Things begin to pick up in this chapter. Not too much farther to go…

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One is the Loneliest Number

Chapter 12

"Wakey, wakey!" Ed sang.

Aqua and gold eyes cracked open to glare at Ed.

"Ed person found Vash person's brother!"

Vash sat up and narrowly missed hitting Ed, "What?"

"Bebop crew crew is going to help you!" Ed sang.

"You mean you're not turning us in?" Kat asked.

"People people are Bebop's friends!" Ed told them.

"That's great news," Kat said as she flopped back down relieved.

"When will we arrive on Gunsmoke?" Vash asked.

"Three days!" Ed yelled as she hopped away.

Vash sighed, "I don't want to face my brother."

Kat hugged him, "You knew it had to happen sometime."

"So you don't mind my scars?" he asked when he noticed Kat was tracing one with her finger.

"Not a bit. They make you, you," she said as she buried her head in his stomach.

Vash smiled to himself and for once he was content with his world. It seemed as if fate had finally stopped picking on him.

Kat played with his messed up hair, "Something wrong?"

He smiled, "Nothing… Nothing at all." 'For once it seems as if fate isn't out to get me! Maybe I'll finally be able to live in peace…?'

^_^

"We reached Gunsmoky smoky!" Ed announced.

Kat looked up from her poker game she was playing with Fea. Kat was loosing horribly and she wondered if Fea was cheating again. Spike tore his eyes off Vash and the outlaw relaxed a bit from the piercing gaze. Spike had been partly watching the game the two women were playing and he was impressed Kat had managed to last as long as she did. Jet stopped clipping his bonsais and Ed glued her face to the ship's window.

"I don't believe it," Jet said when he came out to see where they were landing, "There's actually grass on this planet."

Vash continued to stare out the window at the grassy area until they landed. As soon as the ship touched the planet's sandy surface Vash grabbed his gun and slipped it into the holster. He left the room without a word and Kat followed him to the doors.

"Don't follow me," Vash clipped as he jammed the door with the knife in his boot. He twisted his foot and the knife snapped off.

Kat gasped and growled at the door, "Vash! Let me out!"

She pounded her fists against the door.

Vash paused on the other side. 'Wish me luck… I'm going to need it.'

The only reply she got was silence. Kat kicked the door in irritation and ran back to the front of the ship where she could see the fight.

^_^

"Have fun with the humans?" Knives asked as Vash approached. Dust licked at the ends of his brother's coat. His glasses glowed orange in the afternoon sun.

"Best time in my life," the plant answered.

Knives put his glass of wine down and smirked.

"Vash?" someone asked in mild shock. He turned to see Wolfwood. The priest grinned, "Did I forget to mention I was a gunho-gun?"

"It might have shipped your mind," Vash joked, "What the hell kind of church man are you anyway?" The priest smirked and shrugged. Vash drew his gun, "Shall we cut the small talk?"

Knives nodded and kicked the leg of the table he sat at. Bullets pelted it and shielded him from fire. Knives dived for the nearest tree and Vash mirrored his movements. Bullets slammed into the tree with suck force it splintered and rained down upon him.

^_^

Kat watched from the massive window. Her finger nails were already worn to stubs and she now fidgeted with her hair.

"It's no use," Spike growled, "The doors completely jammed."

Kat didn't even hear the comment as she continued to watch. She choked down a sob when she saw Vash get hit with one of Knive's bullets. Vash clutched at his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers.

Kat saw Knive's arm grow scaly. 'I have to help! I can't let him die!'

The members of the Bebop switched their attention to Kat when they felt a pulsing wave of energy flow over them. Kat's hair fell from the ponytail it had been in and flowed weightlessly about her shoulders. Black and white wings sprouted from her back, tore through her clothing, and flapped once to flex themselves. 'I have to help him!'

Kat took a few steps back before charging at the window full force. It shattered before she touched it and Kat dived to the ground below. Her wings pulled her out of the fall and swooped over to the fight.

"Well that was unusual," Spike commented as he took a drag on his cigarette.

(A/N: Cherish the ones closest to you because someday they won't be around any longer and when that happens, all that's left is memories. And memories aren't as precious as having that person alive. PLEASE REVIEW!!!)