Okay guys. Sorry for not updating. I've just had a writer's block, and I couldn't think of anything. Now that my dad just came to America from China, I could ask him some questions about the airport thing and not have to search everything and mess up. Motivation came back! (just a bit...)

This is a fill-in chapter. Nothing much important in here...Gomen. TT^TT

Chapter 5: Him

The food was absolutely horrible. I mean, the eggs here taste like boxes…The noodles taste like paper. The rice is just…um, if I describe any more of these stuff I think I'm going to be sick. The only things I could stand was the yogurt and fruit, which isn't really in my food zone.

I just wonder if I'll get so desperate to actually eat the tray. Maybe my seat.

I turned to Shadow, and I know he noticed me because he sighed and stopped eating temporarily and slapped a pack of pretzels in my hand.

Seeing that I looked at it with uncertainty like, 'I don't think this is enough' he pulled out a small backpack underneath his seat. Shadow handed me a bag of cookies.

I raised an eyeridge. "Rouge made me pack it. Just in case. And by case, apparently, that's you," he replied, turning back to his tray of foul flavored food.

"Well," I muttered, "Thanks…"

After that, I just sat and ate my snack, listening to Shadow's music, and started thinking.

Blank.

My mind is producing nothing. Man, his music sure is brainwashing…I could get used to this.

Nothing interesting happened in the next few seconds, minutes, hours. The awkwardness and silence poked and bothered me nonstop until I gave in.

"Are you excited? To g to Japan, I mean," I questioned.

"I guess. We're created there, were we not?" he replied.

I nodded slowly. But nothing more came. I shifted uncomfortably. "Uhm…" I don't think he heard me. It was so low, I couldn't even hear myself.

His right hand twitched, and my mind went back to when we held hands. Why did I return mine to his? I could've just left it alone…But it made me feel off. So…it's probably because I was cold, then…I did feel pretty warm after that. But…it's not that, was it?

"Faker," Shadow said. "You're staring at my hand. What's so interesting?"

"Wh-wha? Oh, nothing. Sorry. Mind just blanked out and I just so happened to be looking that way," I answered, telling half the truth and half a lie. I turned away.

But if he were to be so quick to pull away when I woke up…does that mean that he doesn't like me? Like, at all? But then why did he hold it in the first place…Ah, he probably did it when he was asleep. Needed a thing to grasp, that's all.

…Right? But if he doesn't like me, then…who DOES he like? Rouge? Possibly. But that's none of my business. Why should I care? I'm not in charge of his love-life, or certain things or people he likes.

Then why am I so curious…

Something bumped my arm. Shadow. I ignored it. It was probably an accident.

But he nudged me again, and I faced him. "What?"

"Don't stare at strangers. It's impolite," he answered flatly. "You seem off."

I barely heard anything as my thought blocked out everything. I merely nod, staring off into space. Because I care. I care about him…do I not?

…I do…but as a friend. He's awesome.

Happy with my answer, I left the topic alone and checked the time on the mini screen. Whew…Six more hours…I feel like I'm being trapped. The air is too muffling, and I feel like I'm being suffocated very slowly.

Quickly, my gaze locked onto the window next to Shadow. It was a dark blue. I let out a sigh and released the breath I didn't know I was holding. No wonder I couldn't breathe.

XXX

Normal POV

So, after the gang woke up, Rouge and Sonic switched seats again, and Amy was back to hugging Sonic's arm as Rouge was back to talking to Shadow in low voices. Everything was back to normal.

Yet it wasn't.

Sonic was a little disappointed that he had to switch back again. Couldn't he spend a little more time with his new (kind of) friend? That ebony beauty…he was warm when he touched him…it was comforting. However, Amy seemed to be giving off that sort of feeling as well…what could he do?

Shadow, on the other hand, was relived, but also a little depleted. Without the blue blur annoying him constantly, his energy seemed to seep away like air from a balloon with a small, small hole. Hopefully Rouge wouldn't notice it.

Amy was still snickering a bit as she remembered seeing Shadow covered by whip cream on Rouge's phone. Seems like the bat really likes to mess with him.

Rouge…well, she was just wondering what happened when she fell asleep with Amy. What did the hero and his counterpart do? Argue? Have a small fight? Shadow ignoring the other? What? Don't tell me they spilled drinks on each other. I left my orange juice…

Something in the corner of his eye caught the black hedgehog's attention. Sonic had left his sketch book here…

I shouldn't snoop around other people's possessions. But he wanted to. He saw that Faker hide it when his gaze settled on the book for just a second. The mind just worked that way. They need to discover whatever is being hidden to them…

But there's always this saying, "Some things are better left unknown." But…Sonic wouldn't draw something (or write) so bad that it was meant to only be known to him, right?

He made up his mind and fished the sketch book from behind Rouge and out of the crack of the seat. His finger carefully handled the pages and flipped through some pages.

Quiet a few people showed up. Tails, Amy and Knuckles, along with himself were the most frequent in there. However, there was also the occasional drawing of Blaze, Silver and Rouge, maybe a few of Cream and Cheese. However, as he flipped more and more, he saw himself show up. He was with Rouge…

Flip.

I saw Light.

What? Shadow thought. This is…Maria.

Shadow stared in disbelief. Even though it wasn't the most accurate drawing of her, it was pretty darned close, and it brought out the old, pained emotion again. However, the drawing was touching. The dark hedgehog felt a slight shiver go up his spine as he studied the drawing. It was…Sonic actually…knew how he felt…how strange.

Shadow proceeded to flip the page.

It was labeled, Guilt. Studying it closer out of confusion, he saw himself sleeping, his face turned a little toward the person who was drawing him—Sonic. In the picture, his mouth was slightly agape, and his eyes were closed lightly. The eyelashes weren't long, but they weren't too short either.

He was just about to flip the page, but he stopped in mid-turn. There was this little detail in the corner of the page…it was…hmm…it looked familiar.

Red eyes widened a little. It was when they were holding hands. No wonder the lines were a bit wobbly…he couldn't tilt the paper or hold it in place. That blue hedgehog actually held my hand while drawing…and he didn't let go at all. What does he mean…?

"Shadow," Rouge whispered.

"..." Shadow didn't reply and stayed in his reverie.

"Shadow," repeated the bat. This time, she shook him a little.

"Uh…?" the black hedgehog let out an embarrassing sound. "What?"

"I've been thinking."

"Okay."

"Do you like someone?"

"No."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

Rouge closed her eyes. And when she opened them, she was completely turned toward Shadow, and she stared at him with serious eyes. "I'm not joking. I'm your supposed 'sister' and I know when something's wrong. Do you think I haven't noticed how much you've been zoning out? You're making these ungraceful moves as well. Either you're confused, or you've just banged your head against the airplane wall too many times and too hard. I think you're confused."

Shadow simply shook his head. "Maybe this time, you're wrong."

The albino bat paused. Then her eyes started to grow dark. "I might be," she said. "But I'd still like to be wrong than to not bother at all."

"If you want an answer that bad, why not ask someone else?"

"I'm the closest to you Shadow. If I don't know, who else?"

Shadow sighed and turned away. "Him," he whispered, barely audible.

She stopped and held her breath, half expecting Shadow to continue talking so low. No response after that. Instead, the hedgehog pointed out the window at the dark blue sky.

"Him," Rouge said, understanding.