A/N: Yeah, Rurouni Kenshin and all those great sword-fighting shows got to my head. If you don't like swords and sword-fights, then I suggest you don't read. Meh, don't worry. It's still all about da Trigun. I'm not trying to change any of the characters. I'm just throwing them in my little twisted plot.

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Trigun. All I own are the little characters I made up.



***

She stormed out of the house, wiping her eyes. "Stupid Vash..." she muttered. She walked briskly through the town, cursing incoherently. She paused before a saloon, and after contemplating for a minute, she stepped inside.

A few men smiled as she walked to the bar and sat on a stool. She sighed as she heard whispers behind her. The bartender approached, wiping a glass with a squalid cloth. He was scrawny man. "What'll it be, missy?" he asked in a gruff voice.

"A small glass of something light. Nothing too alcoholic," she waved her hand for him to hurry. She buried her head in her arms and moaned. It was completely unlike her to divulge in alcohol. He really screwed up this time.

"She looks good. I think she'd be perfect," a man behind her whispered.

"We have to see how well she can put up a fight," she heard another man whisper.

"She's a woman! Damnit, didn't he want a man?" A third man whispered stubbornly.

"No, all he said was someone worthy," the first man stated curtly.

"You take one look, and you think she's good enough? That's ludicrous!" The third man cried in a hoarse whisper.

"It's a prognosticative feeling. After working with him much longer than you have, I should think that my instinct is superior. Besides, it's not like we've had any luck so far. Why not give her a try?" The first man sipped his drink.

"Well, Mr. Conceited, why should we bother wasting our time with her? I'm telling you, she doesn't look too promising," the third man resumed a quieter air.

"Just because she's a woman?" The first man set down his glass.

"No, I mean... well, kinda..."

"It must be a woman." The first man leaned back.

"Why!?"

"You agree that the master has been good with us?" The first man continued.

"Yeah."

"You remember that he said that this will be his last pupil?"

"Yeah."

"You know that he's only twenty-seven?"

"Yeah."

"You agree that he deserves the best?"

"Yeah."

"You know why it's his last pupil?"

"Didn't he say that he wanted to spend the rest of his life finding himself or whatever?"

"Exactly. And that would render him alone."

"Yeah. So?"

"Think about it."

The third man paused, rubbing his chin. "Okay, fine. It has to be a woman. But why that woman?"

"I heard she travels with Vash the Stampede." The second man spoke quietly.

"Just because of that she's good enough?"

"Most girls run in pure fear at his name." The first man crossed his legs.

"How do you know that all she does in traveling with him isn't cleaning and cooking?"

"Well, I guess we'll find out."

"How?"

"We'll test her."

They approached. The first man, wearing a strange garment that was one of those ancient Japanese robes, grabbed the nearest stool and plopped himself on it. "How you doin'?" he smiled. He motioned for the other men to resume their original places.

Meryl groaned, "Leave me alone."

"Aw, bad day?"

"You have no idea," she muttered.

"What's a mighty fine girl like you worrying your pretty little head about?" He scooted closer.

"Leave me alone."

"How about talking about it over lunch? You and me."

"No," she answered in a muffled voice.

"At least let me buy you a drink"

"I've already ordered."

The man smiled. He leaned over to the bartender. "Give her a Vodka or something. You know, anything strong," he whispered.

The bartender was about to protest when the man continued, "You get her going, she's gonna want more. Cha-ching." The bartender sighed and handed the man a bottle and a glass.

"Here's your order, miss," the man set the glass in front of Meryl and poured.

Meryl lifted her head and sniffed the glass. "I'm not an idiot. This isn't what I ordered."

The man laughed, "Of course it is! If you don't trust me, just ask the bartender over there."

Meryl looked in disbelief at the bartender who in turn laughed nervously and nodded his head. "It's what you ordered," the bartender scratched the back of his head and smiled.

"Excuse me for a moment," the man in the robes walked to the other two men. "Prudence-'A'," he whispered and perambulated back to Meryl.

Meryl wrinkled her nose and lifted the glass. She took a small sip and stared in amusement. She took another sip, and then another. She consumed the rest of the glass as she tilted her head back eagerly. She shook her head violently and slammed the glass on the table. "Another round," she demanded.

The man poured another cup, and she finished it in the same manner as she had in the latter drinking of the previous glass. She continued to demand more glasses, and she continued to divulge. Three bottles were eventually emptied, and Meryl was eventually intoxicated. She stood up in a wobbly fashion. The man next to her smiled, "Now that you're in the ideal state of mind, how does lunch sound to you?"

The third man was discernibly befuddled at his comrade's persistence on a date with the girl and mouthed a, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" The first man smiled and mouthed for him to shut up.

Meryl stared at him in a confused manner for a second, but then laughed hysterically. "Bastard, you were the one- you got me drunk. You think I'd go with you to lunch?" She laughed and fumbled out of the bar. The man followed her. He gently lay a hand on her buttocks when she smacked him with one of her derringers. He was sent sprawling across the floor. He held his bleeding jaw and muttered to his comrades, "Strength-A." The third man smirked, "Not only has she got strength, she's got character and independence."

She smiled in amusement, "Loser."

The man stood up and took a step towards her.

She held up a gun. "Wanna play?"

The man smiled and held up his hands in peace. "Why, I'd never fight a lady!"

"Only if the lady can't kick your ass."

"Well, if you feel so confident, I'm up for a quick-draw. Only thing is, I don't have a gun. I just have a sword."

Meryl smiled. "Alright then, I'll give you the first move to be fair."

"What are the stakes?"

"Your lives!" A man shouted from the slowly growing crowd. In response, the crowd cheered to spur on the fight.

Meryl nodded her head and the two stood back to back. Room was cleared as each took steps away from the other. Augurous clouds hid the sun for a brief moment while the man took a deep breath, and Meryl's lips curved into a slight smile. As light shone once again, the two turned around abruptly. The man drew his sword and ran towards her at a tremendous velocity. He slit her arms in three places. Feeling satisfied with the move, he dropped back. Meryl drew out two derringers and fired one. Her dodged the projectile with an amazing agility. She fired the other gun with a greater accuracy. The man swung his sword at it and cut the bullet in two.

Meryl gasped inwardly and staggered back slightly. She drew out two more derringers, not likely to give up. The man once again speeded towards her and slashed at her side with two cuts. She held her wounds in pain as she fell to her knees. The man stood behind her. Was she good enough? He was doubtful. He had to kill her; that was the deal. "You weren't as good as I had thought." He looked at the trembling body before him. "You were right. I guess we're back on the search," he called to the other two men. Meryl pounded the ground in frustration. "This isn't over yet!"

"What? Can't admit defeat? That's pathetic." The man smirked. "Determination-A."

"What the hell are you judging me for? I haven't been oblivious to your little comments."

"Make your move." Th man said calmly.

Meryl gripped her guns. If she shot one to the left, and one to the right almost simultaneously, then perhaps he couldn't dodge the projectiles. She held up one gun and fired. Quickly discarding it, she fired her other gun only an instant later.

As the thin fog of smoke cleared, the man was still standing. "No more games, how about we attack at will?" He shouted.

Meryl smiled. Perfect. She nodded and drew a derringer, and the man instantly charged at her. As he was about to impale her stomach, she shot him.

The sword fell out of his hands, and he dropped to the ground. Her eyes widened as she snapped out of her drunken daze. The crowd cheered loudly and a few random men patted her on the back. "I-I just killed him..." she whispered in tears. She put her face in her hands. "I never should ordered that stupid drink." She screamed in tears. The man in the robes looked up at her sobbing figure and closed his eyes.

With a nod of approval, he threw her a wooden scabbard. She looked down at his smiling countenance, and picked up the sheath. Some strange characters were inscribed on it. She was about to speak when the man collapsed into a lifeless heap. She stared in disbelief and confusion. She then stood up clumsily and ran away. The fallen man's comrades chased after her.

As she ran through the town, she felt her wounds sting with an intense pain. She hoped that maybe she would die because of them. She leaned on the nearest building for support as the two men from the bar cornered her.

"What do you want!?" She screamed.

"You killed him," one man shouted. "You fucking killed him!!!"

Meryl cried audibly. "I know..." she whispered. "And if you want to get revenge, then I'm not going to protest. I did a horrible thing."

"As much as we want to, we can't." The second man said quietly. "He apparently chose you, and we're going to respect his decision."

"Chose me for what?"

"Meryl?" A familiar voice called.

Meryl felt her body tense as she saw his figure. "Vash?"

"A crowd told me you were in a some sort of fight and that you," he paused. "That you killed someone." Vash looked at her sadly. "What happened?"

Meryl was about to answer when the first man cut her off. "Yeah, she fucking killed someone. She killed my brother!" He drew a knife and charged at her. Vash scrambled to hold him back, "Tell me what happened," Vash demanded quietly. The man under Vash's grasp drew a gun from his coat and fired. Vash dodged it and gripped him tighter. The other man drew his gun and whispered quickly to Meryl, "There's a temple in Malaise Desert. A man with red hair and eyes will be waiting. Show him the scabbard." Both men started firing at Vash, causing him to release the other man and draw his gun. Meryl, confused and angry, took the opportunity to run.

"Meryl, wait!" Vash called as he knocked the second man unconscious.

"Damnit, stop wasting my time! I'm after the girl!" The first man shouted as he chased after her. Vash followed in quick pursuit to try to counteract anything stupid that the man might do.

Meryl heard the shouts of curses and pleas behind her and turned into an alley. Her vision blurring greatly, she walked along the alley leaning on the wall. She fell on the ground clutching the scabbard. It was a dead end. The entire day had been hell and complete confusion.

Suddenly, she heard rustling and felt a slight gust. Looking up, she saw a flash of red hair and piercing crimson eyes. Losing her senses and deludingly hopeful, she slid the scabbard to his feet. She saw the figure bend to pick it up when she lost all consciousness.

The man with red hair examined the scabbard, fingering the carvings. He looked at the girl before his feet. She lay battered and bleeding, and yet she was entirely beautiful: "like an angel from hell, or a devil from paradise."* He picked her up and looked over her wounds. "Tamoe..." he muttered. He jumped to the top of the building and looked down upon two approaching figures.

"Meryl!" The one in red called. "What the hell did you do with her!?"

The other bowed, saying, "Master."

"Kamui, where is Tamoe and Hideki?" The man on the building spoke in a stoic voice.

"Tamoe: he is dead. That damned woman you're holding-"

"I know, Kamui. I know what she did. Where is Hideki?"

Kamui pointed at Vash. "That idiot knocked him out."

"Alright."

"Master, Tamoe is dead!!"

"He knew that the point of his last mission was to find a replacement. If she didn't kill him, which was part of the plan, I would have."

"Master! What are you talking about!?"

"Tamoe volunteered to die. Didn't he tell you? He had served his purpose, and-"

"You let him die!? Bastard!!!" Kamui jumped onto the building and drew his sword.

The man with red hair set down the girl and drew his sword. It was pure black and quite long. As Kamui charged at him, he simply impaled the sword in Kamui's stomach, pulled it out, and put it back in its sheath. He picked the girl up again and started off.

"Wait!" Vash appeared on the roof, breathing heavily. "Why did you kill him, and what the hell are you doing with her!?"

"He's not dead. This sword cannot kill. As for the girl, she is no longer your business." Before Vash could react, a flash of black overwhelmed him, and he crumpled to the ground unconscious.

***

Meryl dipped her toe in the cool pond. It had been three years. Three long years of training and pain. But now she was as strong as any man and an expert with the sword. She sighed and looked around. It was a one-level home, like one of those ancient Japanese ones. It was wooden and structured to surround the tranquil pool and plants in the center. Out of nowhere in the desert was this paradise; this living Eden.

He had been wonderful; he was a true sensei. He was harsh, yet he was successful in his efforts. He was usually stoic and calloused, but once in a while she could see his inside. He was still nameless, and only known as "Master". Meryl wasn't too sure, but she had a hunch she liked him.

Kamui and Hideki never returned to the temple but instead started their own training camp. So, it was just her and her master.

"Meryl," he walked up to her.

"Yes?"

"I have an errand for you to run. Go into the nearest town and see if you can't find some new guns."

"Guns? Why would we need those kinds of things?"

"Just do it."

"You're not coming?"

"I feel a little," he paused. "A little sick."

"Master! Why didn't you say so? Don't worry, I'll take care of you. Now, does your head hurt, or is it your stomach? Well, whatever it is, you need to go straight to bed, and-"

He put his hand up to silence her. "I need to be alone. Please run the errand." He closed his eyes. If she didn't leave, it would happen again, and she would be hurt.

"Why do you always make me leave when you need help, or at least company!?"

"Meryl, the illness comes and passes. It is not hindered nor inhibited," he looked at her sternly. "It's not an ordinary illness. You will get hurt if you stay."

"No! No, no, no, no. Stop being so obstinate! I'll take you to the doctor, there's bound to be some kind of medicine that will help."

"I will go to a man that I know has the sole power to placate it. I want you to go into town. I promise, I'll meet you here by dawn."

"It is dawn!"

"Tomorrow's dawn."

"Yes, Master." Meryl grumbled, bowed and grabbed her sword. Upon opening the door, she looked back at him with an incredulous look. He nodded to finalize his decision. She sighed and began the walk to town.

"New guns, some strange illness. Nope, I am not seeing this as a good augury," Meryl muttered.

The suns streamed down rays of heat. The sand burned with an invisible flame; it seemed like forever before she reached the outskirts of town.

As she walked down the dusty streets, she received many different looks. Perhaps it was the weird robe and hakama pants she wore. Or perhaps... A few men wolf whistled and smiled as she walked through. She heard shouts of admiration. Yep, she was being checked out by the men of the town. "Pigs," she muttered. "After three years of training..." she wondered. "Do I really look that different?" Maybe. She stepped into a blacksmith shop. "With this body I could wear yellow hot pants and suspenders!" She laughed.

"Yeah, I'd like that!" A man's voice rang from behind her.

"Psh, I wouldn't be caught dead-" She turned around and met a pair of friendly aqua orbs. "V-Vash...?" She took a step back.

He scanned her figure wide-eyed. "Wow...Meryl..." he paused. "You're beautiful."








*Okay, all you rabid Bebop fans should know this quote. Just in case you don't, Faye said it while describing Julia in The Real Folk Blues Part II. There's also another reference to Faye. You're all smart; figure it out.