Konnichiwa, minna! Long time no see! -huge smile drops- I know, I know, I'm sorry. But here's a new chapter! Yea, it's short as heck, but I did my best. I've had no time to write recently. Hopefully I'll get another update out soon, but there's a chance you see an update in the next month. I need the time to figure out which high school I'm going to… I got into 2 out of 3 so far! I find out about the last one this Friday and then I'll decide. Wish me luck! Kk enough about me, on to the chapter!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN G GUNDAM! STOP REMINDING ME! Hehe

Dedication: I hereby dedicate this chapter to Kay-san1(ShinomoriMiyu because she suggested the new name to this story! –claps– YAY! hehe


Chibodee laid out his plan. "Alright. How about this: You pretend to be my girlfriend." He held up a hand to silence Rain's protests. "Hear me out." She nodded and he continued with his outline. "He'll get really jealous. I promise he will. And then he'll probably try and kill me, we'll tell him its all a sham, and you two can go off and get married or whatever. Or at least kiss." He waggled his eyebrows and Rain blushed pink. "So, whatdya say?"

"I…I don't…Chibodee…isn't it a bit…um…you know how Domon is. Even if he did love me, he wouldn't be happy that we played a trick like that on him."

Chibodee waved away her concern with his hand, "Don't worry about it. The worst he'll do is challenge me to a Gundam fight." He paused in thought and his brow creased, "Actually, maybe this is isn't such a good idea. You're right, Rain. He'll get mad, challenge me to a Gundam fight, and then he'll be really mad because we'll have played this trick on him and he'll have lost to me."

Rain nearly fell over, "You're not lacking in confidence, are you, Chibodee?"

The blue-haired man laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head, "No, I guess not."

Rain sighed, "I guess it's worth it to give it a try. And it would be worth seeing the look on his face if you're right. Of course, if you're wrong…" her voice lowered, "He won't care. He'll probably fire me, too, and I have nowhere to go…I guess I could go live with my father again…"

Chibodee grasped her shoulder and shook it gently, "Rain, Rain, Rain! That's not gonna happen! He loves you, I swear he does!"

Rain nodded and wiped her moist eyes, "I believe you, Chibodee. But how will we make it look like I'm your girlfriend. And what will Shirley think?"

"Shirley? What about her?"

"You two are so in love, it's as plain as…um…"

"The nose on your face?" Chibodee offered helpfully.

"No. I can't see the nose on my face." The two laughed helplessly for a few moments before they regained their composure. "Anyway, my point is you two are obviously an item." She winked playfully.

Chibodee turned red and sputtered for a moment. "Wha…No…you're imagining…no way…she's…no…" He took a deep breath, "It doesn't matter anyway, because we have to be an item for a while."

Rain grinned, "Alright. Let's start right now!"

Chibodee grinned, too, and nodded, "Sure. Wait! I have an idea!" He put up a hand to stop Rain walking any further. "We can move a futon into my room, 'cause moving your bed would be too hard. Everybody will think we're sleeping together. We just have to make sure no one looks inside."

Rain looked uncomfortable with the idea, though. "I don't know…it's just…"

Chibodee's face fell. "You don't trust me, do you?"

Rain's hands immediately waved before her face in defense. "No! That's not it at all! It's just that…if Domon thinks that…he won't want me back…" Her face turned a bright red and she averted her eyes.

Chibodee's mouth formed a silent 'o' and he turned Rain's head with two fingers so her eyes met his. "I'm glad you trust me, Rain. I would never do anything to hurt you. I understand your fear, but it'll be ok. We can show everyone the futon at the end. They'll see we didn't do anything. I promise. And if neo-Japan doesn't take you back, I'll whip his ass so bad, he'll be begging to have you back. He's gotta be really thick to let someone like you go." He smiled reassuringly.

Rain's eyes moistened and she smiled. "Thank you, Chibodee," she whispered. Catching Chibodee off guard, she threw her arms around him. "You're a really great friend. I don't know what I would do without you."

Chibodee hugged her gently back. "Hey, hey, don't get all mushy on me. Friends help each other out. Especially when one of them's crying over a thick-headed, blind idiot from neo-Japan." He chuckled and Rains soon joined in.

"Rain!" The familiar voice jolted Rain and she leapt back from Chibodee and turned around to the speaker, guilt written all over her face.

"Domon!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I'd like to ask you the same question," he retorted, his eyes narrowed angrily. "What are you doing with him?" He spat the word 'him' out as if it had a bad taste.

"Uh…nothing."

Domon snorted, "Sure. I'll ask you again, what were you doing with him?"

"Hugging him."

Domon's eyes narrowed even further. "Why?"

"Because. He's helping me out with something important, so I hugged him as a thank you. Besides, can't a girl hug her own boyfriend?"

"B-Boyfriend?" Domon sputtered in utter shock.

Chibodee grinned and put his arm around Rain's waist. "Yea. I asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said yes. Didn't you know?"

Domon's eyes widened, "The necklace!"

Rain nodded, "He bought me the necklace and then asked me."

Domon spun around without another word and strode away quickly, but it was obvious to the world that he was furious. Rain could deal with fury, she had been doing it all along, and while he had never been this angry with her, she would survive. The thing that both surprised her and struck her was the brief look of pure and utter hurt. #I never though it would hurt him like this…# She immediately felt bad, but stood firm. #He hurt me like this so many times…# But the thought didn't comfort her much.

Domon stormed off down the hallway until he reached his room. He yanked open the door, stomped inside, and slammed the door behind him. #What the hell is she doing with Chibodee? How could she betray me like that? # He froze and shook his head. #What am I thinking? She's not my girlfriend or anything. #

But you want her to be your girlfriend, a voice whispered.

#No! I don't! She's just my partner, nothing more. #

Then why are you so jealous that she's with Chibodee?

#I'm not jealous! #

Suuuuure. Then why do you even care who she's with? She'll still be here to fix your Gundam.

#I don't care who she's with. #

Then why did you storm off?

#I…forgot something in my room. #

Honestly, I think even you realize how stupid you sound.

#I don't sound stupid! #

Yes, you do. You know you do. Now, just admit you were jealous. It's so obvious. Come on, no one else will know.

#No…I…I'm not jealous. #

The voice sighed patiently, Just admit it. Just say it. It's not that hard. 'I was jealous.' Three little words.

#But I'm not jealous. #

Alright, then tell me why you were mad when you saw Rain with Chibodee. Just tell me that much.

#Uh…I was afraid that she would go off with Chibodee and leave me. Then there'll be no one to fix my Gundam. #

The voice smirked. Ok, there's an improvement. What's wrong with getting as new replacement from the neo-Japanese government?

#They don't do as good a job as Rain. #

Nice way of putting it.

#Putting what? #

That you would miss Rain if she left.

#Of course I'd miss her! #

Ha!

#No! I mean….#

Give it up, you've been caught! Now go challenge Chibodee for Rain!

#Yea! I'll kill him to get her back! #

The voice laughed. So you DO love her.

#No! #

Suuure. Whatever you say. If you don't go and get her back now, you'll have to use the services of a government-provided mechanic, you know.

#What? #

I said if you don't get Rain back, the government will have to give you a substitute mechanic.

#Why? Where's Rain going? #

She resigned, remember? And unless you go after her, she'll be gone for

good.

#She meant it when she said she resigned? #

Duh.

#But…she can't resign! I won't let her! #

Of course you won't. Tell her you love her and that you're sorry, and she won't leave.

#No…but…#

Just do it. It's not that hard.

#Yes it is! #

Ha! You love her!

#I don't! I… Wait, why am I even having this conversation? #

He shook his head and walked to the bathroom. After turning on the tap and letting the cold water flow for a few moments, he cupped some in his hands and splashed it over his face. It brought shivers, but he didn't care. He felt fresh again, and that stupid voice was finally gone. He walked out of his room and into the kitchen. A plate of steaming rice balls was sitting tacitly on the table and he snatched one up and bit into it. The taste flooded through his mouth and he smiled, his eyes closing in content. They were definitely Rain's riceballs. She wasn't the greatest cook in the world, but she made delicious riceballs. He munched on it, savoring the taste, and, deep down, he wished he could have Rain back as his partner. But he would never admit that.

Rain sighed and hung her head. Chibodee's arm tightened around her before it loosened and released. "Rain, are you okay?"

She let out a deep shuddering breath and as she lifted her head and turned to face him, he was surprised by the tears spotting the corners of her sapphire eyes. "I didn't think it would hurt him like that. I didn't think he would care at all. I was so afraid he wouldn't care. I was so sure of it. But I wanted him to care, more than anything. But when I saw his face…" She trailed off and hugged herself, sobbing. "I don't want him to care anymore. I don't want to hurt him anymore."

Chibodee grabbed her shoulder roughly and shook her. "Rain! Look at me, Rain. I know it hurts, but if you don't do this, he'll hurt you for the rest of your life. Think of it like…Think of it like you're making a rainbow. You need the storm first to make the rainbow. This is the storm. Just wait it out, Rain. Because when it's over, there'll be a great big beautiful rainbow."

Rain shook her head, "But a rainbow lasts for only a few minutes." She stared sadly into his eyes.

Chibodee smiled, "Yes, but the sunshine stays long after."

Rain smiled back and her tears slowly dried up. She blinked the last of them back and Chibodee took her hand. "Thank you, Chibodee."

The neo-American smiled. "Anytime, Rain." And at that moment, Chibodee felt something he did not expect. Something stirred in his gut. But he pushed it down and pushed it away. He ignored it and pretended it was never there at all. But deep down, he, too, had a hunch about something he would never admit.

Rain swallowed and pulled Chibodee toward the kitchen. "I…" she coughed out. Rain cleared her throat and began again. "I need a glass of water." They entered the kitchen and rain froze at the sight of Domon eating her riceballs with a look of utter bliss across his face. Domon's eyes snapped open as he heard Rain enter and stopped dead. Chibodee, oblivious to the moment, continued onward, and stumbled awkwardly into Rain, not having realized she had stopped. Rain fell forward and closed her eyes, awaiting her impact with the ground, but it never came.

Domon reacted without thinking and instinctively reached out to catch Rain. His arms wrapped around her securely and prevented her falling any further. Rain's eyes were shut tightly, but they eased open as she realized she wasn't going to fall after all. Her head looked up. Their eyes met and their gazes locked. Sapphire bored into chocolate, and chocolate bored into sapphire. The world was lost around them.

Chibodee caught himself and stood up. "Rain, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you had stopped." He stopped his apology as he noticed where Rain was: in Domon's arms. A smile broke across his face, but it was only half-genuine. That stirring in his gut returned, and this time it was an angry, jealous swirling. He forced the smile wider to hide his inner turmoil and touched Rain's shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"

Rain and Domon appeared to break from a trance and the two sprung apart as the other had some sort of contagious disease. "Chibodee!" Rain exclaimed, her breathing slightly laboured.

"Sorry, Rain," he apologized again.

Rain smiled, "It's ok, don't worry about it." She turned to Domon. "How are the riceballs?" Her voice was falsely cheery, and the two men saw right through her act, but she didn't care. It made her feel secure. And she needed to feel secure, with her pretend boyfriend behind her and true love before her.

Domon grunted in satisfaction and Rain sighed. She should have known that was all she was going to get. But it was better than nothing.

Two days later, Rain woke up and walked into the kitchen to find Chibodee standing there with his hands behind his back. Rain could see Bunny, Cathy, Janet, George, and Marie Louise squashed in a doorway behind him, watching intently, as if waiting for something. She spotted Shirley off to a side, looking put out and hurt. Rain's face fell slightly: Shirley didn't know yet. Chibodee was looking nervous and slightly embarrassed. "Chibodee?" Rain inquired softly.

Chibodee bit his lip and pulled out a small bouquet of white daises. Rain's eyes widened and a smile crept across her face. "Chibodee! You didn't have to…"

Chibodee put a hand up. "I wanted to, Rain. I just wasn't sure if you liked roses or daises or lilies…so I stuck with daises because they're simple and pretty…like you." Chibodee coughed and his face turned pink, but he held himself together.

Rain's smile grew. It must have been hard for him to choose the right flowers, and although daises weren't her favorite flower, she thought they were lovely and appreciated the thought. "Thank you, Chibodee!" she beamed, "They're lovely! Hold on!" She set the bouquet on its side on the countertop and quickly reached up to one of the cupboards and pulled out tall, slender glass vase. She stepped to the sink, filled the vase with some cold water, and placed the vase on the table. She tore off the plastic wrap and placed the flowers in the vase and stepped back to admire them. "These will brighten up the kitchen, and now the whole world can see them!"

Chibodee chuckled, "Maybe not the world, but we get the idea."

Rain laughed, "Same thing. Everyone in here can see it. But why flowers, Chibodee?"

He shrugged, "I thought I'd take you out to breakfast, and I went to find a place nearby, and on the way back I found these."

Rain smiled, "Oh, Chibodee, you didn't have to do that!"

He shook his head, "I wanted to. You wanna go now?"

Rain started to nod when her stomach growled loudly. Her face turned pink and the two laughed for a moment. "I guess now would be a good time, huh?"

They laughed and Chibodee led her out of the kitchen, handing her her coat and donning his own along the way.

They stepped out into the sunshine and made their way through the streets, past numerous venders, and finally arrived at the door of a small café.

Two weeks, several weeks, and lots of hugs later, Chibodee approached Rain. "Rain, I think it's a good time for you to move in."

"But isn't it a bit rushed?" Rain asked, her brow slightly furrowed.

Chibodee shook his head, "Nah. I know it's early, but we want it to look like we really are into each other. And besides, Domon won't be thinking about how soon it is. He'll be furious that you're in my room at all. Just watch; he'll be really jealous."

Rain looked unconvinced but gave in anyway. "Ok, I trust you." A thought suddenly occurred to her. "Have you told Shirley yet?"

Chibodee looked uncomfortable, "Uh…well…you see…" he scratched the back of his head and trailed off.

"Chibodee Crockett," Rain scolded with her hands on her hips. "She's probably heartbroken at this point."

"Heartbroken?"

Rain covered her mouth. "Uh…never mind. Forget I said anything. Just tell her." She walked out of the room and Chibodee followed her with his eyes, a bewildered look on his face.

The next day, Rain gathered up her things, rolled up her futon, and dragged it all into Chibodee's room. She unrolled her futon at the foot of Chibodee's bed on the floor and stood up, looking around the room. The walls were plastered with posters of the Gundam fighter standing in front of American flags. The picture that caught her eye, however, was a photo on his bedside table. The simple black frame outlined a small picture of Chibodee in a group hug with Janet, Shirley, Cathy, and Bunny looking up from the ground in the center of the circle formed by their interlocking arms. Big grins were spread across their faces, and they looked so close, both physically and mentally. Rain smiled, a touch of envy lacing her expression. She and Domon had been so close one, but fate had tornt hem apart until they were strangers on a journey to meet each other all over again. She sighed, turned around, and walked out of the room.

That night, Chibodee and Rain crept into his room and prepared for bed, trying not to make a sound. "I bet Domon would freak out if he saw you in my room," he laughed.

"Yeah, he'd be furious."

Chibodee grinned, "I have an idea. I'll check tomorrow morning when he gets up. Then you can pretend to just wake up and walk out of the room to breakfast. He'll jump to all the right wrong conclusions."

"Right wrong conclusions?" she reiterated.

"The wrong conclusions that we want him to reach, therefore they're right, but they were wrong to start with, so they're right wrong conclusions."

Rain's mouth formed an 'o' and she nodded in understanding. "But we might be

pushing him too far too early…"

"If we are, he'll be mad at me, not you."

Rain nodded again, "Ok. Let's get to sleep. I'm very tired. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Rain."

Domon awoke to the sun's rays and sat up, stretching. He walked to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on his face. Finally completely awake, he changed into his everyday clothes and stepped out into the hall to get some breakfast. He didn't really pay attention to what was going on around him, and the sounds of chatter coming from the kitchen barely made it to his ears. His stomach grumbled and he frowned in hunger. He passed doors and stretched of wall, but the hallway seemed to go on forever. It never ended; the kitchen wasn't getting any closer. His footsteps slowed and he desperately reached for the doorway, but it swam further and further away. Suddenly, the sound of a door opening brought him out of his reverie. Two doors down, a girl walked out of the room closest to the kitchen. It was a girl in a pink tank top and pink pajama pants. Rain yawned and stretched in the hallway before closing the door behind her. Domon shook his head, but the image didn't disappear. It wasn't just any door she was closing…It was Chibodee Crockett's door. And she was in her pajamas and looked like she had just woken up. "She slept in Chibodee's room last night…?" Domon wondered aloud, confused. Finally, through his hazy mind, the truth shone through sharply. "She slept with Chibodee?" Her words floated back to him. # "Besides, can't a girl hug her own boyfriend? …boyfriend? …boyfriend?"# The word echoed through his head until he grasped it in mental pain. "Noooo!" he cried. "It can't be!" He jumped up and ran to the kitchen, but Rain and Chibodee weren't in each other's arms as he had suspected. He thanked Kami for that and wordlessly strode to the refrigerator and grabbed the carton of milk, gulping down whatever was left straight from the carton. #Why me? #


Thanks for all the reviews! You guys are great!

The Notorious Cat Hehe long reviews are awesome! But long times between chapters are not…I know I know… hehe but I've updated, rite? Maybe ur rite, maybe ur not…who knows? Actually, ur kinda rite. But not completely yep oxymorons are cool hehe and thanks so much with ur help with the title, but although I luved urs, I decided on 'All's Fair In Love and War' as u prob figured out haha

Jen23 Thanks! Youre the best! Hehe I luv Chibodee and I wanted him to be a good guy here

agehron Thanks for the review! I know me too! I actually think Rain and Chibodee would be a really cute couple, but im still a loyal D/R fan. Though maybe that'll change with this story, who knows? Haha

Fang I'm really glad you liked it and thanks for the review! Hope u liked this chapter too!

dunno I'm glad u think its funny and thanks for the review! It wnt all be humour tho hehe I tend to put a little touch of angst in every story I write haha but no one will die in this one, I promise!

RogueGoddess007 Luv the penname! Thanks for the review! I know, I ddnt hurry at all did I? But I hope it was still a good chapter…

InuRain Gurl Wow thanks! Yea he can be a total , but we luv him all the same, rite? Hehe a jealous domon is a fun domon! Haha

anime lover hehe im glad the genre is rite! Sometimes I put the wrong genre in and it gets a little weird haha Thanks for the review!

Kay-san1(ShinomoriMiyu Thanks for the review! Glad you liked it! Athough I dnt wanna make u cry, im glad u did cuz that means im doing my job! I've decided to use your title! Thanks so much for the suggestion!

Spunky the Hamster Haha awesome name! Thanks for the review!

RisingGundam2004 Thanks for the review! Yea, I nvr thot id be seeing Rain doing that sort of thing either haha

Cleopatra2 hehe yea! D/R! But it doesn't look D/R so far… haha im glad u luv it tho! Thanks for the review!

chibodeeandrain4ever -laughs- im glad u luv it so much! Oo ill def be continuing it, but idk if itll turn out C/R, we'll hav to wait and see. Remember, Rain still luvs Domon and Chibodee still luvs Shirley. –wink–