UlTTrRa SiK pRoDuCtIoNs pReSeNtZ:

LoVe'S bUrN

By: UlTtrrAa ShAdDow

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Sega's characters...but I'd be a very happy guy if I did!

You can close your eyes to things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to things you don't want to feel."

Third POV:

The next morning came around very quickly, and galliantly as he shielded his eyes from the blazing, white-gold sun. He looked around and noticed that he wasn't in a bed at all, but he found himself in the middle of a flower patch. What was he doing here anyways? He blinked as a memory flashed before his eyes.

"Touch me, love me, kiss me, explore me..."

It was a voice, and it sounded as if belonged to Rouge. Then he looked over next to him and there was a pile of folded clothes, those definitely belonged to him. But wasn't he wearing them last night, though? Putting everything together, bits and pieces came, and everything became to clear to him.

A vivid image of a beautiful, giggling white bat manifested its way into his mind's eye. Her delicate features were highlighted silver by the moon's touch, and when he glanced into her bright eyes he saw his reflection; loving everything he saw.

The girl beneath him was already gifted with beauty;no one would contest that. But now, with her lying in the bright emerald strands of grass with locks of her curls interwined with flowers, she was breathtaking. Lying in nature's grounds, she was only clothed in a sliver of bright moonlight.

"Shadow," her smile was demure, coy, and yet bold at the same time, "Why don't you show me how much you love me?"

The dark hedgehog smiled, just in the very same way he had in his recollection, "I've never performed in that kind of way before," Shadow said slowly a smirk tugging at his lips. "And where's Rouge?"

He rose to his feet and exited out of the hidden forestlands. He couldn't help but smile; after last night, wouldn't you if you were him? Selected by a fair maiden who wanted all of him passionately.

Speaking of fair maidens, where was Rouge? Shadow ambled until he found himself back in the center of the park, where Amy's celebration had been. And if he hadn't had been at the celebration himself, he wouldn't have known there had been a party due to the park's tidiness.

"EEK!"

Shadow awakened from a slight daydream and looked where the shriek had came from. Standing in front of him was a duo of blushing female hedgehogs who were staring very strangely at him.

"Ruby! He's naked!"

"Don't you have any shame mister?"

"It's not so bad...he does have a six-pack...heehee..."

Feeling extremely embarrassed, Shadow took off running, and that was the fastest he had moved in his life.

A Suburban Neighborhood (10:00 AM...)

While Daisy was singing in the shower, Scythe was upstairs in her room, using her polka-dotted telephone. He had called Eggman's cell phone, and was now awaiting an answer. Frowning impatiently, he curled the telephone wires around his index finger. Finally a voice picked up, "...Who is this?"

"Hello Doctor, this is Scythe."

"...Ah, project 0012945, it's good to hear from you again, and I'm glad to see that you've wrecked the bridge, just as your master had asked."

"Yes, I have fulfilled your wishes," Scythe replied. "What's next?"

"Scythe, bring me Shadow, and I want him alive and kicking; if he's seen my news broadcast, then he knows to meet at the Bay Bridge."

The dark hedgehog's lips straightened into a fine line; how could he even think of that worthless idiot now? Shadow decided to voice exactly what he thought.

"Bring Shadow, huh?" said Scythe in rising anger. "Doctor, why do we need him? You have me. So I ask you, why do you want the pauper when you have the prince?"

Eggman laughed, "Been reading fairytales, have you?"

Suddenly,his entire demeanor changed, startling Scythe, "How dare you question my demands! This is not a democracy; I am your master and you will obey me. Is that understood project 0012945?"

Infuriated, Scythe hissed, "Yes...Master," but like a child being punished, Scythe's ears dropped.

"Understand your next mission?"

Scythe snarled; he loved how Eggman could be so bipolar; one moment furious, then the next acting as if his anger never happened.

"Yes..." Scythe barely whispered, "But how am I to beat that guy with all his enhanced power?"

"Sometimes you're so pathetic," Eggman hissed, "We didn't make his power permanent...and besides, he ought to be feeling weak from the Bay Bridge incident, remember?"

"Yes, you can count on me," said Scythe blankly.

"Good, then after, and only after, you've defeated Shadow, you may return to the base. See you soon."

Click. The line went dead and Scythe slowly hung up. Well, the good thing out of all of this was that he'd get a chance to take out Shadow once again. Good, he needed something to take out his frustrations upon. When his thoughts became clouded, he acted very illogically.

Scythe frowned; that was what made him imperfect. His flaw as humans called it. The doctor had created him to be perfect in almost every aspect; his agility and speed were phenomenal, his mental capabilites were endless.

Eggman had made him fluent in three different languages within a matter of three days. And as for his strength? The dark hedgehog could lift a semi-truck above his head single-handedly.

The dark hedgehog sighed then took a seat on Daisy's bed, contemplating. But before long, the bubbly yellow hedgehog came in wearing a towel and a shower cap, "Oh! Good morning sleepyhead! Boy did you sleep in late!"

Scythe stood up and walked over to Daisy, who looked up at him blinking. He put a hand on her shoulder and looked away from her, thinking, "What's wrong, Scythe?"

"I've never said this before...literally," Scythe started unsurely, almost laughing, "Thank you..."

Daisy smiled, "Umm, you're welcome! Okay, what's with you? Why are you being so kind all of a sudden?"

Scythe turned away from her and went over to an open window.

"I shall be departing..."

"NO! OH PLEASE DON'T GO!" Daisy cried, breaking into tears.

Daisy ran over to Scythe, wailing and stumbling over herself. She wrapped her arms around him sobbing even harder. Scythe turned to look at her a little surprised, "OH PLEASE DON'T GO!"

"Control yourself girl, do not overcome yourself with sadness," Scythe said icyly, unwrapping her arms.

"Okay..." she said slowly, "HUG MEEEEEEEEE!"

She locked Scythe in a bear hug, and helplessly, Scythe patted her on her back.

Outside of Sapphire Lake Park (10:30 AM...)

Shadow is still skating away at light speed; then the realization hits him, 'Wait a minute, I never wear clothes! Peh, females! What strange creatures!'

At Rouge's Apartment (10:55 AM...)

Rouge had heard Eggman's announcement concerning Shadow, and she was by far unhappy with it. There was absolutely no way she was going to allow Eggman to get his greasy hands on her Shadow again. They had been through too much for her to loose him again.

"Eggman wants Shadow," Rouge said gritting her teeth, "Well, Eggman's gonna get Shadow!"

Rouge went straight to her closet and pulled out a black tank top, black well-fitting cargo pants, and black, red, and white soaps with a pinch of heels. She thought they looked just like Shadow's...despite the heels.

The huntress went to her bathroom and took a shower, rinsing off the scent of her perfume...and Shadow. Rouge tittered, thinking of their previous night together.

'Do you like that pretty lady? Do you like it when I touch you like that?'

Rouge sighed dreamily and blushed; if she didn't stop herself, then she was bound to get a nosebleed. She chuckled once more and made her way to the shower.

'Bad, bad Rouge,' she scolded herself, 'No more dreaming of hot, steamy, goregous hedgehogs!'

In a matter of minutes she was done with the quick shower and she turned the water off. She quickly dried herself off and went into her medicine cabinet and got wrapping tape, and some lotion.

'And now, to take care of any weaknesses,' Rouge thought.

Next, Rouge wrapped her hands with black tape, and her feet as well. Whoever this foe is, she wants to hit him with everything she has. She then looked at the lotion; it was scented like lilacs. Rouge frowned.

'Why does everything in here have to have a scent? Now I'll have to kick some butt with ashy legs!' she thought, throwing the lotion to the floor.

'And lastly, a woman's weakness,' thought Rouge.

She took the black wrapping tape and, slowly but carefully, wrapped her chest. Once she was done, she slowly rose to her feet and looked at herself in the mirror.

The white bat staring back at her looked rather fierce, but calm and composed. She slowly slipped on black under armor, then her spandex shorts, then her tank top and black cargo pants.

Next she grabbed her soaps and put those on as well as her black gloves. For her final touch she burrowed deep into her closet and pull out a black cape. She wrapped it around herself then looked at her reflection one last time.

"Well, here we go," she said to her image.

Then with a flip of her cloak, she was gone.

At the temporarily closed Bay Bridge (11:50 AM...)

Almost as silent as the Bay Bride itself, Scythe was waiting in the center of the bridge with his eyes closed, although very much conscious. Calmly awaiting Shadow, he used his keen ears to pick up any signs of life besides his own.

His right ear raised and he opened his eyes and uncrossed his arms. He looked up and saw a cloaked figure grinding down the side of the bridge. Scythe smiled, now was his time for payback.

'Shadow, give me strength.'

She hopped off of the rail and landed gracefully in front of Scythe; they were about twenty feet apart. Scythe seemed intent upon staring his rival down.

"Well, well, well, isn't it my best friend," Scythe said with a hint of anger, then he arched an eyebrow, "What's wrong? Is Shadow too shy to come out and play?"

'Oh! He's seen through me! What would Shadow say?'

"Whatever Scythe-breath..."

Now Scythe arched an even higher eyebrow and Rouge gulped. 'Scythe-breath? SCYTHE-BREATH! Oh, was that lame!'

"I'll enjoy beating the crap out of you!" hissed Rouge in a Shadow-imitation voice. Afterwards she smiled, feeling very pleased at her imitation.

Although she couldn't think like Shadow, she was a pretty good imitator of his voice, thanks to the help of Sonic...

"Whatever wuss," Scythe hissed.

Scythe made a beeline right at Rouge and in half a second, he was within inches of her face. Rouge was startled by his speed and she gasped. He threw a mob of punches at her, and Rouge skillfully blocked them all. But he took her off guard with a clothesline.

"Ahh!" Rouge cried.

Scythe laughed, standing above his foe,"You squeal like a bitch, Shadow!"

Rouge growled then swept his feet from under him with a kick. Scythe quickly recovered with a handstand. And Rouge rose to her feet slowly.

"It seems as if you've slowed down a few steps," said Scythe eyeing Rouge.

"Yeah, and are you getting weaker?" asked Rouge.

Scythe scowled and made another rush at her, blazing punches and kicks. Even as skilled as Rouge was, Scythe's speed was raw, and he was tearing her apart. With a well timed punch, Scythe bowled Rouge over with a blow to the face. Rouge stumbled over backwards and fell on her side.

She looked up and Scythe belted her across the face with dead aim. Rouge more than happily greeted Scythe with a swinging heel to the face and Scythe back flipped away from her. Rouge somersaulted into standing position, then spit out the nasty taste in her mouth. It was blood.

'Shoot! This guy's hurtin' me pretty good. He may be a jerk, but he's a strong jerk! Time for the element of surprise...'

Rouge started making her way over to Scythe who had just spit as well, "Come on and get some, Shadow..."

Just as Rouge was near striking distance, she took to air and was flying straight at him, "The hell?"

Crack. Rouge lit Scythe up with one of her famous roundhouses, and he went flying. However when he landed, he proved the point that flesh and asphalt don't mix well.

Lying flat out on his back, Scythe moaned. He raised one of his arms and saw how he had a nice little strawberry there.The asphalt around him was now painted red. He slowly rose to his feet, looking at the cloaked figure in front of him.

"What was that, Shadow?" asked Scythe panting, blinking back the mixture of sweat and blood.

"A new technique," said Rouge, smiling, "I'll be done with you after I slap you around a bit more."

Scythe smiled, "I'm sorry, but I have strict orders to bring you with me."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah..."

"One more go?" asked Rouge.

"Sure," replied Scythe.

Simultaneously, they both charged at each other then, suddenly, Rouge felt very fatigued.

'Oh no! Not now! I have him! I can't fall in combat! Not here, not now!'

She stopped in the middle of the charge, and she grabbed her head. She had a sharp, and painful throbbing headache.Now that she thought of it, she had just came from a hospital, and during this fight, she had lost a lot of blood.

...Maybe fighting Scythe wasn't such a hot idea. Rouge took a knee, panting; now she was beginning to feel the awful side effects.Rouge looked up and saw Scythe approaching her, and before she could respond, he cleared her with a kick to the torso.

Rouge was sent flying and she crash-landed into the asphalt, ending up on her back.In a matter of seconds she felt Scythe's shadow and he appeared looming over her with a huge smile.

Barely conscious, he picked Rouge up by her collar and smiled even bigger, "So, it's finally over, I bring the great Shadow to his---what?"

"Ack! Leave me alone!" Rouge whined, leaving behind her voice.

Rouge had felt cold air touch her chest and she knew Scythe's attack must've torn right through her top. And she was more than sure that Scythe had seen her torso as well.

The black hedgehog narrowed his eyes in suspicion, and he glared harder at Rouge's cloak, but the white bat was quick to conceal herself with the cloak. Instinctively, Scythe wrestled her to the ground and torn the cloak open. As strong as the male hedgehog was, there was no contest between them. He was very disgruntled when he revealed a tapped torso which meant only one thing...

"Female? What..."

Scythe ripped the entire cloak over her head, leaving Rouge exposed with only her tapped torso. "AAH!"

"ROUGE? Well, isn't this a delightful surprise?" Scythe hissed, eyes glinting darkly.

Rouge mustered up the last of her strength to grab her cloak and wrap it around her body. Scythe was beyond furious, here he had thought he had defeated his rival, but instead it turned out to be some woman in a disguise.

Scythe closed his eyes for a few seconds, trying to control his anger, then he made up his mind. He grabbed her by the arm, and as weak as Rouge was feeling, she certainly didn't have the strength to defend herself. She just watched him wearily, barely conscious.

"Well, I know a person who'd be more than happy to see you're alive and well; let's go home, shall we?" Scythe asked rhetorically.

He took Rouge by the collar of her cloak and began dragging her away. And just as they went out of sight, a little yellow hedgehog rose from her hiding place. Blinking, she watched as the two figures disappeared from sight, "Scythe?"

To be continued!

Chapter Sixteen Theme: 'My All'-Mariah Carey