Chapter Seven: No Bliss
"You know, you could stand to have a face like that once in a while."
Vash commented to Meryl. She didn't even look at him; just shrugged.
"C'mon. I've never seen you completely happy since I met you."
She gave the smallest of glances towards him, but Vash still caught it. He thought he saw pain.
Pain?
"Speak for yourself."
She muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"No, really - what did you s-"
"Wolfwood-san, you seemed quite elated when it was mentioned that we might be heading for Decembre next."
Vash blinked. Did Meryl just deliberately interrupt him?
"Hey, answer m-"
"You want to see your orphans, right?"
Yup.
She had.
And she'd just done it again.
"Yeah, well..."
A look of fondness came upon Wolfwood's face.
"I do miss them a lot... it'd be nice to see them sometime soon..."
Vash grinned.
"Then it's Decembre next we go! Alright, girls?"
Milly held her spoon up.
"Hai--!"
She went back to her pudding. Meryl had absolutely no reaction whatsoever. This was really starting to bug Vash - not a lot of people ignored Vash, anyhow.
After a few minutes of mindless girl to girl and guy to guy chitchat, Meryl stood up from her chair.
"Hey, I'm going to book the inn we're staying in."
Milly stood up as well.
"I'll go with you, sempai."
Meryl smiled appreciatively.
"Thanks. Oh yeah, I almost forgot."
She dug a hand into her bag before handing Wolfwood several bills.
"That's around fifty double dollars. Could you buy dinner and tomorrow's breakfast?"
"Huh?"
Wolfwood took a moment to realise that she was talking to him, simply because Vash was closer to her. He reached over and took the double dollars from her.
"Oh okay. What do you want?"
"Just buy something to eat."
"Pudding!"
Milly sang.
"Okay."
Wolfwood agreed, putting the stash of money into his pocket.
"Hey Tongari. Let's go to the grocery store."
Vash stood up, his elbow knocking against Meryls. She didn't react, but Vash said,
"Whoops. Sorry,"
anyways. He walked over towards the grocery.
"See ya girls!"
He waved. The insurance girls headed towards the Cendre inn, Milly waving back, but Meryl looking dead ahead.
He stood at the top of a grocery store, hidden behind the ledge of the roof.
The man glared at the group. He had been right; they were stuck together like glue.
The girls and guys split up, but he could see that the big girl could serve to be a problem.
"Dammit... I need them separate."
He closed his eyes, then let a smile spread across his face.
"I'll just attack tomorrow, then."
His serene smile became twisted as he spotted his main target enter the store.
"Just wait and see, you bastard. You'll pay."
