"Kage no Ai"

By

Sakura Courage Solo


Disclaimer:
I,Sakura Courage Solo,do not own Shadow,Sonic,or any other characters in this fanfic except Vanna,and I do own the plot.I don't get paid for writing this,so Mr. Naka-San,don't sue me!

Authors' Notes:
Eh,I was on a Vanilla Coke Rush when I wrote this,so...shrugsI write my best stuff at 3AM though,or so my Sister,Shadowwolf says.O-o Anyway,enjoy!Oh,and by the way,the title is Japanese,translating into English as "Shadow's Love".I couldn't think of a really good title,so I just used a corny one and translated it into Japanese to try and make it sound cool.


Chapter 1:

"Shadow's Loneliness:Enter Vanna"


Several weeks had passed since the defeat of the souped-up Metal Sonic,Metal Overlord,and since then,Shadow had decided to try and forget his unknown past and live a normal life.Or try to anyway.

"Why does the past matter so much,anyway?"

The Hedgehog finally had thought to himself.

"It's in the past...and besides,it's not like I'm finding any answers."

So Shadow got himself an apartment in Station Square,and found himself a stable job delivering meals for the local Senior Center.At first,the elderly clients were usually a little unnerved to see the menacing-looking Hedgehog come to the door to deliver the lunch,but they soon got used to Shadow and got as to where they greeted him cheerfully every morning.Though Shadow was usually cold and antisocial,he had become friends with the people he delivered to,and actually found himself smiling like he'd almost never done before.

He had started hanging out with Sonic and the others as well,going places and doing things,and just generally having fun.He wasn't as talkative and hyperactive as the others,but he still had fun with them.

Still...there was something missing,but for the longest while,Shadow couldn't quite put his finger on it.Even though he had plenty of friends around him now,there was still a hole of loneliness deep in his heart.The black Hedgehog just couldn't understand how he could possibly feel lonely...

Eventually though,as he watched how Amy continuously chased Sonic around,noticed how Knuckles and Rouge would get close now and then despite their arguments,and saw that Tails and Cream were gravitating toward one another,he finally figured it out.

Shadow didn't have that special someone to love.Even though Sonic always ran from Amy,Shadow knew he loved her deep down.Though Rouge and Knuckles argued a lot of the time,Shadow understood that they were just Lovers' Spats.Though Tails and Cream never said anything to each other,Shadow could tell they had crushes on one another.

But Shadow didn't have anyone like that...and it hurt him.He wanted someone to love,but he had no one.

He started to wonder...if he was even destined to have a special someone.

This all brings us up to the current day,Shadow walking through a rainy spring morning with a large,insulated bag strapped over his shoulder that held the meals he was supposed to be delivering.The Black Hedgehog grunted in slight frustration at the weather and mentally cursed himself for not bringing an umbrella.

"Well,I guess a little sky water won't kill me..."

He mumbled as he came to a set of cement steps that lead up to the doorway of a house.Shadow proceeded to scale these steps,this house being one of those he delivered to.

Shadow knocked on the door a time or two in a particularly loud manner,knowing that the occupant was hard of hearing and she may or may not have her hearing aid in at the time.

He waited a moment...and no answer.Shadow knocked again and called in,

"Miss May!It's me,Shadow!I have your lunch!"

Another minute passed,and the door was finally opened.Not by the hard-of-hearing Miss May though,but a young Fox Girl of around the age of 22,her fur a deep shade of blue and her eyes an unusual ruby chocolate colour.She wore a sleeveless red shirt,a pleated khaki skirt and brown leather spaghetti strap sandals.Shadow was a little surprised to see this stranger open the door,and started to ask who she was and where Miss May was,but the Fox Girl beat him to speak as she said,

"Sorry it took me a few minutes to get to the door...kinda had my hands full.Now comein and get out of this rain."

Shadow couldn't argue with getting in out of the rain,at least for a few moments before going to deliver the other meals and nodded,stepping inside and wiping his feet on the floor mat.The Fox Girl gave him a towel to dry down with and said,

"You must be Shadow,the one who delivers a meal here every day."

The Hedgehog nodded a little in response as he dried off his quills,the red colour having disappeared from them by now.Once again,the rain had washed out the highlight dye...

(A/N:Seriously!Since when have you ever seen Shadow in the water in the games,TV show or Comic?He avoids it because he knows his highlights'll wash out and then everyone'll know they're fake!)

The Fox girl nodded a little and said,

"Okay,just set it on the table...you know where the dining room is,right?"

"Yeah...but if you don't mind me asking,who're you and where's Miss May?"

"Hm?Oh,my names Vanna.Miss May is asleep right now.She had a mild stroke last night and I've been taking care of her."

Shadow suddenly looked a little worried when he heard that the woman had had a stroke,even a mild one,and immediately asked,

"A stroke?Is she gonna be okay!"

Vanna sweatdropped slightly,her ears laying back a little at Shadow's outburst as she replied,

"Yes,she'll be fine,she just needs some rest,I assure you...I'm a Registered Nurse,so don't worry,I'll make sure she's fine."

Shadow calmed down and nodded,then saying,

"Okay...sorry about that.It's just...Miss May is a good friend to me,and..."

"Don't sweat it,I understand.If I were you,I probably would have reacted the same way."

The Hedgehog sighed a little,thunder rumbling outside.He looked at his watch,then back to Vanna.

"Well,I'd better get going.I need to get these meals delivered..."

"Hey,hold up!"

"Hm?"

Shadow blinked a time or two as Vanna opened up the closet and pulled out a white parka,tossing it to the Hedgehog.

"Here,wear my parka so you don't get wet.I'm going to be staying here until tomorrow,and it's going to be sunny tomorrow,so I don't need it."

"Thanks,I appreciate it."

With that,Shadow pulled on the parka and pulled the hood up,the Fox Girl opening the door for him as he picked the insulated bag back up and slung it over his shoulder.

"Now get going,and I'll probably see you again tomorrow."

"All right,thanks again for the parka.Just take care of Miss May,okay?"

Vanna nodded and watched as Shadow walked out the door and into the cool rain,off to his next delivery.He took a look back once at the bottom of the cement steps in time to see Vanna shutting the door and thought to himself,

"..She was kind of cute."


A few days later,Shadow found himself walking through the city,taking in the warm spring sunshine.It was Saturday,so today was a day off the job for him.

He passed by a several couples on the sidewalk,and mentally cringed,wishing he could have someone and be a couple.He didn't know why,but he thought of Vanna at that moment.He shook his head.

"Nah,she's old enough,she's probably got a husband and maybe even a kid...besides,all I did was think she was cute."

As Shadow continued down the sidewalk,he tried to get his mind on other things,but the pain inside of him of not having a girlfriend bugged him...no,hurt him to no end.

He looked at the watch set into the gold band on his wrist.He was supposed to be meeting up with Sonic and the others soon for a trip to the mountains.

That's when a scream suddenly shot through the area,Shadow's ears immediately twitching at the sound as he looked around for the source.

The scream came again.It sounded like it had come from the alley.

Shadow didn't hesitate to activate his air shoes and run toward the sound and into the dead-end alley.There,to his surprise,he saw Vanna backed up into the dead end as a grey Echidna,a dark green Hedgehog and a red Hedgehog threatened her.The grey Echidna,apparently the leader,picked Vanna up by her throat and snarled,

"Listen here,girl!You've run from us long enough!You're gonna come back with us and do as we tell you,or you're dead,understand!"

Vanna cringed and struggled to get out of the powerful Echidna's grip,but to no avail.

"I'd just as soon die,Kishon...better me than someone else..."

Kishon growled forcefully,his emerald eyes burning with rage as he drew back his strong-looking fist.

"If you'd rather die,then so be it!"

He never got the chance though,as he suddenly felt someone grab his arm powerfully from behind and jerk him back,making him drop Vanna.

"Leave her alone,or you're dealing with me."

Shadow snarled as he twisted the Echidna's arm painfully,making him yell.The two Hedgehogs immediately started to go in at Shadow,but he simply glared at them before leaping up at the last second and doing a split kick,hitting them both hard between the eyes and knocking them out.

"Shadow,behind you!"

Vanna suddenly yelled,Shadow turning just before Kishon his him hard in the chest,a loud crack emitting.Shadow was pretty sure that had broken a few ribs,but none the less reached forward and grabbed Kishon's head,bringing it forward and smacking it against his own with a loud crack.The grey Echidna immediately fell unconcious,Shadow sighing and looking to Vanna.

"You all right,Vanna?"

Vanna nodded a little and said,

"Yeah,I'm okay."

"Good..."

Shadow then cringed,dropping to his knees on the ground,placing a hand on his chest.

"Shadow!"

Vanna cried,immediately kneeling down beside him as he coughed up some blood.She pried his hand from his chest and took a look,very gently running her fingers over it.

"Three broken ribs...just hang on Shadow,you'll be okay."

Vanna reached into the pocket on her skirt and pulled out a cell phone,calling for an ambulance.Shadow coughed up a little more blood,hearing Vanna mutter something about how she thought one of the broken ribs must've punctured a lung since he was coughing up blood.

Her voice sounded farther away with each word,and Shadow's vision was going blurry.The last thing he heard before passing out was Vanna telling him to hold on.


End Chapter 1