Welcome to the 5th chapter of my story! Wow, I never would've thought that two reviews were all I needed to keep on writing. I'm actually surprised my internet has been working quite well lately... I swear my aunt is mrs. fix-it. Thanks for all the hits on this story and I hope you'll all keep reading. Anyways, here's the disclaimer and the newest chapter!

Disclaimer: Dark-Illusion-Detective doesn't own Team Chaotix, any of the Sonic characters nor does she own Sega. She does however own Illusion and Charcoal.

Here goes nothing!

Chapter Five

Dinner at the Chaotix's place went by swiftly; mainly because Illusion and Espio ate as though they were trying to beat Sonic the hedgehog's record. The duo quickly left the table before Vector and Charmy could ask them what was wrong with them. Illusion had ran into Espio's room and she sighed with relief that it was over. It took every ounce of will power to not stare at Espio, and it took every ounce of her energy to not say something embarrassing. The white cat looked around the room wondering what she could do when she had no journal to write in, no paper to draw on, and no annoying brother to pick on her.

"Huh... what is there to do now? Nothing to do but... hmm."

That's when Illusion's green eyes stared at a book. It was small, it was hard covered and there was a pen on it.

A journal!

Before she ran over and grabbed it and opened it, she took the time to think of the consequences of being caught reading something as personal as a journal. Illusion looked at the journal and she ripped her attention from the small book when someone knocked on her door. She walked to the door and opened it to reveal Charmy.

"Hey Charmy."

"Can I come in?"

"Sure," she replied as she stepped aside and let the bee into the spotless room. Charmy sat down on the bed and he looked at his feet with an anxious expression written on his face.

"Um... Illusion? How do you tell someone you like them?"

The cat was thrown off by this question. She walked over to Charmy and sat down next to him, "what do you mean?"

Charmy dug in his jacket pocket and drew out a small picture of a small rabbit who was grinning with a chao.

"Who's this?"

"Cream... and her chao Cheese."

Illusion let the names echo in her mind, "Cream and Cheese... Cream and Cheese... oh my chaos! Cream cheese!"

She shook her head of the strange thought and questioned, "she looks very cute. Do you perhaps... have a thing for this girl?"

Charmy's face turned red as he nodded and he said, "I don't know how to tell her though."

"Well... girls love flowers, and gifts. I bet if you gave her a few flowers, a nice homemade gift then she would like you a lot for that."

The bee looked at Illusion and he blinked, "really?"

"I think so. But be sure to tell her that you like her a lot. Girls like that sort of thing."

Charmy grinned as he suddenly hugged Illusion.

"Thank you!!"

Illusion giggled as she returned the hug and replied, "any time Charmy."

He put the picture of Cream and Cheese back in his jacket and he walked toward the door until he stopped. He turned around and he smiled.

"So what was the hurry in dinner?"

"I... I wanted to take some time to get used to this place. It takes me a while to get used to it."

"Why was Espio in a hurry?"

"How should I know?"

"You like him don't you?"

"Want me to get the scythe out?" retorted Illusion as she eyed the scythe that was leaning against the wall still. Charmy looked at it, gulped and shook his head. "Then just go."

"... Okay," muttered Charmy as he got out of the room quickly. Illusion walked back to the bookshelf, grabbed the small book and she climbed into the soft bed.

"I don't know... I'm invading someone's privacy by reading this. Might as well read something though," she whispered as she started reading.

-- Meanwhile with Espio--

"Say it Espio! You like her!" shouted Vector as the chameleon sat in his meditating position and refused to listen to him. "Espio!"

"I'm not saying anything."

Espio felt a hand on his shoulder and he opened one of his eyes and saw Vector staring at him intensely.

"You. Like. Her. Admit it."

"... Maybe I do," muttered Espio.

There was dead silence until Vector lifted Espio and trapped him in a breath taking hug, "I thought I'd never see the day! The day our little ninja would fall in love!"

"Can't. Breathe!"

"Sorry," laughed Vector as he dropped Espio to the hard floor. "But still, we thought you would wind up being a hermit that would never fall in love."

Espio blinked at what Vector just said and replied, "now that you put it like that maybe I should just give up."

"I didn't mean-"

"Hey did I just hear what I just heard?" asked Charmy as he flew into the living room. "Espio likes Illusion?"

"You heard right!"

"I KNEW IT!"

Espio blinked. Did everyone know about this? He hoped not. The ninja then asked, "why should I bother though?"

"Why? Maybe because she might like you back!"

He said nothing. Vector then poked Espio in the forehead, "what is it?"

"What if she doesn't like me back? What if she doesn't like me already?"

Charmy and Vector shrugged, not sure what to say to that. Charmy then remembered the advice Illusion gave him and he said, "you want Illusion to know you like her right?"

Espio nodded.

"That's great! All you have to do is give her a whole bunch of flowers, a homemade gift and tell her how much you like her."

"Charmy..."

"Yeah?"

"... I can't believe I'm saying this, but that's brilliant!"

Before Charmy could defend himself, Vector grabbed Charmy and hugged him tightly.

"GOOD JOB CHARMY!!"

"Vec... tor... air!!"

The bee gasped as the embrace on him was released. Vector rubbed the back of his head as he laughed. Espio smiled at the duo, that might actually work. It just might. A thought crossed his mind and his eyes widened.

"Espio?" said Vector when he saw the chameleon's eyes, wide with fear. "What's wrong?"

"MY JOURNAL!!" he yelled as he ran up the stairs at full speed. Charmy and Vector looked at each other then they followed the ninja up the stairs.

"Illusion!" yelled Espio as he opened the door and saw Illusion sleeping in the bed. The chameleon blinked, did she not find his journal? He silently walked toward the bookshelf and to his surprise, the journal looked like it hadn't been touched at all.

Picking it up, Espio sighed. Then he noticed his pen was missing; frantically looking around he found it on the floor next to the bed. He silently walked over and grabbed the pen just after Vector and Charmy ran into the room.

"Did she get it?"

"I don't think so."

"Does it look like it's been read?" questioned Vector as Espio looked at all the pages. He shook his head and everyone sighed with relief.

"Thank you chaos," whispered Espio. He looked at the duo, "now lets get out of here."

The trio smiled as they walked out of the room, quietly closing the door and walking down the stairs. Espio jumped on the couch and he laid down.

"That was close."

"Agreed."

Espio then grabbed the blanket that was drapped over the side of the couch, covered himself up and laid his head on a pillow, "and now I'm going to sleep."

"Don't forget we've got a job to do at... aww man!"

"What time?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Just tell me the time Vector," demanded Espio quietly. The alligator frowned as he sighed.

"Nine in the morning."

"We'll be up before then."

"If you say so," said Charmy as the duo walked up the stairs and headed toward their rooms. Espio looked at his journal and he once again thanked the chaos that Illusion didn't read it. He put it under his pillow and soon he was sleeping.

-- Meanwhile with Illusion--

The cat heard the door close and she opened her eyes. Good thing none of them actually looked to see if she was actually sleeping or faking it. She looked at the wall next to the bed and she frowned. The last entry in Espio's journal was sad; he had written about how much guilt he felt for what happened to her family.

Out of all the entries she managed to read before they got to the room, the last one was what made her feel bad she didn't do anything. She rolled onto her back and she stared at the ceiling; she recalled the last sentence of the last entry that made her determined to make Espio feel better about the whole event.

I can't change time and make sure her family wasn't torn apart like it is now, and I know it takes a long time for a heart to heal from that kind of pain, but I know I can do one thing; I'm going to make sure she's safe from her brother, safe from harm... I promise to her parents that she'll be in good hands if she comes and stays with us... I... I owe her that much.

Illusion fell asleep with that repeating in her mind; and her dream was filled with ideas on how she would help him feel less guilty about it.

There you have it guys, chapter five. I'll have chapter six up soon, and I'd appreciate it if you guys would review and give me some ideas for what I could improve on, and other things you can think of. Keep on reading if you want to know how things go from this point on for the Chaotix and Illusion. Until then, Later!