Title: Forsaken
Author: Akima The Stampede Maxwell
Date begun: March 1, 2002
Anime: where does Knives and the gang come from?....oh yeah! Trigun!!!! What about Dryden and Millerna?....Escaflowne
Pairings: not so obvious anymore I guess…or is it?
Rating: NR for some suggestive themes and Knivishness
Disclaimers: does it look like I invented them? Didn`t think so….
Chapter 9: Miserable
Millerna crept into her bedroom where Knives lay asleep. She searched in her drawers and picked out some clothing. She looked at Knives. He lay there in a pair of black pants and no shirt.
`He looks good. I wonder where he came from? Is he lying when he says that he is Vash the Stampede`s brother?`
Knives stirred. She quickly exited the room. She changed right as Knives walked in. He yawned. He sat on th couch and closed his eyes. He was not asleep but he looked it. Millerna got up.
"Do you want anything to eat?"
"Whatever you got."
"I will find something to make. I know that you`ll like. Everybody loves my cooking."
Knives smirked. He got up. He went to stare out the window. Millerna busied herself with making breakfast. She looked in on Knives from time to time.
`I`m not surprised that girl likes him. He is handsome.`
She slapped herself mentally for gawking at him.
`Wake up, Millerna! You know that he still has a thing for that girl!...Well…he never actually said that he did…What am I saying?!`
She brought him in a plate. He took it without even a thank you. He took a bite of the eggs. He looked at her with an indifferent expression.
"Not bad."
"Not bad? Try excellent!"
"Do you always like to talk about yourself?"
Millerna became flustered.
"I…uh…no but…uh…tell me something about you then."
"Like what?"
"Like…how do you get along with your brother?"
"Like brothers should."
`This isn`t working.`
Millerna sighed as Knives went back to eating.
----------------------------------------------- ------
Vash checked into the hotel. The group had just arrived in Haltar. Wolfwood`s grave was a couple of miles from the town. They would have gone on but Vash insisted that they give Meryl a little bit more time and a lot of rest. The others and himself met in another room while Meryl was settled in a different one. They were surprisingly silent for once. Vash sighed.
"Well…this is definitely not what I expected to happen. I wanted them to at least find something in common or something. I didn`t think that Meryl would react that much to…"
"Man, you really messed this up!" Dryden exclaimed "The lady`s probably lying in that bed in there crying her eyes out because she misses him so much! I don`t even know how she could have affection for that guy!"
"Hey! Shut up! You don`t know my brother and you don`t know Meryl! She will pull through this! She always pulls through everything! She`s strong!"
Vash and Dryden glared at eachother. Milly covered her ears with her hands. Marianne blinked. She tried to break them up only to be shoved away. Milly suddenly shouted.
"STOP IT NOW!!"
They all looked at her. Tears ran down her cheeks as she stood up.
"I`m tired of this! We all messed up! We all did! We never really let fate work its course! We forced them together even though we knew that something may have been happening! We should have just left them alone or maybe even have made them leave! They were doing well on their own! I`m going to go sit with Meryl."
She left. Vash looked ashamed. Dryden lay back and placed his hat over his head. Marianne said goodnight and left the room. Milly waited to make sure they did not talk about it anymore then she went into Meryl`s room. She heard faint sobbing as she opened the door.
"Meryl? Meryl, can I come in?"
"Milly?"
"Yeah."
"Sure."
Milly walked towards the bed and sat down in the chair beside it. Meryl lay there with tear stains on her face. She forced that smile again.
"What brings you here?"
"Did Vash`s plan work?"
"Huh?"
"Did that plan work? I know that you heard. I saw you that day…behind the plant."
Meryl frowned.
"No."
"Then why are you so upset."
"…I miss the security that I felt when I was with him. He is a good fighter. He was strong enough to protect me."
"So is Vash."
"Vash…I don`t feel the same way anymore around him. I don`t love him like I used to."
"Because he left you with me…at the house?"
Meryl smiled. She sat up and hugged her friend.
"It wasn`t because he left me with you. It was bigger than that. He never came to my rescue. He always went after those other girls. Remember? He even said that he forgot we were women. I find it funny now really. I just don`t have those same feelings anymore. Something changed."
"Meryl…tell me honestly here…do you feel differently about Knives? I`m not going by what I`ve seen because I didn`t see that much and it really is none of my business."
Meryl let go of Milly. She sat back against the bedpost.
"I want to tell you about what happened when he took me."
"But you already told me."
"No…on an emotional level."
"Oh…okay."
Meryl went on to explain the first few days of the past trip. They laughed when she told her about the women that were convinced that her and Knives were married. She told her a little more about begging Knives to let her stay and how she defended him when Dryden threatened to shoot him. She told Milly about how Knives took her by the hand so no one would try to take advantage of her…even though he was really doing it for the amusement. She went on and on about until she got to the part where they were on the ship up until he left. She found herself crying once again. Milly`s eyes were tearfilled.
"I had no idea that he meant that much to you."
"I didn`t…"
"You don`t have to say it, Meryl. I can hear it in your voice."
`When did Milly become so serene and wise. She used to act like such an airhead.`
"So…where do you think I stand with him…in your opinion…if I liked him that is! Just for kicks…how do you think he feels about me?"
Milly sighed.
"It`s hard to say really. Based on your story it sounds like he may have had somewhat of a small soft spot for you. I mean…he didn`t hesitate to come to your defense…in your side of the story. I…don`t really know how else to read it. I`m sorry."
Meryl`s face darkened.
"This is only in my opinion, Meryl, but…I think that you have somewhat of an obsession with him because he is so much like Vash and he was there for you sometimes. The only way that you can be totally sure of how you really feel and how he really feels is to talk to him face to face."
Meryl nodded sadly.
"That isn`t possible anymore."
"I`ll tell you what. When you want to search for Knives you will go find him…but only if you promise to take me along."
Meryl`s eyes watered.
"I promise we will travel together once again like we used to."
Milly smiled broadly.
"Rest, okay?"
"Okay."
Meryl lay back down. Milly left the room. Meryl fell asleep with a smile on her face.
----------------------------------------------------- -----
Millerna lead Knives around. Kids ran around along the streets with fake guns. One of the kids exclaimed that he was Vash the Stampede. Knives smirked.
`No way. My brother is a lot dumber. He wouldn`t attack people if his life depended on it…unless a woman was in distress.`
"Say, Millions…."
"Call me Knives."
"Do you want to play Tag?"
"No thanks! Not that little kids game!"
"No! Believe it or not our version of tag involves real guns. Of course…we don`t use real bullets but we do use rubber ones and they really do sting."
Knives thought a moment the shrugged.
"Well if real gun are involved why not. I could use this to my advantage and sharpen my already superior gun shooting abilities."
Millerna grabbed him by the hand and ran.
"Hey! No one grabs me like that!"
"Come on! We can still enter in the first game!"
Knives said nothing more as Millerna got them to an enclosed area. Barrels were set up everywhere.
"The object of this game is to take out all people who are not on your side…or anyone other than you but I`m going to enter us as a team!"
Knives shrugged. Millerna pulled out a gun she had strapped to her upper thigh. Knives raised an eyebrow. She slightly blushed under his gaze.
"A girl has to be prepared for anything! Here…take these rubber bullets. Don`t use any real bullets. This town could get ugly in a hurry if you did that and someone would get hurt."
Knives emptied his bullets into a box set up for people to get rid of their bullets. Millerna did the same. She put some rubber bullets in her gun then smiled.
"Let`s do our best!"
"Girlie, I always do my best."
The games began right as they entered the stadium. Millerna`s eyes widened when Knives dodged a bullet coming right at him He pushed her out of the way of another one.
"That was close!" she breathed "Thanks for pushing me out of the way!"
"Think nothing of it. You did sign up as my partner though being by myself would be much more effective."
Millerna cocked her gun. Knives did the same. He grinned. She grinned.
"Let`s do it." Millerna said. He nodded. They came out from behind the barrels and shot at anything that moved. Millera`s accuracy was surprisingly good. Even Knives seemed impressed as they won in ten minutes flat. The people watching cheered. Knives spun his gun around and put it back in the holster.
"That was incredible, Knives! You dodged those bullets like…like…that was amazing!"
"Don`t be so surprised."
"Care for another game?"
"If you insist."
Suddenly a woman screamed. They both looked up to see a gang of around five men. They looked like the usual dimwitted thugs. The tallest one, obviously the leader, held a woman at gunpoint.
"If you people don`t give me all of your money then I will kill this woman right on the spot! Believe me…I have the fastest gun here! I…"
A bullet hit the man`s hand and his gun went flying. The woman ran off. The tall man growled.
"Who shot me?!"
"Relax. It was a rubber bullet."
The man traced the voice back to Knives who held his gun pointed at the man. Knives looked quite amused.
"Why you…"
"I am the fastest gun here."
"Prove it!"
The tall man thought about reaching for his gun only to have Knives shoot him four more times. The man winced.
"Damn it! Those things hurt!"
He pulled out his gun. Knives just stood there. Another rubber bullet hit the man. He fell back. Millerna stood beisde Knives. She smiled.
"Get out of here, fellas, and we will not humiliate you further."
The tall man laughed.
"This is not even worth it! Come on, boys! Let`s go!"
The gang left. The town cheered. They ran up to Knives and Millerna. They thanked them over and over.
"Wow! You two really do have the fastest guns!"
"What a pair! You guys are the best!"
It went on and on. Knives and Millerna shrugged. Knives replaced the rubber bullets with real ones. He placed the gun at his side. He turned to Millerna.
"I have to leave now. I have some things that I must find for myself."
Millerna blinked.
"But…you just got here last night! You just saved someone`s life and you just want to leave?!"
"Yep."
Knives walked for awhile. He got to his bike and started it up. He heard footsteps behind him.
"Coming to see me off?"
"No. I`m coming too."
He faced her. She had changed into a pair of dark brown pants, a short white button-up shirt, and a long brown coat. She had two guns at her side. She smiled. He chuckled.
"You look like an outlaw."
"Would you believe me if I told you that I was?"
"No way. You just shot at those guys."
"Hey. A girl can get to liking towns after a couple of monthes."
"I am not taking you along."
"It`s non-negotiable."
She hopped up behind him and held onto his hips. He smirked.
"Suit yourself. I will lose you eventually."
"Don`t ount on it. We`re a team now."
Knives let out a laugh as he drove the bike into the desert.
-----------------------------------------------------
Milly stood before Wolfwood`s grave. She went down on her knees and bowed her head. Vash did the same. Dryden stood nearby with his back against a tomb. Marianne and Meryl sat against the bikes. They were surprised that Meryl actually became a bit more cheerful. Milly was the only one who knew why.
"Dear Wolfwood…how I miss you." Milly whispered "I only hope that you are happy wherever you are and that you will wait for me when my time comes."
She stood up. She smiled cheerfully.
"Let`s go! I feel much better now that we came here!"
She walked up to the bike that she drove and touched Wolfwood`s cross gingerly. Meryl touched Milly and gave her a reassuring smile. Milly nodded. Vash stood up.
"Where to now, guys?"
"Let`s just go where the wind takes us." Dryden said.
"Well put." Vash stated. They all climbed on their respective bikes and rode off. They drove for miles without seeing a town or an oasis. Just as they thought the worst a town appeared out of nowhere. The town of Gardanoke. Meryl and Milly went off to look around. Vash, Dryden, and Marianne went around to find the local bar. Usually good information passed around in there. Meryl and Milly meanwhile were in a weapon department buying new supplies. A yound woman and the man working the desk were chatting.
"Yeah. I haven`t heard of Vash The Stampede for awhile." the woman stated "I did here that he has a brother. I forget what they called him."
"I heard from a young boy who came through here that his name is Knives. Millions Knives."
Meryl, unnoticed by Milly as she looked over bullets for Wolfwood`s cross weapon, hid behind a rack of rifles. She listened.
"Apparently this guy Knives looks a lot like Vash. His hair is supposed to be shorter and he apparently has a nasty attitude." the man said behind the counter. Meryl smiled.
`That sounds like Knives.`
"The boy said that he had a girl with him that had somewhat long raven colored hair and a pretty short stature..at least a foot shorter than Knives. The boy`s father, having seen them as well, said that they were never apart. He thinks that they were together. I don`t know. By his description I don`t know how the guy could have captured the heart of such a lovely young girl. The man said that she was very sweet yet had a slight anger problem. Can`t blame the girl really. This is Millions Knives, brother of Vash."
"I heard that Vash is quite a nice man."
"He has earned a little bit of that reputation. Perhaps I will get to meet him face to face one day."
"About Knives…recently a man I was dating off and on mentioned that Knives was sighted again…except with a taller young woman with long blond hair and green eyes. I think somebody said her name was Millerna. Anyways…these two have made quite an impression on a couple of towns. They stopped a couple of gangs from hurting people."
Meryl felt her heart break. Her eyes shook.
`Another girl? Did he leave because he didn`t want me as a partner? He went and met some other girl? She`s probably twice as beautiful as me….Wait a minute! Why do I care? I`m better off without him.`
"I heard that two. I also heard that the two were moving west. Their pace was pretty slow, They stay in town for usually just one night or maybe two."
Meryl walked up to the counter and forced a smile. She paid for her bullets. The guy at the counter stared at her.
"You know…you remind me of someone that…"
"Everybody tells me that. Thank you."
Milly bought her stuff quickly. She ran outside to find Meryl grabbing a motorcycle.
"Meryl, where…"
"That bastard has some real explaining to do! He`s sitting there travelling around with some other girl! He left so he could be with her!"
"That`s probably not true! Meryl, wait! At least let me come along!"
She threw the cross on behind Meryl then jumped on behind her. Meryl growled then pressed on the gas hard. The bike jumped and they were off.
`Why?! Why, Knives?`
----------------------------------------------
Vash opened his eyes. Dryden and Marianne were questioning a man sitting at the bar. He got up and ran outside. He noticed that one of the bikes were gone.
`Damn it!`
He ran back into the bar. Dryden noticed him first.
"Vash, are you okay?"
"Meryl…she left. She`s going to look for my brother."
"How do you know that? Someone could have just stolen that bike."
"No. I can feel it. I know that she left. Hopefully Milly went with her. She really could give her company. We don`t have time to go after her. We have to keep looking for information on that gang. We won`t let them catch up to Meryl. We have to somehow get this guy."
"Okay. So we keep doing what we`re doing and hope that the guy isn`t already on her trail."
Vash nodded. He sighed.
`Be careful, Meryl.`
*Well…if Meryl isn`t hooked on Knives then I must be president of the US or something! I know what you`re thinking…she just likes his company. Well…screw you, dream wrecker! Go on! Go to Chapter 10!
Author: Akima The Stampede Maxwell
Date begun: March 1, 2002
Anime: where does Knives and the gang come from?....oh yeah! Trigun!!!! What about Dryden and Millerna?....Escaflowne
Pairings: not so obvious anymore I guess…or is it?
Rating: NR for some suggestive themes and Knivishness
Disclaimers: does it look like I invented them? Didn`t think so….
Chapter 9: Miserable
Millerna crept into her bedroom where Knives lay asleep. She searched in her drawers and picked out some clothing. She looked at Knives. He lay there in a pair of black pants and no shirt.
`He looks good. I wonder where he came from? Is he lying when he says that he is Vash the Stampede`s brother?`
Knives stirred. She quickly exited the room. She changed right as Knives walked in. He yawned. He sat on th couch and closed his eyes. He was not asleep but he looked it. Millerna got up.
"Do you want anything to eat?"
"Whatever you got."
"I will find something to make. I know that you`ll like. Everybody loves my cooking."
Knives smirked. He got up. He went to stare out the window. Millerna busied herself with making breakfast. She looked in on Knives from time to time.
`I`m not surprised that girl likes him. He is handsome.`
She slapped herself mentally for gawking at him.
`Wake up, Millerna! You know that he still has a thing for that girl!...Well…he never actually said that he did…What am I saying?!`
She brought him in a plate. He took it without even a thank you. He took a bite of the eggs. He looked at her with an indifferent expression.
"Not bad."
"Not bad? Try excellent!"
"Do you always like to talk about yourself?"
Millerna became flustered.
"I…uh…no but…uh…tell me something about you then."
"Like what?"
"Like…how do you get along with your brother?"
"Like brothers should."
`This isn`t working.`
Millerna sighed as Knives went back to eating.
----------------------------------------------- ------
Vash checked into the hotel. The group had just arrived in Haltar. Wolfwood`s grave was a couple of miles from the town. They would have gone on but Vash insisted that they give Meryl a little bit more time and a lot of rest. The others and himself met in another room while Meryl was settled in a different one. They were surprisingly silent for once. Vash sighed.
"Well…this is definitely not what I expected to happen. I wanted them to at least find something in common or something. I didn`t think that Meryl would react that much to…"
"Man, you really messed this up!" Dryden exclaimed "The lady`s probably lying in that bed in there crying her eyes out because she misses him so much! I don`t even know how she could have affection for that guy!"
"Hey! Shut up! You don`t know my brother and you don`t know Meryl! She will pull through this! She always pulls through everything! She`s strong!"
Vash and Dryden glared at eachother. Milly covered her ears with her hands. Marianne blinked. She tried to break them up only to be shoved away. Milly suddenly shouted.
"STOP IT NOW!!"
They all looked at her. Tears ran down her cheeks as she stood up.
"I`m tired of this! We all messed up! We all did! We never really let fate work its course! We forced them together even though we knew that something may have been happening! We should have just left them alone or maybe even have made them leave! They were doing well on their own! I`m going to go sit with Meryl."
She left. Vash looked ashamed. Dryden lay back and placed his hat over his head. Marianne said goodnight and left the room. Milly waited to make sure they did not talk about it anymore then she went into Meryl`s room. She heard faint sobbing as she opened the door.
"Meryl? Meryl, can I come in?"
"Milly?"
"Yeah."
"Sure."
Milly walked towards the bed and sat down in the chair beside it. Meryl lay there with tear stains on her face. She forced that smile again.
"What brings you here?"
"Did Vash`s plan work?"
"Huh?"
"Did that plan work? I know that you heard. I saw you that day…behind the plant."
Meryl frowned.
"No."
"Then why are you so upset."
"…I miss the security that I felt when I was with him. He is a good fighter. He was strong enough to protect me."
"So is Vash."
"Vash…I don`t feel the same way anymore around him. I don`t love him like I used to."
"Because he left you with me…at the house?"
Meryl smiled. She sat up and hugged her friend.
"It wasn`t because he left me with you. It was bigger than that. He never came to my rescue. He always went after those other girls. Remember? He even said that he forgot we were women. I find it funny now really. I just don`t have those same feelings anymore. Something changed."
"Meryl…tell me honestly here…do you feel differently about Knives? I`m not going by what I`ve seen because I didn`t see that much and it really is none of my business."
Meryl let go of Milly. She sat back against the bedpost.
"I want to tell you about what happened when he took me."
"But you already told me."
"No…on an emotional level."
"Oh…okay."
Meryl went on to explain the first few days of the past trip. They laughed when she told her about the women that were convinced that her and Knives were married. She told her a little more about begging Knives to let her stay and how she defended him when Dryden threatened to shoot him. She told Milly about how Knives took her by the hand so no one would try to take advantage of her…even though he was really doing it for the amusement. She went on and on about until she got to the part where they were on the ship up until he left. She found herself crying once again. Milly`s eyes were tearfilled.
"I had no idea that he meant that much to you."
"I didn`t…"
"You don`t have to say it, Meryl. I can hear it in your voice."
`When did Milly become so serene and wise. She used to act like such an airhead.`
"So…where do you think I stand with him…in your opinion…if I liked him that is! Just for kicks…how do you think he feels about me?"
Milly sighed.
"It`s hard to say really. Based on your story it sounds like he may have had somewhat of a small soft spot for you. I mean…he didn`t hesitate to come to your defense…in your side of the story. I…don`t really know how else to read it. I`m sorry."
Meryl`s face darkened.
"This is only in my opinion, Meryl, but…I think that you have somewhat of an obsession with him because he is so much like Vash and he was there for you sometimes. The only way that you can be totally sure of how you really feel and how he really feels is to talk to him face to face."
Meryl nodded sadly.
"That isn`t possible anymore."
"I`ll tell you what. When you want to search for Knives you will go find him…but only if you promise to take me along."
Meryl`s eyes watered.
"I promise we will travel together once again like we used to."
Milly smiled broadly.
"Rest, okay?"
"Okay."
Meryl lay back down. Milly left the room. Meryl fell asleep with a smile on her face.
----------------------------------------------------- -----
Millerna lead Knives around. Kids ran around along the streets with fake guns. One of the kids exclaimed that he was Vash the Stampede. Knives smirked.
`No way. My brother is a lot dumber. He wouldn`t attack people if his life depended on it…unless a woman was in distress.`
"Say, Millions…."
"Call me Knives."
"Do you want to play Tag?"
"No thanks! Not that little kids game!"
"No! Believe it or not our version of tag involves real guns. Of course…we don`t use real bullets but we do use rubber ones and they really do sting."
Knives thought a moment the shrugged.
"Well if real gun are involved why not. I could use this to my advantage and sharpen my already superior gun shooting abilities."
Millerna grabbed him by the hand and ran.
"Hey! No one grabs me like that!"
"Come on! We can still enter in the first game!"
Knives said nothing more as Millerna got them to an enclosed area. Barrels were set up everywhere.
"The object of this game is to take out all people who are not on your side…or anyone other than you but I`m going to enter us as a team!"
Knives shrugged. Millerna pulled out a gun she had strapped to her upper thigh. Knives raised an eyebrow. She slightly blushed under his gaze.
"A girl has to be prepared for anything! Here…take these rubber bullets. Don`t use any real bullets. This town could get ugly in a hurry if you did that and someone would get hurt."
Knives emptied his bullets into a box set up for people to get rid of their bullets. Millerna did the same. She put some rubber bullets in her gun then smiled.
"Let`s do our best!"
"Girlie, I always do my best."
The games began right as they entered the stadium. Millerna`s eyes widened when Knives dodged a bullet coming right at him He pushed her out of the way of another one.
"That was close!" she breathed "Thanks for pushing me out of the way!"
"Think nothing of it. You did sign up as my partner though being by myself would be much more effective."
Millerna cocked her gun. Knives did the same. He grinned. She grinned.
"Let`s do it." Millerna said. He nodded. They came out from behind the barrels and shot at anything that moved. Millera`s accuracy was surprisingly good. Even Knives seemed impressed as they won in ten minutes flat. The people watching cheered. Knives spun his gun around and put it back in the holster.
"That was incredible, Knives! You dodged those bullets like…like…that was amazing!"
"Don`t be so surprised."
"Care for another game?"
"If you insist."
Suddenly a woman screamed. They both looked up to see a gang of around five men. They looked like the usual dimwitted thugs. The tallest one, obviously the leader, held a woman at gunpoint.
"If you people don`t give me all of your money then I will kill this woman right on the spot! Believe me…I have the fastest gun here! I…"
A bullet hit the man`s hand and his gun went flying. The woman ran off. The tall man growled.
"Who shot me?!"
"Relax. It was a rubber bullet."
The man traced the voice back to Knives who held his gun pointed at the man. Knives looked quite amused.
"Why you…"
"I am the fastest gun here."
"Prove it!"
The tall man thought about reaching for his gun only to have Knives shoot him four more times. The man winced.
"Damn it! Those things hurt!"
He pulled out his gun. Knives just stood there. Another rubber bullet hit the man. He fell back. Millerna stood beisde Knives. She smiled.
"Get out of here, fellas, and we will not humiliate you further."
The tall man laughed.
"This is not even worth it! Come on, boys! Let`s go!"
The gang left. The town cheered. They ran up to Knives and Millerna. They thanked them over and over.
"Wow! You two really do have the fastest guns!"
"What a pair! You guys are the best!"
It went on and on. Knives and Millerna shrugged. Knives replaced the rubber bullets with real ones. He placed the gun at his side. He turned to Millerna.
"I have to leave now. I have some things that I must find for myself."
Millerna blinked.
"But…you just got here last night! You just saved someone`s life and you just want to leave?!"
"Yep."
Knives walked for awhile. He got to his bike and started it up. He heard footsteps behind him.
"Coming to see me off?"
"No. I`m coming too."
He faced her. She had changed into a pair of dark brown pants, a short white button-up shirt, and a long brown coat. She had two guns at her side. She smiled. He chuckled.
"You look like an outlaw."
"Would you believe me if I told you that I was?"
"No way. You just shot at those guys."
"Hey. A girl can get to liking towns after a couple of monthes."
"I am not taking you along."
"It`s non-negotiable."
She hopped up behind him and held onto his hips. He smirked.
"Suit yourself. I will lose you eventually."
"Don`t ount on it. We`re a team now."
Knives let out a laugh as he drove the bike into the desert.
-----------------------------------------------------
Milly stood before Wolfwood`s grave. She went down on her knees and bowed her head. Vash did the same. Dryden stood nearby with his back against a tomb. Marianne and Meryl sat against the bikes. They were surprised that Meryl actually became a bit more cheerful. Milly was the only one who knew why.
"Dear Wolfwood…how I miss you." Milly whispered "I only hope that you are happy wherever you are and that you will wait for me when my time comes."
She stood up. She smiled cheerfully.
"Let`s go! I feel much better now that we came here!"
She walked up to the bike that she drove and touched Wolfwood`s cross gingerly. Meryl touched Milly and gave her a reassuring smile. Milly nodded. Vash stood up.
"Where to now, guys?"
"Let`s just go where the wind takes us." Dryden said.
"Well put." Vash stated. They all climbed on their respective bikes and rode off. They drove for miles without seeing a town or an oasis. Just as they thought the worst a town appeared out of nowhere. The town of Gardanoke. Meryl and Milly went off to look around. Vash, Dryden, and Marianne went around to find the local bar. Usually good information passed around in there. Meryl and Milly meanwhile were in a weapon department buying new supplies. A yound woman and the man working the desk were chatting.
"Yeah. I haven`t heard of Vash The Stampede for awhile." the woman stated "I did here that he has a brother. I forget what they called him."
"I heard from a young boy who came through here that his name is Knives. Millions Knives."
Meryl, unnoticed by Milly as she looked over bullets for Wolfwood`s cross weapon, hid behind a rack of rifles. She listened.
"Apparently this guy Knives looks a lot like Vash. His hair is supposed to be shorter and he apparently has a nasty attitude." the man said behind the counter. Meryl smiled.
`That sounds like Knives.`
"The boy said that he had a girl with him that had somewhat long raven colored hair and a pretty short stature..at least a foot shorter than Knives. The boy`s father, having seen them as well, said that they were never apart. He thinks that they were together. I don`t know. By his description I don`t know how the guy could have captured the heart of such a lovely young girl. The man said that she was very sweet yet had a slight anger problem. Can`t blame the girl really. This is Millions Knives, brother of Vash."
"I heard that Vash is quite a nice man."
"He has earned a little bit of that reputation. Perhaps I will get to meet him face to face one day."
"About Knives…recently a man I was dating off and on mentioned that Knives was sighted again…except with a taller young woman with long blond hair and green eyes. I think somebody said her name was Millerna. Anyways…these two have made quite an impression on a couple of towns. They stopped a couple of gangs from hurting people."
Meryl felt her heart break. Her eyes shook.
`Another girl? Did he leave because he didn`t want me as a partner? He went and met some other girl? She`s probably twice as beautiful as me….Wait a minute! Why do I care? I`m better off without him.`
"I heard that two. I also heard that the two were moving west. Their pace was pretty slow, They stay in town for usually just one night or maybe two."
Meryl walked up to the counter and forced a smile. She paid for her bullets. The guy at the counter stared at her.
"You know…you remind me of someone that…"
"Everybody tells me that. Thank you."
Milly bought her stuff quickly. She ran outside to find Meryl grabbing a motorcycle.
"Meryl, where…"
"That bastard has some real explaining to do! He`s sitting there travelling around with some other girl! He left so he could be with her!"
"That`s probably not true! Meryl, wait! At least let me come along!"
She threw the cross on behind Meryl then jumped on behind her. Meryl growled then pressed on the gas hard. The bike jumped and they were off.
`Why?! Why, Knives?`
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Vash opened his eyes. Dryden and Marianne were questioning a man sitting at the bar. He got up and ran outside. He noticed that one of the bikes were gone.
`Damn it!`
He ran back into the bar. Dryden noticed him first.
"Vash, are you okay?"
"Meryl…she left. She`s going to look for my brother."
"How do you know that? Someone could have just stolen that bike."
"No. I can feel it. I know that she left. Hopefully Milly went with her. She really could give her company. We don`t have time to go after her. We have to keep looking for information on that gang. We won`t let them catch up to Meryl. We have to somehow get this guy."
"Okay. So we keep doing what we`re doing and hope that the guy isn`t already on her trail."
Vash nodded. He sighed.
`Be careful, Meryl.`
*Well…if Meryl isn`t hooked on Knives then I must be president of the US or something! I know what you`re thinking…she just likes his company. Well…screw you, dream wrecker! Go on! Go to Chapter 10!