Once anger had died down in Knives, he thought of his brother more deeply. When it came to attacking him, he knew Vash so well, but in alliance…an alliance in which Vash was the leader? It was easy for Knives to feel misplaced; a fifth wheel. What did he want?

He thought once again of how he didn't really want his brother to die, and he dared ponder on it longer. When had this thought changed?

With a sudden prick, Knives sensed his brother. He stopped walking and turned to see Vash's red coat furling around him. It was then Knives realized he had wandered so far into the city. He had walked quite a few blocks.

Vash hadn't followed him in a long time. Was he suspicious of Knives…?

"Where are you going?" Vash asked with caution.

Just as Vash had expected, Knives didn't answer.

"I'm sorry we had an argument," Vash ventured further. "But there are more important matters."

Vash half expected a reply containing to the repetitious idea of plants being the most important matter alive, but Knives remained silent.

"We're going to get everyone out of the city…" Vash continued. "Would you… be willing to help?"

Knives debated in his head. He took a sophisticated step towards him, and Vash slightly flinched. For the first time it bothered Knives. He proceeded to reach his hand out, cautiously, Vash shook it.

Vash's sea-green eyes looked down at their hand and up at his brother with animated eyes.

"You're going to help us?" Vash asked, and clamped his arms around his brother, rivers running out of his eyes and down his cheeks.

Knives felt very awkward and uncomfortable as his brother embraced him.

"I'm so happy!"

A sweatdrop hung on Knives. This was lasting way too long.

"Vash, get off."

Vash immediately heeded. "Sorry."

Knives sighed.

….

Meryl, Millie, and Clint tried to think of ideas on how to get the town to leave while Vash was gone. They were still standing in front the luminous plants when they began to brainstorm.

"We'll just tell them Vash is here. For some reason that always gets people running," Millie said thoughtfully.

"Vash won't be too fond of the idea… we'll avoid it if we can." Meryl answered.

"Why does he have so much money on his head?" Clint asked curiously.

Meryl blinked, trying to find a flaw for a joke, but there was none in his innocent face. She was at a loss of words.

"Vash always has trouble after him," Millie said. "Meryl says it's heck keeping him out of it."

"Don't you know?" Meryl asked.

Clint shook his head.

Meryl was shocked, an individual who didn't know why Vash was so dangerous actually existed. She was about to knock it into him until she remembered how much he looked up to the outlaw.

Clint was afraid his mother would neglect telling him again… he was so close this time… he hadn't yet lost hope…

"I'll find out from the crowd anyway- just tell me!"

"He didn't intend it," Meryl said. "You know he wouldn't have."

"And?" Clint insisted.

"We don't have time for the story, but in short, he destroyed July and Augusta!"

"July and Augusta?"

"You know, the cities?"

"But-"

Meryl put her index finger to his lips. "We have to get everyone out of here right now. Plants can be deadly."

Clint's bones felt cold. He held his tongue, but his mind continued thinking on it. The horror on his father's face at the sight of the destruction was painted vividly in his mind. How did he do it? What exactly happened?

"Got it Clint?" Meryl asked.

"What?" Clint awoke from his daydream.

"We're going to talk to the employees who work with the plants," Millie explained.

"Clint…"

He looked at Meryl.

It was still shocking to see the resemblance in his face; just like when Vash was worried. For a moment she thought of comforting him, but she suddenly changed direction. "Let's get going."

"We shouldn't waste time," Clint replied.

It was a very short walk before they ran into someone who immediately chastised them for being in the building. The gentleman forcefully "showed" them to the front desk, and pointed to the exit doors from there.

But instead of leaving, Meryl slammed her hand on the desk with a loud bang.

"We need to see the man in charge!"

The secretary didn't even bother to look at them for several more seconds, but when her silver eyes finally met Meryl's, she said slowly "I need to see some identification."

"Millie!" Meryl ordered, and just from hearing her name Millie knew what was asked.

She began searching all her pockets…searching…searching…

"Millie!"

She searched harder until finally… "I don't think we've ever had to use our identification."

"You don't have yours?" Meryl asked.

"No, do you?"

A glance at Meryl's face told her "no".

Meryl turned back to the secretary.

"Listen, we're from Bernardeli insurance, and we need to issue a disaster prevention warning!"

"Well I'm sorry," the secretary lied, for it was obvious she felt no such emotion towards them. "But if no one has identification there is no way I'm letting you in."

"But this-!"

"Well then it just sucks to be you," the secretary answered sarcastically.

Clint stepped up to the desk. "We'll be long gone by the time this place is rubble, I wish we could say that about everyone else. The way these plants are acting up, this place will be worse than July by tomorrow. Now let me speak to the one who runs this place."

"I.D.?"

"He's 14," Meryl grumbled.

"15," Clint corrected and searched his pockets.

"I.D.?"

"Here it is," he pulled out the black and green card. He placed it on the desk.

The secretary studied it, glancing up once in a while to verify his facial features and noted the matching black and green tie.

"Willington School?" she asked.

"Student of course." Clint added. "Meryl and Millie are with me as well."

To their amazement, the secretary stood up and beckoned them down the hall. "It's this way."

Meryl followed, dumbfounded. What kind of place was this?

"Good thinking," Millie whispered to Clint.

The new room they entered was full of buttons, monitors, and employees.

The secretary brought the three to another man who had shocking red hair, and was the owner of a very stern look. Clint knew right off he was someone that shouldn't be tested; Clint's teacher, Mr. Moacher, always had the same fierce look in his eyes.

The secretary whispered something that they couldn't hear to him, and he his fierce eyes met theirs. Something about the eyes made the three of them speechless.

"Well? What is it?" He spat.

Meryl took control, and forced her emotion on him. "These plants are sick!" She growled.

"You think I don't know that?" He asked "Get to the point girls." He insisted, paying the littlest attention to Clint.

"We need to issue a disaster warning, an evacuation." Meryl proceeded.

"If we don't, all the people could get hurt," Millie added.

"More like annihilated!" Meryl corrected. "Because there hasn't been a warning issued, it's our job to make sure one gets issued as to prevent damage and death."

"Relax, gals, it's just a glitch in the system."

Meryl had a look of pure annoyance. Why was it so many men underestimated women? Did he think she was stupid?

"You think this is a glitch?" Clint asked.

"It's nothing we can't fix." The man answered.

Clint stared at him in disbelief. "Nothing? Nothing is wrong? Oh, no, it's not like this happened in December or Delta. This must be nothing! Nothing kills people. It's nothing that's happened. It's nothing that killed my dad!" He shouted at the man in frustration. If this man had been Mr. Moacher, Clint would have been taken straight to the principal's office. "You sure as heck better do something, or this nothing is going to happen to you!"

A dangerous fizzing noise erupted over electronic devices as Clint glared at the man before him, and for that slight moment, he looked more like Knives than Vash.

The employees scrambled with mechanics and buttons in the background.

"Boss, the levels are going crazy!"

The red-haired man glanced at the employee, who began turning knobs like mad.

"Help!It's all whacked." The employee then began pressing buttons, assuming that the harder and more he pressed, the sooner they would stop the sudden havoc.

"It's already happening?" Millie asked Meryl.

Meryl didn't answer her, she had an odd feeling that maybe the destruction wasn't coming from the infected plants.

The red-haired man turned his back on them.

"Hey!" Clint growled. "I'm not done with you!" He grabbed the man's shoulder and more electrical pops sounded followed by loud grunts of dumbfounded employees. "We need to get the word out now!"

If somehow Clint had managed to ever back talk Mr. Moacher this far, this would be the part where he would have received a slap to the face; the man quite looked tempted to take the same approach.

"Be a gentleman and please listen to these ladies," Clint insisted.

Crackle. Crackle. Pop!

"Please! Or we'll force a warning."

"Is a school student threatening me?"

"Only if you don't heed."

Sparks began flying from the machinery behind the red-haired man.

"Boss! Boss!" An employee cried. "Should we shut down the power?"

Clint glared through his sunglasses.

"Please, sir," Millie spoke.

"Boss! Boss! What do we do?"

"We'll send one," he answered.

"Now?" Clint asked.

"Yes."

"Show me."

The red-haired man hesitated and then proceeded. "Joseph!" He called. "Get your sorry butt to the mayor's office!"

Joseph, a very thin man who was half-listening to the conversation, asked no questions, and departed

A few moments later, Millie, Meryl, and Clint followed his example. The room had become so chaotic, that Clint suggested they leave too, and when they had weaved their way passed the front desk and through the grey exit doors, Millie turned to him.

"Wow, that was very brave of you, Clint." Millie told him. "I didn't know you could be so intimidating."

Clint on the other hand didn't find his action brave. He wasn't afraid of that man, he was just angry at him… he couldn't help but yell. He was a lot more afraid of who wouldn't leave the city if he didn't listen to them. This man underestimated them, surely others would as well.

It wasn't long until Vash returned.

"Vash is back with Knives," Meryl announced in relief. "We need to be cautious with him in such situations."

Clint was about to ask Meryl why, but the two blonds were close in ear shot now.

"Vash!" Millie called. "We've issued an evacuation warning!"

Vash was slightly surprised at the news.

"I think it's already starting. The plants are going hay-wire," she continued. "Sparks were flying out of the equipment.

/It was my fault really/ Clint told the twins.

/You're not supposed to communicate to me like this/ Vash thought back.

/I've already crossed the line when I made those sparks shoot out/ Clint explained.

/But it's important to me to save your energy in a time like this/ Vash answered.

Clint gave a small frown and looked away.

"Vash, I need to find Charles," Meryl said urgently.

Just as she had finished speaking, the large city speaker rang through the streets. The majority of people stopped in their tracks (it wasn't a very common occurrence) while others continued through the street with a brisk pace.

"Citizens of Sunset City are recommended to evacuate due to plant disruptions," came an astute voice.

"What do you need to find him for?" Knives snarled at Meryl.

"I understand," Vash answered, staring at her ring finger.

It was that look in Vash's eyes again. Meryl felt uncomfortable, and departed after suggesting Millie stay with them.

"Now what, dear brother?" Knives asked.

"We help get everyone out," Vash answered, still watching Meryl until a small family intercepted his view.

"We can't leave anyone behind," Millie agreed.

'No,' Vash thought, 'not even Charles.'

….

Meryl walked straight through the door of Charles' home- she didn't even hesitate to knock. She rushed around rooms calling his name until she turned a corner and nearly ran into him. She let the stress filled air out of her lungs, relieved she had found him.

"Meryl, are you okay?" He grabbed her arms, his sincere emerald eyes drilled into her lavender ones. He looked taken back with her; his concerned expression was framed with his brown hair.

"You've got to get out of here. Where are you and your family going?" She asked quickly.

"All the sandsteamer tickets are sold out. How serious is it?" He asked.

"Very serious," She answered with livid eyes. "The plants are dying and Sunset will look just like December and Delta. We can't do anything to stop it, we just have to get everyone to leave or they'll die!"

Charles watched Meryl's stress and emotion weep out of her. Every hair on her body was in a hurry.

"You need to get out of this city now!"

Charles kissed her in hopes of relieving her stress. It was short and caught Meryl off guard.

"It'll be okay," he told her. "Just breath, don't put it all on your shoulders."

"It's not, Millie, Vash, his brother, and Clint are helping too. Vash is used to these kinds of incidences. And I'm slowly gaining my touch back."

"We'll leave, even if we have to walk and camp. I don't think we'll be the only ones. Do we need to stop by your house and grab your belongings?"

Meryl shook her head. "I'm not going with you, I need to help the others get more people away… most don't understand how serious this is."

"You're staying?" Charles asked.

"Take your brothers and sisters, and go as far as you can until night; we'll meet up with you, and give everyone you meet this same advice."

Charles stared at her. He loved her so much, but he could tell by the look in her eye that nothing was going to change her mind. He reminded himself that it was her job to prevent damage.

"Here, I'll help you pack," Meryl suggested when Charles didn't move.

"Will you be safe? Are you sure about this?" He asked.

"I have been in worse situations with Vash, but within his presence, I'll be safe." She answered and ushered him away.

….

Before continuing their journey, Knives, Vash, Clint, and Millie made a quick stop at the blonds' suite. They acted as fast as possible, grabbing a few essential items, such as Clint's medication.

Knives handed Clint a glass of water. The teenager stuffed his mouth with several pills and drank the glass empty.

"You're starting to run out," Knives pointed out. Clint's little bag of white pills clutched in his hand was beginning to look scarce.

"Millie," Vash turned to her. "You do you need anything at Meryl's?"

"No, unless Meryl is there," Millie answered. Most of Millie's belonging had been scattered all over the world when she had fallen ill. She had stayed with her family a short while and was later migrated to December for treatment, some time between that, her house here in Sunset had been sold. But being the person she is, none of it appeared to bother her.

"Knives, you have your gun, right?" Vash asked.

"Of course."

Vash pulled out his own silver gun and tossed it to Clint. He caught it and stared down at its surface, amazed. He had never been allowed to hold his father's gun.

"If anyone dangerous comes after you, pull the trigger."

"Don't kill them though," Knives added. "He's not very fond of death."

"Not very fond at all," Vash agreed as he opened the suite door.

….

"Come on, Jen," Charles beckoned his sister. "Everyone has a job of keeping an eye on everyone, okay?"

Meryl walked the family down the street as other factors rushed through her head.

"We're camping?" Cody, (Charles' little brother) asked.

"Yes, camping…maybe for a while." He answered.

It was when they walked by another speaker that an idea rose in Meryl's mind. She stopped walking.

"Charles, I promise, I'll meet you," she said.

Charles turned his head, looking worried anyway.

"We'll be okay," she called to him. Then she turned to face the speaker praying she didn't need an I.D. to get to it.

….

It was half tedious and half rewarding work for Millie, Vash, Clint, and Knives. Vash had a small way of persuading people, but Clint had a way of convincing people with a sentence. Vash was taken aback with the authority Clint demonstrated as they met couples, families, and co-workers. His vigor rubbed off on nearly everyone they came in contact with, he meant what he said, and was determined to finish the job he had started. Knives didn't do anything unless it was necessary, and then it usually contained demands, Vash had a habit of pleading, and Millie kindly addressed and explained the problem. No one knew how long they directed people and provided service packing essential belonging for them, but as they turned down a new street, the speaker sounded again.

"Hey, it's Meryl," Clint pointed out.

"These plants are dying! Everyone needs to leave as soon as possible! Go anywhere but here. The plants are infected with the virus, leave Sunset immediately! If you don't have transportation, camping is being set up to the east of here."

"Thank you Meryl," Vash muttered under his breath, finally becoming aware of how tired he was feeling. "I think that will help a lot, but let's keep going…"

An hour later they ran into Meryl, who was looking as tired as they felt. Then they all continued working well into the night. Vash became aware of how eerie it felt once night had set in and hardly anyone could be found. His mind wondered for a moment if that man- Chame- was still lurking about, but he talked himself out of the idea. Who would stick around for something like this?