Chapter Ten: Scavenge the Emeralds

Misuki: Misuki was frantic, squeezing her pillow within her shaking body. Nazo still lingered through her head, making her more frantic and unstable. Her high emotions caused her Chaos energy to swirl inside of her. 'What has that freak done to me? I...I can't control my power. Or my emotions.' Her heart raced uncontrollably as a knock came to the door. Misuki gasped, knowing full well it was Shadow.

"Misuki, do you want to talk about what happened to you?"

Hearing his voice made Misuki tremble a little. She didn't know why. Her mind was going in different directions, causing her to feel a bit of dizziness. It got worse whenever Shadow continued to knock on the door. "Please Misuki, open the door. Let me talk to you."

Misuki sat up in the bed, leaning against the wall with the pillow wrapped tightly in her arms and legs. "The door's open." She said over her sobs.

He came in and saw how shaken up Misuki was. He tried to think of comforting words to say to her, but there was nothing that came to mind. All he did was join her on the bed and stare at her. Shadow wanted to touch her but the way she was, she looked fragile. After pondering for a while, Shadow pulled Misuki into him and made her lean against him while he wrapped both arms around her as if she were an infant. "There's no reason for you to feel guilty about your actions. No one blames you."

"I...didn't mean to hurt Knuckles like that." She wiped her tears away and then cuddled closer to Shadow. Not even his comfort could keep the thought of Nazo from her mind. "Nazo just...came into my head and then...I...I lost control of myself." More tears started to fall down her face, but Shadow used his hand to wipe them away. "How could I let someone like him get to me so bad that I hurt a close friend? I've...been angry before and have even lost my temper at times. But I...I never got so angry that it made me black out."

"Again, no one blames you. Nazo is testing all of us. He's trying to split us up and weaken our hope and bond. The only thing we can do is fight it and keep together." Shadow pushed Misuki's bangs to the side as he lifted her face up so she was looking right at him. "You are a brave, strong girl. Your spirit is unbreakable; Nazo can never get through it no matter how hard he tried. But, if you let him infect your mind like this, he just might find a rift. Okay?" He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, causing her to smile a little. "No more crying. You no longer have a reason to cry."

Misuki nodded her head, letting her body relax and pushed her bad memories out of her mind. It took a while for her body to stop shaking. It dropped from fully terrified shaking to a mild nervous tremble.

"Hey, is it okay for us to come in?" Knuckles, Sonic and Silver poked their heads through the door.

"Knuckles!" Misuki sprang from the bed and ran towards Knuckles to hug him. "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Knuckles! I didn't mean to! It was..." Three tear drops escaped the corner of her eyes, following the tear stains from previous drops that fell down her face.

Knuckles smiled as he leaned down to get his face at the same level as Misuki's. He kept his hands tight on her arms. "You don't need to apologize, Misuki. I'm okay." He assured her. "How long have you known me, Misuki?"

She wiped the last of her tears away before answering. "Since I was like...fourteen I guess."

He chuckled. "Exactly. You should know that it takes more than that to seriously hurt me. Plus...you're just as tough as me." Knuckles pressed his fist against Misuki's chin and swung it gently. "So don't sweat it, okay?"

Misuki nodded as Knuckles stood back up.

"Hey Misuki, why don't you take a nice relaxing shower?" Sonic suggested. "That always helps clear the mind."

"Yeah, that does sound good right now. I won't be long." Misuki walked out of the room while messing with her hair just because it was soothing to her and wanted to soak it in warm water.

Misuki let the water run for a long time as she turned on the radio and found a station that played soft rock music. The water level rose slightly when she entered the tub, but not too much. It was close to the edge, so she turned it off and just soaked in the water. 'This really does feel good.' She dunked down, submerging her nose and mouth in the water and blew bubbles. 'Nazo's trying to separate us.' You're just as tough as me... Misuki sighed. 'Do the others truly think that? I let Nazo get into my head and lose control of my temper. Can I really face him again?' She scooped up some water in her hands and splashed it in her face. After that, she leaned back and let her hair get soaked beneath the water. "I won't think about it too much. We will get through this. Nazo won't get his way; not if I have anything to say about it."

Misuki's bath took an hour and a half. She went into her room wearing nothing but her towel. Shadow was lying in the bed reading one of Misuki's sci-fi books. She stuffed herself in the closet and started changing into her pajamas.

"When did you get interested in books like this?" Shadow asked, still reading a page from the book.

"Blame my father. He gets to work with science fiction equipment and it rubbed off on me. Actually, I found an old diary that belonged to my mom. She wrote it around the time they were engaged and she even stated that my dad got her into sci-fi books."

Shadow couldn't help but find himself laughing. "Is there anything you don't have in common with your parents?"

"Unlike my dad, I don't know a lot about heavy machinery, nor am I into science or math." Misuki giggled while putting on some shorts. "Other than that, I can't think of any other things my parents and I don't have in common." She came out of the closet in a t-shirt and baggy shorts. She took a seat on the bed, leaning against Shadow. "So, which chapter are you on?"

"I just started chapter three when you came in. I actually like it."

Misuki snuggled closer to him. "I'm glad you do."

Shadow placed the book down beside him and held Misuki in his arms while sniffing her hair and then kissing her cheek and forehead. "So I take it the bath calmed you down?"

Misuki couldn't stop herself from giggling as Shadow continued nibbling on her. "Yes, it was very relaxing." It was hard for her to speak since she was too busy giggling. "Being with you right now is even more relaxing." Shadow eventually stopped and just rested with his head facing Misuki. "Shadow...do you think I've gotten stronger?" she asked him out of nowhere.

He opened his eyes and looked at Misuki with a small smile on his face. "I know you've gotten stronger." He whispered to her. "It's because of your strength and courage that I'm with you right now unharmed." A chuckle escaped his throat shortly after he said that.

"What's so funny?"

He took in a breath before answering. "It's funny how we suddenly switched roles in our relationship. I'm supposed to be your shield and sword. But...in reality, those roles have been given to you."

Early in the morning, the gang split up in the city looking for any stray Emeralds. Misuki was teamed with Shadow, Silver and Knuckles. Sonic, Amy,Vector and Espio were a team and then there was Tails, Cream, Cheese and Charmy.

Misuki and her team searched the New York area. She picked up a faint signal somewhere and went through every part of the city to search for it. "Can't you tell us where the Emeralds are, Silver? You time travelled, so you should know where they're located." Knuckles complained.

"By the time I joined with you, most of the stray Emeralds were already found. I may know where one or two of them are, but the one we're searching for now I have no knowledge about."

"Why aren't we going after the ones you know for sure where to find them!?"

"We are, Knuckles." Misuki told him. "Sonic and his group are going after one of the Emeralds Silver knows for sure where it is. But...that brings another question to mind: Silver, why didn't you go with Sonic to show them the location instead of programming the coordinates in their GPS?"

Silver's face began to give out a bit of a pink shading before he answered Misuki. "Well, I just wanted to...make sure you were safe. Especially after what happened between you and Nazo."

Misuki stared at Silver after he answered her. "Oh...well, thanks for your concern." Misuki actually smiled at him before quickly turning around and continuing on. "We should keep looking. The signal's faint, but I can sense the Emerald around here somewhere."

"Looking for this?"

They all froze the moment they heard that familiar voice. Around the corner was Eggman holding up the blue Chaos Emerald. Standing beside him were two mechanical canines. "Almost forgot all about you, Eggman." Misuki said, getting into a fighting position.

"That hurts coming from you. But, it doesn't surprise me since you came across that new fellow. What was his name again? Oh right, it was Nazo."

"You know about him?" Knuckles asked.

"Who doesn't? Even super geniuses like me watch the news. Anyway, I'll be taking this Emerald while you entertain my pets. Go get em' boys!"

The dogs began to move towards Misuki and the others, causing them to back away. "Shadow, we'll take care of the mutts. You go after Eggman and get that Emerald from him."

"Are you sure?"

Misuki nodded. "Hurry before he gets away." She kept her eyes on the robots while Shadow ran past them. One of them attempted to go after Shadow, but was suddeny lifted into the air and thrown into the other one. Misuki turned to Silver, seeing kinetic energy surround his hands. "Whoa, that was was amazing."

"Thanks." he smiled.

"Hey, do you think we can compliment each other after we shut down these scraps of metal?" Knuckles slipped on his spiked-gloves and prepared to charge as the two dogs got back on their feet.

Misuki followed close behind Knuckles, leaping over him and landing on the back of one of the dogs. She held onto it as it tried to buck her off. "Woohoo! Faster, faster! Come on boy, you want me off? Try harder!" She was being shaken harder and harder until Misuki jumped off of it, got behind it and grabbed its tail. The dog lifted it, taking Misuki for a nother ride and launched her in the air. Misuki let go, flying forward and prepared to attack. "CHAOS ARROW!" She shot two arrows at the robot, hitting it in the head and back. On her way down, she dealt it a powerful kick in the muzzle, causing it to break away from the face. She quickly stepped away from the robot as it blew up.

She stood up just as Silver came to her side. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good." She brushed the dirt and grind from her clothes and body. "Come on, let's help Knuckles."

Shadow: "CHAOS SPEAR!" Shadow continued his pursue on Eggman, who was travelling in a hover pod. He managed to dodge Shadow's attack and continued moving.

"Come on, Shadow! Is that the best you can do?" Eggman laughed sinisterly as he unleashed bombs from his pod.

They went off in front of Shadow, slowing him down slightly. But he still carried on, jumping over the other bombs and in front of the pod. "CHAOS SPEAR!" He launched three energy spears at the front of the pod, making it malfunction and go out of control. Shadow placed a foot out and made it stop in the middle of the road. Eggman leaned away as far as he could from Shadow. "Hand over the Emerald, Eggman. Now!"

Eggman stared at Shadow with fear for a few moments before calming himself and chuckled. "You've come a long way, Shadow. Once you were a great weapon designed by my grandfather so he could change the world. Now look at you; giving your life to an emotionally unstable girl and a group of adolescent teens who don't know how to mind their own business. With me, I helped you unlock your full potential. The person you are now...is because of me."

"You're wrong, Eggman." Shadow told him. "I am who I am because of Misuki. She was the one who opened my eyes and took my anger for humans away. It's because of her I saw that I was the same as they are. But...it is because of you and Black Doom that I was able to reunite with her. So I have to thank you for that. Now back to the issue at hand." He stomped his foot on the pod and held out his hand towards Eggman. "Give me the Emerald right now!"

"Come now, Shadow. Don't you think that me having the Emeralds are better than Nazo having them?"

Shadow took in a breath while clenching his fist. "How much do you know about Nazo?"

"Only what I've seen on the news. Believe me when I say that I want to stop him just as bad as you do."

"What are you talking about?" Shadow asked.

"Think about it: my lifelong goal is to take over the world. But that won't happen if Nazo plans to destroy the world."

"It won't happen at all since we're around." Shadow told him.

"Shadow, we're here!" Misuki ran beside him, seeing that Eggman still had the Emerald. "Why haven't you taken the Emerald yet?"

"I'm working on it, Misuki."

"Well, I finally get to fully examine you, my dear Misuki. You look more like your father than before. You're also alot stronger. You got past my robots rather quickly. I must congradulate you."

Misuki walked up to him and grabbed him by the collar. "If you're trying to distract me using flattery, it's not gonna work you pervert. We don't have time to screw with you. So I'll be taking that Emerald and then Shadow will take you to solitary confinement within G.U.N."

"So violent and scary. Shadow has rubbed off on you quite alot."

Misuki snatched the Emerald out of his hand and pushed Eggman away from her. "You take it from here, Shadow."

Shadow stared at Misuki, a little freaked out at her sudden change of emotions. It wasn't anything new to him, but this was a side of her he hasn't seen in a while.

"Don't think I'll go quietly." Eggman told them, getting Shadow's attaention again. He pressed a button that sprayed smoke at Shadow and the others, causing their vision to go fuzzy. By the time the smoke dissapated, they noticed that Eggman had escaped.

"Where the hell did he go!?" Knuckles asked, looking around.

"He's not our problem right now." Silver told him. "We have the Emerald. That's what why we're here."

"This pod will now self-destruct in ten seconds. Farewell." A recording played inside of Eggman's pod and began counting down.

"Crap, get away from it!" Misuki yelled as she and the others began to run away.

They all ran except for Silver. "Silver, what are you waiting for?" Shadow asked, quickly turning around after running a short distance.

Before their eyes, Silver used his telekinetic abilities to levitate the pod and throw it into the air just as it blew up into fiery pieces. He stared at it for a short while before turing back to the others and headed to where they were. "Everybody okay?" he asked them.

They all nodded. "We're lucky to have you." Shadow said.

"Thanks, Shadow."

"Let's get to a safe place and call the others." Misuki said, tucking the Emerald in her saddle bag and secured it.

I had to fix a major uh-oh that I just now saw. Mega sorry for the confusion ^_^;

Please R&R ^_^