Soul Eater but it's Sonic

Chapter 48

"Oh man," Sonic stopped running, then spared time for a couple of heavy breaths. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you. I was about to freak out," He took two more breaths. "I haven't gone crazy, have I? Please tell me you're real,"

Shadow spoke when Sonic began walking again.

"Sonic,"

The sternness of Shadow's tone made Sonic pause. He stared inquisitively at his weapon.

"What's wrong?"

"It's not safe for you to be around me,"

Sonic's expression became impatient. "Shadow, I'm fine. I'm more worried about you. Starline told me Eggman's planning to wipe your memory!"

"What?"

"Yeah, Eggman was angry that you wouldn't listen to him. He was going to wipe your memory and start over! They knew about the black blood too! After you were injured, they let us partner up again to draw Tikal's attention. They were using us as bait!"

Anger grew within Shadow throughout Sonic's explanation. The DWMA had practically encouraged him to corrupt Sonic over some witch hunt then decided to wipe out his mind.

"Scum..." Shadow looked back at the DWMA buildings looming over Death City with disgust. "I'll deal with Eggman later. You need to leave this town and go somewhere safe. There's something I have to do,"

"What's that?"

Shadow noticed the interest in Sonic's eyes and looked away. "No. I have to do this alone,"

"Come on, Shadow! I just found out Eggman was gonna wipe your memories and now you want me to just let you run off on your own? Are you really still worried about corrupting me?"

"Of course I'm worried. Mephiles showed up again. I was linking minds with Eclipse and he followed me there. He wants to corrupt you. I might have even endangered Eclipse,"

Sonic shook his head. "I know our last mission was crazy, but you brought me back from the darkness, or whatever. I'm fine, really. Just tell me what it is you need to do,"

After some reluctance, the weapon decided on speaking.

"I received a message from the witch Infinite. His real name is Zero and he told me that I met him 50 years ago," Shadow recalled. "He offered to help me try to get my memories back, or at least explain where I came from. I get that you want to help, but I'm not who you think I am, Sonic. I could be anyone; even a monster,"

Sonic crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Sheesh, you're looking good for an old guy,"

Shadow's face burned, then he scoffed. "This is serious,"

"You're right, this is serious. All of this is. Everything is falling apart, so let's stick together. Can you even trust this guy?"

"I don't trust him much, but he did reveal a fraction of my past," Shadow hesitated, and felt his mind burdened again. "He showed me an image of someone I almost recognized. He also told me that the DWMA created me. With what you've said about Eggman's intentions, I trust Zero more than anyone at the DWMA. I'm going to meet with him so I can find out the rest. Alone,"

"It's too risky. He worked with Tikal. She might still be after us,"

"I know. I'm prepared to take that risk. But if you come with me, you'll be facing that plus the risk of becoming corrupted. I can't let you come with,"

Sonic stepped forward defiantly. "Yes, you can. Being a meister has always been dangerous. I'm prepared too,"

"No!" Shadow snapped.

Sonic glared at his weapon with befuddlement. "Why not?"

"Because you have to live!"

Silence surrounded the two. Sonic was stunned by how burdened Shadow sounded. He waited for his weapon to speak again.

"Back in the crypt I didn't really care about everything else going on. We charged in recklessly and risked our lives. I was happy. We were..."

Shadow fidgeted in place.

"Then, I thought I corrupted you. I woke up, and thought something horrible happened to you. If you're really okay, great. But I regret being so reckless. I won't do that again,"

Sonic's demeanor softened. "I know you're just looking out for me. You're always risking your life to protect me. But why won't you let me do the same for you?"

Shadow's confidence returned. "Because, you had a life before we met. I had nothing. After all this time, I still don't know what I am. But I do know that you're a good person who can help the world. Someone like you can't be allowed to risk dying because of someone like me. You've already helped me more than I deserve.

"Don't say that. You're gonna get yourself killed!"

"At least if I end up dying, it won't matter. Nothing will change. It'll be like I never existed,"

Anger twisted Sonic's expression and raised his voice. "You know that's not true! You've had almost two years to make a life for yourself. You've made friends, too! You even saved Eclipse. No one else would have done that, they would have just killed him!"

Shadow shook his head. "All I did for Eclipse was get him locked up alongside me. I have no idea if I can help him. The others barely know me. They only tolerated me because they're your friends,"

Sonic avoided thinking about his current frustrations with his friends. He was bothered by how they seemed to give up on Shadow so easily, but he wasn't faltering.

"Even if all of that is true, you're still wrong. What about me? We've overcome so much together. All I've been doing lately is trying to find out if you're okay! You know I'd miss you, Shadow; I don't want you to die!"

Sadness weighed heavily on Shadow as he processed what his meister said. Sonic always saw through him and surpassed his expectations. It didn't change anything, though. It only strengthened his resolve.

"I'm sorry, Sonic,"

Sonic watched Shadow glance toward an alleyway nearby. Fear and disbelief filled his body once he understood his weapon's intentions.

Shadow ran.