Thanks so very, very much for the reviews on the last chapter. I'm so sorry I didn't have time this time around to individually thank each of you at the end of this chapter. (Also - thanks too to anyone who read my first one-shot as well.)
CHAPTER 11: A Turn For the Worse
Driving the corelander back to the cabin, Rain thanked God that Domon was okay after the Gundam fight against Neo-China's Sai Saici. She had to smile that her fighter had been able to win even while he had been feeling under the weather; truly proving that he was the best. His plan to let Sai Saici wear himself out had worked out perfectly.
Upon the Neo-Japan team's return to the cabin, Rain turned from where she was in the front of the corelander to look back at Domon who was sound asleep. I hate that I have to wake him, she thought smiling at the man she was so deep in love with.
Moving to him, Rain placed her hand on his warm face and whispered, "Domon, we're here."
"Umm," he mumbled as he just barely opened his eyes to see her. He then whispered back quite seriously, "Let's just stay here. Come sit by me."
Rain smiled seeing that he definitely didn't want to move as his eyes closed again. She couldn't deny that it pleased her so that he wanted her near him even when he wasn't feeling well. In a gentle, sweet voice, she whispered, "You'll be much more comfortable in the cabin, Domon. Come on. I'll help you there."
Grunting because he didn't want to move, the fighter opened his eyes and gave in to his girlfriend. Without saying a word, he let her help him out of the corelander. As they began to walk to the cabin, Rain kept a firm arm around his waist and he let his arm rest on her shoulders.
About ten minutes later, Domon lay comfortably on the sofa in the den. His sweet doctor had all ready taken his temperature and popped a pill into his mouth to rid him of the last of his fever. Afterward she sat down on the floor by his side watching his eyes grow heavy and then close. Since she had been so worried about him earlier, she just couldn't bring herself to move away from him. Remembering how Sai Saici's Dragon Gundam had pounded on the Shining Gundam's shoulder, Rain let her hand slip beneath Domon's tan jacket and she ever so gently began to caress him there.
Opening his eyes, Domon didn't say anything as he gazed tenderly at the woman, who to him possessed the most beautiful eyes.
"Do you want me to stop?" she asked not meaning to keep him awake.
"No," he whispered with a smile. "I guess you saw that I had let Sai Saici lose most of his energy by hammering on my shoulder."
"Yes," Rain said with irritation in her voice as her hand continued to gently massage his shoulder. "I wanted to hammer on the Neo-China's Fighter's head."
Laughing lightly, Domon had never dreamt that he'd ever have someone being so protective over him. Being that it was Rain made it even better. He truly loved the devotion from the woman at his side. Reaching his hand out, he took Rain's free hand and held it in his on his chest as his heavy eyelids slipped closed once again.
Smiling, Rain knew that she'd never want to lose him after receiving such a strong taste of his love for her during the last few months.
About two hours later, Rain woke up from her sitting position on the floor next to Domon, who was still sound asleep on the sofa. Lifting her head she smiled upon seeing his handsome face lost in what appeared to be a pleasant dream. Her smile grew as she wondered if he was dreaming of her. Gently feeling his forehead with her hand, she was glad to find that his fever was now gone. Brushing some of his dark hair out of his face, she leaned and softly kissed his cheek. Carefully she then slipped her hand from his and as quietly as possible she stood up and with one last glance at him, she made her way to the bathroom.
A few minutes later as she washed her hands clean in the small bathroom, Rain felt a strange feeling as if something just wasn't right, and then Karato's voice began to run through her head saying, If you are caught breaking the rule, I'd hate to think of the punishment that Ulube would put both you and Domon through. Again, Rain told herself that Ulube wouldn't find out, but that didn't stop her uneasy feeling. I'll feel better once I'm back by Domon's side, she thought opening the bathroom door.
When she walked out into the den she stopped and just smiled at her fighter's sleeping form on the sofa. Just seeing him made her feel safe. Then suddenly, someone; a man, pulled both of her arms behind her back restraining her from moving away. Before she could call out to her fighter, another man covered her mouth with his hand. Her eyes filled with fear as Ulube appeared in front of her with a sick smile on his face. Rain's eyes moved around him to look at Domon and she knew that the medicine she had given him had him pretty knocked out; preventing him from hearing what was going on.
"Checking on your…boyfriend?" Ulube whispered seeing Rain's eyes on the Neo-Japan fighter. "Remember, Dear. I told you that you would both be punished if you broke the rule."
Rain tried to struggle from the two men holding her, but to no avail.
Leaning close, Ulube whispered in her ear, "You shall be punished first." Moving away from Rain, he made his way to behind the sofa where Domon was.
Watching with great horror as panic began to take her over; tears stung Rain's blue eyes when Ulube pulled out a long knife from in the back of his pants. The terrified female's eyes moved down to Domon who had no idea what was happening around him and then her eyes moved back up to Ulube to see him lifting the knife up high in both of his hands right above her fighter's chest. Rain continued to struggle to break free and tried to scream but her voice was muffled under the strong hand covering her mouth.
"Rain," Ulube said looking at her with such pleasure on his face, "Your punishment begins!" With that Ulube's hands came down fast pointing the knife straight towards Domon's chest.
The hand over Rain's mouth moved away as if that man wanted to hear and enjoy her screams. "No!" she cried out as she turned her face away, not wanting to see Domon's life being taken. Knowing where Ulube had intended that knife to go, Rain again screamed out in pain as an uncontrollable ache took over her heart.
"Good!" Ulube exclaimed sounding very satisfied. "Domon Kasshu is gone!"
"No!" Rain cried out again - not wanting to look as if not looking would hide what had happened. She didn't want to believe that Ulube would have been so ruthless as to actually take Domon's life and in his sleep. Her fighter just couldn't be gone.
"Look at him, Rain!" Ulube yelled wanting to torture her some more. "Look at what your loving this man has caused him."
One of the men holding Rain took hold of her face and forced her to look towards the sofa. Through her tears, Rain saw the knife in her love and watched as his lifeless hand slipped off of his chest to fall and hang off of the sofa. "No! Domon!" she cried out as a pain like never before ran through her making her fall limp in the men's arms. She wanted to die herself as anguish took over her entire soul; causing her to suffer like never before.
"Rain!" Domon called out to her.
Domon had woken up only because she had shrieked out a deafening no. Seeing that she was having a nightmare, he laid a hand on her shoulder and gently shook her but she wouldn't seem to wake up. He couldn't believe it when she literally started to cry grief stricken in her sleep. Worried for her, Domon sat up and leaned over her as he practically begged, "Rain, please wake up." He wanted her out of her nightmare and wished he could be in it with her so that he could protect her.
Finally Rain opened her eyes, but she looked confused as to where she really was.
"Rain," Domon said almost relieved while wanting to assure her that she had only been dreaming. But the tears continued to fall from her eyes as her trembling hands lifted to grab onto his tan jacket. He didn't know that she was checking to make sure that he didn't have a knife wound in his chest; that it had indeed only been a dream.
"You're alive," she cried making him slide himself off of the sofa and on to the floor next to her so that he could hold her. He wrapped his strong, protective arms around her and she very slowly came to realize that her horrible nightmare had felt too very real. Though all nightmares were bad, this one had been completely and utterly dreadful for her and she just couldn't seem to shake it.
Domon became scared of her continuous quivering and he wanted desperately to relieve her from her fears. "Baby," he said wanting her to focus on him; the person who loved her more than anything. "I'm here. Shhh...everything's all right. It was just a dream."
Her tears just kept coming as she sobbed softly into his chest. Though Domon knew she could be tough at times like she had been when she piloted the Shining Gundam, she was anything but that now. Her nightmare had no doubt all but scared the life out of her. He couldn't believe just how traumatic it had been for her and he soon felt her arms wrap ever so tightly around him as she finally began to calm down.
After a good while of just holding her, Domon released her just enough so that he could see her face. When she lifted from his chest to look at him, it broke his heart to see her puffy eyes from all of the crying she had done. "Rain," he said with such concern as he pushed her hair out of her face. "Are you all right? It's almost as if that dream really happened to you."
Clearing her throat first, she then said, "He...he killed you." Still more tears rolled down her face.
"No one killed me. I'm still here," he said in a gentle voice as his hands lifted so that his fingers could wipe her tears away. "That must have been some gundam fight you dreamt of."
Shaking her head no, Rain said still looking scared. "You weren't in a gundam fight." Also still sounding so very frightened, she added, "Domon, even though I don't want to, maybe we should just stop breaking the rule."
Staring at her, Domon came to realize that she meant that they should break up. "What?" he asked managing to keep his voice calm. "No. I know you don't mean that, and I'm not going to let you go."
"But Ulube...he's going to kill you," she said with fear in her eyes.
"Was that your nightmare?" Domon asked holding her face in his hands. "Did you dream that jerk killed me because we broke the rule?"
Rain slowly shook her head yes.
Domon then pulled her back against his chest and kissed the top of her head. "It was only a dream, Rain. Only a dream."
"I know," she said lifting her face from his chest to look at him, "But it was so real. I…I woke up and left you on the sofa in here by yourself. When I came out of the bathroom, I was grabbed from behind and Ulube told me that my punishment was beginning and he...he..."
"You can tell me, Rain," Domon said wanting her to know that he could handle it.
"He...he stabbed you in your sleep," she said so sadly.
Again Domon pulled her against his chest and hugged her tightly. "I won't let that fool kill me, Rain. There's too much I still want to do with you." After seeing how emotionally upset Rain was from thinking that she had lost him, Domon knew again with no doubt that she truly loved him as much as he loved her.
A very, long while later, they were still sitting on the floor just holding each other. Needing to stretch out, Domon began to stand pulling Rain up onto her feet with him. He was glad to see all of her tears gone and the life back in her face as he gazed at her.
Rain then let her hand reach up to feel Domon's forehead and she found his fever gone. "Do you feel better?"
"Yes," he said like nothing could ever hurt him. Recalling how she had trembled in his arms earlier, his hands moved to push her short hair behind her ears as he asked, "How about you? Do you feel better?"
"Yes," she said softly; relieved that it had only been nightmare she had earlier. "Much better now. Thanks."
"So," he teased as his hands moved to her shoulders, "you're not going to break up with me?"
Smiling at him, she let her hands slide up his chest and then she brushed his lips with a sweet kiss. "Does that answer your question?"
Looking down at her with a pleased smile, Domon wrapped his arms around her waist and said, "If you're up to it, I think I need some more convincing."
"Oh really," Rain said lifting an eyebrow at him as her arms moved around his neck. Smiling she began to pull him closer to her so that she could persuade him of her loving feelings for him by letting her lips take pleasure in his. Domon let her very slowly kiss his mouth open and naturally their passion for each other took them over.
However, before they could go on expressing their love for each other, they heard the door to the cabin suddenly open so fast and hard that it banged against the inside wall.
Still holding Rain in his arms, Domon only turned his head to see Ulube standing there with two other Japanese Officials.
Ulube had his hands clenched into fist and somehow keeping his voice under control, the fury could still be heard in it as he said, "Neo-Japan team. You are to be punished for your present actions. Men. Go seize Domon Kasshu and his...once partner, Rain Mikamura."
"Once partner?" Domon asked about to release Rain so he could take care of the two goons headed towards him. He had to change his plan however, when he suddenly felt Rain's arms slip from around his neck and all of her weight fall against him. "Rain!" he exclaimed turning his head to her as he realized that after her traumatic nightmare that Ulube now showing up was just too much for her. Clearly her nerves were shot and caused her to pass out.
One of the goons placed their hand on Domon's arm to take him into their custody, but Domon held Rain against him with one arm and his other easily struck the man; knocking him away. Looking to the other man who had approached, Domon said in a threatening voice as he tightened his arm around Rain, "If you want to live, I suggest that you back off."
Ulube walked over to his once Neo-Japan team and heard a soft voice he had never heard from Domon Kasshu before. He was whispering to Rain and when he called her baby, Ulube almost lost it. For it was even more proof that the rule had been broken.
Alarmed since Rain hadn't come to yet, Domon didn't know that Ulube was now standing directly behind him holding a syringe. Because of the anger he was feeling, Ulube lifted his hand and came down hard with full force and injected the long needle straight through Domon's tan jacket and into his back.
The sharp, unexpected pain made Domon eyes widen, but he held on to Rain.
Walking to where Domon could see him, Ulube said, "Let's see you protect your...baby now."
"Go to hell," Domon said with clenched teeth and soon felt himself slipping away. With all of the strength that he could find left in himself, he held on to Rain. As his knees buckled he fell down on to them and whispered to his love as his eyes unwillingly closed, "I won't let you go, Ra…" Unfortunately before he could even finish her name, he fell onto his side taking her with him.
Ulube felt very satisfied as he looked at the couple lying on the ground, and said, "What a pathetic sight our ex Neo-Japan team is." Shaking his head in disgust, he said to the two Japanese officials, "This is why I brought you both here, to carry this horrible excuse for a gundam team out of here. I knew you wouldn't be able to fight or take control over Domon Kasshu."
Obeying their commander, the officials bent down and actually had to pry the female from the fighter's arms.
The sun was just coming up once the officials and Ulube arrived at the government building with the two out cold prisoners. Knowing he had major decisions to make, Ulube told the officials to put Domon and Rain in one of the interrogation rooms. The thought of Rain waking up seeing Domon made Ulube happy, for that would be her first form of torture to think that Domon was dead.
In the interrogation room as one of the officials took Domon from over his shoulder and lay the fighter on the floor, the official said sounding a bit nervous, "If Kasshu was to wake up right now, he'd kill me."
"How do you think I feel?" the other official asked. "I'm the one holding his woman." After he placed Rain on the floor, the two officials quickly made their way out of the room.
"So you're here," Ulube said to Karato as he entered Ulube's dark office.
"When you said that it was urgent that I get here, I got here as soon as possible," Karato said wondering what Ulube wanted at this time in the morning.
"We need to start training for the next gundam fight," Ulube said very calmly.
The commissioner looked at Ulube strangely then said, "You have no need to worry. I will make sure that Domon trains hard just as he did for all of his other fights. I'm sure Rain will have the Shining Gundam in tiptop shape as well."
"Forget them," Ulube said rolling his eyes. "What I meant to say is that I need to train for the next gundam fight since I will be piloting the Shining Gundam for now on. I called you here to tell you that."
"What?" Karato asked shocked. "What are you talking about?"
Losing his smile, the man with the mask said, "I found out that Kasshu and Mikamura have been breaking the rule."
Karato felt his stomach drop because he had really hoped that the Neo-Japan team wouldn't be caught. "Did you…"
"No. They're not dead...yet," Ulube answered. "I have some thinking to do on my torture methods."
"Where are they?" Karato asked trying not to look like he cared for them too much.
"They're in one of the interrogation rooms. Now please excuse me so I can think things out. One of the officials outside can fill you in on what happened then you can get to work on helping me train for the next gundam fight."
Not knowing quite how to act or what to say, Karato said nothing as he left the room. He knew he couldn't defend Domon and Rain because Ulube would blow up and lose it completely. Deep down he wished Ulube could just let it go since they had been winning the gundam fights, but the commissioner knew that Ulube planned to get his revenge for what had happened to his father. Rain's father is going to be very upset when he finds out that his daughter is a prisoner, Karato thought not liking it himself. After talking to one of the officials and finding out exactly what had happened, the commissioner made his way to see the two prisoners.
As Rain finally started to come to, she felt very uncomfortable and realized that she was lying on a hard, cold floor. Blinking her eyes open, she saw that she was in one of the gray interrogation rooms in the Neo-Japan building. "What am I doing here?" she whispered and then memories of kissing Domon and then Ulube harshly entering the cabin as they were doing so came into her mind. He had caught them breaking the rule. "Domon!" Rain exclaimed sitting up and then she saw him lying on the floor about ten feet away from her. Not taking the time to stand up, she turned herself and began to crawl over to him. She continued to desperately call his name, but he didn't answer. Before she let herself fall into a complete panic mode, when she reached him, she placed her fingers on his neck. After finding his pulse she felt such a relief to know that he was still alive, and then she tried to shake him awake but he wouldn't respond. She was about to check his pupils when she heard someone unlocking the door.
When Karato opened the door, he made eye contact with Rain but neither said anything as he walked in and shut the door. The Japanese Official wasn't about to say I told you so and Rain wasn't about to say You were right. They saw it in each other's eyes. Trying to keep control over her voice, Rain asked, "What did he do to Domon?"
Karato let out a deep breath then said, "Please know I knew nothing of Ulube going to the cabin. It seems he knew all on his own that the rule was being broken and he showed up prepared. He's always known that Domon is the strongest fighter. He injected something into Domon that will keep him out for about another hour. From what the officials said, you passed out in Domon's arms. Because his attention had been on you, Ulube had been able to sneak up behind him with the Syringe."
Rain shook her head sickened by what Ulube had done.
"From what I understand," Karato said in a surprising mild voice, "Domon wouldn't let you go...even as he fell to his knees. After he fell over unconscious, they had a hard time pulling you out of his arms."
Not surprised that Domon would try to protect her with everything in him, a tear rolled down Rain's face as she turned to look at him just lying there unaware of what was going on just like he had been in her nightmare. Looking back at the commissioner, she asked, "What is Ulube going to do to us?"
"I don't know yet," Karato said looking sad for her. "I'm pretty sure he won't leave you here with Domon."
"Oh no," Rain said leaning over her fighter and hugging him.
Watching sadly, Karato then left.
Hugging her love, Rain whispered, "What ever happens to us, Domon. I love you." She then began to cry softly wishing that she would feel his arms wrap around her.
Thanks for reading, Jen
