Meet Me in the Moonlight
By: Haruka-chan

Chapter 8: Little Scratches, Big Scars

"Meryl come on tell me who is it?" asked Vash.

Meryl said nothing it's been about half an hour since the whole scene with the flowers and the card. Meryl stood quietly after 10 minutes of panic and then just completely shut herself off. Vash looked at her emotionless eyes that she kept masked and her face motionless, he wondered if she even blinked, he knew from experience that humans were this way when something terrible had happened, or was about to happen, but then he didn't really see this woman as human, no she was greater then that in some sense.

"Meryl!" he stood in her way.

She just started at his chest and nothing changed, oh why was he being so difficult? Why was he doing this to her, and like this? And with all the anger and bottled emotions all that came out of her was a simple and weak, "Get out of my way."

He shook his head and spread his arms out in her way, his red coat flying with the afternoon breeze to make the situation more dramatic then it really had to be; all he wanted were just simple answers, how did it go from being chased to chasing after some woman who touched a small spot of his big heart? He chuckled at the thought, but he was determined to get answers, "Not until you tell me who send you that card?"

She stood stubborn and strong, what was his concern who sent a stupid card anyway? Why did he have to make a bid deal out of it and remind her every minute that ticked away the gravity of the situation. He pretty much the same as she stood strong and stubborn, why couldn't she just tell him, damn after sharing a bed with a woman he would think that this sort of things would be easy, as breathing, he needed to know, he needed to protect her…well more that he wanted to protect her then he needed to. It was the same children they were watching that broke them away form their thoughts and conquest of answer and avoid the answer by throwing a ball between them.

Meryl picked up the ball and turned towards the children, her face finally taking on a small smile, she looked at the object in her hand before she smiled, so perhaps being able to read people's emotions weren't as bad as she thought, she watched the young boy squirmed waiting for a way to ask for the ball back. She smiled throwing the ball bouncing back to its owner, "Here sorry we're in you way."

The children all giggled and nodded, she had won over with them, what was it the sweetness of her voice, or the open simple fact that she was in distress and they wanted nothing more than to make her feel, feel anything but that pain, she didn't know, nor did she care as she watched with envy, turning to the man who stood at her side watching her intently, so he wasn't as stupid she would have labeled him earlier. How much longer could she run from them? From the truth? From hurting another and herself? If only she knew the answers.

"Come play with us!" one little girl with pigtails and freckles said pulling on Meryl's hand.

Meryl nodded she didn't even try to get out of it; she just let herself follow the child, it was best if she drowned her thoughts in sweet memories, god knows she needed some and badly. Vash stood with a small smile as he watched; he didn't realize that watching her made him want to smile, that she brought out that calming sensation in him. He chuckled, with her height she looked like one of the children only more beautiful with dangerous curves.

"Hey Mr. come play with us too" said a young boy pulling Vash towards where Meryl was; they were a set of a teacup.

The girls whispered things to Meryl and she smiled and Vash just watched. She fit in that picture so well, if only she would embrace the fact that she needed nothing and everything to be happy, but not everyone could live richly as he, of course who would want a scared body and life of marathon? He would exchange places with someone in a heartbeat yet he knew what he truly set out do, just being blinded with the allure of living a life of normalcy. Discovering that he wanted what any human wanted, happiness, love, and that passion to live. He had all those but each of those glasses for him was only full to an extent. Vash sighed and kicked the ball and watched as Meryl tried to kick it back, they laughed and they fooled the children, they were great liars.

All time of discover and fun has to end, and something has to destroy that moment where you felt wonderful as if you are floating, as if that lie that you set out to produce, just some how turned into a beautiful truth, but always someone, something killing that truth and making into a lie.

Vash felt something probe his mind; of course the perfect time when he wasn't paying attention to enter and destroy, but he of all had the simplest complex mind on the planet of Gunsmoke.

"Vash the Stamped, how wonderful to finally meet you" he could feel the vibration of sound; it was so very real whom ever was trying to get his attention.

"Who are you?" asked Vash calm and excited all at once, his eyes drifted to Merly where she played with the children.

Laughter filled his mind, he could see the golden orbs of the man who spoke to him, he could feel his hate, yet there was admiration, and then he said that name "Legato Blue summers."

Vash glared, something within him clenched at his heart, why was he here? Why now? "What's your business here?"

"Why to kill you of course" he said simply that smooth voice clean and dangerous almost like venom.

Vash gritted his teeth looking behind him to find the man who he knew was responsible for this mind lock. Why wasn't this surprising to him? Why did it hurt surprisingly bad to have to stand there with the notice of no one to be targeted this way? He didn't know, only knew that he had to reach his gun, and reach it soon.

"I will make it as simple and easy as it gets for one to die" He said with a wry smile on his lips.

Vash couldn't say a word but just stare at his back, he didn't want to fight, he didn't want to have to be discovered, he didn't want to feel the panic he felt, that today might be the day he might kill.

"Oh tell Meryl that I hope she liked the flowers I sent her" he said and started to walk.

'The flowers that HE sent her?' he thought looking towards Meryl who just stood petrified in her spot, her eyes wide, as if he could hear everything that was said and exchanged between the stranger and himself, as if she could feel his hate and the panic that Vash felt.

"Hey miss what's wrong with you?" asked one of the children.

"Hey Mister what's wrong with your girl friend?" asked one of the young boys.

Vash walked slowly up to her and stood in front of her. Meryl clutched his arms and just stared at his red coat, tears trailing down her eyes. Vash brought her close and held her against him. He didn't know what was going on but he promised Wolfwood and Milly that he was going to protect her and he was going to do that, but mostly because he promised himself. It was just that they had so much to talk about, so much to clear now that he knew that she might be connected to this brother.

"To see that man's face again! I was so scared when I saw him look at Vash, I wanted to yell Vash don't listen to him, he's trying to scare you, as I watched unable to move for where I was standing the children around me worried. I wanted to run to him and protect him but I'm a coward just like usual. I couldn't do anything because I was clumsy and I was the reason he was in this mess. But it was those thoughts he had, those feelings that I read that made me tear, he was truly afraid of losing control, truly afraid that today would be the day he would have to kill, to protect life."

They had long moved from the spot where they were standing to a small restaurant. It was indeed time to open up; free those locked emotions and tell the truth about it all. He needed to know, and she needed open up, she was file cabinet of stories and bullshit.

"What do you know about him?" asked Vash quietly.

"Nothing that will help you find him" stated Meryl.

"Meryl why didn't you say that it was from him?" asked Vash.

She didn't answer she just looked at her cup, looking at the swirling liquid she wanted to cry again, he felt the familiar sting, was crying ever good? Biting her lower lips slowly she exclaimed, "I hate it!"

Vash looked at her eyes, it was as if they were fighting a battle in her, the storm of darkness seemed to be winning so far, but she needed to let the sun shine. He knew very well of 'inner demons' and he knew very well that life couldn't be just about comfort, first fight and then you shall be rewarded for the fruit of your labor.

"I hate having people getting hurt for me! I'm tired of it, you should leave while you can" stated Meryl. "At this rate I'll probably get you killed sooner of later."

"I'm not going to leave without..." stated Vash.

"I don't care what you think or what promises you made, I just want you to live so just leave before it's too late" she whispered.

"Milly will never forgive me if I do" he said.

"And I will never forgive myself if you die because of me! The world needs people like you, and I..." she couldn't finish she looked away.

Vash took her hand and laced her fingers with his, this motion made him feel as a part of those glasses were slowly filling up, perhaps she was key to unlocking his destiny and happiness. He smiled as he squeezed her hand, "Meryl we're in this together now, I will never leave you in a battle and no matter what you say, I know you won't either. I'm going to stand by your side, always."

"Amazing! He was smiling! I couldn't understand him at all, he was another Milly, and he was just like her I couldn't believe what he was saying. I was a stranger to him and yet he would give his life for me? Was he stupid or something great that god finally decided this planet needed? No that wasn't it he was a good man, he was an angel that lived among man to guide them to peace, god truly did hear her prayer then, something good came out of it all, she met Vash the Stampede."

Meryl held his hand and nodded, softly saying, "Ok."

"Good so now on nobody can break this bond that we have" he said holding up both of their hands.

She looked at him his aqua eyes shining with an innocence she saw in the eyes of so few, she wished for that shine, she wished she were the child who used to sit on her mother's lap listening to endless stories of lovers. Slowly standing she pulled his hand, "We have to hurry and get prepared."

"Huh?" asked Vash.

"Prepare for the battle, no the war that is ahead of us both." she stated.

"Awe come on Meryl I didn't even eat yet!" he exclaimed.

Meryl sighed; he really ruined that dramatic exit. "You broom headed moron! Hurry and get a sandwich to go or something."

Vash nodded as he walked towards the counter. He smiled facing the woman taking his order. He liked her better this way, maybe sometimes the things she said hurt, but he wanted to see her smile, he wanted her to be free of the fact that she was once a doll for men. He saw her sitting with that same expression of dread. He some how promised himself that he would take care of this woman just like Rem took care of him when he was down. He watched as her slim fingers made small circle on the table she sat with her head on the other hand. He was going to make her smile so much that that's all she'll know to do; he was going to make her feel again; make her feel something other then pain and disparity, he was going to show her what love meant.