Note to Reader: Enjoy reading this chapter. It was a little difficult for me to write but I had some great light bulb moments.
Chapter 9
It was a fairly quiet ride but wasn't long before the party arrived at Amy's house. Everyone had fallen asleep with the exception of the pilot, Sonic and Shadow. When they touched the ground with a thud the sleeping woke and were cheering as they filed out of the helicopter. Amy jumped out quickly, followed by Cream, Vanilla, Tails, team Chaotix and Sonic. Knuckles slunked onto the crunchy grass and Shadow slid off the tall seat behind him. He eyed Amy sluggishly and noticed the frown that took place on her face.
"Oh, goodness. How am I going to get all of my plants healthy again?" Amy complained. "I worked so hard to keep them looking nice!"
"I'll help you out!" Cream managed a squeak.
"I'd be more than happy to lend a hand as well." Vanilla added.
"Well, you ladies won't be able to do this all on your own." said Vector. "You could use a man's touch, Amy!"
"Vector..." whispered Charmy. "You're hopeless." Vector blushed.
"Shut up, Charmy!" Vector mumbled.
"Well, we don't have to worry about it right now." said Amy. "Why don't we all go inside and I can whip up a batch of tea? I'm sure we can all admit that we are glad to be together." Everyone nodded and made their way into Amy's home, the chatter growing louder.
Amy turned to check that all of them had gone in when she noticed Shadow standing on the edge of the street, staring at the setting moon, with his arms crossed. His eyes were closed and he was shaking his head. Amy tip-toed over to him, her hands behind her back and an expression on her face like she had just been punished.
"What is it?" demanded Shadow's low, dark voice. Amy's jaw dropped slightly but she composed herself.
"I was just wondering if you were okay." Amy replied.
"I'm fine." Shadow whispered. Amy reached for Shadow's shoulder then pulled back when he fidgeted uncomfortably. She touched her lip with her finger and put her hand on her hip.
"Everyone seems to say that lately." Amy whispered back. Shadow didn't move another inch and his body language was less than welcoming. She began to back away until Shadow pivoted her direction. His eyelids lifted open, revealing the painful stare behind them. His hands went to his sides in fists and Amy jumped.
"I'm fine." Shadow repeated.
"Okay, I was just checking." Amy said innocently. Shadow stared at her, bearing his teeth. "Well, if you would like to come in, I'm going to make some tea. You're more than welcome to...stay."
"Tea?"
"Yes..."
"Wow, Amy Rose." He began to laugh.
"What did I do now?"
"Ha! You put me through days of misery and nothing but problems...and you pay me back with a cup of tea?" Shadow continued to giggle and turned back to the street, his arms crossed again.
"Do you really believe I put you through all of this on purpose?" questioned Amy. "It's not like I knew it was coming." She bowed her head in defeat. "I don't even know what that...thing...was."
"Of course you don't." Shadow boomed.
"Why are you so hurtful?" asked Amy. "No one ever tries to hurt you." Shadow fidgeted again.
"However, you all end up getting me into your conflicts. I left for a reason, Amy..." He trailed off with a sigh. Both hedgehogs stood motionless, eyeing the ground.
"Amy! Are you coming?" Cream called from the kitchen window. "My mom started the tea already!"
"I'm coming!" Amy answered back.
"Just go." Shadow commanded. "I have some things to do."
"Can't you take a break from being Mr. Selfish and spend time with your friends?" Amy's tone was less innocent and more assertive. Surprised by her sound, he turned and took a step toward her. "It's not every day now that the whole gang is together. Well, minus Rouge and Omega of course. I know they're out doing things for G.U.N."
"Take a break?" Shadow scoffed. "I never have a break around you guys."
"If you say so." Amy said. "I understand." Just as she took a step toward her home, Shadow grabbed her wrist and held her back. His grip was strong and made her wince.
"You know absolutely why I can't walk into that room." Shadow mentioned fiercely.
"Why can't you just come and be with me?" Amy shivered. Tears welled in her eyes, ready to roll down her cheek. Shadow let go of Amy's wrist and ran his fingers through his quills.
"It's not that simple, Amy. You know this." He sighed.
"It can be." she whispered.
"It will never be, Amy Rose." Shadow took a step closer to her until there was barely a space between them. "No matter what we decide to do, my obstacles will follow us. I can barely keep you kids out of my business even when I'm nowhere near you! What do you think will happen if I remain close by?" Amy pondered a moment.
"But, Shadow, doesn't being with us, with me, fill a hole in you? I haven't been whole since you left that night. We became closer, you and me, and I know you felt it too. But being you, you left us. You left me."
"Amy, we've already discussed this..."
"Not entirely. You can't escape from me, Shadow." Amy grabbed his hand and held it tightly as she wove her fingers through his.
"I left for good reasons."
"For what, exactly? You might as well drop the 'I'm saving you guys' act because it's really not working anymore. Not on me, anyways."
"I-"
"You! You this, you that. Poor this, poor that!"
"Amy-"
"Amy what? Are you going to tell me that you're not worth it? Are you going to tell me that there's better out there for me?"
"No..."
"Then what, Shadow?" yelled Amy. "Why won't you stay with me?" She was tense and squeezed Shadow's hand. Shadow winced.
"Because." stated Shadow.
"Because what?" Amy egged.
"Amy, you can't be with me! I have a purpose here and as much as I want to keep you written in my story, you just can't be! There's too much danger, too much risk with you! I'll only end up hurting you!" Amy let her head fall and the welled up tears rolled down her fluffy cheeks in small, salty drops.
"But you can overcome anything if you really, really..." Shadow put his finger to her slightly parted lips and shushed her.
"Don't say it...do NOT say it." he mumbled.
"If you really love someone." Shadow took his free hand, grabbed her quills and forced her to meet his intruiging gaze. Amy realized, however, that the usual anger that flooded his emotions was replaced by fear. He's...scared? Amy thought. Scared to love me? Shadow's red hot eyes read over her expression. No...do I? I can't...
Shadow released his grip and Amy whimpered with soreness.
"Sorry." he apologized. She rubbed her head and let go of Shadow's hand.
"Are you scared to love me, Shadow? Or do you not want to love me?" Her hands went behind her back again and she traced a figure-8 on the ground with her foot. Shadow stood limply, his blood pulsing feverishly through his veins. Perspiration laced his forehead and his vision became cloudy.
Memories flushed through Shadow's mind. From the first time he was introduced to Sonic all the way to taking his leave that night long ago, back to the present situation that was now a decision that he had to make that would ultimately change everything.
"It's not that I don't want to, Amy...or that I'm scared to." he finally replied. "It's just that I can't."
"You can't?" Amy whimpered. "I don't understand."
"The shapeshifter was no minor enemy. I'm sure there is more to be said about what happened. There's something behind that laboratory. That location was embedded in the back of my mind and I don't remember a thing about it! I was brought back there for a reason, Amy. I have a long journey ahead of me full of many challenges. You aren't ready for that...I won't put you through that. I won't allow myself to put you in danger."
"Shadow, please...don't go. At least not right now." Amy pleaded. "You say you won't allow yourself to put me in danger, but you'll allow yourself to put me through pain?"
"You're not the only one who will be in pain." Shadow whispered. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close to him so that their noses were almost touching. "I have feelings too, you know." He grinned with his irony. Amy grimaced.
"But you're going against your heart, and going with your brain?" Shadow pierced through Amy's look. "Your answers will come to you in the future, Shadow. How certain can you be of the future? How do you know that you, or any of us for that matter, will last until then? How do you know that once all of that is over that I will still be here? You know exactly what I mean..."
Shadow shivered through her words. What if SHE is my purpose? How can I be certain of what is my job here?
"You won't always know where you're meant to be." Amy grinned slightly. "But there are so many roads to take. Are you going to choose the one that's right for you? Or are you going to choose the one that's best? What's right and what's best are two totally different things."
"Amy-" Shuffling of dried leaves made the hedgehogs turn towards the house where they saw Tails, Vector and Charmy eavesdropping on their conversation. Vector giggled and Charmy's wings buzzed to life.
"My bad, guys." Vector interrupted. "I was helping Tails find his shoe."
"We're caught, Vector. They aren't stupid." Charmy said.
"It's alright. I was just leaving." Shadow grumbled. Amy looked up at Shadow and the tears began to well again.
"But-" Amy began.
"This won't be our last meeting." Shadow reassured her.
"But the question is, when will the next one be?" Amy put her hand on Shadow's chest and closed her eyes. Shadow bent toward her and she felt his soft lips press against her forehead. He squeezed her hand and caressed her neck gently as she let her body fall onto his. He slowly leaned back and let go of her hand. She couldn't feel his hold on her neck anymore and once she opened her eyes she let out a silent cry.
With a flash of red light, Shadow was gone.
Another note: This is not the end! I wouldn't leave it open like that, geez. You crazies. :)