G Gundam – Getting Past The Rain
Chapter Ten: Things Men Do For Women
A/N: Sorry for adding the annoying author's note but I just wanted to say how blessed I am for having such devoted readers. It makes me want to write more, and for that I thank you. And as promised (after a few weeks of procrastinating) the long expected lunch with Domon and Rain, Part 1. Remember: this is still a work in progress so feel free to express your opinion about my work. I would gladly alter the story seeing how I'm practically at my wits' end. Now, on with the story.
"Say, you wouldn't still have a crush on Rain, would you?"
I looked over at the driver's seat, at Allenby. "What brought that on?" I asked, trying to avoid the question. In truth, I was still perplexed about my relationship with Rain. I mean, she HAD said that she never wanted to see me again and that I'm pathetic, but she DID change her mind and apologize shortly after saying that. Damn, what's a guy suppose to do? I stared at Allenby, who shrugged and kept her eyes on the road.
"I just wanted to know that's all," she replied curtly. Unlike her usual self, her voice was steely and cold. Which surprised me, since I was more used to the frolicsome side of the Ne0-Swedish fighter.
"Not that it's any of your business, but yes, I still do." I paused, noticing the pained look in her eyes. "Allenby," I started, extending my hand to comfort her but she slapped it off. We stopped at a traffic light, and she buried her face into the steering wheel. Muffled sobs commenced shortly after.
Was Allenby really that upset? I asked myself. And because of me . . . damnit, why? Why is she so ambivalent sometimes? She knows I'm a guy, and a guy is excused for being a little slow in relationship type of things.
I placed my left hand onto her head and stroked her sea-green hair gently. Sometimes Allenby acts like such a guy that I forget that she is actually a girl, a mistake on my behalf. It was obvious that I was at my wits' end. Everything I did only made things worse, so I decided to try to be more sensitive to her feelings. I cringed subconsciously at the word as if I'd been kicked in the stomach.
"I'm sorry," I heard myself say. "I should be more sensitive to your feelings, but you have to know that I really like you. But," I added so there would be no confusion. "But a part of me is still in love with Rain. Yes, I know that it's been so long and she probably doesn't remember me, but I just can't help it. She's my first love, you know?"
No response. Somehow, the traffic light seemed to have been red for an eternity, and I was starting to sweat a little. Being a Gundam fighter never prepared me to deal with this kind of situation. As if giving up hope, I sighed heavily and stared out the window. There was a park nearby and there I saw a couple, a guy and a girl. The guy was about my height, had the same eyes, built, hair, and possibly weight as me. The girl was petite, and had sea-green hair, her hand intertwined with the man's. And on the man's shoulder sat a child, no older than three years. The child had greenish blue hair like his mother, stern gray eyes like his father, and a babyish smile probably inherited by his mother. I sensed a very pure aura from the trio, and although a mysterious aura lay dormant in the couple, their child seemed to have negated the bad aura.
"Albert?" a heavenly voice asked, sending me out of my dream. I shut my eyes as if burning the image into my mind. Then I opened them again and turned to Allenby.
"Yes?"
"I . . well, I just wanted to let you know that it's really nice to see you again. I thought I'd lost you during the fight with the Dark Gundam. I don't know what I would . . . would do without y-you . ." she was already near tears after saying "you." Her eyes brimmed with tears but the sunlight that poured into the car's window made her look heavenly. Then, as if losing all sense of masculinity, I leaned in and hugged her with all my might. I didn't care anymore; Rain had her chance with me, and she would be better off with the Ne0-Japan Gundam fighter.
"Allenby," I whispered, "I'm so sorry for making you wait for so long. I won't let you suffer because of me. I want to be with you, and if that means I cant have anymore feelings for Rain then . . consider her gone." I flinched at my last statement. It had thrown me off as it did to Allenby.
"You mean it?"
Normally I would cough and look away or try to change the subject, but I agreed without hesitating. Rain is better off without me; she is probably going to get married to the Gundam of Gundams, Mr. King of Hearts himself. So stepping back and letting the King of Hearts take my Rain is probably the best thing to do. Right?
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I didn't notice that Allenby had placed both her hands at the back of my head and we were locked lip in lip sharing what could only be described as a "French" kiss. We desisted only when the boozehound driver in the back started honking and yelling his damn head off. The light was now green.
"We should go," she said as she pulled back. Her cheeks were a little flushed, as were mine. We had been going at it for how long?
"Yeah, that would be best," I responded, making a promise with myself not to get out of line with the Swedish beauty. I broke that promise shortly after. We arrived at the port after cruising through the streets of Ne0-Hong Kong. I had forgotten that we were still in the city; at first, I was completely thrown off by the crowd of people but Allenby clued me in.
"Uhh . . . where's the restaurant?" I asked, noticing all the fishing boats. I started angrily, "If this is just a joke, then . . ."
"No, we're having lunch here," she explained, pointing at a very aged boat. I looked at her in disbelief but followed her nevertheless. "You're lucky that I'm hungry," I growled as I smelled the foul smell of fish. She smiled and responded, "Yeah, and you're lucky that I put up with you. Now remember, you promised me that . ."
"'I wont punch Domon Kasshu.' Geez, you'd think I'd learn by now . . ."
We walked up the board that connected the entrance of the boat to the dock. It was the first time I've ever boarded a boat and immediately I felt sick. The constant turbulence of the ship rocking to and fro made my stomach upset. The smell of the salty sea did not help either. I felt myself gag in the bowels as fluids started to come up my esophagus. Knowing full well what was about to happen next, I ran to the side of the boat and threw up about half my body weight. I walked back over to Allenby, who was staring at me in disbelief.
"Don't tell me," was the first thing she said. "Don't tell me that a big strong Gundam fighter such as yourself cant handle being on a boat for half a minute before puking out his lungs." She laughed airily at my flaw but I shrugged, knowing it was nothing to be ashamed of. It was my first exposure to the ocean after all. "Yeah, well, I know people think I'm perfect and all, especially you, but I guess I just cant live up to their expectations," I retorted cockily as I folded my arms. Suddenly, I felt the need to hurl again and rushed to the same side as before to do just that.
"I'm fine," I gasped out as I felt someone's presence.
"Do you need any medical treatment?" the person asked, her voice sounded somewhat familiar. I squinted to see her face, but my vision suddenly became blurry. The last thing I remembered before collapsing was hearing Allenby's voice.
I woke up with the feeling I get after training too hard in one session. Straining, I pushed myself up into a sitting position. Disgusted with myself, I got out of the warm bed and climbed up the stairs. As I pushed the door open, a bright ray of sunshine filled the room. I shielded my eyes with my hand; by then I was already seeing stars. I walked around like a blind man, using my outstretched hands to guide me. Which was stupid, because all it did was me ending up in the water. Allenby leaned over the railing trying to suppress a smile.
"Go ahead, laugh it up."
And of course, she did. Feeling myself turning red, I got back onboard dripping wet, which Allenby so very kindly pointed out.
"Say," she whispered seductively, running her finger through my abs. "How bout I help you take off that shirt?"
"Friendly as always, I see," grunted a man who was nearby. He was about my age, about ten pounds lighter and two inches shorter, with unruly black hair and a red cape. Which of course he had to be . .
"Making fun of cute couples again, huh, Domon?" said another voice. Rain was leaning on the doorframe with one hand on the hinge. "Hi, I don't think we've met," she said, walking to my direction. "I'm Rain Mikamura, and this is Domon Kasshu. Domon, say 'hi'." She nudged the Gundam fighter's ribs.
"Hi," grunted the King of Hearts.
"So what's your name?" she asked. I was in complete disbelief. She had actually forgotten who I am? But . . how can that be? What about the reunion in the Dark Gundam? Or the fact that we've known each other for eight years? Does two years of separation negate that?
"Rain, don't you know who he is?" asked Allenby. "You guys go way back. He's ---"
"I used to be your paperboy," I finished quickly, placing a hand roughly over Allenby's mouth to stop her from revealing my identity. "And now I am Ne0-Taiwan's Gundam fighter. Please to meet you, Ms. Mikamura."
"Well, I can see you have your eyes for the cute ones, huh, Allenby?" Rain hinted to Allenby, nudging her ribs. "This one's a keeper I hope."
"Yes . . . yes, he is," she responded softly. Her cheeks turned red and her eyes were concentrated hard on the floor. Much to my chagrin, Domon went over to talk to me.
"You know," he whispered in my ear. "This one here's not all that bad. Sure, she's only seventeen, but give her two years and she'd probably be more beautiful than Rain here."
"Didn't know we were so much alike, Ne0-Japan," said Chibodee Crocket, who had boarded the boat unnoticed. "I'd offer ta take ya ta my country and show ya the public talent, but ya got Rain here so ya betta watch it. You," he pointed his finger at me. "You on the other hand I can pass my legacy onto. The name's Crocket, but just call me Chibodee."
"Nice to meet you," I muttered, not giving a damn about my fellow Gundam fighter. No reason to either, those stupid Shuffle jerkoffs.
"Hey listen," he said with his arm slung over my shoulder. "Wutcha think about dat one right there?" He pointed to Allenby. "Too bad she's only seventeen, otherwise I'd have had my way with her a LONG time ago . . ."
"She's MINE," I snarled. There was a fine line between joking around and causing serious damage, and Chibodee's remark was plainly a hit below the belt. Talking about having his way with a minor . . .
"Geez, lighten up friend, or you'll end up like Ne0-Japan over here. Now listen up. I'ma hafta take ya someplace to make ya a man, hear?"
"Give him a break, Chibodee," scoffed a red haired woman. "Hi, my name's Shirley, and take my advice: don't get too sucked in to what is known as the Chibodee Crocket Vortex or you'll end up just like him." The three other attractive girls in the back cleared their throats and stared at Shirley as if hinting her to do something. "Oh, yeah, that's right. How can I forget? This is Cath, Bunny, and Janet."
"Hi."
"Don't forget me, Sis!"
"That's Sai and the lovely girl he's with is Cecil."
"Excuse moi, but I have yet to introduce myself. My name is George de Sand of Ne0-France and this is Princess Marie Louise. It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, monsieur."
"Hello." I bowed to the young blonde; based on past experiences, I had learned to always bow to anybody of royal blood. I noticed two stern looking people in the background but I already knew them. Argo Gulskii of Ne0-Russia.
"Yo," yelled the short Chinese boy. "How bout we gets to eating now, Sis?"
"Sounds like a plan," agreed Domon and the two ran belowdeck to get the food. The others nodded mutually and started preparations for the meal. I blew out a heavy sigh. So this odd group is the famous and acclaimed Shuffle Alliance, huh? Judging by the way they act, I'll be happy to just make it out alive . . . Noticing the Ne0-American crew looking at me, I pushed off against the railing and went over to help.
God, I hope things wont get much worse . . .
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A/N: That's it for now. Please don't flame me for my unruly reference to the Shuffle Alliance; my character just has a very sour view about them. Other than that, please remember to REVIEW. I'd appreciate a few comments here and there. Keep in mind: Should I make the next chapter angst or humor? If you have any suggestions, any at all, don't hesitate to tell me in your review or via e-mail. Many thanks to all who reviewed.
~*Assassin Gundam*~