Chapter XI: Gathering
"Bunny? Bunny?" Brad opened the door to Bunny's room the next morning. "Bunny? Are you in here? Bunny?" He shrugged and closed the door. "Has anyone seen Bunny?" he called down the hall.
"Nope!"
"Not me."
"Isn't she up already?"
"Yeah, she's usually the first one up."
"Chikori, have you seen Bunny?"
"Naw-uh," Chikori replied through a mouthful of toothpaste.
"Maybe she evaporated!" Haaz suggested.
"HAAZ!" eight voices yelled at Haaz at once.
"Okay, okay. I'll be quiet!"
After a while, Brad started to panic. "I haven't seen Bunny anywhere! What if something happened to her? What if she was kidnapped? What if someone murdered her? What if-"
"Cut it out! You're giving me a headache!" Volta covered her ears as Brad continued pouring out a list of all the misfortunes that could have befallen Bunny in the past night. "I'm sure she's fine, Brad." Volta noticed that this was the first time Brad had ever had a conversation with her.
By noon, everyone was panicking. What had happened the princess of Neo- France?
"I found something! I found something!" Haaz jumped up and down as he flung a piece of paper around in the air.
"Just read it," Volta said.
"It says, 'We have Bubby. Come along to the watchtower in-' " Haaz was cut off.
"You don't even know how to read! Gimme that!" Volta grabbed the paper from Haaz. "It says, 'We have the Neo-French princess Bunny de Sand. Come to the Eiffel Tower in Paris within two days, and your princess lives. Bring the Berserker system. Brad Klements will know what I'm talking about. I believe he still has it. Only the former and new Shuffle Alliance members may come. I hope it will be a very-enjoyable-experience for you all. I wish for you to meet a friend of mine: the Hell Gundam. I'm sure this will prove to be a very educational experience for you all. Signed, The Ace of Hearts.' " Volta finished reading the letter.
There was a moment of silence as the message sunk in. "Let's go," Domon said. "We'll stop and pick up the others along the way. Ride in your Gundams. It'll be much faster." In a moment, everyone was in his or her Gundam, ready to go.
* * *
"Sai Sici! Stop the battle immideatly. We need to go, now!" Domon interfeered an ongoing battle between Sai Sici and the Gundam fighter of Neo-Malaysia.
"Wha'? Huh? I can't interrupt a Gundam fight! I'd be disqualified!" Sai Sici protested.
"I'll end the match for you, then," Haaz volunteered and quickly removed the head of the Scythe Gundam. " 'A Gundam whose headesection is destroyed is desqualified." Haaz quoted from the Gundam regulations.
Reluctantly, Sai Sici agreed. "Okay. But remind me, where are we going?"
"Neo-Russia. We need Argo," Domon replied curtly.
"Whatever you say, bro. Let's go! Hey, that rhymes, doesn't it? 'Whatever you say, bro! Let's go!' "
"No wonder Sai Sici chose Haaz to be the next Ace of Clubs. Their intellect levels are identical!" Volta whispered to Chibodee through the speakers; he snickered in agreement.
* * *
"Natasha, we need to see Argo this instant!" It was half a day later and Domon was having serious trouble getting through to Argo's wife.
"He's in training. Come back later. Argo never interrupts his training for anything-I'm sorry," Natasha said stubbornly.
"Maybe he'll agree to come out when he sees this," Domon replied and held out the ransom note that had been left by Bunny's bedside.
Natasha scanned the paper quickly, a look of horror filling her face. "ARGO!" she screamed as she ran into their house. "ARGO! Get down here this instant! I don't care if you're training or in the middle of a Gundam fight! This is more important. ARGO!" she screamed up at Argo.
Argo Guilsky came bounding down the stairs. "What?" he asked.
"Read this," Natasha thrust the paper in front of his face.
Argo read it quickly and understood the importance of the matter immediately. "What are we waiting for?" he asked.
* * *
"So you're telling me that there is a new Dark Gundam, except this time it's called the Hell Gundam? Then how can it be the Dark Gundam if it's the Hell Gundam?" Sai Sici asked through the speakers.
"It's like a mutated form of the Dark Gundam or something. It's more powerful," Chibodee said.
"Oh," Sai Sici replied intellectually. "And you're telling me that some people kidnapped Bunny and are holding her for ransom?"
"Yes!" four voices responded at once.
"No offense or anything, but why do we care? I mean, George and Marie- Louise could always have another baby, right?" Sai Sici asked.
Everyone glared at him. "Bunny is special. She's not like anyone else and I'm not going to let her die," Brad replied coldly.
"Well, if all we're doing is going on a rescue mission, can I go home now?" Sai Sici complained.
"You idiot! Didn't you read the note? All of the former and new Shuffle Alliance members must be present. And we also have to find out what that Hell Gundam thing is and who's piloting it," Volta said. Could a man ever be stupider than Sai Sici? she asked herself silently.
"Wait! So there's this new Dark Gundam called the Hell Gundam, right? Then how can it be the Dark Gundam if it's the Hell Gundam?" Haaz repeated Sai Sici's question.
And there you have it, ladies and gentleman. Haaz Lao is officially the stupidest human being known to mankind! Volta thought in disgust.
* * *
Nine Gundams landed in the backyard of the Neo-French palace in Paris. Ten figures emerged from the Gundams. "We need to see His Majesty at once," Domon said as they neared the gates of the palace.
"His Majesty George de Sand is busy at the moment. I'm sure he can see you later this afternoon," the guard replied coldly.
"Tell him it involves his daughter," Domon said, getting a bit angry.
"I'm sorry, but he is in the middle of a business transaction and-"
"You fool!" Domon pushed the guard against the gate. "Let me in now or I'll pull the gate apart myself."
"Yes, sir," the guard gulped and pushed a button, opening the gate.
Everyone filed in after Domon.
The door banged open as Domon and the others barged into the room George was holding his conference in.
"Domon!" George stood up in surprise. "Please, Domon, come back later. You know how I hate it when you barge in-excuse me-drop in at the wrong moment," George said.
"George, it's really important," Rain put in. "It's about Bunny."
"Bunny?" Domon had George's attention immediately. "What happened to Bunny? Is she all right? Where is she? I don't see her anywhere! Domon Kasshu, what have you done with my daughter?" George asked, momentarily ruffled.
"She was kidnapped," Domon replied.
"Oh, god," George muttered and put his head down on the table. "Why me? Why Bunny?" he asked to no one in particular.
"Would you like to read the note?" Domon asked.
"Oh, all right. It's inevitable. I'd have to read it eventually," George said sadly and took the paper from Domon's outstretched hand.
Slowly, George read the note. It all sunk in. "Oh god." His face was a picture of pure sorrow. "We have to wait for tomorrow to go save my daughter? Why?" George smashed his hand-a bit too forcefully-on the table. "Excuse me," he said and turned to the man sitting at the other end of the now seriously damaged table. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid our thrilling discussion of the decrease in the number of cats in Neo-France must be cut short. Please, come back in a week or two," George led the man to the door.
" 'Thrilling discussion of the decrease in the number of cats in Neo- France'?" Chibodee asked, seriously doubting that the conversation had been the least bit interesting.
George shrugged. "I'm a polite man, unlike someone else I know," George said and arched an eyebrow and Chibodee.
"But really, was it interesting?" Chibodee asked, ignoring George's remark.
"It was a complete bore. Now, please, tell me exactly what happened," George begged of Domon and the others.
"The last I saw of her was the day before, right after her Gundam fight with Tamjin Gundam. The next morning, Brad Klements discovered that she had gone missing." Domon told the story.
"Everyone be up and about by nine tomorrow. Now, I'd like to talk to Mr. Brad Klements, alone, please," George said and everyone except Brad left the room. "Please, Mr. Klements, sit down," George said.
Brad sat down in a leather chair.
"Exactly what do you know about the Berserker system?" George sat down across from him.
Brad gulped and shook his head. "Nothing, sir." How could he tell the king of Neo-France about the Berserker system without getting disqualified from the tournament? He could only trust Bunny with the truth.
"Please, Mr. Klements, we both know that you are lying. I will either extract the truth from you easily, or painfully. Your choice. I am set on getting my daughter back. And I'm going to do it with or without your assistance, although with would be much easier," George said coldly.
Brad remained silent. He couldn't tell.
"Please! I promise that whatever the truth is, it will not disqualify you from the tournament," George assured Brad. "I know we both want to save Bunny."
Brad gulped. "Fine. But you won't disqualify me?" he asked.
George nodded.
"I'd been using the Berserker system for ten years, ever since I started Gundam fighting." Brad paused. It's too late to back out now. "Eventually, I got powerful enough so that I didn't need the system any more, but I always kept it with me-"
"What do you mean 'have'? The Berserker system isn't an object. It's a state of mind," George said.
For a moment, Brad was silent. "My father. He was a scientist. He created a way to actually hold the Berserker system. To use it yourself, when you want to. And he gave it too me, well, sort of. I've always kept it with me, and still do."
"Brad, are you telling me that you have the Berserker system?" George asked in disbelief.
Brad nodded. "Exactly."
"You will bring it tomorrow, won't you?" George asked.
"Of course! I'd do anything to save Bunny!" Brad said emotionally.
"So would I."
* * *
Volta knocked hesitantly on the door, which opened shorty after. Chibodee stood framed in the doorway, only in his boxers. Volta eyed him critically and said, "May I come in?"
"Sure," Chibodee said and stood aside to let her in. "What d'yah need?"
"Chibodee, I'm worried," Volta said.
"What about?" Chibodee came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Volta leaned against his bare chest and sighed. For a moment, Chibodee's skin tingled. No woman had ever leaned against him like Volta was doing now. No woman made him feel the way Volta did.
"About Bunny. What if she's hurt, or hungry, or thirsty? What if she's dead? What if the people who wrote the note were lying? What if they don't give Bunny back? What if-"
"-The sky falls down? What if Haaz goes into a coma? What if you stop worrying? Volta, nothing will happen to Bunny. Just chill," Chibodee said. Again Volta sighed. Of course Chibodee was right. Volta leaned against Chibodee and relaxed, slowly slipping into sleep.
"Volta?" Chibodee whispered, but Volta was sound asleep. Chibodee lay her on his bead and placed himself on her other side. With his back against the backboard of the bed, he too slipped into the land of sleep.
* * *
"Hey, Chibodee!" Domon knocked on Chibodee's door. "Chibodee! You in there?" He knocked louder and finally, in frustration, tried to open the door. It was unlocked. Domon silently opened the door to see if Chibodee was there. He looked around the room. Nothing. "Chibodee?" he asked again, quietly.
Then his eyes fell on the bed. Chibodee and Volta were sleeping, Chibodee's arms wrapped tightly around the fighter from Neo-Nepal, as if on the condition that he let go, she would disappear.
"Oh, boy," Domon whispered in shock. He stared harder at the bed, making sure that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. The full impact of what he was seeing suddenly hit him. Chibodee had fallen for a twenty-year- old?!?! And Volta was in love with Chibodee?!?!? They were practically at each other's throats! As Domon thought about the last two days, he realized that Volta nd Chibodee hadn't been ready to kill each other on the spur of the moment.
"God," Domon sighed and closed the door behind him. "No one's gonna believe me this time-" he said to himself.
"No one's gonna believe you about what?" Rain asked as she heard Domon mumble to himself.
"Oh, nothing. I think I need glasses, that's all," Domon replied absentmindedly.
"Please tell me," Rain begged. "Please. I promise I'll believe you."
"What the heck! I saw Volta and Chibodee together," he said.
"You WHAT?!?!?" Rain asked in shock.
"Not so loud, they're still asleep," Domon quieted his wife down.
"Domon, are you telling me that Volta and Chibodee are in love?" Rain asked.
Domon nodded.
"Oh, I think it's wonderful! It's so romantic! Almost as good as what happened to us!" Rain clapped her hands together in delight.
"Please, don't remind me," Domon begged with a pained look on his face.
Inside of Chibodee's room, Volta was waking up. "Chibodee? Chibodee?" she murmured softly in Chibodee's ear.
'Wha'?" he asked, still half asleep.
"I think we should get up," Volta adivsed.
"Why would we want to do a thing like that?" Chibodee was now awake.
"Because the sooner we get Bunny back, the sooner I get to see you again," Volta replied.
"Hmm. Good point." Chibodee stretched his arms and accidentally pushed Volta off the bed.
"Chibodee!" She stood up and hit him on the head. "Get up this instant!"
"Why?" Chibodee said and tried to go back to sleep.
"Haven't we been through this already?" Volta asked in annoyance.
"Yah, I think so." Chibodee agreed, but made no move of getting up, either.
"Chibodee Crocket, you are impossible! I seriously sympathize with the women who makes the mistake of marrying you!" Volta shouted, a bit too loudly.
"But wouldn't that mean that you're sympathizing with yourself?" Chibodee asked.
"It depends. If you eventually get out of that thing, maybe. But I refuse to have my husband waiting at the end of the church isle, still in bed! Now git!"
"All right, all right. I'm up," Chibodee sighed.
Chibodee reluctantly got out of bed. A pillow came flying at him, sending him smashing back into the bed. Volta giggled. "Why you little." Chibodee went on to describe Volta very colorfully.
"That's nice, dear," Volta said. "Just get ready. We have an advanced-form- of-the-Dark Gundam to beat!"
"Bunny? Bunny?" Brad opened the door to Bunny's room the next morning. "Bunny? Are you in here? Bunny?" He shrugged and closed the door. "Has anyone seen Bunny?" he called down the hall.
"Nope!"
"Not me."
"Isn't she up already?"
"Yeah, she's usually the first one up."
"Chikori, have you seen Bunny?"
"Naw-uh," Chikori replied through a mouthful of toothpaste.
"Maybe she evaporated!" Haaz suggested.
"HAAZ!" eight voices yelled at Haaz at once.
"Okay, okay. I'll be quiet!"
After a while, Brad started to panic. "I haven't seen Bunny anywhere! What if something happened to her? What if she was kidnapped? What if someone murdered her? What if-"
"Cut it out! You're giving me a headache!" Volta covered her ears as Brad continued pouring out a list of all the misfortunes that could have befallen Bunny in the past night. "I'm sure she's fine, Brad." Volta noticed that this was the first time Brad had ever had a conversation with her.
By noon, everyone was panicking. What had happened the princess of Neo- France?
"I found something! I found something!" Haaz jumped up and down as he flung a piece of paper around in the air.
"Just read it," Volta said.
"It says, 'We have Bubby. Come along to the watchtower in-' " Haaz was cut off.
"You don't even know how to read! Gimme that!" Volta grabbed the paper from Haaz. "It says, 'We have the Neo-French princess Bunny de Sand. Come to the Eiffel Tower in Paris within two days, and your princess lives. Bring the Berserker system. Brad Klements will know what I'm talking about. I believe he still has it. Only the former and new Shuffle Alliance members may come. I hope it will be a very-enjoyable-experience for you all. I wish for you to meet a friend of mine: the Hell Gundam. I'm sure this will prove to be a very educational experience for you all. Signed, The Ace of Hearts.' " Volta finished reading the letter.
There was a moment of silence as the message sunk in. "Let's go," Domon said. "We'll stop and pick up the others along the way. Ride in your Gundams. It'll be much faster." In a moment, everyone was in his or her Gundam, ready to go.
* * *
"Sai Sici! Stop the battle immideatly. We need to go, now!" Domon interfeered an ongoing battle between Sai Sici and the Gundam fighter of Neo-Malaysia.
"Wha'? Huh? I can't interrupt a Gundam fight! I'd be disqualified!" Sai Sici protested.
"I'll end the match for you, then," Haaz volunteered and quickly removed the head of the Scythe Gundam. " 'A Gundam whose headesection is destroyed is desqualified." Haaz quoted from the Gundam regulations.
Reluctantly, Sai Sici agreed. "Okay. But remind me, where are we going?"
"Neo-Russia. We need Argo," Domon replied curtly.
"Whatever you say, bro. Let's go! Hey, that rhymes, doesn't it? 'Whatever you say, bro! Let's go!' "
"No wonder Sai Sici chose Haaz to be the next Ace of Clubs. Their intellect levels are identical!" Volta whispered to Chibodee through the speakers; he snickered in agreement.
* * *
"Natasha, we need to see Argo this instant!" It was half a day later and Domon was having serious trouble getting through to Argo's wife.
"He's in training. Come back later. Argo never interrupts his training for anything-I'm sorry," Natasha said stubbornly.
"Maybe he'll agree to come out when he sees this," Domon replied and held out the ransom note that had been left by Bunny's bedside.
Natasha scanned the paper quickly, a look of horror filling her face. "ARGO!" she screamed as she ran into their house. "ARGO! Get down here this instant! I don't care if you're training or in the middle of a Gundam fight! This is more important. ARGO!" she screamed up at Argo.
Argo Guilsky came bounding down the stairs. "What?" he asked.
"Read this," Natasha thrust the paper in front of his face.
Argo read it quickly and understood the importance of the matter immediately. "What are we waiting for?" he asked.
* * *
"So you're telling me that there is a new Dark Gundam, except this time it's called the Hell Gundam? Then how can it be the Dark Gundam if it's the Hell Gundam?" Sai Sici asked through the speakers.
"It's like a mutated form of the Dark Gundam or something. It's more powerful," Chibodee said.
"Oh," Sai Sici replied intellectually. "And you're telling me that some people kidnapped Bunny and are holding her for ransom?"
"Yes!" four voices responded at once.
"No offense or anything, but why do we care? I mean, George and Marie- Louise could always have another baby, right?" Sai Sici asked.
Everyone glared at him. "Bunny is special. She's not like anyone else and I'm not going to let her die," Brad replied coldly.
"Well, if all we're doing is going on a rescue mission, can I go home now?" Sai Sici complained.
"You idiot! Didn't you read the note? All of the former and new Shuffle Alliance members must be present. And we also have to find out what that Hell Gundam thing is and who's piloting it," Volta said. Could a man ever be stupider than Sai Sici? she asked herself silently.
"Wait! So there's this new Dark Gundam called the Hell Gundam, right? Then how can it be the Dark Gundam if it's the Hell Gundam?" Haaz repeated Sai Sici's question.
And there you have it, ladies and gentleman. Haaz Lao is officially the stupidest human being known to mankind! Volta thought in disgust.
* * *
Nine Gundams landed in the backyard of the Neo-French palace in Paris. Ten figures emerged from the Gundams. "We need to see His Majesty at once," Domon said as they neared the gates of the palace.
"His Majesty George de Sand is busy at the moment. I'm sure he can see you later this afternoon," the guard replied coldly.
"Tell him it involves his daughter," Domon said, getting a bit angry.
"I'm sorry, but he is in the middle of a business transaction and-"
"You fool!" Domon pushed the guard against the gate. "Let me in now or I'll pull the gate apart myself."
"Yes, sir," the guard gulped and pushed a button, opening the gate.
Everyone filed in after Domon.
The door banged open as Domon and the others barged into the room George was holding his conference in.
"Domon!" George stood up in surprise. "Please, Domon, come back later. You know how I hate it when you barge in-excuse me-drop in at the wrong moment," George said.
"George, it's really important," Rain put in. "It's about Bunny."
"Bunny?" Domon had George's attention immediately. "What happened to Bunny? Is she all right? Where is she? I don't see her anywhere! Domon Kasshu, what have you done with my daughter?" George asked, momentarily ruffled.
"She was kidnapped," Domon replied.
"Oh, god," George muttered and put his head down on the table. "Why me? Why Bunny?" he asked to no one in particular.
"Would you like to read the note?" Domon asked.
"Oh, all right. It's inevitable. I'd have to read it eventually," George said sadly and took the paper from Domon's outstretched hand.
Slowly, George read the note. It all sunk in. "Oh god." His face was a picture of pure sorrow. "We have to wait for tomorrow to go save my daughter? Why?" George smashed his hand-a bit too forcefully-on the table. "Excuse me," he said and turned to the man sitting at the other end of the now seriously damaged table. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid our thrilling discussion of the decrease in the number of cats in Neo-France must be cut short. Please, come back in a week or two," George led the man to the door.
" 'Thrilling discussion of the decrease in the number of cats in Neo- France'?" Chibodee asked, seriously doubting that the conversation had been the least bit interesting.
George shrugged. "I'm a polite man, unlike someone else I know," George said and arched an eyebrow and Chibodee.
"But really, was it interesting?" Chibodee asked, ignoring George's remark.
"It was a complete bore. Now, please, tell me exactly what happened," George begged of Domon and the others.
"The last I saw of her was the day before, right after her Gundam fight with Tamjin Gundam. The next morning, Brad Klements discovered that she had gone missing." Domon told the story.
"Everyone be up and about by nine tomorrow. Now, I'd like to talk to Mr. Brad Klements, alone, please," George said and everyone except Brad left the room. "Please, Mr. Klements, sit down," George said.
Brad sat down in a leather chair.
"Exactly what do you know about the Berserker system?" George sat down across from him.
Brad gulped and shook his head. "Nothing, sir." How could he tell the king of Neo-France about the Berserker system without getting disqualified from the tournament? He could only trust Bunny with the truth.
"Please, Mr. Klements, we both know that you are lying. I will either extract the truth from you easily, or painfully. Your choice. I am set on getting my daughter back. And I'm going to do it with or without your assistance, although with would be much easier," George said coldly.
Brad remained silent. He couldn't tell.
"Please! I promise that whatever the truth is, it will not disqualify you from the tournament," George assured Brad. "I know we both want to save Bunny."
Brad gulped. "Fine. But you won't disqualify me?" he asked.
George nodded.
"I'd been using the Berserker system for ten years, ever since I started Gundam fighting." Brad paused. It's too late to back out now. "Eventually, I got powerful enough so that I didn't need the system any more, but I always kept it with me-"
"What do you mean 'have'? The Berserker system isn't an object. It's a state of mind," George said.
For a moment, Brad was silent. "My father. He was a scientist. He created a way to actually hold the Berserker system. To use it yourself, when you want to. And he gave it too me, well, sort of. I've always kept it with me, and still do."
"Brad, are you telling me that you have the Berserker system?" George asked in disbelief.
Brad nodded. "Exactly."
"You will bring it tomorrow, won't you?" George asked.
"Of course! I'd do anything to save Bunny!" Brad said emotionally.
"So would I."
* * *
Volta knocked hesitantly on the door, which opened shorty after. Chibodee stood framed in the doorway, only in his boxers. Volta eyed him critically and said, "May I come in?"
"Sure," Chibodee said and stood aside to let her in. "What d'yah need?"
"Chibodee, I'm worried," Volta said.
"What about?" Chibodee came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Volta leaned against his bare chest and sighed. For a moment, Chibodee's skin tingled. No woman had ever leaned against him like Volta was doing now. No woman made him feel the way Volta did.
"About Bunny. What if she's hurt, or hungry, or thirsty? What if she's dead? What if the people who wrote the note were lying? What if they don't give Bunny back? What if-"
"-The sky falls down? What if Haaz goes into a coma? What if you stop worrying? Volta, nothing will happen to Bunny. Just chill," Chibodee said. Again Volta sighed. Of course Chibodee was right. Volta leaned against Chibodee and relaxed, slowly slipping into sleep.
"Volta?" Chibodee whispered, but Volta was sound asleep. Chibodee lay her on his bead and placed himself on her other side. With his back against the backboard of the bed, he too slipped into the land of sleep.
* * *
"Hey, Chibodee!" Domon knocked on Chibodee's door. "Chibodee! You in there?" He knocked louder and finally, in frustration, tried to open the door. It was unlocked. Domon silently opened the door to see if Chibodee was there. He looked around the room. Nothing. "Chibodee?" he asked again, quietly.
Then his eyes fell on the bed. Chibodee and Volta were sleeping, Chibodee's arms wrapped tightly around the fighter from Neo-Nepal, as if on the condition that he let go, she would disappear.
"Oh, boy," Domon whispered in shock. He stared harder at the bed, making sure that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. The full impact of what he was seeing suddenly hit him. Chibodee had fallen for a twenty-year- old?!?! And Volta was in love with Chibodee?!?!? They were practically at each other's throats! As Domon thought about the last two days, he realized that Volta nd Chibodee hadn't been ready to kill each other on the spur of the moment.
"God," Domon sighed and closed the door behind him. "No one's gonna believe me this time-" he said to himself.
"No one's gonna believe you about what?" Rain asked as she heard Domon mumble to himself.
"Oh, nothing. I think I need glasses, that's all," Domon replied absentmindedly.
"Please tell me," Rain begged. "Please. I promise I'll believe you."
"What the heck! I saw Volta and Chibodee together," he said.
"You WHAT?!?!?" Rain asked in shock.
"Not so loud, they're still asleep," Domon quieted his wife down.
"Domon, are you telling me that Volta and Chibodee are in love?" Rain asked.
Domon nodded.
"Oh, I think it's wonderful! It's so romantic! Almost as good as what happened to us!" Rain clapped her hands together in delight.
"Please, don't remind me," Domon begged with a pained look on his face.
Inside of Chibodee's room, Volta was waking up. "Chibodee? Chibodee?" she murmured softly in Chibodee's ear.
'Wha'?" he asked, still half asleep.
"I think we should get up," Volta adivsed.
"Why would we want to do a thing like that?" Chibodee was now awake.
"Because the sooner we get Bunny back, the sooner I get to see you again," Volta replied.
"Hmm. Good point." Chibodee stretched his arms and accidentally pushed Volta off the bed.
"Chibodee!" She stood up and hit him on the head. "Get up this instant!"
"Why?" Chibodee said and tried to go back to sleep.
"Haven't we been through this already?" Volta asked in annoyance.
"Yah, I think so." Chibodee agreed, but made no move of getting up, either.
"Chibodee Crocket, you are impossible! I seriously sympathize with the women who makes the mistake of marrying you!" Volta shouted, a bit too loudly.
"But wouldn't that mean that you're sympathizing with yourself?" Chibodee asked.
"It depends. If you eventually get out of that thing, maybe. But I refuse to have my husband waiting at the end of the church isle, still in bed! Now git!"
"All right, all right. I'm up," Chibodee sighed.
Chibodee reluctantly got out of bed. A pillow came flying at him, sending him smashing back into the bed. Volta giggled. "Why you little." Chibodee went on to describe Volta very colorfully.
"That's nice, dear," Volta said. "Just get ready. We have an advanced-form- of-the-Dark Gundam to beat!"