Amy couldn't believe it was true. She only thought she had some bad flu or a sore throat. She thought it would be nothing serious, but it was. Amy has the disease. The Hanahaki disease. She heard of others having the disease; it wasn't frequent yet it wasn't rare either. There were a few ways to get rid of the disease, have your crush love you back, fall out of love or surgically remove the flowers: Amy decided on doing the first option. Surely it wouldn't be that hard. Every time she'd see the blue hedgehog, she would give him every ounce of her affection. She'd give him anything just to receive his love... yet none of it worked. Sonic would reject Amy. At times it could be understandable, can you imagine someone caging you in a rib cage crushing hug every time they see you? He found his friend to soon become an annoyance. Each of Amy's surprise hugs offered to the blue hedgehog made him recoil. Whenever Amy would flirt with Sonic, he would wince at how silly she sounded. He does his best to dodge Amy whenever the chance was offered to him. However, unknowingly, every time Sonic would run away from the pink hedgehog, he pressures the flowers to grow bigger in her lungs. Amy hasn't told anyone that she had the Hanahaki disease; it's not like they could do anything to help her. She did have a minor debate on telling her crush, but she realized it wouldn't be a good idea. Amy doesn't want Sonic to feel like he needs to love her so she wouldn't suffocate on the flowers. It would be selfish of her to do so.

The clock is ticking for the pink hedgehog. She could feel the flowers climbing up her lungs after each rejection. As they grow, Amy's coughing would increase. It seems that the petals would grow bigger. Especially when Sonic runs further away from her. Her coughing would swiftly make Amy lose her endurance. To have a short sequence of coughs leave her throat. Possibly having a yellow petal or two fall out of her mouth along with her coughs. A yellow Gladiolus flower petal; Sonics supposedly favourite flower. One day, the whole gang went to Cream's house for a normal hangout. A normal hangout where there was no worrying about Eggman or any new threat in Mobius. Then Cream blurts out a sudden question,

"What're your guys' favourite flowers?" She came through the back door with a bundle of flowers in a variety of colours. The gang stared at her for a moment, all were waiting for someone to answer her first. The first was Rouge, mostly so the awkward silence wouldn't drag on.

"I guess Begonias are my favourite?" It seemed more of a question than a statement. The group then went around taking turns to answer the small rabbit's question. When it landed at Sonic, Amy was all ears to hear his answer.

Sonic shrugs, "I don't know. I'm not that interested in flowers like some of you guys. Fuck, I guess- no uh, I don't know maybe-"

Amy interferes with the hedgehog's muddling speech. "Gladiolus flowers. You like those flowers, especially the yellow kind." Everyone looks in her direction; some were surprised that she knew his answer, whilst others weren't that shocked she knew. However, Amy doesn't notice two pairs of eyes lock on one another. One pair was teal eyes full of worry, while the red pair of eyes had a hint of sadness in them.

"Yeah!.. I guess. My mum would have them in pots around the house when I was little." Sonic grins at the memory. "What about you Amy?"

Amy smiles, "Roses of course!"

"No surprise there." Shadow comments, even though most don't hear due to the hedgehog being in the far back of the room. This event was before Amy began to cough more petals, which soon turned to a full head of the flower she'd cough out. Time is running out. But she is determined to get the blue hedgehog to love her back.

During one of their chases, Amy accidentally bumps into someone. Causing the both of them to fall forward, the person lands with his back against the ground whilst Amy's face lands on his chest. His fluffy, warm, soft chest. Amy looks up to the person in question, exposing it to be Shadow the hedgehog. He stares down at her with faint red cheeks. His mouth opens in surprise. He never had physical contact like this. Swiftly, Amy pushes herself off of her friend, "Sorry Shadow!" She reaches out to Shadow as he sits up. It took a brief moment before Shadow accepts Amy's hand, letting her pull him up. The pink hedgehog doesn't take much notice of the small squeeze Shadow had given her hand.

"It's alright. Just, be careful next time." He sighs, not letting go of Amy's hand. Her hand was small compared to Shadow's. He wonders what her hand feels like without the gloves. Would her skin be soft or lush? Shadow lets go when he recognises Amy trying to pull away without seeming rude. She gives a quick wave goodbye, before running off. Beginning her search for the blue hedgehog. Shadow's gaze stays on her until her figure draws further away when she's no longer in sight. He stares longingly in her direction, as a familiar itch in his throat builds. On impulse, he raises a hand to cover his hacking. Along with the flower petals that have been escaping his throat during these weeks. Once the coughing dies down, he uncovers his mouth. To view in his palm was two petals. Two rose petals.

Shadow didn't know what to do. Ever since that special day with Amy, he has been coughing up rose petals. He found it odd at first. All they did was bake cupcakes together. He joined in mainly because there was nothing else to do. Plus, he was rather hungry during the moment. Shadow did most of the simple steps, Amy did most of the baking and both participated in decorating them. Amy did so with a sweet smile. A sweet smile Shadow couldn't help but adore. After that day, Shadow began to have 'silly' thoughts of the pink hedgehog. Thoughts of having her be by his side, holding her hand, cuddling on his couch: that's when he believes he had gotten the disease. Rouge was quick to notice her best friends odd demeanour (well, it was more odd than usual), how he seems to lose his breath rapidly and would cough more often. Shadow would always brush off her concerned questions until she caught him spitting out a rose petal. In a fit of worry, Rouge had explained to him that he had the Hanahaki disease and how to get rid of it. That he'll either have his crush love him back or get surgery. In the beginning, Shadow intended on getting the surgery. He knew how desperate Amy was for Sonic to love her. He wouldn't have a chance; she's always focused on the blue hedgehog. She'd barely even notice him. What would be the point in trying? However, Rouge somehow convinced him to make at least one attempt to woo Amy. One attempt to woo Amy so he wouldn't risk losing his chance of loving anyone again.

He will try. Even his chances of winning her heart would be very low.

It was pointless. Everything Amy had done for Sonic concludes in him still running away from her. What was she doing wrong? Is it not enough? Is it too much? Shit... these attempts are pointless. She's considering giving up. The flowers grew more and more with each passing day; Amy's losing breath more and her coughing has gotten worse. She could die soon. Her thoughts were going all over the place, she can't even focus on the mission. It was another mission on stopping Eggman from attacking another village; it wasn't anything new. What was new was that Amy somehow was paired with Shadow. The hedgehog who rarely engaged in missions such as this. Yet Rouge convinced him to join her this time. At first, Amy thought Rouge bought him as some distraction so she could steal another sparkly jewel her eyes has caught. But she paired him off with Amy to scoop the outskirts of the village. In case they were any of Eggman's robots out there as a backup plan. Even though Amy found it odd, she didn't argue against it. It's not like she could've paired with Sonic, no matter how bad she wanted to. Then again... what would've been the point? Nothing would change. Sonic wouldn't love her back. Amy couldn't stop the flowers from growing. She might as well give up and plan for surgery.

Shadow stops his motorcycle, looking down at the village. He could see that blur of blue fighting the main robot Eggman was controlling. Of course, Sonic seems to be winning for the 100th time. He looks over his shoulder, viewing the pink hedgehog violently grip around his chest. The left side of her face against his back, as her eyes burn through the forest. She was as still as a statue; She must be deep in thought. "Amy?" She doesn't react. He calls out her name only to have the same outcome. Shadow huffs in frustration, "Amy! Would you stop daydreaming and-" A sudden cough erupts from his throat. One that lasts longer than usual. The pink hedgehog blinks out of her blank slate. Amy finally realizes Shadow was trying to gain her attention. She removes her arms off him, looking up at Shadow coughing roughly. At first, she worries it was her fault he was coughing (thanks to her gripping him so tightly). Then, the most unexpected thing happens in front of her. Four rose petals fly out of Shadow's mouth, landing between the bikes handles. Gasping at the sight, Amy gazes at Shadow with doubtfulness.

This... this can't be real. Out of everyone on Mobius; why would he love her?

Both hedgehogs were speechless.

"W...wait. y-you." Amy felt something climbing up her throat. On impulse, she reaches up to her mouth and begins to cough profusely. She removes herself from the vehicle but stumbles onto her knees. Hunching over as her coughs become rougher. Shadow was swift to come to her aid, he kneels beside her and rubs her back in circular motions. He waited until her coughing was over, a sign of this being a full yellow flower falling out of her mouth. It was no surprise that it's Sonics favourite flower; Amy would blatantly express her feelings for him.

Shadow lets the pink hedgehog get her breath back before saying, "Don't freak out over this."

How do I not freak out? Y-you're not supposed to- I shouldn't be-" Amy couldn't take this truth. Shadow loves her; it was unbelievable. Would she be able to love him back? Amy, filled with shock and sadness, leaps forward to wrap her arms around Shadow. Pushing her face into his chest as she lets the tears fall. She knows it's not the right thing to do at this moment, but she needs comfort. Going through all of this pain, she needs someone to hold onto. Someone to understand the aching inside her chest. Shadow said nothing, he just held her in his arms. Gently stroking her quills in an attempt to comfort her. Amy felt awful for using the hedgehog; it's likely that this action builds another petal to flow up Shadow's throat.

Amy cranes her head up to gaze at Shadow, the corner of her eyes were producing waves of tears. He looks down with sorrow, this was a bad situation for the both of them. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Shadow planned to admit his feelings in an eccentric manner. Take her out for a picnic, spend time enjoying the summer breeze, then gift her something that desperately wanted. He wanted to at least try and win her feelings (mainly due to Rouge's words of encouragement). Shadow, using all of the courage he has, inches forward; Amy doesn't back away. His eyes linger on her lips for a split second, silently asking for a kiss. Amy didn't think and swiftly press her lips against his; It was in the heat of the moment. She just needed something to drown out her sadness. Maybe she could feel... something towards Shadow. Something that makes her feel warm inside like how Sonic does. Shadow forces the petals to die inside him. Although he knew his attempt wouldn't work, he couldn't care. He just needed this to last longer.

Both of them left that hill, focusing on this new discovery between them. Screw the mission. It's not like their part in this mission had much importance anyway. Shadow drove Amy home and left her with another kiss. A swift but passionate kiss that told her all she needs to know. Amy got the surgery as soon as she could. Giving up her pursuance of Sonic. The feelings she had for the blue hedgehog disappeared. Butterflies would no longer flutter in her stomach when she was near him. Flowers would no longer fill inside her lungs; It was somewhat of a relief to finally breathe with empty lungs. Shadow sought her out a couple of days after their awkward interaction; Amy had been avoiding him since then. He managed to catch her standing outside of a bakery store. When he ran up to her, she didn't try to avoid or ignore his voice calling out to her. She knew she had to confront him eventually. Amy just wanted some time to herself, to clear her mind and think more thoroughly. Once the black hedgehog was in front of her, he disregards all of his bad thoughts he has to ask if she's willing to try to love him. Although Shadow was fine with getting the surgery, once again due to his best friend's encouragement he decides to try again. Amy was hesitant but will do her best to strive for Shadow. After all, she was surprised by him making an effort; she thought he would've done the same and gotten the surgery.

Now day after day, Shadow would stay by her side. Performing acts to impress her such as cooking her dinner, watching movies together, taking her out on dates (at least, what he thinks are dates). As time passed by, Amy began to enjoy her time with him. He was somewhat different when they were both together: he'd offer her gentle smiles, take her out to places that interest them, cook her meals for dinner. All of these moments together was truly heartwarming. Before long Amy began to feel comforted... and cared for by the hedgehog. Eventually, her happiness resurfaces upon being beside him. Yet what truly made her happy was when Shadow told her that he no longer coughed out petals; she finally loves him as much as he loves her.