Chapter 4

Tikal awoke rubbing her eyes. She lifts her upper body to make herself sit up straight, Indian style. She stretches her arms, then her legs only to hear some of her bones crack. She rubs her head feeling a small bump, remembering what happen she looks at her arm and sees some dead skin. She gets off Tails bed and heads to the bathroom for a shower. She washed off the black ash that was still stuck on her hair, face and pulls out the dead skin. She turns off the shower and looks at herself at the mirror and fixes her hair while putting on her clothes. She opens the door nearly missing Tails from hitting his nose.

Tails: "Hey watch it, oh hey Tikal I was about to go and check on you since what happen yesterday."

"Thank you but I'm fine…how's your arm?" Tikal asks noticing a bandage wrapped around his arm.

"Oh its fine it'll heal on its own." Tails replies putting his hand on his arm.

They walked down the hallway meeting with the rest of the gang. Amy was washing dishes. Shadow and Knuckles were sitting on the sofa watching T.V.; Rouge was laying down drinking orange juice. Amy was washing dishes.

Sonic: "Hi Tikal"

Tikal: "Hi Sonic. How long have I been asleep?"

Sonic: "You been asleep for three days now"

Tikal: "Three days!"

"No just kidding only for a few hours. Ouch! What was that for?" Sonic rubs his arm after being punch.

Tikal: "Don't kid around like that you had me worried there for a second"

"Hey Sonic how's about we take a break and take Tikal and show her around the city." Amy suggested. Sonic though it was a good idea and asks Tikal if she wanted to come. She accepts and Tails wanted to tag along. Sonic ask Shadow and Knuckles if they wanted to come but they denied, prefer to watch T.V. and Rouge didn't bother to answer while she finishes the last drop of orange juice she was drinking.

After they left Rouge get up from the sofa and tells Knuckles and Shadow that she's going to make cookies. Shadow and Knuckles look at each other knowing that they are going to fell sick from there stomachs tonight since Rouge can't cook.

Sonic and Amy held hands while Tails and Tikal walked next to each other. There eyes sometimes made contact with each other but they quickly turn their heads away and admire the scenery. They continue walking and eventually Sonic and Amy went their own separate ways while Tails was left with Tikal.

"So what do you want to do first?" Tikal asked Tails

Tails looks at Tikal while she waits for a response. Tails thinks of what to do but right before he tells her he doesn't have a clue something catches his eye..

"I know come on" Tails replies as he grabs her hand and takes her into an arcade.

Tikal: "Where are we?"

Tails: "We're in the arcade. This is where you can play all sorts of kind of games."

Tikal: "That one looks like fun"

Tails: "What, you mean Dance Dance Revolution"

Tikal: "What is that?"

Tails: "It's when you dance step on the corresponding arrows that come up on the screen with the correct timing. Come on I'll show you"

Tails get on the Dance panel and puts on Electric Air on basic difficulty to show her how it goes.

Tails: "You see you step on the correct arrow panel that comes up on the screen and when two arrows come at the same time you jump on both of them, here you try"

"Okay but I know I won't be very good at this woo" Tikal cries as she almost slips but Tails catches her.

"Here let me help" Tails says as he moves her body along with his to make her step on the correct panel.

Tails: "left, left, left, right jump up and down, up, down, right, right, left, jump left and right. There you see your getting the hang of it"

"Can we try a harder one on a harder difficulty level" Tikal asked eagerly

Tails: "You're sure?"

Tikal: "Yes"

Tails puts on Waka Laka on expert. Tikal starts stepping on the panels getting stats of good then she starts getting combos but straight perfect. Tails watches with his mouth open amazed to see how quick she got the hang of it already because it took him nearly two weeks to at least do that one in expert but she's doing it on her first try. As she gets a longer combo people stop playing the games they were playing and start watching her and cheer for her. After she finishes the song Tikal leans on the ledge taking a breath of fresh air as everyone screams in cheer and clap. "well well looks like we got a dancer" a teen girl no older than thirteen years of age from the crowd speaks to her.

Tikal: "Who me?"

"Yes you. You like dancing"

"Uh" before Tikal could reply she gets interrupted

"You, me on the dance floor now"

"Uh Tails who is she?" she asks as she walks to the dance floor. "Um I forgot to mention that well… her name is Jessi and she's the champion in Dance Dance Revolution and if your good like you just did then you have to go against her no questions ask" Tails replies. As Tikal starts climbing on the steps she makes a groan remark at Tails "thanks a lot". Right before she looses sight of Tails because of the crowds pushing Tails yells at her "Don't worry I know you'll do fine" for he had faith in her. That helped her because as she was face to face with Jessi that brought her hopes up and her eager to beat her.

"Get prepare to be ashamed of yourself because your going to loose" Jessi says to Tikal before they begin.

"We'll see" Tikal replies as the Jessi selects the song Breakdown.

They start dancing at an Expert Difficulty going at a medium speed steeping on the arrow panels then millions of arrows start popping up. Tikal and Jessi start stepping on the panel at extreme speed. Tails looks at how fast they are dancing as his eyes get watery from staring at the screen for over five minutes. She starts beating Jessi as her bar is almost filled, the song gets halfway finish. Jessi has never lost a match so she decides to cheat. She waits for the right moment as she sees Tikal getting a bit tired. Just as the song is about to finish she's try's to make Tikal slip but slips on her own mistake and watches as Tikal finishes the rest of the song with the bar completely fill. The ranks start appearing on the screen, Jessi get a double AA. Jessi smiles with pride as she knows she can't beat her score. Tikal rank starts appearing on the screen. Tails crosses his fingers as Tikal watches anxious to know if she won. Tikal gets a triple AAA.

"Tikal you won!" Tails yells in excitement as she lifts Tikal in mid-air swinging her around then puts her back on the ground.

"Tails you were right I can do it" Tikal says but there happy moment was interrupted by Jessi.

"No fair that wasn't suppose to happen. I want a rematch"

"Hey she won fair and square" Tails replies defending Tikal. They stare at each other with angry looks.

"Okay that's enough you two!" The manager of the arcade yells at them as he comes to break up the fight.

"What's going on here?" he asked

"They cheated. They knocked me down and that girl-"

"That enough" he interrupted her. "Jessi I'm getting tired of your excuses from just losing a dumb match. You are here by banned from here from now on for four weeks"

Jessi: "But"

"Did I make myself clear?" he said in an angry voice.

"Yes daddy" Jessi moaned as she walked out of the arcade furious.

"My serious apology if my daughter caused you any trouble"

Tails: "No it's alright she didn't cause that much trouble"

"Well I do hope you had a nice time and come again" he replied walking back into his office.

They walked out of the arcade while they waved back to the people that were watching them and yelling "we love you Tikal". They just walked and ignore but Tikal couldn't help but let out a chuckle. As they continue walking the sun was still up and Tikal couldn't stop humming to herself the song Breakdown since it had a good beat to it but was soon interrupted by the sound of Tails stomach. "I guess I'm a bit hungry now" Tails says while Tikal just giggles. "Your hungry" he asked "I want something that has BBQ" she replies. "Perfect I know just the place"

Tails grab's Tikals hand and runs down the street. "Tails where are we-" but before she could continue they made a sharp left turn at the end of the block. They stopped in front of a restaurant that Tails goes to once a week. Tikal looked up at the letters on the tope of the restaurant which said Shane's Rib Shack. She looks at Tails "Well you said wanted something with BBQ and this is the only place I know where mostly everything they make is with BBQ". They walked in and sat next to the window to feel the nice breeze passing by.

"What's up Tails" a familiar voice spoke to him.

Tails: "What up Joe. How's it been?"

Joe: "You know a little here a little there trying to make of life. So who's this pretty lady you're with?"

Tails: "Joe this is Tikal. Tikal this is Joe, I known him for a while and he's the owner of the restaurant."

Tikal: "Nice to meet you"

Joe: "The pleasure all mine. You two just met?"

Tails: "A few days ago why?"

"Oh I think you know what I mean" as he nudge Tails in the shoulder with his elbow. "So what will it be?"

Tails: "I'll have a full rack of ribs"

Tikal: "I'm new here so I don't-"

Joe: "The BBQ chicken sandwich with the chopped pork is really good. Care to try"

Tikal: "I'll have that"

Joe: "I'll be back with your food in a bit"

They waited and chat about how there day has been, how easily Tikal whooped Jessi at Dance Dance Revoulution but stopped talking after the tray of garlic bread came and nibbled on the food. Joe came with there meals a couple of minutes after they finish the whole tray of garlic bread. Tikal was surprise how big the rack of ribs that Tails order as he tied his napkin around his neck and started biting the meat off while BBQ sauce dripped from the rib he held in his hands. Tikal started eating her BBQ chicken sandwich she order and it had a luxurious flavor with tomatoes, salad, and three kinds of BBQ sauce mixed in just right to give it a tangy taste. Tails watch while he nibbled on his ribs to see Tikal finish it in a matter of seconds and start eating her chopped pork, seeing her eat that fast knew that she loved it. Tikal finishes her last bit of chopped pork, she watches Tails finish his last rib and let out a chuckle. "What's so funny?" he asked. All she did was point to her mouth; Tails looks at his spoon only to see his upper lip cover in BBQ sauce looking like a mustache. He lets out a chuckle seeing how funny he looks and wipes his mouth. When they finish eating Joe comes to see how everything was.

Joe: "So how was the food, was it to your exquisite delight?"

Tikal: "I enjoyed it"

Joe: "I could see that seeing that there's no crumb on your plate"

Tails: "So how much do I owe?"

Joe: "Don't worry about it, it's on the house."

Tails: "Thanks Joe"

Joe: "No problem Tails. Have a great night."

They replied back and left Shane's Rib Shack. When they got outside they see it's almost sunset, Tikal suggest that they better get going before they start worrying but Tails told her to wait, he wanted to show her something he knew she'll enjoy. Tails took Tikal to the edge of the cliff next to the lighthouse. They sat on the green grass as they watch sun set onto the horizon while they hear the ocean waters hit the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. While they watch the sunset Tails notices how lovely the sun shines on her orange hair. "Tikal I think your" but he stop himself in time from saying what he was going to say as he cheeks turn red. "Yes it is a lovely sunset" she tells Tails. While they continue looking Tikal sees two Bluebirds fly over there heads flying next to each side by side as both beaks connect.

Tikal: "Isn't it romantic how the two Bluebirds fly side by side like two people in love at first sight but doesn't know how to express their feelings to the other person"

Tails: "Yes it is romantic"

They stare at each other. Tikal slowly closes her eyes and begins to move her lips towards Tails. He hesitates but lets his feeling for her take control. He slowly moves in, as they come closer they could feel each other breaths and hear each other chuckles as their breaths tickle their noses. Their lips start to open; they can feel each others breath come out harder and faster as their hearts pumping at a faster rate. "Ow" Tails yelps breaking the kiss. Tails looks around to see what hit him on the head as Tikal sadly watches him search. He sees a blue shiny rock but as he moves closer he sees it's not a rock but a chaos emerald and shows Tikal what hit him on the head. She congratulates him but looks at the horizon and sees the sun almost fully setting as night fall approaches. "Its time to go" she says in a low voice as they got off the grass and head home.

When they make it back to Tails house they see Amy holding a brown Chao doll that Sonic must had brought from the mall since Tails sees shopping bags on the floor next to her.

Tails: "where's Sonic?"

Amy: "He's in bed he was pretty tired by the time we finish shopping."

"Who wouldn't be if they went shopping with you" Tails murmurs softly so she wouldn't hear him.

Amy: "Hmm you say something?"

Tails: "Oh nothing"

Rouge was putting the cookies she made this morning in the oven and told Shadow and Knuckles that they're be ready in the morning and she wants them to be the first ones to taste her cooking. While Rouge passes by them heading for bed, Shadow and Knuckles do the same putting their hands on their stomach knowing what they were going to feel sick in the morning.

Tikal: "You can have your room tonight Tails I'll sleep on the sofa."

Tails: "Wait Tikal close your eyes I want to show you something."

Tikal obeyed as he led her to the second garage where he made her bedroom.

Tails: "okay you can open your eyes now."

Tikal: "Tails its lovely."

Tails: "I didn't how you lived in the future so I trying thinking how it would looked like"

"Thank you Tails" she gave him a kiss on the cheek, she looks at him while his cheeks turned red.

"Well uh-um see in the morning goodnight" he told Tikal

"Good night" she replied as she watches him head to his room slowly closing her door.

Electric Air, Waka Laka, and Breakdown are all songs from Dance Dance Revolution.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Sonic characters or Baten Kaitos characters.

A/N: How sad Tails never finish his kiss, doesn't he know that true love comes first before anything else oh well can't blame a Kitsune for trying. I know you were hoping for them to kiss in this chapter but don't worry Fan Fiction Readers they will kiss I just haven't decide when but I assure it will be true love. Sorry for the almost 2 month delay but had to get ready for the FCAT but now it's over. If you have any suggestion or improvements please tell me or E-mail me and yes I know it's a little too late to put the disclaimer but I just forgot.