Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except Rukia.
Recap: Knuckles then walks away with a smirk on his face. Chris called out to him, but he merely gave a slight wave as he continues. Amy quickly runs up to him and talks to him as he was walking. Rukia couldn't hear what she said to him, but he told her to shut up. Amy just smiles up at him, making him back off and giving everyone an awkward smile. He then walks away again, disappearing into the forest.
It has been a day since they encountered Dr. Eggman and Knuckles. The only one who was injured from that incident is Rukia, but she assured them that she will be fine if she rests and takes it easy. Right now, she was sitting on the ground and had her back against the wall. Tails and Amy were sitting on the bean bags while having a chat with one another. Sonic was nowhere to be found, but he was probably on one of his 'walks'. Cream and Cheese were also not in the room, but they were close by and making sure not to be seen by other humans. Chuck is in the room, eating away by his computer, but Chris was not here in the same room. Rukia was just relaxing, her legs on top of one another, arms crossed, and her eyes closed.
"Ne, Rukia? Maybe you should sit over here. It's much more comfortable than the hard wood floor."
Upon hearing Amy speak to her, Rukia opens her eyes and looks over at her. Both Tails and Amy were looking at her, worry and concern in their eyes. Taking up her offer, Rukia slowly stood up.
"Then, excuse me." Rukia said, walking over to them.
Happy that she listened, Amy moved over a bit and Rukia sat beside her. Amy was right. It is a lot more comfortable on the bean bags than on the floor. She was thankful for Amy's offer.
"Thank you." Rukia thanked her.
Amy practically beamed at her before she smiles. "It's no problem!"
Rukia nodded before getting comfortable on the bean bag. She still felt sore from yesterday's battle, but it's nothing that she can't bear. As long as she doesn't do anything reckless for a while, the bruises will disappear along with the dull pain.
"The next time I see Eggman, I'm going to make him regret ever hurting my friend!"
Before Amy was quite happy, but then she turned all serious and angry as she was swinging her Piko-Piko hammer around as if to make a point. Rukia and Tails slightly sweat drop at this, but they understand her anger.
"I'm still surprised that another robot appeared out nowhere from the forest. I thought it was going to attack Sonic, but then it suddenly exploded and fell in the water. I think everyone was surprised when it happened." Tails recalled, remembering about that certain moment.
Amy paused in her swinging to remember and she nodded in agreement after thinking about it. Rukia just remained silent on the matter, thinking about something else. Amy suddenly perked up as she stood up and quickly walk downstairs. Rukia and Tails listened as the sound of a door opening up was heard and voices were heard afterward.
"Sonic's back..." Rukia said, looking over at the stairs that led to the garage.
As soon as she said so, Sonic appeared from the stairs and walks over to one of the beanbags. He sat down and began to relax. He said his usual greeting until he was quiet. Sonic didn't say anything else after that, but he did have a serious look on his face while thinking. Wonder what's on his mind? Pushing the thought aside for now, Chris came up the attic with a tray of sandwiches on each plate in his hands. Once he puts the tray in front of them, everyone picked up a plate, took one of the sandwiches and took a bite into it. The sandwich was simple, but very good. It consisted of a sausage and lettuce in between a hotdog bun.
"I don't think it will be a good idea if mama and papa sees you guys." Chris said, worried about his parents reactions if they saw them.
"Yeah we know. We'll stay hidden." Tails assured him.
"Don't worry about it! It'll work out." Amy assures him as well and giving him a thumbs up.
Rukia looks over at him and gave a head nod. She wouldn't want to put more worry into the boy, especially when his parents are going to be around.
"Mama and papa are busy but I think they'll be here soon." Chris told them.
Sonic then stood up, not saying anything as usual, and walked away to where he would hang out on the root top again.
"Sonic?" Chris called out to him as he watches him walk away. He then looks back at the group. "Is he mad?" Chris asked.
"No way." Amy said, knowing him best along with Tails who nodded with Amy.
"I'd worry about getting to school if I were you." Chuck warned, pointing at an alarm clock that was on a shelf.
Chris looks over at the clock, noticing it was almost 7:05 am and he began to panic.
"Make sure that you-"
Chris had ran to the stairs, began to stumble and slid down the stairs. Rukia sweat drops.
"-don't fall...Hey Chris, you alright!?" Rukia finished her sentence before calling out to him.
"Yes! I'm okay!" Chris yelled out before a pair of footsteps were heard running out of the garage. Rukia sighs and shakes her head.
"We wouldn't want another bruised up person in here..." Rukia muttered, taking another bite of her sandwich.
The rest of the three sighed when Chris fell, but they were in agreement to what Rukia said. Tails and Amy turned to Chuck, curiosity filling their thoughts.
"Chris's papa is your son right?" Tails asked.
"Yeah." Chuck nodded, still eating his food.
"What does he do?" Amy curiously asked.
"He's the head of an enormous corporation." Chuck answered.
"And his mama?" Amy asked once again, her curiosity about Chris's parents increased.
"She's a movie star." Chuck answered once again.
There was a moment of silence before Tails spoke up, "With both his mama and papa so busy they must not be able to see Chris very often."
"I suppose so." Chuck said.
"The poor thing." Amy felt bad for Chris since he can't see his parents often.
Rukia just silently looks out the window, not joining in on the conversation for the time being. She found herself messing with the gold locket that's around her neck. Her thumb rubs against the smooth surface, finding no traces of dirt or sticky substances on the locket. Noticing Chuck finishing his breakfast, she puts her hand down and looks over at him.
"Well, I better get going as well. See you guys later." Chuck said, standing up and grabbing his stuff.
The three of them waved at Chuck as he descends down the stairs and out of the garage. Rukia looks out the window again before standing up.
"Where are you going, Rukia?" Amy asked her.
"Roof." Rukia simply answered before climbing out the window and onto the roof.
As expected, Sonic was on the roof as well. He just laid there, looking up at the sky and thinking hard about something. Not saying anything, Rukia just sat on the other side of the roof as to not bother him.
'I believe it's time to meditate. It's been a while since I ran out of energy like that.' Rukia thought to herself as she crosses her legs and puts both of her hands on her knees.
Rukia closes her eyes and begins to meditate. Her eyes cannot see anything, except a reddish black color. With the sun out, the light brightens up the pitch black darkness behind closed eyes. She takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out, relaxing her muscles and calming her mind. Rukia's focus was in her spiritual energy, expanding it and then contracting it back into her body. She continues to do this for a while. As she was meditating, Sonic couldn't help but shiver suddenly at an unexpected chill that ran up his spine. He looks around quickly, wondering where it came from. His eyes then landed on Rukia who was still meditating.
'Did it come from her?' Sonic wondered thoughtfully, still looking at her.
Rukia remained unmoved, a concentrated and calm look on her face as he observes her. Sonic didn't see anything out of the ordinary as she was just sitting there. Nothing else was nearby that would threaten his life or make him shiver like that.
'Probably just the wind.' Sonic convinced himself and went back to staring up at the sky with a thoughtful look on his face.
Thinking her mind and spiritual energy are calm enough, she slowly opens her eyes and looks at the scenery surrounding them. She raises her two fingers up and places them on her forehead. Once her mind and energy were balanced, she closes her eyes.
"Nobiru!"
As soon as she uttered that word, the reddish black color under closed eyes turned to a misty blue color. Her mind spreads out around the area and start to cover more ground. Instead of being their original colors, the scenery was covered by a misty blue color instead. Whenever her heart beats in motion, the pulse brings up the shapes over and over again to make sure it doesn't disappear. Take a tree for example. Right now, she can see a tree nearby, but it's starting to fade away from her mind quickly. Since her heart is going and beating away, the pulse keeps the shape formed in her mind. Rukia's mind continues to spread further out until she can no longer do so. The limit is five miles. There were times where she wanted to go over the limit, but every time she does that, Rukia would feel a sharp pain going through her mind and she stops doing it immediately. Just thinking about it gave her a headache, yet she continues to do her mini training.
"What are you doing?" Sonic's voice called out to her.
She didn't open her eyes or break her concentration as she spoke, "Meditating."
"It looks like your doing more than just meditating." Sonic observed, seeing as though he felt the same chilling feeling from before.
Before she can answer, she noticed figure spirits up in the sky and it confused her. She focused on that for a while until the spirits were coming closer. Rukia slowly opens her eyes, stopping the mini training for the time being and stood up. She looks to her right, which made Sonic more curious. He couldn't see anything in the distance, so he wondered if she saw something. It was a while before he did see something and it turns out to be three planes. Two look all military like with their armed missiles and such while the one in the back turned out to be a regular helicopter. Hearing the whirling sounds of a helicopter, both Amy and Tails peek their heads out from the window beside her and looked out. The helicopter landed on a pad on top of the house while the other two flew off into the distance. The propeller came to a stop and people were coming out. Two guards came out and then two other people came out. All that Rukia can tell from a far was that it was a woman and a man.
"I take it those are Chris's parents." Rukia pointed out, which resulted in a nod from Tails and Amy.
"They both look so cool! Check it out, Sonic." Amy complimented before looking over at Sonic.
Sonic was just laying there, eyes closed and his hands behind his head to support it. He didn't seem to look interested as he just hummed with an uncaring tone. Amy just sighs, though Tails lightly chuckles from behind her. Rukia just looks at them before walking over and jumping inside the attic.
Hours have passed by and Chris has yet to come home at the designated hour. Sonic was on top of the mansion's roof, standing and looking up at the sky. The other three were near a window, looking inside to to Chris's parents and Chuck in the living room, sitting down. The parents looked worried as the father looked all fidgety. If they listen closely, they would be able to hear what they had to say.
"He should have been home by now." Chuck said, looking over at the clock every once in a while.
"I hope nothing bad has happened." Chris's mother hoped, worry filling her thoughts.
"Maybe I should get my guard service on this." Chris's father thought about it, wondering if it's the right choice.
"Maybe...I wonder if this is what normal parents do when their children are late." Chris's mother wondered.
The three creatures outside continue to watch the worried family inside the house as the time continue to pass by. They noticed Chris's father leaned forward, his fingers fidgeting quickly. He then suddenly stood up.
"That's it! I'm picking him up!" Chris's father exclaimed since he can't wait any longer.
"Darling! Trust Chris!" Chris's mother reasoned with him, not giving up hope on Chris.
"Sorry. I guess I don't want to be an over protective parent. I just have to wait here. For Chris!" Chris's father apologized before waiting for Chris again, trusting in him as well.
Chuck just had an amused smile on his face thinking that all parents are all over protective. Rukia looks to the audience.
"Remember kids: Even if your parents are over protective, they do it out of love and care for your safety." Rukia told them with a nod.
Rukia then notice Sonic taking off, though Tails and Amy doesn't seem to take notice. They continue to look inside, also worried about Chris.
"They are so worried! Sonic, can't you do something?" Both Tails and Amy spoke simultaneously as they look up at the roof.
"He already left." Rukia told them.
"Eh? When?" Amy asked her.
"Just a couple of seconds ago. Chris should be fine now. We just have to wait for his return." Rukia assured them, before looking back inside the house.
Tails and Amy look at each other before looking inside the house too. The reactions didn't change, but the worried expressions seem to have increase. The family were wondering where Chris is and hope that he is safe right now. With Sonic on the way to the school, things should be back to normal as soon as he takes care of whoever is preventing Chris from going home. About ten minutes have passed and Rukia felt Sonic's presence nearby. He must be done with the job since he's already back and was hanging out on the rooftop once again. After about twenty minutes, Rukia felt Chris's presence next and a ghost smile appeared on her face.
"Chris's is home." Rukia told the two of them.
"Really!? That's great!" Amy exclaimed as she sighs in relief.
"But...how did you know?" Tails curiously asked her.
"Intuition." Rukia answered as she looks inside to see the parents rush to another room with Chuck following close by.
After the lovely reunion between Chris and his parents, the afternoon turned to night time as the three creatures were watching the family eat dinner together.
"No problem. I wasn't worried at all. When I was your age I went and hung out everyday." Chris's father told him while laughing cheerfully.
"It's very normal." Chris's mother told Chris with a smile.
Chuck had this grin on his face before speaking, "What are you saying? You were about to call out the army, right, Tanaka?" Chuck asked Tanaka, who just came into the room with Era.
"Yes, I was about to contact the president." Tanaka answered.
"Eh!?" Chris said with a surprised look on his face.
"And your mother was going to do a special news presentation on all the channels." Era told Chris with a chuckle.
"Era! I told you that was supposed to be a secret." Chris's mother persisted, not wanting Chris to know about it.
There was laughter followed after as Amy and Tails continue to watch with smiles on their faces.
"Chris's mother and father seem like nice people." Tails observed.
"I'm so glad!" Amy exclaimed with a smile, happy for Chris.
"Sonic get over here!" Tails called up to Sonic, who was still on the rooftop.
There was no response which made Amy and Tails look at each other.
"He's quite lucky. Chris, that is." Rukia commented, looking at the happy family inside.
"Lucky?" Both of them asked her, curious to know what she means by that.
"Usually when a child has busy parents, the child ends up depressed and lonely. In Chris's case, he does have busy parents, however they have very loving and caring towards him unlike other busy parents who don't pay too much attention to their own child." Rukia explained.
The two of them pondered on Rukia's explanation, finding it to be true in some areas. Rukia then starts to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Amy asked.
"I'm going to sleep early. Good night." Rukia told her before walking away to get some rest.
To be continued...