Disclaimer: I do not own G Gundam or any of its characters.
A.N.: Hey there, I'm back! And with the next chapter for all of you, extra long (11 pages on my computer, a record!) for everyone in thanks for the many awesome reviews! Thanks so much for being patient. Here are the polls:
*SERVING GIRL*
Cecil: 16
Min: 3
*MYSTERY MAN*
Domon: 10
Ulube: 4
Seitt: 1
Kyoji: 4
Chibodee: 1
George: 1
*~*~*~*
And I decided to put the review comments for chapters 11 and 12 at the bottom, simply so it wouldn't be a pain for everyone. Let me know if you like it this way, or the other way.
*Congratulations to SUNOKO, the first (and only!) person to guess correctly on both characters!!
*~*~*~*
Heaven, I'm in heaven
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek
.
Heaven, I'm in heaven
And the cares that hung around me through the week
Seem to vanish like a gambler's lucky streak
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek
.
Come on and dance with me
I want my arms about you
That charm about you
Will carry me through...
.
Right up to heaven, I'm in heaven
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we're out together dancing, out together dancing
Out together dancing cheek to cheek
*~*~*~*
THESE FOOLISH GAMES: Chapter 12
*~*~*~*
IN SAUVILLIA
They had not danced for more than a few seconds when he stumbled again. And again. And again. When it was finally over, she was approached by the next one, just as incompetent in dancing as his predecessor. And so her partners continued in this pattern. Oh, Lord, she was going to be sick from all of this jerking and whirling. And Marie-Louise was criticizing HER dancing!
//Where's a knight in shining armor when you need him? Honestly!//
She began to retreat at the end of the song, when her current partner grabbed her hand again for another round. A sigh inevitably escaped her lips. Would the horror never end?
A finger tapped on the shoulder of her partner, and she followed the trail up to their face. It was her valiant knight in shining armor, finally come to rescue the damsel in much distress.
"Pardon me, kind sir." He turned his face towards Rain and took her satin- gloved hand in his, bowing slightly at the waist in an elegant fashion. "Princess Marie-Louise, may I have the honor of this dance?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"I-well," Rain began, still in a dazed state and unable to form a coherent thought, before an adamant tug on her other hand jolted her back to reality.
"I'm afraid that I was going to-" her previous dance partner began.
Without further argument, her rescuer pulled her away gently, leaving the perplexed boy behind.
His hands, warm and steady, wrapped securely around her and guided her through the steps of the dance, holding her as one would grasp a frail vase. Rain gazed up into his muddy brown eyes. They were somehow comforting and exuded a certain tenderness. The whole event had taken her by surprise; it was all she could do.
He smiled as he looked down at the poor girl, she was still obviously mystified. She really was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes upon. Her hair rolled down the elegant curve of her back in waves of the softest brown. Intertwined ribbons of sunshine gold and midnight blue adorned her fair head in playful curls, tiny yellow flowers tucked in amongst them. The sight of her caught his eye from across the room, and now up close, he found her even more enchanting.
As the dance concluded, he took her hand in his once again, this time his lips lingering a bit longer, causing Rain to flush embarrassedly and look away. As she diverted her eyes, she instead found herself looking up into the jealous ones of Domon. Her inane smile vanished from her face as his chocolate eyes connected with her sapphire ones, and in that moment an unexpected and strange wave of guilt passed over her.
"I apologize for not having introduced myself earlier, Princess, but it seemed that you were in dire need of saving."
"Oh, uh, yes, that's quite all right." She turned her attentions back to the man standing before her and accepted his arm as they walked back to be seated.
"I am King Seitt (1) of Opivano, a neighbor to Mersenia and Shalie."
"Yes, I am familiar with both. Unfortunately it is only the second time I have met a king from one of our neighboring countries, the first being King Kasshu."
"I believe the King of Shalie is here tonight. Let me see if I can find him, and then you will have at least seen three...Ah, yes, there he is."
Rain turned her gaze towards the direction he pointed. Next to King Kasshu was an older man, his receding grey hair and matching moustache evidence that he was the older of the two. He had a funny jellyroll nose that added to a jovial countenance as he talked pleasantly to the Sauvillian King.
"He seems to get along well with King Kasshu."
"Now they get along fairly well. But awhile back, while you were still young, there was a bitter war between Sauvillia and Shalie. I'm afraid that the wounds have not healed, not even to this day. And they may not until the whole generation dies off."
"What caused the war?" Rain inquired.
"Apparently it was a power struggle. Both nations were very advanced, not to mention extremely strong. Jealousy and lust for control drove the two countries into a terrible, vicious war. The losses were great on both sides, but perhaps the greatest tragedy occurred in Shalie with the massacre of the entire Shalian Royal Family, all save the King who was in battle at the time. The sole heir to the Shalian throne was killed, and I'm sure that King Kasshu is grateful that both his sons were spared. The two kingdoms were exceptionally weakened, and this eventually drove them to end the war. Boundaries were drawn, treaties signed, and the restoration process began. Certainly both sides have hard feelings still, and it is understandable as to why, but with time, some of those wounds have been healed."
"Hm."
They sat in silence for a short while, listening to the music until Seitt spoke again. "I would ask you for another dance, but I am afraid that it would not make Prince Domon very happy. He seems to be staring at you. I noticed him watching you all night, protecting you with his eyes."
They turned their heads towards Domon's rapidly approaching figure. "I will leave you now that he is on his way."
Rain wanted to desperately grab hold of his tunic and pull him back, begging him not to leave her alone with Domon. But she only caught air, and was left with her mouth open to speak. Shutting it, she concentrated on breathing. In and out, in and out. Mentally, she tried to stop the pounding of her racing heart as she heard his unmistakable footstep advance. She tensed as he stopped. She could feel his hand before he touched her, hear his voice before he spoke, see his face before she turned around.
"Who was that that you were speaking to?" Domon inquired possessively.
"The King of Opivano."
"Hmph. He didn't seem to be a very good dancer. It's a wonder you could put up with him for so long." He had blurted it out before he had time to think. And before she could respond, he posed another question.
"May I have this dance, Princess Marie-Louise."
"I-I am afraid that I am a bit heated from all the dancing I have already done."
But he was a stubborn one, that Domon. He grinded his teeth, reminding himself what Kyoji said. //Patience. I don't want her to be hurt, but I need to talk to her. To-// "Perhaps fresh air would better suit you. Allow me to escort you."
"Uh, well..." Rain stuttered, unable to come up with a suitable excuse. Didn't he understand? She sighed in resignation. Men. "Yes, that would be nice. Thank you Prince Domon."
She took hold of his arm, barely touching the fabric of his long, scarlet sleeves as he led her outside. The moon was out once again, full and bright, leaving nothing hidden in the shadows.
*~*~*~*
A frosty wind blew along the path, and Marie-Louise pulled her light pink shawl tighter around her shoulders. It was nice to have the entire garden to herself since everyone was busy inside the dining hall. She wondered how Rain was doing inside there. Hopefully, she would stay out of trouble.
Grinning, she knelt down to examine a budding rose slightly concealed in the thick bushes. It flushed a romantic shade of lavender, like the color of the sky in the instant just after the sun disappears behind the hills, but right before the darkness of the night takes over. It was still small and not completely open, its beauty hidden and unobserved by the casual passerby. But she saw it, and fell in love with its charm. Never had she seen such an enchanting rose.
Reaching out naïvely with her warm fingers, she touched the silken petals. She allowed her fingertips to brush against the surface, playing at first with the tips. As her hand continued to linger, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Turning around, she left herself vulnerable to the rose. The thorns scrapped harshly against her sensitive skin, drawing a cry of alarm from Marie-Louise's lips. She pulled back quickly, and looked down at her hand, then incredulously back at the rose. Those innocent and loving fingertips were now trickling painful teardrops of blood that ran freely across her hand. A single droplet fell from a finger, staining the bodice of her white dress, right over her heart.
She gritted her teeth. She wasn't used to experiencing pain, she was a princess. What was she supposed to do to fix it? Trying to remember what Rain had taught her, she wiped the blood up with the white kerchief she always had and tied it around her fingers. It was then that she remembered the footsteps she had heard earlier.
Standing up, she glanced around the area. Unable to find anyone in the general vicinity, she quickly walked the maze of the gardens. She knew she was acting foolishly, there was no need for her to be frightened. She forced herself to slow down and calm her nerves.
The sudden grip of an icy hand on her shoulder rid her of any attempt of doing so.
*~*~*~*
Rain swallowed nervously as they walked the grounds, his arm gently leading her in the cold night. He hadn't said a word since they had left, but the tension between them was screaming. She snuck a glance at his profile. His face was calm, chocolate eyes gazing at the glittering stars dancing overhead in the midnight darkness.
He surprised her when he turned to face her, and she realized that she'd been staring. Her cerulean eyes widened when they connected with his, and instantly flickered down to the ground. A small rosy blush rose to her face unconsciously. How embarrassing.
Domon frowned slightly as he guided her to sit underneath a weeping willow by the bank of a pond so deep a blue that it rivaled the sky above. A cool wind blew off the waters, the long fingertips of the willow branches waving back and forth in a smooth and lazy rhythm. The subtle waves of the water caused silvery ripples on the shore, so bright they looked like stars.
"Princess, I. I wanted-" Domon began uncomfortably.
"I know!" She blurted out, cutting him off. "You want an explanation. For last night. And I understand, because you have a right to know why I did what I did. I'm sorry I ran away from you and left you wondering. You must have been so confused."
She slowed down her passionate spill of words and her voice lowered. "I'm not sorry for pushing you away. I'm not going to be another one of your casual women. That's not who I am. I want so much more than a careless moment of yielding to passion. I want respect, understanding, and above all- love."
She looked at him, this time without an embarrassed blush. "Can you understand that, Domon? You may think it childish of me to hope for my fairytale life of love, but it exists. Deep down, I feel it. And it is something to be cherished forever because love, true love, never dies, and it does not fade. When I find him, that is how I will know it is true love. Because I will not be able to stop loving him. Every part of my body will love him, and my heart will ache with every second he spends away from my side."
Her voice trailed off in a hushed whisper, and she lowered her head as she finished. Minutes, maybe hours passed while Domon stared at her wide eyed as her chest heaved from her sudden rush of adrenalin. Soft waves hid her face from him, but he imagined her, eyes closed, trying to calm herself. Her sudden outburst had completely taken him by surprise.
He didn't know how to respond to her emotional eruption, so simply continued with what he was going to say. "I wanted to apologize."
Her eyes shot open and she looked at him. "You. You wanted to- Apologize??"
He turned his eyes away, and focused on the dancing waters. "Yes. The way I acted, I was." He clenched his jaw. He wasn't used to apologizing or opening up like this. It made him uneasy to have to express himself with his words, simply because he didn't know how.
"I was wrong."
Rain's look was one of surprise. It must have taken a lot for him to say that. She knew that he was used to getting his way, and didn't like being at fault. Hidden behind his few words was a much deeper meaning. He wasn't apologizing merely because he had to, or out of guilt. He understood her better than most would, and realized his mistake. Here he was apologizing, his feelings genuine. And there was something new now between them-trust.
"Domon..."
He refused to look toward her as she searched his face, keeping his eyes trained on the waves instead.
The sudden rustle of her moving caused his eyes to widen as he saw her remove her satin gloves from the corner of his eye. Only when he felt her warm touch did he turn away from the water and stare at his hand held in between the both of hers. Her hands were comforting and elegant regardless of the scars and slightly rough texture. Looking up, he saw her sapphire eyes glistening brightly in the full moonlight, a beautiful smile upon her lips.
"Thank you."
That was all she had to say.
*~*~*~*
Marie-Louise gave a shout of alarm and whirled around. When her eyes connected with the person behind her, she gasped.
"My lady? Is that you?"
"Cecil? But, what are you doing here?"
"I was sent to help serve with one of my friends in the castle. Have you lost your way to the dining hall?" She did not dare confront the princess about what Rain was doing there as the Princess. Such an impetuous and outright brazen question would be entirely improper. But she was here, just as Rain had said. Or, rather, just as the 'Princess' said.
"I, uh, yes! Ha ha ha, I lost my way. But not to worry, I'm sure I was not missed. I think I will remain out here for just a bit longer. You may return to your duties, do not dwell over me. I do not want you to get in trouble for neglecting your duties."
"Yes, my Lady." Cecil obediently curtsied and exited. Something was going on, and one way or the other, she would find out.
//Now, I'm going to have to find MY way back to the dining hall.//
As she re-entered the castle, Cecil tugged at the folds of her bashful pink apron wrapped around her waist, attempting to conceal the hideous grease stains. She really had to wash the shameful scrap. It was the only one she had, all the others had been stained too badly, but she winced at the thought of having to do more washing. The constant scrubbing of linens since she was five had worn her hands raw. It wasn't so bad in the beginning, but after years of washing, the skin of her hands would become so dry and flaky that it would crack open and painfully bleed all over the recently cleaned items if she wasn't careful. Years of training and experience had taught her how to deal with the blood.
Glancing around her, Cecil quickly determined that she hopelessly lost. She could continue to wander aimlessly through the assortment of corridors in the castle or ask someone for help. Spying a group of guards walking towards her in the hall, she hurried towards them.
"Pardon me, good sirs, but would you please direct me to-"
She stopped her question as she grew closer and stopped. Their boisterous laughter and drunken staggering immediately tipped her off that they would be of absolutely no help. Attempting to avoid confronting them, she swiftly walked by, refusing to make eye contact with her face held up and looking forward. As she passed, a white-gloved hand reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Hey, what's a little girl like you doing wandering the halls when there's a big event taking place? You didn't get lost, did you?"
Cecil swallowed nervously, and shot the inebriated officer the dirtiest glare she could summon in order to conceal her fears. She tried to pull her wrist free, but his grip only tightened.
"No, I'm merely running an errand for the Mersenian Princess, my Lady, Marie-Louise," she lied.
He laughed. "I'm sure she won't miss you. Come on! Let's have some fun!" He yanked her wrist even harder, and she stumbled into his embrace. One arm snaked around her waist, trapping her body against his. The other firmly held her chin as she struggled, submissive to his strength.
"You're a fiery nymph, aren't you?"
Angered and frustrated, Cecil managed to free her right arm and slapped the man across the face. "I demand that you unhand me!
His eyes changed from playful to infuriated. "You little wench! How dare you slap an officer of the Sauvillian regiment!"
He pinned her against the wall, using his whole body to render her helpless to move. Cecil's tearful eyes darted around the hall, attempting to make eye contact with one of the other officers, only to find them swinging their bottles of wine and laughing, arms draped over each other as they made a sore attempt at walking their rounds, heading away from them. She opened her mouth to scream to them when she saw a quick flash of silver and felt a sharp prick just under her chin.
"If you dare say anything at all, I'll slit your throat wide open."
*~*~*~*
(1): Seitt is Rain's ex-fiancée in the actual G-Gundam series. They were engaged when at college together, but when Rain left to be Domon's partner so suddenly, he thought she ran off because she didn't want to marry him anymore. They meet up again in the series as she travels with Domon, and he obviously still cares for her. She cares for him, but it's clear that she loves Domon. He fights against Domon, and Domon is jealous when Rain tearfully begs Domon to spare Seitt's life, since he is infected with DG cells. Domon can't refuse her request, and expects Rain will leave him to remain with Seitt and get married. However, she proves her devotion to (and love for) Domon when she leaves Seitt behind to follow him.
I thought a little love triangle would be fun to throw in there. Besides, it shows Domon's jealous nature and how his feeling towards Rain begin to change.
A.N.: I would like to ask you to all keep everyone affected by the California fires in your thoughts and prayers. That's where I live, and while my home is still standing and the fires have been officially declared over, that doesn't mean thousands of people aren't still suffering. I know many people who lost their homes to the fires. Thanks for being so patient with me in updating this chapter.
*~*~*~*
Here are the reviews for Chp. 12:
ANIME FREAK5483: hey, thanks for coming back! Don't worry if it's been a long time, I'm always glad to hear from my reviewers! Thanks so much for the compliments and your support.
YOUIGY HUNTER: thanks for reviewing again! I'm glad that you like my work enough to keep coming back! Your votes were popular ones, and also thank you for your comment on the rude reviews. I was glad to get so much positive feedback on the issue.
MAXTERS ANGEL: thanks so much for your review, and I'm really glad that you love my work! Thanks also for voting, read to see if you were right!
ALLEY_KITTY_KAT: ::blush:: well, thank you for the compliment. I'm really glad that you've enjoyed my work so far. I hope that you continue to like it!!
VALESE: lol, I loved your little skit!! It was so funny! I can just see Domon like that!! Well, it's great to hear from you again! And wow, two reviews! That's awesome! I like your idea on the whole jealousy idea, and I basically used that, only not with Kyoji. I used another character that actually was with Rain in the series to make a stronger connection to the anime. Thank you so much for your suggestion, it really helped me out!!
FOLLOWING REAER: hello!! Someone new! Well, thanks so much for reviewing and leaving your votes. They certainly were popular ones! I hope that you continue reading. Thanks!
SECRETPERSON: I think you meant Min as the name of serving girl, at least that's who I put down that you voted for. I hope I was right in assuming this. Well, thanks for reviewing, and I hope to hear from you again!
SILLY CHICK: Hey there! Well, here I am finally updating. And good guesses, but you'll just have to read on to see if you were correct. I hope you enjoy!
EMMA 5: wow, someone new! Thanks so much for reviewing, I'm a big fan of your writing ever since one of my reviewers recommended that I read some of your G Gundam work, and I've been addicted ever since. Sorry I haven't really taken the time to review, but I thought I'd let you know. Anyway, thanks and I hope you keep reading!
ONE SEXY SLITHERIN: good choices, and popular ones at that. But to figure out who they really are, you'll just have to keep reading! Thanks for the review!
SABER P4: lol, driving you crazy?? Well, let's not have any of that! So here is the next chapter. Hopefully you're still sane! Thanks, and I hope to here from you again.
CRESCENT FIGHTER: Good to have you back again, my friend! Lol, I understand the brain freezing experience, it happens to me all the time...more than I would care to admit, actually...anyway, thanks for the votes, you'll just have to read on to see if you were right!
CANDYCORNPOP: NO WAY!! This isn't a stupid review! I love all my reviews, and thanks for taking some time to leave one for me. And thanks for noticing my random title/quote in chapter 5! ^_^
ANIMEMASTR21: wow! Thanks for leaving such a wonderfully long review for me!! That's so awesome! I'm glad that you really enjoy my story, and I hope to hear from you again! P.S.- there's a bit of D/R action here, and definitely more to come!!
FIREFLY8503: hello there! Glad you like it so far!! I hope you keep R+R!!
DIGISAI OF ANIME: aw, thanks so much for the compliment! You're awesome!! And good guesses, you picked some popular ones, so read on to see if you were right! ^_^
FRIEND OF INUYASHA+KAGOME: hey, thanks for reviewing my work, that was really sweet of you! And I'm glad that it's one of your favorites...To save your sanity, I have decided to update! I hope you come back for more. (p.s.- I'm also a big fan of Inuyasha and Kagome!! ^_^)
KYLA KAIBA: thanks for coming back and reviewing!! ::smiles:: yeah, the serving girl was pretty obvious...and you'll just have to wait and see about Domon, so read on!
ROSES IN BLOOM: thanks for the compliment, I'm really glad that you like my work, and I certainly hope to here from you again
ANONYMOUS: oh, an enigma, are we? ::laugh:: Cecil, huh? Well, you'll just have to read on, Anonymous (props to you for spelling it correctly, you have no idea how many people I've met that can't) and I hope to hear from you in the future!
SUNOKO: thanks for reviewing my work, and for the compliment! I'm assuming that the guy you guessed for Rain's knight is Seitt, her ex-fiance from Turkey, ne? If so, I would like to award you with a gold ribbon and bouquet of roses for being the only person to guess correctly on both characters!!! CONGRATULATIONS! I hope you come back for more!!
l-STEPH-CHAN-l: nice to hear from you again!! Whoa, having issues, are we?? ::laugh:: That's okay, I've been there before, you have no idea! ^_^ I hope you keep reading!
EVIL IRISH EYES: WOW! Two reviews! I think that you were actually the only person to do that for me, thanks so much!! First, I want to commend you on finding my story ::laugh:: and on the great job you're doing on your own! Also, thanks for supporting my little lecture, it means a lot to me. And your life is being invaded?? Well, it doesn't sound like fun!
DARK DRAGON: Thanks so much for reviewing! I like your reasoning of the knight...a lot of people voted for Domon (which is wrong, but shh! Don't tell them!! ^_^) but your commentary proves that you understand the characters. I don't believe Domon wouldn't rescue Rain right now unless provoked. I was very impressed with your review, and I hope you return for more!
I WON'T TELL: I see we have a mystery person! Well, thanks for reviewing my work!! I think you meant to vote for Ulube, ne? That would be the evil guy. That's who I marked you down for, so I hope it was right! And concerning the review problem, if you could maybe give me a little bit more information on the program...i suspect that the person was a young boy, and I don't want to give his name away without contacting the person he insulted first to get their permission. Let me know your thoughts on this and I'll get right back to you, k?
SWEET ANGEL 4: hey, thanks for coming back to review!! Your choices for the mystery people were very popular ones, but you'll just have to read on to see who they are!! I hope to be able to update quicker, and while I'm not going to make any promises, I'll work on it!!
Mysterio Jaq: wow! You left me two reviews!! Good to have you back! And there's always more coming! I don't really know French, I'm part French, but don't speak it. My friend and I want to go on a road trip to Europe, and France would be one of our stops, so we've been learning pieces here and there from her mom who's French-Canadian...anyway, I'm a Spanish student, so that's the language I know better. But French was a sign of aristocracy and the educated back then, so that's why I have it as the language. Hope to hear from you again! Adieu!!
LILEVIL: hey again, loyal reviewer! Thanks for giving me positive feedback on my commentary on the whole flaming issue, I was surprised that I got quite a few reviews/e-mails about it. And thanks for the comment on the G/ML scene, I tried! And I'm sorry about the author's note last time, I didn't mean it as a threat. Even if someone hadn't guessed correctly, I would have updated. I was simply trying to motivate people, but now that you brought it up, it does seem a little harsh. I never took it into consideration that people wouldn't know all the characters, and that was very foolish of me. Thanks for being honest, and sharing your opinions!
FEONA: ah, back again for more?! Always nice to hear from you! I've thought of being a writer, but I honestly don't think I have what it takes...I love writing, and definitely have a passion for it, but I don't know if I'd take it further than just for fun, but who knows? Maybe someday! Thanks for the review, I hope you keep reading!
HANDMAIDEN OF DEATH: Jeez, Aya, did you leave me enough reviews?? Lol. j/k I totally appreciate it, girl. Thanks so much. Tell Clark I miss him like crazy!
SNICKERS LAMBCHOPS: I know, a lot of people wanted Domon for some D/R. But you'll just have to read on to see if you were right! Thanks for the reviews!!
KAGE MIKO: I'm really glad that you responded to my topic of rude criticism. I got a lot of e-mails, so I'm glad that people out there are behind me on this, so that no one's feelings get hurt.
JEN 23: thanks for being so nice in your reviews and always supporting me! I'm sorry I haven't gotten around to responding to your e-mail, but I'm in the area where the California fires are, so I've been pretty busy lately! Anyway, I hope to get around to it soon. Thank you so much!
GOLD ANGEL 2: once again, I thank you for being such a loyal reviewer of my work, it really means a lot to me. Also, I wanted to apologize for not responding to your e-mail, but as I told Jen 23, I'm in the area where the California fires are, so I haven't had a lot of free time. But hopefully I'll be able to respond soon!! Thank you so much for the letter and always reviewing!
*~*~*~*
Chapter 11 Reviews:
BERK: I'm sorry that you don't like my story, you're the first person to leave a review like that. If you feel so strongly, would you mind telling me why? Feel free to e-mail me with any constructive criticism.
ANIME FREAK 5483: nice to hear from you, as usual!
SCARLET ROSE: wow, I really like your new name, it's very cool. Glad to hear from you again! To find out the answers to your questions, you'll just have to keep reading!
SECRET PERSON: hey there, no offense taken! I know I have a problem updating on time, but I try my hardest to get the chapters done a.s.a.p. I'll try to be better at that.
SWEET ANGEL 4: I'm sorry I cut it off at the wrong moment. I guess I was trying to go for the whole cliffhanger idea, but I guess it wasn't the place.
YOSHI MARS: hey there, kawaii but deadly fire goddess! This is Raye, not Mina-Puff. Lol...i can't believe she wrote that! The guys with accents didn't work out cause they live in England, but I met a really nice guy named Doug, so who know what'll happen next ^_~
SHORTY 40: thanks for reviewing!! You'll just have to read on to see what happens!
ANGEL BABY 101: thanks for reviewing and leaving all those awesome compliments! I'm glad that you enjoy my story!
YOUIGY HUNTER: Well, there's plenty of Rain in this chapter! I made it nice and long! Hope it satisfies you.
JEN 23: thanks for reviewing! I'm glad that you've kept reading my work, it's very much appreciated.
SESS 9: lol, thanks for the compliments! I'm sure that you can come up with something great. If you ever need any help, don't hesitate to contact me, I'd be happy to help.
SNICKERS LAMBCHOPS: ah, a George/ Marie-Louise fan, huh? Well, there's more to come, so wait and see!
FEONA: Actually, I never gave Domon's horse a name. I gave George's horse a name because his character was important to the plot, and the name parallels his jocular personality. Thanks for reviewing!
SKYE SILVEREYE: wow, great to hear from you again! I love how your Inuyasha fic is coming. Reviews certainly help with motivation, but don't let that discourage you! Besides, I'm just as bad at updating, probably worse! Thanks!
LINA 567: thanks for reviewing as always! More G/ML fluff to come!
CRESCENT FIGHTER: Sorry for the cliffhanger! I'm glad that you like the fic, and thanks for reviewing!
KAGE MIKO: actually, I was going to write it that way, but I decided that him pushing her away was just too predictable. So I changed it a bit. Or a lot. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
LIL EVIL: thanks for reviewing! It's always great to hear from you!!
l-Steph-Chan-l: nice to hear from you again! Lol, I'm glad you like George's character, he's always the perfect gentleman!
GOLD ANGEL 2: As always, thank you so much for being such a consistent reviewer! I'm glad that you enjoy my work so much.
*~*~*~*
A.N.: Hey there, I'm back! And with the next chapter for all of you, extra long (11 pages on my computer, a record!) for everyone in thanks for the many awesome reviews! Thanks so much for being patient. Here are the polls:
*SERVING GIRL*
Cecil: 16
Min: 3
*MYSTERY MAN*
Domon: 10
Ulube: 4
Seitt: 1
Kyoji: 4
Chibodee: 1
George: 1
*~*~*~*
And I decided to put the review comments for chapters 11 and 12 at the bottom, simply so it wouldn't be a pain for everyone. Let me know if you like it this way, or the other way.
*Congratulations to SUNOKO, the first (and only!) person to guess correctly on both characters!!
*~*~*~*
Heaven, I'm in heaven
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek
.
Heaven, I'm in heaven
And the cares that hung around me through the week
Seem to vanish like a gambler's lucky streak
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek
.
Come on and dance with me
I want my arms about you
That charm about you
Will carry me through...
.
Right up to heaven, I'm in heaven
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak
And I seem to find the happiness I seek
When we're out together dancing, out together dancing
Out together dancing cheek to cheek
*~*~*~*
THESE FOOLISH GAMES: Chapter 12
*~*~*~*
IN SAUVILLIA
They had not danced for more than a few seconds when he stumbled again. And again. And again. When it was finally over, she was approached by the next one, just as incompetent in dancing as his predecessor. And so her partners continued in this pattern. Oh, Lord, she was going to be sick from all of this jerking and whirling. And Marie-Louise was criticizing HER dancing!
//Where's a knight in shining armor when you need him? Honestly!//
She began to retreat at the end of the song, when her current partner grabbed her hand again for another round. A sigh inevitably escaped her lips. Would the horror never end?
A finger tapped on the shoulder of her partner, and she followed the trail up to their face. It was her valiant knight in shining armor, finally come to rescue the damsel in much distress.
"Pardon me, kind sir." He turned his face towards Rain and took her satin- gloved hand in his, bowing slightly at the waist in an elegant fashion. "Princess Marie-Louise, may I have the honor of this dance?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"I-well," Rain began, still in a dazed state and unable to form a coherent thought, before an adamant tug on her other hand jolted her back to reality.
"I'm afraid that I was going to-" her previous dance partner began.
Without further argument, her rescuer pulled her away gently, leaving the perplexed boy behind.
His hands, warm and steady, wrapped securely around her and guided her through the steps of the dance, holding her as one would grasp a frail vase. Rain gazed up into his muddy brown eyes. They were somehow comforting and exuded a certain tenderness. The whole event had taken her by surprise; it was all she could do.
He smiled as he looked down at the poor girl, she was still obviously mystified. She really was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes upon. Her hair rolled down the elegant curve of her back in waves of the softest brown. Intertwined ribbons of sunshine gold and midnight blue adorned her fair head in playful curls, tiny yellow flowers tucked in amongst them. The sight of her caught his eye from across the room, and now up close, he found her even more enchanting.
As the dance concluded, he took her hand in his once again, this time his lips lingering a bit longer, causing Rain to flush embarrassedly and look away. As she diverted her eyes, she instead found herself looking up into the jealous ones of Domon. Her inane smile vanished from her face as his chocolate eyes connected with her sapphire ones, and in that moment an unexpected and strange wave of guilt passed over her.
"I apologize for not having introduced myself earlier, Princess, but it seemed that you were in dire need of saving."
"Oh, uh, yes, that's quite all right." She turned her attentions back to the man standing before her and accepted his arm as they walked back to be seated.
"I am King Seitt (1) of Opivano, a neighbor to Mersenia and Shalie."
"Yes, I am familiar with both. Unfortunately it is only the second time I have met a king from one of our neighboring countries, the first being King Kasshu."
"I believe the King of Shalie is here tonight. Let me see if I can find him, and then you will have at least seen three...Ah, yes, there he is."
Rain turned her gaze towards the direction he pointed. Next to King Kasshu was an older man, his receding grey hair and matching moustache evidence that he was the older of the two. He had a funny jellyroll nose that added to a jovial countenance as he talked pleasantly to the Sauvillian King.
"He seems to get along well with King Kasshu."
"Now they get along fairly well. But awhile back, while you were still young, there was a bitter war between Sauvillia and Shalie. I'm afraid that the wounds have not healed, not even to this day. And they may not until the whole generation dies off."
"What caused the war?" Rain inquired.
"Apparently it was a power struggle. Both nations were very advanced, not to mention extremely strong. Jealousy and lust for control drove the two countries into a terrible, vicious war. The losses were great on both sides, but perhaps the greatest tragedy occurred in Shalie with the massacre of the entire Shalian Royal Family, all save the King who was in battle at the time. The sole heir to the Shalian throne was killed, and I'm sure that King Kasshu is grateful that both his sons were spared. The two kingdoms were exceptionally weakened, and this eventually drove them to end the war. Boundaries were drawn, treaties signed, and the restoration process began. Certainly both sides have hard feelings still, and it is understandable as to why, but with time, some of those wounds have been healed."
"Hm."
They sat in silence for a short while, listening to the music until Seitt spoke again. "I would ask you for another dance, but I am afraid that it would not make Prince Domon very happy. He seems to be staring at you. I noticed him watching you all night, protecting you with his eyes."
They turned their heads towards Domon's rapidly approaching figure. "I will leave you now that he is on his way."
Rain wanted to desperately grab hold of his tunic and pull him back, begging him not to leave her alone with Domon. But she only caught air, and was left with her mouth open to speak. Shutting it, she concentrated on breathing. In and out, in and out. Mentally, she tried to stop the pounding of her racing heart as she heard his unmistakable footstep advance. She tensed as he stopped. She could feel his hand before he touched her, hear his voice before he spoke, see his face before she turned around.
"Who was that that you were speaking to?" Domon inquired possessively.
"The King of Opivano."
"Hmph. He didn't seem to be a very good dancer. It's a wonder you could put up with him for so long." He had blurted it out before he had time to think. And before she could respond, he posed another question.
"May I have this dance, Princess Marie-Louise."
"I-I am afraid that I am a bit heated from all the dancing I have already done."
But he was a stubborn one, that Domon. He grinded his teeth, reminding himself what Kyoji said. //Patience. I don't want her to be hurt, but I need to talk to her. To-// "Perhaps fresh air would better suit you. Allow me to escort you."
"Uh, well..." Rain stuttered, unable to come up with a suitable excuse. Didn't he understand? She sighed in resignation. Men. "Yes, that would be nice. Thank you Prince Domon."
She took hold of his arm, barely touching the fabric of his long, scarlet sleeves as he led her outside. The moon was out once again, full and bright, leaving nothing hidden in the shadows.
*~*~*~*
A frosty wind blew along the path, and Marie-Louise pulled her light pink shawl tighter around her shoulders. It was nice to have the entire garden to herself since everyone was busy inside the dining hall. She wondered how Rain was doing inside there. Hopefully, she would stay out of trouble.
Grinning, she knelt down to examine a budding rose slightly concealed in the thick bushes. It flushed a romantic shade of lavender, like the color of the sky in the instant just after the sun disappears behind the hills, but right before the darkness of the night takes over. It was still small and not completely open, its beauty hidden and unobserved by the casual passerby. But she saw it, and fell in love with its charm. Never had she seen such an enchanting rose.
Reaching out naïvely with her warm fingers, she touched the silken petals. She allowed her fingertips to brush against the surface, playing at first with the tips. As her hand continued to linger, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Turning around, she left herself vulnerable to the rose. The thorns scrapped harshly against her sensitive skin, drawing a cry of alarm from Marie-Louise's lips. She pulled back quickly, and looked down at her hand, then incredulously back at the rose. Those innocent and loving fingertips were now trickling painful teardrops of blood that ran freely across her hand. A single droplet fell from a finger, staining the bodice of her white dress, right over her heart.
She gritted her teeth. She wasn't used to experiencing pain, she was a princess. What was she supposed to do to fix it? Trying to remember what Rain had taught her, she wiped the blood up with the white kerchief she always had and tied it around her fingers. It was then that she remembered the footsteps she had heard earlier.
Standing up, she glanced around the area. Unable to find anyone in the general vicinity, she quickly walked the maze of the gardens. She knew she was acting foolishly, there was no need for her to be frightened. She forced herself to slow down and calm her nerves.
The sudden grip of an icy hand on her shoulder rid her of any attempt of doing so.
*~*~*~*
Rain swallowed nervously as they walked the grounds, his arm gently leading her in the cold night. He hadn't said a word since they had left, but the tension between them was screaming. She snuck a glance at his profile. His face was calm, chocolate eyes gazing at the glittering stars dancing overhead in the midnight darkness.
He surprised her when he turned to face her, and she realized that she'd been staring. Her cerulean eyes widened when they connected with his, and instantly flickered down to the ground. A small rosy blush rose to her face unconsciously. How embarrassing.
Domon frowned slightly as he guided her to sit underneath a weeping willow by the bank of a pond so deep a blue that it rivaled the sky above. A cool wind blew off the waters, the long fingertips of the willow branches waving back and forth in a smooth and lazy rhythm. The subtle waves of the water caused silvery ripples on the shore, so bright they looked like stars.
"Princess, I. I wanted-" Domon began uncomfortably.
"I know!" She blurted out, cutting him off. "You want an explanation. For last night. And I understand, because you have a right to know why I did what I did. I'm sorry I ran away from you and left you wondering. You must have been so confused."
She slowed down her passionate spill of words and her voice lowered. "I'm not sorry for pushing you away. I'm not going to be another one of your casual women. That's not who I am. I want so much more than a careless moment of yielding to passion. I want respect, understanding, and above all- love."
She looked at him, this time without an embarrassed blush. "Can you understand that, Domon? You may think it childish of me to hope for my fairytale life of love, but it exists. Deep down, I feel it. And it is something to be cherished forever because love, true love, never dies, and it does not fade. When I find him, that is how I will know it is true love. Because I will not be able to stop loving him. Every part of my body will love him, and my heart will ache with every second he spends away from my side."
Her voice trailed off in a hushed whisper, and she lowered her head as she finished. Minutes, maybe hours passed while Domon stared at her wide eyed as her chest heaved from her sudden rush of adrenalin. Soft waves hid her face from him, but he imagined her, eyes closed, trying to calm herself. Her sudden outburst had completely taken him by surprise.
He didn't know how to respond to her emotional eruption, so simply continued with what he was going to say. "I wanted to apologize."
Her eyes shot open and she looked at him. "You. You wanted to- Apologize??"
He turned his eyes away, and focused on the dancing waters. "Yes. The way I acted, I was." He clenched his jaw. He wasn't used to apologizing or opening up like this. It made him uneasy to have to express himself with his words, simply because he didn't know how.
"I was wrong."
Rain's look was one of surprise. It must have taken a lot for him to say that. She knew that he was used to getting his way, and didn't like being at fault. Hidden behind his few words was a much deeper meaning. He wasn't apologizing merely because he had to, or out of guilt. He understood her better than most would, and realized his mistake. Here he was apologizing, his feelings genuine. And there was something new now between them-trust.
"Domon..."
He refused to look toward her as she searched his face, keeping his eyes trained on the waves instead.
The sudden rustle of her moving caused his eyes to widen as he saw her remove her satin gloves from the corner of his eye. Only when he felt her warm touch did he turn away from the water and stare at his hand held in between the both of hers. Her hands were comforting and elegant regardless of the scars and slightly rough texture. Looking up, he saw her sapphire eyes glistening brightly in the full moonlight, a beautiful smile upon her lips.
"Thank you."
That was all she had to say.
*~*~*~*
Marie-Louise gave a shout of alarm and whirled around. When her eyes connected with the person behind her, she gasped.
"My lady? Is that you?"
"Cecil? But, what are you doing here?"
"I was sent to help serve with one of my friends in the castle. Have you lost your way to the dining hall?" She did not dare confront the princess about what Rain was doing there as the Princess. Such an impetuous and outright brazen question would be entirely improper. But she was here, just as Rain had said. Or, rather, just as the 'Princess' said.
"I, uh, yes! Ha ha ha, I lost my way. But not to worry, I'm sure I was not missed. I think I will remain out here for just a bit longer. You may return to your duties, do not dwell over me. I do not want you to get in trouble for neglecting your duties."
"Yes, my Lady." Cecil obediently curtsied and exited. Something was going on, and one way or the other, she would find out.
//Now, I'm going to have to find MY way back to the dining hall.//
As she re-entered the castle, Cecil tugged at the folds of her bashful pink apron wrapped around her waist, attempting to conceal the hideous grease stains. She really had to wash the shameful scrap. It was the only one she had, all the others had been stained too badly, but she winced at the thought of having to do more washing. The constant scrubbing of linens since she was five had worn her hands raw. It wasn't so bad in the beginning, but after years of washing, the skin of her hands would become so dry and flaky that it would crack open and painfully bleed all over the recently cleaned items if she wasn't careful. Years of training and experience had taught her how to deal with the blood.
Glancing around her, Cecil quickly determined that she hopelessly lost. She could continue to wander aimlessly through the assortment of corridors in the castle or ask someone for help. Spying a group of guards walking towards her in the hall, she hurried towards them.
"Pardon me, good sirs, but would you please direct me to-"
She stopped her question as she grew closer and stopped. Their boisterous laughter and drunken staggering immediately tipped her off that they would be of absolutely no help. Attempting to avoid confronting them, she swiftly walked by, refusing to make eye contact with her face held up and looking forward. As she passed, a white-gloved hand reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Hey, what's a little girl like you doing wandering the halls when there's a big event taking place? You didn't get lost, did you?"
Cecil swallowed nervously, and shot the inebriated officer the dirtiest glare she could summon in order to conceal her fears. She tried to pull her wrist free, but his grip only tightened.
"No, I'm merely running an errand for the Mersenian Princess, my Lady, Marie-Louise," she lied.
He laughed. "I'm sure she won't miss you. Come on! Let's have some fun!" He yanked her wrist even harder, and she stumbled into his embrace. One arm snaked around her waist, trapping her body against his. The other firmly held her chin as she struggled, submissive to his strength.
"You're a fiery nymph, aren't you?"
Angered and frustrated, Cecil managed to free her right arm and slapped the man across the face. "I demand that you unhand me!
His eyes changed from playful to infuriated. "You little wench! How dare you slap an officer of the Sauvillian regiment!"
He pinned her against the wall, using his whole body to render her helpless to move. Cecil's tearful eyes darted around the hall, attempting to make eye contact with one of the other officers, only to find them swinging their bottles of wine and laughing, arms draped over each other as they made a sore attempt at walking their rounds, heading away from them. She opened her mouth to scream to them when she saw a quick flash of silver and felt a sharp prick just under her chin.
"If you dare say anything at all, I'll slit your throat wide open."
*~*~*~*
(1): Seitt is Rain's ex-fiancée in the actual G-Gundam series. They were engaged when at college together, but when Rain left to be Domon's partner so suddenly, he thought she ran off because she didn't want to marry him anymore. They meet up again in the series as she travels with Domon, and he obviously still cares for her. She cares for him, but it's clear that she loves Domon. He fights against Domon, and Domon is jealous when Rain tearfully begs Domon to spare Seitt's life, since he is infected with DG cells. Domon can't refuse her request, and expects Rain will leave him to remain with Seitt and get married. However, she proves her devotion to (and love for) Domon when she leaves Seitt behind to follow him.
I thought a little love triangle would be fun to throw in there. Besides, it shows Domon's jealous nature and how his feeling towards Rain begin to change.
A.N.: I would like to ask you to all keep everyone affected by the California fires in your thoughts and prayers. That's where I live, and while my home is still standing and the fires have been officially declared over, that doesn't mean thousands of people aren't still suffering. I know many people who lost their homes to the fires. Thanks for being so patient with me in updating this chapter.
*~*~*~*
Here are the reviews for Chp. 12:
ANIME FREAK5483: hey, thanks for coming back! Don't worry if it's been a long time, I'm always glad to hear from my reviewers! Thanks so much for the compliments and your support.
YOUIGY HUNTER: thanks for reviewing again! I'm glad that you like my work enough to keep coming back! Your votes were popular ones, and also thank you for your comment on the rude reviews. I was glad to get so much positive feedback on the issue.
MAXTERS ANGEL: thanks so much for your review, and I'm really glad that you love my work! Thanks also for voting, read to see if you were right!
ALLEY_KITTY_KAT: ::blush:: well, thank you for the compliment. I'm really glad that you've enjoyed my work so far. I hope that you continue to like it!!
VALESE: lol, I loved your little skit!! It was so funny! I can just see Domon like that!! Well, it's great to hear from you again! And wow, two reviews! That's awesome! I like your idea on the whole jealousy idea, and I basically used that, only not with Kyoji. I used another character that actually was with Rain in the series to make a stronger connection to the anime. Thank you so much for your suggestion, it really helped me out!!
FOLLOWING REAER: hello!! Someone new! Well, thanks so much for reviewing and leaving your votes. They certainly were popular ones! I hope that you continue reading. Thanks!
SECRETPERSON: I think you meant Min as the name of serving girl, at least that's who I put down that you voted for. I hope I was right in assuming this. Well, thanks for reviewing, and I hope to hear from you again!
SILLY CHICK: Hey there! Well, here I am finally updating. And good guesses, but you'll just have to read on to see if you were correct. I hope you enjoy!
EMMA 5: wow, someone new! Thanks so much for reviewing, I'm a big fan of your writing ever since one of my reviewers recommended that I read some of your G Gundam work, and I've been addicted ever since. Sorry I haven't really taken the time to review, but I thought I'd let you know. Anyway, thanks and I hope you keep reading!
ONE SEXY SLITHERIN: good choices, and popular ones at that. But to figure out who they really are, you'll just have to keep reading! Thanks for the review!
SABER P4: lol, driving you crazy?? Well, let's not have any of that! So here is the next chapter. Hopefully you're still sane! Thanks, and I hope to here from you again.
CRESCENT FIGHTER: Good to have you back again, my friend! Lol, I understand the brain freezing experience, it happens to me all the time...more than I would care to admit, actually...anyway, thanks for the votes, you'll just have to read on to see if you were right!
CANDYCORNPOP: NO WAY!! This isn't a stupid review! I love all my reviews, and thanks for taking some time to leave one for me. And thanks for noticing my random title/quote in chapter 5! ^_^
ANIMEMASTR21: wow! Thanks for leaving such a wonderfully long review for me!! That's so awesome! I'm glad that you really enjoy my story, and I hope to hear from you again! P.S.- there's a bit of D/R action here, and definitely more to come!!
FIREFLY8503: hello there! Glad you like it so far!! I hope you keep R+R!!
DIGISAI OF ANIME: aw, thanks so much for the compliment! You're awesome!! And good guesses, you picked some popular ones, so read on to see if you were right! ^_^
FRIEND OF INUYASHA+KAGOME: hey, thanks for reviewing my work, that was really sweet of you! And I'm glad that it's one of your favorites...To save your sanity, I have decided to update! I hope you come back for more. (p.s.- I'm also a big fan of Inuyasha and Kagome!! ^_^)
KYLA KAIBA: thanks for coming back and reviewing!! ::smiles:: yeah, the serving girl was pretty obvious...and you'll just have to wait and see about Domon, so read on!
ROSES IN BLOOM: thanks for the compliment, I'm really glad that you like my work, and I certainly hope to here from you again
ANONYMOUS: oh, an enigma, are we? ::laugh:: Cecil, huh? Well, you'll just have to read on, Anonymous (props to you for spelling it correctly, you have no idea how many people I've met that can't) and I hope to hear from you in the future!
SUNOKO: thanks for reviewing my work, and for the compliment! I'm assuming that the guy you guessed for Rain's knight is Seitt, her ex-fiance from Turkey, ne? If so, I would like to award you with a gold ribbon and bouquet of roses for being the only person to guess correctly on both characters!!! CONGRATULATIONS! I hope you come back for more!!
l-STEPH-CHAN-l: nice to hear from you again!! Whoa, having issues, are we?? ::laugh:: That's okay, I've been there before, you have no idea! ^_^ I hope you keep reading!
EVIL IRISH EYES: WOW! Two reviews! I think that you were actually the only person to do that for me, thanks so much!! First, I want to commend you on finding my story ::laugh:: and on the great job you're doing on your own! Also, thanks for supporting my little lecture, it means a lot to me. And your life is being invaded?? Well, it doesn't sound like fun!
DARK DRAGON: Thanks so much for reviewing! I like your reasoning of the knight...a lot of people voted for Domon (which is wrong, but shh! Don't tell them!! ^_^) but your commentary proves that you understand the characters. I don't believe Domon wouldn't rescue Rain right now unless provoked. I was very impressed with your review, and I hope you return for more!
I WON'T TELL: I see we have a mystery person! Well, thanks for reviewing my work!! I think you meant to vote for Ulube, ne? That would be the evil guy. That's who I marked you down for, so I hope it was right! And concerning the review problem, if you could maybe give me a little bit more information on the program...i suspect that the person was a young boy, and I don't want to give his name away without contacting the person he insulted first to get their permission. Let me know your thoughts on this and I'll get right back to you, k?
SWEET ANGEL 4: hey, thanks for coming back to review!! Your choices for the mystery people were very popular ones, but you'll just have to read on to see who they are!! I hope to be able to update quicker, and while I'm not going to make any promises, I'll work on it!!
Mysterio Jaq: wow! You left me two reviews!! Good to have you back! And there's always more coming! I don't really know French, I'm part French, but don't speak it. My friend and I want to go on a road trip to Europe, and France would be one of our stops, so we've been learning pieces here and there from her mom who's French-Canadian...anyway, I'm a Spanish student, so that's the language I know better. But French was a sign of aristocracy and the educated back then, so that's why I have it as the language. Hope to hear from you again! Adieu!!
LILEVIL: hey again, loyal reviewer! Thanks for giving me positive feedback on my commentary on the whole flaming issue, I was surprised that I got quite a few reviews/e-mails about it. And thanks for the comment on the G/ML scene, I tried! And I'm sorry about the author's note last time, I didn't mean it as a threat. Even if someone hadn't guessed correctly, I would have updated. I was simply trying to motivate people, but now that you brought it up, it does seem a little harsh. I never took it into consideration that people wouldn't know all the characters, and that was very foolish of me. Thanks for being honest, and sharing your opinions!
FEONA: ah, back again for more?! Always nice to hear from you! I've thought of being a writer, but I honestly don't think I have what it takes...I love writing, and definitely have a passion for it, but I don't know if I'd take it further than just for fun, but who knows? Maybe someday! Thanks for the review, I hope you keep reading!
HANDMAIDEN OF DEATH: Jeez, Aya, did you leave me enough reviews?? Lol. j/k I totally appreciate it, girl. Thanks so much. Tell Clark I miss him like crazy!
SNICKERS LAMBCHOPS: I know, a lot of people wanted Domon for some D/R. But you'll just have to read on to see if you were right! Thanks for the reviews!!
KAGE MIKO: I'm really glad that you responded to my topic of rude criticism. I got a lot of e-mails, so I'm glad that people out there are behind me on this, so that no one's feelings get hurt.
JEN 23: thanks for being so nice in your reviews and always supporting me! I'm sorry I haven't gotten around to responding to your e-mail, but I'm in the area where the California fires are, so I've been pretty busy lately! Anyway, I hope to get around to it soon. Thank you so much!
GOLD ANGEL 2: once again, I thank you for being such a loyal reviewer of my work, it really means a lot to me. Also, I wanted to apologize for not responding to your e-mail, but as I told Jen 23, I'm in the area where the California fires are, so I haven't had a lot of free time. But hopefully I'll be able to respond soon!! Thank you so much for the letter and always reviewing!
*~*~*~*
Chapter 11 Reviews:
BERK: I'm sorry that you don't like my story, you're the first person to leave a review like that. If you feel so strongly, would you mind telling me why? Feel free to e-mail me with any constructive criticism.
ANIME FREAK 5483: nice to hear from you, as usual!
SCARLET ROSE: wow, I really like your new name, it's very cool. Glad to hear from you again! To find out the answers to your questions, you'll just have to keep reading!
SECRET PERSON: hey there, no offense taken! I know I have a problem updating on time, but I try my hardest to get the chapters done a.s.a.p. I'll try to be better at that.
SWEET ANGEL 4: I'm sorry I cut it off at the wrong moment. I guess I was trying to go for the whole cliffhanger idea, but I guess it wasn't the place.
YOSHI MARS: hey there, kawaii but deadly fire goddess! This is Raye, not Mina-Puff. Lol...i can't believe she wrote that! The guys with accents didn't work out cause they live in England, but I met a really nice guy named Doug, so who know what'll happen next ^_~
SHORTY 40: thanks for reviewing!! You'll just have to read on to see what happens!
ANGEL BABY 101: thanks for reviewing and leaving all those awesome compliments! I'm glad that you enjoy my story!
YOUIGY HUNTER: Well, there's plenty of Rain in this chapter! I made it nice and long! Hope it satisfies you.
JEN 23: thanks for reviewing! I'm glad that you've kept reading my work, it's very much appreciated.
SESS 9: lol, thanks for the compliments! I'm sure that you can come up with something great. If you ever need any help, don't hesitate to contact me, I'd be happy to help.
SNICKERS LAMBCHOPS: ah, a George/ Marie-Louise fan, huh? Well, there's more to come, so wait and see!
FEONA: Actually, I never gave Domon's horse a name. I gave George's horse a name because his character was important to the plot, and the name parallels his jocular personality. Thanks for reviewing!
SKYE SILVEREYE: wow, great to hear from you again! I love how your Inuyasha fic is coming. Reviews certainly help with motivation, but don't let that discourage you! Besides, I'm just as bad at updating, probably worse! Thanks!
LINA 567: thanks for reviewing as always! More G/ML fluff to come!
CRESCENT FIGHTER: Sorry for the cliffhanger! I'm glad that you like the fic, and thanks for reviewing!
KAGE MIKO: actually, I was going to write it that way, but I decided that him pushing her away was just too predictable. So I changed it a bit. Or a lot. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
LIL EVIL: thanks for reviewing! It's always great to hear from you!!
l-Steph-Chan-l: nice to hear from you again! Lol, I'm glad you like George's character, he's always the perfect gentleman!
GOLD ANGEL 2: As always, thank you so much for being such a consistent reviewer! I'm glad that you enjoy my work so much.
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