CHAPTER 10

Meanwhile in another empty part of a long hallway, the vent that covered the opening to a ventilation system had fell from the ceiling and on to the hard floor of the hallway.

Afterwards, Shadow had peeked his head out from the opening of the ventilation shaft and glanced around the hallway to see if he saw any sight of anyone. When he figured that no one was around, he jumped down from the ceiling and landed on the floor. He looked back up at the open ventilation shaft. "Okay Rouge, the coast is clear." He held out his arms so he could catch her when she had jumped down.

Once Rouge jumped down, she had safely landed in his arms. She had then allowed him to set her down onto the floor. She glanced around the empty and quiet hall, "Looks like we're in."

"Yeah we should get going."

When she saw him about to walk down the hallway, she had called out to him. "Hold on, Shad."

He had stopped in his tracks and turned back to her. "What's wrong?"

"Well", she spoke. "I was just thinking that this mansion is pretty big. I think we'll do better finding Tikal if we split up."

"No", he spoke. "We barely know a thing about this place and not only that, we're on their territory. You're not leaving my side."

"Shadow", she spoke while she placed her hands onto his chest and looked up at him. "Come on. You said I was one of the strongest ones on the team."

"...I know. I did say that." He heavily sighed and held her hands. "I'm sorry for acting this way. It's just you're my one and only wife and I want to do everything in my power to make sure you're safe."

She couldn't help but to make a small smile and hug him. "Well don't worry so much. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself." She looked up at him and placed a hand on his cheek, "You know this, Shad."

He smiled and pressed his forehead against hers, "Yeah I do, babe. Otherwise you wouldn't be here at all."

"I'll be careful." She leaned in to press her lips gently against his. She made a comforting smile once she slowly broke the kiss. "I swear."

He made a small nod when he decided to allow her to go off on her own. When he saw her beginning to walk off in another direction, he called out to her one last time. "Rouge?"

She spun around and gave him her attention.

"If you run into Kiba or Sky, promise me you won't try to take them on. You get out of there and don't look back."

She paused for a moment and hesitated before she could bring herself to respond to him. "...I promise." She had then turned and continued to walk in the other direction of the hallway.

Later, Nails had made it into the mansion and found herself in a large room that was practically covered in plant vines There was even different kinds of plants and flowers that were placed in pots around the room. She even spotted a large fountain that had water spewing from it. As she glanced around the room, she figured it was some type of garden room. She stopped in her tracks when she heard a feminine voice behind her.

"Like what you see?"

Startled, Nails spun around and turned to a black female coyote coming into the room and shutting the door behind her. She glared at her while she slowly walked around the room.

"This room is quite unique. When the rest of the Silver Fangs and I discovered this underground mansion, we didn't know who was here previously or how long ago this place was built. We all just stumbled upon it and used this place for our new headquarters." She made a small giggle, "The entire city has been searching high and low for us and we've been under their noses this whole time. Funny isn't it?"

Nails crossed her arms in annoyance towards her. "Yeah", she spoke in a bitter tone. "Hilarious. I'm not trying to learn a history lesson. I came here for my girlfriend."

The coyote gave her a blank look. "Girlfriend?"

"Yes", she growled. "An orange echidna girl? The one you kidnapped?"

"Oh!" She spoke in an interested tone. "She's you're girlfriend? My this is quite amusing!"

Nails took a step forward towards her. "I'm warning you", she growled in an angered tone. "You don't want to fuck with me. Now..." A black aura had flowed around her clenched fists. "Where is Tikal?"

Meanwhile, Rouge continued to walk down the long, narrow, and silent hallway. While she walked, she began to become uneasy. The halls were way too quiet. She knew something wasn't right. She was startled when she had suddenly heard a strange yet familiar male voice.

"Well, isn't this a surprise..."

She looked around until she spotted a white male bat who was somehow standing upside down from the ceiling above her. She made a small gasp from the sight of him, "...Sky..."

He flashed his fangs as he made an evil smirk, "My dear sweet baby sister..."

When she saw him jump down from the ceiling, she took a step back away from him. Her eyes were locked onto his menacing ones.

"What brings you here and wandering around this huge place...alone?" He asked as he stepped forward to her.

She had then gave him a firm look, "...I'm not afraid of you."

He arched an eyebrow while he slowly circled around her. "Oh? Well now aren't you brave. Especially without that little boy toy by your side."

"...I actually wanted to talk with you...alone."

"Talk?" He spoke blankly. "What about?"

She sighed as she started to explain what she had wanted to talk to Sky about. "Sky, you're my cousin, but I've always thought of you as an older brother."

He stopped walking around her and confronted her. "And I've always thought of you as a younger sister."

She made a small nod, "My point being...I don't want us to fight and I know deep down you don't want that either."

He couldn't believe it. She didn't actually hate him? She wanted to make peace with him. But why? "...Rouge..."

"You and Nails were the only ones I was close to when we were all younger. When Nails started using black magic, I thought I had lost her. But she came back and now she's fighting alongside us."

He made a small nod as he agreed with her.

"And if she can change her ways, I know you can too." She gave him a sympathetic look, "Sky, we don't have to do this. We can all start over and become a family again..." Her eyes widened when she saw him place a finger under her chin and made her look into his eyes.

"Oh Rouge, I know what you're trying to do and your words have made me so happy. I'm glad to know you still see the good in me." He took his finger from under her chin and turned away from her. "But there is one thing..."

"...What is it?"

"...That husband of yours. Even if you're welcoming me back into the picture with open arms, do you think he could forgive me and after everything I've done?"

She slowly shook her head, "It's alright. We can both talk to him together. He'll understand."

He turned and leaned close to her. "If there's one thing I treasure most about you, Rouge. It's you having such an open and understanding heart. But Shadow will always look at me as a threat. No matter how much I say I've changed."

Rouge watched as he leaned closer to her and began to talk softly into her ear.

"As long as he's in the picture, we could never be the family you want us to be. I'm sorry, Rouge."

She stood there like a statue as he kissed her cheek softly and began to walk down the opposite side of the hallway. She clenched her fists and looked down to the floor. "You don't understand! You and Shadow will end up killing each other!" She shut her eyes tightly and swallowed hard before she could speak out to him again. "Damn it, Sky! You're...you're going to be an uncle!" When she turned, she saw that he had already left her alone in the hallway.

In The Next Chapter...

Ker: How old is this place anyway?

Espio: You almost killed me and my girlfriend! You'll pay for this!

Kuroi: Just...what are you?

Kiba: This is getting interesting...