(I would like to thank all the kind people at Otakon 2003 for allowing me to have such a wonderful time. If you were there, and saw the girl with long brown hair in a braid dressed as Vash - perhaps in the karaoke room singing 'Sound Life,' getting my pic taken with Johnny Yong Bosch, or at the fan-dubbing panel - I hope to see you next year, and would like to simply express my thanks for all the hugs and pocky. Who ever would have guessed that dressing as the $$60 billion man would get me so many hugs from complete strangers? ^_^ And I would also like to thank K'leth Rossk - you know who you are - for the inspiration on one of Knives' lines. ~_^)
"Will give hugs for donuts (or whiskey!)"
Chapter 7
The town appeared to be peaceful and quiet, but Wolfwood had learned long ago that appearances could be deceiving. He kept an eye on all the windows as they passed, checking for any suspicious characters, but all he saw were men returning from work and women ushering noisy children to bed. It had been a week since he and the girls had set out to find Vash, and so far they hadn't gotten so much as a clue as to his whereabouts. Knives had proven himself to be patently useless after the first couple of days, claiming that he could no longer tell in which direction his brother was. The inn was just one more block down the dusty street, and Wolfwood had to admit that the run-down building looked extremely inviting. They had been sleeping on the bus for the past three nights, and a proper bed was just what his aching back needed.
Millie and Meryl walked ahead of him, Meryl's white cloak flowing behind her. They were discussing which direction would be best to search. He supposed they must be used to this, searching for Vash the Stampede... They'd certainly had more experience with it than he had. Knives sauntered along to Wolfwood's right, wearing the tan pants and white shirt that Vash had given him before he had vanished. He looked uncomfortable in what he called "human clothes," but Wolfwood spared him no sympathy. If he had worn that stupid white jumpsuit they would just attract attention, and that was one thing they didn't want. The moon (still sporting the hole that Vash had given it,) was full and bright above them by the time they reached the inn, and Wolfwood held the door for the two girls as they walked in. He took a vindictive pleasure in letting it close between himself and Knives, but the other man ignored the slight and walked in as if he owned the place.
"Well, how do ya do, ladies?" The innkeep said brightly as they approached the bar. "Lookin' for a place to spend the night?"
"That's right," Meryl replied, and leaned in closer to the man. "We're also looking for some information. I don't suppose you've heard any rumors about Vash the Stampede lately?"
"The Humanoid Typhoon?" The man looked uneasily to the right and the left before replying. "As a matter of fact, I have. It seemed like he disappeared for awhile, but just yesterday a man came in claiming that he had seen the outlaw outside the city of November." All the patrons of the bar had hushed their conversations, and were now hanging on the barkeep's every word. "When the guy got to November, he said the people there were wiped out nearly to a man. The only ones still alive were the ones who were smart enough to go into hiding until Vash left." There was a collective gasp form the audience, and Millie scratched her head.
"Gee, that doesn't sound much like Mr. Vash... Do you think it could be just another person using his name, like before?"
The innkeep shook his head vigorously. "I dunno what you ladies heard about Vash the Stampede, but the man who told me this was reliable as they come. He said that he was a blond man with a big red coat, and a silver gun." Knives, who had been staring disconsolately out the window, looked up at this. "That matches all the descriptions of Vash I've ever heard, and besides, who else could wipe out a whole city in less than a day? It has to be him. I just hope he doesn't get it into his head to come this way." All the men at the bar nodded their agreement. Knives leaned forward.
"You say he had a silver gun? Are you sure?"
The innkeep shrugged. "Well, that's what the guy told me." Knives looked thoughtfully at him, then went back to staring out the window. Wolfwood threw a glare Knives' way. Meryl cleared her throat, then smiled at the man behind the bar.
"Thank you for all your help, sir. We'd like to get two rooms. How much will that be?" The innkeep gave her the price and Meryl dug around in her pockets for a moment before handing over the specified amount.
"Hey, wait a minute," Wolfwood exclaimed, suddenly realizing that she had only asked for two rooms. "You don't expect that I'm going to share a room with HIM, do you?!"
"We don't have enough for three rooms, Wolfwood, and I'm sure you wouldn't want him on his own with no one to keep an eye on him, would you?" Meryl growled at him, that dangerous glint in her eye. The innkeep followed the conversation, looking from the man dressed in black back to the woman in white. "You're the one who's always saying how dangerous he is, so it makes perfect sense that you should be the one to watch him. Now let's go."
The innkeep cleared his throat hesitantly. "Say, you folks aren't going to bring trouble here, are you? We've got enough to worry about, what with Vash in the area and all, and-" Knives reached across the counter and grabbed the front of the man's apron. He hauled him halfway across the counter until they were almost nose to nose.
"That man you're so afraid of, Vash the 'Stampede'? Well, I'm his brother, and I'm even worse than he is, so if you don't want any trouble, you'll leave us well enough alone. Is that clear, human?" Wolfwood covered his face with one hand. All the men at the bar slid away from the altercation and a few began edging towards the door.
"O-o-of course, sir, I mean, I wouldn't dream of kicking you out, I don't want any trouble, I just had to ask, business is business, surely you understand-"
"Quit your stammering. And send up your best bottle of red wine, free of charge, or I'll be drinking something red, but it won't be wine, and you won't be in any condition to see it." Knives released the man's apron and turned on his heel. Meryl and Millie watched with their mouths hanging open.
"I knew it," Wolfwood muttered. "I just knew he'd be trouble." As Knives walked up the stairs towards the rooms, Meryl regained her composure and began making apologies to the innkeep. Wolfwood silently tried to decide which method of killing Knives would be quietest.
When they reached the room, Wolfwood slammed the door open and strode up to Knives, who was sitting at a table with a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
"We were trying not to draw attention to ourselves!" Wolfwood yelled, slamming his hand down on the table. "What the hell was the big idea, telling him that you were Vash's brother?! Now no one in this city will come within a hundred yards of us!"
"So?" Knives replied, smoothly getting to his feet and meeting Wolfwood's gaze. "That's fine. We got the information we needed, and I didn't appreciate the human's attitude. He should learn to respect those better than himself."
"Oh, and I suppose you think that means you, huh?" Wolfwood was about ready to throttle him.
"Of course. I've been alive since before you were born, human, and I understand about your pitiful race more than you can ever hope to. Remember that the next time you get it into your head to order me around like some obedient puppy dog." His blue eyes narrowed, and Wolfwood backed away a step. "The only reason I'm tagging along with this little band is to find my brother. I don't care about you, about any of you!" His voice rose until he was almost screaming. "I'm better than all of you, and you know it! You resent it! You hate me for it, just like all of your kind!" He paused and took a breath, and when he continued his voice was dangerously soft. "But one day you'll learn... You'll all learn..."
"I don't hate you, Mr. Knives," Millie spoke up softly. "You can be mean sometimes, but I don't think you really mean to do the things you do." She walked over to him, and Wolfwood felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him. He didn't want her that close to that killer. She smiled up at him, as Knives glowered back at her, then did the most unusual thing Wolfwood had ever imagined. She reached up and hugged him. Wolfwood took a step forward as he watched Knives stiffen, but Meryl put her arm in front of him to stop him.
"She's right, Knives," Meryl said softly. "You have good in you. I've seen it, when Vash is near you, and when you talk about him. You love him, and if you can love, then you're not lost yet. You just need to understand, like Vash does, that we're different than you, and accept it. We know that you and Vash are different, but we accept you just the same, and we don't hate you. All life is precious, Knives, whether it be plant or human." Knives' eyes widened, and Wolfwood was shocked to see what looked like compassion reflected there. Then Meryl walked up and wrapped her arms around both Knives and Millie.
Slowly, Knives reached one hand out and rested it on Meryl's head. "I see," he whispered. "I see now why he cares for you so much." Then he looked up to meet Wolfwood's incredulous stare.
"If you think I'm coming over there to hug you, you're sadly mistaken," Wolfwood snapped, and Knives threw his head back and laughed. Millie and Meryl released him, looked back at Wolfwood, and began laughing too. He glared at them all. "I'm not kidding!" That only made them laugh harder. Wolfwood felt a grin steal unbidden across his face. "Lord, you sure do have a strange sense of humor," he murmured, then strode over and put his arm around Millie. "You two ought to be getting to bed. If we're going to be traveling to November tomorrow you're going to need all the rest you can get." He leaned down and kissed Millie briefly on the lips, and smiled as she flushed. "I suppose Knives and I can resist killing one another for one night, at least." He looked up at Knives questioningly, and was surprised to see him smiling at him. Really smiling. Huh. Maybe there was hope for him yet.
* * *
Vash woke up in a cold sweat. He had just had the worst nightmare. He shook his head to clear it and looked around at his surroundings. Big Brawny was sitting in a chair by the door, his arms crossed and his eyes following Vash's every movement. Vash scratched his head and yawned.
"I had one heck of a nightmare," he said to Big Brawny, who grunted. "You ever have one of those nightmares that felt real?" Vash tried. The huge man responded with another grunt. "Hm, I guess you don't talk. That's too bad, I was kinda hoping you could tell me why I'm here. Oh well, guess I'll just have to find out for myself!" Vash swung his legs over the side of the bed and got to his feet, noticing as he did so that he was wearing something remarkably similar to his old brown clothing with the straps. He had almost reached the door when Big Brawny stood up.
"You can't leave," he growled, and Vash grinned at him.
"Hey, you can talk! How about that! Well, if I can't leave, maybe you could tell me where I am?"
"In your quarters," the man responded, and Vash laughed.
"Well, I guess that would be kinda obvious, huh? I meant, what city are we in?"
"We're not in a city."
"Ok, what's the closest city then?"
"I can't give you that information."
Vash paused. He clearly wasn't getting anywhere along this route of questioning. "Alright then, can you tell me why I'm being held here? It's not for the reward, is it?"
"No." Vash waited, but the man simply stood there with his arms crossed.
"Could you elaborate?"
"No."
"Right then. I guess I'll just, um, sit here then." Vash walked back to his bed and sat down. Big Brawny returned to his seat as well. They sat there staring at one another for about five minutes before Vash got bored.
"So, uh... Wife and kids, then?"
"Will give hugs for donuts (or whiskey!)"
Chapter 7
The town appeared to be peaceful and quiet, but Wolfwood had learned long ago that appearances could be deceiving. He kept an eye on all the windows as they passed, checking for any suspicious characters, but all he saw were men returning from work and women ushering noisy children to bed. It had been a week since he and the girls had set out to find Vash, and so far they hadn't gotten so much as a clue as to his whereabouts. Knives had proven himself to be patently useless after the first couple of days, claiming that he could no longer tell in which direction his brother was. The inn was just one more block down the dusty street, and Wolfwood had to admit that the run-down building looked extremely inviting. They had been sleeping on the bus for the past three nights, and a proper bed was just what his aching back needed.
Millie and Meryl walked ahead of him, Meryl's white cloak flowing behind her. They were discussing which direction would be best to search. He supposed they must be used to this, searching for Vash the Stampede... They'd certainly had more experience with it than he had. Knives sauntered along to Wolfwood's right, wearing the tan pants and white shirt that Vash had given him before he had vanished. He looked uncomfortable in what he called "human clothes," but Wolfwood spared him no sympathy. If he had worn that stupid white jumpsuit they would just attract attention, and that was one thing they didn't want. The moon (still sporting the hole that Vash had given it,) was full and bright above them by the time they reached the inn, and Wolfwood held the door for the two girls as they walked in. He took a vindictive pleasure in letting it close between himself and Knives, but the other man ignored the slight and walked in as if he owned the place.
"Well, how do ya do, ladies?" The innkeep said brightly as they approached the bar. "Lookin' for a place to spend the night?"
"That's right," Meryl replied, and leaned in closer to the man. "We're also looking for some information. I don't suppose you've heard any rumors about Vash the Stampede lately?"
"The Humanoid Typhoon?" The man looked uneasily to the right and the left before replying. "As a matter of fact, I have. It seemed like he disappeared for awhile, but just yesterday a man came in claiming that he had seen the outlaw outside the city of November." All the patrons of the bar had hushed their conversations, and were now hanging on the barkeep's every word. "When the guy got to November, he said the people there were wiped out nearly to a man. The only ones still alive were the ones who were smart enough to go into hiding until Vash left." There was a collective gasp form the audience, and Millie scratched her head.
"Gee, that doesn't sound much like Mr. Vash... Do you think it could be just another person using his name, like before?"
The innkeep shook his head vigorously. "I dunno what you ladies heard about Vash the Stampede, but the man who told me this was reliable as they come. He said that he was a blond man with a big red coat, and a silver gun." Knives, who had been staring disconsolately out the window, looked up at this. "That matches all the descriptions of Vash I've ever heard, and besides, who else could wipe out a whole city in less than a day? It has to be him. I just hope he doesn't get it into his head to come this way." All the men at the bar nodded their agreement. Knives leaned forward.
"You say he had a silver gun? Are you sure?"
The innkeep shrugged. "Well, that's what the guy told me." Knives looked thoughtfully at him, then went back to staring out the window. Wolfwood threw a glare Knives' way. Meryl cleared her throat, then smiled at the man behind the bar.
"Thank you for all your help, sir. We'd like to get two rooms. How much will that be?" The innkeep gave her the price and Meryl dug around in her pockets for a moment before handing over the specified amount.
"Hey, wait a minute," Wolfwood exclaimed, suddenly realizing that she had only asked for two rooms. "You don't expect that I'm going to share a room with HIM, do you?!"
"We don't have enough for three rooms, Wolfwood, and I'm sure you wouldn't want him on his own with no one to keep an eye on him, would you?" Meryl growled at him, that dangerous glint in her eye. The innkeep followed the conversation, looking from the man dressed in black back to the woman in white. "You're the one who's always saying how dangerous he is, so it makes perfect sense that you should be the one to watch him. Now let's go."
The innkeep cleared his throat hesitantly. "Say, you folks aren't going to bring trouble here, are you? We've got enough to worry about, what with Vash in the area and all, and-" Knives reached across the counter and grabbed the front of the man's apron. He hauled him halfway across the counter until they were almost nose to nose.
"That man you're so afraid of, Vash the 'Stampede'? Well, I'm his brother, and I'm even worse than he is, so if you don't want any trouble, you'll leave us well enough alone. Is that clear, human?" Wolfwood covered his face with one hand. All the men at the bar slid away from the altercation and a few began edging towards the door.
"O-o-of course, sir, I mean, I wouldn't dream of kicking you out, I don't want any trouble, I just had to ask, business is business, surely you understand-"
"Quit your stammering. And send up your best bottle of red wine, free of charge, or I'll be drinking something red, but it won't be wine, and you won't be in any condition to see it." Knives released the man's apron and turned on his heel. Meryl and Millie watched with their mouths hanging open.
"I knew it," Wolfwood muttered. "I just knew he'd be trouble." As Knives walked up the stairs towards the rooms, Meryl regained her composure and began making apologies to the innkeep. Wolfwood silently tried to decide which method of killing Knives would be quietest.
When they reached the room, Wolfwood slammed the door open and strode up to Knives, who was sitting at a table with a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
"We were trying not to draw attention to ourselves!" Wolfwood yelled, slamming his hand down on the table. "What the hell was the big idea, telling him that you were Vash's brother?! Now no one in this city will come within a hundred yards of us!"
"So?" Knives replied, smoothly getting to his feet and meeting Wolfwood's gaze. "That's fine. We got the information we needed, and I didn't appreciate the human's attitude. He should learn to respect those better than himself."
"Oh, and I suppose you think that means you, huh?" Wolfwood was about ready to throttle him.
"Of course. I've been alive since before you were born, human, and I understand about your pitiful race more than you can ever hope to. Remember that the next time you get it into your head to order me around like some obedient puppy dog." His blue eyes narrowed, and Wolfwood backed away a step. "The only reason I'm tagging along with this little band is to find my brother. I don't care about you, about any of you!" His voice rose until he was almost screaming. "I'm better than all of you, and you know it! You resent it! You hate me for it, just like all of your kind!" He paused and took a breath, and when he continued his voice was dangerously soft. "But one day you'll learn... You'll all learn..."
"I don't hate you, Mr. Knives," Millie spoke up softly. "You can be mean sometimes, but I don't think you really mean to do the things you do." She walked over to him, and Wolfwood felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him. He didn't want her that close to that killer. She smiled up at him, as Knives glowered back at her, then did the most unusual thing Wolfwood had ever imagined. She reached up and hugged him. Wolfwood took a step forward as he watched Knives stiffen, but Meryl put her arm in front of him to stop him.
"She's right, Knives," Meryl said softly. "You have good in you. I've seen it, when Vash is near you, and when you talk about him. You love him, and if you can love, then you're not lost yet. You just need to understand, like Vash does, that we're different than you, and accept it. We know that you and Vash are different, but we accept you just the same, and we don't hate you. All life is precious, Knives, whether it be plant or human." Knives' eyes widened, and Wolfwood was shocked to see what looked like compassion reflected there. Then Meryl walked up and wrapped her arms around both Knives and Millie.
Slowly, Knives reached one hand out and rested it on Meryl's head. "I see," he whispered. "I see now why he cares for you so much." Then he looked up to meet Wolfwood's incredulous stare.
"If you think I'm coming over there to hug you, you're sadly mistaken," Wolfwood snapped, and Knives threw his head back and laughed. Millie and Meryl released him, looked back at Wolfwood, and began laughing too. He glared at them all. "I'm not kidding!" That only made them laugh harder. Wolfwood felt a grin steal unbidden across his face. "Lord, you sure do have a strange sense of humor," he murmured, then strode over and put his arm around Millie. "You two ought to be getting to bed. If we're going to be traveling to November tomorrow you're going to need all the rest you can get." He leaned down and kissed Millie briefly on the lips, and smiled as she flushed. "I suppose Knives and I can resist killing one another for one night, at least." He looked up at Knives questioningly, and was surprised to see him smiling at him. Really smiling. Huh. Maybe there was hope for him yet.
* * *
Vash woke up in a cold sweat. He had just had the worst nightmare. He shook his head to clear it and looked around at his surroundings. Big Brawny was sitting in a chair by the door, his arms crossed and his eyes following Vash's every movement. Vash scratched his head and yawned.
"I had one heck of a nightmare," he said to Big Brawny, who grunted. "You ever have one of those nightmares that felt real?" Vash tried. The huge man responded with another grunt. "Hm, I guess you don't talk. That's too bad, I was kinda hoping you could tell me why I'm here. Oh well, guess I'll just have to find out for myself!" Vash swung his legs over the side of the bed and got to his feet, noticing as he did so that he was wearing something remarkably similar to his old brown clothing with the straps. He had almost reached the door when Big Brawny stood up.
"You can't leave," he growled, and Vash grinned at him.
"Hey, you can talk! How about that! Well, if I can't leave, maybe you could tell me where I am?"
"In your quarters," the man responded, and Vash laughed.
"Well, I guess that would be kinda obvious, huh? I meant, what city are we in?"
"We're not in a city."
"Ok, what's the closest city then?"
"I can't give you that information."
Vash paused. He clearly wasn't getting anywhere along this route of questioning. "Alright then, can you tell me why I'm being held here? It's not for the reward, is it?"
"No." Vash waited, but the man simply stood there with his arms crossed.
"Could you elaborate?"
"No."
"Right then. I guess I'll just, um, sit here then." Vash walked back to his bed and sat down. Big Brawny returned to his seat as well. They sat there staring at one another for about five minutes before Vash got bored.
"So, uh... Wife and kids, then?"