I gently rocked, back and forth, and listened to the night: Silence. Silence meant solitude, and solitude is security. At least, that is, for me. I stood up; the chair, at first violently loud upon being disrupted, slowly came to a stop to again restore the former quiet. I walked up and leaned against the railing that surrounded the porch.

"How long has it been since I last had a donut?" I suddenly asked aloud. The scurrying of cats on the roof silenced me, but I had to laugh at myself.

"Only a true addict would say something like that! I haven't had a decent drink in months, and all I can think about is the last time I had donuts!" I laughed again. I quickly stepped to the side as a boot came flying at me from a window across the street, and, once again, I was silenced.

I looked around at the emptiness that surrounded me, and I suddenly wished I hadn't left my coat behind. Shivering, I walked back inside; Knives was still standing where he had been before.

"That took longer than I had expected," he observed quietly. I shrugged and fell upon the couch tiredly.

"What time is it?" I asked carelessly, trying to fool him into thinking that I had forgotten what had happened a short while ago. Knives looked at the clock.

"Almost 11." I stretched again. "I suppose I should make an attempt at breakfast."

"What?" I asked, straightening out once again. Knives shrugged.

"It's the least I can do. You know, invading this lovely home and annoying the lovely ladies listening to me in the next room." Girlish giggles protruded from behind the closed door. Knives smiled at me; I just blinked.

"How did you—?"

"One begins to catch on to these things when one has been confined for so long as I have." Knives immediately went to the second bag that Milly had brought in several hours ago and rummaged through it. He pulled out a box of donuts. I made a strange sound and leapt from the couch, snatching the box in mid-air. Pushing my foot against the wall, I force-flipped over Knives' head and landed neatly behind him.

"You always were the show-off," he laughed, taking a carton of milk from the bag, which was followed by a box of eggs and some bacon.

"An' aways wiw beh," I said, my mouth filled to its enormous capacity with donuts. Knives looked at me from over his shoulder and grinned. The warmth emitting from them made me curious, but my thoughts were immediately ceased when his gun flew across the room and slammed into my face. I flew back and fell over the couch, and the gun slid across the floor. Knives stopped it with his foot.

"Nice catch, Vash," he said, turning back to the stove. I sat up, my head throbbing with pain, and saw Meryl standing in the doorway: She was watching Knives.

"Breakfast!" Milly yelled from behind her. She pushed Meryl out of the way and began to help Knives. Well, she would be helping if taking over were considered helping. Meryl's gaze finally drifted my way.

"Did you eat all the donuts?" I swallowed them quickly and jumped to my feet.

"Of course not!" I declared rigidly. She sighed. Her fist dug into her pocket, and she pulled out $$10.

"Then go buy some more." I relaxed my shoulders and snatched the money from her hands.

"Be back soon!" I called cheerily as I backed towards the front door. Knives flashed me a frighteningly happy smile; I stopped.

"What's wrong, Mr. Vash?" Milly asked, blinking at me.

"Um, uh, nothing! Where should I get the donuts?"

"The store down—," Meryl began.

"Great! Come with me!" I interrupted, grabbing her arm and pulling her out the door. As I kicked the door shut with the last of my fake happiness, I lowered my voice to a whisper and added, "Don't trust him." Meryl pulled away.

"Just because he thinks I'm pretty doesn't mean I can't trust him, Vash the Stampede," she responded, turning her head to the side indignantly. "At least someone gives me respect besides Milly." I sighed. Maybe I was wrong after all.

"Damn me again," I grumbled to myself, "I just hope she's right." I looked up to see Meryl halfway down the road. I cried out and scrambled to catch up with her.