Mobile Fighter G Gundam: Anonymous
Chapter XIX: "Sing Me a Song of a Land that is Gone"
"I love you." Those were the only words Gina ever needed to hear. If it were possible, she would have just liked to sink into those words, into Chibodee's sweet kisses, into happiness. But an image of the Devil Gundam was always skirting around the corners of her mind's eyes, constantly reminding her that it was coming closer, that the end was coming near.
"I'm tired," the android groaned as she rested her head on a pillow.
Chibodee chuckled. "You should be. I didn't let you sleep a wink last night."
"Mm," Gina murmured in sleepy agreement. She rolled around, back facing Chibodee, and pulled a pillow over her head. "G'night."
"Hey, I never said you could just go off to sleep like that," Chibodee said with a smile and grabbed Gina by the waist. He pulled her close to him, stroking her soft brown hair gently.
Gina started to mumble some incoherent sentence about how she was tired, but stopped mid-sentence. She could never truthfully complain about being in Chibodee's warm embrace.
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Shirley yawned and poured herself another cup of steaming coffee while the other three crewmembers sat peacefully at the kitchen table. "Chibodee and Gina disappeared into the black hole again, didn't they?" Shirley asked as she sat down with the others.
Cath nodded. "What else would keep those two so long?"
"Chibodee really should be training. I mean, his match with Domon is only in two days," Bunny said worriedly.
"Exactly. His match is in two days. Give the guy a break, Bunny. I mean, soon this'll all be over. Let him enjoy it while he can," Janet suggested. All three other girls stared at her. "What?! You know he's gonna get all depressed once…" Janet looked away, at the floor. "Anyway, he's entitled to his share of fun, isn't he?" she finished softly.
" 'Fun' is a warped term, Janet," Cath scolded, shaking her fork menacingly at Janet, trying to lighten the mood. It worked; for a little while, at least.
"Do you really think it'll be over soon?" Bunny asked eventually.
Shirley sighed. "I think so."
Cath laughed. "How would we know? God, we barely even know how this whole damn thing is working."
"I dunno. It just seems…"
"…Chibodee's crest has been glowing for the longest time now," Shirley finished for Janet.
"I guess. But still…" Cath sighed. "I'm gonna miss Gina, I think."
The others nodded.
"And we can't even tell Domon. How do you think he'll handle it?" Bunny asked.
"With lots of anger. He'll probably break a few things, curse in only-god-knows-how-many languages," Cath predicted.
"Yeah. Wasn't Rain going to make him take an anger management class or somethin'?" Janet wondered, turning the conversation down a different, happier path.
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This were getting much too complicated for Chico to handle. First, his sister didn't want to go back with him, otherwise…Why would she have backed away from him during the match? Now he had to keep posing as some martial arts champion. There was always the problem of that obnoxious boy Bo; but I have to keep him around, Chico thought. How will I learn to handle the Dagwon Gundam without his help? And now, the newest—and worst—development: Gina was actually happy with the Neo American fighter!
"You do realize Shin Fi Ku has another match in approximately two hours?" Bo asked from his position on the floor in front of the television.
Chico groaned. Great. Just what I needed. One more problem to solve. "I suppose I'd better to go practice."
"No, not really. Dagwon Gundam should take care of it all," Bo said absently.
"What do you mean, 'Dagwon Gundam should take care of it all'? How can a Gundam suddenly make me fight like a professional martial artist?" Chico asked.
"Simple. Dagwon Gundam was originally programmed to make the fighter superb at fighting," Bo explained.
Chico blinked. "Are you telling me that it doesn't matter who pilots the Gundam, anyone will do well in it?"
"Sorta. See, the Dagwon Gundam can only take a fighter to the extent of his powers. Which means, in your case, that you're still pretty weak."
"I'm going to go practice," Chico growled and left the room.
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Exactly two hours, five minutes, and three seconds later, Chico emerged victorious from an easy battle with Neo Mexico's Gundam. He found it amazingly ironic that he, a Neo Mexican himself, had just defeated someone from his own country. And the officials didn't even know it. But that small piece of irony was only on his mind for a second, before thoughts of Gina kicked in. She hadn't been in the stadium, but then, he couldn't expect her to be there, could he? And if she wasn't at the stadium, where was she? Chico sighed and closed his eyes. No, Chico, you know the answer to that one. He absently began to remove the mask that covered his face, but stopped, realizing that it might be better to keep the mask on, in case anyone recognized him.
"Felicitaciones (Congratulations)," Tio greeted Chico as he emerged from the Gundam's cockpit.
"Told ya the Gundam would do the work for you," Bo said, crossing his arms.
Chico nodded his head in greeting to Tio and glared at Bo. "Shut up, niño," he said to Bo harshly.
"Fine," the boy muttered. "But I know something you don't…about Chibodee," he added in a sing-song voice. Bo knew Chico would take the bait. Anything about Chibodee usually had to do with something about Gina. That was Chico's weak spot, Bo had figured out almost instantly, his sister.
"I hate that kid," Chico grumbled under his breath. "Fine. What is it?"
"You have to promise not to yell at me any more," Bo told Chico.
"I don't yell at you!" Chico yelled.
Bo raised a questioning eyebrow. "Promise?"
"I promise."
"Swear?"
"Sí, I swear. Now tell me!"
"Cross your heart, hope to die?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"Stick a needle in your eye?"
"Whatever. Will you please stop acting like the demon you are for a moment of your life and tell me?"
"Pinkie swear?" Bo was having fun.
"Ai! Now tell me!"
"Fine. Neo America is having a match against Neo Japan in…" Bo stopped to look at his watch. "…an hour."
Chico wasn't sure whether to thank his child mechanic or yell at him for being such a brat; he decided silence was the best option.
"And now," Bo said as his rubbed his hands together and licked his lips, "we have just enough time for lunch."
Tio sighed. "I knew I was being an idiot when I bailed that boy out of jail," he muttered under his breath. "Look what you got yourself into. You are getting much too old for this," Tio mumbled to himself as he followed an ecstatic Bo and a thoughtful Chico to the nearest restaurant.
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"Chibodee, I'm worried." Gina wrung her hands as she watched Chibodee through darts lazily at the dart-board at the other end of the room.
"What's wrong?" Chibodee asked, putting his dart down on the table.
"I just think…" The android shook her head. She wouldn't bring up the topic of the Devil Gundam so near to the end. "Never mind. Shouldn't you be practicing, though? Your match with Domon is in half-an-hour."
"But I am practicing," Chibodee explained with a grin. "My aim."
"We really should get going to the arena, then," Gina suggested. Even she wasn't sure why she was so nervous.
Chibodee looked at her worriedly. "Gina, are you sure you are all right?"
"Yeah, yes, I'm—I'm fine." Soon, soon it'll all be over. Soon everything will be done with. I'll be—but that doesn't matter. What's important is getting rid of the Devil Gundam.
"Positive?"
"Yes, I'll be okay. Don't worry." It doesn't matter what happens to me, or…or to Chibodee. The Shuffle Alliance in supposed to protect the world. You can't be selfish. You have to think about the rest of the world first. I mean, what's the difference of two people, compared to millions? It doesn't matter. It's not important.
"Gina? Gina, hellooooo? Earth to Gina, earth to Gina. Gina? Gina! What's wrong?" Chibodee jumped up and wrapped his arms protectively around the android as she sobbed uncontrollably into his shirt.
"N—nothing," Gina mumbled feebly.
"C'mon, you can tell me," Chibodee urged gently.
"But—but…"
"Fine. You can tell me after the match, okay?" Gina didn't have time to respond before Chibodee was kissing her. Oh, Chibodee, there won't be an 'after the match'… Gina thought miserably.
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"Good luck, Boss!" Shirley cheered as Chibodee and Domon entered the fighting stadium.
"Go Chibodee!" Bunny shouted from the crowd.
"I'm hungry," Jacque moaned, rubbing his stomach.
"Oh, be quiet!" Rye scolded and hit his brother on the head.
Gina remained perfectly silent.
Only a few rows back, Chico, still wearing his mask, Bo, and Tio stood, watching Gina more than the match itself.
"Gundam Fight ready?"
"GO!"
Domon drew his beam sword and lunged at Chibodee. Gundam Maxter dodged to the side just in time. "Nice to see you again, too, Neo Japan," Chibodee said sarcastically. "Cyclone Punch!" That attack, like Domon's, missed its target. Chibodee pulled out his gun and shot at Burning Gundam's head. Domon, in turn, started bombarding Chibodee with missiles from his head vulcan.
Through this all, Gina felt the overwhelming presence of the Devil Gundam getting closer and closer. Gina? she asked mentally, trying to communicate with the Gina that was trapped within the Devil Gundam.
There was no reply. Oh, c'mon, Gina, just when I need you the most, you aren't there. Gina was silent for a moment, and then she continued: It's coming now, isn't it? You're coming now? It was more of a statement, rather than a question. She sighed and turned back to the fight.
Domon, Gina realized in horror, was about to finish Chibodee off. "Oh, c'mon Neo Japan, be a pal," Chibodee pleaded, helpless to do anything.
"Sorry, Chibodee," Domon said with genuine regret. "But… BURNING FING—" Domon never found time to complete his attack. At that exact moment, the ground rumbled beneath the stadium.
Gina gasped.
"What the hell?" Domon shouted, jumping away from Chibodee, who immediately straightened himself. The ground groaned loudly as a crack appeared in the middle of the arena.
"EEK!" Jacque exclaimed, hiding behind his older brother.
Rain and Gina exchanged a look. "Why didn't you tell me it was coming so soon?" Rain whispered fiercely.
"I—I—" Gina looked at the ground in dismay.
"Oh, never mind, it's too late now anyway," Rain dismissed the matter.
"What is that thing?" Chico whispered to Tio.
"The Dark Gundam, I think," Tio replied, the fright painfully obvious in his voice.
"That's the thing Domon was searching for! But…wasn't it killed?" Chico asked.
"I guess not," Bo answered, staring in awe and fear at the enormous Gundam that had just emerged from the ground.
Domon blinked. "WHAT THE F*** IS THAT?!?!?!" he roared. Chibodee was thinking something rather similar to the words Domon had vocalized.
At that point, all of the people in the stands fled, except for a few.
"Gina, why didn't you tell me?" Chibodee asked angrily, still staring at the ominous form before him.
"I…I'm sorry," Gina murmured softly, but her words were lost in Domon's loud bellow.
"You KNEW? Are you tellin' me you knew about this thing the entire time and didn't tell me?"
Chico shook his head, the danger of the situation suddenly dawning upon him. He jumped down to where Gina was and grabbed her by the wrist. "Come, Gina," he urged, pulling the reluctant girl away.
"No, Chico, I can't!" Gina protested, trying to escape Chico's bruising grip on her wrist.
The Neo Mexican stopped. "What do you mean, you can't?"
"I can't, Chico," Gina sobbed.
"Gina…"
"I'm not Gina." The android wrenched her hand away from Chico.
"What do you mean?" Chico asked quietly, utterly and completely confused.
"Exactly what I said. I'm not Gina. Now go, your sister would want you to," Gina ordered, pointing towards the exit of the stadium.
"Yes, she's right, Chico, let's go," Tio urged, already heading towards the entrance, with Bo at his side.
Chico stood still, not moving an inch. "Where's my sister?" he asked, his voice deadly quiet.
Gina shook her head. "I've no time to explain. Please," she begged and turned back to the Dark Gundam. Chico stood dumbfounded.
"Where's my sister?" he murmured again.
"Shirley, get the others out of here!" Chibodee shouted to Shirley, who disobeyed his orders and remained with his other crewmembers.
"Rain, you too," Domon ordered, directing his attention back towards the Dark Gundam.
"No, Domon, I can help," Rain protested, staying firmly put.
The fighter sighed. "I've done this before and I can do this again." Domon took a deep breath.
"SEKIHA—" he started, but was interrupted by Gina.
"Don't attack it, attack me," she said calmly and made her way onto the battle field.
"What?!" three voices shouted in horror.
"Why is it always so hard to penetrate through your hard skull? Exactly what I said!" the android repeated.
"Gina, no…" Chibodee protested weakly.
Domon was completely and utterly lost, as was Chico. "Gina, you're insane!" Chico scolded, about to jump onto the field himself. "Why would killing you help destroy that?"
Gina looked from Chico, to Chibodee, to Domon, and back to Chico. She realized, suddenly, that the Devil Gundam was doing nothing more than standing motionless in the middle of the arena. It was probably too weak to move.
"Why?" Domon echoed Chico's question.
"Because…" Gina whispered softly, "I am the Dark Gundam."
Chico shook his head. There was something wrong with that logic. How could his sister be the Dark Gundam, when the monstrosity was standing right in front of their very eyes? It made no sense. Then again, neither did the fact that his sister had been swept away by a strange storm and then had reappeared one year later. But, but that would mean…
"My sister is inside that thing?!?!?!?" Chico asked in shock, pointing towards the stationary form of the Devil Gundam.
Gina looked her would-be-brother straight in the eyes. She didn't need to answer with a word or with the incline of her head. Yes was clearly written on every feature of her face. "So will you all stop fooling around and destroy it—me—us already?" she demanded.
"But, Gina…" Chibodee had never really thought that the moment would come. He had always figured it to be a shadow looming just outside his vision, always on the horizon. He had never figured that one day he would be facing the facts up front. The harsh reality suddenly his the poor boxer hard in the face. He had to kill her, and he had to kill her now.
"Kill me now! Please, end our suffering! I'm begging you…" Gina pleaded, avoiding Chibodee's gaze.
" No! I—I can't, Gina. I can't kill you…" Chibodee begged.
"Do it!" Gina ordered harshly.
Chico shook his head again. It was impossible. It couldn't be true, it just couldn't. Gina can't be in there. We were supposed to life out the rest of her life in peace, in quiet, not fighting some reborn monstrosity.
The next few minutes were a blur to Chico. He remembered a loud roar and then the words, "SEKIHA TENKYOUKEN!"
A few seconds later, the more regretful cry of, "BURSTING MACHINE-GUN PUNCH!" joined in the blinding white that now engulfed the stadium.
That wasn't Gina. That wasn't my sister, out there, just now. I've been chasing some arbitrary person half-way around the world, only to lose her the moment I found her. I've been chasing nobody, a shadow, anonymous.
Chico's attention was brought back to the world as he heard a loud thud and turned to see Gundam Maxter kneeling on the floor. He could now see the smoke clearing away, and a pile of ash. A pile of ash was his sister. A pile of ash was the last year of his life. Chico lifted his head, as he heard something, a whisper, so soft it was practically lost. "She would want you to be happy. Don't give that up."
Chibodee, too, heard something, through all his tears. But it was different, much different. He strained to hear it, and then it was only a whisper. "Yo amor tú." He didn't need a translation this time, it was obvious what the words meant. I love you; those were the only words he ever had to hear.
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Okay. Lots of notes, today. Aren't ya thrilled? *crowd 'boo's in background* Feh, shush up!
Ichi: Yes, this was a cheesy, pathetic ending for a cheesy, pathetic, poorly-written story. (There ya have it folks, down in writing, I like to criticize my own work.) If anyone feels the need to make comments (positive or negative) PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME!!!!! My self-esteem is at an all-time low, so please be a pal and help give it a slight boost. Please?
Ni: A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I promised a happy ending. No, I haven't changed my mind, in case you were hoping that Chico would go commit suicide, Bo would go live at his restaurant, Tio would go back to whatever hole he climbed out of in the first place, Rye and Jacque would join Bo at that restaurant, Domon would finally take that anger management class that is long overdue, and Chibodee and Co. would live their lives out in misery. Now, I'm just warnin' ya, my happy ending (next chapter) will be impossible, improbable, a complete fantasy. But I give happy endings, and I'm too lazy to come up with something a bit more ingenious that would solve everyone's problems. Now, if anyone wants me to keep it the way it is, sad, depressing, angsty (ooh, I can just see DD jumping around for joy at the mention of that word), review now or forever hold thy piece. Otherwise it gets a stupid happy ending. Kapeesh? Kapeesh.
San: I am perfectly aware of the fact that this is a very, very sucky story. Ya want to flame it, you have all permission to flame it. (Which sorta goes along with number ichi, but I won't go there right now…)
Shee: I just want to thank dagwon gundam and DarkDragon for helping me when I was in a rut (or just helping me even when I wasn't in a tight spot). Todah to all my reviewers in general. Although there aren't that many of you, and most of you probably aren't even reading this….
Go: Arbitrary stuffs: The numbers used here (ichi, ni, san, shee, go) are Japanese for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. (No, duh!) I'm not sure how they are spelled, so I'm guessin'. "Todah" by the way, means "thank you" in Hebrew (ß the affect of attending Hebrew school for four years, the horror!). And "yo amor tú" does, in fact, as far as me and my Spanish dictionary are concerned, mean "I love you". "Sing me a song of a land that is gone…" etc. is a real quote from a real song (The Skyeboat Song, words by Robert L. Stevenson) that is being sung at a concert I'm performing at tonight. He, he. That's actually where I found it. Just thought it sounded cool, no deep meaning that I can think of. Any suggestions?
Hm, I think that's all. I'm in mega-depression mode once more (second time this month), not a lot of people in real life or on the Internet seem to care about me and stuff, so I think I'll go lock myself in that TV room right now and stare at Yu Yu Hakusho for a while.
Adios, Sayanora, Ciao, L'itraoit, Das Vidanya, and any thing else you can come up with!
~* The Ever-Depressed ShadowTide *~