Chapter 10: Revelations and Preparations

Vash watched silently and in awe, sitting completely still in his chair. He didn't want to risk disturbing any part of the incredible process that he was witnessing. While Anya was away at work, Mr. Harper had offered to show Vash his workshop. The invitation had been extended to his friends as well but they had opted out. Wolfwood had said that he was going around the town while the girls had said that they had some reports to catch up on. So Vash was alone, paying rapt attention as Anya's father worked the hot molten material into stunning glass creations.

Mr. Harper's only requirement of his guest was that Vash observe from a safe distance from the ovens. Even from where he was sitting, Vash could feel the incredible heat from the great ovens. He had even stripped off his red coat and set it on the back of his chair in an effort to keep himself cool. Although, for as warm as Vash was getting, it couldn't compare to what Mr. Harper felt. Sweat seemed to run down his face and arms in thin streams, soaking his clothes through and causing them to stick to his protective leather apron. Adding to his strain was the long metal pole that he wielded in his strong hands. He used that pole to rotate his works in the oven while reducing the risk of receiving a burn himself. Every so often, Mr. Harper would pull out the work-in-progress and give it a brief inspection to see how it was progressing. Without saying a word, he either put it back in the heat, smoothed a part of it out, or began cooling the piece. The process was painstaking in detail but the finished product made it worth the trouble. Vash marveled at it all and found himself once again thinking of his brother.

How could humans be evil if they can create such incredible things? he mused to himself. He doubted that Knives would ever understand but that didn't mean that Vash would stop trying. He couldn't, especially not after finding Anya and seeing how she had thrived under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Harper.

Vash's encouraging thoughts were then interrupted by a sudden surge of worry. It made his stomach twist in unease and a chill go up his spine. The inexplicable sensation confused him. He slowly got up from his seat to investigate, grabbing his coat as he stood, then quietly headed out of the workshop. The sensation grew stronger even though he was alone in the yard and couldn't see the source. As his confusion began to turn to frustration, the intrusive worried sensation turned to fear. The change had been so quick and intense; it nearly knocked Vash from his feet. He almost thought he could hear a woman crying. He gasped once and his eyes widened in sudden understanding.

The outlaw raced into the house, following the twisted feeling in his gut. He found the source standing in the foyer perfectly still, her rod and belt dangling loosely from her hand. Anya didn't appear hurt but the look on her face scared Vash. Her skin was deathly pale and slicked with sweat. Her pale blue eyes were wide with terror as tears slid down her cheeks, mingling with her sweat. Something had frightened her terribly and now she seemed to be in a shocked stupor.

Vash cautiously approached her, careful not to startle her with quick movements. He also kept his arms out wide, welcome and non-threatening.

"Anya, I don't know what happened but you're safe now. You're home and you're with me. It's going to be okay," he said soothingly in calm even tones.

Hearing Vash's voice, Anya seemed to come out of her daze. Her bottom lip quivered and suddenly she was wracked with fresh sobs. Her body seemed to give out and Vash rushed to catch her before she could hit the floor. The worried man held her tightly and stroked the back of her head.

"Sshh. You're okay. I'm here," he whispered again, attempting to calm her.

No matter how gently Vash held Anya or how calmly he spoke to her, she still sobbed and her body shook uncontrollably. Vash's heart thudded wildly in his chest as his panic rose. What had happened today?

What he did know was that he had to calm down and find out what had transpired while Anya had been at the tavern. Vash draped his coat over her slender shoulders then carefully scooped her up into his arms and carried her to one of the sofas. He sat down and had Anya sitting beside him with her legs over his lap and her head resting against his chest. One of his arms rested on her knees while the other held her, gently rubbing her arm. Slowly Anya began to calm down. Deep down, Vash hoped that this was just a sensory overload problem involving her problems because if someone had actually hurt her, Vash didn't know what he would do or what he was capable of doing.

"Vash?"

The quiet voice pulled Vash from his dark thoughts. Looking down he saw Anya looking up at him. She had calmed immensely but Vash could still see flickers of fear in her wide eyes.

"What is it, Anya?" he whispered gently. "What happened today?"

"He found me, Vash. He found me."

Vash's heart filled with dread at the implication of her words but he quickly squashed those feelings and attempted to remain calm. Anya was going through enough without having to feel his worries as well.

"Anya, who are you talking about?" he asked, carefully re-directing his questions.

"A man came into the tavern today. A stranger with blue hair and a garish white coat. He mentally forced people to do terrible things. I had to stop him. I had no choice," she explained softly. "But when I did, it was like he recognized my power."

At this point, Anya's lower lip trembled again and she began to shake. She looked back up at Vash, eyes brimming with fresh tears.

"Vash, he knows Knives! He'll tell him and lead him straight here! Knives will try to take me back!" she exclaimed on the verge of panic.

Vash grimaced as he held Anya a little tighter. Legato had been here, toying with Anya. Now Knives would come for her. The thought made his stomach turn. He met Anya's eyes, a determined look on his face.

"Anya, you are not alone. We're in this together. I swear I won't let him take you," he answered firmly.

Anya must have read his emotions and felt his resolve because her tears stopped and she finally stopped shaking. A small grin even began to make its way to her face. She lightly traced her fingertips along his face then rested her hand on the back of his neck.

"Vash, thank you."

"For what?"

"For being you. For being honest with me."

He chuckled.

"Why would I lie? I'm crazy about you. I won't let my brother come near you."

It wasn't just the words that calmed her; it was the sincerity behind them. Anya's own emotions were mirrored in Vash and she knew without a doubt that he would protect her. Bolstered by those thoughts, the adrenaline from the past few hours finally began to ebb, replaced by a wave of sheer exhaustion. The gentle rhythm of Vash's heartbeat combined with his steady breathing made Anya's eyes grow heavy and soon she was asleep.

The ever-perceptive gunman noticed immediately and smiled wistfully. He kissed her forehead gently, shifting slightly so they could both be comfortable but so he wouldn't disturb her. He continued to watch Anya sleep, huddled underneath his long coat, as his thoughts went over what Anya had told him. Vash knew that Legato's arrival involved him. Everywhere he went, the leader of the sadistic Gung-ho Guns seemed to find him. Vash had no doubt that Legato had targeted Anya in order to harm him. Nothing pleased the assassin more than harming innocents because he knew that those tactics did more damage to Vash than any personal attack that could be devised.

And now the stakes were raised considerably. Because of Legato, Knives would come here searching for Anya. Independent plants, let alone female ones were a rarity. In the hundreds of years of their existence on this planet, no others had been 'born'. Vash's brother would not stop until Anya was his and his alone. Ready or not, Vash would have to face his brother and he would have to win. He couldn't even bring himself to think of any other outcome.

The gunman sighed deeply and tightened his hold on Anya's sleeping form. She stirred slightly then nestled once more against Vash's chest. He watched her and once more he was struck by her beauty, marveling at her very existence. The miraculous part was that she had chosen him. For the longest time, he had resigned himself to being alone but now, with her here, everything had changed. Anything was possible. Vash kissed Anya's forehead again as a single, grateful tear slid down his cheek. Yes, he would fight for her; defend her, pretty much do whatever she asked of him. Comforted by that thought, he nestled into the couch, still holding Anya and closed his eyes. They needed to grab rest when they could because Vash had a feeling that soon they wouldn't have time for it.

-)*(-

Miles away in the middle of nowhere, far from any town or village, beneath the sand and stone was a hidden complex. It was comprised of wires and metal and was more advanced than any other facility found on the planet. The most striking feature though, was a cavernous room that held rows and rows of plant cells. Each giant construct hummed with power and gave off a subtle, warm glow. They powered the facility but were also sustained and protected by the facility in a loop. Each plant had been recovered from fallen ships and kept safe here from the humans. The being responsible for the recovery resided currently in the center of the room in a pod of his own. It was similar in design to the other plant pods except much smaller, formed to fit a being the size of a human.

There lay Millons Knives, twin brother of Vash the Stampede. He was similar to Vash in height and build but that was it. Where Vash's hair was spiky and golden hued, Knives had close-cropped, white-blonde hair. Where Vash's eyes were emerald green, Knives' eyes were a steely blue. Their temperaments were also vastly different. While Vash could be easy-going and imaginative, Knives was cold and analytical. Vash was the dreamer, the optimist and Knives was the cynic, the realist. During his time spent healing in the pod, Knives often contemplated his brother's behavior and how maybe he could still twist his deluded 'other half' to his way of thinking. Those musings didn't last long though for Knives knew deep down that Vash would never be turned. The events in the city of July had assured that. So like usual, Knives' thoughts turned back to his plans for when he would cleanse this world of the human disease.

It was during one such planning session when he felt an intrusion in his mind. It wasn't offensive, but more subtle and questioning, like a visitor asking to step in. It had to be Legato for no one else had the skill nor knew how to reach him. Knives abandoned his planning and focused on his subordinate's consciousness.

What is it, Legato? Be quick, I'm busy.

Of course, Master. I shall not take long.

Knives smirked to himself. Legato may have been only human, but he knew his place and he followed Knives' requests to the letter. Such help was so hard to find these days.

Master, in my travels following Vash the Stampede, I have come upon someone that requires your attention, his subordinate thought urgently.

Really, Legato? I trust you to take care of it yourself, Knives scoffed. His underling was slightly taken aback by his master's indifference but the leader of the Gung-ho Guns would not be deterred.

Master, I assure you that this demands your attention!

With that, Legato went into a lengthy explanation of the recent events, including a detailed description of his opponent. When Knives saw the mental image of the woman who had bested Legato, his breath caught in his throat and his heart skipped a beat. He held onto that image, going over every detail until he was absolutely certain. This woman was the plant-child he had lost years ago, the one he had intended on being his perfect companion. Losing her had been one of his greatest failures and now here she was, all grown up and stunning, not only in beauty but in power as well.

Master, are you feeling well? Legato's questioning thoughts once again interrupted Knives' musings. Rather than scold his underling, Knives let out a gleeful laugh.

Legato, I am fantastic! You have done a fabulous job! Here is what I need of you now. Find a quiet area and observe her only. Do not act for she will know. Only observe! I will come to you and handle this directly, he replied. He almost laughed again as he felt Legato's relief through their mental connection.

Yes, Master. I will do as you ask, Legato answered obediently.

In a matter of moments, Knives was once again alone. However, instead of thinking of human eradication, his thoughts were now on that woman, Anya. How fortuitous that he had found her now! That he could be allowed a chance to fix what he had broken. He still remembered the moment when he had decided that he had wanted Anya as a true companion and not just another subordinate.

-)*(-

30 Years Ago

Knives grabbed the last parcel of supplies then after a curt nod to the grocer; he turned back toward the exit and stepped out of the store. He squinted briefly, becoming accustomed once again to the bright light. Once he could see again, he scanned the area looking for Anya. Still being a child, she had an annoying habit of wandering off. Not only did it annoy him but he always worried that some stupid human would try to harm her. For some reason though, after he found her and she gave him that sweet smile, he could never stay angry with her.

Thankfully, this time she had remained close to the store. At first Knives thought that she was simply people-watching as was her habit. But as Knives got closer he noticed that she was standing perfectly still, her spine as straight as a pike. She was looking past the people, focused on something only she could see. Knives was only beginning to learn about Anya's abilities but he knew from this behavior that she had sensed something. He slowly set down the packages and knelt beside her. She hadn't even registered his movement.

"Anya, Anya, wake up," he coaxed gently in a whisper. "It's Knives. Tell me what you see."

At the sound of his voice, Anya finally blinked, turning her head to face him. Knives was surprised to see a sad look on her face and her eyes were full of unshed tears. Before answering she took the collar of her cloak and dried her eyes.

"Knives, she's dying and no one can help her! No one can hear her pain! The other one can't even hear her! We have to help!" she exclaimed in anguish.

"Who's dying, sweetheart? Is it one of ours?" Knives asked, more out of curiosity than alarm.

She nodded emphatically then raced off down the street. Knives quickly grabbed the parcels and followed. The little girl was amazingly quick but Knives managed to keep pace with her through the crowded streets. They finally stopped at the plant power center. Two plant units resided here. One seemed to be functioning properly while the other seemed broken and dim. It was that one that Anya now approached, tears now streaming freely down her face.

"Oh Knives, she's so sick and so scared! What can we do?" she asked helplessly. Knives frowned and studied the imprisoned creature.

"Probably nothing. The humans have badly mistreated our sister. The only thing we can do is let her pass in peace then punish the humans for their ill treatment of her," he answered bluntly. He put his hand on Anya's shoulder to guide her away but she shrugged him off and face him, her face a mask of rage and incredulity.

"We do nothing?! How can you say that?" she yelled angrily. "How dare you even think that?"

As the small plant-child yelled at him, Knives noticed a faint glow coming from Anya's hands. What did it mean, he wondered. Meanwhile Anya's rage continued to play out.

"If we hurt the humans for this and leave one of our own to die then we are no better than them! I refuse to give up!" she yelled as the glow grew brighter. For someone so small she was certainly loud. Although, Knives was impressed by her strength of will. Suddenly she spun away from Knives and slammed her hands, open-palmed, against the glass of the containment unit. Bright energy poured from Anya, arcing up into the plant. Knives watched in awe of the impressive display. When it was over after a few minutes, the energy dissipated and Anya turned back to Knives looking tired but pleased. Knives placed his own hand on the glass, opening his mind to the contained plant. Immediately he was struck with waves of joy and relief. All points of weakness and sickness were gone. Shocked, Knives broke the connection and looked down at Anya.

"You…you healed her?"

"Yes, of course I did. Clearly you weren't going to do it," she answered as if it had been no trouble at all. Knives knelt before her, shock still evident on his face.

"Anya, without the proper tools, I can only do partial reconstructions."

Anya's face hardened and Knives was rewarded with a stinging slap to the face. He was about to deliver a furious retort but she beat him to it.

"Don't lie! You gave up! You were ready to just let her die. Don't you ever do that again! It's the same as if you were to give up on me! If you do that again, I'll never forgive you!" she yelled.

Knives was too stunned to speak. She had stood up to him with no fear of reprisal. She had also just challenged him to be better, as if to make him a more worthy companion. Knives had been alone among lesser creatures for so long he had forgotten that being with one of his own could require more. His shocked visage soon turned apologetic, which was quite rare for proud Knives, and he wrapped Anya in a tight hug.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to be better," he promised. But only because it's you, he added quietly to himself. Only for you.

-)*(-)*(-

Yay chapter 10! Things are going to get real interesting now. Hope everyone likes it. Please continue commenting. I really appreciate it. Thank you! Will be starting Chapter 11 soon.