Hello, you who managed to stumble on my horrible story on which you will regret spending time on when you will be done reading… First, let me explain my current situation. I am terribly sick, kept at home by an illness that will not let me leave my bedroom , or at least the first floor of my home. The principal things I can do are… Thinking, sleeping, eating, listen to music, and when the illness wants it, play on my game cube… My throat is so sore that I have troubles speaking.

So… That story was written as I was sick. It is a sad story, and please, excuse me for sending such a horrible story. And the atmosphere is worse since the music I have listened to was… you know… Sad and pretty romantic…

So please, send me a review or a flame, I do not care. I know it is a bad fic, and… My god, where are my manners? I mean… If you have enough time to give me a comment, good or bad, please do. I know this story will not last long, and I would like to know why. Do not hesitate!

And one last thing: If you see spelling mistakes, could you be kind enough to tell me, in a review? I am still trying to improve my english, you know…

Disclaimer : Nothing belongs to me. Stories like this one had been made a thousand times before, so I am not even sure I can say the plot is mine. Stupid romance, bad plot… You will never come back here, I can guarantee…

- - - - - - - -

First Chapter: Between Rain Clouds

Rouge's Point of View…

Government Spy is not an easy job, you know? You have to do things that you would never do in normal times, dangerous, life-threatening assignements on which you could survive only if you had the wits and the brains to come out alive, and finally…

Finally, sometimes your boss told you to get rid of a person you learned to care for, someone you liked and simply could not kill, someone who, you would realize later, did not deserve death. This is what happened on this day.

My boss called me early that winter morning for a mission. The phone rang, waking me from a wnderful dream about my family and about shiny jewels.I stretched and yawned, and answered the phone beside me, on a little table.

" Hello?"

My voice was tired and weak. I was the kind of person who could sleep for almost twelve hours in a row, even if I hardly had the occasion.

" Hello, Rouge.I have an assignment for you."

" Have you seen what hour it is? "

My boss did not answered. He simply told me to meet him at his office., and he hung up the phone. I looked at my clock : it was 5 am…

After I took a nice shower and a nicely done breakfast, I went to see my boss, the president.

" Rouge, this is quite a simple task. I want you to kill the Echidna."

"… Excuse me? Which Echidna?"

That was a really stupid question. There was only one Echidna left. I… I could not do it, he… I mean, he is alone, there is no one left to protect the jewel he is keeping, I mean… For God's sake, I am not a murderer! I am a spy!

This is what I should have said… My words were different.

"So… What is his life worth ? " I asked.

" If you succeed, you will get fifty thousand."

Ridiculous! A life could not have a price! This I learned later. I did not realised that if I had killed him, I would not be able to forget… All the things that would have made me a murderer, that would have made me feel guilty…

His blood on my hands… The curses he would shriek to me… The sparkle in his syes that would slowly dim… His cry of pain in the night… His last whisper… The life flowing out of his wounds… All the treasures of the world would never make me forget that I killed someone I would learn to care for…

I could not live with the thought that I betrayed someone who cared for me…

" Why can't you send someone else?"

" You know him. And I am sure you can make him trust you."

I nodded, and smiled. There was a nice fee on that job, and it was the only thing I considered, as well as the thought of all the things I could buy with that money. I was already thinking of the most beautiful dress I had seen in a boutique, as well as the jewellery that would come with it, as well as the impressed glances of my friends. But somehow, there was something wrong in my vision. The eyes of a peculiar person were not staring at me, making me upset. I thought it was because a girl I did not like that much was not looking at me with jealous eyes, in my reflexion. I added her in my thoughts. Still, it did not satisfied me… Why? Yes, why?

" Count me in, Boss! Consider him… Dead."

My souvenirs of Angel's Island were…The Master Emerald came first, followed by its devoted guardian. I had heard about it,but I never saw it with my own eyes. Everyone who came back from there spoke of its beauty with passion, as if there was nothing more fantastic than the natural wonder this Island was. Under the snow, it was surely magnificent. I went back at home, to pack a couple of things, such as clothing, some little things to eat, my hair brush, you know, all these little things a girl needed if she wanted to survive three weeks far away from all civilisation and mall centers. The plan was simple. Some men were supposed to bring me up there on an helicopter, and then drop me on the surface of the Island, where my prey could find me.As for my bag, I had to tell him that my boss had told me that I was going on a mission, but then he betrayed me and abandonned me on the Island, threatening me to end my life if he saw me again.

That Echidna was so gullible, he would never doubt my words…

We were heading to the Floating Island. There were two boys with me. The pilot, and a friend of mine, whose name was Spike.

" Okay, Rouge. The Boss wants a classical death, something quick and discreet."

I sighed. The word " Classical" always meant…

" A knife.," I said, skeptic.

The weapon was handed to me, and I put it in my bag. Next, we were above the Island. We executed our plan. Spike threw me from the helicopter, and I fell, as if I was not conscious. The helicopter left at great speed. I fell in a lake of icy pure blue water. After at least twenty seconds, arms pulled me out of the water. I acted as if I was still unconscious, waiting for a reaction. I knew who it was, and I had confirmation when he spoke.

" It has been some time, Rouge."

Which memories did I had of him? Deep violet eyes, blood red color, dark and calm voice, mysterious natural scent, lonesome attitude, impressive strenght, clever, silent and… and… So lonely, and tragical, and… The poor guy I was supposed to kill. And then, an image went like a flash in my mind. I could see us, above some flames, on a narrow beam. Then, I tripped and fell. When I thought I was a goner, those powerful arms caught me, and saved me as they now did. He looked at me with concern, as if the most precious little thing of his life nearly died in front of him…

No. It was impossible, he could not care for me… But then… Why did he saved me, that day, four months ago? Oh… yeah… For the Master Emerald…

He brought me somewhere dry and warm, and he left me, surely waiting for me to wake up. As soon as the sound of his steps vanished, I opened my eyes, got on my feet and I started to look around myself. I was in what looked like an ancient temple. I was surrounded by savage flowers and moss as green as the Master Emerald. There was a little pool of water nearby. The sun was coming through a really big… the only word I can think about is window, in the ceiling, but the snow did not seem to get in. There were two trees on which grew tasty looking fruits. The air was misty, so we could clearly see the sun's rays. It was breath taking, and I could understand all the people who acted as if they had seen the most beautiful things of the world. My face was reflecting only one emotion. Pure wonder, before such beauty and silence.

" I know," said a voice behind me.

I jumped. His voice surprised me. I spun around. I did not hear him coming.

" … I know that it is not a place to bring… uh… Ladies."

I smiled, remembering the old times. But my smile froze when the sad truth came to me. I had to kill him with a knife. I was not here to remind myself of the good old days.

"… It is so beautiful here," I commented. " But I have most important matters at hand. I think my Boss sent people to kill me."

I started to pray.Until he gave me an answer.

" Really? You can stay here if you want, I mean, if you are in danger, I must at least try to help you."

I felt guilty to lie to him. I felt like it was not right. It was ridiculous, I was used to lie all the time. So why should I say the horrible truth to him?

" Thank you… Knuckles."

- - - - - - - - - -

So? How was it? Pathetic, stupid, boring… Share your thoughts with me, and be as honest as you can…