CHAPTER 9

Give It To Me

Ayame suddenly grew tense. When Espio tried to ask her what was wrong she only put out her arm and hissed. "Shh!"

The two listened in silience. Espio heard nothing but he could sense something was there. Something he couldn't see. Something invisable.

Oh no, he thought, not them again! Why can't they just come out in the open?

Suddenly Ayame grabbed his arm and pulled him in a bush.

"Ayame, what," the female chameleon put her hand over his mouth, "Shh! Someone's coming," she whispered.

The forest was drenched in silence once again.

A moment later they saw a cloaked figure walk by.

Espio wanted to know who it was but he couldn't get up. Not with Ayame sitting on him. He couldn't even ask her who it was since she had her hand over his mouth.

When the figure was gone the two sighed and Ayame removed her hand.

"Who was that?" he asked, sitting up.

"I think that was one of the ninjas who kidnapped your friends," she replied.

"Then let's follow him," the male chameleon proclaimed, beginning to stand.

"Wait!" Ayame hissed grabbing his arm and pulling him back down. "it may be a trap!"

"A trap?" Espio said, staring at her, "don't be crazy. That guy wasn't even aware of us watching him."

"I wouldn't be too sure," she muttered, "he's a ninja too. He could probably sense us but didn't want us to know he could."

Espio wasn't ready or willing to listen to her. He tried to get up again. Ayame kept a tight hold on his arm and wouldn't let him go.

"Let me go," he growled, trying to wrench free, "I need to get them back!"

"No, you can't!" she exclaimed.

Espio tried to shove her away but she just leaned her weight on him causing him to fall over. She then lay on top of him till he had calmed down.

"Get off of me!" he yelled kicking at her.

Ayame put her hand over his mouth ad wrapped her legs around his. There was no way she was going to let him go. Not while he was acting like that. He tried to hit her but she grabbed his wrist and pinned it to the ground. He couldn't hit her with his other hand because she had her weight on that side and his arm was under her body. Nevertheless he squirmed against her hold, trying to break free. She stayed in the same position, using her body weight to hold him down. If she could keep it but a little longer he'd wear himself out anyway without her having to do a thing.

Eventually Espio grew exausted and stopped struggling. He panted through her hand and closed his eyes to hide his feelings.

"Look, I'm sorry," Ayame said, "I didn't want to do this to you but you left me no choice. You lost your clearness of thought. I couldn't have you rushing blindly after that guy without knowing what could happen."

Espio didn't reply. He was too busy trying to catch his breath. Even after she removed her hand and let his wrist and body go. Her explaination seemed so simple so true. He was disgusted with it.

When he was calmed down enough he sat up and glared at her.

Aayme ignored his piercing stare and stood up, brushing dirt off her clothing. "I think it's safe to go that way now," she said guardedly, "that is, if you still want to."

The male chameleon jumped to his feet so fast he knocked her over. "Hey!" she shouted at him.

"Sorry," he said insincerly.

Ayame was in no mood for any more trouble. She was also angry at his arigence and his ankle was just too tempting. She kicked it in a rage.

Espio danced around on one foot as the female chmeleon stood up. "Ha, ha! Serves you right," she said.

Espio lost it. Screaming like a banshee he jumped on top of her ad punched her in the face.

Ayame kicked him in the stomach. When he crumbled, having the wind knocked out of him, she rolled over on top of him and began scratching his face. Soon the two were rolling on the forest floor kicking, biting, punching, and scratching each other.

"I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!" Ayame screamed in bad temper. "I don't even know why I ever bothered to come looking for you in the first place!"

"I wish I'd never met you!" he roared, ripping off one of her sleaves.

"Whatever, thief!" she shrieked, pulling off the chain around her waist, "how about I put you out of your misery?"

She wrapped the chain around his neck and began tightening it. Espio struggled for breath as the cold steel cut off his air. He looked up at her but her eyes were cold and held no remorse.

He saw white spots forming in his vision and grabbed at the chain, trying to pull it away from his throat. Darker darker...

Suddenly the chair slipped down to his arms holding them against his sides. He could breath again.

Sighing with relief he let his body grow limp as he sucked in air.

He felt Ayame's head rested on his chest but didn't open his eyes. Who knew what she was going to do.

At the sound of soft crying he opened his eyes halfway. He saw Ayame crying, her chain clasped in one hand while her other covered her eyes.

"I'm a horrible, horrible person," he heard her whisper "what is wrong with me? Why did I try to kill him? This isn't like me. This isn't like me at all!"

Espio instantly felt sorry for her. He couldn't comfort her though. Since she was on top of him and he couldn't move.

The male chameleon began to wonder if Yurai had something to do with what just happened. It almost seemed that the evil sword wanted them to kill each other.

It has a horrible power, he thought, I must not let them have it. I must destroy it before it ruins anyone else's lives.

Ayame cried for a few minutes constantly telling no one she was sorry. Espio wondered if she was all right but didn't bother asking. It probably wouldn't help the situation if he did.

"Don't cry, Ayame," he said raising his left arm (The only free one) and putting his hand on hers, "it'll be all right. It wasn't your fault. It was mine. I shouldn't have been so selfish."

"You weren't being selfish," she said, sitting up, "you were just concerned about your friends."

She pulled her chain forward, causing him to move into a sitting position. "Maybe I should just let you go the rest of the way by yourself."

Ayame pulled him into a hug then let him go, releasing him from her chain as she stood. "I'll leave you now," she said, turning away, "maybe I'll meet up with you again. After this is all over." She turned to go.

"Ayame, wait," Espio said, reaching out and grabbing her arm.

The female chameleon looked over her should and down at his hand then at his face. He seemed to want to tell her something but, for some reason, wasn't able to.

"Yes?" she finally asked.

Espio finally stood. He put his hands on her shoulders and whispered, "I couldn't have gotten this far without you. If you hadn't of rescued me from them before, who knows what could have happened to me."

"You could have gotten away by yourself," she said, not looking at him.

He turned her around slowly. "I don't think I could have, " he said, "I haven't been myself lately. I've been so preoccupied by other things I wasn't aware of what was happening until it was too late."

Ayame still didn't look at him.

Espio put his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. "Ayame, I need you," he said, "I need your courage. I don't think I'd be able to make it there alone. I-I'm sorry."

"You are?" she said, surprised, "you need me?"

He smiled faintly. "Very much."

Then, before she knew what was happening, he leaned forward and gently kissed her on the lips.

"Now," he said, "let's go get Vector and Charmy back."

Ayame nodded. She was speechless about what he'd just done. I can't believe it! Did he actually kiss me?

She didn't bother asking. She just followed him down the trail the other chameleon had taken.


Sherikan was getting impatient. He knew he'd sensed those two in the woods a half hour ago. They hadn't shown up yet though. "Where is that little thief?" he muttered. "He should have been here with Yurai by now."

From the tree he was tied to Vector watched the Espio look alike. If Espio didn't bring that sword, who knew what would happen to the crocodile and Charmy. I just hope he gets here soon.

Sherikan turned to Vector. "Where is he?" the ninja demanded.

"Why are you asking me?" Vector demanded with indignation. "how should I know? I've been with you and your lackys the whole time!"

"He lives with you!" Sherikan exploded, "you know him better then I do. Does he always take so long?"

"Not always," Vector growled. "but it's probably taking him so long because you didn't give him a map and he has to find this whole freakin' place by himself."

"Shut up," Sherikan shouted, "he's a ninja! He should have a natural sense of finding things."

Vector stared at Sherikan in disgust. It wasn't Vector's fault Espio was taking so long.

"If he's not here by the time I count to ten I'll kill you right here and now," the chameleon screamed.

"One... Two...Three... Four... Five...," the Espio look alike counted, with every number getting a step closer to Vector, "Six... Seven... Eight... Nine... TEN!"

Sherikan charged at the crocodile, a huge samuri sword in his hand.

"Now is that anyway a real ninja would act?" a voice demanded behind him.

Startled, the chameleon ninja dropped the sword and turned around.

Standing a few feet away, with his arms folded, was Espio with Ayame right behind him.

"Hello there," Espio said, smirking, " you must be Sherikan."

The chameleon quickly recovered, "So you finally arrived," he said, also smirking, "now that you're here give me what doesn't belong to you."

"You mean this?" Espio asked, holding up Yurai.

"Yes, that," Sherikan said, taking a step forward, "give it to me."

Espio held out the sword as if he was going to give it to his look alike. Suddenly he tossed it to Ayame. "Run!" he shouted.

The female chameleon caught the sword and dashed into the woods.

"After her!" Sherikan ordered, pointing at the fleeing figure.

Just as the other ninjas came after her she turned around and began backing away slowly. The instant they were almost on top of her she threw down a smoke bomb and vanished.

"No!" Sherikan screamed, incensed. "she got away!"

That's when he noticed Espio trying to untie Vector.

"You!" he shrieked, jumping into the air and kicking Espio to the ground.

The other chamelon rose and jumped out of the way as Sherikan's foot came down again."You won't get away this time!" he shouted, throwing out a steady stream of kicks, "there's no little girl to save you this time!"

Espio dodged then threw some Shuriken stars at his look alike.

Sherikan ducked. The stars went right over him. He swung his leg, knocking Espio over.

The sixteen year old looked up just in time to see Sherikan jump at him. The Chaotix ninja backed away and Sherikan landed cat-like in the spot where he had been.

Espio lashed out with his foot. It made contact with his look alike's face.The chamelon screamed in pain then grabbed Espio's foot, pulling him forward.

The sixteen year old struggled then threw a tiny dagger at Sherikan's face.

The dagger lodged in his shoulder and he screamed in pain, letting go of Espio's foot.

Espio scrambled to his feet but couldn't get away. Looking back he found his look alike had a firm hold on his tail. He instantly kicked Sherikan. The look aliked fell backward, pulling Espio to the ground.

Sherikan quickly recovered and yanked on Espio's tail. The younger chameleon punched him in the face.

Sherikan grew angry when he felt blood run down his face. He wipped out his sword and slashed at Espio with it.

Espio grabbed the blade in his hands and pushed it farther and farther away from his face. (Espio's not Sherikan's) Suddenly Sherikan jerked the sword over Espio's head. The younger chameleon let out a cry of pain as he felt the sword's blade cut his hands.

Sherikan stared down at him gloatingly. "You thought you could get away with tricking me did you?" he demanded, "well think again. If you thought you had it bad before you are so wrong!"

Sherikan brought up his knee and jabbed Espio hard in the face with it. The younger ninja's face flew backwards at the impact. His vision exploded in a flurry of brightly colored stars then darkness. His hands limply unlocked themselves from the sword's blade.