A/N: A quick update while I still have inspiration, lol. Thanks everyone!!!

Unwelcome Visitor

Vash was nervous as they walked along. The small insurance girl hadn't spoken a single word to him since she'd slapped the back of his head, though he'd tried to start a conversation. At the first scathing glare he gave up, holding up his hands in resignation. He didn't even dare reach out to take one of the treasured sweets she held, for fear he wouldn't retrieve his hand.

Meryl couldn't believe what had happened. Not only had she almost been raped, but the one to come to her rescue had been none other than Vash. And he had been concealing a gun from her this entire time. She mentally berated herself for not being more cautious around the blond, her mind apparently having been fooled by his repeated acts of idiocy.

The two finally reached the small house they were calling home, Vash gallantly opening the door for the lady in an attempt to appease her sudden anger. Meryl brushed by him without a glance and went to the kitchen, placing the boxes down on the table. Vash cautiously walked in behind her, knowing well an unpleasant conversation was about to take place. She suddenly turned to the cowering gunman, her eyebrows raised in displeasure.

"Sit down" she said, a commanding edge to her voice.

Vash did as he was told, quickly pulling out a chair and sitting in front of her. He looked like a child about to be scolded, with his eyes wide in fear and his hands fidgeting nervously in his lap.

"Why do you have a gun?" Meryl asked, her hands folded across her chest. "And when were you planning on telling Millie and me?"

Vash was expecting this question, knowing well he hadn't truly gained the small insurance girl's trust yet. The gunman hadn't meant to ever show her his gun, but the drunk had given him no other choice. For a few seconds he wracked his mind for how to explain the weaponry, without using the need to lie to her. Then a brilliant idea hit him.

"Probably the same reason you carry your derringers" he said, making Meryl's eyes widen in surprise. "We have to protect the ones we love."

Meryl stared blankly at him for a few seconds, then composed herself. She would not let his innocent act sway her anger. A sudden thought came to her mind, making her eyes shift uneasily to the mysterious man before her.

"Have you ever killed someone?" she asked quietly.

"No."

Meryl let out a sigh of relief, not realizing she had been holding her breath while waiting for his answer. With her suspicions now put to rest, she was now free to satisfy her curiosity.

"What were you doing out?" she asked, not willing to entirely trust his word. She also couldn't believe his arrival was just a coincidence.

"Well..." Vash said, scratching the back of his head. "Millie got home and said you were coming with some groceries, so I went to see if I could help." He suddenly chuckled. "I helped out more than I expected."

Meryl stared at the blond before her for a moment, a mix of feelings flashing across her face. Suspicion, anger, and maybe even a little gratefulness. She sighed, setting herself down in another chair opposite Vash. He had rescued her from an unpleasant confrontation, and she was showing him very little gratitude.

"I'm sorry" she said, hanging her head in apology. "You did help me back there, and....thank you." The last statement came out as a whisper, her eyes closing in embarrassment.

Vash's head perked up at her words, his face alight with joy. As he stared at the small woman before him, the blond felt a tugging guilt in his chest. Her saddened emotions were affecting him more than he would admit, even to himself. And he didn't know why, but he now wanted to do something for her, anything, just to gain even a little of her trust.

"How can I make it up to you?" he asked, catching hold of her hand.

Meryl blushed at the sudden contact, quickly pulling her hand from his grasp. Surprisingly, she hadn't thought the experience unpleasant. Rather, her feelings had been quite the opposite. His closeness was also having an effect on her, making her shift uneasily. Her vision was becoming blurry and she had a hard time focusing on the conversation still taking place.

"I know!" Vash said, his face beaming. He hadn't noticed the change in Meryl's face, his thoughts so fixed on pleasing her. "How about I take you out for dinner? I've saved some money from my job, and there's this restaurant I've heard about where the food is great. So whadda ya say?"

The small insurance girl merely stared blankly at him for a few moments, speechless by his offer. But his puppy dog eyes were shining so brightly, and chance to get out and have an enjoyable evening was so tempting. Very slowly, her head shook up and down, accepting the free dinner.

"Great!" he yelled, jumping up and hugging her wildly. Then he was on the ground in a painful heap, his head sporting a large bruise.

"I can't believe you" Meryl muttered, leaving the room quickly. The small insurance girl only hoped he hadn't noticed the warm glow on her cheeks, which had arisen after he had held her. Besides, she had to look through her wardrobe for a suitable dress to wear.

Meryl still couldn't believe she had said yes. But here they were the following night, strolling to the restaurant with the blonde idiot. Vash was sporting an elegant evening suit, while she had managed to find a white knee length dress with a shawl covering her bare shoulders. The blond had suggested they walk to the establishment, to fully enjoy the half moon shining brightly in the sky.

Neither was talking, each just enjoying the pleasure of the other's company. Meryl walked stiffly beside him, her pursed mouth the most obvious sign of her nervousness. She hadn't been on a date for several years now, and the rules of etiquette were passing through her mind like an overbearing chaperone.

Should I lean on his shoulder? No, he might flinch away! Should I swing my hips more? Don't be such a charlotte! What should we talk about? Nothing, you don't know anything about him! Can I hold his hand? The last question remained unanswered and Meryl smiled to herself at her one victory.

Suddenly Vash stopped, catching Meryl's hand in a bone crushing grip.

"Get behind me" he said, his lips set in a grim line.

Meryl immediately obeyed, the tone of his voice shocking any doubt of sincerity from her mind. But looking around, she could neither discern a shape nor hear a sound from their surroundings.

"What is it?" Meryl asked, looking questioningly to Vash's back.

For a minute he neither spoke nor moved, and Meryl thought he hadn't heard her question. Then Vash let out a low, tired sigh, his whole body shaking with a painful exhaustion. So concerned was the small insurance girl for his sudden change in mood, she barely heard the one word which passed his lips.

"Vampire."

Meryl nearly barked out a laugh as the idea sank into her mind, finding humor in his ridiculous words. She stared at the rigid figure in front of her with complete disbelief, wondering if his sanity had left him. Surely he had to be joking? Vampires were merely horror monsters meant to scare children, a concoction of the imagination.

"Vash, don't be an idiot" she spoke, annoyance in her voice at having been frightened so easily. "Vampires don't exist" Meryl commented, shaking her head in disgust. She walked out from the cover behind him, already tired of his foolish antics.

Suddenly a dark form burst from the shadows, racing with inhuman speed toward the small insurance girl. Meryl could see the figure coming, but knew she could do nothing to stop its progress nor move from her spot in time.

"Meryl!" Vash yelled, diving toward her. He managed to push her aside just in time, as the beast flew past where she had just stood, his claws uselessly raking the air.

Meryl had the air knocked from her lungs as her stomach hit the sand, making her cough for the precious oxygen. Vash knelt over her, making sure she was uninjured and looking for any signs of the attacker.

"What was that?!" Meryl said, when she had regained enough breath to speak. In her weakened condition, she failed to control the rising fear in her voice.

"Something that doesn't exist" Vash quickly answered, standing up and looking around. He couldn't see where the vampire had gone, and was sure they hadn't seen the last of the creature. Possibly the monster was lurking in the shadows, waiting to catch them unprepared.

Then Vash hit the ground hard, a loud groan escaping his lips as his shoulder connected with the solid dirt. Meryl looked to him and gasped. A long gash had ripped his shirt sleeve from the cuff to the shoulder, with a trail of blood was seeping down his arm.

A man now stood at the edge of the shadows, his cold eyes growing red and his lengthened fangs spilling over his lips. He laughed as Vash shakily stood to his feet, the gunman trying his best to ignore the painful throbbing in his arm.

"I don't want to hurt you" Vash whispered, wincing as he heard his blood drip to the ground.

"I imagine you're not going to touch me" the stranger taunted, receding back into the darkness. "But perhaps I can touch your woman?"

Meryl watched the short conversation with horror, the man's last words echoing in her mind. The young woman could only image what the monster would do to her, if given the chance. She turned her face toward Vash's, covering her mouth to stifle her scream.

Vash's eyes had turned a bright red, his mouth turned in a snarl of anger. Faster than her sight could follow, he sprinted into the shadows where the man had stood. Meryl almost thought she saw him disappear into the very darkness surrounding them, his outline becoming hazy before vanishing altogether.

A sudden gasp of amazement was heard in the shadows, followed by the primal challenge of a low growl. Then all around her she could hear the sounds of struggling, fist meeting flesh and bodies colliding with ground.

Suddenly a figure flew from the shadows, the body landing a few yarz from where she sat. Meryl watched with a mixture of joy and fear as Vash walked out of the darkness, his clothes torn and bloody but his body still standing. He walked over to the fallen stranger, the terrifying light still in his eyes but the anger no longer prevalent.

"You can stop this, end this cycle" Vash said, kneeling beside the man. "I can help you make a new life."

"I've failed" the vampire coughed out, reaching into a pocket. "He won't allow me to live." Pulling his hand from the pouch, he raised a vile to his lips and quickly drank the contents. His eyes closed, as he felt the potion began to work.

Vash watched on in horror as the monster before him literally melted, his skin burning off his bones. The vampire's bones crumbled, organs and muscles dissolving amidst the sand. The smell of charred flesh filled the air, as what remained of the stranger's body turned to ash. The dust settled around the hunched gunman, coating his tears in their soft whiteness.

He picked up the vile from the sand, examining the contents. As he thought, there had been holy water placed within the small container. The blond sighed, standing and turning toward Meryl.

Vash walked over to her, a hand clutching his stained clothes and a worried frown on his face. His eyes still held the blazing red from the fight and the blood from his wounds was already slacking, the damage rapidly healing itself. He finally reached her quivering body, her eyes unblinking as she stared into his own now with...fear.

"What are you?" Meryl whispered, before she collapsed into his arms.