"And who are you exactly," inquired the man.
"Someone who is passing by to pick up a friend," Shikikan bluntly stated. "That friend just so happened to be the one you are harassing."
"Ich- don't ruin my shot," he spat.
Shikikan shook his head at the persistent man. "Your shot was ruined as soon as you spoke to her."
"Like hell I did-_"
Enterprise slapped the man's face hard creating a loud, brief clap that echoed throughout the hotel lobby. Leaving him, she stepped beside Shikikan.
"Whatever," he rubbed the red handprint on his face. "I didn't care anyway. Stupid bitch."
The man exited the lounge.
When he did, Enterprise let out a light sigh of relief before turning towards Shikikan. "I'm surprised that you are back."
"Me too," he replied. "I thought it would take longer before you would get hit on."
"You'd be surprised how many eyes had lingered on us since we left the base," Enterprise sighed again.
"I'm not surprised," Shikikan scoffed. "No man can resist staring."
She turned her head towards him in confusion. "What was that?"
"Nothing," he contrasted, lightly scratching his nape.
Enterprise was slightly confused but let it go quickly. "Alright.
So what made you come back?"
Focusing on her question for a moment, he shrugged. "I don't know exactly either.. But, I'm here now. Isn't Takao supposed to be here?"
"She's in our room. Did you want to see her?" She inquired lightly.
"No, I'm just... Never mind," he muttered the last part, quickly switching the topic. "So what are you doing out here? I'm guessing you weren't here to talk to that guy."
She smiled weakly. "No, I was thinking of familiarizing myself outside of the hotel."
"By yourself? Isn't that a bit dangerous?" He questioned.
"Not really... I can handle myself. Is there something I should know that I should watch out for?"
His mind started to race between telling her about his past, but that combined with her puppy-like flustered look made it difficult to focus on an answer. "Uh... I've heard that there has been a bit of active crime around these areas. It's best that you be with someone."
"So you have been around here?"
"Well, not much. Some old colleagues and I have been around here a handful of times for business and I'll just say that the things people do for their own selfishness... It's a lot to take in, even when I look back at it," Shikikan reminisced of the past fights he had.
"If you say so," she said. "Since you know this place a bit. Do you care to walk with me for a little while and show me around a bit? I was thinking of ways on how to spend this leisurely trip."
Thinking momentarily he agreed to the carrier request with a slight smile. Both of them leave the building together walking out without the slightest thought of where to head to. So instead, he led her to one place that he appreciated whenever he wanted to clear his mind.
"Hey, Shikikan," Enterprise said, breaking the silence between them as they continued their venture. "Can you... Nevermind."
He tilted his head at her slightly, curious he asked. "What is it that you want to ask?"
"It's nothing."
"You don't have to be afraid to ask," Shikikan reassured her.
Enterprise raised a brow at his comment. "You're in an awfully good mood today for someone just willing to leave us behind at the airfield."
His expression swiftly changed to a more sorrowful than pissed-off. "Look, it was a slight error on my part. A change of heart you might say. If you want me to be the grumpy man that is your commander then-"
"No, it's fine. It's just..." She paused for a moment, deliberating over her words. "How do I put it nicely? Unusual for you to see you like this for more than five minutes without being outraged at our actions."
"Probably has to do with the fact that... that..." Shikikan frowned as his brain processed his thoughts of his old family.
"What?"
"Listen to me carefully. I'm like this because... because," he stuttered with the last word. "It's... It's my fault...'
"What is your fault?" Said the confused Eagle Union carrier.
"I was... I was nothing..."
At that moment, Enterprise, with both hands reached out and grasped his left hand into hers. Her hands were warm and soft as she pressed them together. Slowly he turned to face her despite his messy face.
"Enterprise?"
"If there is something you need to say. I'll be here to listen," Enterprise smiled genuinely. "That is what friends are for."
He smiled weakly at her sentiment, as his hand slipped out of hers while he kept pushing forward.
Enterprise lagged, contemplating his words. She was only stirred out of state when a light tug to her right arm, dragging her almost causing her to walk off balance.
"Come on, you can look around as we go," he beamed, guiding her along to their destination.
Enterprise was just able to keep her balance as she was being dragged off. "Hold on! You are being too hasty, Shikikan."
As he pulled her along she stumbled for the first few steps before she regained her footing, walking through the crowd as all of them looked over their shoulders as they passed by.
Shikikan stopped, breathing in short breaths, and briefly looked back at Enterprise. "Here we are."
"Where are we?" Questioned Enterprise, twirling around to an entirely healthy dark green park clear of any sort of human pollution, small flower beds scattered around, and a large man-made pond.
He merely smiled at her question. "It's a park."
"I can see that," Enterprise stated, her eyes still wandering around. "There aren't that many people here. Why is that?"
"Most of that has to do with it's the weekday and nowadays, people rarely come out to enjoy such scenery. But hey, it's nice to be away from all of the human traffic and enjoy such a peaceful sight- isn't it?"
"I guess so..." Enterprise smiled, looking off into the clear lake.
"It just feels... too quiet for my liking."
"I guess that is what happens when you are all cooped up in a secluded island for most of your life," he chuckled, flashing her a warm smile. "This place would always be one of the few places that I would enjoy on my own whenever I come home."
Silence followed soon filled by the sound of their light treading on the paved path and chipper birds as they flew overhead. The light breeze tickling their exposed skin and an aroma of sweet-smelling flowers. It was one of the greatest days in the park for him as minutes on end.
Although the silence was great for him, the carrier seemed to be the opposite as he spotted a pensive face on her face so he decided to liven up the mood a bit. "What is it that you wanted to ask?"
"Huh?"
"You know... When you asked the first time but retracted it?"
"Oh... That..." She looked nervous but that soon faded as she mustered her courage and asked. "Do you truly care about us?"
"That's your question?" He stopped and turned, slightly surprised. "Well, yeah... I guess... It's complicated really but just know I do."
She nodded slightly at his answer, somewhat satisfied she kept on interrogating him. "What exactly made you come back?"
"That... I don't know. Maybe it's to fill a void in my heart.
Maybe it's..." Shikikan stuttered on the last words, shaking his head. "It's nothing. Just know that deep down I care."
"Excuse me!" A man called.
Looking over, a skinny man wearing squared glasses and a checkered pattern button-up and jeans stood in front of them with a polaroid in his hands.
"Can you two care for a picture? I'lI sell it to you for fifteen bucks," said the man.
Enterprise answered first. "Uh... We're fine-
"Sure," Shikikan agreed.
"Shikikan?"
"Don't worry," he assured her. "You don't have to be in the picture. I kind of want something to remember this nice day by."
"No, it's... Shouldn't you save your money for your sister?" She reminded him.
"How considerate of you," Shikikan acknowledged. "But, I'm taking every advantage I can get out of that scientist's pockets starting now."
She sighed upon hearing the last part, muttering to herself. "I guess I learned another thing about you."
"Alright, miss, are you going to be in the picture?" The man asked politely.
"Shikikan? Is it_"
"Yeah sure," he didn't miss a beat. "I don't care."
She stood forward, standing herself to his right. The both of them stood up straight, smiling.
The man readied his camera, bringing it up as he waited for the two to confirm their positions. "One... Two..."
Right when he was about to snap the photo, a bee flew in at an unfortunate time right at Shikikan's face causing him to flinch, swatting his hand at the bee.
"Three!" The camera's flash went off followed up by the polaroid spitting out the picture.
"Damn! Please tell me you didn't catch that," Shikikan stressed, walking towards the cameraman.
The man pulled the picture and started waving his answer around for the picture to set in before handing it over.
Shikikan examined the picture closely, the picture had barely set in but as the seconds passed, his answer became clearer.
"Goddamn it. You caught that. Can you take another one?"
The man shook his head side to side leaving a very much disappointed commander. Enterprise took the picture out of his hands and took a close look. The picture was still a bit hard to make out but she was able to make out the figures of a fully composed image of herself and a panicky Shikikan. A playful smile formed upon her lips, handing the cameraman the money.
"I'll keep it if you don't want it," Enterprise said.
"Do you really want to keep that?"
She nodded in confirmation, still smiling at the momento.
"Suit yourself. Just keep that to yourself please," he requested.
"Stupid bee. Ruining such a good day too."
Shikikan started walking the path again all while Enterprise thanked him.
"I don't understand why you don't like this picture," the carrier commented, still looking at the picture.
"It's unprofessional," Shikikan simply stated.
"I think it's great that you have something other than a stiff face."
He paused momentarily, staring at the carrier as she joyfully and gracefully skipped forward not having a single care in the world.
At that moment, he smiled to himself, looking up at the sky and thought.
Maybe, just maybe I should open up a little.