Oy vay! Sorry everyone for the MAJOR long wait for this chapter. I hope it is worth the wait to you all. Enjoy! LOVE AND PEACE!!! ^^





Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Trigun, but I wish I did. Dun sue me, I dun have enough money to solve everything. Thank you and enjoy the chapter.

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Chapter 11: Papercut

Another day went by since Devi's last 'meeting' with that annoying man, who reminded her a lot of Vash, except for the way he acted. By this time, it was morning and she reached the town called Creed. Devi was lucky to see that there was a casino in the town. Granted, she never seen a casino, but heard of them after a scientist came back from vacation, if they go though. Hopefully, there will be a certain card game that she knows mostly about after only one night of playing, thanks to the scientists.

Poker.

How she learned that game was rather interesting. The one night, late night, some of the scientists decided to get drunk and play poker right in the same area that she was kept in. They kept one of them sober, so they'd have a way to get back to town. The drunks convinced the sober guy to allow her to play poker. She won with various, but very good, hands, and what was especially funny were their reactions when she asked, "Is it good when you have all royal except for an ace and a ten and they are all the same suite?" Which she learned then was called a Royal Flush, after that, Devi won on some straights and other 'flushes,' but not royal.

She sighed. That was one of her better times, probably the only one. After that night, they made a rule stating about no alcohol or poker playing in the building. Oh well, that was all in the past and she was not worried about them at all. Devi was far away from where she escaped, with hope of never going back.

The first thing she did was she got a room at the inn, so she can have a place for her things while she went on her 'chores.' Then Devi gathered some items and headed for the shower, she really needed one after being out in the desert for so long. She left her boots and gloves behind and she padded to the bathroom for a shower.

The shower was warm and exactly what she needed after being out under the double suns and the sand getting everywhere. Devi massaged her scalp, dislodging the dirt before shampooing her hair and washing off. Devi was especially careful in cleaning out her bullet wound, which burned a bit from the water and soap. She then rinsed off and just stood in the shower, allowing the water to massage her back. After a minute or so, Devi finally shut the shower and climbed out of the shower. Grabbing the closest towel, she towel dried off partially. Then wrapped herself with the towel, grabbed her stuff that she brought with her and padded down the hallway, back to her room.

In her room again, Devi dried up fully with the towel and wrapped her hair up with it. Then she changed into her extra clothing, which are also her pajamas. She then slipped on her boots, gloves and trench coat, grabbed some of what is left of her money and headed for the general store for some small supplies, basically a small sewing kit and a med kit for future uses.

After about a half an hour, Devi came back with what she ran out to get. She also had a meat stick sticking out from her mouth. It was cheap and good, it was also different from what she's had before out in the desert. She set the bag on the bed, climbed over the bed and got her tights. Devi flopped back on the bed and adjusted herself so she sat there cross-legged. Digging in the bag, Devi pulled out a small sewing kit and the med kit. She used the med kit to quickly clean and bandage up her leg. Then she picked up the sewing kit.

This should be interesting, Devi thought as she set her tights on her lap and the sewing kit to her side. If there were a few things that she doesn't know how to do its how to sew. She picked up the kit and dug out black thread and a needle. Devi also pick up a small section of black cloth that was much like the cloth of her tights and set that in front of her. Then she started to sew a small patch were the bullet skimmed her.

When Devi was finished patching her tights, she had many small pinpricks on her fingers. But she was happy they were done. She changed into her tights once more and gathered her towel and such so she can get them washed. Devi had to read the directions that were on the wall above the washer to get it to work. The lady that was in the room folding her wash was looking at her weird as Devi read the directions aloud and talked to herself as she followed the directions. Devi then left to take a nap while her stuff got washed.

*****

Knives sat in the medical wing of his ship trying his best to clean the wounds that little inhuman bitch gave him. It hurt like hell, even when he moved his arm. He knows that he should go into the bulb as he had done so before, but he had too many questions on his mind, especially about that bitch.

He winced once more, but it was from when he moved something solid that was implanted in his wound. Then Knives carefully took a cotton ball and tried to pick up the foreign object. He thought he was going to pass out from the pain, even though its not as much as when he gets hit with a bullet, but soon succeeded, pulling his hand away from the wound.

What was imbedded in his wound was one of the cat-like claws from her. Knives plucked the piece of the claw, discarded the bloody cotton ball and examined the claw. It looked like a regular cat claw, except for being doused in his blood. Knives set the claw aside until he finished bandaging his shoulder.

Once he finished bandaging his shoulder, Knives picked up the broken claw and headed for a room where he can figure out what this little bitch is exactly.

The room he entered was close to where the bulb is. It has a computer hooked to a special scanning machine, used to scan through an organic sample to figure out the DNA sequence of it. It takes a long time to do so, sometimes not even finishing. Knives set the broken claw on the tray where the machine would scan it and turned the machine and the computer on.

The machine whirred and hummed, filling the room with sound that hasn't been heard in years. The computer monitor glowed with life and Knives pushed a few buttons on the console, bringing up the scanning program. It took a moment before the computer connected with the machine and tell it what to do.

Knives left the room as the machine closed in on the object and begin its scanning process, shutting the lights off and going to the room next door to go into his bulb. He ripped the bloody bandage that he had on over his shoulder and chucked it before he entered the bulb.

*****

When Devi woke up from her nap, it was close to noon. She rolled out of bed, fixed her hair, washed her face and went to get her laundry and put it into the dryer. This time when Devi was talking to herself as she read and followed the directions, there was no one to look at her weird.

"There," Devi stated as the soft roar of the dryer told her that she has successfully followed the directions. She left the room then and headed outside to explore the town a bit and get something to eat.

*****

((A/N: LOOK WHO'S BACK!! Took me long enough to get them back in the picture. And what's a Trigun fic without a dodge ball game, huh? Well, enjoy!))

"Oh, what a beautiful day it is," Vash exclaimed, arms outstretched as though he was trying to embrace the sky. "And what a lovely town to go with it too."

"Yes, it most certainly is," Meryl agreed, as she and Milly followed right behind Vash.

Up ahead of the trio, kids of all ages were playing dodge ball. The laughter and activity was contagious all over the town, people were walking about, having conversations with friends and laughing at one another's stories or jokes.

A red rubber ball rolled towards them and Vash placed his foot on top of it. The group of kids that were following the ball stopped and looked at Vash.

"Hey, mister,' said one of the older kids. "Can you give us the ball back?"

Vash rolled his foot off the ball, put his toe underneath and lifted the ball up so he can grab it. Smiling, Vash spun the ball on the tip of his finger. "Sure," Vash answered. "But can I play too?"

"Alright," the kid said.

Swiftly, Vash chucked the ball at the kids and a new game of dodge ball started. As the game continued, Milly and Meryl disappeared to a café for a snack to hold them until later. As they ate their snacks, which were chocolate pudding, they watched the game and laughed at Vash's crazy antics.

Ah, Vash. The reason Meryl wanted to stay on this job and watch him. She liked, no, loved him, but was always too scared to show it. Meryl was a bit jealous when Devi was around. Vash was fixated on her, even talked about how worried he is for her. Meryl was just fed up with it, and was actually happy when he didn't mention Devi for a period of time. She seemed to be out of the picture for good, like most people that come into their lives. That's usually what happens to most people they come across, they either try to get their revenge for some reason or try to get Vash's bounty and it ends up that Vash teaches a lesson to them on love and peace or something like that.

Just as Meryl started to daydream of her and Vash being together, a female voice broke it, semi-cocky with a smart-ass comment. "Well, well, well, look what the wind blew in town."

It couldn't be her, Meryl thought. She was hesitant on moving, but Milly turned towards the voice and exclaimed, "Look, Meryl! It's Devi. Hi, Devi."

It's her, Meryl thought to herself, sighing as she faced Devi. "Hey, Devi."

Devi pulled a chair over from a nearby and sat down with them. She doesn't seem to be as thin as before, but not overly on the fat side. As Meryl looked at Devi's eyes, through her sunglasses, she could see that Devi's eyes weren't like regular human eyes. They were more cat-like and filled with a past that could match up to Vash's. Devi put a smile on her face that seems to be hiding something.

"Hey, long time no see. Where's Vash?"

Milly pointed to where Vash was playing with the kids in dodge ball. "Mr. Vash is over there playing dodge ball with the kids."

Devi looked over and smiled at Vash's antics while playing dodge ball. He glanced over once, but had to do a double take. In the process, a kid who snagged the ball threw it right at Vash's head and succeeded. Vash staggered, but didn't fall over. He walked over, rubbing his head where the ball hit him, and sat down at the available seat that was across from Devi, between Milly and Meryl.

"Devi! How have you been?"

Devi let a small laugh out. "I'm fine, I was just here to try to get some money."

Meryl faced her. "And how do you plan on getting the money?"

"The main thing that'll be practically crowded at night," Devi stated. "The casino."

"I didn't know you gambled," Milly said.

"Ehh..I only know how to play poker. That's all really, nothing big. I'm going tonight if you want to join me."

Vash was the first to answer before Meryl could say anything. "Of course, I'll join you at least."

Meryl rolled her eyes at Vash's comment and then stated, "I'll come with." To make sure Vash doesn't do anything stupid.

*****

That night, Devi waited outside the crowded casino. The first person she saw was Meryl. She didn't appear to be happy to be there with Devi, she was more uncomfortable than anything. Devi started to hate the silence that was there, so she decided to break the silence.

"So, how long have you known Vash?"

Devi could see Meryl stiffen instantly with Devi speaking. "Uhh." Meryl started, "I've known Vash for quite some time actually. It's been so long, I actually lost track."

She nodded and nibbled on her lip. Something in the back of her mind told her that Meryl likes Vash. Devi decided to ask. "Hey, Meryl. Do you like Vash in anyway."

Again, Meryl stiffened, but more than last time. Devi could see Meryl's arm moved slightly with the tension. "I.I don't like him. Actually, I think he's annoying and very child-like in his actions."

Devi suppressed a smile coming. She could tell that Meryl was lying by the slight redness from blushing on her cheeks. She's lying; she does like Vash. She's probably scared to admit it. Devi sniffed the air and caught Meryl's scent that was actually mixed with something different. Fear, but very small.

Vash and Milly soon came and the four entered the casino. Devi headed straight for the poker tables with Vash close at her heels. She headed for a table that had all guys with a strong stench of booze on them. Actually, it didn't matter where Devi went in the casino, the smell of booze and smoke was so strong to her nose it almost made her want to puke. The guys looked up at her as she stood next to the table.

"Hey, guys," Devi greeted. "Mind if I join in on the fun?"