Author's Note: This is a repost of the chapter, since of course I had some
errors in it that conflicted with the anime. I would like to thank Hellion
for helping me out there. I changed the planets name to Gunsmoke like its
supposed to be, but I will leave in the fact that they are able to contact
earth, anyhoozles, I would like to thank Alucard, Hellion, and Lisa for
reviewing.
All right, here is chapter 1. Just so you know ahead of time, I haven't read the manga, but I have seen some of the anime. I have only seen up the episode where Rem, Vash, and Knives are all migrating to another planet with those other people, and Knives gets all insane and kills a lot of the people on board. So I doubt that it's really far into the anime, but I am going off of what I see on cartoon network. And I haven't really seen all of those either. Knives is just a little crazy if you ask me, but oh well he is still cool!!!!! I hope that you all enjoyed the prologue, even though it wasn't that long, but well yeah. I rewrote this chapter twice, and the fact of the matter is that I will probably change a lot of things while I am typing it up. Oh yes, the characters might be a little off if not a lot, I apologize for that ahead of time. Well I hope that you enjoy it, and please review!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun, and I never will.
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~*The Love and Death of The Past*~ ~Chapter 1~
Meryl sighed heavily as she walked down the deserted street to get to her apartment. She just got off of work, and her muscles were tired and her stomach was growling. She smiled meekly, wondering what marvelous meal Millie was going to be fixing this time.
Millie and Meryl were best friends, and they had both moved in with each other after the "humanoid typhoon" case. Millie had decided that it was important for someone to stay with Meryl, especially since she had been so emotionally distraught after the humanoid typhoon had left to live a life of his own.
Ever since he did leave however, Meryl had done nothing except bury herself in her work, and Millie knew that it wasn't healthy. Meryl sighed in exasperation, before gazing up at the crimson colored sky. The stars were slowly fading into existence, and the moon was just barely beginning to peek out from its shield of clouds.
Meryl swung her briefcase back and forth, thinking long and hard about the assignment that she had been buried under for the past week.
One of the companies clients house had been caught in a sandstorm, and during the sandstorm, a group of bandits had broken into their house, and stolen many family heirlooms. Luckily, the family had managed to shoot 3 bandits, rendering them immobile, before calling the police on them, and having the courted off to jail.
However the family's most treasured possessions were still missing. Meryl had been chosen to do follow up work on the case, making sure that there was over all no property damage, and make sure that all the items were replaceable before fully reimbursing her clients. They made a move to sue the bandits, but knowing that bandits never carry more that 20 double dollars on them, it would have been extremely hard to sue them for breaking and entering a private residence.
The other factor that had her completely bombarded was the fact that she had to do research on the items, since they were all very rare. One of the items that were stolen, luckily happened to be a Venus fly trap, from earth, and everyone knew that in this day and age it was impossible to travel from Gunsmoke to Earth, even though they were so technologically advanced, they still led the lives of people in the olden days, as if they didn't want to advance into modern day civilization, like those who were on Earth.
Meryl turned a corner and wrinkled her nose as the scent of cigarette smoke drifted towards her, from the pub that she walked passed. Meryl couldn't understand how people could fill their lungs with that disgusting crap, but then again, she didn't really understand people. As soon as she passed the eerily silent pub she turned another corner and arrived at her apartment building.
She smiled in self satisfaction, she loved living only 3 blocks away from her job, it allowed her to go to work almost as late as she wanted, and come home as late as she wanted and still be able to get enough sleep. She sighed as she rummaged through her briefcase to look for her keys as she absently walked up the stairs to her apartment building.
She had grown accustomed to coming home, and taking the long treacherous walk up the stairs, even though she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. It had just become part of her daily routine, and as always, that routine seemed so boring sometimes. She sighed as she thought about the adventure that she missed very much when she had the liberty of traveling with Vash the stampede. The thought of him broke her heart in two as she stopped halfway up the stairs.
Cold metal connected with her hands as she lifted her keys out of her briefcase and stare absentmindedly into nothing. She hated it whenever she thought about him, but she had been so emotionally hurt after he decided that it was best to go their separate ways. Meryl closed her eyes and let out a long enduring sigh. She couldn't let Millie see her like this, otherwise Millie would get angry and have a temper tantrum.
It was so like Millie to want to make sure that she was over Vash. Millie hated to see it when Meryl was hurt, and would go through extremes just to make sure that Meryl was smiling every single day since that incident. Millie was quite amazing. She was always making sure that Meryl was healthy and alive. Meryl had to face the facts, if it wasn't for Millie, Meryl probably would have killed herself, by staying depressed. Meryl had actually been somewhat suicidal during the duration of depression that she had gone through. Millie was wonderful to have put up with all of Meryl's depressive suicidal crap for so long, and in actuality Meryl knew that Millie should have left by now. Millie knew though, she knew that Meryl wouldn't have been able to take it.
She had just become so dependent on Millie, and if it wasn't for work, she probably would have stayed home all day like a regular bum off the streets would sit in an alleyway, and just die eventually. Meryl smiled to herself, happy that Millie was with her, and continued her walk to her apartment. After having a major fight with her front door, she managed to unlock it, and she entered, setting her briefcase down and smiling warmly as the smell of spaghetti reached her nose.
Meryl, confused, quirked an eyebrow in wonder. Millie hated spaghetti, so why in the hell was she cooking it? Spaghetti however was one of Meryl's favorites, so maybe she had just decided to make it to make it so that she wouldn't have to cook again tomorrow.
"Millie I'm home!" Meryl said as she slipped off her shoes and put on her slippers.
"Meryl! Welcome home!" Millie yelped as she came out of the kitchen and smiled at her friend affectionately, as she wiped her saucy hands on her apron. Meryl smiled in content, Millie always managed to make a mess of things whenever she cooked. Meryl chuckled as she saw some spaghetti sauce on Millie's face and walked over to her, and swiped it off with her index finger.
"You really need to be a bit neater Millie." Meryl said. Millie engulfed Meryl in a teasing hug before pulling back to look at her friend. Meryl raised an eyebrow at this sudden change of mood, as a somber look settled into Millie's eyes.
"Are you happy Meryl?" Millie asked. Meryl was completely taken back from what Millie had just asked. Why on earth would Millie ask if she was happy? She did of course smile at her right when she walked in the house, wouldn't that let her know that she was happy and grateful to be in her company? Meryl shook all the answers out of her head and sighed in exasperation. Of course she was happy, there was no reason to be sad, except for the occasional times when Vash popped into her mind.
"Well if you aren't happy, I have something for you that will make you jump for joy!" Millie said as she pulled a blindfold from the pocket of her apron. Meryl stepped back for a second, wondering why Millie thought a blindfold would make her happy. Millie smiled crazily, noticing that Meryl was as confused as ever.
"No silly, the blindfold isn't for you, its to cover your eyes with." Millie laughed wholeheartedly at Meryl moment of ignorance. Meryl blushed furiously and nodded, as she took the blind fold and quickly tied it over her eyes. Millie made sure that she wasn't able to see anything, and once she was happy with Meryl's lack of vision she led her into the kitchen.
Meryl's nose twitched. The smell of spaghetti reached her nostrils, and she finally realized how hungry she really was. Her stomach growled with enthusiasm at the thought of food, and Meryl heard Millie laugh. Once Meryl was put in place Millie took the blindfold off from around her eyes. Meryl's eyes slowly opened, as she stared at the vision in front of her.
Meryl's eyes immediately began to swell with tears as she flung herself into someone's arms. She nuzzled the persons soft bosom and then looked up, tears of joy streaming happily down her face.
"Oh, Mama, I've missed you so much." Meryl said as she leaned her head up against the older woman's chest and felt the slow rhythmic movement of her chest rising and falling. Meryl's mother smiled down at her and ran her fingers through her daughters dark short hair before pulling away from her.
"Aw, Come on Meryl, you couldn't have forgotten about us to." A low deep, yet playful voice said from next to her. Meryl smiled with relief and hugged the boy and then the girl that sat down at the table patiently waiting to get her attention.
"Hello Eric, Hello Kirei." Meryl said as she hugged the boy and the girl that sat down at her table. The boy brushed his brown bangs from his face and smiled wickedly at Meryl. She knew that smile. He glanced over to Millie for a moment, before his grin grew even bigger and Meryl couldn't help but laugh. Kirei, the girl sat down quietly, her short dark hair hanging loosely over her shoulders. Her pale blue eyes looked over Meryl, and it was apparent that she admired the older woman.
"So how old are you now? 56, 57?" Eric asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Meryl raised an eyebrow in confusion. Kirei lifted a hand to her mouth and tried her best to hide the laughter that was about to escape her throat.
"Come on Meryl, you cant tell me that you forgot your own damn birthday." Eric replied with his normal arrogant voice. Meryl gasped and her eyes widened before she turned to Millie who nodded and smiled affectionately. Leave it to Meryl to forget that today was her birthday.
"26 today." Meryl said through gritted teeth. (I don't know their real ages, but I am making Meryl 26, so yeah.) Her face turned cherry red, as she understood why Millie had decided to make spaghetti. She also knew why her family was here, because it was her birthday.
"Damn, You are getting as old as Kendra." Eric said motioning to Meryl's mother. Kendra scoffed and sat down, acting as though she were offended. Eric whom was 22 was Meryl's younger brother, and Kirei, whom was only becoming 19 was Meryl's younger sister. Millie looked at Eric and raised an eyebrow.
"I don't get it, how come you call her Kendra? Isn't she your mother?" Millie asked as she and Meryl took a seat at the table. Eric shook his head and then looked from Kirei to Meryl, as if asking for permission to say what he wanted to say. The women nodded in approval and Eric continued to talk.
"We are a foster family. Kendra raised us as a single mother, and boy it sure seemed like hard work." Millie looked at Meryl in surprise. No wonder none of them looked alike. Kendra was a blonde, and somehow she managed to stay blonde despite the fact that she was in her late 40's. She had beautiful brown eyes and was about 5'7". Eric seemed to be American, but since of course they were on another planet, Millie could only guess that that was only his ethnic background. He had brown wispy hair, and mischievous green eyes. He had a very deep, yet sarcastic voice, and nice broad shoulders, his body looked like it was well toned, and when they had first arrived, he was like a giant compared to Millie.
Kirei was Japanese. And her name just about told everyone what was true. She was absolutely beautiful. She had short black glossy hair that looked like silk whenever it blew in the wind. Her eyes were glossy, and blue, and she seemed to be about the same height as Meryl, even though she was younger. She seemed as though she was quite shy. When Millie first met her, it seemed as though her voice was like the sweet chime of bell ringing off in the distant. Millie looked back to Meryl after making an analysis of the group and smiled. She wondered why Meryl had never told her that she was part of a foster family before, and even more so, it made her wonder why she was even put into a foster family? Was she an unruly child or something?
"How did you get to be in the family?" Millie asked Eric, not wanting to know what other pain Meryl could have possibly went through to end up being in a foster family. It must have been extremely hard for Meryl. That was probably why she had been so suicidal after Vash had left, she had already had enough pain and torment in her life, and Vash leaving was just too much for her.
"My mother was a drug addict. She would smoke weed, snort cocaine, and shoot heroine. She was a junkie beyond all sorts. I was stuck in the hospital for about 3 months after I was born until I was allowed to actually go home with her. When I had turned 7, I had walked out into the living room to ask my mom if she could read me a bedtime story, because that was what she would usually do, despite the fact that she was so doped up most of the time. "
"Well when I walked out into the living room, she was being fucked by one of her drug buddies, and it turned out that he was actually raping her, the heroine must have gotten to him or something. So I called the police, not knowing what was going on. Well the police saw the drugs, and immediately saw it fit to have me removed from the house. Child endangerment they said. So that was pretty much how I ended up living there. Meryl of course, was already there when I had arrived. Sweet of her really, to keep me company when I needed it most." Eric stopped and saw Millie's somewhat shocked expression. Kendra looked at Eric and placed a hand on his thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze. After a moment of silence Millie turned to Kirei, who cleared her throat and decided that it was her turn to tell her side of the story.
"Typical story on my part. My mother was a prostitute. My father was a businessman who paid my mother to fuck him. Then she got pregnant with me. My mother decided that since she was going to have me, she might as well get money from my father for reckless abandonment. Well once the courts found out that my mother was a prostitute they had me taken away from her, and my father gained full custody of me. Everything was perfect for a while, but then, I would come home from school, and my father would be drunk, and then he would find some stupid reason to beat me and r-" Kirei stopped for a moment, tears coming to her eyes. Meryl scooted her chair closer to her foster sister and snaked an arm around her shoulders. Kirei smiled as she leaned her head on Meryl's shoulder, placing an arm around her ribcage. Meryl stroked Kirei's hair gently, before planting a reassuring kiss on the top of her sister's head.
"My father would beat and rape me." Kirei said, trying her best not to choke on her words. Millie gasped in astonishment. She had never been so disgusted in her life. How could someone's father just rape them? She knew that Kirei had to be a young when it was happening, seeing at to where the young girl was only 19 years old. Meryl kissed her sisters head before looking up at Millie her eyes begging her to tell Kirei to stop. Millie however didn't understand what Meryl was trying to do, and Kirei kept going.
"I told one of my teachers one day during school, and then they made sure that I was relocated. I was only 9 when that was happening to me. I am just glad that my father didn't make me hide the bruises that I received that day. But I had to go through so many tests, you know to see if he had impregnated me, since of course, children are starting their periods quicker than they used to. Found out that I had 3 broken ribs, but Meryl, Eric and my new mother nursed me back to health." Kirei smiled at her family. Millie smiled at the bond that was kept so neatly intertwined between the whole family, despite the fact that they had been through so many hardships. Meryl closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. She hated talking about depressing matters on her birthday. She looked at Kendra who smiled kindly at her, noting the worried expression in her eyes. Meryl didn't want to tell her story.
Kendra knew Meryl very well. Her past was just so much darker than the rest of the children's were. Meryl had always kept to herself, and at first she didn't want to be around the other children when Kendra had first started taking care of them. Over time however, her heart of ice had melted, and she had become very outspoken, and rambunctious. If there was anyone with an attitude, and little tolerance of males, since of course her brother was a lecherous boy, it was Meryl.
"How about some dinner?" Kendra said calmly. Millie gasped and jumped up, completely forgetting that she had forgotten about the spaghetti that was now bubbling inside the pot.
As soon as Millie had gotten everything under control, the family engaged in friendly conversation, talking about the things that they have been up to for the past 6 years. Kirei was still finishing up prep-school, and Eric had graduated from high school, in which Meryl had missed, and he made sure that he had given her a guilt trip about it, and he was accepted at a college, he was to become a doctor. Meryl had told them that she had become an insurance officer at the Bernadelli Insurance Company, and that she worked in claims. Millie noted how casually she left Vash out of the conversation as she talked about the many cases that she had to deal with, including the one that was currently underway at the moment.
As soon as they had all finished their dinner Millie brought out a chocolate cake. It was Meryl's favorite. As soon as Meryl had blown out the 26 candles that had protruded from the big chocolate mess Eric had made sure that he pushed her face into it, making it so that nobody would want to eat it. Meryl huffed in exaggeration, and stormed off to the bathroom, after muttering threats of death to her brother. Kirei and Kendra giggled innocently.
"Well so much for that. Hey, I know, why don't we go down and get something to drink and celebrate the rest of Meryl's birthday there." Millie insisted. The group agreed, and even Meryl thought it was a good idea. Soon after they had all cleaned up the mess, Millie decided that it was time to go to the pub.
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They all entered the pub, Meryl cursing at Eric under her breath. Eric chuckled lightly and picked his older sister up, and teased her because of how little she was. He kissed her on the cheek and then went to the bar and ordered 5 drinks for the group. Once getting their drinks and sitting down at the table they all engaged in casual conversation.
Millie had to admit, she had never seen Meryl so happy in her life. It was as if Meryl was reliving something that she had lost so many years ago. Millie loved seeing Meryl this happy. For once she was glad that she able to do something that had meant so much to Meryl. They all chatted happily, and joked just like a real family would.
"If you will excuse me, I have to use the restroom." Kirei said before getting up and leaving to use the restroom. Eric looked at his younger sister, as if telling her that she had 5 minutes to use the restroom, wash her hands, and walk back to the table.
Meryl sighed as she looked down into her glass full of scotch. She had never really acquired a taste for it, but for some reason it seemed to atone for the emptiness that she felt inside. It just felt so different sitting by herself without the lecherous Vash sitting at the table and drinking until he passed out. She sighed once again and closed her eyes. The thought of Vash brought tears to her eyes. As she drowned in her own thoughts the talking around her became oblivious, and that was when Kendra and Eric knew something was wrong.
"Who was the guy?" Kendra asked as she rubbed Meryl's back lazily. Millie didn't know whether to tell them or not, but she felt as though she really had no choice. What was she supposed to do lie? It just wasn't in her nature to lie, not in the least.
"Just a man whom she fell in love with during one of her cases. Then something happened and he had to leave her. Meryl was so depressed for the longest time, it's been two years since the case and she still hasn't gotten over him. Something I still wonder why she continues to even bother, but the thought of him coming back to her makes her so happy. I thought that she was over him, but obviously not." Millie bit her lower lip as Eric seemed to get angrier as she spoke.
"What's the fucker's name? I'll rip his throat out on the spot. That fucking faggot has no right to mess with my sister's emotions like that." Eric clenched his fists as he watched tears slid silently down Meryl's face.
"Well she didn't exactly tell him how she felt before he left. She just let him go, so I told her that if she ever did find him again, that it would best for her to let him know before he leaves again."
"I don't give a damn Millie. It should have been fucking obvious as to how she felt about him, I mean damn, how hard is it to know how much a girl can love a guy, especially since she is sitting here right now crying over his dumb ass." Millie was surprised at how angry Eric had gotten. He really did care for his sister. Kendra scoffed and hit Eric lightly on the mouth. Eric recoiled slightly, hating the fact that his mother was still able to discipline him even though he was an adult. But then again there was something about Kendra that made everyone want to fall at her feet and bow down to her.
"HEY YOU LITTLE BITCH, WATCH WHERE THE FUCK YOU'RE WALKING." Kendra, Eric and Millie all stood up. Meryl was still deep in her own thoughts as the table shook violently as all three of their bodies hit it, causing it to rock back and forth. Meryl blinked for a moment, before noticing that everyone was standing. She stood up and gasped as she heard a startled yelp come from the direction of the restrooms.
"Kirei!" Meryl yelped as she dashed through the group of drunk men who were watching her little sister get hit and beaten by a man twice her size. Meryl kneeled down next to her little sister as she scooped her up in her arms, and rocked her back and forth. Kirei was crying loudly, and Eric, Kendra and Millie were trying their hardest to get through the group of people, but since they weren't exactly as little at the other two women they got knocked back into a table.
"What the hell is your problem?" Meryl asked the man, who stared down at her threateningly. He frowned and drove his foot into Meryl's side, the smell of liquor rising off of his body.
"Stupid whores, fucking thinking that you could mess with me. Well I'll teach yo-" The man was suddenly cut off as Meryl leaned over her sister, blood dripping from her mouth. He had kicked her pretty hard, but there was something different about what he had kicked her with. Kirei managed to wrap her arms around her sister and shrieked as she pulled away from her, afraid to touch her.
"Meryl you're bleeding!" Kirei said as she touched her wound. Glass shattered all around them and tables were broken. Kirei huffed and helped Meryl to her feet. As soon as they were able to stand they were both knocked down to the ground again by an incredible force. Kirei began to cry. Meryl comforted her as blood leaked down from her side, creating a small puddle on the ground. She tried her best to comfort Kirei, but the pain that was shooting throughout her body was telling her that her wound was more important than her crying sister. Sticky blood dripped off of her white uniform, and Meryl immediately felt her sisters hand attach itself to her side, in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
By this time everyone in the pub was fighting. Beer bottles were being thrown, people were crashing into tables, walls were being cracked, and people were leaving trails of blood on the floor. Kirei buried her head in Meryl's chest in an attempt to escape the threatening people in the bar, it all brought back too much painful memory for her to bear.
Gunshots sounded off inside the pub, and Kirei shrieked. Meryl chuckled as Kirei's scream was the only thing that echoed off of the walls after the gun was fired. Men were thrown out of the way as two men approached Meryl and Kirei. Kirei was lifted to her feet immediately and looked over as Meryl lay rested on the ground.
Sweat beaded on Meryl's face as the pain shot through her body once more, making her double over. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and all she could feel was the knife from that man's boot tearing through her thin layer of flesh. She was whirled around and she smiled, looking up into a pair of familiar turquoise eyes. Whoever the man was, had saved her. Her vision blurred for a moment before the soft questioning voice of sorrow, worry, and relief reached her ears.
"Insurance Girl?"
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Well what did you think? I am sorry if it was boring, or if it went along too slow, but that was just how I wrote it. I will update within a period of two weeks, and that is how I will take care of my updates, so anyhoozles, I hope that you enjoyed it, and if you think that there is anything wrong with it, you should just tell me. It's funny how thick the plot to this story is, and I cant wait to finish writing it, but since of course I have another fic in the works, I will be updating that as well. . Not that you care about my other works, but well yeah. Like I said I will try to update within a period of two weeks or less, but there are no guarantees. Well review please!!!!
~*Neko-Sama*~
All right, here is chapter 1. Just so you know ahead of time, I haven't read the manga, but I have seen some of the anime. I have only seen up the episode where Rem, Vash, and Knives are all migrating to another planet with those other people, and Knives gets all insane and kills a lot of the people on board. So I doubt that it's really far into the anime, but I am going off of what I see on cartoon network. And I haven't really seen all of those either. Knives is just a little crazy if you ask me, but oh well he is still cool!!!!! I hope that you all enjoyed the prologue, even though it wasn't that long, but well yeah. I rewrote this chapter twice, and the fact of the matter is that I will probably change a lot of things while I am typing it up. Oh yes, the characters might be a little off if not a lot, I apologize for that ahead of time. Well I hope that you enjoy it, and please review!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun, and I never will.
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~*The Love and Death of The Past*~ ~Chapter 1~
Meryl sighed heavily as she walked down the deserted street to get to her apartment. She just got off of work, and her muscles were tired and her stomach was growling. She smiled meekly, wondering what marvelous meal Millie was going to be fixing this time.
Millie and Meryl were best friends, and they had both moved in with each other after the "humanoid typhoon" case. Millie had decided that it was important for someone to stay with Meryl, especially since she had been so emotionally distraught after the humanoid typhoon had left to live a life of his own.
Ever since he did leave however, Meryl had done nothing except bury herself in her work, and Millie knew that it wasn't healthy. Meryl sighed in exasperation, before gazing up at the crimson colored sky. The stars were slowly fading into existence, and the moon was just barely beginning to peek out from its shield of clouds.
Meryl swung her briefcase back and forth, thinking long and hard about the assignment that she had been buried under for the past week.
One of the companies clients house had been caught in a sandstorm, and during the sandstorm, a group of bandits had broken into their house, and stolen many family heirlooms. Luckily, the family had managed to shoot 3 bandits, rendering them immobile, before calling the police on them, and having the courted off to jail.
However the family's most treasured possessions were still missing. Meryl had been chosen to do follow up work on the case, making sure that there was over all no property damage, and make sure that all the items were replaceable before fully reimbursing her clients. They made a move to sue the bandits, but knowing that bandits never carry more that 20 double dollars on them, it would have been extremely hard to sue them for breaking and entering a private residence.
The other factor that had her completely bombarded was the fact that she had to do research on the items, since they were all very rare. One of the items that were stolen, luckily happened to be a Venus fly trap, from earth, and everyone knew that in this day and age it was impossible to travel from Gunsmoke to Earth, even though they were so technologically advanced, they still led the lives of people in the olden days, as if they didn't want to advance into modern day civilization, like those who were on Earth.
Meryl turned a corner and wrinkled her nose as the scent of cigarette smoke drifted towards her, from the pub that she walked passed. Meryl couldn't understand how people could fill their lungs with that disgusting crap, but then again, she didn't really understand people. As soon as she passed the eerily silent pub she turned another corner and arrived at her apartment building.
She smiled in self satisfaction, she loved living only 3 blocks away from her job, it allowed her to go to work almost as late as she wanted, and come home as late as she wanted and still be able to get enough sleep. She sighed as she rummaged through her briefcase to look for her keys as she absently walked up the stairs to her apartment building.
She had grown accustomed to coming home, and taking the long treacherous walk up the stairs, even though she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. It had just become part of her daily routine, and as always, that routine seemed so boring sometimes. She sighed as she thought about the adventure that she missed very much when she had the liberty of traveling with Vash the stampede. The thought of him broke her heart in two as she stopped halfway up the stairs.
Cold metal connected with her hands as she lifted her keys out of her briefcase and stare absentmindedly into nothing. She hated it whenever she thought about him, but she had been so emotionally hurt after he decided that it was best to go their separate ways. Meryl closed her eyes and let out a long enduring sigh. She couldn't let Millie see her like this, otherwise Millie would get angry and have a temper tantrum.
It was so like Millie to want to make sure that she was over Vash. Millie hated to see it when Meryl was hurt, and would go through extremes just to make sure that Meryl was smiling every single day since that incident. Millie was quite amazing. She was always making sure that Meryl was healthy and alive. Meryl had to face the facts, if it wasn't for Millie, Meryl probably would have killed herself, by staying depressed. Meryl had actually been somewhat suicidal during the duration of depression that she had gone through. Millie was wonderful to have put up with all of Meryl's depressive suicidal crap for so long, and in actuality Meryl knew that Millie should have left by now. Millie knew though, she knew that Meryl wouldn't have been able to take it.
She had just become so dependent on Millie, and if it wasn't for work, she probably would have stayed home all day like a regular bum off the streets would sit in an alleyway, and just die eventually. Meryl smiled to herself, happy that Millie was with her, and continued her walk to her apartment. After having a major fight with her front door, she managed to unlock it, and she entered, setting her briefcase down and smiling warmly as the smell of spaghetti reached her nose.
Meryl, confused, quirked an eyebrow in wonder. Millie hated spaghetti, so why in the hell was she cooking it? Spaghetti however was one of Meryl's favorites, so maybe she had just decided to make it to make it so that she wouldn't have to cook again tomorrow.
"Millie I'm home!" Meryl said as she slipped off her shoes and put on her slippers.
"Meryl! Welcome home!" Millie yelped as she came out of the kitchen and smiled at her friend affectionately, as she wiped her saucy hands on her apron. Meryl smiled in content, Millie always managed to make a mess of things whenever she cooked. Meryl chuckled as she saw some spaghetti sauce on Millie's face and walked over to her, and swiped it off with her index finger.
"You really need to be a bit neater Millie." Meryl said. Millie engulfed Meryl in a teasing hug before pulling back to look at her friend. Meryl raised an eyebrow at this sudden change of mood, as a somber look settled into Millie's eyes.
"Are you happy Meryl?" Millie asked. Meryl was completely taken back from what Millie had just asked. Why on earth would Millie ask if she was happy? She did of course smile at her right when she walked in the house, wouldn't that let her know that she was happy and grateful to be in her company? Meryl shook all the answers out of her head and sighed in exasperation. Of course she was happy, there was no reason to be sad, except for the occasional times when Vash popped into her mind.
"Well if you aren't happy, I have something for you that will make you jump for joy!" Millie said as she pulled a blindfold from the pocket of her apron. Meryl stepped back for a second, wondering why Millie thought a blindfold would make her happy. Millie smiled crazily, noticing that Meryl was as confused as ever.
"No silly, the blindfold isn't for you, its to cover your eyes with." Millie laughed wholeheartedly at Meryl moment of ignorance. Meryl blushed furiously and nodded, as she took the blind fold and quickly tied it over her eyes. Millie made sure that she wasn't able to see anything, and once she was happy with Meryl's lack of vision she led her into the kitchen.
Meryl's nose twitched. The smell of spaghetti reached her nostrils, and she finally realized how hungry she really was. Her stomach growled with enthusiasm at the thought of food, and Meryl heard Millie laugh. Once Meryl was put in place Millie took the blindfold off from around her eyes. Meryl's eyes slowly opened, as she stared at the vision in front of her.
Meryl's eyes immediately began to swell with tears as she flung herself into someone's arms. She nuzzled the persons soft bosom and then looked up, tears of joy streaming happily down her face.
"Oh, Mama, I've missed you so much." Meryl said as she leaned her head up against the older woman's chest and felt the slow rhythmic movement of her chest rising and falling. Meryl's mother smiled down at her and ran her fingers through her daughters dark short hair before pulling away from her.
"Aw, Come on Meryl, you couldn't have forgotten about us to." A low deep, yet playful voice said from next to her. Meryl smiled with relief and hugged the boy and then the girl that sat down at the table patiently waiting to get her attention.
"Hello Eric, Hello Kirei." Meryl said as she hugged the boy and the girl that sat down at her table. The boy brushed his brown bangs from his face and smiled wickedly at Meryl. She knew that smile. He glanced over to Millie for a moment, before his grin grew even bigger and Meryl couldn't help but laugh. Kirei, the girl sat down quietly, her short dark hair hanging loosely over her shoulders. Her pale blue eyes looked over Meryl, and it was apparent that she admired the older woman.
"So how old are you now? 56, 57?" Eric asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Meryl raised an eyebrow in confusion. Kirei lifted a hand to her mouth and tried her best to hide the laughter that was about to escape her throat.
"Come on Meryl, you cant tell me that you forgot your own damn birthday." Eric replied with his normal arrogant voice. Meryl gasped and her eyes widened before she turned to Millie who nodded and smiled affectionately. Leave it to Meryl to forget that today was her birthday.
"26 today." Meryl said through gritted teeth. (I don't know their real ages, but I am making Meryl 26, so yeah.) Her face turned cherry red, as she understood why Millie had decided to make spaghetti. She also knew why her family was here, because it was her birthday.
"Damn, You are getting as old as Kendra." Eric said motioning to Meryl's mother. Kendra scoffed and sat down, acting as though she were offended. Eric whom was 22 was Meryl's younger brother, and Kirei, whom was only becoming 19 was Meryl's younger sister. Millie looked at Eric and raised an eyebrow.
"I don't get it, how come you call her Kendra? Isn't she your mother?" Millie asked as she and Meryl took a seat at the table. Eric shook his head and then looked from Kirei to Meryl, as if asking for permission to say what he wanted to say. The women nodded in approval and Eric continued to talk.
"We are a foster family. Kendra raised us as a single mother, and boy it sure seemed like hard work." Millie looked at Meryl in surprise. No wonder none of them looked alike. Kendra was a blonde, and somehow she managed to stay blonde despite the fact that she was in her late 40's. She had beautiful brown eyes and was about 5'7". Eric seemed to be American, but since of course they were on another planet, Millie could only guess that that was only his ethnic background. He had brown wispy hair, and mischievous green eyes. He had a very deep, yet sarcastic voice, and nice broad shoulders, his body looked like it was well toned, and when they had first arrived, he was like a giant compared to Millie.
Kirei was Japanese. And her name just about told everyone what was true. She was absolutely beautiful. She had short black glossy hair that looked like silk whenever it blew in the wind. Her eyes were glossy, and blue, and she seemed to be about the same height as Meryl, even though she was younger. She seemed as though she was quite shy. When Millie first met her, it seemed as though her voice was like the sweet chime of bell ringing off in the distant. Millie looked back to Meryl after making an analysis of the group and smiled. She wondered why Meryl had never told her that she was part of a foster family before, and even more so, it made her wonder why she was even put into a foster family? Was she an unruly child or something?
"How did you get to be in the family?" Millie asked Eric, not wanting to know what other pain Meryl could have possibly went through to end up being in a foster family. It must have been extremely hard for Meryl. That was probably why she had been so suicidal after Vash had left, she had already had enough pain and torment in her life, and Vash leaving was just too much for her.
"My mother was a drug addict. She would smoke weed, snort cocaine, and shoot heroine. She was a junkie beyond all sorts. I was stuck in the hospital for about 3 months after I was born until I was allowed to actually go home with her. When I had turned 7, I had walked out into the living room to ask my mom if she could read me a bedtime story, because that was what she would usually do, despite the fact that she was so doped up most of the time. "
"Well when I walked out into the living room, she was being fucked by one of her drug buddies, and it turned out that he was actually raping her, the heroine must have gotten to him or something. So I called the police, not knowing what was going on. Well the police saw the drugs, and immediately saw it fit to have me removed from the house. Child endangerment they said. So that was pretty much how I ended up living there. Meryl of course, was already there when I had arrived. Sweet of her really, to keep me company when I needed it most." Eric stopped and saw Millie's somewhat shocked expression. Kendra looked at Eric and placed a hand on his thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze. After a moment of silence Millie turned to Kirei, who cleared her throat and decided that it was her turn to tell her side of the story.
"Typical story on my part. My mother was a prostitute. My father was a businessman who paid my mother to fuck him. Then she got pregnant with me. My mother decided that since she was going to have me, she might as well get money from my father for reckless abandonment. Well once the courts found out that my mother was a prostitute they had me taken away from her, and my father gained full custody of me. Everything was perfect for a while, but then, I would come home from school, and my father would be drunk, and then he would find some stupid reason to beat me and r-" Kirei stopped for a moment, tears coming to her eyes. Meryl scooted her chair closer to her foster sister and snaked an arm around her shoulders. Kirei smiled as she leaned her head on Meryl's shoulder, placing an arm around her ribcage. Meryl stroked Kirei's hair gently, before planting a reassuring kiss on the top of her sister's head.
"My father would beat and rape me." Kirei said, trying her best not to choke on her words. Millie gasped in astonishment. She had never been so disgusted in her life. How could someone's father just rape them? She knew that Kirei had to be a young when it was happening, seeing at to where the young girl was only 19 years old. Meryl kissed her sisters head before looking up at Millie her eyes begging her to tell Kirei to stop. Millie however didn't understand what Meryl was trying to do, and Kirei kept going.
"I told one of my teachers one day during school, and then they made sure that I was relocated. I was only 9 when that was happening to me. I am just glad that my father didn't make me hide the bruises that I received that day. But I had to go through so many tests, you know to see if he had impregnated me, since of course, children are starting their periods quicker than they used to. Found out that I had 3 broken ribs, but Meryl, Eric and my new mother nursed me back to health." Kirei smiled at her family. Millie smiled at the bond that was kept so neatly intertwined between the whole family, despite the fact that they had been through so many hardships. Meryl closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. She hated talking about depressing matters on her birthday. She looked at Kendra who smiled kindly at her, noting the worried expression in her eyes. Meryl didn't want to tell her story.
Kendra knew Meryl very well. Her past was just so much darker than the rest of the children's were. Meryl had always kept to herself, and at first she didn't want to be around the other children when Kendra had first started taking care of them. Over time however, her heart of ice had melted, and she had become very outspoken, and rambunctious. If there was anyone with an attitude, and little tolerance of males, since of course her brother was a lecherous boy, it was Meryl.
"How about some dinner?" Kendra said calmly. Millie gasped and jumped up, completely forgetting that she had forgotten about the spaghetti that was now bubbling inside the pot.
As soon as Millie had gotten everything under control, the family engaged in friendly conversation, talking about the things that they have been up to for the past 6 years. Kirei was still finishing up prep-school, and Eric had graduated from high school, in which Meryl had missed, and he made sure that he had given her a guilt trip about it, and he was accepted at a college, he was to become a doctor. Meryl had told them that she had become an insurance officer at the Bernadelli Insurance Company, and that she worked in claims. Millie noted how casually she left Vash out of the conversation as she talked about the many cases that she had to deal with, including the one that was currently underway at the moment.
As soon as they had all finished their dinner Millie brought out a chocolate cake. It was Meryl's favorite. As soon as Meryl had blown out the 26 candles that had protruded from the big chocolate mess Eric had made sure that he pushed her face into it, making it so that nobody would want to eat it. Meryl huffed in exaggeration, and stormed off to the bathroom, after muttering threats of death to her brother. Kirei and Kendra giggled innocently.
"Well so much for that. Hey, I know, why don't we go down and get something to drink and celebrate the rest of Meryl's birthday there." Millie insisted. The group agreed, and even Meryl thought it was a good idea. Soon after they had all cleaned up the mess, Millie decided that it was time to go to the pub.
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They all entered the pub, Meryl cursing at Eric under her breath. Eric chuckled lightly and picked his older sister up, and teased her because of how little she was. He kissed her on the cheek and then went to the bar and ordered 5 drinks for the group. Once getting their drinks and sitting down at the table they all engaged in casual conversation.
Millie had to admit, she had never seen Meryl so happy in her life. It was as if Meryl was reliving something that she had lost so many years ago. Millie loved seeing Meryl this happy. For once she was glad that she able to do something that had meant so much to Meryl. They all chatted happily, and joked just like a real family would.
"If you will excuse me, I have to use the restroom." Kirei said before getting up and leaving to use the restroom. Eric looked at his younger sister, as if telling her that she had 5 minutes to use the restroom, wash her hands, and walk back to the table.
Meryl sighed as she looked down into her glass full of scotch. She had never really acquired a taste for it, but for some reason it seemed to atone for the emptiness that she felt inside. It just felt so different sitting by herself without the lecherous Vash sitting at the table and drinking until he passed out. She sighed once again and closed her eyes. The thought of Vash brought tears to her eyes. As she drowned in her own thoughts the talking around her became oblivious, and that was when Kendra and Eric knew something was wrong.
"Who was the guy?" Kendra asked as she rubbed Meryl's back lazily. Millie didn't know whether to tell them or not, but she felt as though she really had no choice. What was she supposed to do lie? It just wasn't in her nature to lie, not in the least.
"Just a man whom she fell in love with during one of her cases. Then something happened and he had to leave her. Meryl was so depressed for the longest time, it's been two years since the case and she still hasn't gotten over him. Something I still wonder why she continues to even bother, but the thought of him coming back to her makes her so happy. I thought that she was over him, but obviously not." Millie bit her lower lip as Eric seemed to get angrier as she spoke.
"What's the fucker's name? I'll rip his throat out on the spot. That fucking faggot has no right to mess with my sister's emotions like that." Eric clenched his fists as he watched tears slid silently down Meryl's face.
"Well she didn't exactly tell him how she felt before he left. She just let him go, so I told her that if she ever did find him again, that it would best for her to let him know before he leaves again."
"I don't give a damn Millie. It should have been fucking obvious as to how she felt about him, I mean damn, how hard is it to know how much a girl can love a guy, especially since she is sitting here right now crying over his dumb ass." Millie was surprised at how angry Eric had gotten. He really did care for his sister. Kendra scoffed and hit Eric lightly on the mouth. Eric recoiled slightly, hating the fact that his mother was still able to discipline him even though he was an adult. But then again there was something about Kendra that made everyone want to fall at her feet and bow down to her.
"HEY YOU LITTLE BITCH, WATCH WHERE THE FUCK YOU'RE WALKING." Kendra, Eric and Millie all stood up. Meryl was still deep in her own thoughts as the table shook violently as all three of their bodies hit it, causing it to rock back and forth. Meryl blinked for a moment, before noticing that everyone was standing. She stood up and gasped as she heard a startled yelp come from the direction of the restrooms.
"Kirei!" Meryl yelped as she dashed through the group of drunk men who were watching her little sister get hit and beaten by a man twice her size. Meryl kneeled down next to her little sister as she scooped her up in her arms, and rocked her back and forth. Kirei was crying loudly, and Eric, Kendra and Millie were trying their hardest to get through the group of people, but since they weren't exactly as little at the other two women they got knocked back into a table.
"What the hell is your problem?" Meryl asked the man, who stared down at her threateningly. He frowned and drove his foot into Meryl's side, the smell of liquor rising off of his body.
"Stupid whores, fucking thinking that you could mess with me. Well I'll teach yo-" The man was suddenly cut off as Meryl leaned over her sister, blood dripping from her mouth. He had kicked her pretty hard, but there was something different about what he had kicked her with. Kirei managed to wrap her arms around her sister and shrieked as she pulled away from her, afraid to touch her.
"Meryl you're bleeding!" Kirei said as she touched her wound. Glass shattered all around them and tables were broken. Kirei huffed and helped Meryl to her feet. As soon as they were able to stand they were both knocked down to the ground again by an incredible force. Kirei began to cry. Meryl comforted her as blood leaked down from her side, creating a small puddle on the ground. She tried her best to comfort Kirei, but the pain that was shooting throughout her body was telling her that her wound was more important than her crying sister. Sticky blood dripped off of her white uniform, and Meryl immediately felt her sisters hand attach itself to her side, in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
By this time everyone in the pub was fighting. Beer bottles were being thrown, people were crashing into tables, walls were being cracked, and people were leaving trails of blood on the floor. Kirei buried her head in Meryl's chest in an attempt to escape the threatening people in the bar, it all brought back too much painful memory for her to bear.
Gunshots sounded off inside the pub, and Kirei shrieked. Meryl chuckled as Kirei's scream was the only thing that echoed off of the walls after the gun was fired. Men were thrown out of the way as two men approached Meryl and Kirei. Kirei was lifted to her feet immediately and looked over as Meryl lay rested on the ground.
Sweat beaded on Meryl's face as the pain shot through her body once more, making her double over. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and all she could feel was the knife from that man's boot tearing through her thin layer of flesh. She was whirled around and she smiled, looking up into a pair of familiar turquoise eyes. Whoever the man was, had saved her. Her vision blurred for a moment before the soft questioning voice of sorrow, worry, and relief reached her ears.
"Insurance Girl?"
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Well what did you think? I am sorry if it was boring, or if it went along too slow, but that was just how I wrote it. I will update within a period of two weeks, and that is how I will take care of my updates, so anyhoozles, I hope that you enjoyed it, and if you think that there is anything wrong with it, you should just tell me. It's funny how thick the plot to this story is, and I cant wait to finish writing it, but since of course I have another fic in the works, I will be updating that as well. . Not that you care about my other works, but well yeah. Like I said I will try to update within a period of two weeks or less, but there are no guarantees. Well review please!!!!
~*Neko-Sama*~