She had spent about five minutes in there before she heard someone gallop
into the room. It was Eiko, the little girl Mikoto had seen flirting with Zidane
earlier. She was tired, huffing and puffing for air, but upon seeing the Genome
she straightened up and sat down in a chair close to Mikoto. She cleared her
throat. “We need to discuss something very important, Ms. Mikoto.” Eiko had
started sounding very serious, but she ended the sentence giggling. Mikoto
didn’t see any harm conversing with the little girl and sat down in her previous
seat. She looked at the little girl. “What is it, Eiko?” At that moment
Eiko had seen Vivi’s head pop into the room. “We need to talk about Zidane.” As
soon as she had said the king’s name, she could see Vivi shake out of the corner
of her eye. He hastily exited the room. Meanwhile, Mikoto continued a blank
stare at Eiko. “What about Zidane?” “Well...” Eiko had had the speech in her
head for hours now, but now that it was time, she was fidgeting. “Well...Do you
like him?” “Zidane? Of course. He is calm, friendly and dignified. It would
be virtually impossible to not like one such as him.” Eiko shook her head.
“No, I mean...Do you like like him?” Mikoto scratched her head in confusion.
“You just asked the same question, but you said the word ‘like’
twice‘.” Again, Eiko shook her little head. “Do you have feelings for him?”
She finally let out of her system. “Oh...” Mikoto paused, as if to
contemplate the question. She turned back to the little girl, who looked as if
her answer would have a profound impact on her. “Well, you know, Eiko, it is
nearly impossible for my kind to have feelings like that. Our creator just
didn’t make us that way.” Eiko nodded. “And even if he had, I don’t think
I’d have any special feelings for Zidane.” Eiko let out a huge sigh of
relief, wiping the sweat off her brow. “Whew!” “Why do you care for him so
much, Eiko?” Mikoto said. The summoner was taken completely by surprise,
clearly not expecting the question. “W...What do you mean? I don’t care for him
THAT much! Why, there’s much better fish to fry...” Mikoto had gotten up from
her seat and placed a ginger hand on Eiko’s shoulder. “Please, Eiko, tell me
what your feelings are. I’m still new to such experiences, but perhaps I can
help you.” “Well...I don’t know why I like him so much. He just acts
so...perfect when I’m around him. I’m lost for words, and when I can’t think of
anything to say, you KNOW there’s a problem.” The Genome nodded, still not
completely accustomed to the idea of laughing. “Well, let me ask you
this...Would you rather he and Garnet split and have Zidane go to you
instead?” Eiko stared at her, shocked. “What are you talking about? Zidane
and Garnet are perfect for each other!” Mikoto nodded again. “If that is the
case, why do you insist on chasing Zidane? You just said you wouldn’t want it to
happen.” Eiko was at a total loss for words. “I...I...” Just then the
announcement system began blaring. “Attention, everyone.” Baku’s voice began
booming through the ship. “We have began our descent to the target destination.
Will all those aboard the ship file to the control room.” Eiko leaped out of
her seat. “Wow, we’d better get up there.” She raced out of the room, not
letting Mikoto say anything else. Mikoto set the chairs back in their proper
places and began walking slowly out of the room. She walked slowly towards the
door, her mind in deep discussion. Human emotions, she thought to herself, are
far more complex than I had imagined....