Fffffff- These chapters just keep getting shorter and shorter. DB

Anyhow, I'll stop ranting and return you to the story~ ]
~Still from Arthur's POV~

The plan.

I had completely forgotten about the plan. Wasn't that stupid of me? The only reason I started hanging out with her was because of the plan. And now here I am, laying on my bed, thinking of her. Falling for her wasn't part of the plan. Then again, neither was any of the other stupid shit I had done. Oh well, I'd have to make do with what I have now.

Sitting up, I pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil. I sat at my desk and decided to plan this properly. I couldn't take the risk of messing up, not now at least. First, I needed a way to get closer to Vash. I had done that, by getting close to Lilli. Step one complete. Step two, make her fall for me. Half-way done, I'd wager. Step three-

Step three. What was I going to do for step three? The strict laws in England limited my choices. It's not like I was going to kill the damn bloke, but I certainly wasn't going to let him just go on with his life, either. Fighting was too risky. Breaking Lilli's heart?

No.

What?

NO. You don't want to. Even if you won't admit it, I will. You love her.

BLOODY HELL! Go away, heart! You're not welcome at an inconvenient time like this. You're going to ruin the plan.

No, I'm here to make it better~ With me, I can make your plan more believe-able and you won't have to die alone!

WHAT. Who said I was going to die alone? Certainly only you think that! Now bugger off, I'm thinking of a plan.

You won't regret my decision in the end, Artie!~

Damn heart. I didn't need you anyways. Anyways, back to the plan. Step three. What can I do for step three? Steal all of Vash's guns? ...What am I, three? That plan is stupid!

Knocking. Who's knocking at my door at this time of night? It's midnight right now, isn't it? No, wait, it was one in the morning. Anyways, I should get up and get the door. I swear, if it's another one of those damn girl scouts...I would buy their cookies, just not right now. Maybe I would buy them now. God damn it, I wanted girl scout cookies now.

Sprinting down the stairs, I unlocked the door and opened it. I glanced to the table next to the door, making sure my wallet was there. Now that I think about it, I really was in the mood for girl scout cookies. I wonder what kind they had. Wait, Artie. What could little five-year-old cookie selling girls want with you at one in the morning?

Wait, no. That was Vash. What. VASH, WHAT. WHAT IS VASH DOING AT MY HOUSE. Play cool, I told myself.

"Put some clothes on, scoundrel," was the first thing he said. I looked down at my chest and, sure enough, I only had pants on and my Union Jack boxers. Wonderful, what a nice way to impress Vash into thinking I was good enough to date his sister. Oh shit, my tattoo. Don't turn around, I told myself. Keep him behind you so he doesn't see the tattoo on your back.

"It's one in the morning, I don't need to have a shirt on," I replied calmly. "...Say, do you have any girl scout cookies with you?" Oh god, the look on his face was priceless. He was reaching into his back pocket- OH MY GOD, HE DID HAVE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES. I looked at them, raised an eyebrow, and then looked back up to him.

"What? You asked if I had any girl scout cookies." He paused, looking at the box. "Want one?" Vash probably knew I was questioning as to why the bloody hell he had girl scout cookies in his pocket.

My eyes glanced back down to the box, then back up at him. "Sure. Come in, first." I opened the door completely, and gave room for him to come in. I was careful not to turn my back to him, because of the tattoo. If he saw that, I was dead and so was my plan. "Take off your shoes, please." Wait, what. Did I just tell him to take off his shoes? Who was I, a fourty-two-year-old virgin with twenty million cats? Since when did I care if people took off their shoes in my house? And...Oh lord, I had just said please.

Anyways, he took off his shoes like I asked him to. I turned on the living room light and collapsed down on the sofa. He sat down on the loveseat opposite of the couch. Putting the cookies down on the table, he asked me a question. You wouldn't believe the question he asked. "Do you love Lilli?"

Blush. That had to be a blush on my face. My whole enter body froze up, and I was stuck looking at the ceiling. My hands were frozen on my forehead, and I didn't think I could move. That was, until I fell off the couch. "W-What? Re-phrase the question, please." I've never felt this sheepish, or ashamed. Why was I blushing? Wait. Heart, bloody hell. I told you not to interfere! Well, this is embarrassing. I sat up on the floor, my back against the couch. I hope he hadn't seen my tattoo.

"Do you love Lilli?" he asked again. He sounded paranoid. "Sit up and answer the question, rebellion."

I glared at him. "Yes, I love her." Wait, what did I just say? Did I just...NO. I don't love her! Fuck you, heart.

"Don't hurt her."

What. I need to ban that word from my dictionary, I use it too much. But, Vash had just...let me love his sister? Why was he doing this? Did she like me, and he found out, and now he was... I reached for a girl scout cookie, letting my mind wander. Keep calm and eat a cookie, Kirkland. [LOL SEE WHAT I DID THERE? 8D]

"You just gave me permission."

He stared at me, and I stared back blandly while munching on the cookie. Oh, I had always loved the chocolate mint cookies. They were my absolute favorite. I could eat ten boxes in a minute. I should try that one day, shouldn't I? Wait, focus. You don't want this to go the wrong way.

"Yes, I did. I swear, Kirkland, if you hurt her-!"

I chuckled. I had permission. This was going smoothly. The plan was setting in motion. "Calm down, you prick. I wouldn't dream of hurting her. Would I hurt her if I really loved her?"

"It happens a lot, Kirkland. You know that."

"Yes, I do know. However, I have no intentions of hurting your sister." Lies. Or were they? No, I wasn't going to hurt her. Just Vash. I could, and would, manage that. I promise myself that much.

"You'd better keep your promise, Kirkland. One wrong step out of line and I'll kill you." The silence following those words was quite awkward. "I should go," he said. "Take the girl scout cookies, you seem to be enjoying them."

"Uh, thanks," I said, still in a daze from what had happened. "Tell Lilli I said hi." Absentmindedly, I found my way up the stairs with the girl scout cookies in my hand. Collapsing on my bed, I looked back at the plan. Step three.

I was half-asleep. I didn't know if I knew what I was doing, but I didn't care. Step three: Propose to Lilli. I doodled a small sketch of the ring I would want to give her, and then passed out in the middle of shading it.

I'd say that was a night well spent, I thought to myself as I fell asleep.