This chapter isn't the best. It kinda repeats. Hope you like it though.

Here

Chapter 2

The next day, just as they said they would, the hospital released Sonic.

Tails had left not long before they were going to let him leave, and was headed over to the hedgehogs home, the place they had grown up together, still sitting on that cliff in the Mystic Ruins. It was his job to prepare the place for Sonic, for his last days...No. Tails couldn't think about that. The kitsune cringed and shoved the thought from his mind as he walked up the familiar steps of his old childhood home.

The moment he walked inside, the flashbacks hit him like a brick. Everything was almost exactly the same. The inside was more fixed up, the walls repainted and the sofas replaced with newer ones. The same pictures still lined the walls, and Tails glanced first at those, a small smile flickering across his face. He pulled himself out of the reminiscing and began to fix up the little messes left on the last day Sonic was here, left for when he thought he would be coming back, later that evening...

Tails was throwing away a single soda can in the kitchen when he noticed something odd about the opposite wall. His blue eyes narrowed, noticing the discolored look of the paint, how it didn't seem to go with the rest of the wall. Tossing a fork in the sink, Tails walked over to it. He began to examine it, his eyes flickering as he wondered where it had came from...

Then he remembered...

The flashback was vague. Tails could barely brush it with the fingers of his memory, so it had to be from when he was young. He saw a younger Sonic, standing exactly where he was now, grinning sheepishly at a hole in the wall he had created. Tails smiled at the memory. That was the last time Sonic had ever suggested playing toss the ball in the house. Tails chuckled briefly, his eyes swimming sadly, before he turned away and continued cleaning.

The slightest thought of Sonic's death made Tails shudder. And knowing how long it would be...he couldn't even think about it. The mere thought made tears swim in his eyes, and he hated it. He hated knowing Sonic had a set date to die, his days numbered. It was horrible. Tails cursed the disease, cursed everything about death, shoving a final can into the trash.

It wasn't long before Tails had straightened up the house, and glancing at the clock, he found Amy would arrive with Sonic any minute now. With a sigh, Tails flopped down on the couch, glancing up at the ceiling in thought.

He had been up all night with the same thoughts, wondering where he would be after Sonic passed. It was almost too much for his mind to comprehend, but if Tails didn't think of something to keep him here now, he would never find anything then. And that wouldn't be good. Tails sighed, feeling drained. The news had sucked almost all of the life from him.

It wasn't much longer that Amy and Sonic walked through the door, and Tails stood, smiling at both of them. Sonic grinned back, looking around the house. The kitsune knew he was glad to be home, and he was too. Being in his childhood home made Tails feel completely at ease, except for the knowledge of Sonic's illness. Tails pushed the thoughts away once again. If he couldn't keep them at bay, how was he supposed to help Sonic live out the remainder of his life?

Tails walked up to Sonic, noticing again how muck weaker and paler he looked compared to what he had before. Everyday, Sonic was getting weaker, paler, and, sicker than before. Pretty soon, he would be bedridden, near the end of the fourth week. The doctor had practically explained the remainder of Sonic's life.

"It's good to be home," the hedgehog sighed, walking to the couch and sitting down. Tails took the bags from Amy, carrying them into the bedroom. He glanced around, realizing Sonic kept Tails's old bed, left as Tails had left it the day he headed out; neat and tidy. He smiled, walking out and back into the living room, where Amy and Sonic sat on the couch. The hedgehog looked up when he entered and smiled slightly.

"Hey, lil bro. How's it feel to be back home?" Sonic folding his hands behind his head, flashing Tails a grin. The kitsune grinned back, flopping down on the couch next to his best friend. Home...a strong, accurate word for the feeling the place gave him. He sighed, looking around.

"It feels...like home," the kitsune replied, looking back at Sonic with a smile. "I've missed it. I'm glad to...to be back." Silence took over then, and all three of them looked around the familiar room, eyeing the pictures on the wall mostly. Then, Sonic cleared his throat, looking outside longingly. Tails followed his gaze; how long had it been since Sonic had been running? Could he even afford to run anymore?

Before Tails could ask, Sonic looked at him, smiling. Tails blinked at him. "Lets go for a...walk, Tails," the hedgehog told him, and the kitsune smiled, nodding happily. Sonic turned to Amy. "Amy, do you care to stick around here? I need a little bro-to-bro talk with Tails here." Upon saying his name, Sonic slapped his shoulder gently. Amy smiled and agreed.

"I'll stick around here," she replied, reaching for the remote control. The TV flickered on, babbling in the background. Sonic stood, and Tails noticed how he swayed jut slightly; yet another side-effect from the illness. Tails cringed. He stood up next to Sonic, and side by side, the two brothers exited the house.

hr

For the first time since Tails met Sonic, they walked down the hillside, side by side, silent. Tails watched the world around them. The breeze shifted the leaves on the few trees in the clearing, ruffling his bangs slightly. He could smell the salt from the ocean, and glanced at it, watching the waves. He could hear the whistle of a train at the train station, and flicked at ear at it.

"It's...really good to see you again, Tails," the hedgehog spoke up, breaking the silence between them. Tails looked over at Sonic; the hedgehog was looking at his feet, hands stuck in the pockets of his red jacket. Tails looked down at his own feet before answering.

"Same here, Sonic," the kitsune replied, the breeze picking up and flapping the fabric of his own jacket. He zipped it farther up, to his chest, sticking his hands in his pockets. "It's amazing to be back. I've missed everyone so much." The silence took over again, until Tails decided to speak. "I really missed you, Sonic." He looked over at the hedgehog. "It's...great to finally see you again. I can't believe its been so long." He looked away, watching the dirt under his feet.

"You know, Tails..." Sonic started, pausing. "This whole...dying in six weeks thing...I keep wondering...why me? Why do I have to die from some illness? One that has been inside of me all of my life?" Tails could say nothing, his heart pounding loudly in his chest. "I mean, what did I do to deserve it?"

"...You did nothing to deserve it, Sonic," the kitsune replied. They were nearing the lake now, and the roaring of the falls could be heard from where they were. Tails paused. "These things just...happen. You don't have to deserve it, or not deserve it." He swallowed. It was getting difficult to speak. It was a long time before he did again. "Sonic...I don't...I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm scared. For you and for me."

Silence fell, and Tails felt tears begin to leak into his eyes. But he blinked them away, once again refusing to cry at all. He sniffed quietly, smelling the salt again, and didn't turned to face Sonic, simply waiting for him to speak.

"Tails...You'll be fine...after I'm gone," he replied finally, his voice thick. Tails said nothing. "You can make it on your own. You've proved that enough." Out of the corner of his eye, the kitsune saw Sonic look at him. He glanced back. "Don't be afraid for me either." He paused, looking away, and Tails stared straight ahead. "Is it wrong to not be scared that I'm dying?" The question was asked quietly, and Tails didn't answer immediately.

"Wrong to not be afraid?" he repeated, then shook his head. "No. It's not. But it's just like you to not be afraid." The subject was becoming difficult for Tails. He swallowed again. "I just...Sonic, I don't want to lose you." He looked up at Sonic, and both stopped walking. The breeze picked up around them, and the single tear beginning to fall from Tails' eye was blown away. "You're my brother. Losing you is like...losing a part of me." He held a hand to his chest, hovering over his heart.

Sonic watched Tails, his own green eyes wide and glimmering. He didn't say anything for awhile. Then, he reached over, lifting the kitsunes hand as it fell away, placing it back over his heart.

"Tails...you'll never lose a part of yourself. You'll never lose me." He smiled sadly, and his eyes were shining with unshed tears. "As long as you think of me, remember me, you'll never lose me. I'll always be right here...with you." His smile widened. Tails blinked at him. After a moment, Sonic gave a sharp cough, dropping his hand away from Tails's. After a moment, the kitsune smiled, looking down at his hand still over his heart.

"It won't be the same, at all, Sonic," Tails replied, shaking his head in disbelief. He dropped his hand. "But..maybe we should get back to the house. Amy's prolly wondering where we are." After a second, Sonic nodded, looking out at the ocean silently. Tails watched him, waiting for him to move.

"Tails..." Sonic started, hesitating, before continuing, his eyes sparkling. "...I don't want to die...I really don't..." Tails felt his heart fall into his stomach, and he frowned, looking Sonic up and down. He stepped up next to his best friend. "Is it...is it wrong to not wanna leave, even when its better if you do?"

Tails smiled sadly, his tears blinding him. He shook his head, sniffling gently. "No, Sonic. There's nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all..." After a few minutes of staring at the ocean, Sonic sniffed, stiffening, and nodding curtly, turning away from the ocean.

"Lets head back, then," he replied quietly, and Tails agreed. Together, the two made their way back home, not another word said on the way.

xxx

The rest of the day, Tails and Sonic spent every moment together.

Amy left when they returned from their walk. She had headed home for the night, since Tails had decided to stay with Sonic. After she left, the kitsune and hedgehog were alone, and spent the remainder of the night goofing off just as they used to when they were younger.

A pizza was spread out before them on the floor of the living room, opened and with half of it gone. The table had been pushed out of the way, making room for the two as they sprawled out on the living floor. They had grabbed some old horror movie, sticking it in to watch as they ate their pizza. They laughed at the lame effects, and at each other when they jumped in surprise from the movie.

Tails finished laughing, sighing and leaning back against the couch with his legs crossed in front of him. Sonic was sitting next to him, a smile still on his face, focused on the sucky movie. Tails blinked, watching as yet another 'scary' vampire launched itself from a random closet in the movie. He chuckled.

"I'm glad they've changed them since then," Sonic said, laughing. "I hate this movie." He shifted position, sitting crosslegged beside Tails. The kitsune looked at him, grinning. Sonic was smiling. "This is fun, though. I have to admit. How long has it been since we sat around and did...nothing?" Sonic looked away from the movie and up at Tails.

The kitsune shrugged. "I don't think we ever sat around and did nothing," he replied, stretching quietly. "We were usually out running around or something." He smiled at the memory. "But yeah, this is great fun. I mean, I love sucky movies." Sonic laughed next to him, turning his attention back to the TV.

"So, how long are you staying?" Sonic asked the question suddenly, randomly, and Tails felt the blood in his veins freeze. All night he had kept the thought of Sonic dying at bay, and the hedgehog bringing it up wasn't helping his nerves any. He said nothing for a minute, staring at the TV without actually seeing it.

"As long...as I can," he finally told him, lifting his leg and lying his arm on it. "Work can make it without me awhile. And I have no other obligations." He looked at Sonic, flashing a hopeful grin. "So, I'm here...for as long as I need to be, as long as you want me to." Sonic said nothing for awhile, simply staring at the TV.

"Thanks, Tails," he finally responded, blinking and looking up at him. The flashes from the old movie reflected in his eyes, and Tails smiled, nodding slowly. "I mean...I don't want to go through this alone...without my bro." He smiled. "I want you to stay, Tails. Don't leave...even after I do." The words surprised Tails, and he looked up from his feet, glancing at Sonic.

"What do you mean?"

Sonic smiled. "I mean, Tails, stay here. Don't leave. Stay in this house after I die." He looked around at the walls. "I don't want...this place to be torn down or rot away. I want it to remain standing." He turned back to Tails. "I want you to live in it after I'm gone."

Tails was shocked. The silence held him in its grasp, and he simply blinked. Sonic wanted him to stay in the house after he died? How could he? He had a job, a life, in another city. He couldn't just up and leave from everything and move here.

"Sonic--" he started, but the hedgehog cut him off by holding up his hand.

"Please, Tails...My dying request. Live in this house. For me. Please." His green eyes were determined, hopeful...thoughtful. Tails stared at him for a long moment. Then, he took a deep breath, the action causing his heart to beat once painfully.

"I will, Sonic," Tails replied quietly. The movie babbled on before them, but neither were watching it now. "I'll stay here. Just for you." A scream erupted from the movie, but neither Sonic or Tails payed attention. Tails felt tears filling his eyes, and he looked away, unable to take it. Sonic cleared his throat, shifting slightly as he turned to look at the opposite wall.

"Tails...Thank you," he said finally, quietly, almost in a whisper. Tails said nothing, eyeing the other wall. "Thank you for coming back for me. I wouldn't be able to do this without you." Tails sniffed almost silently, and nodded.

"I wouldn't let you do it alone, Sonic," he replied, and returned his attention to the movie. Pretty soon, Sonic was snoring softly next to him.

Tails took comfort in his loud breathing. At least it meant he was alive.

End of Chapter