AN: wow! It's a trigun fic…as if I didn't have enough projects running already… I will get back to my gw fics soon… i promise…no really…oh yeah standard disclaimers apply…this is my first trigun fic…be nice..^.^; and enjoy!!
Love of the Immortal
By Miaka Mouse
Prologue
The heat of two suns glared upon the endless desert lands of a god-forsaken planet. The wind whistled through pane-less windows of stone houses; reminding the populace of its vulnerability. Nothing could protect them from the sharp gusts of hot air, or the naked barrenness of the parched land. Within these stone-villages a barren heart lay bleeding, a final offering from a fatal wound. That this heart lay inside the breast of an immortal was only a testament to its suffering.
Stranger still, Vash did not find it any harder to smile. So he did, winking playfully at the bridesmaids and joking playfully at the groom. It was expected, after all; he was the best man.
The only moments when the muffled cries of his broken heart could escape were when he would happen to catch sight of the glowing bride. His eyes would suddenly grow blank, as if he could see nothing but her blushing face. His expression remained in place however, as jubilant as ever. She would return his cheerful, albeit empty smiles, warmly and Vash would turn away abruptly. He felt as if he would crumble under the weight of her pleasantly curved lips, a declaration of her happiness. A happiness that did not include him.
He took a long gulp of champagne and looked around, only to have the groom look him in the eye knowingly. Vash looked away, guiltily. John was a good friend, as well as brother to the maid-of-honor; a woman who was now elbowing him in the side rather forcefully.
"Hey Milly," he grinned at her, "if you keep that up, you'll have to give me a kidney." She looked at him with a somewhat blank expression before resuming her violent ministrations, this time shoving his arm.
"Stand up. You have to give your toast now."
"Aah...right," finally understanding, to his relief, that the groom was merely signaling him to start his speech, not accusing him of coveting his new bride.
Vash stood up with a flourish and tapped his water glass to get everyone's attention. He cleared his throat in a desperate attempt to push away the lump that had been growing there since the exchange of vows, to no avail. But of course, he disguised it well. "Ok. It's my turn to speak now people—er, honored guests," he gave a mock bow. "Eh-heh, so before I make a fool of myself…"
"Too late!" a voice called from the back of the room. Vash grimaced winningly, before grinning and putting his two fingers up in a peace sign. "You two deserve all the happiness in the world. May your life be filled with PEACE and LOVE!!" Laughter filtered through the audience as they all raised their glasses.
"To the bride and groom!" came their roaring toast. Vash whispered his own toast as he raised his glass.
"To John and…" he glanced once more at the bride before taking a long swallow of champagne. "…Meryl."