~Under the Sky so Blue: Aftermath~
Part Twenty-two
"Do you think she's right about Mr. Knives, Meryl? That he was just acting the whole time?"
"Milly, he admitted to it himself, what else are we supposed to think."
"That's true, you're right. But, you know, he did change. Couldn't you tell?"
A long pause came before the reply. "I could…yes, he has definitely changed. Though I'm not sure what did it."
'Not what…who,' Knives thought, overhearing the conversation next door. 'And it isn't even because of one person. It was not Vash by himself, it was not the town by itself…it was…everything.'
The pale blond man turned his eyes to the door as Vash walked in carrying a tray with soup and bread on it. Neither one spoke a word aloud as the tray was carefully set down on the stand next to Artemis' bed. She slept there soundly as she had for the last day or so. From what Lily had told them, Artemis had been awake for two days straight without sleep. Whatever breakdown she'd had really did her head in.
Vash turned his aqua eyes toward the sleeping priestess then to his brother.
'You really tried to trick us, Knives? Why?'
'Does it matter now, brother? Does it matter anymore because I'm not playing a game anymore.'
'…No…I guess it doesn't. Has she woken up at all?'
'Once to eat. Is this mine?'
'Yes- Meryl made it for you.'
'Give her my gratitude…'
'I will.'
Vash smiled as he turned and left the room. His brother somehow had gotten through his head that nobody was perfect- that no one was better than someone else just because their race or species was more advanced. He just wish he had seen through Knives' act to begin with. Then again, if he had…would Knives had turned out this way after all?
The others had gone outside- Meryl was volunteering at the restaurant while Milly and Wolfwood somehow took on the job as town baby-sitters. All the children surrounded them in laughter and beckoned them to play several different games at once. Vash had a hankering for donuts, and so he left the motel as well.
Knives silently ate his soup, which was really very good he found, but kept his eyes out the window. He had a feeling that if Artemis woke up she wouldn't appreciate it if he'd been watching her sleep.
…"Come on, why don't we go back inside." Knives stated to Artemis, her head still bowed.
"No…" but she had taken a step toward the motel anyhow.
Knives glanced at the others, wondering what they should do after hearing everything. He waved a hand.
"I can handle this, you go back to your party," he had said a little harsher than intended, but it got the job done. They nodded and turned around to go back, all except for Lily, who stood there studying them both until Knives had Artemis through the door of the motel.
Taking something of a risk, Knives allowed a sneaked peek at the young woman, who turned on her side, brow furrowed, long hair hanging over the side of the bed once more. If he just stood and moved to her…maybe he could feel if her hair was as soft as it looked.
Almost immediately, Knives mentally kicked himself for thinking it. But still…he stood and moved beside the bed and stared down at her. He remembered Rem's hair. She always smelled sweet and flowery- Knives and Vash loved the way Rem sounded, smelled, looked…she used to hug them tightly and they'd be engulfed in a tidal wave of flowers and candy. When was the last time someone held either of them like that?
His fingers trailed along the bedpost, slowly down to the mattress and lightly grazed over the strands of red. From what Knives could tell, Artemis' hair was just like Rem's. The priestess stirred in her sleep, eyes fluttering open slowly and then focused up at the pale blond man. Her eyebrows narrowed and she sat up quickly.
"What were you doing?"
"Nothing." Knives replied casually, meeting her gaze.
She scowled at him then turned away. "Then go away."
"No…" he said simply, sitting on the edge of the bed. She didn't move, but she didn't look at him either. "You can leave…whenever you want to."
"What?" Artemis turned her eyes to him briefly. "Why, so you can hunt me down and kill me later?"
Knives narrowed his eyes. "No, because you want to leave so badly!" he lowered his voice before continuing. "I want you to stay here…but if you want to leave, then go."
The red head huffed, crossing her arms, trying to think of something to say. When nothing came and she didn't budge, Knives took it to mean she wasn't going to leave Demetri after all.
"Why did you do it?" she asked softly. "What was your reason for seeing all humans as…nothing?"
He closed his eyes…and winced. He could feel the pain still…Knives didn't know if it would work, but he could try it. She didn't have the same gift as he and Vash, but his mind was strong enough.
"I'll show you." He tentatively touched her right temple, turning to face her, and locked gazes. He could remember…everything.
…"Knives, what're you doing in here?!" Steve yelled out. Knives, as a small child, turned from the computer panel with a smile…innocent…such a sweet smile.
"You don't belong here! Get out!" the man shouted at both Knives and another who could only be Vash.
When neither moved fast enough the bigger man shoved Vash down against a glass tube…there were people in the tubes surrounding them.
"Leave him alone!" Knives cried out in defense of his younger twin. He was horrified that this man would try to hurt them.
Steve shoved Knives as well. "You monster!" he shouted, delivering a kick to the child's forehead…it hurt so badly…
The pain felt real. Artemis jerked her head back, opening her eyes, forgetting when she had even closed them. Tears glittered in her eyes. How could someone be so cruel? How could someone change a child into what Knives turned out to be? How did someone like Knives change back into what he used to be? In some ways she understood what caused him to wreak havoc and despise people so much. Yet…it wasn't an excuse. Just as he had admitted the night before.
"I'm sorry…" she murmured, casting her eyes away from him.
"Don't be. I thought you might not understand unless you saw it yourself. It doesn't make up for anything. It still doesn't bring your friends back. But if it gave you an explanation…" Knives trailed off, still holding his chin high.
Artemis was silent. Those images of Knives and Vash as children…there was a woman too. She'd seen her flash quickly by. A pretty young woman with brown hair and sparkling eyes. The name Rem came to mind, but meant nothing to Artemis…but she could feel what Knives had felt about her. He and Vash adored this woman. Their mother figure…their friend.
The priestess sighed heavily and glanced to Knives. His eyes were wide and unfocused, glittering as he stared out the window as stoically as he could manage. Suddenly her heart went out to him. For the longest time Knives was her enemy…and here she was…feeling sorry for him.
"Did she die?"
"Who?" he asked, not looking at her.
"The woman…Rem."
Knives paused…then nodded slowly. "Yes. She died because of me."
She said no more. Since Rem, Knives did not know human emotion. He only felt anger and hate towards humankind. There was no one to comfort him, nobody to show him otherwise for over 130 years. How could someone live that way, she couldn't begin to fathom.
Artemis placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked at her quizzically. Not a word was spoken between them- words had no place at that time. Knives was at a loss. He found he couldn't move all because of that simple gesture, because of a simple touch. What got him the most was the amount of sympathy in her eyes. He'd caused her so much pain, he'd caused so many people unimaginable torment…and yet, Artemis had sympathy for him.
Lifting a hand, Knives brushed a strand of red from her blue-green eyes and leaned close, almost unsteadily. He had no idea what he was doing. In 130 years he never would have dreamed of even touching a human, let alone have strange feelings and thoughts over one. Artemis didn't stop him, as much as her mind tried she ignored its protests. Her eyes shut as she felt lips graze over hers and arms wrap around her.
From the doorway, Vash, Milly, Meryl, and Wolfwood peeked through the crack between the wood and the doorframe. Their minds couldn't comprehend what their eyes were seeing. Millions Knives, mass murderer and superior plant being…was making out with a human girl.
"Uh, I don't think we should be watching this," Milly whispered, averting her eyes, though there was a huge grin on her face. She loved it when these things happened.
Meryl nodded, "Milly's right- this is private…come on before we see something we really shouldn't."
Vash pouted a bit, "I dunno, what if we want to see it?"
The insurance girls were already walking away. Wolfwood tugged on Vash's collar.
"Come on needle-noggin, leave them be."
"Aw man…" Vash whined but shut the door anyhow.