KOS-MOS rox: lol, yes, i know... but shionxchaos is the easiest for me to write. glad you like it though.

G-Anakin13: thanks!

Youko-Kuronue: ooh, those are good! i think i'll use that for the 'past' version... and something opposite for the 'future' version...

summonershion3: yeah, chaos is getting all the hard stuff. and he gets even worse here. poor chaos. lol, if u want other stories, u should check out some of mine... i have a few other shionxchaos stuff.

Disclaimer: I don't own Xenosaga.

Chapter Four:

Gnosis

"How are you holding up chaos?" Shion asked, poking the fire with a stick.

He coughed. "I'm doing... ok. How are you? We're... running really low on food."

"I know..." she munched on a berry. "But we can't do anything about it for now... I have to take care of you, and you certainly aren't going anywhere..."

He sighed, and sat up. "It's been days... and all we've had are berries. We need... substance."

"We'll... get through this chaos. Just... sleep it off. Goodness knows..." she yawned. "I've done it before..."

"Well... I guess." he lied back down, and soon, fell asleep.

—

chaos looked over at Shion. It had been hours since she's moved. He slowly got up, and walked over to Shion. "I'm sorry for leaving you..." he smiled as he looked at her, sleeping quietly. He took a few steps back, holding back a cough. "But... we need supplies. And... I can't let you get hurt out there..." he put his blanket over her and walked out into the rain.

—

Shion woke up, and threw off the blanket on her. "Blanket? I don't remember... chaos?" she looked over at where chaos was sleeping. "chaos! Damn it, you left again!"

"With good reason, but bad timing..." chaos walked in, with food in one arm and wood in another. He wasn't just wet and scratched up this time though. He had foot long gash marks on him, which were bleeding profusely.

"chaos!" Shion cried out, grabbing all the stuff he had brought with him and tossing it by the fire. "What happened to you?"

chaos walked over to the fire, in an attempt to grab his clothes, but collapsed. "I'm... sorry..." he coughed up blood. "There's... something I've been hiding from you... ever since we got here."

"What is it?" she asked, her voice cracking. She opened up a med kit and began applying it to his wounds.

"The... Gnosis that attacked us... they've followed us here. That's why... I've always taken so long going out for supplies. They're getting closer and closer to us. I've had to... fight them off, ever since we got here."

Shion dropped the med pack. "So that's... what you meant... when you said you wanted... to protect me..." tears began rolling down her cheeks.

"Yes..." he muttered.

Shion punched him. Not hard, but she punched him. "Idiot! Who says you have to carry all the weight of our world on your shoulders? I can fight too! I... I..." she collapsed onto him, sobbing.

"I'm sorry... Shion." he ran his fingers through her hair. "I... just didn't want you to get hurt..."

—

Night had fallen, though it was still pouring outside. chaos had been sleeping all day, and Shion couldn't sleep a wink. After hours of just watching chaos, she stood up. "It's my turn to help you... chaos." she ran out into the night.

After wandering the forest for hours, she found herself lost. "I sure am smart... how hard can it be to find a few Gnosis on an uncharted planet in the middle of the night?" she said to herself sarcastically.

Suddenly, something hit her from behind. She fell to the ground. Standing up, she saw that she had unintentionally gotten herself surrounded by Gnosis. "Hmph, so here you are. Let's go!" she materialized her M.W.S., and it instantly shocked her. She threw it off her arm, and it sat there on the wet ground, sizzling. "Great... just great." she braced herself as all the Gnosis rushed her.

—

chaos suddenly woke up. He had the feeling something was wrong. "Shion?" he looked around the cave, but no one was there. "This can't be good..." Gathering all of his strength, he ran out into the rain.

He headed straight to where he last fought the Gnosis, and sure enough, he found them there, attacking a defenseless Shion. "Shion!" he cried out, shooting out auras at the Gnosis. They reared back, and attacked chaos. He dodged what he could, and ran to Shion. She was unconscious, and he noticed her M.W.S. on the ground. It was worthless now though, as it was throughly soaked. He felt his wings grow out of his back, and he looked at how many Gnosis there were. He didn't have to count, there were too many for him to fight at once, while at the same time protecting Shion. He flew off back towards the cave.

chaos made it back to the cave safely, but he could hear the Gnosis behind him. He put Shion down beside the fire, and softly kissed her on her forehead. "Shion... I'm sorry..."

He went back to leave the cave, but found a giant Gnosis at the entrance. He ran towards it, with an aura at the ready, while the Gnosis rushed, baring it's claws. Shion awoke, in time to see the Gnosis stab it's claws through chaos' chest. She didn't even have enough strength to call out his name as he fell to the ground. As the Gnosis moved in her direction, she fainted once again.

---

A/N: meh. this chappie wasn't as long as i had hoped. oh well. i don't think ANY of these chapters will have too much substance... they're all kinda just... out there. there's not much to add to em. blah. anyways, this is the last you'll see of Stranded in the Rain. when i update next, keep a lookout for Visions of the Future and Memoirs of the Past. thanks to Youko-Kuronue for the title ideas! this story is most likely going to turn into the 'future' version, as i'm still thinking on what to do with the 'past' version. up next, shion and chaos awake to find themselves in a futuristic town... but have they been rescued or captured? review plz!