Hi to all and a special thanks to those who have reviewed.

CHAPTER 15: We Don't Have A Choice

Trying to catch his breath after running behind the two figures who emerged from the Neo-Japan building, Dr. Mikamura found himself in an alley. After letting his eyes adjust to the darkness from the lack of the sun where he stood between the two buildings, he saw that the two people he had followed had indeed been his daughter and her childhood friend.

Domon and Rain were holding each other, both glad to be out of Ulube's reach, when they heard someone coming near them saying their names. Recognizing the voice, Rain lifted her head from her fighter's shoulder to look towards where the voice had come from. Not positive that she had heard right, she asked, "Father?"

"Rain," a relieved Dr. Mikamura said coming into the couple's view as he opened his arms for her. Domon released her from his hold and then watched as father and daughter embraced. Dr. Mikamura closed his eyes as he held his only child close and sounded so very thankful as he said, "My precious, precious daughter, Rain."

Domon had to smile because Rain was if anything - precious. However, the tough fighter lost his smile and actually felt himself getting nervous as he began to wonder if he would be accepted by Rain's Father. What if Dr. Mikamura didn't approve of his only daughter wanting to be with a rough, tough gundam fighter? Domon also feared being blamed for not taking the warning of punishment serious enough before deciding to break the rule and putting Rain's life in danger.

When Dr. Mikamura released his daughter, he said, "Tell me, Rain. How exactly did you get out of the building?"

Turning to look at the young man who meant everything to her, Rain said with a smile, "As Domon said to me earlier, it was a piece of cake."

Her father then looked at the man who Rain had broken the rule with. Remaining by his daughter, Dr. Mikamura said to the gundam fighter, "Domon Kasshu, I have been told by Karato and Ulube that you are in love with my daughter."

Knowing he had to tell the doctor the truth and hoping that the doctor would understand that his love for Rain was real, Domon said calmly and sincerely, "Yes, Dr. Mikamura. I do love your daughter."

The doctor would have replied, but Rain spoke first in fear that her father would be upset with the man she loved. "Father," she said softly. "Please do not blame Domon for anything. The decision to break the rule was made by both of us. We had struggled a great deal to try to force ourselves not to have feelings for each other, but it began to be impossible."

Believing her feelings for Domon were indeed real, Dr. Mikamura said, "My, dear Rain. I know you love Domon." He then started to reminisce over when they were much younger. Even when Domon and Rain were children, everyone had seen that they were innocently drawn to each other and now Dr. Mikamura knew why. They were meant to be. Just about every time that the Kasshus had been looking for their youngest son, he had been found at the Mikamura's house. Dr. Mikamura really didn't mind the young, hyper Domon back then, since he was always respectful when he visited - knowing he had to be if he wanted to be with his best friend, Rain. The doctor had to wonder how many other people actually found their soul mate as a child.

Rain's father also remembered clearly how depressed his daughter became when Domon had left to train. In fact, he had often prayed that Rain would just forgot about her friend, Domon. When the two were reunited as the Neo-Japan team, Dr. Mikamura had wondered if their old friendship would return. Now he knew it definitely had and grew into something much stronger.

Moving to Domon and taking his hand, Rain said, "Father, I can't deny how much I love Domon."

Dr. Mikamura saw the nervousness on their faces as if they were afraid that he would too frown upon their love for each other. In a strange way, the doctor appreciated the worry he saw on Domon's face because it more or less proved that the toughfighter really wanted Rain's father's approval. Deep down however, Dr. Mikamura doubted that anyone could keep Domon away from Rain. "Rain," Dr. Mikamura said with such a straight face that it made the young couple practically hold their breaths as they waited to hear what he had to say, "I would only disapprove of your relationship with Domon if I thought he did not love you, but I heard how much he did in his voice earlier."

"You heard it in his voice?" Rain asked wondering when.

Smiling, Dr. Mikamura said, "After Mr. Karato informed me that you and Domon were going to be punished for breaking the rule, I arrived at the Neo-Japan building as soon as possible. Just before I saw you and before Ulube insisted on speaking with me, I heard you and Domon yelling to each other." Glancing at Domon, Dr. Mikamura said, "Domon wasn't worried about himself at all." The doctor then looked at his daughter once again and said, "His only concern was that you would get out of the building to safety. But my daughter, you made your way to him not worried about yourself. That is without a doubt…love."

Rain distinctly remembered when Domon had yelled for her to get out of the building and how she just couldn't leave there without him. Smiling happily while trying to hide her happy tears over the fact that her father accepted her being with Domon, she said, "Father, what Domon and I feel for each other might have happened sooner if he hadn't left to train years ago."

"Oh my," Dr. Mikamura said imagining them being in love as young teenagers. "That dear would have probably been hard for me to handle."

Domon himself had to smile as he imagined what it would have been like if he and Rain would have been around each other and fell for one another at the age of sixteen or so. Dr. Mikamura probably would have demanded that Rain not date the youngest Kasshu son because just being friends with the wild, teenage boy would've been bad enough. Laughing lightly, Domon then said, "I hate to change the subject, but I think we should leave Neo-Japan as soon as possible."

"Wait," Rain's Father said as if suddenly remembering something. "I can't believe that I almost forgot about the others. Where are they?"

Wondering whom her father could have possibly been speaking of, Rain asked, "Where are who, Father?"

"Oh no," Dr. Mikamura said hoping he was wrong. "Did you and Domon escape from the building all on your own?"

Both Domon and Rain looked at each other then back at Dr. Mikamura as Rain said, "Why yes, Father."

"Dr. Mikamura," Domon said seeing that something was seriously wrong, "Who would've helped us?"


"Did I hear you correctly?" George de Sand of Neo-France said to the Japanese official who stopped him in the hall of the Neo-Japan building. "The ex-Neo-Japan team has been found?"

"Yes," the Japanese official only replied as Chibodee and Sai were seen walking down the hallway towards them with another Japanese official.

Chibodee wished he had been the one who found Rain as he said to George, "I guess they told ya that they found them."

"Yes. They did. But I was not informed who found them," George said seeing the disappointment on Chibodee's face that he hadn't been the one.

The three gundam fighters then continued to walk down the hallway with the officials.

While walking, Sai Saici didn't give a government official credit for finding Domon and Rain as he said, "Nastasha and Argo must have found them."

The fighters then looked at each other, each knowing that the other was thinking it would soon be time to save the ex-Neo-Japan team from the very angry, Commander Ulube.

After a good bit of walking, one of the officials nodded for the fighters to stop, while another began to unlock a near by door. When the door was opened, the official looked at the fighters and said, "In there, please."

All three fighters thought nothing of it and walked into the room. After entering the interrogation room, they found that Nastasha and Argo were all ready in it.

As the door was being closed, Sai said with disappointment in his voice to the Neo-Russian team, "Man…I wish I would have found Bro and Sis before you did."

"What?" Nastasha asked looking a bit confused. "We were under the impression that one of you found Kasshu and Mikamura."

"Oh my," George said instantly feeling that something was very wrong. "I guess we should not have assumed that we would be the ones to find them."

Soon entering the room was Ulube and he didn't look happy at all. Each fighter had to wonder why since Domon and Rain had been captured once again.

Wanting to rescue the ex-gundam team, Argo said in a very deep voice, "Where do you have your prisoners?"

Ulube glared at Argo with a deadly look in his eyes and exclaimed, "Why? Do you still plan to help them escape?"

George knew right then and there that his instinct had been correct in thinking that something was very wrong.

Just then four government officials with guns moved into the room - one for each fighter.

Chibodee became angry and expressed, "What the hell do you need them for!"

Ulube began to smile as he said, "My officials have been ordered to kill you if you try to over take me to attempt to free Domon Kasshu and Rain Mikamura."

"So," Nastasha said folding her arms and not looking or sounding at all scared, "you think that we are here to help rescue Domon and Rain?"

"Yes dear," Ulube said looking at her with a sick smile on his face that made Argo want to knock his lights out. "I must admit that you all did well in convincing me that your reason here was because you want a rematch with Domon Kasshu."

"We do want a rematch," Sai Saici said as his hands tightened into fist down by his sides.

"I know for a fact," Ulube said trying to keep himself under control, "that you had no intentions of turning the ex-Neo-Japan team over to me to kill. Don't try to deny it."

Chibodee and Sai looked at each other now knowing that Ulube must have heard their conversation in the hall. Chibodee had stated that he would not turn Domon and Rain over to Ulube to be killed.

Staring at Ulube as if he was beyond crazy, George asked, "What do you intend to do to us?"

Ulube was so enjoying himself as he smiled even bigger and said, "I am going to use you to get Domon Kasshu to come back to the building."

"Come back to the building?" Nastasha asked looking confused.

Argo looked puzzled himself as he put a hand on Natasha's shoulder and asked, "They're not in the building?"

Not liking this game that Ulube was playing, Chibodee exclaimed, "What the hell is going on in that head of yours, Ulube! Did you find them or not!"

Pointing a finger at Chibodee, and somehow keeping his anger under control, Ulube said, "I would shut up if I were you, Crocket. There is a gun pointed at you."

Still not quite understanding just what was going on, Sai asked, "Wait. You don't have Domon and Rain?"

"You people just think that you're surprised by the news the ex-Neo-Japan team isn't in the building," Ulube said shaking his head. "Try to imagine my surprise when I was in my office looking out of the window…and then what did I see? I see Domon Kasshu and Rain Mikamura running from the building."

Nastasha looked at her partner and said, "They escaped on their own."

Argo nodded his head agreeing with her, while George watched the shocked expression on Sai's face.

The Neo-American fighter on the other hand felt as if he was about to lose it. "I can't believe I'm in here looking for that jerk, Domon Kasshu, and he escaped on his own with Rain." Becoming livid and ready to leave, Chibodee exclaimed, "I guess there's no reason for us to stay here!"

"Oh but indeed there is," Ulube said wanting to tell them of his plan. "I will let Mr. Kasshu know that I will not kill you all, only if he comes back here to me."

Upset, George exclaimed, "You have no right to kill another nation's gundam fighter!"

"Your nations can't stop me," Ulube said thinking that he had it all figured out. "They don't even know where you are."

"Well I've got news about your plan," Chibodee said as if knew it wouldn't work. "Domon Kasshu will not want to save us, or at least not me. It was obvious when we first met that he didn't like me."

Sai looked up at the Neo-American fighter and said, "Speak for yourself. I didn't flirt with his woman."

Ignoring Chibodee and Sai, Argo said very seriously, "Domon Kasshu will come back for us."

"Yes," George said as he looked at the Neo-Russian team. "I do believe that you are right."

Meanwhile, Domon, Rain and Dr. Mikamura were still in the alley discussing what was going on.

With a look of shock on his face, Domon said, "I can't believe those other gundam fighters went into the Neo-Japan building to rescue Rain and me because they want a rematch."

Looking at her fighter's surprised expression, Rain said with a smile, "I don't think a rematch is the only reason why they wanted to rescue us."

Tilting his head just a bit, Domon asked, "What do you mean, Rain?"

Placing her hand on his shoulder, the smart female explained, "You said yourself the day that we were having coffee at that little coffee shop that you like Argo. And on the day you fought George and the day you fought Sai Saici, I saw you in what looked to be a friendly conversation with each of them."

"Are you saying that we're…friends?" Domon asked not used to having many of them.

"Yes," Rain said sounding so very sure. "I really like them myself, especially Nastasha."

Finding himself smiling over the fact that he and Rain had made new friends together, he suddenly remembered someone else. Lifting an eyebrow at Rain, he said, "I noticed that you didn't bring up Chibodee Crocket."

Knowing that Domon wasn't fond of the Neo-American fighter, Rain then glanced at her father to see that he had a grin on his face as if he found their conversation amusing. Turning her face back to Domon's, Rain calmly said, "You really didn't talk to Chibodee. I think if you did you might just like him."

Grunting, Domon then rolled his eyes and said, "All I know is that he made it quite obvious that he likes you, Rain."

The sweet female didn't even bother to answer her fighter since he really knew he was the only one for her.

Dr. Mikamura remembered how interested Chibodee had seemed in his daughter, but then quickly forgot about it when his cell phone began to ring. As the doctor stuck his hand into the pocket of his white doctor's jacket to answer it, his eyes widened as he said, "That may be Karato."

Moving his eyebrows together, Domon said very seriously, "Tell him that he has to let Nastasha and the guys know that we're out of the building so they can get out of there as soon as possible."

"Yes," Dr. Mikamura said as Rain nodded her head agreeing.

"Hello," Dr. Mikamura said into the phone. A shocked look appeared on his face after hearing the voice that answered. "Uh…yes. They are here with me," he said looking at the ex-Neo-Japan team. For the rest of the phone conversation yes seemed to be the only word to come out of Dr. Mikamura's mouth. When the call ended, the doctor put the small phone back into his pocket without even realizing it, since he seemed to be in deep thought over what he had been told.

Studying the older man, Domon asked, "Am I guessing right by saying that that was Commander Ulube on the phone?"

"Yes. It was," the doctor said wishing that it hadn't been. "Ulube actually saw you both running from the building after your escape and then me following behind you."

Looking worried, Rain was almost afraid to ask her father what the commander had said as she unconsciously moved closer to Domon.

Sensing her worries, Domon put his arm around her shoulders and asked Dr. Mikamura the question that would surely not have a good answer, "What does Ulube want?"

Feeling helpless, the doctor's eyes slowly met Domon's before he said, "He wants you, Domon."

"No!" Rain exclaimed to her father in a way that a mother scolded a child. "Domon's not going back into that building!"

Her father didn't say anything as he looked down at the ground, hating to see his daughter so scared and upset.

Tightening his arm around Rain, Domon asked in a serious voice, "What did Ulube threaten to do if I don't go back to the building?"

Dr. Mikamura lifted his head to look at the gundam fighter before him and said, "He said that he is going to kill the other gundam fighters one by one if you don't return to the building within the next ten minutes."

Disgusted, Domon said, "I can't believe that he's holding them hostage. I have no choice but to go back."

Quickly moving herself in front of her fighter and grabbing on to his tan jacket, Rain said, "No, Domon. I don't want you to go back in there because Ulube wants to kill you."

As calmly as he could make his voice sound, Domon said, "You know I have to."

Knowing he was right, the sweet female still looked disappointed as she let go of his jacket.

"Rain," Domon said forcing a smile as he looked into her beautiful eyes, "I told you before that I'm not going to let that idiot kill me."

"But…but, you don't have all of your strength back," she said trying to think of any thing to keep her love from going back into the Neo-Japan building even though she didn't want the other fighters to get hurt.

Domon waited a few seconds before speaking as he stared at the woman who more than obviously needed him as much as he needed her. Putting his large hands on her small shoulders, he said, "I can feel that I do have all of my strength back now. Rain, please try to understand. I couldn't sleep at night if I didn't try to help Neo-Russia, China, France, shoot even Neo-America's fighter. They only went into that building in the first place to help us."

"Then…I'm going with you," Rain said putting on a mean face as if she was focusing to prepare herself for a fight.

"No!" both Domon and Dr. Mikamura exclaimed at the same time.

"He didn't ask for you," Domon said shaking his head no to her. "Right, Dr. Mikamura?"

"Rain," her father said sadly. "It's true. He said he'd settle for Domon going back to the building alone to keep the other gundam fighters from being killed. He knew Domon would never bring you back so he's satisfied with just one of you."

As tears of frustration rolled down her face, Rain said sounding very upset, "Domon, I know you're right in wanting to help the other fighters. I just don't want to lose you."

Dr. Mikamura watched as the rough, tough fighter tenderly pulled Rain close and wrapped his strong arms around her.

"Baby," Domon whispered to the frantic woman in his arms. "I will be back. I promise. Now I have to go help our friends."

Touched that Domon called the other fighters their friends and remembering that her father was right there watching them, Rain lifted from Domon and asked while forcing herself not to cry, "Are you sure that you have all of your strength back?"

"I'm positive," Domon said ready to finally let Ulube have it.

Rain nodded her head okay in fear that if she spoke she would cry some more.

"Rain," Domon said moving to hold her face in his hands, "Make sure that you stay with your father and…have faith in me."

"I do, Domon," she said though she wished she could just throw her arms around him and hold him so tightly that he couldn't break free from her. However, she knew the right thing to do was to let him save their friends.

Leaning down, Domon brushed Rain's forehead with a kiss and then backed away from her to leave. As Rain watched him soon run off, Dr. Mikamura put his arm around her and she hugged him in return.

"Domon will be back," her father whispered hoping for Rain's sake that he was right.


As Domon approached the Neo-Japan building, he saw that the front door was wide open. Grunting, Domon then mumbled, "I know you're waiting for me, Ulube." With no fear and knowing he had to save the other gundam fighters, Domon walked right into the building to see the commander standing about ten feet away with his arms folded. Smiling as an official closed and locked the door behind Domon, Ulube leaned over to a near by official and whispered, "Now that she doesn't have Domon to protect her, go get Ms. Mikamura for me."

"Telling secrets?" Domon asked looking at Ulube as if he was the worse form of life on earth.

"Domon Kasshu," Ulube said happily. "It's so touching that you came back for the other gundam fighters."

"You are a piece of filth for threatening other nations fighters," the ex-Neo Japan fighter said ready to attack.

"I won't have to kill those fighters now that you're back," the commander said very satisfied. "I'll kill you instead, but first I must give you the injection once again."

Six officials started to move towards Domon as he watched Ulube hold up a syringe.


Thanks for reading, Jen