Author's note: Thank you all for reviewing my story! I'm really sorry about the long delay of the new chapter but I kind of lost my Internet and have had a hard time trying to get it posted! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!! I would kind of like 15 more reviews if that isn't too much to ask, but as long as you people out there still like my story and want me to continue I will! Signing out,

Eiashian

The Ocean Blue,

Chapter 3,

Sleeping sickness !?!

It was fairly early in the morning and Domon woke up to the sound of voices. Normally after a day like the day before he would have slept all day yet the sound of a conversation talking place around him woke him up. "I wonder what could be wrong with her…" "I don't know…too bad it's not someone else in this state cause then Rain'd be here and know what's wrong with them…" "I really hope Sis is ok and whatever's wrong with her isn't serious…" "Maybe it's the flu…" He knew exactly who it was as soon as he heard their voices, George, Chibodee, Sia Shi, and Agro, none other than the Shuffle Alliance. He opened his eyes and looked around, and of course he was right about the people there. They hadn't noticed him though; they were all gathered around Rain's bed. He rose up so he might be able to see what all the fuss was, and as soon as he did a pain shoot though his side reminding him of the two broken ribs in his side, which were probably shattered. The pain wasn't as bad as before. Rain had given him some sort of medicine for the pain before he went back to sleep. He couldn't see behind all of them at first, then Argo turned to exit the tent and saw him.

"Your awake then." He stated.

"Yeah, so why are you all here?" Domon questioned him and the rest as they turned around to listen to him. George walked up to him, an obvious look of sympathy on his face and started to say something Domon didn't hear, because just as he moved out of the way he realized what was wrong. Rain lay there, pale as ice and motionless. He jumped up and then fell to the floor in pain…it felt like someone stabbed him deeply about a hundred times in the side. "Take it easy Bro, you can't stand up yet! Your not over your injuries yet." Sai says.

"I'm fine!" Domon insisted and got up again. The pain caused him to be weak at the knees yet he stood though it this time and stumbled over to Rain's bedside. When he was close enough to see her well, it sent a dark shiver though him. Her face had gone incredibly pale and lifeless, her eyes heavily shut…she looked like she was frozen like his father was. Sadness immediately stuck him but he hide any sign of it for pride's sake…and except in his eyes, no tears formed, no fear stricken glare, yet deep in his eyes lay a deep sadness that regained in his eyes, that often felt like it was cutting into his soul, after all he'd lost his mother, his father cryogenically frozen for a crimes against humanity which he believed he didn't commit, his own master betrayed him, and his brother, he'd token off with the reason for all his pain and sorrow, the Dark Gundam…he hated it bitterly and hated his brother for taking it and using it for such evil, or at least he told himself he hated his brother, whether it was true or not he really didn't know, and the thought that his old best friend might be dead was enough to make him snap, he was just glad she wasn't awake…she'd know he was sad, she always could, in some completely mysterious to him way could see straight through the fake expression of anger him managed to retain and trick everyone else with. It was like all she had to do is gaze only seconds into his eyes and see the sadness hidden behind the false expression of anger. Yet in a way it was a good thing she could tell whenever he was sad, she always knew when he just needed someone there to stand by his side and just understand his sorrow…without words, without tears she just knew. He kind of missed it now thinking of it, yet she was the reason he was sad this time. He then barely touched her cheek with the back of his hand but immediately jerked it away, truly fear stricken…she felt just like ice.

"She's…so cold." He whispered under his breath to himself. He then felt overcome by anger, towards no one really, yet still an almost uncontrollable anger.

"Wha…What's wrong with her!? What's happened to Rain!" He yelled at them all.

"We don't know what's wrong with her but what happened to her was because she went after you yesterday when you didn't come back." George said calmly.

" Just…tell me she's alive." He said as the thought of her sickness saddened but calmed him down since he just couldn't be sad and angry at the same time…or at least not at the thought of Rain and not now especially. "She's not dead, she's still breathing, though shallowly and her heart is still beating of course, just weakly." George stated sorrowfully.

"C…call in a doctor or something then! Now!" he ordered.

"Got'cha!" Chibodee said whipping out his cell phone and immediately calling the number of a doctor he'd been to before and still remembered the number of. A few minutes passed as he waited for someone to pick up but as soon as they did Chibodee stated the problem,

"Hello? I need to speak to Dr. Smith right away! It's an emergency!"

"Well, he's in a meeting right now, can I take a message?"

"No! Let me speak to him RIGHT NOW!" Chibodee ordered very forcefully.

"Yes sir. One minute. " The secretary stated.

"What'd they say?" Sai Sici asked.

"Said he was in a meeting! Can you believe that? A doctor in a meeting!" Chibodee said very irritated.

"What kind of doctor would be in a meeting instead of taking care of patients?" Domon questioned.

"Uh…well…he's kind of strange…" Chibodee confessed.

"What do you mean strange?" Domon asked now slightly angry.

"Don't worry, Domon! He was a good doctor just…strange." He said, trying to sound convincing. 

"He'd better be cause if he lets Rain die or something I'll kill him with my bare hands then come after you for hiring the b- " Domon started to say but was interrupted by Chibodee.

"Listen, don't be so judgmental! Rain ant going to die anyways, besides this doctor'll know what's wrong with her and she's be better really fast!"  Chibodee said trying to calm him down, knowing he was getting very inpatient.

"How do you know she isn't going to die!? Hu!? Tell me that Chibodee!" Domon said depressingly angry.

"Because fate couldn't be so cruel as to let something like that happen to a person like Rain." George then stated.

"Yeah Bro!"

"What he said!"

"Right."

The Shuffle Alliance all say in unison. Domon only stared at the ground,

"How do they know when fate will choose to be cruel…and if it didn't allow bad things to happen to good people like Rain…then why'd my mom have to die…I…just hope fate likes me…or more like I hope it likes Rain…" he thought. Everyone was staring at him, waiting for a reply to what George said, he could tell, so he spoke up,

"Yeah, whatever just get that doctor here soon."

"K" Chibodee replied, and then just after saying someone picked up the phone on the other side.

"Hello? Who are you? What do you want?"

"Hi, Dr. Smith?"

"Yes, this is he? Who is thi…Chibodee?"

"Yeah! Glad you remember me!"

"How could I forget the first time you came into the emergency room here? Yes I remember exactly what happened…all started with…."

"Listen, I didn't call to talk! I need your help!"

"What is it?"

"Do you know where the Guyanna Highlands is?"

"Yes."

"Could you come here…I have a patient here for you who is very sick."

"I don't know…it's very dangerous and all the…"

"LISTEN!!! This person really needs help! I'm afraid she'll die if someone doesn't come here to cure her soon!"

"Her? Do you mean a woman?"

"Yes! And she really needs your help…it's…a life or death matter." Chibodee muttered under his breath so that Domon wouldn't here.

"Well ok, I'll have a helicopter fly me in right away…I just have two questions for you. How old is she and is she pretty?"

Chibodee then hung up without answering. "I don't see how he can be so…much of a jerk…well he acts more like a…never mind that doesn't matter. All I know is he better not try and steal away Rain…for his own good cause if I don't lose my temper and end up knocking him out for trying to win her over then Domon defiantly will…only he'd do more than just knock him out…he's liable to break his neck…especially if he could tell…the way he is. But isn't not like we've got much of a choice of doctors or I'd call someone else…" Chibodee thought.

"Well…what'd he say?" Domon questioned, glaring over at him.

"Said he'll take a helicopter here right away…" he replied nervously. Chibodee then started to walk out but just before exiting it Domon called out,

"Why do I have a funny feeling something's wrong with this Dr. Smith guy? There isn't any information about him you'd like to share with the rest of us, is there?"

"Uh…no." he stated then rushed out of the tent. George, Sai Sici, and Agro followed.

"What is it?" George asked Chibodee once they were outside the tent.

"What is what? What do you mean?" he replied nervously.

"You know what he means! What's up with this Dr. Smith guy!?" Sai Sici stated impatiently.

"Well…uh…he's…sort of …uh…player…" he admitted.

"What do you mean by that!?" George then questioned angrily.

"Well…I mean…he kind of gets girls to fall in love with him, stays with her and pretends to love her back, then as soon as he runs into someone prettier, dumps the one he's with…" he said nervously rubbing his neck.

While The conversation was talking place, though not speaking Argo stood listening to every word, thinking if he should mention any of this to Domon or not.

"It may be better just to not mention this…it would probably just make him lose his temper…" Then Chibodee interrupted his thoughts,

"Hey Argo, you promise not to tell Domon about this either, right?"

"Uh…sure." He stated solemnly, and then walked off, back to the military ship, deciding to follow what the rest of the Shuffle Alliance and giving no more thought to it…

            Back inside the tent Domon still stood worryingly over Rain. She seemed dead, to him at least, she wasn't walking around cheerfully, working on the Gundam, fixing breakfast, or just sitting on her bed, writing to pass away the time, while waiting for him, so to him it was just like she was dead. The pain in his side just kept getting worse and now he was dealing with a thought shattering headache, and would probably pay just about any amount if Rain were awake to take care of him. Usually he just thought of all that medical stuff that Rain had to do for him every time he got hurt was just annoying but he was finally seeing why all of that stuff had to be done and that medicine had to be given to him.

"It really is too bad Rain isn't awake…I'd gladly take that medicine she gave me for my side…" he thought staring down at her. He really hated seeing her in such a lifeless, depressing state, nothing like she was like when she wasn't sick and to think of it he hadn't ever remembered her getting sick before after seeing her again…but he knew he hated it. It was like it stole her soul away, her very self drained from her. She was always so cheerful, so full of life, now she was just laying in a lifeless sleep. It seemed like it couldn't be real. Suddenly he saw her move slightly, and then an expression of pain appeared on her face. It only made him feel all the worse, though seconds later she fell back into her lifeless sleep, the look of absolute pain was enough to make him feel like crying. He stormed out of the tent, looking for a place to go… a place to run to. If he did end up crying he wanted to make sure no one else saw him, yet as soon as he exited the tent George, Sai Sici, and Chibodee were still outside talking about something but immediately ceased their conversation and turned to him. Right away they could tell he was upset but didn't say anything, then again he ran away before anyone could say anything. He ran back into the Guyanna Highlands, his side and head enough to kill him yet he didn't care, he just needed to be…alone. So he ran and ran till he was sure no one was around, but at this time he was very tired and it was getting dark, which impaired his vision so he couldn't see very well and soon couldn't see two feet in front of him, yet continued running then suddenly…SMASK! He ran face first into a tree! (You know that's just the perfect cure for a headache..) When he woke up it was the middle of the night and he was laying at the entrance of a cave in a sleeping bag.

"What…am I doing here?" he wondered to himself.

"Hello Domon, glad to see you finally woke up." Said a voice in the darkness, yet it was a familiar voice.

"S…Schwartz? Is that you?" Domon stuttered out, into the darkness.

"Yes. That's right. By the way, you were out for a few hours and got a huge bruise on your head from running into that tree." He said, stepping out of the complete darkness and laughing a little.

"How did you know I ran into a tree?" Domon questioned him.

"I was watching you when you ran into the jungle…so, your partner Rain is sick?" Schwartz asked him with interest.

"Yeah, why do want to know?" Domon answered, sounding annoyed at the question.
"Because, you're worried about her aren't you? That's why you ran off isn't it?" he then asked him.

"Why should you care? You have nothing to do with us!" Domon replied gruffly.

"Maybe I'm a just one of those kind strangers people are always talking about. Besides it doesn't matter why I'm helping you, the point I'm trying to make here Domon, is that you can't just run away from everything. Eventually you'll be forced to make a choice…either love her or leave her and it will be your choice but if you keep treating her so coldly she'll end up leaving you before the choice is at hand…then you'd never get her back, or ever see her again.  Truthfully you're lucky she hasn't already left you, but she's very loyal to you, isn't that right? The only one that just went straight into the Guyanna Highlands without any regard for her own safety? Oh, and by the way, while we're on the subject, how's your side. I heard you got a broken rib, am I right or not?" he stated.

"Well…uh…where should I start…Hey!? Wait a minute, how'd you know about all this!?" Domon questioned him angrily, now very interested in how he'd gathered up all this information about him, and so soon.

"Well, let's put it this way. I've been watching over you, you see you seem to be a very interesting fighter and maybe a worthy opponent so why not gather information on you?" Schwartz answered simply.

"If you're gathering information on me then why are you gathering information about the personal matters of my life? Why should you care?" he replied.

"What better way to learn about your opponents than learn what's in their hearts? You do realize that depressed fighters don't fight as well as others who are happy right?" Schwartz stated to him more than asked him.

"Well…still, you should just leave me alone about…" Domon started to say.

"About what?" Schwartz then asked waiting for him to finish his sentence.

"About Rain…and so…so what if I am a little worried about her! I have a right to worry about my crew if I want, I mean…do you really think anyone else wouldn't be…if she dies I won't be able to continue the Gundam fights any longer because it would take them too long to find a replacement for her." Domon replied stiffly.

"There you go again! You can't honestly tell me you aren't the least bit worried about your partner for her own sake. If the only reason that you're worried about her is that you're afraid you can't finish the Gundam fights then maybe you would have been better off left at that tree you ran into when running away from your crew, your partner, your friend, and trying to run away from your own feelings! You can't run away for the rest of your life, Domon! I already said one day you'll have to make a very important choice, well here's another one. If you don't return to her, how do you think she'll feel when she wakes up alone? I'm sure you know how it feels to wake up scared and alone, like when you fell from that cliff, only you weren't alone. You're partner, Rain, she came after you! She was worried sick about you and now when she needs you to be there for her you're just going to run off and leave her completely alone?" Schwartz stated again.

"She isn't alone, the whole Shuffle alliance will come visit her, and constantly. I guarantee it." Was Domon's now slightly worried reply.

"Yes, but they all have lives of there own. Do you really think anyone will just stay by her side?" Schwartz said. He could tell he was finally getting through to Domon, his eyes were beginning to show through the worry he was carrying in his heart…but something else was shining through in his eyes too. Something Schwartz didn't expect to see show through, an emotion he didn't think he was experiencing at the time. It was fear. But fear of what is what he was wondering.

"Well…uh…" was the only thing Domon could stutter out.

"Aren't you going to go back now? Are you afraid someone will say something to you for staying by your partner, your friend? Are you just afraid of what people will say to you?" Schwartz said, now annoyed that he seemed simply afraid to go back.

"No…it's…it's not like that…you don't understand…you don't know me so why don't you just leave me alone!" Domon yelled, the fear showing through plainly in his face now.

"Maybe because I just want to be able to help you! Don't you understand that? Can't you just listen to my advice? What are you so afraid of that is keeping you from going back!?" Schwartz yelled back, patience now running short.
"Be…because…because I can't stand it!" Domon yelled out, taking his hands and cupping them over his face. He'd really considered going back, he did owe it to Rain but the thought…of seeing her again in that state of a sleeping death tore at heart like rabid wolves to their pray. 

"Can't stand what? Are…you crying!? What's so horrible about going back?" Schwartz replied harshly. Domon uncovered his face, not one tear was shed, yet his eyes were so filled with tears that it looked as though his eyes were two mirrors, reflecting his own soul in it's shiny glass. He'd tried his best to choke back tears, yet they still cast a reflection of his emotions in his eyes. It was the very memory that caused him to become so upset. It haunted him, how she seemed so dead yet not. He didn't even want to think about the pain she had to be going through, and he'd already tried to tell himself she was just in a peaceful sleep. Yet something about her, something about her face, so pale and dead, that even to look at her was torment.

"Listen, I just can't go back right now. Just try and understand that." Domon replied coolly this time.

"Well leave then, but how long do you really think you can even walk in your condition?" Schwartz questioned him.

"I'll stay here, and besides I can walk as long as I want. My side isn't bothering…me anymore." Domon replied but right in the middle of talking the pain suddenly got worse in his side. Then he collapsed to the floor, and everything went black.

"Domon, are you ok!?" Which Schwartz said was the last thing he heard before passing out.

Back outside the tent, George Sai Sici , and Chibodee were discussing just when the "doctor" would get there.

"All I know is he'd better get here fast…I think Rain may be getting worse." Chibodee said impatiently. He was so tired of waiting for that stupid "doctor" to get there. After all he wasn't a "good" doctor anyways but he did do his job, still the waiting was about to drive him crazy, besides the point that the longer Rain lay there in that state she was in, the sicker she got.

"Who knows, I just hope he does get here soon. Didn't you say Sis looked like she was getting worse the last time you checked on her George?" Sai Sici asked him. He couldn't help but feel sorry for "Sis" as he called her, she always seemed so nice to him. Not the kind of person who would deserve this fate.

"Yes…she did seem to look worse when I went to check on her last time. By the way, why do you two leave me to go check on her? She's a friend to both of you, why don't one of you check on her next time? Besides, I have to go back to my camp soon." George stated, since it was bothering him to see her in such a cold, and seemingly painful sleep. He didn't really want to leave the tent entrance where Rain lay sick, but he did have to get back soon, or else his butler may think something happened to him.

"Because it's too sad!" both Sai Sici and Chibodee chorused sorrowfully and acting like they were crying.

"Now you two, this is absolutely no time to be joking around! That's extremely cruel on Rain's part as well." George lectured.

"No, really it is too sad! No kidding, don't you agree with me George? I really hate seeing Sis in such a lifeless state, it really bothered me the first time I saw her like that."

"Yeah! *sniffle, sniffle* When I saw poor Rain in such a horrible, lifeless, dead, cold, sick, ill…" Chibodee started saying when Sai stepped on his foot and mumbled,

"We get the point, Chibodee! Stop being stupid!"

"No really!!! It was *sniffle, sniffle* horrible!" Chibodee called out and started crying.

"Uh…Chibodee? Are you…ok?" George asked him, watching him weep.

"Yeah…what's wrong with you?" Sai added.

"Nothing, anyone want coffee?" Chibodee then said pulling out a big coffee pot and some cups. Sai Sici and George exchange stares, node in agreement that that was what was making him act so weird, and node again to agree on getting some coffee since they were both really sleepy.

"We'll both take two cups." Sai Sici said to him, half asleep. They both get their cups, guzzle them down then all three look at their watches, which all three read 1:34 a.m. and all three exalted Gundam fighters fall over anime style in reaction to the time. They would have got up but they were so sleepy they just lay there.

"Wonder when Bro'll get back."

"I hope soon, no offence at all to Rain or anything but I have to go get some sleep."

"Yes, I agree…if I don't get some sleep soon I'm going to pass out."

"Bro should be here anyways, don't he care anything about Sis?"

"I don't really know but I do wonder sometimes…but how could he not care anything about her, right George?"

"I'm not really sure Chibodee…"

            When Domon woke up he thought for sure he saw Rain standing over him.

"H…how did you get here!? I mean, you were sick weren't you?" Domon question the figure standing in front of him."

"Uh…I've been here Domon. Don't you remember? And what do you mean about me being sick? " The figure asked quizzically, seeming very confused.

"It…was…it all a dream? Well, anyways…I have to tell you something." Domon said rising up slowly.

"Yeah, what?" the figure said. Domon then put his hands on the figure's shoulders and said,

"Listen…uh…um…. *cough, cough* you see Rain …I…I just wanted you to know that I…I consider you a really good friend…uh, that's all."

"Really Domon? Well I'm touched but I'm not Rain!" the figure said laughing, which turned out to be Schwartz! Domon finally snapped out of his daydream, jumped back and stated quickly,

"I…I was just dreaming! Y…yeah! You know how people can be with talking in their dreams and all!"

"Yeah, well you're the only person I've ever seen that talks and has their eyes open at the same time when dreaming. You were hallucinating. Now, let's see, you said your side wasn't hurting anymore yet you passed because of the pain, and you said the only reason you were worried about Rain is because of the Gundam fights and all yet you just said to a person you though was Rain that she was one of your really good friends. So are you in denial or are I just imaging it?" Schwartz said to Domon, arms crossed. Domon thought back on Rain, he missed her and he couldn't denial it to his heart. He started to recall bittersweet memories again, of spending time around her, how she always had a way of smiling though any sorrow. It had always been that way, even before he left and they were just young. Over those years they seemed to drift far apart. So far that when they met again, they both felt like they didn't know each other. They'd changed so much, or at least Domon had. When he saw Rain again he could still see the little girl that used to be his best friend deep in her eyes. They always shined in happiness, always that same deep ocean blue reflecting in her eyes for all eternity, like a warm summer rain.

"You should go check on her, she is your responsibility after all. " Schwartz added.

"Fine…" Domon muttered, giving up the argument. It didn't matter anyways, eventually he'd have to go back and face that she was ill if he liked it or not.

"And keep training…" Schwartz said as he walked out of the cave.

"Wait! How do I get it to w…" Domon began to call out to him as he ran after him when he exited the cave, but he was already gone.

"He's so strange sometimes…" Domon thought to himself as he walked back to the campgrounds. It was about 3:00 A.M. when he finally returned, George, Sai, and Chibodee lay asleep at the entrance of the tent, a kettle half-full of coffee lying on the ground next to them.

"I guess they got tired of waiting…" he thought walking around them. Suddenly from out of no where it seemed, a helicopter flew in blowing the tent entrance open and waking up the three exhausted Gundam fighters.

"Wha…What's that!?" Sai exclaimed half way asleep.

"A helicopter." George said watching it as it landed in a stable landing space.

"I knew that!" he replied.

"It's the doctor…" Chibodee whispered.

"He's going to make a big scene out of this…I just know it…you better be ready to see Domon put a permanent dent in this guy's head…" he added, mumbling it under his breath so Domon wouldn't hear what he said. When the helicopter landed a young, around 25-year-old American man steeped out. In sunglasses and a fancy, white doctor's uniform. 

"Where's the patient! Where is she!? I must addend to her immediately!" he yelled out, though he could clearly see the four men standing at the tent. Domon then walked up to him, pure hate written clearly on his face.

"Right over here in this tent asleep, that is if your big mouth and helicopter didn't wake her up!" he yelled angrily at him.

"Excuse me sir but I can't help that my helicopter is loud and speaking of big mouths, I don't see how the patient could sleep with you around all the time!" he spat at Domon, which made him furious.

"WHY YOU *bleeeeep*"  he then replied trying to kill Dr. Smith, but lucky (for Dr. Smith is) Chibodee, Sai Sici and George held him back.

"Just remember Bro, if you kill the nice doctor then there won't be anyone to take care of Sis!" Sai said trying to calm him down.

"Nice!? NICE!? YEAH RIGHT!!!" Domon yelled at the doctor, who in return smirked at him as if was his was of saying,

"Ha! I won this battle before it even started" and then walked into the tent, Domon struggling to break his arms lose of Chibodee, George, and Sai's grip but didn't succeed.

"Let go of me! I'm not letting him be in that tent alone with Rain! Who knows what he'll do!"

"We'll let go of you, but you have to control your temper. Remember Dr. Smith can't help Rain if he's too busy dealing with you." George stated.

"Yeah, even if he is a real jerk, you have to keep your temper under control for Rain's sake." Chibodee added.

"Fine…as long as you let me go in there. I refuse to let him be alone with her." He said, much more calm than before. George nodded to the other two fighters, signaling to them that it was ok to let him go now. They let go, and Domon slowly entered the tent, trying to be very quite. He walked straight over to Rain's bed and knelt beside it, completely ignoring Dr. Smith. He sat very quietly, staring down into her pale, cold face, and whispered something only he and if Rain were awake, could hear,

"Please get better…you can't just die on me…I…need you here…it'll…it'll be too hard to find another crew member…for the sake of my father…please don't just die…" he said softly, as he still couldn't stand the sight of her in this state. The doctor watched in amazement, as the man who only minutes ago was ready to kill him, calm down so much that he actually seemed a peaceful person. He first spoke in a broken whisper, but then clearly so that he could be heard,

"Wha…what are the symptoms…"

"Coughing…really cold and…pale…unconscious and uh…a…dead appearance…" he said choking on the last word then said,

"Tha…that's all…so what's wrong with her…" he said still calm and now a waving sorrow transferring into his voice.

"Well…It's…I think…something us doctors call sleeping sickness." The doctor said now staring down at Rain and secretively thinking,

"Once she's awake and well, she'll be mine…"

Author's note: I just want to say for some reason unknown to me, I can't have curse words in my stories, I just can't. And…a preview for the next chapter.

Rain finally wakes up, after almost dieing. She experiences a strange dream in her sleep and wakes to find the hansom Dr. Smith by her side who claims to have saved her life! Will he actually win her over or will she refuse him!? And was he really the one to save her life or was it…someone else!? All next chapter!

P.S: Chapter 1, rewritten and Chapter 2 reedited will be posted really soon

P.S.S: Double space isn't working on my computer and that's why it isn't on in this chapter…..sorry…..