Whenever I call you friend 2

Title: Whenever I Call You Friend
Anime: Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP
Author: mizamiko
Rating of Chapter: PG

Whenever I call you Friend: Chapter 2

*****Umi*****

"What am I going to do now?" He whispered.

I looked at him. I had no answer for that.

Breathe. Calm. The handle of the rattan basket creaked as I gripped it harder, and I tried to compose myself. No need to lose my temper. My anger would not find its target now anyhow. How ironic. I thought to myself.
There I was in the middle of the Forest of Silence, and all I wanted to do was scream. But I didn't. I was oddly in control now. It must be all the time that I had spent with Eagle, or the fact that he was present. It could be that his quiet demeanor was finally rubbing off on me. Maybe, his calmness over the present situation was keeping me in check.

I put down the basket that I had clutched against myself. Mechanically, I removed its contents. It was simple fare. A small loaf of country baguettes and a piece of cream puff for the both of us.

I looked up and watched as he poured some tea into the canteen cup. He handed me the cup then closed the decanter. I cradled it for a while; the warmth seeped slowly through my hands.

The silence was deafening.

I touched the rim of the cup of steaming Earl Gray to my lips. The warm liquid tasted sweet. I knew then that Eagle had prepared this himself. Sweet like the one who made it.

"So? What did he say then?" I asked. I watched him over the rim of the cup. He looked so composed; serene.
It was as if there was nothing wrong. It was like he had no problem to speak off. He was nothing like me. If I had a problem like his, the whole world would have known about it. But he kept it all inside.

"He just asked me, if I had found the one I would like to spend my old age with. I told him yes." He answered.
I never understood why, or even how, we ended up like this. He had his own circle of confidantes, and I had my own. And yet here we were. Two only children, seeking understanding.

True, I had Hikaru and Fuu who I could confide with. But, they simply wouldn't be able to understand some things. Similarly, that Eagle had Geo and Zazu, and maybe even Lantis; they couldn't understand. Well at least not as well as I could, on some things at least.

"Did you tell him who? Did he tell you who? I hope Hikaru took this well." I said. I never could say things right to the point.

"No to both accounts." He sighed. "I hope Hikaru took this better than me."

"Probably a lot better. For one, she loves the both of you. The same way she loves everyone else. Only slightly higher, or maybe not even that." I looked at him straight in the eye. " She is one confused girl in that aspect."
"I know. But, she is quite endearing. Yes?" He answered with a smile.

I sighed.

"She is that. Brave, strong, and sweet, what more could a guy want? " I said, not looking up from my tea.

"Why Umi, do I hear a hint of a wistful note?" He asked, face beaming again. "Don't worry. I'm sure Ascot thinks the world of you. Guru Clef might also be persuaded, if you put your mind to it."

A retort was ready on my lips, but suddenly it was the last thing on my mind.

"Eagle! Behind you!" I screamed, as a dark shadow suddenly appeared behind him.

*****Eagle*****

"Eagle! Behind you!" Umi screamed at me.

She really didn't need to tell me that. The monster had been there for some time already. There was only uncertainty over its intentions. But a single brush with it, telling me of a great hunger within, I knew this attack was inevitable.

I turned quickly and concentrated. Shield. A nearly invisible barrier went up.

I felt, more than saw, the monster hit the force field. For the nth time, I was glad I always wore that "stupid gizmo" as Geo called it.

Behind me, Umi had unsheathed her sword from her gauntlet. Though no longer having the power of her Mashin backing her, she was still a very skilled swordsman. Uhmm... swordswoman? Or is it swordsperson? Humm... I really must ask Umi about that. In a matter of seconds, she had dispatched the monster.

I stood up and started clapping. She was really an incredibly graceful fencer.

She looked at me; I could almost see the sweat drops. She banished the sword and returned to her place.
"You knew it was there, didn't you?" She said, almost accusingly.

It was more of a statement than a question.

Perceptive. I think, her sensitivity was another factor, on why I felt comfortable with her. I doubt the others would have noticed. Maybe it's because we have been left by ourselves too much. Maybe that's why we notice those little things, and yet are so blind to what seems so apparent to others.

She was an only child too, a child from a powerful family. She knew how it felt to be alone, truly alone. And who else would understand. Only one who grew up in the same situation would understand what we had grown up in. At least she was someone I could talk to, some things I could not even tell Geo.

Some things, but not all. Some things were never meant to be told.

"What do you think?" I asked her. Never did learn to give a straight answer.

"Try the cream puff. You'll like it." She answered instead.

Well here we go again, next topic please.

I giggled. When she had learned of my liking for sweets, these sugar confectioneries from Earth, became a frequent treat. There were pastries that tasted like the ones synthesized back at Autozam. There were others that tasted like no synthesized sweet that I have ever tasted.

"It's really nice of you to do this for me." I said.

"I'm not being nice. I'm just paying you back, for when I was the one having problems." She answered hotly. "Ah-huh. Right."

That got to her. I could tell by the color of her cheeks. "You really aren't used to being complimented."

"Well, are you?" She shot back. "You're not that good with compliments either."

"I guess I'm more used to being criticized." I answered.

"Or simply being ignored." She answered in a mellow tone.

I didn't need to answer that. I knew the feeling all too well, to be totally pampered, and utterly ignored at the same time. Getting all the attention that we didn't want, but never the ones that we wished.

"Problems at home?" I ask, giving her one of my "innocent" smiles.

*****Umi*****

"Problems at home?"

I shook my head. It was not even worth the label of a "problem." Was it my parents' fault if they still felt the like newlyweds? It's not my mom's fault if dad still brought home flowers once in a while. It's not my dad's fault if mom still cooked romantic dinners for him although we had servants. It's not their fault if they still liked to go out on dates. Right?

"I just wish that they would warn me sometimes when their not coming home, or if they're coming in very late. I get worried too." I tell him. "But this is getting us nowhere. So what happened next?"

"I just figured, that this was all going to turn incredibly ugly. Then Lady Presea found us. She asked me to help stop Zazu from transforming her forge into a giant hot plate. Actually it turned real funny starting there. Can you imagine the Lady Presea trying to pry Zazu away from her forge? Zazu can be incredibly stubborn when he sets his mind to it. He was trying to figure out, how the fire in Lady Preseas' forge maintained itself. And..."

I listened to the way he said it all. He talked more on what had little to do with his problem. He was not taking this well. He couldn't even meet my eyes whenever he said something about "their short talk."

Bit by bit he told me what had happened. Like pieces of a puzzle, it was scattered in all the side stories and comments. That's what I learned from him. He talked in a very random fashion. From one topic to another, you just have to keep up. In the end, you will get the whole story. It's somewhere in that mess, but it's definitely there. You just had to listen.

I bit my lip. I really wanted to scream. It would be impolite, but I needed it. So I did.

"What is his problem? Who does he think he is? You sleep for four years, and he gets himself a girlfriend!" I was practically bristling. "I don't understand it. That's so unfair."

"But Umi, we're talking about Hikaru. And we don't know who the other person is. You shouldn't say that about her."

"Hikaru's my best friend." I nodded vigorously at him. "But Lantis and that other isn't. How dare he! How dare he! That two timing, rotten, jerk. He did it behind your back. Jerk! Jerk! JERK!!!"

*****Eagle*****

"... Jerk! Jerk! JERK!!!"

"Umi... " I could almost feel my sweat drop.

The silence of the forest was broken. Umi was running around in circles. It was amusing to say the least. She was doing what I could never do. She was doing what I had always wanted to do. At least she was always true to her feelings. Maybe, that's why I started to notice her. Hikaru always hid her feelings, or tried to. She didn't want to burden other people with her problems, or her pain, not if she could help it. Lantis is a bit the same, only he hides it better. Umi would be their opposite in that aspect. You would know how she felt in an instant.

"Umi. Please... It's not that bad. Really. It's not the end of my world." I joked lightly. "When you step out of your private world to trust someone, there will always be a risk. I took the risk. I got hurt."

I hurt. Funny, this can't be happening to me. I love him, but not that way. I had proven that to myself, when he fell for Hikaru. It hurt then too, but it also felt right. It looked right, having seen them together. They truly looked great together.

It hurt whenever I got the feeling of them slipping away. Sometimes it felt like they were both becoming too far for me to reach. But Hikaru always led him back. But this time, I'm not sure if he'll ever come back. I didn't even know her.

Maybe that's it. I didn't know her. I'm not ready to trust any of my friends with anyone I didn't know. Maybe if I got to know her, I would not hurt so much. Maybe... "Eagle..." Umi whispered, awakening me from my thoughts.
The next thing I knew, she was hugging me. Tears were falling from her lovely face. Tears? No!

"Umi, don't. Please don't cry. It is nothing worth crying about." I said, wiping away the moisture. "Maybe if I got to know her. Maybe if I learned to like her, it would be easier for me. Wouldn't that be the best recourse?"

"How can you take it so lightly?" She asked, looking up at me.

I left my hand on her cheeks, stroking her cheekbone with my thumb.

"I have no other choice." I answered

"He's your best friend?"

"Yes."

"You care for him."

"Yes."

"Do you love him, that way?"

"I... I don't know." I told her honestly. I wasn't sure.

"I see." She said simply.

"I just want to be there, be with him, as long as I may."

I stopped stroking her face and gave her a tight smile. "I won't mind spending my old age with him. I won't mind being by his side forever."

"You know? Your life is one big soap opera." She said, giggling through the tears, suddenly jumping up.

"Eh?" I look at her surprised.

"You sound like one of the heroines in a movie I just saw. Sulia, or something, was her name. I'll show it to you sometime."

"Sure!" I said happily.

Smile.

You'll figure it out somehow. If not, then you'll still live.

It's not the end of the world.

*****Lantis*****

It's not the end of the world. But it's real near.

I watch him now, from my vantage point on my summoned beast. He looks so happy. They look so good together.
"Eagle." I whisper.

So, it was Umi. It was not surprising. She was beautiful. Not the cute, naïve, beautiful way Hikaru was. It was a sweet, delicate beauty that one looks twice upon. The same kind of beauty that he has.

*Damn it Eagle. What game are we playing now? *

Lantis? I suddenly heard.

You're getting stronger. I returned.

I rode my summoned beast closer to the pair. It was too late to leave them. I had foolishly announced myself to him. I had to face him now. But I didn't want to confront him yet. There was still too much I had to understand.
Not yet.

Please not yet.

"Lantis. What brings you here?" He greeted as I came within shouting distance.

"Wandering. I needed to think." Might as well be honest.

" Eh! Eagle I have to run. Hikaru and Fuu must be looking for me.

It's getting late." Umi said as she stood up and started on her way.

I knew I walked right in the middle something, if Eagle's quick, almost imperceptible frown at her direction was any indication.

"Well, OK. I'll be seeing you then."

"Did I come at a bad time?" Stupid. I berated myself. Only a blind man would not have noticed that.

"No! No... you didn't." He blurted out, almost flustered. He looked up at me; gave me one of his "innocent" smiles. "Would you like to have tea with me?"

"I'd..." My answer was lost as a chime like sound rang in my head.

Lantis.

Guru Clef.

*Lantis. I know it's not your job but Ferio and Larfaga need more manpower. The children are getting beyond their control and... you know.*

Very well.

"Work?" He asked.

I wondered again how Guru Clef's timing could be so good. I was saved from this confrontation, for now.

"Yes." I answered

"Babysitting?" He said, giggling.

"Yes." I never understood what he found so amusing with my babysitting the children.

"Humm... need help?"

"No. I can do it, but if..." I trail off. What was I saying?!!

"But what?"

"Nothing. Later" I said quickly turning the beast about.

"Later."

***Eagle***

Later?

What were you about to tell me?

Well?

Tell me and let's get this over with.

I stopped and watched his receding figure. Was I sure about what I was asking?

I shook my head.

He was right.

Later.

But.

"What... What am I... going... to do ... now?"

* End Part 2-

February 21, 1999

Heaven and Earth
You are heaven and I am earth
I can never reach you
I look out in the horizon and think
that perhaps somewhere we'd meet
But when I go out and see

I would only find that heaven
and earth cannot be one
You are heaven and I an earth
I can never reach you
I have built my trees, my hills,
And my mountains to be with you

But they only touch the clouds and never you
And the only time I can be
with you is when you cry
When you cry your rain down on me
Then I know that my heaven
longs for another heaven

And this earth,
should start looking for its own
By. Enrico Uy Baula

Disclaimers: All characters belonged to their original creator, CLAMP, I just commandeered some of the characters for a night out into my own demented world.
Note : The poem Heaven and Earth was written by EUB, a teacher in UPLB.
Thank you EUB for the inspiration. May your Alex find his Alexis. To the UAWC for putting up with this. Cleo-chan, for tearing it apart for me then patching it all up again. TY.