A/N: I told you the fic wouldn't be quite as long as all the others were. I think this ending went a tad bit fast but I'm actually a little pleased with how it turned out. Also, these last couple of chapters are going to be short since it's only drawing the conclusion.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Star Fox, Nintendo and/or Rare do. Any relation to my original characters in any way is entirely coincidental
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Chapter 18: The Fox is Mine
In the crowd outside, finding Shane would've been next to impossible. Krystal started to push her way around a bit. There were several furs around and they all weren't willing to let her through. The street was crowded but somehow she was managing. She bumped into Bill and Wolf and had to ask, "Did you see Shane?"
"He left." Bill answered. "He didn't look to happy but he darted out. I tried to ask him what happened and the only thing he said was 'Katt' and that was it."
'Dammit!' Krystal thought and continued to push and shove through the crowd until she was at the end of the block. The school wasn't far but knowing Shane, he probably wouldn't have gone back to get his car yet.
She was at the edge of the block and began to wonder if maybe he went the other way. Nonsense, it was impossible to get away in such time. Shane had to have been at the party still. He couldn't have left quite that fast.
She turned back and went into the crowd again. This time it was easier to get around since she had already cleared a small path for herself by everyone moving aside before. 'Where is he?' She must've asked herself one hundred times. She was having trouble in the middle of the block but noticed that this side of the party wasn't as populated. She came out on the edge of the opposite side and still no Shane.
She began to think of where he could possibly go to hide. 'If I were Shane where would I be if I had to get away from everyone and--' She snapped her fingers. There was only one place where Shane would go. Krystal left the party and made her way to the park.
She walked fast. Bill's block wasn't far from the park at all. She could easily find Shane. The park was a little ways down the street and that was the only place that Shane could've gone. As Krystal started to pick up the pace she ran into Nall a little ways down the block. "Krystal!" Nall called out before she wasn't noticed.
Krystal stopped and turned to Nall. She didn't really want to stop but she couldn't resist now. "What is it?"
"You look like you're walking a marathon. I thought you were going to Bill's?"
"I was there but…Shane…"
"Yeah he ran by too. He didn't stop to say hi or anything. He just kept running. I didn't get a chance to ask what was up."
"Katt." Krystal replied. "It has to do with Katt. She made a huge scene because Shane doesn't love her back."
"You mean Katt was crushed? Baby, you're not lying to me are you?" Nall asked. No one had ever heard of Katt getting the short end of the stick.
"With how she acts sometimes it was bound to happen." Krystal shrugged. "But I need to find Shane and talk to him."
"What about Fox? I thought that he was more important than Shane was?"
"I was wrong…" Krystal admitted.
Nall didn't really like Shane that much and she was actually hoping that Krystal would end up with Fox. "Well Hon, he's probably at the park so you better find him fast. You know that he probably won't stay there that long."
Krystal nodded and ran off towards the park. When she got there, it was empty and she didn't see anyone. She started to think again. The Gazebos! Duh! If anything that's where Shane would be. Krystal made her way to the gazebos next.
Sure enough, Shane was there. His back rested on the table and he hadn't even broken a sweat. He was staring up at the top of the gazebo where he and Krystal had etched the heart and put their initials in. Krystal approached the gazebo trying not to ruin Shane's train of thought. As she got closer she could see that his eyes were closed. The red slits showed that his eyes were closed.
"Shane?" Krystal whispered. His ears twitched and he sat up and looked at her. He crossed his legs and turned away from her and looked up at the stars. "Shane…" She repeated.
"I should've told you about the kiss." He said. "You probably didn't hear that much did you?"
"Katt told me at Foxxy's when you went outside with Fox." Krystal walked up to the gazebo and then inside. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it didn't mean anything to me. But to her it did. I didn't have any feeling for Katt. I did at first but then it faded." He didn't turn to face her. He kept his eyes on the stars. "Your game is over."
"What game?"
"You and Katt were playing a game with Fox and me the whole time." Shane confronted. "We're not THAT dumb. We knew all about it. You and Katt were fighting over Fox at first and the I was somehow dragged into it."
"In the end it wasn't about Fox." Krystal stood at the side of the picnic table. "It was all about you in the end. It wasn't Fox we were fighting over…but you all along."
"Imagine how Fox must feel. But then again…you would know right? I saw you guys hugging and kissing."
"We wanted to see if we felt something. The hug was just a friendly hug. We're still friends at least. I just don't feel that way towards Fox. I know about his past and I know that couldn't have helped him."
"I know. I wasn't going to say anything but then Katt started that whole scene and…dammit I didn't want to hear anymore from her. If you want the truth she really annoys me. How did you survive being with her?"
"She's still my best friend. We just look at things differently. Don't be so hard on her. But you really did put her in her place." Krystal smiled. "No one ever crushes Katt like that."
"I know." Shane said. "Most of the boys are scared of her and I don't know why."
Krystal sat down next to Shane and rested her head on his shoulder. "New subject: you." Krystal announced.
Shane uncrossed his legs and let one hang dangle close to the ground while the other he kept rested on the table in a cross leg position. "You said the game was over me all along. You didn't full me but you through me for a loop."
"Then we did our job." Krystal giggled. "Why did I let you go?"
Shane was silent. "So…this is real then?" He felt Krystal grab his paw and give it a gentle squeeze.
"Shane…" She whispered. "It IS real. It always was."
Shane smiled and squeezed back and let his tail wrap around her. Krystal gave a sigh as she leaned into him. Then she licked his muzzle and nuzzled his neck.
Only Shane was able to see this outgoing affectionate side of her. No one else saw it but him, and that made him feel lucky to have her. He looked up at the heart with their initials and Krystal did the same. They then looked to each other. "Do you remember that night?" Shane asked.
"I remember." Krystal smiled. "And it ended like this." She said as she brought her mouth closer to hers and they kissed deeply and let the love they felt for each other ensue them. They were in heaven again with each other and it wasn't going to end there. The kiss broke and they stared at each other. It was real. Shane had been whom she wanted all along.
"I want to have what we once had before." Krystal said. "I want to love you Shane and I want you to love me. Let's start over again."
Shane nuzzled her muzzle and that made a purr escape her. "Krystal, I've always loved you. I only want you to love me the way I loved you."
They leaned into each other and Krystal felt herself grow warm in Shane's embrace. "I don't want this to end."
"Neither do I." Shane replied in a soft whisper and they watched the stars. Shane kissed Krystal one more time and they held paws as they watched the bright sky. Krystal closed her eyes and they embraced with each other once more.
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A/N: That's it for Krystal and Shane. Only two chapters left now and they won't be long. Anyway, R+R please.