A/N: Hey everybody, sorry this chapter took so long, I felt like I kinda needed a break since my writer's block kept coming back, but not only that, I was also spending some time with my family before I had to go back to college. Family is important you know. Anyway, I'm back and I think I might have an easier time writing this story. So, without any further waiting, let's see what's gonna happen to our two lovehogs now.

Chapter 17: Devil Trap

Day 21

The next day wasn't any better. Sonic's fever began to spike. He was sweating all over, and the ibuprofen in the first aid kit did little to help. Because of his shaking, Shadow had to help him walk, but the ebony hedgehog was having a little trouble too.

The effects of the blood poisoning was starting, though not as quick as Sonic's Malaria. He was beginning to feel feverish, and he was sweating too.

"Are you ok, Shads?" Sonic asked weakly.

"Yes, I'm fine, Sonic."

"Are you sure? You feel really warm."

"I assure you, Sonic, I'm fine."

"...Ok."

Of course, Sonic knew that Shadow was lying. He could see the glaze over the ruby eyes he loved so much, and he knew by the sight of the red muzzle that Shadow had a fever too. He knew the blood poisoning was taking hold, but he also knew that it wouldn't kill his ebony boyfriend… well… if he was his boyfriend now.

"Hey… Shads?"

"Yes Sonic?"

"A-About that kiss… umm…"

Shadow stopped and looked down at the azure hedgehog, who was blushing madly, looking at the ground instead of at his companion.

"What about it?" Shadow gently pressed.

"U-Umm… well… I wasn't sure if… if you were like… mad at me or anything."

"Why would I be mad?" Shadow frowned. "I kissed back, didn't I?"

"Y-Yes, I know. It's just… I don't know if you did it on instinct… or if you meant it."

"Did you mean it when you kissed me?"

"... Yes."

"Then…"

Suddenly, Sonic felt his chin being lifted up. Nervous emeralds met soft rubies and Shadow smiled. He closed his eyes and placed his lips onto Sonic's, engaging in a gentle kiss. Sonic smiled into the kiss and closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Shadow's neck as he kissed back.

After a few seconds, they stopped and pulled back, gazing into each other's eyes.

"I mean it when I kiss you." Shadow finished his last sentence.

Sonic giggled like a little schoolgirl and blushed, looking at Shadow.

"So… does this make us…"

"Boyfriends?" Shadow tilted his head, his gentle smile never leaving his features. "I would think so, but only if you want to."

"Yes… I would like that." Sonic smiled.

Suddenly, Shadow felt that something wasn't right. His ears twitched around, listening for the slightest sound. He could feel the eyes burning into his back, hostile and impatient. Shadow growled and maneuvered quickly, shooting a Chaos Spear in the direction of the enemy. A sound like a mixture of a roar and a scream behind the rustling ferns let Shadow know that he had hit his target, making him smile victoriously.

"What was that?!" Sonic gasped.

"The goddamn Devil Dragon!" Shadow hissed. "He's been following us since day 1, I can't stand it! He's just in there, watching, waiting! Looking for the right moment to strike either me again or Chaos forbid you! He's hungry, I know he is, and he's just waiting for one of us to drop and never get up again!"

"We would make a pretty big meal for him." Sonic said fearfully under his breath, then looked up at Shadow. "What should we do? I can't handle knowing there's a giant hostile lizard on our tail 24/7 anymore."

"I can't handle it either." Shadow shook his head. "Enough is enough. We need to do something about this creature, and preferably now."

"But what?"

Shadow frowned in thought. What could they do about the Devil Dragon to have it stop following them? Their whole mission in this jungle in the first place was to find the creature and study it, writing down observations and the whatnot. They had no orders to kill it and even if they planned on doing so, it would be very difficult if it was as big as Officer Charles had once said, so that was out of the question. What could they do?

Suddenly, Shadow had an idea. An idea that could get them the information they needed, and get the Devil Dragon to stop following them once and for all.

"Sonic, I have a plan."

"What is it?"

"We're gonna need the machete, the rope, a lot of wood and leaves… and some bait."

"Bait?" Sonic gulped.

"Don't worry, this is guaranteed to work."

…

About three hours later, everything was all set up. Sonic was extremely nervous about this plan, but he trusted Shadow, and even he knew this was going to work.

"Shadow, are you sure you wanna do this?" He called to the ebony, who was lying right by the trap.

"It's the only way, Sonic." Shadow called back. "We can't continue on like this. Plus, if we do it this way, we'll kill two birds with one stone."

"But does it have to be you?" Sonic whimpered, unhappy with the idea of Shadow being the bait.

"I'd rather it be me than you. You're already suffering enough with the Malaria, I don't even want to think about what may happen if you're accidently bit."

"But what if you're bit? You've already been bit once."

"I'll be fine Sonic. Besides, I'm his target. I have been since the beginning. I'll be fine. Pinky Swear."

Sonic blushed with a smile as Shadow held up his pinky high enough for him to see. Sonic nodded and held up his own pinky, both smiling as they mentally sweared. Sonic took a deep breath and held onto the rope, waiting for his cue.

"Alright devil, you win." Shadow fake panted, laying by the trap as he pretended to be exhausted. "I can't fight your poison anymore. I'm dying, Sonic's dying, there's nothing left for me. You win. Come and take me."

Silence. Silence for the first 5 seconds, and then suddenly, the ferns began to rustle loudly as the creature approached. Sonic and Shadow watched in horror as out of hiding came a giant 23rd foot long monitor lizard.

It had the body built of a Komodo Dragon, four large heavy feet sprouting with four extremely sharp claws. It's long tail swung from side to side as its amber eyes stayed trained on the dark hedgehog laying just a few feet in front of it. It hissed with a vengeance, turning its head to the side to reveal it's left eye to be a bloody mess, most likely from Shadow's Chaos Spear. It darted it's forked bacteria covered tongue from between the thousands a sharp needlelike teeth in its snout, tasting the hedgehog's fear.

Shadow was actually kinda glad that he and Sonic hadn't been drinking a lot, otherwise he'd more than likely be laying in a wet mess right now, especially once the lizard started stomping towards him.

"S-Sonic…" He whispered fearfully. "Get ready."

Sonic nodded and held onto the rope tightly, waiting for the right moment to pull on it.

The Devil Dragon continued stomping up to Shadow, hissing and snarling the whole way there. It stepped onto the trap, disturbing some of the leaves to reveal the branches underneath, but it took no notice, it's focus only on the hedgehog who had hurt it.

Body halfway on the trap, it stopped. Shadow tensed up, fearing that the Devil Dragon may be sensing that something is wrong.

The lizard lifted its large snout and sniffed. After a few seconds of sniffing the air it growled. It turned its attention to the trap below it and snuffed around the leaves, smelling the freshly dug earth.

"Fucker is smart!" Shadow hissed, scrambling to his feet.

At the movement, the lizard looked up and screamed at him, running as fast as it could up to him off the trap. Seeing his boyfriend in danger, Sonic cried out and pulled on the rope as hard as he could, releasing the branches underneath the Devil Dragon.

The lizard screeched as it felt it's lower half fall into the hole beneath it. It clawed at the top with its upper half, trying to climb out of the trap. Shadow growled and spindashed at the creature, trying to make it drop, hitting it dead on, but it wasn't enough. The creature roared at the ebony hedgie, opening its mouth wide to show off it's deadly sharp teeth. Shadow growled right back and spindashed at it again, however, the creature was ready this time. It opened its mouth and roared, biting down just as Shadow hit it, scraping a large gash into his arm.

"AH!" Shadow cried out as he stumbled back, gripping his injured arm, which was dripping profusely with blood.

"Shadow!" Sonic cried out.

The Devil Dragon heard Sonic's cry and turned his direction, hissing loudly. However, it was a mistake. With its attention directed to something else, Shadow summoned up all the speed and strength he had and spindashed at the lizard one last time. The attack smacked the lizard right into the side of its face, causing the creature to lose its grip on the side of the trap. It hissed as it fell into the hole, trapped in the soil without a way to get out.