Disclaimer: I don't own anything Trigun, so don't sue me please, thank you!
Myshkin: Much love to all my readers; over 75 reviews, it blows my mind! You guys are the greatest. *sniffles a little and blows nose on comically over-sized hankie* And to Jillian, I was so excited for you I had to either scream or create, and I chose this quieter option. Hope it makes your happy day even happier. I prostate you two so much!
Tying Up Loose Ends
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Twist and Shout
"Vash, are you still here?"
Looking up from the formerly dirty table top and his handsome reflection upon it, Vash found himself face to face with Luc Herring, as red and kindly-looking as the first time he met the man. Sadness had crept into his eyes like a few specks of dust, though, and Vash knew it was due to the closing of the Prancing Thomas, the man's true love, second only to his wife as receiver of his affections.
Herring had become a true life saver when he allowed both Vash and Wolfwood to work there, and never asked questions when Vash had to miss. All the extra, free take-home meals endeared the man to Vash as well; the man made an incredible beignet, the classiest doughnut Vash ever ate.
"Yeah, just making sure everything's left spic and span."
"Nothing to worry about, really," Herring commented with a sad chuckle. "We'll be heading out tomorrow morning, Maria and me. No one will come here tomorrow or ever again for that matter."
"Maybe you'll start another Prancing Thomas on Earth," Vash suggested with a grin.
"Who knows what it'll be like on Earth," sighed the restaurateur. "No one seems to be saying much and gossip's coming up dry about life back there."
"You never know, really. You just never know."
The sound of the front door opening and feet on the tile caused both men to turn from their conversation.
"Vash!"
"Insurance Girls! You're three days early," Vash exclaimed, dropping his rag and rushing to pull his friends into a tight embrace. Meryl choked slightly but Milly only returned the hug in full Milly-fashion. Finally releasing the girls, Vash gave them a chance to talk. Brushing herself off, Meryl spoke first.
"Business dried up so fast there was no need for us," the shorter woman explained. "We got off an extra two weeks ahead of time, decided to get our affairs in order and headed out for February."
"You wouldn't believe the trouble we had getting here," Milly cut in with exuberance. "None of the steamers or buses are running anywhere except to and from the ships! It was impossible to find a rental place with anyone still working there, so Meryl and I walked into one place, found the keys to the nicest jeep, and borrowed it!"
"Milly!"
"What, we're going to return it, aren't we?"
"Of course not, that's why I said not to talk about it," Meryl sighed in frustration. "The only place we're headed is the camp; we can't afford to drive all the way back to return the jeep."
"But Meryl, that's wrong! We stole a jeep! We could lose our jobs over this or get arrested!"
"I don't think you have to worry much about that," Vash cut in, laughing. "If the Ship Officers haven't stopped you yet, I doubt they ever will."
This opinion quieted the bigger girl a bit, but she still looked down, upset about committing such an offense. Herring tried to cheer her up by taking her back to the kitchen and fixing her up a nice, big meal; starving, the poor girl forgot about her new criminal status as she tucked into the delicious food. Alone, Meryl's tone turned even more serious than normal.
"Vash, those ships didn't come quick enough," Meryl murmured. "We passed through a few cities that Knives had visited before you took him down... It was terrible."
"What..."
"The towns, the one without plants, they were like mass graves, open to the world. Corpses rotting in the streets, laying where they had fallen. Milly's probably already blocked it from her memory, poor girl. She wanted to bury them all, but there were so many... Too many..."
Vash hugged Meryl tightly as she began to cry, the stress finally breaking her resolve. Vash cried too, for her and for the victims of his brother's cruelty. When they faced off he knew he hadn't stopped his brother in time; once the plants were taken from their bulbs, they couldn't be returned.
After fighting Knives, taking him down, the connection between the plants and Knives was rent asunder and they perished. Vash had no clue what to do or how to make it right; he didn't even fully understand how his brother could do what he was doing. In the midst of trying to do something right, he had done the wrong thing again, and so many people had died once more because of Vash the Stampede.
* * * * *
"Legato, no!"
The voice cut through the wind, slicing through the connection between woman and psycho. Gasping, dropping to her knees, Edy cried out through the tears running down her face. Oh god, it hurt so much, why did it hurt so much?!
"If you hadn't fought it," a snide, slimy voice whispered in her mind, "there would have been no pain at all."
Knives hobbled out to where Edy knelt, trembling, sounding much like she did all those months ago in the cave when she received her first wounds from Knives. Dropping his crutches and his own weight, he cradled her head against his chest, seething in anger. A bored-looking Elendira followed closely behind without comment.
"Master, your legs..." Legato murmured in alarm, noticing his master's imperfection for the first time.
"You've lost your dog-like obedience since I left, Legato," Knives said, his voice struggling to stay in check. "Never did I say you could touch her and I most certainly did not ask for you to hurt her."
"Master, I'm sorry, I..."
"If there wasn't a need for you still, I would destroy you. Elendira, Legato, go find Isaiah and bring him back. He can not reach Vash; Vash can not know that we are leaving without him."
"But Master, he's a little boy on foot, he knows the city and where he is headed..."
"Then reach out, touch his mind, and stop him, you pitiful dog," snapped Knives, interrupting the underling's sniveling. "Don't tell me your skills have gone that soft in such short of a time. And whatever you do, do not hurt him. I really want to destroy you right now, but it's unfortunately it's not your time. If you stay around any longer, it may just be."
With that Legato hobbled off around the house, fighting the storm that had arrived in the middle of the confrontation, heading towards the town. Elendira strolled after him, lazily swinging his case and ignoring the buffeting winds. Within moments they were gone.
"Edy, shhh, Edy, it will be all right," Knives murmured, a flash of tenderness sneaking out for a second. He couldn't help it; no matter how hard he tried, Knives wanted to cry seeing Edy so abused and scared. Dammit, Vash, I really loathe you, he thought. You and your ridiculous empathy.
Coming back to herself, Edy pushed away from Knives. Keeping her eyes downcast, she wiped her face upon her sleeves and tried to stand. The fatigue of the day combined with the crash following the adrenaline rush and the sand storm whipping about her got the best of her and Edy stumbled a couple of times before remaining upright. She didn't help Knives gather his crutches or himself up from the ground.
"Edy..."
"I can't let you get on that ship," she said, cutting him off as her eyes found his. His were still liquid with new-found sympathy but hers were frozen over completely.
"Edy, I doubt you're in any condition to fight me," Knives replied, almost cool once more.
"Then I'll die trying."
"Senseless waste. Edy, I want you to come with me."
"No."
"Edy..."
Before he could finish what he was going to say, Edy swung, her fist connecting with his cheek. It was off-balanced and sluggish, but the impact still made his head snap to the side with surprise. Her other fist leapt up from her side but she wasn't fast enough. Knives' blade countered it, knocking it off course and causing Edy to wince in pain; he failed to use the flat of the blade and had sliced her across the top of her wrist. Bleeding but not ready to let up, she tried to trip him up, kick his crutches out from beneath him. This time Knives had more time to react and swept her other leg out from under her without cutting her, causing her to fall to the ground on her rear.
Edy had known she hadn't the strength or energy left to fight Knives seriously but she also knew she had to try. Try she did, and she failed miserably.
"I'm still not getting on that ship, Knives. I won't be party to this genocide."
"Then say good bye to Isaiah, because he will be going with us," he answered.
Elendira and Legato had returned with Isaiah before them, unable to move or speak in the grips of Legato's control, the horror of the situation flashing in his tear-filled eyes. Edy could never, ever abandon Isaiah, her little brother, her baby boy. Bad guys always knew where to grab and twist to get what they wanted, she thought darkly to herself. Cradling her bloody arm in the other, Edy managed to stand once more.
"All right Knives, I'll go."
Myshkin: Much love to all my readers; over 75 reviews, it blows my mind! You guys are the greatest. *sniffles a little and blows nose on comically over-sized hankie* And to Jillian, I was so excited for you I had to either scream or create, and I chose this quieter option. Hope it makes your happy day even happier. I prostate you two so much!
Tying Up Loose Ends
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Twist and Shout
"Vash, are you still here?"
Looking up from the formerly dirty table top and his handsome reflection upon it, Vash found himself face to face with Luc Herring, as red and kindly-looking as the first time he met the man. Sadness had crept into his eyes like a few specks of dust, though, and Vash knew it was due to the closing of the Prancing Thomas, the man's true love, second only to his wife as receiver of his affections.
Herring had become a true life saver when he allowed both Vash and Wolfwood to work there, and never asked questions when Vash had to miss. All the extra, free take-home meals endeared the man to Vash as well; the man made an incredible beignet, the classiest doughnut Vash ever ate.
"Yeah, just making sure everything's left spic and span."
"Nothing to worry about, really," Herring commented with a sad chuckle. "We'll be heading out tomorrow morning, Maria and me. No one will come here tomorrow or ever again for that matter."
"Maybe you'll start another Prancing Thomas on Earth," Vash suggested with a grin.
"Who knows what it'll be like on Earth," sighed the restaurateur. "No one seems to be saying much and gossip's coming up dry about life back there."
"You never know, really. You just never know."
The sound of the front door opening and feet on the tile caused both men to turn from their conversation.
"Vash!"
"Insurance Girls! You're three days early," Vash exclaimed, dropping his rag and rushing to pull his friends into a tight embrace. Meryl choked slightly but Milly only returned the hug in full Milly-fashion. Finally releasing the girls, Vash gave them a chance to talk. Brushing herself off, Meryl spoke first.
"Business dried up so fast there was no need for us," the shorter woman explained. "We got off an extra two weeks ahead of time, decided to get our affairs in order and headed out for February."
"You wouldn't believe the trouble we had getting here," Milly cut in with exuberance. "None of the steamers or buses are running anywhere except to and from the ships! It was impossible to find a rental place with anyone still working there, so Meryl and I walked into one place, found the keys to the nicest jeep, and borrowed it!"
"Milly!"
"What, we're going to return it, aren't we?"
"Of course not, that's why I said not to talk about it," Meryl sighed in frustration. "The only place we're headed is the camp; we can't afford to drive all the way back to return the jeep."
"But Meryl, that's wrong! We stole a jeep! We could lose our jobs over this or get arrested!"
"I don't think you have to worry much about that," Vash cut in, laughing. "If the Ship Officers haven't stopped you yet, I doubt they ever will."
This opinion quieted the bigger girl a bit, but she still looked down, upset about committing such an offense. Herring tried to cheer her up by taking her back to the kitchen and fixing her up a nice, big meal; starving, the poor girl forgot about her new criminal status as she tucked into the delicious food. Alone, Meryl's tone turned even more serious than normal.
"Vash, those ships didn't come quick enough," Meryl murmured. "We passed through a few cities that Knives had visited before you took him down... It was terrible."
"What..."
"The towns, the one without plants, they were like mass graves, open to the world. Corpses rotting in the streets, laying where they had fallen. Milly's probably already blocked it from her memory, poor girl. She wanted to bury them all, but there were so many... Too many..."
Vash hugged Meryl tightly as she began to cry, the stress finally breaking her resolve. Vash cried too, for her and for the victims of his brother's cruelty. When they faced off he knew he hadn't stopped his brother in time; once the plants were taken from their bulbs, they couldn't be returned.
After fighting Knives, taking him down, the connection between the plants and Knives was rent asunder and they perished. Vash had no clue what to do or how to make it right; he didn't even fully understand how his brother could do what he was doing. In the midst of trying to do something right, he had done the wrong thing again, and so many people had died once more because of Vash the Stampede.
* * * * *
"Legato, no!"
The voice cut through the wind, slicing through the connection between woman and psycho. Gasping, dropping to her knees, Edy cried out through the tears running down her face. Oh god, it hurt so much, why did it hurt so much?!
"If you hadn't fought it," a snide, slimy voice whispered in her mind, "there would have been no pain at all."
Knives hobbled out to where Edy knelt, trembling, sounding much like she did all those months ago in the cave when she received her first wounds from Knives. Dropping his crutches and his own weight, he cradled her head against his chest, seething in anger. A bored-looking Elendira followed closely behind without comment.
"Master, your legs..." Legato murmured in alarm, noticing his master's imperfection for the first time.
"You've lost your dog-like obedience since I left, Legato," Knives said, his voice struggling to stay in check. "Never did I say you could touch her and I most certainly did not ask for you to hurt her."
"Master, I'm sorry, I..."
"If there wasn't a need for you still, I would destroy you. Elendira, Legato, go find Isaiah and bring him back. He can not reach Vash; Vash can not know that we are leaving without him."
"But Master, he's a little boy on foot, he knows the city and where he is headed..."
"Then reach out, touch his mind, and stop him, you pitiful dog," snapped Knives, interrupting the underling's sniveling. "Don't tell me your skills have gone that soft in such short of a time. And whatever you do, do not hurt him. I really want to destroy you right now, but it's unfortunately it's not your time. If you stay around any longer, it may just be."
With that Legato hobbled off around the house, fighting the storm that had arrived in the middle of the confrontation, heading towards the town. Elendira strolled after him, lazily swinging his case and ignoring the buffeting winds. Within moments they were gone.
"Edy, shhh, Edy, it will be all right," Knives murmured, a flash of tenderness sneaking out for a second. He couldn't help it; no matter how hard he tried, Knives wanted to cry seeing Edy so abused and scared. Dammit, Vash, I really loathe you, he thought. You and your ridiculous empathy.
Coming back to herself, Edy pushed away from Knives. Keeping her eyes downcast, she wiped her face upon her sleeves and tried to stand. The fatigue of the day combined with the crash following the adrenaline rush and the sand storm whipping about her got the best of her and Edy stumbled a couple of times before remaining upright. She didn't help Knives gather his crutches or himself up from the ground.
"Edy..."
"I can't let you get on that ship," she said, cutting him off as her eyes found his. His were still liquid with new-found sympathy but hers were frozen over completely.
"Edy, I doubt you're in any condition to fight me," Knives replied, almost cool once more.
"Then I'll die trying."
"Senseless waste. Edy, I want you to come with me."
"No."
"Edy..."
Before he could finish what he was going to say, Edy swung, her fist connecting with his cheek. It was off-balanced and sluggish, but the impact still made his head snap to the side with surprise. Her other fist leapt up from her side but she wasn't fast enough. Knives' blade countered it, knocking it off course and causing Edy to wince in pain; he failed to use the flat of the blade and had sliced her across the top of her wrist. Bleeding but not ready to let up, she tried to trip him up, kick his crutches out from beneath him. This time Knives had more time to react and swept her other leg out from under her without cutting her, causing her to fall to the ground on her rear.
Edy had known she hadn't the strength or energy left to fight Knives seriously but she also knew she had to try. Try she did, and she failed miserably.
"I'm still not getting on that ship, Knives. I won't be party to this genocide."
"Then say good bye to Isaiah, because he will be going with us," he answered.
Elendira and Legato had returned with Isaiah before them, unable to move or speak in the grips of Legato's control, the horror of the situation flashing in his tear-filled eyes. Edy could never, ever abandon Isaiah, her little brother, her baby boy. Bad guys always knew where to grab and twist to get what they wanted, she thought darkly to herself. Cradling her bloody arm in the other, Edy managed to stand once more.
"All right Knives, I'll go."