Every Story is a Love Story

Chapter 4: Of Gundam Fights and Engagement Rings

By the Almighty SporkGoddess

The rest of the summer passed peacefully, but inside of me emotions kept brewing. As each day passed, I fell more and more in love with that angel that had been bestowed unto me. I found myself quoting sonnets, and listening to the soft rock station. Every moment that she was not with me was akin to hell. All I wanted – all I needed – was for her to be beside me.

At the end of the summer, I invited Rain over to my apartment to celebrate a good final grade she'd gotten on a summer course. Not that she ever got anything other than good grades, mind you.

After eating the Italian takeout we'd gotten, we watched a movie together. I really can't tell you anything about the movie, because I was too busy looking at the woman next to me. The mere contact of her hand in mine was better than any show; just seeing her smiling at me was interesting enough. Throughout the entire thing, I wondered if she was really paying attention to it. Secretly, I hoped she was feeling the same way as me.

I barely noticed when it ended, and the credits were playing with some soft ballad. She moved closer to me, and smiled again.

"Wasn't the best I've seen."

"No." I admitted, smiling back. She closed her eyes a bit, and rested her head against my shoulder. I could smell the flowery herbal scent of her shampoo, mingled with her perfume and the scent of vanilla I'd always associated with her.

"Seitt…" She opened her eyes suddenly and turned to look at me. I could feel those brilliant blue sapphires gazing at my face as she moved her hands onto my shoulders. "I've never felt about anyone…the way I feel about you… And I think I know what it is…" She was silent for a bit, as if trying to overcome her nerves, and looked down at the material of the couch. "I…"

I could see how hard it was for her to say those words, and so I decided to spare her. "I love you too." I told her softly, and she blinked in surprise as the words registered. I put my arms around her, and she smiled, resting her head back against my shoulder.

Our sophomore year of college went typically enough. Rain was distracted due to lots of hard courses and her studious nature, but she still managed to make time to see me. By spring, we were deeply in love, and all of our friends commented on what a great couple we made.

"So I finally get to meet the infamous Rain Mikamura."

I glared at Elle, hoping Rain wouldn't take offense at this. I'd finally decided it was time for those two to meet, and we were sitting on the grass outside the student union.

Instead my girlfriend bowed, blushing a bit. As she was from Neo Japan, she bowed a lot. I'd managed to get used to this habit, thankfully, but Elle looked a bit surprised.

"Nice to meet you." She said after a moment's hesitation, eyeing the curtain of brown hair that surrounded Rain's down-turned face. She looked up and gave her a small smile.

"Pleasure's all mine. Seitt told me you're one of his best friends?"

"Yup. Don't worry your pretty little head about it though, it's purely platonic."

Rain blinked, probably a bit startled at Elle's forwardness. "I really wasn't worried, to be honest."

"Good, because you shouldn't be. You're all I ever hear about these days." Elle winked. "Ahh… young love… The angels, not half so happy in Heaven, are envious." She grinned at the two of us, and I felt the strongest urge to smack her.

"Figures Seitt's friend would be someone who goes around quoting Edgar Allan Poe in perfectly normal conversations." Rain laughed, and I felt relieved.

Elle immediately brightened. "You know ancient American poets?"

She nodded. "I took a class on it over the summer. You know, an easy course I could just relax in."

My friend blinked. "… Easy? I got a B in that, and I studied more than I ever have in my life!"

Rain looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply…"

"Chill out," Elle told her. "I'm not offended or anything." Rain grinned, and nodded.

The rest of the little meeting went well, and I was glad those two hit it off so well. Before it was time to go, however, Elle took out a camera.

"I want a picture of the happy couple! Please?" She begged.

Rain and I glanced at each other, and I shrugged. "Why not?"

I don't quite remember the details of taking the photo, no matter how many times I stared at it afterwards. All I remember was a sunny sky, green grass, and the two of us standing together. I had a hand in my pocket, and Rain was holding her books (it was rare for her to put them down even for a second). It was a rather awkward position for us, since we knew we were being watched, and were unsure of what to do.

"Come on!" Elle yelled. "Put your arm around her or something!"

I thanked the gods for the tan that concealed any possible blush as I put my arm around her and rested my hand on her shoulder.

One look at us and one would assume we had just begun going out, instead of having been a couple for almost a year. When Elle called a few weeks later with the developed picture, however, I was relieved to see that it had turned out half decently. I took a copy for myself, and gave one to Rain.

Soon spring turned into exam season, which turned into summer, and we were free. I decided to take some courses over the summer, and regrettably Rain and I couldn't see each other very much. But finally, summer passed and it was time for classes to begin.

A few months into junior year, around November, I resigned from the wrestling club. I'd decided it was too much work to keep up my grades while having a social life, and I could still work out at the local gym. But right before I got a chance to tell the director, he pulled me aside.

"Seitt, I really shouldn't tell you this… but your home colony Neo Turkey's going to choose a Gundam Fighter for the 13th Fight fairly soon."

"Yeah, I know." I arched an eyebrow. That was no surprise; my mother had mentioned it in her last letter home in fact.

"I mentioned your name to the officials." He winked at me, and I stared.

"… You did?"

"Yep. And they sounded very interested in the fact that you're an engineer student as well as a good fighter."

"But… my studies… my…" I swallowed the lump in my throat. My dreams were coming through…"

"Hold your horses, you don't even know if you'll be accepted yet." He told me, but his expression told me I was a shoe-in. I managed a smile. After all, I should be flattered… and grateful.

"Thank you, sir. I'll let you know what happens."

Sure enough, a week later or so I got a letter. I hadn't mentioned anything to Rain, since I didn't want to get either of us worried in case they didn't choose me, so I made sure I was alone when I opened it with trembling hands. It was a professional letter, merely informing me that I was the best choice for Neo Turkey's Gundam Fight and they'd need my response by the next few weeks.

I didn't know what to do. If I became a Gundam Fighter, I'd have to drop out of college. It wasn't the degree part that worried me, however. It was Rain. I'd have to leave her… and I couldn't ever see doing that. So, I did the only thing I could. I gave her, and myself, an ultimatum.

"You're what!?" Elle gasped, grasping onto my sleeve as if it was a lifejacket in the middle of the ocean.

"You heard me. Now help me pick out a ring?" I begged.

"Don't you think you're a bit young? You're only twenty…" I hadn't told her what the other choice of mine was.

"It wouldn't be right away." I sighed, taking her wrist and pulling her into the nearest jewelry store.

"You're crazy." She sighed. "But I guess that's why I like you so much… Now, let's find a ring."

After much searching, we found a suitable engagement ring. The ring itself, however, was unimportant to me. It was the woman who could possibly be wearing it.

Author's Note: It gets suspenseful, huh? Will Rain say yes? Will Seitt accept the offer to be Neo Turkey's representative? Do you guys really care because you know what happens anyway? Stay tuned to find out!