Title: Forsaken
Author: Akima The Stampede Maxwell
Date begun: February 27, 2002
Anime: hmmm…let`s see….
Pairings: Don`t make me hurt you….
Rating: NR for some VERY suggestive themes and Knivishness
Disclaimers: not me
***Once again the writer. I want to again say how pleased that I am that people are reviewing this. Everyone who sent me a review…you people are so awesome! It makes me very happy that people are enjoying this. I`m sorry I ramble every other fanfic. I`ll try to stop. Anyways…here it tis!
Chapter 7: Emotional Attachment
The rest of the day went along rather uneventfully. They all decided to have a few drinks in Dryden`s room that night. Vash and Milly, of course, went haywire all over the place. They tripped over Knives, ran into Meryl, and threw up on Dryden. Knives held his liquor so he did not have a problem. Meryl did not like to drink that much. Dryden just passed out after showering and Marianne did not drink at all. She was asleep.
"Knives?" Meryl whispered. He was laid out beside Marianne. He glanced up at her.
"Can we go back to our room? I can`t sleep in here and I`m really tired."
"You know where the room is."
"Please…Knives…I`m scared. Last night…I heard….someone laughing outside my door. Please."
"Why don`t you get Vash to do it? He would probably do it."
"He`s out cold. Knives…please?"
Tears began to run from her eyes and down her cheeks. She went down on her knees on the floor. He got up. He reached down and put his hand under her hip. He lifted her up. He tucked her under his arm.
"Hey! I didn`t say like this!"
"Easier for me. I`m faster anyways."
She went silent. As they approached their room a shadow disappeared. Knives growled.
"Who is that?"
Laughter filled the air then it was gone. Meryl trembled.
"That was the same laugh!"
"That bastard will not keep bothering us! If he comes back I`ll kick his ass!"
Meryl gazed up at him. She smiled through new tears. Knives averted his eyes from hers. He opened the door and carried her in. He laid her down. She sighed. He removed his clothing. Meryl`s cheeks flushed as she hid her face.
"Knives, put on some clothing!"
"I`m not embarrassed. Besides…you kinda have seen everything…or felt."
Meryl`s cheeks pulsated as they became more red.
"Can we please forget about that? I`m sorry!"
"Hey! It`s not my fault! You grabbed them! How can a guy forget that?!"
Meryl did not say anything.
`Just talk about something else!`
Knives pulled the cover off of her face. She shrieked. He was still standing there completely nude. He grabbed the collar of her shirt and pulled it away from her body. He got a pretty good glance down it. Meryl slapped him. He laughed. She hugged herself as her cheeks damn near burned off.
"What was that for?!"
"If you get a feel from me I at least get to see you!"
"You`re worse than Vash!"
"I will take that as a compliment."
Meryl cursed him under her breath. She turned to face the wall. Knives lay down beside her. She looked over her shoulder.
`He`s wearing shorts.`
"What did you think…that I would lie here nude? If you want me to…"
"No!"
Knives smirked then closed his eyes. Meryl shook her head in disgust. Though she was embarrassed and angry she could not help but smile.
-----------------------------------------------------
Marianne sat at the bar on the ship. She was not much into alcohol and the bar sold more than just alcohol.
`This is a lot better than being in that town.`
"Excuse me. Is this seat taken?"
Marianne smiled. Dryden sat down beside her. He tipped his hat towards her and grinned.
"How are you, Miss Marianne?"
"Just fine. What about you?"
"Just woke up. I`m still kinda tired…and a bit hung over."
Marianne giggled. She ordered him a glass of coffee. He tipped his hat again.
"So what do you think about this Vash the Stampede?" Dryden asked "He certainly is a crazy guy. I knew him for awhile. Good man."
"I met him once. Very nice man. I`m not sure about his brother though. Vash told me recently about how his brother used to be evil. I`m glad that he isn`t but…I still don`t trust him."
"He does have something that doesn`t feel right. That girl…Meryl…she is really hooked on that guy."
"He did let her stay with him when she nearly cracked. That`s what Milly told me."
"Do you think that it`s possible that…"
"No. He can`t feel for her like she most likely feels for him."
"She never went out and told us."
"I know that she does. It`s the way she acts. She used to have a timid kind of thing around Vash that I noticed despite what she put on the outside. Vash was such a jerk. He never realized it until a little after. I felt sorry for her. Now…just look at her. She looks so happy no matter what look is on her face. She follows him around like a child."
"Or a love struck girl." Dryden replied.
"She`s got her work cut out for her. I don`t think that Vash planned for his little scheme to get them together to actually work this fast…though I think most of it was Knives` fault when he took her along."
"Quiet! Here he comes!"
Knives sat down beside Marianne. He never even looked at them.
"How are you?" Marianne asked in a small voice. He looked at her then shrugged. Marianne looked at Dryden who shrugged.
"How is Meryl? She still isn`t seasick, is she?"
"What do I care?"
Marianne flinched at the harsh words.
"I just figured that…since you are in the same room as her…"
"That was not my doing. If it were up to me I would be in a room by myself where I could stay alone. No one would come in or out without my permission."
"She really seems to like being around you."
"She is very annoying. I had to get up early just to make sure she did not follow me."
Marianne got up. She slapped him. She slapped him hard. A huge red mark lay across his face. He slowly turned his head back and continued to drink.
"What a jerk! She cares about you! Her and Vash are the only ones that care anything about you and you treat both of them like shit! Someday you will be alone and no one will be there for you!"
She got up and stormed off. Dryden followed. Knives touched his cheek gingerly. He took a napkin and spat out blood from his cheek after she slapped him. His teeth had cut him from the inside.
`I locked her in there so those guys wouldn`t get to her. I need to use her as bait for awhile.`
----------------------------------------------- --
Meryl felt fear grip her heart.
`He locked me in here…alone!`
She shivered and pulled her knees tight to her chest. That same laughter filled the room.. She covered her ears.
"He left you alone. How convenient…yet our move will not be made just yet."
"Leave me alone!"
"But you are…"
"Just LEAVE!!" she screamed. The door crunched into splinters. Meryl cried out. She hid behind her covers. She looked up. No one.
"Hmmm…not bad."
She ran from the room. The laughter died away. She ran from room to room until she got to the bar area. She located Knives. She ran up to him and hugged him around the waist. He blinked in surprise. She was trembling worse than ever before.
"He was in there! He spoke to me then I…I think that I…"
He pushed her away. He felt that feeling again. He did not like it. It felt like his heart would explode out of his chest after beating so hard against his ribcage. She whimpered. His lips twitched and teeth clenched. He averted his eyes. He pushed her away forcefully.
"Quit hanging on me all the time. Run to Vash next time."
Meryl`s bottom lip shook. She ran from the area and disappeared. Now he felt something else. It was worse than what he felt every time Meryl hugged him…if hug was the right word.
----------------------------------------------- ---
Milly felt her eyes water when she looked at Meryl. Her friend sat at a table outside all alone. She looked so upset. She sat on the opposite end of the table. Meryl glanced at her and forced a smile.
"Milly…how are you?"
"What happened, Meryl? You are crying."
"Nothing…"
They did not say anything else as they sat out there. Milly felt herself becoming depressed just looking at Meryl.
`What could have happened to hurt her this much?....Knives. I have to find him!`
She got up.
"I`m sorry, Meryl, but I have something that I have to do!"
"Oh…see you around."
Milly ran off. She searched all over with no sign of him. She went to their room which the workers on the ship had replaced very quickly. She opened the door. Knives was asleep…or at least appeared to be. She approached him.
"Knives?"
He twitched then let out a long sigh.
"What?"
"Why is Meryl so upset?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"She only gets upset now because of something that has to do with you in some way. Come on. Tell me something. Maybe this could patch things up and she wouldn`t be like this. It could take stress off of you."
Knives turned over. His cheek was still red from Marianne`s slap. There was something else that was bothering him. It was in his eyes.
"You look miserable! How did you get that slap? Was it…"
"It was Marianne."
"Why did she do that?"
"My business."
"Oh…well…Meryl…"
"I told her to lay off of me."
"You are bothered by her trusting you more than anyone else right now?"
"She trusts me more than Vash? Yeah right!"
"You don`t see her hanging off of him, do ya?"
Knives did not reply.
"See? She lo…"
"Don`t say it."
"But she…"
"She hasn`t known me that long. I don`t like her. I don`t want to be tied down. Besides…no one could possibly…for me."
"Do you honestly think that?"
"I enjoy it when people suffer...not all the time but it happens every once in awhile. I feel that itch I used to get. I hurt people. This time I don`t feel an itch. I feel like my heart is going to burst. I don`t like that feeling."
Milly put a hand on his shoulder hesitantly. He did not flinch or tremble. She did not say anything. She just sat there with her hand on his shoulder. Knives stared out in front of him. He unconsciously touched his gun. It must have been a reflex action.
`Does he care about her…even if it`s not love?`
----------------------------------------------------------- -
Vash and Dryden occupied themselves with a pool table in the game room. Marianne resided in the exercise room which was only a door or two away. Vash took his turn.
"This is just what I needed!"
"I second that." Dryden said as he put two balls in two separate holes. Vash prepared to shoot after angling himself.
"Even so…this peace can drive a guy nuts! Nothing interesting has happened since we`ve been on here! If the peace doesn`t eventually get to me the boredom that comes with it will!"
Dryden chuckled as Vash completely missed his target. He set up and knocked all of the rest of the balls into different holes. The blond gunman sulked as he sat down on a bench nearby. He picked up his drink and took a long swallow. Dryden began setting up the balls again.
"Care for another game?"
"No way! You beat me every time!"
"You are one poor loser!"
Before Vash could defend himself Marianne strolled in. She wore a regular pair of jeans and a short grey shirt. Dryden grinned.
"Hey, pretty lady!"
Marianne smiled.
"How are you guys? You been playing pool for this long?"
"Yeah. I was thinking about locating Milly. She always has some good jokes or does something really funny. I could use some laughs." Vash stated.
"All you have to do is look in the mirror." Marianne said. She smiled. Dryden snickered as Vash fell off the bench. He was up in a second in Marianne`s face.
"And was is THAT supposed to mean?!" he asked, trying to put as much force into his voice as possible which only came out as whining. Marianne burst into fits of laughter. Vash sat back down and sighed.
"Go on! Laugh! I can take it!"
Marianne eventually stopped laughing. She sighed.
"Did you see my brother anywhere?"
Marianne growled. Vash jumped back.
"Hey! What did I say?!"
"That jerk!"
Vash`s eyes slitted. Marianne took a step back. Vash never got angry at his friends like that. He lashed out in rage.
"Don`t call my brother a jerk! I am sick and tired of everyone calling him names!"
"She`s right, you know."
They all three faced the door to the game area. Knives stood with his back against the door. He had that smirk on his face. His eyes were closed. Marianne took a step towards him only to have Vash stick out his hand to stop her.
"You still don`t need to be called a jerk."
"No. I think that she hits the nail right on the head. Of course if it were me in her shoes…I would have used a worse word such as bastard."
He opened his eyes which were surprisingly calm. When no one spoke up he continued. He stepped into the room. He stopped a few feet in front of them.
"I plan on leaving once we arrive at our destination. Wherever we stay the first night I will make sure that I am gone before anyone else is awake. I have something that I have to do."
"You will come back though, right?" Vash asked.
"No, brother….but if you ever find me…that will be for that time. I am uncertain of when and where I will be. Do me a favor and don`t look for me. It would be better if no one came looking for me. I`m not worth it."
`That girl needs to let me go. I don`t know why she is so attached to me.`
"And make sure that girl…"
"Meryl."
"Right…Meryl…don`t let her find out about this. She cannot come with me."
"Why not? I think she would be miserable with us."
Knives sucked in his breath.
`They are getting way too mushy for me. The only way I can get to them is to be a little mushy too. Shit. I hate this.`
"She will only find more pain if she was with me. I am a natural jerk. I don`t say things that are how you would consider…nice…to say. I like…I like pain sometimes. I like to see it…Don`t ask why. Maybe I can get over it. It will take time and I will not allow someone to experience that along with me."
Vash remembered when he said the same thing to Meryl and Milly.
`Anyone around me gets in trouble…This is the same thing.
"Just make sure she doesn`t find out." Knives said. He left. Marianne stared where he had been standing in shock. Vash looked down at the floor. Dryden patted Marianne`s shoulder.
"Maybe he isn`t as much of a jerk as we thought."
Vash remained silent as Dryden and Marianne left after saying goodbye.
`I can`t let him leave. Meryl will not feel the same pain that I caused her by leaving.`
--------------------------------------------------
The sun was just setting when the captain announced that the entertainment would begin in an hour in the stage area. Meryl sat in silence on her`s and Knives` bed.
`Should I even go down there? Maybe I should just rest.`
She heard someone move around in the bathroom. Since she had just entered the room a few minutes ago. She did not realize that someone was there. She began to tremble.
"Who`s there?" she called out.
"Knives." came that familiar monotone voice. She breathed a sigh of relief then she remembered what he had said to her.
`He doesn`t want me around….neither does Vash. I know that Milly would…`
Knives stepped out. He had on a pair of black pants. He met eyes with her once before he continued on to grab a white button-up shirt. He put it on over his back and proceeded to button it up. He tilted his eyes up to catch Meryl staring with her cheeks burning. She looked away. He went back to his business.
"Aren`t you coming?" he asked. Meryl blinked.
"Uh…yeah."
"Then get ready."
"Could you wait for me?"
He did not answer. She grabbed her dress from the dresser and went into the bathroom. She took a shower. She put on her dress. It was a short sparkling blue dress that was very short. She opened the door. She was surprised to see Knives sitting on the bed.
"You waited."
"You ready?"
She slipped on her shoes. She smelled chalogne in the air.
`He has some?! He must have borrowed it from Vash.`
He opened the door. She stood there. He held it open.
`He`s holding it for me…why does this feel so strange?`
She walked through. He closed the door and locked it. They walked side by side in complete silence towards the stage area. Meryl took the chance and hooked an arm through his. He did not push her away. He flinched a little but that was it. Meryl smiled.
*AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! How cute!!!!! How could Knives think about leaving a woman behind who obviously…chapter 8!!!!!
Author: Akima The Stampede Maxwell
Date begun: February 27, 2002
Anime: hmmm…let`s see….
Pairings: Don`t make me hurt you….
Rating: NR for some VERY suggestive themes and Knivishness
Disclaimers: not me
***Once again the writer. I want to again say how pleased that I am that people are reviewing this. Everyone who sent me a review…you people are so awesome! It makes me very happy that people are enjoying this. I`m sorry I ramble every other fanfic. I`ll try to stop. Anyways…here it tis!
Chapter 7: Emotional Attachment
The rest of the day went along rather uneventfully. They all decided to have a few drinks in Dryden`s room that night. Vash and Milly, of course, went haywire all over the place. They tripped over Knives, ran into Meryl, and threw up on Dryden. Knives held his liquor so he did not have a problem. Meryl did not like to drink that much. Dryden just passed out after showering and Marianne did not drink at all. She was asleep.
"Knives?" Meryl whispered. He was laid out beside Marianne. He glanced up at her.
"Can we go back to our room? I can`t sleep in here and I`m really tired."
"You know where the room is."
"Please…Knives…I`m scared. Last night…I heard….someone laughing outside my door. Please."
"Why don`t you get Vash to do it? He would probably do it."
"He`s out cold. Knives…please?"
Tears began to run from her eyes and down her cheeks. She went down on her knees on the floor. He got up. He reached down and put his hand under her hip. He lifted her up. He tucked her under his arm.
"Hey! I didn`t say like this!"
"Easier for me. I`m faster anyways."
She went silent. As they approached their room a shadow disappeared. Knives growled.
"Who is that?"
Laughter filled the air then it was gone. Meryl trembled.
"That was the same laugh!"
"That bastard will not keep bothering us! If he comes back I`ll kick his ass!"
Meryl gazed up at him. She smiled through new tears. Knives averted his eyes from hers. He opened the door and carried her in. He laid her down. She sighed. He removed his clothing. Meryl`s cheeks flushed as she hid her face.
"Knives, put on some clothing!"
"I`m not embarrassed. Besides…you kinda have seen everything…or felt."
Meryl`s cheeks pulsated as they became more red.
"Can we please forget about that? I`m sorry!"
"Hey! It`s not my fault! You grabbed them! How can a guy forget that?!"
Meryl did not say anything.
`Just talk about something else!`
Knives pulled the cover off of her face. She shrieked. He was still standing there completely nude. He grabbed the collar of her shirt and pulled it away from her body. He got a pretty good glance down it. Meryl slapped him. He laughed. She hugged herself as her cheeks damn near burned off.
"What was that for?!"
"If you get a feel from me I at least get to see you!"
"You`re worse than Vash!"
"I will take that as a compliment."
Meryl cursed him under her breath. She turned to face the wall. Knives lay down beside her. She looked over her shoulder.
`He`s wearing shorts.`
"What did you think…that I would lie here nude? If you want me to…"
"No!"
Knives smirked then closed his eyes. Meryl shook her head in disgust. Though she was embarrassed and angry she could not help but smile.
-----------------------------------------------------
Marianne sat at the bar on the ship. She was not much into alcohol and the bar sold more than just alcohol.
`This is a lot better than being in that town.`
"Excuse me. Is this seat taken?"
Marianne smiled. Dryden sat down beside her. He tipped his hat towards her and grinned.
"How are you, Miss Marianne?"
"Just fine. What about you?"
"Just woke up. I`m still kinda tired…and a bit hung over."
Marianne giggled. She ordered him a glass of coffee. He tipped his hat again.
"So what do you think about this Vash the Stampede?" Dryden asked "He certainly is a crazy guy. I knew him for awhile. Good man."
"I met him once. Very nice man. I`m not sure about his brother though. Vash told me recently about how his brother used to be evil. I`m glad that he isn`t but…I still don`t trust him."
"He does have something that doesn`t feel right. That girl…Meryl…she is really hooked on that guy."
"He did let her stay with him when she nearly cracked. That`s what Milly told me."
"Do you think that it`s possible that…"
"No. He can`t feel for her like she most likely feels for him."
"She never went out and told us."
"I know that she does. It`s the way she acts. She used to have a timid kind of thing around Vash that I noticed despite what she put on the outside. Vash was such a jerk. He never realized it until a little after. I felt sorry for her. Now…just look at her. She looks so happy no matter what look is on her face. She follows him around like a child."
"Or a love struck girl." Dryden replied.
"She`s got her work cut out for her. I don`t think that Vash planned for his little scheme to get them together to actually work this fast…though I think most of it was Knives` fault when he took her along."
"Quiet! Here he comes!"
Knives sat down beside Marianne. He never even looked at them.
"How are you?" Marianne asked in a small voice. He looked at her then shrugged. Marianne looked at Dryden who shrugged.
"How is Meryl? She still isn`t seasick, is she?"
"What do I care?"
Marianne flinched at the harsh words.
"I just figured that…since you are in the same room as her…"
"That was not my doing. If it were up to me I would be in a room by myself where I could stay alone. No one would come in or out without my permission."
"She really seems to like being around you."
"She is very annoying. I had to get up early just to make sure she did not follow me."
Marianne got up. She slapped him. She slapped him hard. A huge red mark lay across his face. He slowly turned his head back and continued to drink.
"What a jerk! She cares about you! Her and Vash are the only ones that care anything about you and you treat both of them like shit! Someday you will be alone and no one will be there for you!"
She got up and stormed off. Dryden followed. Knives touched his cheek gingerly. He took a napkin and spat out blood from his cheek after she slapped him. His teeth had cut him from the inside.
`I locked her in there so those guys wouldn`t get to her. I need to use her as bait for awhile.`
----------------------------------------------- --
Meryl felt fear grip her heart.
`He locked me in here…alone!`
She shivered and pulled her knees tight to her chest. That same laughter filled the room.. She covered her ears.
"He left you alone. How convenient…yet our move will not be made just yet."
"Leave me alone!"
"But you are…"
"Just LEAVE!!" she screamed. The door crunched into splinters. Meryl cried out. She hid behind her covers. She looked up. No one.
"Hmmm…not bad."
She ran from the room. The laughter died away. She ran from room to room until she got to the bar area. She located Knives. She ran up to him and hugged him around the waist. He blinked in surprise. She was trembling worse than ever before.
"He was in there! He spoke to me then I…I think that I…"
He pushed her away. He felt that feeling again. He did not like it. It felt like his heart would explode out of his chest after beating so hard against his ribcage. She whimpered. His lips twitched and teeth clenched. He averted his eyes. He pushed her away forcefully.
"Quit hanging on me all the time. Run to Vash next time."
Meryl`s bottom lip shook. She ran from the area and disappeared. Now he felt something else. It was worse than what he felt every time Meryl hugged him…if hug was the right word.
----------------------------------------------- ---
Milly felt her eyes water when she looked at Meryl. Her friend sat at a table outside all alone. She looked so upset. She sat on the opposite end of the table. Meryl glanced at her and forced a smile.
"Milly…how are you?"
"What happened, Meryl? You are crying."
"Nothing…"
They did not say anything else as they sat out there. Milly felt herself becoming depressed just looking at Meryl.
`What could have happened to hurt her this much?....Knives. I have to find him!`
She got up.
"I`m sorry, Meryl, but I have something that I have to do!"
"Oh…see you around."
Milly ran off. She searched all over with no sign of him. She went to their room which the workers on the ship had replaced very quickly. She opened the door. Knives was asleep…or at least appeared to be. She approached him.
"Knives?"
He twitched then let out a long sigh.
"What?"
"Why is Meryl so upset?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"She only gets upset now because of something that has to do with you in some way. Come on. Tell me something. Maybe this could patch things up and she wouldn`t be like this. It could take stress off of you."
Knives turned over. His cheek was still red from Marianne`s slap. There was something else that was bothering him. It was in his eyes.
"You look miserable! How did you get that slap? Was it…"
"It was Marianne."
"Why did she do that?"
"My business."
"Oh…well…Meryl…"
"I told her to lay off of me."
"You are bothered by her trusting you more than anyone else right now?"
"She trusts me more than Vash? Yeah right!"
"You don`t see her hanging off of him, do ya?"
Knives did not reply.
"See? She lo…"
"Don`t say it."
"But she…"
"She hasn`t known me that long. I don`t like her. I don`t want to be tied down. Besides…no one could possibly…for me."
"Do you honestly think that?"
"I enjoy it when people suffer...not all the time but it happens every once in awhile. I feel that itch I used to get. I hurt people. This time I don`t feel an itch. I feel like my heart is going to burst. I don`t like that feeling."
Milly put a hand on his shoulder hesitantly. He did not flinch or tremble. She did not say anything. She just sat there with her hand on his shoulder. Knives stared out in front of him. He unconsciously touched his gun. It must have been a reflex action.
`Does he care about her…even if it`s not love?`
----------------------------------------------------------- -
Vash and Dryden occupied themselves with a pool table in the game room. Marianne resided in the exercise room which was only a door or two away. Vash took his turn.
"This is just what I needed!"
"I second that." Dryden said as he put two balls in two separate holes. Vash prepared to shoot after angling himself.
"Even so…this peace can drive a guy nuts! Nothing interesting has happened since we`ve been on here! If the peace doesn`t eventually get to me the boredom that comes with it will!"
Dryden chuckled as Vash completely missed his target. He set up and knocked all of the rest of the balls into different holes. The blond gunman sulked as he sat down on a bench nearby. He picked up his drink and took a long swallow. Dryden began setting up the balls again.
"Care for another game?"
"No way! You beat me every time!"
"You are one poor loser!"
Before Vash could defend himself Marianne strolled in. She wore a regular pair of jeans and a short grey shirt. Dryden grinned.
"Hey, pretty lady!"
Marianne smiled.
"How are you guys? You been playing pool for this long?"
"Yeah. I was thinking about locating Milly. She always has some good jokes or does something really funny. I could use some laughs." Vash stated.
"All you have to do is look in the mirror." Marianne said. She smiled. Dryden snickered as Vash fell off the bench. He was up in a second in Marianne`s face.
"And was is THAT supposed to mean?!" he asked, trying to put as much force into his voice as possible which only came out as whining. Marianne burst into fits of laughter. Vash sat back down and sighed.
"Go on! Laugh! I can take it!"
Marianne eventually stopped laughing. She sighed.
"Did you see my brother anywhere?"
Marianne growled. Vash jumped back.
"Hey! What did I say?!"
"That jerk!"
Vash`s eyes slitted. Marianne took a step back. Vash never got angry at his friends like that. He lashed out in rage.
"Don`t call my brother a jerk! I am sick and tired of everyone calling him names!"
"She`s right, you know."
They all three faced the door to the game area. Knives stood with his back against the door. He had that smirk on his face. His eyes were closed. Marianne took a step towards him only to have Vash stick out his hand to stop her.
"You still don`t need to be called a jerk."
"No. I think that she hits the nail right on the head. Of course if it were me in her shoes…I would have used a worse word such as bastard."
He opened his eyes which were surprisingly calm. When no one spoke up he continued. He stepped into the room. He stopped a few feet in front of them.
"I plan on leaving once we arrive at our destination. Wherever we stay the first night I will make sure that I am gone before anyone else is awake. I have something that I have to do."
"You will come back though, right?" Vash asked.
"No, brother….but if you ever find me…that will be for that time. I am uncertain of when and where I will be. Do me a favor and don`t look for me. It would be better if no one came looking for me. I`m not worth it."
`That girl needs to let me go. I don`t know why she is so attached to me.`
"And make sure that girl…"
"Meryl."
"Right…Meryl…don`t let her find out about this. She cannot come with me."
"Why not? I think she would be miserable with us."
Knives sucked in his breath.
`They are getting way too mushy for me. The only way I can get to them is to be a little mushy too. Shit. I hate this.`
"She will only find more pain if she was with me. I am a natural jerk. I don`t say things that are how you would consider…nice…to say. I like…I like pain sometimes. I like to see it…Don`t ask why. Maybe I can get over it. It will take time and I will not allow someone to experience that along with me."
Vash remembered when he said the same thing to Meryl and Milly.
`Anyone around me gets in trouble…This is the same thing.
"Just make sure she doesn`t find out." Knives said. He left. Marianne stared where he had been standing in shock. Vash looked down at the floor. Dryden patted Marianne`s shoulder.
"Maybe he isn`t as much of a jerk as we thought."
Vash remained silent as Dryden and Marianne left after saying goodbye.
`I can`t let him leave. Meryl will not feel the same pain that I caused her by leaving.`
--------------------------------------------------
The sun was just setting when the captain announced that the entertainment would begin in an hour in the stage area. Meryl sat in silence on her`s and Knives` bed.
`Should I even go down there? Maybe I should just rest.`
She heard someone move around in the bathroom. Since she had just entered the room a few minutes ago. She did not realize that someone was there. She began to tremble.
"Who`s there?" she called out.
"Knives." came that familiar monotone voice. She breathed a sigh of relief then she remembered what he had said to her.
`He doesn`t want me around….neither does Vash. I know that Milly would…`
Knives stepped out. He had on a pair of black pants. He met eyes with her once before he continued on to grab a white button-up shirt. He put it on over his back and proceeded to button it up. He tilted his eyes up to catch Meryl staring with her cheeks burning. She looked away. He went back to his business.
"Aren`t you coming?" he asked. Meryl blinked.
"Uh…yeah."
"Then get ready."
"Could you wait for me?"
He did not answer. She grabbed her dress from the dresser and went into the bathroom. She took a shower. She put on her dress. It was a short sparkling blue dress that was very short. She opened the door. She was surprised to see Knives sitting on the bed.
"You waited."
"You ready?"
She slipped on her shoes. She smelled chalogne in the air.
`He has some?! He must have borrowed it from Vash.`
He opened the door. She stood there. He held it open.
`He`s holding it for me…why does this feel so strange?`
She walked through. He closed the door and locked it. They walked side by side in complete silence towards the stage area. Meryl took the chance and hooked an arm through his. He did not push her away. He flinched a little but that was it. Meryl smiled.
*AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! How cute!!!!! How could Knives think about leaving a woman behind who obviously…chapter 8!!!!!