CHAPTER 12: Fear of Punishment

After having an unheard, soft cry, Rain couldn't bring herself to move away from Domon since she knew that she'd soon be taken away from him. A part of her was shocked that Ulube had left her with her love for this long. She remained on her knees with her head and hands lying on Domon's chest; dreading her soon absence from his side. She had never felt so frightened before in her life and she hated it. Bringing up her father to Ulube would probably only endanger his life, so she decided not to. Finally lifting herself off of Domon, she stayed very close to him and just watched as he breathed ever so slowly. It bothered her tremendously that Ulube had injected him with something; especially since he still had medicine in his system that she had given him earlier to bring his fever down. Remembering the pounding that her fighter had taken from Sai Saici didn't make her feel any better. Though Domon was the toughest man that she knew, how much could his body take?

Remembering her nightmare, Rain really feared that Ulube would definitely end Domon's life and her own. Leaning back over her fighter, she inched her fingers underneath his back. Wanting to hold him incase she would never get the chance again, it took all of her strength to pull his upper body up and into her arms. His arms only dangled onto the floor and because he was dead weight she couldn't hold him for long. As she leaned back down with him she mumbled, "Domon, please know that I've always felt so protected with you. Ulube knew that the only way anyone could overpower you was if he gave you that injection. I hate him," she said on the verge of crying again. It broke her heart that this really seemed to be the end for she and Domon. More than anything she wished he'd wake up while she was still with him. Once again, she laid her head on his chest feeling so completely helpless as the tears started to roll out of her eyes.

Out of the blue as if he was conscious, Rain heard Domon's determined voice so clearly in her head saying what he had said to her after her nightmare. Rain, I won't let Ulube kill me. There's still too much I want to do with you. However, this time he added, You cannot give up on us, Rain. Don't give up. Rain's eyes widened as she sat up and looked at him. Had they grown so close that a part of Domon could actually get through to her even in the state that he was in?

Staring at his motionless form and feeling an unexpected strength start to take her spirit over, she whispered, "I heard you, Domon. We really are a part of each other." She realized that he would never want her feeling so scared and out of hope. He wanted her to have faith in him like she had always had, to have faith in their future together and to also have faith in herself. She had to believe that she; she and Domon, would get out of this alive. Becoming angry, she said, "I will not let this be the end for us."

For a good while she began to believe in herself and she decided that Ulube shouldn't take her so lightly. With determination now in her voice, she said, "I can deal with whatever is thrown at me. I may not be a gundam fighter, but how dare Ulube underestimate me."

When the key was heard in the doorknob - unlocking the door, Rain looked at it and whispered, "I'm ready." Moving her eyes back to Domon, she leaned over him and said, "I won't give up." Just after kissing his lips, she stood up and then waited to be taken out of the room.

The door opened and revealed Ulube standing with the same two officials he had taken to the cabin with him. "Rain," the commander said calmly; surprised to see that she wasn't clinging to her boyfriend. "Obviously you know we've come to take you away from Kasshu."

Rain didn't say anything since she knew that talking to Ulube in a tone of disrespect wouldn't help. She instead concentrated on getting herself through whatever Ulube had planned for her even if it seemed impossible. In fact, even if she would fail trying, she wasn't just going to let herself be murdered.

"Take her," Ulube said to his officials with quite a smile on his face.

So badly Rain wanted to turn to get one last glance at her fighter, but she didn't. She didn't want to give Ulube the satisfaction of seeing the sad look that might come to her face, which would show just how hard it was for her to leave Domon. Instead, she walked out of the door believing that she was going to be with her love again.


An hour later, Domon began to come to enough to find that he was sitting in a hard chair. He had quite a time just lifting his head as he opened his eyes. Wondering what was wrong with him, he began to recognize where he was. Still feeling a bit drained he realized he was in an interrogation room in the Neo-Japan building. "What am I doing here?" he whispered trying to snap himself out of the drowsiness he was feeling. Memories of Ulube abruptly entering the cabin suddenly flooded his head. His very tired eyes widened with fear as he said, "Rain." Trying to stand up, he found that his arms were tied together back behind the chair with a strong rope. To make matters worse, he looked down to see that the chair was mounted to the floor. Memories of what happened after Ulube made his way into the cabin entered Domon's mind now. The last thing he recalled was holding on to Rain with all of his might as he fell on to his knees. He remembered nothing after that. "Ulube injected me with something, but more importantly, where's Rain?" he whispered hating that this was real; that she had been taken away from him. He had told her that he wouldn't let anyone take her from him. "Rain!" Domon called out. He tried with all of his might to break free from the rope, but he didn't have his normal strength back just yet. "Rainnn!" he screamed out again.

"I knew you'd be waking up within minutes," Ulube said walking from the back of the room where he had been hiding so Domon could now see him. He had enjoyed watching the young fighter realize that his girlfriend had been taken from him.

"Where is she!" Domon demanded, sounding almost breathless from his scream because he was still so weak.

"Even in the state you're in, I see you're still worried about her," Ulube said shaking his head at how pathetic Domon was acting for being such a strong fighter.

"If you hurt her," Domon said making eye contact with Ulube, "I will kill you with my bare hands."

"Don't make me laugh," the commander said folding his arms. "You couldn't hurt a fly right now."

"Where is she?" Domon repeated trying to free his hands, but he instead felt a pain around his wrist as he struggled.

"I do believe that even the weakest gundam fighter could beat you to a pulp right now," Ulube said beginning to laugh.

Domon gave him the look of death and said so very seriously, "When I get my strength back, I'm going to beat the hell out of you."

"How dare you speak to me that way!" Ulube yelled appalled. "You did this to yourself by breaking the rule!"

"Fine," Domon said accepting that he had indeed broken the rule. "But I proved your reason for the rule wrong by continuing to win all of my gundam fights."

"You wouldn't have for long," Ulube said calming down - wanting to explain to Domon why. "Your partner, or should I say girlfriend, had a fit when she thought you were going to get hurt in the last gundam fight. Surely she'd end up convincing you not to fight your best in fear for your life in a future fight."

"She knows I like to win," Domon said wishing that he didn't still feel dizzy.

"Look at the mess that this woman has put you through." Almost sounding as if he had sympathy in his voice, Ulube stepped closer to Domon and said, "I must admit that you are the best martial artist that I have ever seen. Tell me you don't really love her."

Domon fought to keep his head up as he said, "No, I won't."

Feeling his blood boil, Ulube asked, "Why not!"

Making eye contact with Ulube, Domon said, "Because I do love her, and I will forever."

Shaking his head with disgust, the commander exclaimed, "How can a strong man like you fall under the control of a woman!"

"What are you talking about?" Domon asked before shaking his head as if again attempting to snap out of his dizziness.

"Let me put it this way," Ulube said boldly, still having faith that gundam fighting was more important to Domon than anything else. "If Rain's life was in danger and the only way you could save her was by losing a gundam fight, would you lose the gundam fight?"

"Yes," Domon said immediately and disappointing the man with the mask.

Forcing himself to stay calm, Ulube said in a steady voice, "Do you mean to tell me that a woman means more to you than Neo-Japan having control over the colonies?"

"Rain does," Domon said not knowing that Ulube was thinking of how his father had been tortured and killed because he couldn't stop his Neo-Japan team from being more concerned about each other rather than the gundam fight.

"Domon Kasshu, you are worthless to Neo-Japan. What I do to you will be an example to future Neo-Japan teams that love has no place in the gundam fight."

"Shut up and tell me where Rain is!" Domon yelled wanting Ulube to know that he wasn't scared.

"You just don't get it!" Ulube exclaimed outraged. "I'm going to torture you by torturing her!"

Taking in what Ulube said, Domon's heart dropped and he soon found himself in a lie. "I pursued her! She didn't and doesn't want me. Torture me!"

"You're lying to protect her…and let me repeat myself. What I said is that I am going to torture you by torturing her." Walking to the door, Ulube opened it just before saying, "When you see what happens to your - innocent, sweet Rain, remember you have no one to blame but yourself for not following the rule."

"Come back here!" Domon yelled as Ulube left shutting the door behind him. "Ulube!" Domon roared not finished with him yet.

When the door to the room did open again, a Japanese official appeared by it.

"Where's Rain!" Domon demanded.

The official actually looked frightened of getting hurt even though Domon was tied down. Domon Kasshu was not someone to mess with especially since the official had experienced one of his hits back at the cabin. "Commander Ulube would like you to look into the next room," the Japanese official said and then left the room as quickly at possible.

Domon looked at the window in the interrogation room and saw right into another room as the lights in it were flipped on. He knew a person in that room could not see back through into his room.

Suddenly an official pushed Rain into that room. "Rain!" Domon yelled out but he knew she wouldn't be able to hear him through the thick window between them. What's going on? Domon wondered as he eyed Rain for any injuries. He was relieved to see that she didn't appear to be harmed and just seeing her made him get some of his strength back.

Rain hugged herself wondering why she had been thrown into the room and then walked over to the window wondering if someone was watching on the other side.

It nearly killed Domon that she was so close to him and didn't even know it. For a brief second he wondered if she could see him because she just stood there staring as if she could.

Only being able to see darkness, Rain turned from the window and walked away. Suddenly a man entered Rain's room smiling and pulling the door shut behind him.

It only took Domon a second to recognize the man who was now moving towards Rain. "That's the SOB who attacked Rain in the cabin!"

Instantly Rain recognized the man with the short hair as well and dreaded why he was there.

"Hello, Rain," he said stopping about three feet in front of her. "I never did tell you my name. It's Charles and this time you and I are going to get to know each other very, very well," he said as he began to unbutton his shirt.

Rain's heart began to pound fast knowing that this man wanted to take advantage of her. She realized that this would be the first form of torture that Ulube wanted her to experience.

Domon became enraged as he watched the man toss his shirt onto the floor after he finished unbuttoning it.

"I've got to tell you, honey," Charles said taking a step closer to Rain as she backed one away. "You have a fantastic body."

Feeling like a tiger in a cage with someone on the outside of it waving a rare steak, Domon was about to lose it like never before. More than anything he wanted to throw himself through that window and attack the man trying to hurt the woman he loved.

Knowing what this horrible excuse of a man intended to do with her, Rain had all ready prepared herself to not give up without a fight. In her head she again heard Domon saying, Don't give up. She began concentrating on defending herself even though Charles was much bigger than she. She wasn't about to just let him have his way with her. How dare Ulube try to torture me this way, she thought becoming very angry. She had no idea that Domon was watching and the torture that he was feeling at the moment. He literally felt as if he was going out of his mind.

"Rain," Charles said seeing the anger on her face. "I'm glad to see that you don't look scared of me, but you don't have to look so angry."

When Ulube entered Domon's room, Domon was yelling to Charles who couldn't hear him, "I'm gonna rip your freakin' head off if you touch her!"

After letting out a chuckle, Ulube said, "Why Domon Kasshu, does it upset you to see Rain with another man?"

Spinning his head to Ulube, Domon demanded, "Get him away from her!"

"Seeing how upset that you are…no way," Ulube said folding his arms. "You knew there would be punishment if you broke the rule and this is part of it."

Closing her eyes, Rain began to concentrate. She remembered when Domon had taught her some karate moves not long after they had started breaking the rule. He had said that he wanted her to be able to protect herself during the times when he was off in the woods training. Rain, he had said so seriously, If you use the moves that I will show you correctly, you can save your life if you're ever being attacked. Size is no issue if you strike the attacker in the right spots.

Now in the present, Domon had never felt such despair in his life as he tried to struggle free. Something that never happened to Domon before, began to happen. He felt himself falling into a panic stage since he couldn't get to Rain to help her. Scared like never before, Domon began to plead to Ulube. "Please, I'm begging you to get him out of there. You can kill me, I don't care, but don't let him hurt her…please."

Before Ulube could answer, Domon noticed a shocked look on the commander's face as he stared through the window. Domon turned to look and he saw Rain with her eyes closed, standing in a fighting stance. She's focusing, Domon thought as his eyes widened. He began to finally feel a little hope as he remembered training Rain. Though she wasn't the strongest of fighters, Domon knew if she did everything he had taught her, she could defend herself against this man who wanted to assault her.

Opening her eyes, Rain's left hand made a fist as she laid that arm over her stomach. Her fingers on her right hand tightened together straight out as she laid that arm across her chest.

Charles laughed at her not knowing what she was doing. When he lifted a hand to grab her, her right hand struck with great force knocking his hand away, while her left arm pulled down across her side, its fist turning to face up.

"Yes," Domon whispered so pleased that she had paid attention to technique when he trained her. The move had been flawless.

Totally caught off guard, Charles tried to laugh off the pain she had imposed on him as he backed a foot away. "Oh…so you want to play rough," he said as if she hadn't intimidated him at all.

Rain didn't answer but kept a serious face as her arms folded over the front of her body again, and a strong confidence began to take her over.

You can do this, baby, Domon thought as he watched; forgetting that Ulube was even in the room with him.

Charles moved closer to Rain and said, "I just want to touch that pretty face of yours first." As his hand moved to touch her, Rain's right arm struck up with such force once again and knocked his hand away, while her left arm pulled back up against her side, wrist facing up.

Becoming very upset, Charles said, "Too bad I don't know karate, but you must remember that I can throw quite a punch. I have more power than you."

Rain remembered something else Domon had said, Rain. Winning a fight doesn't necessarily mean you have to the strongest, but rather the better fighter.

When Charles threw his punch, Rain was quick to move her head out of the way and then she came back and with her hand struck Charles hard across his neck causing him great pain.

As Charles grabbed his neck, the pain was obvious in his eyes as he began to say, "Why you little…"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Rain turned to her left side and put all of her weight on her left leg, bending that knee just a little. Wanting this man away from her once and for all, she let her right leg strike him in the one spot that a man dreaded getting hit.

As Charles grabbed himself and fell to the ground, Domon rejoiced, "Yes! That's my Rain! She really kicked his…"

"Shut-up!" Ulube exclaimed in shock as his hands drew to his sides making fists. "You trained her to fight!" he yelled outraged as he faced Domon.

"Isn't it obvious that she has been trained by the best?" Domon asked grinning happily.

Ulube backhanded Domon across his face and then turned to see Charles leaving the room and leaving the door to it wide open.

Seeing the door in his room open as well, Domon screamed, "Rain! Run!"

Hearing Domon since both doors were open, Rain yelled back, "Domon, where are you!"

"Get out of the building!" Domon yelled wanting her out of danger.

Knowing he was close by, Rain realized that he had to be in the room next to hers and had seen everything.

Two people had never made Ulube more mad as the ex-Neo Japan team was making him now. "Stop her!" he yelled to his officials as Rain appeared by the door to see Domon tied to the chair. They each cried out each other's names when they saw each other, but before Rain could make her way to him, two officials grabbed her arms and it literally took the two of them to keep her from getting to Domon.

"Don't hurt her!" Domon yelled once again trying to struggle free from the ropes that had his hands tied behind his back.

Appearing from out of no where it seemed, someone yelled, "Ulube, what have you done!"

Turning to see Dr. Mikamura, Ulube had known he'd have to face Rain's father, but he hadn't expected to so soon.

"Father!" Rain cried out to him.

"Rain!" he said upset. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. Thanks to what Domon had taught me," she said making Dr. Mikamura wonder what she was talking about.

Looking at his officials, Ulube said, "Handle the ex-Neo-Japan team while I speak to Dr. Mikamura in another room."

Dr. Mikamura didn't look like he wanted to leave out of his daughter's sight, but he needed to tell Ulube that this had to stop now.

As Ulube and the older doctor left, Domon said in a deep voice to the two officials holding Rain, "Let her go…NOW!"

"Uhhh…shouldn't we take her into another room?" one of the officials asked the other.

"No. Leave us," Karato said walking in. "I'll handle the…prisoners."

"Yes, sir," both of the officials said, letting go of Rain so they could get as far away from Domon Kasshu as possible.

It didn't take Rain two seconds to make her way to her love. "Domon," she cried out falling onto her knees in front of him as she threw her arms around him.

"Rain," he whispered as his eyes closed and he took in the feel of her arms holding him. Wanting to hold her as well, he said, "Rain, see if you can get me untied."

"Oh, yes," she said releasing him though she didn't want to let him go, and then she moved behind him to try to undo the tight knot.

Domon lifted his head to see Karato making his way to leave. "Wait," Domon said. "You called Dr. Mikamura. Didn't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Karato said trying to act as if he really didn't. "I will leave you two here so I can find out if Rain's father is being successful at getting Ulube to forget about the rule."

After Karato left and locked the door, Domon turned back to see Rain working as quickly as she could to undo the knot.

As she did so, a part of her was so relieved to be with Domon again while another part of her was worried about her father. "Ulube really had someone tie this rope into quite a sophisticated knot. Your strength obviously scared him." Domon was just about to tell her how great he thought she had fought, when he felt the rope falling from his hands and Rain express that he was free. "Oh, no," she added. "I was hoping that I was just seeing things, but that rope was so tight that both of your wrists are bleeding."

Not caring about himself at all, Domon stood from the chair as Rain too stood and they soon found themselves clinging to each other in a tight, relieved hug. Domon couldn't bring himself to say anything but, "Oh, Rain," as he held her so close to him. He knew he had never felt so much pain in his life before as he had when that man entered the room with Rain to hurt her. Seeing her hurt would be the one thing that could kill Domon.

"Oh, Domon," Rain asked concerned. "Are you okay? Ulube injected you with something to rid you of your strength," she said tightening her arms around him as if protecting him from ever receiving such an injection again.

Taking in her strong embrace, Domon said in an assuring voice, "Having you back, I'm fine, Rain."

"Oh, Domon," Rain said knowing how he felt since she felt the same way about having him back.

Releasing her only enough so that he could look at her, Domon said with a smirk, "You kicked that jerk's butt."

With a somewhat bashful smile, Rain said, "After the first time I hit him and saw that I hurt him, I was determined to continue to defend myself."

"I guess I better never get you really mad," Domon teased back.

Laughing lightly, Rain said, "I'm just glad that he wasn't a good fighter. Thanks, Domon."

"For what?" he asked since he hadn't been in that room to protect her.

"For insisting that you teach me those moves," she said about to get emotional.

"No, Rain. Thanks for taking me seriously by paying attention and learning," he said in a low voice. "Being in this room watching you about to be…attacked was the worse thing I ever experienced in my life."

As they found themselves hugging again, Rain hoped that her father was knocking some sense into Ulube.


"Ulube!" Dr. Mikamura yelled outside of the door he had just been thrown out through of the Neo-Japan government building. "Listen to me! You must change your mind about the rule! You can't hurt my only daughter! Ulube!"


Thanks for the reviews and sticking with me through this crazy story.

Sincerely,

Jen