Chapter 5 Awkward Meetings

Vash caught his breath as Meryl walked out of her room, a small smile on her face.

"What, do I look that bad?" She said half sarcastic as she walked by.

Vash stood for a moment, still staring at her and then shook his head quickly, walking to join her as she exited the apartment. "No, no not at all! I've just never seen you in a…"

"Skirt? Yeah, me either." She joked. "I was beginning to wonder if I was still a girl after all these years." She laughed quietly. "Milly just bought it for my birthday and since we are going to see her, I thought she would like to see me wearing it, that's all." She tried to act casual.

Vash smiled as he fell in step beside her, saying, "I think it looks nice on you. It suits you." He complimented and she felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

"Thanks Vash, even if you don't mean it." She smiled broadly as she speeded up, causing him to have to pick up his pace as well.

"Meryl, I did mean it!" When he heard her faint giggling in front of him, he shook his head as he sighed. "You are impossible, woman, you know that right?"

"Yup. Now you know how I felt running after you all those years, Vash. You were impossible!"

"Yeah, why did you continue to follow me?" He broached the subject, feeling her tense up immediately. He smirked inwardly, thinking, 'Let's see how you respond to that one Miss Stryfe.'

Seeing Meryl again after five years jolted his memory of what she had been like. She was always a strong confident woman, with a matchless temper and good heart. But now, it seemed that the light she had once held had all but gone out…and he was determined to see if he could rekindle a bit of her old flame.

Vash nearly laughed out loud at the look he saw on her profile. She looked utterly terrified! Like if she answered that question, the world would end. It was then that the guilt hit him. Maybe, for her, it would end…

"Meryl, sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the spot…you don't have to answer if you don't want." He tried to be nice and shrunk back when she whirled on him, sparks ready to fly from her silver orbs. 'Now THAT'S the Meryl I remember!'

"I'll have you know, Mister Stampede, that I was ordered to follow you for all those years…it wasn't because I had a choice or anything!" She said with convincing vehemence.

"Ok ok! I know! Don't kill me!" Vash held up his hands, trying to calm her and she seemed to deflate slightly, huffing as she turned around to continue their way to Milly's work. Vash smiled inwardly, shaking his head slowly. 'Wow, she was quick to defend herself, wasn't she?'

He knew in the beginning when she and Milly first began to follow him that it truly was because she was ordered to. But, as time wore on, he realized, especially in their last moments together, that it was something more…she had cared for him when he was all but lost on this world, slowly mending his wounds from his battles until the physical ones were closed. And…it was her that had nearly mended his emotional ones. The day that she stood over him in a protective stance, defending him from the angry townsmen, he realized something else. Something that he hadn't seen coming at all. He had cared for her in return. She said something that day that etched itself forever in his mind, something that had already been there to begin with. It seemed that he had found her again…his Rem, in the form of a small, fiery tempered silver-eyed woman named Meryl Stryfe.

"Vash?" he was brought from his depths by Meryl's questioning voice and he looked up to find that they had reached their destination. He smiled broadly as he spotted Milly across the construction zone, where it seemed that they were building some new commercial buildings.

He raised his long arm and began to wave it back and forth, calling out to her. "Milly! Hey there big girl! Long time no see!"

Meryl laughed as Milly nearly dropped the metal beam she was holding, scrambling to set it down without causing mass destruction. She raced over to the duo and latched onto Vash, nearly bowling them both over.

Small tears pricked the taller girls eyes as she cried out happily, "Vash-san! It's really you!"

Vash chuckled as he regained their balance and embraced her in return, patting her back. "Milly Thompson. It really has been forever!"

The brunette pulled away, letting him go, the broad smile never leaving her cheerful face. That was the thing her remembered most about her; her unwavering smile and strong presence.

"Vash-san? When did you get here?" She asked jovially.

"Last night actually. I uh…" He trailed off at the look on Meryl's face. She obviously didn't want her best friend knowing that he had found her in a dark alley. "I ran into Meryl last night and, well, looks like I'm staying here for a while! She was kind enough to let me stay."

"Oooh! That's so great! Isn't it Meryl?" Milly clapped her hands together as she looked to her friend, who sighed lightly and smiled, nodding.

"Yes, Milly, it's wonderful."

"Oh and Sempai! You're wearing the skirt! I told you it would look fabulous! Doesn't it Vash-san?"

Meryl watched the two converse, the small smile never leaving her face. 'Vash certainly has changed…' Sure, he was still the same goofy Vash who seemed to make it his life's goal to irritate her, but…it seemed also that he had matured. No, maybe he had always been this way. But she had rarely seen this side of him in the past. Usually, it had been the silly irresponsible side that she had witnessed. It wasn't until the end that she had seen the somber more adult side of the outlaw. She felt her heart begin to twist, slowly wrapping itself around his finger again…

'Stop it Meryl! You still have a boyfriend!' The guilt she was feeling again was becoming almost unbearable. She had to tell Kiba. Had to break it off with him. Even if she didn't end up with Vash, it was still the right thing to do, and would have done it anyway, with or without the gunman's return…right? She needed to talk to someone about it…but at that moment, that someone was chatting with Vash and Meryl knew it would have to wait until later.

"Oh boy, I had better get back to work before the boss gets angry, but how about dinner tonight? At our favorite restaurant Meryl? You could invite Kiba and I'll bring Tasuki! We could all catch up then!" Meryl knew Milly had good intentions, but cringed when she mentioned Kiba. She couldn't help but notice the questioning look that Vash shot her way and she mentally cursed. 'Damn it…I was going to tell him differently…'

"That sounds great Milly! How about it Vash?" She looked to him, trying to sneak passed the questions in his eyes.

"Uh, sure, that would be fine." He finally said and smiled as he gave Milly one last hug. She smiled at both of them, saying as she ran off, "See you tonight at let's say, seven?"

They both nodded to her and watched as she picked up the metal beam where she had left it, beginning to move it once again.

Meryl felt her insides twist in anxiety as she turned around, beginning to walk to the store for food. Maybe he would leave it alone until she could figure out when the best time to bring it up would be…

"So, insurance girl. Who is Kiba?" his voice was casual, almost too much so.

Meryl continued to walk, her face downcast as she stopped, thinking. Should she try to avoid it for longer? What was the point? Looking at him, she smiled widely, answering, "He's my boyfriend."

There. She had been truthful. Now to see what his reaction would be. Surely he wouldn't be jealous. Did plants even get jealous? She didn't know. But one thing was for sure; there was no way that Vash the Stampede would be jealous over her.

"Oh, I see. For how long now?" Vash smiled at her and she felt her heart drop lightly.

'I knew he wouldn't be upset…' "About seven months now. He's a great guy." She said as they entered the store.

Vash simply smiled and nodded, continuing to make light conversation about her relationship until he ran out of questions, it seemed. An awkward silence followed and Meryl was grateful for her list of food she had in front of her. It preoccupied her attentions so she didn't have to look at the man next to her.

"Look Vash! Here are the donuts! Get whatever you want, ok?" She smiled as her hand swept over the pastry section and she laughed as the Vash of old jumped up excitedly, heading over to them. His eyes seemed to light up and she smiled softly as she watched him, like a child in a candy store. When she turned her back to look for more groceries, his facade immediately dropped and he let his head hang ever so slightly.

So, she had a boyfriend…it was strange, the feelings he was having at that moment. They were, for the most part, familiar to him. A bit of sadness at the prospect, disappointment for sure. But the one that confused him, the underlying one, he was almost positive was jealousy. He had never once been jealous over something, so the fact that he was experiencing it unnerved him. He didn't even know if that's what it was…but really, what else could it be?

"Come on Vash! You done? Let's get going, ok?" Vash shook himself from his thoughts as he smiled at her, nodding as he gathered the last of his donut supply.

As Meryl went to pay for them, he held up a hand, saying, "Let me."

Meryl's jaw dropped as she watched Vash pull out some double dollars from one of his many pockets in the red duster, handing it to the cashier, thanking the man, and then gathering all the bags and heading out the door. When she caught up with him, she couldn't help the questioning in her voice.

"Vash, I didn't even know you had any money…"

He smiled as he winked. "There's a lot that you don't know about me."

She stopped shortly, looking down at her feet. 'He's right…'

"Come one insurance girl or I'll lock you out of your apartment." Vash joked as he called over his shoulder to her.

She shook her head as she smiled, jumpstarting her body into action. Vash truly was an enigma to her…but she was determined to find out more about him before he decided to leave again…

"And I said, no, that's so stupid! Why would he have said that?" Meryl laughed as she opened the door to her apartment, Vash close behind. She stopped, her smile faltering slightly before it came back again. "Kiba! I was just getting ready to call you!" She hung her keys on the small hooks by her door and crossed the room to give him a hug and a quick kiss.

He returned her embrace, smiling as he pushed away to look at her. "Mer, how are you?" his smile dropped the moment he saw Vash, however, and it was all he could do not to scowl in the strangers direction. "Who's this?" He asked flatly.

Meryl smiled nervously. If it was one thing she knew about Kiba, it was how jealous he could actually be. His usually warm and kind demeanor went from hot to cold instantly when he felt that way.

"Kiba, this is my old friend Vash. Vash, my boyfriend Kiba." She tried to sound normal, hiding the nervousness she felt at the awkward meeting. Vash to the rescue…

He plastered his most friendly smile on, holding out his hand to Kiba, saying, "Nice to meet you! Meryl has told me all about you! You are much taller than I expected, though that just must be because Meryl's so short!" he joked, instantly diffusing the situation.

Meryl's eyebrow ticked, but she smiled as she felt Kiba begin to relax, even allowing a small smile as he shook Vash's hand, responding, "Yeah, she is abnormally short, don't you think?" He winked in her direction and she felt her eyebrow tick again as both men began to chuckle at her expense.

"Well, if you two are done laughing at me, you can help me put away the food!" she huffed as she stalked by them. She let her smile grow however as she went. 'At least Kiba seems to be handling this well.' Indeed, he and Vash were already hitting it off, although she could still sense Kiba's weariness of the newcomer. It wasn't a real shocker to her; he was very kind and fun loving, but always this way with new people. It took time for him to open up. Especially with another male, a male who was a friend of hers.

"So Kiba, how about dinner at the Happy Sumo? Milly invited us all so we could catch up. She is a friend of Vash as well and we went to see her today."

Kiba reached up to put a box of donuts on top of the fridge, looking a bit strangely at them as he answered, "That sounds fine. Mer, I didn't know you liked donuts…"

Vash immediately jumped in. "Oh, those are mine. I love them!" he smiled as he continued to put the food away.

Kiba nodded slowly, pinning Meryl with a questioning look. "Mer, could we talk for a moment?" he asked quietly and she nodded, looking to Vash.

"Can you excuse us a moment?" Her look was apologetic and Vash smiled broadly saying, "Don't worry, I'll get them all put away."

Kiba led Meryl to her room, shutting the door behind them. She sat on her bed while he remained standing. "What's going on Meryl?"

She sighed as she played with the silver ring on her right hand absently. "I offered him a place to stay while he's in town. I ran into him last night and he had no where to go, so I have an extra room…"

"What? Absolutely not!" Kiba nearly yelled, trying to contain his disapproval.

Meryl's eyebrows knitted together as she felt her temper rise. She fought hard to keep her voice calm. "Kiba, you don't really have a say. I am a grown responsible woman, who is quite capable of making her own decisions."

"But Meryl, he's-"

"A friend and nothing more! If you truly trust me, let me make the decision on my own! Now, I'm going back out there. This is very rude." She stood; brushing passed him and placing her hand upon the door.

Vash nearly jumped away as he quickly made his way back to the kitchen, shoving the rest of the donuts on top of the fridge. When Meryl and Kiba rounded the corner, the tension was thick and Vash did his best to smile widely. "Everything ok?"

"Yes Vash. Thank you for putting the rest of it away." Meryl smiled wearily at him.

He stood quite for a bit, looking at his feet. "You know, if this doesn't work, I could always-"

"Nonsense Vash. You are my friend and there is no reason that you should pay for a hotel when I have a perfectly good spare room. Kiba just needs to remember that he is not my father, that's all." She nearly bit out as she folded her arms, pinning her boyfriend with a look. Kiba visibly winced, knowing full well that Meryl had quite a sharp tongue when angry.

The tension thickened and Vash smiled, saying, "Well, I'm off to shower before we go tonight. Nice to meet you Kiba and we can talk more at dinner, okay?" he waved and all but ran to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

Meryl turned to Kiba, who had an irritated look. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you. But, you did it to me and I wanted you to realize how silly you are acting." She said quietly.

Kiba nodded his head slowly, looking up to meet her gaze. "I know. And I'm sorry too. I just was…a little surprised to see him come in behind you, that's all. I just let my jealousy get in the way, I guess."

"There's nothing to be jealous of, Kiba. He is a friend. He helped me a lot in the past, and I wanted to help him out now."

"Why haven't you mentioned his name before?" Kiba couldn't help but question.

"We just…lost contact. I haven't thought about him in a while, I guess…" She lied and felt the cold stab of guilt in her heart.

"Oh…I see." Kiba said quietly, then looked at her again with a smile. "What time tonight again?"

"Seven."

Kiba looked at his watch. It was about three. "I'll be back about 6:45?" he said hopefully and she smiled, nodding.

"That's great. I'll see you then." She leaned into him, kissing him and then showed him to the door, where he turned to give her one last smile before disappearing down the stairs.