A/N: Hi everyone! I know it's been a long time since I've updated, and I'm really, REALLY sorry. Basically, my teachers have now tripled the workload, I have been having rather bad disagreements with my dad, and I have recently broken up with my boyfriend, who I was very serious about and still care deeply for. Of course, the annoying little damned pest called writer's block had a factor in it as well. I've really worked harder though on this chapter, and I hope it's better than the last one. I have done a lot of thinking about this fic, and I have come to two main decisions. One, I will no longer be keeping any flames about this being a D/A fic; if you do not like Allenby and Domon as a couple, then do not waste precious minutes of your life reading this or my time reading flames about it. It's really pointless to flame me on that, since I'm not going to change my mind on it, no matter what you say. Two, I now do not know how to wrap up this story. Originally, I had almost the entire thing planned out, but now, either I have lost the written work I had on it or dislike the idea and decided to discontinue it. If anyone has any suggestions, I am willing to listen to them and take them into consideration. Now, I will take this time to respond to reviews.
Assassin Gundam: Thank you for your support, but it is okay. Sporkgoddess is entitled to her own opinion, and she is certainly allowed to post it. The main reason I wrote Allenby that way though in the last chapt. is that everyone either doesn't know that she had feelings for Domon or think that she is over him. Also, sometimes, if you cry over something, it makes the pain worse for you, and since Allenby's sacrifice saved the world, to cry over Domon would make her seem selfish and uncaring about the world. Hence, that whole scene. But I am deeply sorry if I was wrong in my characterization of her. She is my favorite character from the show, and I did not mean to taint or harm her character in any way. Thank you for liking my fic though, and I do enjoy your "Tragedy's Child" fic, and I regret I haven't had enough time to finish it. I hope to finish part one and two by the end of the week.
Deathsycthe: I am very glad you enjoy my fic, and yes, I am a evil bitch. BWHAHAHA. Yes, any characters I like, I make them go through hell, that way they can truly enjoy the happy ending I'll end up giving them. Since you have several fics out, I wasn't sure which one that you wanted me to read. If you give me the title, I'll gladly read it.
KireiNa Kitty: Thanks for the compliment. You are right; there aren't many D/A fics out there. I was reading a really good one called "Left In The Rain", but Princess Orchid stopped working on it, and I was upset about it. Lol, perhaps if we all band together and email her and plead with her, she might start working on it again. Lol, I doubt it, but it's worth a shot.
I am sorry about the extremely long Author's Note, but I do enjoy reading reviews and typing up respondences for them. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I have the next chapter vaguely planned, and hopefully I should have it out quicker than what it took me to update this one (since I'm off school next week, I should be able to finish it then.). I am also working on some other D/A fics, if anyone is interested. One is based on a rp with my friend Domon Kasshu, and the other is a complete AU one. Ja ne!
Disclaimer: I said it before, and I'll say it again… I DON'T OWN G GUNDAM, DAMNIT!!!!
" " is speaking, * * is emphasis, and 'italics ' is thinking. Just FYI.
The Bitter SuiteHe continued punching the air, attacking some invisible enemy. His jaw was tight as he glared off into seemingly nothing, and he jumped up and snapped his leg out in front of him, executing a perfect jump kick. He seemed to slowly float back down and land flawlessly on his feet.
"Domon?" a concerned voice called. The man snapped out of his trance and turned to see the woman that had kindly demanded his attention.
"What is it Rain?" he asked, picking up a white towel turning gray from sweat and dirt and wiped his face, upon which had almost tiny rivers of sweat continually flowing and glistening his tanned skin. He slung the towel over his shoulder and tried to conceal any signs of fatigue from his rigorous training. He had been working out for over five hours straight now, and one could not help but notice while he was in great shape, he was definitely growing tired and sore. She walked over to him, a worried glint to her blue eyes and a small frown on her face.
"Domon, what are you doing? The next Gundam fight isn't for another three and a half years. You can afford to relax for at least a couple of months. Your body won't be able to handle the stress if you keep training this hard every single day. It needs to rest Domon… *You* need to rest," she explained. He sighed heavily and looked down.
"Rain…you… You don't understand…" He gazed into her eyes. "I *need* to keep training. It's the only way I know to concentrate, to…think. This is all I know Rain. All my life, the only thing I was taught was to communicate with my fists. I have to keep training Rain…that's who I am…"
"Domon I do understand…I know why you've been behaving this way…"
"You do?"
"Yes." He could feel his heart jump up into his throat as he looked at her nonchalantly, keeping his fear emotionally in his soul.
"Rain, I can ex-"
"Domon, there is no need. I understand."
"You…you do?" She nodded and took a step closer to him. She knew he was trying to hide the fact he was nervous, yet she also knew that he was upset still.
"You lost Master Asia and Kyoji in the fight against the Dark Gundam…that's a hard blow to anyone… You, you need time to mourn their deaths. I understand that…"
He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief at her answer, grateful she didn't know of the deep, dark secret he kept in his heart. Wasn't there a book she read and told him about once that was about a pastor and a woman having an affair, and the pastor never told of his affair, and it ate at his soul, while the woman admitted it and wore a scarlet letter? She had told him that the pastor believed it was a easier fate for the woman to admit her sin and wear the letter than to keep it inside, as the pastor had done, and the pastor wasted away, his secret eating at his heart and soul. ((A/N: Gomen, it's just we have to read The Scarlet Letter, and I hate that book, but it kept coming to mind.))
Rain frowned slightly, wondering what he was relieved about, but decided not to press the matter, less she upset him. Mentally, he gulped, realizing that he had to be friendlier to her, to pay her back for all her years of loyalty and warmth, even when he was mean. "Rain…" he began.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I…I'm sorry I've been distant…"
"Oh, Domon, it's-" He cut her off though.
"Rain, no, it's not. I know you have lost your father in the battle as well, and I know how close you were to him. It's not fair that I've known you this long, and yet, when you need someone the most, I offer you no comfort. You've also taken my father and me into your home, and I haven't even thanked you yet. I'm…I'm sorry Rain. I've been so rude and harsh to you, and I'm sorry. I'll try to be more open and nicer to you."
She blinked in shock. Was…was this the same Domon Kasshu that one the 13th Gundam Tournament? The same Domon Kasshu she grew up with? Never in her life, save maybe one or two times, had she *ever* heard a confession like that from him. "I…Domon…" was all she could get out she was so surprised. Tears filled her eyes as her heart soar with happiness. "Oh, Domon!" she cried and ran to him and hugged him tightly. Cautiously, Domon returned the embrace and flashed her a faint, sad smile.
"I promise Rain," he murmured. Every word of it was true. She was always kind to him and always stood by his side, no matter what he did to her. She was a good friend, and he wanted to make her happy, but… Something…something was missing…
Allenby… He still craved for his blue-haired faerie, but… But did she even care about him? Oh Kami, if only he could know the answer to that question!
~*~
She sighed in relief as she typed the last word up for her report on Noble Gundam and clicked the print button. "Finally!" she exclaimed, sinking back into her chair, thoroughly tired from writing the blasted paper for over four hours straight. She really needed to learn to stop procrastinating her work. Slowly, her eyelids close as she could feel sleep taking her in, and a faint smile curled upon her lips as she welcomed the break.
RING! RING! went the telephone, snapping Allenby out of her almost-slumber. She growled in vexation momentarily as she got up from her desk and went to the other side of the room to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" she replied, her voice sounding tired and mad.
She hadn't slept in a little over two days. Then again, that was mostly due to her fault; in reality, she wanted to keep herself as busy as possible so she wouldn't have time to think. To think about him… Every waking moment she had when she just sat there or stood there in silence, her mind would wander to the dark-haired samurai that captured her heart. ((A/N: George called Domon a samurai in the first manga, which is where I got that name from.)) She could only have him in her dreams and her memories when he was really hers. In the morning, just after she would wake (if she was ever asleep, if not, then the mere few minutes before dawn), she would allow herself that time to daydream about him, and every time those precious minutes were over, she would almost cry herself to dust. It had been what, six months, and the pain of his absence was still eating away at her heart. She was so deep in thought, she almost didn't hear the person identify him or herself.
"Hey Allenby! It's Sai Saici!"
"Hi Sai Saici, what's up?" she asked, her voice becoming cheerful again as she talked to the youngest member of the Shuffle Alliance. On and off, she had been talking to the members of the Shuffle Alliance, well more so Chibodee and Sai Saici to say the least; George hardly made phone calls as he mostly wrote letters, and Argo hardly ever speaks that much to begin with.
"Oh, nothing much. Hey…you okay? You sound tired." She stifled a laugh.
"Yeah, I'm okay," she lied. "I just didn't get enough sleep." He gave some form of a affirmative, but she really couldn't hear him. She mentally beat herself for lying to her new friend. 'Well… I'm *physically* okay, and I *haven't* been getting enough sleep… That isn't too much of a lie… is it?' she thought.
"Cool!" the Neo-Chinese Gundam fighter chimed. "Well, did you hear the news?!"
"What news?"
"George is having a party at Neo-France! Him and the princess are getting married!"
She smiled on the other line. Oh well, at least one couple was going to live happily ever after. "That's great! I'm happy for them! George didn't tell me that!"
"Yeah, well, I just found out yesterday. Your invitation's probably in the mail."
"What? Invitation? No, I don't think so. George and I aren't that close."
"Yeah, but you're practically one of us, 'cept you don't have a Shuffle Crest. You helped us out a lot, so ya know! You're like a sis!"
Her smile grew slightly. "Thanks then…little bro." He began to laugh along with her, when there was a knock on the door. "Sai Saici, I got to go. It was good talking to you."
"Yeah, same here. Come to Neo-France though, it'll be a blast."
"I'll try. Bye!"
"Bye!"
She quickly hung up the phone as the person knocked again, this time louder and harder. "Coming!" she chimed and leapt from her chair and sprinted to the door and opened it to find Dr. Belleiman standing there with a small smile on his face.
"Hello Allenby, how have you been doing lately?" he asked, walking into her room. She shrugged.
"Alright I guess… What is it?"
He handed her a letter, but it was already opened. "It's a invitation from Neo-France. George de Sand has requested that you come to his engagement party." Allenby frowned slightly at him.
"But why did you open it already?"
The scientist sighed. "Allenby…" he began in a tired tone, "you know we are looking out for your safety…we had to make sure that it wasn't a trick or something." However, instead of the news comforting her, it only made her furious.
"Can't I have a life of my own??! Everything is decided for me!! I never get to do anything on my own! I'm a human being! Not some machine!" she shouted, her pain and anger evident in her voice. Dr. Behluima frowned in her response.
"Allenby…that's not what we think of you as…" he tried to reassure her gently. She scowled and crossed her arms and turned her back to him. He faintly smiled and chuckled at how at times she reminded him of a little kid. "I saw that you got a invitation to Neo-France…did you want to go?…"
She kept her back to him and shrugged. "So what if I did?… It's not liked I *could* go…"
His smile grew. "Allenby, do you want to go?" he repeated.
"…yes…"
"Well, I have some news for you…" Her head turned back for a second, and she mumbled that she was interested. "I have talked with Dr. Hoblin…and him and I agree that…"
"Yeah, I know," she mumbled incoherently sadly, knowing how the strict scientist would vote for.
"You deserve and break and that we should let you go." Her arms dropped in shock, and she gasped in surprise. Her green eyes were widened as she froze there in place. Did they…did they just give the okay to let her…have fun?… She turned around, the shock still played upon her facial features.
"You…you what?…"
"We believe you need some time off from training. We give you our permission to go."
"R-Really?" she whispered, so shocked and happy that she could hardly speak. His smile grew, and he nodded. A bright, cheerful smile formed on her face as she jumped up and down for joy. Dr. Belleiman chuckled and smiled; it had been awhile since he saw Allenby so happy, and he was glad. Lately, she had seemed moody and depressed, and he much preferred the joyful Allenby.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much Dr. Belleiman!!" she cried happily as she gave him a hug. He merely smiled and hugged her back.
He got up and left for the door. However, before walking out, he turned back to her. "Just remember Allenby, be careful." She smiled at him.
"Of course!" He smiled, nodded, and left, leaving Allenby to start packing.
~*~
Domon and Rain came home, hand in hand, both with a small smile upon their faces. Dr. Kasshu watched them walk up from the window and grinned to himself. 'I knew it… You *do* love her my son… You just needed a little time to realize it…' he gleefully thought.
"Hey Dad!" Domon called as he walked in. "What's up?" He placed his katana on the table and looked up at his father. Rain came in after him and sat down at the table.
"You both got a letter from George of Neo-France I presume," he answered and handed Domon the letter. Without glancing at Rain, he ripped open the envelope and scanned the letter quickly.
"George is getting married," Domon answered casually. Rain's eyes shot up in surprise and joy.
"WHAT???" she demanded. Domon shrugged.
"George is getting married," he repeated. She dove for the letter and read it for herself and squealed with giddiness.
"This is fantastic!!" she cried happily, getting all starry-eyed. Domon rolled his eyes.
"Women…" he grumbled and made his way out to the library. Dr. Kasshu laughed both at his son's annoyance with women's obsession with romance and Rain's happiness. It was truly wonderful to be around children again, he decided. Smiling to himself, he walked over to the kitchen and began to make some tea.
Domon looked up at a bookshelf that seemed to reach up to the heavens, all filled completely with books. He sighed and leaned his back against it as he began to think. Why did women get so giddy over things like weddings and baby showers? Why wasn't he as excited for George getting married like Rain? He was one of his best friends; why wasn't he as happy as her?
'Maybe because you're jealous?' his mind snide. Domon blinked in shock. Where did that come from? Jealous? No, no…he wasn't jealous of George…was he? What did he have to be jealous of him?
'The fact that he's getting married to his true love?…'
He gritted his teeth and growled mentally at himself. 'Shut up! I'm perfectly happy now! Leave me alone!'
'So happy that you stay awake almost all night so you won't have to dream about her? So happy that every time you think back on that day you want to die? Face it, you are still in love with that faerie…'
'So what if I still *do* love Allenby?! I'll keep on living!… Even without her…my…my faerie…'
He sighed heavily and sank down to the floor, and he looked up to the ceiling, as if he was hoping to find the answer to all of his problems there. Suddenly the door opened and in ran Rain.
"Hey, Domon!" she chimed as she came to his side. "It says on here that we're invited to Neo-France to see the others! Maybe we should go! We'd finally get to see the rest of the Shuffle Alliance again!" A faint smirk curled upon Domon's lips, and he nodded.
"Maybe we should."