Disclaimer: Gemini: WE OWN TRIGUN! MWAHAHAHAHAH!! Nimbychan: * blinks * Uh, Gemi, no we don't… Gemini: * glares * now what did you have to go and say that for?! We could have been rich! Nimbychan: * sweat drop * Ooook… * to reviewers * pleez don't listen to her, I really am trying to get her to take the medication- Gemini: SHUT UP! YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT THAT! Nimbychan: uh oh…* runs to the bedroom and locks the door. * Oh! Hey guys! Vash/Nick/Legato/Knives: AAHHH! GET AWAY FROM US! Gemini: *bangs on door * Get away from MY MEN! Nimbychan: Riiiight, this is getting ridiculous! On with the story already! V/N/L/K: Yes! On with the story!
A/N: Uh…another chapter…stuff happens. REVIEW! So says the Ice Queen! * sweat drop *
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Darkness.
What? Where am I? I can't see!
Alone.
Alone? Who the Hell are you?
Save us…
Damn it, what is going on?!
Balance them.
Enough! Tell me what's happening!
…
Hey, hello?
… nicky…
Huh?
Nicky…!
Jess?
"Nicky! Girl, wake up already!"
"Wha'? Jess, what is it?" she asked groggily.
"You're drooling all over the counter! If you want to sleep, go to bed."
The girl from Earth blinked sleepily at the stocky man beside her, knowing that something had happened, but she couldn't grasp it, the message slipping farther and farther away the more she tried. Finally, nothing was left and she gave it up. Looking outside, she observed that the suns had set quite a while ago. Two of the planet's moons were visible from her seat at the bar, the millions of stars glittering in the heaves like diamonds, only enhancing the night's beauty. Giving a small smile, she sat up straight and grabbed a rag from under the counter, using it to wipe away the profuse saliva that had taken up residence on her right cheek and the wooden bar-top.
As she stood, a man ran by the large window that took up half of the bar's front wall, followed closely by 2 others, each carrying a firearm of some kind.
Trouble.
Sounds good to me!
The two bar attendants glanced at each other, leaving the establishment and looked out into the shadowed streets, uncertain as to what they were looking for. Nicolae turned to her friend and shrugged, walking down the street and into the crowd beyond.
Bodies jostled the teen, loud shouts echoing through the moonlight. Turning to a small, brown haired woman who was clinging to a tall, haggard looking man, inquired as to the reason for all the noise. Or, in her words, "What the Hell is with all the yelling?"
The frightened little woman didn't even look at her. "They're saying that the Humanoid Typhoon is in the hotel and has been for the past few days." Her answer was quiet and shaky, barely audible over the other town inhabitants. Nicky blinked at her, slightly confused. The man she clung to tightened his grip around her shoulders.
"Hiding right under our noses this whole time. How anyone could have missed it is beyond me. Thank goodness Jack has him at gunpoint."
What?
The realization of what they said finally sunk in, causing the shorthaired blond to be run through with fear.
Hun, you better do something or let me out!
The alien blond ignored her, uncharacteristically, frantic guest. Struggling back out of the mob, she pelted down the shadowed streets, their darkness only compelling her to move faster. Banging through the bar doors and bypassing a confused Jess, Nicky leapt up the stairs and into her room. She groped under the bed before coming up with the auto pistol and the Scottish dagger. Slipping the pistol into her waistband, the worried blond pulled the Colt from her side and kept the dagger in her left hand. Adrenaline coursing through every fiber of her being, Nicolae jumped out of the white room, down the stairs and into the streets, again without acknowledging her employer.
The mob had grown and was begging to riot. Screams and shouts about retribution accosted the sensitive hearing of a frantic 18 year old, who was shoving her way madly to the door of the hotel. But it was blocked. The men who had accompanied Jack into the hotel, stood outside it's portal, refusing entrance for fear of giving the man with it's walls a chance to escape.
Nicolae stood before them, panting from the adrenaline that her body was still pumping. The knot that she had felt at her confrontation with Knives returned, writhing in her abdomen like a wounded snake. What was she supposed to do now? If she killed them, that would only give the mob a reason to turn on her. And in these close quarters, she wouldn't be able to fight them properly. Her heart beat faster and faster, more adrenaline streaming into her, the Voice screaming at her to kill them all. It was too much.
Silence my children.
It was the Other Voice, the One that had soothed her that night in the shooting range.
A wave of calm broke over her as the knot in her stomach soothed and released. The cries and shouts from the mob lessened. Walking up to the guards, they seemed to melt away before her as she passed them by. In the building, all was dead silent, the noise of the people outside seeming to disappear as she walked in further.
Up the stairs and down the hall, her footsteps silent and unobtrusive, unnoticed by the building's only 2 occupants.
* * *
They stared each other down, deep brown into bright cyan. The crowd in the street was loud and obnoxious, but neither male noticed.
Vash's grip tightened around his brother, wishing with all his heart that his twin was awake. He figure well enough that this man, Jack, was a bounty hunter. But why was he dragging out this out? Why not just shoot him and get it over with; collect the money and be done with it?
Jack read the confusion in the Humanoid Typhoon's eyes and his smirk grew.
"I'm doing this to savor the moment. I'll be a hero after this. The man who finally caught the legendary gunman, Vash the Stampede."
He started laughing, a deep baritone, and the sound filling the whole room. A tugging sensation pestered at the back of his head, but all Vash could do was grit his teeth and ignore it, desperation increasing with every echo of laughter. Abruptly, Jack gasped, the sharp intake of breath cutting the repetitive sound short. His deep brown eyes glazed over, rolling up into his head. Jack swayed a moment, his balance shifting, and then dropped to his knees and fell to the floor, unconscious. The gun clattered uselessly to the floor. The lanky blond stared in shock at the downed man, taken aback by the sudden change in events.
"I would advise worrying about him later. We need to leave."
Vash started at the sound of the quiet, commanding voice. Looking up, he stared in amazement at the calm little blond that stood near the prone man's feet. Nicolae blinked her half lidded eyes slowly at him. Striding over to the bed, she took the all but forgotten bag and went to the door.
"Come on. We have to go."
She looked over her shoulder at the surprised man.
"Or would prefer to stay and risk yours and your brother's safety even more?"
That got his attention. Vash shook his head and stood, following the other out, down the stairs and into the street.
The Stampede gave a strangled cry as stood amidst a mob of bodies, silent and unmoving. A lump grew in his throat at the thought of all these precious lives snuffed out.
"They're only asleep. And they'll start to awake soon so hurry up."
As if on cue, a small woman with short brown hair sighed and shifted lightly. Moving quickly and quietly through the downed throngs, the two figures trotted down trough the shadows and into the merrily lit bar.
* * *
Her mind was silent as she walked into the establishment, followed closely by a wanted man, carrying his unconscious brother. Jess's eyes widened when she entered, and narrowed when he caught sight of Vash.
"What's happened?" He demanded.
"The townsfolk are out for blood. His, specifically." Nicolae answered quietly, nodding to her distraught companion.
The stocky bartender rolled his eyes. "I knew he was going to be trouble."
Before any more could be said, a shout echoed through the night. The two men turned toward it while the girl's eyes hardened as she looked at her employer.
"Jess."
The man in question craned his head at the sound of his name.
"I'm sorry to do this to you, but I'm going with them."
Jess blinked at this and Vash's mouth hung open in astonishment.
"Nicky, I can't let you come, it's too…" Vash started in protest.
The girl shook her head, cutting him off. "I am going. You can't defend you and Knives by your self. He's too cumbersome. Besides…" She smiled "I'm not one for staying too long in one place."
She returned her attention to Jess, her eyes becoming sad as she took in her elder friend. "I'm so sorry Jess, but they need my help now."
The bald man nodded and gave her his trademark half smile. "I figured. You seemed to take to him so quickly, I didn't doubt you would follow if he decided to leave."
He turned and went to the cash box, taking from it several bills. Returning, he handed them to his former employee.
"Here's your paycheck, and a bonus for all the poker winnings." He winked at the last bit. "It's been fun having you around, Nick-oh-lay. I'll miss you."
Nicky's dual colored eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she have a soft laugh at the halting way he said her full name. Before he could stop her, she jumped up and threw he arms around his thick neck, giving him a light peck on the check. Jess was stiff for a moment, surprised at the sudden contact, but smiled and hugged her back. Letting go, her booted feet thudded to the floor and she turned to her new traveling companions, her eyes still shinning.
"Well, lets go Vashu-san. I want to avoid any more confrontations."
The tall blond blinked at the new nickname, but gave a small smile and nodded, following her out the door and into the street. Instead of heading left, back to the semi-conscious crowd, they went right and hastened out that end of town.
Only turning to look back once, Nicky waved silently at the stocky man as he watched them go, his face lit up by the light of his tavern.
"You know, you don't have come." He said quietly as she stopped waving and turned back, facing forward.
She cocked her face up at him and raised her eyebrows. "Sure, but…where would the fun be in that?"
Vash could only sigh and shake his head, a small grin playing on his shadowed features.
She's going to be trouble. I'll bet my last double dollar on it.
* * *
The moons of Gunsmoke shone brightly over the land, seeming to watch two lone figures and an unconscious one, as they left a small town and entered onto the cool, quiet desert.
Fate was not going to be easy on these three.
A great possibility followed them, one that stretched back over thousands of millennia.
A possibility that Fate had decreed, they would perish for.
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A/N Hello every one! Gomen nasai for taking so long. But here it is, and here I go, off to do home work and try to start another chapter. FYI, I'll probably only be putting chapters out once a month. I'll try for more frequently, but it doesn't seem likely with all the homework and play practice I have. That's just the way it is. scowls at high school
Please, don't forget to R&R!!
-Nimychan & Gemini-
Love and Huggies!! ^_^
Later Dayz and Tanx!!