Never More
Death cradled him for nearly a month. His survival seemed bleak but still he continued to exist. Patience and silence were his only guide, leading him blindly through layers of vivid dreams painted on an endless canvas for which nothing could truly decribe. Colors full of life's warmth abandoned and abused scattered across his mind, flying and falling into a burning rage of fear, a graspless world.
"Why don't you wake up?" Meryl starred indifferently not really expecting any answer. "You've been asleep for four weeks now." As if he comprehended what she was saying but chose to ignore her, she went on,"You are very self centered, don't you know Vash is worried about you?" The clock's timeless ranting broke in, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. "Wake up!" The coals in her voice heated and the need to strike him had almost overpowered her judgement, she caught herself and briskly chortled at the silliness of it. The small woman leaned closer to size this uncontious fellow up. "If you do one more thing to hurt Vash, I swear I'll-- I'll-- well I don't know what I'll do but I can promise you it will be rash!" She finished her threat with a hmph and a victorious grin. His face contorted for the first time in several weeks causing meryl to resemble that of a dear in the headlights. He didn't stir much more than that but the crumpled scowl still lingered on his features. After assurring herself he hadn't awoken, she rebuilt her confidence with a fleeting manner but said nothing more to the ambiguous being. Tenaciously She stood and watched, his expression was that of annoyance but not with her, rather he seemed to be annoyed with himself. Only one question remained in her thoughts, What is he dreaming about?
The kitchen danced dimley on command of the table candle. Three bodies occupied the chairs of the table and sat in dead air. Occationally a fork or knife would tink and wine against porcelain plates followed by an awkward chewing also accompanied by the relentless crickets. Milly solemly smiled while vash refused to make eye contact. "What are you going to do with him?" Meryl wiped out the intoxicating hush. The false smile vanished from Milly's face and she filled her mouth with another bite of beef. Milly wanted nothing to do with that man, the tyrant who murdered her love. Vash steadily nawing the steak between his teeth trying to stall for a good answer, he woul've been grateful for even an okay answer.
He swallowed, "I'm not sure yet."
"Well get sure."
"What do you want me to do with him?"
"He's your brother! All I know is he's not staying here."
"What? Where am I suppose to put him?"
"He can stay until he's better, after that Milly and I don't ever want to see him again."
Vash cut himself off another piece of meat and tried his best to enjoy it. At that moment Meryl knew that Vash had mentally hung up on her.