**Note from the Author** Ok, sorry, I've been a little lax when it comes to responding to some of the nice comments being left here about this story. I wish FF.Net would put up a thing where us authors could respond without having to put it here, but hey, whatever, as long as it gets done. J

Irin- Write more, write more, pushy are we? Ha, but you know it always works to get me tap-tapping away on the computer so…off I go. ^_^

WindWalker22- Brotherly bonding you say? Well I suppose I can try to work on that, as there're so many things that are going to be incorporated into this story. ^_^

Dragoncat- Hey thanks for reading- The chapters will be put up as soon as creativity keeps being kind to me.

Tempest Strife- Vash had to be violent in that moment, if he hadn't been who knows what might've happened. Just remember though, while he's still injured, Knives isn't exactly harmless.

Lucy-Locke – Well those 2 reviews have grown haven't they? I hope they continue to do so at that. *giggles* I love how Knives reacts to Milly, but then I wouldn't have expected it any other way. Knives will be in for a bit of a surprise though, sooner than you think. J

Vertically Challenged- What about Meryl and Vash? Yeah, things seem to be getting a little more interesting between them, yet that woman is always going to be annoyed by him, I think, no matter how much she likes him. *snickers*

DeAd-BoDy – Thanks! I just hated the way the show ended, I thought us fans needed to know what happens afterward.

OK then I think that just about covers everyone who has reviewed this story. Keep on my back if I don't do this at least every other chapter alright? You guys gotta keep me on my toesJ.  Well…I hope you are all prepared for the next events. There will be a few new characters as well as at least a couple of old ones as well. Oh yes- if anyone has a very good memory, might someone let me know just which of the Gung-ho Guns didn't die? I know Midvalley didn't, but *shrugs* as for the others, I'm having a bit of difficulty. It's very important to me that I find out so ^_^ any help is appreciated. Thanks! And now...onto the story!

Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own anyone or anything from the Trigun series nor am I affiliated with them in any way, shape, or form. *sighs* But! I do own the characters Artemis Fawn and Lily (actually, Lily is co-owned) and any other made up person is mine as well. ^_^

~Under the Sky so Blue: Aftermath~

Part Nine

            Artemis tossed a green apple up into the air and caught it, repeating the movement over and over again.  Her blue-green gaze was intense upon Midvalley as he replaced his lips to his saxophone and resumed playing the sweet melody she heard when first entering.  It'd been at least half an hour since her arrival to the rebuilt saloon out in this no man's land, and now she had to contemplate upon whether or not she would agree to do what the Horn Freak asked.

            Moving her eyes from the sax player, she glanced to the figure in the corner.  Whoever it was hadn't moved since Artemis arrived, nor had they spoken.  The Gung-ho Guns had dwindled down to a mere handful, and even so there were a couple of new recruits. The loss of the majority were all due to some skirmish regarding the legendary ace gunman, Vash the Stampede. While he had only killed one person with his own hands, death and poverty enjoyed following him and causing trouble.  At least, that's what Artemis had heard.  She had never had the pleasure or misfortune of making the Humanoid Typhoon's acquaintance.

            When the silence behind the music began to bore her, Artemis took a bite out of the apple and sighed heavily.

            "Fine, I'll do it; but on one condition."

            Midvalley didn't stop playing until he reached the missing b-flat note. Slowly he glanced up with a wry smile.

            "What's that?"

            She gestured to the figure in the corner which now stirred at being acknowledged. "I get introduced to everyone else and you tell me everything.  When I say everything, I mean start from the beginning, got that?"

            Artemis didn't like being uninformed.  She wanted to know the entire story- she wanted to know what happened to the rest of the Gung-ho Guns in as much detail as Midvalley could muster.  She arched an eyebrow as he clearly thought it over- there was no way he'd turn down the request, not if he needed her as badly as it seemed.

            "Well?"

            Midvalley glanced over his shoulder then back to the red-haired woman, standing to wave the figure forward. It was suddenly apparent that the figure had become more than one- it had become two! Artemis narrowed her eyebrows some as two identical young men stepped from the shadows, standing side by side.

            Their hair was dark brown, rich in color and fell in slight waves to their shoulders.  The twin on the right had a wave of hair falling over his left eye, while the twin on the left had a wave falling over his right eye, which was an indescribable shade of silver-blue. Small smiles played over their lips, but they were not smiles of happiness…they were ones of malice. However, any girl in her right mind would think that these two were simply a dream- they were quite handsome.

            Artemis snapped out of her daze to find herself on her knees clinging to the right twin's arm, gazing up at him with shining eyes.

            "Oh, will you marry me?! You're so pretty!"

            Midvalley played a sharp note on his saxophone, causing a ripple in the floor. Artemis blinked and regained seriousness as the twin gazed down at her, smiling a little more broadly. She stood, and moved back to her position across from the three and arched an eyebrow.

            "So then who are they? Are they one or two?"

            "They are both and neither.  His name is Gemini Mimic, one who can merge and split as he so pleases to do- a dangerous opponent if he puts his mind to it."

            Gemini merged back into one person and strode forward to take one of Artemis' hands, placing his lips to the back of it and winked.

            "So we finally meet the not-so famous but soon to be infamous Arrow Goddess. It is a pleasure."

            Shivers ran along the red-head's spine at his voice. It was smooth like silk, frazzling her nerves a bit. She snatched her hand back from the man and looked to Midvalley.

            "I sure as hell hope you don't think we're going to accomplish anything with just us three- or four, whatever it is!"

            Midvalley paused from playing his saxophone, this time having let riveting notes escape from it. They sounded a bit sour at times, though, and it was due to the missing note. Why he hadn't gotten it repaired was beyond Artemis' comprehension.

            "This is why you're going alone while I find others."

            Alright- he had left that part out. Artemis' eyes widened.

            "Alone?! You're going to send me into that town alone to find Knives and expect me to escape with him without getting killed?"

            Midvalley exchanged a weary glance with Gemini before the strange and beautiful man replied.

            "Of course- unless you think you can't do it. Surely a woman of your…beauteous charm and skill can handle a simple rescue."

            Her eyes became wide and glazed over, cheeks burning as she looked to Gemini. "Anything for you! Ehm, but seriously…I'll do it! I'm not incapable. I'll go to Demetri and get Knives out of there- but first…Midvalley, you owe me a story."