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…’

That’s right… Nothing…
“No…” Shadow whispered, barely moving his numb lips “No…I’m…”

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.


Comments (2)