**Author's Note** Hey, did you notice? The story isn't over yet!! Actually, this coming chapter is the 2nd to last, meaning after 24, Part 25 will be the end of it. (Still… in my mind I'm hearing sequel…^_^). There's things I've been trying to keep secret in the past chapters, and I hope, for the most part, that I've done a good job…because I'm betting the surprise coming up won't be one people expected. You can tell me if I'm right or not, afterward…but don't lie! Because I will know…my spies are everywhere…*grins*
Jess Perry- ^_^ you review after just about every chapter, you're so cool! As for the Vash and Meryl thing…it's just my own personal preference. I never really was fond of the pairing to begin with…something about Meryl really ticks me off, and I can't see them together like that. Even though it's really obvious that by the end, she really likes Vash, I don't know…for some reason, I don't think he would have seen her the same way. Sorry to disappoint, but I've got plans for Meryl, don't you worry. ^_^ although, it might be in a different fic.
Psycho King- Glad to know you're enjoying the fic so far! Everyone else so far has seemed to enjoy it, or else they're lying to me ;)
Well now, after the disclaimers and the claimers, we can finally get on with the rest of the sto-
MISS AUTHOR LADY!! MISS AUTHOR LADY!!!
Oh no…*claps a hand to her forehead* Yes Vash-kun?
*He runs up at full speed, skids to a stop, and clings her leg* Don't do it!! Don't do it, please!!
Vash, what the heck are you talking about? *looks around nervously*
*shakes her hard* I heard the rumors! You can't, you just can't do it! It's so…so…INHUMANE!!
Oh, THAT! Well…you really weren't supposed to find out about it, I mean…nobody was supposed to know except for a few people and…they've accepted it…
*Vash* What?! How could they?! *looks horrified* My DONUTS are gonna get STOLEN and nobody CARES?! How AWFUL!
*blinks* Do…Donuts?! *laughs hysterically and pats Vash on the head* Oh Vash-kun, you're too cute. Your donuts are safe.
Promise?!
Yup.
SWEET! See ya Miss Author Lady! *runs off* Hey guys!! My donuts are safe!!
Oh boy… -.-;
Disclaimer: I don't own the title or Trigun characters, nor am I affiliated with the company in any way.
Claimers: The story idea for the fan fiction and all original characters (Artemis, Lily, Gemini, Tank, and Shaman) are all owned or co-owned by me.
~Under the Sky so Blue: Aftermath~
Part Twenty-four
"Mr. Knives, your hair looks really nice and neat, that hair cut really looks good," Milly chirped from across the dinner table.
Knives looked up from his plate, fork poised over his dinner, and smiled. It was strange to smile and have it not be for cruel intentions. Strange and…good.
"Thank you Milly." He finally replied and gestured toward Artemis at the conjoining table sitting across from Wolfwood and next to Lily. The restaurant was almost empty so they had nearly the whole thing to themselves. "Actually, you should compliment her, she did it."
Vash glanced to the red head and then to his brother, smiling, his aqua-green eyes squinting a bit as he did. "She did a better job than you do on yourself, but that's because she could see the back of your head."
"Smart-ass," Knives shot, but smiled in spite of himself.
Meryl prodded at her food with the tip of a spoon and sighed softly from her end of the table. She smiled too, though not because of the comments being made between everyone else.
"Meryl what's wrong, you've hardly touched your food." Milly asked, concern written over her kind face. She always had a way of knowing things, even when people thought she was being an airhead.
The small insurance woman shook her head. "It's nothing, Milly, don't worry about it. I'm fine. My appetite just isn't really big tonight, that's all." She smiled to her partner genuinely to back her words. Luckily the big girl didn't press the matter and happily went on to chatter to her beloved Wolfwood three seats down.
When Meryl lifted her blue-grey eyes, she saw Vash gazing at her with a half smile on his face. They didn't say anything, but the expression he had was a knowing one. He knew why she didn't feel hungry, and he also knew why she wasn't overly upset. The spiky blond winked at her quickly, causing a blush to creep over her cheeks, before looking away.
…On the farther end of the tables, Lily and Artemis were on the brink of starting a food fight.
"I really hate it when you call me kiddo!" the red head shouted placing a potato on the end of her spoon, and then flung it at her blond friend.
Lily dodged it easily and laughed, "Well hey, if you hadn't made that remark about me being mistaken for the 60 billion double dollar man, then it wouldn't have slipped out!"
"It so didn't slip out! You're just trying to make me mad!" her cheeks grew flustered.
Snickering, Lily shook her head, ignoring Wolfwood's comment about just leaving it at that. She knew Artemis just as well as he did, if not better. Besides, she loved provoking the young woman; there was too much fun to be had.
"Well if it weren't for all those cute little freckles I wouldn't have to call you kiddo, would I?"
"Ah…shut-up…or I'll steal your chocolate donuts." Artemis smirked.
Wolfwood widened his eyes. "Girls, please! Can't a man of God eat in peace?!" How'd he get stuck three chairs away from Milly? Although…he wasn't not having a good time. He stiffened when they both turned and gave him evil looks. "Hey, noise is good! God gave us voices, so let's all use them!" he laughed nervously as the girls snickered.
* * *
Outside of the town of Demetri, just over the rolling sand dunes which were pale against the growing dark, a troupe of four men plopped down behind the secrecy of the hill. One carried a saxophone, another carried a tank on his back and a gun in his hands, the third had a pouch full of dust, and the fourth…carried nothing but the clothes on his back. It had taken them nearly an entire week to finally reach the small town, and they were in fact surprised by what they saw.
From the distance, Demetri wasn't a crowded place, but it was very well equipped. By equipped what is meant is there was not only a power plant nearby, but a water reservoir could be seen at the edge of the city.
"Look! There are flowers…" Midvalley nudged Gemini in the side, astonished. Even in the dark, the bright red buds of newly blooming flowers could be seen around the plant and around the water reserve. They'd really never seen them so closely before.
Gemini sighed and replied haughtily. "We did not come here to gawk at flowers- we have another plant specimen to retrieve. Do try to keep your mind on the subject at hand, Midvalley; you don't want what happened to you before to recur, now do you? Though this time, I doubt you'd be so lucky as to continue living."
The pale and slender Gung-ho Gun, Tank, raised an eyebrow as the sax player suddenly turned white. "What the hell is he talking about?"
The Shaman turned his glassy eyes to the sky. "The night is clear…secrets shall be uncovered."
"Stop speaking in riddles, old man." Tank snapped and turned his blue-white eyes to Demetri. "When do we go in?"
"We're going to sneak in at the back of the town…then go to the motel and find him there." Midvalley said.
Gemini snorted and crossed his arms- the pale violet-white jacket he wore fluttered behind him, the singly visible silver-blue eye focusing on something in the city. "How childish- we have waited too long for him. We will just attack with force after we find him, it is quite simple. These people have no means of defense; their measly guns will be no match."
* * *
"Hey!" Artemis yelped as she was jerked back from the others as they walked from the restaurant towards the saloon for a night of rounds and cards and chess. She turned to give Knives an especially evil glare, which lasted no more than five seconds. "Something I can help you with?"
The pale blond raised his ice blue eyes to the sky a moment then brought them to her, moving his hand from her elbow and took her hand. "Follow me."
She blinked, "But we're going to the bar for drinks!"
"We'll go in a few minutes, just…follow me." He insisted, tugging her along as he started walking the opposite direction.
"Like I've got a choice," she muttered lightly but followed anyhow. "Where are we going?"
Knives didn't answer until they stood in front of the plant, the giant glass bulb shone under the beginnings of silver moon rays. Underneath it was where they had all worked to till the land and make it inhabitable. There grew the red geraniums they had planted- one each for each person in Demetri.
"Look at how fast they've grown," she murmured. "It's unbelievable."
Crossing his arms, Knives nodded in agreement. "One of my kind dwells within this bulb above the flowers…a plant, like Vash and I. A sister of ours you could say. I believe it's the reason why the flowers have grown so quickly."
"Really…one of your sisters lives inside of this thing?" Artemis walked up to the bulb and placed a hand on the glass. It was cool at first but soon became slightly warm. "It's hard to believe…"
Knives came up beside her. "I know…it made me so angry that people would use us as power sources…I don't really understand it now, but it doesn't make me so upset anymore. However…one day we'll find a way for power that doesn't require the use of them, and they'll be free."
"It'll happen. You'll find a way." The priestess glanced to him then drew her hand from the bulb, speaking directly to whoever was inside of it. "Thank you for making the flowers grow up so wonderfully…they're very beautiful."
Knives looked at her as she spoke, his expression softening. It was easy to see how much he and Vash resembled each other when his face wasn't contorted to icy coldness or stoic nonchalant stares.
"Yes…they are." He agreed as Artemis turned toward him. He moved toward her and brushed the strands of red from her eyes as he'd done countless times in the past week or so and smiled. He thought he could hear music…so soft, as though the wind was singing.
And everything went to Hell.
The ground rumbled, hardly noticeable at first, and then it became a riveting tremor. Their eyes went wide as they looked up, first thinking the plant was reacting, but when the ground jutted up in the near distance it was apparent the plant was not the source.
"Run!" Knives shouted, grabbing Artemis' hand and pulled her toward the center of town where Meryl, Milly, Vash, Wolfwood, and Lily had already conjugated.
The townsfolk were frantically scrambling for their houses, some in a drunken stupor, others trying to usher their children inside in the midst of the pandemonium. The music that Knives had heard had not been a romantic whim riding the wind…it was a saxophone and the player could not be far away.
The well cracked from behind, the effect of the rifts of intense music shaking the ground around the stone.
"What's going on?!" Meryl shouted, reaching into the white cape around her shoulders to pull out two derringers.
Milly had already drawn her giant stun gun and Wolfwood, having only a single revolver on him, tossed Artemis' quiver to her, speaking around a cigarette.
"I managed to grab it from your room, thought we might be needing your skills huh?"
"How can you smoke at a time like this?!" Lily shouted and pointed ahead. "Look! There they are!"
All eyes were on the four figures entering town, one of them wearing a black and pink button up shirt, skillfully playing the saxophone. Vash's eyes went wide.
"Midvalley!? Why the heck is that guy here?!"
Artemis felt her stomach sink as she prepped herself, sliding the quiver over her shoulders and knocking a bullet-tipped arrow to the steel bow. She should have seen this coming. All this time without so much as a word to the New Gung-ho Guns about her and Knives' whereabouts, things were bound to get ugly.
"Shit…this is my fault." She muttered and steadied herself against the blow of a jutted up piece of land.
Knives narrowed his eyebrows and stepped forward, raising a hand until they all saw him and stopped. Midvalley lowered the sax and grinned.
"We were beginning to wonder what happened to you, Master Knives."
Gemini silenced Midvalley and took a step forward. "It is good to see you alive and well…but what are you doing beside these miscreants?"
"Who the hell are you?" Knives demanded to know. He only knew of Midvalley, and he knew why the sax player was alive. These other three had to be the new recruits.
Suavely, the dark haired man smiled and bowed his head. "I am Gemini…Gemini Mimic. We are the New Gung-ho Guns that I am sure the Arrow Goddess has informed you about. Miss Artemis Fawn, what a pleasure to see you again, though I am afraid it is not on pleasant terms. Is there a reason that you have stayed here for so long?"
The red head muttered under her breath. "What did I see in him?"
Meryl overheard, "Well…he is handsome…" She was grimacing inside, however. This next insurance report wasn't going to be a pretty one, she could feel it.
"No reply?" Gemini queried, arching the fine brow over his silver- blue eye. "I see…Master Knives?"
Knives really wished he had a weapon on him. He had no idea what happened to the guns that he'd made for Vash and himself…he imagined them to be in the desert somewhere, in the same place that Wolfwood's cross-punisher was. At least Vash wasn't defenseless.
"Don't call me that. We're still here because I've chosen to stay here."
The other looked surprised. Stay there? With the humans? Blasphemous!
Shaman pointed a finger upward from under his poncho. "He no longer walks the path of darkness- he seeks a life of peaceful days, blue skies, and…love."
Vash raised an eyebrow, "That old guy is really creepy, isn't he? How does he know so much? Hey, Gramps! Can you read my mind?!" He pushed out his left arm and it clicked, his hand moving out then down as a black machine gun rose up and locked in place.
Meryl and Milly looked at each other nervously. They knew what was coming next.
Gemini chuckled and closed his eyes. Instantly he became two, the copy standing beside the original, grinning malevolently at the others.
"What a pity- in that case, if we're no longer under the orders of our former master…we shall take matters into our own hands. Destroy everything and leave none alive."
Midvalley seemed apprehensive- Gemini was really giving him the creeps now- but he did as he was told. His lips touched the mouthpiece of the sax and the riveting notes played once more, the ground shaking uncontrollably. Tank leapt forward, turning on a switch connected to the side of his gun and turned the barrel upward, letting loose a jet stream of liquid fire to light up the sky.
"Whoo! This is gonna be fun!" he shouted and pumped the trigger once before aiming it at the others. "Regular or extra crispy? Forget it, I preferred burnt!" He cackled, shooting the flames just as they rolled out of the way.
Meryl shot her two derringers, aiming for Midvalley. She needed to disable him- somehow the music was connected to the earth tremors occurring around them. She missed by a long way. Knives snatched a derringer as the insurance woman's cape flew up, shouting to Artemis as he realized what Meryl was trying to do.
"Aim at Midvalley! Distract him!" he shouted.
Artemis aimed and let loose an arrow which exploded a few feet from Midvalley. The sax faltered. It was all they needed. Knives rolled forward and shot the man's left hand. Midvalley let go of his sax holding his hand in surprise, but the instrument was still strapped over his shoulder.
"Shoot him! Vash! Shoot him!" Knives called to Vash who was desperately trying to figure out how to knock the fire gun off course.
"I don't want to kill him!" Vash cried out, suddenly not knowing where to aim anymore. He hadn't fought anybody in over two months, now it was like World War three.
"Screw this!" Lily shouted, drawing a long blade from her back. It was silver with an inscribed lily on the blade and a revolver attached to the side. She raised the blade and pulled the trigger, hitting Midvalley in the shoulder. The sax player fell to the ground, groaning in pain.
Milly and Wolfwood were trying to double team the pair of Gemini men, but to no avail. Somehow they dodged everything the two threw at them.
Knives groaned and narrowed his eyebrows at Tank, jerking his head to the side. Tank's fire gun flew from his hands, taking the slender young man with it rolling to the hard ground. The Shaman walked calmly in the midst of the battle and nobody seemed to notice him. Artemis drew two arrows and pulled back, aiming for Gemini, the one she had a feeling was the real one, and was about to release when something hit her in the eyes.
"Damnit!" she shouted, dropping the bow to rub the dust from her eyes. It burned horribly and when she looked up everything was distorted. She couldn't see straight, couldn't make out who was who. "Knives, use the bow, I can't see anything!" she shouted to him, hoping he was still close enough to hear her.
Vash turned around just in time to see Midvalley struggling to play the saxophone again. "Oh no you don't- sorry, but we just don't need background music right now. Thanks anyway, take five." He muttered as he shot the sax, destroying it better than he had the first time. Vash was almost confident now that the gun built into the instrument wouldn't even work.
Meryl lifted her last two derringers from her cape. Crap. This wasn't really getting them anywhere. That weird old guy had blinded Artemis, Milly, and Wolfwood. She had to take him out before anymore damage was caused.
"Alright Derringer Meryl, let's see what you got," she whispered aloud and took aim then fired. Success! The Shaman was struck once in each leg, disabling his mobility.
Lily slid up beside Meryl, "Wow, nice work."
"Thanks." She replied and turned toward Gemini who had advanced upon them with the utmost calmness. "Is it me or is he…"
"…Really creepy? Yeah, he is," Lily finished, twirling the blade in her hand and pointed it at him. "Alright you weirdo! Prepare to meet your doom! You've come across the wrong girl buddy- flowers might be pretty, but this one has thorns!" She cocked the hammer of the revolver attached to the blade and grinned.
Knives fumbled some with the bow but somehow got the gist of how to work the thing. It'd been a while since he'd handled something so primitive. He aimed at Gemini as well. It was obvious he was the mastermind here…though there was something strangely familiar about the serenity of this man. His eyes glanced down to see Tank stirring from the ground. Without a word, Knives shot the gun with an arrow and grimaced some when it exploded. That kid didn't have a chance in hell.
"Stop this before any more people get hurt!" Vash shouted, seeing his friends struggling to hold Gemini back but to no avail.
Both copies smiled nonchalantly and merged into one entity again. "Vash the Stampede…so we meet again. I thought you would be pleased to see all of your friends in one piece before your destruction, which is why I saved dear Nicholas D. Wolfwood for you. You repay me by demanding foolish things?"
"Huh?" Vash narrowed his eyebrows. "I don't know…who…" he trailed off, confused. He'd never seen this guy before, but then…he felt like they had met before. And this talk about saving Wolfwood…it couldn't be.
Gemini turned his gaze to Knives. "And you…it is difficult to believe the one who was once above me has sunk to the level of pathetic humans. Do you follow your brother now- the one you wished to kill so long ago? Have you vowed not to kill as well? Tell me- would you save my life in exchange for someone else's?"
Knives narrowed his eyebrows as he saw Artemis walking haltingly toward Gemini, her eyes full of fear. She didn't know why she was walking; she had no control over what she was doing. Gemini took Artemis by the hand, spun her around and put an arm around her throat.
"Let her go!" Knives growled, taking a few strides forward, but stopped when the man squeezed the priestess' neck. "Bastard, you have no reason for this, let her go!"
"Now, is that any way to treat an old alliance? Oh…I apologize- you're not used to seeing me like this. Let me show you…" Gemini grinned as his long dark hair shortened, becoming a deep blue color. His silver eye transformed, grew narrower and turned gold in color. However, the clothes stayed the same, as did the catty grin. "Recognize me now?"
"Legato?" Knives and Vash murmured in unison. It couldn't be. Vash killed him, didn't he? Legato Bluesummers was dead! Unless…
"I see you had another trick up your sleeve- that one really breaks the mold- sure has the revival trick seem like nothing." Wolfwood muttered, regaining his sight.
Could all of them go against Legato? With Vash and Knives' powers they could take him, yes, but not without risk of taking Artemis as well. Lily growled as Artemis was rendered powerless.
"You asshole! Let her go or I'll kill you myself!"
Legato strengthened his hold around the red head's neck smiling still. He cared not if he died this time for real- he'd only faked it the first time in the case that Knives won the battle and still wished him by his side.
"You kill me and you end her life." He replied as Artemis' eyes pleaded. She couldn't move against him, he wouldn't let her. "Though…I think I am going to take her life anyhow."
"NO!" Knives, Vash, and Lily leapt forward as Legato placed his hands on either side of Artemis' head.
Artemis widened her eyes as a tear fell down her right cheek, her gaze clearing at last to see everyone watching.
…'I can't die…he can't kill me, please don't let him kill me. Knives…do something…Vash, Lily, Milly, Meryl…Wolfwood. Help me, please help me…why can't I talk? Why can't I move? This is my fault…'
Legato twisted his hands to the side, eyes on those advancing toward him, a cruel smirk on his lips…
…'I'm sorry for everything…Lily, I'm going to miss you. You were always there for me, I'm so glad I met you…you were like a friend, a sister, a mother to me. Make sure to tell Knives and Vash what you are…Wolfwood, oh my dear friend, don't forget me again…I'll kill you if you do. Knives…I couldn't have been forced to be stuck with anybody more miserable but how I love you…'
"Legato stop!" Knives shouted in horror, his eyes meeting the absolutely horrified gaze of Artemis. Everything was happening so slowly…
…'Milly, you better take care of the preacher man. He really loves you, I hope you can see that…don't you ever change. Meryl- things will look up for you soon, I can feel it, just loosen up…and Vash…you've done what you set out to do. Take care of Knives, always, and he will always take care of you…good-bye my friends…'
Legato let go of Artemis, watching her form slump lifelessly to the ground, neck broken. His eyes lifted to meet Knives just as the older twin let loose a series of arrows and spoke calmly before his world turned black.
"And now you too shall know true pain and darkness."