~Chapter 1~
Walking across the desert the three sulked in the sun dragging their feet in the endless sea of sand. The sun baked into their skin and the wind blew into a strong sand storm. They walked shielding their eyes from the force of wind and blowing sand. Walking further into the depths of the storm they waited for a chance to take shelter in anything they could find. Their lips were chapped and mouths dry when they finally stumbled upon a cave, which was steady and deep enough for them to take refuge. Falling face forward onto the cave floor Vash let out a long sigh. "We made it!" he said exhaling as he talked. Falling to her knees beside him was Meryl.
"We're still alive!" she gasped still catching her breath, "I don't know sempai.. We're running out of water and we only have two jugs left.. Not to mention Our food.. We barely-" Meryl covered Millie's mouth… "Would you please enjoy this moment without a word of complaining! Just be glad we made it through that storm" she said letting go of her sitting on a large stone to the side of the cave next to Vash.
Millie smiled, "Yes sir!" she said saluting dropping her weapon barely hitting Vash. "YIIEE!!" Vash yelled just before the launcher fell on him. "Watch it!" he said standing up now with his hands flying above his head. "Oh sorry, Mr.Vash" Millie said sitting against the cave wall beside Meryl. Vash puffed his cheeks and looked into the deep cave. "I'm going exploring!!" he said stomping away cheerfully with a sheepish grin on his face. "Be careful!" Meryl called from behind as he walked further into the cave. She watched him disappear into the darkness. Meryl looked down at her hands on her lap. She felt wrong following Vash again.. Especially since she knew Knives could come after Vash any time he wanted to and Meryl along with Millie could get in his way. Or even worse. Used against Vash held captive and even killed! Her hands clenched gripping onto her white work skirt. 'Was it really a bad idea following Vash?.. I didn't want to be a burden on him.. And neither for Millie' she thought.
Her eyes traveled to Millie's. Millie was looking directly at her with a worried smile. "What's wrong Meryl?" Millie asked leaning forward a bit. Meryl smiled putting up her hands, "Huh? What are you talking about Millie? I'm fine!" she said. Millie smiled cheerfully and looked in the direction Vash left at. Meryl's smile faded. She had to lie to Millie.. She wasn't about to say that she wanted to go back.. Or regret following Vash.. Because deep down inside her, she wanted to stay with Vash.. Just to stand and walk by his side was more then enough. And yes. It was love that she held for him. But her doubt of him loving her was high, so then she'd push away her feelings acting bossy and ignorant.
'Besides' she thought, 'He loves Ren… He would never love me back if I told him I loved him…he…he still loves her'. She lost track of her thoughts as she saw Vash walking back to them. His Golden hair glistened in the light as he approached. His boots made a thumping sounds as he walked and his desert cloak flapped behind him as he walked. Meryl wondered what happened to his Crimson coat he'd always wear.. But after the fight with Knives he came back without it. Usually he went around with his buckled shirt and pants. To Meryl it was a big change. Not that it was a bad one. She liked it. But.. Now for that desert cloak…
"We're going to stay here for tonight" Vash declared. Millie sighed in relief. Their feet were aching and their stomachs were growling. Vash went out the cave returning with sticks and a few rocks making a fire in the middle of the cave. After eating a portion of their food rations Mille fell asleep against the wall. Meryl took off her coat and placed it on Millie. She smiled warmly in a Motherly manner and tucked her coat underneath Millie's sides. She turned to Vash. He was smiling at her. "Nani?" she asked. He shook his head and put his knee's half way up to his chest. "No, Nothing" he said closing his eyes. Meryl stared at Vash. He seemed to be hiding something. She knew he was always hiding something inside and she would always urge him to tell her what was wrong so she'd do anything in her grasp to help him. She thought she saw tears rising in his eyes. Meryl's heart aching to comfort him. "Vash?" She said in a bit of a shock herself as her voice broke the silence. "Vash.. " she started, "What's bothering you?".
"Nothing" he said.
"Please Vash.. I-.. I mean.. Me and both Millie want to understand you more.. We really want to know what's troubling you.. So we can help you…" she said with her eyes traveling to the fire.
Vash was silent for a while. Then He looked up at her from across the fire. His eyes seemed glossy and a smile curved his lips. Meryl was shocked. She shook a bit when his Sea colored eyes met hers. "I'm just.. A bit worried" he answered finally. "About-.. About Knives?" Meryl stuttered. Vash nodded. "You look so stupid when your worried!" Meryl busted out as she stood up to her feet eyes closed. "Your not a man to start worrying Vash! If Millie sees you like this She'd get upset! Your not the kind of man to have a frown on your face" she said trying to change the subject. She was hoping she had encouraged him. "Your right.." Vash said smiling. For a moment Vash saw a image of Ren through Meryl.. She looked just like her! She even acted like her from time to time.. 'Ren…' he thought.
Meryl opened one eye eyeing him. She blushed "Huh?" she said turning to him with wondering eyes. He stared at her lost in his thoughts of Ren. Then he closed his eyes tight 'No.. Ren is gone now… I ran to her with my problems always questioning her and telling her to come back to me.. But she's gone… I have to let her go..' he thought. He opened his eyes again. Meryl had sad eyes and her hands gripped onto her red bow tie at her chest. He wanted to take her in his arms and embrace her like he wanted to a while back. He cared for Meryl more then a friend. But he keeps thinking of ways around the relationship they could have. He really didn't want to lose her. Not by time only but by just him being hunted she could get seriously hurt and it was the same for Millie. Meryl turned away from him and sat next to Millie. Vash's eyes lowered. How much more pain will he cause this woman seeing him drown in the depths of his sorrow and anguish? Vash knew how she felt for him and it wasn't something to be taken lightly.
When time passed he knew that she wasn't always going to be there.. He'd have to live without her. Without her touch, smell or endless lecturing. He'd miss it all. He leaned back and looked outside the cave. The sand storm was still blowing harsh blustery winds and the night slowly became colder. He closed his eyes.
He loved Meryl. Not because she looked like Ren or because she was beautiful even in her petite form. He loved her because he developed feelings for her after all that time she was with him.
Trying to help him. Trying to find a way through his heart to heal with internal wounds. Helping him find other solutions. And the way she masked her true face trying to make people happy for their sake and not hers. At times he wanted to hold her in his arms but he was afraid of not having to see her when time would take its toll. He looked at Meryl. She was cuddled next to Millie with one of her arms under her head. He knee's were brought up close to her chest and she had her blanket cover her bottom down. He stared at her until his eyes closed. The thought of Meryl stayed in his head. What would his life be like…without her?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Comments? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Send them to RavenWings1716@aol.com
I'll be looking forward to reply's! ^_^ MATA!
Walking across the desert the three sulked in the sun dragging their feet in the endless sea of sand. The sun baked into their skin and the wind blew into a strong sand storm. They walked shielding their eyes from the force of wind and blowing sand. Walking further into the depths of the storm they waited for a chance to take shelter in anything they could find. Their lips were chapped and mouths dry when they finally stumbled upon a cave, which was steady and deep enough for them to take refuge. Falling face forward onto the cave floor Vash let out a long sigh. "We made it!" he said exhaling as he talked. Falling to her knees beside him was Meryl.
"We're still alive!" she gasped still catching her breath, "I don't know sempai.. We're running out of water and we only have two jugs left.. Not to mention Our food.. We barely-" Meryl covered Millie's mouth… "Would you please enjoy this moment without a word of complaining! Just be glad we made it through that storm" she said letting go of her sitting on a large stone to the side of the cave next to Vash.
Millie smiled, "Yes sir!" she said saluting dropping her weapon barely hitting Vash. "YIIEE!!" Vash yelled just before the launcher fell on him. "Watch it!" he said standing up now with his hands flying above his head. "Oh sorry, Mr.Vash" Millie said sitting against the cave wall beside Meryl. Vash puffed his cheeks and looked into the deep cave. "I'm going exploring!!" he said stomping away cheerfully with a sheepish grin on his face. "Be careful!" Meryl called from behind as he walked further into the cave. She watched him disappear into the darkness. Meryl looked down at her hands on her lap. She felt wrong following Vash again.. Especially since she knew Knives could come after Vash any time he wanted to and Meryl along with Millie could get in his way. Or even worse. Used against Vash held captive and even killed! Her hands clenched gripping onto her white work skirt. 'Was it really a bad idea following Vash?.. I didn't want to be a burden on him.. And neither for Millie' she thought.
Her eyes traveled to Millie's. Millie was looking directly at her with a worried smile. "What's wrong Meryl?" Millie asked leaning forward a bit. Meryl smiled putting up her hands, "Huh? What are you talking about Millie? I'm fine!" she said. Millie smiled cheerfully and looked in the direction Vash left at. Meryl's smile faded. She had to lie to Millie.. She wasn't about to say that she wanted to go back.. Or regret following Vash.. Because deep down inside her, she wanted to stay with Vash.. Just to stand and walk by his side was more then enough. And yes. It was love that she held for him. But her doubt of him loving her was high, so then she'd push away her feelings acting bossy and ignorant.
'Besides' she thought, 'He loves Ren… He would never love me back if I told him I loved him…he…he still loves her'. She lost track of her thoughts as she saw Vash walking back to them. His Golden hair glistened in the light as he approached. His boots made a thumping sounds as he walked and his desert cloak flapped behind him as he walked. Meryl wondered what happened to his Crimson coat he'd always wear.. But after the fight with Knives he came back without it. Usually he went around with his buckled shirt and pants. To Meryl it was a big change. Not that it was a bad one. She liked it. But.. Now for that desert cloak…
"We're going to stay here for tonight" Vash declared. Millie sighed in relief. Their feet were aching and their stomachs were growling. Vash went out the cave returning with sticks and a few rocks making a fire in the middle of the cave. After eating a portion of their food rations Mille fell asleep against the wall. Meryl took off her coat and placed it on Millie. She smiled warmly in a Motherly manner and tucked her coat underneath Millie's sides. She turned to Vash. He was smiling at her. "Nani?" she asked. He shook his head and put his knee's half way up to his chest. "No, Nothing" he said closing his eyes. Meryl stared at Vash. He seemed to be hiding something. She knew he was always hiding something inside and she would always urge him to tell her what was wrong so she'd do anything in her grasp to help him. She thought she saw tears rising in his eyes. Meryl's heart aching to comfort him. "Vash?" She said in a bit of a shock herself as her voice broke the silence. "Vash.. " she started, "What's bothering you?".
"Nothing" he said.
"Please Vash.. I-.. I mean.. Me and both Millie want to understand you more.. We really want to know what's troubling you.. So we can help you…" she said with her eyes traveling to the fire.
Vash was silent for a while. Then He looked up at her from across the fire. His eyes seemed glossy and a smile curved his lips. Meryl was shocked. She shook a bit when his Sea colored eyes met hers. "I'm just.. A bit worried" he answered finally. "About-.. About Knives?" Meryl stuttered. Vash nodded. "You look so stupid when your worried!" Meryl busted out as she stood up to her feet eyes closed. "Your not a man to start worrying Vash! If Millie sees you like this She'd get upset! Your not the kind of man to have a frown on your face" she said trying to change the subject. She was hoping she had encouraged him. "Your right.." Vash said smiling. For a moment Vash saw a image of Ren through Meryl.. She looked just like her! She even acted like her from time to time.. 'Ren…' he thought.
Meryl opened one eye eyeing him. She blushed "Huh?" she said turning to him with wondering eyes. He stared at her lost in his thoughts of Ren. Then he closed his eyes tight 'No.. Ren is gone now… I ran to her with my problems always questioning her and telling her to come back to me.. But she's gone… I have to let her go..' he thought. He opened his eyes again. Meryl had sad eyes and her hands gripped onto her red bow tie at her chest. He wanted to take her in his arms and embrace her like he wanted to a while back. He cared for Meryl more then a friend. But he keeps thinking of ways around the relationship they could have. He really didn't want to lose her. Not by time only but by just him being hunted she could get seriously hurt and it was the same for Millie. Meryl turned away from him and sat next to Millie. Vash's eyes lowered. How much more pain will he cause this woman seeing him drown in the depths of his sorrow and anguish? Vash knew how she felt for him and it wasn't something to be taken lightly.
When time passed he knew that she wasn't always going to be there.. He'd have to live without her. Without her touch, smell or endless lecturing. He'd miss it all. He leaned back and looked outside the cave. The sand storm was still blowing harsh blustery winds and the night slowly became colder. He closed his eyes.
He loved Meryl. Not because she looked like Ren or because she was beautiful even in her petite form. He loved her because he developed feelings for her after all that time she was with him.
Trying to help him. Trying to find a way through his heart to heal with internal wounds. Helping him find other solutions. And the way she masked her true face trying to make people happy for their sake and not hers. At times he wanted to hold her in his arms but he was afraid of not having to see her when time would take its toll. He looked at Meryl. She was cuddled next to Millie with one of her arms under her head. He knee's were brought up close to her chest and she had her blanket cover her bottom down. He stared at her until his eyes closed. The thought of Meryl stayed in his head. What would his life be like…without her?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Comments? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Send them to RavenWings1716@aol.com
I'll be looking forward to reply's! ^_^ MATA!