Hello again! Another chappy finally up, and it's the first one EVUH with my new Mac... :D It takes a little longer to write since I'm not quite used to the system and keyboard yet, but I'll get there.

Standard disclaimer applies. Also, the song used here is called "Sakura Drops" by the ever-lovely and inspirational Utada Hikaru. Unfortunately, I don't own the song OR her, so the disclaimer applies for that, too.

As you can see, we're slowly edging our way into the shounen-ai. And I DO mean slowly.

Many thanks to my wonderful reviewers! *teary eyes* I don't think I've ever had regular readers before! It's such an amazing feeling! This one is for you guys!

A week had passed before Sonic knew it, and that week was followed by several more. Things were finally starting to settle down, and for the first time, the blue-haired boy finally felt like he could relax.

Knuckles was spending less and less time with Sonic as the days passed, caught up in his crush on Rouge. Even so, he never failed to turn up to herd the kids to and from meals and at night before the RA checked in for curfew. Sonic didn't really mind it so much- he figured that his best friend deserved some time to himself, though whether or not he chose to spend it alone was debatable.

Sonic didn't mind having more time to himself, either. It took him an amazingly longer amount of time to finish his homework when he was dealing with his newly-wrapped cast. The thing itched like a motherfucker and was bulky as all hell. Having less time with Knuckles also meant more time with Tails, and, whenever he popped up, Shadow.

The elder boy always found Sonic when he least expected it, whether it was when he was walking around campus after class or in the stairwell up to his floor, sometimes when he was in the tech lab watching Tails build his newest gadget, others when he was on his way to the infirmary to get his arm checked on. Shadow always seemed to find him at least once a day, sometimes for no reason at all except to bitch at each other for some reason or another.

If it had been anyone else, Sonic might have found it annoying, but, for Shadow, it just seemed normal. The other was going through as much separation from his best friend as Sonic was. That was one of his frequent topics of bitching- that Rouge had blown him off for this or that- that usually being Knuckles. His annoyance with the redhead was usually off the charts, but it was probably because he was used to having his friend to himself.

Sonic sighed, knowing that he really should be paying attention to what Tails was rambling about. The little boy was latched onto his hand, babbling away about something or another as Sonic brought him back to the dorms.

"And Amy said that she was having trouble with her iPod, so I promised her that I would try to fix it. I just think that the fiber optics for the screen have probably expired, so it should be an easy repair."

"That's good," Sonic replied. "How have your classes been going?"

"Oh," Tails said. "Well, to be honest, they're a little boring. It's okay, though, because they give me lots of work to do, and even if I finish it fast, it's more fun than the other things I was doing before. I have a five-page paper due on Friday, so I should probably get started on that."

"You have tonight and tomorrow to get it done, though, so that should be plenty. Just make sure you don't miss anything, and make sure you cite your sources."

"I will. I like MLA format, it's a lot easier than APA. But then again, MLA is a bit harder when you have to find everything you need, especially on unfinished sources."

"I just hate citing sources in general," Sonic admitted to the blonde boy. "It's really annoying."

"Yeah, I guess it can be tedious."

Sonic paused at the door, swiping his key thorough for Tails to enter and holding the door.

The blonde frowned. "You're not coming?"

Sonic shook his head. "Nah, I'm gonna walk around for a little while, maybe look for Knuckles and make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble."

"Oh," Tails replied, frowning. "I guess so. I like Rouge, though, she's nice. You should find someone like that who makes you happy, too!"

Sonic just about choked on his own tongue. "I don't know, Tailsy. I'm pretty happy as I am."

Tails gave him the look, the one that clearly was skeptical and said I don't really believe you.

"I am," Sonic insisted. "Besides, someone needs to look after you guys, right? I have too much work to do to get slowed down by someone else."

"Then get someone who can keep up," Tails replied with a frown. "You look funny whenever you see Knuckles with Rouge. We've all noticed it, Sonic. Chip, too. It makes Amy sad."

Sonic groaned slightly. "You guys are killing me. You can't just be trying to push me onto someone else. No mater what, you're gonna be stuck with me, okay? And Amy, well, she'll find someone that's better for her than an old guy like me. But that's just between us, okay?" He grinned a little. "I don't want her rage coming down over my head. She can save it for Knuckles or whatever other boy she finds to push around."

Tails gave him a look that was just so sad that it made Sonic hesitate, crouching down to his level and putting his hands on the younger boy's shoulders.

"Tails," Sonic sighed. "Look, I'm fine. After everything that happened before, I just... I just think it would be easier for me, at least for now, to stay single. I don't want to have anyone, okay? I mean... it's just me. You know how I am. I don't want to leave anyone behind, waiting for me to come back or come around or just come to my senses. It might just be better this way. And I... I'm happy."

"No, you're not," Tails replied. "You're not happy. You smile, but you aren't. But if this is how you want to be, Sonic... you're like my big brother, and you try so hard to make me and everyone else happy... I just want you to be happy, too."

Sonic sighed, ruffling blonde hair and standing. "Thank you, Tails. You're like my brother, too. I just want what's best for you, and I want you to know that I'm always here. Not distracted by someone else."

"I can share," the boy pouted. "Just you be happy, and I will be, too. Anyway... I have to start my paper."

Sonic held the door open for the boy to enter the dorms, closing it behind him and turning away with a heavy sigh.

Darkness had already fallen, the campus illuminated by the lampposts that were stationed every so often along the concrete pathways. The moon was on its way back from full, a circle almost all the way around until an imaginary line, where it simply curved back inward. It was still fairly warm, but Sonic expected that wouldn't last much longer, if the falling rate of temperature was any indication. Especially with the breeze- he was already starting to get goosebumps.

Maybe I should have gotten a sweatshirt, he thought, shoving his hands into his fleece-lined pockets.

Sonic sighed, feet carrying him around the campus aimlessly, past the other students that headed back to the dorms in their individual groups of friends. He walked past a few individuals, fast-walking to get back home, and a few couples, clasped hands swinging between them as they headed anywhere they felt like going.

He didn't really want to be near anyone right now, Sonic realized. He was just an inexplicably strange mood and had a desire to just be alone.

Sonic cut off the path, sneakers squelching slightly against the partially-damp grass, breathing in the clean air that always came with being outside at night. He liked this- the day was for running, for the fast-pace events that barreled one after another. The day was for everyday life.

The night... the night was for quiet. For solitude, for him to clear his mind. To think the things that he couldn't get away with during the day, under the watchful eyes of his friends and the kids.

Sonic liked nighttime. He liked the dark, the only light coming from the moon and the pinprick stars. He liked having the freedom to just... breathe.

Sonic leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the rough bark. He listened to the hushed and distant voices in the courtyard, to the invisible bugs that chirped from under rocks and in the grass. He listened to his own breathing, mostly, letting the day's frustration wash through him and out.

Then he heard it.

"Koi wo shite owari wo tsuge

Chikau koto wa kore ga saigo no heartbreak

Sakura sae kaze no naka de

Yurete yagate hana wo sakasu yo

Furidashita natsu no ame ga

Namida no yoko wo tootta sutto

Omoide to daburu eizou

Aki no dorama no saihousou,"

Sonic frowned, the sound of an acoustic guitar and quiet voice echoing over the quiet landscape. He didn't recognize the language, but knew it as something most likely Asian.

Listening harder, he recognized the voice as male, and from the tone of the guitar, whoever was playing it was likely playing without a pick- the sound lacked the twang of plastic-on-metal.

"Doushite onaji you na panchi

Nando mo kuracchaun da

Sore demo mata tatakaun darou

Sore ga inochi no fushigi

Koi wo shite subete sasage

Negau koto wa kore ga saigo no heartbreak

Sakura sae toki no naka de

Yurete yagate hana wo sakasu yo

Kurikaesu kisetsu no naka de

Kutsu ga surihetteku motto

Kata no chikara nuite

Kako wa dokoka ni shimatte oke

Koko kara sou tookunai darou

Mita koto mo nai keshiki

Tomaranai mune no itami

Koete motto kimi ni chikazukitai yo

Hitomawari shite wa modori

Aoi sora wo zutto tesaguri,"

Sonic followed the voice, though quietly, not wanting to be discovered.

The voice sounded almost... sad. He wondered if whoever was singing knew what they were saying, knew the emotions that they were putting out through the nighttime air.

Around another bend on the invisible path, and Sonic knew he was getting close. Through the trees, a labyrinth of short concrete walls and pathways rose from the darkened campus, one flickering light in the middle. A figure sat on one of the walls cross-legged, guitar balanced on his lap as he leaned forward to see where his fingers were moving.

If it wasn't for the voice, Sonic may not have known the person was a boy- he was slender, lightly muscled and in slightly-baggy pants and sweatshirt, hair damp and sleek, down to his shoulders, the color obscured by the dim lighting.

Sonic blinked, leaning back against the tree he stood next to, simply watching and listening. He felt nervous and awkward, just standing here and watching from the darkness rather than making his presence known. Of course, he reasoned silently, he might stop playing if he knew I was here.

And it seemed like if that music stopped, whatever the blue-haired boy was feeling now would stop, too, and the unrecognized moment would be broken. Because Sonic didn't really understand what was going on with this whole thing- maybe it was just what Tails had been saying that was making him feel this way- but, even knowing that the musician was a boy, not even really knowing what he looked like... Sonic kind of thought he was maybe a little bit beautiful.

His heart gave a little shudder-lurch at the thought.

"Koi wo shite owari wo tsuge

Chikau koto wa kyou ga saisho no good day

Sakura made kaze no naka de

Yurete sotto kimi ni te wo nobasu yo

Suki de suki de dou shiyou mo nai

Sore to kore to wa kankei nai."

The boy placed his hands over the strings after a moment, halting the vibrations and, therefore, the sound. He sighed, shoulders slumping, and looked up, the light finally falling on his face. Familiar tan skin was illuminated, followed by a sharp facial structure, dark hair, and, finally, wide scarlet eyes.

Sonic swallowed nervously at the look that came over Shadow's face- it was a mix of rage, mortification, disbelief and near terror.

"Sonic? What are you doing here?"

The blue-haired boy took a step back, mind still reeling.

Shadow. It was Shadow. What the hell?

"I, uh, I mean... I was walking, and I heard you playing, and I don't know... I mean, don't be freaked out or anything-! You were really good." Sonic stuttered to a halt, standing awkwardly, not sure whether he should stay, leave, or run like all hell, broken arm be damned.

Shadow swung his legs over the wall, holding his guitar carefully as he placed it into its case, clipping it in. His shoulders quivered slightly and he said nothing.

Sonic panicked. "Uh, no, don't. You were here first, I'll go, okay? I'm really sorry." He turned on his heel, starting to leave when Shadow's voice stopped him.

"Do you know the song?" He asked softly, carefully.

"What?" Sonic asked. "No. I've never heard it before."

"Oh," the dark-haired boy replied, sighing heavily in what looked like relief. Sonic frowned, confused, still unsure of whether he should stay or go.

He took another step.

"No, wait," Shadow sighed. "I'm unused to having others listen to me play. Even Rouge... I apologize. It's a rather personal thing for me."

"It was my fault," Sonic replied. "I was lurking around like a creeper. You have every right to be freaked out. I should have said something."

Shadow sighed, standing, but leaving his guitar in-case on the ground. He settled back onto the wall. "Why are you all the way out here? It's late, isn't it?"

Sonic glanced at his phone. "Nine forty-five. I didn't even know this was here or how I got here. Like I said, I was just walking around."

Shadow hummed under his breath, seemingly content where he was, but not motioning for the other to approach, either. "We're out somewhere behind the music building. It used to be the main building until the school got too large, or so Rouge's teacher says. The classrooms were converted into practice rooms, and they never did anything about the courtyard. I only found it last week."

Sonic nodded slightly, glancing around before he looked up at the sky, anything to avoid the crimson stare of his friend. He still couldn't believe that he'd thought of Shadow -even if he didn't know it was him at the time- as beautiful. He also couldn't seem to calm the rapid beating of his heart.

"So, um, what language was that?"

Shadow was suddenly cautious, gaze averted. "Japanese. The song is old- I don't remember where I learned it or what it's called."

"Do you know what it's about?"

"No." Shadow's answer was sharp, maybe a little sharper than it should have been for Sonic to completely believe him. Of course, he was still mostly fixated on how unfamiliar the other looked.

"You look different," Sonic said.

Shadow's head tilted a bit to the side, face set in a small frown. "How?"

"I don't know- your hair. Your clothes. Just different?"

Shadow fidgeted slightly. "Different... bad?"

Sonic shook his head, leaning back against the tree. His eyes traced the form of the elder boy and he chewed on the inside of his lip. "No," he replied. "Just different. I didn't know that it was you until you were done."

Shadow nodded vaguely, pulling at the cuffs of his sweatshirt. "I didn't feel like getting back into normal clothes to go out. At night is really the only time that I'd allow myself to be seen in anything other than what I'd usually wear. Sweatpants are more comfortable, anyway."

"That's true," Sonic conceded. "I don't know. I guess I'm just being weird."

"It's understandable," Shadow replied. "The darkness couldn't possibly help, either."

Sonic sighed, reaching into his pocket as his phone buzzed, a new text message displayed on the screen.

Where are you? Knuckles wrote. Curfew is in ten minutes.

"Shit," Sonic mumbled.

"What is it?"

"I have to go," the younger answered. "Curfew is in ten minutes and Knuckles is having a minor spaz attack. You should probably head back, too."

"True." Shadow slid from the wall, picking up his guitar case and pulling the strap over his shoulder. He walked across the courtyard to where Sonic stood, taking a left and cutting diagonally through the campus.

Sonic blinked.

"Are you coming?" Shadow asked. "If you go back the way you came, you'll be late. This way is faster."

The other nodded, removing his hands from his pockets and following at an awkward jog to catch up, slowing to a fast-paced walk. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"Dunno. Just felt like I needed to say it." He raised and dropped his shoulders in a shrug. "For being cool about my intrusion, I guess. You could have just flipped out and left, but you didn't."

"I suppose. But if I really wanted to be alone, I probably should have stayed in my room."

"You're not exactly making it easy for me to apologize."

"You aren't required to apologize. I was at fault. Again." Shadow sighed, obviously attempting to avoid eye contact.

"Is that what this is about?" Sonic scowled, reaching out with his god hand to grab one of the handles of Shadow's guitar case.

"Careful! We have to keep going, we're going to be late."

"No, okay? Stop. You're going to listen to me."

Shadow halted obediently- rather, more like he had no other choice- scowling dangerously at Sonic. He pulled away, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What, Sonic?"

The blue-haired boy's scowl easily matched his friend's. "I should really just beat the shit out of you with my cast. Then maybe you'd think we were even." He frowned, equal parts hurt and pissed off. "I don't want you to be friends with me because you feel guilty. If that's what this friendship is going to be built on, you might as well just go. If you're going to be my friend, then just do it because you want to, not because you feel like you have to."

Shadow was silent for a while before he stared at the ground, mumbling something that Sonic couldn't hear.

"What?"

"...I said that... I like being your friend. I want to be. But I don't think that I can forget the way I hurt you. Every time I see you, all I can see is the cast. And when that comes off, there will be a scar. It's not going to go away just because I want it to. It's not going to change the fact that I was too self-absorbed to pay attention to what you were really trying to say. I lost my temper, and you got hurt. I promised that it would never happen again, and it already has."

Sonic sighed heavily, reaching out to grab Shadow's should and shaking him slightly. "You need to stop. I'm fine, and I'm not angry. It doesn't even hurt anymore. It only makes me feel bad to watch you be so miserable about this. I don't care about the cast or about the scar. It doesn't matter."

"It does!" The other insisted. "This isn't the first time that I've hurt someone because I was careless. I just... I don't want to hurt anyone, not again. Especially not you."

Sonic's lips twitched upward in a small smile, dropping his hand. "What's so important about me? I'm just a reformed delinquent."

Shadow huffed, mumbling something under his breath that Sonic, again, couldn't decipher. Before he could ask, his phone buzzed again. Grumbling, he pulled it from his pocket. Five minutes! Where the fuck are you?

"Fuck, we gotta jet," Sonic exclaimed. "Five minutes."

"If we're late, I blame you."

Sonic skidded into his room not thirty seconds before the RA knocked on the door. Luckily, it distracted Knuckles from his űber-bitching long enough for Sonic to make his retreat into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

The redhead punched the door in frustration, growling, "The least you could do is tell me where you were!"

Sonic spat the foamy toothpaste into the sink, washing it down with a stream of water. "I don't ask where you've been, you know."

"You did the first time," Knuckles growled. "So I get to ask where you were and if you're going to make this a habit."

"Fine, fine," Sonic grumbled, unlocking and opening the door as he headed to the dresser to get out of his damp clothes.

Knuckles waited a moment before he insisted, "So? Where were you?"

"It's not as bad as you think," Sonic sighed, wiggling out of his jeans and into a pair of flannel pants. "I just dropped Tails off and went for a walk. I saw someone I knew, got distracted- we talked. I lost track of time and that was it."

"Who?" the echidna-hybrid pried. "A girl? For god's sake, Sonic, you know I'm not going to be mad. Just tell me and I'll let up."

"Jesus fuck, will you just shut up for two seconds so I can change? It wasn't a girl."

Knuckles huffed angrily, climbing onto his bunk and sitting there, watching. "I just don't understand why you're being so defensive, Sonic. There's nothing you could tell me that would surprise me."

The hedgehog-hybrid mumbled under his breath, something about 'nosy sons of bitches' and 'motherfucking hypocrites'. Knuckles decided that, if he wanted to know, he shouldn't comment.

Sonic kicked over a pile of dirty clothes so he could get over to the doorway and flicked off the light, struggling in the dark to get back to his bed and settling in.

"Sonic, I just want you to be honest with me. I've known you forever."

The younger sighed, turning toward the wall and hearing his friend settle in above him. "I was just with Shadow. It wasn't a big deal."

"Then what the hell was the big deal about, Sonic? Sure, I don't love the guy, but it doesn't mean you can't hang out with him. He's your friend."

"Sorry, man," Sonic replied softly. "I'm just out of it tonight."

Because it was true, Sonic hanging out with Shadow was no big deal.

But the rapid beating of Sonic's heart was.