~Under the Sky so Blue: Aftermath~

Part Seven

            The sky was turning dark and yet Meryl and Vash had yet to return to the borders of Demetri.  Personally, Meryl wasn't at all worried about Knives getting up and rampaging the city- she had a feeling her friend Milly would keep him in check.  She was, however, worried about the tall blond man sitting at the edge of a cliff staring at the sky. It reminded her of a night not too long ago when she found him doing the same thing, singing to himself.

            Vash wasn't singing this time he was only looking, most likely thinking, and not at all speaking.  The air was becoming slightly chilly with the coming darkness, the moons in the sky becoming more prominent as the sunlight faded. Meryl crossed her arms, keeping her distance as her eyes remained on the silent and thoughtful man.  There were so many sides to him it was difficult to keep track of who he really was.  But in the course of their time spent with him, Meryl and Milly knew that above all Vash had a very good heart.

            Finally wishing to break the silence, Meryl turned her eyes upon the red moon with the crater instilled into it, and parted her lips to sing softly.

            "So…on the first evening a pebble, from somewhere out of nowhere drops upon the dreaming world…"

            As she sang, the calm climate formed a soft breeze, carrying the sweet and simple tune to Vash's ears.  The blond man didn't move a muscle, his aqua green eyes gazing unblinkingly to the sky, unable to see the moons behind him where Meryl stood. Her voice was not like the way Rem sang her favorite song, but it was still soft…and sweet.

            "So…on the second celestial evening, all the children of the pebble join hands and compose a waltz…"

            Turning, Vash glanced to Meryl who appeared completely at ease, her hands at her sides, blue-grey gaze trained on the twilight of the sky. As the wind ruffled her hair Vash thought he saw…a shadow of her against the insurance girl's form.  They could almost be one and the same…Rem was a little taller, her hair was longer and they didn't have the same colored eyes but still, Meryl suddenly reminded him of her.

            He stood, dusting his pants off and moved beside her, humming the rest of the lyrics.  As the song ended a soft smile crossed his lips.

            "That was Rem's favorite song."

            Meryl didn't look at him but nodded, "It's one of mine too; a simple song but beautiful."

            Neither spoke for some time, the petite young woman swaying slightly in the wind, her hand brushing against the frame of the tall man beside her. She froze, trying to think of something to say. Meryl couldn't say how much Vash drove her bananas, but she also couldn't say how much she really cared for him. And now there she stood, her fingers wrapping around the cuff of his shirt absently as she sought for something to say.

            Vash noticed immediately, his brother's words leaking into his mind once more. Instantly blushing, he jerked his hand away, rearing from her and pulled a leg up as though shying away. He began laughing psychotically, instantly breaking Meryl from her train of thought.

            "Ahahaha it's getting late! We should go back, we stayed out much longer than I intended, ha-ha-ha-ha, let's not waste anymore time here!"

            Before a proper response could be given, in this case would be a severe smack from Meryl, Vash's form promptly began hiking down the gentler slope of the cliff. Clapping a hand over her forehead, Meryl followed him, cursing herself and cursing him for being so stupid. It was only when they reached the outskirts of town that she remembered Milly guarding Knives.

            Sure, she'd disregarded the matter some time earlier, but it didn't really kick in that if he wanted to, Knives would find a way past Milly and her stun-gun to terrorize Demetri. She could imagine the streets littered with the dead and wounded, Milly passed out cold somewhere, or even worse- murdered.  She could imagine the expression on Vash's face as he realized he was already failing in doing what he so desperately wanted to do. The mere thought of it scared her and she ran ahead of him, into town, prepared for the worst.

            Everything was fine.  Everything was perfectly normal. People still strolled the streets, still gathered around the new well, still came in and out of the saloon and restaurant. A heavy weight lift from her shoulders and she sighed heavily.

            "Thank God," she murmured.

            "For what?" Vash queried as they moved toward the motel.

            Meryl winced, looking to him and he read the expression clearly. His expression darkened slightly before he responded to what her obvious thoughts were.

            "You thought Knives escaped didn't you? He won't do that, not here, he's going to change but if people don't trust him he never will change."

            Feeling absolutely horrible, Meryl turned her cheek the other way, whispering an apology. He was right.  Knives wouldn't ever feel like humans and his kind could co-exist if trust couldn't be built up. But how could she trust someone who caused such horrible things to happen? How could she when Knives was behind everything that Vash went through, behind the bounty on his head?

            As they entered the room where Knives was, they both realized something.  The door was wide open, Milly's chair was empty, her stun gun was on the floor, and Knives' bed was empty.

            "Uh-oh," Vash muttered softly.

 Suddenly believing all her thoughts to be true, Meryl turned and thwacked Vash on the shoulder as hard as she could.

            "What were you saying, you dolt?! He's taken Milly, I know he has! Where is he? He's probably dragged her off to God knows where and-"

            "Were you two looking for me?" Knives' cool and collected voice sounded from behind, cutting Meryl's ranting off.

            "Huh?" Vash and the insurance girl said in unison, turning their heads to look to the pale blond man leaning against the doorframe so casually.

            "Where's Milly?" Meryl cried, suddenly forgetting Vash's words about trust. Her partner was missing, she couldn't believe that Knives had nothing to do with it.

            "I'm right here Meryl!" The cheerful voice piped up from behind a large brown grocery bag chock full and overflowing with packages of…pudding. "Mr. Vash said to keep an eye on Mr. Knives, but I got so hungry for pudding and there wasn't any left so…I brought him with me."

            Vash beamed, clasping a hand on Meryl's shoulder. "You see? Safe and sound- I told you there was nothing to worry about."

            Scowling, Meryl brushed his hand away, "You didn't say that, you said uh-oh you big idiot!" And with that she stomped out of the room, dragging Milly along with her.

            Knives moved into the room, stepping over the forgotten stun gun and turned to glance at his twin brother, a smirk on his face. Vash hadn't looked worried at all, but that pathetic little human girl had been frantic.

            "I hope I didn't worry you, dear brother."

            "Not at all, I'm glad you're out and about actually, you can meet more people that way."

            "I only went with her because I was tired of being cooped up in this room all day. Sleep was not an option, the oaf kept humming something annoying.  However, she agreed to leave her weapon here and I agreed not to try and escape. I'm being a well behaved hostage, Vash."

            Vash furrowed his brow- he didn't want Knives to feel like a hostage but he didn't know how else to be sure that his brother wouldn't run away from them.

            Answering his thoughts, Knives spoke, his blue eyes intense. "Don't be a hypocrite, Vash- you go on about trust to the little human who looks like Rem but don't trust me yourself? What can you possibly hope to achieve thinking that way? Take your own advice brother, it might save us all in the end."