Shadow looked up at the ceiling as he woke up. He found himself in his night clothes. He was in his room with no one else. He stood up and walked unsteadily to the door. All of his effort was needed to keep stable. He hated using super mode; it just seemed to sap him of all of his strength. He groggily walked to the fridge, "Need food for energy,"
He heard a few laughs; he turned to see Misato and Ritsuko. Shinji smiled, "Didn't know NERV's best doctor made house calls. Can I get a sponge bath from you and your assistant?" he asked.
Shinji dodged the thrown objects, "Shinji, you have to stop hanging around Kaji. You are starting to act like him," Misato said.
Ritsuko nodded, "Besides, if you want a sponge bath, I'm sure Mune and Amy would be more than happy to 'play doctor' with you. How are you feeling?" she asked.
Shinji shook his head, the spikes moved stiffly with his head. He regained his groggy look, "Truth be told, I'm starving. Using that much power for so long is exhausting. I'm going to raid the fridge, then head out for...lunch?" he said looking at the clock.
Shinji did as he said. The fridge was emptied except for the beer. Ritsuko wondered where he put it all; Shinji ate enough to feed the entire bridge. Shinji cleaned the dishes and was dressed in less than thirty seconds. He wore his black pants, but he wore a red tee-shirt that showed off some muscle. Ritsuko smiled, "If only I was younger, or you were older. You're quite the catch Shinji. A well toned young man who can cook and clean," she said.
Shinji smiled, "Hey, from what I here, you and Tails are a couple," he said.
The Doctor was stunned for a moment, "And if we are? Your really how old?"
Shadow stopped and did some mental math, "Let's see, I was fourteen when I was frozen, fifteen years as an ice cube, five great years with Cream, then fourteen years here, I will be forty nine this spring," he said.
Misato's jaw dropped, "Forty nine? I'm living with an older man? You look good for your age Shinji," she said.
Shadow laughed, "Yea, I guess I do. I'm going for some pizza; you young ladies want to join this old man for lunch? My treat,"
The women smiled and stood, "Sure Shinji, but I'll drive," Ritsuko said.
"But you go too slow!" Shadow and Misato said in unison.
The pizza shop was still open despite the Angel attacks. Shinji orders a large for himself and lets Misato and 'Ritsu' order theirs. Shadow thought about everything that was happening, the angels were getting personal, and he didn't like it one bit. Shinji pushed the thoughts to the side when the food arrived. Ritsuko noticed something, "What's on your mind Shinji? You look like your troubled,"
Shinji looked up, "These Angels are getting a little too personal. First, the Angels bring back Robotnik, then Metal Sonic. I'd hate to see what they dredge up next," he said.
Misato set her slice down, "Who is Robotnik?"
"Robotnik was a genius, he made all manner of robots and vehicles, but only for his own gain and for conquest. He was always after the Chaos Emeralds and a way to eliminate Sonic and the others. At one point, he used me as his weapon. I didn't listen very well and fought against him. He called out a being called Chaos, some weird being with a lot of power. He got his but kicked. After a while, Robotnik died like everybody else. Metal Sonic was made by Robotnik to Fight Sonic, I destroyed it, but not before it robbed me of Amy and Cream," he said.
Ritsuko frowned; He had faced so much before this life. Now he is reliving some painful memories, "Well, I don't know what to say Shinji, but we're here if you need us. You also have your friends, past and present, right there beside you. I don't see how you can lose," she said.
Shadow thought about it, "Your right,"
Out in a shrine, Knuckles relaxed in a tree. The day had been peaceful and clear. He had done his chores quickly. He may not have the speed of Sonic or Shadow, but he was fast enough to keep with traffic. He looked up to see a pair of deep blue eyes, "hey Rouge, nice swimsuit," he said.
Rouge blushed a little; She was wearing a revealing two piece suit. Her pale skin was shown for all to see as opposed to her usual attire that covered everything. Her long dark hair was done up into a ponytail. "I'm heading to the beach, grab a pair or trunks and join me," she said.
Knuckles looked over the Shrine; everything was neat and orderly. He hopped down, "Give me a moment to get things and check out," he said.
She smiled, "Good, and get some sun tan lotion, I'm all out,"
Knux ran into the Shrine, "Grandpa, I'm done with my chores. I'm heading to the beach with a friend,"
Grandpa poked his head around the corner, "Already? Did your friend help you? it usually takes you twice as long to get things done,"
"Uh, grandpa, I get done faster than this and just relax in a tree. I don't mean any disrespect," he said.
"Hmm, tomorrow you will show me. For now, tell your girlfriend she needs to learn how to sneak around better. You'll have to introduce us sometime," he said.
Knuckles was stunned, he knew rouge was in the room? "Sure grandpa, Rouge, this is my grandfather. Grandpa, this is rouge,"
Rouge stepped out of the shadows in a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt to hide her bathing suit. She gave a small smile and bowed, "Pleasure to meet you,"
Grandpa nodded and turned to his grandson, "You mess this up, I'll have you scrub the shrine with your tooth brush, and I mean scrub. She is a beautiful young woman" he whispered.
Knux sighed, his grandfather was a good person, but wanted great- grandchildren. Knux nodded and grabbed his swimwear, "Let's go!" he said.
The beach wasn't crowded, so they had choice of location. Rouge laid out her towel and looked up at knuckles, "got the sunscreen?" she asked.
He nodded as he laid out his towel. He pulled out a bottle of suntan lotion. "Good, could you put some on my back?" she asked.
Knuckles gulped, "Sure, no problem,"
She lay on her stomach as Knuckles rubbed in the lotion. Rouge gave a content moan, "That feels good,"
Knuckles gulped again and continued. He massaged the oil into her shoulders and moved down to her lower back. He finished her entire back and stopped out of fear. Rouge was a super martial artist, and not the one to test limits with. Rouge gave him an odd look, "Why did you stop? You know I love your massages, keep going please," she asked.
Knuckles prayed to Kami and continued with his 'assignment'. Rouge was enjoying Knuckles attentions. She suppressed a yelp when he moved lower. She practically melted under his ministrations. As Knuckles finished, he was sweating slightly from the heat and his task. Rouge smiled, "My turn," she said.
Knuckles was unsure but did as he was told. Rouge began and he relaxed greatly, he remembered her backrubs from before. Rouge smiled as she heard him almost purr. She laughed when he jumped, "You always do that, I should have known better! You always pinch my butt!"
"It is nice but firm. I can't help it, besides, you massaged mine, it is only fair," she said with a feral grin.
Knuckles was going to reply but paused, "You win, just not so hard," he asked.
Sonic was relaxing about a mile down the same beach. It was private, because the highway wasn't close and it was a hike to get to it. Amy and Cream had dragged him out there as well as Big. Big was fishing and Sonic was asleep in his chair. Amy and Cream were a little farther down, planning something horrible for poor Shadow. "But Shadow can't swim; he hates water except for hot tubs and bathtubs. I asked him if he wanted to go skinny dipping and he said he couldn't swim," Cream said.
Amy thought hard, "Well, we'll have to teach him how to swim. I'm sure He'll enjoy us teaching him how to swim," she said.
Shinji suddenly had a foreboding feeling, "I got a bad feeling," he said.
Misato looked over, "what's up Shinji?"
Shadow looked around, "Someone is planning something, and I have this feeling ya know?"
Ritsuko looked around, "I understand, I feel that way sometimes. Maybe its nerves?"
Shinji prayed that the doctor was right. However, the feeling wasn't going away. He decided to try to think of something else. He thought back to a few days ago, him, Cream, and Amy spent most of the night having fun with each other. He sat down, "You go on ahead, I'll catch up,"