_____________________________________________
This isn't the end yet. In the next chapter, i'm planing on a reunion between Pyjamas and a certain old 'boyfriend' who will be parting ways with his beer-money. Yep. That's the one.(if you've read 'whatever happened to super sonic?', you'll know who I'm talking about)
And if you've ever read my other fics, you will notice that I place more emphasis on relationships than action. This is a relationship-fic, not an action/adventure.
And I hope my Japanese is correct(at the end of this chapter). If not, please be nice about it:)
_____________________________________________
Pyjamas is having another vision... And she saw the 'news' about the G.U.N. soldiars... they suspect she's hiding something, or someone... me... they still want to kill me, even after I saved everyone... I'm probably going to die soon... and Pyjamas... I don't want her to die because of me... I hope they spare her and kill me, not an innocent who just wanted to help... like Maria...
If I do die, at least I'll have lived... I'm afraid... but when I lay close to Pyjamas, I feel safe...
It's been several months, and I can now walk and do other things for myself. Pyjamas hasn't told me, but I know the damage to my eyes is irreversable... I will always be blind. I've accepted it. It's a small price to pay for this joy I now know...
It isn't much of a problem, though. I know my way around the house, and Pyjamas is careful not to leave stuff laying around anymore, since I tripped and almost broke my wrist a couple weeks ago. I just count the steps, so I don't have to worry about bumping into things. I can even bath on my own, now that Pyjamas marked the bottles of shampoo and conditioner in braille.
I'm still a little weak, and get tired easily, but at least I'm not helpless. Though I still love being held... it's such a wonderful feeling, being embraced, falling asleep in Pyjamas' arms, then waking up in bed, when I wasn't there the night before... maybe there was a reason I survived... maybe I was meant to know what it feels like to be happy, to actually live, and to be more than just a weapon... a friend...
We don't go outside anymore, now that the military could be watching. Pyjamas only goes out to buy food, and only when she is sure it's safe. I miss the cool night air, especially since I'm well enough to walk... right now, I can only sit by an open window and feel the gentle breezes... it's not the same, but it's enough...
At least I can walk now, sometimes using this 'white cane' to help me feel around, just in case something is in my way... besides, if the military decides to give up, I'll be able to go outside again, and I'll have to use the cane, or a 'guide-chao'.
And I can read better now... Pyjamas gave me some braille books to read, and even though it's difficult sometimes, I can't stop. Why did Gerald want to destroy this place? Mobius has so many wonderful things... why did he harbor such hatred towards it?
Pyjamas told me that something was 'wrong' with him... his mind was messed-up... sort of like her step-father's... I still can't understand why people fear those who look different...
I felt her arms... they have scars on them... Pyjamas used to cut herself... she hurt so bad inside that hurting herself outside made it go away for awhile... or at least it helped her ignore it, helped keep her sane...
You deserved better, Pyjamas...
********
Well, looks like we're both in a spot. Cutting my fringe wasn't my most brilliant move... but then again, it's not the first time I acted without thinking...
Arthur, you bugger! Why didn't you tell me you were married? Shouldn't've been sleepin' around with him... wanted a man who would hold me, then I find out he was married... kept callin' me 'Madge'... she would be furious if she knew... don't know what she'd do to me... probably shoot me...
Then I got pregnant, he didn't beat up my step-father like he told me... I was forced to abort my baby... I remember telling the doctor that I wanted the abortion... didn't want to make step-father mad, didn't want to be hit anymore... then I felt so awful, wanted to see my baby, but it was already thrown away... strange... people would treat someone so helpless like a piece of rubbish... if step-father wasn't dead, I would personally strangle him to death, to hell with the consequences!
I've endangered myself and Shadow... I was getting these weird vibes one day, and Ebony, as usual, wrote them off as another dud... but it felt so strong, like when Super paid us a visit... and I knew I had to act, or someone would die... I was right. My visions aren't that reliable, but this time, I was right. And that poor hedgehog needed care... if I hadn't rescued him, Shadow would have died cold and lonely...
Ebony's probably going to find out sooner or later... she's my best friend, and probably the only one who puts up with me... yes, I know I'm annoying, I have no taste in clothing... my visions are a regular pain in the arse... but she doesn't care... I hate making her worry like that when she's so nice to me...
Shadow's walking on his own, and doesn't fall as often. He's been helping me around the house, and listening to me sing off-key... I can tell that my voice is terrible, and I usually just butcher whatever I'm singing... Shadow just covers his ears and makes a face... I can't sing... and I hate subjecting Shadow to my voice...
And this relationship probably isn't the best for him... I could die in a few years, and then Shadow... Shadow would probably go back to hating everyone... or at least he would be heart-broken... but I can't break it off... he needs me, and I guess I need him too... maybe this was meant to be... only time can tell...
I wish I could just take him to the Groovy-Train, but it's too risky. The military is getting suspicious, and may be waiting for me to make a wrong move. Shadow may look different now, but they got those DNA-things that are supposed to tell who someone is... even his quills could give him away... and my weird behavior. Bad hair-cut...
Something inside me knew that getting Ebony involved would be dangerous... I wanted this to be a total secret, until Shadow was well enough to travel... I pray that it won't be too late...
********
That's it. I've had it! I'm going to Pyjamas' house, so I can see what she's hiding... though I can guess what it is... the military, her odd behavior... she's probably hiding Shadow, that hedgehog the G.U.N.'s looking for...
Sonic's keeping the soldiars busy, as well as someone else whom I've put an illusion-spell on, while I'm trying to sneak over to her place. I forgot to lock up the Groovy-Train, but Pyjamas is more important... besides, why would anyone rob from that place? Lava-lamps... and everything looks like relics from a couple decades ago... too tacky for most people...
And most of my customers come here for the novely. maybe they see Pyjamas as a form of entertainment... the crazy old psychic who's almost never right... and I used to tell her she was scaring away my customers... maybe I was wrong...
Well, I'm at her house... I knock on the door, but she doesn't answer...
I try again... still no answer... please don't be dead!
"Please be alright, Pyjamas..." I cry out, "I'll stop getting on you about your visions... I know you can't control them, and you're only trying to help me... I'm so sorry about doubting you..."
Still no answer... ok, I'll have to resort to magic again... I aim at the door, and chant a spell... green energy comes out of my hands, and breaks the door down... I hear a scream... Pyjamas!
"Pyjamas! Are you ok?" I call to her...
Silence...
"PYJAMAS!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME??? ARE YOU OK???"
Now I'm scared... did something happen to her? Did one of the soldiars... rape her? I've heard about elderly women being raped, and I don't trust those G.U.N. soldiars... if one of them raped her, I'm going to kill him slowly, starting where it hurts the most...
"E-Ebony...?"
Pyjamas!
"You're alright! Oh, thank The Maker!" I cry.[author's note: got that from Babylon 5. this 'Maker' is from the Centauri religion]
She walks into the room, cautiously, and I run to her, and hug her tightly...
"Oh, Pyjamas... why didn't you... why were you...?" I'm so overjoyed to see her, that I'm almost speechless...
She hugs me for a moment, then pulls away... strange... I've just noticed something... her hair... it's not covering her eyes... and it's longer, except for the fringe...
And that look on her face... grim and fearful... and sad...
"You shouldn't be here," she says, "I don't want you to get involved. They could kill you too"
The military...
"Well, they'll have to get past me before they can even touch you, and whoever you're hiding"
A pause... Pyjamas looks down and sighs...
********
I remember when I first met Ebony... I had bought a gun, and was going to put an end to my suffering once and for all... then I heard her crying...
"Are you ok?" I asked.
"I'm lost," the kitten wailed, "We just moved here, and now I can't find my way home from school! I want my mummy and daddy!"
I hugged her, then thought of something...
"I don't know if this'll work, but let's give it a try..."
I placed my hands on her head the same way my father used to, hoping it would work... I'm only half-and-half, since my mother was a mundane, or non-psychic... that's probably why I can't control my visions that well, that and I'm only a touch-telepath...
"Now just relax..." I told Ebony.
"Ok," she said.
To make a long story short, I was able to help Ebony remember where her home was... and she was able to find her way back... we were best friends after that... I destroyed the gun... could've sold it, but I think this taught me a lesson... I had wasted money on something pointless, and almost missed out on making a friend...
Now Ebony's put herself in danger... no... I think I put her in danger...
"Please, you mustn't stay here," I tell her, "You could get killed!"
"I don't care," she says, "You're my best friend, and I'd risk everything for you. Now come on. Sonic's holding the soldiars off, but I don't know how much time he's buying us. We've got to hurry!"
She grabs my arm, and starts towards the door, but I can't... not without...
********
"Come on!"
Why isn't she coming with me? What's going on?
Suddenly, I hear a voice...
"Who's there?"
We both turn to see... a hedgehog! But who could he be? And he looks like he's in pretty bad shape... scars on his face and arms... but his quills look so cute. White, with gray stripes...
"Shadow... it's alright," Pyjamas says to the hedgehog, "She's a friend"
Shadow? This is the hedgehog the military was after? So that's why she's been hiding all this time!
Pyjamas rushes into her bedroom, and comes out with a jacket... she wraps 'Shadow' in it, and picks him up...
"There's no time to lose!" I yell, before running out of the house, my best friend following me with a hedgehog in tow.
When we get to the Groovy-Train, everything is just how I left it. Good. Nobody was there... at least there was no sign of a break-in... I lock the place up, then we hurry over to my house...
Pyjamas lays Shadow on a couch, then sits down next to him... and closes her eyes... she's asleep... she probably didn't get much sleep lately, and I can understand... it was like that when we were hiding Super Sonic... but even with the paranoia, I still treasure that short time Super was with us... someday, I'm going to try to get you out Sonic... and even if you have to be re-charged, it would be worth it...
"This place smells strange," Shadow says...
What? I think I cleaned it recently enough so it wouldn't smell...
No... wait a minute... he's reaching out to feel for me... he's blind... now I notice his eyes... they're gray and cloudy... no irises or pupils... they were burned... but how? I heard that Shadow had died... he'd fallen from ARK... I thought he burned up on re-entry... but he's alive! He's not used to the smell of my house...
I take his hand... and hold it to my face... this 'ultimate life-form' is so child-like... he strokes my face, and his eyes widen...
"You feel different," he says, with a child's sincerity.
I smile at his innocence... What a sweetheart...
"Yes, I do. I'm a cat"
Then he tells me what had happened... Pyjamas... sure, she can be annoying, not to mention tacky(though I'm not one to talk), and she leaves her knickers laying around after she takes them off... but she's also one of the kindest people I know... I'd never give her up...
"You know," I tell him, "You don't really look like a 'Shadow'"
The hedgehog gives me a puzzled look.
"I don't?"
"No. You look like an angel"
Shadow smiles.
"Pyjamas called me that... she called me a 'snow-angel'... am I an angel?" he asks, again with that unabashed sincerity...
"Yes," I answer.
You are an angel... Tenshi... that means angel... but tenshi is so overused in manga... how about Yuki... it means 'snow'...
"Yuki no Tenshi," I say, after a long pause... "it means 'Angel of Snow'"
********
Angel of snow... I am an angel... Pyjamas was right...
"Thank you, Ebony"
Then I fall asleep, knowing that I'm safe...
____________________________________________
