Chapter 3
"So shall I start from the beginning?"
Knives, Nate, Milly, Vash, and Meryl are walking through the empty streets of February City. Nate's house is on the very edge of town.
"That's a good place," Knives remarks. Meryl snorts, but Nate ignores them.
"Well, me 'n Nicholas are brothers. We grew up together as twins and best friends. Our life was simple and happy here in February City. Back then, there were more people and the city was a real city. Dad was the local cobbler, and we were doing just fine. Except Dad always had something against Nick. It was probably the religion thing. You know we were brought up Jewish, but Nick converted to Christianity as a child and later became a priest."
Meryl whispers to Milly, "I knew it! I knew he couldn't be a real Christian priest! His nose gave him away!"
Nate, who doesn't hear this, continues, "Eventually Nick got fed up with Dad mistreating him and he cracked. He shot our father. Dad died and we got put in a foster home."
"What about your mom?" Vash asks.
"Hm? Oh, she died in childbirth. And we had no other family. So they moved us to a nice little farm with an older couple who devoted themselves to us. But It didn't help Nick. He was in too deep. Only a month after we moved in, he ran away. I saw him once more, about a year ago. He changed his name and started a new life with the church and Chapel the Evergreen. But I don't really know if people can change. So I forgot all about him and moved on with my life."
At this time, they stop in front of a house. It's quite out of place among the dilapidated, decaying shacks indigenous to February City. The house is fairly large with a nice garden out front. It's blue with a white door, white shudders, and a white picket fence. The lawn is well-manicured and also strewn with toys and a jungle gym. The whole picture looks like it was taken out of a '50's family sitcom.
"This is mine," Nate says to them. "Let's go in and get something to eat. You can meet my family and I'll answer your questions. Hopefully you can answer mine, too." He leads the group up the front path. Noticing the toys, he comments, "Looks like the kids had friends over and didn't clean up."
Meryl and Milly look at each other and silently ask, 'Kids?!'
They approach the door and, just as Nate is reaching for the knob, it opens, revealing a woman.
This woman is tall and slightly dark. Her straight brown hair falls down a few inches past her shoulders, and it's pulled back in a half-pony. She's dressed in all green-a sleeveless forest green dress that extends to her knees, a green barrette holding back her hair, and flat-heeled matching shoes. With one arm, she holds a crying baby, another tugs at her sleeve, trying to get her attention, and the other arm is stirring a bowl containing batter of some kind.
The woman answers the door looking exasperated and stressed out, but when she sees Nate, her face lights up and all strife leaves her mind.
"Oh, honey, you're home! I wasn't expecting you for another few hours. See, I was making a cake for your return," she says.
"Daddy!" The little girl in the doorway runs into her father's arms to hug him. Nate scoops her up and affectionately gives her a big bear hug.
"There's Daddy's little girl! And Daddy's little boy, too," Nate cooes to the screaming child, who immediately ceases his crying to make happy gurgling noises.
"What a moody child..." Knives whispers to Vash.
"And there's Daddy's big girl!" Nate turns to the woman and gives her a kiss and a hug.
Meryl and Milly go "Awwwww!" like typical hopeless romantics (ano, mostly Milly). Knives gags and Vash just kinda stands there, looking a little dreamy.
"So who are your friends, Nate?" The woman nods her head (her arms are a little busy) at the strangers.
"Oh yes, I should introduce you. This is my lovely wife, Emerald. Emmy-chan, this is Vash, Knives, Meryl, and Milly. I just met them on my way home." (See, he knows not to tell his wife he picked them up in a bar!) Then, turning serious, he adds, "They know Nicholas."
Emerald turns serious, too. "Oh...Come on in, sit down. I'll bring you something to drink." She ushers the four guests into a very nice living room, then pushes the kids out of sight into the kitchen.
Minutes later, they are all seated. Emerald returns, sans children, with a tray on which there are six tall glasses of lemonade. Handing one to each person, she comments, "Made fresh this morning!" She sits and looks at her husband.
"Ahem, well I pretty much finished my story. Do you guys have any questions?" Nate addresses the four visitors sitting on the couch across from him.
Meryl and Milly look at each other and at Vash and Knives. They all shake their heads and come to the consensus that everyone understands everything. (What about the quadratic equation?)
"I think we all got your story. Why don't we change the subject to something less depressing. Tell us about yourself, Nate," Vash suggests.
"I suppose. You've already met my wife, Emerald Star Dogwood. And my kids, Lila is 5, and Thomas just had his first birthday."
"Hm, I wouldn't have expected you to be a husband and father. It's so un-Wolfwood-like," Meryl observes.
"You forget, I'm not Wolfwood-just his twin."
"They're adorable kids!" Milly exclaims, getting back to the topic at hand.
"Yeah, and they sure do love their father," Emerald declares. "You should see it when he has to leave on a business trip! Which is too often, of course." She gives him a meaningful look.
Nate smiles sheepishly and puts his arm behind his head. "Business trips are part of my job. I'm a journalist. I write articles for the Rhododendron City Star. So I have to travel all over for my scoops. We live here because it's so peaceful and quiet. Coming home from a busy city to this serene neighborhood is the best part of my job."
"And we live close enough to Rhododendron City for Nate to commute and to get groceries and such," Emerald says. "Plus, when the kids are old enough, there's a great private school a few miles from here, between February City and Rhododendron City."
"Wow, sounds like you've got it made," Knives tells them.
At that moment, Lila enters the room and shyly approaches the couch. She stands near Meryl and Milly.
"Well hi there! What's your name?" Milly asks.
"Lila..." the girl giggles.
"You are so precious!" Meryl tickles her belly.
"Can you come out and play with me? Please?" Lila looks from the insurance girls to her parents. Meryl looks at Nate and Emerald, too. They nod approvingly. Lila cheers and drags Meryl and Milly outside by their thumbs.
The remaining four laugh in an awww-isn't-that-cute way.
"So what's my brother been up to lately? I mean, I did kinda disown him, but that doesn't necessarily mean I don't care anymore. After all, he is my brother! What's the old bastard been doing all these years? Still killing people?" Nate laughs, joking and totally oblivious of the truth.
"Uh...heh heh..." Vash also laughs, nervously, and debates with himself inwardly. *He doesn't know? How should I tell him? Should I tell him at all...He seems so blissfully happy. Ignorance is bliss. Do I really have the right to break his utopia? No, but I still have to say something! He's his brother for goodness' sake! Guess I should just do it. Break it gently...*
Before Vash can open his mouth to speak, the ever-sensitive Knives blurts out, "Oh, isn't that dude dead?"
Vash facefaults and both Nate's and Emerald's jaws drop.
"Knives!" Vash picks himself up and yells at his brother. "Way to break it gently!"
"He's...dead?" Nate whispers in disbelief.
"Uh, yeah. I'm so sorry. I apologize for my brother, too. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially if it's something like this, but yes. He died about a month ago."
Knives looks amused, after all he's still got a mean streak.
They sit in silence for a minute. Then Nate breaks it by asking, "Could you tell me how it happened?"
Vash settles back on the couch and starts telling his new friends the whole story of their association with Wolfwood-omitting the necessary parts, like Vash's and Knives' true identities.
Through the whole tale, Nate just sits, absorbing this information and looking troubled. Emerald puts her arm around him and tries to comfort her husband.
"Guess I should have known. He was always mixed up in such dangerous stuff..." Nate finally whispers.
"Are you going to be all right?" Vash asks, concerned.
"Yes, I think so. It's not like he was particularly close to me. But still..."
"But still, he was your brother," Knives finishes for him. He glances at his own twin and tries to imagine a life without him. Cringing, he thinks, *But I almost had that life. I almost killed him...*
"Well, let's find the girls and I'll show you where you're going to sleep tonight." Emerald breaks the awkward silence, much to everyone's relief. She stands up, followed by Knives and Vash. "We'll be having dinner in about a half hour. Are meat loaf and mashed potatoes all right with you guys?"
They nod and tell Emerald how much they love meat loaf and how they're sure hers will be the best. The three walk off, chattering about meals and sleeping arrangements.
"Dead?" Nate mumbles to himself, left all alone in the family room to recover from the news.
"Nicholas Damien Wolfwood dead? How is that possible? He was always so careful and such a skilled gunman, too. No, he can't be gone. I don't believe it. Nick's not dead, he's trying to trick us. Maybe he hired those guys to come and convince me of the fact. He just doesn't want me to worry anymore. Yeah, that's it. Nick is just being considerate of my feelings...in a strange way. Well, he's out there somewhere, and I've got to find him!"
Nate stands up, punches his fist into the palm of his other hand, and puts on a determined face.
"But first, meat loaf!" His face returns to his usual somber look and he goes to check on dinner.
"So shall I start from the beginning?"
Knives, Nate, Milly, Vash, and Meryl are walking through the empty streets of February City. Nate's house is on the very edge of town.
"That's a good place," Knives remarks. Meryl snorts, but Nate ignores them.
"Well, me 'n Nicholas are brothers. We grew up together as twins and best friends. Our life was simple and happy here in February City. Back then, there were more people and the city was a real city. Dad was the local cobbler, and we were doing just fine. Except Dad always had something against Nick. It was probably the religion thing. You know we were brought up Jewish, but Nick converted to Christianity as a child and later became a priest."
Meryl whispers to Milly, "I knew it! I knew he couldn't be a real Christian priest! His nose gave him away!"
Nate, who doesn't hear this, continues, "Eventually Nick got fed up with Dad mistreating him and he cracked. He shot our father. Dad died and we got put in a foster home."
"What about your mom?" Vash asks.
"Hm? Oh, she died in childbirth. And we had no other family. So they moved us to a nice little farm with an older couple who devoted themselves to us. But It didn't help Nick. He was in too deep. Only a month after we moved in, he ran away. I saw him once more, about a year ago. He changed his name and started a new life with the church and Chapel the Evergreen. But I don't really know if people can change. So I forgot all about him and moved on with my life."
At this time, they stop in front of a house. It's quite out of place among the dilapidated, decaying shacks indigenous to February City. The house is fairly large with a nice garden out front. It's blue with a white door, white shudders, and a white picket fence. The lawn is well-manicured and also strewn with toys and a jungle gym. The whole picture looks like it was taken out of a '50's family sitcom.
"This is mine," Nate says to them. "Let's go in and get something to eat. You can meet my family and I'll answer your questions. Hopefully you can answer mine, too." He leads the group up the front path. Noticing the toys, he comments, "Looks like the kids had friends over and didn't clean up."
Meryl and Milly look at each other and silently ask, 'Kids?!'
They approach the door and, just as Nate is reaching for the knob, it opens, revealing a woman.
This woman is tall and slightly dark. Her straight brown hair falls down a few inches past her shoulders, and it's pulled back in a half-pony. She's dressed in all green-a sleeveless forest green dress that extends to her knees, a green barrette holding back her hair, and flat-heeled matching shoes. With one arm, she holds a crying baby, another tugs at her sleeve, trying to get her attention, and the other arm is stirring a bowl containing batter of some kind.
The woman answers the door looking exasperated and stressed out, but when she sees Nate, her face lights up and all strife leaves her mind.
"Oh, honey, you're home! I wasn't expecting you for another few hours. See, I was making a cake for your return," she says.
"Daddy!" The little girl in the doorway runs into her father's arms to hug him. Nate scoops her up and affectionately gives her a big bear hug.
"There's Daddy's little girl! And Daddy's little boy, too," Nate cooes to the screaming child, who immediately ceases his crying to make happy gurgling noises.
"What a moody child..." Knives whispers to Vash.
"And there's Daddy's big girl!" Nate turns to the woman and gives her a kiss and a hug.
Meryl and Milly go "Awwwww!" like typical hopeless romantics (ano, mostly Milly). Knives gags and Vash just kinda stands there, looking a little dreamy.
"So who are your friends, Nate?" The woman nods her head (her arms are a little busy) at the strangers.
"Oh yes, I should introduce you. This is my lovely wife, Emerald. Emmy-chan, this is Vash, Knives, Meryl, and Milly. I just met them on my way home." (See, he knows not to tell his wife he picked them up in a bar!) Then, turning serious, he adds, "They know Nicholas."
Emerald turns serious, too. "Oh...Come on in, sit down. I'll bring you something to drink." She ushers the four guests into a very nice living room, then pushes the kids out of sight into the kitchen.
Minutes later, they are all seated. Emerald returns, sans children, with a tray on which there are six tall glasses of lemonade. Handing one to each person, she comments, "Made fresh this morning!" She sits and looks at her husband.
"Ahem, well I pretty much finished my story. Do you guys have any questions?" Nate addresses the four visitors sitting on the couch across from him.
Meryl and Milly look at each other and at Vash and Knives. They all shake their heads and come to the consensus that everyone understands everything. (What about the quadratic equation?)
"I think we all got your story. Why don't we change the subject to something less depressing. Tell us about yourself, Nate," Vash suggests.
"I suppose. You've already met my wife, Emerald Star Dogwood. And my kids, Lila is 5, and Thomas just had his first birthday."
"Hm, I wouldn't have expected you to be a husband and father. It's so un-Wolfwood-like," Meryl observes.
"You forget, I'm not Wolfwood-just his twin."
"They're adorable kids!" Milly exclaims, getting back to the topic at hand.
"Yeah, and they sure do love their father," Emerald declares. "You should see it when he has to leave on a business trip! Which is too often, of course." She gives him a meaningful look.
Nate smiles sheepishly and puts his arm behind his head. "Business trips are part of my job. I'm a journalist. I write articles for the Rhododendron City Star. So I have to travel all over for my scoops. We live here because it's so peaceful and quiet. Coming home from a busy city to this serene neighborhood is the best part of my job."
"And we live close enough to Rhododendron City for Nate to commute and to get groceries and such," Emerald says. "Plus, when the kids are old enough, there's a great private school a few miles from here, between February City and Rhododendron City."
"Wow, sounds like you've got it made," Knives tells them.
At that moment, Lila enters the room and shyly approaches the couch. She stands near Meryl and Milly.
"Well hi there! What's your name?" Milly asks.
"Lila..." the girl giggles.
"You are so precious!" Meryl tickles her belly.
"Can you come out and play with me? Please?" Lila looks from the insurance girls to her parents. Meryl looks at Nate and Emerald, too. They nod approvingly. Lila cheers and drags Meryl and Milly outside by their thumbs.
The remaining four laugh in an awww-isn't-that-cute way.
"So what's my brother been up to lately? I mean, I did kinda disown him, but that doesn't necessarily mean I don't care anymore. After all, he is my brother! What's the old bastard been doing all these years? Still killing people?" Nate laughs, joking and totally oblivious of the truth.
"Uh...heh heh..." Vash also laughs, nervously, and debates with himself inwardly. *He doesn't know? How should I tell him? Should I tell him at all...He seems so blissfully happy. Ignorance is bliss. Do I really have the right to break his utopia? No, but I still have to say something! He's his brother for goodness' sake! Guess I should just do it. Break it gently...*
Before Vash can open his mouth to speak, the ever-sensitive Knives blurts out, "Oh, isn't that dude dead?"
Vash facefaults and both Nate's and Emerald's jaws drop.
"Knives!" Vash picks himself up and yells at his brother. "Way to break it gently!"
"He's...dead?" Nate whispers in disbelief.
"Uh, yeah. I'm so sorry. I apologize for my brother, too. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially if it's something like this, but yes. He died about a month ago."
Knives looks amused, after all he's still got a mean streak.
They sit in silence for a minute. Then Nate breaks it by asking, "Could you tell me how it happened?"
Vash settles back on the couch and starts telling his new friends the whole story of their association with Wolfwood-omitting the necessary parts, like Vash's and Knives' true identities.
Through the whole tale, Nate just sits, absorbing this information and looking troubled. Emerald puts her arm around him and tries to comfort her husband.
"Guess I should have known. He was always mixed up in such dangerous stuff..." Nate finally whispers.
"Are you going to be all right?" Vash asks, concerned.
"Yes, I think so. It's not like he was particularly close to me. But still..."
"But still, he was your brother," Knives finishes for him. He glances at his own twin and tries to imagine a life without him. Cringing, he thinks, *But I almost had that life. I almost killed him...*
"Well, let's find the girls and I'll show you where you're going to sleep tonight." Emerald breaks the awkward silence, much to everyone's relief. She stands up, followed by Knives and Vash. "We'll be having dinner in about a half hour. Are meat loaf and mashed potatoes all right with you guys?"
They nod and tell Emerald how much they love meat loaf and how they're sure hers will be the best. The three walk off, chattering about meals and sleeping arrangements.
"Dead?" Nate mumbles to himself, left all alone in the family room to recover from the news.
"Nicholas Damien Wolfwood dead? How is that possible? He was always so careful and such a skilled gunman, too. No, he can't be gone. I don't believe it. Nick's not dead, he's trying to trick us. Maybe he hired those guys to come and convince me of the fact. He just doesn't want me to worry anymore. Yeah, that's it. Nick is just being considerate of my feelings...in a strange way. Well, he's out there somewhere, and I've got to find him!"
Nate stands up, punches his fist into the palm of his other hand, and puts on a determined face.
"But first, meat loaf!" His face returns to his usual somber look and he goes to check on dinner.