Hi everyone. I know, I'm late if you're counting on the one week scale. But, I can blame that on the horrible-ness of school and injury related depression. (Damn these bad knees!) All right, uh, what else. I don't own it. Uh, oh, a bit of a warning. I hope none of you are too squeamish about swearing ^_^ It picks up this chapter, even worse than last chapie. But can you blame the poor characters? I mean, fess up, you'd curse too.

**

Vash sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. He twirled the empty glass vile in his fingers, trying to figure out what had been in it earlier. Zazie said the blue haired youth had gotten it from the local plant. That did not narrow his choices much, and those that were left weren't exactly of the safest variety. With a small groan, Vash set the glass vile aside and rubbed his head; all this was giving him a headache.

Zazie came down the stairs, rubbing an equally aching head. He'd been up there with Legato all night and hadn't gotten anywhere with the other youth. He was in such a foul mood, that even gaining a deed couldn't cheer him up. He wasn't sure if his wristband had changed color because of his attempts to help Knives or his attempts to stop Legato or both, but it just made his failure to succeed that much more painful. With a yawn, Zazie walked over to the couch and flopped down. "I'm spent, someone else try to talk to him!"

Midvalley, having come over to see what was wrong when the two boys hadn't come home the previous night, groaned loudly. "I guess that's me, right?" He stood slowly only to have a powerful hand grab his shoulder. He jumped, skin crawling as Knives held him tight.

"I will do it." Midvalley gulped as he looked at the blonde's gauze wrapped eyes. He did not want to be Legato right now. It was pretty risky just being himself at the moment.

Zazie stared at Vash, concern clear on his tired face. "You aren't going to let him go up there, are you?" Vash didn't respond. He turned his gaze away, not willing to watch as he did nothing.

Legato had his eyes tightly shut as he lay curled on the bed. He heard the door open and close and he turned his head away, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave. He could hear a hand being trailed along the foot of the bed and then around the corner. Suddenly Legato realized who it must be, the only person that would have that mannerism. He gasped, turning quickly to face the man and snapping his eyes open. Sure enough, there stood Knives in all his glory. Even blinded, he was a most intimidating visage. Legato had known this was coming. He had known that if he stayed, Knives would come to take revenge, it was part of the reason he hadn't left.

Suddenly Legato was gone, the room melting around him. With a gasp he turned a circle, staring at the sand around him. He was in the middle of the desert, nothing in sight. Except Knives. The blonde stood there in perfect health, staring at him. Legato swallowed hard, getting over the initial shock and letting the reality – if he could call this illusion reality – sink in. Legato hung his head to avoid looking at the blonde and gasped as his eyes took in his old body. Complete with white coat and armor.

"It's what you are." Legato looked up in shock. "You were never meant to become a child again, so fragile and weak. And foolish."

"No. This isn't what I am; this is what you want me to be. A servant to you and a slave to fear. I am not this anymore."

"You arrogant little bastard. You act so self-richeous now, yet we both know that in life you were worse than I was. And you think you can change me? You can't even change yourself!"

Legato clenched his eyes shut, shaking his head fiercely to deny the other man's claims. "I know that's not true. I won't let you convince me otherwise." But the doubt was there, strong in his voice.

Knives circled the other man. "You haven't accomplished anything. I will heal in little more than a week, surely you realize that."

"Then I pray a week is enough." He turned slightly, locking eyes again with the man. "Knives, give it a chance. See humans for what they are, let them help you."

"Help me! See them for what they are? You're more delusional than I thought."

"Delusional? Stop acting like you pity me, Knives! I know what you really think, I saw your eyes. You're afraid of me, because you trained me to be what I am. And you have no idea what I'll do with that teaching."

Knives scowled. "I fear no one, least of all a miserable child like you."

Legato sighed, apparently tired of this argument. "Knives, Master, please. I'm asking you to give them the chance to prove themselves. If you want to hate me, that's fine, I knew you would. But I gave everything to give you this chance, please don't throw it away."

Knives frowned. "You gave up your second chance." It was not a question and Legato looked at him, surprised. "Then I'll take solace in the fact that when you die, it will be with the knowledge that you have accomplished nothing."

Legato closed his eyes tightly again and he could almost feel himself wake up from a dream. He opened his eyes slowly and found himself back in the upstairs room of Vash's house, across the room from the bed he'd been lying in. Briefly he wished that he could have been aware of the illusion and reality at the same time as Knives clearly was. Then again, considering the condition of his body, perhaps he was glad that he hadn't been aware of the beating. With a groan, Legato pushed himself off the ground as far as he could, giving up on getting back to the bed and just trying to get a little more comfortable. He looked at the door, just seeing Knives disappear through it.

Midvalley slipped through the door and shut it lightly before moving to the prone boy. "Are you all right?" Legato glared weakly and Midvalley smiled, setting a first aid kit down beside them. "I'm sorry I let him do it, but I wasn't about to stand in his way. Was it worth it?"

"Only if you make it worth it. Midvalley, please help him." The brunette nodded, giving his silent promise, and went about cleaning and dressing his friend's wounds.

**

The morning was bright. Too bright. And too early. Why did morning have to come so early? With a groan of heartfelt regret, Wolfwood sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes and stretching. He blinked in surprise to see that Millie was already awake and, judging from the smells drifting through the door, busy in the kitchen all ready. Wolfwood detangled from the sheets and hurried to see his Big Girl, wrapping her in a hug from behind. "You're too good for me, I don't deserve it."

Millie only responded with a giggle, twisting enough to give her priest a kiss before going back to the stove. Wolfwood turned smoothly, seeing if anyone else was home. Sadly, he was not alone with his fiancée, Midvalley lay on the couch and Zazie was sitting beside him. Oh well, at least now maybe he could get some answers. "So, where have you two been? And where's-"

"Legato?" Zazie turned to look at the older man and the deep rings under his eyes were clearly visible. "He's recovering at Vash's. On Millie's bed, actually." The blonde then launched into a detailed – and rather bitter – explanation of Legato's new job and his subsequent run in with Knives that lasted through breakfast. "I'm filling in until he can go back to work," he finally finished.

Wolfwood stood, pulling on his suit jacket with a frown. "I've got to get going." Millie stood, nodding, and bidding him farewell. Wolfwood paused at the door, looking back at the two boys. "I'm only going to say this once. You should let Legato deal with his own problems, don't get involved in it."

Millie frowned, laying a hand on her love's shoulder. "You must be worried about him? Don't be so mean, Nickie-kun."

Wolfwood shrugged out of her grasp with a frown. "I'm going to be late. I'll see you tonight, Big Girl."

The door closed behind him and Zazie let out a short, frustrated scream. Spinning, he grabbed one of the threadbare throw pillow and hurled it at the door. "What ever happened to 'love thy neighbor' you idiot!" He turned, kicking the corner of the couch. "Oh, shit! That hurt!" Hopping on one foot now, the blonde was glaring at Midvalley. "You know why he's acting like this, right? Tell me what the fuck is wrong with him!"

Midvalley was on his feet now, too, but he was at least still calm. "I've told you before that I won't. We're supposed to be starting anew, with a clean slate this time."

"But Chapel's being an idiot and holding onto old grudges! Tell me what's up and maybe I can get him to start helping us instead of acting like he's so god damned superior!"

Midvalley crossed his arms over his chest for a moment and waited until Zazie was glaring at him again. "This isn't about Chapel. If I told you what happened between the two of them, odds are, Legato's side isn't the side you'd be on." Zazie's mouth dropped in disbelief. Was it so bad? Midvalley sighed, "You're going to be late for work, you have to keep that job if we want to keep eating."

Still grumbling and cursing under his breath, Zazie stomped out the door and left Midvalley alone with Millie. The big girl frowned at him. "What could possibly so bad?"

Midvalley plopped back onto the couch. "Chapel and Legato have a hell of a lot of history and none of it's good. But there was this one time, after he'd been traveling with you guys for a while. I won't tell you what happened, but suffice to know it was horrible and Chapel never forgave him. I'm ashamed to say I was a part of it, too, though he doesn't know. I don't know, maybe I'm just covering my own ass by not telling."

Millie paused, watching as the musician hung his head. Slowly she walked over to the couch and sat beside him before pulling him into a tight hug. She smiled at his muffled 'eep' of confusion, even laughed a little when she felt his cheeks redden against her palm. "Mr. Midvalley, you're doing the right thing. Everyone has a right to their secrets and you're right, Mr. Legato should have a fresh start." She pulled away, her smile beaming ever brighter. "Can I ask for a favor though? Please, if it gets really bad, will you do something?"

Midvalley nodded sadly, not having the heart to mention that things were already really bad, and stared down at his hands. He didn't move as Millie stood, muttering that she was going to be late to her job as well. Midvalley sniffed; it must have been a conspiracy to be late this morning. Oh well, he didn't have to worry about things like that; Alex wasn't really big on schedules. However, he had made a promise and there was somewhere he needed to be. With a heartfelt sigh he stood, sliding his shoes on and slipping out the door on his way to meet with Knives.

**

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!!!"

Midvalley cursed loudly and fluently as he was slammed into the wall. For a blind guy, Knives sure had good aim. "I'm just trying to help! If you go around on your own, you're not going to have any shins left by the time you heal. Not to mention your diet will get a serious boost in charcoal."

"I can get around fine, you miserable little spider, and I don't do the cooking." Knives swung wildly, arm passing smoothly over the musician's head as he ducked. The blonde gasped as Midvalley pressed against his chest suddenly, trying to get him to sit on the bed. With a growl, he firmly grabbed Midvalley's hair and twisted him around. He wasn't sure if the boy was looking up or down, but his spine was clearly prominent and Knives used it as leverage to throw him across the room again.

Midvalley landed with a thud, clutching at his offended scalp. "All right, all right, you want to do this the hard way? We'll do it the hard way. You come to me; if what you say is true, I'll back off, deal?"

"I am not going to perform like some circus freak for you."

"Interesting choice of words," Midvalley muttered, mind focusing on just how accurate his analogy sounded. He looked over the room, nicely gliding over Knives's pissed face. There had to be some way he could get the pig headed man to cooperate. Quickly he dashed to the bedside table, noting with pleasure that Knives was tracking his movement. He slid open drawers and shut them heavily after seeing nothing of interest . . . but no one said there was anything wrong with a bit of bluffing. "Well, what do we have here?"

Knives stiffened as the other boy walked back towards the door. "What the hell do you have?"

Midvalley smiled tensely. Apparently the blonde did hold something dear, even if he hadn't been able to spot it. "You want it back, you have to come and get it." Knives growled audibly but made no move. "You don't want it? That's fine."

Midvalley stepped to the door, watching as Knives slowly turned red. Suddenly the blonde lunged forward, apparently with the intent to grab whatever he believed Midvalley had a hold of. That was his intent, anyway. He had a bit of a problem with this, however, when his foot hit the foot of the bed. He cursed, twisting around violently and throwing himself off balance.

Midvalley gasped as the blonde nearly fell to the floor. "Are you all right?!"

Knives spun again, grabbing Midvalley's shirt to stay on his feet. That and to get leverage on the shorter boy. Suddenly Midvalley found himself against the wall, feet slanted so that toes were barely touching the ground. "If you ever try something like that again, you won't have to worry about proving you deserve a second life, you won't get the chance to live it."

**

All right, well, that's it. If anyone cares, Wolfwood's past thingie will be coming out either next chapter or the one after. Poor Midvalley, he suffers so and still no good deed. And you just gotta feel bad about Legato-chan. Grah, angsty muses are attacking me. Oh well, hope youe enjoyed ^_^ I'm still looking for those good deeds people!