Author's Note:

I'm so overwhelmed with the responses so far. Thank you one and all. I know it's corny, but I really do appreciate you for taking the time to read this little project of mine. Great minds think alike ^_^

On with the show….

When It's Over

Chapter 6: The Past Returns

Vash looked at himself in the small mirror hanging on the wall of his room back at the orphanage, as he prepared himself to face his brother…again. He had hoped that Knives would change his ways after their last confrontation, but when they had parted ways a few years ago, Knives had brushed off any attempts of reconciliation and took off to only heaven knows where. Nevertheless, Vash would never give up on his brother.

He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the cool glass pane. Even HE knew that Knives was still as dangerous as ever.

"Why did you do such a reckless thing, Meryl?" he asked himself softly.

"Because she cares about you, Vash-san," Milly answered readily from behind.

He whipped around automatically.

Milly smiled and held out a box towards him.

"What's this?"

"Senpai made it. I think she would have wanted me to give this to you."

Vash took the box and stared in shock at the contents.

"Meryl made this for me?" he asked in surprise.

Milly nodded her head affirmatively.

Vash was completely lost for words as he stared at the long red overcoat. It was exactly like the one he used to have. He never thought he would have to wear it again. After his fight with Knives, he had left it behind as a symbolic gesture, resolving to live according to his own terms and his own words.

As he put it on, he was reminded of what they stood for. Admittedly, he wasn't back to his normal strength, but he couldn't let anything stop him. He was determined to bring Meryl back home.

"It fits perfectly," he replied, finishing the last button.

"I expect both of you to come back, you know," Milly warned.

Beneath her smile, she feared the safety of her two dearest friends.

Vash slipped on his glasses and gave her a reassuring grin.

"So do I," he answered and turned to leave.

"Papa!" Ai shouted after him.

Vash turned around to see his daughter running up to him clutching her raggedy stuffed rabbit. He kneeled down to her level as she gave him another hug. Ai had been so afraid of him leaving, but she let him go anyway once she realized that he was going to bring back her mother. In that moment, he had never been more proud to be her father.

"Here," she said, putting her favorite toy in Vash's hands. Usagi would take good care of Papa.

"Are you sure Ai-chan?" he asked uncertainly.

Ai nodded her head and stuck out two fingers in a classic Vash pose.

"Love and peace!" she said confidently, as she repeated what Vash had taught her earlier.

Vash's eyes filled with tears, but held them back as he returned the pose.

"Love and peace!"

Meryl clutched her cloak around her body closely as the wind blew sand relentlessly against her. Just her luck, she had to get caught in a sandstorm. She managed to find temporary shelter in an abandoned cabin, grateful for a moment to rest. From what she could tell from her surroundings, she was near what used to be the city of July.

It was in July where everything changed.

She still couldn't fathom what kind of incredible power it took for Vash to cause such a catastrophic aftermath, wiping out nearly the entire town and its outskirts. But it wasn't Vash who had caused such senseless destruction. It was Knives…the same man she now had to find to intervene on Vash's behalf.

What could she say to the man who spent most of his life hating humanity, not to mention his own brother?

Meryl stood up with determination. Now was not the time to worry about that aspect. She would have to deal with that when the time came. She just hoped that there WAS enough time left to find him.

"Meryl Stryfe? Well, I'll be damned."

"Hello Mr. Gelhardt. It's been a long time," Meryl fondly addressed her former employer at the Bernadelli Insurance company.

"Too long. Please sit down," the older man offered. "Can I get you a cup of coffee or tea?"

"No, thank you. I'm sure you're wondering what I'm doing here after all these years."

"Well I was hoping you would come back. You were always my best agent. Things haven't been the same without you."

"I'm flattered, but I didn't come here for that."

"Oh? What brings you around these parts then?"

"I need some information, and I was hoping you could help me out. I know you have a lot of connections."

"Anything for you. What do you need?"

"I need to know the details of something called Project Seeds."

The older man looked at her as though she had lost her mind.

"Project Seeds? You know that the information concerning the early colonists is strictly confidential and almost impossible to get access to. Besides, no one really knows what happened."

"Please sir," she pleaded urgently. Meryl figured that the best way to find Knives was to go back to the past.

The older man stared at her for a long time before answering her.

"I can't promise anything…but I'll do what I can."

"I appreciate it, sir. Thank you," she replied gratefully. "I'll be in contact in a couple of days."

"Meryl," Mr. Gelhardt said before she left the office.

She stopped and turned back to look at him, as her hand reached for the doorknob.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

Meanwhile…

Vash stopped and stared up at the moon, as he reflected on his life, as he did many times before. How many more people were going to get hurt because of him? And now Meryl went off to find Knives for his sake.

He had planned on returning after his confrontation with Knives several years ago, but the more he thought about it, the more resolved he was, to spare his friends the trouble that always followed him around. So he stayed away, hoping to give Meryl and Milly a chance to start over. Well, that was part of the reason anyway.

Meryl…

When did he begin to care for her more than a friend?

Granted, their relationship had started off on rocky ground, with both of them resenting each other's presence, but the more time he spent with her, the deeper his feelings had become. And the greater the distance he tried to put between them. But he couldn't stay away any longer. Seeing Meryl again had only proved him wrong. Those buried feelings came resurging back to the surface. He was going to ignore them no longer. And now he and Meryl had something in common which would tie them together forever.

"Papa will keep his promise, Ai-chan," he murmured softly. "We'll be back together…all of us."

Meryl hugged herself to keep out the cold as she stared at the crumbling remains of the early colonists' ship. The name on the side of the vessel was old and faded, but there was no doubt that this was what she had been looking for. Project Seeds. She couldn't believe that she had actually found it.

"So this is what happened," she said aloud to herself. "This is where it all began."

Meryl jumped back in fright when she felt the barrel of a gun behind her head. She held her breath in fear as she heard the trigger click.

"You have exactly 15 seconds to explain what you're doing here. And if I don't like your answer, you're dead," a deep male voice said, in a calm, but dangerous tone.

Knives…

To be continued…

Written by: Babboo on 8/6/03

A/N: Oh the suspense! After getting such nice reviews, I go and do this… Don't worry, I'll continue writing, but I won't get to it for a few weeks. I'm off on vacation from work (Yatta!). Until then, love and peace!