CHAPTER 36

PROTECTION

Back at the Chaotix, Taku's body remained frozen as he looked into Shadow's furious eyes. He had no idea what to say to him now that Shadow clearly knew that something had happened at the party. He just couldn't figure out how Shadow had caught on.

The hedgehog's blood red eyes shifted over to his trembling arm. "You're shaking. I assume you do know something."

"How…how did you find out that something was wrong?"

"It was obvious. When Kayla came home that night, she was severely depressed. She cried all night in her room and when I saw her come into the house, some of her clothes were ripped and of course I saw some of the marks."

"What? If you knew right then and there why didn't you say anything about it sooner?"

He crossed his arms and sighed, "I was waiting for Kayla to come tell me what happened, but so far she hasn't and I have a feeling she'll never tell me. So…I've come to you."

The hybrid clenched his fists in aggravation and looked down onto the floor, "Well you shouldn't have. It's…it's not my place to tell you this. Kayla has to come to you whenever she's ready…"

"Don't fucking interrogate me!"

A shiver was sent up his spine as he heard Shadow's loud firm voice fill the empty huge lobby.

"I came to you for answers and I expect to get some!" He jumped from the desk and began to walk up to him. "I know that you're fond of Kayla. I've been watching your behavior and I do realize that your sword can be activated when she's in danger. At the party…what kind of danger was she in?"

The hybrid remained silent and found it hard to tell him what had truly happened to her at the party.

He confronted the hybrid fueled in frustration. "Well? Tell me now, Taku!"

His eyes was still directed towards the floor as he tried to figure out what to do. 'God, this is it. Shadow will know everything. It'll be over. He'll know about what Chase did to Kayla and he'll arrest him for it…and Kayla doesn't want that. She…she'll hate me for it. Also…this is Mobius' ultimate being…Shadow the Hedgehog! This guy…he'll probably murder him! Chase will probably end up dying!'

"Taku!" He shouted as he reached out and grabbed his arm tightly.

He winced as Shadow grabbed his arm in a tight grip. He looked up at the angry hedgehog in pain, "Shadow…"

"I'm waiting…"

"Shadow…I…I…can't…"

The hedgehog rose an eyebrow towards the hybrid, "What?"

He shook his head slowly, "Shadow, I…I like your daughter…a lot. She means a lot to me and I made a promise to her that we wouldn't tell anyone what went on that night…including you."

"You did huh?" He growled.

He clenched his fists when he realized that Shadow's tight grip around his arm did not ease up. "But…but after what happened that night, I realized that if you're not there to look after her, I would be the one to. That night has opened my eyes to reality and I have vowed…to protect Kayla with my life!"

His eyes widened from his words and slowly eased his grip away from his arm. "You…you really like her that much huh?"

"Yes, sir. I do." He finally had the courage to look Shadow in the eyes once again with a light blush on his face from confessing to Shadow that he had liked Kayla.

The black and red hedgehog sighed and turned his back to him as he began to walk away. "Fine. This just means that I will leave Kayla entrusted in your care. However, If anything happens to her…" He faced the hybrid once again with a menacing look. "…I will make sure you suffer the same fate. Understand?"

After hearing his threat, he felt severely uneasy in his stomach. "Uh yes, sir." He then watched as he walked out of the lobby. 'Holy crap!' He thought, 'How can Kayla breathe around that guy without him making some kind of death threat?'

A/N:

Demitri: I still can't believe I'm going to have a kid!

Kainya: I bet she'll be adorable!

Demitri: She?

Kayla: What's wrong, Taku? You don't look well...

Taku: Kayla...I won't let you get hurt ever again...