Last Caress

A/N: Ok, so I reposted it to change the damned title. If you've read my previous author's note (yes, all 2 of you) then you'd remember how I pleaded for title suggestions. I also mentioned that 'Last Caress' by The Misfits was a great song. Well, this astoundingly retarded author put two and two together, and voila! Enjoy this 'special edition', in which none of the damned story has changed.

Allenby's POV:

I stare at the deep, blue ocean, as I lean against the railing of the pier I stand on. Tapping my stub of a cigarette on the railing, I watch as the ash falls to the depths. It reminds me of my heart, when he spoke of his love for another.

Such a sick, corny analogy. But nonetheless true.

I haven't been myself as of late. I smoke, I drink, I run away from my problems. I have become what I hated most, so long ago.

Four years ago, to be exact.

Oh, yeah. This is the year of the Gundam Fight. The fourth anniversary of the time I made that promise to him. He who made sure I was alright with his decision to choose her.

Neither of them meant to hurt me. It was just their destiny. They deserve each other. They love each other.

I know. It's just that my pain is so overwhelming…that I run away from it.

Not even a year after my promise to him, I ran away from my "home" with the Neo-Sweden Gundam team. They looked for me, at first, but the man-hunt quickly ended once they found a replacement fighter. I didn't care. I just kept running. I knew that if I was found I would be considered a traitor to my country.

Which, I suppose, is true.

I know they hate me. Hell, I even hate myself.

All is quiet in this beach city. Not a soul is out, no light left burning. I am left to drown in self-pity and hate, while the peaceful citizens of this city lay asleep in their beds.

I look down to my reflection in the beautiful, dark blue mirror below me. The ash that fell into the huge pool before was now gone. I see no remnants of the waste I had dropped into the ocean.

I admire the ocean's ability to hide all the shit that we do to it. No matter how many gallons of crap we dump into it, the ocean still has it's beauty. Yet another comparison to me, but not of what I am.

It is what I told him I would become.

I said I would take all this turmoil of unspoken feelings within me and get rid of it. I told him not to worry. If he didn't take this chance with her, I would never get over him. I would never love again. Too bad I didn't tell him that would happen regardless of his decision.

I wish I could hide these feelings I harbor. I wish I could wash them away, as the waves wash away the sand on a beach. I wish I was strong, as I told him I'd be. I wish I didn't lie to him.

Complete darkness surrounds me as a cloud covers the moon. It is approximately two in the morning, but who's keeping track?

Suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me. I don't even bother to turn to see who it is, being that it's so dark it seems like my eyes are closed.

As the steps come closer, my heart begins to beat faster, and the hair on my neck stands on end. Somehow, I know that the encounter with this stranger will change my life from now on.

From the feelings of excitement and anticipation, I now feel the strange sensation of falling. As the air rushes past me, I realize that I'm really falling, head first into the ocean. How it happened, I don't know.

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Chibodee's POV:

Finally. The year of the Gundam fight once again. I am visiting California, not only because it's been a childhood dream of mine, but also because I hear that Neo-China's new Gundam Fighter is here.

I wonder why. They should know that I live in New York. Well, I guess since Sai isn't their fighter anymore, they don't really know. I was looking forward to seeing the little guy, but he said school is too important to interrupt for a Gundam Fight.

I wonder how someone could change so much within four years. When I met him in the last Gundam Fight, he seemed nothing like the scholar he has become. He was a fun-loving, obnoxious little squirt that liked to play pranks on people.

It's amazing how someone could mature that much in so little time.

It's early in the morning, here in San Diego. Darkness still engulfs this city. I enjoy walking around town this time of night. I'm not sure why, but this became a habit shortly after the fight with the Dark Gundam.

Of course, there was that whole rivalry thing with Neo-Japan. And I'm not talking about the fight…

But, then again, I never really loved her. I was happy to give her back to Domon. I knew they were meant to be together.

It wasn't love. It was more of an infatuation.

But still, there is the issue of these long walks I take. I never take them more than four times a week. How would I be able to uphold my title as Neo-American's Gundam Fighter if I did? How could I look into any of my girl's eyes if I made them worry like that?

As I turn to walk on the pier, I notice the clouds covering the moon, making the world around me black. Somehow, amidst the eclipse of darkness, I know that someone is there. I'm not sure how I can feel their presence, but I just…know that they're standing there. And I also seem to know something important in my life is about to happen…

I feel something hit against my foot, then it suddenly disappeared. I'm not sure how it happened, but I think I just accidentally pushed someone off the pier…

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Allenby's POV:

I drop my cigarette while I'm still a few feet above the water. Damn it. I know I will die. I know I will not resurface from this water.

Then, as if by reflex, I positioned my body so I wouldn't get injured. It must be all that training I got from the government in Neo-Sweden.

Feeling the cold water besiege me, I am thankful that I remembered to hold my breath before falling into the nadir of the ocean. I swim up to the surface, gasping for air. I'm already trembling from the Pacific's arctic temperatures.

I swim to shore, looking for the bastard that threw me off the dock. Ooooh, is (whoever he is) gonna get it…

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Chibodee's POV:

I can't believe what I just did. I practically threw someone to their death! The one person who would change my life, and I just killed 'em!

I run to the sandy beach, terrified of what I've just done. I frantically look around for any sign of movement from above the water's surface. I see nothing.

Hurriedly, I take of my trench coat and throw it on the ground. I kick off my shoes, and take out my wallet. Just as I'm about to jump in, I hear coughing and sputtering coming just to the left of me.

I look over there, just as the moon reappears, to find a young girl with wet blue hair, and dripping clothes. She's shivering uncontrollably. And then it hits me…

"Allenby?!" I cry, completely surprised.

"Who are you?" she asks. "Are you the ass who pushed me off?"

"Don't you know me?" I ask incredulously, gathering up my belongings and jogging over to her.

"No, I don't know any bastards who decide to push innocent girls off a friekin' pier!" she retorts.

Rather than taking the time to explain my identity, I drop my trench coat on top of Allenby to try and warm her up. She doesn't object, and already takes comfort in the warmth it gives her. I sit down next to her.

"I can't believe you don't remember me," I say, trying my best to be gentle. "I'm Chibodee Crockett, remember? Neo-America's Fighter? I knew Domon Kasshu?"

Allenby's eyes widened when she heard who I was.

"Chibodee," she repeated, with a bland tone. Abruptly, her eyes caught mine. "Yes, I remember you."

I smile. I'm not exactly sure why. I do a lot of things and I don't know why.

"Good. Now that we're reacquainted, why don't I take you to your place?" I ask.

Still shivering, and unable to stand on her own, I took her silence as a yes. I wrapped her up in my coat, picked her up and began walking towards the boardwalk.

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Allenby's POV:

As he takes me into his arms, I can feel his biceps against my back and underneath my knees. I relish in the feeling of his chest against my side, as he holds me like a baby wrapped in a blanket.

I blush as I think of all this. I can feel it in my cheeks. Luckily, Chibodee doesn't notice, as he walks toward the boardwalk, looking straight ahead.

"Where do you live, Allenby?" he asks.

"N-not far. Just g-go this way," I reply, teeth still chattering.

He looks down at me with that ostentatious grin of his. This reminds me of something.

"Chibodee, was it you who pushed me off the pier?" I ask, looking him straight in the eye.

"Er…yeah, it was. But it was an accident, I swear!" he added, getting nervous under my intense glare.

"How the hell did it happen?" I inquire dangerously, through gritted teeth.

"Uh…I'm not exactly sure how. It was really dark, Allenby!" he says, now flinching.

I can feel the anger inside me building up. I know I won't let him get away with this.

"Wait! Before you get all berserk on me!" Chibodee exclaims. "I'll make it up to you, I swear! I'll do anything you say!"

Hmmm…Seems like I have this guy in the palm of my hand…

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