Chapter Five-Dinner Party
Hours passed and one of the servants came in to announce dinner would be ready in about a half an hour. Also that they should dress informal for it. Rain wasn't expecting anything fancy but got up and headed for her room to change. She found some grey slacks and a light blue shirt to wear. After about twenty minutes she headed across the living room to knock on the other bedroom door. "Domon, are you ready yet?" She asked, waiting patiently for him to come out. "Go away, I'm not going." He declared rudely. She slowly opened the door. He was sitting on the bed with his back to her.
"Are you feeling okay? You're not sick or anything are you?" She asked curiously.
"No, I just don't want any of their hospitality. It's that simple." He answered flatly. Rain walked over and sat down next to him. He didn't say anything else nor did he turn her way.
"Yah know I was thinking about it and maybe if you just told her that you were already engaged then maybe she'd back off?" She suggested.
"I already tried that. She didn't seem very impressed with the fact." His tone got lower suddenly. He finally looked over at her and noted how nice she looked. He reached for her left hand and pulled at her engagement ring.
"Domon..?" She objected as he placed it on her other hand. Why had he done that? It actually scared Rain. Was he changing his mind now? Because of this stupid betrothal? Once he was done he looked up at her seriously.
"And I don't want her to know you're the one I really want to be with. That might give her a reason to dislike you. If you're just my partner from the Gundam Fight, then you're not a threat to her, okay?" Despite the look he was giving her, his tone was actually kind. She nodded in agreement and relief.
"Okay, but you better tell Karato too. I don't think he's good with secrets." Rain mentioned. "And please come to dinner, I don't want to go by myself." She pleaded. He let out a sigh and finally conceded with a nod. They headed down together, trying their best not to look like a couple.
~~~
They got down to the lobby and headed for the dining hall. Domon stalked in first as Rain came in a couple of steps behind him, to make it look less suspicious. Linhe was there waiting and rushed over as soon as they entered.
"Oh there you are. I was starting to worry that you wouldn't show up." She said way too cheerfully and grabbed Domon by the arm, to lead him to the table. He looked helplessly at Rain and let out a noise that sounded like a low growl. If this girl wasn't such a threat to Rain's happiness she'd probably laugh at the sight but instead she just shook her head. The night droned on and on. Spending more time with Linhe didn't make Domon like her anymore. She was soo self absorbed, just like Wong. And it was like being around his own fan club too. She kept talking about the finals and how amazing it was getting to watch them and blah blah blah. Domon stifled a yawn and glanced up at the clock. It was now going for nine. Was this torture ever going to end, he wondered looking over at Rain. She had kept to herself the whole evening. He couldn't remember her saying two words during the meal. He thought that to be kind of odd for her.
"Domon, are you listening?" Linhe asked loudly, getting his attention.
"Uh, sure." He responded, trying not to sound like he was lying. He continued to watch Rain.
"So anyway, I thought it was so great the way they had the Final on Lantow Island. I mean that way only the Gundams in that specific area can participate in the final battle." Linhe was bragging. Rain perked up finally when she heard that. "Excuse me. So you're saying that even if Gundam managed to get in there during the fight, that Gundam would be considered a finalist?" Rain inquired in a small voice. Linhe wasn't expecting any questions and glanced over.
"Well yes, as the rules state it. But it's not like anyone could get on the island after the fight began anyway. Remember there's a barrier?" She responded in a patronizing tone. Rain smiled innocently and laughed.
"Oh of course, how silly of me to forget." She answered and continued to smile to herself. Domon had no idea what Rain was up to. She stood shortly after that and excused herself.
"It is getting late and I'm still tired from the ride here." She told them. Domon really didn't want her to leave. Karato cut into the conversation as well.
"Yes I suppose I will retire for the evening as well." Akino seemed to agree with that idea. Domon went to join them but was stopped by Karato.
"Now, don't let us spoil your fun, why don't you stick around and get to talk more with Miss Yunfah?" He suggested although it was obviously not a suggestion but an order. Domon never liked orders.
"I'm just as tired as the rest of you, yah know." He mentioned back. Linhe grabbed his arm, pulling him back down to his seat.
"It's not that late. Besides we've barely spent any time alone." She brought up. That was not a bad thing in Domon's mind. He unwillingly conceded as he watched the rest of the Neo-Japan crew leave him behind. Once they were really alone, Linhe stood and pulled Domon by the hand.
"Come on, let's go somewhere else." She decided. Domon gave her a questioning look.
"Where else?" He asked as she dragged him away from the table.
~~~
Hours passed and one of the servants came in to announce dinner would be ready in about a half an hour. Also that they should dress informal for it. Rain wasn't expecting anything fancy but got up and headed for her room to change. She found some grey slacks and a light blue shirt to wear. After about twenty minutes she headed across the living room to knock on the other bedroom door. "Domon, are you ready yet?" She asked, waiting patiently for him to come out. "Go away, I'm not going." He declared rudely. She slowly opened the door. He was sitting on the bed with his back to her.
"Are you feeling okay? You're not sick or anything are you?" She asked curiously.
"No, I just don't want any of their hospitality. It's that simple." He answered flatly. Rain walked over and sat down next to him. He didn't say anything else nor did he turn her way.
"Yah know I was thinking about it and maybe if you just told her that you were already engaged then maybe she'd back off?" She suggested.
"I already tried that. She didn't seem very impressed with the fact." His tone got lower suddenly. He finally looked over at her and noted how nice she looked. He reached for her left hand and pulled at her engagement ring.
"Domon..?" She objected as he placed it on her other hand. Why had he done that? It actually scared Rain. Was he changing his mind now? Because of this stupid betrothal? Once he was done he looked up at her seriously.
"And I don't want her to know you're the one I really want to be with. That might give her a reason to dislike you. If you're just my partner from the Gundam Fight, then you're not a threat to her, okay?" Despite the look he was giving her, his tone was actually kind. She nodded in agreement and relief.
"Okay, but you better tell Karato too. I don't think he's good with secrets." Rain mentioned. "And please come to dinner, I don't want to go by myself." She pleaded. He let out a sigh and finally conceded with a nod. They headed down together, trying their best not to look like a couple.
~~~
They got down to the lobby and headed for the dining hall. Domon stalked in first as Rain came in a couple of steps behind him, to make it look less suspicious. Linhe was there waiting and rushed over as soon as they entered.
"Oh there you are. I was starting to worry that you wouldn't show up." She said way too cheerfully and grabbed Domon by the arm, to lead him to the table. He looked helplessly at Rain and let out a noise that sounded like a low growl. If this girl wasn't such a threat to Rain's happiness she'd probably laugh at the sight but instead she just shook her head. The night droned on and on. Spending more time with Linhe didn't make Domon like her anymore. She was soo self absorbed, just like Wong. And it was like being around his own fan club too. She kept talking about the finals and how amazing it was getting to watch them and blah blah blah. Domon stifled a yawn and glanced up at the clock. It was now going for nine. Was this torture ever going to end, he wondered looking over at Rain. She had kept to herself the whole evening. He couldn't remember her saying two words during the meal. He thought that to be kind of odd for her.
"Domon, are you listening?" Linhe asked loudly, getting his attention.
"Uh, sure." He responded, trying not to sound like he was lying. He continued to watch Rain.
"So anyway, I thought it was so great the way they had the Final on Lantow Island. I mean that way only the Gundams in that specific area can participate in the final battle." Linhe was bragging. Rain perked up finally when she heard that. "Excuse me. So you're saying that even if Gundam managed to get in there during the fight, that Gundam would be considered a finalist?" Rain inquired in a small voice. Linhe wasn't expecting any questions and glanced over.
"Well yes, as the rules state it. But it's not like anyone could get on the island after the fight began anyway. Remember there's a barrier?" She responded in a patronizing tone. Rain smiled innocently and laughed.
"Oh of course, how silly of me to forget." She answered and continued to smile to herself. Domon had no idea what Rain was up to. She stood shortly after that and excused herself.
"It is getting late and I'm still tired from the ride here." She told them. Domon really didn't want her to leave. Karato cut into the conversation as well.
"Yes I suppose I will retire for the evening as well." Akino seemed to agree with that idea. Domon went to join them but was stopped by Karato.
"Now, don't let us spoil your fun, why don't you stick around and get to talk more with Miss Yunfah?" He suggested although it was obviously not a suggestion but an order. Domon never liked orders.
"I'm just as tired as the rest of you, yah know." He mentioned back. Linhe grabbed his arm, pulling him back down to his seat.
"It's not that late. Besides we've barely spent any time alone." She brought up. That was not a bad thing in Domon's mind. He unwillingly conceded as he watched the rest of the Neo-Japan crew leave him behind. Once they were really alone, Linhe stood and pulled Domon by the hand.
"Come on, let's go somewhere else." She decided. Domon gave her a questioning look.
"Where else?" He asked as she dragged him away from the table.
~~~