"But Meryl," he whined, "I need my donuts!"
She could feel her eye starting to twitch; with a supreme effort of will, she managed to control her temper. "We can't afford it right now; it's $$5 for a dozen donuts that won't last more than two minutes, and that's money that can't be spared."
"But Meryl!"
Her eye was definitely twitching now. He was making the pathetic puppy-dog face that invariably forced her to give in. Well not this time. This time, Meryl Stryfe would be firm.
"Okay, Vash-san," she said sweetly through her teeth. "How about a bet?"
"A bet?" He regarded her with childlike interest.
"I'll bet you a dozen chocolate double-frosted donuts that you can't give me the answer to a riddle." 'Oh, Lord, I'd better win,' she thought. Otherwise, she and Milly would be hitchhiking to the next town.
Vash's eyes were taking on the same glazed appearance as his favorite pastries. "Chocolate.double-frosted.donuts?" he pronounced the words almost reverently. "You've got a deal! What's the riddle?"
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get the exact words.
"It is just one and one,
Softness on softness.
Warm or cold,
Young or old,
The original parent
Of numbers untold.
Passion, romance,
A beginning,
An end,
Reserved for a lover,
A mother,
A friend.
The first one is special,
As is every one after.
The greatest gift
As valuable when freely given
As when it is stolen."
Vash gazed at her for a moment.
"You have fifteen minutes to think of an answer. If you ask anyone for help, that will be considered cheating, and I win."
He wandered off down the road, apparently deep in thought.
***
Fifteen minutes later, he returned, a triumphant look on his face. 'Uh-oh,' she thought, 'it looks like we're in for a long walk.'
She kept up a nonchalant appearance. "Well, Vash-san, do you think you have the answer?"
He grinned widely. "Yup! Do you want it now?"
She nodded, then made a sound of surprise when he grabbed her by the shoulders and pressed his lips to hers. Though at first shocked, she soon gave herself over to the pleasant sensation. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned into him.
The kiss was surprisingly tender, and seemed to her not to last nearly long enough. When he pulled away, she came back to herself, and flushed a bright crimson.
"What.?" she managed.
He grinned innocently and put one hand behind his head. "You did say I had to give you the answer, right? Well, Meryl, looks like you owe me a box of donuts!" He laughed and gave her shoulder a squeeze.
Still blushing deeply, she fished in her pocket for the money. She didn't even grudge him the win. All in all, it had to be the best $$5 she'd ever spent.
She could feel her eye starting to twitch; with a supreme effort of will, she managed to control her temper. "We can't afford it right now; it's $$5 for a dozen donuts that won't last more than two minutes, and that's money that can't be spared."
"But Meryl!"
Her eye was definitely twitching now. He was making the pathetic puppy-dog face that invariably forced her to give in. Well not this time. This time, Meryl Stryfe would be firm.
"Okay, Vash-san," she said sweetly through her teeth. "How about a bet?"
"A bet?" He regarded her with childlike interest.
"I'll bet you a dozen chocolate double-frosted donuts that you can't give me the answer to a riddle." 'Oh, Lord, I'd better win,' she thought. Otherwise, she and Milly would be hitchhiking to the next town.
Vash's eyes were taking on the same glazed appearance as his favorite pastries. "Chocolate.double-frosted.donuts?" he pronounced the words almost reverently. "You've got a deal! What's the riddle?"
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get the exact words.
"It is just one and one,
Softness on softness.
Warm or cold,
Young or old,
The original parent
Of numbers untold.
Passion, romance,
A beginning,
An end,
Reserved for a lover,
A mother,
A friend.
The first one is special,
As is every one after.
The greatest gift
As valuable when freely given
As when it is stolen."
Vash gazed at her for a moment.
"You have fifteen minutes to think of an answer. If you ask anyone for help, that will be considered cheating, and I win."
He wandered off down the road, apparently deep in thought.
***
Fifteen minutes later, he returned, a triumphant look on his face. 'Uh-oh,' she thought, 'it looks like we're in for a long walk.'
She kept up a nonchalant appearance. "Well, Vash-san, do you think you have the answer?"
He grinned widely. "Yup! Do you want it now?"
She nodded, then made a sound of surprise when he grabbed her by the shoulders and pressed his lips to hers. Though at first shocked, she soon gave herself over to the pleasant sensation. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned into him.
The kiss was surprisingly tender, and seemed to her not to last nearly long enough. When he pulled away, she came back to herself, and flushed a bright crimson.
"What.?" she managed.
He grinned innocently and put one hand behind his head. "You did say I had to give you the answer, right? Well, Meryl, looks like you owe me a box of donuts!" He laughed and gave her shoulder a squeeze.
Still blushing deeply, she fished in her pocket for the money. She didn't even grudge him the win. All in all, it had to be the best $$5 she'd ever spent.