Guardian Angels
S1:E7: Traveling Around the World With You (pt. 6)
It wasn't long until Knuckles and Kathy got back up and started to fly together through the sky again. Knuckles held tightly onto Kathy as she flew very fast as usual. Kathy had wondered why Knuckles wanted her to fly again and to where they should be going. So, she looked at Knuckles and asked him about it.
"Where should we be going, Knuckles? You said that you wanted to take me to a snowy place, but I don't know how to get there," Kathy muttered calmly in confusion with a curious look on her face as she stared at Knuckles.
Knuckles looked at her and smiled a little as he replied gently in reassurance, "It's okay, Kathy. I'll show you where you need to go. In fact, turn left a little and keep flying in the northwestern direction".
"Oh, okay!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a cheerful smile and with a nod as she looked ahead of herself again and turned left just as Knuckles had said. She was soon flying over the ocean and away from West Island. She looked around to see if there were any islands nearby, but she hadn't found anything yet.
"Hmm..." Kathy mused quietly with a little frown as she kept looking around for some islands. Are we really going in the right direction? I can't see any islands anywhere. Maybe this dimension is similar to my old dimension where there's water everywhere. ...Still...I don't know. This place is so new...and big...and different...Can I really adapt here? Kathy pondered calmly in slight worry with a little frown as she stared at the vast ocean below. Just as if Knuckles was reading her thoughts, he encouraged her gently with a calm smile.
"Don't worry, Kathy. You're going in the right direction. It just takes a while to get there," Knuckles encouraged gently in fondness with a calm smile as he stared at her.
"Huh? I am?" Kathy muttered curiously in confusion as she looked back at Knuckles with wide eyes and with a little, gaped mouth. Knuckles smiled even wider in amusement after seeing Kathy's adorable, curious expression and after hearing her cute response. She's such a little child sometimes. I love it...Sigh...Knuckles pondered calmly in fondness with an amused smile on his face.
"Yes, you are, Kathy. I know this because our next destination is northwest from West Island, and in a way, west from my island," Knuckles replied calmly in reassurance with a warm smile as he stared gently into Kathy's eyes.
"Oh, I see! Wow...You really do know your way around this huge, strange world," Kathy replied calmly yet brightly in amusement with a little smile as she stared back into Knuckles' eyes.
"Well, duh. I live here," Knuckles quipped playfully in amusement with a smug smile and with half-lidded eyes.
"I knew that! Hehehehehehe!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a cheerful smile and with a giggle.
"Hmph...Do you?" Knuckles asked playfully in amusement with a grin on his amused face.
"Yes...Hehehehe..." Kathy answered quickly with another giggle as she stared at Knuckles' amused face.
"...You sure?" Knuckles asked playfully again in amusement with a teasing grin as he moved his head slightly closer towards Kathy's head.
"Yes! Hehehehehehehehe! I do know that you live here! I would be lost if you didn't live here either!" Kathy exclaimed happily in amusement with a silly smile as she giggled some more.
"Heh. True. I guess if that were the case then we would be 'two lost souls wandering around aimlessly', huh?" Knuckles replied calmly yet gently in fondness with a warm smile and with twinkling eyes as he stared longingly at Kathy.
"...Yeah..." Kathy muttered softly yet sweetly in agreement with a gentle smile and with twinkling eyes as she stared longingly at Knuckles.
"..." Knuckles was silent as he kept staring dearly into Kathy's eyes with a fond smile.
"..." Kathy was silent as well as she kept staring dearly into Knuckles' eyes with a fond smile too.
Even when they know where they're going, they can't help but feel lost as they stared deeply into each other's eyes. I wouldn't mind being lost with Kathy here. She makes me feel at peace with myself as I smile and laugh at her silliness. It just feels...so relaxing to be with her. It's crazy. Knuckles pondered calmly in fondness with a warm smile and with twinkling eyes. Before Knuckles could open his mouth again, he along with Kathy felt snow falling onto them.
"Huh?" Knuckles muttered calmly in confusion as he blinked and looked up into the sky with his mouth hanging open.
"Oh?" Kathy muttered calmly in confusion with her mouth hanging open a little as she looked up at the sky too. She can see that she was flying through some grey clouds. She soon beamed as she felt happy into seeing the grey clouds again.
"Ahh! Isn't it beautiful, Knuckles?! We're surrounded in grey clouds!" Kathy exclaimed in joy as she beamed at Knuckles in excitement.
Knuckles looked back at Kathy and smiled hugely in amusement as he replied calmly in playfulness, "Heh. Well, would you look at that. I guess we've managed to encounter some grey clouds together. You must be very happy about that, huh?".
"Yeah! Especially since there's stars everywhere!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a playful grin and with a nod as she stared at Knuckles.
"'S-Stars'?" Knuckles repeated in confusion and in amusement as he grinned at Kathy while fighting back the urge to laugh.
"Uh huh! Look around you, Knuckles! There are stars falling around us! I haven't seen stars appear in broad daylight before or even in grey clouds either! These stars make the grey clouds look even more beautiful than ever! Don't you agree, Knuckles?!" Kathy exclaimed cheerfully in joy with a bright smile and with another nod as she looked around the snowy sky for emphasis before looking at Knuckles again. Knuckles kept grinning at Kathy in playfulness while listening to her talk enthusiastically about the grey clouds and the "stars", and once she had finished talking, he burst out laughing in amusement since he adored her pure reaction to seeing snow for the first time.
Hahahahahahahahahahah! I knew that it was a good idea to show Kathy snow for the first time! Ahahahahahahahahah! It made me laugh so much! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha! Her reaction was so priceless and so pure that...that...Ahahahahahahahahahaha! It got me right in my funny bone! Hahahahahahahahahaha! Knuckles pondered in amusement with a huge smile as he laughed heartily and a bit uncontrollably. Kathy was both confused and amused as she watched Knuckles laugh himself into hysterics.
"Hehehe! Are you alright, Knuckles?" Kathy asked calmly yet curiously in amusement with a little giggle and with a sweet smile as she stared at Knuckles.
"I'm alright! I'm alright! Heheheheheheheheheheh! Hahahahahahahahahahahah! I'm...I'm just laughing because of what you just said! Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha! If that's what you think snow is like, then wait until we reach Twinkle Snow in Holaska! Hahahahahahahahahahaha! That place is FULL of 'stars'! Hahahahahahahahahaha!" Knuckles exclaimed happily in amusement as he beamed at Kathy while laughing a lot.
"Ooooh! Really?! Can we go to Holaska right now?! Can we?!" Kathy exclaimed back in excitement as she beamed sweetly at Knuckles.
Knuckles soon stopped laughing and smirked coyly at Kathy as he replied calmly in amusement, "Heh. We already are heading towards Holaska as we speak. In fact...I'd say that we're finally...".
Knuckles then looked ahead of himself and smiled broadly as he saw the familiar white blanket of snow and ice with glaciers, ice caps, and water everywhere. He muttered quietly as he finished his sentence with a calm smile, "...here...".
Kathy looked ahead with Knuckles and gasped in awe when she saw the new, snowy destination. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the beauty of Holaska. She can see so many snowy hills and mountains, the tall glaciers that surround the snowy area, ice caps along the ridges of the area, the bright aurora borealis lights in the distance, the cold lakes and rivers at several places in the area, and some bridges here and there as it connects Twinkle Snow to the mainland of Holaska. Also, to top it all off, the snow kept falling around in the area that she and Knuckles are in. Overall, the place was utterly stunning to look at.
"...Hey...Why don't we land already so that you can experience playing in the snow for the first time, okay?" Knuckles suggested calmly yet gently in encouragement with a warm smile as he stared at Kathy's shocked face in amusement.
"...O-Okay..." Kathy muttered quietly in understanding while still looking stunned as she nodded her head before flying down towards the ground. She flew gracefully down towards the snowy ground and soon landed onto the ground. As Kathy carefully placed her feet onto the ground, she slowly lets Knuckles off of herself before looking around the area some more in awe. Knuckles got off of her and stood next to her right side while staring at her in amusement.
"Pretty impressive, isn't it?" Knuckles asked calmly in amusement with a gentle smile as he kept staring at Kathy's stunned face.
"It's so...so..." Kathy muttered softly in awe with a gaping mouth and with sparkling, light-blue eyes.
"Beautiful?" Knuckles answered quietly in adoration with a gentle smile on his fond face as he figured that was on Kathy's mind right now.
Yet again, Kathy surprised him by saying this innocent yet humorous quip.
"It's so...cold! Brrrrr! This place is like a gigantic freezer!" Kathy exclaimed in shock as she looked alarmed while holding onto her arms and rubbing them to warm herself.
"Pffft! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! I should've known that you would've said that! Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! And yet, I was NOT prepared for it! Hahahahahahahahahahah! Heheheheheheheheheh! You...Heheheheheh...You really do crack me up sometimes, Kathy. It's simplest things that you say that gets me badly. I..." Knuckles replied brightly yet calmly in amusement with a huge smile as he burst out laughing again before smiling warmly yet widely as he grabbed Kathy's right shoulder and squeezed gently. His eyes soon sparkled fondly as he stared at Kathy while she's shivering in the cold.
He then muttered softly in adoration with a fond look on his face, "...I...I adore your sense of humor, Kathy. You never fail to make me laugh. I'll...I'll always treasure your humor. After all, I...I really need it in my life...Especially after what I've...gone through in the past...".
"Umm...E-Excuse m-me, Kn-Knuckles. I-I d-don't want t-to interrupt y-your s-speech, b-b-but...c-could you n-not while I-I'm...FREEZING TO DEATH!" Kathy replied calmly yet meekly with a little frown while stuttering a lot before shouting in slight frustration with a grimace as she shivered some more while trying to cover herself with her wings to warm herself. Knuckles just burst out laughing at that adorable yet humorous reaction.
"Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah! Oh, come on, Kathy! It's not that cold!" Knuckles exclaimed brightly in amusement with a huge smile as he laughed a lot while letting go of Kathy's shoulder.
"How can you say, 'it's not THAT cold'?! It's freezing in here! You should be a popsicle by now!" Kathy exclaimed back in slight frustration as she pouted at Knuckles while still warming herself up with her hands.
"Hahahahahahahahahahahaha! You'd think but let me remind you that I've been to A LOT of cold places like this! I even have a cold place on my island! It's called Ice Cap; and trust me when I say that this place is warmer than the one back home! Hahahahahahahahaha! So, suck it up, Kathy! If you want to build some tough skin on yourself, then you have to endure the cold like I did! Ahahahahahahahahahahah!" Knuckles exclaimed back in amusement with a huge grin while laughing a lot and having his hands on his hips.
"That's so mean! You're mean, Knuckles!" Kathy exclaimed back childishly in annoyance with a pout and with furrowed eyebrows while still holding onto her arms.
"Yeah, I may be mean, but you still have to deal with it! Heheheheheheheh! So, toughen up, little Angel, and embrace the cold! Hahahahahahahahahah!" Knuckles exclaimed back playfully in amusement with a smug smile and with half-lidded eyes as he laughed a little less.
"I don't want to be cold! I want to be warm! Mmmmm!" Kathy exclaimed back in slight distress with a sad look on her face before she lunged herself forward towards Knuckles and held him tightly for warmth.
"Hahahahahaha-Hey! Hey! Hehehehehehehe! Easy, Kathy! Hahahahahahaha! Geez, you're cold!" Knuckles exclaimed in surprise and in amusement with a huge smile as he laughed some more while holding Kathy back.
"See?! I told you so! It's freezing out here!" Kathy exclaimed back in annoyance with a little frown as she looked at Knuckles while hugging him tightly for warmth. Knuckles just laughed even more in amusement of that response. It's little moments like these that makes Knuckles' day even brighter since Kathy easily makes him laugh just by being herself. Despite feeling a bit cold himself, his heart is as warm as a furnace.
Knuckles soon looked at Kathy with a huge grin and replied playfully in amusement while laughing a bit, "Hahahahahahahahaha! Well, what do you want me to do about it?! Hahahahahahaha! I can't change the weather for you, you know! Heheheheheheh!".
"Then warm me!" Kathy exclaimed back in determination with a little frown as she snuggled into Knuckles a bit more to warm herself. Knuckles then stopped laughing and looked shocked instead since Kathy's demand genuinely surprised him.
"...! ...Wh-What did you just say?" Knuckles asked quietly in shyness with a gasp as he looked shocked.
Kathy then pulled a bit back from Knuckles to look at him in the eye as she pleaded softly with gentle eyes and with a little frown, "Please warm me, Knuckles. I'm not used to cold places like this. Please help me".
Immediately, Knuckles' face flushed completely dark red after hearing that request. This was also another first for Knuckles since he had never warmed someone up before, and the fact that Kathy wanted him to warm her up...it's...it's...it's making Knuckles feel some things that even he can't describe what it is. But there is one feeling that he can describe effortlessly in this situation, and that is...funnily enough...warmth.
...How...How long had I desired this? Just having Kathy hold me and holding her back without letting go of her? It's...It's something that I had craved ever since I had met her, and now that I can do that without having any interruptions...Knuckles pondered calmly in fondness with a warm look on his face while still blushing in embarrassment.
"...Alright, Kathy. I'll hold onto you to warm you. Just relax and hold onto me for as long as you want," Knuckles whispered gently in fondness with a little smile and with half-lidded eyes as he held Kathy closer to himself for emphasis.
"Yay! Teehee!" Kathy exclaimed happily in joy with a jovial smile and with a light giggle as she hugged Knuckles tightly again and snuggled into him for warmth. Knuckles chuckled a little at this and hugged Kathy back just as tightly while also rubbing her back and wings to warm her. Kathy felt relaxed and warm as she held onto Knuckles while leaning her head onto his left shoulder. She even wrapped her wings around Knuckles so that he could be warm too. Knuckles felt Kathy's wings around his back and chuckled again out of amusement.
She's so sweet...Heheheheheh...I can never get tired of it. Knuckles pondered calmly in fondness with a warm smile and with longing eyes as he stared at Kathy while chuckling to himself. He soon sighed deeply and closed his eyes as he continued to hug Kathy in silence. The snow kept falling around the two guardians as they hugged each other for warmth. They felt content being close together while feeling warm in each other's presence. It was like the best feeling in the world.
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"...You're really warm, Knuckles," Kathy muttered softly in fondness with a sweet smile on her content face while having her eyes closed.
"Heh...I guess I am..." Knuckles replied quietly in adoration with a little, fond smile as he opened his eyes halfway to look at Kathy.
"I...I really like being close to you like this...It feels nice..." Kathy replied softly in fondness with a gentle smile as she opened her eyes and pulled a bit back from Knuckles to look at him fully again. Knuckles raised his eyebrows a bit at that comment and smiled even more fondly at Kathy.
"...Me too, Kathy...I like being close to you too...It somehow...feels inviting...and comforting to me..." Knuckles replied softly in fondness with a warm smile and with half-lidded eyes as he slightly moved his head closer towards Kathy's head.
"I know...It just feels natural for us to be close like this..." Kathy replied calmly yet gently in fondness with a warm smile and with half-lidded eyes as she moved her head closer towards Knuckles' head.
"...Yeah...'Natural'...Like...We were meant to be together from the start..." Knuckles whispered softly in adoration with a fond smile and with half-lidded eyes as he held the back of Kathy's head and pulled it towards his forehead. Kathy and Knuckles stared deeply into each other's eyes again while their own eyes are twinkling in fondness. They can feel the other's warmth through their eyes and gentle smiles. They can feel their hearts burning in warmth by how much they desire each other. They desire each other even though they are still friends/teammates...Wait a minute...
"...Gack! What am I-Wh-Whoa! Oof!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock as he looked surprised and flung himself away from Kathy before accidently falling backwards into the snow below. Kathy was shocked when she saw Knuckles pull away from her and end up tripping himself over onto the snow. She looked worried as she covered her mouth with her hands and stared down at Knuckles in the snow below.
"Knuckles! Are you alright?! Speak to me!" Kathy exclaimed in alarm as she looked down at Knuckles in concern.
"...(Sigh)...I'm alright...But I'm cold now..." Knuckles muttered calmly yet quietly in embarrassment with a sigh and with a solemn frown as he looked back up at Kathy while cringing a little from the snow. Ugh...Kathy is right...This place is freezing...Sigh...Me and my big, fat mouth...Knuckles brooded calmly in annoyance with a solemn frown as he stared at Kathy.
"Hmm..." Kathy mused quietly as she looked at Knuckles and at the snow curiously. She can see some snow covering Knuckles' arms and legs and started to look mischievous. So, he's cold now, huh? I wonder how cold the snow really is...Kathy pondered curiously in amusement with a little, mischievous smile as she bent her knees a bit and scooped up some snow. Knuckles stared at Kathy in curiosity and in confusion as she picked up some snow and stared back at him playfully with a coy smirk.
"Hmm? Kathy? What's on your mi-IIIIIIIAH! KATHY! WHAT THE HECK!" Knuckles asked calmly in curiosity with a confused look on his face before shrieking in surprise and looking shocked when he felt the freezing snow being dropped onto his tummy. Knuckles immediately sat himself back up after feeing more snow onto his body. Of course, Kathy giggled a lot at that cute reaction.
"Hehehehehehehehehe! What's wrong, Knuckles? You said that this place is warmer than Ice Cap. So why are you so shocked by how cold the snow is?" Kathy replied playfully yet coyly in amusement with a giggle and with a silly smile as she had her hands behind her back while looking down at Knuckles.
"THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S STILL COLD! SNOW WILL ALWAYS BE COLD NO MATTER HOW WARM THE TEMPERATURE IS!" Knuckles shouted back in shock and in frustration as he gritted his teeth at Kathy and furrowed his eyebrows at her.
"Awwww, what's this? Is the little doggie too cold for the snow? Is he weak against snow?" Kathy teased playfully with a sweet smile as she bent a little towards Knuckles while having her hands on her knees.
Knuckles blushed deeply at Kathy's teasing and yelled back defensively in embarrassment with a flustered look on his face, "Wh-What?! No! No, I'm not! I'm not weak towards some dumb snow! That's ridiculous!".
"Hehehehehehe! Is that right?" Kathy asked calmly yet teasingly in amusement with a knowing smile as she giggled again.
"Yeah! That's right! As if some snow is going to beat me! I'm much tougher than I look!" Knuckles yelled back confidently in boldness with a deep frown and with closed eyes as he crossed his arms again.
"Hehehehehehe! Okay! You asked for it!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with another giggle.
Before Knuckles could ask what Kathy had meant by that, he shrieked again when he felt lots of snow being tossed at him as Kathy digs up more snow from the ground. Kathy had an amused, playful look on her face as she kept throwing snow at Knuckles out of fun.
"Aaaaah! Eeeeek! Eeep! Kathy! Stop! Ack! Quit it!" Knuckles shrieked and yelped in shock and in protest as he cringed and squirmed while trying to dodge the snow being thrown at him. He had tried to punch the snow being thrown at him, but this just made it easy for Kathy to dump more snow onto his stomach and sides.
"Hehehehehehehe! Awwwww, is someone trying to fight the snow? Well, the snow won't like it if you do that! It's going to bury you instead!" Kathy teased playfully in amusement with a yet another giggle and with a jovial smile as she dug faster to prove her point.
"'B-B-Bury'?! Kathy! No! D-Don't do that! Don't bury me!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock and in protest as he tried to stay serious but couldn't resist smiling a little in sheepishness and in amusement.
"You say that, Knuckles, but look at you! You're smiling!" Kathy exclaimed playfully yet teasingly in amusement with a knowing smile and with mischievous eyes.
"Ah! Uh! Uh! Th-That's just because-Aaaaah! Hey! Hey! Hehehehehehehehehe! Kathy! Stop it! Hahahahahahahahaha!" Knuckles exclaimed back in embarrassment as he blushed a little before shrieking and protesting again while laughing a lot in amusement as he felt tons of snow being tossed at him by Kathy.
"Hehehehehehehe! Now, you're starting to have fun!" Kathy exclaimed back in amusement with a giggle and with a playful grin as she ran a bit to the left and kept digging more snow at Knuckles.
"Ah! No! No! Nohohohohohoho! Ahahahahahahahaha! Cut it out, Kathy! Hahahahahahaha! Quit it! Heheheheheheheheh! Come on! Stop it! Hahahahahahahaha!" Knuckles protested playfully in amusement with a huge grin as he laughed a lot while trying to defend himself from the snow by squirming from left to right as Kathy "attacks" him by running to his right and left sides.
"Just watch, Knuckles! I'm going to cover you up to the point that your head is peaking out of the snow!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a playful grin as she kept throwing snow at Knuckles to bury him.
"No! Hahahahahahahaha! I don't want you to do that! Hahahahahahahaha! You better stop or else!" Knuckles exclaimed back playfully in amusement with a huge grin as he stared at Kathy at his right while laughing some more.
"'Or else' what?!" Kathy exclaimed back in amusement with a playful smirk as she leant forward towards Knuckles in a challenging way. Knuckles smirked back at Kathy in a playful way as he's happy that she's playing with him like this. It certainly makes it easy for him to be "mean" such as...
"Or else I'm yanking you into the snow with me! Come here, you silly girl! Hahahahahahahahahahahahah! Heheheheheheheheheheheh!" Knuckles exclaimed back in playfulness with a huge grin as he grabbed and yanked Kathy's hands towards himself while laughing a lot in amusement.
"Eeeeeek! Hehehehehehehehehehehe!" Kathy shrieked in surprise as she was yanked by Knuckles before dissolving into giggles once she fell on top of his lap. Knuckles quickly took his revenge by tossing snow on both sides onto Kathy's arms and wings. As he had expected, Kathy shrieked again at the coldness of the snow.
"Aaaaaaaah! It's so cold! Knuckles! Stop! Hehehehehehehe!" Kathy protested playfully in amusement with a silly smile as she giggled again while squirming from side to side and cringing a bit from the cold snow.
"No way! It's your turn to feel the cold! Hahahahahahahahahahah! Let's see how fun it is when it's you who's buried!" Knuckles exclaimed back playfully in amusement with a huge, devious smile as he laughed a bit while continuing to bury Kathy with the snow on both sides of himself.
"Hehehehehehehehehehe! No! I don't want to be buried! Hehehehehehehehe!" Kathy exclaimed back in amusement with a huge smile as she giggled a lot while quickly getting herself up onto her knees. She stared at Knuckles with a huge, playful smile on her face, and Knuckles stared back at her with a huge, playful smile on his face too. They both had one, mischievous thought on their minds as they stared intensely at each other in playfulness.
...You're mine...
"Ha! Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hehehehehehehehehehehehehe! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!" Kathy and Knuckles exclaimed in determination as they lunged at each other before laughing hysterically together as they fell towards the snow and rolled around in it. They both covered the other with snow to attack each other and pushed each other into the snow before burying the other into the snow. As they did this, they can't stop laughing as they were having so much fun playing in the snow.
"Hahahahahahahahahaha! Come on! Stop it, Kathy! Hehehehehehehehehehehe! Take this! Ahahahahahahahahahahahah!" Knuckles exclaimed playfully in amusement with a huge smile as he laughed hysterically while getting up from Kathy again and quickly threw snow at her.
"Hehehehehehehehehehehe! No! I won't let you beat me! Hahahahahahahahahahaha! Get over here, Knuckles! I'm not done with you!" Kathy exclaimed playfully back at Knuckles in amusement with a huge smile while laughing hysterically as she got hit by the snow before pouncing at him and pinning him down. But when Kathy did that, she and Knuckles fell into a deeper part of the snowy ground and was getting buried by the snow on all sides.
"Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! No! Now, we're both buried in the snow! Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Good going, silly girl! Heheheheheheh! Only through your silliness that we'd be in this mess! Hahahahahahahahahaha!" Knuckles exclaimed back in playfulness with a huge grin as he stared up at Kathy's face while laughing a lot in amusement.
"Hehehehehehehe! Oh, you think that I'm the one responsible for this? What about you? You were being silly yourself, you know," Kathy replied calmly yet playfully in amusement with a huge smile as she giggled a little while lying on top of Knuckles.
"Well, you started it! Hahahahahahahahahaha! You made me act all silly! Hahahahahahaha! I'm positive that this is all your fault somehow!" Knuckles exclaimed back in amusement as he laughed some more while grinning a lot at Kathy.
"Why do you think that it's my fault? What did I do to deserve this?" Kathy asked calmly in playfulness with a silly smile as she stared at Knuckles in amusement.
"Because your silliness is contagious to me! Hahahahahahahahahahahah! You're the reason why I act so childishly at times! Heheheheheheheheh! I wouldn't be doing this if I was with someone else!" Knuckles exclaimed back with a huge smile and with amused eyes as he laughed some more while staring back at Kathy.
"Ah...So does that mean that...I'm a special case?" Kathy asked quietly in shock with sparkling eyes and with a little smile on her face as she blushed pink. Knuckles soon slowed his laughter down and smiled fondly at Kathy as he blushed too in embarrassment. His cheeks were bright red, and his smile was sheepish since he realized that he might have spoken too much from his heart.
Heheh...Uh oh...Look at what you had done now, Knucklehead...Now Kathy's going to catch on that I have a..."thing" for her...But then again...it won't be much of a bad thing if she did find out though...Knuckles pondered calmly in sheepishness with an embarrassed smile on his flushed face.
"Uhh...Y-Yeah...You are special. I did tell you that you are. Remember?" Knuckles replied calmly yet quietly in shyness with a sheepish smile on his flustered face.
"...Of course, I remember. You were so sweet the first time you told me that I'm special. You're such a sweet boy, Knuckles. You really are," Kathy replied softly in fondness with a gentle smile and with sparkling eyes as she stared deeply at Knuckles.
"Uhhhhhh...Heheheheheh...Ummmm...D-D-Don't mention it...Heheheheh...It's nothing..." Knuckles muttered calmly yet quietly in shyness with a sheepish smile and with upward eyebrows as he chuckled awkwardly while his blush grew darker in embarrassment.
"Hehehehe...Awwww...You're so shy, Knuckles," Kathy replied calmly yet happily in fondness with a little giggle and with a sweet smile as she gently caressed Knuckles' left cheek with her finger. Knuckles blushed even deeper in embarrassment when he felt Kathy's finger gently rubbing against his cheek. Naturally, the feeling would have been cold since Kathy's gloves had touched the snow, but somehow, the feeling was rather warm. Maybe it was because he was blushing that the feeling was warm, but even then, he really didn't mind it at all. Besides...he likes the gentle feeling that Kathy is giving him right now.
"Uhhh...Heheheheheheh...Y-Yeah...I am..." Knuckles muttered calmly yet quietly in shyness with an awkward smile and with flushed cheeks while chuckling nervously as he stared sheepishly at Kathy.
"Hmm? Do you like this, Knuckles? Do you like me caressing your cheeks?" Kathy asked softly in fondness with a warm look on her face as she kept gently rubbing Knuckles' left cheek with her finger.
Knuckles smiled even wider in sheepishness as he answered calmly yet quietly in shyness with a deep blush, "M-Maybe...A little...".
"Hehehehe...Awwwwwww...You're so cute, Knuckles. Come here. That's a good doggie. Yeah. That's a good doggie," Kathy replied calmly in fondness with a little giggle and with a warm smile as she caressed both of Knuckles' cheeks with her hands. Knuckles blushed even more in embarrassment as he's enjoying the loving affection that Kathy is giving him right now.
"Heheheheheheheheh...Come on, Kathy. Quit it...Heheheheheheh...You're making me blush..." Knuckles protested weakly in amusement with a huge, sheepish smile and with closed eyes as he chuckled nervously in embarrassment.
"Oh, but you like it, don't you, Knuckles?" Kathy asked calmly yet coyly in amusement with a knowing smile as she kept rubbing Knuckles' cheeks gently to prove her point.
"Mmmmmhmhmhmhmhm..." Knuckles snickered in amusement and in embarrassment as his cheeks glowed dark red since he is definitely enjoying Kathy's caressing tactics. Awwwww...How do I always get suckered into these embarrassing yet sweet moments like these? I'll never get to be my tough, rugged self whenever Kathy gets affectionate towards me. I always feel like jelly whenever she does that...Knuckles pondered fondly in amusement with a sheepish smile on his face as he slowly nods his head while enjoying Kathy's gentle caressing.
"Teehee! Are you feeling warm now, Knuckles?" Kathy asked playfully in amusement with a light giggle and with a sweet smile.
"Heheheheh...Yes, I'm feeling very warm now. Thank you for asking. Heheheheheh..." Knuckles replied calmly in playfulness with a huge smile and with flushed cheeks as he chuckled some more in amusement.
"Well, that's good! Cause now..." Kathy replied brightly in amusement with a huge smile on her mischievous face as she sat back up and stopped caressing Knuckles' cheeks as she continued in playfulness, "...you're going to feel very cold!".
"Huh? Cold? What do you-HEY!" Knuckles asked calmly in confusion before he shouted in shock as he opened his eyes and looked started when he felt a ton of snow quickly burying him. Kathy kept pushing all the snow to cover Knuckles' body and kept doing that as she stood back up to her feet.
"Aaaand...Done! Haha! I win, Knuckles! Look at who had beaten you now! It's the snow! Hahahahahaha!" Kathy exclaimed brightly in amusement with a huge smile while laughing a bit as she stared at the snow where Knuckles was lying in after she finished burying him.
But little did Kathy know that Knuckles had died from hypothermia after burying him in the snow! And thus, turning her into a murderer! Nah, just kidding! This is just an awkward split between chapters since the original draft of this chapter was over 17, 000 words. So, this chapter is going to be the short one while the other be the long one. Hopefully, it'll work out fine in the end. Anyways, time for part 7!