Morning rolled around, finding Vash barely stirring within his room. Rubbing the sleep away from his eyes, he yawned, big and loud, and stretched. He looked out the window, and delighted to see that it was yet another beautiful day. He smiled; all was right in the world.
Until he recalled the events of last night, and then everything sucked.
Vash groaned, wishing that he had never remembered, that he had never said those things, that he had never gone out to find Meryl... That short girl gets me into a lot of trouble, he thought sullenly. But it wasn't her fault, he knew. He didn't have to go to the cliff. He didn't have to be a jerk and say nothing. He didn't have to be a fool and announce that he was leaving, today of all days. Why couldn't he have said next week, at least?
But now there was no turning back for me. He knew this, and he had to stick with it. Besides, he reasoned, it'd be good to get out on his own again! He wanted to travel some more, to see the world all over again, maybe flirt aimlessly with all the pretty girls...
Then Vash remembered his problem, and grimaced. Carrying around a comatose brother didn't help at all with the ladies. Or with much else, for that matter. He'd actually have to buckle down and... settle somewhere. Which, he supposed, would ultimately be for the best. He knew of two years of peace and quiet, and while he knew he could not return to those exact days, he could at least recreate the pattern of them for the days to come. For who knew what would happen, once Knives awoke? He had to be prepared to live in a hole, if need be, to protect everyone from his brother. If he ever woke up. If he went back to his xenocidal ways.
If if if. What if nothing happens? That's just as likely too. Maybe he'll stay asleep forever...
He could only pray for that, even though it wasn't truly fair to Knives... but better he slept, than cause pain and havoc throughout the world. Better he slept alive than dead.
He finally got up and began to get ready for the day. After washing up and getting dressed, he was prepared to go out to the kitchen and find something to eat, when a knock on the door sounded. Please don't let it be--
"Vash-san?" The inquiry was sweet yet worried, but nevertheless, it was someone he could deal with at that point. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Come in, Milly."
The doorknob twisted and the door moved in as Milly was already traveling into the room, carrying a tray of breakfast.
"I fixed you some cereal, and some juice, since you'll be needing it today." Her smile was warm, but distracted in a curious way, as if somehow asking him why. She set the tray down and peered at him, trying to gauge something. He raised an eyebrow, questioning, so she finally spoke.
"You don't have to go. We won't force you to stay, Vash-san, but... I don't think you should leave." Her fingers knotted and twisted at her pant legs, as she stood smiling, trying to make the smile encouraging.
Vash could only smile back, but shake his head no.
But she nodded slowly. "Well... I understand. But Vash-san, you should at least talk to Senpai. She needs you to talk to her, and you need to let her know why. Don't you think?" She kept smiling, but this time, it was one that brooked no argument. He knew he'd have to say something eventually, but that didn't mean he really wanted to...
No, he wanted to. And he did need to talk to her. Something in the back of his mind urged him to confront her, and get everything cleared up; it would be for the best.
Right?
"Yes, I think that would be for the best."
Both Milly and Vash started at the sound of Meryl's voice floating in from her position, leaning against the doorway. Clutching some papers in one hand, with arms folded across her chest, she stared daggers at the only man present. And he did not look to be enjoying such a gaze.
Milly clapped her hands. "Wonderful! I'll leave you two alone now, so you can talk!" She hurried out, giving Meryl a thumbs-up sign before she disappeared. Meryl shut the door behind her, staring at Vash all the while.
He slid a hand over his eyes. And this is just the beginning? God help me.
"I have something here that you should read." She approached and thrust one of the papers in his direction. He snatched it away and began to scan over it.
"...A report on the events taken place after you found me again?"
She nodded, satisfied. "That's correct. I've suggested that your case be closed permanently, and with the evidence given, I think that'll be enough to get it done." She handed him another paper, the only other one. "Now read this."
He read. Then exploded.
"Quitting?! You can't quit your job! What are you going to do? What about Milly, have you considered her? She's your partner, you can't do this to her!"
When he looked at her again, she had started to smile again, although a touch smug and sardonic. That was probably the wrong thing to say.
"So worried? Why should you be, since it won't concern you once you're gone?" She sauntered closer and pointed a finger at him, taking upon an air of arrogant confidence.
"Well I'll tell you why I wrote that letter. In the event that my boss calls me back to the office, after closing your case. Because I've come to the conclusion that you need me."
He blinked, and she felt some triumph. He only felt confused.
"That's right, you need me. And Milly as well. Have you really given any thought to what you're going to do, once you pack up your bags and take Knives away to a new town? You're going to have to work, obviously, but that won't leave you much time to watch over your brother. You'll be taking care of two people, one of which is a vegetable at the moment, so you need all the help you can get. And who better to help out than your very own, very capable, pair of insurance women? You won't find a better deal around, Vash, and you know it."
Absolutely self-assured that she was right, she closed her eyes and nodded. As she stood there being satisfied with her reasoning, he peered at her a little closer. He noticed that she was a bit disheveled, and looked to have been crying. Very recently too. Her face was a little puffy, and the rings under her eyes were just slightly too noticeable.
"You haven't slept all night, have you?"
She moved her attention back to him, frowning and looking to get angry. "What does it matter? Now, are you going to take this deal, or are you going to stand around and gape like an idiot?"
He grimaced. This was going to have to be it, then, wasn't it? He had to confront her on what happened yesterday. Things had to be cleared up, and setttled, before...
Did he really want to go? He had to be sure, absolutely sure that leaving Milly, and Meryl, was the best thing to do. He'd already dragged them halfway across the world, so he could find his brother, but what did that mean? That he was lonely, and wanted the company? That they were devoted to their work? He had to know the meaning of their friendship, if it was really that. He had to know what it would mean for him to stay, or to go. What he meant to Meryl. And maybe, what she really meant to him.
Vash took a deep breath, and began.
"I said I understood, when you told me you love me--"
"I didn't say I loved you, I said I cared." Meryl blushed, not looking away.
Vash looked unperturbed. "So you don't now?"
She shook her head violently. "That's not what I mean! I still care for you, Vash. I--" She broke off, biting her lower lip, but kept staring into his eyes. And he felt somewhat guilty, driving her to almost say something she didn't really want to admit to anyone. Yet he didn't, in that he wanted her words, more than anything else at that moment; he wanted to know exactly what she thought of him. He wanted to know if he could truly justify his reasons for leaving her behind.
Because one way or another, it would kill him.
"Go ahead and tell me," he urged. "I want to know. Or do I get to leave here without knowing how you feel about me?"
This time, she looked away. "I, I don't know if..."
He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "Tell me! I know you're not stupid enough to keep this up in the air, so tell me! Tell me, Meryl!"
She snapped her head back up and screamed, "I love you! I've loved you and will keeping loving you until the day I die! I love a fool who doesn't know what a good deal this is, and who's going to walk away from something that I know he'll regret for the rest of his life!" She paused, her face tightening slightly as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "Do you think I'm scared of being with you? Do you think I'm stupid? Well I'm not. Come what may, it won't change the fact that I love you, Vash."
Meryl pushed herself out of his grasp, scrubbing at her eyes. "There. I said it. Are you satisfied now? You know how I feel."
She looked back up at him, red but brave-faced, challenging. "So what about it? You're going to leave anyways. Did you just wanted to be sure before you left? Before you leave me behind?"
Now it was Vash's turn to look away. Bitter laughter escaped her throat, drawing his attention once again.
"Well. That's it then. I have my answers."
Meryl began to turn and walk out of the room, but was stopped when hands suddenly grasped her, pulling her face-to-face, and very close, with Vash. Close enough to make her gasp and wide-eyed at an expression so hard and cold.
"I think you're as much a fool as I am, Meryl," he said, stern and unflinching. "Do you think, when I said I understood, that it was to put you off? Do you think I'd say that, if I didn't know what you meant?" But then, he started to shake, and the breath he sucked in came raggedly, as if forced and somewhat unwanted.
"It wasn't my intention to make you angry. But I didn't know what to do, or say. I didn't know what to say, Meryl." He laughed, but even that quivered. "What can I, when the words I feel I should say... don't make sense?"
He let her go, drawing in another frazzled gulp of air as he looked to the ceiling for a solution. She, on the other hand, stared at him in a daze, her expression showing a mixture of surprise, happiness, sadness... and something else, something heartfelt and tender, that was sure to be what she could not show anyone but Vash.
"Meryl... I can't give you certain words. I don't think I'm ready for that yet. I... there's so much I want to tell you, but I can't just now." He looked down at her, shy but unwavering.
"You're right. I suppose I do need you. And Milly, of course, to help take care of Knives. And I was right too, of course! We need to keep moving!"
He laughed again, this time it being his high-pitched squealy laughter, but it faded away fast.
He smiled. "You know?"
Meryl smiled too, then laughed as well. "Of course I know! I've known all along, but you were being difficult as usual!"
Suddenly Vash grabbed Meryl and gave her a hug; not one of his usual bear hugs, but a gentler, simplier hug. And for once, she didn't object.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being honest, of course."
"Mmm. Don't worry about it. That goes for you too."
"Ah. You're welcome."
"You too."
Then, a scream came from the other room, and the sound of something breaking. They broke apart, wide-eyed and surprised.
"Milly!"
"Knives!"
Vash and Meryl ran out of the room.
- the end? -