Meet Me in the Moonlight
By: Haruka-chan
Chapter 7: Past comes running back
Meryl woke to find something warm next to her, she found she was on the bed, which she didn't remember going to. For a moment Meryl panicked. But when she noticed the blonde strand slightly above her she turned to find a sleeping Vash. She also noticed they were in their clothing, which was good news. Meryl stared at Vash for a while, she felt so comfortable in his arms and slept better then she did in years. She smiled and closed her eyes. Vash woke a couple of hours after Meryl had. He woke to feel a leg between his own, he looked down at sleeping Meryl who had a flushed face but beautiful one, he wanted to let go and wake up, couldn't seem to remove his hand, he couldn't leave her side. He felt good next to her, which of course scared him for both of their purposes. Meryl's legs started a small circular motion; he found the heat rise not only in his face but also in other places.
'This is going to far you idiot! Get up' he thought, but his hand just pulled her close as if to crush her body with his. "This is weird," he whispered. Meryl's eyes slowly opened to find a pair of aqua colored eyes staring down at her. Her mind worked fast as she pulled her legs away and turned a shade of his coat.
"I'm sorry...about that," she said as she looked down at well at his chest considering he was still holding her close with any space to spare between them.
Vash smiled one of his cocky smiles. "What can I say chicks just dig my good looks" said Vash. Meryl glared and tired to push him away.
"What good looks are you talking about?" she asked. Vash smirked, as his grip around her got tighter.
"Can you let me go, women killer?" she asked.
"I am not a women killer," he stated. Meryl now pulled her legs towards his stomach and tired to push him away.
"Let go," she said.
Vash smiled as he watched her push, he had to admit she was really strong for a small thing like her. But then something in his head made him forget what he was doing and he let her go, she scrambled away.
"Thank you" she said with a glare. Vash sat and tried to remember what happened.
"I can't believe I forgot I was doing seconds ago" said Vash. Meryl smiled and walked over to the closet and pulled out some clothing.
"I'm taking a shower," said Meryl as she walked towards the bathroom. He smirked.
"If you peek you'll lose more then that smile" she said without looking back.
Vash sighed and took of his own clothing and got in to a pair of sweat pants and a loose white shirt. He might as well take a shower too, not like he could in the middle of the desert. He walked over the window and saw kids playing and people walking with smiles, it was one of those days he loved so much where everyone seemed happy. He stood in front of the window with a smile. Meryl walked out 10 minutes later and saw him standing next to the window.
'What is he doing?' she thought walking up behind him.
She noticed the smile on his lips and something inside her jumped.
"Wonderful isn't?" she asked. Vash looked down at her, she was in a white fluffy towel, and one on her head with some raven locks showing. She had a small smile on her face as she watched the children. "To be happy and worry free," she whispered.
"Why can't you be?" he asked.
"Huh?" she asked looking up at him.
"Why can't you be happy and worry free like them?" he asked. She gave him a small smile and looked back down at the children.
"Because there are certain things that just needs to be about when your older, about so many things, and to be happy you need so much" she said.
"I think you have the concept of happiness wrong" said Vash. Meryl looked at him, the suns rays with the playing on his face and hair making him look wonderfully angelic.
"Happiness doesn't need much. I only wish for peace and that's all that I need to be happy," he stated.
"But did you think about what you have said. Peace is all that will make you happy, but how do you expect to achieve peace? People are stupid and stubborn, don't you think that if everyone wanted peace we would have a utopia?" asked Meryl. Vash stared down and she stared back, she was right. Everything she had just said was true.
"I guess your right," said Vash with a small smile.
"I wish I wasn't...that's what I do I crush dreams and hopes, not only my own but of others" she said looking away.
"No, that's not it at all," said Vash. Meryl shook her head.
"That is the difference," She stated.
"I didn't know what else to say to him other then the fact it was all true. I was a dream killer. Probably those of my own were taken from me or were it that I let them be taken? The more time I spend with him the more I feel I am wrong. That all this time I was fooling myself rather then those around me"
"What difference?" he asked confused.
"The difference between us" said Meryl.
"You said you and I are the same. But we're not. You live of hopes and dreams, while I live of guilt, anger, pain, and revenge," said Meryl. Vash placed a hand on her bare shoulder, the soft skin that he touched register in the back of his mind.
"No, that isn't true" he said.
"Isn't it? I always run away from happiness because it frightens me. What if I mess it up? What if I do something wrong? All my damn life I was perfect the one who would have to worry about taking the kids to school in the morning rather then feeling and worrying about her friends and life and decisions she made" said Meryl. Vash couldn't believe she could walk around with all these thoughts and still sleep at night.
"I am always thinking about what will happen in the future if I take the wrong turn. But I already have now I am nothing" she whispered.
"That's not true. You're something. Your so much stronger then so many people" he said bringing her close once more and holding her as her hands took fist full of his shirt as hot tears came out.
"I hate this feeling!" she whispered. Vash stroked her now free hair. Feeling the silkiness between his fingers. Something about her made him feel complete. "I'm sorry I'm always crying" she said slightly pulling away to look up at him.
"No problem, we all need emotional break down time" said Vash.
Meryl smiled. "Thank you for coming to take me back, but now you must go back. I promise I won't kill, I never intended to" she said.
"I can't just leave a defenseless woman alone" he said.
"I'm not defenseless," she stated.
"His worrying eyes told me my answer, but then there was that coldness with in pushing people away and trying to do everything myself. Only to make a mess of things. I wanted to be on my own so he didn't see the need I had, the weak person I was. That's what it always came down to. I was afraid that he wouldn't like the woman he found"
Vash watched her eye's emotion change. It was as if she was fighting with herself to decide something. "Meryl" he said. She took a deep breath. This had to be the first time he called her by her name, and it felt good. Really good.
"Mr. Vash" she started.
"Don't call me that, just Vash" he said. Meryl turned and faced him.
"V-Vash?" she asked.
He nodded instantly liking the way his name sounded on her lips, it reminded him of the way Rem use to call him 'Vash' that ring in her voice.
"I can take care of myself pretty well" she said.
"I know you can, but I promised Wolfwood, and myself that I wouldn't let you get hurt" said Vash. Meryl would have felt special if it was really what he wanted to do, not because that was the kind of guy he was.
"I can take care of myself I don't need your help" she said. Vash nodded.
"Yeah I know you can take care of yourself" he said.
"Then why don't you go back, take care of Milly for me?" asked Meryl.
"I can't until you come back with me, Milly is waiting for us" said Vash. Meryl looked down at the floor.
"I...I can't face her" she said. Vash made her look at him.
"What really happened?" he asked.
"Nothing...nothing at all" said Meryl. Vash stared down at her but the soft knock on the door snapped them both out of the trance.
"I'm not even dressed" she said. Vash walked towards the door.
"Is this Miss Stryfe's room?" asked the man at the door.
"Yes, it is, how may I help you?" asked Vash.
"Well, can you give this to her?" asked the man handing Vash a bouquet of flowers. Vash looked down confused but nodded. The man smiled and walked off.
"Who was it?" asked Meryl now in a black shirt, and skirt. Vash smiled and handed her the flower bouquet. Meryl gave him a confused look before she placed the flowers down and opened the card that came with it. Vash watched as her face took on a colorless expression.
"Meryl?" he asked. The card slowly dropped from her hands to the floor. Vash looked towards where she stood and then at the card. He picked it up and read through it.
Dearest Meryl,
I see you're still alive. I was wondering when you were going to break out of that hellhole of a prison. But now that you're free what do you think your going to do with your life? Can't run to daddy, and can't run to your best friend. Hmmm my, my, my aren't we in a jam. I have an offer for you, and I can also make sure what you want is done. Doesn't it kill you to know how much I know you?
Sincerely,
Guess who
P.S. I hope you like the flowers. Took me a while to find them.
Vash found the card funny, but thought it best not to laugh. He looked towards Meryl who was now down to her knees holding both of her hands to her chest and breathing hard.
"Meryl?" He asked coming down next to her.
"No don't touch me!" she whispered. Vash looked at her this wasn't the same Meryl. He looked at the card in his hand.
'Who was it? She knows that why she is like this' he thought looking down at her.
"I tired and run it off, to find myself another chance at life where I wouldn't be constantly tracked down by people that I couldn't get to me. But I was Meryl Stryfe and everyone knew me..."