People cannot change who they are. They can change everything else, their appearances, their beliefs, but they can never truly re-arrange themselves to a point where there are a different soul.
Millie woke with this thought in her sleepy mind. Stretching out on the comfy bed like a cat, She pondered Meryl in the next room and her desperate attempts to hide who she was. It made her sad seeing her best friend like that. She was obviously very lost and very lonely and it made Millie hurt even more knowing that Meryl had refused her help openly.
Before she could chew things over in her mind to the point of where it became stale, A rustling of bed sheets that werent' hers filled the room's silent corners. A groan followed shortly after by the creak of bedsprings told her that Wolfwood-san had awoken as well. She rolled over, hugging her pillow, and smiled.
"Morning." It was a simple greeting but very sweet. And Wolfwood didn't let it go unnoticed. He returned the smile, for once a cigarette not poking out of his face, and stretched.
"Morning. Told you he wouldn't be back." Wolfwood rubbed his eyes and then threw off his covers. Millie blushed at his boldess but than bashfully followed his naked torso around the room with her eyes. She herself had been very nervous to walk into the room with her pajamas on, as innocent as they were. But he acted like it was no big deal to be in a state of undress around her and before she even had time to act on it he had sauntered into the bathroom and shut the door.
For a long while, Millie sat in silence, still blushing at the memory. There was no doubt in her mind she was attracted to the priest but being very naive in the flirting or relationship department she never paid much attention to it. And now seeing him in nothing but a pair of nice-fitting black jeans and white socks...She blushed further. That almost made her forget all about her problems. She shook her head, knocking softly on the top part of her skull, and smiled giddily. And then she dutifully reminded herself that she had to get dressed. Molly would need help making breakfast for all of them and probably would need an extra pair of hands to clean up afterwards. Not to mention, She was dying to check up on Meryl and Vash, slightly out of curiosity, but more of concern for her best friend in the world.
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"That's a nice song." Vash stood off in one of the small corners of the dusty room, watching with a small smile the two girls seated at the old piano.
It struck him as odd that he kept dreaming about Meryl and her sister. He had never had dreams of other people before. Usually the only thing he saw in his sleep was her, surrounded by geranium petals, gazing out over a beautiful sky. But when he woke the next morning he was nothing but sorrowful, feeling guilty for his past, but most of all, for how she died.
He was jolted out of his reverie at the smaller girl's tiny shriek of frustration. He hadn't been listening to their conversation but it must have taken a turn for the worse because the small Meryl was on the defensive, staring down the older girl with a frown on her tiny face.
"Why not?"
"Because Meryl, I'd much rather play a different song-"
"No, Rosemary. I want to hear that one." Vash grinned. Well one thing was for sure and that was Meryl's temper and determination was very much in action, even at such a tender age. Rosemary looked back at her with equal fervor.
The girls looked different in this dream, older it seemed. Maybe it was simply their clothing. Both had their hair down completely, the color blending in with their long sleeved dressed. They both donned white aprons, Meryl's sporting more stains than Rosemary's and bare feet. Together they looked like twins, down to the very last hair on their heads. Their only major differences were in their height and in their eyes. Rosemary's eyes seemed more mature, more knowing, while Meryl's still retained their youthful innocence. Vash sighed warily. They no longer held that same fire.
"I haven't played that song in a very long time. Wouldn't you like something a little bit more upbeat?" Rosemary looked back down at the off-white keys, brushing the pads of her fingers over them. Meryl gave a 'hmph' and folded her arms over her small torso. She leaned back on her haunches on the piano bench.
"No. Mom and Dad liked that song-"
"So? Are you going to do everything they like for the rest of your life?" Rosemary's hidden temper flared suddenly, her blue eyes burning with loathing. Vash narrowed his eyes. Molly had said that Bill and Merle, Rosemary and Meryl's parents had gone off to finish an investigation, leaving the two with her. But she never said for how long. Maybe their prolonged absence was the reason for Rosemary's seemingly bitter view towards them.
"I don't want you to play it just because Mom and Dad liked it..I want you to play it because it was one of my favorites too." Meryl looked away, tears growing in her eyes. Her shoulders began to shake with the effort of keeping her sobs in check. However soon she was taking short, quick breaths, while the tears poured from her lids.
Rosemary's disapprovement fell away immediately replaced with one of guilt. She leaned over and enveloped her younger sister in a hug and whispered apologies over and over again. Suddenly, she lifted Meryl up off the bench and into her lap. Guiding in limp hands onto the keys, Rosemary began to direct her in what keys to push.
Vash looked on with a warm smile as Rosemary helped Meryl create the sad yet lovely melody and he faintly recognized it. It was very similar to Rem's lullaby and yet so very different. He was about to walk to the piano to see what music she was reading to create such a song when suddenly something shifted in his arms and he woke.
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Meryl yawned and tried moving her warm but numb arms. She unfurled them from around a solid object, something that was soft yet hard at the same time. A human. Meryl didn't want to open her eyes to the streaming sunlight because not only did it mean she would have to face him, but also face Millie, Wolfwood, and Molly. And that was something her heart just was not in.
But she did open her eyes. Well, she opened one eye to begin with and surveyed her surroundings. She was on her side facing Vash's still clothed body. Her arms had been tightly wrapped around him when she had returned to reality.
Last night hit her like a ton of bricks and Meryl felt the beginning pangs of a headache. The throbs promised a migraine and usually they never broke their promise. Meryl rolled over slowly, her breath hitching everytime she moved in a way that disagreed with the hole in her back. Even after all this time, She wasn't sure if she had even really been shot. It wasn't that hard to accept. She got shot, fell unconcious, supposedly nearly died from blood loss, and yet here she was. Alive. And for some odd reason she couldn't bring herself to feel thankful.
Standing on wobbly legs, Meryl slowly limped her way to the bathroom attatched to her room. She opened the door, half expecting someone to be in there waiting to pounce on her. But there was no one and so she went in and did what she had to do.
When she returned, Vash was awake and standing in front of one of her two windows. Meryl couldn't help but blush at the sight before her. He reminded her of a god or one of those heroic knights basking in the brilliant sunshine. His straw blonde hair had fallen from it's stick straight style and some of it hung in his eyes giving him a childish look. He was still dressed but he had untucked his shirt tails and let it hang open around his muscled frame. With one arm propped up on the pane and one in his pocket, he looked...well..magnificent.
Vash had been looking out over the town when he heard the toilet flush and the bathroom door open. Now, he was sneakily staring out of the corner of his eye at the woman standing there, obviously staring back at him. He smiled slightly and turned to face her fully. The tall gunmen couldn't resist a small laugh as she blushed deeply and then turned away in embarrassment. He couldn't tell if it was because she had been found out or that they both had slept in each other's arms last night.
Meryl opened her mouth to say something and then hesitated. She wasn't sure if she would regret admitting what she been about to say to him but for some reason she couldn't help the feeling of sharing her recent musing with the man before her.
"I'd like to thank you..for staying with me last night. It's probably the first night in how many that I've slept completely through." Her voice, small as it was, usually resounded in a small room like this, but in this uneasy calm it sounded so frail, so fragile. She didn't like it at all, in fact, it made the hair on the back of her neck rise.
"Yeah. Me too." Vash watched her reaction with some amusement. Being up half the night, He knew that she didn't sleep well either, and if he knew then she certainly must have had at least a hunch he suffered the same. Meryl nodded and then sat down on the bed. Her movements were still slow and pained so he moved to help her.
"Thank you but I can sit on my own." She gently chided, flashing him a small smile, a forced one. Vash sat beside her and began to speak, choosing his words carefully.
"I know. Meryl, I know that..this is a touchy subject for you but, do you mind if we-"
"It's okay. I knew this would happen someday. I guess I didn't think it would happen this soon." Meryl flushed at yesterday's actions. Maybe it had been some of the drugs that Tommy, Molly's son, had prescribed her. They were mostly painkillers but there were some sleeping pills as well. They made her incredibly tempermental. Sighing, Meryl sadly accepted that she could blame her behaviour on the drugs if she had wanted but deep down in her heart she'd always know that she had flown off the handle of her own accord.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of." Vash said soothinly, placing a large hand on her back.
"How come you seem to know so much? You're always acting like a goofball and then there are moments like these were you appear to be the wisest man on the planet?" Meryl asked laughingly. Vash chuckled a little too.
"I suppose I hide behind it. It's like a disguise." Meryl's eyes widened and she gathered up the courage to look Vash straight in the eye for the first time that morning. He was being very sincere, a sad look written, or perhaps etched, into his features. But why should she be so surprised? Being one that suffers as well, Meryl knew a mask from a genuine face and she'd seen it many times on the man sitting next to her. Scolding herself inwardly for acting like a fool, She gave a sorrowful smile.
"Yes. A disguise." Before the conversation could truly blossom, there came a tiny knock at the door. Both answered at the same time, blushing afterwards and giving small laughs of embarrassment.
"It's Millie. May I come in?" Meryl sighed and placed a hand on the bed post. She slowly began to rise off the bed, confident that she'd be able to do it herself. There was no pain so far and so she tried going a little faster. Just when she did, Meryl felt a ripping sensation in her lower back and let her breath hiss out between her teeth.
Vash was there in an instant. His strong arms helped her to stand and walk to the door. She shook her head mentally at her frailty. She hadn't been like this when she had been angry. In fact she had been able to walk very well and even stand up and sit down with aid. But now she was reduced to this, being walked around like an old grandma.
"Coming Millie."
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Molly set the pan down on the stove and cracked the eggs over it's steaming surface. Millie had been very kind to offer her help with the breakfast. Sometimes, Molly was sure that Meryl's friend could cook better than her. But if she did she wouldn't be heartbroken. After all, *she* cooked better than anyone Molly had ever known.
Deciding not to think about that for awhile, The woman went about her business, scurrying from one end of the kitchen to another, setting the table and making sure she didn't burn anything to a blackened crisp. Just as she was taking the eggs off the stove and placing them onto their respective plates, there was a loud pounding from the front door.
"Damn. Who calls this early in the morning?" She muttered to herself, smoothing her apron over her grey dress. Molly set the pan down on the table and walked down the hallway to the doorframe.
"Who is it?" She called out from behind the protection of her door. Never know who was on the other side these days.
"It's Leo, Molly." Molly opened the door without a moment's hesitation. Leo was a great friend, an old buddy of hers. Maybe that's what made it so surprising when there was no one standing on the porch. Molly was about to step outside when a delicate hand slapped over her mouth and pulled her out under the overhang.
She struggled until Leo stepped in her line of vision. She looked at him in confusion, trying to decipher the look in his eyes. Before she could however, a shadow from the eastern budding suns fell upon him. Behind him stood a very tall, handsome blonde man, wearing a top hat and a gentlemanly uniform.
"Madame Molly No-name. How pleasant it is to see you again."
I...need...sleeep.....next chapter...soon...like...tomorrow night or sometime monday.....plz review and grant a tired authoress' inspirational wishes....ciao...nite......ZZZzzzzzzz.....
Millie woke with this thought in her sleepy mind. Stretching out on the comfy bed like a cat, She pondered Meryl in the next room and her desperate attempts to hide who she was. It made her sad seeing her best friend like that. She was obviously very lost and very lonely and it made Millie hurt even more knowing that Meryl had refused her help openly.
Before she could chew things over in her mind to the point of where it became stale, A rustling of bed sheets that werent' hers filled the room's silent corners. A groan followed shortly after by the creak of bedsprings told her that Wolfwood-san had awoken as well. She rolled over, hugging her pillow, and smiled.
"Morning." It was a simple greeting but very sweet. And Wolfwood didn't let it go unnoticed. He returned the smile, for once a cigarette not poking out of his face, and stretched.
"Morning. Told you he wouldn't be back." Wolfwood rubbed his eyes and then threw off his covers. Millie blushed at his boldess but than bashfully followed his naked torso around the room with her eyes. She herself had been very nervous to walk into the room with her pajamas on, as innocent as they were. But he acted like it was no big deal to be in a state of undress around her and before she even had time to act on it he had sauntered into the bathroom and shut the door.
For a long while, Millie sat in silence, still blushing at the memory. There was no doubt in her mind she was attracted to the priest but being very naive in the flirting or relationship department she never paid much attention to it. And now seeing him in nothing but a pair of nice-fitting black jeans and white socks...She blushed further. That almost made her forget all about her problems. She shook her head, knocking softly on the top part of her skull, and smiled giddily. And then she dutifully reminded herself that she had to get dressed. Molly would need help making breakfast for all of them and probably would need an extra pair of hands to clean up afterwards. Not to mention, She was dying to check up on Meryl and Vash, slightly out of curiosity, but more of concern for her best friend in the world.
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"That's a nice song." Vash stood off in one of the small corners of the dusty room, watching with a small smile the two girls seated at the old piano.
It struck him as odd that he kept dreaming about Meryl and her sister. He had never had dreams of other people before. Usually the only thing he saw in his sleep was her, surrounded by geranium petals, gazing out over a beautiful sky. But when he woke the next morning he was nothing but sorrowful, feeling guilty for his past, but most of all, for how she died.
He was jolted out of his reverie at the smaller girl's tiny shriek of frustration. He hadn't been listening to their conversation but it must have taken a turn for the worse because the small Meryl was on the defensive, staring down the older girl with a frown on her tiny face.
"Why not?"
"Because Meryl, I'd much rather play a different song-"
"No, Rosemary. I want to hear that one." Vash grinned. Well one thing was for sure and that was Meryl's temper and determination was very much in action, even at such a tender age. Rosemary looked back at her with equal fervor.
The girls looked different in this dream, older it seemed. Maybe it was simply their clothing. Both had their hair down completely, the color blending in with their long sleeved dressed. They both donned white aprons, Meryl's sporting more stains than Rosemary's and bare feet. Together they looked like twins, down to the very last hair on their heads. Their only major differences were in their height and in their eyes. Rosemary's eyes seemed more mature, more knowing, while Meryl's still retained their youthful innocence. Vash sighed warily. They no longer held that same fire.
"I haven't played that song in a very long time. Wouldn't you like something a little bit more upbeat?" Rosemary looked back down at the off-white keys, brushing the pads of her fingers over them. Meryl gave a 'hmph' and folded her arms over her small torso. She leaned back on her haunches on the piano bench.
"No. Mom and Dad liked that song-"
"So? Are you going to do everything they like for the rest of your life?" Rosemary's hidden temper flared suddenly, her blue eyes burning with loathing. Vash narrowed his eyes. Molly had said that Bill and Merle, Rosemary and Meryl's parents had gone off to finish an investigation, leaving the two with her. But she never said for how long. Maybe their prolonged absence was the reason for Rosemary's seemingly bitter view towards them.
"I don't want you to play it just because Mom and Dad liked it..I want you to play it because it was one of my favorites too." Meryl looked away, tears growing in her eyes. Her shoulders began to shake with the effort of keeping her sobs in check. However soon she was taking short, quick breaths, while the tears poured from her lids.
Rosemary's disapprovement fell away immediately replaced with one of guilt. She leaned over and enveloped her younger sister in a hug and whispered apologies over and over again. Suddenly, she lifted Meryl up off the bench and into her lap. Guiding in limp hands onto the keys, Rosemary began to direct her in what keys to push.
Vash looked on with a warm smile as Rosemary helped Meryl create the sad yet lovely melody and he faintly recognized it. It was very similar to Rem's lullaby and yet so very different. He was about to walk to the piano to see what music she was reading to create such a song when suddenly something shifted in his arms and he woke.
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Meryl yawned and tried moving her warm but numb arms. She unfurled them from around a solid object, something that was soft yet hard at the same time. A human. Meryl didn't want to open her eyes to the streaming sunlight because not only did it mean she would have to face him, but also face Millie, Wolfwood, and Molly. And that was something her heart just was not in.
But she did open her eyes. Well, she opened one eye to begin with and surveyed her surroundings. She was on her side facing Vash's still clothed body. Her arms had been tightly wrapped around him when she had returned to reality.
Last night hit her like a ton of bricks and Meryl felt the beginning pangs of a headache. The throbs promised a migraine and usually they never broke their promise. Meryl rolled over slowly, her breath hitching everytime she moved in a way that disagreed with the hole in her back. Even after all this time, She wasn't sure if she had even really been shot. It wasn't that hard to accept. She got shot, fell unconcious, supposedly nearly died from blood loss, and yet here she was. Alive. And for some odd reason she couldn't bring herself to feel thankful.
Standing on wobbly legs, Meryl slowly limped her way to the bathroom attatched to her room. She opened the door, half expecting someone to be in there waiting to pounce on her. But there was no one and so she went in and did what she had to do.
When she returned, Vash was awake and standing in front of one of her two windows. Meryl couldn't help but blush at the sight before her. He reminded her of a god or one of those heroic knights basking in the brilliant sunshine. His straw blonde hair had fallen from it's stick straight style and some of it hung in his eyes giving him a childish look. He was still dressed but he had untucked his shirt tails and let it hang open around his muscled frame. With one arm propped up on the pane and one in his pocket, he looked...well..magnificent.
Vash had been looking out over the town when he heard the toilet flush and the bathroom door open. Now, he was sneakily staring out of the corner of his eye at the woman standing there, obviously staring back at him. He smiled slightly and turned to face her fully. The tall gunmen couldn't resist a small laugh as she blushed deeply and then turned away in embarrassment. He couldn't tell if it was because she had been found out or that they both had slept in each other's arms last night.
Meryl opened her mouth to say something and then hesitated. She wasn't sure if she would regret admitting what she been about to say to him but for some reason she couldn't help the feeling of sharing her recent musing with the man before her.
"I'd like to thank you..for staying with me last night. It's probably the first night in how many that I've slept completely through." Her voice, small as it was, usually resounded in a small room like this, but in this uneasy calm it sounded so frail, so fragile. She didn't like it at all, in fact, it made the hair on the back of her neck rise.
"Yeah. Me too." Vash watched her reaction with some amusement. Being up half the night, He knew that she didn't sleep well either, and if he knew then she certainly must have had at least a hunch he suffered the same. Meryl nodded and then sat down on the bed. Her movements were still slow and pained so he moved to help her.
"Thank you but I can sit on my own." She gently chided, flashing him a small smile, a forced one. Vash sat beside her and began to speak, choosing his words carefully.
"I know. Meryl, I know that..this is a touchy subject for you but, do you mind if we-"
"It's okay. I knew this would happen someday. I guess I didn't think it would happen this soon." Meryl flushed at yesterday's actions. Maybe it had been some of the drugs that Tommy, Molly's son, had prescribed her. They were mostly painkillers but there were some sleeping pills as well. They made her incredibly tempermental. Sighing, Meryl sadly accepted that she could blame her behaviour on the drugs if she had wanted but deep down in her heart she'd always know that she had flown off the handle of her own accord.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of." Vash said soothinly, placing a large hand on her back.
"How come you seem to know so much? You're always acting like a goofball and then there are moments like these were you appear to be the wisest man on the planet?" Meryl asked laughingly. Vash chuckled a little too.
"I suppose I hide behind it. It's like a disguise." Meryl's eyes widened and she gathered up the courage to look Vash straight in the eye for the first time that morning. He was being very sincere, a sad look written, or perhaps etched, into his features. But why should she be so surprised? Being one that suffers as well, Meryl knew a mask from a genuine face and she'd seen it many times on the man sitting next to her. Scolding herself inwardly for acting like a fool, She gave a sorrowful smile.
"Yes. A disguise." Before the conversation could truly blossom, there came a tiny knock at the door. Both answered at the same time, blushing afterwards and giving small laughs of embarrassment.
"It's Millie. May I come in?" Meryl sighed and placed a hand on the bed post. She slowly began to rise off the bed, confident that she'd be able to do it herself. There was no pain so far and so she tried going a little faster. Just when she did, Meryl felt a ripping sensation in her lower back and let her breath hiss out between her teeth.
Vash was there in an instant. His strong arms helped her to stand and walk to the door. She shook her head mentally at her frailty. She hadn't been like this when she had been angry. In fact she had been able to walk very well and even stand up and sit down with aid. But now she was reduced to this, being walked around like an old grandma.
"Coming Millie."
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Molly set the pan down on the stove and cracked the eggs over it's steaming surface. Millie had been very kind to offer her help with the breakfast. Sometimes, Molly was sure that Meryl's friend could cook better than her. But if she did she wouldn't be heartbroken. After all, *she* cooked better than anyone Molly had ever known.
Deciding not to think about that for awhile, The woman went about her business, scurrying from one end of the kitchen to another, setting the table and making sure she didn't burn anything to a blackened crisp. Just as she was taking the eggs off the stove and placing them onto their respective plates, there was a loud pounding from the front door.
"Damn. Who calls this early in the morning?" She muttered to herself, smoothing her apron over her grey dress. Molly set the pan down on the table and walked down the hallway to the doorframe.
"Who is it?" She called out from behind the protection of her door. Never know who was on the other side these days.
"It's Leo, Molly." Molly opened the door without a moment's hesitation. Leo was a great friend, an old buddy of hers. Maybe that's what made it so surprising when there was no one standing on the porch. Molly was about to step outside when a delicate hand slapped over her mouth and pulled her out under the overhang.
She struggled until Leo stepped in her line of vision. She looked at him in confusion, trying to decipher the look in his eyes. Before she could however, a shadow from the eastern budding suns fell upon him. Behind him stood a very tall, handsome blonde man, wearing a top hat and a gentlemanly uniform.
"Madame Molly No-name. How pleasant it is to see you again."
I...need...sleeep.....next chapter...soon...like...tomorrow night or sometime monday.....plz review and grant a tired authoress' inspirational wishes....ciao...nite......ZZZzzzzzzz.....