Chapter Three: More Than Meets the Eye





Karameki patted her hungry stomach and stretched her arms. She got out of her bed and headed to the kitchen to eat breakfast. When she got there, Hanna had just finished making her omelets and was setting the table.

"Good morning," she said as Hanna placed the last plate of delicious looking food on the table. "Why are there only five places set up?"

"Because I refuse to cook for Major Asswipe, and I'm not hungry," replied Hanna, frustration littered all over her.

"Why don't you want to cook for Kiyoshi?" continued Karameki.

"I answered that already," said Hanna.

"No you didn't."

"He's an asswipe," she looked directly at Karameki almost frowning.

"What'd he do in the first place?" asked Karameki.

"He just bugs me," Hanna's eyes softened. "Since the second I met him, he seemed oddly familiar, then he wouldn't stop bugging me and my ass."

"He's a guy," comforted Karameki. "Guy's have no digression and no sensitivity."

"That's not it, though," she paused. "Its just that guys have always treated me like I'm just another toy to play with and he didn't when we met. I guess it just freaked me out."

Just then, Eienno walked in.

"Mm, breakfast," he said.

"Yeah, breakfast that doesn't belong to you," said Hanna. She pushed him out of the kitchen. "You wait until everyone else is done."

"Hey, I thought I was highest in rank," he looked down on her. She was only about as tall as his chin, but she was still taller than Yukkarie and most other girls he had met.

"So?" she said. "I'm the one who cooked."

"So?" he said. "I'm above you."

"You wish you could get the chance to be above me," she said.

"Want a bet?"

"No!"

"Because you know I'll win."

She frowned, "Fine. But I'll be the one doing the victory dance, not you."

"Whatever you say," he smirked.

"You will never be above, below, beside or on top of me."

"Okay."

"This will be great for my psychology study." Cordelia poked her head around the corner and glanced at Eienno and Hanna. "My hypothesis for the study is that all the hate you feel for each other will transform in time to become one of the strangest relationships I've ever studied."

"Go blow something," said Eienno crudely.

"No," retorted Cordelia, "that's Hanna's job."

Hanna turned around and grabbed a plate, throwing it directly into Cordelia's face. "Don't ever say something even related to that about me!"

"Why?" stated Eienno, "You scared she might have a point?"

"Are you lost somewhere, asshole?"

"No," he smirked proudly.

"Then shut up and remember this," she stood on her tip-toes to be at least a little closer to eye level, "You are not going to have any little bit of me in your desperate hands."

"Yes I will," he grunted as he headed back to the weight room. "And I'm not desperate. I can get anyone, male or female, although I like women better."

"I agree with him," said Cordelia, getting herself involved in something she shouldn't, again.

"No you don't," said Hanna.

"Yes, I do."

"You don't!"

"I do!"

"You don't!"

"Shut up!" yelled Karameki standing in the middle of them. "Shut up and get it together." She looked down the room to where Eienno was lifting 80 pounds on the bench press, "Say sorry to Hanna for insulting her sexuality."

Eienno looked over, 'but I'm not sorry."

"Fine," sighed Karameki, "Just say it for the hell of getting along."

"No," He replied.

Hanna shrugged angrily and stalked off towards her room. As she turned around, Chikara walked into her. Her lips were almost touching his.

Chikara didn't know how to react. He didn't know whether he should hold on or back off. He decided that since Hanna obviously took offence to being touched that he'd back away. He managed to control himself enough to walk away without looking at her body.

"Good morning," said Chikara, backing away slightly. "Didn't mean to invade your bubble."

"It's okay," said Hanna, feeling a little flushed by Chikara's closeness.

"Excuse me," he said, "I haven't brushed my teeth yet." 'Great pick-up line,' thought Chikara, scolding himself.

"Okay," she moved backwards and leaned against the wall, letting Chikara pass her. She lulled out and headed to her room again, looking as if she was a butterfly about to come out of her cocoon.

Eienno grumbled jealously at the sight of Hanna gawking at Chikara as he past her. He put the weight on their stands and grabbed another ten pounds off the rack. 'Bastard,' he thought, 'he's going to get to her.' He looked at her as she walked down the hallway, her mouth almost dragging lazily behind her. She turned into her room and closed the door behind her.

Flopping down on the bed, she almost fell asleep instantly, with good thoughts sugar-coating her dreams.

Karameki peered into the guy's room.

"Are you jealous?" she asked, noticing that since Hanna had bumped into Chikara, Eienno had had a mood swing.

"Why the hell would I be jealous of a fool like Akiri?" he retorted, angrily.

"Because he came closer to her without trying and then got her to somehow like him," explained Karameki.

"Shut up."

"Fine," she walked away to go eat the breakfast provided by Hanna. 'Damn,' she thought as she approached the table, 'now it's cold.' She took a bite and peacefully yelled out, "hey everyone, this is good."

Cordelia, who had just finished a quick shower walked into the kitchen, "What's so good about it?"

"Everything," replied Karameki. "Just because you got it in the face and I didn't, doesn't mean that it doesn't taste okay."

"Nothing is good about that god damned omelet and nothing is good about our captain, Hanna."

"Damn straight," said Eienno, poking his head around the corner. He sat down beside Karameki and began to eat Sebastien's breakfast. "By the way, don't tell anyone whose not here about me eating. She's a good cook, how sexy?"

"I can cook," said Cordelia, jealous that Hanna was getting all the attention. "Oh, by the way, Eienno. Just in case you haven't noticed, Chikara and Hanna just started a relationship."

"From what?" Eienno almost freaked out at the thought. "Bumping into each other."

"No," she said, "Did you see the way they looked afterwards, though?"

"I did," said Karameki. "Holy crap, I've never seen anyone look that high on life."

"I think they both looked like dumb asses." Eienno frowned, 'I lost.'

Chikara let the water run soothingly down his muscular body. He wasn't near as well built as Eienno and wasn't even close to having such a colourful personality. He knew that if Eienno could get closer to her than he wouldn't stand a chance.

He liked Hanna. She was fiery, but cute and lovable, the way he had always wanted his women to be. He thought to himself as he washed his hair.

'There's not a chance in hell that she could like him though, they never get along. He's so rude to her, and always touching her when and where she doesn't like it. I sure hope she's not taken already. I'd really like to get to know her.'

He finished up and got out, getting dressed before he brushed his teeth, styled his blonde hair and headed out.

"Here, Chikara," said Tomodachi, who had gotten up just after Hanna went to bed. "Hanna made this for us."

"Of course, she made you some and not me," grumbled Eienno from the weight room.

Hanna had slept for over an hour before she woke up feeling refreshed and ready to begin her day. She didn't want to let any one guy interfere with her day, although she hoped Chikara would take most of her time.

She began to barrel through her clothes in an attempt to find something to wear that would catch his attention. She smiled brightly when she found a white tube top with a circular, blue vine design and a blue denim skirt that ran the length of her hip to toes. She held her outfit up against her body and checked to see how it looked.

'Yep' she thought as she grabbed her bag of hygiene products.

She pulled some under garments from her underwear drawer and headed out the door. As she walked down the hallway, she found Eienno working out in the guy's room and Sebastien frantically looking for food in the kitchen.

"Didn't you get the omelet I made?" she said peering into the kitchen from the thresh hold of the door.

"No," replied Sebastien.

"I could've sworn I made you one," she said, confusedly.

"I didn't get it and I'm dead starving," he replied, still opening and closing cupboards at a rapid pace.

"Here," she said, "Sit down, I'll make you another one."

"Oh, that's okay," he said looking around for something already made that he could eat.

"No, sit down," she said in a soft tone.

"Okay," he sighed as he sat down.

Hanna set her clothes on the table and began to crack a few eggs. She made an extra big one for him, because in her mind, he looked like he could eat a bus if he had the chance. He started to drool as the smell hit his nose.

She quickly placed his food in front of him and watched as he practically inhaled it. Leaving him to eat in peace, she grabbed her stuff and continued her way to the bathroom. With sudden realization, she stopped in front of the door to the weight room. She opened the door to see Eienno shirtless and lifting probably a good 100 pounds. 0Despite her impressed thoughts, she frowned at him and started to talk.

"Why did you eat Sebastien's breakfast?" she said, sourly.

"What makes you think I ate it," he said.

"You were the only one who didn't have one of his own," she said, "I'm not stupid."

"Yes you are," he said, "stupid, but right."

"That was really rude," she said, "Especially since you are perfectly capable of making your own."

"So is he," Eienno peered over. "Oh, are you doing laundry?" He smirked inwardly.

"Maybe," she said, "I won't be doing yours, though, because you're an ass to everyone here."

"Fine, laundry women, but don't be expecting any favours."

"Like I would ever want you to help me." She walked out, shutting the door behind her and heading to the bathroom again.

She growled in frustration and walked into the opened door to the bathroom. She shut and locked the door behind her, shedding her clothing as she went. She turned on the shower and set it to a hotter temperature then normal, as she needed more relaxation then normal.

She climbed in and rested her body on the wall opposite the shower head, letting the water sear down her body, soothing and loosening her muscles. She leaned her face into the showers of the water. Her blue hair flattened as it got wet and fell down her back. She let her mind, drift into thought.

'Why does he do those things?' she said to herself, 'he gets after me for not making him food, then eats someone else's so I have to make more, calls me stupid and then assumes I'm doing laundry. God I hate him. Why can't he be like Chikara, and treat me nicely. He didn't even touch me when he had the chance. I hate guys that grope women they don't even know or have a relationship with.'

He body tensed at the thought of Eienno right at that moment. Knowing he was wrecking her shower without even trying, she deleted him from her thoughts. She imagined what it would be like snuggled into Chikara's arms.

'He could touch me, and I would like it. He would probably stroke my hair and shoulders. Chikara Akiri, what a fitting name. Eienno Kiyoshi, what an ass he.' she paused, 'he found a way into my thoughts again. How does he do that?' She poured a little shampoo into her hand and massaged it into her scalp and hair, then rinsed. She massaged conditioner into her fingers and put it into her hair, starting at the ends and working her way up. She rinsed the majority and climbed out, turning off the water.

She pulled a towel from the cupboard and started t dry herself off. She wrapped her hair in a towel and began to put make up on. She didn't need much, only a little eye shadow to add colour to her face and mascara to make her eyes look a little bigger. She unwrapped her hair and pulled it into a ponytail at the back of her head, brushing the bumps out. She finished drying off her body and put her clothes on. They fell into every perfect curve on her body and flattered her. She had made it a habit to buy flattering clothes when she got out of high school.

'I look okay,' she thought as she walked out of the bathroom. She grabbed all of her stuff and went back to her room to put it away. On her way back to her room, though, she ran into Chikara, who couldn't help but stare at her.

"Hi again," she said, "how'd you sleep?"

"I slept okay, you?" he replied.

"I'll have to nap later to catch up, but other then that." She blushed with embarrassment for no apparent reason.

Eienno watched Chikara and Hanna through the crack in the door. He was sitting on the couch in the guy's room hearing everything they said. He didn't know why he felt so jealous or why he felt the urge to just hold her and be nice to her. He knew that the only thing keeping him from doing so was how much he loved Yukkarie.

'But maybe I don't love her enough,' he thought, 'because if I want Hanna, then I must not want Yukkarie.' He dismissed the thought and turned his attention back to Hanna and Chikara.

"Do you want to have dinner with me tonight, after everyone else is done eating?" asked Hanna, extremely red with embarrassment.

She felt butterflies in her stomach and her heart began to beat fast. He held her in suspense for a few seconds, although he didn't mean to.

"Sure," he said, "do you want to cook or should I?" Hanna's heart sank at his reply. She felt every muscle in her body jump for joy. "I'll cook." She slid off to her room joyously.

Eienno growled inwardly at Chikara. He still didn't understand why, but he felt Chikara was now officially his mortal enemy.

He began to lift more weights, hoping that would calm his anger slightly.

Hanna's body felt bubbly. She had never been brave enough to ask a guy out, not that there had been any guys she had wanted to ask out. She threw her dirty clothes into the laundry bin and walked into the control room.

Cordelia, Tomodachi and Karameki were in their spots looking at their stations.

"Hello," she sighed, off in her own little world.

"Hi," said Cordelia, "are you sick?"

"Yeah, you don't look like you normally do," added Karameki.

Tomodachi peered over, "If she was sick, I'm sure she's be the first person to know. Chikara and her are probably becoming an item."

"How would you know that?" asked Cordelia. Hanna looked over at Tomodachi, smiling uncontrollably. Karameki looked at Hanna with a funny form of confusion written all over her.

"I was in the kitchen when she asked him," she said, "I was eating at the table."

"Did you like your breakfast?" asked Hanna, all of a sudden wanting to change the subject.

"Yeah," sighed Tomodachi. "But back to the point, I'm pretty sure you and him will make a good couple. It'll be pretty hard not to see each other."

"I think you and Eienno make a better couple," said Karameki.

"Why would you think that?" snarled Hanna.

"Well," peeped Karameki, "you're just so imperfect for each other, that you're the perfect match for each other."

"That doesn't make sense," said Cordelia. "But I think you're right, Karameki, Eienno will keep her from getting spoiled and she would keep him from being a miserable moron, who takes his anger out on everyone."

"That's bull crap," said Hanna, getting up from her seat and slowly heading to the front of the shuttle. "I hate Eienno more passionately than I like Chikara."

"That's what I mean," said Karameki, "You're so passionate about hating Eienno that you'd turn around instantly."

"Enough about Eienno," said Hanna, with an astonishing amount of anger. "We will never be more then enemies."

"Holy, anger problem," said Cordelia.

"Holy, bitch problem," retorted Hanna. She walked back to her room and began to think of what she should do for dinner.

Chikara was glad he didn't have to ask Hanna. It made it a whole lot easier for him. He got up from the table and headed to the weight room to try and get acquainted with his commander.

"Hey, Major," he said cheerily. "How are you so far?"

"I'm not so good," said Eienno. "I'm having trouble getting used to things."

"Oh," said Chikara. "So, do you have a girlfriend or something?"

"No," said Eienno, "a wife, but don't tell anyone. I want to keep that secret or they will be badgering me about it."

"I have a really strange question," he looked at the weights. "Why are you treating everyone so crudely? Especially Hanna?"

"I treat people the same way." He began to work his legs. "She just pisses me off, so I treat her the way I'd treat anyone who pisses me off."

"Well," he sighed, "I don't want to be one of those people, so I'm going to do something useful and get out of your way." With that Chikara left.

'Stupid fool,' thought Eienno. 'Stupid, but cool.'

Hanna looked at her belly. It was what most women would happily except as being skinny. Hanna liked her weight, but decided to tighten up the muscles so she'd have nice abs and arms.

'Even though he'll be there to insult my every move,' she thought to herself, 'and it's a guy's only room, I think I'm going to work out and get my body to look great.'

She changed into her spandex work out clothes and headed off.

Eienno decided that since he'd been exercising the whole morning, he'd use the rest of the day to do what he came to do and work in the control room. He headed to his room to change and get something to wear after a shower. Just as he turned the corner to the bedrooms, Hanna came out of her room in a tight, skimpy outfit and water bottle.

"You don't mind it I hang in the weight room, do you?" she said sarcastically.

"I couldn't give two shits," he said smugly. "I'm not in there any more."

"Good," she skimmed past him and headed down the hall.

Eienno couldn't help but stare at her top to bottom as she walked away.

Hanna knew darn well that she was being looked at. She felt her heart pound nervously as she entered the room in silence. She felt eyes staring at her from all directions and nervously tried to stand her ground. She closed the door behind her and instantly felt relief. She took a deep breath and started to she what she might be able to start with. She stretched while she thought about it.

When she finished stretching, she hopped on the tread mill and began to jog lightly.

Eienno sat in his chair with a clipboard and checklist.

'Check weapons station to make sure weapons are secured and ready to go.' he looked over at Cordelia. "Is everything okay in weaponry?"

"Yep," said Cordelia.

"What about communications and navigations?" he asked changing his glance to Karameki.

"All good, no messages."

"How's the engineering station?"

Tomodachi nodded.

"Good, my job's done." He sat down.

Karameki, Cordelia and Tomodachi with a grin of conspiracy.

"Why do you fight with Hanna so much, Eienno?" asked Karameki.

"Who cares?" he said strangely.

"Me," said Cordelia, "Tomodachi," she hesitated, "and Karameki."

"I don't fight with her," he said.

"Yes you do," said Tomodachi.

"All the time," said Cordelia. "All psychology books will tell you that if someone likes another someone, then they will pick on them until they are able to confess."

"That sounds a little familiar," said Karameki, "especially since you show so much more hostility to her now that she's going to be Chikara's girlfriend."

"Why the hell would I be any little bit jealous of that fool?" he asked, sarcastically. He thought to himself for a second, 'oh yeah, because he's going to date the hottest chick on the shuttle.'

"See," said Cordelia. "You think he's a fool because you're jealous. Right?"

"Wrong," he rolled his eyes in disgust. "You're all wrong about everything."

"No," said Tomodachi.

"You're wrong,' said Karameki.

"We can tell," finished Cordelia.

Hanna starred at the wall of her room. She had been working out for almost two hours and was beginning to feel her body react. She rubbed her sore legs and arms.

"Oh crap," she said aloud to herself. "I've got to get ready and start cooking." With that, she got up and began to search through her drawers for something to wear.

She found a pale blue skirt and a white shirt that she found suitable. The skirt fell to the middle of her thigh and sat just below her hip bone. It flattered her belly and made her legs look longer then they actually were. The shirt was not quite loose but not quite skin-tight. It was the perfect colour and the perfect cut. The v-neck showed her collar bone and a tiny bit of cleavage.

She looked herself over after putting her clothes on and congratulated herself for her newly-found success. She headed out her bedroom door, ready to cook a huge dinner for Chikara.