Author's Note: Be prepared – the following chapter is a bit strange I think. And I truly tried to end the story here, but still couldn't.
CHAPTER 16: Losing It
Gazing at the syringe in Ulube's hand, Domon only felt a fury inside, which grew stronger and stronger as he said, "Ulube. You may have managed to inject that into me once before, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let you do it again."
"Yes. I remember when I injected you," Ulube said in a satisfied voice as if it had been one of his greatest accomplishments. "Because of your stupid, foolish feelings for Ms. Mikamura, you let down your guard; causing you not to hear me sneak up just behind you with the syringe."
"Shut-Up!" Domon yelled at the commander for calling his feelings for Rain stupid and foolish.
Silently, Ulube recalled showing up in the cabin and how it had scared Rain enough that she passed out against Domon. The commander also remembered with disgust how he had heard Domon speak very softly to Rain, calling her baby. "Mr. Kasshu, do you recall when Ms. Mikamura passed out in your arms in the cabin?"
Domon grunted out a yes not liking the memory of how scared Rain had been.
In an overly exaggerated sweet voice, Ulube actually began to imitate what he thought Domon could have whispered to Rain, "Rain, baby. Wake up. Please don't leave Domey here all by himself."
Realizing that Ulube was making fun of him, Domon couldn't believe it and became enraged as he yelled, "I said shut the hell up!"
Laughing as if he had never found anything so funny than this moment, Ulube said, "I do think that I am quite the actor. Didn't I ad-lib well? I'll have to tell Karato to get me an agent." Ulube then started to laugh again very loudly at the thought of being a paid actor.
"Get serious!" Domon exclaimed wanting his gundam fighter friends freed from being held hostage.
"Oh Kasshu," Ulube said calmly after the laugh as if Domon was taking everything way too seriously. "You should really see how wimpy you look when you're falling all over Rain."
Wanting to slam Ulube into the wall, Domon said, "Yeah, come here and I'll show you how wimpy I am."
Trying to sound sincere, Ulube said, "I'm sorry. Are you feeling hurt because I'm making fun of your feelings for Rain?"
Convinced that the commander hadn't a clue of what love was, Domon said, "You have no idea what Rain and I mean to each other."
"Well then," Ulube said with a smile as if he had found it quite amusing to make fun of Domon, "maybe I should date Ms. Mikamura to see if I'd get…wimpyfied."
"You're not ever going freakin' near her again," Domon yelled feeling that old anger inside of him grow even more.
"Who knows?" Ulube said loving how upset Domon was getting. "After a few dates with me, she might just tell you to go to hell."
"You're a lunatic!" Domon announced knowing the name-calling would make Ulube act like his usual angry self. That side of Ulube, Domon could handle. But this crazy side, Domon didn't quite know how.
With a strange grin on his face, Ulube said, "Now, now, Domon Kasshu. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."
With great confusion the expression on Domon's face, he said, "You've completely lost your mind."
Ulube only laughed, still holding the syringe in front of him and more than ready to use it.
Not wanting to put up with Ulube's mental state any longer, Domon said, "Just tell me where the other fighters are."
As if suddenly remembering why Domon had come back to the building, Ulube said, "Oh yes. I have to admit that it was so nice of you to come back here for the other gundam fighters."
"I'm here. So let them go!" Domon ordered wanting his new friends out of harm's way.
"I'm so smart," Ulube said remembering how badly he had wanted Domon Kasshu back in the government building as a hostage. "I had been so right to assume that you befriended those fighters and because of that, that you would come back here for them."
"Release them now!" Domon yelled not wanting to hear Ulube speak any longer.
"Um," Ulube mumbled as if he was changing his mind about something. "Even though you showed up, I don't think that I will release them."
"What!" Domon exclaimed as he took a step forward. "It's me that you want. Let them go!"
"Yes," Ulube said in a calm voice and with a smile. "I really did plan to let them go, but I have to tell you that I feel such…power having those gundam fighters under my control."
Disgusted more than ever, Domon yelled, "Who do you think you are! How dare you try to take control over other nations' gundam fighters!"
This infuriated Ulube, making his anger finally come out as he bellowed, "How dare they come into my government building trying to over turn my rule!"
Retaliating, Domon screamed, "Those fighters were only here because they wanted to do the right thing by saving two lives!"
Beginning to shake from becoming even more enraged, Ulube yelled, "The right thing! You say they wanted to do the right thing by saving you and Mikamura! No one even attempted to save my father's life! He was unfairly punished for having a Neo-Japan team that lost the gundam fight. His fighters had been more worried about being in love with each other than winning the gundam fight."
In a calmer voice since he did feel sorry for what had happened to Ulube's father, Domon said, "Look. I think what was done to your father was wrong. But, why punish Rain and me over it? We weren't the team that was under your father's control."
Calming down as he looked at the syringe in his hand, the commander said, "I swore I would get my revenge for my father's horrible death on the next Neo-Japan team who fell in love with each other."
Rolling his eyes, Domon then said, "You could have at least waited to see if a relationship between Rain and me would interfere with the gundam fight before wanting to punish us."
"You know what?" Ulube asked, but not wanting an answer. "You shouldn't be worried about when you think I have a right to be concerned about a gundam team's feeling for each other. You should be more worried about the six officials moving towards you who are going to hold you down so that I can give you this injection." Starting to laugh loudly, Ulube added, "It should be quite entertaining to see you without your strength again and even more entertaining to see you when I kill your friends right before your eyes."
Looking at Ulube as if he had indeed gone completely insane, Domon said of the six approaching officials, "Do I look fearful of them?" As the officials neared, he stated, "You seem to have forgotten that I have been trained by the one and only, Master Asia."
"You're the one who forgot that you and Ms. Mikamura were only supposed to be friends. Because of you I'm going to start killing, and I don't know when I'm going to stop!" Ulube roared with more laughter following behind.
Swinging open the door of the room where Domon's friends were being held hostage, Karato saw the guards who had been appointed to watch each fighter, unconscious on the floor. "What happened?" Karato asked of the guards whose guns clearly hadn't helped them at all.
As both Sai Saici and Chibodee blew on their knuckles; both proud of how easy it had been for them to over take the guards, George said to Karato, "Why I am ever so glad that you opened that door." Turning his head towards Argo, the Knight said, "Argo, you can relax now."
"Yeah. Relax, Argo," Chibodee repeated feeling quite good. "The door's open."
Smiling, Nastasha said to Karato, "My Argo was just about to dispose of the door but he won't need to now."
Fearing Argo a bit, Karato looked at the guards on the floor and said, "I forgot they were guarding you. I would have never wanted them to know that I'm setting you free. They would have told Ulube."
"What?" Nastasha asked surprised. "You came here to set us free?"
"Forget that I said that," Karato said looking very nervous. "Domon Kasshu is in the building and I think he may need your help."
"So Neo-Japan showed up," Chibodee said obviously more than a little surprised. "I hope he wasn't brainless enough to bring Rain."
"I knew he'd come," Argo said with a pleased smile. "And I'm sure he didn't bring Rain."
"Rain is safe with her father," Karato said wanting the fighters to just go to Domon to help. "Right now we have to be more worried about Ulube. He has definitely lost it."
"Lost it?" George asked with a questioning face.
"Yes," Karato said just before peeking back into the hall to make sure no other officials were around. Looking back at the gundam fighters, he said, "You wouldn't believe the things that he has told Domon. I think he's really gone off the deep end."
"Why do you say that?" Nastasha asked folding her arms. "What does he plan to do?"
Looking at the only female in the room, Karato said with much worry in his voice, "Ulube said something about killing and not knowing when he would be able to stop."
Sai Saici hoped that Ulube was all talk and no action, but knew better than that as he said, "I knew I didn't like that man for a good reason."
"Yeah. He's seriously off his rocker," Chibodee said looking at his young friend.
Outside of the building, Rain and her father were still hiding out in the alley. They weren't speaking because Rain was too busy silently praying that Domon would return to her soon.
Dr. Mikamura could easily see how worried his daughter was. "Rain, dear. Are you okay?" he asked looking at her with such concern on his face.
"Yes," she lied not wanting her father to worry about her. He had all ready been through enough that day worrying about her. "I'm just thinking," she said softly.
Knowing exactly where her mind was, Dr. Mikamura put his arm around his daughter's shoulders and said, "Domon's a strong man. He will come back to you, Rain."
Smiling softly over the encouraging words her father had said, Rain began to reminisce over the time she had spent with Domon in the cabin. She remembered how he was so quiet at first and then how their old friendship slowly began to hatch again; making them open up to each other. They began to trust each other and tease each other making it quite enjoyable to be partners of the Neo-Japan team. For a while neither knew that the other had started wishing that they were more than just friends. How wonderful it was when they found out and as a result broke Ulube's rule. Recalling the strong passion between them and especially their honest words of love to each other, Rain knew without a doubt she'd break the same rule again to be with Domon. All the punishment in the world couldn't erase the real love they felt for each other.
"Rain," Dr. Mikamura whispered. "I think I hear someone approaching us."
Rain came out of her daydreaming and sure enough she heard footsteps as well.
Two of Ulube's favorite Japanese Officials had searched high and low for the Mikamuras and were glad to have found them in only the second alley away from the Neo-Japan building.
"Dr. Mikamura," one of the officials said coming into the doctor's view. "It is urgent that we speak to Ms. Mikamura."
Taking Rain's hand, her father said, "You will speak to me."
Lying to the doctors, the same official said, "We could get into tremendous trouble for this, but we believe that the rule shouldn't be. Because of this we decided it only right to let you know that Domon Kasshu is in trouble."
"Oh no," Rain said just before putting her hands over her mouth.
Seeing that Rain was all ready believing his words, the official continued. "Ulube has given the injection to Domon again and therefore he has lost his strength."
Moving his eyebrows together as he tried to read the official's face, Dr. Mikamura said, "How do we know that you are telling the truth?"
However, this didn't matter to Rain. If there was just a one percent chance that what the official said was true, she had to help Domon. A picture in her mind of Domon not being able to defend himself because of not having his strength made her heart hurt. "I've got to go to him, Father."
"No Rain. Domon told you to stay here with me," her father said putting his hands on her shoulders. "He doesn't want you in danger and neither do I."
"But he may be in danger, Father. I love him too much not to try to help him," Rain said wanting her father to understand how she felt.
"These officials are probably lying for Ulube," Dr. Mikamura said convinced that he was right. He wasn't thinking with his heart like his daughter obviously was, but rather with his head.
"I'm sorry, Father," Rain said looking down at her feet. Lifting her hands to remove his from her shoulders, she then looked back into his eyes and said, "I can't take the chance. Domon may really need me."
The officials hid how happy they were at the thought of how pleased Ulube would be with them for bringing Rain back to the building. "Ms. Mikamura," the same official said since the other one hadn't spoken yet. "We should go before it's too late."
"Yes," Rain said, but her father began to protest.
Finally the other official spoke. In the nicest voice that he could force out and with a fake understanding smile, he said, "I will talk to your father, Ms. Mikamura. You go on ahead."
"I'm sorry for disobeying you, Father," Rain said truthfully, "But I have to go." She would have hugged him good-bye, but she feared he wouldn't have let her go. She instead turned and left quickly with the official who had done most of the talking.
"Rain!" her father cried out while the fake smiling official watched Rain leave as well. The official's smile left his face and he became very serious as he looked at Rain's father.
Ulube watched and not happily as Domon swung both of his arms out to his sides and knocked two of the six officials away. His next move was to jump up, kick his right leg out and knock the next two officials away. Upon doing the same thing with his other leg, he knocked the last two officials away. The ex-Neo-Japan fighter hadn't even broken a sweat. "Okay Ulube, now it's time to set the other gundam fighters free or you're next to feel my rage."
"Damn," Ulube said lowering the syringe down to his side, but not quite looking upset. "You really are an incredible fighter. So…that's why I arranged for so many more officials to fight you." Suddenly a dozen other officials appeared from out of a room near by, ready to fight Domon. "Surely some of them can at least hold you down so I can give you this injection."
"We will not let that happen," a voice said just behind Ulube.
"George," Domon said seeing his other friends soon appearing behind the Knight as well.
Ulube turned to see the fighters and still remaining calm, he said, "Umm, you may have broken out of the interrogation room, but that still doesn't give you the right to crash this party."
"Dude," Chibodee said seriously. "I've been to plenty parties and I gotta tell ya that this ain't no party. We're gonna fight our way out of this building."
Smiling at the boxer, Ulube motioned to his officials to remain still as he said, "Chibodee Crocket, my friend from Neo-America, I think that you really want to fight Domon Kasshu because you want Rain Mikamura all for yourself. Isn't that right?"
Not saying anything, Chibodee's eyes met Domon's cold stare. After a few seconds of staring at Domon, Chibodee said, "Though I think Domon Kasshu is a complete fool for putting Rain's life in danger, for now I have a problem with you, Ulube. After all, you're the one who wants to kill her."
Domon told himself to ignore the urge he had to act his unfriendly feelings out on Chibodee. Taking care of the boxer after they were safely out of the building was a better plan.
Knowing Domon was furious, Ulube said, "Kasshu, Id love to see you fight Mr. Crocket not in the gundams."
"I bet you would. No," Domon stated without emotion knowing that Ulube was trying to turn the fighters against each other.
"Then fight Mr. George de Sand," Ulube said making George cringe. "I'm sure that Neo-France's Gundam fighter would like to get to know Ms. Mikamura much better as well."
Though George was attracted to Rain's intellectual side and found her to be very beautiful, she was a friend and very taken. "I suggest that you give this game up, Ulube," the Knight said furiously as he squinted his eyes. "Domon would not have come back here if he did not think of us as friends."
"Oh come on. Stop it with the friendship crap," Ulube said rolling his eyes.
Argo stared at who he thought was the strangest commander and said, "As Domon and Rain's friends, we won't let you kill them."
Ulube smiled a sickly smile at Argo before responding, "Oh I don't even think I want to kill them anymore…at least not Ms. Mikamura. I just might want her for myself." With that, Ulube started to laugh uncontrollably.
Domon immediately roared out, "No freakin' way, Ulube!"
The man in the mask ignored Domon and continued on. "She is quite a little number."
The syringe Ulube was holding was the only thing that kept Domon from pouncing on Ulube. "Don't talk about her like that! There's more to Rain than her looks!" the ex-Neo-Japan fighter exclaimed.
Chibodee was surprised to hear Domon say such a thing since the ex-Neo-Japan fighter seemed like such a cold man. The boxer at last had to wonder if Domon really did love Rain.
Thinking some more about his lovely ex-Neo-Japan mechanic, Ulube said, "How could I have wanted to kill such a beautiful creature? I think I'll keep her around so that she can give me a son."
"What the hell is wrong with you!" Domon roared wishing he had a straight jacket to put on the commander.
"Sir…Mr. Ulube," Sai Saici said so seriously. "Uh…I don't think that you're Rain's type."
Under her breath, Nastasha said to Argo, "I don't think that he's any sane woman's type."
Having so much fun and thinking that he was more important than he actually was, Ulube said, "I am Neo-Japan's Commander. I should get whatever I want."
"Commissioner Karato was right," Argo whispered back to his partner. "Neo-Japan's commander has lost his mind."
Over hearing, Chibodee said, "He's totally gone off the deep end."
"Yes," George agreed. "He should not be in charge of any nation. Our nations are going to have to do something about this. I hope that Neo-America can suggest something since they are friends with Neo-Japan."
"Shoot," Sai said. "Neo-America would probably deny knowing this maniac if they saw him now."
After some more insane laughter, Ulube said, "I might actually let Domon live so he can see his girlfriend in love with me."
"Just shut up!" Domon spit out ready to just leave the building since the situation had turned so ridiculous and because his friends were safe.
"Indeed you're right," Ulube said suddenly becoming serious. "Enough talk. Officials! Kill the gundam fighters!"
Within seconds the dozen of officials proceeded towards the gundam fighters to fight.
"Why are those officials still listening to him?" Nastasha asked shocked. "Don't they see that all of those years of Ulube wanting to have revenge for what happened to his father finally made him go…mad?"
"No need to worry, Nastasha," Argo said with a smile as he prepared to fight.
"I know that, but should we call out our gundams?" she asked looking at the gundam fighters.
"No," Chibodee said. "Let's just take care of them like we did earlier with the guards."
"Yes," George agreed getting in a fighting stance. "We should wait till it is absolutely necessary before we call out our gundams."
"Guys. Bro has all ready knocked out a bunch of the officials," Sai exclaimed. "Let's help him finish the rest off."
With that the gundam fighters joined Domon and with their fighting skills they began to easily take down the rest of the dozen officials.
"This is so easy," George said at one point. "Soon we can just walk out of here."
Domon was near by and said, "Yes. But I'd like to take care of Ulube first."
"Domon," George said hoping that he could get through to Domon. "The man has lost it. Look at him. He's laughing uncontrollably while his officials are being beaten by us."
Looking towards Ulube, Domon saw that George was right. "Damn," Domon said disappointed. "I just wanted to smash Ulube's face in at least once."
While punching an official, George actually had to smile as he said, "Domon, just punch an official instead. I cannot believe I just said that."
After overhearing, Chibodee said, "Why should Ulube's face be smashed in when Domon was the one who put Rain's life in danger?"
The anger Domon had felt for Ulube, he now felt for Chibodee. Domon was just about to attack the boxer and take his anger out on someone else like George suggested till the knight got between the two upset gundam fighters. Argo, Nastasha and Sai had heard everything and appeared between them as well. "No," George said not wanting to see Domon and Chibodee have it out. "We are all friends."
Looking at the Knight, both Chibodee and Domon took deep breaths to calm themselves down. With a very furious look on his face, Domon said, "You, Chibodee Crocket, better start realizing how serious it is between Rain and me." With that, Domon turned and moved to leave the building - wanting to be back with the woman he had just spoken of.
"Leaving so soon?" Ulube called out.
Domon stopped but didn't even turn around to look at the fallen commander. Not saying anything, Domon decided that he'd talk to Rain's father about talking to Karato. They had to get Ulube out of this position as soon as possible for the sake of Neo-Japan.
"Go! Just leave me!" Ulube shouted out as if he was upset, but then laughing even louder than before. He was indeed really very happy about something else.
Together the gundam fighters left the building. Once outside Sai said as they all followed Domon, "Was what happened to us in there real? What a joke. I can't believe that Ulube just let Bro leave."
"Yes," George said nodding his head at the youngest fighter. "It's hard to believe, but it did happen."
"I think he tried to stop us," Chibodee mumbled. "Didn't we just fight off a dozen or so officials?"
"Yes," Nastasha answered. "But I think Ulube doesn't even realize what's going on around him anymore. At least he didn't just now."
Domon didn't even look at his friends as he said, "We're top notch gundam fighters. Without him giving each of us the injection, there wasn't anything he could do to keep us there. However, I must admit that it was hard to see the Commander in that state."
Being a friend, George said, "You used to think highly of the commander at one time, right Domon?"
"Yes. Awhile back," Domon answered. "But as you saw, the memories of what happened to his father have drove him to insanity."
"It's okay, Bro," Sai said sympathetically. "Sis will make you feel better."
"Well," Chibodee said to Domon in a not so friendly voice, "you need to get her out of Neo-Japan and far away from that lunatic as soon as possible."
Spinning around to Chibodee, Domon got right in his face and exclaimed, "Don't you think that I know that! I've had it with you…"
Cut off by Dr. Mikamura's voice calling out his name, Domon looked to the alley he had been headed to, to see Rain's now battered father. Domon quickly made his way to the man and said with worry in his voice, "Dr. Mikamura, what happened to you? Where's Rain?"
"Ulube's got her," Dr. Mikamura cried out as Domon felt his whole world crashing down around him as he realized the real reason why Ulube had let the gundam fighters leave the building so easily. The commander had known that he had Rain back and wanted her all to himself.
Thanks for reading this insane chapter and to those who review.
Sincerely,
Jen
