I like Otaku but I think I'll take a break and try to get my grades up some. Marry Christmas everyone in case I'm not on that time comes. ^^ Comments (3) |
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Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Question of the day!!!!
Who's your favorite charactor?
Shadow
Sonic
Rouge
Tails
or
Cosmo Comments (3) |
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Question of the day
Who would win in a fight?
*Shadow
*Sonic
*No one (they'll both die) Comments (2) |
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Nothing lasts forever cha3
Shadow and Rouge in…
Nothing Lasts Forever -Phase 3- “There is a time for everything: a time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace”- Ecclesiastes 3:8
--
Once back inside, Rouge shivered and shook some of the rain out of her hair. She glanced to Shadow, who had already begun to slide off his soaked gloves.
Eyeing his motions silently, Rouge could feel the unforgiving emotion she held towards him begin to melt away.
Even though he did try to end his life before, his dedication to her showed which value he honored more.
‘…I guess I can forgive him…’ she thought to herself with a smile. Then just as quickly as it arrived, her serenity faded and worry played across her features. The fact that Shadow had stayed with her was putting them both in danger. The thought crossed her mind that they should leave Club Rouge and seek refuge someplace far away. But that would only increase their chances of getting caught by the President’s wandering henchmen. Her eyes narrowed as she continued to look at him in thought. It would be best for them to lay low at Club Rouge a few days before trying leave to someplace else.
This could also be her last chance for freedom if she ever were to be found by the authorities, and because she couldn’t leave her newfound love, she took it upon herself to make the most of her unpromised time.
Noticing her eyes, Shadow slightly turned to her with a rare affectionate expression. “Yes…?”
With a faint smile that hid her wandering thoughts, Rouge lead a hand through her damp locks and gave Shadow a slight nudge on the arm.
“…You know, you’re not half bad…”
“ ‘Not half bad’…?” Shadow repeated, placing his gloves aside and turning to face her. His arms instinctively encircled loosely around her waist and pulled her close. Moments passed as he gazed into her eyes, without saying a word. Not used to so much attention, but certainly enjoying it, Rouge playfully slid her arms around his neck and pressed her nose to his.
“…That’s what I said.” She spoke in a low and seductive tone “…And it almost seems to me like you want something…”
“Maybe…” Shadow uttered, slightly lowering his eyelids to give her an alluring expression.
Rouge scoffed, then delivered a soft and quick kiss to his unsuspecting lips.
“Mm...” Shadow commented, licking his lips. “That’s what I get, huh?”
Rouge said nothing for a moment, but allowed her eyes to thoughtfully mingle with his. Being so close with him made her worries melt away. It had only been minutes since their first kiss, and already they were starting to sound like long lost lovers. The thought nearly crossed her mind that it could be a sign, yet she placed it aside, momentarily and touched her lips to his again.
His taste was rich, and seasoned and was in a far contrast to his tender virgin lips. If she hadn’t already known he had kissed her first, she wouldn’t have believed that no other woman had already devoured the taste.
She had become so deeply enthralled in the delight, she barely heard the low and faint moan that escaped from him.
Figuring she had better end it now before she ended up with him undressing her in her bedroom or something spontaneous like that, Rouge lightly pressed her fingertips to his chest and slightly nudged him away from her.
A bit confused, but figuring she had a good explanation, Shadow’s lips reluctantly left hers and he rested his forehead against hers while lightly catching his breath.
‘He’s out of breath, already? …Yeah…his first kiss was with me, allright.’ Rouge smugly mused to herself.
“…Something wrong…?” he asked, his eyes lightly closed.
“No…nothing’s wrong…” Rouge paused as she felt his lips reach the top of her eyelid and shuddered. ‘…’
“Hey…Shadow…”
“Mm?”
“You’ve been out in the rain three times already… You should probably take another bath…”
Shadow sighed, sounding a little disappointed. “…But I’m already clean…”
Rouge giggled. He really didn’t want to leave her side. ‘How cute…’ she thought.
“Come on, Shadow. This will be the last time you’ll have to get in that tub…”
Hearing those words, Shadow slightly pulled away from her enough to look her in the eyes. Wordlessly, he gave her a look that she read too easily.
Rouge sighed and rolled her eyes. “No, Shadow, I’m not getting in there with you. That tub is big only enough for one.”
Shadow glanced to the bathroom, which was ¼ the size of a football field, then shook his head. “No it’s--”
“Just get in there, first, okay?” Rouge playfully shot back. “Come on!”
Shadow didn’t even have time to argue. Rouge had grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the bathroom.
“The sooner you get in, the faster you’ll be done.”
Listening to her words, Shadow said nothing as his mind started to wander. Going back in that bathroom brought back unfavorable memories of the encounter he endured earlier. As much as he despised going back in that place and being completely vulnerable, he knew it was best for him to face his demons first before Rouge ever found out.
He did plan to tell her about the voices in his head and the bittersweet persuasions they burned into his soul, but that time would come later.
Wordlessly, he glanced at her before leading his eyes to the tub—hoping that there would be a later for the both of them.
“Allright, Shadow, strip down and jump in.” Rouge said nonchalantly. Giving Shadow a smug grin and a wink, she quickly turned and left for her room before Shadow could respond to her words.
Alone again, Shadow sighed and ran a hand through his quills. He knew that something was on her mind, but he had no idea what. “…What is she up to, now…”
--
“I swear… He’s a frisky one, I know it…” Rouge mumbled. In her room, she pushed the door half-closed and quickly loosened her robe. Peeling the thin clothing off of her bare skin, she shuddered at the sudden cold that attacked her and rubbed her arms.
“I’m freezing…!” She forced out through gritted teeth. “Shadow better come out of there fast!”
At that moment, the sound of rushing water floated into her ears, and she paused to listen. “…Finally… He’s taking a shower. Good. He should be out of there in no time.”
With that said, Rouge allowed another shiver to pass, then went to her closet to pick out a robe made from a towel-like material, but stopped herself. Thinking for a moment, a smile inched her lips and she took out the silkiest robe she had. Slipping it over her slick skin, she tied it loosely, and opened her door.
“Time for me to speed things up a bit…”
--
Casually allowing the warmth of the clear water to dribble across his quills and dapple his fur, Shadow sighed, and tried to keep his mind relaxed. He had to admit, he did feel much more at ease after expressing his feelings to Rouge and eagerly accepting hers. But, deep down, he knew that not only was he the reason of her new joy, but he was also the embodiment of her peril. Him being with her put them both in danger, but also opened a door to their souls that sought to be locked forever. Even if he was never meant or created to fall in love, Shadow would never trade the feelings he shared with Rouge with anything in their world, or the next.
Their bonds were strong, but Shadow knew that even their most enchanting and honest moments of love wouldn’t last forever. Part of him felt guilty for allowing things to be led this far, and another part wished this new bliss would last an eternity and never leave him.
“…I…I have to make choice…” he uttered without barely recognizing his own voice. “…A choice that will either strengthen her safety, or hinder it… …Maybe…I shouldn’t be here…”
Traitor…
Never meant to be…
Give up…
With his mind becoming clouded with thoughts of his own and that of the dark, Shadow hung his head. His aimless eyes caught a glimpse of the rushing water hurrying quickly down the drain as if it had no other choice. Seeing that made him question his own existence. Was he to follow an inevitable path as the water? A path where it was his purpose to just let things happen and not try to stop them?
“…To blindly follow the path that leads me…” his voice lowered, and assimilated with the sound of the splashing water “Will I be able to test the chains of fate and live my own life the way I see fit…?”
That is…your destiny…
Hearing the sudden encouraging voice, Shadow perked his ears and nearly choked on his breath. “…Maria…?” Shadow murmured with a cough. Breaking out of his ring of restless and repetitive thoughts, he pushed all else aside and looked around.
The corrupted voices in his head usually carried their acidic taunts in broken phrases, but this time was different.
“Maria… It is you…” he uttered, placing a fist to his chest. “…I know you’re here. You’ve always been here… Always in my heart.” He sighed. “…I don’t have to keep pretending anymore…”
…Just believe…
Shadow was silent for a moment and hung his head. Slowly, his words came to him. “I understand now. If this is truly meant for me, then…let Rouge be happy and safe… no matter what happens to me… That is all that matters to me now…”
There was a soft whisper in the back of his mind in response, before the brief feeling of serenity he felt left him and dissipated into the heavy mist of the water.
“Thank you…” he mouthed. With a sigh, Shadow slightly lifted his head to the spray of the water and suddenly felt the air around him get briskly cold. A curious eyebrow raised, he turned to the curtains to find them being pulled aside by the hand of a certain bat-woman.
Standing next to the tub, she flashed Shadow a sly smile.
“Rouge…” Shadow muttered, barely parting his lips. The thought had actually crossed his mind that she would come to see him in the shower, but he never imagined that she would actually do it. Wordlessly, his eyes wandered from her face and fell on her bare shoulders that peeked out from the lazy attempt at putting on her robe, then traveled a little lower.
Feeling his cheeks grow hot, Shadow casually lifted his eyes back to hers. “What are you doing…?” He questioned in a level tone.
Aware that she was sparking his interests, Rouge allowed a grin to smugly pass before stepping a little closer. “It’s not fair…” she replied placidly, getting another raised eyebrow from Shadow. “What’s not fair?”
“It’s just not fair…” Rouge repeated, slowly pulling on the already loose tie to her robe, undoing it even more. Wordlessly, Shadow’s eyes left her face and traveled down to her hands parting the thin material of her robe.
His breath was soon caught in his throat as he watched one slight movement of her hand peel off the veil that hid her voluptuous curves. Shadow could feel the warmth returning to his face as he followed the garment’s fluid unravel down the length of her body and curl to the floor in a silken whisper.
Panting lightly from the race of his heart banging against his chest, Shadow’s eyes left her robe and snaked onto her ankles, gradually touching and teasing the fullness of her lush and supple curves as he led them upwards.
‘…Beautiful…’ he thought, his eyes lingering in the nape of her neck before beholding her face. There, he narrowed them. “…You’re…gorgeous, Rouge…”
Hearing the serious and sincere tone in his voice brought a pure amazed smile to Rouge’s lips. She had been called beautiful, but never gorgeous. And especially not in the way Shadow spoke it.
Feeling a blush rise to her cheeks, she masked her embarrassment by folding her arms behind her head and striking a rather enticing pose that almost got Shadow to choke on his own breath by just looking at her.
A bit nervous, yet content with her brazen act, Rouge allowed a casual smile to play across her lips as she let Shadow’s eyes consume a bit more of her before unraveling her wings to their fullest and draping them over her body.
Shadow had a better chance at catching his breath after her treasures were concealed and lightly curled his hands into fists, out of habit.
There was a flicker of hunger in his eyes, and Rouge couldn’t help but chuckle to herself about how captivated Shadow was. Yet, she was just as amazed as she was amused.
“…Hmm what happened?” she mused with an alluring curve to her words. “ It got so quiet all of a sudden…”
When Shadow didn’t answer, she smoothly lifted a leg into the tub and placed her fingers on Shadow’s chest. At a loss for words, Shadow eyed her with a seductive expression as she lightly pushed him slightly further into the shower as she stepped in.
“And as I said before,” she paused, giving him a playful, yet alluring look, “…you’ve bathed twice since being in the rain, and I haven’t even been in the shower once. It isn’t fair…”
“…So…?” he muttered, not taking his eyes off her.
“You were taking too long. I got tired of waiting…” she confessed with a seductive smirk and stepped closer to him, so that they were both in the direct sprinkle of the water.
Her playfulness got Shadow’s mind to wander, as well as his eyes.
Even though her wings covered most of her body, the fluid cascading of the steamy water splashing across her bare shoulders and running down her neck was more than enough for his eyes and he unconsciously licked his lips.
Catching his interest, Rouge licked her lips as well and stepped closer to him, ruffling her wings. “Looks like you liked what you saw…”
Shadow felt his breath grow short as Rouge’s slick body inched closer to his. “…I did…”
With a light smile, Rouge lifted her arms and seamlessly unfolded her wings to present her curves to the steamy water, as well as Shadow’s eager eyes.
But just as quickly as they were revealed, her succulent curves quickly disappeared into the protection of her wings. Yet, a few slicked places still tauntingly peeked out at him. Parting his lips to speak, the bewildered hedgehog found himself at a loss for words, as his eyes seemed trapped between her sleek shoulders and her moistened lips.
Soon feeling guilty that he had been staring at her more than doing anything else, Shadow began to force himself to turn slightly away from her, when a slender hand raked through the fur on his chest. He shuddered from the sudden shock of sensitivity that shot through him and a low moan tumbled from his lips as he turned to face her.
He knew that she knew exactly what she was doing and knew exactly how to get him.
He became hers at that moment and there was no turning back.
“...Rouge…” he panted lowly, feeling his body quiver from the warmth he felt from both the steam of the shower and from the depths of a newly discovered emotion.
A maelstrom of thoughts flooded his mind, as his heart pounded wildly in his ears.
“What do you want from me?”
Rouge’s smile faded as she took in his words.
She had merely gotten in the shower just to tease him, but she figured that she’d end her little game quick before things got out of hand.
A light smile curved her lips as she gently combed her fingers through his white tuft of fur and leaned in close enough to be able to lick the water off his face. Instead, she placed her soft lips to his cheek, and then born from that kiss was a flurry of them to his nose, and then his lips. A faint sound was Shadow’s response, but before he could make a move to embrace her, Rouge slightly tugged on his fur and whispered in his ear. “I want you…to get out.”
Shadow had to catch himself from losing his balance. “You what….”
Rouge giggled and playfully turned him around. “You heard me, now get out! A girl’s gotta have her privacy!”
Reluctantly stepping out of the shower, Shadow half-frowned and glanced back at her. “…Tease…”
Rouge raised an eyebrow at his comment, then gave him a seductive look. “Hm. What can I say? It’s a gift.”
“Hmph.”
Rouge laughed and curled a lock of drenched hair around her finger. “…Why don’t you dry off and get comfortable? Go in any room you like, but don’t leave this building, got it? That is, unless you want a cold shower from the rain.”
Smirking faintly, Shadow crossed his arms and turned around. “Hmph. You just had to throw that in, didn’t you?”
“Mmmhmm. Oh, and Shadow?”
“Hm?” he wondered, slightly turning to face her. With a giggle, she brought her slender fingers to her lips and blew him a kiss with a wink before closing the curtains behind her. “Wait for me. I’ll join you later… So don’t fall asleep.”
Shadow’s ears twitched at her words as he raised a high eyebrow.
Wordless, he stood motionless for a moment, just staring at her silhouette behind the curtains. Not knowing what to think, he shook his head, then grabbed a nearby towel to dry himself off with.
Glancing at the curtains again, a thought passed his mind and he snatched up the towel that she would need to use once she got out of the shower and dropped it in a nearby hamper on his way out the room.
Closing the door behind him, he sighed heavily, then began to make his way to the couch to rest. He frowned when he noticed how wet with rain water it was.
‘Rouge must have carried me here first when she arrived….’ he thought. Turning away from it, he found himself left with the only place left to go…Rouge’s bedroom.
A thin smirk inched his lips from the thought of Rouge setting him up to go in her room passed through his mind.
With a sigh, he ran a hand through his quills and shook his head. “What am I going to do with you…?” he smiled.
Then, without much choice, Shadow nonchalantly made his way to Rouge’s room. Comments (0) |
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Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Nothig lasts forever Cha:2
Shadow and Rouge in
Nothing Lasts Forever
Phase 2
“Death does not make amends. ‘Making amends’ only exists in life.”- Savan, Legend of Dragoon
--
Trudging through the slippery streets, Rouge had to drag her feet to balance the weight of her friend on her shoulder. The stinging rain that bore witness to their suffering gave no signs of stopping as it descended from the tempestuous heavens, giving them no sympathy.
Icy droplets clung to her lashes and her fur, running down the sides of her face and ending at her chin like tiny rivers. Through the heavy sheets of rain, she looked to her comrade, who still remained unconscious. Wordlessly, she trailed her eyes over his face, resting on his lips, then moving up to his eyes, wishing they would open for her.
A taut but blank expression was all he gave.
Watching him as the rain washed over his devoid features, Rouge’s mind began to wander.
‘He really wanted to end his life…’ she thought ‘…But why…’ Eyeing his lips once more, almost pleading for them to part and speak to her, Rouge narrowed her eyes. ‘Shadow…you lied to me…’
As if the storming heavens above sensed her tense emotions, a streak of lightening slithered through the sky and crackled into the clouds right above them.
Leading her eyes away from Shadow to glance up to into the sky, Rouge forced herself to set aside her anger. Adjusting Shadow’s weight, she then continued her trudge to Club Rouge.
As soon as the front door opened, Rouge nearly dropped Shadow on the floor, he was so heavy, but managed to hold on to the last bits of her strength to haul him over to a sofa. Carefully, she let him roll off her shoulders onto the soft cushions. The moment his weight was gone, Rouge sighed and plopped down on the sofa right next to him. Panting, she slid a drenched lock of hair out of her face, and looked to Shadow. “This…is officially…the last time…I carry you…anywhere!”
The hedgehog said nothing in reply, but shivered from the cold. Regaining her breath, Rouge glanced down at his chest, then back up to his face. He looked peaceful when he slept, but Rouge knew too well that something was wrong. “…You really had me worried this time, Shadow…” she spoke softly “…You really scared me. But now…I won’t forgive you for this.”
Still no reply, but his body shivered again.
Feeling a shiver of her own, Rouge sighed and quickly began taking off her soaked boots and gloves, and set them aside. Wordlessly, she knelt down next to him, and began unbuckling his shoes one at a time. Removing one and a drenched sock, she placed them aside. She smugly glanced to his bare foot, making note of how large it was, then quickly looked up to his face as if he could hear her sensual thoughts.
He still held the same expression.
Lightly biting her lip, Rouge removed the other, then moved up to his soaked gloves. She unbuckled and removed the right one first, again glancing guiltily up to his face from the size of them. Smirking lightly, she reached for the left one, when she realized one of the buckles was missing. She paused, as she thought back to when she had received an item that resembled a bracelet of some sort that belonged to him.
‘He still doesn’t have it…’ she thought to herself. She had kept the bracelet for months, keeping it in a safe place in her room, and never gave it back to him. ‘…If it was important to him, why didn’t he look for it…?’ She wondered, then forcefully shrugged it off. Reaching for his left glove again, a firm hand grabbed her wrist. Rouge winced, and watched as her wrist was placed on his chest, right above his heart.
‘Wh-what’s he doing…?’ she wondered, her eyes fleeting between his face and his hand on hers. ‘…Shadow you…so you do insist on finding it. That’s admirable and protective of you…but I still won’t forgive you.’ She smiled lightly, pushing his hand off hers, and swiftly pulled off his remaining glove and tossed it aside.
Looking to him, she saw him shudder again. Without much hesitation, and despite what she said before, Rouge carefully laced his arm over her shoulder and lifted him up. Taking slow and steady steps, she carried him into the bathroom and placed him in the bathtub.
Turning on the faucet, the thought crossed her mind to turn on nothing but hot scorching water to get back at him for lying, but she ignored it and turned on both the hot and cold faucets. As the water poured out, she placed her fingers under it to test its temperature.
“You should be fine, now…” she spoke to herself. Gazing at him as the water filled the tub, Rouge crossed her arms and leaned back against the sink.
Her mind drifted back to when she had come out of the office and saw that highway pile-up, knowing that he was responsible. She thought of how depressed and defeated his decrepit body looked while he lay lifeless in her arms. She was almost certain that he wasn’t coming back, but to her surprise, he did. He came back to her.
Her eyes narrowed, as she felt her previous emotions come back and sting the back of her eyes. Pushing it away, she shuddered and rubbed her arms, then stepped over to the tub and turned off the water. She was freezing, but figured he needed it more than her. Her eyes slowly drifted to him, as aimless thoughts raided her mind. Then without a word, she turned on her heels and left.
Once in her room, Rouge closed the door behind her and literally peeled her soaked clothing from her body. Shuddering from the cold, she quickly rushed to her closet and pulled out the silkiest robe she had and put it on. When she first bought it, she had cut slits in the back for her wings to pass through freely. Tightening its belt around her waist, she shivered again, then flopped on her bed.
Sighing, she ran her fingers through her matted hair, and gazed up at the ceiling.
After a few moments of silence, she sighed, then rolled onto her stomach. “I’d better call the President…”
With that, Rouge reached over to her nightstand and fished in one of the drawers for her communicator. Moments later, her hand brushed against a cool object and she pulled it out, looking at it with wide eyes. It was the item of Shadow’s that she had kept for so long. Her eyes almost became hidden behind her lowered lids as she looked at the bracelet. Then, she placed it next to her on the bed, while going in her drawer again for her communicator. Acquiring it, she flipped it open and dialed in the President’s secret number that only his agents knew about. Absent-mindedly, she fingered the bracelet as the line rang, without answer. Instead of hanging up, she decided to leave a message.
“This is Agent Rouge reporting. The Ultimate Life-form has been found and is under my care. He is in a traumatic state and has to be monitored. I’d like permission to hold him for an extended 24 hours to heal from the shock. And also if possible, I’d like to request a DNA sample extraction for his testing, instead of the actual subject. …That is all.”
Closing the communicator, Rouge sighed and put it back in her drawer. Lying on her bed, she eyed the bracelet and toyed with it, her mind drifting. ‘Shadow…’
Traitor… Once of the dark will always be of the dark…
Open your heart…
Don’t deserve a second chance…
With a gasp, Shadow awoke from his unconscious state and began to splash around aimlessly in the tub. Quickly, he gripped the sides of the porcelain and sat perfectly still. His chest heaving from the wild beating of his heart was the only movement on his being. His frantic and aimless eyes fleeted around the room; to his bare hands, then his bare feet as well. He took his nakedness lightly, but felt the slight rush of a blush to his cheeks from the thought of the certain bat that did this to him. He trusted Rouge and knew she had good reason when it came to those close to her. He smiled faintly, too tired to show much of any emotion, and led his attention into the depths of the water he was placed in.
Gazing into it got his mind to remember the rain and his attempt of suicide. He couldn’t understand why he hesitated at first. ‘Weapons have no need to live…’ He closed his eyes in remorse, as the image of Maria and the words she spoke floated into his mind.
Meditating on those very words, Shadow frowned lightly and trailed a numb hand through the water in a nonchalant manner, creating swirls and miniature whirlpools.
At that moment, there was a crash of lightening from outside and Shadow could hear the rain as it continued to pour down mercilessly on the outside neighborhood.
‘…Rouge…’ he thought, curling his hand into a fist and staring hard into the water, as if it could sympathize with him. ‘She’s always looking out for me… …Just like before…she must have carried me here…’ His brow furrowed. ‘Why…why does she care so much for me? …I…I have nothing I can give her…’
Making her suffer…
“…That’s right… These emotions I have…are meaningless. The fate of a weapon is destruction; nothing more and nothing less…” Shadow paused, clenching both hands into taut fists. “…but…I can’t let history repeat itself… I’ve decided to stand by her and protect her…like she does for me… Even Maria fought to support me…and lost her life because of it. I could never return her help…”
It’s possible…
Shadow’s ears perked up at the soft and wavering voice. It sounded concerned for him, unlike the other voices. It was distant, yet so close. “Maria?” Shadow whispered. Looking up towards the ceiling, he searched for the apparition of his friend in vain. Almost the same moment he did, a bubbling sensation rippled through his body, starting at his feet and steadily rising to his pale face. He only had time to look down at the water, before a hot and sharp pain pierced through his once numb body and shot up to his head.
Burn traitor…
With a choked cry, Shadow tried to fight against the sudden boiling temperature of the water, then mustered every bone and muscle in his body to grab the side of the tub and struggle to pull himself out.
“…Hot…too hot…!” he strained out between pulls.
He heard a cackle in the back of his mind, and tried to disperse it, but his struggles almost proved useless against it, he was so drained.
Traitors can’t live…
Ageless, not immortal…
Die…
“N…no…” shadow whispered, no longer able to hold up much of a fight. His limbs were tired and had lost their strength from his trauma. Barely hanging onto the edge of the tub, Shadow gathered the last bit of his strength to hold on---to the tub as well as his sanity. “…You’re a fool…to think…I can be taken down…that easily…without a fight…!”
Overreacting…
Always covering up the obvious…
Always fighting the truth…
Shadow shut his eyes to block them out. He would have pulled the plug, but that would be taking the easy way out. He wanted to fight for his freedom. “…I’m the Ultimate Life-form…! I fear…nothing…!”
In her room, Rouge had given up on leaving messages on the president’s voice mail, and decided to wait until he just called her back, whenever that would be.
With a sigh, she stretched and laid on her back. Her wings twitched under her uncomfortable weight, and she turned on her side with a grumble. Tucking her arm under her head, she reached for the bracelet she had next to her. Her half-lidded eyes searched over the object in both curiosity and sorrow.
“Shadow…” she muttered, looking at his possession from another angle. “I still haven’t forgiven you…but…” Rouge trailed off, remembering the first time Shadow had saved her. She closed her eyes in remembrance, unaware of her fingers curling tautly around the bracelet. “He started the trend…and because of that, we’re good friends…” Trailing off, she gazed aimlessly to a random side of the room in thought. Silent for a moment, she sat up and placed the bracelet in a pocket on her robe. As she stood up, she made sure her robe was tightened. Opening the door, she hesitated.
A crimson blush rose to her cheeks as thoughts and images went through her mind of Shadow’s reaction when he saw her dressed so comfortably in front of him.
‘I’m just going to check on him…’ she thought, then felt a cold shiver run up her spine. She quickly crossed her arms and rubbed them in an attempt for warmth. She had forgotten that she needed a shower after being out in the icy cold rain for so long, and let Shadow get the tub first.
She shivered again. “Sometimes I just think I go out of my way… But…” With a shrug, Rouge turned on her heels to change her outfit. Just as she was about to close her door, a loud and muffled thud was heard from the bathroom.
“Shadow!” she gasped, not caring of what she had on, and quickly dashed to the bathroom. “Shadow, are you---Shadow!” she yelled, as she beheld the black and crimson hedgehog, who lay sprawled out on his back on the tiled floor shaking and coughing.
Watching him suffer again, Rouge shook her head. ‘Why do you keep making yourself suffer, Shadow!’ she cried in her mind. ‘Why!’
Shaking, Shadow tried to form words, but they came out in painful coughs instead that caused him to curl on his side in a fetal position.
Rouge stared at him, her confused eyes fleeting between him and the bathtub. ‘What did he do! Did he…did he CLIMB out!’
“ Shadow, you--!” she shouted, rushing to his side on the slippery floor. Placing her arms lightly around him without moving him too much, Rouge tried to get him to look her in the eyes. After another fit of coughing, the hedgehog groggily lifted his clouded eyes to her and shivered in her embrace. “…I-I’m sorry…”
“Sorry!” she spat, trying to hold back her angry tears, “Shadow, you idiot! You could have pulled the plug, you didn’t have to force yourself out!”
Shadow winced lightly at her words, then tried to smile. “…You always…come to me…Why…? Why are you always there…?”
Rouge’s brow twitched from his casual attitude. Angry, she hit him on the shoulder. “What has gotten into you today, Shadow! You’ve been acting rather unorthodox, lately and it’s always me coming to save your tail!” Her eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong with you, Shadow…? You’re not acting like yourself… Do you enjoy watching me suffer worrying about you! Do you?”
Shadow stared at her with narrowed eyes as he heard a cackle from deep within him. He actually was making her suffer. The words of that haunting and satanic voice was actually right.
Feeling guilt and remorse rise within him, Shadow couldn’t bear to look at Rouge and hung his head in the opposite direction, closing his heavy eyes.
Rouge glared at him; upset at his strange behavior, saddened that he lied to her and tried to end his life, and not knowing if she could tolerate being so close to him ever again.
She felt her heart wrench as she tried to hold back her tears and form coherent words. “Shadow… what happened to you?”
“…”
“Shadow…!”
“…I’m sorry…Rouge.”
“Stop repeating yourself…” Rouge sighed “You’re not being honest with me Shadow.”
“…I’d rather not say…” he uttered, his voice broken and deeper than usual.
It’s for her own good…
“I have your best intentions in mind…” he added, sounding like himself again. He pulled away from Rouge and forced himself to stand. Watching him, Rouge stood with him, a disturbed and hurt glimmer in her eyes.
Turning his back to her, Shadow reached over to the tub and pulled the plug. He could feel the burn of her eyes on him, and he reluctantly ignored it. Instead, he allowed his eyes to follow the whirlpool of water as it disappeared into the depths of the drain. Without knowing, a dark smile inched across his lips and his eyes narrowed. “Hmph. This is my fate…”
No…it’s not…
“What is your ‘fate’…?” Rouge spoke up, unknowingly sounding as if she were mocking his words.
Hearing her respond to his voice, he frowned and glanced at her over his shoulder. “I told you, it was in your best intentions not to know.”
Rouge hesitated at Shadow’s sudden rudeness. Normally, he would try to cover up his honest words with diversions and hide his true feelings, but now…he was turning into some entity Rouge didn’t know.
She wordlessly watched him as he grabbed a nearby towel and dried himself off. Afterwards, he knelt down and began cleaning up the area where he had fallen on the floor.
Rouge could do nothing but watch him as the towel reached her foot. With her in the way, he glared up at her, expecting her to move.
“…You’re in the way…” he muttered.
Still unable to speak, Rouge dared a look in his eyes. Gazing deeply into them, she found something that she never thought she would see. There was an enriched and deep pain hidden beneath a layer of a stony glaze. ‘Is this Shadow’s true self…?’ she thought. ‘Has he been hiding it from me…all this time…?’
“…Rouge…” he prodded, emotionlessly.
Just as she was about to finally retaliate, her communicator rang.
‘That must be the President…How’d he call me back so fast?’ she thought. Wordlessly, she gave Shadow one last glare that let him know she was onto him, then turned on her heels and left for her room.
Watching her leave, Shadow felt a small squeeze in his heart, and guilt soon took its place. Pausing his cleaning farce, he sighed and hung his head. “…I don’t deserve someone like her…”
That woman…
A weakness…
Shadow frowned, then stood to his feet and tossed the towel in an aimless direction. ‘…The both of them…I did nothing to deserve them. Yet they both continue to care…’ With a groan, he dragged his hand through his quills, and shook his head.
Failure…
Trying to protect her…
Shadow said nothing for a moment, finding truth in the voices’ usual tainted and tempting lies. Gazing off into the distance, Shadow hesitated, then leaned against the tub. Sulking, he shuddered while trying to hold back threatening tears.“…I can’t stay here. My suffering is becoming hers, now. …I couldn’t bare it if…if…she…” Shadow choked on his words as his body trembled and he began to cry. He inwardly cursed himself for letting things get this far and pushed himself up off the floor. With a growl, he roughly wiped his hot tears with the back of his wrist. “…I need to get out of here… This has to end.”
Useless…
A weapon…
No heart…
No destiny…
Pained and upset, Shadow ignored the raspy voices, and went into the Living Room to gather his belongs and leave. But once in the room, his attention shifted to the astute sound of Rouge’s voice, and he stood near her door, listening intently to her every word.
“Agent Rouge reporting.”
“Rouge! Yes. I received your messages. So you’ve managed to capture the Ultimate Life-form, correct?”
Opening her mouth to speak, Rouge hesitated for a moment, then nervously sat down on the side of her bed that was opposite from her closed door. Clearing her throat, she cupped the mouthpiece part of the communicator and spoke her reluctant words clearly. “Yes sir. I have him.”
“Excellent! Excellent!” The President enthused. “And not a moment too soon! Well done. Now, I request that you bring him in immediately. A DNA sample is much to little for me. I need the entire package. He’d be under the most top professional care and will be closely monitored 24/7.”
Rouge hesitantly bit her lip, but hid her uneasiness and disagreement. “Before I do, tell me, what’s your purpose for wanting Shad--I mean the Ultimate Life-form?”
There was pause, indicating the President’s amusement. “Rouge, I’ve already mentioned to you that only myself and those higher than you should know.”
Rouge frowned. ”I’m aware of that...”
“Well… Since you did capture him before the deadline, and your efforts are commendable, I’ll tell you. The Ultimate Life-form, as encrypted in Dr. Gerald’s journals, is a product that is able to never age and live an immortal life! And that…is the key to life itself, don’t you see? If mankind were able to live as long as the Ultimate-Life-form, wars and needless killing would cease to exist. People would live like kings in their own kingdoms! Most economical problems would be solved and there would be no need for warfare.”
“A world without wars and immortal life? ...That’s insane…” Rouge whispered in a tone that was a pure contrast from the President’s enthusiasm.
“Hmm? What was that agent?”
Rouge couldn’t hold back her opposition any longer and spoke how she actually felt. “I said, that’s insane! An endless life may sound beneficial to you, but you have no idea of the cost. Can you imagine what this Ultimate Life-form had to go through because of its so-called immortality? He’s been through nothing but anguish and pain his entire existence…and you want to give that to the WORLD!”
“What? Agent, you are not understanding!”
“Oh, I understand perfectly, Mr. President. This is too much. I refuse to hand him over to you.”
“How absurd, agent” the President chuckled “You’d go against my instructions? Hm. Very well. In that case, I’ll just double your reward. 10 pounds of jewelry for this mission.”
Rouge winced. “What! 10 pounds…”
“15 then? 20? I don’t care how much you want! Just get the Life-form to me…!”
Rouge paused for a moment, then finally, she spoke. “…Mr. President…”
“Yes? Yes?”
“…The deal…is off.”
“What?” the President vociferated.
“It’s off! I should have known these so called ‘tests’ of yours left a bad smell. You’d even dissect him if you had to…wouldn’t you…”
“You dishonor me, agent. But because I’m a generous man, I’ll give you one more chance, 24 hours, to bring that Ultimate Life-form to me. No strings attached.”
Rouge could feel her jaw tense from holding such a conversation. She hung her head, beginning to feel the guilt of her actions.
If she had never called and told the President she had Shadow, she would have been fired and tracked down. And if she declined the President’s offers this time, she would still be fired and tracked down---and possibly even eliminated.
She felt as if she had backed her way into a brick wall that was slowly closing in on her.
“I’m sorry Shadow…” she whispered. “I’m sorry I turned my back on you and lied to you. Being angry at you for the same things I should be ashamed of, but…”
“Rouge? Agent Rouge, you are mumbling! Speak up! Are you bringing the Life-form or aren’t you?”
Rouge took a deep breath and finally spoke, her voice wavering, only in the slightest. “I…I decline.”
“You WHAT?”
“Didn’t you hear me? I said I decline!” she repeated, regaining a slither of her confidence.
“So…” the President began, low and sordid “You go against me, eh?”
He laughed. “…I understand now. You said the Ultimate Life-form was a male. Ah yes, I remember, you expressed a great concern when I first addressed this mission to you.”
Rouge swallowed and felt a lump in her throat. She knew where this was going.
“So, if you, the world’s GREATEST treasure hunter were to turn down the one thing you love most, and at an unlimited supply at that, I’d say you’ve developed some feelings for this creature…”
“Creature! That’s it…” Rouge muttered, her anger building “I can’t tolerate some greasy and diabolical human degrading someone he knows nothing about. Better than all the jewelry in this world is a man who I do care for and who enjoys my company more than anyone else. That’s something I never had…and I’m not letting him go. Not to you, and not to anyone. I said the deal is off! I resign.”
“No…you are FIRED. This won’t come easily for you Rouge…You will be collected tomorrow morning. Good day.”
The moment he hung up, Rouge hurled her communicator across the room, where it smashed into a wall and shattered into pieces. Rouge stared at it angrily for a few minutes, then abruptly turned to her door. Stepping over to it, she opened her door to tell her friend the news. “Shadow, I need to—“ she trailed off.
To her surprise, Shadow had taken up his mid-dry gloves from the Living Room and had already slipped on his shoes.
“Shadow?” Rouge wondered, her words tumbling from her mouth without her knowing, and she curiously walked over to the hedgehog. Acknowledging her, Shadow simply glanced at her while tugging on one of his gloves. He raised an eyebrow in question to what she wanted and Rouge caught on right away. She sighed and toyed with a lock of damp hair with her finger. “You overheard, didn’t you?”
Shadow nodded, turning his attention back to his garments. “I did.”
Rouge looked away and frowned. “I see…”
Shadow said nothing at first, but managed to sneak a glance at her in her body-glove of a robe. Blushing lightly, he returned his attention to his last glove, and once that was in place, he stepped past Rouge and opened the front door. As soon as it was open, Rouge had to retighten her robe so the wind wouldn’t blow it open. She looked to Shadow, who stood perfectly still in the doorway, watching the storm rage on.
“Shadow…?”
“…I’m leaving, Rouge.”
“What…?” Rouge exclaimed in an unbelieving whisper and stepped closer to him. “You’re upset that I was on an account of business when I found you…?”
Shadow said nothing, but kept his attention on the pouring rain before him.
Feeling at a loss for trying to cover it up, Rouge turned away from him. There was no reason to hide it, now. Ready to tell him the truth, her hands curled into fists as she spoke.
“I did get permission from the President to track you down and turn you in for testing. I was reluctant about it, but, after finding you on that highway, I didn’t care about what my orders were. I just wanted you to be alive and safe…so I brought you here.”
Lowering his eyes, Shadow slowly turned to her. Her ears were drooped as well as her wings, and her fists were taut with regret. Wordlessly, he watched her tremble, and felt a pain deep within his own heart. Placing a hand to it, which gradually formed into a fist, he felt the guilt of his actions and suffered as she did. He didn’t want to end his life so abruptly, and he did make an attempt to escape, but those voices persuaded him that he had nothing to live for…
Shadow frowned, and turned away from her. He felt like such a fool.
“…I didn’t plan to turn you in, but considered extracting a sample from you, instead. You had just gone through so much trauma, I couldn’t leave you, so…I called it off. I couldn’t let anyone take you away from me…Not even for the best doctors to watch you, not even for the president…and not even for all the jewels in the world…” She paused in her words, risking a look at him, as he did the same.
Meeting her liquidy eyes with the teary ones of his own, Shadow could say nothing and do nothing to comfort her. Instead, he adverted his eyes to the floor, and gripped at his heart. “I’m sorry, Rouge…” was all he muttered, before leaving the painful atmosphere and stepping out into the attacking rain.
Watching him go, Rouge gasped, while trying to hold back a sob, and followed after him. “Shadow! Shadow, wait!”
“I can’t stay with you, Rouge!” he shouted back, through the pounding onslaught of the rain.
“What…” she questioned, pausing at the doorway. “What are you…”
“The President won’t waste anytime letting this go, Rouge.” He called, speaking partially of the truth, but hiding the real reason he wanted to leave. “If he wanted me captured so bad, just because you refused doesn’t mean that he would stop there.”
Frowning from both the twisting of his heart and from the piercing of the rain nearly tearing through him, Shadow turned slightly to Rouge, trying to avoid seeing the pain on her face. “I’m putting you in danger, Rouge…” he spoke, the truth surfacing in those words, but then he quickly hid them away. “You’re at a risk already…I don’t need to be there to increase that risk…”
“No…” Rouge said, her voice steady, in direct contrast of the flowing tears that cascaded down her face. “The President, nor his hired grunts can find me here. I’ve left him with at least 4 false residents to go through before he can find this place. I won’t be found that easily.”
“I don’t know about that…” Shadow muttered, fearing for her safety even more.
Almost unable to hold back a threatening sob, Rouge began to feel the full brunt of her indirect betrayal and forced herself to realize that despite telling him the truth of the matter, it was still his choice to leave and to probably never come back. And in a way, she didn’t blame him.
But what Rouge didn’t know was that Shadow was very touched by her commitment and dedication to him to even go against direct orders that could render her being executed. If it weren’t for the voices in his head, he would have stayed, but that was his reason for leaving, not because of her.
About to cry, Rouge figured that she should give back something that was rightfully his. Ignoring her thin clothing, she stepped out into the rain, getting drenched in the icy liquid that very second, and stood directly behind him. Reaching in her pocket, she hung her head and extended her hand out.
Not knowing what to expect, Shadow looked down at her hand, which she opened to reveal his lost belonging.
“This is…” he trailed off. He then turned to face her and felt his heart sink from her not being able to look at him.
“I held onto it for a while…as a keepsake…hoping you’d come back for it. But, since you’re leaving, you’d have a better use for it, than I would. And that way, I won’t be expecting you to come back…” Shivering, she lifted her heavy head and met her teary red eyes to his. Before he could say a word, she grabbed his hand and shoved the bracelet in it, then turned to run back inside.
But before she could make it, a hand grabbed her by the arm, and stopped her in her tracks. Saying nothing, she simply stood there with her head down and her eyes shut tight, refusing to face Shadow.
Unable to take much more of their heart-broken suffering, Shadow tugged on her arm gingerly, and stepped closer. “Rouge…” he whispered, almost pleading, to get her to face him. Rouge said nothing, but began to shake as her cries became audible.
“…Rouge…” Shadow softly called again, lifting a hand to her quivering shoulder, and lightly turning her to face him until her head was resting on his chest.
Keeping silent, Shadow focused on calming her down and rubbed her back without conflicting with her wings.
Losing herself in his embrace Rouge clawed at the matted fur on his chest and burrowed her face deeper into his body.
Shadow held her tightly, and gently began to rock her to shush her cries. Without knowing, he nuzzled the top of her head with his lips. “Rouge, forgive me…”
Indulging in his warmth, Rouge allowed one last sob to pass, before lifting her anguished turquoise crystals to meet with his deep carmine opals. But instead of the pain and anger she witnessed before, she beheld a sincere and caring glimmer that pleaded for forgiveness, and offered it, as well.
“…Shad..ow..” she managed to whisper, as her hand reached up to cup his face, and she stopped breathing the moment she felt his hand do the same.
Gazing at her with the most pure and honest emotion glistening in his eyes, Shadow neared closer to her and parted his lips.
A faint sigh escaped Rouge as she closed her eyes and felt her heart skip a beat as Shadow’s moist lips brushed her quivering ones.
She was soft as the petals of a flower, and held the same sweetness of the fruit it bore. Shadow had never witnessed such delicious tenderness, and had already become deeply indulged in the depths of her mouth.. Holding her close, Shadow deepened their embrace and savored the nectar of his first kiss. Cooing lightly, Rouge found herself delighting in Shadow’s endearing kisses. He didn’t rush, and his lips were tender and moist. Excited by the thought of him sharing his first kiss with her, Rouge let a moan slip while devouring his affection one hot delectable taste at a time.
It wasn’t long before either of them had forgotten about the rain.
After moments that seemed like hours, Rouge murmured his name, and they slowly released the each other. Gazing into his affectionate eyes once more, Rouge whispered something Shadow wouldn’t have heard if he hadn’t felt the same way. Smiling lovingly at her, Shadow kissed her sweetly, then returned her endearing words.
Feeling her heart fly higher than the heavens themselves, Rouge shuddered in joy and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him dearly.
Kissing her forehead, Shadow ran his fingers through her slick locks and encircled an arm around her.
Just as it had rained the day she came to his side when he wanted to end his life, it was raining when they opened their hearts to one another. She had given up the ultimate sacrifice for him, just as he was ready to give up the ultimate sacrifice for her sake…His life.
Sliding his hand to her face, he slipped a finger under her chin and sent his eager lips to rejoin with hers.
By the time they had separated for air, the rain between them had already become warm. Catching her breath, Rouge looked to Shadow, who nodded to her while giving a rare smile. “We should get back inside…”
Giving a smile of her own, she linked arms with him and entwined her fingers with his, and gave his hand a squeeze. “After you.”
Shadow nodded, then sent a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you…” he whispered in her ear. Such simple words had a much deeper meaning, and Rouge accepted it. “…And Rouge…”
“I know.” Rouge replied as if she could read his mind. “I need to talk to you, too. Don’t think you’re off the hook that easy.” She winked at him, and smiled faintly at him. She still had some questions to ask.
Shadow said nothing for a moment, but gazed at her with dreamy eyes.
Rouge, who was flattered by his enchantment, also became slightly disturbed that she had been out in the rain twice that same day and was FREEZING. With a half-smile, she squeezed his hand. “Shadow, it’s cold out here. Have you forgotten that out of the two of us, who have been out in this rain since it started, YOU were the only one who had a chance to warm up in the bathtub?”
Shadow raised an eyebrow at her. “You could have gone before me. You didn’t have to wait.”
Unable to argue with that, and too drenched to bother, Rouge sighed and tugged him into her place.
Nothig lasts forever Cha:2