CHAPTER 4

THE BALL

Later that night inside of a large convention hall, huge groups of people filled the vast ballroom. The room was decorated with colors of gold and blue. Some people were in military uniforms but most others were dressed in formal wear. People were socializing, drinking, eating, and dancing to the calm and soothing music played by a live performing music act.

Shadow tried not to become so nervous by the huge event that was going on. He felt so out of place. He then snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a light nudge on his arm. He turned to the white bat woman standing beside him.

She wore a quite revealing dark blue mini dress with black high heeled shoes. Her long white hair was placed up in a messy fashion but still looked classy with her outfit. She whispered to the black hedgehog. "You're not nervous are you?" She asked with a teasing tone.

The black hedgehog wore a black suit, a red tie, and black dress shoes to match the suit. He crossed his arms in irritation as he knew she was teasing him. "Of course not…" His eyes flashed over to the drink table and decided that a little something to drink wouldn't hurt. "I'm going to get something to drink."

Before she could say anything to him, he shot over to the drink table. A sweat drop appeared on the side of her head. "Damn it, Shadow", she murmured as she stormed her way over to the table as well.

While Shadow was getting himself a glass of red wine, a male white fox had caught sight of the hedgehog. He decided to make his way towards him.

When Rouge had finally caught up to Shadow, she saw him practically chug the entire glass of wine. Her eyes widened in shock, "For God's sakes, Shadow!"

He shrugged his shoulders apathetically. "What?"

She flashed her eyes around the group of people that surrounded them and decided to speak in a low tone. "Can you not do this tonight?"

"Rouge, relax. I'm not gonna get shitfaced okay?" He spoke back to her in a low voice.

She became filled with doubt when she saw him pouring more red wine into his glass. "Just don't fuck up your chances with this okay?"

The two were suddenly interrupted when a white male fox approached them with a glass of red wine in his hand. "Ah, Shadow! I'm so glad you could make it!"

The hedgehog and bat turned to the white wolf and saw him wearing a black suit with a matching tie and dress shoes.

Shadow's eyes widened at the sight of the fox standing beside him and Rouge. "Lieutenant Gin!"

"Oh please, enough with the formalities. You're with us now if I did hear correctly from Mayor Wish?"

Shadow made a small nod, "You heard right."

The fox's eyes shifted over to the white bat woman standing next to him. "Who is this lovely lady standing next to you?"

Shadow's eyes lazily shifted over to Rouge. "Oh her? She's my date." He then felt her lightly punch him in the arm. He had apparently made her upset that he didn't mention to Gin that she was also his girlfriend. He held his arm and gave her an annoyed look. "…And girlfriend."

She turned away from Shadow and gave Gin a warm smile. "My name is Rouge."

He gave her the same warm smile in return, "The name is Gin." He thought it was cute to see Shadow and Rouge flirt in public and be so comfortable with it. "I see. She's quite the catch."

A light blush formed on her face as Gin complimented her. "Why thank you, lieutenant."

Gin focused his attention back to Shadow. "I'm ecstatic that you managed to change your mind, Shadow." He held out his hand so the hedgehog could shake it. "Welcome to G.U.N, Lieutenant Shadow."

When Gin called him by that name it made him feel appreciated and respected. He shook the fox's hand, "Thank you."

When Gin took his hand from Shadow's, his eyes began to wander around the huge ballroom as if he was looking for someone. "If only I could find that woman…"

"Who?" Rouge asked.

"You looking for me, Lieutenant Gin?" A feminine voice spoke behind him.

Gin, Shadow, and Rouge turned to a female red echidna who appeared to be few years older than Shadow. She had long red dreadlocks with some of them appearing to be cybernetic. She wore a long black dress with a slit that revealed much of her leg and the dress also revealed her massive cleavage. She had on black high heeled shoes to match her dress.

Shadow and Rouge's mouth hung open at the sight of her. They couldn't deny it. She was gorgeous.

When Rouge caught sight of Shadow practically drooling over her. She glared at him until he noticed her staring him down and snapped out of his thoughts.

"Shadow…Rouge…allow me to introduce you to G.U.N's second lieutenant, Lien-Da."

The echidna woman confronted Shadow and Rouge with a welcoming expression on her face. "Pleased to me you." She faced Gin with a confused look, "Say, Gin? This hedgehog standing in front of me wouldn't be the Shadow you've been raving about is it?"

The fox nodded, "Of course! I'm just gonna let you guys chat. Shadow knows plenty about me already."

Shadow watched Gin walk away leaving him with Rouge and Lien-Da. He thought Gin was so wrong. Even though Shadow had met up with Gin before Lien-Da, he was sure he didn't know the first thing about him. He still seemed very mysterious to him. He snapped out of his thoughts when Lien-Da started talking to him.

"I can't believe I'm in the presence of the ultimate life form."

Rouge uneasily watched as Lien-Da had made herself comfortable around Shadow quickly.

"I'm not all that great." Even though she was complimenting him, he acted like what she had said wasn't a big deal.

"Oh don't be so modest!" She stood next to him and started filling her glass up with wine before she continued to talk to him more.

Rouge's blood boiled when she saw her body getting closer and closer to Shadow's.

The echidna woman took a sip from her glass while she continued to make conversation with Shadow. "So how does it feel being the new third lieutenant of G.U.N?"

Before Shadow could answer, Rouge practically came in between them.

Lien-Da knew by the look in Rouge's eyes that she was filled with jealousy. "Oh! Who are you? His date?"

"I'm his girlfriend", she practically growled in a low voice.

Lien-Da remained silent until Shadow pulled her away from her.

Rouge gave Shadow a frustrated look from his sudden actions towards her. "What?"

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked in a low voice.

"I don't like her!"

"Stop it! You're embarrassing me in front of her!"

"I just feel like there's something off about her…and I don't like it."

Shadow was shocked to hear Rouge be so blunt about her feelings towards Lien-Da. He figured she was jealous because she was pretty and really open towards him unlike Gin. "Just because the second lieutenant is a girl and is mega friendly, it doesn't mean go psycho bitch."

"But…" Before she could continue, Shadow placed a finger to her lips.

"I won't have you ruin this night for me because you're jealous over some girl I met not even two minutes ago!"

She trusted Shadow but not Lien-Da. In her eyes, she seemed like a really shady character to her. She paused for a moment and she couldn't deny that she felt hurt that Shadow had called her jealous even though she was. When he took his finger from her lips, she took a deep and sighed heavily before she spoke to him again. "Sorry for acting like a psycho bitch", she growled. "I'm going to find the bathroom so I can clear my jealous little head."

Shadow could tell from the bitterness of her voice that she was angry from his comments to her. Before he could say anything else to her, she stormed away from the two.

When Rouge flung the bathroom door open, she walked over to the sink and leaned against it with her mind still clouded with anger. She stared angrily at her reflection that was in the mirror that hung on the wall in front of her. She growled under her breath, "Jealous huh? Men are so fucking typical…"

In The Next Chapter...

Lien-Da: I'm sorry I caused any problems between you and your girlfriend...

Shadow: She's just pissed off cause your attractive...

Rouge: I can't believe this! You're drunk!

Lien-Da: I look forward to working with you, Shadow...

Rouge: You stay away from him, you bitch!

Gin:...Really?