Bathing in the moonlight

I. Really gone?

Rouge couldn't handle it anymore. For a couple of weeks, she came to Angel Island daily, searching for Knuckles. She remembered that day clearly: she went to Angel Island to try to steal the Master Emerald once more. But in her heart, she hoped it will be a chance to confess the Guardian of the ME what her true feeling for him were. And just as she arrived at the shrine, in the place where the ME should've been, there was only an empty spot and Knuckles was nowhere to be found. She searched the island, watching from above, by flying, but all she could see were small rivers and big trees. The next day she searched again, and the next day the same, but she didn't found the ME, nor Knuckles. In fact, she had just been lying to herself: that she only looks for the ME, and not for Knuckles. But for a week, she stopped searching for a green glow and started looking, almost desperately, for a red fur.

In the Station Square, Sonic and his friends were worried for Knuckles, too. And even if they knew the fake and the real reason of Rouge's searching, they never talked about it because, as usual, Rouge will just deny it all. But they helped her out, looking for Knuckles all over the Angel Island: Sonic, Tails, Amy, Cream, even Shadow helped. But it was getting late, and they had to go home. Rouge stayed, still looking for Knuckles.

-Oh, time really flies here, she said, after noticing that the sun had already disappeared, being replaced by a dark sky and the first stars of the night.

Then, her cell phone rang:

-Hello?

-Hey, Rouge, this is Shadow. Aren't you coming home, it's getting really dark.

-It's already very dark, I can hardly see a thing in the sky, and I'm pretty tired. I think I'll stay for the night here.

-Suit yourself. So go find yourself a nice tree or a cozy cave, batgirl.

Rouge giggled; it was obviously that Shadow really cared for her, even more than a simple friend, maybe he even had a crush on her, but her heart belonged only to a certain, red echidna. And he knew that, but… that didn't stopped him from flirting and trying his luck.

-When are you going to stop calling me batgirl?

-When we are going on a date!

-Ha-ha! You sure are direct!

-Is that a "yes"?

-Eh… I'll think about it.

-Good night then!

-Yeah, bye.

With a big smile on her face, Rouge hung up and putted her cell phone in a small pocket, specially designed for cell phones, on her leg, near the ankle. Then she flew away, to find "a nice tree or a cozy cave", as Shadow suggested. But she didn't notice the dark shadow that had been watching her all this time. From the day she started searching on Angel Island, Knuckles had been watching her every move. He moved the ME in another shrine, in a secret cave, which was very hard to find, deep hidden in the mountain.

"What should I do? Just confront her and find out what she's up to? Actually, she and Shadow seem to have a perfect relationship… Maybe they are really lovers! That bastard! I have to find out if she loves him! Oh, Knuckles, why do you even care? She's just a thief who steals jewels, while you have to protect a rather large one… But I'll go crazy if I don't find out…"

Knuckles sighed and ran through the thickness of the woods. Meanwhile, Rouge found a big tree, with numerous branches. She was used with "a bit" more luxury, but tonight, even the air had the smell of Knuckles… her Knuckles… But reality disappointed her. Knuckles wasn't hers, and he probably never will. She sighed, closed her tired eyes and fell asleep.

"She is so pretty when she's asleep…"

Knuckles was looking at Rouge since the moment she was asleep. It was a couple of hours now, but Knuckles was a very patient echidna. He admired her beauty, while she was sleeping.

"Should I just wait for her to awake or maybe… I'll wake her up now… No, she'll just kill me."

Knuckles smiled at the thought of it. Suddenly, Rouge's breathing became faster and wider. Knuckles jumped on another branch, ready to hide through the green leaves if Rouge would wake up. But she didn't: in fact, she had a painful expression on her face, and her fists were straining, as she was ready to punch someone. Sweat was pouring on her forehead and her whole body became so tense, as if she was tortured in her dreams. Knuckles was worried and was about to wake her up, when she opened her eyes. Rouge looked around her, seeing that she was still on Angel Island, and sighed, with relief.

Rubbing her arms together to keep them warm, she whispered:

-It was only a nightmare…

"What kind of nightmare would scare Rouge like this? What could be her secret?" Knuckles thought, still gazing at Rouge, who looked pretty freaked out. After a couple of seconds, Rouge reached for her purple cell phone and dialed a number. Knuckles went closer, to hear the conversation. Soon, a heavy, rough voice answered:

-Yeah?

-Shadow, it's me, Rouge.

-Rouge? What's wrong?

-I'm sorry I'm calling you at this hour, I…

-No problem, batgirl. I always have time for you, even when I'm sleeping, ha-ha!

Knuckles backed away slowly. He didn't want to hear their mushy talk.

-Well, I've had that nightmare I've told you about.

-Again? God, you had it every night, for the past… what, 2 months?

-You have been counting how many times I've called you? asked Rouge, giggling.

-Actually, I've been counting how many times I've awoken late. Look, what I know about this kind of things, especially if they repeat so often, is that they sure have a connection with the present.

-Hell no!

-Well, yeah, this actually isn't a dream, is more like reality, is…

-A memory.

They both stayed silent at this. Knuckles, still well hidden behind the leaves of the tree, wasn't even breathing, eager tp find out more.

-I can come to you in a second with the Chaos Control, and we can come back home together, you don't need to stay the night there.

"Come to you", "we", "together", weren't words of a simple friendship.

-No, it's no need, but thanks anyway. And Shadow…

-Hm?

-Do you think this can become reality? I mean, again?

Shadow thought a while before answering:

-I don't know, but I sure hope it won't.

-Me too. Thanks for all your help.

-Yeah, sure, my pleasure… Whoa, I'm sleepy… Goodnight.

-Bye.

"Ok, Rouge has had a nightmare for a couple of months, something that she doesn't want to happen. What could it be? The police to catch her? Neah… To lose a diamond? Probably… But why did she say it was more like a memory? Maybe something bad happened to her in her past… But what?"

Knuckles looked at Rouge, who had a happy smile on her face, despite the nightmare she just had.

"Maybe she's thinking about her beloved Shadow. I can imagine what I would've happened if they would go home –together-…"

Just then, the image of a naked Rouge throwing Shadow on the bed appeared in the echidna's mind.

"Urgh… Oh God and they were talking so lovely… I hate that! But what if I'm jealous? On Shadow? No way! I'd never be jealous on that jerk! Never!... Oh, who am I fooling? I wished Rouge and me could talk like that, I wish we were together, we were lovers, if I could hold her just one single time, close to my heart… So many impossible wishes, I sound just like a fool! Well, a fool in love, at least… Oh, but I want her SOOO BAD!"

With these thoughts in his mind, Knuckles ran again in the wilderness of the woods.

"I just need to free my mind, I mustn't think about Rouge, cause if I do, it'll drive me mad!"

Meanwhile, Rouge thought about Knuckles:

"Where the hell could he be? If he isn't on this island, then where could he be? Well, the ME is sure here, cause the island is still floating! Maybe he had moved its place, where it could be safe, while he's gone, if he really is gone… Of course, he'll never leave it unguarded! He only cares about his stupid jewel! Or… is he just hiding? But why? Or, from who? Urgh… He's just a stupid echidna, why can't I stop thinking about him? What is wrong with me? I think I love him… But why? That's just not right! I steal jewels, and he guards one! Why do I have to love my enemy? But… maybe things wouldn't be so rough if he loved me too. But he doesn't! he just loves that stupid, green rock! Oh, if that thing wouldn't exist, if he was a free soul, things would've been so great! I just…"

She closed her eyes tightly, so that no tears would pour from her eyes.

"… want him so bad…"

Knuckles looked at the bright, pale moon. It was shining so brightly, just like a diamond.

"Great… Now I'm comparing things with jewels. The only jewel I really want to guard is only a cunning batgirl whom I can't have…"

He whispered her name, and the wind carried it far away. At the same moment, Rouge said his name, being on the other side of the island. Their massager was the wind, which carried their names throughout the whole Angel Island. Knuckles heard his name whispered by the voice he loved, and Rouge heard hers. And they both got the same idea, which, at first, had no connection with the other, but was kind of ironically, all about the other.

First chapter. Hope you liked it. And if you're confused, just wait for chapter two "Water Love".