The one who stayed //Sonadow//

Chapter two.

A large smile spread across Sonic's lips. He knew he had succeeded in bringing Shadow into his race, against his proper judgement probably but those where details that the speedster blurred out.

"Yes!" he cheered, throwing his fists into the air. Crimson eyes rolled again. This seemed to be the ultimate life forms favorite way to show how he felt about the blue hedgehog, though Sonic really didn't care.

"Come on, have some fun Shads" Sonic said as he threw a weak punch at Shadow's arm, earning a glare that told him that he was crossing a line that he didn't want to cross. The hero knew well enough to not irritate the dark hedgehog, but that didn't mean that he didn't push Shadow to the edge anyway. He knew he could get away with it and he took that too seriously.

The charcoal hedgehog crossed his arms, brushing his hand across the spot where Sonic's fist had hit. "Having fun with you is limited" he grumbled, trying to ignore the tingling sensation that lingered on his arm.

"Why?! I can have fun!" the blue blur shouted as he stuck out his bottom lip. "Oh really?" the ultimate life form smirked "then prove it, faker"

"Fine I will! What's fun to you?" Sonic narrowed his eyes.

Emerald eyes looked the dark hedgehog up and down, studying him. Shadow froze under the emerald orbs, his stomach twisting and his mind drawing a blank. Those eyes held him under a spell, one that felt like it lasted forever, only too last a few seconds before the ultimate life form spoke again.

"Why don't you find out?" he snickered, almost proud of his sly comment. That pride soon died as Sonic gave him that "are you kidding" face. The air around the dark hedgehog became hard to breath. He couldn't figure out if it was because of the awkward sensation hanging in the air, or the fact that he, the ultimate life form, just forgot what to say just because of Sonic looking at him with those bright emerald eyes of his.

"Uh...I kind of just asked you that" the blue one uttered, making Shadow's stomach drop even more. Instead of showing how uncomfortable he was the dark hedgehog simply shrugged. He remained silent.

Sonic shifted on his feet as he rubbed the back of his neck. While avoiding eye contact, he stepped closer to the ultimate life form, a weak blush coating his peach colored cheeks. "So...what do you do for fun then?"

Shadow lifted a brow. "You said we were going to race?" he wondered as he tapped his foot. The cocky blue hero smiled again, emerald eyes meeting crimson ones. "Oh, so you still want to challenge me hu?" a laugh left peach colored lips "I guess you haven't lost your spark yet"

"You better catch up then" a smirk spread across tan lips, "we still have that deal"

Before Sonic could process Shadows words completely the ultimate life form took off, kicking up a cloud of dirt as he did. His emerald eyes widened as he watched Shadow disappear. The speedster growled and ran after him. "HEY! Get your ass back here!"

In the blink of an eye the fastest thing alive was running side by side to the ultimate life form. The wind that was once still was now rushing past them, sending a thrill of adrenaline to pound in their veins.

"Oh, so the fastest thing alive wants me to slow down?! Now you really lost your spark!" Shadow yelled over the rush of the wind, a chuckle popping out of his lips. He wasn't going to slow down though. He only sped up with the intentions of leaving Sonic in the dust.

Sonic groaned, clearly irritated as he ran faster to catch up to the dark hedgehog. "I haven't lost anything! It's you who lost your mind!"

The smirk on tan lips only widened. Shadow loved the feeling of the wind rushing around him, the slight pain in his legs as he glided across the ground with impressive speed, and then there was the feeling of victory. It felt good knowing he could beat this speedster once and for all.

However, something in his mind told him that, if he actually won, that sense of victory would not be there. He ignored that thought and pushed forward.

"I am perfectly sane" Shadow said as he dodged a tree. A simple obstacle in the way. "Prove it hedgehog!" Sonic yelled back as he jumped over a bush. Running faster just so he could pass the dark hedgehog.

The ultimate life form glared at the speedster. "You're not winning this time" he growls, just barely passing the blue hedgehog. "We will see about that" he glares back, but, no matter how much he pushed forward, he still remained a foot behind the dark hedgehog.

"How far are we going?" Shadow chuckles.

Almost like every day Sonic uttered, "Just up to the cliff." And with all the strength he had he passed the ultimate life form.

The two hedgehogs were neck and neck by now. The clearing ahead opened and they both felt the urge to win. Their hearts were pounding and their lungs were working hard. While Shadow stayed quiet to focus on passing the blue hedgehog, said hedgehog was screaming his early victory.

"I'm gonna win!"

"Not this time hedgehog"

Crimson eyes rolled as the owner used all the power he had left to finally pass the fastest thing alive, emerging out onto the cliff with victory washing over him.

Knowing he had lost the blue hedgehog stopped, only to fall to the ground. "Ow...." He uttered as he curled into himself. Sonic instantly erased the fact that he had lost, to Shadow no less, out of his mind.

The feeling of victory left the ultimate life form almost instantly as he heard a moan of pain escape the hero's lips. Shadow turned on his heel and kneeled down to the frowning hedgehog. "Don't hurt yourself now"

Shadow received a death glare for that before Sonic rolled away from him. "Why do you care?" he grumbled, his eyes watching the grass sway in the wind. The dark hedgehog frowned.

Those words hurt Shadow, but he could never tell Sonic that. He had a reputation to hold, apparently. "You judge too quick, hedgehog" he uttered. At those words the speedster turned back to look up at Shadow, watching him carefully from the corner of his eye. "Well what am I supposed to think of a hedgehog that does nothing but fight me?"

The dark hedgehog gave the blue one a dull stare. "Half the time it's you who challenges and irritates me"

Sonic looked at Shadow fully this time. Watching his face. Waiting for something, anything, but when nothing came he let out a sigh. "I-I don't mean to irritate you" he whispered as he crossed his arms.

Crimson eyes darted away from emerald ones. "It doesn't take much...you're extremely cocky"

Sonic stuck his bottom lip out as he pushed himself up from the ground. "Whatever...I'll go away now" he said "you won"