All the usual disclaimers apply.
The suns were already well above the horizon by the time Knives awoke. He stretched and then just lay in bed, pondering his latest dream.
He had been back in his old fortress, with all the loyal Gung-ho Guns and Legato (all alive). They sat all over the floor with Spot -n- Friends coloring books, and they used easels, not covered with paint, but with human blood. Knives had walked around, admiring their work as they all stroked the pages with crimson brushes. All, that is, except for Legato, who forced humans to paint for him, tearing at their own flesh to spread scarlet across the pages.
Does it please you, master? Legato asked, but before Knives could do much more than chuckle, a miserable sobbing woke him and followed him beyond the dream...
Knives turned his head. In the dim light of the shut up room, he could see the glisten of tears running down Vash's face. Is he finishing the dream I started? Knives wondered, but he knew it'd be pointless to ask, as Vash rolled over and fell into a deeper sleep. Staring at the back of his twin's head, Knives realized now would be the time to act. Vash was undoubtedly exhausted from yesterday's events, whatever they were. It was unprecedented for him to sleep in. Could he act now, without awakening his keeper? It was a common dilemma: act now or wait for a better time. Knives relaxed and laid down. He had been hasty before. Not this time. Besides, he still couldn't find a way out of his chains. Yet. And there was a question of the girls...
He had asked them about Vash on a whim, but their reactions made it clear. If he ever killed Vash, the next dish they'd serve him would probably be his last. Knives hadn't felt threatened by a human in a very long time. The fact that he did now pissed him off severely.
Knives sat on his bed, stewing, but the pair of saddle bags on the desk caught his eye.
Vash awoke to the clink of chains across the floor and the rustle of paper. He opened his eyes to see Knives seated at the desk, giving a green covered book an appraising look.
What is this? he asked.
Vash furrowed his brow as he remembered, A book of poetry.
Plugging more silly human sentimentality, Vash?
Not all of the books in there are for you, y'know, Vash said with a yawn, trying to wake himself up. His stuffy head told him that he must have had another sad dream. What time is it?
Almost noon, Knives said. You must have had quite a journey. What took you so long?
Vash started, looking a bit sheepish, I had some difficulty with the thomas... and then there was a small fight in a bar that I helped out with... He glanced at the bullet holes that lined the bottom of his new coat. But mostly, it was that. Vash was looking at the thick package Knives had just pulled out of the saddlebags.
Knives turned the package over in his hands. Judging by it's weight, size, and flexibility, Knives guessed that it was a stack of papers. He undid the twine and pulled back the cloth wrapper to reveal the first of several hundred hand-written pages. It read:
Plants: The Black Boxes of the Lost Technology
by Dr. William Conrad
Plants are necessary for the survival of all humankind. But what are they, and how do they work? In this text I hope to address these questions and provide a history on the development of plants on Gunsmoke...
Knives skimmed the rest of the page before looking up to meet Vash's eyes. You wrote all of this?
Copied it, Vash corrected. It's supposedly one of the best books out there on plant research and stuff, but they're expensive, so the bookstore owner let me... well... he motioned awkwardly towards the stack of papers.
Knives murmured as he flipped through the next couple of pages. Thank you, Vash.
It was a common enough phrase, and Knives said it so carelessly, but Vash couldn't help but feel a surge of hope as he reflected on Knives' words. How long had it been since he'd last heard any word of thanks from his brother? How long had it been since there was a reason for thanks?
I started all wrong, Vash thought as he got up to start some toast and eggs. Meryl was right, I just sat there. I followed him aimlessly and silently. And when I did take a stand... I shot him in the leg. After that, I wouldn't want to listen to me either. Vash looked over at Knives, whose brow furrowed with concentration as he read. But there are no guns now, just us. If we can keep our tempers... Vash sighed as he dished up the eggs.
People have many different ways of thinking...
I know, Rem, Vash thought, eyes blinking hard against tears as he set a plate in front of... her murderer. My brother, Vash added. And we have the ability to right our wrongs. I started wrong, but I can still make it up. Vash felt better, and decided to indulge himself in some poetry. Not like there's any other type, he thought wryly. Then again, he didn't know what Knives had been up to those many years they were apart.
Then again, he was pretty sure he didn't want to read anything Knives might have written.
The rest of the afternoon passed in the same manner: both brothers deeply absorbed in literature and their own thoughts, while at the same time ignoring each other. The peace wasn't broken until early evening when the sound of footsteps and voices made their way through the door.
The girls are home, Vash thought warmly. They were always a welcome break from Knives' usually sullen and cold attitude. And really, I'd be worried if I didn't have them to help me, he mused. Vash would be hard pressed to find two people of different thinking that worked in such harmony. They were an excellent example of what peace could be achieved through patience and love. They were also great friends and... were footing the bill for Knives and his current lifestyle. Oh, yeah. Need to try to fix that, Vash remembered with a tinge of guilt. In fact...
Uh, I'm gonna go see what the girls are up to, Vash informed Knives.
Knives murmured, making a dismissive gesture with one hand, still too absorbed in the text to look up.
Vash bounded from his chair and out the door. At least he would have, if his legs weren't so stiff from sitting around all day, so it was more like a quick hobble. He knocked on the girls' door, excited to tell them his latest breakthrough with Knives...
Hello, Mr. Vash! Millie said cheerfully.
Vash replied. How was... work? The scene before him wasn't right. Neither of the girls were dressed in their work uniforms. Instead, they were in their usual traveling gear with their suitcases nearby. Um, you girls going somewhere? he asked nervously.
Millie started weakly.
Meryl interrupted with a tone that knew no compromise, Vash, we're moving.
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Author's Note: Dr. William Conrad is from the Trigun Maximum manga. He's making a cameo of sorts.
