A/N: Hello everyone! How are you guys? I am here with the next chapter of... Without The Mask! Yay! And, OMG! 425 reviews! 425 reviews! Thank you all very much! *Squeals* YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! *Clears throat* Anyway, my thanks goes to everyone who is reading and reviewing this story. You guys inspire me to continue; otherwise I would have dumped this story a long time ago! :) And thanks to everyone who voted! Let's see which pairing won!
SonAmy - 0
ShadAmy - 20
Lol, I think it's kinda obvious who won. :D So Shadow, Amy is all yours! Lol. ;) Oh! I want to reply to all of the reviewers since I'm not so busy, but those who are not interested can just skip it! :P
Sooo…
WarriorAngelGirl - Thank you very much for the review! It made me feel much better about writing this story! Thanks a million! :)
MEGAANIMEFREAK27 - Lol. :D Of course I knew what your answer was gonna be! You are one of the biggest ShadAmy fans ever! Like me! Am I right? :)
aliciathewolf45 - Thank you very much for the review! Here is more of this story for you to read! =)
Shadow of Darkness 78 - Thanx a lot for the review, honestly! I appreciate it. ShadAmy is my fave too :)
res123 - No! Thank you for your review! Lol, I agree, Shadow really was frustrating, but I think that you'll like this chapter. ^_^
suicuneluvr - Thanks for the review! I am very glad that you like this story! =)
BiteMe21 - Thank you very much for the review! :)
Shadamylova - Lol, thanx for the review! =)
Savvy0417 - Thanks for the review! I hope you like this new chapter! :)
BlackPetals23 - Lol, I hate cliff-hangers too when I read stories, although I don't think that my cliff-hangers are very suspenseful, lol. Thanx for the review! :)
inferna the hedgehog - Thanx for the review! =)
Lightning rose - Lol, don't worry, he comes back! Thanks for the review! :)
SO CUTE - Lol, I think that you'll find this chapter cuter! Thank you for your review! :)
NemaColden - Thanx for the review! =)
Dovewing30 - Thank you for the review! (:
Guest - Lol. If it keeps you alive, I'll update faster, ok? :D
guess who - Don't worry, I will finish my other stories too. Are you the reviewer that reviewed for me before with the name, "I LOVE SONAMY", or are you someone else? You said something about liking SonAmy more than ShadAmy now, so that's why I asked. Anyway, thank you for the review! :)
SugarhogRose - Yeah, I know! I feel sorry for him too! :( Thanks for the review, really. =)
ThornShadow515 - Thank you for your review! =)
RyuuShadow - Hello! Thanks for the review, and I'm glad that you like this story! :)
rockstar297 - Thanx for the review! =)
quilesyanet - Lol, I think that you'll like this chapter! ;)
There's a lot of, "Guests", are you all the same person? If not, please give yourself a name so I know who's who. :) I didn't have much to do this week, so that's why I got the chance to reply to all of the reviewers, lol. :)
Disclaimer: *Sing song voice* Sonic the Hedgehog and characters don't belong to me! They belong to SEGA!
Chapter 23
Sonic looked up at the clock in Tails' workshop. 8:31pm. Jumping up from the sofa, he rushed out of the door. He couldn't stand it. He just couldn't take it anymore. He had to speak with Amy...
Skidding to a halt in front of her house, he ducked behind some bushes when he saw Shadow knocking on her front door. His eyes narrowed while a scowl formed on his face. What was HE doing here? Hadn't he hurt her enough already? He peeked through the bushes as he heard the sound of the front door opening. He was going to find out what Shadow was doing here...
xXx
"Rose?" Shadow questioned, causing the pink hedgehog to snap out of her daze. Amy moved back and held the door open wider so that he could enter.
"Come in," she tried to ignore how her heart was beating faster, and made her way to the living room, Shadow following her. The pink hedgehog sat down on the sofa and motioned for him to do the same. "You said you wanted to speak with me. I'm listening."
"Amy," Shadow sat down next to her, sighing. "I'm s-sorry for what I said to you. I didn't mean any of it." He said, looking at her with sincere eyes.
"Then why Shadow? If you didn't mean anything you said, why did you say that you didn't like me?" Amy asked with a small frown on her face. She crossed her arms across her chest as she waited impatiently for an answer.
"I... It was the only thing I could think of that would make me ignore my feelings." The ebony male explained, looking away from her. He sighed again, while his head hung low. Amy's heart beat increased and she quickly focused her attention on him. What feelings? Did he like her?
"W-what a-a-are y-you-" She began, but stopped when he looked up at her. His crimson orbs were full of emotion. She found that she had frozen on the spot, and just stared at him back.
"I've been experiencing some strange feelings in the past few days that I have never experienced before. And the feelings just got intense when I was around you." Shadow said quietly, his tone showing that he was very confused. Amy's eyes widened, while her mouth dropped open. That could only mean one thing...
"What kind of feelings? Maybe I can help you figure them out. And what did they have to do with me? Is that why you didn't want to be my friend anymore?" Amy questioned, wanting to make sure that what she thought was true.
"Well, the feelings... All I can tell you is that my heart rate increased, my stomach... It felt weird. I can't explain it. Sometimes, I could feel my muzzle turning warm. Is that enough for you to figure out these stupid feelings?"
Amy smiled brightly, nodding her head. "Yeah, but first answer my other questions."
"Alright, uh, well I always got these feelings around you. And that's why I didn't want to be your friend anymore, because I thought that I could escape the feelings if I wasn't around you. Does it make sense? But later on, I realized that I just couldn't stay away from you. Not after being your friend and starting to like you..." Shadow said, running a hand through his quills in frustration. "Now can you tell me?"
"I will! But first tell me, why do you think you felt like that around me?" The pink hedgehog asked excitedly, watching him groan and glare a little. She figured that it was hard for him to answer that question. She smiled, thinking that her heart would explode as it was beating incredibly fast. "Shadow, people usually get these feelings when they love someone. Let me explain what love is to you. You love someone when you think about them, care for them, and when you can't stay away from them no matter how much you try. You want to protect that person, and you get jealous whenever she pays too much attention to another guy." Amy explained as best as she could, smiling at him. "Is that how you feel?"
"What!? Are you psychic or something? How do you know?" Shadow narrowed his eyes, staring at the pink female sitting before him. "So are you trying to say that..." He trailed off, not wanting to believe it. He could never love someone... But what Amy was suggesting matched his feelings. His eyes widened while his cheeks turned the lightest shade of red uncharacteristically. Amy giggled and also blushed.
"What I am trying to say is that I think that you, you know... Um, l-l-love me." The pink hedgehog avoided his eyes, feeling him stare at her.
SNAP!
Shadow ears perked up as he jumped up to his feet. "What was that?"
"I don't know. It came from the window." Amy replied, feeling annoyed for being interrupted. She watched Shadow walk across the room and to the window. He put his head through and looked around with his eyes narrowed into slits.
"It must have been a cat." Shadow murmured, walking back to the sofa. He sat down, but his ears were still perked up.
"Just forget it, Shadow." Amy said softly with a smile, reaching out and placing a hand over his. She blushed at the contact, while Shadow's head flew in her direction. "Shadow, I-I wanted to say this a long time ago, but... I never got the chance." She looked down shyly, but a gentle hand under her chin forced her to look up into soft ruby orbs.
"What?" The black and red streaked male asked, rubbing his thumb against her cheek gently. Her eyes closed as a smile formed on her lips.
"I am madly in love with you Shadow."
xXx
Sonic froze. He looked through the window and at the two hedgehogs sitting down on the sofa. His heart dropped to his stomach as he heard every single word they uttered.
Clutching the window sill for balance, he looked away and closed his eyes, not being able to watch them anymore. "Why?" He felt confused, hurt and used. Had Amy been using him to get Shadow's attention? No. He shook his head. Amy wasn't like that. There was an explanation for everything. There had to be! Opening his eyes, he ducked down and looked through the window again.
xXx
Amy opened her eyes and stared into Shadow's crimson orbs. Her gaze dropped down to his lips where she saw a small smirk forming on them. He kept rubbing his thumb on her cheek, and his smirk only widened when he saw her muzzle turn red.
"I know Rose. I l-l-l..." He struggled with the word, as if it was forbidden for him to say it. He looked into her wide jade green eyes and smiled. "I love you too." A gasp left Amy's mouth as her eyes widened even more. Shadow's smile widened, and he started leaning closer to her. The sound of Amy's heart was the only thing that could be heard. After a second, Shadow's heartbeat also increased.
'Oh my God! I can't believe this is happening! He loves me!' Amy thought to herself, smiling. She also leaned to the ebony male and stared into his half-closed red eyes.
"Shadow," she began but got cut off as Shadow gently placed his lips over hers. Amy's eyes widened so much this time that she was afraid that they would pop out soon. Shaking off the thoughts, she responded to the kiss by wrapping her arms around his neck, while his arms encircled her waist. It was a short and sweet kiss, and soon both of them pulled away to look at each other. Amy was blushing madly, while Shadow only smirked and tucked her pink quills behind her ear.
"You are so beautiful..." He trailed off and stared at her, which made the pink hedgehog's blush deepen. He then pulled away from her completely which caused Amy to look at him confused. "This is all very new to me; I've never felt like this before. At first I didn't like the feelings, but I have to admit, I'm starting to like it."
"Who would have thought that Shadow the Hedgehog, the cool, mysterious, brave and emotionless hedgehog would fall in love one day?" Amy grinned at him, watching him smirk in return.
"And who would have thought that the sweet and cute Miss Amy Rose would fall in love with the intimidating and scary Shadow the Hedgehog?" Shadow smirked, tilting his head to the side. Amy blushed again while brushing her bangs aside. "You're so pretty when you blush." He complimented, causing her face to turn twice as red. He chuckled, and then planted a sweet kiss on her forehead. "I'm really sorry for upsetting you today; I wish I realized my mistake before doing what I did. I can't live without you Rose. You are more special to me than Maria..."
"Awww," Amy smiled and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "I forgive you, but the reason why you realized your feelings for me and I got to tell you how I felt was because of what happened in the morning, so... It was actually a good thing. I can't live without you too, Shadow. I love you too much..." She placed her head on his shoulder and ran her fingers through his chest fur.
"What about faker?" The ebony hedgehog asked all of a sudden, Amy lifting up her head to look at him.
"I am going to tell him everything tomorrow. I still do like Sonic but I don't love him." Amy answered, shrugging her shoulders. She placed her head on his shoulder again, and felt his arms wrap around her waist. She smiled at the feeling. She felt very safe in Shadow's arms.
SNAP!
Shadow and Amy both pulled away, and the black and red male immediately rushed over to the window. Amy followed him and looked over his shoulder.
"Someone is definitely out there." Shadow whispered to Amy, his voice oddly calm. The pink hedgehog trailed her eyes around but couldn't see anyone.
"No one is out there Shadow. Maybe it was a cat. Cats seem to really like my house." Amy giggled, but stopped when Shadow held up a hand and his eyes narrowed.
"Wait, I can hear something." His ears perked up, and Amy also focused very hard. They listened for another two minutes, but after not seeing anything, moved back from the window.
"I told you it was nothing." Amy grinned, and held his hand. "Come on, you must be hungry." She added, seeing Shadow nod his head. "I didn't eat anything either." Shadow was about to say something, but got cut off.
"Ow!" Someone hissed in a low voice, causing both of them to run to the window at once. What they saw made Amy's jaw drop.
"S-S-S-Son-i-ic?"
*Gasp* Oh no! What is gonna happen next? I'm incredibly sorry for the wait and the short chapter, although it wasn't that short, but... Anyway, please, please, please review for me and tell me if any of you expected this to happen or not. Thank you!
I'll try to post the next chapter as soon as possible!
-Amy
BTW: Guess what? I have a joke for you guys! Well actually, two jokes that are quite similar. You guys might have heard it before, but it's the only joke that I can think of right now. So, anyway…
What starts with P and ends with ORN?
What starts with F and ends with UCK?
I know the jokes are lame, but just have a go at answering! :) It's for your fun and gives you something to do, since the voting has already been done. ^_^
Thanx again for the reviews! Please keep supporting me!
:)