Hmm. You probably don't want to read this chapter. I suggest skipping it. *evil little grin*

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Meryl was washing the dishes from lunch when Vash came in the door.

"Hey," he called, then stuck his head in the kitchen. "We got Millie's weekly letter today!"

"Great," she replied, not looking up from her task. "You go read it, and I'll get to it when I'm done with these." She grabbed another plate from the stack to her left and scrubbed fiercely.

Vash grinned at her back and retired to the front room with the letter. First it would be the dishes, then she'd need to clean the counters, then the window, and then start cleaning the floor, and maybe, when all that was done, he might have made it through Millie's letter, and then she would come out and join him.

Carefully, he opened the envelope. The one time he ripped open the envelope and accidentally tore a bit of the letter she yelled at him for a week. That had been eight years ago, but no one had ever accused him of not being able to learn. Well, yes they had, but he could learn when it was important. And keeping Meryl from yelling at him was definitely important.

The salutation made him smile, like it always did. He'd known Millie for almost half her life now, and she still was so formal. He didn't know if it was because she meant it, or because she knew that he thought it was cute. He spent a moment settling into his favorite chair, getting all of his bumps into their respective recesses before unfolding the letter.

So, Niles got into the jam again. That boy was such a scamp. Getting sick like that served him right. He wasn't quite as willing as Millie to assume that he wouldn't try it again, but she debatably knew Niles better then he did. Although, with the length and detail of these letters, that was an arguable point.

His heart sank a little when he read about Janet. He hated to hear of sick children. It was wrong. Children should be healthy, and happy, and able to live, and grow up. Every time he saw a sick child, he was reminded of that one girl from so long ago, and his heart ached with the need to save and the inability to help. They had fallen so far, so fast, from the stars to the sands. If only he could get her some real medical care… but they still didn't really like him back at the fallen ship. They still blamed him for their descent. He did his best to make them happy, and since his presence caused them pain, he stayed away as often as he could. But for this child…he would consider a visit. A brief one, to see what could be done for her.

He sighed, and began to read again. His mind was still on the girl, which might be his excuse for not entirely paying attention to what he was reading next. He was thinking of logistics, and ways to convince the denizens of the last ship to help him out again. He wasn't thinking about his brother.

So when he saw his name it didn't quite register. And when he read a little farther and wondered what he was reading, he had to start again. Shaking his head a little to clear it of the tentative plans, he concentrated on the page. This time, his brother's name leapt out at him, and his heart went cold.

Knives. He was out again.

As his heart sputtered to life again, he felt it sink in his chest. Knives, he had promised. He had promised to stay in the ship until his friends had died. He wasn't supposed to break his promise. Not this one, not his brother. His brother always kept his word; that's why he had felt safe leaving him in the ship after that last problem. He had his promise.

But Millie wouldn't lie. But his brother wouldn't break his promise. Maybe it wasn't really Knives… He forced himself to read farther, and only grew more confused. Knives had been shot? And who was this woman who was… HITTING HIS BROTHER? Anger was added to the confusing swelter of emotions that held him in thrall.

None of this made any sense. His brother, agreeing with someone? He never changed his mind. Ever. He made it up and that was it. You could slow him, or delay him, but you could never sway him from his chosen course.

His heart stopped a second time as he read farther. He must have made some noise, or maybe it was because he had stopped laughing, but the next thing he saw was Meryl wiping her hands on a towel and walking towards him.

"Vash? What's wrong?"

He couldn't say anything. There just weren't words. He looked up at her and passed the note over. She scanned it quickly, then took in a quick breath. "Your brother is back?" she said, her eyes seeking his.

He nodded, then motioned for her to read more. She read his eyes and nodded, then returned to the letter. This time her gasp of breath was accompanied by a squeal.

"Another plant? A girl? How exciting!" she exclaimed as she threw herself in his lap.

He nodded and nuzzled her neck as she continued to read. She finished the important part and passed it back to him.

"What are you going to do?" she asked him softly as he re-read the note.

"What can I do?" he said helplessly. "I need to figure out what he's doing now and stop him. I agree with Millie. He can't be allowed to keep this child. I don't trust him, and this woman… I don't know. I need to find him."

"Fine. I'll go pack." She searched his eyes, waiting for the inevitable protestations, that it was going to be dangerous, that she needed to stay behind.

And it was a sign of Vash's maturity that he finally didn't argue with her.

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A/N: Whoa. Over 500 reviews. Way cool.

Ok… about the angel arms… yes, they take energy to form. Yes, in the manga, if you play around often enough you will run out of energy, your hair will turn black, and you will die. But… 1) I started this, and got the idea after watching the anime, which makes no mention of black hair. So I'm keeping that part out of it. 2) I don't think it's the forming of the arm that takes energy, but what is done after the arm is formed.

Yes, this story is going to be a bit of a manga/anime amalgamation, as I learn more about the manga and see what I can graft in.

And… that's not a second plot line. It's an introduction of the plot line for the sequel.

Finally… no need to review all the time (not that I mind at all). Just once every week or so is cool. Just so I know you are still hangin' around!