Disclaimer:
All Sonic characters belong to their respective owners.
Oh, and Rikku belongs to RikkuMcClowFox on Fanfiction. (Or Slashin' Azriel Hacke on FictionPress.)
Now, on with the show!
Tales of the Night
"…Now, now, Nodoka…no need to panic…it's just a date…don't need to go crazy about it…" Juuchi said jokingly, as the regimental hedgehog was scrambling around her room.
"…I can't really…so many things to prepare…so little time…" Nodoka said frantically, and Sam, who was watching the entire ordeal through a crack in the door, simply walked in, and Nodoka simply rushed in front of him.
"…She's right, y'know. If you're going to freak out, do it after the date's over." Sam said calmly, and Nodoka chuckled.
"…If you can't decide on what to wear, shop for clothing." Sam said blatantly, and he walked out of the room.
"You have an hour. I suggest you hurry if you are going to shop." Juuchi said, and Nodoka looked at her.
"Aren't YOU worried about your date?" Nodoka said, and Juuchi chuckled.
"No, why should I? It's just a walk, talk, hugs and kisses. Nothing more and it's nothing much…aside from one great night off." Juuchi said, and Nodoka sighed.
"…What do you see in him, anyhow?" Juuchi asked, and Nodoka shrugged.
"…I just don't know. It's just…him. That's the best I could do to describe him." Nodoka said, and thinking back to all the times where the two were alone, she blushed.
"…Fate has its ways, doesn't it?" Juuchi said, and Nodoka nodded.
"I guess…Anyway, we should get shopping." Nodoka said, and Juuchi nodded.
"Mom, can we get some money? We need to go shopping for…you know." Nodoka asked, and suddenly, a $100 bill flew in the room, and hit Nodoka.
"…Well…that came out of nowhere…" Nodoka said, and suddenly, Scarlet came inside the room.
"Sure, I'll give you…where'd the $100 bill come from?" Scarlet asked, and the duo shrugged.
"You're welcome!" Sonic said, and Nodoka nodded.
"Now we know. Thanks!" Nodoka said before running downstairs, and going out the door, Scarlet locking the door.
"…Such a handful…worth it, though." Scarlet said to herself, and she sighed.
"You've got that right…" Sam added, and he too, sighed.
"…Are you sure about…" Sam asked, and Scarlet nodded.
"Yes, I'm sure. Just take care of her…and make sure she doesn't go into…that form again." Scarlet said, and Sam nodded.
"Right. I'll watch over her." Sam said.
"…Hey, Blaze." Sam said, and Blaze nodded.
"Something the matter?" Sam asked, and Blaze shook her head.
"…Nothing. Nothing much…" Blaze said, and she sighed.
"…You make it quite evident that something's the matter…C'mon." Sam said, crossing his arms.
"…You don't mind if Sonic and I tag along for the date, right?" Blaze asked nervously, and Sam shook his head.
"Of course not. Why do you ask?" Sam asked, and Blaze sighed.
"…Why do you think?" Sonic asked, coming down the stairs with a grin on his face, and he stood next to Blaze.
"Yeah… I figured." Sam said, and a knocking sound was heard; Tails and Rikku was knocking at the door.
"…We just saw Nodoka headed toward the mall. Want to come along? We were heading there anyways, so we thought…" Rikku said, and Sam nodded, along with Sonic and Blaze.
"…Well, I have to go out as well…so I'll see you when I do." Scarlet said, and the group exited, Scarlet locking the door behind them.
"…C"mon." Tails said, and they ran to a mall quite near Nodoka's house, and entered.
"…Pretty large…any idea where she went?" Rikku asked, and Sam sighed.
"…Are we here to shop, or snoop? C'mon. We can't disguise ourselves either!" Sam said, and Rikku simply took a cardboard box, and hid under it.
"…Seriously. You're kidding. Get out from under there…" Sam said, taking off the cardboard box disguise.
"C'mon…do what you have to do, and then let's-"Sam was cut off by his stomach, and he sighed.
"…and let's head to Nodoka's house after. Time will pass quickly enough." Sam said, and Tails and Rikku nodded in response.
"…What are you here for, anyhow?" Sam said, putting on his black and gold jacket.
"We were here to just shop for clothes…and by we, I mean I was following Rikku only to drag me along shopping." Tails said, and Sonic sighed.
"…Well, I presume we'll meet again…just be here at 6:45." Sam said, and the group nodded, going their separate ways…
"…Think all this looks any good?" Nodoka asked Juuchi, and she sighed.
"Yeah, yeah…it looks fine…" Juuchi said, and Nodoka sighed.
"That's what you said last time, and the times before…if you're going to keep saying that, I should just-"
"Look, there's really no need to get worked up over this…just try to pick an outfit that looks good, and stick with it." Juuchi said calmly, and Nodoka sighed.
"Fine…but does this look good?" Nodoka asked, and Juuchi nodded.
"Alright then, I'm going to get this." Nodoka said.
"About time…after a while, the asking can get a bit repetitive…" Juuchi thought, and with that, they went to the register.
"…So, Blaze…want anything to eat?" Sonic asked, and Blaze shook her head.
"No, I'll be fine. I'll wait until the dinner." Blaze said, and Sonic nodded.
"…The others are having their dilemmas…why can't we just relax, and-ooh…arcade…" Sonic said, heading in there, and Blaze reluctantly followed.
"…It's relatively loud in here…my ears are sensitive…" Blaze said, and Sonic looked at the multiple machines around him.
"…DDR!" Sonic said with glee, and he inserted a dollar from his wallet, and then inserted another one in, and Sonic dragged Blaze onto the stage.
"…Super Maniac…let's go!" Sonic said, and he chose an incredibly fast song.
"…I'm unfamiliar with what you have to do…why are the panels blinking?" Blaze said, and he looked at Sonic's legs, nothing more than a blur as he pressed on the pad as needed.
"Just step on the buttons when the arrow hits!" Sonic said, and he smirked.
"…Alright…" Blaze said, unsure of herself, and she stepped on the arrows she needed to, people now watching the duo…
"…Alright…Getting this." Rikku said, and Tails sighed.
"Rikku dear, I'm getting tired…can we rest a bit…" Rikku slapped him, and he went to the floor.
"Don't call me 'dear'…" Rikku said, and Tails got up, as people were watching.
"…Sorry…again." Tails said, and he sighed.
"…Let's just go to the counter…" Tails said, and Rikku nodded.
"That'll be $35." The clerk said, and Rikku paid.
"Thanks for shopping at Crush 40's!" The clerk said, and the duo left.
"
"You're not the, only one, refusing to back down; you're not the, only one, so get up…" Sam sang, and Nodoka walked up to him.
"Hey, Sam. Why are you here?" Nodoka asked, and Sam continued singing.
"Let's start a riot, a riot, let's start a riot…" Sam sang, and he was pulled back to reality, to see a confused Nodoka staring at him.
"…I was singing randomly?" Sam asked, and Nodoka nodded.
"…Picked what you wanted?" Sam asked, and she nodded once more.
"I'll meet you at home, alright?" Nodoka said, and Sam nodded.
Before he took another step, she pecked him on the cheek. "I'll be waiting for you there." Nodoka then smirked at him, and proceeded to walk out of the mall, leaving a dazed Sam standing there.
"Yes!" Sonic said, and he did a windmill on the machine, causing Blaze to step off of it for a bit.
"…That was fun. Too bad we got to go, right, Sonic?" Blaze said, and Sonic looked at the time; 6:43.
"Right. Ask the wind where I am; I'll be it!" Sonic said, waving to the crowd of people and the duo rushed.
"…Hey, Nodoka! Wait up!" Sam said, and he ran up to her, and she stopped.
"Aww…just as I made a lasting impression…" Nodoka said, and the others met up with the duo.
"…We're all here…how convenient." Sonic said, and Nodoka nodded.
"…Allow me to go home; I just need to change." Nodoka said, and Sam nodded.
The group went back to Nodoka's house, only for her to change, and for Rikku to leave her things, leaving an anxious Sam in his jacket, a bored Blaze, an excited Sonic, and a nervous Tails waiting outside. "…How much longer are you two going to-" Sam was cut off by Rikku.
"Don't tell us to hurry, we're already done!" Rikku said, and Sam sighed.
"If you're done, then-"Sam was cut off by the sight of Nodoka in a magenta to regimental (top to bottom) sundress and black heels.
The hedgehog's mouth was agape for a while, and Nodoka simply came down from the porch, and closed his mouth. "…You look…well…I can't describe it. Stunning would be an understatement, let's leave it at that." Sam said, and Nodoka blushed.
"Looking good as always." Nodoka said, referring to Sam, and he smirked.
"Alright, let's go!" Rikku said, and Sam, Sonic, Blaze, and Nodoka looked at her.
"…You're going on a date with Tails?" Sam asked, and she nodded.
"If I am?" Rikku retorted, and Sam smirked.
"Alright then." Sonic said, and they began to walk.
"Any good restaurants around here?" Sam asked, and Nodoka nodded.
"To be frank, I'm pretty much starved…there's a nearby Drizzlers, SSFC, Bad Burger, and Ronalds. There's also one great restaurant I know of; also has an all you can eat deal, so…yeah." Nodoka said, and Sam smirked.
"Let's head there!" Sonic said, and Nodoka nodded.
"Happy to oblige!" Nodoka added, and the group stopped.
"…It's in the other direction." Nodoka said, and they ran the other way, and in 5 minutes, they reached their destination.
"…The Twilight Sunburst Buffet, huh?" Sam said, and Nodoka nodded.
"It's at a great price also! I saved some money from my shopping; I have enough to get us all in." Nodoka said, and they entered, to see a large table, filled with food, and Nodoka smirked.
"Ah…Madam Nodoka. Pleasure to see you once more…We had thought a tragedy had happened…" A swan said, and Nodoka smirked.
"Nice to see you as well. Table for six?" Nodoka said, and the swan looked at the group.
"…My, my…you seem to have companions along with you…is the one with the jacket your…" The swan chuckled, and Nodoka blushed.
"…Why, this is a rare sight…Madam, you're blushing!" The swan said, and Nodoka sighed.
"C'mon, Nodoka. It's alright…" Sam said, and he looked at the swan.
"Yes, yes he is." Nodoka said, and the swan looked at the duo.
"Well, then, congratulations! Wishing the best of luck to the both of you. Now, table for six!" The swan called out, and a waiter came and led them to a table.
"Choose what you would like, six people, that will be $120." Nodoka paid the waiter, and he left leaving plates, which the group grabbed.
"Let's go." Nodoka said, and the group got up, and to the table with food.
"Starved…hey, the last steak." Sam said, and he quickly grabbed tongs….only for Sonic to grab it as well…
"…Must we do this…again?" Sam said, and Sonic shook his head.
"What else do you want to do, bring up a trial?" Sonic said, and Sam sighed.
"…Is there any point?" Sam said, and Sonic shook his head.
"Hey look, there are dumplings." Sonic said, and Sam went away.
"Heh." Sonic said, and he took the steak.
"…What? I don't see any…aww…" Sam said, and he walked somewhere else.
"…Now, now…let's eat!" Nodoka said happily, looking at the food on her plate.
"…I'll probably get more after this…" Nodoka said to herself, and Blaze sighed.
"How can you eat that much and not gain weight?" Blaze asked quietly, and Nodoka shrugged.
"I just do…I guess when running at a pace where they trees sway, you lose pounds, calories…" Nodoka said, and Blaze smirked.
"I should start running more." Blaze said, and she sat down next to Nodoka.
"Starved and ready." Sam said, coming back to the table, a plate full of food.
"Same here." Sonic and Tails said in unison, and the trio began to indulge in the culinary smorgasbord that was on their plates.
"You aren't really that picky, are you?" Rikku said, coming back with food, and Sam shrugged, his mouth filled with mussels.
He swallowed, and he sighed. "No, not really. Especially since I've been pretty hungry. Just trying to get something in my stomach…" Sam said, and Nodoka sighed.
"Just don't cram it down there; you might get a-"Nodoka was then cut off by the sight of Sam clenching his stomach painfully.
"…Stomachache." Nodoka said, and Sam chuckled.
"…Mussels. Special mussels. Note to self…these don't digest that well…" Sam said, and Nodoka sighed.
"Told you so." Nodoka said, and Sam drank some water.
"…That's a bit better…" Sam said, and Nodoka patted his back.
"…So, Nodoka…" Sam said, and the regimental hedgehog looked at him with a full mouth.
"Hmm?" Nodoka said, and Sam was about to say something, but instead took a napkin and wiped her mouth.
She swallowed, and nodded. "Thanks." Nodoka said, and Sam nodded.
"…Oh, and just a tip…if you're going to get something…finish EVERYTHING on your plate. They charge you if you leave stuff on there, but you get a partial refund if everyone finishes everything." Nodoka said, and the group nodded.
"First plate finished." Sam said, and he got up, along with Sonic and Tails.
"…That was relatively quick." Blaze said, and Nodoka sighed.
"Why do I get the feeling that something might happen…" Nodoka said, and Rikku sighed.
"It's probably your imagination…don't worry!" Rikku said, and Nodoka nodded.
"…Kind of full…" Nodoka said, and Sam, who had just come back, smirked.
"…They have shrimp." Sam stated, and with that, Nodoka ran to the table.
"…Is there?" Blaze asked, and Sam nodded.
"They have salmon as well." Sam said, and Blaze got up, and she too, walked to the table.
"…Yeah, they really have salmon." Sam said, sitting down, and cutting his steak…well, trying to.
"…Alright…this can take a while…" Sam said, and he tried to cut into it, and he sighed.
"…Kuchiyose, Chiharu." Sam said, and he summoned Chiharu in his weapon form to cut the steak.
"Oh, you're kidding me…I'm not a kitchen knife!" Chiharu said, and Sam sighed.
"Sorry…this just won't cut!" Sam said, finally cutting the steak, and he proceeded to work on the next cut.
"…You owe me." Chiharu said, and Sam nodded.
"I know…" Sam said, swiftly cutting the steak with Chiharu into cubes, and he looked around.
He then summoned Chiharu in his hedgehog form, and stuck a piece of the steak in his mouth, and then placed him back into weapon form. "They make a good medium well." Chiharu said, Sam nodding in agreement.
"You're welcome." Sam said, and Chiharu unnoticeably nodded.
"…This is pretty good!" Sam said, and he placed steak sauce on the steak, and he continued to eat.
"The steak's pretty good in here." Nodoka said, coming back with steak and shrimp on her plate.
"Yup." Sonic said, coming back with a full plate.
"I'm going to get another plate…" Rikku said, and she walked to the table.
"…Agh…" Sam said, clutching his stomach.
"…Those mussels…aren't going down so well…excuse me." Sam said, running to the bathroom, conveniently next to another table full of desserts.
"…Told him not to eat that fast…" Nodoka said, and she sighed.
"And yet he did anyway…" Blaze said, and Nodoka chuckled.
"…Well, he was hungry…I guess he couldn't really help it much." Rikku said, back with another plate of food.
"…Whew…it's official…remind me not to eat the mussels here…" Sam said jokingly, and Sonic chuckled.
"...Whoa, whoa…It's going to fall!" Tails said uneasily, and he came back with a ridiculously large amount of food on his plate.
A shrimp nearly fell to the floor, and Sonic caught it. "…Not so much, bud. You'll end up like constipation man here." Sonic said jokingly, and Sam chuckled.
"…Haha…very funny." Sam said, and he sighed.
"He's right though. Don't get so much…" Sam said, and with that, he finished his steak.
"Slow down, Sam…you'll end up needing more than one trip to the can…." Nodoka said, and Sam sweat dropped.
"Whose side are you on?" Sam asked.
"The side of truth…seriously." Nodoka said, and Sam laughed.
"Alright then…getting dessert…ugh, I feel nearly bloated." Sam said, and he went to the dessert table.
"He's kind of overdoing on the food…" Tails said, and Rikku looked at his plate.
"…Look who's talking." Rikku said jokingly.
"Seriously, I was hungry. That's all I'm saying." Tails said with a grin, and Rikku sighed.
"Just don't end up like-"She was cut off at the sight of a certain ebony hedgehog's plate, which was filled with desserts, mostly jelly.
"…Yeah. Like that." Rikku said, and Sam sat down.
"Well, you live and learn, I guess…" Sonic said, and Sam shrugged.
"Indeed." Sam said, and Nodoka sighed.
"…Hopefully, all in due time." Nodoka said, and Sam chuckled.
"…So many unanswered questions…why does she like me? Why do I like her? And why doesn't she have an answer to the first one except 'I don't know.'?" Sam thought, and he sighed.
The ebony hedgehog began to feast on the large amount of sweets on his plate; jelly, cakes of all kinds, and crepes filled with fruit and whipped cream. "…Not too fast this time." Nodoka warned Sam, and he nodded with a crepe in his mouth.
"…Yeah, I really should listen to her…last time, it didn't go so well." Sam thought as he ate his crepe.
"…Questions unanswered…that 'Chosen' business…what is it? Is he taking me to where he went before here? Maybe to some elders of some kind?" Nodoka thought, as she finished her steak and shrimp.
"…It's a bit quiet in terms of everyone except for Sam and Nodoka…Need something to break the ice…but what…?" Sonic thought, as he saw Blaze's face perk up.
"…Sonic? When do you the machine will work?" Blaze asked suddenly, and the cobalt hedgehog shrugged.
"Beats me…worried about your job?" Sonic asked, and she nodded.
"…Don't worry. You've got-"Blaze then cut him off.
"Gardon isn't going to cover me all the time. What if I can't return?" Blaze said, and Sonic sighed.
"…Why can't we just build some kind of dimensional communicator?" Tails said, and Sonic was confused.
"A dimensional telephone, basically. You can keep in contact with your kingdom, and still be here, in Sonic's arms." Sam said, and Blaze slapped him.
"It'll be true, won't it?" Sam said jokingly, and chewing a jelly, he swallowed.
"…Oh…aw, man that's weird…" Sam said, and he felt large chunks of jelly forcibly slide down his throat.
"You swallowed jelly?" Nodoka asked, and the ebony hedgehog nodded, a pained look on his face.
"Yeah." Sam said, feeling it drop from his throat.
"Tails and I aren't speaking…hard to break the ice in such a weird conversation…" Rikku thought, and she sighed, but suddenly thought up of an idea.
"Do you want any help in building it?" The vixen asked, and the vulpine could only nod quickly, having finished his food.
"Going to get dessert." Nodoka and Tails said in unison, the both of them getting up, and walking to the table.
"…How do you talk to a girl so easily?" Tails asked, and Nodoka shrugged.
"We're of the same gender. It goes for guys too, doesn't it? If you're planning to ask about how to talk to Rikku, just talk to her like you usually would." Nodoka said, and Tails nodded, grabbing a crepe.
"…I don't think I can…wait a second…" Tails thought, and he sighed.
"It might be risky, but it might work…Sengen, Ketsudan." Tails said quietly, and he glowed a yellow hue, and it dissipated.
"…In this state, I've got more confidence…I can do this." Tails said calmly.
"Just have to make sure I don't get too cocky or loud…" Tails thought, and he sighed.
"…I heard you, Tails." Blaze said, and Tails' face was one of the 'Oh crud, she's figured out…' types, mixed with a 'She knows anyway, just stay calm' face.
"...So, Rikku…" Tails said, and she looked at her.
Her hazel eyes looked at his cobalt ones, and for a moment, all went silent, their gaze the only thing seen, everything else a mere blur. Suddenly, a gloved hand waved in front of Tails' face, breaking him out of the moment. "Hey…Sonic to Tails. Do you read?" Sonic said, and Tails' face perked up.
"This is Tails to Sonic, over and out." Tails said, and once again looking at Rikku, who was talking to Blaze, who was telling her about the abilities of Tails' Soulbend.
"…Well, I'm stuffed." Sam said his plate clean.
"Same here." Sonic said, and he sighed.
"Yup, I'm finished." Blaze said, and Nodoka nodded.
"Yeah, same here…" Nodoka had finished her plate.
"…Well, Rikku? I was wondering…" Tails said, and she looked at him once more.
"I was wondering if…well, if…" Tails' Soulbend suddenly materialized in back of him, and entered Tails, and he glowed a yellow hue.
"I was wondering if, after this whole 'Chosen' fiasco is over, if you wanted to hang out." Tails said, and Sengen exited Tails and Tails gave him the 'Why'd you do that for? I had her myself!' look.
"Sure." Rikku said, finishing her food, along with Tails.
"…With all the food on your plate, I'm pretty surprised." Sam chuckled at his remark, and Tails too, chuckled.
"To be frank, so am I." Tails said, and he got up.
"…Let's get going." Tails said, and the group nodded, walking out of the restaurant with full stomachs.
"…Speaking of which…Nodoka?" Sam asked, and she looked at him, an eyebrow raised.
"Considering we're taking our leave tomorrow…well, your decision on that, really…think we can head somewhere?" Sam asked, and Nodoka nodded.
"Sure. It's not like we really have anywhere else to go." Nodoka said, and Sam nodded.
"…That's only if your mom allows us to leave so early. We'll have to take leave at the morning…is eight alright?" Sam asked, and Nodoka nodded.
"…Just hope she says yes." Nodoka said, and Sam nodded, 솓 group walking back to Nodoka's…
Around 10 minutes later, they reached Nodoka's, and she sighed. "Mom? Do you mind if I go tomorrow?" Nodoka asked, and she sighed.
"…No…but remember to write, alright?" Scarlet said, and she shed a tear.
"…I'm finally seeing the day where you're going on your own…it came a lot faster than I thought." Scarlet said, and Nodoka sighed.
"I'll write, don't worry…" Nodoka said, and Scarlet sighed.
"I'm just a bit concerned…" Scarlet said, and Sam sighed.
"Define 'just a bit'…" Sam thought, and he sighed.
"…I'll leave you two alone, some mother daughter bonding time in the time that you may have." Sam said, and he walked out of the house, Sonic nodding and following, along with the rest.
"…Good night." Tails said, and Nodoka nodded.
"Good night." Nodoka said, and the vulpine ran to catch up with the group entering a hotel nearby…
Well…here's another chapter. My inspiration didn't really catch with me, so…yeah. My life's getting a bit stressful, with everything going on…and apparently, the people in my family are catching on. I'll have to go to my uncle's house for most of the weekend, so a chapter might be a while…here's a little something to keep you all busy. Hope you enjoyed, R&R, I'll see ya next!
~ADarknessInHeaven
Aka: Sam