Chapter 1: Mysterious Calling
4 months after the fight with Kaijin
Vash looked out the window and a cup of coffee was placed in front of him.
" I bet you're a father to be," a soft voice said
Vash looked up at the nurse, who smiled.
" Yeah, guess I give off that face," Vash said
The nurse smiled and sat down.
" Don't worry the 7 months check up is always the worst for father's to be," the nurse said, " I see it all the time."
" I guess I don't know what to expect," Vash said
" First child, then you have your work cut out for you," The nurse said
The nurse got up and walked over to some other waiting members of other patients. Vash sighed and leaned back and put his hands behind his head.
" It's strange to say that I'm going to be a father in 2 months. I guess it was only time….it's a little scary," he thought
Meryl walked out and handed the nurse her file. Vash stood up and stood up straight and she walked over to him. He looked at her and a smile caught his lips and she placed her hand on her stomach.
" The baby is doing ok," Meryl said
" You said baby as in one," Vash said, " Not twins."
" Vash, we've been over this," Meryl said, " It might have been in the future, but it doesn't mean it's true."
Meryl grabbed his hand as they walked out and Vash sighed.
" Vash, I've been thinking, we need to start to really preparing for this baby," Meryl said
" I agree," Vash said
Vash and Meryl walked to the house and walked inside, it was nearly noon so they were a bit hungry. Millie hadn't come home from her day shift so it was just Meryl and Vash. They looked at Meryl's old room and Meryl sighed, she looked at Vash.
" We can put the baby in this room," Meryl said
" Why don't we just keep the baby in our room. That way we're closer and not to far," Vash said wrapping his arms around Meryl
Meryl smiled and put her arms around him.
" Ok," Meryl said, " I know you're worried."
" Of course I am," Vash said
Vash kissed Meryl's cheek, then he walked off. Meryl shook her head and placed her hand on her stomach. She then walked off to the kitchen and helped prepare lunch.
" Vash, do you want a boy or a girl?" Meryl asked
Vash looked at her and gave a smile.
" I'm not really sure what I want," Vash replied, " I guess I just am happy that its our child."
Vash smiled at Meryl as she gave him a soft look.
" Oh, Vash," Meryl said
She placed her hand on her stomach and the baby kicked. She smiled and giggled a little and Vash looked over his shoulder.
" Come here Vash come feel the baby kick," Meryl said
Vash walked over to her and placed his hand on her stomach. The baby kicked and Vash smiled, then it was as if the baby seemed to put it's hand up to Vash's. Vash slightly gasped a little and Meryl looked at him.
" What is it Vash?" she asked
" I can feel the baby's hand, it's as though it knows that I'm here," Vash said
Meryl looked at him as he knelt down and gently rested his head on Meryl's stomach. She smiled and stroked his head with her hand.
" Oh, Vash, I think this child is bringing you to life," Meryl said, " That or your bringing it to life."
Vash smiled and wrapped his arms around Meryl's waist. He smiled, feeling the warmth of her body, but the feeling that the child already knew who he was.
" Only two months and I'll be able to hold you in my arms," Vash thought, " Can you wait to meet me?"
Knives looked out the window and the door cracked open. He looked over and saw Karen walk in. She gave a bow and walked forward towards him holding her apron.
" Karen," he said
She smiled and walked over to and embraced him. He looked at her strangely as she did so. She looked up at him and kissed him on the lips, then grabbed his hands.
" Knives, please come out, you need fresh air," Karen said
" I'm perfectly fine here," Knives replied
Karen frowned and looked down away from him. He looked at her and lifted her chin up to meet his eyes.
" What is it?" he asked, " Why do you look away?"
" I'm afraid," she whispered
" Afraid?" he questioned
" I'm afraid for our future," Karen said
Knives looked at her trying to find what was wrong, she was afraid of something. What was it thought?
" I can see that you want to tell me something, " What is it then?"
" I'm….I'm…I'm pregnant," Karen answered
" What?" Knives said
Karen looked up at him and said, " It's yours, this child is yours."
" How do you know?" Knives said
" You're the only one I've been with," Karen said
She began to cry and Knives just stared at her. He then began to embrace her in his arms. He sighed wondering what he would do now, the future had changed. Karen was pregnant with his child. He couldn't grasp power until the child and its mother was far from danger. He decided then that he would take this woman as his own, his wife. This human would be his own permanently. Knives sat down and stared at the woman, she didn't look different so how did she know she was? He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, she stumbled forward and he caught her.
" Knives, I'm sorry," she cried
" Don't be," Knives replied, " Now I can take you as my own and no one else can claim you."
Karen looked at him and said, " You mean, your going to marry me?"
She embraced him and stroked his head as he laid his head just below her shoulder. Knives pulled her close to her, he would delay his plans in retrieving his foolish brother to create the Angel arm that increased in power. He could already felt the power coursing through his veins. Karen looked up and knelt down before him and laid her head in his lap as he sat there. Her long blonde hair laid out over her shoulders and Knives placed his hand on her head. He stroked her head with his hand and then leaned over and kissed her head just above her ear.
" I'll take care of you," Knives whispered
Later that after noon Vash walked with Meryl to the local store to get a few things. The people kindly helped out seeing that Meryl and Vash hardly knew what they were looking for.
" Oh, here you, this is what you need for the first two months," the store owner said, " You'll probably need lots of formula."
Meryl smiled and looked at Vash then as they checked out the owner mentioned something about Knives.
" Vash, is your brother well?" the owner said, " After what happened four months ago."
" He's fine, he's on his feet again" Vash said
" He's got quite a life with that young Karen, she's very fawned of him," the owner said
" Well, then there's hope," Vash said with a smile
Meryl paid and then they head back, Millie came out the house and helped them with the groceries.
" Meryl, Mr. Vash I'm so glad to see you two, I've heard some news about your brother," Millie said
" What about him?" Vash asked
" He and Ms. Karen are going to have a baby," Millie said
" What!" Vash and Meryl exclaimed
" Isn't that exciting!" Millie said
Meryl looked at Vash and said, " Do you think he's using her for that reason only."
" No, Knives wouldn't even think about that. He hates humans," Vash said
" But we saw him sleeping with her, they were holding each other like lovers. Vash they've been getting a little friendly for their own good," Meryl said
Millie looked at Meryl and Vash as they argued. Millie sighed as she kept the other news to herself about Knives.
That night Vash showered and Meryl prepared the bed, then showered after Vash. She looked at Vash as he stared at her, she then walked over to him and he kissed her.
" I never felt so happy," Vash said, " This child's already bringing joy into our lives."
" Yes," Meryl replied
Vash knelt down and kissed Meryl's stomach and felt the child respond. Meryl smiled and placed her hand on her stomach.
" I want a girl," Meryl said, " A beautiful baby girl."
" Then that's what I want too, because I want to protect you both from harm, both my beautiful girls," Vash whispered
The next morning Vash walked to where Knives' was staying. He walked in and saw Knives sitting there staring out the window.
" Have you found what your looking for?" Vash asked
" It's still lost," Knives replied
Vash sat down and looked at Knives as he turned to looked at him. Karen came in with groceries and put them away. She sighed and walked out and sat on the porch, while they talked. Vash glanced to his left to see the young woman sitting there.
" Why are you here? To care for me? Make sure I'm a good boy so no one will come to kill me?" Knives asked, " I've been here for 7 months."
" I've been here as long. What do you want me to do about it Knives?" Vash asked
" Get me the hell out of here," Knives growled
" No," Vash said, " Try to actually make a life instead of being lazy."
Knives laughed and Vash looked at him with narrowed eyes.
" You can work and actually be someone who has changed. You know support the child that's coming into this world," Vash said
Knives looked at him and said, " How did you know about that?"
" It's all over town," Vash said
Knives leaned back in the chair and folded his arms.
" How far along is she?" Vash asked
" I don't know," Knives said, " I know this though, that this child will be a new race."
" Human and plant I know," Vash said, " Kaijin's dream is coming alive."
" You don't seem to have a problem with it," Knives remarked
" I do have a problem with it," Vash growled, " That race should never exist."
Knives smiled and then stood up and turned his back to Vash.
" Tell that woman you call your wife that," Knives said, " Tell that woman there. It's too late Vash, it starts and the plants that Kaijin has created have already started to awaken. In two months they will awaken."
Knives turned around and balled up his fist.
" It's all your fault," Knives said
" Mine," Vash said
" We need to destroy half of them," Knives growled
" We're not destroying any, we're going to deal with this as it comes. We can't control everything," Vash stated
" Do you realize that those plants know only one thing, they don't have free will like we do, Kaijin made them without free will," Knives said
" He's dead thanks to you, we can't control them," Vash said, " If there were remains left of his idea it would be easier to deal with."
Knives shook his head and looked at Karen as she sat there. She was enjoying the fresh air and the sun shine. He placed his hand on the window and leaned his head against the glass.
" You do care about her," Vash stated, " Why else would you still be hesitating."
" I don't hesitate," Knives growled
" You just did," Vash said, " Try getting married sometime before the baby's birth, it would make things a hell of a lot easier."
Vash walked off and Knives narrowed his eyes.
" He doesn't know what I think or feel," Knives thought
1 month later
Vash watched as the days were numbered until the child would be born. He wanted this child to have a normal life, not to be special in anyway. A new problem a rose each time a day ended. Knives had a point though, Kaijin's plants only know only one thing, to start a new race. It would be chaos and Vash couldn't let that happen. He had to stop it and he knew nothing on how to.
" It was a mistake," Vash thought, " Kaijin should have never tried to do something so stupid."
Meryl walked into the room and saw Vash sitting on the windowsill. She sighed and turned around and walked out. She leaned against the wall and wondered why Vash was worried so much. He hadn't been himself since his last visit with Knives.
" I can't just ask him," Meryl thought
She walked off and made breakfast, she then sat down and waited for Vash.
" Oh, Vash why are you so distant?" she wondered
Vash walked out and she looked up at him, she slightly gasped seeing he wore the black suit.
" Vash," she said
" I'm going to find some answers, I'll be back before sunset," Vash said
" Let me come with you," Meryl said, " Please, I want to."
" No, you need to rest," Vash said
Meryl looked down and away from him, but then she felt his arms wrap around her. He kissed her cheek and she looked up at him.
" I need to find answers about our future," Vash said
Meryl nodded and then stood up and kissed him.
" I hope you'll find those answers," she said
Vash smiled and took a canteen with him and then he walked out. Meryl sighed and watched him vanish into the hot desert.
" Oh, Vash," she said
Knives walked out the door and looked in the distance. Karen ran out and grabbed his hand.
" What is it?" she asked
Knives slightly covered his ears and then he looked up.
" It stopped," he thought, " What was that sound?"
" Knives, what's wrong?" she asked
" I'm leaving," he said
He walked back and grabbed a canteen and then stormed off without another word. Karen looked at him as he ran into the desert.
" What made you want to leave?" Karen said
Vash trudged through the emptiness of the sand, it's emptiness brought a desolate sound. Vash could hear the sound of the water hitting against the canteen's walls. He sighed and wiped the sweat of his face.
" Come Vash come," a soft voice sang
Vash stopped and looked around for the voice.
" Why are you looking around?" the soft voice sang
" Who are you?" Vash said
" They're call to you, can't you hear them?" the soft voice chanted
Vash took a sip of the his water and he continued.
" Come Vash, come. We've been waiting," the soft voice continued
Vash ran now towards the direction of the voice. He didn't know who's voice it was, but it was calling to him. He was attracted to it, and he was running straight into trouble.
Knives narrowed his eyes as he looked around. He knew where to go, but there was something wrong. He heard someone singing, a song he had heard years ago, but it had changed. He covered his ears and ran forward.
" Shut up!" he shouted
He pulled a gun from the holster and fired a bullet. The sound traveled for miles and he ran.
" Where is that coming from?" he thought
He continued to run in the direction that he heard the voices, which he couldn't find. Instead he found sand dunes with a grave yard of bones and abandoned vehicles. He narrowed his eyes and continued running through it, until he tripped over something. Knives dug it up and there a skeleton held a sign that read Turn back before It's to late. Knives refused and the bones vanished into the sand.
" What is this place?" Knives questioned
" Come Knives, come and find your answers that lie here," a soft voice sang, " Come and feel the knowledge of the forgotten ones."
Knives narrowed his eyes and stopped.
" Who are you?" he growled
" Come Knives, feel the wealth of true power," the voice sang, " Only you can understand it."
" I refuse," Knives said
" Come Knives come," the sweet voice said