Disclaimer: Trigun is not mine.
***Sorry that this took so long. My cous has been over and I`ve had tiny writer`s block. I hope that none of you are angry with me. Here ya go!
Chapter 8: The Race Heats Up Until…
Yes. Vash and Knives are acting very strangely indeed and it`s been getting worse over the past few weeks. No longer do I dwell on Knives getting his memory back or anything else. Now I`m proccupied with dealing with…them.
Yeah. They`re fighting over me. I think that I`m flattered but…no. This is annoying. I don`t even know how this all began. I love Vash…or I think that I still do. Knives…well…he`s different now and that makes him…more available…or…arg! I don`t know how else to put it!
Bottom line is…I haven`t chosen and I won`t chose. I would rather not go through this…or put them through this. I`m going to let this pass. Somehow…I hope that this dies down. I don`t know why I feel like this all of a sudden. I guess that I just want life to be the way that it was before…except Knives is not evil.
------------------------------
`Oh no! Vash…don`t…`
"Here`s breakfast! I made your eggs just the way that you like them!" he sings. I want to crawl under the table and die. No…better yet…I should slap the big knucklehead for embarassing me like this! I bite my tongue and put on a big fake smile.
"Thanks." I manage to reply. He nods happily. Knives, who is sitting beside me, doesn`t look like he is very happy with this. Vash gives him a ha-ha type of look. I find that strangely hilarious.
`Imagine…two handsome plants fighting over me. It`s almost too much…still…I wonder if Vash just doesn`t like some other guy, even if it is his brother, to be around me. Maybe he thinks that Knives will somehow regain his memory and attack me or something. Yeah..that has to be it…but what about Knives? Well…maybe he just doesn`t like me neglecting him so much. Yes…this all seems to make sense now.`
They`re jealous of each other but not for my love.
`That`s actually funny thinking about if that was true.`
Imagine it.
"Meryl, are you alright?"
That`s Knives. I look at him. His face holds concern. I`m not sure why.
"What is it?" I ask with surprise.
"You went off into your own little world there for a minute there. I was trying to ask you if you would go into town with me to help me pick out some clothes and…"
"Sure."
`Anything to get out for awhile.`
His face immediately brightens up. I`m happy to see him happy. I really want him to be able to function better. He had nightmares for a few weeks. Vash and I helped him out until he began to not have them anymore. I have to say that Vash and I made a good team. We still do.
Speaking of Vash he`s giving me this look.
`Why is he looking at me like that?!`
I almost expect him to ask to join but he only smiles.
"Since you`re going can you bring me back some donuts?"
I can only nod. He says thank you. After I finish eating Knives follows me out to the car and we go into town.
--------------------------------
I can`t really describe what I`m seeing right now. Let`s just say that Knives can`t pull off a cowboy look. I laugh and tell him to quickly change. I don`t think that he`s too happy with me for laughing but I really couldn`t help it.
`Could you…seeing him wearing that hideous outfit? That hat…`
"Alright…what about this?"
He sounds like he is frustrated. Now I feel bad…but only a little. He walks out. I nod in approval. I find him quite appealing in a black trenchcoat. He picked out a nice white shirt to go under it as well. His black pants compliment the outfit. I pick out a pair of black boots for him. He asks me if he looks threatening. I laugh and tell him that he could never look threatening. His cheeks turn a bit red.
"Why are you so embarassed?" I ask with a laugh.
"…Because you gave me a compliment."
My turn to blush.
`Damn it! Why am I blushing?!`
"I`m hungry. Would you eat with me?" he asks. I nod with a smile.
"Of course! I`m starving!"
------------------------------------
I wasn`t lying to him. I was starving. We eat lunch then head off to check out some things at the local market in town. I usually go alone or with Millie. Knives surprisingly seems happy to be here. That is one thing that I`ve noticed that he and Vash differ on. Vash only goes for the donuts.
Anyways…I`m going off track again. So we get some things and I of course remember to grab a box of donuts. We walk around until we both get tired then we sit down on a bench for awhile. We don`t really talk all that much. There is nothing to say. Soon we go home. That is the end of my first outing being really alone with Knives.
-----------------------------------------------
I am sitting out on the couch one evening when Vash approaches me as usual. This time he seems to have something on his mind. He sits down as usual except now he`s fidgeting. I have to stop myself from gigghling at the sight. I don`t know why it made me want to laugh.
"Meryl?"
"Yes, Vash?"
"Would you watch the sun rise with me in the morning?"
Well I wasn`t expecting this. I feel very flattered. I drop the book that I chose to read that day. I can`t look up into his eyes.
"Uh…sure, Vash. Is there any particular reason why?"
"Just to see it. I want someone that I really care about to be there to experience it with me."
I`m blushing again. I can`t help it. I feel my head nod up and down.
"I understand. What time?"
"If you don`t mind…I would like to sit here and enjoy the rest of the night here with you."
"You mean that we should stay up all night?"
"Why not? I don`t have a job right now and neither do you. We can sleep in. Come on! What do you say?" Vash asks expectantly. I really am losing it. He`s pleading with me. I can tell by his voice. I feel that strangeness again. I recently began feeling it with Knives too. I know what it must means but I don`t really want to make that kind of decision right now.
-----------------------------------
So we sit together. There`s not really another way of putting it. Okay…we do talk about our past adventures together. We laugh a lot when he talks of the girls that he used to chase around. He seems a little tense when we talk about that…like he`s ashamed of it. Anyways…we talk a lot about the mishaps that we went through. I don`t think that I`ll ever laugh like that again.
Suring this time I also take in account the way he is sitting. He usually gives me some personal space but now he`s so close that he`s practically on top of me. I watch his arm on the edge of the couch behind me fidget. I notice tiny beads of sweat. His laugh is different too. He sounds so nervous. I find that oddly very likeable about him.
`Like a little boy talking to a girl that he…`
I need to stop thinking about that. It`s been on my mind for the past couple of days now. He suddenly jumps up and startles me.
"Sorry! Meryl, come on! I think that we should go outside and watch noe!"
I look up at the clock.
`It`s nearly dawn! We`ve been talking for that long?`
I feel Vash pull me up gently by my right arm. I look up at him and giggle nervously. He places the sheet from the couch around me.
"Don`t want you to be too cold out there!"
`He`s so considerate.`
He leads me out to the porch. We stand a little behind the railing. I move forward a bit and lay my hands against the cold wooden surface. I watch as the tiny rays of light begin to appear in the distance. I feel Vash`s presense behind me and suddenly his hands come out beside mine. I blush slightly from how close that he is.
`Agh! Why do you have to be so close?!`
I don`t know why I feel so vulnerable. He is my very dear friend…but sometimes…sometimes it feels like he wants more. Sometimes I feel like I want more too. We watch the sun come up in all of its glory together. We didn`t go back into the house until it became a full circle in the sky.
--------------------------------
This unusual behavior keeps getting worse gradually without subsiding. Knives continually brings me into town with him and Vash wants me to be around him at night. I`m exhausted. Physically and mentally exhausted. One morning I just can`t get up. Of course the strangest only continues. Vash brings me breakfast and Knives sits and talks with me telling me that he owes me for all of the times that I sat up with him.
I`m glad that I feel better now though. I finally found a way to be alone for a few minutes. When I lock my door they seem to understand. I don`t want to become a recluse though. No way that Meryl Stryfe would do that. On top of this Christmas is coming quickly and I have a bad feeling.
-------------------------------------
Mistletoe. All around the house is mistletoe. I can`t stand it anymore. I manage to avoid them somehow. I climb out the window and use a ladder to climb back into my room. The only door not trapped is my door and the rest of the bedrooms. The doorway to the kitchen has one but I avoid that.
`Piece of cake!`
I buy everyone presents when I go into town. That`s how I get them to stay away from me for awhile. I need my space. I go with Mille for a change. Apparently a lot has happened. Wolfwood and herself are getting serious. I can almost imagine what that small wrapped box under the tree is for from Wolfwood. I dare not say anything about that to her though. I have a little problem with keeping something this big away from her.
As for Wolfwood we go shopping and he tells me exactly what he plans to do. I tell him that I am very happy that it will happen. I know that Millie will be very excited. He hints at the thing going on with Vash and Knives. I tell him that I`m not sure what to think.
I eventually go shopping with Vash. He tells me that he has a big surprise for me. For some reason this concerns me. He sounds overly nervous. An overly nervous Vash can be dangerous. Trust me. I should know.
Shopping with Knives is pretty easy. He only mentions his gift to me once then we go on in silence. I`m relieved. His voice sounds very cheery…which frightens me concidering that his new personality resembles Vash`s.
All in all…a very hectic few weeks.
---------------------------------------
Now for Christmas Eve. We sit down in front of the fireplace. I manage to avoid another wave of mistletoe as I take my place on the couch. I`m joined by Vash and Knives soon enough. Millie and Wolfwood take the big armchair after Wolfwood hands out some gifts.
Yeah…well…we open the gifts. I get a new typewriter from Millie. She knows that I still love to write despite not working for the agency anymore. Wolfwood gave me some perfume. I`m not really sure why. I guess that it`s hard for men to pick out gifts for women. Knives gives me a very nice dress. I honestly don`t know how he knew my size. Vash becomes a bit steamed when he sees this.
`I don`t know whether I should be flattered or not. It is a very nice dress. I`m kind of surprised that it wasn`t…well…undergarmnets of any kind.`
I don`t find a gift from Vash. II find myself a little upset over this until I see that big grin on his face. I want to ask him what it is but suddenly Millie is laughing and crying at the same time.
"Of course I`ll marry you!" she exclaims. They are all temporarily glued to this scene. Wolfwood is grinning from ear to ear. I jump up and embrace Millie.
"I`m so happy for you!"
She hugs me back.
"Thank you, Sempai! I want you to be my maid of honor!"
"Gladly!"
Vash clears his throat.
`Oh no…don`t tell me that….`
"Since we`re on this subject…" he begins "I have something that I have to say."
I let go of Millie and I try and hide my steradily rising beat of my heart. He stands up and so does Knives. I see him out of the corner of my eye as Vash reaches into his pocket. My heart is nearly bursting out of my ribcage.
"Meryl, you`ve been there for me during the best of times and the worst of times. You somehow never became too angry with me. You have filled my life with such joy that I have to ask you…will you…"
During this time Knives is approaching me. I feel him grab my arm and suddenly I am in his arms. He whirls me around. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me up to almost eye level. He presses his lips to mine in a deep kiss.
***Oh…my….GOD!!!!!!!!!!! THE ANGST AND THE RUINED PROPOSAL! WHAT WILL HAPPEN?! WHO DOES MERYL WANT? Does she even want any of them? Oh…chapter 9 coming soon! ^.^
***Sorry that this took so long. My cous has been over and I`ve had tiny writer`s block. I hope that none of you are angry with me. Here ya go!
Chapter 8: The Race Heats Up Until…
Yes. Vash and Knives are acting very strangely indeed and it`s been getting worse over the past few weeks. No longer do I dwell on Knives getting his memory back or anything else. Now I`m proccupied with dealing with…them.
Yeah. They`re fighting over me. I think that I`m flattered but…no. This is annoying. I don`t even know how this all began. I love Vash…or I think that I still do. Knives…well…he`s different now and that makes him…more available…or…arg! I don`t know how else to put it!
Bottom line is…I haven`t chosen and I won`t chose. I would rather not go through this…or put them through this. I`m going to let this pass. Somehow…I hope that this dies down. I don`t know why I feel like this all of a sudden. I guess that I just want life to be the way that it was before…except Knives is not evil.
------------------------------
`Oh no! Vash…don`t…`
"Here`s breakfast! I made your eggs just the way that you like them!" he sings. I want to crawl under the table and die. No…better yet…I should slap the big knucklehead for embarassing me like this! I bite my tongue and put on a big fake smile.
"Thanks." I manage to reply. He nods happily. Knives, who is sitting beside me, doesn`t look like he is very happy with this. Vash gives him a ha-ha type of look. I find that strangely hilarious.
`Imagine…two handsome plants fighting over me. It`s almost too much…still…I wonder if Vash just doesn`t like some other guy, even if it is his brother, to be around me. Maybe he thinks that Knives will somehow regain his memory and attack me or something. Yeah..that has to be it…but what about Knives? Well…maybe he just doesn`t like me neglecting him so much. Yes…this all seems to make sense now.`
They`re jealous of each other but not for my love.
`That`s actually funny thinking about if that was true.`
Imagine it.
"Meryl, are you alright?"
That`s Knives. I look at him. His face holds concern. I`m not sure why.
"What is it?" I ask with surprise.
"You went off into your own little world there for a minute there. I was trying to ask you if you would go into town with me to help me pick out some clothes and…"
"Sure."
`Anything to get out for awhile.`
His face immediately brightens up. I`m happy to see him happy. I really want him to be able to function better. He had nightmares for a few weeks. Vash and I helped him out until he began to not have them anymore. I have to say that Vash and I made a good team. We still do.
Speaking of Vash he`s giving me this look.
`Why is he looking at me like that?!`
I almost expect him to ask to join but he only smiles.
"Since you`re going can you bring me back some donuts?"
I can only nod. He says thank you. After I finish eating Knives follows me out to the car and we go into town.
--------------------------------
I can`t really describe what I`m seeing right now. Let`s just say that Knives can`t pull off a cowboy look. I laugh and tell him to quickly change. I don`t think that he`s too happy with me for laughing but I really couldn`t help it.
`Could you…seeing him wearing that hideous outfit? That hat…`
"Alright…what about this?"
He sounds like he is frustrated. Now I feel bad…but only a little. He walks out. I nod in approval. I find him quite appealing in a black trenchcoat. He picked out a nice white shirt to go under it as well. His black pants compliment the outfit. I pick out a pair of black boots for him. He asks me if he looks threatening. I laugh and tell him that he could never look threatening. His cheeks turn a bit red.
"Why are you so embarassed?" I ask with a laugh.
"…Because you gave me a compliment."
My turn to blush.
`Damn it! Why am I blushing?!`
"I`m hungry. Would you eat with me?" he asks. I nod with a smile.
"Of course! I`m starving!"
------------------------------------
I wasn`t lying to him. I was starving. We eat lunch then head off to check out some things at the local market in town. I usually go alone or with Millie. Knives surprisingly seems happy to be here. That is one thing that I`ve noticed that he and Vash differ on. Vash only goes for the donuts.
Anyways…I`m going off track again. So we get some things and I of course remember to grab a box of donuts. We walk around until we both get tired then we sit down on a bench for awhile. We don`t really talk all that much. There is nothing to say. Soon we go home. That is the end of my first outing being really alone with Knives.
-----------------------------------------------
I am sitting out on the couch one evening when Vash approaches me as usual. This time he seems to have something on his mind. He sits down as usual except now he`s fidgeting. I have to stop myself from gigghling at the sight. I don`t know why it made me want to laugh.
"Meryl?"
"Yes, Vash?"
"Would you watch the sun rise with me in the morning?"
Well I wasn`t expecting this. I feel very flattered. I drop the book that I chose to read that day. I can`t look up into his eyes.
"Uh…sure, Vash. Is there any particular reason why?"
"Just to see it. I want someone that I really care about to be there to experience it with me."
I`m blushing again. I can`t help it. I feel my head nod up and down.
"I understand. What time?"
"If you don`t mind…I would like to sit here and enjoy the rest of the night here with you."
"You mean that we should stay up all night?"
"Why not? I don`t have a job right now and neither do you. We can sleep in. Come on! What do you say?" Vash asks expectantly. I really am losing it. He`s pleading with me. I can tell by his voice. I feel that strangeness again. I recently began feeling it with Knives too. I know what it must means but I don`t really want to make that kind of decision right now.
-----------------------------------
So we sit together. There`s not really another way of putting it. Okay…we do talk about our past adventures together. We laugh a lot when he talks of the girls that he used to chase around. He seems a little tense when we talk about that…like he`s ashamed of it. Anyways…we talk a lot about the mishaps that we went through. I don`t think that I`ll ever laugh like that again.
Suring this time I also take in account the way he is sitting. He usually gives me some personal space but now he`s so close that he`s practically on top of me. I watch his arm on the edge of the couch behind me fidget. I notice tiny beads of sweat. His laugh is different too. He sounds so nervous. I find that oddly very likeable about him.
`Like a little boy talking to a girl that he…`
I need to stop thinking about that. It`s been on my mind for the past couple of days now. He suddenly jumps up and startles me.
"Sorry! Meryl, come on! I think that we should go outside and watch noe!"
I look up at the clock.
`It`s nearly dawn! We`ve been talking for that long?`
I feel Vash pull me up gently by my right arm. I look up at him and giggle nervously. He places the sheet from the couch around me.
"Don`t want you to be too cold out there!"
`He`s so considerate.`
He leads me out to the porch. We stand a little behind the railing. I move forward a bit and lay my hands against the cold wooden surface. I watch as the tiny rays of light begin to appear in the distance. I feel Vash`s presense behind me and suddenly his hands come out beside mine. I blush slightly from how close that he is.
`Agh! Why do you have to be so close?!`
I don`t know why I feel so vulnerable. He is my very dear friend…but sometimes…sometimes it feels like he wants more. Sometimes I feel like I want more too. We watch the sun come up in all of its glory together. We didn`t go back into the house until it became a full circle in the sky.
--------------------------------
This unusual behavior keeps getting worse gradually without subsiding. Knives continually brings me into town with him and Vash wants me to be around him at night. I`m exhausted. Physically and mentally exhausted. One morning I just can`t get up. Of course the strangest only continues. Vash brings me breakfast and Knives sits and talks with me telling me that he owes me for all of the times that I sat up with him.
I`m glad that I feel better now though. I finally found a way to be alone for a few minutes. When I lock my door they seem to understand. I don`t want to become a recluse though. No way that Meryl Stryfe would do that. On top of this Christmas is coming quickly and I have a bad feeling.
-------------------------------------
Mistletoe. All around the house is mistletoe. I can`t stand it anymore. I manage to avoid them somehow. I climb out the window and use a ladder to climb back into my room. The only door not trapped is my door and the rest of the bedrooms. The doorway to the kitchen has one but I avoid that.
`Piece of cake!`
I buy everyone presents when I go into town. That`s how I get them to stay away from me for awhile. I need my space. I go with Mille for a change. Apparently a lot has happened. Wolfwood and herself are getting serious. I can almost imagine what that small wrapped box under the tree is for from Wolfwood. I dare not say anything about that to her though. I have a little problem with keeping something this big away from her.
As for Wolfwood we go shopping and he tells me exactly what he plans to do. I tell him that I am very happy that it will happen. I know that Millie will be very excited. He hints at the thing going on with Vash and Knives. I tell him that I`m not sure what to think.
I eventually go shopping with Vash. He tells me that he has a big surprise for me. For some reason this concerns me. He sounds overly nervous. An overly nervous Vash can be dangerous. Trust me. I should know.
Shopping with Knives is pretty easy. He only mentions his gift to me once then we go on in silence. I`m relieved. His voice sounds very cheery…which frightens me concidering that his new personality resembles Vash`s.
All in all…a very hectic few weeks.
---------------------------------------
Now for Christmas Eve. We sit down in front of the fireplace. I manage to avoid another wave of mistletoe as I take my place on the couch. I`m joined by Vash and Knives soon enough. Millie and Wolfwood take the big armchair after Wolfwood hands out some gifts.
Yeah…well…we open the gifts. I get a new typewriter from Millie. She knows that I still love to write despite not working for the agency anymore. Wolfwood gave me some perfume. I`m not really sure why. I guess that it`s hard for men to pick out gifts for women. Knives gives me a very nice dress. I honestly don`t know how he knew my size. Vash becomes a bit steamed when he sees this.
`I don`t know whether I should be flattered or not. It is a very nice dress. I`m kind of surprised that it wasn`t…well…undergarmnets of any kind.`
I don`t find a gift from Vash. II find myself a little upset over this until I see that big grin on his face. I want to ask him what it is but suddenly Millie is laughing and crying at the same time.
"Of course I`ll marry you!" she exclaims. They are all temporarily glued to this scene. Wolfwood is grinning from ear to ear. I jump up and embrace Millie.
"I`m so happy for you!"
She hugs me back.
"Thank you, Sempai! I want you to be my maid of honor!"
"Gladly!"
Vash clears his throat.
`Oh no…don`t tell me that….`
"Since we`re on this subject…" he begins "I have something that I have to say."
I let go of Millie and I try and hide my steradily rising beat of my heart. He stands up and so does Knives. I see him out of the corner of my eye as Vash reaches into his pocket. My heart is nearly bursting out of my ribcage.
"Meryl, you`ve been there for me during the best of times and the worst of times. You somehow never became too angry with me. You have filled my life with such joy that I have to ask you…will you…"
During this time Knives is approaching me. I feel him grab my arm and suddenly I am in his arms. He whirls me around. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me up to almost eye level. He presses his lips to mine in a deep kiss.
***Oh…my….GOD!!!!!!!!!!! THE ANGST AND THE RUINED PROPOSAL! WHAT WILL HAPPEN?! WHO DOES MERYL WANT? Does she even want any of them? Oh…chapter 9 coming soon! ^.^