Face Behind a Mask
Chapter 7 - A Session of Training

I do not own G-Gundam.

'One thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind, I designed this rhyme
To explain in due time
All I know.

Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away
It's so unreal.

Didn't look out below
Watch the time go right out the window
Trying to hold on, but didn't even know
Wasted it all just to
Watch you go.

I kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me, will eventually, be a memory, of a time when I tried
so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter.

I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter'
- In the End – Linkin Park -

It was night and Erin found the stars and moon extremely beautiful as they contrasted on the dark night sky.

"Tomorrow I vow to become a better Gundam Fighter…because I have to…" She closed her eyes slowly and fell into a deep sleep.

- - - - -

"Domon, you didn't tell her, did you?" A mysterious man stood with Domon Kasshu.

"No, I didn't. You can tell her whenever you think it is time."

- - - - -

The next morning the sound of birds rustling in the trees awoke Erin from her long sleep. She was up earlier then most of the others and quickly changed into some loose and comfortable clothing. She tied up her long blonde hair into a bun before grabbing a bag and walking towards the waterfall.

Upon reaching the waterfall she dove into the icy water and swam laps for close to an hour. Breathing heavily she found herself going towards the waterfall. She positioned herself beneath its powerful surges of water and there she stayed, the heavy force trying to push her down.

Soon she found herself drifting off and slowly images of the past came back to haunt her…

- - - - -

"Mommy, Yay! It's a real gundam! Daddy is so great! He built this all by himself!" A little girl, about 3 stood holding her mother's hand. Her mother was an American woman who had met her father on a trip to Korea. The Gundam her father has created was going to be the girl's Gundam one day… Her parents had great expectations for her and hoped that, with a lot of work their daughter would be the next representative for Korea in the Gundam Fight.

Another flashback. Erin sat beside a bed, her hands wiping tears from her eyes. Her mother lie in the bed, pale and no longer moving. She had died. Her father was off in Japan meeting with someone named Dr. Kasshu so Erin was here to mourn alone.

4 years after her mother's death, when she was 14 her father told her that she was engaged. He had made the arrangements in the time in which her mother had died, several years ago. The next year she would move to Japan and live with the family that would be her future parents.

On her 15th birthday Erin was on a plane and heading towards Japan/ Her father was coming with her but could only stay for 2 days.

The house belonging to the Kasshu's was huge and extremely beautiful. Mr. Kasshu was a scientist, like her father and his two sons were also both interested in the Gundams.

"Good evening Mr. Lee." A Man in his later forties said. "Please come in and make yourself comfortable."

Erin had followed her father inside the home when they arrived and was pointed up to the direction of her room. She slowly began to climb the long row of stairs on her own. Unfortunately she hadn't watched where she was going and because of it went flying down a flight on stairs and onto a landing.

"Ah! Sorry!" A boy, her age with dark black hair came running down the stairs and helped her up.

"Oww." She mumbled as she rubbed her elbow where she had landed.

"I'm really sorry!" He said again.

"It's okay, I'm fine."

"Who are you anyways, Mr. Lee's daughter?"

"Yes, that's me," She gave a small half-smile.

"Oh okay! My name is Domon! I am Dr. Kasshu's second son," he smiled happily. "Don't you want to meet my brother now?"

"Er…well…I dunno." She stuttered.

"Embarrassed, aren't you?" Erin blushed.

"Well, yeah, kind of."

"Don't worry, my brother is really nice. Anyways, want to see your room?" Erin nodded and followed Domon down a long hallway at the top of the stairs.

"Here it is!" He opened a large door of a room to show a rather large bedroom. It was painted light blue with mythical creatures painted all over the walls. There was a large canopy bed, dresser, closet, night stand and a desk. Set up on the desk were her laptop and a pile of books that had been sent to Japan ahead of time.

"Wow, it's wonderful, I love it!" Erin exclaimed. She went to look out of the window located by her bed. The house was built a few minutes from the main city of Tokyo so Professor Kasshu could work easier. There was a great view of Mount Fuji from the window in which she stood in awe.

"Your house is wonderful!"

"Domon? Can you and Erin please meet us all downstairs?" Mrs. Kasshu said through the door.

"Okay, be down in a second!" Domon replied. "Ready, Erin?" She nodded meekly.

"As ready as I'll ever be." She had replied.

The two walked downstairs and into the living room. Sitting there were her father and Domon's father and mother. Sitting on an empty couch was a guy with black-brown hair, almost like Domon's. He had on a navy blue shirt and jeans. Erin figured her was about 6'4" when standing, pretty tall compared to her 5'2".

"Ah Erin, nice to finally meet you," Mr. Kasshu stood and shook her hand. She bowed politely. "Kyoji, please come here." She watched the guy stand and walk over to his father and her.

"It's nice to meet you Miss. Erin." He said to her politely.

"You too…" She had replied softly.

'This is so weird, meeting the person I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with!' She said to herself.

"Why don't you three go outside and show Erin around?" Suggested Mrs. Kasshu.

"Okay, let's go!" Domon raced out of the room and out the door.

"Er…okay."

The three walked around outside for 30 minutes. It was uncomfortable for Erin, would she ever get used to it?

"Time for dinner!" came a yell from the house.

"Okay!" Domon replied.

"Hey, Domon, you go inside. I'm gonna talk with Erin for a few minutes. Tell Mom and Dad that we won't be long." Kyoji said, Domon nodded and began a walk back to the house.

"So, you like it a lot here?" Kyoji asked.

"Yeah, it's really nice…" He voice trailed off.

"I'm sorry everything has been so tense."

"It's okay, it's not your fault so don't worry about it…"

"Thank you Erin."

"Wow, you actually said my name without saying 'Miss.'!" She laughed, as did Kyoji.

"I really hope you'll enjoy your stay…"

A few years later was the accident with the dark gundam, when Kyoji had left.

At the time Erin was in the house studying for exams. She heard noises from the lab and watched in horror as the Devil Gundam flew off. When she arrived in the hangar Mrs. Kasshu was dead and Domon was vowing to kill his brother one day for what he did. Her world had fallen apart; everything she did to fit into the new living style was nothing in the end.

Nuriko: *coughs* _;;; Sorry for the wait…I've been really busy with school. I may even drop my fics, or just not write anything new. I find it so hard to keep up with everything and I don't know what to do. I am only writing this now because it's snowing and I have a day off of school.

Hayato (Duel Jewel): *poking the snow*

Bakura: o.o;; What is this thing you call snow?

Nuriko: It's white and fluffy, it's actually made from rain.

Malik: Oooh, I wanna go play! :D

Nuriko: Go ahead…just…don't eat yellow snow *cringe*

Hayato, Kang Ta, Woo Hyuk, Tony, Jae Won, Hee Jun, Bakura and Malik: *go outside to play* ^__^ Yay!

Nuriko: Oh boy ^^; Anyways thank you to all that reviewed and I am sorry for the delay. I really can't say anymore when I am going to update, it's hard to tell. Sorry.