Chapter 6

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Before Vash knew it, he was on his feet and out the door. Many things flashed though his head. Images of his family. Of his past. Of his life. The last thing that came to his mind was an image of Meryl, the women he loved deeply, with gun shots in her body, lying broken on the floor with blood surrounding her body. The thought of it made his eyes water.

A few other things came to mind. Who? and, Why? He narrowed his eyes as he ran faster, nearing his house. His feet were heavy on the street. Knives... He clenched his teeth together.

He never thought about killing anyone or anything again, but he had that angry feeling toward his brother and whoever was attacking his family. How could he? There's no way he could. Could he have had another Gung-Ho-Gun? They'll never get Meryl. She's better then what people may make of her in appearance. She'll protect herself and Millie and Junior.

He looked to the dark streets as he continued to run. Just hold on a little bit longer babe. I'll be there.

A gust of strong wind threw Vash back, and he was able to keep his balance by leaning forward while the wind blew him back a few yards. From his right, a trashcan flew at him, and he dogged it quickly. Sand was being kicked up and Vash was having a hard time seeing though all of it. He managed to make a form though the sand. This person had hair that was slicked up and off to the side in a boyish manner, was smaller then him by a few inches and appeared skinny and not as masculine as himself, but this was hard to tell because this person was wearing a large baggy coat and baggy pants or chaps that flared at the knee.

Vash managed to shout, while holding on to a post so that he would not blow away, "Who are you!?"

A male voice in a low alto tone answered him. "Your Nightmare," he said as a solid object flew by and nailed Vash in the arms, causing Vash to let go of the pole, and to tumble back onto the street. Vash let out a sharp, brief, howl of pain as he flipped back and landed on the ground, his face planted in the sand. Vash tried his best to look up at the man. Vash held his arms under his chest as he squinted at his attacker.

"Why!?" Vash started to grind his teeth together as he waited for a reply.

The man seemed to become cocky. "I've got my reasons. I'm a follower, not a leader. I was placed here to buy my Comrade some more time in the elimination of a few people in a small house," he said as he shifted his weight onto another leg. "Because someone thinks that you haven't suffered enough for your sins."

With pure anger, Vash flared out at the man. He shot up and charged.

"Ooohhh!" the man exhaled as another solid object was picked up by the wind, and nailed Vash in the side of the head. Vash went down on his knees, and caught himself on his robotic arm. His other arm was broken from the first object that hit his arms. Blood started to flow from the wound at the side of Vash's head as he looked up to the shadowy figure again. "You're too old... I bet you wish that you didn't get that girl knocked up. I bet that you're wishing that you never got rid of that gun of yours. I bet you're wishing that you still had that signature red coat of yours." There was a pause from the man as the howling of the wind cut out all of Vash's thoughts. This man was rubbing it in Vash's face. "Now, there's nothing that you can do. You're helpless as your family is slaughtered!"

"STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!" Vash was yelling as he clamped his eyes shut. The thoughtful pain of his family gone and that he couldn't do anything. "I can still help them! I know I can!"

The man chuckled. "Such determination from a man on the ground, who can't even stand! This is entertainment at it's best! Thrill me some more!"

Vash barred his teeth and shot up again, still trying to charge the violent winds that held him back. Another chuckle rang out. "It's not going to work," the man said as a another object flew Vash's way, and took out his feet from under him, knocking him on his back. Vash looked up at the man again, his eyes glowing bright blue for a moment. "Tell me again how you're going to help them, Vash," the man said as he laughed out. "You're helpless! You're nothing now!"

Within a flash, the winds receded, and the man faded into a shadow, and everything settled completely.

Vash sat up as fast as he could. He held his chest with his broken arm, and tried to stand, but soon fell over again briefly. He then started to pant. "Meryl..." he whispered as he stood slowly finally. He started to jog the best he could toward his house again.