Vash becomes disoriented after awaking from his reminiscing. Seeing the worse side of humanity causes the Dark Vash personality to come out. Meryl tries desperately to bring the old Vash back and Knives has an identity crisis. Milly's amazing and rarely seen wisdom catches Knives off of his guard. This chapter has a fun gun fight!

Chapter Three: Sound Life

Vash opened his tear filled eyes. He hadn't remembered that happening before, but now that he relived it, it was clear in his mind. He felt a familiar fabric against his skin. Vash looked at the red coat covering him as hey lay on the ground. He glanced to the side and noticed Knives sitting on a long silver box next to him.

Everything here is so familiar. I lost to you because of this thing, Knives mumbled.

Vash's eyes grew large. The silver box was Wolfwood's Cross Punisher.

. am going to take that back to Milly Vash whispered.

Knives smirked and looked down at Vash. He bent over and placed a hand on the side of Vash's cheek and whispered, What makes you think that I will let you go back there..?

Vash's faced turned red as he stared back up at his brother,

Put your coat back on, little brother. Knives removed his hand from Vash's face and stood up.

Vash sat up and clutched the coat. Why? What good will it do?

I want you to see her face when she sees us both back in these clothes. Knives walked away from Vash and picked up the black and silver guns from the dusty ground.

I wonder where Vash went and why would Knives run off just hours before he was going to be released? It doesn't make any sense. Meryl leaned on the window sill and sighed. Vash always did this. Just when there was something important he was nowhere to be found.

Milly tapped Meryl's shoulder.

Stop calling me sempai,' Milly. We don't work at Bernardille anymore so I'm not technically your sempai.

Okay sem—I mean Meryl. But I really think you should look outside the door

Meryl walked to the door and stepped onto the porch. Meryl gazed out at the desert and suddenly lost her breath. There in the distance were two shadows walking towards the town. One shadow had tall hair and a flowing coat, the other had short hair and a skin tight bodysuit. Milly stood behind Meryl and placed a hand on her shoulder.

he's just messing around right? He probably was just looking for Mr. Knives and and it got cold out right? Meryl stammered.

The two shadows closed in on the town and more people gathered around the edge of the town. A man stepped out of the crowd and moved towards the porch where Meryl and Milly stood.

You see? I told you this before didn't I? You can't change the way a person is. That monster is Vash the Stampede he is the humanoid typhoon he is the destroyer of the city of July He will always be Vash the Stampede. He will never change. And that monster has a twin that monster has a twin that admitted to murdering thousands of people. And how here they are back in those outfits back with those guns The shadows were less than a hundred feet away from the town now. They are monsters and you dared to harbor them in our town and now look at—

A gun shot made all of the people in the crowd jump. A lamp hanging from the overhang of the porch fell onto the man's head. Meryl and Milly gasped and stepped backwards. Everyone stared out at the shadows that were now stopped a short distance from the edge of the crowd. Knives had an arm outstretched and smoke rose from a black gun that shimmered in the moonlight in his hand.

Monster, monster. He used to call us that, too and now he's dead. Another shot rang out from the gun as Knives said dead.' A man in the crowd dropped to his knees and out of his hand fell a gun. Don't anybody even think about trying anything. Next time, I won't hit the gun.

The two figures were close enough for Meryl to see their eyes clearly now. Meryl looked into Vash's eyes. The once light green pools full of life and innocence, were dark and empty. They lost their gleam and seemed to simply be dark, empty stones.

could Knives have done to him Meryl was on the verge of tears. Milly put her arms around Meryl. Meryl pushed Milly away and ran down the porch. She sped past the crowd and ran to the two figures. Meryl ran into Vash and pulled her arms around him. She sobbed into his chest, but he only stood in front of her. He was an empty shell.

Get away from him. Knives growled at Meryl and pushed her to the ground. are just like the rest of them. Worthless waste of space.

Meryl buried her face into the desert sand. She sobbed uncontrollably. What could she do? Vash's spirit had been stolen from him. He wasn't Vash anymore he was the stereotype Vash the Stampede. He was a heartless soul with no purpose in life. Just when Meryl felt her will to live leaving her body she heard a voice. A sweet, angelic voice. The voice was singing. The words sung were so familiar. Meryl looked up at Vash and saw a tear run down his cheek. There was still hope...

I love you, Meryl gasped, I love you so much

Knives glared down at Meryl. He kicked her in the ribs and grabbed her by the hair.

You did this to him! Because of your meddling, Vash no longer has a mind of his own! I hate you Rem! And I am taking my brother back from you! Knives screamed at Meryl.

Meryl looked into Vash's eyes and saw something cross over them. She realized that it was something in the name and the voice. Rem Saverem. The name Vash had told her so much about. And the song that angelic singing must have been her.

Knives removed his grip from Meryl's hair and looked at Vash. He put a hand on Vash's chest and felt it tremble. Knives' eyes grew large and he clenched his teeth. Tear were streaming down Vash's face.

Meryl got onto her knees and took in a deep breath. She moved to her feet and slowly took swaying, unsteady steps towards Vash. Milly took a step off of the porch and nervously watched Meryl. Meryl gripped Vash's coat and pushed her head under his chin. Knives pulled his arm away from Vash and glared at Meryl.

Meryl coughed and tightened her grip on Vash's coat.

What are you doing!? Get off of him. Knives tried to push Meryl back, but she kept her grip tight on Vash's coat.

Meryl put her arms around Vash. am not Rem My name is Meryl Stryfe and I love Vash.

Knives backed away from Vash and Meryl. He looked into Vash's eyes and saw what he had strived so hard to banish from Vash's mind slowly seeping back in. Vash blinked and looked down at Meryl. For the first time in a long time, Vash was able to see that Meryl and Rem were two different people. Vash looked into the dark night sky and heard an angelic voice singing a familiar song.

On the first night, a pebble falls to earth from somewhere Vash's voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to make Meryl blush and Knives lose his breath.

I just wanted to keep you safe from these humans Knives knelt onto the ground. Knives slammed his fists into the ground. If Rem hadn't taught you that humans were kind and accepting, Steven would have never touched you. Knives squeezed his eyes shut and rested his throbbing hands on the ground.

Milly broke through the crowd and stood next to Knives. She leaned down and put her arms around him. It's okay Not all humans are like that Not all of us are mean Not all of us live to harm others

A woman stepped out of the crowd and looked down at Milly. what do you mean when you call us humans? Aren't they humans too?

Knives bit his lip and grabbed onto one of Milly's arms. Who are you to tell me how to think?

The woman nervously shifted her feet and backed away from Knives and Milly. She looked at Vash and Meryl then back at Knives and Milly.

A black cat wandered from behind the woman and, with a wandered past Vash, Knives, Meryl, and Milly and walked out to the desert.

I need to sleep Vash fell to the ground and Meryl jumped back. The tails of his red coat floated down to the ground and from under them Meryl saw a silver and white mass.

Mr. Knives are you feeling better now? Milly moved her head until she was face to face with Knives.

the man who touched Vash died too easily I should have done something more malicious to him Knives sat up and looked at Vash laying in a red mass next to him.

Taking out what that man did to Vash on all humans doesn't fix anything. Meryl mumbled as she stroked Vash's hair. Now help get Vash into the house and eat your damn welcome home cake.