Sorry it took so long but I've been buzy plus i've had a writers block for a while... see i wrote this story a long time ago and its hard to get back into the flow... what a blag...

Disclaimer: I don't own Knuckles or Rouge but I do own Kane and Si-harah

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter: 7…

Time: 12:00 noon…

Location: in Si-harah's dungeon…

"Your late" growled the wolf, she came face to face with the serpent. "Time is not on our side, Kane. Got that?" she hissed. The serpent bowed his head.

"I'm sorry mistress, but I had issues with a hedgehog… it will not happen again" he spoke.

Si-harah growled, "For your sake, I hope not!" the wolf sits back in her chair. "I need you to meet up with the two hunters, I want them safe till they get the ruby…"

Kane grins, "As you wish"

Location: in the park…

Rouge and Knuckles were sitting back on the lush green grass, both gazing out onto the city of Paris. Both content with each other's company, feeling relaxed.

"This is too good to be true…" sighed the echidna. "It feels like a dream… all of it"

Rouge sat up straight and looked at him, he looked back in curiously. She narrowed her eyes playfully.

"If this is a dream, let make it a fantasy," she purred. His eyes widened fully, his jaw dropped a few inches. She moved her self onto him, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck, pushing him to the ground, pinning him slightly.

But before either Knuckles or Rouge could react, the dreaded gem of Si-harah interrupted, appearing right between their faces.

'…' Si-hara had to look closely into the vision from the crystal. Rouge quickly pushed herself off from Knuckles, feeling her face grow hot she looked away. While Knuckles still had the blank look upon his face.

"We.. it…I…err" Knuckles blurted out, coming back to reality and sitting up quickly.

'…I don't want to know…' Si-harah rolled her eyes 'my ally has finished his work sooner then I'd expected, so head over to the dock and look for the boat called 'viper' you two are close to finishing this quest, don't you dare fail me now… So what are you waiting for? Get going!' the gem gave a quick flash then disappeared.

Rouge stood up and grabbed her rucksack, looking slightly over her shoulder to Knuckles who was now standing up and rubbing the back of his head, like he does when he's either frustrated or embarrassed, something Rouge found really cute.

"Any idea where the dock is?" Knuckles asked, looking out at the view of the city. Rouge followed his gaze, narrowing her eyes as if able to see more clearly.

She turns back to the echidna "if we glide over the city, we might be able to spot something" Knuckles gave a nod then walked over to her side.

Location: River Seine dock…

Rouge stopped just before the docks entrance gates. Panting slightly and a while behind was Knuckles with a 'not so happy' look on his face.

Rouge gave him an amused look "I always knew men couldn't take direction" she kissed him on the cheek as he stood up.

"You always have to make something into a game don't you" Knuckles huffed.

"Yep, and I always win too" she grinned.

See, while back in the middle of the city, truly lost. Rouge argued that they should ask for direction while Knuckles argued that it was a waste of time and they could get there them self's. Rouge challenged Knuckles to a race too see who'd get there first…

"There's the boat" Rouge pointed out as they both headed into the dock. This boat was a sight,

The wood was chipped and jagged half covered by shoddy white paint that had heartlessly been put on, plus the boat its self looked half under water.

Rouge gave a low moan as the wreck came more into view. Now closer, the detail was worse. The whole boat stank of something that can't be described. There where teeth marks on the side of the boat, and dried stains on the wooded floor which must have been blood.

"Hey.." came a low voice behind the two hunters. Knuckles spun around, his fists raised slightly. Rouge stood a little behind Knuckles, peering over his shoulder.

The figure stepped out of the shadow, one clawed foot first, then the other. Its yellow eyes shone like gold. His dark green scales almost looked silky in the sunlight.

"Are you two the ones sent by Si-harah?" he hissed, the serpent towered over Knuckles. He looked like Vectors the Crocodiles double, but with a sleeker body, no red spikes and a shorter snout. Also bigger teeth, two huge fangs at the front, over lapping his bottom jaw like a sabre tooth tiger.

Knuckles nodded slowly keeping his guard up.

The serpent turned his back on the two "follow me" he hissed while heading back into the shadow, his sleek tail trailing behind. Knuckles kept his distance behind the cobra as Rouge followed closely behind Knuckles, looking back to the wrecked boat.

"What happened to that boat?" Knuckles asked sticking his thumb over his shoulder. The cobra quickly glanced over his shoulder, his yellow eyes striking Knuckles before looking back ahead.

"You don't need to know…" the serpent hissed. Knuckles narrowed his eyes.

"How are we sure we can trust you, snake?" Knuckles snapped stopping in his tracks as the serpent stopped abruptly.

The cobra looked over his shoulder again, hiding a cruel smile that had formed. "You can't," he said in a flat tone. "You just have to go with you intuition and hope I don't knife you while you sleep" his tone still dark, no joke intended in his words. "The boats not far now" he looked back ahead and carried on walking.

Knuckles looked over to Rouge behind him; "I don't think we should-" he stopped as Rouge put one finger on his lips.

"We started this adventure and we're going to finish it" Rouge sighed then smiled "come on, we know Si-harah needs the ruby, so nothing will happen till we find it"

Knuckles raised an eyebrow. She was right, why would Si-harah order her men to kill them when they we're sent to retrieve the ruby she wants so much? She would have them safe and sound… but what the hunters don't know is that once she gets what she wants… they are disposable…

Knuckles and Rouge head after the serpent. Finding him standing at an opening looking out on a lone black boat. This boat was bigger then the wreck and looked more stylish, brand new even! On the side, in blood red paint was the word 'viper' and three painted claw marks under lining it. The shape of the boat looked like the style of G.U.N but much smaller and slimmer.

The serpent stepped onto the boat and mimicked the two to follow, from there he headed down some steps and opened the double doors at the bottom. There was the cabin, fit for two people with one double bed.

"We're leaving in five minuets, you two must stay in here, I travel the dark river's way any disturbance and those beasts that wrecked my other boat will welcome you" he looked fully at Rouge, giving her the once over "You'd make a perfect meal" the cobra smirked. Knuckles gave a low growl. Moving his way in front of the cobra's view of Rouge.

The serpent looked amused then turned and headed out the cabin, "by the way, the names Kane" he called back before slamming the doors shut. Then the sound of latches sliding and bolts tightening were heard.

"The bastards locked us in, he could do anything now!" Knuckles cursed. Rouge placed a hand on his shoulder, a look of concern written on her face.

"Knuckles… like I said before… Si-harah needs us, please calm down," she cooed into his ear.

"I can't, not when I know they can and probably will do, in any time after we get that ruby… I really am starting to think this is a bad idea" he slumped down on the bed then lays back sighing.

Rouge lies down next to him, stroking his dreads lightly. Knuckles shifted him-self to lie on his side facing her.

She frowned "you know what, we didn't even get to have a proper day in Paris" she sighed after finishing the sentence.

Knuckles yawned "And hardly any sleep, I'm shattered" he lay back on his back, closing his eyes.

The sound of the boats engine started and the dizziness of the moment hit. Knuckles felt Rouge's hand brush along his chest as the other went round the back of his neck. She nuzzled the side of his neck breathing lightly against it. Knuckles grinned as he open his eyes slightly, taking her hand off his chest, he moves himself on top of her. His body pressing against hers as he kisses her passionately. Rouge reacted back by sliding her tongue into him mouth moving one hand behind his head.

Knuckles pulls away and starts kissing her neck down to her shoulder then lower.

Things quickly escalated as the passion soared between the two…

Location: Directly under the water temple in the English channel…

Time: 2:00 pm…

Kane stopped the boat and let the anchor down to the depths. He looked up to the blue sky, he never like bright sunny days as the light always made him feel vulnerable. As though he was suspecting it, Si-harah's crystal appeared.

'Update… are you at the location Kane?' Si-harah's tone of voice changed to a low growl 'cause if you're not…'

Kane hissed back "I've done what you have asked, now where's my end of the deal, wolf?" then, a sudden surge of pain swept through his whole body. The serpent twisted in pain the fell back onto the deck. Coughing out the blood on impact. His body went limp yet he was still breathing, his heart felt as if a thousand volts of electricity just surged through. His pupils when small his breathing went faster.

'Kane, This is not over yet… I can kill you now without lifting a finger, but I still need you' she hissed, her voice seemed to echo inside his mind 'Got that?'

The serpent heaved himself up off the floor and lent against the side of the boat for support. Kane slowly nodded at the crystal, 'Good, now go get them' the wolf spat and the crystal vanished within a instant.

Knuckles was the first to wake. Looking to his side he sees Rouge still sound asleep with her arm around his chest and her head against his shoulder. Content that he could stay like that forever yet the moment didn't last long as the sweet silence was disturbed by the sound of bolts sliding open and locks clicking free.

The door was pulled open, almost off its hinges allowing the shadow of the serpent flood into the room. Rouge woke up and covered her-self with the sheets, a little ticked off about her rude awakening.

"We're here…" the snake paused, getting a proper view of the two "-get some clothes on and get to the deck" he huffed then turned and headed back up the steps.

Knuckles sighed and grabbed his stray gloves and shoes that were scattered about the cabin. Rouge headed into the small bathroom and started the shower.

Up on the deck Knuckles came out, shielding his eyes from the sunlight he heads to the back of the boat where Kane was stood. The serpent was taking a long drag from his cigarette while leaning against rails. By the serpents clawed feet were two facemasks and one broken snorkel.

"That's it?" Knuckles mumbled. The serpent blew out a stream of smoke from his mouth making Knuckles cough a little.

"Yeah, got a problem?" he took another drag from his cigarette "from this point on, you don't have my protection… if you two meet some demons down there, it ain't my problem"

Knuckles growled a little then looked over board "how far down is the temple?"

The serpent grinned, the smoke curled out from between his fangs "don't worry, by the time you reach a quarter of the way you would either run out of air or be ripped apart" Kane sneered, breathing out the rest of the toxic smoke then throwing the cigarette butt into the sea.

"I'll give you a little heads up… you know that babe your with" Kane hissed, catching Knuckles attention. "She's just using you like a child with a toy, playing with you till she gets bored and finds someone else" Kane hid his smirk by lighting another cigarette "she's that type of gal, I knew it as soon as I saw her"

Knuckles frowned "shut up, that's not true why should I trust you over someone I care for?" he spat.

Kane exhaled more smoke, like a dragon who's just burnt the next foolish knight. "Then you are gullible, you really have been twisted round her finger… you know deep down that something ain't right" he paused then continued "you shouldn't trust anyone, but like I said go with you intuition" Kane brushed passed Knuckles and headed to the front of the boat.

The crimson echidna gripped the rails hard with both hands, staring daggers at the depths of the sea below. 'He's wrong I know he is… but what if he is right and I've been used again….' He jumped out of though as Rouge came up behind him.

"Hey knux" she called but soon noticed the look on his face "-what's the matter" she cooed, placing a hand on his shoulder. Knuckles brushed her hand away and moved aside.

"Nothing…. I- I just need to be alone" he mumbled as he brushed past her and headed to the other side of the boat.

Kane appeared again, picking up the facemasks he turned to Knuckles. "The temple is directly below, I have two air necklaces and two face masks but… it's going to cost you," he hissed.

Knuckles turned around, "what, wait you never said-"

"How much?" called Rouge from behind the serpent. She was rummaging around her rucksack for something.

Kane mulled it over "Eh… 20 rings for the two masks and 40 for one air necklace" he grinned. Rouge frowned as she looked up at the snake. "Hey, I don't come cheap babe" he hissed "maybe if you show me a little appreciation for getting you over here with no cost, I'll lower the prices" his grin turned to a filthy smirk. Knuckles gave a low growl.

Rouge looked at him in disgust then pulls out a shiny yellow jewel, the suns rays where reflected by the jewel making it glow "how's this?"

Kane took the jewel and examined it; taken aback by the jewel he gives Rouge the two masks and the two air necklaces. "Yeah, this'll do… for now" he mumbled before turning away "I'll be waiting here till you both come back with the ruby… if you don't have the ruby or your gone too long then I'm leaving without you" Rouge and Knuckles nodded then fitted on the masks.

Rouge jumped in first, coming back to the surface she gasps as the shock of the freezing cold water overcomes her. Knuckles dives in then reaches the surface, the cold not penetrating his tough exterior.

"Ready Knuckles?" Rouge calls "I'll race you there" but knuckle had already dived under. Rouge frowned then shuck it off putting the air capsule into her mouth, she soon dived under after Knuckles.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jewel Thief- I'm so sorry it's been so long, I didn't think people would care for this story so much...

Shadow Is Cool- hey thanks for all your reviews they help alot

MetalDragon75767- Thank you for the reviews Everybodywho hasn't read'hero's kin' Should read it! your story rocks!

And thanks to all the others I've not mentioned, your reviews really help me carry on

NOW STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER! (that will be a while --)

-Rayzer-