Woo! Chapter 33!

I don't really have anything sarcastic or remotely funny to say here so...
*Ahem*
On with the Chapter!

Sakura looked at the expression written upon Tails' face as he played with a fork.

"Uncle Chuck… Charles, as you might've guessed isn't my uncle." He stated as he continued to spin the shining piece of cutlery around his fingers.

"I didn't notice." Sakura joked, causing a smirk to grace the young inventors' features.

"He's the closest thing I've got to an uncle and by extension he is. You see, his nephew, and only living relative is Sonic the Hedgehog, and Sonic's my brother in all but blood." Tails glanced up into the attentive eyes of the attractive young girl sitting opposite. She disserved the truth.

"The only reason I came to New Mobotropolis is because Sonic's been hurt and I needed Rotor's and Nicole's help." He licked his dry lips and continued. "I guess you could call it luck that I came when I did. Any other day and… I don't really want to…"

"Hey it's alright Tails." Sakura said in a comforting tone. "What matters is you're here. You helped save lives and as a bonus you got to meet me."

Tails chuckled and looked up into her smiling face. "Besides, what's done is done. We can't predict what happens; we just have to roll with it. But the fact that you came here seeking help, and when you saw what had happened here dropped everything to help out where you could, say's a lot about you."

"But on that same note, it means I forgot about helping my brother in favour of helping others. I mean, what does that say about me?" Tails went back to playing with his cutlery so he didn't see the frown that graced Sakura's features.

"If you'd just ignored those in need for your brother Sonic, you would be a shallow minded, heartless person who by extension is only looking out for himself! It's you're compassion towards others that makes you who you are, not the goals by which you live your life." Sakura leaned back in her chair and began looking over the menu. "Besides, do you really think I'd be here if you were like that?"

She leaned forward and fixed the now smiling fox with a relaxed glance. "Wanna know a secret? Contrary to popular belief, I'm more attracted to nice guys and gentlemen, not the bad boys. Luckily for you, you're both a nice guy and a gentleman."

Tails' cheeks flushed a solid crimson and he couldn't help but grin at the string of compliments she had flung his way.

"Th-thank you Sakura, a-and um, you're… lo-looking very nice tonight." He was rewarded with a flattered smile.

"Thanks Tails. Now how about you tell me about yourself while we wait for Anya to get back."

-0-

Shadow walked slowly along the darkening street a half-pace behind his partner and friend, Cassie. She had decided that the two of them would spend some time in the local pub to give Shadow, in her own words: "At least some experience with the wonders of alcohol." It was an experience that Shadow was not looking forward too.

"Don't look so sullen Shadz, this is gonna be fun!" Cassie exclaimed in an attempt to lighten his mood. Luckily Shadow was used to her snarky sense of humour and it earned her a grin.

"I have got a reputation to keep you know." He replied. Cassie had yet to say where they were heading other than a good place.

"Believe me, that reputation is what's keeping you from making friends." She said matter-of-factly causing Shadow to smirked in response.

"I've never seen the reason behind having friends." He admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. "They always seemed to be a liability."

Cassie frowned at him and slowed down her pace to walk by his side. She studied his hard features, his blazing red eyes were fixed ahead and his usual foul tempered scowl decorated his face.

"You've got too lighten up a bit Shadz." With a pat to his shoulder and a smile. "And that's just what we're going to do."

With a wide gesture she pointed towards a red bricked building painted white from about eight feet up the wall too the top giving it an odd Victorian air about it. There was a large metal sign bolted to the face of the building of two emeralds with the name: 'Emeralds Rest' emboldened upon the surface. Outside were a few mobians chatting with either cigarettes or drinks in their hands, some who Shadow recognised in passing as fellow GUN Agents.

"This is where a few of us come to relax or too blow off some steam." Cassie explained as she waved to a couple of the people. Shadow could see several more mobians through the wide expansive windows, including some standing around a pool table and others by a dart board.

"Hey Rahna! Haven't seen you in the pit for a while, where you been?" Called one of the people just outside the door.

"I'm going up in the world." She responded with a broad grin as they neared. "I'm an investigative Agent working a murder case now."

"Congrats girl!" The drinker replied, causing several others to raise their voices and glasses in congratulations.

"Thanks guys." After the pleasantries, Shadow and Cassie slipped through the heavy dark wood door and into the pub itself.

The noise was the first thing that Shadow noticed; the laughter, the chatter and the clink of glasses. His eyes were instantly drawn to the long mahogany carved bar with polished top and several pumps labelled with various lagers, bitters, ales and ciders. Behind the bar was a large mirror reflecting the patrons and the bottles that rested on shallow shelves. Shadow decided against trying to count the amount of different labels and simply resorted to following Cassie up to the bar. Cassie leaned on the slightly sticky surface and turned her head to look sidelong at the rather lost looking hedgehog.

"Alright Shadz, how do'ya like it so far?" The amusement in her voice was evident, as was the awkwardness that Shadow was feeling.

"It's… different. To say the least." He continued to sweep his gaze over the crowd, scanning for any possible attack or confrontation, sizing up possible opponents and identifying various escape routes if necessary.

"Just different? Come on!" Cassie pointed at a bottle and held up two fingers when the barman asked what she wanted. "Of course this is different. I doubt you've done as much as your average mobian, well as much as any normal mobian anyway."

Shadow's eyes narrowed and he looked at her. "What do you mean by 'normal'?"

"Well for starters, someone who wasn't created in a laboratory in space, or someone who's taken it on themselves to be the most miserable, unsociable person on the face of Mobius." The lavender hedgehog replied fearlessly, paying for, and accepting two small glasses of amber liquid with a pair of ice cubes floating in each. She passed one to him. "Here. My dad brought me this as my first drink on my eighteenth."

Shadow took a tentative sniff before sipping the drink carefully. His eyes widened, his throat burning as the liquid flowed down towards his stomach.

"What the hell is this?" He exclaimed after a short coughing fit which left Cassie in fits of laughter.

"Good old Glen Fiddich, five years." She chuckled. "Goes down smooth don't it."

Shadow coughed again before taking a deeper draught from his glass. He had to admit, the aftertaste was rather pleasant.

"Alright!" Cassie cried, slamming her empty glass back on the bar. "Welcome to life being a boozer! Lets get a proper round in."

She waved over the bartender, determined to show Shadow just how much he was missing.

-0-

Shade was leaning on the metallic wall as she stared out into the darkening sky. Already she could see street lights beginning to flicker to life. Her eyes drifted up into the sky and the tiny pinpricks of light that glinted down at her from the heavens. Her own eyes glittered in response. So enraptured was in the stars that she didn't notice Renaile approaching until she was almost right next to her.

"They're beautiful, aren't they." Shade successfully disguised her surprise and nodded her agreement.

"Indeed they are." Renaile had an odd green hue to her fur, an oddity among the Nocturne, but one that had been gradually appearing over the years along with other variations of fur colouration and pigmentation.

"I've heard rumours of Gizoids being mobilised for combat." The light green echidna looked at her commanding officer. Shade had heard the same rumours herself. "Do you think the Imperator and Procurator will push for war?"

Shade sighed inwardly. She had heard such whispers from the less experienced scouts and other troops since they had returned to Mobius, and she was beginning to worry herself.

"I… I'm not sure." Shade replied truthfully. "I wouldn't put it pass the Imperator to march us into another war, but surely with our escape from the Twilight Cage, Legatus Kragok wouldn't condone such an action."

"I wish I could share in your confidence." Renaile said a faint tone of resignation in her voice.

"Have the others make ready. We use the darkness to our advantage and indentify the seat of power in this city." The light green furred echidna nodded her head and headed off towards the small fire that the others sat around. Shade watched her go.

"I wish I had the confidence to share." She said in a whisper that faded into nothingness long before it could reach another pair of ears. Shade turned back to the stars, hoping to shine some light on the dark thoughts that flitted through her mind.

-0-

"Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!" The chant echoed through the pub, released by dozens of voices all edging on the ebony furred hedgehog to down the contents of the long glass. Cassie's voice was amongst the loudest as Shadow neared the bottom of the glass, tipping it almost vertical as the last of the clear brown liquid poured down his throat. A loud rambunctious cheer went up when he held the now empty yard glass aloft in triumph. Cassie wrapped her arms around the grinning hedgehog as grasping hands reached out and took the long glass from his hands.

"That was awesome!" She cried to be heard over the cheers. Shadow swayed slightly, still attempting to get his breath back after his little escapade.

He had quickly learnt that the Emeralds Rest was the unofficial local pub for the GUN Agents, and as soon as Cassie had introduced him to the gathered crowd there had been a rush to buy him a drink, and neither of them had paid for another round since.

Still receiving pats on the back Shadow, supported on one side by Cassie, staggered back to the bar stool which had been swiftly earmarked as 'Shadow's stool' and sat down with a thud.

"You know, I've lost count how much I've drunk, but it's not even inflicting me." His voice was slurred and he managed to grab the drink placed in front of him on the third attempt. Cassie giggled as he pulled her down onto the seat next to him.

"Oh I think it is Shadow." She grinned before losing her centre of balance and slumping into him. The both laughed and she shifted herself to rest her head comfortably in the crook of his shoulder. Shadow looked down at her through slightly blurred vision.

"You know something else? You're really pretty." She looked up, surprise in her eyes. She smiled and nuzzled deeper into his shoulder. "You're the first person to really try an' get to know me, apart from Rouge. But that said, you're the first person I've really opened up too."

He finished his drink and looked down at her, her eyes were closed and a faint smile of bliss was on her face. "Comfy?"

"Mhmm…" Shadow snorted. He glanced up at the round-faced clock just above the bar and although the numbers were unreadable he deciphered from the blurry hands that it was somewhere between eleven in the evening and two in the morning but he couldn't get any closer than that.

"I think we need to go."

"But I'm comfortable." Cassie moaned, wrapping her arms around his and snuggling closer and pushing Shadow closer and closer to the edge of his seat.

"And I'm not going to act as your bed for the night." He said attempting to wiggle some more space on his chair.

"But you do it so well." Shadow grinned at her comment but was resolute that the best nights sleep would be on a proper bed, eventually managing to persuade her to vacate her place at the bar and they staggered towards the door.

The cool air outside struck Shadow like a brick and he had to slump against the wall before his legs gave out. Cassie was giggling as she slipped down to sit on the floor.

"Urh… I don't feel so good." He muttered, his forehead resting against the cold rough brick wall.

"It's just the drink talking." Cassie replied and if on cue, Shadow's stomach heaved and released a concoction of liquids up his throat in a torrent. "Told ya."

Shadow coughed and groaned before wiping his mouth and forehead with the back of his hand. Cassie looked up at him from her place on the floor. "Feel better?"

"Yeah actually." He took several deep breaths and forced himself to stand upright, arching his back as he stretched out the aches that had built up over the course of the night.

"Come on, help me up." Cassie stretched out a hand for Shadow, who hauled her to her feet. She staggered into his chest and felt his arms wrap around her to prevent her from falling their faces ending up barely a few centimetres apart. A rush of blood flushed both their cheeks and neither moved for several moments. Shadow tilted his head slightly, preparing to realign his footing when Cassie mistook his motions and leaned forwards. Their lips brushed lightly together and although it was only for a moment and Shadow was too shocked to move.

They parted with Cassie stepping back leaving Shadow standing stock still like a statue, his head still in the exact position it had been when their lips had met. Her face flushed red and she quickly looked away in embarrassment.

"Sorry, I shouldn't of-" Maybe it was the drink, or the cool air, the spur of the moment, or maybe even the tiny voice in the back of his head, but whatever the reason, whatever the drive, Shadow the Hedgehog pulled Cassie close against his body and crushed his lips against hers.

In this moment of total bliss, both hedgehogs forgot about the world around them.

-0-

She slipped silently into the building, her breathing was ragged and she slumped against the wall to catch her breath before heading deeper into the darkness, leaving behind a dark wet stain on the wall. Clutching her side she staggered into a room, no time to see if no-one was there. She collapsed into a nearby chair with a grunt of pain.

The sound of the door being opened caused her eyes to shoot open. She tried to stand but the knife wound to her side was deep and she had been bleeding profusely, she was barely strong enough to keep hold of her own dagger which glinted in the moonlight that shone through the only window.

Her heartbeat sped up and it was so loud she was worried that the sound would give her away. Her eyes were locked on the doorway she had entered through and soon enough a shadowy silhouette made itself known in the darkness.

"I never thought you'd be the death of me." She growled through the pain.

"It's amazing how much someone can keep hidden. Especially from one blinded by loyalty to the old way." He stepped towards her, his hand swept back. She lunged, knife point aimed for his heart but he casually battered aside her feeble attempt before plunging his own knife deep into her chest. He pulled her face towards his and glared deep into her pain filled eyes.

"I hold true to the code. It is people like you who bastardised it, and it is because of you that we are weaker than ever! And if I must personally cut this rot from our once honourable order one by one, I will." With an unceremonious yank, he pulled his knife from her chest causing her to slump lifelessly to the floor. Kneeling down he took hold of her wrist and sliced three vertical cut, each bisecting the talon tattoo.

Once his gruesome work was completed, the purple furred hedgehog vanished out of the door and into the night beyond.

*hisss* Cuteness!
But seriously, it took me ages to write that tiny bit of of romantic subplot, and by the end I just needed to write some violence. In other words, the last paragraph was completely off-the-cuff.
You've probably guessed it but I'm more comfortable writting dark, violent stuff than happy-go-lucky.

Anyway, enough blabble from me.
Thanks for reading and see ya soon.

-Corrupt TE-