Okay, wow. I think I figured out why my other stories are suffering right now. They're all afraid of the muse for this one. She is really forceful! Literally, I was thinking about one simple little not all that important scene in this chapter, and the entire thing just came into my mind and out of my fingers! I didn't even write it on paper first, which I almost always do, I just typed. On top of that, this is the second chapter I have stock piled and waiting to be posted, so by the time you read this, I'll probably have the rest finished. Rejoice! But still give me input, I'll rewrite if one of you guys has anything to say ^_^

Miko-chan? Do you really like all my fics? I feel so honored! And another thank you to Deadly Beauty. *holds up cookie and does a happy dance* I got a chocolate one!!

**

~~Legato~~

            I slept well that night after Millie was cold to me the rest of the day. Actually, I had one of the best dreams I've had in months. I was back with the Gun-Ho-Guns and Master. It was just like the old days, killing, relaxing, generally enjoying my existence. And master – my master actually smiled at me. And it was a real smile that made me feel warm and accepted, if still inferior.

            And then he had to go and wake me up. For a moment, I thought it was Master, the pale skin and blonde hair filling my sleepy vision. What had I done? But no, this was not my master. The hair was too long, darker, and the eyes are less sharp. Vash looks down at me with a serious face.

            I can't bring myself to move, under his gaze as I am. To have such a perfect creature hovering just inches above me, hand poised on my shoulder. I have no right for him to touch me, and at the same time, he has no right either. I'm confused, caught somewhere between reverence and revolt ion.

            He pulls away and I hesitantly push myself up, swinging my legs over the side of the couch. He sits in the newly created space and looks at me with an intensity I thought only Master was capable of. I'm afraid, despite myself, and sit in silence awaiting the punishment I'm certain is on its way.

            "Legato, we need to talk." I bob my head up and down once, uncertain of how he can sound so calm. I am increasingly aware of just how helpless I am right now. "I spoke with Millie last night after you'd gone to sleep." Oh. Is that all this was about. I nod again, more sure of myself this time. A punishment is still coming, I'm certain, but now I can at least defend myself against the blonde. Not that I'd ever to that with Master . . ."I'd like to hear your side of the story before I decide what to do about it."

            I was ready and willing to speak, to argue my case, but his kindness silences my voice again. In all my years with Master he never wanted to hear my side. If something happened and I was blamed, he did what was necessary to ensure it did not happen again. My mouth works soundlessly as I stare at my feet. Finally, I give up and shut it without giving the gunman beside me an answer.

            He sighs, seeing that I will not – cannot, really – tell him what he wants to know. "Legato," I slowly trace my eyes back to his face, waiting to hear my sentence. It doesn't come. "Do you know why I went into town? Why I trusted you to care for my friend and my brother, despite the fact that I knew it was a foolish trust?" I mutely shake my head at him; he'd said something about errands. "I was asking around, doctors, researchers, anyone I could think of to see if there was something I could do."

            He reaches out and touches my left arm – his arm – gently. My mind is a complete blank. He was doing what? For me? After all I'd done to him? He pulls away as my mind continues to chase itself around the same questions. "I'm going into town again now. If you don't want to care for Wolfwood, that's fine. But do not lie to me about it."

            That's it. He's leaving me here again. Trusting me again. Somewhere in my mind I know I don't deserve this from anyone, least of all the man whose life I have tried to ruin. I watch as he leaves, completely in awe of such a perfect being.

            I remain where I am for a short time after he's left. When I at last look at a clock, it's nine in the morning. I slept late today. Slowly I stand, cane in hand, and climb the stairs. The room is dark as usual, neither man moving in their beds. I lean my cane against the wall, careful not to wake Master, and move not to his bed, but to Chapel's.

            I check his wounds, cleaning and bandaging them once more, and place a damp cloth on his forehead to fight the fever. He groans slightly in his sleep and the cloth falls to the floor. I bend to retrieve it and straighten.

            And stop.

            The cloth slides from my hand back to the floor at my feet as I gaze into my master's cold blue eyes. I am helpless to move or even look away as those eyes drill into me. He is not pleased. He sits roughly, the sheet falling to expose his bare chest. "I thought we had an agreement about dead spiders," he sneers, seeming to bore into my very soul with those eyes of his.

            I cannot find it in me to speak and simply nod slightly swallowing repeatedly to return moisture to my throat. "Yet here I see you caring for one. Before me, no less."

            "I . . . I'm sorry . . ."

            He continues to stare at me, his face a full-fledged scowl now. "I'm sorry as well, that I believed you worthy to be my servant."

            For as dry as my throat feels, my eyes are impossibly wet. I open my mouth again to apologize, but he silences me with a quick gesture. "Come here." Such a simple command that I've obeyed without thought dozens, perhaps hundreds of times in the past. My knees shake, barely able to support my weight as I move slowly to his side. His hand shoots out and grabs Vash's arm just below the shoulder. I cannot feel it, but I know his grip is like a vice, digging into the flesh.

            I try to pull back and inch closer at the same time, knowing full well that fear will only increase the punishment. Master stands, still slightly wobbly on his legs but more than strong enough to dispense with me. "Must I remind you, Legato, who found you on the streets as a starving, sniveling child? Who took you in and cared for you? Trained you? Gave you everything?!" With each sentence he steps forward and I step back until my back is flush with the door behind me. "And this is the thanks I get?!" He steps forward again, bringing his body close enough to mine to feel the heat. His face is mere inches from mine as I stare, terrified, into his deep, piercing eyes.

            "Vash . . ." His eyes widen in sudden understanding. "You did this for Vash? Answer me!"

            I draw in as much breath as possible and lick my lips. "I have no choice."

            "You're lying!" His fist rockets forward, leaving a sizable dent in the door just  inches right of my head. And then his voice is deathly quiet. "Never. Lie. To. Me." I cannot even muster the strength to nod. "I should have killed you long ago, you are nothing to me. Worthless, sniveling spider."

            He reaches around me and grabs my cane. He raises the long stick and pauses a moment before slamming it into the floorboards. The sleek black wood cracks and splinters, a foot or so flying off the end to rest on the other side of the room. The feeling has completely drained from my body. That could easily have been me.

            "Get out." I fumble for the door handle at his words, knowing that if I do not obey, that will be me. "Get Out!" The door creaks open and I slip through the crack. I can hear the heavy thud of what remains of my cane hitting the door as I hurridly close it behind me.

            I barely pause in a mad rush down the stairs and out the door. I hurry into the street, desperate to get as far away from Master as I can right now. I know, if I go back, he will kill me. No matter how much I don't want to be alive, I am still only human and I fear death. Especially the slow painful one that Master would provide me.

            I run blindly until I reach the middle of town. Once there, my footing finally fails me and I fall, barely able to grab hold of a nearby railing as the ground speeds up at me. I must look so pathetic. "Legato-san?" I turn my head to see Millie in her work clothes looking at me. She seems scared – not of me, but for me – and runs in the opposite direction. I can hear her screaming for Vash to come as she rounds a corner.

            Moments later, the Humanoid Typhoon himself runs into the square and, catching sight of me on the ground, rushes to my side. "Legato, what happened? Are you all right?" He pulls me close to him, not bothering to stand, and strokes my hair. I know I'm crying, I can feel the tears running down my cheeks. "Legato, tell me what happened. Where's your cane?"

            I fist my fingers into his long, dusty coat and shake my head. Somehow, he seems to understand and helps me to my feet. "Shh, it will be all right. We can talk over lunch." He leads me to a small café but sits on a bench right outside instead of leading me in. I lean heavily against him, the weight of the world circling my head, and just breathe. When I have finally gained at least some control over my emotions, we enter the restaurant and move to a booth where I slowly begin to tell him what happened.

**

Wow. And again, wow. O_O I am so totally and completely satisfied with this chapter. It more than makes up for the last one being a little 'iffy' in my opinion. My only regret is that there was going to be more to that little comfort/almost romance scene at the end. But the chapter was already getting long and my muse was happy with this, so I cut it a little short. No worries, peeps, it just means I'll have to put more in next time. Oh, you know there's going to be a next time. *evil laugh* Anyway, sorry for the OOCness that I know is in here, I'm running away with the characters, so I know they are changing. But hey, it's fun.