A/N:I'm sorry I was really slow writing this one :P… I didn't even start until like Wednesday because I've been pretty busy with school work. I'm doing a report on Walt Disney, and a "Novel Appreciation Report" on a book called Lullabies for Little Criminals, by Heather O'Neill. Amazing book… I loved it!!! Go buy it now :D!... ahem, after you read this and give me a wonderful review, that is. Why are males so much more difficult to draw?!?! There is like only one girl in the entire freakin' book, and I have to draw ten characters! Stupid, curveless men. I would ignore everything I say if I were you… I think I've been daydreaming to an unhealthy extent lately.

Wow :) The list of characters I own has grown to the breathtaking number of… two! faints. My massive list consists of Hina and Miss Kyro… who is still a bit of a mystery ;)!

"Hina," Tails called, his teeth chattering. He could see the little ball of her form wedged into a joint on a tall grapefruit tree. She twitched her head at the mention of her name, but didn't turn or answer.

"Come on, Hina." He pleaded, rubbing his numb hands. It had taken Tails what felt like several hours to locate tiny Hina through the forest on the empty lot. He needed to squint to see properly, but he noticed that she was shivering violently.

"I'm gonna come get you, okay?" Tails said desperately, spinning his twin tails to lift him into the air. He hovered beside her, and grabbed, gently tugging her quaking arms from around a thick bough. She finally relinquished her grip on the branch, and slid into Tails' outstretched arms.

"It's alright." He whispered, cradling her tiny body in his arms. He quickly flew home, trying to avoid turbulence. He rushed into the bathroom and wrapped a fluffy, white towel around her. Hina sneezed and opened a drowsy eye. Tails smiled at her in relief.

"Hey, cutie."

"Sorry." She sniffled, avoiding his eyes.

"It's alright." Tails said, holding her in a tight hug. "Just don't hide on me like that again."

She nodded her head, and sneezed again. Tails contemplated lecturing her on using her powers, but decided it could wait until she had rested.

"Wanna take a nap now?" He asked her gently. She yawned and nodded, snuggling into the warm towel. Apparently, his soft fur was just as good as any bed. Tails walked quietly to Hina's bedroom. He deposited her in the warm bed, wrapping her in warm comforters. He whispered a sweet goodnight in her ear, which trickled unnoticed into her innocent dreams. Tails tip-toed out of the room, leaving the bedroom overhead lights on. He went to his own bedroom and relaxed in bed for a moment, remembering the unnerving feeling that losing Hina had given him. He resolved to be much more careful from then on. His thoughts fell, once again, upon the salmon pink squirrel with her snobby air and high heels. He felt a surge of bitter anger when her glamorous face popped into his head. And who was this Felix she had mentioned? Tails assumed that she planned on building a new home on the lot, and wondered if they would make good neighbors. He felt slightly guilty for feeling such biased dislike for people he had never met. It, he told himself, was not their fault. And maybe they would have children to be friends with Hina.

"It'll be alright." He insisted to himself, comforting himself into a content sleep.

"Do you love me?" asked a peach-coloured hedgehog with long, silvery blond hair.

"Of course, Jeanine." answered a taller, navy blue hedgehog with a chiseled chin and a deep, calm voice. He pulled Jeanine into a huge embrace, smothering her face in sloppy kisses. Suddenly, he removed his face from her smitten one. Where his lips had been a moment before, he placed a frilly pink pillow. Jeanine let out a muffled scream, but he pushed her onto an old-fashioned couch and pressed the pillow harder onto her terrified face, until her body went limp.

A loud yell came from behind the murderous scene.

"Horatio!" exclaimed an identical blue hedgehog. "You've killed my only love!"

Horatio let out a cruel laugh.

"Yes, Horace. I, your evil twin-"

Horatio could not finish his monologue, as Rouge flicked the television off with a bored laugh.

"Oh, the drama." She said sarcastically. Three straight hours of soap-operas had completely taken the shock out of scandalizing evil twins. She swallowed a mouthful of half-melted ice-cream and got to her feet. She had had a completely uneventful day which had dragged on relentlessly. She decided with a bored yawn to call Knuckles. Perhaps he could save the day from being completely wasted. As she reached for the white telephone, it rang. She frowned in curiosity and lifted the phone off of the receiver. She expected it to be Knuckles, who was the most likely to call her.

"Hello?" she asked, putting on her most sensual voice. It was not Knuckles voice, however which answered.

"Rouge the Bat?" said a crackly male voice. It sounded as though he was speaking from a few feet away from the phone.

"Yes…" she answered uncertainly.

"It's me." He said mysteriously. Rouge smiled. This was exactly the thing she needed to end the monotony. "We have a mission for you. Meet me in the usual spot."

He hung up instantly, leaving Rouge smiling slyly. They never informed her of her jobs over the telephone incase it was bugged. She knew that the "usual spot" he had mentioned was a dark, long abandoned warehouse several kilometers west of her home. This meant that she needed to leave immediately. She hesitated, considering calling Knuckles before her departure; sometimes she would be away from home for weeks at a time to do various jobs for the anonymous source. She quickly scribbled the explanation of her absence onto a small note, which she placed on the kitchen table. She turned on her heal and soared out of the fire escape window, heading due west.

After about an hour, she arrived at the shabby, crumbling building and glided through a long shattered window. The dirty tiles were stained grey and were coated with an inch of dust. It all exploded like a dirty bomb when Rouge landed silently. After the dust had settled, she made her way quietly across the empty room to the locked office door of someone who had once been extremely important. There was a little gold plaque above the doorway, although the fancy lettering had faded until it was simply a dull metallic plate. Rouge rapped her fist against the door four times. She waited a moment before the door opened only enough for a slender female to slip through. Rouge, who fit that description perfectly, squeezed into the room.

"Hello, Rouge."

The same raspy voice which had summoned her came from somewhere in the office, though its owner was no where in sight.

"Hello." She replied pleasantly, noticing a neat envelope sitting on the ancient desk. She took it and left the room without another word. This curt greeting was often the only contact she ever had with her employer. She lifted into the air again and soared out the same broken window. She flew around until she located an oak tree with a comfortable joint that made a perfect seat. She opened the envelope with a long, crimson nail. A crisp sheet of paper and a picture were enclosed. Her eyes fell first upon the photo. It was a crystal clear image of a brilliant blue sapphire. She read through her mission carefully.

Rouge,

The Rowen's Sapphire is currently under high security at the National Museum in Mumbai, India. Get there and get it for me. Do not be seen. Do not give out your identity. Another of my employees, Grace, will meet you there and give you any help you need. I do not need to tell you the importance of you staying under cover. Leave immediately.

Though the letter explained her job in the usual, blunt, mysterious matter, Rouge let out a gasp. India? Although it more than paid the bills, theft was quite an unstable industry.

A/N:Oooh! Happy… belated… Halloween! I'm sorry this took so long. Life's been pretty hectic -.-. And see? I added in some wonderful Knucklesxrouge action :D!.. well maybe just Rouge action, but don't be picky! I'm not sure what little semiplot to give to sonamy, though… They might get mostly left out of this one. Sorry fans ;). Does India even exist in sonic x universe?... well if not, we're pretending it does! Please review!

--LA