The lone dead-end street of Angel Island Drive was quiet as ever. The steady downpour of rain made things especially dismal. Still, it was surprising to see a lone figure standing on the roof of an apartment building located at the end of the block facing the street. She was a human girl with a tanned complexion and bright cyan eyes holding a rather large navy umbrella. Her appearance was rather odd; with blonde bangs, pale blue hair, and an outfit consisting of a light blue hooded sweater, yellow fingerless gloves, denim skirt, blue socks and yellow sneakers, one would probably have been reminded of a chao. With the small yellow bauble floating over her head, they would have thought she was trying to look like one.

The girl unconsciously twiddled around a small emerald- shaped pendant in her free hand as she gazed unblinkingly over the serene neighborhood, as though listening for something.

"So, he hasn't been seen around lately?" she murmured, seemingly to herself. "That's to be expected. I doubt she would want to see him again after what he's done already…"

Silence. The girl closed her eyes and nodded. "I know. There is something a bit odd about him. There is no way she would be aware of this now, but I think she will be in time."

The girl tipped her umbrella forward and shook it once, letting raindrops fly off in different directions. She raised it back over her head before resuming her one-sided conversation.

"He's been asking her all kinds of personal questions lately. I've told him that she will talk to him when she's ready to, but he's not listening to me. He's always been impatient, that little one..." She trailed off, turning around to find a small yellow and black mouse-like creature, a pocket monster, with large ears and black markings and little black tail.

"There you are, Saya, chu!" she squeaked excitedly. "Kaze has been wondering where you were, chu."

"I'll be right there, then. Thanks, little Pichu."

"Okay, chu." The Pichu turned to leave, but turned back to Saya. "Why are you out here in the rain, chu?"

"I was speaking with the wind," the chao-girl said plainly. "It always has lots of things to say to me. It always comes and goes though, right from one place to another. I guess that's what makes it so interesting, eh, Pikku?"

"… Right," the Pichu answered back. "See you inside, chu!"

The chao-girl watched as the she turned and went through the small pet flap on the bottom of the rooftop door.

"I'll see you later, won't I?" Saya whispered. When no one replied, she simply nodded. "Okay then. Sayounara."

"Come on, Kaze, just tell me at least how you learned to talk? What were you're first words?"

Saya stepped in through the back door of the apartment to find a robot hedgehog, a miniature version of the Sonic the Hedgehog video game character about 2 feet 3 inches in height, standing in the doorway of one of the bedrooms. His metallic, emerald green eyes shifted over to the girl as she took a step towards him. "Oh, Sai, just in time," he said cheerfully. "You know everything that Kaze knows up until that thing happened, so you can tell me everything about Kaze, right?"

"You must be mistaken, Chibi Sonic," Saya answered. "Kaze and I are two completely separate entities, each with our own minds, souls, and most importantly, our own memories."

Chibi Sonic crossed his arms. "Aw, don't be like that," he whined. "How about if we had a race? If I win-which I will-then you'll tell me, won'tcha?"

"No."

"Argh! You're worse than Kaze!" the robot shouted. "I'm gonna go watch TV with Pikku!" He turned and stomped off into the living room behind him.

Saya took a step forward and looked into the bedroom. It was her room, anyway, a humble, homely looking room with pale yellow walls and light blue carpeting.

She spotted the small form of a chao wearing a sky blue bandana sitting on the dresser on the other side of the room, seemingly gazing out the window. What little sunlight shone through the blinds on the window reflected of f her cyan eyes, almost illuminating them. Saya took a few steps closer to the chao, pausing when the chao turned around to face her.

"Oh, Sai. I didn't see you there."

"Do you feel any better than yesterday, Kaze?" Saya asked.

"No, not at all," Kaze told her blankly, returning her gaze to the window. "I've just been thinking… about what I should do."

"Are you still thinking of what your brother said to you?"

"Yeah. That he'd have to die if he had any chance to return to the way he was before. Why would he say something like that, Sai? To break me down? Or does he thrive off my misery now?"

"No. He may not be in his right mind, but he doesn't look like one who enjoys that kind of humor."

Kaze looked up at her. "You really think so, huh? I don't know what to believe anymore…

"The last time I'd seen my brother, it was before I arrived in this world. Even then, he was different, but not as bad as he is now… I had been 'released' from the lab and wandered my world for some time when I found him. When I told him what happened to me, he flew off the handle. I tried to stop him, but he turned on me instead…"

She trailed off for a moment, rubbing one eye with a hand. "I didn't think it was his fault, he was probably still shaken by what happened to him… In any case, he turned on me instead."

"What happened?" Saya inquired, curious.

Without uttering a word, Kaze untied her bandana, revealing a small, faded scar just above her right eye. It was hardly noticeable unless someone really looked at it.

"This was the result. The moment he first saw this, he fled. I'd never seen him looking so pale before."

She turned back to the window. "Saya… is there any other way around this? Do you know?"

The chao-girl shook her head. "Considering how long you've been here, it's much too late to do anything for Kumo, just as he mentioned."

"It's just as I thought, then."

Saya looked puzzled. "Kaze?"

"At first, I didn't believe what he said," the chao went on. "That is, until I confirmed for myself. There's a bit more to it… he may remain the way he is depending on how he is treated by people."

"So, are you saying that you've made up your mind?"

"No." Kaze shook her head. "Truthfully, I don't know what to think right now. I'll wait… I want to know what Kumo is planning, and if it's something bad, I'll stop him the first chance I get."

"That's the spirit, Kaze!"

The sudden shout made Kaze jump. Turning around, she found CSR standing in the doorway, fist raised in the air. Realizing he'd just been found out, the robot hastily put his arms behind his back and smiled sheepishly.

"Uh, nice weather we're having today, eh?"

The soft murmuring sound coming from the back seat of the abandoned car told Kumo that his two charges were waking up. After a few moments of shuffling and stifled yawning, the dark chao's gaze was on the dreary sky outside the window.

"Had a nice nap, you two?"

"Uh-huh," the boy's voice spoke up.

"We're ready to go when you are, Kumo," the girl's voice chimed in.

Kumo closed his eyes, as though contemplating the situation. "You still sound groggy, Graham, Mori. Take some time to really wake up, and then we leave."

"Eh? What about you, Kumo?" Mori, the hedge-cat girl, peered into the front seat at him. "Did you go to sleep, too?"

"Don't worry about me," Kumo answered. "I'm fine."

The blonde-haired boy, Graham, shuffled behind the driver's seat to look out the back window. "The rain's startin' ta let up," he announced.

"Good." Kumo hopped to his feet and picked up a small scythe propped next to him. "Let's go. We'll get something to eat for the others on the way back."

"Right," Graham and Mori said in unison.

Kumo opened the front passenger door nearest to him and flew out, with the two children following suit. Together, they slipped into a back alley and exited on the next block over. This street was nearly empty, except for a few people who were spending their time window shopping. Not that anyone would really notice two children and a chao roaming the streets.

Kumo looked around for a moment, scanning the surroundings. Frowning, he muttered, "How much do we have? Check your pockets."

The two kids shuffled around in their pockets before taking out a small number of objects, lint, and golden rings. Mori counted them with a free hand. "… Eight, nine… ten… I think we've got about eleven rings. Izzat enuff?"

"We can't get anything good for two rings apiece!" Graham said, outraged. "I ought to clobber you one, you little--"

"Quiet," Kumo said sternly. "Get as much as you can get with that. I don't want to have you resort to stealing. We've done far too much of that."

"But, Kumo," Graham started. He suddenly found himself pinned against the wall by the dark chao, with the blade of the scythe dangerously close to his neck.

"That's enough out of you, you idiotic half-elf," Kumo growled. "One more sound out of you…" The dark chao's hardened, furious expression suddenly softened, and he dropped the scythe, backed away from the frightened boy, and hovered over to a trash can and shook his head. "I… I shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry… Graham."

Mori, who was just as frightened as Graham, looked back between the half-elf and chao, wondering who it was she should go to.

"Go on ahead without me," Kumo finally said after a moment. "I'll catch up with you later. Do what you can… and try not to steal if you can help it."

"Will you be okay?" Graham asked, his voice a little shaky.

"I'll be fine. Just go."

Looking on at the dark chao for a moment, Mori and Graham left the alley, leaving Kumo alone. This was just what he needed; to clear his head once in a while.

I almost did it again… I can't keep going on like this, he thought pitifully. I thought I was doing better since I'd seen Kaze again, but I guess I was wrong…

Awesome story!

*WHAM!*

Pikku was scared out of her wits as something crashed in the hall. Toppling off the edge of the sofa she was sitting on, she quickly scrambled to her feet and headed off to see what the commotion was about.

She froze in her tracks as she saw Chibi Sonic walking out of what she realized was the pantry with a bucket on one foot and a mop on his head. He was holding the broom in his right hand as he "limped" out, shaking his foot in an attempt to get the bucket off.

Kaze flew in a moment later with a rolled up piece of paper in one hand.

"You learned your lesson, yet?" the chao asked him, poised to strike.

"Yeah, yeah, you win, just don't hit me with that anymore!" the robot hedgehog pleaded, dropping the broom and holding his hands out in front of him.

Kaze looked livid for the next moment, but the moment she caught sight of Pikku, her expression softened.

"Oh, Pikku." She immediately dropped the rolled-up paper and landed on the floor. "What are you doing here?"

"What's going on here, chu?"

Kaze glared angrily at CSR, who was startled enough to fall backwards into the pantry again with another resounding crash.

"Eavesdropping robot," the chao muttered bitterly. "I was talking with Sai when I caught him this time."

"That's cuz you won't tell me nothin'!" CSR protested, struggling to stand again. "Ever since that thing happened with your brother, you've locked yourself up and won't talk to anybody!"

"What I do is MY business!" Kaze shot back angrily. "This has nothing to do with you, I said!"

"Oh yeah? At least I wasn't gonna let some stupid dark chao walk all over me just he said he'd have to DIE to…"

A sudden silence fell in the hall. CSR, knowing he said something he shouldn't have, cupped both hands over his mouth. Pikku took a step back out of fear. Saya, who was just stepping out form the bedroom, paused at the sight in the hall.

Kaze's eyes were widened in surprise. She never thought CSR knew this much. How much had he found out? The more she thought about it, the angrier she felt. She turned away from the other three occupants and stomped down the hall--at least, as hard as a chao could stomp. When she reached the end, she turned to CSR, who had just gotten back to his feet, though the bucket remained on his foot.

"CSR. You're coming with me. Now."

Chibi Sonic trudged along behind the Chao Walker as they headed down the street in silence. The hedge-bot hadn't dared say anything since following Kaze to the small garage where the Chao Walker was kept. It had been a present from Harris, a balding, sort of plump middle-aged man with a robotic arm and a large stomach. It was a sort of modified version of an average mech; one "hand" had been replaced with a Gatling gun arm and the small seat was repositioned slightly to allow room for a second foot-tall passenger. The old human was mumbling something about figuring out how to allow faster movement, and was often seen making blueprints of some sort.

The robot hedgehog scanned his surroundings. The rest of the houses on Angel Island Drive were illuminated from inside, as though defying the gray sky.

The tiny suburbs of the Eastern District soon gave way to the miniature shopping center. CSR immediately recognized the area as the part of the city the Obliterator had trashed before. Even now, there were a few construction robots checking buildings to make sure repairs were properly completed.

He opened his mouth to say something to Kaze, but even inside a Chao Walker, she didn't seem the least bit concerned. CSR thought he'd be getting chills now if he weren't a machine.

After they walked for what seemed like half an hour, Kaze and CSR reached an empty playground. The Chao Walker went on a head and stopped at a tree close to a baseball field. The cockpit opened, and Kaze flew out. CSR cautiously followed, stopping just a few steps away as the chao landed gently on the grass. CSR cringed a little, but, realizing that Kaze wasn't giving him an angry glare, he moved his hands away from his face and sat as well. He didn't say anything; it were as though the chao's grim expression kept him quiet as she spoke.

"Tell me everything you've heard, CSR."

The next day began like any other. Kumo rolled off his "bed" onto the cold floor of the cage. As his eyes snapped open and he looked at his surroundings, it only reminded him of where he was and where he would probably spend the rest of his life. He turned to look at his sister; she was still fast asleep, murmuring unintelligible, "… sea monkey stole my money…"

Kumo smirked. "Silly chao," he whispered as he flopped back onto his pile of rags.

It wouldn't be long before the lights came on and Benedict's face peered at them from the other side of the bars. "Morning," he said cheerfully. "Ready for another fun day?"

Kumo scoffed. "If you mean 'fun' by poking us with needles like you did last week, or sticking those stupid helmets on our heads like yesterday…"

"No, no, none of that. Not at all."

"Then what is it?"

"A surprise." Benedict smiled warmly, though Kumo did not return it. "Anyway, wake up Kaze. I'll get the keycard to let you two out." With a swish of his long white lab coat, the human disappeared. Kumo crossed his arms.

What could Benedict have in store that was different than any other day? Ever since Kumo and Kaze were created, they had been studied. Samples were taken, Notes about their behavior, so-called "school lessons" that taught them the ways of the world and about people. And that was before the two chao picked up human language. Once that happened, Helmets were placed on their heads two, sometimes three times a month to "measure neurologic development" or something like that. The only free time Kumo and Kaze had was an hour, sometimes two, every night to gaze at the stars before they were locked up in the cage to sleep before the same old routine that would begin the next morning.

"… Kumo? Why are you just standing there?" a groggy voice spoke to him.

The green-eyed chao turned to the source at once, only to find Kaze sitting there, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"It's nothing, really," he replied. "Benedict just came here; he says he has a surprise today or something… I don't know…"

"How come you don't look so happy?"

"Humans are idiots."

The comment caught Kaze off-guard. "What?"

"Benedict's hiding something from us. I could sense it coming from him."

Kaze looked puzzled for a moment, then it dawned on her. "But… why would he? Benedict's a nice person."

"Remember what he said, Kaze? Humans can act nice but still truly mean."

"But, Kumo…"

"Shush! He's coming back." Kumo covered his sister's mouth as he glimpsed the corner of white cloth from the cage. Within moments, there was a beeping sound and the cage door opened.

"Come on, Kaze, Kumo," Benedict spoke up. "No time to waste, now."

As the two chao flew out and into the room, Benedict turned away from them and walked out the room and into the hall. The chao followed suit.

"Where are we going, Professor?" Kumo asked.

"You'll see."

"Is it really a surprise?" Kaze chimed in.

"That's a secret."

Benedict suddenly stopped by a closed door. Kaze and Kumo froze in mid-air. The bespectacled man turned to the two of them with a grin. "Close your eyes."

They did as they were told, though Kumo grumbled something under his breath. Suddenly, there was a clicking sound and the sliding noise of an automatic door. Benedict's footsteps were heard fading into this new unknown room. "You can come on in, now," he called out after a few moments.

Opening their eyes, Kaze and Kumo made a mad dash into the room. The sight that awaited them when they arrived made them stare speechlessly in awe. From their point of view, it was a vast space, with plants and trees everywhere. It was a far cry from the gray walls they had become accustomed to. Instead of cold, white floors, there was soft soil. Somewhere off to their right, there was a needlessly ornate fountain.

Kumo turned to find Benedict standing just nearby, smiling at them. "What is this?" he asked.

"The greenhouse. Well, it's looking more like a jungle now, but it's the greenhouse. This is as close to outside as I can provide for you. You can see the sky, but a glass ceiling keeps you from getting out there. What do you think?"

"This… is… AWESOME!" Kaze shouted. "Even though it's not really outside, it's still AWESOME!!"

"Kumo?" Benedict looked down to the other chao.

Kumo grunted and pretended to fix his scarf. "I… guess it's okay… You're not bad for a human after all, Doctor Benedict…" He then flew off to catch up to his ecstatic sibling, leaving Benedict with a puzzled expression.

"Does this look like enough?" Mori asked as she and Graham exited a bakery with a large paper bag. "I mean, I know we couldn't get anything else but day-old bread, but…"

"It's gonna hafta work," Graham told her, carrying one of his own. "We can't exactly afford to eat like rich folks, ya know. How much we got left?"

"Uh... ten rolls for five rings… six! We got six left!"

"Took you that long to figure it out?"

"I'm in first grade! Well, if I was in school, anyway…" Mori's expression saddened.

"What's wrong now?" Graham asked irritably.

"I wish my mommy and daddy were still here. At least they don't give me funny looks like ev'rybody else does."

"Well, that's why we're all stickin' together. You, me, the others, and Kumo, we're gonna show the rest of this city that we're no different from anyone else, no matter how we look. Kumo says even the admins will hafta listen to us. So you don't need to sit there and sulk. Alright, Mori?"

The hedge-cat girl nodded, feeling more vibrant. "Yeah, okay. Thanks, Graham!"

"No problem. Now, come on, we'd better head back… This day-old bread isn't gonna eat itself!"

The dark chao opened his eyes. The first thing in front of him was the empty street where his two charges had left him. Groaning, he held his head. He had another dream again, of another past memory. How much time had passed? Kumo looked to the sky. It was still just as gray as ever.

Picking up his scythe, he decided to take a walk. Maybe if he just kept moving, the thoughts would flow more freely… maybe.

Walking among other people was something Kumo usually avoided when he was alone out of fear he may hurt them, but none of that was on his mind as he ventured down through the district. He passed by a hedgehog mother and her son looking at video games in a window. The little boy suddenly turned his head, catching sight of him.

"Whoa, cool!" he shouted. "Mama, look! Look at that chao!"

Kumo paused, staring in mild disbelief. 'Cool?'

Before the dark chao knew it, the boy had picked him up, scarf, scythe, and all, and was held out for his mother to see. "Doesn't this chao look cool, Mama? I wonder if this thing here is real? Can I keep it?"

Kumo tried to remain still, but his heart was beating too fast. Even he didn't allow Graham, Mori, or any of the others to just pick him up like this.

The mother stared right into his eyes and said, "Don't do that Jason. Put it down, it's getting really agitated."

"But can I keep it?"

"No, Jason. Let it go, you don't know where it's been. It probably got separated from its owner."

Kumo's hand firmly gripped his scythe. His nervousness and fear were starting to overwhelm him again…

But then the child turned him loose. "Oh, okay, I understand, Mama. I'm sorry little chao." The boy knelt down to Kumo's eye level to pet him. "I'd sure love to have a chao like you, though," he said happily.

Kumo was speechless. He could do nothing but stare as the mother said to her son, "Well, he seems sort of happy. You sure you don't want a new game?"

The boy shook his head as he turned at started to walk with his mother. "No. I think I would like a chao instead. A really cool one, too!"

Kumo continued to look on until the two disappeared into the crowd. He felt confused and bewildered. No one had ever done that before, picking up a strange chao like that. He was used to people in his world staring, as though he were some sort of rabid creature, avoiding him, or otherwise pretending he didn't exist. Of all the time he spent here, being noticed by someone other than the half-breed kids who found him was a first.

The dark chao shook his head. His mind was filling with questions, scenarios about what would have been different if he had completely lost his cool, if he had hurt that kid. Maybe, just maybe his sister would understand what he was going through. It wouldn't be like the time he tried to attack her because he thought she had turned her back on him. There was only one problem…

Where was she now?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trying to pick things up a bit here. Next chapter is still in the works.

"Say what?" Chibi Sonic stared at Kaze as though she'd said something outrageous.

"You heard me. Spill it, or I'll have your head hooked up to Mr. Harris' computer. He knows how to hack your electronic brain, you know."

"I only heard what you were sayin' to Sai today, I swear."

"And…?"

"That's it, seriously!" the robot pleaded. "That's the first time I actually heard somethin' worthwhile without Pikku chasin' me all over the place and electro--"

"So this wasn't the first time you snooped around me, CSR?! How could you!" Kaze wailed.

"How could you!" CSR shot back. "You're always sayin' that we gotta stick together with the good and bad, and yet once Mister Short-Dark-and-Evil decides to pay a visit, you hide in your room and mope about like a baby and start pushing your friends away!"

"You don't know how dangerous he is, Chibi Sonic," Kaze countered. "None of you do. I don't want to expose you to that!"

"Too late!" sang CSR. "Does giant robot incident that destroyed half the district and nearly killed us ring a bell, Chao?"

Kaze glared at him with clenched teeth before turning away and crossing her short arms. The ball floating over her head morphed to a swirl.

"Thank you kindly." Chibi Sonic bowed triumphantly.

"It still doesn't give you the right to eavesdrop," the chao muttered.

"But it means that you can't sit around here tellin' Sai all kinds of stuff and leavin' me and Pikku out the loop."

"FINE. You win."

The robot bowed again. "Thank you very much."

"Quit gloating."

"Not until you tell me one teensy thing about yourself," CSR replied, pointing at the chao.

"Don't push it," she told him sternly. "This doesn't mean anything's changed." She looked up to the sky, as though wondering something. "We've spent enough time out here. Let's go back home. I'm sure Saya and Pikku are waiting for us."

"Yeah, yeah, sure," CSR said. "Needs more sunlight out here."

"Chibi Sonic?"

"What is it, Kaze?"

"...Thanks… for sticking by me."

"Eh?" CSR "scratched" his head as though he were embarrassed. "Why're you gettin' all sentimental on me for, Kaze?"

Kaze climbed into the Chao Walker hastily, waving off the hedge-bot with one of its arms. "You know what? Can it. I can't say anything without you messing up everything."

The cockpit closed, and the mech started walking off, leaving CSR looking confused. "What was it that I said?! Kaze! Geez, you're such a weird chao!"

It didn't seem like the day was going to end, and yet, before Kumo and Kaze knew it, it had passed. They were both swimming in the fountain in the middle of the greenhouse when Benedict's looming figure obscured the orange skies.

Kumo climbed out and sat on the edge of the fountain, his green eyes staring right at the human's face. "We have to go now, don't we?"

"Sadly yes," Benedict replied. "This was a very productive day. To be able to study your kind in as close to a natural habitat as possible was the most incredible thing I've seen. You two are definitely much happier here."

"Brother, what is it?" Kaze piped up, emerging from beneath the surface of the water. "I thought we were gonna see how long we could hold our breath under…ah, Benedict, you're here."

"Come on out, Kaze, our play time's over," Kumo said to her.

"Aw, really? That's no fair."

"I'm sorry," Benedict said. "No worries, though. I do have one more thing I want to give the two of you."

Kumo's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

Kaze climbed out and shook herself off, splashing water on Kumo. "Yeah, what's going on?"

"You'll see. Come on this way, it's back in my quarters." Benedict turned and started to leave the greenhouse. Looking at each other for a moment before finally shrugging, the siblings flew after him, making sure they didn't fall behind.

"What do you think Benedict's got for us, Kumo? Is it something bad?"

"For once, I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see." Kumo's eyes caught sight of Benedict disappearing around a corner. "Hurry up or we'll get left behind," he said to Kaze. "Fly faster."

Kaze nodded, but then gasped and motioned ahead. Kumo turned around just to bump into something white and soft.

"You still strut around here like you're special, eh?" a gruff voice spoke, shoving the chao backwards into his sister. "The nerve of that man. Honestly…"

A pudgy, old balding man brushed off his white shirt and lab coat, as though they had something contagious. "… What does Thadeus think he's doing? Allowing science experiments to run around like pets… completely unheard of, it is. If I had my way you lot would be locked in cages, where you truly belong."

Kumo felt his anger rising. Sensing his change in demeanor, Kaze nudged him. "Come on, Brother, we don't have time to argue with Mister Marcoh. We have to catch up with Benedict."

"Right." He let Kaze fly ahead of him before turning back to the old man. "The only one who truly belongs in a cage is you, old man. Humans like you make me sick."

"Oh really? Don't be so quick to judge, subject C-1128-no that's not it-Kumo, you are called? The human you trust, your creator and teacher, Benedict, still hasn't told you everything. Remember what he has said to you about humans and treachery."

"Humans and treachery…"

Kumo rounded another street corner, crimson scarf flapping in the light wind. The memories were still floating around as he let his mind wander. "Humans and treachery," he murmured to himself softly. "Humans and treachery… they're all capable of it."

He looked up forlornly. He realized he was nearing a park up ahead, and spotted what looked like a large chao leaving it's front entrance… wait, a chao?

Kumo froze, rubbing his eyes. Do chao really become that large in this world… no, wait, it's not a chao…

After a moment, a diminutive figure, probably a robot, appeared and started following after the chao shaped thing. The dark chao recognized it immediately. It's that robotic hedgehog, one of Kaze's little friends. Then Kaze's in that thing right there…

Quickly, Kumo flew into the air towards one of the trees to hide himself, then edged closer, hovering from branch to branch to get a better look.

"…you're such a weird chao!" he caught the last few words of the robot's remark. He looked at the chao shaped thing, seeing it wave its arms, and realized it had to be some sort of mecha. He had never seen anything like it before. It was well made, indeed, far better than anything else he had seen so far. In the cockpit, he could see a bit of sky blue cloth.

"Kaze," he breathed.

At that moment, the hedgebot turned around, looking straight at his location in the branches. His metallic green eyes scanned the area, as though waiting for something to move. The dark chao dared not move, keeping very still in the branches.

"CSR? What are you doing back there?" Kaze's voice called out, sounding slightly metallic through the mech's speaker.

"Huh? Ah, nothin' really. I'll catch up in a split second."

The robot looked up to Kumo's location in the tree. "I know you're there, buddy. You may as well show yourself."

The dark chao emerged from the branches and descended to CSR's eye level. "I have underestimated you, robot," he said plainly.

"The name is Chibi Sonic Robo, CHAO." CSR pointed at himself with his thumb. "I could see your heat signature a mile away. You can't fool thermal scanners."

"I see." Kumo's eyes narrowed. "Whoever built you must have taken great care to integrate all that technology within your systems. Your parts must have been custom-made for high friction, because of your speed."

"You can tell, huh?" Chibi Sonic crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently. "Enough with the small talk, Scarf Thing. You were tryin' t' tail us so you could talk with Kaze, right? I got news for you; the last thing she wants to see now is you. She's had a lot to deal with since that stunt you pulled."

Kumo looked down at the ground; the way this robot was speaking to him, it was starting to make him upset. "Look," he said in as calm a voice as he could manage, "I'm sure I deserve it, but don't talk to me like you know any better. My sister is not the only one with 'a lot to deal with.'"

"Is that so?"

"You would not understand; you don't know our story."

"Whatever," CSR waved him off. "You'd better keep that low profile a little longer, though, if you know what's good for you… and your sis."

As the last few words etched themselves in Kumo's mind, Chibi Sonic turned about face and sped off. The dark chao looked on until the dust settled, and the tiny figures of the hedge-bot and Chao-shaped mecha disappeared into the distance. A twisted smile appeared on his face. "If I know what's good for me, eh? You're just like the pitiful creatures here. You think you know what's best when you know nothing at all…"

"… Nothing at all…"

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After some months of inactivity, mostly due to college, I finally found a bit of time to work on this again. Don't expect anything much. |D

-- Kaze