Title: Sacrifices

Chapter: One -- Nightmare

There was that piercing gun shot, my father's figure falling to the ground and then; I awoke. Bathed in sweat to say the least, my eyes widened in fear. My heart accelerating each moment that passed. This was now a routine that I passed through every night, and every moment that I snatched a fragment of sleep. In turn, Domon had grown restless. Stroking my hair and soothing me back to sleep. But I was relentless in not falling asleep again--I knew the result that would bring. Every day that passed my mood had grown more foul and spiteful. Neither I nor Domon could take it for much longer.

I snapped back to reality and realized a minor ache had developed in my back from leaning on the wall, watching Domon sleep. I decided to change my posture but only knocked over Domon's alarm clock. He immediately woke and looked at me groggily.

"Rain, can't you sleep again?"

It had been a month since I hadn't been able to sleep without having a nightmare, didn't he get the picture yet?

I mentally scolded myself for thinking such spiteful thoughts when I knew that Domon was only trying to help.

"No, Domon, I couldn't. Go back to sleep--I'll be fine."

He assumed a sitting position on the bed and shook his head, his messy black hair dislodging itself from it's usual place.

"And let you wander aimlessly around the house again?"

He looked at me, one eyebrow raised.

"I wasn't wandering, Domon. I stopped doing that a week back. I told you that yesterday."

I said curtly, and watched a frown form on Domon's face, replacing his usual scowl.

"You say a lot of things."

He replied, fighting his desperate need to lie back down and sleep.

"You're a doctor; you of all people should know you need your sleep. You've told me countless times."

He added with a yawn.

"There's a difference between wanting to sleep and being able to sleep, you of all people should know that."

I said triumphantly, crossing my arms against my chest in a determined poise.

"Besides, even if I were to fall asleep, which I have been doing everywhere; I would just awake again from that nightmare."

I added in return.

It was true, too. I had been falling asleep on any surface that had the capability to maintain my head in comfortable position. Sometimes, I would just fall alsleep on the floor. These sudden attacks of sleep were becoming more frequent. Unfortunately, I would awake seconds later, looking startled and dazed.

"Isn't there a medical way to keep you from dreaming, or something?"

He stated, sleep winning him over slowly.

"There probably is, but everytime I go to research I fall asleep mid-way. I never get very far."

A smile made its way to my tired face. It strained me even to smile.

"Domon go back to---"

I cut off my sentence, hearing Domon snore softly.

"Look at that, now he decides to take my advice."

My arms gave away from my weariness and I walked over to the bed. I smoothed over the sheet and crawled into bed. Domon acknowledged my presence by putting his arm around me. My eyes quickly gave out and I gave in to sleep only to awaken a moment later from the same nightmare.

Domon stirred and a scowl came upon his face, but this time no words of comfort were ensued.

I was depriving him of sleep as well, I knew. In fact, it was my fault his performance as a gundam fighter had decreased. Everyone had taken notice. I rolled out of bed to land softly on the rug and stood up. All I was causing Domon was deprivation of sleep and getting shouted at by the gundam officials. Even the shuffle alliance had drifted from me because of my moods. Domon had even issued himself a new mechanic because he had grown tired of my sour moods. I hadn't helped myself one bit by telling him about my nightmare either.

I took a good look at Domon who was sleeping soundly.

Obviously my sleeping situation wasn't going to improve. I had to put to rest my father's memory first. I realized that I couldn't come to do that being here, and Domon would never allow me to leave. He would be stubborn about me staying, as usual.

But I would leave, I had to. Either that or wait until insanity consumed me from the lack of sleep.

I gently took a suitcase from the closet and opened the drawers of my clothing silently. I threw essential items and slowly zipped up the suitcase.

Domon wouldn't oppose to my decision.

He wouldn't know.

Authors Note: This is going to be my very first fic of G Gundam that will be multi-chaptered. I hope everyone likes it! R/R