CHAPTER 7

WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?

"Espio."

He heard that voice again. It was bringing him back to reality. He felt his senses swimming and the nausia rising.

"Epio."

Don't worry, I'm coming just keep calling me name.

He felt someone shaking him. "Espio, wake up."

No, I don't want to. Let me sleep.

"Come on, you lazy bum."

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmm... leave me be... I don't want... to get up."

"Espio, wake up, this instant!"

"Let me sleep... I need... it."

"Fine but I really need to ask you something."

Espio was curious about what whoever was talking to him wanted to ask him but he couldn't get his eyes to open. With little resistance he fell back to sleep.

Ayame wasn't quite sure what had happened to Espio but she knew, whatever it was, it hadn't been good.

It had taken awhile to stop his arm from bleeding and when she finally had she knew he had lost too much. She just hoped he wouldn't die.

Now she sat next to his sleeping form and worried. Please don't die, she thought, I can't lose you again.

Unconsiously she heard him say. "I won't, I promise. Can... you... sing... to... me?"

Ayame stared at him. He was asleep. How did he know?

Since the female chameleon liked music and did it as often as she could. She did what he'd asked and began to sing.

Please don't go,

Don't leave me,

I care too much,

Can't you see?

If you go,

I'll miss you so much.

Please don't leave,

Please stay true,

The truth is,

I love you.

I need you here,

More then you know,

If you leave,

I'll miss you so,

Stay with me,

Like back then,

In our childhood,

You know when.

So don't leave,

Please don't go.

Ayame noticed his face held a small smile. "You always liked me singing," she told him.

"Sing one more."

The sun can rise,

Over the hill,

Over the ocean,

With water still.

The wind can blow,

Sails and leaves,

Flags and feathers,

And branches on trees.

The moon will cast,

It's silvery light,

As it rises,

To make the night.

The rain can fall,

And soak all.

The snow will flutter,

As days grow cold.

These things are pretty,

They come and go,

Rising, reviving,

My very soul.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," she said to him.

The female chameleon then turned away from him and began to softly play her ocarina. As she played she thought about the friendship they'd had when they were younger.

The two were inseparatable when they weren't training. They'd had so much fun together. It made her sad that he'd changed so much but also very little.

I wonder what it would have been like if he'd never left? she thought, If he hadn't would we still be friends or would our relationship of gone deeper than that? Hmmm, I wonder and I wish I knew. She cast a look back at the sleeping chameleon. Would we have been more then just friends?

She shook her head. I highly doubt it, she thought, changing the tune on her instrument as she began another song, Besides he isn't even interested in me, well not anymore anyway. Man, I wish I would stop thinking about it. It's not like it will or would have happened. I might as well forget about it.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't.

While Ayame was thinking things over Espio was once again having one of those dreams where there were no images only random sentences drifting though his mind.

"She doesn't know the truth. I cannot tell her. Please don't make me."

"One day you will have to tell her."

"What kind of experience do you have...?"

"I'm a ninja I can be very helpful..."

"I told you before..."

"I won't let them have their way..."

"Eggman..."

"Chaos Emeralds are the key to everything..."

"Knuckles..."

"Yurai consumes the power of Chaos..."

"...very deadly..."

"What?"

"I... must... never... let... them."

"You're a thief."

"I must hide it..."

"You're no better than Rouge..."

"Where's Yurai...?"

"Protect your spirit at all times."

"Yurai can break your spirit..."

"My name's Ayame...Ayame Rioko"

"Vector... Charmy..."

"It is too late..."

"I can't let this happen... not again..."

"We'll always be friends right?"

"Yes."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

"Promise?"

"I promise... I will never... forget.."

"You forgot me."

"She never forgot me..."

"Sherikan wants..."

"Yurai... the sword of death... takes control of the welder... without a pure heart... a heart full of guilt... mindless... rampage... killing... suicide..."

"Don't give him the sword..."

"I have to save my friends..."

"Yeah... your friends..."

At last the voices faded away. Espio became aware of the sound of soft ocarina music. He listened carefully. The song was not familiar but he knew the person playing it was Ayame. She was the only one who could play those kinds of complicated songs.

He smiled to himself.

Ayame had always had a special gift. She was not only good at music but sword fighting as well.

It always seemed she could do anything.

I wish I was like that sometimes. But then again it must be hard to have all those talents.

He rolled on his side and felt something sharp graze his cheek. He felt his skin rip open and gasped at the pain.

Espio's eyes came wide open and he found himself staring at Ayame's unshiethed sword.

He gasped and sat up.

Ayame stopped playing her ocarina and looked up.

"Espio," she said walking over to him, "it's good to see you're finally awake."

"What happened?" he asked.

"I don't know," she replied, "I went for a walk and when I came back you were gone. I had to look for you. When I found you you were lying on the ground in a field unconcious, bloody, and muttering to yourself."

"What was I saying?"

"I don't know. It was too hard to make out. I think you might have been talking about Yurai."

"Yurai!" he exclaimed, standing up and looking around, "Where is it?"

"It's right here," Ayame said, holding the sword up, "no one stole it. I had it with me the whole time."

He took it from her. "Well you shouldn't have done that," he said, "how would you like it if I took your sword?"

"Look, Espio, I wasn't stealing it," she protested, "what do I look like? A thief?"

Espio was about to comment then shut his mouth. The word 'thief' stabbed at his heart like a knife.

"Uh," he said, "no you don't. I'm sorry."

He turned away from her.

"What's wrong?' she asked, "I'm sorry for taking Yurai."

"It's not you," he said, not looking at her, "you didn't do anything."

"Then what? Is it that again?"

"What again?' he asked glancing over his shoulder.

"That secret."

"What are you talking about?"

"When we were friends I always felt that you were hiding something from me. Something about your past."

"I have nothing to hide!" he protested.

"The why was it back then when we talked about our childhood I did all the talking?'

"Because you like to talk."

"Whenever I asked you about your past you always said nothing. Instead you got all nervous."

Another stab.

"It's none of your business," he growled.

Ayame didn't back down this time.

"I know, Espio, but if you never spoke about your past to anyone then you must be hiding something."

He shook his head.

She put her hand on his shoulder. "Espio, please," she pleaded, "why are you hiding? What is so wrong about your past that you have to hide it?"

Espio's fists shook.

"Please tell me."

Espio pushed her down. "You want to know about it so much?! " he demanded, standing over her, "Well then, here it is. I was a thief! A no good thief! Master Mimnotko taught me how to be a ninja! He tried to turn me around but it didn't work!"

"What do you mean?' she asked, staring up at her distrought friend.

Espio's eyes were flashing. "I repayed him by stealing something important to him!"

Ayame didn't understand.

"I stole Yurai!" he screamed at her. "I STOLE YURAI!"

Authors note: I just realized this story is kind of lame. I'd delete it but I'm half way through it already. I'll finish it but I doubt I'll get any reviews for it. I'm just glad I don't have to put in anymore lame poetry after this chapter.