Sorry about the whole link thing. Just E-mail me at Dbzgirl61@aol.com and ask for the link. Thank you!

And Thank you reviewers!

********************************
Vash the Stampede JR.
********************************

Part 6- A Loss in Battle

((Hakura's POV.))

My mind flashed a billion thoughts faster then light through my head. Everything was in slow motion for me. Even my breathing was slow. I could hear my heart beat every beat. Sweat dropped from my face onto the ground. People slowly moving away from the scene, taking forever it seemed to me.

I had to make up my mind. Either the people, or me. That was no choice at all.

Then, an idea popped into my head. I narrowed my eyes at the bullet that was traveling to me at a slow pace. Not even half way to me yet. I pointed my gun straight at the bullet.

This was going to be very tricky, but worth it. I pulled the trigger. The recall of my gun pushed my arm up. My eyes still tracking the bullet.

Both bullets collided together. They stopped one another, and fell to the ground, flatted.

Everything went back into fast motion again. I blinked. The sweatdropped from my chin and hit the ground. My breath was in a panting motion.

Ace's jaw dropped a bit. Then, he gritted his teeth together and held his gun back up at me.

"So. You think you won because you could counter my bullets huh? Well, think again!" He said, pulling a rod out of the back of his gun. The gun popped open, with multiple barrels popping out, all aimed at me.

I clentched my teeth together. This guy really didn't know when to quit did he?

"Let this be a lesson to you Vash the Stampede. Never draw with a Bounty Hunter!" he shouted, the pulled the trigger.

Eight bullets popped out, one from each barrel. I gripped my gun. I only had FIVE bullets left! That meant, three on the loose, then I'd be out!

'What the hell am I suppose to do now?' I thought to myself. This was much more trouble then I first thought. If I failed, a lot of people were going to either get hurt or die! I couldn't let that happen! no matter what happened to me. I couldn't allow someone to die, or even get hurt because I was being stupid as usual.

My eyes widened. Of course I had another ace up my sleeve! I was Vash's son after all right?

I turned around as fast as I could and ran towards the crowd. The bullets were almost half way to me already! They were faster then the other ones. That meant I had less time.

I ran striaght for Woflwood. He had his punisher with him. That huge silver cross covered in a blanket type cloth.

I grabbed it and quickly said,"Can I borrow this? Thanks!"

I turned around and flipped the rope bindings. The cover fell off and several guns popped out of each side. I grabbed a gun with my left hand, and started firing at the bullets.

I hit each one dead on, countering each bullet, but Wolfwood's gun didn't have any bullets! I didn't have time to pull out another gun. So, I did the only thing I could. The bullet was heading straight for a woman's head.

I ran over and took the bullet for her. Everything went back into fast motion again once I was hit. I fell to the ground.

I knew I was bleeding. So, it didn't surprise me when I heard the crowd gasp.

Only one bullet hit me. I was going to be fine... I think. It hit me right in my left arm, about three inches above the elbow. Funny, it didn't really hurt that much and I couldn't feel my fingers either.

The woman I had protected, screamed. "OH MY GOD! HIS ARM!"

'Wow! If this is the reaction from just getting shot has on her, I wonder what would happen if-' But my thoughts were cut off by chuckling from Ace.

I finally looked up. I sat up on the ground, looking a little tried and sweaty, but that's about it. Everyone was gasping at me. I blinked a few times.

"This is priceless! I never thought you would be THIS strong! You're not even cring! I know most men would have fainted by now, but you look like you don't even care! I finally found a real challendge now!" Ace said, smiling, that evil and twisted smile.

"..Fainted? Then what whimps have you been fighting if they couldn't take a little pain?" I asked, confused.

"A little pain?!?!" He asked, shocked to the core.

"Yeah.. that's what I said." Then, I looked over to see what the hell he was talking about. Getting shot was no big deal! Hell, I got shot atleast once a month! This didn't bother me!

But what I saw, nearly made me faint. My arm... was shot off! My eyes opened wide in surprise. Blood was flowing pretty freely through the wound. My jaw opened wide enough to caught flies.

"My- ..My... my a-arm!" I stuttered. I didn't know it was shot off!

'Holy crap!' Was my first thought.

I scratched my cheek with my gun. My right arm was still on. I was only shot in my left arm though.

"Uh... no wonder I couldn't feel my fingers." I said outloud.

I heard about every woman faint at that moment. I stopped myself from giggling. I was what most people call 'In shock' of loosing my arm. The nerves in my left arm shut down, so I couldn't feel it. Might as well, get this over with then before the shock wears off.

I stood up and looked at the man, Ace Giutzsune. He wasn't going to frighten me no matter what limb he blew off my body. Well, ok. He could. He did, he had and he was! I was very scared and wanted to run home, or atleast hide behind a very tall person, but I stood there.

One arm laying four feet from me, the other holding a gun that didn't have any bullets. My legs were almost shaking, not able to really hold me still while I was loosing so much blood. But, I stood there, feeling like I was going to pass out at any moment. Waiting for it to happen and fighting it off at the same time.

'My life really sucks' I thought to myself.

Ace shifted, not really knowing if he wants to go up against a guy who just got his arm shot off and JOKES about it after ward! He lowered his gun as he stared at me.

"Vash the Stampede. You're just as I remembered you. I shall wait til you fully recover before I continue our fight. I want a challendge and killing you now wouldn't ease my thrist." he said, before turning around and walking away.

I blinked in confusion. Hell, I wish all my compeditors would do that once they shot me!

I put my gun away, then ran to the woman who was tied up. Everyone around us seemd to be in their own little world, completely freaked out by what just happened. I didn't blame them one bit.

I untied the woman, as fast as I could with only one arm. She looked at my bleeding wound, then at my face.

I smiled gently. "Are you alright?"

She gave me a look of sadness, shock, happyness and a mix of confusion. Tears whelled up in her eyes.

"How.. how could you ask me that?! Your arm! Y-Your arm!" She said, cring.

"Yeah.. it's kinda gone. So, don't worry about it ok? Why don't you go get yourself something to drink to settle down ok?" I said, still in a gentle and kind voice. I didn't want to startle her anymore then I already had.

She nodded and stood up. I looked up at her. My vision was going. I could make out three blurred versions of her. I was guessing the one in the middle was the correct one.

"By the way. Can you get me a doctor while you're getting your drink? That would really help me out a lot." I said in low, gentle voice, almost like whispering. The whole world was suddenly spinning and fading away to blackness.

"yes! Right away!" She called out. Her voice echoed in my mind, like she was a great distance away from me.

My eye libs grew heavy and begged to be closed. My mouth almost stopped moving at all. I couldn't talk at all right now. My mind spun around and around, before I finally passed out.

***************

I woke up to a world where light ruled. The brightness hurt my eyes for awhile, but I begged to be able to see. I heard voices ringing in an echoed tone. I could catch a few words, here and there from the blurry world. Most were too mushed together for me to hear.

My head was still spinning, like a bad hangover. My head was pounding hard and needle-like pain was courseing through my left arm, well, what was left of it, up to my chest. My head felt heavy as I turned it around, tring to see everything.

I blinked a few times before the once blurry world turned clear. I was in a hospital room. The smell of sickness, medicines and ... flowers reach my nose. I even detected a hint of donuts!

I slowly sat up and looked around. Voices of doctors and nurses could be heard through the door that closed me off from the rest of the world. The curtains in the room were drawn, so only a little light peaked in from the top and bottom of them, letting me know it was day time.

I looked over to a table that was by the bed. There were gifts and flowers and DONUTS!

I quickly grabbed the donuts and ate them like I hadn't eaten anything in years! Once I finshed savoring the taste of each donut, glaze, cream filled and powered donut, I looked over to the rest of the stuff.

I licked my fingers clean of the glaze, before wondering over to the gifts and cards on the table. I picked up the first card. It was very cute. A white coloring with a picture of a cat on the front.

I opened it and read out loud

"Dear Vash,
I hope you're feeling better. I feel so horrible that your arm was.. well, you know. I only wish I could have done something to prevent that damage. Milly says that you were very brave in taking the bullet for the woman and both of us are very proud of you. But don't you EVER pull another stunt like that again you hear?!?!
-Meryl & Milly"

I grinned as I re-read the last part. That sure was Meryl alright! She hated to have damage accure when she's around. Good thing a building didn't blow up or something or else she would have whacked me over the head with my own arm!

I laughed at that. That was true! I put her card down and picked up a package. It was from Wolfwood!

I inspected it for traps of some sort. Knowing him, he's probably going to be-little me for being so stupid out there. I looked at the wrapping. Plain wrapping. probably to cheapest you could get while still paying.

I tore open the wrapping and pulled out the gift. It was a box of bullets. There was a small note inside of the package too. I pulled it out and read it outloud.

"This is so you don't ever go into a fight without some good ammo again, You dumbass! -Woflwood"

I smiled. He sure knew how to put words didn't he? I shook my head and put down he package. There were numberous of gifts and flowers and cards from the people of the town.

I guess they were thankful that I stopped that man. They probably only felt sorry that I lost my arm in the process or else they would have kicked me out, or turned me in for the reward. Maybe they would have shot me?

I shrugged my shoulders. You never know. I put the rest of the packages down and looked at my left shoulder. My arm was no longer attached to it. It was a strange feelings not seeing it there. Like a best friend had just up and died or something along those lines.

I reached out and pulled the hospital shirt over to look at it. It was bandaged up. Blood stains were where the end of the wound was. I grabbed the end of the Bandage, then started unwrapping it. I quickly upwrapped it as soon as I could. I wanted to see what happened to it. Once the Bandaged fell, an ugly wound appeared. I winced at it. Just the sight of it gave my goosebumbs!

It was no long bleeding, so that was a good thing. It was also a clean, cut wound. So, I could live with that. Maybe I would get a machanical arm like my dad?

'Oh and I'm so orginal for that idea too.' I thought, rolling my eyes.

I grabbed the bandages and re-wrapped the wound in it. I sighed as I pulled the shirt back over it. Just then the door opened. I looked up and saw Meryl walk in.

I grinned at her. I must have looked like a mess too! My hair was flopped over and I could almost feel the saging in my skin from the lose of blood. My skin was paler then usual too, I noted as I glanced down at my hand. I looked up into her eyes.

She was just standing there. I bet she just didn't know what to say to a man who just lost his arm.

I titled my head to the side. "Hey Insurance girl! Where you the one who bought me the donuts?!"

She smiled, a gentle light smile. I felt my heart almost flutter with excitment. I hated seeing her destressed! But when she was happy, it made me happy!

"Yes. I was hoping you liked them." She said. She walked over and sat down in a chair next to my bed. I looked at her.

"I liked them a lot. They were good. So, how are Wolfwood and Milly doing?" I asked, tring to break the ice, sort to speak.

"They're doing fine. they have been visiting you a lot too. They should be coming pretty soon." She said, also glad I started a conversation. I could see she was tring to stop herself from glancing over at my arm.

I smiled and looked at my left arm. "It's fine you know. It doesn't hurt at all. It's just going to be awhile before I get used to it that's all."

"It's.. It's not that. It just feels like.. history is repeating itself." She said in a soft tone.

"I know what you mean. With everything that has happened, I wouldn't be surprised if it did happen." I said in a honest voice. I looked up at her. She was sad. My face fell back into a frown.

"What.. what if.. it does? Will you leave me too?" She asked, tears ready to brake from her eyes.

I blinked in shock. "Insurance girl... I couldn't leave you if I tried!"

She smiled at that. She got up from the chair and wrapped her arms around me. I smiled and wrapped my arms around her.

'.. I could get used to this whole hugging thing.' I thought to myself as a content smile came to my face.

*********************************

Whew! That chapter took awhile. Sorry for the whole stupid 'History repeating itself' thinging going on. But it really does tie in with the whole plot thing I'm going for. I hope you like my story and please review!