Episode 1: Dance With the Tsunami
There sat a saloon that occupied a desert area no different from the rest of the world. There stood many a person discussing a simple matter: Vash the Stampede, of course. A shadowed corner at the edge of the saloon sat a woman garbed in black. Long and luscious blond hair streamed from a pony tail on the back of her head. The pure color contrasted greatly against the trench coat she wore. Strangely colored eyes gleamed out of the shadows, narrowing while the men spoke trash about the $$60,000,000,000 man. She listened intensely, sipping on the light brown colored alcohol that never lasted long in her cup.
It nearly never rained on Gunsmoke, but tiny water droplets trickled from the sky like a miracle. The saloon was near empty because costumers stood outside enjoying the oddity. Still, the woman sat, sipping occasionally on a beer she had ordered hours ago. By the time all that was left in her glass was ice water, the woman stood, her black trench coat quite wrinkled from sitting on it for hours. She looked around the saloon one last time before she made her way towards the door with her long hair flowing behind her. She reached her hand out to swing the doors open when three men appeared to delay her leave...
"Heya, pretty, why doncha stay awhile, eh?" A ragged man who seems like he's made nothing of himself spoke first. His dirty clothes reeked to high heavens and made the woman's nose wrinkle in disgust. He took poor care of himself, obvious by the slices in his face from improper shaving. Stubble grew on most of the man's face, but long hair grew in patched in random places. The other men laughed in response to the woman wrinkling her nose from the horrid smell. She looked away with an amused smile on her face. A scrawny lookin' character stepped forward and nudged the black coated woman, "When he speaks, you respond! Do ya here me?" He stated aggressively, his eyes narrowing slightly. This man was dressed a little better, but his hair was still unkempt. At least he smelled like a compost heap compared to the burly man's rotting fish heads mixed with cat piss. The woman's expression turned into a sly smirk, and giggled at her thought. The men looked at her oddly, "Do you know how to speak, girly?" The woman shrugged with the sly smirk still in play."You boy's have learned to play with fire, hmm?" She closed her eyes lightly and continued, "I'm not fire, though. The only thing you have to worry about is knowing how to swim... don't drown, now..."
Confused, a tall, large man stepped in front of her, "Quit talkin' crazy talk, bitch!" Alas, the large man had yet been able to finish his sentence when gasps were heard throughout the room.
"The Tsunami!" One muttered to another. The implication of 'water' had tipped the costumers off as to who this woman really was.
"We're going to die!" A woman screamed as she stumbled out of the saloon, dragging her drunkard of a husband behind her.
The men that surrounded her had eyes blazing with an intense fury. They glared at her and latched onto her coat, "Alright, missy, we're gonna teach you a lesson!"
"Me?" She laughed and reached a hand under her coat and grabbed hold of something. She pulled a sliver gun out of the holster around her waist and pointed it to the man's head, "You're gonna drown. May God have mercy on your pitiful soul!"
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"Mr. Vash!" exclaimed a familiar voice. Oddly enough, the person they tried to wake up did not stir. A very tall brown haired woman nudged a man on a ruffled bed a bit to wake him up. Turquoise eyes flashed open as he sat up quickly in alarm. Running a hair through spiky golden hair, he yawns and queries, "Oh? Did I fall asleep again?"
"I'm afraid so..." a short woman sitting at a table by the bed frowned. Her hair was short and black, barely covering her eyes. She glared at him, angry for his falling asleep during an important conversation.
The blond haired man, Vash, laughed and rubbed his neck nervously as he excused himself, "Pardon me, I must've been thinking of something good...Dreaming, actually..."
"Actually..." the tall woman responded, "You said something..."
"I sleep-talk?" Vash asked, surprised.
"Apparently," The black haired woman nodded.
"Hmm...Meryl, what did I say?" Vash looked to the black haired woman, whom he called Meryl.
Meryl shrugged, "Something about...most likely a woman...named...I didn't catch her name...Millie, did you happen to catch everything?"
Millie looked to the side with her head atilt trying to remember, "Well...word for word?"
I know what I said...I dreamt it...
Vash closed his eyes, "Never mind. It'll come to me sooner or later..." With that, the tall man stood up, and walked over to a chair in the room, and grabbed his red trench coat, slipping it on nonchalantly.
"Where are you going?" Meryl asked, a brow cocked slightly.
"I...need to think about something..." He muttered a response, and walked out the bedroom door; leaving Millie and Meryl confused.
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The woman in the black trench coat smirked, looking over her pile of the three men who had been harassing her. Blood slowly trickled from the gun shot wounds, "That teaches you..." With that, she left the saloon, only to find that officers of sorts were surrounding the saloon and had gotten word that 'The Tsunami' was here.
"Sophira the Tsunami, you're under arrest." One called out. She only stood there with her arms crossed casually. She huffed and looked away.
"Did you hear me? Now, drop your weapons, and put your hands in the air."
She stomped her feet on the sand and threw a fit, "Jesus, why do you dumb asses have to get in my way every damn time?" She closed her eyes, "I don't want to have to kill anyone else...but you made me..." The area flashed a blinding light, the only thing seen last was a...
"Winged Figure?" Meryl read in the newspaper the next morning. Both Millie and Meryl were incredulous as to what a local had spotted last night at a certain saloon.
"What'cha readin'?" Vash asked, walking up from behind them, curious as to what they were reading.
"There was supposed a fight down at the Saloon in Dankin.." Millie told Vash.
Vash blinked, "Wow, they rebuilt it that quick? That must've been over a year ago when...I supposedly happened oo'"
"Don't worry about it, Mr. Vash!" Millie smiled.
"They're STILL after me, Damnit!" He exclaimed.
"Calm down, Vash..." Meryl said nonchalantly, "Although I do think we should check this out...Oh, but I have so much work to do..."
"Well, I could go, "Vash blinked, offering Meryl.
Meryl blinked, and started laughing, "You?"
"I've survived THIS long, haven't I?" Vash smirked, closing his eyes, and gestured with his hands, "Seeming how old I am and my ravishing good looks..."
"What do looks have to do with anything?" Meryl snapped. She sighed, and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes, "Just go. Remember, Dankin Town..."
"Yes mam!" He exclaimed, and walked out of the door of the room.
Vash was quickly out of town, and into the desert. He had gotten quite used to this, since his reputation had caused his endless travels. He wouldn't dare stay in one spot.
He had traveled a good hour, seeming how far Dankin was from the unknown town he had come from.
"Man...Startin' to get thirsty..."Vash began to complain, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead. That's when he blinked, suddenly hearing the sweet sound of water...drawing ever so closer by the second. He tilted his head, and squinted his eyes, looking out into the distance. At that moment, his eyes widened as he screamed, "TSU-TSU-TSUNAMI!" He turned around, trying to outrun it but it was too late. An unexpected wave of water washes over him, leaving him confused, unconscious, and quite wet.
"Hello...Hello...Vash..." A voice called out to him.
He opened his eyes slightly, "...Wha..." At a daze, he saw only a blur of a woman...long blonde hair...and lavender eyes...
"Hello? Helllllooooo, sir!" The voice exclaimed again.
He blinked his eyes until the blur faded into clear vision. Well, his vision didn't fool him about the long hair...the extremely long hair...but her eyes were not lavender, they were amber. A beautiful color of brown-ish amber, he thought to himself.
"Sir? Are you ok?" She asked curiously, helping him to stand. She gazed at his face.
He pokes his hair and blinks, "Hmm? Yeah, yeah, I'm ok...how the heck did that happen?"
The woman blinked, and laughed, "I don't know, it WAS quite odd wasn't it?" She smiled warmly.
Vash blinked, and smiled back.
The unexpected...Very unexpected wave had come and gone. The sand was now as moist as the shore of a beach. The water coming from absolutely nowhere boggled Vash's mind. Nothing comes from nowhere, though, not something. The woman explained to him that the wave simply came from wells. Yes. Wells.
"So, my name is Sophira, "She smiled yet again, "And you are?"
Vash was surprised at this question, "My...Name?"
She chuckled lightly, "Yes, silly, your name!"
Vash gulped, "Well...you may not believe this, but...you can call me Vash."
Sophira's expression was incredulous, "You're...you're Vash! The legendary ace gunman!"
Vash smirks, "Yeah, yeah, I know..."
"Vash the Stampede!"
"Yep!"
"The Humanoid Typhoon?"
"Absolutely!"
Sophira was speechless. The only thing that had swept over her was a smile, "I can't believe it...I've been searching for you my whole life..."
Vash's smirk faded into an anxious face. Maybe he should keep his distance from her. What if she wanted the bounty?
"This is so COOL!" She exclaimed, to Vash's surprise.
"Cool?" He questioned.
She wrapped her arms around his sides, and squeezed him tightly, "I knew it was you!" She screamed happily, jumping a bit as she was latched onto him.
"...Do I know you?" He quirks a brow, looking down at her.
She looks up at the tall man's face. She seemed quite surprised, yet not at all. She looked down, her expression becoming melancholy, soft words escaping her mouth, possibly too soft to hear...
I knew you...
"Hmm?" Vash blinked, "What was that?"
Sophira quickly blinked a few times, and looked back up, "What was what?"
He shook his head, "Never mind..."
She smiled lightly, and tilted her head, and asked, "So, where were you headed?"
Damn, she asked too many questions...
"I was heading to Dankin to check out the Saloon incident..." He replied to her question.
Sophira's eyes widened, "Oh...you need not go back there...it's quite taken care of."
"Oh...well, then I can go back where I came from, " Vash smiled happily.
Sophira clasped her hands together in front of her face, her eyebrows raised slightly as she seems to plead, "Can I please come with you? I have no where else to go..."
Vash blinked, and smirked. Who knows what dispicable thoughts were swimming around in this man's head, "I wouldn't dare say no to a cutie such as you...Sophira, was it?"
She nods her head vigorously, "Yes, that's my name!"
Ring a bell? She thought.
"Well then, Sophira, follow me, " He smiled warmly before continuing his way back to Meryl and Millie to them the news.
Sophira smirked lightly, in an evil kind of way, only to find herself frowning to whatever she had been thinking, and began to follow Vash. As she did so, Vash turned his head, examining her coat. He noticed something trailing behind her, seeming like the tip of a feather. Although if it was, it was a very large feather, "Sophira? What's that?"
"What's what?" She blinked, and examined herself, "Oh that? It's nothing..."
His head atilt, he shrugged, and turned the other way...
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"WHAT!" Meryl exclaimed, nearly spitting in Vashes face, "You told me you were going to Dankin!"
"Hold on! Time out! Don't yell at me! This woman I met on the way there told me-"
"GAH!" Meryl screamed, pulled Sophira over, and examined her, "What did he do? Did he do anything to you? I'm sorry if he did, he can't control his actions..."
Vash stared at Meryl, mouth agape, unpleasantly surprised with the words coming out of her mouth, but then smirked deviously, and closed his eyes, "I didn't touch this innocent young woman. But her tempting beautiful face drew me closer to such thoughts..."
Sophira blinked, blushing, and giggled, "Oh Vashie!"
Meryl snorted as Vash grinned, "Vashie?"
Vash walked slowly and slyly inched next to Sophira, putting his left arm around her, "Now, if we want to give each other pet names, this can be arranged..."
Meryl was furious, "I think we can survive without them!"
Vash looked annoyed at Meryl, "Was I asking you?"
"No, but I think I can voice my opinion!" Meryl snapped.
Millie just seemed to stand back, watching this fight. She had nothing to say, so why say anything?
Vash blinked nonchalantly, "Yeah, I guess..."
Suddenly, gunfire was heard outside their room. Out of such habits, they all ran to the window to see.
"Another me impersonator?" Vash blinked.
"Guy with a Mohawk?" Meryl.
Millie blinks, saying nothing.
Vash looks to Sophira, whose eyes are staring intensely at whoever is outside.
"Alright, folks!" A tall man dressed in tacky clothing ((That's descriptive, aint it?)) screamed loud enough for everyone throughout the town to hear. Many people surround him, but of course kept their distance, for they were frightened. He had many a lackey surrounding him as well, grinning at the unsuspecting townspeople.
"Give us all your valuables, and no one gets hurt! I wouldn't try anything funny, because I've got backup, and they are on the way!" He exclaimed, seeming to have eyed every townsperson.
Vash blinked, and narrowed his eyes, "I'm going..." He turns around from the window to find that Sophira had disappeared. He blinked, "...Sophira?"
"Vash! What is she doing down there!" Meryl exclaimed, pointing out the window.Vash gasped and turned his attention back to the open window.
Sophira, quite casually, strolled onto the scene, innocently unwrapping some bubblegum and fed it into her mouth. Her black trench coat blew along with the sand rising and falling in the wind. She said nothing, but her devilish eyes said more than words could ever describe. With one look, the man's crew drew back, but held their ground steady.
One man walked closer to the tall man drawing the attention and whispered in his ear, "She's here..."
"Eh? Oh...good, "He replied, smirked, and turned to Sophira, drawing a gun from a belt around his waist, "There ya are..."
The people around seemed confused, as well as Vash, Millie and Meryl.
Sophira stood silently, drawing her own gun from one side, and one from the other. They were large hand guns with black streaks along the barrel.
"What do you want with this place?" Sophira shouted, keeping a close eye on her target.
The tall man laughed, almost hysterically. He pointed to her, eyes narrowing deviously, "YOUR BOUNTY!"
Vashes eyes widened, "Her bounty!"
Millie and Meryl screamed, "Her WHAT!"
"That's right, Miss Tsunami! I'm surprised you came to help all these people...why would such an outlaw like you give a damn about the common people?" He grinned madly, "You can't run away now!"
Sophira paused for effect and grinned, "I wouldn't dare try..." After cocking the guns and pointing them at the amateurs, she exclaimed, "Come and get me!" Immediately after, she began to fire insanely at the men. With insane accuracy was more like it. Her aiming was so precise. Her shots were clean, either used to catch them off guard or to injure them.
Meryl muttered to herself, "Unbelievable...it's almost as if she was you, Vash..."
"I taught no one! Except...Geez, what was her name..." Vash thought to himself and pondered his question. Out in the open and having run out of bullets, Sophira stood vulnerable to the will of the criminals that wanted her supposed bounty.
"Alright girlie, it's time for you to come quietly, "The tall, slightly injured man smirked. He made a gesture with his hand and cued his men to surround their bounty.
"I'm not going anywhere with anyone!" She growled, her hands tightening into a fist after she shoved her guns in the holsters.
They all begin to close in on her with grins in play on their dirty faces. When suddenly, another shot of gunfire is heard, and so is a familiar voice, "Let the girl go..."
Sophira smiles, turning slightly red that he had come to her rescue, "Vash!"
The team of bandits wince, stepping back a bit, "Vash! I didn't know we'd attract both of them!" The tall man exclaimed, fumbling his gun about.
Vash aimed his gun at the leader's forehead, boasting about making a nice clean shot. He did not shoot, only god knows why. Most likely because Vash is good natured and never wanted to hurt anybody. He looked plagued with thought, though.
Why do I have the urge to shoot now? Man she has a pretty fa-FOCUS! She seems so damn familiar...who the hell is she...?
BANG!
Vash's finger pulled the trigger and the shot fired. Fortunately it missed the man's forehead and shot him in the ear. The criminal grasped his ear in pain with screaming to match as the guns made a soft thump on the ground as they dropped. Vash stood in shock, watching the man writhe in pain.
Did...did I just shoot him...?
He made a trembling turn of his head towards Sophira, who was looking at him in surprise.
Why do I..?
"We-! GAH! Gotta go! C'mon boys!" With that, the living bandits surrounded their leader as they made their escape to their getaway car that had been sitting off to the side in the sandy soil.
Sophira eyed Vash carefully as he ran up to her, his face full of concern, "You ok Sophira?"
She nodded hesitantly, "I'm fine...it wasn't a big deal..."
Vash gulped, seeing he had overreacted there in that situation. It was truly not in Vash's nature to shoot anyone. Maybe over a person, but in rare occasions. This had to be a pretty special person. Vash's body trembled and his face paled. Sophira now looked up at him in concern.
"Are YOU ok, Vash?" She asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
He shook his head and winced as his stomach churned, "No...I really need to lie down..."
Back at the inn, after everything settled down, Vash laid in the bed with one half of his body hanging off the bed. He tried to find a comfortable position to make the pain go away, but failed. Sophira stood in the doorway, watching Meryl completely ignore this ailing man. Millie seemed to care in the least, but nonetheless, she cared. She walked in; her tall boots wrapped in chains thumped across the floor to the table Millie and Meryl were sitting at. She scowled at their failure to show any sympathy towards Vash, but sighed heavily and queried, "What's that you're doing?"
Millie looked up from the mounds of paper work on the table and smiled, "Well, Miss Sophira, we have a lot of paper work to do concerning Mr. Vash the Stampede. Since something just happened today, we need to file a report…"
"I see..." She replied, trailing off and eyed Meryl, who seemed to be ignoring the fact that Sophira was even there. Uninterested in what Millie had to say, she stepped closer to Meryl. "Ahem," She coughed.
Meryl looked up, annoyed, "What? Can't you see that I'm working?"
Sophira backed an inch defensively, "Whoah, whoah, I'm just interested..."
"You're one to talk..." Meryl growled, "Tsunami is it? Yeah, there's a big price on your..."
"Tsunami? ME? Really, get a life! How would I be her?" Sophira defended, and turned away as she crossed her arms in a huff.
"You tell me..." Meryl glared and returned to her work. Sophira stuck her tongue out at her while Meryl wasn't looking.
"Hmpf. You know, Vash is over there in pain, and you don't ca-"
"He's always in pain. He doesn't care for violence, so that's why he's feeling sick..." Meryl cut in. Sophira growled and stomped towards Vash.
"Fine, be like that..." Sophira's steps softened as she reached Vash's bed, "You ok now, Hun?" Vash looked up at her and nodded slightly.
"I guess I'll be ok..."
"Just sleep. You'll feel better later..."
He did not respond verbally, but he nodded his head, acknowledging her suggestion. Slowly, he began to drift off, due to Sophira beginning to sing a beautiful tune; a familiar tune.
So... hitotsu-me no yoru ni izuko kara koishi ga sekai ni ochiru So... futatsu-me no yoru ni koishi no ko ga te wo tori WARUTSU wo kaku Sound life..
"Vash!" Meryl exclaimed, standing at the foot of his bed.
"Huh...what?" Vash muttered as he blinked his eyes awake. "What is it?"
"That girl's gone!" Meryl continued, looking around as she said so.
"Sophira? Hmm...Where could she have gone?" Vash replied, seeming to frown.
Sophira...who are you?
Why do you seem so...familiar?
end of chapter 1