A/N: I know, it's been ages(yet again). I must really say thanks everyone who's stayed with this story and put up with my tardy chapter updates. You're all too kind.
On another note, I would like to recommend a story for al l of you to read. It's called Dark Convergence, and is the product of Dwellin and millythompson. Their story is so much better than mine. If you haven't read it, go, go now and read!
That's all from me.
Disclaimer: I do not claim Trigun in any way, shape or form. sobs
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Chapter 12: A Full House
Knives soon learned that his brother and the large human would be staying in Meryl's house for a few days.
It seemed that there was a problem with some plumbing in the large one's apartment. Something about a leak the size of a geyser . . .
Not that the situation mattered to him. He didn't care if she had to swim to breakfast. Not even when his brother calmly explained to him that he too would be living in the same apartment did he take back his opinion. If his brother was foolish enough to want to live with her, that was his problem to deal with.
As for him, his personal space had just shrunk drastically with the escalating population in Meryl's house.
There were three bedrooms in the house, causing his brother to take the couch out in the living room. The small woman had attempted to give her own bed to Vash and justly so, he had thought. She should give up her comforts for a higher being. The fact that his brother had turned down her offer irritated him to no end.
He opted to stay in his own room until they had vacated the premises, but his brother hadn't wanted him to. So now he found himself sitting at the dining table with Vash, watching the two human females cook.
The irritated plant still desired to cook himself, but did not have the compulsion to provide food for the human called Millie. His brother's obvious like for the creature caused him to have an amount of hatred surpassing that of an average human. He supposed the humans might call it jealousy, but there was no way Knives would ever admit to himself that he was jealous of a human.
"Hey, Knives." He turned his attention to his younger sibling.
Vash had a hopeful look on his face and Knives instantly knew he wasn't going to like what he had to say.
"I was thinking," he began, twisting nervously in his seat, "maybe we should spend some time together tomorrow. You know, just the two of us."
Knives thought over his suggestion carefully. What Vash was proposing was something the two of them hadn't done in over one-hundred years. The last time they had been together in such a manner was back on the SEEDS ship, before they had gone their separate ways. He could see nothing wrong with the idea, though. If he was honest with himself, he could admit that he'd missed his sibling greatly.
"I will agree with your idea, Vash." The happy look on his face made his acquiescence worth it. "Where do you plan on taking this excursion?"
Before Vash could give him an answer, the girls were setting food on the table, interrupting their conversation. Even Knives never attempted conversation with the spikey-blond when food was set before him. It wasn't that he wouldn't talk to you, no, the problem was he would . . . with his mouth full.
After dinner the two of them were shooed out of the kitchen so the two women could wash the dishes in peace. Knives thought it unfair to push him out of the area, after all, it was Vash who was always getting in their way.
But the time gave him a chance to question Vash again on where they would be going tomorrow. His answer didn't exactly please him, being the ordered person that he was.
"I thought that we would just go where the wind takes us," the younger twin answered Knives as he sat on the sofa.
Knives sat himself in the armchair next to the couch. With just those two pieces of furniture the living room was crowded.
"That may be your way of handling things, brother," Knives shifted his long legs to adjust to the small space, "but I prefer more definite plans."
Vash leaned forward, placing his elbows on his bent knees and gave Knives a pleading look. "But Knives," he said in a whiney voice, "that's what you need. You're too high strung. You need to relax a little."
The light blond's lip curled in disgust. He hated it when his brother took on that simpering tone. It made him seem even more pathetic than that goofy look of his did. He was about to give his brother a tongue lashing for it when the girls arrived on the scene.
Millie sat next to Vash, causing the lip to curl even further. There were no other seats so Meryl sat herself on the wide arm of the chair Knives sat on. He gave her a questioning look and she frowned at him.
Before he had a chance to comment Meryl spoke. "This is my house and I'll sit where I want." Their eyes were about level and so were the glares they gave each other.
A slight 'ahem' from Vash and they turned away from each other.
Millie chose that moment to pipe up. "Meryl and I were going to go shopping tomorrow and we were wondering if both of you would like to come."
Unbeknownst to Millie's smiling face, both of the men had cringed at her words. They might have been social misfits, but even Knives and Vash knew what would happen if they were to accompany the insurance girls. Before the end of the shopping trip they would be reduced to nothing more than pack mules.
Surprisingly, it was Knives who answered Millie. "I'm afraid Vash and I have already made prior arrangements. It would be impossible for us to go." Knives put on what he hoped was a regretful expression.
"What kind of arrangement?" Meryl asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes at Knives.
"We were merely going to spend some time together, woman. Not that it's any concern of yours." He told her testily.
Vash spoke up quickly, averting what could have turned into a verbal war. "Anyone for a drink?" A bottle of whiskey seemed to magically appear in his hand.
"I want one!" Millie cried out joyously.
Meryl declined the alcohol and Knives followed suit. This did not sit well with Vash and Millie. They protested that it wasn't any fun if only half of them drank. After much badgering and pleading on their parts, they finally convinced Meryl to have a few drinks. Knives was a little more stubborn, but Vash soon found a way to convince him into it.
"It's all right, Knives. If you can't hold your liquor, that's fine with us." He slanted a look at Knives who was sitting across the kitchen table from him. They'd moved because Millie had decided that drinking card games were in order. Knives had reluctantly followed. "We wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself when you started to get drunk from only a few drinks."
Said twin narrowed his gaze at his brother. He knew what Vash was attempting to do, trying to get him to drink by questioning his alcohol tolerance, but still he wanted to prove him wrong. "We'll see who can hold his liquor, brother," he said as he reached for one of the bottles on the table. Vash had brought more out of his bag.
Three hours later there were a large number of empty bottles sitting around the kitchen. At the table were two drunk insurance girls, an intoxicated homicidal maniac, and a nervous Vash. About half an hour ago Millie had announced that they would be playing a new card game, strip poker.
Being the only person whose brain was not addled by alcohol, Vash had protested, thinking that even in their current states Knives and Meryl would back him up. To his surprise they wholeheartedly agreed with Millie's plan.
He had tried to stop them, knowing that in the morning they would be just a little distressed if they were to wake up with less than their usual attire. The three of them had ignored his attempts and started the game.
He resignedly played with them. Later he could claim that he'd been drunk, too. They wouldn't be able to call him on it as he doubted any of them would remember this come tomorrow.
Now Vash sat with nothing on but his boxers, looking at a hand that, unless something miraculous were to happen, would make him the loser of this game.
Around him the others weren't really doing that much better. In their state concentration was hard to achieve and they'd ended up losing hands they usually wouldn't have.
To his right sat Millie. She'd been doing well at this game, which made Vash wonder how often she'd played it. Still, her proclamation that the air was hot had her taking off her clothes anyway. He was enjoying a view of her chest, still clothed in a bra but still distracting.
On his left Meryl looked much the same, but it was Knives who had him worried. He'd never seen him drink and the way he was acting was quite unlike is usual self.
The usually aloof and calculating Knives was gone, replaced by a man who appeared to thrive on competition. Not that his attitude had helped him out during the game. He was in as bad a shape as Vash.
Still, this game had its advantages. Since he'd taken off his shirt Millie had been giving him appreciative looks that for once made him not feel the usual embarrassment about his scars.
He'd also noticed something between the other two participants. Ever since Knives had taken off his own shirt, Vash had noticed Meryl giving him glances out of the corner of her eye. Vash had almost gone into fits when he'd realized that Knives had been doing the same to Meryl!
All-in-all this had been one interesting night.
Vash refocused his thoughts back onto the game, wishing fervently that luck was on his side right now.
Thirty seconds later he watched, dumbfounded, as he came up with a full house. Instead of him having to lose his last article of clothing, Knives was the one to put down the worst hand.
With a calm and resigned demeanor, he rose and placed his hands on the rim of his boxers. The girls watched, to Vash it seemed like Meryl was watching too closely, and in a last ditch effort to save Knives' modesty he knocked a half empty bottled over and onto the cards.
The distraction caused the other three to forget what Knives had been doing as they attempted to salvage the cards. After that Vash called it a night, bringing objections from his companions.
This time Vash ignored their protests and took a hold of Millie and led her to her room. He pulled back the covers and had her lay down. By the time he pulled the sheets over her she had fallen asleep.
With a sigh he staggered back to the kitchen to deal with the other two, feeling a little light-headed from the alcohol.
At the sight that met his eyes when he walked into the small kitchen, he stopped and then rubbed his eyes, thinking his intoxicated mind was playing tricks on him. After much rubbing he looked again, but the scene was still there, proving that it was indeed real.
Right before him was Knives and Meryl, and they were kissing! And it wasn't the casual kiss you'd give an aunt or something. This was a full, lip-locked, breathtaking kiss.
Knives was still sitting in his chair and sometime while Vash had been gone Meryl had made herself comfortable on his lap.
Seeing his brother in such a situation, and with Meryl no less, was something that would be forever burned in his mind forever. And this was definitely something he would have happily forgotten.
"Ahem." He hoped that the small noise would attract their attention, but they continued in their attempt to devour each other.
Growing more embarrassed, Vash opted for a more direct tactic. The golden blond slammed his palms onto the table, causing it to jump. The couple abruptly broke the kiss and stared at Vash in shock.
Vash smiled sheepishly and ran a hand through his hair, wondering how he was going to handle this situation. "Uh . . . It's time for bed," he said lamely.
Like two children they pouted, but obeyed him, rising on unsteady feet and making their way to the bedrooms. Vash watched them go down the hallway before turning to his couch and falling wearily upon it. He was asleep within a minute.
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Late the next morning Knives felt himself wake up and wish that he hadn't. His head felt like he'd cracked his head against a cement wall several times. His mouth felt dry and stuffed, and he had this feeling that he wasn't alone . . .
A warm body moved against his and his eyes snapped open, only for him to close them on a groan as the sunlight intensified his headache. The small form beside his own cuddled even closer to him and he cautiously opened his eyes again.
Right below his chin was a patch of black hair. That meant that it could only be one person who was holding onto him like he was a large teddy bear.
He didn't know how they had ended up in his bed together, but he knew what he had to do.
Once up, he would kill his brother.
