Chapter II

It was quite a lunch for Umi. She couldn't properly eat her lunch with him giving unwarranted attention. He kept on glancing towards her direction. So whenever his eyes met hers, she couldn't help but be so aware of his presence. She had to look down just to avoid his gazes. What's with him?

For his part, Eagle couldn't keep his eyes off her. Yes, he was well-educated by his mother in terms of manner and he knew it is impolite to stare but his eyes were glued to her. He found it amusing seeing her caught off guard. Nonetheless, her discomfort didn't maker any less beautiful, it made her more human, more reachable.

"Hey, Eagle, you are awfully quiet, Is there something wrong with your food?" Hikaru inquired. Lunch was an understatement. It was more of a banquet with seafood linguini, peppered fillet mignon, grilled jumbo shrimp and for desserts fresh fruits, melting chocolate soufflé, tiramisu and apple rum bread pudding. Not to mention the stack of Belgian chocolates Geo had been munching since time immemorial.

"I am okay, I guess I have never seen a feast like this in my entire life"

"Eat up….and don't forget dessert, That soufflé " Hikau giggled and gave Umi a gentle pat.

"Nani.."Umi was unaware of what had transpired.

"Nothing"Hikaru giggled."Are you with us?"she taunted. "You seem to be in outer space"

Umi just rolled her eyes. She wanted to react but she caught a glimpse of him. There was a tiny boyish smile escaping his lips. For what she saw, she concluded that he found her predicament rather amusing. For some reason, she felt like an ice cream ready to melt. This is the longest lunch of my life. Finally, lunch was over. She almost made her way out when Hikaru called out her name.

"Hey Umi, don't forget the dishes" Hikaru grinned.

"Ehh…"Umi felt it was the worst day ever.

"I'll help"

Just my luck. Umi thought.

She wanted it to be over. Well, for one, washing the dishes is not her favorite thing in the world plus doing it with him made it even worse. She was quite surprised when he volunteered to help him with the dishes. For one he is Autozam's greatest commander. It would put great men to shame to witness such a great man doing a girl's work. It was a bit fuuny though whenever he would mistakenly grab her hand instead of the dishes. She instantly felt bolts of electricity whenever her hand would come across his hand in between the suds. She tried to ignore it. It was confusing though she wanted to be out of there and yet at the same time she wanted to be with him. She doesn't know him that well but he had this effect on her that made her feel so wanting. For the first time in her life she didn't want to be alone. She wanted to belong with somebody. She wanted to belong with him. What am I thinking? She blushed at that thought. She was so busy with her thoughts that she failed to notice that it was Eagle's hands that she washing.

"Uhmm,,,you could let go of my hand now, I think it is more than clean" His amber eyes were smiling. There was a naughty grin escaping his lips again.

"A-ano,, gomen"Umi was blushing a deep red. She felt like a tiny mouse trapped in the corner by a cat. Baka. She wanted the earth to swallow her up.

"I think we are done..It was fun. Not bad for my first try at dish work." he exclaimed. His hand was extending a small towel.

"Arigato"Umi said and took the towel from hid hands. She quickly retrieved her hand when his hand touched hers.

Eagle, on the other hand, noticed her reaction and smiled. While washing his hands, he couldn't help but remember how soft her hands were. It was not a hand of a mortal but a goddess. He smiled at her reaction. He knew he was making her uncomfortable with the unwarranted attention he is giving to her but he couldn't stop himself. It was almost automatic. He suddenly felt the need to be close to her..to make her his. He wanted to pull her close to him and feel her soft skin against his. The thought of it made him feel some stirrings. Eagle, man, 't act like a love crazed teenager. Remember, aside from making her dreeped out. Her memories of you are those bullets you fired in her rune god during the battle. You wouldn't want to be thought of as a drooling wolfhound. Eagle lectured himself and smiled.

"I think we are done so I'll leave now" Umi declared and left hurriedly leaving no time for Eagle to react.

"Just great, Eagle,,nice"he said to himself sarcastically. " She might be thinking you are eating little girls for breakfast"

Eagle didn't notice the tall figure behind him. "Eagle"

"Lantis"he felt like a child caught taking a candy out of the jar.

"I was just checking. I thought there was a problem"Lantis' reaction was still the same as ever, stern but kind. There was however, a strange expression on his eyes. He just shrugged it off.

"I think you shouldn't scare away little girls" Lantis remarked. Surely, Lantis is not the comic type but he sure can make great one-liners.

"Lantis, You are one to talk" Eagle found it amusing since for him Hikaru is still in her teens. When those two declared their love for each other Hikaru was barely out of the crayons stage of her life.

"Oi,,, hey you two" It was Hikaru. She was in her usual sugar rush mode. She was clueless on what the two was talking about. She scanned the vicinity and noticed that Umi was not around. "Where's Umi? "

"She is probably in her room" Eagle answered, trying to be casual.

"Can you pick her up,Eagle, please, I am gonna show Lantis the dolphins" She quickly dragged Lantis with her . Before he left, Lantis gave Eagle a look. A look that says, Don't try to scare her this time.

Umi, meanwhile, can't decide whether to stay in her room or go out and enjoy the beach. Still undecided, she decided to take a dip in the tub. The refreshing dip worked for her. It was relaxing. She was playing with the bubbles. The aromatic scent that filled the bathroom made her even more relaxed. Finally, after a few minutes she got out of the tub. She was drying her hair on her way out of the bathroom.

Eagle, now, was in front of Umi's door. Funny, man like him who is considered by many as a man of great courage can not gather up the courage to knock at the door. It was easy though but he didn't want to scare or creep her out again. Eagle, don't be a coward. All you have to do is knock. Finally after almost forever, Eagle was able to knock at the door.

Umi had just finished putting on her blue sundress when she heard someone knocking at the door. It must be Hikaru. She hurriedly opened the door thinking it was her friend.

"Hika-"she suddenly stopped upon seeing Eagle at the door. For a brief moment that seemed like forever, there was dead silence. Umi was tongue-tied. She couldn't think of anything to say to break it.

Eagle couldn't speak, her aromatic scent was intoxicating. She had this effect on him that leaves him under her spell. Say something. Eagle wanted to have FTO ran over him so that he could wake up.

"Hikaru asked me to pick you up. She and Lantis went to see the dolphins. " he muttered.

Dolphins. Umi thought it was kinda cute but childish. Leave it to Hikaru to come up with childish stunts.

Eagle sensed that dolphins aren't Umi's things. "I would like to explore other areas of the beach, Back in Autozam, we don't have much nature. I don't think Hikaru has time to accompany me" Eagle's boyish smile was playing on his lips. "It would be very lovely if I will have a tour of this beach, would you like to join me?"

His smile was irresistible. Is this how the serpent tempted Eve, no wonder she couldn't resist. She wanted to go with him. There was however, a warning blaring around her head. Err, Umi,, what are you doing?Reason was trying to exercise its veto power. I'll just go out for a walk with him. Besides he is a guest and he is a friend. Its not like he and I are gonna make out like crazy in the secluded area in the beach. Her last remark almost made her envision the two of them together, frolicking and …Go away evil thoughts.