~Chapter one~

A small blonde girl trotted calmly through the marketplace. She clutched a small satchel under her arm, which was heavy with coin. She smiled, knowing her brother would be proud with her when she arrived home. She set off down the street in the direction of their house.

Her breath clouded around her face as she dug through her satchel for her key. The cold air found its way through her thin green cloak. Her cheeks were red with the cold, and the rest of her skin as pale as the snow. She finally fished the key out of her satchel, and hurriedly opened the door. She pulled off her cloak and her satchel, hanging them up. She happened to notice her brother's dark blue cloak hanging up on the pegs. She smiled.

"Vash?"

"In here, Lily." The gruff voice of Vash, her adoptive brother, echoed from the kitchen, along with the crackle of the fire he had started in the fireplace. Lily flexed her frozen fingers, imagining curling up against Vash's side and warming up.

Lily smiled at the thought, untieing the laces on her boots and taking them off, pulling her stockings up. She carefully adjusted her blouse before she came into the kitchen behind Vash. He was cleaning off one of his knives. Lily reconginsed from the details it was his favorite hunting knife that he ususally always had strapped to his thigh. He sheathed it as she approached, looking up at the small girl.

"Do you miss your long hair?" He asked simply after quickly observing her. He still hadn't gotten over the fact that she had sheared it short like his. She looked so... different, now. She used to have long braids that reached her waist.

Lily shrugged softly, blinking her bright green eyes. "I like having my hair like yours. I think it's very nice..." She clasped a small lock of her soft, golden hair inbetween two of her fingers, twirling it absentmindedly as she looked down at her adoptive brother. His forehead was moistened with sweat from the heat of the fire.

Vash turned back to his knife, unsheathing it again and running his finger along the blade. "That stupid bard, Francis, he didn't... flirt with you today?" He quickly changed the subject, wanting to assure himself that the people he disapproved of, nearly everyone, kept their distance from his sweet, dear Lily.

Lily shook her head. "No, he kept his distance. I think you scared him a bit when you held the knife to his throat." Lily sat down on the bench infront of the fireplace beside Vash, resting her head gently on his shoulder. Her eyes fluttered softy. She was clearly exhausted.

Vash's cheeks heated up a bit with her slight touch. He sighed slowly and happily, a rare smile coming to his soft lips. He felt her cold hand rest overtop of his, and a light shiver ran up his spine.

"...And the witch, Arthur... he kept his distance too, right?" Vash closed his emerald eyes contentedly.

"Yes Vash, he knows to keep his distance. But he's not a witch... he's a battlemage. He knows lots of magic. He's helpful... I wish he could teach me."

Vash chuckled. "How about we go visit him tomorrow, see if he could teach you a bit? I know we have enough money to pay him if he could teach you."

Lily cringed. "I thought we where going hunting tomorrow?" She looked up at him worriedly, hoping their hunting day hadn't been put off. She loved hunting with her brother. He had taught her how to use a bow, and she was quite good at it.

Vash thought for a moment. "Aye. I nearly forgot about that." He smiled, opening his eyes. "We'll visit him another day, then." He smiled, sheathing his knife again and tossing it onto the counter. He sighed softly, glancing at Lily.

She nodded, blinking her eyes softly again. The tiny blonde's eyes closed again, reopening a few seconds later.

Vash chuckled softly. It was a rare thing to hear laughter from Vash. Lily loved it. She closed her eyes again, falling asleep against her brother's shoulder.

"Goodnight, Lily." Vash whispered quietly, not wanting to wake her. He scooped her into his strong arms. She was easy to carry and light. He brought her to their bedroom, setting her down gently on the bed. He curled up beside her under the warm blankets, and was soon lulled into sleep by her peaceful breathing.