The Descent of the Second Sun
Author: Naito Tenshi (Rachel C)
Genre: Action-Adventure/Drama
Rating: PG-13
Series: Trigun
Author's Notes: This is sort of an alternate universe fanfiction. The beginning of the series still applies, and they're still the same characters, but I'm taking the series in a different direction. Sort of a "what if" thing, you know? By this point, Vash has met up with Meryl, Milly and Wolfwood, as well as Legato. Where we come in, Vash has managed to wander off by himself. I'm not sure how long this will be, exactly where it will go, or what I may inadvertently spoil, so I wouldn't recommend reading this unless you've seen all of Trigun.
CHAPTER 1: Prelude
The man in the red coat wandered through the desert. The twin suns shone bright and hot, and though the breeze was rare, when it did kick up, it stung his face with grains of sand. His right hand rose over his eyes as he glanced up at the suns, his sunglasses giving off a gold gleam. Judging by their positioning, it was early in the afternoon. Despite his sunglasses, he squinted at the light, and a tear snuck into one of his eyes. Looking down, he brushed it away with a finger, readjusted the weight of the bag on his back, and continued on his way. The terrain crunched softly under his boots, and once more the wind blew, the sand stinging his face. But he didn't mind. He was used to the conditions.
How long had it been? Two hours? Three hours? No doubt the insurance girls would be coming after him soon. He shrugged it off. He didn't have much trouble shaking them off his trail, and if he tried, he was sure he could lose them for good. On the horizon, a town crept into view. It was still quite a way, but judging how far he had walked already, it was hardly a concern. He knew that he would find who he was looking for just outside this town… something just told him that he was near.
'And where are you headed today, Vash the Stampede?' a familiar voice intruded upon his thoughts. Vash turned to see the one he knew was there. Crouched on a rock sat the voice's owner. He raised his head slowly, his right eye catching the sun for just a second, glittering gold. The other was forever covered in his deep, blue hair. He grinned as he set his sights on Vash.
'If you're on your way to see him,' the voice droned on coldly through Vash's mind, 'I'd be more than happy to accompany you there.'
Vash smiled and replied mentally, 'Yeah, I am. You can tell him I've come to help him.'