Every Story is a Love Story

Chapter 2: Some Enchanted Evening

By the Almighty SporkGoddess

"Rain?" Elle blinked. "Her name is actually Rain?" She and I were sitting on the grass under a tree after two particularly tedious classes had ended. It was rare that we had a break at the same time, so I had taken the opportunity to tell her about my encounter.

I nodded. "She's from Neo-Japan."

"You said she's studying medicine? She can't be too dumb then."

"She isn't, not at all. In fact, her friend Margarita said she's too studious."

"Nice change in pace for you, then. You gonna call her?"

"Of course." I checked my pocket to make sure the small piece of paper on which I had hastily written her number was still there.

"Good. Let me know how it goes."

That night, I called Rain. Maybe she had gotten over her initial reservations towards me, or maybe it was because I knew her native language of Japanese, but for some reason she never ran out of things to talk about. I didn't lose interest once, and I knew right then that this girl was different from the last few.

We kept on talking on the phone for a week or so, when finally I got up the nerve to ask her out. She accepted, and only after I had hung up the phone did I realize that I was actually blushing.

It was as if I had never gone out with a girl before. I was so nervous; being with Rain made it feel as if I was experiencing it all for the first time.

The thing about first dates is you learn an awful lot about the person. I took her to a movie, and then to that café I love so much, and there she told me a lot about herself. She was born and raised in Neo-Japan. Her father was a Gundam scientist, and her mother had died when she was little.

"I want to become a doctor so I can prevent people from feeling the grief I went through." She explained.

"I wish I had a reason for studying engineering," I said wistfully. "I'm just in it because I like it."

"That sounds like a good reason to me." She smiled. While I hadn't known her for very long, I had yet to hear a mean comment from Rain. "I'm not just interested in medicine, I also love literature and I know a lot about Gundam mechanics from my father."

"Really?"

"Yes. I can't imagine ever piloting one of those things myself, but I can fix them." She laughed.

"I'd love to pilot a Gundam."

"I bet you will someday. Maybe I could be on your crew." She joked.

"Sure, and we can watch your father have a heart attack because you're working for Neo Turkey." I teased. "Although you seem to have the inside scoop on the Neo Japanese mobile fighters, maybe you could do some spying for me."

She grinned. "That's true; my father's best friend was also a Gundam scientist. Our families were very close."

I nodded.

"Well, I feel rather selfish just talking about myself like this, so I'd like to hear about you now!" She said, taking a sip from her cappuccino.

I shrugged. "Not much to know. I was born in Neo-Turkey, on the Earth. My father ran out not long after I was born. My mother was still in college then, but she managed to juggle school and a baby, and ended up getting her nurse's degree. She ended up meeting a Turkish doctor visiting from the colonies, and they fell in love and got married, and we went back to the colony with him."

"Really?" She asked, looking rather interested.

"Yes. He was a very nice man, and I consider him to be more of my father than my biological one."

"That's good."

"Yeah. Can I ask something about you again?"

She laughed. "Alright."

"What's your relationship history? Any past boyfriends?"

She shrugged. "I had a best friend who was a boy, but he ended up leaving when I was ten. That's about it, besides a relationship in high school that wasn't serious at all. Dare I ask about you?"

"Well, I had one girlfriend when I first got here, but we decided we were better off friends and now she's my best friend. Then I had a few girlfriends that weren't serious at all."

"I see."

We finished eating, and then I walked her back to her apartment. There had only been rain yesterday, and it was a cool, starry night.

"Has it ever bothered you that this is all fake?" She asked quietly.

"Not really... the Earth no longer has this beauty, so it's the only way we can see it."

She nodded. "It's so beautiful…"

I smiled at her, and my trembling fingers reached over and took her hand in mine. She looked surprised, but then smiled back.

It astonished me. How my heart beat faster just holding her hand than it had when any girl had kissed me, how all I wanted to do was see her pretty smile, to make a joke and hear her musical laugh fill the air. I fervently wished that her apartment were a hundred miles away, so this moment could last forever. I had never felt this way before – not even with Elle. I hadn't known a mere moonlit walk could have this effect on me, the way that it was now that I was with this intelligent, beautiful; all together captivating young woman. Her father must have been a wise man to have had the foresight to call her something that fit so well: she was rare and precious, just like the precipitation with which she shared a name.

All too soon we reached her apartment, and I had to let go of her hand. She smiled at me again, and I found myself wrapping my arms around her slender waist.

"Will you call me?" She asked, her voice soft yet inquisitive.

"Of course, if you want me to."

"I would love for you to."

"I was never able to deny a lady," I grinned.

She laughed. "I've always found that to be a very good quality in a man,"

"Then I expect you'll be very fond of me, hmm?"

She blushed. "I'm afraid it's too late for that."

"So the feeling's mutual." I smiled at her.

She smiled back at me, although it was a bit shy this time, and then leaned over and kissed me.

"I have to go now… I had a great time, so thank you." She walked up to the door, then stopped and called back to me:

"I'll be waiting for your call!"

Then she turned around and walked inside. I could only stare after her in wonderment, wondering if I had just dreamed the entire thing. But I could still feel her lips briefly brushing against my own, and her soft skin against mine.

Author's Note: I just had to mention Domon! Can you believe I just wrote Seitt/Rain fluff? Ahh! The Apocalypse is near! Anyway… stay tuned for more coming soon!