun Mi nodded her head shyly and JJ waved goodbye to her before walking away. He frequently glanced back at them until he'd gone around the bunks to go to his own.

"Very good, Eun Mi," Yon smiled. "He's a handsome young man to be sure." Eun Mi didn't say anything as she blushed. "I shall braid your hair in a special way. Men love long hair that's presented well. Don't be so shy, Eun Mi. You may already have that man wrapped around your pinky."

Eun Mi blushed while Yon guided her into the bunks for the night. She told her to get plenty of sleep that night so she'd be ready for her 'date'. When Yon explained what that meant in English, Eun Mi went completely beet red and tried to ignore Yon for the remainder of the night before they all went to bed. While on her side in the little bed ensuring her back was to Yon, Eun Mi saw the little white paper flowers around her framed picture of her and her mother. She'd been teased about keeping all the flowers JJ had made her, but she'd too greatly appreciated the effort he'd put into them to get rid of them, especially given he'd framed her picture. She took hold of the picture with her ghostly hand and brought it over. It was dark and no one would notice her doing that anyway.

Eun Mi always remembered thinking her mother was breathtaking. She had a bright smile, her hair in a bun in this picture, and she had a pointed chin and jaw with a little pointed nose and slender cheeks. This had been when Eun Mi looked the age of a seven year old and she'd always hated how awkward she looked compared to her mother. She'd had bangs her mother had clipped to the side and her face was completely round. She'd grown into her features later in life more or less, but never as beautiful as her mother. Her eyes were barely open in the picture from her big smile. She remembered the hanbok dresses her mother had made for them out of old dresses just for this picture. This had been the only time in her life when she'd been truly happy. A family to call her own, a mother and grandpa that loved her and that she loved in return with a little home near the coast living a quiet life. When the war had broken out and she'd joined the People's Republic army, she feared she'd never have anything like it again in her life. She'd spent so many years of being just her and her mother. When she lost her mother, it hurt more than her mother not recognizing her.

Then she looked at all the flowers JJ had made her, putting her picture back down on her tiny nightstand where it was surrounded by these flowers. Everyone teased her endlessly about JJ. It frustrated her but she never said much about it. She knew she felt something for JJ, but she didn't understand what that was. She'd never felt this way about anyone and when she'd seen JJ for the first time all those months ago, it had hit her like a ton of bricks. And then when he'd smiled at her, she felt her heart flutter and butterflies in her stomach and she didn't understand why. Those feelings never went away. When he'd tried to beg her to come with them as they escaped, she was very tempted to go with him. She almost did until she quite literally had no choice and he'd brought her with while she was unconscious. Thinking back on it, she wasn't even sure what had held her back. Her mother was gone. She had no one to stay for and only her promise she'd serve the army because they'd let her be with her mother in her final moments. But then, they'd originally promised they'd save her mother's life. She suspected, looking back on it, had the doctor looking after her mother not told her the truth and said there was nothing he could do, they'd have let her think they had cured her mother and she'd only find out that wasn't true when it was too late.

Looking back on it, she'd never believed any of it. She only felt strongly about never being under an oppressive power ever again, but the reality was they'd traded one oppressor for another. Thinking about it was enough to make her cry silently. She remembered the men she'd fought with. She remembered their determination to serve the state and the revere they held for General Kim Il Sung. She remembered the indebtedness they all felt to the man for something that, in reality, he had little or no involvement in. It was not him that had freed them from the clutches of the Japanese. He'd not been the one to run the Japanese from Korea no matter what the propaganda had tried to drill into her head and the heads of all her former comrades. It had been the Americans. They'd bombed the Japanese twice, forcefully ending the war, forcing the Japanese to abolish and remove their armies from Korea and China and all throughout Asia. Perhaps that was why it had been so easy to tell the commanders everything she knew: because deep down she knew that General Kim Il Sung was not their savior. He was a boogieman masquerading as the savior of Korea portraying the Americans and allies as the monsters trying to destroy them and oppress them once again. And yet, just as Jun had said when they'd been in the camps, she was freer with the Americans than she'd ever been under Japan's rule and, furthermore, than she'd ever been under North Korea's Republic.

Eun Mi eventually managed to fall asleep, but not without nightmares. She was awoken bright and early for breakfast service the next day and while she'd worked on usual breakfast service, she made JJ's breakfast of rice and vegetables with his special kimchi while also prepping the eggplant for that night's dinner. They all worked in the kitchen cooking, cleaning, cooking and then cleaning again and repeating until it was dinner hour. Eun Mi had taken special care to JJ's dinner and steaming the marinated eggplant just the way she used to do for her mother with rice and vegetables. She personally handed him his food as she often did with dinner but she was especially eager to find out if he liked what she'd made him. Of course, immediately after giving him his food, she had to go right to cleaning dishes and was stuck cleaning dishes with all the other line cooks well into the sun setting. She kept staring at the clock and wondered if JJ was waiting outside for her all this time. She walked outside with Yon and the others and JJ was standing near the back of the kitchen where he'd said he'd be. When he saw her, he smiled at her and approached.

"Just in time," JJ said. "I think the movie starts in ten minutes, so we'd better hurry and get our seats."

"Movie," Eun Mi nodded, "yes." She looked at Yon and let her know she'd be late and try to be as quiet as possible when she returned to the bunks. Yon largely brushed her off saying not to worry and to enjoy herself. Then she smiled at JJ.

"Be patient and kind to her Private Dauer. If she doesn't understand something you say the first time, just say it again more slowly." Yon winked at him and walked away with the other line cooks. Eun Mi could hear them snickering together and teasing her and it made her cheeks burn.

"Eun Mi," JJ said and she looked up at him. He offered his hand and she accepted it. When she did he smiled at her again and they walked together to where the movie was being shown. Eun Mi started trembling and she wasn't sure what was making her so nervous. "Are you okay? Are you cold?"

"No," Eun Mi said. "I'm alright."

"Okay," JJ said. "Just let me know if you get cold."

The two of them walked to the little makeshift theatre that had been set up for the troops. There were virtually no seats left as JJ figured would be the case. However, the seating made it hard for Eun Mi to see the screen as the beginning credits started rolling. She was on her tiptoes trying to look over the men that were seated in the back on higher chairs. JJ looked at her trying to stand on her toes and nearly chuckled. It was precious, but he could tell she wasn't able to relax and watch the movie. JJ learned down while the credits were still going so he was close enough to whisper to her.

"Eun Mi," JJ whispered and she looked at him and was startled to find him so close to her. JJ backed away a little but remained close. "If you want, I can pretend I'm holding you up while you push yourself up so you can see."

"Hold me?" she asked, confused.

"Yeah," JJ nodded. "I can look like I'm holding you and you can hold yourself up with your power."

"Okay," Eun Mi nodded nervously. JJ smiled and she blushed as he wrapped his arm around her waist while she wrapped her arm around his neck. He lifted her up and she almost didn't prop herself up at all so JJ could just hold her. Eventually she used her ghostly hands like little stilts and held herself up, but JJ's arm stayed around her and her arm remained around him.

She barely understood what was going on. Often times the characters were talking too fast for her to follow, but there were times that the visual story telling did wonders. While she couldn't always understand everything, she could follow the rise and fall of an idealist that was beaten down by years of power getting to his head. Since JJ didn't have to focus on keeping her up, his hand was able to move ever so subtly up and down her waist. Every time she felt his hand move, she felt a flutter in her belly. Rather unconsciously, Eun Mi would gently caress her fingers against his neck absently, but it wasn't lost on JJ. He wasn't paying any attention to the movie anymore. He knew what happened anyway. He felt Eun Mi jump a little in surprise when Kane started tearing up his room when his life was falling apart. She didn't understand the full context, but she could still understand a sense of how he felt to some extent. But then Eun Mi looked at JJ who was looking at the screen and she realized that wasn't really true. Not anymore and she actually smiled at him. He must have noticed she was staring because he looked at her and smiled back.

"Did you like the movie?" he asked.

"I enjoy watching with you," Eun Mi said. His smile brightened and he even chuckled under his breath.

"You know," JJ said, "Last I saw this movie, it was when it first came out and I was with my father. It was just before the war started." JJ put her down on the ground and show followed suit and lowered herself. "I'll walk you back." JJ took her hand and they started the walk back to the bunk she was staying in.

"Jun say your father die?" Eun Mi said solemnly.

"Yeah," JJ nodded. "During the war. He was shot through the neck and heart."

"I'm sorry," Eun Mi said. "Is it why you join army?"

"Not necessarily," JJ said. He stopped walking and when he did, Eun Mi looked up at him waiting for him to say something. "It's a complicated story."

"Just talk slow," Eun Mi encouraged. "You help me. I help you." JJ looked at her a moment and smiled a little but it was brief.

"When my dad died, it hurt. A lot. I never actually…..recovered from it. Not really. Mom and I didn't handle dad's death well. Then last year….or maybe the year before that. Mom met someone and I couldn't handle it."

"Why?"

"A lot of reasons," JJ said. "None of it valid honestly."

"No?" Eun Mi said.

"Mom was happy for the first time in years. I still wasn't. The truth is I was being…unforgivably immature about the situation. I'm just sorry it took going to war and being away from home for so long for me to realize it." JJ waited for Eun Mi to say something but for a moment she only stared at him. He waited all the same until she finally said something.

"You forgive now?" Eun Mi asked. JJ was quiet a moment contemplating. He knew what she meant.

"I don't know if I…." JJ stopped, about to say he couldn't, but realized it wasn't that, "I don't know if I'm ready to."

"Why?" Eun Mi asked. JJ didn't answer, so Eun Mi continued. "You ready. I know." JJ smiled without humor.

"I said some horrible things to him," JJ said. "To my mom too for that matter."

"How so?"

"I told him that I'd sooner throw him to the ocean to drown before I let him marry my mother. When I joined the army, I told mom that it was okay because she could just replace me." Eun Mi appeared displeased. She asked him to repeat himself slowly just in case she misheard or misunderstood him, but she didn't. With a ghostly hand, she slapped him across the face and he was stunned. "What was that for?" JJ asked.

"You behave badly," Eun Mi said. "Very badly. You owe apology."

"I apologized to mom," JJ said. "I'm not ready to apologize to him."

"You can," Eun Mi said firmly. "You should." Eun Mi continued walking and JJ quickly started following after her. They made it to the bunk but before she could enter, he called to her.

"Eun Mi," JJ said and she turned to look at him. "I had a good time tonight. I think that theatre will be there for a while. Did you want to make with me to another movie?"

"You call family. Do right thing," Eun Mi said. JJ wasn't sure if she'd not fully understood him or hadn't heard his question.

"Would you join me for another movie another time?" JJ asked, simplifying his question.

"I understood," Eun Mi said. "Do what I said." JJ was quiet as they stared at one another. She started walking over to him until she was looking up at him. "You call. Make things right. It right thing to do."

"That's easy for you to say," JJ mumbled. She took a moment to look around to be sure they were alone. Once she was, she used her hands to lift herself off the ground as though she were floating in midair until she was at his height.

"Not so hard to do," Eun Mi said. "You do that." Eun Mi went back to her feet and was about to go in.

"Eun Mi?" JJ said and she looked at him. "I had a good time tonight."

"Me too," she said and finally went inside.

He was standing there a moment and stared at his feet a moment feeling awkward. She was right. Of course she was, but he just didn't want to. He took a deep breath and went back to the bunk. When he was in his tiny bed, he pulled out the picture of his dad and stared at it. Eventually he put the picture back in the pocket of his uniform and tried to fall asleep. He woke to the horn like he usually did and at breakfast, Eun Mi had made him something, but she didn't hand it to him like she'd started doing. Rather she was cleaning and seemed to be ignoring him. So that's how it would be, he thought. After breakfast, he went to the office on base and the Staff Sergeant was there reading a newspaper from back home. They were all days behind given they had to be shipped to them, but it would do for those among the troops that liked reading the paper with their coffee. And since they were at the M.A.S.H there was some degree of calm, at least for those recovering from injuries.

"Sir," JJ said and the Staff Sergeant look up. "Might I have permission to use the phone to call home?"

"Is there a reason it can't wait until when everyone else can place their calls?"

"It's an important family matter, sir. I'll relinquish my turn to call home when it's time for us all to place calls if I can call home today." The Staff Sergeant sighed and put down his paper to retrieve the outcall instructions.

"Alright, Private," he said. "You have 15 minutes like always."

"Thank you, sir," JJ said and started dialing just as the Staff Sergeant was leaving the room. It rang a few times, so JJ was worried no one was home, but then there was an answer.

"Black residence," Suerro's voice came on the other end of the line. Just hearing his voice made what he was about to do harder.

"Hey, Suerro," JJ said.

"You called early," Suerro said. "Natalie will be happy to hear from you. Just give me a minute and I'll get her."

"In a minute," JJ said. "I actually wanted to talk to you."

There was a silence on the other end until Suerro finally said, "You want to talk to me?" The confusion in his voice added to making this harder.

"Yeah," JJ said. He didn't continue right away though. He couldn't seem to find the words.

"What did you want to talk to me about? Is something wrong?"

"Not really," JJ said and rubbed his face. "Look, Suerro, this is really hard for me, so I'll just come out and say it. I owe you an apology."

Another silence came from the other end until he finally said, "I'm listening." JJ took a deep breath before continuing.

"When you and mom met….the truth is it had been just us for so long and I wasn't…I'd been the one taking care of mom for so long and she never seemed happy after dad died. Then you came along and nearly overnight, she seemed to improve. I…..it made me feel like I'd failed her somehow and….I felt like I hadn't done what my dad had told me to do. I hated you for something that isn't really within your control. What's worse is I said things to mom that I didn't mean because I was angry at you for something you didn't do. I put my own hurt feelings ahead of mom's happiness and brought it almost entirely out on you and I never should have done that. I'm just sorry it took all this for me to finally realize it." Suerro was quiet a moment as though he'd not heard a word of what JJ said, but he'd heard.

"Thank you, JJ. It means a lot to hear you say that. Might I ask why the change of heart?" Suerro finally said.

"I just realized I was wrong," JJ said. "And….if you and mom want to get married…..you have my blessing to marry her."

"Really?" Suerro asked.

"Yeah. Really," JJ said.

"Thank you, JJ," Suerro said. "I really mean that. Do you know when you will come home?"

"Not yet," JJ said. "I'll let you know once I do."

"Alright," Suerro said. "Did you want to talk to your mother?"

"What time is it there?"

"About 1," Suerro said. "1300 hours in military time. She has some time before she has to run to work."

"Okay, thank you," JJ said.

"Thank you," Suerro said and went to fetch Natalie so she and JJ could talk.

JJ was able to speak briefly with his mother before his time on the phone was up and once they'd spoken, he returned to what he'd been tasked with for the day. He found out that the makeshift theatre would be playing another classic that night: the French film Beauty and the Beast that had been shown in America in 1946. He'd never had an interest in watching before, but he knew it was a romance. So later that night after the line cooks were allowed to leave for their bunks for the night, JJ waited outside for Eun Mi. She was a little surprised to see JJ there.

"JJ?" Eun Mi asked.

"Hey," JJ smiled and then looked at Yon. "I was going to take her to see another movie tonight. I'll walk her back once the movie's over."

"Alright then," Yon smiled and walked away before Eun Mi could say anything. JJ offered his hand, but she didn't accept it and started walking.

"I called my family," JJ said and that stopped Eun Mi in her tracks and she looked at him.

"You did?" JJ nodded. "And?"

"I apologized to Suerro. That's his name. I told him he had my blessing to marry my mom." Eun Mi smiled slowly and started walking over to him.

"You did right thing," she said. JJ smiled back at her and offered his hand again.

"Tonight's movie is called Beauty and the Beast. I think you'll like it." Eun Mi smiled a little wider and finally accepted his hand and then they walked to the little makeshift theatre together to see the movie.