A/N: Hello again! It's been a while! Hope you're all doing well! ;)

4. Anticipation

Eagle closed the door behind him and exited the physician's office. Mika rose from her chair and accompanied him out into the lobby. She did not ask the purpose of his visit; instead, she brought up the subject of Hikaru and Lantis's visit later that afternoon.

He smiled in response to her query of his feelings for the upcoming event. He was very much looking forward to seeing them both again: Lantis, whom he loved like a brother and, Hikaru, the girl that saved his life… He felt his heart make a leap. Six more hours until their arrival.

They were nearly out of the hospital when his bodyguard stretched out her arm before him. He stopped behind her as she surveyed the area. It seemed as if she had detected someone. He wasn't in disguise, after all. After a few seconds, she decided it was safe for them to proceed to the car. He entered first and she came in after him.

"What did you see?" he asked. Her eyes were still wary as they pulled out into the streets. "I thought I had seen a flash," she answered. Reporters, perhaps, he thought. His condition wasn't exactly a secret to the citizens of Autozam.

He was near-death when the order to invade Cephiro was issued by his father two years prior, but he had managed to keep it from everyone. Not even his second-in-command knew how desperate his situation had become until they had reached their destination. Then, in the final battle to determine the new pillar of Cephiro, his sickness had finally caught up with him. It was in that moment that she came to him. She said she would not return to Cephiro without him, this young girl from another world who became the Magic Knight of fire. Even as the winds whipped about them, she carried them to life. He loved her. She said she loved him, too…and Lantis.

A cool hand touched his forehead and he met with suspicious cobalt eyes. "Are you all right?" she asked. Something about the way she looked at him made him surmise that his mother had related her concerns to his guard. "Yes," he said. "Just a little sleepy. I think I may take a nap."

She withdrew her hand and sat back with her arms folded against her chest. She grinned and shook her head. "You had me worried there," she laughed. "I thought we might have to take you back."

He grinned, resting his head against the window and shutting his eyes. He liked that she didn't ask too many personal questions. It made it easier for them to focus on the positive.

-o-

It was five forty in the afternoon and a light shower was falling outside. Eagle rested his head on his hand and glanced out the window, hoping that his friends would reappear earlier than expected. In the armchair beside his, Mika was absorbed in a book.

He did not feel like talking. He just wanted to see their guests. If only Geo could come by to keep him company until the arrival. It was not the same to confide in his guard about his eagerness as it would be to confide in a mutual friend. She could only express her benevolence without understanding.

At five to six, the doors opened and in walked the butler to announce the arrival of his best friend and Miss Shidou.

"Eagle!" the latter called and ran to embrace him. He reciprocated and noted that she had grown taller and now stood at his shoulder. Lantis came around and they exchanged brotherly hugs, patting each other on the back. They exchanged the usual cordialities. "How was the journey?" he inquired. Lantis looked ready to respond, but hesitated as his traveling companion answered for them both. Hikaru spoke animatedly about the smooth travel and commented on the breadth and beauty of the manor, before turning to his guard and introducing herself.

"I'm Mikaela Tenshi," said his bodyguard, with a bow. He stared at her blankly. "'Mikaela'?" he repeated. He smiled, thinking she looked nothing like a Mikaela. The name presented such a contrast against her uniform and someone of her station. "You never mentioned that this was your actual name," he accused.

She grinned "You've forgotten, then," she said. "that I've gone by 'Mika' since I was four years old."

He thought for a moment. Then, he nodded and conceded, grinning back, "Yes, it seems I have. There's still much to learn."

"Likewise," she agreed.

"Eagle has told us that the two of you were childhood friends," said Hikaru, looking from one to the other. "It's great that you've managed to keep in touch all these years. The two in question looked at each other, knowingly, and informed her that it was not so. Their reunion took place only a week ago. "But we'll have that chance again," added Mika, to alleviate the awkwardness.

The doors opened again with an announcement for dinner and the rest of the evening was dedicated to anecdotes.

Eagle felt his heart soar, amongst the presence of his dear friends and their lively conversations. It seemed so long ago since they were last together. Between breaks in his conversation with Lantis, his eyes ventured to the young lady seated across the table. She had gotten prettier since he last saw her. He smiled, watching her laugh joyfully beside his guard, and made up his mind to confess to her sometime during the week.