Disclaimer: I don't own anything Trigun, so don't sue me please, thank you!

Tying Up Loose Ends

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sugar and Spice

Vash had heard shouting upstairs; the words were unintelligible but the voices weren't. Edy and Knives. He gritted his teeth and glanced over at a sleeping Wolfwood, aware that inebriation was probably a rouse, as it had been with him. He planned to stop Wolfwood from leaving, or at least try, but he couldn't let the row upstairs continue. Edy could take care of herself; it was Knives he was worried about. Another couple of shattered shins were nothing compared to a woman's fury unleashed, Vash had learned during his long years.

Even as he reached the hall it stopped. Vash sighed, torn between figuring out what Knives had said to Edy (he always was the one who started things, so it had to have been Knives' fault) and keeping an eye on the priest. He lingered a moment too long in his deliberations because by the time Vash returned to their shared room, Wolfwood was gone.

Very little of his things had disappeared, seeing as he probably had hardly any need of the things from a sedentary life where he was going. Vash couldn't help but smile sadly to himself, though, noting that the few pictures he had tacked up to the wall of the three girls, Isaiah, and himself were missing. Wolfwood never seemed to be the sentimental type, or the material type, and dragging some peoples' pictures around with him really wasn't the preacher man's style.

Of course, he also wasn't the type to keep a lady's letter close to his heart on his travels either and Wolfwood would have killed the blonde man for knowing of this fact. Vash couldn't help it, he just happened to come across it in the dark-haired man's new jacket one day while snooping. Apparently Edy had set it aside for him when she pitched their old clothes after their first meeting, judging from the blood stains that mottled the rough, not yet beginning to age paper. Of course he just had to read it; it managed to fall completely open upon the table, with some convincing. It took all the control Vash knew not to rib his friend about this one.

Some people never cease to surprise you.

Vash never moved a thing of Wolfwood's, leaving it all exactly where it had been left. Edy thought it was kind of creepy, like the man had died and they couldn't bring themselves to part with all that remained of his life, and told Vash this once. Vash had no response, unable to tell her that he probably was dead. The real reason for Wolfwood's disappearance was never completely conveyed to the others, although the Insurance Girls could probably guess, but Vash did keep his promise to try and convince Isaiah that it wasn't personal and that Wolfwood didn't want to leave but he had to. He wasn't sure the boy bought it.

Knowing that if he followed Wolfwood he was in for a world of hurt, Vash sighed and made his way upstairs to deal with those that remained.

* * * * *

It was completely dark on the second floor but Vash's eyes adjusted and he realized Edy sat on her cot, knees tucked under her chin and still clothed in her lovely birthday gift. Vash had gushed when she first made her entrance wearing the dress; he had never seen her in anything much besides baggy old khakis and button up shirts, the sleeves rolled always to the elbows. It wasn't that she didn't look pretty normally, she just never looked like a girl before, except for those times when Vash had helped bandage her back while it was healing. Even then that was different.

"What is it Vash," he heard her ask, her voice tired and sluggish. She was worn out and the words were slow and difficult to come. She also sounded extremely, extremely irate and far more sober that she did when she had come up earlier.

"I heard the shouting. I was concerned, that's all," he answered, keeping his voice low and soft.

"I don't believe I'll ever understand your brother. I'm not sure I really want to any more," she spat as best she could. It was now, when she was weakest that the lingering results of the stroke plagued her most.

"What did he do now," Vash asked, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"All I've ever been is nice to him, open, caring, concerned," Edy continued on her rant and ignoring Vash's question, quiet but obviously still upset. "You'd think that he didn't have a heart the way he's been acting ever since… ever since I was in the hospital. Complete change, no trust, and obviously no consideration for other people's feelings."

"Knives… He's someone that although I love him, I'm not sure I like him," Vash admitted to Edy. "Does that make me a terrible person? I don't know, probably. So I try to be as good as I can and ignore the crap he says to me. I know he doesn't mean it, not really."

If it had been lighter, Edy would have been able to see the tiny grin that played on Vash's lips. He turned towards her and could make out her soft form beside him. They were sitting close like they usually did, but Vash normally wasn't so aware of her physical presence as he was at that moment.

"You're too strong, too wonderful, and too beautiful of a person to let him get to you like this," he added, knowing his words sounded cliché but meaning them whole-heartedly. Edy snorted and shifted away from him, cool air replacing her warmth as she shifted down the cot.

"That's all you men think of, isn't it? Just when you think they're different, that they really don't give a rat's ass about looks, it always comes back to that. Always."

Now Vash was completely confused. He had absolutely no clue what she was talking about and the gender gap seemed to be widening by the second. Their friendship never seemed to notice that one was of one sex and the other of the opposite but all of a sudden it smacked him in the face.

"Wha…" was all he could manage before Edy cut him off. He could feel her shift suddenly, shaking the bed as she turned towards him quickly.

"They're lovely, aren't they? Out on a platter for the world to see! Hope you enjoyed them, because it's the last time they'll see the light of day again!"

"They who," poor Vash could only stutter, so thoroughly lost that his head needed a directory to find the thread of the conversation again. Edy sighed and slumped back against the wall with a light thump. When she spoke again she was apologetic.

"I'm sorry Vash, I'm attacking you for absolutely no good reason. God, I'm such a bitch…"

"No! Of course not," Vash insisted, still trying to catch up.

"Knives said some particularly rude things about how I looked tonight, and although I think I know why he said it, it still burns me up. I've never tried to put myself forward but that doesn't keep guys away; the local men were always offering a hand, coming around, being pest until you boys moved in. I do have to thank you three for that.

"I'm not a whore, I never dress like one, it was just tonight because I knew Milly would be so happy if I wore the dress…"

"Knives called you a whore?!" Vash almost shouted, trying to keep his voice low so he wouldn't bother the girls or Knives. No wonder Edy was so upset; his brother certainly had a way with words, especially big, pointy, ones.

"Actually, a two double-dollar whore to be exact; he also seemed to know for a fact that I liked the way you and Wolfwood drooled over my chest all evening, since they were on a platter and he was there all night to watch how you guys acted around me."

Vash was furious. How could… Why did… Why was Knives being so horrible to her? this was beyond his comprehension.

"I think he was just jealous, really," Edy continued, "and sad that he's never allowed to join in the fun. Well, he wouldn't have wanted to be around Wolfwood, Milly, or Meryl, but no one likes to be left out, even evil recluses bent on the destruction of all mankind."

She paused, smiling to herself. Vash could hear the shift in her humor, taking a lighter turn as she finished her thoughts. Edy didn't really hate Knives, but man, did he get under her skin sometimes.

"And I think he liked the dress… a lot."

Vash's anger began to ebb away and he couldn't help but laugh a little, quietly. Edy joined him, sitting closer to him once more.

"I like it a lot too," Vash said, "but I like the whole dress and not just… your… you know…"

He was blushing madly, unable to finish the sentence and thankful for the darkness; he had no clue why he even began the statement outside of his head. Edy laughed once more, her mood considerably happier than when Vash had first come up.

Definitely not going to tell her about Wolfwood until tomorrow, he thought.

"I'm glad you like it, Vash," she said, leaning upon his shoulder, ready to drop off to sleep. Vash would have jumped at the sudden, soft contact if he hadn't wanted it to continue so much. She hardly initiated any touch between them even though she never stiffened or pulled away from Vash any more. He was a good hugger and his hand slipped into hers always comforted her, but she never seemed to be able to make the first move before. Surprised but delighted, Vash wrapped his arms around her, shifting so she laid her head against his chest and he rested with his back against the walls.

Edy's breathing deepened and Vash had thought she had fallen asleep. He reveled in this moment, enjoying being so close to Edy, yet feeling guilty that he should be allowed such a selfish, little pleasure. The more time he spent with her, the less he wanted the ships to come and disrupt his peaceful life; well, not completely, but he really hoped that something would happen to change the current situation and allow him to go with them, with her.

Without hardly realizing what he was doing, Vash gently pressed his lips upon the top of her head, kissing her hair softly as she slept.

"Vash…" she murmured, looking up into the darkness at him. Crap. She wasn't asleep yet.

What had he done? He had promised himself he wouldn't do anything like this, anything that could threaten their quiet existence. What were promises for if you didn't intend to keep them? Vash could judge nothing from Edy's reaction, her voice too soft and the hall too dark to betray any emotions, so he decided to try and play it of as nothing.

"Hmm," he asked, playing Innocently Platonic Boy. Her hand tentatively touched his jaw, his cheek, his hair. So tender, so sweet.

"Why," she whispered.

"Because you're Edy," he answered, his words brushing her lips as he leaned in so close.

This isn't playing it off as nothing!

He paused, a little frightened, a little unsure, and they stayed there for a few moments, only the sound of their breathing filling the empty space around them.

This is what I want, but what about Edy, he thought. Have I gone and messed everything up?

Closing the slim gap between them, Edy answered his question, becoming the most pleasant surprise to ever have come out of left field in the history of his existence; all without speaking a word.

* * * * *

Myshkin: Okay, I was going to hold back on the kiss and everything, but I decided you all have been a wonderful audience and you deserve a little something for your troubles. Of course, all you Meryl fans and those that expressed dislike for Edy probably hate me right now, but sorry; if you really want some VxM action, feel free to look elsewhere or write your own. Anyways, enough with the hostilities. Let's all celebrate that Legato's going to be hanging around and the coolest, baddest, most cross-dressiest Gung Ho Gun, Elendira, is about to make his first appearance in a fanfic ever (as far as I know; I could be wrong though, and I hope so, because he's so awesome!) Woot! Their appearance would have been in this chapter but it was nearly ten pages and going strong so I had to cut back; patience, next chapter the action'll start up again. (I also wonder how many words I've made up this chapter?) *Throws streamers around for a while, amusing herself, and then wanders off in search of something shiner to hold her attention.*