"Where's the Tournament being held this year?" Domon asked Rain, after surprising himself by realizing he'd completely overlooked the location.
"Japan." she replied, packing his clothes for him. "The argument was that we're the ones defending the title, so it should be held on our turf." She glanced over at him. "There will be some changes, though. It looks like your father's newest invention will be finished in time."
Domon started, guiltily remembering that he hadn't contacted his father since the Dark Gundam had been defeated. There had just been so much going on, and his father had been gone so long… "What invention?" He remembered the Dark Gundam far too well to be complacent about any more of his father's projects.
"He's been refining the ring system that was used in the Thirteenth Tournament." Rain told him. "With some help from that woman, Asherah. I've been in touch with him," she explained, catching his startled stare. She smiled. "And don't worry. He knows you really haven't had time to call, with everything that's been going on."
"Rain… thanks." Expressing gratitude wasn't as difficult for him as it had once been.
"No problem!" she chirped. "The rings are now portable and can be used in the environment that the International Committee deems most advantageous to either both fighters or the one generally accepted as the underdog. Which means you'll probably get shafted."
"Who's coming besides the guys and Allenby?"
"Well, Neo- Spain, Neo- Canada, Neo- Italy, and Neo- England are all out because the fighters they scrambled up didn't make the cut." Rain ticked them off on her fingers. "The guy from Neo- Kenya will be back, and the one from Neo- India, Neo- Greece, Neo- Portugal (A/N: That's where the clown guy that freaked Chibodee out was from, wasn't it? What was his name?) and Neo- Holland. (A/N: that is where the Holgar siblings are from, isn't it?) Allenby said Kiral's coming, too." (A/N: his country of origin?)
"I thought he wasn't going to be a Gundam fighter anymore?"
"I guess he changed his mind." Rain shrugged. "Allenby didn't know why, either, except that it might be because of all the rumors and bad feelings flying around."
Domon looked at the clock. "We'd better get going. You'll come in the Rising Gundam?"
"Right behind you. It was awfully sweet of Commissioner Karato to let me continue using it."
"He was just in a good mood from winning the Tournament." Domon commented dryly. "Besides, you deserve it."
Rain laughed. "A Gundam is an awfully big present."
"A good one." Domon countered, flashing back to when he'd first seen the Burning Gundam. With everything Rain had done for it, it should be even better than before.
Rain grabbed their bags and kissed his cheek. "Let's go."
Domon followed her out the door, blushing.
*
George de Sand sat at a table with Miss Marie- Louise, delicately, almost daintily, sipping a cup of coffee that he had somehow managed to scrounge up. He figured he'd need it to keep up with her.
Marie- Louise, for her part, was examining a pair of Japanese sandals she'd bought. George had no doubt that they would be used in one of her schemes to go incognito and wander around the city unnoticed. He'd have to keep an eye on her…
As though you didn't have an eye on her already. he berated himself. It was hard not to. The daylight backlit her blonde curls, giving them an angelic glow. She had matured in the past year, and even in the past few weeks, further growing into the pretty face and figure she'd inherited from her mother. But, more than that, it was the maturing of her personality that fascinated him. She was truly growing into a lady.
The headstrong, impulsive girl was beginning to learn to control herself, and to think of others more. She had more respect for her father, and adults in general. And although he still suspected she had a crush on him, she wasn't making it as painfully obvious as she had done previously.
The Princess felt his eyes on her and looked up. "What is it, George?"
"Nothing, Miss Marie- Louise." he said quietly, unable to jerk his eyes away as he had done in the past.
She cocked her head. "Tell me." she insisted gently.
George struggled to suppress a blush. Damn! "This light flatters you most admirably."
George could see the light in her eyes spread to the rest of her face. Dammit! Pedophile pedophile pedophile ingrate insubordinate…
His self- deprecating rambling thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of two unusually- tressed people at their table, one sporting a head of purple hair with pink bangs, the other white hair that oddly (if nicely) set off her face.
"Hey, Frenchy!" Chibodee Crocket greeted him, slapping a hand to his back that made George extremely glad that Chibodee hadn't caught him in mid- sip.
"Chibodee." George inclined his head and gave his friend an arch smile. "I see you haven't managed to pick up any culture in our time apart."
"I'm afraid I haven't given him the chance." spoke Chibodee's companion, laughing at the dirty look he gave her.
George kissed Asherah's hand. "Was it because you were too embarrassed to take him out in public?"
"Yeah, something like that." Asherah laughed again. "I'll leave you to catch up."
Chibodee looked absolutely delighted at a reprieve.
Catching his grateful smile to the heavens, she punched his arm. "I'll be back for you later, buster. No way you're getting off that easy." She dipped her head to the Princess in greeting. "Hello, Miss Marie- Louise."
Marie- Louise replied in kind, and George fought down a protective instinct at seeing her near the woman who had hurt Chibodee so badly. Then he found himself being proud at how well the girl handled herself.
"Want to come with me?" Asherah asked the Princess. "I'm going to go see Dr. Kasshu, and Domon and Rain might be there."
"I'm afraid I'm here with George, and it would be impolite of me to leave him alone." the Princess apologized.
"Okay." Asherah agreed, disappearing into the crowd.
Marie- Louise looked startled. "Did she just- vanish?"
Chibodee pulled a seat up for himself. "Yeah, she does that. You get used to it after a while."
*
"Cecil!" Sai Saici exclaimed, embracing the girl who'd jubilantly thrown herself at him.
"Hey, Sai Saici!" she answered, swinging herself around to separate them, but keeping an arm around his waist. (A/N: Does she have a nickname or something for him? And I don't know her character at all, so she'll probably be way OOC.)
"What do you want to do?"
"Let's go look at the water." Cecil suggested, and they happily meandered their way toward it.
*
Nastasha followed in Argo's wake as they wandered around, looking for someone they knew. The big man easily parted the people who didn't move aside, wide- eyed, when they saw him coming.
Nastasha snorted. Fools.
Suddenly, she caught sight of a familiar- looking red ribbon floating in the wind, accompanied by a matching red cape. "Argo! That way!"
*
insert introductions from Thirteenth Tournament
Well, they're all there, and that's something. I'm sorry I didn't do the introductions, but I just didn't feel like it. So much trouble, you know? And I'm nothing if not lazy… Let's just say their motivations for winning are the same, and that they were all touchingly standing together when they were introduced. (Fanartist photo op!) Cake for LivEvil and cookies for anyone who reviews. Please review, and please answer the questions in my annoying author's notes!