A Child's Guardian gift Fic

It was a peaceful place, this hill. It was so secluded, almost like it existed in dreams. He was sitting, letting the calm breezes of late spring dance over his face. He could feel that breeze slip through his fur down to his very skin, a cool quiet touch to ease the sense of feeling. He slowly inhaled, then exhaled. It was a rare feeling, this relaxation. He hardly ever let it steal over him. It wasn't in his nature to let his guard drop, to simply let go of the tension, the trials, and the pains of life. At least, it usually wasn't.

She snuffled a bit, stirring against him. He looked down at her, with somewhat detached surprise. He had almost forgotten she was there. She was so quiet when she slept. His black eyelids came down over his eyes as he watched her, examined her, thought of her.

Somehow, he couldn't remember how she had fallen asleep against him; she just had. That was part of the problem. The trivial details should be forgotten while the important were remembered. But the important details were forgotten and the trivial...remembered. Were they trivial? He couldn't tell. That was the affect this girl had, annoying, but interesting in its own way. When had she come again? And what...led up to this point? Nothing came to mind.

Sitting there, in his arms, she looked like a child. No, she looked like a doll, small and vulnerable; a fragile figure that had taken on a life of its own. Her virgin face was reflected in his ruby eyes, clear and untroubled. Life. Life was a nightmare, and he himself had borne the brunt of its weight. But this girl...

She danced through this life without a care, as if her soul was protected by her porcelain innocence. How could she? She was so small, so breakable. One well placed blow would make her shatter.

Was that why having her here, so close, did not bother him? Because he was strong, physically, and she was not?

It wasn't until it moved that he realized he was holding her hand. How could her fist be so tiny? It easily fit into his palm, symbolizing the strange and unique connection that had somehow been formed between them. His hands could create destruction, control chaos, and crush armies.

Her hands could create his peace, control his emotions, and crush the darkness the plagued him.

It wasn't until it opened that he could feel her mouth against his cheek. Her breath warmed his skin. Not too long ago, something like this would send him reeling away from her, shutting himself off from her, never allowing something so close. So when had it ceased to matter?

It must've been then.

It must've been when he'd decided, without her knowledge, to be her guardian. Her influence may have been large and powerful, but as herself, she was defenseless. This thought never left him, even when she long had. And so, without conscious thought, he'd taken upon himself to protect her.

He'd forgotten the passing time. The sky was painted in crimson flames from the setting sun, reflecting in his eyes like the wrathful burning of a dark angel as, after many hours, they lifted away from the face of Amy Rose and stared off into space.

No, there were many things he didn't remember. But for Shadow, holding this girl was enough to know for the evening.