Chapter 16-Authority of Hell

Shadow and Sonic entered the portal, with Shadow being totally cloaked. He ran toward Washington, DC, and got there when the guards had returned to their posts. Suddenly, a shadow passed overhead. As Shadow looked up to see what it was, he noticed that someone was right behind him.

He looked behind and saw Ayame, equipped with a lighter, gasoline cans, and a bow and arrow. She said, "I'll start a fire as a diversion when he gets there. He'll pretend to fight me, and you grab the girl."

Shadow replied, "Okay, but why are you helping me?"

"Listen. If I don't, I'll be breaking the international code of ninjas. Now, we just need to wait."

It took about two hours before Sonic finally arrived.

Ayame said, "You wait here, and I'll set it up."

She took out an arrow and dipped it in the gasoline. She then took out the lighter and lit the tip on fire. She put the bottle behind a guard's foot, then jumped to the top of the building, took out the bow, and aimed for the bottle.

Just then, Sonic's fake interrogation began.

Amy immediately punched the window where Sonic was about to speak through.

Sonic said, "Try all you may, but you're not getting out of here without telling me everything that you told Shadow."

Amy replied, "Well, if you hadn't betrayed me, I might cooperate."

"It doesn't matter whether or not you die to me. I have other ways of getting it, and I can get you out of here."

"It doesn't matter to me either. I've got no friends, except for one, and he's just an acquaintance. Thanks to you, I don't want to live anyway."

"You know, I respect you a lot more now that I know about why you did those things."

"So you know about Shadow?"

"Not the complete story, but I know enough."

Just then, Ayame let the arrow fly, and the guard caught fire. Sonic immediately ran toward the guard, and ran around him enough times to create the wind necessary to put it out. Just then, Shadow made his move, and destroyed the roof of the compound, snatched Amy, and ran off.

Sonic spotted Ayame, and said, "You double-crosser! Now I'll never get that info!"

Ayame replied, "Mission accomplished. I'm out of here."

She then disappeared.

Shadow made his way to the portal, dodging army officials flooding the streets, opening fire. Suddenly, he was surrounded.

The first guard said, "You're not going anywhere."

Shadow replied, "Let's just see you try."

He then took out a Chaos Drive, and said, "Chaos Control!"

Suddenly, time came to a halt. Shadow took his advantage, and stepped right through the portal.

As he walked through, he immediately took off, with Amy in his arms. He landed at his apartment window. He walked inside, and placed her down.

Amy, shocked, said, "Shadow? Is that you?"

Shadow replied, "You know, what you said really hurt."

"What did I say?"

"That I'm just someone you know, and nothing more."

"I was just trying to trick Sonic. You're much more than that."

She took the cloak off of his face, and kissed him on the cheek.

Shadow was too shocked to do anything. Amy kissed him again, and then locked lips with him for four seconds.

Shadow was too shocked to respond or know that he was this important to Amy.

She said, "Shadow? Are you okay?"

Shadow, slow to respond, eventually said, "Yeah. You really like me…"

Amy replied, "Of course. It's not everyday that someone comes across a person like you."

Suddenly, a loud crash was heard. Shadow saw what looked like a SWAT team looking for the two.

Shadow took out a Chaos Emerald and used his Chaos Control to warp to the hideout in Asia. There, he found himself asking Amy, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

She wouldn't respond. She was trying to find an answer, but she didn't find it.

Shadow did the first affectionate thing he ever did right then and there. He put his arms around her. He told her, "Hey, I like you too. But it's a mixed emotion...I can't stay with you, as long as I'm being chased. I love you so much that I must leave to make sure you stay alive."

She asked him, "Do you really mean that?"

"Of course I do. I'm finally beginning to understand love."

She didn't know what to say. She had something else on her mind.

Shadow asked her, "What's wrong?"

Amy said, "What you just said..."

"I'm sorry, but I have to do it. Once they stop, then we will be together."

"I want to do this with you."

She grabbed his hand, looked into his eyes, and said, "Okay?"

Shadow nodded his head, and kissed her.