Thanks for the reviews. Don't worry...dialogue is coming after you get through the beginning of this chapter. Sometimes I just rattle on too much.
Chapter 7: Giggling Kids
After the honest, meaningful words said and the very long, touching embrace, Domon and Rain began to head back to Han's boat. Feeling very emotionally joined together, the young couple walked with their arms around each other's waist through a gentle breeze of the night. They were each feeling such a strong feeling of contentment which came from the strong understanding between their hearts. For they knew in their hearts that they were destined to share the rest of their lives together since they truly needed each other. It was exactly the same feeling they had each had when the King of Hearts had yelled that he loved Rain just before she became free of the Dark Gundam. This connection between them was strong and it went way beyond the one they had as childhood friends and as partners of the Neo-Japan team. There was a special bond in their relationship now; one that could only truly exist between a man and woman in love with each other.
They were each in deep thought as they made a nice slow stride back to the boat. The two of them understood that their concerns would no longer be on their individual needs, but rather on the needs of them both. While concern for each other had already been there for a long time now, there couldn't be a day in the future that they wouldn't feel responsible for caring after the other. Though they would share many intimate, loving, passionate times with each other, they would also share problems and new disappointments with each other as well. Because their confidence in each other was strong, they knew that they would get through whatever life threw at them - together.
In his mind as they walked, Domon recalled how hard he had worked the past year to win the Gundam fight. Accomplishing that had made him feel as if he could do just about anything. However, the one thing he knew he could never do was go on without Rain. Now having her love, he realized that he had never had so much to lose. Under her spell, he'd do anything for her. Suddenly smiling, he imagined the Shuffle Alliance's shock that night at seeing him and Rain getting close. Had they really been worried about Saette or had they just wanted to see the King of Hearts let his defenses down and show affection? Sai Saici could have possibly been taking notes on how to perhaps act with Cecile, which made Domon smile since he himself was new at showing such sweet affection to a woman. Though it had been so many years ago, Domon remembered seeing the on going affection shared between his mother and father, and that was something he wanted too with the woman now at his side.
Rain kept her arm around Domon's waist thinking about how lucky she was to have him. Now a days it was hard to find a man who would put someone else first before himself, but he was one of them. Even when he had been his old, bitter self, he had always protected Rain, sometimes endangering his life in the process. There had also been times she could tell that he was glad that he had her as his partner. Back when Chibodee's crew had stolen the Shining Gundam's battle data was one of those times. After Chibodee had destroyed the stolen data and made up with his crew, Domon had seemed quite pleased that he had Rain as a partner. It had also been very clear back when Rain used her brainwave receiver to transfer the battle data from the Shining Gundam to the Burning Gundam, that he had been pleased again.
Now in the present as they approached Han's boat, giggles could be heard. Domon and Rain smiled at each other both knowing instantly that the laughter belonged to Hoy and Ming. When Domon removed his arm from around Rain and took her hand to help her onto the boat, the two children giggled even more. "Okay, guys," Domon said in that cocky voice of his when he spotted the two small children, "What are you two laughing at?"
Hoy and Ming didn't answer as they covered their mouths and quickly went back into the boat.
Rain smiled as she said, "I think they were giggling just because we had our arms around each other, and then you taking my hand topped it off. You know they always did want us together."
"Smart kids," Domon said with an overconfident grin. Thinking that he and Rain were now alone, he pulled her into his arms, and just before he lowered his face to kiss her, he said, "I'm surprised that Hoy and Ming are still up."
"I guess they were waiting for us to come back," Rain said as she stared into Domon's dark eyes waiting for his lips to touch hers.
Suddenly a man's voice spoke but it wasn't Han's. "Yes. The children were waiting for you both to come back."
Knowing the voice, theKing of Hearts quickly turned his head to see his father only a few feet away standing with Han. "Dad!" Domon exclaimed happily as he released Rain.
As father and son hugged, Rain smiled upon them with tears in her eyes. It was such a sight to see them together.
"Son," his father said very seriously, "I am so proud of you."
Domon didn't care how many times his father told him that. Those were words that every son wanted to hear from their father and it was quite evident by the expression of awe on Domon's face that he was very grateful. "Thank you."
Dr. Kasshu then gave Domon a proud smile as they released each other.
"Dad. I was going to find you tomorrow. It's just that earlier, Rain and I left so quickly and then headed here."
"Domon," Dr. Kasshu said smiling at his son. "I expected that you and Rain would go off alone together after what I heard and saw between the two of you just before you both destroyed the Dark Gundam. Your friend, Nastasha told me where I'd be able to find you."
Domon smiled so glad that his father was so understanding of why he and Rain had slipped away.
Rain happily watched them just before Dr. Kasshu turned to look at her. Though hesitant at first, she then began to walk towards the Kasshu men. Soon standing in front of them, she lowered her head in shame for a few seconds before she lifted it up again with tears now running down her face.
Domon felt for her and wanted to make her feel better, but before he could do or say anything, Dr. Kasshu spoke. "Rain, I do not blame you in anyway for what happened. Your friends and the Neo-Japan government have told me of the great team you and Domon are, and I know you had no idea of what was going to happen. If anything, I have to thank you for taking care of my son."
Though the shame would probably never be gone completely, Rain felt better after hearing Dr. Kasshu's kind words. In a soft voice, she said, "Thank you, Dr. Kasshu." With that, the two doctors hugged.
After their hug, Domon put his arm around Rain's shoulders, and she looked up into his loving eyes just before they heard the same giggling that they had heard earlier.
Han who had been watching the embraces then immediately headed into the boat saying to the two young children, "You two are suppose to be sleeping."
"Kids," Domon said with a smile as he rolled his eyes. He wondered if he and Rain would ever stop being spied on this night.
As memories ran through his mind, Dr. Kasshu said, "Domon, those children actually remind me of you and Rain when you were both small."
Even though it had been such a long time ago, Domon and Rain too remembered the fun they shared together as children. They had had so much in fact, that they were quite inseparable.
"Rain!" Ming's young voice suddenly called out from the inside of the boat. "Can you come tell us good-night?"
"Sure," Rain called back and then excused herself from the Kasshu men as she slipped from underneath Domon's arm.
Dr. Kasshu couldn't help but observe Domon watching the blue-eyed woman as she made her way into the boat. "Domon," he said reading his son's mind, "I'd have to agree that she has turned into an amazing woman."
"Yes, Dad. She really has," the King of Hearts said with yet another smile as he turned back to his father.
Dr. Kasshu then laid his hand over his son's right shoulder and said, "You have become quite a man as well."
Domon gave his father a somewhat embarrassed smile because of all the complements he was receiving.
"So, son. What are your future plans?"
Looking back to the inside of the boat where Rain was now, Domon said, "I'm not sure yet, but I do know that I'm holding on to her."
With a small laugh, Dr. Kasshu said, "I knew that. What I meant is that the Neo-Japan government still wants you to be their Gundam fighter for the 14th Gundam Fight."
Domon let out a breath and then thought for a few seconds before speaking. "If things do change and we don't have someone like Wong running everything and causing problems, I might consider it."
"I do know that the Neo-Japan government will compensate you well for winning the 13th Gundam Fight and for saving the earth."
Domon really didn't care about possessions. Right now he had his mind on the people in his life. He wanted his father, the Shuffle Alliance and friends and of course Rain, to be safe and happy. Suddenly however, his face looked as if something was wrong.
Dr. Kasshu tightened his grip on Domon's right shoulder and said, "What is it?"
The King of Heart's eyes drifted to the ground then back to his father's face as he said, "I'm sorry I couldn't save Kyoji."
Now putting his other hand on Domon's other shoulder, Dr. Kasshu looked straight into his son's eyes and said, "I know you couldn't save him, and even though it saddens me deeply that we have lost both your mother and your brother, I know without a doubt that they are looking down on us. I believe that Master Asia is as well."
Domon felt tears coming to his eyes but blinked them away before they could grow and fall.
"I think for now you should concentrate on the woman in your life. Not every man finds someone that is as devoted to them as Rain is to you."
As his father's hands left his shoulders, Domon smiled just at the thought of her. "You're right, Dad. I am lucky to have her." Without even realizing it, he began to praise the sweet woman, which made Dr. Kasshu even more convinced that Domon was meant to always be with his childhood friend. "Dad, when I'm down, I swear that all she has to do is just touch me and somehow I feel better and stronger just knowing she's there. And she's stuck by me even in the beginning when she thought I was ignoring her, or I was just being plain...rude to her. She wouldn't give up on me even though I was quite messed up after losing you, mom and Kyoji. She really means more to me than I thought anyone could."
"I can see that," the doctor said so pleased to see his strong, stubborn son in love. "So what are your plans?"
Carefully, as if still thinking about it, he said, "I figured that out on our way back to the boat. I plan on asking her something...soon, because we both know we belong together."
"Young love," Dr. Kasshu said with a smile as if he was an expert.
"But it's real, Dad," Domon said seriously. "I didn't try to feel this way about her. It just happened, and the more I denied what I was feeling to myself, the more I knew I was falling for her. I know that must sound crazy."
"No it doesn't. I've been in love myself," his father said thinking of Domon's mother.
Domon instantly thought of his mother too knowing how lucky he had been to have been raised by such loving parents.
"You and Rain are very mature, young adults; possibly because of what you've been through. All that matters to me is that you two can find happiness with each other."
After putting the kids to bed, Rain came out of the boat to see the Kasshu men ending their conversation.
Upon seeing her, Domon smiled holding out his hand to her as he said, "Are the kids asleep yet?"
As she took Domon's hand, she said, "They're drifting off now."
"What about you two? You must be tired," Dr. Kasshu said watching them closely. "I've been told that you have both been staying here."
Suddenly feeling as if he was a teenager, Domon said, "We're not staying...together."
"Oh...then Rain's not staying here?" Dr. Kasshu asked in a deep voice while looking very serious.
Though innocent, Rain blushed as she said in a low voice, "Well...yes. I have been staying here with your son."
Dr. Kasshu knew he should be ashamed of himself for torturing the young couple this way, but he felt they all needed to loosen up after all that had happened. "Isn't that a bad example for Hoy and Ming?"
Just then Han walked out of the boat and said, "I tried to tell them that, but even after doing so I've often caught them smooching when Domon should have been training. In fact, I had to cover the children's eyes quite a few times."
Domon and Rain looked at each other feeling completely confused since they just had their first kiss this night. What was Han talking about? They each couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with the older man.
Suddenly Han and Dr. Kasshu broke into laughter because of the puzzled looks on the couple's faces.
"We really had them speechless," Han said to the male doctor.
"Sorry, son," Dr. Kasshu said glad to have had a laugh. "It was quite funny to see the winner of the Gundam fight and his very intelligent, female companion, speechless."
Both Domon and Rain looked back at each other relieved that Han wasn't losing his mind.
"What brought that...joke on?" Domon asked of his father and Han.
Dr. Kasshu smiled yet again and said, "Actually, that was quite funny too. When I first showed up here asking about the both of you, all I had to say was Rain's name, and the kids let me know that Rain is yours, Domon."
Both Domon and Rain remembered the time that Chibodee had asked Rain out on a date and was too told by the kids that Rain was Domon's. The Neo-Japan team had looked very embarrassed, and Domon only said that his and Rain's relationship was complicated.
"You always did say Rain was yours," Dr. Kasshu said sounding more serious as he recalled the past.
"What?" Domon asked wanting to know what his father was talking about.
"Don't you remember?" Dr. Kasshu asked remembering very clearly of when Domon and Rain were very young. "Anytime another child tried to play with Rain, you'd scare them away saying she was yours."
Defending himself, Domon said very embarrassed, "Well...Rain and I got along very well and...three's a crowd."
Rain smiled fondly at her fighter and said, "Now I know why some of the other kids were scared to play with me."
Embarrassed, the King of Hearts said, "I think we should change the subject."
However, Han was on a roll. "I bet they were cute kids," he said with a big smile.
"Oh...yes they were," Dr. Kasshu said looking at the older man. "They were quite hyper and loud at times."
"Excuse me," Domon said looking at his father and Han while wishing they'd get back to the present. "As you can see, Rain and I have grown up."
"Yes," his father said giving him that proud smile once again just before becoming serious. "So you both have grown up. I may have to sleep between you two tonight."
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How close do you think Dr. Kasshu will be watching Domon and Rain? And what is this question Domon has for Rain?
Thanks for reading, Jen