Disclaimer: I don't own anything Trigun, so don't sue me please, thank you!
Tying Up Loose Ends
Chapter Thirteen
Starting Over
"That wasn't an idle offer before, when I said I would help you with your brother," Edy told Vash as the dark, barren night hurried past them, apparently having more important things to worry about than the two vehicles that toiled through its shadows.
She sat nestled besides Vash, who in turn was squeezed in between her and Wolfwood at the wheel. They rode cozily in the front seat of the jeep, with an unconscious Knives stretched out all by his lonesome on the back seat and Isaiah's motorbike lashed onto the rear bumper with some thick rope that had conveniently been left in the jeep. Isaiah rode behind them on Angelina II, much to Wolfwood's grumpy disapproval, but it couldn't be helped. Edy was in no condition to drive, her body quickly tumbling downward from its adrenaline high, and Vash just plain didn't know how to drive. That left only Wolfwood and Isaiah to transport the vehicles and the entourage home. Naturally, Isaiah hadn't learned how to drive a car yet, so it had to be the way it was. That surprisingly failed to make Wolfwood feel any better, though. He constantly checked the rear view mirror to make sure his baby was okay in the hands of the inexperienced Isaiah.
Vash had heard Edy's quiet words, but he didn't believe her. He turned, silent, and watched her as she strained to stay awake and upright, not allowing her tender back to touch the seat or her eyes to focus on anything in particular for too long.
"I never make a proposal if I can't follow it through to the end," she said, still waiting for a response from Vash.
No, it wasn't that he didn't believe her, Vash couldn't believe her; she was completely unreal. The past two hours had been spent trying to process exactly what Edy told him had occurred in the cave and what he saw for himself, but it never seemed to add up. Where in the world did this woman come from?
"Edy," he said at last, quietly but still clearly distressed and shaken, "he tried to kill you and Isaiah both."
"But he won't try again. Knives seems to actually care about plants, am I right?"
Vash answered her with silence. He knew that Knives had been drawing bulb plants into himself to gain more power, merging with them. He hadn't gotten very far along this path when Vash had confronted him, but that hardly meant he deterred Knives deterred from this plan. Edy and Isaiah were still at risk; Vash didn't know for sure whether Knives would be discouraged from absorbing them because they were sentient and therefore were without the complete power of a plant still within the bulb. Vash could never see what his brother's mind circled around. What did he have planned for the "new" plants?
He realized Edy had been staring at him for a while.
"I can't let you help. I just can't."
"I have an extra room next to mine that can easily be locked up; there's only one tiny window, too small for even Isaiah to squeeze through, skinny as he is. I'll be able to keep an eye on Knives. I'm a capable woman, Vash. I can take care of myself."
Vash wanted to laugh at this, but not because it was funny. It was one of those kind of laughs that wound itself tightly around nervousness and then sprung forth in an almost maniacal fashion. It was an impulse that he had to suppress. Vash knew well enough now that Edy could take care of herself. Knives' nose had been busted up pretty bad before they even got there, and then there was the whole shooting of the shins and whipping of the pistol…. Yeah, Edy definitely was a big girl, in a terribly frightening and yet strangely admirable way.
"You and Nicholas could have the room downstairs," she continued, "and I can always use a little financial help from your rent payments."
"No, Edy…. Rent?" She had derailed him from his argument with an odd addition to the conversation. Far too businesslike and practical.
"Of course. I wouldn't charge Knives, naturally, but I expect you or Nicholas would be getting some sort of a job no matter where you would be staying, since you can't live for free. You could afford to pay a modest sum for room and board; it'd be cheaper under my roof than others, especially if you two help out around the house."
Again the temptation to laugh out loud began to steal over Vash, but this time it actually was spurred by the humor of the situation and not nerves. Maybe it was her honest tone or the fact that she was discussing financial matters when bigger problems were at hand.
She's so brave, and strong too, Vash thought, his admiration for this woman growing yet again. She has no qualms about changing her life to help out a man that she just met only a few days ago.
"You make a tempting offer, but I still can't accept," he said out loud.
"Sleep on it one night at least. I don't understand the full extent of your brother's plans, but I do know a lot of people will die if nothing is done. I can't sit by and let that happen when I have a chance to help stop it from taking place."
Vash nodded at last, giving in to the idea of possibly considering Edy's proposition. Still, his insides were in turmoil. Edy wanted to help and Vash finally admitted to himself he couldn't do it alone; Wolfwood wasn't cut out for this kind of life and the Insurance Girls were out of the question. Oh, the priest would stick around for a while, but for how long?
He also felt a tiny bit of himself drop in disappointment. Edy didn't want to do this just for Vash's sake. She had other motivations, noble ones, but he didn't really factor into them. Shamefully, he shoved away this ridiculous thought.
"I'll sleep on it, then, if you insist," he said.
"Good," murmured Edy, her strength failing her at last. She wanted to sleep so badly, but she could neither lean back against her wounds, to her right against the hard door, and least of all to her left against Vash. She wouldn't dare cross that line, being far too modest in some ways such as this, while oddly throwing reserve out the window in others; no personal contact on the second day of knowing a person except when healing was a good guideline to go by. Vash had already smudged the line a bit when he took her arm the night before; Edy had to remind herself that some people had no sense of personal space. This time Vash pulled out a gigantic personal bubble pencil and erased said guideline in a matter of moments.
"You look exhausted; you should try to get some rest since we still have a couple of hours to go," he said gently, shifting to drape his left arm across the back of the seat. "Lean against me so you don't have to put any pressure on your back."
It was all very innocent and only done so that Edy would have to suffer a little less, but it still threw her for a loop. Blushing, she tried to refuse but Vash insisted that she needed sleep. So Edy tentatively leaned over, settling her torso and up on the young man's lap; he tenderly placed his right arm under her neck, cradling her head and making the position more comfortable.
Unconsciously, Edy let out a small sigh. The night had been cold enough as it was, but with only the thin top to the jeep, it had become even more frigid with the winds thrashing around the vehicle and finding any available crack or crevice to tear through. Heat radiated from Vash's body, comforting her much in the same way as a hot water bottle her mother would set between the sheets did on those chill nights during her childhood. She breathed deeply, relaxing slowly until she sat on the very edge of waking and dreams.
He smells like… like something I can't quite place my finger on, Edy sleepily thought to herself. Strong, old, and sweet, but not too sweet. Kind of lovely…
And then Edy drifted of to sleep.
* * * * *
Edy awoke in her bed the next morning, bleary and forgetful. She lay on her stomach with her cheek pressed into the pillow, an unusual position for her to sleep in. What had happened yesterday that had made her so sleepy and sore? Rolling over, her eyes shot open completely as it hit her quite suddenly, dull pain turning into a sharp slap on the back. She couldn't help but cry out in shock.
The door flew open as Vash came tumbling in, panic splashed across his face like the bits of shaving cream still on his left cheek; she could still hear the faucet running in the bathroom. Edy struggled to sit up and end the throbbing ache but she could only manage to roll over again, sucking in deep breaths. Vash hurried to her side, sitting on the bed, gently stroking her head and talking softly to calm her down.
"Shit…" Edy gasped mostly to herself, "How could I forget all that?"
She lay there, collecting herself and burning with embarrassment because of the fact that a man had come running when she had yelped. God, how humiliating; Edy needed a big strong someone to make her feel all better. Still, Vash's gentle touch and soothing words helped calm her down until she could push herself up to her knees.
"Are you alright, Edy?" Vash asked, concerned.
I'm good," she answered with a smile that indicated otherwise but you'd be asking for a beating if you probed any further. "Jeez, what time is it? I can't believe I slept this late. Where's Knives? Are you staying? Is Isaiah okay?"
"Hold it, sister, you're going to have to settle down," he laughed. God, this woman hated to relinquish control. You try to be nice and let her sleep in for once probably in her entire life and she leaps onto your case the instant your within range. Vash then grew serious, his sadness weighing him down to the ground before her very eyes.
"Knives wanted to speak to you; he actually wants to stay here himself, too, if he has to stay anywhere. I still don't think it's such a good idea…"
"Maybe it isn't, but what else are you planning to do?"
Vash didn't say anything. Edy smiled gently as she pushed herself out of bed, her look into his eyes softer than the words in her reply.
"I thought as much."
Edy shuffled to the closet and slipped inside, closing the door behind her. Vash sat there for a moment, deep in thought, before getting up to finish the task he had been in the middle of before he heard Edy cry out. Vash had spent the night sitting outside the doors of both Edy and Knives, their two rooms side by side. Edy had been right about the extra room; it would be a good place to keep Knives, with the addition of a few more dead bolts, locks, and the like. Keep him for how long exactly, Vash had no clue. The ships were coming in a few months, give or take, but what were they to do with his brother when they got here?
Watching the water spiral down the drain, Vash stood in Edy's bathroom, razor in hand. He had been in the middle of shaving and had been lucky enough to have not cut himself in surprise. Now he slowly finished the job, rinsing his face and patting it dry, waiting to hear the sounds of Edy's footsteps in the hall. Vash didn't want her going to talk to Knives alone, not yet if ever. There they were, a light, muted thump-thump on the rug-covered floors. Vash stepped out and caught Edy's eye as she placed her hand on the doorknob.
"Wait, let me go with you," he said, moving besides her quickly. Edy didn't fight him; she really was quite nervous now to face his brother, the man who had been so completely different from Vash as chocolate was to arsenic. Vash quickly unlocked the door and they hurried in, closing and locking it just as fast behind them.
The room sat in a semi-darkness, the small window only letting so much of the morning light in. There, in the bed, sat a still figure propped up on several pillows. His head tilted back onto ones that rested higher against the headboard, and at first Edy thought Knives was asleep. Then he spoke.
"My legs hurt."
"I'll get you something for the pain," Edy replied, neither kindly nor coldly. "I'll have to clean them up and then you can get some rest."
Edy turned to leave, planning on getting the supplies necessary to properly cleanse and splint Knive's shins; she was assuming she probably hit bone with her shots, so in all likelihood they were broken. His chill voice made her stop again.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because, as far as I can see, it's the right thing to do."
"I don't mean helping Vash detain me."
"Then what…" she turned around to meet his eyes. They were so cold, so much more hurtful than Vash's. Realization that they were identical twins hit her on the drive home the night before and she saw the striking similarities, but noticed more closely the subtle differences. These differences were the only way she could keep prejudice against kind, wonderful Vash at bay; it wasn't fair to dislike him just because his brother was a psychopath. You can pick your friends, you can pick your fights, hell, you can even pick your nose if you were so inclined, but you can't pick your family.
"Destroying yourself for the sake of humans. I'm sure the only gratitude you receive for your sacrifice is superficial and would be forgotten the instant they found out you're different from them, superior. Xenophobia is inherent in all humans."
"My answer's the same as before."
With that, Edy left the room, forcing herself to do so slowly, without betraying any emotions to either brother. Outside though, once the door was closed and locked once more, Edy sagged against the door as if exhausted from the short exchange.
"Edy…" Vash began faintly, before she interrupted him.
"Is it true, Vash? Your hair, is it what tells you you're dieing?" she asked, her voice trembling but trying to fight against it. She eyed his own darkness at the back of his head as he nodded slowly.
"And this happens because I heal people?"
Another nod. Vash turned, looking at Edy with hurting eyes; that was another difference. His eyes seemed greener, ever so slightly, a softer, more empathetic color than the icy, hateful blue of Knives' eyes. She returned his gaze for a moment, standing so close to him at the top of the stairs. Suddenly she smiled.
"Well, I'd better go get a few things to fix up Knives' legs. Tonight we'll have a long talk, mister; you've a lot of explaining to do," she said with a waggle of her finger as she began to descend the stairwell, good humor firmly in place. It was all an act and Vash knew it. He had one of the best acts around when it came to hiding one's heart and could easily see through another's.
"Edy…." Vash tried again, and for the second time Edy ignored him and spoke, as if she desperately wanted to not hear what Vash had to say.
"Will you call on the locksmith?" she called back up the stairs. "I'll write down directions for you; we need to make sure that door's as sound as possible. Actually, why don't you take Isaiah with you? He could probably use some company right now."
Vash just sighed, giving in, and followed her down the stairs.
* * * * *
Myshkin: Xenophobia is the fear and hatred of anything foreign or different, in case you were curious. ^_^
**Special note to Trigunner69 (and anyone else who's interested in the Trigun manga)** "Make a Little Light Bulb in Your Soul" () is a great site to find tons of information about/translations of the manga; you can also buy it from the woman who runs the site at a very reasonable price. The manga has not been translated as of yet but it's far too incredible not to own, even if you have to look up the translations online. The series is still going to date and can be seen in "Young King Ours" over in Japan (but you can get it delivered here). There are also some scanlations at MangaProject.cjb.net (www.mangaproject.cjb.net) but they only cover Trigun vol. 1-3 and Trigun Maximum vol. 1 & 2 (ch. 1), I believe. Of course, I'm not the be-all, end-all of Trigun manga knowledge, but I hope this gives you a start in the right direction.